Taking My Heart (Completed)

9. A Reprieve

Tanker and I got the load completed that was scheduled before everything happened and we spent the night with the nice veterinarian.

I am thankful the company understood why I had ran behind a couple of hours after I had promised to pickup the shipment a dawn, but got there to be loaded closer to eight in the morning. The shipment hadn't been officially scheduled for a ten in the morning pickup, due to not knowing if it would've been ready.

So I was not concerned with not making it in time but they still could've gotten mad that I said one thing and didn't make it. It was more of the fact my word was broken but for Tanker I will do anything that is needed.

Which means, we are now in the middle west. The land out here this time of year is overly dry. It has an entire of layer of dust painted on my truck and trailer. Now I will have to go by a truck wash center to get it taken off. The last thing I want is for the dust to be left on because it makes thing look trashy. Also it can damage the paint job the truck had when I bought it a couple of years ago.

I turn the alarm off before it even goes off this morning. Tanker and I have more than enough time to get loaded up here in the same place before we head with it straight towards the south. To bad we are not going back out east at the time. I didn't get to go a few towns over from Blue Sky's to stop by my storage unit.

Part of me also wants to see Samantha again. I could see and pay for her to do a check on Tanker to make sure everything is still going well. I know he seems fine but there is also a small concern there because of what happened.

Since we left almost three days ago now, I keep having dreams of her too. Samantha somehow, wormed her way into my barrier enough to be there every single time I have closed my eyes.

Don't get me wrong, seeing her in my dreams is much better than I what I see when I dream normally. So by seeing her has been a reprieve but it also has me wonder about her more and more.

If I hadn't been over the road, I may have actually asked her on a date. Something about her has chased the demons away at night. No one has been able to do that for me. Tanker helps but he also can't talk. Samantha seems like she is the less judgement person ever, and also based off of what she has said when we talked and I asked her about it.

Her words still swirl through my mind with how she seemed to understand people having a hard past but not to force them to talk about it unless the person is ready.

There felt like a hidden thing behind it that she does understand. It has made me wonder if she lost someone close to her too in life.

Grabbing a can of Tanker's food, I put it in his bowl and he chows down. There is still some left over pizza from the order I put in last night so that is my breakfast.

Tanker can switch over to his kibble again but I got plenty of this can stuff that I figure just let him finish it first before I go back to the normal he has. He is back to jumping in and out of the truck on his own. Tanker does not wait for me to get him anymore having had enough of that yesterday and seems fine doing it himself.

I start up the truck for the air pressure to rise once more this morning. I step into the back of the sleeper and fix up the bed and refold the clothes, placing them in the dirty duffel bag for the laundry wash place I will find eventually, if no hotels have one able there is normally one within walking distance so I can tend to it.

With the sleeper back in order, I get out of the truck and Tanker stays inside with him still eating slowly. At least he enjoys the can food.

Going over the checks, I can see a few tires that will need replacing soon. The tread is getting low but they are not bald yet.

I climb back in the truck and pop the brakes off, we set out on the road again with the GPS guiding us to the next pickup location. The road turns bumpy and Tanker grunts in the seat next to me.

"Feeling like a homemade ice cream yet." I chuckle.

The road makes me feel like the damn container being shook up to make that piece of heaven. What I wouldn't give to be a little boy again to experience that just one last time with my brother. God, I miss his smiling face.

Finally we pull up at a rough looking factory. It is obvious this place doesn't take care of the structure the employees work in, or well the outside at least.

I put Tanker's vest on him and we get out of the cab. A guy walks up sports a long beard, hard hat, and a beer belly.

"Are you Shane Thomas?" His voice doesn't match his looks with the slight squeak to it.

I cough quickly to hide a laugh. "Yeah, that is me. I had a job to pick up supplies for a sister factory down south."

He looks at his clipboard. "I see here you are to transport two hundred and thirty boxes down to Arkansas."

"That is the information I got." I nod.

"Sign this." He shoves the clipboard at me.

"Once I get the mechandise loaded up I will sign. Not a moment beforehand, that way if something happens it can't be held on me. I am just the driver." I hold the clipboard.

"Fine." He grunts.

I walk up to the back of the truck and open the doors. As they load it in, I am busy counting it all out to make sure it is all there. Once it is, I close the back doors and put on the padlock, placing the key on the chain around my neck.

After that, I sign the papers and take the copy I get before I hand the clipboard back to the squeaky guy.

"You have yourself a good day." I nod my head, before Tanker and I get back into the truck.

"Hey!" I hear yelled out, as I pop my brakes.

With my window down, I look over and it is squeaky guy once more.

"Hope you have a nice day too driver." He surprises me.

I nod and wave my hand before letting off the clutch and we take off.

A/N---
Hey Hey Guys!!!

Shane has Samantha on his mind too but what could it mean?

Hope everyone is enjoying the story!