Unbidden Garden by Baer Charlton

Author:Baer Charlton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Baer Charlton

Chapter Sixteen

The Squirt squirmed as he got back into the truck after they had dropped the tractor. He had been quiet most of the ride back up from Salinas Impound yard. Hooker watched him out of the side of his eye as Hooker checked his mirrors and eased Mae into gear and rolled out of the gated yard. Hooker stopped on the street and went back to close the gate and secure the lock he had the key to. It was only one of seven secure yards Hooker was trusted with a key.

Walking back toward the cab, the image of Box circling his bed at the Romero Hacienda after Stella had washed the cover was exactly how the Squirt was acting. Something wasn’t settling with him. Hooker decided to check the tires and give the kid some time. Grabbing the weighted maul, he bounced it along all ten tires as he made the circle of the largest tow truck in the five Bay counties. With a top speed, thanks to the new engine and transmission, of over 150 mph, Mae West was also the fastest tow truck, too. As the motto under her figure painted waving from the engine bonnet said, ‘It’s what’s up front that counts.’

Putting the large hammer back in its hole, Hooker climbed back up into the cab. He put the transmission in gear, hit the air brake release, and eased on down the street as his right hand fell to find empty air where he expected a fuzzy ear. Looking down, as his foot hovered over the brake pedal, he saw the shape of the large orange cat filling the box. The low snore was all he needed in reassurance. Hooker looked up into the face of the Squirt. Both were smiling.

“I think we have a Box with a very happy tummy,” Squirt said as he also rubbed his own.

Hooker nodded as he spun the steering wheel through the right and immediate left to get up onto the Almaden Expressway. “Yeah, you weren’t too shabby yourself on those bugs and crabs.” He smiled. The dinner had cost Hooker almost a third of the tow, but it had been well worth it to introduce the Squirt to eating at the end of the wharf. Watching the sun go down over the Monterey Bay was just the dessert.

Capitol Expressway came up, and Hooker took the cloverleaf and headed east. The Squirt frowned over at his boss. “I thought we were headed home?”

Hooker leaned back tall in the seat as he tried his best imitation of Uncle Willie explaining the facts of life. “Well, John... it’s like this. There are some things you should never compromise in your life. Love is one of those. Ice cream is another. And when those two things come together, it’s up there with the most sacred of all things.”

The kid stuck his hand out into the crisp fall air as he smirked. “It is just the right temperature for some French vanilla.”

“Probably just right for even a triple scoop.

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