Running Into the Past

The gravel popped under the tires and kicked up a veil of dust as she drove down the country road. It almost seemed that it would conceal the past she was hoping to escape. She could smell the breeze of the tall pines and earth as she put miles behind her. Kara could soak in this feeling for the rest of her days, she thought to herself. She could get lost in the simple pleasantries of the small towns she had been coasting past. Just as soon as that thought came into her mind, her fuel light flashed and gave its alarm, letting her know that she should find dinner and refuel soon. She had been lost in daydreams of what might be and hadn't realized she had been driving so long that she hadn't eaten today. The sun was beginning to rest on the rolling mountain tops with a beautiful pink haze. It was the kind of pink that could only be found from the sky's vault of colors. That sure wasn't something she could see where she was fleeing from. It gave her a sense of peace that she was going to be okay. Something good was coming. Just then she noticed the flicker of neon letters of a diner and gas pump up ahead. The "Din" was flickering in and out, so it shined "ER" into the sky at every flash. Kara laughed nervously to herself. She thought if anything should send an emergency signal to the sky, it should be me. The sudden rush of fear set in. Her heart began to pound with each flash of the diner's sign. "Kara snap out of it, he won't find you, he can't" she said aloud to herself. It felt like she was trying to convince someone else. She parked at the pump, got out, sucked in a breath full of the crisp air and filled up her old ford pick-up truck. She hadn't driven it much after her dad left it for her. It was old, but it ran, and right now that is what she needed. Her stomach griped at her and brought her back to the present. She needed to eat. The thought of food was not appealing. Surely this diner would have something edible. As she opened the glass door, the bells hanging above chimed. The sound of the door hitting those bells seemed to echo to the furthest wall. She felt every soul in there turn to see what new stranger the road had brought them. It wasn't particularly full, but she guessed it housed its regulars. The waitress appeared to be in her fifty's. The lines on her face showed a life of hard work and sleepless nights. She had a worn dingy uniform with a dish towel over her shoulder that suggested this was not a new career path for her. An older man with sadness in his eyes sat at the bar sipping his coffee. After he stole a glance at Kara, he returned to looking down into his coffee like he was searching for an answer. A young couple smiled towards her in acknowledgment. The lovely bride of the two appeared to be seven or eight months along. They were sharing the same side of the booth with hope and pure joy in their eyes. Kara whispered to herself, "Don't let this world destroy you." She almost didn't notice him at first. He had his eyes on her from the moment she stepped out of the pickup truck. She was striking. Her auburn hair was pulled back effortlessly with wind-swept pieces dangling around her face. Her eyes were blue, but no just blue, they were like the waves of an ocean. But, those hips. Those hips could do things to him. Why was he so drawn to her? He was not the type of man to allow a woman to have any ounce of control over him. He didn't let his guard down. Why did it even matter? She would eat and be on her way. This was just a weak moment. He was allowed to notice a beautiful woman. He was still a man. He may have been hurt, no not just hurt, ruined by the coldness and crudeness of his ex, but he was still a man with eyes, and apparently needs that were making his Levi's feel tighter than they should. She felt his eyes on her as she sat at the booth across from him. She looked over her menu and he quickly looked away. Her heart jumped. Why did the sight of him make her feel so warm? He was rugged. He was a picture of strength and rawness from his faded gray t-shirt to his worn jeans and his cowboy boots and the ball cap that was fitted to his dark hair. He was exactly why she should eat and go. No, she should eat and run. She didn't need to feel anything. Especially from some stranger in a diner. How could she even let her eyes wander? "Have I not learned anything?" Kara breathed softly to herself. The waitress made small talk with her and Kara did her best to give smiles as she ordered the special. She didn't care what it was as login as it was warm and edible. She thought some caffeine could do her some good. She had a warm cup of the blackest coffee. It was like a stiff drink. She had to work hard to get it down but knew it would do her good for the remainder of the drive. Her food was served warm and the turkey and mashed potatoes was edible and actually pretty good, she thought to herself. She paid her bill in cash and left a nice tip and headed out to continue her fleet to her unknown destination. She didn't know where she was going but she knew she needed to get there. Kara didn't notice the gray t-shirt man also paid and left shortly after her. Mark watched Kara leave and told himself with a sigh of relief he was glad that was done. He didn't have to think of her again. He laughed at himself for that thought. He could hear his brother in his ear almost as if he were there, "Dear God man, haven't you seen a woman before?" But even with those words he knew. She was not just some woman. He climbed in his black jeep and headed out to his cabin. It wasn't much, but it allowed him privacy and to live comfortably. It was a well-built log-cabin-style home, not the rough hunting cabin that