Blind Trust

By Ed Carlson

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This story is purely fictitious. The names used herein are for character

identification and should not be construed as real people, alive or dead.

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“There were three of them,” the officer said. “They were all killed yesterday in a shootout in Fairview. Have you had any guests in the last week?”

“No. It’s the off season,” I replied. “Dottie and I are the only ones here during the day. Mom’s working down at the cannery, and Dad’s up at the mine.”

“OK then, I just wanted to check all the places,” he said.

“I haven’t seen anyone,” I said.

My remark was met by silence.

“I’m sorry, that was an unkind joke on my part,” I said. “I use it for an icebreaker with people who haven’t spent that much time around blind people.”

“I understand,” he said. “I have to be going now.”

“Would you like a cup of coffee before you head out?” I offered. “There’s a nip in the air.”

“Thanks, I’d like one,” he said. “That is, if you join me.”

“Follow me. I just made a fresh pot,” I said.

I blindly felt my way to the door of the apartment behind the registration desk. I could hear his boots on the hardwood floor as he followed me. I felt my way to the kitchen cupboard and took down two mugs. I knew the coffee pot was directly under the cups. I felt the handle on the carafe and stuck one finger in one of the cups. I began pouring the coffee. I stopped when the rising hot liquid touched my finger. I picked up the cup and turned around.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks,” he said as his hand touched mine during the exchange. They were rough, like he worked outdoors a lot.

“Have a seat,” I offered. “Cream and sugar are on the table.”

I heard him slide a chair out as I turned to pour myself a cup. When my cup was full, I felt my way over to the table. I touched his leather jacket in the process, and I knew where he was sitting. I put my coffee down at the other place setting and sat down.

“So tell me again what did these three guys do?” I said.

“They held up an armored car last week. They killed the guard and the driver,” he replied. “They got away with three million dollars in a neatly wrapped package. We cornered them yesterday over in Fairview. They wouldn’t surrender and decided to shoot it out. The SWAT team made pretty quick work of them.”

“You recovered the money then?” I asked.

“No, it wasn’t with them,” he replied. “We think they might have hid it somewhere near where they stayed. That’s why I asked if you had seen them.”

“No, I haven’t seen anyone for two years,” I replied.

There was silence and then he said: “It slipped out. I meant to say, have they been here?”

“I know. Don’t let it bother you,” I said. “I bet the package of money was pretty good sized.”

“Actually, it wasn’t that big. It was in big bills so the package is probably about the size of a bill by about sixteen inches long, maybe a little bigger. I’m guessing that it probably weighs about the same as couple of packages of copier paper.”

“That would be quite a find,” I said. “Someone could travel the world with that kind of money.”

“They sure could. It’s not traceable either,” he said. “They were old bills that had been in circulation. They were on there way back to the Federal Reserve.”

There was a lull in the conversation. I was beginning to feel nervous and could feel him watching me. After all, I was still pretty, people told me, and I still had my knockout figure.

“May I ask you a personal question?” he said quietly, almost bashful like.

“Shoot away,” I replied.

“How did you become blind?”

“Two years ago, I was working in a laser lab in the Army. I was in the wrong place when the laser fired. There was a bright flash and then my world went pitch black and I couldn’t see a damn thing. Within days, they began to calcify. My pupils turned white first; then my irises began to lose their color and turn white too. That continued until they are like you see now. I have absolutely no hope of ever seeing again.”

I could feel tears starting to form, and I wiped them away.

“I’m sorry that I upset you,” he said very apologetically. “I need to be going now.”

“Don’t leave because I moistened up,” I replied.

“No, I really do need to be going,” he said nervously as I heard him stand up. “Let us know if you hear of anyone who had contact with the three of them.”

I stood up and blindly stuck my hand out. “Thank you for taking the time to stop by.”

He shook my hand and said: “Thank you for the coffee. It was delicious.”

I started feeling my way to the door. I found the wall instead and felt my way along until I found the door. I felt him brush past me when I was in the reception lobby.

“Come back anytime,” I told him.

“I’ll take you up on it if you promise me more coffee.”

“That’s a promise,” I replied.

I heard the door open and close, then a car door slam. The car started and left. It sounded like a very powerful car.

“Why didn’t you tell him the truth Sandra?” my little sister scolded. “Dad always tells us to tell the truth.”

“Dottie, you little brat, you shouldn’t have been eavesdropping,” I said to my little twelve-year-old sister.

“I live here too,” she replied.

“Go on and play outside again. Mom will be home soon,” I instructed.

She mumbled as she went out the door. I felt my way back into the apartment and found the table. I picked up our cups. He had finished most of his coffee. I poured out the remains in the sink and washed the cups. I dried them and put them back in their place. I felt my way into my bedroom and to the bed. I got down on my hands and knees and felt around under the bed. I found the package one of the three men had given me fifty dollars to mail. It was about the size of the package that the officer described.

The money was my ticket to the world, and I was determined to visit it. I put the package in my backpack. I would have to travel light. I would spend my own money that I had been saving until I was a long way away from this place. I was destined for better. After all, who would suspect a blind girl of packing around three million dollars. My plan would work.

I found several changes of underwear and two changes of clothes. I also found my wallet, where I had been stashing all my spare money, and my Walkman. I found the backpack again and put my things inside. I found the toiletries travel pack that I had been using when I went to mobility training and put it in the backpack too before I zipped it up.

I heard a car drive up. I felt my watch. It was time for my mother to come home. I felt my way back into the kitchen and pretended to be busy starting dinner when Mom opened the back door.

“Hi dear,” she said cheerfully.

“Hi Mom,” I replied. “How was your day at work?”

“Oh, the same old thing. Things don’t change much at the cannery,” she complained.

“Maybe I could get a job down there,” I said. “I could work on the slime line. I can gut fish.”

“We’ve been through all of that before. The cannery is no place for you to work.”

“You mean for a poor little blind girl to work,” I snapped back.

“If you want to put it in those terms, yes. It’s no place for a blind person to work,” she said. “Did anything happen here today?”

“A police officer stopped by to ask if I’d seen any fugitives. I told him I hadn’t seen any in two years.”

“Sandra, that’s no way to be,” Mom scolded.

“Good grief Mom, I’m blind,” I said. “My eyes won’t ever work again. I’m always going to be blind. If I don’t laugh at my troubles, no one else will. You think of me as a cripple; well I’m not. I’m a girl who can’t see anymore.”

“That’s not what I meant,” she said. “I’m sorry that I came down on you like that.”

“That’s OK Mom. You know I love you,” I said. “Martha called and wants me to spend the weekend. I have my backpack already packed.”

“I’ll drive you,” she offered quickly.

“No, I want to take the bus. They all know me, and besides, I need the mobility practice,” I said.

“OK, you go on. The bus will be at the stop soon,” she said.

I felt my way back to my bedroom. I put on my leather jacket and found my cane and unfolded it. I put my backpack on and, using the cane, went back into the kitchen.

“I’m ready,” I said.

“You be careful dear,” she said as she gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

“I will Mom,” I said as I felt my way to the back door. I felt for the knob and opened it, then walked down the steps to the ground. Using my cane, I found the logs that outline our parking area. I could hear Dottie swinging on the other side of the house. I tapped my way along until the logs ended.

From then on, I used my cane to find the edge of the road. I found the little path that is down behind the bus shelter. I knew that I would be out of sight of the bus driver and my mother. This is the place I used to hide when I wanted to play hooky. I hoped no one had cleared any of the brush away. I crouched down and waited.

Soon I heard the bus coming. It stopped and then quickly started up again. I waited and listened for passengers. I didn’t hear any.

I got up and felt my way with my cane to the bus shelter. I listened carefully for traffic. I didn’t hear any. I started across the road and found the other side. Using my cane to feel the edge of the pavement and the grass, I walked up the gravel, the opposite way from town and where I had told my mother I was going.

I felt my way along the road for a while until I heard a car coming. I turned around and stuck my thumb out. The car whizzed right on past kicking dust up on my face. In disgust, I turned and continued walking and thinking why wouldn’t someone pick up a blind girl walking along the road. Soon I heard a truck coming. I tried the same hitchhiker approach. I heard the big rig braking hard, then come to a stop just before it reached me. I started back, feeling my way with my cane, when I heard a door close. I stopped.

“Hi there,” a voice said.

“How about a lift?” I asked.

