Listening
The rain fell across the windshield as the sound echoed through the quiet cabin of her truck. She had her right hand on the wheel as she wiped a tear from her cheek with the left hand. She was deep in thought as she watched the now muddy road. Gus, her faithful dog was sitting next to her, quietly keeping her company. The rain suddenly increased as her tears multiplied. Gus softly lay down, placing his head on her thigh. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly as she gave a hint of a smile, switching hands she wiped her tears again and reached for Gus. He quietly gave a whimper as her hand touched his soft warm head.
As the gravel road crunched beneath the tires and the rain continued to fall; her life began to flash before her eyes. She was just a kid when she first got into the saddle of her grandfather’s golden Mustang. “Gentle now, take it slow. He’ll take care of you as long as you take care of him.” She remembered her grandfather telling her. Her heart was hooked on horses after that day. She remembered the warm sun beating down on her, the strength she could feel of the horse beneath her and the roughness of her grandfather’s hands on hers as he helped hold the reigns. Slowly he let go and her life took her on a course that she never expected.
The day she received the phone call that suddenly called her back to the pasture of the old Mustang was another fateful day. It was the day that her grandfather passed away, leaving her the estate that led her to dig into her family’s history; a history of horses, racing and success long forgotten. Her heart quickened as the moment she first met Roger popped up in her memory. She hadn’t thought of that moment for so long. His loving smile and tender touch caught hold of her as she lost herself in that moment. His memory walked with her as she continued to remember the first time she walked through the old dusty mansion. The creaks and groans of the wood floors beneath her, the musty smell of the empty rooms as she explored came flooding back.
Another tear rolled down her cheek as she was overwhelmed by those memories. Gus’s eyes looked up at her as if he knew what she was thinking. He moved his head just slightly as the truck continued to jostle down the gravel road. The wipers swished back and forth clearing her view to see but seemed to push her forward through time as well. Suddenly she was seeing her wedding day. The happiness she felt as she said her vows to Roger and placed the ring on his finger. Walking down the aisle as everyone applauded and threw rose petals in the air as they celebrated the matrimony. She remembered looking up at the warm sun, and thinking of her grandfather. Then seeing the horses in the background; they were always in her life. The house had been restored and they entered the front door together as a married couple. Memories of sharing coffee in the nook looking out at the pastures and discussing the future plans for racing and purchases continued. A bright smile appeared on her face as she remember the moment of seeing that little blue line and realizing that they were going to be a family of three. Roger was so excited; he jumped up and down and couldn’t stop smiling! He would have been a great dad she thought to herself.
As quickly as it appeared, her smile faded, as the worst day of her life took hold; the day she watched the race, and lost Roger on the track. Tears began to fall faster as she relived that moment. Realizing she was alone with a baby on the way. The emptiness she felt as she realized she had to either continue with their plans or walk away from it all. Kiki, her best friend and Chuck, her right hand man, were there to help her continue on; to raise her child and push forward in the racing life and keep her dreams alive.
Suddenly things were moving faster for her. Her daughter was growing up; the horses were winning and losing. The racing strings were getting bigger, foals were being born and sold. A new love was growing in her life and suddenly she was with in love with Chuck. He became her rock, her other half. Love once again filled her life and continued to give her purpose. Dogs, puppies, foals and days at the track flashed faster before her. Fights with Evelynn, her daughter, as well as hugs and tears; little moments forgotten in the rush of life, all came flooding back now.
Listening
She began to sob quietly as she remembered. Evelynn was getting older, she was growing up. Then the second worst day of her life emerged. The day of another phone call that changed her; the call that sent her down a spiraling dark emotional path of depression and self-loathing. Her quiet sobs grew louder as she remembered those dark moments of staring at herself in the mirror. Her thoughts stopped as she focused on one day, the day she wanted to end it all to kill the pain; the day that Chuck returned home and found her crying alone in the dark and held her until she ran out of tears. He was her rock. He saved her so long ago. He held her hand, he helped her fight those dark feelings and see the light. He helped her find the joy in life again. Chuck, Evelynn and Gus were all there in her darkest moments. Evelynn had given her purpose, Chuck gave her support and Gus…she stopped for a moment and looked down at Gus.
Gus had been there for a long time. His fur was graying, his eyes were softening, his body weakening; but he was a fighter. He had helped her find the fight within herself. He had given her a new resolve to keep moving forward. She fought the cancer, she fought the darkness and she gave more of herself to the estate but more importantly, to her family. She and Chuck later said their vows in a quiet ceremony. She remembered Evelynn standing there beside her, smiling. The years flashed quickly again as she watched Evelynn continue to grow.
Suddenly, Evelynn was entering the track atop of her first mount as a Thoroughbred jockey. She was the youngest jockey on the track but also the only girl. It was one of the proudest moments of Cheyenne’s life; but also one of the scariest. Her stomach was in knots as she watched Evelynn finish her first race and find her passion. The love and joy of riding a horse was there, just as it was for Cheyenne. Evelynn never knew her father, but she was just like him. Another smile crossed her face and then disappeared as that moment faded.
