Reno's Journey: Cowboy Craze (The Wild West)

by Sable Hunter

  Pulling out his pocket watch, he checked the time. “Just after seven. We have a date at ten o’clock, my Journey. Don’t forget.”

  With that reminder, he clicked his tongue. “Let’s make sure we’re where we think we are.”

  Leaving the foothills of Enchanted Rock, he backtracked the path he’d ridden with Journey and their friends. If he was truly back in 1869, the house where Journey was staying with her Aunt Myra would be gone and the Stanton cabin would be sitting in its place. “Or should I say the burned out remains of the cabin. Holy Hell.” He climbed down from the saddle and stared at what remained of the home where Saul and the younger children had lived. He walked amongst the rubble, his anger building anew for the men who’d destroyed the home of his young friends and misdirected the blame to innocent people. “Your time is coming, Kinsella. Just wait and see.” In spite of knowing the kids were safe and sound at King’s Ransom, he couldn’t help but worry about them. As soon as he dropped by to see Ela, he’d set out to Kingsland. He couldn’t wait to see their faces when they laid eyes on him.

  As he looked around the property, it hit him. For a brief second or two, he’d forgotten where he was. At this very moment, a hundred and fifty years in the future, his Journey occupied this same small slice of land. He stood still, holding his hands out, palm up. Reno longed to sense anything that might indicate her presence. “Journey? Can you hear me? Are you here?”

  Of course, she couldn’t hear him. She hadn’t been born yet.

  Still…he recalled how Lou told him that time was flat. The present, the past, and the future all existed at the same time. This was no longer conjecture, as far as he was concerned. He existed in 1869 and he knew Journey existed in 2019.

  Reno knew this because he’d left her side only minutes before.

  Closing his eyes, he let the wind caress his face. Was this same wind blowing where she was? He didn’t know, but if there was any way she could hear him, he would send her his love.

  “Journey, my beautiful wife. This is Reno. I love you.”

  … “When do you have to leave?” Journey asked Lou as they walked down the paddock fence. They’d just returned from the canyon where they’d said goodbye to Reno. Kota had graciously sent his grandson to see to their horses. He knew Journey wouldn’t feel up to the task.

  “Honey, that’s up to you. I brought some of my work with me. I can stay for a couple of days or if I’m getting on your nerves, I can leave now. It’s up to you.”

  “Stay with me. Please?” Journey leaned against Lou as they slowly made their way through the yard to the house.

  “I’d love to. I love it out here.”

  “I don’t know if I should go home, to Austin, I mean.” She held her breath as they neared the rose garden where their wedding ceremony took place only two days before, Journey couldn’t stop staring at the spot where they’d stood to take their vows.

  “Watch your step, honey.” Lou made a grab for Journey as she almost tripped over a root.

  “Sorry.” She touched her cheek. “The breeze felt funny for a moment, almost like someone touched my face.”

  “You probably need to eat something. Why don’t we go inside? I bet your aunt has something good on the table.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “You have to eat for the baby. Remember?”

  “If you’re gonna nag me, woman, you can just head east,” Journey grumbled, then playfully nudged her friend. “I’ll eat something.”

  The sound of the kitchen door opening and closing drew their attention. To Journey’s surprise, Myra was coming down the steps pulling her luggage behind her. She knew without being told what had happened. “Is it Uncle Myles?”

  “He just passed.” Myra gave her niece a hug. “I’m so sorry to leave you like this, but I have to go.”

  Journey pushed aside her grief. “If you can wait, I’ll go with you. It’s too late for you to be driving by yourself.” She gave Lou a pleading look. “Lou will housesit for a couple of days, won’t you?”

  “You bet,” she agreed. “Kota promised to give me some of his time and I’d like to write up my notes on…” She stopped talking.

  “It’s okay. I know what you’re going to say.” Journey touched her arm. “I’m not so fragile that I can’t be reminded of what’s happened.”

  “Well, if you’re going to go, Journey, you’ll have to hurry. We have a long drive ahead of us,” Myra reminded her.

