by Ann Patty
Cliff rode his horse in silence too, as all of them, dogs included, climbed up to the plateau. His thoughts were neither here nor there. Truthfully, other than the brief sexual interlude he shared with Cairn, he had only a fleeting fondness for her. They had no history. They were oil and water and more than opposites trying to find common ground, thus came sex. Online dating was now relegated to a past memory for Cliff. This one time event was enough for his lifetime. All along he felt more of a kinship to Kelly. Cairn compared both Kelly and Cliff together as being out of the same pod. He heard this out of her mouth all the time. Now Kelly enters into his world and Cairn was right. Kelly fit his world, and no denying it, fit Cliff. Whoever said opposite attract could not have been farther from the truth. Cliff absolutely knew like attracts like. Or, birds of a feather flock together. He acknowledged these old adages came from a kernel of truth somewhere down the line.
Hoof beats puffed in the dirt as they crested out of the canyon trail and up to the plateau. It was late morning and the sun was doing its normal intensifying climbing high overhead. After over an hour, still nothing had been said between Kelly and Cliff. It was a comforting silence. Cliff had ridden this trail too many times to even try to count. It was mundane. In contrast, Kelly's first climb through this arid ditch trail fascinated her. Cliff got a kick out of watching Kelly look around at the terrain, point to nowhere, and shrug her shoulders. Cliff got her silent language. After another half hour, the team came upon the old monument with time worn signage. Cliff looked down and pointed the direction to Kelly. She kept riding. Cliff pondered for only a small second. This was Cairn's turning point. Where she turned the wrong corner towards her demise. Should Cliff point this out to Kelly? Not today, he thought, not ever.
The sun was ruthless, the temperature searing. Cliff was amazed it didn't seem to faze Kelly. He was acclimated to the severe summers, but he knew she was not. He reasoned that she was in some sort of shock still. The ridge lay just ahead. After fifteen minutes the canyon Cairn last saw stretched out before them. Kelly dismounted and took the backpack off her back. Cliff got off his horse too. He wasn't sure what the protocol was going to be. They never mentioned a ceremony of any sort.
Kelly took the lead. “I will make this short and simple. Cairn was a no fuss friend. That's one thing we had in common outside our different perspectives.” She handed her reins to Cliff while he stood by. Kelly had purpose now. She zipped open the backpack and pulled out the zip lock pouch. It was heavy. She set it at her feet just inches from the canyon rim.
Kelly bent over and unzipped the bag. Intentionally, she plunged her fingers deep into Cairn's ashes and sucked out two hand-fulls of ashes. Kelly stood up waiting. At the first slight breeze Kelly's fingers opened and with an upward thrust of her hands gray white ashes puffed in an upward stream northbound. Kelly repeated the process down to the last handful. And then the remains inside the bag were turned out into the wind as Kelly turned the pouch upside down and shook it good. “Goodbye my dear, sweet, best girlfriend. Go dance in peace with your native now. Rest your strong soul elsewhere, until we meet again.”
Cliff stood back with two horses in hand and two dogs beside him. He gave Kelly the room she needed to resolve and put closure to Cairn's death. When Kelly turned back to him her face was streaked. Tears had run rivers down her cheeks pushing aside the dust of ashes that had back-lashed across her face. She backed the plastic baggy back in the knapsack, zipped it up and walked straight toward Cliff. She stopped just a few feet before him emotionless, tired, and slumped, her shoulders in surrender. Cliff's heart went out to Kelly. She not only lost a precious friend, but the canyon winds reclaimed their irreplaceable sisterhood.
