After 71 years I have found the courage to share my life's story.
Following a series of harrowing, heart-wrenching betrayals, Dusty finds herself leaving home. In a confused state parked outside a legalized brothel. Will she enter and change her life forever...?
Former Madam, truck driver, and sucessfull business owner, Dusty White from Boise, Idaho makes her literary debut with "Walking With An Open Heart". With an unrivailed passion for living life to the fullest Dusty has and continues to travel the world seaunrivaledking out new adventures.
After 71 years I have found the courage to share my life's story.
Following a series of harrowing, heart-wrenching betrayals, Dusty finds herself leaving home. In a confused state parked outside a legalized brothel. Will she enter and change her life forever...?
Former Madam, truck driver, and sucessfull business owner, Dusty White from Boise, Idaho makes her literary debut with "Walking With An Open Heart". With an unrivailed passion for living life to the fullest Dusty has and continues to travel the world seaunrivaledking out new adventures.
Chapter 1
Sembach Airbase Base Germany 1969 1967
âI canât believe that you managed to get us into East Germany Fenna. In fact, with all this snow on the ground Iâm amazed we managed to get beyond Kaiserslauternâ said Dusty.
âDespite this Cold War between the East and the West Dusty, they havenât been able to seal the entire border. Itâs always exciting to push boundaries and little naughty donât you think?â Fenna said with a cheeky grin.
âAt one point I thought my heart would burst through my chest. I couldnât believe that that tunnel had been shoveled out shored up with two by four timbers and ran under the shoveled across the border and then opened up into your friendâs front room. It had electric lights and everything. I was so scared that we would get caught, âgiggled Dusty.
âNo, Iâve done it many times,â said Fenna as she lit a cigarette. âMy friends use the tunnel to smuggle goods in and to help people who want to get over to West Berlin. Hey, getting through was easy for you seeing that youâre only five feet tall.â
Dusty giggled her infectious giggle and then paused few seconds.
âYour friends spoke perfect English and I know I was told not to stand by any of the windows but what I did manage to see was almost like being transported back to a bleak, desolate and dreary world where every aspect of life is watched, spied upon by secret police and controlled by absolutism. I feel sorry for your friends and the people there,â Dusty said while slowly shaking her head. âThatâs no way to live your life.â
Dusty and her Dutch buddy Fenna had become friends when she moved to the Sembach Air Base in Germany with her military serving husband Wayne and son Wayne Jnr. Fenna was a slender build and a pretty girl with dark brown hair, chestnut-colored eyes, and a happy smile. The two girls had very quickly become friends on the air base and would, when possible, travel together in Fennaâs almost new, two-tone blue and white with a chrome belt and split-screen, VW Camper van. Fenna could speak several languages and had friends all over Europe.
Once inside the Air Base Fenna parked the camper van, rolled down the driverâs side window, and threw her cigarette butt into the snow.
âHow did you end up here on the base,â Dusty said while turning towards her friend.
Fenna chortled.
âIt all happened very quickly. I had been traveling across Holland and stopped at a place called Oudekirk in Amsterdam. I wanted to take in the sites before moving on when I met Chad in a bar. He was sitting with his friends but I caught him looking over at me. Once I smiled back he gathered up the courage and sauntered over with this big grin all over his face and asked if he could buy me a drink. I just couldnât say no to a smile like that. He sat for a while and we just chatted, you know small talk kind of thing then one of his friends came over and said that they were going to the red light district to window shop for a nice French girl or two. Chad looked at me. Iâll never forget that expression. It was like heâd just seen a horror movie. He told his friends that he wouldnât be coming as he was enjoying my company. His friends teased and taunted him a little and one of them, Ben, I think his name began to thrust his hips back and forth saying that it was his loss.â
Fenna smiled and shook her head.
