by Rayna Morgan
“Wow!” Maddy said, turning to Lea. “Did you know Gracie and Spirit were spirit guides?"
"I’ve always felt they were more than four-legged animals. They seem to communicate with me but not the way humans do.”
“You aren’t saying they talk to you!”
“No, they communicate by touch and body movement, or even mental messages,” Lea said. “Some people believe pets communicate with us in spirit even after they die.”
"What do dogs teach us?" Maddy asked the chief, curious to hear more.
"They remind us that we're only a small part of creation. Each part has a place, and each creature has its own skill and wisdom. Animals have amazing powers, but unlike humans, they only use their powers to benefit their kind, not to overcome their opponents."
"What powers do my dogs have?" Lea asked.
"Animals are said to have psychic gifts,” the chief said. “Your dogs can tell your moods because they detect subtle energy frequencies which we can't. By watching and interacting with you, a dog anticipates how you're feeling and what you're going to do. It's part of their being a protector and a guardian.”
"I never thought of dogs as being guides,” Maddy said.
"Dogs can teach us a lot if we're open to learning from them. For one thing, they're faithful companions and enjoy being useful by serving us, but unlike humans who want to be rewarded and commended, dogs serve selflessly without needing their service to be praised."
"Gracie and Spirit always seem happy,” Lea said, “and full of love.”
"Dogs teach us the true meaning of unconditional love.” The chief nodded, and his body swayed slightly back and forth. “Their sense of spirit and the ability to love, even when they’re abused, is incredible. They show us how to give and receive love without imposing conditions or restrictions, and they carry the energy of forgiveness.”
"Are dogs better spirit-guides than other animals?" Maddy asked.
"Possibly, because they understand humans, and they know the best way to guide us. They serve as a mirror image; in that way, they can be a great teacher."
“Are you saying they reflect our emotions?" Lea asked.
"Here's an example,” the chief said. “If you encounter something when you’re with Gracie which frightens you, she gets nervous and defensive, barking and circling around to protect you. If you're excited about going somewhere, she starts prancing and jumping to let you know she wants to go with you."
“That’s exactly how she acts,” Lea said, “but how does it teach me something?"
"What does Gracie do if you're upset or in a bad mood?”
“She comes to keep me company and remains quiet while I stroke her. It always makes me feel better.”
“That’s how she helps you out of your bad mood. One of the world's best-known stress relievers is petting a dog."
"It's true when I think about it,” Lea said. “It's hard to stay in a self-absorbed pity party or feeling depressed when Gracie's waiting for me to play fetch."
"It's a dog's way of helping us move past our negative emotions and get over ourselves.”
"I’ll have to start paying more attention to Gracie and Spirit,” Maddy decided. “What else can they teach me?"
"Animals spend their time being in the moment, so they don't create suffering for themselves. They don't waste time worrying about what happened yesterday or what might be around the corner,” the chief said, “and they don't carry a grudge like people do.”
“Hold on a minute, Chief,” Maddy said. She raised her eyebrows. “How can anyone know animals don’t carry a grudge?”
“People who have studied animal packs find there's rarely a conflict between members of the pack because they solve their problems and move on. They seem to know by instinct that forgiveness gives us back our power. It helps us regain a sense of peace and allows us to get on with our lives.
“They also teach us to trust our intuition. Dogs are led by their instincts, and they rely on gut reactions. We have these clues as well, but we don't always trust ourselves to follow our instincts.”
“My sister’s famous for her intuition,” Maddy told the chief, patting her sister on the shoulder. “It’s been the cause of her solving more than one crime.”
The chief asked a question of his own. “What’s your favorite thing about your dogs, Lea?”
"I love the way Gracie and Spirit show me how to see every day as being special. They're so excited when they wake up. They can't wait to find out what the day has to offer, and they never feel short-changed with what they find. They start every day free of expectations, and they don't require certain conditions be met in order to be happy.”
“Animals don't worry if they'll be fed or if they'll receive what they want,” the chief said, “and they don't spoil today's happiness by worrying whether tomorrow will be as good.”
“Lea’s dogs can’t talk back, either,” Maddy added, “and they don't require college tuition.” They all laughed.
“You’re right, chief,” Lea said. “The love they give is free of terms and conditions. They don’t demand mutually-beneficial exchanges. It’s love which expects nothing in return."
“An animal's unconditional love can be hard to understand for some people who are afraid to experience the enormity of universal love,” the old man said. “Humans lack the knowingness of dogs that they are created worthy to be loved. They feel undeserving of receiving unconditional love and loyalty. Conditioned by painful experiences, people are protective about exposing their true feelings.
“Dogs give their love without fear of being vulnerable. They accept love without worrying whether they could lose it again, and they don't look for ulterior motives when they're treated kindly.”
"In many ways, they seem smarter than people about how to live," Lea said.
