Off the Beaten Path (7 page)

“Do you want to experience real passion?” he nodded at Sara,

Kristin understood instantly, she gave Sara a quick kick to her flanks and the restless mare took off like she was being shot out of the barrel of a gun. Almost immediately after Kristin had given Sara permission to take off she heard Jack behind them shout “hah” to Buck. The next two minutes was nothing like she had ever experienced before. Sara was running full speed across the pasture like she had been set free. She could feel every muscle in Sara’s body pumping. She could sense all four of Sara’s hoofs striking the ground with an exacting rhythm but the impact of the pounding did not reach up to where Kristin was sitting in the saddle. The uneven ground could not have been as smooth as it felt underneath her.

There was a small ditch about half way across the pasture and for the briefest moment Kristin felt nothing as the two of them were suspended in mid-air. Sara cleared the ditch effortlessly. The two of them were in the air for less than a second but it seemed like time stood still for that span of time. You could not call the impact when they touched the earth a landing it was more like an extension of the jump. They reached the fence a good fifty yards ahead of Jack and Buck. Kristin was sure that Jack had not held Buck back. She was positive that the two of them were doing their level best to catch up to her and Sara. When Jack caught up to Kristin she had already jumped
down from Sara’s back and was unlatching the fence for Jack and Buck to walk through. Kristin had a look of pure exhilaration on her face and there was moisture in her eyes. The moisture that came only pure joy.

They lead the horses across the road and onto Jack’s property where they walked around the house a couple times to allow Sara and Buck to cool down after their race. It was Buck that decided that they had circled the house enough when he nudged Jack in the direction of the barn. They escorted Buck and Sara into the barn where they removed their halters and saddles and gave them a good brushing, they had earned that. As Kristin was finishing up brushing Sara and Jack finished stowing the gear away they heard a car pull up in Jack’s driveway.

Jack said “I think I know who that is.” He smiled and winked at Kristin.

As he emerged from the barn he could see a distinguished looking older gentleman and an attractive elderly woman climbing out of a well-kept old Thunderbird. They were walking toward the house. Jack stepped out of the barn into the sunlight and hollered, “Hey Ben, over here.” The older couple stopped and turned around they waved and waited for Jack come to where they were standing. As Jack took off his work gloves he yelled back into the barn,

“Kristin, come on out here, I have some people I want you to meet.” Jack waited for Kristin to make it to where he was standing before the two of them started walking together across the yard to where the older couple was waiting. When they reached the couple Jack gave them each a huge hug that seemed to Kristin to last longer and hold a little more meaning than the usual neighborly hug. Jack began the introductions, “Kristin, I would like you meet Ben and Mary Miller, my Father and Mother-in-law.”

Mary gave Kristin a good long squeeze and said,

“My word child you’re as pretty as a sunset.”

Mary continued to hold Kristin’s hand as Ben gave her a Ben Miller Bear hug. Sam barked twice at the foursome standing in the front yard and Mary let go of Kristin’s hand just long enough to bend over and give Sam some attention.

“Samantha, we didn’t forget you.” she said in a motherly tone.

After they finished the greetings and the introductions the five of them headed for the front porch. Mary grabbed hold of Kristin's arm as they reached the front steps. Kristin helped Mary up the steps, even though Mary looked like she could sprint up the steps quicker than any of them. Kristin understood that the older woman was just getting a feel for one kind of person she was.

Jack offered to make some coffee.

Mary interrupted, “Nonsense I’ll go make the coffee, besides Jack, you make the worst coffee I have ever tasted.”

They all laughed as Mary reached for the front door.

Kristin said, “I will help you, Miss Miller.”

The elderly lady stopped dead in her tracks and said in a stern friendly tone,

“Only if you call me Mary,” she said, taking Kristin’s arm again as they went into the house.

When they were alone in the kitchen Kristin put her hand on Mary’s arm and gently said, “Mary, I am sorry to hear about your daughter.”

