“Okay, then,” he said, shifting into park and taking the key out of the ignition. “I’ll pick you up at, like, six a.m., and that would put us down by the river by about seven.” He smiled at her. “Dress warm.”
“I will,” Aspen said. His smile was delicious! She wanted to kiss him—never wanted to leave the pickup!
He opened the driver’s side door, stepping out and taking hold of her hand. “Come on then,” he said. “Let’s get you inside. It’s cooling off.”
Aspen slid across the seat toward him—stepped down out of the pickup to stand before him. He smiled at her and pulled the lapels of his tailcoat together over her chest. He put a strong arm around her shoulders as they walked to her apartment.
“I really did have a lot of fun,” she said. “Your family is wonderful!”
He shrugged. “They can be a little weird—a little overwhelming at times—but I like them too.”
They were at the door. It was only at that moment that Aspen realized she’d entirely forgotten her purse! She’d left the apartment without it, having been so overcome with delight at Rake’s arriving to pick her up. What an idiot!
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I-I left my purse,” she explained.
“At the barn?”
“No. In my apartment.”
He grinned. “Guess I’ll have to take you back to my place then, huh?” He winked flirtatiously at her. “I’ve got something you can borrow to sleep in.”
Aspen blushed, thrilled, and giggled at his flirting.
“I’ve got a secret key hidden. Don’t worry,” she told him.
“I wasn’t worried,” he chuckled.
Aspen bent down and dug her fingers into the flowerpot to one side of the door. She knew how to avoid the thorns of the cactus in the pot and quickly found the key hidden in the soil. She pushed it into the key slot in the doorknob and twisted it, opening the door.
“Thank you, Rake,” she said, turning to look at him once more.
“You’re welcome,” he mumbled, grinning at her.
Aspen heard the clock in her apartment strike midnight. “And thank you for fixing my clock.”
“You’re welcome,” he said as his hands went to her waist.
Aspen felt her heart flutter and her stomach fill with butterflies as he pulled her body against his, slowly kissing her mouth. She let her hands go to his face, savoring his kiss and the feel of his jaw working to deepen it.
He sighed and broke the seal of their lips.
He wiped the moisture from his lips with his thumb and said, “I’ll see you Saturday morning.”
“Okay,” Aspen said.
“Now…for your own safety…step away from the vampire, miss,” he said.
Aspen giggled. Reluctantly she stepped into her apartment.
“’Bye,” she said, turning to look at him once more.
“’Bye,” he said. He smiled at her one last time and then turned and headed back to his pickup.
Aspen watched him walk away—watched the old white pickup pull out of the parking lot. Closing the door behind her, she exhaled a heavy sigh. She’d never get to sleep! Too many visions, emotions, and sensations were rattling through her mind and body.
“The vampire Rochester Darcy,” she sighed. “How absolutely perfect!”
She locked her apartment door and walked toward her bedroom, pulling the ribbons and silk flowers from her hair. She wondered if she could somehow get a copy of the photo Rake’s sister had taken of them together at the party—the one she’d asked them to pose for, saying she wanted to keep a photograph of Rake’s costume for her portfolio. She was mad at herself for forgetting her purse. Gina would’ve loved to see the vampire Rochester Darcy!
Chapter Nine
“I cannot believe you forgot your camera!” Gina scolded. She sat next to Aspen on the couch, a bowl of freshly popped microwave kettle corn in her lap.
Uncle Guy’s clock chimed the first four Westminster notes. Aspen glanced at the clock, wishing time would literally fly by. She couldn’t wait until Saturday morning—couldn’t wait to be with Rake again! She knew the upcoming week would seem to drag—drag on and on until Saturday, when Rake would finally arrive.