âI think it was that moment that I no longer saw an American in a uniform but Chad, a sweet, caring man, and we chatted and drank in the bar until it closed. I was half expecting Chad to make some kind of move on me but he didnât. He asked me to join him for breakfast and to see some of the sights together so I did and then one thing led to another and he asked me to marry him one week later. It was crazy then and even crazier when I think about it now but I said yes and the next thing I know Iâm living here on the base. For right now it works. When heâs working I can get into my VW and just go off and see new places or visit old friends so I think what we have works for us both right now.â
âWell, Iâm pleased that you did Fenna because youâre my best friend.â
âThank you,â Fenna said as she leaned forward and hugged Dusty.
âWhat about you Dusty, how did you end up here?â
Dusty giggled her infectious giggle and Fenna immediately began to smile.
âI lived in Boise, Idaho in the US all my life. Itâs a place where just about everyone knows everyone. I remember being out one Saturday night at Billyâs 121 Club. I was a minor so I really shouldnât have been in a bar but my cousin, Eve, and I look very similar so she would go in first and then send a friend out with her I.D which I could then use if I had to. I remember a Country and Western band is playing. They were really good and did some great cover versions of âSkip a Rope by Henson Cargill and âThere Goes My Everything by Jack Greene.â Iâm not really into country and western music but these guys were good. I remember it being a special night because I had just bought myself this gorgeous little black mini skirt. It was just like the ones that Iâd seen on television. I wore my best blouse and my high heel shoes. I had my hair all brushed back and borrowed this donut-shaped hair piece that I used to try and make myself look taller. It was a magical night just being out with my cousin, Eve, and I felt like a million dollars. Itâs funny because I remember looking around the bar and so many of the men that were slowly but surely getting drunk were the same ones that sat in the same church as my mother all hung over and worse for wear the following day. One guy had looked at me as if to say âDusty, donât you dare say a thing.â I had just nodded and acknowledged this girl I knew from Capital Hill High School. Now Iâm not going to call her a friend because she wasnât and now itâs history,â said Dusty.
âWhat kind of history,â Fenna said while drawing hard on her cigarette?
âI had been a cheerleader all through my time at Hillside Jr High School and I loved it so when I went to Capital High I had had to do my trials again and it all came down to just me and this girl. I donât want to sound like some kind of big head but I knew that I was better than her because she never had the passion or the love of being a cheerleader. It was then that I saw the girlâs father get up out of his chair and slide an envelope to the judge,â said Dusty.
âThat is awful!â
âYou better believe it. I didnât get in and witnessing that bribe was a life-changing moment for me. It didnât matter how good you were or how hard you worked for something if another person came along with money and influence then that was it. You were screwed,â said Dusty.
Fenna took a final draw on her cigarette and threw it out of the window.
âI hate stuff like that,â Fenna said while reaching into her cigarette pack.
âYeah, I know. Anyway, I still kind of nodded to her. I mean we live in the same town, right?â
Fenna lit the cigarette and nodded.
âWell, it was then that I noticed several guys turned up in uniform. They looked so smart and it was like excitement followed them into the bar. The place just lit up almost immediately. The guys had come down from the Mountain Home Air Force Base in South Western Idaho up in Elmore County. There was one, blonde-haired, guy, Wayne, who just kept on looking over and making eye contact. Even when I turned away I could feel those dreamy blue eyes burning into the back of my neck. He raised his glass and smiled and instinctively I smiled back. It was a little nerve-wracking if Iâm honest and I became pretty nervous when he stood up and walked over to my table. He asked if I minded if he took a seat. I just kinda hunched my shoulders and smiled awkwardly. He introduced himself as Wayne and offered to buy me a drink. I said yes and he waved the barman over to serve us at the table. I had never seen anyone do that before. Then as I took my first sip I caught him looking at me. It was a kind of warm gaze that he held for a couple of seconds and then looked away. I have to say Fenna that he had the cutest of dimples. I had been out with a few local boys but nothing had ever made me feel like he did. Wayne told me a story that made me laugh and then immediately while raising an eyebrow he lowered his voice and told me that I had the most amazing smile that lit up my entire face. I donât think anybody had ever said anything quite like that before. We talked about a whole range of things and all I can remember was how relaxed he made me feel. I suppose I was being a bit playful, you know not taking myself too seriously and being maybe a little silly at times which seemed to work because the evening just flowed. As I swallowed the last of my drink and placed it back on the table he accidentality brushed his hand against mine. This will sound crazy but I swear my heart skipped a beat and I felt this tingle that just raced through my entire body. I donât know why but I began to play with my hair slowly twirling a strand of it around my finger while we talked. Then he looked down at his watch. I could see that he was genuinely upset when he said that he had to leave because they were due back at base. It was then that he asked me to meet him again on Saturday. I nodded and he just gently squeezed my hand before getting up and leaving. Fenna, I was in a daze for days. I just couldnât get Wayne out of my head and something deep inside, at an unconscious level, was screaming out that he was the one, he was my soul mate. I suppose when you know, you know.â
âOh my, that is so romantic, Dusty. What happened when you met again?â
Dusty beamed.
