Trail Ride (3 page)

Carole felt her heart start to race with excitement. She was devastated that Stevie wouldn’t be with them for the trip, but she was sure glad she was going anyway.

The aircraft came to a complete stop and after a few minutes the door was opened, unfolding into a set of
stairs. A bright strip of red carpeting rolled down, shooting across the pavement toward them.

Colonel Hanson laughed. “Looks like you girls are getting the red-carpet treatment,” he said with raised eyebrows.

Carole and Lisa exchanged excited looks.

A man appeared in the doorway of the plane and waved at the three of them.

“Frank!” Colonel Hanson called, striding forward.

Frank Devine trotted down the steps and met him halfway. “Mitch! You old warhorse.” The girls watched as the two men shook hands and slapped each other on the back with obvious delight.

Lisa looked at Carole. “Old warhorse?”

“It’s a military thing,” she giggled. “Hi, Mr. Devine.”

“Carole! Lisa!” He swooped them both up in a bear hug.

“Nice uniform, Mr. Devine,” Lisa told him once she had been released.

“You like?” He straightened his navy blue tie. “My official flying togs. I just dropped the boss off in D.C. Very important banking business.” He winked. “Now I’m all yours. You girls ready to go?”

“We can’t wait,” Carole said happily. “How are Kate and Mrs. Devine?”

“Terrific,” he assured them. “But you can judge for yourself in a few hours.”

“I think that’s your cue to get on board, girls,” Colonel Hanson said.

“Yep, we’re burning daylight,” Mr. Devine told them, rubbing his hands together.

Carole remembered that
burning daylight
was an old Western term. Cowboys had to get up at the crack of dawn in order to get all their work done before the sun went down. She felt a shiver of anticipation run down her spine. “Ready when you are, sir,” she said, saluting him smartly.

Mr. Devine laughed and saluted her back. “She’s a chip off the old block, Mitch.”

Carole’s dad looked pleased. “You take care of my girls now, Frank. Have fun, sweetheart,” he said, giving Carole a big hug. “Stay out of trouble.”

“Sure thing, Dad,” she murmured, returning the embrace. For a moment she thought she might cry. Ever since her mother had died, Carole had found it difficult leaving her dad alone. She gave herself a mental shake, kissed him on the cheek, and headed for the plane.

“A red carpet, Mr. Devine?” Lisa said, stepping gingerly on the plush material.

“Nothing but the best for you two,” he told them, striding up the stairs. “The most spectacular views, the richest caviar, the most expensive champagne.” He turned around to face them. “You did bring your fake IDs, right?”

Lisa laughed. “Mr. Devine!”

Chuckling, he led the way inside.

The interior of the plane was lavish. Carole and Lisa had both been on commercial airlines before, passing through first class on their way to economy seating, but this was something truly special. The compact interior appeared remarkably spacious, because instead of rows and rows of seats jammed together, there were only a few huge reclining chairs upholstered in dove gray leather. A handful of low smoky glass tables were bolted to the floor, and the windows had curtains in a shade of burgundy that complemented the chairs and pearl carpeting perfectly.

“Good morning, ladies. Welcome aboard.”

The girls turned to see a pretty young woman, immaculately dressed in a tailored uniform, smiling at them.

“Girls, allow me to introduce Ms. Penny Jane Minns, flight attendant extraordinaire.”

“Oh, Frank, go fly the plane or you’ll make me
blush,” the woman said good-naturedly. “You must be Lisa and Carole,” she said, shaking hands with them in the right order. “You can call me Penny.”

“How did you know who’s name was which?” Lisa asked.

“Frank told me a lot about you girls. A
lot
,” she emphasized.

Carole felt herself blush. “Sorry.”

Penny laughed. “Don’t be. Your adventures would make a good book or two.” She escorted them to their chairs. “Let’s get you buckled in for takeoff.”

She watched as they adjusted their seat belts, then gave them each a fluffy pillow.

“It’s going to take a few more minutes until we’re cleared for takeoff. Why don’t I get you a drink in the meantime? A little bubbly okay?” She held up a ginger ale bottle with a smile.

“Thank you very much,” they said happily.

While Penny was pouring their drinks, Lisa turned to Carole. “Look at these pillows,” she whispered, clutching hers in her lap. “It’s real linen, not that disposable paper stuff they use on regular airlines! I wonder what the thread count is?”

