Nubbin but Trouble by Ava Mallory Read Free Book Online Page B

taller than I.
     
    “Is he okay?” I asked, my voice shaking.
     
    “He's fine. Cold, but I think he'll be alright. Now, let's get you in the truck and off the side of the road. You'll die out here.” The man said, grabbing my arm gently to guide me.
     
    I was fully aware of just how close Barney and I were to death and acutely aware of how desperate the situation was for Nubbin. As if on cue, my body began to tremble out of control.
     
    “Let's get you in the truck,” the man said again.
     
    I couldn't think straight. It was all I could do to not collapse at his feet. My clothes were wet and freezing. My head and neck ached. My leg had sharp pains running right through it.
     
    “I can't.” I cried. “Who are you?”
     
    In a low calming voice, the man stopped and stood in front of me, bending his knees so that he would be at eye level with me. “The name is Bill. Bill Neal. My place is just up the road here. I can get you and your dog over there and you can get cleaned up and out of the cold, miss.”
     
    I don't know if I was hallucinating or not, but something about his face, razor stubble and all, told me that he was harmless. He had to be a good twenty years older than me. If things didn't go well, even in my current state, I figured I could take him out. At least, I liked to think that I could. The way things looked, there was no way that I'd be able to survive in the elements and poor Barney wouldn't survive very long either. I had to say yes. I was taking a risk, but it was even riskier not to go with Bill.
     
    “Thank you,” I said, clutching his gloved hand. “Thank you.”
     
    Once we were settled in his truck, he turned up the radio. I recognized Charlie's voice right away and tears immediately sprung from my eyes.
     
    “It will be okay, miss,” Bill tried to reassure me.
     
    I shook my head. Things were very much not okay. That was plain to see.
     
    “I'm sorry. I just recognize the sheriff's voice.” I said, wiping the tears from my face.
     
    “Charlie? Really? You know Charlie?” Bill chuckled. “Is that who you were on your way to visit? Are you the mysterious woman in his life?”
     
    It was my turn to chuckle. As much as I hated to admit it, I did like the sound of that. I wondered if Charlie had spoken about me and what he'd said.
     
    “I hear old Charlie is finally ready to settle down again.” Bill said.
     
    I nearly swallowed my tongue. How did a couple of adults spending time on the phone together turn into a lifelong commitment so quickly? I wasn't ready for that? As far as I knew, Charlie and I were friends. He was a bit flirtatious from time to time, but never once had he crossed a line with me. At least not that line!
     
    “Why do you look so confused,” Bill asked as he pulled into a long driveway, nestled between what looked like miles of snow-covered land.
     
    “I'm just so overwhelmed. The last thing I remember is hearing Charlie's voice on the radio, then everything went black.” I explained.
     
    “You lost control of the wheel?” Bill asked.
     
    “In some circles, I'm considered completely out of control.” I joked. “I honestly don't know what happened. I came out here to find my friend and then...” My voice trailed off as the realization of what I'd just been through hit me. I could have died.
     
    “We're here. Now, it's not much, but it will do you some good. There's plenty of room for you to get some shut eye and clean yourself up a little. Hopefully, you're not too badly hurt. I bet you're pretty hungry too.”
     
    He didn't know how right he was. My whole body ached, but my stomach was doing the most protesting at the moment. I didn't think it was just hunger though. My stomach felt hollow, but so did my entire body. I felt like a shell of who I had always believed myself to be in life. I guess a near death experience will do that to a person.
     
    “Thanks, but I need to get my car out of the ditch and get to Gering. I have to find