A Night in the Hills

 by Candace Rose, age 14

14-year-old Rachel stared hard at the mud splatter on Sunset’s leg. So hard it blurred. She blinked and shook her head a bit. She was sure it was not there last night. 

        Jack interrupted her thoughts. “Whatcha doing sis?’’ 

        Rachel got up and faced her tall blond brother. “There is some mud on Sunset’s leg,’’ she said. 

         “So? Just brush it off.” He leaned against the stall door. 

          “It was not there last night,” Rachel insisted. 

           Jack rolled his eyes. “Let me look.” He went inside the stall and examined Sunset’s leg. “It’s just some mud. You probably missed it when you brushed her out last night.”   

          “I did not miss anything. Not on Sunset.” Sunset was the best horse on the ranch, maybe even the whole valley. 

           Jack got up and gave her a look which read, Girls are dumb, and went on down the alleyway. Rachel watched him go. She sighed. Brothers are so annoying. At least I have only one. Donna, her friend at school, had seven. Rachel tried to imagine what it would be like to have seven Jacks. She gave up. Rachel looked back on the mud on her horse’s leg. It was only a little bit. She supposed it was possible that she had missed it, but she would not admit to Jack. Not for the world. 

---

      When Rachel was 10 years old, her father died. Ever since then her Mother was often ill with headaches. Two Mexican housekeepers were employed at the Hollis ranch along with many other ranch hands. Rachel did not know how many there were, but she did not worry about that. That was Jack’s job. 

     The next day, Rachel woke to rain pounding on the roof. Sighing, Rachel turned over in bed. “Rain,” she groaned out loud. “Now Jack is going to have to drive me to school.” Rachel would much rather ride Sunset to school like she always did. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and mentally crossed off things off the list she had been planning on doing. No going down to the creek. No riding Sunset. From somewhere downstairs a door slammed. Jack must be in, she thought. Only he slammed doors. Rachel got up and got dressed. She resisted the urge to slide down the banister. Paloma, the cook, always scolded her in fast rapid Spanish, so fast even Rachel had a hard time understanding. 

      Jack was slumped down in the dining room on a chair. His eyes had dark circles underneath them. To Rachel he looked like death. “Where you up all night?’’ She could not help but feel sorry for her brother. 

      “Not quite,” he answered wearily.” Lightning hit the tree in the north pasture and knocked the fence down. Dumb steers ran everywhere.” He sighed heavily. 

       Inwardly Rachel winced. The idea of riding in pouring down rain trying to herd spooked steers did not sound appealing at all. “Sorry.’’ 

       “Forget it. I want to know why you were out last night.” Jack rubbed the back of his neck. 

         “Me outside? I was in my bed sleeping,” Rachel said, puzzled. She knew for a fact that she had been in bed all night. 

          “Not all night,” Jack said. “Freddie said he saw you.”   

    “What does he know?” Rachel demanded. “Did he have his glasses on?’’  

      “Of course he did,’’ Jack snapped. “It was after the lightning hit the tree. Freddie was going back to get more men. He saw you ride out of the barn toward the hills.”    

       “That was not me,’’ Rachel said a little louder than she intended. 

         “Los niños no luchan.’’ 

          Rachel looked up to see Paloma in the dining room doorway holding a platter of pancakes, frowning at them. 

         “Sorry,’’ Jack mumbled. 

          Rachel had to force herself not to roll her eyes. Children do not fight. Ha, tell that to Jack. He started it. Changing the subject, she asked where her Mother was. She had not yet come to the table. 

          “Ella está enferma.’’ Paloma placed the pancakes on the table.

          “Another headache?’’ Jack inquired. 

          Paloma nodded. 

          “Can I see her after breakfast?’’ Rachel asked. She wished that her Mother would not get headaches so often. 

          Paloma squinted her eyes the way she did when she thought about something hard. Then she nodded. 

          “Gracias.’’ Rachel put a pancake on her plate. 

