Paranormal Romance Reading > Strong Women Journeys

by Ann Patty

  Cairn path was preordained. Noting the monument placement she reckoned she could return to this spot, turn left and hook into the way back easily. Cairn mulled over the eagle symbol on the rock. Perhaps it was a viewing area. Maybe it was their nesting ground. Hopefully she would soon discover the significance.

  About a half hour passed and the terrain was getting significantly rockier, more arid, less vegetation, and was gaining elevation. The path was dwindling to almost a pencil line in the hard-caked dirt. Cairn figured that most had turned back. This land felt forbidden. The sun was high overhead and the heat was intense. No human or horse should be out in this god forsaken zone thought Cairn, but she could not help to see what was over the next hump. Soon she reached her goal under Bluebird's steady legs. It was just another plateau surrounded by more of the same: barren hills, sparse vegetation, dry cracked earth—no man's land.

  Cairn pulled Bluebird to a halt and gazed as far as her eyes could see. She sat atop Bluebird for fifteen minutes looking to the north, then the south, to the east and west. Cairn flushed as she realized she had gone a few steps too far. She was lost. Now all the terrain looked identical. Cairn had plenty of daylight, but no water or anything to aid in her situation. She even left her phone on her suitcase, charging no less. She picked up Bluebird's reins and unconsciously chose a dire course.

  She steered her horse around and across the top of the mound looking for clues to recovering her tracks. Cairn crisscrossed her own tracks and made nonsense out of her hoof print path. She was over thinking and riding and steering Bluebird into confusion. If she had only known to trust Bluebird. That if she dropped her reins he would have taken her home safely. Cairn rode off the mound hoping to reconnect with her previous path.

  Her heart pounded in her ears now as her pulse quickened. Bluebird's ears stood sharp at alert. Cairn was in foreign territory, nothing was recognizable. On top of leaving an elevated view point, she sabotaged her return by paying no attention to what direction she got on or off the knoll. The land here was ravaged and even more barren. A few rocks varying in size were positioned here and there. Dehydration sucked the ground dry. Narrow cracks ran into long fissure like fingers reaching desperately for moisture. A city of little mounds appeared with small holes. Cairn looked around at the ground. A rush of knowing came. In a suspended moment, time stood still.

  The rattle was underneath Bluebird. Then another. The obedient old horse knew. Cairn inadvertently walked Bluebird right into a snake pit. There was no time left to think or do, only react. The rattler didn't need to be seen because it was felt. It sprung up and clung tight into Bluebird's neck. Bluebird vibrated as if lightning had sent voltage through his body. Instinctively he reared high, then flipped over backwards. Cairn knew the moment that rattler struck Bluebird, earth time was short for both of them. High up on the crest she clung to Bluebird's mane wrapping her arms around his neck, as if the elevation might thwart off her fate. From his thrust, Bluebird lost his footing, carrying Cairn with him over backwards. Her red head hit solid upon a rock, the replicate size that her warning native had given her. Bluebird rolled off her. He got to his feet but stumbled ten feet away. His wound to the neck was fatal and he fell to his knees and succumbed.

  Cairn's eyes fluttered. Her consciousness was fading. Her last thoughts were recalling connections of all the warnings her native friends had bestowed upon her inattentive brain. Cairn could no longer feel her body. Her unconscious was alive and hovering close. Her limbs were splayed out and askew. No longer did she hurt from the impact. Cairn's body parts twitched, yet it was of no consequence. Her essence was separating from her physical self. For one brief lucid earth moment, Cairn embraced the totality of her true self: her soul. Her final unconscious thought was awake as a rattler penetrated her eardrum with the fatal blow. Cairn slipped quietly into the abyss of the dimension beyond.

  The land absorbed this happenstance as it would any other. The cycle of life and death once again fulfilled its time-honored tradition. In nature's bosom all things are deemed equal. Everything living has its time and place. Accolades and rewards for surviving do not exist. This land had absorbed death many times; had taken back life into its womb even though it came from elsewhere. An equitable human law does not preside here. Only the promise that the cycle of life continues on through many transformations.

  The Unrecoverable

  Cliff arrived back at his farm late in the afternoon as usual. What he found was Cairn's car still in his driveway. He was now wondering if she had changed her mind and decided to stay a bit longer. Striding across the barn he noticed Bluebird's halter clinging to his lead line strapped to the post. A classic sign he was tacked up. Cliff went to his stall. Sure enough he was missing, along with his saddle and bridle. Cliff climbed the steps up to his domain. Perhaps Cairn left a note.

  Searching around the house, no note was unearthed. And perusing Cairn's bedroom, Cliff came across her forth find of eagle feathers. He picked them up running his fingers along their spines. His eyes fell to her suitcase, all packed except for her GPS and phone being charged. Cliff thought it odd that she had not left yet. He walked back down to the barn and roamed around for clues. Cliff was getting the distinct feeling that Cairn went out for a leisure last minute ride and got lost. He looked at DB, his dark almost black bay horse, then decided to take his truck to search.

