Read Riding the River for Free Online

a basin called the Truckee Meadows. The Truckee
River snaked its way through Reno coming south through the
mountains up by Lake Tahoe. Interesting city. She wanted to spend
more time here someday.
    She’d just started on her soup course when
she overheard the couple next to her arguing. Their voices grew
louder until the hostess came over to ask them to lower their
discussion. Sarah glanced to a side booth and saw a handsome man
with dark, wavy hair glancing at her. His expression mirrored hers
– what was going on with that couple?
    Suddenly, the man slapped the woman. Sarah
blinked in complete surprise and froze. The dark-haired man came
across the room faster than she could blink twice. He grabbed the
man’s hand, stopping him from slapping the woman again. By this
time, the cops had been called and the restaurant was in turmoil.
The dark-haired man just backed away and watched the guy until the
police showed up to take the couple somewhere else. His mere
presence ensured that there would be no more violence… Wow … John Wayne couldn’t have done better.
    Sarah sat back abruptly. All the air whooshed
out of her lungs. Stunned, but excited, she looked around for her
napkin. The hostess profusely thanked the dark-haired man for his
help and said his dinner would be complimentary. Clutching her
napkin, Sarah watched him go back to his table, pick up his cowboy
hat. He put it on and pulled it low on his forehead… And what a
handsome face… He looked over at her. She blatantly stared as
he gazed back for a full minute. She held her breath as he took in
her blonde hair piled on top of her head and her Eastern clothes.
His dark eyes searched her blue ones… for what ? He nodded,
touched a finger to the brim of his hat and left . She began
breathing again. Was that a slight smile on his face? He looked
so familiar… Oh, my…
    Life in the Old West was apparently still
exciting…
     
     

 
    CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    A driver from the guest ranch picked her up
promptly at nine the next morning. Sarah was excited to get on the
road. He announced to her, as he helped her in the van, that he had
a few other people to pick up on the way, but not for thirty
minutes or so.
    Driving along for a while, neither of them
was a chatterbox. Finally, he broke the ice.
    “I’m Dan, by the way.”
    “Sarah.”
    “Nice to meet you.”
    “Likewise.”
    “Where are you from?”
    “… Baltimore?”
    He whistled. “Wow, you’ve come a long
ways.”
    “Yes, I’m pretty excited to be here.”
    “What’s life like in Baltimore?” He slid his
eyes over to her. She’d insisted on sitting in the front with him.
He took in her slacks and hair in a bun. Pretty girl. Out of her
element…
    “Well, where do I start? It’s a port city,
right on the water.”
    “What water?”
    “…The Patapsco River, an arm of the
Chesapeake Bay.”
    “Good seafood?”
    “The best…”
    A pause as they both thought of what else to
say.
    “… What do you do at the ranch?”
    “I’m the driver for guests. Anyone needs to
go anywhere, I’m their man.”
    “Sounds like it doesn’t get boring…”
    “No, ma’am. What do you do in Baltimore?”
    “I’m a computer consultant. I help new
companies get up and running with their computer needs.”
    “That’s a mouthful.”
    “You bet.”
    “Looking forward to an Old West
experience?”
    She sighed. “Oh, very much…”
    He looked at her and caught her meaning.
    “Trouble at your end?” She blushed. “Sorry, I
don’t mean to get personal.”
    Sarah blew out a breath and rubbed her eyes.
“That’s okay. Yes, I’ve had some trouble. That’s why I came out
here.”
    “… To escape for a bit?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    They both thought about that.
    “Would you like a little friendly
advice?”
    “Actually, I would. You know this area and I
don’t.”
    He gave her a hard look. “Park your ego at
the door.”
    “… My ego?”
    “Yep. Don’t be afraid to try anything that
comes your