The Hitchhiker Pt. 01

The Hitchhiker - Part 1

By Nutmegman

I was heading towards the Mass Pike to head to Cape Cod. I had camping reservations for a month. If I lasted that long alone. Driving up route 291 east I saw a young woman hitchhiking. She had a big hiking pack and was alone. From my quick view, she looked clean cut.

"Aw fuck it." And I pulled to the side of the highway, blinkers on since I was towing a travel trailer. In the right mirror, I saw her walk up to the passenger door. I lowered the window part way.

"Where are you headed?" I asked.

"Cape Cod." She replied.

"So am I, would you like a ride?"

"Yes, please."

"Throw your pack in the back seat as it looks like it might rain." A click noise. "I just unlocked the doors."

She got in. I held out my hand to shake, "I'm Sam. Nice to meet you." She had a nice, firm grip.

"I'm Shannon, but please call me Sha." She said.

"Please buckle up" She did and I merged back into traffic heading towards Route 90 east. Once on 90 east aka the Mass Pike, I turned on cruise and started a conversation. I did have music on in the background and she was already happily humming. "I apologize if my questions are too nosy. What is a pretty young lady doing hitch hiking in Springfield on a very hot day. If you want your side colder or warmer, just move this lever here up or down for your comfort level." As I saw her reaching for the temp control knob for her side of the truck. "Also, I have a small cooler of Gatorade and water bottles right behind your seat, if you are thirsty. You look very sweaty and hot. Your face is pink."

"Thanks, I'll take a Gatorade. It was very hot out there." Ignoring my questions, she said "Is this your truck and camper? It's nicely sized. Not too big and not too small. Same with the truck."

"Thanks, both are new purchases as suggested by caring friends. I could have borrowed a friends bigger truck and bigger camper. But for me myself, I wanted something cozier. I figured I can live in this for the month I'll be at the Cape. Or I'll go crazy and come home or maybe stay longer. I really don't know. Sorry, I don't mean to babble. Just going through a rough time and trying to get my head straight again. Fuck. Too much information. Sorry again."

"Sam, no problem. Actually you can babble all you want. You're talking to a doctorate of psychology here. I just haven't started practicing. After all these years of school. I wanted some time off. Brainless time. So I have the summer and fall to myself."

"Where is your degree from?"

"Amherst College." She said.

"Very nice. Excellent school. I feel better I'm not with a serial murdered now." I smiled at her.

"You don't know that." She said grinning and started laughing.

I looked at her and she couldn't keep from laughing.

"I'm as harmless as a puppy dog." She said.

"Me too." I added.

"What about you Sam?"

"Well, I own a small company in West Springfield and we manufacture custom parts for NASA. Very high quality and very specific parts. NASA is one of our clients. We have many others. I have a staff of 16 and I work with them. But I can work from anywhere with my computer and internet access. These people knew I was hurting after the divorce and helped me buy a truck and camper and gave me the summer off. They gave me great advice on what to look for, etc. They're great people. I pay them well and they have all become friends. They've all worked for me for years.

I recently am divorced. I came home from work one day, not feeling well and found my wife in bed with 3 other people. Two guys and a girl. All naked and having the time of their lives. I quietly took some photo's and video and went straight to my attorney with them and filed for divorce. I figured it had been going on for a while since my wife didn't want to touch me, have sex with me and rejected all my advances. I'm so stupid, I should have noticed earlier.

Anyways, the divorce went through quickly. We kept her out of the money as the video and photo's did her in. It's been a few months now. I guess I'm a bit depressed. We were together 22 years. High school sweethearts. I'm such a fool." I said shaking my head.

"Hey, Sam, relax. It's OK. You'll be fine." Sha said.

"Do you have a job lined up and a place to stay?" I asked her.

"I have a job at Mac's on the Wellfleet pier and am hoping to find a campsite to set up my tent on the National Seashore Campground somewhere. I'll live out of that."

