It seemed an endless amount of time, that I stayed where I was, crouched down so low, waiting for Adam to
come back. I kept tilting my head, trying to hear, though truthfully, I didn't know just what I was listening for. Another
rifle shot? I hoped not. What I really wanted to hear was the sound of Adam, coming back thru the trees.
I could hear my heart pounding, that's how loud that it was. When it seemed as though Adam had been gone
forever, I began to pray. Pray for his safety. Pray for him to come back.
I heard another rifle shot, then. I wasn't sure, but it sounded as though it was closer than the other two. I nearly
jumped out of my skin. I covered my mouth to keep from screaming.
And I began to pray even harder, promising God that if Adam came back, safe and sound, I would treat all the
animals for free, during the first year of my future veterinary practice. I wouldn't ask for a single dime, I prayed recklessly,
if Adam would just come back, unharmed.
Finally, he did. Though he came so quietly that he was nearly up onto me before I heard him. I was so
relieved that I popped up like a jack-in-the-box, and went to him, wrapping myself around him like
a rubber band.
"What is it?" I asked, feeling as though I could burst into tears. "You were gone so long!"
"Shhh," he shushed me, and ushered me back down to sit on the log beside the fire. He leaned his rifle
against the log, too, and then sat down beside me.
I hadn't totally let go of him, and now I pressed even tighter against his side.
"What's happening?" I asked again, in a quieter voice.
"I couldn't tell," he said.
"There was another shot!"
"I know." He picked up the blanket on the ground, and shook it out, wrapping it around my
shoulders. He put an arm around my shoulders, pulling me tighter.
"Who would be shooting that way? At this time of night?" I asked, trembling with nerves.
"I don't know," he said, sounding grim.
"What are we going to do?" I persisted. "We can't just sit here, can we? Like a couple of ducks?"
"That's exactly what we're going to do," he said. "Sit right here, until morning. I don't know
that it would be safe to ride out of here in the dark."
After that, Adam had more coffee, and so did I. I thought the more coffee the better, since I had
no intention of closing my eyes for sleep at all that night.
"Any more of those cookies?" he asked me, after awhile.
I reached for the package of cookies, and handed it to him, surprised that he could even think of
eating. I didn't say that, though, because truthfully, the fact that he was acting normally made
me feel a little more secure.
"The last shot was closer than the other two," I said. "Don't you think?"
"We'll be alright, Harlie," he said, sounding calm.
"But it was, wasn't it?" I insisted.
"It's hard to say. A rifle's shot can sound near, but not be."
"Oh," I said, looking out into the darkness as though I would be able to see what was going on.
After that, Adam told me a couple of stories, about when he and Brian were little, and how they'd fashioned a
papoose board out of wood, and wrapped Crane, as a nearly one-year old baby, in some blankets, and strapped him to the
board, and proudly carried him into the house on it, to show our mother their handiwork.
"That was when Brian and I were going thru our cowboys and Indians phase," Adam said, with a chuckle.
"What did mom say?" I asked.
"She wasn't all that impressed. But she didn't holler at us for it."
"She was nice, wasn't she?" I asked him, wistfully.
"She was," Adam affirmed. "Real nice."
After a few more minutes, he said, "Here. Stand up a minute," to me.
When I stood up, he took the blanket that I'd been wrapped up in, and held it out to me. "Get your bed made up," he told me.
"I won't be able to sleep," I protested.
"Well, go on and lay down anyway."
I reluctantly took the blanket and made up my bed on the ground, with my bedroll. I laid down, but
said again, "I mean it, Adam. I can't sleep. Not with shots ringing out over our heads."
"We're alright," he said again.
"Tell me another story," I said. "Please?"
I thought that as long as he kept talking, telling me stories in his calm voice, that maybe my heart wouldn't
start jumping around again.
So he began to tell me another story. He was in the middle of it, or thereabouts, when he stopped talking
suddenly, becoming instantly silent. One minute he was telling the story, the next he was silent as a stone.
"What is it?" I asked, sitting up. "What's wrong?"
"Hush," he told me, barely above a whisper. And so I hushed, looking into the darkness in the same direction as
he was, not even sure what I thought that I might see.
