Where Hearts Run Wild Read online

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  The compound jeep raced across the plains leaving a trail of dust that rose and created a brown cloud that would dissipate into the hot, breezy air.

  Armos was behind the wheel of the jeep, commanding its pathway. He hung on to the steering wheel with a solid grip as he stared ahead with determination and some displeasure as he scoured the horizons. He was not looking for renegade horses. He was venturing to find Bobby.

  * * * *

  Bobby rode the elderly horse into the campsite where he experienced the encounter with the mountain lion and had his dream. He pulled the horse to a stop and climbed down from the saddle. As he did, his backpack fell down with the canteen falling out onto the ground.

  Unbeknownst to Bobby, the lid popped open, and the water flowed quickly out onto the sand.

  Bobby had a haunted feeling as he strolled through the campsite recalling the events that had taken place on that fateful night of good intentions struggling against evil forces. He stopped and peered up at the old twisted tree as the wind whistled through its branches.

  Suddenly, and to Bobby’s surprise, the large brown-colored owl flew down from the sky and landed on a branch in the tree. Bobby grinned at the owl’s arrival, finding comfort in its presence.

  “Boy, am I glad to see you!” Bobby shouted out. “You must have been watching over me from the sky. Thanks.”

  The owl was motionless as it looked down at Bobby.

  “Everything is working out pretty cool,” Bobby continued. “Except, I’m in a little trouble right now. But that’s where you can come in. You see, I need some horses, a lot of horses and I need them fast.”

  The owl sat still and continued to look at Bobby.

  “Can you give me a hand with that?” said Bobby. “It should only take you a minute or two. I’ll just hang out here and wait for you to bring them to me. Then we can take them to the…”

  The owl spread its large wings and jumped off the branch and flew away. Bobby was shocked.

  “Hey, wait a minute, where are you goin’? I haven’t told you my plan yet!”

  The owl disappeared into the big blue skies. Bobby stood silent, totally bewildered over the owl’s sudden departure. Then, the vicious roar of a mountain lion was heard.

  Bobby spun in the direction of the growl and discovered what appeared to be the same lion that attacked him earlier. It was standing atop a boulder above him. The cat’s mouth was open with a snarl, revealing a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, just as before. The threat of death loomed over hapless Bobby as he looked up at the mountain lion with a freezing stare. The big cat crouched and readied itself for a jump down onto the defenseless and terrified Bobby. However, before the animal could jump a loud gunshot cracked with a piercing echo through the makeshift campground. The lion jolted from the sound. And having lived in the wild for all his life, he knew full well the hammering blast came from mankind with a rifle that could kill him in a heartbeat. The cat turned in fright and jumped in the opposite direction of Bobby and disappeared into the rugged terrain.

  In total consternation, Bobby looked about in all directions, wondering if he too was in danger. All was silent.

  Until Armos appeared from behind a boulder, holding his rifle in his hands. He walked up to Bobby and gave him a somewhat chilly glance. Bobby was more than relieved to see Armos, but he was careful not to show it remembering his runaway status wasn’t going to win him any more favors.

  “What’s goin’ on?” Armos said with the voice of a big-city police officer.

  Bobby squirmed a bit and shuffled his feet in the sand. “Well, I’m sorry I ran off again. And I know it was wrong. But I heard we were closing down, and I didn’t want that to happen.”

  “And how does running away solve the problem?”

  “Well, I thought I could get us some horses.” Bobby’s voice was now in plead mode.

  “By talking to an owl?” Armos said with amused skepticism. “Is this the place you spent that night? And was that the cat that attacked you?”

  “Yeah, I think it was the same mountain lion. And this is the place,” said Bobby. “But that owl wasn’t just any old owl.”

  Armos’ good feelings toward Bobby outweighed his disappointment over the situation of running away. He pointed to a large rock nearby. “Let’s sit down over here for a minute.”

  The two walked to the large stone and sat.

