Interlude ~ Mary III
Chapter 22 ~ no sex
Author's note ~ I understand that the big draw of this story is the sex... and obviously I feel that aspect is important to the story, or I wouldn't write it... but I feel very close to my characters, and, especially with Mary. I know a little of how it feels to be scraped clean like she was. I like to wrap myself in her story, and see her healed. It makes me happy when, at times, I am sad for things happening to other characters.... I have cried so many times, happy and sad, writing all of this down. As such, this chapter may seem long and rambling and unimportant, if you don't care for that aspect of it. If so, then skip this chapter, and just understand that Mary continues to heal and begins to find herself, out there in the Texas desert.
Before the left the sheriff's office Martha asked her discretely if she needed to use the restroom before they got on the road, it was a long drive to the ranch. Mary nodded and the ladies used it together. On their way out, before they left, Mary paused, and turned back to Sheriff Tom and the deputies who stood to see her off. Mary took a deep breath and said quietly, "It was very nice to meet you." She then turned and headed out the door into the blaring Texas heat... it took a lot, but Mary knew she had to start trusting people, if only a little. Junior, surprised a little, just smiled at them, tipped his hat, and turned to follow Mary out the door.
"Right this way little lady," Junior said, showing Mary to his 4-door pickup truck, and soon they were out of town and driving west. Mary was in the back looking out the windows at the scenery, soon they passed the last buildings and she saw the brown again, off to the distant mountains. She looked forward at the backs of Junior's and Martha's heads swaying with the bumps in the road. She never noticed Junior glancing at her in the rear view mirror, keeping an eye on her. "There are bottles of water there near your feet, honey," Junior said to her when the trip started. "You don't know because you've never lived in a place like this... but rule number one is to always have some water if you aren't near a sink. This place will dry you out like a raisin if you aren't careful." She met his eyes in the mirror, she nodded and gave him a small smile, I understand. She reached down and took a luke-warm bottle, and had a drink.
After a long while she opened her bag, and she pulled out the doll Lucy had given her.... how long ago? Only this morning? It seemed so long ago, already. And she felt she was far away, far from anyone who had ever made her happy. She turned the doll over in her hand, examined it. The sun coming in the window hit the golden yarn, and she was reminded of the blonde-haired girl, by the pool that day, before... He.... hurt her. She had been trying to talk to me, but something was wrong with her.... she suddenly wished Lucy was there, and she felt more isolated than ever, and she tried to stop them, but she felt her tears on her cheeks.
Junior saw in the rear view mirror, put his hand on Martha's knee, and with just his eyes directed her attention to the back. Martha turned and saw, and held out her hand. "It's starting to feel big and real, isn't it," she said to the scared, lonely little girl. Mary looked up, and without thinking took Martha's hand, and the tears came. Mary tried not to weep, but she did. "Oh honey," Martha said, putting her hand to Mary's face. "It's ok to feel this way... this is a big change. You cry all you need to, and we'll be here with you when you're ready."
Mary took control of herself.... Martha had helped... she is good, Mary decided once and for all. She took the tissue Martha offered with her other hand and wiped her eyes.
"Feeling better, honey?" Martha asked.
Mary nodded, and gave her a small smile, with one last sniffle.
"We'll be home in almost an hour... then we'll get you something to eat and settle you in your new bedroom. I think you'll like it," Martha said, softly.
Mary just nodded again, while Junior watched in the mirror.
About 5 miles from the ranch they came to a strange bridge over a creek, and Junior pulled over. He turned around, "Hey little lady, I wonder if I could show you something, out here."
Mary looked at Martha who had been watching Junior, then turned to Mary and smiled.
Mary nodded.
Junior got out and opened her door. "Take a look at this," he said, and walked over the road to the side of the bridge. The road for a long time had been dirt, but for the bridge it was paved.
Mary followed, shocked by the heat of the day outside of the cool pickup truck.
Junior pointed, "Take a look at this. Look at this creek, how the water is running right over all this bedrock, do you see that? There isn't any soil within 30 feet of the banks." he said pointing, and looking at Mary.
Mary did see. She saw the water winding through a shallow channel cut through the rock, and even if she didn't have the life experience to understand the geology of it or vocabulary to describe it, she knew it was pretty, somehow. She nodded to Junior, I see.
Junior saw her nod, and continued. "When I was a boy I used to come down to this creek nearly every day after my Pa released me from my chores. Back then the banks came right to the edge of the water, and there was a big willow right at the edge, and we had a rope and would swing way out to where the water was deep and drop in. Now you wouldn't do that unless you wanted to break your neck." He looked down at Mary, to see what her response would be.
"What happened to the tree?" Mary asked after a moment, and Junior smiled. Her brain works just fine, thank god, thinking of what the doc had told him over the phone, regarding her malnutrition.
"This new bridge and earthen dam wasn't here yet. One day there was a big downpour up in those mountains," and he pointed off to the horizon, miles away. "And a whole lot of water rushed down through here, and scoured the land clean, right down to the bedrock. I'll bring you back down here to take a walk, soon. There are even some dinosaur tracks, down there in the rock, uncovered by the flood. But over here..." he said, crossing to the down-stream side of the bridge, "Look."
Here, where the water was controlled by the dam, the land was healing, the soil wasn't completely scoured away, and there were green bushes near the water, and even the occasional tree. "The old bridge was washed away and the county decided to build a flood-control dam here, instead. All that water caused some trouble for folks downstream. It is hard to tell with just your eyeball, but we're right at the bottom of a shallow valley, here." He looked backward and forward, along the road. "And with this dam controlling the flow of water, the land is healing itself, the rock is slowly covered up again by layer upon layer of sediment... maybe not even an eighth inch a year. And soon seeds can find purchase, and their roots begin to hold the soil in place, make it stronger for the rains the next season, when even more soil covers the rock, making the land even stronger." He looked down at her. "Maybe by the time your kids are old enough, these trees will be big enough that they'll be able to come down here and swing out into the water."
Mary didn't understand why... but tears were filling her eyes, again.
"Look at me, honey," he said softly, and knelt next to her. She did, he was blurry behind her tears.
"This land here got swept clean, down to the bone. But deep down, it was solid and unbreakable. And it came back." He looked at her, never breaking eye contact. Please understand.
Somehow, in spite of her brutal history with human interaction, Mary knew.
Her tears came again, and Junior wanted to reach out to her, to comfort her... but he didn't want to scare her. Mary inhaled as if to sob... and he watched her, through sheer force of will, as she swallowed it. He didn't know how well she had gotten at hiding her true emotions for all those years, out of self preservation.
"I never swam before, I don't think I know how," Mary said simply, and softly.
Junior smiled at her softly, "You're going to love it," he said. "But let's get home... enough of my foolishness."
