Chapter 3 #4
She stepped to the dusty yard, hoping to see Pa sitting nearby, lost in his thoughts.
Nothing. She searched for clues in the grass as to which way he had gone, but grass was so dry and worn that it provided no information.
If she were Pa, where would she go? It was impossible to guess because Pa didn’t think along normal lines.
Following her heart, she went past the bunkhouse. That brought a snort. Following her heart had landed her right here in the West, unexpected, unwelcome, and futureless. She looked up at the mountains—so beautiful and strong draped in shawls of variegated greens and blues.
The scenery almost made her situation worthwhile.
She reached the trees where she’d found Pa the day before, but a thorough search convinced her he wasn’t there, which meant retracing her steps as far as the hill and veering to the right to another grove of trees. Again, she didn’t find him.
Standing in the open enabled her to see all around. There was nothing but weary grass, blue sky, and majestic mountains. She lifted her face to the sky. “God, You are all-seeing. Guide me to Pa.”
She followed the valley for a time. Would he have come this far? How was she to guess where or how far he’d go? She climbed the hill. The sun was high overhead. She was hot and hungry, but she would not stop until she found him.
Maybe he’d gone the other direction entirely. She retraced her steps, past the outbuildings and to the house, stopping long enough to grab some food for both herself and Pa.
“Kat, are you all right to keep looking after Poppy? I’m sorry to leave her with you.”
“I’d sooner look after her than look for Pa.”
“Thank you. She should have a nap after she’s eaten.” Amelia was on her way out the door, eating a sandwich as she walked.
Two hours later, she still hadn’t located the man. She fell to her knees, tears wetting her face. Please, God, help me find him.
She rested for a few minutes, then resumed the search. After a bit, she spied some rough terrain. A person could break a leg trying to get through the maze of rocks and bulges of ground.
She stepped around a boulder. “Pa,” she whispered. He sat on a clump of grass, his back to a rock, his gaze fixed on the distance. She approached slowly, conscious of the fact that she might frighten him. Skirting another boulder, she circled around and sat facing him.
He looked in her direction but didn’t register her presence.
How long had he been this way? Should she call him back to the present?
As she considered what to do, she uncorked the canteen and quenched her thirst. Poor Pa must be terribly thirsty.
“Hi, Pa.” Her words were soft, barely more than a whisper.
He gave no indication he heard her.
Praying she would say and do the right thing, she began to talk, keeping her tone gentle. “It’s a pleasant day. I like the sunshine, though I know we desperately need rain. I like the intense blue of the sky and the purple and green of the mountains. Guardians of the land.”
He jerked at those words. “That’s what my wife said.” He stared at Amelia. “You aren’t Evelyn.”
That must be his wife’s name. “I’m Amelia. Evelyn sounds like a very nice woman.”
Tears filled Pa’s eyes. “I can’t find her.”
Her heart went out to him. She wanted to hug him, but feared how he’d react. “I brought food and water. Would you like some?”
“A picnic.” He rubbed his hands. “Isn’t that fun?”
“Yes, it is.” She handed him the canteen. He drank deeply, and then she offered him the sandwich she’d brought, breaking off a quarter for herself only because she worried Pa wouldn’t eat if she didn’t.
They ate in silence as she waited for him to indicate where his thoughts had gone.
“Who did you say you are?”
“Amelia.”
“Do I know you?”
“I’m here to help.”
He finished the food and wiped his hands on a red handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. But he showed no sign of moving.
“Would you like to go home now?” She rose and held out her hand.
He drew back. “I’m waiting.”
She sat again. “What are you waiting for?”
“Evelyn. She went picking berries and said she would come right back.”
Amelia tried again. “Please let me take you home.”
But when she held her hand out to him, he turned his back to her. “I won’t leave until Evelyn returns.”
Amelia tried everything she could think of.
She suggested Evelyn waited for him at home.
She reminded him of Poppy, of Kat, and said supper would be ready.
Said Zach would be coming home. She even took his hand and attempted to pull him to his feet.
He jerked away, his eyes flashing. She didn’t want to aggravate him, so she waited.
Two hours later, nothing had worked, and she sat with her elbows on her knees and her chin in her palms. Please, God, help him come round so we can go home. Please keep Poppy safe.
Her heart thudded. It was all she could do not to picture Kat deciding to ride the mustang and Poppy wandering off. She couldn’t count on Gil.
Zach would come looking for them once he got home. Yesterday, it had been almost dark. At least they were safe here. A rustle behind her made her neck twitch. Were they alone?
Were wild animals prowling nearby? Or worse, wild men?