"You are welcome to pitch your tent at my campsite. I've got two side by sites reserved. It makes the site one a big site. The campground has clean showers. I can offer you rides to and from work or I think the bus stop is nearby too. I promise you, I'm not a threat. I just need to reboot my brain, do some relaxing, get some sunshine and salt air and water on me. Here's my card. You can google me and see I'm not a serial killer. I'm just a nothing, depressed, old man." I said, turning up the music a bit so I could wallow in my thoughts.

Sha was looking at her phone. "Your Linked In is impressive. Interesting company, philanthropy too. I'm impressed. I'm not broke, I have family money. My parents make sure I have whatever I want. I'll take you up on your offer IF you let me pay you for food and the gas for your vehicle for dropping me off and picking me up. Will that work for you?"

"That's fine Sha. Listen, if at any time you think I'm too fucked up to be near, just tell me you are leaving and I will understand. Promise me that. I don't want to bring down your life too." I held out to shake on it and she did.

"Have you had lunch yet today?" I asked.

"Not yet, not really hungry yet."

"Will you tell me when you are?"

"Sure will. I enjoy food too much to miss meals." She said smiling. "How old are you Sam?"

"I'm 42 and you look.... hmmm....28?"

"Wow, dead on. Everyone usually thinks I'm 20 or 21."

"Well, you told me your college degree, that makes you older than 21. You sound and look confident. So 28 was my guess. It's very unusual for me to get someones age correct."

We drove on, listening to the music and singing along at times. Of course, like always, sitting in traffic before going over the bridges.

While sitting in traffic, Sha said "I'm getting pretty hungry Sam. Do you want to stop at Seafood Sams, just over the bridge for lunch?"

"Good timing as that noise you've been hearing for a bit, is my stomach growling for food."

"You don't have to wait for me, we could have stopped anywhere." She said.

"I know, but was thinking seafood too. Me eating lunch is not that important."

"Yes, it is. I'm going to work on your sense of being and confidence. What that woman did to you is unbelievable. This gets me angry. If she didn't want to be with you, she should have just said so, not have other people in your house to have sex. You're lucky she's not here as I'd punch her in the face."

"Woah. Ms. Psychologist, it's OK. I'm not worth getting upset about." I said softly. Turning up the radio again. Thinking her outburst was interesting. "I'm just a nobody trying to get his head on straight."

"You are not a nobody. Do you own a gun?" She asked.

"Yes, for target shooting and it is locked up tight back home."

"Good, it's not with you. Your attitude has me concerned Sam. You are a somebody. You mean so much to your friends and employees. You care about people otherwise why stop for me? You are a somebody and we'll get your head straightened out. I promise you that."

The fish was delicious. We sat outside and watching the boats on the Cape Cod Canal. Both of us enjoying the food, sitting side by side on the bench. I finished first and waited for her. Taking her trash and dumping it and returning for her. I held out my hand and she took it as I pulled her up and we walked back to the truck.

"That was delicious." She said. I won't be hungry for dinner.

"Neither will I. When we get to the campground, can you help me back into the spot please and help me get set up. It'll go a lot quicker than me doing it by myself. I can guide you with what I will need."

"Sure. You know, it's looking like rain." As we got back in the truck and it started to rain.

"Lovely" She said. "I just love setting up my tent in the rain."

"You're welcome to sit in my camper or truck to wait for it to stop raining."

"I may take you up on that. Thank you. I'm glad you picked me up Sam. I feel comfortable with you and think I made a new friend."

"Me too."

I had two hands on the wheel and turned off the radio. Seriously heavy traffic and pouring rain. "Sorry. crappy weather and I have to concentrate more."

We pulled into the campground, I got out and checked in and mentioned I had another person with me. It was seriously raining so hard, I'm so glad I had my rain gear on. I just sat in the truck. I doubted I could even find the campsite right now.

"Geeze, look at this heavy rain. We're just going to sit tight until it lets up." I said and tilted my chair back a bit and closed my eyes. About 20 minutes later, "Sam, wake up, it finally stopped raining."

