His reply came quickly, he wrote,
“I would love to come east for the tour as promised.”
“I will book a room in Wilmington, since you are nearby in Greenville, Delaware. I will be there before New Years Eve. I will call once I have firm plans in place.” Please do not think me too forward but I must you ask, as it is fast approaching. Do you have plans for New Years Eve? I would love to take you someplace nice; both you and your family, for dinner.”
Samantha gasped when she realized that her Roy was coming, and so quickly. She hugged herself and pulled out his business card from her purse and looked at it. She had held him separate secretly in her heart for what seemed like so long. She would have to share him with her family now. Tonight at dinner, she would bring it up casually. He was a friend who was coming in for New Years and he wanted to take a tour of the Bison ranches in the area. He invited them all out to dinner for New Years Eve. It sounded simple. She hoped she could pull it off with out acting too goofie. She certainly felt goofy right now. When she thought about him coming here she felt giddy with delight. She hugged herself again and went downstairs to help with dinner preparation.
She waited for dessert before she started, “Mom, Dad, a friend of mine is coming in Christmas week. We have an invitation to dinner on New Years Eve, all of us. I would love it if you would come, you would enjoy it.” she blurted it out working hard to get around the words, “he,” and, “him,” not to have to share that her friend was a guy.
“That sounds lovely,” her mother answered. “What do you think, Mike?” “New Years Dinner out? We've not done that in years.”
Samantha's father answered, “Yes, wait a moment Sue, tell us about your friend, Samantha. We would love an evening out but tell us, who, what, when, where? You know, fill us in about your friend.”
She was stuck, she had to provide details. She looked down at her plate toying with her fork.
Her sister rescued her, “Oh mom, that sounds like fun, do we get to pick the place?”
“Amy, I imagine we should, being from Nebraska leaves little knowledge of where all the best spots are in Wilmington.”
Her father just sat and waited patiently for his questions to be answered while Amy chattered on about where to go. She was excited to be invited out, even if it was with the family, for New Years Eve. Samantha hoped her fathers inquisition would pass. She was saved again, this time by the doorbell. Her sisters friends had arrived. They wanted to use the kitchen to bake a casserole and put together a meal. Sue, Samantha's mom had agreed yesterday. They had promised to clean up when they were finished. They came in carrying bags of groceries and plastic containers to carry the meal out. They planned to create a complete meal for a family in need. They tried to do one gift meal a month but this month they were hoping to feed an extra family. They wanted to do something extra for Christmas and this would be their grandest meal yet.
“This New Years Eve thing was exciting for Samantha.“ Sue thought out loud to her husband that night. “She had not done much in the line of socializing and now, out of the blue, there's this invitation for all of them. It's an unexpectedly strange turn of events.” She smiled and hummed as she unloaded the dishwasher after the youngsters were finished cooking.
Samantha managed to steer the conversation to other things when ever her father was around, he pretended not to notice but he was getting more and more curious.
She went shopping for new jeans and a new dress. She got herself a new pair of boots. On a whim she decided riding boots would be a nice change from her high heeled regulars. She told anyone who asked that she wanted something that she could walk easily in. She went home and quickly wore the boots out to rake the lawn even though the leaves were gone and there was no need to rake. She washed the jeans three times. She did not want Roy to think that she just bought these things to go the the bison ranch with him. She wanted them to look used. She walked the dog in the boots and scuffed them a bit with her nail file to make them look more used and less new.
Samantha's parents were none the wiser but, being off from her classes and an observant young woman, her sister caught on. “OK, so what's up with you, you're aging the boots and the jeans? Sammy?” using her child hood nick-name for her sister, she hoped to soften her up and get an honest response.
“Oh Amy,” she breathed, “I met the most amazing man on the plane on the way home from Italy.” she blurted out. “He is a cattle rancher from Nebraska. He wants me to show him around the bison ranches here in the east, he's thinking of raising bison instead of cattle.” “We've been emailing since we first met two months ago and now he's coming here to visit.” “I'm so excited, I can barely contain myself. But we mustn’t let on to mom or dad that it's a guy.”
“Oh Samantha, I think they've guessed.” Amy teased, “You'd never be so secretive about a girlfriend coming to visit.”
“All they got from the dinner conversation the other night was, “Nebraska.” I think that got their curiosity up but they are biding their time until they meet him, knowing how tight lipped you can be.”
“Amy, by the way, thank you ever so much for rescuing me from dad's playing twenty questions.” Samantha was sincere when she continued, “I was completely at his mercy until you piped up. You are the queen of intervention, I owe you big time for that.”
Amy just smiled knowing that she had her sister in her debt. Not that either of them would hesitate to defend the other in any situation. “I'm here for ya, sis'',” was all she replied. “But now I have a few questions,” her voice rose in pitch, “Tell me about this guy, I need to know more about him.”
“OK,” Samantha began,
Amy sat on the edge of the bed clutching a big pillow while she waited patiently.