Mary turned and walked to the truck, her thoughts a jumble, there was too much, she almost felt numb. This had been a very long day. But what he said to her, she knew she it was going to be in her mind for a long while. New ideas were like that, she was learning, since she got away from Him.
Junior took his wife's hand as they crossed back to the truck, she also had heavy eyes, and she looked at him as they walked, she never ceased to be amazed when she found another hidden depth in her husband. He hadn't had much experience with children, or teenage girls, and yet here he was.
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Junior had told his people about Mary, and what to possibly expect.... he wasn't 100% sure.... but just that they should always be alert to keep an eye on her when she was around, this was very unfamiliar territory, for her... but also take great pains to respect her personal space. "She's had a hard life," he told them, as they all gathered for breakfast at daybreak. "We're going to take care of her, but just be careful of her. I don't know how fragile she is, yet." They all nodded. Junior didn't have to tell them to be nice to her.... if he'd had to actually say that to any of them, they wouldn't be working for him and living on his ranch.
They arrived at the ranch mid-afternoon, and as per instruction no one came out to meet her.... Junior didn't want her mobbed with too many people immediately on her first day.... except for Samantha, his veterinarian. She was not only the closest person on the ranch to Mary's age, she was also one of the few women... and Junior confided in Sam that he hoped Mary might look up to her as a big sister, or at least someone she could possibly relate to. "I'm not going to pretend that me and Martha know much about raising young girls," he said with a pained smile.
To her credit Sam had said, "Anything I can do, June," and meant it. She remembered what it was like to be a troubled young girl. She hoped she could be the role model that Junior thought she was.
So when the pickup arrived in a cloud of dust and settled in front of the house, Sam was the only one to come out of the stables and meet them.
Junior hopped out and got Mary's door for her, and a very wide-eyed little girl got out, trying to see everything, yet half-blinded by the sun after so long behind cool, tinted windows. She heard Sam before she saw more than a dark silhouette, her eyes still adjusting. "This must be the delivery we were expecting," Sam said with a smile. Mary just looked up at her.
Junior could almost read Mary's thoughts... more people.... he gave Sam a small shake of his head, and Sam gave him back a small smile and a nod, I understand. "Welcome, Mary. We're all very happy that you're here. I'm Sam, I work with the animals. I'll be around, come find me, if you want. I'm usually in the barn with the horses." Mary's eyes then went to the barn from which Sam had come from, the word "horses" of interest to her. She'd never seen one in real life. She looked up at Sam and nodded. Sam smiled, and walked back to the barn.
"Come child," Martha said, "I'll see you to your room. June, bring the bags, please." Mary followed Martha into the house as Junior grabbed the bags of clothes Martha had bought in town while waiting for Mary to arrive... mostly blue jeans and cotton shirts, things that would stand up to what she might get into around the ranch, until she was settled and they made a proper trip to appoint her.
Mary walked in expecting an attic with a bare mattress on the floor... that was the only type of bedroom she remembered. When Martha said, "Here you are, what do you think?" and invited Mary through a bedroom door, she walked in and was momentarily confused. With Sam's help Martha had decorated a large bedroom fit for a young teenage girl, but even then Sam recommended they keep it spare, for now. Let Mary decide on her own what colors she wanted, pictures, decoration. But even so, to Mary's eyes the room was opulent. She was accustomed to living in a simple room in a hospital, she had never seen anything nicer than that. The large queen sized bed looked enormous to her, and the double mattresses so thick she thought she might need a ladder to get onto it. There were two dressers, which she didn't understand, she only had a couple outfits, not knowing what was in the bags, yet. There was a large, old-fashioned vanity with a mirror, and a small padded bench. Mary had no idea what use it would be. A desk? There were two doors that Martha opened, "Here's your closet for when we get you more clothes..." the closet was as big as her entire room at the hospital. Martha opened the other door, "And here is your bathroom, you share it with Samantha, who has the bedroom on the other side." The ladies on the ranch had an open invitation to sleep in the main house, if they felt uncomfortable at all being surrounded by so many men, even if they were all gentlemen. Sam just liked it because no one in the main house would steal her yogurt from the refrigerator like they did in the bunk house.
Junior brought in the bags and set them down, and looked at them. "Everything ok in here?" he asked them both.
Martha smiled at him and looked to Mary, who was looking around the room. "It's so big," Mary said. "It's too nice."
Junior looked at her for a moment. "Darlin, from now on, nothing is too nice for you. Get used to that."
The way she was looking up at him... Junior felt it in his heart. He winked at her, a surprised smile quickly appearing and disappearing on her face. She's afraid to get too excited, waiting for this to be taken away. He took a deep breath. "Lots to do. Supper's in a couple hours, I'll be back in then. Get settled in if you want, or come on out to the big barn... it's up to you. This is your home, now." He smiled, and left.
Mary turned to Martha, "I didn't know he would be nice."
"Didn't they tell you anything about us, sweetheart?" Martha asked, removing Mary's new clothes from the bags, cutting off tags.
Mary screwed up her face, she was very practiced at choosing her words wisely. "They did..." she trailed off. "But people are almost never who they say they are," thinking of her uncle and how he always smiled at people.
Martha looked at her, her heart again breaking for the life Mary had lived. She knelt before Mary, she wanted to take her hands, but didn't. "Sweetheart... I know you don't... have anything to compare it to. I know you don't know what it feels like to have parents. Good parents," she clarified. "But I don't know what it feels like to have a daughter, either, even though I used to pray to God for one. Lately, since we learned about you," Martha looked down to the side, choosing her words. "I am starting to wonder if God didn't give me and Junior children because he wanted us to wait for you. I like to think that, anyway. So I will make you a deal." And now she did take Mary's limp hand in hers, it didn't feel right to not, when making an oath. "I promise we'll be the best parents to you we can, and you can figure out how to be our daughter, and we'll all figure this out together." She smiled at Mary. "Deal?"
Mary looked back at her, her expression unreadable... until she let a small smile onto the corners of her mouth, "Deal," and she squeezed Martha's hand.
Martha gave it a small shake to seal it, stood up, and picked up a pair of jeans. "Now let's see how these fit you." And as an afterthought, "You can change in the bathroom, if you wish." She didn't know how Mary would take undressing in front of others, yet. Mary changed in the bath room.
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Mary sat at the table sipping sweet iced tea and watched Martha and her kitchen helper, Miss Rosalita, a middle-aged Mexican woman, prepare supper for 20 people. Being so remote people couldn't exactly pop out to a diner for a meal. Mary learned that the workers lived out in what they called the "bunk house," the long, low building she had seen, and that they all had their own small rooms. There was a community kitchen and bath and shower room, in case they felt like just relaxing for a meal and having a frozen pizza, or something.
