This was inspired by the old farmer's daughter jokes, you know, like: "My car broke down." "Well, I guess you can spend the night here, but you'll have to sleep with my daughter..." This is a twist on that.
Kathy was a traveling saleswoman who sold pharmaceutical supplies to pharmacies and doctors in small towns across the state. She was traveling to the next town for her following day's appointment when her car stopped running. After pulling off to the side of the lonely 2-lane road, she took a look under the hood. Just as she suspected, the serpentine belt had broken and the battery ran down. Remembering a little farmhouse off the last bend, she gathered up her purse and cell phone and set off to get help there because the phone was of little use out here between the mountains.
Approaching the house, she observed that it was a nicely kept, little white house with blue trim. She knocked on the door and the farmer answered. Kathy proceeded to tell the story of how her car broke down and she was stranded until she could get a belt put on.
The farmer said, "Old Joe can get ya one tomorrow but I'm sure we can't get hold of him tonight. It's startin' to get dark and he'd be headin' home already."
"Oh, no, is he the only one who can fix it? Isn't there another place? Can't we call anyone?" asked Kathy.
"Nope, only ole' Joe. This ain't the city you know, and the next big town is a fer piece away."
"What will I do? I have nowhere to go. I'm feeling a bit scared at being stranded out here." Moaned Kathy, on the verge of tears.
"Ah, shucks. Come here girl." Said the farmer, opening the screen door and putting a comforting arm around Kathy. "Now you come on in here and we'll take care of ya. You don't think we leave people stranded in these parts, do you? Come on in and sit down and I'll git ya some sweet tea."
The farmer came back with the tea and gave it to Kathy, who sipped it and marveled at its great homemade taste.
"Now don't you fret little lady. We have a little home here but we'll make room for you. You'll have to sleep with my little boy, Joshua, but don't worry, he won't be no trouble."
Kathy mulled over that comment. She'd slept with boys before, having had a couple of brothers around when she was a kid. And, besides, with a nice Christian name like that, she was sure it would be all right.
"OK, that sounds all right to me. I appreciate your offer to help me out. You are very kind."
"Ah, shucks, 'taint nuttin'. He oughter be in directly from the fields. He can run down and fetch your bag from your car later. I'll fix us some supper. You must be hungry." Said the farmer.
"Thanks, yes, I have a luggage bag that I need to get my night clothes, toiletries, and something for tomorrow, and I am starting to get hungry. Thank you so much for your hospitality. Do you need any help?"
"Why don't you just go out onto the porch and sip your tea. It's cool out there and the sunset is nice here some days. Don't mind me. I can manage ok."
So Kathy sat on the porch and sipped her iced tea, thinking over the events of her day, and mentally planning what she had to do the next day, like postponing some of her appointments, getting her car fixed, etc. It was cooler out on the porch, and she was able to relax a little and start to feel fortunate to have broken down so close to this place. It's no telling what might have happened elsewhere. In the distance, she heard a tractor and then saw it heading for the house from the fields. 'Must be a worker,' she thought.
The tractor came straight up and parked by the porch. She couldn't take her eyes off the hunk that was driving it. He was about 6'2" and 220 lbs with longish blond hair. He was wearing only jeans and boots, and his dark, tanned arms and chest glistened in the setting sunlight, highlighting his rippling muscles. 'Yes, the setting sun does bring nice sights around these parts,' she thought, and she found herself staring too long at him. As he climbed off and came up the stairs, the farmer came out.
