When Dreams Collide (7 page)

At five a.m., the alarm clock jolted Susan out of an erotic dream about Dusty. But she woke feeling refreshed and well-rested thanks to the sleeping pill she’d popped at ten o’clock. She intended to look and feel her best today, especially with a long road trip ahead of her. Sleeping pills took forever to work their way out of her system, and she yawned loudly as she slipped into the warm shower.

“Wake up, Susan,” she mumbled aloud. “There’s a long day ahead of you.”

She pulled her BMW into the bank’s parking lot at five forty-five. Dusty stood at the front door, waiting for her, a black duffel bag lay at his feet. She hopped out of the car and smiled at him as he approached. “Where is your truck?”

“Left it at the hotel and walked the three blocks over here. If it’s all right with you, we’ll take your car. Even with those boots you’re wearing, you’d need a stepladder to climb into my truck.” Dusty smiled.

Susan did recall the oversized tires. And Dusty had lifted her into his arms and deposited her on the passenger seat when they drove over to the realtor’s office. “Okay, we’ll take the car.”

“Good. Lifting you into the truck like a little kid was probably pretty embarrassing for a professional woman like yourself. Although I’m not complaining about having you in my arms.” Dusty held up his bag. “Where do you want this? Trunk or backseat?”

“My suitcase is in the trunk.” Susan slipped into the driver’s seat to push the trunk release button on her key. So, he was concerned about her feelings as a corporate woman. Nice, she thought, smiling to herself.

Dusty tossed his bag inside and closed the lid. “We’re taking your car, ma’am, but I’m driving.” He approached the driver’s door.

She opened her mouth to protest, but thought better of it. This was one argument she’d never win. Not many Montana cowboys would take kindly to being driven around by a woman. She stepped out and headed for the passenger side. “You’ll have to stop for gas on the way out of town.”

“I intend to, and I’m paying.”

“No surprise there.” She crawled in, fastened her seat belt, and smiled in anticipation of relaxing while a man drove for a change. “Make sure there’s a coffee shop in the place. The trip could get ugly if I don’t soon get my morning cup of brew.”

“There’s a restaurant right next door to the gas station beside my hotel. Let’s grab a quick breakfast and then head out. We’ve got plenty of time.”

“Of course we have plenty of time. You had me up before the birds,” observed Susan, yawning once again.

Dusty caught the little smile that gave her away. He’d thought she was seriously annoyed at him for a minute there. But, as usual, she was only teasing.

“Do you only require a cup of coffee to brighten your mood, Ms. Sanders?” Dusty pulled into the gas station.

“A veggie omelet wouldn’t hurt either.”

“Done.”

****

Banff, Alberta, Canada

While Jeremy filled the car at the pumps, Amanda sat in the passenger seat, recalling their pleasant flight into Calgary early Sunday afternoon after spending their wedding night in an exclusive hotel suite in Helena. They’d arrived on July 1st amid the annual Canada Day celebrations. Everyone waved Canadian flags and wore red t-shirts or tank tops or hats. The hosts and hostesses at the airport greeted them wearing those famous white Stetsons.

Jeremy had reserved a car, and they picked up a Buick at the rental desk for the scenic drive to Banff, where they would honeymoon in the beautiful Canadian Rockies. The breathtaking drive through the mountains had them hooked, and they had toured the area throughout the week.

Amanda glanced over at her handsome husband climbing into the car after topping up the rental car’s gas tank. He fastened his seatbelt and met her eyes. “I can’t believe today is Friday already, Jeremy. We’ll be driving back to Calgary tomorrow to catch our flight home. The time just zipped by.”

“We’ve had a wonderful time though. Excellent food, magnificent view from our suite, and the housekeeping staff doesn’t come knocking when the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign is hung on the door.” Jeremy grinned, wickedly.

“You’re incorrigible.”

Jeremy started the car, drove out of the gas station, and headed down the street. Majestic mountains surrounded the town, and the streets were lined with tourists popping in and out of the various shops and eateries.

Amanda dug the map out of the glove compartment and unfolded the unwieldy thing. “I’ll never tire of driving through these beautiful mountains, and I hope you’re not too disappointed we can’t visit the hot springs. Being five months pregnant, for me, soaking in hot springs is out of the question I’m afraid.”