“I guess that depends where you’re headed,” he replied.

“Somewhere south,” I replied. “I want to be out of here before the snow sets in.”

“I’m headed that way, if you don’t mind riding in a truck,” he said. “I’d welcome the company.”

“I’d welcome the ride,” I said as I stuck out my hand. “I’m Sandra. Sandra Goodmore.”

“My name is Bill Blackwood,” he said as he shook my hand firmly. His hands felt callused but not rough. He led me back to the passenger’s door and opened it. I folded up my cane and felt around for the step. I found it; then I felt around for a grab rail. His hand guided mine to the rail. I pulled myself up and felt for the seat. I found the seat and crawled up in it. I turned around and sat down before I took off my backpack.

“You can put your backpack back in the sleeper if you want,” Bill said.

“I’ll just hold it,” I said. “It’s my security blanket.”

He closed the door. I sat there as he got in his side. “You need to buckle up,” he said as he released the brakes. I felt around for the seatbelt. I found it and buckled myself in as we started moving. The catch was pretty hard to work, and I had a tough time getting it fastened.

He shifted several gears as we started.

“This is my first time riding in a big truck,” I said. “Have you been driving long?”

“I been driving for a little over ten years. This was my first job out of high school. I love driving, even though sometimes I wish I didn’t have a load and could just drive wherever I wanted,” he said. “Just where south are you headed?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I guess wherever the wind blows me. I just don’t want to spend another winter up north. I’m just trying to find a place that’s warm. I don’t need a place with a great view.”

“How long have you been blind?” he asked cautiously.

“A little over two years now,” I replied. “But is seems like forever. Time goes by slowly when you’re blind.”

“How did you lose your eyesight?”

“I was in the Army and assigned to a laser lab at a research facility. I was in the wrong place when the laser fired, and I didn’t have my safety goggles on. There was the brightest flash that I’d ever seen followed by millions of colored lights. They quickly faded and everything went black. That was the last thing that I ever saw. The flash burst most of the blood vessels in my eyes and was terribly painful. Within days they began to calcify. My pupils turned white first, then my irises began to lose their color and turn white too. That continued until they are like they are now. I have absolutely no hope of ever seeing again.”

“That’s a bummer,” he replied.

“That’s the way life is. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose,” I said. “When it comes to eyesight, I lost it all, big time. I’ve always had poor eyesight and wore glasses or contacts most of my life. Now I’m just a twenty-three-year old virgin poking my way around in the total darkness with a stick.”

“If you’re totally blind, why do you wear those glasses?” he asked.

“Well, my eyes look like this,” I said as took off my glasses and turned toward him.

“These eyes are completely calcified as if they were bone,” I said as I tapped one of my eyes with my fingernail. “I chose these glasses because they aren’t totally dark like a lot of blind people wear, but they still hide the way my eyes look.”

“You don’t look that bad,” he said. “You don’t need to wear them on my account.”

“Thanks. You’re sweet,” I said. I left my glasses off.

We drove for several hours with just general light conversation. I really did enjoy his company. He seemed like the kind of guy that I could go for. I started to get sleepy and began to nod off.

“You can stretch out in the sleeper if you want to take a nap,” he said.

I decided to accept his offer. I unfastened my seat belt and felt my way to the back between the seats. I took my backpack with me. I took off my jacket and put it over me when I stretched out on the bunk. I was surprised how big and comfortable it was and also how relaxing the motion of the truck movement was. I was soon asleep.

When I awoke, we were not moving but the motor was still running. A blanket was over me.

“Bill, where are we?” I asked.

There was no answer, only the sound of the motor running. I felt around the driver’s seat, and Bill was not there. I put on my jacket, then took my backpack and felt my way between seats and got into the passenger seat. Feeling around, I found my blind girl glasses and put them on. I opened the door and was met by the sounds of other trucks running. I climbed down out of the big rig and opened my cane. I felt my way to the front of the truck and the sound of all the other trucks running was coming from everywhere. I thought we were probably at a truck stop.

“Is anyone around?” I called.

There was no response, only the drone of what sounded like a million trucks idling. They seemed to be lined up in several rows. I stuck out my cane and started across out into the open. I was on pavement, and it all felt the same.

There were no curbs or clues of any kind, just a sea of pavement. The further I went, the quieter it got until the noise of the trucks running was behind me. I still hadn’t come to the edge of the pavement. I kept going. I finally came to the edge of the pavement. I turned and listened closely to the sounds of the trucks running. Off to my left seemed to be silence, while off to my right seemed to have more activity. I started off in that direction. The sounds of trucks running increased again. I heard someone calling my name and stopped to listen.

“Sandra, over this way,” the voice called again.

I started in the direction of the voice. The voice was stronger when he said, “A little more to the left.”

I recognized it as Bill’s voice. “Where are you Bill?” I called.

He surprised me when he touched my shoulder and said: “I’m right here. Where were you going?”

“I was trying to find you,” I replied. “I figured out that we were at a truck stop. A big truck stop.”

“I had to get fuel and use the restroom. You were asleep, so I let you sleep,” he said. “Are you hungry?”

“Yes, I’m starved,” I replied. “I need to use the restroom too.”

I took his arm, and he led me into the building. It sounded busy. He led me back to the restroom door and said: “When you come back out, take a right down this hall. I’ll wait for you in the coffee shop.”

I went into the restroom. It had the strong odor that all public rest rooms have. I felt my way around and found the sinks and then the toilet stalls. The first one was empty so I used it. I came back out of the stall and found the sinks again. I washed my hands and went in search of the towels. I found the empty dispenser. I just shook my hands off and wiped them on my blue jeans. I found my way into the hallway again and used my cane when I turned to the right. The hallway ended, and I was standing in what smelled like a restaurant.

“Over here to your left,” Bill’s voice said.

I started off toward his voice. His arm grabbed mine as I walked past. “Why don’t you sit in that seat?” he said.

“Thanks for waiting for me,” I said as I sat down and folded my cane and put my backpack by my feet.

“No problem,” he said. “What are you hungry for?”

“Food,” I replied.

“Do you want me to read you the menu?” he asked kindly.

“No, everything is fried anyway. I’ll have a plain cheeseburger and some fries.”

The waitress came by and took our order.

“How far have we come?” I asked.

“We’ve come about three hundred miles since I picked you up,” he replied. “We’re making good time.”

“Are we near any city?” I asked.

“No, there won’t be another one for a couple of hundred miles,” he said. “We’re starting up into the mountains.”

Our food came. I quickly devoured mine and so did Bill. The waitress came by and refilled our coffee and left the check.

“What’s our next stop?” I asked.

“I need to take my mandatory rest period soon,” he said. “I usually stop about fifty miles up the road at a nice little rest stop.”

“Why don’t you let me catch the check?” I offered. “I have money.”

“No, I’ll get it,” he said. “I need to make up for leaving you alone, and besides, I enjoy your company. You can buy breakfast.”

We got up. He started for the cash register. My feet were tangled in my backpack straps, and I fell sprawling across the restaurant floor. I felt like a fool.

Bill picked me up and said, “Are you all right?”

“I’m OK. I didn’t see my backpack,” I said. “I feel like a klutz.”

He handed me my backpack and cane. I slipped the backpack on one shoulder and opened my cane. I held his arm as we went to the cash register. He paid the check, and we walked outside. All the trucks were still running, and it was getting chilly. I continued to hold onto his arm and use my cane too as we walked across the huge expanse of pavement.

“It’s a good thing you found me,” I said. “I don’t think I ever could have found your truck again.”

“I’m glad I did too,” he replied. “I like your spunk.”

We got to the truck, and he opened the door for me. I crawled up to my seat, and he shut the door. I had my seat belt fastened by the time he got in. He released the brakes and put it in gear. I put my backpack behind my seat as we started to move.

“Is anything coming?” he joked.

“I didn’t see anything,” I joked back.

We pulled out onto the highway and picked up speed. He shifted the big rig like it was second nature to him.

“I sure do admire your courage,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“A lot of people with disabilities just sit around. You’re out for an adventure.”

“I don’t consider myself disabled. I just consider myself unable to see. My mom considers me disabled,” I replied. “You have to take what life dishes out and deal with it. I’ve always wanted to travel, and now I am. I only wish I could look at the scenery. I always enjoyed the mountains.”

“They are beautiful, but they can be treacherous this time of year. Especially if we get an early snow.”

