The Long Ride Home (8 page)

“Double super!” Morgan said. “I can’t wait.”

In the late afternoon, Skye waved goodbye to Nancy one last time and settled into her seat in the back of the truck.

As they pulled away from the picnic grove, Mrs. Chambers looked in the rearview mirror. “Skye, I noticed that you didn’t tell your mother that Jacy and Ruth are planning to visit us then, too. Have they changed their minds?”

Mr. Chambers looked in the rear view mirror at Skye. “I was wondering about that, too, Skye. What’s the story?”

“Yeah.” Morgan poked Skye in her arm. “What gives?”

Skye blew out a long sigh. “Oh, they’re still coming, and—well—I have a plan.”

“A plan?” Morgan asked. “Look out, world! When Skye Nicholson has a plan, things usually start happening—and fast.”

“What’s the plan, Skye?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

“I figured that Mother would want to head for Alaska if she knew Father was coming to Pennsylvania, so I didn’t want to tell her yet. I’m thinking that as I call her a few times a week all summer long and get to know her better, she’ll accept what I’ve told her about him. Then, a few days before the Labor Day weekend, I’ll tell her he’s coming, too.”

“I see,” Mrs. Chambers said. “You’re taking a big risk, Skye.”

“And, Skye,” Mr. Chambers said, “even if your mother does agree to see him, I have a feeling that she won’t stay under the same roof overnight, even though our house is plenty big.”

“I’ve thought about that, too,” Skye said. “Since Moyers’ Bed and Breakfast is right down the road, I’ll ask Father if he and Ruth would mind staying there.”

“Hmm,” Mr. Chambers said. “Now think this through, Skye. If your scheme doesn’t pan out, and your mother feels that you aren’t being totally honest with her, she might get very angry. The whole situation could blow up in your face and damage the relationship you just started.”

“But if she just gives Father a chance, and she sees how he’s changed, she’ll be glad that she was able to see him again,” Skye said.

“I’m with you,” Morgan said. “From what I remember, Mom’s always been scared of her own shadow, and she got much worse after my dad left and she was on her own. I think it’s a great idea to try to have Jacy and her connect. She’d finally stop watching her back all the time.”

“Are you going to tell your father about your scheme?” Mr. Chambers asked Skye.

“Oh, yes,” Skye said. “I think he’ll go for it. He told me he’s willing to do anything to talk with Mother and get things right. I’m sure he’ll still want to come.”

“So, how are you going to plan their meeting?” Mrs. Chambers asked.

“Well,” Skye answered, “if Mother and the kids come on Friday, we could have a picnic at the gazebo on Saturday afternoon. I’ll ask Father if he could arrive around noon then. That way we’d all be together, including Millie and her kids, when Father and Ruth get there. We can all give Mother moral support. I also thought it would be nice to have Chad come to the picnic, too.”

“Skye, you are one riot.” Morgan giggled. “What does Chad have to do with your parents and their reunion?”

“Well—“

Mrs. Chambers winked at Morgan then turned to Skye. “Of course we need Chad there. How else will we know how many burgers to grill? Right, Skye?”

Mr. Chambers joined in the fun. “Morgan, it’s common knowledge that Skye can’t do a thing without Chad’s approval. Everybody knows he’s her activities director.”

“Aw, Dad.” Skye’s red-hot cheeks were not from a sunburn.

“Putting all jokes aside,” Mr. Chambers said, “Skye, if you think this plan will work, then go for it, but we all need to put a lot of prayer behind it. I know you desperately want peace in your family, even though your parents aren’t together anymore.”

“Having Mother know that Father’s a decent man means a whole lot to me,” Skye said. “I want to drift off to sleep every night not having to worry about them anymore.”

“I feel the same way about the whole situation, too,” Morgan said.

“Then let’s go for it!” Skye said.

H
appy trails to you, until we meet again…”

Under a rippling pink sunset as soft as angels’ wings, Skye’s and Morgan’s “two families” sat around a campfire on Friday evening of the Labor Day weekend. After Mr. Chambers’ hot dog and baked potato supper, everyone joined in a round of western songs and silly choruses while they roasted marshmallows. With September’s crisp evening air inviting jackets, the crackling fire added the final touch to a chuck wagon cookout nestled in the shadows of the three Piney Hollow hills.

Skye’s excitement level shot up, and she could focus on nothing but getting to know her family better. She glanced at her mother and smiled, receiving an apprehensive smile in return. After some fancy convincing on Skye’s part, her mother had agreed to see Jacy the next day. But now a discreet look of worry on Nancy’s face overshadowed all the fun.
Lord,
Skye prayed,
help her to know tomorrow will all work out.

Skye found herself so consumed with her thoughts, she forgot about three marshmallows on her stick and sent the black gooey globs oozing to their doom into
the dancing flames. Private Dennis Eister, United States Marine Corps, sitting with his mother on the other side of the circle, came to the rescue.

