Hi Friends. It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I’m back now. I’m sharing with you the chapters of a book I’m working on which is not yet published. It’s a modern western which tells of current struggles faced by people in Wyoming as well as southern Montana. In preparing this book, I interviewed several faculty members at the Crow college at Crow Agency to learn more about the native American issues which will be featured as part of this book. I also researched a town near but outside of the reservation in order to keep the story real to life. I will be sharing the entire story with you. I hope you will enjoy it.
Sheri Schofield
COME AWAY TO THE MEADOW
By Sheri Schofield
Chapter 1
Sometimes life throws us a curve when we least expect it. I didn’t see this one coming.
Our future seemed to be set. The night before we parted for Christmas with our families, my boyfriend, Dale, had said, “Skye McCann, you know I love you, don’t you?
“Um. Yes.” I lifted my face to receive his kiss. “I love you, too, Dale Paulson.”
“Then dream of me while I’m away, and I will dream of you.”
I thought I knew just what would happen. We’d talked it over—in theory—when we were daydreaming together. Dale and I would marry, we’d buy a small house, we’d both keep working until the kids came, then I’d work part-time as a tutor while he continued building his carrier. Safe. Predictable. Satisfying.
One should never take anything for granted.
The first hint of a curve hit me gently at Christmas break. At first, I didn’t recognize magnitude of the changes headed my way. It seemed innocent enough. Nothing dramatic.
Was I ever wrong.
I left Denver and headed back to my family’s Wyoming ranch for two weeks, since school was out, and nobody needed a tutor. My second day home, Dad and I went for a walk while my sister Jill, and Tammy, my sister-in-law, helped Mom with the baking.
Snow covered the ground nearly a foot deep in the pasture, but along the creek, which was lined with trees, the walking was easier.
“Skye, I need a favor.”
“Sure, Dad. What is it?”
“Well, it’s kind of a big ask. You see, your mother wants to spend the summer with her people in Kentucky. We’re planning to go east come the end of May. We won’t be back until the end of August. I’m wondering if you might consider coming home for the summer and looking after the ranch for us.”
I looked out over the fields of snow stretching out toward the snowcapped mountains rising behind our fields in Chisum, Wyoming. Our ranch, the M-Bar—locals called it the Ember—was six-hundred-twenty acres. Dad and Mom raised black angus cattle—a hornless variety of cattle—and a handful of horses. Our neighbors, the Russell family, raised red angus—also hornless—so we could easily detect escapees which might want to go through the fences. I had always loved the ranch, but life had taken me to Denver for work and socializing. There wasn’t much for a young single person in Chisum.
I walked alongside Dad, my breath rising in steamy puffs. The wind blew my copper curls across my face. Reaching up to capture the strands and tuck them back into my coat, I sighed. “Dad, I agree Mom deserves a break from the ranch. I’m just not sure if I can get away that long.”
“I understand, honey. But think it over, okay? If we go back east it will mean I’ll either have to hire someone to carry on here at the ranch, or one of you kids will need to take over. I’ve talked with Jason, Chuck, and Jill already. Jason has a big lawsuit scheduled for mid-July. Chuck is spending six weeks of the summer on a mission trip with a team from his church, and Jill’s delivery date is late June. If you can’t come, I’ll need to hire Jerry Greyson.”
“How soon do you need to know?”
“End of March.”
“Okay. Let me talk with Dale.” I sighed. “I’d love to come home for the summer, Dad. But with Dale—well, things are starting to get serious. I don’t know how he’d feel if I left Denver for that long. Let me think about it for a few weeks, okay?”
Dad nodded. “Okay. I’m good with that. If you could let me know by March? I’d need to ask Jerry for help by then if you can’t be here.” He looked over at me and smiled. “So Dale and you are thinking about marriage?”
I nodded. “Yes. But he hasn’t said it is so many words yet.” My thoughts went back to that last evening we’d had together before Christmas break. Dale’s eyes meeting mine. His lips on my lips as we parted for the holiday. His words about our future together. But I still wasn’t sure. Something seemed to be missing. I didn’t feel completely secure in our relationship.
Dale was witty, the life of the party. He was masterful. His smile lit up a room when he walked in. So why was I still uncertain about him? I knew I was ready to commit. But was he?
“Hm,” Dad said. “If you’re sure about Dale, then I’m happy for you, Skye. Keep me posted.”
“I will.”