had the bare means. His brother had been an architect and did an amazing job designing this cabin to be rugged yet comfortable. God, he missed Nate. His younger brother was the best person he knew. The day it happened changed him forever. Losing Nate was a pain he didn't know existed. His heart ached at the thought of Nate's laugh and oh how he loved life. Mark always gave Nate a hard time, but truthfully, Mark didn't know a better man. Mark knew he couldn't ever leave that cabin. It had Nate's touch. It had a piece of him. He couldn't explain it, but somehow Nate was still there. He shook his head. He hated that these sad thoughts still popped up so suddenly and randomly and made him feel so weak. Weakness was not an option. He prided himself on being the tough guy, the one who never cracked under pressure. As he was shaking the memories away he saw it. It was her. Well, at least it was her truck. What must have only been about thirty miles from where he last saw the woman he hoped he would never have to share space with again- could it be her? "Son of a b***h" Mark said abruptly to no one. "Well shit." He knew he couldn't just pass. That was not how he was built. A part of what made him strong was the uncanny ability to be at the right place at the right time. He had a sunken feeling this might not be one of those times. Kara sat in her driver's seat. She slammed the steering wheel out of frustration and fear. The old pick-up started stalling as she was putting miles between her and the diner. "So much for reliable..." she said aloud. "Why hadn't I listened? He always said I would need to know how to fix this truck! But no, I just knew better. Why would I need to know how to be a mechanic when I could pay someone to do it?" Kara tried to turn the key over and got nowhere. It must have taken her at least fifteen minutes to figure out how to pop the hood. She leaned over into the engine space like she would know what was wrong if she looked. "What now!" She thought to herself- she had no one. No one to call and all she could do was hope for a kind stranger. Although the thought of a stranger sent chills down her spine. Then as she climbed into the cab she heard it. She glanced back and saw what looked like a jeep. Had she seen it at the diner? What did it matter? Maybe they would be kind? She didn't want to think about what to do if they weren't. Surely this is the country. It isn't the city, Kara, stop stressing yourself! The black jeep slowed and pulled behind the stalled truck. She saw the boots first as they stepped down from the driver's side. Then she saw the flash of the gray t-shirt. "No!" This is not what I need right now. Her breath started to breathe faster and her chest tightened. She didn't know why this man alarmed her. She didn't know him from Adam, yet there was something. Something that told her to run. She pulled herself out of her thoughts and whispered, "It's not him Kara, he can't hurt you." "This is just a kind person offering help." Her breathing started to return to its normal pace just as he approached her window. She had to hand-crank it down. Those old trucks didn't offer those "luxuries" her dad would say, like automatic windows. As he walked up to the truck, Mark reminded himself, "I'm just here to help get her gone." He watched her roll the window down. God, she was beautiful. "Everything okay?" He said in his deep solid voice. Kara almost had no words. But she found them. "My truck won't start, is there a tow nearby?" He laughed. "There isn't anything for miles but that five-star restaurant you just left." That's what she was afraid of. She knew she hadn't seen any signs or billboards or other potential signals of a city anytime soon. "You mind if I take a look, miss?" Kara thought quickly, and she knew this may be all the help she could get. "Sure, but I don't want to be a bother- you seemed to be heading somewhere." Mark replied, "Around these parts when we see someone in need, we help -gotta light?" The sun was setting and there was dusk surrounding them. She fumbled through her glovebox and found a small flashlight. Thinking to herself, "I'm so thankful my dad was prepared." "Here, will this work?" Kara asked. "Perfect, now when I tell you to give it a crank, just turn the key." Kara nodded. He seemed to be under that hood forever. Then she heard that sexy voice say, "Alright, give it a crank!". She did and - nothing. He came back around to her window and said "I'm afraid to tell you this, but, this will take tools and time and that's nothing I have here on the side of the road. Are you going far?" "I'm just passing through" Kara replied. "The next turn up ahead is me. I can give you a lift and tomorrow I can take you into town and we can get you sorted out." Kara's anxiety was running high. "What no- that won't work, I can't. I mean I have to be going now." "Well, unless you plan on walking, that's the best offer you are going to get at this hour." Oh, he hoped she would say she loved a late-night stroll, so he wouldn't have to have her near. He had a feeling she would be bad news. Kara's panic returned. He was staring with those piercing green eyes waiting. "I don't know you," she said uneasily. "Name's Mark Delany" "I've got no criminal records and I've lived around here all my life." "Well, that doesn't tell me much. I'm Kara. But I guess you are my only offer at the time." He laughed and said "take it or leave it" as he thought to himself, I should just drive off, she's not my problem. But even as he was thinking about it, he knew somehow, she was. She grabbed her things and locked up the truck and climbed into his dusty jeep, with a strange feeling that her life was really about to change.