Riding the River (23 page)

Dan, the driver who had brought Ben in from
Reno, was thinking the same as Dale. He too stood back, waiting to
see what was going to happen and to help, if he could.

Ben was fully aware that he was being sized
up from all corners of the building. It was a strange thought and
made him uneasy.
Where was she and why would she possibly want
to stay here?
Ben sat and looked at his iced tea. He hated iced
tea …

By the time Matt and Sarah pulled up at the
guest ranch, everyone on the place knew what was happening and were
trying to watch, in some inconspicuous way… Richie rode up and
Frank informed him out by the corral. Richie decided to walk around
to the front to see if he could help Matt. He knew Matt wouldn’t be
in very good shape if Sarah left. Theirs was a small community and
you always helped your neighbor – It would come back when you
needed help.

Matt got out of the truck and walked around
to open Sarah’s door for her. When she got out, she kissed his
cheek, smiled and went in. Matt closed the door and leaned against
it frowning. He pulled his hat low over his forehead… Richie came
up and they leaned against the truck together in total silence.

When Sarah walked into the dining room, Ben
smiled at first to see her and then frowned.
What in the hell
was she wearing?
The Sarah he knew wore designer dresses and
heels… This Sarah was wearing tight jeans, a Western shirt and
cowboy boots.
Who was she and what had she done with Sarah
Hughes?

She glanced at the kitchen and saw Dale
peeking out. When she frowned at him, he quickly went back inside.
Ben stood up and Sarah walked up to him.

“Sarah… It’s good to see you. You look…
good.” He didn’t try to hug her, which was good, because she didn’t
want to hug him. Besides, she knew with all the spies around right
now, it would get back to Matt, which would kill him… So she kept
her distance. They sat down together at the table.

She laughed. “Nice try, Ben. I probably look
strange to you, right?”

He relaxed and laughed too. “Yes, sorry. I’m
not used to seeing you in anything but dresses and slacks. I’ve
never seen you in jeans before.”

“Well, anyway… Let’s hear your news. Why are
you here?”

“I’ve come to take you home, Sarah. Your
grandfather has had a heart attack and has been in the hospital for
a week now. Your father couldn’t reach you, so he sent me to bring
you home.”

“Pardon me for being cynical, but has
Grandfather really had a heart attack? I just called Dad to tell
him I was staying here, which he objected to and then you show
up…”

Ben looked blankly at her. “No, your
grandfather is really sick. This isn’t a subterfuge or anything.
It’s a legitimate request by your father that you come home. You
know how much your grandfather loves you.”

But not enough to leave me be, she thought.
They just don’t understand what’s happened to me…

“Okay, Ben. If you promise this is on the
level.” She got up and so did he. “I’ll need to pack a bag.”

“Do you need some help?”

“No, thanks. I won’t need everything since
I’ll be coming back.”

Ben’s mouth dropped open. “You’re coming back
here. Why?”

She sighed. “We’ll have a lot of time to talk
about it in the car and on the plane, Ben. Suffice to say that I’m
supremely happy here… Okay?”

“Okay,” he mumbled, sincerely doubting her
sanity at this moment.

“I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes.”

Sarah went into the kitchen quickly to talk
to Dale. He was waiting for her with questioning eyes, curly hair
sticking out everywhere.

“Dale, promise me you’ll look after Matt.
He’s going to be upset…”

“…You think so? I think he’ll lose his mind
if you leave.”

“I’m not leaving him, Dale. I have to go see
about my grandfather. It probably won’t hurt to have a face-to-face
with my father about everything too.”

“… Okay, that sounds good.”

“So will you check in on him, please?”

Dale smiled. “For you, sweetie,
anything…”

“If I’m gone longer than a week, work on him
to fly out. I want him to meet my father anyway.” She looked at him
sincerely. “I knew this was going to happen...” She shook her head
walking out of the kitchen.

When Sarah walked out of the guest ranch,
Richie and Matt were standing by the truck together, not speaking.
They both watched her with serious eyes as she walked up to
them.

“No one’s died, okay you two?”

Richie shrugged and walked away.

