by Carl Hamlin
He approached with a wide smile, and was greeted by one of her own. They shook hands and made small talk about how long it had been since they had laid eyes on each other. Any recognition and memory of the neighbor girl was faint at best.
They walked into the house and sat down at the kitchen table. Jim tried to conceal how attractive he found his employee as he asked about her parents, and then of the duties she had performed for his aunt and uncle. As she talked, she became wistful of the loss of the same people Jim would miss even more as he lived in their old home.
Sammi rattled off a list of what her duties had been, everything from cooking to taking guests on hikes and horseback rides. When the owners were gone, she was in charge of the resort, so she knew all of the operations. She explained that her hours had always varied by whatever was going on there.
Jim expressed his appreciation for her willingness to stay on. He was also pleased that her personality was so pleasant, a great match for her looks.
They looked over the guest schedule for the next month, discussing how well they were stocked with everything from paper towels to hot dogs, to first aid supplies.
There was still some time to get ready, as the first near-capacity set of guests for some ten months would arrive on a coming Sunday, just fifteen days away, and be there until the following Saturday. When Jim’s uncle had become gravely ill, he and Sammi had decided to curtail operations, aside from allowing experienced riders and hikers to visit who could enjoy the resort with little assistance.
It was time for Jim to finish his transition from military cop to resort operator. His conversation with Sammi concluded, and she said that since he was there to feed the horses, she would be back in a week to start the busy season. As Jim stood on the front porch and watched her ample form with admiration as she strolled to her own pickup truck, he took a deep breath and hoped that he was ready for his new life. He was happy to be there, especially with the horses, but as his assistant’s truck drove away, he realized just how lonely his existence would be for a few days.
Chapter 2
It was late on a warm Monday afternoon, and Jim decided to go into the little town of Webster Bend, just seven miles away, to check out the one grocery store there. He had taken care of the fifteen horses that were kept in the unusually clean stables, and could find nothing needing repaired. It was time for him to relax for the first time since his arrival at Red Sun.
He walked into the house and sank into a reclining chair he had not yet tried out. He was pleased that his uncle’s furnishings had been left for him. The leather chair was large and comfortable. He closed his eyes, thinking he might steal a nap, but his thoughts suddenly went to Sammi. He admitted to himself that he had been immediately drawn to the thirty-eight year old, lovely lady with the flowing brown hair and fetching face and figure. Most of all, he was finding himself thinking about what a simply nice person she seemed to be.
After a few minutes, he accepted that he was not going to be able to still his now racing mind. He had not been to the town for some years, and decided he needed to know what was there. In addition, he was feeling quite lonely, and decided it would be nice to be around some other people, if only in a store setting.
The town had really not changed much, and as he drove around the small city of five thousand, memories flooded back. The grocery was under a different name than he recalled from his youth, but seemed the same otherwise. He pulled up next to another truck that seemed oddly familiar, and when he walked into the store and saw Sammi checking out with a bottle of laundry detergent, he knew why.
When she looked up and saw him, she displayed a warm smile. She hoisted the detergent and shook her head. “I don’t know how two old people and one chick like me can generate so much laundry.”
Jim laughed. “I understand you now live around the corner?”
Sammi nodded as they walked to her truck. “Trying to put off a nursing home. They’re doing pretty good, so far.”
Jim felt an impulse, and decided to act upon it. “Sammi, would you like to have dinner with me?”
He was surprised at the immediate “Sure” she chirped. “I need to take this home and get something ready for my folks to eat, but that would be great.”
Jim thought for a moment. Both were in jeans and western boots. “Is that casual restaurant still down the street?”
Sammi laughed. “Nothing’s formal in Webster Bend. That would be fine. How about we meet there in an hour? That will give me time to get their dinner and spend a few minutes fending off Mom’s nosey questions about who I’m meeting.”
Jim chuckled. “And I can do some shopping. See you there.”
With a wave, Sammi got into her truck, and Jim walked into the store. He found it difficult to concentrate, as he was caught off-guard, and greatly pleased, at how readily and eagerly she had accepted the invitation.
He eyed his watch incessantly, trying to kill time and reminding himself to not buy anything that would spoil, now that it appeared that his arrival back at the resort would be later in the evening than originally planned.
Time seemed to drag on as Jim finished shopping, went to his truck and drove around the small town for a while, refreshing his memory. He recalled where a couple of his young friends had lived, and a house where he soaped the windows one dark Halloween night
It was finally time to go to the restaurant, and as he pulled into the small parking lot, he saw Sammi getting out of her truck. They met at the door and as he opened it for her, he found himself placing his hand on her back as they entered.
The waitress greeted them immediately, and as she escorted them to a semi-circular corner booth, Sammi said hello to a number of people along the way, and several were still familiar to Jim. They sat down on the cushioned seat, and found themselves sitting close to each other.
Menus were handed to them right away, and each ordered without any deliberation, as fried chicken was the meal for which the place was best known. Suddenly, there was silence, and Jim felt like a nervous schoolboy.
“Thanks for having dinner with me.”
