Thunder Mountain Ranch

by McCarthy, G. L.

  As Alex worked on the wagon her gaze keep returning to the doorway of the crafts room. No one stood in its arch. Alex thought back to the old woman telling her she would see her again to answer her questions. But when would that happen, if it did at all? She guessed if she didn’t have any questions, then there wouldn’t be a need for the old woman to return. But she did have questions. Why had she appeared, why now, and why to Alex? What was the point, was there something she needed her to do? When would she find all this out, if at all? Wondering what she should do next, she felt a presence next to her. It was only Sam giving her a strange look.

  “You’re awfully quiet all of a sudden. Is there anything wrong?” Sam had noticed Alex looking off at something, but she couldn’t tell what it was.

  “Oh, just deep in thought. I do this every once in a while. No worries.” She wanted to tell Sam, but not just yet. Maybe if she did talk to the old woman again, she would believe it really happened herself.

  “Well, this wagon looks great too. Do you want to help me get the teams cleaned up for tonight? They need baths before it gets too late. What do you say?” Bathing horses wasn’t an easy job and draft horses were even tougher.

  “Sure. I’d like to get to know your Belgians.” Draft horses were gentle giants and Alex was always fascinated by them.

  The two teams of Belgians were couples. George and Gracie were the first to get bathed. George loved to drink water from the hose and Gracie liked to step on the hose to show her dislike for this little chore. Step ladders were required to do their backs and heads. Alex was careful not to get water in their eyes and ears. They had conditioner for the manes, tails and leg feathers for ease in combing. It took the two of them an hour to complete the chore. They tied them up in the sun to dry then moved on to the next couple. Lucy and Ricky were a lot different as they were a younger team and very curious. Checking hands and pockets for treats, Alex figured someone had spoiled these two when they were young. When it comes to treats, horses have great memories.

  As the last of the soap was being hosed off, Dawson and his furry companion, Winston, stopped by to check their progress.

  “They look great, and so do the wagons. Nice job, you two.” Dawson saw the love and care these two were taking with his stock. He understood why Jessie loved them both so much. He used to be jealous of Alex, but then realized Jessie would always love him and be his wife. But her capacity for loving her friend and cousin was just as intense and forever.

  “Thanks, Dawson. Are you and Winston having a good day?” Alex liked well behaved dogs and Winston was a very good dog.

  “I came by to ask about the ghost.” Dawson had heard his wranglers’ ramblings and needed a clear headed version.

  “Ghost?” Alex felt a sick feeling in her stomach as Jessie had promised not to say anything to anyone and that meant Dawson too at least Alex thought it did.

  “Yes, the one up on Thunder Mountain. Sam, did you really see a ghost or do you think it was one of the locals having fun?” He figured a local teenager was up there, knowing full well the routine of the ranch Halloween hayride.

  “We did see someone, but whether it was a ghost or not, I can’t really say. I didn’t think ghosts came out in the daytime.” At least Sam had never heard of such a thing.

  Alex felt terrible that she had even considered Jessie would betray a confidence. She was feeling a little insecure about herself right now and really just wanted to go curl up somewhere and be left alone with her thoughts. She felt her life was a little out of control after all that had happened on Old Woman’s Hill. Interesting coincidence about this sudden old woman connection. Had it been fate that saved Alex from being killed and brought her here to do something for the old woman known as “Abuela”?

  “Alex. Alex, are you okay?” Dawson was concerned he had said something to upset her as she was staring off with a strange look on her face.

  “Oh, I’m fine, Dawson. Just thinking about your ghost and what it means.” If Dawson only knew she was thinking about her ghost and not the one he was wondering about.

  “Okay, it looks like we have a practical joker among us.” He just hoped things didn’t get out of hand tonight. But his two teams were the best at staying calm.

  “I’ll tell the guys to be on the lookout for a prankster. Keep up the good work and see you two at dinner. Remember we’re eating an hour earlier tonight so the little kids can get back from their ride before it gets to late.” Dawson headed back to the office with Winston trotting along by his side.

  “Do you want to go on the fun trip or the scary trip?” Sam usually rode along with the fun trip, just because she liked to watch the little kids.

  “How about the scary trip? Can we go by ourselves on horseback though, or do we have to go in the wagons?” Alex was hoping she could get a glimpse of the ghost on the mountain.

  “We can take the horses. That’s a great idea. We’ll ride along behind the wagons and keep an eye on things.”

  As they finished combing out the last mane the dinner bell rang. Leaving the teams tied up with their dinner in front of them was a guaranteed way of keeping them from taking a roll in the corral and undoing all their hard work.

  Tonight’s meal had a pumpkin theme with pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin pie and a regular menu for those who weren’t that thrilled with pumpkins period. Alex and Sam decided to grab something and take it back to their rooms where they could shower and eat more quickly. They needed more time to get a couple of horses tacked up as well as the teams. Alex told Jessie and Dawson what they were going to do and was reminded to be careful but to have fun.

