Buffalo New York was known for its winters and it was often said by locals in the middle of heavy snow that they were going to get a break from the snow by going to Alaska. More often than not, the weather was better in Anchorage Alaska than Buffalo New.
The city of Buffalo was an early era industrial-age town built around the production of steel and auto parts. The location of the Lakes and maneuverable waterways made it perfect for the task. In that time in history function was more important than comfort so the brutal winters were just an inconvenience.
The city located at the southeastern edge of Lake Erie suffered from lake effect snows that could shift 10 miles in minutes and dump large quantities of snow overnight. Lucious Cox was born into the climate and raised around the snow, so when it turned into his vocation, it was no surprise.
Luke had the pulse of the wintry weather and was ready to move the snow at any time. Most of Luke's friends either skied or snow-boarded, traveling down into the south-towns ski country and finding the untouched snows. Luke had made money during his high school years shoveling later plowing friends and family and eventually operating a snowplow for the county.
While Luke was working as a snowplow operator he went to college earning a business degree, he intended to use starting his own private snowplow business. Luke at 23years old was driven to own his own professional snow removal business.
Erie Community College met his educational needs as well as his schedule. In Lukes' circle of friends and peers, he was the tall muscular surfer looking guy, with a goofy sense of humor.
One day after operating the county plow he showed up in his work overalls to college which was unusual for him. Normally he would have time to shower and change clothes before going to class but the snow was deep the night before and the guy that relieved him was late.
In typical college attire Luke blended into the student body, attractive but there were a lot of attractive young folks. Riding the elevator from the parking lot entrance to the third floor he noticed he was being checked out by the females in the elevator with him.
He thought the looks were of disdain because of his clothes, but one young blonde woman looked like she wanted to lick him right there in the elevator. He imagined her tongue circle around her mouth as she looked right at him. Luke smiled at her dismissing the others and made a mental note to find out her name.
Between classes, Luke had some free time to catch lunch and went to the bistro on the mezzanine and picked up a sandwich and hot chocolate. As he turned away from the hot chocolate machine he almost literally ran into the beautiful hungry-looking blond from the elevator. He said hello, and she said hello back pulling her tray back quickly so they didn't have an accident.
They went on their separate ways to tables, where he pulled out his notes for his next class, eating as he studied. Sarah the blonde from the elevator sat a few tables away checking him out from a distance. Luke was equally checking her out trying not to be obvious.
A week later in the college bookstore, Luke was looking at the books for his next semester when Sarah came around the corner to the isle and bumped into Luke. Startled at first, Luke dropped the book he was looking at and bent over to pick it up, almost clashing with Sarah as she was attempting to pick it up as well. As they both laughed Luke took the opportunity to introduce himself and Sarah reciprocated, smiling at him.
A few days later as Luke was pulling into the school parking lot readying his school parking permit, he quickly slammed on his brakes to avoid running over a pedestrian, and as he looked he noticed it was Sarah as she waved him ahead smiling. She ran along through the snow deeper than her boots.
Sarah's smile seemed to captivate Luke and he found her physically attractive with her sporty physique. Luke wasn't looking for a mate or even a hook up as he was focused on getting his education and business going. It wasn't in his plan to find a life partner just yet but found himself looking for Sarah around campus as he traversed the catacombs to his classes.
Sarah wasn't the cheerleader type but was a perky and happy hippy, unlike most who walked around in a cellular daze. When Luke wasn't working or in school he swam for exercise at the local aquatic center.
Weeks went by Sarah and Luke kept bumping into each other until one day Sarah asked him to share a table as there weren't many other seats open. He welcomed her introducing himself, and she reciprocated again as they shook hands. They talked briefly about the school, the weather and then went about their ways.
Later that day the snow was falling hard and there was an announcement over the intercom that classes were being suspended and that students and staff should consider the college closed, along with a safety warning about the snow. Luke thought to himself it was going to be a long night on the plow truck.
As Luke stepped out the door with a crowd of others, some running to the parking lot others went toward the subway/ bus station. Some like Luke stood under the carport/delivery loading dock in awe of the 23 inches of fresh snow on top of everything. As Luke looked out Sarah came to stand alongside him and they greeted each other.
