Talk to the stranger

“Are you talking to me?” he asked.

“Huh?” the woman uttered in surprise. “But… I…” she trailed off before becoming thoughtfully quiet for a while before finally speaking, “I was from a neighboring town and wanted to find someone at the nearest town. Uh… the… mayor told me that someone would wait here to guide me to the town here.”

John shrugged. “Sorry to disappoint you but I’m also new here as well.”

“I see. Then maybe we can go together. Safety in numbers and all that.”

“Sounds good to me,” he said while extending his hand. John Cartel. Call me John.”

She shook his hand. “Mary. Mary Durrance. You can call me Mary as well.”

“So, shall we?”