“He is wonderful. He is so surprisingly different from Rafaele. Roy is a huge man, he has long dark hair that he keeps tied back. He dresses in cowboy boots and jeans with a ten gallon hat. Real ones though, not the dime store cowboy stuff that guys around here dress up in.” her eyes rolled back in her head with the comparison.
“His eyes, Amy, they are so very deep blue and they laugh when he is happy. Amy it melts my heart thinking about him.”
“He has a ranch in Nebraska, it has been in his family. His brother died in Afghanistan and his sister moved to California and married. He is alone except for his hired help on the ranch.
Oh Amy, he is so sincere. So downright good, you can feel it about him. He's patient and polite, it is so lovely to talk to him. You'll love him. I hope mom and dad do too.”
Amy was bouncing, little bounces perched on the bed, with each description offered. Finally she offered “He sounds like a romance novel hero. You are so lucky he sat next to you.”
“Your right, he is my hero, he saved me from a miserably depressing flight after my Italian fiasco and now I am going to see him again.”
“He is flying in tomorrow morning, he should be here by half past twelve.” I am going to collect him at the airport and we are going to tour one of those bison ranches. Then on Thursday we'll go over to Reddington County in New Jersey and see the other one.” I have arrangements made with the ranch owners. They are not in guest service mode in the dead of winter but they agreed to show us their operations.”
“Well be back in time for dinner. Thursday night is New Years Eve. Oh Amy, I am so excited to see him again.” she sat down and hugged her sister, she was enjoying talking about her Roy, the secret was starting to wear on her.
“Do not breathe a word to mom or dad about him, please. Amy, sister swear?” They agreed and swore their oath with a high five, finishing by clasping hands high in the air and holding on as their hands slowly fell towards their hearts. It was something that they had done as children but it served to formalized Amy's promise now.
Little did they know their mother had been in the next room, her book now turned down in her lap, quietly listening. She had been reading but stopped to listen to her daughters. She was so pleased with wh
at she was hearing. A rancher, a real, salt of the earth, man with manners, and a large ranch. She closed her eyes pretending to be napping when Amy went down the hall past the open sun porch door. Amy did not even look in. Sue really did drop off to sleep on the sun porch, warm sunshine in the winter can do that to you.
Chapter Eight -
She had exchanged presents with her family on Christmas Eve as had always been their custom. Her parents gifted her with the keys to a practical economy car, a Subaru, Impreza. She was delighted now she would not need to to borrow either one of their cars or her sisters to get around.
Today is Wednesday, Samantha thought, he's flying in today. She donned her new classic cut jeans and her worn, no longer new looking, boots. She drove to the airport to pick up Roy. She went looking for him at the arrivals area. She saw him as he came out of the walkway. He had a weekender sized bag in one hand and a suit bag slung over the other shoulder. He was walking fast and looking around. They did not need cell phones to connect. She waved and he saw her. She noticed that he stood a full head over everyone else on the walkway. They hurried to each other, Roy dropping his bags, he picked her up swinging her around. He put her down gently facing the same way she had been standing. Then with more reserve, he bent to kiss her cheek again, the same kiss she remembered from his leaving her. She reached up and hugged his broad shoulders planting a proper full kiss on his mouth. Roy pulled back and smiled then he kissed her back.
“Oh Samantha, I've missed talking to you.” I've missed your smile.” “I've missed you, it is so good to be here with you again.” He stopped thinking, “Am I going to appear too eager?”
“I missed you too Roy.” she replied reassuring him. “Come, we can stow your bags in the back of my car and go right to the ranch. Unless you want to go to your hotel first.” she added allowing him the option.
“His eyes are as blue as I remembered,” she thought. “He smells so good, she breathed deeply, he smelled like leather and something else she could not identify.” she decided she liked the scent, she would discover what it was at a future time.
They walked hand in hand to her car and he stashed his bags under the trunk cover. Getting into the car, he had to squeeze. She slid the seat all the way back and tilted the backrest to lean back for him, but still it was tight. His knees were on the dashboard and his head brushed the ceiling of the car. He was not exactly contorted, but he was not as comfortable as he could be either. He suggested they go to his hotel first and try to pick up a bigger rental. She agreed, she did not want him to feel awkward in any way, glancing at him cramped in her Subaru she cringed. She had not realized the implications of his extraordinary size when she first met him.
When they got to the hotel, Roy checked in at the desk and asked that his bags be brought up to his room. He then went to the concierge and explained his problem. The ever compliant concierge made a phone call had had a loaner Cadillac in front of the hotel in minuets. It seemed that the owner of the hotel Roy was staying at also owned a car dealership allowing him access to a lot full of American made cars. Roy signed a waiver and presented his insurance ID and license, handing Roy the keys to a very big old Caddy the concierge wished him a safe trip.
They were on their way south to the bison ranch, Roy was driving while Samantha gave directions. Not much else was exchanged at first. They seemed so distant in the huge car. Roy felt the silence too. He pulled off the road at a scenic overlook and stopped. He needed to tell Samantha what she meant to him.
