we'll start being friends." He was on the rise again. "Come on, baby."

Ruth Ann shook her head.

"C'mon, Ruth Ann, one more time. Look, he's all excited." Ruth Ann closed her eyes. Damn...double damn! She was so close. "Ruth Ann, look at me."

Shaking her head emphatically: "No, Eric!"

He moved closer and brushed himself against the side of her face.

"No, Eric!" and pushed him. He fell onto the bed. "It's over, Eric." Starting for the door: "It's best you understand that."

Eric jumped to his feet, ran to the door and pressed his back against it. "Hold on, Ruth Ann, just hold on. Let's talk, okay? Don't leave me like this!"

Pulling on the doorknob: "I've got to go, Eric. I told Lester I'd be back in thirty minutes. I've been goneEbb, get out here."

Another cowboy, this one shorter, rounder in the middle, in a pink bathrobe, stepped out of the motel room. "Yes, Harold," he said.

"Ebb, help the lady to her feet."

Ebb moved to assist Ruth Ann, but she stood on her own. "I'll guess I'll be going now," she said.

"I've called the police," Ebb said.

"Police!" Eric shouted. "Ruth Ann, tell these cowpokes what's really going on. We do this all the time, don't we? Tell em! Tell em, Ruth Ann, before the police come."

Ruth Ann walked away. "Yes, we do this all the time. I love being dragged to a motel room by a naked man. It's exciting. See you on the news, Eric. Ta-ta."

"No, Ruth Ann. Tell em the truth. Ruth Ann!" She'd turned the corner,