We drove for a little over an hour. Bill shifted a lot as we went uphill. He described the scenery for me as we went along. Bill slowed the truck, and we pulled off the road.

“The long-haul trucker rules say that I need to sleep for a while,” he said. “We’re at a rest stop. The bathroom is right straight in front of us. We are the only truck in here. The cars are on the other side of the restroom. If you want to sleep, you can share the bunk with me. I’ll behave myself.”

“I’m not sleepy. I’ll read my book,” I said.

I felt him getting in the sleeper and settling down. The big truck was still running. I got my Walkman out of my backpack and turned on the tape, then settled back and listened to the story.

After a while, I needed to use the bathroom. I turned off the Walkman and took the earphones off. Bill was sawing logs in the sleeper. I found my cane and opened the door. I still had my coat on, but decided to leave the backpack in the truck. I climbed down and opened my cane. It was really cold, and it felt like it was starting to snow. I could hear another truck running now. I felt the fender of the truck to get my bearings and started across the parking lot. After a brief bit of cane tapping, I found the curb and sidewalk. The sidewalk was wide enough for me to be able to feel both the curb and the grass. I turned to the right and began to find my way down the sidewalk. I thought that I had missed the sidewalk to the restroom. My suspicions were confirmed when I reached the end of the sidewalk. I turned around and went back in the direction from which I came. I heard a what sounded like a diesel pickup pull up and stop over on the other drive. I finally found the sidewalk to the building. I went up the sidewalk and found the building. I felt around on the building trying to find the woman’s sign.

“Do you need some help?” a deep male voice said.

“Can you direct me to the woman’s side?” I asked.

“Off to your left,” he said.

“Thank you,” I replied as I started feeling my way to the door. I went inside. It was a cavernous sounding place. I tapped and felt my way to the toilet stalls and went in. I sat down. While I was sitting there, I heard the diesel pickup pull out. I finished and left the stall. I felt my way over to the sinks. They only had cold water. I washed my hands and felt around trying to find paper towels. I found an electric dryer instead. I pushed the button and the roar in the cavernous sounding room was almost defining. I rubbed my hands together under the dryer until it shut off. Using my cane again, I found the door and worked my way around the outside of the building.

I tapped my way down the walk to the side curb. I listened for Bill’s truck, then started across the pavement. I had taken two steps when someone grabbed my cane and yanked it out of my hand. I screamed when I heard it hit the ground. I was pushed across a smooth seat of what I thought was a pickup truck.

“Leave me alone!” I screamed.

Someone pushed me further and got in. I heard the door slam and the diesel engine start.

“Bill, help me!” I screamed.

We started moving and making a turn.

“Let me out of here,” I demanded. “What are you doing?”

“We’re going for a little ride,” the deep voice said as we gained speed. “Just shut up and enjoy the ride.”

“Stop right now,” I demanded.

My demand was met by a hard slap across the face. I started to cry and was met by another slap. My blind girl glasses went flying somewhere. Soon we slowed and made a hard turn. We were on a gravel road. We made several turns, and it felt like we were slipping or sliding. We kept going for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, we stopped moving but the wheels were still spinning. He shut the diesel engine off.

It was all quiet. I felt for the door handle, and he pulled my hand away.

“It’s cold out there,” he said as he pulled my jacket off.

“Please don’t hurt me,” I sobbed. “I’m blind for Pete’s sake. Please don’t hurt me.”

Silently he pulled off my tee-shirt. I held my hands across my breasts. He unfastened my bra, and with my hands still crossed across my breasts, I held onto the bra. He started to unfasten my blue jeans next, and when I moved my hand to try and stop him, he took my bra.

“Damn it, leave me alone,” I sobbed.

He slapped me again, hard. I reflexively put my hands to my face, and he finished unzipping my blue jeans. I tried to kick him, but he grabbed my foot and quickly pulled off my shoe and sock. I tried to squirm away, but he grabbed my other foot and quickly pulled off my other shoe and sock. I kicked at him with my free foot. I connected a couple of times. He was between my spread legs and had me sideways on the seat. He began pulling my blue jeans and panties down together. I struggled to get away and banged my head on the window. He pulled my blue jeans completely off.

I was now completely nude.

I kicked at him and tried to hit him. I was met by another hard slap across the face. He lay on top of me across the seat. His hands were on my breasts. They were very rough and felt dirty. He began kissing me. He had a rough beard. He tried French kissing me. I clinched my teeth. He sat up, and I thought that he was removing his clothes. I found the door handle. I opened the door and managed to get out of the pickup. I was standing on snow. I started blindly running without knowing where I was going at all and tripped over something and fell and rolled several times. The snow was cold as I lay there trying to get up. Totally disoriented but knowing that I need to get away, I started running again and ran into the pickup. I felt my way along the side and started running toward what I thought was further up the road. I ran into a solid rock wall. I felt around trying to find a way around the rock. There was none; it was like I had run into a box canyon.

Suddenly, without warning, he grabbed me and threw me to the ground. The snow was cold. I tried to get up, but he was on top of me. I tried to roll over, but he grabbed my wrists and held me down.

“I’ve enjoyed watching you running around all blind without the foggiest idea in hell where you were going,” he snarled.

“Up yours,” I snapped back as I struggled to break his grasp.

He started to French kiss me again. This time, I let him, and when he had his tongue in my mouth, I bit down hard. He tried to jerk back, but I kept biting. I let go when he hit me in the stomach. He howled and cussed as he rolled off of me. I think he stood up and went back to the pickup because I heard the door slam closed. In a moment, the diesel pickup started and I heard it backing away. I realized that he was leaving me out here. I began walking rapidly and then running toward the sound of the pickup. I stumbled and fell headfirst into the snow. The sound of the pickup was gone.

I knew the trouble that I was in, all alone, out somewhere where no one knew where I was. I thought of home and how I wished that I was still there. About Mom and Dad and Dottie, and that I hadn’t even had the guts to say goodbye. I thought about Bill and how kind he had been to me, the kind of person that I’d always dreamed about for a husband. I thought of the three million dollars and how I wanted whoever found it to share it with Mom and Dad. I crawled around trying to find my bearings. I was totally disoriented and cold.

I stood up and, with my arms out stretched, started walking. I thought it was in the direction that pickup noise had come from, but I wasn’t sure. I was still totally disoriented and kept running into things. There were now no sounds at all. The snow muffled the sounds even more. I was all alone, nude, and freezing cold. I began to shiver, one of the first signs of hypothermia. I had absolutely no idea where I was. As I thought of my predicament and the possibility of being out here all alone and freezing to death, I began to cry.

“Help me!” I yelled. “My God, somebody, please help me. I’m blind and all alone.”

Only silence and the faint whisper of the wind answered my call. I began to shiver almost uncontrollably.

“Is anyone out there? Help me,” I called again.

Still no answer. Still crying and shivering, I began walking through the snow. I could still feel my feet, but now they were numb. I realized then that if I didn’t get help real soon, I could lose my feet to frostbite even if I was rescued in time to save my life.

“Help me please!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.

I prayed for an answer as I listened intently. I only heard my echo from way in the distance. I ran into a big rock and stubbed my toe. It hurt like hell, but I knew that if I sat down I would die of exposure right there.

“Hello. Is anyone there? I need help,” I yelled.

A faint answer came back. It was garbled a little, but it was an answer.

“I’m up here,” I yelled.

“I’m coming” is all I could make out of the reply, but that was enough to buoy my spirits.

“I’m here. Over here,” I yelled. “I need help. I’m lost.”

“Keep yelling so I can find you,” the voice replied, more strongly now.

I kept yelling and trying to move in the direction that I thought the voice was coming from.

“I’m up here,” I yelled one more time. “I blind and I’m lost.”

“I’ll be right there Sandra,” the voice, now very strong, responded.

“Bill, I’m over here,” I yelled. “I’m over here. Please hurry.”

“I’m here Sandra,” he said.

I jumped when his hand touched me. I threw my arms around him, and we embraced with a very large kiss.

“Boy, are you a sight for sore eyes,” I said.

“We need to get you warmed up,” he said. “Can you walk?”

“Yes, but I’m freezing to death. I can still feel my feet, but they’re numb,” I replied.

He put his coat over my shoulders.

“I’ll carry you back to the truck,” he said. “It’s down the hill about two miles. Let me open my shirt. That should get you some of my body warmth.”

