by Jenna Roads
I whispered, “I wonder how long this will take us.”
“About 15 minutes. We will go up four thousand more feet. Just look out there at that view.”
It was amazing and breathtaking. I saw cliffs, mountains, canyons, trees, flowers, rocks and you could see forever. I reached for my cell phone to take a picture and Logan got the camera out of his backpack and said, “Try this.”
“Thanks,” I replied and took the camera and started snapping pictures.
After a couple of minutes, we got a gush of wind. The Tram swayed and I lost my balance and fell right into Logan who was standing beside me. He grabbed me and put his arm around me to pull me in closer. Once again, I caught the smell of his cologne. It was heavenly. I grabbed the pole in front of me to stabilize myself and at the same time leaned back a little to get another chance to breathe in his cologne.
“Thanks,” I managed to say.
“Don’t mention it. Anytime,” he replied.
We continued our journey to the top and the conductor said, “Okay, you will feel a little jolt and hear a noise as the cable passes the junction.”
He was right. I was so glad he told me.
Another few minutes of taking pictures and we arrived at the top station. We all unloaded and looked around. I was still in awe.
Then we went through the museum. I took a bathroom break. Next, we walked around and read all of the little exhibits set up about the area. I couldn’t believe we were 10,378 feet high in Cibola National Forest. The information said you could see 11,000 square miles. That was unbelievable!
That was some big view. We left the museum, walked the wooden decking and looked out over the rails at the beauty that surrounded us. I found myself repeating time after time, “This is amazing.”
“I thought I would welcome you to New Mexico by giving you the sky. Are you impressed?”
“Ha, you really did give me the sky and it is so incredible.”
I shivered as a cold breeze hit me. Logan reached into his backpack and pulled out two blue lined windbreakers. He handed me one and said, “This will help.”
I slipped it on eagerly. “You really do think of everything. Thanks.”
“I told you, I’ve been to all of these places and the truth is, the temperature is twenty degrees colder up here than at the bottom. I’ve learned to be prepared. The first time I was not so smart,” he explained.
“Look,” Logan said, pointing to the right.
It was an eagle which seemed huge when you were that close-up. It was exhilarating to see.
Just then, someone called out, “Logan Hayes.”
I turn to see a waitress outside of the restaurant.
Logan answered, “Yes,” and nudged me to come on.
We entered High Finance Restaurant. She took us to a table with a panoramic view of outside and we were seated.
“Someone will be right with you.”
I looked at Logan and asked, “How did you do this? You were with me the whole time.”
“I called yesterday and made reservations for a sunset dinner with a table to see the sunset. You have to see the sunset while you eat; it’s phenomenal,” he said.
“I am impressed.”
“Good,” he replied.
The waiter came and took our order. Logan got a New York Strip and I got Tilapia. They brought our drinks and calamari appetizer.
“Well, I guess this is a great place for you to bring your girlfriends.”
“I wouldn’t know since you are the only girl I have come here with, except my mother and my clients.”
I knew my face must’ve been red. I thought to myself, wow, I couldn’t believe as gorgeous as he was and he had never brought a girl here. Why did I keep on thinking those things when I was not looking for a relationship? I was just divorced six months ago.
He did seem like the most perfect guy ever. He was so easy to talk to and sexy, kind, capable, smart and everything you could want in a man. Those eyes of his you could get lost in forever! Oh, stop it, Isabella, I told myself, just as he looked at me and once again, my face flushed rosy pink.
“Have you thought about where you might work when you get your license?” he asked.
“I had wanted to work with children and thought I would try University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital first. I have to get my license and then apply for a license here. I understand you can get a work permit right away while you wait on your New Mexico license to arrive in the mail. I get a long vacation while I wait on my original license. I could go to work somewhere else in the meantime, but I don’t think it is fair to start working there and then quit so soon after starting. I guess I need a vacation anyway after nursing school. I am easily bored though,” I replied.
“Well, just let me know if you get too bored and need a temporary job, because I could put you to work. It would not be nursing, but I promise you would not be bored,” Logan offered.
“I will certainly keep that in mind.”
I thought to myself, who wouldn’t love working for you? Wow, why do I keep going there? It was like my mind couldn’t think of anything but Logan. Am I going crazy or what?
Our food arrived and it looked delicious. As we enjoyed our meal, I said, “Incredible again.”
“I didn’t cook it,” he replied.
“No, but you sure did bring us here,” I said.
“In that case, you are welcome.”
The sun started dropping down across the Sandia sky.
I learned Sandia meant watermelon. The sky was definitely watermelon. The sky then progressed to add orange and purple and blue.
“I have never seen a more beautiful sky and it goes on forever and ever.”
“Don’t take your eyes off of it, because it slips down very fast up here,” Logan said.
“There it goes. Wow, wow, wow!” That was all I could say. I was tongue tied for adjectives.
“It was amazing, wasn’t it? I could watch it every night and never get tired of it,” Logan said.
“You got that right.”
After we finished our incredible meal, Logan asked, “Are you ready to go back down now or wait until the last Tram of the night?”
