Thunder in Her Heart

By Jackie Fancher

"Humans make plans, and God laughs."

It's an old adage that frequently rings true. Little did Anne know, as she and her husband made plans to divorce, that he would have a stroke and die before it could happen. As Anne plans her first vacation alone, she wonders what made her finger twitch just enough to miss clicking on Wisconsin as a destination, diverting her to Wyoming. When she arrived at the Bell K Ranch she intended to chill out with books and wine, clear her brain of Chicago stress, and return to work refreshed.

Then a handsome, sexy, cowboy turns her life upside down. Theo welcomes her to the ranch and gives her an insight into his life. He also helps her deal with the challenges a cheating dead husband can bring. Anne and Theo deal with their coworkers, their children, and their circumstances with humor, a rapidly developing passion, and appreciation and respect for fate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781941478677

Book preview

artwork.

JULY | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Anne and Gordy stood in the center of the cemetery, surrounded by friends. And some family, of course. Although if truth be told, they wouldn’t have remained family for long. She tried to cry. She wanted to cry not for herself, but for her son. Twenty-two was young to lose your father. For him, reality would hit when it came time to move back home at the end of the semester. It would just be the two of them. If Gordon hadn’t died of a stroke, it still would have been just the two of them. Anne had not yet mentioned to Gordy that they had intended to file for divorce, and now she saw no point. She would just bury her husband’s ashes along with the bitterness that crept into her heart. Gordon took money from their personal savings and from his retirement account to set up his girlfriend. Midlife crisis or not, some things were just wrong. Gordy would not be getting those details just yet. Maybe someday. Maybe never. But it was time to move on. The stroke seemed like justice. Anne could live with that.

JULY | CODY, WYOMING

Theo and Lori stood under the big spruce tree in front of the Park County Courthouse, waiting for Monique to come out. Monique remained just as stunning as the day he married her. Yet their goodbye would be official this time. Their divorce became final as of 20 minutes ago. He had no regrets and neither did she. They had lived apart for so many years that he had never actually felt married. Monique was living in France when they met. She and her friends had ventured over on a tour of the Old West, and she fell madly in lust with the handsome cowboy she met at a rodeo in Cody, Wyoming. He recognized Monique was out of her element, but my, she was pretty…soft, curly, red hair…eyes the color of the sky…and she smelled like a garden of hyacinths and vanilla. He proposed with his best panty-dropping smile. She said yes. Soon after they married, she got pregnant. Quickly, his young wife decided a ranch was no safe place for a newborn. As her design business took off, her trips to Paris became more frequent. She took baby Lori with her. As time spent in the US grew rarer, Theo began to travel to wherever Monique was working in the States, just to spend time with Lori. They were as close as father and daughter could be without living together, thanks to email and social media options.

Theo hugged Lori tightly.

Thank you, he said.

For what?

For pushing. We should have done this years ago.

Papa, you need to move on…and so does she.

I’ll always love a part of her because she gave me you.

I see the man she fell in love with. Find someone who will let you warm her feet.

And what do you know about cold feet?

I’m grown up, Papa. Now and then someone keeps my feet warm.

Nope. Not gonna listen. He smiled and hugged his beautiful daughter.

Finally, Monique approached. She favors you, Theo.

Howdy, Mony Mony.

Don‘t call me that. She bestowed on him the traditional European double-cheek kiss, wincing as his stubble grazed her face.

Still as beautiful as ever.

Well, we have a plane to catch, Monique replied, ignoring his comment. Best of luck to you, Theo.

Au revoir, Papa.

Love you, baby girl. Theo watched until their car pulled away and he could no longer see their faces. His pickup truck was parked facing the opposite direction. Nothing had really changed, but something inside him ached.

BOBBY DUNSTAN TOOK HER HAND and walked her through the lobby.

Thanks, Bobby, for the coffee, and for the whole name change thing.

Don’t thank me, Ms. Quinn. You’ll be getting my bill.

