Prologue (Sunday)
Being a workaholic Sara took almost no days off. She had work seven days a week, not only one week in a row, there were months she had not more than one day off. She never complained. She needed her work, she needed to find the bad boys, needed to bring justice to victims, needed the adrenalin of catching a killer for her well-being. At least she thought that. For so many years it had held her up, had made her leave her house every afternoon to work for ten, twelve, sixteen hours. It was her life, she didn't want it in any other way.
She was smart, she knew what she did. What she didn't think of was, that her mind needed all the work but her body needed a rest. The early morning her legs just disappear under her body, the world turned black and she couldn't remember how she hit the ground, how the ambulance brought her to hospital and she slept for over a day, all those memories weren't in her mind. She knew all these had happened because many people told her.
Unfortunately she was not only smart she was also stubborn. Working less would mean more time to think, to miss Grissom, to think about her past. As soon as she was out of hospital she started to work the same way like before. Double shifts, no days off, no time for herself. She didn't feel good when she was at home.
The second time the world went black and she woke up in hospital was enough for her boss. Ecklie, never a friend of Sara, had told her, she has to take a few weeks off, she was obviously not in a condition to work and if she would dare to come to work within the next three months he would fire her. It was less his concern than more the order of her doctors that made him say this. Three months. It looked like Sara had really overdone it this time.
Now she had tine to visit her husband in Paris. Grissom was still busy teaching and was the head of a science project for the French government, she knew he had barely time. She could join the science team, she was good enough. The problem was, she didn't want to work as a scientist in a dry and boring lab, she wanted to be out in the fields, wanted to do something for the people, something they could see and understand.
Her doctor in hospital advised her to go away for a few weeks, to relax, see something new and maybe learn a new skill. Her body and mind need this break and by learning something new, something that didn't exhaust her, she wouldn't feel like wasting time and got her attention to something new. As a stubborn person she refused to think about this first, two days later she had to admit he was right and she started to think what she wanted to do. There were a lot of things she wanted to do , a lot of things she wanted to learn, most of them had something to do with her job as a CSI. Only one thing was absolutely free from CSI, Las Vegas and work: horseback ridding.
She wanted to learn how to ride a horse. This would give her the opportunity to be outside, to learn a new skill, it involved animals and a lot of freedom and piece. When you ride with your horse through the forest, the desert or a meadow, you and the horse are alone. Nobody bothers you, nobody is getting your attention away from the things you want to concentrate on. At the same time you couldn't drift away too far because you need to keep control over the horse. The perfect thing for Sara to relax.
First she had thought of going to the Yosemite, Kings Canyon or Sequoia National park, they were close and easy to reach. Then she realized it wasn't good to go somewhere where she had been before. It was too easy to go back to Vegas from these places too. One little article in the newspaper, a short bulletin on the news about a big crime in Las Vegas and Sara would be back, would start to investigate, no matter if Ecklie told her to stay away or not.
More because he was in the room while Sara was thinking about a good destination than really wanting an opinion of the doctor, she asked him what he thought would be a good destination. The doctor thought for a few seconds before he suggested Wyoming. He knew about a ranch close to the Grand Teton National Park. Because it was close to the famous Yellow Stone National Park most people only paid a short visit to the park and Sara could visit both parks if she felt like.
The location sounded interesting, Sara started to research the ranch in the internet. It was less the location at the end that helped her to make a decision than the fact that the ranch had only space for eight guests and the ridding stuff was not the main part of it. It had ridding horse but most of their horses weren't for riding. They had been rescued from the slaughter, a dozen wild mustangs lived further away from the ranch. It seemed like this place wasn't about making money, it was about saving horses and bring people closer to horses.
Leaving her apartment to a subtenant, packed with two suitcases, no books and magazines about crime but a travel book and a guide about horses and horseback ridding she got into her car and started to drive to Wyoming. For the long distance she had planed two over night stops to arrive refreshed and not overtired. The first sign that she had learnt something?
It was early afternoon when she stopped in front of the ranch. For half a mile there had been a five foot fence on the left and right side of the unsealed road. Now it ended in a parking lot in front of the two level wooden house. To the left were six little bungalows, one of them should be hers and to the right was a huge barn. In front of the ranch house on the veranda were some cats sitting in the sun, two dogs were barking behind the fence and Sofia could see two horses that weren't interested in her at all. Birds were singing, another horse was nickering somewhere. There were no people calling, no cars driving, no light, music or any other sound than the sound of animals. This was truly a place to relax.