“Sure, we can go down now,” I replied.
We headed for the station and boarded the Tram to go down. It was just as crowded on the way down. This time the view was much different in the dark. Logan had a hold of me by my jacket. He had the material balled up under his hand.
I was thinking ‘my protector’. The breeze blew over us. I couldn’t get enough of the smell of him from the cross wind. It just took over all of my senses. There I went again. He leaned over and asked if I was okay, as if he could see my flushed face in the dark.
“I’m fine,” I whispered.
“You sure are,” he whispered back.
My heart started racing at the sensual sound of his voice whispering in my ear. Oh, heart, please be still, I scolded. I knew without a doubt at that moment, I was falling hard for my green-eyed tour guide.
It seemed an eternity, but it could not have been more than fifteen minutes until we were back where we started at the home Tram Station. We unloaded and headed for the truck. He opened my door and I got in and looked at my phone.
There was nothing but things to like on Facebook. That could wait.
Logan sent a text to someone and then we pulled out.
“That was so much fun. Thank you so much. You really rock! I can’t believe the places you take me,” I said.
“I can’t believe how much fun I have when I’m with you,” he replied.
In the background on the radio, Snow Patrol was rocking out.
“The glistening lights of the city are on steroids tonight,” I said.
“It’s because there are few trees and you can see for miles and miles. It is very beautiful,” Logan said.
“This really seems like a magical place. It’s funny how I never even heard anything of New Mexico except the name until my aunt suggested I
come here.”
“Your aunt is a very smart woman,” he said.
We finally made it to the gate of my community and Logan punched in his code to open it. We pulled around to the house and he got out of the truck to let me out and followed me to the door.
“Thanks again for a great time,” I said.
“It was all my pleasure. I will pick you up bright and early. Bring that windbreaker because you may need it again,” Logan said.
“Okay. Goodnight,” I said.
“Goodnight, Isabella,” he replied as I went in and locked the door behind me.
CHAPTER TEN
I saw a note on the table by the door from the electrician. The note said that everything was wired as it should be and worked great. No adjustments had to be made.
I thought to myself, well, that is weird.
I decided since I needed to get up early in the morning that I had better get ready for bed so that I would have a cheery disposition tomorrow. I headed upstairs and turned on my music on the wall panel. I checked the bathroom light and it came on fine. I got out my clothes for the next day. That was real easy since I’d gotten a balloon T-shirt and earrings today. I grabbed some jeans with embroidered pockets, a pair of socks and Nike’s.
I couldn’t resist looking out on the veranda. I opened the door off the bedroom and it revealed a million stars. When God paints the sky, He does not mess around. It simply took my breath. I couldn’t help but stare for a few minutes. I went back inside to shower and get ready for bed after locking the door to outside.
I let the warm shower water consume me. Afterward, I brushed my teeth, set the alarm clock, turned down the music and sank into bed.
I got all enveloped in the luxurious comfort of my new bed. I did the usual thinking in my head about the day’s activities and events. The day and night were incredible. I thought of Logan and the feelings I had when he touched me or looked at me. Could this be happening so quickly? Could I really be falling head over heels for this amazing guy? I couldn’t get the smell of his cologne out of my head.
I finally fell asleep, but I awoke later to the sound of footsteps on the stairs. I got up and looked out at the stairs and I saw nothing. I looked around and thought I must be hearing things. I went back and got into bed once again. I tried to sleep, but I thought I saw a shadow going past in the hall. “Hello,” I called out, but no answer. I got up and went to the door and then into the hallway, where I again saw nothing. I thought my imagination must been working overtime. I walked back to my doorway and as I went through it, I felt a chill in the air. I shut and locked the bedroom door and jumped in bed under the covers.
I awoke to the awful sound of my alarm. I got up and went in the bathroom. I got smart and brushed my teeth, got dressed, made my bed and collected my things and then went downstairs. I rushed to the coffee pot for my coffee and poured in the pumpkin spice creamer. I was now in heaven. It was still dark, so I drank my coffee inside. I opened my laptop and went to Facebook. I went through my usual like, like, and updated my status. Up, up, and away in my beautiful balloon through the ‘Land of Enchantment’ today! I turned the computer off and gathered my things, placing them on the table by the door.
I sat back down to finish my coffee and heard Logan at the door. I went to open it and he said, “Good morning, Isabella. Are you ready?”
“Morning. Yes, all set,” I replied.
I locked up and we pulled out of the drive and past the security gates and we were on our way.
Logan said, “We are leaving from our business parking lot.”
“Cool, how did you arrange that?” I asked.
“Well, I have connections with the pilot,” he replied.
“How’s that?” I asked.
“He’s my uncle. His name is Joe Hayes and he is my father’s brother. You’ll like him; he’s pretty cool,” Logan said.
“That’s neat. You have your own balloon pilot,” I said.
“It does have it perks for sure, but on the downside, I have had to play balloon chaser on several occasions,” Logan said.
We arrived at Logan’s office and sure enough, there was the balloon being filled with air.
