"The name's Ted."  His voice was burly, and seemed to suit him.  He looked unkempt with his rats nest of a beard, and the oily sheen in his hair.  His over sized dingy sweatshirt topped it all off.

Callie quickly turned her gaze forward.  "Callie," she said, clearing her throat.

"Well, miss Callie.  Where are you headed?"

"This way."

Ted let out deep laugh.  "And which way is 'this way' exactly?"

Callie's patience was wearing thin.  "I don't know where I'm going.  Just away from here.  Could we get going, please?"

"Yes, ma'am."  Ted gave her a little salute while twisting his face into mocked sternness.

Callie felt the truck begin to rumble and vibrate as Ted started it up and got back out onto the road.  She kept her eyes glued to the window, grasping for something to look at out in the darkness.  She rolled the events that had just happened prior to getting in the truck with this stranger over and over again in her head.

After a while Ted spoke.  "You are a long way from this way or that way, eh miss Callie? Where are you from?"

Callie gave a sigh of irritation.  "I'm from nowhere and plan on heading somewhere."

"Ah, I see.  Running away from a boyfriend or somethin' like that?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but no.  I don't have a boyfriend."

"A pretty little thing like you not having a boyfriend?" He gave a low whistle.  "I imagine you do the heartbreakin'."

Callie noticed him glancing at her sideways and tried her best to cover herself.

He laughed.  "Relax, there, miss Callie.  I may be a man, but my ma, bless her soul, taught me to mind my manners.  Besides, I don't take much interest in women anyway."

Callie thought this comment rather odd, but she decided to not probe.  "How far are we from the next town?" She was glad to change the subject.

"Oh, I'd say another two hours drive.  Not much in the next town anyway.  Maybe a pay phone and a gas station, but that's about it."

"That's fine.  I just need to use a pay phone.  You can leave me there if you'd like.  I can probably find my way from there."

"With all do respect, miss Callie, I wouldn't feel quite right leaving a young lady such as yourself out in the middle of nowhere to fend for herself."

"It could be the middle of somewhere."  Callie lay her head cautiously against the passenger window.  "Besides, you will have already driven me plenty."

"Oh, I don't mind.  I enjoy the company.  Not too many people 'round these parts.  Just the hustle and bustle back and forth on the highways, all of 'em heading to their next destinations."

"You could say that again.  I nearly became road kill before you pulled over."

"Yeah, not the best place to be going for an evening stroll.  Years ago this all used to just forest.  Trees as far as the eye could see.  Absolutely beautiful.  My ma and I lived not too far from here after the Lord took my pop, God rest his soul..."

Callie was only half listening now as her mind wandered in and out of the narrow corridors of sleep.  She at first hated the cramped space she was sitting in, but now it seemed to be growing on her.  The rocking and occasional bump of the truck was almost rhythmic and became almost like a dull lullaby.  It was as if it was coaxing her into being lulled into a false sense of security.  She was so tired though that she just didn't care.  She would sleep and let Ted wake her when they reached the next town.  Then she would figure out where to go from there.