CHANCE

By the Troubador

Duncan could hardly believe the morning. Not one day could he recall that had dawned so bright and cheerful, with so much promise. Looking at the beautiful woman walking beside him, her hand in his, he knew exactly why the day was so grand. Grinning wryly to himself he realized it could be the middle of a blizzard and he would feel the same.

The fact the woman looking up to him with ‘that look’ in her eyes was as lovely a person as she was beautiful certainly didn’t hurt. She was not only comfortable with their being together, but seemed to be enjoying their complete nudity.

Maybe almost as he was.

In his long life he had met and seen many women, lovely and beautiful women. In the few instances where he had seen them nude, he had privately agreed that they were more attractive with some packaging than being completely displayed. Very few women could be naked without niggling little imperfections marring an otherwise perfect form. Helen was one of them.

When they got to the motorhome, he opened the door and tossed their clothes inside. Then he shut the door and gave the now puzzled, and still nude, Helen a quick kiss before striding to the back of his rig. The nude Helen stood and watched bemused as Duncan opened a small door on the outside of the Class C motorhome. Pulling out what looked like a garden hose with a showerhead on the end he opened a larger door low on the side of the rig. From there he pulled out a pole and what looked like a wooden grid. As she tried to figure out what in the world her naked host was up to, he attached the hose to the pole and then fastened the pole to the grid.

Helen suddenly understood, Duncan had just set up a shower in the open air. As private as their parking place was, no shower curtain was needed. She was suddenly looking forward to her first nude outdoor shower. This lifestyle would take some getting used to.

"Tell me, my love," Duncan asked her, "do you like your showers hot, or will warm be alright with you?" Then he reached inside the first small door and turned on the spigot. Within seconds water was spitting out of the showerhead, soon settling into a smooth flow.

"Helen," he asked, "we have a limited water supply. Come join me in the shower." That he picked her up and carried her under the water, now comfortably warm and in the morning air it felt almost hot. Grabbing soap out of the hose compartment he lathered her up and quickly rinsed her off, being careful not to get her hair wet.

Helen had been laughing at his antics and enjoying the shower and his hands on her. She became much more serious as she took the soap from him and returned the favor. She seemed to be taking much longer than needed on some portions of his person, but Duncan never said a word about the amount of water they were using.

Once they were both sluiced off, Duncan hustled her into the motorhome and out of the soft breeze that was now raising Goosebumps on their naked skin. Once inside he produced a couple of very soft and very large towels and they again took turns, this time drying one another off.

Standing back from her, Duncan let his eye lick over her again and was delighted to feel his erection growing again. Leaning forward and bending his knees he wrapped both arms around her, pressing his lips to the softness of her throat. Straightening up, he lifted her off her feet, holding her close against him. Delighting in the smooth softness of her breasts just under his chin he slowly rocked her body from side to side, sliding her still damp skin against his.

Helen wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face even more tightly to her throat and upper chest. Then she wrapped her legs around his waist and held him tightly. She was happy to discover this brought his now full-grown erection against her sex. Feeling the tingles as his crown brushed against her lower lips she realized he was in just the right place. Slowly and carefully Helen relaxed her grip on Duncan’s waist and neck while undulating her hips, bringing his cockhead to slip between her labia. Once he had just begun entering her vagina she relaxed another little bit, and felt her cunt slowly filled by the most joyous visitor it had ever received. In a moment she was full of him.

As she began a slow humping a totally unexpected orgasm swept over her. If it had not been for Duncan’s strong arms, she would have fallen, spinning off the pole now stuck so completely up into her belly.

Duncan, feeling Helen engulf his manhood shuddered with the pleasure. She was held sealed tightly to him from his groin, where he was speared into her and along their entire bodies to where his face was now nestled against the side of her neck. With his lips tasting, licking and sucking the soft skin at her throat, Duncan slowly walked to the bed in the back where he lowered the two of them to lie locked together.

Now on the bed, Duncan began the slow insertion and withdrawal of his cock. As he was wallowing in the exquisite pleasure found inside her passage he grew aware Helen was in the continual throws of soft orgasm. He could not detect an end or a beginning, it just seemed to be constant, and only when he concentrated could he feel her breathing.

Leaning up from her he began licking her face and throat. Little tiny soft licks, never two alike, he tasted her completely. Moving his face further down he began gently, softly, completely ravaging her breasts. He stayed away from her nipples. She was locked in the soft orgasm and he didn’t yet wish to explode her into something more. Looking into her eyes, he saw a soft and dreamy woman, lost in an Eden of their making.

