Riding the River

by Jeanne Harrell

  She just looked at him mystified. She’d never heard her father talk like this.

  Their food came out then. Hot, covered dishes were placed before them, Robert first and then Sarah. The waiter removed the covers from the dishes, wished them both ‘Bon Appetit’ and left again. They ate in comfortable silence, occasionally taking sips of the delectable wine.

  “There’s something to be said for fine dining, isn’t there, Sarah?”

  “You’re right about that, Dad. This is spectacular tonight…”

  He raised his glass to toast. She raised hers as well.

  “I think we should toast to fine living… Living a good life is the best thing you can do.”

  “I agree, Dad, but I don’t know where to start…”

  “Take a sip, Sarah. It’ll eventually come to you.”

  They drank their wine together. Sarah knit her eyebrows in confusion, while Robert smiled slightly and wondered where she was going with all this. Wherever it was, he knew it would be a great adventure and maybe the treasure would be finding herself at the end of the journey.

  And that thought went down just fine with his delicious dinner.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Everyone at the office called him Joe the Tyrant, behind his back, of course. Unfortunately, he didn’t use his people skills very often with the right people – customers, certainly, but with employees, hardly ever. He only managed to keep people because he paid so very well…

  Sarah was at work trying to help a fledging company get started with their computer needs. As one of her business’ senior computer consultants, she was experienced in every facet of computer technology, software and hardware. She occasionally gave tutorials to the community on various programs such as Final Cut Pro for moviemaking and other kinds of software needed for video production. She was fond of going over to the senior center to instruct and assist older people on how to use email, texting, making and sending little videos. Her work was creative and she loved it.

  In fact, Sarah wanted to start her own business, but had never been brave enough to work up a business plan. The idea rattled around in her brain about as often as her boss rattled her. Starting her own business was very much on her mind today, as Joe was on one of his tears.

  “Listen, Sarah, I don’t care if your grandfather was governor of this state at one time. You can’t tell a new company that they can’t do something… You have to help them find a way to do it…”

  “…Mr. Olson, that’s not what…”

  “And you need to clock in so I know where you are. How do I know if you’re having a cup of coffee or walking into a company’s office for a consultation?”

  The whole office was listening to Joe rant at her. Perspiration beaded on her forehead and she wiped it quickly, discreetly. She was acutely aware that other people were listening and she was feeling nauseous.

  “Couldn’t we go in your office to discuss this, Mr. Olson?”

  “Absolutely not. I want the rest of these lazy people you work with to get off their asses too and get their work done.” He looked around the office and raised his voice. “Get to work!” Everyone hunkered down over desks to stay out of the fray. Several cast sympathetic eyes toward Sarah.

  He stomped out of the room, glaring at anyone who looked up at him. He was madder than usual because two people had just quit yesterday. Sarah had lasted longer than most, but her two years here were beginning to cost her dearly.

  Sarah ran into the bathroom before bursting into tears. She looked down at her arm and saw the familiar redness beginning to creep down. Wishing she’d brought her purse with the medicine in it, Sarah tore off a paper towel and wet it, trying to cool the warmth of the growing red area. It was a losing proposition at best. She tried to calm down and leaned her alarmingly red cheek on the cool tile wall. Maybe she needed to take her dad up on his job offer… Joe the Tyrant was getting worse, as more people quit.

  And why he picked on her, she couldn’t tell. Was he jealous of her prominent family? Maybe he voted for the opposing party… Her evaluations from the companies that she worked with always gave her the highest marks in instruction and knowledge of subject. She was good, but rarely got any acknowledgement from the boss. He just threw more business her way and threatened her with firing if she didn’t come through. She hadn’t told her family or Ben about the mistreatment – She wanted to take care of it herself, but was having trouble figuring out how. Quitting was moving up to the top of her list… But she hated quitting…

  Leaving the bathroom feeling somewhat composed, a few people stopped Sarah with condolences.

  “Sarah, that was horrible of him. What’s wrong with this guy?” said Marcia, another computer consultant.

  “He must have left the building…” said Sarah.

  “Yes, he stormed out of here after screaming at you. Why the guy doesn’t have high blood pressure is beyond me.”

  “That’s because he gives all of us high blood pressure, Marcia.” Sarah smiled weakly.

  “So sorry about that,” added Tim, another consultant. Then he noticed her arm. “Jeez, Sarah… What’s wrong with your arm? It’s beet red and so is the side of your face.”

  Marcia turned Sarah’s face around so she could see what Tim could. She gasped. “Sarah, you need to go to the ER. This really doesn’t look healthy. Please get checked out.”

  Embarrassed, Sarah lowered her eyes. “Okay. Clock me out for the day, would you please, Marcia? I think I will head over to the hospital.”

  Lots of murmurings when Sarah retrieved her purse from her desk and left for the day… Moral outrage was building and others considered quitting. Sarah was admired and pitied at the same time…

  Arriving in the ER of Baltimore General, Sarah checked in with the front desk and sat down to wait her turn. She knew it would take a few hours, if she was lucky, and brought her laptop to get some work done. Suddenly, she thought of something, turned on her computer and brought up a Word document she had been neglecting. It was the incomplete business plan for her start-up company. Sarah thought it was high time she dusted it off and got it ready to put into action.

