Free Rough Ride by Rebecca Avery

ridiculously old, and loud, country western music.
     
    Five hours later when they stopped for lunch she watched as Bobby approached the RV.  It took all her restraint to keep from pummeling him.  If she never heard another Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton or Loretta Lynn song it would be too soon.  Though it kept Gretchen entertained as she sang along to every song, five hours of it was cruel and unusual punishment.  The smile that he shot at her as he approached the driver door explained his grin before they had pulled out that morning.
     
    As he opened her door she looked down at him and said “I hate you”
     
    He laughed so loudly that the other bikers in the group who were waiting at the entrance to the restaurant stopped talking and stared at him.  She couldn’t help but laugh with him as she hadn’t heard him laugh so heartily before and somehow it thrilled her.  That was until she noticed the group also looking at her.  Ignoring their stares he hefted himself up until he was leaning over her in order to see the controls on the dash.
     
    “We’ll fill up before we hit the highway again.  You’ve done real well so far.” He said and then turned his face until he was in her space and leaned in close.  She thought he meant to kiss her until he finished saying “She’ll be ready for a nap after lunch and this button here, will make it stop.”
     
    Her eyes followed his finger which pointed at a button indicating the power to the radio in the back.  Laughing again he jumped down out of the cab of the camper and held the door as she climbed out.  Her back and knees were stiff from having driven for so many hours non-stop.  She walked around outside until Gretchen came running out to tell her that their table was ready.
     
    The last five and a half hours of the trip went much smoother as Gretchen napped for a couple of them.  After her nap she was content to stare out the window and wave at those of the group on bikes and then watched a movie on the fold down media center for the last stretch of the trip.  She felt as though she had been beaten with a stick and this was only day one.
     
    After eating the fast food burger and fries that Dickie provided her with, she was ready for bed.  Gretchen had taken to whining and crying with little provocation so she asked if she wanted to take a shower and then curl up in the back with her and watch a movie.  The child finally agreed and they were snuggled in just as the sun was starting to set.  Gretchen made it about fifteen minutes into the movie and was out like a light.
     
    She could hear the sounds of the other bikers who sat around a campfire outside talking.  She must have dozed off at some point because when she awoke it was completely dark outside and the movie had ended.  Looking around the small bedroom she noticed Bobby standing in the doorway.
     
    “She doesn’t know how lucky she is.” He whispered.
     
    She looked down at the child who was snuggled up against her with her tiny arm slung around her waist.  Looking back at Bobby he met her gaze with enough fire that she could feel his look from across the room.
     
    “Good night Lilly” He whispered again.  Then pulling a divider door closed behind him, he was gone.
     
    They pulled out just as early the following morning as they had the day before.  Gretchen at least spared her more of her musical selections and was content to tell her all about her Daddy’s last ‘stupid girlfriend’.  She talked about her dog Joey and how she was going to grow up and fix motorcycles like her dad.  It was obvious the little girl adored Tommy and though she was curious about the child’s mother, she didn’t ask and Gretchen never mentioned her.
     
    Then the subject turned to going to school and after asking her about knowing her alphabet, numbers, colors and shapes, she was surprised when Gretchen turned angry.
     
    “Daddy wants me to go to school but I don’t really want to go.  I just