Rubbing my eyes, I see it did. I looked at the campground map and handed it to her and said "Help me find the site please. I think I know where it is, but, help me anyways please."

"Sure. Take the second left. Take another left and then another left. Here is the site number. How do I help you back in?"

I got out and she did too. "OK, here's where I want to align the back of the camper on this side. You need to tell me if I'm too close to here or too far back. Here's a radio, press this button, which is the microphone to talk and then release it to listen. I may or may not say anything. Just keep guiding me as I pull up and back to get it parked. Sometimes it's quick and others very tedious. Just be patient with me. AND, don't stand too close as I don't want to hit you."

I got back in the truck and did some aligning and backed up. I heard "You need to be about 3 feet to the left more." I pulled out and backed in again. "That's good. Keep coming back. STOP. You're exactly where you want to be."

I got out and looked and was. "Thank you! You're great at this." I unhooked, parked the truck out front and instructed her what to do. In no time the camper was set up, level, slider out, connected to water, electric and the sewer and ready to live in.

"That was easy. Thank you Sha."

CRACK! KABOOM.

We both jumped as a big crack of thunder erupted. Sha squeaked and grabbed my arm when we both jumped. "Sorry." She said and released my arm. And then the rain started again.

"Come on" Holding the door open for her as we ran inside. "I turned on lights and opened a few windows to get some air circulating.

KABOOM and the power went out. "Lovely." I said.

I turned on one light, knowing it wouldn't drain the battery much. "Well, this is not set up your tent weather." I said and went to the couch and pulled and it turned into a bed. "I can not let you go outside in this weather. You'll sleep on this couch. I'll be sleeping in my bed. I promise to be a gentleman. I don't think I snore."

"Do you have sheets?"

"Of course." I lifted my bed end. "Pick a color you like and a pillow and blanket." She chose white with flowers and a light blue blanket. We made the bed.

"Here is the bathroom with running hot and cold water. Be careful as the hot is very hot. Toilet, press the foot switch to flush. TP is in this cabinet. Shower here. Here's a hand towel and I'll give you a shower towel in the morning, unless you want to take one tonight? The water heater runs on propane, so lack of electricity doesn't affect it. The lights are LED and don't use much power, but I try to only have the ones on that I need. To make the battery last longer. Questions?"

"Simple enough. Thank you. I'll take a shower in the morning."

"When do you start your job at Macs?" I asked her.

"Let's see, today is Saturday. Next Wednesday at 10 am. My shift ends at 6 pm. 8 hours. If they get busy, I may volunteer to work longer. We'll see. I work Wednesday to Monday at noon and then have one and half days off and repeat."

"Nice. I'll put it in my phone so I remember when I need to get you there and pick you up."

"No, I'm not going to inconvenience you. I saw a bus stop about a quarter mile down the road. I'll find the bus schedule and take public transportation to and from. I will not be a disturbance for you."

"How about if I take you occasionally and you can take the bus the rest of the time? Like for the first few days, so you get your feet wet with scheduling and everything?"

"Maybe. Let me find the bus schedule though."

"The rain is letting up again. Let's go grab your pack out of the truck and bring it in so you have your things. Please, just sleep on the couch tonight as it looks like more heavy rain is heading our way."

"I'm not disagreeing with that Sam. Thank you." She ran outside and got her pack, leaving part of it in the truck and ran back as the rain started again.

"Ugh, more rain." She said.

"Looks like a few days of it."

"Wonderful. What would you like to do tomorrow?"

"I was thinking of just driving around. Bring a book, park at the waters edge, read, snooze, whatever. Use it as a wind down day since the weather is going to suck. Would you like to join me?"

"Yes, I'll tag along. I brought a few paperbacks with me and also have a kindle too. But will grab the one I have started."

"Maybe pack a bag lunch. I have a little cooler I use, plus some ice packs and a few bottles of water."