“Skye, give me your stick,” he said, standing and reaching toward Skye. “At the rate you’re going, we’ll be out of marshmallows in five minutes! I’ll do some for you. How do you like them?”

“Burnt to a crisp,” Skye said.

Dennis gave Skye a snappy salute “At your service, ma’am.” He grabbed three marshmallows from the bag on the table, stuck them on Skye’s stick, and went to work.

While Dennis gave his “mallow duty” everything he had, Skye gazed at the handsome blue-eyed young man in USMC T-shirt and black shorts. His muscles bulged like a pro wrestler’s, his blond hair was shaved “high and tight,” and his frame bore a bronze tan, a telltale sign of the summer he had just spent training in the southern heat.
Morgan was right,
Skye thought.
He is one handsome dude.

Skye’s gaze swept the circle and studied her new family, each face glowing with the warmth of the bed of hot embers. Deep down in Skye’s heart, another warmth burned, one that matched the blazing flames.
Now when Chad and Father come tomorrow,
she mused,
the scene will be totally complete.

Skye focused on her mother, trying her best to have a good time, who was busy mastering the marshmallow-roasting technique. She let out a round of chuckles as she pushed several rebel strands of hair behind her ear, touched a brown lump on the end of her stick, and then yanked her hand away. “Girls, I’m about ready to hire Dennis myself. If this gooey mess wasn’t so good, I’d give it up and go drink coffee.”

“Aw, Mom,” Morgan giggled, “part of the fun is seeing who can keep the little white puffs on their sticks long enough to toast them just right and then rescue them before they slide off into the fire. I’ve only lost one so far.”

Skye glanced at Morgan, to her mother’s left. With her beaming freckled smile, Morgan was showing Richelle how to hold the stick. The little girl, a miniature version of her mother, left no room to doubt whose daughter she was.
And she looks just like me with Aunt Millie in that ancient picture,
Skye thought.
How cool is that?

Next to Morgan sat tomboy Tasha, tall and lanky with glasses, blonde hair drawn back into a ponytail, having the time of her life wrestling with her food and yelling at her “all boy” brother, Stevie. With a barrage of giggles, he poked Tasha with one hand and poked his stick at the embers with the other, sending crackling sparks twirling into the air. “He looks just like my dad,” Morgan had told Skye, “only he has enough hair to part, and his belly’s not quite there yet.”

On the other side of the campfire sat Aunt Millie, whom Skye had grown to love and admire. Skye knew Millie sometimes had two or three part-time jobs to make ends meet. Because Millie had instilled a dogged work ethic in her two kids, Dennis had a bright career ahead of him in the Marines, and Emma was heading for college in another year.
All they need is Jesus,
Skye thought,
and they’ll make it big time.

Completing the circle, the Chambers’ two Westies, Tippy and Tyler, sat panting and waiting for a morsel from Mrs. Chambers who sat holding a stick with four toasted marshmallows.

“Tom,” she said, pivoting toward Mr. Chambers who was pouring lemonade and iced tea into paper cups at the table, “you better come get these before they turn into charcoal.”

Mr. Chambers hurried to his wife and slid the marshmallows off the stick and onto a paper plate. “I’ve learned my lesson,” he said. “These babies will sit and cool for a few seconds before I indulge. I don’t need scorched fingers or a burnt tongue.”

Skye studied her foster parents as they talked and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. Mrs. Chambers, with her beautiful blue eyes and Mr. Chambers always squaring his cowboy hat and smoothing his mustache, were a special couple, Skye concluded. After helping dozens of kids over their fifteen or so years together, they still loved kids, and each other.
I owe them oodles,
Skye told herself.
Maybe someday I can get married to a wonderful guy, and we can help kids too. I know that would make Mom and Dad Chambers happier than anything else in the world.

“Skye!” Her mother’s voice brought Skye back to earth. “The kids haven’t had so much fun in a long time. I just hope I can get past tomorrow, and we’ll all be fine.”

“Don’t worry, Mother,” Skye said. “I’m sure everything will be okay.”
With Chad and Father here tomorrow, it sure will be okay!”

The Saturday before Labor Day, the day for which Skye had prayed and waited, finally arrived! She could think of nothing that meant more to her than having both of her parents with her at the same time and smiling.
God,
she prayed on Friday night before bedtime,
please help Mother accept the truth tomorrow. If she sees how you changed Father and how you can change anyone, maybe she won’t be scared of him anymore. Maybe she’ll accept you into her life, too.

Skye had no trouble getting up on a morning that brought sunshine, blue skies, and a gentle breeze. Before breakfast, she and Morgan had already hurried to the barn to feed and groom the horses and to get them ready for their big day. Of course, Skye shared all of her hopes and fears with Champ, who listened with nickers and nudges.

After the entire household indulged in Mr. Chambers’ famous scrambled-egg breakfast, Skye and Morgan took Dennis, Emma, and Nancy’s three kids to the field where six tacked horses waited. All morning Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, Nancy and Millie got ready for the picnic at the gazebo, and Skye and Morgan taught the kids horse care and gave riding lessons.

