One Step Over the Border (38 page)

“Laramie, the keys to the truck are on the nightstand. I’m taking a walk with Rosa.”

“What if Juanita Marta Muñoz returns my call?” she asked.

“That’s another reason to go for a walk.”

Laramie paced in front of the baggage carousel, one eye fixed on the ramp leading down from the arrival gates. Clusters of
people shuffled and tapped their way across the polished floor. Lights flashed. Buzzers sounded. Baggage circled like prisoners
in a tiny exercise yard. In his right hand, green florist paper enclosed twelve long-stemmed red roses.

He scanned the arrival monitor and felt his heart fall when Flight 2106 from Albuquerque showed a ten-minute delay. He circled
his arm trying to alleviate the pain in his right shoulder and glanced outside where taxis and hotel shuttles jockeyed for
position.

Finally, he slumped between a uniformed sailor asleep with his mouth open and a small gray-haired lady with a lap full of
pink crochet. He stretched out his long legs.

“She’ll like the flowers,” the lady said. Her hands, sprinkled with age spots, never missed a stitch.

“I feel kind of foolish, “ Laramie admitted.

Her thin lips held only a trace of light pink lipstick. “You look a little foolish.”

“You think I shouldn’t give them to her?”

“Oh, no, by all means give them. She will know that you sat here looking like a fool, just to bring her a smile. That means
you think more about her than yourself. No woman takes that lightly.”

“Thanks. This is not the kind of thing that comes natural to me. I’d rather hide over in the corner and watch things.”

She stopped stitching and rocked back and forth. “Are they for your wife?”

“Eh, no.”

“Girlfriend?”

“That’s what I’m hoping. I’ve only known her a couple months and she’s been gone most of the time.”

The lady laid her hand on his arm. “Young man, I was only with Harold for three weeks before we married.”

“Is that all?”

“But I wrote to him for two years before that. He was in the war in Italy, then Germany. I signed up for a USO pen pal.”

“How long have you and your husband been married?”

“We had fifty-eight years together. He passed on three years ago.”

“Congratulations, ma’am, that’s wonderful. I’m sorry he’s gone. I’m sure you miss him.”

“We had some tough years, but you’re right… it was wonderful. I had no idea how lonely I would be without him. You know, I
still have my driver’s license. I still live in the same house. I can take care of myself and I certainly don’t need my daughters
to come over and treat me like a little child. But do you know what I miss most? I miss having someone to take care of. My
Harold needed me. Now, I’m not sure anyone needs me. Taking care of someone gives you a delight about getting up each day.”

“I reckon it does.”

“Are you waiting for me, cowboy?” Annamarie Buchett loomed above him, dark hair perfectly groomed, bright hazel eyes, and
wide, easy smile.

He jumped up and shoved the flowers at her. “I thought you were delayed.”

She took them and grinned. “I can’t believe you bought flowers for me. Nobody does that anymore. In fact, I’ve never been
greeted in public with flowers in my life.” She threw her arms around him and kissed his neck.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the little lady wink, then go back to her crochet.

Annamarie slipped her hand in his as they hiked over to the baggage carousel. He kept walking, though he considered stopping,
closing his eyes, and enjoying the warmth and peace of those fingers laced in his. “How’s your mamma doing in southern California?”

“She loves it. She already found a house to buy.”

“You figure on moving in with her or do you want a place of your own?”

“I definitely want a place of my own.” She led him over to the baggage carousel.

He clutched her hand tightly and stared down at his boots. “Probably a lot of nursing jobs out there.”

With her other hand, she rubbed his arm. “Laramie, there are a lot of nursing jobs everywhere. I think I’d like a fresh start.
In fact, I happen to know there’s an opening for an emergency room nurse in Fort Collins, Colorado. I’ve been thinking about
applying for it.”

He looked straight into her eyes. He felt his smile strain his cheeks. “Fort Collins? That’s on the other side of Denver,
up by…”

“By Wyoming, I hope. Meeting you this summer reminded me of some of the things that I’ve been neglecting. Somewhere in the
gloom and depression when my husband was killed, I just gave up on having those things. I’d like to see if I can’t revive
a few of them.”

“What kinds of things would you like to revive?”

She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips. “That’s one thing.”

He towed her roller suitcase and hugged her waist as they strolled out to the parking lot. “When you flew to California, I
didn’t know if I’d ever see you again. When you said you were flying to meet us in New Mexico, I figured this might be our
farewell. Some things have been coming clear to me lately. I know you have issues in the past to release… and so do I. In
the past couple of weeks I’ve felt more freedom from all of that.”

“Laramie, I like the way you are tender… and yet tough… the way you’re educated and informed about things… yet easygoing.
I like how you make me feel good to be me.”

“Annamarie… I just like saying your name, and this might sound kind of immature, but you are the dream I was always afraid
to dream. A beautiful woman who could chase away the demons in my mind and the fears in my soul. What I’m trying to say is,
I like me when I’m with you. I believe for the first time in my life, I’m able to give my whole heart away… but you might
have to help teach me how to do that.”

“That could take some time.”

He slid her suitcase into the back of the truck. “What are you doing for the next fifty or sixty years?”

She kissed his cheek. “I’ll have to check my calendar. Are you in a hurry for an answer?”

Laramie leaned his back against the side of the black Dodge. “No. Just anxious to get to know you better and scared to death
for you to get to know me. I have flaws you haven’t seen yet.”

