Riding the River Read Online Free PDF Page B

all-time
favorite Western movie?”
    “…Ever?”
    “Yep…”
    Everyone thought about that for a while.
    “I enjoyed ‘ High Noon’ with Gary
Cooper and Grace Kelly,” said Tom.
    “…One of the best…”
    “… You know, ‘ Open Range’ with Kevin
Costner and Robert Duvall was pretty darned good. Although, I think
it was filmed in Canada,” commented Michelle.
    Sarah nodded. “Oh, that was a good one,
you’re right.”
    “What’s your favorite, Sarah?”
    She smiled. “My top favorite is ‘ Big
Country’ with…”
    “… Gregory Peck…” finished Michelle. “Isn’t
he incredibly handsome in that movie?” They both sighed… Tom rolled
his eyes.
    A lady in front of Tom peeked around her
seat. “I really liked ‘ Dances With Wolves’ …”
    The man across from Tom leaned over, “No,
‘ Unforgiven’ with Clint Eastwood is one of the best
Westerns.”
    In front of Sarah, a woman raised up, “No,
‘ The Horse Whisperer’ with Robert Redford is the best.” She
sighed and added, “I’d watch Redford brush his teeth…”
    People listening in the middle of the plane
laughed at that comment, and then everyone was putting in their two
cents about what the best Western of all time could be. Sarah and
Michelle looked around them, smiled and shook their heads.
    “What have we started here?”
    “I don’t know, but I haven’t been this
relaxed in years,” said Sarah.
    “That just goes to show what a good movie can
do for you.”
    For the next hour, Western-movie fever
apparently spread throughout the entire plane and people started
moving about the cabin, discussing their favorites with someone
else. Sarah laughed that so many people had seen so many Westerns.
She marveled that her most pleasing pastime seemed to be a hit with
others as well… Although two men up front decided it was necessary
to argue over who was the better Western actor: John Wayne or Clint
Eastwood. There were clearly no winners.
    Finally, the flight attendants shooed
everyone to their seats, as the pilot announced that they would be
landing at Reno-Tahoe International Airport soon.
    “Make sure your seatbelts are buckled and
tray tables are in their upright position.”
    Michelle and Tom both looked over at
Sarah.
    “Thanks. This has been one of the most
enjoyable flights I’ve ever taken,” said Michelle.
    “Ditto,” smiled Tom. “Whatever you’re doing
in Nevada, I hope you have the best time of your life.”
    Sarah blushed. “Thanks, you two. I may never
see you again, but I’ll never forget you either.”
    And then the plane was landing in Nevada.
     
    ####
     
    Getting off the plane, Sarah said her
goodbyes to various people she’d enjoyed talking with. Lots of
passenger smiles, making the flight attendants happy too. Sarah
collected her bags from the revolving turnstile in Baggage Claim
and thought about her next step. She’d spoken with the staff at the
guest ranch who advised her to spend the first night in Reno – The
trip to Wells would take almost five hours by car.
    That was good advice… Sarah was tired. She
got a shuttle to the Best Western Hotel at the airport, registered
and straggled in to her room. She collapsed on the bed and fell
asleep. It had been a long day.
    Sarah woke up with a crick in her neck and
read the room clock. Dinnertime. Was she hungry? She was hungry as
a…. horse? Might be the appropriate expression to use in the West…
sort of. She rubbed her neck, trying to get the crick to go away or
at least cooperate. If her neck wasn’t at a decent angle, eating
would be difficult. Glancing in the bathroom mirror, Sarah redid
her French twist and then changed her blouse to a fancier one. She
smoothed her long skirt…
    The hostess in the hotel’s coffee shop sat
her in a booth by a window, where she could look out on the street.
Flying in, she’d already marveled at the mountains all around the
city, some with snow still on higher elevations. She knew the city
of Reno sat in