Prairie Fire to Mountain Skies

By Miriam Hampton

Having recently lost their mother in a car accident, fifteen-year- old Megan and her younger brother, Justin, find themselves moving to the mountains close to wilderness in Wyoming. It is a fresh start for their dad working now for an energy company and his wealthy elderly boss, who is their neighbor. There are many diversions for the teens in t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Dec 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781640886674

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Prairie Fire to Mountain Skies

Miriam Hampton

Trilogy Christian Publishers

A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Trinity Broadcasting Network

2442 Michelle Drive

Tustin, CA 92780

Copyright © 2019 by Miriam Hampton

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) taken from The Holy Bible, King James Version. Cambridge Edition: 1769.

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Manufactured in the United States of America

Trilogy Disclaimer: The views and content expressed in this book are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views and doctrine of Trilogy Christian Publishing or the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.

ISBN 978-1-64088-666-7 (Print Book)

ISBN 978-1-64088-667-4 (ebook)

Chapter 1

Sleeping in the front seat of the car, Megan woke up when she heard her father say loudly, This is our lane. They turned off the Wyoming highway and bounced on the unpaved road toward a house at the base of a mountain a half mile or so ahead of them.

Well, kids, this is going to be fun out here. Look at those mountains right behind our new home! Dave Johnson exclaimed.

You mean this is our dirt road and home just off the middle-of-nowhere prairie, Justin said from the back seat as he squashed a small bug on the car window behind his dad, then flicked it off the window. He stared beyond the smear to the neighboring ranch before them. They approached a gate with a cattle guard by some scrawny bushes and two mailboxes.

Gunshot!

It echoed loudly in the surrounding mountains.

They all ducked, and the Johnson car went into reverse suddenly. Dave stopped in a cloud of dust after a loud yelp sounded from the meadow to their left. He stared in that direction, then looked toward more bushes and fencing.

A young teen boy behind the bushes and a barbwire fence ahead of them yelled, You got him, Dad!

Dave Johnson laughed as he ran his fingers through his hair, breathing easier. It’s okay, kids. He headed again toward the grated gate opening that led toward their home tucked in the woods in the distance.

Now wide awake, Megan sat bolt upright, pushed back her auburn hair, and stared into the bright meadow past her dad, raising her voice, How could they just shoot that dog?

It’s not a dog, Megan. It’s a coyote, and I think these are our new neighbors. Dave Johnson stopped the car before the cattle guard and turned off the engine.

Why are we stopping? Megan asked.

Let’s introduce ourselves.

Megan grimaced as the rancher walked over and poked at the carcass of the coyote with his rifle. Coming back, he stopped to pick up his brass shell from the ground, then approached the car. His lanky young teen son followed.

Justin opened the back door of the car and stood by his dad.

You must be Andrew Adams, Dave said, reaching out a hand. Dave Johnson. This is my son, Justin, and the redhead in the car, who just woke up from a long trip, is my daughter Megan.

Megan returned his wave, fumbled quickly in her purse for a hairbrush, then tucking her hair behind her ears, slipped out and stood by her dad.

Call me Andy, and this is my son, Thomas, who looks about the same age as your son.

Almost fourteen, Justin grinned.

Thirteen, Thomas chimed in, adjusting his cowboy hat over his thick brown hair and slightly freckled nose.

Megan smiled and said, Almost ready to drive.

Dave reached an arm around his daughter’s shoulders and, with a hug, added, I’m afraid so. Oh, me.

Andrew returned a grin. I’m sure she’ll do just fine. Nice to meet you neighbors. My wife will be glad Thomas will have someone to play with this summer. My older son Drew may be able to introduce Megan to some of the local teens.

Can I see the coyote? Justin asked, his eyes glancing back and forth from the meadow to his dad and Mr. Adams.

Thomas’s eyebrows raised his cowboy hat as he looked at his dad, who nodded saying, I believe it’s dead, but just to be safe, don’t touch it and keep a safe distance for now.

The two boys ran across the meadow. Megan heard the excitement in Thomas’s voice as he yelled, He got him on the first shot! Inwardly she cringed, reliving the death yelp in her mind and thinking, I like animals.

Chicken coop raider, Andrew explained. Sorry if we scared you. Not exactly a proper greeting for new neighbors.

We’re just not used to gunfire. I guess coyotes could be a problem out here.

At times, they are. More often, it’s the foxes, coons, or skunks.

There must be a lot of wildlife around here that we’ll find out about, I’m sure, Dave looked around at the prairie and hills.

Yes, we’re close to Bureau of Land Management property here at the base of the mountain. Might not be a bad idea to have a rifle.

Justin came bounding back. Oh, boy, Dad. A rifle?

