Then, Lois broke in on him, again. "I'm going to go take my shower, now while there's hardly anybody around!"
"Yeah… good idea! You go ahead…" he agreed. "I might do the same thing… a little later on!"
While Lois went, happily, about the camper getting her things ready, Stan decided to take another look at the engine of the truck… while away a little time with some tinkering, since there was very little he could do… as far as undoing the damage he had done to a developing relationship with Vivian Williams. Of course… maybe she was just playing around… being a teaser… but the way she talked she was serious about it… but the thing I can't figure out is the WHY of it? Why me…? She didn't know me from Adam!
Stan went outside, walked to the front of the camper and opened the hood to the engine compartment. Idly, he looked inside, studying the engine, but not really seeing it. His mind was still racing… But, if I ever get another chance… like this I'll sure as hell take it! Sure! It'd be cheating on Lois… but damn it… more and more… there's nothing there for me! It's just not any fun! There's no charge! All she'll do is lie there… telling me I can't do this or that! It's just a few kisses… hop on… and hop off, again! Christ… if she'd just let me play with her cunt… lick her clitoris… really get her ready for it… she'd have an orgasm every time! She seems to think anything but straight fucking is dirty… and I get good and tired, trying to convince her otherwise! Hell… I'm getting to the point where I don't care whether I fuck her or not! I just can't get as excited as I should! She's got such a great body… but she won't use it… for what it was designed for… for sex pleasure!
He heard Lois leave for the bath house. Maybe… I'll try, again, tonight… to get her to go the oral route… put some zing back into our sex life! Come to think about it… there hasn't been much of it, lately! He spotted a frayed wire leading to the headlights. Deciding that he ought to wrap it with some electrical tape, he went to the storage compartment in the side of the camper to get it.
Just then, he heard a car crunch by on the park road, below the campsite. He looked up, recognized the car, instantly; it was the big Mercury station wagon they had been riding in earlier. Vivian Williams was driving… and she was alone! Stan made up his mind, right then! Hell! Maybe there was something he could do… after all! She's alone… and probably going down to the village! It's only about a mile… and I could walk down there… maybe get to talk to her… find out what she's thinking! Hell… I might be able to get something going with her… besides I need the exercise… and the walk'll do me some good!
Closing the hood of the truck, he went inside the camper, found a piece of paper and scribbled a note to Lois, telling her he had gone for a walk down to the village.
With a spring in his step and a blithe whistle on his lips, Stan set off at a fairly brisk pace. Damn… with a little luck…
It was an invigorating walk; he enjoyed the clear, smog free air that pumped in and out of his lungs as he hiked along. Arriving at the rustic village, he spotted the Williams' car in the parking lot… and in a very few minutes of poking around in the various stores and bars, he found Vivian. She was seated in a booth, at the rear of one of the bars… and she was with a black bearded, leather-clad motorcycle bum. Well… I'll be damned!
He sat on a stool at the bar and ordered a beer. He drank it, slowly, glancing covertly at them and came to the conclusion that it was her own damned business what she did… And, I don't have any business interfering…! She sure must be desperate… trying to get her kicks with a character like that!
Stan had intended to drink only one beer, but he ordered a second and drank it as he watched Harry Williams' wife giving her rapt attention to the bearded gang leader, for of course, he had recognized him as the one who had passed them on the road, the day before, with a jeer and a flipping middle finger. Finishing off the second glass of beer, he left the bar. There's no point in sticking around here!
He stopped into-one of the rustic curio shops, bought some picture post cards and a scarf for Lois, feeling he should bring something back for her… if only to prove he had actually visited the village. Then, carrying his small package, he headed back toward their campsite, the camper… and his wife.
Strolling along the road, in no particular hurry, he enjoyed the scenery. He was, perhaps, only a quarter mile from the camp, when he glanced back over his shoulder to see the Williams' Mercury station wagon approaching, rapidly. As the car came close, he saw Vivian's tense, frightened face. Hell! Something's wrong! He waved his arms at her, vigorously and shouted, "Stop! Hey… Vivian! Stop! How about a ride?"
Oh, it's Stan! Thank God! She brought the car to a squealing stop, glancing back down the road and seeing only Stan Brewster dog-trotting up to her. She was still afraid that Mickey Blackum might be following… somewhere behind.
He was at the side of the car, now; Vivian looked up at him, her frightened grey eyes the only spot of color in her white, fearful face.
"What's wrong… Vivian?"
"Oh, S-Stan… I'm scared! It's M-Mickey Blackum! He… might be f-following me!"
"Why…?" He looked back down the empty road.
"He… wanted to take me… up in the hills… s-somewhere on his motorcycle and…"
"… And, what…? Fuck you…?"
She looked down, her face flushing, slightly, "Yes…" she trembled.
"What in the hell did you pick him up for then?"
Her eyes questioned.
"I saw you… in the bar with him!" he explained. "He seems like a damned poor choice!"
Stan saw that she was shaking, violently, and knew she was in no condition to be driving. "Slide over!" he said, firmly. "I'll drive you the rest of the way!"
She obeyed, and Stan opened the door and got into the driver's seat.
"I was angry… I guess…" Vivian tried to explain. "I was mad at H-Harry… and mad at you… too… for… for…"
"… For turning you off… during lunch?"
"Hell… what did you want me to do… grab you and lay you right there… in the restaurant…?" he asked, exaggerating.
"N-No but we could have been alone… tonight and…"
"We'd have been taking a chance of your husband catching us!" he reminded her.
"No… it would have been all right… with Harry!"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… h-he wouldn't do anything…"
Stan looked at her, questioningly, not understanding, so she went on, "He does what he wants… and I do what I want!"
"So you tried to pick me up…?"
"Yes… b-but there's a reason!" She looked away, not wanting to tell him… yet; it was the wrong time. Looking back down the road, she saw nothing on it, and heaved a sigh of relief. Now, that she had Stan Brewster alone… she might be able to carry on… from where she had left off, at lunch, when he had rejected her advances. She would know, in just a little while whether or not he was interested. "Why don't you drive around, for a while… maybe we can find a nice… private spot someplace… where we can talk…" she suggested.
"O… Or… fuck…?" His boldness in making the further suggestion amazed her. It had just come rolling out of his mouth.
"… Or… both!" Vivian told him, her heart leaping with excitement. Well! Maybe he's coming out of his shell…!
Stan put the car in drive and released the emergency brake. He drove quite slowly. The road led past the two camping spaces, but there was no way he could avoid passing them. He'd just have to chance being seen, either by Lois or Harry… but Harry — according to Vivian — was no longer any problem.