Zahara

By Ginger Summers

A girl is thrown into a life of surviving on her own in the mountain forests of Oregon when her parents are killed in a car accident on the way to their summer vacation. A love of nature and art provides comfort through her loss and assists in renewing her hope for the future.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664142466

Ginger Summers

Ginger Summers has written numerous short stories, poems and is completing her first novel. Two of her short stories, Artist in the Woods, and The Chosen One have been published. Her first children’s book will be published in 2020. She lives in Loveland, Colorado with her husband and two sons.

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Zahara

GINGER SUMMERS

Copyright © 2020 by Ginger Summers.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 11/18/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

812916

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

PROLOGUE

Zahara was blessed to have the parents she did. As a nearly eighteen-year-old only child, she chose to spend time with her parents rather than occupy herself with the latest social media hot topics on her cell phone. Zahara used her phone for research. After her parents came home from work, the family hiked in the woods behind their home, learning things like what plants were safe to eat and how to make traps to snare a rabbit. That’s where her phone proved to be the most useful. When her father, William, stepped in poison oak, Zahara discovered that the apple cider vinegar she carried in her backpack could also be used if she stepped into poison ivy. Her phone also helped her mother know how to use plants for medicine and prepare them, so they were safe.

William loved to hike, and it surprised Zahara that his engineering mind did not always carry over into his love of nature. While he could solve the problems of safely crossing a flooded river, he still had trouble avoiding toxic plants. His wife, Anne, was excellent and had saved her husband’s life on more than one occasion. Her quick knowledge of using willow bark tea helped relieve a high fever when they were trapped on a mountain in Oregon by a flash flood.

On weekends, they took longer hikes. Her parents showed her what she needed to pack for safety for a walk in the woods, even if it was a short hike. They encouraged her to be prepared for every kind of emergency. They taught her how important it was to bring plenty of water and always have food to keep her energy up.

Though they lived in a suburb of Los Angeles, it was not a pleasant place once school was out. Since Anne was a psychologist, her caseload had increased as people felt the stress of growing violence. This had taken place for many of the last few years, and the family attempted to escape the heat and tension of life in the city. They had left their home the previous few summers and headed to the Oregon mountains and lived in the wilderness. This year, William and Ann had purchased a cabin in a mountain meadow and were looking forward to creating their new home.

William was excited to use the nearby river for the electricity they would need for a small refrigerator and freezer. He also planned to install solar panels to augment their energy and keep them from having to hook into the power grid. They packed the supplies they’d need for the summer. In previous years, when supplies would run low, they would live off the land for about a month. The family loved to backpack and camp. After supplies were gone, they would take a trip into town to have a break from their summer camping base and restock. They would stay for a few days and then would return to their wilderness life. Zahara always bought new art supplies when they went into town.

This summer, she could feel that something was different with this trip. It was as if her parents had a surprise in store for her. They kept glancing at one another as they packed and would fall silent and smile at each other whenever she walked into the room. And they were packing more than ever before! Instead of one pair of hiking boots, they made her pack two. Instead of just her jeans and down jacket, they had her pack two down jackets and her heavy pea coat. Maybe they planned on staying through the fall, and that was the surprise. She was glad she took those extra classes during the first three years of high school and only needed an English and an elective to graduate. She had chosen psychology. William was a whiz at English, and Anne could teach her psychology.

They certainly had something up their sleeves. A big box was brought into the back of the new SUV that had been purchased just that spring. Then there was another large, unmarked, sealed box in the back of the SUV. Zahara asked what was in the box, thinking it might be the easel she had requested for her birthday, which was the following week, but her parents just looked at each other and smiled.

Hey, Mom, can I go over to Susan’s house for a while? Zahara asked.

Yes, that would be great! Have a fun time, Anne said.

We will be leaving in a few days to head to Oregon. We have a big surprise for you when we get there, so be sure to say your good-byes. It will be a long time before you will see Susan again, William said.

Yes, Dad. I know, Zahara responded.

William smiled, knowing that Zahara would be excited to share her news from Oregon with Susan.

Zahara pressed Susan’s number on the speed dial of her new phone. Hi, Susan. I’m on my way. Can we meet at Coffee World for a drink and to talk for a little while before going to your house?

That would be great! It’s always fun to go there. I wonder who else will be there, Susan said.

It would be nice if I could see more friends from our class. It’s always fun to hear what they have planned for the summer. I can hardly believe we will be seniors next year, Zahara said.

Bye for now. See you in a few, Susan said.

Meeting at the coffee shop, Zahara and Susan found a booth. When Zahara saw her friend’s face, she knew something was wrong. Susan, why the sad face?

Always amazed at how perceptive her friend was, Susan replied, I just found out today that my dad got a new job, and we have to move this summer.

What a bummer, especially when it was going to be your senior year.

Yeah. That’s not the worst of it. We will be living in a tiny town in Oregon, Susan wailed.

