The Long Ride Home

by Marsha Hubler

  Completing the circle, the Chambers’ two Westies, Tippy and Tyler, sat panting and waiting for a morsel from Mrs. Chambers who sat holding a stick with four toasted marshmallows.

  “Tom,” she said, pivoting toward Mr. Chambers who was pouring lemonade and iced tea into paper cups at the table, “you better come get these before they turn into charcoal.”

  Mr. Chambers hurried to his wife and slid the marshmallows off the stick and onto a paper plate. “I’ve learned my lesson,” he said. “These babies will sit and cool for a few seconds before I indulge. I don’t need scorched fingers or a burnt tongue.”

  Skye studied her foster parents as they talked and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. Mrs. Chambers, with her beautiful blue eyes and Mr. Chambers always squaring his cowboy hat and smoothing his mustache, were a special couple, Skye concluded. After helping dozens of kids over their fifteen or so years together, they still loved kids, and each other. I owe them oodles, Skye told herself. Maybe someday I can get married to a wonderful guy, and we can help kids too. I know that would make Mom and Dad Chambers happier than anything else in the world.

  “Skye!” Her mother’s voice brought Skye back to earth. “The kids haven’t had so much fun in a long time. I just hope I can get past tomorrow, and we’ll all be fine.”

  “Don’t worry, Mother,” Skye said. “I’m sure everything will be okay.” With Chad and Father here tomorrow, it sure will be okay!”

  The Saturday before Labor Day, the day for which Skye had prayed and waited, finally arrived! She could think of nothing that meant more to her than having both of her parents with her at the same time and smiling. God, she prayed on Friday night before bedtime, please help Mother accept the truth tomorrow. If she sees how you changed Father and how you can change anyone, maybe she won’t be scared of him anymore. Maybe she’ll accept you into her life, too.

  Skye had no trouble getting up on a morning that brought sunshine, blue skies, and a gentle breeze. Before breakfast, she and Morgan had already hurried to the barn to feed and groom the horses and to get them ready for their big day. Of course, Skye shared all of her hopes and fears with Champ, who listened with nickers and nudges.

  After the entire household indulged in Mr. Chambers’ famous scrambled-egg breakfast, Skye and Morgan took Dennis, Emma, and Nancy’s three kids to the field where six tacked horses waited. All morning Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, Nancy and Millie got ready for the picnic at the gazebo, and Skye and Morgan taught the kids horse care and gave riding lessons.

  Morgan, sitting with Richelle on Blaze, instructed Stevie and Tasha how to neck-rein their mounts in the training corral. At the same time, Skye took Dennis and Emma on a lazy ride on trails that interlaced the Keystone Stables land. Although being with Champ was enough reason to go, Skye had an ulterior motive to have some time alone with her two cousins. Near mid-day, the three rode to the bottom of the large fenced-in field and stopped at the pond where the three horses, like nails to a magnet, were drawn to the succulent grasses along the water’s edge.

  For the entire ride, Skye had her eye on her watch, checking every few minutes in anticipation of her father’s arrival. But now, she took a deep breath of the crisp, clean air, glanced at the cloudless azure sky, and soaked in the warmth of the sun’s rays. As her gaze drifted to the horses, a breeze swept across the field, teasing tufts of the horses’ manes and tails to whisk freely. Skye smiled at Dennis and Emma whose faces expressed nothing but pure delight. Now’s as good a time as any to talk to them about God, Skye reasoned.

  “Skye, this place is fantastic,” Dennis said, his eyes taking in the scene before him.

  “You are so lucky,” Emma said. “I know a couple of foster kids, but I’ve never heard of anyone being in a foster home as neat as this one.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly say that I’ve been lucky,” Skye said as she stroked Champ’s neck.

  “What do you mean?” Emma’s big brown eyes flashed with interest.

  “Well,” Skye said, “I’ve learned from the Bible that God has my life all planned out. It’s no accident that I came here. You should’ve known me before Mom and Dad Chambers rescued me. I hung out with gangs and everything. The judge was ready to ship me to a detention center for lousy kids and throw away the key.”

  “That’s hard to believe,” Dennis said. “You just don’t seem like the gangbanger type. What happened? Did Mr. and Mrs. Chambers lock you in your room for three months?” He let out a hearty laugh.

