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The sun was setting when they turned west and headed back to Sarasota. Amazing shades of red, violet and flamingo pink spread across the altocumulus cloud formations. Josh pulled the car’s visor down to cut the harsh light of the setting sun.
"What? You don't appreciate natures' last hurrah?" she asked, with a laugh.
"I prefer my buttermilk in biscuits."
"Picky, picky. You know, it will all be over in a few minutes."
"I'm all for that," he said, adjusting his head to keep the visor between his line of vision and the horizon.
Maggie laughed and patted his arm. We'll be home soon, and I'll pour you a cool one. And cheese! I know you like cheese with your whine."
"Very funny..." he said, squinting, trying to make out the road through the glare of the sun on the windshield.
"I can’t wait to show your mom the vase and bowl, and then we can all relax on the lanai with a nice glass of Fiorelli’s... Josh, look out!”
“Oh, shit!” he exclaimed and jerked the wheel a hard left sending them into the oncoming lane. Luckily no cars in sight. He quickly pulled back, pumping the breaks at the same time to get control as the car fish-tailed across the road. The front tire caught the soft shoulder, propelling them off the road, sheering a sign and sending them nose-first into a deep, water-filled ditch beside the road. The airbags exploded with a deafening bang.
"Oh my god, Maggie! Are you all right?" his hands still gripping the wheel and shaking.
"I, yes... the damn airbag could have broken my nose, but I'm all right."
"What the hell! Was a cow... A COW! - on the goddam highway!" He opened his door and stepped out... and up to his shins in ditch water. "Son of a...!"
The sign they hit had once read: 'Welcome to Edgeville, population 645', but now half of it lay in the weeds, while the other half swung lazily in the slight breeze.
"Josh, Honey, are you okay?
“I’m fine, but I don’t think the car is.”
Maggie brushed her red hair away from her face and glided awkwardly out from under the collapsed airbag. “Thank God for seat belts and air bags,” she murmured to no one in particular and with a sarcastic edge.
"I can't believe this! A damn cow!" he turned toward the front of the car, slipped in the wet grass landing hard on his backside. "Josh..."
"I'm fine. Wet, shaky and bruised... did I mention pissed!" he said with a strong emphasis on the last word.
“Let's call AAA and get some help out here.” Maggie pushed on her door, but it wouldn’t open all the way. She eased out, barely getting her feet through the opening. She stepped with both feet into the cold, muddy water almost to her knees. “Yuck!"
“We’re going to need a tow. I hope we didn’t break anything.” Josh, surveyed the car, checking for damage, but not being mechanically inclined, he had no idea what he was looking for.
“Maggie, get your phone out. I’ll get the rental papers from the glove box. There is probably an emergency number to call.”
“My phone? I told you I was leaving mine to charge. You were supposed to bring yours.”
“I thought you said leave mine to charge." A look of realization spread over his face. "Great. Here we are, out in the middle of nowhere, stuck in a ditch, no phone and it's getting darker by the minute.
“Oh, Josh, I'm sorry. I should have checked. I had an idea you weren’t listening." She perched on the side of the car, the front end stuck in the ditch and the whole thing listing severely to one side. Josh pulled at prickly stickers that clung to his pant legs.
The black cow was approaching. She had meandered off the road, and looking lost, must have decided to join the party. Maggie stretched out her hand, and the cow came closer. She sniffed at Maggie’s out-stretched hand.
“Don’t make friends with that beast! She almost got us killed!”
“She’s sorry. Look, you can see it in those big brown eyes.”
“You’re such a pushover,” he said moving toward her. He put his arms around her, holding her close and rested his chin on her shoulder.
“I fell for your big brown eyes, didn’t I?” She said softly.
“And I’m glad you did.” Josh gave her a hug. “It will all be fine. The car is a rental and insured. We’ll find a farmhouse and get some help. I'm sorry, Maggie. I wasn’t listening to you about the phone. My mind was on the winery reservations and surprising you.”
“You know, most men would be ranting and raving about now. You are always the calm one. I swear you can resolve any problem. That’s why you will make one great attorney."
“Oh, I was mad, but there is nothing we can do. Am I going to be mad at the cow? If I’m angry with anyone, it’s the farmer who let his cow wander all over the road.”
“We’d better get going. I saw a house back down the road. Open the trunk, would you? I think I have another pair of shoes in there. I can’t walk in these; they’re totally ruined.”
Josh grabbed their jackets, and Maggie changed her wet shoes. Hand in hand, they walked back the way they had come.
“It’s so quiet out here - no cars or trucks. Listen, you can hear different insects and a few late birds.” Maggie whispered. They could hear the soft sounds of nature settling in for the night. The lights of a farmhouse shone in the distance, leading the way.
