Tanner Runs

All of my writing is fiction, and the stories and characters are products of my imagination. They were created for my fun and, hopefully, your enjoyment. Some of the events in the stories are not particularly condoned nor encouraged by the author but are there to create and enhance the story of the imaginary characters and their lives. Comments are always encouraged and carefully reviewed. All characters within the story that need to be are 18 years of age or older. I hope you enjoy! And take a second to vote and comment.

~~~

"That's a great question, Carolyn, but I'm not going to answer it." I could tell that wasn't the answer she was expecting.

"If it's a great question, Dr. Eck, why won't you answer?"

I smiled at being called Dr. Eck. I'd had my PhD for about six months and wasn't used to hearing it yet. It had been a dream of mine for years, and I was almost there when it was tragically interrupted. I had finally finished, though. I picked up the textbook and leafed through a few pages.

"Check page 139 of the text, and you'll find your answer."

"I'm sure I covered that page and didn't see the answer."

"It's not written in so many words, but it's there if you think about what it's saying." I took a few steps and turned back to Carolyn. "Come to my office tomorrow if you are still having trouble."

"Thank you, Dr. Eck."

I heard a male voice from high up in the half-full seats.

"Professor Eck, have you heard anything about the financial problems the university is supposedly having? I've heard rumors of dropping some programs, and of course, faculty, too."

"I guess I've just heard the same rumors that you have, but nothing firm yet. I hope they aren't true, since it would obviously affect many people." I was probably the newest PhD on campus, and had just been appointed an assistant professor a few weeks ago.

"Crap, I hoped you had. I don't think any of us are anxious to start over at another university."

I laughed. "Or start over as a professor at another university. I was born here, dreamed of going here all my life, and received all three of my degrees from here. So, I'd just like to keep teaching right here."

"Dr. Eck, if you go somewhere else, please let me know so I can go there too. I love your teaching." The words came from a redhead with a big smile.

"Aww, thanks, Carolyn. That's very sweet and means a lot."

I heard a couple of "Right on" comments and felt very satisfied and gratified as well. I loved teaching in general and was very comfortable here at Wisner State. I glanced around, remembering having undergraduate courses in this very lecture hall. I'd come full circle.

The bell sounded, and there was a rustling of chairs as everyone stood to leave. I gathered up my things when I realized there was someone standing close to me.

"Carolyn. I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."

"No problem, Dr. Eck. Here's my email address. I was serious when I said I'd transfer to where you were teaching."

I touched her arm. "That is sweet, Carolyn, but you'll be having lots of professors besides me as your college career progresses."

"I know, but I checked the catalog, and you'll be teaching several of the courses I'll be taking, and I'll be sure to schedule so that I'll be in your classes."

"I'll enjoy having you in class, too. You speak up, and you're on the mark with your questions and answers. We'll have to wait and see what happens, though."

"I know. I just want to be ready."

"Take care, Carolyn. I'll see you tomorrow."

She turned and headed up the steps, probably worried about being late to another class. I tucked the paper with her email address into a slot in my briefcase.

I went to my office, which I shared with another assistant professor who'd already left for the day, and was sitting there with my feet on the desk, my skirt sliding up nearly to my waist, and thinking about the last few minutes of my class. At first, I was angry. Angry at the university for not giving us more information. Then, I realized that they had said nothing, and no one seemed to know where the rumors had originated.

My office phone rang.

"Hello."

"Dr. Eck?"

"Hello, Elaine. What can I do for you?"

"The Dean would like to see you if you're available. "

I chuckled to myself. Unless I was teaching a class or in an intensive care unit, I'd be available for Dean Wharton. I went to the third floor, where the Dean had established his office, reputedly to keep people from "dropping in." I went into his outer office.

"Hello, Dr. Eck. Let me tell the Dean you're here." Elaine stood, knocked, and went through the door behind her desk. In a moment, she was back. "Go on in, Dr. Eck."

As I went through the door, it was almost as if a bell dinged inside my head. Dean Wharton came around the desk and extended his hand, and we shook.

"Hello, Dr. Eck. Please have a seat."

He sat in the chair next to mine and gazed at me for a moment.

"First of all, I was out of the country when you recently received your PhD. Congratulations. That's quite an accomplishment, as you well know."

"Thank you, Dean Wharton. There were many times I nearly gave up, but something would happen to spur me on. It was so satisfying to get back at it and finally finish."

Dean Wharton stood and paced across the office and back. That made me nervous. Something was up.

"The second part of what I have to say is not nearly as pleasant. You've probably heard the rumors, and today, the entire university is confirming many of them. Unfortunately, we are having serious financial issues and need to make some changes."

I closed my eyes, feeling as if I might vomit. "And I'm to be part of those changes?"

"I'm afraid so, Tanner. There are many others getting the same message this afternoon. In your case, this is particularly difficult, knowing it wasn't long ago that you lost your husband."

"So, I will no longer be a part of Wisner State University?"

I'm afraid not, Tanner. Anywhere you decide to go will receive an outstanding recommendation from us, if that helps."

"I've dreamed for most of my life of being a professor at Wisner."

"I wish we could take that into account, Tanner. In our area, we have a group of twenty-year tenured professors, and one brand new Assistant Professor. It didn't leave us much choice." He sat down again.

"I'd heard the rumors, but never tied them to myself. Are some of my courses being eliminated?"

"Probably, but we still have details to work out. You'll teach through the end of the semester and receive a half-year severance. Hopefully, that will help you get established somewhere new."

I hadn't been looking to get established somewhere new, but it appeared it was going to happen. I wouldn't be desperate with the severance and the insurance money that I'd received. There was also a pending lawsuit, but I wasn't counting on that. I had some serious thinking to do.

"Well, this isn't what I was expecting when I came to the third floor. I guess it could have been worse, but I'm not sure how." I thought I saw Dean Wharton flinch when I said that. I hoped he had.

"I'm sure that's true, Tanner, but sometimes it's just about numbers and not about people. I hate that it's true, but we can't get away from it sometimes.

"Am I free to go now. I assume that in the next two weeks, I'll get all of the details and also information in writing."

"We'll have the papers to you within the week. And yes, you're free to go. Normally, I'd tell you to have a good day, but it doesn't seem to apply here."

I was doing my best to hate the message and not the messenger, but sometimes that was easier said than done. Dean Wharton was just doing his job and what he had been instructed to do, and I knew he appreciated what I had done and was doing for the university. I also knew that his hands were tied.

"If you need a letter of recommendation in the future, give me a call, and we can talk about it. I'm sure you can help fill in some of the details that I wouldn't be aware of."

"I'll do that, for sure, Dean. And thank you."

We shook hands again, and I headed for my office. I didn't meet anyone along the way and hoped I could get to my car with the same result. News would be spreading quickly, and I wasn't in the mood to answer questions.

Pausing several times along the way to avoid people, I was able to get to the parking lot and the car without interacting with anyone. Once in the car, I thought for a moment and then called my good friend, Sylvie.

"Hey Tanner, I was just about to call you. I've heard some rumors about bad things at Wisner."

"They aren't rumors.. Are you busy this evening?

"Oh crap. Yes, I can be. I thought I'd see what Barry was doing, but it sounds like I should spend some time with you."

"Picking me over Barry. I'm humbled."

"You're full of BS, but where should we meet?"

"How about Alderson's?"

"Do they still do the Low Country Boil?"

"I think so. They did last week when I was there."

"I can be there by six, if that's okay."

"I'll see you then."

I hung up the phone and immediately ducked down in the seat. I'd seen two people from my department approaching the car, talking animatedly, obviously about what was going on. I heard their voices as they passed, but couldn't make out any words. That was probably just as well. I waited till I couldn't hear voices and sat upright.

I drove straight to Alderson's, parked, and decided to walk around the block to burn off energy. After one circle, I decided that a second round would get me back at about six. I was right on, and Sylvie was just getting out of her car.

"Where have you been?"

"Walking off energy."

"Uh oh, this must be serious."

"Cut it. You know I used to work out."

Sylvie chuckled. "Used to, and in the long-ago past tense."

"Let's go inside. I think I'm hungry now."

We went inside and ordered, both of us choosing the Low Country Boil. It wasn't a common offering in our area north of the Mason-Dixon Line, but people who had traveled to the Carolinas and eaten it there seemed to find their way to Alderson's to order it again. I certainly did.

"So, what's up, Tanner?"

"In a few words, financial problems, solutions needed, and I was one of the solutions."

"You mean you don't have a job?"

"In two more weeks, that'll be true."

"I never imagined. I mean, having a professorship at a university usually sets you up for life."

"If it were a full professorship, probably so. But assistants are vulnerable, for sure."

"I guess you haven't really had time to think about what you'll be doing. Probably applying to other colleges?"

"I guess so. The Dean said he'd give me an outstanding recommendation. He even told me to call him when I needed it so he could get more details from me."

"That sounds like a good base to start with, and there are a bunch of universities within a couple of hundred miles. You can get your Curriculum Vitae together and be ahead of things."

"Wow, I didn't know that you knew about Curriculum Vitae."

"I read about it in a book a few weeks ago."

"Mine isn't too extensive, yet, but I'll get it together."

"Let me know if you need help with anything. "

"Thanks, and I will, " I said as our meals arrived.

We both loved the Low Country Boil that we'd had when we'd gone to the beach with my parents. Each time I ordered it at Alderson's, it brought back memories. And it was doing the same thing tonight.

"Tanner, what's going on?"

The tears were giving things away.

"Sorry. Eating this stuff got me thinking about Mom and Dad."

"I got to go to the beach with you guys the year I lived with you, and we had the Low Country Boil three times, and I still love it. I suspect your emotions are a little out of balance after today."

"I'm sure that's true. But listen. Why don't you call Barry, and I'll go home and do some thinking."

"Are you sure? I mean, I've already cancelled with Barry, so I'm free."

"Yeah, and I insist. I'm certain we'll be getting together again soon. Plus, I'm certain Barry won't mind seeing you."

We finished the meal, paid, hugged, and I headed home to do my thinking. Once there, I settled into my leather lounger, spent fifteen or twenty minutes lamenting what had happened, then began to plan.

What universities would I consider? I pretty well knew all of the universities within two hundred miles of here, but my whole life had been centered around Wisner, and I didn't want to start over anywhere else. I told myself I was being silly, that I was only twenty-nine years old and could easily start over, but I wasn't having much success. My stubbornness was fighting my plans.

I decided to step outside of the box. What could I do that didn't involve another university? Maybe something in the workforce, in commerce? Ugh. That was about the last thing I wanted to do, even if I might end up there one day. I let my mind wander a little, drifting back to daydreams that I've had over the years. I paused my musing for a few minutes to get a glass of wine. It was probably good that I didn't have anything stiffer, or my thinking could have been in trouble.

Back in my lounger, I sipped from the tumbler I'd filled with wine. I was having a glass of wine, but it was probably ten or twelve ounces I'd poured into the glass. It was a good start. I allowed my mind to go back to where it had been when I'd gone to the kitchen. I was far, far out, but it was fascinating.

I'd read Walden Pond as a high school student, and, although there was much more in it, living away from others and being close to nature had fascinated me. It wasn't something I could do, but it was something I could imagine and wonder about. I chuckled to myself as I realized that today, I was able to do it if I chose to, not at Walden Pond, but at a pond of my own. I could even write about it if I chose to. Did I want it to happen badly enough to do it? I wondered if I was being serious or losing my mind?

The last two weeks of teaching were bittersweet. The students knew that I was not going to be there next term when they returned, and they were sympathetic, angry, and helpless to do anything about it. They listened intently to her lectures, wanting somehow to hold onto me until the last moment. On the last day of class, I hugged them all, wished them well, and accepted their good wishes in kind.

I'd cleaned out her desk at the beginning of the last week, so that all I needed to do on the last day was walk out the door. Only Carolyn was waiting when I did that.

"Do you still have my email?" she asked.

"I do, Carolyn, but I have no idea what I'll be doing. If I begin teaching somewhere, I'll certainly let you know."

"Good, and thank you. Good luck to you, whatever you do."

"Thank you so much, and good luck to you in your studies."

We hugged momentarily, and, for the last time at Wisner, I headed for my car.

"So, what are you up to now that you've retired?" Sylvie asked with a giggle that evening.

"Do I look that old?"

"No, but you look a lot more relaxed than you did the last time I saw you.

"Well, I have my last month's paycheck and the six months' severance, so I won't starve for a while."

"What's next, then?"

"If I tell you, you can't tell anyone."

"Scout's honor."

"I'm going to disappear."

"What does that mean?"

I'm going to find a somewhere that's isolated, where I can live the way I want to, and I can think about what I want to do with my life. Being at the whim and mercy of someone like Dean Wharton is not what I want. I mean, he's a nice guy, but he's still the one who told me I had to leave."

"If you teach, there'll always be someone above you who can do that. I mean, unless you're the president of the university, and even then, you have the board of trustees who can dump you if they want to."

"I'm not ruling out teaching. That may be what I come up with after my disappearance." I had to laugh since I wondered if I could actually disappear so that most people wouldn't know where I was. I was going to find out.

"Keep in touch with me at least once in a while, okay?"

I'll have the internet, for sure, and hopefully cell phone reception, too."

"When are you gonna start all this?"

"Tomorrow. I hope. I mean, I'll get something started, if only research."

"Good luck, Tanner. Knowing you, this will work out well."

'Thanks, Sylvie. I hope so.

In a way, I hated to see Sylvie leave, since I sensed it would be a while before I'd see her again. In fact, there were several people I wouldn't be seeing for a while. As she drove away, I realized that an entirely new and different life lay ahead of me, if only temporarily.

