Dream of Her Heart

by Shanna Hatfield

  “I did injure my eyeballs, Petey. That’s why I’m wearing the glasses. The light makes them hurt.”

  “Well, that’s a dirty rotten thing to happen to someone like you.” Petey patted his arm then returned to wiggling his feet and shucking corn.

  “Did I hear you have a baby sister?” Zane asked, dredging up tidbits of conversations he’d had with Miko about the neighbors.

  “Yep. Mom and Dad brought home the princess about the same time Grandpa and Grandma Yamada went away.” Petey sighed. “I sure miss them, but I like the princess just fine. She’s kinda cute, if a fella has to be stuck with a sister. I’m trying to teach her to say my name, but so far all I can get outta her is something that sounds like a lamb bleating.”

  Zane chuckled. “You take good care of your princess. Not every guy gets a baby sister, you know.”

  “Oh, I know.” Petey stopped wiggling. Zane could feel the weight of the boy’s stare as he studied him. “Do you have a sister?”

  “Nope. My mama and baby sister died the same day.”

  A small hand patted his arm again in a gesture full of sympathy. “That’s sure a rough ride, Captain West. Do you still have your dad?”

  “Nope. He’s gone, too. But I’ve got Rock and now Miko, so it’s like having a brother and sister.”

  The jiggling resumed and Zane heard Petey relieving another ear of corn of its husk. “I’m pretty keen on them myself. But I’ve got Mom and Dad and the princess. Granny comes to visit a lot, too. It’s been a rough row to hoe since my best friend had to leave, though.”

  “Where did he go?” Zane asked, tossing another ear of corn into the box at his feet.

  “Well, his dad got hurt real bad at the Battle of Midday.”

  “Midway,” Zane said without thinking.

  “Were you there?”

  Zane nodded. “I sure was.” Too many good men were lost that day, but the fight hadn’t been in vain.

  “Oh, Ryatt’s daddy’s name was Mac. Mac Danvers. Maybe you met him. Anyhow, he got hurt real bad and died after that. Ryatt’s mom left him at our house to go make arrangements.” Petey stopped and sighed as his little body slumped against Zane’s side. “I just everlastingly hate that word now. Arrangements. Seems to me arrangements are the cause of all kinds of troubles.”

  Zane couldn’t argue with the boy. The childish logic might be slightly skewed, but there was truth in it, too. “What happened?”

  “She ran her car off the road on the way to make those arrangements and died. Poor Ryatt. He was a mess. The princess wasn’t very big so Granny came to take care of her while Mom and Dad tried to handle Ryatt until his aunt Delaney could come get him. She took him to her ranch in Pendleton. Gee, but I’d like to see a real cattle ranch.”

  “Pendleton, huh?” Zane awkwardly reached down and gave the boy’s back a comforting pat. “I was stationed there for a while in the spring.”

  Petey’s body straightened as enthusiasm flooded back through him. “Did you see a ranch there? With cattle and horses and a sea of wheat?”

  Zane chuckled. “I did see a few ranches there and the hills are covered in so much wheat, it almost looks like an ocean rolling around the town. But I’ll tell you something, Petey.”

  “What’s that, Captain West?”

  “I grew up in Texas on a big cattle ranch.”

  “Well, that’s a jim-dandy thing,” Petey declared and leaned against Zane again. “Did you have a horse of your own and a dog and everything?”

  “I did.” Zane told him a little about the ranch and the name of his favorite horse and the dog he had when he was a boy.

  “Do you have a dog, Petey?” Zane asked, able to detect the slight whiff of dog still clinging to the boy.

  “No, but I found one in the trees at the edge of the pasture. He’s kind of scrawny, like someone dumped him out ’cause they didn’t want to feed him. I’ve been taking him scraps. He’s a good mutt. I was thinking about naming him Tuffy.”

  “That’s a good name. Have you asked your folks about bringing him home with you?”

  A sigh must have rolled up from the boy’s toes for the way his whole body shook when he expelled it. “Mom doesn’t want a dog, especially not a stray, with the princess.”

  “Have you mentioned the dog to Rock and Miko?”

