When Dreams Collide

by Brenda Sinclair

  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.

  “I’ve learned from the best teacher in the world, Arthur Branigan. Stood right alongside his sons during every lesson and absorbed all that knowledge like a dry creek bed soaks up rain after a dry spell. I know what I’m doing as far as the horses go. And I intend to hire good workers to help me with any areas of expertise that I don’t possess myself.”

  “That’s wise.” Susan nodded in agreement. “I’ll admit your enthusiasm is contagious. Taking a leap forward and pursuing your dream is admirable.”

  “Although it’s a little scary, thinking about all the responsibility, doing it on my own, it’s time I pursue my dream. Now or never. Until I won the lottery, I thought the world didn’t give a damn about me and I’d have to struggle for everything I got. Winning that money changed my thinking big time. I decided if Fate blessed me with these funds, then it was up to me to make the most of the situation and pay forward my good luck. I’d overcome the childhood abuse I’d endured from my father. So, surely I could wrestle up the strength and bravery to tackle my dream. I also knew that once I set out to achieve that dream, I had to succeed. Failure wasn’t an option.” Dusty met Susan’s eyes. His life had taken a positive turn since he’d decided to pursue his dream. But after meeting Susan, he was torn between the strong attraction he felt for her, and the realization she’d make a terrible rancher’s wife. Fate wasn’t doing a particularly wonderful job at placing a potential spouse in his path. Perhaps having good fortune shine on him in the form of financial advantage had used up his entire ration. Now, he couldn’t expect the perfect woman for him to fall at his feet, as well.

  Susan smiled. “I think I’d be terribly jealous of you, if I didn’t have a few dreams of my own.”

  “What are your dreams, Susan?” blurted Dusty, before he could stop himself. He grimaced. “I’m sorry. That question just popped out. Maybe they’re none of my business.”

  “You’re probably thinking she dreams of a happy marriage and a couple of kids and a nice home, maybe even a dog. And you’d be right.” Susan laughed and then leaned back in the comfy leather seat. “Actually, I’m working on my dream every day that I step into my office. I intend to be named a member of the Board of Directors for the Ellis Bank one day. I imagine that day is a long way off, but it’s my ultimate goal. And like you said, failure is not an option.”

  “From everything people have told me about you—your reputation and work ethic—you will attain your goal someday.” Dusty returned his eyes to the road. “And some lucky guy will pull you off the marriage market and give you that home and family, too.”

  “You believe a woman can have it all? Career, marriage and family?”

  “I suppose if that’s what she wants, and her husband is okay with it. Personally, I would prefer a wife who loves horses as much as I do. A woman interested in raising a family but also works on the ranch with me every day and shares my bed every night.”

  “That doesn’t sound at all like me—a woman who loves the city and loves her career.” Susan sighed.

  The sun beat in through the windows, and Dusty turned up the air-conditioning.

  Susan grabbed a plush blanket off the back seat and curled up under it with her head resting in the little curved airplane pillow she also carried back there. “That’s better. People always crank up the AC while I shiver. But leave it on. I’m fine.”

  “It’s fortunate we took your car. The only things I carry in my truck are booster cables and a spare tire.”

  “Will you want me to take a turn driving? If I’m not driving, I’ll probably nod off.”

  “No, I’ll drive,” he replied. No woman was driving him anywhere. Well, technically, that wasn’t correct—she was driving him crazy. Her white denim jeans clung in all the right places, and the rose and white plaid cotton shirt with the top three buttons open revealed a silky white camisole underneath.

  Susan kicked off her well-worn pink cowboy boots, and he’d caught a glimpse of the cutest striped toe socks before she tucked her feet under the blanket with the rest of her. It didn’t matter if he saw her in a bridesmaid’s dress up around her waist, a business pantsuit at the bank, or a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt, his body reacted instantly.

  A few minutes later, Dusty glanced over at the beautiful woman already asleep in the passenger seat, and his heart melted. She looked absolutely adorable, snoozing so contentedly like she hadn’t a care in the world. He’d considered pursuing a relationship with Susan, but after hearing her corporate dream, he realized it would never work out between them. They lived and worked in two totally different worlds. While exchanging their personal stories and life goals, he realized that if they attempted a relationship their individual dreams would collide like a couple of fighter jets and then crash and burn around them.