  Lou took Myra’s case. “You sit in the swing and I’ll put this in your trunk, then I’ll help Journey pack.”

  Needing a moment to herself, Journey was already climbing the back steps. Driving to Wichita Falls at this time of night wasn’t ideal, but it would give her something to think about other than how lonely she was without Reno.

  * * *

  The call of a night bird caused Reno to pull up on Traveler’s reins. He listened, making sure it was a bird and not a signal. All he needed was to tangle with Kinsella and his gang on his first night back. He couldn’t let anything jeopardize what he’d come here to do. Hearing nothing more, he continued up the gradual incline to the mouth of the cave where Ela lived.

  As he neared, Reno was surprised to see no glow of her campfire. As far as he could tell, the place was pitch black. Could she have let her fire die down? This would be unusual. She kept it going for light and to keep predators at bay. Of course, she might’ve taken ill.

  “Ela! Ela! It’s Reno!”

  Bounding from the saddle, he climbed the path to the cave. When he breached the entrance, he found the cavern to be dark and deserted. There were a few pieces of pottery lying around, but all the things she kept so neat and orderly were gone. A chill ran over his body. Where could she be? Perhaps she’d gone to stay with her daughter. This was the only explanation he could think of. After making one more pass around the cave, he took his leave. Surely someone at the ranch would know her whereabouts.

  Climbing into the saddle, Reno set out for King’s Ransom. The trip would take the remainder of the night. As he rode, he checked his pocket watch. “One minute until ten. Just in time.” Pulling up on the reins, he gazed at the moon. “I see the moon, Journey. I know you are looking at it too. God bless you, my love.”

  …Journey stood on the side of the road and gazed up at the moon. Being full, it was as big and bright as she’d ever seen it. Lifting her hand, it seemed she could almost touch it. “I’m here, Reno. I see the moon. I love you so much. Take care, my love.”

  Reluctantly, she returned to the car to continue their journey.

  “Did you need to use the bathroom?” Aunt Myra asked.

  “No. I just needed a bit of fresh air.”

  “That’s pregnancy for you.”

  Journey didn’t dispute her point. Instead, she turned the radio on low, just for the noise. Seeing a sign ahead, she put her blinker on to turn east on Highway 29 toward Burnet. “Go straight, sweetie, through San Saba. We can take Highway 16 almost all the way.”

  “Oh, sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I don’t even have the GPS turned on.” She knew her mind was on Reno, wondering where he was. What was he doing? Was he on his way to Kingsland? She looked to her right, thinking he was out there somewhere, riding through the night.

  “That’s okay. I’m sure your mind is elsewhere.”

  “You’re right about that. If we’d gone the way I was heading, we’d pass Lake Buchanan. Reno and I were talking this morning about looking for a house in Tow. You know, the little community on the left bank of the lake. I was telling him property values are reasonable there.”

  “Why would you want to live in Tow?”

  “Tennessee McCoy offered Reno a job at their Highlands Ranch.”

  “I know where it is, but you don’t want to live in Tow. You’d be better off looking for a place near the dam or on the east side of the lake.”

  “I was just thinking of saving money and Tow is just across the lake from Highlands.”

  Myra laughed. “Ex
cept there’s no bridge, honey. He’d have to get a boat or drive all the way around the lake every day. A seventy-mile round trip.

  “Oh, heck.” Journey rubbed her forehead. “You’re right. I guess I’m not thinking clearly.”

  “You have a good excuse. You’ve got baby brain.”

  The thought made Journey smile. “I bet you’re right. Did I tell you we picked out names for the baby?”

  “No! Tell me.”

  “Cole if it’s a boy and Ela if it’s a girl.”

  “Myra Ela. Myra Ela. That’s a tongue twister.” Myra tried out the names another way. “Ela Myra. Ela Myra. That sounds better.”

  Journey giggled. “No, it doesn’t. It sounds like Elvira.”

  Myra shrugged. “I guess my name can wait for baby number two.”

  Journey almost ran off the road at the thought.

