Country Wishes

by RaeAnne Hadley

  Rena turned to her youngest daughter, Anabeth. “Yes, honey, he had to go.”

  “I hate it when he has to work long wall.” Shari walked up behind her little sister and put her in a headlock.

  “Shari let your sister go. Go do the outside chores and I’ll start on supper. It’s going to get cold tonight so feed extra hay to the horses and make sure the heaters are working in the chicken coop.”

  “I get to gather the eggs this time, it’s my turn.” Anabeth stated.

  “Nuh uh. You did it last night.” Shari threw Anabeth’s muck boots across the room to give herself a head start.

  “If you guys keep fighting about it I’ll go gather the eggs after supper. Figure it out and work together.” Rena used her stern tone and closed her eyes against threatening tears.

  She loved her girls very much but she felt so alone. Jack had always been her best friend and confidant but now he was turning into a stranger. Five years ago when he got on at the mining company in their little town of Hopeful, she had been fearful. She’d heard about accidents that happened to underground miners and she didn’t want to lose her husband. He assured her there were safety measures in place and that he was fine. Modern advances had made coal mining safer but she never felt at ease when he was underground. For five years, he would text her before he went underground and the minute he surfaced.

  Her phone buzzed on the counter and she picked it up to read the text message.

  Do we have money in the bank? I need a can of chew.

  She simply replied yes, and then turned to make supper. Despite everything they were going through, she still had a ranch to run and children to raise. Jack was home on rotating days throughout the month so she was the stable parent. She couldn’t let her girls down.

  She sat in bed, the comforter covered in bills. She had her calculator and was figuring out what to pay. They were so close to being out of the hole. They had been doing well but then school started and they had to use the credit cards for school clothes. Then Christmas came and once again, used the cards to make their girls’ dreams come true with lots of presents under the tree. She knew it was foolish but Jack wanted their girls to have the best childhood possible and presents under the tree were a necessity in his eyes.

  Her phone buzzed and she looked at the text message. It wasn’t from Jack. It was from her best friend, Lindsay, asking if she had heard from the publisher yet.

  No. Haven’t heard anything yet. They said it could take six months to hear back if they are interested. Fingers crossed.

  She loved writing her books, telling her tales. She had been writing for over eight years but nothing had come to fruition yet. She substitute taught for the school district during the school year to supplement their income but one day she hoped she would make enough from her books that Jack could stay at home. The idea of him being a house husband and her being able to spoil her man like he did her was her driving force. He was so loving and kind, when he wasn’t on long wall.

  She quickly wrote out checks and sealed them in the envelopes to be mailed the next day and took the unpaid bills and stacked them. They could wait until next payday. She checked on her girls one more time before slipping her headphones on and choosing the play list for her mood. She was angry tonight so loud, aggressive music would be the background noise while she continued working on her latest novel. She figured she could get a good four hours in before hitting the sack. Morning would come soon enough.

  “Girls, we need to head to the school bus. Did you get chores done?”

  Rena glanced out of the kitchen window again as she packed the girls’ lunches. It looked like it snowed another three feet overnight. She would have to plow the driveway before Jack could make it up the drive. His little car was great on gas mileage but no match for the mountain town in the Colorado Rockies. It snowed hard, blew hard and the temps often dropped below zero. You had to be prepared.

  She loaded them into the truck and slowly made it the mile to the bus stop.

  “I love you girls. Have a great day, stay warm and I’ll see you after school.”

  “G’bye Mom! Love you too.”

  She watched them climb into the bus then drove home. She’d get the driveway done before she would do chores. The animals could wait a little longer.

  Plowing was a mindless job and she found her thoughts wandering. Where had they gone wrong? Her and Jack were so happy together, like forever newlyweds. But then he began working at the mine. The money was great but the hours were killer. Twelve hour shifts but it took him two hours to drive there and two hours to drive home. By the time he got home, got something to eat, it was time for him to go to bed. When he was only working his normal shift it wasn’t so bad. Four days working, three days off. Unfortunately he was working overtime more than not. He was a hard worker and never called in sick so supervisors often requested him to work in their areas.

  They became used to the income but instead of saving, they decided to play. They started taking vacations, trying different excursions and traveling to new places. Their trip to Disneyland had set them back almost ten grand but all four of them were figuring out when they could do it again.

  She brought herself back to the present and parked the plow truck. It was still coming down and she knew she’d have to plow again before he left for work but the drive was clear enough he could make it up.

  After feeding critters and checking water tanks, it was finally time to head in to do those chores. Every day there was something and every day she tried to figure out a way to cut corners. Today she was going to make bread.

  The front door slammed and she heard Jack taking off his boots and coat. She pulled his supper out of the oven and got it ready. She had gotten used to having his supper ready in the morning when he worked graveyard shift. She would have bacon and eggs ready when he woke at three in the afternoon.

  He came in and kissed her forehead before grabbing the plate. “Thank you. Did you have a good night?”

