Minutes passed.Sandy and Lily looked ateach other remembering that torrential night in the barn all thoseyears ago, when they had discovered the love they felt for eachother.Colt might have been conceived that night—an unforgettablenight.An unforgettable child and now, man…Yes, he had to find hisown way.Sandy took a good look at him—over six feet tall with wavyblack hair like his pretty mother.He was incredibly good-lookingand had always been a good son.He hadn’t been in half as muchtrouble as his younger brothers --Only twenty-four, but wise beyondhis years.
“So will you call your grandparentstomorrow?They should know that you’re coming and be prepared.”Lily looked at her husband.
“Absolutely, call first.They will want toarrange something.Maybe a trip to the Hitching Post Restaurant.”Sandy smiled at Lily, remembering a trip there a long time ago.Lily’s father, Sam, was not too sure that Sandy was the man for hislittle girl.It took a while to smooth everything out.
“God forbid, he should take our son there,”she laughed and patted his arm.
“I’ll be fine,” said Colt.“Actually, Ialready called and they’re expecting me sometime latetomorrow.”
“Colt, I love you more than life, and I wantyou to be happy.Please say that you will come back to visit,because I need to know that.”Lily looked away, fresh tears on hercheeks.Sandy took her hands in his.
“I promise.Honest…please don’t cry, Mother.I’ll keep in touch.”
Colt and his mother hugged and she kissedhim on the cheek.He shook hands with his father and then huggedhim as well.He went off to pack.
Sandy looked at his wife.“Sweetheart, youknew this day would come.He can take care of himself and he has agift.It’s time he used it,” Sandy shrugged.“All our children aretalented.He isn’t the first to leave home.”
“I know.But there’s something about Coltthat is so special.He seems bound for greater things.”Lily smiledat her husband.They studied each other; a little older perhaps,but the love they felt was as strong as it had ever been.Coltwould be fine.
“On to Sonoma then.”
“Godspeed, Colt.”
Lily went into the kitchen to make somefudge.The best in three counties, Sandy said…
* * *
The drive to Sonoma would take about fourhours.Colt watched Nevada leaving in his rear-view mirror andCalifornia beckoning him up ahead.His home was Nevada and alwayswould be.Colt knew he’d come back—but not just yet.
Going up the road to Tahoe, the huge lakesoon spread out before him.That icy, blue lake ringed with tallpines and various mountain ranges was the site of many happymemories—a few of them flashed through his mind as he drove throughthe town of South Lake Tahoe.His dad had brought him and his othersiblings up to Lake Tahoe fishing many times over the years.Theyhad fished for mackinaw – a great tasting variety of trout.Thinking of that fish, his mind wandered to a particularly funnyoccasion…
His younger twin brothers, Miles and Joey,had apparently been born to create a little havoc and turmoil inthe Johnson family.Colt smiled at the memory of their firstinfamous boat trip on their own.Even though Dad had taught themboating safety and they had practiced with the equipment, Milesforgot to put the plug in the boat before launching it, or so Joeyclaimed.Dad had bought them a nice aluminum fishing boat, completewith all the fishing equipment they would need.
About a mile off from shore, the boatstarted taking in water.Joey had a soda cup bought at aconvenience store that he was desperately trying to bail out theboat with.It was a losing battle… They started sinking and fasterthan they thought possible.Other boaters came by to rescue hisbrothers, but by the time Harbor Patrol got to the boat, it wasnearly submerged.All the fishing equipment was lost and the boateventually sunk.Colt laughed as he remembered the twins hadflipped a coin to see who was going to call Dad.He had driven upwith his pretty pissed-off father to get the boys and couldn’tcontrol his laughter… After making sure they were all right, Dadyelled at Miles, then Joey, then Miles again.They were onlyteenagers then, but Sandy wouldn’t let them use a boat alone for avery long time after that escapade.
Just one of many… Miles was a publishedauthor now and had used the story in one of his books.Dad stillwasn’t pleased, reliving the whole story in print, although Motherhad doubled over laughing… Colt smiled.He had a nice family…
Driving into Sacramento meant lunchtime.Sacramento was a large city with lots of suburbs and too muchtraffic.Colt decided to go to Old Town for lunch, as his familyhad done many times over the years, driving to see his grandparentsin Sonoma.Old Town had a wonderful train museum that he hadvisited many times as a kid.He had had an obsession with trainsthat lasted a few years and still had lots of toy trains packedaway.Colt decided to grab a hamburger in the little restaurantnext door to it.
Old Town Sac reminded him so much of Naples-- an Old West veneer on refurbished wooden buildings.Restaurants,souvenir shops and the occasional saloon made the place look likethe set of ‘Gunsmoke’, the old western TV show.It had the samewooden sidewalks with horse and buggies going by hauling touristsaround for a look.Still, it had a comfortable feel and he enjoyedcoming here.Colt entered the Sweet Pony Restaurant and sat down ina booth.Looking around, he caught the eye of a beautiful girlsitting not too far away.She had been scowling at the womansitting across the table, saw him looking at her and smiled.Itwasn’t even a smile of surprise, it was more like ‘Hi.Wherehave you been?’Wow.It made Colt catch his breath.She haddropped her napkin on the floor and Colt strode over to pick it upfor her.
“Excuse me, miss, but you dropped this,”Colt smiled at her and then nodded at the older woman sitting withher.The woman didn’t seem too friendly, but when the girl took thenapkin from him, their fingers touched momentarily.Colt felt akind of shiver go through his hand and rubbed it against hisleg.
“Thank you very much,” she said shyly.
“No problem at all.Have a nice lunch.”Coltstarted walking away reluctantly since he could think of nothingfurther to say that would prolong the conversation.The woman atthe table with her didn’t seem welcoming, so he knew he had betterleave.
“Thank you.You too,” she smiled up athim.
What a sweet voice…and that gorgeous auburnhair.She had it caught up in a long ponytail at present, but itlooked like it could be wild if left on its own.Colt wondered whatit would be like to run his fingers through that beautiful mane,like one of his horses back home.Was he just comparing her to ahorse?Yikes, maybe that wasn’t the best comparison.After he satdown, the girl and woman got up, paid their bill, and startedleaving the restaurant.Colt sighed.A great opportunity lost, hethought.
He started to read his menu but suddenlyglanced up.Right before she went through the door, that beautifulgirl lingered and then turned around.She gave Colt one of the mostmeaningful looks he had ever experienced.Wow again.Who isshe?She parted her lips in response to his broad smile andgrinned back.Then she was gone.
He blew out the breath he was holding… Colt,his mother’s son, knew he would see her again.He believed in fateand it had just given him a sneak preview of coming events.Thiswas a teaser, as Grandma Jeanne would say, and that meant the moviehad yet to start.Sonoma was going to be very interesting.Coltsmiled again and decided to order the spiciest hamburger on themenu.
* * *
“Why were you smiling at that cowboy,Amanda?You’re too flirty for your own good,” said her mother.Amanda Evans was shifting into another gear, trying to coax the oldcar to keep going.She needed to pack a few more things.
