A Lasting Love (15 page)

"Oh, Reid, Reid, I love you so much. Never leave
me."

His voice was muffled against her neck. "Our
love is too strong
mi amor.
I
won't leave you. I can't."

Sudden tears filled her blue eyes. "Reid, what's
going to happen to us? Will we—"

His shadowed face hovered near hers in the darkness.
"We'll work things out, Loren. I promise. I will always love you.
My desire for you hasn't diminished since the first time we made
love."

To prove it, he made love to her again and held her
to him throughout the night.

The early fingers of dawn found Loren curled in the
secure nest of Reid's arms. She wondered, in her dream-like state,
what his "world" would be like. She knew Reid so well, yet she
didn't. There were still unanswered questions. Deep inside, she
worried about their future. Was there a place for them to be
together? Was this wonderful time in his arms limited? If she
declared herself his mistress and reserved her love just for him,
would he return often to see her? To love her? Could she even bear
living like that?

Reid sighed in his sleep and nestled his head against
her neck. Loren shivered at the chilling thought of losing him
again.

The trip across the country in Reid's twin-engine
Beechcraft was a delightful experience for Loren. The weather was
perfect, and they pointed out familiar landmarks to each other. As
they traveled farther westward, crossing the Mississippi River,
Loren recognized less and less of the land.

Flying over Texas, Reid teased her. "That hill
looks
familiar. No, I believe it's that one. Where are
those blue bonnets?"

Loren laughingly joined his banter. "How could
you
tell? They all look alike from up
here."

"The only way I could really tell which
is
our hill"—he
paused and cleared his
throat—"is to try them all out."

"Oh, clever idea, Reid." Loren chuckled. "We'll
never
arrive in Arizona."

"You're right. We don't have time to stop now."
His
dark eyes caught hers and his tone was suddenly
somber.
"Do you remember those wonderful days,
Loren?"

"Yes, I remember," she said quietly.

“
We’ll have them again. I promise.”

Silently they recalled the days when their love
had been
so easy, and neither had thought of parting.
He had called
her up with the notion that they were
flying to Texas with
his family. He had something
special to show her. Loren
was so excited, she had
gone right out and purchased a
new pair of
jeans.

They had flown in the family's Beechcraft to a
friend's ranch west of Austin. It was a ranch like none Loren
had
ever seen. The landing strip on ranch property was
lined
with several single and twin-engine planes.
There was a
huge swimming pool, tennis courts, and a
large central
house with adjoining smaller guest
houses. Reid had
bought Loren her first cowgirl boots,
and that night intro
duced her to country swing and
line dancing to
Cotton-eyed
Joe
. They
had two-stepped until the wee
hours of the morning.

The next day they had driven around the lakes
north of
Austin. Loren had never seen such magnificent
flowers as
those highly touted bluebonnets that
covered the hills.
There were millions of them. She
and Reid had found a
secluded place and made love.
After all, he had prom
ised . . .

"Your eyes are still that color,
mi amor.
" Reid's voice
rumbled into her daydreams above the sound of the plane's
motor.

Loren turned her blue-violet eyes to him. "How did
you know what I was thinking?"

"When are you going to admit that we're on the same
wavelength? I know what's going on in that head of yours because
it's going through mine too."

She smiled enigmatically and tried to swallow the
knot in her throat. Loren couldn't help but wonder if he knew
everything that had trailed through her muddled mind in the last
few weeks since his reentry into her life. He just couldn't
possibly know what she was wrestling with.

There was nothing in Loren's past, nor in all
the travel books, nor in all the
National
Geographies,
nor in Reid's descriptions, to
sufficiently prepare her for the sight of the Arizona
landscape.

"Welcome to
Cañada
del
Oro,
mi amor,
" Reid
said as they rolled to a halt on the runway. "There's Raul waiting
for us!" He pointed past the plane's wingtips to see a
dark-skinned, robust man waving beside a jeep.

Beyond Raul was the very strange world of Reid
Mecina. Cacti of various shapes and sizes dotted the lean
landscape, along with small pale green bushes and an occasional
clump of grass. Some of the cacti appeared deceptively fuzzy as the
rays of the evening sun reflected a yellowish glow around them.
However, the most unusual plants Loren had ever seen were the huge
saguaros. They stood taller than a man and almost as big around,
lifting arm-like branches upward. Some of the branches even curled
back as if to wave or beckon.

"Bienvenida, señorita.
"Raul greeted her
warmly as he helped her down the wing-step. "Welcome to
Arizona."

The first thing she noticed as her feet touched the
earth was the heat. "Thank you. You must be Raul," Loren said.

"Si,"
he admitted, then
turned his attention to Reid, who was rounding the plane.
"Señor
Reid!" They
shook hands and hugged at the same time, clapping each other
affectionately on the back.

"How's my father, Raul?" A look of concern creased
Reid's tired face.

Raul shook his head sadly.
"Está malo,
Señor
Reid.
Señor
Mecina, he
is very bad."

The morose statement cast a pall over the small
group as they unloaded the luggage and tied the plane securely.
Although the area was desert in appearance, the land was not flat.
Huge bare mountains loomed on either side of the dirt road they
traversed to
Casa
del
Oro.
The sprawling adobe brick house seemed to be set into the
side of the mountain, although, as they pulled closer, Loren could
see that it wasn't. She caught glimpses of brick walkways and
enclosed patios all around the house. She was quickly ushered,
amidst a smattering of Spanish and a great deal of rapid English,
to an open veranda that extended the length of the house. There she
was offered a spectacular view of the desert floor for miles and
miles.

