Summer Dreams

Chapter Three

After about twenty minutes of being tortured with speeding and swerving on the dirt roads, Grandpa Ryan slowed down in front of a gate with a sign at the very top. The sign spelled out 'Longview Ranch', and it had one draft horse on each side. Dangling from it was a halter that you would put on a cart horse. I was really confused, but I guess this was our stop. The truck shuddered to a pause and he got out of the truck. Grandpa walked to the gate and unlocked it, pushed it with his hands to open it, then walked inside the gate. He left me in the running truck.

"Drive it on in!" He yelled over the old engine and he walked to the house. I scooted over to the driver's seat and put it in 1st gear. The truck jutted forward and it crawled onto the farm. Large trees lined the rock path and I found a spot where the grass was worn down. I turned the truck into that spot and stopped it, put it in neutral and turned it off. I jumped out before walking to the back of the truck, eager to be able to explore this place. The tailgate clicked and fell out of my hands and slammed open. Remi jumped down and started to sniff around, her fluffy tail wagging back and forth. She must have caught something, because she started barking and darted towards a barn.

I grabbed as much of my things as I could and walked towards the house. Grandpa came out and grabbed what remained in the truck, following me inside. A short old woman opened the door for me and smiled. Her eyes turned to creases with the smile, and I couldn't help smile back.

"Your room is up the stairs and the second door to the right, dear." She spoke and helped Grandpa with the bags he was carrying. I heard them talking, but I didn't pay attention. I walked up the stairs and past the first door, but stopped because I heard talking.

"Emily, you need to leave me alone. When I said over, I mean for good. You're a sweet girl and all, but what you did is irreversible." A man said in a smooth voice, and I heard a bed creak as someone sat down.

"You need to quit being bitter about that, not like it was all my fault. He was more up for any-" I kept on walking, not wanting to eavesdrop too much. I opened my door to a large room that was full of all of my things from California. A box of posters and pictures, dresser, desk, and the flat screen from my old living room was in here. I set my stuff down and closed the door, just taking a minute to breathe.

I heard the door next to my room open and slam shut, heels walking on the wooden floors. I smiled and laughed under my breath. I found everything else of mine in the closet, like my radio and a pile of clothes. I arranged my room to my liking and started to put my clothes and everything away.

~ * ~

After about an hour or so, everything was moved into my room and it felt wholly of home. My bed that they had gotten me was made from real oak and had branches as the bed posts that bloomed into a tree in the middle of the headboard. My blanket was the blanket my father gave me when I was little. It had a huge wolf in the middle with a few smaller ones on the bottom. My dresser was in the back left corner and to the exact left of my bed. My closet was about two feet away from my dresser and in there was Remi's sanctuary. Her bowls and her bed was in there. Her bed consisted of a old blanket that I used and a bunch of different pillows that she stole from me. The deer antler that she chews on was in there also.

I walked out of my room and past the door that was now open. Inside was a man's room that smelled strongly of Axe body spray. I sneezed and let myself walk down the steps. The living room was empty and I could see through the opening in the cupboards that nobody was in the kitchen. I heard Ryan yelling outside and walked out the back door. As soon as my foot touched the wood porch, I was greeted with a flash of teeth and barking. I yelped and pushed myself against the window because I had no clue what it was.

My eyes were closed tightly and I heard Remi growl and run to my rescue. Remi fought off the other dog and ran out to the farm, just to be playfully chased by the blue heeler. I heard a deep hearty laugh and looked up to see Grandpa laughing while bending over the fence. I smiled and walked over to him. Once I was standing next to him, I saw a woman next to him with light purple hair.