  She searched his face for any of the anger it held the night before. “No. You didn’t text me to let me know you were safe.”

  “I’m sorry. I just got busy and had to get underground.”

  “I hate it when we fight. You hinted that you wanted a divorce. That’s a horrible way to leave for work.”

  He stared at her and she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. “I didn’t say I wanted a divorce.”

  “You said you wanted out, that you were over this. This meaning our marriage. You were so mean.”

  He put the plate down and pulled her into his arms. She loved the way she fit there. She was made to be there.

  “I’m sorry babe. I’m so tired. I didn’t mean I’m over this marriage. I’m over the bills and working. I can’t get enough sleep because of these damn shifts.”

  “I know. I’m trying so hard to get things paid off so you don’t have to work overtime. And I’m trying to get more days substituting. We are getting there, babe.”

  “You’re doing a great job.” He picked up his food and moved to the bedroom. He always ate his supper in bed, trying to relax before hitting the sack. “How’s the book coming?”

  “It’s coming. I’m busy trying to keep the driveway plowed and the animals alive. I’m so over winter. It’s supposed to be another cold one tonight.”

  “Yeah, they are saying it’s going to get to thirty below tonight. Make sure the chickens are locked up tight and the heaters on high. Maybe feed the horses some hot mash to help them stay warm. It looks like we might need to feed another round bale this weekend. The one that’s in there is getting low.”

  “You’re a good man, Jack. I think our horses actually gain weight in the winter. I am turning you into a pretty good country boy.” She leaned over and kissed him. This was the man she married, the man she missed. But she knew when he woke up her husband could possibly be gone again, that it might be him. The other personality that was showing his face more and more. She sighed as she left the bedr
oom and closed the door. It was hard being married to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

  She couldn’t sleep and decided to run into town to clear her head. Her girls were sound asleep and Jack wouldn’t stir until it was time to get up.

  She knew they couldn’t continue living this way. The fuse was lit and burning its way to blow up their marriage and if she didn’t figure out quickly how to cut it off, their family would be in ruins.

  The stores were closing up and she found she wasn’t in the mood for company or being social so she drove to the little park in the middle of town and parked. The pond was covered with a fresh blanket of snow that glistened in the rising moonlight. Despite the frigid temperatures, it was a peaceful scene and she took a deep breath.

  Spying the old stone well off by the bridge, she smiled and pulled out a coin from the ashtray of her truck. She hadn’t grown up in Hopeful but she had heard of the stories the locals told. Wishes were granted to those who truly believed and were desperate in their soul. She was definitely there.

  She got out of the truck and walked over to the well, pulling her coat on tighter to cut out the cold. Thankfully there was no wind.

  She peered over the edge and down into the black darkness, focusing on her beloved Jack and their girls. She closed her eyes and squeezed the coin.

  “Wishing well, if you can hear me, please help me keep my family together. I am willing to do whatever to make sure that we are happy and whole again. Please hear me and help me.”

  She tossed her coin into the well and watched it disappear into the darkness. She felt somewhat silly but then shook her head. She was desperate enough to have faith in anything.

  She turned to go when a flash of light blinded her for a moment. When she turned to see what had caused the unusual light, she took a deep breath, her eyes wide. “Wow, that was fast. But if that’s what we have to do, then that’s what we will do.”

  She got back into her truck and drove home, making a checklist of everything she needed to get done before presenting the idea to Jack.

  Chapter Two

  “Are you insane? You just bought that ranch four years ago. Now you are talking about moving?”

  Rena sighed and took another swig of her beer. “I’m talking to you about moving. There’s no way I’d bring this up to Jack.”

  She loved her girls’ night though it wasn’t someone’s typical idea of a night out. Hers consisted of beer in the cooler, a fire going in the wood burning stove in the detached garage and hours of either writing or conversation with her best friend, Lindsay. Jack took care of the girls on these nights. They were usually on his first night off when he and the girls could snuggle on the couch watching a movie and Rena could get some away time in, five hundred feet away.

  “I made a wish at the wishing well the other night, asking for a sign of how to keep my family together. When I turned to leave, headlights bounced off of a real estate for sale sign. It practically blinded me but it was in the evening and the headlights weren’t that bright. It just had to be the sign I’ve been asking for so then I started thinking about where we would go.

  “I’ve been checking out this place down south. It’s been an average of twenty to thirty degrees warmer than we are. And the live cam had amazing views of the mountains so they are still close. But the best part is when they get snow, it’s gone in like a week. Can you believe that? A week. We have to wait until spring to see the ground, which is usually around May. And they can ride horses year-round.”

  “Honey, you don’t have to convince me. You’ve been miserable since the very beginning. How are you going to convince Jack?”

  “I don’t know yet. He’s been saying he wants to get out of town. Maybe we will go there for Valentine’s Day or something. It’s close enough we can go for a weekend, it’s a new place and it has things to do, even in winter.”

  “Sneaky. I like it. Can you afford a ranch down there?”

