by Gerri Hill
“I absolutely adore it. I feel a bit of Georgia O’Keefe in me while I have a paintbrush in my hand.”
“I’m happy for you, Brenda. I was thinking last night that I’ve never seen you more relaxed and at peace with yourself.”
“At peace, yes. A perfect word.” Brenda paused, looking at Kate. “You know, this spring, when I first told you I was coming out here to paint, you never really asked me why.”
Kate shrugged. “I guess I just assumed it was another endeavor you wanted to try.”
“Yes, I suppose it was at the time. It was part of the reason, anyway. There is something I never told you, Kate. Never told anyone, in fact. But the last year or so, my doctor was prescribing antidepressants for me.”
“Brenda? Really? Why didn’t you say something?”
“Oh, darling, I was too embarrassed to tell you.”
“That’s not something to be embarrassed about. A lot of people—”
“Yes, I know, darling, but I didn’t want to be one of them. Besides, the drugs were slowly zapping the part of me that was me. I stopped feeling, I stopped caring. I was just in la-la land, where everything was rosy all the time.”
“Now that you mention it, I guess I did notice that you had mellowed quite a bit.”
“Mellowed! Now there’s a word!”
“So, I take it you’re off them now?”
“Oh, yes. I flushed them down the toilet in the first hotel I stayed in on my way out here. It was the strangest feeling, Katie, with my car all packed and Dallas in my rearview mirror. It was like this weight being lifted off my shoulders. I can’t really describe the euphoria I felt. It must be what it’s like to be released from prison after thirty years. I felt truly free.”
“And that’s the real reason you don’t want to go back?” Kate guessed.
“One of many reasons, darling. You do know that my lone happiness in that life was you, don’t you?”
Kate was touched by the sincerity of Brenda’s words. Touched and saddened. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Oh, I’m not sorry. How insignificant it seemed at the time, the day we met. I didn’t realize how starved I was for friendship, Kate. And I certainly didn’t expect to find it in someone as young as you.”
Kate smiled. “Thank you.”
“But with that said, the longer I stay here, the harder it will be to leave. Do you understand?”
“I understand. I certainly don’t expect you to come back just to keep me company.”
“I’m not going to make a rash decision, Katie. I’m not going to sell everything, hoping that this is what I want. I may stay a year and then decide. Or I might wake up next week, call Thomas and tell him to sell. Or I may decide that Dallas really is home.”
“I just want you to be happy. And if you do decide to stay here, don’t doubt that I won’t make myself a nuisance by visiting.”
Brenda leaned over and quickly kissed Kate’s cheek. “I love you, you know.”
Kate was nearly embarrassed by the tears that formed in her eyes. “I love you too,” she murmured, aware that it was the first time the two of them had ever uttered those words to each other.
“Now, I’m thinking a very light lunch is in order for I feel a bit like splurging this evening.”
“How so?”
“Steaks on the grill? How does that sound?”
“Sounds wonderful. Will we get to enjoy more of that sangria?”
Brenda laughed. “I told you Lee made the best. It’s downright addictive.”
Chapter Ten
Lee sat on the top step of her deck, sipping her second glass of sangria wine. She glanced occasionally into her bedroom, then looked back toward the fading colors of what was a fabulous sunset. Erin, unlike her friend Tiffany, hadn’t had the stamina for a prolonged session in bed. In fact, after only her second orgasm, she’d crashed. Lee looked at her watch. Two hours had passed. She sighed, thinking it was just as well. She hadn’t really planned on looking up the young woman, anyway, but she’d spied the red sports car speeding outside of Coyote and she just couldn’t resist. Knowing that the girl’s boyfriend was expecting her for dinner only added to the temptation of a quick conquest of the young college student. And she supposed she should go wake her so she could run back to her friends.
Lee sighed again, wondering at the loneliness that had been creeping up more and more lately. Again, she wanted to blame it on her age, which, in just a few short hours, would officially be thirty. But it was more than that, she knew, she just couldn’t put her finger on it. Maybe she was finally growing up. Maybe it was time to settle down.