  * * *

  Dawn was breaking when Reno neared King’s Ransom. As much as he missed Journey, he couldn’t keep a smile off his face at the thought of seeing his friends. Even though the hour was early, he figured most everyone would be up. Fancy would be starting breakfast and Ace would be feeding the livestock.

  When he came over the hill, Reno was surprised to see Clay’s horse standing beneath one of the big oaks near Honey Creek. What was he doing out here so early in the morning? Slowing Traveler down, he rode up at an even pace. When he came near, Reno was shocked to see Clay kneeling next to a large stone.

  And then it hit him. His best friend was visiting his grave.

  Without thinking, he urged Traveler forward. “Clay!”

  Clay looked up, then jumped up. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was open. “Good God!”

  Reno jumped from his horse and Clay started backing up. “It’s me. It’s Reno.”

  Clay narrowed his eyes, walked up to Reno and punched him in the jaw.

  “What the hell was that for?”

  “I just wanted to make sure you wasn’t some damn ghost. Where the hell have you been?”

  “Well, I’m not a ghost.”

  “I can…feel that.” Clay shook his fist. “Nearly broke my damn hand.”

  “You sure are cursing a lot for a preacher.”

  “Well, you scared the living shit out of me!” Clay was still breathing heavy. He shook his head and grabbed Reno to hug him. “Lord above, I’m glad to see you. Now, back to my original question. Where the hell have you been?”

  “How much time do you have?”

  …After an hour of intense discussion, Clay didn’t know whether to believe his friend or ask Dr. Domino to have Reno committed to an institution back east. “So, let me get this straight. You’ve spent the last month in the year 2019.”

  “Yes. Things are very advanced there, but they think I rode into a portal and went through a wormhole.”

  “Are you hearing yourself right now?”

  Reno laughed. “I know. I thought the same thing when I first heard the word.”

  “It’s true though. I saw the most fantastic things. Airplanes fly in the sky. Cars travel down paved roads at seventy miles an hour. Computers link up the whole world. You can sit in Texas and watch a horserace in England on this big screen television and never leave your recliner.”

  Clay stared at Reno. “I didn’t understand a word you just said. What’s a recliner?”

  “It’s a chair that you can lay down in.” He waved his hand. “Never mind. Over the next month, I’ll teach you a world of stuff.”

  Clay grabbed Reno’s shoulder and shook him gently. “Even if you’re touched in the head, I’m glad your home.”

  “Well, I can’t stay. I have to go back. I got married and I’ve having a baby.”

  “God bless!” Clay threw his hat on the ground. “Stop saying this stuff. I’ve only had one cup of coffee this morning!”

  “Her name is Journey and she’s related to Saul and the kids. Saul is her great-great…something great grandfather. You won’t believe it, but she fell in love with that picture Fancy had the photographer make of me. You know, the one who visited here a few months back. Journey slept with that picture under her pillow every night. And when I came through the portal, I was at the right moment and place to save her from these men who were about to attack her. It was meant to be. While I was there, I figured out how to save Cole. And I learned how to stop these supposed Indian attacks.”

  “Slow down. What about the Indian attacks? There was another one just yesterday. Our neighbor to the east was burned out. If the Cavalry doesn’t put a stop to this, they’ll be attacking King’s Ransom next.”

  Reno grabbed Clay’s arm. “It’s not Indians, its white raiders disguised as Indians. I think John Taylor is behind it. Remember him?”

  “Yea. Why would you think that?”

  “I read it in a history book.”

  “In 2019.” Clay nodded his head. “Right.” He picked his hat up on the floor. “I wouldn’t put something like that past Taylor, but…” He stopped talking. Obviously, he didn’t know what to say.

  “Look, I know I’ve come at you out of the blue with all of this. And I know it sounds incredible. But you’re my best friend and I need you to believe me. Like I said, over the next month, I’ll explain everything. I’m going to need your help though.”

  Clay looked over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t tell everybody what you’ve told me.”

  “I don’t intend to. Just King and Gentry. I’m going to need their help too.”

