Whispers on the Wind

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. Turning her horse back towards the cabin with a sharp, “Woah!” Josie wiped the back of her sleeve across her forehead, mopping away the sweat that was trickling down into her eyes, blurring her vision. She could feel the path of grime it left behind, and knew it would cool into a crusty stain across her forehead, a reminder of the last bit of fencing she had wrestled back into place as the sun sank behind the trees. Peering through the thick trees, she leaned hard forward, saddle leather creaking against the strain, saddlehorn jabbing mercilessly into her ribs as she struggled to get a better view of the old broken down cabin. Surely she had imagined a candle in the broken out old window… a last trick of the sweat and setting sun. But just as she shook her head and began to straighten, she caught sight of it again. Sure enough, a candle sat on a stand just inside the window… and it was lit.

A cold chill slithered its way down her back, and she tightened her grip on the reins as her horse jumped sideways, responding to her with a nervous jig.

“Easy Jack,” she whispered softly to her typically calm horse. She was at least 10 miles as the crow flies to the nearest house, and down treacherous red rock canyons. There was no way anyone would be out here randomly… At least no person up to any good. They hadn’t even known the cabin and woods were here until they happened down this canyon last year looking for lost cattle and decided to put up that fence.

Josie was still three miles or so from home, and any help if she needed it, so she was not about to deal with an intruder on her own. She felt exposed where she was… as though eyes were watching her… scary, targeting eyes. Tightening her reins in her left hand, she pulled her .22 rifle out of its saddle holster with her right. She had never had a cause to use it other than an aggressive coyote after a calf. She hoped she wouldn’t tonight either, but better to be prepared than not. Laying the rifle across her lap, her hand poised to raise it immediately if needed, she turned her horse in a path parallel to the cabin, and headed towards home.

She kept one eye on the spot of woods, even after the cabin had disappeared into the trees, and out of sight. When a piercing hoot shot out of the woods, Josie jumped in her saddle and her nervous mount leapt into a run until she collected him tightly and pulled him to a stop, looking around again.

“Geez!” She whispered to herself, trying to laugh. But it was as if a cold knot had settled deep in her chest. After a good five minutes of listening carefully, Josie let her horse start walking again, even though he clearly was anxious for a faster pace.

“The canyon is ahead bud. Then you can haul ass home.” Once they were up the rocky cattle path and on the two track road at the top of the canyon, she let him out into a full run, grateful to put distance between herself and that dark patch of trees hundreds of feet below.

How in the world had someone even found that cabin? It looked dangerous even to walk close to, let alone, go inside. The hand built cabin was clearly late 1800’s, early 1900’s circa, and had clearly sat on the south corner of their ranch, forgotten along with the person who built it, for much longer than the hundred plus years it had been in their family. The families around here were respectful, hardworking ranching families, and their friends… ones that would call out if they had been inside the cabin. No, whoever was in there, and it had to be SOMEONE…. Candles don’t just light themselves, they were NOT from around here.

She slowed her mount to a walk, breathing a sigh of relief as she looked up at the Ranch arch overhead reading Halverston Family Ranch. At least she was home. She shivered unconsciously again as she neared the round pen behind the house. Holstering her weapon, she removed the entire assembly from her saddle and leaned it against the panels of the pen. Unsaddling her horse, she gave him a good pat with a mumbled “good boy” as she let him loose into the pen to roll and cool down, and locked the gate behind him.

Josie didn’t even know if anyone was home. Her twin brothers Travis and Jeff had been all over the place since they started college in Rapid City, but they usually came back home for the weekends, and it was Friday night. Maybe she could catch them before they headed out for the night. Mom and Dad weren’t home… They had that fire department cookout tonight.

“Jeff? Trav?” Josie hollered as she walked through the back door putting the rifle on its hook in the entryway. “Anyone here?”

A scuffling and panting met her as her two dogs came bounding out of the living room all licks and rubs. Josie breathed a little easier for the first time in the last 30 minutes. She could feel her heart rate slow as she patted their heads lovingly.

“At least you boys are here…” she said, cracking a smile, and imagining the two dogs licking an intruder to death. “Brutus must be with mom and dad huh? Too bad… you guys wouldn’t harm a fly… huh?” She finished the sentence in baby talk giving the panting heads one last scratch and shooing them back into the main house.