Carole could hardly believe her ears.
Thread count?
“You know, Lisa, this vacation from your mother might
be exactly what the doctor ordered, because I think you’re losing it.”

Penny returned a moment later with two crystal champagne flutes filled with “bubbly.” Carole had never felt so sophisticated.

Minutes after they had finished their drinks, the private plane taxied down the runway and rose gently into the air.

“I wish Stevie were here,” Lisa said, pushing a button to recline her chair. “Whoa!” The seat back fell away, a footrest flew up, and she found herself lying on a bed.

Carole burst into laughter and reclined her chair as well. “It doesn’t seem right without her. We’ll have to be sure to e-mail her every single day and tell her what a miserable time we’re having.”

“Right,” Lisa said, popping a macadamia nut into her mouth. “Miserable.”

Penny appeared in the aisle next to them. “Now that we’re under way, I can start serving lunch,” she told them. “While I’m getting it ready, I thought you might like to watch some TV.” She punched a button and a large screen rolled down the wall. “If you can’t find anything you like, we also have an extensive video library on board. There’s a list in the side pocket of your seats.”

The two girls straightened up their chairs and pulled out the multipage list.

“If you don’t both want to watch the same program, there are individual screens that unfold from under the seats,” she said helpfully.

“Thank you,” Carole said with a grin. “I’m sure this will be fine.”

“I’ll be back in a second with your appetizers.”

Lisa turned to Carole. “Appetizers? We get appetizers?”

Carole almost guffawed. “I’d ask you to pinch me,” she said, “but our seats are too far apart.”

Lisa pointed her nose in the air. “After all, this is first class, my dear,” she drawled.

Penny returned and unfolded hidden tray tables in each of the girls’ armrests. The girls watched in fascination as she placed real silverware, linen napkins, place mats, and individual crystal salt and pepper shakers on each of their tables.

“Look at that!” exclaimed Lisa. “No plastic forks or little paper packets.”

Shortly after, Penny presented them with silver servers of shrimp cocktail: large shrimp nestled on beds of crisp iceberg lettuce and smothered in zesty red sauce. “Bon appétit, ladies,” she said as she departed.

Lisa looked down at her appetizer. “What, no oyster crackers? What kind of joint are they running here?”

Before they could even laugh, Penny swept back in
carrying individual china dishes of crackers. “The adults don’t usually go for these, but it may help to wash the fishy stuff down.”

“Th-Thank you,” Lisa stammered.

“By the way, I didn’t have time to make the usual lobster Thermidor,” she said apologetically. “I hope you two won’t mind burgers and fries for the main course?”

Lisa and Carole beamed their approval.

“Didn’t think so,” she chuckled, heading back to the galley.

Lunch concluded with ice cream sundaes with a choice of toppings, which reminded Carole and Lisa once again of Stevie.

“Can you imagine what kind of sundae Stevie would have ordered?” Carole asked.

“Pistachio ice cream with pineapple sauce?”

“And grape jelly.”

“And cherries or banana chips.”

Both girls burst into laughter at the thought.

Stevie’s sundaes were the stuff of legend: any and every topping, the weirder the combination the better. Her friends were convinced she only did it so that nobody would ask her for a taste, but still, it was uniquely Stevie.

“I’m so miserable,” Carole moaned, licking the last of her fudge topping from her spoon.

“Are you insane?” Lisa demanded, wiping her mouth on her linen napkin.

“No, I’m practicing for Stevie. Do I sound convincing?”

“Sorry, I don’t see an Academy Award in your future. But I really do miss her.”

“Me too.”

“After-lunch mint?” Penny said brightly.

“If you insist,” Lisa said cheerfully.

“Good idea.” Carole smiled. “After all, I wouldn’t want to offend anybody with my chocolate breath.”

The rest of the flight passed quickly and smoothly with the help of the plane’s video library. Almost before they knew it, Penny was telling them to return their seats to the upright position in preparation for landing.

When Carole saw the airport near Two Mile Creek come into view, she felt her pulse begin to race. “Betcha I can spot Kate first from up here,” she challenged Lisa.

“No way,” Lisa responded, pressing her face against her window. “Not without your Seeing Eye dog.”

Carole laughed and returned to scanning the ground below.