Morgan, sitting with Richelle on Blaze, instructed Stevie and Tasha how to neck-rein their mounts in the training corral. At the same time, Skye took Dennis and Emma on a lazy ride on trails that interlaced the Keystone Stables land. Although being with Champ was enough reason to go, Skye had an ulterior motive to have some time alone with her two cousins. Near mid-day, the three rode to the bottom of the large fenced-in field and stopped at the pond where the three horses, like nails to a magnet, were drawn to the succulent grasses along the water’s edge.

For the entire ride, Skye had her eye on her watch, checking every few minutes in anticipation of her father’s arrival. But now, she took a deep breath of the crisp, clean air, glanced at the cloudless azure sky, and soaked in the warmth of the sun’s rays. As her gaze drifted to the horses, a breeze swept across the field, teasing tufts of the horses’ manes and tails to whisk freely. Skye smiled at Dennis and Emma whose faces expressed nothing but pure delight.
Now’s as good a time as any to talk to them about God,
Skye reasoned.

“Skye, this place is fantastic,” Dennis said, his eyes taking in the scene before him.

“You are
so
lucky,” Emma said. “I know a couple of foster kids, but I’ve never heard of anyone being in a foster home as neat as this one.”

“I wouldn’t exactly say that I’ve been lucky,” Skye said as she stroked Champ’s neck.

“What do you mean?” Emma’s big brown eyes flashed with interest.

“Well,” Skye said, “I’ve learned from the Bible that God has my life all planned out. It’s no accident that I came here. You should’ve known me before Mom and Dad Chambers rescued me. I hung out with gangs and everything. The judge was ready to ship me to a detention center for lousy kids and throw away the key.”

“That’s hard to believe,” Dennis said. “You just don’t seem like the gangbanger type. What happened? Did Mr. and Mrs. Chambers lock you in your room for three months?” He let out a hearty laugh.

“Yeah, you just seem like a normal kid to me,” Emma said.

Skye looked deep into her cousins’ eyes. “After I moved in here, I was still a mess for a while. I pulled all kinds of stupid stunts, and I wanted to leave because Mom and Dad Chambers had a whole bunch of rules that I didn’t like.”

Dennis chuckled and saluted Skye. “You should visit a Marine training camp if you think you have rules here.”

“Anyway,” Skye continued, “the big change came in my whole attitude when I accepted Christ. Mom Chambers told me that I’d never make it in life without having Jesus in control. I finally had to accept the fact that I was a rotten kid, and only God could clean me up. I couldn’t do it on my own.”

Deep in thought, Dennis rubbed his chin. “You know, Mom always watches TV programs on Sunday morning that talk about the same thing—about being saved and stuff like that. But we’ve never gone to church. It hasn’t been important to us. Now you’ve got me thinking, Skye. I’ve always felt like something’s been missing in my life but I don’t know what. Maybe it has something to do with God.”

Emma also had a faraway look. “Skye, it’s really strange that you’re telling us all of this. Bonnie, one of my friends at school, is always razzing on me to go to
church with her. She’s tried to explain about Jesus and all that stuff, but I could never quite get the hang of what she was saying. Maybe I’ll tune in better the next time the subject comes up.”

“There was so much that I never understood until Mom Chambers took the time to explain everything,” Skye said. “When we die, we’re going to live somewhere forever, and we can’t get to heaven just by trying to be good. It’s only by accepting Christ as our Savior that we’ll get there.”

“That’s the same thing Bonnie’s always telling me,” Emma said.

“Interesting philosophy you have there, Skye,” Dennis said as he brushed a horsefly off his horse’s neck.

Skye gave her cousins a heartfelt smile. “The Keystone Stables family always goes to church on Sunday. Would you like to go with us tomorrow? We have a super teen group called Youth for Truth. I’d love if you’d meet all my friends. I want to show off my new family.”

“Hmm, church,” Dennis said. “I’m for far-out experiences. Sure. Why not?”

“You’ve got me thinking, too,” Emma said to Skye. “I’d really like to know more about this God business. I guess now’s as good a time as any.”

“Skye,” Emma said, “what do you think is going to happen when your mom sees your dad today?”

“I’ve been thinking about that a lot, too,” Dennis said. “This could be a disaster.”

“Well,” Skye said, “I’ve been hoping and praying for this day my whole life. I just have to believe that everything will turn out all right. It’s just gotta.”

“I sure hope you’re right,” Dennis said.”

“We’re rooting for you,” Emma added.

Skye glanced at her watch for the umpteenth time and then looked across the field to the barn. Mr. Chambers, in his towering chef’s hat, was helping Morgan and the
younger children dismount. Down the walkway from the back of the house came Chad, and Skye’s heart did its usual back flip.

“C’mon,” Skye said to her cousins, neck-reining Champ to her right. She gently dug her heels into his belly, nudging him forward. “It’s 11:30 already and just about time for lunch and the biggest family reunion of my life.”