The creek trail led past the pasture where the horses were kept. Dad had spread hay over the snow that morning. He’d built a shed near the fence line to shield the horses from the wind on cold days. But the sun was peeking through the clouds in places and there was very little wind.
My horse, Rio, began walking toward us. The other horses lifted their heads and began ambling in our direction.
“Hi, Rio,” I said, stroking his cheeks. “How ya doin’, buddy?” I climbed to the top of the rail fence and rubbed between the dapple-gray gelding’s ears and laid my cheek against his, breathing in his sweet, familiar scent.
He blew softly in recognition.
I’d raised Rio from a colt. I missed him in the city. It would be nice to come home for the summer to spend some time riding him through my favorite beauty spots in the mountains behind the pasture. But it wasn’t likely I could get away. Not with Dale hinting at a future together.
I sighed.
Dad was smiling. “You know, Skye, you’d have a blast here with Rio if you could get away for the summer.”
“Yes. I know. But—” I shrugged.
“Why don’t you take him for a ride?”
“But Mom may need me to help with dinner,” I protested weakly.
“There isn’t much room for all you girls in the kitchen. Go ahead. Enjoy yourself.”
I smiled into Dad’s seamed face and twinkling eyes. “Okay.” Turning to my horse, I reached out my hand. “Come here, Rio.” I slid onto his back as he came alongside the fence. Holding onto his mane, I nudged his sides with my feet. “Home, Rio.”
He headed for the barn.
Fifteen minutes later, I had saddled Rio and was headed across the field toward the mountains, riding toward the trail upward.
If only I could come home for even a summer. I wish it were possible, but I love Dale, and if I were to come home, maybe he would find someone else.
That was my secret fear. Was it my own insecurities speaking? Or was it something else?
The sound of the steady crunch of snow brought me out of my distracted thoughts. I turned to see who was coming my way. Oh no. Not Joe Alders, the Lothario from high school days.
“Hello beautiful.” His eyes raked over my figure. He moved closer, blocking my way back to the ranch and guiding his horse close to mine. “How nice to see you’ve come back to me. How about a little kiss?” His eyes mocked me as his arm shot out to draw me toward him.
I jerked back and tried to steer Rio around him. But Joe grabbed Rio’s halter, stopping my escape.
“Get away from me, Joe Alders!” I hit at him.
He laughed and caught my hand. “Aw, come on, Skye.” He pulled me toward him again and I smelled whisky on his breath.
“Let me go!”
He just laughed.
“Joe, I don’t think the lady wants your attention.” It was Ethan Russell, our neighbor. He nudged his horse forward, forcing Joe’s horse to step away.
“Thanks, Ethan,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. I guided Rio quickly away from Joe and moved back behind my friend from childhood.
Joe swore. “Why’d you have to come along?”
“Get out of here. If I ever see you on my property again, I’ll have you charged with trespassing.”
“Aw, ya gonna call your own personal law enforcement, huh?” Joe taunted.
“If I have to.”
Swearing, Joe turned his horse and headed back toward town.
We watched him ride away. He turned back once but kept going when he saw we were watching him.
Still watching Joe’s retreating figure, Ethan said, “It’s nice to have you back home for a while, Skye.”
“It’s good to see you, too, Ethan. Thanks for rescuing me.”
“No problem. I was glad to be there when you needed help. I’m going to give Aaron a call when I’m back at the house and let him know, if you don’t mind.”
“Thank you. I’ll feel a lot better if Aaron knows what happened.”
Looking over at me, Ethan lifted his chin toward the trail. “Were you headed up to the ridge?”
“Yes. I thought I’d take a look at the valley from up there.”
“I was headed that way myself. Mind if I tag along?”
“That would be great. You lead.” I’ll feel safer with Ethan along. He’s always been a good friend.
Ethan moved up the trail. His hair was a little longer than when he’d been a kid. Back then, his dad gave Ethan and Aaron buzz cuts, as most local parents did with their sons back then. Now light blonde hair touched his collar in back and brushed across the top of his ears. The rest of his hair was covered by a cowboy hat, as usual.
I followed silently, still shaken from the encounter with Joe Alders. He’d always been forward, even back in high school. I’d avoided him whenever possible. But I never thought he’d come over to our part of the valley.
“Joe’s been up here,” Ethan said over his shoulder.
Looking down at the snow, I saw a single line of horse tracks besides our own. Had he come through the pass? If so, why?
“Isn’t this a long way from home for him?”
“I don’t know. Aaron said Joe has his own place back up in the mountains somewhere. There might be a side trail off this one.”
