Descended (21 page)

It was a beautiful, sprawling log house that had huge glass windows running floor to ceiling, framing the dramatic Wyoming landscape. This scenic mountain ranch lay adjacent to the National Forest on the west slope of the
 
Bear
 
Lodge
 
Mountains where Vie and Carter first met. They got out of his Jeep and Carter invited them to join him as they all entered the massive custom wood entryway to the ranch. It was an awe inspiring atmosphere that surrounded the two Guardians. The home had a comfortable and warm environment that instantaneously made Vie and Gabriel
feel
like they were back home.  Carter told them to make themselves comfortable and he excused himself, calling out to his mom and dad. Vie and Gabe stood in awe, looking up at the soaring twenty-eight foot ceiling with elaborate full log trussing that greeted them as they waited in the great room.

“Nice place,” Gabriel said looking around the room.

“Nice?  That’s kind of an understatement don’t you think? Vie responded.

Carter retu
r
ned minutes later with his family in tow and started the introductions. His mom, Katherine, had kind eyes and greeted Vie with a warm, loving embrace. His dad, Thomas, a bit more reserved, welcomed them into his home. Then there was Sarah, his little sister who was five years old. Sarah had the face of an angel and a soul as pure as they come. She took to Vie instantly, following her around like a shadow as Katherine gave them the grand tour of their remarkable home.

Meanwhile, John poured a drink and asked Gabriel if he were old enough to join him. Carter paid close attention, wondering how old Gabriel was and if he were truly competition for him with Vie. Gabriel reached out and took the glass and John began talking to him about the job opening Carter had suggested. John and Gabriel hit it off right away and retreated out back, laughing and joking as if they were old friends. Carter waited at the dining table for the girls to finish with the tour. He couldn’t help but notice Sarah clinging to Vie. It was such odd behavior for Sarah since she is extremely shy, especially around strangers. The only kids Sarah played with were the children on the Reservation that Carter visited weekly. Carter’s mom says they are like kindred spirits and it is the only place where Sarah expresses herself. The only other person Sarah clings to in that way is her big brother Carter. He is her hero.

“Oh Vie, I meant to tell you that your singing at church last Sunday, well it’s just the talk of the town. I mean
honey,
really you have the voice of an angel!” Katherine complimented her.

“Thank you Mrs. Stone,” she said shyly.

Carter immediately froze remembering hearing the angelic voice calling out to him from behind the church door. It couldn’t be her could it? Oh my god it was her. It makes perfect sense. Everything about her drew Carter in deeper and deeper, but that voice….it was something he had heard before a long time ago in a dream. He had thought about that dream often and the voice that sang to him. “How could Vivian live here all my life and I not see any of this?” he wondered.

“Carter?” Katherine called him again.

“Sorry mom, what were you saying?” he said snapping out of his thought.

“You should hear Vie sing…she is amazing!” she praised her again.

“Actually, I did,” Carter said smiling at Vie.

“You did?” Vie said back to him. “I don’t remember seeing you at mass on Sunday? And by the way…why was that?” Vie said calling him out on skipping mass.

“Uh…
ummm
,” Katherine interrupted. “We’re being rude.  Why don’t we join the guys
outside.
”

Vie noticed the quick sidestep or rather the save by Katherine, especially since Gabriel constantly pointed out his numerous saves with her. Vie made a mental note to pick up where they left off when she has a private moment with Carter. She decided she was not letting him off the hook so easily on this one. Something told her there was a reason Carter was not at church and it was not sitting well with her.

They headed out back to join Gabriel and Thomas and Vie was in awe as she stepped off the deck that overlooked a scenic backdrop of breathtaking beauty that appeared to have no end. Carter watched as she scanned the property smiling at the enchanted wonderment that stretched for miles.  Carter quickly pointed out his passion for the ranch, explaining that the house being built to be energy efficient in the earth berm and having the landscaping done to blend in with nature were important factors.  Vie was impressed and Gabe just rolled his eyes.  There was a large cement and rock patio that led to a terraced area with raised flower beds.  Now Katherine showed off her passion while describing the many perennial flowers, bushes and trees covering the yard area.  It was and amazing mix of nature, including mature stands of pine and cedar timber, plus open meadows, hidden draws and interesting moss rock outcroppings, all making a naturally picturesque setting.  On the western side, the property extends up into the rugged terrain with a steep
rim rock
that was visible from the deck.  

Thomas talked about the specifics that made the land truly exceptional, like the pristine
pine covered hills, steep canyons with rock bluffs, open parks, aspen groves, high plateaus with unobstructed views, rolling hay meadows, pretty creek bottoms and bur oak draws that provided
an exquisite landscape to the ranch. Then Thomas discussed the surrounding area pointing out the fact that it was a prime habitat for many species of wildlife including mule deer, Merriam turkey, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, fox, eagles and hawks.  Gabriel pointed to a huge rock like formation off in the distance and asked Thomas what it was.  Thomas said it was a national monument called Devils Tower.  But Carter quickly corrected him by saying it was actually called “Bear Tower,” as originally named by the Lakota Indian Tribe, and that it could be seen from several spots on the ranch.  Gabriel looked at Vie noting the obviously touchy subject regarding Devils Tower and figured it was a subject that needed to be explored further. 

Little Sarah just boasted about the baby deer she often saw right in her backyard and near the fishing pond. 

“You have your own fishing pond?” Vie asked.

“Sure,” Sarah said.

Carter took over saying, “In the meadow there is a spring fed pond and a seasonal creek that runs through the valley for over half of a mile.”  Sarah whispered something into Carter’s ear and Vie watched as he shook his head yes in response to her.  Little Sarah smiled like a kid on Christmas morning and ran back over to Vie. 

