Thunder Mountain Ranch

by McCarthy, G. L.

  Suddenly Winston appeared and jumped in her lap, making her laugh as he gave her several happy kisses before Jessie told him to sit.

  “Darlin’, it’s getting late and dinner will be called in about ten minutes. How are you holding up?” Jessie had figured Alex would have hung around with her. Wanting to be alone was a new side of Alex she hadn’t seen before.

  “Oh gosh, Jess, I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. Did Sam call yet?” Having left her phone in the casita she probably missed her.

  “She called about ten minutes ago to say she had landed and they were on their way to the hospital. I told her you’d taken a walk and wanted to be alone. She told me you might be here. She seems to be getting to know you pretty well, I would say.” Jessie held out her hand to help her friend up.

  “Thanks, Jess. This was the place we had our first real conversation. I would have liked to have had a few more before I went home. But I guess that’s what phones are good for.” Alex had never been able to have the “intimacy, sex and its frequency” talk, but she would.

  Having dinner with Jessie and Dawson, Alex was only half listening and half wondering how Sam was holding up. She had gone back to her casita to get her phone so she would be available if she called. Jessie could see how distracted she was and was trying to lighten up the conversation with old stories of the fun the two had in the past. Alex realized where she was going and tried hard to concentrate on the conversation while she waited for the call to come. Alex hadn’t been that hungry as her stomach was still in knots. She had been fine until Jessie brought her a couple of chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk and kissed her on the head and told her to have a good night. It took all her willpower to keep from losing it until she could get back to her casita. Putting the cookies and milk on her table, by the picture of Anna and Ramon, she let go and had a good cry not so much a sad cry, but just an emotional cry.

  Splashing some water on her face she felt better. Looking at herself in the mirror she was glad Sam couldn’t see her right now she looked a mess. Red swollen eyes were not that attractive in someone of her age. She looked at her bed and missed Sam so much. She missed the cuddling and talking until she fell asleep. Just then her phone rang. It was Sam and she was very happy to hear her voice.

  “Hey, good lookin’. Miss me yet?” Sam was missing her terribly and wanted to go to her in the worst way. But she had to be there for her parents, as her brother was still in a coma.

  “Every second of every minute since you left. But other than that, not really. How’s he doing?” Alex heard a strain in Sam’s voice. It must be hard to see your parents so distraught at the thought of losing one of their children.

  “He’s in ICU and still in a coma, so no change. But my parents are total wrecks. He’s the first born child. It’s really hard when he may go before they do.” Sam’s parent were very spiritual and knew things happened for a reason, but right now whatever the reason, it wasn’t good enough.

  “Losing any of their children would be hard. I can’t even imagine.” Alex was at a loss as to what to say. She didn’t want to sound needy but didn’t want Sam to think she was having the time of her life without her.

  “I was about to have my cookies and milk, but they don’t taste right. I think they’re missing a key ingredient – you.” Alex hoped Sam would get her meaning.

  “Oh, Alex. I can’t begin to tell you how much I miss you, especially feeding you cookies at bedtime.” Sam wanted to leave in the worst way.

  “I miss you too. More than I want you to know. But you are where you need to be right now. So I’m being a big girl and I’ll wait for you to come see me in December. But trust me when I get you alone, girl, you aren’t going to know what hit you.” Alex was trying to lighten the moment and hoped Sam would feel how much she loved her.

  “Darlin’, you’re scaring me. How much more intense can sex with you be?” They hadn’t really revisited that intensity since their first night together. The necking and talking had been so wonderful, but she had never had sex like that before and wondered what she was in for.

  “Well, it’s hard to say. But we are definitely going to have a very fulfilling sex life. You do like sex don’t you?” Alex was really hoping for the right answer.

  “I love sex, and with you it has so much more meaning to it than just the mechanics of having an orgasm.” Sam hadn’t realized how much she loved it until she met Alex.

