The Choice

The Choice-Chapter Ten

I have her in my sights. All I have to do is pull the trigger. It would be that easy. She would  be gone, and he will suffer. But how much? My wife suffered for years after he took my child. If I pull the trigger, her death will be quick, and painless. No! He must suffer more. He must suffer longer. I have just begun!
*****
Outside the Arizona Room at the back of the house is a patio. A couple days after I returned to the ranch house, I sat on one of the lounge chairs and called the number on the business card my mother gave me. Diane Jones answered and greeted me as though we were the best of friends.

"Your mother told me all about you. I have already spoken to your previous Principal, she gave you a sterling recommendation. I'm excited to have you on our team." Diane said when I introduced myself.

It took me a moment to recover. The Dragon gave me a sterling recommendation? I didn't think the woman liked me. "Um. I am too."

"I know that you are going through some personal things, but I'd like to get you started on the online program. We are short on the K through 3 teachers. We have more young students than we expected this year."

"It sounds exciting." I answered.

"I'll email you a log in for our website. You just need to go through our hiring process. There's some paperwork, and then a short training course. Once that's done. We will put you on the schedule for courses." Diane explained.

"It sounds great." I gave her my email and promised to get the paperwork done that day. I pushed the button to disconnect the call, and dropped the phone on a nearby table. I'll go online later. Right now I'm going to enjoy this sunshine. It's February, and the breeze on the mountain is cool but the sun is warm. It's the perfect blend.

The patio is set between the house and the side of the coral. A large fenced off area that covers the entire side yard of the house. It actually goes all the way to the barn, which is a good hundred yards from the house.

Mom and Dad once thought to put a pool back here, but they changed their minds pretty quickly. None of their children are big on swimming. We can swim, we just isn't our favorite past time. We'd prefer target shooting, or in Jacob's case horseback riding. So they put an above ground hot tub. It's on the corner of the patio.

Beyond the patio, past the house, is a large grass area. It takes a lot to keep the grass green. Mom and Dad pay a ton of money a month, but they feel it's worth it. Past the grass yard the desert begins. It isn't like you see in movies, where it's all dirt and tumble weeds. There is green. They are bushes, lots of trees, and of course cactus. Many saguaro cactus.

Thirty yards past the green yard, the rocks begin. The terrain climbs steadily at that point. There are a lot of boulders, and rocks. Sometimes during the monsoon season, those rocks slide down the hill. Once year, when I was young, a very large rock rolled down the hill, and planted itself in the middle of the yard.

Mom and Dad and it broken up, and returned the rocks to the desert area. I think they hoped to stop the rocks higher up from getting to the yard, so they used the one that had already fallen to stop them.

As I sat on the lounge chair, studying the rocks above, I thought I saw the sun glinting off something high on the mountain side. Off to my left, I saw Jacob leave the barn. The patio is slightly higher elevated than the rest of the yard, leaving me at a vantage point to see the area around me. I relaxed back on the chair. I felt secure and safe as I have since my childhood at the ranch. This is my sanctuary. Sometimes it feels as though the rest of the world does not exist.

Jacob jogged across the yard. It's his normal pace, fast. He rarely just walks anywhere, he power walks everywhere. Another flash of light in peripheral vision caught my attention. I looked over towards the mountain, shielding my eyes with my hand.