~~~

The next morning, I began my research. I was committed to living away from everything and everyone as much as was reasonably possible. I began looking for property but wasn't finding what I was after. It was still early, so I decided to make the two-hour trip to a real estate agent who looked promising. Halfway there, I realized I hadn't called to be sure she would be in the office. But the area was hilly and covered with woods, and seemed to be what I was looking for.

I hoped it was a harbinger of more good things when I found Jenny hard at work in her office.

"Hello. How can I help you?" she asked when I was inside. "I'm Jenny Brooks,"

"Hello. I'm Tanner Eck, and I need some help finding a particular kind of real estate." We shook hands.

"That's what I'm here for. What kind of real estate are you looking for?"

"Well," I answered with a slight giggle, "I guess I just want to get away for a while. I need some acres with a cabin, nothing fancy. I'm not looking for three bedrooms and two baths, just someplace where I can get by for a while, if that makes sense."

Jenny smiled. "It does, but it's not something we usually have people looking for. I'm not sure that I have anything that fits exactly what you're after, but maybe some of my realtor friends do. Are you in an extreme hurry?"

"What kind of time frame are you talking about?"

"If you have a couple of hours, I can check around. Are you from around here?"

"Nope, a couple of hours away."

"If you'd like to grab something to eat and check a couple of our stores, that might fill your time. Hopefully," she said, crossing her fingers and chuckling, "I'll have some offerings for you then."

"If I'm going to be living around here, I guess it wouldn't hurt to check those things out."

"Give me your cell phone number and I'll text you when I'm ready."

I shared my number, she told me to have fun, and I left to get some lunch. I'd seen a small eating place on the way to Jenny's office, so I decided to go there for some lunch.

Growing up where I did, I hadn't experienced much good old home cooking. Mother cooked, and everything was good, but it was fairly simple. At Mrs. Simpson's Diner, the food was simple but good in a different way, probably because of the spices she used.

When I'd finished and the young server brought my bill, I told her to tell Mrs. Simpson that her food was delicious.

"She's back in the kitchen. I'll get her," was the reply, and in a moment, Mrs. Simpson was sitting at my table.

"So you liked the food?"

"Loved it. Everything tasted so good."

"Glad you loved it. You must be new 'round here 'cause I'm a'guessin' you haven't eaten here before."

"That's true, and I'm going to be new around here as soon as I find a place to live."

"You need to talk to Jenny Brooks. She'll fix you up."

I chuckled. "She's looking right now."

"You're in good hands, then. Glad you liked the food, and I'll be lookin' for you to stop in again 'fore long."

"I'm sure I will."

I paid, gave the server a nice tip, and headed for the Winston General Store. Winston looked like the perfect small town for my retreat, and I was planning to enjoy it.

I was greeted in the store much as I had been at the diner, and was invited back once I was settled. I chatted with the lady who'd greeted me until my phone buzzed. It was a text from Jenny who had information for me.

I replied with a thumbs up and headed for Jenny's office.

"That was fast."

"There aren't that many agents to contact in this area," she said with a laugh. "But I did find two possibilities. Sit down, and we can review them, and, if you have time, we can check them out."

I sat down, ready to listen.

"I think I heard what you said before, so I'll tell you one of the properties has twenty acres with a two-bedroom ranch house." She looked at me and shrugged.