She snorted. My God, you’re only thirty, not dead!
No, she wasn’t the settling down type. She’d always known that. She couldn’t imagine settling down with someone, moving in together, sharing the same bed, night after night. How boring. How depressing. No, she liked her current arrangements just fine. No strings, no attachments, just sex. And sometimes, really good sex.
And sometimes really bad sex, she thought as the glanced again into her bedroom. Oh well. There were worse ways to spend a Friday afternoon.
Chapter Eleven
Kate contemplated opening up her laptop, then decided against it. She had ideas for Jennifer and Paul and she wanted to get started on them. But Lee was due any minute. She’d called first thing that morning, to remind Kate of their tour of the county. Kate had almost asked Brenda to tell Lee she was canceling, to tell her she wanted to start writing, but decided against it. She figured it was a trip she would just get over and done with today, then Brenda would leave her alone about the history of the area. Not that she wasn’t interested. But being stuck for several hours in a Jeep with Sheriff Foxx—she could think of other things she’d rather do.
Like write.
“I think Lee’s here,” Brenda called from out on the deck.
Kate looked around her room, wondering if she needed to take anything. On impulse, she grabbed the small digital camera she’d purchased just for this trip. When she walked out into the living room, Lee was already inside. Brown hiking shorts and a white, sleeveless T-shirt—Kate assumed this was the normal attire for the sheriff. Only today, the gun and holster were missing. And Kate admitted that clothes did make a person. Tan, fit. Outdoorsy. Kate couldn’t imagine this woman in a city. Again, without warning, Kate felt the pull of Lee Foxx. She waited, watching as Lee turned, their eyes meeting. Lee smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling up just slightly. Kate nodded, hating the fact that she was not immune to the charms of this woman. Charms? The woman had yet to open her mouth. No, she simply emitted pheromones or something and it was extremely annoying to realize she was no different than the young tourists that flocked to the sheriff.
Oh, but she was different. She was a mature woman in a stable relationship, and she had no interest in Lee Foxx. None whatsoever, in fact.
“Hi. I was just about to say hello to Brenda.”
“I’m in no hurry,” Kate said, motioning to the opened patio door.
“Come on out, Lee,” Brenda called.
Kate smiled when she saw her friend. Brenda was sitting in the sun, bare legs showing beneath her oversized shirt. The book she’d been reading lay open on her lap.
“A beautiful morning, isn’t it?” Lee commented.
“Oh, darling, so wonderful. I can’t imagine people staying inside their houses on mornings like this.” She smiled up at Kate. “All ready, dear?”
“I suppose.” Kate glanced at Lee. “Do I need anything?”
“Nope. Although you may want to bring shorts along. It’ll get warm in about an hour or so.”
Kate slipped her hands in the pockets of her loose fitting jeans and shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
Lee shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“Will you be back in time for lunch? I could whip something up,” Brenda offered.
“Actually, I went by the bakery. I’ve got a picnic basket.”
“Oh, how lovely,
darling.”
A picnic? Kate sighed. She supposed the quick tour of the canyons she’d envisioned was not to be. And really, it wasn’t fair. For the first time in months, she itched to write. She actually had ideas for a change. But no, she would spend the better part of the day stuck in a Jeep with the local sheriff.
Lee studied the quiet woman sitting beside her, a woman who didn’t look like she wanted a tour of the river canyon.
“Brenda said you were looking forward to today,” Lee said. “I get the impression she lied.”
“Do you?” Kate turned in her seat. “This was her idea, not mine. She seemed to think I would enjoy it here a little more if I was somewhat familiar with the area.”
“She’s probably speaking from experience.” Lee slowed the Jeep, then turned off the main road, climbing higher into the back- country. “We’ll start up top. I’ll try not to bore you,” she added with a smile. “This is BLM land around here, so it’s public.”
“What’s that?”
“BLM? It’s Bureau of Land Management. The restrictions aren’t quite as severe as on national forest land. As a whole though, most of the county is national forest, with just pockets of private land.”