“Girl,” he began, “for the last few weeks, waiting for your invitation, I have been miserable. Not knowing if I was a casual acquaintance or a serious contender. I now hope that I can be considered a serious contender.” “Your invitation came just as winter set in in Nebraska, winter is a solitary time of year there. I longed to be able to talk to you, to touch you. Then your e-mail arrived and I was over the top. You were real, not a dream. You wanted to see me. I must have re-read it a thousand times. And now I am here and you still seem so far away. I almost wish we were still in your Subaru, at least you would be closer. Samantha unclasped her seat belt and, in the big old car, she slid to the the middle of the bench seat. She put the lap seat belt on and put her arm over his shoulder.
“This car is huge Roy, we need to find you something mid sized. What do you drive back in Nebraska?”
“If I'm not on horseback I am in my pickup. It's a Dodge Mega cab pickup.” I fit nicely with a worker or three and any gear gets stashed under the back lid.”
“Let me see what I can do.” she replied speed dialing her sister on her cellphone as he pulled back onto the road.
“Amy, I have a mission for you if you are willing.”
Her sister could not resist an introduction like that, Samantha knew it.
“Roy is here but he had trouble fitting into my Impreza, we switched it out for a borrowed Caddy at his hotel but what we really need is a Dodge mega cab pickup truck. I doubt that the rental companies would have one in their fleets but could you please check with a dealer and see if they can allow us a loaner for a few days? He has what ever paperwork they might need. Let me know how you do,
Thanks sis, I owe you again.”
The truck was in the works but for the trip to south Delaware, they were in the Caddy.
Chapter Nine -
They toured both of the ranches as planned laughing easily, asking questions and getting answers. On the way back from New Jersey in the Mega-cab truck, Roy took a detour. He went north and drove his borrowed pick up to the Dragon Fly Stables up towards central New Jersey. He seemed different. Saying nothing, he got out of the car and went around to help her down from the high step of the pickup, she followed trusting him but not knowing what to make of this detour. Taking her hand he walked her to the barn and spoke briefly with the stable help who brought out two saddled horses. One dark chocolate brown Friesian, chocolate, to match his voice, she thought and a smaller young mare. He helped Samantha up onto the mare and then climbed with ease onto the huge Friesian. They had English saddles which was what Samantha was familiar with. Roy, although he could ride, English, was more comfortable in Western gear. He lead her out onto the trail leading her horse with his at a slow trot. She followed him delighted with the diversion. It was not yet noon as they had risen early to visit the bison ranch. There was a thin crisp coating of snow on the trail that they took, it was not deep but the ground was white and the air had a brisk snap to it. Arriving at a clearing Roy climbed down and dropped his reins trusting the horse. He came around to Samantha's right, reaching up to her waist, he helped her from her mount. He had not been very talkative during their ride, only occasionally cautioning when a branch was hanging low or warning her if there was a boggy spot on the trail.
He started speaking, he stood facing her. “I had no idea New Jersey had such untamed spots. The view might not be as wide and deep as it is in Nebraska but it is very pretty here. The pine scent is lovely.” He was not looking at the scenery but into her eyes while he said this.
Then he knelt in front of her, he was wearing cotton jeans and he was kneeling in the damp snow on one knee. She was, to say the least, surprised, he produced an antique ring from his jacket pocket. “This was my mother's ring Samantha, I would like you to wear it as an engagement ring. Samantha Winston, will you be my wife? Will you come back to Nebraska and share your life with me? I need you by my side.” He was speaking slowly as though he did not what to stop and allow her to answer. He seemed afraid of what her answer might be.
There were tears in her eyes when he finished, she pulled him to his feet and kissed him deeply while he held her gently, encircling her with his long reach. He kissed her back, unrestrained now, he delighted in her kisses. They stood in the clearing in the sun for what seemed like forever just holding one another.
Finally she realized she had not given him an answer and she said, “Yes, Yes Roy Dawson, I will happily marry you. I am so glad you asked, I need you next to me in my life too. B
eing away from you for even a month was too long. I missed you so much when you went home and left me here. I do not want to be apart from you again.”
His arms around her tightened ever so slightly and he kissed her again, this time she felt like she was the most precious person on earth under his wing of protection. He sent strange warm chills down her spine with his embrace and his kisses. She sighed breathing in his leather scent and the scent of the horses. He bent to her and his breath tickled her ear chilling her further. The two saddle horses stood patiently waiting for their riders to climb back up, they wanted to go back to the warm barn but not with out their riders.
Finally the cold drove the two to remount and return to the stables. Once there, they were served by the stable hands with chocolate dipped strawberries and champagne. Roy had arranged this entire day to propose to her. The stable had offered him a lunch option but he had refused saying that he'd not be able to eat, he'd be too excited. He planned and fussed over every detail and she said yes. He was on cloud nine. She said yes. The ring even fit her perfectly. He could not be more happy with the outcome and his smile said just that.
Love, she thought . . . Page 3