  “That was beautiful.” Alex wished she was there with her so they could explore this new found love of sex.

  “You’re beautiful inside and out, which not only makes you extremely hot to be around, but when we start kissing in more than a cuddling, necking kind of way, all I want to do is make love to you for hours.” Sam had, on more than one occasion lately, turned the fire down as she could see Alex just wanted to cuddle.

  “Woo-hoo! I was hoping you were going to say something like that.” This was now a match made in sex compatibility heaven.

  “Easy, girlfriend. I’m a few hundred miles away, but in a few weeks we can experiment all you want.” Sam would be counting the days.

  After spending a few more minutes talking about her brother’s prognosis, Sam said she would call in the morning and they could talk while having their coffee together. Both wished the other sweet dreams and a good night. Alex undressed as she drank her milk, but the cookies didn’t taste the same without Sam. She climbed into bed and hugged Sam’s pillow, hoping to fall asleep and dream about their life together.

  Chapter 29

  Awakening alone, Alex felt slightly depressed as she looked at the clock. It was six, the time Sam usually snuck out to go feed the livestock. She wondered what she was doing since she was so use to getting up at this hour of the morning. Looking at her phone, after charging it all night, she saw she had plenty of power bars. Good thing there was a tower close enough to the ranch to get excellent reception. She laid the phone on her pillow and tried to go back to sleep. It was about thirty minutes later when it rang.

  “Good mornin’, Darlin’. How are you doing this morning?” Sam was very depressed and needed to hear Alex’s voice.

  “Other than missing you terribly, I’m peachy keen. How is your brother doing today?” Alex couldn’t remember his name. Her mind was in a fog about the whole event.

  “No change as of midnight. Maybe a little worse. His vitals are weakening and I think maybe he’s trying to let go. I just hope he goes on his own and my parents don’t have to make the decision to turn off the respirator.” Sam’s head was ready to explode from the lack of sleep and seeing her mother so distraught.

  “Alex, can you just talk to me about us and what we’re going to do when I come to visit? I need a change of topic. I love my brother but I can’t bear to discuss it right now.” Feeling so helpless, Sam wanted to talk about something she could have a say about.

  “We’re going to do wonderful things  like move furniture, unpack dishes, clean floors, windows, and bathrooms. Then when we’re done, I’m going to take you out to dinner to eat the best egg rolls you’ve ever had. At least that’s my opinion, for what it’s worth. Plus, plum wine to wash them down.” Alex wanted to show Sam so many places.

  “Plum wine and egg rolls, that sounds delicious.” Just hearing her voice, Sam’s head was starting to feel better.

  “Oh, it is. Plus there’s a great Italian place, and I make a mean Dagwood if I do say so myself. And I have been informed by Jessie that you know how to cook a tri-tip that’s to die for. I can hardly wait to try it.” Alex was anxious to get home and at least have a refrigerator working so she could have it packed with food for Sam’s arrival.

  “My tri-tip is very good, if I say so myself. When did you and Jessie have that discussion?” Sam hadn’t realized how much she and Jessie had talked about her.

  “A few days ago, I think. I have very high standards for the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with and I must say you received high marks in all categories, e
specially cooking.” Alex was doing her best to cheer Sam up.

  “So I’ve made the grade have I?”

  “Absolutely, A++ in all subjects, and being a teacher that’s as good as it gets.” She could hear a change in Sam’s voice. “Then we’ll have to visit every thrift and antique shop in the area. My new place has a yard and I want to make it look like the ranch, but in a smaller version. Do you like to build things?” Alex wanted a replica of every building outside her window so she could imagine what was happening on the ranch on those rainy days when she had to stay home, after Sam left.

  “I love to build stuff. What did you have in mind?” Sam was feeling a lot better as she had something to look forward to.

  “Well, I don’t need it all done immediately, but I want to build little replicas of the barn, tack shed, dining hall, crafts room, etc. You will have the first couple of weeks you visit to work on it while I’m at school. Then during the break I can help paint everything. Does that sound like too much work?” Alex had all her tools in storage, but the new place had a garage with a work room attached.

