Thunder Mountain Ranch (Alexandria Whitney Mystery) Read online

  “Thanks, lady. See you later.” Alex headed for the

  back of the barn where she found Sam holding Bruce while he

  was having his feet trimmed.

  As she approached, Sam looked in her direction and

  smiled. Alex walked up and petted Bruce on the head, where

  she was introduced to Slim, who wasn’t anymore. He felt the

  need to tell her his life story as she was new to these parts.

  Alex was an expert at faking interest in stories by men who

  thought their lives were so amusing. While Slim was trimming

  the hind feet, Alex looked at Sam and mouthed the words, “Oh

  my god, he’s so boring” at which point Sam tried to keep from laughing and started coughing. Slim didn’t even notice and kept right on talking. After two hours of rambling on about his life, he was done and said his good-byes. Sam was done too for the day and went to go get a change of clothes for their outing. She would meet Alex at her casita for her shower and a little necking activity before they had to spend the rest of the

  afternoon and evening on their best behavior.

  The girls met Jessie at the office at eleven-thirty as

  planned and all loaded into the van, but not before they spent

  five minutes getting Winston to get out and stay out of it. As

  they drove, Jessie was all talk, wanting to know what they had

  been up to and if they had any more activities planned for the

  rest of Alex’s stay. Going with Pablo to meet the rest of

  Anna’s family on Thursday morning, was as far as it went.

  Riding shot gun, Alex turned around in her seat to look at Sam

  and asked if she had any ideas or would they play it by ear.

  Raising her eyebrows as she said it, Sam knew it meant she

  wanted alone time either in her casita or out on the trail. Sam

  suggested they let the afternoon unfold on it’s own,

  mentioning that once Anna’s family got a hold of her they may

  not turn her loose until the next day. Alex looked at Sam with

  a look of surprise. She hadn’t planned on spending the whole

  day with them. Sam reassured her that it would be fine with

  her if she did. Alex reached back, took Sam’s hand, thanked

  her for being so wonderful and understanding. At that point

  Sam blew her a kiss, which Jessie caught sight of in the

  rearview mirror, and nodded her approval.

  The rest of the ride was spent reminiscing about the

  past and all the trouble Alex and Jessie had gotten into antique

  shopping. Sam listened as the two were talking over each other

  and laughing. They recalled, on more than one occasion, how

  they had lost total track of time and then found themselves

  feeding their horses in the dark freezing their butts off, because

  they forgot to take along their old barn jackets.

  Once there, Alex found several treasures that would

  look very cute hanging on the wall in her new place, not to mention small enough to fit inside her suitcase for the trip home. The dinner was wonderful, and because Andy had called ahead, the three ladies were given the VIP treatment by the owners. On the ride home Alex sat next to Sam in the back seat and leaned her head on her shoulder and listened to Jessie tell stories about the two of them when they were little. Back at the ranch, they kissed Jessie and thanked her for driving and coming along to make it a great day, Alex and Sam then headed off to her casita where they could make up for lost time  cuddling and kissing all night long.

  Chapter 27

  Alex’s mornings were becoming routine. Sam would leave to get some work done and then return with coffee and cuddling not necessarily in that order. Then they would have breakfast together and discuss their plans for the afternoon. Sam would go back to work and leave Alex to her mornings to sleep in or venture out. Today Alex had a date with Anna’s relatives and she was going to meet Pablo at nine for the drive to the family ranch.

  Pablo was right on time. Alex waved good-bye to Jessie as she got into his van. Inside were several kids just waiting to meet the woman who talked to ghosts. The ride out to the ranch seemed to pass very quickly. That might have been because Alex was telling the whole story about her scary adventure and had her audience captivated, including Pablo. When they arrived you could have heard a pin drop. The kids looked at Alex as if she had just walked off a space ship. The silence was broken when the van door opened, causing one of the little girls to scream. Alex and Pablo started to laugh as the kids scrambled out and headed to find their parents.