Sammi smiled and her face blushed. “I think it’s nice to see you away from the resort.”
Jim laughed. “Am I different there?”
Sammi cocked her head as she considered the question. “Well, I don’t know yet. But you seem to be all business when you’re there. I mean, you’re not cold . please don’t misunderstand.”
Jim shook his head. “I think it’s just some anxiety. This is a big change for me. A few weeks ago, I was calming down a drunken Airman at a bar near our base. Now here I am out in the country on the edge of the Great American West. I have horses, land, and a lake and this evening, I have great company.”
Their glasses of iced tea arrived. Sammi took a sip and asked in a quiet voice as she looked straight ahead, “Is this a date?”
Jim remained silent for a moment, and Sammi began to giggle. “I’m sorry.”
Jim shook his head. “Nothing to be sorry about.” Now it was his turn to take a sip and look ahead. “It is for me if it is for you.”
Sammi laughed, and Jim was taken by the delight in her giggle. “Okay then, Mr. Halder…Boss…. it’s a date.”
Their dinner arrived and they ate slowly as they told each other what had happened in their lives over the past two decades. Sammi shared her story of her marriage, her life in Kansas City and her work there as an assistant to a caterer. She spoke briefly of her former husband, and while she mentioned the problems, she did not utter a single word of bitterness.
After a while, they spoke of their childhoods and their educations in the old school building that was now a part of the resort. They recalled their envy of the children who went to school in Webster Bend, who had a more modern facility.
As they hit a lull in the conversation and finished their dinners, Sammi laughed again. “When I was in the fourth grade, I had a crush on you. Then you moved away. Oh, what could have been.”
Jim nod
ded. “That’s funny, but of course, I remember you as just a little squirt. You know, I never wanted to go to the big city. It took me a long time to adjust, and then I left for the Air Force right after I graduated.”
Sammi shook her head. “I can relate to that. I never felt at home in Kansas City. I’m a country mouse.”
She continued. “I like to wear my jeans and a checkered shirt. I guess I’m not one for wearing that little black dress hiding away in the back of my closet.”
“Wouldn’t mind seeing you in that lit- Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be forward.” Jim felt his face turn warm. “I mean…. you really look good in jeans…oh, man.”
Sammi leaned next to him. “I think that was one very, very sweet compliment.”
Jim looked down at his empty plate. “I guess you know what I’m trying to say.”
Sammi allowed that precious giggle to escape her lips. “Oh, Jim doesn’t worry. I know exactly what you’re saying.”
Both began to laugh, so much that others in the establishment were now looking at them, most with grins on their faces.
Seeing that it was close to nine o’clock, Jim put money on the table and helped Sammi from the booth. They strolled to the door and walked to her truck. They told each other how much each had enjoyed the company, and finally Jim leaned down and kissed Sammi. That was when he felt her arms wrap around his back, and he held her more tightly and began another, more passionate kiss.
The first kiss ended, and then he placed his hands on her shoulders. “I know we work together, but…”
Sammi smiled. “We can handle that. We can just see what happens.”
Jim smiled, then reached down and kissed her again. “Please…. be very frank, and let me know if I’m pushing this too fast…dinner tomorrow again? You can come to the ranch, and I’ll grill some steaks.”
Sammi stood on her tiptoes and kissed him back. “I have to. After all, you’re my boss.” She winked, then opened the truck door, stepped in and closed the door. She blew a kiss, then started the truck and drove away.
Jim was up at 5:30 as had been his routine for three decades. However, even as he finished his second cup of coffee by 6:00, he still yawned after a night of fitfulness.
He could not get his mind off Sammi. She was so ready to accept his dinner invitation he had to consider that she had been wondering about him for some time before his arrival at Red Sun. As he replayed in his mind their initial reunion, there was no question she had been almost inviting his attention from the start.
He had not yet taken the chance to wander over the property to see if there were any unknown hazards or surprises. There was a four-wheeler in the barn but he decided than on such a sunny day, he should do the inspection on horseback.
He saddled a horse named Medallion, a steed that had grabbed his attention on his first visit to the resort’s corral. He had brought his own saddle, although through the years he had been lucky to place it on a horse’s back more than five times a year. That was another thing that would be quite different.
The horse was not at all skittish. Jim had gone out each morning since his arrival to pet the horse and let him get used to his voice. Just to be safe, Jim mounted Medallion and took him around the corral for a couple of laps. Then he dismounted, opened the gate and led the horse out.
He began at a slow trot, and headed for the most rugged part of the resort, that being the terrain behind the lake. As he rode slowly past the water, he saw a trout leap and take a large insect. His uncle’s stocking has been successful, and having rainbow trout in the lake would not hurt business at all. He made a mental note to check the line and reel on his own fly rod, although he was tempted to use the old bamboo rod his uncle had left behind. He still had fond memories of fishing there, even before his uncle owned the property. Hr recalled with special emotion that his uncle had allowed him to use his most valuable rod. He nearly cried when he opened the closet when he moved in, and saw that fly rod waiting for him.
