Stream Ran Dry

by Jeanne Harrell

  Sandy frowned at him. “I thought you and Jesse would take over the ranch together someday. What happened to that idea? That’s what you said you always wanted.”

  “Jesse can take care of the ranch for now. I’ll help him when he needs it, but I want to try some things on my own. It’s what I need to do.” Colt looked at his mother and father, whom he loved. He was his parents’ first child together—His brother, Jesse, had been five when Sandy married Lily. He knew what a special bond they had with each other and it was partially because of him. It was hard to break away.

  Minutes passed. Sandy and Lily looked at each other remembering that torrential night in the barn all those years ago, when they had discovered the love they felt for each other. Colt might have been conceived that night—an unforgettable night. An unforgettable child and now, man…Yes, he had to find his own way. Sandy took a good look at him—over six feet tall with wavy black hair like his pretty mother. He was incredibly good-looking and had always been a good son. He hadn’t been in half as much trouble as his younger brothers --Only twenty-four, but wise beyond his years.

  “So will you call your grandparents tomorrow? They should know that you’re coming and be prepared.” Lily looked at her husband.

  “Absolutely, call first. They will want to arrange something. Maybe a trip to the Hitching Post Restaurant.” Sandy smiled at Lily, remembering a trip there a long time ago. Lily’s father, Sam, was not too sure that Sandy was the man for his little girl. It took a while to smooth everything out.

  Lily smiled back at Sandy in remembrance. “God forbid, he should take our son there,” she said and then laughed.

  “I’ll be fine,” said Colt. “Actually, I already called and they are expecting me sometime late tomorrow.” He paused wondering how his mother would react.

  “Colt, I love you more than life, and I want you to be happy. Please say that you will come back to visit, because I need to know that.” Lily looked away, fresh tears on her cheeks. Sandy took her hands in his.

  “I promise. Honest…please don’t cry, Mother. I’ll keep in touch.”

  Colt and his mother hugged and she kissed him on one cheek. He shook hands with his father and then hugged him as well. He went off to pack.

  Sandy looked at his wife. “Sweetheart, you knew this day would come. He can take care of himself and he has a gift. It’s time he used it,” said Sandy. “All our children are talented. He isn’t the first to leave home.”

  “I know. But there’s something about Colt that is so special. He seems bound for greater things.” Lily smiled at her husband. They studied each other; a little older perhaps, but the love they felt was as strong as it had ever been. Colt would be fine.

  “On to Sonoma then.”

  “Godspeed, Colt.”

  Lily went into the kitchen to make some fudge. The best in three counties, Sandy said…

  The drive to Sonoma would take about four hours. Colt watched Nevada leaving in his rear-view mirror and California beckoning him up ahead. His home was Nevada and always would be. Colt knew he’d come back—but not just yet.

  Going up the road to Tahoe, the huge lake soon spread out before him. That icy, blue lake ringed with tall pines and various mountain ranges was the site of many happy memories—a few of them flashed through his mind as he drove through the town of South Lake Tahoe. His dad had brought him and his other siblings up to Lake Tahoe fishing many times over the years. They had fished for mackinaw – a great tasting variety of trout. His mind wandered to a particularly funny occasion…

  His younger brothers, Miles and Joey, twins, had apparently been born to

  create a little havoc and turmoil in the Johnson family. Colt smiled at the memory of their first infamous boat trip on their own. Even though Dad had taught them boating safety and they had practiced with the equipment, Miles forgot to put the plug in the boat before launching it, or so Joey claimed. Dad had bought them a pretty nice aluminum fishing boat complete with all the fishing equipment they would need.

  Somewhere in the middle of Lake Tahoe, the boat started taking in water. Joey had a soda cup bought at a convenience store that he was desperately trying to bail the boat out with. It was a losing battle… They started sinking and faster than they thought possible. Other boaters came by to rescue his brothers, but by the time Harbor Patrol got to the boat, it was nearly submerged. All the fishing equipment was lost and the boat eventually sunk. Colt laughed as he remembered the twins had flipped a coin to see who was going to call Dad. He had driven up with his pretty pissed-off father to get the boys and couldn’t control his laughter… After making sure they were all right, Dad yelled at Miles, then Joey, then Miles again. They were only teenagers then, but Sandy wouldn’t let them use a boat alone for a very long time after that escapade. Just one of many… Miles was a published author now and had used the story in one of his books. Dad still wasn’t pleased, reliving the whole story in print, although Mother had doubled over laughing… Colt smiled. He had a nice family…

  Driving into Sacramento meant lunchtime. Sacramento was a large city with lots of suburbs and too much traffic. Colt decided to go to Old Town for lunch, as his family had done many times over the years, driving to see his grandparents in Sonoma. Old Town had a wonderful train museum that he had visited many times as a kid. He had had an obsession with trains that lasted a few years -- He still had lots of toy trains packed away. Colt decided to grab a hamburger in the little restaurant next door to it.