"Hi." A young man came from out of the blue. He had dark brown skin, dark brown eyes and short black hair. "I'm Jamie."
"Sara."
"Nice to meet you. You can leave your car there."
"Perfect." She wanted to get her suitcases.
"Don't bother I'll bring them to your room. Are you very tired or would you like to see the place first?"
"I drove four five hours I can need a little walk."
"Thought so." He smiled. "Please follow me." He walked around the ranch to the barn. Behind the buildings was nothing but meadow and meadow and meadow. In the distance Sara could see the Rocky Mountains, in that direction had to be the Grand Teton National Park. Not within walking distance but nothing was in walking distance here. She hadn't seen another house for almost half an hour and doubted that in other direction was a bigger place. The last road sign had told her a town was ten miles away and that was the closed. She had to go there for shopping and petrol later.
"It's so quiet here."
"Is that a good or a bad thing for you?" He smiled.
"Very good. After all this time in Vegas I will enjoy a quiet place. No car horns, no people yelling in front of my window, no neon light. I bet the nights here are dark."
"They are. Beside the moon and the stars."
"Wonderful. Sounds like heaven to me." Sara looked at a cat that was sitting on a pole of a fence, cleaning itself and enjoying the sunshine. She wouldn't mind to do the same. Not sitting on a pole but enjoying the sunshine. When was the last time she had sit outside in the sun with nothing more than a good book? Must be years ago.
"See the person over there?" Jamie had opened the gate and guided Sofia on a meadow.
"Yes." There was somebody standing in a herd of six or seven horses.
"Go there and you'll be shown everything. I'll take care of your suitcase and fix you a cold drink."
"I think I'll need one when I'm back. Thanks you." Sara smiled. When everybody was as friendly and polite as this young man it was a nice place. A dog came to her. Sara stopped to let - what looked like a mix of German Shepard, Retriever and Husky – do the last steps. The light brown dog with standing sharp ears and blue eyes sniffed her hand and pants to came to the conclusion that she was no threat and walked away.
"Excuse me." Sara called out when she was only a few yards away from the person. All she could see right now was a pair of blue jeans hidden behind a horse.
"Since when does Sara Sidle excuse herself?"
Sara almost dropped her sunglasses. This person knew her. And she knew this voice too. A head with long blond hair appeared behind a horse.
"Sofia?" What the hell was the detective doing here? Sara had gone away from Las Vegas in the wilderness to meet an old colleague? That had to be a crazy dream, no coincidence could be like this.
"Shocked?" The blond laughed and walked around the horse after she had petted it.
"Surprised."
"Liar. You're horrified."
"You knew I would come here?" Sofia wasn't surprised a bit. It was obvious she had known about Sara's arrival and was prepared.
"Sure I took your booking."
"It's your place?"
"Yes."
"I thought you're a detective."
"I thought you're a workaholic who doesn't need a vacation."
"They told me I've to take some time off or I'll lose my job."
"Let me guess: you worked until your body was so exhausted that it collapsed. You're a stubborn person, didn't listen to this alarm signal, went on working, collapsed a second time and they made the decision you'd do the same again if they don't stop you."
"Stop scaring me." How could Sofia possible know all these things? It was impossible that she knew Sara that good.
"The doctor in hospital sent you here."
"He suggested this place…do you know him?"
"Yes, a cousin of mine. He knows what I do here and knows this a place to relax. He called me to tell me he had suggested my farm to a patient. I got your booking and knew you had to be this patient." Sofia stopped in front of Sara and looked at her. "You haven't really changed, only that you look tired but that's why you're here. To get fit again and make some space in your head for something else than cases."
"You are also looking the same. Looks like being a horse whisperer suits you good."
"I don't whisper to the horse, I talk to them like I talk to you. Want a look around?"
"Sure, that's why I was sent here."
"Okay let me introduce you to my lovely lady." Sofia whistled once. The head of a brown horse got up and the horse came to them. It stopped in front of Sofia and pushed it's head softly to Sofia's arm.