“Jeff! Travis! You guys here?” She hollered, walking swiftly into the living room, feeling she had wasted enough time. Certainly if someone was out there on their property up to no good, they had better get back out there.

“Yup…” a deep voice spoke right behind her.

“Gah!” She yelled, whipping around. Seeing her brother Travis grinning behind her, she punched him hard.

“Ow!! What the heck Jos?” Travis said, stumbling away from her in shock. “Geez! What’s going on?” he said laughing at her, when she smiled back apologetically.

Despite the smile, Josie couldn’t get rid of the nervous tightness around her mouth.

“Sorry. I’m super… I don’t know.” She paused, “I think there’s somebody out at the old cabin, and I’m pretty sure they’re up to no good,” She said simply, but with intensity.

Travis seemed lost for a second. “What cabin? What are you talking about? God.” He wrinkled his nose in disgust, looking at her fully for the first time. “You are a wreck… ever heard of a shower?”

Josie didn’t smile… “I’m serious Trav, someone is out there… It scared me enough that I just rode straight home for help. It didn’t feel right… It felt… dark” Josie whispered the last word, feeling stupid.

Travis' smile disappeared. He was great like that, taking her at her word right away. He knew that she didn’t joke around about stuff like this. He studied her face, processing what she had said.

“What cabin are you talking about?” he asked

“What up Jos?” came a voice from behind her.

She gave a little jump as she whipped around again, but this time she didn’t scream. “Stop doing that!” she scolded as she faced her other brother, Jeff.

Jeff walked into the kitchen and hopped up on the island, grabbing an apple. Eyeing them both, he bit into his apple and smacked around the ginormous bite, saying “What’s up with you two?”

Travis looked at Josie, wanting more detail himself.

Josie sighed, knowing Jeff wouldn’t take her as seriously, wishing she was still just talking to Travis.

“Okay, I was finishing up the fence repairs on the south fence line, down the canyon by the woods. Remember that old ruined cabin that is just inside the trees that we stumbled on last year? I was riding past it on my way back home, and something caught my eye. I thought I was mistaken at first, but when I looked again, my view was clear…. There was a candle… sitting right there on the windowsill… and it was lit.” Josie finished her explanation in a rush. She thought they would think she was silly… or crazy. Maybe both.

They both stared at her. “Okay I know it sounds dumb… and I should have just checked it out myself… but I don’t know… it felt so off.”

“A candle?” Asked Jeff, a smile cracking his mouth upwards.

“I’m serious!” I think someone is out there.” Josie was tempted to stamp her foot in frustration at Jeff… but the same chill that had plagued her out there, surrounded her again… only this time it felt as though someone had turned on the air conditioning on full blast. Her eyes widened, and she shivered a little.

“Honestly, it was truly scary, like the air had just filled up with something that was choking me or something. I felt like I had to get out of there. Even Jack almost dumped my ass trying to run off,” Josie said imploringly.

Jeff’s face lost its obnoxious grin as he heard her words. “Jack took off on you?”

Jack was not a spooky horse, and all three of them knew it. That’s why Josie picked him for her solitary day fixing the fence line. For him to run off meant something way out of the ordinary… something ominous. Horses were as good as watch dogs for warning you when something is wrong.

Well let's go check it out.” Jeff said, a firm look of determination on his face.

“Wait, seriously?” Travis, who had been quietly watching his sister and Jeff’s exchange, growing more and more worried looked at Jeff, astonished.

“I mean, Josie doesn’t look like she’s kidding around. What if someone’s really out there? And if so, they are definitely up to no good. It’s not like someone is just going to wander in there lost… and if it’s a hunter, they’re poaching this time of year… definitely not someone we should square off with.” Travis said seriously.

“That’s exactly what I thought.” Josie said. “That’s why I got the heck out of there. I definitely think we need to know what’s going on though. What if someone’s stealing calves out there?”

“We should call the sheriff,” Travis said seriously.

“Hold on a sec,” Jeff said, holding up a hand, his smile returning a bit.

“I totally believe that you think you saw something Jos. It’s just… well, a candle? I mean who even carries a candle around with them? The sun was going down… I’m sure it was just a reflection of the sun off the glass.”

Josie looked out the door, studying the now-complete darkness out of the window. The last thing she wanted was to head out there again. Maybe it had been the sun. Then she shook her head as though figuring something out.

“No, the sun had sunk behind the hills. I know it because it had just sunk out of sight, and then the flicker caught my eye.”

