Closing his eyes, Reno was silent for a moment. Finally, he lifted his head. “You and your sister and brothers were your parent’s most precious possessions – not this cabin. Not this land. You.” He swallowed and held Saul’s eyes in a prolonged stare. “Do it for them. Do it for me.”
Saul lifted his hand and palmed the back of his head, clearly upset. “All right, Reno. We’ll go.”
Emory jumped up and clapped his hands. “I’ll pack my turtle. I love Miss Fancy’s cooking!”
Reno let out a long breath of relief. “We’ll hit the trail at first light.”
Journey
“Good deal. This will do.” Satisfied with the workstation she’d arranged in the sunroom; Journey snapped her fingers. “Okay, dogs. Let’s adjourn to the kitchen. Are you hungry?”
A chorus of agreeing yips filled the air. “You’re so funny.” It amused her at the number of words they seemed to recognize. Food. Hungry. Go. Treat. Surprise. Walk. “I’ve dated guys with a smaller vocabulary than you two.”
Padding barefoot across the Mexican tile floor, she found the dry food to fill their bowls. After making sure the dogs had fresh water, she found her great-aunt’s favorite cookbook. While sitting on a barstool, she sipped a cold drink, and decided on a soup recipe. Noting the time, Journey surveyed the contents of the pantry and fridge. “No canned tomatoes? No celery? Lots of chicken. No beef.” As close as she was to her aunt, they didn’t share the same taste in everything. Making a list of the ingredients she needed for the soup and a few other items, Journey grabbed her purse and keys. If she hurried, she’d make the trip to Fredericksburg and back by dark.
Heading for the front door, Journey couldn’t help but let the atmosphere of the house wash over her. So many memories. This was truly the only home she could remember. Very few recollections remained of the time before her parents were killed in a boating accident on Lake Travis. Aunt Myra became her guardian, caretaker, and best friend. This old stone house with its mixture of old and new was her haven. Her sanctuary. As she walked slowly from room to room, her eyes flitted from a painting on the wall depicting a huge oak surrounded by bluebonnets, then to the antique buffet with its centerpiece of dried flowers flanked by family photographs. She noticed the old hall chair with its mirror, umbrella stands, and coat hooks. Every item of furniture, every painting, every rug was a piece in the puzzle of her life. Stopping in her tracks, she closed her eyes, letting the feeling of rightness settle around her shoulders like a warm cloak.
After a few moments, she heard the faint click of dog toenails on the tile. Knowing those two, they’d soon be begging for a road trip. “Not this time, guys. I’ll be back soon. With treats!” She promised, mentally adding some dog snacks to the list.
Giving Dudley a goodbye wave, she flipped the lock, stepping out onto the porch. Immediately, the grape bubble gum scent of Myra’s mountain laurel bushes enveloped her. She took a deep breath, admiring the purple blooms that reminded her of wisteria. “Paradise. Some things should never change.” A contented smile teased her lips as she climbed behind the wheel, heading south toward Fredericksburg.
As always, her heart tripped at the sight of Enchanted Rock. She’d never tire of its beauty. Or its mystery. Journey could remember many nights when she’d slept in a tent in the backyard. From her vantage point she could see the mountain and on moonlit nights – sometimes it would glow with the most mysterious light. Gold. Green. Yellow. A faint pulsing glow. And if she listened carefully, Journey could swear she could hear the big rock singing. A low whistling, like hearing a flute playing from a far distance. She drove by the majestic batholith, one eye on the road and one eye on the rock. Once past, she could take in the wildflowers. In some places they were so thick that the outlying pastures looking like a patchwork quilt of many colors.
By the time she arrived in Fredericksburg, she was ready to get what she needed and return home. For some dumb reason, she’d forgotten to eat anything today. After tooling down the main drag where all the boutiques, trendy restaurants, and art galleries were located, she ventured west of downtown to find the stores the residents used on a daily basis.