Aponi joined the conversation, placing a tray of vegetables, flatbreads, cheese, and hummus on the table. “I heard a story about a boy whose parents were trying to ease the pain of the impending euthanasia of their old beloved dog. Their veterinarian was talking to the child, explaining about life and death and what was about to happen.
“At one point, the young boy spoke up saying, ‘It's okay, I know why we live longer than dogs. It's because it doesn't take them as long to learn the lessons God asks of them.’”
The chief smiled at his wife. “It’s true; we’re here to find and live our purpose. When we take the time to find out who we are and live according to our true purpose, we feel more fulfilled and our life becomes more meaningful."
• • •
“Which reminds me of our purpose in coming to see you,” Maddy said. “We’re hoping you can give us some history on the neighboring ranchers.”
“Ralph knows the history as well as I do, but he says you need an impartial view.”
“It could be relevant to a murder investigation Scott is involved in,” Lea said.
“How can I help?” the Chief asked.
“There seem to be some seeds of contention among the ranchers.”
“It’s no secret the Millers and the Bensons disagree about the Mustangs,” the Chief said. “The Miller family brought charges against a rancher who was buying horses from the Bureau of Land Management and sending them to a slaughterhouse.”
“Scott told me about the case,” Lea said.
“What he probably didn’t tell you is that Benson was suspected of being in cahoots with the rancher the Millers brought charges against. His participation couldn’t be proved, so Albert wasn’t included in the indictment.”
The chief accepted a glass of lemonade from Aponi before continuing. “The other piece of history between the ranchers is the poker game which resulted in the Hudsons losing land to the Bensons.”
“Our detective friend knows about that slice of folklore,” Maddy told him.
“What’s not common knowledge is that Benson’s grandfather cheated at cards.”
“Does Hudson know his grandfather lost the parce
l in a crooked card game?” Lea asked.
“If he found out, it wasn’t from the Millers. Ranchers leave well enough alone. They expect people to work out their own disputes.”
“The general word is that Albert Benson was a hothead, always fighting with people. Is that how you would describe him?” Lea asked.
“Albert was not at peace. He was, indeed, a man in conflict.”
“Who did he have his biggest conflict with?”
“The most dramatic conflicts are perhaps those which take place not between men, but between a man and himself.”
“People say the man wasn’t the same after his wife died,” Lea said. “I met his wife once at an art course the city offered. She was the guest speaker at one of the classes and lectured on painting landscapes. You could tell by how much she loved her craft that she was a person who had found her true calling.
“I remember what a lovely woman she was. I’m sure losing her was terrible for both Albert and his son.”
“The loss of a loved one is a life-changing event,” the chief said. “For many, it’s more than the loss, it’s dealing with the feeling that the loss is unfair.”
“How does a person cope?” Lea asked.
“I know of no way to find peace in loss other than to realize the greater wisdom to be gained, accepting that what we lose was meant to be lost whether it’s a job, money, health, or love. For some people, it means being stripped of what’s keeping them from learning. Those who resent the loss will never realize the gain which was intended for them.”
Maddy couldn’t help but think of Scott. “Surely there is nothing to be gained in the loss of a loved one. Think of how Scott and Katie suffered over the loss of his wife.”
“It took a long time for Scott to move past the pain,” the chief agreed, “more so, because he was unwilling to embrace it. White men are taught to cowboy up; if it hurts, don’t show it. He was unable to accept that sometimes we end up exactly where we’re meant to be, facing the challenges we’re meant to face.”
“How do we know what we’re meant to learn?” Maddy asked.
“By trusting ourselves, something most people have forgotten how to do.”
“In what ways are you saying people don’t trust themselves?” Lea asked.
“They rely on schools to tell them how smart they are by measuring their intelligence with tests,” the chief said. “They let employment agencies tell them which jobs will earn them the most money rather than bring them the most satisfaction. They buy a house on the right side of town, drive the latest model car, and let fashion magazines dictate how they should dress and cut their hair. They compare themselves to other people and try to measure up in terms of looks, wealth, and happiness.
“Most people find it easy to let other people tell them what to like or dislike, who to admire or disrespect, even who to love or hate. They avoid learning the lessons they were sent here to learn, afraid to find their own meaning and to express who they truly are.”
“My husband is right,” Aponi said. She stood behind his chair and placed a hand on his shoulder. “People listen to their head instead of following their heart. They don’t believe in themselves, so they can’t accept how great they are. They never reach their potential because they won’t let themselves be the person they were created to be. They feel undeserving, so they accept a life less than the life they deserve.”
The chief nodded. “Many people lack the courage to claim their God-given right to a happy, abundant life because they’ve let the world around them convince them such a life is not possible; it’s beyond their reach, dream-based, and not reality.
“They silence the voice inside to listen to the voices of pretenders, defeatists, and cynics. They create a persona to satisfy everyone around them, and end up dissatisfied.”
“You’re not anyone else’s story but your own,” Aponi said. She walked around the room, filling beverage glasses. “To model yourself on other people is like trying to catch a raindrop in your hand.
