Chapter One: Solitude

June 20, 1910

Sarah sat in Solitude beneath a shaded elm; hypnotized by endearing shadows. Her mouth was closed; eyes shut; motionless. She was tripping on the words of a silent prayer. "Are you there God?" A sunbeam cut between the leaves; illuminating, warming the right side of her face. "What am I going to do? God, please, I need… a direction in life. I need to do something but I can't fathom what that might be." Her shoulders collapsed. She ceased praying; her eyes remained closed as she drifted off into an unsettling dream. When it was over, she popped her eyes open. She sighed in relief. Without warning, the face of a boy with red hair and blue eyes flashed in front of her. She yelped in shock and fell backwards off of the rock. She could now see that the boy was hanging upside down from a long limb of the elm tree. He purposely cavorted around and dropped two feet to the ground. His buckled shoes kicked up the dust upon landing. Sarah was very unnerved by the entire episode.

The boy cautiously walked over to her and laid sideways on the ground next to her; propping his head up with his right arm. His head rested on a fist. "You're beautiful" he said matter-of-factly.

Sarah gave him half of a polite smile in reply along with a vigilant, "Thank you."

He slowly sat back up and turned his attention to the swing set at the playground. He ran over and jumped in a swing. Sarah took this as her cue to regain her dignity. She slowly stood up and dusted off her dress.

"I didn't mean to scare ya." He yelled between swings.

Sarah shrugged and walked over to the swing set and sat beside him.

"That's ok. I was lost in thought you might say."

"You looked like you were asleep."

"I was praying… or at least… I was trying to pray but, well, I must have slipped into unconsciousness." Sarah began swinging.

The duet of strangers began a swift contest to see who could swing the fastest.

With each whip of the pendulum, Sarah's mood became lighter and lighter.

The impish lad enjoyed it as well.

"Ha-ha! I love this swing set! I haven't been on it for years."

She tossed her head back and let the ends of her hair sprinkle the ground.

After a few more swings, she decided to stop. The boy stopped as well.

"It's been fun, kid, but I've got to go meet someone. Bye-bye."

As she walked down the street, she heard the boy running up behind her.

"My name is Jake, I'm from Billings. My dad and I moved here yesterday."

Sarah ignored him.

"I turned thirteen last January."

Sarah trilled her lips.

"Do you like to play Checkers? Are you from Eagle Creek?"

Sarah remained stoic and aloof, hoping beyond hope that he would catch on and abandon his pursuit.

"I think you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen. Do you have a boyfriend? Do you like ice cream? I saw an aeroplane at the State Fair. My dad owns a car. I'm taking trumpet lessons. My cousin can play the piano."

She quickened her pace.

Jake continued, "I used to live in Helena. My father designed a building there called the Montana Club. Its six stories high. When I was eight, I got to cut the ribbon to open it. The mayor and the governor were there. They gave me this giant pair of scissors but they weren't real sharp. A man from the newspaper took my picture. The scissors looked like they belonged to Paul Bunyan. He probably could've…."

Sarah stopped and flailed her arms. "I don't care you little twit; now scram!"

Jake's face fell. He whispered, "I just... I just… thought maybe…."

She huffed, "I know what you were thinking!"

Jake didn't say a word.

Sarah ceased her tirade.

She delicately put a hand on his shoulder and leaned into him.

She spoke in a soft tone, "Let me rephrase that."

Jake was mute.

Sarah slowly reached for his right hand and purposefully, politely shook it.

"My name is Sarah Conrad and yes, I was born in Eagle Creek."

Jake mumbled, "Are you in school?" He apprehensively brought his head back up.

She gave him a warm smile. "I'll be a senior this year. You're in eighth grade?"

He nodded. Sarah aped his gesture.

"So, Jake, I suppose you haven't made any friends yet?"

He shook his head no. "You're the first person I've talked to in Eagle Creek, other than family."

Sarah sighed. "Then I am especially ashamed of myself."

Jake shrugged. "It's ok. I know I can be a little… much at times."

"You were just trying to be friendly, and, well, I know I can be a little much at times."

Jake furrowed his eyebrows.

He said with a hint of optimism in his voice, "So… we can be friends?"

"We can be friends."

"Thanks. I move around a lot so I have a hard time making friends. I switch schools all the time. It's like I am constantly moving against the wind, up hill and the world is heading in the opposite direction."

"I understand that feeling. Jake, you seem like a decent kid. If you're nice and you try to behave yourself then I'm confident that you will make friends in Eagle Creek."

Sarah looked beyond Jake to the big clock on town hall. "Jake, it's almost 10 am. I have to meet someone, so, I must be going. Why don't you run on home? We'll talk another time."

Jake was disappointed but conciliatory. She started to walk away. "Bye."

After a few steps it occurred to her that Jake was close behind. Sarah stepped to the left side of the street. Jake followed.

She waved at Jean Clementine as she swept off the sidewalk in front of the bakery. Jean returned the courtesy. She turned on to Elm Street, heading south. Jake followed.

Sarah began adjusting the back of her dress concluding that the reason why he was following her was because something was showing, but her shame remained covered. She nervously shifted her eyes and hurried the rate of her steps.

Jake followed.

She came to a halt and spun around. She glared at Jake.

Jake shifted his eyes and shook his head to indicate that he did not know why she could be mad. "What?"

She sighed and returned to her walk. Jake returned as well.

The row of houses painted in various colors went by. Sarah became even more uneasy.

Finally, she could see the big yellow house.

A little black kitten was in the front yard swatting at butterflies.

Lynn stepped on to the porch and beamed a smile.

Sarah scrambled through the door in the gate and sped down the sidewalk to the porch. She cringed when she heard Jake squeak the door open.

"Did you get them?" asked Lynn.

Sarah was about to say, "Get what?" but she was interrupted.

"They didn't have two inch nails; I had to buy one inch."

Lynn replied, "That'll do."

Sarah tilted her head.

"Cousin Lynn, this is my friend, Sarah."

Lynn chortled. "Yes, Jake, we've already met."