The Ill-Fated Trip to Denver

By Gary T Brideau

On a hot August afternoon, nine women set out for a trip to Denver Colorado from Wickenburg Arizona to take part in two weeks of prayer. Thinking that the twelve hours on an Air condition bus would be fun and relaxing. However, an hour into the trip The bus blows an engine and they are left on the side of the highway in the scorching sun. Then from there, things go from bad to worse.

Even though someone is doing everything to hinder them from reaching the prayer meeting. The women learned a very valuable lesson that even though disaster wait for them at every turn, the Lord Jesus in his infinite wisdom uses them to spread the gospel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781796085709

Gary T Brideau

I was born in a small house in Brooklyn, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1947 and moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut as a small boy. I met Lauren, the love of my life in1985 and were married years later and moved to Bristol, Connecticut. One night, I had a vivid dream that caught my attention, that spurred me to write it down, and sent it to my sister T. Jene Brideau, for an interpretation who also is a writer. She wrote and told me that the story was good. I took her encouragement and my imagination went to work. That’s when I discovered my God-given talent to write great space adventures stories. From then on, I have written over fifty stories of which only seven of them have been published with great reviews.

Book preview

Storyline

On a hot August afternoon, nine women set out for a trip to Denver Colorado from Wickenburg Arizona to take part in two weeks of prayer. Thinking that the twelve hours on an Air condition bus would be fun and relaxing. However, an hour into the trip The bus blows an engine and they are left on the side of the highway in the scorching sun. Then from there, things go from bad to worse.

Even though someone is doing everything to hinder them from reaching the prayer meeting. The women learned a very valuable lesson that even though disaster wait for them at every turn, the Lord Jesus in his infinite wisdom uses them to spread the gospel.

Chapter 1

OFF TO A BAD START

On a hot sunny August afternoon in Wickenburg, Arizona the temperature was well over 90°. Alexis, a petite 4’7 woman with bright red hair done up in a pixie. Was visiting her close friend Silvia a 30 year old woman who was 5 foot 9 dressed in black with short brown hair. As the two women were sitting in the white gazebo 200 yards from the back door of a log cabin ranch. Silvia took a swallow of her herbal tea and said. The women in the Church have planned a bus trip to Denver, Colorado to the prayer meeting. Are you going? I know I can’t."

Alexis sat across from Silvia, took a sip of her tea and said, Count me in, because Patrick wants to get away with the guys so this will be my chance to relax for a bit. Alexis then let out a shriek as she dropped her tea just as a 15-pound orange coon cat sauntered in, hissed at her and then scampered off.

Stupid cat Stated Silvia, I don’t know what got into it. Are you all right?

Suddenly, a Diamondback Rattler dropped down from the overhang and landed in the middle of the Gazebo ready to strike. Silvia whispered don’t even breathe."

What do we do, sit here and wait for it to attack?

Harry, the ranch security, a 35-year-old man, 5 foot 9 inches tall with short blonde hair with a van dyke. Was in front of the house, look down at the cat Flash, brushing up against his leg and walked away. It stopped, came back brushed up against Harry’s leg again and then walked away and paused again.

Harry stared at the cat and asked, Are you trying to tell me something? then followed the cat around the house, saw the Diamondback Rattler and stated softly to the women, Don’t make the slightest gesture. Harry quietly and slowly walked up to the snake, seized it by its head and asked, Can someone get me a sack so I can put this thing in then I’ll let it go several miles from here.

Silvia inquired, Is there anything you can do to prevent these snakes from hanging around the gazebo? Because this is the third one this week.

It could be the same one, but I’ll cut a strip of canvas, push a bunch of carpet tacks through and glue it down onto the threshold of the gazebo. Trust me no snake will risk crawling over a bunch of sharp tax.

Alexis took a sip of her hot tea and inquired, Harry, do you think Asami would like to go to the women’s Prayer meeting in Denver, Colorado? There is a whole bunch of women From Pastor Giles church going there.

That’s perfect, stated Harry, A bus trip is just the thing for her because Asami has been wanting to see more of the US since she left Japan.

A Japanese woman in her late 20s, 5 foot 6 approached Harry, gave him a peck on the cheek and inquired, Is all America like this? Dry and desolate?

No, America has all kinds of climates, Arizona just happened to look like one big cat box. Oh, how would you like to take a trip to Denver, Colorado with the women from the church? You’re bound to see a few trees on your way.

Asami asked her husband, Are you sure you don’t mind Sweetheart?

I tell you what, when you get back we can move into my cabin by the lake in the Hassayampa River Preserve. There are over 700 acres of woodland, grass and all kinds of things like that. Oh, I kinda help out there in my spear time.

If we can move into your cabin when I get back it’s a deal.

