The women came out of the house with all of our stuff. I packed it on the pack horses. Some we tied behind the cantle of our saddles. I looked at Faith and Rosie, “Do you have your weapons? I see you have your rifles, but your hideouts, knives and pistols?”
“Yes, there a little uncomfortable, since we have been running around with nothing on, now we not only have these cumbersome clothes, but these weapons chafe a little bit.” Rosie said.
“Well, be that as it may, I’m sure a little chafing is better than being dead.” I said.
“That’s easy for you to say, you don’t have these stilettos strapped to your inner thighs.” Faith said.
“No, but I have my Bowie down the back of my neck. It itches at times.”
“Oh, boohoo, it itches, big deal. Let me put these blades next to your testicles, then tell me how they feel.” Faith said.
“Mom, Dad, you’re both being infantile, here we just had an ideal two weeks, lets don’t spoil it. I’m sorry I said that they chafed.” Rosie said.
She was right, “I’m sorry Faith, I think were both being a little apprehensive about leaving here,” I took her in my arms and gave her a kiss that I wished I could follow up on. She returned it with a promise.
“So,” I said, when we came up for air, “Faith you take the lead, put Alita on her mule, Matthew, Poppy of course will ride Iris’s mule, Luke. Hank will be right behind you, with Alita and Poppy behind him, I’ll ride drag, of course. The Pack horses will follow behind me.”
Hank said, “How come I don’t have any hide out pistol, just this knife.”
“You have your 30-30, don’t you?” I said.
“Of course, but Rosie is better armed than I am. I’m a man, she’s just a girl.”
“Oh, Hank, how young you are. Rosie is so much more than just a girl, you notice I didn’t tell her where to ride, you see she is better used when she’s free to ride where she’s needed. Someday, you’ll understand just who she is.” I said.
Faith whispered in my ear, “Just who is she?” “Salvation,” I whispered back.
“You say the weirdest things at times, ‘salvation’ indeed. You just forgot to tell her where to ride is all.” Faith said.
“Could be there was a reason I forgot, did you ever think about that? You know I don’t always know what I’m talking about.”
“Huh? I don’t even know what the hell you’re talking about right now. Are you feeling okay?” Faith said, as she felt my forehead.
“Yeah, I’m alright. I guess, it’s just that I have this feeling that everything is changing. What we knew, we don’t anymore. When we ride out under that waterfall, we had better be ready for just about anything.” I said, as I tied off the pack on the last pack horse.
Rosie swung into her saddle and looked down at me, “You didn’t tell me where to ride in this string?”
“Faith said I just forgot to tell you, but you can pick where you want to ride. You remember what you were called, Espiritu Jinete? Or Spirit Rider?
“Yes, I do. I don’t feel much like a spirit though. I think I will fall in behind all of the Pack Horses, if that’s Okay?”
“Sure, you know best, just look where it ain’t.” I said.
Faith spoke up, “I don’t think he’s himself this morning, ‘look where it ain’t’ doesn’t make any sense.”
“Alright, I’ll explain. It simple means to use your peripheral vision. I mean if you think you seen something, instead of looking directly at it, look where it isn’t, then your peripheral vision will pick it up quicker.”
“Balderdash, I never heard of such a thing. Are you sure you’re feeling fine?” Faith said, as she felt my forehead again.
“No, that makes sense, I think I’ve read about it before.” Rosie said, as I picked my wife up and put her in her saddle, Alita and Poppy were already setting in theirs’.
“Just try it sweetheart, you too Hank, you both will see that it works.” I said, as I swung onto Brutus’ back, he was dancing around, impatient to get going. He didn’t like the idea of where we were going to ride, he wanted to be in the front. I pulled him up sharp then leaned forward and whispered in his ear, he quieted down.
Just before we rode into the tunnel, I turned in my saddle and looked back. The valley seemed to be saying to come back soon. I don’t know whether I told you much about this tunnel before, but I probably didn’t, I forget things at times.
Anyway, it was imbedded with crystals. They glowed, giving a blue effervescent light that one hated to leave for the harsh sunshine that awaited us.