It was at supper time that Mary was subjected to the full energy of the ranch. A couple of the men were "out ranging," someone told Mary that some of the cow herd had wandered off, and they were trying to find it and get them back with the others. But there were still 20 people around the loud table, Junior and Martha at the head, Mary and Sam next to them. Mary with a plate in front of her full of fried chicken and mashed potatoes and corn... more food in front of her than she usually ate in a week. She had never much enjoyed the food at the hospital... the cafeteria food always seemed so bland, to her. She just sat and absorbed the cacophony of noise around her. All of these people, though they were outwardly tired from working all day, were laughing and talking with each other, seeming to really enjoy the company. At the hospital, meal times were usually so quiet, many of the patients subdued with drugs, others just wanting to be left alone. Mary often just at silently with her thoughts, picking at her food. This was new, and Mary was a little nervous... and a little excited by it all.
She never saw Junior's eyes finding her, watching her reactions, watching her watch them. "Try to eat, sweetheart. Tomorrow's going to be a big day, you'll need your energy," he smiled at her.
Mary looked up at him and picked up a fried chicken leg and took a bite, to be polite. She tasted, and chewed, slowly. She looked up at Martha, who had been watching her. Then she attacked the chicken, it was the best thing she could remember ever tasting in her life. Martha laughed out loud before she could cover her mouth as Mary picked up the second chicken leg and dug in. From somewhere down at the other end of the table someone said, "I think she likes it, Martha," and the others laughed.
"Shut yer trap, Jimmy. The girl's busy," Samantha said to her brother, and the rest laughed again, and went back to their conversations, pretending like they weren't all fascinated by the pretty stray the boss had brought home.
Mary didn't take the time to be embarrassed by their attention, she was learning that food could actually taste good.
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She tried to help clear the table afterwards like everyone else did, everyone clearing their own place, but Martha saw Mary's heavy eyelids. She whispered to Rosalita, who smiled and nodded, and took Mary by the hand.... Mary was suddenly too tired to flinch from the contact. When they got to her room she closed the door behind them and took Mary's pajamas out of the dresser. "You've had a long day, honey... why don't you get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be an interesting day for you, I think."
Mary looked up at her, suddenly on the verge of exhaustion, and now with the fullest belly she could remember ever having. That impossibly big bed suddenly looked very inviting. Mary took her pajamas and went to her bathroom, she heard Martha say through the door, "The new toothbrush on the sink is yours." Mary did her business and brushed her teeth, and looked at herself in the mirror. She saw the same tired eyes she always did, but also, something else. She didn't recognize the small glimmer of hope.
She padded back to her room and walked to her bed... she wanted nothing more than to lie down. The top of the bed came up to the middle of her chest... she wasn't sure what to do about this.
Martha was just realizing this potential problem, too, when Mary grabbed a bed post and scaled the side of the bed, hooking her toes between the mattress and box spring. Martha laughed, "problem solved, but we'll do something about that tomorrow so you don't need to climb like a monkey to get into bed."
Mary crawled under the covers, and could barely keep her eyes open. She had woken up that morning in Florida, cried with her friends, encountered so many people, flew in the sky like a bird, drove for hours through the Texas desert, met her new family, and then had the best meal of her life. It was a lot. Before today she'd never been more than 9 miles from where she had been born.
Martha tucked her in, wanting to kiss her goodnight so badly... but stopped, Mary's dark eyes just looking up at her. Martha didn't want to push her. "Good night, dear, thank you so much for coming to us." She left the bathroom door cracked with the light on, in case Mary needed some light.... Martha wasn't sure what she'd like, yet.
She was just falling asleep when Samantha stuck her head in the door, "Get some sleep, kiddo.... tomorrow's going to be a great day."
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She woke up at 2:24 am, like she did every night, not knowing she did so at the exact minute every time. She'd never had a clock in her room. This was usually the time the nightmare about her uncle ended. It had been better since that day with Lucy when she cried... the nightmares weren't as bad since then. But now, in her bedroom, she woke up at 2:24 am, and was confused. She hadn't been dreaming.... but she saw him, now, she just saw a short, stocky silhouette in the light from the bathroom, but she knew it was him. He stood at the foot of her new bed, just looking at her. This was much better than how the dreams usually went. She felt awake but asleep, and had the awareness to be confused. But she looked around and saw her new bedroom was still here, and she was still in her big, soft bed, and she wasn't scared like she usually was, in spite of the ghost just staring at her. She closed her eyes, This is just a dream. Maybe he really is gone.
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Sam was right, the next day was pretty great. She woke up with the noises of the rest of the house, the sun wasn't even all the way up yet. Sam heard her in the bathroom and poked her head in, "Morning sweetheart! Get dressed and come have some breakfast. Big day today!"
Mary nodded at her.
She knew what scrambled eggs were, the hospital served processed ones almost every morning.... but she had no idea what "grits" were. They looked weird. But when Sam put a plate of fresh eggs and grits in front of her, Mary thought it wouldn't be polite to not eat them. The first bite was bravery, but after that it was easy. Mary loved eggs and grits. Martha smiled as Mary ate a second plate.
"Not too much, kid. Don't want to break Cindy's back," Sam smiled at her.
Mary soon found out that "Cindy" was a horse.
Junior and Sam set aside their morning work for her, they were going to teach Mary to ride. They both chose the most gentle mare they had for Mary, a 6 year old that had foaled three times and had always been gentle with everyone. If she and Mary got along the plan was that Cindy would be Mary's responsibility. After Mary got over the shock of being in the presence of what she saw as an impossibly big animal, they spent the first couple hours teaching Mary basic horsemanship, how to lead her around, tie her up. Put on her halter, put a bit in her mouth. Mary was fascinated by this enormous animal.... Mary's head only came up to the horse's shoulder.... but she was so docile, and seemed so nice. She had a feeling the horse was studying her as much as she was studying it. It's soft coat, it's nice fur. She saw a fly land on Cindy's leg and the horse just flexed its muscles to get it off. The sheer, controlled power in this animal was both frightening and exhilarating, to Mary.
Mary almost smiled when Cindy ate a carrot from her hand, tickling her skin.
Mary was soaking up all this new knowledge, but finally Junior said, "Enough, there's too much to teach her at one time. Let's set her in a saddle."
Sam went to work putting on the western saddle they'd chosen for Mary, and Junior pulled over a small wooden set of stairs he'd built years ago for when people brought out their kids to buy a horse or five. Mary would need it.