“Aaron’s sheriff now, isn’t he?” Aaron was Ethan’s older brother.
“Yes. He was promoted six months ago.”
“Where’s Jade living now?” Jade, his sister, was a couple years older than me. We’d been good friends during childhood.
“Jade’s married. Her husband’s name is Mark Sorenson. They’re living in Plano, Texas. They have two kids. Mom moved down there soon after I came home. The ranch was getting to be too much work for her. Since I was here, she felt okay about moving. She wanted to be near the youngsters. Jade and Mark, too. Mom babysits the grandkids in the afternoon so Jade can work at Mark’s office. He has a small repair business. She takes calls, does filing, and keeps the books for him part-time.”
“I heard about your dad’s passing a couple years ago. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Ethan nodded. “Thanks, Skye. Yes, it was a blow to all of us. I still expect to hear his voice around the ranch. And with Mom in Texas, the house feels deserted.”
“You’re living in that big house all alone.”
“It isn’t haunted or anything.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
I laughed.
A few minutes later, we topped the ridge overlooking the valley. Smoke rose from the chimneys in town. A few cars crept slowly down the winding roads as befitted a small town.
“Is that a new housing development?” I pointed toward a group of houses without trees on the far side of town.
“Yes. There are several new developments in the area now. That’s why I can afford to set up shop in Chisum. We serve three towns and some rural subdivisions.”
“You’re a doctor I hear.” I looked at him curiously.
“Yes. I’m in family practice now.” He seemed to clench his jaw for a moment and his dark-blonde eyebrows came together in a frown. Then he relaxed. “What about you, Skye? You were studying to be a teacher last I heard.”
“Um. Yes. I decided to tutor instead of teaching classes. I prefer helping individual students over trying to keep a classroom in order.”
Ethan looked at me curiously. “And personally?”
“There’s Dale,” I said, smiling. “We’re talking about getting married.”
He nodded. “I wish you well, Skye.”
“And what about you?”
He looked across the valley for a long moment and I wasn’t sure he would answer. Finally, he spoke.
“I was married during medical school. Her name’s Jodie. I was crazy in love with her. But she couldn’t take the long hours I had to put into studies. Then I was faced with three years of family practice residency, which were also busy. When I was about half-way through my second year of residency, I came home one day to find divorce papers on the table and a note telling me she’d had enough. She was going home to live with her mother. I haven’t heard from her since the divorce.”
“I’m so sorry, Ethan,” I said softly. “I didn’t know.” If Jodie left half-way through his residency, she would have left around Christmas. What a painful stain on the holiday for him.
“That’s okay.” He shook his head. “Mom and Dad didn’t talk about it. Or if they did, they asked for confidentiality. My mom probably told yours, since they were such good friends. But your mom wouldn’t have said anything. Anyway, I’m on my own again, and when I came back to Chisum to practice, I didn’t mention it to anyone here, either.”
“It’s no one’s business but yours.” I paused, feeling pain emanating from my childhood friend. “I heard you took over for Doctor Bill at the clinic.”
“Yes. He wanted to retire. But if I need some time off, he’s happy to fill in.”
We sat in silence, looking out over the valley. An eagle flew below the ridge, hunting for its dinner no doubt. Two does and their fawns walked across the hill below us, alert for danger.
“It’s good to be home,” I murmured half to myself.
He nodded. “It is.”
“Are you celebrating Christmas with Aaron and his family?”
“No. Aaron and Annette have left to spend Christmas with her sister Lori’s family. They live in Casper, but they rented a cabin up at Saratoga so they could go skiing and play in the snow over the holiday.”
I thought again of how alone and sad he must feel on the anniversary of Jodie’s leaving him. “Why don’t you come over to our place tomorrow for Christmas Eve? We’d love to have you. I know the guys will be playing board games and cards after breakfast while we girls make pies. You’re welcome to come. It would be like old times.”
Ethan turned and searched my face, his green eyes meeting mine for a long moment. “Thank you, Skye. I would like that very much.”
“Good. Come over around nine for breakfast, then hang out with us. I’m sure we’ll all be out of bed by then. Even Chuck.”
He laughed. “Yes. Chuck always did like to sleep late.” He turned his horse. “Let’s head back. The wind’s picking up.”
We turned and headed homeward, Ethan in the lead.
“Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think I’m the insecure type?”
He looked back over his shoulder at me. “What on earth are you talking about? Even as a kid you were always right out in front, ready to go along with everything we older kids were doing. Why do you ask?”