Arizona Skies

By Elaine Waldron

Arizona Skies is an extraordinary paranormal romance, touched by some hardships, but also filled with charm and the unexpected. It will take you to places you never dreamed possible – A delightful and heartwarming love story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elaine Waldron
• Release date: Mar 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301169429

Elaine Waldron

Elaine Waldron began her career as a novelist with Publish America, publishing her first two books with them. Aside from her novels, she has had numerous short stories published in various magazines and anthologies, such as Amazing Journeys and Trail of Indiscretion, winning best story based on cover art for issue #4. She was a newspaper journalist earlier on in her career, but shortly after leaving the newspaper, she began selling her short stories.Her favorite authors are: L.J. Smith, Stephen King, Stephanie Meyer, Jack Engelhard, and John W. Cassell. She enjoys Shakespeare and her favorite poet is Rainer Maria Rilke, and she mostly reads and listens to his works in German.She is an advocate for preserving our planet, believes in God, and recycles. Loves animals and has two cats.

Book preview

Arizona Skies

By

Elaine Waldron

Copyright 2012 by Sandra Elaine Waldron

Smashwords Edition

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Chapter One:

Rebecca Higgins peered out her front door at the golden sun slowly sinking into the burnt orange sky that appeared to go on forever out here in the desert. Something she wasn’t sure she would ever get used to – the vastness.

There was only one other house even visible this far out from Eloy, the nearest town. It, too, was a ranch style home and was at least a city block away, if one cared to walk. She could see it, looking left, from her front door. From here, it looked as though it was just on the edge of Battaglia Drive, but it wasn’t. The home actually set back at least a thousand feet. She knew this because she had passed it this very day as she drove home for the first time to meet Josie Brown, her realtor, who had let the movers in to put her things away, and then had come back when Rebecca phoned and said she was almost there. Josie had waited for Rebecca’s arrival to let her in.

According to Josie, a nice looking man in his early forties lived in the other home alone with his dog, a golden retriever. She didn’t remember his name, though. His wife of ten years had passed away from cancer about two years ago, and he had moved here from Los Angeles to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. At least, that was what he had told Josie, as she had been his realtor, too.

A gentle warm breeze, accompanied with it a bit of sand, blew in off the desert floor just as she shut the door. She turned and faced the spacious living room of her ranch style home she had just purchased, having moved from the coastal area of Texas to Pinal County, Arizona. The living room was long and spacious and looked out into the equally expansive kitchen that one had to step approximately a half foot up into. The floor there was white marbled tile, with specks of gold and silver. The living room was carpeted in plush ocher, blending in beautifully with her dark-brown leather sofa and recliner.

She locked her front door and headed for the kitchen, where the back wall was made of glass and had a sliding door. She unlatched it and stepped out onto the house-length patio. She’d already set up her 70mm refractor telescope that her late husband James had built, believing at the time that this dream house of theirs would be his, too, someday. Only he had died suddenly of a heart attack. No one knew until it was too late that he had a weakened valve from a birth defect. A month later, she decided she would fulfill their dream alone, as it was what he would want her to do, and had bought the house, leaving Alicia, James’ now grown daughter by a first marriage – Rebecca couldn’t have children – living with her boyfriend Greg back in Texas and attending classes at Texas A&M at College Station.

Already the stars were coming up; even this early, more vivid than any she had seen back in Galveston. Of course, there were places in the Texas Panhandle and desert areas that the stars were bright at night. Still, it seemed they were more vivid in Arizona than any place else she’d ever been.

Somewhere in the distance a coyote howled and she smiled to herself, but her eyes misted. If only James could have been able to hear it, too. Still, someplace deep within, she felt that maybe he was with her. She just couldn’t see him. She walked out across the marbleized patio floor that was embedded with colorful rock chips and went up to the telescope. The movers had stationed it in the center of the patio. However, looking around, she decided it needed to be further out from the house at the very edge of the patio floor, so any light from the house wouldn’t interfere. It was a little heavy, but she didn’t want to disassemble it and managed to lift it off the floor enough, with one hand on the scope and the other one of the tripod legs, to take it to the far left corner and place it down right on the edge.