“I don’t mind, darlin’. We’ll come back on our first anniversary. We can do the hot springs then.” Jeremy reached across the Buick’s console and squeezed her hand.

“So we agree. We’ll drive up to Lake Louise, have lunch somewhere, and then drive back again.” Amanda met Jeremy’s eyes.

“Sounds perfect. I don’t want you getting exhausted. Just another short day trip is good enough. Besides, I brought that pillow and blanket from the hotel with us. If you’re feeling tired, you take a nap.”

“You’re so thoughtful, sweetheart.” Amanda smiled. “After all the hectic wedding planning, I was really looking forward to getting away on this vacation, even if only for a week.”

“Me, too,” added Jeremy, glancing sideways. “Oh, crap!” A minivan was heading straight for the passenger side of their car. He punched the gas pedal.

The Dodge caravan struck the rear passenger door and the trunk received the brunt of the collision. Thankfully, Jeremy’s quick thinking saved Amanda who was directly in the vehicle’s sights when he first noticed it.

“Amanda, are you okay?” he screamed. “Honey, is the baby okay? After all you’ve been through...”

“I’m okay, sweetheart. And the baby, too. What happened?” Susan leaned forward and met Jeremy’s hurried kiss on her lips and then her eyes widened. “Oh my God, Jeremy, another vehicle hit us!”

“Yeah, I know. I saw it coming at the last minute. I almost missed it.” Jeremy released his seat belt. “Stay here and call 9-1-1. I’ll check on the other driver.”

Amanda pushed the emergency On Star button.

Jeremy heard a female voice inquire, “On Star. What’s your emergency?”

“We’ve been hit by...”

Jeremy leapt out of the Buick and strode around to the driver’s side of the Caravan. A woman in her mid-thirties sat strapped into the driver’s seat, appearing dazed and mumbling incoherently. And then he noticed the four or five-year-old girl occupying the passenger seat.

“Are you guys, okay?” inquired Jeremy.

“Mommy’s sick,” whispered the little girl.

“Did she hit her head when the cars crashed?” Jeremy strode around to the passenger side and met Amanda yanking the passenger door open. “I thought I told you to stay put.”

“I’m fine. This child is probably frightened to death.” Amanda held out her arms to the little girl and she hesitated for a moment. “I know I’m a stranger, baby. But this is an emergency. It’s okay.”

The child burst into tears and climbed out of the vehicle. Amanda lifted her up, and the little girl threw her arms around Amanda’s neck in a death grip and attempted to wrap her skinny legs around her thick middle. “It’s going to be all right, sweetie,” cooed Amanda.

“Here, Amanda, sit with her on the curb until the police come. She’s too heavy for you to hold in your condition.” Jeremy steered them toward the grassy boulevard.

Just then a police car screeched to a halt at the scene, followed closely by an ambulance. Jeremy crossed the street and met the male Canadian Mountie alighting from the patrol car. “I’m sure glad to see you.”

“Is everyone okay?” asked the RCMP constable.

“My wife and I are okay, but the driver of the Caravan is injured. Her daughter seems frightened but otherwise okay. She’s with my wife over there.”

By now the paramedics were removing the injured driver from the van and exchanging instructions with each other. One medic strode across the street to examine Amanda. “I see you’re pregnant. You should come to the hospital to be checked out.” The female paramedic observed her, took her pulse.

“Okay, but the little girl comes, too. She’s frightened to death, shaking like a leaf.”

“Fine, we’re taking her mother to the hospital.”

“Is she okay?”

The paramedic hesitated for a second and then whispered. “She may have suffered a heart attack which would account for the accident.”

“Oh my God. She’s so young,” blurted Amanda.

“It happens. What’s your name?”

“Amanda Bail...Amanda Branigan. We’re from Montana, honeymooning here.”

“Let’s get all of you to the hospital. Your husband can sort this out with the police and then catch up with you, okay?” The paramedic lifted the little girl into her arms. “What’s your name, honey?”

“Suzanne,” she whispered, swiping at her tears with her sweater sleeve.

“We’ll take real good care of you, and your mommy, and your new friend, Amanda, okay?”

The little girl bobbed her head and wrapped her arm around the paramedic’s neck.

Amanda watched the ambulance race down the street with Suzanne’s mother on board. A female police officer had taken over from the ambulance attendant, directing Amanda and Suzanne to her patrol car.