"Hey beauty, thanks for coming here. Let me introduce you to my colleague from Las Vegas. That's Sara, she is a CSI and needs a time out." Sofia kissed the nostril of the horse that nickered quietly.
"Yes she'll be a lovely company." Sofia left her hand on the shoulder of the horse and turned to Sara. "Sara, that's Kirundi, the most special horse on the ranch."
"Hello Kirundi. You've a nice name." Sara petted the horse carefully.
"It's the Central African Word for love."
"A special name for a special horse."
"Exactly. Want a ride?"
"Uhm…I can't ride that's why I'm here."
"Do you think you can hold your balance when the horse only walks?"
"Without a saddle?"
"Yes."
"If I fall you've to call your cousin."
"He wanted to come up anyway. Come on." Sofia offered her hands as a help to get on Kirundi.
"I thought she is special?"
"Aren't you special too?" Sofia simply asked back.
"According to your cousin special stubborn."
"I'll not comment that. Come on don't be a poor sport."
"Okay." Sara sighed. Why not? Her left foot on Sofia's hands, her left arm grabbing the mane she got pushed on top of Kirundi.
"Perfect. Just hold on to her mane and try to be comfy with her steps. Come on Kirundi, we'll have a little walk." Sofia got a thin rope from around her waist that had been over the belt, knot it to the halter of the horse next to her. With one jump she was on top of the horse.
"Don't be afraid, Kirundi will come with me, you'll be safe. Let's have a look around." Sofia let her horse walk away from the herd and Kirundi really followed her. It was a strange feeling for Sara to sit on a horse, no saddle, nothing to guide the horse, nothing to hold on beside the mane.
"Relax."
"I try to."
"She won't hurt you, she feels you're scared and she's very careful." Sofia let her horse walk next to them.
"As long as she won't start running I'll be fine."
"She won't. Have you been horseback ridding before?"
"No…is that a problem?"
"Not at all. I ask that to find out what horse I'll give you. You'll have the same horse the whole time you can both get used to each other. You'll stay two weeks, that a long time we'll need to find a horse for you that will suit you. What would you like to learn?"
"How not to fall down."
"That's what everybody wants. We do a little bit of western style, but most of the times we teach the basic and have some rides through the area. There's a full day ride every week for everybody who keep himself in the saddle. Nothing challenging, only six hours on the horse, we ride to the Grand Teton National Park, have lunch at a lake and ride back. You can just walk, trot or canter how it suits you best. We've some parts of the tour you can walk up straight if you don't like it fast and for others there's a little detour for a canter and we'll all meet at the same point to continue the ride together after a few minutes."
"Sounds good. I take the slow route."
"No problem at all. Would you like to try a trot or canter later?"
"When I feel safe, yes."
"We have the western style saddles, you can hold on to them. Seeing you on Kirundi without anything I see you can hold your balance. A very good start.I think in a few days and you'll be fine without worrying of falling down. If you do fall try not to be tensed."
"Very funny. How you do relax when you fall?"
"Like this." Sofia let herself fall down the horse. A scream escaped from Sara's lips while the horses just stopped. Kirundi got her head down and sniffed on Sofia's back to make her get up again.
"Nothing happened." The blonde got up, petted Kirundi and her horse. "If you want you can learn how to fall the right way."
"I don't want broken bones."
"You won't break your bones. Do you have a swim suit with you?"
"Somewhere in my suitcases yes."
"Perfect. I'll take you up the lake, the perfect place to learn how to fall without fear. You'll be in water, won't hurt yourself and lose some of the fear of falling." Sofia guided their horses to the barn. "We've got twelve ridding horses here, no more than eight guests in a group and two guides. The ridding horses are on the meadows here, there are around two dozen others horses out. One herd of mustang and around a dozen horses we got from the slaughter, Some of them were racing horses or sport horses, got ill and their owner sent them to the slaughter because they couldn't use the horse for their needs anymore. We've one horse with a prosthetic limb. It lost a leg in an accident and was supposed to end up as dog food but we could safe it. You can't ride on it but it enjoys it's life. There are six ponies, most of them from other horse riding centers that needs them fit for long days and they got too old. Here they'll have a short day, days off and can live until they die the natural way."
"So here are around forty horses and ponies."