  “I would love to. What kind of power tools do you have?” Sam could hardly wait and figured she could have sketches of everything done by the time she left to visit Alex.

  Alex ran through her inventory of power tools large and small, and her woodworking aids. She had quite a collection in storage. It was a hobby she never really had the space for at Dez’s. Besides Dez didn’t like her place being changed. Alex had been lucky to have their bedroom the way she wanted it. Alex found out the first year that any improvement she made to the outside area was all she was going to be able to do. The garage was for Dez’s truck and lab. She could put up shelves and folding tables, but they would be for Dez’s use not hers.

  Sam had to get off as they were getting ready to leave for the hospital, but she sounded so much more like her old self. She would call Alex at bed time to tuck her in and hear about her day. Alex told her to be safe and she would see her soon. Hitting the end button Alex felt that empty feeling she experienced on the drive home from the airport. She needed to get psyched about Sam’s visit and get as much ready for her as she could in the two weekends she had left before she arrived. Thank goodness she had four days off for Thanksgiving and she was sure Cyn would be willing to help. She would call Cyn after breakfast and run this all by her.

  Walking into the dining hall she spied Jessie and Dawson eating at their usual spot. She looked at the food, but wasn’t very hungry, grabbing only a bran muffin and a cup of coffee. There was an empty seat on the bench next to Jessie so she slid in next to her friend. It was just nice to have someone to lean against. She and Sam had always made sure they were touching when they ate together. Jessie asked if she had talked to Sam and if there was any change in Anthony’s condition. It took Alex a second to realize that was Sam’s brother’s name. She reported he was weakening and possibly on his way out and how much Sam had hoped he would go on his own that is if there was no hope of him coming out of his coma. The family was on their way to the hospital to spend the day with him again. Jessie asked how Sam was holding up and Alex told her she was having more trouble dealing with how upset her mother was than with her brother’s condition. Jessie understood, as Sam was very close to her mother and never handled it well when she got emotionally upset. Jessie asked Alex if there was anything special she wanted to do and Alex said maybe have some of Jessie’s time later in the day, just to talk. She was going to call Cyn this morning and see if she was still able to pick her up at the airport tomorrow. The two weeks seemed to have flown by, but so much had happened it would seem like it had been a month if she told the whole story. Finishing her muffin, Alex kissed Jessie on the head. She said her good-byes to her and Dawson, and left to get another cup of coffee and go make a few calls.

  First she was going to call Lena and see if she could fit her in today. She would like to know if this good fortune in finding Sam was really going to last. It all seemed too good to be true. Then she wanted to call Cyn and have a nice long talk and bring her up to speed on a few things. But maybe she should wait to tell her about Sam when they were face to face where she could actually see her reaction. She dialed Lena, really hoping she would answer and that she didn’t get the machine.

  “Hi, this is Lena.” Having the morning wide open, she hoped this was a regular customer.

  “Lena, Alex Whitney. How are you?” Alex was thrilled she answered.

  “Alex, I’m great, how about you?” She wondered when she would get a call.

  “Well, my life has been amazing the last month or so, but I will put it all in an e-mail when I have a computer and an hour to tell you all that has been going on. But in a nutshell, I left Dez, met someone else and have talked to a spirit from the other side. So I just want to check my chart and see what happened to cause all these changes.” That was the “mini” version at best.

  “Wow, you have been busy. Let me bring up your chart, give me a second. So you talked to a spirit, I can hardly wait to get that e-mail. Okay, well you have come into a new period and since it was so long ago when we talked last you must have forgotten this part.”