"Sounds nice Sam. I'd like that very much."

"I'm going to go to sleep. I'm suddenly tired. I'm going to close the privacy curtain and change into bed clothes behind it. You can change on the other side or in the bathroom for more privacy. I usually sleep in underwear but will put on light weight shorts."

"Mmm, I usually sleep nude." My eyes opened wide "Haha, just kidding. I have a night shirt and shorts I sleep in. You should see your face. Haha."

"You're funny. Good night. Please don't get up too early. Before 7 is too early."

"I'm not an early morning person. No worries. Good night."

I crawled into bed, got myself comfy, put my phone on charge and fell asleep.

Noise, yelling, checking my watch and seeing 3:17 am. "Yaaah, help, help, get off me, owe don't bite me. Yaah. Yaah. Owe, owe." I heard. I got up quickly and went over to Sha who was having a nightmare. Taking her shoulders, "Sha, Sha, wake up, you're having a nightmare." Her eyes popped wide open. She grabbed me sobbing, squeezing me tight. Finally letting me go and sliding off the couch beside me and hugging me tight again.

I put my arms around her. "Shhh, shhh, you're OK. You were having a nightmare. You're OK now." I said.

She let go and slid to a sitting position on the floor, with the couch bed behind her. I sat next to her. "Are you OK. Do you remember any of it?"

She held out her arms and showed me some scars. I traced my finger along them. "What happened?"

"I was out for a walk and this pit bull dog came out of nowhere and attacked me. He bit my arms, my leg and my thigh." She showed me pulling up her sleep shirt and her shorts too. Way up her thighs. "This attack happened a few months ago. The wounds have healed, but I get a nightmare occasionally." As she just scooted closer to me on the floor so our arms and thighs were touching.

I put my arm around her to comfort her, pulling her a little closer.

"Can we just stay here for a little while?"

"Certainly." I grabbed her blanket and pulled it over us both. She grabbed my arm and put her head on it. I put my head back and fell asleep. The next thing I knew, the sun was streaming in the windows and the camper was getting warm. I was on the floor myself and slowly got up. I was stiff and felt like I needed to be stretched on a rack.

Finally standing up, I put water in the coffee pot and let it boil. I need a strong cup of tea. Putting on my sandals, I walked outside, happy to see the sun. But it was to be short lived as the clouds were returning. Bummer I thought. A sunshine tease.

I went back inside and saw Sha just coming out of the bathroom. "I could have sworn the sun was out 5 minutes ago." She said.

"It was, and now the clouds are coming back. Bummer. A sun tease for us. I put on hot water, but only have tea. If you want coffee and whatever goes in it, we'll stop and pick some up today when we're out."

"What flavor teas do you have?"

"Tazo Awake, a black tea, Tazo Blood Orange, chamomile, rooibos, blueberry, lemon and maybe a few others. I have honey or sugar for it. Anything you like?"

"Mmm, Awake sounds perfect with honey." She said.

"Yum, my morning favorite. Hey, on a serious note, did you fall back to sleep last night? I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew it was morning. Sorry, not much of a support friend last night."

"What are you talking about? You saved me from another night of horrible dreams reliving that freaking scary dog attack. You made for a great pillow as I fell asleep leaning on your arm. I was a little stiff getting up, but a hot shower will fix that."

"How often do you relive that attack?"

"Much too often. My girlfriends I shared my apartment with, always had to come in and wake me up, hold me tight until I fell back to sleep. Just like you did. I can't thank you enough."

"What are you going to do if you are sleeping alone in your tent? I mean, you were yelling very loudly. A campground won't tolerate much of that if nearby campers start to complain."

"I hadn't thought about that Sam. You bring up a good point. I'll have to think about it or just take my chances and see what happens. At least for now, you know what is going on and can be here for me."

"That I can. I guess we both need fixing." I said softly. "I was thinking Cheerios and blueberries with milk for breakfast. Is that ok? I really don't feel like much more at the moment."