He picked me up in his arms. I tried to drape the coat over the both of us to conserve as much body heat as possible. He started carrying me down the hill cradled in his strong arms. I felt safe there. He was winded when we stopped to rest. He put my freezing cold feet on his chest while we rested.

“How much further,” I asked.

“We’re about halfway there,” he said. “Are you ready to go?”

“You bet,” I said. “Would it be easier to give me a piggy back ride?”

“It probably would, but it wouldn’t be as romantic,” he replied.

“We can be romantic when we get back to the truck,” I said.

“OK, have it your way,” he said. “Let me turn my shirt around so you can put those nice looking breasts of yours against my back.”

“Good, you noticed,” I replied.

He turned his shirt around and picked me up piggy-back style. I had his coat on and the front open for skin-to-skin contact. Before I knew it, we were back to the truck. It was still running. He opened the door and helped me in, then crawled up behind me. The cab was warm as toast.

“Get in the bunk and covered up while I get undressed,” he said.

I didn’t argue. I got in the bunk, and he was soon snuggling around me. We tried to get as much skin contact as possible.

“Bill, how did you know where I was?” I shivered.

“I wasn’t completely asleep when I heard you scream back at the rest area,” he recounted. “I heard the guy’s pickup pull out, and I saw your cane lying in the road. I got in the driver’s seat and did my best to follow him. Luckily, I saw him turn off or I would still be out on the highway looking. I followed him as far as I could go, then I blocked the road with the rig. I got out and started following his pickup tracks in the snow. I saw the pickup coming down the hill. I knew that you were still up there when I didn’t see you in the pickup. As cold as it is, I knew that you would probably freeze to death if I didn’t get to you quickly.”

“Bill, I’m so thankful that you saved me. I owe you my life,” I said.

“I’m just happy that we’re back together,” he said. “I sure do like your company.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll stick with you for a while,” I said. “That is, if you’ll have me.”

“You’re welcome to stay with me for as long as you can put up with this little sleeper cab,” he said.

“I don’t mind,” I said. “I can’t see it anyway.”

“I do wish you could see,” he replied softly. “I’d love to show you the country.”

“You and I both know I never will,” I said remorsefully. “You’ll have to describe it to me.”

“I’ll do that for sure,” he replied.

“I hope my backpack is still here,” I said.

“Yes. I put it here in the sleeper before I started up the hill,” he replied. “Here it is.”

I sat up and opened it. I took out the package.

“You saved my life, and I want to share the contents of this package with you,” I said.

I began to carefully unwrap the package. When I got it open, I said. “Well?”

“Why are you carrying around pieces of newspaper?” he said solemnly.

“No, it can’t be,” I cried. “It is money, isn’t it?”

“No, just newspaper,” he replied. “Thanks for sharing.”

I lay back and begin to cry. “That was supposed to be three million dollars. It was my way out. All it is, is newspaper?”

After he let me cry for a minute, he said: “I can’t keep this up. The money is real. These are thousand dollar bills.”

“I knew it. I just knew it,” I put my arms around him and kissed him passionately. He kissed me back just as passionately. “One thing though partner, we share the bed on your rest breaks, and I’m not going to let you get any sleep.”

“Promises, promises,” he replied.

“By the way, I’m a virgin now, and I don’t want to be one in the morning.”

“It already is morning,” he said. “The sun has been up for about two hours now.”

“That doesn’t count,” I said. “I didn’t see it,” I said as we began passionate foreplay and exploring each other’s body. Just as I had hoped, one thing led to another, and when we finished, I was no longer a virgin. It felt as wonderful as I had always dreamed it would.

When the rest break was over, we both got dressed. Bill went over to the pickup, which was still blocked in by the big rig, and retrieved my clothes that my assailant had stripped off of me. I put on my shoes and blind girl glasses. I also put the package back into my backpack.

“What are we going to do about your friend?” Bill asked.

“I don’t know,” I replied. “We sure can’t go to the police and risk them finding out about the money. I can’t give them a description either. The only thing I could recognize is his voice.”

“I have an idea that is sure to teach him a lesson,” he said. “Let me back the rig up a little.”

I heard the brakes release and felt us moving backward. Soon we stopped.

“Put your coat on and get out,” he said.

I heard him open and close his door. He was no longer in the cab with me. I put on my jacket and opened the door and climbed down out of the big rig. I felt my way around to the front of the truck.

“Bill, where are you?” I called.

“Just stay right there for a minute,” he said. “I’ll be right there.”

My feet were getting cold as I stood there in the snow. Soon Bill touched my hand. There was a strong smell of diesel.

“Let’s go,” he said, holding my hand.

I held his hand and instinctively held out the other trying to feel for anything as we began walking. My hand found the pickup.

“Is this a very nice pickup?” I asked.

“Yes. He paid a lot for it,” Bill replied. “It has a nice paint job and a lot of chrome accessories.”

I heard him open the door to the cab. He put a can of what smelled like diesel oil in my hand.

“Here, dump the diesel all around the inside of his cab,” he said.

I found great delight in pouring the diesel all over the inside of my assailant’s pickup truck.

“You need to get back out of the way now,” Bill instructed.

I felt my way back in the direction from which we came until I couldn’t feel the pickup any longer. I stopped and heard a loud whoosh and felt the heat from the fire that Bill had started in the cab. He took my hand as we walked back to the truck. He opened my door, and I crawled up in the cab of the big rig. He got in the driver’s seat.

“I wish I could see his pickup burning,” I said.

“I wish you could too,” Bill replied. “That nice pickup is only going to be worth scrap metal. The fire is getting hot, and it’s billowing a lot of black smoke.”

 He began the long slow task of backing the big rig down the narrow road.

“I didn’t realize how far I had driven,” he said.

He found a spot wide enough to turn the big rig. After several back and fourth motions, he had the truck aimed the other way.

“Is there any sign of my attacker?” I asked.

“I saw his footprints back there in the snow,” he said. “We’re out of the snow and I can’t see his footprints anymore. What do you want to do if we find him?”

“Run over the son-of-a-bitch,” I replied. “But if we don’t find him, at least he’s going to be on foot for a while.”

We didn’t find him, and soon we were back to the highway.

“Do you want me to go back and get your cane?” Bill asked.

“No that’s all right. We can afford a new one,” I said. “Someone has probably taken it by now anyway. You’ll just have to lead me around.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” he replied.

“Bill, have I told you how wonderful you are and how much I like you?” I said.

“I believe that you adequately expressed it a little while ago,” Bill responded as he started the big rig rolling again.

“We need to decide what we’re going to do with all that money,” I said. “We just can’t start spending bills that big. People would get suspicious in a hurry.”

“I’ve been thinking about that too,” he said. “I went to high school with a guy who’s now a lawyer. He works for some, shall we say, less than honest folks. Maybe he might have an idea or has some connections to get it cleaned up.”

“Where is he located?” I asked.

“Jerry happens to have an office in the very city we’re headed for,” Bill replied.

“Let’s call and set up an appointment,” I said.

“OK. We can use the cell phone just as soon as we break out of the mountains,” he replied. “There’s an address book in the glove box. Why don’t you look up his number?”

“Right,” I said. “I’ll try to find the book. But you’ll have to look up the number. I can’t see it in this light.”

“Sandra, the sun is coming in the front windshield,” he joked.

“That’s what I said,” I joked back with a big smile. “The sun is in my eyes.”

I could tell when we got out of the mountains, the engine sounded different. I handed him the book. I heard him dialing the cell phone. He was able to get an appointment for the day we were scheduled to be there.

“Can I use the phone to call my Mom?” I asked. “I’m supposed to be back home soon.”

“Sure. Do you want me to dial it for you?” Bill offered.

“That’s OK. I know how to use cell phones,” I said. “It was part of my mobility training.”

He put the cell phone in my hand, and I called home. It rang and Mom answered.

—Hello, Mom.

—Sandra, is that you? What’s wrong?

—Nothing is wrong Mom. I just won’t be home for a while.

—I won’t wait supper then.

—No mom. I won’t be back until next summer.

—Sandra, what do you mean next summer?

—I met a good friend, and he offered me a ride in his sixteen wheeler.

—Where are you going?

—We’re headed south. I’m going to stay with him at least until he heads north.

—Where will you stay?

—He has a great big sleeper cab. There’s plenty of room for both of us.

