Do You Hear What I Hear?
Chapter One
Said the night wind to the little lamb…
It spoke of cold, and winter abruptly laughed.
It was December, but there was something more than what the calendar depicted.
It was Wyoming. Cold belonged in this place, at this time.
It spoke of fun.
It spoke of warning.
The wind touched each cheek, whispered in each ear. Even the animals of the forest turned to listen to its message. Heed the warning.
Of the cold? Perhaps.
Of something more? Indeed.
.:.
The boy pressed his face to the windowpane. He could almost see the wind. Everything that moved made the gusts an obvious fact, for the ripples that belonged to the air didn't even leave solid structures still. The barn door clanked against its barred lock, the shutters outside the kitchen window banged like a drummer leading a parade. Even the porch rockers were making a squeak, without a single backside in their seats.
Mike's head spun. It was possible that they were out there. He had known certain occasions when Slim and Jess stayed well into the night in that very place. But tonight? His soft feet padded against the chilly floorboards to his cracked doorway and peered into the living room.
The fire was strong. That meant that one of his father figures had been up recently to prevent the glowing embers from dying out. He switched his gaze to the door where they both slept. Its closure was its own display that neither man was braving the elements to talk, to plan, to share a dream.
A louder whoosh diverted his attention once again, but his eyes couldn't merely hold onto the window, they had to look out it. He had to be as close as possible to the constant screech and roar. Climbing onto the couch, Mike stared into the wild beyond, his mouth forming an excited circle.
The moon must be sitting straight overhead, what with its brilliant glow. Oh, how beautiful this night was for a child to see, for anyone to see. Everything wearing a frosty coat, the wind made the sparkles race across the ground. And then the real magic came! Mike held his breath, waiting in anticipation when the wind turned into a howl. With every clank, bang and squeak—poof!—into the air was an explosion of glitter, carrying higher and higher until Mike could no longer view the breathtaking twirl. But there was no disappointment in its vanishing. Another gust was soon to play with the ice crystals all over again.
He shivered, but no matter how many bumps were crowding over the skin under his extra-long nightshirt, he couldn't pull his eyes from the sight. All of the sounds that had lured him away from his bedcovers were even more exciting than he had imagined. They were alive, ever so real, and he was a part of them. Suddenly Mike looked toward the door. Could he really be? Just one peek from the shelter of the porch, just one touch of the wind, just one frozen prism to hold in his hand. The desire of these things convinced Mike that he could take that step. But then Mike heard something else amid winter's allure, and he had to turn toward its beckoning call just as much, maybe even more. Jess.
"It's kinda late to be up, Tiger."
"I know." Like when a bubble burst, Mike let the sigh go unheard. "Just looking."
Easing his frame onto the couch, Jess took the position next to Mike, his eyes following the same frozen lines that captivated the boy. "You got your dates mixed up or something? Santa and his sleigh ain't supposed to show up this early. It'll spoil all the fun for Christmas Eve."
"I know. The wind's so rough, though, I hadta see it. Why's it so different tonight?"
"Because it's bringing in a storm. Slim's usually the first to say it, but since he ain't up, I'll get the head start. We're gonna be snowed in before long."
"It's already white on the hills. I saw them coming home from school."
"You gotta good eye, then, Tiger. So you know that what's up there's gonna come down here. To keep you safe, there won't be any town school for awhile."
His mouth started to chirp an excited tone, tamped down of course in a nighttime whisper, but Jess still put his hand against Mike's mouth so the rest of the house didn't have reason to rise.
"Nuh-uh, Mike. That ain't gonna mean that there won't be school at all. Daisy's right smart with book learning. Slim too. You won't be without schooling while the snow's in charge."
"Aw."
"That ain't no kinda talk to have. We're right proud of you getting your book learning."
"But that ain't all there is to life, huh, Jess?"
He shook his head. "If there wasn't something more, then I woulda failed a long time ago. And before you bring up my way to thinking and learning ain't being all that bad, forget it. You're gonna get better'n what I was given at your age."
Head and shoulders performed a droop. "All right, Jess."
"Come on, Mike." Jess smiled, and wanting to make the little mouth take its own rise, he gave the boy's nose a tickle. "Back to bed before the cold starts nipping so hard it takes your whole nose off in one chomp."
.:.
