Susan reached over, touched his arm, and then recoiled. Her face reddened, and Dusty wondered if she considered the gesture a breach of professionalism.
She straightened in her chair. “Just give Arthur some time to cool off. Who’s looking after Jeremy’s horse operation now that you won’t be around?”
“I imagine Penny Snyder will keep tabs on them. She’s good with the horses, and she knows what she’s doing.”
“Penny wouldn’t take the news that you were leaving too well.” Susan met his eyes.
Dusty thought it an odd observation—the two women had never even met as far as he knew—but there was no understanding a woman. “She called me early this morning. Wished me luck. Even offered to work for me once I got the ranch off the ground. Gave me her cell number if I decided to hire her on.”
“I just bet she did,” muttered Susan.
“She’s an excellent horsewoman and conscientious. Do you have something against Penny? I wasn’t aware that...”
“Forget I mentioned it. It’s nothing.” Susan finished her coffee and set her cup aside.
Dusty was no fool. If a woman said ‘it’s nothing’ you could bet the farm it was actually a very big something. He thought about Susan and Penny for a minute. Susan was a professional woman who knocked his socks off with her kisses and kept him constantly thinking about taking her to bed. He considered Penny Snyder a kid who loved horses, ate pizza for dinner six nights out of seven, and drove him nuts with annoying questions about horses. And he was certain she knew the answer half the time before she even asked him.
And then he got it.
Hell, Susan’s jealous. Probably Catherine or Amanda blew the whistle on the little pain-in-the-butt horsewoman who drove him to distraction most days. Surely, none of these women actually considered the possibility he was interested in Penny.
“I’m glad to be rid of her. She’s a twenty-year-old kid, absolute pain-in-the-ass nuisance. But she knows her stuff so Jeremy keeps her around,” said Dusty, hoping he sounded especially exasperated.
Susan beamed.
Damage control. Mission accomplished.
“Well, I just wanted to bring you up to speed on where things stood. I’m going back to the realtor’s office to check out some more possibilities in case this Bozeman place doesn’t work out.” Dusty rose from the chair.
Susan stood. “Just let me assure you that I’m totally on your side. It’s your dream, your decision, and nobody has the right to stand in your way. You owe the Branigans nothing. You worked hard for Arthur, were paid a fair wage, and that’s where the obligation ends.”
“Thank you for your support. I’ll pick you up here tomorrow morning at six o’clock so we can get an early start like we planned.” Dusty grabbed his Stetson. “We are a go still for tomorrow, right?”
“You bet. I’m looking forward to seeing this place.” Susan walked him down the hallway to the bank’s front door. “Good luck at Graham’s office.”
“Thank you.” Dusty leaned down, kissed her full on the mouth, stuck his cowboy hat on his head, and strode out the door.
*
Susan felt her face flame. He’d kissed her. In the bank’s entranceway. In broad daylight. In front of her entire staff and several customers to boot! She felt totally mortified and absolutely thrilled in equal portions.
While she retraced her steps to her office, several employees exchanged knowing looks. She heard Marie mutter under her breath, “Now I understand why the cowboy doesn’t require an appointment.”
No, he doesn’t, she thought. Her office door would always be open to him. Preventing her heart from feeling the same way, open to him for all time, would be the challenge.
Susan realized that she’d started to share his dream, felt equally excited about seeing this property tomorrow. But why? He’d chosen the bank, not her, for the sole purpose of obtaining a mortgage. Hadn’t he? Or did he secretly request her assistance for other reasons? She could accompany him tomorrow as a friend. If she stretched the tale, she could claim to be a financial advisor. And then she mentally shook herself. Pursuing a relationship with Dusty MacFarland would certainly end in disaster: hurt feelings, emotional disappointments, ruined friendship. He dreamed of owning a horse ranch and she dreamed of becoming a bank director. While excellent goals in their own right, the two were miles apart on the scale of possibilities: one urban and one rural, totally in opposition to each other.
Simply wouldn’t happen.
But a secret thrill had raced up her spine when he told her he considered Penny Snyder no more than a troublesome kid. When he shared that bit of information, she’d almost high-fived him but caught herself.
“Thank you for firing Dusty, Mr. Branigan, and separating him from the persistent Ms. Penny Snyder,” whispered Susan aloud. “In the off chance a relationship develops between us, with our dreams at such odds, we’ll need all the help we can get.”
Just then her telephone rang, jolting her out of her musings.
“Ellis Bank. Susan Sanders. How may I help you?” she greeted the caller.
“Susan, this is Amanda. Jeremy just called the ranch for an update with Dusty. Penny Snyder filled us in on what happened.”
“Can you believe Arthur fired him?” Susan sighed. “The news almost knocked me over. I never expected such a negative reaction from him.”
“Jeremy’s in shock. Because Arthur would do such a thing, not that Dusty is buying his own ranch. Jeremy’s so excited for him. He’s been trying to call Dusty, but his cell phone is dead, or shut off, or something. All of his attempts to make contact just go to voice mail.”
“Dusty just left here for the realtor’s office to search for suitable ranch property. We’re driving to Bozeman tomorrow to look at a possibility, but I know Dusty wanted something closer to this area.”
“We?”
“Yeah, he asked me to come along.” Susan laughed, nervously.
“So, if this ranch is down in Bozeman why even look at it? Doesn’t he want something closer to us?”
Susan sighed. “The realtor painted a favorable picture. The place sounds perfect for Dusty’s needs and it’s one of the few listings that he can afford. He might have a problem getting a mortgage without a sound income.”
“I’ll fill Jeremy in and tell him to keep trying to contact Dusty.” Amanda chuckled. “We’re having a wonderful time. Don’t you dare tell anyone where we are, okay?”
