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“I nearly got run off the road by a semi last night and ended up bouncing along a rough, uneven shoulder. Narrowly avoided a guardrail before I got her back on the road, but about twenty miles later I started hearing noises that got louder the further I went.”

“I don’t think the engine is toast, but I won’t know for sure until I can really get in there, take a few pieces apart and figure out exactly where all that fluid is coming from. Some of it is antifreeze, some is power-steering fluid, it wouldn’t surprise me if there isn’t some oil mixed in too. I’ll need to get her up on a lift and look underneath. Did it feel like you against something?”

“I didn’t hear scraping, but the car shuddered when I wrenched the wheel.”

“A vintage machine like this isn’t going to be easy to find parts for, so I won’t be able to give you a timeframe until I know what’s wrong with her and see what kind of challenges we’ve got ahead of us. I hope you were planning to stick around Comet Lake for a while.”

“This was our final destination.”

“Alright, then I’ll get her taken apart and see what needs to be ordered. If you’ve got family you’re staying with, you might want to give them a call so they can come pick you up. It’s two miles into town, and unfortunately, everyone here came in on a 4-wheeler. We don’t break out the UTVs until the snow starts flying, which might be tomorrow from some of the reports we’ve heard.”

“No, umm, well, maybe? I just need to make a call and hope he isn’t busy.”

“If he is, I’ll see if we can find someone to come get you guys,” Rusty offered.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a phone I can use?” the guy asked.

“Knock yourself out,” Rusty said, unlocking his and passing it over.

While the guy paced, pup shadowing him wearing a mini version of their father’s scowl, Rusty started checking hoses for leaks, trying to pinpoint where the mess was coming from. His arm brushed against the manifold, and he jerked his hand out with a yelp.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, must have caught a hot spot, is all. I’d have thought we stood here jaw-jacking long enough for it to cool down,” Rusty replied. “Were you able to reach someone?”

“Yeah, thanks, he’s on his way. Told me to hold tight, since he needed to stop off and grab some keys so we could look at a few houses,” the guy replied before he handed the phone back.

“Want a hand getting everything out of the trunk?”

“That would be awesome, thanks. Wren, can you sit right here so we don’t accidentally run into you while our arms are full?”

“O-kay, but I’m hungry and I’m not eating another ham sandwich, bleh!” The kid whined, sticking their tongue out.

“We’ve got chicken nuggets in the kitchen,” Rusty said, chuckling when the kid’s eyes immediately lit up. “If your dad says it’s okay, I’ll snag you a plate.”

“Bless you,” the guy replied.

“Thank you, Mister.”

“My name’s Rusty, and your name’s Wren. It’s nice to meet you. We’ve got dipping sauces to go with your nuggets. Do you like barbeque, sweet n’ sour, or honey?”

“Honey, please.”

“That’s my favorite, too,” Rusty replied before heading to the kitchen to grab some of the nugs Onyx had sent over for them that morning as thanks for repairing the UTV that was currently serving as the bakery’s delivery vehicle.

Rusty grabbed some nuggets for Wren’s father too, figuring he was probably as hungry as his pup, and carried the plates out to find he’d already started unloading the Talladega.

“Here, let me get the rest,” Rusty said. “You guys enjoy these.”

“Thank you,” Wren replied, popping a nugget in their mouth the moment Rusty placed the plate in their hands. They didn’t even bother dipping it. “Yum!”

“Right! These are the best nuggets I’ve ever tasted,” Wren’s father said.

“Onyx, over at the bakery, made ‘em,” Rusty explained. “It’s more like a full-on diner at this point, though baked goods are still his specialty. I love it when anything breaks down over there because he always hooks me and the boys up with something amazing.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to pay you in currency,” Wren’s dad explained. “My culinary skills are nowhere close to this level.”

“We accept any and all form of payment here, so no worries,” Rusty explained. “We’ll get your car sorted out for you as soon as possible.”