  Within ten minutes, Cliff pulled up to Engine Jo's place. Typically he would never ask, but Cairn had spent some time with Jo, so it put Cliff in better position to ask. Engine Jo appeared out of his trailer, stepped down off the porch, and raised his moonshine glass in toast. Cliff nodded, closed his truck door and approached.

  “Cairn took off on Bluebird. Have ya seen her by chance?” Cliff asked hopefully.

  Engine Jo sniffed the air, “Not here.” Then he pointed in the opposite direction back toward Cliff's place. “She's up on the plateau.” Jo stated matter-of-fact, then added, “Be careful, Cliff. Watch where you step.”

  Cliff listened. He knew Engine Jo did not speak unless it was the truth and that was why Cliff sought his counsel. The day was getting on and Cliff needed to find her before night-fall. Cliff nodded, then said, “Much obliged Jo.” He climbed back in his truck and was gone.

  Man has walked most of the country over and then some. This region was no different. Along with footprints came horse tracks and tire tracks. Cliff could cover more territory with his 4-wheel drive pick up that with a horse at this late hour. So he diverted to the roads that tended to parallel the canyon trails. Soon he found himself up on the same plateau they had ridden the night before. Cliff had one advantage. He knew this country like he knew the back of his hand. No GPS for him, not here. In any season he could navigate every single crevasse and crack of this valley. Often, he was called in for search and rescue missions. When terrain such as this is parked in your back yard you tend to explore.

  Cliff passed by the monument noticing for the umpteenth time the symbols placed next to the arrows. For now he disregarded them because he was going to check the shelf they visited on their last night. No luck came from that. The sun was sinking to the horizon and shadows were getting longer. Cliff found himself back at the monument. This time he stared at it. He was sure Cairn came this way. There were no obvious clues. He could just feel her. Cliff let his intuitive side guide him. Daylight was running low and now he had to trust his instincts. He took off in a direction that he felt strongly guided, by way of the feather trail.

  Time was of essence. The plateau was fairly flat to navigate, but there were many places to get lost. Cliff had just flicked on his headlights when the beam fell dead center on Bluebird. At first it looked like his lower legs were gone, but then Cliff realized they were folded under him. Cliff knew Bluebird was gone. He also knew this was a haven for rattlers. Remembering what Engine Jo warned, Cliff would watch exactly where he stepped. The evening plateau cooled off dramatically. Cliff was counting on this cycle as rattlers retreat to their dens in coole
r temperatures.

  Stepping out of the cab and into the headlights Cliff's stomach tightened. It was too quiet up on this section of the plateau. He went over to Bluebird. Rigormortis had set in. He never figured for this old horse to end up dying by snake venom. He didn't deserve it. But then most folks don't deserve most things. Cliff raised his head up and saw immediately where Cairn rested. Before he took a step, Cliff knew she too has perished.

  His foot rested on her abdomen and rocked her side to side. It was not out of disrespect, rather to usher out any rattler's bedding down on her body for the night. When Cairn's body rocked forward Cliff could see the rock beneath her head. He figured that was the blow that called her home. Cliff put his hands in his pocket and stared down at Cairn. All he could utter was the word, “Shit” and shake his head at the idiocy of her fate. Cliff knelt down and checked Cairn over, deciding which way was best to pick her up. In the end it was the traditional bride across the threshold position. Cliff took her stiffening body back to the pick up, then placed her in the bed of the truck. He didn't figure he wanted to sit next to a corpse. He put a blanket over Cairn out of respect and tucked it in around her.

  Cliff returned to Bluebird. Since he toppled down on all four legs his saddle was in the upright position. Cliff bent over and loosed the girt, which released the saddle. He slipped Bluebird's bridle off. With the saddle slung over his shoulder Cliff went back to the truck swinging it over the side to rest with Cairn. Cliff stood leaning on the truck door for a bit catching his breath, and his thoughts. For all his years in this tough country he had never seen such termination caused by rattlers. Most folks knew better than to wander through a snake haven. But, Cairn didn't.

  Bluebird was in the headlights. Under the night sky he almost appeared animated. Cliff thought for a minute that he should put a bullet in Bluebird's brain to make sure he didn't suffer. He began walking that way, cautious to the snake dens and arrived right in front of Bluebird. Cliff shook his head in regret, “God I'm getting too old for this shit.” When he bent down to pet Bluebird's forelock he realized Bluebird was indeed dead as one could get. Cliff stood up straight and murmured, “What was I thinking. Rest in peace old man.” Cliff's last look at Bluebird was over his right shoulder and he strode back to the running pickup.

  Kelly Calls

  “Hi, this is Kelly. I don't recognize this number. Can you tell me who this is at this late hour?”

  “Excuse me ma’am for calling at this hour. This is Cliff. Cairn's Internet friend?” Cliff said mottling through his words, then went on, “I found your number in Cairn's phone.” Cliff abruptly stopped talking. Then waited.

  Kelly knew who Cliff was, but she was confused at his call so asked, “Yes, I know who you are, but why are you calling me?” Kelly's voice trailed off as she had the realization something was terribly wrong. Then abruptly Kelly bluntly stated with a quiver in her voice, “Something is wrong with Cairn.”

