Read the First Chapter
The Year 1975
Sideways. Great.
It’s snowing sideways and the road is nothing but an imaginary strip of pavement in front of me.
My rusty Volkswagen putts out its little song as I come to a stop in what I think is the middle of the road. The tires are sliding. The visibility is zero. And I’m not going anywhere.
“I know you’re thereff” I growl at the inconveniently absent road that usually takes me home. “You stood me up too, huh?”
Just like Arty Hunt. I should have known. Never trust a man that drives a Ford Fiesta. I’m sticking to men in trucks from now on.
And now would be a fine time to have a truck. I wouldn’t be stuck on top of being unable to see. Snowstorms are common in Eden, which I quickly figured out when I moved to Utah.
Next on my budget— a nice pick-up truck.
Red with a white stripe. I’ve always wanted one anyway and this is the perfect reason to pop my piggy bank.
As the car putts, I alternate between fuming and daydreaming about my truck. Neither of which does a lick of good right now.
There’s no way I can make it the three miles to get to my little rented cabin. And the storm is just setting in. That means one thing… It’s only going to get worse.
It was stupid to leave the beauty shop. I should have eaten cheese crackers and had a cola and slept on the bathroom floor by the big radiator.
But noooo.
Not me. I’m stubborn to the root of my dirty blond Farah Fawcett hair.
Being blond doesn’t mean I’m dumb. I wasn't born under a rock. But the thought of spending Valentine’s night alone in my shop was just too much for me to bear.
Ghost voices of clients talking about Valentine dates competed with chemicals for air space.
I was compelled into the dark night. For better… or obviously worse.
Dropping my head to the wheel I curse, at least I call it cursing. “Doggone fool.” Now I get to spend Valentine night in my car. By myself.
All I wanted was to forget the day. Visions of my couch, my favorite quilt, the soup waiting to be heated, and a tub full of bubbles make my anger peak.
I turn on the radio. The signal up here in Eden Valley is pathetic, but maybe something will come through to take off this rotten mood. I could use some Queen right about now. But all I can get is some talk show on AM. Blah!
A sudden gust shakes the car. I wrap tighter in my jacket and pull my hat lower. It’s going to be a long night.
Remembering that I’m invisible to other cars, I turn on my blinkers. Not that anyone else is dumb enough to be out on a night like this.
The wind rocks me again. And a strange howl shakes the air. What the heck is that?
Light floods my car. Am I being beamed up?
“What is that?” That big throaty growl gets louder.
“Oh lord! I am getting beamed upff”
My head whips back and all of a sudden I’m in a tilt-a-whirl. My little car screams.
Oh wait, that’s me!
When the spinning stops I’m deaf and dizzy. But I’m not in a spaceship. Thank the lord above.
Whew.
A sudden face in my window makes me scream. Alien!