  “Bobby, an owl is just an owl. It can’t get us horses. But in a dream, it’s another story. People down through the ages have had dreams that have changed their lives. And dreams are as real as you want them to be. You hang on to your dream, keep it close to your heart and never let it go. I know that right now life is a big mystery to you in many ways. That’s because you’re young, and you ain’t got too many clues to go on just yet. They’ll come around, don’t worry. Now it don’t matter what the owl was in your dream or whatever else you saw. What matters is the end result. And because of that result, you’ve taken a turn onto the right path, a good direction with some light of hope at the end of it. Does all that make sense?”

  Bobby contemplated Armos a moment. Despite the trouble he was in, he now had a feeling of hope. A small word with huge implications that he never had before the dream. “Yeah, Armos, it makes sense to me. Are you gonna arrest me now,” Bobby said in a small voice. “I mean, you said I’d be a goner if I ran away again.”

  “Actually, I’m not.”

  Bobby perked with a glimmer of that new hope he now possessed. That hope that keeps popping up its beautiful head every time things look bleak. “You’re not?”

  “How can I arrest you? I haven’t found you yet.”

  Bobby looked at Armos with a tad of suspicion. “Are you setting me up?”

  “Yeah, you can say that. I’m setting you up so you can find him,” Armos said as he stared off into the distance. “And bring him home. He’s out there waiting somewhere for you. And if you’re out there, he’ll find you.”

  “How do you know I can do it? I can’t lasso nothin. And the mare, she’s a slowpoke!”

  “Rebel knows you,” said Armos. “And you know him. And things have changed for both of you. Now Rebel’s gonna have to make a decision. And you’re gonna help him do that.”

  “But a horse is just a horse,” Bobby said, mimicking Armos’ words about the owl.

  “Listen to me, wise guy. We’re going to take a chance. We’ve got nothin’ to lose. You go ahead, I’ll be watching from a distance.”

  The two studied each other in their moment of truth and “nothing to lose” said it all.

  Armos suddenly noticed the canteen laying on the ground. “I wondered where my canteen went.”

  Bobby looked over at the canteen. His head shrank a little between his shoulders. Caught again. Stealing this time! How dumb could he be? Armos just never missed a trick. And to make matters even worse, now no water!

  “I got plenty of water in the jeep,” said Armos with an assuring smile. “And some snacks too. But I’ll take my canteen back if you don’t mind?”

  “Well. Yeah…” Bobby fished for words. “No problem.”

  “I didn’t think so,” said Armos. “Let’s get goin’ while we got plenty of daylight.”

  Chapter 15

  Rebel stood high on a mountain ridge with a dozen, or so, other horses. The animals gazed down into the valley below as the wind tossed their manes and whipped their tails about, which made them appear as though they were ready for any action that might come their way. What Rebel and the other horses saw in the valley below was Bobby and Armos. Bobby mounted the old mare and rode off through the winding canyon. Armos crossed to his jeep and climbed in, started the motor and drove slowly away, following Bobby at a distance.

  Long shadows had cast over the hills and prairie fields broadcasting that late afternoon had arrived. Bobby and the mare walked along a series of flats. Bobby was perspiring as was the old mare whose coat was shiny with sweat. Bobby ha
d binoculars that Armos gave him to aid in his quest for Rebel. He pulled up the reins on the mare and drew her to a stop. Bobby held the binoculars up to his eyes and looked in every direction. Seeing nothing, he continued on his ride.

  Armos peered carefully from behind a boulder some hundred yards behind Bobby. The jeep sat in the background with its motor off. All was quiet.

  Bobby forged ahead, eyeing the landscape as he went, wiping the sweat from his brow. He was filled with hope and optimism.

  Then, suddenly, Rebel and a much larger herd of his followers appeared at the top of a ridge nearby. The horses rumbled to a dusty stop, peering down at Bobby and the mare below.

  Bobby was startled at first as he pulled the mare to a sudden halt. He recognized Rebel and broke into a smile, never so happy to see the horse.

  Rebel gazed down at Bobby and huffed a few times.

  Bobby heeled the mare, and the two galloped the best they could up the hillside and toward Rebel and the other horses.

  Rebel stood and waited along with the other horses.

