Austin Murray is fifty years old, owns a bookstore, and loves to walk on the beach at sun-up. He's a beachcomber, too, always in search of something unique to add to his collection. One such winter morning, an unkempt, sad-looking stranger roars into his life on a motorbike and his heart turns over for the first time, ever.<br><br>Murphy Vickers is world-weary, hurting, and unable to connect with anyone. He travels from place to place looking for work, but never stays anywhere very long. He's trying to outrun a painful event in his past that haunts him to this day. When he stops in a seaside town, he meets Austin, who offers him a job and a bed for however long he needs them.<br><br>Murphy is surly and reticent, But Austin won’t let that stop him from breaking through his barriers, and maybe getting a biker of his very own.

Happiness Is a Warm Bum

If he was talking about the same Murphy Vickers who had just arrived in town, it would explain a lot about the man’s skittish behavior, how closed off he seemed from the world and people in general. Maybe he still lived in the past. That kind of experience would definitely change a man, make him disillusioned with life. I didn’t have much time to think about this because a customer came up to me with a question.


Half an hour later, my phone beeped to remind me about Murphy’s lunch. I called Bill to take over for a bit while I went to get some food.


By eight o’clock that evening, Murphy had finished the work I asked him to do. Night had fallen and with it had come a brisk wind. A storm was brewing, I was sure of it. Aside from when I’d given him lunch, I’d seen Murphy only once or twice when he’d come inside the store to use the bathroom.


“Ready to go?” I asked as I locked the back door to the building.


Chapter 4