I'm certain my nose curled, and Jenny chuckled. "I thought so. The second sounds very rough, but may be what you're looking for. It's large, about seventy acres, and about ninety percent woods. There's a pond and a small cabin that's pretty much off the grid. It's solar powered, has a septic system... and a wood-burning stove for heat. Water is collected from the cabin roof and should be safe to drink, but you can get purification tablets at the general store if you'd like."

"Wood-burning stove, huh?"

"You have seventy acres of woods and lots of dead trees, I'm sure. Do you have an axe or a saw?"

"I guess I'd better get one of each if I'm going to be here for the winter."

"You could have wood delivered."

"Only in an emergency," I vowed.

"You want to take a look?"

"I'd love to. Does it have a price?"

"It's listed at $175,000, but we may be able to negotiate a little on that. It's been on the market for six months and has only had one viewing with no offers."

"That's a lot of money, but that's a lot of property. But it's not exactly farmland or useful for much of anything."

"Exactly, and that's my job. Let's go. It's about twelve miles out of town, but it's off by itself, for sure."

That didn't seem far enough, but I'd have to see.

I climbed into Jenny's Jeep Cherokee, and we were off.

The first six miles were on the highway, which was a narrow two-lane road with almost no shoulders. We turned onto a sometimes paved, sometimes gravel road for four miles, then a gravel road for one mile, and finally, another gravel road that ended in the parking space for the cabin. The cabin was the end of the road and was certainly as isolated as I wanted.

"Did you notice the sign that said, Private Property," Jenny asked.

"No, I didn't. I must have been looking around."

"That's where this property starts. It's probably an eighth of a mile back up the road.

"That should keep things private, I guess."

"You know, we don't have much crime out here, but you might want to check about some security devices."

"I'll probably do that."

The cabin was one room with a small loft. There was a small kitchen in one corner, and another corner walled off for a bathroom. I discovered the shower was outside but very close to the second door, which would be an advantage in winter, I was certain. A single bed was tucked into a third corner, and a couch and chair with a table in the fourth. The loft had another bed, and I decided I might sleep there, which would give me more room downstairs for a bookshelf and a desk.

"I don't suppose there's internet here," I grumbled.

"There isn't... yet. The local internet provider had vowed to bring the internet to any home in the area, so I think you may be in luck. And cable TV is included, too."

I smiled as I was certain the cable TV would be used at least occasionally.

"What do you think?" Jenny finally asked.

"I'll take your word that there's a pond somewhere, but I think this is just about what I was looking for. And if you can get the price a little lower, that would be wonderful."

"I'll do my best. Are you preapproved for a loan?"

"Not needed. I'll be paying cash."

"That will simplify things."

We spent a few more minutes in the cabin and looking around outside. I discovered there was a generator that had been used in emergencies and hoped it might still be functional. We went back to Jenny's office, signed some papers, and I headed for home.

Four days later, I received a call from Jenny.

"It's yours for $105,000 if you want it."

"Sold," was my quick reply. "How did you do that?"

"I did a little research on land values and also discovered the owner was getting desperate for money. He was happy to get rid of it and have some money in his pocket. Since it's cash, we can close quickly."

Two weeks later, I owned seventy acres of land with a cabin and pond and was ready to move in. I'd set up my house on Airbnb, and my next-door neighbors were helping out. I'd agreed to split the rent with them, which made them happy as they were a young couple with two small children who could certainly use a little extra money.

I loaded my car with bags and boxes of everything I thought I'd be needing right away and headed for Eck Acres. Before I'd gotten to the private property sign, I knew that I needed something besides a Honda Civic to navigate. I might ask Jenny for recommendations.

I'd picked up some roughing it clothes and boots and was ready for some exploration. At the closing, I'd gotten a plot plan of the property, and I was anxious to find the borders. The internet people were true to their word and had installed the cable using trees since there were no poles. They were to be installed later, which I doubted would happen as long as I didn't complain.

I called Jenny.

"I need some advice. I hate to bother you, but...:

"I consider us friends, Tanner, so I'm happy to help. What do you need?"

"I have this septic system, and I know nothing about it. Is there someone who could check to see if it needs service or anything?"

I heard Jenny laugh. "I have someone if you agree to it."

"Is it complicated?"

"No, but it's my brother, and some people wouldn't like that."

"That seems odd, but I assume your brother is good and trustworthy, or you wouldn't be recommending him."

That brought a bigger laugh from Jenny. "He's not absolutely perfect, but he's a great guy and will always do right by you. He won't overcharge or recommend something that doesn't need to be done. Would you like me to give him your number so he can call and set up an appointment? Or, I can give you his number."

"Why don't you give me his number, and I'll make a list of things to ask about." I copied the number.

"I'll see him this evening, so I'll tell him you'll be calling."

"Okay. I'll get to work on my list. Thanks for the help.

I put on a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt to protect me, even though it was warm, and my new hiking boots. On a whim, I'd purchased a machete for my wilderness foraging and hoped it would be useful. I planned to chop out some undergrowth as I went, so I could find my way back. I wasn't certain what exploration skills I might have, so I needed to be safe. I had my cell phone and four lines that indicated excellent reception. I'd asked Jenny, and she'd told me there was a tower on the next hill over. With a copy of the plot plan folded and in my pocket, I was off.

Walking deeper into my land was also walking uphill, but I wanted to see the pond and what it was like. I'd gone perhaps fifty yards, moving between trees and clearing a path with my machete, which seemed like fun. I wondered if I'd be sore tomorrow. But I'd found the pond. It was as large as three or four normal backyard pools, and there were rocks around the edges. I found a long straight tree branch and whacked off the small branches. When I knelt at the edge of the pond and submerged it, I wasn't touching the bottom. I guessed the branch might be eight feet long.

I had an idea I needed to go over with Jenny's brother when he came, but now I needed to explore some more. My land ran north and south, and I continued north past the pond until I thought I might be getting close to the end of my property. When I found an old and rusted wire fence, I decided I was there. When I glanced at my watch, I realized I'd been wandering for over two hours. It was time to head back to the cabin, which I did with no problems, simply following the path I'd half-hacked through the woods.

A little research on the internet, a meal, some TV, and I climbed into bed, tired, but very content. Things were going along nicely, so far.

The next morning, my shoulder and right arm were sore, but not debilitatingly so. I decided to call Jenny's brother, Alexander Brooks.

"Good morning. Brooks Home Services, Alex speaking. How may I help you?"

I decided he had a pleasant voice, if nothing else.

"This is Tanner Eck, and your sister recommended you for some things I need to get done at my cabin."

"You have the little cabin off the highway, off the side road, and off the side road ad infinitum?"

That wasn't a phrase I was expecting from a handyman. "I think that describes it fairly well. I have things that need to be done, and I have questions about other things that may need to be done."

"Yeah, sis said I could make a fortune out there."

"Um, what?"

"Just teasing. She said you seemed to be a very pleasant person, and I could just be myself with you."

"So, I take it you're a bit of a tease."

"I can be, with the right people, of course."

"If you can tease, I may be sarcastic at times, too."

"I think we will get along well. Is there anything you need done that will need equipment?"

"I'm not sure until you answer some of the questions and see it for yourself, but I have a septic system, and it may need to be pumped out, whatever that is."

"Well, you can probably guess what that is," he said with a chuckle. "I'm free right now, and my septic guy has another job not too far from you. I'll bring him along, and if you need some pumping done, we'll take care of it this morning. If not, he'll just keep going."

"And by the way, today is fine."

"I guess I got a little ahead of things there. We'll be there in twenty to forty minutes. Can a truck bigger than a pickup truck get to your cabin?"

"Is there a chance my tank won't need to be pumped?"

"I'd guess that might be true in your case."

"I'd suggest leaving the truck where you turn onto the second side road."

"Sounds good. I'll be seeing you a little later."

My list was ready when I heard the sound of a car outside the cabin. When I went to the door, I discovered it was actually a truck. A man opened the driver's door and stood on the running board looking over the top of the truck.

"Tanner?" he called.

"Yes, sir. Alex?"

We met by the truck and shook hands.

"Do you know where the tank is?"

I laughed. I hoped you'd know."

He shook his head. "Let's look."

It took five minutes to find the tank and another five to check it.

"With just you living here, I'd say you have another two or three years before it needs pumped. Let me make a call."

He dialed his cell phone, laughed, and said a few words, then disconnected.

"Leon's off on his route. I did notice a cable attached to the trees coming in here."

"Cable and internet. They said they'd put the posts in later, but I'm happy just the way it is. They can run poles up to my property line, I guess, but I don't need lots of poles."

