A Pair of Second Chances (Ben Jensen Series Book 1) by Brian Gore Page B
Authors: Brian Gore
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best he could. It seemed that too often, no matter how hard he pushed, his best just wouldn't fit what the world demanded of him. There were times he found himself wishing those lowlanders would just blow themselves all to hell.
But at this moment, here in the high country that inflated his soul, he couldn't sustain such dark thoughts. Here in the mountains he loved, all he could do was to be at peace, if only for this short time, hidden from the world that had treated him so harshly.
Soon after dawn broke he'd be on the trail, moving those last few miles of rough mountain trail, down past Lodgepole Creek Campground. Then, on to the ranch, and back to that "other" world.
Ben spent his evening, sitting against the log, chewing jerky, sipping coffee... and watching the wispy tendrils of smoke rise from a campfire in the campground far below and drift off down the valley.
Later that evening looking at the glow down in the valley below; "Now there's a lowlander pilgrim if I ever saw one" he thought to himself. "That campfire must be big enough for two suppers from the glow it's throwin' off!"
Chapter 6
They'd made good time that first day, making it all the way to Mitchell, South Dakota a couple of hours after dark. She hadn't any experience driving cross country but still thought they'd done well. What with the stop of over an hour at the Walmart in Sioux City she thought they were lucky to be as far as they were. She'd needed to buy them each several sets of clothes and other necessities she found it impossible to leave with.
In addition, she'd bought a tent, sleeping bags, cook stove and ice chest, along with several other bits and pieces of camping gear recommended by a paunchy, balding, clerk, who seemed to think her eyes were in the middle of her chest. These were the things they needed to execute her idea of simply disappearing. She wanted her and her son to fall off the face of the earth.
Then, of course, there were the multiple stops when Timmy had to pee. All in all, she felt good about the day. For the first time, she felt a sensation of growing safety. They had a chance.
She pulled the car in under the portico of a Best Western Motel on the west side of town. Leaving the sleeping Timmy to his dreams in his car seat, she went inside to book a room for the night. She was glad when the clerk didn't ask for any ID... just the cash for the room. The fewer places she had to leave any traces the better.
Five minutes later, she and her son were safely secluded in their room. The door was bolted and chained. The TV was tuned, with the volume louder than necessary, to some child's show she found on the cable; and she stood under the spray of a shower as hot as she could stand it. The sound of her sobbing, from releasing the fear she'd held bottled up inside her all day, now hidden from her son by the noise of the running water and the too loud TV.
In the morning they'd continue their journey, north and west, bound for the imagined freedom and security, of Montana. But for now, she'd savor this peaceful night with her son. It was the first night, in many, that neither of them would have to fear a beating, or worse.
When she came out of the bathroom from her shower, she looked in the small phone book she found on the nightstand between the two beds. "How'd you like to have Pizza for supper Mr. Tim?" she asked her son.
"Pizza? can we Momma? It's like Christmas! Chocolate milk and Pizza all in one day! Hooray!" the boy laughed.
Without thinking, Amanda Blake reached into her purse for her phone, powered it up and dialed the number to the local pizza delivery store. The clerk that answered assured her it wasn't too late for a delivery. When he asked for her name to put on the order, she froze for a second before quickly stuttering into the phone, "uh... Su... Susan... Susan Crandall. I'm in room 204 at the Round Up Best Western Motel. "
The clerk told her their supper would be delivered in less then 30
But at this moment, here in the high country that inflated his soul, he couldn't sustain such dark thoughts. Here in the mountains he loved, all he could do was to be at peace, if only for this short time, hidden from the world that had treated him so harshly.
Soon after dawn broke he'd be on the trail, moving those last few miles of rough mountain trail, down past Lodgepole Creek Campground. Then, on to the ranch, and back to that "other" world.
Ben spent his evening, sitting against the log, chewing jerky, sipping coffee... and watching the wispy tendrils of smoke rise from a campfire in the campground far below and drift off down the valley.
Later that evening looking at the glow down in the valley below; "Now there's a lowlander pilgrim if I ever saw one" he thought to himself. "That campfire must be big enough for two suppers from the glow it's throwin' off!"
Chapter 6
They'd made good time that first day, making it all the way to Mitchell, South Dakota a couple of hours after dark. She hadn't any experience driving cross country but still thought they'd done well. What with the stop of over an hour at the Walmart in Sioux City she thought they were lucky to be as far as they were. She'd needed to buy them each several sets of clothes and other necessities she found it impossible to leave with.
In addition, she'd bought a tent, sleeping bags, cook stove and ice chest, along with several other bits and pieces of camping gear recommended by a paunchy, balding, clerk, who seemed to think her eyes were in the middle of her chest. These were the things they needed to execute her idea of simply disappearing. She wanted her and her son to fall off the face of the earth.
Then, of course, there were the multiple stops when Timmy had to pee. All in all, she felt good about the day. For the first time, she felt a sensation of growing safety. They had a chance.
She pulled the car in under the portico of a Best Western Motel on the west side of town. Leaving the sleeping Timmy to his dreams in his car seat, she went inside to book a room for the night. She was glad when the clerk didn't ask for any ID... just the cash for the room. The fewer places she had to leave any traces the better.
Five minutes later, she and her son were safely secluded in their room. The door was bolted and chained. The TV was tuned, with the volume louder than necessary, to some child's show she found on the cable; and she stood under the spray of a shower as hot as she could stand it. The sound of her sobbing, from releasing the fear she'd held bottled up inside her all day, now hidden from her son by the noise of the running water and the too loud TV.
In the morning they'd continue their journey, north and west, bound for the imagined freedom and security, of Montana. But for now, she'd savor this peaceful night with her son. It was the first night, in many, that neither of them would have to fear a beating, or worse.
When she came out of the bathroom from her shower, she looked in the small phone book she found on the nightstand between the two beds. "How'd you like to have Pizza for supper Mr. Tim?" she asked her son.
"Pizza? can we Momma? It's like Christmas! Chocolate milk and Pizza all in one day! Hooray!" the boy laughed.
Without thinking, Amanda Blake reached into her purse for her phone, powered it up and dialed the number to the local pizza delivery store. The clerk that answered assured her it wasn't too late for a delivery. When he asked for her name to put on the order, she froze for a second before quickly stuttering into the phone, "uh... Su... Susan... Susan Crandall. I'm in room 204 at the Round Up Best Western Motel. "
The clerk told her their supper would be delivered in less then 30
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