I turned around to see where the voice was coming from and there stood women of rare beauty with the most striking blue eyes. I said, "I was just admiring the statue" and was going to pick it up to check the price. She laughingly said, "I'm sorry that one is not for sale it was put out here by mistake." I shook my head and said "too bad" because I was a big fan of Indian works of art. She said, "I'm very sorry but this one is from my private collection, and I really don't want to part with it." She told me the girl that works here for her just picked up the wrong piece and placed it on display.
She walked closer and said in her soft voice, "Hello I'm Cindy I own this shop." She held her hand out so I reached for it and said "I'm very pleased to meet you my name is William and I really like some of the things you have here," My heart was racing because she was the thing in the shop that I really admired the most. She was about 5'7 and her body was as close to perfect as a person could get She had light brown hair hanging at least 7 or 8 inches down her back.
She looked up at me and said "if you would like to see my private collection I would love show it to you." I probably agreed to quickly, I felt like a young schoolboy with his first crush. But she just turned around and said, "Follow me" over her shoulder. Well she wasn't kidding she had a very extensive collection of all forms of American Indian art from paintings to statues and a nice collection of pottery and a smaller collection of weapons.
I instantly saw five or six things I would love to add to my own collection. In a tall case in the corner of the room was a full war bonnet, now that really caught my attention. Not only was it very beautiful but also it was a full bonnet of at least five to six foot in length. "Where in the world did you find this its awesome, one of the best I have ever seen?"
Cindy smiled and said "this was her very first and favorite piece it was given to her by her father." She said "years ago he had befriended and older Indian gentlemen and over time they had become very good friends. But after a few years his friend had passed away."
It hit my father hard he would really miss his old friend. Father told me a couple of weeks had passed when a knock was heard on his front door, when dad opened the door a young man in his thirty's was standing there. He introduced himself as Johnny lightwalker. He said that he was fulfilling a last request of his uncle as he handed dad the war bonnet and said it was his uncles wish that my father would keep his prized possession. His friendship was a great thing in his life and he wanted my father to always look on this war bonnet and remember the good times they had together.
As my father started to face his own last days on this earth he gave his prized possession to me. And if I ever get married I will pass this down in my family. I asked Cindy if she would mind if I at least took a picture of it and she told me she didn't mind as long as I never told anyone where I had found it. I promised her that I would honor her wishes. A full war bonnet in the shape this one was in would be worth a great deal of money today. But I think she realized I could be trusted.
As I was looking at the other Items in the room she softly asked me if I would like to have a cup of coffee with her, of course I said "I would love to," anything to be with her longer. As she walked over to a small counter in the corner of the room it was then that I noticed the coffee maker for the first time. She poured us both a cup and brought them back to the table Along with some cookies from a cookie jar in the shape of a country cottage.
"Well then William just what do you do for a living?" I smiled and told her that I was in town looking for some property for the company I worked for, We wanted to expand our factory into another area, we make play ground equipment for parks and schools and we were looking for a new base of operation For tax reasons, and also we needed a city that had a larger work force that we could draw from.
Cindy smiled and said "this is a nice community and It would probably fit your needs," if you would like I could introduce you to a few of the city leaders and business folks, Well yes I would like that very much you are so kind as to offer. Cindy was straightforward and I liked that in a person, she added that if we brought more jobs to the area it would be helpful to her shop as well.
"Cindy if I might be so forward are you married or have a boyfriend," she laughed at my awkwardness and replied "no not married but I do have a man that I am seeing on a regular basis but Its not as serious as I think he would like it to be."
"Well if you would like to I would love to ask you to have dinner with me."
She smiled that warm smile of hers and said that she would enjoy that, and as this was Fri she would be free this evening if that worked for me. Hell I would have made it work no matter what. We agreed on my picking her up at seven, I finished my coffee and told her I was looking forward to this evening.
After retuning to my hotel I approached the concierge and asked him to make reservations at a nice restaurant in the city. He informed me that would be no problem and if I would like he would arrange for the hotels limousine to be at my service for the evening. I thanked him and told him that would be great.
I didn't feel it was necessary when I was with Cindy earlier to tell her that I not only worked for the company but in fact I was the owner and president of the playground equipment company and that we were a multi million dollar company.
The Limo pulled up in front of Cindy's shop at exactly seven pm, I went to the door and was taken back by the beauty that was standing in the doorway waiting for me. Cindy looked from me to the Limo and asked what's this, I simply answered "it is just what a lady like yourself deserves." She smiled up at me and took my arm as I escorted her to the Limo, The driver held the door and waited until we were both in before he closed the door and went around the car and entered the drivers seat.
The restaurant was very comfortable and the table was in a corner of the room allowing us complete privacy, I ordered a bottle of white wine and after it was brought to the table I asked the waiter to give us a little more time to look at the menus.
"Do you have any idea what you would like," She smiled and said "not really what would you suggest."
"Well I think I am going to have the New York steak and shrimp." Cindy nodded her head and said "that sounds wonderful I think I will join you and have the same thing." It was a wonderful Dinner, the food was excellent and the waiter was very attentive.
"Well my dear the night is still young would you like to join me in a long ride through the country?"