Jason Thames Fiction

Another story written for a class, this one for a short fiction workshop at Cal State Long Beach. I’ve considered expanding this piece as a part of a larger narrative. It’s rough and in need of some serious editing, but I will post it as is and revisit the story when I’m ready:

Sunlight battered the vast desert landscape. A searing wind swept across the land, robbing it of its precious moisture. At times long billowing clouds of dust were kicked up high into the air like pillars of smoke from a chimney in the earth.

Jonas sat in the saddle, his hat sitting low across his brow, his chin resting upon his chest. His horse, Annabelle, cantered ever forward, west towards California.

“Annabelle,” he said to his companion, “I think this is one of the worst ideas I’ve ever had.”

Annabelle snorted in reply and flicked her tail. She bobbed her head in what Jonas took as agreement.

He’d lost count of the days they had been on their journey. When he ran from the miserable family homestead, he made sure to pack everything that the two of them would need. His ample supplies of food, however, had not lasted as long as he had assumed. He carried his father’s revolver and rifle, but ammunition was precious and he only found a little money before he left. Water was the most precious commodity of all and he had to find novel ways to make it last.

In the heat of the day, hunger and thirst were unwelcome passengers.

“Don’t worry, Annabelle. We’ll come across a river soon and we’ll have all the water that we’ll need.”

This time Annabelle did not snort, but continued bobbing her head, her mane rustling in a cross-breeze.

Jonas held on to few truths, but he knew that he would be nowhere without Annabelle. She was a sounding board for his thoughts and had an indomitable will. He had spoken to her about many things, but there was one thing that he couldn’t speak with her about. He pushed it from his mind. He kept moving forward even when he wanted nothing more than to lie down and wither away.

“We’ll find water,” he said not even convincing himself. He placed his left hand on top of his hat to keep it from blowing away.

Hope had fled him, he being the lone island of humanity in the great dry basin that surrounded them. He was so small compared to the hills and bluffs around him. Or the clouds soaring high above in the boundless sky. Those nearest him were like small tufts of cotton, insubstantial. But in the distance to the north, saddled upon a mountain range, thunderclouds were building. The sea of blue sky ended at their boundary. They were dark and gray and when they’d manifested themselves in the heights a relentless wind was whipped up that buffeted horse and boy.

Then there was the dirt and grit of the land itself. Jonas placed his chin to his chest, and could feel the dirt there, clinging to the thin film of sweat. The dirt got into everything. It was in his boots, in his collar, under the rim of his hat, in the food and the water. He hadn’t felt clean since he’d left for California and dreamed of the day when he would have a hot bath and feel water against his skin. He’d even pay for a tub of used bath water if given the opportunity.

Most nights Jonas would camp early in order to make sure that he was able to get a fire started before darkness settled in. However, the heat had gotten to him and he lost track of the sun, and the shadows of the short plants lengthening. He roused and found the light of the day was fast fleeing and soon moonlight would be all that he would have to make his way.

He began to panic before he noticed a flickering in the distance, shadows dancing upon the walls in the recess of a plateau. Whoever had set the fire would be enclosed by rock leaving only one way to enter their camp.

Jonas put his hand on his father’s revolver and slowly made his way toward the light. When he got close he announced himself. “Hello there!” he called out in the dark.

“Don’t get any ideas,” came the gruff voice of a woman, echoing off the rocky walls. “You move into the light and I’ll cut you down with my shotgun.”

“I don’t have any ideas ma’am,” Jonas said in reply. “I’m just a boy on a horse hoping to share your fire.”

“Sure do sound like you’re just off your momma’s teat,” the voice called back. After a few moments he heard the woman shuffling. “Well, alright. Come into the light, with your hands raised.”

Jonas got down off of Annabelle, his boots making a dull thud in the dirt. He took the horse’s reins in his hand and slowly walked into the circle of the light.

“Take off your hat,” the woman said. “I can’t see your face.”

Jonas stopped and took off his hat with his empty hand. He thought that he must look ridiculous with the smattering of pathetic hairs on his chin. He wasn’t old enough to grow a proper beard.

“Well I’ll be,” she said. “You really are a babe. What are you doing out here?”

Jonas watched as the woman was wracked by a terrible cough that came from deep in her core.

“Are you alright?” he asked her.

The woman held up her hand, and the cough subsided.

Jonas remembered her question. “Going to California, ma’am.”

“Where are your parents?”

“Dead,” he replied as he looked down at his boots.

“Seems as though God dealt you a poor hand for one so young,” the woman said. “Well, tend to your horse and come sit by the fire.”

When Jonas had seen to Annabelle and made sure she had her share of the water supply, he sat by the fire. He felt the woman’s eyes on him the whole time.

“You know how to care for a horse,” the woman said. “Guess you would have to know something in order to survive this long out here. The name’s Kate.”

“Jonas, ma’am,” he said in reply. “My father taught me.”

“You have water and food?” she asked him.

“I’ve got enough,” he lied.

Kate snorted. “You ever had whiskey before?”

Jonas nodded. He’d stolen a taste out of his father’s cup a few times.

“I’ve got some to spare. Break out some of your food and I’ll share some of mine,” she said.

In the absence of the sun the night was cool. The wind had died down and the rocky alcove did much to protect them from the elements.