She was doing her best to hide her emotions like she always had.... but sitting on Cindy for the first time, there was just too much. Feeling the animal under her, shifting its weight. Her thighs spread around the animal's huge body. The long, hairy neck in front of her, she could see the side of Cindy's long face as the horse turned to make sure she actually had a rider, now... Mary was so light, Cindy wasn't entirely sure. Cindy looked into Mary's eyes with her one, and seemed to send an agreement... I know you're new.... that's ok, little ones need to learn. I'll take it easy on you if you take it easy on me. Deal?
Junior squinted his eyes and he had a small smile as he saw Mary suddenly nod, while looking at Cindy.
Mary took to horseback riding just fine. First Junior took hold of Cindy's bridle and walked her as Sam taught Mary how to hold the reins, and give the basic commands. Junior walked the horse slowly, Mary gasped when she felt the power of the horse shifting between her legs.
'Florida,' just 24 hours in the past, was nowhere near her conscious thoughts right now.
"Show me left," Junior would say to Mary, who would do the appropriate movements of the reins. He held Cindy firmly by her halter, "A little more, she won't feel it," and Mary corrected herself. "Show me right," and Mary had it that time. "Show me giddyap," and Mary made the little clicking sound with her mouth, giving the reins a shake. "Show me whoa." Mary softly pulled back and said, "Whoa," and Junior again said, "A little harder, honey. You won't hurt Cindy." Mary did it better the second time.
Junior looked at Sam. "We ready?"
"We ready," she replied. "Mary sits great, I think she'll be fine."
Junior took Cindy's head, and put his forehead against hers, looking into her eyes. "Now you be good to her, she's a little girl, and she's just learning," too softly for the human girls to hear.
Cindy just snorted, as if to say, Please, old man. Just step back.
Junior gave her a grin, and stepped back. They were all in the big barn door to the brightness of the corral, Mary gave Cindy a giddyap, and in that instant her life changed.
Cindy walked slowly, taking extra care to give the young one a smooth ride. Cindy could feel Mary quivering in her skin as they walked into the bright sunshine.
Junior saw Mary squint as she stepped into the light, "We need to get her a hat," he said to Sam.
"I should have thought of that," Sam answered. "I'll get her one of mine until we get her own."
Junior nodded, never taking his eyes off Mary.
By now Cindy had taken Mary to the far fence, and the horse knew Mary would want to go to the left, in a circle... but waited for Mary to use the reins. Finally Mary did, and Cindy patiently turned to the left and continued her slow, easy gait.
Mary was in a state of panicked, terrified joy. Riding this horse... Cindy... even in the fenced corral, she was filled with the feeling she could suddenly go anywhere in the world, even though she had no idea how big of an idea that was.
"Sit up straight, honey. And no holding on to the saddle!" Junior called out to her, watching from the barn door.
Mary let go of the horn guiltily, she remembered they had told her it wasn't a handle, and sat up straight. Her back was beginning to feel a little tired already, but she wasn't ready for this ride to end.
After a few minutes Mary and Cindy had circumnavigated the corral, and were approaching Junior and Sam, again. "Show me whoa," Junior said.
Cindy heard him use the stopping word, but waited for Mary. Finally she felt the reins pull back the bit in her teeth, and she stopped.
He looked up at her, "You sit a horse just fine. How does it feel?"
Mary looked down at him and smiled.
"More?" he asked.
Mary nodded, still smiling.
"Well giddyap, then," Junior smiled back at her. Mary gave the command just right, and as soon as they were heading to the far corner again he said to Sam, "Why don't you grab her a spare hat, we don't want her burning up on the first day. And do you feel like taking a ride? You could saddle up Libby and take Mary out of the fence." He thought for a moment, "If you feel she's ready, take her up to a trot and a run. Cindy's a good girl, she'll be gentle."
Sam smiled, "You got it, boss." Sam went and got her mare Libby, saddled her up, grabbed an extra hat from the tack room, and trotted out to Mary. "Here, put this on, you're already getting a little red on the back of your neck."
Cindy had already stopped on her own when Sam rode up, so Mary was able to take the hat in Sam's hand. She put it on and even though it was a little too big, suddenly being in the shade made her realize how hard the sun had been beating down on her.
Mary and Samantha rode all day, all around the ranch without really leaving the immediate vicinity, stopping more than once to water the horses. It was a typical hot, Texas day.
Sam knew it was scary the first time, but figured there was no time like the present. "Feel like going a little faster?" she asked Mary on their third lap of the ranch.
Mary smiled at her.
"A trot is faster than a walk, but slower than a canter, and a lot slower than a full run. And it can be a little bumpy. Stand up in the stirrups a little, don't have all your weight on your butt. Shake the reins a little bit and tell her, 'trot.' It will feel strange at first, but just find your rhythm. Watch me once, watch how I move in the saddle. It's easy once you get the timing. Ready?"
Mary nodded.
Sam shook the reins just so.... she didn't need to tell Libby what she wanted, the horse knew her very well, but for Mary's benefit she said, "Gimme a trot, Libby." Libby did so, and Sam put on a display, describing a wide circle around Mary, as Mary watched.
Mary saw. It's a 2-count movement....
And before Sam had come back to see if she got it, Mary shook the reins, "Trot please."
Cindy took off, and the reality of inertia was such a surprise that Mary rolled off Cindy's back, into the dirt.
Cindy knew immediately something was amiss, she stopped and turned, looking a little ashamed of herself. Sorry about that... hold on tighter, little one. Lean into it.
Sam came in fast and was down on her feet before her horse was even at a full stop. Mary had done a complete back-roll off of Cindy's flanks and had landed hard on her backside in a sitting position. Junior had just happened to be watching from the barn that moment, and Sam saw him sprinting the 200 yards out to where they were. "Are you ok?" Sam asked Mary.
Mary was a little shocked at the sudden jolt, and she had bit her tongue, and her butt hurt. She got to her shakily feet as Junior arrived.
"Are you all right?" he asked, Mary saw he looked very scared.
"I'm ok," Mary said, sticking out her tongue trying to see it, and rubbing her backside.
"Bite your tongue?" Sam asked, and Mary nodded. Sam looked closely. "No blood," and Mary pulled it back into her mouth.
"I should have held on tighter."
Junior looked at her, and looked at Sam, and the two adults laughed. Junior wasn't thinking, he knelt and gave her a hug. "You can say that, again." He stood back up. "You sure you're ok? Nothing broke?"
Mary knew she should have been scared by that hug... but the shock of the fall after the exhilaration of riding all day had made her feel... she wasn't sure. She just knew that maybe it was ok for Junior to touch her. In response to his question she walked in a little circle. Her butt was a little sore, but she'd felt worse, before. "Nothing broke," she said, looking to Cindy.
Junior nodded. "Now listen little lady, it's a hard and fast rule that when you fall off a horse, you need to get right back on, or else you'll...." and he was going to finish with or else you'll be scared to forever, but Mary was already back trying to put her foot in the stirrup. Junior and Sam again shared a smile, and Sam was there to give her a leg up.
