“A winter storm warning is in effect for Southern Wyoming, including
Cheyenne county … ”
The first snowflakes fell from the slate-gray sky as Sam Tompkins heard
the announcer on the radio. He’d have to hurry if he was going to make
it to the airport in time to beat the storm. He sped down the Wyoming
interstate, bearing east toward Cheyenne. Sam had just settled a major
contract with a farming supply firm, and if he could make Cheyenne by
sundown, he’d be spending New Year’s Eve with his buddies back in
Boston.
Of course, Sam would have to complete his drive first, and that required
gasoline. The gas gauge was at about a quarter tank, so he pulled into
a pit stop close to Elk Mountain. He wasn’t going to risk running out
of gas on this deserted interstate. He wasn’t surprised to find the
pump was pre-pay only. The little gas station-and-store looked warm,
and the temperature outside had dropped a lot. He was glad to step
inside.
The pretty clerk at the cash register looked as warm and inviting as the
store she minded. Her hair, as black as a raven’s wing, fell to her
shoulders in bouncy curls. Her bright, cheerful smile reached her warm,
brown eyes. Sam ached to look at her; back-to-back business trips left
him without feminine company for far too long. He wanted to ask her on
a date, or to ask her for more. “Twenty dollars gas please,” he said.
“‘fraid not, sugar.” The clerk’s voice was as friendly as the rest of
her. He noticed her nametag; “Charlotte” was her name. Charlotte
explained, “I’ve just powered down the pumps; we’ve got a blizzard
coming in and the temp’s gonna fall through the floor tonight.”
“I understand, Charlotte.” Sam, ever the good salesman, remembered
people like the sound of their names. “I heard the storm warning on the
radio; sounds like it’s gonna be bad. Think you could power up your
pumps, just as a favor, so an easterner can get home tonight?”
“No darlin’, I can’t.” Charlotte said with what Sam noticed was sincere
regret. “Not till this storm blows over; company policy, and an
important safety practice. Besides, you wouldn’t even get to Laramie
this evening.” She gestured toward the interstate. “Highway patrol’s
already closing the road.”
Sam followed her gesture to the interstate, where a highway patrol
cruiser was parked in the road. The patrolman was closing a gate across
the entrance ramp. Across the overpass, another cruiser had stopped;
it’s driver was closing the ramp on that side as well. He wouldn’t be
leaving, not now.
“Oh no,” Sam said. “I really didn’t want to spend New Year’s Eve
alone.” Of course, now there was no way to prevent that. He looked at
the pretty clerk. “You got a motel in this town?”
“Well,” the clerk smiled shyly. “I have a room in the back. It’s not
much, but it’s seen it’s share of blizzards. I guarantee it’ll be
warm.” She blushed. “And you wouldn’t be alone.”
“Thanks very much, Charlotte.” Sam looked at her with a sincere smile
of his own. “Where should I move my car?”
“Just leave it; it’ll be fine out there.” She shyly reached out and
took his hand. “And we’ll be fine in here.”
They sat together in the little store, watching the storm outside. The
sky darkened and snow began falling heavily, driven by a fierce wind.
Sam listened to the howl of the wind, and to the radio playing country
music from Laramie, and to his hostess. Charlotte was the daughter of
the original owners of this mom-and-pop store; now that they’d moved to
Florida, she ran the place independently.
Sam in turn shared his own story. It wasn’t as romantic as being a
pioneer in the wilderness that Wyoming was even in the 21st century. He
was impressed that Charlotte listened and even seemed interested in the
life of a farm machinery sales executive. Sam and Charlotte both were
impressed that they each liked country music; old-school country, like
Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams Jr.
As they talked, the day wore into evening. Charlotte gave Sam a supper
of TV dinners, heated in the little store’s microwave. She got out a
couple of bottles from the store’s refrigeraters.
“I hope you don’t mind toasting the New Year with beer, Sam.” The
pretty store clerk looked apologetic, even a little embarrassed. “It
ain’t even imported, just good ole’ USA redneck brew.”
“That’s a fine way to toast the New Year.” Sam took the bottles from
her and put them on the counter. Then he gently took Charlotte in his
arms for a warm embrace. “Besides, it’s not the drink that makes the
occasion special; it’s the company in which it’s shared. And I’m very
glad for your company, Charlotte.”