They shared their meager rations and Jonas drank bit of whiskey. Kate hadn’t given him very much. The fumes caught in his throat and nose, but he was able to get most of the liquid down without looking a total fool.

The whiskey warmed him and he reclined against the side of the plateau. As he began to relax, he looked north at the clouds. He was mesmerized by the flashing light in the distance.

“Soon those clouds will make their way over the mountains and bring rain to this land. Like manna from God,” Kate said almost dreamily.

“It needs it,” Jonas said in reply.

“God?” Kate said raising an eyebrow. “I agree.”

“Rain!” Jonas said with a laugh.

“When the rain falls, what green there is, will be just a little greener. And there will be water to be had.”

They sat in silence for a few moments sipping their whiskey.

“Why are you out here ma’am? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Same as you. I figured that I would make a new start. My husband died and I got run out by creditors. Do not trust a one of them,” she said.

“How did he die?” Jonas couldn’t help but ask.

“Stupid man fell off his horse and landed all wrong. The horse must have been spooked by something. Don’t matter what, ’cause the end’s all the same. I found him dead in the field. For what it’s worth the horse looked guilty when I found him.” She stopped speaking for a moment as if she had lost her way through her thoughts. “I seem to have lost my way from the trail. I figure I’ll head northwest and hope to find it again,” she finished.

Jonas watched as she poured another cup of whiskey for herself. She poured a swallow in his cup. He tried not to look disappointed.

“My whiskey, my rules,” she said as she sat back down. “And how did your parents pass? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Well,” Jonas began, his eyes transfixed again on the distant lightning storm. “Mama died when I was very young. Least that’s what my papa used to tell me. I don’t remember much about her. I think that I remember her in a blue dress, smiling down on me. But sometimes I think that’s just a dream. She died giving birth to my little sister, Sarah. They both died.”

“Terrible thing to happen,” Kate said.

“My daddy never let me forget Sarah’s name. Never let me forget that he lost his wife, his daughter, and that I was all that was left him in the world.”

Jonas didn’t blink as the memories of the past ran through his head. The unkind words, the beating and worse. He watched the light dancing in the distance and tears began to stream down his face.

“I’m sorry, Jonas. You don’t have to go on,” Kate said in a hushed voice.

“First he just used his words. Always saying how stupid I was. Then he would start drinking and say how much I reminded him of her. And when I got older, when I would cross him he would get his belt and beat me until I couldn’t cry anymore. Ma’am, I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this.”

“Seems like you need to tell someone,” she said in an almost caring voice.

“He’d always tell me how much I reminded him of my mother. And one night he came to my bed and he, and he…”

Jonas was quiet for a long time. The storm was still raging so far away. He thought that he could hear the booms of thunder in the distance.

“He kept coming back until I was old enough to fight back. I would kick and I would scream and he would keep on and he would tell me he was sorry after he was done. The last time he came I laid very still and when he was over me I threw my elbow into his nose and felt it crunch. He called out like a squealing pig and rolled on the floor. I got on top of him and started hitting him again and again and he started to cry for me to stop.

“He was rolling on the floor, his blood glistening in the light from the fire. I went and got his gun and I got back on top of him and I shoved the barrel in his face and there was fear in his eyes. ‘Jonas!’ he told me. ‘I’m your daddy, Jonas!’ he cried. And I pulled back the hammer on the gun. And when he realized what I was going to do he started to curse me, and I swear I saw real fire in his eyes.

“He spit at me and sputtered blood and balled his hands into a fist, but he was too late. I pulled the trigger and the gun fell from by hand and fell on the floor and his body was still.

“I burned down the house with him in it and took Annabelle with me.

“That’s how my daddy died.”

Kate broke into a hymn that Jonas had never heard before. He couldn’t help shedding a few more tears.

They sat the rest of the night in silence.

In the morning, Kate rose first. They shared a breakfast together. Few words passed between them.

When they finished saddling their horses Jonas felt her eyes upon him again. He saw what he thought was compassion as she approached him and hugged him.

“Jonas,” she said. “You are a handsome boy. You are a good boy. You’ll be a good man soon enough. This old lady has got to find her way through the wilderness. You’ve got to do the same. Travel fast, the way youth like yours can allow. Find your way.”

She got up on her horse and as she parted his company she turned, pointed at the sky which had turned gray with cloud-cover and said, “Remember. Manna from God. His rain will fall upon all of us sinners. Don’t waste His kindness.”

He watched her go for a little while. He saw her sway in the saddle once, and thought that he heard her cough carried back to him on the wind. He picked up his saddle bags and they were more full than before.

He wiped his nose on his sleeve and patted Annabelle on the neck and soon they were on their way. He wanted to follow Kate, to thank her. To give her supplies back to her. Then he remembered what she’d told him about wasting kindness. He was determined to find his own way.

He moved across the expanse and watched the sky change and the land darken around him. The days were colder and the dirt was still his constant friend. His stores of water had just about run out when the first drops of rain fell from the sky.

Soon there was a torrent of rain, it was as if the sky were a giant water-skin that had burst.

Jonas jumped off of Annabelle’s back and landed on the moist earth. He threw off his coat and his shirt and let the rain wash over him. He danced around in pure joy only children can know. He caught the rain in his hat and drank deeply. He filled his skins with water and knew that there would be water in the land on his journey. It wouldn’t be easy to get at, but he was prepared to survive.