They rode in silence for some time before emerging in a clearing at the edge of the whiteness. The clearing was surrounded on three sides by trees, but one side was entirely open to the whiteness. The grass swept in gentle waves as a light breeze moved through the clearing. It was a strange, surreal sight with thick green grass growing thick and lush, then abruptly ending, like it refused to move into the whiteness.
After they dismounted, Cowboy removed the saddle and tack, allowing Smoking a few moments of freedom. Smokey walked further into the clearing and started to graze, snorting with happiness. Cowboy began to move along the edge of the clearing, staring at the ground and moving things with the toe of his boot. He stopped, knelt down, and pulled several plants up by the roots, then moved on to another area where he repeated the process.
“I’m getting hungry too,” she said softly
“I figured,” he replied and stood up. He walked to her and handed her the plants he had pulled up.
“What are these?” she asked.
“Wild onion, sweet potatoes, and yellow carrots,” he told her as he removed a length of twine from his saddlebags. He moved back along the trail they had come from and disappeared from sight.
She felt a sudden ping of fear as he left her sight. Looking around, she saw Smokey grazing with no apparent anxiety or apprehension. She relaxed some then turned her attention to the plants she was still holding in her hand. She moved to the saddlebags and found a knife tucked away in a leather sheath. Finding a spot with a flat rock, she sat down and started cleaning the plants as best she could. Cowboy emerged from the trail as she finished cutting the plants.
“I’ll check the snares in a little bit,” he announced as he sat down beside her and picked up a piece of onion and popped it into his mouth.
“Will you teach me how to find these?” she asked as she chewed on a carrot stick.
“Of course,” he replied.
“What do we do now?” she finally asked him.
“I don’t know yet. First, I’ll find us somewhere to shelter, then I’ll go find your clothes,” he responded.
Looking down at herself, she had almost forgotten that she was so scantily clad, only wearing his shirt. “What don’t you like what I’m wearing?” she teased, smiling as he blushed.
“Ummm, well. It’s not…, I mean,” he stammered, blushing even deeper shade of red.
“I’m just teasing,” she said, still smiling. He returned her smile, still looking a little flushed. My but he blushes easily, she thought, I wonder if he’s ever seen a naked girl before.
“Look. I’m not. What I’m trying to say is…,” he tried and couldn’t seem to finish a sentence.
“I know, you think I might need my shoes,” she prompted.
“Yeah. That’s it,” he finally conceded and returned her smile.
“Who are Joseph and Mary?” she asked tentatively.
“My parents,” he told solemnly.
“Where are they?” she continued, fearing she knew the answer already.
“They died about 5 years ago,” he said.
“But we were in school then,” she said, surprised.
“I know, they died during our sophomore year, in a traffic crash. They were on their way to see me wrestle,” he explained.
“I didn’t know.”
“I asked the school not to announce it; it wasn’t anyone’s business. But after they died, someone had to work the ranch and take care of things.”
“You finished school by yourself? No one there for you?” she asked in disbelief. Her whole life had been surrounded by friends and family, people to support her and encourage her to be successful. How did this boy manage all alone?
“I’m sorry,” she finally said and reached out to squeeze his hand.
“It’s okay, you were busy being popular. I was a nobody,” he said plainly and squeezed her hand back.
“You don’t think much of me, do you?” she asked, looking at his face and seeing for the time the sadness inside.
Captain Jack's words of wisdom. 