Duncan began shifting his hips from side to side, effectively first withdrawing his cock while rubbing it along one side of her cuntal walls, and then reinserting it when he moved his hips back to the center. Continuing the rocking motion he dragged his rigid pole against the other side, spreading the sensation and continuing her climaxing.

It seemed only moments since they had lain down together on the big bed, but he became worried at the duration of the constant orgasm his lover was experiencing. Pulling his cock almost completely out of Helen’s vagina he kissed her, sealing his lips to hers and pushing his tongue deep into her mouth. Then, hesitating just a moment longer, he drove his rod home, yanked it out and fucked it home hard into her again and again and again.

She screamed, into his mouth this time and her whole body exploded once again into orgasm. The walls of her channel collapsed around his maleness, and he could no longer pull out; but he did not care. His own cum was surging up from his balls, through his belly, shaft and out into her womb. He jammed himself deeply and deeper into her, and felt her suck his balls clean, dry, felt them collapse. The ecstasy was so great he felt it as pain. A pain he never wanted to stop.

Duncan realized he was lying mostly atop Helen, fallen partly to one side, and she was kissing him softly and sweetly.

"Hello, lover," Helen whispered into his ear. "Are you back with me now?"

Confused, Duncan asked, "Where had I gone, Helen?"

"I don’t know, love. I do know you’ve been there for several minutes. I was beginning to get worried." She gave him another small kiss, "Do you often go visiting like that, lover?"

Meeting her lips with his, they kissed softly. Then Duncan answered, "Never before in my knowledge love. Never before. You are an incredible lover!"

"Look who’s talking," Helen giggled. "Do you feel up to getting up? Oops! Well you know what I mean. I promised you breakfast, and I’m beginning to feel a bit peckish myself, with all the exercise you’ve given me the past few hours."

Rolling the rest of the way off her Duncan sat up on the side of the bed. When Duncan gave her a hand, Helen popped to her feet. Unembarrassed at her nudity she walked into the kitchen area, stopping only to scoop the shirt off the floor that Duncan had been wearing yesterday. Slipping her arms into the sleeves, she absent-mindedly began buttoning it up while she examined the contents of the refrigerator.

Duncan, watching her with a quiet smile on her face noticed she had buttoned the shirt unevenly, matching the top button with the second button hole from the top. When she was finished she began trying to find a whole for the button left over at the bottom. Never really looking at what she had done. She dropped the task to pull eggs, link sausage and a cheddar cheese block out of the refrigerator.

Seeming to be in another plane for the moment she went about assembling a cheese omelet, cooking the sausage, starting coffee and toasting English muffins. As she was doing so she wondered at the full pantry. She would have to tease him about preparing ahead of time to rescue a fair damsel in distress.

While she was doing this Duncan had slipped on his sleeping shorts, a flannel short that had doubled as running shorts for him on occasion. He then set the table, and turned on the radio to find a news station that didn’t concentrate on farm news. This close to Spokane finding one turned out to be easy. He then sat and admired the woman he had only met yesterday.

Musing to himself, he wondered how women could be so many people in one. Helen seemed to be dozens, all singularly attractive, all remarkably competent. Watching the crisp efficiency with which she was preparing the meal, his mouth began watering. No one as openly competent was going to put less than a chef’s meal on the table.

They would have to talk today, either after breakfast or not much later. Her car wouldn’t be repaired before tomorrow, or the day after. Unless she told him to leave, he planned to spend the next couple of days with her. He was a bit afraid his heart was about to be severely strained. They had known each other less than 24 hours, so he dismissed the possibility of heartbreak. Still, she had a pretty good hold on him already. And, she was married.

He had never believed in poaching on a marriage. It was difficult enough to maintain a lifetime commitment without unprincipled males trying to horn in for a quick count of coup. There were enough bastards around without him adding to the mix. Still, her husband seemed to be in the act of abandoning her.

Leaving his relationship with Helen alone for the moment, he began wondering about her husband, Gerry. His first thought on seeing and meeting him was to label him a pompous ass. He was beginning to wonder if he wasn’t a fool as well. This jewel making breakfast should be treasured and coddled, not ignored and shunted off to the side. And judging from the small frown tarnishing her brow, she was probably thinking about Gerry, and her day and night with Duncan.