A person in a light pair of pants and a simple coat came back from the direction of the subway/ bus station telling people that the buses were not running. Sarah said to Luke that she was going back inside until the buses were running or someone could come to get her.
Luke asked her which direction she was going and she told him the Springdale in the south towns ski country. Her car is at the end of the bus line in a rideshare parking lot. Luke was very familiar with the area as it was a turn around for the county snowplows. He assessed the situation and decided to offer her a ride. Sarah asked if his vehicle could make it out there no problem. Without hesitation Sarah jumped at the offer, realizing no other options were forthcoming.
Luke led Sarah out to his super duty F350 Ford truck and as they got in range he hit the remote starter and unlocked the doors causing the lights and motor to come on making finding the truck easier as the snow was getting to whiteout conditions.
Sarah slipped almost falling except for Luke catching her arm keeping her up and led her up to the truck and as he touched the door handle the running boards automatically powered out and down to make the climb up into the cab of the truck possible. Once she was inside safely Luke pulled a small push broom from the back seat and began brushing the snow off the truck the head and tail lights.
Once he got inside the now warm cab, Sarah asked if this was the counties' truck he plowed in and he said oh no. He began describing his dream to own and run a legitimate private snow removal business and that being the reason he was studying business.
He went on to tell Sarah how saved up to buy the truck and how he planned on it being his first truck to start the business with. As he drove the roads were nearly impassable and side streets were more often than not blocked by stuck vehicles. Lukes phone rang over the trucks' sound system and he answered it.
The dispatcher from the county asked him if he could come in as some drivers were unable to come in and there would be over time. Luke told the dispatcher he was headed to the south towns to drop a friend off, that he could come in after that.
The dispatcher asked him if he could come to get a truck and use it to drop his friend as the south run wasn't currently being done? Luke looked over at Sarah and she nodded in agreement and Luke told the dispatcher that he was headed that way to have a truck ready. Luke began the drive to the barn they called it where the county trucks were kept. He told Sarah that he does private plowing occasionally and of course his property.
She listened hanging on every word as it were directly from God. Listening to the local weather station as he was driving, it was announced that the city was now closed to all but emergency traffic, instructing anyone on the roads to find shelter as soon as possible. Sarah asked if he was going to be able to make it as the whiteout conditions worsened and the roads become almost impassable.
Luke said yea the barn was only another couple miles but added that he doubted her vehicle would be able to go anywhere. Once at the county barn the shift maintenance crew was pulling a truck out loaded with salt ready to go out.
Luke took Sarah over to the truck and helped her up into the cab, telling her he'd be right back. He went and parked his private truck, went inside and signed the county truck out choosing the route to the end of the south town line that no one else wanted.
As he walked out he grabbed two cups of hot chocolate and headed to the county truck. Luke passed her a cup and put his in the holder, flipping a switch on and the flashing lights all came on and he pulled out.
Sarah sat quietly until Luke noticed and asked her if it was the first time she'd been in a big truck and she said that his truck was the only other truck she'd ever been in. She continued that it seemed so high up and close to the edge. Luke replied it was high up, and the plow was at times over the edge of the road as he put the plow down and started pushing the snow off the side.
The truck rumbled and shook as the snowdrifts slowed the big truck but created a perfect roll of snow a lot like an ocean wave surfers look for. She asked what would happen if he hit a mailbox as they passed a row on the side of the road.
Luke explained that most of the time he wouldn't feel it, but the county had repairmen who fixed stuff like that. In her best feminine feline-like voice she asked so you ever have a rider before when you were plowing as she turns to face him in her seat. It was then that he noticed she'd taken her coat off and that her clothes were looser than he'd remembered. The curves of her breasts bounced as the truck went over bumps.
The next time he looked over at her and noticed she'd taken her boots and socks off revealing the silky skin of her calves the socks hanging over the heater vent. The trucks county radio pulled him back to the task at hand as the announcement came over the radio that all trucks were now on emergency conditions.