“That will not be a problem. I don’t know where you are, remember?”
“We’re up in Canada at a resort near a place called Banff. It is so beautiful here! Seems like a million tourists are wandering around the place, but we spend a lot of time in our room.”
“I bet you do.” Susan chuckled.
“Oh, yes, the air-conditioning is lovely. So much more comfortable than being outside.”
Susan snorted. “If you think I believe that story, you’re delusional.”
Amanda laughed. “I gave it a good try. Seriously, we’re having a ball here. But I’ll be happy to get home again, too. See you in a week or so.”
“Bye, girlfriend. Have a good time.” Susan hung up the phone and scoffed, “Air-conditioning my foot.”
*
Dusty strolled out of the realtor’s office and dug his cell phone out of his jeans pocket. The damn thing had been ringing every five minutes for a half an hour, but he’d been so absorbed in his property search that he’d just ignored it. He checked the caller ID.
“Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?” Dusty smiled in spite of his annoyance with anyone named Branigan. “Or has Amanda wised up and sent you down the road already?”
“She still loves me. Sorry to disappoint you.” Jeremy added, “Speaking of sent down the road, I hear you got yourself fired by a guy who considers you his third son. Now, that takes talent.”
“Not when you piss him off by being an ‘ungrateful piece of shit’. I’d relate all the details of my fall from grace, but I’d waste too much air t
ime on my cell account.”
“I’m sorry Dad reacted the way he did. The old fart can be downright unreasonable sometimes. If you repeat that to anyone, I’ll deny saying it.” Jeremy chuckled. “Penny filled me in on your little unexpected announcement. Congratulations, Dusty, on giving it a go on your own. That money you expected from your ma’s estate must have been a pretty substantial inheritance.”
“Yeah, well, I haven’t got the check yet. But remember that five grand I said I won in the lottery? Actually, another hundred ninety-five thousand came along with it that I didn’t mention. It’s been wisely invested and multiplied like rabbits.”
Jeremy whistled long and low. “Wow. You’re buying a fairly large spread then, setting up a substantial operation by the sound of it.”
“I’m looking around at suitable properties. Or I’ll build a barn or a house or whatever is lacking if a find a place that’s close to perfect.” Dusty grinned. “Guess all that construction work we did together over the years on the Lazy B is going to pay off.”
“If you need an extra guy with a hammer to help out, give me a call. And I talked to David. He and Catherine are on board with this, too. They’re both really happy for you.”
“Thanks, Jer.” Dusty’s voice caught. “I’m glad my little venture into ranch ownership isn’t ruining our friendship at least.”
“Never, Dust. I totally understand. Remember the fit Dad threw when I announced I was using my inheritance from Grandpa Branigan to start up my bucking horse operation? I thought we’d need to start CPR when his face turned all those wonderful shades of red. But after I turned a profit the first year, he realized I was on to something. And Dad will come around in time again, once his ruffled feathers get patted back into place. Rosalie probably had a few choice words for him. You were always one of her favorites.”
“Oh, hell, I’m going to miss her strawberry rhubarb pie. And her beef stew. And her...”
“Not too late to change your mind.” Jeremy chuckled.
“Forget it. I’ll send her money and have her courier me some.” Dusty laughed.
“We’re up in Canada for another week or so, but I’ll call you as soon as we get back.”
“Enjoy yourself. I hear the scenery up there is out of this world. Amanda might like to enjoy some of it if you allow her out of your room once in awhile,” teased Dusty.
“I’ll buy her some postcards.” Jeremy laughed and cut the connection.
Dusty smiled. At least, he hadn’t lost his best friend over his decision. “Now, I’ve got to find me a ranch, and I’ve got the most wonderful woman in Montana helping me.” He waited for his call to be connected while he headed toward his truck, whistling.
“Ellis Bank. Susan Sanders. How may I help you?”
“Hi. It’s Dusty. I thought I’d warn you to pack an overnight bag, just in case something happens and we can’t see the property until Saturday or Sunday.”
“Okay...I guess so...yeah, I can do that...” stammered Susan. “Did Jeremy get in touch with you?”
“Yep, just talked to him. He’s on board with my little venture into ranching. Believes I’m doing the right thing. Gotta go. See you tomorrow morning.” Dusty ended the call and crawled into his pickup truck. Now, maybe he should make sure something happened. Nothing he would like better than to spend the whole weekend alone with Susan.
Chapter 5
Susan spent Thursday night cleaning her condo, doing three loads of laundry, and packing an overnight bag. She slipped a pair of silky baby doll pajamas in among two changes of clothes, a change of shoes, and her cosmetics and toiletries. Ten minutes later, she yanked the pajamas out and packed her favorite sleeveless short cotton nightgown. A few minutes later, she pulled that out, tucked a lacy black negligee under her clothes, flipped the top shut, and zipped up the suitcase. Decision, final.
She had no idea what Dusty had in mind for their weekend, but she wasn’t taking any chances. If this ended up a lost weekend with Dusty, she’d have no regrets even if the relationship didn’t progress further. And if he loved this ranch in Bozeman and purchased it, she would seldom see him again anyway.
“But I could always take comfort in knowing ‘we’ll always have Bozeman’,” she whispered, smiling. And then she realized if Dusty’s suggestion was purely innocent and he simply didn’t want to inconvenience her if he decided it was necessary to stay another day, she’d be a little disappointed. Okay, maybe a lot disappointed. She’d fantasized about the guy every day and every night since she met him. And her mind was very inventive when it came to fantasizing.
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.
When Dreams Collide Page 5
