Hi Friends, I hope you all had a blessed Thanksgiving. We were able to spend the day with our daughter and son-in-law, and spent some time with our son and his wife and family before that. So our time has been filled making good memories. But we’re back to work now, and I have another chapter of my upcoming book to share with you. I hope you will enjoy it.
Sheri Schofield
Chapter 3
Crow Reservation
“We saw them leave the church together,” Jay Stuart said. “It was dark, but it always is this time of year.” Jay shrugged helplessly. He was the youth pastor at the small, native church, and he felt responsible, though he could not have walked each of the youngsters home.
Mary White Swan moaned and covered her face, swaying back and forth. Fay Little Bear sat stone-faced beside her, staring straight ahead with a blank look on her face from which all color had drained.
Sheriff Bold Eagle looked down at the pad of paper in his hand. “George Mac saw a dark van speeding down the lane headed for the freeway. He saw the first two numbers on the plate, four-six. It’s not much, but I’ve checked it against the license plates here, and nothing matches it. So it was someone from outside.”
“I’ve called the family together,” Fay spoke softly. “We’ll need to pray about this and decide what to do.”
Sheriff Bold Eagle bit his lip and held back the words. Until the family met and decided what to do, he could do little. He could contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but their resources were limited, as were his own. The tribe couldn’t afford to hire enough law enforcement to manage all their problems. They would need outside help. He thought of the young native deputy who had stopped by his office recently. Liam Webster. He was on his way to Chisum to take up a position there. Yes, maybe he would help….
Chisum
After Jason, Chuck, Jill, and Skye left Chisum with their families, Ethan remembered every moment they had spent together. Especially the moments he had spent with Skye. She surely has grown into a real beauty. Her skin has the Scandinavian undertones, and she has that slight upward slant to her almond eyes, like Suzanne does. But her blue eyes and copper hair are like her dad’s. His hair’s turning white at the sides now I noticed.
Skye was always kind as a child. I’m glad to see she had retained that same gentle spirit. She’s beautiful, not just in her looks, but in her heart as well. I hope her boyfriend smartens up and realizes how fortunate he is. But from what she said, I think he’s probably self-centered. Skye needs a man who will treasure her.
Memories of their ride up to the ridge, the confrontation with Joe Alders still bothered him. Something was wrong, but he didn’t know what. He remembered the phone call his brother had mentioned…about the youngsters on the nearby Crow reservation disappearing. Were they being trafficked? The evidence was piling up. His brother Aaron thought something unusual was happening there. The Crow were mostly Christians. But there was a small percentage who were into drugs and alcohol. Drug trafficking on the reservation was a known problem. The missing children? Maybe they were part of the same problem.
His thoughts turned back to Skye. He remembered the confidences they had shared and treasured those thoughts in his heart. The time spent with the McCann family had helped him pull out of the depression he’d been struggling with.
After the younger generation left at the end of the week, Suzanne invited him to start coming by for dinner after work. Ethan was relieved. He hated going home alone to the house on the hill overlooking theirs, seeing the warm lights, and hurting because he had nobody with whom to share his life. He insisted on sharing the cost of food with them, though they’d protested at first. But times were difficult across the country, and he wanted to help. After a little friendly wrangling, they’d agreed to let him help some with the food.
Sometimes he and Doug would go fishing together as spring melted the ice from the creeks and lakes. It helped to have another man to talk with. When he was alone, he often remembered the good times he’d had with his friends at Christmas. Especially with Skye. Their childhood friendship had blossomed sometime during the Christmas holiday, and he was fiercely glad, even if it hurt to think she would probably marry Dale.
***
Two weeks after Christmas I was back at my apartment in Denver. The Christmas break had been just what I’d needed. Refreshed, I looked forward to seeing Dale again. Had he missed me? Remembering Ethan’s advice, I now knew what to look for in the relationship, and I hoped this short time apart would have increased Dale’s commitment.
He had been away for a few days and was due to arrive at the airport Saturday evening. But at three in the afternoon, he called.
