Come Away To The Meadow

Hi Friends. We are finally set up here in Panama where we have retired. I’m sorry it has taken so long since my last post! You might want to review it before reading this new post. If you’re wondering “why Panama?” well, we lived here back in 1993 and fell in love with the country, particularly the little town of Boquete. This is a little mountain town up in the mountains above David. On a clear day, we can see the ocean 4000 feet below us. It’s warm, with lots of flowers, particularly in the dry season. The people here are friendly and patient as I re-learn Spanish. It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken it! But it is coming back. I hope you will enjoy the following chapter!

Blessings,

Sheri Schofield

Chapter 16

Ethan walked down the steps to meet his brother, giving me time to pull myself together.

"Hey, Aaron.

Aaron climbed out of his patrol car and stood with his back against it, glancing briefly toward the porch. I was sure he couldn't see me, for the swing was in shadow.

"Hey, Ethan. I saw your kitchen light on and figured you were still up." He leaned with his back against the car and his arms crossed. "Chet Tyler made a deal."

Aaron's voice dropped when Ethan reached him, and I heard no more. But I didn't want Aaron to see me, even in the moonlight. He had interrupted a private moment, and I didn't want him asking any questions. He spoke with Ethan briefly, then climbed back into his patrol car and left.

"Chet said the other two men are Joe Alders and Mac Loring. They were holding girls from the Crow plus a Northern Cheyenne girl," Ethan said when he returned. "He thinks the Crow girls are the ones we've been looking for. He's going to check with the other girl's tribe tomorrow."

"Did Chet tell you where they are keeping the girls?" Ethan asked.

"He said Joe and Mac have moved them. He thought they'd be at the Alder's hunting cabin. But the police checked, and the girls aren't there."

"How did the kidnappers get out of the area? You have patrols blocking all the roads out."

 "Aaron doesn't know how they escaped, or where they've hidden out, but it's probably somewhere in our area. I don't think they could have passed the patrol cars without being stopped." He shrugged. "It's possible they have moved to some cabin in the mountains which we just don't know about. At least, that's the most probable answer. We're going to talk about it at the meeting tomorrow night over at your family's house."

I nodded. A restful silence fell between us.

Ethan drew me into his arms again. "Skye, you have taken me by surprise. I never thought I'd find love again after Jodie. Yet I find myself drawn to you like a moth to flame. I feel happy when I'm with you." Ethan smiled, "And you are so very kissable."

I felt heat rising in my cheeks. "I never expected to find love here in Chisum. But then, I didn't know you were home again. I think I've always loved you, Ethan. I just didn't think you would ever be more than a friend, so I didn't allow myself to hope."

He rubbed his cheek on my hair. "Let's take this slow. I don't want to make any mistakes this time. Okay?"

I nodded. "I agree."

"Good. I think we both need our love to be solid. Real. It will take some time. But whatever we build together has to last." He sighed. "Which is why I've asked Mom to come home until we've rescued those native girls and captured their kidnappers. You won't be able to go home until it's safe. And we can't share a house indefinitely without casting shadows on our relationship in this town. With Mom here, everything will be okay, and we can take our time learning about each other again."

"It will be good to have Aunt Josie here," I agreed. I'd called his mother Aunt Josie since childhood, just as he'd called my mother Aunt Suzanne, though our families were not related. "When's she coming?"

"Saturday."

"In two days?" I gasped, leaning away and looking up into his face. "This house is a disaster! What will she think!"

"She'll think we are happy and relaxed around each other, Skye. She was never one to put housework ahead of family. Don't worry, honey."

I sighed. "Okay. But tomorrow I'm going to give this house a good scrubbing!"

Ethan laughed and drew me close. "I need to get to bed, Skye. You do too. So give me another kiss and say goodnight."

I lifted my head, and his lips came down on mine in a warm, lingering kiss. "Good night, Ethan," I whispered as his lips lifted from mine.

"Good night, Skye honey."

As I lay in my bed that night, I was sure sleep would evade me as I thought about all that had passed between us that evening. But my head had barely hit the pillow before I fell into a deep, restful sleep.

***

Friday evening came quickly. Once again, our search group met at my parents' home to discuss the progress Aaron was making. He'd invited Sheriff Bold Eagle to join us again, since we now had news of the lost girls.

"Chet Tyler took a plea deal and told us what he and his friends had done. He was part of a ring taking teenage girls from the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes, keeping them for themselves for a while, then, when they were tired of them, they trafficked the girls. Any babies born to the girls were also trafficked."

A burst of deep anger swept through the room as we absorbed the information. Those poor children! How could this be happening right under our noses?

"I hope the deal Chet made with you sends him to prison!" Pastor Barrett exclaimed.

