Three hotels later, she admitteddefeat.
“This whole town’s a bad scene,” River said as they walked back to the bus. “I saywebail.”
“But I want to see Old Faithful,”Meadowsaid.
“No one will let us get a room,”Andysaid.
“We could always sleep under the stars,” Daisy said. “We’ve come so far and we might never get the chance to see Yellowstone Park again. What’s the rush? Our dad’s not going to find us here. He probably lost the trail in SaltLakeCity.”
“Where are we supposed to camp?” Andy leaned against the bus and crossed his arms over his chest. “We can’t exactly set up in the middle oftheroad.”
“Let’s check out the forest. I bet we can find a place,”Daisysaid.
A young man with long dreadlocks and a multi-colored headband strolled down the road toward them. His T-shirt sported a pot leaf and the bottom end of his pants was tattered and torn. His sandals clapped along the road as he walked past them. He might know wheretogo.
“Hey,” she called. “You know a good place we can camp outtonight?”
“What’s happenin’, babe?” He stopped and raked his gaze downherbody.
“We need a place to chill for the night,”Meadowsaid.
“For all of you?” the manasked.
“Yeah,”Andysaid.
“You guys could come crash at my house.” His tone carried enough underlying lust to put a scowl on Andy’s face. “I got weed. We could get blitzed, maybe get to know each otherbetter.”
“No,” Andy snapped. “We just need a place for the four of ustonight.”
“You sure, babe?” he askedDaisy.
“Yeah,”shesaid.
“Your best bet’s down at Hebgen Lake. The forest is huge and you can camp on the shore.” The man pinched the end of his nose thensniffed.
“How do we get there?” Daisyasked.
“Go down the road, turn left on Highway 20 and then go about four miles. You’ll see a turnoff on the right for Madison Arm Campground. Take that about four miles in and the lake’s ontheleft.”
“Thanks,”Daisysaid.
The man eyed her for a moment as if considering whether or not he wanted to sayanythingelse.
“Don’t go any further than that or you’ll end up at the Grant farm.” His tone sent icy shivers down her spine. “Old man Grant will shoot trespassers on sight. You don’t want to mess with him. He fought in Korea and came back crazier than a sonofabitch. His sons are justasbad.”
“Thanks for the tip,”Daisysaid.
“I wouldn’t want anything to happen to a fox like you,” the man said with a grin. “By the way, you guys have agroovybus.”
She blushed and turned to study the side of the bus. Fairies and dragonflies danced around a troop of mushrooms on a background of periwinkle blue paint. A smiling sun with big red lips decorated the passenger side door. Near the rear of the bus, a yellow crescent moon grinned backather.
“I had one just like it but the dammed engine blew up.” The man ran his hand over the paint. “I’m saving up for a new onethough.”
“Good luck,”shesaid.
“You too. Keep the faith, man,” he said before ambling down thestreet.
River and Meadow piled into the bus while Andy jogged around to the driver’s side. Daisy hopped into thepassengerseat.