They arrived at the hospital a few minutes later.

Jeremy was nowhere in sight.

Amanda burst into tears.

****

Once they finished breakfast and resumed their trip, Dusty settled into the driver’s seat and glanced over at Amanda on the opposite side of the vehicle. “Why are you smiling? Got a secret that the rest of the world hasn’t a clue about?”

“No secrets. Just enjoying being a passenger for a change. I’m always driving somewhere it seems. Visiting other bank branches, arranging visits to customers to discuss their investments, and that sort of thing.”

“Well, settle in for a pleasant day of driving through this beautiful state. Man, I love living here. Blue skies, clean air, and good people.”

“Have you always lived in Montana?” Susana turned slightly in her seat, an inquisitive expression on her face.

“Half my life, but I was born and raised in Texas. There are too many bad memories back there that I’d just as soon forget.” Dusty shifted in the seat. Darn it. He hadn’t meant to blurt out the latter part. Now she’d ask questions and either he’d have to refuse to answer and pique her curiosity even further, or answer them and risk losing her friendship and respect.

“Can you tell me something about your childhood?” Susan tilted her head and met his eyes.

“I was adopted by a childless couple who owned a ranch that had been in his family for generations. Dad was the last living relative on his side of the family and they adopted me, I guess, in hopes of having a next generation to take over the ranch when they retired. For a number of reasons, that didn’t happen.” Dusty glanced away for a moment. Even after all these years, the memory of that dark time in his life haunted him. “I suppose I was better off being adopted than placed in the foster care system, but Dad only saw me as free ranch labor, ordered me around. Never once did he praise my work, tell me I’d done a good job. There was always something wrong, something lacking. But my mother loved me like her own flesh and blood. I think Dad resented how much affection she bestowed on me. I couldn’t have asked for a better mom.”

“I’m glad you hold happy memories of your mother in your heart.” Susan reached out and briefly touched his arm.

“The day after I graduated from high school, I punched my dad’s lights out and left. I’ve never looked back. Years later when Dad passed, Ma realized I was never coming back to stay. She sold the ranch, hired a fellow to handle her finances, and moved into a seniors’ lodge in her hometown south of Dallas.”

Susan shifted in her seat. “Go on,” she encouraged, sounding totally non-judgmental.

“Ma’s attorney informed me her health was failing. I usually visited her at least once a year, usually around Thanksgiving. Last Christmas, I visited her one last time.”

“I bet she cherished your visits.” Susan smiled.

“Yeah, I’d take her out to dinner at a fancy restaurant and surprise her with a gift: sparkly diamond earrings or something. Next day, she’d brag about her kind-hearted, generous son to the other old gals in her circle of friends until it got downright embarrassing.” Dusty caught himself smiling at the pleasant memory.

“I was an only child and both my parents are deceased, too,” admitted Susan. “Just me against the world now. Mom and I had a standing date every Saturday—brunch and shopping. Gosh, I miss her. Saturday just isn’t the same anymore.”

“Ma died a few months ago, and the legal stuff finally got itself sorted out”

“And you’re committed to buying a ranch?”

“A horse ranch. I’ll board horses for city dwellers, and offer riding lessons for a fee, of course.  I hope to get kids away from the computers and gaming systems and stick them on a horse, take them riding, get them interested in the great outdoors and nature. I’ve spent a few summers helping out with the kids staying at the Lazy B Guest Ranch facilities. Man, I loved that.” Dusty caught himself grinning.

“I can tell by that broad smile, you really like kids.”

“I love kids. Plan to have a few of my own some day. Once my ranch is up and running and making a profit, I might start up a charitable organization that works with horses and disadvantaged or disabled kids.” Dusty could see Susan’s interest peak as he explained his idea.

“You could start a foundation and collect corporate sponsorships.” Susan beamed. “If you find a ranch not too far away, I would enjoy helping you get the foundation started. Organize fundraisers and dinners.”

“Whoa. Don’t be hiring a chef yet. Charitable fundraising dinners are way off in the future. But I’ll assist horse rescue operations requiring temporary boarding quarters for horses that can be rehabilitated.”

“All of this sounds exceptionally ambitious for a guy who’s only worked as a ranch foreman.” Susan spoke honestly, and he understood her concern.