Both brothers sat quietly for a few minutes, and Josie let them mull it all over. She didn’t want to do anything stupid and get herself or her brothers hurt. But on the other hand, how dumb would it be if they call the authorities with a silly story, and it was just a trick of the sun. They would have completely wasted their time, and the county’s resources.

“I think we should just go check it out, but drive the four wheelers out and hike down. I don’t want to be left with nothing if something is there and spooks all the horses and they dump our butts,” Josie said, decidedly. “What do you think?”

Travis and Jeff looked at each other, serious for the first time in longer than Josie could remember. Jeff nodded at Travis, and Travis said “Sure. Let’s leave a note for mom and dad telling them exactly where we’re going though, just in case. I’ll take my glock just in case as well.”

One change of clothes for Josie, and a 15 minute ride later, all three of them were standing at the top of the trail going down the canyon, peering into the erie darkness that gobbled up the trail just out of their headlamps light.

“Okay,” Travis whispered quietly. “The moon is pretty bright out tonight, so it should light our path down pretty well. I don’t think we should have lights on just in case, and no talking. Just touch the shoulder in front of you if you need to stop. I’ll go first, then Jos, and Jeff you bring up the rear.”

They all nodded once, and Travis began the descent down the rocky path. Once they were slowly picking their way down the path, the moon did indeed provide enough light to see where they were stepping. It was challenging to walk quietly as the trail was rocky and slick with red dirt and sand, but they reached the bottom shortly without incident.

Travis held out his arm for the others to stop, and pointed suddenly at the trees. An ominous glow was shining softly through the branches from where Josie knew the cabin sat tucked up ahead.

Travis motioned them to follow him forward again, and he assumed a creeping position. They had a clear vision of the terrain around them with the moon shining through the trees like a flashlight, and knew they would see if anyone was out there.

As they crept up to the back of the cabin, Josie noticed its decrepit condition, and that there were cracks through the logs out of which was shining a dim glow Josie knew was a candle. Travis turned and put one finger to his lips to indicate silence.

Josie scoffed in her head. “Yeah, like I’m really gonna start talking or something.” She was terrified, and the cold knot had spread through her entire chest and into her stomach. She watched Travis slowly raise his head to a window, then turn and whisper “There’s no one inside, but there is a candle.”

“Let’s go in,” Jeff whispered almost imperceptibly back.

Travis nodded, and looked to gather himself, willing his courage to win out. He stood and walked to the door, pushing it open and walking through. Josie and Jeff followed him slowly.

The cabin was clearly a one room deal, with a tattered curtain partially covering what looked like was a separated room at one point. It was covered in grime, dust and discolored significantly on the floor in a couple of spots, which was also rotting through in several places.

And sure enough, next to the window, was a table, with a single candle, and an old gas lamp sitting on it. The candle was lit, and shining brightly, looking as though it hadn’t burned down even a little.

“What the heck…” Josie breathed out softly. “I don’t under…”

All of the sudden the door slammed behind them, and they all jumped backward, yelling, Josie and Jeff tripping over each other and Travis yanking his glock out of his side holster, pointing it at the door. There was nothing there but dust falling from the roof. The wind outside picked up, howling and gusting, shoving through the cracks between the logs in the walls. The candle flickered, and all the sudden, the half caved-in fireplace lit with a bang, and the wick in the old gas lamp flickered to life.

Pandemonium broke loose in the cabin then, Jeff leaping up with a muffled shout and running for the door, yanking on it to no avail, Josie frozen on the floor, unable to move, and Travis, swinging from side to side, trying to target a threat.

“What the hell is going on?” Jeff asked with a shaking in his voice that couldn’t be hidden as he backed slowly away from the door.

Josie stood up finally, and put her hand on Travis’ saying softly “Put the gun away Trav.” Her eyes had caught something on the floor as the gas lamp had lit, casting a beam onto the floor where a rotting spot had opened up to show a spot of gleaming white below.

“Look,” Josie pointed at the floor. The brothers, slowly calming with no imminent threat of harm, looked where she was pointing. Curiosity replaced some of the fear on their faces as Josie crouched down above the broken floorboard. It was as if the lamp beam had been directed right at it, illuminating what was now clearly paper below the board.