They stood outside the barn door. There wasn't much added warmth there, but considering the sun's angle and the wind was blocked by the large structure, there was enough added warmth to notice. That's why they stood outside the barn door, arms crossed over their chests, heads bowed slightly so that the hat and scarf they wore took the brunt of the chill. Well, that wasn't the most accurate description. Jess was standing this way, huddled up in the best way he could while being stuck in the elements. Being more immune to the temperature than his partner, Slim was standing a bit looser. But there really was one thing they shared. They were staring straight into the cold, straight into the north.
"I dunno, Slim."
"Don't know what?"
"What it's waiting for."
Slim shook his head. "I expected it to hit last night with the way the wind was howling, but the sky's still so blue today, you'd think it was summertime."
"Look at the way I'm dressed and nobody's gonna think it's summertime."
The smile was quick to set into Slim's cheeks. "What, is that a complaint out of Jess Harper's lips?"
"What lips? They're so frozen they can't flap up and down proper. Whatever you're hearing outta me is just the wind, screaming out the wildest ruckus you've ever seen."
"Could be that you're right, Jess. At least about the part that it could be the worst I've ever seen."
"You're the one that's got the say-so, Slim. I've only been leaning against your doorpost for four years. You've known cold weather all your life. No wonder you're just a hard, old rock."
"And you're just a weak, little Texas firefly."
"Hey." Jess dared to pull his gloved hand away from his body to wave a fist in Slim's face, but the chill was quick to scare the potential punch back into a fold across his chest. "You're lucky it's so blamed cold out here or you'd be wearing a red nose for Christmas."
Slim smirked. "Might not be a bad look."
"Keep acting up and I'll oblige you."
"All right, Jess. Let's simmer down."
"Why? Getting me hot-under-the-collar's probably a good thing with the way the wind's going at it. I ain't even sure I'm wearing longsjohns by the way my you-know-what is shivering."
"Yeah, but if we start horsing around, then nothing's going to get done before the snow hits."
"Anything in that hard, old rock of yours that tells you when the flakes start flying?"
"Like I said, I thought it was going to come in last night. So if I said tomorrow, likely you wouldn't believe me."
"A weak, little Texas firefly'll believe anything you northerners gotta say."
"In that case, I think we ought to get everything ready. Everything we need for Christmas, let's do today."
"I ain't gotta problem with that. What's on our list?"
"Cut a Christmas tree, go to town to stock up on feed, supplies for us, and something extra we can fit in a boy's stocking. Oh, and stop at the bank so we can pay for that list. Which one's first?"
"Christmas tree."
The surprise widened Slim's eyes. "And here I expected town first, even if there wasn't a whiskey trip included."
"Nah. If we're out cutting a tree down, we can keep our eye on the north better. In town, it might just creep in and strand us."
"You've done more than lean against my doorpost these past four years, Jess."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're getting the hang of winter around here. That's exactly what I would've told you."
"Dadgum."
Slim gave Jess' shoulder a pat, anything to unravel the hard knot his partner had wrapped around his front. And this had call to help, too. "Get the team hitched, Jess. I'll go tell Daisy where we're off to."
"What about Mike? He's gonna wanna tag along."
He had been halfway across the yard when Slim stopped and turned back, staring into that foreboding sky that had yet to change to its tell-all black. Maybe it was just that he was at a different angle than being snuggled up with the barn's front, or maybe it was because the storm really was in a race to get to the Sherman's front door. The blue was no longer the only shade above him.
His mouth tightened, but everything else on Slim's frame gave a fearful jump. "I see the cloud, Jess."
"No!"
Slim pointed toward the fluffy gloom. "It's a ways off, yet, but I see it."
"Do we got time?" asked Jess, following his partner's gaze with the narrowing of his lashes.
"I think so, as long as we don't head for the main timber line. There should be a sizable tree between the lake and Long Ridge."
He would have nodded his agreement if there wasn't still a question sitting between them, a heavy one that was making Jess' shoulders bend. "You didn't answer me about Mike."
The sigh from Slim's lips was reply enough, but Slim was rare to leave important words stuck in silence. "Now that the storm's looming, the answer is clear, even if I don't want to say it. I'd feel better to know that he's at the house, safe and there to help Daisy if we don't get back before the snow starts falling."
"You tell him, huh? If he turns his soft eyes on me, I'll turn my soft eyes right back."
"Sure, Jess."
Slim knew he had his own softness to worry about, which took the first of his steps into the house going toward the bedroom instead of straight to wherever Mike was. Grabbing a pair of extra scarves, Slim tucked the thicker bundle into the top of his jacket and let the second drape over his arm. Even if Jess waved the additional warmth away, Slim would still take it. He had known too many times where frostbite didn't stretch beyond a scare because the body it was snapping at had enough layers to prevent the frozen teeth from going all the way through.