  “Yeah, you just seem like a normal kid to me,” Emma said.

  Skye looked deep into her cousins’ eyes. “After I moved in here, I was still a mess for a while. I pulled all kinds of stupid stunts, and I wanted to leave because Mom and Dad Chambers had a whole bunch of rules that I didn’t like.”

  Dennis chuckled and saluted Skye. “You should visit a Marine training camp if you think you have rules here.”

  “Anyway,” Skye continued, “the big change came in my whole attitude when I accepted Christ. Mom Chambers told me that I’d never make it in life without having Jesus in control. I finally had to accept the fact that I was a rotten kid, and only God could clean me up. I couldn’t do it on my own.”

  Deep in thought, Dennis rubbed his chin. “You know, Mom always watches TV programs on Sunday morning that talk about the same thing—about being saved and stuff like that. But we’ve never gone to church. It hasn’t been important to us. Now you’ve got me thinking, Skye. I’ve always felt like something’s been missing in my life but I don’t know what. Maybe it has something to do with God.”

  Emma also had a faraway look. “Skye, it’s really strange that you’re telling us all of this. Bonnie, one of my friends at school, is always razzing on me to go to church with her. She’s tried to explain about Jesus and all that stuff, but I could never quite get the hang of what she was saying. Maybe I’ll tune in better the next time the subject comes up.”

  “There was so much that I never understood until Mom Chambers took the time to explain everything,” Skye said. “When we die, we’re going to live somewhere forever, and we can’t get to heaven just by trying to be good. It’s only by accepting Christ as our Savior that we’ll get there.”

  “That’s the same thing Bonnie’s always telling me,” Emma said.

  “Interesting philosophy you have there, Skye,” Dennis said as he brushed a horsefly off his horse’s neck.

  Skye gave her cousins a heartfelt smile. “The Keystone Stables family always goes to church on Sunday. Would you like to go with us tomorrow? We have a super teen group called Youth for Truth. I’d love if you’d meet all my friends. I want to show off my new family.”

  “Hmm, church,” Dennis said. “I’m for far-out experiences. Sure. Why not?”

  “You’ve got me thinking, too,” Emma said to Skye. “I’d really like to know more about this God business. I guess now’s as good a time as any.”

  “Skye,” Emma said, “what do you think is going to happen when your mom sees your dad today?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that a lot, too,” Dennis said. “This could be a disaster.”

  “Well,” Skye said, “I’ve been hoping and praying for this day my whole life. I just have to believe that everything will turn out all right. It’s just gotta.”

  “I sure hope you’re right,” Dennis said.”

  “We’re rooting for you,” Emma added.

  Skye glanced at her watch for the umpteenth time and then looked across the field to the barn. Mr. Chambers, in his towering chef’s hat, was helping Morgan and the younger children dismount. Down the walkway from the back of the house came Chad, and Skye’s heart did its usual back flip.

  “C’mon,” Skye said to her cousins, neck-reining Champ to her right. She gently dug her heels into his belly, nudging him forward. “It’s 11:30 already and just about time for lunch and the biggest family reunion of my life.”

  Chapter sixteen

  Hi, Chad,” Skye said, her heart rac
ing like a greyhound after a rabbit.

  “What’s up, Skye?” Chad’s dimples flashed his gorgeous smile. Leaning against the fence, he looked sharp in his black Stetson, red-checkered shirt, jeans, and black boots.

  Morgan sped off on her Jazzy toward the gazebo. “I hear the picnic table calling me!” she yelled back. “See you guys later!”

  “I guess you’ve met my two little sisters and brother.” Skye said to Chad as she pointed to the three younger children who were watching Mr. Chambers tether the horses in the corral.

  “Yeah,” Chad said. “Mr. C. just introduced us. That is too cool, Skye.”

  Skye slipped off Champ and tied him next to the other horses. Dennis and Emma followed suit with their mounts.

  “Chad, these are my cousins from Charleston, Dennis and Emma Eister.”

  “Hi,” Dennis said, giving Chad a warm handshake.

  “Hi, Chad. We’ve heard a lot about you.” Emma slipped Skye a “gotcha!” smile.

  For once, it was Chad, not Skye, whose face suddenly looked sunburned.