"Yes. Forty-four. Kirundi, Libertad, Espérance and Xin. Love, Freedom, Hope and Trust, the horses for the guides."
"And I'm allowed to sit on a guide horse."
"She follows me everywhere it's the easiest way for you."
"You trained her well."
"Got her four years ago when she was two. It was love at first sight. I bought her as my horse, two years alter we started to break her in. Since last summer she's with me when I'm on tours. She knows all the ways, she could walk there without me. And when I call her she comes straight to me. Means if I tell her to stay there and ride away you'll be caught here."
"Not funny. Beside that I'd climb down. Or do your dogs bite me when I leave a horse?"
"You met Churchill, did you feel threaten?"
"Churchill?" Sara had to laugh. What an unusual name for a dog.
"Yes."
"He has wonderful blue eyes."
"Unfortunately he's blind."
"Oh." Sara didn't see that. "How did that happen?"
"I've no idea. Got him from the pet shelter, they found him blind in front of their door. I got all six dogs from there and all the cats too. They were all supposed to get killed because nobody wanted them. We don't kill people when nobody wants them, why do that with animals?"
"I can't tell you that. So you've more a huge animal shelter than a ranch for horseback riding."
"Both. I try to show people there's no need to get an expensive fashion pet, all the poor animals in shelters are full of great character and really appreciate it when you give them a second chance. I think everybody deserves a second chance."
"Unusual words for a detective. You want to let everybody go who didn't committed a crime before?"
"I'm not a detective anymore, Sara and truth to be told, I don't miss not to be one."
"When did you stop working as one?"
"When I left Vegas." Which was right after Sara was found in the desert. Almost four years ago. At least Sara couldn't remember seeing Sofia after she got taken to hospital.
"How come you ended up here? Doing this?"
"I loved horses all my life and I wanted to be somewhere you don't read more crime news in the newspaper than anything else. Nobody is around, the closest town is ten miles, there are around a thousand people living, the next bigger city you need to drive a few hours. All you have here is nature, animals and some hiker. I bought this place and started to create something I had dreamed of all my life. I don't regret it, I love it every day."
"You look happy here."
"I hope we can make you look happy too." Sofia stopped her horse in front of the gate. They were back at the gate Sara had entered the meadow. Sofia took the rope off the halter and let her horse walk away.
"Do you need a hand?"
"I think I can manage it. Down is easier than up."
"Lean forward, get your right leg over her back and slip down slowly. That's the nicest way for both of you." Sara did what she was told and found herself sitting on the ground. Somehow her legs weren't there when she landed on the ground and made it straight to the ground.
"Almost perfect." Sofia offered her a hand and pulled up on her foot. "Legs gone?"
"Yeah."
"Happens sometimes. Come on I'll show you your room I think you want something cold to drink."
"Jamie said he wanted to put something in the room."
"Then there'll be something." They left the meadow and walked around the barn back to the front of the ranch. A tall young man with longish dark blond hair just left a car. A new guest? Sara had no idea if they took people only on one day a week or daily.
"Sara meet Jon. Jon that's Sara."
"You used to work together, right?" The man said with an easy smile and shook Sara's hand.
"How do you know?"
"I saw some photos of the Vegas time."
"Oh. You work here?"
"Kind of. She makes me work most times. I was shopping."
"Perfect. Thanks. Jamie is suppose to start the barbeque in an hour. We need around a dozen steaks and get the vegetarian steaks and the tofu burger out too."
"We've a vegetarian here?"
"Right in front of you." Sofia smiled. She hadn't forgotten that Sara was a vegetarian.
"You miss a great steak."
"Maybe but for that a cow can live."
"I hope you're right and that not anybody else ate your cow. Would you like to have corncob?"
"Sure."
"I'll tell Jamie." He turned to Sofia again. "Cat called, she asks if it's okay if she stays in town until after dinner."
"Sure."
"I think she has a date, you should ask her some questions when she's home."
"You can do that I'll wait until she talks to me."
"You're too soft as a mom."
"You benefit from that every day."
"Me? Never." He smiled and left them.
"A mom?" Sara was sure she misunderstood there something. Sofia couldn't be a mom. Okay, of course she could but not of a girl who was having a date and came home alone after dinner. This daughter had to be at least…how old were they nowadays when they had dates? Fourteen? Fifteen? Sixteen?