Really? Where in Oregon? Zahara asked excitedly.

I don’t know. I didn’t ask because I am so mad at my dad and mom for not letting me know sooner, Susan said

My family always goes to Oregon to camp and backpack. We look forward to getting away from big-city life. I love the wilderness. It can be so much fun, Zahara said.

Really? What do you do? There are no malls to hang out at or shop or movies or any fun or social gathering, not to mention having electricity, internet, or social media! Susan said.

Zahara laughed. They have electricity in the towns. We don’t spend a lot of time there. I spend a lot of time exploring the woods and the rivers by myself, and you would be amazed at how much wildlife you can see. I love the opportunity to paint and draw what I see. My mom and I gather herbs and plants for food and medicinal uses. We create fun meals, build campfires, and cook over them or use our cookstoves. It’s what our family does all summer.

Wow! It does sound like you enjoy being out there. I have never camped or hiked. My family doesn’t do much together. My dad has always been busy working, and my mom, well, doesn’t do much, so I am on my own to entertain myself. This move will be devastating to me. I won’t know what to do without the city to do things in.

Would you like some suggestions? Zahara asked. Let me encourage you. Most small towns have internet service. There are usually some interesting stores to visit. They have nice little coffee shops or bakeries. Most towns do have a library. If not, they have an internet cafe, where you can go for free internet service. And you could look up parks and nature areas to explore.

"I’m glad to know I’ll have internet access. Maybe it won’t be as bad as I think, but it is still a huge change for me."

Yes, that it will be, but at least we’ll be in the same state for the summers. You can call or text me when you get there, and I’ll help you with the transition even if we’re in totally different areas.

All right. I love the plan! It will be fun. Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll look forward to hearing from you, Susan said.

Where would you like to go now? Susan, do you want to go to your house, or would you rather hang at the park?

I’d like to go to the park, Susan said with a smile.

Then, the park it is! Zahara agreed, smiling back.

I’m excited that the house sold so quickly, and the movers could schedule us in so soon, Anne said.

I know. They’ll be here next week to pick up the items for the cabin in Oregon that won’t fit in the SUV because of all our camping supplies, William replied.

I have arranged for the church to give our other furniture and things to those in need. I am so excited to have a fresh start since we have no family. The break with Los Angeles will be easy.

"I’m glad the cabin will have internet so that Zahara can maintain contact with Susan and her other friends.

Maybe once we get settled, Susan can join us for a couple of weeks in the summer. I think it would make it a little easier on Zahara if she knows she’ll be able to see Susan later this summer, Anne suggested.

That is a wonderful idea, honey. I hadn’t thought she might be able to see Susan sooner than I originally considered.

When the phone in her pocket rang, Anne swiped with a smile.

Hi, Mom. Would it be okay for Susan to stay overnight tonight? came Zahara’s voice.

Yes, that would be fine.

Awesome! Thanks, Mom. We’ll be heading over in about an hour, said Zahara.

What would you like me to fix for dinner? asked Anne.

I think it would be fun to grill some burgers and vegetables and have s’mores for dessert.

Alrighty then. Be ready for a great meal! replied Anne with a smile in her voice.

Thanks, Mom! You’re the best!

CHAPTER 1

The family stopped for lunch at the Sunshine Diner in Ashwood on the way up the mountain, where they indulged in chef salads and iced tea. They all knew that this might be some of the last fresh lettuce and vegetables and fruit they had for a long time. They headed up the canyon road. After an hour of driving, the skies turned dark as storm clouds gathered, encasing the road in darkness. A torrent of rain made navigating very difficult.

Zahara dozed in the backseat with her headphones on. The window was cracked, letting in the pine-scented rain, while the side window deflector kept the rain out. Suddenly, she was jolted awake as William swerved, scraping the guardrail as metal abraded against metal. Zahara saw the headlights of an SUV as it barreled toward them around a curve.

Lurching to avoid an accident with the larger SUV that was speeding around the corner and into their lane on the wet road, her family’s car skidded to the right. They continued to scrape along the guardrail, bounced over it, and plunged into the trees fifty feet below. The shock of the hit caused the side airbags of their Subaru Forester to deploy, causing Zahara to be flung away from the side so hard that dark spots clouded her vision. As she looked toward her parents, she tried to cry out, when suddenly, all went black.

Zahara regained consciousness slowly, encased in a white sheet and having a hard time breathing as the white dust that floated from the airbags entered her lungs. As she swatted at the airbags, she called out to her parents. There was only silence.

The last she remembered was her dad yelling, What the hell? as there was a sudden sound of the crash and the crunching of metal. When she looked around, she found her parents were both covered in blood. That metallic smell raised her terror, so she tore off her seatbelt and climbed out the window that had been left partially open to let in the cold mountain air. After moving a safe distance away from the car, she stood panting and staring at the mass of metal.