Cliff softly extended one arm and placed his hand on Kelly's shoulder. He looked deep into her eyes and saw a broken little girl. Kelly's legs, then her body subtly began to shake. Her lower lip quivered and her eyes teared up. Cliff's other hand released all the horse reins, which dropped to the ground. With this hand he reached out for her other shoulder. Cliff pulled Kelly close into his chest. Wrapping his arms around her back, Cliff held her tight. Kelly buried her face seeking the security of Cliff's chest. Slowly her arms followed her body and she embraced him equally. Cliff's cheek found the top of Kelly's head and he leaned on her, letting her know he was there to comfort her. Fully embraced Kelly released, sobbing inconsolably. Cliff just let her cry and took one hand and rubbed her back. The dogs sensed Kelly's strife and hugged close at her feet.
In the heat of the day, two souls found solace over a single event that united their hearts. A lifetime of leads to find the one perfect life partner and here these two matched over Cairn's life and then her death. It hardly was a fair trade off to lose one to gain another. Alas serendipity often closes one door and opens another. Balance often results from substitutions. Life and death are only mirrors with different sides. One is no better than the other. It is only perception that guides our consciousness into believing this is so.
Cliff held Kelly until her deep sobbing softened and subsided. He ran his hands down the length of her braided hair and rubbed her back as only true lovers do. He knew they weren't, yet. But, the gesture just seemed to be the right thing to do. When Kelly pulled her head back from Cliff's shoulder, she simply peered up at him as if in a stupor. Her front full-length hairs were strewn across her teary face. Her eyes were brimmed in red. Dust and dirt caked her face was washed with cry. She was a mess really.
Cliff had Kelly by the shoulders still. He just kept looking at her. Shaking his head to himself he could not fully grasp her pain. His four days with Cairn did not come close to a comparison to Kelly's lifetime childhood friendship. All Cliff could do was smile tenderly and take one hand and smooth out Kelly's messed up hair. Then he removed his hand, held up a finger and reached into his back pocket. His hand returned with a clean, white handkerchief. Cliff wiped around Kelly's closed eyes and down her cheeks. He softly wiped her face clean, as Kelly stood motionless. When he was done he replaced the hanky in his back pocket. Kelly took a deep breath and exhaled a sigh. She looked slightly up at Cliff blinked, and eeked out a slight smile. She took Cliff's other hand off her shoulder and holding it with both of her hands gave him a snug thank you squeeze. Cliff did his infamous nod of acknowledgment.
Moonshine Mentor
How long the future lovers were out there on that searing hot canyon rim is not known. They came to accomplish a deed for a friend and in return they found an “Anam Cara”—a soul friend. The trek back was silent again, but satisfying for both. A weight had been lifted for Kelly, and indirectly for Cliff. The horses well knew their way back to home, so no one had to steer them that way. The dogs ran on ahead. By time the two entered the ranch yard there was Engine Jo waiting, sitting high up on the fence rail of the corral. Cliff and Kelly rode up to him and dismounted.
“What's up Jo?” Cliff smiled.
“Oh, nothing. Just thought I'd come by,” Engine Jo told a bit of a fib.
“Jo this is Kelly, Cairn's best friend,” Cliff introduced Jo to Kelly.
Kelly threw out her hand in a wave since Jo was high up on the rail. “Really glad to meet a legend,” Kelly said spryly with a wink.
Engine Jo said, “That so? Hmmm.”
Cliff added, “We just dispensed Cairn's ashes over the canyon. That is, Kelly did.”
“Yup. That's good. That's a good place,” Engine Jo added, as he eyed Kelly almost as if he was seeing through her.
Then Kelly threw in, “Here, Cliff give me your horse. I'll take them in out of the heat and untack them. See ya Jo. Got any of that famous moonshine you want to let go of?” Then Kelly laughed out loud as if throwing out a challenge in a tease.
Cliff handed his reins over. “Thanks...thanks a lot.” And with that, Kelly disappeared.
Cliff turned to Engine Jo and asked, “Okay, what's up? It's not often you pay anybody a visit. Care to share?”
Engine Jo smiled broadly, “Of course! Just had to come by
to see your future. She's very nice. Very nice indeed. You'll be very happy Cliff. Congratulations.”