           After breakfast and a quick visit with her Mother she was on the way to school. The rain had slowed down to a drizzle and the road was muddy. Jack seemed to be almost asleep. His head was nodding down to his chest. Rachel decided to let him go. If she were up half the night she knew that she too would be tired. Besides, Molly was a good old mare. She would not go anywhere. 

         Thinking of mares made her think of Sunset. Had Freddie really seen her riding off into the hills? It was driving rain and he could have been mistaken. But still the idea of someone riding off on Sunset made her mad. Then a new thought struck her. What if someone had taken Sunset out the night before and that is how the mud came to be? It was possible. But it did not make sense. Sunset was a valuable horse. Just then Jack leaned forward dangerously far. He would have fallen off the buggy had not Rachel grabbed his arm. 

      “You are too tired to drive,’’ she told him. “Let me.’’

        Rachel half expected him to argue and she was mildly surprised when he did not. He blinked at her sleepily, handed over the reins, and leaned back on the seat. In seconds, he was sleeping. Or sleeping as well as one can in a bumping, jolting buggy. 

        On the remaining way to town, Rachel decided to sleep in the barn tonight. That way, if anyone decided to steal Sunset, she would catch them red handed. 

---

     That evening Rachel slept in the hayloft. She only asked her Mother if she could, she did say why. Her Mother would worry about her and make Jack come along with her. Rachel did not want that. He lost enough sleep last night, he did not need to lose more. If the person looked dangerous then she might get Freddie. Freddie was better than no one even though he wore glasses and was only 16. He was Jack’s right hand man and very responsible. Rachel had a sneaking suspicion that he liked her, and she did not want him along if she could help it. 

       Rachel tried to stay awake, but her eyelids kept drooping. Once she fell asleep. Annoyed, she shook herself awake. I will not fall asleep. I will not fall asleep. Everything kept going hazy and blurry, from hazy to black. Rachel had fallen asleep.

       She was jerked awake sometime after midnight. Rachel tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes and figure out what had awakened her. All was silent for a moment. Rachel strained to hear something, anything. Her ears caught the sound of footsteps and the sound of horse’s hoofs on the alleyway. Silently she climbed down the ladder and dropped down on the ground just in time to see a horse disappear out of the barn. It was too dark to see for sure, but Rachel thought it was Sunset. There was no time to get Freddie. She had to leave now or lose the rider in the hills. Lighting a lantern, she mounted the closest horse, a blue roan named Frankie. She did not bother with a saddle.

     With one hand, she held the lantern high. Up ahead, she could barely see Sunset and her rider. There was no moon and dark clouds covered the sky. If Rachel had been paying attention she would have noticed that a storm was brewing, but she was so focused on keeping the rider in sight she did not notice until in the distance thunder rumbled. A flash of lightning lit up the sky. For a brief moment Rachel could see the rider clearly. She was a woman, maybe in her late 40s or early 50s with graying blond hair blowing crazily in the wind.

     “Stop,” Rachel yelled. “Come back with my horse.’’ 

       The woman apparently did not hear. She kept going. Rachel urged Frankie in a full gallop. The distance closed rapidly. “Come back,’’ Rachel hollered as loud as she could. 

       The woman wheeled Sunset around so fast Rachel was afraid Sunset would fall. Rachel galloped up and took hold of Sunset’s bridle. “Where are you going with my horse?” 

       The woman stared at her. “Andrew?’’ She spoke haltingly. 

       “I am not Andrew.” Rachel dismounted, still holding Sunset’s bridle. “Who are you?’’ 

         Before the woman could reply, loud thunder boomed. This time it sounded much closer. Fear crept into Rachel’s heart. She had to get this woman and the horses to shelter and fast. 

       “I want Andrew,” the woman whimpered. 

