Sunshine Valley 

You’ve got to be kiddin’ me

    Dillon took the basket from Evie puttin’ it in the backseat of his truck as she hopped in the passengers seat. He turned her around so that her knees were at his waist, “madam,” he grinned. “Do not deny me the pleasure of helping you in my truck.” He kissed her. 

     “Sir, if it is pleasure you seek, I will not deny thee.” 

     He trailed his thumb across her cheek, “I’ve missed you.”

     As he walked around the truck, she saw him. Really saw him in the pole light. She didn’t say anything for a while. When she looked at him he was grinnin’ from ear to ear. She gushed, “you had your tint taken off the front.”

     “Lowered,” he never stopped smiling. “I scared you. Even though you know it’s my truck, with my windows that dark, you can’t see who’s driving.”

     She kissed him, then caressed his cheek, “that was very sweet.” He took her hand in his and kissed it. “How was tint that dark legal?”

     He winked, “who’s gonna pull the sheriff over?” 

      “You booger.” She teased. “Smith isn’t gonna shoot at us is she?”

     “We’re gonna go around and above her house. But I did call her to tell her we would be in the area. More for our safety than hers.”

     Evie loved the drive up the mountain. As they drove, she searched her memory, “don’t think I’ve ever been up the mountain in the dark.”

     “It’s truly a different experience. What’s in the basket?”

     “Nothing heavy. Some crackers. Thermos of hot chocolate. Couple peanut butter sandwiches. Snacky type stuff. Do you think we will really get to see the aurora borealis tonight?”

     “They are sayin’ tonight is our best chance.”

     “I guess we’ll find out together.”

     Once they past Smith’s house, the road turned into an old logging road. Dillon got out, walked around the front of the truck, came back and put the truck in the lowest gear it had. Evie laughed, “that is what dad called ‘bulldog’.”

     “Your dad was always comin’ up with colorful turn-ah-phrases.”

     The truck whined with each roll of the wheels. Shaking and bouncing its passengers as they inched toward the top of the mountain. Evie couldn’t stop laughing. “What’s so funny?” Dillon asked. 

     Between giggles she spewed, “this.” With each bounce, she just laughed that much harder. By the time they reached the top, she was in tears. 

     He back the truck up so that they had the best few of the night sky from the bed of the truck. They worked together to spread out the sleeping bags so they had something more comfortable than metal to sit on. Dillon threw a blanket in the back as she retrieved the basket. 

     About 11:30 pm, the sky started its show. Evie stood up watching the colors fight for supremacy as they danced across the horizon. Like waves washing on shore they flowed back and forth. “Beautiful,” Evie sighed. Rejoining Dillon.

Sunshine Valley