02

Copyright 2014

Just to prove I am still writing, here is the start to the two books about Mike in Ontario.

Welcome to the world of Michael Claymore. For those who are fans of Mike's from his mystery novels what we have here is a series about his life prior to the mysteries. We will discover what makes him tick, so to speak.

I envision this prequel series in the following way:

1. Mike joins the navy.

"Midnight Train to Halifax"

1, 2, 3, 4 & 5. Mike's life in the navy

"Mike's Navy" - a five part series

6 & 7. Mike's life in Ontario

"Mike's Ontario - a two part novel

8. Mike goes west.

"Into the Sunset"

For those unfamiliar with Mike Claymore please proceed... BUT a word of caution. Mike's novels are very explicit meaning they push the limits of eroticism. If you are the least squeamish about nudism or sexual intercourse you would be advised to seek reading elsewhere. And now I turn you over to Mike... enjoy!

Chapter One

It's Friday, May 30, 1986 and the location is Kingston, Ontario, Canada in a home on Bath Road near the head of Collins Bay. It's a rental home and the rent is paid at the nearby Collins Bay Animal Hospital to the owner of both buildings. Mike is not home, he's at the animal hospital but not to pay his rent, he's paid it already.

Mike has been walking the beach in the early morning light and has come up by the animal hospital on his way home. He's wracking his brain trying to decide what to do. He rented this home with the expectation he had employment with a nearby munitions manufacturer as a truck driver but when he arrived to take up his job the company has gone broke and sold out overnight. He has no job.

He calls, "Good morning, Ho," Ho Kling's a foreign student attending Queen's University in the city. He's doing undergraduate studies in mathematics and engineering, as well as part time employment here at the animal hospital. "Is Audrey in yet?" Audrey Madden is the resident veterinarian.

"I haven't seen her yet, Mr. Claymore. See if her car is out front, sir." He goes on feeding animals along the back pens. Mike proceeds shaking his head. No matter how he tries to persuade him Ho will not call him Mike. Mike likes the vet that works here, she's about thirty and divorced, but she's a redhead and he has a failing for redheads. He likes to tease and flirt with her.

Perhaps he should go home and flirt with his wife but he spots Audrey's car in the lot. Now Mike is a twenty one year old hormone stuffed healthy male that can seldom refuse his lusty nature so he rushes into the building. "Good morning, Audrey," he sings out. "Where are you hiding?"

She peeks out of an office door, "Mike? What're you up to today?"

"I came by for a morning quickie but if you're tied up..."

"Mike! Shame on you! If you're wife heard you say that she'd skin you alive." She comes out grinning to the counter, "Besides if I ever agreed with you I'd break your back!" she laughs, "So beware!"

"Actually I was wondering if you might have any ideas on how I could get a job. Do you know of anyone hiring? Or even anyone needing help?"

"Have you checked the unemployment office?"

"I looked in on them yesterday afternoon. Nothing for a truck driver. And whatever they did have is unionized. I'm not a member yet." Mike plays with her arm working in towards a breast. She slaps at him in an irritated manner.

"Most non-union outfits stay away from hiring through the Unemployment Office. You might find newspaper ads or by word of mouth."

Mike leans in to kiss her mouth and she backs away, "Mike, stop that! You know what I mean."

"I wanted to check your word of mouth." he grins. "Okay," he sighs, "I'll check the paper. Do you have today's"

"I haven't read it yet. Go ahead and check it. If there's anything you can tear it out." Mike takes the classifieds and she takes the paper reading the headlines. "Weren't you here around the first of May with a blonde and four kids? Where'd she go?"

"That was Josey, the last renter."

"You had a big blue truck..." she grins, "... and you spent the night. At least one night. So that wasn't your wife, eh?"

"You'll meet my wife, she's at the house now. Her name's Marlene. She's a brunette, nearly my height and dyne-o-mite! We have two kids, a boy and a girl." He asks, "Where's Camden East?"

"It's between Odessa and Napanee about six miles north of the 401. Why?"

"It says someone is looking for a truck driver over there but all they leave is a phone number. I wonder who that would be?"

"Camden East? I have no idea. I live out at Odessa with my mom. There's no big business in Camden East that I know."

"Maybe I'll give him a call. Maybe you have brought me luck. I'm going to owe you more than a quickie now. Dang!"

"Oh go home and screw your old lady." she laughs.

