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 tricolored 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. The click of a hand held blue and black lighter, blue to purple flames surround the igniting logs, spreading out to a dark orange to red. Crackling is barely heard as the Ocean waves roar. Stepping away from the self made out, the man stands erect rising to around six feet tall. 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?”

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

Paxton responds to Gracie, “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. I grew up a few towns over in the Helotes area and joyride out there quite often.” Gracie smiles politely throughout her conversation.

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

Gracie examines Paxton’s appearance as they introduce themselves. 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, as Paxton lifts, Gracie smiles dreamily at his muscles contracting, while 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 with a smile on his face, 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 mac and cheese with fat free cheese as well. Maybe some cole slaw, broccoli, what would you like?” Gracie asks.

“You decide ma’am,” says Paxton with a charming smile. 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, while carrying a foldable chair from her van on her shoulder.

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

The German Shepard’s are restful, laying in the sand, not really moving, just breathing, dark amber eyes still open, squinting from the breeze. A desirable landscape stretches in front of Gracie feasting her eyes as the sun begins to set. The sun reflects on the blue sea, as it fades for the night, transpiring orange and pink to 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.

Two chicken breasts bake smothered in seasoning, and barbeque sauce in a portable barbeque pit, releasing the aroma of barbeque into the air, which Gracie happily breathes.

“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. 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!” Gracie discusses with a pleasant expression on her face.

“Great, hmm Alaska I have not been there yet, I’m thinking of moving to Hawaii soon in about six months.” Paxton replies with a grin, exposing his white spotless teeth.

“Do you like cold weather,” asks Gracie inquisitively.

“I like warm weather, Hawaii is warm, tropical, has mountains and the sea.” The man replies with a dreamy distant voice, as if he is thinking of being in Hawaii right now.

“Oh, how neat! Gracie says, covering up the disappointment for his lack of desire for cold weather. She goes into her van with her glass of wine to grab the salad, as Paxton removes the meat from the grill. I guess he could be a temporary romance before I move to Alaska, hmm he does not like cold weather. He is not for long term.

Gracie emerges, Paxton believing her hands look full grabs the large wooded salad bowl and dressing from her hands, “Here ma’am, I will help you with that.” Gracie cheeks redden as she smiles, “Oh, thank you Paxton, that is very helpful.”

Sitting down to eat, in between bites, Paxton asks “what kind of music do you like?”

“All kinds, country, classical, jazz, pop, and some hip hop. What about you?” she replies.

“I like country music, do you mind if I play some? The sound of the ocean waves kissing the shore is pleasant and peaceful, but I would also like some music on.” Paxton asks Gracie respectfully.

“Sure, that will be nice.” The fire Paxton initiated is still burning strong , flames of red and orange reach the edge of the pit, dancing around, whilst the sky darkens over creating a starry moonlit dinner, as waves rush, roar, and splash. The air cooler to about the seventies with a cool breeze. Twang guitar music adds to the tone, creating country vibes.

The meal has subsided, Paxton asks Gracie, “Do you want to make s’mores?”

Gracie smiles, and says, “Sure.”

Paxton brings out the ingredients for s’mores then hands Gracie a stick. The bag of marshmallows are opened, creating a swishing sound while leaking the light aroma of powdered sugar and whipped vanilla bean. She places two white fluffy marshmallows on her stick, feeling the squish between her slender fingers, like little pillows. Paxton then punctures his marshmallows to slide on the stick. Concentrating on the marshmallows roasting over the fire pit. The flame burning blueish purple closer to the logs to reddish orange further away. The fire crackles, as ocean waves roar ahead of them. Paxton shifts the wood, red orange amber particles shoot upwards from the logs remaining in the pit. Gracie’s marshmallow catches fire, and she quickly blows it out. “Well, that is nicely charred now.” Paxton chuckles at Gracie, as he continues to slowly roast his, not letting the flame catch it. Gracie makes her s’mores by placing the marshmallow between the chocolate square and graham crackers, then slides the stick out from the marshmallow. Performing this twice as she roasts two marshmallows. Gracie sips her wine, then turns her gaze to Paxton silently admiring him, waiting for him to finish. Gracie observes his lightly freckled face, noticing non bushy eyebrows, high narrow cheekbones, his nose medium sized somewhat aquiline, with a curved bridge, and a strong jawline covered by his beard. He is an attractive man. Paxton notices her brief gaze, looks kindly into her eyes and smiles charmingly “You do not have to wait for me, to eat your s’mores.”

Gracie smiles warmly at Paxton, “I just thought I should wait for you.”

“You are a sweet woman for being considerate of me.” The man responds in a deep southern voice causing a jolt to Gracie’s heart.

Gunner is resting next to Paxton’s dog. Also, a German Shepard, Delilah. What a ladylike yet simple name.

“How old is Delilah?” Gracie asks, with a curious expression on her face.

“She just turned two.” He replies while he stares at Delilah.

“Aww, she is so pretty resting next to Gunner. They seem to like each other. Is she fixed or are you going to breed her? Gunner is purebred and I decided not to have him fixed in case I wanted to let him be a stud. He is already six though.” Gracie discusses.

“Oh, I have not fixed her with that in mind. Yes, Delilah is a beauty. She is my sweet girl.” Paxton looks adoringly at his dog, as he puts his s’more together. “My s’mores are ready to be devoured!”

Gracie takes another sip of wine before taking a bite of her s’mores. “Mmm, these are delicious, I have not had s’mores in a while, but I do make them from time to time.”

Paxton’s eyes smile at Gracie.