Wow. I haven’t been Ryanne Quinn for a long time. I think it will take some getting used to. Blake wasn’t a horrible name. Gordy is still a Blake. But after the mess his father put me through, I need some distance from it.

May I still call you Anne?

Sure. I’m keeping Anne. Just letting go of Blake. And letting go of some other stuff…things from the house, some photos, the male menopause car…

Um…do you mind if I ask? Not giving the ‘Vette to Gordy? Is it for sale? How much? You want to take legal services in trade?

Stop drooling. Not giving Gordy the car. I’m afraid he’d have it wrapped around a tree. I’ll sell it to help pay some of his student loans. He may not be happy about it now, but in a few years, he’ll be glad not to have those bills hanging over his head.

Smart move.

And I’m hoping I never have thousands of dollars in legal fees!

Well, Anne, here’s your ride. Keep in touch my friend.

Anne waved briefly through the taxi window, then gave the driver her work address.

There were days when Anne still wondered if she liked her job well enough to make it a career. She was rethinking that part of her life now, since the cushion of having a spouse with a comfortable income was gone.

In all honesty, the best part was having a huge window in her office on the 20th floor of a building on Wacker Drive, facing the Chicago River. She loved the city. She could watch the sunrise over Lake Michigan when she arrived downtown early enough. She watched the sunset in the evening, outlining buildings with magnificent colors. Even the stormy days were exciting. The problem with the window was it made her long to be down on the sidewalk with others…some walking briskly with a purpose, others just wandering, taking in the sights.

Anne walked into her office, set down her briefcase and purse, and took off her jacket. A layer of dust covered her desk, and papers billowed out of her in bin. She groaned knowing that someone actually went to the trouble of hand-delivering paper if the electronic work requests weren’t handled in a timely manner. She dreaded opening her now countless emails and examining her over flowing work queue. Days off for Gordon’s funeral, family business, and the legalities of it all had cut into her vacation time. As much as she needed a break, she knew it was out of the question until she caught up.

Gordy had a summer job working with a landscaper. He’d build up some muscles and have a nice tan by the time school started. Luckily, she didn’t need to be home in time to fix his dinner. He was quite self-sufficient. And from a phone call she tried not to eavesdrop on, she knew he had a sort of girlfriend. Anne resolved to stay at the office catching up as long as possible, so she could take off almost two whole weeks in late August, when Gordy went back to school.

Now…where to go? This was her first vacation alone. It was time to do things Gordon never wanted to do. No wonder he always insisted they stay close to home. He didn’t want to leave the girlfriend. Things were starting to make sense. She would spend half of her lunch hour searching the web, hoping she could find something within a couple days’ drive and make a reservation.

First…the list. No limitations. Sort it out later.

1. Alaska cruise

2. Vermont at maple syrup time

3. New Mexico in the spring

4. Arizona for Cubs spring training

5. Switzerland in the summer

6. Italy in the fall

7. Quiet cabin in a remote spot

8. Yellowstone

9. Zip lining in the rain forest

Reality check. Rain forest probably a no. Too late to plan for fall outings. Too soon to plan for next spring. What she really needed was a nice cabin in the woods with plenty of books—and mosquito repellent. And wine. Or ingredients for the perfect Manhattan.

Searching online for cabin rentals seemed a good place to start. Time frame: last two weeks in August. Click on a State: Wisconsin…oops…clicked on Wyoming by mistake. Searching…searching…searching. Wow. Maybe not a mistake: several options in the Grand Tetons with spectacular pictures! Cabins near Yellowstone. This would take care of two items on her list. The Bell K Ranch caught her eye. The description drew her in:

Need to shake off the Big City dirt and grime? Want to enjoy a few days in a row with no cell phone ringing? Looking forward to peace and quiet in an unpretentious, no frills cabin? Our clean, furnished, cabins come complete with everything you will need but the clothes you want to wear and the food you want to eat. Kitchens include microwave, coffeemaker, toaster, blender, small gas oven and 2 stove burners. Each cabin has 1 bathroom with a tub and shower, a fireplace, a window air conditioner, and a portable fan. Each cabin has a porch with rocking chairs and a grill. The ranch is fully staffed. Actual ranch work will take place. Cabins sleep up to 4 guests (2 queen beds). Television reception, cell phone reception, and internet connections are sporadic at best. For reservations and questions, call and ask for Maggie.