  “Not yet. I was kinda keeping him just to myself for a little while. If Miko casts her opticals on him, that dog won’t know anyone else exists ’cause Miko’s a real royal-stepper and even the animals know it.” Petey jumped off the bench then bumped into Zane’s legs. “Have you been to visit the three little pigs yet?”

  Zane nodded. “Rock took me on a tour of the barnyard yesterday. I met Amos and Andy, the pigs, and his horses.”

  “He hasn’t had the horses long. He bought them from Ryatt’s aunt. Me and Ryatt used to ride them all the time. Now Cap and I do.”

  “Does Miko ride?”

  Petey laughed and it sounded like he slapped his hands together in glee. “Does Miko ride? Now ain’t that a question. Do birds sing? Do peaches ripe from the tree taste like candy? Do stars shine up in the sky?”

  The boy didn’t wait for a reply before he continued. “Of course she rides. I betcha my life there ain’t a thing you can think up that Miko can’t do, ’cause that’s just Miko.” Petey leaned closer and lowered his voice, as though he shared a great secret. “I was gonna marry Miko, but when Cap asked if I’d mind stepping aside so he could, I gave him the go ahead. But I told him if he ever makes her cry, I’ll dip him in honey and leave him for the bears.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry,” Zane said with a grin. “I think Rock is pretty set on Miko.”

  “Set on Miko? I guess it’s hard with you not being able to see, and all, but Cap is plumb loony for her. All she has to do is look at him, and Cap almost trips over his feet to do whatever she wants.”

  Zane laughed. “I’d sure like to see that.”

  “Gee, Captain West. Are you a real, true Texas cowboy?”

  “I sure am, pardner. If I ever get my vision back, I’ll show you some rope tricks. How would that be?”

  “By jingo, that’d be dandy.” Petey bumped against him again. “Do I have to call you Captain West?”

  “No. How about you call me Tex? Some of my friends do and I hope we’ll be great friends.”

  “I betcha we’ll be great buddies, Tex. I better get going. I promised Mom I wouldn’t stay too long. I’m in charge of weeding the garden and the weeds are about to stage an all-out revolt in the potatoes. I got my orders to get things in order.”

  “I hope to talk to you again soon, Petey.”

  “Oh, I’ll be back before you know it. I might even bring Tuffy when I come.”

  “You do that, Petey.”

  Zane listened as the boy ran off, whistling as he went. He tried to picture Petey from the description Rock and Miko had given him. The rascally imp was every bit as full of life and fun as they’d said.

  After lunch, Zane rested for a while, taking a nap for about an hour. When he awakened, he made his way to the kitchen where he could hear Miko working.

  “Did we tire you out this morning?” Miko asked over the sound of jars rattling in a pressure cooker. The air in the kitchen felt moist and thick, heavy with the scent of fresh corn.

  “Not at all. I didn’t mind shucking corn. Do you have more I need to do?”

  “Not today. I’ve got all I can get put up this afternoon,” Miko said. He heard water running in the sink and then the sound of a knife scraping. He envisioned her cutting the golden kernels off the ears before she packed them into jars to process in the hot water bath of the pressure cooker. He’d watched his mother go through the process enough times to remember each step.

  “What can I do to help? I could attempt to fold laundry or is there something I could do outside?”

  “Well, why don’t you…” Miko gasped. “Oh, no! We forgot about your eye treatment this morning. Would you like me to do i
t now?”

  “No, Miko. It’ll wait until this evening. You’ve got enough to do.”

  “How are your eyes? Does the light hurt them as much? Are the sunglasses helping?”

  “I like the glasses much better than the bandages. I think they do a better job of blocking the light, too. It’s nice to be able to not have my eyes pressed shut all the time.”

  “Can you see anything yet?” Miko asked as she continued cutting corn off cobs. He listened as she plunked the bare cobs into a metal pail on the floor.

  “A few fuzzy shapes, but not enough to be able to tell what anything is.”

  “But that’s wonderful progress,” Miko said encouragingly. “Just think, in another…”

  A loud rapping at the back door interrupted her. Before she could take a step, the door opened and it sounded like a stampede of cattle raced down the hall and into the kitchen.

  “Golly, Miko, your kitchen is even more gummed up than Mom’s and she’s got Granny over there helping her.” Petey’s unmistakable voice made Zane grin.