  What kind of business did she want to do? Basically, what she was doing now – Computer consulting for new companies. Sarah tapped her finger on her chin thinking… How about adding in consulting for online companies as well. She could get more business, she figured, if some of it was done online. Good thinking…

  A lady sitting a few seats over glanced at her laptop screen. “Busy?”

  “A little…”

  “What do you do?”

  “I work in computer consulting.”

  “Sounds important.”

  Sarah smiled. “I’d like to think so.”

  The woman saw her arm and face. “It looks like it’s getting to you though.”

  She tried to pull her sleeve down to cover the redness.

  “… Ah…”

  “Want to know what I think?”

  Sarah looked over at the woman. She was dressed very conservatively in a nice blue suit and her hair was just coiffed. Her shoes looked new and she’d recently had a manicure. In short, she was refined… Sarah was enthralled and nodded at her.

  “Something’s bothering you and it looks bad. You ever think of going on a vacation?”

  Sarah was hypnotized and just shook her head.

  “If I were you, I’d give that some more thought. Your body’s telling you what your brain isn’t… Go save yourself…”

  Sarah swallowed. She gulped in air. The woman broke off eye contact, got up and walked out of the ER, never looking back. When she’d gone, Sarah wasn’t sure if she had dreamed the whole conversation or what…

  And then her name was called.

  She was sitting in an attending room when her father’s doctor walked in.

  He blinked in surprise when he saw her, as she did with him.

  “Sarah… What are you doing here?”

  “I might ask you the same thing, Dr. All
en…”

  “I work down here occasionally when they’re short-handed…” And then he saw her face. He turned it to examine it closer.

  “What’s going on, Sarah?”

  “You might as well see my arm as well.” She peeled her sleeve back to give him full view of the redness continuing down her arm.

  “Damn, Sarah. This is serious. How long has this been happening?”

  “This is the worst it’s ever been, but I’ve broken out a few times this past year.”

  “What are you putting on it? I see something smeared here.”

  She pulled some ointment out of her purse. He glanced at it and shook his head.

  “No… This won’t help. You need something stronger.”

  He looked sharply at her. “Have you mentioned this to your father?”

  “No, and I’d just as soon you didn’t either.”

  “Well, I can’t, Sarah, but you really need to see a dermatologist and find out what’s going on.”

  She frowned. “I can tell you part of it. I have a tyrannical boss that likes to yell at me and everyone else… The redness always seems worse after one of his outbursts.”

  “I assume he had one today.”

  “Yes…”

  He grabbed a pen and paper. “I’m going to write down the name of a dermatologist that I want you to see – today.”

  “Today?” He handed her the paper. “How do I get in to see him on such short notice?”

  “Because I’m doing this as if you were my daughter… I will call him and you drive over there now. This skin condition is probably chronic and you need to get specialized treatment now.”

  “Yes, sir…” Sarah looked down at the paper in her hand. There was an address written too. “I’ll go now.”

  On the drive over, Sarah called Abby.

  “Any chance you could meet me at some doctor’s office in about half an hour?”

  “Yeah, what’s up? Your voice sounds funny…”

  “Just meet me, okay?”

  Sarah and Abby were sitting in a coffee shop around the corner from the dermatologist’s office sipping cups of coffee. Abby was perpetually frowning as Sarah spoke softly and low. When she finished, Abby blew out a breath.

  “This has to be the last straw for you, Sarah. Quit your crappy job… That boss has given you a chronic skin rash.”

  She glanced at Sarah’s arm – the redness was getting lighter, less distinct, in part thanks to the new doctor’s ointment. “He’s an ass to treat you this way…”

  “I agree. But I have some vacation time coming and I wanted to take it before quitting. He won’t pay for those days if I quit, I know.”

  “And what was that woman in the ER talking about?”

  Sarah’s eyes widened. “That was just the strangest encounter I’ve ever had. From a total stranger, I’m told to go on a vacation and to save myself.”

  She looked aghast. “Save myself?”

  “Well, I couldn’t have said it better myself. The mysterious lady was dead right – Get out of here for a while and take a break. Between your grandfather’s constant political events, what to do about Ben and your terrible job, I’m surprised you’re still upright.”

  Abby could see Sarah struggling. Her eyes were misty and she chewed on her lip.

  “…Um…”

  “Don’t think, Sarah. Put in for your vacation time and just go…”

  “Go where? Do what? I haven’t taken a vacation in two years.”

  “All the more reason… Look…” Abby was getting excited. “I’ll bring over a bunch of travel brochures tonight and we’ll take a look at some options… What do you think?”

  Sarah reached into her purse for a tissue. “Thanks, Abby. I don’t know what I’d do without you… You help me see things more clearly.”

  Abby stood up and Sarah joined her. They hugged and Abby patted her back.

  “It’s going to be all right. Somehow… It’s going to be all right. We’ll figure something out.”

  Sarah smiled. “See you about six then?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “I’ll pick up some Chinese food.”