“I’m glad for your company too, Sam.” the clerk blushed. Laying her
head on his shoulder, she added, “I was looking at another lonely New
Year’s out on the high plains, but you made it so special.”
Impulsively, she kissed him. “I’m glad you happened by my store, and
very glad the storm made you have to stay.”
“I would have stayed, storm or no storm, just to be with you,
Charlotte.” Impulsively, Sam kissed her back. “You’re good company,
and so beautiful.” He kissed her again, harder. “And just being with
you makes me feel wonderful.”
“I think I can make you feel better, if you like.” She wrapped her arms
around the businessman’s waist and looked up into his eyes. She looked
so shy, yet so eager. “We don’t have to stay up to midnight to
celebrate the New Year.”
Sam wrapped his arms around the pretty clerk, enjoying her softness and
warmth. “Where was that room of yours, my dear?”
“In the back of the store.” She took his hand, looking shyly up into
his eyes. “Let me show you, Mr. Boston Businessman.”
When they got to the back, to Charlotte’s little two-room flat, the
store clerk turned out the lights. “That’ll save power, so the genny
can just work on keeping us warm; it’s going to be seventy below tonight
with that wind.” She giggled, a musical sound. “Also, I’m kinda shy,
even if I am going to bed with you.”
“I understand, Charlotte.” Sam embraced her, kissed her ruby lips.
“But you don’t have to be shy.” The street light was on, reflecting the
swirling snow, and bathing the room in a warm glow. “I can still see
you, and I like what I see. You are lovely, and very sweet, and kinder
than an old businessman deserves.”
In the light of the streetlamp streaming through the small window of
Charlotte’s bedroom, the two undressed each other. They took their
time; they had the whole rest of the year to be together. Sam enjoyed
the look and feel of Charlotte’s body. Her skin was like alabaster in
the pale light, and felt silky soft under his hands. She was trembling,
though she felt warm to Sam’s touch.
When Sam finally lay the pretty girl down on her bed, she said, “go easy
with me, ok? I might act like I’m fast, but I’ve really never, um …
I’ve never done anything like this before, Sam.”
Sam kissed her gently. “It’s ok, Charlotte.” He lay next to her,
stroking her soft flesh tenderly. “I might be a rough old businessman,
but I’ll treat you as the very special lady you are.”
And he did. Sam was patient and spent the evening stroking and kissing
her, enjoying her response under his hand, against his lips. He
explored the swell of her breasts, her flat belly and firm thighs,
gently, insistently stoking the fires of her lust. He didn’t touch her
sex until she took his hand and placed it against her. She was moist
and almost painfully hot to Sam’s touch.
Sam tenderly massaged her sex, slipping a finger inside her, just far
enough to feel resistance, but not far enough to be painful. He
explored her with hands and with his tongue. He didn’t enter Charlotte
until his exploration had excited her to a fever pitch, and even then he
was gentle, making this wonderful lady’s first time as special as he
could.
Sometime during their lovemaking, the radio counted down to the New
Year. The couple didn’t notice; they were too busy celebrating the
wonder that was each other’s bodies. Sam pushed in and out of her
slowly, filling her with himself, while filling her with ecstasy, until
she cried out with her orgasm. Then he let go, spending his passion
inside her.
In the morning, Sam woke to find Charlotte up and dressed. She spied
him stirring and bent down to kiss his lips. As she bustled about her
room, Sam took the opportunity to wash up in her private bathroom. He
noticed that the wind had died down and, looking out the window, was
surprised to see the snow had stopped and the sun was peeking through
the clouds.
He also noticed that he was ravenously hungry. “So Charlotte,” he
smiled as he put his arms around her slender waist. “How about we get
some breakfast; I’m buying.”
“Breakfast sounds great, sugar!” She kissed him, then grabbed her parka
and started putting it on. “I’ll warm up my SUV. The Best Western in
town has a great breakfast.”
“There is a motel in town?” Sam was surprised. “So why didn’t you send
me there yesterday?”
“Because you didn’t want to spend New Year’s Eve alone.” Charlotte
kissed him again. “And neither did I.”