Faith pulled up at the mouth of the tunnel, looking through the mist of the waterfall. I rode up beside her, “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I don’t know, I just have a bad feeling. Like our lives are about to change, do we have to leave here?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. We have family out there, we just can’t hide in a Rabbit hole. We have to face whatever lies in wait for us. Drop back behind the girls, I’ll go first.” I said, as I leaned over and gave her a kiss, her lips were cold, I held the kiss till I could feel them start to warm up.
I rode through the water, the wet clothes felt good as we rode out into the bright sun of our future. The sun was just short of high noon. The sound track of that old Gary Cooper movie was running through my mind. I shook my head, clearing the cobwebs out.
We sort of grouped up a bit after we came out. Faith pulled the Satellite phone from her saddle bags. “There still is no signal, how can that be?” She said.
“I don’t know, but never mind, I think I did hear of a time when there were no cell phones, telephones, telegraph, or regular mail service. I guess they had drums and smoke signals and bet they were considered right up town.” I said.
“Very funny, but I’m worried, something is really wrong.” Faith said, looking around at the sky. I nudged my horse close to hers. “Honey, cool it. You’re going to scare Poppy and Hank.” Alita was close by, she said, “Yes Mommy, I think Poppy is missing her mother, don’t scare her.”
Rosie said, “I think I’m going to scout around a little bit, you guys stay in the timber line, don’t skyline yourselves. Just drift toward home, slowly. I’ll be back within the hour.” She whirled her horse and headed off, staying in the timber herself. I did notice Gabe circling around, he followed her.
We lined out, I took the lead. That didn’t last long, Faith was up beside me. I had never seen her so nervous. “Faith, just keep to the timber, I’ll drop back behind the kids.”
Alita pulled her Mule up beside Faith, “Mommy, it’s alright, I’ll ride with you, don’t worry.” Faith gave her a relieved smile, “Thanks Honey, but Mommy is okay, but you can ride with me if you want to.”
Riding drag, I could watch over everybody, that gave me a sense of relief. I guess I was a control freak. The pack horses were close behind me, I looked back, “Hey, don’t run over me, what’s wrong with you guys?” They were sure jumpy.
Why was it, that the loss of our cell phone service, sent us into a dither? We would probably really feel silly when it turned out to be some sort of glitch. I kept telling myself this platitude. Of course the fact that Clancy and Gabe warned us that things had changed, did that mean anything?
With all of my musings, I almost missed the flash of something bright up ahead, out in the valley. I took my own advice and looked to just one side of where I seen the flash. Yep, there it was again, just a flash, like a shinning peace of metal in the sun.
I spurred ahead, I waved our crew deeper into the timber. I stopped them a little ways in. “You guys stay here,” I said, as I stepped down. “I’m going to injun up on that flash I seen out in the valley.” I pulled off my boots and got my moccasins out of my saddle bags. I pulled my rifle out of its scabbard. “Just stay here, I’ll be back directly.”
“Honey, be careful, I don’t know what we’d do if something happened to you.”
“You know I will be. Rosie should be back pretty quick, tell her not to follow me, to stay with you guys.” I said, as I disappeared into the tall grass. The sun felt unusually hot, that is after we had spent time in the Viking Valley. The flash was erratic, like the breeze was blowing something around.
The grass was also unusually tall, like our cattle hadn’t grazed it for awhile. I could crouch down and stay hidden. It only took me about ten minutes to get close to where I thought the flash was coming from.
I bellied down, and snaked forward, pushing the grass apart as I went. What did I see? I seen my plane, the twin engine Cessna. Some asshole had tried to land and flipped it over on its top. The flash was caused by a piece of broken glass flapping in the breeze, where the front wind screen used to be.
I didn’t stand up, but finished the crawl on my belly. No use taking any chances.
I didn’t have to worry though, no one alive was there.
But there was a Skelton half in and half out of the smashed window. I stood up and looked closer. There were the remnants of his clothes still hanging from his bones. And in what used to be a pair of jeans, was a billfold.