Annamarie waited for the minivan next to them to back out, then turned to face him. “And you have never heard me scream in
the middle of the night.”

“You scream?”

“Nightmares.”

“I could learn to wake up and take care of you.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “That’s what it’s all about, is it?”

“I think so.” Laramie stroked his fingers through her silky black hair. “It’s having someone to take care of.”

“That’s what we’ve got to find out. Do we possess what we need to take care of each other? I thought if I took a job in Fort
Collins and you were close by, we’d find time to practice.”

“We’ve got lots of things to practice.” He lifted her chin with his fingers.

“What else?” she asked.

When he kissed her lips, Annamarie’s arms locked around his neck. This time, she didn’t let go. “Oh, no,” she sighed. “You
don’t need to improve that, cowboy. You’re as good as they get.”

He opened the pickup door for her. “But we’ll have to keep at it quite a while, because you can definitely use some practice.”

She jabbed her elbow into his side, then slid across the pickup seat to the middle.

When Rosa met Hap in the lobby of the motel the next morning, her thick, black, wavy hair was combed down, framing her wide
brown eyes.

He handed her a Styrofoam cup of coffee as they strolled out to the parking lot. “Is your roomie still asleep?” he asked.

“She woke up for a few minutes and we visited, but she conked out again. They were out later than we were. Is Laramie up?”

Hap opened the pickup door for her. “If I didn’t know him better, I’d say he was dead. He flopped down on his bed with his
clothes still on about three in the mornin’ and hasn’t moved a muscle since. He don’t usually sleep that good.”

Rosa hopped in and fastened the seatbelt. “I like Annamarie.”

“Yeah, I do, too.” Hap pulled the truck out into scattered morning traffic. “Laramie’s a pretty easygoin’ guy. I mean, it’s
all internal. He kind of kicks back and observes life. He’s always got a good answer and he’s always there when you need him,
but he don’t spend a lot of time doin’ things for himself. I truly believe Annamarie is somethin’ he wants real bad. I’m hopin’
it works out for them.” He pulled up to a stop light. “Now, which way?”

“Follow the signs downtown to the Palace of the Governors. Her studio is two streets north of the plaza.”

“I jist never figured Laramie would find a gal that tall. They look good together, don’t they?”

“I was thinking the same thing. Some couples do look like they belong together. But what will that mean for you? You and Laramie
have been partners so long.”

“I reckon we’ll stay close friends, no matter what. We’ve gone through too much together to loosen the ties.” Hap tapped the
steering wheel.

“Are you nervous about meeting Juanita Marta?”

“Yeah. As long as findin’ my Juanita was a vague, unreachable concept, I could enjoy it. But ever’ time it gets close to happenin’…”

“You aren’t sure what to do?”

“Rosa, I have lived and relived the scene of what it will be like when I finally meet her. I know everythin’ to say and do.
I’ve practiced my lines for almost twenty years. But it dawns on me, she might have other lines and I only know one script.”

“Just relax and wing it.”

“I know… it just keeps eatin’ at me.” He glanced in the rearview mirror and noticed the arch in Rosa’s thick, black eyebrows.

Rosa tugged at her dangling, silver feather earrings.

“Are those earrings new?”

“Yes, I just bought them in the hotel gift shop. I never wear anything this flashy.”

“They look really good on you.”

“One dark night on a highway in west Texas, this cowboy stud told me I should have more fun… that I ought to do some things
for myself. Earrings aren’t a big deal, but they are a start.”

“Maybe all of us need to do somethin’ for ourselves. I think that’s what Laramie and Annamarie are doin’. They’re gettin’
serious and I know that produces changes.”

“Are you worried about the changes?”

“That cool air we felt last night signaled that fall is comin’. Seasons come and go… each new season has its challenges and
its beauty. You can’t predict the exact dates and you can’t keep it from happenin’. I guess I’ll just take what comes and
look for the good parts.”

“The serious Hap Bowman.” She smiled. “I’m seeing more and more of that side of you.”

Hap pushed his hat back, then rubbed his clean-shaven chin. “Well, that’s about as serious and melancholy as I get. Sorry
about that.”

“I like it. You know what I’ve been thinking about this morning?”

Hap turned right at the stoplight, then merged into the left-hand lane. “You’ve been thinkin’ about an Egg McMuffin with extra
cheese and tater tots floatin’ in catsup like they was a bobber when you’re fishin’ on the lake?”

“Oh, yuuuuck! Of course not.”

“Were you thinkin’ of buyin’ a black Hummer and drivin’ that sucker all the way to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories?”

“Eh, no… I was…”

“I know, you was thinkin’ of strippin’ buck naked and jumpin’ in the motel pool.”

Rosa slugged him. “Hush up, you jerk, and let me talk.”

“Yes, ma’am. I can see you and me imagine different daydreams.”

“You challenged me last night. Remember when we were strolling through the park and the kids playing that flashlight game
got us laughing so much, you asked me again what I did for fun. I think I’ve eliminated fun from my itinerary for years. Everything
became so critical, so important, so urgent. Too many causes, so little time. Fun seemed a distraction.” She waved her hand.
“Turn left up here.”

Hap waited for a green GMC Yukon to pass, then turned. “So you changed your mind about fun and went out and bought those earrings?”

“You have no idea how big a deal it is for me to do that.” She leaned back, her hands locked behind her thick black hair.
“But, I know I need a break. I need to enjoy what I can. Did I tell you I play the piano?”