Longest time out on the road

#### it, I get so frustrated reading these great stories then all of a sudden I'm at the end waiting for more. Good job again mustang.

Ron

 

Good for you man. I spent my last 34 months in Europe. I wasn't dodging bullets, but it still felt good to be back in the world.
Not in for long. Got home late last night and leaving early tomorrow for Florida, but will try to get a little down tonight.
Been doing chores all day.

 

Just easing along doing exactly the speed limit when I see Tex pulled over on the side at the crest of Chriaco Summit.
"Just keep rolling, buddy" he tells me on the CB."I'll fall in behind ya. We can stop at Cabazon if you like"
"Sounds like a deal buddy" I answer.
Cabazon CA is the home of The Wheel In Cafe. Famous for the giant concrete dinosaurs that inhabit the grounds.
Favored by truckers for being the last stop before the infamous Banning inspection station.
Good opportunity to fine tune the old log book and also to listen up and find out if they decide to close for some reason.
We kept our CB conversation to generic stuff, not discussing any of the more serious events that had taken place.
Darlene was amazed at the sight of the mammoth dinosaurs that loomed over the parking lot.
"See that big one right yonder?" I asked her. "Well, you can go up them steps into his belly, and there's a gift shop in there.
And there's stairs that go up his neck and you can look out his mouth once you get up in his head. See a long way from up there"
Her look of amazement turned to mock cynicism.
"Now you listen here Ricky Reed. I might be from the country, like you I might add.
But that don't mean I believe no story such as that"
"No babygirl, I wouldn't do you that way. I'm being for real.
Tell ya what, when we get done eating, I'll show ya"

Tex listened intently as I described in detail the traffic stop in Blythe. I also voiced my suspicion that it had been a setup, with which he readily agreed.
I also filled him in on my encounter with Animal at Eloy and Darlene filled in the blanks on the rest of her trip, telling him everything she had told me.
Not that I doubted her story one bit, but hearing her repeat it without any variation only confirmed to me it was all true.
"I talked to Juan Pablo this morning. Just missed yall by a little bit. He made a comment about Darlene's busted up face.
I didn't know what I know now, but I figured as much. That's what I told him too, and he seemed to accept it.
And in case you're wondering, you can strike him off your list of suspects.
He's the last fella gonna be calling the law about anything.
He has built a reputation on trust and secrecy. I promise there's a lot more than just pistols that go in that safe of his from time to time.
And I know they weren't the most pleasant fellas you've ever met, but don't be too hard on them cops.
They thought they were acting on solid information when they stopped you. That stop was ordered by someone higher up.
No way a call went directly to them. Just remember, if they didn't think you were perfectly clean, you wouldn't be sitting here right now.
Don't expect an apology though. It's just not in their nature to admit they screwed up, even though it wasn't exactly their doing.
And I think I seen your boy last night. Most likely so. Can't imagine anybody else running around with one rebel flag mudflap.
Probably why he got stopped. What a dummy. I don't see how he made it this far.
All the way from Alabama with a missing mud flap on the trailer"
"Where was that?" I asked.
"Over around Tonopah. He has to be close. And I know what you're thinking son.
But my advice, not that you asked for it, is to let this thing chill until you get back to the house, back on your home turf.
Lot can go wrong out here buddy and I don't want to see nothing happen to you.
But I can tell by the look in your eyes that you have other plans, and if you insist on getting crazy, I got your back"

 

2 years, 8 months and 15 days. Never came home never even passed by home.

 

Ben McTeen wasn't happy. Not one bit. He didn't appreciate getting humiliated in front of that chick, even if she was just a dumb hillbilly.
That stupid Reed didn't know who he was messing with. Not worried about him. No sir, not one bit.
Forget him. He will be sitting his do-gooder butt in some some California jail soon. Out of my hair for good.
Now this deadbeat never shows to pick up this product he promised to buy.
I spent the fuel money the boss advanced me in El Paso to score this stuff. Need to recover my investment.
Hard to be a good business man when you're dealing with clowns like this.
That's ok. I can turn this stuff over in Ontario. If I don't run out of fuel getting there.

By the time Animal gets to Cabazon, he is stressed. Had to replace that mudflap back in Arizona, along with an equipment violation fine.
Then he goes through Blythe, and no sign of Reed's truck anywhere.
Maybe they done towed it off, he thinks. Getting close to the scales now, starting to sweat.
Get it together man he says to himself. He decides a quick stop is in order.
Splash some cold water on his face. A fresh shirt. Tidy up the old log book. And a big fat line of blow to clear his head.
Knock the shakes off some. As he wheels in the lot, he can't believe what he sees. That familiar blue KW.
No way! What is he doing here?
Only one thing to do. Get the hell out of here. He was so rattled by now that he forgets the scales are just ahead.
He was soon reminded, however.
"SCALES OPEN ALL TRUCKS MUST ENTER" Followed by "LOADED TRUCKS USE RIGHT LANE and LOWER WINDOW AND TURN OFF RADIO"
Nothing to do now but roll up and hope for the best.
Onto the platform. Light turns red. Stays red for too long he thinks. Static from speaker as a mic is keyed.
"Coast2Coast Produce, exit the scales to your right and pull into inspection bay four please."