Alex was looking at me. "I don't blame you," he finally said. "So, what's on your list?"

"While we're outside, Jenny thought I should have some kind of security."

"You don't have a black belt in something or own an AR-15, do you?"

"I've never even held a gun, and the only black belt I have is still in my other house."

"I sort of figured. I can install motion sensors at the driveway, and a couple on the cabin, just in case. The problem is, they'll detect deer as well as people."

"Oh, deer are so pretty and regal."

"Do you have a dog?"

"No."

"Then you'll have lots of deer, and if you feed them, they may become friendly."

"What else might I see?"

Alex laughed. "Raccoon, possum, skunk, chipmunks, and other little critters."

I hesitated. "Snakes?"

"Maybe, but they don't want to be close to you most of the time. Once in a while, you might. Lots of birds, hawks, maybe an owl sometimes.

"Well, come on inside, and I'll show you what I need there."

We went inside, and I gave Alex a chance to look around, hoping I hadn't left any underthings lying around.

"I need to understand about the electricity and the water, and I have another question about the water."

"What's the water question?"

"I have a pond and it's up the hill from the cabin. I figured that it's about the size of four house pools, and it's deep. Could I run a pipe down to the house from there to get more water? I may want a garden and who knows what else?"

"Sounds like that would be easy.

I looked up, and Alex followed my eyes.

"I'd like to sleep up there, but I want it to be safe. This ladder is scary, at least to me."

Alex went up the ladder and looked around. "It's big enough up here to sleep, but not to stand up if you're okay with that."

I was.

"The boards are solid but not nailed down. Do you want that bed up here?"

I wasn't certain I was in love with the rickety bed and thin mattress that I'd been sleeping on. I think Alex saw my indecision.

"I have no idea about your money situation," he said, shrugging.

"Don't worry about it. My father was killed in a motorcycle accident, and there was a large insurance settlement. My mother died from breast cancer when I was twenty, so I received all of the insurance."

"I don't know what to say, Tanner. That's way too much to have to bear."

"I have no choice, you know, and if you want to feel badly for me, I just lost my job at Wisner State due to financial problems."

Alex shook his head. "What did you do there?"

I was suddenly sorry that I had mentioned it, but I had, and it was necessary that I continue.

"I was an assistant professor."

"Which means a master's degree or possibly a PhD."

He had an expectant look on his face.

"I have a PhD."

"And you're here in this tiny cabin, asking me for help."

"Having a PhD and $3.50 will get you a coffee at Starbucks. Being homeless will do the same sometimes."

"I'd never thought of it that way, but I think you're right. Now, back to your bed. How about you buy a new mattress and I'll build a bed for your loft, along with a nice ladder that will fold away against the wall when you aren't using it?"

"Alex, I can't ask you to do that."

"Oh, you'll pay. I don't work for nothing."

I had to laugh at that and the look on his face.

Alex had probably a four-day growth of very black beard on his face, which was a little dirty from all of his looking around. The hair beneath the hat he took off and put back on rather frequently was dark and looked as though it might need to be washed. His clothing was well-worn and could stand to be washed. His thick glasses were constantly being pushed up higher on his nose. Amongst all of this, his smile was warm and refreshing.

"I expect to pay, of course."

He explained how the solar cells and batteries worked, telling me that whoever had installed them had installed much more than was necessary. I had plenty of power. There were a couple of other things I reviewed with him, and he thanked me for my business and left. He'd be back to take care of several of the items later, he'd said.

I sat in one of the chairs to ponder what to have for lunch when my eyes, which were perusing the room, stopped on the single picture I'd hung on the single nail I'd found in the wall. It was of Dale, my deceased husband, sitting on his motorcycle, the loved and damned motorcycle. He loved it and spent hours riding it until the day it broke when he was going about seventy miles an hour on a small country road, and he had no chance to survive. It was because of his constant encouragement that I had my PhD, and I wondered what he'd think if he saw me in this cabin.

I shrugged and decided to heat a can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew for lunch. It was something my grandad had loved, and I'd picked up a taste for it too. As I ate, I looked around, thinking of the improvements that were going to be made. But I had my computer and the internet, and I could start on the writing I was planning to do. If I could complete something significant, it might be a big boost in finding a new position or in getting back to Wisner, which was what I really wanted.

I slept late the next morning and was surprised when I heard a motor outside the cabin. I quickly dressed and opened the door, expecting to see Alex, but I saw someone different coming toward the cabin. I checked to be certain I was clothed and covered and stepped outside.

"Ms. Eck?" he asked, a huge smile on his face.

I wondered who he was and what he wanted. "Yes."

"Alex sent me to get started with the motion sensors."

A feeling of relief coursed through me as my visitor came closer.

"I'm Shane Weston," he said, showing me a box of gadgets. "I also have three lights in the truck. Did Alex explain all of this to you?"

"Not much."

Shane carefully explained the locations of the five sensors and three lights. To do it, he sat close to me, and I decided he'd done a fine job of selecting a cologne. It smelled delicious and was very distracting.

"Did Alex explain the problem you'll probably encounter?" I heard him ask.

"Problem?" I stammered.

"Evidently not," Shane said, chuckling.

I vowed to pay better attention to what he was saying.

"Animals can be picked up by the sensors, particularly deer, but sometimes raccoons or a very large bird flying by." He pointed to a metal box with several switches mounted on it. "When the sensors detect something, the three large LED lights come on, and they're very bright. The big switch there shuts them off and resets the system.

"I do remember Alex saying that might happen a lot."

"I wouldn't recommend it, but you can shut the system off if it gets too bothersome."

"I'll have to see how it goes. I don't think I could stand two or three times an hour."

Shane laughed. "You wouldn't get much beauty sleep, not that you need any."

That surprised me, and I think I gave him a look.

He chuckled. "Do you have a gun?"

Guns seemed to be on everyone's minds here.

"I've never even held a gun."

Shane eyed me like I was a creature from outer space.

"You're the only person in the county who doesn't own a gun. If you get one, I'll be happy to teach you to use it."

"If I decide to do that, I'll pay you."

"Alex pays me, so you're off the hook." Shane shrugged and smiled.

I chuckled but was thinking seriously about what he'd said. I certainly wasn't expecting anyone to sneak onto my property and rob me, or worse, but it was a possibility, and if the security system lights didn't scare them off, there was nothing I could do. Alex had asked if I had a black belt in something, but nothing like that was a part of my resume.

"You really think I should have a gun?" I asked Shane.

"Seriously, yes, I do. You might never have reason to use it, but it only takes once for something bad to happen. And we don't want that."

No, we didn't want that for sure.

"I have no idea what kind of gun I should have."

"I have a good friend who's a dealer. I can see him and pick out the gun, and he'll call you on the phone, and you can give him your credit card number." Shane laughed. "I'll watch to be sure he doesn't copy it down."

"So, what kind of a gun are you talking about?"

"I'll see what he has on hand. Probably a 9mm of some kind, maybe a Glock or a Springfield."

"How much are they?" I'm thinking one or two hundred dollars.

"Figure somewhere between four and five hundred dollars."

I think I gasped a little. "Expensive toy," I suggested.

"They're anything but a toy. They hold ten rounds, and you can do a lot of damage with that."

"You're sure you can teach me to use it properly and safely?"

"I've done it before, so yeah."

"How about if we do the training in the evening, and I'll fix a meal for you."

He winked at me. "That's almost like having a date with you."

That would mean I'd asked him for a date, and that wasn't my plan at all. But if he wanted to consider it a date, I guess there was no harm. He seemed like a very pleasant and likable guy.

"That's up to you," I answered with a laugh. "I just want to learn to use the gun safely."

"I'll go to my friend's shop tonight, and we'll call, but only if you give me your phone number."

Shane finished his work and left, and I decided to check on the pond again. Redressed in my protective clothes and machete in hand, I was making my way up the hill again, much easier this time with the path I had hacked out. Once at the pond, I made my way around the edge, clearing the brush away as I went. I had an outside shower, but I might want to bathe in the pond occasionally. I enjoyed swimming, and I had my own big swimming area. I'd never done it before, but this was a perfect place for skinny dipping. I laughed so hard when I thought of that, I nearly fell in the pond.

I found a low place on the far side where the water could overflow and drain onto the hillside. My probing along that side told me it was much shallower there as well, and I'd be able to stand in the water if I chose to. I was sure that if I came to the pond in the winter with the trees bare of leaves, I'd be able to see the cabin.

