Working for a Living

Pulling into the job site, I noticed the house was really taking shape since I'd last been here. It would only be a month until my mountain home was completed and I started to move in to the place. Getting out of the truck, I pulled my jacket up tight against my neck as the cold wind tried to bite my skin. Looking skyward, it wasn't a question of if it would snow tonight but how soon would it start.

I stepped through the front doorway and looked for Rudy, the general contractor on the project. I said hello to a couple of the guys I recognized from his crew and one of them pointed me towards the basement to find Rudy. I looked around the house before descending the stairs to find him in the mechanical room.

"Hey Rudy, just checking up on my investment." We shook hands as old friends. This is the third house Rudy has built for me. After a couple minutes of small talk about the project, his helper crawled out from behind the heater. I didn't recognize him as anyone from Rudy's crew.

"Chris, this is Jamie. She started working for me a couple months ago."

I'm sure the surprised look on my face was obvious. You don't meet to many females in the trade. She smiled at my reaction. And she has the kind of smile that will light up a dark room!

"Nice to meet you," as she extended her hand. "This will be one nice place when we're finished. The view of the lake and mountains is gorgeous."

Rudy followed me upstairs and he showed me a few of the changes they had made based on our earlier discussions. A few minutes later I was headed up the road to attend to some business in town. "Snow's definitely coming Rudy. Don't stay too late tonight."

Four hours later with the sun behind the mountains and snow already piling up on the road, I passed by my property. For some reason, I turned down the dirt road to the place and saw an old pick-up truck parked around the side. I had noticed it when I'd stopped by earlier in the day. A stiff wind hit my face as I hopped out of the truck. Stomping my boots on the deck, I hollered as I entered the house, "Is anyone here?"