  Getting ready, Alex put on a turtleneck and grabbed her down jacket as it was going to be cold tonight. The weather report said overcast and windy, a perfect night for ghosts and goblins to have fun in the dark. She met Sam at the corral and she already had Bruce and her black mustang, Smokey, all brushed and ready for their saddles and bridles. Alex helped pull out the harness and bridled up George and Gracie while Sam put on the rest and led them over to the wagon for the fun ride. This load would leave thirty minutes before the scary ride and get back in an hour. The scary ride was going to take ninety minutes as they were going up the valley towards Thunder Mountain and the ghost.

  Some of the kids were dressed in their costumes as pirates, space rangers, cowboys, cowgirls and princesses. After they returned there was going to be a little party for them in the dining hall with candy and the usual dessert bar waiting.

  As the wagon pulled out of the ranch’s main gate it was time to get the other team ready and saddle up their mounts. Alex and Sam cinched up their saddles and were ready just in time to leave with the scary hayride group. Riding behind them, Alex had brought along a flashlight even though the wagon had several lanterns hanging off the sides and the moon was more than three quarters full although it came and went as the clouds were blowing by.

  As the wagon full of teens and adults neared the base of the mountain, the cook, who was sitting next to the driver, turned around to tell the local legend of Thunder Mountain.

  The local Indians told a story about one of their tribe’s bravest warriors who went up to Thunder Mountain to bring back some stray horses. Ancient stories had been told about the mountain being the home of evil spirits who had escaped from the underworld and lived in the shadows. They watched and waited to attack unsuspecting travelers and take their souls back with them where they would spend eternity dancing for the Dark Ones.

  This brave warrior did not believe the stories and said they were told to scare old women and small children. Despite pleading from his family, he rode up the valley to find the missing stock. As he approached the base of Thunder Mountain he felt the air become heavy and hard to breathe. He continued on a little further something he couldn’t see Dismounting he went on by foot, walking further into the valley and closer to the base of Thunder Mountain and the evil that lived there. A strange odor filled the air and the hair on his arms and the back o
f his neck stood up as he went deeper into the darkness. Suddenly the feeling of not being alone came over him and noises that sounded like whispers warned him to go back to leave this place and never return. But he went forward. After all his boasting, he couldn’t go back without what he came for. Then suddenly he felt a cold presence take hold of him. He couldn’t move. He tried to scream, but nothing would come out as he saw two red glowing eyes coming towards him. His head started to burn and it felt like his eyes were on fire. With all of his strength he broke free of the icy hold and turned back screaming a warning to stay away from this place. When he reached the spot where he had left his horse, it was gone. He felt strange, like a feather blowing in before his horse spooked at and refused to go forward. the wind. Regaining his bravery he turned back thinking the eyes may have just belonged to an animal that lived there in the darkness. As he made his way back he saw something lying on the ground. It had not been there before. As he knelt down, he recoiled in terror. It was his body lying there. He was dead, his soul had been sucked out of him by the creature with the red eyes. But he was free of its evil grip, having somehow escaped from being dragged back into the darkness to dance for the Dark Ones. As he gazed at his body, the moon peeked out from behind the cloud cover for just a moment and he saw the two dark holes where his eyes had been. That was where his soul had been pulled out while he went running, screaming into the darkness. As he stood looking down on his lifeless body he swore that he would spend eternity keeping other innocents from being brought to this place. And since that time no other soul has been lost there. So when curiosity seekers come looking for themselves to see if the legend is true, they are warned by the warrior who comes screaming down from the mountain, to run away and stay away. The cook turned around and didn’t say another word.

  As the wagon rolled closer to the base of the mountain the air became cold and heavy and a strange odor filled the air. The guests started to huddle together at this sudden change in temperature. Then the wind started to blow and shadows appeared to be dancing on it’s jagged sides. Some of the kids buried there heads in the laps of their parents, while wives hid their faces with the lapels of their husbands’ jackets. The wind swirled around the wagon and then as foretold it came screaming down the valley like nothing anyone had every heard before, sending screaming kids and some women to the bottom of the wagon. A cold chill ran up the backs of those who still sat in their seats. Alex passed the wagon and headed up further into the valley. Sam followed, but wasn’t thrilled to say the least.

  At the unanimous request of all aboard the driver quickly turned the wagon around and headed back for the ranch. The guests didn’t utter a sound until they saw the lights of the ranch. It was only then that they breathed easy as they knew they were almost back home and safe from the soul sucking eyes of the Dark Ones.

  Chapter 10

  Alex felt a strange sensation, as if someone had roped her and was pulling her towards the base of the mountain. She then heard a voice telling her to go on, to keep going further up the valley, asking her for help. “Please help. I want to go home, I must go home.” As she rode on Sam came cantering up along side of her and grabbed her arm, causing Alex to turn and look to see what was holding her back. Sam saw a look on Alex’s face that frightened her. Her eyes were wide open and black as coal.

  “Alex, what’s wrong with you, where are you going?” Sam almost pulled Alex out of the saddle trying to get her attention.

  “I have to help him. He needs my help. Don’t you hear him calling?” The voice was fading and she realized what she had just said.

