I needed a vacation away from everyone and all my usual problems. I got in my car and ended up at the coast. I checked in to a small hotel with a nice view. The Oregon Coast is beautiful and I love it most in the winter, with the wind and rain. There is nothing like the power and the beauty of a storm at the beach.
When I started out it was just drizzling so I wore a sweatshirt and carried my shoes. I walked for a couple of miles enjoying the sounds of the ocean and watching the seagulls. The beach was deserted except for one other person. I passed him as he walked by in the other direction. He said hello with a sweet southern drawl. I smiled at him and his voice seemed to stay with me as I walked by echoing through my mind.
I kept walking for another mile or so enjoying the cold sand on my bare feet and the slight sting of the wind. When it started to rain heavily I decided to turn back. It didn't take me long to realize that the tide was rolling in very quickly. I wondered if I would have time to make it back. I jogged down the beach hoping to beat the tide.
I saw him in the distance just making it past the breaking waves, I knew by the time I reached that part of the beach it would be to late. It wouldn't be the first time I had stayed out to long and gotten stranded.
I looked around for somewhere to wait out the tide. There was a log close to the sand dunes that looked safe enough. There was nothing else to do but wait. I leaned back against the log and started to laugh when the rain began to pour down so hard it made divots in the sand. I turned my attention to the man approaching on the beach. I watched as he drew closer. He was tall with short dark hair He smiled and looked down at me.
"You like getting wet, or are you stuck till the tide changes?" he asked.
"Stuck," I said moving to sit up on the log. He sat down next to me and we watched the waves for a while.
"My place is just down the beach a ways," he paused as if gauging my response.
"You want to go sit by the fire until the tide goes back out?" My eyes widened in surprise. I shivered involuntarily. He grinned and stood up holding out his hand to me. I stared at him and then his hand. I shrugged my shoulders and took his hand, he pulled me to my feet but he didn't let go. We walked together hand in hand without saying a word until a house overlooking the ocean came into view.
"That's it," he said pointing towards it. There was a sandy path and he led me up to it and to the door.
"Wait a minute," I said still holding on to his hand.
"I don't even know your name."
He grinned at me and said, "Joe." He paused for a moment and then added, "Are you going to tell me your or shall I guess?"