  Cliff just said, “Yes.” Then cleared his throat. To this point he had no emotion. Perhaps shock took that away from him. But here he was having to tell Cairn's best friend that she was gone. A lifetime of memories in a single phone call would be eventually pushed into the pages of photo albums. Cliff gathered his courage to get the words out and said, “There was an accident earlier today. Cairn passed away,” Cliff said it slowly and chose the words “passed away” over “died” or “killed” as somehow it sounded kinder.

  There was a long pause. Cliff could hear Kelly catch her breath so she could speak accurately. “Please tell me what happened. I can take it. Please.”

  Cliff began his recollection of the events from the time he arrived home, to the time of discovery, to the time of depositing Cairn body with the city mortuary. Not a word was left to Kelly's imagination. Not a detail left behind. Cliff spoke unusually soft, slow, but direct as was his way. He never heard a word or peep out of Kelly making him wonder if she had fainted. When he was done, he waited for a bit.

  Kelly quietly said, “That Native American knew. As an old man he warned her along the riverbank and as his younger versions, once again before she left for her ride this morning. I don't understand why just the warnings when they knew.” Kelly was befuddled, lost in thought, and trying to make sense of it all.

  Cliff knew now he need not introduce the visitations of the spirit guide to Kelly. So he spoke frankly, “It was for Cairn to heed or disregard the warnings. Her free will dictated the course of her fate. I believe our souls know when it's best.”

  Kelly agreed, “Yes. All you just said I believe as well. Can I tell you something?” Kelly asked, yet did not wait for an answer, but continued, “I've known Cairn a very long while, but once she decided to take this trip I felt—no I knew she was bound for a certain irreversible fate. I didn't know it was a physical death, but I did know some drastic transformation would come about. There were signs. The way she said some things and her recent encounters with her spirit guides. I can't tell you exactly what it was, maybe it was something I read into her whole adventure. It was like she was in a giant vortex or tunnel that pulled her into the pinnacle of her fate. The last time I saw her at work I knew in my heart it was the last time I would see her.” Kelly stopped talking. Grief overcame Kelly as her last words broke down.

  Cliff really felt empathy for Kelly. He never met her, but the drama of this death was connecting them in a unique partnership. Cairn's off-hand comments that these two should be together had already begun to weave its way. Cliff could hear Kelly sobbing, and let her do so for a few minutes. “Listen Kelly, I'm sorry to give you this news, especially at this late hour. You were the only one she spoke off. I didn't know if there was family. It might be best to let you get this under yourself and we can speak tomorrow.”

  Kelly came abruptly back to attention and said, “Cairn's parents are gone. She has a brother, but he lives in Bolivia. I'm pretty much it because her will designates me as her Power of Attorney. Yes, let's talk tomorrow after I have a grip on this situation. Listen, I know it wasn't an easy call for you. I'll call you back mid-morning tomorrow. Thank you for calling me, Cliff. ” At that, Kelly shut the phone off. She didn't let Cliff even say goodbye.

  Living in separate worlds, states apart, the night thereafter was fitful for both Kelly and Cliff. Kelly had not only lost her friend, her ally, her confidante and partner in every crime, she now had to think logistically what to do for Cairn and with Cairn. Sleep was evasive this night as Kelly reran a thousand scenarios in her mind. None of it mattered because Cairn had chosen her destiny. Sleep never came for Kelly.

  While Cliff did not have the history with Cairn that Kelly had, his brief contact with Cairn had an impact on him. Cliff's psyche was etched by the challenges Cairn pushed at him. She was brash, so entirely different, and in your face cocky. Cairn disrupted Cliff's world in a way that struck him as both defiant and enduring. Sleep for Cliff never came either. It was not because he loved Cairn, he didn't, but he liked her. More so he had a responsibility to protect his guests and he felt he failed. Toward dawn separately Kelly and Cliff came to a sort of peace over Cairn's demise. Both succumbed to the fact that it was just Cairn's time.

  Early morning arrived. Kelly felt someone punched her in the gut. The night not only held her mind captive, but crying jags gripped her body from the stress and realization that her best friend was gone. Nights thereafter are typically like that. Kelly showered and reheated a cold cup of coffee. She wandered about her condo without cause. She wanted to call Cliff, but the early morning hour stopped her. So many things to do and so many emotions. Kelly laid down on the couch and feel deeply to sleep.

  The cell phone on the coffee table next to the sofa where Kelly slept rang sharp. Startled by the ring Kelly sat straight up. It was a co-worker from her firm inquiring why she was not at work. Kelly simply said she had some personal business to attend to and she might not come in that day. End of story. In truth Kelly did not feel enough composure to explain all the details. Her coworkers
would learn soon enough of Cairn's fate. Kelly looked over and saw the wall clock. It was eleven o'clock. She thought of Cliff and in that moment the phone rang once more. She starred at it knowing Cliff was on the other side of that ring. It rang five times before she answered it.

  “Hello Cliff,” Kelly said.

  “Hello. Wait. How did you know it was me?” Cliff asked stumped.

  “An educated guess. Thanks for calling me. I told you that I'd return the call,” Kelly answered then added, “Sorry, just a rough night and then I finally fell asleep on the sofa right up until you almost called.”