Silvia took a swallow of her Herb tea and stated, Asami, the Pastor’s wife stopped by the other day and gave me an armload of blouses. I have more tops than I know what to do with so you’re welcome to help yourself to whatever fits.

Thank you, I was just telling Harry that I needed some new tops to wear in this heat.

They’re in my bedroom on the bed help yourself.

Asami entered the bedroom, and saw A dark brown 11-inch daddy long leg sitting on top of the clothes on the bed. Asami muttered, Alexis you and your practical jokes. That fake spider doesn’t scare me one bit." Asami picked up what she thought was a big fake spider, found out that it was real, drop it, and let out a loud bloodcurdling scream. Then ran through the house Into her husband’s arms outside, trembling.

Harry inquired, Why are you shaking so much?

I just saw a God awful spider in the bedroom. I thought it was one of Alexis’s practical jokes so I picked it up and found out it was real.

Little spiders can’t hurt you Sweetheart.

This was no little spider it had to be at least a foot long.

I think you’re exaggerating Hon, stated Harry, I have never seen any spiders in Arizona that big.

I’m not lying! shouted Asami, If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you.

Harry stood in the doorway to Silvia’s master bedroom with her, Alexis and Asami and asked, Ok, where is this so-called big nasty spider you saw?

It was on the beds.

Silvia walked to the Queen size bed with a bright paisley bedspread, picked up a white blouse and said, I think this will fit you Asami. Silvia then felt something crawling up her leg, she slowly turned around and said, Harry, please don’t tell me there’s a big spider on my leg.

Ok I won’t, but how am I going to get it off you if I don’t tell you?

Silvia let out a squeal saying, I told you not to tell me now get it off me.

Harry gently took hold of the spider by its body, lifted it off of Silvia’s leg, looked at it and said, Shame on you going around scaring people. Can somebody get me something to put it in then call the animal control so they can take care of it.

With the giant daddy long leg taken care of, Silvia stated firmly, I want this entire house checked for spiders especially the bedroom because I am not going to bed until it’s done.

Asami gingerly picked up a blouse from the bed with two fingers, quickly dropped it squealing, Oh Lord there’s another one.

Harry lifted the blouse and said, It’s only a bowl of brown yarn.

Well, it looked like a spider to me.

The next morning at the Wickenburg, Arizona bus station/ Shell Gas Station on East Center road, Alexis stood outside in the hot desert sun shouting, Alright listen up. When I call your name, put your stuff in the underneath luggage compartment and get on the bus. Kitty, Mosey, Connie, Rosella, Asami, and Callie! Callie, front and center or you will be walking! Last call for Callie Swanson! Okay, driver, we leave without Callie.

A red 2005 Ford pickup screeched to a halt by the gas pumps. A 31-year-old woman 5’ 5’’ tall with short wavy black hair jumped out of the passenger side of the truck, grabbed her luggage from the back, shouted, Wait! and boulted for the buss. The bus driver slammed on her brakes, throwing everyone on the bus forward in their seats. Alexis jumped off the bus saying, Callie Swanson I have a good mind to leave you behind, stow your gear underneath and get on the bus before we leave without you and apologize to everyone for almost giving them whiplash.

Callie walked on the bus, stared at Connie, a five foot five, twenty-five-year-old woman, with an attractive perky figure, short brown hair. Her hazel eyes sparkle, as she stated to Connie, Do you know you spilled your coffee all over your white blouse.

Thanks for telling me. A certain someone caused the bus driver to slam on her brakes and now I have to look like this until we stop.

It wasn’t very nice of that person to cause the bus to stop abruptly.

Callie, sit down before you are wearing the rest of my coffee.

Grouch. moaned Callie, and found a seat at the back of the bus.

Alexis turn to the bus driver and asked a tall husky woman with shoulder-length dark brown hair. Paula, how long will it take us to get to Denver, Colorado?

A good 12 hours.

Alexis addressed the women and stated, Churches all over the area are meeting in Denver, Colorado for two weeks of prayer. Then we split up in individual intercessory prayer groups once a week around our state.

Connie inquired. If there’s so few of us why did we charter the Arizona Transit.

Because all the churches in the Wickenburg area were notified about the two weeks of prayer in Denver. But as soon as someone mentions the word prayer meeting, Christians ran the other way. Now, who’s got a funny story to tell us to start our trip."

Before Paula could step on the gas someone pounded on the bus door. She opened it. A young petite woman with gold wire-rimmed glasses clad in jeans and a white t-shirt with dark brown hair done up in a pixie in her early twenties, inquired, Is this the bus that goes to Denver, Colorado?

Yes, but this is a charted bus. The bus you want leaves here tomorrow at noon.

Tomorrow will be too late. Can you take me there?