  Dusty shifted in his seat. Hopefully, she wouldn’t wake up for awhile, giving him time to wrangle his libido back under control so the bulge in his jeans would disappear. Yeah, right, like that was likely to happen. He’d just concentrate on the road, keep his eyes off her. Hopefully, that would work.

  Suddenly, his cell phone rang and the shrill noise in the quiet vehicle brought Susan instantly awake.

  “Sorry, I should have turned it off while you were sleeping.”

  “It’s okay. It might be important.” Susan straightened in her seat and blinked repeatedly.

  The cell continued to ring.

  “Here. I’ll answer it. You’re driving.” Susan reached over and plucked his cell phone out of the cup holder. “Hello?”

  “Is Dusty there?” inquired a female voice.

  “Um, yes, but he’s driving right now.” Susan glanced at her traveling companion. “Who is this, please?”

  “Penny Snyder. I’m calling for David Branigan. Here he is now.”

  There was a short pause.

  “Dusty, is that you?”

  “No, David, it’s Susan. Dusty’s driving. What’s up?”

  “I just called to let Dusty know...Jeremy and Amanda were in an accident.”

  Chapter 6

  “What?” Susan glanced toward Dusty. “How do I put this phone on conference call?”

  Dusty explained which buttons to push and waited for her nod. “David, what the hell’s going on?” he asked.

  “Jeremy and Amanda were in a car accident up in Canada about an hour ago.”

  “Holy, crap. Are they okay?”

  “Jeremy assured me they’re fine. The police transported Amanda to the local hospital to be on the safe side since she’s pregnant. Jeremy says she seemed okay at the accident scene though.”

  “I hope the asshole who hit them is in jail.”

  “Actually, she was airlifted to Calgary.”

  “Drunk driver?” asked Susan.

  “Nope. Heart attack.” David filled them in on the details. “The father picked the kid up at the hospital. Jeremy talked to the local police and now he’s cooling his heels in the waiting room, hoping for a positive report from the doctor. You know how well he handles waiting, right?”

  “About as well as I do.” Dusty glanced over at Susan. “We’re on our way to Bozeman to look at a ranch. Should we
head back to Helena? Do you need us for anything?”

  “No. I already offered to fly the Lazy B chopper up there, but Jeremy says it’s under control. I’ll learn more when he calls again.”

  “Okay, keep us posted. Susan’s going to worry every second until we hear from you again.”

  “And you aren’t?” she swatted his arm.

  “I’ll keep you posted, buddy.” There was a short pause. “I hope you find the ideal ranch for your horse operation.”

  “Thanks, David. That means a lot.” Dusty smiled.

  “Dad gave Scooter the foreman’s job by the way. So don’t worry about the ranch being left high and dry. Of course, if you want to come back, Scooter would be okay with that, too.”

  “Tell Scooter congratulations for me. He’s a good choice.” Dusty laughed and shook his head. “I’ve never worked with such a by-the-book, get-it-done ranch hand in my life. Old Scooter will give Penny and the rest of them a run for their money. Keep in touch.”

  “Will do.” David chuckled and ended the call.

  Susan set the cell phone back in the cup holder. Her hand shook slightly, and she hoped her traveling companion hadn’t noticed. She didn’t want him worrying about her while she was worrying about her friend. She refused to ruin his day after he’d been so excited about viewing this property. She glanced at the time on the radio. Ten to eleven.

  Dusty reached for her hand. “I know you’re worried. David will call when he has news. Jeremy seemed certain Amanda was fine. Think positive, okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered, amazed at how easily he’d zeroed in on her anxiety, realized how worried she felt like an old friend not someone she’d only known a couple of days. “Where are we?”

  “We’re about twenty minutes away from Bozeman.” Dusty returned his eyes to the road.

  She tossed the blanket and pillow into the backseat. He heard the leather groan when she stretched in her seat, arms reaching toward the windshield. She bent down and tugged her cowboy boots on again.