The damned old truck just gave up the ghost. It coasted down to the bottom of the hill and died. It was very old, 400 and some thousand miles on the clock. Everything in it was worn out including the driver. Life can be a real bitch. I shouldn't have tried to go that far with it anyway. I figured the little trailer we were dragging behind her didn't help any. I hadn't had much choice. My new truck was in the shop because it was acting up. The parts for the plane had to be picked up at the freight office. I had no choice but to try old Betsy, I don't think she had been more than a mile or two from the ranch in years. Mostly she was strictly used on the place.
I walked back and looked at the trailer. It was only a ten foot trailer. Just a light farm trailer. Right now it was loaded with about $20,000 worth of aircraft parts.
I watched a car zip by without slowing. I knew it was useless but I checked the cell phone. I was right, no service. Bummer. I looked up the hill and saw someone jogging down the hill. Who ever it was, was making good time coming down hill. Now I could see a ponytail flipping back and forth. The form was definitely feminine. Very definitely. She slowed to a stop a few feet from me. She bent over with her hands on her knees and caught her breath. She stood and smiled at me, "Truck broke?"
"Yep! The poor old gal just blew her guts out. I should never have brought her."
"Are those aircraft tires in the trailer?"
"Sure are. Not many people would know that."
"Been foolin' with them all my life. What are they off of?"
"An old Grumman Amphibian, a J2F-5 to be precise."
"I know what that is, That's a 'Duck', right."
"Absolutely! Congratulations , You win the trivia prize of the day. Very impressive, you do know your planes." She was more impressive than her knowledge. I guessed her age at thirty plus, She was a large girl in great shape. Her body was awesome, large breasts, small waist, slim hips and legs. I guessed she was about five feet eight inches and about a hundred and thirty pounds. A big strong beautiful lady with long brown hair and eyes, and red, red lips. Her breathing was slowing now. I hated that. I loved watching those large mammaries heave up and down.
"Would you care for a drink of cold water?" I asked.
"I would love that." I moved to the truck and pulled out the cooler.
"I have ice cold water, coke, or light beer, Bud?"
"Hey, water will be fine." I handed her a new bottle of spring water. She took a long drink.
She looked at me and said, "What are you going to do now, I wouldn't leave that stuff along side the road. It will disappear pretty fast."
"I wish I knew. I don't have a clue, I can't get anyone on my cell phone, and I don't want to walk off and leave this sitting here."
"Maybe I can help for a price."
"Sure, I would expect to pay."
"No, I want a ride in the Grumman for helping you."
"Hey, all you have to do is ask. I would love showing her off to you."
"Alright, wait here while I run and get my truck. I can help you get the truck and the trailer to my place. Then I can take your trailer to your place."
"That will get you an airplane ride and a dinner on me. What is your name?"
"They call me Jessie Or Jess."
"I am Fred Larimore. I live on my son's place over off Route 318."
"Hey, that's not far. Is that the place with the long grass strip? Then I know where it is. I will be back in a bit. Don't run off now."
No way in hell anyone was going to get me to leave.
She was as good as her word. She was back in a Dodge Diesel Pickup. I unhooked the trailer and swung the tongue to where she could back up to it. I latched the trailer to her hitch and climbed in the cab and grinned at her. She pulled away and we went up the road about half a mile where she turned into a gate in a dark wood fence. She drove up a long drive to a nice house. She backed the trailer into a parking place and I unhitched it. We went back for the old truck and she dug chains out and she towed me back to the house. We put the old gal back behind a shed. I hooked up the trailer again and we were off. Jess had changed into shorts and a cropped top that should have been against the law, it was really hard to keep my eyes off of her. I think she knew about my problem. I saw her glance at my crotch when she thought I wasn't looking. I was getting a definite bulge there. I guided her to the drive to Buck's house and in no time we were at the hanger door. I opened the door and she backed the trailer in the hanger. While I was getting the trailer off the hitch Jess was looking over the Duck. She came back smiling. "She looks like she just rolled off the assembly line, she is gorgeous. You guys do great work. What is in the other hangers."
I said, "If you would like to see follow me." She held my arm and I could feel her breast press against it. The next hanger held two North American SNJ aircraft. World War II and after trainers. I had learned to fly in one like these.