The evening before—Rake’s grandparents’ harvest party, the moments spent in his arms as the lucky recipient of his affections—had been the stuff of dreams! Aspen hadn’t slept a wink during the night. Visions of Rake Locker—the vampire Rochester Darcy, the ex bull riding, wild-cow-milking, Austenian vampire watchmaker—had kept her awake with warm, delicious reminiscing. She couldn’t wait to see him again. She couldn’t wait! As Aspen continued to share the details of her magical evening with Gina, she felt as if Saturday morning were eons away.
“I can’t believe I forgot it either,” Aspen said. “But I was so distracted when he showed up looking like…you know…perfect!”
“I’m sure, but I still can’t believe you forgot it,” Gina said. “Although I’m totally glad you made out with him.”
“I didn’t make out with him,” Aspen argued, a heated blush rising to her cheeks at the heavenly memory. Of course she’d made out with Rake—and it had been wonderful!
“Oh my heck! You totally made out with him,” Gina argued. “But, of course, who wouldn’t? I’d totally make out with him.”
“No, you wouldn’t! You always said the only guy you’d ever kiss without knowing first is—”
“I know, I know…Sean Connery,” Gina interrupted.
“And he’s, like, old enough to be your grandpa!” Aspen teased.
“I don’t care. He’s totally hot…especially the way he talks. You know, the way he says his s’s and stuff.”
Aspen laughed. “You are so random!”
“I like Sean Connery…so sue me.” Gina smiled and tossed a kernel of kettle corn into the air. She caught it in her mouth with ease and added, “It’s that ruggedly mature look he has. Yummy!”
Both girls laughed, and Aspen reached into the bowl in Gina’s lap, drawing out a handful of kettle corn.
“And anyway,” Gina began, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve had that Sam Elliott infatuation for as long as I can remember!”
“That was before I met the vampire Rochester Darcy,” Aspen said. She tossed a piece of popcorn into the air, catching it in her mouth as it tumbled back toward earth.
“Seriously, I know I’ve been teasing you…but I have to give him credit for being in tune with how to so entirely catch a girl’s attention. Rochester Darcy…the vampire? Perfect!” Gina said. She giggled to herself. “In fact, I can only think of one thing that would have made his costume any better.”
Aspen shook her head and smiled. “I already know. The vampire UPS man.”
“Exactly!” Gina confirmed. She smiled and tossed a few pieces of popcorn into her mouth one right after the other. “You know what would make this popcorn better?”
“What?” Aspen asked.
“If you drizzled a little melted white chocolate over it.”
The sun wasn’t yet breaking the horizon as Aspen put the car in park. The Balloon Fiesta Park parking lot was already filling up, and Aspen was glad she and Gina had left at five that morning instead of waiting until five thirty. It was six, and they’d managed to beat the worst of the traffic, allowing plenty of time to get down onto the field. The dawn patrol—the hot air balloons chosen to ascend while darkness still veiled the valley—were already aloft, their orange glowing shapes dotting the sky like giant fireflies.
“I hope I don’t get too hot,” Aspen said, pulling the extra University of New Mexico sweatshirt she’d brought along over her head.
“I know,” Gina said, pulling on her “Go Lobos” sweatshirt as well. “I’m always cold when we first get here…and sweltering by the time we leave.”
“Let’s get hot chocolate first thing,” Aspen suggested.
“Totally!” Gina agreed. “Do you have your camera?
”
“Got it,” she said. Aspen patted her front pocket. She could feel the thin, rectangular shape of her digital camera there. She felt her back pocket, double-checking to make sure her license, debit card, and cash were secure.
She closed the car door, pushed the lock button her on her key chain, shoved her keys into her other front pocket, and said, “Let’s go!”
“I’m so excited!” Gina said as they began walking toward the entrance to the balloon field. “Can you even imagine not being able to see the balloons every year?”
Aspen shook her head. “No. And I can’t believe so many local people take it for granted.”
“Me neither. They better have fry bread this year…or at least funnel cake.”
Aspen smiled. That was Gina, always worried about the food at an event—about food period.
