I'll Pick You Up
By Layne and B
East and Sarah
The sight of the ambo taking her away was the last he
had of her. Though he remembered her face well, East
never had the chance to even get her name. By the time
he got back to the hospital to check up on her, she'd
been discharged and the bloody staff at the hospital
wouldn't give him any info.
Was this girl he watched from a distance the same one
he'd found in the ditch many months ago? She was smiling
and vibrant as she looked through the scarves that hung
at the outdoor market in Coffs. He continued to watch as
she chose a yellow one, then holding it up against her
face as she looked in the mirror, she grinned widely.
The smile vanished as she checked the price tag and she
put the silk scarf back on its perch.
As she walked away, he followed her, stopping only to
purchase the yellow scarf she'd just touched. He refused
his change from the merchant as he tucked the scarf in
his pocket. Racing off before he lost site of the girl,
he slowed his pace just behind her. When she turned to
look his way, he quickly averted his eyes. Why did he do
that? After all, he did want to talk to her. He did want
to meet her. Why else would he have bought that scarf?
When he felt it was safe again, he continued to
follow her. Maybe he could get the nerve up to say
something to her. Damn, he didn't even know her name.
Shit, she stopped again. This time to gaze in the
window of a rock and shell shop. Should he, could he....
"Hello. You look familiar to me, love. Ever been out
to The Glen?"
There, he did it, he talked to her but it didn't stop
him from feeling nervous about it.
Sarah was relieved to be having her lunch break, and happy that it was such nice weather. She loved her part-time job at the bookstore, but the phone had been ringing off the hook this morning. Tomorrow was supposed to be the release date for the newest book in that 'Twilight' series and teenagers were phoning and coming by the store in droves to try and beg a copy a day early. She liked it much better when the store was quiet and she could look at covers and read the book jackets as she put away the new arrivals and straightened shelves.
Shaking off her hectic morning, she made for the outdoor market. It was near the store and she loved browsing around there on her breaks when the weather was good. "Hi, Mr. B!" She greeted the nice older man who displayed accessories like hats, scarves, and belts at the market every day.
"Hello there, Sarah!" He returned her greeting, liking the nice young lady from the bookstore, who saved his favorite magazines behind the counter for him once a month. "Got some new scarves just yesterday. Have a look!" He waved his hand toward a rack, hung with brightly colored strips of silk.
Sarah turned to look at them, her face flushed with the joy of being out in the sun. Spying a bright yellow one, she lifted it from the rack and turned to the small, framed mirror that Mr. B kept on the counter. It went well with her light brown curls and she smiled at her reflection.
Then she looked at the price tag. "Whoa, Mr. B!" She almost gasped. "A poor part-time working girl can't afford this!" She laughed lightly. "Maybe when I'm out of school and I own the bookstore instead of just running the cash register and arranging the shelves!"
Putting the scarf carefully back where she had found it, Sarah continued down the street, sipping occasionally from the drink cup that she carried. She stopped to look in the window where rocks and shells were displayed. Some new, polished rocks were there and she became absorbed in their colors, some almost as bright as the silk scarves she had just left behind.
Lost in the display in front of her, the deep, melodic voice speaking over her shoulder startled her. It sounded somehow familiar. Raising her head quickly, she could see the reflection of a young man in the window. Something about his face looked familiar as well.
Sarah turned to face him. "The Glen? Well...yes...I've been through the Glen once Mr.-?"
Sarah was relieved to be having her lunch break, and happy that it was such nice weather. She loved her part-time job at the bookstore, but the phone had been ringing off the hook this morning. Tomorrow was supposed to be the release date for the newest book in that 'Twilight' series and teenagers were phoning and coming by the store in droves to try and beg a copy a day early. She liked it much better when the store was quiet and she could look at covers and read the book jackets as she put away the new arrivals and straightened shelves.
Shaking off her hectic morning, she made for the outdoor market. It was near the store and she loved browsing around there on her breaks when the weather was good. "Hi, Mr. B!" She greeted the nice older man who displayed accessories like hats, scarves, and belts at the market every day.
