It was the following afternoon, and climbing into Betsy they began the drive up to her house for the first time since the wind storm.
“Do you think there will be much damage?” she asked.
“Hard to say. Your site has a different angle than the ranch and it’s not sittin’ on top of a knoll, so hopefully it might have be spared the worst of it. We’ll find out soon enough.”
“Are you going to tell me what’s under the blanket in the back?”
“Nope. You’ll just have to wait. Remember what I said about patience?”
“Remember? My butt’s still sore, thank you very much.”
“Happy to oblige,” he grinned.
As they drove through town and passed the Hollister Hotel she broke into a wide smile.
I can’t believe I was staying there all by my lonesome, so upset and miserable, so worried about how I was going to get away from Gerald and my job. My whole life has changed. It’s a miracle.
“Why the big grin?”
“I’m happy for the first time in ages. How could I not be?” she sighed, “I met you!”
He smiled back at her and added a wink, then turned of the main road and headed towards her house. As they drove up the gravel driveway they saw some branches and domestic litter scattered around, and stopping in front of the house they found some additional debris, but it was nothing compared to the scene at his ranch.
“Wow, this isn’t bad at all,” she remarked climbing from the truck.
“Just the direction of the winds, but that garbage would have been blown up from the lake, that’s a long way.”
“Wow, you must be right, or neighbors maybe?”
“Maybe. Doesn’t matter, it’s way better than I thought it would be,” he said walking next to her. “Nickie, I want you to go on into the house and check out the back yard, but don’t turn around until I tell you, and watch where you’re walkin’. You don’t need to be trippin’ over.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” she quipped, throwing in a mock salute.
He watched her move carefully forward, then pulling back the blanket he realized he’d have to make more than one trip. Carrying in the first load, he stared around the expansive room and decided on the smaller area where it narrowed into the kitchen.
“Don’t you turn around,” he called as he hurried past.
“I won’t. I’ve learned to do what I’m told,” she called back, “but it’s not easy.”
Returning with the last of the supplies he set everything out, then ambled over to join her.
“You really wanna pool?” he asked putting his arm around her.
“Not really. I was just thinking I might like a big whirlpool tub instead, and a deck, a redwood deck with a ton of flowers.”
“Sounds better,” he nodded. “You’ll be forever cleanin’ a pool back here.”
“Can I turn around now?” she twinkled up at him.
“Yep, but you have to close your eyes first, and then take my arm.”
“What is this?”
“You’ll find out, go on now, close your eyes.”
Turning her around he guided her through the house, into the kitchen area and set her into a folding canvas chair.
“Okay, you can open them.”
“Beau! My gosh!”
In front of her was a table covered with a bright red table cloth set for two, and plastic containers offering everything from a pasta salad to a blueberry-apple crumble.
“Courtesy of Gina,” he smiled, “our first meal at your new home.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“And this is from me,” he said reaching down and picking up his guitar.
“You play?”
“A bit,” he grinned, and leaning back against a support beam, he began to strum.
I don’t know where you came from,
I don’t know who you are,
I admit to feelin’ kinda strange
And I’m likin’ it so far,
You’re a different kinda woman,
With a different kinda love,
A different kinda of somethin’
A naughty Angel from above.
When you’re nowhere in sight,
I still see you in my mind
And I love feelin’ you against me
Nickie, you’re one of a kind.
You’re a different kinda woman,
With a different kinda love,
A different kind of somethin’
A naughty Angel from above.
You’re runnin’ fast and runnin’ hard
You can run into my arms,
I won’t let life get you down,
I’ll keep you outta harm
Sometimes a woman needs a man
to step up and fight her fight.
Ain’t no shame in that my love,
Stick with me, I’ll make things right.
You’re a different kinda woman,
With a different kinda love,
A different kind of somethin’
A naughty Angel from above
Sometimes it takes a miracle
to show us how we feel
Sometimes it takes a miracle
to show us just what’s real
A miracle has touched my heart
A miracle, it’s true,
That miracle is a blessed love,
That miracle is you,
That miracle is you,
Nickie, that miracle is you.
“Beau, I don’t know what to say,” Nickie stammered, her voice cracking.
“I wrote it a while back, and while you’re were gettin’ better I kinda tweaked it a bit, added to it, changed some things, and then I realized it was done.”
Jumping from her chair she hurried around the table and tried to hug him over his guitar.
“Hang on there,” he smiled pulling the strap over his shoulder and laying the guitar back in its case.
“I don’t care about being patient right now, I have to hug you.”
As he opened his arms she fell against his chest and closed her eyes.
“Thank you,” she sighed, “thank you for everything.”
“Thank you, Nickie,” he breathed. “You’ve brought so much into my life.”
“So much madness, you mean,” she said lifting her head and gazing up at him.
“Madness and real happiness,” he grinned.
“There’s just one thing,” she frowned.
“There is?”
“I’m not sure I should say it.”
“Well, you have to now,” he said firmly.
“This place. I mean, I’m so happy in your house, and when this place is finished…”
“I’ve been thinkin’ the same thing.”
“You have?”
“Well, sure. The way I see it, I’m not puttin’ a house up on Flat Top now, no way, not after that wind wave.”
“Wind wave?”
“I guess that’s what it was. Somethin’ to do with hot and cold air and our mountains. If it happened once it can happen again.”
“So, what does that have to do with-”
“The ranch doesn’t have this,” he interrupted, waving his hand at the stunning vista of the lake laid out below them.
“Oh, the view!”
“Yep. We can commute, and if you ever get real mad at me you’ll have a place to run away to.”
“I’ll never run away from you,” she said gravely.
“I hope not, but if you ever do, at least you’ll only be five minutes away when you come to your senses.”
“You mean, when you come to yours,” she giggled.
“Either way,” he smiled, “five minutes is as far away from you as I ever want to be.”
“That sounds perfect,” she sighed.
“How about we eat our lunch, then officially christen this house. In case you hadn’t noticed the sleepin’ bag is right over there,” he winked, tilting his head towards the corner of the room.
“I have a much better idea,” she said coyly.
“I can’t imagine anythin’ better than that,” he frowned.
“How about we christen the house, then eat some lunch.”
“Damn, girl, you’re right, that is a better idea,” he grinned, and sweeping her up he carried her across to the sleeping bag and laid her down.
“The Devil Wind is supposed to blow in trouble,” she whispered. “Instead it blew in this, and this is heaven.”
“You know why?” he breathed, gazing into her eyes, “because it did battle with a naughty Angel named Nickie, and there’s nothin’ and no-one, that can get the better of Naughty Nickie, no-one except me.”
“Except you” she sighed happily, “and that is why I love you so fu-…so very much.”