The air was cool and crisp, fresh with October’s beauty and brilliance. Aspen glanced off to her right—to the Sandia Mountain looming in the distance like an ancient southwest sentinel guarding the valley. The entire moment was simply invigorating, and Aspen felt her pulse increase with excitement. Oh, it certainly wasn’t the same kind of pulse increase the thought of Rake Locker caused in her, but it was a wonderful feeling all the same.
Aspen looked down to the balloon field ahead, trying to keep her thoughts from wandering to Rake. This was her day with Gina—their annual Special Shapes Rodeo adventure. She smiled, thinking that it always did turn out to be an adventure somehow.
She thought of the year before. Now that had been an adventure! She and Gina were asked to ride with the chase crew of the special shapes unicorn balloon. What a blast they’d had! The unicorn crew was short a couple of chasers, and it turned out Gina knew the guy driving the lead chase crew vehicle. He was a pharmaceutical rep, and he invited Gina and Aspen to ride out on the balloon chase.
Having grown up around the hot air balloons and the fiesta, Aspen and Gina both understood that the balloons were slaves to the whims of the fickle winds. Chase crews followed their balloon, traveling across the landscape below and arriving at the landing site just before or as the balloon landed. Often the crew had to get permission from a land owner for the balloon to land on the owner’s property. Crews were in constant radio contact with the balloon’s pilot and ever available in case of emergency or for basic instructions. The chase crew also helped pack the balloon and equipment once the balloon had landed.
Aspen and Gina had been delighted and excited nearly to delirium at the prospect of riding with a chase crew. Every early October of their memories, they’d waved to chase crews as they raced down major or minor roads, American flags attached on either side of the pickups’ tops and patriotically flapping in the wind. The sound of the chase crew flags was as familiar to Aspen as the soothing sound of the burner bursts used to heat the air inside the balloon envelope as it floated overhead. Thus, traveling with a chase crew had been like a lifelong dream come true for both girls. Oh, how they’d thrilled to be riding in the bed of the lead chase crew pickup, relishing the challenge of keeping the giant airborne unicorn in sight as it traveled through the beautiful New Mexico atmosphere. The excitement of watching the balloon land and helping to pack it away—envelope, basket, and burner—all before eight thirty in the morning had been wonderful.
Gina had offered her friend a gift certificate she had to Sadie’s as recompense for letting her and Aspen chase. Yet he’d simply told them he was grateful for their help, thanked them, and given them free passes for the balloon glow scheduled for that night.
Aspen sighed.
“What?” Gina asked.
“How will we ever top being on the chase crew last year?” Aspen asked.
Gina shrugged. “Just take a ton of photos this year, I guess. There was hardly time last year, remember?”
“Yeah,” Aspen said.
“I love to see the burners heating up when it’s still dark,” Gina sighed.
“Me too!”
Aspen smiled as she looked out over the field. She and Gina were still descending toward it, and their elevation provided a great view as the burners lit up the dark—randomly shooting flame into the air, speckling the field with flashes of firelight.
“Oh, let’s hurry!” Aspen said, taking Gina’s arm and quickening their step.
“Wait!” Gina said, stopping cold in her tracks and pulling her own camera out of her pocket. “Let me get a picture of you.”
“Let’s do one together,” Aspen suggested.
The girls pressed their cool, rosy cheeks together, held their cameras out, and flashed several self-portraits. Giggling, they linked arms and hurried toward the entrance, where hot chocolate and adventure were waiting.
Once through the entrance to the park—after purchasing breakfast burritos and hot chocolate—Aspen and Gina hurried onto the field. Chase crews were busily spreading balloon envelopes over the dew-laced grass.
“There’s the chili ristra!” Gina exclaimed. Aspen looked to see a crew working to spread the giant chili-ristra-shaped balloon envelope evenly over the ground. Aspen smiled. Just like every year she and Gina had come to the Special Shapes Rodeo, she felt her eyes mist with tears of pure delight and excitement. “Oh, the fish! I love the fish!” Gina giggled.
