Cheyenne (2 page)

My parents were excited about this trip. They had been planning it for months, and the warm weather was a bonus. It didn’t matter what the weather conditions were, though; they were not intimidated by storms in the least. I can’t say I felt the same way. My parents were excited to get away, to have time to talk, they said. They had mentioned there was something they wanted to discuss with me. My mom wouldn’t give me any hints, but she said that I was finally old enough to know and to understand whatever the big secret was. I was an only child. My parents had adopted me as an infant, as they were unable to have children of their own. Did it have to do with my birth parents? I wondered.

My phone vibrated. It was my mom. “We’re running late. Be home soon,” the text read.

I replied, “K. See you soon.” I hit the send button and “network error” displayed. Argh! What a pain this was becoming! Apparently, they hadn’t stopped to get it fixed yet. I would have called, but when my phone gave that display, nothing would go through. We didn’t have a land line anymore, only cell phones.

My stomach growled. I glanced at the clock, and it was after five thirty. Grabbing a yogurt and bottle of water from the kitchen, I rummaged through the pantry for some granola bars. I ate my snack and waited patiently for them to arrive.

Seven o’clock rolled around, and they still weren’t home. I was starting to grow anxious. Because we lived on the outskirts of town, the airport was at least an hour and a half away. It took me over half an hour to get to school. I began pacing. Another fifteen minutes passed, and I picked up my phone again to text both my mom and dad.

“
Where are you? You said late, but how late?” I hit send, and there was no error message this time. I fiddled with my ring as I waited. My mom was usually really quick with her replies—she never kept me hanging. Five minutes passed and nothing. I dialed her number. Thankfully it rang, but it went straight to her voicemail.

“
Mom, where are you? I’m getting really worried. Call me.” I hung up and immediately dialed my dad’s number. It also went to his voicemail. “Dad, what’s going on? I thought you would already be home. Please call me. I just want to make sure everything is alright.” I pressed end and waited.

My heart began to thump as I waited. Something wasn’t right, and I felt it down to my bones. The computer! I ran to my laptop and immediately began searching the internet for any recent news. My imagination was running out of control. I tried to convince myself that they were just delayed because of some road construction, or maybe there was an accident on the highway and they weren’t able to get around it. If I was having network errors, then what was there to say they weren’t also? Maybe they were in a bad zone and couldn’t receive my texts or voicemail. They would be calling any minute. I was sure of it.

The internet and television provided no information. My shaking hand hit the off button on the remote. I glanced at the clock hanging above the antique desk in the corner of the living room. It was now ten p.m. My head jerked to the sound of tires on the gravel drive and then a car door closing. Relief washed over me, and I headed towards the front door.

Pulling it open, I saw the last person I would have been expecting.

“
Cheyenne Wilson?” a warm, deep voice said as the man stepped up on the porch and into the light. It was the local sheriff. I had met him a couple times with my parents while in town.

“
Yes?” I held onto the doorframe to steady myself.

“
I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Sheriff Taylor.”

“
Yes,” I replied with a shaky voice. “I remember you.”

Hesitating, he took a step closer. His brow was creased and his jaw tight. His fingers were white from pressing so hard on the hat he held in both of his hands.

“
May I come in?” he asked. “I need to talk with you.”

Blinking, my breaths grew heavier. It couldn’t be good news. “S-sure,” I replied and stepped further into the hall. I swallowed. “Watch your step. My parents and I are going camping this week. I have all the gear out in the hallway.” I tried to remain calm as I said it, tried to distract myself from thinking about the real reason he had come.

Nodding, he walked into the living room. I slowly closed the door and followed. He had turned towards me and was waiting.

“
Can we sit?” he suggested.

Numbly, I walked to the couch, and he sat on the coffee table in front of me. “W-what’s going on?” Suddenly I was trembling in dread.

“
Cheyenne,” he said softly, as he set his hat on the table next to him. “I’m afraid I have some bad news for you.”

Everything froze in place when he said those words. I didn’t move. I didn’t breathe. I didn’t blink or swallow.

“
There was a terrible accident, and your parents, Gene and Alexis, were involved.” He hesitated as his hazel eyes searched mine. “I’m sorry. They didn’t survive.”

The tears began to stream down my cheeks. All I could hear was the ringing in my ears along with the words “they didn’t survive.”

“
Cheyenne?” His face grew concerned, and his hands locked on my arms. My parents were gone—gone! They were in an accident, and they didn’t survive! I should have gone with them. Why did my mom insist on me staying at home? I should have been there with them. Why didn’t I tell them that I loved them before they left? I had said it when I was little, but it had been years since I told them…said those three words. I love you. For some reason, we just stopped saying it. My heart was cracking, and the pressure was pushing me down. I felt my eyes roll to the back of my head, and I tumbled over.

I felt so numb.

A cool washcloth touched my forehead, and I came back to my senses with a deep breath. The sheriff was speaking quietly on his phone. “Joni, I think you need to come by the Wilsons’ place. Cheyenne passed out when I told her. I’d feel better if you came. I’m not sure what to do for her.” He paused. “Okay, see you in a few.”

Forcing my eyelids to open, I watched him bend down in front of me. “Cheyenne, my wife Joni is coming. She’s a nurse, and I want her to check you out. She’ll be here shortly. I need you to just stay still and rest. I’ll be right back. I’m going to get you a glass of water.”

I nodded and closed my eyes. I heard him moving around in the kitchen. Quickly returning, he placed the water on the table before me. Vaguely aware of his presence, I stared out the small window as he paced the floor. This had to be a mistake. My parents would be arriving soon, and they’d clear this whole mess up.

