Found in Understanding: Refuge Series Book Three by Debbie Zello (10)

Chapter Ten

The closer I got to the ranch, the calmer I felt. Even just the thought of it took my stress away. If I’m having a bad day, a few minutes with my eyes closed, my mind goes there and I’m better.

I was pretty far back in the plane so it took a few minutes after the door opened for me to get out. It was my first plane ride and although it had been exciting, I was glad it was over.

As soon as I cleared the walkway, I saw my mom, dad and Sky waiting for me. I couldn’t help the tears that began to fall. I knew I missed them but I hadn’t realized just how much until that moment. My mom folded her arms around me and said, “Hey pretty girl, you look so different. You’re all citified.”

“You look the same, mom. You look like home.”

“Come here, sweet girl. I’ve missed you,” my dad said. I wrapped my arms around him as he squeezed me. I peeked up at Sky and he winked at me. I left my father’s arms to go into Sky’s.

Sky held my head to his chest with his arm around my shoulders. “It’s good to have you home, Firelight. I didn’t have anyone to argue with and I was getting bored.”

“Really! That’s all I’m good for is an argument?”

“I rest my case,” he said laughing.

My mom and I took the back seat in the truck for the ride to the ranch. Everyone caught me up on the local news and I told them about my first semester. I left out my one trip to the bar and the fact I’m staying in an apartment alone with my professor’s TA. Everyone has some secrets…right?

My sister is getting married to the motorcycle guy, Klutch, aka Ted. I was happy for her. Her one ambition was to be a wife and mother. They had already moved in together, living in an apartment in town.

I had been working for the better part of four months and I had saved what I thought was quite a bit of money. After paying for my plane fare and keeping a small amount for incidentals, I had six hundred dollars to give to the ranch.

As soon as we were home and out of the truck I handed the envelope to Sky. “What’s this?” he asked, looking inside.

“Money. I saved from my job at the coffee shop.”

“We don’t want this. It’s your money.” he said, shoving it back in my hand.

“That’s not the deal around here and you know it. What we earn is part of our combined money. This is mine. Take it,” I said, shoving it back towards him.

“You’re clear across the country, alone. If you need something, you’ll need this money. We don’t want it,” he said, with the face I knew meant he wouldn’t talk further about it.

“Fine!” I said, knowing I would simply leave it when I went back.

“And don’t you go thinking that you’ll just leave it here when you go back. When I find it, and you know I will, I’ll mail it to you!” he said, walking away.

Yup, I’m back.

The weather was beautiful, seventy-five and sunny. I walked through the tall grass. I read under my favorite tree. I thought about Royce constantly. I wondered if he was thinking about me. Probably not. Romance novels made you believe that everyone operated under the influence of love. Unfortunately, in real life that was not the case.

Christmas morning, we had our usual breakfast. We had our chores of feeding animals and tending crops that was done every day but we didn’t make crafts and such on holidays. We finished early and had our Christmas dinner mid-afternoon. That night, around our fire is when we give our gifts to each other.

Our gifts are usually made by us with a great deal of thought put into them. This year because I didn’t have the resources to make anything, my gifts were of the coffee influence. Mr. Masters gave me a discount so everyone got a mug and a pound of coffee or tea. I know it’s the thought that counts.

My gifts were note cards with flowers painted on them, an embroidered canvas book bag, and a knitted sweater. They were so beautiful and special. I was overcome with my family’s love. Few people are as lucky as I am, to have this community of loving people around them.

Sky found me the next day, lying in the tall grass, looking at the clouds. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Nothing much. I’m making things out of the clouds.”

“School going okay?”

“It’s great. Thank you for making me go to Yale. I love it.”

“I knew you would. Have you met nice people?”

“Mostly everyone is. My suite mates are great. They’re a little crazy at times. They like to party but they don’t make fun of me when I say no thanks.”

“Why do you say no thanks?”

“I went once and I didn’t like it. I’m not the drinking, and dancing kind.”

“What about the men? Are they the drinking, dancing kind?”

“Pretty much. One wanted new experiences that he could chalk up on his list. I met one that seems nice and doesn’t take advantage of situations. But he is a TA and off limits.”

“He’s your TA or just a TA?”

“My English professor’s TA. His name is Royce Kane. You’d like him. He has a fancy motorcycle.”

“I have a feeling that you like him too. Be careful, Firelight, he’s probably ten years older than you. He has seen the world and has far more experience than you do. If you trust him, that’s fine but be careful.”

Dove and Ted pick me up to take me to see their apartment. Ted no longer has his bike; he traded it in for a car.

“Do you think you can come home for the wedding?” Dove asks.

“Have you set the date?” I said.

“I was waiting to see you. We’re just having a small party at the ranch. Just the family and a few friends. We were thinking early July.”

“That would be great. I’m finished with classes in mid-May. I’m hoping to find a room to rent for the summer so I can keep my job. I’ll be ready for a vacation in July.”

“I want you to be my maid-of-honor. I’m going to make your dress and mine. It’s going to be very simple. We don’t have a lot of money to spend,” she explained.

“If I can help, let me know. I have some money put away. I can pay for the material,” I respond.

“That would be a big help. Do you care what color you wear?”

“It’s your wedding. Whatever color you want is fine with me.” Dove and Ted decided on July sixth. I would fly home a few days beforehand so I could help with the cooking and decorating. It’s the first wedding at the ranch that I can remember.

I met up with Lucy and a few more friends from high school for lunch at the diner in town. Catching up with the local gossip and everyone’s college exploits was fun. I wondered how many more times we’d all be together.

If the school I tutored at hadn’t been closed for the week, I would have stopped in to see the kids and staff.

I spent the rest of the week working around the ranch, visiting with my extended family and relaxing. All too soon, it was time for me to pack. I was in my bed way before the new year came in. My plane was to leave at seven so it was an early morning. I had my breakfast and Sky drove me to the airport. “It was good to have you home for a while.”

“It was good to be home. I missed everyone.”

“We missed you. It’s kind of lonely without the young people around,” he said, looking out the windshield.

“I’ll be back for the wedding. Maybe Dove will have a baby right away. I know she wants some.”

“Yeah, maybe. Do you like your life back east?”

“Yeah, I do. It’s so different from here. I even like the cold and the snow.”

“I guess it grows on you. I’m too old for snow. I don’t want to have to shovel it. Still, there is nothing prettier than fresh snow.”

“Agreed. It was snowing when I left. My first snowfall. It was so beautiful and fresh. It had a smell like clean laundry.”

“You’re right, it does.”

“Where were you that you had snow, Sky?”

“I graduated from Yale, Firelight. That’s part of the reason I wanted you to go there. I know the area and the kind of education you would get there. I know the connections that you’ll make. I also figured if you wanted to go further and get your masters or even your PhD, it was a great place to go,” he said, smiling at his recollections.

“You started on the East coast and ended up on the West coast.”

“I ran as far as I could. Any further and I would have needed a boat. I left Davis Tarren behind and found Sky. For me, it was the best thing that ever happened.”

“You don’t miss him?” I asked.

“I’ve had moments. Even twenty years later, I still miss my wife and boys. I can hear them playing. I’ll never forget that sound. It’s magic. Unfortunately, it’s usually followed by me walking down the cellar stairs. First I’m comforted by my dreams and then tortured by them. For every yin there is a yang,” he said, patting my hand.

I would always remember this conversation.