First Generation, Chapter One

                Elynne surveyed the empty lot and the surrounding neighborhood.  This one lot was the only thing remaining in her parents’ estate.  Like a lot of families in these economic times, Elynne’s had suffered many hardships.  Antiques were auctioned, personal belongings were sold in yard sales, and her parents secretly took out a reverse mortgage on the home Elynne had spent her childhood in.  So, when her parents’ lives were taken in a car crash, the bank took title to the property before her tears had even dried.

                Miraculously, this one plot of land had remained untouched through all of their hard times.  Had Elynne’s parents planned to one day build their dream home here?  She smiled at the thought.  This land was beautiful, but what good was a beautiful plot of land to her?  She was penniless, jobless, and hadn’t even gone to college before she was thrown into this.  Her lawyer had been advising her to sell the plot of land, and rent a small studio apartment while she got her bearings, but Elynne had wanted to see the land for herself.

                She wanted to scream in the center of the useless plot of land, but that wouldn’t do her any good.  This was her reality, and she was going to have to get used to it, and life would probably be a lot easier, if she befriended her neighbors.  Many of the houses looked abandoned, but she spotted some movement near one of the homes, so she decided to give it a try.

When she got closer and closer to the house, she realized what she had seen from her lonely little plot of land.  A magnificent horse stood grazing in the front yard!  She crept closer to see if it would let her touch it.

"May I help you?"

Elynne startled at the sound of the gruff male voice.  She was immediately embarrassed by her boldness.  She hadn’t even thought of how the owner of this beautiful animal might feel, and technically, she was trespassing on his property.

“I’m so… so sorry… It’s been a really long day, and I couldn’t help it.  Your horse is amazing!”

The man’s fierce expression softened.  “Bramble’s something else isn’t he?  My name’s Shawnee.”

Elynne smiled silently, and pressed her heels into the dirt wringing her hands nervously.  She didn’t know this man.  She didn’t know anything about anyone in this town, and all of the emotion she had been feeling since her parents died started to bubble to the surface but she forced it down.

“Would you like to see the farm?” Shawnee asked scooping up the toddler at his feet.  The boy tucked his head under his father’s neck and waved shyly at Ellen.

“Duh-ko-da!” he said proudly patting his chest with an open palm.

“Elynne,” she replied weakly patting her own chest, “are you going to give me the grand tour, Dakota?”

                The tour was very enjoyable, and she was sure to let Shawnee know that, but she was also getting very hungry.  Her head ached over the meals she had missed today.

                “Elynne, why don’t you head inside and relax for a moment.  Dakota and I will finish up some chores out here, and once I put him down for his afternoon nap, we’ll talk.”

                “Thank you, Shawnee.” Elynne nodded politely and headed inside.  It wasn’t until she sank into the well-worn couch and flipped on the television that she realized just how exhausted and hungry she was.

                After some time, Shawnee came in and sat down on the couch.  He started to ask a question when the loud rumble of a Sloppy Jalopy interrupted them causing Dakota to stir from his sleep and bang against the rails of his crib. 

                “That would be my wife Cheyenne.  Why don’t you head out and say hello while I deal with Dakota.”

                Elynne nodded unsure of what Cheyenne would think about a strange woman coming out of her home, but Shawnee had been so hospitable that she didn’t protest. 

                After the first awkward introduction the two women were seemingly fast friends.  Elynne couldn’t help eyeing the garden over Cheyenne’s shoulder though… Her mouth started to water.

                Cheyenne politely excused herself about fifteen minutes later.  “I’ve got to get to my family.  After work, I just can’t wait to see them!”  She headed up the stairs and Elynne shuffled her feet absently.  Where was she supposed to go?

                “Oh, Elynne?” Cheyenne called after she reached the front door.  “Since you’re our new neighbor, help yourself to anything in the garden!  I’d pick it for you myself, but I’ve got to help with dinner and Dakota!  When I’m finished, you can have a plate if you like!” 

                Elynne stared at the plants at her feet.  She was a decent gardener.  She had always helped her mother with the flower beds, but she didn’t know exactly what to do with the vegetables.

                Flustered from the heat of the late afternoon sun and hunger, she started talking to the plants.

                “Well hello little grapevine.  I know nothing about gardening, but wouldn’t you just love it if I harvested you?  Why of course.  What’s that little grapevine?  You don’t think I know what I’m doing?  Well of course I don’t know what I’m doing!  Story of my life!  You’re just going to have to get over that!”

                After she calmed down a bit, she realized that gardening wasn’t as hard as she had thought, but she wasn’t sure if what she was picking was any good.

                She even got some help from one of the barnyard animals.  The foal at her heels made her smile as she gardened.  She even started to explain what she was doing even though the foal would probably not take any of her advice.

                “You’re probably just mad because I’m in the way of you chowing on the vegetables!” She laughed forgetting the heat, her hunger, and the dire situation she was in.  The horse snorted in agreement.

                After she finished with the garden, she had a few baskets of fruits and veggies to take home, and she smiled at the product of her labors.  She really wanted to just take the produce and go home, but Cheyenne had insisted she stay for dinner, and she couldn’t really just take off without saying thank you.  Without Shawnee and Cheyenne, Elynne might not have gotten her act together.

                She washed the dirt and grime from her hands, and her whole body ached for a soak in the clawfoot tub just a few feet away, but she resisted.  Instead she stared at her reflection in the mirror for the first time since her parents died.  The ends of her hair had grown out and split.  Her eyebrows looked long overdue for a wax, and her once perfect complexion was covered in blemishes.  She had to giggle at herself because the dirt had actually hidden these flaws pretty well.

                When she finished, and walked into the kitchen Shawnee was there waiting.  She looked around for Cheyenne, but before she could sit down Shawnee motioned towards the plate sitting next to him.  She sat down obediently.

                “So, you still haven’t told me your story, Elynne.” He said evenly.  “Where do you live?”

She shoved a mouthful of salad into her mouth to buy some time, but she was going to have to tell him.  She felt the sadness rising in her chest, but she took a deep breath, and explained everything.

                “I’m an only child.  My parents recently died in a car crash, and in their will they listed me as the executor of their estate.  They hid it well, but they were in so much debt the bank took our house.  The only thing left after all the debts were satisfied was the plot of land up the road.  I have little money, and nowhere to go.”  Her expression was blank and she managed to stifle her tears.

                Shawnee leaned over the chair between them, and reached for Elynne’s hand.

                “Shaaaw-neeee!” Cheyenne’s voice called from Dakota’s room, “a little help, please!”

                Shawnee smiled and left the room.

                Elynne finished her dinner, and stared at her empty plate.  She was alone in a strangers house, but it felt more like home than that empty field did.  She laughed to herself as she remembered her lawyer throwing around words like investment and prime real estate.  Nothing at all seemed prime about it.

                Cheyenne fixed herself a plate and settled down right next to Elynne.  She didn’t leave a comfortable distance like Shawnee did, and something about it made Elynne nervous.

                She ate a few bites in silence before she turned on Elynne.

                “Don’t think that you’re the first wide eyed pitiful looking creature that Shawnee has ever brought home,” Cheyenne snipped without looking up.

                Elynne flushed and turned away.

                “I’m sorry… I didn’t—“

                “I don’t care what your circumstances are.  You stay away from my husband.  Rinse off your plate and go home.”

                Elynne rinsed her plate and headed out of the kitchen before Cheyenne called out to her again.  This time she was chipper, but Elynne guessed it was because she knew Shawnee would hear.

                “Honey, there’s a sleeping bag in the hallway you can use!  After all, we are neighbors now.”