Heart's Desire
Chapter 2
When Professor Carlin-Hall arrived at the airport, she looked around for her transportation to the ranch house. She wasn't quite sure who to look for, she was hoping they would just find her.
Christine Davies was at the airport waiting for Spencer to arrive. She knew who to look for given a description of Spencer by Spencer's lawyer. When Christine caught sight of Spencer, Christine called out, Professor Carlin-Hall. Spencer turned and greeted the dark haired woman. Please call me Spencer or Professor Carlin I dropped the "Hall" when I left New York.
So, introductions out of the way and luggage retrieved Christine and Spencer climbed into the Cadillac Escalade and were on their way to the ranch house.
Spencer being from New York was not accustomed to the sweltering heat of Reno, Nevada and was quite uncomfortable. She was grateful that the SUV they were traveling in had air conditioning. Just standing outside in the heat watching the porter load the luggage into the SUV was too much for her. The heat made her tired and not in the mood for conversation.
When Spencer and Christine finally arrived at the ranch house, she took in her surroundings with some admiration. She noticed that the ranch was quite large and spacious. Definitely a place you would come to for rest and relaxation, excluding the heat.
There was a large lake about a half mile from the ranch house. A neighboring house could be spotted about a mile away, there was a stable that she assumed housed several horses. She also noticed a smaller house not far from the stable, possibly a guest house and a large but empty corral was nearby.
Spencer decided she would explore more of the land, later once she was settled.
Christine and Spencer were making their way towards the ranch house when Christine stopped to show Spencer the trail that led to the lake.
Christine Davies was a tall very striking looking woman in her forties, large brown eyes and auburn hair. She would have no trouble attracting any man. Christine's husband Raife Davies was a musician, who died many years ago leaving her to raise their son and daughter and run a ranch house alone. She was accustomed to running things alone since Raife was always on the road with his band.
Christine called out to her son, Aiden dear, will you take Professor Carlin's luggage up to her room, please. Then she turned to Spencer smiling, "dinner's at five-thirty." Spencer nodded that was fine, it will give me time to shower and relax from the long trip.
Aiden showed Spencer to her room, which was cooled by the air conditioner. The room was large with a full size canopy bed, large dresser and an antique writing desk that occupied the corner of the bedroom.
The bathroom is next door with soap and plenty of towels, Aiden said as he put her luggage on the bed. Do you have any questions for me, Professor? Spencer tilted her head and smiled at Aiden, "no you've been very helpful." Thank you.
Oh yeah! If you come down fifteen minutes before dinner we usually have drinks, you know, just to unwind before dinner is served. "That's good to know", Spencer said. And Aiden, please call me Spencer.
Okay Spencer, see you at dinner.
While Spencer glanced around at her surroundings, she thought about the talkative young man. He immediately informed her he was twenty years old and enrolled at the University of Nevada. He had auburn hair, skinned not as tanned as his mother, hazel eyes and a huge smile that would melt any young lady's heart. His demeanor reminded her of her many students and how she'd be glad to get back to teaching in six weeks.
Spencer unpacked her robe and began taking off her clothes, walking towards the bathroom she stepped into the shower and let the water relax her mind and body. She was determined not to cry, but cry she did. Not for the lost of a husband or the life she had with him. She cried, well she didn't know why she was crying, she felt something was still missing in her life and she sadly wondered if she would ever find it.