Anne couldn’t make the phone call fast enough.

Bell K Ranch, Maggie speakin’.

Maggie, I just saw the description of your cabins online and I have some questions.

What’s your name, sweetie?

Oh, how perfect. My name is Anne. I live in Chicago and I need a break.

Well, we can break ya, that’s for sure! Maggie’s sassy laugh was endearing. Anne’s life had gotten so serious, she almost forgot what it was like just to have a lighthearted conversation.

I’d like to come out for the last two weeks in August if you have anything then.

Two whole weeks. You’re brave.

I need some peace and quiet. I need to leave my pumps at home and stay out of speeding taxi cabs. I need to slip into my jeans and read books until my eyes close at the end of the day.

Aw, hon, come on out. Sounds like you need us more than we need you. We have four cabins. They’re all named after old TV westerns. They’re pretty much identical except for the décor. The only thing that may be important to you is the proximity to the Big House. That’s where the office is, and there’s a pool table and some space for socializin’. And that’s where the phone is.

Is there room to park if I drive out?

Sure is. How ‘bout you pick a cabin. You decide how long ya want to take to get here and back home. Then we can figure out how many days you’ll need. I’ll hold a cabin for ya. This being your first time, I would rule out Gunsmoke. It’s pretty far out. Rawhide and Maverick are nice, but Bonanza is my favorite. It has the cutest yellow gingham curtains in the kitchen and some nice ’50s retro items.

Okay. Sign me up for Bonanza.

I think we’ll be addin’ Wagon Train and The Rifleman in a couple years. I’m gonna send a brochure to let you know about all the touristy things to do here. You can ignore or indulge. Up to you. I’d make it a point to see Yellowstone if ya never have. There’s nowhere like it on earth. And if you’re wantin’ some activities, there’s hikin’, bikin’, fishin’, golfin’, kayakin’, and horseback ridin’. You can go into Cody and some of the other towns and see a rodeo, shoot-outs, ghost towns, museums, and typical tourist stuff. But here…you can just sit on your butt and read. No judgments.

Oh, my god, I need it right now. Do you need a credit card to hold my reservation?

Naw. I’ll just write down that Bonanza is reserved for Annie. Call me back when you can firm up the dates and we can make payment arrangements then. Lookin’ forward to meetin’ you, Annie.

Me, too. And it’s just Anne. Maggie had already disconnected. Annie? Seriously?

Thank goodness for interns being available in the summer. Anne snagged a competent looking young lady to organize the paper in her in bin. Then together, they eliminated duplicate requests for information also submitted by email. Anne showed Caroline the kind of information she wrote for business flyers for different companies. The ones that were rather generic seemed like a good starting place for her. After writing two on her own, Caroline proved the key to Anne heading to Wyoming a week sooner than planned. They spent three days proofreading each other’s work.

You’re not bored, are you, Caroline?

No, Ms. Quinn. I love to write and I have always had a good eye for spotting errors. I won several spelling bees, and I’m a grammar geek, so this is right up my alley.

First, you can call me Anne. And what were you doing before I kidnapped you?

I was adding and re-adding columns of numbers. Pretty much double-checking Excel. Can you imagine anything so silly?

I’d probably jump off a bridge if that was my job.

Actually, I think they were just trying to help me look busy.

How much more schooling do you have?

I have three more semesters. I’m a journalism major. Not quite sure how I ended up here. Probably because there are very few internships that pay even a stipend. And the money is a big help.

