| Toby stirred, then barked as the rumble of the engine grew louder with the approach of the vehicle. He got up on all fours, shook himself, yawned and stretched, then trotted along the porch and stood protectively next to his owner, giving a huffy bark. �It�s all right old fella.� Peggy leaned down and patted his head. Toby glanced up into her face, yawning once more, then turned his head and watched the approaching vehicle. �I wonder who it is. I don�t recognise the car.� Peggy frowned. �Oh well, I guess we�ll find out soon enough.� She moved back along the porch to the front steps as the vehicle slowed and pulled up directly at the bottom. The car was a two-toned, 1957 Chevrolet, in mint condition, with white wall tyres and tinted windows. Peggy wondered why anyone would want to drive such an immaculate vehicle out into the hot, dry, dusty outback. The driver�s door opened, and a tall, slim, blonde-haired man stepped out. �Hello. I�m sorry to trouble you, but I think I�m lost,� he said, gazing back in the direction he had come from. �Where are you headed?� Peggy asked, feeling a little uneasy being alone out in the middle of nowhere with a stranger at her door. �I�m supposed to be meeting some people on business in Darwin day after tomorrow. I thought I was following the road map correctly, but now it�s obvious that I wasn�t,� he explained. �I see. Well, you�ve definitely taken a wrong turn somewhere because Darwin is about 200 kilometres in the opposite direction.� He looked up at her, a stunned expression crossing his handsome face. �Really? Man, I thought I knew what I was doing when I decided to drive all the way up here. Was I ever wrong.� Peggy couldn�t help notice his long, brown dust jacket. �Aren�t you hot in that jacket? I�m sure the temperature must still be in the low thirties.� �This?� He opened the lapels. �No, I�m pretty cool actually.� Underneath, he wore a white T-shirt and faded blue jeans. �I�m Peggy by the way.� �I�m Mike.� He stepped up and reached his hand up to her. Peggy shook his hand. �Pleased to meet you.� As the shower of light seeping through the screen door illuminated his features, Peggy could see that he had the most amazing blue eyes. Their gaze locked onto each other for the briefest moment. �Are you thirsty?� She looked away from him. �I have some homemade iced tea inside.� She couldn�t believe she had just offered a stranger a drink. I should just let him get back in his car and be on his way, she thought. �That would be great. Thanks,� he replied, smiling. She turned and walked across the porch to the screen door, then turned back. �Have a seat.� She pointed along the porch. �I�ll be right back.� Mike moved past the swing seat to the end of the porch and sat in a wicker chair. Toby remained at the top of the stairs standing between the stranger and the front entrance to the house. �Come here, boy,� Mike encouraged, leaning forward and clicking his fingers at the dog. �I won�t hurt you. Come on boy.� Toby remained steadfast. Peggy eased herself out of the screen door with a tray in her hands. As she moved out of its way, the door banged shut, startling her. She jumped and nearly lost the contents of the tray. Mike made a dash for the jug which almost toppled over the edge, and managed to grab it just before it did. Peggy gathered her nervous composure. �Thanks, that was quick thinking.� �You�re welcome.� She gestured to the chairs and small table. �Please, take a seat.� Mike moved back and sat down. Peggy slid the tray onto the table between them, then moved to the opposite chair and sat down. Toby got up from scratching, trotted along the porch and laid down at her feet eyeing the stranger suspiciously. |
| 2 Comforting Stranger |