“Oh my heck! The witch on the broom,” Aspen exclaimed as her eyes fell to the large green-faced witch balloon next to the fish.
“I love the witch on the broom!” Gina squealed.
“I hope the ship is here.”
“The buccaneer?” Gina asked. “Me too. It’s one of my favorites!”
The buccaneer was Aspen’s favorite special shape balloon. Modeled after the cliché pirate ship, it was a marvel of hot air balloon ingenuity, from a distance looking more like a real ship than a balloon. The buccaneer had only been to the Fiesta once—several years before, when Aspen was still in high school. Still, she knew she would never forget the first time she’d ever seen it floating on the distant horizon. It had been awe-inspiring—like something from a dream! Aspen remembered telling her mother how much the moment reminded her of something from Peter Pan—as if Peter himself were steering a pixie-dusted pirate ship through the sky.
Tossing the remnants of their foil-wrapped breakfast burritos into a nearby trash barrel, the girls linked arms, wandering through a magical world of dawn-drenched balloon crews, burners, and photographers. Quick whiffs of propane from the burners wafted through the air, mingled with the delicious scents of green chili, donuts, and the fresh southwest air.
“Go Lobos!” someone called. Aspen saw Gina wave to a balloon crew, most of whom wore University of New Mexico sweatshirts themselves.
“Mmm!” Gina hummed. “That one guy is really cute!”
Aspen looked over to a handsome man waving at Gina.
“Maybe,” Aspen said.
“You’re just spoiled now, girlfriend,” Gina giggled. “And who wouldn’t be after something like Rake Locker?”
Aspen took a sip of her hot chocolate and nodded. It was true! She wondered if she’d ever think any other man was attractive again. Compared with Rake, it seemed unlikely. How could anyone compare to him in looks or personality? A small wave of anxiety washed over her. She was in danger already! Two dates and she was already in danger of having her heart broken—she knew it. The thought made her uneasy. She took another sip of hot chocolate and forced her attention in the opposite direction—to the crew of the pumpkin special shape balloon to right. Yet the pumpkin balloon only caused her to think of all the pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns piled in the corners and on the tables in Rake’s grandparents’ barn. She felt goose bumps prickling her arms—the effect of the sudden flashback of kissing Rake.
Aspen sipped her hot chocolate once more, and Gina giggled, “Go easy, Aspen! You don’t want to have to use the pewey potties before you have to!”
“Ew, gross, I know!” Aspen agreed. Still, the hot chocolate helped a little—helped to keep her mouth from watering at the thought of Rake—
and she took another sip.
Within the hour the balloons were inflated, fantastic shapes and characters of every kind hovering like fantasy creatures as the first rays of sun broke over the Sandia Mountain to the west. The battery in Aspen’s digital camera was already down fifty percent, and she hoped it would make it through the rest of the morning. She’d have to be more selective in taking photos. She frowned as she looked at the battery strength indicator. She’d remembered to put the extra memory card in her pocket but had forgotten to bring the second battery.
“It’s here!” she heard Gina exclaim.
“Where?” Aspen asked. She knew at once which balloon Gina was referring to—the buccaneer! After all, they’d both hoped it would be at the fiesta.
“Right over there…behind the Santa Claus balloon. See it?”
“Oh my heck!” Aspen squealed, snapping a quick photo as the bowsprit of the buccaneer appeared behind the Santa Claus balloon. Aspen hurried forward, wanting to see more of the ship.
“There it is!” Gina exclaimed.
And it was! Aspen gasped with delight as the sail-donned masts and hull of the balloon became visible. Aspen took several more photos and could hear Gina’s camera shuttering away as well.
“It’s beautiful!” she breathed. She shook her head, awed by the wonder of it. Enormous and expertly detailed, the buccaneer balloon was magnificent. She couldn’t believe how detailed it was. It truly looked like a real pirate ship.
The Time of Aspen Falls Page 16