A HELPING HAND
Jodie hadn't noticed the under inflated tire as she pulled out of the gas station but a little while later as she jabbed the brakes just before a bend, she heard a dull thud and the ominous jarring sound of flattened rubber hitting the blacktop. Instinctively she lifted her foot off the brake and headed for a straight stretch of road, the car slowing under the increased friction.
The last time she'd seen a tire changed had been some years ago when her ex husband had done it. She sighed and stared into the trees, tendrils of mist curled lazily around the trunks a little further in although at the forest edge the mist had long since dissipated. A slight feeling of uneasiness tugged at her mind, she was all alone in a mountain forest. A few moments later she reached into a black Michael Kors bag and as she fumbled for the mace, she brushed against a photograph.
Her eyes flickered downwards as she looked at the picture briefly. It showed her arm in arm with a blonde woman, both of them were smiling. She pushed the memory away and grabbed the mace. Angie was now back with her boyfriend and she was alone, again. Angie, beautiful, confused and sultry as she wormed her way into her bed. However, Angie would no more move into her studio apartment on the Upper East side, than dance naked through Times Square. Bright red lips tightened as her eyes flickered to the photograph again.
Perhaps I should turn straight,
she flicked the door handle and winced,
live the ultimate lie.
Four inch Louboutins hit the dirt a few seconds later.
Perhaps I should change shoes.
The pin stripe skirt suit looked fabulous in the office, the elegantly cut jacket accentuated her slim waist, finished with a satin bow at the back. The short skirt with its deep sweeping folds afforded a generous view of her knees beneath white fishnets, the cream silk blouse was open to just above her cleavage and a pinstripe waistcoat accentuated her ample bosom. Out here in the backwoods though she looked seriously overdressed. Auburn hair tumbled past her shoulderblades in cascading waves and she flicked at it as she stared at the rear wheel.
The tire was as flat as a pancake and she could see slivers of metal poking through. After a moment's hesitation she moved to the rear and opening the hatch, hauled on one of the suitcases. It was wedged beside another suitcase and she began working it free, suddenly aware that someone was pulling up behind her. She yanked the suitcase free catching her nail at the same time, she cursed and spun around just as the engine died. She couldn't see the driver, but caught a flash of blonde hair as the driver ducked below the dashboard to reach for something.
Jodie stared at the old Chevy pickup with its dented hood and cracked headlamp. She dropped her hand into her pocket and clutched the mace tightly as she bit her lip, her cell was in the car. She noticed a shotgun and rifle hanging from a rack behind the driver and licked her lips.
A moment later the driver sat up and she found herself staring at a young woman. A smile caused her to slacken her grip on the can as the door opened and black cowboy boots hit the road, a shower of dust drifted lazily upwards.
Honey blonde hair fell in thick silky tresses to her waist. The sleeves of the red plaid shirt were partly rolled up to show a large watch on one arm and a beaded Indian bracelet on the other. The shirt was tucked into tight blue jeans, a pair of leather braces were clipped onto a broad, embossed belt adorned with a silver wolf buckle.
"Hey, you," she hooked her thumbs behind the braces and smiled, "looks like you're in a peck of trouble."
The flash of pearly white teeth put her mind at ease, as did those big brown eyes, she made a mental calculation of early twenties. With a roundish face and clean cut looks, soft complexion, slim build and long legs she could have been the girl next door.
She smiled nervously as the woman noted the tire.
"Well, your tire's all wore out, you ain't goin' nowhere with that."
"No," she glanced up as a dog's head poked up above the dashboard. She didn't look like she could turn a lug wrench but any help out here was better than none, "it must have been under inflated, I went around the bend back there and she just blew on me."
"We don't see too many outsiders here, especially gussied up like that," she glanced at her outfit, "great shoes but, where did you get them?"
"Saks," she blushed.
"Well there's nothing like that here," she glanced at her pickup, "let's say we get you back on the road again," she grinned, "name's Melissa and changing tires is easy. If you watch real close I'll show you how it's done."
Melissa,
she stared at her twitching buttocks as she strolled back to her truck,
I don't suppose she sings as well?
The spare tire soon lay on the ground while she jacked the car, keeping up a constant chatter that brought a smile to her face as she loosened the nuts. There was something homely about her innocent smile, cocksure attitude and easy laid back Appalachian charm. She was standing with two cans of Coke Melissa had brought from the Chevy, Jodie sipped hers and kept listening to the chatter.
"Always loosen the nuts before you raise the car," she instructed, "otherwise the whole wheel just keeps a turning," she looked up, "okay we're good, fetch me the spare."
Jodie maneuvered the spare tire over to her while Melissa sipped her Coke.
"There's an auto shop in town, where you headed?"
"Spencer," she replied.
"Now that's a cowinkiedence," she grinned, "lived there all my life, I could show you where it is, I know all the secret hiding places," she positioned the tire, "so, what are you fixin' to be doin' in Spencer or is that a big secret?"
"Working for a few weeks," she replied cautiously.
"Whatever," she spun the nuts, "not much work in town now that the mill's closing, my daddy's the foreman there and he's looking at early retirement."
Jodie winced.
"Me, I'm delivering pizzas," she chuckled, "stands to reason people will always want pizza, but they won't always need paper what with computers."
A few minutes later she stood up and wiped her hands on an old tee shirt and looked down at her handiwork with pride.
"Okay, you're good to go, see," she grinned, "I told you I'd get you going."
"What do I owe you?" Jodie moved to the front of the car.
"Owe me?" Melissa stared at her smilingly, "you're in the middle of West Virginia, we don't charge folks just for helpin' out, how's about you follow me into town and I'll show you where the auto shop is?"
"I," she squinted, "I can do that later on or maybe tomorrow, I just want to get unpacked first, they've given me a house on Reynolds Street."
"No problem, I'll show you where it is," she beamed.
The thought didn't bring a smile to Jodie's face as she followed her into town.
She knew about the mill closure, it was why she was here.
Maybe I should have gone to the auto shop first,
she stared at the back of the pickup,
why didn't you? You like her, admit it, you'd bed her if she gave you the eye.
She bit her lip,
keep a low profile out here, don't give them cause to think you're different.
She braked as Melissa clambered out and ran back to her.