"No shame, kiddo. You just need to grow a few more inches and this'll be easy," Sam said to her as Mary swung her leg over.
Mary set herself in the saddle, both feet in the stirrups, held the reins just so. She saw Cindy looking back at her.
Lean forward. Set yourself. Be one with me.
Mary looked Cindy in the eye, and smiled.
Later she would relive this moment and remember she had every intention of just giving Cindy a small shake of the reins and a "Trot, please." Instead, without thinking about it at all, she leaned in, gave a hard shake of the reins, and savagely cried out, "Yah!"
Cindy was as surprised as Junior and Sam were, but she was a good horse, and the little one had just given a clear command.... Cindy bolted, and Mary held on, laughing into the wind as her hat blew off her head and fell in the dust at Junior's feet.
Junior watched her as she was awkward at first, but after a few paces found the rhythm, becoming one with Cindy. They followed the same track she and Sam had walked three times, barely in control of the horse, though Junior could see Cindy was still being quite forgiving of Mary's unpolished skills. They could hear her laughter over Cindy's hoof beats. "Well I'll be," Junior said to Sam, softly. She has the heart of a warrior.
"I think she's in love," Sam said, wiping a tear from her eye with the back of her hand. She picked up the fallen hat and mounted Libby in a smooth motion, leaned forward, flicked the reins just so, and took off after Mary.
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They rode until both horses were lathered in sweat and Mary's face was streaked with tears and dust. They cooled down the horses with a few minutes of walking, Mary followed Sam back to the barn.... and Mary cried out when her feet were finally back on the ground, and the reality of overworked muscles unused to riding began to cramp up.
"Ooooo, I forgot about that," Sam said, rushing over to take Mary's arm as her legs collapsed under her. Sam helped her to the wooden steps, sitting Mary down. Mary cried out again, her butt was suddenly sore, unused to the saddle. The pain was sharp. Sam knelt before her, tears of pain falling down her face. "Sorry kiddo... it's been so long since I was new at this, I didn't even think about it. We should have taken it easy today until you were used to it," but she saw Mary shake her head at that idea.
"No, I'm fine," Mary said. "I love riding."
Sam said, "That's surely a fact," and she started rubbing the muscles in Mary's thigh. "Here?" she asked, asking if that's where the pain was.
Mary just looked at her, as this woman touched her like this... the last time someone had touched her there, it was... so much pain.... and she was getting scared.... but Sam's touch.... was soothing? Before it had always hurt.... He would touch her... hit her.... worse... and it hurt so bad.... but Sam was just watching her hands, rubbing her down.... and the cramps eased, her muscles unclenched. Sam felt it, and went to her other thigh, and Mary almost felt pleasure when the pain of that thigh eased. She'd never felt anything like this. She just watched Sam as she did her work. "Feels like you're unclenched?" as a question, and Mary just nodded at her. Sam held out her hand, "Try to stand up, let's see if they stay that way." Mary reached out and took her hand, leaned forward, and found her legs would hold her. She stood there, holding Sam's hand. Yes... the cramps were still close by, but they stayed away for now. "Good?" Sam asked again, and Mary nodded, very aware she was holding Sam's hand. "Good," and she turned her head. "Can you hear me, June?" she called out.
"Yeah?" came his voice from somewhere outside the horse barn.
"Come here a minute, please?"
"Is he going to be mad at me?" Mary asked... she didn't want anything to keep her from getting back up on that horse, not ever.
"Nah kiddo, if anything he'll be mad at me," Sam answered with a grimace.
Junior came in, "YOU," he said to Mary, "Are a natural horsewoman. I've never seen anyone take to it from nothing the way you did today. You looked born to it."
In spite of her pain, Mary smiled at him. "I really liked it," she said simply.
"That's plain as day," Junior smiled back at her.
"June...." Sam said hesitantly. "Mary's a little saddle sore, I think we overdid it today."
Junior looked back at Mary with a discerning eye... "Yeah, I bet she is, at that. I forgot about that."
"Yeah, so did I," Sam said. "Sorry."
"My fault," Junior said without hesitation. "Feeling steady on your feet?" he asked Mary. "Can you make it to the house, you think?"
"I think I can," Mary said, taking a couple steps, still holding on to Sam's hand.
"Let me help," Junior said, holding out his elbow for Mary to hold on to.
Mary looked at it. She looked up at Junior, saw the worry in his eyes for her. She took his elbow, and held on tight, hobbling with him toward the house. He went as slowly as she needed.
"I'll take care of Cindy tonight, but you'll need to learn this!" Sam called out as she left the barn.
Mary turned without stopping, "Thanks! I want to learn everything!"
Sam smiled, watching her leave with Junior.
++++
Martha scolded Junior for Mary's condition as they finally got up the porch steps and in the house, and she took over. She drew Mary a hot bath with some Epson salts, and on her way out of the bathroom told her, "Soak in that tub. It will loosen you up. But first, when you undress, check yourself out... make sure you aren't rubbed raw anywhere. If you are, let me know... I'll wait outside the door... you don't want to sit in salt water if you have broken skin. It would ruin your whole day."
She closed the door behind her, and Mary stripped. She turned to look at her backside as well as she could... she could see she was bruised back there, both from her tumble, and from bouncing in the saddle for hours. But she'd had worse bruises. And she also felt a little raw between her thighs.... she looked, and was red, but she didn't see any scrapes or blisters or cuts. "I'm not bleeding or anything," she said through the door.
"Ok sweetheart... soak in that tub, then. It might sting right at first, but it will stop after a few seconds. Your body just isn't used to it. I'll bring you in some supper to your room, I'll set out your pajamas, so you don't need to walk any more than you need, tonight. I'm afraid you're going to be sore tomorrow... but I think you'll get used to it soon enough. I saw you riding, today... you looked beautiful."
Holding onto the side of the tub Mary stepped into the hot water. She said I looked beautiful... Still holding on, keeping as much weight on her arms as she could, she let herself sit, first feeling the heat of the water on her naked body, followed by the stinging. She grit her teeth just like she always had in the past when feeling pain but needing to hide it... and she counted to ten... and Martha was right, the sting was easing, and her skin was adjusting. She finished sitting, she felt her bruised butt on the smooth, hot bathtub... and she eased back, submerging the rest of her body up to her neck. She took a deep breath....
...and from the other side of the door, Martha heard a contented sigh. She smiled softly and set out Mary's clothes, and left the room to help finish dinner. Mary was going to fall asleep fast tonight, but needed some food, first.
Mary closed her eyes in the hot tub, and remembered the horse and the wind in her hair.
The knock on the door jarred her out of her doze, and the water felt luke warm. "You ok, honey?" Martha's voice came through the door.