  In honor of Alex’s visit, everyone stayed home from either work or school so they could meet her. A line formed as Pablo introduced everyone by name and their relationship to Anna. The family resemblance was amazing. Alex saw a little of Anna in all their beautiful, caring faces. The last one to meet Alex was to be Anna’s younger sister, Pablo’s mother, who was confined to bed or a wheelchair. They had to walk over to her little house, during which time Pablo filled her in on how much her sister, Consuela a.k.a. Connie loved her older sister. It had been Connie who had taken ill two years ago, when Alex had been to the ranch, and was the reason she and Anna hadn’t met then.

  As Alex walked into Connie’s room she felt very comfortable, like she had when she was in Anna’s presence. Connie asked Alex to come closer and sit on her bed so she could see her face. As Alex did so, Connie put on her glasses and leaned forward to see her close up. She took her hands and kissed them as the tears started to fall to her wrinkled cheeks.

  “You have given this family a peace you will never know, and you have made my beloved Anna very happy. I see Ramon behind your eyes smiling back at me. He was a kind and loving man who knew how lucky he was to have my sister’s heart. You will share the same luck someday, and when you do, you must cherish it with every breath you take.” Connie touched her chest as she spoke.

  “I understand. I miss your sister, even though I only spoke to her spirit. Is that because of how much Ramon loved her?” Alex had thought about residual memories, if she was his spirit in this life.

  “Yes. You will meet people throughout your life who you will feel as if you know. These are life forces you may have known in a past life. Cherish them if they have found you in this life, as they will cherish you.” Connie reached in the drawer next to her bed and pulled out a picture of Anna and her as young girls.

  “I believe Anna and I had known each other in a past life and that is why we were so close in this one.” Connie kissed the picture and put it back in the drawer.

  “Connie, I saw something the other day that I took for a sign from Anna. Do you think she could have sent it to me?” Alex’s faith in the sign was unshakeable, but if Connie agreed, Alex would know that Anna was watching over her now and always.

  “What did you see, mi hija?” Connie leaned forward to hear her answer.

  Now it was Alex’s turn to tear up, as that was what Anna had called her the day she found Ramon in the valley.

  “I saw two wolves, a large black one and a smaller white one. They were just standing still looking at me, and I wasn’t afraid of them. Then they just disappeared.” The tears streamed down Alex’s cheeks as she remembered their beauty.

  “Yes, that was Anna and Ramon. They were telling you that they are with you always.” Connie asked Pablo to get the album from the other room.

  He brought in a large scrap book and Connie started to turn the pages very carefully as if each page was very fragile. She continued to turn until she came across the page she had been looking for, then held the book to her chest. When she placed the book so Alex could see, there was an old photo of two wolves, one black and one white, leaning against each other. There was a notation below it, “We are like the wolf, loyal to family and devoted forever to the ones we cherish most.” It
was a card from Ramon that he had given to Anna for her birthday, over fifty years ago. Alex couldn’t hold back the tears. Connie laid the album to the side, and pulled Alex close so they could both feel the love from Anna and Ramon.

  Alex sat with Connie as she told her story after story about Anna and at times, a very devilish Ramon. He was so full of life and cared deeply about both his and her family. But, he loved to have fun too. He loved to walk up to Anna’s brothers and punch them in the arm and then take off running. He knew full well that no one could ever catch him, and if they did, Anna would threaten them if they hurt one hair on his head. Alex was enjoying herself so much when it was announced that the afternoon meal was ready. Connie was put into a wheel chair so she could eat at the huge table that had been set up to accommodate all the adults. As usual the kids were eating in the kitchen. Connie still had a hold of Alex’s hand as she had her sit next to her at the head of the table. She said a prayer of thanks for the food before them and for bringing Alex to find Ramon. They then dug into the most delicious food. Alex remembered who did all the cooking and told Connie how lucky she was to have Pablo. Connie laughed and informed her that she taught him everything he knew. The table erupted into laughter. This must have been a family joke and Pablo seemed to laugh the most.

