Claire's Story: Chapter 4

Sean held the passenger door open as Claire hurriedly climbed into the truck, both voicing their displeasure for being caught in the cold, wet weather. Sean jumped into the driver’s seat and started the diesel motor. Soon, warm air began to blow out of the heater, quickly dispelling Claire’s uncontrollable shivering. Country music played softly in the background as Sean maneuvered the truck and trailer onto the highway, his windshield wipers whipping repeatedly. The pair easily resumed their conversation as if old friends, both pleased to not be traveling through the treacherous weather alone.

An hour into their drive, the truck pulled sharply to the right, and the trailer began to swerve dangerously. Both Sean and Claire immediately recognized it as a flat tire on the horse trailer, and Sean unwillingly slowed and pulled into the ditch. With a deep sigh, he began to pull on his coat and reached for his hat and work gloves. Claire too began to prepare for the wet cold, but Sean stopped her abruptly.

“What are you doing,” he said. “You’re not getting out in this. I’ll take care of it. Take just a minute.”

Claire wanted to argue, but despairingly submitted to his request. It was her dad’s observation that she too often took things into her own hands, in the process “emasculating” men and quenching their innate desire to be courageous and noble. Her dad’s wording, not hers. She sat back in the seat with a sigh, and solemnly watched Sean through the side view mirror.

He was surely struggling in the rain and wind, trying to hold the flashlight while situating the jack and working the crowbar all at the same time. The wipers continued to whip monotonously in time with the flashing caution lights. Claire wondered if her plane would be delayed in the weather, and decided to call and check.

The automated message was simple: “Due to hazardous weather conditions, all flights have been canceled. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Please check back tomorrow morning for the latest updates.” Claire hung up, not at all surprised. Glancing again at the mirror, she saw a quick flash of light and heard a painful shout. With a start she pulled on her winter garb and jumped out of the truck, disregarding Sean’s previous instructions and shoving the image of her disapproving dad out of her mind.

She rushed toward the trailer and found Sean crouched on his heels, holding his left hand tightly, the flashlight shining errantly on the ground.

“What happened, are you ok?” Claire asked worriedly.

“Yeah, I’m alright. The crowbar just slipped and I cut my hand.”

“Let me see,” she persuaded as she reached for the flashlight and kneeled close to him, the trailer blocking the majority of the cold rain. Claire carefully uncurled his long, callused fingers until she could see the cut on his palm, small drops of blood dripping onto her gray slacks. “We just need to stop the bleeding, and it’ll be fine.”

Claire released his hand and reached for her scarf, tearing off a narrow strip. She then used the scrap of scarf as a bandage, carefully wrapping it around his hand and tying it in a knot. “How’s that?” she asked him, gripping his massive hand in hers.

“It’ll do, thanks,” he said gruffly. Their eyes met and Sean gave her a forearm a squeeze. “Sorry about your scarf,” his mouth curling into an embarrassed, apologetic grin.

“Don’t even worry about it,” Claire said, flirtily smiling back. “Let’s just get this tire changed, it’s freezing.”

With Claire holding the flashlight and assisting him, Sean was quickly able to finish changing the flat. While Claire rushed back to the warm comfort of the truck, Sean threw the tools in the trailer and grabbed a thick horse blanket. He crawled in the truck and placed the blanket over Claire’s lap.

“Sorry you had to get out in that weather, you’re soaked. Maybe this will help you warm up.”

She graciously thanked him, but after realizing that he had nothing dry for himself offered it back to him. “You use it, you’re the one that’s drenched,” she said as he removed his saturated coat to reveal his sodden shirt. Claire could see every muscled curve of his broad chest through the wet cotton, and her heart immediately did a little jump. Insistently, she moved next to him until their legs were touching on the bench seat, and spread the blanket over his lap as well. With a slight shrug, he thanked her, unwilling to argue.

They pulled back onto the highway, and the combination of their shared body heat under the blanket and the truck’s heater slowly began to warm them. After driving for several minutes in silence, Claire suddenly remembered her canceled flight and told Sean about her predicament.
At a loss for what to do, Claire supposed that he should probably drop her off at a hotel instead so that she could catch her flight in the morning.

After a few more minutes of strained silence, Sean broke the quiet with a defiant “No”.

“No what?” Claire asked, confused.

“No, I’m not gonna leave you stranded and alone at some random hotel. You’re wet and cold, and I would worry about you.” Sean continued, “How about if you just stay in my extra bedroom, that way we can dry you clothes.”

Taken aback, Claire studdered. He was right, she didn’t want to be alone in a cold hotel room. But on the other hand, they had just met. Was she seriously considering taking him up on an offer to stay at his house? Did she trust him that much? She wanted to, but it was too much out of her character to trust a man so soon after first meeting. Mentally arguing with herself, she latched onto the great things that Darla had said about Sean. He was a nice guy, Darla had said so. It would be fine to stay at his place for the night, she finally convinced herself.

“Are you sure that wouldn’t be too much trouble for you?”

“No trouble at all. In fact, I feel like I kinda owe you for fixing my hand,” Sean joked playfully, waving his scarf wrapped palm.

Claire giggled, “Whatever! So you live in Amarillo then?”

“Nah, I live on a ranch a little ways outside of Canyon, it’s not too much further” he replied.