  Bobby reached the crest of the hill and stopped some twenty yards away from Rebel. Wind-blown seconds passed as Bobby and Rebel stared at each other. Bobby’s heart was beating a fast tempo of apprehension.

  “Rebel, I need your help, pal! I need you and the other horses to follow me back to the ranch!”

  Rebel stood quietly, gazing at Bobby.

  “I’m sorry about the bad ride we had. I promise it will never happen again. C’mon now, and follow me.” Bobby’s voice was filled with excitement. But Rebel continued to look at him, motionless and seemingly void of feelings one way or another.

  Bobby reined the mare and turned her around and began to trot back down the hillside.

  Rebel and the others did not follow him.

  Bobby turned back, confident that Rebel was behind him. Bobby’s confidence faded quickly upon seeing Rebel and the other horses standing still on the mountainside.

  Bobby pulled up on the reins, stopping the mare, turning her around to face Rebel and the others. He studied Rebel, and then a smile came over him. “Oh, I get it. You want me to rope you. Great idea, it will make us both look good. You’re way smart, Rebel.”

  Bobby removed the lasso from his saddle horn. He prepared it for a roping, then heeled the mare to trot back up the hill and toward Rebel. Bobby and the mare walked up beside Rebel and came to a halt. He then began to whirl the lasso rope above his head. Although it was unnecessary as he was standing all but three feet from Rebel and could have easily slipped the rope of the lasso over Rebel’s head and around the horse’s neck. Bobby tossed the lasso out and over Rebel’s head. The circle of hemp landed on target around Rebel’s neck.

  “Okay, Rebel, let’s go. We got a ranch to save.”

  Bobby heeled the mare and turned the horse to face down the hillside once more. However, Rebel had other plans. And with one powerful swing of his neck, he pulled Bobby off the mare and onto the ground. Bobby lost his grip on the lasso rope. Rebel turned and ran a short distance away.

  The loop around his neck was loose enough for him to get hold of it in his teeth. Rebel pulled the lasso up and over his head and dropped it to the ground.

  Bobby stood, stunned by Rebel’s actions.

  “Rebel! What are you doin’?”

  Rebel whinnied, then reared up onto his back legs in defiance. He then lowered to all four hooves, turned, and ran off into the hills with his herd of wild stock following him.

  “Rebel! Rebel! You can’t do this to me! Come back! Come back, please, Rebel, come back!”

  Bobby’s pleading calls echoed loudly across the plains and through the hilly countryside.

  Rebel came to a hoof-sliding stop upon hearing Bobby. Rebel turned back in the direction of Bobby. The other horses halted their run and stood quietly with Rebel. They too looked back in the direction of Bobby’s heartfelt cries for help.

  Chapter 16

  Sam and Nina were in the administration office packing boxes of record files, books, and other office supplies. Their expressions were wearing long, and it was evident they had faced the hard fact the Breakem Youth Camp had come to a bitter end. Nina crossed to the wall of pictures and began to remove the framed photos of Sam, Armos, and the youths whose time at the compound had culminated with a success story.

  “I’m going to miss this old place,” Nina said with a lump in her throat.

  “Well, at least you’ve got a job to go to,” Sam said, expelling a breath with a hint of despair.

  “The downtown Denver probation department was never on my wish list,” said Nina.

  “Texas cattle drives are no picnic either, honey,” said Sam. “And I’m getting a little old for that kind of thing.”

  The two stopped working and looked at each other with great fondness. Tears began to well in Nina’s eyes. Sam moved to her and placed his arms gently around her, pulling her close. “Nina. We’ll get to see each other. We’ll phone, write.”

  Nina embraced Sam and rested her head against his strong shoulder. She wept softly.

  “Sam, I’ll miss you so. And who’s going to give these kids a second chance? So many of them have been thrown to the wind from their very beginning. And now, they are going to be tossed back into the same situation they came from.”

  I know. It’s not fair. But not too much in life is, Nina. We have to be strong and say a prayer or two that something comes along to take our place.”