There. That should do it. Her gaze traveled to the rusty gold Picacho Mountains. They would block the stars at the horizon, but that was okay. She still had a vast array virtually in every direction to marvel at. Besides, she was also interested in exploring around the mountains, wanted to find some of the petroglyphs she had heard so much about. There would be plenty of time for that, though.

First things first. The movers had put her things away, but she knew from past experience that it would take her a while to locate everything and possibly arrange some differently. Right now, time was one thing she had plenty of. She knew she should get back to work and finish the second novel in a paranormal romance she had had some minor success with, but since James had passed away, she just couldn’t seem to get herself back into it. Anne Wiles, her editor with Daeko Publishing, had been very understanding up until now, but had been inquiring lately as to when she thought she might continue on with her work. Rebecca told her that she would do her best to return to it as soon as she was settled in. Anne had been pleased to hear that, and said she hoped that Rebecca would be able to continue with it without any more problems.

Aside from her royalties she now received from the first book, she also had plenty of money left over from James’ insurance, enough to do her for a couple of years, at least. The house was paid for, free and clear. She had sold their home back in Galveston, which paid for most of the new one. At that moment, money was one of the least of her worries.

She was anxious to begin her stargazing, but tonight she was simply too tired, exhausted from long hours of driving and having very little sleep. She went inside, made herself a peanut butter sandwich and went off to her bedroom to see if she could locate her pajamas.

After a five minute search, she found them neatly tucked away in a bottom drawer of her chest-of-drawers. Twenty minutes later she was ready for bed and it was only a little past ten, just getting good dark. She turned the small television on she’d had set up in her room. The satellite dish was working okay. Good! She had been anxious about that; afraid it might not be in service yet. The next thing she tried was her laptop. She had her desktop hooked up in the den. She was also relieved to see that her internet was up and working too, which meant she had a phone line. She’d have to run into Eloy soon and purchase a phone for the house. That was one thing she hadn’t brought along. At least, she could check her emails and let Alicia and Anne know she had arrived in one piece.

After checking her emails, she turned out the light and plopped down on the bed. Jeeze! she said, staring into blackness, hadn’t realized just how dark it would be with no light on in the house. Dumb ass! she said to herself. No streetlights way out here.

There was another sliding glass door from her bedroom. She jumped out of bed and went over to it. It didn’t seem so dark outside. There was no moon out but even from there she could see the brilliant stars. Now, she said softly, I can live with this. She opened the door and stepped out, as it also led to her patio. She stared up, amazed at the magnificent array overhead. The Milky Way was breathtaking. Some of the stars appeared huge by comparison from any place else she’d ever been. She moved on out to the middle of her patio, craning her neck and staring up straight overhead. A pinpoint light flashed across the sky and she squealed in delight like a child. The flash of light was followed by another and then another. Shooting stars. Wonderful! Several more shot by and then the display stopped. She stood there for a couple of more minutes hoping, but no more came. Well, guess that’s it for now.

Just as she headed back for her bedroom door a dog barked somewhere, and then suddenly there was a bluish light shining from above and behind her, besides being too high up for a car’s headlights, it was from the wrong direction, nothing but desert. She could clearly see her silhouette on the marbled patio floor. She swung around. Oh my God! Just above the mountains was a shimmering halo of blue light and it was rising higher and higher. Goodness! She stood there gawking, wondering what it could be. Then she took a step back as a large, saucer-shaped craft rose up and hovered momentarily just over the mountains and then suddenly shot straight up into the zenith, quickly disappearing into the stars. It had made no sound; all was perfectly silent except for the barking dog. Oh my God! Was all she could utter, trying to grasp what she had just witnessed. Had she just seen a UFO? She knew there was an RV resort in the area and thought surely someone besides her had seen the craft, whatever it was.

Now, the dog barked more excitedly. Rebecca realized it had been barking the whole time the mysterious craft had been there. She concluded that it must be her neighbor’s golden retriever Josie had told her about. It occurred to her that maybe she should get a dog. It might be a little lonelier and spookier out here than she had anticipated.

She hurried on inside and quickly latched her glass door, slipping in a rod at the bottom, that had been made for that very purpose, to keep anyone from prying the door open, if they were able to unlock it. She then quickly pulled the drapes closed across the door and turned on her hall light; leaving her door cracked open slightly to let the light in and went to bed.