Aaron smiled grimly. "Oh yes. He'll see the inside of prison for some time. But it won't be for life I'm afraid. If we catch the other men, they'll be looking at life in prison...or worse...unless a fancy prosecutor gets them off with less. There's murder involved in what they've been doing, not just kidnapping. But I won't say more about the murder right now. Let's keep that under wraps. If you see either Joe Alders or Mac Brown, call the police department at once. Don't try to stop them yourself. They can be deadly."

Shirley Delaney, the storekeeper's wife, spoke. "You said they were also trafficking the babies. I've been asking around about who might be delivering them locally."

"What did you learn?" Deputy John Hawk asked.

"Well, there's an EMT working out of Sheridan who has been known to deliver babies born at home out here in Chisum. Several of our women have used her services. She's become a good midwife. Cecilia Cottrell over at the library has overheard some of the women recommending a woman named Dee Ann Jones. That's the midwife's name."

"I know her," Deputy Sandi McCoy said with surprise. "She lives right next door to me. I've seen her coming and going at odd hours, but I figured it was her EMT schedule. Come to think of it, she just put her house on the market last week. She said she needs to be in a place with better-paying jobs." Sandi shrugged. "That's a common enough remark around here. Pay's never been great for any available jobs."

Aaron wrote the name down on his pad and asked about the house number.

Deputy Wade Martin nodded and spoke. "I've been keeping an eye on Leah McArthur. She's a retired nurse. Used to work in obstetrics up in Billings, Montana.. I've seen her leaving her house late at night sometimes, but I don't know where she's been going. Could be nothing, but she seems well-to-do."

As we talked, Sheriff Bold Eagle nodded. He finally spoke, great emotion filling his voice. "Thank you for all you are doing. This is the first hope we've had in a long time. If you can find and stop this kidnapping ring, our people will be able to live in more safety in the future. Thank you! Thank you for what you've done so far. It's amazing." He tapped his chest. "I've felt in my heart our girls were close. You have proven it. Now we need God to help us rescue them."

"Do you have any trained scouts at Crow Nation who might be able to track for us?" Aaron asked.

Sheriff Bold Eagle nodded. "We do have some. I will see if someone can help you."

Liam Webster spoke up for the first time. "I know a lot about tracking. A friend of mine in Montana taught me. I can help, and I can show your scouts around. We can work together."

"Good." Aaron looked around. "Anything else?"

Pastor Barrett spoke up when it was clear we were finished. "Let's pray."

As we lifted our hearts to God, seeking guidance to the girls, peace settled on us. We knew that God, who sees all, would show us the way to the missing girls.

***

Far away in the mountains, Ramona White Swan wiped sweat from her brow with the edge of her shirt and  paused in her work. The day was hotter than usual. She examined the forest around the old log home, looking for more birch branches which might have blown down. Jenny Little Bear, slowly recovering from the beating Chet had inflicted on her, worked with Sammie Grey Coyote preparing the new garden. Mac was working on his truck, which he'd been able to retrieve from a hidden cove along the creek. He was supposed to be keeping watch on the girls, but sometimes he became involved in solving a mechanical issue. It didn't matter, though. They were far up in the mountains, and the girls could never escape on foot.

Ramona found several birch branches laying on the forest floor. She managed to drag them toward the trash pile, which she knew would be burned soon. She was so frustrated Mac and Joe had moved them away just when they were about to burn that trash! The tire in the last trash pile had been a good idea, but there were no tires at the new location. Birch would have to do. She'd found a few pieces of pine, too. It had a lot of pitch in it and would send up a black smoke...if she could manage to put enough of it on the burn pile. She had enough tucked into the trash heap already to make a dark smoke. If she could just find a little more, she could be sure it would draw attention. Maybe people from a local town would see it and think it was a forest fire or a house burning. Maybe the fire trucks would come. Afterall, it was fire season in Wyoming. This might work.

Sammie saw what Ramona was doing. She knew how the birch would burn. Her baby was due soon. She was running out of time. She pulled some crumpled paper and placed it in the burn pile with weeds to cover it. Mac was bent over his truck engine. Reaching into her jeans pocket, she pulled out Mac's cigarette lighter and flicked it on, touching it to the paper.

The paper caught fire. The flame spread rapidly through the brush and trash.

Lord, please let this work! Save us! Save our babies!

The fire reached some greasy rags she had tossed into the trash earlier. With a whoosh, tongues of flame sprang up across the trash pile.

Hearing the sound, Mac jerked his head up. "No!" he yelled. He dashed into the open garage, hunting for the shovel. By the time he found it, the flames were high. He rushed over and began shoveling dirt onto the fire, trying to smother the flames. But it was too late. The fire sent black smoke high into the sky.

***

In the valley below, I was sweeping the front deck while Ramie took his nap. Glancing up at the mountains, I saw a dark column of smoke. I pulled out my phone and called the fire department.