âWhen Wayne walked through the door I felt a little giddy. I could feel my blood racing through my veins but I somehow managed to stay cool and calm on the surface. He sat down at the table and he just looked deep into my eyes with his head turned slightly sideways with the corner of his mouth curled up into a smirk. I told him that I had been a little nervous and he just laughed and instantly I felt at ease. Itâs difficult to explain but I just had this overwhelming magnetic pull towards him, Fenna, and I think that he was feeling it too. As we talked I sensed a kind of kindness behind his eyes. I could feel myself falling for him with every minute that passed. He would just lean in and listen intently to everything I had to say and then every so often heâd reach over and touch my hand. For the entire evening, we just joked and laughed. It was smooth and effortless and passed far too quickly. I fell head over heels in love with him Fenna and I wanted us to have a perfect life together. He was handsome and exciting and I felt, as time went on and we got to know each better, that I could trust him. He was and still is so utterly consistent with me with his intense, relentless, love and care. Wayne romanced me in such a way that I felt free to love and give my all, be myself and the person that I always wanted to become. When he proposed I accepted immediately because I knew that we were meant to be together. It was like destiny. I left my hometown, my parents, and my friends and followed Wayne to here and then.â said Dusty with a broad grin, âour little Wayne Jnr was born. I think then I knew that life couldnât get any better. My perfect husband, living overseas in Europe and then a beautiful baby boy to complete our family.â
Fenna threw her cigarette butt out of the window onto the small pile that was building up outside the door.
âYou are a very lucky lady, a wonderful person, and my best friend,â said Fenna leaning over and hugging Dusty.
Dusty looked at her watch.
âI need to get back now. Thank you again for taking me to East Germany Fenna. I enjoy and look forward to our trips out together,â said Dusty as she opened the passenger side door.
âYouâre always welcome Dusty. Maybe next time we can visit a medieval castle or sample wine at a vineyard?â
âThat sounds great, see you later,â said Dusty as she put her long brown winter coat on and gave Fenna a friendly wave.
Dusty trudged, gingerly, through the newly formed thick white snow leaving big footprints behind her. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the keys to her home. Dusty couldnât help but notice the fairy ice crystals hanging from the hedge. She looked at their little Opal motor car and smiled as she thought back to how she had to spend eight hours a day for five days to take her International Driving license so she could drive in Germany. An older man wearing a heavy black coat and grey scarf shuffled past on the pathway carrying a shovel. He waved to Dusty and then picked up his pace. As she placed the key into the lock she heard a dull thud. Dusty turned to see the man lying flat out on the floor. Dusty assumed that his boots must have lost their grip and he had slipped and fallen.
âAre you okay?â said Dusty.
âErr, yes, yes Iâm fine,â said the elderly man clambering up back onto his feet.
