Hanging Stars On Big Willow Creek: A Novel

by Sarah Hill

Rylie laughed. “He is nice to look at, but there is something about Maysen. It’s always been him for me.”

  “You two were destined to be together,” Maddie agreed.

  As more of their senior class arrived, they made their rounds, laughing and reliving memories from the last four years. An hour into the party, Rylie looked around and realized there were some faces missing. Rebecca and Max hadn’t shown up yet. With any luck, they wouldn’t and it would be a drama free night, Rylie couldn’t see them missing the very last party. They’d show up at some point and she’d have to keep herself on guard, but until then she would continue enjoying her time.

  A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind and squeezed. Soft lips danced up her neck causing butterflies to spring to life in her stomach. She turned into Maysen’s chest and hugged him tight. “Hey you, having fun?” she asked, looking up at his handsome face.

  “I don’t know. I guess it’s fun, except we’re saying goodbye, which makes it sad,” he answered, resting his chin on top of her head.

  “I think everyone is feeling a bit of that tonight. It’s not as energetic as it usually is,” she said, looking over her shoulder at the crowd gathered in small groups around the yard and fire pit. There wasn’t loud music booming. Nobody was doing keg stands to raucous cheers and the alcohol wasn’t disappearing as fast from the ice tubs. It was a pretty subdued crowd tonight.

  “A bit depressing. Not how I saw tonight going, it being our last hoorah. I think it’s going to wind down early,” he said, his voice barely audible.

  “Are you okay with that?” she asked, knowing he was looking forward to tonight all week.

  “Yeah, I am. I think this is the way it was supposed to be. If it was a raging party, some of us may not have had a chance to say goodbye or reminisce about all the good times we had.”

  “At least this way everyone will remember it. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many good conversations at one of Kevin’s parties,” she said.

  “Same. Hey, do you think you can catch a ride with Maddie? I’m going to head out. I want to grab a few things before I see you later tonight.”

  “Do you want me to go with you? I don’t mind leaving early,” she said, her eyebrows knitting together.

  “No. You stay here, I have a surprise for you, remember?” he said, looking off across the yard at some of his friends.

  “Okay. I’m sure Maddie won’t mind. I’ll meet you at the treehouse later. Our usual time?”

  Maysen nodded as he continued to watch his friends. “Same time,” he said, turning to look at her, but still looking as though he were somewhere else.

  “Hey, are you okay?”

  “Good as gold. Just taking it all in.” He kissed her forehead and smiled. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said, kissing him. “Drive safe.”

  “I will. I’ve only had one beer all night. I’ll be fine.” He wrapped her in his arms again and gave her a lingering kiss before letting go and heading back towards the house.

  Rylie watched him walk away and her heart broke for him. She knew he wasn’t ready for it all to end. He was ready to start working with his dad in preparation to take over the ranch, but saying goodbye to the freedoms he’d been given all his life was going to be another story. She was sure the realization of less fun and more responsibility was starting to hit him. She needed to remind him that he still had four years of college ahead of him. The ranch wouldn’t be his entire life yet.

  After Maysen left, Rylie walked towards the house to find something to drink. As she neared the back door, she saw Maysen’s truck still sitting out front. She changed direction and came around the corner to see Maysen whispering in Maddie’s ear. Rylie’s stomach plummeted and she pressed herself against the house to allow the shadows to keep her hidden and watched their interaction. Maddie had the biggest smile painted on her face as she laid her hand on Maysen’s arm. Maysen returned her smile and then leaned in and hugged her before jumping into his truck. He waved at Maddie as he pulled away and headed down the road. Rylie flattened her back to the house and waited for Maddie to pass before heading back to the fire.

  An hour later, Rylie was walking around Kevin’s backyard looking for Maddie, but she was nowhere to be found. She was ready to leave and really wanted to talk to Maddie on the ride home about what she saw. There had to be an explanation, but she couldn’t get rid of the sinking feeling she got as she replayed Maddie telling her she had a crush on Maysen.

  “Hey, Rylie!”

