Serenity Falls (24 page)

I’m
startled when I hear Wes shouting my name from inside the barn. Immediately,
the blanket is thrown back, and I’m hopping out of the back of the truck, and
sprinting toward the barn. Completely winded, I skid to a halt when I see him kneeling
down halfway inside a stall.
Autumn’s stall.
“What’s going on?” I ask,
worried that something has happened to her or her foal.

“She’s
in labor, I think. Come here, and help me, please.”

Unsure
of what I might see, I proceed with caution. I peek around the wooden beam and
into her stall, only to see her lying on the floor. Piles of hay surround her
large body. Autumn’s stomach tightens and releases with each contraction. I can
tell her breathing’s labored, and it makes me feel awful because there is
nothing I can do for her. Wes stands and pulls me back as he closes the stall
door. “What do we do?” I quietly ask.

“I’m
gonna go in the house and call my dad. Hopefully, they’re on their way home.
Just stay in here and watch over her.”

I
know I said when I found out she was pregnant that I wanted to be there when
she delivered, but now, I’m not so sure. I feel helpless in this moment as I
listen to the muffled sounds and whimpers escaping her. I stand, fixated on the
scene before me. My eyes feel like they are about to pop out of my head when a
clear bag with a blue tint to it starts to peek its way through. “Good job,
Autumn,” I coo, offering her words of encouragement. She looks at me, and when
our eyes connect, I find within me a renewed strength to coach her through
this. “That’s it, Girl. You’re doing so well. Are you gonna give us a filly or
colt?” My voice is soft as I speak to her from outside her stall.

“They’re
here,” Wes says as he jogs into the barn. “When I called they were already—” he
stops mid-sentence when he looks and sees what I’m seeing. “Holy shit,” he
whispers.

“Where
is she? Is she okay?” Mr. Will asks, running into the barn with Mrs. Sandy hot
on his heels.

I
turn to them and answer. “I think she’s fine. To me, it looks like she’s almost
done.”

Mr.
Will nods and slowly makes his way into her stall. “Hey Wes, why don’t you and
Kenleigh go on inside. We’ll let y’all know when she’s done. The less people
around, the less stress she has to endure. Sandy, can you bring me some
blankets from the storeroom please?”

Wes
grips my elbow to pull me away from one of the most amazing things I’ve ever
had the privilege of watching, while Mrs. Sandy does what her husband asks.

Once
we’re outside, Wes tightens his grip on my arm, stopping me in my tracks. I
turn to look at him. The smile he’s wearing makes me catch my breath. “I heard
you in there.”

“Huh?”
I ask confused.

“Talkin’
Autumn down. I don’t know what it is or what it was, but you calmed her down.”

“Oh.
Actually, I think I was doing it more for myself than anything else. Of course,
I couldn’t stand to see her in pain like that, and I know it’s a part of life,
but…” I trail off with a shrug my shoulders. There’s only one other time in my
life where I’ve felt completely helpless, and I’ve come a long way since then.
I hate that feeling more than anything else.

“You
okay, Babe?” He releases me, only to wrap his arm around my waist. Wes is
always so concerned about me, and it’s nice to have someone other than family
to care as much as he does.

I
step into his embrace and lean my head against his chest. Inhaling deeply, I
let the scent of musk and woods, the scent of him, calm me. I turn my head and
listen to his steady heartbeat before I answer. “Yeah. I’m good now.” My answer
is honest, and I squeeze him tighter to me. And for the first time in my life,
I actually
feel
good.

With
this being the last week of camp, it’s going to be bittersweet to say the
least. I’ve watched Bailey and the others come a long way. Bailey isn’t the
closed off girl that avoided people anymore. Now, she’s so much more. Getting
her to open up wasn’t easy, but I have enjoyed reaping the benefits since she
has. Her smile that was non-existent now holds a place on her beautiful face.
I’d like to say that I’m the only one who’s helped her, but I can’t take all
the credit. John has been the one that’s really drawn her out of the darkness
and into the light.

“What
are you doin’ out here?” Mrs. Sandy asks as she sits down next to me on the
porch steps.

I
take a sip of my coffee. “Just thinking, and watching the sunrise.” I turn to
her with a smile.

She
nods before taking a drink of her own coffee. “I can’t believe this is the last
week of camp.”

“I
know. It went by way too fast.” My melancholy doesn’t go unnoticed.

“I
agree, but is something else bothering you?”

