Riding the River (The Westerners, Book One)

by Jeanne Harrell

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.