Grandma Cecilia looked at him. “Are you from here?”
He grinned and nodded. “Sure am. Born and raised. I have a ranch not far from here. Why don’t you let me put your spare on and then you can follow me to Gadley’s to have your tire fixed?”
Grandma Ceciliabrightenedand turned to Elana.
Elana was not asenthusiasticas hergrandmother. But they were in a tight spot, and she didn’t have much of a choice. “On one condition.”
The cowboy cocked his head, waiting for her next words.
“You show me how to change the tire and actually let me do it. It will give me hands-on learning in case this happens again.”
A big grin stretched across his weathered face, and he stuck out his hand. “Very smart of you. My name is Dennis. DennisMcClintock.”
Elana took his hand. “Elana Taylor. This is mygrandmotherCecilia.”
He greeted them both. “Pleasure to meet you ladies. Now let’s say we get this tire fixed.”
Elana nodded. “Great. Just show me what to do.”
CHAPTER16
Elana peered out the window of the tire place as she waited in line. She spotted Dennis McClintock talking to a friend. For a small business, Gadley’s was busy.
“Can I help you?”A middle-aged man in a dingy white T-shirt placed his hands on the counter.
She gave him a relieved smile. “I certainly hope so. We had a flat on theinterstate,and I’m riding on the spare. I need to get my tire replaced as quick as possible.”
He rubbed his eye and glanced back at the computer. “We are backed up with scheduled clients. I can fit you in at four o’clock this afternoon.”
She blinked. “Four o’clock? Why, that’s almost six hours from now. I need to be in Montana today.”
The old man chortled. “Miss, I’m sorry. But there are customers ahead of you, and I have two men out with the flu. The earliest I can do is four o’clock.”
Dennis came up beside her and smiled at the man. “Hello, Earle. Can you fix her tire?”
Earle sighed heavily. “I can fit her in at four.”
Dennis took his hat off and rubbed his head. “I see.”
Elana slowly nodded her head. “Fine. Four o’clock. I need to call around and find a place to camp tonight since it looks like we won’t be leaving Wyoming today.”
Dennis cocked his head. “You and your grandma camp in the VW?”
Elana nodded and pulled out her phone. “Yes. She is making me take her on this road trip and insisted we camp instead of getting a hotel. I’m not sure how hard it’s going to be to find a hotel that allows dogs.”She nodded toward the dog.
Dennis looked at Jack. “That’s a fine dog you have. I bet he has some herding abilities in him. Looks like a border collie.”
Elana gave a ghost of a smile. “They told me part border collie, part husky.”She smiled at Dennis. “Excuse me while I call thecampgroundwe stayed at last night. Hopefully we can secure a spot tonight.”
Dennis winced. “I don’t think you will have much luck.Campgroundsaround here usually stay booked.”
Elana shrugged. “Well, I must try. Otherwise, we will be sleeping at the truck stop tonight.”
Dennis shook his head. “I don’t think that’s wise. Not for two women.”
She dialed thecampgroundnumber and stepped away to talk.
What Dennis had said was true. There was no spot at thecampgroundfor them tonight. She quickly googled all thecampgroundsnearby and contacted them.
