An Unexpected Visit

  About an hour has passed by, Gracie’s waist length golden brown hair is drenched from swimming with Gunner. Her pink two piece bikini remains damp whilst beads of water trickle down her slightly tanned toned physique. A silver mustang pulls up near her, tires roll over the cakey sand, the car stops, the engine cuts off.  A slightly tall man around six feet steps out, then a German shepherd appears from the car. A loud rumbling twang voice reaches Gracie’s ears over the rushing ocean waves, “Hi ma’am is your dog friendly? Would it be ok for our dogs to play?” The woman yells back embodying Texas twang, “Sure that is fine!”  Gunner and his new friend, splash and frolic near the shoreline, sinking their bodies and rising in the waves, saturating their black, brown and tan coats.

    Gracie focuses on Gunner, then glances at the man, fiddling with sticks, and digging a hole in the sand. She stands barefoot, toes uniting with the sand, relaxed in a free and easy way; like her spirit as the wind blows her wild and wet golden brown locks.

The man pours lighter fluid over the little logs and sticks he rummaged for, moments ago. A hand held blue and black lighter clicks. Blue to purple flames ignite enveloping the logs, spreading out to a dark orange to red. Crackling is barely heard as the Ocean waves roar. Stepping away from the self made pit, the man rises to around six feet tall, standing erect. His voice rumbles over the distant waves.

“Hello, my name is Paxton.” Deep. Southern. It’s music to Gracie’s ears.

“I am Gracie, nice to meet you,” She bashfully responds, resonating on his voice.

“It is nice to meet you ma’am, where are you from?” Paxton says.

Gracie replies with, “San Antonio, and You?”

Paxton responds, “oh I am from near there, out in Bandera.”

“Oh ok, I have been visiting there since I was a child. I often watched the horses race at the track. It has been closed for a long time.” Gracie shifts her weight, feet rubbing the sand, politely smiling. “I grew up a few towns over in the Helotes area and joyride out there quite often.” 

Paxton replies, “oh I remember that place. Ok, that is not too far from where I grew up.”

Gracie examines Paxton’s appearance. The sun hits his hair and beard bringing out the reddened hue, as his charming smile reveals white spotless teeth. Gracie notices his slightly tall athletic physique, as his tight fitted blue shirt accentuates the underlying muscles. Paxton moves to the shoreline with Delilah, his red haired tanned legs, contract as he walks. Ocean waves splash against his lower body, wetting his green board shirts causing them to hug his body tighter, exposing his toned muscles. Well, that is neat, he is from near me.

Paxton walks from the shoreline, to his car, his reddish hair flutters in the breeze as his toes become caked with sand. The silver trunk opens, a foldable chair is quickly draped over his shoulder and a big blue cooler is waiting to be brought out. Paxton lifts it. A smile tugs at her mouth, as she stares dreamily at his muscles contracting. Her western sun hat bearing seashells around the band, shades her face.

Paxton squats down while lowering the blue cooler on the sand, turning his head towards Gracie; he asks, “I’m going to barbeque do you want some?”

      “Well, what are you cooking? I am starting to get hungry!” She responds.

“Chicken marinated in seasoning with barbeque sauce and sausage.” Paxton replies.

“Mmmm, that sounds good, do you need any sides, I have some in my van in the fridge.” Gracie mentions.

“Sure, what are the sides you have?” The man inquires. His lips curl into a smile, his sunglasses still cover his eyes, causing a nagging mystery for Gracie.

“I have spinach and veggies for salad, non-fat dressing, I can make whole grain macaroni with fat free cheese as well. Maybe some cole slaw, broccoli, what would you like?” Gracie asks.

“You decide ma’am,” says Paxton. A charming smile spreads across his bearded face. Taking a peak at her athletic physique here and there, a smile forms each time, as his sunglasses cover his eyes.

Small clear plastic tubs behold cheesy pasta, spinach, cucumbers, tomatoes, shredded carrots and onions.

 “I’m going to keep the salad in the fridge until we are ready to eat it.”  A  black bottle of wine fits nicely in Gracie’s right hand, the gold and blue label rests below her thumb. Paxton nods in acknowledgement.

“Paxton, would you like some wine?” Gracie asks. The strap of her foldable chair rests over her shoulder.

“I’ll have some wine, sure, do you need help with all that?” Paxton reaches for a foldable table Gracie has leaning against the van.

 The German Shepherd’s are restful, laying in the sand, not really moving, just breathing, dark amber eyes still open, squinting from the breeze. A dusk landscape stretches in front of Gracie feasting her eyes as the sun lowers and reflects on the blue sea. Turning the sky neon carrot and hot pink, where light blue used to be. Paxton lifts up his sunglasses as the sun causes his emerald whiskey eyes to sparkle in the sun. Gracie takes notice, her green amber eyes peer deep into his, as if reading him by his eyes. Empathetic and soulful. He seems fulfilled within and perhaps happy in life.

The black metal portable pit releases steam. Gracie leans closer, catching the aroma. A smile tugs at her mouth. Spicy and tangy, mixing with smoked meats. Paxton has lathered two chicken breasts, in honey barbeque sauce and sprinkled seasonings.

“Paxton, do you like travelling?” To her surprise, the question causes some excitement and thrill in Paxton. He smiles and says, “Absolutely, I have been to forty-four states.”  

“Oh, Awesome I have been to all the states except Alaska. Gracie says, her face brightening, her white pearly teeth show in an ear to ear grin.  “I plan to visit there soon, maybe in six months. Maybe try it out for a year or so. I have been living on the road for years and getting by with a travel blog. It has been wonderful!” She finishes, a wistful smile crossing her lips as she reflects on the winding path her life has taken.