“Meet me tomorrow at our spot on the river,” she said. It was the simplest request whispered softly in my ear. Delicate fingers barely brushed my shoulder in her familiar manner as she turned away. The hair on my neck stood, and a chill wended its way under my collar.

I turned and watched her go, her long hair swaying gently. She wore one of my favorite dresses: light material for the Oklahoma heat, colored pale yellow reflecting her sunny personality, with light-blue flowers like her eyes.

My breath quickened, and my eyes rose to look at the sun. Tomorrow could not come soon enough.

I began my chores. My hands mucked out the barn on muscle-memory. The pitchfork restocked hay without thought. Daydreams played in my mind the rest of the afternoon, circling the same debate over and over. Every angle tested and dwelt on.

[I can find a ring, even if it is temporary. Is it too soon? Will she agree?]

Time seemed to flash by, but somehow when I stepped outside, the sun had not moved. The chores continued, watering, mucking, feeding. At last, I began to repair the fence near the gate. This was my last task, perhaps leaving enough time to find a ring.

[I’ll give her a birch bark ring if I have to!]

“Ma, I’m going to ride into town to pick up some things,” I said as I leaned against the door frame. “Should be no time at all.”

My Ma smiled at me. She was wise as ever and the kindest soul one could meet. “Alright. Try to be back for dinner. I’ll let Pa know.” She crossed the room and gave me a quick squeeze. Her short frame fit under my arms.

“Thanks, Ma,” I said. “I’ll make it quick.” My stomach twisted, conforming with my excited mind.

Upstairs, I leafed through the small wooden box that I kept under my bed. There was not much in it, a few trinkets and slips of paper. I took the few bills and coins and the two nuggets that Gramp had given me. In no time I was on Badger’s back bending low over the saddle.

The dusty streets were mostly bare when I arrived in Harington. I hurried into the general store to speak to William.

“Jake, there is some kind of trouble down by the mill,” William said before I could speak.

[That’s where everyone is…] The news skittered off my thoughts, barely putting a dent in my momentum. “None of my business,” I said. “I’m looking for a ring. Got anything you want to part with?”

William’s eyebrows raised, but he left his question unasked. “I have one or two.” He disappeared into the back room and came out moments later with a small box.

The rings were different. The largest was a gaudy pink and gold monstrosity. The other two were thin and delicate. The silver ring had a small topaz stone, and the gold ring had no stone at all, but its head was flattened and carved with an intricate circular knot pattern.

“How about this one?” I asked pointing at the plain gold band.

“Twenty-seven dollars,” William said.

I nodded slowly. It was a fortune. I fished everything I had out of my pockets and counted out the money. “Five and eighty-five cents,” I said as I dropped the gold nuggets on the counter. “The gold should be enough, right?”

William picked up one of the nuggets. Then he put it down and tapped each one with the blade of his knife. Once he saw the marks that had been created, he dropped the pieces onto his scale. The counterweights slid, and balance was achieved.

“That’s twenty dollars in gold. Still short by a dollar fifteen.”

With my heart in my throat, I looked up at him and opened my mouth in anguish. “I-“

“It’s enough, son.” William’s face cracked into a rare smile that disappeared quickly like the sun behind a cloud. He tore a page out of the day’s paper and then wrapped the ring up and handed me the packet. “Good luck, Jake.”

As I stepped out the door, I heard two distant shots ring out. I recognized them as pistol caliber, but when I turned to look down the street, but could see nothing. On any normal day, I would have ridden Badger over to see the commotion, no doubt part of the ruckus that William had mentioned. Today, however, I was giddy and very eager to run home to dinner.

It was dark when I arrived, and I was grateful for the lantern that Ma had left burning in the kitchen window. The smell of stew hit me as I opened the door, and Ma turned from the table.

“I was wondering when you’d be back. Here, come get some supper.” She eyed me with curiosity. “How’s everything in town?”

I shrugged and then realized that my errand was strange without some other purchase. I had not even brought home a paper or any news. It hit me. “William said there was some kinda ruckus out toward the mill. I heard a couple of shots as I left, but I don’t know nothing else about it.”

“Didn’t go take a look?”

“I knew it was getting to be dinner time, and I was hungry…” I let my excuse trail off as it rang hollow in my ears.

Ma let it go. “Well, eat up, you’re getting skinny.” she said, patting me on my shoulder. “I’m washing tomorrow, make sure you leave this shirt out for me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

I slept fitfully, my dreams consisting of rocky rapids, and a recurring run through a wood ending with a branch repeatedly knocking me off my feet. It was early when I awoke in earnest. The sun had not yet begun to peek above the pines. I rose and pulled on a clean shirt and britches. In a few moments, I draped the dirty shirt over the chair back in the kitchen, grabbed my boots, and stepped outside. It was quiet except for a cheerful robin singing in the apple tree near the barn. I quietly slid on my boots.

[Soon.] I sighed happily.

Taking off at a brisk walk, I followed the tree-line southward. The morning dawn lit only the first part of the horizon, and it was still very dark in the shadows. I spent my entire childhood here and easily knew my way through the familiar paths. After a few minutes, I began to hear the sound of water. The river eventually opened up before me. I turned right along the bank and followed the trail.

Soon, I reached the river’s bend. The water sluggishly turned around and made a large ‘S’ shape. The natural peninsula there was sandy. Across the bend a large tree hung low over the deep pool that had been created by the flow of water and time. I knew from experience that many fish lived in that deep shade.

Turning, I looked for a place to rest. She would not be here yet, I was certain. I patted my pocket for the fiftieth time to ensure that the ring was with me. I sat on the boulder that rested at the top of the sand. The sun rose slowly, driving away the morning chill with fingers of dawn light.

Time passed slowly, or so I thought. I had no time piece to confirm. Only the sun and my well-honed experience.

[She should be here soon. I can’t wait to see her.]

I was restless. I paced. I skipped stones across the river. My spirits sank until sometime after the noon sun reached its peak, they crawled in the gutter. Anger rose, then denial and hope warred with each other through my heart and mind.

[Does she not feel the way I feel about her?]

I stood with hands clenched and screamed hoarsely at the treetops.

[What a fool. I’ve made such a mistake.]

The journey back home was slow and painful. I over-analyzed and prodded every moment I had spent with her. I wept bitterly for my own loss.

Finally, I walked through the yard toward the house. Ma must have seen me from the window. She came to the porch and wrapped her arms around me. I had no idea why, but like any son, I needed my mother’s love.

After a few moments, she pulled back and looked at my face.

I saw that her eyes were red and watery like mine.

“When did you find out?” she asked gently.

“Find out… what?” I stammered.

“About Jenny.”

[Maybe she meant to break it off with me at the river?]

“What, did she run off with that lawyer?” Anger bubbled up in my voice and threatened to start my tears all over again.

Ma shook her head. “She was in town last night when the shootout started. She’s gone, Jake. Innocent bystander. Mrs. Baker said she had gone into Christina’s for something, and when she came out… Well, it all happened so fast.”

My knees buckled, and I landed on the porch with my forehead on the wood. Ma knelt beside me and rubbed my back, but I resisted.

[I was right there in town. I was only a minute or two away. I could have saved her! I should have been there for her.]

My hands pounded the time-worn planks.

“I need time, Ma.”

Standing in a hurry, I reached in my pocket and pulled out the packet. I shoved it into Ma’s hands and then turned to run back to the river.

“I need time, Ma!” I hollered without looking back.

I was gone.