“There they are!” Lisa cried a few minutes later. “I’d know that old truck anywhere.”

Lisa was right. Carole could just make out the familiar pickup parked by the edge of the runway. Two small figures stood next to it, waving. She waved back, even though she was fairly certain she couldn’t be seen yet.

The plane touched down gently and slowed to a stop. Minutes later Mr. Devine stepped out of the cockpit. “All ashore who’s going ashore.”

“Isn’t that what they say on ships?” Lisa asked as she unbuckled and scrambled out of her seat.

“Never argue with the captain, young lady. Did you know I could have you keelhauled with the slightest wave of my pinkie?”

“No way, Mr. Devine,” said Carole. “That’s also for ships, not airplanes.” She checked around her seat to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything.

“Mutiny! Penny, were having a mutiny!” Mr. Devine cried. “Lower the plank!” He opened the door and unfolded the steps. “Throw these two off my ship!”

“Plane!” Carole and Lisa said in unison.

Penny stepped in front of Mr. Devine and pretended to hold him back. “I think you girls had better make a run for it. He didn’t get his medication today.”

Laughing, they slid past her and through the
doorway. “Thanks for everything, Penny,” Carole said. “It was fantastic!”

“You’re the best,” Lisa concurred.

Penny smiled. “Have a nice holiday, girls. I’ll catch you on the flip side.” She turned to Mr. Devine. “I love these deadheads.” She disappeared into the cabin.

Lisa and Carole exchanged glances. “Deadheads?” they both protested.

A burst of laughter came from behind them. “Relax. A
deadhead
is what we call a trip without paying passengers.”

“Oh,” said Carole. “For a moment—” But her words were cut off as Kate and her mother ran over, and she found herself happily squashed in a group of overjoyed females. Hugs were coming from all sides, and she was determined to give as good as she was getting.

“Look how you’ve grown!” Mrs. Devine gushed, holding Lisa at arm’s length. “Pretty soon you’ll be taller than me.”

“More of me to hug?” suggested Lisa.

Mrs. Devine laughed and swept her back into her arms. “Yes, dear, more of you to hug.”

The three girls laughed.

“I can’t believe you’re finally here,” Kate cried, holding their hands. “I thought last night was never going to end.”

Carole could feel herself grinning like a maniac but felt helpless to stop it. “I know what you mean. I don’t think I slept a wink all night.”

Mrs. Devine seemed concerned. “Did you get a nap on the plane?”

From the corner of her eye, Carole saw Mr. Devine approaching. “Not a chance. The pilot is a real maniac.”

Lisa nodded. “I was scared to shut my eyes for a second.”

“I heard that!” Mr. Devine thundered from behind them. Carole and Lisa laughed with delight and pretended to seek refuge behind his wife and daughter. “Just for that, I’m going to carry these suitcases only as far as the truck. When you get to the ranch, it’s everyone for herself.” He plunked the girls’ luggage into the back of the waiting truck. “So there.”

“Isn’t your dad coming with us?” Lisa asked.

Kate shook her head, causing her long ginger ponytail to swish gently back and forth. “Naw, he’ll have to stick around for a while to do some routine maintenance. He’s got his own car here, though, so we don’t have to wait.”

So saying, the girls piled into the bed of the pickup for the ride back to the Bar None Ranch. Once they
had left the general area of the airport, the road quickly deteriorated into unpaved dirt, solidly packed but definitely bumpy. Occasionally they hit a particularly deep pit and the girls would be thrown together. After a couple of times they all started exaggerating the motions and began pitching themselves at each other, laughing and screeching.

Finally they settled back down.

“I wish Stevie could have come,” Kate said, wiping a tear of laughter from her eye. “Some part of me still believes she’s going to show up somehow.”

“You wouldn’t if you had seen how determined her mother looked when they drove off this morning,” Lisa told her.

Carole felt her spirits dip a little. “Did you see how she was clutching that e-mail thingy to her chest like it was her only lifeline?”

“So what’s the plan?” Kate asked. “How are we going to cheer her up?”

Carole shrugged. “We promised to e-mail her every single day, but now I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

Her two friends looked astonished. “Why not?” Lisa demanded.

“Think about it. When you’re absolutely miserable,
the
last
thing you want to hear about is what a fabulous time your friends are having without you.”