“That's it?” Cliff raised his eyebrows.
“Yup, that's it. And I left you a jug of moonshine for the honeymoon. It's in your tack room.” Engine Jo pounced down off the fence rail, took a couple of skipping steps, hooted at the hills, and trotted towards home.
Cliff was always taken by Engine Jo's premonitions, so much so that he had to smile to himself. He knew Jo was probably right, but now it was up to the correct timing and fate. Although, destinies didn't always go as planned.
Cliff walked toward the barn and out of the heat of the sun. It must be getting late in the day by the sun angle, but it didn't really matter. When he got back to the barn, all tack was put up, the horses both bathed, and settled back into their stalls with fresh hay. Kelly was gone, presumably upstairs showering. Cliff grabbed the moonshine and headed upstairs with it. Why wait for honeymoon?
Cliff set the jug on the kitchen table where Kelly was sitting. In that short time, Kelly had managed to shower and clean up good. Here she sat with a cup of tea in hand. Her hair returned to full length, and she was wearing a snug yellow eyelet sundress that favored her body. There was only one word that came to Cliff's mind: delicious.
“Here's your moonshine,” Cliff said kind of silly.
“I know,” Kelly added. “I knew he left it that's why I teased him about it.”
“Okay, wait. You are one of him? Clairvoyant?” Cliff curiously asked.
Kelly answered, “Yes. Sometimes strong. Sometimes not so. Just depends.”
“Okay read me,” Cliff beckoned with his hands and then kicked off his boots. Then looking at his boots he said, “Say you rode just fine in tennis shoes. I got to try that. Just always rode in boots.”
“Yes, I might try some of that Engine Jo's moonshine. Go take yourself a shower. You look like you had a hard day taking care of a despondent woman,” Kelly said. And with that Cliff went to bathe.
By time Cliff returned smelling all fresh and looking all dabber Kelly had started on her second glass of moonshine. She was sitting on the couch sipping and looking smug. Cliff just thought to join her himself even though he was not much of a drinker. Together they drank and engaged in small, trite chit-chat.
The booze eventually took hold and both began to challenge the other. Cliff said that he could out barrel race Kelly, even when giving her the better of his horses. She scoffed. The term “better horse” was relative. Kelly told Cliff she would ride DB and win. Then said his bet was on. The loser had to buy the other a dinner out. So then Cliff told Kelly that the next day one of the local ranches was putting on a friends only invitational competition. Barrel racing, cutting, roping, penning and a few fun games were on the menu. So the challenge was on when Kelly called Cliff “the predestined loser.”
Friendly Competitors
High noon the next day found Kelly and Cliff on their horses headed for the barrel racing arena. Cliff didn't exactly know what Kelly's talents were, but he would soon find out. For now, all he knew was that she sure knew her way around a horse and he sure liked that. Come to load up a horse, tack a horse, handle a horse, or ride a horse, so far Kelly was a center star in Cliff's book. No having to tell her how to do anything.
“So are you sure I'm sitting on the better horse?” Kelly asked Cliff as she sat tall on DB.
“Oh, I am sure of it. This red dun is built for cutting, not speed,” Cliff assured Kelly. Then he added, “But you never know this guy might change his mind.” Cliff chuckled.
The arena was being drug one last time. All the contestants lined the gates randomly. Everyone here knew everyone else, except for Kelly who would not be a newcomer much longer. New faces got pegged right away. Turns were random, every one getting one eventually. However, everyone stayed in the same order for the rest of the day so the score-keepers could keep the numbers straight. Cliff and Kelly watched about a dozen riders round the barrels, some being quite fast. They were decidedly the last two to go.
Cliff ushered with his hand, “Ladies first.” Kelly shot him a look of half scared and half cocky watch this attitude. Cliff tipped his hat to Kelly and smiled.
