The sun beat down hard on the long stretch of highway, carving its way through the countryside like a scar. A white semi-truck rumbled across the hot asphalt, its engine humming like a lullaby in the stillness of the summer air. Behind the wheel sat Joe Caldwell, 57 years old, rough on the outside but soft-hearted underneath. He tapped the steering wheel to the rhythm of an old country song. This was his third delivery run of the week, crossing two states. He’d driven this road a hundred times. But he had never seen anything like her.
A woman stood by the side of the road, holding a small child in her arms, while another boy clung to her hip. A worn duffel bag lay at her feet. Her clothes were simple jeans and a tank top but her posture was straight, her gaze steady.
The children looked exhausted. One had sweat glistening on his forehead, the other scanned the horizon with the eyes of a deer on edge. Joe eased his foot off the pedal and pulled over. The woman didn’t wave or run to the truck. She just stood there, like someone who had given up hoping but hadn’t given up walking. Joe climbed out of his……Read Full Story Here………………..