"That's fine with me and better than my energy bar I was planning on."

"Oh yuck. You'll start shitting bricks if you eat those daily. I'll keep you healthy with better foods. You can snack on those mid way through your busy work day if you need a pick me up. But I don't want to see you eating those as a meal. Do you hear me young lady?"

"Yes, dad." She said smiling at me.

We ate in silence, just the sound of milk being slurped up and then hot tea and honey being drunk. It was a comfortable silence though. With both of us being comfortable with each other and not needing to make small talk.

We finished and washed the dishes.

"You can take the first shower. Here is a bath towel and bath mat. I use this bag for laundry. If you're comfortable, just toss your dirty clothes in there. I can go about 7-9 days without needing to wash clothes I think. What about you?"

"I think I have 3 or 4 days of clothes."

"That's all?"

"Yup."

"OK, Maybe we'll do some shopping for you today to find a few more days of clothes. At least enough for every day of work and a few spares. You may come back smelling like fish and need to change. I do not know where to shop locally. I'll have to check Orleans or maybe return to Hyannis. Go shower and I'll search Google maps."

I was looking at Google Maps and heard "Sam, Sam, how do you work this crazy shower? I can't figure it out. Help please."

"I'm coming in, wrap a tower around yourself." I paused and opened the door. "Uh, you forgot to wrap your upper body too."

"I was in a co-ed dorm much of college. The boys all saw me and I saw them without clothes all the time. The boys used to call me "Boy Boobs", which I hated. So, why cover them up? Once I work for a while, I plan on getting a boob job."

Looking at her and her nude boobs got me hard. "You have beautiful, perfectly sized breasts. Absolutely perfect. Any more than a handful is an absolute waste. Believe me, yours are perfect. Perky and sexy as heck. Those were boys. You have a man looking at you now and loving what he is seeing."

"Wow, thank you. I guess, you do like what you see." She said smiling and looking down at my waist.

"Uh, sorry. I have no control over that part of me."

"Don't be sorry, I like it."

"OK, I'm now embarrassed and suddenly very hot." I said. "To run the shower, turn the knobs a bit for each. Take down the shower handle and push in this knob like this. Hold it away from you until you have the temperature adjusted to what you like. It's always a bit hot when you first turn it on.

Get yourself wet, press this button to turn it off, shampoo and/or soap yourself. Repeat the water thing to rinse. You can change the way it sprays by rotating this knob. Like this." As I sprayed her towel. "Ah, fuck, I'm such an idiot. Sorry." I said.

"It's OK Sam, here's the wet towel" as she pulled it off her body, exposing me to a shaved pussy, glistening with moisture from my spray, I assumed.

I took it from her and croaked out, "I'll bring you a dry one." As I tried to look at her eyes and not her body. I brought her the new towel and hung the wet one over the sink.

She showered and came out wrapped in a towel. Bare feet, bare shoulders, smelling nice. I was looking at her.

"What?" She said.

"Oh, sorry, just thinking. You smell nice. I found a Target in Orleans. We'll start there."

Smiling, "Thank you. Uh, are there shades to cover the windows so no one can see me?"

"As long as the lights are off, no one can see in. If you need the lights, just pull the shades down like we did last night. I think I saw today will be in the 90's. So dress accordingly. My turn to shower, you can dress privately alone."

"Wait a minute." As she swung her lag over mine and sat on my lap and let her towel fall to the floor. "How long has it been since you had sex, Sam?"

"Uh, many months. And wiggling on my lap is not helping me."

"It's called grinding and you feel good. Real good. How many is many months? Three to four?" I shook my head and pointed my thumb up. "Six months?" Pointed my thumb up again. "A year?" Pointed my thumb up again. "Two years?" Shaking my head and pointing up. "That's too long. I can fix that right now. Friends with benefits." As she reached down and felt my rock hard dick.

"Uh, thank you, but I've only known you less than a day. Uh, uh, I, I will decline the offer Sha."