  “A kid like Bobby could have made it.”

  “Yeah, if he would stop running away,” Sam said, amused and irritated at the same time.

  “Armos will find him. And something down inside of me tells me he was not just running away. The boy’s got a good heart.”

  “I know,” Sam affirmed. “And let’s not even report that he took off again. It’ll only make things more difficult for him, and it really doesn’t matter now.”

  Sam and Nina gazed into each other’s eyes. Then they kissed, sharing the sad moment with the strength of their love for each other.

  Suddenly, Nina and Sam were interrupted as the office door opened revealing Armos and Bobby. The two appeared pathetically haggard.

  Sam and Nina were a tad surprised at the sight of Armos and Bobby, and a tad amused having been caught in the middle of their kiss.

  Bobby glanced about as he attempted to avoid direct eye contact with Sam or Nina as he too was a bit embarrassed for intruding on them. But that was a minor concern. The real dilemma for Bobby was what punishment his runaway would bring him.

  Sam, Nina, and Armos exchanged a look and a faint smile that forgave Bobby.

  “You guys are just in time to help us pack,” said Sam.

  “Sam, Nina,” said Armos. “Bobby was trying to do good. He thought somehow he could convince Rebel to save us.”

  “We thought something was up like that,” said Nina. “And because of that, Bobby, your running away is going to be our little secret.”

  Bobby looked up at Nina gratefully.

  The boy gazed at Nina as if he was somehow looking at the mother he never had.

  Nina moved to Bobby and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Armos told us about your ordeal. Your dream that has given you a new perspective on things. We knew you just wouldn’t run away again without good reason.”

  Sam crossed to Bobby and also placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’ve known Rebel for years. He earned his name, and he does pretty much what he wants to do in any given situation. And he’s independent, headstrong. You got closer to him than anyone has, so don’t feel too bad. You tried, and that’s what counts.”

  Bobby glanced at Sam, greatly appreciating his kind words. “Thanks, Sam. But I don’t understand. He saved me before, so why wouldn’t he—”

  Suddenly, the room began to shake. The shaking was accompanied by the growing sound of thunder.

  “An earthquake?” Armos proclaimed with alarm.

 
; Panic overcame the foursome as Sam ran to a window and gazed out. His tense expression softened in a heartbeat. “It’s a shaker all right, but it’s one we’re all gonna love!”

  Armos, Nina, and Bobby rushed to the window and peered out along with Sam. Sheer delight swept over their faces, and broad smiles prevailed.

  Outside, Rebel was leading some fifty horses running directly into the corral. Many of the horses were among the ones that ran away when the corral was opened that fateful night of doom. Once into the corral, the animals ran in a large circle, creating a whirl of dust as though a tornado had arrived. They ran like the wind as they celebrated life. The horses bumped one another with manes and tails flying about wildly. Rebel led the herd with his head held high with pride and confidence.

  Sam, Nina, Armos, and Bobby continued to look out the window in awe. Their faces filled with the excitement. Nina gave Bobby a hug. Bobby looked on, dazed with happiness. Armos wiped a tear from his eye as he and Sam exchanged a high-five.

  “Bobby!” Sam exclaimed. “You’re next in line to be the new foreman around here. It includes room and board, steady pay and, ah…” Sam turned to Nina. “What else, Nina?”

  “And people that care about you,” Nina said with a warm smile as she gave Bobby an extra squeeze.

  Armos moved to Bobby and reached out his hand. “Well, son. It looks like you’re gonna be a cowboy after all. That is if you wanna be?”

  Bobby shook Armos’ hand, his eyes now welling with tears. “I wanna be more than you know!” The room took on a special glow as a bond between the four was formed and by all indications, sealed forever.

  Chapter 17

  It was a sunny Sunday afternoon at the ranch and a perfect day for a barbeque. It was also visitor’s day. All was orderly, and somehow you could feel the good vibes of the compound being back in business again.

  Several parents and friends of the inmates were scattered about the corral visiting with the youths.

  J. R. Lysaker was not present. He had been sent off to juvenile hall. And from there…?