Canyon?”
“I’m getting to that. You are aware of the internal warring that went on in Ireland for years, right?”
Rachel nodded her head as Jessica proceeded with her story. “Apparently, our very own Mrs. Riley is the great-great granddaughter of an Irish rebel militia leader. Once again, through the spoils of war and what not, the necklace fell into yet another pair of hands. Only this time, they’ve managed to keep it in their family. Until now, that is.”
“How do you know so much about this, Jessica?”
“Mrs. Riley is Irish. She’s a natural born storyteller. You should meet her sometime. If you spend more than ten minutes with her, you will hear some of her stories for yourself.”
“This is incredible, almost unbelievably so,” Rachel said stunned.
“Well, I would love to stay longer, but I really should get going. I have a heavy class schedule tomorrow. I have ecology, natural history, range plants and rock climbing all in one day. ”
“I’m exhausted myself. Thanks again for the food. Next time, I’ll take care of dinner, okay?” Rachel asked.
“You’ve got yourself a deal. I never pass up a free dinner. Goodbye, Brutus, it was so nice to see you again,” she said as she bent over to kiss him goodbye. He in turn licked the whole side of her face. Laughing, she shrugged into her coat and climbed in her Jeep. Standing in the driveway, Rachel watched her new friend drive off in to the night. “Come on, Brutus. Let’s go inside and get ready for bed.”
Brutus got up, stretched his long legs and yawned. Together, they walked inside the cabin. Rachel made sure to secure the lock on the door. Turning out the light, she took one last look out the window. The forest was dark and quiet. She prayed it would stay that way until morning.
Chapter 7
Sunlight streamed through the bare window of Rachel’s bedroom. It felt wonderful to sleep in her lake-size bed again. Stretching like a cat, she ran her hand across the ornately carved rosewood headboard. It had been an extravagant impulse purchase from the advance of her first book sale. She’d fallen in love with the set at first sight and just had to have it. The matching chest of drawers and vanity table added a touch of a Victorian theme to the room.
Brutus began to stir as she climbed out of bed. “Good morning, Sunshine.” Together, they made their way to the kitchen. Opening the door to let him out, she went to start her coffee. Throwing the jar of instant coffee in the trash was self-gratifying. She began to salivate as the aroma of fresh brewed coffee began to permeate the air. She impatiently waited for the coffeemaker to finish brewing and poured herself a cup. “Bless you for bringing me real coffee, Jessica Bradley,” she said, toasting her friend as she sipped the hot liquid.
Hearing Brutus bark, she walked outside to the patio table to watch him play. The morning chill added a rosy color to her cheeks and after dashing back inside for slippers, she settled down in her chair to watch him chase after squirrels.
The sky is so incredibly blue. Not a trace of smog in the air. A smile curved her lips. The early morning mist clung to the red rocks, blanketing the forest in a soft, subtle glow. Cottonwood, pine and pinion trees all stood regally, arms outstretched high to capture the warmth and life giving light from the sun. Brutus shattered her tranquil moment by running up and slapping a wet paw in her lap. “Oh, you little stinker!” she squealed. “You’ve been playing in the creek, haven’t you?” He replied by shaking out his fur, spraying her with water droplets. “Thanks for the shower,” she sputtered. “There is nothing I like better than the smell of wet dog in the morning.” She ran inside to fetch a towel to dry him off with. “Wet dogs do not come in the house,” she said sternly. He dropped his head, tucked his tail between his legs and pouted. “Come here, sassy pants,” she ordered. Brutus slinked
“I’m getting to that. You are aware of the internal warring that went on in Ireland for years, right?”
Rachel nodded her head as Jessica proceeded with her story. “Apparently, our very own Mrs. Riley is the great-great granddaughter of an Irish rebel militia leader. Once again, through the spoils of war and what not, the necklace fell into yet another pair of hands. Only this time, they’ve managed to keep it in their family. Until now, that is.”
“How do you know so much about this, Jessica?”
“Mrs. Riley is Irish. She’s a natural born storyteller. You should meet her sometime. If you spend more than ten minutes with her, you will hear some of her stories for yourself.”
“This is incredible, almost unbelievably so,” Rachel said stunned.
“Well, I would love to stay longer, but I really should get going. I have a heavy class schedule tomorrow. I have ecology, natural history, range plants and rock climbing all in one day. ”
“I’m exhausted myself. Thanks again for the food. Next time, I’ll take care of dinner, okay?” Rachel asked.
“You’ve got yourself a deal. I never pass up a free dinner. Goodbye, Brutus, it was so nice to see you again,” she said as she bent over to kiss him goodbye. He in turn licked the whole side of her face. Laughing, she shrugged into her coat and climbed in her Jeep. Standing in the driveway, Rachel watched her new friend drive off in to the night. “Come on, Brutus. Let’s go inside and get ready for bed.”
Brutus got up, stretched his long legs and yawned. Together, they walked inside the cabin. Rachel made sure to secure the lock on the door. Turning out the light, she took one last look out the window. The forest was dark and quiet. She prayed it would stay that way until morning.
Chapter 7
Sunlight streamed through the bare window of Rachel’s bedroom. It felt wonderful to sleep in her lake-size bed again. Stretching like a cat, she ran her hand across the ornately carved rosewood headboard. It had been an extravagant impulse purchase from the advance of her first book sale. She’d fallen in love with the set at first sight and just had to have it. The matching chest of drawers and vanity table added a touch of a Victorian theme to the room.
Brutus began to stir as she climbed out of bed. “Good morning, Sunshine.” Together, they made their way to the kitchen. Opening the door to let him out, she went to start her coffee. Throwing the jar of instant coffee in the trash was self-gratifying. She began to salivate as the aroma of fresh brewed coffee began to permeate the air. She impatiently waited for the coffeemaker to finish brewing and poured herself a cup. “Bless you for bringing me real coffee, Jessica Bradley,” she said, toasting her friend as she sipped the hot liquid.
Hearing Brutus bark, she walked outside to the patio table to watch him play. The morning chill added a rosy color to her cheeks and after dashing back inside for slippers, she settled down in her chair to watch him chase after squirrels.
The sky is so incredibly blue. Not a trace of smog in the air. A smile curved her lips. The early morning mist clung to the red rocks, blanketing the forest in a soft, subtle glow. Cottonwood, pine and pinion trees all stood regally, arms outstretched high to capture the warmth and life giving light from the sun. Brutus shattered her tranquil moment by running up and slapping a wet paw in her lap. “Oh, you little stinker!” she squealed. “You’ve been playing in the creek, haven’t you?” He replied by shaking out his fur, spraying her with water droplets. “Thanks for the shower,” she sputtered. “There is nothing I like better than the smell of wet dog in the morning.” She ran inside to fetch a towel to dry him off with. “Wet dogs do not come in the house,” she said sternly. He dropped his head, tucked his tail between his legs and pouted. “Come here, sassy pants,” she ordered. Brutus slinked
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