Whether Helen and he would have any kind of ongoing relationship, he felt he owed her some help with Gerry. Checking the time he knew the man he had turned his company over to was probably working at his home office now, as he usually did. He stretched, and slipped his loafers on his bare feet. Telling Helen he wouldn’t be five minutes, he stepped out of the motorhome, snaring his cell phone on the way.

Calling Daryl he identified himself. As usual Daryl was wide-awake and on the job. It was barely 7am. The man never seemed to sleep! Asking Daryl for a personal favor, he gave him the particulars to do a thorough back ground and ethics check for him. Telling Daryl it was for a business totally unrelated to the one Daryl was running, he asked for as fast a return as possible while having the investigators they used do a complete, unseen evaluation of a man for the top position in a Fortune 500 business.

Thanking Daryl, Duncan gave his regards to his wife and asked Daryl to tickle his six-year-old daughter, telling her it was from Uncle Dunc, he disconnected. He stepped back into the trailer just as Helen was putting the last of the food on the table.

Sitting down across from her, he noticed they both seemed to be feeling self-conscious of their near nudity, and uncomfortable at the passion into which they had fallen.

For the next few minutes they concentrated on enjoying a really fine meal. With the long and wonderful night behind them, they were both very hungry and content to eat. Not a word was exchanged beyond those dealing with the food. Once finished, Duncan gathered the dishes no longer in use on the table while Helen nibbled on the last muffin. Carrying them to the sink, he did the wash up, finishing by wiping down the dinette table where Helen was sitting, now looking down at her hands.

Sitting down across from her, Duncan closely watched his now troubled companion. "Helen," he started, reaching across and covering her hands with one of his, not holding it, just lightly touching. "You and I need to talk, girl. I’ll start if it’s OK with you…. First I want you to know I think yesterday and last night were something wonderful. But I’m worried that our passion may damage something unintended. Something that has become precious to me in an amazingly short time."

Giving her hand a squeeze to make sure he had her attention, he sat back in the dinette seat and lay his hands palm down and spread far apart on the table. "Helen, no matter our intimacy, I must keep your friendship. What I’m tryi…"

"Hush! Hush you darling man!" Helen broke in. "Please be quiet before you say something we may both regret. Hear me out for a bit." She looked up at him, with a small worried smile on her face. "You’re right, I am bothered by my actions last night. Before you break in, hoping to protect this poor little woman, I have to take most of the responsibility."

"But," he sputtered.

"Hush up, Duncan. Or do I have to hold my hand over your mouth. I hope you noticed I chose the word responsibility, not blame."

She paused, and Duncan for a change was wise enough not to break in.

"What we enjoyed all day yesterday was precious indeed. And I’m not talking of the loving we indulged in on top of our mountain. It was certainly one of the most relaxed and enjoyable times I have ever had. But we seem to be on a sled going faster and faster, and as exciting as the scenery around us now, we have no idea what is beyond that next little rise, or the curve coming up just beyond."

Duncan raised his hand, "Can I speak now, teacher?" he chuckled. When Helen snorted, he continued, "You said it far better than I, young lady. And I’m afraid unless we take some steps, we may hit some nasty rocks not too far down the way. First, I have no schedule to keep, and you are stuck here at least until tomorrow and maybe two or three days more. If you aren’t offended, or see no harm in it, I would like to stick around with you and continue our camera study." Pausing he looked at Helen.

"Duncan, that would be a treat as you know. But I am married, and I gave vows, which I broke. And that is bedeviling me at the moment. If we spend the next few days together, it will not be traveling from one bed to another. Companionship, great! Taking pictures, I never knew how enjoyable that could be and can hardly wait to see how my shots turned out. Eating together I fondly say yes to, but don’t plan on sharing a bed with me again. If we are going to be friends, we can’t do that. My reading of Duncan tells me casual intimacy with a casual friend might be approved, but between you and I it would never be casual. Duncan we can’t afford that kind of heartbreak. I certainly can’t, and I’m still trying to save my marriage. I gave vows years ago, and my word is precious to me. My marriage has been precious, and I hope may be so again."

They sat across from the little dinette table silently, both looking searchingly into the others eyes.

Duncan finally broke the silence, "Helen, do you have some kind of ESP into my mind? You said exactly what I was trying to say, but you were able to put it into words."

Looking at the clock on the microwave he continued, "It’s after 8:00. Why don’t we get dressed and go visit the garage. They may have an answer. By the time we get done there it will be past the time photographers consider prime time for taking pictures. I need to do some running around today, and if you are like any other woman I’ve ever known you would like to shop in this new town. Why don’t we try that this morning, and maybe into the afternoon. First task will be to reserve a couple rooms for tonight. I would offer the use of the RV, but that one bed is too inviting. Any other suggestions?"