She tried to focus on the road before her; trying to bring herself back to the present with old Gus at her side beneath her wrinkled hand. She glanced in the mirror at her graying hair as if only now realizing her age. The days of young and excitement were long behind her. It felt like the rain was washing it all away. Her heart began to ache as more memories emerged. Fears returned as Chuck left her side due to a sudden death. Her world began to crash around her again. Evelynn continued to race more daring mounts. Fear was growing, the darkness was returning. She forgot what joy felt like as Gus licked her tears away and stayed by her side.
She realized that her life had truly been a rollercoaster of emotion. The joy of success and winning had been countered by fear, sadness and loss.
Then, the morning’s memory arrived; a phone call that changed her life again, “that stupid phone!” She muttered. It seemed like nothing good came from answering it, but yet she couldn’t stop. It was the doctor calling to notify her that the cancer had returned; and this time, there was little to do to fight it. He had given her only weeks to make her peace with life. The tears fell like a rushing river now, falling atop of Gus’s head. He held still, staying strong for her, giving another quiet whimper. The tears were too many, she couldn’t stop them. Like the rain outside, her wipers couldn’t keep up. The windshield was hard to see through as lightning streaked across the sky. Thunder shattered the peaceful rain as if ringing in her sadness. She wanted to scream. She loved her daughter and didn’t want to leave her. She loved her life, tragic as some moments were; it was filled with happiness and love. She had always been surrounded by the people she loved most; by the horses she devoted her life to.
Lightning flashed across the sky again, blinding her as she heard a loud shriek of brakes, Gus’s cry and the neighs of horses.
Listening
Suddenly she found herself standing in the pasture of her grandfather’s old ranch. Her tears were no longer falling and she saw that old Mustang looking at her with his big brown eyes. As she quizzically tried to take in where she was, she heard footsteps and turned around to see her grandfather and Roger standing there. They opened their arms to hug her. The wind softly blew her hair off of her shoulder as took a small step toward them, still trying to make sense of what she was seeing. “Cheyenne, there you are!” She turned towards the voice and saw Chuck coming out of the barn, smiling at her; followed by a bark and Gus running out from behind him. She noticed Gus’s gray hair was gone and he bounced like a puppy again.
Fear had finally let go of its hold on her as she hugged her family and felt the warm sun again bathe her in its light. She was finally at peace.
The rain fell across the windshield as the sound echoed through the quiet cabin of her truck. She had her right hand on the wheel as she wiped a tear from her cheek with the left hand. She was deep in thought as she watched the now muddy road. Gus, her faithful dog was sitting next to her, quietly keeping her company. The rain suddenly increased as her tears multiplied. Gus softly lay down, placing his head on her thigh. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly as she gave a hint of a smile, switching hands she wiped her tears again and reached for Gus. He quietly gave a whimper as her hand touched his soft warm head.
As the gravel road crunched beneath the tires and the rain continued to fall; her life began to flash before her eyes. She was just a kid when she first got into the saddle of her grandfather’s golden Mustang. “Gentle now, take it slow. He’ll take care of you as long as you take care of him.” She remembered her grandfather telling her. Her heart was hooked on horses after that day. She remembered the warm sun beating down on her, the strength she could feel of the horse beneath her and the roughness of her grandfather’s hands on hers as he helped hold the reigns. Slowly he let go and her life took her on a course that she never expected.
The day she received the phone call that suddenly called her back to the pasture of the old Mustang was another fateful day. It was the day that her grandfather passed away, leaving her the estate that led her to dig into her family’s history; a history of horses, racing and success long forgotten. Her heart quickened as the moment she first met Roger popped up in her memory. She hadn’t thought of that moment for so long. His loving smile and tender touch caught hold of her as she lost herself in that moment. His memory walked with her as she continued to remember the first time she walked through the old dusty mansion. The creaks and groans of the wood floors beneath her, the musty smell of the empty rooms as she explored came flooding back.
Another tear rolled down her cheek as she was overwhelmed by those memories. Gus’s eyes looked up at her as if he knew what she was thinking. He moved his head just slightly as the truck continued to jostle down the gravel road. The wipers swished back and forth clearing her view to see but seemed to push her forward through time as well. Suddenly she was seeing her wedding day. The happiness she felt as she said her vows to Roger and placed the ring on his finger. Walking down the aisle as everyone applauded and threw rose petals in the air as they celebrated the matrimony. She remembered looking up at the warm sun, and thinking of her grandfather. Then seeing the horses in the background; they were always in her life. The house had been restored and they entered the front door together as a married couple. Memories of sharing coffee in the nook looking out at the pastures and discussing the future plans for racing and purchases continued. A bright smile appeared on her face as she remember the moment of seeing that little blue line and realizing that they were going to be a family of three. Roger was so excited; he jumped up and down and couldn’t stop smiling! He would have been a great dad she thought to herself.