—I’m not so sure about this.

—Mom, I’m an adult. I can take care of myself. Lots of girls do this.

—But those girls aren’t blind.

—That’s OK. Bill is great at describing the scenery and holding my hand.

—You be careful then.

—I will Mom. I’ll send you a little surprise in the mail.

—What is it?

—It won’t be a surprise then. I want you and Daddy to enjoy it. I’ll call again soon.

—Be careful dear.

—By Mom. I love you.

I turned off the cell phone and followed the cord with my hand down to cradle. I hung the phone up.

“Well what’s the surprise going to be?” Bill asked.

“I’m going to send them some of the money,” I said.

“I think that’s a great idea,” he replied. “You have more than enough spending money.”

“I know,” I said.

He said. “Besides, we have to see what Jerry can do for us. If he gets creative, he can save us a bundle in taxes. We’ll need a good clean cash flow to keep us out of trouble with the IRS.”

“It was government money anyway, I sure as hell don’t want to give it back to them.”

“Just where did that money come from anyway?”

“Some guys held up an armored car. They spent a night at our inn and left the package for me to mail when I went to town. One of them gave me fifty dollars to do it. They were all killed by the police during a shootout. A police officer came by the inn and asked if they had been there. I told them I hadn’t seen anyone, which of course I hadn’t. I figured the money was in the package and that they weren’t going to need it now. I put it in my backpack, and you picked me up.”

“So it’s stolen money?” he asked.

“Well kind of, but the owners are dead.”

“What about the armored car company and their insurance company?”

“What about them?” I replied. “Those rip-off bastards only gave me ten thousand for losing my sight. Don’t you think I deserve a little more? Like three million.”

“When you put it that way, yes,” he said. “But it’s still stealing.”

“That’s why we need your friend Jerry,” I replied. “He should know how to handle the situation.”

“Oh, I’m sure he does. We’ll find out tomorrow,” he said. “Are you ready for breakfast?”

“I can eat anytime,” I replied. “It’s my turn to buy.”

He slowed down and pulled into a large parking lot. He parked the truck, and I had the backpack when we got out. I felt my way around to the front of the truck. Bill took my hand, and we went into the restaurant. We went down the hall to the restrooms. We both used them. Bill was waiting there for me as I came feeling my way out of the restroom. He put his arm around me as we found a booth. I took off the backpack before I sat down. I put it on the seat between me and the aisle so that I wouldn’t forget it. He sat directly across from me. The waitress brought us both menus.

“What do you suggest?” I said, holding the menu as if to read it.

“You goof,” he said with a chuckle. “The waffles are really good here. I’m having mine with strawberries.”

“I’ll do the same,” I replied.

The waitress came and took our order. His hand reached out and touched mine as I was looking around the table.

“Are you enjoying the adventure?” he asked softly.

“For the most part, yes,” I replied. “We can leave out the part where I was kidnapped and left to die of exposure. I’m really happy that you picked me up. You’re the nicest man I’ve ever met.”

“Thank you for the compliment,” he replied. “You’re a very special person. I’m glad you came into my life, and I want you to stay with me.”

“Oh, I do want to stay with you, and I will if you’ll have a poor little blind girl tagging along.”

“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it,” he said. “You don’t know how scared I was of losing you back there. I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you.”

The waitress brought our food. I had Bill cut my waffle into bite size pieces for me. He was right; they were delicious. When we finished, the waitress cleared our dishes and left the check. He told me how much it was, and I got the money out of my wallet.

“How do you know which bill is which?” he asked.

“I know by the way I fold them and where they are in my wallet what the denominations are,” I replied.

I gave the money to Bill and put my wallet back in the backpack. I slid out of the booth and put the backpack on. I felt around for Bill, but he was gone. He must have seen me feeling around for him.

“I’m over here Sandra,” he said.

I started walking in the direction of his voice. I found him without mishap. He led me outside and held my hand as we walked back to the truck. He opened my door, and I crawled up in the cab. I put the backpack behind the seat. He got in the driver’s side, and we started off.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We stopped for lunch at a little restaurant that was near a little stream. We sat along the bank for a while so I could hear the water. By suppertime, we were approaching the city. We pulled into a truck plaza and refueled, then pulled into the lot for an overnight rest period after dinner.

Even though it was an uneventful day, it was a wonderful day because I was able to spend it with Bill. Sex that night was better than the night before. We were both more relaxed, but more passionate. Morning came all too soon.

We had breakfast the next morning at the truck plaza. It’s amazing how all truck-stop food tastes the same. Before we left the restaurant, Bill looked up the address for the Lighthouse for the Blind and got the address. We got in the truck and pulled out of the truck plaza. He drove over to the factory where we were to deliver the trailer. Bill backed into the space and unhooked the trailer that had been following us all this time. I went with Bill while he dealt with the dispatcher. He had a load for us in three days. We got back into the truck without the trailer. The rig seemed to have a lot more pickup than it did loaded. We drove over to the Lighthouse for the Blind and finally found a parking place for the truck.

When I got out of the cab, the city noise was almost frightening. This was my first time in the city since the accident that blinded and marooned me in this world of endless darkness. There were so many sounds that it was difficult to tell which direction they were coming from. I stood there frozen, holding onto the grab rail until Bill took my hand. We walked several blocks to get to the store. Bill opened the door and helped me inside. Once the door closed, it was much better.

“Can I help you?” the clerk asked. I guessed her to be in her mid teens.

“Yes, I need a new cane,” I said. “I lost my old one.”

“Right this way,” she said. “I’m over here.”

I felt my way along the display case to the end.

“Which kind did you have in mind, fixed or folding?” she asked.

“I have a fixed at home, and I like it better than the folding, but the folding is much easier in the rig.”

“Why don’t you get one of each?” Bill said. “We have room in the rig for the fixed.”

“OK, I’ll take one of each,” I said. “How about books on tape?”

“Here is a list of titles we have in stock. We can order anything that you may want,” she said.

She must have tried handing me the list, because Bill took it from her and put it in my hand. It was in Braille, and I was having a difficult time reading it.

“Can I take this with me and decide?” I asked.

“Certainly.”

“I’m a little rusty on my Braille. Do you have any good level-one books?” I asked.

“Let me suggest a good one. It’s called ‘Basic Living Skills,’ ” she said. “Not only do you get to brush up on your Braille, but you can read about your living skills at the same time.”

“I’ll take it too,” I said. “That will be all.”

She told me the amount, and Bill retrieved my wallet from my backpack. I paid her, and she gave me change back. I put the folding currency back in my wallet. Bill put my wallet back in my backpack. She thanked us and we left.

Bill carried the package and held my hand while I tried out my new cane. It was going to be fine. When we got back to the rig, he unlocked the door and held my new cane while I got in.

“I’m putting your new cane behind the seats,” he said before he closed the door.

He got in and started the rig. We pulled out into traffic and drove across town to Jerry’s office building. Luckily, there was an open space right in front of the building. I got out of the cab and unfolded my new cane while I waited for Bill. He took my hand, and we went inside the office building. We rode the elevator to the thirty-sixth floor; that was a new blind girl experience. We got out of the elevator and found Jerry’s office. We opened the door and went in.

“May I help you?” the receptionist said in such a cold voice that it sounded like she was in a freezer.

“We have an appointment with Jerry Blake. My name is Bill Blackwood.”

“Yes. He’s expecting you. Right this way,” she said.

It sounded like she had extremely high heels by the way she walked. We followed her and went into Jerry’s office. Jerry and Bill greeted each other like long lost brothers. They talked very briefly before Bill interrupted and said, “Jerry, this is Sandra.”

“Nice to meet you,” he said.

“Nice to meet you too,” I replied as I blindly stuck out my hand. He shook it limply.

“Won’t you have a seat?” he said.

I felt around for one and removed the backpack before I sat down.

“Now what can I do for you?” he asked.

“I’ve recently come into what I consider to be a large sum of money. Anyway, a large sum for a blind girl from the sticks,” I said. “My goal is to find some way to deposit the money and not have the Feds know that I have it. I have it in cash and in thousand dollar bills.”

“Are the bills traceable?” he asked.

“No. They were on their way to be destroyed,” I said. “The serial numbers haven’t been recorded.”

“What did you have in mind for this money?” he asked.

