Range Feud

"Tina's got a boyfriend!" Betsy ran into the kitchen, waving something around.

Tina looked up from the survival book and the list of survival stuff she was creating. "What?"

Her mom turned from the sink. "That was fast."

"There aren't any boys here," Tina said, confused.

"You've got a boyfriend." Betsy sang and danced.

"Hey! Give me that." Tina lunged for the book her little sister waved around. She managed to snatch it, but she spilled her milk at the same time. She grabbed her book and paper off the table before it could get wet.

Bandit yapped at the excitement and started licking up the milk that dripped onto the floor.

"Tina?"

She sighed and got some paper towels. "Betsy had my notebook. I was writing stories."

"Betsy, did Tina give you permission to read her journal?"

"She left it out." Betsy scratched Bandit behind the ears when he came over to her. One of the cats took over drinking the milk on the floor while Tina tried to clean up.

"I didn't give you permission to read it, and why were you in my bedroom?"

Betsy ran off, the dog on her heels.

"I'll talk to her, Tina."

"Thanks, Mom."

"So, who were you writing about?"

Tina thought for a moment. Both of her parents were still concerned about her after her adventure. Neither of them believed she had really met a ghost and bandits. She was starting to doubt it herself.

"I wrote down the adventure I imagined when I got sunstroke." Sunstroke was the official explanation as to what had happened to her. "Is it my fault if I imagined a really cute cowboy?"

Mom smiled. "No, dear." She sounded relieved.

"When can we go shopping again?"

"Maybe next weekend. Jake said something about going to Flagstaff to look for another car. One isn't enough without public transportation."

Tina laughed. "We could get horses and ride everywhere."

"Not enough trunk space." Her mom joined her laughter. "However, Pete offered to send someone over to pick you up if you wanted to ride, now that you're feeling better."

Tina finished cleaning up after her spilled milk. She scratched the cat, and then put her books back on the table. "Yeah, that'd be great."

"Be sure to wear a long sleeved shirt today."

Tina looked at her arms and cringed. Despite the massive amount of lotion she'd applied, her skin was flaking off in gross chunks. The sunburn she received on the cattle drive was one of the worst she'd ever had.

"It's hot out."

"You don't have any skin left to lose." Her mom went back to the dishes.

"I'll go change. Can you see if we have anything on this list?"

"Yes, dear."

Tina put the list of survival gear on the counter by her mom and ran up the stairs. She was wearing a jersey halter-top and the shortest shorts she owned. Her dad had promised to fix the swamp cooler, but he hadn't had time yet. Out in the west, where there was very little moisture, instead of having regular air conditioners, most people had swamp coolers. They used water and the cool air created by evaporation to cool the house. It had worked great, until one of the hoses broke.

The thought of putting on a long sleeved shirt and jeans to go ride was unpleasant. However, she wanted to get out of the house and she hadn't ridden in almost a week.

Her phone beeped while she tried to find a shirt she could ride in.

Hey, how goes? It was a text from her best friend Jessica.

Okay. My skin is still gross. Gonna ride.

Cool. I'll call tonight. I just got asked to the dance. You'll never guess who!

Who?

Tonight. TTYL!

Tina sighed. It had to be a junior or senior. Sophomores couldn't go to prom unless they were dating someone older. Tina sank down on her bed. The thought of missing the prom depressed her. She was sad there was no one here her age. Several of the farmhands had kids, but they were all younger than she was or so much older that she didn't think it possible to be friends with them.

Betsy had managed to make a couple of friends already. The nearest neighbors had two kids slightly younger than Betsy. Tina was a little jealous, but her sister had the advantage of being the right age.

"Tina," her mom called up the stairs. "Ready?"

"Almost, mom."

"Agnes will be here soon."

Tina slid her journal between the mattress and box spring and stared at her closet one more time. All of her long-sleeved shirts were nice winter ones that wouldn't survive even a short time at the ranch. She had to get more clothes.

Finally, Tina settled on a plain T-shirt and jeans and found a lightweight hoodie that would probably get ruined at the barn, but it was the best she could do. At least it was tough. She hesitated a second before taking the turquoise bracelet off her dresser. She hadn't been wearing it because of her sunburn, but Eli's words came back to her. It'll help you find your way home, he'd said. She still didn't know what that meant, but she decided her arm was healed enough that she could wear it. Besides, it would match the turquoise on her saddle.

She felt a little silly when she put the boot knife her dad had given her in her boot. But she might need it. Having to think about anything other than finding the nearest mall was very strange. She was trying, though.

Tina gave one last sad look at her closet and scampered down the stairs. Her mom had a few clear plastic trash bags on the table next to her list.