Matt opened the passenger door for her and
she got in. He didn’t look at her as he walked around and got in on
the driver’s side. When he shut the door, Matt finally turned to
her.

“…So?”

“You know what’s happening here. I have to
go… Please take me back to John’s so I can pack a few things.”

“You’re not taking everything?”

She scooted closer to him and held his face
in her hands. She could see her reflection in his sad eyes.

“No, I don’t need everything. I’ll be back…
My grandfather really is very sick and I need to see him.”

He let out the breath he’d been holding.
“Okay.” He started up the truck and drove back to his grandfather’s
ranch. A few miles before they arrived, she asked him to stop. When
he pulled over and turned off the ignition, she was in his
arms.

He swallowed. “Honey… I’m not losing you, am
I?”

She pulled back and started kissing all over
his face – his eyes, nose, cheeks, along his jaw… When she came
back to his mouth, he had a smile for her. Sarah planted a juicy
one on his lips that became sexual, full of promises…

“No,” she whispered. He hugged her tightly to
him, their cheeks together. Matt kissed her cheek and then smiled
at her.

“Okay, but I’ll feel better once we’re
married.”

“Really?” It was Sarah’s turn to be
surprised. “What brought that attitude change?”

“If we’re married, you’ll
have
to come
back to me.”

Sarah laughed. “If that makes you feel
better, then great…”

He started the truck back up and drove the
last miles to his grandfather’s ranch. She packed a light bag and
went to talk to John. It was almost as hard to say goodbye to him,
as it was to Matt. She dearly loved John too, as he did her. They
hugged and said their
See you soons
…

Matt drove her back to the guest ranch,
stopped the truck and started to get out. Sarah put a hand on his
arm.

“Don’t… Let’s say goodbye here.”

He looked at her again like his heart was
breaking. “…Um…”

“Come with me, Matt…”

“… To Baltimore?”

“Yes. Why not?”

“Sarah, I can’t live in Baltimore.”

“I’m not asking you to live there, just come
with me now…”

Matt ran a hand through his hair and his eyes
were uncertain. “… I don’t know.”

She shrugged, “Okay, but when you do know,
you know how to reach me.” She dug a business card out of her purse
and handed it to him. “My cell phone number is on there.”

Sarah gazed at him and reluctantly opened her
door. “I won’t sleep well tonight without you…”

Matt gazed back at her. With a hitch in his
voice, he answered, “… I won’t sleep at all.” Her stomach
clenched…

She leaned back to kiss him one last time and
got out of the truck with her small case. Sarah walked up the steps
to the front door and looked back one last time. Matt was staring
at the card she’d given him. He looked out at her, she waved and
then went in – She heard his truck start up and leave. It took all
her strength not to go running after him as he drove away. Instead,
she squared her shoulders and set her mind for the long task ahead
– Getting back to Baltimore and dealing with her family…

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

It was a long drive to Reno and a mostly
quiet one. Ben didn’t have many questions for her – He could see
she’d made up her mind anyway. Saying goodbye to Dan was hard too.
When they’d arrived, she gave him a hug.

“Still got that horseshoe?”

“…Yep, it’s worked so far.”

“…Hang onto it, miss. We want to see you
again soon.”

“You will, Dan. I’ll let you know when I’m
coming back.”

The next day on the airplane, Ben noticed
that she’d changed her clothes.

“You look nice, Sarah. More like
yourself.”

Sarah looked down at her tailored slacks and
Italian blouse. She’d never felt less like herself…

“Thanks, Ben, but this is just for Baltimore.
I’m so much more comfortable in my jeans.”

He didn’t speak much to her after that and
she busied herself with a sweet email Matt had sent her. They’d
spoken on the phone last night before she went to sleep and she’d
given him her email address. Matt had gone into Wells to call her
and then write her the email, which she loved. She’s received it
this morning and had read it over and over…

Honey,

This seems a strange way to communicate with you.
I’m so used to having you in my arms. For now…

Last night without you was lonely. To say I missed
you doesn’t begin to

describe my feelings. I couldn’t sleep and tried to
read. When that didn’t work, I got up and went into the kitchen.
John wasn’t sleeping either, so

we ended up playing chess. He misses you too…

When are you coming back to me?