"There's a fire in the mountains. It has black smoke. I can see it from the Russell ranch."

"Thanks! We'll send someone right out to check."

"Okay."

Within a few minutes, the fire truck pulled into the driveway. Dan Gilman, the fire chief, jumped out of the truck and located the smoke. He spoke on his phone, giving the location to their helicopter crew.

I hurried down to the truck and listened to the radio transmissions.

Within minutes, the helicopter was flying toward the fire.

"It's a burn pile by a cabin up here." The pilot's voice reported through the static. "Someone's trying to put the fire out. I'll drop a load of water on it."

I watched the helicopter hover over the fire and drop its load.

"That should do it," the pilot said a few minutes later. "I'm heading back."

"Mark it's location on your map first," Dan said. "The sheriff has been looking for occupied cabins up there in the hills. He should know about this one. Pick me up once you have it."

"Roger that."

Dan called Aaron next. "Our crew just put out a fire--looks like a burn pile in the mountains. We have a lead on a cabin in the mountains. We'd like to check it out. Want to come with us?"

The helicopter hovered a moment more, then turned and flew toward the ranch. Aaron arrived quickly. Aaron, with the pilot and the fire chief, headed back toward the mountain.

When the roar of the helicopter faded, I could hear Ramie calling for me. I went back into the house and collected him from his room. His face was streaked with tears.

"I called an' called!" he said reproachfully.

"I'm sorry, Ramie. It was just a helicopter.:

"A 'copter?"

"Yes. You want to see it ?"
            "Yes!"

I carried him outside and pointed to the helicopter flying toward the mountain. "Your Uncle Aaron is helping them today."

"Unco Aaron?"

"Yes."

We both fell silent, watching the helicopter in the distance.

I wonder if they've found the missing girls. Lord, let it be so!

I saw the helicopter move quickly away from the area of the fire, flying in an erratic pattern. Something was wrong!

Come Away To The Meadow (Interlude)

Hi Friends. We’re almost finished packing, and will be leaving for Panama in another week. Once I’m there, I will have time to continue posting Come Away To The Meadow. In the meantime, I’d like to share some background information with you about the Crow and other native tribes of Montana.

The Crow have very little money. There is not enough work or industry on the reservation. They cannot afford to hire enough law enforcement personnel to handle the issues which arise. When a woman or child disappears, their family will meet to explore the possibilities. Has the woman or child fled secretly to someone outside the reservation? Maybe to a relative? Phone calls are made. The family tries to locate the missing member. If they cannot find him or her, then the law steps in. By then, if the child has been kidnapped, they have been moved far away. Tracking is nearly impossible.

The leadership at Little Big Horn College at Crow Agency said about one in four of the missing people are young boys. Sometimes they find the bones of the missing person. But often once they are gone, they are not found. Why? Mexican drug cartels have moved onto many of the reservations, including the Crow. They traffic not only in drugs, but also in women and young children.

The tribes are not allowed to prosecute non-tribal people who commit crimes on their land. They must go to the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the FBI for help. By the time this happens, the missing person, if kidnapped, is long gone.

Crow Nation is about 90% Christian. But discipleship is difficult there, and among those who do not follow Christ, some are savage toward outsiders. There Crow reservation is huge, between 2.2 and 2.3 million acres, which is about 3,600 square miles. Sometimes families lose their way on the many dirt roads. Some have been lost to freezing weather during the winter as a result of a wrong turn. The river flows through the reservation, and sometimes children are drowned and never found. Many of the parents work during the day and are not able to watch over their children. There is not enough money for childcare. These are some of the obstacles which make finding a missing person difficult. Families are left grieving, with no answers.

The Montana State legislature has proposed adding the tribes to the State to help provide for them, but the tribes like being independent and do not want others telling them how to handle their issues. Discipline in the tribes is different than State law enforcement. So finding answers to the needs of the Crow, the Northern Cheyenne, the Blackfoot, and other tribes is challenging. They are independent nations within the USA, nations with no ability to protect themselves from outside predators unless they do it unlawfully and sometimes violently in secret.

I do not have answers to these problems. But in this book, I am trying to enlighten others about the need.

Once I’m settled in Panama, I will write more. For now, I would encourage you to look up some of the facts about the Montana tribal issues, particularly the information available about their missing children.

