Riding the River (The Westerners, Book One)
Page 7
The next afternoon, Abby received another call from Sarah. She was back at the hospital. Could she please come down?
Abby went to Emergency and inquired at the reception desk. She was shown back to where Sarah was sitting on an examining table in one of the patient rooms, taking deep breaths, trying to calm down.
“What’s the matter?” Abby walked up to Sarah and took a good look at her.
“The doctor said I had a panic attack.”
“Oh, my God… Are you all right?”
“Yes -- getting there.”
“Have you ever had one before?”
“… I don’t think so, but some of the symptoms were familiar.”
“Like what?”
“Shortness of breath, feeling dizzy, my heart starts pounding and I tremble.”
“Sarah…” They looked at each other for a long minute, then Abby sat down on a chair next to the bed.
“What brought this on? We had fun looking through the brochures the other night. I thought your mind was made up.”
“So did I…”
“What happened since then?”
“Do you have some time?”
“Yes, but let’s get you home first and then I’ll interrogate you.”
Sarah smiled slightly and Abby rose to help her off the table. After checking out, Abby drove Sarah back to her apartment.
“Where’s your car?”
“Still at work. Marcia drove me down here, shaking her finger at me all the way…”
“I want to hear this.”
Arriving at the apartment, Abby got Sarah situated on her couch, and slipped off her shoes. Abby got her a glass of water and another pillow.
“It seems like when I finally tried to do something of my own, all I’ve gotten is backlash. No one wants to see me change, but me…”
Abby got comfortable in a chair opposite the couch. “Take it from the top, please.”
Sarah sighed. “I went to bed so happy when you left.”
“… And then what?”
“I met Grandfather for lunch at headquarters the next day, and he said I couldn’t take a vacation just yet. He needs me…”
Abby rolled her eyes. “Always…”
“As soon as he was done with me, then Dad called saying the same thing. And just in case I didn’t get the message, Ben called after that reminding me of my family duty. He took me to dinner last night…”
“Really? A Ben sighting?” She almost laughed.
“And I got an hour of what I should be doing with my life, along with my steak dinner…”
“Sounds like tons of fun.”
“But Abby, I did strike a small blow for freedom.”
“… What?”
“I told Ben that I was ready to see other men.”
“You didn’t.”
“Yep…”
“What did he say? Boy, I wish I’d been a mouse in the corner.”
“He was taking a drink of his wine and started choking.” She smiled. “I had to pound him on the back. That felt good too…”
“So did you break up with him?”
“I think so, but Ben doesn’t. He told me he’d give me a week to think things over. He’s sure I’ll come to my senses by then.”
They looked at each other and burst out laughing. Sarah laughed so hard, she had to hold onto her stomach. It felt very good.
Abby wiped a few tears away from her eyes. Some color had crept back to Sarah’s lovely face. “So what brought on the panic attack?”
“You mean besides all the family pressure?”
“Yes.”
“I put in for a week’s vacation with my boss. He immediately hit the ceiling and I mean that literally. He started throwing things up in the air – staplers, pens…”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake. That guy is a cartoon character. What’s the matter with him anyway?”
Sarah looked at her and then turned away. “I know what’s wrong with him.”
“You do?”
“Yes…”
“Please tell me. This I’ve got to hear.” Abby sat back in her chair.
“One day last year, I went up to his office and started to knock on the door. I noticed it was slightly ajar and I heard him talking on the phone.”
“Who to?”
“I gathered it was his wife…”
“Okay…”
“So it got embarrassing.”
“What did?” Abby leaned forward now.
“He was pleading with her. I could see him in his chair with tears rolling down his face.”
“You’re kidding. Joe the Tyrant?”
“Yes, apparently she was leaving him and he was distraught.”
“Then what happened?”
“He hung up the phone, wiped his face off and saw me at the door.”
“What did he do?”
“He told me to come in. When I did, he asked me never to speak to anyone about what I’d just seen and heard.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him that I hadn’t seen or heard anything much. From that day, he was better for a while.”
“Better? After what he did last week and then today?”
“Right. He’s slowly gotten worse again.”
They both thought about that for a minute.
“So what happened after he threw things up in the air? He was being a cartoon character.”
“Totally, but I stuck to my guns and insisted. I reminded him that I haven’t had a vacation in two years and that a few more people quit yesterday.”
“Interesting… The rats are leaving the ship.”
“Definitely and he can’t afford to lose me. Even Marcia said she has resumes out.”
“So he gave in?”
“No, he continued to bully me and all of a sudden, while looking at him, I felt light-headed. Something must have shown on my face because he yelled for Marcia to come into his office… She got me in a chair before I nearly passed out.”
“… No…”
“So he ordered Marcia to get me home and told me I could have a week’s vacation. Marcia took me to the ER instead…”
“So you had to practically die in front of him to get time off.”
“… Something like that.”
Sarah stopped and took a long swallow of water. Abby continued to look at her and started shaking her head.
“Sarah, you’re going to have a nervous breakdown. You know that, right?”
“Yes…”
“So, what are you going to do?”
She lay down on the couch and put another pillow under her head. Taking a deep breath, she said with resolution, “I’m making a reservation at that guest ranch in Nevada.”
“Good for you.” Abby thought a minute. “What about your family? Won’t they be upset?”
“They’re going to have to get along without me for a week.”
“Talk about striking a blow for freedom. Good for you, girl…” Sarah began to yawn and Abby got the message.
“Do you want me to spend the night, Sarah? Or are you all right alone?”
“… I’m okay. Thanks for picking me up.”
“I’ll get you to your car tomorrow. When does your vacation start?”
“Now… Monday to Monday is what Joe said he’d give me.”
“When do will you leave for Nevada?”
“Tomorrow, if at all possible.”
Abby’s face shone. She stood up and clapped her hands.
“Yay! Go have a blast in the Wild West!”
“Thanks,” smiled Sarah. “I think I will.”
* * *
CHAPTER SIX