He stopped to gaze across the small lake. There were three long-legged birds standing in the shallow end. He looked on as one of the birds put his head into the water, and when it came back up, a small fish was struggling to get free from the bird’s beak.
He rode across a crest on a nearby hill. In the distance, he could see the creek that passed through his new home. The approach was weedy and rocky, but when he arrived at the stream, he was pleasantly surprised at the clarity of the water. He stopped the horse at the edge of the water and could see bass and catfish feeding on insects and vegetation along the edge.
He crossed the creek slowly and the horse glided up another hill with ease. Evergreen trees and some large, craggy rocks dominated the terrain there. In the distance, he saw two deer. He had not gone hunting since his teen years. Now he could hunt his own land. A sense of peace flowed over him. He had indeed had a good morning. He had come home.
He turned the horse around and headed for another section of the property. What had been saplings the last time he had been there were now large trees. In a few minutes, he came upon the meadow her recalled playing in as a child. He saw a rusted old tractor, then realized it was one he had driven to help his uncle bale hay on a neighboring farm his uncle worked on in addition to his day job. Jim decided that the artifact added more charm to the setting than hazard to a guest.
The more property he covered, the more confident he felt that he had made the right decision to take over the place. In the distance, he could now see the house. He began to think about the upcoming visit from Sammi. He realized that he was beginning to view the property in a new light.
Jim was standing at the gas grill, turning the steaks for the first time when Sammi’s blue pickup truck appeared in the lane. She pulled up, got out of the truck and walked up to Jim and kissed him.
He put his arm around her as he moved the steaks to insure they were not sticking to the grill. She responded by leaning her head against his chest. She looked up and batted her long brown eyelashes: “Maybe you need to tell ME to slow down, if things are going too fast. I mean…we had one dinner together, aside from our time out here.”
Jim squeezed her tightly. “I have to admit. I have kind of found myself…” Jim put the long-handled fork on the shelf of the grill. He turned and hugged her to him. “I am very attracted to you. If it seems fast, that’s the way it is.” Sammi placed the side of her head against his chest. He could hear her purr in satisfaction.
They made small talk while the steaks finished grilling. Once they were done, they went into the house. But rather than stopping in the dining room, Jim nodded for them to go into the living quarters. There, a small table covered by a satin tablecloth greeted Sammi. Candles burned in the center of the dimly lit room. She turned and looked at Jim with a beaming smile.
Jim laughed as he placed the plate holding the steaks on the table. There were already bowls of salad waiting for them, and baked potatoes in foil were just out of the oven before her arrival. He pointed to the candles. “My uncle left a lot of good stuff in this house.”
Sammi stood near the table shaking her head in disbelief, only to be further impressed when Jim pulled out a chair for her. “My cowgirl can now dine.” As she sat down, Sammi looked over the scene and sighed, “Wow, wow, wow!” All through the meal, Sammi would exclaim about what a surprise the setting had been, and how good the steak was.
The dinner finished, they moved the table and sat down next to each other on the long leather couch that had been purchased fairly recently by Jim’s uncle. The view from the couch was of the area behind the house where it was not unusual to see deer come to munch on vegetation as the sun went down.
They spoke briefly of the view, and then lapsed into silence as they embraced in a long kiss. Jim shook his head. “I think I kind of like having you around.” All he heard was a sigh as Sammi snuggled her head against his chest.
They sat there for an hour, alternately chatting about nothing in particular, then once again embracin
g and hugging. As the evening wore on, the kisses became longer and more urgent.
The evening grew late, and Sammi began to get up. “I may get addicted to this.”
Jim stood and helped her up. “I hope so.”
Sammi heaved a deep sigh. “When can I get some more lovin’ like that?”
Jim sighed. “Not tomorrow. I have a Farm Bureau meeting. The evening after okay?”
“Sure. How about I bring a pizza around 7:00?”
They walked outside to find that the sky had cleared and the stars were brilliant. They did not speak again. Jim simply walked her to her truck and opened the door for her. As she began to step up into the seat, she halted, leaned down, and they shared one more kiss for the night.
It was two nights later on Saturday night that they would see each other again. On time as usual, Sammi’s truck pulled up in the driveway, and she quickly hoped out with a large, square box.
Jim walked quickly to the woman, took the box and with a wide grin shouted “Pizza”. He then turned to Sammi and mumbled, “Oh hi…uh it’s Sammi, right?” He then began walking rapidly to the house, while Sammi stood with her hands on her hips shaking her head and laughing. She followed him inside, but once inside did not see him. Jim then sprung from behind the door and ambushed her with a kiss.
This time they did sit down to eat in the dining area. As they devoured the pizza, they exchanged stories of what had taken place over the past two days.
Jim explained the new vitamin supplement he had obtained for all of the horses from a local veterinarian. He also related that he had cleaned the fireplaces and chimneys in each of the guest bunkhouses.
Sammi had less positive news. Her father was developing a bad cough, and the doctor had warned her and her mother that if it did not clear up quickly enough, he would have to go to a nursing home for a week to recover. That had upset the older man, and he was not being easy for them to care for.