Kate held on to the dash as they rounded a sharp curve on the dirt road and climbed higher.
“You came in from the northeast there,” Lee said, pointing out her window. “That’s the Rio Chama. But all of the canyons around here were cut by the Rio Pueblo. That’s what we saw the other night.”
“What about the lake? Brenda pointed it out when I first got here.”
“They dammed up the Rio Chama, past the deep canyon. Canon De Chama has some great river rafting, but it’s gotten to be real touristy in the last few years. There used to be just two outfitters there, so the river was still wild,” she said. “Now, there are rafts everywhere.”
Kate shook her head. “You’ve lost me. Outfitters?”
“Sorry. They rent out rafts, provide river tours with guides, things like that.”
“How do you know so much about this area? Are you from here originally?”
Lee laughed. “No. I grew up in Phoenix. I was in college before I made my first trip out here.”
Kate frowned. College? She’d assumed the woman was barely past college age now. She turned in her seat. “How old are you?”
Lee stared. “How old? Why?”
“What do you mean, why?”
“Why do you want to know? What difference does it make?”
“What is it with you people and age?”
“You people? What are you talking about?”
Kate shrugged. “Brenda says Harmony and Sunshine are somewhere between twenty and forty, but they won’t say. I don’t understand what the big deal is. It’s just a number.”
“Oh, yeah? Well how old are you?”
Kate smiled. “I’m nearly thirty-eight.”
“Nearly?” Lee slowed the Jeep. “That mountain over there, that’s Polvadera Peak. You had a great view of it coming up from Santa Fe.” She drove on, turning back to Kate. “And you are probably the first woman I’ve met who rounds up her age, not down.”
“Well, when my birthday hits and they call me thirty-eight, I’ve actually successfully completed thirty-eight years and I’m working on number thirty-nine.” She shrugged. “So technically, I guess I could say I’m nearly thirty-nine.”
Lee practically slammed on her brakes. “What? You’re thirty- seven but you’re technically thirty-nine?”
Kate smiled. “Well, it’s simple math, Lee. When you’re born, they don’t call you zero, they wait until you’ve completed your first year, then say you’re one.”
Lee stared, her mouth opened. “So, you’re saying, if someone is twenty-nine, about to be thirty, when their actual birthday comes, and they think they’re thirty, they’ve really already done thirty, they’re already starting on freakin’ thirty-one!” she said, her voice loud.
It was Kate’s turn to stare. “Yeah,” she said slowly. “Doesn’t take a rocket scientist,” she murmured.
“So if someone’s having a crisis over turning thirty, they should have had their damn crisis at twenty-eight, not twenty-nine!” She leaned her head back. “Good God.”
Kate smiled, then laughed. When Lee rolled her head toward her, Kate laughed harder. “Let me guess. You’re about to turn thirty?”
Lee smiled, then started the Jeep again. “I thought I was about to turn thirty, yes. Apparently, I’m starting on freakin’ thirty-one.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, I never would have guessed you to be thirty.”
“And why’s that? My boyish good looks?” she teased.
“Maybe it’s the age of the women you date. The little girl the other day couldn’t have even been eighteen.”
“Eighteen? No, she was a junior in college. Perfectly legal. And how do you know about who I date? What in the world has Brenda been telling you?”
“Just that you have a penchant for young blonds, mostly tourists, mostly straight.”
Lee laughed. “Well, they do tend to have more stamina.”
Kate shook her head. “Aren’t you afraid of catching something?”
“Catching something?”
“A disease,” she said pointedly.
“It’s not like I don’t use protection. I mean, I’m not stupid.”
“What do you use? Latex gloves?”
Lee laughed again. “Good one, Miss Winters. Yes, I have a never-ending supply of disposable gloves under my bed.” She took her right hand off the wheel and wiggled her fingers. “Protects these from catching something!”
Kate raised her eyebrows. “So what are they called? Dental dams?”
Lee nodded. “Don’t you use them?”
