It had been raining ever since Dan Meadows had left work. He loved the fresh clean scent of the rain so he had his window rolled down just enough to let the scent in without getting wet. Today he had completed the job, so Dan would have a lot of free time on his hands. He wasn't sure if he'd go camping and do some fishing or stay home and do some remodeling of his house. All he wanted to do tonight was to go home, shower and call his friend to see if she wanted to come over tonight.
He had the radio on and was humming to a song that was playing when he rounded a sharp blind curve. There he saw a car pulled off to the side of the road and a young woman standing behind it. From the look's of her, she had been standing out in the rain for a while. He pulled up beside her and turned on the dome light. He saw that she was 6'0" with an average build. When she stepped towards the truck, he noticed that her eyes were light blue.
Her blonde hair was cut short and was so wet that it was plastered to her head. She was wearing a white t-shirt, short shorts and flip flops. Her t-shirt was wet and clung to her, revealing the outlines of her breasts and causing her hard nipples to press against her shirt.
"Having car trouble?' he asked.
"Yeah," she answered in a voice that was just above a whisper.
"Let me get out of the road and I'll take a look at it for you," he said.
Dan backed up and pulled in behind. It was still raining so Dan put his rain coat on. Then he got out of his truck with a flashlight.
"What seems to be wrong with your car?" Dan asked.
"If I knew what was wrong with the damned thing I'd tell you," she answered sarcastically.
"If you want my help knock off the damned attitude," he shot back.
"I'm sorry. When I was coming up the hill a few miles back, it started acting like it wasn't getting any fuel. Then as I was coming around the curve here, it started doing the
same thing. I barely managed to pull it to the side of the road before it quit on me," she informed him.
"Pop the hood so I can take a look," Dan said.
She opened the driver's side door and unlatched the hood.
"Why don't you sit in the car out of the rain?" he offered.
"I'm fine," she answered.
When Dan raised the hood he noticed a strong odor of gas. He checked the fuel lines, then he checked the fuel pump. He closed the hood.
"You need new fuel lines and a new fuel pump," he said as she looked at him.
"Can you fix my car now?" she asked.
"No. There two reasons why I can't fix your car here and now. One, I don't have the parts. Two, I wouldn't work on your care here even if I had the parts since this is a blind curve. Cars can't see you until they are upon you, then it could be too late to stop. There have been many car accidents on this curve, some ending in fatalities," Dan answered.
"Where will you take my car to have it fixed?" she asked nervously.
"I'll tow it to my place and I'll work on it," Dan said.
"Can you fix my car tonight?" she asked.
"The parts store is closed now. I'll have to get the parts I need in the morning," Dan
answered.
As they stood there in the rain, Dan's friend Teddy Morton pulled up beside them in his tow truck.
"What's up big Dan?" Teddy asked.
"This lady is having car trouble and I'm going to tow it to my place so I can work on it when I get the parts in the morning," Dan answered.
"I'll tow it to your place," Teddy volunteered.
"I'd appreciate it bro," Dan replied.
Since Dan had pulled in behind her car, Teddy pulled in front of it. He got out he walked to the back of his tow truck and unfastened the tow chain. Then he pushed a lever forward so he could pull it freely. He pulled the chain to the front of her car. Then he checked under the front of it for a place to hook the chain. After Teddy had the chain hooked to the car, he went back to his truck. He pulled the lever that he had pushed forwards back and pushed another lever forwards. Dan and the young lady watched as her car was pulled forwards and was being raised. After a few minutes Teddy came to them.
"I'm ready to roll," Teddy said.
"You can ride with me or Teddy," Dan said as he looked at the young woman.
"I'll ride with you," she said causing Dan to nod.
"See you at my place Teddy," Dan said.
Then Teddy went to his tow truck and got into it. Dan and the young woman watched as he pulled out and left after a few minutes. They got into his truck and pulled out.
"I'll drop you off at the motel for the night I'll pick you up in the morning when I go to
the parts store," Dan said.
"No motel. I don't want anyone to find me," She said frantically.
"Okay, calm down. You can stay at my place," Dan said.
"Thanks," she said, causing Dan to nod.
It wasn't long until they pulled into his driveway. It was raining harder when they parked
beside Teddy's tow truck.
"Want my coat?" Dan asked.
"I'm already wet so it doesn't matter if I get wetter," she answered as she got out of
the truck and headed towards her car.
Teddy was looking at the 1969 mustang that Dan was rebuilding.
"Dan's a great guy," Teddy said when she walked over to him.
She looked at the car for a few minutes. Then she went to her car and got her suitcase out of the trunk. As Dan and Teddy talked, she went up on the porch and sat down in a rocking chair beside the door.
"Thanks man," Dan said.
"No problem. Just be careful," Teddy said.
"What do you mean?" Dan asked.
"As I was waiting for you and her, Gus called me from home. He told me that a couple of guys came into the station earlier today and were asking about a woman who fits the description of the woman you picked up," Teddy answered.
"She's been acting like she's running from someone or something," Dan said.
"Just be careful okay?" Teddy said.
"Okay," Dan said.
They talked for awhile, then Teddy left. As Dan started towards the porch, the young woman met him half way.
"Who are you running from and why are you running?" Dan asked.
"Why do you ask?" she Asked.
"A couple of men came into the gas station earlier today and they were asking about you," Dan answered.
"What makes you think that it was me they were asking about?" she asked.
"You fit the description of the woman that they were looking for," Dan answered.
"What did the did the person working there tell them?" She asked.
"He told them the truth, that he hadn't seen you," Dan answered.
"Good," she said.
"If they come to me asking about you, I might hand you over to them," Dan said as they went up onto the Porch.
"They're not cops," she said.
"I don't care who they are. I don't want any trouble," he said as he unlocked and opened the door.
"You can take me to the motel," she said.
"You can stay here if you want to," Dan said.
"What if the ones who are looking for me come here?" she asked.
"I'll deal with them," he answered causing her to smile for the first time since he picked her up.
"Do you have anything to drink?" she asked.
"I have is some box wine," he answered.
"Box wine?" she asked.
"It's wine that comes in a box instead of a bottle," he answered.
"I'll have a glass of it if you don't mind," she said.
"I don't mind. I don't drink it. I keep it for a friend so when she comes over she can have a glass or two," he said as he got a glass from the cabinet.
He poured some wine into it. When he Started to hand It to her, he saw her looking into the mirror running her fingers through her hair.
"Here's your wine," he said.
"Thanks," she said as she took it from him.
"Are you hungry?" Dan asked.
"I could eat," she said.
"I hope you like leftover meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy." he said.
"Whatever you want to cook is fine with me," she said.
Dan went over to the fridge and took the meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy out.
"Need any help?" she asked.
"I've got it thanks," Dan said.
After he put the meat loaf on a pan and placed it in the oven, he placed the potatoes in a bowl and put them in the microwave. He set the timer for ten minutes. He turned the burner on. Then he got a sauce pan and put the gravy in it. He set the pan on the burner.
As the gravy began to get hot, Dan began to stir it. When they gravy was hot, he removed it from it the burner and set the pan on the back burner. He checked the potatoes and stirred them.