Prologue

 

 

A faint memory, waiting patiently out of sight, sighed in the hidden depths of the dark cupboard. Relegated again to disuse, the arrowhead lay peacefully cocooned within the darkness of the red velvet box.

 

For nine years, the torn heart, which beat in unison with the ancient metal, lay in shreds. Evan locked himself away, refusing to lose hope yet knowing there was none. The seasons came and went, and she became no more than a picture tucked away in yet another dusty old box.

 

The jasmine, even with tender loving care, refused to flower. However, deep within the earth beneath the vine, the ancient ones awoke. The birthday approached and the blood, spilled centuries before, oozed into the spindly roots, igniting fresh growth.

 

Once again, the dance waited, just around the corner, over the hill…

 

 

Chapter 1

A Cowboy's Story

 

 

Shivering in the morning chill, the cowboy gathered up the reins and turned the horse onto the trail that led up through the lush pine trees. The change in weather made Evan less inclined to venture into the early morning mist, which hung over the pastures surrounding the river, and wondered why he bothered paying for ranch hands when he seemed to be doing their work.

 

The river was full for the first time in three years, and although the water was more than welcome as the survival of the ranch depended on the constant flow, its arrival caused the usual problems. The green stretch of pasture running alongside the winding river was waterlogged and the Corriente cattle, although one of the hardiest breeds, were suffering as the water rose and the banks turned into mud baths. The past few years saw the herd flourish in the dry, arid conditions but with the massive spring floods, the time had come to move them to higher ground until the water receded.

 

“Surprised to see you up this early Boss.”

 

Evan raised his eyebrow at Sam and grunted a reply. “Yeah, me too. Must you be so damn cheerful in the morning?”

 

Sam grinned, kicked her horse in the flanks and galloped off into the dissipating fog.

 

The work stretched into the mid afternoon, by which time the breeze picked up and the dark clouds that hung over the valley receded. The sun blazed and Evan was sweating profusely as the last of the herd thundered past the wire fence.

 

Motioning to Diamonds that he was heading out, Evan turned the horse north and trotted off along the edge of the escarpment. Half an hour later, he pulled up in the yard and swung down to the ground. Leaving Ebony tethered to the fence, Evan scooted across to the house and blew in through the kitchen door along with the jasmine leaves, which, according to Maya, lurked on the porch, waiting for any opportune moment to leap over the sill onto the cool tiles just to make more work for her.

“Don’t tut at me, it’s not my fault the wind is blowing, the leaves are dropping, I opened the door, I am still breathing.” He scowled.

 

“Never said a word boy.”

 

“Yeah, but I saw that look.”

 

Flinging open the refrigerator door, he peered in and grabbed the milk carton. “Yeah, yeah, I know, get a glass.” He mumbled before putting the carton to his mouth.

“You will be the death of me yet, where are your manners...and don’t leave the top off the cookie jar again, that damn dog can smell food a mile off and don’t I get a hug? Oh it’s ok; just ignore the old woman sitting in the corner…”

 

“Maya, don’t you ever stop talking?” Evan came up behind her, slipped his arms around her neck and kissed the gray hair.

 

“Now you’re tryin’ to strangle me boy, get off you lummox.”

 

“Anything else I can do wrong before I go and make a mess in the shower?”

 

Evan grinned at his mother as he brushed past her in the doorway, “Nowt wrong with that old hen, don’t know what you were worried about.”

 

Jeannie rolled her eyes and glanced at Maya. Now ninety-one years of age, her body was wasting away and she had shrunk by about five inches in the past couple of years. However, with the aid of a walking stick, she could still get around just fine. Refusing help from anyone, she was still as stubborn and ‘ornery as her other half JD. However, after the last emergency trip to the hospital, Jeannie could see the end in sight for him when the doctors advised her to allow him his cigars and whiskey if it kept him happy.

 

Walking past the study, Evan glanced at the door. He missed his father and there was still a tinge of regret at their last words. Whether it was that thought, or the sudden whiff of perfume, he paused at the top of the stairs, turned left and abruptly found himself  facing that door in the corridor. In the hazy depths of his mind, Evan watched his hand reach out to grasp the doorknob. Curling his fingers around the cold metal handle sent a shiver down his spine, however, the click of the latch and the rush of musty air swiftly returned him to reality, and he found himself gazing into the murky gloom of the long forgotten cupboard of memories.

“Now this is not the best of ideas.” He murmured flicking on the light switch.

 

As always, the spiders continued to make themselves at home in the one place in the house that time forgot. Rarely ventured into, the cupboard groaned occasionally putting the fear of God into some and only the most stalwart members of the family were willing to hurl any useless items into the dark recesses, as long as it was from a distance, breathing a sigh of relief as they closed the door quickly behind them.

 

Evan brushed the cobwebs out of the way and clambered over the pile of boxes and boots, which littered the floor. The bulb spluttered and dimmed. Evan glanced back at the open doorway, giving him the assurance that there was still an easy way out should the box room be plunged into darkness.

 

Glancing around the bottom shelf, he saw the old clock, which stopped at three thirty five the night his father died. A lump came to Evan’s throat as that time came rushing back and swallowing hard, he moved on past some books and a box labelled ‘toys’ then spied a black hat. Pulling it from the shelf, Evan heard a soft thump and saw a small red box on the floor. Realizing what it was, his heart stopped for a few seconds. Hesitating, he bent down to pick it up and his stomach churned as the dust particles carried that old familiar scent up his nostrils. With shaking hands, he pulled open the velvet case, which found him gazing longingly at his past.

