I know it has been forever since my last update. Thank you for being patient. Please forgive any typos, I typed this at my son's soccer practice and I kept deleting the story on accident and having to retype it. Usual disclaimers yada yada.
Beth gently tapped the flyer on the corkboard at the diner. "This one looks like I can afford it," she sighed.
"Yes, but do you really want Garrett to be your landlord?" Shane queried. "The offer still stands to just move in with me."
"I know," Beth replied. "But I have never really lived on my own before. I've always had roommates. I just want to prove to myself and everyone else that I can stand on my own two feet; I don't have to have my big strong boyfriend swoop in and rescue me." She gentley squeezed his bicep for emphasis.
"I'm glad you view it as rescuing you instead of enslaving you like the rest of the town thinks. I see your point, though. You are woman hear, you roar," he replied as he placed his hand over hers.
Beth shook her head and let out an exaggerated sigh at his antics. "Maybe we should check the bulletin board at the grocery store, too. There has to be something else besides Garett's place that I can afford."
A shadow suddemly covered the bulletin board. Beth turned around to see Merle Dixon.
"If you're looking for a place, I'm looking for somebody to rent my old trailer. I'm still in the middle of fixin' it up. If you're willing to help with the fixin, I'll be willing to drop some off the price," he offered. "The bathroom's already been remodeled and the yard has already been fixed up."
"What's left to do?" Beth asked skeptically.
"Paint the walls and kitchen cabinets, and I've got that wood looking laminate flooring to put in the whole place," Merle replied.
A thoughtful look crossed Beth's face. "Can I paint the walls and cabinets any color I want?"
Merle grinned. "I reckon you'd pick better colors than I will."
Smiling brightly, Beth held out her hand to Merle. "I think you got yourself a deal then, Mr. Dixon."
Merle laughed as he shook her teeny hand. "I reckon we do, Miss Greene." He turned to Shane with a sly smirk. "Looks like I just got a bunch of free labor from you thanks to your lady."
Shane chuckled as Beth blushed.
...
With a satisfied smile Beth looked around the newly painted trailer that evening. The pale sunny yellow walls complemented the barn-red kitchen cabinets perfectly. While they had worked inside, Shane's dogs had frolicked happily in the small recently fenced backyard. Beth had painted all day while Shane had put in the new flooring in the two bedrooms and living room. He still needed to put the flooring in the kitchen and small dining area, but he would do that the next day. After that was completed, they would be able to move all Beth's stuff in.
Shane stood up slowly stretching his back, neck, legs, and arms. "I haven't done this for over a decade. I feel like an old man."
"Not old," replied Beth as she made her way over to massage his back. "Just out of practice with manual labor."
Gingerly he turned around, drawing Beth into his arms. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving. How about I go into town to pick us up something to eat then swing by my place to pick up your mattress and a few other things so you can spend your first night in your own place? While I'm at it you can finally return one of Maggie's 5000 calls," he suggested between pressing small kisses to Beth's neck.
"Other than calling Maggie, everything else sounds about perfect," she beamed at him.
"That's why I left that job to you," he winked before kissing her.
...
There was one more errand Shane wanted to run on his way into town, one he did not want Beth to know about. He had noticed the trailer about a quarter mile up the road was inhabited by somebody all-too-familiar to him. He parked his truck in front of the garbage strewn yard and noisily made his way to the front door. Pungent smoke drifted out of the screen door as he knocked repeatedly. The door was finally answered by a greasy haired man with red-rimmed eyes.
"Dave!" Shane exclaimed mockingly. "Long time no see! How long's it been? About three or four days since you last were released from jail?"
"It's just insense, I swear!" Dave squeaked.
Shane placed both hands on the top of the doorframe, leaned towards Dave, and lowered his voice to a menacing growl. "I honestly don't care if you're using again. What I do care about is if you're growing or selling again. See, my girl just moved in down the road. If you or any of your associates make her experience living here negative in any fucking way whatsoever, I will make sure even your momma and dentist can't identify the remains. There's too much traffic in the middle the night? Someone threatens her? Somone hits on her? Anyone asks to borrow a cup of sugar and she doesn't like how they look? Hell, anyone looks at her cross-eyed and I will be back. Are we crystal clear, Dave?"
Dave's Adams apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed repeatedly. "Pppperfectly, Shane," he stammered. "Nnnno one will bother her."
Dropping his hands from the doorframe, Shane straightened up and smiled predatorily. "Good to know, Dave. Good to know. I'll be seein' ya, neighbor."