"We can pick up some of this stuff in Flagstaff, but for now I do have the trash bags. What are they for?"

"Water collection. If I get lost in the desert I can use them to get water." Tina grabbed the trash bags and started filling up a couple of water bottles.

"Well, try not to get lost, please."

Tina heard the crunch of gravel and glanced out the window. A battered old pickup pulled into the drive.

"Love you, Mom." Tina hugged her mom and grabbed her cowboy hat as she ran out of the house. "Hi, Agnes!"

"Hi, Tina. Your mom said you were feeling up to riding today."

Tina smiled at the older woman. "Yeah."

"Great. We have a job for you while you're out." Agnes pulled out of the driveway. "Most of our cowboys are still with the herd. Can you ride the fence line in the lower pasture? You don't have to fix it, if it has any breaks, just let us know where the broken spots are when you get back. We'll give you some red tape to mark issues with."

Tina grinned in pleasure. Riding the fence line sounded like real cowboy work. "I'd love to."

Agnes smiled. "It's boring work, but I think you'll enjoy it. Watch for snakes, and drink a lot of water. We'll make sure you have plenty to eat."

"Thanks." Tina felt a small thrill of anticipation when they pulled into the Lazy J Quarter Circle ranch. It almost felt like going back in time to the days of cowboys and Indians and, well, Pecos Rowe. She still couldn't believe she'd imagined someone real that she'd never even heard of before.

Agnes dropped her off by the barn before driving the rest of the way to the house. She promised to return with food.

Beau was waiting for Tina in his corral. He actually nickered at her when let herself in.

"Happy to see me?"

He nuzzled her pockets.

"Oh, I see, you just want a treat." Tina laughed. "I'll get you something back at the barn." She scratched the brown horse's nose before putting on his halter and taking him back to the barn.

She had Beau ready to go when Agnes returned with a paper bag. "There is enough food to feed an army. If you get tired just come back early. You can finish riding the fence in a couple of days. We're not in a hurry out here."

"Thanks, Agnes."

"Do you have your cell phone?"

"Yeah, but it doesn't get great reception here." She put the food in her saddlebags.

"Try updating your programming. That will probably help."

"Sure. I'll do it before I leave." Tina checked Beau's tack and then pulled out her phone.

"Have a good ride, Tina. Oh, here's some tape in case you do find damage." Agnes handed her a roll of bright red tape. "I'll see you later."

"Bye." Tina finished with her phone, and mounted Beau. He seemed eager to be off. Tina didn't have to work to get him to walk fast.

The western saddle was starting to feel more natural, though she still wasn't completely used to it. Beau's walk was comfortable and she started to relax as the hot sun baked down on her. Her hoodie would have been soaked in sweat if the air hadn't been so dry. All of her sweat evaporated away and she found she was reasonably comfortable despite the heat.

Tina took in the scenery while she followed the fence line. It was so empty and barren, but as she looked closer, she started to see a lot of things she had missed before. Small cacti hid amongst taller bushes. The prickly pears looked like they might be about to bloom. She'd seen pictures in her survival book and couldn't wait to see the flowers. The dirt, which looked like red, Martian dirt, was actually many shades of brown and red. Some of the rocks on the mesas actually looked purple and were layered with white. Combined with the open skies, it was stunning.

An urgent rattle and Beau's lazy sidestep made Tina's heart race. She looked around their feet and saw the snake curled up in the shade of a bush. It continued to rattle, watching them as Beau walked away. She was surprised the horse was so calm, as if the snake didn't really bother him. Intrigued, she watched while Beau continued to follow the fence. The rattlesnake was pretty, and it blended in so well with the brown dirt that it was hard to see. Tina was still terrified of it, but at least it wasn't chasing her. She had heard horror stories of water moccasins back east, chasing kids playing in creeks. She'd thought the rattlesnakes out here would be like that too, chasing people, trying to kill them. Instead, it seemed almost lazy. She'd ask Eli when she talked to him.

The heat and lazy sway of Beau's movement made her drowsy and she had to jerk herself awake a couple of times. She went back and studied the bits of fence line she had missed in her doze and decided it was time to stop for lunch.

Tina got down and walked for a few minutes to stretch out then sat on a flat rock to eat her lunch. Beau lowered his head to graze. The fence ended against one of the mesas. The side was too steep for the cattle to climb. Agnes told her to follow the mesas back to the far side of the fence and ride until she returned to the barn.

Tina studied them, wondering about that canyon she had ridden through last time. Maybe she should ride through it again. Then she could prove to herself that she really had been suffering from heat stroke.

Jose, Rowe, and Pete all told her to stay away, but how could she? She had to know.