“
Cheyenne?” the sheriff’s rough voice said, but I didn’t reply as he leaned down again and touched my arm. It was an effort to keep breathing.

Headlights broke the darkness—Joni had arrived. The sheriff went to open the door, and his wife made a direct beeline for me. She asked me a few questions as I drank some water. I managed to compose myself enough to answer. Moving to the couch beside me, she sat holding my hand as Sheriff Taylor began contemplating his next move.

“
You’re alone out here, is that right?” He was pacing the floor as his stubby hand began running through his thinning brown hair.

“
Yes.”

He took a deep breath. “I’d like you to consider coming into town with us until we can locate some additional family for you.”

Now, I was the one who took a deep breath. As much as I appreciated his concern, I just wanted to be alone until I could process that this was real. “I don’t have any other family. Gene and Alexis were my adoptive parents. My birth parents were killed when I was young.” I was surprised by my answer, as I had managed to say the words in a fairly calm, level tone.

The sheriff blinked and exchanged a glance with Joni as she squeezed my fingers. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were adopted,” she said tenderly.

“
It’s alright; it’s not like we announce it. I don’t remember my birth parents.”

“
What about any aunts, uncles? Are there any grandparents that you know about?”

“
My parents didn’t have any family left. It was just the three of us.”

The sheriff’s eyes saddened. He was hesitating and didn’t know what to say.

“
I’m eighteen, and technically I don’t require a guardian, but I’ll call my friend, if that will make you feel better,” I said firmly. “Right now, I would really like to be alone, if you don’t mind.” I needed to get them out of the house. I may have given them the impression that I was tough, but on the inside, I was crumbling away with every passing moment.

“
I’d really like for you to come with us regardless. I don’t think it would be…”

I cut him off as I stood, touching his arm. “I’ll be fine. Please, I really don’t want to leave my house right now. I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

We stood and stared at one another. A few tense moments passed before he relented. “I’ll be back out tomorrow to check on you.” He took Joni’s arm and led her to the door, only to turn around as he reached the hallway. “Do you promise you’ll call that friend of yours?”

“
Yes. I’ll call him as soon as you leave.”

“
Will he be able to come over?”

“
I don’t know, but I’ll call.”

“
Who?” His chin lifted and his jaw firmed as he called me on my lie.

“
Colt O’Shea; he’s a friend from school.”

“
Colt O’Shea,” he repeated, pulling the face from his memory. “The tall blonde kid?”

“
Yes.” I would contact Colt as soon as they left, but I didn’t know how soon he would be able to come. I was assuming he was already on his way out of town.

The sheriff nodded and took Joni’s arm again as they walked towards the front door. “I’ll be back out tomorrow afternoon. Call me if you need anything.” I nodded. He had left his business card on the table.

Standing in the doorway, I watched them enter their separate cars and drive down the long driveway. My strength faded with every passing second. I closed the door and bolted it behind me. I collapsed to the floor, my hand still holding the doorknob at an awkward angle, and began to sob. My heart was aching and every part of my being was crying out—screaming for my parents to return to me. All the words I should have said, all the love I should have shown. The three words that I would forever regret not saying…
I love you
.

My world was crashing down around me, and the weight of the situation was crushing me. I was alone now—I had no one else. Such a short amount of time I had with them, only eighteen years.

I stared unseeing at the equipment that was cluttering the small hall. I don’t know how long I sat there, but the torrent of tears finally subsided. My cheek was resting on the cold hard wood flooring, and my phone was still sitting on the end table by the couch. We were supposed to leave tonight…I would never have another minute with them, and never share another conversation.

Crawling to the end table, I picked up the phone. I knew I would not be able to compose myself enough to talk to Colt so I would have to send him a text. “My parents were in an accident; they’re never coming home.” I hit send and waited. My heart sunk into further despair as the network error message displayed across my screen. I dropped the phone and began to weep anew.

I managed to drag myself to my bed; the night was long and a never-ending deluge of tears and emotions flowed through me. The crying came in uncontrollable bouts, but somehow sleep found me and took away the pain. It was only temporary, as when I woke in the morning I realized it wasn’t a dream. It was real. My parents were gone from my life—forever.

Chapter 2

I fumbled my way through the following day by texting and trying to e-mail Colt unsuccessfully. The phone kept giving me network errors, and the internet was down as well. I vaguely remembered seeing a notice around from the phone company, saying they would be working on issues, and it may cause temporary outages. The same company provided the cell phone and internet. I was in no condition to drive to town and try a different method. I wanted to contact the sheriff, but I knew that if I did, he would become aware of my solitude. He would somehow force me to stay with him and his wife, and that wouldn’t work for me. I was better off at my own home. I didn’t need anyone hovering, constantly asking if I was alright.

Sheriff Taylor and Joni arrived in the late afternoon and brought me lunch. I managed to keep my emotions under control with great restraint as I spent the afternoon with them. We ended up at the kitchen table.

“
Cheyenne,” the sheriff’s voice held such sympathy. “We need to talk about burial arrangements. I can drive you into town on Monday, and we can go to the funeral home.”

I nodded. I knew this part was coming. Never once in my life did I ever think about burying my parents, and now I had to go to the funeral home on Monday.

“
Did you get ahold of Colt?” Joni questioned, as she squeezed my hand.

“
I’ve been texting him. He’ll get here as soon as he can.” It was the truth, though not the whole truth.

The chair squeaked across the kitchen floor as Sheriff Taylor rose. “Joni,” he said softly as he glanced at her and then back at me. “We’re going to leave now, Cheyenne. You call me if you need anything, okay?” Once again, I nodded and followed them to the door. “I’ll be by around ten a.m.”