Helen shook her head and slid out of her seat.

Duncan made no secret that he was enjoying the way the shirt she was wearing rode up and showed her thighs. "Why don’t you take a shower now, in the indoor shower," he grinned at her. "The bags we pulled out of your car are in the bedroom in back for your fresh clothes. I noticed a faucet outside. I’ll use it to refill our water tank."

Helen smiled at him, called him a lecher, and twitched her barely covered fanny into the bedroom, where she closed the door. Duncan began readying the rig for leaving.

They pulled into the Texaco station about 9:00. Checking with the owner and his mechanic they found the parts wouldn’t get there until late that afternoon. The mechanic promised to get the work done ASAP, but couldn’t promise the job done until Friday. With that Helen and Duncan piled back into the RV and headed into downtown Ritzville. Helen was going to just browse, while Duncan had several personal chores to get accomplished.

They hadn’t more than pulled back out on the road to town, when a Ritzville Police Patrol Car slammed on it’s breaks as it passed them going the other way. It made a tire screeching U-turn and spun its tires accelerating back behind them. Duncan slowed, figuring to pull over and let him go by when the Patrol Car’s lights started flashing. When he pulled over and stopped to let him by Duncan was shocked to find him pull up behind the motorhome and stop.

With his eyes fixed on the left outside mirror, he suddenly fell back onto his seat. "Oh, shit…" came out of his mouth, startling Helen who looked wide-eyed at him. It was the first time she had heard him use any language that couldn’t be heard on the radio, unless you counted during their lovemaking.

"Helen, I may be in the soup. If so, I need you out of the soup so you can help me on the outside. Don’t jump in and demand equal time, please."

With eyes big as saucers, Helen saw the town cop appear outside the drivers side window. "Oh, no," she gasped. She immediately recognized the big tough who had tried to hustle her last night. The same one Duncan had dropped to the tavern floor, unconscious.

Duncan rolled his window down, and the cop asked to see his Driver’s License. Helen had never seen such an emotionless face in her life. Her heart sank, wondering what this small town thug must be like with the law behind him.

"Thank you, Mr. Handsworth," the cop growled as he handed the card back. Then suddenly his face broke out into a grin. "Hey, there’s no way I can keep this tough cop charade going. I wanted to stop and thank you for last night. And no, much as I look like it, that wasn’t me at the bar last night. I’ve been looking for you all morning to thank you. Folks told me last night that you were expecting to be around town for a couple days getting the ladies car fixed at the station."

"What is this all about, Officer?" asked Duncan. "Were charges filed after the ruckus last night? If I thought there was going to be a problem I would have stayed at the bar a while longer."

"Well Mr. Handsworth, my brother finally lost it, after some things thrown at him over the last few weeks. I’ve been trying to baby sit him, but I was out on call when the divorce papers were delivered to him by the bimbo’s attorney. I was hoping to keep the final explosion private, but he just grabbed his hat and went out the door. Never said a word to my wife, and he was long gone before I got back home. Chester’s been staying with us since he caught the twit in bed with the town drunk. Ever since she’s been tossing accusations at him, and her lawyer has tied up everything my brother owns."

"My brother, bless his soul," the cop continued, "still loves that hussy bitch. She was his high school sweetheart, and he has yet to see how she’s changed over the past eight years. Chief Traynor, our police chief, has put him on furlough until he can get himself together. If you two hadn’t been able to handle him last night, I would have had to take him to jail. He’s a damn nice guy usually, but at that moment he was off his gourd. If he’d spent the night in the iron-bar motel, especially for assault, his police career would be over. That’s all he has ever wanted to do, really."

"This morning, he can only remember bits and pieces of last night. When he started to bring some of the pictures up in his mind this morning, he went into the bathroom and threw up. Sounds crazy to say this, but I think you saved a good man. I’d like to buy you folks a cup of coffee, if I may. My name, by the way, is Everett. Can I call you Duncan, Mr. Handsworth?"

Duncan held his hand out to shake Everett’s hand. "No real thanks needed, Everett, but we’ll take you up on the coffee, if it includes a doughnut or two. And by the way, my friend here is Helen Conningham. Lead on, Officer Everett. We’ll follow."