"Hello there, Sarah!" He returned her greeting, liking the nice young lady from the bookstore, who saved his favorite magazines behind the counter for him once a month. "Got some new scarves just yesterday. Have a look!" He waved his hand toward a rack, hung with brightly colored strips of silk.
Sarah turned to look at them, her face flushed with the joy of being out in the sun. Spying a bright yellow one, she lifted it from the rack and turned to the small, framed mirror that Mr. B kept on the counter. It went well with her light brown curls and she smiled at her reflection.
Then she looked at the price tag. "Whoa, Mr. B!" She almost gasped. "A poor part-time working girl can't afford this!" She laughed lightly. "Maybe when I'm out of school and I own the bookstore instead of just running the cash register and arranging the shelves!"
Putting the scarf carefully back where she had found it, Sarah continued down the street, sipping occasionally from the drink cup that she carried. She stopped to look in the window where rocks and shells were displayed. Some new, polished rocks were there and she became absorbed in their colors, some almost as bright as the silk scarves she had just left behind.
Lost in the display in front of her, the deep, melodic voice speaking over her shoulder startled her. It sounded somehow familiar. Raising her head quickly, she could see the reflection of a young man in the window. Something about his face looked familiar as well.
Sarah turned to face him. "The Glen? Well...yes...I've been through the Glen once Mr.-?"
"Driscoll, but you can call me East," he replied
nervously. "You...you were in an accident and I," he
paused for a long time. "You were not with it when we
met. I didn't reckon you would remember me."
Dang she sure was pretty. Especially without the mud
on her face.
"Could you, would you like to have coffee with me?"
he asked without thinking much and he sure didn't take
notice to the cup in her hand.
"So, you're the one who found me!" Sarah exclaimed. "They told me that whoever it was didn't leave a name. I didn't have any idea about it."
"I've wanted so much to thank you, Mr. Driscoll!" Impulsively, Sarah gave him a hug, being careful not to spill anything from her cup on him. "I could have died if you hadn't pulled me out of that car!"
"I'd love to have some coffee with you!" The smile on her face was as bright as the yellow scarf.
"So, you're the one who found me!" Sarah exclaimed. "They told me that whoever it was didn't leave a name. I didn't have any idea about it."
"I've wanted so much to thank you, Mr. Driscoll!" Impulsively, Sarah gave him a hug, being careful not to spill anything from her cup on him. "I could have died if you hadn't pulled me out of that car!"
"I'd love to have some coffee with you!" The smile on her face was as bright as the yellow scarf.
He wasn't sure why he said coffee since he preferred
tea with sugar but what the heck. At least he'd have the
pleasure of her company for a bit.
"No worries, love. You just about scared the living
hell..um heck out of me. I can't take all the credit,
you know. My boss and his wife were the ones who got the
ambo for you."
Offering his arm, he led her toward the
closest coffee shop, not noticing that a bit of the
yellow scarf was peeking from his pocket. "I never did
get your name." He'd bet it was just as pretty as she
was.
She took his arm, her smile still wide. He was so polite! Who ever offered his arm to a woman any more?
"You'll have to let me know where I can get in touch with your boss and his wife, so I can thank them too. Oh- I'm sorry! My name is Sarah. Sarah Langston."
She glanced sideways at him, having to tilt her head up. He was so tall! "So, what do you do?"
She took his arm, her smile still wide. He was so polite! Who ever offered his arm to a woman any more?
"You'll have to let me know where I can get in touch with your boss and his wife, so I can thank them too. Oh- I'm sorry! My name is Sarah. Sarah Langston."
She glanced sideways at him, having to tilt her head up. He was so tall! "So, what do you do?"
Was she really interested in what he did? Gee, no one
ever asked him that. He answered with a bit of pride.
"I'm a horseman," he said, poking his thumb into his
chest. "Just like the man from Snowy River. I work out
at the Meridius station. By the way, those are the folks
who helped that night. I never thought the missus would
wake up but she finally did and she got the ambo for
you. How are you doing by the way? I was really afraid
you were dead, you know?"
Why on earth was he rambling on so? He promised
himself he'd try to blabber less.
"A horseman? That's fascinating! I don't even know how to ride a horse, I'm afraid. I've always thought they were beautiful, though." Sarah noticed the pride in his voice and expression and she liked that. People should take pride in what they did.