 

uh oh! not inspection bay four. been a whole week i almost died!

 

Don't hold out on us j/k been reading for a while now make this into a book someday..

 

"How are...uh, things?" Tex asked awkwardly after Darlene excused herself for the restroom.
"I don't know man. But I don't think it can ever be anything now. Not that it's her fault. It's just...it's just..hell, I don't know how to say it" I stumbled.
"That's alright man. I know where you are coming from. That don't make you a bad fella. You have done more for her than the average guy would have.
I promise you that. You been strong for her and you are watching out for her. You don't owe her any more than that.
She's smart enough to realize that. She probably feels like a burden. Just get her home safe man."
"Yeah, I guess you're right man. Who knows, maybe one day I'll feel different" I told him.
"You're a good dude. Just do what feels right. But what I really wanted to tell you ain't about Darlene."
"Oh really? And what would that be?"
"Well I talked to Jolene on the phone last night and she said her cuz up in Jersey was asking about a certain Carolina boy.
Seems little Joan thinks very highly of you."
I tried to keep my voice nuetral when I answered, but wasn't very successful.
"Really? Well that's good to hear"
Man, could I sound any more like a dork. Tex just laughed.
"I know you ain't too crazy about running up north. Can't blame you. I'm not either.
But check this out. Joan is talking about spending the summer in Texas."
I was totally unsuccessful at hiding the surprise from my face.
"I figured you would perk up at that one" Tex said with a sly grin.
"And I know you like to put on that shy country boy routine, but don't be wasting no time with this one.
You and me both know she has keeper written all over her, and you gonna have some stiff competition from them Texas boys down there."
Before I could answer, Darlene was returning fro the rest room, so I made a smooth topic change.
"I hope to get these stupid boxes off tomorrow. This is a record for me, being with the same load for eleven days now" I said.
"Well it ain't like it hasn't been uneventful. Where are you going anyway?" Tex asked.
"La Cienaga, out by the airport."
"Hmm. Seems like a strange place for some produce boxes. Maybe they got a warehouse there. I won't be too far away. Just over in Carson.
If I load back east, I will be right here tomorrow evening. If I have to lay over, you can find me at the 76 in Ontario"
"Deal" I told him as we headed for the door.

 

Animal was on his hands and knees puking his guts out in the rest area on I-10.
He had never been so scared in his life. Pale and perspiring as he pulled into the inspection bay.
No truck insurance for one thing. Unless you counted that bogus card the boss gave him.
He bought one policy for one truck and put copies of the policy in the other nine trucks.
Haven't touched the log book since Louisiana.
Not to mention all that cocaine under his pillow.
But the thing that terrified him the most wasn't in his truck.
It was the sight of the German shepard in bay one.
He was slipping into a fugue state when the inspector approached, clipboard in hand.
He had to rap on the door to get Animals attention.
"You awake driver?" he asked. Not joking either.
"Yes, sir. Sorry, didn't see ya come up." Animal mumbled.
"You ok son? You look kind of pale."
"Oh, yes, sir. Must have been something I ate. You know how that truck stop food is." Animal replied, not very convincingly.
"You know why we pulled you in here?" the inspector asked.
To put my butt in jail. Animal thought, but simply answered "No, sir"
"You have a flat trailer tire on the other side. I see you just had two new ones installed recently on this side. But we have a little problem here."
Oh no. Oh Jesus, here it comes Animal thought. Totally freaking out now. Waiting on the other shoe to drop.
"I'm not going to be able to complete your inspection. We just started using this computer setup.
I'll be honest with you, I don't know a thing about them, other than the fact that we can't do anything when they go down.
Dumbest thing I ever saw. They won't let us write up a report like I been doing the last twenty years.
They claim it's the way of the future. I doubt that. Just too unreliable.
Anyway, we're fixing to shut down the scales and you need to get on out of here.
I want you to get that tire fixed, ASAP"
Animal was so stunned by this turn of events that he was unable to speak.
"I said" the officer said, louder this time "I want you to get that tire fixed as soon as you leave here. You hear me?"
"Oh, yeah sure. Right away sir" Animal said as he started the truck.
The relief was short lived, for as he merged back onto the interstate, he realized just how close that was.
How he had never been that lucky in his entire life. Then he thought about what a felony drug conviction would entail.
Then he wanted to throw up. His eyes were blurring from tears when he saw the sign "REST AREA ONE MILE"

 

lucky SOB.
love the stuff GT, keep them coming when you can.