“Can you keep a secret?” Sarah asked Vie in the sweetest little voice. 

“Sure,” Vie said leaning in for her whisper. 

“There is a secret cave Carter and I found on one of our adventures.  It led us to the most majestic place with the most beautiful waterfall you will ever see!” Sarah said beaming with excitement. 

“Maybe someday you and Carter can take me there?” Vie responded back in a whisper. 

Sarah paused for a moment and then looked at Carter for permission to take Vie with them on their adventures and again, he shook his head yes. 

Without hesitation, Sarah whispered back to Vie, “Okay, but it’s our secret.  You can’t tell another living soul. 
Pinky promise?”
  Sarah held her pinky finger up to cross with
Vie’s
in a binding contract of sorts.  Vie held her pinky out matched to Sarah’s and Carter smiled as they hooked together. 

Vie thought Eagle River Ranch was a truly rare find. The combination of majestic views, a picturesque countryside, live water, privacy, and wildlife made Eagle River Ranch a place you would want to enjoy for a lifetime.  The property had almost everything you could wish for in a ranch and the Stone’s offered everything you could wish for in a family. 

“This is all yours?” she asked excited and ready to explore.

“It is,” he said modestly. “Actually part of it is a conservation easement.”

“Conservation easement?”
Vie replied not knowing what Carter meant.

“Well, its primary purpose is to help protect the land from developers. You know preserve agriculture, the forest, wildlife habitats, clean water, air, or just scenic open space. I guess you could say I believe in leaving nature as it was intended, alive and flourishing for generations to come,” Carter explained.

“You’re pretty passionate about nature huh?” Vie asked.

“Aren’t you?” Carter replied already knowing the answer by the look in her eyes.

“Of course,” Vie said walking down the dirt trail.

“Oh and I was wrong about you,” Vie yelled back to Carter.

Carter just looked at her bewildered, wondering what she meant. Then she yelled back again “You’re not a prince….you’re a cowboy!” she said laughing and heading further down the trail away from the ranch.

Carter called out to his mom letting her know he was going to show Vie around the property. Katherine responded
,
“Don’t be too long,” knowing that it could take hours to tour the ranch.

“Be back before sundown!” he called back as he jogged to catch up with Vie who was already way ahead of him.

Vie continued down the trail laughing at Carter lagging behind her and then the tree lined trail opened up into a beautiful meadow of wild flowers. Vie ran out into the center of the meadow and turned to look for Carter. The sun glistened on her skin as she stood submerged in the field of violets that grew wild in the meadow, holding her arms out to her side, spinning freely in circles, while looking up to the clear blue sky. Carter stood at the opening of the clearing, captivated once again as he looked at Vie circling in the meadow.  She collapsed in the meadow, lying there marveling in its beauty, leaving Carter wondering where she was. Hidden by the mass of flowers and tall grass, Carter walked slowly through them calling out to her, but she did not answer. Carter began to worry and picked up his pace, now searching a bit more frantically for Vie.

“Vie….are you alright?” he yelled.

Just then Carter’s feet were in the air and he landed with a “thump” with Vie on top of him.

“You really should be more careful cowboy, you never know what dangers might be lurking out here in the wilderness,” she said with a victorious smile.

Carter sat flat on his back, still pinned by Vie, just staring silently up at the sky. Vie was wondering why he didn’t respond and what on earth he was looking at up there. She took her eyes off Carter and turned her head up toward the sky to see for
herself
what had captured his attention. In the blink of an eye the tables had turned. Once Vie had redirected her attention away from Carter, he took back control by flipping her over and pinning her arms over her head, firmly holding them to the ground with her waist locked between his knees. Now on top and gloating he responded, “And you should know
princess that focus
is the key to control when under attack,” he replied smugly.

“Touché,” she said softly
gazing into his piercing green eyes
.

They stared into each other eyes for a long quiet minute and then Carter slowly leaned down inching his way toward Vie, feeling an overwhelming urge to put his lips to hers. Vie began to sweat, her heart picked up speed, and Carter was so close she could smell his sweet breath. But the closer he got, the more bewildered he became, when he suddenly noticed
Vie’s
eyes subtly changing from blue to violet. Stunned by this peculiar alteration, Carter stopped.

“Wow,” he said pulling back from Vie.

“What?” Vie asked.

“That was weird?” Carter said still looking at her eyes, now noticing they were as blue as the sky again.

“What was weird?” Vie said wondering what stopped Carter in his tracks.

“Your eyes?
I could swear they were…” he said staring into them.

“Were what?” she said prompting him to finish his sentence.

“Were the color of these violets in the meadow?” Carter said reaching down, picking one and holding it up to the side of her face comparing the color up close. Violet brushed it off quickly by grabbing the flower from his hand and turning around to smell its scent. Vie wondered how he saw her eyes, or if in fact it was just the reflection of the sun cast over the meadow and onto her as she lay submerged in the thousands of violets in the field. But something inside of her told her that Carter Stone saw her clearly from her eyes straight down to her soul.

Just then they heard the sound of a twig snapping nearby. Carter immediately redirected his attention to the sound coming from the trees up ahead. “Come on,” he said grabbing
Vie’s
hand a pulling her up to her feet. He guided her off the path and into a thick brush of trees crouching down like a hunted rabbit. Vie was alarmed and excited at the same time, and oddly enough she felt completely safe holding Carter’s hand. He stopped behind a massive tree trunk covered in moss and put his
finger over his lips, letting Vie know
not to speak a word. Shifting patterns of
light from the sun illuminated through t
he forest and the trees stood utterly still, statues in a living museum, where no leaf dared to fall. Danger was upon them, Vie could smell it.