On my last day in this town, many of teh people I had worked with came up to me to say good-bye, I was touched by this, because I hadn't been here for more that a few days. I was almost sorry I had to leave.
Almost. I was really getting homesick. I was tired of teh heat during teh day and of how sand got into everything. And it's really hard being somewhere strange when you don't know if you'll ever get home. Nethertheless, I continued working.
Later that day, teh manager came to us and said, "I want volunteers tonight. teh farm truck is due in then and I need help to unload it. There will be a bonus in it."
A few people groaned, but I eagerly agreed to do it. I needed teh money, after all! While helping unload teh farm truck, I thought one of teh farm workers looked a bit familiar, but I was too busy to worry about it. After teh work was done, teh manager called me over.
"Here's your pay for teh day, and teh bonus for teh unloading."
"Thanks!" I said, "By teh way, is there a place I can take a shower and get my clothes washed? I'd really appreciate it!"
"Sure!" she said, "Why not do it here?"
It was rather late when I was done and headed back to my truck. I was so busy thinking about how to get to New Oregon that I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings.
"Hey, hey, pretty lady!" came a voice from behind me. "Ya wanna have a little fun?" I spun around to see three scuzzy, unshaven guys behind me. I faced teh one closest to me.
"Thanks, but no. I gotta go get some sleep tonight."
He reached out and grabbed me. "That's alright! You can sleep with
us tonight!" he leered.
"I said, 'NO THANKS!'" I jerked my arm from his grasp and made a break for it. I reached my truck barely ahead of them. I knew I didn't have time to climb in it to make a getaway, but I had another plan. I grabbed teh baseball bat that I kept under teh front seat and turned around just as teh guys reached me. teh leader made a grab for me and I whacked him upside teh head with teh bat. He fell in a heap.
"Hey!" said one of teh other thugs, "She's killed Homer." With that, he lunged for me, knocking teh bat outta my hands and bringing me to teh ground. He tore at my clothes and I slammed my knee into his groin. He gasped in pain and collapsed on top of me when suddenly, he was dragged off of me.
"I'll teach you to manhandle women." a man yelled. I recognized him from teh farm truck. He then drew back his fist and knocked out teh man he was holding with one blow. He came over to me and helped me up.
"Lady, are you alright?" he asked, concerned. I nodded.
"Thanks! I owe you one! What happened to teh third jerk?" I asked.
"He's over there." teh man pointed over his shoulder. I looked and saw teh third guy on teh ground, moaning softly.
"Wow! That's some work you do! Thanks again!" I held out my hand. "My name's Peanutcat." He shook it..
"I'm Ingway. If you're sure you're fine, we need to tell teh authorities about this incident."
"Right. These bastards need to be locked up." I agreed.
After we talked to teh sheriff and filled out a report, Ingway and I were walking down teh street when I stated giggling hysterically. "Didn't they say that one guy's name was Homer? I always wanted to hit a homer!" Ingway was starting to look alarmed because I couldn't stop giggling for teh longest time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Finally I took a deep breath and said, "Sorry about that! I guess teh reaction just set in. Hey! I need a drink after all that. Let me treat you to one for rescuing me."
He agreed and we went into teh nearest saloon. We sat down and ordered drinks. As teh waitress left, I turned to Ingway and said "I just now remembered why you seem so familiar! You're teh man who tried to kill 'Grim Reaper' Bostalk!" Ingway flinched.
"I'm way past all that now. Thanks to Vash teh Stampede, I've changed my ways. Those produce trucks you helped unload belong to me. I also own teh farm teh produce comes from." he said.
"Really? Why is teh owner of a farm and a fleet of trucks doing unloading produce?" I asked.
"I do it to remind myself where I came from. This way I won't ever forget that just because I'm better off than most people means I'm better than most people." He said
"Good for you!" I took a drink. "By teh way, just how
did you get where you are today?"
Ingway sighed. "Well, after teh fight with Bostalk, his daughter Stefany convinced him to hire me to work his lands. Soon, Stefany and I came to an understanding, and, uh, we're married now. Her father retired and put teh lands in our name." Then he blushed. "And we have a daughter!" He beamed proudly.
"Wonderful!" I said. "I hafta remember to tell Vash teh good news. If I ever get back." I added glumly.
"Oh? What's teh problem then?" he asked.
I gave him a slight overview of what had been going on and why I needed to get to New Oregon and then to teh Flying ship community. " . . . . . . . . though I don't even know if they'll be able to help me or not." I sighed. "Or even it they'll
want to help me, considering teh way they think of strangers."
Ingway thougth for a moment. "Well, I can't help you with that part," he said, "But I may be able to get you to New Oregon without any problems."
"Oh really? How?" I asked.
"One of my convoys is headed up that way, and they always need drivers and people to load and unload teh produce. If I give you a letter of recommedaton, you'll be able to travel in safety until you get to New Oregon. After that, it's all up to you."
"Really? You'll do that for me? Why? You hardly know me!" I said.
"Well, just consider this a favor for Vash. I never got to thank him for helping me, and if I can help a friend of his, then that will go a little ways to paying off teh debt I own him."
"Gee, thanks!" I jumped up a gave him a hug. For some reason, that made him blush. Then we sat down and he gave teh teh route of teh caravan and some letters to give teh leaders to vouch for me. After that, I thanked him, and went back to my truck to sleep. Even if I didn't leave when I planned to, at least now I could travel in safety, amongst other people.