Although my eyes were getting tired, I wasnāt sleepy. Concentrating on the road dealing with the constant rain had taken its toll. I decided to drive on to Columbia and find a place to stay for the night. Iād been on the road since mid-morning, leaving Cincinnati after the last sales meeting. I spotted a billboard advertising one of the national hotel chains and made a mental note of the exit number off the interstate.
Reaching Columbia, I drove off the interstate onto the exit seeing the multi-floor hotel directly up the road. I pulled into the parking lot and went in hoping to be able to get a room for the night. Luck was with me. I was able to get a room on the fourth floor, very pricey but all the amenities you could think of, including a coffee maker with several packets of coffee. I figured Iād put that to use later on in the evening.
I sat down in one of the chairs, slipping off my shoes. I propped my feet up on the edge of the queen-size bed. I used the remote to skip through the channels trying to find something interesting to watch. Not finding much but news on at this time of the evening. I relaxed in the comfortable chair, dozing off and on occasionally.
I heard someone in the room next to mine. It sounded like two men talking. I noticed a door along the wall between the two rooms, which made the rooms adjoining. I got up and checked to make sure it was locked. It was. I heard the shower running in the room next to mine, thinking that wasnāt a bad idea, but figuring Iād wait till after Iād eaten to get a shower before bed. I watched the rest of the news program and a little bit of a situation comedy, a rerun. I decided Iād go down to the hotel restaurant and get some dinner. I grabbed my shoulder bag and headed for the door.
As I stepped out into the hallway of the hotel, the door at the room next to mine opened. Two young guys stepped from the room, pulling their door shut. They were both wearing black cowboy hats.
āHowdy Maāam.ā They both spoke.
āHello.ā I replied, smiling at them.
I started walking towards the elevators down the hallway, the guys were a following a little behind me. I pushed the button and the elevator doors opened. I stepped in the elevator and the two guys stepped in next to me. One of the guys and I reached to push the lobby floor button at the same time. I jerked my hand back.
āBet yāall is headinā the same place as us.ā One of the guys stated in his Texas draw. āSupperā
I smiled. āYes, I havenāt eaten all day. Just been driving.ā
I donāt know why I said that much to them, it just came out. They smiled and asked where I was heading.
āPaxico, Kansas, just a little west of Topeka.ā I informed them. There I go again, talking more than I should, I thought. The guys nodded.
āRight off the interstate a little.ā One of the men remarked. āBeen by there a lot.ā
I smiled. āWell, thereās not a whole lot there so you havenāt missed much.ā I kidded.
We rode the elevator down to the lobby not saying anything more; the elevator was slow for some reason. When the elevator finally got to the lobby level, the guys stepped back letting me off first. I got out and looked around for the hotel restaurant, not seeing any signs.
āRick and I are headinā across the street to our favorite steak place. We always eat there when weāre in town. Beats the hotel restaurant all to heck.ā The guyās Texas draw prominent. āWeād both be pleased if youād join us.ā
I was a little taken by their invitation. Their pleasantness had me almost convinced to take them up on their offer. I hesitated, starting to say āthanks but noā. I shrugged my shoulders and decided to take them up on their offer. It would be nice to have someone to converse with at dinner I thought. We walked out of the hotel and across the parking lot. The steakhouse was directly across the street. We waited till traffic broke and hurried across the busy street. The three of us entered the restaurant. It was busy but we got seated immediately. The smell of steaks cooking filled the entire dining area. The smell made me hungry.
We looked over the menus, it was hard to decide. Everything sounded so good and the prices were reasonable. I picked out a small t-bone steak complete with everything you could possibly want to go with it. We placed our order and the guys ordered a beer each. They ordered one for me. Iām not much of a drinker but a cold beer sounded good with dinner.
The guys apologized for not introducing themselves. Rick and Trey were their names.
āHi, Iām Michelle.ā I introduced myself to them.
The waitress brought the glasses of ice-cold beer. I sipped mine, Rick and Tyler drank theirs down, guess they were really thirsty. They told me they were long-haul truckers, based out of Brownsville, Texas. They were both married with young children. I told them I work for a real estate investment firm in Topeka. They seemed interested in what my work entailed and I explained what I actually did at work. They seemed sincerely interested, asking a lot of questions. I asked them about their truck driving jobs. They were team drivers, constantly on the road. They were rarely home more than a couple of days a month. I thought how hard that must be for them and their families. I figured they were both in their mid-twenties, about ten years younger than me.
āI see youāre married.ā Trey stated, nodding his head at my wedding band.
āYes, married with one son. Heāll be fourteen next month.ā I added, smiling.
āWhat does your husband do for a living?ā Rick asked.
āHeās a farmer, mostly wheat and soy beans. He works for his father.ā I replied.
The waitress brought the food and more beer. The steaks were fantastic. Iād never tasted a better steak anywhere. I could see why the guys always ate here when they were in Columbia. We talked all the time we ate. The guys were very nice, very polite and courteous. They seemed to be more concerned about me than with themselves. We finally ate all we could. I was a great dinner. The waitress brought us more beers, I barely touched mine. Trey lit up a cigarette and I pulled one from my handbag. Trey lit it for me. It seemed like they were catering to my every need. We sat and talked for about thirty minutes before deciding to pay our bills and leave. I reached for mine but the Trey picked it up before I could get it.
āLet us take care of it, little lady.ā He said. āItād be our pleasure.ā
I told them I couldnāt do that but they insisted. I finally gave in but only if theyād let me take care of the tip. They agreed to that. I left the waitress a generous tip; sheād done an excellent job of serving us. We left the steakhouse and proceeded back to the hotel. The traffic was much lighter and we didnāt have much problem getting across the street. Trey wanted to check their ārigā so he walked off to one side of the hotel parking lot. Rick and I walked towards the hotel watching Trey hurry off from us. We entered the hotel lobby and walked towards the elevators. We waited on Trey to join us before calling for an elevator. Trey came in shortly; it had started to pour rain again. His shirt was wet, almost soaked. He wasnāt upset, just smiled and kidded about taking another shower in the parking lot.
We rode the elevator back up the fourth floor and walked down the hallway towards our rooms. I stopped at my door and turned to thank them for buying me dinner. I wanted to thank them for being so nice too.
āWeāve got some hot coffee brewing in our room. Why donāt you join us for some coffee? Rick quickly stated. āStill early yet.ā
I felt a little trapped. I didnāt want to say ānoā and have them think I had suddenly turned unfriendly. I was just a little apprehensive to accept their invitation. I stood looking at the door to my hotel room, finally deciding to have a cup of coffee with them, just to be friendly. Trey opened their hotel room door and Rick guided me in. Their room was larger than mine, with two queen-size beds instead of just one. There was a table by the window with several chairs around it. The guys had piled their luggage in the chairs. I put my handbag on the table and sat at the foot of one of the beds. Trey said heād be right back and went into the bathroom. Rick went over to the coffee counter and fixed us coffees.
āCream, cream and sugar?ā He asked.