Josie strained a bit to finish pulling up the board, but it didn’t take too much to dislodge what was left of the rest of it. Josie let out a soft gasp as she reached down and pulled out a small leather bound book of loose papers tied up with a leather string, one edge eaten away to show the white of the papers inside.

Josie looked up at her brothers, and said “I think it’s a book, and it's really old,” Wonder had replaced her fear completely for the moment, and she gently unwound the leather string and opened the binding carefully, making sure the papers inside didn’t drop out.

“Look, it says,

Property of

Hattie Mae Johnson,

Age 13

January 1, 1902.

“Oh my god… this is insane. This is her journal!” Josie exclaimed.

All three gathered close to the lamp, seeming to forget momentarily that they were locked in a cabin in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. They peered closely as Josie turned carefully through the loose pages. It contained various young girl stories, such as horseback riding with her father, helping build the horse pen, and playing with their puppy, Shep in the flowers behind the cabin. She detailed her new bed daddy had made behind the curtain, and the special hiding place behind the wall daddy made when the bad men kept hurting other families around.

Josie’s forehead wrinkled as she read the last entry dated July 1, 1902. “Look, the next entry skips almost 10 days. Oh!” Josie cried out softly.

“What? Jeff asked, noticing several wet spots staining the page and touching them with one finger.

Josie began reading out loud, her voice trembling slightly as she read from the entry titled

July 9, 1902

“Momma and Daddy are dead. He shot them. We were going to have such a wonderful supper too. Momma had made it special with fresh vegetables out of the garden, not the ones in the root cellar. Daddy had just sat at the table, but jumped up, looking out the window. He turned and spoke so firmly to me, I won’t ever forget how he sounded. “Get in the hiding spot Hattie! And don’t you come out unless I say, no matter WHAT you hear!” Mama asked him what was wrong, but he just looked at me, and nodded assurance at me, so I climbed behind the wall like he said, and sat against the back wall while he pushed the door closed. Just before the door was kicked open, I heard a bang and a yelp, then no more. I pressed my face against the tiny slit between the boards then, beginning to shake, really afraid for the first time. My daddy had his gun out, but he didn’t like to use it, and when that man burst through the door, as big as an elephant, he already had his big gun aimed straight at him. All I saw was a flash after a bang so loud I couldn’t hear for a while, and daddy fell down. I couldn’t hear, but I could see mama’s mouth and hands moving, pleading. But those scary black eyes turned to her, and so did the gun. This time I smashed my hands over my ears and scrunched my eyes closed before the shot, but I still heard a second bang! It took a while for me to open my eyes, but when I did, I could see the outline of mama and daddy lying still on the floor, and that monster sitting in my daddy’s spot, eating his food. Then he took my momma’s bowl, then mine. I was shaking so bad, I was afraid he would hear it, but he never looked up from his noisy slurping. I wanted to throw up. Tears were streaming down my face so fast I could barely see. I wanted to leap out and take my daddy’s gun and blow that monster away, but I knew I could never move fast enough.

The monster stood up then, and went to lay down on momma and daddy’s bed, and I had to suck in my breath to keep from gasping as I realized he intended to sleep there. Then he stopped… Abruptly. And I started shaking again when I realized what he was looking at… my little bed. I heard him say “damn” under his breath, and I knew he was looking for me then. My little bed was there, and so were my dolls.

I can’t forget his voice… raspy and breathy… like a snake. He started looking around the room and said “All right, I know you’re in here.” He smiled, and it scared me more, it was evil. “Come out… honey.” The last word seemed hard for him to say. I scooched away from the slat, and covered my ears as he started throwing things around, looking for me. I prayed silently then “Please don’t find me… please protect me… please don’t find me.”

When I uncovered my ears, all the noise had stopped and it was quiet. I scooched up to the crack and looked through again, and the room was empty. I couldn’t bring myself to go out of the hiding spot for hours. It was at least the next day, because it was dark, then light again. By the time I finally opened the hiding place door and crawled out, I could hardly stand my legs were so stiff. I couldn’t even look at momma and daddy. I started crying again. I slowly looked out of the curtain to the front, and saw only sun, trees, and the canyon above. When I looked out the side window, our horse pens were empty. He had stolen them, and I knew the yelp at the beginning had been our dog.

I was all alone, and I was so scared, I just gathered up what food and water I could find, my bedding, a candle, and my journal, then crawled back into the hiding spot and curled up again. I don’t know what to do. Town is so far… at least a days ride, and that’s on a horse. I can’t stop shaking. I can’t stop hoping momma and daddy will wake up. But I know they won’t.