"Yes!' Mary said, "I think I fell asleep," and started getting up... and remembered that she was still a little sore. She dried, wrapped the towel around herself, and came out to find her room empty and her pajamas out. She dressed, slowly, tenderly. Soon after Martha knocked and came in, a plate of food and a glass of milk in her hand. She put it on the vanity, "just eat in here tonight, honey. Everyone is disappointed they can't talk to you about your first day riding, but they understand."
"They saw?" Mary asked as she hobbled to the vanity.
"Everyone saw, dear. You were laughing so much you got everyone's attention."
"I was laughing?" Mary asked, with a frown.
"Yes."
Mary didn't remember the laughing. "Did I look stupid?"
"You looked like a girl learning that she loved horses. You're fitting in here just fine," Martha said matter-of-factly. "Now eat," she said, helping Mary into the vanity bench. "Eat and brush your teeth and I'll be back later for your plate, I can see you're tired. Get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be big day," she finished with a smile, and left the room.
Mary didn't know she was eating beef brisket, she'd never seen it before. But it smelled wonderful, and after one exploratory bite she devoured the entire big plate, with the mac and cheese and corn bread. It was a spotless plate that Martha picked up after Mary was already in bed, breathing deeply and steadily.
Mary was asleep when Sam peeked her head in, and smiled. "Have a good sleep, kiddo," she said to Mary, softly. "You were amazing, and tomorrow's going to be a great day."
++++
Mary took to every part of the farm life. She was never really directed to be anywhere, but she fell into a routine of helping Martha in the mornings, and wandering around the ranch in the afternoons, helping this person or that one, learning everything she could, until Sam was free to go riding with her.
With Martha she learned how to take care of the chickens, both the egg layers, and the ones that they would eat. She learned how to tend a vegetable garden, how to tell the difference between weeds and the good plants. She never quite got the knack of it but Martha had her help preparing lunch, and she was learning to take the teasing in stride, "Looks like Mary made the biscuits again, today," someone would tease, pounding it against the table. Mary would give the offender a stern look, but with a small smile in her eyes... Martha had told her she didn't need to be perfect at everything... and whoever had teased her would wink and eat it, anyway.
She was really beginning to love this place.
In the afternoons she would wander, and watch, and learn. They were mostly men working the ranch, but besides Sam and Miss Rosalita who stayed in the big house, there were two other sturdy-looking women who both stayed out in the bunk house with the men. They all seemed to be doing different jobs from day to day, sharing the easy ones and the hard ones fairly. Sometimes riders would bring in some cows and Mary would watch them taken, one by one, from one big pen to another while Samantha gave them each a quick look, and gave them a shot in the butt or a vaccination in their ear with a little silvery gun. Sometimes it was the same thing but with horses, Mary would watch these with interest, trying to pick out which were the dominant males, which females belonged to them, just the entire dynamic of the horse existence. Sheriff Tom had been out three days after she first rode Cindy with boots and a hat in her size, and Mary felt right comfortable as a cowgirl, looking over the split rail fence, watching Sam work.
She would help when she could, pitching in with whomever was watering and feeding the horses in the long stable, or moving hay bales around in the loft, or shoveling horse poop, slowly, doing the best she could.... and she grew stronger every day. She liked helping to shovel poop when it was with Jimmy, he liked to tell her funny stories while they worked and it made it go fast.
But she was never bored, and was always able to find something to occupy her hours until late afternoons when Sam had finsihed her work and they could ride. These were the hours in the day she lived for.
Mary loved riding circles around the ranch, learning from Sam everything there was to know about riding a horse. Mary could about do it all after just a few weeks... back a horse up, make it go sideways, even how to open a gate, go through it, and latch it on the other side, all without dismounting. Mary was to the point where she didn't need to think about what she wanted Cindy to do, she and the horse had formed their bond and Mary could just flick the reins just so like Sam did, give a little nudge with her foot, maybe squeeze her knees or shift her weight a little, and Cindy understood. Soon Mary was wanting to see what was beyond sight of the ranch buildings, and after a consultation with Junior, "Take her out, show her your rocks. You know the good spots." Sam obliged.
One day she packed a saddlebag with several bottles of water and some trail mix, "Want to go for a ride?" she said to Mary, who nodded with a gleam in her eye.
They saddled their horses, Mary now able to equip Cindy all by herself... with the help of the stairs, of course. All the horse sense in the world didn't make her tall enough to put on the blanket and saddle without a boost. All the same, Sam always gave Cindy a quick once-over before Mary mounted, just checking the important things, but for the last couple weeks it had been perfect, so Sam didn't think she would need to check on Mary's work for much longer.
They rode out that morning in a new direction, toward the mountains Mary had often looked at on the horizon. As they began to ride away from the ranch house Sam filled her in. "Now, this ranch is big... almost 500 square miles. It's been in Junior's family since Sam Houston.... do you know about him?"
Mary shook her head.
Sam smiled, "Well you will eventually... and that'll probably be my job, June told me to start thinking about giving you a couple hours of schooling every day. Did you know I was qualified to teach?"
Mary shook her head again.
"Yeah, I already had three years of college when Junior took me in, and he told me he needed a vet, so he sent me to school for three more years to do that. But I minored in education, so here we are."
Mary just rode along under the shade of her hat, listening, enjoying the day.
"Anyway, the ranch is big... it goes just past those mountains out there," she said, nodding her head off to the horizon. "It's two day's ride to get from one end to the other, three if you like your horse."
As they rode, Sam pointed out some things Mary had never thought about before. She pointed out some rattle snakes, and told Mary how to recognize which rocks they might be under during the hot hours of the day, and when they were likely to be out from under their rocks. "They aint your friends," Sam pointed out, "But they're polite, and they'll let you know if they don't want you there. When you hear that rattle you just calmly back away from them, and they'll save their poison for the mice." She taught Mary the same with scorpions, and tarantulas, and other things in the desert that Mary had never heard of... but she remembered everything Sam said, and she planned on consulting those big encyclopedias tonight when they got back. Fortunately her uncle had taken her after she learned to read, because she never would have learned, otherwise.
A couple hours in they were approaching an outcropping that their trail seemed to skirt. "Slow up," Sam said to her. "There are a lot of rattlers here, and sometimes one sits on the trail." They continued to ride side by side, when Cindy gave a warning neigh, and they saw a snake coiled in the trail, about 30 feet out. They both stopped. "Yeah, there she is. I call her Charlie, from here you can just barely see the scar on her back. I think she she thinks she needs to guard those rocks. She's been here as long as I remember but one day I found a dead coyote on the trail, next to a dead hawk. After that she had that scar. She's mean as... well, a snake... and for her, we go around." They cut a wide berth around Charlie.