"Hey, that's a good idea. Thanks for the hint!" He asks, "Can I take this section of the paper?" She waves him off nodding as he leaves.

Two doors over in the red brick ranch Mike enters the door and calls out he's home. His wife magically appears by his elbow with a fresh cup of coffee in hand. She says, "Where'd you get the paper? I thought you went for a walk along the beach."

"I stopped by the animal hospital on my way back and swiped theirs." He flips it open, "There's a possible job offer in there driving truck. I'll call about it." He sips his coffee.

"Can't you find anyone from Valcartier Industries? They're the ones who offered you the job. I would think they should have to provide one."

"I'm inquiring all over but so far no one knows anyone still around from the company. I heard many employees were let go and have moved out of the area. I'd like to go up to Sudbury and see what's going on at their new plant up there. I hear it's laying off as well, though and it might be under a new name. I heard it's been bought by CIL (Canada Industries Limited) or SNC Technologies, Inc. There's also a rumor the whole thing is in receivership and on the block."

"Why all the secrecy?"

"To avoid responsibilities. They had contracts for everything in their daily operation. None of those contacts are being met now so they are under all kinds of legal and likely some illegal means to protect themselves. I doubt there's any dependable work to be had there now. It's a shame since there were a lot of good people in that company."

"Well, come eat some breakfast. Would you like bacon or sausages with your eggs?"

"Bacon, I guess. How long until it's ready? Do I have time to make a call?"

"Make it quick." Mike calls the number in the paper and a man answers. He asks if Mike is in the union and agrees to meet him at Denny's at two PM at the truck stop in Napanee.

"He seemed happy when I said I wasn't in the union and that I have experience driving in Canada and the USA. I hope it's on the up and up, not some illegal crap. Anyway, I'm meeting him at Denny's in Napanee after lunch."

Mike makes his way to the truck stop at Napanee and pulls in around back where the trucks are parked out of habit. He parks and goes inside to greet Toni, a 22 year five foot six brunette who is a waitress here. "Hi beautiful, what's new?"

"Mike, someone's looking for you. He was in here a few minutes ago. I'm sure he'll be back. Coffee?"

"He didn't say who he was, eh?" She shakes her head. "I guess you better pour me a cup." He grins. "When we getting together again?"

She grins, "Not now, here he comes."

A husky mustached man in vest and baseball cap approaches and asks, "Are you Mike?" Mike nods and offers his hand. The guy shakes it saying, "KG Richardson here, Mike. Glad to meet you." He nods towards Toni and asks, "Are you busy, Mike? If not would you like to join me out back?"

"Don't bother with the coffee, beautiful. Later!" He gets up to go out to the yard with the prospective employer. He asks, "So what have you got for a job?"

"I like that, a man of action and a self starter. See that rig ahead of you?" He nods to a cab over tractor, a 1977 red and white International Transtar II in good looking repair with Richardson splashed across the door.

Mike smiles, "Yeah, nice looking rig. Which engine you got in it?"

"It's not a Binder, got a Cummins KT 450 six in that baby. 1150 cu. in. of turbo charged power. It does the job! Do you think you can handle it?"

Mike scratches his jaw, "I guess I might need a few minutes to figure her out but I've driven a lot worse. I started out on a logging truck with twin sticks, it was an old second world war vintage Hayes. Drove from Halifax to Vancouver Island for the navy with that one."

"How come your out of work now?"

"I was supposed to have a job driving for Valcartier so I left the navy and when I arrive here they're gone. Guess I could be working now if I was a member of the union but no time for that yet either."

"Well, maybe we're both in luck. I'm an owner-operator and I got lucky with lots of work so I bought a second truck and put my son on it. Now I have more work so I bought this truck but I haven't got a driver for it yet. Are you free to drive now?"

"I suppose I am. Where to?"

"El Paso with a load of cattle. My boy Keith Jr. is on the road with one load and I'm pulling out with another tonight but it would be nice to know we have another load on it's way behind us. The thing is with cattle you don't stop except to get them back on their feet. It's thirty six hours without sleep. You have to fabricate your log book and dodge the weigh scales but when you get in down there at Eastman Livestock you can go to a motel and pass out for a day, if you want." He grins. "All our loads aren't like these ones but we got the contract and couldn't refuse. What do you say, Mike?"

"I'll have to discuss it with my wife but I think you got yourself a driver."