As quickly as it appeared, her smile faded, as the worst day of her life took hold; the day she watched the race, and lost Roger on the track. Tears began to fall faster as she relived that moment. Realizing she was alone with a baby on the way. The emptiness she felt as she realized she had to either continue with their plans or walk away from it all. Kiki, her best friend and Chuck, her right hand man, were there to help her continue on; to raise her child and push forward in the racing life and keep her dreams alive.
Suddenly things were moving faster for her. Her daughter was growing up; the horses were winning and losing. The racing strings were getting bigger, foals were being born and sold. A new love was growing in her life and suddenly she was with in love with Chuck. He became her rock, her other half. Love once again filled her life and continued to give her purpose. Dogs, puppies, foals and days at the track flashed faster before her. Fights with Evelynn, her daughter, as well as hugs and tears; little moments forgotten in the rush of life, all came flooding back now.
Listening
She began to sob quietly as she remembered. Evelynn was getting older, she was growing up. Then the second worst day of her life emerged. The day of another phone call that changed her; the call that sent her down a spiraling dark emotional path of depression and self-loathing. Her quiet sobs grew louder as she remembered those dark moments of staring at herself in the mirror. Her thoughts stopped as she focused on one day, the day she wanted to end it all to kill the pain; the day that Chuck returned home and found her crying alone in the dark and held her until she ran out of tears. He was her rock. He saved her so long ago. He held her hand, he helped her fight those dark feelings and see the light. He helped her find the joy in life again. Chuck, Evelynn and Gus were all there in her darkest moments. Evelynn had given her purpose, Chuck gave her support and Gus…she stopped for a moment and looked down at Gus.
Gus had been there for a long time. His fur was graying, his eyes were softening, his body weakening; but he was a fighter. He had helped her find the fight within herself. He had given her a new resolve to keep moving forward. She fought the cancer, she fought the darkness and she gave more of herself to the estate but more importantly, to her family. She and Chuck later said their vows in a quiet ceremony. She remembered Evelynn standing there beside her, smiling. The years flashed quickly again as she watched Evelynn continue to grow.
Suddenly, Evelynn was entering the track atop of her first mount as a Thoroughbred jockey. She was the youngest jockey on the track but also the only girl. It was one of the proudest moments of Cheyenne’s life; but also one of the scariest. Her stomach was in knots as she watched Evelynn finish her first race and find her passion. The love and joy of riding a horse was there, just as it was for Cheyenne. Evelynn never knew her father, but she was just like him. Another smile crossed her face and then disappeared as that moment faded.
She tried to focus on the road before her; trying to bring herself back to the present with old Gus at her side beneath her wrinkled hand. She glanced in the mirror at her graying hair as if only now realizing her age. The days of young and excitement were long behind her. It felt like the rain was washing it all away. Her heart began to ache as more memories emerged. Fears returned as Chuck left her side due to a sudden death. Her world began to crash around her again. Evelynn continued to race more daring mounts. Fear was growing, the darkness was returning. She forgot what joy felt like as Gus licked her tears away and stayed by her side.
She realized that her life had truly been a rollercoaster of emotion. The joy of success and winning had been countered by fear, sadness and loss.
Then, the morning’s memory arrived; a phone call that changed her life again, “that stupid phone!” She muttered. It seemed like nothing good came from answering it, but yet she couldn’t stop. It was the doctor calling to notify her that the cancer had returned; and this time, there was little to do to fight it. He had given her only weeks to make her peace with life. The tears fell like a rushing river now, falling atop of Gus’s head. He held still, staying strong for her, giving another quiet whimper. The tears were too many, she couldn’t stop them. Like the rain outside, her wipers couldn’t keep up. The windshield was hard to see through as lightning streaked across the sky. Thunder shattered the peaceful rain as if ringing in her sadness. She wanted to scream. She loved her daughter and didn’t want to leave her. She loved her life, tragic as some moments were; it was filled with happiness and love. She had always been surrounded by the people she loved most; by the horses she devoted her life to.
Lightning flashed across the sky again, blinding her as she heard a loud shriek of brakes, Gus’s cry and the neighs of horses.
Listening
Suddenly she found herself standing in the pasture of her grandfather’s old ranch. Her tears were no longer falling and she saw that old Mustang looking at her with his big brown eyes. As she quizzically tried to take in where she was, she heard footsteps and turned around to see her grandfather and Roger standing there. They opened their arms to hug her. The wind softly blew her hair off of her shoulder as took a small step toward them, still trying to make sense of what she was seeing. “Cheyenne, there you are!” She turned towards the voice and saw Chuck coming out of the barn, smiling at her; followed by a bark and Gus running out from behind him. She noticed Gus’s gray hair was gone and he bounced like a puppy again.
Fear had finally let go of its hold on her as she hugged her family and felt the warm sun again bathe her in its light. She was finally at peace.