Blessings,

Sheri Schofield

Come Away To The Meadow

Hi Friends! I hope you are all having a pleasant summer. My husband and I are currently sorting and packing for a move to Panama. I was hesitant to move overseas, since we’re now in our early 70s. We’d plan on staying there for as long as possible. As I prayed about it, I asked God for confirmation. I’d particularly wanted to lease a house we’d stayed in last year—Mozart House. It is perfect for writing and painting, which is what I do. Tim (my husband) called Lorenza, the owner, to see if that would be possible. We were planning on a 5-week visit to check out the area, then return in January to rent a house for a year while we look around for one to buy. But Lorenza said the house was leased through fall of 2027. I was disappointed, but continued praying for a house to lease. I still couldn’t get Mozart House out of my mind, though. A few days ago, Lorenza called us back and said her tenants had decided to leave early, and would we still be interested in the house? I knew at once that God had opened the way for us. We said yes. Then she asked, “Would you be interested in leasing for a year?” We both said yes. Everything had fallen into place. Two hours later, a real estate company called and asked if they could buy our house! We said yes. So now we’re scrambling to get everything ready for the move. We have over a month before we fly south, but there’s a lot to do. That includes working on this story! I hope you will enjoy this next chapter, Blessings to you all, Sheri

Chapter 15

Ramona heard the fire crackle and turned swiftly from where she stood just inside the forest. She saw Sammie standing there by the fire, as though in a daze, Mac's cigarette lighter in one hand, watching the fire take hold.

"No!" Mac screamed. Dropping his tools on the ground by the car, he grabbed the shovel by the garage door and raced over to the rising flames. He pushed Sammie away from the fire and began scooping up earth and throwing it on the fire. But it was too late. The fire couldn't be stopped.

Ramona stepped back behind a young fir tree, its branches hiding her from Mac, who ran to the well for a bucket of water. While his back was turned, she faded into the forest. Conscious that Mac could see any bright colors if he came looking for her, she removed the red and white scarf from her hair and stuffed it into a pocket in her blue jeans. While the scarf kept her long hair from getting tangled in the branches, it was too bright. She had reached the winding road to town and began hurrying along it as fast as she could go at her stage of pregnancy. She was free. She wasn't going back. "Oh, God! Help me! Help me!" she breathed.

The noise of a helicopter grew closer. Suddenly a gunshot echoed through the forest. She stopped. Were the others okay? What was happening back there? She shook her head and continued her trek down the mountain. She didn't know where she was, but she knew the road would lead to more people.

Back at the clearing, Joe raced from the forest. He stopped and took aim with his rifle at the helicopter again. If he could only bring it down! He shot again. He couldn't afford for anyone to know what the pilot saw. But the helicopter was dodging from left to right, up and down. Maybe he had hit someone already. But the helicopter dodged behind some trees and he lost sight of it.

Swearing, Joe rushed toward the cabin, where Mac was trying to put the fire out.

"You fool!" Mac shouted. "Shooting at the helicopter will bring the police up here!
            "Shut up and put the girls in the van. Now!"

Joe and Mac hustled the two remaining girls toward the van.

"Where's Ramona?" Joe shouted.

Sammie and Jenny clung to each other in fear, too frightened to speak.

Joe grabbed Jenny. "Where is she?"

Jenny, shaking with fear, couldn't speak.

He slapped her. "Where'd she go?"

Sammie spoke calmly, knowing Jenny needed her to interfere. "She was at the edge of the forest picking up sticks for the fireplace when the fire started."

Joe swore. "And how did that fire start?"

"I lit it. I thought the trash was piling up, so it needed to be burned."

Joe swore again and shoved her into the van, nearly throwing Jenny in as well. He slammed the door and climbed up behind the wheel. Revving the engine, he headed down the road toward town. "Keep your eyes open, Mac. We can't let her escape."

Ramona heard the van coming and dropped to the ground behind a fallen tree. She lay still until the car's engine had faded away in the distance, then she stood up and began following the road again, this time from enough of a distance to hide quickly if the van returned.

***

"Ethan, there's a fire on one of the mountains. I can see it from here. Aaron and Justin Delaney flew up there with a load of water to put it out. But they couldn't get close. Their helicopter began dodging around, so something is wrong. I think you should be here," I spoke into my phone, Ramie balanced on one hip.

"I'll be right there. My last patient just left."

"Good."

Ethan's car pulled into the driveway just as the helicopter landed safely in the field outside the barn.

As the helicopter blades slowed, Aaron jumped down from the passenger seat and hurried over. Ethan rushed out to meet him.

"Skye said she saw the helicopter dodging around up there. Are you okay?" Ethan asked, looking his brother over.

"Yes. We're both okay. We were about to dump water on the fire when someone shot at us. It hit the windshield just above Justin's head, so we figured we'd better get out of there."

"That's crazy! You were trying to put out a fire. Whoever set it should have known the fire department would send a 'copter with water this time of year."

"Yes, though should have. But obviously, someone doesn't want to be found, and someone else set that fire. It might be the Crow girls. We have to check." Aaron reached inside his patrol car and barked orders into it, telling of the approximate location of the road to the cabin. "Send two or three on horseback too. We might not be able to intercept them with our vehicles. And remember, the kidnapped girls might be with them. So be careful. We don't want any hostage situations."

