A Change of Life
Jesse and Laura Townsend turned their fifth wheeler pickup truck and horse box trailer combination into their new home in Utah. The couple had relocated from Texas after they both lost their career jobs in the airline industry, due to the worldwide Coronavirus epidemic. They had brought the last of their savings and their prized two show horses, Massey and Prince, along with their pet Alsatian dog Tex to their new life south of Tridell, Utah.
Jesse and Laura smiled as they saw the name of their new ranch in bold letters carved on a wooden sign post. “Anine” ,unaware of its true Navajo meaning the couple had fallen in love with the name and ranch over the internet and decided to buy without sight or inspection of the property.
After a 1 mile drive down their new driveway they pulled up in front of their new homestead. The building was a mixture of old and new with a Spanish villa look to it. Jesse, Laura and Tex after Jesses opened his back door, got out of the truck. Jesse put his arms around Laura and said “are you happy my love” ? ” As long as I am with you I am Jester” Laura replied with her pet name for her Husband. They kissed and took in the new vast property and homestead.
A loud deafening screech from the hillside sounded out getting their attention. The horses in the trailer started to stir and move about nervously. Tex let out a howling growl followed by a stream of barks.
“What the hell was that! Laura asked. Just the wild saying hi to us, Jesse replied. “We better let out the horses, Laura said unconvinced by Jesse’s answer to the screech. Together they both let down the ramp door on the side of the trailer. Massey almost bolted out, while Prince stamped and reared up at Jesse as he tried to hold the reins. “Something has them spooked, Laura said. “Just new home jitters”, Jesse replied. After some coaching they finally got the two horses into the stable pen. After feeding the horses and Tex and giving them some water they made their way into their new home.
Laura had finally finished sweeping out the dust in the their new home. It was late and Jesse still had not returned with dinner. Laura wished that she had swept before they moved all the furniture into the house, but they wanted it done before it got too dark. Tex had been running in and out of the house all day barking at imaginary figures and noises. It drove Laura crazy, but she guessed Tex was still getting used to the his new surroundings. Twice Laura had to check on the horses as they too stirred about. Laura put it down to the horses reacting to Tex. But now it was dark and Laura felt a bit insecure on
her own, in this big open space of land with no neighbours for as far as the eye could see.
That’s when she heard it! The most terrifying screech she had ever heard in her life, coming from the hillside. Tex let out a long loud howl of his own in reply. then the horses starting making noise. Laura grabbed her shot gun and checked the chambers, two cartridges were ready to fire. “Jesse, where are you” she said into the night sky. Then the screech happen again, it sent a shiver up Laura’s spine. Tex growled and raced off into the darkness towards the hillside. No! Tex No! Laura yelled, but it was no good Tex was already out of her sight. Laura then noticed a light coming from the other side of the property and swung the gun around to line it up with her sight. The light got brighter and she could now see two circles of light coming towards her. It was only when the truck stopped and Jesse yelled out, “its me”., that Laura lowered the gun. “Hun I know I took a while, but shooting me is a bit drastic”. Laura dropped the shot gun and wrapped herself around Jesse. “” Thank god your home”. Jesse held her tight, “what happened are you alright? No there was this loud screech coming from the hillside and Tex ran off into the darkness. Jesse look at Laura bemused and caressed her face and kissed her forehead, before giving her a big hug. “Honey were in the wild now, there will plenty of noises that we haven’t heard before”. “I know but this noise was different, it was terrifying”. “Come on lets get some food into you. I will check the hills tomorrow. Jesse put his arm around Laura and was just about to lead her into the house, where out of no where Tex came racing out of the darkness sulking. Jesse and Laura watched as Tex raced into the house, and skidded under the kitchen table whimpering. Laura looked at Jesse, “still think it was nothing”?
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