That evening, I received the expected call, read off my credit card number, and was the owner of a Glock 9mm handgun, as well as two hundred rounds of ammunition.

"I'll be there in forty-five minutes, and we can begin the lessons."

Shane seemed eager to help me, and I couldn't help but wonder if he had more on his mind than just helping. I hadn't noticed a wedding ring, and I suspected that he might be a year or two younger than I was, which wouldn't be a problem if... I needed to slow my brain as I think that loneliness might be having an effect on me. Dale had only been gone a little over two years, and I knew that he wouldn't want me to pine over him for the rest of my life. Could Shane and I, clearly from different backgrounds, fit together? My mind was getting far ahead of reality, and it needed to slow down.

Shane arrived with my new gun and ammunition, gave me a fifteen-minute talk on safety, then suggested I read more on the internet. We went outside and, before long, I was trying to hit a tree, mostly successfully.

After that, we went inside, and, as promised, I prepared cube steaks, potato salad, and some cantaloupe I'd picked up at the general store. Shane raved about how delicious it was, so much so that I knew he had more on his mind than simply helping me. Just a couple of subtle comments so far, but I knew I'd have to decide soon.

"I'd better get going," Shane said soon after he'd finished eating. "Be careful. That gun doesn't know anything about family and will shoot you as easily as someone else."

"I promise I'll be careful," I assured him.

We both stood and walked to the door. He turned, winked, and put his hands on my shoulders, and I'm sure I tensed.

"You're one hell of a tough lady," he said and headed for his truck.

I think I would have fought him off if he'd tried to kiss me, which was what I first suspected. But he didn't, and I didn't, so all was well.

On Friday afternoon, I received a call from Alex.

"Are you going to be home tomorrow?"

I laughed. "Why do you ask?" I said, a teasing tone to my voice.

"Well, I thought I'd come out tomorrow and get a few chores done."

"They're not chores, I'm paying for them," I said, laughing again. "And yes, I'm planning on being home."

"Let me make a deal with you. Two choices. Number one, I'll bring food for you to prepare dinner, or number two, I'll take you into town for dinner. It's going to be a long day."

Here I was again, wondering if this would be a date. I decided that if he brought the food, it couldn't be considered a date.

"You bring the food, and I'll cook."

"Do you like to grill?"

"I used to do that, but I don't have a grill."

"You'll have one Saturday. "

If I have it Saturday, I wouldn't be grilling tonight.

"Add it to my bill," I insisted.

"We'll see."

"Grrr."

"I may be there for another meal one day," he said, chuckling.

"What are you going to be doing today?" I asked, curious about what would be happening to the cabin.

"Nothing," was his simple answer. "But I'll be there Saturday morning.

"Alex," I grumbled.

"Just go with the flow, Tanner. You'll like it."

"My only alternative is to fire you," I said, giggling.

"Don't fire me. I have a truck full of things for the cabin."

"Your truck has saved you this time, but we'll have to review things after Saturday."

"It's a deal, then. I'll see you early Saturday morning."

"Thanks, Alex. I'll see you then."

I awoke on Saturday to the sound of knocking on my door and a man's voice.

"Tanner, are you up yet?"

I groaned. "Just a second, Alex." As I opened the door, I remembered that I had slept, as usual, in my shortie pajamas. It was too late now as the door was open.

He couldn't stop his eyes from roaming, which wasn't surprising, and his face slowly filled with a broad smile, which said more than words. He quickly cleared his throat, looked me in the eyes, and said, "You get dressed, and I'll start unloading the truck."

I smiled back at him. "I'll be out to help in a couple of minutes."

I hoped that I hadn't made a mistake by answering the door in my pajamas. I could tell that Alex was older than I was, but I didn't know much about him other than he was Jenny's brother. As I pulled my pajamas off, my eyes fell on the picture of Dale and his motorcycle. It brought back memories. Any time I was naked, or nearly so, he'd tell me, Tanner, you're one hell of a babe, and if you aren't perfect, you're so close I don't know how you could be better. I knew I wasn't close to perfect, but I loved hearing him say it. Now, I wondered if I'd ever hear it again.

"What is all that stuff?" I asked when I came out to the truck.

Alex laughed. "It's all for the cabin. Help me unload this grill."

"Alex, I thought you were bringing a charcoal grill."

"This is better. And there are two propane gas bottles that should last for a while."

I just stared at Alex, shaking my head.

"We need to unload this lumber for the loft."

We began taking turns pulling lumber off the truck and piling it near the cabin door. There was something else in the truck, too.

"What is that?" I asked, gesturing to the truck bed.

"That's the hose that will bring water from the pond down here to the cabin. We'll get to that this afternoon."

Alex pulled the long hose off the truck and dragged it to the end of the path that led up the hill. "We'll deal with that later," he said with a laugh. "Now, I'm going to climb into the loft and move the boards that are there so that I can add a few more support joists." He grabbed a small box. "These brackets will make it easier along the outside wall."

I carried boards while Alex worked overhead. When the support joists were in, he began attaching the boards that would be the floor. I discovered that he could attach faster than I could carry, but soon there was a solid floor in the loft.

"Now I'm ready to build the bed, but I have a question. Are you planning on using the mattress from the bed you're sleeping in?"

"I thought I would."

"It's an old mattress, and doesn't that little bed fold up?"

"I'm sure it does."

"Why not get a nice new mattress for up here since that's where you're planning to sleep?"

"Probably a good idea. That other one isn't very comfortable."

"Another question. Why not make it a double?"

The look on his face told me he was implying exactly what was going through my mind. A double would accommodate two people.

"There's plenty of room."

I hadn't planned on being here long enough to have a need for a double bed. Was I being silly?"

"It'll give you plenty of room to flop around," he added encouragingly.

He was still smiling, and I would have given almost anything to know his thoughts. He raised his eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

What would it hurt? "Sure, a double bed would give me plenty of room."

"Talk to Laura at the general store. She'll order a mattress for you if she doesn't have one.

I measured and cut boards using Alex's electric saw. I also climbed up into the loft to help with the bed. It was finished close to noon, and Alex had me lie in it before I fixed some lunch.

After we'd eaten, it was up the hill to the pond, Alex weaving the hose through the trees next to the path. Near the top, he stopped, and I went ahead to the place at the far end where I thought the hose should start. I yelled while Alex fought through the tree to find me. He carefully attached the end of the hose to a large rock.

"You go to the bottom, Tanner, and I'll hopefully start the siphon action up here. When water starts coming out, kink the hose and yell."

I scurried down and held the end of the hose, waiting for magic to happen. Sure enough, water gushed out of the end, and I kinked the hose and yelled. When Alex appeared, he attached a faucet to the end of the hose and attached it to the large stake he had driven into the ground. When he opened the faucet, water gushed out.

As long as the pond doesn't get too much lower, you'll have extra water."

"Alex, you look exhausted. Let's grab these two chairs and sit in the shade until I fix dinner."

"I'm not going to argue with you."

We each grabbed a lawn chair and moved into the shade. Alex was smiling that smile that I'd seen before, and I was certain a question would be coming my way.

"You're a curiosity, Tanner. In the simplest terms, I can't figure you out."

"I understand that. If I could figure myself out completely, I might not be here today."

"Can you trust me enough to share yourself with me?"

Sharing myself could certainly have two meanings, but i found myself easily trusting Alex.

"My story isn't that big a deal." I quickly ran through the early years with Alex nodding.

"I married a wonderful man about seven years ago. He encouraged me endlessly until I finally received my PhD." Alex's eyelids raised. "And two years ago, he was killed in a motorcycle accident." Alex's eyes closed.

"We're a hugging family, Tanner, and if I wasn't so gross, I'd ask permission to hug you."

"Ask," I said as I stood.

"Tanner, I can't imagine," Alex said as he gathered me into his arms.

"There's more," I said into his shoulder.

His head jerked back, and we were eye to eye.

"After my PhD, I was an assistant professor at Wisner State, and financial problems cost me the position."

He squeezed me again, then released me, and we sat down.

"So, you're on a sort of sabbatical?"

I laughed. "No pay, but I did travel here. Now it's your turn."

"You want to hear about me?"

Alex was a little different from people I was used to. If I had to describe him with one word, I think it would be genuine.

Not much exciting to tell. Jenny and I were raised by loving parents who were married late, but who still wanted to have a family. Dad died three years ago, and Mom six months later. Just as your PhD surprised me, my master's degree will surprise you.

"In what?"

"Business."

