When Last We Loved Read Online Free PDF

that's what I wanted to be, too.”
    Ruthie stared vacantly out the window, not seeing the cars and trucks speeding past Bad Boy's for parts unknown. “I lit out from El Paso ten years ago this spring, with Grand 0l’ Opry stars shining in my eyes and big dreams about snowballing Nashville. I never did get any farther than this.” Her sigh was tinged with sadness.
    Cassie peeked at her watch and hoped Ruthie wasn't going to share her life story. It was nearly one-thirty now. If she didn't hit the road again soon, she was sure to get caught up in the bumper-to-bumper traffic that she'd heard tied up the Dallas freeways until well after sundown.
    “What happened?” Cassie asked the expected question, but she wasn't really interested in the details of Ruthie's short-stopped career.
    “Oh, a hundred things that don't matter anymore,” Ruthie answered. “The end result was a husband who disappeared when the going got rough and two kids who wouldn't have school shoes without my tips.”
    “I'm sorry.” Cassie wasn't certain what else she should add.
    “It ain't so bad, honey.” Ruthie's green eyes misted. “Last year my little boy had to have a real serious operation and I didn't have an extra dime to my name, as usual. All my regulars got on their CB's, and before I had any idea of what they were up to, they'd raised over five thousand dollars. Why, the only reason my Jim Bob can walk today is because of those big lugs. They act tough, but underneath they're all as soft as a baby burro's nose.”
    A diesel horn shattered the intimate silence that had settled over the diner, and Ruthie jumped to her feet with a burst of enthusiasm that surprised Cassie. “I was wonderin’ where Texas Tom was today!” She patted her auburn upsweep and brushed off the front of her clinging, bottle-green uniform.
    Cassie dug out her wallet to pay the bill.
    “It's on the house, honey.” Ruthie waved away any protests. “I don't know why, but I've got a feeling that you're gonna be one of the lucky ones. You gotta do me a favor, though. Someday when you're up there on that stage and all them people are clappin’ and cheerin', think of ol’ Ruthie slinging hash deep in the heart of Texas and belt one out for me.”
    She winked, cracked her gum in farewell, then rushed away to greet the bandy-legged trucker who pushed open the glass doors and scooped the bubbly redhead up in a bear hug.
    Cassie used the self-service pump outside the diner to fill her car with gas, paid the skinny blond attendant with carefully counted bills, and then guided the vehicle back onto the interstate.
    The afternoon sun was high in the western sky when she took the Dallas bypass exit Cassie was so busy watching lanes and road signs that she didn't notice the red light flashing on the dashboard. Curls of smoke and an awful burning smell finally drew her attention, and she nearly crashed into a pickup in her panicky haste to pull off the highway.
    The ancient motor coughed, wheezed, and shuddered when Cassie turned off the ignition. Her heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach. She knew next to nothing about servicing automobiles, but she had a gut feeling that whatever was wrong would cost a good deal more to repair than she could afford.
    A rotating red, white, and blue sign on the corner of the next exit told her that help was just a short hike away. Cassie climbed out of the car, kicked a tire once for good measure, and started walking.
    * * * *
    “How long has it been since this old buggy had a complete overhaul?” The squat, balding mechanic stuck his head out from under the raised hood and squinted disapprovingly at Cassie. He knew better than she that the car was long overdue for some expensive repairs.
    “What's wrong with it?” She braced herself for the worst. As much as she dreaded exposing her ignorance, she had to know the extent of the damage.
    “When Billy had it up on the lift, he said the brake drums and shoes were shot, and the