  “I don’t hear anything but the wind, Alex. Stop! You’re scaring me.” Sam never thought that anything like this would happen tonight. She thought they were just going along with the ride to make sure some prankster didn’t cause any trouble.

  “Sam, let go. I’ll be all right. Wait here if you’re afraid. I need to keep going.” Alex tightened her legs, and nudged her heels into Bruce’s sides which sent him forward at a canter.

  “Damn it.” Sam pushed Smokey into a gallop to catch up, and prayed that they would be able to laugh about this tomorrow.

  As they reached the base of the mountain they noticed a small path between the rocks, leading to a valley. The clouds had cleared enough that the whole area could be seen in the moonlight. As the two rode single file the wind had stopped and it was dead quiet. Alex looked around trying to hear the voice again. Why had it stopped calling her? Was she in the wrong place? But the pulling sensation had brought her here. She looked around, but even with the moonlight some of the little valley was in the shadows, making it difficult to see every inch of it. Even with her flashlight she knew it was no use. She needed to come back in the daylight when the sun was directly overhead when the shadows would no longer prevent her from seeing what she needed to see. She turned around and left the little valley behind her. Alex dismounted to make a marker out a pile of rocks near where they had entered, and tried to memorize the area. Their tracks should be easy to follow as long as it didn’t rain. Mounting Bruce she realized she had a lot of explaining to do, to both Sam and Jessie. Both were surely going to think she had lost it big time and she wasn’t so sure they were wrong.

  After walking for a short while Alex knew Sam had to be wondering what was going on, but the longer they rode in silence the more time she had to come up with a good story. But she knew the questions would come and come they did.

  “What just happened back there?” Sam had finally stopped shaking and was composed enough to ask a few questions.

  “I’m sorry, Sam. I didn’t mean to scare you. I guess you think I’m ready for the padded cell and straight jacket, right?” Could she make light of this whole thing like she got carried away in the moment?

  “Not yet. But I realized you believed what you heard was real.” That was what scared her the most. Was the legend true were there evil spirits in that valley?

  “Do you believe in reincarnation?” She might as well test the waters and find out what Sam thought.

  “By reincarnation, you mean the same soul coming back time after time? I hadn’t really given it much thought. Why?” Sam wondered if Alex thought the warrior’s soul had come back in her.

  “Just wondered.” That wasn’t the enthusiastic response she was hoping for. She would wait until both she and Jessie were together to explain this story.

  Alex nudged Bruce forward and cantered the rest of the way back to the ranch. She wondered if she would see the old woman again now that she had a lot more questions to ask. Entering the main gate, she saw Jessie sitting on the porch to her office. She looked up and headed their way. Alex knew she was going to get either an ear full or a big hug. She was really hoping for the hug.

  “Where have you been? The wagon returned quite a while ago and Cook said you two rode off towards the mountain. What were you looking for, ghosts?” Jessie said it before she saw the looks on their faces.

  “I guess we were. But we didn’t see any.” Alex was still looking for that hug.

  “Is there something you want to tell me, Alexandria Hollingsworth Whitney?” Jessie was furious with her friend and overjoyed to see her back safe and sound.

  “I guess so. Can I meet you in your office after I put Bruce away?” Boy was she in trouble. She couldn’t remember the last time Jessie called her by her full name.

  “I’ll be waiting. But get something hot to drink first. You both look like you’re chilled to the bone.” The sick worried feeling Jessie had been experiencing was slowly going away.

  She started to leave, then turned around to give her friend a hug. She held on longer than usual as she realized how much Alex meant to her. As the tears were forming she released her, hugged Sam, and then without saying another word walked back towards the office.

  “I didn’t mean to worry her like that.” A sick feeling came over Alex as she never wanted to upset her friend.

  “She loves you very much, you know. I know how
much she misses you. She told me stories about the two of you and what good times you had. She loves Dawson, but he isn’t her whole life. You’re part of her life too, and she would be devastated if anything were to happen to you before your time.” Sam was a little jealous of how much her cousin loved Alex, but she could see why she did.

  “I didn’t mean to worry you either.” Alex reached out and gave Sam a hug. “Would you believe I was lost in the moment?”

  “You were lost in something. But it was more than a moment.” In that split second when she had looked in Alex’s eyes and saw nothing but black, it was more like she’d been possessed. She was just glad she’d come to her senses before something bad happened.

  Alex smiled at Sam and went back to getting Bruce unsaddled and put away. She gave him a gentle pat on the neck and told him what a good boy he was for her tonight. He had trusted her and went where she had asked him to go. Checking his feet was her last chore before returning him to his stall and what was left of his dinner.

  They headed for the dining hall and could hear laughter and loud talking. As they walked in, several of the guests stopped what they were doing and looked at them as if they were back from the dead. Alex poured herself a cup of decaf. Andy came over to see where the two of them had gone. He had driven the kids’ wagon and heard about them taking off towards the mountain after the warrior had warned them all to leave.

  “So you two are quite the topic of conversation tonight  riding off to face the evil spirits unarmed and unafraid.” Trying to keep a straight face, Andy thought the guests and the cook had blown the whole thing way out of proportion.