the final item, a rusty sink, into the back of Carl's old truck , which Jake let me borrow. With a satisfied grunt, I closed the tailgate, walked around to the driver’s side, hopped into the truck, and turned the key.
After the creek incident, Thatcher took care of clearing out most of the junk. But he must have gotten sidetracked, because there were still a few items left strewn along the end of the path. It gave me tremendous satisfaction to get to them before he finished the job. I said I didn’t need him, and I meant it. I got it done, all by myself.
But I was exhausted. I needed a shower. And junk food.
I drove toward the barn, wobbling back and forth in the seat as the truck lurched along the dirt road. Jake and Thatcher were crouched down outside the door fiddling with a tractor I hadn’t seen before.
I parked the truck near the barn and hopped out. “Truck’s full,” I said.
Thatcher looked up from the tractor. “I told you I’d do that.”
“ And I told you I didn’t need your help. I’m going into town to get a pizza. Anyone want anything?”
“ You need directions?” Thatcher asked. “I know a place.”
“ I have a GPS on my phone. I’ll be fine.”
He smirked. “Okay. But where was your GPS when—”
I interrupted him. “Do you want me to pick up food for you, Jake?”
Jake stood up and stretched his legs. “We’re good, Tessy. Sara’s cooking, and we’re calling it a day in a couple minutes, anyway.”
“ All right. See you later.”
“ Actually, do you mind driving the truck?” Jake asked. “The dump’s right up the road on the way to town. Just past the county line. You can’t miss it.”
Was he serious? He wanted me to take all of this junk to the dump? Now? My muscles screamed. All I wanted to do was get in my comfortable car, listen to some music, and go get a pizza.
“ I can do it,” Thatcher offered.
“ No need.” I forced myself to sound peppy, like I was still full of energy. “I’ve got it.” I got back into the truck, started it up, and headed down the drive out to the main road.
It was late in the afternoon, and though it was sunny earlier, heavy storm clouds appeared and darkened the sky. I groped around until I found the switch to turn on the truck’s headlights. After a few miles, I realized I was driving in utter silence, my mind swarming with ideas for the vineyard. It was time to relax a little. I needed a mental break.
I turned on the radio and country music blared through the speakers. I turned the dial. More country music. I turned it again. Country gospel music. I sighed and glanced at the radio.
I looked away from the road for an instant, a fraction of a second. But when I looked back, an enormous white object was blocking my path. My pulse quickened as I slammed on the brake and swerved to avoid it. I held my breath when the truck skidded to the left, across the oncoming lane and over the gravel shoulder. There was a loud popping noise. The wheel shook violently in my hands. I pumped harder on the brake, but it was too late. The truck careened forward, and I braced myself as it landed with a thump in the ditch on the side of the road. The engine sputtered and died.
M y breathing came fast. I gripped the steering wheel and stared out the windshield, but I was too frazzled to focus on the world around me. My heart raced.
“ You’re okay,” I whispered to myself. “You’re okay.”
I took a slow breath and blinked a few times. I lifted my head and looked in the rearview mirror. An enormous white cow stared back at me.
A cow .
He stood about fifty feet away, positioned across the lane I was driving in like a barricade at a construction site. He looked away with a bored expression on his face.
“ You have got to be kidding me!” I jumped out of the truck and kicked the door.
Now what? I walked around the truck and inspected the damage. To my surprise, the vehicle was intact, except for the front-left tire, which was blown
After the creek incident, Thatcher took care of clearing out most of the junk. But he must have gotten sidetracked, because there were still a few items left strewn along the end of the path. It gave me tremendous satisfaction to get to them before he finished the job. I said I didn’t need him, and I meant it. I got it done, all by myself.
But I was exhausted. I needed a shower. And junk food.
I drove toward the barn, wobbling back and forth in the seat as the truck lurched along the dirt road. Jake and Thatcher were crouched down outside the door fiddling with a tractor I hadn’t seen before.
I parked the truck near the barn and hopped out. “Truck’s full,” I said.
Thatcher looked up from the tractor. “I told you I’d do that.”
“ And I told you I didn’t need your help. I’m going into town to get a pizza. Anyone want anything?”
“ You need directions?” Thatcher asked. “I know a place.”
“ I have a GPS on my phone. I’ll be fine.”
He smirked. “Okay. But where was your GPS when—”
I interrupted him. “Do you want me to pick up food for you, Jake?”
Jake stood up and stretched his legs. “We’re good, Tessy. Sara’s cooking, and we’re calling it a day in a couple minutes, anyway.”
“ All right. See you later.”
“ Actually, do you mind driving the truck?” Jake asked. “The dump’s right up the road on the way to town. Just past the county line. You can’t miss it.”
Was he serious? He wanted me to take all of this junk to the dump? Now? My muscles screamed. All I wanted to do was get in my comfortable car, listen to some music, and go get a pizza.
“ I can do it,” Thatcher offered.
“ No need.” I forced myself to sound peppy, like I was still full of energy. “I’ve got it.” I got back into the truck, started it up, and headed down the drive out to the main road.
It was late in the afternoon, and though it was sunny earlier, heavy storm clouds appeared and darkened the sky. I groped around until I found the switch to turn on the truck’s headlights. After a few miles, I realized I was driving in utter silence, my mind swarming with ideas for the vineyard. It was time to relax a little. I needed a mental break.
I turned on the radio and country music blared through the speakers. I turned the dial. More country music. I turned it again. Country gospel music. I sighed and glanced at the radio.
I looked away from the road for an instant, a fraction of a second. But when I looked back, an enormous white object was blocking my path. My pulse quickened as I slammed on the brake and swerved to avoid it. I held my breath when the truck skidded to the left, across the oncoming lane and over the gravel shoulder. There was a loud popping noise. The wheel shook violently in my hands. I pumped harder on the brake, but it was too late. The truck careened forward, and I braced myself as it landed with a thump in the ditch on the side of the road. The engine sputtered and died.
M y breathing came fast. I gripped the steering wheel and stared out the windshield, but I was too frazzled to focus on the world around me. My heart raced.
“ You’re okay,” I whispered to myself. “You’re okay.”
I took a slow breath and blinked a few times. I lifted my head and looked in the rearview mirror. An enormous white cow stared back at me.
A cow .
He stood about fifty feet away, positioned across the lane I was driving in like a barricade at a construction site. He looked away with a bored expression on his face.
“ You have got to be kidding me!” I jumped out of the truck and kicked the door.
Now what? I walked around the truck and inspected the damage. To my surprise, the vehicle was intact, except for the front-left tire, which was blown
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