Josie was ashen, but couldn’t stop reading. The next entry was titled

July 10, 1902

He’s come back. I heard the rocks falling down the canyon just enough to warn me… it always alerted us when we had company before… that a horse was coming down the rock slide. I quickly pulled the slat aside, and snugged it into place behind me. I hadn’t been brave enough to move mama and daddy out of the cabin, but I covered them with a blanket. When his giant shadow opened the door with a creak and loomed inside, I was shaking again, so I covered my eyes and ears, wanting to cry and scream, but I knew I couldn’t do either. I opened my eyes again and saw him looking around, not focusing on momma and daddy at first. But when he looked over at them, he became very still, and his terrifying face got so dark I thought I would wet myself with fear. He smiled that terrifying smile again, and gave the entire cabin a long searching look.

“I know you’re he-ere girlie,” he sang, making me shake again. “Don’t worry. I’m very patient. I’ll be here when you’re ready to stop hiding.”

Then he went away, and I didn’t hear any more that night.

Josie quickly moved on to the next entry.

July 12, 1902

I don’t know if the date is correct. It has been a long time, though I can’t tell how long. I snuck out when everything was dark, what felt like last night, and inched my way to the window to look out. I shook so bad when I saw his fire by the barn. I am so afraid I don’t think there’s any room left for any other feeling. I have realized that he is not going to leave. I am going to die. I will either starve (I am so hungry and thirsty!), or he will kill me. Either way I know I am not going to live much longer.

By this time, tears were running down Josie’s face, and Jeff and Travis’ faces were drained of color. Josie faltered as she read the last entry she could see.

I do not know what day it is.

I am out of food and I have not drank any water for so long that my lips are cracked and I could not speak, even if I tried. I cannot stay hidden like this any longer. I am going to try to sneak out tonight but I probably will not make it out. Even if I can manage to get past the monster, I do not think I can travel all the way to town because of how little water and food I have had. I have not checked, but I am sure the monster is still out there… That devil.

I am sorry I could not make it right mama and daddy. I wanted to write to Aunt Sally and tell her what happened so she would know. Now she will never know what happened to us. I need to try at least to do what is right. My daddy would want that.

I am going to hide my journal under the loose floorboard by the table before I go. Maybe if Aunt Sally tries to find us, she could find this journal and know what happened. I want that monster to die for what he has done.

I want the reader of this to know what he looks like so that he will face justice. He is so very tall that he barely fits through our door. His hair is long and dark, and looks dirty and full of grease. He stinks like yesterday’s manure, and he has dark, soulless eyes. His teeth are rotted, and his smile is terrifying. He looks at you as though he wants to kill you right from the start. If anyone reads this, please try to find him and make him pay.

If no person reads this, and my mama is right that there is an after-life, I will come back, so help me god, and make that monster pay for what he did that night, and what he will probably do to me too. I will make sure no one can ever forget what he did on July 7, 1902.

My Mama - Grace May Johnson (d.July 7, 1902 age 29)

My Daddy - George Fredrick Johnson (d. July 7, 1902 age 37)

Our dog Shep - (d. July 7, 1902)

Me - Hattie Mae Johnson (probably d. July 14 (I think), 1902 age 13)

To our Father I commit my spirit. To the devil I commit my revenge.

Josie stopped reading aloud, dragging her ragged breaths in and out of her chest mechanically. She could not believe what she had read.

“There aren’t any more entries” Josie said, tears still running down her cheeks. “She didn’t make it!”

She couldn’t get the description Hattie had journaled of the killer out of her head. It seemed so uncomfortable, and terrifyingly familiar… as though the journal entry had shown her an old black and white photo of that terrifying ‘monster man’.

Jeff was the first of the brothers to speak, his voice shaking.

“How do we get out of here?”

“Is that all you can think of?” Josie asked aggressively. “This whole family was killed by that evil man, and it appears that we are the first to ever find out about it!” She whispered harshly.

“Okay, but right now, we are trapped in this cabin… by a… what. Ghost? And a vindictive angry one at that,” he added the last words in a whisper. “I just want out, then we can figure out what to do about this.

“Travis?” Josie looked for her brother, but he was trying the window again. No luck. Then he moved towards the door.

