The Secret of Sentinel Rock (5 page)

Emily grinned back at Emma. “I bet you’d probably find them more comfortable for working in. You should try them sometime.” Then as Emily stretched her arms and yawned, she glanced across the valley. Gasping in surprise, she scrambled to her feet. She was in the past ­again.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” Emma sighed. “I love this wide open space, and the wind on my face.”

Emily agreed and peered at the raw prairie below her. Now she knew she hadn’t been dreaming yesterday, not unless she was having the same dream. And how incredible to be able to see the countryside as it once was, so lush and ­wild.

Emily fiddled with a strand of hair, twining it around a finger. Emma smoothed her ­wind-­blown pinafore over her dress, and Emily followed her gaze over the expanse of prairie that stretched out and touched the late afternoon sky. The shrill cry of a hawk pierced the tranquillity in the shrubbery ­below.

“What do you see, Emma? Do you see what I see?”

“Why, that’s a silly question, Emily. Tell me what you’re seeing, lass. Then I’ll tell you if I can see it too.” Emma laughed and nudged Emily’s ­shoulder.

“All I can see is the wind blowing the grass for miles and miles. All that wildness – nothing is like it was where I come from.”

“It sounds like we are getting the same view.” Emma laughed again with a musical ­ring.

Emily grinned back at Emma as the girl’s words came out in her soft amiable ­voice.

Sitting down on the rock, Emily felt the twinges of soreness in her legs from all the lifting and running up and down the stairs she’d done earlier. She dangled her legs over the edge in relief, and Emma joined her. They sat in silence for a few moments, the breeze fluttering Emily’s loose hair. In the distance they heard sage grouse beating their wings, calling to their ­mates.

“Tell me about where you come from. What’s it like?” Emma asked ­softly.

Emily wasn’t sure where to start, but she told Emma about her grandmother, the farm, and her family. Emma listened intently as Emily explained about missing almost two weeks of school since her grandmother had become sick and died. And how it was Easter break now, but soon she’d have to go back to the ­city.

Amazement filled Emma’s face, as Emily told her of all the farms and houses everywhere. She asked the odd question here and there, and seemed amazed by Emily’s explanations. Emily wasn’t sure if the other girl believed her or not. Especially when Emily told Emma about her two best friends, Courtney and Samantha, and all the things they did. With a twinge of guilt Emily realized she hadn’t communicated with them much for the last three weeks, had barely thought about them at ­all.

What were they doing back in Regina right now? Probably hanging out at the mall or over at Sam’s
listening to music and talking about boys. Would they believe Emily if she told them about Emma? Should she even say anything when she got back home? Maybe she’d keep Emma a secret. She’d have to think about ­it.

Emily glanced over at her. Emma had her eyes closed and her face raised to the sky, smiling in the sunshine. It was kind of neat having a special friend like Emma that no one knew about, even if she was a little different. The loneliness Emily had felt much of the time at the farm in the last little while was gone. “I always wanted a friend my age out here in the country, but I never thought it would be someone from a long time ago.”

“You’re right, it is a little strange, but I’m glad we met,” replied Emma, stretching. “I’d better be getting back now. But would you like to see where I live sometime?”

“I think I would,” said Emily with some reluctance. She was curious about Emma’s life, but her first reaction was one of fear. What would she be getting herself into? And how would she get back to her own time again? She wasn’t even sure if she could return home right now. Perhaps she’d visit Emma’s family the next time they met, if there was a next time. Emily shuddered. She was more worried about seeing her own family ­again.

The girls climbed down the rock with Emma in the lead. As soon as she touched bottom, Emily ran to the front of the boulder. She was relieved to find that she could once again see her grandmother’s farm. When she turned back to wave to Emma, the girl had disappeared, and so had the stand of ­poplars.

Chapter Four

Next morning Emily slipped into her jeans
and a cotton sweater, and tiptoed downstairs to the kitchen, being careful to avoid the loose floorboard by the door. She propped her note near the fruit bowl on the table. In it she’d explained to her mother that she’d gone for a walk, and would be back to help in a little while.

She grabbed an apple and eased the back door ­open.

Streaks of dawn brightened the sky as she wiggled under the ­barbed-­wire fence and sprinted across the pasture towards the rocky outcrop. Dandelions were beginning to show their yellow heads, and as Emily passed the willow bluff, crows cawed their greeting to the day. She quickened her pace as she neared the ­rock.

Emma just had to be there! She wanted to know more about her new friend. After leaving Emma last night she’d decided it was a chance of a lifetime to see an actual pioneer family in action. And especially now that the farm might be sold, there wasn’t much likelihood of another ­opportunity.

Emily clambered up the steep incline, and scaled the rock. No Emma. Emily groaned. Not only was Emma not there; she was still looking at ploughed fields. How could she get through to Emma? Could she call to her somehow? Oh well, maybe Emma would soon appear. She could wait awhile; the sun wasn’t even fully up ­yet.

A meadowlark sang nearby. Emily smiled at the refreshing sound. Maybe she’d climb back down and explore while she waited for Emma. Reaching the edge, she flipped on her stomach and swung her legs over. All at once she felt something grab her right ­ankle.

Emily squealed and looked over the edge at Emma’s laughing face. “Yikes, Emma! You scared me half to death.”

“That was what I had in mind, lass.” The other girl giggled. “Well, you might as well keep coming down now.”

“I don’t know if you’ll still be there if I do.” Emily was remembering how Emma had disappeared the evening before when she’d moved away from the rock. She pushed her hair out of her face to get a better view of Emma there on the ­ground.

“Well, try. If I disappear, you can climb back up and I’ll join you.”