Paula gazed at Alexis as if to say, Help,

Alexis stated, We’ll be glad to take you there. What’s your name?

Beebe Tomson from Wolcott, Connecticut. and I’m on my way back home with hopes to win a few bucks in one of the casinos in Denver. Beebe slowly scanned the women on the bus and asked, This may sound like a weird question but why are only women on this bus?"

Alexis answered, We are a women’s group from our church on the way to Denver for two weeks of prayer.

Beebe sat in a seat by herself and moaned, Boy did I ever get on the wrong bus.

An hour later on Route 17 north, Black Canyon Freeway in New River, Arizona, Briana Chase, a 5’ 8 tall, 37-year-old woman with medium length brown hair stated, I smell smoke."

The rest of the women complained to the point that made Paula pulled the bus to the side of the freeway, left the bus to check. Came back a minute later and stated, I thought the bus was running sluggish. We blew a head gasket. I phoned it in but a replacement bus won’t get here for three hours.

Beebe moaned, Just great, stuck in the middle of the desert with snakes, Tarantulas, and a busload of religious nuts. What else can go wrong in my life?

The tow truck arrived within an hour, hauled the disabled bus away along with Paula leaving the women by the side of the desert freeway with their luggage.

Asami, a 23-year-old Japanese woman 5’ 6 inches tall with long black hair stood next to Beebe, handed her a white, weather beaten business envelope and said, This is for you.

She opened it and exclaimed, You’re kidding me! There have to be at least five thousand dollars! But why? No, I can’t take it.

Kitty found it over there in the bushes and the group thought that the Lord wants you to have it.

I am fine so give it to somebody who needs it.

Asami stated smiling, It is yours because you need it to get home.

I have enough to get me back to Connecticut.

No, you don’t because you lost most of your money in a robbery in Los Angeles, California. stated Asami firmly.

Beebe gazed at Asami with her mouth open in shock for a minute before she said, You heard about me being robbed on the news.

No I didn’t. The Father loves you and wants you to tell you that your Smartphone is at the bottom of your purse.

That can’t be, because I saw that Dirtbag of a thief take it!

Go ahead and check.

Beebe reached in her tan leather pocketbook, and took out her iPhone, gazed at Asami and questioned, But how? I know I saw that thief take my phone.

Do you still think that we are a bunch of religious nuts?

Yeah. Because you people are weird, and thanks for the money.

Upon hearing a thunderous roar approaching, Mosey took a fighting stance and shouted, Look alive ladies and grab a good size rock. Here comes a motorcycle gang!

The gang stopped in front of the women, and Pete the leader asked, Afternoon ladies. Is there anything the Rodents can do to help?

Mosey stated, Our bus broke down and we are waiting for the replacement.

Callie stated, I have a gun and I am not afraid to use it! So, don’t even think of trying anything.

Relax, we’re just a bunch of bikers from Wolcott, Connecticut.

Mosey stated, Don’t mind Mouthy. But some cold water would be nice because ours has been baking in this hot desert sun for an hour.

There is a Subway not too far from here. What if we flag down a state trooper or someone and let them know if they could do a food and water run for you ladies.

As the bikers roared away, Callie bellowed, And don’t come back!

Mosey grumbled, Mouthy, remember Whose you are and have a little faith.

Beebe, gazed at Mosey with a helpless expression on her face and asked, Are we gonna die on the side of the freeway in this hot desert sun?

The Lord takes care of His Children, so don’t worry.

Beebe pointed to the buzzards circling overhead and asked, True, but are we God’s provision for them?

We’ll make it through.

A short time later two state troopers stopped, one placed a gray cooler full of ice and bottles of water, and Poor boys for everyone.

Beebe shouted, Oh boy, Subs! Time for breakfast!

The other trooper erected an Eazyup shelter then he inquired, What happened?

Alexis explained, We’re from Wickenburg, and are on our way to Denver, Colorado for a prayer meeting when our bus blew a head gasket. Now, we are waiting for Arizona Transit to send us a replacement bus.

Let me see what’s keeping that buss. stated the trooper.

The trooper returned three minutes later and said, Someone from New River Elementary school is going to pick you up and bring you to the Subway/Shell gas station where it is cool.

But the bus is going to pick us up here soon I pray.

I called Arizona Transit and they will pick you up there.

At the Subway/Shell gas station the 8 women made a stampede for the ladies room.

After, the women were relaxing and enjoying the air-conditioned building. Alexis received a phone call, thank the person for telling her then hung up. She then announced, Listen up everyone, a replacement bus won’t be here until 11 a.m. tomorrow so make yourself comfortable.

Callie moaned Comfortable? That’s a laugh. They’re gonna get a bill from my chiropractor after sleeping on this thing they call a chair.

Muscle it, stated Mosey.

Just then, a Pastor from