Everett led them to a happy, cheerful looking diner downtown. He pointed out a spot to park the RV, and met them at the door, holding it open for them as he ushered them inside

"Hey Clarice, you got a pot of fresh coffee, or is that still the one you made for yesterdays lunch crowd?" he called out as he sat them in a booth in the brightly painted, well lighted café.

"Ev, you wouldn’t know bad coffee if I fed it to you. I’ve got a nice fresh pot, and I’ll poor a cup for your friends. Give me a minute and I’ll get the out the crankcase oil you usually drink," was the answer from a sweetly smiling matronly waitress behind the counter. "Do you folks want high octane, or decaf?" she directed at Duncan and Helen.

"We’ll take the octane," Helen answered for the two of them. Then looking at Duncan, "Unless you want tea, Duncan."

"Hey, I’ve got water so hot it’s banned on Sundays, and some English Breakfast Tea if you would prefer that," the waitress called back.

"What ever’s easiest," Duncan called back.

When the waitress brought over the coffee, Everett introduced them. "These are the folks who kept Chester out of trouble last night, Clarice. Thought the least I could do would be buy them a cup of coffee. What do you have in the way of doughnuts or danish?"

After Clarice had delivered their orders, Everett excused himself a moment to check in with the dispatcher. When he came back the three of them just fell into conversation like they had been friends for years. Everett filled them in on the history of Ritzville. When asked he suggested some stops they might want to make for photography. Clarice kept coming by to refill their cups, and adding to the conversation. It seemed to be a popular spot, with townspeople stopping by in what seemed to be a regular schedule. Before Duncan and Helen were aware of it, they had been drinking coffee and eating doughnuts for almost an hour.

The conversation seemed to be coming to a natural close when the door opened and Chester, the guy they had run into last night stepped into the café. The first Duncan knew of it was when Everett waved his hand, "Hey, we’re over here, brother. Grab a cup and come on over."

Duncan eased himself back a bit in his seat, and stared accusingly at Everett who grinned back at him sheepishly.

Clearing his throat, Everett said, "Duncan, I’m sorry but you might not have stayed if I had told you my brother was coming. And I guarantee you won’t regret it."

"Regret what, Ev?" asked Chester when he got to the table.

"My sticking around to meet you this morning," Duncan replied for him.

Chester looked down at the floor, as he turned to pull out a chair to sit with them. Duncan noticed he was limping slightly. "I’m sure glad you did stay. I have to thank you for last night."

Both Helen and Duncan just looked at him.

"Ma’am, I have to apologize to you, too. I just seemed to go crazy for a while. I really ain’t that kind of man, but… Oh hell, things just haven’t been too stable for me the last few weeks," Chester said to Helen. He didn’t seem to be able to look her in the eye. "By the way, my lout of a brother hasn’t introduced us. I guess you folks know my name, now. It’s Chester. But what can I call you folks, except exceptional?"

"Oh, sorry Chester," spoke up his brother. "Helen, Duncan this is my brother. Chester, this smart gentleman is Duncan Handsworth, and the lady is Helen Conningham. Say hello, and do some groveling, big brother."

Helen and Duncan found themselves relaxed and enjoying Chester’s company, and before they realized it, Everett excused himself to get back to his patrolling. Seeing the time, Chester told his new friends he had to leave also, but hoped to see them again before they left town.

Seeing how much of the morning had gone, Duncan asked Helen if they could meet in a couple hours, say 1:00 for lunch. He had a couple things to get done, and he was sure Helen would be happier shopping without dragging him along as an anchor.

Helen smilingly agreed, thinking to herself that all men shied away from shopping.

= = = =

Late afternoon, and Duncan and Helen ducked into the small café where they had enjoyed coffee that morning. Both of them were tired, it seemed they had walked every street in town at least three times. Helen was amazed at how many really interesting photos they had found to shoot in the little town. Even more amazing were the number of shots they had taken the second, third and in some cases the fourth time they walked down a street. It seemed every time they returned to a spot that they individually and separately found new things they thought could be turned into photographic art.

The first thing Duncan had done when they met that afternoon was give her a gift wrapped box. She had no idea what it might be and was astounded when she opened the box and found a twin to Duncan’s digital camera. Duncan explained he had a first rate printer in the RV, and they could turn any shots they thought worth it into photos whenever they chose. No delays, no worry about a photo lab botching a job. What they now had were two professional level cameras and their own dark room in the RV. She didn’t need to wait for a photo laboratory to process her film, she could see what she had just taken on the small screen on the back of the camera. Not only that, but they could make prints that evening and see what the photos were like full size.