Maybe, Dave said, looking around again, raising his hand to shade his eyes as he looked toward the house in the distance. Are there wolves too?

The neighboring towns have seen them and say they’re coming this way, Andrew acknowledged. Don’t like that thought with calves.

I bet not. Guess we’ll learn the ropes.

I’ll be glad to help if you need it. Why don’t you take our phone number. He fished a wrinkled receipt and stub of a pencil from his shirt pocket and wrote a number on the back of it.

Thank you, Andy. I’ll enter it into our cell phones. Well, we’d better keep moving. We need to get in and get the place looking like home.

Your furniture came in a big truck yesterday, and there was a company man there to let them in. You work for Abramson Energy Company?

Yes, I do.

It’s a good company. The elder Mr. Abramson lives just a ways over that hill to the right of your home. We’re all pretty good neighbors out here.

Good information. Thanks again, Andy. Nice to meet you and Thomas.

Megan got back in the car, studying more carefully the mountains and dusty prairie around them. Wolves, coyotes, wealthy bosses, ranches, and guns. What am I doing here?

Justin waved out the window at Thomas, who was unhitching a horse under a tree past the cattle guard. Neat! They have horses. We should be able to have a pet out here, Dad. Right?

That’s a possibility if I have responsible children who will take care of it, Dave said, glancing in the rearview mirror at his son.

Megan watched the riders trot over the hill, then pointed to the right, It’s that brown house at the bottom of the hill. Right, Dad?

I think so. It’s the only house I see back into the trees next to the Adams’s ranch, past the first cattle guard. That’s what I was told. We’ve got a lot of unpacking to do, and I start work Monday. Let’s make the most of our weekend.

Yahoo! I get a pet and maybe a gun out here, Justin crowed.

Megan turned, and over the seat, caught his excited blue eyes, Better watch out, or the wolves will get you.

You didn’t even see the dead coyote. Justin threw back.

I did, and I like live animals, thank you. Megan settled into her seat and stared ahead at the house, calling over her shoulder, Just remember, after Dad, I get to pick my bedroom.

Now that sounds like my kids. Dave laughed.

*****

This is a miserable place, isn’t it, Justin? Megan stared defiantly out the back window of the house. We move to Colorado from Pennsylvania, and at the end of one school year, Dad has whisked us away to the middle of Wyoming. Look out that window! We get snow on our second weekend here.

Yeah, snow and slop, and it just turned June. Justin’s dull voice chimed in.

Slipping her hair behind her ears, Megan finished dusting the shelves in the living room. What a mud hole that prairie is, and to top it off, only two channels until the satellite dish comes. It’s a—she looked around, waving the duster in the air, searching for a word—a bummer!

Yeah. Bummer, Justin muttered agreeably, slumping down onto the arm of the couch, staring at the floor. And I’ve already done my list of chores.

Megan looked at her brother. He didn’t always agree with her, but they were terribly bored. Since their mom had died, the two of them had been left alone a lot together. His tousled brown hair needed combing. Really, he needed a haircut. They probably wouldn’t get to town often, and shopping—well, that was going to be nearly impossible out here in the middle of nowhere.

Sure wish Mom was here, Justin sighed sadly, falling backward off the arm of the couch, stretching and yawning as he settled into the cushions and stared at the ceiling. She used to make us those yummy chocolate chip bars.

Ouch! That was touching a compatible nerve. It was odd how her emotions about their mother could still hit her all at once. Think of something, Megan, or you’ll be bawling in a minute.

She went to the kitchen and checked the baking goods. There was a small package of chocolate chips, and Dad had bought flour, eggs, butter. He was determined to help them all learn to cook. Maybe they’d surprise him and pass the time, too.

A sudden loud thud and scraping sounds from the back porch made her jump.

Are you expecting Thomas? Megan asked over her shoulder. Tell him he needs to knock nicely, not knock down the house.

Could be, Justin mumbled as he rolled off the couch cushions and stumbled toward the back door.

Aa-aah! Justin whirled about, jerking his hand from the door knob as if it had stung him. I almost opened the door! he yelled. He jammed the bolt on the inside of the door and jumped back. Further back in the room, he positioned himself up on one of the cushioned chairs so he could see through the bottom edge of the higher, small back window without being in full view. The bigger window to the right of the door had the blinds drawn so they couldn’t see out at the moment.

A dark mass had raised itself up. It was ripping apart the porch screen door just a few feet from the now-bolted back door of the house.

Mega-a-a-ahn! Justin yelled. We gotta get out of here.

What in the world! Megan came around the corner of the living room-kitchen wall behind Justin. She stared through the same window, seeing the head and then the body of a huge black bear, standing up and entering the screened-in back porch. The screen door was trashed under its feet.