Dusty turned the key and opened the front door to her home. As she closed the door behind her she could hear grunts, moans, and groans from her bedroom. Cautiously Dusty crossed the room, placed her hand on the door handle, and opened the bedroom door. Dusty eased the door open and peeked around where she was met with the sight of a shapely naked blonde girl riding her husband Wayne. She groaned loudly and threw her head back arching her back. Wayne Jr, their son, was fast asleep in his cot crib just a few feet from the bed.
As if walking through a dark dream Dusty ambled back into the kitchen where she opened the drawer and took out a large, very sharp, carving knife. Dusty strode back to the bedroom and kicked the door wide open. The blonde turned, saw Dusty standing there holding the knife, and let out a horrific scream. With terror in her eyes, she clambered awkwardly off Wayne who was now lying on the bed naked. Wayne reached down and cupped his genitals. Dusty took a step inside the room and the blonde, still screaming, bolted for the door. She flew past Dusty, ran across the lounge, flung open the front door, and dashed, shrieking from the top of her voice, out across the snow. She raced across to the main hall completely naked with both her arms waving frantically. Dusty slammed the front door closed and marched back to the bedroom.
âYou shit head! How the hell could you do this to me with our eighteen-month-old son lying just a few feet away? What kind of a man are you?â screamed Dusty still holding the carving knife.
Wayne leaned forward and covered himself with the sheet and then held his hands up.
âLook, Dusty, I donât know how this happened. She doesnât mean anything to me. Itâs all just one big terrible mistake,â said Wayne swinging both legs over the bed and onto the floor.
âLook, I know you must be very upset Dusty, but we can get through this. It didnât mean anything to me. You must know thatâ Wayne pleaded while shaking his head wildly
Dusty stood like she was in a daze. Her mind was racing and she was struggling to acknowledge and comprehend what she had just seen
âYou know that youâre the only one Dusty. Please forgive me. I love you Dusty and I love our son,â said Wayne as he stood up from the bed and reached out to take the knife from Dusty.
âGet your filthy rotten hands off me!â yelled Dusty as his hot, clammy, hand touched hers.
As Dusty pulled her hand away the blade sliced deep into Wayneâs pale arm. He let out a horrific scream as the blood spurted out, and gushed out onto his arm and down onto the cream carpet. Dusty stood motionless with her right arm held high and still holding the blood-covered knife.
Wayne cradled his bleeding hand and began making a chugging sound as he grappled for breath. His eyes were wide with sheer panic. He looked desperately from left to right. Calmly Dusty took a single step to her left. Wayne lunged forward, tripped on a pile of clothes, and fell to his hands and knees. On all fours, he scampered across the bedroom, and once inside the lounge he grabbed a chair and lifted himself onto his feet, and ran in a frenzied state for the front door. It swung open with a thud as it hit the inside wall. Dusty watched her husband, the father of her son, and the man she loved leap out onto the snow-covered road and run naked, like a scolded dog, over to the main building.
Dusty closed and locked the front door. She looked at the blood-stained knife, released her grip, and let it drop to the floor. Unconsciously her legs carried her through to the bedroom where she looked down on her baby son, Wayne Jnr. He was lying on his front, arms outstretched and still fast asleep in his cot .crib
Still in a state of shock Dusty began to peel off her clothes. She walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. As she stepped into the warm water the full extent of the betrayal and complete, utter, ruinous devastation hit her all at once. Her legs buckled and collapsed beneath her and Dusty slid down the tiled wall. She huddled herself into the corner and rested her head against the wall while hugging her knees. Her emotions erupted with torrents of tears streaming down her face. She held her left hand over her mouth to desperately try and hold back the howls of pain and heartbreak.
Dusty reached up and turned off the shower.
âHow do I recover from this betrayal? How could Wayne do this to us? I love him so much, he is my life, my everything, and now that rock-solid bond of trust that we had has been broken,â thought Dusty.
Several hours had passed when there was a hard knock at the front door. Dusty ignored it. Numerous heavy thuds followed with âOpen up!â
Dusty managed to get back onto her feet. She wrapped a large white bath towel around her body and walked over to the front door.