  Old Town Sac reminded him so much of Naples. An Old West veneer on refurbished wooden buildings. Restaurants, souvenir shops and the occasional saloon made the place look like the set of ‘Gunsmoke’, the old western TV show. It had the same wooden sidewalks with horse and buggies going by hauling tourists around for a look. Still, it had a comfortable feel and he enjoyed coming here. Colt entered the Sweet Pony Restaurant and sat down in a booth. Looking around, he caught the eye of a beautiful girl sitting not too far away. She had been scowling at the woman sitting at the table with her, saw him looking at her and smiled. It wasn’t even a smile of surprise, it was more like ‘Hi. Where have you been?’ Wow. Who’s that? It made Colt catch his breath. She had dropped her napkin on the floor and Colt strode over to pick it up for her.

  “Excuse me, miss, but you dropped this,” Colt smiled at her and then nodded at the older woman sitting with her. The woman didn’t seem too friendly. The girl took the napkin from him and their fingers touched momentarily. What was that? Colt felt a kind of shiver go through his hand. He rubbed it against his leg.

  “Thank you very much,” she said shyly. Wow. Great looking guy. Looks like a cowboy—jeans, western shirt and cowboy hat under his chair. Black wavy hair…What’s with my hand? They had only touched for the briefest of moments, but she felt something shoot through her hand. She rubbed it on the napkin.

  “No problem at all. Have a nice lunch.” Colt started walking away reluctantly since he could think of nothing further to say that would prolong the conversation. The woman at the table with her didn’t seem welcoming, so he knew he had better leave.

  “Thank you. You too,” she smiled up at him. What a sweet voice…and that gorgeous auburn hair. She had it caught up in a long ponytail at present, but it looked like it could be wild if left on its own. Colt wondered what it would be like to run his fingers through that beautiful mane, like one of his horses back home. Was he just comparing her to a horse? Yikes, maybe that wasn’t the best comparison. After he sat down, the girl and woman got up, paid their bill, and started leaving the restaurant. Colt sighed. A great opportunity lost, he thought.

  He started to read his menu and then glanced up. Right before she went through the door, that beautiful girl lingered and then turned around. She gave Colt one of the most meaningful looks he had ever experienced. Wow again. Who is she? She parted her lips in response to his broad smile and grinned back. Then she was gone.

  He blew out the breath he was holding… Colt, his mother’s son, knew h
e would see her again. He believed in fate and it had just given him a sneak preview of coming events. This was a teaser, as Grandma Jeanne would say, and that meant the movie had yet to start. Sonoma was going to be very interesting. Colt smiled again and decided to order the spiciest hamburger on the menu.

  “Why were you smiling at that cowboy, Amanda? You are too flirty for your own good,” said her mother. Amanda Evans was driving her mother back to her home. She needed to go pack.

  “Mom, just because you’ve had two horrible marriages, that doesn’t mean I’m going to. And it is really none of your business who I smile at. You go your way and please let me go mine.” Amanda stuck out her chin in defiance and her mother backed down.

  “I just don’t want to see you hurt again. That miserable creep of a boyfriend you had last time was enough to make you swear off men. At least that’s what you said at the time.”

  Amanda let out an exasperated breath. “God, Mom, you are enough to drive someone to drink. This is my last weekend in town—could we please not have a fight over some guy in a restaurant whom I don’t know and will likely never see again? Please?” Her mother was needy, dependent and between husbands. “You need to get your own life, Mom. Not try to live mine.”

  “Okay, you’re right. Let’s not fight. I’ll save my energy to battle husband #2 for alimony.”

  If Amanda thought she was safe, she needed to think again.

  “And why are you moving up to that Soda Springs area by Donner Lake? It seems a million miles from me and Sacramento?” Her mother looked sad, but Amanda didn’t buy it.

  “I’ve been hired at that children’s camp, Mom. I want to get out of this town and see more of the country. I’ll come back to visit sometime, if you don’t start nagging me. In the meantime, get a job, learn to knit, volunteer—do something.” Amanda gave her a stern look as she stopped the car. Her mother got out, shut the door and then bent down to speak through the window.

  “You’ll come say good-bye before leaving? And I have your cell phone number, right?” She looked anxious.

  Amanda sighed. “I promise, now go lie down for a while, before another headache comes on. I have to go pack.” Her mother nodded and then turned away.

  Amanda was exhausted just taking her out to lunch. She’d turn into a nervous wreck if she moved back home like her mother wanted her to do. Nope—I’m out of here. I need to find a better way of life for myself than what I’ve known here. Amanda pushed her wayward hair out of her face. She tucked a few loose wisps back behind her ears. She stopped at her apartment building and was glad to be leaving it. Void of color and texture, the place felt like a tomb. Getting out of the car, she stood straight, all 5’7” of her and thought about the man she had just seen at the restaurant.

  What was it about him? Jeez, he was so something. Good-looking, yes. Polite, definitely. But touching his hand was electrifying… That had never happened before to her with any man she had ever known. What was it about? Did that mean anything? She remembered looking back to get one last look at him. Looking down, he was angelic-looking. Looking up at her, her heart kicked into overdrive. She had blushed and thought she was having a heat flash. They looked deeply into each other’s eyes. Some kind of pool of energy stared back at her. When he smiled at her, she felt the sun rise. Wow again. She knew she’d see him again. That was a certainty…

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