"It's a surprise in a way, but knowing you as I do now, it's not a surprise, if that makes sense,

"It absolutely does. And for what it's worth, I'm a two-time loser. Not quite like losing a mate, but still tough."

"Losing just about anything is tough."

He continued. "The first was when I was twenty, and we were lab partners. At the end of the semester, we both went our separate ways, and when we came back after the summer, we weren't lab partners or in classes together, and what had been there before wasn't there any longer. The second was when I was twenty-four and finishing my master's. We talked about marriage very seriously, but she finished ahead of me and took a job in Scotland. Two years later, she messaged me that she was married to a bagpiper and hoped that I was doing well."

As Alex spoke, I watched his entire demeanor change. He slumped and had a defeated look on his face. It was a different Alex from what I'd seen before.

"What did you bring for dinner?" I asked, hoping to brighten him a little. It seemed to work as he was once again animated and alert.

"Let me get the cooler. I hope you'll like it." He jogged to the truck and returned a little more slowly with the large and heavy cooler. He opened the lid and took out something wrapped in butcher paper, carefully unwrapping the paper. "How do they look?"

I think my mouth dropped open. "Alex, those are at least an inch thick."

"Yeah," he answered with a smile.

"Are they T-bones?"

"Yeah," he said again. "I have potatoes we can bake, and asparagus you can grill. There's sour cream, too."

"What's that in the bottom?" I asked, trying to peer over his arm.

"Wine for dinner and champagne for after dinner." His grin was huge.

I closed one eye and looked at him.

"What?"

"I was expecting hamburgers, not T-bone steak."

"See, you don't know me very well yet." He laughed.

"I know that I'm liable to ruin those beautiful steaks if I don't get help grilling them."

"I grill burgers at home, but everywhere else I go, someone else does the grilling. You look up the grilling on the internet, and I'll get things set up. Do you want to eat outside?"

Too many bugs. Let's eat inside the beautiful lodge." My turn to laugh.

So, things progressed, with the Omaha Steaks website being a big help on grilling times. When I went back outside, Alex yelled at me.

"Bring the butter."

I did, and he quickly sliced the potatoes open, sprinkled on some seasoning, added butter, and wrapped them in foil, finally putting them in the grill he had set up and started.

"Forty-five minutes to an hour. Champagne or wine before dinner." When I hesitated, he added, "Are you afraid to get drunk with a man around?"

"I'm just afraid of drinking too much and having a hangover tomorrow morning."

"One glass of wine right now, another when the food is ready, and then a small glass of champagne for celebration."

"What are we celebrating?"

"Your cabin being ready for you to live comfortably, except for the new mattress. Don't forget to call Laura tomorrow, and she'll order it for you. And that reminds me, I won't be around for a couple of weeks. The company has contracted a big job in the next county, about seventy miles away."

"Your company? I thought it was just you and Shane."

"Shane and me and six others."

"Alex, I thought you were, well, a handyman."

He laughed as he poured the wine. "I'm also a businessman, and I'm thinking of hiring two more, if I can find two good ones. I'm starting to fall behind again."

"If this job will take you two weeks, that's a big job."

"It'll take all of us. They've built a big new office building, and I've been hired to do all of the inside finish work. We'll be busy and will make good money as well."

I took a sip of the wine, and it was delicious. I knew that wine this good wasn't inexpensive.

"Alex, when I agreed to cook the dinner if you brought the food, I wasn't expecting anything like this." I paused for a moment. "I'm paying you for your work, and you're spending it all on me."

"I respect what you're doing, Tanner, and I want to support your doing it, and maybe provide a little enjoyment for you as well."

"You're sweet for doing it, and I'm certain I'm going to enjoy this meal."

I was right about that. Everything went perfectly in the meal preparation, which provided a delicious meal. I was stuffed when we finished.

"When I moved out here, I never dreamed I'd have a meal like this. Thank you so much, Alex."

"My pleasure, lady. We'll do it again sometime after I get back."