I went to brush my teeth last night and noticed my
toothbrush was gone, of course… I promise you can keep it, if you
promise to come home soon.

Tomorrow the new horses are arriving and you won’t
be here to see them. Our ranch is nearly ready to move into, but I
won’t do it without you. I can’t… I’m pretty much stuck in neutral
until you’re in my arms again.

All my love,

Matt

And she’d written a quick email back to him,
not knowing if he’d even receive it.

Matt,

Come to Baltimore… I’ll be expecting you every
day.

Love,

Sarah

After reading his lovely email a few dozen
times, Sarah glanced over at Ben. She thought of Matt and compared
him with Ben. There was no… absolutely no comparison. Matt, the
handsome cowboy, wanted, needed, adored and loved her. Of that, she
was sure… She wasn’t too sure if Ben even liked her. He’d never
acted much like it. Now that Sarah had a real frame of reference
for love thanks to Matt, she saw that Ben had been a pretty poor
match for her. Even though she’d sort of thought so at the time,
her weeks spent with Matt completely blew everyone else out of the
water.

Once the plane had landed in Baltimore and
she’d gotten her bag from baggage claim, she found her father
waiting for her by ground transportation. Sarah’s eyes lit up when
she saw Robert for the first time, in a long time. Ben followed
behind.

“Sarah!” Robert yelled when he saw her. As
soon as she was close enough, he gave her a huge hug. “God, I’ve
missed you so. Let me take a look at you.” He glanced at her and
smiled. “There’s something really different about you,
sweetie.”

“Hi, Dad. I’ve missed you too.”

Then he saw Ben and reached over to shake
hands. “Thanks for going, Ben. See you tomorrow.”

“Fine. Bye, Sarah. It’s good to have you home
again.” Ben smiled at them both and left the airport.

Robert put an arm around his lovely daughter
and carried her bag out for her. “I have a driver who’s circling.
It’ll take him a minute to get back.”

Sarah laughed. “A driver and a limo… I’ve
forgotten about those kinds of transportation.”

“How do you get around at the ranch?
Horseback?”

His big smile left his face when she nodded
at him. “Yes, it’s great.”

He tried again. “Are you tired, Sarah? Could
you come over tonight for dinner? I’d love to hear about your
Western adventure.”

“Well, how’s Grandfather? Shouldn’t I go see
him?”

“… Not tonight. He knows you’re coming and
tomorrow will be soon enough. He’ll be asleep by now anyway.”

When the limo arrived, Robert took Sarah back
to his house and ordered in a good dinner from one of the nice
restaurants she’d also forgotten about. They were sitting at his
huge, mahogany dinner table, complete with linen and lighted
candles when Robert began his interrogation.

“So tell me…” Robert poured her a nice glass
of wine. “I know you’d rather have a beer, but humor me…” He smiled
at her.

“Where should I start?”

“Start with him – Gregory Peck. I know you’ve
fallen for someone, Sarah. I could see it on your face at the
airport. Did Ben meet him?”

“No, Matt and Ben never met. Matt was pretty
unhappy that I was going. I didn’t think it’d be a good idea for
them to meet.”

“So…”

“Well, you were right.”

“Really? That’s a first, huh?” He laughed at
her.

Sarah smiled. “You told me to go find Gregory
Peck and I did. His name is Matt Garth. He’s handsome, smart, has
dark, wavy hair and is incredibly sexy.”

“Whoa… Not sure I want to hear that
part.”

She rolled her eyes. “Dad… Do you mean to
tell me that wasn’t a big part of your attraction to Mom?”

“Damn, Sarah… What
did
happen to you
out there?”

“… My eyes were opened and my spirits lifted.
I found friends, love, a wonderful man and a new home.”

“… A new home?”

“Yes, Dad. Yell all you want but I’m moving
to Nevada and marrying Matt.”

“You’re getting married?” His fork stopped
midair with a bite of crab on it.

She nodded. “I love him, so I said yes.”

“You haven’t been gone long enough to even
get to know him.”

“… How long does it take?”

That had him stumped. Sarah smiled and ate
another bite of her lobster. It was delicious…