Albert Einstein

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

Among the Oil Derricks: Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

It had not been three days when Mr. Carlyle came home. He smiled and greeted the children eagerly, but Drake could see that he was tired and working hard to hide his discouragement.

“Brandon, what’s wrong?” Mrs. Carlyle said as soon as they were sure everyone was asleep.

Mr. Carlyle sighed, “I don’t understand, Bonnie, I used to have a reputation everyone could trust. Now no one trusts my research anymore. The company decided not to invest in the oil derrick. The doctor poisoned the well.”

“Why would he do that? What have we done to him? We’ve never even met him.” Bonnie cried.

“I don’t know what he wants with this land, but he wants it badly,” the man shook his head regretfully, “I’ve searched ways to prosecute him, but I can’t find anything worth taking the risk for.”

”Brandon, we’ll lose the house,” Bonnie murmured.

“I know! I know!” Brandon shook his head and buried it in his hands, “What can I do? Oh, Bonnie, I’m sorry.”

“We’ll be alright, sweetie,” Bonnie patted his back comfortingly, “I’ll call social services tomorrow so they’ll find homes for the kids and we’ll start looking. God will take care of us.”

Drake sat, his knees pulled up to his chest, listening just outside the living room door to the hall. He could tell that Mrs. Carlyle was speaking with an effort. It was hard on her, he knew. Sighing, he stood and soundlessly crept up the stairs. “Well, that’s all over,” his thoughts told him, “off to the next home, Drake, and off to the next. Better get used to it, teens never get adopted and you are almost if not already thirteen.” Drake shook his head vigorously. No! No! No! This couldn’t be it! Who was that doctor who destroyed all this? Why did he do it? Anger filled his heart as he went to bed. His brows were furrowed and stayed so all through his unpleasant sleep.

The next morning they came down for breakfast as usual promptly at eight o’clock. It was summer, so there was no school. It went on as usual. The Carlyle’s made no mentioned of their plight. Drake saw Mrs. Carlyle on the phone, though, and caught a few words. “Yes, tomorrow, yes, we will tell them.” His mild side sighed, but his bitter side had been growing for quite some time and now sat like a knot in his stomach.

“Kids, Mr. Carlyle and I have to talk to you in the living room,” Mrs. Carlyle told them after they had finished next morning’s breakfast. Lexie threw an odd glance at Drake. She caught Mrs. Carlyle’s grave tone. In the living room all but Drake sat down on the couch. He sat alone on a sofa chair to the right of the couch.

“We have some bad news,” Mrs. Carlyle and Mr. Carlyle sat down in the love seat. The foster children waited expectantly. “We are no longer able to afford our house or property. In the next few days you’ll be moved to new homes.”

“What!” Lexie exclaimed crestfallen. Cole and Ben were upset, Cole close to tears. Kayla looked disappointed. Drake only stared blankly.

“An agent has a house all ready for you, Lexie,” Mrs. Carlyle told her, “and I believe you will be going home to your mom and stepfather very shortly. You other kids will soon have placements in homes.”

The rest of the day was heavy for Drake and Lexie. The youngers were young enough to get over it quickly. Moving about was something they handled better, but Drake new it would soon take a toll on them and they would be as messed up as he was. Despite the pressure, Lexie and Drake did not argue at all like they usually did in stressful situations and lived in subdued peace. They came closest to getting along and working together they had been since Lexie had come.

Lexie packed her bags and departed to some unknown destination to await an unknown future the very next morning. Very soon after, Kayla went too and then Ben and then Cole. Drake was the only one left. The home was very big and empty. He felt displaced and helpless. Even the caves brought him small solace to his emptiness.

Lexie would probably be sent back to her alcoholic step-father and drug addict mother as Satie was. Cole would probably be kept from his, who, from what Drake had gathered, were a better family than most of America’s families. Why he had been taken away, he never fathomed it was so preposterous, but he guessed he would be longest to be returned. Cole often cried for his family. Drake did not know about Ben’s family or past, but he seemed healthy.

