by Lynn Hubbard
His bronzed skin shimmered in the sun. It looked like silk stretched rigidly across his back and she wondered if it felt like silk as well. So lost in her thoughts, she had not realized Jaelyn was heading up a slope. She felt herself sliding backwards and threw her arms around Jaelyn’s waist so tight it almost cut off her breath.
“Sorry.”
“I thought you would have noticed the hill. Apparently your mind is on someone else?”
“Ahh no, Just enjoying the scenery.”
“And is my brother part of your view? He does seem to be keeping an eye on you as well.”
Amelia ignored the teasing and returned her grip to Jaelyn’s waist. She did try to watch ahead of them so she would not be surprised again. She hated having to feel incompetent and rely on others to help her. In San Francisco, they lived in town so she walked most everywhere. She could have a horse if she wanted one, but they were not needed since everything was so close. However, for this trip it would have been better if she had her own horse to ride, perhaps Chase could give her some lessons when they returned.
Chapter 17
Back at the ranch, Alma was teaching Sabrina and Anna how to knit. Sabrina was grateful for the distraction. She was becoming stir crazy being cooped up, unable to ride and watched like a hawk by everyone. Alma had suggested the lessons and Anna offered to learn as well. The three women sat on the porch in the spring light. It was a magnificent day. A soft breeze blew by whispering for the flowers to bloom. Spring was Sabrina’s favorite time of the year. Everything was new, fresh.
She sat on the rocking chair, her brow furrowed in concentration. She was determined to do this. Anna, who was used to sewing, took to knitting like a duck out of water. Sabrina was awful at sewing and had the scars to prove it. At least she couldn’t poke herself with the larger rods. She had just finished a row to find it unraveling before he eyes. One of the ginger barn cats had come up and grabbed onto the dangling yarn pulling it back with its claws. Alma shoed it away but the damage had already been done.
“I am never gonna figure this out.”
“Of course you will. You are just trying too hard. Don’t make a chore out of it. Knitting should be enjoyable.”
“Should be.” Sabrina mimicked taking a deep breath and starting over as Alma leaned in closer to making sure she was doing it right.
***
Jonathan had coerced Brock into letting him ride. He hasn’t been on a horse since he had lost his leg to infection. Brock didn’t feel confident but Dr. Reynold assured him his father would be fine. Not completely convinced Brock had Samuel ride along as well.
The hardest part was mounting. Brock supported his weaker side while he lifted his good leg into the stir-up. He set his mouth tight against the pain from putting all of his weight on his stump. Even with the prosthetic leg that Thomas had acquired for him, the leg still caused him discomfort from time to time.
He pulled himself onto the horse using his upper arm strength while Samuel held the horse still. Samuel adjusted the stirrup on the other side for him and stepped back after handing the reins to Jonathan.
Jonathan, sitting up straight in the saddle, laughed out loud with the pure pleasure of it. “Feel like a man again. What the hell are you all standing around for? Saddle up!” He was feeling whole for the first time since the accident. The other men quickly mounted their horses and followed Samuel down the trail towards the river.
They could hear the river before they saw it. The tumbling water twisted its way along the path nipping at branches and rocks along the way. It was very soothing and the men were quiet as they road. Samuel stopped in one area, which looked much like all the others around them. Brock from his previous excursion with Sabrina recognized it as the spot where Sabrina had pulled Samuel from the river, offering him life and hope.
“Beautiful country around here. Would be a great place to raise a child.” Jonathan hinted.
“I have learned from long, hard, experience. Not to make Sabrina’s decisions for her.”
“Well said!”
“A little persuasion wouldn’t hurt. Would it?” Samuel asked.
“I haven’t made up my own mind. I would not know which way to sway her.”
“ ‘Tis difficult dealing with the feminine mind. None of us have any hope of unraveling its mysteries.”
“Got that right Doc.” Jonathan laughed as the men moved on following the river.
Mississippi was a very fertile state. Its temperate climate and vast web of streams and rivers lent to the rich soil. In one area the moss covered oaks stretched out before them.
“I have never seen anything like it.” Dr. Reynold exclaimed in fascination.
“It’s pretty enough, but don’t get too close to it or you’ll be ate up with nats and chiggers. Nasty little things, damn bites can take weeks to stop itching.”
Brock eyed the hanging tendrils warily knowing Sabrina would skin him alive if he brought back chiggers. The sun was rising in the sky and Samuel’s stomach rumbled as if on que.
Worried about his father over doing it on his first jaunt Brock suggested they head back.
He rode Justice to the barn and was happy to see Sabrina waiting for him. He swung down and pulled her into a kiss.
“What have you been up to?” He asked seeing her hand hiding something behind her back.
“I have a surprise.” She said pulling forth her knitting to display proudly.
The small yellow square was about the size of his hand. He looked down at her eager face awaiting his approval.
“You made this?”
“From yarn.”
“It is really good. Umm what is it exactly?”
“It’s a blanket.”
“Isn’t it kinda small for a blanket?”
