Amy’s Ride: Part 2

Jordan rode his snowmobile carefully watching for signs of Amy. After her horse, Poppy, had returned without her, he had used the GPS application installed on both of their phones by their father. She wasn’t that far away now and her phone had been showing slow progress towards the family farm. He sighed in resignation. Anger had flushed his face with heat and sent his heart racing when he saw the riderless horse. No longer angry, he realized he was exhausted from every complication in the lives of his family right now.

Dad. Cancer had already taken away the strength and spark from him. It was as if there was an undefeatable monster that whispered hopelessness to them all. It is one thing to be faced with eminent death; another entirely to realize you are already too ill to complete at least a few ‘bucket list’ items. There was such a defeated nature about his father now. He was frequently lost in thought, as if evaluating the worth of his entire life. Their conversations over this weekend had been extensively reminiscent of past adventures together. So many moments of serious expression belying the tone of those memories.

He caught sight of Amy’s red coat and slowed the snowmobile to a crawl until he could clearly see her face. She looked apprehensive. Her athletic build seemed slight to these wild surroundings. He realized how small she really was. He had always towered over her by at least a foot. Her dirty blond hair and warm brown eyes were a striking contrast to each other. He knew she was constantly questioned if she dyed her hair blond. Her response was always a snappy, “Would I dye it this ugly half-blondish color if I did?”

He watched her slow her pace until she halted entirely. Jordan, however, did not slow his pace or stop. When he reached her, he caught her up in a bear hug.

“Arghmmph.” She pulled her face back. “Put me down, you oaf!”

“Amy, are you okay? I nearly had a heart attack when I saw Poppy, saddled and bridled, and without you!”

She looked startled, “yes, I’m fine. A few deep scratches and bruises, that’s it.” She continued, “Does Dad know we are out here?

“Dad was asleep on the recliner when I left to look for you. I figured he would call one of us if he woke and found us gone.” He motioned for her to walk the few steps to the waiting snowmobile. The noise from the snowmobile gave them both a ready excuse to remain silent for the ride back.