"You know Sam, sitting here, like this, on you, is making me so wet."She reached down and ran her fingers up her pussy and stuck them in my mouth and I sucked on them. "See, I told you. I need sex too as it's been way too long for me. Not as long as you, but long enough. Are you sure you still want to decline?"

I shook my head up and down. She got off me and I licked my lips. She was standing before me and it took every ounce of my being to not take advantage of her. "I'm going to go shower, I'll be back soon."

"Do not rub one out Sam." She said.

I grabbed a towel and went in to shower. Drying off, I brushed my teeth and came out. Sha was sitting on the edge of the bed reading her book. She had made both beds and hung her towel on a cabinet pull. She looked nice and clean.

"Can you move so I can dress please? I'll just pull the curtain for privacy."

"Sure."

Dressed, grabbed keys, a few bottles of water and locked up. We dodged the rain drops and hopped in the truck. "Do you have rain gear too?"

"Oh yes, you can't back pack and not have good rain gear."

"That makes sense. Sorry for the stupid question."

"Hey, it's not a stupid question. It's a legit question with the crappy weather. Give yourself a break Sam. It's not stupid."

"OK. Does work have a dress code?"

"Yes, I can wear shorts or long pants or anything in between. No form fitting yoga pants and no short shorts. Black or dark blue are the preferred colors. Same for T's, black or dark blue, no form hugging, bra's mandatory."

I turned on some tunes and we listened as we drove. I found the Target and we went into the store. Not high quality, but good enough for what she needed. She modeled everything. Most were shorts and T's.

"How does this sun dress look?" She asked.

"You look beautiful." I barely croaked out as my mouth went dry. She looked sexy in it. "Is it too short on the legs. You'll have guys drooling over you."

She blushed and went back and returned with two other sundresses. They looked fabulous on her. I think she could see the reaction in my face. I was attracted to her in them.

She then got some panties and other stuff while I looked at books. She had a carriage full of stuff. "Do you have the money to pay for that?" I asked. "Or maybe let me buy the dresses for you and the rest you pay for as work clothes?"

Smiling, "Sure Sam. Thank you."

At the register, I just paid for it all.

"Sam, what happened to me paying for the work clothes?"

"Oops, my bad. You can by lunch" I said.

Smiling at me and looking at me hard, we went out. It was raining for a change. "Stay here, I'll go get the truck. No reason for both of us to get soaked." I ran to the truck and wasn't too wet. Drove up and got her and her stuff. Getting out to open the door for her and tossing her bags in the back seat.

"Where to now?" She asked.

"Are you hungry yet?"

"No, not yet. Too early to eat."

"Let's go find where you'll be working. So you can gauge driving time. It took us around 15 minutes to get here. Watch the time to get to the Wellfleet dock where Mac's is."

With me driving at a moderate pace, we got to Mac's in about 20 minutes. "With me driving, you're looking around 35 minutes. I'd bet on 45-50 to be safe until we work it all out. We'll have to find a bus schedule, but I'd bet on at least an hour on the bus. We'll have to try it and see for a few days. Maybe the best bet is to find you a car?"

I drove over to the empty Mayo beach parking lot. The sun was starting to peak out. I pulled into a parking spot and we looked at the bay. "Would you like to put on one of your sun dresses?" I asked her. "Sorry. That's none of my business. You look fine the way you are Sha. I need to redirect my brain. So sorry."

"Which color did you like best?"

"The one with the red and blue flowers."

"There's no where to change."

I looked around and wondered why there were no porta-potties. "I can open both doors and stand with my back to you creating a mini dressing room for you. We used to do that all the time as kids."

"OK. Get yourself over here."

I opened both doors and stood between them with my back to her.

"I'm done." She whispered in my ear, sending chills down my back. I turned around and was once again stunned by how good she looked. "What do you think?"

My mouth opened, but no words came out. Suddenly my mouth was dry. "Sam, are you OK? Are you having a stroke or something?"