Of
course, Mrs. Sandy would know there’s something else. I nod. “It’s this whole
thing between me and Wes. I’ve tried to talk to him about what will happen between
us when I have to leave, but every time I try and bring it up, he just sweeps
the whole conversation under the rug.” I sigh and turn my attention back to the
horizon. The first rays of bright orange blend with the yellow hues of the
rising sun as it begins to peek over the hills.

“Please,
don’t think he doesn’t care. I know he does. You both still have a couple weeks
left here. Give it some time. Okay?” I nod before I take another drink of
coffee. “Things have a way of working themselves out when you least expect them
to.”

“The
way this summer has been going, I’m beginning to think you’re right, Mrs.
Sandy.” In all honesty, I don’t think I’ve ever spoken truer words.

“You
know, there are very few things in life that we are guaranteed.” The quizzical
look on my face must speak volumes as she continues. “We are born into this
life and we are taken from it. The sun will always rise in the east and set in
the west. We will all experience our own extreme highs and extreme lows. But,
it’s not the guarantees that make this life worth living. It’s the surprises.
It’s the fight that we have within ourselves to make this the life that we were
meant to live. Sometimes, we have to step into the shadows to see the meaning
of true light.” She pats my knee and pulls my attention from the sunrise. She
stands and looks down at me with a smile. “On another note, I’m gonna make
everyone a big ol’ breakfast before the kids arrive.”

“Need
any help?”

“No.
Take your time out here. Enjoy this beautiful sunrise,” she says as she walks
away, disappearing into the house.

As
the door closes behind her, I ponder Mrs. Sandy’s words for a while. The red,
orange, and golden rays of the rising sun highlight against my skin. A
breakthrough as I have never felt before surges through me. I’ve spent my fair
share of time in the shadows. I’ve overcome debilitating depression. A
depression so strong, that at times I thought I was drowning. There were
moments I thought I’d never live to feel the warmth of happiness coursing
through my veins. And now? Now, I’m finally basking in the light. The light of
Wes. The light of us. The light of our love.

“Is
this seat taken?”

The
rough, burly voice of Mr. Will pulls me from my thoughts. I look up at him and
shake my head. “No.”

“May
I?” he asks, gesturing to the opposite side of the stair that I’m perched on.

“Of
course.”

“You’re
up early.”

“I
know. I wanted to watch the sunrise. When I go back to campus, I won’t get days
like these.”

“It’s
nice, isn’t it? The way the morning rays cascade along the hills.”

“Yeah,”
I reply with a nod. “I really enjoy how the sun touches the peaks of the hills
before it blankets the valleys.”

“But
you know that eventually, the light will touch everything.” Peering at me out
of the corner of his eye, he adds, “Sandy and I, we’re really glad that you have
decided to come back this summer.”

“Me,
too. Y’all know I love being here. It’s hard for me to believe it’s almost
over.”

“Yeah.
Look, I know I’m not a big talker, but thank you.”

My
eyebrows furrow as I ask, “For what?”

“For
saving my son,” he replies quietly.

“Mr.
Will?”

“No.
Hear me out. I know he’s gotten better. His mother and I went through a lot
with him when he moved to Dallas. I’m sure he’s told you, or at least I hope he
has.”

I
nod in agreement.

“Well,
then there’s no need for me to rehash everything, but even after he quit all
the drinking, there has been this bleakness, hollowness in his eyes.” He rakes
a hand through his salt and peppered hair as he takes a deep breath. “For a
while now, we’ve been so worried about him. I know I’m not the most
affectionate man, but I love my son. After you left last summer, my meddling
wife would call Wes every day just to talk about you. For some reason, she knew
that once he met you, he’d change. You have put a spark back into my son’s eye.
I can’t pin point what it is, but I can tell he’s happier. You’re a good
person, Kenleigh; you are good for him. You’re genuine, sincere, kindhearted,
and honest. We all saw it last summer, and now, my son has, too.”

We
sit in silence while we wait for the rest of the sun to make its appearance
above the horizon. Honestly, I’m blown away by Mr. Will’s confession. I’ve
never pictured myself as that person he just described. I feel the tears
beginning to form. With everything in me, I will them to stop as I screw my
eyes tightly shut. Finally, feeling more in control of my emotions, I clear my
throat as I look at Wes’ dad. “Mr. Will? Your son saved me too,” I reply
softly.

He
reaches over with a grin and squeezes my shoulder. “You saved each other.”

No
more words need to be said. It’s a silent understanding that’s been spoken
between us. Movement catches my eye. I look at Mr. Will as he stands. “Well,
I’m gonna head on in there.” He nods toward the house, looks at his watch, and
adds, “In about an hour, the kids should be arriving. Make sure you eat
something, okay?”