  “I don’t know. You’ve officially warped my sensibilities.”

  “Ela will explain it all. She knew this was going to happen. She gave me this medicine bag to carry with me. Turns out, it helped me go through the portal safely. Her descendant in 2019, he knew all about this. He helped me get back.”

  Clay looked stricken. “About Ela…”

  “Right, about Ela. I went by the cave. She wasn’t there. Do you know where she is?”

  “Reno, I hate to be the one to tell you…but Ela’s dead. I went to check on her about a week after you left and found her dead on the path outside of her cave.”

  Reno felt like the bottom had just fallen out of his world. “No. No. That can’t be.” He shook his head slowly. Back and forth. Back and forth. She was supposed to help him get back to Journey. “This isn’t true.”

  “It is. Somebody killed her. Domino said she died of head injuries. I’m sorry.”

  I’ll wait as long as the Great Spirit allows.

  Her words still echoed in his mind. The Great Spirit didn’t allow her to wait for long.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Reno put on a brave face. His reunion with the rest of his friends lacked the joy he’d first experienced with Clay. Finding out Ela was dead had devastated him. Not only because he loved and respected her, but because she’d been his lifeline back to Journey. What in the world was he going to do now?

  “I just can’t believe you’re back.” Fancy hugged him as tightly as she could. “When the lawyer never heard from you, we knew something was wrong.”

  “Yea, I made the trip on the stagecoach, just to follow the route you would’ve taken. They told us you never bought a ticket, but I was afraid to trust their records.” Gentry appeared thoughtful. “Truthfully, we didn’t know what happened to you.”

  “Yes, we did,” Jericho chimed in. “We knew you were dead.” He looked a bit confused. “I mean we thought you were dead. What I’m trying to say is that we were certain if you were alive, there was no way in hell you wouldn’t let us know. Those kids of yours…” He motioned to the hall door. “They grieved their hearts out over you. Fancy moved them to the house from the bunkhouse because they cried every night.”

  “I’m so sorry. I would’ve contacted all of you if I could have. Believe me,” Reno spoke sincerely. “The circumstances were such that I didn’t have a chance to contact anyone until today.”

  Jericho didn’t look convinced, but he let it go. “Everybody’s glad you’re home, Reno. Those kids are going to
be over the moon.”

  Reno nodded. The looks he was getting from his friends made him uncomfortable. Clay kept giving him the eye. Hell, he didn’t know what to do. His heart ached so much that his brain wasn’t working. “I look forward to spending time with them this morning. I know they’ll be surprised.”

  When Jericho moved on, emptying his plate to start his day, Boone and Domino came to take his place across the table. “Sorry about Ela, Reno,” Boone drained his cup to sit it down rather hard on the table.

  Reno swirled the coffee in his almost empty cup. “Thanks. Do they have any idea who is responsible?”

  “No.” Domino studied Reno’s face with intensity. “Have you been ill?”

  “No, I haven’t.” What to say? What to say? “I’ve been away.”

  “Where?” Boone asked. “Where have you been for a damn month?”

  “Far away.”

  “Were you kidnapped?” Boone kept pressing.

  “You could say that. I was taken somewhere against my will.” Well, that was true. Basically.

  “Who kidnapped you?” Domino narrowed his eyes as he assessed Reno’s words.

  “I don’t know. Today was the first chance I had to get back.” Again, somewhat true.

  “Did they hurt you?”

  “No, Domino. They didn’t.”

  He stood up and pushed his chair in with his knee. “Then I’d say you were one lucky bastard.” With a slap to Reno’s shoulder, Domino took his leave. “Whatever happened, I’m glad you are home.”

  Boone wasn’t as accommodating. He pointed a finger at Reno. “I’ve known you a long time. I’ve just never known you to lie before.”

  Shit. “Boone, I’d tell you if I could. I promise.”

  He stood and waved Reno off. “Like Domino said, I’m glad your home. When you get ready to tell me the truth, I’ll be ready to listen.”

  Fancy walked up to whisper in his ear. “I’m about to get the kids up. Are you ready?”