  After they finished their huge meal, and not being allowed to help with the dishes, Alex and Connie went out to sit on her small porch. There they watched several generations of Connie and Anna’s family playing catch, tag and hide and seek in the yard. As the sun began to set, Pablo told his mother that he needed to get Alex back to the ranch, and that she needed her rest and medication. Parting was difficult for both women, as they had been holding hands the whole time, except to eat. Alex got Connie’s address and phone number and gave hers as well, with a promise to call her often to get updates on the whole family.

  Riding back to the ranch, Pablo only asked a few general questions about how she liked her visit, as he could see how moved Alex had been. Letting her off in front of the office, he said his good-bye until tomorrow at breakfast. Alex wished him a safe drive home and thanked him again for allowing her to meet his wonderful family. Pablo said the honor was theirs and he hoped their new family member had sweet dreams.

  As Alex walked into her casita, Sam was in bed waiting with a plate of cookies and two glasses of milk sitting on the nightstand. Alex walked over to the bed and pulled her into a long kiss and big hug. She had thought of her so many times today as she listened to Connie’s stories and missed her so much. Alex undressed quickly and then climbed in bed where she shared the cookies and her day with Sam before falling asleep in her arms.

  Chapter 28

  Alex was racing Sam on Smokey and she and Beau were leading by a half a length. Jessie was holding the flag at the finish line just as Sam was able to catch them in the last few yards for a dead heat. They were laughing and accusing each other of holding back to make it come out as a tie. The three women were hugging when the sound of a cell phone ringing woke them both. Recognizing it as Sam’s phone, Alex figured it was Teresa again. She was ready to tell her she had a wrong number, but Sam said it was her parents. After answering it Sam didn’t speak, but listened and squeezed Alex’s hand tightly. Knowing something was wrong, she put her arm around her and waited for the call to end.

  “My brother was in an accident last night. They aren’t sure he’s going to make it and my parents want me to come home to say good-bye.” Sam would have been there in a second, but she wanted more time with Alex.

  “Oh my gosh, you need to go home to see him. You’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t.” Alex knew how much family meant to both she and Jessie.

  “But you’ll be gone when I get back. I’m not ready for you to leave.” Sam began to tear up at the thought of just leaving and not being able to have that last day together.

  “Sam, we’re solid, right? Family emergencies happen and this won’t be the last. I’ll help you pack and drive with you to the airport.” The words made Alex’s voice tighten as she was trying not to let Sam see how upset she was and how much she was going to miss her. “It’s only two days until I leave anyway. So we start running up huge phone bills now, because I’ll call you every day until you come in December.” Kissing Sam on the cheek Alex couldn’t help but think if this was a test to see if she really did miss her the minute she flew away.

  “I’ll get my stuff and be right back. Stay here, I want our morning to stay the same. The first flight out doesn’t leave until the afternoon anyway.” Kissing Alex softly, Sam wanted to take her with her, but knew she had to get back to her life and job. They would be together again in a few of weeks.

  Crying into her pillow, Alex wasn’t ready either to have this fairy tale end so soon. It was a little more than three weeks away until the first of December, only twenty something days a piece of cake. After all, Alex had gone four years with minimal cuddling and sex. She could do this no sweat. By the time Sam returned, Alex had composed herself and was dozing when she smelled the coffee.

  “Hi. How are you doing?” Alex could see that Sam had been crying. Being hit with a family emergency and having to leave her was doubly upsetting.

  “As well as can be expected. My brother has always been a wild child. Motorcycles, street racing you name it, he tried it. I always knew in the back of my mind that he wouldn’t go from old age. But to be hit by a drunk driver, just doesn’t seem fair.” Sam hoped no one else had been hurt.

  “Is he older or younger?” Sam had told her so much about her family that they were beginning to blur together.

