Montana Sunset

The fall was Alex’s favourite time of year, the sweltering heat of summer gave way to cooler cleaner air. She breathed deeply of it as she pushed her old faithful mare up through the foothills of the mountains. Every year around this time she took Kaycee, now turned sixteen, and Merri a very cheeky twelve year old, up high into the Bitterroots. It was her way of sharing the wonders of nature with her kinfolk. They lived with the mountains as a backdrop all year round, it could have been so easy to take nature in all its wondrous glory for granted, something Alex wasn’t prepared to let happen. She remembered the first time she’d visited the Big Hole. Coming from West Texas as she had, the beauty of the valley blew her away. And today was no exception, the skies were clear blue without a trace of cloud to mar the majestic backdrop of the greys and purples of the Bitterroots. The aspens, shimmering golden against the sky always pleased and excited her, as did the Ponderosa pines as they reached high into the clear blueness of the sky; it tugged at her very being. It was probably the last year that Kaycee would follow her Gram up into the hills, not that she’d indicated otherwise, but Alex knew that one day the lure of hanging out with friends her own age would take preference. Of course she’d come if asked but Alex was not the sort to press anyone into doing things against their will, as she remembered her own rebellious youth. At least there was still Merri, young but older than her years. Alex estimated she’d take this same trip for a few years to come. Both girls were expert horsewomen, Kaycee had represented Montana State at student rodeos, winning the barrel racing on more than one occasion, but it was little Merri that showed the most promise, she was cool and confident in all the junior competitions, winning most events that she entered. Even the disappointment at the Dillon rodeo hadn’t fazed her. “Gram, lets go further,” cried Merri excitedly. Alex looked at her watch, then up at the sky. It was still bright and looked to stay light for at least another couple of hours. “Okay, up to that tall peak yonder, then we turn back.” Alex couldn’t refuse her grandkids anything. At the peak they could see clearly into three states, to the west Idaho, to the east Wyoming, and below the magnificent state of Montana. Alex laughed to herself as she recalled it wasn’t far from here that she confronted Monique Delacroix and showed her what a real country woman was all about. How mad she must have been when she woke up to find herself bound hand and foot and dapped across the saddle. “Okay girls, it’s time we headed back.” “It’s beautiful up here, can we stay and see the sunset,” cried Merri. “We’ll see it as good from the porch back at the ranch,” answered Alex. “But I want to see it from here, looking across to Idaho.” “Merri, it isn’t possible,” cried Kaycee. “If we stay here and watch it, it’ll be dark before we get back to the ranch.” Alex listened to the pearls of wisdom coming from her oldest grand child and realised her teachings had not been in vain. Reluctantly Merri conceded, whilst she might be able to twist Gram around her little finger, her big sister was a different proposition altogether. As they meandered through the trees the light began to fade more quickly than usual. Alex was a little surprised as she looked up at the dark foreboding cloud that had blotted out the sun and transformed the autumnal scene into a bleak picture of the winter before them. “We need to hurry girls, if it snows we could take hours getting back home.” Alex was not alarmed, the clouds were ominous but no snow had fallen. It was late in the season but all the indicators were for settled weather. It would probably pass over by the time they were out of the wooded area and besides they were only an hour and a half out from the ranch, enough time for Merri to watch the sunset from Gram’s porch. Of the girls Merri was more at one with nature and the environment, whereas Kaycee, though a good horsewoman was less apt to follow in her parents or grandparents footsteps. Then the snows came, slowly at first, but as the snowflakes grew bigger the forest floor was fast turning into a blanket of white. As the snow thickened the horses began a slow plod. Alex kicked her mare into a fast trot and the girls followed her lead. The path they rode was known to them all and during good weather was easy to negotiate, but now the snows were negating their confidence. The winds got up and the intensity of the falling snow increased. Fearful of being caught out Alex spurred her horse to a lope, both girls un-alarmed at the quickening pace did the same. They were making good time when suddenly Alex’s mare lost her footing and slipped throwing her rider. “Gram!” both girls cried at once. Alex tried to ride the fall, but her momentum slew her into a tangle of broken boughs, snapping her leg below the knee. The pain seared through her body like a red hot poker, the sickening sound only matched by her stomach as the shock caused her to vomit. Thankfully she passed out before her voice could register a scream. “Gram! Gram!” screamed the girls as they threw themselves from their horses and raced toward the fallen Alex. They stared down anxiously as their grandma opened her eyes. The pain was excruciating but years of country living had taught Alex the meaning of survival. She bit down hard grinding her teeth against the pain, as she reviewed their plight. “The horses!” cried Alex. “They’re right here,” reassured Kaycee. “Help me up,” said Alex, “we can’t hang around here all night,” she grimaced. Both girls tried lifting Alex, but the pain was too great. She couldn’t stand. “Get my rifle from my horse; I’ll use it as a crutch.” Kaycee raced over to the horses and retrieved the Winchester from its scabbard. “Good girl,” encouraged Alex through the pain. She could tell that both girls were frightened, then as she attempted to stand, a sound not heard in the valley for decades froze the blood in her veins. Wolves! “Quickly, help me up!” The baying of wolves grew louder, the horses whinnied nervously, their reins dangling in the snow. Alex fought off a sense of panic, and in as calm a voice as she could muster she told the girls to ease her down and bring the horses nearer. Kaycee and Merri understood their predicament but young as they were they were savvy enough to know not to panic the horses. Easing Alex down onto the fast piling up snow the girls slowly walked back to their horses. The animals alert to the sound of wolves eyed their riders with suspicion as they grew nearer, then a blood curdling howl sent all three horses into a panic stricken rush. Kaycee grabbed at the reins. “Kaycee! Let go!” screamed Alex as her oldest grand child was dragged ten yards further down the track before letting go. “Kaycee!” cried Alex and Merri in unison. Then the twelve year old began to cry. It was seconds but to them it felt like hours before Kaycee dusted herself off and began walking back towards her Gram and sister. Merri wiped her tears, and Alex breathed a sigh of relief. Her relief was only momentary as she spotted a greyish brown wolf not more than five feet from Kaycee’s left shoulder. “Stand still!” barked Alex, “don’t panic,” she added to calm her grand child. Then she jacked a round into the breach of the Winchester and took careful aim as she sighted the rifle on the wolf. She had no love for wolves and shared Wade’s misgivings, but shooting one down in cold blood was something she wanted to avoid. With the rifle trained on the chest of the animal Alex spoke calmly to Kaycee. “Walk slowly towards me, no sudden moves and you’ll be alright.” Kaycee, reassured by her Grams words started walking towards her. “That’s it, keep coming,” the words had only left her lips when Alex noticed the wolf shift his position into an attack stance.