"That would be wonderful. I'll have something to look forward to."

~~~

The next two weeks were an adventure. I went to see Laura, who said she'd love to order the mattress for me, and it was delivered to the general store in three days, and she drove it to the cabin in their delivery truck. We lugged it inside and finally figured a way to get it to the loft, the new pivoting ladder that Alex had made being a big help. She'd brought standard-size sheets and a blanket, anticipating that I would need them. I had brought both with me, but I knew I'd need the others, and happily purchased them. She stayed for an hour looking and talking, and I hated to see her leave.

There'd been an old washtub left at the cabin, and it was in reasonably good shape. Since it was a washtub, I used it for washing, filling it with water from the pond, and using cold water detergent. It worked well, and I definitely felt like a pioneer when I was bent over the rub.

The pond was spring-fed and, therefore, cold all the time. But I fulfilled an item on my bucket list when I skinny dipped in it for a much shorter time than I'd originally planned. I also cleared a small flat area near the pond where I could go to watch nature in action. Birds, small animals, and an occasional deer filled me with wonder, and I planned to get some feed at the general store, hopefully to have them spend more time near me.

I wrote, beginning with a pair of papers that I hoped might be useful to others in my field. I enjoyed the research and building the proper sequence of my ideas and conclusions. I even dabbled with fiction, outlining a story that built on my own life. I went to the diner once each week to ward off the loneliness that seemed to creep up on me. It was satisfying, and the food was good.

Very importantly, on each sunny day, I'd go up the hill to the clearing I'd created, and I'd watch the wildlife and think about my life and where I wanted it to go and to be. I'd always lived in the city amidst the hustle and bustle. Getting through my advanced degrees while married made my life hectic. Being a college professor was a dream, but there was a surprising amount of work and frustration with the position.

I sighed as a male cardinal landed on a branch only ten feet from me. He chipped several times, then flew away to another branch. In seconds, a gray cardinal landed on the same branch. Overhead, I saw a hawk circling and prayed it wasn't stalking the Cardinals. I understood how much I was enjoying the solitude and the freedoms that went with it. I knew that something similar needed to be a part of my future life.

On Sunday evening, I received a text from Alex.

I'm home and will see you Tuesday evening to build a shelter for your grill.

Sounds good. I'll cook burgers.

Haha. See you Tuesday.

I was a little surprised at how excited I was that Alex would be here Tuesday evening. I brushed it off as the loneliness I'd been experiencing. Still, I was anxious to see him and ask about the work they'd done. Two more days.

On Monday, I spent some time up the hill, and when I came back to the cabin, I saw Shane's truck coming up the road. He parked and got out of the truck, and I thought he was staggering.

"Are you okay, Shane?"

"Hell yes, I'm okay. And now that I'm here, I'm great.

When he spoke, I saw his problem.

"Shane, are you drunk?"

"I've had a couple, but I'm on my own time."

"Did Alex send you? Are you here to do something special?"

"I'm here to do you, Tanner."

I froze. A drunk Shane was here to rape me, and I wasn't certain what to do. But he was heading toward me, and I needed to decide. Fighting him was out of the question, so running was my only option. I headed for the path as fast as I could run, Shane stumbling along after me.

I was able to stay ahead of him, and when I heard him grunt and fall, I ducked behind a large tree and held my breath.

"No sense in running, Tanner, I'm going to catch you, and you know you want me to fuck you." He passed the tree and continued up the path.

I waited a couple of moments, then started back down the path. My phone was in the cabin, and I didn't have my car keys either. I heard noises behind me and knew Shane was following me again. I fell and rolled a few feet, but was back on my feet and quickly out of the woods. I ran to the cabin and was inside when the light dawned. I grabbed the gun from the drawer and went outside. I had no idea what I might do.

"Come on, Tanner. Don't play hard to get. You know I'm going to win."

"I have the gun you taught me to shoot, Shane, and I'll use it."

"No, you won't. You're too timid to shoot someone."

I pulled the trigger, there was the sound, and I know Shane heard the bullet whiz by his ear. I'd been practicing. His eyes went wide. For emphasis, I shot again, maybe even closer to him than the first.

"Okay, Tanner," he said, stumbling toward his truck. "I'm not gonna touch you. Don't shoot me now."

I fired again, and he tried to run, falling twice before he got to the truck. He was quickly up the road and gone, and I hoped he wouldn't kill someone with his driving.

I ran inside and grabbed my phone, calling Alex."

"Hey, Tanner, why the unexpected call?"

"Shane was just here, and he wanted to rape me."

"Shit! He beat up one of the women who works for me and raped her. The sheriff is out looking for him. Are you okay?"

"I used my gun to scare him off. He's out driving around somewhere."

"I'll be right there."

"You don't need to do that. I'm okay."

There was no reply, and I realized that he had hung up and was on his way. I laid the gun on the table and looked at myself. I had scraps and scratches from the fall, and was dirty, but I was fine. I'd be sore tomorrow. Having learned from the lessons I'd read on the internet, I went inside and switched magazines on the gun, hoping I'd never have to use it like that again. I knew that I needed a shower, but with Alex coming, I decided to wait. It was good that I did because I heard and saw him pulling up to the cabin. He jumped out, ran to the door, and threw it open.

Before I could say hello, he had me in his arms, hugging me tightly. I was sure that Dale had never hugged me this fervently. I hugged him back as I was never as happy to see someone as I was this very minute.

"Did he touch you?" Alex finally asked. "You're all scraped up."

"No, I ran up the hill, hid behind a tree, and beat him back to the cabin. He wasn't going to give up, so I shot two shots very close to him, then a third when he was running to his truck. He was very drunk, Alex, and that may have saved me. He could barely run to chase me. On the way down, I fell, and that's where the scrapes came from.

"If he touched you, I think I'd kill him."

"Alex?"

"Tanner, I nearly asked a woman to marry me once. I've known you for a few weeks, and we've spent some time together. We've never had an official date, but if I could, I'd marry you tomorrow. My feelings for you are far beyond what I've ever felt before. The thought that Shane may have touched you, or worse, nearly tore me apart as I drove out here."

I was stunned. I'd missed Alex, and I'd been lonely, I think because I knew he wouldn't be coming to see me for two weeks. I'd been in love before, and I'd wondered if I could be in love again. Alex was helping me answer that question.

"Alex, did you just say what I thought I heard, because if you did, I think tomorrow is a little soon, but not very much too soon."

"Tanner, I'm forty years old, and I know you're a lot younger."

"You can't back out of it already. I'm twenty-nine, and still young enough to have three or four of you kids."

"Tanner," he said simply, then took my cheeks in his hands and kissed me. In seconds, he pulled back, looked at me, then kissed me again. I wasn't passive as I was kissing him as fervently as he was kissing me. When we parted after that second kiss, he looked at me questioningly.

"If you ask me if I'm sure, I may get my gun."

He chuckled. "You ran off one man with that gun, and I'm not going to give you a chance to make it number two." He looked at me for long seconds. "What do we do now?"

"You're the man, you're supposed to know."

"Right, but you have the PhD."

"Let's go inside. We can at least sit down."

He sat down in one of the soft chairs, and I took the other.

"Tanner Eck, will you go to dinner with me... this evening?"

I had to smile. A few minutes ago, he'd told me he wanted to marry me, and now he was asking me for a dinner date. My life had been twisted around in a very wonderful and exciting way.

"It's not too far to a really nice restaurant. Would that be okay?" Alex raised his eyebrows, waiting for my answer.

I thought for a moment. "You know what? Everything that's happened has happened because I'm here, away from where I used to be. I don't want to go back there to celebrate what's just taken place, right here at my cabin. Can we go to the diner instead?"

"On one condition. That we dress up like we were going to the fancy place."

"I didn't bring anything fancy with me." It broke my heart to disappoint him.

"No problem. I'll take you to the general store and Laura will fix you up with a dress and whatever else you need. And you'll put on my bill, my first gift to the precious lady I..." He paused and pulled me into his arms. "That I love," he continued.

It was my turn. "Alex, I'm not sure why or what's happened, but I love you too, and am looking forward to being with you."

Alex's phone buzzed. He answered, and most listened with "Good, okay, and great," being the most-used words. He put the phone back in his pocket.

"That was the sheriff. They've caught Shane. Actually, he caught himself, plowing his car into a tree, and was pinned there until the deputy came."

"Was he hurt?"

"I hope so. He deserves it."

Alex said that so firmly that I wasn't about to debate with him.

"Anyway, he won't be bothering you again. I think prison is in store for him.

"He seemed pleasant when he came here to do some work."

"We all thought so, but when I called the sheriff before I heard from you, he checked, and it's not the first trouble for Shane."

"I should have done a background check before I hired him, but he took me in, too. I learned a lesson."

"Enough for lessons. What time will you be picking me up for dinner?"

"How does six-thirty suit my lady?"

"The gentleman has named a very suitable time. I'll do my best to be ready."

Alex laughed, and we kissed again. He went to his car, looking back over his shoulder several times. He hesitated at the car door, and I was certain he was going to run back to give me another kiss. He'd have only had to run halfway if he did..

I closed up carefully and headed for the general store. There were only two or three people there, which would be helpful. In a couple of minutes, Laura walked over to where I was looking.

"Hi, Tanner. I haven't noticed you shopping for dresses before. Must be a special occasion," she said, chuckling.

I held out my pinky toward her, and she joined hers with mine.

"What's the promise?"

"That you can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you until you hear others talking about it."

"It must be serious, but I love secrets."

I looked around to be certain no one was close. "Before too long, Alex and I will be married." I couldn't keep from smiling.

"Are you serious. Every single girl in this county has been after Alex, and you're the lucky one that got him?"

"I guess. It was a huge surprise to me, too, but we just seemed to hit it off perfectly from the moment we met."

"Are you looking for a wedding dress?" Laura asked, sounding amazed.

"Not yet. He's taking me to dinner tonight, and I didn't bring a dress with me. I need one, and some nice underthings, too. It's actually our first date."

Laura eyed me suspiciously, but I wasn't about to deny anything.

"Is he taking you into the city, to one of those fancy places?"

"He wanted to, but I said that I had just come from the city and wasn't anxious to go back so soon. So, we're going to the diner."

"Aw, you're a sweetheart. I can see why he fell for you. You go ahead and look, and I'll take care of a couple of customers."

I found a pale yellow dress with a hemline a few inches above my knees, and Laura let me know that if I wanted heels, I'd better be satisfied with black since she didn't have too many requests for other colors. She told me the yellow would highlight my tan, which I didn't realize I had. I picked out a pretty bra and panties, not Victoria's Secret stuff, but I wasn't concerned, as I didn't expect Alex to be seeing my underwear this evening. I paid, got a hug from Laura, and headed for home.

Once home, I showered in the outside shower, nearly freezing to death in the cold water. I thanked the gods that I hadn't been doing that when Shane had come calling. The soap I used was very fragrant, and I had brought a small bottle of cologne, mostly from force of habit, but I was thankful I had.

I dressed, and everything I had purchased fit nearly perfectly. It was fifteen past six, and I was ready. As I had anticipated, Alex was early. I stepped outside onto the small porch to see him approaching in khaki slacks, a purple pinstriped shirt, and a matching tie. He'd shaved and brushed his hair. His glasses weren't there--he'd mentioned he had contacts. Alex was a handsome man.

"Tanner, you look gorgeously delicious." He leaned in to kiss me, but I stepped away.

"What?" He said.

"I don't usually kiss on the first date, sir," I said, fluttering my eyes.

"I beg your pardon, ma'am. Shall we go to dinner, then?"

"I can hardly wait."

At the car, he held my door, and we headed for the diner, Alex driving very carefully.

"Should I buy a Jeep?" I asked very seriously.

"Not right now," he answered. "There's a lot of planning ahead of us." He looked at me and smiled.

"You're right, and I'm going to love doing it, as long as we don't argue."

He laughed, and I simply gazed at his profile all the way to the diner.

"We're here," Alex said as he pulled into the small parking lot at the diner.

He helped me out of the car, took my hand, and we went through the front door.

"They're here," someone called.

I wondered about the announcement, but when we were completely inside, I could see what was happening. The diner was full, and there was one table with a white tablecloth and a candle. Mrs. Simpson, Lisa, was ready for us. She seated us at the table, and everyone gathered around.

"I believe Alex has an announcement," Lisa said.

Seeing the shocked look on my face, Alex whispered, "I called ahead." I could only laugh.

"For those of you who don't know her, I'd like to introduce you to Tanner Eck, who will soon be Mrs. Alex Brooks."

Cheers and congratulations followed, and we were served a delicious meal. After dinner, I received a lifetime of hugs and whispered compliments on snagging the elusive Alex. It wasn't the quiet evening I'd anticipated, but it made me feel a part of the community.

"Ready to head home," Alex asked. Most of the people had already left, and the few remaining were off to themselves.

Surprising myself, I gave him a suggestive smile. "I'm ready."

"So am I."

As we walked to the car, he leaned over to kiss me. I turned my head.

"Still the first date," I cautioned, tormenting myself as well as him.

"When does the first date end?"

"When I invite you into the cabin."

"Do you promise to do that?"

"Let me think about it."

"If you think longer than five seconds, I may pull off the road and encourage your decision."

I laughed. "If you're going to marry me, you should trust me."

"I trust you, I love you, and there are other things as well."

We were turning onto the final road to the cabin, and I think my time of celibacy had caught up with me. I slid my hand across the console and onto his thigh. Alex continued looking straight ahead, as if he were concerned only with his driving. So, I moved to his crotch. I could hear his breathing change, and before long, I could feel the shape of his crotch changing as well. Not surprisingly, my breathing was changing as well.

"We're almost there, stud muffin," I said, sliding my hand across his crotch."

"Thank God," he groaned as we pulled up to the cabin."

He jumped out, ran around the car, and opened my door. He took my arm and said, "I've enjoyed our first date, and let me walk you to the door."

I didn't say anything until we were at the door. "Alex, would you like to come in for a while?"

"Well, thank you, Tanner. I'd love to."

I opened the door and stepped inside, Alex crowding in behind me.

"Is the date complete?"

"Yes, it is. Have your way with me," Hearing that surprised him a little, but it was how I felt. Three glasses of wine, or maybe four, spread across the dinner had me buzzed and ready.

His arms swallowed me, and his kiss had both of our tongues in motion. Quickly, he was kissing my eyes, my ears, my cheeks, and finally, my neck, which is very ticklish, and had me squealing and gasping for breath. He started to unzip my dress, then stopped.

"Have you decorated the loft now that you have the new bed?"

"I have. Would you like to see it?"

"I'd love to."

I decided I'd eliminate any doubts that Alex might have. "One thing, though. It's too tight up there to undress, so I'd better do it down here."

I kicked off my shoes, then unzipped my dress and let it slip off my shoulders and fall to the floor. My bra was next, and I was facing Alex as I unfastened and tossed it aside. I pushed my panties to my ankles and kicked them aside. It had been a while since I'd been naked in front of a man. It felt good, and I smiled at him.

"Let me go up first, and you can join me."

I unfolded the ladder and started up, moving slowly so Alex would have some memorable views. At the top, on hands and knees, I crawled to the bed.

"Waiting," I said, looking over the edge at Alex.

I heard rustling clothing, then steps on the ladder. His head appeared, then his chest, then the part of him I'd been waiting to see. He crawled to the bed and climbed in.

"I'm ready," I said, feeling like I was about to explode. I was so wet, I knew I'd have to change the sheets before I slept... or we slept. A man in my bed. A satisfying thought.

"I'm ready too," Alex said, but there's more to be done."

I just looked at him in the warm glow of the light from below. I hadn't turned on a light, thinking it wasn't necessary.

"You are so near perfect that something special needs to be done."

I was ready for sex and had no idea what he meant, but I'd been called near perfect again.

"Tanner, your body needs to be worshipped, and that's what's going to happen. Now lie back on the bed and do whatever I tell you."

Already, he was giving me orders? But I didn't think it was really an order, just something that would help him do what he was about to do. I shook my head in agreement.

He began with my ears, then my eyes, a touch to my lips, and then my neck. I squirmed as my neck was ticklish, but he just murmured and kept going. My shoulders were kissed, then my chest, and he moved to my breasts. He kissed and licked, and finally began on the nipple, licking and then sucking. I could almost feel it growing when he switched to the other with the same result.

He kissed his way further down to my navel, his tongue exploring its shallow depth. I'd never experienced that before, and I think it raised my temperature four or five degrees. My belly was licked and kissed, and then his nose probed my muff. My hips were already in motion, anticipating what was coming next.

Only it wasn't. He moved and began kissing my feet and nibbling on my toes. He moved up my legs, kissing my knees. There was a pause, and I opened my eyes to see him spreading my legs as wide as they would go. Just to have Alex looking at my spread pussy had me wanting him more than ever. He began kissing up my right thigh, and when he reached my muff, he did the same to the other thigh. Back to the muff, I felt his tongue probing, then pressing its way between my already spread labia.

"I'm searching for a small nub that's very, very special. Let me know when I find it."

Who was he kidding? When he found it, my reaction would let him know. And it didn't take long.

"Ohhh," I moaned, raising my hips as his tongue began flicking that nub he'd been searching for. My hips began pulsing, and when he began whispering "Come for me, Tanner," between flicks of his tongue, I wanted that more than anything and prayed he didn't stop to tease me.

"I am, I am," I moaned just moments later as every muscle in my body tensed, lightning began flashing throughout my body, and I was spasming frantically, his finger now inside me. I don't know how long it lasted, but finally, the spasms slowed, then ended, and my body collapsed onto the bed.

"Your muscles clenching on my finger almost made me come, too," he said, wiggling the finger that was still inside me.

"It's been a long time," I said softly, holding his finger inside me with both hands.

"Even longer for me, I bet," he replied, wiggling his finger again.

"I need something a little bigger than that finger," I said, trying to catch his eyes in the near darkness.

"Do you have a condom?" he asked, wiggling his finger again.

"You don't want me to have a baby?"

"Not a good thing in a small town like this."

"I understand, so the IUD I've kept just waiting for a day like this will do, I think."

Clearly, that was all that Alex needed to hear. He moved forward and kissed me, once, twice, and then a third time, and I could feel his erection poking me. I quickly decided to take things into my own hands and guide it to where it belonged. He didn't protest as the head slid easily inside. I'd gotten things started, and he quickly took over, pressing forward until he was completely buried inside me. A huge moan escaped my lips. I pressed my hips tightly against him, savoring what was happening to me.

Alex began moving, and I kept pace with him, our hips moving together. It didn't take long until he stilled, groaned, and I could feel pulsation after pulsation with me squeezing that wonderful cock as hard as I could. At last, he opened his eyes, partway at least, and flopped down beside me.

"I can't believe I have that to look forward to for the rest of my life."

I giggled. "There's even more to do, I'm sure," I said. "Let's stand up, turn down the bed, climb into it, and get some sleep."

"Tanner, are you inviting me to spend the night with you?"

"No, I'm telling you to turn down the bed and climb in, so we can go to sleep together."

"Yes, ma'am. I don't have pajamas, you know."

"Perfect, " I said, lifting the cover and climbing in.

Soon, I had warm company who seemed intent on holding certain parts of my body. He seemed to be purring the last I remembered.

