Page 23 of Charlie Takes a Chance

We put in our order, and Charlie grins at me. “Does everyone in town know you? And your new truck?”

I snort. “No. You’re stereotyping a small town.”

The bell above the door jingles, and Jefferson walks in. Hubert Jefferson owns the Flying J just outside of town. A good guy. I glance back at Charlie and see her wide eyes. I look back at Jefferson to try to see what she sees. He’s a simple man wearing a cowboy hat as big as he is. His handlebar mustache is waxed on the ends. He wipes his boots on the front rug before he walks into the dining area—nothing too out of the ordinary.

He makes his way to our table and shakes my hand. “That your new truck out there?”

“Sure is.”

“Running good?”

“So far.”

“Well, it’s a nice one.”

I nod once, and then his attention lands on Charlie.

She smiles brightly at him.

I take a long drink of the Pepsi in front of me.

I get a nudge to the shoulder from Jefferson. “You gonna introduce me to your girlfriend?”

The Pepsi goes straight up into my nose, burning like lava.

Charlie extends a hand. “I’m Charlie.”

“I’m Hubert.”Hubert?He’s never just Hubert.

“Nice to meet you. You in town long?”

“For a few more weeks.”

“Can we do anything to change your mind and get you to stay longer?”

“Maybe. It’s growing on me.”

“Like a weed, huh?” Jefferson jokes.

“But a nice weed,” Charlie counters good-naturedly.

Jefferson chuckles. “Don’t say that to a farmer. No such thing as a good weed. But us cattle guys don’t mind as much.”

“Charlie’s not my girlfriend,” I finally manage to say.

Charlie grimaces, and Jefferson looks confused. “It’s true. He keeps asking, and I keep having to turn him down.”

Jefferson bursts into laughter. “Sounds about right.”

“Actually, her boyfriend just broke up with her,” I can’t resist saying. She practically dared me to tell it to people in town.

She turns a murderous glare in my direction.

Jefferson pats Charlie on the shoulder. “Don’t you worry about it. God didn’t bless everyone with brains. You two have a nice afternoon. Nice to meet you, Charlie.”

Jefferson walks away, and Charlie looks at me. “I think every person that walks in here is going to comment on your truck.”

“Not true.”

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