Just a smidgen beyond earshot and as Kelly headed towards the arena she heard someone say, “Savvy nice girlfriend ya got there, Cliff.” Of course everyone in this town knew of Cairn, her disastrous death, and now Kelly. They fast became the most talked about couple of the gymkhana, especially Kelly, a rider who wore tennis shoes.
Kelly trotted into the arena. I can do this, she thought because Kelly knew how to ride tough. The thing of this was, she had never run barrels. Ever. So as she trotted in a big circle in front of the timer she looked the three-barrel pattern over. She would go right, keep the barrel on her right, then go left, keep the second barrel on her left, then head for the third and keep that barrel on the left again, and blast for home. Right, left, left, home.
Kelly's warm up was a bit excessive. Two trot circles during which the other riders wondered if she knew what she was doing. On the third circle Kelly collected up the dark, almost black, bay gelding and cantered him out. DB perked his ears forward. Taking a deep breath, Kelly dug her tennis shoe heels into the sides of her four-legged partner. By time they tripped off the timer the duo was jetting for the first barrel rounding it tightly and onto the second with a flying lead change in between. Racing for the third barrel the DB was fully stretched out and overran the last barrel by several feet. Kelly sat down on his haunches, reined him around, and sprinted just as fast for home. Cliff's dark bay pulled up nicely just across the timer. Kelly trotted him in a circle patting his neck and smiling gallantly. The announcer boomed, “And to the newcomer, Kelly, a very decent run of 17.690.”
As Kelly exited. Cliff was beaming and high fived her as she went by. “Jeez you trying to show an old man up?”
“Absolutely. Dinner is on you Cliffy boy!” Kelly teased back. She hadn't felt this good in forever.
Cliff gathered his reins up on his stud, Rusty. Barrel racing was not his sport, but he figured a bit of diversity never hurt a horse, or a rider. And his red dun had never barrel raced either. Cliff took one lap at a slow gallop and then let his horse loose on the course. Rounding the first barrel was tight, fast, and clean. The second barrel was a bit of a wide turn. Down the length to the last barrel the red dun streaked. His stride was quick, direct, low, and wasted no steps. Cliff's horse proved to be just as agile. When Cliff crossed the end timer he pulled Rusty into one of their famous sliding stops. This gave the crown a reason to cheer, but when the crowd heard the next announcement his friends went wild.
The announcement mike cracked on. “By golly Cliff, you are a show off and I don't mean just your stop. Your time is, drum roll please, 17.691. Now isn't that a gentleman to let his lady win by one one-thousandth of a second. Never seen anything like it.”
By this time Cliff was standing back next to Kelly at the gate. They turned to each other smiling and laughing at their uncanny times. Cliff just shrugged his shoulders as if to say “I didn't mean it.”
The rest of the afternoon held a variety of other events. It was all in good fun and even more so being with local friends. Cliff went in cow cutting and won the event hands down. No one could match the skill of his red dun. Cliff urged Kelly to ride his prized horse and cut a cow. This was territory that Kelly was unfamiliar with and was a bit reticent to try; especially in front of a crowd. Cliff told Kelly he would coach her from the rail. There was not much to do except initially cut out a calf, then sit snug for the ride. Rusty would take care of the rest. Finally Kelly succumbed. A number of riders urged her to give it a go. Even the announcer prodded Kelly. So she agreed, and gave it a whirl.
Cliff yelled some commands at Kelly. He directed her on which calf to cut, which she managed easily. Then he reminded her where to place his horse, her body, and to “hang her hips loose” as he called it. Kelly could not wipe the smile off her face. The pair scored
fair for a first time run. Cliff was beaming. Kelly was quite his prize.
As the afternoon progressed several other events evolved. Roping was one place where Cliff excelled again. Cow Penning was a team event. Kelly and Cliff worked cows together, but disqualified themselves when Cliff pegged the number seven cow into the shoot instead of the number six cow. Then there were a couple more games like an egg and spoon race, and musical chairs. All fourteen riders competed in everything and by the end of the day many laughs were had by all.