Weeks

The days turn into weeks once again, and life at the ranch continues to drag on. Spirits seem to go up and down as quickly as the seconds pass as little joys are sought out, but the misery of the case persists.
A celebration of the heart breaks forth when Mick makes known his decision to follow Christ, and Sparky has the privilege of baptizing him the next Sunday. Always brothers by blood, now brothers in Christ, a new and stronger bond is formed.


Clint leans into a car’s engine tinkering for a while, then winds up underneath the vehicle again to mend what’s been broken. “Hey Wes?” he calls. He’s been putting off asking forever now, and figures it’s a good a time as any, now that business has picked up a little bit. He was going to ask weeks before, but had simply procrastinated. “I was wondering…I almost got that debt paid off… but…you still need help around here?”


Jade sits down at her computer, looking out the window for a moment at the green grass just starting to peek through. The days had been warmer…it felt good.
She turns her attention back to her computer and begins to type.
Hey, Katie. Jade here. Would you believe that I haven’t checked my email in two weeks? Good grief – don’t ask why. I’m usually better than that.
At any rate, I’m glad to know you’re doing so well. Con mentions that every once in a while if I ask, though he’s out with Austin at their post most of the time.
Ooh, Wyatt, huh? Glad you’re making friends. We miss you around here.
Not a whole lot is new with me. I’m thinking about going back home for a visit. Dad talked me out of going back to stay…maybe I have a purpose here I haven’t discovered yet. I…doubt anyone told you that Jason and I broke up a couple weeks ago. We decided it was best.
Anyway…hope to keep in touch with you.
Take care of yourself. :)
-Jade


Cindy gently propels the porch swing back and forth, closing her eyes for a moment, resting after helping clean the mess hall. She was enjoying her time here….more so than she had before. She was more relaxed…maybe she was finally starting to fit in. It was hard without Jason around…but she had faith he would be okay, and Austin kept her informed of what was happening. She couldn’t complain, and she knew when she did feel worried, there was always a shoulder nearby to lean on. A smile creases her lips. One shoulder in particular.


Wyatt strolls along the park path, letting Trooper run ahead to sniff out the bushes and chase a squirrel. He takes in a breath of the fresh air, enjoying the warm evening with Katie.
“…So I think Ty’s settled in my place, but I haven’t gotten him to get out and do anything yet… at least not that I know of. He’s still pretty down, even after the last couple weeks. I think he just doesn’t know what to do with himself. Trooper seems to take to him alright, so at least he’s got company during the day.” Wyatt shrugs. “Dad thought maybe I could get Ty hooked up with some janitorial work around TJY, but I don’t know…I’m not sure something that confidential can be trusted with Ty just yet.”

Trooper barks and takes a mad dash after a rabbit. There are others in the park, and some young men and women are busy with a game of frisbee nearby. One man yells out as he leaps to catch the flying disc.
Trooper stops dead in his tracks, the rabbit forgotten, and he looks to the other people, cocking his head slightly, and letting out a whine.

Wyatt stops his train of thought, furrowing his brow, then shaking his head. “Poor dog. He does that every once in a while… I think he thinks he’s hearing Jason. Call me crazy, but I really think that’s what’s going on in his head. Bizarre dog just doesn’t pay head to anyone else. I guess after Jason found him wandering the streets, he decided he’d have one master and that was it.” Wyatt yawns and stretches out his arms as they walk, switching the subject once again. “Hey…my church is having a potluck after the service this Sunday. I could swing by Laura’s and pick you up if you wanted.”



Jason pulls on his heavy coat and gloves, grimacing at the snow falling outside.

“Don’t have too much fun out there,” Todd quips from his position at the fireplace.

Jason throws him a withering but amusing look. “I’ll try not to. I just feel so…lucky to have been the chosen one to get supplies from Jerry today.”

Todd laughs. “Yeah, well the dogs know their way. You’ll be back in no time.”

“Too bad I can’t take the four-wheeler.”

“Not after the snow we got last night.” Todd shakes his head and sips his coffee.

Jason dons a hat, rolling his eyes. “Sure, so send the cripple out.”

“You weren’t even using your cane yesterday!” Todd defends good-naturedly. “Besides, I went the last two times after Seth forgot what was on his list.”

Jason throws him a wry grin, now ready. “Alright. I’ll be back in a while.” He heads outside the barking dogs, already hitched up to the sled.

The ten mile jaunt to where they had their supplies wasn’t so bad on a sunny day or on a four-wheeler, but they’d been getting an unexpected snow the last three days, and it made any travel miserable. Though Jason enjoyed the work with the dogs who were kept at the base, traveling in this manner wasn’t his favorite thing in the world. The sled dogs were good, but he’d much rather be indoors training a dog to sniff drugs than be out in these blizzard conditions.

Halfway to Jerry’s, the dogs enter the woods to follow the narrow path, now made even narrower by drifting snow. Though taught how to handle the sled dogs, Jason knows they don’t need much direction, used to this route. He glances around the forest, noting that branches had fallen under the heavy snow, and several trees were down in places, proving the severe weather. Ice underneath the snow added to the weight, making the trees creak and groan.

The dogs slow to a walk as the path winds sharply to the right, and the trudge over several drifts. Just when the next clearing is in sight, Jason hears a sickening crack and looks up just in time to see a tree break loose from its base. He yells at the dogs to speed up, but it’s too late. The tree comes down just fast enough to knock Jason off the sled. He’s slammed into another tree, coming down hard in the ice and snow. Dazed, he just lies still for several moments trying to see through the falling snow. The dogs have stopped and are whining, confused by what has happened.
Jason tries to move, but cries out as pain shoots through his bad leg. Looking down, he realizes that he’s been pinned by the fallen tree. Gritting his teeth, he tries to slide out from underneath, but after several minutes, all he’s managed to do is become tired and sweaty from the effort.
Glancing around, he sees nothing to help him out of his situation. The dogs were trained to stay…no one would miss him for hours, and the snow was rapidly increasing.