        Rachel wondered if the woman was sane. She was inclined to think she wasn't. A raindrop hit the woman’s arm. She flinched as if it hurt. Rachel tugged on Sunset’s bridle. Sunset was willing to go, but the woman wasn't. She jerked on the reins. “No,” she screamed. “Andrew! Where are you?”   

            Thunder boomed again. Sunset’s ears flicked back and forth. Again the woman jerked on the reins, trying to get away from Rachel. Sunset reared. The woman slid off the back of the horse. Sunset danced to the side and stepped on the woman’s head with a sickening crunch.

Rachel screamed. Sunset reared again and galloped away into the night. Rachel felt sick in her stomach and her legs felt like jelly. She had to force herself to run toward the woman. Rachel tried to feel her pulse but she could not find anything. A terrible fear came over her. What if the woman was dead? She was on the verge of a panic attack when Frankie came up behind her and nudged her.

 Suddenly she thought that if she could only get the woman on Frankie maybe she could get the woman home. Taking a deep breath to steady her racing heart and shaking hands, she tried to lift the woman. She was lighter than Rachel had expected and she was limp. Very limp. It occurred to her that she might be holding a dead body. Rachel shoved the thought aside and gritted her teeth. Her back ached and her arms burned. In a way, she was glad it was Sunset that had galloped away and not Frankie. He was not a big horse. She knew she would have never been able to get the woman on Sunset. 

       Raindrops fell faster and faster. The wind picked up. God,please help me. Frankie seemed to understand the fragility of his burden. He tried to walk as smoothly as he could. Rachel loved him for it. 

      Rain came down in sheets, the wind was so strong that it jerked the lantern right out of her hand. She found herself having to walk sideways in order to keep going. Rain ran into her eyes and filled her boots. The same prayer ran through her head over and over. God please help me. God please help me. Her whole body felt numb. Still she kept on. One step at a time. 

      After what seemed like years she bumped into the side of the barn. Relief flooded into her soul. She had made it. Rachel stumbled around trying desperately to find the doorway when she bumped into someone. Was it Freddie? She tried to speak but no words came out. Only a tiny croak. Then she fainted

---

   When she awoke, she was in her bed, sunlight streaming through the window. Jack was sitting beside her holding her hand. She tried to sit up. Jack pushed her back down. “Don’t get up until the doctor has seen you.”  

      Rachel struggled to sit up. “Doctor? I do not need a doctor.” She felt perfectly alright, only a little tired. 

      “Rachel.” Jack’s voice was half pleading and half stern. 

       Rachel looked at him, intending to tell him to go away. She stopped short. Jack’s eyes looked kinda strange. Kind of shiny and red. Almost like it was, Rachel could not believe it. Jack had been crying. Jack never cried. Not even when Father died. Something must have happened. Something awful. Maybe to Mother! “Jack, what is wrong? What happened?’’ 

      He looked at her as if she were crazy. “When Freddie carried you inside, I thought you were dead.’’ Jack broke off. 

     “Oh.’’ was all Rachel could think of to say. Rachel was surprised to say the least. Jack actually cried over her. She changed the subject. “Who was the woman I brought home?’’ 

     “I do not know. All I know is that Mother had a conniption fit when you came home all wet and nearly dead and with a dead body on Frankie’s back. What in the world happened, Rachel?’’ 

      “I was sleeping in the hayloft. A woman came and took Sunset. I took Frankie and followed her. She kept wanting Andrew, whoever he is. She thought I was Andrew. Anyway Sunset threw her off and stepped on her head. I heard it crunch.’’ Rachel stopped, remembering the awfulness of it all. She shuddered. 

    Jack squeezed her hand. “Try to forget all that, Rachel, you are alright now. The sheriff took the body away. You don’t have to think about it at all anymore.’’ 

  Rachel shook her head. “It's not that easy.’’

  “Sure it is,’’ Jack insisted. “ The next time you think about it, just remember how brave you were and it won’t be so bad.’’ 

   Brave. Rachel smiled a little. Maybe Jack was right.