“It isn’t finished yet, don’t you know you can’t knit a blanket in a day? Alma told me it sometimes takes months.”
“I’m sorry Sabrina I don’t know much about knitting. I’m sure our baby will be very warm.”
Sabrina beamed at his praise as Samuel wandered over after helping Jonathan down from his horse. “Is it supposed to be lopsided?”
“Your head is gonna be lopsided if you open your stupid mouth again.” Sabrina spat out angrily grabbing the cloth from Brock and heading towards the house. Her eyes welling up with tears.
Brock glared at him as he went to soothe Sabrina’s wounded pride. Samuel’s rich booming laughter that followed him did not help matters much. How long had Thomas said the bad moods would last?
Amelia was exhausted, several miles later she was ready for a warm bath and a hot meal. She wasn’t too particular to what came first. At Riley’s call of “Let’s make camp.” She looked up in surprise and dismay. There was no Inn in site just a small clearing.
“Where is the Hotel?” She heard Sally ask mirroring her own thoughts.
“We should hit Biloxi tomorrow. They have hotels there. Figured we would just camp out for the evening.”
“Sleep outside?”
“It’ll be okay Sally. Nothing to fear.”
“Except being gored to death by a pig, bit by a snake or attacked by a coyote.” Amelia added sarcastically. She was shaken by the previous incident more than she had realized as she looked around at the dark forest surrounding them.
A movement nearby captured her attention and she looked down at Chase who grabbed her by the waist and lowered her to the ground with ease. Her legs were wobbly and she held onto his arm until she was confident she could stand on her own.
“You okay?”
“Fine.” She lied.
“I won’t let any harm befall you.” He whispered before he returned to tend to his horse. Amelia turned to find Jaelyn watching her with sparkling eyes. Why had she suggested this trip?
They quickly set up camp as the sun sank into the trees. Riley insisted on lighting the fire and Amelia watched impressed as Chase cooked dinner. She was a bit skeptical of Chase’s cooking skills and eating the roasted boar but
after the first taste she quickly devoured the rest.
She had always done most of the cooking in her house. It was out of necessity. After her mother passed her father took over the cooking. Although she was very young she took over the chore a short time later for their own wellbeing.
Thinking of her mother brought sadness. The last trip she had made to Biloxi her mother had been alive. She remembered her laughing in pleasure as the spray from the ocean covered her in mist. Forcing herself back to the present she wiped her damp eyes, hoping no one would see, as she took another bite.
“Why are you sad?”
Amelia jumped not realizing that Chase had moved to sit next to her. She hesitated before answering, “I was thinking about my mother. The last time I was in Biloxi, she was young and alive. So vibrant.”
“She is still young and vibrant. I was taught when we pass on our spirit is set free. I’m sure your mother is dancing in the wind.”
Amelia forced a smile as she took a deep breath trying to get her emotions under control. She normally tried not to think of her mother. It hurt too much. She looked up at Chase who had grown quite again. He was staring up at the moon and she wondered what he was thinking. He was so unlike any man she had ever met before. So strong and quick, yet gentle, funny and sensitive. It was a tragedy that these beautiful people had been practically stomped out by greed.
“The sky is bright tonight.”
“It is the Flower Moon. To let the flowers know it’s time to bloom.”
“You think the moon talks to flowers?”
“Who do you think tells the flowers to wake up out of the ground?”
“Honestly, I never really thought about it before. What man thinks about flowers?”
“It’s a part of nature everything is intertwined. The wind, the flowers, the trees these are all alive giving us air to breath, fruit to eat, wood for shelter. We have to respect them and thank them for their sacrifice. How bland the world would be without the color of flowers. You need to rest. We have more travel ahead.”
He moved to stand and Amelia put her hand on his arm to stop him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being here.”
“I look forward to seeing this big water.”
“If you want to see water should come home with me to California.” The words slipped from her mouth and she was glad for the darkness to hide her blush. She would love to see the look on her father’s face if she returned with Chase. She wondered if Chase would like San Francisco?
“Perhaps I will someday. Good night Amelia.” His soft sultry voice sent shivers down her spine. He quietly stood up and was gone. Amelia felt cold as his body was no longer sheltering her from the wind. She too stood and spread out her pallet on the girl side of the fire. She watched the moon, imagining it whispering a mantra to the flowers, until she fell asleep.
Amelia was awoken by Riley early the next morning. She sat up rubbing her tired eyes. She groaned. It was still dark. She could hear Sally complaining about traveling “in pitch blackness” and was surprised to find herself agreeing with Sally’s sentiments again.
Her body was stiff from the long ride and hard ground. She groaned as she stretched. Jaelyn laughed next to her. “You sound like an old woman! Hop up I want to get there today! Thomas says the earth is white there.”
“You can’t see what color it is in the dark she muttered rolling up her blanket and standing up as she tried to ignore her bodies protests as she readied for the day.
Squinting into the darkness she spotted her brother and made her way over to him. “How’s the leg?”
“Doing well.”
“You need to let Thomas check it.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Amelia is right. That’s how my father lost his leg. He was too stubborn to go see a doctor.”