That was another reason why Mike was best to stay alongside the fire. Children would succumb to the conditions far quicker than a man.
His collar lifted, his hat given a firm pat, Slim leaned toward the kitchen. "Daisy, Jess and I are going out to get the Christmas tree."
The biscuit dough that was under her fingers went still. "Oh? I thought you were too wary of the weather."
"We were, but I think we can make it in time."
"The storm's coming?"
"I can see the gray line over the ridge."
Daisy's head bent toward the window, but even though it was beyond her vision, her head nodded. "Well, we should be grateful that we received another day."
"I am. I just hope we get the tree in before it starts shaking the rafters."
Again she looked, ready to offer a plea to have them stay home instead, but not seeing the leading edge of the cloud, Daisy shifted her warning to one more practical. "Be careful."
"We will. Make sure there's enough coffee on when we come back for Jess to take a bath in. Mike!" The race to his position a fast one, Slim put his hands on the small shoulders before both bodies rolled over. "I want you to do something for me."
"What?"
"Bring in a load of firewood while Jess and I go out tree cutting."
His head spun toward the box by the fireplace. "It's already full, Slim."
"I know. But I want two loads in the house before the snow hits."
Mike felt the abrupt push off as if it had struck the seat of his pants. "But I wanna go tree cutting, too!"
"I'm sorry, Mike. The storm's not far off at all. I'd rather you stay here and keep watch on Daisy and the house for me."
"But Slim…"
"As soon as we get the tree in the barn, it's all yours. And don't forget who gets to put the star on the top."
The smile was forced, and only halfway formed, but it showed that sharing his point of view was over. "All right."
"Good boy," Slim said and then turned toward the kitchen one more time. "We'll be in before the snow gets too thick, Daisy."
"You better be. I don't want to be standing by the window wringing my apron into a worried knot."
"You won't. If anybody's going to be chased in by the storm, it's Jess."
She laughed, and in that sound made everything feel right in the house, even if it wasn't. Mike's head down, he saw nothing but his feet until he heard the wagon begin to roll away. The sigh a hard puff through his lips, he slowly walked outside to see the tail of the wagon bed, rounding the corner and out of sight. He couldn't help but let his gaze linger in this place, and it wasn't because Mike wished that his legs were racing behind the wagon to leap inside, giggling as if Jess' fingers were rolling across his middle because everything was all right inside of him again.
"I don't see no cloud," he said, frowning as he fit the smallest pieces of wood into the fold of his arms.
No, he didn't think Slim was lying to him. He was just too short, too little to see whatever was behind the hilltops. But if the storm was as frightening as Slim was making it sound, shouldn't he see it, no matter how short or little he was?
Up onto the chopping block, Mike put one hand over his eyes. Was that simple little fleck along the horizon really worth trembling over? He had seen thunderclouds, so monstrous in size that everything fled from its path. Mike expected the impending snowstorm to be carrying an even bigger shape, one that took the breath right out of his throat because its gray mass held feet of snow inside its core. What he could see was the equivalent of nothing. Hopping down, Mike took his load to the house and then returned outside, eyes up, hand to the same position to aid his view.
"Aw, that's just a regular, old cloud. Grownups. They're always worrying over everything."
There was another armful of wood to take in, but Mike didn't feel the urge to hurry. After all, he had just observed the north. There was no threat there, none to find anywhere among the blue and the bright light radiating in its middle.
Well, not everything was being lit by golden beams, at least not on the ground. Standing in the shadow of the barn, Mike turned a full circle. Everywhere the sun had touched was nature's original shade. But where the ground was hidden from the sun, it was shimmering in silver.
"Just like last night."
Suddenly the wind howled with the shrillness of a wolf. He didn't turn white as if a fanged beast were about to scurry off of the hill and devour him. It was an exciting sound, a thrill he had never known before. It spoke of fun. It spoke of warning. But little ears couldn't understand the severity in that kind of call. Another gust tore over the hillside, whooshing into his face, lifting his hair. While this could have been enough taste of the wild, just like last night, he wanted more of it, to be a part of it.
Mike closed his eyes, remembering what pulled him away from experiencing the finest grade of silver nature had ever made. He didn't think Jess had known what was inside of his mind when that deep voice stopped him in the night. Yet it was a possibility. Jess was good in a lot of ways. Maybe even at mind reading. But Jess couldn't see into his soul now.
