The Arkansas Barbecue Traveler's Travels: 3 Heethens BBQ in Monticello.

I saw the smoke rising from a trailer tucked beneath an awning next door to the Arby's in Monticello and - even though I 'd already eaten twice that morning and was ready to hit the road, I pulled into the lot. It wasn't on my list - but 3 Heethens BBQ had that barbecue moniker and that barbecue scent, so I pulled on in.

The scent of red oak hung in the air, in the haze of early afternoon. I walked up to look at the board. It was full of pork, but that's all right - people like pork, I wish I could eat it. There was also chicken, so I asked for a chicken sandwich - but alas, they were sold out for the day. So yeah, I ordered a pulled pork sandwich. I knew I could photograph it and then have Grav or Hunter try it for me.

The lovely lady behind the window of the food trailer under the awning disappeared into the back to start building the sandwich. A gentleman walked up and just started telling me the story, His name? Justin Linely. And he told me he didn't set out to open a barbecue joint. He set out to listen.

A 1992 Monticello Central High graduate, Justin grew up in Arkansas City but made the daily drive so he could stay connected to Monticello schools and the Rodeo Club. It was that important to him to go.

As an adult, Justin worked as a welder, working long, arduous days and struggling to sleep at night. One especially rough day pushed him to the point of breaking. So he prayed. He prayed for a sign. Not a suggestion. Not a nudge. A sign clear enough that he’d know it when it showed up.

He stepped onto the back porch where he was staying, and the sun broke through the clouds -brilliant, blinding, and gone almost as quickly as it appeared. For Justin, that was enough.

He walked away from welding, came back to Monticello, and bought a food trailer. 3 Heethens had been born.

Justin has been at it for about a year that afternoon, and his business was starting to pick up. He wasn't setting up to run every day, just Fridays and some Saturdays, and from time to time a Sunday to boot. He and his wife Monica give it their all those couple days of the week.

Justin smokes his meat using only red oak, sourced from an older supplier who sells it by the rick. The price is $80. Justin pays $100. Respect, he says, matters as much as fuel.

Monica handed out a brown bag and I took it, promising to stop in again when they had smoked chicken wings on the menu.

The trailer sits beneath an awning that once served as a vegetable stand and a yard sale stop. There's no advertisement save a lone Facebook page - but Monticelloans have found it, and they've shown their support.

Oh, that pulled pork sandwich? It passed Hunter's muster... though my kid's having a harder time of processing pork each day (undoubtedly beginning to have mom's allergic issues there), the scent of that smoke and the light tangy sauce compelled him to ask for a couple of bites. The rest got the Grav stamp of approval.

Head here to see what Justin's got on the specials board each Friday.