  “What are you up to, Petey?” Miko asked. Zane could hear the indulgent affection in her tone as she spoke.

  “Pop went into town with a list of errands. Mom and Granny are wading in a river of corn and green beans, and the princess is off to dreamland. I decided to see if I could find more milkweed pods and thought Captain West might like to come along. We could check on Tuffy, too.”

  “Who’s Tuffy?” Miko asked.

  “A dog I found in the trees over on the far end of the pasture. He’s friendly, but hungry.”

  Zane could hear Petey shuffling his feet on the linoleum, as though the boy found it impossible to stand still.

  “How long has that dog been there?” Miko asked with concern.

  “Since last weekend. I’ve been taking him scraps. And before you snap your cap, Mom and Pop both know.” Petey bumped against Zane then grabbed onto his hand. “Do you wanna come with me?”

  “Well, I suppose I could. But you have to promise not to let me fall in a hole or trip over a log.”

  Petey huffed, clearly insulted and released his hand. “Gee, Tex. What do you take me for? A cracked egg with a heaping side of spoiled applesauce? No, siree! That’s balled up baloney for certain. I’ll get you there and back again. I’m on the job. You can trust me.”

  Zane grinned and took a step forward. “Then let’s get to it. What are you gonna do with the milkweed?”

  A sigh rolled out of Petey. Zane heard the boy’s hands smack together. “I see an education is in order. By jingo and golly, you’ll know gobs by the time I’m through. Tell ’em about my milkweed, Miko.”

  “The military is using the fibers found inside milkweed pods to make life preservers. Many children in the area have been collecting the floss all summer,” Miko explained. “The local extension office has been running a contest for the child who collects the most pods. They’ll win a bicycle.”

  “Boy, it’s a rip-roaring dandy, too,” Petey said, excitedly. “Wanna guess who’s in the lead so far?”

  Zane chuckled. “It wouldn’t be you, would it, Petey?”

  “It sure is! Gosh, that bike is swell. It’s dark blue with a red and white stripe, just like Uncle Sam himself painted it.”

  “Then we better get out there and see if we can find more milkweed floss.”

  “Here, take some cookies with you.” Miko placed a handful of cookies on Zane’s palm. “Be sure you bring Captain West back if he gets tired, Petey.”

  “I will, Miko. If his motor runs down and he hits empty, I’ll make a beeline back here.” Petey tugged on Zane’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  Five minutes later, Zane walked through the pasture with Petey leading the way. They munched on the gingersnap cookies Miko had sent along. Petey whistled and Zane listened to the sound of something loping toward them. The boy giggled and a dog woofed softly. Zane could picture Tuffy washing Petey’s face with friendly licks.

  “Mercy! What is that horrible smell?” Zane asked, wrinkling his nose.

  “Aw, that’s just Tuffy. I think he got tangled up with a skunk or maybe rolled in something that was dead. I tried to give him a bath in the ditch, but he wasn’t having any part of it.”

  “Well, let’s see if he’ll follow us to Rock and Miko’s house when we go back. I bet Rock would help you give him a bath.” Zane sniffed again. There was the stench of skunk in the air, but something decaying, too. He wondered if the poor dog had a sore Petey hadn’t noticed. Zane held out one of his cookies in the direction of the sound of panting.

  The cookie was gobbled up in a jiffy and a wet nose nuzzled his fingers. “It’s nice to meet you, Tuffy. I’m Zane.”

  The dog woofed and pressed against his legs. Zane hunkered down and gently rubbed his hands over the canine. Ribs stuck out, his fur was matted and full of burrs, and he felt the dog wince when he touched a spot beneath his chin. He leaned closer and could smell something putrid. The dog definitely had an infected sore. Zane rubbed the dog’s head, scratched behind his floppy ears, then stood. “Shall we get back to the business of finding your milkweed?”

  “Yes, sir!” Petey charged ahead with the dog barking. He heard hurried steps as the boy came back and grabbed onto his hand. “Sorry, Tex. I forgot you need a little help getting there.”

  Zane held a gunnysack while Petey picked the pods that grew alongside a ditch. Eventually, they made their way back toward Rock and Miko’s place. Petey led Zane over to a fence where he found a few more milkweeds growing.

