Memories of Distant Places
Chapter 1
The sun was barely starting to rise, but the Longhorn ranch was already abuzz with activity. Ranch hands were finishing their breakfast in the bunkhouse. Horses stirred quietly in the corral, fresh and eager to start their day. Two young men were carrying wood and water towards the main house. One a brunette with curly dark hair and light brown eyes. The other was only a couple inches taller with blond hair and the clearest sky blue eyes. They didn't speak to each other, but rather they seemed to just be enjoying the other's company along with the quietness of the early morning.
Matthew Houston, owner of the Longhorn Ranch, stood on the covered porch of the main house, leaning against one of the porch columns and lazily smoking his pipe as he watched the two boys approach the house. He was not a tall man, standing only 5'09" but he was strong. Years of ranch work and the harsh and sometimes unforgiving land of the New Mexico Territory had a way toughening a man and not only on the outside. But he was lucky. He'd married his childhood sweetheart just as soon as her pa had given the ok. She'd been only 16 then, his beautiful Jenna. A good six inches shorter than him but her size was no indication of her strength. Many a time she'd been the pillar of strength that he had to lean on, but she always said that it was the love they shared with just a bit of true grit that made them be able to weather all the hard times. And these last few months had been the hardest time yet.
Now, looking out at the two boys, he felt a wave a gratitude wash over him, and he knew it would be sometime before he would ever be truly over it. Just two short weeks before, he had just about given hope on ever seeing his son again. The ranch crew had split up into small groups and was scattered over the ranch rounding up cattle in preparation for the drive that was soon to start. A band of Comanche had seemingly come out of nowhere, and Matthew's son, Tobey, along with Jake a friend of the family had tried to get to cover. There just wasn't enough time. Two men were killed and the third, Jake, had been left for dead. Tobey had been taken. That was four months ago. All traces of his son seemed to simply vanish like tracks in a sandstorm, and ultimately, Matthew hadn't hesitated in turning to the Comancheros for help, offering gold and cattle in exchange for finding information about his son.
"G'mornin' boys," he said pulling himself out of his reverie.
"Morning," the two young men echoed back.
"After you set those things inside, would you mind coming back out. I'd like to talk to you both."
"Sure," Tobey said.
In no time they were back and comfortably seated. Matthew gathered his thoughts as two pairs of expectant eyes stared back at him.
"William," he said turning to his son's friend and taking a seat directly in front of them both. "I know you've had a rough time, but you've done so much for my family and for me. You brought my son home," he said looking affectionately at Tobey, "and that's a debt to you that I'll never be able to repay. Do you have a home - folks somewhere?"
"I think so. I‘m just not quite sure where that is." William wasn't lying. For the most part, his past seemed to be one big blank. Except for a few, hazy memories. Although how old or recent they were, he was unsure. He couldn't even remember his last name, but there were faces. A beautiful, blond woman with eyes as blue as his, a man who's face was toughened by time and a none-too-easy life yet with gentle, expressive hazel eyes…
"Where are you from? You said that you traveled south for the most part to get here. So maybe your folks are up north."
“Apache? Their territory goes out west,” Matthew said more to himself, “ through the Arizona territory. Do you remember anything about where you come from?”
“Just a name really. The Chaparral.”
“The Chaparral?” he repeated incredulously.
“You know it?” Billy froze, eyes wide in anticipation.
“That’s one of the biggest spreads in Arizona Territory. James, my oldest, also owns a ranch out around the Tucson area. Anyway, the owner of the Chaparrel is a man, name of…Cannon, John Cannon.”
Billy shook his head solemnly at the expectant looks directed his way. “Don’t know the name.”
“But you're sure of this Chaparral?" he asked.
"I know it's a place," William said, "out in the desert somewhere - a ranch maybe, but I'm not even sure of that."
"Son,” the older man said to him. How that word tugged at him. He was somebody’s son, wasn’t he? “I want to help you. So, if you’ll let me, I’ll wire my son, James. You can stay with him while you’re out there. See if this place brings back some memories.” Billy looked up in surprise.
“And if you don’t find what your looking for, you have a home here.” Tobey placed a hand on Billy’s shoulder and squeezed reassuringly.
Matthew smiled a small smile. It would be nice to have another son, but he also hoped that somewhere out there was a man who hadn’t given up hope of being reunited with his son. “I’ll make all the arrangements.”
Billy watched the older man head to the corral, saddle his horse and ride out. “I’m gonna be sorry to leave, Tobey,” he said to the young man at his side who’d been his friend these last four months.
“And I’m sure gonna be sorry to see you go. What with both of my brother’s having places of their own… The ranch hands are pretty decent guys, but it’s not the same. I guess what I’m trying to say is…”
“I know,” Billy smiled at his friend. “You’re a good friend.”
“What I meant to say is your like a brother to me, and if you ever need anything…”
“I’ll holler.”
That evening, after dinner, Blue stood at the corral. A mixture of both excitement and dread filling him. He hoped that the end of this journey would hold the answers that had been haunting him for what seemed an eternity. Yet finding nothing at all would be a hollow victory compared to finding out that there was no home for him to go back to. As he stood under the coolness of the night, he wondered if there was an empty place at a dinner table because his chair was empty and if there was someone who missed him. The faces of the blue-eyed woman and the hazel-eyed man flashed through his mind bringing a small solace and comfort to his lonely heart.