Page 321 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Joey, were you really lonely before I came?”
“After Jacob left, there was nobody for me to talk to. Oh, I could talk with Ma and Pa, but it’s not the same as having someone close to your own age.”
“How much older is Jacob than you?”
“Three years. Two years ago, he went to California to attend Stanford. We’ve not seen him since he left.”
“Then he must be almost finished.”
“I think he is, and he’ll come back after he graduates.”
“He’ll come back about the time we leave for college.”
“Yes, and I am excited about attending college with you, Felix.”
“Me too, Joey.”
They rode on in silence. The climb up to the top of the bluff was a challenge for the horses. The trail was steep at times and followed a winding path that was often narrow. When they reached the top, they dismounted and walked over to an outcropping of rocks.
“You can see the ranch house way down there,” Joey pointed toward the southwest. “And over there is the spring,” Joey pointed toward the southeast.
“Gosh…when I was up here before, I focused on you. Now I see the great view. You can see how the ranch lies out from up here.” Felix took a seat on the ledge. “I didn’t realize the house and the spring were so far apart.”
Joey sat down next to Felix. “I used to come up here and sit on these rocks and wish for Jacob to come home. I missed him a lot.”
“I understand.” Felix put his arm around Joey’s shoulders. “I never had any friends, and my brother is eight years younger, so we were never close. You must have been lonely here by yourself.”
“Until you came along. That’s why I decided we were best friends on the second day. I was glad to have someone here I could talk to, and I liked you from the first time I saw you standing in our kitchen.”
“I’m glad I came along, too.” Felix reached up with his free hand and touched Joey’s chin, pulling his face toward him in a kiss.
“Felix, I love you so much.”
“I love you more, Joseph Sterling,” Felix said as they embraced each other.
“Let’s eat our lunch.” Joey stood to get the sandwiches from the saddlebags. “I’m getting hungry, and we can sit here and look at the ranch as we eat.”
“I’m hungry too.” Felix gazed at the vista. He remembered Pa Sterling telling him about the history of this region. He thought of the buffalo herds that may have grazed below, of the Indians who may have kept an eye on things from this spot.
Felix stood up as they finished their sandwiches and brushed the crumbs from his shirt. He felt a slight tug at his neck and looked down in time to see the gold chain and cross fall between the rocks.
“Joey, my grandmother’s cross fell between those rocks. Can you see where it went?”
Joey stood, brushing the crumbs from his own shirt. He peered down between the rocks and thought he could see the glint of the gold chain in the sunlight that lit a small space between the stones.
“I think I see it, Felix. I’ll get it for you.”
Joey got on his knees and reached down between the rocks. He heard a faint buzzing sound, then a sharp pain in his hand. “Ouch,” he yelled, jerking his hand from the stones. Two baby rattlesnakes came out with his hand and flew off the edge of the outcropping.
“Oh no! Rattlesnakes.”
Felix rushed over to examine Joey’s hand. It had two pairs of bite marks, one on the fleshy part of his thumb pad and one on the back of his hand.
“It hurts, Felix.”
“Joey, we need to get you back to the house. I bet Ma has a remedy to fix you right up.”
Joey stood and staggered. “I’m not feeling good, Felix. I’m dizzy, and I’m starting to feel sick.”