Well, believe me when I say that you have been a life saver for me. Make sure you leave detailed contact information. I have a feeling I may find some work for you to do, at your own pace, even while you’re studying.

I will. Thanks so much, Anne.

I’ll send you a postcard from Yellowstone.

You’ll love it. I’ve been there twice. There is nowhere else as strange as Yellowstone. It’s a totally different place with every different season. Are you staying at a lodge?

No, I’m renting a cabin on a ranch near Cody.

Well, that’s the place to be if you like cowboys.

Actually, I’m taking comfortable shoes and a lot of books.

You’ll need a hat and boots. And don’t scoff. It will help you fit in, and good boots will save your feet. And a hat. Well, just cute!

MOM, I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY you don’t take the Corvette. It’s perfect for a long drive. That kind of car was never meant for putzing around in the city. I have no idea why Dad thought it was a good idea.

I know why he bought it. It made him feel young again. Hopefully you can learn to deal with middle age in a healthier way.

There’s nothing wrong with buying a car, Mom. He could afford it.

"No, we couldn’t, but that’s another story for another day. So, here’s the deal. You take the car and get the oil changed. Fill the tank with gas. Get it washed and clean out the inside. Teach me how to put the top down…and back up, and I’ll take it. Not sure it’s best for where I’m headed…probably some mountain driving involved."

Take your time and enjoy the drive. Your vacation starts with the drive, not just when you arrive at your final destination.

I’m looking forward to it. You’ll be okay heading back to school tomorrow without me here?

Sure, why?

I guess it’s kind of sad for me, you being all grown up. This is a new page in both of our lives.

So, do you want to cry now? Or wait until tomorrow? You’re leaving before me, so maybe I should be the one to cry.

Just take care of the car. I’m calling Maggie at the ranch to wrap up some details. I’ll make sure I leave the phone number for the ranch here in case there’s cell phone reception problems.

Don’t leave it here. I’ll be at school. You planned your route already? Or are you counting on your GPS which may be iffy in the mountains?

I’m going to Cody. Someone from the ranch will meet me there, and I’ll follow them.

I kind of wish I could go along. But I think you’ll be glad you did something on your own. Are you feeling like this is an adventure?

Yeah, I do! And don’t laugh, but on the way, I’m buying boots and a hat.

Like stylin’ cowboy clothes?

Yes.

Dad would have loved it.

Anne just smiled, knowing Gordon would have hated it. He would have hated her going alone. He would have hated going with her. He would have hated spending two weeks with people he would have considered uneducated country folk. I will chill out and empty my brain. I will breathe fresh air and sleep like a baby.

Just don’t come home with a cowboy. The screen door slammed as Gordy left.

She remembered Caroline’s advice…The place to go if you like cowboys. Funny, it never crossed her mind. She was so busy being irritated with men in general that the thought of meeting someone someday just seemed impossible to hope for. Anyway, that was not the goal of this trip. She was going to take a break and embrace independence again. Maybe.

Bell K Ranch, Maggie speakin’.

Maggie, this is Anne Quinn. I wanted to pin down my schedule a little bit.

Annie, good to hear from ya!

I’m splitting the trip there into three days. I leave Chicago early Tuesday morning. I should be in Cody Thursday around dinner time.

I’ll have Albert meet you in Cody. Is that good? We’ll save a little dinner for ya.

No need. I’m picking up some groceries before I get there.

You’ll be tired from the drive. You’ll eat here. No argument.

Okay, thanks. I can just call this number when I get in, and he’ll tell me where to meet him, right?

Good deal. Follow him to the ranch, and he’ll bring you to the Big House where we can take care of business and finally meet. Then he’ll take you to Bonanza and help you unload your car.

There won’t be much to unload. But I do need your recommendation for a place to buy boots and a hat.