Drake often thought about why this was so and came to believe that because messed up parents like Satie’s and Lexie’s were such trouble to deal with and had no problem causing drama the workers would rather send the kids back as long as there is no obvious proof of abuse just to not have to deal with it or - when Drake was feeling more cynical - because they felt sorry for the parents lot even though it was largely their fault, yet good parents who followed the rules like a sacred ordinance were easy to bully. Why this made them subject to the “good intentions” of the social workers, Drake never understood, but they seemed to think no one knew how to parent without their say. Surrounded by this twisted reality, it was no wonder he came to scorn law and rules.

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in moral law. I mean, if you didn’t have to steal, for goodness sakes, don’t. Let alone being wrong, it never worked out, even if it did, it doesn’t! But if it is inconvenient to obey cultural laws or even some ethical laws, big deal as long as he wasn’t caught. Despite this worldview, he obeyed rules as well as any person who held laws as though their life depended upon it. He had respect for order and understood the reasons behind some, he was in fact a slight bit afraid to disobey if he did not have a good reason, but if he had reason or the rule had no reason, he had the final say.

“His friends came and went. Even his home did. The future was uncertain and it was hard. It was hard to look forward when there was no control. It was hard that those who did did not care or could not be reached. His life was governed by outside forces, lawmakers, kings, queens, princes, and princesses whom he could not influence. While others could look to the future with vision and hope, his was void of vision and black to sight.”

Drake pushed his journal aside frustrated. It was getting late. Tucking his journal into his bag, he crawled into bed. He could no longer risk leaving his notebooks in the cave. If an agent came for him he would have no time nor excuse to retrieve them. The lights were out and Drake shut his eyes, but sleep did not come.

After hours of tossing and turning, Drake threw off his covers. Enough! He was going downstairs. With silent steps, the boy crept down the stairs. Halfway down, he could hear Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle talking. Perhaps he knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, he had surely heard it before. Whatever he knew, his scorn won out and he listened.

“Honey, we’ve prayed about it,” Mr. Carlyle held his wife close to him in comfort, “it isn’t God’s will for us to adopt Drake. We have to trust God will take care of him. I’m as sorry as you, but we have to trust.” Mrs. Carlyle sobbed into her husband’s chest as Drake pressed himself against the steps of the stairs.

God?! Oh sure, God said they should not adopt him. Of course it has nothing to do with the money or the effort or his sometimes hostile personality. Drake had always hoped there was a God, but this was the last straw. Even if there was a God, He couldn’t care about him. He couldn’t care about the Carlyles or why would He let this happen? It made no sense.

Drake respected the Carlyles and knew they wouldn’t try to deceive, but he now felt sure their subconscious worries and even their feelings of dislike - which they were sure to have - towards him must be masquerading as God’s voice. Faith and hope was all good and well for little girls like Satie, but life was just too real now. How could he have hope? How could he have faith? He couldn’t.

He was fighting an upward battle in the final moments of the war of his heart. The childlike clinging to hope against the world’s reality. The desperation to want to live with life’s proof that there is only death. It was a hopeless battle and he was losing. He could not do this alone, but there was no one to go to. With a heart emptier than before and oddly light, so light he thought it might fly away completely, he slipped back into bed and fell into a fitful sleep full of dark dreams.

*Rap* *Rap* *Rap* “Drake, Drake, wake up! It is five to eight!” Mrs. Carlyle called through his door. Drake opened his eyes. He didn’t feel like he had any sleep last night. He dreams took as much energy as in waking, he felt sure, and when he was tormented by them he was half awake. “We have company.”

“The agent,” Drake groaned to himself.

“It’s Lynne Roberts, you remember her don’t you?”

Oh! It isn’t. It’s just Lynne Roberts, that spunky single woman who like to travel all over the world causing all sorts of social uproars. That lady. What was she doing in Carlsbad? Wasn’t there some place in Saudi Arabia or Iran where she needed to stir up the Taliban with her feisty ways, slipping out just in time to avoid trouble? Or had she already done that and was waiting for the fire to burn down to do it again? Oh well, she was here and she was interesting company to say the least.