  She turned to see Kevin jogging towards her. “Hey Kevin, have you seen Maddie? I was going to catch a ride home with her, but I can’t find her anywhere.”

  “Yeah, I think she had a little too much to drink. I just laid her on my bed to sober up. I can give you a ride if you want.”

  “I can’t ask you to leave your own party to take me home. I’ll ask someone else.”

  “It’s not my party. It’s the class party and I am making sure my girlfriends’ best friend gets home safely. Give me a minute. I’ll go grab my keys,” he said, jogging back towards the house.

  The ride home was filled with laughter as Rylie and Kevin relived some of the best moments the four of them shared over the last few years. As they came around the bend in the gravel road, Kevin slowed and squinted out his window. “Is that – fire?”

  Rylie felt her heart in her throat as she realized he was right. It was fire and it looked like it was near the treehouse. “Kevin, STOP!”

  “What?”

  “STOP! Let me out!”

  Kevin stopped the car just as Rylie’s door flew open. She stumbled onto the road and started for the barbed wire fence that surrounded the pasture.

  “Rylie! What are you doing?” Kevin yelled from the car.

  Rylie crawled through the barbed wire a little too carelessly and was snagged across the arm by one of the barbs. “Ow,” she breathed, looking down at her arm. She turned to face Kevin. “Go to tell Del, have her to call for help!” she shouted.

  She turned and started running through the pasture towards the tree line where the treehouse and all her stories were engulfed in fire. She ran as fast as she could, but the other end of the pasture seemed to be getting further away. Every story she had ever written was in that tree house locked up in the story box Maysen made for her. She had to get to them or she’d have nothing left. Finally, making it to the other side she crawled through the fence. This time, her t-shirt caught on one of the barbs and stopped her progress. “Help me!” she moaned into the night air. She pulled at her shirt and felt the sleeve rip as she scrambled back up.

  She felt the heat from the fire as she got closer. She stopped and looked around for something she could scoop water from the creek with. Her eyes stopped on a familiar looking dark gray backpack laying a few trees away. Tied around one of the zippers was the heart pendant she had braided onto colored floss for Maysen last year. She went to pick it up and stopped when her eyes fell on a candle lighter sticking out from the front pouch. She desperately looked through the trees for a sign of Maysen. He had to be nearby. Scanning the trees, a flash of red caught her eye. Turning towards it, her heart froze. There, in a small opening of trees, were Maysen and Maddie. Their arms were wrapped around each other and Maddie was looking up at Maysen with a radiant smile painted on her face.

  Rylie’s stomach knotted as she backed out of the trees. How could they? She felt bogged down with confusion as images of Maysen and Maddie swirled through her mind. All the times they innocently touched each other’s hand as they laughed, the inside jokes they shared while hanging out at lunch, glances Rylie may have missed. It was all happening right in front of her face and she didn’t even notice. Rylie walked blindly towards the pasture fence not paying attention to where she was stepping. Her foot caught on a large branch and she flew forward, her hands landing in a patch of goat heads. Rolling onto her back, she let out a gasp as she pulled the little puncture seeds from her palms.

>   “Rylie!”

  Rylie looked over her shoulder and saw Del, Norm and Kevin running towards her. The ranch water truck was coming through the pasture gate behind them.

  Kevin helped Norm pull Rylie further away from the fire. There were raised voices but she couldn’t focus on what was being said because she couldn’t shake what she just saw. Del’s hands cradled Rylie’s face, as they watched the water truck drive past and point a steady stream of a water towards the fire. There was so much activity going on around her. All she could do was stare at the spot where she and Maysen had shared so many memories as it went up in flames. How could he burn it down? Now that he was with Maddie, it probably meant nothing to him.

  “Rylie!” Maddie’s voice cut through the chill air. “Are you okay?” she asked. She was alone. Maysen had disappeared.

  Words suppressed themselves inside of Rylie, as she stared vacantly into Maddie’s worried face. She had so much to say yet no words found their way to her mouth. She simply stared.

  “I think she’s gone into shock,” Maddie said, looking at a spot behind Rylie.

