Part 2
They drove to the Hartthornes in Sandra's black Mustang convertible. It was an old one from the early 70's that Sandra had lovingly restored. She just loved the look of the older cars. The new cars all looked to her like matching boxes. They just all looked too alike. She glanced next to her and smiled at the pretty blonde. Their hair was blowing wildly from the breeze and the small blonde had a beautiful red glow on her cheeks as they pulled into the ranch's parking lot. The ranch was where people stabled their horses and rode for a day. It was always very busy on the weekends but they were very lucky and got a space right by the corals.
They both left the car and went to the space that Amanda had rented for her new mare. The horse was a beautiful Palomino with a light brown coat that shined in the light of the stable.
Sandra smiled at her friend and said, "She's beautiful."
"Thank you, I can't seem to think of a name for her.."
Sandra cocked her head to one side and asked, "When you look at her how do you feel?"
Amanda shook her head and said," I don't know. Happy, elated, just blessed that she's mine."
"How about Elation?"
Amanda's eyes widened, "Wow, that's a great idea. I could call her Elly for short. That wonderful. Thank you, Sandra."
"My pleasure, Um…would you like to meet Queenie?"
"Are you kidding? I'd love to."
Sandra was riding her tall black mare Queenie beside Amanda on Elly. As they rode companionably together Sandy felt a strangely strong sense of Déjà vu come out of no where and assault her sense to such a degree that she had to take a deep breath and shake her head to clear it.
"Did you ever get a really strong waive of déjà vu out of no where?" Asked Sandy smiling at her new friend as she watched her gracefully ride her new horse.
Amanda smiled and nodded, "Yep, I just did a few minutes ago. Do you think this means were fated to be friends?"
"I really think that's a given don't you? I'm really glad you feel this way too. I just have this need to be your friend. I'm glad you stormed into my office Amanda. I really needed you." The surgeon amitted shyly.
"I need you too, I don't know why but I just knew the minute I walked into your office we would click. I was really nervous when you came over today I wanted to make a good impression. I guess inside I knew that you were to be more then a business acquaintance. Thank you Sandy."
Sandy smiled nodded and reached out a hand till their fingers were entwined as she replied, "Thank you, Mandy. That's what your nickname is right? I heard you being referred to it around the hospital I liked it though I hadn't even met you yet. Thanks for coming yesterday."
"My pleasure," Mandy answered and she blushed knowing it really was. "Yes, Mandy is my nick name I like the way it sounds when you say it."
"Then that's what I'll call you from now on and you call me Sandy, Deal?" The tall woman asked with a lopsided grin.
"Deal."
Sandy stopped at the lake and hopped off Queenie. Mandy followed her as they led their horse to the edge so they could drink. They sat down on a log and enjoyed the view.
"Its pretty here, "Said Mandy staring straight ahead.
"Yes, it is. It's one of my favorite places. I'm glad you like it here."
They were both silently enjoying the view of the lake and each other's company when Sandy asked, "How do you like it here?"
"Do you mean right here or in town?" Asked Mandy with a smirk.
Sandy laughed and shook her head. With an ironic lift of an eyebrow she said, "I meant this town since your new here, but you can comment on your current surrounding if you'd like to." Sandy's tone was pure amusement.
"Well I really haven't had time yet to enjoy the town, but I really like where I'm at right at this moment."
Sandy's face softened. "I feel the same way."
They sat again in comfortable silence watching the lake and enjoying the presence of the other person. It felt right to both them like it should have been this way all the time. Sandy cleared her throat and asked quietly, "What's your greatest fear?"
Mandy reflected for a moment and then said, "To have my greatest dream within my grasp and then loose it some how. What's yours?"
Sandy was staring at the horizon as she replied, "To lose one of the little lives that I was put on this earth to bring home safely. Mandy, I have a 0-mortality rate and I'm terrified that I will lose the next child that I try to bring into this world. It haunts me. I have nightmares about it."
Amanda went with her instincts and took Sandra's hand in hers and brought it to her lap as she replied, "You won't. You are a great doctor."
Sandra smiled her eyes closed relishing the contact between them, She replied very quietly so much so that Amanda had to strain to hear the words, "I'm only human, Mandy. I fear and dread that day. I just have to realize it's a definite out come sometime in the future. I know I will do everything in my power to not allow that to happen. I know it will though." The tall stoic surgeon was crying quietly as she finished. It broke Mandy's heart she moved closer and kissed her on the cheek and brought her into a tight embrace trying to comfort the distraught woman.
"When that day that happens Sandy, I will be there. I care," Sandra felt soothed by the tender loving care. She hadn't felt this loved in a long time. It was such a joy just to be in the other woman's embrace.
They sat there on that log holding each other and crying for quite a while till they both got a hold on their emotions. They both looked up at the same time and met each other's eyes in love and understanding. Then as if it was foretold they found their lips meeting in a loving kiss. It started very gently and then deepened and turned passionate in mutual need and love…
They finished taking care of their horses and were in front of Queenie's stall when Sandra looked at Amanda and said in a soft voice, "I don't want this day to end."
"Neither do I…Um would you like to come back to my place for dinner? Would you like me to send out for Chinese food? "
Sandra took Amanda's hand and gently led the way back to her car, "I'd like that a lot. Thank you."
They were just getting settled in the car when Sandra's pager went off. She looked down at it and said quietly, "One of my mothers is going into labor I will have to drop you off…"
Amanda shook her head, "Why don't you take me with you. I need to finish those report we did today anyway…I want to be there Sandy." She looked up at the surgeon hopefully.
Sandra nodded and smiled shyly, "I'd really like it if you were there, Mandy. "
"Me too."
That decided the sports car turned in the direction of the hospital to bring another life into the world…