Without bothering to brush his hair or even change, Drake slumped down the stairs and plopped down on a sofa seat. Mrs. Carlyle looked at him oddly, “Well, I’m glad you’re up anyway. Lynne you remember Drake.”

“Oh yes, that charming little boy I met six months ago? Good to see you again, Drake. I hear that you won’t be here much longer. I am very sorry. You were very lucky and even I envied you for being able to stay here. Quite a horse boy, I’ve heard.” Miss Lynne smiled at him, he feigned a little smile back. “Perhaps one of these days I’ll pick you up wherever you are and we’ll have an adventure somewhere.”

“I thought you were in the Middle East painting some town red or something,” Drake replied testily.

Lynne laughed, “Oh the Middle East. It doesn’t take long or much to get kicked out. I left before they could though. Oh-my. What adventure! Anyway, Bonnie, dear, I am headed to the caverns. There is roadwork, so the going is going to be slow, heck, I could step out of my car while driving, it’ll be so slow. Still, I do love exploring, be it nature or culture. I’ve had enough time abroad, I’ve decided to turn my eyes to home, the US, and explore its wonders.”

“How nice,” Drake mentioned in an almost sarcastic attempt to be polite. Mrs. Carlyle shot him a glance, but Lynne only smiled and chuckled, “What a boy. Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, did he?” There was a moment of silence. “And, yes, Drake, it is nice,” Lynne added, “Very nice. Do you know anything about caves.”

Drake drew in a sharp breath as though offended at being asked such a question. “Yes, Drake is very fond of caves, he can answer nearly any question asked about them,” Bonnie put in quickly.

“Good, good, I might ask you a few questions about them,” Lynne laughed, “Tell me, will all your horses go to YMCA camps? Such a shame. I truly am sorry.”

“Yes, it is, but we are trusting God,” Bonnie began.

“Oh yes, God,” said Lynne in an amused voice while Drake sat upright in his chair. He felt like vomiting.

“Are you alright?” Mrs. Carlyle asked. Drake nodded and mumbled something as he left the room. He didn’t want to hear anything more on all that God stuff.

“I’m headed to the caverns,” Lynne’s voice echoed in Drake’s mind as he trudged up the stairs to him room, “there is roadwork, so the going is going to be slow, heck, I could step out of my car while driving, it’ll be so slow.”

Carlsbad Caverns! That was where those men said they were often. If he could find them maybe he could find out why they were doing what they were doing and who was behind it. Maybe he could stop them and whoever was ruining his life would pay!

With a beating heart and solid footsteps, Drake dressed, grabbed his backpack, packed his essentials, and crept back down the stairs and out the back door. The Lynne Robert’s car was out in the driveway. He hadn't noticed her carrying anything she’d put in the back seat. He peered into the windows. There was a hiking backpack. Glancing back at the house, Drake carefully opened the back door, threw the backpack into the front seat, and slid behind the driver’s seat crouching low to the floor.

Several minutes that felt like hours later the visitor waved goodbye, jumped into her car, and drove away. She did not notice Drake. They reached the slow area where he realized he could not possibly slip out without her noticing. Angrily he consented to the fact he would have to wait to get to Carlsbad Caverns forty miles away. It wasn’t that he was getting the full ride to Carlsbad Caverns, that worked out nicely, it was that it would be a long, cramped, silent drive. Silent, that is, until he learned that Lynne talked to herself while driving. Nothing psycho, more like mutterings of thoughts aloud.

Nothing was more welcome than for Drake to hear, “Ah, here we are,” escape Lynne’s mouth as she pulled into the parking lot of the main building.

Climbing out, she looked around with a deep, content breath. Taking the opportunity of the distracting, Drake cracked the door open. After being satisfied she wouldn’t look and no one else was, either, he pushed the door ajar, slid out, and pushed the door silently closed. Flipping up his hood, he slipped away and into the building. It was a challenge staying unseen until she had gone off to her backpacking hike which would last several days, but he succeeded.