I pulled it out and dug out a Wyoming Drivers License. Damn, it was Red, you know, Daisy’s husband. What the hell was he doing flying my plane, he didn’t know how. Duh, that was pretty evident.
I stood there for a full minute anyway, thinking. Now that was work…cause nothing added up. We had only been gone for two weeks, and it sure took longer than that for a body to deteriorate down to bare bone. Heck, it didn’t even smell anymore.
I looked toward where I left the rest of my family. There was a flash, someone was glassing me. I stood up on the belly of the plane and waved at them, motioning them to come over to me.
Rosie was with them when they got to me. I didn’t say anything, I just tossed the Drivers License to Faith. She looked at it then tossed it to Rosie. I gave them a few minutes to take it all in. “Well, what do you make of it?” I said to them all.
Rosie said, “It doesn’t make any sense. You’d think he had been dead for a least a year. And we have only been gone for two weeks. But, Clancy did say things weren’t what they seemed anymore.”
Faith had got herself together, she was back to her old self. “Yeah, but they never have been. But just like the first time we were in the Valley, our sense of time, didn’t match the time elapsed outside of it. What else is in the plane, did you look?”
“Nope, I sure didn’t, probably should though, huh?” I said.
“Yes, you should, Hank hop down and help Clay.” Faith said, in charge again as usual.
I opened the door that was ajar a little further so I could crawl in. The first thing I found was a bag. I opened it, it was full of money, I zipped it back up and tossed it to Hank, he tossed it to Faith.
What I hoped was still in the plane, was. I always carried survival gear stowed in the tail section. I crawled back there. Yep, it was still here, no one had taken it out. “Hank come on back here and help me get this gear.” There was a tent, shovel, axe, and so forth, plus dried food that would keep for years. We shouldn’t need this stuff, but one never knew.
I distributed the stuff among the pack horses, so no one would have too heavy of a load. After all these horses were volunteers, they were free to leave anytime they wanted.
Faith had looked in the bag that Hank had tossed her. “Where did he get all of this money?” She asked, as if I would know.
“I don’t know, but one thing, knowing Red’s personality, it wasn’t his. It probably belonged to the ranch. Too bad he didn’t gas the plane up before he took off, it was the death of him.”
“How long were we in the Valley?” Poppy asked. I hadn’t noticed but Clancy had come up while I was inside of the plane. He spoke up.
“Two years and a few days. A lot has changed.” He said.
Poppy said, “Is Mom and Tiff alright?”
“Yes, but their not at the ranch anymore, Elizabeth came and got them. Mary Jane and Iris were worried about the lot of you. They came with Elizabeth, you know the helicopter? Anyway they picked up Daisy and your Dog. Of course Chip and Dale, went along. It wouldn’t have been right to leave your Mom and Sister’s new husbands to fend for themselves. They also took Dr. Suong.” Clancy told her.
“So what about our Ranch?” I asked.
“Oh, it’s not yours anymore, Eminent Domain, is what they used to take it.”
“How in the world could they justify that? Isn’t it supposed to be for the good of the public? And then of course, there’s supposed to be just compensation!” I said.
“Ho-Ho, you’re really naïve, aren’t you? This administration has been flaunting the constitution right from the start. They have made it nothing but a scrap of paper.” Clancy said.
“Well if the government took it, what are they doing with it?” Faith asked.
“They have installed their man to run it. They did the same with your Dad and Felicity’s Ranch in New Mexico.”
“So, who’s on the Ranch? And what about everyone in New Mexico, where are they?” I asked.
“Harry Silver is on the ranch up here, and a Dipper Tick in New Mexico. Your family is still there at the ranch in New Mexico.” Clancy said.
“Harry Silver and Dipper Tick, you’re kidding me?”
“No, they have been deep in this since the beginning. This administration has been just biding it’s time to declare a modified version of martial law. It’s sort of a cross between communism and a dictatorship. They have been doing this eminent domain thing all across the country. The only one’s they can’t overcome is the Carmel Foundation’s property. Every time they send troops against them, the troops just disappear, no one knows what happens to them.”