The table they had been at that morning was open, and they made a beeline for it, collapsing on the comfortable red Naugahyde chairs.

Clarice, their waitress that morning, was standing at the counter and Duncan asked her if she ever got off work. She assured him she was off, but it was so nice she hung around there on her time off. Duncan ordered them two milk shakes, and when they were done picked them up himself to carry back to their table.

Duncan was just kind of staring off into the distance as he felt his muscles relax. He was carefully keeping the lovely Helen in the distance he was staring at, when his companion suddenly snorted and clapped her hand over her mouth. Helen’s eyes got real big, and then she hissed at Duncan, telling him to listen.

The man sitting directly behind Helen was holding an animated conversation with his companion. Both of them seemed to be farmers, taking advantage of a short lull in their schedule to come to town and take a break.

"I tell you, Jessie, it’s true!" the man behind Helen was saying. "Look, we don’t see them very often. Less now than when I was a boy, but that was a cougar I heard last night! They come down from the forests up state, and occasionally one will work its way all the way down here. I’ve heard them before, and I tell you that was a cougar we heard screaming last night about midnight. Nothing else around here either sounds like that or is loud enough…"

Here Helen turned red and buried her face in her arms on the table.

"…to be heard that far. I mean your place is a good five miles from mine and we both heard it. Right?" and he waited for his companion to nod.

"You have any other explanation for it, Jessie?" he asked and took another sip of his coffee.

Duncan raised his voice just a tad, and called past Helen, "Was that a bit East and some North of here you heard that?"

The man twisted around, "You hear it too, Mister?" he asked.

"Well we heard something last night, pretty late. We were in an RV parked at some spring off the main road," Duncan replied.

"Hey, I know that spring. It’s almost directly between Jesse’s place and mine. Was it pretty loud?"

Duncan glanced at Helen’s brightly scarlet face, "It was real loud where we were. What did you say it was?"

The man named Jesse spoke up, "Hilliard here claims it was a Puma, Mountain Lion you know. Didn’t used to worry about them, they never hurt nobody, but we seem to be building houses where they usually hunt and there have been some nasty attacks the last few years. If he’s right, and I’d guess he is, you’d best stay in town tonight. At least don’t go back there. Shouldn’t be a problem but that must be a big mean one judging from the scream it was giving. Could get pretty badly clawed and bitten if you were to run into it and it was in the mood."

Helen now had both hands clapped across her mouth, her eyes were huge and she was fighting to look natural. She didn’t want anyone looking at her now; they might put it all together.

Duncan grinned at her, "Hey, that scream sounded awful close to us. Sounded like a whole series of screams. You sure that was a cougar? Could have been an owl, or even a woman screaming for all I could tell?"

Hilliard replied, "Trust me, mister, that was a cougar. They do sound like a woman in trouble, but it was too loud for that. Had to carry three miles to my place, and pretty near as far to Jesse’s."

About that time the hamburgers Duncan had ordered arrived and he and Helen dug in. In a couple minutes the two farmers left and Helen whispered, "Do you think that was me they heard?"

Duncan grinned at her, and reached over and took her hand, "No doubt in my mind, Helen. But I don’t know if I’d describe you as big, now mean maybe..."

It didn’t seem possible, but Helen turned an even brighter shade of red. Then she kicked him under the table.

Leaving the café later, they climbed into the motor home and drove to the motel. Duncan made a point of pulling some Band-Aids out of the bathroom cabinet, complaining about some deep scratches he had on his shoulders. When Helen socked him he staggered and fell into the dinette before they broke up laughing.

The motel could best be described as a motorhotel. It stood three stories high on the edge of town and only modern practice kept it from its proper title of hotel. Their rooms were adjoining and on the third floor.

Helen was surprised to discover a connecting door between the two rooms.

Duncan carried their two bags to the rooms, despite Helen’s protest. He just told her to practice her feminism when it was appropriate. She laughed and gave in, gracefully as ever.

Duncan placed her suitcase in her room, then carried his to the room next door. Helen grabbed her coin purse and an ice bucket and headed to the end of the hall. After filling the bucket with ice, she extracted some Pepsis, and Fantas along with a couple Canada Dry Club Sodas from the several vending machines. After gathering several bags of peanuts and other munches she headed back to their rooms.

Walking into her room she shut the hall door and then knocked on the connecting door to Duncan’s room and waited until he opened it. Walking into his room she put her provisions on a table standing by the window overlooking the rolling wheat fields surrounding the town. Two comfortable looking over-stuffed chairs flanked the table. Smiling at him she told him she would come back for a nightcap after her shower, promising to knock before she came in.