"Roger that. Wade and John are off duty. I'll see if they can help," the voice crackled over the radio.

"I need to go back up in the 'copter with Justin and see if we can spot them from the air at a safe distance," Aaron said. "Ethan, if the Crow girls are with them, they may need medical attention. So stick around."

"You've got it," Ethan said.

"If we catch them, once they're secured, I'll send the 'copter back for you."

"Okay. I'll be here."

Aaron rushed back to the helicopter where Justin was waiting. A moment later, they were back in the air, headed toward the area surrounding the fire to look for a road.

Ethan walked back to me and lifted Ramie from my arms. "Here. Let me hold him. He's getting too big for you, honey."

"Do you think they've found the girls?" I asked stepping closer.

"They think they may have found them," Ethan said, pulling me close with his free arm. "We should probably let our prayer team know."

"Yes. Of course." I pulled out my phone and stepped away. Quickly dialing Shirley Delaney at the store, I told her what was going on.

"You said someone fired on the helicopter. Is Justin okay?"

"Yes. He's fine. But he and Aaron are headed back to find out what's going on up there.. Don't worry, though. They won't fly too close this time. I just needed to let you know what's happening so you can tell the others in our prayer group. Do you have time to do that?"

"I sure do. Thanks for the call."

"Shirley is going to call everyone," I said, stepping back toward Ethan.

"Daddy, Unco Aaron going  to find the people who shot at them?"

Ethan nodded. "That's what they're trying to do. We can't have people shooting each other out here, can we."

Ramie shook his head solemnly and said emphatically, "No."

***

Ramona walked down the mountain looking for places where the road looped, places she could cut through and save time. But it was rough traveling through the forest, with dead branches and rocks to dodge. She found a long stick which looked like it would help her keep her balance. She stripped the leaves and smaller branches from it and kept walking downhill.

Suddenly, she heard the helicopter returning. Rushing out to the road, she looked up and waved when she saw it, waving her red and white headscarf over her head.

"Look!" Justin shouted over the noise of the machine and pointed down at the road.

"Let's go down and check it out."

The chopper landed in a wider part of the road beyond the girl. Aaron jumped out and ran back to the girl. "Hi. I'm Sheriff Russell from Chisum. We saw you waving at us. Are you okay?"

Ramona, out of breath from hurrying, nodded.

Aaron unfastened the water bottle at his waist. "Here. Have some water."

Gratefully, Ramona took the bottle and sipped from it as her breathing calmed.

"You must be Ramona White Swan," he said, remembering the photo her uncle had shown him.

'How did you know my name?" she asked in surprise.

"Your uncle Bold Eagle reached out to us for help. He felt in his heart that you were not far from Crow Nation. We've been praying for you and Jenny for some time."

Ramona visibly relaxed. "Thank you! There's another girl captured earlier. Her name's Sammie Grey Coyote. She's expecting her baby any day now. They have her in the black van."

"Okay. We'll find the other girls too. But for now, let's get you into the helicopter. We're wasting time."

Moments later, Justin lifted the copter into the air again and headed back to the ranch to drop off Ramona.

"Ethan!" Aaron called as they landed. "Take the girl!" He helped Ramona down, climbed back into the helicopter, and the two men flew toward the mountain road where they'd found her.

"Will they be in time to save Jenny and Sammie?" Ramona asked, her eyes anxious for her friends.

"Let's hope and pray for that," I said, putting my arm around her shoulder. "For now, you need to come inside with us and let Dr. Russell check to see if you and your baby are okay."

Ethan handed Ramie off to me and turned toward Ramona. "Hi. I'm Dr. Russell. The sheriff who rescued you is my brother Aaron. How are you feeling?"

"Tired, but mostly upset. Joe and Mac have Jenny and Sammie in the van. Sammie's baby is due any day now. The last I saw of them was when Joe was driving them all down the dirt road, which is very bumpy. I'm worried about them!"

"Let's get you inside where you can rest." Ethan helped Ramona up the porch stairs and into the house. I followed with Ramie. "Here. Why don't you lay down on the couch."

"Thanks," Ramona said with a sigh, sinking onto the cushions and lying down.

Ethan knelt next to her and took her hand, feeling for her pulse. "It's a little fast," he said after a few moments. He placed his stethoscope over her abdomen to listen for the baby. "Your baby sounds fine, so don't worry. I'd like you to rest a while. You've been through an ordeal, and your baby needs you to be strong and rested. We have a guest bedroom you can use."

Ramona sat up. "No! I can't rest until my friends are safe!"