She froze, able only to stare. This can’t really be happening. Bears are in zoos.

Justin was beside himself.

What do we do? he yelled, throwing up his hands as he looked about frantically. Does this house have a gun? Get a knife quick! He ran to the kitchen and grabbed the two largest knives he could find from the wood block on the counter. He ran back, offering one to his sister.

She stood still, staring through the window.

Megan, take it, he insisted. He turned over her palm and placed the knife there. He held it until her fingers slowly closed around the handle.

Go for the jugular or try to get between the ribs if he comes at me first, he yelled, bracing himself and slashing the air. Where’s Dad now that we need him? The last statement almost became a whine as his changing voice cracked into a higher register.

Megan winced on hearing the desperation in his voice. Her stomach ached. God, you’ve taken our Mom. Now us? Are you angry with us? Please help us. Think, Megan!

She ran back into the kitchen.

Justin stood his ground where he could see the top of the predator through the higher window but began looking around for possible escape routes.

"Megan, where’d you go?" he yelled, his voice higher-pitched again as he practiced stabbing the air as hard as he could. He ran over and gingerly opened the blinds slightly to be able to watch the bear better, then ran back to the middle of the living room.

The screen door a wreck, the bear padded around the porch, sniffing all around. The large paws raked the rattan furniture, knocking the pillowed chairs around like toys. It then advanced to the back door and stood up, pushing hard on it with its weight. Hinges creaked and groaned.

He pushed again.

Slight splintering sounds could be heard.

Justin yelled over his shoulder, He’s gonna come in here, Megan! Let’s run to the Adams’s ranch.

The bear leaned to its right by the taller window and stood up, its head sideways as it stared into the house.

Look at the size of him! Justin grunted, and he swung hard into the air again with the knife.

The bear returned to the inside door.

Megan appeared suddenly, beating hard with one pot against another pan.

Whack! Whack! Wang! Whack! Whack! Wang!

Over and over, the loud noise clanged.

The bear stopped pushing on the door and retreated a few steps back toward the shredded screen door.

The banging stopped.

Megan, keep it up, Justin said, looking at his sister with a bit of relief in his voice. He moved away from the door.

She stood on her toes and craned her neck to look through the window without getting much closer. The bear sat down, and she could see the long dark muddy claws protruding from the wide front paws on the wooden porch flooring. Swung with force, they could easily rip and tear flesh. She looked somberly at Justin, on his toes like a boxer next to her, stabbing the air again.

His face lit up suddenly, and he stopped bouncing. He ran back into the kitchen, yelling, I’m going to call the Adams. They have guns. If we can at least hold him off. Bang more!

He came back with cell phone in hand, searching for the number they had been given the first day they’d arrived. Trying to keep the knife in one hand and cell phone in the other, he hit the speaker button.

Hello. Thomas speaking.

Thomas. Thank God! Justin yelled into the phone. This is Justin Johnson, your new neighbor. Send your dad or brother here as fast as you can. There’s this huge bear breaking into our house right now. We need a gun!

A brief look of relief passed over his face as they heard I will! and a click.

Hold him off, Megan! They’re coming. Whack the pans again!

I don’t want him to get too used to the sound, Justin. Only when he approaches the door, Megan warned. This bear is way too curious and not afraid. It’s as if he knows humans or has been here before. I remember from a nature show that they usually just want something to eat. If we have to, we’ll throw some peanut butter or something sweet to distract it and then run out the front door to the Adams. And there’s a tag in its ear. It must be a marauder. We can’t fight this thing.

Yeah. Justin took a deep breath and visibly relaxed his shoulders, admitting, That’s a better plan. Should I call Dad?

What can he do from work? We need immediate help, Megan reminded, her voiced plan calming her own adrenaline rush somewhat.

The words weren’t out of her mouth when the bear’s dark nose began sniffing at the window near the door again. Rising to its fullest height, it stared into the living room at them. Megan swallowed hard, stifling the scream that wanted to rise in her throat as the long muddy claws spread widely across the window. Her arms were stiff and unusually heavy and hard to move as she lifted the pans again. She mechanically banged them at first, but then looking at Justin, banged harder.

Whack!

Wang! Wang!

Whack! Wang! Whack! Whack-whack-wang!

It hurt her ears.

Justin covered his ears with his forearms, still holding the cell phone in one hand and the knife in the other.

The dark form got down from the window.

Without approaching the window, Megan stood on her toes and could see that the bear had just sat down in the porch area and was looking around.

Justin was straining up on his tiptoes to see, also. Megan, you’re right. It’s not afraid. Boy, is he big! I’ll get the peanut butter.

"Not yet, Justin. They can smell really well. He’ll smell