I was hot and thirsty, the A/C in my old truck was not keeping up with the North Carolina summer. I saw a small town ahead. I saw a tavern in the strip mall so I thought, Hey! A cold, cold beer would taste pretty damned good about now. I pulled in and found a parking place. I walked in the bar. Nice and cool.
I found an empty spot at the bar and ordered a long neck Bud from the bar maid. She walked in front of me and whispered, "Take your cap off Marine, or you will have to buy a round."
"Thanks, I'll leave it on."
"What ever you want, Captain."
"I took a long drink from the bottle. It did taste good. A voice said, "You need to take your hat off in this bar, there are ladies present."
I turned and smiled at the speaker. "With full apologies to the ladies, and meaning no disrespect, I prefer to leave my cap on." He was a large guy, wearing a yellow hard hat.
He grinned, "I have to tell you that in this bar, leaving your hat on is a challenge to the highest ranking arm wrestler present."
"Mister I don't want to challenge any one I just want to finish my beer and leave."
"Fine, take your hat off or get ready to arm wrestle Suzie."
"I don't want to do either, I'll just be on my way. Excuse me please."
"You ain't goin' anywhere 'til you arm wrestle Susie or take off that hat. Hell you are a big guy, you ain't afraid of a gal are ya?"
I looked at the speaker, "You are bigger than I am and if she out ranks you, I doubt I could beat her, so I'll just concede the match and be on my way."
"Not without wrestling' Suzie or taking off that cap. Now get over to the Arm Wrestling Bench. "What are you, a 'candy ass Marine'?"
I saw a large woman get up from a booth and walk over, She appeared to be about thirty five, six feet tall and I would guess and I would guess 185 pounds. She was very attractive, large all over and with a really pretty face. She took off her yellow hard hat and smiled at me, "What is your name Marine?"
"Jake. Jake Murphy."
"I'm Suzie Baker. Nice to meet you." She extended her hand. I took it and she gave me a firm handshake. "Why don't you just take off your hat and I'll buy you a beer?"
"Ms. Baker I have a strange hair cut. It embarrasses me to show it in public.
"Jake, please call me Suzie and come and sit with me for a minute. I want to talk to you."
I nodded and followed her to a booth. I sat across from her.
"Jake would you please let me see your hair cut if I promise not to laugh. I don't like the way you walk, it is like you are hurting. I don't want to have to wrestle you."
I looked into her big blue eyes and saw friendliness there. She smiled a warm and gentle smile. "Please."
I smiled back at her. She put her large hand out and patted mine. She was very gentle.
"Suzie, I'll do it for you if you promise not to run when you see it."
"I promise Jake." She grasped my hand and gently squeezed it.
I sighed, I looked at her, then at the crowd around the booth. "Here goes." I reached up and took the hat off and sat it on the bench beside me. Susie stared at my head, everyone else did too!
She whispered, "Oh! God! I'm sorry!"
I put my hand on hers, "It's OK, Susie, You guys didn't know."
The bartender walked over. He looked at Suzie. "Honey, your friend here was just on TV. Seems they just pinned a bunch of medals on his chest over at the Marine Base. He was a pilot in Iraq when a bunch of Marines were pinned down by a couple hundred insurgents. They called for help. Your buddy saw the problem, there was only one way aircraft could attack the enemy and that was flying down a street. The badies knew that too. Any how he didn't let that bother him. He shot the shit out of 'em. Got shot up himself. His pal in the plane with him was shot up bad so they couldn't eject. He crash landed, then carried his buddy six miles to a U.S. Camp. They were both almost dead when he carried him in. He is a genuine hero."
The big guy said, "Sorry Jake. The beers are all on me!"
Suzie yelled, "You guys scat, I want to talk to this guy."
She was holding my hand now. "Where else were you hurt?"
"In my shoulder, chest and legs."
She was looking in my eyes now. God, her eyes were the deepest clear blue I had ever seen. "Where are you headed for Jake? Do you have a wife, family?"
"No, I don't know where I am going, I don't have a wife anymore. I need somewhere to just rest and relax."
"You found someplace if you want it. I have a nice little place a few miles from here. It's on a creek where it empties into a large lake. The fishing and hunting are great. And I have a really nice rocking chair on a porch that looks out across a field to the lake. It is very restful and peaceful. Will you come and let me help get you back in shape?"
I looked at her, a smile came to my lips, "You don't have to do that."
"Yes I do, my little brother was a Marine. He didn't come back. He would want me to do this for you."
I looked at her, I patted her hand, "Thank you, you are very kind, but I just couldn't impose on you like that."
"Will you do it because I really, really want to be with you for a while?"
"Yes, I will do it for that reason, I'd like to get to know you too." We walked out and I followed her home. She was right, her place was gorgeous. Just as she had described it.
She led me through the house and out to a screened porch. The view was as advertised, beautiful. She showed me the rocker and told me to sit, she would be right back. In a few moments she was back, she had changed clothes, she now wore a bikini top and white shorts. She looked really good. She handed me a long neck Bud and sat in the other rocker. She looked at me and smiled, "I brought your stuff in if you want to change. This is my 'unwind' place after a bad day."
"Suzie, I can sure see why, this is a lovely spot to relax and just let it all run off your shoulders. I think I will change. Where is my stuff?"
"Through the door, hall on the left, first door on the left."
"Got it." I found my stuff and changed to a T-shirt and shorts, I had noticed she was barefooted when she came out so I did the same. She smiled at me when I joined her, "You look more comfortable now. Let me know when you are thirsty or hungry."