At some point a few hours into the ride Mary realized she could hear water running somewhere to her right, behind the scrub and stunted trees. Suddenly they turned and rode down into a wide, gently sloping ravine, and Mary saw the big river. There was some sort of small stream that ran down the ravine and into the river, and Sam stopped them there in a wide sandy spot, flicking Libby's reins over some dead tree branches. "Come on down," she said, and Mary slipped off Cindy, securing her next to Libby. Both horses began pulling at the tall grasses at their feet.
"This is the Arapaho River, it's the county border in this direction, and it's the edge of Junior's ranch. This is my favorite spot, I usually like to sleep out here at least every other weekend, just get away and look at the stars at night. I really love it." Sam wasn't quite ready to share how this place helps her to reset herself, how she still sometimes feels the pain and shame of her former life with her abusive boyfriend. Being out here, tiny and insignificant but completely present under the full gaze of the visible universe... recharged her. Everybody gets weary, sometimes. "About thirty miles that way," Sam nodded past the mountains, "is Mexico. Right now we're pretty close to alone as anyone can be on land, I think. There's probably not 30 souls within 50 miles of us, right now, and there aint no roads to get here."
Mary listened, trying to comprehend that. She wasn't sure if she'd ever been farther than one room away from anyone, ever.
"Take a look at the river, see how brown and muddy it is out there? But look here," and Sam gestured at an area near where they were standing, and Mary saw the water was crystal clear for 30 or 40 feet out, where the main current of the river was running, the two different waters separated by a strange wall of loose rocks. "This here is a spring," Sam gestured to the little stream that was coming down the ravine. "It's fresh, clean water, and where it joins the river it is making a natural pool. It's great to cool off in after a long ride," and Sam was suddenly kicking off her boots, and unbuttoning her shirt.
Mary was feeling that pleasantly weary fatigue she felt after a long ride, but Samantha undressing was something new, and suddenly she felt nervous.
Without looking at Mary, Samantha stripped off all of her clothes and ran naked into the spring-fed pool, squealing as the cool water hit her hot skin. Mary watched her butt as Sam waded in about 20 feet until she hit a deep spot, and plunged head first, completely under, popping up a few seconds later slicking her hair back out of her face. She turned to Mary, just her head sticking out of the water. "This pool is a lot colder than the river, that spring water is only 72 degrees. You can feel it!" Sam laughed, and dipped herself under, again.
Sam had been thinking about this moment all day, she knew eventually she would bring Mary out here, and she wasn't sure how far to take it. She always came out here and skinny dipped, it just felt so good. There wasn't anything sexual to it, she was just here reconnecting to her femininity and vulnerability after long days of being tough with the boys on the ranch. She didn't know all of Mary's story, but she knew the nudity could be an issue with her... but dammit, she has to allow herself this, if she wants it. There's nothing wrong with it. She needs to take back some of what that bastard took from her.... just like how I had to rediscover myself, back then. So, not making the decision until the last moment, Sam stripped down and got into the water as fast as she could.
She popped up and turned, she saw Mary looking at her. At least she hasn't ridden away, that's something. "You can come in if you want, there's plenty of room and the water feels great." As a hesitant afterthought, "You don't need to strip all the way down if you don't want to." I hope that didn't put the idea in her head I thought she was ashamed.
Does she think I'm ashamed? Mary thought to herself. I... want to join her... it looks fun... but no one has seen me naked... since.... she tried to stop it, but she had a sudden image of Him, of Him making her do things to him, of fucking her and raping her so painfully while she was naked. In the hospital Dr. Marcus referred to these episodes as panic attacks, when Mary started thinking about those things and it always led to a spiral of panic and fear and finally screaming. But now.... Mary... barely... held on.
Cindy and Libby stopped lazily chewing on the grasses and looked up at Mary, sharply, their ears pricked forward.
Mary held it and stopped it and... just... didn't. She closed her eyes, balled her fists, and took a deep breath. I'm not going to do that any more, Mary decided. It had been a long time since she'd spiraled, but for the first time Mary controlled it. I am here now, and he is dead, and he is never, ever coming back. Junior and Martha are here for me now. They will do anything to protect me. Erin helped us and Lucy and Nora love me and hopefully I will talk to them soon and Sam.... is here.... and she is my friend. And I have Cindy, and there is nothing else I need. I don't need him. I don't need how he made me feel, or what he did to me. I'm done with him. I'll never let him make me feel scared again. Never again.
Mary opened her eyes, and looked out at Sam, who was in the water just looking at her. Mary started kicking off her boots. "Is it deep?" she asked simply. "I don't think I know how to swim."
Sam smiled, and looked away as Mary stripped to her underwear and waded in.
++++
On the ride back Mary was quiet, and Sam respected her space. They had ridden for an hour when Mary started talking. "So, you're a teacher? Does that mean I could finish school with you? And where did you go to college? Did you have to move there or could you stay on the ranch? And why are we out so far that phones don't work? I don't understand that. I'd kind of like to talk to my friends about some things. And what were you like, before you came here? Your brother says you were really wild and a bad influence on him, always getting him into trouble. I didn't believe him but is that true? And how long have you known Junior and Martha? How old were you when you met them? Do you know why they never had any kids of their own? Have they always been so nice?" Mary went on and on, something had opened inside her, and she was pouring herself out onto her friend, Samantha.
Sam just looked over at Mary, next to her, talking continuously to the back of Cindy's head. She didn't know Mary knew how to use so many words all at the same time, in the last two minutes she'd said more than she had for the previous month. Something changed for her out here, Sam realized, and she was surprised to also realize she was looking forward to learning more about Mary, trying to figure out just what had changed. It was a strange feeling, for her, to be so interested in knowing what made another person tick.
++++
Sam and Mary put the horses up, giving them an extra scoop of oats for all the calories they'd burned that day. They were about to leave the barn when Sam was surprised to feel Mary take her hand.
"Wait," Mary said, as Sam turned toward her.
Sam saw Mary wasn't looking into her face. "What is it?" she asked softly.
Mary looked up at her, still holding her hand. "Thank you for taking me there. I could tell that place was special to you, but I am not sure why yet. Maybe you can tell me next time, if you want."
Sam looked down into Mary's pretty brown eyes. They still looked so sad, but maybe, now, there was something else, there. "You are very welcome. I'm glad I took you there, shared it. Maybe next time I'll tell you." And suddenly Mary was hugging her, and squeezing her tight. Sam held her back, and when Mary released her and started walking quickly toward the house to wash up, Sam just watched her go, tears forming in her eyes. Who is this amazing girl, Sam wondered.