âOpen up, we know that youâre in there!â
Dusty opened the door and was met by two military police officers.
âYou wonât mind if we come in, will you?â said the smaller of the two officers as he stepped inside her home.
âWeâve seen your husband. Thatâs a nasty cut but heâll be fine. Now thereâs a plane leaving for the US in two hours. You need to pack a bag and get your son ready to travel.
âBut,â said Dusty.
âThere are no buts. Whatever happened between you and your husband is none of our business. That said, you cannot and will not be staying on base so please get your personal effects packed up and be ready to leave, with your son, in two hours. Officer Williams will be staying here to provide help or assistance if needed. I will return with a van shortly so your things can be loaded onto the plane. Am I clear?â
âYes, I mean I donât understand. What is happening to me?â
âYouâre going back to the U.S. and there isnât a damn thing you can do about it,â said Officer Williams.
Bewildered, Dusty packed a few clothes for her and her baby son; Wayne Jnr. Officer Williams followed her, like a shadow, from room to room. Finally, she gathered up her son in a quilted jacket and followed Officer Williams out to the waiting van. Dusty was driven out to the airstrip where a plane that made regular trips between Mountain Home Air Force Base and Sembach was waiting. Holding her son tight in her arms and with tears streaming down her face she climbed up the steps and took her seat on the plane.
Dusty looked out the porthole as the plane was taxiing down towards the recently snow-cleared runway. She checked her seat belt and Wayne Jnr. As the air compressed and was forced through the jet engine and ejected out to create thrust there was a tremendous roar and the military plane slowly edged forward.
âI canât believe this has happened to me, to us. Our lives have been turned upside down,â thought Dusty as she wiped the tears from her eyes. âI donât know what will become of us.â
 [Unknown A1]R
Walking with an Open Heart falls under the category of memoir. I believe that Dusty White has hired Dean Rinaldi as her ghostwriter and that she is a real person. There are photographs of Dusty that coincide with the action in the book. A disclaimer at the beginning of the book says that it is a work of fiction, though. It states that anything factual, including people, appearing in the text is either coincidental or used fictitiously in the authorâs imagination.Â
Whichever the case, Walking with an Open Heart details the life and adventures of Dusty White. It opens in 1967 with Dusty believing she has it all. When she comes home from a girlsâ trip, she walks in on her husband in the throes of an affair in her marital bed mere feet from their sleeping infant son. Devastated, Dusty returns to her family home in Idaho to disappointed and unsupportive parents. Not one to sit and wait for things to be handed to her, Dusty picks herself back up, finds herself a job, and even falls in love again. Life once again seems to be on track for our heroine until she is once again dealt a terrible hand. Her family deserts her. Her children are taken from her. Dusty is broken, left to pick up the broken pieces of herself again. Like a phoenix, she rises higher after every fall.
Dusty herself is the best aspect of the book. She is a resilient woman who keeps on keeping on. Dusty has seen some low lows, she reveals some very dark secrets, but she does not let it change her. In each area of her life, someone (typically a man) has denied her. Each time, she has not only risen to the occasion and become worthy competition, but she has also excelled to the point that they buy her out. Dusty became a trailblazer for women in male-dominated professions. No matter the obstacles she has overcome, she does not become cynical. Walking with an Open Heart is a good description of her approach to life.Â
I wish only for more from this book. Due to the spelling of some words and with some British slang popping through, Iâm predicting the ghostwriter is not American, which makes Dusty feel inauthentic. On top of this, the novel is missing the imagery and figurative language that could help relate and connect to Dusty more deeply. The language is simple, and the tale is captivating. It is a quick and easy read that seemed to end too abruptly or soon.
Overall, I liked this read. I recommend this book to people looking for an uplifting tale, those who like underdog stories, tales of triumph and overcoming adversity, and those who enjoy strong female leads.