"When can you let me know?"

"I suppose this afternoon before supper. Will that work?"

"Okay, here's my card. If it's a go, come on up and you can follow me to the pickup point then load after I'm loaded. If I've gone to load up before you call though, don't bother. Got it?"

"Yes sir, I think I'll be on your tail."

Mike gets up to go home and KG calls after him, "Is that pink abortion yours?" Mike just laughs and gets into his 1964 W200 Crew Cab. It's ex USAF and repainted soft baby pink at the behest of a previous girl friend. He goes straight home to discuss the job offer with his wife forgetting his promise to join Toni for coffee.

"Surely there must be something better than this around, Mike. You'll be on the road for days again!"

"I like the looks of that binder (International cab-over) he was driving and he says I'll be driving that. He drives a fairly new conventional Pete (Peterbuilt). I'm not sure what his son drives but I bet it's fairly new, as well."

"Why would you want to be stuck with the old one then?"

"It's a Binder! It'll go on forever and never break down. It's like that old Hayes, nothing will stop it."

"I think you've already made up your mind, you're going, aren't you?" She's pouring a saucer of milk. "How long will you be gone?"

"Yeah, I guess I have... what's that for?" he points at the milk.

"I think we have a cat. It's under the back steps hiding."

"Huh? What kind of a cat?"

"I don't know, but it's big."

"Well be careful, we don't want anything dangerous around here with the kids. Maybe you shouldn't feed it."

"Oh Mike, it's not a tiger, it's a cat. Why don't you see if you can lure it out to see it?" She adds, "You didn't answer me. How long?"

Mike goes and looks under the porch. "Kitty, kitty, kitty," he calls and baleful eyes watch him. He calls, "Give me the milk." He tries to lure him with the milk but no luck. He glances over and sees the vet by her little white convertible in the lot. He calls, "Hey Audrey," he waves her over.

She comes walking over, "What you got?"

"I think it's a cat. It's under the porch and I'm not sure. Wouldn't want it to be something dangerous with the kids, eh? Can you see what it is?"

"It's a cat. It's a big old Maine coon cat. They're loveable with kids and I think she's lost. Come on, baby." and she soothingly talks to it as it comes out to her. Marlene watches and says nothing. Mike can feel her eyes boring into him so he introduces them, "Marlene, this is our neighbor, the veterinarian at the animal hospital, Audrey and Audrey, this is my wife, Marlene. Looks like you have a cat, dear."

Audrey blurts out, "Not me."

Marlene says, "I think he meant me, love. And thank you, I'll look after it now."

Audrey blurts, "Oh dear, I put my foot into it, didn't I. I'm so sorry, I thought he was talking to me. I have to run now." She runs off and Marlene smirks.

She says, "Run along like a good little girl." and she quietly laughs. "Well, don't stand there. Are you going to work or not and are you going to tell me how long you'll be gone?"

Mike goes and makes a call. "I'm on my way as soon as I pack a few things. I shouldn't be more than an hour."

Mike throws in his briefcase and bedroll with fresh sheets and pillowcases. He glances at his CB but thinks he recalls seeing antennas on the truck this afternoon. "I'm on my way, love. I'll call you from Texas, I guess. It's 36 hours one way so I will likely be at least six days but it could run into eight." He kisses her and is on his way.

He goes to the 401 and watches for the exit 593 to Provincial Highway #4 then flies north to Camden East. It's about five miles north so he pulls in to the Richardson farm and pulls out behind the drive shed. KG calls to him, "Park that out of sight, please." He laughs and says it's just a joke.

"Come on in the office." Mike follows him into the shed and sure enough, in one corner he has a raised floor and office. He shows Mike where they're going for the cattle up by Lindsay north of Oshawa, how to handle the cattle if they lay down on him (that must be prevented by all measures since they can smother each other and die) where to stop and water, feed and milk, if they have milkers. He advises Mike to not do 'bennies' as they give you false confidence you can stay awake longer than you actually can.

Lots of other dos and don'ts and asks if he has any questions. Mike asks if he can stop in Chicago for one night on his way back. An old friend, he explains. KG says he will have earned it by then. He adds they might not have another load by then anyway. Mike's taken aback. "You mean this might be a one trip shot?"