Mary patted her hand and thanked Kristin for her condolences.

“Now, where does Jack keep that sugar,” Mary asked.

The two women finished making the coffee and brought it out to the porch where they found Jack and Ben arguing about who was the greatest short stop of all time.

The two couples talked and laughed for over an hour when Ben turned to Mary and suggested they head on back to the house before someone thought they had run away from home. Jack told Ben that he would be by later in the week to help him patch the roof on the barn.
Mary took Kristin’s arm as she made her way down the stairs, she led her over to her side of the old T-Bird and after her third hug goodbye she patted Kristin’s face gently and whispered,

“He’s the second best man I’ve ever known dear.”

As Ben came around the back of the car he smiled and said,

“Kristin, don’t let her kid you, Mary loves Jack, and she only tolerates me.” He gave Kristin a huge hug that lifted her off the ground. Then he kissed her forehead and said with what Kristin thought was a tear in his eye,

“You are welcome at our home any time.”

As Ben and Mary drove away Kristin sat down on the front steps and watched the cloud of dust disappear over the hill. Jack leaned against the stair rail and waited for Kristin to tell him what she was thinking.

“They really do love you don’t they.” She offered.

“They are very special people.” he said. And then as an afterthought he added,

“Parents should not have to suffer over the death of a child, that isn’t the way things are supposed to be.”

After a couple minutes of silence Kristin looked up at Jack

“You know that tomorrow morning I’m going back to Seattle.”

“I thought so.” He answered slowly.

“Jack, can we spend the rest of the afternoon upstairs?”

Jack stuck out his hand to help her up. She came to her feet and up into his arms in one smooth unbroken motion. As Jack carried her up the front steps and through the front door Sam stopped at the front door and lay down on the welcome mat, she was on guard duty for the afternoon.

They spent the next few hours wrapped up in each others arms. The afternoon was an endless stream of ecstasy and desire, strength and surrender. Kristin could tell that Jack had not been with another woman for a while.

Kristin was lying on her stomach as Jack slowly moved his hand up and down her naked back. She was drifting in and out of consciousness. The combination of Jack’s strong fingers caressing the small of her back, the warm sunshine streaming through the window and the release of the last few hours caused her eyes to well up and cry. Jack could feel her body shudder as she sobbed into her pillow. He moved his hand up the curve of her back and gently touched her shoulder with just the right amount of pressure to persuade her to roll over and bury her head against his chest as she fell asleep.

The sun was just disappearing behind the western edge of the valley as Kristin sat up and looked around the bedroom. From the aroma that was emanating from the kitchen she could tell that Jack was downstairs finding another way to spoil her. It was then that she saw the flickering light coming from under the bathroom door and heard the dull hum of a motor. She got out of bed and crossed the room, when she opened the bathroom door the only word that she could utter was, “Jack.” There were a dozen candles burning around the master bath and the Jacuzzi had produced all the bubbles than the tub could hold.

She went to the sink pulled her hair back and sank neck deep into the tub. There was a note hanging from the faucet that read,

Dinner will be ready when you are,

Take all the time you need.

Jack

Kristin had stayed in her share of four star motels around the world but nothing had ever compared to the treatment she was receiving at this buffalo ranch in western Montana. When Kristin finished her soaking she climbed out of the tub dried off and threw the plush robe on. She considered for just a split second going downstairs wearing absolutely nothing. The only thing that stopped her was the thought of someone like Ben and Mary stopping by for a friendly country visit.

As she descended the stairs she could see that the formal dining table was set elegantly for two. There were candles and a fresh cut arrangement of wild flowers and roses from the rose bush on the side of the house. The china and silverware looked very old and very expensive and the wine glasses were the finest cut crystal. She could hear the echo of a twelve string guitar playing on the stereo that sounded a lot like one of the classic composers like Vivaldi or Chopin. There was a wine bucket sitting next to the table with ice and a bottle of wine already wrapped in a towel. Jack came out of the kitchen carrying the cork screw and wearing a half apron over his best Sunday suit.