The next hangar held a SNB-4 Twin Beech from the 1950'S. The last hanger was the largest. It held my favorite, a Lake Renegade 250, a six place amphibian fully equipped with all the goodies. We also had several aircraft in various stages of repair. We had a Cessna 195, A Beech Stagger Wing and other wrecks. I looked at her and asked her if I could buy her a drink. She grinned and said it was very near Happy Hour. We went to the Double Wide where I was staying. I fixed her a drink and we sat and talked for hours. Then the phone rang, it was my son from the big house. He wanted to know if I would eat with he and his fiancΓ©e. I told him I had a very lovely lady with me and that I would love to have them meet her. Jess grinned her approval and we drove up in her Truck. Buck and his girl friend Lucy were delighted to meet Jessie. When I told them how we met they had to explain that they had met in almost the same way.
We had a number of drinks and ended up staying for dinner. The kids showed us through the house. They were in the process of renovating it. It tickled me to see how much in love they were. They couldn't keep their hands off each other.
We left after dinner and I told her that the dinner we had just had did not count as the dinner I owed her. She grinned and said she knew that, she said she had had a wonderful time and that she would be expecting me to call her when the Duck was ready to fly. I assured her that I would do that. I wanted to follow her home in my Town Car but she would not hear of it. We kissed goodnight and I know she felt how aroused I was. She grinned and left me in agony. I had to relieve myself manually. Nothing new.
Two days later the Duck was back in tip top shape and I called Jess to invite her for a flight. I got no answer.
I called the next day. No answer. The next day I had my truck back and drove over init and towed old Betsy back home with a tow bar. There were no vehicles at her place.
I test flew the J2F the next day and flew over her house. No vehicles in sight. I gave up.
Several days later my phone rang. A sweet voice said, "Hi stranger, does the invitation for a ride in that old war bird still stand?"
"No, that one has expired due to lack of interest. However I will gladly extend a new offer."
"Oh Fred, it wasn't a lack of interest, I had to rush to my daughter in Utah, she had a baby and it came early. I forgot to take your number with me. I apologize, Please forgive me."
"First I don't believe you are old enough to have a grandbaby, second if you are old enough, I would want you with me if I were having a baby, so all is forgiven. When?"
"How about now, I can be there in 15 minutes."
"Deal, I'll roll her out and warm her up. She is a little drafty so bring a jacket."
"Jump suit and flight jacket OK."
"Perfect. Bye."
The big Wright R-1820 was quietly ticking over when she pulled up. Damn if she didn't look fine in that jump suit. She ran to me and gave me a big kiss. It startled and pleased me. She grinned at me and said, "Damn if I didn't miss you. It seems like I have known you for ever."
Didn't know what to say. Just gulped and pulled her to me for another kiss, soft and sweet. "Come on let me help you get strapped in." I showed her the steps and hand holds. I climbed up after her and showed her the head set and the mike button. I walked to the front seat and climbed in I put the head set on and keyed the intercom, "Jessie, how do you hear me?"
"Just fine, five square."
"Ok. I'm going to taxi out. Here we go. I taxied to the end of the strip and held short while I went through the run up. She checked out perfect. I checked for traffic and moved on to the runway. I poured the coal to her and we were in the air half way down the strip. I climbed to fifteen hundred feet and throttled back. I slid my canopy shut and told Jessie to do the same. She said that she loved the wind in her face. I told her to leave her canopy open about two inches and I would open mine about the same and that would give her the best effect. She said I was right. I asked if she would like some lunch.
"You have a stewardess hidden aboard here somewhere?"
"No girl, we can land in the water at Cedar Key and tie up at the Dockside Restaurant."
"That sounds like fun, I have never been in a water landing or take off before."
I called the Dockside on Unicom and told them I was coming and they said they would have a space cleared for me. I had been there many times so they knew what was required. They loved me to come because the old plane always drew a big crowd.
I made a big circle around the bay and made a perfect landing then taxied up to the dock, The owner was on hand to tie us up to his floating dock. The port wings and float fit right over everything and the big main float was against the rub strip around the dock. It was perfect for the old bird. I helped Jessie down and we were greeted by Sam, the owner. He was glad to see me as always. I took Jessie's arm and followed him into the restaurant. He recommended the Grouper sandwich. We concurred and were served shortly. The place filled up rapidly. No one was allowed to go down on the dock. The food was, as always, superb. We had a good conversation and afterwards I reached over and held her hand, I told her I had been heartbroken when I couldn't find her. "I thought I had frightened you off. I didn't know what to think."