Michael Grant had seen it, too. It wasn’t the first time he had witnessed this unworldly phenomena. It’s okay, Sam, he said to his dog, as they stood on the back patio still staring off towards the mountains. It’s okay.

The dog whined excitedly and wagged his tail, seeming to understand his master’s words.

Wonder if our new neighbor did. I’m thinking that if she did, it probably scared the bejesus out of her.

As though he agreed, Sam woofed.

Tell you what. We’ll take a walk that way tomorrow before it gets too hot. Introduce ourselves.

Sam yipped excitedly.

Oh! You think you’d like that?

Another short bark.

Okay… It’s a definite plan… Come on, boy. It’s late. Time to call it a night. He slid his glass door open and let Sam run in ahead. Then, just before he closed his door, a couple of shooting stars blazed across the night sky. Um… I’ve always been a little suspicious of some of those. I know this is Arizona, but if I recall correctly, those things are always more plentiful when we have a ‘sighting’. He went on in and closed the door.

Rebecca woke up to the ringing of her cell phone. It was Josie, wanting to know how she was doing.

I’m good, Rebecca replied, yawning and rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Did I wake you?

Glancing at her digital clock on her nightstand, she replied, It’s okay. Ten. Past time for me to get up. Didn’t fall asleep until late.

Everything okay?

Sniffing lightly, she replied, I’m silly…Got kind of spooked last night. But I’m okay.

You sure? What happened?

It’s nothing. Maybe I was just tired and seeing things. But I saw what looked to me like some kind of aircraft come up over the mountains. It was shrouded in a pale blue light. It was also weird in the fact that it didn’t make any noise. Anyway, it shot straight up into the sky. Don’t laugh. I thought it might be a UFO.

Not laughing, Rebecca. Word’s around that some folks out camping saw something, too. Probably just some military reconnaissance plane. I wouldn’t think too much about it. It’s not that uncommon to see things in the sky here. Especially around the mountains. Folks around here are used to it.

Glad you told me. I’ll try not to let myself get spooked next time.

Changing the subject. Is there anything you need?

I’m fine. However, it’s really nice of you to ask. I more than appreciate it, since you’re the only soul around here that I know right now. And you were nice enough to leave me a few things in the refrigerator. I really appreciated that TV dinner last night. However, I need to do some grocery shopping today.

You’re more than welcome. Was glad to get it for you. Don’t know where you want to shop, but there’s Eloy’s OK Market and a new little store not far from you. Can’t recall the name of it though. There’s an Albertson’s over in Casa Grande.

Good. Right now, I’ll probably just go to the nearest one. I think I passed it yesterday on my way in.

I’m sure you did.

Maybe you could stop by sometime?

I was just going to suggest that. Sometimes Ralph drives into Los Angeles for a few days… He does some real-estate work out there, too. I get kind of lonely alone.

Come by then. Maybe spend the night, if you’d like?

You know, I just might do that sometime. She cleared her throat. Well, gotta get back to work. Homes won’t sell themselves. You have a good day.

You too, Josie. And thanks for calling.

Not a problem, She hung up.

After a quick shower and a breakfast of cornflakes that Josie had supplied, Rebecca decided she’d dress and either stop at the new store Josie mentioned, or drive on into Eloy and see what the stores there had to offer. She chose a pair of denim shorts and a red tank top, as it was at least ninety-five out; brushed out her long black hair and put it up in a ponytail. Tossing her brush to the side, she took her lipstick out of her purse and went to apply it – and froze.

The crystalline outline of a man – resembling a transparent sculpture – stood behind her. She gasped, dropped her lipstick and spun around.

No one there.

Brow furrowed and breathing heavily, she attempted to comprehend what she’d just seen. Had she really seen it? Her hand went to her chest, and she took several slow breathes trying to slow down her racing heart. Jeeze! she finally managed. I must be losing it! She stood there another minute, daring to glance around. Still nothing. No one. She breathed out heavily. Okay… Must have been some kind of weird mirage coming through the glass door from the desert. Only, I never heard of a mirage forming in a building before. Still, there has to be some explanation. Not quite ready to admit I’m crazy yet.