“I don’t really know. That’s why we’re here with you now,” I replied. “Maybe an offshore account that we could draw from when we need it. Maybe have the offshore account invest the balance to get a good rate of return.”

“That sounds like you’ve thought this out,” he said. “I can set up an appointment with a very discrete banker. Do you need anything in smaller bills now for spending money?”

“How about two thousand?” I said. “How long will it take you to set it all up?”

“Let me call him and see when he can meet with you,” he said.

He picked up the phone and must have pressed a speed dial number because he almost instantly began talking.

“He can meet with you at ten tomorrow morning,” Jerry said. “Here is his bank’s address.”

“Is that the bank down by the embassies?” Bill asked.

“Yes. You’ll find out just how handy that is,” Jerry replied.

I opened the backpack and took out the package. Bill took the package and opened it. He took out what I assumed were two of the one thousand dollar bills and returned the package to me.

“Do you have a safe place to keep the package?” Bill asked.

“I can put it in my safe overnight if you’d like,” Jerry said.

“That sounds good to me,” Bill said.

“Let’s count this, and I can give you a receipt,” he said.

He got up and went over to a conference table and opened the package. Bill got up and went over to the table too. Jerry began to put the stacks of money out to be counted. It took about fifteen minutes, but he accounted for all three million. He came back to his desk and wrote out a receipt. He put the receipt in my hand.

“Bill, could you please read this?” I asked.

“It’s a receipt made out to you for three million dollars. Jerry has signed it,” Bill replied as he handed me the receipt back.

“Sorry Jerry, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but this is a lot of money to Bill and me,” I said. “We will probably never have this much money again, and I don’t want to screw it up with a little thing like being blind.”

“I take no offense,” Jerry replied as he handed me a sack of bills. “I would do the same if I were in your shoes. I have another client due in any moment, and I need to get this money in my safe. I’ll see you both tomorrow morning when you pick up the package.”

“I’ll be here,” I replied.

“I’ll be with her,” Bill chimed in. “Good to see you again Jerry.”

“Good to see you too,” Jerry replied. “I’m booked up this week, but next time you’re in town, let’s get together.”

I picked up my backpack. It was much lighter now. I took out my wallet and put the cash in it. I slipped the backpack on. Bill held my hand as we started for the door. Bill led me down the hall past the more than cool receptionist and into the hallway. We stopped, and I open my cane, then walked down the hall toward the elevator.

“Is there a place to sit down here?” I asked.

“Yes,” Bill replied. “There’s a bench right behind you.”

I felt my way over to the bench and sat down.

“What’s the matter?” Bill asked as I took my wallet out of the backpack.

“I want you to take a good look at the money that Jerry just gave us,” I said. “I don’t know what it is, but something isn’t right.”

Bill sat down beside me. I handed him one of the bills that Jerry had given me. “Well, what do you think?” I asked.

“It’s a nice new bill,” he replied.

“Look closely,” I urged. “The paper didn’t feel right.”

“I’ll be damned if you’re not right!” he exclaimed. “This is a counterfeit bill. Let me see some of the others.”

I handed him the wallet. I could feel him going through it.

“All the money that Jerry just gave us is counterfeit!” he exclaimed angrily. “Come on.”

We both stood up and headed back down the hall. I held tightly to Bill’s arm as we went back into the receptionist area.

“I’m sorry Mr. Blake . . . ,” the icy receptionist tried to say,

“Bullshit he is,” Bill bellowed as we pushed past her and into Jerry’s office. “All right asshole.”

“What’s the problem?” Jerry stammered.

“You gave us counterfeit money,” Bill bellowed.

I heard some scuffling and things falling on the floor.

“Let go of my tie. You’re choking me,” Jerry was just barely able to utter.

“I’ll let go when you give us the real cash and our package back,” Bill said loudly.

“OK, just relax buddy,” Jerry said. “I just got your cash out of the wrong drawer. Let go of me, and I’ll get you the real money.”

“Damn right you will,” Bill said.

Bill must have let go of him because I heard Jerry inhale deeply. Jerry moved around the room, and I heard a drawer open.

“This is what I meant to give you,” he said. “Look it over. It’s real.”

Bill handed me one of the bills. “What do you think?” he asked.

“It feels OK,” I replied. “How does it look?”

“I think it’s OK,” Bill said. “Now we’ll take our package before you pull a grand switch on us.”

“OK,” Jerry said. “Just a little mistake. There’s no need to get sore.”

I heard Jerry open the safe. He must have handed Bill the package because Bill said, “Thank you.”

Bill opened the top of my backpack and slid the package in it.

“Tell your banker friend to watch himself too,” Bill said “Here’s your counterfeit money.”

Bill took my hand and led me down the hall and into the corridor. Bill pushed the elevator call button.

“I’m impressed,” I said as we waited for the elevator. “Do you think that he’ll try anything else?”

“Well, he is a lawyer,” Bill said. “You really had to watch him in school.”

We got in the elevator. Bill let me read the Braille placard and push the button. We got out on the main floor and walked across the cavernous lobby. The revolving door was only large enough for one. I went first and waited for Bill. He soon was there and took my hand, and we walked back to the truck.

“What say we spend the night in a hotel down by the beach?” he said.

“OK, if you let me pay for the room,” I replied.

“That’s what I had in mind,” he joked as he started the engine. He let it warm up for a while and then pulled out into traffic. We drove out of town to a place that smelled like salt water. He stopped the rig and said, “How about the Ocean Front Hotel?”

“Sounds good to me,” I said. “I want a room with a view.”

I waited in the truck while Bill went in and registered. When he came back out, he said that he had gotten the room that we wanted. He moved the truck around to the place where they had told him to park the rig. We got out; I took my backpack and new fixed cane. I felt my way to the front of the rig while Bill locked up. I held his hand as we walked across the parking lot. He opened the door, and I felt my way into the hallway.

“I got us a ground floor room. It has a patio with direct beach access,” he said.

We started down the long and seemingly unending hallway. After passing fifteen doors, he stopped and unlocked the room. He held the door, and I felt my way inside.

“This is like most hotel rooms. This one has the bathroom off to the right as we walk in. Closets are off to your left. The bed area is straight ahead. The bed is on the right, TV on the left. We have a table and two chairs next to the sliding glass door that opens onto our deck,” he described.

“Let me explore for a while,” I said. “Where can we keep the package?”

“The sign on the door says that valuables should be kept in the hotel safe,” he said.

“That’s what we should probably do then,” I replied. “Why don’t you take the package down there while I look around?”

I opened my backpack and gave him the package. He left, and I began systematically going around the room and trying to memorize what I felt. I started with the bathroom, then the closet area, and finally the bedroom area. When Bill came back, he hung some of his clothes up while I explored. When I was through, I hung my clothes up to air out.

“Bill, I really need a shower,” I said.

“So do I,” Bill said. “Why don’t you go first?”

I found my way to the bathroom. I felt around until I found the soap. Only one little bottle was in the little basket with the soap. I assumed it was shampoo. I found the bath mat and spread it out, then found the towels and wash cloths. I undressed and started the water running. I stepped into the nice warm shower. The warm water cascading over my body felt wonderful.

I washed all over and shampooed my hair too. I got out and dried off and put on clean underwear. I walked out into the other room.

“Next,” I announced.

“You have a taker,” Bill said. He took me in his arms and kissed me passionately.

“So what do you want to do when you finish your shower?” I asked.

“How about a walk on the beach?” he replied.

“That would be fun,” I said. “I’ve never been to the ocean before.”

“Did you bring any shorts or cutoffs?” he asked.

“I have some cutoffs,” I replied. “Is that the uniform of the day?”

He went into the bathroom, and I soon heard water running. I found my clothes and put on a tank top with no bra and cutoffs.

I sat on one of the chairs and waited for Bill to finish. He was soon finished. He told me he was wearing just a tee shirt and cutoffs. We both were barefooted. I decided to leave my cane in the room. I had Bill’s hand to hold on to.

We walked out onto our little wooden deck and down onto a lawn that felt more like sand than grass. We walked down a little path and over a small sand dune. We came to some logs, and Bill helped me over them. When we were past the logs, we were on the beach.

The noise of the waves was almost deafening, and you had to talk loudly to be heard. I found some solace in the predictability of the waves. We stopped talking so that I could listen to the waves for a while.

We walked closer, and the sand felt damp. The closer we got, the wetter the sand became. We stopped just where the waves could run up on my ankles. I found that I could hear them coming.

