jaw.
Highway 190 was clear as he headed the truck west, and the storm cell beat down on Central Texas. Billy had driven through worse.
“So, back in Starlight, huh?” Billy couldn’t resist asking.
“Yes, for a while. Just until I get a few things figured out.”
“I can understand that. I’ve been in that position myself.”
She snorted. “I bet.”
“So when did you graduate from Starlight High? I don’t remember going to school with you.”
“I only went through tenth grade. Got my GED and headed for California to be with my dad and try for the big time.”
“Oh. I was class of 2005,” Billy said. “But we didn’t move there until 1999.”
“I would’ve been class of 2008. So we probably attended at the same time.”
“I was the new kid. Billy Tucker.”
“Back then, I was probably more interested in getting out of here than making friends.” She gave a sigh at her own words. “Well, it’s nice to meet you finally. Justine Campbell. But you already know that.”
“Ha. Yes, I would hope so.” He glanced over at her and smiled. “It would be a pity to pick up the wrong lady at the airport. I’d have a lot of explaining to do.”
She blinked at him playfully. “Did you volunteer for the job of chauffeur?”
“Nope. Aunt Zalea sorta drafted me. And don’t worry, I used the utmost discretion.” Billy couldn’t believe it. She probably assumed he’d volunteered to meet her flight. What living, breathing male wouldn’t?
“Did she get you to come kicking and screaming?”
“No, I don’t mind helping her out. She’s a special lady.”
“I knew she was the one person I could call who’d come through for me.”
“What about your family? Do they still live around here?”
His questions were met with the squeak of the wiper blades gliding across the windshield. He darted a glance in her direction.
She regarded him as if he were a strange dog she wasn’t sure was safe to pet. “Are you sure you’re not a reporter?” she asked.
“Just makin’ conversation.” See if he tried to make small talk again.
“Sorry. It’s been a long trip, and I’m tired.”
“Didn’t mean to pry. I can just as well ride home the rest of the way quietly. We’ll be there in about ten more minutes, give or take.” Already he could see the lights of the town miles ahead on the rolling highway that led to Starlight.
“At least the rain’s letting up some.”
“Just a small storm cell going through tonight. We’ll pay for it tomorrow morning with humidity.” Weather talk was just fine with him. He needed to think about how soggy things would be at the cottage site. They got the new porch framed laid for the first building. Hopefully they could get a lot cleared for the second cottage of Hopeful Acres before Jake started drills for the football team in early August. Then Billy would depend on the kindness of whoever could help him. The first settlers in Starlight, the ranchers that came before the railroad, built things on their own. He’d do the same if that’s how things unfolded.
They drove into another band of pounding rain, and he sensed Justine tensing beside him.
“So, were you in the Army?” Her voice quavered.
“Used to be.” Billy flexed his fingers on the steering wheel then rubbed his right palm on his jeans. “I did over eight years, joined up right after high school.”
“Why’d you get out?”
“Some idiot in Iraq blew up our Humvee with an RPG.” He could say the words now without it sounding like they belonged to someone else. But here he was, Starlight looming ahead of him, and he finally realized he wanted to be here instead of back there with his other brothers in arms.
Tuckers never backed down from a fight, even when they were getting whipped. He wanted to send a message back to the psycho militants that he was going home only when Uncle Sam told him his job was finished. Not because of nearly getting one leg and arm blown off, and going deaf in one
Highway 190 was clear as he headed the truck west, and the storm cell beat down on Central Texas. Billy had driven through worse.
“So, back in Starlight, huh?” Billy couldn’t resist asking.
“Yes, for a while. Just until I get a few things figured out.”
“I can understand that. I’ve been in that position myself.”
She snorted. “I bet.”
“So when did you graduate from Starlight High? I don’t remember going to school with you.”
“I only went through tenth grade. Got my GED and headed for California to be with my dad and try for the big time.”
“Oh. I was class of 2005,” Billy said. “But we didn’t move there until 1999.”
“I would’ve been class of 2008. So we probably attended at the same time.”
“I was the new kid. Billy Tucker.”
“Back then, I was probably more interested in getting out of here than making friends.” She gave a sigh at her own words. “Well, it’s nice to meet you finally. Justine Campbell. But you already know that.”
“Ha. Yes, I would hope so.” He glanced over at her and smiled. “It would be a pity to pick up the wrong lady at the airport. I’d have a lot of explaining to do.”
She blinked at him playfully. “Did you volunteer for the job of chauffeur?”
“Nope. Aunt Zalea sorta drafted me. And don’t worry, I used the utmost discretion.” Billy couldn’t believe it. She probably assumed he’d volunteered to meet her flight. What living, breathing male wouldn’t?
“Did she get you to come kicking and screaming?”
“No, I don’t mind helping her out. She’s a special lady.”
“I knew she was the one person I could call who’d come through for me.”
“What about your family? Do they still live around here?”
His questions were met with the squeak of the wiper blades gliding across the windshield. He darted a glance in her direction.
She regarded him as if he were a strange dog she wasn’t sure was safe to pet. “Are you sure you’re not a reporter?” she asked.
“Just makin’ conversation.” See if he tried to make small talk again.
“Sorry. It’s been a long trip, and I’m tired.”
“Didn’t mean to pry. I can just as well ride home the rest of the way quietly. We’ll be there in about ten more minutes, give or take.” Already he could see the lights of the town miles ahead on the rolling highway that led to Starlight.
“At least the rain’s letting up some.”
“Just a small storm cell going through tonight. We’ll pay for it tomorrow morning with humidity.” Weather talk was just fine with him. He needed to think about how soggy things would be at the cottage site. They got the new porch framed laid for the first building. Hopefully they could get a lot cleared for the second cottage of Hopeful Acres before Jake started drills for the football team in early August. Then Billy would depend on the kindness of whoever could help him. The first settlers in Starlight, the ranchers that came before the railroad, built things on their own. He’d do the same if that’s how things unfolded.
They drove into another band of pounding rain, and he sensed Justine tensing beside him.
“So, were you in the Army?” Her voice quavered.
“Used to be.” Billy flexed his fingers on the steering wheel then rubbed his right palm on his jeans. “I did over eight years, joined up right after high school.”
“Why’d you get out?”
“Some idiot in Iraq blew up our Humvee with an RPG.” He could say the words now without it sounding like they belonged to someone else. But here he was, Starlight looming ahead of him, and he finally realized he wanted to be here instead of back there with his other brothers in arms.
Tuckers never backed down from a fight, even when they were getting whipped. He wanted to send a message back to the psycho militants that he was going home only when Uncle Sam told him his job was finished. Not because of nearly getting one leg and arm blown off, and going deaf in one
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