think she had lost her mind.
Her face sobered. She felt a twinge of
homesickness for the group. She and Dave and Marc and Joe, Phil,
Sam, and even Evie. Most of them were cousins. All had been friends
for years, ever since they had grown up together in Colorado.
They’d all worked hard to put together the production that was
'Amanda'. Except for Evie. Still she fit right in. Amanda wouldn't
be where she was today if not for them all. They enjoyed a special
closeness both in work and play and this was the first time she had
been away for an extended time since they had started out.
Yet there had to be some time given to other
pursuits, Amanda felt. Being a country singer was not all she
wanted from life. It was an important part, of course, but surely
personal satisfaction, a loving relationship, should be important,
too. She wanted to find the right man, get married and have
children. Not forsaking her career, but combining that and
marriage; working when she could, maintain a strong family
relationship to return to. She’d thought it out and had ideas and
plans for a smooth combination when the time came. Until then, she
wanted to branch out a little, away from Los Angeles, away from
Nashville, back to the basics. Time enough for marriage when the
right man came along. For now, Amanda was satisfied with her
career, her new ownership, and her plans for the future.
She walked back up the main street of town,
smiling at others as they passed. One or two looked familiar. She
had seen them before, though she didn't know their names. One she
did know. She stopped to exchange a few words with Martin Roberts
when they met.
'Settled in?' he asked.
'Sort of.' She smiled. 'I still have lots to
do to fix it up, but it'll do until then.'
He shook his head. 'I could have found you a
fine place, already in tip-top condition.'
'I like my little house,' she said
gently.
'Um. Mac still wants to buy it, you know. Let
me know if I can do anything for you.' He offered his hand.
'Thank you, Martin,' she replied, shaking it
firmly.
On impulse, Amanda stopped in Chad's to tell
the friendly clerk about her luck, or lack thereof, in panning for
gold. She was welcomed warmly and offered more bits of advice which
she promised to follow.
When she drew level with Paul's Pharmacy,
Amanda paused. A cold drink would be just right, especially with
the long walk ahead of her. It would take more than two hours
before she'd reach home.
She pushed open the door. The soda fountain
was along the left wall, a lazy ceiling fan giving an illusion of
coolness. The establishment was practically deserted. The wooden
floor creaked beneath her feet as she went to the counter.
She had a cold Coke, ignoring the curious
glances she received. A stranger in town was always cause for
comment. When finished, she wandered across to the book racks and
perused the bright covers of the ones on display. If she got one or
two, she could take them back to read in the evenings. Being alone
was a fine holiday, but sometimes one got just a trifle bored.
Amanda selected three, a mystery, a romance,
and a book on plant life in the Sierras. A young girl waited on
her, reminding Amanda of the clerk from Chad's.
'You have Mrs. Rosefeld's place now, don't
you?' the girl asked as she took the books.
Amanda smiled. 'Yes, that's right. Do you
think anyone will ever call it Mandy's place? Or only after I have
left?'
The girl giggled at this. 'Probably soon as
you leave. That'll be ten fifty for the books.'
Amanda set off for home. The walk back was
definitely more fatiguing than the walk to town had been. Still,
the quiet fragrant beauty of the wooded land gave a peaceful air of
serenity as Amanda trudged along. The sun was high in the sky, with
little shade on the roadside, and no air stirred the limbs of the
pines as she made her way uphill.
It was a long, hot walk. Arriving at her
cabin, Amanda's first task was a quick shower. She dressed in cool
shorts and a brief top,
Her face sobered. She felt a twinge of
homesickness for the group. She and Dave and Marc and Joe, Phil,
Sam, and even Evie. Most of them were cousins. All had been friends
for years, ever since they had grown up together in Colorado.
They’d all worked hard to put together the production that was
'Amanda'. Except for Evie. Still she fit right in. Amanda wouldn't
be where she was today if not for them all. They enjoyed a special
closeness both in work and play and this was the first time she had
been away for an extended time since they had started out.
Yet there had to be some time given to other
pursuits, Amanda felt. Being a country singer was not all she
wanted from life. It was an important part, of course, but surely
personal satisfaction, a loving relationship, should be important,
too. She wanted to find the right man, get married and have
children. Not forsaking her career, but combining that and
marriage; working when she could, maintain a strong family
relationship to return to. She’d thought it out and had ideas and
plans for a smooth combination when the time came. Until then, she
wanted to branch out a little, away from Los Angeles, away from
Nashville, back to the basics. Time enough for marriage when the
right man came along. For now, Amanda was satisfied with her
career, her new ownership, and her plans for the future.
She walked back up the main street of town,
smiling at others as they passed. One or two looked familiar. She
had seen them before, though she didn't know their names. One she
did know. She stopped to exchange a few words with Martin Roberts
when they met.
'Settled in?' he asked.
'Sort of.' She smiled. 'I still have lots to
do to fix it up, but it'll do until then.'
He shook his head. 'I could have found you a
fine place, already in tip-top condition.'
'I like my little house,' she said
gently.
'Um. Mac still wants to buy it, you know. Let
me know if I can do anything for you.' He offered his hand.
'Thank you, Martin,' she replied, shaking it
firmly.
On impulse, Amanda stopped in Chad's to tell
the friendly clerk about her luck, or lack thereof, in panning for
gold. She was welcomed warmly and offered more bits of advice which
she promised to follow.
When she drew level with Paul's Pharmacy,
Amanda paused. A cold drink would be just right, especially with
the long walk ahead of her. It would take more than two hours
before she'd reach home.
She pushed open the door. The soda fountain
was along the left wall, a lazy ceiling fan giving an illusion of
coolness. The establishment was practically deserted. The wooden
floor creaked beneath her feet as she went to the counter.
She had a cold Coke, ignoring the curious
glances she received. A stranger in town was always cause for
comment. When finished, she wandered across to the book racks and
perused the bright covers of the ones on display. If she got one or
two, she could take them back to read in the evenings. Being alone
was a fine holiday, but sometimes one got just a trifle bored.
Amanda selected three, a mystery, a romance,
and a book on plant life in the Sierras. A young girl waited on
her, reminding Amanda of the clerk from Chad's.
'You have Mrs. Rosefeld's place now, don't
you?' the girl asked as she took the books.
Amanda smiled. 'Yes, that's right. Do you
think anyone will ever call it Mandy's place? Or only after I have
left?'
The girl giggled at this. 'Probably soon as
you leave. That'll be ten fifty for the books.'
Amanda set off for home. The walk back was
definitely more fatiguing than the walk to town had been. Still,
the quiet fragrant beauty of the wooded land gave a peaceful air of
serenity as Amanda trudged along. The sun was high in the sky, with
little shade on the roadside, and no air stirred the limbs of the
pines as she made her way uphill.
It was a long, hot walk. Arriving at her
cabin, Amanda's first task was a quick shower. She dressed in cool
shorts and a brief top,
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