We walked along the water’s edge for a long way. The sand was absolutely smooth. Bill sensed that something was wrong.

“Is there something you want to talk about?” he inquired.

“Is there a place to sit down?” I asked.

“There’s a log just up the beach,” he said. “Is there anything wrong?”

I held his hand tightly as we walked to the log and sat down. I started to cry. When I went to rub my eyes, my blind girl glasses fell off and onto the sand beneath me. I got down on my hands and knees and felt blindly around for them. I soon found them and returned to the log. Bill was sitting there too by this time.

“OK, tell me what’s wrong,” he said.

“It’s just everything,” I sobbed. “I have to trust everyone for almost everything. I have to trust my family, I have to trust you, and now I have to trust Jerry. I don’t know that I can give him my blind trust.”

“He’ll be OK,” he said. “Things will be fine.”

“That’s OK for you to say. You can see,” I snapped back.

“He’ll have everything arranged just the way you want it. You’ll see,” he replied.

“That’s just it. I won’t see!” I sobbed. “Bill, I want you to look very closely at my eyes and tell me what you see.”

“You have very different eyes. They remind me of my favorite white shooter I used to have when I was a kid and played marbles,” he said.

“They used to be brown. Does it ever look like I’ll be able to see out of these damn white eyes?” I demanded.

“Well, well,” he hesitated.

“Come on, damn it, now tell me,” I said. “I’m use to hearing it. The doctors have said it.”

“No, it doesn’t look like you’re ever going to see again through those completely clouded eyes,” he choked.

“Damn it, I’m blind. Blind!” I sobbed. “That’s what’s wrong. I don’t have eyes that work. I’ll be blind for the rest of my life. I’ll never see you. I’ll never be able to see the ocean or anything else. But worst of all, I have to trust everyone. Hell, I couldn’t even read the damn receipt that Jerry gave me.”

“We all have to trust,” Bill said. “It’s what every society is based on. You can’t change that. It’s something we all have to live with.”

“But it seems that I have to rely on blind trust more than others do,” I said. “A lot more.”

“Yes. You probably do,” he said. “I hope by now you know that you can trust me.”

“I know that, and I love you for that trust,” I said. “But what if you weren’t someone to be trusted? Like the bastard who tried to rape me and left me up on the mountain to freeze. Shit, if he had picked me up first, I don’t know where I’d be, hell, probably dead.”

“So what are you going to do about it?” he said sharply. “Do you want me to get up and leave and let you find your own way back?”

“Good grief no,” I said, clutching his arm. “I’ve lost my ability to see. I don’t want to lose you too. Oh No! Please don’t ever leave me!”

“Then damn it, pull yourself together,” he said. “Life’s a bitch, but you’ve got to cope. You can do it. You’re a beautiful and very intelligent woman. A gutsy woman that I am proud to have with me.”

I felt around for his face and gave him a kiss. A kiss that became very passionate. When we finished, I put my blind girl glasses back on and stood up. Bill stood up and took my hand. We walked back in the direction of the hotel. Bill helped me over the logs. We continued up the path and across the lawn to our deck. I sat on the deck in the warm afternoon sun. Bill took a nap in the hammock. I went back into the bathroom and washed my face.

I reflected on our conversation about trust. I still couldn’t put my full trust in Jerry after his little shenanigan. He was just too damn slick. When Bill awoke from his little cat nap, I apologized for my tantrum down on the beach.

We decided to go shopping. Before we went out, Bill helped me arrange the cash that Jerry had given me in my wallet so that I could tell denominations. I took my cane, and we walked down the long hallway to the shops that were in the lobby. I found a skirt that I liked the feel of and Bill approved of the color. I also found a blouse. Bill thought that they would make a good outfit. We also bought me some medium height heels and nylons. We went back to the room to change.

When we got back to the room, a bottle of champagne that Bill had ordered was waiting for us.

“What’s the occasion?” I asked.

“This will be our first night together in a real bed with sheets,” he replied.

“And I want to get you there just as soon as I can,” I replied before I kissed him.

We had a glass of champagne before we changed our clothes and went down to the restaurant for dinner. We had a cocktail before we ordered. Bill read the menu to me. We both decided on steak. When the waiter brought our food, Bill cut my steak for me and told me how the other food was arranged on my plate. After dinner, we went into the bar and listened to the music. Bill asked me to dance.

“I haven’t tried dancing since I’ve been blind,” I said. “I don’t know if I can.”

“It’s a slow one; let’s try,” he replied.

He led me out to the dance floor and held me in his strong arms. I quickly found that I could still dance just fine—especially now that I had the right person to dance with. We danced several more slow dances before I got up the courage to fast dance with him. That was fine too as we occasionally made contact, and the dance floor was not crowded.

I felt my watch. It was almost midnight. We decided to call it a night. Bill paid our tab, and we walked back to our room via the outside walk by the ocean.

We both got undressed and hung our clothes up. I was completely nude when I felt Bill, who was the same way. We held each other close as we engaged in a series of very passionate kisses and foreplay. We got into bed, and the kissing and foreplay continued. Our sex that evening was especially memorable, and we both drifted of to sleep.

We were both awakened by a violent shaking.

“Bill, what’s going on?” I screamed.

“Try to stay calm,” he said. “It’s an earthquake.”

“Is it safe in here?” I asked, clinging to him tightly.

“Probably not,” he said as the shaking subsided a little.

“What should we do?” I asked when the shaking stopped. “I’m scared.”

“We’re probably best off out in the truck,” he replied. “The lights are out, and it’s pitch black.”

“Let’s get dressed and go out there then,” I said as I pulled my wits together. “I bet that aftershocks will continue for quite a while.”

“But it’s pitch black,” he protested.

“Oh really, I hadn’t noticed,” I replied. I was now the leader. “Quit whining and get dressed.”

We got up and found our cutoffs and tee-shirts. We both put on shoes, and I found my cane. We went out into the still darkened hallway. I tapped with my cane, and Bill held onto my hand.

“This is pretty scary,” he said.

“Piece of cake. I do it every day,” I replied as we reached the outside of the building and the cool night air.

“Is there any light out here?” I asked.

“No, not a bit,” he replied. “The fog has rolled in, and all of the streetlights are out too.”

“The truck is this way,” I said.

I started tapping my way across the parking lot with Bill in tow. I came to the end of the parking lot without finding the truck. We turned to the right and followed the edge of the parking lot around until we came to the corner.

“Damn it. We missed it,” I said. “We need to go back the other way.”

“Are you sure we’re not lost?” Bill questioned.

“We’re not lost,” I said calmly. “The truck isn’t where I thought it was. Come on.”

We turned around and started back around the edge of the parking lot. We had just gone beyond the point where I thought we had found the edge of the parking lot, when we found the truck. We felt our way around to the passenger’s side. Bill unlocked the rig, and we both climbed up into the cab and then into the sleeper. We embraced as we lay there safe in our own little world of blackness. Sleep came quickly in our familiar surroundings.

In the morning, I could feel the warmth of the sun. Bill and I got up and went to the hotel to find out what kind of damage they had sustained. The place was pretty much a shambles. Bill told me things were strewn everywhere. I held tightly to Bill as we walked around and he alerted me to fallen objects. We went to our room, changed our clothes, then gathered up all of our belongings and took them back out to the truck. We then went back to the front desk to check out.

“We were concerned when we couldn’t find you last night after the quake,” the desk clerk said. “We checked all the rooms and yours was empty.”

“We spent the rest of the night in the sleeper in the truck,” Bill said.

“Good grief, it was pitch black with all of the power out,” he said. “How did you ever find your way out there? You couldn’t see a thing”

“I led the way. We found it with no problem,” I said proudly. “Welcome to my world.”

Bill squeezed my hand as a signal that I had gotten him good. We asked him for the package from the hotel safe. Bill went with him to retrieve it while I waited at the counter. When they came back, Bill handed me the package and then paid our bill. We walked back out to the truck. Bill opened my door, and I put my fixed cane behind the seats before I crawled up into the cab. I felt around and found my backpack. I emptied the clothes onto the bunk while Bill was getting the rig started and warmed up. I put the infamous package in the backpack and zipped it up. I got back into my seat and buckled in.

“Next stop, the bank,” Bill announced.

“I’m ready,” I replied. “Let’s go.”