“Hey, Skye, my flight has been delayed because of a snowstorm here. I won’t be arriving in Denver until midnight. I’ll just take a cab home from the airport. I’ll see you at church tomorrow morning. Okay?”
“Oh, Dale. I’m sorry you’ll be late. But it’s okay. I’ll save you a seat at church.” I felt disappointed, but I understood.
“Good. See you soon, sweetheart.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Ditto.”
Why does he always say “ditto” instead of I love you? Why must I always say it first?
The next morning, I took extra care getting ready for church. Dale had always liked my blue sweater. He said it made my eyes look crystal blue. A navy skirt, midi length, went well with the sweater. High-heeled black boots completed my Sunday attire and gave me a little more height, a little more confidence. I was five-foot-three, a little on the short side. Since Dale liked seeing my hair down rather than up, I brushed my hair until it shined like burnished copper and left it cascading down my back in loose curls. A dash of the perfume he had given me before Christmas would please him.
A few minutes later, I was on my way to meet him at church, eager to spend time with him.
We’ve been dating now for almost a year. I wonder what Dale will say about Dad’s request for me to spend the summer in Wyoming. Will he be okay with it? There he is. Waiting for me at the edge of the parking lot. His face just lit up. He’s headed my way. Oh, I’ve missed him so much!
Dale came toward me with confident steps, hugged me close to his heart, and gave me a quick kiss. “That’s a taste of things to come,” he teased. “Let me take you to lunch after church and we can catch up.”
“Sure. Sounds good. I’ve missed you, too.”
His hand dropped to the small of my back. “Come on, sweetheart. It’s cold out here.” He ushered me into the building to our usual seats.
As he removed his coat and turned to help me with mine, he froze.
I looked up, wondering what had stopped him. His eyes were fastened on someone behind me. I turned to look.
It’s Sandra Lehman, his old girlfriend. She broke up with him just weeks before Dale started dating me. He said it was over. But from the look on his face, I don’t think it is. Look at him. His face is flushed, his eyes are bright. He’s totally forgotten me.
Sandra glanced at me, tossed her short golden hair, and looked away.
My heart sank. All through the service, I felt Dale’s tension and excitement. After the benediction he excused himself and made a beeline for Sandra. The look on his face told me everything.
This is the woman on whom the sun rises and sets in his heart. Not me. It’s over for Dale and me. We’re finished. No matter what he says, I know the truth now.
Trying to hold back my tears, I made my way back to my car and drove home, where I spent the afternoon crying. The phone did not ring. Dale did not come over to explain. It was as though we had never been in love. At least he hadn’t. My own heart was broken, for I loved him and knew it was hopeless.
I didn’t see or hear from Dale afterward. He ghosted me. It was as if we had never even met. I cried often in the days ahead.
I threw out the perfume he had given me, along with every other gift, photo, and reminder of him. But everywhere I went in town, I saw his face in my mind. The restaurants where we’d dined. The mountains we’d climbed together. The parks where we’d walked hand in hand. All were reminders of the illusion of love Dale had created.
I will never trust another man. All they leave me with is broken promises and a crushed heart.
Three weeks later, I called Dad. “I’ll come home for the summer, Dad. It will be a pleasure to ride horses and move the cattle around. I need the break.”
“Is Dale okay with you being gone so long?”
“Dad, it’s over. I’m coming home and moving on.”
“I’m sorry, Skye.” I could hear the compassion in his voice. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine. I’m going to focus on spending time with friends in Chisum.”
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy reconnecting, honey. You’re overdue for a break from the city. Rio will love having you home again, too.”
“Oh, Dad, I have missed Rio. We’ll have a good time together.” Rio was a pal I could count on.
“Cecilia Cottrell said there’s a need for tutors in Chisum, if you decide to stick around.”
“Is she still running the library?” I asked.
“You bet. Age hasn’t slowed her down in the least. I’m sure she’ll be happy to fill you in on just about anything you need to know. Her brain is encyclopedic. When will you be home?”