Tina finished her lunch and got on her horse. Nothing bad would happen. She'd been dreaming last time. She was prepared this time.

Tina almost lost her resolve to ride though the canyon by the time she reached it. Briefly, she wondered why there was no fence. The other canyons had also not been fenced, so they must not have a problem with cows wandering into them and getting lost. Of course, with as scared as everyone was of this one, it seemed like it should have some sort of barrier.

"Should I do it, Beau?"

The horse flicked his ear at the sound of his name. Other than that, he seemed asleep and obviously, the canyon didn't bother him.

"You're going to start snoring in a second, Beau."

The horse flicked his ear again.

Tina stared at the canyon for a few more moments. Before she could change her mind, she gently urged Beau forward. The stocky horse snorted and walked slowly into the cool shade between the tall rock walls.

She was a little disappointed when nothing dramatic happened as they pushed through the narrow part of the canyon. Her legs brushed the cool stone. Then they were out into the wider area where she remembered seeing the rattlesnake. She didn't see him, but there were no patches of sun for him to hang out in and get warm. Maybe the snake only came here when the sun reached into the canyon, though it was still very warm.

Tina urged Beau forward when he stopped to eat a branch. Her skin tingled and her eyes watered for a moment. She blinked them clear and rubbed her arms. The air was a lot colder and the shadows in the canyon were much darker. She twisted around in her saddle but it looked the same behind her, as if night were falling. Tina shivered again and untied the jacket from her saddle. A little warmer, she continued through the canyon.

Beau stepped out into the dry creek bed, which was, thankfully, still dry. Tina guided him quickly out of the bed and out onto the flat plain. She saw the rocks she had sheltered in, lit bright red by the setting sun. The sky was full of vibrant colors and the sun was a red, wavy line, sinking below the horizon.

"Uh… Beau. Wasn't it closer to noon about five minutes ago?"

The horse flicked his ear, but otherwise didn't seem bothered by the abrupt change in time. Tina sighed and turned him around, wondering if she should go back. She didn't want to, though. She wanted to know what was going on. And she admitted that she wanted to see Rowe again.

One of the big things she had read in her desert survival book was to make sure she could find her way back. The red tape Agnes gave her to mark the fence would be perfect to mark the canyon. She dismounted, looped one of Beau's reins on a handy rock, and tore a few pieces off the plastic tape. It was the kind that they marked trees with back east and she tied the bits around a spiny bush.

She remounted Beau and started walking. The light was fading quickly, and Tina had no idea where she was going, but if she kept going straight, she'd at least be able to turn around and find the mesas again. At least that was what she told herself.

Tina thought she should stop for the night. The moon was full, though it hadn't been full when she left that morning. She could see well, but the shadows still hid holes and she didn't want Beau to break a leg.

She brought Beau to a halt near a rocky outcropping and was about to dismount when she heard the thunder of hooves and shouting. Tina winced at the booming echo of gunshots and tightened her grip on Beau's reins. The steady horse lifted his head and looked around, but he didn't move.

The pounding hooves came closer and Tina moved Beau closer to the rock wall. They were in a shadow and she hoped it would hide her.

A horse raced past. Tina gasped. Could that be Rowe? Of course, it could be a lot of people. She couldn't see well in the dark and he was moving fast.

She wanted to call out, but she was afraid of anyone else seeing her. The cowboy turned in his saddle and pointed a gun behind him. It fired once, and then she thought she could hear him curse over the thud of hooves. He turned and bent low over his horse.

Tina watched, her heart racing in fear for the fleeing cowboy. Three more men galloped past her hiding place, firing their guns.

She almost screamed when she saw the cowboy's horse stumble. She clamped her hands over her mouth. The cowboy flew off his horse's back, rolled in the dirt, and then became lost in shadow.

One of the men gave a loud whoop, and they surrounded the fallen cowboy. After a brief fight, they tossed the cowboy across one of the saddles.

It couldn't feel good to be bound across a saddle like a sack, but they took off at a trot, laughing, probably at the cowboy's discomfort. They left his horse behind.

Once they were far enough away, she urged Beau forward. The horse that had stumbled was back on his feet. Tina dismounted and checked his legs. They weren't broken though the horse walked with a limp when she led him back to the rocks she had sheltered by. Tina wasn't sure what to do with him, so she looped one of his reins loosely on a rock. It probably wouldn't hold him if he really struggled, but it would keep him from wandering off.

Tina wasn't sure what possessed her to follow the men, but she was almost certain the cowboy had been Rowe. Something about him was familiar. She took off after the men at a fast trot. She crouched low over the saddle and hoped they would think the cowboy's horse was following them.