~~~

Breakfast was a little later than usual the next morning since we both wanted a repeat of the night before. We finally dressed and went to the diner for breakfast, then returned to the cabin. I caught Alex staring at me.

"You're thinking about something,"

"I'm thinking about everything," he responded, chuckling.

"What are the everythings you're thinking about?"

"Finding you, wondering about a wedding, thinking about children, figuring out what you'll be doing, and what about housing? Do we need something new and bigger?"

"That's a lot to think about, but I hope you know I'm ready for children with the man who found me." He was smiling, and I hoped he'd understand what I was going to say next. "But at least for a while, can we live here in the cabin?"

"This place means a lot to you, doesn't it?"

I sighed, my brain remembering. "Over two years ago, my husband was killed, and just recently, Wisner decided they didn't need me any longer. I needed to get away, and I came here... and found you."

He stood and came toward me. I stood to meet him, and he hugged me tightly.

"You're precious, and I treasure you above everything. Everything," he repeated. I understand exactly what you're saying. I can sell my place, and we can use the money to do things here as they're needed."

I hugged and kissed him, my heart filled to overflowing. That Alex would give up his very nice home to live here with me meant more than any words I could come up with. We'd have to talk more about that, but that was just a detail. When both my world and I had fallen apart, I'd found the repairman who put things back together. I loved him.

"When I moved here, I didn't think about or imagine what we've just been talking about. Falling in love has been fantastic--you've been fantastic, and I love you."

"If you keep talking like that, we're going to end up back in the loft."

"We don't need the loft. We can use the grass outside just as easily, and no one would see us." I could tell that Alex's brain was working.

"I'm filing that away and will call in that offer one of these days."

"Something to look forward to." I chuckled, but it really was.

"Something else to look forward to, thirty miles up the highway is a community college that's always looking for professors."

Did I want to do that? It seemed almost ready-made for me. I wondered if Carolyn would indeed follow me to the community college if I chose to go there.

"One more thing," Alex said. "We need to begin going up the hill and dragging down dead trees. I have a chainsaw and an axe, but I think we'd better rent a splitter from a place I know in Winston. When cold weather gets here, we'll need a lot of wood."

I ran away to hide for a year, was found by Alex, and I'm now ready to live the life of my dreams.