“Travis!” Josie whispered sharply, as though she could be heard by someone. She sat the journal down on the table with a thump, and Travis turned sharply towards her, clear fear written on his face.

“What?” he whispered. “I’m trying to find a way out.”

“We need to tell someone. We have to… That poor little girl. She deserves justice.” Josie swiped a tear off her cheek, shaking in fear, despite her brave speech. “Can’t you tell, that’s why she’s still here. She needs us to tell. I’m going to make sure the right thing is done as soon as we’re out of here.

The wind suddenly picked up viciously again, whipping its way through the cracks in the walls, scattering the pages of the journal right out of Josie’s hands.

“Oh no!” Josie exclaimed, grabbing for the fallen papers, gathering them back together. Then she breathed out “Oh My God!” as if exhaling her very last breath.

“What?” Jeff and Travis both exclaimed, rushing to her side, looking at the paper she was holding. She almost dropped it, but Travis caught it, gasping as he and Jeff read the warbly lines scrawled on the page:

“His name is Jonah Michael Halverston”

With a loud crack, the door slammed open against the wall, breaking off it’s top hinge and falling sideways. Josie, Jeff and Travis all jumped, shrieking loudly, and a howling gale ripped through the door making a shrieking sound through the old rotting boards.

Travis and Josie looked at each other wide eyed and terrified, and shot out the door like horses out of a starting gate, Jeff hot on their heels. Scrambling and falling they clawed their way, terror stricken, up the canyon trail, knocking boulders free along the way to go crashing down over the edge. Bleeding and gasping for air, they finally reached the top, and collapsed next to their four wheelers, the only sounds being that of their panting and wheezing.

“What are we gonna do??! Josie finally wailed mutedly, wanting to be quiet, but clearly panic stricken.

“What the hell do you mean?” Jeff barked… we’re gonna call the cops, just like Travis said.

“Are you kidding me?” Travis said harshly? “Are you stupid? Didn’t you hear anything at all down there? And what’s the point now anyhow, this all happened a hundred years ago!”

“What are you talking about?” Jeff asked, shocked at the harshness in Travis’ voice.

“That name!” Travis barked.

“What name?” Jeff repeated back.

“Didn’t you read that paper Jeff?” Josie asked quietly, tears streaming down her face now.

“Yeah, so? The whole thing is completely craz….”

“Jeff!” Josie cut him off. “Great granddaddy.”

Jeff’s eyes suddenly had the light of dawning understanding.

“Jonah Micah Halverston.” They all three said together.

“Hooly shit.” Jeff whispered softly.

“We don’t say a word.” Travis said quietly.

Josie jerked her head up towards him. “What? Are you kidding? Didn’t you just hear anything that happened to that family? To that poor… little…” Josie broke off, crying.”

“I know. It’s awful. Too horrible to think about.” Travis looked down at his jeans, caked with sweat and red dirt from his crazed scramble. “But it happened so long ago. We might lose everything our entire family has worked for over this. I think we need to stay quiet.”

“Trav, you can’t be serious,” Josie moaned quietly. “It’s just not right.”

“I don’t care Jos. I didn’t do it, mom and dad didn’t do it, hell grandpa didn’t even do it. How do we even know what’s real? Like what the hell actually happened down there tonight? That’s not even possible. The fire, the voice, the doors locking us in? People will think we’re nuts!”

Jeff said quietly “I think he’s right Jos.”

“I can’t believe you two!” Josie squeaked.

“I mean it Jos, I won’t go along with it if you bring it up. Let’s go. NOW.” Travis stood up and pressed the starter on his four wheeler, and took off for home, all before Josie could even respond.

She looked at Jeff’s moonlit face, silently begging him to agree with her, that they had to tell. But he just looked away and stood up, walking to his four wheeler.

“Let’s go Jos,” he said quietly, climbing aboard and pressing the starter.

Josie stood up, feeling sicker than she’d ever felt in her life.

“Well pay for this, for sure,” She said, starting her own four wheeler towards home, tears dripping down her cheeks and swept forward off her chin in a great rush by the wind that had begun billowing up the canyon against her back.

As the rumbly sound of motors died and taillights disappeared down the two track road, the wind howled and shrieked even louder, a great storm building right over those tired, red hills. In the cabin down the canyon in the little grove of trees, a candle lighted once more in the window, and if you listened closely, you could hear the wind crying

“To the devil, I commit my revenge.”