"I'm fine. Just awed by your beauty. You're going to immobilize every guy you meet when you wear that. They won't be able to take their eyes off you." I said.

"What about girls? Do you think they will find me pretty?"

"Yes. Sorry, again, sexual preferences is none of my business. But, if you're trying to attract women, same thing. You're irresistible."

"I do like guys, by the way. I just wanted to see your reaction." She said grinning.

Geezus, she had my heart doing flips there. Sam, get a grip on yourself. I was thinking.

"Do you want to walk down to the beach? It's the bay side, warmer and calmer. I'll take you to the ocean side too."

"Yes!" She bounced towards me, smiling and grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the beach, down the path. I nearly tripped in the loose sand.

"The tide is going out." She still held my hand as she dragged me along the shore. She finally let go, flipped off her sandals and waded into the water. I stayed on shore. "What do you think? Warm or cold?"

"Near perfect temperature." She said. She looked good, standing in the water, practically glowing with happiness. Looking at me and smiling.

"Why the happy face?" I asked.

"I feel good, you said I looked good. I'm relaxed and I feel a bit mischievous even."

Grinning at her "Is that so? Do tell, what's going through your mind Miss Shannon?"

"I can't tell you." She said blushing.

I was hoping she could not see my hard on. I turned around, pretending to look around us and adjusted myself when I was facing away from her. And turned back to face her. She was still grinning.

"Sam, do you think I am pretty?"

"Yes." Was all I could get out. She walked back to shore, picked up her sandals and took my hand again. We walked down the shore.

"You know, it's OK for friends to hold hands."

"OK." I felt like I was in a trance. Trying very hard to not let the thoughts in my head of wild sex with her become reality. It was becoming harder and harder to resist her. I've only known her parts of two days.

Stopping, she turned and stepped in front of me. She was only a few inches shorter and was looking up at me and I down at her, right into her pretty green eyes. "You have pretty green eyes." I managed to say.

She smiled up at me. We were close and I don't know if I was even breathing. "Sam, are you breathing?" Geeze, how did she notice that? I though to myself. "Sam, I'm hungry. Is there a burger place nearby?"

"What? Burgers. I might know of a place. The other side of Wellfleet. On the ocean. I can't think of the name of it, but let's take a ride and see if I can find it." I said. I turned and she moved beside me. I reached down and held her hand and she turned her head and smiled at me. Oh boy, what am I doing. Thinking, is my palm sweaty? What am I doing?

I opened the door for her and she stepped in, showing me some leg. Thinking again, control yourself Sam. It's been awhile, but this is a friend. Don't fuck it up so quickly. Closing her door and getting in on my side.

"What kind of truck is this?" She asked.

"It's a 2025 Toyota Tundra 1794 edition." I said.

Looking at her phone. "You spent $75,000 for this truck? Wow. How much was your camper?"

"Around $55,000 if I remember right. It's been a few months. Like I said, my friends helped me find them and I like their choices and this truck. Do you not like it?"

"I love it. It's so comfy Sam. I was just curious. My dad has a Mercedes that is around $150,000. I'd be afraid to drive it."

"I was that way at first with this truck. But there are models even more expensive. This was enough. It's paid for too. You gotta spend your money on something. Right? Why not be comfortable?"

We went up route 6 and turned into the Wellfleet National Seashore and followed the signs for the beach. It hadn't rained in a few hours and I was hopeful the sun would stay out long enough to dry everything up and allow us to sit in the sand later.

We approached the Beach Comber restaurant. Sha was getting excited. We both heard the waves crashing through the open windows.

"Can we sit on the deck overlooking the ocean Sam?"

"We can do anything you want Sha, anything at all."

We parked between a Benz and an Audi. I opened her door, took her hand and helped her down. She continued to hold my hand. We walked in side by side. The receptionist seated us on the deck and the view and sound was wondrous. We each ordered a beer, Sha got carded, which was amusing. The waitress said "Sorry miss, you look so young. And how about you sir, a beer also and may I see your ID too?"