Keep in mind, Annie, don’t be cheap with the boots…leather only. There is no shortage of boots in Cody. A hat you can buy off the rack, but custom boots are the ones that fit the best. But you won’t be here long enough to take advantage of havin’ boots made. Just make sure they feel good from the start.

Do hat and boots need to match?

That’s such a city question. Just buy what you like.

Okay. Albert on Thursday.

Drive safely, Annie.

I will. See you soon. Hmmm. Annie. I think it’s growing on me.

The alarm went off at 5:00 am, just as the sun attempted to peek through a thin layer of clouds. Anne ate a couple spoonsful of cottage cheese and threw the container in the trash. She finished the last two Triscuits. Gordy…seriously…you couldn’t have eaten the last two and thrown the box away? After checking out the last remaining Red Flame grapes, only four were still edible. The rest went into the disposal. She made a pot of coffee and filled a large travel mug. Except for last minute make-up and hygiene items, she had loaded the car last night. She filled a thermal lunch bag with a container of blueberry yogurt, two bottles of water—one was frozen—a damp washcloth in a zipper baggie, and a disposable spoon. On the passenger’s seat lay the ultimate travel food—red licorice—her cell phone, charger, and three new old fashioned dependable paper maps, just in case.

Gordon didn’t have the Corvette long before he died. There were only about 5000 miles on it. He didn’t really like Anne driving it, so of those 5000, only about 150 were hers. And she had never driven it anywhere she could actually go over 50 mph. She was certain that by the time she got to unfamiliar territory, she’d be comfortable driving and confident enough in her skills not to give herself a panic attack. She took a deep breath, opened the garage door, and backed out into the driveway. On a day still slightly overcast and not too warm, the adventure began. The garage door closed, and as she pulled forward, a little quicker than she planned, she wondered how many neighbors just woke up to the sound of screeching tires.

Good lord, woman, get a grip! Easy on the gas. Let’s try not to get a ticket before we even get out of the city. Great. Now I’m talking to myself.

Of the 1,350 miles from Chicago to Cody, Wyoming, the first day’s drive would be the longest. It was also the most familiar to her. Interstate 90 went north, cutting through the southwest corner of Wisconsin and scooting along the southern border of Minnesota. She recalled the pleasant view…lots of green, cows, hills, and plenty of places to buy cheese. Billboards luring tourists to visit caves, wineries, state parks, and campgrounds disrupted nature just enough to irritate her. And inevitably, critters in various stages of decay that met their maker thanks to a gas powered vehicle of some kind dotted the highway.

Anne aimed the sports car toward Sioux Falls, South Dakota, knowing at least 10 hours of driving lay in front of her. Assuming, of course, she stayed within the speed limit. The low-slung coupe, its seat holding her butt barely a few inches off the pavement, screamed at her to put some weight on the gas pedal. And she planned to. She’d hated it when Gordon would speed, driving recklessly, cussing, and giving drivers the finger. But now she felt relaxed, her confidence growing as the miles zipped by. She was waiting for that perfect stretch of open road with no traffic. She was certain there would be plenty of opportunities to punch it on this trip.

The bed and breakfast stood west of town near Falls Park. Its big wrap around porch called to Anne as she fought to see, driving into the west with the late afternoon sun sinking slowly into the horizon. But she felt good, noting that the terrain looked different already. She knew she would arrive in Sioux Falls too late to do any sightseeing, and that was fine. She would find a little time in the morning. She counted small victories: no car trouble, no rain, no critters killed, and work had not entered her mind in over eight hours.

Anne parked and unloaded her car. She finished part of a sandwich left over from lunch and opened an individual size bottle of merlot. She showered, sat on the bed, and picked up her phone, which she hadn’t looked at since she left the house. She discovered a text from Gordy.

Smiling, she set her alarm for 7:00 am. This next stretch would be through unfamiliar scenery…she looked forward to discovering sights she had only seen in books and on PBS. Fun!

She slept soundly until morning.