She jumped then as the doorbell rang. What the—? Had Josie come out without calling? Who else would be paying her a visit? She took another deep breath to calm herself, retrieved her lipstick from the floor and tossed it on her dresser and then hurried to see who was at the door, peeping through the small half-moon window at the top. Gee! A nice-looking man around six-foot tall with sandy hair, short beard and trim mustache stood there waiting for her to answer. She wondered if it was her neighbor. She eased the door open a crack.

Pardon me, ma’am, he said, smiling pleasantly, but I’m Michael Grant. Live just down the road a bit. Actually, I’m your only neighbor in comfortable walking distance. He held out his hand and she opened the door wider where they shook hands briefly.

There was a short woof and Rebecca noticed the golden retriever shadowing the man’s right leg.

This is Sam, Michael said.

Well, hello to the both of you.

I just wanted to stop by… introduce myself and Sam. Welcome you to the boondocks, he grinned charmingly. I take it that you probably moved out here for similar reasons that I did. You must like seclusion.

Thought I would… did, she answered honestly. My late husband and I had planned on this for years. Only he passed away a few months ago and I decided to go for it. I know that is what he would want me to do.

Sorry to hear about your husband, ma’am. Lost my wife not long ago. Cancer.

I, too, am sorry…Would you like to come in?

Kind of you to ask. But I know you just moved in and probably have loads of things to do.

Just need to run in and get some groceries.

There’s Jerri’s Meat & Veggie’s just down the road. Brand new store. Only been there about six months. And then there’s Eloy’s OK Market. And over in Casa Grande, there’s an Albertson’s.

Thank you! I did notice the little store on my way in yesterday. Only, I didn’t remember the name.

He stepped back. Well, I’ll go now. But you let me know if you need anything. I’m usually home. Work from my computer.

I’ll do that. Thank you.

As he strode off she realized that he and the dog had walked over.

Can I give you a lift? she called, sticking her head out. I’m leaving in just a minute.

That’s nice of you, ma’am. But Sam and I like to walk. Need the exercise…Especially since I spend a lot of hours on my computer working. I’m a programmer and analyst.

Sounds interesting. I work from home, too. She didn’t feel secure enough about her career as an author, yet, to advertise it to anyone. Well, thanks for stopping by.

You’re most welcome. He smiled pleasantly and walked on off.

She couldn’t help but notice that he had a cute, tight butt. Shame on me, she muttered to herself, realizing it was the first time she’d really noticed a man since James had died.

Jerri Durango was an amiable, stocky woman with chestnut hair up in a bun. She greeted Rebecca practically with open arms, when Rebecca told her she’d bought the new ranch style home a few miles down the road. I’m sure glad you decided to stop by, Rebecca… Is it all right if I call you by your first name?

Certainly.

And you call me Jerri.

You live out there close to where folks see weird things… lights and other things in the sky at night, a young masculine voice said.

Rebecca noticed a teenage boy with spiked, dark auburn hair hunkering down, stocking canned goods. Excuse me?

Don’t pay him any heed, Jerri said. That’s Peter, our son. He’s got it in his head that there’s aliens watching us.

The boy stood. He wasn’t real tall, about five foot eight, but he was well built. He reminded her of Marshall Allman. I’m not the only one, Mom. A lot of folks around here think there’s alien’s about.

Pshaw, boy! No such things as aliens. She finished sacking Rebecca’s groceries and smiled up at her apologetically. Like I said… Don’t let that alien nonsense scare you. We’ve been seeing strange lights out there, off and own, for years. It has to be the government working on something. And you know the government, they don’t own up to anything.

Rebecca returned her smile. I don’t doubt that. She almost mentioned the odd craft she’d seen the night before, but she liked Jerri and didn’t want to embarrass her by saying that her son could be on to something. All she said was, Right. I won’t let it get to me. She extended her hand then and Jerri accepted. Nice to meet you. They dropped hands. She turned to Peter then. And nice to meet you, too.

You too, ma’am… And let me know if you see anything weird. He gave his mother a taunting grin.

She glanced at Jerri – who had an eyebrow raised, glaring at her son as though she wanted to scold him – and then back to Peter.