Raymond Harnett was dying.  He didn't know how dying actually felt but, the way his body was wracked with pain he was certain that death was near.  With the last few breaths of life in him he was trying to figure out how he'd come to be in such a bad predicament.

Raymond or Ray to almost everyone that knew him was a hardworking good ol' boy.  Born and raised in the same community in Horry County, South Carolina, as his paternal great, great, great-grandfather who he is named after.  Raymond was a man in every sense of the word.  He loved to hunt, fish, watch or play any sport, talk about cars and of course women.  His first love though was working on or driving trucks. 

He was dying.

His family owned a trucking business that had been in business for over 70 years.  Started by his great, great, great-grandfather and his uncles the Harnett Truckers were a mainstay in the local business market.  The company suffered through the Depression, World War II, The Korean War, Vietnam and everything in between & after.  The family was often approached by larger companies about either a merger or buying the company but, the family always declined.  They had deep roots in the small town of Little River and didn't want the company moved to who knows where and have some of the locals lose jobs that they've had since high school.

His mind was racing.

From the time he could lift a wrench Ray was working on trucks and cars.  It started out with him changing the oil at 5 years old.  By 10 he could tear an engine down.  When he was 13 he assembled an engine and the transmission as a science project in school.  Although the teacher didn't see what it actually did for science he, gave Ray an A.  Ray knew what his destiny was and just like his father, his grandfather and his great grandfather it was going to be in some capacity working for the Harnett Truckers. Ray Sr. started teaching Ray how to drive the big rigs when he was 14, at 15 Ray could handle the massive vehicles like a pro.  Legally, he wasn't supposed to drive the big rigs until he was 21 but, even the local law enforcerment officers let Ray slide.  He'd never cause them any trouble and most of them were good friends of the family but, Ray never took advantage of that fact.

His breathing was getting shallow.

His uncles, father and cousins all warned him about the dangers of life on the road.   It wasn't that it was all bad but, just like any profession there are always pitfalls.  His dad told him "Ray, ain't but 'ta few words I'ma tell ya about life on the roads".  "Never, leave the yard without and extra key, never have anymore than $50.00 in cash on ya and never, ever pickup one of the truck stop ladies" (this also incluced strippers).  Ray stayed true to everything his dad told him up until about 48 hours ago.

He lost control of his bodily functions.

He was on the way back from a record setting trip.  He was hauling a rig full of computer supplies to Texas for the Department of Defense which was giving the company a bonus if they could get the supplies there in 12 hours.  A trip from Little River, S.C. to Fort Worth, Texas would normally take almost 18-20 hours and the Dof D wanted the supplies there in 12 hours.  Ray, his dad and uncle contemplated the trip and was it really worth the bonus.  Ray Sr. knew the bonus would pay 4 of their employees for a month.  Larry, Ray's cousin and the most experienced active driver said that it would be almost impossible.  They all agreed but, Ray said he wanted to try.  The other three men looked at Ray and  knew what this was.  It was about Ray wanting to get a leg up on Larry.  Ray & Larry were close they were almost like brothers rather than cousins and both competitive.  Larry told Ray that logically it just can't be done, Ray countered with "well we'll just have to see about that". 

He started crying.

Ray left the truck yard of Harnett Truckers for what would be his final trip.  Ray Sr. had to call his contact at the D of D in Fort Worth to let him know that his equipment was on the way and that the bonus should be wired directly to Harnett Truckers bank account (Ray Sr. was banking on his son to deliver).  It was like a celebration of life.  All the employees, law enforcement, family and friends came out to wish Ray good luck and to remind him to get that bonus.  The sheriff himself escorted Ray and the payload out of the town limits.  He got misty-eyed as he saw the sign Welcome to Little River, South Carolina fade out of his sight it was as if he knew this was his last load.

He made it to Fort Worth in 11 hours and 47 minutes.  Nobody would have believed if they didn't keep tabs on him.  Not only did the D of D give Harnett Truckers the bonus they also gave them an exclusive 5 year contract!  Talk about being lucky.  Ray left Fort Worth around 4pm.  He'd been there for a little over 7 hours and while he did get some sleep, he knew that he needed a bed where he could stretch his 6 foot 3 inch frame on.  He pulled into a truck stop just outside of Augusta, Georgia right on the Georgia/South Carolina line.  He wasn't to far from the home of "The Godfather of Soul" James Brown.  It was late and after talking with his father he figured he would get a room for the night and head back to Little River in the morning.

His vision became blurry.

After checking into the room, taking a shower and changing his clothes he decided to grab a  bite to eat.  There were several restaurants to choose from, the standard burger joints didn't appeal to him on tonight and he didn't really want eat where he had to put on slacks and a dress shirt.  He figured he'd just go to Diamonds, a gentlemans club he spotted on his way in.  It was about 3 blocks away so he decided to walk.

 He sat in the back near the kitchen so, he could eat and leave.  He did like the strip clubs but, tonight wasn't the night for Misty, Cherry, Sapphire or whatever made up name some young lady who wanted to give him a lapper called herself.  Just like all the other clubs he'd been in this one wasn't any different.  It was dark, cigar and cigarette smoke filled the air, along with  different fragrances that the ladies were wearing.  There was a huge guy, with no neck at the front door and several more of his buddies that were scattered throughout the establishment, as big as they were surely no one caused any trouble.  The floor was pretty clean considering the goings on inside.  There was a VIP room off in the corner where some guy was coming out of with two ladies hanging all over him. Several men were sitting around the stage there was the "I just got off work guys", "I hate to go home to my wife guy", the I'm just passing through guy", and of course "this is my first time in a strip club guy".  Ray chuckled to himself as he spotted the "I hate to go home to my wife guy" he often felt bad not only for him but, the wife as well.  What marriage could be so bad that you wouldn't even want to go home?

 The average looking waitress took his order he ordered a steak with a baked potato and iced tea, nothing fancy.  When she left the lights went out and the real show started.  All the ladies came out to give each customer a mini lapper.  Ray really didn't want to be bothered but, he figured she'd get a rise out of him, he'd give her a $10.00 and that would be it.