Free Vendetta by Fern Michaels Page B

earn a living to support their families. It’s not an easy life, nor is it a glamorous one. Did you have fun talking to them on the horn?”
    “Absolutely. I wish I could meet them in person sometime. Do you think they’d remember me?”
    “Hey, if you want an invitation to the Truckers’ Ball, I can arrange it. It’s always held in the spring.”
    “I would love to attend. I’ll send back my RSVP the minute I get the invitation.”
    Kathryn laughed. “It doesn’t work that way. We just get on the horn, pass the word and everyone shows up at a designated truck stop. Each year it’s held at a different place.”
    “Be sure to count me in as a yes. Can I bring Charles?”
    “Absolutely. Speaking of Charles, shouldn’t he have called us by now?”
    Myra tipped her Redskins cap further back on her springy curls. “I was thinking the same thing. I’m sure he’s calling the house and leaving messages. Maybe his cellphone doesn’t work in China.”
    “Well, hi there, gorgeous!” a jolly voice said.
    Myra and Kathryn both looked up to see a giant of a man towering over them. Murphy was licking at his hand. Myra assumed the comment was made to Kathryn and said, “She is beyond gorgeous.”
    “Not her! She’s too young and skinny for my taste. ’Sides, she’s young enough to be my granddaughter and this dog of hers is a killer, as you can see. I was talking to you, honey.”
    Myra was so flustered she knocked her glass of water over. In her haste to mop up the spill with paper napkins she sent her breakfast plate flying off the table. The giant caught it with one hand that was as big as a ham hock.
    “How about having a cup of joe with me, sweet cheeks?”
    “Why I…That is so…Do you really think I’m gorgeous?” Myra asked boldly, her cheeks flaming pink.
Sweet cheeks!
She realized suddenly that the giant was staring at her sweatshirt. She tried to hunch her shoulders so he couldn’t read the words.
    “Takes a lot to earn a shirt like that. Introduce me to your partner, Sis.”
    “Was wondering when you were going to get around to that. Stop being so nice to my dog. I saw that bacon you slipped him. Merry Widow, meet Big Bear. Bear, meet the gorgeous Widow.”
    The giant reached for Myra’s hand and brought it to his lips. “This day will stay in my mind forever.” Murphy howled so loud the other diners stopped eating to see what the commotion was all about.
    “The pleasure…the pleasure is all mine, Bear.” Myra gulped.
Oh God, Charles, you are never going to believe this!
    “
Where you headed, Bear?” Kathryn asked.
    “I’m off for thirty-six. Just unloaded kitchen appliances at Home Depot. I go north to the mountains at the end of the thirty-six, how about you?”
    “I’m picking up twenty thousand Christmas trees that go up the Eastern Seaboard, then home till after the holidays. See ya next year.”
    But Bear wasn’t finished yet. He eyed Myra and bent over to whisper something in her ear. Myra smiled. “I’ll be sure to save a spot on my dance card for you…ah…Bear.” Murphy howled again. This time the customers ignored his outrage.
    “Time to go, Myra,” Kathryn said. She placed a twenty-dollar bill under the salt shaker and said, “These girls work hard for their money. Now, are you sure you don’t want to pay the five bucks to take a shower and put on some clean duds?”
    “No, dear, I’m fine.” Myra looked around the busy truck stop. Steam billowed up from the grill as waitresses and cooks shouted to one another. The truckers joined in, adding quick fixes for certain recipes. It was a friendly atmosphere. The red Formica table tops with the cracked leather booths added character to this thriving place on the road to nowhere. Myra enjoyed every minute, especially eating the greasy food that was so delicious, she’d asked for seconds.
    As they wound their way through the crowd of truckers Kathryn was stopped a dozen times. Some of the truckers she hugged, some she