  “I don’t know. I’m just starting to check out the prices but to be honest, he’s been complaining about living in the country, that he misses the convenience of living in town.”

  “Whoa. You would live in town? Can you handle that?”

  “I don’t know what I can handle anymore. I know I’m tired. I’m doing all of the work to keep the ranch up and going. The girls help with chores but fixing fences, doctoring animals, breaking ice, plowing, it’s all me. And then I feel guilty because he’s given me twelve years of my country life and I’ve only given him a couple years of city life. Maybe it’s his turn.”

  “Yeah but he knew you were country when he married you.”

  “I know. I’m just so tired. Tired of working, tired of fighting. It’s getting so bad that there are times I think of talking with a divorce attorney.”

  “Rena, are you serious? That can’t be. You guys are meant for each other. You’re just going through a rough patch and you are both tired. Just take one day at a time.”

  “I’m trying. I’ve been taking it one day at a time for five years. I’m just about ready to throw in the towel.”

  “Oh honey. I’m so sorry. I hope you get things worked out. I love you.”

  “I love you too. Off to write. Talk to you later.”

  Their three days together as a family went way too fast and she mourned the beginning of his work week. He slept twelve hours the first day then transitioned to normal hours the last two. Meals were spent at the table; laughter filled the house. It went too quickly and before they knew it, he was three days into his new work week. Each day was a new stress and a new level of exhaustion. She watched Jack change from loving, laughing and happy to snappy, short and distant. Mr. Hyde began to appear the further they got into the week and she dreaded the impending explosion. Four more days and then he was off again. She just needed to make it four more days.

  She got Jack off to work without any incident. He was so exhausted he barely knew if he was coming or going. She stressed a little more when he was like this. The drive was long and with the snow falling heavy, there were going to be icy stretches along the highway.

  “Let it go, Rena. Focus on what you can.” She said it aloud to try and calm her nerves. “We can’t keep going like this. This is no way to live.”

  She had another hour before she had to pick up the girls from the bus so she grabbed her laptop and plopped down on the couch.

  “Let’s just see what property is like down there.”

  She pulled up an online realtor website and began scanning properties. The more she looked, the more her heart sank. Ranches were going for three times the amount they paid for theirs. Even if they could get top dollar for theirs, the cash they would have left after paying the bank and bills wouldn’t be enough earnest money for anything down there. She believed in signs and wondered if this was a sign that she was supposed to live a simpler life. Maybe it was time to hang up the hat and hay hooks and live in town. It was Jack’s turn to live the life he missed.

  Her eyes started tearing up as she thought of giving up her animals. She knew they could board their three best horses but the other horses, the cows and the chickens would have to be dispersed before moving. Her animals trusted her. Would someone else give them just as good of a home? She couldn’t think about that now. She had to focus on what was best for her family.

  She started looking at houses in town and found several with large lots that were cute. She picked ones with large yards as opposed to small yards and big houses. They were a very active family and large houses meant large amounts of time spending cleaning them. Their little ranch took less than two hours of deep cleaning between the four of them. She wanted the same thing if they were to move.

  She decided to check out the town on the live cam. She had it saved on her cell phone, often spying on the unsuspecting city. The image that popped up made her jaw drop. The camera showed a picture of heaven. It was sunny, not a cloud in the sky and not one flake of snow. She looked out her living room window at the icy flurry that was now blowing
sideways. She looked back at the computer and nodded her head. She was going to make this happen for her family. They deserved to enjoy life. Now to make it happen.

  She closed out the website and began dressing for outside chores. She would have to be cautious about how to approach this with Jack. He had always talked about stability for the girls. The idea of moving over two hundred miles away will be a hard one to convince him it will be for the best.

  The pros for moving definitely outweighed the cons but if he was in a stubborn mood when she approached him, it would be a harder, longer fight to win. And she was in this to win.

  She slipped on her thermal coveralls and braced herself to go outside, thinking of the sun that was currently shining in their future town. Maybe she should talk with a real estate agent first, see if there would even be any interest on their ranch. The little town they lived in depended quite a bit on coal and with the declining demand, more jobs were being lost and money was tight fisted. If they couldn’t sell their place, moving would be a moot point. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would get in touch with an agent and see what options they had.

  She opened the door, her breath caught in her throat as the bracing wind slapped her in the face. Oh yeah, tomorrow.

  “We need to talk.”

  Rena looked over at Jack, fear in her gut. It was his last day of work and that was usually when his temper was the shortest. “What about?”

  “They are moving me to a different team at work.”

  “Oh, that’s good, isn’t it? You’ve been saying you wanted off of the face and off the coal shearer. Where are they moving you?” Rena sat up, getting excited. “Are they moving you to the surface?”

  “No. I’m going to be a bolter and in charge of explosives. I had to go for training. My certification letter should be arriving soon.” Jack looked down at his phone. “I start today.”

  Rena felt the heat in her face and knew it was probably turning beet red from anger. “You are dealing with explosives? And you’ve already done training and you didn’t tell me? What the hell is a bolter?”