"Meridius? I'll remember that name and look them up, so I can send them a note and thank them. I don't really know anyone in the Glen."
"I'm doing fine now. It did take me a little while to get better. I had a concussion and some cracked ribs." She sat down at a table in the little coffee shop, noticing that he held out her chair for her. Again, she was impressed by his manners.
"A horseman? That's fascinating! I don't even know how to ride a horse, I'm afraid. I've always thought they were beautiful, though." Sarah noticed the pride in his voice and expression and she liked that. People should take pride in what they did.
"Meridius? I'll remember that name and look them up, so I can send them a note and thank them. I don't really know anyone in the Glen."
"I'm doing fine now. It did take me a little while to get better. I had a concussion and some cracked ribs." She sat down at a table in the little coffee shop, noticing that he held out her chair for her. Again, she was impressed by his manners.
He sat across from her then in a moment of levity, he
moved his chair so he was seated to her left. "Would you
like to learn to ride, Sarah? I'd be happy to teach you,
love. I mean there are a few horses at the station that
are honest, would take a new rider. I bet the boss and
his wife would love to see you."
His cheek twitched a bit with the anticipation of her
answer. It would kind of be like a date if she came to
see him for a lesson. Sort of anyway. East fidgeted with
a menu a bit before setting it down and crossing his
hands over it. The waitress arrived before she answered
and East let Sarah order first before he asked for a
cuppa with sugar.
Sarah ordered a coffee with sugar, hesitating over her answer. Her eyes had lit up at the prospect, but then her thoughts had gone immediately to her financial status. She stirred her coffee before responding to him.
"How-how much would lessons cost me?" She'd like to do it, but- "I'm out of classes for the summer shortly and I'll be working more, but I still need to save for next semester."
She shook her head slightly. "I'm sure I couldn't afford it."
Sarah ordered a coffee with sugar, hesitating over her answer. Her eyes had lit up at the prospect, but then her thoughts had gone immediately to her financial status. She stirred her coffee before responding to him.
"How-how much would lessons cost me?" She'd like to do it, but- "I'm out of classes for the summer shortly and I'll be working more, but I still need to save for next semester."
She shook her head slightly. "I'm sure I couldn't afford it."
East smiled winsomely at her. "Wouldn't cost you
nothing, love. I'd be happy to do it for free and don't
jump to conclusions, okay. I'm just hoping you might
enjoy a little ride together once you got your seat."
He turned his teacup around and sipped at the hot
beverage awkwardly, or so it seemed. Anyone could see
that he had hands that were special. They were firm yet
gentle and the way he grasped the cup was a site. His
big hands were nimble yet he'd never drop the vessel.
That was part of the reason he was such a brilliant
horseman. The beasts sensed his kind heart laced with
the ability to command right through the reins. He had a
rare gift.
"How about Saturday. I'm on a day off."
She tilted her head to one side, studying him carefully with her brown eyes, her light brown curls falling loosely around her shoulders. She didn't really know this man, and yet he'd saved her life. Since she was a little girl, the grandmother who'd raised her had taught her not to trust strangers, and this East Driscoll was really a stranger to her. And yet he wasn't.
She gave a little smile at how his large hands totally swallowed the small teacup. It was easy to see that they were strong. If he'd squeezed only a little, the cup would shatter. But she could tell he was being careful, gentle. Another look into his eyes decided her.
"What time on Saturday?" she asked. "And can you give me directions? I'm afraid I don't remember very much of the one time I was in the Glen."
She tilted her head to one side, studying him carefully with her brown eyes, her light brown curls falling loosely around her shoulders. She didn't really know this man, and yet he'd saved her life. Since she was a little girl, the grandmother who'd raised her had taught her not to trust strangers, and this East Driscoll was really a stranger to her. And yet he wasn't.
She gave a little smile at how his large hands totally swallowed the small teacup. It was easy to see that they were strong. If he'd squeezed only a little, the cup would shatter. But she could tell he was being careful, gentle. Another look into his eyes decided her.
"What time on Saturday?" she asked. "And can you give me directions? I'm afraid I don't remember very much of the one time I was in the Glen."