No one could.
Mike's feet began their motion toward the base of the hill, but as he cast a glance to the house, his feet slid to a stop. It wasn't Daisy's face peeking through a piece of lace that stopped him. Mike couldn't even confess that it was his conscience. It was the smoke, curling from the chimney that prompted him to grow still and then make a swift run back to the chopping block. He would have to take the rest of the wood in first.
Making his boots clomp on the floor, Mike leaned toward the kitchen as he set each chunk of wood beside the full box. She was still there, rolling and cutting the little rounds that would puff up into flaky perfection. Smiling, Mike started his return toward the door, this time in tip-toe fashion. It wasn't until he was outside that he started to run. He hadn't intended to look to the north. Maybe Slim and Jess' warnings had done more than tap him on the skull after all. What he saw certainly made the threat seem more real.
The cloud was closer. No longer needing the aid of the chopping block to see its gray edge, Mike stared into it, but he wasn't going to kick the nearest pebble in defeat. It was still so far away. How could it cause harm when everything above him was the same majestic blue?
His fists found his hips. "I'm still going."
Mike might not have been the greatest judge of time without a watch in his hand, but while he had dawdled with the wood, the span wasn't all that long to search the roadway for the wagon's return. Knowing where Slim and Jess would have gone to get the Christmas tree, there should be plenty of minutes left to play in. Going to the timber line should take them an hour. Hacking away at the trunk wouldn't add much to it. No matter which man was wielding the axe, only a couple of swift strokes and it would fall. And then an hour back.
What was on Mike's agenda would take much less off a clock. Ten minutes. All he wanted to do was climb to the ridge, spread his arms out like an eagle and let the wind flap his jacket wide. And see if the ice on the lake had grown to the middle. And check on the bog. No. Scratch that. But then again… How did frogs survive winter in Wyoming anyway? Mike shook his head. If he tacked on that last stop, and it would be difficult to not pass by the ground that squished under foot from spring to summer, that would add a bit more onto his original number. Fifteen minutes. He could get all of that done in that amount of time. Twenty, tops. With Daisy waiting for her biscuits to turn the perfect golden hue, no one would know he stepped out of the ranch house's sight.
.:.
The wind must be pouring straight through the wall. Somehow growing a shiver even indoors, Daisy stepped away from the stove to check the sky. In the last twenty minutes alone she must have parted the curtain five times. Each time the cloud was closer, the sky was darker. And Slim and Jess weren't home yet.
Taking the second batch of biscuits out of the stove's belly, Daisy leaned toward the closed bedroom door. "Mike, you better get the cow milked before it gets dark. Mike?"
Biscuits left to cool, she stepped around the corner, expecting the second load of wood to not be there. Every stick was neatly stacked. A concerned frown growing at her mouth and along her brow, Daisy walked to the bedroom, her knuckles tapping a soft introduction before popping her head inside. He wasn't there either.
Shawl grabbed, Daisy clutched two corners to her neck and stepped onto the porch. "Mike?"
If only silence had been her true answer. The wind a shrill song, its harsh call made Daisy look toward the north. The cloud wasn't just sitting behind the ridge anymore. It was spreading its fluffy edges directly overhead. Fear grabbed her, shook her and pierced her soul. It also made her run straight into the wild, soprano call.
"Mike, you answer me right now!" The chill snatched the anxious tones out of her mouth, spinning the fog into nothingness. "Mike!"
Her feet unable to grow the same numbness that was attacking her core, Daisy searched the entire yard. He wasn't in the barn, not the outhouse. The feed shed was just as empty. Hearing a whine, Daisy turned toward the sound. Buttons sat perfectly still, as if obeying a command. But it was where the dog was looking, almost pointing, that told Daisy the truth.
"Oh, no!"
Hearing the rumble of wheels against the frozen earth, Daisy turned and expected to feel relief's instant flood. All her heart could do was pound out another round of frightened beats. He wasn't with them at all.
"Slim! Jess!" She ran fast over the hard ground, the cold stealing every shred of warmth from her body. It even wiped her tears dry. "Come quick!"
Jess jumped to the ground before Slim's hands could pull the team to a halt. "What's the matter, Daisy?"
She took one last look around, lest this was nothing but a false alarm, but her inner being knew better. This was their truth, and it was so terrifying that Daisy's legs would have trembled just as hard as if this was July's hottest afternoon.
"Mike's gone!"