“The truth is that many people are living a dream, but it’s a dream based on their limited vision of what they have a right to expect. They’re like a caged bird who believes his life is within the bounds of the cage. Even when the door of the cage is opened, the bird fails to fly out to experience a bigger world.”
“I’ve been there, I’m guilty of doing that sometimes,” Lea admitted. “But why are people afraid to listen to their heart?”
“People have a thousand reasons, which aren’t reasons but excuses,” the chief said. “Maybe they’re afraid to find out they’re different than who they thought they were. Or, they’re afraid to fail. What’s wrong with failing? Society has attached a stigma to failure. If it weren’t all right to fail, we wouldn’t have been given the ability to dream.”
“But who should we listen to?” Maddy asked. “Who has the right answers for us?”
“The answer is always in your heart,” Aponi told her. “The problem is that we’re so busy talking to other people, we don't listen to what’s inside. We’re incapable of sitting quietly by ourselves and letting answers flow to us.”
“How do we know if something is the right thing for us to do?” Maddy persisted.
“It’s not a matter of something being the right thing to do,” the chief said. “You were created to be unique, like no one else on earth. When you understand your purpose here, you don’t doubt anything which happens in your life.
“Something might seem good; it might seem bad. It might appear to be important, or insignificant. It may feel like the right thing to do, or it may feel wrong. None of that matters except that it has appeared in your life because it’s part of your unique journey. It cannot be denied, nor should it be. It should be embraced and welcomed as the next higher step.”
Lea asked a final question. “Why can’t we do things better; why can’t we be smarter, kinder, and less self-centered?”
“If we came here as the best version of ourselves, we wouldn’t need to be here very long,” the chief replied. His smile was as gentle as the bubbling stream under the bridge. “The longer we stay, the more opportunity we are given to step away from all the things we’re not, until only who we are remains.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“The stuff the chief was talking about was cool, but I don’t know if it got us closer to catching the murderer,” Maddy said, as they followed the river back to the ranch.
“I’m not so sure,” Lea said. “I think the chief was telling us that instead of looking for an obvious exterior motive, we should look at the inner conflicts these people were trying to resolve.”
“Well, you’re the thinker, I’m a doer. What should I be doing while you’re pondering what the chief said?”
“Let’s go for a hike,” Lea suggested. “The dogs are with Scott. We have a chance to view the countryside.”
“I’m all for exercise, but there could be snakes around here,” Maddy pointed out.
“If you’re thinking of letting your relationship with Scott develop, you better get used to snakes, lizards, spiders, and everything else that goes along with living in the country.”
“Letting our relationship develop doesn’t mean I’ll end up living here,” Maddy said, “although it would be an easy place to do some ever-aftering.”
“Your problem is, you can’t separate the vision of riding off into the sunset with a handsome cowboy and the realities of being a rancher’s wife.”
“Slow down. You’re putting the cart before the horse. I haven’t said anything about a future with Scott.”
“You couldn’t help but think about it. Keep in mind; he comes with a ready-made family.”
“Let’s focus on the moment,” Maddy said, stomping off in the direction of the frontage road.
“Not that way. I want to go the back way across the Benson property to the Hudson ranch.”
“You seem to know where you’re headed. Have you got an agenda?”
“From what the chie
f said, it sounds like these neighbors have plenty of history; not all of it fond memories. It could provide the motive we’re looking for. I need to wrap my head around who the other players are.”
“I agree,” Maddy said. “These ranchers had more than one bone to fight over. If they’re stubborn like most cowboys, they’re none too forgiving and prone to hold a grudge.”
“Scott doesn’t seem to be that way.”
“He’s not, but he’s an exception,” Maddy said. “In fact, he’s exceptional any way you look at him.”
“Watch out!” Lea shrieked. She grabbed Maddy’s arm and backed away from the barking, snarling dog running toward them.
“Rascal,” a boy’s voice shouted.
The dog stopped dead in his tracks. The skin around his mouth stretched back to expose long, sharp teeth.
A second command echoed along the isolated riverbed. “Rascal, heel.”
The voice giving the orders became visible when a youth of average height and brown hair came jogging toward them.
“He won’t hurt you,” the boy said. “You’re on private property, the dog’s only being protective.”
Noting acne and the nervous shyness of a teenager, Lea reached out her hand. “You must be Dalton. I’m Lea Austin. This is my sister Maddy.”
The dog’s growl increased in volume as Lea moved toward his master. The boy picked up a stick and threw it toward the river. The dog scampered off to fetch it.
“How do you know who I am?” he asked, turning toward Lea. He narrowed his eyes and stared at her intently.
“We’re friends of Scott Miller. We’re guests at his ranch today, and he mentioned you and your sister. We were with Katie at the rodeo when—”
“Yeah, okay, I get the picture. What are you doing here?”
“Bird-watching,” Maddy said. “Katie’s been teaching me how to spot rare birds. She told me we might see a roadrunner along this trail.”