This is a fictional story with all characters over eighteen and all rights reserved to the author.
I looked up at the gray clouds rolling off to the Northeast, taking the light rain with them. The beginnings of sunshine could be seen in the rearview mirror of my car. You would have thought the change in the weather would have bright-ened my mood, even with the lateness of the summer day, but not when I was sitting on the side of the road with a flat tire.
Worse than that, I was somewhere east of Lake Winnebago, in Wisconsin, on a dirt road. There was only one house in sight, and it appeared quiet. Worse still, my cellphone showed only one bar and my tries at calling for help had both failed. I was beginning to regret leaving work early on Friday so I could be here. Chicago was over two and a half hours behind me now, and I had nothing but country roads and farms scattered sparsely around me.
I could hear the voices in my brain of my friends and family questioning my rea-son for being here in the first place. I was here to investigate possibly buying a sixty-acre farm I'd found on a realty listing site. The voice of my best friend and the best man at my wedding, Ben Ward, rang in my head. "What the hell do you want with a farm? You're a hedge fund manager. You'll never make a tenth of what you make now on a freaking farm." Not sure his word was freaking, though.
I couldn't argue with that, of course, but at thirty-six I felt like I was in a mid-life crisis. I'd lost my wife, Beth, to progressive breast cancer two years ago. She was my college sweetheart and the total love of my life. Ever since that day, my life just revolved around my work and making money. Yeah, I'd had a few trysts and even a steady relationship for six months or so, but it too eventually crashed and burned. I'd bought toys, like my beloved Land Rover, flat tire and all, and my thirty-nine-foot Hunter sailboat moored in Chicago, but nothing seemed to satisfy my depression over losing the beautiful and fulfilling life I'd had, and planned, with Beth.
Somehow, I'd begun to believe changing my life and scenery would be the key. Money alone could no longer fully motivate me. I needed more.
My boss had even cooperated when I told him I'd like to work more from home in Wisconsin than to constantly be in the office. I'd keep my Lincoln Park home, as I'd still need it for days I had meetings in the City. As I was one of the company's top fund managers for the last ten years, he was willing to bend a bit from the norm.
I was beginning to see what my family and friends were saying as I sat there in my expensive suit. I was so far out in the boonies that none of my big ticket electron-ics could help me. The rain had left the ground muddy and the spare to the Land Rover was nicely secured underneath the back end. I wasn't opposed to changing tires, and thanks to my dad's training I knew how, but the thought of crawling around in the mud in my suit just didn't appeal to me.
I finally decided to get out of the car and check out my options once again. I left my coat and tie in the air conditioned car and surveyed the situation. I could strip off my "David Donahue" shirt and only risk my suit pants getting dirty changing the tire, or try walking to the nearest town. Both choices were pretty much unde-sirable.
I decided on trying to change the tire, as when I looked around I could see nothing but the one lone farm house and open space. I'd passed a small sleepy town fif-teen minutes back; I figured walking that could easily take me an hour. Also, since it was nearly eight o'clock, I'd be lucky to find anything open or anyone to help. Hopefully, I could change the tire without ruining my pants, and then make my way back to the Sheboygan hotel I'd checked into earlier. Stupidly, I'd been in such a rush to get a look at the farm before meeting the realtor that I hadn't changed or even eaten while I was there.
I was midway through taking my shirt off when I saw headlights bouncing up and down on the bumpy road about a mile away. I decided to wait and see if this per-son might be of help. Hopefully, it would be a patrol car or better yet a tow truck. As the car approached, my heart sank a bit seeing it was an older model Outback or Volkswagen. Thankfully, the car did pull to a stop next to mine. I walked up to the passenger side window as it lowered.
Before I could say anything a pleasant female voice said, "Having trouble?"
"Yeah, a flat, of all things," I said, bending over to see the women behind the steering wheel.
I was startled a bit to see bright blue eyes and a beautiful blonde woman looking at me. She smiled as her eyes met mine before she cast them down at my open shirt. I'd gone without a tee shirt today, and my bare chest was clearly visible through the partially-unbuttoned dress shirt.
"Um...I was just about to try changing it," I stated.
"In those clothes?"
"Not much choice," I agreed. "That's why I was taking my shirt off."
"I see," she commented, as her eyes once again drifted to my chest.
"Might you have a cell phone I could borrow? Mine doesn't get coverage here."
"Sure. Are you from around here?" she asked, but with a real questioning tone like she already knew better.
"No. Chicago."
"Who you want to call?"
"A service man?"
"I doubt you can find anyone local working this late on a Friday."
"Oh? You don't think so?"
"Closest gas station is John Park's Citgo in Chilton, and he's closed by now. You might be able to get someone to drive out from Manitowoc, but that will cost you."
"I can pay cash."
"Well, you're welcome to try," she said, and she pulled her car off the road in front of mine.
I thought it was odd that she kept the engine running, until I noticed two blonde-haired young boys in the back seat, strapped into car seats. I guessed they were maybe three or four years old, perhaps even twins. She climbed out of the car and I got a quick look at her before she handed me her phone. She had on short white shorts and a light blue blouse. The white bra underneath was partially visi-ble through the thin cotton fabric. Complete with white sandals, she looked ap-propriately dressed for the summer heat of July. She moved like a long-legged cat.
"Cell phone coverage out here is spotty at best," she warned.
"Thanks," I said taking the older model phone from her hand, our fingers touching briefly.
I cursed myself for not having AAA, forcing me to try to find the closest gas station or repair shop using her phone. She was right. The first two I called just rang and rang. The third answered, but it was just a kid working the cash register and there weren't any repair people there. I realized I was just keeping her from getting home or whatever and handed her back her phone.
"I'm sorry...looks like you're right. I can't seem to find anyone. I'll have to tackle it myself before I lose all of my daylight. I just hate to ruin these pants crawling under the car to pull out the spare."
"Expensive?" was all she said looking down at them.
"Yeah...part of my suit. My jacket is in the car."
"Well, wait until I'm home over there," she said smiling, pointing to the one lone house I'd seen before. "Then you can take them off if you want."
"What?"
"This road only goes to my house and Mr. Crandall's down the road, and he doesn't drive anymore. The chances of you seeing another car on this road are next to none," she said with a beautiful smile.
Her face was gorgeous in the slowly setting sun that cast a golden glow over her tanned skin. She looked like an angel with a halo of gold hair. I was lost in those blue eyes, too. I must have been staring for a second and made her uncomforta-ble as she dropped the smile.
"Okay...good luck," she said, turning to leave.
"Thanks...and thanks for letting me use your phone."
She turned around with her car door open as if for a quick escape. "What brings you all the way out here anyway?" she asked, suddenly curious.
"I wanted to get an early look at the Martin place," I said. "I'm to meet a realtor there tomorrow morning at nine."
"You foreclosing on it or something?"
"Oh, no...I might buy it."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Why? Shouldn't I?"
"You a farmer?"
"No," I said laughing.
"Why do you want a farm, then?"
"That's exactly what everyone I know is asking. I guess I'm just looking for some-thing different in my life."
"Well, based on the fancy dudes you have on I'd say you are really stepping out from your norm to try farming."
"Very true."