And then I heard it, too. The sound of a man's voice. Yelling. It sounded far-off, and there was no way
to hear what it was he was yelling.
"Adam," I whispered, reaching out to latch onto the bottom of his shirt, hanging untucked from his jeans.
He pressed a finger to his lips, telling me to stay quiet.
And then he stood up from his seat on the log, and picked up his rifle. I watched him worriedly, in the firelight.
Adam walked a good distance away, near a tree, and he stayed there, just standing, and
listening. I stood it as long as I could, and then I threw off the blanket, and got up, going to stand behind him,
just the slightest bit. I didn't say anything, though, because I didn't want him to send me back to the fire.
I hooked my fingers thru his belt loops. It was silly, but it made me feel better.
We stood there so long that I felt my foot get all tingly and prickly, like it was going to sleep. I wanted to stamp it,
but I didn't. After that we never heard any more voices.
Finally, Adam turned to me, and without saying anything, motioned me back to the campfire.
Once there, he spoke quietly. "Go on and lay back down."
"Don't make me, Adam," I whispered. "Let me sit up with you. Please?"
"Alright," he said, low.
He sat back down on the log, but with a difference. Now he was sitting, and facing out, away from the campfire, and
towards the woods, and he kept his rifle between his hands, with the barrel pointing up.
I retrieved my blanket, and sat down beside him, covering my legs with it.
"They were yelling," I whispered.
"Uh huh."
"They weren't worried about being overheard," I pointed out.
"Doesn't seem like it," he agreed.
"Should we put out the fire?" I worried aloud.
"No."
"What if they see it though?" I asked, knowing that I shouldn't fuss with him about it.
"It's alright," he said, and tucked the blanket tighter around my legs. It was an 'Adam-action', as I typically
think of the dad-type things that he does.
"Are you going to sit up all night?" I asked.
"Probably."
"Me, too, then," I said, and I resolved to do just that.
When I opened my eyes, I was no longer sitting on the log beside Adam. I was on my bedroll, covered with the
blanket, next to the fire. The sun was just appearing in the sky. Adam was adding a log to the fire, and
setting the coffee pot on it.
I sat up, brushing my hair out of my face.
"Morning," he said.
"Morning," I said, stretching a little.
"Was there any more shots last night?" I asked him.
"Nope."
I scrambled to my feet. "Can I go-" and I pointed to the bushes.
"Yeah. Go on," he told me.
I went behind the nearest bushes, and went pee, and then came back to the fire, rinsing my hands with water from
the canteen. I took the spot next to him, on the log.
"I didn't do so well, staying up with you, huh?" I said.
"You did alright."
"Not if you had to put me to bed, like I'm a baby," I groused.
"You hung in for a long time," he said. "Let's throw something together for breakfast."
I reached for the grub bag. "We have cookies and fruit, or fruit and cookies," I said, with humor.
"What?" he asked, as if dismayed. "No bacon and eggs in that grub bag?"
"Nope. Sorry," I said, giving him a smile.
We ate cookies and fruit, and drank coffee for our breakfast, and then Adam put out the fire, and we saddled
the horses. When we'd gathered up all our belongings, Adam gave a last look around, making certain we hadn't left
any trash, and that the fire was safely out.
We'd ridden for a short distance, and I could tell that Adam was going a different direction than we'd come the day before.
I rode up from behind, so that Petra was alongside Adam's horse.
"Why are we going this way?" I asked him.
"I want to check something out."
"You mean from last night?" I asked.
"Uh huh," he said.
"What do you think it was?" I asked him. "I mean, I know it was somebody shooting and all, but why at night
like that?"
"I don't know. But I'd bet the ranch that whoever it was, was up to no good."
I felt a little chill go down my back at his words, but I tried not to show it. I wanted him to keep telling me
what he thought about it, and talking to me like I was grownup enough to hear it.
We rode for a while longer, and it seemed as though Adam was looking for something. We were near to an open
clearing, and I didn't even recognize where we were at, when Adam pulled up on his reins, and brought Dandy to a halt.
I rode up beside him, and stopped Petra. He motioned me behind with his hand. "I want you to stay behind me now, for awhile," he said.
"Okay," I said, and fell back behind Dandy.
