Sunshine Valley

Moving day

    Rebecca and Simon were sitting on their front porch enjoying a cool summer morning. Rebecca was a schoolteacher at Sunshine Valley Elementary and summers meant not having to worry about another stress filled day full of screaming children. Simon was a handy man and worked whenever. Rebecca couldn’t have been more content; the love of her life by her side, a cup of coffee, and just utter peace was all around her.

    The sun was starting to come up. It was hard for her to look across the road and see the pretty little white house. “Do you think we’ll ever get used to the sight of it?”

    Her husbands reassuring voice rang true in her ears. “I’m sure we will.”

    In the distance a cloud of dust told them someone was coming. More than one someone in reality. When the caravan came into view Rebecca had never seen a car like this one. “What kind of car is that?”

    “No idea.”

    A small moving van, the sheriff’s SUV, and a patrol car followed it. They all pulled into the driveway of the Rice house.

    “Should we be neighborly and go help?”

    Simon thought for a moment. Rebecca really wanted to be nosy and he knew it. However, the Christian thing to do was to at least offer their help. “Yelp.”

    When they reached the moving van, the door flew open with antagonistic force. Rebecca jumped. She was second-guessing her decision to offer help.

    Sheriff Pace slid out of the moving van as if he had been driving for days. Bradley and another deputy had already started unloading boxes from the back. Much to their surprise, the sheriff was dressed in street clothing while the deputies were dressed in their uniforms. Rebecca was shocked that a shotgun lay in the passenger seat of the moving van.

    A lady walked around the moving van digging in her purse, “Dillon, what did I do with them?”

    Her voice was tired. Rebecca thought she seemed at the end of her rope. Something was troubling this lady. Her actions gave her away. “Oh,” the little lady gasped when she saw Rebecca and Simon. Pace shut the door of the moving van while reaching her a key ring looped over one finger. “Thank you,” she half heartedly smiled. Her red hair glistened in the sun.

    Simon couldn’t help but stare at her hair. Deep down he had a thing for red heads. He always wanted to date one. However, he was afraid of the stereotype. A red head was not one to be messed with. They could be more dangerous than a hand-full of Kentucky rattlesnakes.

    This delicate little flower just had on jeans, a t-shirt, and tenna shoes. She wasn’t flashy or overbearing. Simon just knew she was going to be the perfect neighbor.

    Pace’s voice when he finally spoke caused an earthquake somewhere. Rebecca just knew it. “They’re your neighbors from across the road: Rebecca and Simon Ledbetter.”

    Rebecca noticed that Sheriff Pace’s eyes never left this lady. He watched every move she made.

    “Pleasure,” she finally extended her hand toward them. Her handshake, though very strong, was remarkably kind.

    The strong handshake was no surprise to Simon. The redhead stereotype was alive and well in this one.

    Simon finally spoke, “we just wanted to know if you needed help?”

    She glanced at Sheriff Pace. He nodded yes. A small smile crossed her pink lips. “I don’t have much but you’re welcomed to help. Just pile everything on the front porch. I will take it from there.” She used the little black box in her hand to open the trunk of her car. “It’s unlocked.”

    Sheriff Pace moved his SUV to the side of the carport. The two deputies quickly unloaded the moving van.

    “I’II take the moving van back. Now don’t you worry about a thing little lady.” Bradley tipped his hat. Retrieving the rifle and putting it in the SUV.

    “Thank you gentlemen.” They were gone.

Sunshine Valley