  “Emma, sh-h,” Skye whispered.

  “Chad is Skye’s activities director,” Mr. Chambers joked, starting toward the gazebo. “Isn’t that right, Skye?”

  “D-a-ad!” Skye said as she parked her hands on her hips.

  “Well, it’s the truth,” Mr. Chambers said then turned to the younger children. “C’mon, kids. Lots of picnic fun awaits you.”

  “What’s an activities director?” Tasha asked as the three children started to follow Mr. Chambers.

  “You dumb girls don’t know anything.” Stevie ran past his sisters to catch up with Mr. Chambers. “He directs her activities. Anybody would know that.”

  Mr. Chambers suddenly stopped, pulled a spatula from his back pocket and raised it like a general uplifting his sword as he prepared for battle. “On to bigger and burger things. Charge!” He gently grasped Richelle’s hand and started toward the gazebo with Stevie and Tasha giggling and romping by his side.

  “That man’s out of his tree.” Dennis laughed, crawling between the fence rails to join Chad.

  “There’s never a dull minute around here,” Emma said. “I’m beginning to see that big time.”

  “Shall we?” Chad took off his Stetson and held it over his heart, bowing before Skye and Emma. “Ladies first.”

  “Oh, Chad, you’re too much.” Skye giggled as she and Emma joined the boys and the four headed off to the gazebo.

  After the picnickers grilled a few dozen burgers, sliced a watermelon, spilled a super-size bag of chips all over the table, and poured a dozen drinks in large red plastic cups, they sat at the table, and Mr. Chambers prayed. While the families chatted and ate more than they ever intended, Skye kept her focus on the parking lot next to the house.

  At 12:16, a tan SUV crept into Keystone Stables and pulled in next to Millie’s white Tracker.

  He’s here! Skye almost said out loud. She glanced at her mother, busy cleaning up Richelle’s spilled drink and not noticing the incoming car. Skye glanced at Morgan, who gave her a thumbs up, then she shifted to Mom and Dad Chambers, who both nodded, their signal for Skye to go greet her very special guests.

  “I’ll be right back,” Skye said to anyone who cared to listen. She hurried to the parking lot and greeted her father and Ruth with generous hugs. A sweet waft of Canoe shaving lotion permeated the air, mellowing the tension Skye had built up within her senses.

  “Mother and the three kids are over at the gazebo,” Skye said, pointing.

  Skye’s father took a long deep breath and ran his hand over his thin hair. “Skye, Ruth and I been praying about this moment ever since you suggested it. This might be the answer to your mother’s terrible fear of me.”

  Ruth took her husband’s hand. “Hon, I’m sure she’ll be all right once you talk with her. What happened between you two was a lifetime ago.”

  Skye chewed her lip, glanced at the gazebo and finally said, “Are you ready?”

  “Let’s do it.” Skye’s father managed a weak smile as he slipped his hand around Skye’s.

  Slowly, the three walked toward the gazebo.

  “I’ve been practicing all week what I want to say to her,” Skye’s father said. “I sure hope she’ll listen.”

  Skye focused on Mom and Dad Chambers who stood and faced her, blocking Nancy’s view. Skye shifted her glance beyond her foster parents to her mother, still busy with spills and her squirming children’s demands. At the other end of the table Chad, Morgan, Millie, Dennis, and Emma sat in silence, chewing slowly, waiting for the awkward “reunion.”

  Mr. Chambers reached his hand toward Skye’s father. “How are you?”

  “I think I’m fine.” Skye’s father shook Mr. Chambers’ hand.

  “Ruth, it’s good to see you again,” Mrs. Chambers said, shaking the woman’s hand.

  “It’s good to see you,” Ruth said nervously.

  “Mother,” Skye said to Nancy as Mr. and Mrs. Chambers stepped aside, “Father’s here.”

  “What’s that?” Nancy said. Still busy with the spill, she smiled as she turned toward Skye.

  “Hello, Rita,” Jacy said.

  Nancy glared at her ex-husband and, trying to process the whole situation, her beet-red face melded into pure distress.

  Skye remembered the same look before, the day she and her mother had met. “Mother, please sit down and talk so you two can get things ironed out,” she pleaded.

