Lyra found her eyes widening when a semi started to stop and pull over, she turned watching, holding her breath. She found herself expecting a big burly guy with a belly that hung over his pants or some tattooed big man with bad hygiene and teeth like on the movies. She turned, holding her bag tightly as she started walking toward the cab. When she saw the man that came around the front toward her she was surprised. There was nothing about him that read trucker in her mind.<span style="font-weight: bold">â€œMaâ€™am? Needing a ride?â€</span>Being called maâ€™am had her steps faltering and she found herself smiling and trying not to laugh at how that sounded.<br/><br/>â€œA ride would be appreciated, thank you.â€ Lyra began, though in the pit of her stomach the nerves increased. She hoped that the warmth in his smile was sincere otherwise she really was getting herself into a world of trouble.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">â€œLetâ€™s get you on up in the truck. Not safe for a young lady like yourself to be walking roads and hitching rides from strangers.â€</span>She couldnâ€™t help but give a small pointed look as he said this but then he held out his hand and she tentatively placed hers in his, shaking his hand which seemed to engulf her own but even that simple touch seemed to be kind. She could see there was strength that he could easily have used had he wanted to but his handshake was not too rough and hers was as firm as she could make it despite her exhaustion from being on her feet.<span style="font-weight: bold">â€œI am Koja Donevin. I am an ex-Navy officer. It is a pleasure to meet you.â€</span>The fact that he saw a need to mention his former Navy experience could easily be taken two ways. She assumed he meant for it to set her mind at ease so she wouldnâ€™t see him as a threat but she also knew from all the stories she had read in books and from television plus meeting a recruiter at school that the Navy trained all sorts of men.<br/><br/>She bit her lip and realized that there was more to this man than he appeared, but she had no way of knowing if it was good or bad. When he asked her name, she blushed realizing she hadnâ€™t offered which would have been the polite thing to do. â€œOhâ€¦ Iâ€™m Lyra, itâ€™s nice to meet you, sir.â€ Koja, his name was so unusual she could definitely say she had never heard the name before. When he released her hand and stepped away she slowly began following. When he held out his hand, she was a bit wary but told herself to think of it as an adventure. Sliding the straps from her shoulders, she winced slightly as the movement caused the familiar sharp pains to sweep through her.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">â€œIâ€™ll help you up there maâ€™am.â€</span>The sound of someone calling her maâ€™am once again sounded funny and this time she couldnâ€™t stop a small laugh from escaping her lips.<span style="font-weight: bold">â€œIt is a bit of a distance from the ground to the inside of the truck. Iâ€™ll make it easier on you to get up in there. Alright?â€</span>Well, she thought to herself, if he was going to try something she would know soon enough. Rather than speaking, she nodded and held out the bag toward him first and then looked at the distance between the ground and the seat inside.<br/><br/>â€œAny help is welcome, thank you.â€ She offered him a smile, wringing her hands together slightly. She didnâ€™t know what to think of the concern she could hear from him, it sounded so strange because the last person to show any warmth and concern was her mom.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">â€œAre you alright maâ€™am?â€</span>Hearing that question, she was certain her expression revealed how surprised she was by the fact that he asked, but she had just met him and she wasnâ€™t about to get into it with someone she didnâ€™t know.<br/><br/>Instead she shook her head, â€œIâ€™m fine, just have tired feet and they are still a bit wet thanks to the downpour we had earlier.â€ Her eyes didnâ€™t quite meet his, though what she spoke was also part of the truth. â€œThank you again, I was beginning to think I might pass out before anyone stopped,â€ she tried to keep her tone light as she stood near the cab and asked, â€œWhatâ€™s the best way to get up in the cab?â€