Chapter 84 Modern Technology
“They’re pretty proud of that son of a bitch aren’t they!” he exclaimed.
“Well, sir,” the salesman said. He was someone taken aback by the blunt way that Evan had spoken. “This is cutting-edge technology. When you consider all the features that it has, it really isn’t that expensive. You can do email, texting, you can surf the web, it is fully integrated with apps like...”
“Can I use it to make a phone call?” Evan interrupted. “I’m not interested in all of that other crap. I just need to be able to make a phone call from a place where there is no cell phone service.”
The salesman wrinkled his nose as though merely making a phone call was a detestable thing. “That would be these models over here. They are a little bit older technology, but you can make a phone call with them.”
Evan chuckled to himself. Satellite technology in a hand-held device was pretty cutting-edge, but it all depended on your perspective. If you are a salesman selling satellite phones, you would always believe that the newest is the best. People all have different perspectives, and Evan kept that in mind. The satellite phone and service plan would cost him a small fortune, but it was a price that he was willing to pay in order to talk to Alexandra every night.
He had driven into town every night after returning to the homestead so that he could call her. He felt like a teenager, and the silliness of it all made him wonder if he had lost his mind. It suddenly struck him one day that he might be able to use satellite technology to talk to her. “Alright,” he told the salesman. “I’ll go with this phone here and the middle service plan. I don’t need all the data and WIFI features.”
“You are limited in your calling with the middle plan,” the salesman reminded him, trying to get the higher commission for the higher service plan. He still hadn’t grasped the concept that Evan only wanted to be able to make some phone calls; he didn’t intend to spend 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the phone.
“The middle one will do,” he replied. He spent the next thirty minutes going through paperwork and instructions. He purchased the auto-charger for the battery as well. “They ought to throw that in for free.”
They didn’t throw it in for free, but he wanted to charge the battery on the way home, so he bought it anyway. He was like a kid with a new toy, and he could hardly wait to surprise Alexandra. He went to feed the horses and discovered that Casey had already taken care of the job. Then it struck him. He could call her from the barn. He got the phone out of the pickup and went to the run where Cherry stood munching on his evening meal. He punched in Alexandra’s number and waited while it rang.
“Hello?” she said. He could hear the question in her voice. She didn’t recognize the phone number.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said. It was corny, but he couldn’t help himself.
“Evan!” she squealed. “I didn’t recognize the number. Where are you?”
“You won’t believe it if I tell you,” he teased.
Several thoughts ran through her mind. Was he in Des Moines? Des Moines, Iowa, was the latest location on the barrel racing tour that she and Evelyn were on. “Are you in Des Moines?” she asked excitedly.
“No,” he said. He knew that she would never guess, but he couldn’t help playing with her for a little bit longer.
“I don’t know,” she said. She searched her brain for any location that the two of them shared other than the homestead and the small ranch near town. “You’re in the cafe with Ryan on his phone?”
“Better,” he said.
“Oh my god,” she objected softly, raising her voice in mock irritation. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. Where are you?”
“I’m standing beside a really good friend of yours,” he said. He just couldn’t let go of the joke just yet.
“Who? Which friend?” She again searched her memory for all of the good friends that she had, who Evan might happen to be standing next to. “Eeeevaaaan,” she whined.
He knew it was time to end the game. “I’m standing next to Cherry,” he said.
“Cherry?” she asked. She wasn’t sure that she heard him right. “But how are you standing next to Cherry? Did you ride him to town?”
“Nope,” he replied. “He’s standing right here in the shed, eating his supper.”
“But you don’t have cell service,” she said, confused. “Did they put in a new tower?” It didn’t make sense, but nothing else did either.
“No,” he replied. He was enjoying the moment of his surprise. “I bought a satellite phone.”
“Oh my god, Evan!” she exclaimed, sitting up on the motel room bed. “Those cost a fortune.”
“You’re telling me!”
“How? When?”
“Today,” he said.
“But why?”
“So that I can talk to you from the comfort of my home.”
“That’s great,” she said. “So, I can call you too?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I probably won’t carry it with me when I ride, but you can call me when I’m at home.”
“Maybe you should carry it with you when you ride,” she suggested. “You know, just in case something happens. You could have used it last year when you had your accident.”
“You may be right,” he said.
“Are you still going to use your cell phone for travel?”
“Yes,” he said. “I can’t get out of the contract, and that is my contact number for seminars. Not that I necessarily want to take any more. I’m booked more than I want to be. I don’t want to miss the ‘beef ride’.”
“That’s in the fall, right?” She needed to remember all of the terms.
“Yes,” he answered. “It’s when they round up the cattle that they are going to sell and put them on the meadows before they bring the other cattle in. It’s my favorite time of year. The colors and the smells, and it seems to be quieter and peaceful, like the mountains are getting ready to go to bed.”
She loved his word pictures. It was exactly what she remembered from the time that she and Evelyn had gone riding in the fall. “Yes, the colors are incredible. I can hardly wait to see the trees change at the homestead.”
“I can hardly wait to let you,” he replied. He missed riding with her and could think of nothing better than sharing the sights and sounds of a Colorado autumn with her. He pushed the thought out of his head as he felt the longing that he had for her. “Where are you off to next?”
“I’m not sure,” she said. “Evelyn needs to keep the pressure on over the next couple of months. That means going to some of the big rodeos back East. Listen to me, I’m starting to sound like you,” she laughed. “You’re coming to the finals, right?”
“I am,” he said. He had promised both her and Evelyn that he would come to the National Finals. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“I don’t know if I can wait that long.”
Even allowed a moment of silence to pass between them, hearing her soft breathing.
“Your pet bear has been asking for you,” he teased.
“My pet bear? Oh my god,” she said. “You are such a liar! I can’t believe you made that into a joke.” It was a terrifying experience, but it had been followed by their first time of making love together, and it was hard for her to forget it.
“I’m eternally thankful to that bear,” he said. “Holding you in my arms on the way back to the house was the best ride I’ve ever taken.”
“I had a pretty good ride after that,” she teased with a suggestive tone.
They chatted playfully for a little while longer, restated their longing for each other several times before disconnecting the call. Evan had a long weekend ahead, and he wanted to get an early start. He needed to pick up a couple of things at the house in town before he left. He checked in on Casey in the small cabin, which had been the original house on the homestead. Casey used it when he came to stay and ride while Evan was gone.
He fixed himself a quick dinner and turned in for the night. However, his mind wouldn’t allow him to sleep. He tossed and turned for a couple of hours before he decided to go ahead and leave. He crawled out of bed and headed into town at just a little past midnight. Maybe he would be drowsy when he got to town and could catch a couple of hours of sleep before starting out. He wasn’t sure what it was that was nagging at him, but he didn’t see any point in fighting sleep.
He got to the house in town and went inside. He was considering slipping into bed for a couple of hours when he noticed that the message light on his answering machine was blinking. He went to the machine and punched the button. The machine buzzed, announced the time, and then played the message, “Evan, it’s Grace. I thought I would call to let you know when I’m planning to come for a visit.”