“Well what does our loved one’s think happened to us?” Faith asked.
“Oh, they think you’re all dead, even the foundation thinks so.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell them the truth?” I said.
“What is the truth? How do you know that you aren’t dead?” Clancy said, with a lopsided grin.
“Oh, I know we’re not, and so do you. Why were we kept in the Viking Valley for two years anyway?” I said.
“They would of killed all of you for sure. But when you disappeared they just took over your ranch with no more bloodshed. So we just slowed down your sense of time, to think you were only in there for two weeks.”
“Why couldn’t of we just went to the Carmel Foundation as the rest of our loved ones did?”
“That was not to be your purpose.”
“What the hell is our purpose?” I said.
“You don’t know? You’ve been doing it all of your life. It’s to fight injustice! And no you’re not some superhero. You all are just flesh and blood, you are human. As such you know right and wrong. Oh, how simple it would have been if they had never ate from that apple. There would have been no such thing as wrong, right would of reigned.
But, no use crying over spilt milk. You have to run the race to the finish.”
“Fight injustice and right the wrongs, isn’t that God’s job?” Faith asked.
“Make no mistake about it, his day of vengeance will come, but no man or beast knows the day or the hour. But the season is late and well along to its finish. Until that day comes, it’s up to the honest hearted doer of right things, to carry the load. Of which you all just happen to fit that bill. It’s not to say that you’re supposed to overthrow any government on earth, that’s still God’s job. But there are still the poor and weak individuals that need help to survive, could you perhaps be of help there?”
“Haven’t we been?” Faith said.
“Yes, you all have. But even stout hearted ones like yourselves, need help now and then. That’s what Gabe and I have been sent to do. Lend a hand when you get your tit in a wringer.”
“That wasn’t a nice thing to say. I know they’ve got bigger, but I can still handle them.” Faith said.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it in that way, I was just using a metaphor, it was in bad taste.” Clancy said.
Poppy and Hank were whispering. Hank spoke up, “What about us, Poppy and me? Are we part of this stout hearted bunch?” Clancy turned to look at him, “Do you want to be?”
“I don’t know, Poppy and I, we just want to see Mom and Tiffany. Can’t we just do that?”
“Yes, we were a little apprehensive when the two of you went with the others. But it couldn’t be helped. You were just in the wrong place at the right time. I do suppose that you could be taken to the Carmel Foundation in the Judith Basin. That is if Clay and the rest of you will take them?”
Rosie said, “Sure, I know how it is to miss your parents. We will take them, won’t we Mom, Dad, Alita?”
I noticed that she included Alita in that question. Why? Maybe because she was mentally equal to the rest of us, almost anyway.
I said, “It’s Okay with me, as long as Faith and Alita agree.” They both nodded.
“But why can’t they just pick them up with Elizabeth, like they did the rest?” I said.
“Because they don’t know that you are alive. And also they don’t know that we have taken a hand in this difficulty. You have been the only ones that we have communicated with. Well, that is outside of the livestock, we always talk to them.”
“What? Do you mean you have always talked to the animals?” I said.
“Of course, they have committed no sin.” Clancy said.
“Alright, while we’re being so open and honest, the Carmel Foundation, you mean you haven’t helped them?” I said.
“No, we haven’t. Besides, they have had help from a different source, a different branch of the heavenly organization.”
“I suppose that’s none of our business either?” I said.
“That’s right, it’s on a need to know, and you don’t need to know.”
“Well you slammed that door in our face, but you’re right, we don’t want to know, I do believe in this case that ignorance is bliss.”
“You’re heavy into metaphors and clichés aren’t you? But never mind, it’s what makes the English language colorful and interesting. Have you ever thought how boring it would be, if everyone always stuck to the rules of language that is taught in schools?
Besides that, some arbitrary rules are meant to be broke, why else were they made? I just love talking in English, it’s so ambiguous.” Clancy said.
