Mary Ramsey

It was a little before three am when I crossed the border into South Dakota. But I could already hear the lights and sirens in the distance. “You have got to be kidding me.” I knew I must have been speeding, and speeding in a semi-trailer, well that would certainly draw attention, but come on- this was South Dakota. The entire state was practically a ghost town during the daylight, so I truly hadn’t anticipated any cops on the road. I pulled over. It was no big deal, I had plenty of time to get to my destination. “What seems to be the problem officer?” I asked, paperwork in hand.

He looked at my license, then at me. I already knew why: I didn’t look like a typical trucker. I was a skinny guy with long hair and a tan, like something out of South Beach. Or a rockstar who finally decided to give up on his dreams and join the real world. In truth, I’m just a man of the lord. “Leonardo Riveria?”

I’m tri-racial, but after reading my name cops always expect me to speak with an accent. “Yes, sir.”

“Says here you’re from Seattle? Kind of a long way from home?” The man’s voice is deep and weary. And of course, he had to be blasting his flashlight in my face. For all I knew, I was being pulled over by a ghost. “Where are you heading?”

“Nowhere at the moment, I just finished a job in Idaho, I heard there’s some work in southern Wisconsin.” It was a perfectly believable explanation.

“Well, for the safety of other drivers I’d appreciate if you called it a night. There’s a rest stop in the next mile and a hotel just beyond that.”

“Thank you, officer, I will be calling it a night.” I chucked to myself; he didn’t even check my trailer. Always pays to be polite. After the cop left, I pulled back on to the main road for the next mile and a half. I could actually see the hotel he was talking about, as I made my turn, towards the lake. I could imagine how touristy and quaint this place was during the day. But for now, it was the location of my next job.

I parked my semi at the closed gift shop, just like any other visitor. Walking towards the sparkling lake, I stretched my back, looking up at the full moon. Now the question was; would she come to me, or would I have to hunt? Might as well try for the easy way first.

Walking to the edge of the lake, I find a comfortable place and take a seat. My well-worn work boots barely touch the water, just enough to hopefully call upon the creature that dwells in this place. I close my eyes, as my mind drifts to images of my past, the life I left behind. Sometimes I can still picture my mother’s face.

My life was a lonely one, but the years seemed to fly by. And North America, well, it’s a big enough playground for someone to turn around and go the other way. That’s why it took me nearly a decade to make it back to South Dakota.

“Hello,” says a female voice at my feet.

I knew better than to open my eyes.

“Hey, soldier, you looking for company?”

“Soldier? That’s a new one.”

“What do you usually go by; Padre, father?” Her body was cold and wet, crawling up my physique until she pressed her lips to my ear. “Or do you prefer daddy?”