  For a moment, no one said a word.

  “Mom, who’s that man?” Stevie asked, pulling at his mother’s arm.

  “Th-this is Skye’s daddy, honey,” Skye’s mother stuttered. “R-remember, I told you he might be here today?”

  “Rita,” Jacy said. “I’ve been looking for you for a long time, and I—”

  “This wasn’t my idea, you know.” Skye’s mother’s lips quivered. “Just stay your distance, Jacy, and I’ll be fine.” She edged her body away from the bench and stood with her arms crossed, just staring.

  “Rita, I just want to say I’m sorry for everything that’s happened.” With an outreached hand, Skye’s father took one step forward.

  Skye’s mother took several steps backward.

  No one at the table moved.

  Mrs. Chambers rushed to Nancy’s side and slipped her arm around her shoulders. “Nancy, Skye planned this meeting to make things right between you and Jacy, not to frighten you.”

  Skye rushed to her mother’s other side, urging her to calm down. “Mother, I need you to see that Father is different—really different.”

  Skye’s father took another step forward, then stopped. “Rita, or should I say ‘Nancy,’ I’ve cleaned up my life and I’m not full of hate and revenge anymore.” He gave Ruth a nervous smile. “This is my wife, Ruth. We have a new life in Christ and with each other. I just needed to see you to tell you that. You can stop running.”

  For a moment, nothing stirred but a napkin that fluttered away in a sudden fickle breeze. The tense scene holding the picnickers captive had even filtered down to the youngest as the three children sat staring at their mother.

  Skye looked deep into her mother’s frightened eyes. “Mother, please listen. Father’s telling the truth. I want you to be at peace. Nothing would make me happier. Please. I love you. I love you both.” Tentatively, Skye grasped her mother’s hand.

  Suddenly, Nancy started to weep. Skye felt her mother’s heart and soul open up and her body relax as the woman released eleven years of fear and desperation. She cried and cried.

  “It’s okay, Mother,” Skye said as she patted her on the back. “We’re all here for you.”

  Mrs. Chambers grabbed a napkin from the table and handed it to Nancy. “It’s all right, Nancy. There’s no reason to be afraid anymore.”

  “What’s the matter, Mommy?” Richelle asked as she stared at her mother. “You’re cwying.”

  “Mom?” Tasha and Stevie said almost in unison.

  “I’m okay,” Nancy
sniffled as she reached and touched her children’s shoulders. “There’s nothing to worry about.” She dabbed her face with the napkin.

  “Why don’t we all sit down,” Mr. Chambers said, returning to his seat.

  Mrs. Chambers joined her husband. “Nancy, do you mind if Jacy and Ruth join us?”

  Eyes filling with tears, Skye prodded her mother toward the bench. “C’mon, Mother. Let’s sit down.”

  Morgan motored next to her stepmother. “Mom,” she said with her eyes also full of tears, “this is all for the best. Please try to relax.”

  “All right,” Skye’s mother cried. Still focused on her ex-husband, she slipped back to her seat between Stevie and Tasha, picked up Richelle, and positioned her on her lap. “I don’t know if I’m ready for all of this.”

  While Morgan returned to her spot, Skye quickly slipped next to Tasha, folded her hands to steady them, and shifted her glance around the table.

  “Nancy,” Millie reached and touched the woman’s arm, “we haven’t been a real family for all these years. Let’s try to put the past behind us and make amends—for the kids’ sakes.”

  Nancy dabbed her eyes, her glance darting around the table. She took a deep jagged breath and drew Richelle in a close embrace. Stevie and Tasha stared at Jacy and Ruth who sat next to Mr. Chambers.

  “Nancy, please,” Skye’s father said.

  “I—I’ll give it a try,” she said, “but it will take some time.”

  Suddenly, a gentle breeze seemed to usher in a sense of calm. Skye, once a tough gangbanger now a softhearted Christian, brushed a flood of tears from her cheeks as she studied the entire scene.

  Thank you, God, Skye prayed as she glanced at Mom and Dad Chambers who were looking back, both with moist eyes. Skye shifted to her father and Ruth who, with pleading looks, sat staring at Skye’s mother. Next sat Morgan, Millie, Emma, and Dennis who dared to release stingy smiles. Then there was Chad.