Alita spoke up, “I think that both you and Daddy like to run off at the mouth, to use a colorful metaphor, I think we had better head back for the timber, we have been in the open long enough.” Out of the mouth of babes, comes wisdom, I thought to myself as swung a leg over the back of Brutus.
Damn, I thought to myself, couldn’t I even talk anymore without using a metaphor, cliché or colloquialism (to use the word erroneously), when I should of said, localism or regionalism. (For you readers with a Masters Degree in English).
I was watching Alita on her Mule, Matthew. She had grown at least eight to ten inches while we were in the Valley. That should have given us the hint as to the passage of time. But maybe not, strange things had been happening to us right along. Alita sat her saddle like she had been riding for a decade. She reminded me of Rosie. Perhaps they were both Espiritu Jinete. Faith and I, both sat a good saddle, but nothing like our two girls.
We got back in the timber and circled around back of the drilling rig, there were still people working it. They didn’t see us. We stayed in the timber line all the way back toward the ranch house. We had to pass it, to go north. We got off our mounts and bellied up to the crest of the ridge. We had field glasses. We didn’t see any stock any where around. I guess it was too much work for them to take care of them. They probably just turned them all loose. Lazy Bastards.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Faith said as she crawled up beside me. “And you can forget it.”
“Why? Just one bullet through the brain and he would be fertilizer.”
“It’s not up to us, let the higher powers take care of it. We only kill in self- defense.” Faith said as one of her breasts pressed up against my side. I promptly forgot all about Harry Silver. I rolled over on my back and pulled her close and kissed her.
“Hey, knock that off, there is a time and place for that stuff.” Rosie said. Alita was standing beside her, giggling. Poppy and Hank were with the stock.
“Yeah, of course you’re right,” I said as we both scooted back from the crest. “But, your Mom is quite the dish, did you know that?”
“Yeah, yeah, you just have an out of control libido, that’s all.” Rosie said. Alita just giggled some more.
We joined Hank and Poppy. I glanced around at our animals. Looked like we had gained some more. “Where did they come from?” I asked Hank.
“They just showed up, they’re some of the mules and horses that I had been working with, you know from that last bunch you bought. It’s alright that they go with us, isn’t it?”
“Sure, the more the merrier.” There I go again. Is that all I am, is one big metaphor? Or maybe it’s just one little simile?
“Did you see many people down there?” I asked the women. “I know I didn’t, I was just wondering what you guys seen?”
“No, I didn’t.” Rosie said. “Why? What do you have in mind?”
“Well, I thought if we waited till tonight, we could go down and get some more tack, you know for the extra stock. Also, some oats. Maybe even get in the root cellar and get some canned goods for us. What do the rest of you think?”
“Yes, they belong to us anyway,” Faith said. “I didn’t see much of anybody down there. I don’t think they think they have anything to worry about. I didn’t even see any of our ranch dogs down there. Maybe, Elizabeth picked them up when she got our people?”
“Let’s hope so anyway. Otherwise those jerks probably would of shot them.” I said.
Faith and Rosie had their heads together. They said, “Do you think any of our clothes are still there?”
“I don’t know sweetheart, it’s been two years. I would suspect that they were got rid of.” I said.
“Well, while Rosie, Alita, Hank and Poppy get the extra tack and canned goods, let’s you and me, sneak in the house and see?”
“Oh, I thought you only wanted to kill in self-defense?”
“Well yes, of course.”
“What about if we surprise someone in the house, I might have to slit their throats?”
“Well, only if they try and kill us, okay?” Faith said. Faith had planned our recovery intrusion well. I told you she was back to her old self. But that was alright with me, I loved her.
We waited till full dark and an hour besides. The kids went toward the barn, with Matthew and Luke following them. I wouldn’t want to mess with those two mules. We went to the kitchen door, it wasn’t locked. There was a small light burning over the kitchen range, enough to see the kitchen was a mess. Just like a bachelor would leave it.
One thing all of those shots to the head had given me was a good sense of hearing. At each bedroom I stopped to listen, if there was anybody in them, I could hear them breathing. So far they were all empty. Till I got to our old bedroom.