"Okay, I understand that," Ethan said with a nod. "How about you drink a glass of milk and just rest until we hear from the sheriff?"

Ramona's eyes lit up at the mention of milk. "I'd love some milk. I haven't had any since we were captured."

Ethan rose and went to the kitchen for milk.

"Down!" Ramie demanded.

I lowered him to the floor, and he walked over to Ramona and stood looking solemnly into her eyes. "My daddy will take care of you," he said with a nod. "So will 'Kye an' me an' Jesus."

Ramona smiled back at him. "And who are you?"

"I'm Ramie. I's almost tree years old." He held up three fingers.

Rachel looked up at me. "You must be 'Kye."

I laughed. "Ramie can't say Skye yet, so he calls me 'Kye."

"Here," Ethan said, handing her a mug filled with cool, fresh milk.

"Thank you!" she said, reaching her hands up eagerly to take the cup. At the first sip, she smiled and sighed. "This is delicious."

"Would you like some milk too, Ramie?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yes pease. An' some cookies."

I walked over to the kitchen where I filled Ramie's cup and put some cookies on a plate for Ramie and Ramona. "Here you go. Ramie, you can share the cookies with our new friend.

Ramie took the plate first and sat it on the couch next to Ramona, climbing up on the other side of the to receive his own cup of milk.

Ethan came over to me and put his arm over my shoulder. "God is good," he said quietly.

"Yes he is," I nodded and rested my head against his chest.

When Ramie finished his milk, he climbed back off the couch and went to his room. A moment later, he returned with his favorite stuffed animal, a bunny. He walked over to Ramona and touched her hand, his big blue eyes solemnly fixed on her face. "Would you like to hold my Bunny Boy? I likes to take naps with him 'cause he's soft."

The tired girl smiled and accepted the toy. "I would like that very much. Thank you."

Ramie's face lit up in a shy smile as he handed the bunny to Ramona. Then he turned and ran back to me.

"That was nice, Ramie," I said, picking him up and kissing his face. "Let's get that mustache off." I picked up a napkin from the counter and wiped the milk from his face.

Ethan smiled at his son, pleased to see signs of his generosity and compassion, and our glances crossed in shared delight.

After finishing the cookies and milk, Ramona lay her head on the couch pillows and stretched out, her eyes drooping.

"We'll be outside if you need us." Ethan picked Ramie and we walked outside together. I could feel his hand at my waist. He pulled the door shut behind him and guided me to the porch swing, where the three of us sat, watching the activity around us as the search continued.

From the air, Aaron spotted the van and the road. He radioed in to request a roadblock where the dirt road met pavement. The pilot followed the van well behind to avoid being shot at again.

When the van turned the final curve in the road and Joe saw the roadblock with police aiming rifles at him, he skidded to a halt for a moment, then tried to turn around to go back up the road.

"We've got them!" Aaron shouted.

Justin sat the helicopter down at a safe distance from the van, but didn't shut the engine down. They might need to get out of there in a hurry if there was a stand-off and shooting began.

The driver in the car saw the roadblock ahead. Would he stop? Or would he challenge the police, who stood there, rifles trained on him….

Come Away To The Meadow

Hi Friends. I hope you all had a good Fourth of July. Our family did.

As I write this fictitious story about the reality happening on the Crow reservation as well as on other native land, I'm hoping the plot will raise awareness about the suffering this scourge brings not only to them, but to other families across our country as well. Maybe the characters in this story will give some of you ideas about how we can help end this suffering, maybe not everywhere, but at least in locations where you live.

Have a blessed summer.

Sheri Schofield

Chapter 14

Ethan walked down the steps to meet his brother, giving me time to pull myself together.

"Hey, Aaron.

Aaron climbed out of his patrol car and stood with his back against it, glancing briefly toward the porch. I was sure he couldn't see me, for the swing was in shadow.

"Hey, Ethan. I saw your kitchen light on and figured you were still up." He leaned with his back against the car and his arms crossed. "Chet Tyler made a dead."

Aaron's voice dropped when Ethan reached him, and I heard no more. But I didn't want Aaron to see me, even in the moonlight. He had interrupted a private moment, and I didn't want him asking any questions. He spoke with Ethan briefly, then climbed back into his patrol car and left.

"Chet said they were holding girls from the Crow plus a Northern Cheyenne girl. He thinks the Crow girls are the ones we've been looking for. He's going to check with the other girl's tribe tomorrow."

"Did Chet tell you where they are keeping the girls?" Ethan asked.

"He said Joe and Mac have moved them. He thought they'd be at the Alder's hunting cabin. But the police checked, and the girls aren't there."

"How did the kidnappers get out of the area? You have patrols blocking all the roads out."

