The Road Report
By Sarah2
Danny saw the sign up ahead in his headlights, and wondered if Michelle saw it too. He looked at her again. She'd been sitting quietly for over an hour with a flashlight pouring through the travel books they'd brought. Open on her lap was the map of the southeastern U.S. Beneath that, he knew, was the map of the northeastern states, criss-crossed with hot pink marker, noting everyplace they'd been for the last three days.
Philly to New Orleans was a twenty-hour trip, straight through. Danny happened to know that if you were a college junior with a week free in March, you could make it in under eighteen, but that was another story.
No, this trip was all Michelle's idea. The rules were simple, she'd said. No planes, no trains, they were driving all the way. And to make it more interesting, they wouldn't get within fifty miles of a major city. And NO CHAIN MOTELS!
Consequently, they'd spent last night enjoying the Magic Fingers at Ramona Jean's Hill Top Inn of Waddy-Peytona.
If they were lucky and his wife didn't insist on stopping at anymore places like the Grits Grisham Fishing Hall of Fame (featuring the World's Largest Collection of Fishing Lures and Memorabilia!), maybe they could get through Kentucky before the week was out.
Still, the things they'd done in small town hotels like the Hill Top had given him a whole new definition of the word adventurous.
He stole another glance at her. God, she was beautiful. More so now than ever. How had he ever gotten so lucky? This woman made him happier than any man had a right to expect. And, miracle of miracles, he made her happy, too. So, who was he to argue with her about this trip? All she'd ever asked was for them to be together. Hell, she'd practically paid with her life for the privilege.
When had they ever had the luxury of spending time alone together like this - puttering around, seeing the country? When would they again? If she wanted to spend tomorrow at the Secretariat Museum and Flea Market in Horse Cave, so be it. He began to hum a song again as he drove.
"Danny, I think we need to stop soon."
He groaned, but turned to grin at his wife.
"You saw it, didn't you?"
"What? You mean that billboard back there you were pretending not to notice?"
"Come on, honey. The World's Largest Tomato? After you've been to the Liberty Bell Button Exchange and Uncle Paul's House of Wax, how could a giant vegetable measure up?"
"Fruit."
"What?"
"Tomatoes are fruits. And I didn't hear you complaining when we stopped at Shirl's Cigar Emporium back there in Oak Bark Pass."
"Michelle. One hundred cigars for a buck! How could I pass that up?"
"I just hope you know a hundred people, because you're not keeping any of them. Besides, that's not why I want to stop."
Danny pulled to the shoulder of the road and stopped the car. His wife gave him a no-nonsense look and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Oh, you mean - Stop."
"Yes, that's what I mean."
Grinning mischievously, Danny turned to her. "How about that tree over there?"
Michelle punched him playfully on the arm and leaned over to kiss him. Their lips met over the gearshift of the little Jag. Danny's hand touched her shoulder, fingering the strap of her sundress. The skin beneath it was soft and smooth, and his other hand reached automatically for her waist. Her hand met his before it got to its destination and she whispered to him with her lips still touching his.
"If you don't find me a bathroom soon, we'll be undressing me for a whole different reason."
When they pulled into the parking lot of the only gas station in Licking Creek, four teenage boys in a pick-up on the other side of the pump watched in awe as the sleek black car pulled to a stop. Their eyes widened further when they saw the gorgeous blonde in the passenger seat. One of the boys ran inside while the others snickered and whispered to each other. Their buddy returned with another boy not much older than the rest. He had stringy hair and a greasy uniform with a patch that read D'wayne over the left breast pocket. Running a hand through his hair and clearing his throat, he headed for the car. A chorus of laughter erupted at the truck.
Michelle laid a hand on her husband's arm. "They're just boys, Danny."
"I know."
"Let me handle this one, okay?"
"It's all yours, babe."
The hint of a smile pulled at the corners of Danny's mouth as his wife opened the car door. As jealous and protective as he was with her, he secretly enjoyed the reaction men had when they first saw her.
The boys secretly stealing glances at the blonde in the black muscle car stared openly as the first long silky leg passed through the opening of the door. They were left to gape in stunned silence when she stood and began sauntering past them toward D'wayne.
Stopping a breath away from him, she drawled slowly, "Excuse me, D-wayne, but do ya'll have a bathroom I could use?"
When the boy found his voice, it was at least an octave higher than normal. "Yes'm. I'll - I'll get you the key."
As he turned to go inside, she put a hand on his arm. "D-wayne," she pulled out his name, "You might want to tell your friends not to stare like that. My husband is a little - over-protective - right now if you know what I mean."
With that, Danny stepped from the car to stare at the teenagers. In his leather jacket and sunglasses (sorry, guys, I couldn't help it) he looked menacing.
"Yes'm. I'll be sure and do that. Ma'am." And he scurried inside to escape.
Michelle turned back and, smiling, winked at the boys, sending them scrambling to get in the truck and away from the gas station.
When she got back to the car, she slid in next to Danny. He was laughing so hard, tears were rolling down his cheeks. As she leaned over to kiss him, Michelle remarked,
"Geez, you'd think they never saw a pregnant woman here before."
No doubt about it. Discovering America with Michelle was an adventure.