She approached the vehicle again and looked in the front seat. Remembering the EMT boot camp she had completed just that spring, she took off her blood-soaked jacket and checked both of her parents for a pulse and breathing. Even the advanced first aid she had so carefully studied would not help her parents. She was shocked as she realized that both her parents were lifeless, drenched in blood that had oozed out of their shoulders and heads. Becoming lightheaded, Zahara fell to the ground. As she slowly regained consciousness, she moved away from the front of the vehicle.

Come on, Zahara. You can do this. You know what to do in an emergency, she said to herself. You won’t be any good to yourself if you bleed to death. She felt a wet spot at the side of her head. She found the family’s first aid kit. She cleaned the blood from her head, putting a pressure bandage on the spot, glad that her family had created their own extensive first aid kit rather than the small prepackaged ones that most people carried, which only had Band-Aids and a couple of alcohol wipes. She cleaned the blood from her body, glad to see she only had minor lacerations and no deep cuts from the flying glass that seemed to cover her parents. By being in the back seat and having her window slightly open, she had been spared the majority of the shards.

Now, where’s my cell phone? she said in the silence, moving slowly, searching, but unable to find it anywhere. I probably wouldn’t be able to get a signal down here anyway. She continued to talk to herself, oddly calmed by the sound of her voice. Unable to climb back up the cliff, disoriented and unsteady when she walked, she sat down and cried, stinging tears of sadness. She pulled out her sleeping bag and curled up inside its warmth, soaking it with her tears as she mourned the loss of her parents. The sun had touched the tops of the trees to the west when she regained her orientation over the pounding of her head and knew what she had to do.

She hated the idea of having to bury her beloved parents, so the wild scavengers would not devour them. With another waterfall of tears, she set out to find a place to protect their bodies from the animal hunters. Scavengers wouldn’t be able to dig them up if they were buried deep enough or heavy stone was placed upon their graves. After retrieving a shovel, she looked for a place away from the car and started digging. Thanking God that the ground was soft from the rainstorm earlier in the day, she dug about three feet down.

I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to help you, Mom, Zahara sobbed as she laid her mother in the grave after pulling her gently over on a tarp and placing her next to her father. Dad, I wish you were here to help me through this. I’ll remember everything you’ve taught me, and I’ll remember how you made me laugh and see the beauty in things. Thanks for all you taught me about life and how to live it to the fullest.

Cries pierced the air as she proceeded to lay her parents to rest, covering them with another tarp to keep from damaging their bodies any more. She gathered some flowers from nearby and covered their bodies with the dirt she had dug up and placed heavy stones over their graves and then more soil. Zahara topped the graves with flowers, finally camouflaging the graves with large broken branches.

Exhausted and broken in spirit, she collapsed in a restless fit of sleep. When she awoke again, she was still disoriented. Then, looking at the SUV, memories came again. She knew the scent of blood would attract scavengers, and she wanted to be away from the vehicle when they came.

I’ll need to get the foodstuffs that are dried and sealed so that they have no scent. They’re packed in sealed containers so no smell can escape. As long as the container isn’t broken, it should be safe, she said to herself.

She knew she was talking to herself, but she remembered that sound could keep wild animals away, and if there were any campers in the area, she would have been happy to have their rescue. She didn’t want to think about anyone who was dangerously wandering in the forest.

Somewhere in the process of moving supplies deeper into the forest, she realized she was trying to find a place where she could stay close to her parents. I know that it’s not rational, but we always had such a good time on our trips, and I think I want to spend this summer doing what we planned, she said as she looked toward the cairn. I’ll find a place to stay where I can be near you, and then I’ll let people know what happened. Her voice caught on the final words knowing she didn’t want to leave her parents. Later in the summer.

She collapsed after carrying multiple loads of supplies from the car, realizing that she was exhausted. She wanted to finish unloading the SUV but knew she needed to put a protective barrier around it to discourage any wild animal from disturbing the vehicle. Zahara gathered all the supplies she had removed and hauled them deeper into the forest. She retrieved some of the gear reachable from the wreck out of the back of the SUV and some tarps to cover them once they had been moved more deeply into the woods.

A few army issue tarps and nets were placed on top of the SUV, as well as broken branches lying around the forest. She gathered her fire-starting kit; some dry wood stored in the back of the SUV; her fuzzy, warm, silky blanket that Anne made for her fifteenth birthday; and clasped the locket around her neck that her father presented with a picture of the three of them in front of a giant redwood they had camped by last summer. With another rush of tears, she snuggled into her blanket, wiping the wetness on it. Memories of that birthday were so wonderful. Her strong, sturdy backpack was essential for that summer camping vacation. It was so comfortable that she hardly realized the weight on her back when using it. As she continued to recall the happy memories of that birthday, she started to busy herself for the night. She prepared a small fire and kept it as much out of view as possible, not to draw attention to where she was.

"I’d