  “Thank God, it’s Friday…”

  “Got that right. See you later…”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Abby and Sarah sat in the middle of a sea of travel brochures. They sat cross-legged, using chopsticks to eat their sweet and sour pork, and occasionally pushed a brochure this way or that.

  “How did you ever talk the travel agent into giving you so many brochures?”

  Abby batted her eyelashes at her and fluffed her short brown hair. “I used to date the guy and he wants to go out again…” She smiled and Sarah laughed.

  “I so believe that. You just love ‘em and leave ‘em, don’t you?”

  “Uh-huh… And you should too. Saves heartaches this way… Hey, look at this one…” Abby handed Sarah a brochure of San Francisco.

  “That looks great, but I don’t know anyone there.”

  “Come on. Your grandfather doesn’t know anyone in that city? Hard to believe.”

  “… Well, he knows political people who would show me around just to do him a favor maybe… Not what I want to do…”

  “Do you really need to know somebody wherever it is you’re going?”

  “…Suppose not…”

  They ate some more Chinese food and scanned several more brochures. Sarah used a chopstick to look at another one buried in the pile.

  “I’d like to go someplace out West, I think. Look at this one in Santa Fe. That looks good…”

  Abby opened the brochure to see attractions listed inside.

  “Good… Lots of Indian museums, jewelry, historical stuff, fabulous architecture…”

  “Let’s keep looking.”

  “Do you want to do some rafting or go to a spa?”

  “No…”

  “Best steak place, beach, ski resort or bike trail?”

  “…Uh-uh…”

  “Disneyland, Lake Tahoe or Hollywood?”

  “Nope…”

  “Grand Canyon or Yosemite?”

  “…Getting warmer…”

  Abby plucked more lemon chicken and chewed thoughtfully. “Let’s concentrate on Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona or New Mexico. Those are really Old West states and perhaps that’s where your thinking is headed.”

  Sarah nodded. “Yes, I think you’re right.” Then she sat up straight and brightened. Abby could almost see the cartoon of a light bulb go on above her head.

  “What?”

  “…Where was ‘Big Country’ filmed?”

  “… You’re asking me?” Abby laughed.

  “No, I’m just talking out loud. It was filmed in various locations in California and Arizona… No, it’s the idea of the location…”

  “What about it?”

  “It’s remote. Accessibility is possible, but you have to work for it.”

  “So…” Abby rolled that idea around. “You want to find a remote place where something only the Old West can supply. How about fishing?”

  “That could be part of it…”

  “Think cowboy stuff – roping, horseback riding…”

  Sarah laughed. “Now we’re getting someplace…”

  Abby picked up a glossy brochure and her eyes lit up. “Listen, Sarah…” She started reading, “‘Walker Guest Ranch is a working horse and cattle ranch located in the remote northeastern corner of Nevada. The ranch offers a variety of activities for guests, family and friends. It is a surprisingly comfortable sanctuary in the midst of a vast landscape by the Humboldt and Ruby Mountain Ranges, hills and meadows.’”

  “Let me see that…” Sarah took the brochure from Abby and continued to read the inside and outside flap. “This looks terrific…”

  “Yeah, you’d be riding, roping and sleeping out under the stars. All those things you’ve wanted to do. Maybe you’ll meet a cute cowboy…”

  Sarah swatted her with the brochure. “That
’s the last thing I want to do, Abby. Once I get past Ben, I’ve had it with guys for a while – I’m certainly not looking to get into another relationship anytime soon.”

  Abby just raised one eyebrow and smirked. “Maybe Gregory Peck lives there…”

  Ignoring her, Sarah smiled. “And it’s in Nevada. You remember my mother was born in Reno, but lived most of her life in Lovelock, not far away.”

  “Nevada… Sounds good. Very Old West… How about the horse or cattle drives? Sound good?”

  “I think I’d love to go on a horse drive, whatever that is…” She started yawning and put down her chopsticks.

  “…That’s my cue. Time for me to go home… Four hours searching for the most incredible vacation has worn us both out.”

  “Yes, I need to get some sleep. Dad and Grandfather have asked me to help in the gubernatorial campaign coming up.”

  “Sounds like lots of envelope stuffing…”

  “And phone calls, and fundraising… long nights… crummy food…”

  Abby laughed. “You have to deal with it. Gotta go… See you soon, Sarah.”

  After Abby had gone, Sarah took another look at the Nevada guest ranch brochure. It looked good to her on so many levels. One of its biggest attractions was that it offered a simpler life for a while – And that was worth its weight in gold. A simpler life… What is really possible? She supposed people found it, but nobody she knew. Baltimore was bustling all the time… She wanted to slow down, think and smell a few flowers – sage, maybe…

  Sarah took the brochure into her bedroom and laid it on her nightstand. After changing into pajamas and brushing her teeth, Sarah crawled into bed and felt like the day had been one hundred years long. She dreamily thought about following a herd of horses galloping out in a big country… Landscape painted green and yellow and brown with God’s paintbrush. Jagged mountains reaching up to touch massive clouds sitting in a pale blue sky… It was enough to make her eyes droop and allowed her to fall asleep thinking --

  Horses… stillness… starry skies… guitars…