"Yes."
"How…I mean, this sounded like your daughter is a little bit older than four years, the time I saw you last and you didn't have any children then."
"No I didn't and yes, Cat is sixteen. Come on in." No more explanations, Sofia walked to the ranch building.
"Isn't my room in one of the bungalows?" That was what Sara had booked.
"I'm sure your suitcases are in here or do you prefer a bungalow?"
"If I can live in a ranch house, like J.R. Ewing, I take the house." Sara laughed and followed Sofia. Inside everything was kept in wooden style, a big staircase was next to the door.
"You're room is on the left." Sofia pointed to a door. "Would you care for a cold beer?"
"I drove three days, it was hot and I didn't have a cold beer I'm dying for it."
"Okay." The blond smiled, guided Sara in a big kitchen, opened a fridge, got two bottles out walked out on a veranda. From here they could see the horses and sit on a garden hammock with their beer.
"Am I the only guest? I haven't seen anybody around."
"They are on a ride and will be back in time for the barbeque."
"Okay. I thought I'm the only one and you didn't tell me to surprise me, mom." Sara wanted to know a little bit more about Sofia being a mother. At least she would give this topic another try, if Sofia made it clear she didn't want to talk about it, Sara would accept it.
"Yes I'm a mother. I've a daughter and three sons."
"Wow." The blonde seemed to be alright with this topic now. A soft smile caress her mouth and there was the certain shine of happiness in her eyes, you saw in the eyes of proud parents all the time they talked about their children.
"Patrick is two, Cat is sixteen, you met Jamie, he's eighteen and Jon is twenty-one. Not a child anymore but he stays anyway."
"He is your son?"
"Yes. When I bought this place four years ago I found a young man in the barn. A runaway. He was seventeen, had only half a year to stay in a foster home but ran away, like he did a few times before. He knew when they got him he would end up in jail for running away and some petty thefts to keep himself alive. I used some of my influence and a lot of the name of my mother and became his foster mom. He never ran again."
"He stays since four years? You must be a good mother."
"He likes animals, he likes what I do, I don't try to force him into something. He's free to leave whenever he wants, like any other child is. He wants to stay, works here with me.
Same with Jamie. I had him over two years ago, together with Cat. They both were taken here for a job during the holidays by their foster home. Thought it could be a good lesson for them, taking responsibilities for animals. Jamie was very shy, he barely talked, tried to avoid people but he was wonderful around the dogs and cats. They simply love him. Cat was hooked up with the horses, we had a very sick mustang at that time and she spend a few weeks her nights in the barn to watch over the horse, same Jamie. They cared more for the horse than for anything else. Now it's in the herd, healthy and happy. I made the decision that if they wanted too, they could stay. So I got my next two children. At that time I was pregnant that's how we got Patrick and the family was complete."
"You're married?" That surprised Sara almost more than the four children. She had no idea why, there was nothing unusual of Sofia being a wife.
"No. The relationship ended last year, Patrick's father moved to Sacramento. We're in contact like friends, that's it. This isn't the perfect place to find Mister Right. As far as I can see you found your Mister Right. I assume it's Grissom." Sofia had heard about Sara and Grissom when she was helping looking for Sara. It was her last case as a detective in Las Vegas, after that she left.
"Ye I married Grissom."
"Why isn't he here?"
"He's in France, busy teaching and working a science project for the French government. He has no time."
"Ouch." Sofia took a sip of her beer, giving Sara some time to think about if and what she wanted to say next.
"A long distance relationship is possible. it worked out fine last year…after my second break down I wished he had come over but he was too busy. I told him I don't think this marriage makes sense when he's not there when his wife needs him most. He sent a flight ticket to Paris." Sara laughed bitter. "Being alone in Paris doesn't chance anything of being alone at all. He has no time, no matter if I'm in the US or France. Here I can work – as soon as I had enough holidays and get my job back. I've no idea where I am with my marriage, what will happen but I'll find out." She was surprised she could tell Sofia that so easily. It had taken her some hours with her therapist to talk about her marriage. Somehow things seemed to be easier here. It was a comfortable place, she felt good sitting in the evening sun and having a cold beer. Better than laying on a couch. And after Sofia opened up to her, told her some very private things, she felt better telling the blonde something of her private life.