He released the brakes and started the truck rolling. He soon had us back out on the highway and headed for the city. The traffic was a mess, both from usual highway conditions and last night’s earthquake. We finally found our way to the bank, but no parking places. We eventually found one about five blocks away. Bill parked the truck, and I got the backpack and my folding cane. I climbed down out of the cab and waited on the curb for Bill. I heard him shut his door and soon he was tenderly holding my hand. We walked toward the bank.

The bank had a revolving door, so I went through first, then waited briefly for Bill to take my hand again. We walked across the lobby to a receptionist.

“Mr. Condor please,” Bill said. “I believe he is expecting us.”

“Oh yes, Mr. Blake called yesterday,” she said pleasantly but with a definite Caribbean accent. “Yes, he is expecting you, right this way. Please excuse the mess; we’re still trying to clean up after the earthquake.”

I heard her get up from her chair. Bill led me by the hand as we followed her, or at least the scent of her perfume. She opened a door. Bill and I walked inside.

“Miss Goodmore and Mr. Blackwood, welcome. Please excuse our mess,” a kind sounding voice with a deep Caribbean accent said.

I blindly stretched out my hand, and he shook it firmly. “Nice to meet you Mr. Condor,” I said. “Please call me Sandra.”

“The pleasure is all mine Sandra. Won’t you please have a seat?” he said as he gently guided me to a chair.

I heard Bill sit down too; then Mr. Condor walked around his desk and sat down. Bill reached out and touched my hand.

“Mr. Blake filled me in on your wishes,” he said. “We should have no problem at all setting up an offshore account the way you wanted.”

“How will she draw out of the account?” Bill said.

“We will provide a debit card that will have the limit of the amount of the account.”

“How can I know what the balance will be?” I asked.

“We will send you a monthly statement,” Mr. Condor said. “We also have touch tone services available. When Mr. Blake told me that you were blind, I assumed that you would want to avail yourself of the service. You can also access any ATM in the world and get your balance as well as cash.”

“Thank you. You are very kind. I definitely will be needing it,” I replied. “What type of return on the investment can we expect?”

“With the way markets are currently running, about twenty percent tops and ten percent low,” Mr. Condor replied in his deep Caribbean accent. I felt completely at ease with him.

“What do we do next?” I asked.

“We have some paperwork to do and for you to sign,” he said. “Then we need to get the money out of the country.”

“This is to be a joint account,” I said. “Both Bill and myself.”

“Sandra,” Bill objected. “It’s your money.”

“No Bill, it’s our money,” I replied. “A joint account with right of survivorship. Please Mr. Condor.”

“As you wish,” he replied.

I heard him typing on his computer and a printer start. When the printer was finished, I think he handed a copy to Bill and read aloud the contents of the document setting up the account.

“It’s just the way he read it Sandra,” Bill said.

“Where do I sign?” I asked.

“I need to see the money first,” Mr. Condor said softly.

I unzipped my backpack and handed him the package. It sounded like he opened it at his desk. We both sat there while he counted it.

“We seem to be short by two thousand,” he said.

“That’s the two thousand that Jerry changed for us,” I replied.

“That’s right. I forgot about your spending cash,” Mr. Condor replied. “Mr. Blake was certainly sorry for the mix-up. You must have really gotten his attention.”

“I’m just happy that we were able to straighten out the little problem,” Bill said.

“Yes, Mr. Blake deals with a wide range of clients. Mistakes do happen,” Mr. Condor said as he typed into his computer again.

The printer started, and when it finished, he put the paper in front of me.

“I’ve set up the account to give you a two million, nine hundred and ninety eight thousand dollar balance. Sandra, I need your signature in two places. Here and here,” he said.

I scooted up the large desk, and Bill guided my hand to the point where I was to begin my signature. When I finished the first one, he guided my hand to the second spot.

“Bill, I will need your signature in both places below hers,” he said.

I heard and felt Bill signing the document.

“Now comes the tricky part,” Mr. Condor said. “We need to get the money out of the U.S., legally.”

“How do we do that?” Bill asked. “Customs is at every airport.”

“You don’t even have to leave the block,” he replied. “Our embassy is right next door. I would like you to take the backpack into the embassy. Take the elevator to the third floor, and I’ll meet you there in the elevator lobby. If anyone on the street asks, tell them that you are investigating a travel visa.”

“What about embassy security?” I asked.

“Just hand the guard this card, and no one will bother you,” he said. “In fact, they will be expecting you.”

He put the card in my hand, and the money back into the backpack. Bill and I both stood up. Bill handed me the backpack, and I put it on. Bill led me to the door, and we all walked out by the receptionist.

“Complete the paperwork and have the cards ready when we get back,” Mr. Condor softly instructed his secretary.

I stuck out my hand and said, “Thank you Mr. Condor.”

He shook my hand with firm enthusiasm and then shook Bill’s.

“I’ll meet you in ten minutes,” he said.

Bill held my hand, and I used my cane to get to the front door. I went through the revolving door first and then waited for Bill. We started down the street and quickly came to the embassy. Bill told me it was a four-story brick stucco building with a high iron fence all around. A guard was at the gate.

We walked up to the gate. I blindly stuck out the card in the direction that I sensed the guard was. The card was removed from my hand, and the guard quickly said, “You may enter.”

Bill led me through the gate and up to the front steps. We went up the front steps and into a cavernous sounding lobby. Bill led me over to the elevator that was stopped at the main floor. Bill pushed the button for the third floor. The elevator door closed and it began to slowly creak its way to the third floor. After what seemed like an eternity, the elevator stopped abruptly and the door creaked open. Bill led me out into the lobby.

“He’s not here yet,” Bill said. “There’s a bench on the other wall.”

We walked over and sat down.

“Bill, what’s your impression of Mr. Condor?” I asked. “Can we trust him?”

“I like the man and his laid back style,” Bill replied. “As to his intention on cheating us, only time will tell. I’m kind of glad that I roughed up Jerry. At least it got his attention for now. I don’t think Mr. Condor’s in to pain. What do you think?”

“I think that he’s a pretty straight shooter in a touchy business. I think he’ll be discreet and do well by us,” I replied. I heard someone coming down the hall.

“Good, you folks found it OK,” Mr. Condor said. “I’m sorry for the delay. Follow me.”

Bill and I stood up. Bill held my arm as we started down the corridor and into what sounded like a small room.

“Sandra, you are in a small conference room in the embassy,” Mr. Condor said. “We are legally out of the U.S. and in my country. You have successfully smuggled the money out of your country and into mine.”

“That’s pretty slick,” Bill said. “How do you get the money out of here?”

“My cousin Ramón is a diplomatic courier,” he replied softly. “He has complete diplomatic immunity and never has his luggage searched. He will be here soon.”

I put the backpack on the table. I heard it being opened and the money being taken out.

“Sandra, I’ve taken the money out of the backpack and am replacing it with two packages of copy machine paper, just in case anyone stops you,” he said. “I was delayed while we created your debit cards. Sandra, this one is yours, and Bill, this one is yours. We can consider your money safely deposited.”

“Thank you Mr. Condor,” Bill said as I felt him shake his hand.

I blindly stuck my hand out. Mr. Condor vigorously shook it. “Thank you, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you,” I said.

“The pleasure has been mine as well. It’s not every day that I get to deal with really nice young people,” he replied. “I want you to stop back by the bank in about two months and meet with me about what we are doing for you and how things are going with your account.”

“We will call you next time we are in town,” Bill said.

“Dinner will be on me,” Mr. Condor said.

“That’s a date,” I replied. “We’ll call and let you know when we’re coming.”

I felt blindly around and found my backpack. I put it on, then Bill took my arm and led me to the door. We walked into the corridor. I unfolded my cane, and we started down the corridor. We took the elevator to the main cavernous sounding lobby. We went out into the warmth of the day and started down the steps. We reached the bottom and walked down the walk and out through the gates.

We both took a deep breath as we started back in the direction of the truck. It was even further away now.

When we reached the truck, Bill unlocked my side. I gave him a very passionate kiss.

“We don’t have to pick up a load if you don’t want,” I said. “You know you don’t have to work anymore if you don’t want.”

“Let’s do one more load and talk about it,” he said. “I’m not sure that I’m ready to give up what I do. I really don’t mind doing this as long as you’re with me.”

“Just try and get rid of me,” I told him. “I’ve put my blind trust in you.”

E N D