“Yes,
Sir,” I answer, sending him a genuine smile.

An
hour later, I’m dressed and feeling like I’m in a food coma from breakfast.
June, the filly that Autumn foaled, is just as beautiful as her momma is. Her
dark, brown coat dotted with white spots is just as rich, and her deep, brown
eyes stare back at me with such recognition. As I stand here, leaning against
the stall, I’m still amazed. I know I didn’t get to see the entire birthing
process, but I saw enough to realize the miracle of life. There was a point in
my life that I actually wished that the fire that took my parents would have
taken me too, but now, I’m thankful for the life I’ve been given. I’m thankful
I was given the opportunity to
live
.

“What
are you doin’?”

I
turn my head in the direction of Bailey’s singsong voice as she skips her way
over to me. “Come and see.” I nod my head in the direction of June.

“Oh
my gosh!” Bailey’s squeal of excitement causes my shoulders to hunch. “She had
her baby? I can’t believe it. Kenleigh, she’s so pretty. Wait, it’s a she,
right?” she rushes out.

I
laugh. I can’t help it. “Yeah, it’s a girl. Autumn had her Saturday night.”

“That’s
so awesome,” Bailey says, staring at the beautiful filly laying on a pile of
hay.

“You
seem to be in a good mood.”

“I
am.” Bailey’s big, blue eyes meet mine. They no longer seem vacant. They seem
to have a purpose. “I had a good weekend. It’s been the first good weekend in a
long time.”

“That’s
great,” I say through a smile. “Come on, let’s go for a ride.” I nudge her
elbow with mine as I turn to walk out of the barn.

Bailey
follows behind me asking, “What, no walks today?” Her comment is meant to be
sarcastic, but I think it’s funny.

I
chuckle from her question. I have never really thought of it before, but she’s
right. I do like to go on walks. “No, not today. Today, I feel like getting on
a saddle,” I reply as Bailey catches up to me.

After
Bailey and I saddle up two of the paints, I help her mount her horse before
getting up on mine. We ride for a while in silence before the sounds of rushing
water slapping against rocks invade our quietness. Faded from the sun, the
black rubber of the tire swing sways in the gentle breeze. The same tire swing
that I brought her to when she arrived at the ranch not long ago. I dismount,
and tie the reins to a branch on the tree. I run toward it as I shout over my
shoulder, “You wanna get on this time?”

“I
guess so, but can you help me down, first?”

“Nope.
I know you can dismount on your own.” I turn back around, making my way to her
side. I’m not helping her off the horse; I want her to do this on her own. She
needs to feel a sense of accomplishment. I am just going to stand here, in case
she needs my assistance.

Successfully,
she disembarks from the horse. “I did it. I can’t believe I actually did it,”
she exclaims proudly. Inside, I’m doing a little happy dance for her.

We
walk over to the tire swing. Bailey situates herself inside the hole of the
black rubber while I check to make sure the rope won’t break under her weight.
When I feel confident of the rope’s condition, I say, “Hold on up here.” I
point to the section where the rope meets the tire. With her hands secure, I
softly shove her forward.

“I
haven’t been on one of these things in a while,” she says softly. Bailey tips
her head back, letting her long, wavy, auburn locks hang free.

“When’s
the last time you swung on one?” I give her another gentle shove.

“I
was nine. There was this really awesome park down the road from my house.” She
lets out a soft chuckle. “I remember asking my brother for weeks to take me.”
This is the first time she’s mentioned her brother willingly, and my heart
swells with that minute breakthrough. “Eventually, he broke under my constant
pestering. That park by my house had a tire swing just like this. When I first
saw this one, and you tried to talk me into getting on… I’m sorry for being so
rude to you that day.”

I
wave off her apology. I wasn’t exactly the nicest person to be around after my
parents died either. “It’s fine. Attitude kind of comes with the territory. So,
what happened when your brother took you to that park?” I know it seems like
I’m pushing her to open up, but I like to think of it as encouragement. Bailey
needs to remember the good times she spent with her brother, and she needs to
feel good when she does.

“When
we got to the park, I ran straight to the tire swing, yelling for him to come
and push me. He followed behind me asking why God gave him a sister who likes
tire swings, instead of a brother who would want to play football. He was
always joking around like that. I knew he loved me, even if he didn’t say it
all the time. My mom would always stick healthy crap in my lunchbox for school.
You know, like celery or carrots.” Bailey’s lips curl up, and her nose wrinkles
in disgust. “But every day when I’d go to lunch, mysteriously, there would be a
candy bar of some sort. I never questioned Trent about it, but I knew it was
him. ”