Returning to her room she quickly stripped, stepped into her shower and luxuriated in a hot shower. Drying off she slipped on a long sleeping shirt, more a long T-shirt than anything else. Bottoming that off with a pair of bright red panties, she pulled her robe on and knocked on the connecting door.

To her surprise there was no response, so she sat down and thought about her day. In was less than ten minutes there was a knock from Duncan’s side of the door. Opening it she found him standing there in his bathrobe. A white T-shirt peeking out from between the lapels. Smiling she joined him in his room, leaving the connecting doors open.

Making themselves comfortable in the chairs at the table, Duncan fixed each of them a highball from a bottle of Jack Daniels he had carried in from the motor home. Helen opened the peanuts, chips and pretzels, and then they just sat back and chatted.

It felt so comfortable and right Helen had to blink several times when she remembered she had only met Duncan the morning before. She had been planning a long romantic week with her husband Gerry. The marriage had been drifting for several years, and he had agreed they needed to spend time learning one another again.

And then he had pulled that stunt, leaving her with a broken car at the start of the vacation as he had jetted off to the Philippines. It was supposed to be business, but she was beginning to wonder. That sort of thing had been happening far too often the past three years. Surely he was in a position at the company that others should be doing this initial trouble shooting. To Helen it seemed Gerry was the first called and the last home whenever an emergency came up in the company. She frowned thinking the two of them hadn’t even had a long weekend together for over a year. Gerry had even been gone last Christmas. It had been over four years since they had spent a vacation together, and that had been a family gathering for Gerry’s mother just six months before she had died. They had gone to her funeral together, but he and she had left there in separate airplanes. Gerry had been off on one of the constant weeks long trouble-shooting junkets and she didn’t see him again for over ten days. And that was departing from his mother’s funeral.

"Earth to Helen," she suddenly heard from across the table. "You went someplace Helen. Can I come along, maybe I can help."

"Oh, Duncan! Sorry, I was just gathering wool for a moment. Today was supposed to have been at Lake Chelan with Gerry," Helen responded. Pausing she added, "I’m not sure today wasn’t a lot more fun, but it sure wasn’t what I was expecting. Say, do you think we could get to that old barn just outside town and get a picture at sunup tomorrow?"

"Sure, let’s get some sleep now, and go out and catch it with the early light. Let’s say goodnight, Helen."

"Sounds great Duncan, but I need to clear up a misconception you have. You keep talking to me like I am a whole lot younger than you. Just how old do you think I am?" she asked her companion.

Duncan looked at her carefully for a moment, "Men aren’t supposed to put ages on their ladies, Helen. Why do you want the answer?"

"Oh fudge, Duncan. Just answer the question. I think it is important."

"Well, when I first saw you yesterday I figured you were no more than say thirty-two. After spending a couple days with you, my guess is you’re maybe thirty-eight. Now what kind of trouble am I in?" answered Duncan.

"None at all, except I can’t believe you think I’m that young. Duncan, I’m forty-four. Not only that, but I have a grown son. If he and his wife have any say in the matter, I’ll be a grandmother by this time next year. So you see, we are age contemporaries. Knock off this elder statesman attitude, OK?" replied Helen.

"Well," Duncan said reflectively, "I sure guessed wrong on your age, but I think you kind of guessed wrong on mine, too. Hope it doesn’t make a difference, but I’m sixty-one. So, you’re still the youngster."

"Well, I never thought you were wet behind the ears, Duncan. Now I know you don’t think I am. I feel better. Seventeen years difference would have been impossible when I was seventeen, but not so much now. Let’s get to bed and catch that morning light," smiled Helen.

"Sure, if we can pull ourselves out of bed. Since my semi-retirement I’m not in the habit of getting up on any kind of schedule," Duncan agreed. "But we had better get to bed now or you’ll never get me up."

They both rose from their chairs and Duncan walked Helen to the open door. Helen turned and saw the hunger in Duncan’s eyes. Putting her arms around him she leaned against him, lifted her face and kissed him softly.

It was a gentle kiss, but lasted a little longer than either of them expected.

Duncan leaned back to look at her and she reached up and captured his lips again. This kiss was not as gentle, and a long way from being as innocent. Helen found her arms up around Duncan’s neck, her hands clasped tightly together. Her body was straining up against his, her breasts flattened on his chest. His arms around her, almost crushing her to him caused waves of comfort to flow through her and she felt her knees tremble.