“God, no. Robin and I have been together a couple of years. I can’t imagine a latex tongue coming at me.”
“A couple of years? What? Are you exclusive?”
“Of course. That’s what being in a relationship means. But I suppose you don’t know anything about that.”
Lee pulled off of the dirt road and stopped the Jeep. She got out and stretched, arms reaching high into the blue sky. “God, what a morning,” she said. “Come on, I’ll show you the view.”
Kate got out, doing the same, although not with as much production as Lee had. She simply rolled her shoulders around, then straightened her back.
“So, you trust that she’s exclusive too?”
“Robin? Yes. I mean, we live together.”
“So, you’ve signed a pact in blood or something?”
“No. But when you’re in a relationship, when you live together, it’s just assumed, I suppose.”
Lee grinned. “You haven’t discussed it? Are you crazy?”
“What are you insinuating? You don’t know me and you’ve not even met Robin.”
“I don’t know you, but I know women.”
“From the children you date? I doubt it.”
Lee tilted her head. “Well, at your age, I suppose they do look like children.”
Kate stared, only barely resisting the urge to slap the arrogant grin off her face. Would that be considered assaulting a peace officer? Instead, she shoved both hands into her pockets and forced a smile to her face. “Good one, Sheriff. You forget, however, that I don’t have a problem with age. You, on the other hand, are having a mid- life crisis at thirty!”
Lee scowled. “Look, that stays between us.”
“That you’re having a crisis?”
“No! That I’m thirty.”
“No one knows you’re thirty?”
“No. And no one knows it’s my birthday, either.”
“Again, I don’t understand the big deal, but fine. I won’t spread nasty rumors about your age.”
“Thank you.”
“When is it, anyway?”
“What?”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Your birthday.”
“Oh.” Lee looked away, shielding her eyes against
the sun. “It’s actually now.”
“Now?”
Lee nodded. “Today.”
Again Kate stared. “Today is your birthday and you’re spending it driving me around? Why in the world?”
Lee shrugged. “Well, I told Brenda I would, for one thing. And I like being out here. I don’t really take the time to do this much anymore, so this is enjoyable.”
“I appreciate that, but shouldn’t you be with someone close to you? Like one of your girlfriends?”
Lee grinned and Kate was captivated by the tiny laugh lines around her eyes. Hazel eyes that actually twinkled when she smiled.
“They’re not exactly what you’d call girlfriends, Kate. You were right, mostly tourists. Here one day, gone the next.”
“And you like living like that? How sad.”
Lee leaned closer. “You like sleeping day after day after day with the same woman? How sad.”
Kate laughed and clapped Lee on her shoulder. “Well, here’s some news for you, Sheriff. There will come a day when the twenty-year-olds won’t even notice you. You’ll be too old for them! Why, you could be their mother!”
“You’re cruel, Kate Winters. Very, very cruel.”
“I’ve got the perfect spot for lunch,” Lee said. She pulled off the dirt road, driving the Jeep around the scrub oaks. They both bounced in their seats as the Jeep maneuvered the rocks.
“I’m just guessing here, but this isn’t really a road, is it,” Kate said as she held onto the dash.
“Not really, no. But I want to show you something.”
Lee’s “I want to show you something” were words Kate had heard all morning. And honestly, she’d loved every minute of it. She slid her glance to the sheriff, allowing herself a quick, unobserved inspection of the woman sitting next to her. Dark, windblown hair was in disarray around her face and small, fashionable sunglasses hid her eyes. But the smile on Lee’s face indicated she was enjoying herself too, and Kate nodded, finally looking away. Sheriff Foxx had proven to be a knowledgeable tour guide and entertaining as well. Despite her reservations about this trip, she was glad Brenda had insisted she take it. If for nothing else, she realized her negative perception of Lee Foxx might have been a bit unwarranted. Granted, she liked to date younger women—much younger women—but that didn’t mean she was the horrible person Kate had envisioned. In fact, Kate admitted that she actually enjoyed her company.