  “Come on, Rylie.” Norm’s voice filled her ears as she felt his arms lifting her from the ground.

  Norm and Del told Maddie they didn’t think a lot of people crowding Rylie was a good idea and told her to head home. They walked Rylie from the fire and into the safety of their house while the men who worked the ranch put out the fire. At first, she couldn’t stop shaking and Del insisted they take her to the emergency room. Rylie, still unable to get any words out, frantically shook her head to try and convey how much she disliked the idea. Norm talked her into giving Rylie some time to rest. Del relented, but told them if she didn’t snap out of it soon, she was going to the hospital.

  As the night wore on, Del continued to push her to say something, Rylie just couldn’t find any words. Norm talked her into allowing Rylie a good night’s rest, saying she just needed time for the shock to wear off. When her shaking ceased and Del dropped it and finally relaxed, allowing Rylie out of her sight long enough to shower and put on a nightgown.

  Rylie felt a small amount of relief once the smell of smoke was washed down the drain, but still didn’t want to talk as Del tucked her into bed.

  “Okay, sweet girl. I know you’ve been through a lot. Do you want me to stay in here with you tonight?” Del asked, concern etched across her face.

  Rylie shook her head, allowing a tear to escape down her cheek as she looked at Del’s concerned face.

  “Okay. I love you, Rylie. We’ll be in our room if you need us.” Del kissed her forehead and turned out her light. For the first time that night, she was left alone with her thoughts.

  Rylie didn’t know what to do. She thought she and Maysen were in love, that they were one of those rare couples who would be together until they died. How had she missed the signs? She should have taken the scholarship and wondered if it was too late to change her mind. She fell asleep with thoughts of New York on her mind.

  In the early morning hours, Rylie was wrenched from her sleep by the smell of smoke. Fear gripped her insides as she sat up and looked around her room. It was still dark and the house was quiet. She eased herself out of bed and padded through the kitchen and into the living room. Everything was calm. There was no fire threatening their home. She was dreaming. She sat on the couch, wrapping her arms around herself and took a deep breath.

  She was having a sleepless night, waking every couple of hours. Pictures of the night’s events kept forcing their way into her subconsciousness and dragging her from her sleep. She was shrouded in disbelief every time the image of Maysen and Maddie floated into her mind. How had two of the most important people in her life fooled her so easily? It didn’t make sense. As she sat on the couch and moonlight flooded the silent living room, she saw the future she planned change and a new goal formed in her mind. After an hour of contemplation Rylie had the clarity she craved.

  She went back to her room and started packing the suitcase Del and Norm bought her when they first thought she was going to New York. She struggled to close the lid and get the clamps to lock, but once they snapped into place, she set the suitcase by the door. She found Del’s notebook and a pen and started writing the most important letter she’d ever written.

  Dear Del and Norm,

  I’m sorry to leave this way. I know it won’t make sense to you, but tonight brought me the clarity I lacked. I’m sorry that I am taking away your chance to see me walk at graduation. I will make sure my diploma is mailed to you. It’s just as much yours as it is mine. I’ve decided to take the scholarship to NYU. Please don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.

  I want to take a moment to thank you for saving me. I know it’s not how you see it, but it’s what happened. Without your love and guidance, I would have been stuck in a small town, without much of a future. I now have a future and it’s all because of you. You’ve given me more than I could have ever hoped for and I will forever be in your debt. I am going to make you proud! I love you both more than I will ever be able to show you.

  I love you both with my entire heart. I will call you soon.

  With all my love,

  Rylie Green (I’d like to use your last name if you don’t mind)

  p.s. I am taking the graduation money you gave me to get me to New York. I know it was supposed to be for things I may need while at college, but I will get a part-time job to help me with anything I may need. Don’t worry!

  Rylie folded the letter and placed it against the coffee jar knowing it was the first thing Del would see in the morning. Taking one last look around, she grabbed her suitcase and left the home that showed her more love than she ever thought possible.