He looked around for a few moments, and I sat quietly, waiting. Then he rode a little more, and got down
off of his horse. He handed his reins to me to hold, and walked around for a couple of minutes, just looking at the ground.
I watched him, puzzled. "What is it?" I asked him.
"Not sure yet," he said, and went on, walking, and looking at the ground, occasionally stopping. At one point, he
crouched down, peering at the dirt.
"Been some traffic thru here," he said. "A lot of traffic."
"Like what?" I asked.
"Trucks. And a trailer. Some ATV's."
I wrinkled my forehead in thought, but before I could ask any more questions, he walked a little further, into the grassy
area just ahead. Here, he walked, and then crouched down again, running his hand along the edge of the grass.
"Hmm," he said, and stood up.
"What?" I asked.
He walked back to where I sat, waiting, with the two horses. "Looks like blood," he said.
He took his reins from me, and mounted.
"Blood?" I asked, trying not to sound horrified. "Human blood?"
"I don't know. I don't think so."
"A bear then, maybe?" I suggested. "Maybe they shot a bear?"
"It's a lot of tire tracks, for somebody hunting bear."
I looked around. "Are we still on our property?"
"No. We crossed a short ways back," Adam said, and he gave a last look around, before giving Dandy the go=ahead to start out.
"This is the state property?" I asked, looking around.
"Yep."
We rode in silence for awhile. I could tell Adam was in deep thought. I took the canteen from my saddle horn,
and let Petra walk on by herself, while I lifted the canteen, and took a long drink.
"You feelin' alright?" Adam asked, turning his head to look at me.
"Fine," I said.
"You'd best eat something when we get home. Cookies and fruit aren't the best breakfast for you."
"I'll fry up some eggs," I told him. "Want me to make enough for you?"
"I could go for some eggs," he said.
After a couple of moments, I said, "Are you going to call the sheriff about last night?"
"Yeah. And the game warden."
"It was scary," I said.
"Yeah," he agreed. "It was."
"I had fun, though. Before it got scary. Thanks for taking me," I said.
Adam gave me an easy smile. "Thanks for goin' with me."
After that, we didn't talk much. I was tired, and I could tell that Adam was, too. And, while I knew I could slip in a
nap, I knew that he likely wouldn't attempt one.
We rode into our own pasture, and Adam got down to open the first of the gates for us to go thru.
By now, family had been alerted that we were home. Evan came round the side of the barn, and Crane came from
the side pasture. Hannah came down the porch stairs from the house.
"Hey," Crane greeted us both. "How was the camping?"
"It was-interesting," Adam said. He gave Evan and Crane both a serious look. "We need to talk," he said.
"Hey there," Hannah said, coming up and wrapping her arms around Adam's waist. "I'm glad you're home. I was
beginning to wonder about you."
Adam bent down and gave Hannah a quick kiss. "How's everything here?" he asked.
"Everything's fine," Hannah said. She looked at Adam, sensing something in his tone. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"There might be," Adam said. "Where's Brian?"
"He's around here somewhere," Evan said. "I think he's feedin' range cubes."
"Okay." He smiled tiredly at Hannah. "I could use a strong cup of coffee," he said.
"You look exhausted," she said, reaching up to touch his face.'
"I'm worn slick," he said, using an old country saying.
"I'll turn the horses out," Evan offered, and so I went inside with the others, where we congregated in the kitchen.
I washed my hands at the kitchen sink, and started scrambling a pan of eggs. Crane and Hannah were sitting at the
table with Adam, and eventually Evan came in.
By the time I'd finished the eggs and toast, Brian was stomping in. I heaped a plate high with eggs and three pieces of
toast with jelly, and set it in front of Adam. He looked up and said, "You'd better be eatin', too."
"I am," I said, and picked up my own full plate from the stove. "Right here."
I sat down, not in my usual place, but next to Crane instead, since they were all settled at one end of the long
table.
"Where's the boys?" he asked.
"Daniel went to town," Brian offered. "And Guthrie and Ford are off somewhere, lookin' for a couple calves."
"Where?" Adam asked, looking concerned.
"North meadow," Brian said, looking puzzled. "Why?"
"They been gone long?" Adam asked.