  Lena laid out the whole thing. She told Alex that Mars had moved into her sign and would be there for seven years, which meant she was entering her most successful time ever. Mars was her yogi planet which ruled her house of income and name as well as partnership. Plus Jupiter was moving into her house of partnership, meaning a marriage type of relationship was coming. But Saturn was also still in her chart which could be a stumbling block right now and was also the reason she had warned her about her relationship with Dez possibly not lasting forever. When she had met Dez, Saturn was more powerful than it is now as it was leaving her sign. It needed to move on before she should do anything permanent. Alex pressed for a better explanation. Lena told her the person she was going to meet may possibly still be in a relationship or lived some place else. At that news Alex almost dropped her cell phone. Lena asked Alex if she could get this new woman’s time, date and place of birth for her to check on compatibility. Alex would get it as soon as she could and thanked her so much for having time to talk today. Giving Lena her credit card number to pay for her time, Alex hung up and lay on her bed to let it all sink in.

  Chapter 30

  Cyn must have been sitting next to the phone as it only rang once before she picked up.

  “Good afternoon, young lady. This is a voice from your not too distant past. How are you?” Alex knew Cyn might be a little annoyed with her for not calling her back sooner.

  “Hey, you. I was beginning to wonder if you were gone for good. Did you lose my phone number or have you been having so much fun that time has just whizzed by?” Cyn was glad to hear Alex’s voice, but wished she had called sooner and more often.

  “I know, I do apologize. I can’t believe a week has passed since I last called you. Will you forgive my bad manners?” Knowing full well she would, Alex figured she should at least ask.

  “Of course, you’re on vacation and visiting an old friend. I figured I’d be lucky to hear from you at all.” Cyn liked that about Alex. She did try to remember she had other friends when she was off having a good time.

  “So, how’s it going? Come Monday we’ll be back eating lunch together. How’s the weather? Has it been raining much?”

  “No rain, but cold. I’ve been eating in the cafeteria with all the other teachers. You’ve been the topic of conversation on more than one occasion. When you appear, be ready for twenty questions or more like forty.” Cyn wanted Alex to be prepared.

  “What questions? Didn’t Mrs. Greenway tell them what happened?” Alex wanted the whole thing to go away.

  “Well, the fact that Richard Greenway made an exit the same time as you, everyone wants to know if the two are related. Like you changed sides and the two of you had an affair.” Cyn couldn’t believe that one either.

  “What! Are they out of their pathetic prying minds? Who came
up with that whopper?” Alex had a good idea, it was Bonnie trying to get back at her for going to a football game with her girlfriend, Lucy and Cyn. She really hoped she was wrong.

  “Nobody’s talking. But I think it has Bonnie’s jealous little fingerprints all over it.” Like Alex would want her girlfriend. Lucy wasn’t even in her league.

  “I can’t believe it. I go to one lousy football game with Lucy, and Bonnie’s making up lies like that. She better stay out of my way or she’s going to get an ear full. What is Lucy saying?” Alex figured nothing. She could be enjoying the rumors, untrue as they were, about being her girlfriend.

  “Oh she denies it, but only half heartedly. I think she’s enjoying herself. But the part that kills me is that anyone else would believe it.” It was beyond Cyn’s comprehension.

  “You know those small minded bunch of old prudes, they’d believe anything about anyone.” Alex had time to come up with some great lines for them and a few for Lucy and Bonnie when she saw them on Monday. “Not that I’m going to let that go all that easily. By the way, did you run into any trouble with renting the house for me?” Considering Cyn didn’t call, she didn’t think she had.

  “No problem. I was able to sign you up for all the utilities and even found a cleaning lady to go in and give it the once over. It’s ready for you to move in when you get back. But it doesn’t have a refrigerator. There’s a really nice stove/oven combination, but I guess they thought most people would like to pick out their own refrigerator. I talked to Frederick and he said we could get a good deal from the local appliance store, since you’re a teacher and you’re such a big hero and all.” Cyn tried to ease that part of the current talk about Alex into the conversation.

  “Hero. What aren’t you telling me Cyn?” How did she go from being accidentally stuck by a needle meant for someone else to being a hero.