As she crossed the floor in her robe and bare feet she thought, damn, does he look great in a suit.

Kristin giggled and asked, “Should I go back upstairs and get dressed?”

“Heaven’s no.” Jack replied, as he set the corkscrew down on the table and slid his hands under her robe for a quick squeeze and a soft kiss before he had to rush back into the kitchen to finish with dinner.

“Have a seat dinner will be ready in a minute, by the way you smell great.” He added as he rushed off toward the kitchen. Kristin grabbed the wine bottle and the corkscrew and popped the cork out of the bottle like an old pro. She was just finishing filling Jack’s glass when he came out of the kitchen carrying a steaming hot deep dish.

“Smells like lasagna,” she said.

“Correct, give that girl a cigar.” He laughed.

Jack set the lasagna down in the silver holding tray in the middle of the table then he lifted his wine glass,

“Here's to spoiling the right woman."

He took a long drink out of the glass set it down on the table. Then he held out his hand to Kristin. “By my calculations, we have just enough time for one dance as my culinary masterpiece cools to the perfect temperature.”

She stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck. He reached under her robe and around her slender waist as he guided her around the hard wood floor to the music playing in the background. When the song ended they stopped in the middle of the floor and Kristin looked straight up into Jack’s eyes.

“You have no idea how much I needed this weekend.”

Jack smiled, he understood. They spent the rest of the night completely engulfed in each other. They danced three more dances, drank a second bottle of wine and laughed until their sides hurt at Jack’s stories. When they finally made it upstairs around midnight they did not waste a moment. They knew that they didn’t have a moment to waste.

They drifted off to sleep around 2am wrapped up in each others arms. Just before Kristin fell asleep Jack heard her whisper one single word almost as if she was already dreaming, “Jack.”

She could hear the shower running, this was her chance she thought. She grabbed the bath robe and threw it on as she was flying
down the stairs two steps at a time. The only thought that was racing through her mind was,

“I can have breakfast started before he even knows I’m gone.” She was more than right; Jack was coming down the stairs as she was putting the finishing touches on breakfast. She whirled around holding two plates of food, and very proudly boasted,

“I will see your world famous pancakes and raise you my internationally known, Lemon French toast with powdered sugar and cinnamon.”

She had tied a bandana around Sam’s neck and an apron around her back legs so that it looked like Sam had helped with breakfast.

Jack looked down at Sam and apologized, “I’m sorry Sam you know how silly city folk can be.”

“Watch it buddy or Sam might end up with your breakfast.” She gave him an elbow to the ribs as she passed by him on the way to the front porch.

“Grab the coffee would you?” she asked.

“Sam, I think I have been demoted around here from innkeeper to cooks assistant.”

Kristin chimed in, “Next stop, stable boy.”

They ate in almost total silence neither one of them wanted to think about Kristin having to leave. As they walked back into the house after breakfast Kristin offered to do the dishes. Jack said that he would take care of them later. Kristin went upstairs take a shower and pack. She stopped half way up the stairs and yelled back down to Jack, “Hey stable boy, care to join be in the shower?”

“Absolutely.” He shot back and bowed like an obedient servant.

After their long lingering shower they helped dry each other off and dressed. Kristin packed her bags with a methodical attention to detail, Jack could tell that she was stalling. When she finished he carried the suitcase down the stairs and set it by the front door.

Jack said, “Let me make you a lunch for the road.” She did not object. Kristin sat at the breakfast bar while Jack made her lunch. She repeated her earlier claim,

“You are one of a kind Jack Evans,”

He finished making her lunch and handed it to her they started for the front door. Kristin stopped at the front door and grabbed the Rockies baseball cap Jack had been wearing when she first saw him. She put it on and pulled her pony tail through the gap in the back of the cap. Jack smiled at her,

“Looks better on you.”