 "Aaron doesn't know how they escaped, or where they've hidden out, but it's probably somewhere in our area. I don't think they could have passed the patrol cars without being stopped." He shrugged. "It's possible they have moved to some cabin in the mountains which we just don't know about. At least, that's the most probable answer. We're going to talk about it at the meeting tomorrow night over at your family's house."

I nodded.

Ethan drew me into his arms again. "Skye, you have taken me by surprise. I never thought I'd find love again after Jodie. Yet I find myself drawn to you like a moth to flame. I feel happy when I'm with you." Ethan smiled, "And you are so very kissable."

I felt heat rising in my cheeks. "I never expected to find love here in Chisum. But then, I didn't know you were home again. I think I've always loved you, Ethan. I just didn't think you would ever be more than a friend, so I didn't allow myself to hope."

He rubbed his cheek on my hair. "Let's take this slow. I don't want to make any mistakes this time. Okay?"

I nodded. "I agree."

"Good. I think we both need our love to be solid. Real. It will take some time. But whatever we build together has to last." He sighed. "Which is why I've asked Mom to come home until we've rescued those native girls and captured their kidnappers. You won't be able to go home until it's safe. And we can't share a house indefinitely without casting shadows on our relationship in this town. With Mom here, everything will be okay, and we can take our time learning about each other again."

"It will be good to have Aunt Josie here," I agreed. I'd called his mother Aunt Josie since childhood, just as he'd called my mother Aunt Suzanne, though our families were not related. "When's she coming?"

"Saturday."

"In two days?" I gasped, leaning away and looking up into his face. "This house is a disaster! What will she think!"

"She'll think we are happy and relaxed around each other, Skye. She was never one to put housework ahead of family. Don't worry, honey."

I sighed. "Okay. But tomorrow I'm going to give this house a good scrubbing!"

Ethan laughed and drew me close. "I need to get to bed, Skye. You do too. So give me another kiss and say goodnight."

I lifted my head, and his lips came down on mine in a warm, lingering kiss. "Good night, Ethan," I whispered as his lips lifted from mine.

"Good night, Skye honey."

As I lay in my bed that night, I was sure sleep would evade me as I thought about all that had passed between us that evening. But my head had barely hit the pillow before I fell into a deep, restful sleep.

***

Friday evening came quickly. Once again, our search group met at my parents' home to discuss the progress Aaron was making. He'd invited Sheriff Bold Eagle to join us again, since we now had news of the lost girls.

"Chet Tyler took a plea deal and told us what he and his friends had done. He was part of a ring taking teenage girls from the Crow and Northern Cheyenne tribes, keeping them for themselves for a while, then, when they were tired of them, they trafficked the girls. Any babies born to the girls were also trafficked."

A burst of deep anger swept through the room as we absorbed the information. Those poor children! How could this be happening right under our noses?

"I hope the deal Chet made with you sends him to prison!" Pastor Barrett exclaimed.

Aaron smiled grimly. "Oh yes. He'll see the inside of prison for some time. But it won't be for life I'm afraid. If we catch the other men, they'll be looking at life in prison...or worse...unless a fancy prosecutor gets them off with less. There's murder involved in what they've been doing, not just kidnapping. But I won't say more about the murder right now. Let's keep that under wraps. If you see either Joe Alders or Mac Brown, call the police department at once. Don't try to stop them yourself. They can be deadly."

Shirley Delaney, the storekeeper's wife, spoke. "You said they were also trafficking the babies. I've been asking around about who might be delivering them locally."

"What did you learn?" Deputy John Hawk asked.

"Well, there's an EMT working out of Sheridan who has been known to deliver babies born at home out here in Chisum. Several of our women have used her services. She's become a good midwife. Cecilia Cottrell over at the library has overheard some of the women recommending a woman named Dee Ann Jones. That's the midwife's name."

"I know her," Deputy Sandi McCoy said with surprise. "She lives right next door to me. I've seen her coming and going at odd hours, but I figured it was her EMT schedule. Come to think of it, she just put her house on the market last week. She said she needs to be in a place with better-paying jobs." Sandi shrugged. "That's a common enough remark around here. Pay's never been great for any available jobs."

Aaron wrote the name down on his pad and asked about the house number.

Deputy Wade Martin nodded and spoke. "I've been keeping an eye on Leah McArthur. She's a retired nurse. Used to work in obstetrics up in Billings, Montana.. I've seen her leaving her house late at night sometimes, but I don't know where she's been going. Could be nothing, but she seems well-to-do."

As we talked, Sheriff Bold Eagle nodded. He finally spoke, great emotion filling his voice. "Thank you for all you are doing. This is the first hope we've had in a long time. If you can find and stop this kidnapping ring, our people will be able to live in more safety in the future. Thank you! Thank you for what you've done so far. It's amazing." He tapped his chest. "I've felt in my heart our girls were close. You have proven it. Now we need God to help us rescue them."

