Chapter Two
IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE
TWO WEEKS EARLIER / June 20, 2013
Tommy Barton made a pit stop in the desert town of Baker, home of the the world's largest thermometer and gateway to Death Valley. He parked his Harley-Davidson. A blonde in the parking lot rushed up and handed him her camera.
Tommy removed his helmet and released his shiney mink-brown hair. The blonde let out a deep sigh.
"My name is Josephine. I'd be much obliged if you would take a picture of me and my son by the thermometer." She said fanning herself with a brochure.
"My pleasure." Tommy smiled.
"Now we know why they call it 'Baker' It's a hundred and thirteen degrees! Ben and I are going to be house sitting here until September. I had no idea it would be this hot!"
"Sure is a scorcher." Tommy put his helmet in the compartment and pulled out a beat up cowboy hat to fend off the sun. He winked and added, "And the weather is hot too."
"O, it must be especially hot for you out there on that bike." Josephine observed he was bronze and covered with sweat.
"Naa." Tommy teased, "I've got airconditioning." Tommy flapped his t-shirt which had huge holes in it. The blonde went into a type of trance, her eyes glued to his strong arms and flat stomach.
"Ya'll go on over there and give me some good poses. I promise not to run off with your camera." Tommy said. "When we're done I'll buy us some cold drinks in the cafe."
Tommy and his new friends went in the nearby cafe for iced tea. After a pleasant break, the two exchanged cell phone numbers and said goodbye.
Tommy walked to the tourist information center across the street. There was freckled titian haired lady behind the counter. Tommy liked red heads as much he liked blonds and brunettes.
"How can I help you today, sir?" The pretty clerk asked.
Tommy pulled out an empty tomato seed packet from the back pocket of his blue jeans and slapped it on the counter.
"I was just wondering if ya'll had a little map to this place. You see, I done my homework and I'm gonna buy me a whole sack of these 'mater seeds to impress my new boss in Hermosa Beach, Cal-i-forn-i-a. I know for a fact these here are the only kind she uses, but I sure as hell don't wanna get lost in Death Valley in this heat." Tommy declared.
"Yes sir. You do not want to get lost out there. We do have a map to that little tourist trap but you don't need to go there to get those seeds. They sell them right across the street in the gift shop and you can order on line anytime."
"I can take the heat. I'm a cook. I'm used to it. I got the ambition to show my new boss that she didn't make no mistake when she give me the job."
"Well, here's the brochure about Edgar Bernard's Famous Tomato Stand. Nobody goes out there anymore except me, the mail man and the utilities companies. I check on Edgar now and then since his parents passed. You know you could buy the seeds here. No one would know." She insisted.
"No ma'am, I can't do that. I got to see the facilities up close and personal so I can tell my boss the details."
"If you insist, you had better take this pamphlet that lists the things you need to bring with you when you travel in Death Valley." She gave him the list but held back the map.
"You ain't gonna let me have that map?" Tommy smiled. He stared at her name tag. "Come on, Miss Rebecca Daniels, it is MISS, am I right?"
"I will. I'll give it to you," She put the map behind her back, "After you PROMISE me you will get everything on that list."
"Rebecca, darlin', I promise to get everything my Harley can hold if you start calling me "Tommy" instead of "sir". Don't you trust me?"
"For some reason I do. And yes,at the moment, it is 'Miss'."
The clerk smiled as she handed Tommy Barton the map.
Tommy put the map in his back pocket and winked at the clerk.
The pretty red head winked back.
~ To Be Continued ~
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