Emily slid to the ground. Emma had vanished. “Oh, no!” Emily wailed, preparing to climb back up. Then she heard giggling, and Emma’s face appeared around the ­rock.

“Emma, that wasn’t funny.” Emily tried to look stern as Emma rejoined her. She’d really thought their plan hadn’t worked. Then she dismissed Emma’s trick with a laugh and grabbed the other girl’s arm. “Come on, let’s enjoy the day.”

Invigorated by the slight chill that still lingered from daybreak, they ran to the front of the boulder and inspected the scene below them. A low mist rose over the meadowlands as the bright morning sun drew off the dew. A huge flock of geese flew overhead, honking loudly as they circled and settled on the broad marsh at the end of the ­valley.

“I feel like one of those wild birds when I’m out here,” Emma said, breathing in deeply. “I wish I could stay here forever, though I’ve not much time today, Emily. But if you’d like to come back with me and see my family, you may.”

“I’m not sure.” Now that the moment had arrived for her to make a decision, Emily felt apprehensive. Deep in thought, she turned back to the rock at the same time as Emma, and they climbed on top. “I think I’d like to go, Emma. But can you tell me about your place first?”

Uppermost in Emily’s mind at the moment was knowing where Emma’s home was, and how long it would take to get there. What if Emily stayed too long in the past and couldn’t get back? She wasn’t exactly sure how any of this worked yet. It would be awful to be trapped forever. On the other hand, she was excited about seeing how Emma ­lived.

As Emily fidgeted, trying to make herself more comfortable, Emma explained that they had only to follow the trail a short distance through the trees and they’d come to her family’s homestead. “My dad and brothers are still working on the buildings every day. We don’t want to spend the winter in the tent.”

“You live in a tent?” Emily was flabbergasted. She’d never imagined early pioneers living in tents. She’d only heard of sod houses or log ­cabins.

“What did you expect?”

“I…well, I’m not sure.” Emily glanced uncertainly at Emma, mulling thoughts over in her mind. “I mean, in school we learned about pioneer families coming to settle in the west, but I didn’t realize they – you – might live in a tent to start with.”

“Well, there isn’t anything else,” said Emma, sweeping her hand across the wilderness scene before ­them.

“No, I guess not.” Emily plucked at some imaginary fuzz on her jeans. She was trying to remember what she knew about early homesteaders and considering Emma’s explanations. What was she getting herself into? Would she get back out again? Still, this might be her only chance to experience the past with her new ­friend.

“I’ve decided to go, Emma,” she said ­decisively.

“Good. Come on.” Emma led the way down the ­rock.

Excitement spread through Emily in waves as they dropped to the ground. She took a few steps away from the boulder. Nothing ­changed.

Behind Emma was the huge bluff of poplar trees with the winding trail where Geordie had come from two days ago. Masses of wispy blue harebells grew on a nearby hillside, and the sun was high in the ­sky.

Emma ran toward the trees. Emily stepped carefully through the clumps of grass and around stones, not sure if she should keep going. With each step, she became more confident. The surroundings remained the ­same.

“Wait up,” she shouted. She began to run. Low branches whipped against her as she stumbled along the narrow trail. Here and there a butterfly fluttered past. She swatted at a fly that landed on her arm, conscious of the keening buzz of insects around her. It definitely was a warmer season here, Emily realized. How could that be possible? Up ahead, Emma disappeared through an opening in the trees. Emily came to a clearing and ­stopped.

Smoke rose from a fire in front of a grouping of three grey canvas tents and a wagon. An old woman in a long grey dress stooped over a huge pot that hung over the fire, almost like a witch tending her brew. A weird acrid smell permeated the air. What was the old woman stirring? And where had Emma ­gone?

Emily hung back at the edge of the bush, surveying the scene. Two massive oxen with long pointy horns chewed their cud. They were tethered to a rope fence under a stand of tall poplar trees. A few chickens were scattered about scratching the ground and clucking at their choice finds. Two pigs snorted in their log pen near the oxen, shaded from the heat of midday by another clump of ­trees.

The old woman wiped her hand across her brow and stood up. She looked straight at Emily. Emily felt the old lady’s eyes boring right through her, yet she sensed the woman couldn’t actually see her. She ­shivered.

Just then Emma emerged from one of the closest tents with a bundle in her arms. She waved for Emily to come over. Emily stepped forward. The woman by the fire followed Emily’s progress across the clearing to Emma, but didn’t ­speak.

“That’s Granny,” said Emma, when Emily tilted her head in the old lady’s ­direction.

“She’s looking at me.” Emily stepped closer to ­Emma.

“Yes, I told Granny about you. She seems to be able to sense you, but I don’t think she can see or hear you.” Emma placed her hand on Emily’s shoulder. “Don’t be frightened.”

Just then the woman nodded her head in Emily’s direction. “She’s here, isn’t she?” she asked Emma, in a thick Scottish ­accent.

“Yes,” Emma answered, and the old lady turned back to the huge kettle. She stooped down for another piece of wood and placed it in the fire, sending sparks and smoke into the ­air.

“Never mind her. Look here.” Emma lifted the blanket to reveal a baby. “This is Molly. She’s sweet, isn’t she?”

Emily stared at two wide blue eyes staring up at her. A tiny smile lit up the baby’s face as Emily leaned closer. Perhaps the infant could also sense her. “Hello there, little Molly, and how old are you?”

“Two months. She was born on the trail when we were travelling here. It’s taken a fair bit out of Mother, and she needs to rest a great deal. Especially with this hot sun.” Emma eased the baby over her shoulder and patted her tiny back. “I help with Molly whenever I’m free from working in the garden or making meals.”