  Rylie could only think of one place she could go until she made arrangements to go to New York. Forty-five minutes after she left her home, she was knocking on an oak wood door as tears stained her cheeks.

  Rylie saw lights go on and a few seconds later, the door opened and a confused Mrs. Matthews stepped outside wrapping her robe tightly around her. “Rylie? Honey, what are you doing? Are you okay?” she asked, as she looked at the street in front of her house. “Did you walk here?”

  Rylie nodded and then allowed the sobs to take over.

  Mrs. Matthews threw her arms around her. “Oh, sweetie! What’s going on? Come inside, you’re freezing.”

  Rylie sat at Mrs. Matthews the kitchen island, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug of coffee and told her she wanted to take the scholarship. She told her that due to circumstances she’d rather not go into, she wasn’t walking at graduation.

  After an hour of vague explanations and promising to call Del at one of the bus stops along the way, Mrs. Matthews agreed to let her stay with her until she left.

  “Rylie, I don’t agree with how you’re handling whatever has you in such distress. You really should talk to the Green’s and Maysen. They love you so much and deserve a goodbye,” Mrs. Matthews said, taking a sip from her mug.

  “I know. I can’t explain why, but I need it to be this way.”

  “Okay.”

  October 11, 20010 ~ Afternoon

  “Hello, Maysen,” Rylie replied, knowing her voice sounded like ice. With a slight nod, she turned back to the television as if she barely knew him.

  “That’s it? It’s been twenty years since we last spoke and all I get is a hello and a cold shoulder?” Maysen asked, sitting next to her. His arm brushed against hers and caused her to jump up.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was anything else to be said,” she said. Crossing her arms, she wandered over to the large fish tank in the center of the room.

  “Really? You snuck off in the middle of the night. Don’t you think I deserve some type of explanation?”

  “You deserve an explanation? You don’t deserve anything from me, Maysen Banks.”

  Maysen let out an exasperated sigh. “Where does all your anger towards me come from? I don’t deserve it, Rylie. If anybody deserves to be angry, it�
�s me.”

  “You? You think you deserve to be angry? For what? I gave you my heart and when I realized it was all an act a piece of my heart died!” she said, glaring at him.

  Maysen laughed softly and shook his head. “It wasn’t an act. I loved you more than life.”

  Narrowing her eyes and frowning, Rylie took a step back. “You have a funny way of showing your love. Burning down one of the most important places I’ve ever had and cheating on me with my best

  friend.”

  “I wasn’t cheating!” he said, a little too loudly as anger painted his face.

  “I saw you with her, Maysen!” Rylie hissed. “I saw the two of you embracing in the trees the night of the fire.”

  “What?” he asked, confused. “Will you just come sit down, please? I’ve wanted to talk to you ever since that night, but you never gave me the chance. You say I pretended to love you. Yet, you’re the one who wouldn’t talk to me. You left town in the middle of the night. If you ask me, you didn’t love me the way you said you did. In my eyes it was you who was lying.”

  Rylie’s mouth dropped open. “I wasn’t lying. I loved you more than anyone, Maysen. I had nothing to lose by loving you,” she said, letting out a short laugh before adding, “or at least I thought I didn’t.”

  “Sit down, please?” Maysen patted the chair beside him. “Let’s talk so I can wrap my mind around what happened between us that night. Afterwards, if you still want nothing to do with me, I’ll wait on the other side of this room until Del is out of surgery. I’ll never bother you again.”

  “I’ll listen, but there isn’t anything you can say to change how I

  feel,” she said, sitting two chairs down from him.

  “Congratulations on all your books. I would have sent you flowers, but…,” he said, with a shrug. “I always knew you’d make it.”

  Rylie stared at him with her arms crossed over her chest. Her right foot was bobbing up and down from its crossed position over her left knee.

  Inhaling, Maysen rubbed his palms over his knees and sat forward. “Rylie, I didn’t cheat on you and I didn’t burn down our treehouse. What would make you think I’d do something like that. I thought I had done a good job showing you how much I loved you. I loved your stories and our treehouse was a place for just you and I. It tore me apart to see it burn.”