I motioned for Faith to run on quiet. The bedroom door was ajar. I could hear two people breathing. We moved over by the bed, we stood there. We could see two people in bed. Due to the warmness of the night they were laying there with no covers and no clothes.
The man was Harry Silver, the woman we couldn’t tell. Did he have a wife? We didn’t know. There seemed to be a lot that we didn’t know….Faith moved to the side of the bed that she was sleeping on. We both laid the points of our knives against their throats.
Harry opened his eyes, “Is that you Clay?” He said, “Yep, are you surprised?” I said.
“No, I knew you weren’t dead, I was expecting you. “I know you have at least nine lives, or hell maybe more. That was why I took this job. Of course I didn’t have much choice, they thought I was a friend of yours. If I hadn’t of took this job, they would of killed me.”
I didn’t know if he was telling the truth or not, so I decided to find out, I took my knife away from his throat and laid the point against the base of his penis. He gasped. The woman next to him had woke up. Faith increased the pressure of her knife point, the woman whimpered. I said.
“Is that the truth Harry, and make sure of your answer.” I put a little more pressure on the point of my knife. It turned out he was telling the truth. “Who’s the woman?” I asked.
“She was put here to watch me, you can kill her if you want, she’s a lousy screw anyway.” He said.
Faith said, “Why Harry, that’s cold, maybe you just don’t turn her on.” I looked over at her. She was in her middle twenty’s. I looked again, hell, it was Patty. You remember, I told you about Patty and Angelina. I had went to school with them.
“Patty, what the hell are you doing here?” I said.
“It’s not my fault Clay, they beat us up, Angelina is still in the hospital. It was either do this or they said they would put us in a whore house. And Faith was right, he doesn’t’ turn me on.”
“Alright Patty, get up and get in the shower, is there anyone else in the house?”
“No, it’s just us. You aren’t going to leave me here are you?”
“No, I guess not, ask my wife.” I said. As I left Faith to see if anything of ours was still in the bedroom. I went to my gun closet and took what weapons I wanted. Harry was padding along after me.
“Harry, for craps sake, go get dressed, no one wants to see your scrawny body.”
“What about me, you can’t leave me here, they will kill me for sure?” He whined.
“I tell you what, you apologize to Patty and if she agrees, you can come with us.”
We went back into the bedroom, Patty was just getting out of the shower, after Harry apologized, she said, “Alright, but if we ever have any sex again, you’re going to do exactly what I tell you to do. I’m not the lousy lay, you are. Have you ever had any sex with any other woman besides me?”
He nodded his head. “Alright, I said. Now if you two will get traveling clothes on. Plus any extra’s that you might need, we’ll go see how the kids are doing.”
Faith said, “Uh, honey, would you give me a few minutes, I would like to take a quick shower, okay?”
“Sure, just wait till they get out of the room, I don’t want Harry to see you naked.” As soon as they were dressed, I hustled them out of the room. Faith was already naked before they got out of the door. She had found some of our clothes, so she had clean ones to change to.
“Come on you two. You are going with me to the barn.” We went to the barn, I kept a close eye on them, they would have to earn my trust. The kids already had everything loaded on the pack horses.
I said to the girls, “There is no one else in the house, you three can go find anything you need, Mom is taking a shower, you girls might like one also.” They beat a path for the house. Hank said, “Can I go to my old room, I would like a shower too.”
“Yeah, I’ll go along. Matthew and Luke can watch these two.” I motioned to the mules, they came over and gave Harry and Patty the evil eye.
Patty said, “Very funny Clay, you know me, and I’m not scared of these two mules.”
“I know you Patty, but you might have changed a bit, and as far as these two mules go, you had better be afraid of them.” I turned and went back to the house, Faith was just getting out of the shower, I was already naked as I passed her and got in the shower. The hot water felt good.
Faith had clean clothes laid out for me. It was well past midnight when we left.
Harry and Patty were still verbally jabbing each other. Now I don’t know about you, but when two people act like they were acting, they usually had some affection. I turned in my saddle, “Shut up you two, or I’ll have Luke kick your lights out.” They shut up.