"You never know. If we have the work I hope we have all three trucks on the go steady but..." he shrugs. They go out to the trucks and Mike looks the CO over. It's all fueled up and has been for two runs already to Florida. KG took it on one trip and his son on the other. He says it's all set to go. Mike walks around it checking and climbs up into the cab. It feels good and the instrument panels make sense. He notes the ten speed tranny and the curtain behind the seats. He looks the sleeper over and grins.

He kicks it over and listens to it grind then kick, sputter and kick again then rattle and purr. He touches the accelerator lightly and it roars softly. Okay, he toots the air horn and they pull out. They go out Provincial Highway #1 to the 401 and then make time for Lindsay. In an hour Mike sees signal lights ahead and the exit for Lindsay. It's Wilmot Creek and they're taking #115 north.

KG sings out the turn and Mike's aware of it. He likes the CB radios that KG has in this truck but he thinks it was in it when he bought it. This truck does have a good radio, as well. He wonders why KG took these loads without a return load to make it really pay but he supposes they don't have a license to haul within the USA. They'd have to have a load going to Canada but he thinks there must be something.

Oh well, he thinks, as long as he gets paid. He watches the evening shadows increasing as they fly along and very quickly it seems they are pulling into Kennedy Registered Cattle auctions in Lindsay. He follows KG and they swing around a row of empty cattle trailers then pull up to hook up to the first one. Mike lines up with the second but isn't happy with that. He'd like to pick the trailer of his choice and he tells KG on the CB.

KG gets down and comes over to him. "Hey Mike, they have a CB in the office. We don't have a choice of trailers, they want us to take the next one."

"Do you have the contract with these guys or the cattle owners?"

KG regards him, "With the auction."

"I think you should have included your own choice of trailers in that contract. Just a hint for next time, boss." He shrugs. KG walks away in a thoughtful silence.

Mike goes to hook up and looks the trailer over good before he hooks up to it. It's actually in pretty good shape and the tires all look good. He checks brake adjustments but determines to check them again once he has a hundred miles on them.

He pulls around and finds another truck has gotten between him and KG. He parks and watches the action. He sees some cattle loaded and they don't look healthy. He climbs down and goes to KG's truck. He climbs up and asks, "Do we have to load those sickly ones with the rest?"

KG shrugs, "That's not our decision to make. If the buyer wants them shipped it's up to us to move them."

"And if they die?"

"As long as it's not us that's at fault it's not our problem."

"That makes me very uncomfortable. How many do you usually lose?"

"Sometimes half a dozen but many times none. I guess it depends on the health of the critters."

"How long does it take to load?"

"About an hour. I'm next and then that White behind me then you so it'll be a couple hours if you want to get a snooze. Did you look over that route I gave you? Try not to deviate from it and you'll miss all the scales."

"Yeah, okay. We're not overweight anyway, are we?"

"No, but they want to check your log book at the scales. They'll record your time at the border in your log so ask them to start you at zero. They'll enter a dozen miles or so and after that it's up to you. That's one of the reasons why you don't want to be picked up."

"I see you go by Windsor/Detroit but I'm used to going by Sarnia. Is that a problem? I don't see any scales my way."

"You hit I94 anyway, don't you? No problem." He grins, "So who do you know in Chi town? Some skirt?"

"Oh, it's a lady friend. We're old buddies with benefits, if you know what I mean."

"Nuff said, I heard nothing! Enjoy!"

"Okay, I'm going back for a snooze. Give me a shout when your done." KG nods and Mike climbs down. He sort of wishes he'd called Michelle but he might see her in Port Huron or he might call her before he leaves here. He enters his sleeper and checks it out. Too comfortable for now, he might not wake up when he wants to so he climbs into his air ride seat. That's comfortable, as well. He dozes listening to the radio and rouses up when the truck ahead of him pulls ahead. He pulls ahead behind him and sees movement as another truck fills in behind him.

He actually dozes off then and wakes when KG calls that he's loaded. He pulls ahead so he's next in line and watches KG pull out. He's alert now for a good twenty four hours and will have to manage another twelve. He'll be following old route 66 most of the way from Chicago so that should keep him alert to see if he can find remnants of it. He sighs. It will be a challenge.

He wonders if he had an appointment to see his doctor today. He thinks he did but missed it. She won't be happy.

His turn rolls around and they load the animals with standing room only. Mike has never hauled livestock before so this is all new to him. He would be comfortable with fewer animals but supposes they support each other on the road. When he has his count and the doors are closed he pulls around to the office.