"Do you have any trained scouts at Crow Nation who might be able to track for us?" Aaron asked.

Sheriff Bold Eagle nodded. "We do have some. I will see if someone can help you."

Liam Webster spoke up for the first time. "I know a lot about tracking. A friend of mine in Montana taught me. I can help, and I can show your scouts around. We can work together."

"Good." Aaron looked around. "Anything else?"

Pastor Barrett spoke up when it was clear we were finished. "Let's pray."

As we lifted our hearts to God, seeking guidance to the girls, peace settled on us. We knew that God, who sees all, would show us the way to the missing girls.

***

Far away in the mountains, Ramona White Swan wiped sweat from her brow with the edge of her shirt and  paused in her work. The day was hotter than usual. She examined the forest around the old log home, looking for more birch branches which might have blown down. Jenny Little Bear, slowly recovering from the beating Chet had inflicted on her, worked with Sammie Grey Coyote preparing the new garden. Mac was working on his truck, which he'd been able to retrieve from a hidden cove along the creek. He was supposed to be keeping watch on the girls, but sometimes he became involved in solving a mechanical issue. It didn't matter, though. They were far up in the mountains, and the girls could never escape on foot.

Ramona found several birch branches laying on the forest floor. She managed to drag them toward the trash pile, which she knew would be burned soon. She was so frustrated Mac and Joe had moved them away just when they were about to burn that trash! The tire in the last trash pile had been a good idea, but there were no tires at the new location. Birch would have to do. It had a lot of pitch in it and would send up a black smoke...if she could manage to put enough of it on the burn pile. She had enough tucked into the trash heap already to make a dark smoke. If she could just find a little more, she could be sure it would draw attention. Maybe people from a local town would see it and think it was a forest fire or a house burning. Maybe the fire trucks would come. Afterall, it was fire season in Wyoming. This might work.

Sammie saw what Ramona was doing. She knew how the birch would burn. Her baby was due soon. She was running out of time. She pulled some crumpled paper and placed it in the burn pile with weeds to cover it. Mac was bent over his truck engine. Reaching into her jeans pocket, she pulled out Mac's cigarette lighter and flicked it on, touching it to the paper.

The paper caught fire. The flame spread rapidly through the brush and trash.

Lord, please let this work! Save us! Save our babies!

The fire reached some greasy rags she had tossed into the trash earlier. With a whoosh, tongues of flame sprang up across the trash pile.

Hearing the sound, Mac jerked his head up. "No!" he yelled. He dashed into the open garage, hunting for the shovel. By the time he found it, the flames were high. He rushed over and began shoveling dirt onto the fire, trying to smother the flames. But it was too late. The fire sent black smoke high into the sky.

***

In the valley below, I was sweeping the front deck while Ramie took his nap. Glancing up at the mountains, I saw a dark column of smoke. I pulled out my phone and called the fire department.

"There's a fire on the mountains. It has black smoke. I can see it from the Russell ranch."

"Thanks! We'll send someone right out to check."

"Okay."

Within a few minutes, the fire truck pulled into the driveway. Dan Gilman, the fire chief, jumped out of the truck and located the smoke. He spoke on his phone, giving the location to their helicopter crew.

I hurried down to the truck and listened to the radio transmissions.

Within minutes, the helicopter was flying toward the fire.

"It's a burn pile by a cabin up here." The pilot's voice reported through the static. "Someone's trying to put the fire out. I'll drop a load of water on it."

I watched the helicopter hover over the fire and drop its load.

"That should do it," the pilot said a few minutes later. "I'm heading back."

"Mark it's location on your map first," Dan said. "The sheriff has been looking for occupied cabins up there in the hills. He should know about this one. Pick me up once you have it."

"Roger that."

Dan called Aaron next. "Our crew just put out a fire--looks like a burn pile in the mountains. We have a lead on a cabin in the mountains. We'd like to check it out. Want to come with us?"

The helicopter hovered a moment more, then turned and flew toward the ranch. Aaron arrived quickly. Together with the pilot and the fire chief, they headed back toward the mountain.

When the roar of the helicopter faded, I could hear Ramie calling for me. I went back into the house and collected him from his room. His face was streaked with tears.

"I called an' called!" he said reproachfully.

"I'm sorry, Ramie. It was just a helicopter.:

"A 'copter?"

"Yes. You want to see it ?"
            "Yes!"

I carried him outside and pointed to the helicopter flying toward the mountain. "Your Uncle Aaron is helping them today."

"Unco Aaron?"

"Yes."

We both fell silent, watching the helicopter in the distance.

I wonder if they've found the missing girls. Lord, let it be so!

I saw the helicopter move quickly away from the area of the fire, flying in an erratic pattern. Something was wrong!