Our beginning

Prep for Next Time and Arriving Home

As we got the cabin ready for our next visit, I had so much on my mind and I had to figure out how to keep it all in when Mark and I weren't alone if I wanted to keep Zeava and her children a secret from everyone else. This was going to be the hardest 4 weeks I've ever experienced because I was horrible at keeping secrets, that were a surprise, from my children.

I had just had the most amazing Anniversary hunts that I could ever imagine to have and would probably ever have in my life but I couldn't tell anyone about it until we came back next month. At least, I could tell them about our first hunt which was amazing and let everyone know that the mustangs were well and had been getting comfortable enough to breed so there were twice as many as the last time we had seen them. Everyone was excited to tell the others about our visit with the mustangs and all about the twin foals that we witnessed being birthed. It would be nice to get back here and ask Zeava how everyone was doing. Not only did I have the most amazing mystical animal as a friend on my property but I had a care taker here for all the creatures that I wanted my land to protect. I would feel much better coming and going from now on with her here.

When we were all set up to go, I gathered up some treats for Zeava and secretly slipped them into the storage box that I had told her I would leave for her. Mark and I had already discussed what all we would need to bring with to add build ons for Lola and for Zeava. I also wanted to make emergency hide aways for her children here and there in the forest so we would need to bring the storage trailer. I was going to tell the truth about the add ons but not tell the kids fully what they were going to be for. I put some food out for the mustangs and then we all loaded up in my Excursion, this time we weren't bringing our bags back with us since we stocked shelves and dressers knowing we would all be back soon. The back of the truck was loaded down with prepped meat though.

We were all so excited to head home but we only got halfway down the dirt road through our woods before having a tree blocking our way. "Let's get it moved y'all, no ones gonna do it for us..." They seemed to be dragging their feet but Mark and I hopped right out to hook the chain from the from of my truck on to one end of the tree.

"Get back in, Chevy's going to pull it most of the way out of the way and then we'll drive around it. We can chop it up for fire wood when we come back or push it the rest of the way." Marky loved that our truck could do the hard stuff for us and I loved that he wasn't complaining about no one wanting to help. "Ok, you can pull forward again so I can get the chain hooked back up." and just like that we were back on our way.

"Did you see what had made the tree fall? I couldn't see it very well but I noticed you had walked over to the other end of the tree." I was curious but figured it couldn't have been anything bad since he wasn't concerned about leaving and hadn't said anything.

"It looked like a beever had done it but I'm not sure why it hadn't moved it out of the way. Were we close to any bodies of water for there to be a reason for it? You know the land way better than anyone else." he wasn't exaggerating about me knowing the land best, I had brought each of my children out to hunt alone since we got the land, gone out on my own to scout out the best areas to hunt for specific prey and gone hunting with him so many times that I lost count.

"Ummmm, I'm pretty sure there's a large pond over there but last I knew it had snapping turtles in it so why a beever would want to build a dam there I'm not sure. We should go fishing when we come back and make some turtle stew, I'll have to bring my recipe book for the proper ways to preserve turtle or it won't cook properly."

"That sounds amazing, we should figure out some new treats for the deer and mustangs between getting home and heading back here. Since we're bonding with the mustangs now it would be nice to have different types of food to feed them."

"That's a great idea.. I can put some mixes together and dehydrated apples for our next trip, I bet they would love it if I created some new dehydrated fruit and veggie bars."

"Mama?" I looked back at Ava in the rear view mirror in response for her to continue, "Do you think Love and Dusk will remember us when we come back?" she sounded hopeful but a bit sad that we were leaving.

"I'm going to guess that they will be the ones in the herd that we can bond with the most. When a horse is a new born the first to be introduced to it can be the strongest bonds they ever have. Their mother and father wanted them to be friends with us or they would never have allowed us anywhere near them. If a herd senses danger they will place the most vulnerable in the center of the herd and protect them at all cost but instead she got our attention and allowed us to not only be the first to see them birthed but also brought them to bond with us. What happened today in the meadow is one the highest honors in a herd of mustangs that anyone can imagine to ever experience. We will see them again, that I can guarantee you." I winked at her through the rear view mirror.

The rest of the trip home was pretty quiet, everyone fell asleep and I ended up driving in the darkness with only my thoughts to keep me company. This didn't bother me one but since I wasn't sure how I'd go 4 weeks without saying a word about Zeava and her younglings. The kids were so excited to go back after our time in the meadow but if only they knew what I knew they wouldn't have wanted to leave at all. With me driving we made it home in no time and as we got into town it looked like the city had fixed the bridges, it was nice to see things getting back to how they use to be again some what.

We pulled into the garage, at home, to see that the house was dark so I guessed that everyone was still sleeping. I was excited to find something to eat and go soak in my tub.

"Everyone up, we're home! If you're hungry I'm gonna heat some food up but if not you can go straight to your beds. I'll clear the truck out as soon as you're all out of the garage." I found some steak and mashed potatoes to put in the broiler and the over, then I went to get all the meat out of my truck and into the deep freezer in the garage. By the time I was done food was ready to serve and I was ready to go soak until I went to bed. I ate and then left everyone behind to disappear into the privacy of the second floor.