The sun had said goodbye to Montana many hours past, as the midnight's moon shined it's pale face through the swollen gray clouds, hidden by the veil of night. Wispy December snow skated the frozen highways that cut through rough mountain and thick wood. The darkness was cut by light that shown from a solitary structure, a truck stop with a lone client for the night.

Two figures, hidden by shadow and light, worked through a dirt road that intersected the highway, making a beeline for the lonely truck stop. Montana, especially this time of year, was no place for the homeless.

Words erupted from the maw of one of the hidden ones. "Damn this cold... I'd kill for a way out of this place..."

Stony and raspy words escaped the other's mouth. "Don't speak such rot. We'll be out soon enough."

"Better make it today or tomorrow. I don't wanna end up like Needles," the short one, Christopher (simply Topher to most), replied sharply.

Atticus kept his thoughts on this matter to himself, but his companion had a point. This cold had killed better men than they, and he was praying the truck stop could have remedies.

The two worked their shivering way through the wind's daggers of cold and snow. Slowly but surely, they approached the light and the promise of a few hours of warmth.

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The pair swinged open the double-doors of the florescent heaven of the truck stop. The facility was your average convenience store/truck stop, with all the things your average trucker would want on his lengthy journeys. Best of all(and much to Topher's delight), it was aptly names Kum-and-Leave.

The counter had two inhabitants, who seemed to be squabbling over one thing or another. The clerk, a young Mummer Muse girl with thick braces and a bad completion, was almost completely hidden by an enormous pile of trucker, wrapped in boot-cut jeans that revealed his ample fissure and a vest formed from a mutilated flannel shirt.

"Sir, that just is not enough for all this...," the Mu Mu said, before the mountain of man interrupted her.

"Now... uh... looka her, uh... young 'un! I's been pickin' up... uh... stuff from thisun here store fer uh...um.. yers! Tain't yuns wid... uh... yer sass gonna stop muh... uh.. now! Now give me muh snackers!"

"But, sir, I can't just give it away...," the girl replied sheepishly.

Topher was thinking of something. This guy was pissed, but with some coaxing... "How's it goin' y'all!" he broke out in a thickly accented voice. "I's wunderin' ifin yuns like ta take a break from yonder barterin' and talk fer a spit. Me anda mah frien' here was jus' passin' through, an' we's in desperate need of some talkin'!" Out of the corner of his mouth, he whispered something to Atticus. "Atty, have all our cash ready. This guy'll prolly give us a ride if he gets to likin' us."

Atticus simply watched, his mouth hanging open in denial of his friend's words.

The girl behind the counter stood in similar shock, but the trucker seemed to pick up on his friendliness. "Well, uh, sure! This can.... uhooerr... wait! Wutcha wanna spit, young 'un?"

"Jus' the whatnot, fella. Never caught dat name o' yers." Topher replied slyly.

The two moved over to a booth, while the girl and Atticus stayed as they were, jaws hanging slightly open. The trucker, who's name was Bubkus, had stopped in for fuel and snacks, but didn't have enough cash on him. After Topher spent two bucks of Atticus's well-guarded kitty on nachos, Bubkus revealed he was hauling toilets down to California.

Topher got up barely noticed(Bubkus was nosedeep in nachos), and approached Atticus. He whispered again, "Atty, go get a case of beer and pay for it and the rest of Bubkus's bill." Atticus started to speak, but Topher cut him off. "I don't care if it takes the rest of our cash, just do it."

Bubkus raised his head like a pig from a trough. "Watch yuns doin'?"

"Bubkus," Topher sang in a kind, twangy voice as he returned to the booth, " Would ya be willin' ta do me an' Atticus yonder a favor?"

Bubkus cocked his head quizickly.

"Ya mind haulin' me an' mah frien' to Californey?"

"Well, uh..., I dunno... We tain't 'sposed tuh.... uhooer... give out rides..." His face screwed up, contorted by traditions of friendliness and rules of employment.

Then Topher pulled a fast one.

"We jus' paid your bill, an' threw in some booze," Topher said coolly.

Bubkus's face lighted up. "Well, I can't jus... er... leave a favor... umooerr... unanswered! C'mon, time's a wastin'!"

Atticus smiled at the quick thinking of his friend. For about thirty bucks and a bit of theatrics, Topher had just bought a ticket to better places. Plus the look on the girl's face was priceless...

With that(and a bit of pant readjusting by Bubkus), the three head out and south, beer and hope in hand.