Letters for Sally

Chapter 6

Chapter 6
Sally got up early today, with a determination to get a shower, clean her room, and eat a good breakfast.  The feeling to accomplish so much was gone within 30 minutes.  She felt the overwhelming feeling of loneliness and exhaustion once again consuming her completely, mind, body, and soul.  A rogue tear rolled down her cheek as she wondered if being alive was even worth it anymore.  "I can't even shower and clean my own space anymore", she whispered under her breath and then thought, "what has become of me?"  Roger popped his head in her doorway and asked if she could get dressed and meet him in the dining room.  She looked at him and nodded.  She could get dressed for Roger, now her only family.  He was so good to her.  She loved him and he was worth fighting for, she trusted him, and she wanted to do as he asked.  A small ball of energy filled her heart and tummy and she did as he asked.  She was going to give her best today, somehow-someway.

When she entered the dining room she saw a handsome man, tall and smiley.  He had a warm presence and she remembered his face.  Her memory of that day was almost a complete blur but she remembered that face and then it hit her... The man in the white suit.  He was wearing blue jeans, old worn out boots, a Plaid Western looking shirt, a white tattered cowboy hat and smelled of a strong man.  Her eyes ran up and down his body trying to take all of this handsome and intriguing man into her senses.  She wasn't attracted to him in a romantic way, she found herself thinking about her dad and then she remembered, this man knew her mom and dad!  "Hello, Miss Sally, how are you today?"  Sally found her composure and answered confidently, "I am struggling but the sight of you has caused a little energy in my step, how are you... Ummm what may I ask is your name sir?"  Roger smiled ear to ear, joy filled his heart.  He hadn't seen Sally like this in weeks.  "I will go make you two some breakfast, excuse me.", Roger said as he smiled at his sweet Sally.  The man answered Sally's question, "My name is Harry Baker.  I went to college with your folks.  Your daddy was my best friend and your momma was the best thing that ever happened to him."  The words she just heard hung in the air, swirled around her mind and heart and she felt a slight joy, a sweet feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.  The thought of her mother and her father as a young couple in love brought some kind of peace to her mind and heart.  She wanted more, she craved to talk about them, to hear all their stories.  She wanted to hear about her mother and her father and how they were when younger more than eating food or breathing air.  She missed her mother so much and although she never knew her father really she missed him too.  Her mother was the one who kept him alive in her life and now she was gone too.  A tear started to form in the corner of Sally's eyes as she quickly dismissed it and wiped it clean.  "Mr. Harry Baker could you tell me more?"   "I would love nothing more than to tell you everything I know about them.  I loved them both and while we didn't visit much in person after your dad died your mother and I kept in touch and she sent me pictures of you often so that I could see your dad's little girl.  I always felt like you were a niece of mine.  Leaving my Ranch was not something I could do much.  Before your dad died him, your mother, and even you used to come to the Ranch often for getaways.  But when your dad died a part of your mother did too and she couldn't bear the memories of that place."  Sally placed her hands under her chin, and stared at this handsome stranger who she had a past with.  She hung on his every word.  He almost felt like home in a way.  She couldn't explain it.  "I want to go see the ranch!" She blurted out quickly without thinking.  "Well little lady it is funny you say that because that is why I am here, to take you back with me for a while."  He said with a soft and authentic smile.  Everything about this man was authentic and brave. He was muscular and toned you could tell hard work was a daily life for him.  He wasn't built like a man who went to the gym but rather a man who worked with his hands and body all day.  He smelled good and was so tender in speech and Mannerisms.  She could not help but completely trust him.  He felt like home and she had no idea why.  "I think that would be great, I could use a change of scenery as long as you promise to tell me more about my parents."  "It's a deal Miss. Sally.", Harry said with a broad smile across his face.  Roger came out with a big breakfast and they both ate.  Sally ate like she used too, she wasn't starving but she actually enjoyed the taste and movement of the food in her mouth and body.  She was enjoying breakfast for the first time in weeks and she smiled, not a fake smile but an authentic smile as she looked across the table at this man who felt like home that she knew very little about.  She liked him and she was doing something she had never done before, taking chances and throwing logic out the window.  What did she have to lose anyway?  She had already lost everything she loved except Roger.  She would go and see what awaits her at that Ranch.  She would go see the place her parents use to go, with her even when she was little.  It was like a past she had never known was now open to her and she had to explore it.  It was as if her life depended on this one thing and nothing else mattered.