Free Eleven Days: An Unexpected Love by Lora Lindy Page B

to say it out loud. "It looks like enough."
    With out looking directly at her , he tried to peak around inside the house, bobbing his head around hers. It made her feel uncomfortable. She stepped outside and closed the door. "If you don't mind you can put it all on the back porch. I'll be glad to show you where it goes."
    As they walked toward the back of the house and she noticed someone in the passenger side of the truck, digging around in the glove box. It was an obvious nervousness between the two them so she rambled. "I do appreciate you bringing t his on such late notice. I'm sure you have more important things to do besides get out in t his miserable weather. I bet you stay busy t his time of the year?"
    T his older man had a gray beard and she couldn't tell if he had hair on his head because he wore a furry hat that completely covered his head and ears. The hat was dirty and mildewed. She also noticed a lot of gray hair sticking out of his nose. When he smiled his teeth were brown and nasty. His eyelids were so wrinkled they lapped over his eyelashes they were like a blanket covering his eyes. But from what she could tell his eyes were blue, but he kept looking down toward the ground and h e w ould n't look her in the eyes. Worst of all, he stunk. The smell almost gagged her and she thought he hasn't taken a bath in weeks. He smelled like a men's locker room.
    As they walked passed Mike's truck, Mr. Johnson casually asked. "Hey, is that Dodge truck for sale? I saw it when I drove up and wondered if you might be willing to sell it?"
    She didn't blame him for liking the truck, Mike went through great lengths to keep it nice. The truck was a classic and he kept it in mint condition. The i nside had plaid seats and dark gray carpeting and a dark gray bed liner. "Actually it's not mine, but I'll let the owner know you're interested. I don't think it's for sale, but I'll give him your message."
    A gust of wind nearly knocked Lana over, and she was glad she had the protection of the porch to shield her . She quickly showed him the wood bin while pulling her windblown hair away from her eyes.
    He nodded he understood where she wanted the wood. All the while he tried to peek in the back window. "Are you alone out here, I notice nobody's at the other houses. A pretty young thing like you don't need to be left alone."
    "I'm not alone, I'm here with my family and they're walking on the beach looking for sea shells." It was the quickest thing she could think of in the spur of the moment . "If you don't have any questions, I have to get back to cooking, because my family will be back any minute. I'll have my husband help you when he gets here."
    " That 's okay, my son is in the truck and he'll help, that 's how he earns extra money, and we'll be done in no time. Ma'am we get paid up front."
    "Of course, I'll get you the cash." Thank God she had to walk around the house rather than go in the back door. T his gave her a chance to get away, and she kept looking over her shoulder. She quickly ran in and got the cash and ran outside to hand the money to the old man.
    His son looked like a character from Friday the 13 th . He was already unloading the truck as she quickly walked to the front of the house. Once she was safely inside she made sure she locked the door. Every once in the while she peek ed out a window to keep up with what they were doing. They worked hard toting the wood to the back. Mr. Johnson backed his truck as far to the back as he could. She guessed he didn't pull all the way back because he might get stuck in the sand. She prayed that would n't happen because then she would feel obligated to invite them in the house .
    As time passed she got worried because it had been thirty minutes and they still had not left, but the truck bed looked empty. The back porch bin overflowed with wood. Her heart raced with worry.  She decided if they didn't leave in a couple of minutes she would call 911. She continued looking out the