“He can check it when we stop. It’s too damn dark now anyway.”
“Well if you didn’t wake us in the middle of the night we could see.” Amelia retorted.
“It’ll be light soon enough. The horses can see.”
Amelia stretched again trying to relieve the stiffness from her neck and back. Large hands came down on her shoulders and gently started kneading them. Her nerve endings tingled as the blood flow awakened those areas as well as others. A soft moan escaped her throat as her lulled back. Chase bent over and kissed her mouth and then her cheek.
“Hey you two it may be too dark to see but we can still hear!” Jaelyn shouted causing laughter from all.
“You shouldn’t be talking about silence sister when you and Thomas snuck off into the woods last night.”
“Jealous?”
“No not really, Thomas is a nice looking man but I’m not interested.”
“Let’s get going so we can get there!” Riley said still laughing as he handed out biscuits they had brought with them.
Ignoring the comments from her friends and family Amelia yet again rode with Chase. When the sun started to rise, it was the most brilliant one that Amelia remembered.
***
Riley once again took the lead as they neared the Gulf. He looked around grimly at the felled trees and devastated homes he had passed before, he was always alert for the desperate person whose life had been torn apart and was desperate enough to try to take his.
It was amazing what the force of nature could muster. What took Man months and years to accomplish the Earth could reduce it to debris in seconds; reclaiming it as its own.
Amelia knew they had reached their destination when she could smell the salt in the air. She sat up eager with excitement looking for the first peek of Biloxi.
When they finally reached the edge of town Amelia was heartbroken by the devastation. However these people were resilient. They had weathered troubled times before and would again. Just months after the great storm from the sea, workers had already begun to rebuild and repair what was broken.
The staff, who knew that they offered hope of rebuilding, that once again people would flock to Biloxi for respite, eagerly greeted them at the Hotel. Their luggage was unstrapped and carried but Chase refused any help tending to his horse. Knowing that first Sabrina, and then Brock, would kill him if any harm came to Thor, he handled the task personally.
Biloxi was an odd brew. Well dressed couples walked along the street ignoring the tarped up roofs and boarded up windows waiting for new panes of glass. He felt like an intruder and wondered why Amelia would bring them all here as he finished rubbing down Troy. He made one more check of his hooves before returning the short walk to the hotel. He received many curious glances as he walked. He ignored them as the men took a bit closer step to their females. Chase grinned, as if he would through them down and ravish them in the street in the street.
The only woman on his mind to ravish was Amelia. Thinking of her his heart quickened as did his feet. Returning to the hotel he found his group was still in the lobby debating on sleeping arrangements. It was decided for morality’s sake, they would get four rooms. Sally went to protest about sharing a room with Amelia but was cut off quick by a deathly look from Jaelyn who had her own room. Chase and Riley would bunk together as would Thomas and Warren.
Riley divided the room keys and tipped the bell boys as they carried their luggage to the rooms.
Chase taking note of Amelia’s room number stepped into his. He had never slept in a Hotel before and it seemed odd. He was used to sleeping outdoors under the stars at night if he was away from home. He much preferred that than sleeping in a rented box.
Amelia was anxious as well. Being trapped in a room with Sally was not in her plans. Not that she had any definite plans, she normally just winged it.
“Which bed do you want?” She graciously offered Sally first pick.
“It don’t matter to me, I do not plan on sleeping in here tonight.”
“Would you prefer to bunk with Jaelyn?”
Sally laughed, “After the look I got, I’m sure Jaelyn already has a
bunkmate in mind. Which means Warren may need some company.”
“Well in that case, I’ll take the bed next to the wall. I’m not a morning person.”
After settling their belongings, and cleaning up from the trail dust, they met back in the lobby to walk down to the water together. Amelia could not wait to see Chase’s expression when he first saw the seashore. She was pretty sure there were no beaches in Oklahoma. Eager to be the first one there, she grabbed Chases hand and pulled him to the front of their group.
The air was so thick with salt you could taste it.“What is that?” Chase asked.
The salt air from the sea. The water is salty, so you can’t drink it. It will make you sick.”
Chase raised an eyebrow. “Water that taste like salt? Where does the salt come from? How does it get in the water? What about the fish?”
“The salt is pulled from the rocks and minerals as water passes over them. The fish in the sea are used to the salt and can’t survive in lake water. There are so many amazing creatures that wash up on shore. But be careful some can be harmful if you step on them.”
The roar of the waves were drawing closer as the buildings petered out. Chase stopped abruptly as he first spotted the water. It was as if the earth had ended. He squinted his eyes looking for the land he was told was across the expanse but he could see none. Just as Amelia had said.
Long piers and ships could be seen in the distance but Amelia was more interested in the secluded part of the beach. Due to the storm and tales of its wreckage, there were not as many people as usual this time of year. But the beach was still stunning. Once passing over the rows of seaweed and other oddities the waves pushed out of the ocean she stopped to remove her shoes. Chase and Jaelyn followed suit as the others left theirs on.