Loren was introduced to
Lupe,
who hugged her, then
thrust a tall glass of mint tea into her hand.

"Es
muy bonita,
Señor
Reid," she murmured repeatedly. "Are you hungry? Here are
some chips. And some fruit."

"Thank you,
Lupe.
I would just like to stretch a little,"
Loren said, walking down the Mexican-tiled veranda. "There is so
much land here, I just can't believe it." Prolific magenta
bougainvillea draped gracefully over every post the entire length
of the long, covered porch. A stretch of brick walkways and stairs
led down to a large swimming pool. Except for the colorful inlaid
tiles, the pool appeared to be a natural, rambling expanse of water
encased in grayish boulders. Beyond the pool the land sloped ever
downward until it stretched into a desert valley several miles in
width. There, on the horizon, loomed another craggy mountain range.
The sun, a brilliant orange ball, hovered hotly over the cool
purple mountain outlines.

His masculine hand settled comfortably on her
shoulder as Reid murmured, "Beautiful, isn't it." He meant the
words as a statement of fact.

"Why, Reid, it's breathtaking. And all this
space—"

"Loren, do you mind if I go ahead to the hospital?
Everyone around here is in such a turmoil, I need to see for myself
exactly what Dad's condition is. And talk to the doctor,
myself."

"Of course not, Reid. Do you want me to go with
you?"

He shook his head curtly. "No. Dad is in intensive
care and you probably couldn't see him anyway. You stay here and
relax; try out the pool. I hope you brought some cool clothes."

"Oh, yes," she nodded. "And I think I'm ready for my
skimpy sundress now. Please, Reid, go ahead and take care of your
family. I'll be fine here."

"We should have a beautiful sunset tonight.
Don't miss it." He led Loren back toward the house.
"Lupe,
take care
of Loren,
por
favor.
And show
her to my room please. I'll take the guest room. I'm going to the
hospital to see about Dad now. I may not be home soon, so don't
hold dinner."

Lupe
nodded and began to gather Loren's things.
"Si,
Señor
Reid."

Reid kissed Loren quickly, then disappeared
around the hacienda, leaving her to follow
Lupe
inside. Glass walls
allowed the outside beauty to enter the living quarters, giving the
feeling of being completely enmeshed with the
desert.
The cool house was definitely influenced by Mexico
and
the earthen tones of the Southwest.

The two women walked across expansive rooms, floored
with large, square Mexican tiles. Mexican and Indian oil paintings
hung on white brick walls. Huge, dark tables and large,
comfortable-looking chairs constituted most of the furniture, which
was masculine and rather crude by Loren's standards.

"This room is Reid's. I think he wants you to
enjoy the view and the Jacuzzi,"
Lupe
offered, showing Loren the
magnificent bathroom that surrounded a beige-tiled Jacuzzi. The
room was as big as her tiny living room back in
Washington.

"Oh my. . . " was all Loren could manage as her
wide-open eyes tried to take in everything.

"And this,"
Lupe
explained as she opened floor-to-ceiling
shutters, "is the view."

Loren gasped softly, as words failed her. "It is
lovely." Sliding glass doors opened onto a small enclosed patio
landscaped with natural desert plants. A tiny green-breasted
hummingbird hovered near a bright flower, then flickered away.
Looming beyond the house and small patio were the granite cliffs of
yet another mountain range.

"Sí,
señorita.
Yes,"
Lupe
said. "It is beautiful."

"Oh, Lupe,
this entire place is amazing. Why, this room is almost as big
as my whole house back in Washington. And the bathroom—" Loren
halted, lacking adequate words. Her eyes swept around the room with
its huge bed adorned with a brightly colored coverlet, dark, bulky
furniture, and expanses of glass walls.

"Yes,
señorita,
"Lupe
responded
politely, her dark eyes observing Loren's reactions.

"Please,
Lupe,
call me Loren. I've heard so much about
you, I hope we can be friends. Reid thinks very highly of
you."

Lupe
smiled at the mention of Reid's name.
"Gracias.
I have heard
of you, too,
Señorita
Loren. Reid told me about you. I'm
glad you came with him this time. He needs a friend."

Loren raised her chin at the slight comment,
wondering just how much Reid had told
Lupe
about them. "I'm glad I came,
too,
Lupe.
It's beautiful here."

Lupe
turned the covers down. "If you are tired, please feel free
to take a nap. Dinner will be ready about seven. It will be simple
tonight because"—she paused and sighed heavily—"the men aren't
here."

"I’d rather wait for Reid,
Lupe, if he’s not too late.
Thank you for everything." Loren slipped out of her shoes and
began to think seriously about the pool.

Lupe paused at
the door.
"And,
señorita,
don't forget about the
sunset.
Señor
Reid wouldn't want you to miss it."

Loren peeled off her clothes and searched her
suitcase for her swimsuit. She spent the next few hours exploring
the hacienda, the pool, the veranda and its spectacular view, the
glorious sunset. Around eight, she dined alone, sipping tortilla
soup, a dish with bits of chicken, a few veggies, and lots of
flavor. Nibbling crunchy tortilla chips, Loren absorbed the beauty
of the quiet desert evening.

Occasionally lights twinkled, and Loren found herself
nodding with fatigue. It had been a long day. Her intentions of
staying up to wait for Reid faltered, and Loren decided that she
could as easily see him in the morning.

Almost the moment her head touched the cool pillow,
Loren was asleep. Sometime in the night, she stirred to the warmth
of a masculine body curling close, and Reid's familiar fragrance
permeated her very being. She enfolded him in her arms and
murmured, "I like your world, Reid."