My eyes went up and Sha was laughing hysterically. I showed my ID, "Oh, very sorry sir, you look young too." The waitress said.

"Thank you, I haven't heard anyone say that about me in a long time." I said.

The beers came and hit the spot. We both ordered burgers and fries. "So, Sha, where did you grow up, go to school, any siblings, what do your parents do? Am I asking too much?" I said.

"I grew up in Natick, Mass and went to public school there. You already know I graduated from Amherst. I have two older brothers, twins actually that are 2 years old than me. My dad does investments and financing stuff and my mom is a plastic surgeon. Both are extremely successful. My parents still live in Natick. I have zero desire to move back there. I like the slower pace of Western Massachusetts and think I will eventually open an office there and find a home there.

Mom and dad, spoil me. I let you pay for my clothes, but I could easily afford them. I have a huge trust fund. My dad nearly had a heart attack when I told him I was going to hitch hike to the Cape. I had a little commuter Toyota Corolla at college and sold it when I graduated to a student at Springfield College. I brought it to her with the understanding that she would drop me off where I could get to Route 291 and work my way to Cape Cod. I got lucky cause that's where you came into my life.

I am expecting my parents to call any day now checking in on me. I know they track my phone and that's fine. As long as they do not get too possessive about it. It's a good little security blanket.

How about you, same questions."

The waitress brought the food. We shared a basket of fries and the burgers were good and hit the spot.

"My parents were hard working blue collar types. My dad worked in a machine shop, my mother as a bookkeeper. They made enough to survive and get me and my brother to college. I grew up in East Longmeadow, Mass and have a home there now. My parents moved to Florida around 5 years ago. My brother lives down there too.

I am a college dropout vs my brother who has a law degree from Western New England University and practices law down in Florida. He is married, has 4 kids and is doing well. I've been running my little company for 20 years now. I started as an employee and moved up and eventually bought it. I borrowed money from a friend with the promise to pay it back within three years. I paid him back in two. Then moved it up even more. Within four years of buying it, we were doing great. Big contracts coming in from big companies. I pay my employees well, and nearly all have been with me for 16 or more years. They're more like family than employees. I know all their wives and kids, we do a picnic and holiday party and other events during the year.

I.... sorry, a little emotional about them. Last year, one of them was in a horrific car accident and he and his family all died. We were all devastated. I closed the shop for two weeks and brought in a psychologist to help us all through it. It was terrible and my heart still aches for them.

We're all back to full speed again and I brought in some new people. But miss them terribly. Sorry, I get too emotional about this. It was an awful tragedy."

We finished the food. "Are you paying for lunch? Where did you hide your cash or credit card?" I asked.

"Oh, it's still in my shorts in the truck. I'm so sorry Sam. I wasn't thinking."

"Not a problem." I took out the cash, left a good tip and paid the waitress and thanked her for a delicious lunch.

"I have to pee. I'll be right back."

"I'll wait right here."

15 minutes went by and I was worried. I got up to go find her. Walking around the side towards the bathrooms and pool tables. I saw her sitting on some guys lap. "Sam, help!"

The guy holding her tightened his grip around her arms and body. I noticed three of his buddies talking and playing pool.

"Hey, gramps, take a hike. The lady is with us now. Come any closer and we'll break you into little pieces." One said.

"If that were true, why did she just ask for help?" I said.

I looked at Sha and she was wild eyed. "Gentlemen, how about if we take this outside? Then we can negotiate properly." I said backing up slowly. I glanced at the bar tender and hoped he read my eyes and look and to call the police. The four guys followed me out and brought Sha with them.

Out front in the parking lot, I took my bearings to see if I could use anything to help the situation. "Gentlemen, why don't you let the lady go. Then the four of you can go on your way. I'd hate to have to call an ambulance for you all." Noticing the bartender on the door entrance with a shotgun. I looked his way and shook my head.

Continues in The Hitchhiker - Part 2 by Nutmegman