We got out and Logan inquired, “Do you want to go watch it filling?”
“Yes,” I answered.
We walked over to the balloon.
I watched in childlike amazement as our balloon was made ready for us. Logan’s uncle came up to me and said, “I don’t believe we’ve met, because I certainly would have remembered it.”
Logan said, “Uncle Joe, this is Isabella Reed.”
“Glad to meet you,” Uncle Joe said.
“You, too,” I replied.
Joe said, “We will be off in just a few minutes.”
“Great,” I replied.
The balloon was on the ground and the basket was on its’ side on the ground. A fan was blowing into the balloons’ envelope and the material opened up and was flooded with color all of a sudden. It started to almost straighten up and it was beautiful with turquoise, purple and green. Each color looked like a cloud around the balloon with turquoise on top then purple and last was green. It had a nice basket with leather trim.
Joe got in and fired up the burner that seemed to breathe life into it. It had that same heavy breathing sound I heard on the first morning in the land of enchantment. They told me to get in the balloon as well. Logan straightened and untied the ropes while he kept us there and then jumped into the balloon. There were two more guys who were taking our pictures and then they jumped in their trucks.
Logan looked at me and said, “They are balloon chasers for us. They follow us around in case we need their assistance and help us with the landing later on.”
I nodded my head as we started our adventure ascending higher and higher until we were drifting on a peaceful breeze. It was very close quarters in the balloon basket and Logan was touching my arms and legs. I caught a breeze and I smelled Hugo Boss cologne. The day just got better. I couldn’t believe it. My first balloon ride ever and I was up in the clouds with the most handsome guy I had ever seen who was touching my whole body on one side, making gentle pulsations flow through me like electricity. What has this guy done to me? I looked up at him and he had a smile that would melt even the coldest heart. He looked down at me with a look that seemed to say I was the most beautiful girl in the whole world. How did he make me feel that way?
Logan pointed to a river as we approached. “That is the Rio Grande Valley.”
We went across it in the cool, crisp morning air. We were at the top of the trees. Logan reached out, picked a couple leaves and handed them to me. I couldn’t believe we could touch the treetops. We were floating through the sky weightless like the clouds and it was so wonderful.
Logan’s uncle told me about some of the history of the area. He was also a jokester and was very funny. We dropped down to lightly splash the basket in the river and then went back up again. I sputtered with squeals of joy and Logan laughed. We continued to float across the sky and headed toward the clouds. Logan turned me around with his strong arm around my shoulder to show me the Sandia Mountains. I could really get used to that arm around me. Oh, there I go again, I scolded myself. The mountains were breathtakingly beautiful. It was so serene and tranquil. The rising sun with other balloons around it painted the sky with a silhouette that was major eye candy.
We continued on our magical journey with a view like no other. We crossed over peoples’ homes with them looking up awestruck, waving to us. This is a real friendly place to start with, but in that moment, I felt like a movie star. Logan reached in his pocket and pulled out these cards and threw them down to the kids. They looked like credit cards.
Logan explained, “These are balloon cards that tell all about this balloon and about the pilot with a picture of the balloon on the front. They are collected by young and old, sort-of like baseball cards. Have one, Isabella.”
Wow, this ride has been full of excitement and surprise
s. This was an unforgettable memory.
After more time with Joe telling me about this mysterious and wondrous place while drifting through time, we started going down toward land. Our balloon chasers were waiting for us on the ground and after a bump, we landed. It was a piece of cake. We climbed out and my feet touched the ground, but I was already dreaming about my next balloon ride. I knew I would do this again without a doubt.
“What did you think, Isabella?” Logan asked.
“I think I am totally in love,” I replied.
Everyone turned and looked at me and I said, “With this ballooning activity.”
My face instantly flushed at how my original words sounded.
Joe said, “I’m glad you clarified that because I am happily married.” He flashed me a wink.
“It was incredible beyond words. I am really mesmerized by this place,” I said.
Joe said, “You would be surprised at how many people come here to vacation and never leave.”
“I can certainly see why,” I enthused.
The guys finished packing up the balloon. Then they told us to get into their trucks and they would take us back to Logan’s office. When we got back to where we started, I went around, shook the guys’ hands and thanked them for the memory they helped me make for a lifetime. They gave me a SanDisk with pictures of our flight on it, along with a certificate of flight.
We got in Logan’s truck. “I’m going to call my office, so I don’t need to go inside unless I have to.”
I checked my phone and had no messages or emails. It was eight a.m. He finished his call and said, “Let’s go eat breakfast.”
“Sure, all of that excitement has me starving,” I replied.
“I know a place that is good and close,” Logan said.
John Mayer was singing “Shadow Days” on the radio.
I said, “I like this song.”
“Me too,” Logan said. What other music do you like?”
“I like too many to list. I like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Bruno Mars, Nickleback, Matt Kearney, Snow Patrol, Default, and I love Adele and Rascal Flatts. I love music, so the list just goes on and on,” I answered. “How about you?” I asked.