“Yeah, that sounds good.”
“Where exactly are you going? I could take you all the way there.”
I shook my head. “There aren’t roads all the way there. It’s fine. I’m looking forward to the hike.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” she began, “but can you at least give us directions or something in case something happens? You are a member of this family now.”
With my parents gone, I welcomed those words. “I can give you the name of the road and directions of where to go once it ends. Cell phone reception is spotty at best. I’ll write it down. But don’t expect me back before tonight or even tomorrow, depending.”
I didn’t want them freaking out and coming up there unless absolutely necessary. There were others on the mountain who didn’t welcome visitors. Mom used to say many people who lived that life were hiding from something. I’d never asked her what my dad was hiding, since he’d lived that way before he’d met her.
There wasn’t much to do except wait for Avery, as I’d already packed a small bag with things I might need if I had to stay overnight. I’d packed light because I intended to leave with more than I’d gone with.
Since I’d promised to leave instructions, I went to my room and wrote them out. I even drew a crude sketch. When I came back downstairs, I heard neighs and whinnies.
To Avery, I said, “Thanks for the offer of a ride. I don’t need one. I left the directions upstairs if I don’t return tomorrow.” Then I was out the front door like a lightning bolt with my pack on my back.
There she was in all her magnificence. I’d left the neck rope hanging near the paddock just in case. I went for it and she came, just like the time before. I stepped on the fence beam and threw a leg over her side. I bent forward and she let me put the rope low around her neck.
As Mitchell mentioned, it was more for balance than anything else. I stroked her side. “You know where we’re going, right?”
That was a long shot. But I knew in my heart I was meant to be here at this moment. Somehow, she just knew to go. We started off at a trot, but soon enough we were galloping through the valley of the Bowmen ranch to the mountains. It was as natural as if we had ESP. Slight pressure with my legs steered her in the direction I wanted to go.
If I’d been in a saddle, I might have stood in the stirrups and whooped my excitement. An inner fist pump as we flew like the wind. She slowed when we reached the base of the mountain. It wasn’t my mountain, but we’d have to skirt it to avoid the road that passed between.
We stopped at a stream, and I let her drink. Then we were nearly at a walk the rest of the way as we avoided trees and other barriers on our way up once we reached my dad’s mountain.
When things got too steep, I slid off, and we walked together. The closer I got, the more memories of the past flooded me. At some point, it was as if I could hear Mom and Dad’s voices carried on the wind. But it was just in my head.
It was much colder up here than it had been in the valley. A light snow started to fall, and I prayed that one or two of Mom’s blankets were at home and hadn’t been taken. Otherwise, I would have to send my mare on her way. I wouldn’t let her freeze to death because of me.
Mitchell
I found Zoe in the kitchen with Avery. It was weird, as I’d become accustomed to Sunshine making breakfast for the family.
“Hey, kiddo,” I said, ruffling her hair.
Her giggles were the balm I needed. I pulled Avery to the side because of what I was about to say. “Are you still planning to take Zoe to Mountainside?”
“Yeah. Why are you being so cryptic?” she asked because I’d whispered the question.
“Because I just saw on the news that a storm is rolling in. It could bring at a minimum ice and a few inches of snow. It could be a lot worse.”
She laughed. “You do know where we are, right?”
“Yes, but they said it could be up to four feet if certain factors align.”
“Oh,” she said, because though we were used to snow, it didn’t mean a lot of it at one time couldn’t cause problems. “Did they say when? I promised Dad I’d bring Zoe by. Maybe it could be a quick run.”
“Later this afternoon. Did you see Sunshine? I know she’s planning on going home and it will be worse in the mountains.”
Avery’s eyes widened. “She left. She said she had a ride and didn’t need me to drop her off.”