Saving Legacy Springs

Chapter 1

The plane climbed steeply out of Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC. From her window seat in first class, Leslie Montgomery looked down on the familiar landmarks. Twenty-nine years, she thought. I can’t believe he called it quits after twenty-nine years. Leslie felt tears stinging and willed them away, pretending everything was fine when the flight attendant asked if she wanted a drink. She wasn’t going to let Hugh’s decision ruin her plans—her dream. She had found what she hoped would be the perfect place, the perfect town in Montana, to eventually retire in, and this was the trip when her dream would start to become real. Even without Hugh.
Maybe I should have worked harder to fix the marriage after Kelly left for college, she thought. But he didn’t either. In any case, it wasn’t so bad that he had to end it. Especially without any warning. We had a comfortable life, even if it wasn’t exciting. Twenty-nine years invested in a relationship, a family, a career, a town … all turned on its head because he wanted a divorce.
Leslie took a deep breath and a sip of her drink. She made herself smile at the businessman beside her and made small talk. She could do this. By herself. Four days in Legacy Springs should be enough to check out the town and find a place to buy. And if not, she could go back again next month. She was so busy at work that she shouldn’t be gone at all, but she had to get away. Had to do something to feel like she was in control of her life after Hugh’s announcement. She opened the work file on her lap and tried to concentrate.
The landscape below became more rural as the plane flew west, the myriad greens of spring spreading across Ohio and Indiana. She wondered when she had fallen out of love with Hugh. Or when he had fallen out of love with her. He said he was in love with someone else. When did that happen? Was she just too busy to notice or too lazy to care?
The what-ifs ran through her mind for the hundredth time, but she knew it didn’t matter. She had banked on the future instead of paying attention to the present. She had always pictured them growing old together in a small town in Montana with wide-open spaces and views of mountains all around. Now she would grow old alone, but by god, she would do it in Montana.
Leslie gave up trying to work and pulled her tote bag from under the seat in front of her. She slipped the file inside and took out a small book called Venus is Singing by her favorite poet, Maggie Madison. She loved the way the cadences captured the essence of the West and the words always seemed to be perfect for whatever she was feeling.
She took a deep breath and tried to forget about Hugh. She opened the book to one of her favorite passages.

The gift the mountains give
Tranquility and peace,
A place the mind can hold,
Throughout the storms of life.

She closed her eyes and repeated the words to herself. She’d had her share of storms, but nothing like this. Nothing that she felt so powerless to change or that was so contrary to her plan for her life.
Eventually, she dozed a bit, waking when the plane’s rhythm changed as they started the descent.
Looking out the window, she hoped they might be flying over Legacy Springs, but there was a heavy cloud layer and she couldn’t see anything until they were almost on the ground. She’d picked Legacy Springs because it was a real town, not a tourist destination like the other places she had considered. Close enough to an airport and some amenities but far enough away to have open space and cattle ranches. And mountains. Everything she wanted. She couldn’t wait to see it in person.
Leslie felt a tingle of excitement as she got off the plane and walked down a concourse lined with Western art. The airport felt friendlier than in DC, and she realized it was because of the natural wood and stone throughout. She found her rental car company, where even the counter was made of wood instead of plastic.
“We’ve got you a nice little SUV,” the agent said. “The cars are outside in the lot next to the terminal building.”
“Thanks. How long do you think it will take me to drive to Legacy Springs? I’ve got an appointment at four and I was hoping to get there early enough to check into my hotel and freshen up a bit.”
“Shouldn’t take you much more than an hour unless the pass is bad. You should have plenty of time.”
“What do you mean ‘unless the pass is bad’? Is there construction?”
“No, but there might be snow. Just doesn’t seem to want to quit this year. Don’t worry. You’ve got all-wheel drive. You’re comfortable driving in the snow, aren’t you?”
“Sure,” Leslie said, although it had been a while. When she had learned to drive growing up in Vermont, the roads were often snowy or icy, but she didn’t get much practice in DC. She signed the form he had put in front of her and dated it. April 18, 2008. I will remember this date as the beginning of my new life. Or, at least what I hope will be my new life.
She left the warmth of the terminal building and felt the cold stinging her face and hands. Luckily, the SUV wasn’t far down the row. She quickly threw her bag in the back and got in, pushing the heat to maximum. The car thermometer read thirty-four degrees, and the steering wheel was icy cold. Thank god, she’d thrown in a pair of gloves at the last minute, even though it had been almost seventy degrees in DC the past few days. The sky was dark and heavy, and there was still snow on the ground anywhere that hadn’t been plowed or shoveled.
“Welcome to Montana, Leslie,” she said out loud once the mirrors were adjusted and she’d found her way out of the rental car lot. She was finally here.