Right Out of Nowhere

by Laurie Salzler

  Ashley was down for a nap. Beth had fed her shortly before the noon hour. She promised to wake the baby up after they’d finished their own meal.

  “Do me a favor and tell Jeff he can stay up there if he wants,” Beth suddenly announced after swallowing a mouthful of her roast beef sandwich.

  Roni chuckled. “If I tell him that, he’ll for sure think you’re going to divorce him.” Beth shrugged, and Roni stared at her. “You’re not are you?”

  Beth apparently gave up trying to keep a straight face and giggled. “Of course not, silly. I just figured since it would only be a month or so before you’re back down, he may as well stay up there and be useful to somebody.”

  “Don’t worry, hon,” Barbara said. “He’ll only be underfoot until the novelty wears off. If you can put up with him until then, everything will work out.”

  “Was Dad like that?” Roni paused from eating.

  “Oh my, yes. If he’d had breasts he would have insisted on feeding you two on his own. As it was, I don’t know how many times he’d pack you up and head out on one of his rides. There’d be no sign of the two of you until he’d finally show up with you screaming from hunger. I’d be about dying from the pain of not nursing.”

  Roni groaned. “TMI, Mom.”

  “Well, it’s true.” Barbara rose from her chair and picked up a plate to clear the table.

  Roni looked at Beth. “Can we get her up now?”

  Beth rolled her eyes. “I suppose.” She pushed her chair back but Roni was already halfway across the room. “Just want to warn you. She probably needs changing.”

  Roni pushed the door open. “Hi, squirt. You ready to get up?” She made no move to lift her from the crib. She was totally entranced by the baby’s gaze.

  “You okay?” Beth asked from the doorway.

  “Yeah. She is so beautiful, Beth.”

  “I’m glad you got to see her so soon. Although, I’d rather you not get clocked on the head to do it.”

  “Me too.” Roni pulled Beth into a hug. “I’m so lucky to have you for a sister-in-law.”

  “You’ve always been like a sister to me, Roni. And Ashley is very lucky to have you as an aunt.”

  They spent the next hour playing with the baby and reminiscing about high school and old times. It was only after they’d said goodbye and she walked to her cabin that Roni realized how good she felt. Selena was right, as always. She’d finally been able to correctly categorize her feelings for Beth. She raised her face to the sun, felt the warmth, and let her heart and spirit soar aloft in the playful breeze.

  The next morning, she didn’t have much to pack for her return trip. She put a change of clothes into her saddlebags and strapped a coat onto her saddle. Her mom had cooked and packed some meals for her to eat on the way and others for them to enjoy once she reached the cabin.

  While on the road to the drop-off, she recalled the conversation with Beth the previous afternoon. She had no idea what Jeff would do but suspected he might stay on the mountain for the remainder of the assigned time. She felt torn between wanting privacy for her and Selena and the need to have three people on call. But, whatever happened, happened. She decided she didn’t really care.

  For the first time in years, she felt free. There’d been nothing left unsaid between her and Beth. Her heart didn’t clutch every time she thought about Beth and her brother together. She still loved Beth, but no longer were her feelings laced with lust. She kept those desires tucked close to her vest, planning only to release them when she saw Selena again. No, the affections she held for her sister-in-law were finally like those she had for family.

  Selena was overjoyed when she’d told her about her imminent return. There were a few periods of silence that spoke to her of unsaid promises. She’d heard Selena sigh several times, despite the surges of static. Those little utterances caused swells of desire to rush through her.

  “There’s an opening for an EMT in Elk City,” Joseph said, breaking into Roni’s thoughts.

  “Oh yeah? How’d you find that out?” She stole a peek at her father and saw his smile. “Never mind. You’ve been fishing around for a job for Selena, haven’t you?”

  “Oat-girl, would I do something like that?” Joseph shot her a look. His eyes were twinkling.

  “Thanks, Dad. I’ll have her radio you when I get up there. If she decides that’s what she wants.”

  Joseph reached over Puller, who was nestled between them, and patted her leg. “I think you’ll find that she’ll be pretty happy about the opening. We talked while she was down here.”

  “You did? Did she tell you about . . . us?” She swallowed hard, suddenly felt flush, and broke out into a sweat. She’d never really talked to her father about relationships. Her mom had always been able to drag stuff out of her, but she never spoke willingly of such things to her dad.

  “Not in so many words. But give an old man some credit. I saw for myself how she lit up when she spoke of you. We had a good old talk, and I promised to keep an eye open for a job in the area. I thought giving her a hand might help the two of you figure out you’re good for each other.”

  “And how would you know we’re good for each other?” Roni grinned, amused.

  “You’re my daughter and an Oatman. So I think you could label me an expert on you. That Selena, she’s a special woman. Damned wise for her years too. And real easy to talk to. Anybody with half a brain could see that if she takes a liking to you, it’s serious, and probably for the long haul.”

  “You’re pretty wise too, Dad. I can see why Mom married you.”

  “To have two wonderful kids, that’s why.”

  They pulled into the Selway River campground a couple hours later and unloaded the horses. Roni said goodbye to her father. He hugged her tightly, nearly breaking her ribs. She had to pound him on the back to get him to let her go so she could breathe again.

  “You be careful, and I’ll see you in a month or so,” Joseph said. He handed Puller up to her and he scooted into the open pocket of her vest.

  She picked up Sparky’s lead after she mounted Chenoa and gathered his reins. “I will. I’ll call the ranch as soon as I get up there.” She reached over quickly and pushed Joseph’s hat visor down over his eyes. “Love you, Dad.” She turned the horses away before he could get a pinch in. A few minutes later she heard the truck and horse trailer pull out. Pretty soon the sound of the diesel engine became distant. The breeze in the poplar trees provided a great backdrop to the chirping of birds. A couple of ravens played overhead, and they reminded her of the one that had mocked her earlier this spring on her initial ride up.

  Once she entered the woods and hit the flats, she urged both horses into an easy trot. She watched Sparky closely to make sure he wasn’t getting overly tired. She needn’t have worried; he was actually pulling against the lead to get ahead of Chenoa. It seemed he was excited to be getting back into the mountains too. The horses tossed their heads at one another, and she reined them in to slow them down.

  “You guys are kooks.”

  Two hours later, she was looking for the trailhead to take her up the mountainside when suddenly a horse and rider appeared ahead. It was Selena, and Roni’s heart tripped over itself.

  “Selena,” she whispered.

  The sight of her created a knot in her chest that pulled inexorably tighter until she thought the happiness inside would rip her apart. Seeing her lover come toward her was like looking into the sun. It was so beautiful it hurt. Roni rode toward her light . . . and her future.

  Laurie Salzler holds a degree in Natural Resources Conservation and Outdoor Recreation. She has worked with animals (wild and domesticated) her entire life, including several years spent in the veterinary field and equine industry at training and breeding facilities in New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. She is an avid outdoor enthusiast, whose activities include horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, bird-watching, photography, and one of her favourite pastimes, walking with her pack of canines. As a
member of WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service), she is involved in rescuing and rehabilitating native Australian wildlife in New South Wales. In addition to a book of photography, Eye of the Beholder, she has penned five books: A Kiss Before Dawn, Right Out of Nowhere, Positive Lightning, In the Stillness of Dawn (the sequel to A Kiss Before Dawn), and After A Time.