Throwing away any other thoughts but Duncan, Helen opened her mouth and her tongue pushed out and into his. For moments they strained together, their tongues caressing and she felt the sudden growth of his manhood pushing against her belly.

Duncan found himself with an armful of the most desirable woman he had ever seen. Thoughts of their love making the night before and this morning had his mind reeling and his body completely aroused within moments of the kisses sudden explosion. She was near swooning against him, little pants escaping her lips. Duncan felt Helen’s bare legs against his and he knew their robes had opened. At that moment his cock burst out of the opening in his boxers. The silken feel of her panties against his hardness sent a shiver through his whole body. Helen was grinding her loins hard against his, somehow he knew it was unconscious on her part.

For long moments their bodies strained together, their hips rocking together. The room was suddenly stifling hot and they both began feeling how constricting their clothes felt.

Suddenly Duncan stepped back away from Helen, holding her shoulders to steady her as his support was taken away. She looked up desperately into his eyes, seeing the naked lust in his hungering eyes. Yet he stepped further away.

With a searching and hungering stare and a husky voice, Duncan said, "Helen, this may be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I can’t accept your gift tonight. You would question my motives if I did. You are trying to save a marriage, and I came out of the blue as a knight-errant. It isn’t fair to you or Gerald for me to just step in."

Helen started to say something, but Duncan just put a finger over her lips.

"Please, Helen. Not now. Unless you decide the marriage is over, you would never forgive me if I stepped in like this. What we have so far has been miraculous. It was also spontaneous. This morning we agreed we wouldn’t do this, and it would be wrong for me after feeding you drinks and after giving you an exciting new experience and a romantic day. If this goes any further than good friends, I’ll want it to be without regrets on either of our parts. I know, and you know too, you would regret our not stepping back a little and looking at all of both our worlds. You don’t take this kind of step lightly, you aren’t the kind."

Both were silent for a time, studying each other. Duncan spoke, "Let’s get up and enjoy the sunrise, woman. You looked pretty good over breakfast this morning, can you do it two days in a row?"

Helen took a deep breath and smiled, stepping back from his supporting arms. "Duncan, this morning I didn’t have any of my ammunition with me. I have my make-up case in the room behind me and my ‘vacation on the Riviera’ wardrobe, too. You ain’t seen nothing yet." Then she stepped backwards into her room and slowly shut the door between them.

Duncan gave a huge sigh. His over heated body was already telling him he had done something stupid, but his connection to Helen had grown incredibly in just over a day. Nothing must be done to endanger it. He wanted her but only if she would not be hurt. And he didn’t want her for only a weekend or a month.

He hoped his phone call this morning would give him some clue to where he should be going with this. It was too early, but he would check with the investigator tomorrow.

Hanging her robe in the closet, Helen slipped between the cold sheets, her over heated body shivering. Closing her eyes she started going over the past two days, and her eyes popped open in awe.

She was a married woman, fighting to save her marriage and she had been throwing herself at Duncan like a lovesick sixteen-year-old. In her entire life she had never experienced even an hour to compare to what she had experienced after meeting Duncan. It seemed as if she was on a new level. It had started when she had caught him looking her over at the rest stop, and not let up since. The passion was far beyond anything she could ever have imagined.

Her life was suddenly at a crisis point, and she needed to sit and think about what direction she wanted to go. Until the last few years Gerry had been a wonderful man, a good father and a loving husband. But soon after the children were out on their own he had seemed to change.

Gerry had been getting more and more distant. When Helen had agreed to the partnership of marriage with Gerry, she had devoted herself to maintaining the marriage. She had assumed her mate would be as devoted to her as she was to him, ‘forsaking all others’. This long vacation together was to be the opportunity, the revitalization. Gerry had bailed out at the very beginning. Gerry had always had a healthy sex life, but it seemed to have disappeared. His health was good, and what stress he had was the kind he reveled in. She was beginning to wonder about his faithfulness. He seemed unwilling to spend time with her. Before meeting Duncan she had begun to wonder if she had lost her attractiveness. If a man like Duncan found her as compelling as he did, that couldn’t be the problem.

Duncan had affected her in ways no man, no one, had ever done before. And that was another worry! Where in the world was this going with Duncan. She had never had any desire to stray in her marriage, then along came Duncan and she couldn’t seem to think of anything else when he was near.

She spent the long hours of the night worrying her two problems.