Betsy from Arkansas joined Anne at the breakfast table. After brief introductions, Anne learned that Betsy worked as a librarian at University of Arkansas. She was on her way home from Yellowstone National Park, taking a more northern route than when she drove out. Seeing a hat on the seat next to Betsy, Anne decided to ask her.

Where did you get the hat? It’s really cute.

I got it at the Boot Barn in Gillette. It’s on I-90, so you’ll pass it.

Honest to god, Boot Barn? Like the Dress Barn?

Yes! It’s a chain, Betsy replied. They’re all over the place.

Well good, because I was advised to get a hat and boots.

Anne, that’s good advice. Get the straw. Make sure it fits right.

Why straw?

It’s good for summer, lets a little air through.

It’s hard to feel like I fit in with the Corvette, Anne chuckled. Maybe the hat will help.

Over their scrambled eggs and English muffins, Betsy shared some brochures she’d gathered and gave her a heads-up on a store selling lovely Black Hills Gold earrings.

After a last sip of juice, Betsy stood up to leave. Anne, nice meeting you. Have a good trip. Drive safely. And remember, this is a great place to meet cowboys.

So I’ve been warned.

Just go for it, girl. What happens in Cody stays in Cody! Betsy winked at her breakfast companion with a knowing grin, then left the B&B and headed east.

Anne finished her coffee and got another one to go. Time to do a little exploring in town, then get back on the road. After talking to Betsy, Anne was looking forward to Badlands, Devil’s Tower, Black Hills, and of course, Yellowstone. Anne wandered through Sioux Falls for a bit and headed for the car when the sun popped behind some clouds.

Within ten minutes of finding her way west on I-90 again, rain pelted the car, and she slowed down with the rest of the sensible drivers. Of course, there was always someone with superhero vision who could miraculously see through a downpour. The foul weather mavericks flew by, and she was happy to let them.

The next stop was Mitchell, South Dakota. A visit to the world’s only Corn Palace (really?) intrigued her. And what could be better for lunch than a caprese sandwich made on a waffle? Lunch on a waffle—brilliant! She took a picture of the menu and planned to create some knock-offs from the Bread and Batter Sandwich Company when she got home. She just needed to resurrect her waffle iron from the garage sale pile in her basement.

Anne felt her phone vibrate in her purse. Before she could get to it, Gordy had left a message to call him. She left the restaurant and followed signs to Dry Run Creek Park. She located a picnic table, filled her water bottle at a fountain, and straddled the bench to call Gordy back.

Thanks for calling back, Mom.

What’s up? Everything okay?

I think so. We seem to have had a little vandalism at the house.

You’re home? Are you okay?

Yeah, I’m fine. I took another day before leaving to carpool with a friend. I called the police.

What kind of vandalism?

Graffiti. Harmless, probably random. You know, someone sees a blank space and thinks it needs to be filled in.

Send me a picture of it.

Mom, I don’t want to spoil your vacation.

Gordy, I’ve seen the F word before…probably even said it a few times. I think I can handle this. What does it say?

It says, ‘Mrs. Bitch.’

Wow. So, obviously not aimed at you.

The cops didn’t seem to think we’re in any danger, but they said they’ll drive through the neighborhood a few times during the night for about a week or so, and I’m supposed to call them back if I see more. It’s on the garage door.

Well, that’s good, I guess. See if you can remove it. If not, call around and see if anyone does that kind of work. The police may know someone.

They gave me a couple names. I’ll get an estimate and let you know. And the cops asked if we knew of anyone who was angry with us or holding a grudge. I told them I didn’t think so.

Anne’s stomach flipped. She knew someone. This wasn’t anything she was willing to share with Gordy yet. Well, I’ll think about it. But no one comes to mind at the moment.

I thought about Dad, but since it said Bitch, I just figured it was aimed at you. Sorry.

Yeah, right. The dart to the heart was the Mrs. more than the bitch. She wondered