Second Chance Cowboy

Chapter 17

Lanie walked through Concourse A of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It would be a short visit, a few hours only, and she looked forward to seeing him again. Lanie sighed as she walked through the crowd, a hustle in her step, a bag slung over her shoulder and a small carry-on with wheels and extended handle following behind.

Pierce was traveling through Atlanta on business. Lanie was on her way to Miami and arranged a layover. They met at the airport, as they had a few times since they'd started seeing each other two and a half months ago.

Pierce was handsome, smart, and sexy and he was shy in the cutest way. After Pierce had revealed his story, they had stepped back and taken their time. Their easy relationship had resumed. It continued via phone, text, email and rendezvous when they could arrange their schedules so their paths could cross. The long distance was a great no-pressure way to fill the emptiness that she felt. And the few times they could meet, it was exquisite. Pierce was a patient and passionate lover.

Lanie stopped in front of a bar and looked up. "The Hang Over" hung in neon over the door-less entry with "Bar and Grill" scrawled underneath in fading paint. She walked in, taking in the propellers and airplane memorabilia and the nostalgic big band music playing low in the background in the "grill area" which consisted of 3 tables in a semi-partitioned corner. The remainder of the space was a long bar and 3 tiny bar tables, two bar stools at each. Sitting at the end of the bar in a pristine charcoal gray suit, crisp red satin tie, expensive shoes, neatly shined and black locks combed to perfection was Pierce.

Lanie sighed. He looked sooo good. She felt frumpy in her travel suit. She was suddenly self-conscious of the spot on her lapel that she had sponged off and covered up with a scarf she'd bought at the last airport. She'd been traveling for the last 8 hours, and when she saw Pierce, she felt it. She touched her hair, attempting to smooth it back and wished she'd stopped in a restroom to freshen up instead of coming straight here to meet Pierce. She wondered, as he stood and stepped toward her with open arms, when she had become so self-conscious around him.

They sat and suddenly Lanie forgot to feel awkward. Pierce was charming and sweet. He had brought her a drawing from Mariah and before she realized it, two hours were up and she was hustling to make her connection.

Two hours later she landed in Miami and suddenly felt exhausted. She decided to stop for a drink and grab a newspaper before she went on to her hotel. She sipped at her Captain's and coke and skimmed through the newspaper and let the weariness go. She folded up the newspaper and tucked it into her bag and reached out to set a tip on the bar. The bartender said so long from the other end of the bar. Lanie looked up and the flames on the screen above the bartender's head caught her eye. She saw the letters scroll on the bottom of the screen and her heart froze.

"Could you turn that up a little?"

..."winds and high temperatures are expected to create critical wildfire conditions this weekend in parts of Colorado, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Wyoming and nearly all of Montana where three new large fires started Friday, adding to the 100 square miles that have burned there in recent days..."

The news story shifted to something else and Lanie sank back onto the bar stool. Almost all of Montana the newscaster said. Over 100 square miles have already burned the newscaster said. Lanie's stomach flipped and she grabbed her bag and scrambled for the restroom.

Lanie almost made it to the stall. She had to throw up in a trashcan inside the bathroom door. She grabbed some paper towel and went to the sink to rinse her mouth and blot her forehead. That's when she saw the splatter on her collar. She rolled her eyes and bent to reach for her bag. She didn't bother to squeeze into one of the stalls that were probably dirty anyway.