++++
Sam had a talk with Junior the next day, and they planned a trip into town for that Saturday. Sam didn't always come with, but this time she did, accompanying Mary. Junior had called ahead, and Sheriff Tom had some packages from Amazon waiting for them when they arrived, one of which was a new cell phone for Mary. "Sam'll set it up for you and show you how to use it, I'm still stuck on flip phones and I still only get them working half the time," Junior said, and they laughed.
"Thank you very much," Mary said politely. She saw it was kind of like the phone Lucy used, and she was glad she had the piece of paper in her pocket that Lucy had given her, with her phone number and Skype name. She always carried that piece of paper when she wasn't out riding and sweating and getting dirty.
They sat in the McDonald's across the way from the county courthouse and Sam set up her phone for her, showing her how to make calls, and add contacts, and use apps like Skype. She taught Mary briefly what "wifi" was, and what the internet was, and why it was great that McD's let you use it for free. Mary made a mental note to look up "networks" in the encyclopedias, tonight. Mary made her first phone call from her new phone to Lucy.... and Junior watched bemused as his young Mary excitedly told her friend about the ranch, and her bedroom, and her horse. While talking to Lucy.... he remembered that name from what the doc had said... Mary was lit up in a way they all rarely saw.
Junior was seeing that maybe raising a child in the world today.... maybe it wasn't fair to her to have her be so isolated. He thought about it, and nodded to himself, and made up his mind about something he'd been contemplating. He pulled a card out of his wallet and made a phone call on his flip phone, managing to get make it ring the first time. "Bob, yeah, it's Junior out in Arapaho. Yeah, I've been thinking about that cell tower you want to put on my mountain. Why don't you come by and we'll talk about it."
Sam had been hearing his side of the conversation, and when he hung up she arched an eyebrow at him with a small smile. He just glanced at Mary pointedly, and shrugged at Sam, with a grimace. He was learning that good fathers do anything to make their daughters happy.
++++
Mary was watching the cows get their medicine again, moving from one pen to another, one by one, as Sam checked them out. Sam took a break half way and walked over to lean on the fence with Mary for a few minutes.
"Why do all the cows have that same mark on their sides?" Mary asked. Each of them were branded, a double square tilted on their sides, overlapping slightly, with some dots in the middle.
"Do you mean the brands?" Sam asked. "The dice?"
"Brands? What is that?"
"A ranch that lets their herds range will brand them, so everyone knows who they belong to. It helps keep the neighbors friendly if the cows break through a fence or wander where they shouldn't. A brand tells everyone what ranch the animal belongs to," Sam explained.
"Oh," Mary said. "Well, why dice?"
"Because of the name of Junior's ranch," Sam said.
"What's the name of the ranch?" Mary asked.
Sam blinked at her. "You don't know?"
Mary shook her head.
"Junior's family moved out here in the early 1800's after they went bankrupt in Jersey City. They called this place The Second Chance, the double dice sort of represent that." Sam pecked her cheek, "Back to work!" and smiled, putting her gloves back on as she walked away.
Mary just watched her go, thinking how appropriate that felt.
++++
A few days later there was the bi-annual rain squall at the ranch, and they all watched the rain fall from inside the house or barn or wherever they happened to be when the heavy clouds finally opened. Junior and Sam and Mary had been in the stables when it started, and Mary stepped out into it, letting it fall onto her face... she had never stood in the rain before, even though in Florida she'd seen it so much as a daily occurrence through this window, or that one. It stopped as quickly as it started, Mary looking in at them from outside, dripping, smiling.
Junior said, "Let's saddle up, there's something I want you to see," and the three of them quickly did. Within 15 minutes they were riding out at a easy canter, mindful of the wet, slippery trail.
"Where we going, June?" Sam asked after 20 minutes, and he just smiled.
They came to a rise overlooking a wide, shallow valley, the herds were out there, the cows could be seen as a shadow about 4 miles to the east, the horses a different shade of shadow about 5 miles out to the west. The clouds were still breaking, more and more patches of sunlight were appearing on the dappled valley floor.
"Just wait, it'll be along, soon," Junior said, settling in to his saddle, comfortable in a way only a person riding since he was a child could be.
They waited. Soon the clouds were completely gone, and the valley was bathed in light, and the rising heat made the humidity climb and they all started to sweat.
After another half hour Sam was getting impatient, even the horses were beginning to fidget, and she had a lot to get done that day. "This is really fun, June, but..." but then Sam saw it, a bit of color off to the right. A patch of yellow, suddenly, where before there had only been greenish brown. She fell silent.
Then off to the left, red. More and more across the valley floor the flowers were blooming, rejoicing at the gift of rain they had received, taking full advantage of it before it was gone. Cacti bloomed in yellow and wild flowers bloomed in blue, different shrubs in red, and every color in between of a hundred different species. The entire valley became an orgy of life, songs sung in colors they couldn't put names to, in an unheard melody so beautiful it made Mary cry. What was once dry and harsh bloomed and became alive. Sam took Mary's hand as the younger girl cried, softly, watching.
++++
That night at 2:24 am, Mary opened her eyes. At the foot of her bed stood her dead uncle, just staring at her. Mary stared back. "I don't need you any more, ghost. You are nothing to me, and you never were. I don't even hope you are burning in hell, I don't think anything about you at all, now. You are nothing, you were always nothing, and if there's a punishment for people like you, I know you're getting it. I am happy now. You lost."
And before her eyes, he faded away and was nothing.
Mary put her legs over the side of the bed and dropped down. She padded barefoot down the hall to Junior and Martha's sliding door into their bedroom, and knocked, softly.
Junior and Martha were never deep sleepers, but since Mary had arrived they slept even lighter than usual, trying to be alert if she needed anything in the night. As such, they were both awake immediately at the soft rapping at their bedroom door.
"Mary?" Martha called out.
Junior followed it with, "Come in, are you ok sweetheart?"
The door opened and Mary stood in the doorway, Martha turned on the small light on her nightstand. "What is it, dear?" Martha asked.
Mary blinked at them. "When I first came here you said I could call you Junior or Uncle Junior or whatever I wanted."
"Yes?" he asked her.
"Well..." Mary hesitated. "Do you think I could call you Mom and Dad? I think I'd like to try that for a while."
Martha covered her mouth with her hands, and Junior couldn't help it, his voice broke, "Anything you like, sweetheart."
"Ok," Mary said softly. "G'night," she closed their door, and left.
Junior and his wife looked at each other, and embraced, crying softly, thanking God for giving them Mary.
Copyright 2016: "Marissa Banks." Rights reserved. Not for reuse without express written consent of the author. All content is purely fictional; any similarities to actual persons or events is pure coincidence. Reader must be of legal age in the judicial area he/she resides. Reproductions of the fiction contained herein or linked from here may not be used in whole or in part without express permission from the author.