Brian looked at Crane for confirmation. "Not too long, right, Crane?"
"No. Not long. An hour," Crane said.
"They take a rifle?" Adam asked.
"Yeah," Crane confirmed.
"Okay," Adam said, and seemed to relax a bit.
"What is it?" Hannah asked him, looking worried.
In the next few minutes, Adam filled them in on what had happened the night before. Hannah hooked her
arm thru the crook of Adam's elbow.
When Adam told the part about how much tire traffic evidence had been on the ground, Evan asked, "Why so
much? Truck, okay, but a trailer?"
"Right," Adam said, in agreement. "And too darn close to our property."
"And the blood?" Hannah asked him. "A little or a lot?"
"Not a huge amount," Adam said.
In a lull in the conversation, Crane reached out to tussle my hair. "Pretty scary, huh, peanut? Gunshots over the top of your head like that?"
I nodded, and Adam spoke up. "She was a trooper. Nerves of steel."
I gave Adam a grateful smile. "Not exactly," I said. "More like nerves of paper, flapping around."
Adam finished his coffee and set the cup down, with a sigh. "Better get to makin' those phone calls," he said,
and stood up, heading towards the living room, and the telephone.
I'd finished my eggs, too, and I took my plate and Adam's to the kitchen sink, and poured myself a cup
of the coffee.
"Honestly," Hannah was saying, almost to herself, as she began running more hot water into the sink. "I was hoping
for the start of a nice, peaceful summer around here."
"Wrong house for that, sis," Crane told her, with a smile.
7
That afternoon, the sheriff and one of his deputies came to the house. I was messing with the goats, and I was
close enough to hear parts of the conversation between them and Adam, Crane and Brian.
"Can we drive?" the sheriff was asking Adam.
"Partway up, then you'll have to hike in, or ride," Adam said.
The sheriff exchanged a look with his deputy. "How are you at horseback riding, Sweeney?"
"I can give it a try," the younger man answered.
"Sweeney here is from New York," the sheriff said, looking at my brothers. "Hasn't ridden a lot."
Adam nodded, while Brian looked dubious.
"Have a beginners horse for him?" the sheriff was asking.
My brothers looked amongst themselves, and Brian said, "Old Charley's probably the best bet, you think?"
"Maybe so," Adam said, and turned my direction. "Harlie, comere a minute."
I went to stand beside him, in the circle of men. "We need to borrow Charley for a bit." Adam said.
I nodded. "Okay. Want me to get him?"
Adam nodded. "Grab Dandy for me, too, will you?"
I went to do as he said, opening the pasture gate, and whistling for Charley. He came quickly, obligingly, followed
by most of the other horses as well. No doubt they all thought it was treat time.
Even Petra came, pushing her way to the front, like the princess she thought that she was.
"You don't get to go," I told her. "It figures you'd try to get in on the action. Think you might be part of
some rescue or something, and get your picture in the newspaper?"
Guthrie took Charley and Dandy's halters, one in each hand. "I'll saddle them," he said, and so I snagged
Brian's horse's halter, too, and then turned to call to him. "Which one for the sheriff?" I asked.
Brian began walking my direction, looking back at the sheriff. "What do you think, Hal?"
"I'm good with anything that will let me get on their back," the sheriff responded.
Brian came to the pasture gate, which I was leaning against to keep Petra from escaping.
"I'll hold him," Brian said, looping his fingers thru Smokey's halter. "Let's get Ryder."
I walked among the remaining horses, who were all sniffing at my pockets in hopes of ferreting out
an apple or a horse treat. I got Ryder, who is a light reddish color, and whose actual name is Red Ryder, after
the kid's gun from the 1950's.
Once I'd handed Ryder off to Brian, and all four horses were saddled, Evan had backed the truck up to the
horse trailer.
"How about riding with me, in the car part-way?" the sheriff asked Adam. "We can go over everything again."
Adam nodded, and got into the sheriff's car, while the deputy rode with Brian, who drove behind, pulling the trailer
full of our horses.
When they'd reached the end of the driveway, Crane gave Guthrie and Evan and I a look, and shook his head a little.
"Man," in said, in a general way, and in that word, it seemed to say it all.
Evan nodded in agreement. "Yeah."
7