  “Older. He was out of the house before I was twelve so I didn’t really see that much of him growing up. It’s only been the last few years that we’ve really talked. You know deep stuff, not just, ‘how’s it going,’ fluff like that.” Sam was becoming overwhelmed at just how quickly everything can change, and not always for the better. She began to tremble as the shock and stress was hitting her.

  “I can’t say I know what you’re going through, because only you can know that. But my father was killed by a drunk driver and I know what it means to lose someone you love very much.” Hugging Sam, she could feel her shaking as she put her head on Alex’s shoulder and started to cry.

  “Let it go, just let it all go.” Alex stroked Sam’s hair as she wept for several minutes.

  There was a knock at the door and Jessie came through having received a call from her father about the accident. She never really knew her older cousin, as she played with Sam and her other girl cousins. But he was family and Sam’s big brother, so she would be there for her. Sitting down on the bed, she rubbed Sam’s back letting her know she was there. Sam looked up and reached for her cousin, who gave her a big hug and kiss, telling her she would go with her if she wanted her to. The first flight out was at one forty-five and they had plenty of seats available.

  “Thanks Jess, but you need to stay here. We can’t both leave. Who will take care of Smokey?” She smiled at her cousin. Sam’s mustang could be a handful if you didn’t know what you were doing.

  “All right, but I can be there if you need me.” Jessie hated hospitals and was relieved that she didn’t have to go. The thought of Dawson, Sam or Alex being in one was unthinkable.

  Looking at Alex, she knew her friend was trying to be strong, but at the same time she was dying inside. Knowing her as she did, she knew how much she could love and how deeply she felt about that person. Thinking back to when she had visited, Jessie remembered the tears Alex had shed over her relationship with Dez and how much she loved and missed what they had that first year. It had to help that she knew that Sam was hers and was only going to be unavailable for a few weeks. It would give them time to talk the next couple of days, and she would also have her best friend to herself before she went home. Jessie left the two alone so they could say their private good-byes and had breakfast sent to Alex’s casita.

  The drive to the airport was a good hour and they arrive
d forty-five minutes before the flight left. Alex and Sam held hands as they walked to the gate and took turns squeezing off and on to let each other know it was going to be fine. Alex wished her a safe trip and told her to call when she arrived. Jessie and Alex both said they would pray for her brother’s speedy recovery and that she would be back at the ranch soon.

  Sam hugged her cousin, kissed her cheek and whispered to her to take care of Alex until she left. Jessie said not to worry, she would be in excellent hands. Looking into Alex’s eyes both women started to tear up as they hugged for several minutes not wanting to let go. After kissing her on the cheek Alex pulled back and told Sam she would never leave her thoughts until she met her plane in December, and then what fun they would have together.

  The drive back to the ranch was like someone had sucked all the air out of the car. A pressure on Alex’s heart reassured her that she was very much in love with a woman she had only met ten days ago. She was so much like Jessie, but then different. Jessie could be stubborn at times for no good reason she just wanted her way. Sam was different. If she didn’t care what they were doing, she would go along with Alex and seemed to be more about being with the person than caring about what they were doing. She had felt that same way about Dez in the beginning, but as time went by and she wasn’t having her needs met she started to resent it. Communication was going to be key in this relationship. Speak up about what was bothering you before it festered into a deep wound that couldn’t be healed.

  When they arrived back at the ranch, Alex told Jessie she wanted to take a walk and would be back in time for dinner. Jessie asked that she not wander off the property and Alex reassured her she had no intention of getting lost. She walked out the front gate and headed for the stream Sam had taken her to where they had their first deep and meaningful talk. Alex sat in the same spot and recalled all their conversations from the past week. She was analyzing them for red flags, compromising black holes that might suck her in, or false sentiment and flat out lies. There was nothing except for jealousy, which she hoped was a sure sign of deep affection, and she could see herself becoming jealous if Teresa suddenly showed up and wanted Sam back. Jessie had reassured her that Sam was all that she seemed, and she had Jessie’s seal of approval to boot.