  “There aren’t many pods to be found with Cap on duty. The weeds know better than to grow here,” the boy said.

  Zane had an idea it wasn’t that the weeds knew better, but that Rock and Miko endlessly worked to keep them pulled. Since he’d been there, the couple hardly stopped working from early morning until late in the evening.

  “What’s this place?” Zane asked, as his hands trailed over a fence covered in some sort of vegetation. With the toe of his boot, he traced the edge of a stepping stone, then reached out with his foot and touched another in front of him.

  “Just a fence. It’s sure pretty. Sometimes flowers bloom on it.” Petey tugged on his hand again. “I see Cap. I wanna ask him about giving Tuffy a bath. Come on!”

  Zane had to hustle to keep up with the rambunctious boy. He stumbled over a large rock and took a few hasty steps forward to keep from falling.

  Petey stopped and placed a little hand on his back. “Are you okay, Tex? I’d be ten kinds of a low-down, belly-slithering goof if you got hurt on my watch.”

  Zane ruffled the boy’s thick hair. “I’m fine, Petey. No harm done. Maybe we could find Rock without running, though.”

  “Deal,” the boy said, keeping such a sedate pace Zane almost told him he could go faster, but refrained. The smell of the dog didn’t fade, so he assumed Tuffy accompanied them.

  “What’d you find?” Rock called to them.

  Zane could hear water running and wondered if they were close to the barn or the garden. He sniffed the air, but all he could smell was the dog with undertones of little boy.

  “I found Tuffy last week, Cap, but Mom laid down the law with an iron fist set in concrete. I can’t take him home. Would you and Miko maybe want to keep him? He’s a dandy dog.”

  Zane heard Rock’s footsteps as he approached them. Rock whistled softly and Zane listened, imagining his friend petting the dog, giving him a thorough onceover.

  “Under his chin,” Zane said quietly as he bent forward, getting a lick on his cheek from the dog.

  “I see,” Rock said. “How about we find a tub and give this fella a bath? Can you stay to help, Petey, or do you need to get home?”

  “I can stay until supper time, but then I’m heading home. Pops promised to bring home hamburgers from town and I don’t want to miss that. Where’s the tub, Cap? I’m on the job.”

  “You’re always on the job, Petey,” Rock teased. “I’ll help you get the tub because it’s heavy. Za
ne, maybe you could ask Miko to heat up some water for us?”

  “I can do that,” Zane said, turning to his left.

  “You’re about six steps away from the back gate if you walk straight ahead,” Rock called to him.

  “Thanks!” Zane walked to the gate, felt his way through it, then continued to the back stoop. He made it up the steps, tapped once on the door, then walked down the hallway. The kitchen was still humid and hot, but the sound of Bing Crosby crooning “Sweet Leilani” made him smile.

  “Did you have fun with Petey?” Miko asked amid the clanging of pans.

  “I did enjoy myself. We brought the dog back and Rock asked if you could provide hot water for a bath. The dog stinks to high heaven, but the real problem is he’s got an infected wound. I didn’t say anything to Petey since I can’t see it, but I think Rock noticed it too. Petey’s going to help give the dog a bath.”

  “Oh, that poor thing. I’ll bring out some water, soap and rags in a minute.” Miko paused and he could feel her studying him. “Are you staying in or going back out?”

  “I’m feeling pert at the moment and haven’t yet run out of juice, as Petey would say.”

  Miko laughed. “Then tell Rock I’ll be there in a moment.”

  Zane retraced his steps and found Rock and Petey in the backyard with a washtub. Rock had turned on the hose and was filling it with water while Petey giggled and the dog woofed. From the noises they made, Zane assumed a game of chase was afoot.

  “Miko said she’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Good,” Rock said, then lowered his voice. “That spot under his chin is definitely infected. Poor mutt. Looks like he’s about starved to death, too.”

  “That’s what I thought, at least from what I could feel. If we clean him up and treat that wound, fill that hollow spot between his ribs, he might make you a good dog.” Zane grinned at his friend. “If you keep him, you’ll at least have a buddy to share the doghouse with when you get into trouble with Miko.”