Riding the River (The Westerners, Book One) Read online

Charleston Restaurant was located in the Inner Harbor off Chesapeake Bay. Sarah could smell the water from the Bay a few streets over, and its moisture made her skin sing. No clouds in the sky and the sun felt warm on her face. Of course, her father had chosen one of the best restaurants in Baltimore for their dinner meeting and, of course, Ben was too busy to join them.

  She walked along the street toward the corner, where she knew the gray stone exterior would lead to an incredibly elegant interior, and where her father waited. Sarah had worn her hair in a French twist and her loveliest dress with the full, pleated skirt. It was from some designer that she’d bought the last time they’d been to Milan. She was told that Italian fashion designers were the best. A dress was a dress to her, but it sure made a lot of difference to some people. Her father was one of those people.

  Entering the restaurant, Sarah was immediately taken to the section where her father was seated. Robert Hughes was tall and handsome with a full head of lustrous, light gray hair. He always dressed immaculately in elegant suits purchased in London and was known to be quite a catch. She waved at him when she saw him, noticing how comfortable he was in the rich décor. When she was close, he stood up to kiss her cheek and pull out the chair for her.

  “Hello, sweetie. You look beautiful. That Italian dress does wonders for your lovely figure and face.” His eyes sparkled at her.

  “Dad…” Sarah was always embarrassed when her father dropped compliments all over her, but it didn’t dissuade him. She sat down opposite him and then he sat. A waiter came up to lay their napkins on their laps.

  “Would either of you care for water?”

  “Yes, please,” said Robert.

  “Would you prefer sparkling or flat?”

  “Sparkling, please, Roland. Thank you.”

  Then he turned to admire his daughter. He smiled. “You look so much like your mother, Sarah.” She blushed. “I mean it. You’re gorgeous.”

  “Dad, you might be a little prejudiced.”

  “I might be, but I’m not. Look at you… Beautiful blonde hair piled exquisitely on top of your pretty head. Those blue eyes could sink ships like Helen of Troy.”

  Sarah blushed deeper. “Could we please discuss something else? Thank you for the compliments, but they’re not necessary. Really…”

  Robert laughed. “If I can’t indulge my only child… All right, Sarah. But only because you say so…” He looked around. “Where’s Ben?”

  The waiter came up then to hand over wine lists and menus. He departed as quietly as he came.

  “Oh, he has a lawyer thing. Or a campaign thing with Grandfather… I’m not sure.” She began to look over the menu. Robert gave her a sharp look.

  “You sound like you don’t much care either.”

  That got her attention and she put down her menu.

  “What would you say if I told you that I don’t – care, that is.”

  Robert put down his menu too. “I’d have to ask, what’s going on with you, daughter? I thought he was the love of your life.”

  She shook her head, making her dangly earrings dance around her cheeks. “Nope. Not even close.”

  “So he isn’t?”

  “No.”

  “… Where’d I get that idea from then?”

  “Probably from Ben...”

  “Or your grandfather…”

  “Yes, I know he loves Ben.”

  “But apparently you don’t.”

  “Do you really want to discuss this right now in this wonderful restaurant on this beautiful day?”

  “Yes, Sarah, I do. First, let’s order. What would you like? No, let me guess – franks and beans?”

  They both laughed.

  “My culinary tastes are not as fine as yours, Dad.”

  “Okay. Well, the lobster soup with curry or the pan-roasted foie gras look good. What do you say?”

  “Fine.” The waiter had returned. “Roland, we’ll have the lobster soup and the foie gras this evening.”

  “Very good Mr. Hughes. Any wine this evening?”

  “Sarah?”

  “Sure.”

  Looking at the wine list, he made a selection. “We’ll have the Chateanneuf-du-Pape, 2009. Thank you, Roland.”

  “Thank you, sir.” And the waiter left with their order.

  “You know, I would really prefer a beer.”

  He shook his head. “Sarah, Sarah. What am I going to do with you?”

  She smiled at him. “What did you want to see me about, Dad?”

  “All right. Meeting first and then back to Ben.”

  “Okay with me.” She fussed with the napkin on her lap.

  “I know you’re not happy with your job, honey. Why don’t you come work with me in the Mayor’s office? You know we need computer people. You’d be a real asset there.”

  Sarah considered his request as the waiter brought first the water and then the bottle of red wine. She watched as he gracefully uncorked the short-nosed bottle and knew the wine would be only the best. Her father took a preliminary taste, nodded and Roland poured them both glasses. He placed the bottle on the table and discreetly left.

  “Sarah?”

  “Dad, I love you for always wanting to help me.” She paused and looked him in the eye. “Don’t you get sick of it sometimes?”

  “No. Honey, what are you really saying?”

  She sat back in her chair. “I’m not sure… It just seems like everything I have is from you. My whole life is based on what you’ve given me. What have I done for myself?”

  “Wow! You’ve been thinking lately. And you sound a little lost.”

  She blew out a breath. “I think I am, Dad. I hardly know which way is up anymore.”

  “That explains Ben…”

  “Sure. Ben is so focused and driven that he leaves me behind in the dust. Besides, where he’s going is not where I want to go.”

  “This is getting interesting. Finish that thought.” Her father smiled indulgently at her. He rested his chin against one hand.

  Sarah bit her lip and smoothed some flyaway wisps of hair. She straightened the folds of her dress and sat up straighter in her chair. She has no idea, he thought.

  “…Um.”

  “Listen, sweetie. Let me tell you something first. You not only look like your mother, but your personality is so much like hers too. She wasn’t very happy in Baltimore either. She stayed because of me… You know that, right?”

  “How do you know I’m not happy here, Dad? My God, I was born here as were you.”

  “But your mother was from a small town not far from Reno, Nevada. She told you about Lovelock many times, I’m sure.”

  “Yes, but…”

  “She was a small-town girl, Sarah, and you just may be one too.”

  “Dad, I don’t want to leave Baltimore for some tiny town…”

  “Are you so sure? And it may be more about what you need and not what you want.”

  “Ah…”

  “Besides,” he teased, “you haven’t met him yet.”

  “Who?”

  “…Him.”

  “Who’s that?”

  “Gregory Peck.”

  “Have you taken leave of your senses?”

  “He’s Gregory Peck from that old Western movie you love. What’s it called again?”

  “‘Big Country’.”

  “That’s it…”

  “Dad. There’s no one alive like Gregory Peck. Abby tells me I idealize these things. Maybe she’s right.”

  “Okay, so he’s not exactly Gregory Peck, but maybe a pretty decent copy.”

  She just looked at him mystified. She’d never heard her father talk like this.

  Their food came out then. Hot, covered dishes were placed before them, Robert first and then Sarah. The waiter removed the covers from the dishes, wished them both ‘Bon Appetit’ and left again. They ate in comfortable silence, occasionally taking sips of the delect
able wine.

  “There’s something to be said for fine dining, isn’t there, Sarah?”

  “You’re right about that, Dad. This is spectacular tonight…”

  He raised his glass to toast. She raised hers as well.

  “I think we should toast to fine living… Living a good life is the best thing you can do.”

  “I agree, Dad, but I don’t know where to start…”

  “Take a sip, Sarah. It’ll eventually come to you.”

  They drank their wine together. Sarah knit her eyebrows in confusion, while Robert smiled slightly and wondered where she was going with all this. Wherever it was, he knew it would be a great adventure and maybe the treasure would be finding herself at the end of the journey.

  And that thought went down just fine with his delicious dinner.

  * * *

  CHAPTER THREE