 

***

 

The last nine years flowed in and out of his memory. Evan was neither able to forgive Georgie for walking out on him, over what he considered a trivial matter, on the day his father died, nor forget her. Overnight, she disappeared from sight. Nobody would admit knowing of her whereabouts. His grandfather, Josh, was less than helpful, his mother fell apart and the only one who stood by him in his grief was Sam. In the aftermath of the tragedy, misgivings over her past actions faded and she remained as the ranch foreman, which was her preferred title.

 

Jeannie, strong as she was, spent a year in and out of the doctor’s office. She lost weight, lost interest and lost her verve for life. That year the jasmine did not bloom. The vine grew and spread across the porch roof, curled upwards around the windows on the second floor, seeking to get away from the misery until one spring day, with a cup of coffee in his hand, Evan stepped out of the kitchen into the early dawn and saw the small white flower fluttering in the cool morning breeze. When pointed out to Jeannie, that was the day the mourning stopped and the ranch returned to some semblance of normality.

 

So life continued. The ranch prospered, Creek Dude Ranch expanded and now cabins dotted the entire hill above the ranch house. The twins Dylan and Cheyenne grew up, left school and now attended veterinary college in Oklahoma. The years passed, rodeo’s came and went and Sam spent her time ever hopeful that Evan would propose marriage; however, as much as he liked Sam, Evan was intent on remaining a bachelor.

 

His love for Georgie still lingered, locked away, only surging forth during the moonlight hours when lying in bed, his hand would stray beneath the sheets and over the skin, which still bore the memory of her touch.

 

Lovemaking with Sam was more of a duty than a delight and Evan remembered the first pangs of guilt, one year to the day after his father died, as he lay beside her in his bed after one such energetic romp. No breeze blew in through the window to shift the smell of sex hanging heavy in the hot, late summer air. Lying on the damp sheets, dark hair still plastered to his forehead from the exertion, Evan’s hands slipped across his bronzed chest and tight stomach muscles to caress the flaccid meat between his legs while Sam snuffled softly beside him. Dredging Georgie’s face from the depths of his soul, he gasped her name aloud and Sam awoke and sat up abruptly.

 

“What? What did you say?”

 

“Nothing, go back to sleep.”

 

Sam flopped back down on the bed and swiftly dropped back into slumber while Evan trembled next to her, attempting to quash the thoughts rapidly rising in his loins. Turning over he glanced at the clock, it read three thirty-five.

 

From that time, Georgie’s face popped up with regularity, but Evan made certain when he got the urge to jack off to his memories Sam was not around.

 

***

 

The loud ticking brought Evan rushing back to the present. Gazing around he quickly realized it was the clock, now showing twenty minutes to four. Picking it up, he exited the cupboard and slamming the door shut behind him, went downstairs.

 

“I thought you were going to shower, supper is ready.”

 

“You’re early.”

 

“No, you’re late, we always eat at this time, what have you been doing? You are covered in cobwebs.”

 

“Sorry, must have got carried away. Found this, it’s ticking again.” He handed Jeannie the clock. “Be down in ten.”

 

Jeannie looked at him strangely and then put her ear to the clock. “That’s… Odd.”

 

Evan shrugged and scooted back upstairs. Swiftly showering, he returned to the kitchen where JD, Maya, Jeannie and Jodie sat around the table already halfway through the meal.

 

“You are out again tonight I s’pose?” Jeannie asked.

 

“It’s Friday, of course. Filly night will never change.”

 

“When are you plannin’ on settlin’ down boy? Might be nice to have some young ‘uns around again.”

 

“NEVER” Evan replied angrily, spraying potato across the table.

 

Maya shook her head and rose unsteadily from the table.

 

“No… Sit… I will clear the dishes. Hush…don’t even go there Maya. Go put your feet up.” Jeannie fussed and steered her towards the door.

 

Scowling Maya picked up the clock from the center of the table and shuffled off into the lounge while Jeannie and Jodie cleared the plates.

 

Evan shovelled the last of his food down his throat, leapt up and grabbed his jean jacket as the car horn sounded from outside.

 

“Bye Mom, see you tomorrow.”

 

“Stay out of jail.” Jeannie replied without looking up from the sink.

 

Evan, still pulling the jacket on flew out onto the porch. Suddenly, the jasmine scent hit him, stopping him in his tracks. His head spun and to stop from falling, he grasped the wooden upright.

 

“Whoa there.” He muttered, shook his head and staggered to the truck.

 

“Evenin’ Pardner.”

 

Mikey looked at him strangely, nodded a greeting and slammed his foot on the accelerator. They bumped across the yard and up over the hill until the truck wheels made contact with the new road. Mikey glanced at Evan, who was now humming along to the old country song on the radio.

“You ok?” Mikey sounded concerned.

 

“Yeah, I’m good, why?”

 

“Nothin’ just you look kinda different.”

 

“I feel good, that’s all.” Evan chuckled loudly until something digging into his chest silenced him. “What the hell?”

 

Delving into his top pocket, he pulled out the arrowhead.

 

“Uh oh, that’s not good.” Mikey sighed.

 

Evan smiled, “Now how did you get there?” He said softly