Afterwards, Drake sauntered around, reading posters about the caves and asking himself ‘what now’? He had gotten himself there, which was perhaps now that he thought about it the easiest part. What he did know was that he’d give CPS a run for their money to find him. No, never mind, they wouldn’t. He was out now, he knew how to travel long distances. He wouldn’t go back. What were the chances of anyone finding or recognizing him? He would just be on more face amongst the thousands other Missing Child posters.

“Hey, Drake!” a voice called.

Somerset Maugham

"It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."


--------

I forgot to post my weekly quote on Wednesday, so here it is, a few days late.
Note: Because this could be a controversial quote, I'd like to note that I don't think he meant entitlement, more like a refusal to let ourselves settle for anything less than we can achieve with hard work and giving it our all.

-Lynsi

Among the Oil Derricks: Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Taking his makeshift torch, Drake examined the great underground room. All was as he left it, unharmed and unmarred. It was just a little cave compared to the glories of Carlsbad Caverns just down the road, but to Drake, it was more glorious than any of the Carlsbad rooms, because it was his and had brought him a haven from the world. What did those men want with is underground heaven? He knew they wanted something, he had heard them talking about it before as they walked up the path thinking no one was near. They  had even asked him about it, if he knew of any caves in the area.

He sighed. Emilie would have loved this, he thought, Satie would have loved it for what it meant to me. Oh, Satie. He would never see her again.

How many times had he told himself not to attach himself for they would surely go, but how could he not attach himself to what he loved? Drake shuddered at the implied solution. Love was what kept him going some days, without love, where was hope? Without faith, where were either? He feared the day he would lose them.

No! He couldn’t! He couldn’t give up! He couldn’t give up like the thousands others. He could keep going, he would climb out of this forsaken pit he had been born into, he would!

It was dark by the time Drake returned to the home. He saw the lights of a police car as he approached. Worried, he hurriedly put Spero into his stall and ran up the back steps and into the house. He could see the living room from the hall. On the couch sat Ben, Cole, Lexie, and a girl he had never seen. Ben and Cole had obviously been crying and even Lexie looked concerned. Drake looked at them awkwardly before attempting to sneak upstairs.

“Drake Byron!” Lexie’s shrill voice stopped him in a bossy tone, “Where have you been? Mrs. C has called the police, here, we’d better tell her.” She had practically flown across the room, into the hall at the foot of the stairs, and grabbed his arm.

“Let me go!” Drake jerked his arm away, “Don’t tell me what to do!”

“You’re one to talk!” Lexie fairly shrieked, “Worrying Mrs. C to death! You’re not very responsible, Drake Byron.” She seemed to like the authority of using his full name.

“Neither are you,” Drake grumbled as Mrs. Carlyle and two policemen rushed in.

“Drake! Where have you been? Thank you, officers, here he is.” Mrs. Carlyle exclaimed.

“Alright, Ma’am,” the policeman nodded, “Don’t go running off without telling anyone where you’re going or how long you’ll be gone, young man. You might get hurt!”

“Yes, sir,” Drake mumbled. Mrs. Carlyle followed them to the door. Drake turned to face Lexie, standing with her hands on her hips blocking the door into the hall.

“Hear that young man? Don’t!” she said, wagging a finger at him. Her bright red shirt contrasting with her black hair and icy yet beautiful voice seemed to accelerate all emotions.

“Shut up, leprechaun! Shut up!” Drake shoved her aside and ran up the stairs.

“I’m tellin’ you shoved and called me names!” Lexie shouted up the stairs, “You hear me, Drake Byron?” The reply was a slamming door.

“The witch! The serpent! The siren!” Drake hissed to himself about Lexie. He added the last one because, though he hated her, there was no denying the fair skinned, black haired, dark eyed Lexie was beautiful.

“She’s as beautiful as she is vile,” Drake wrote a few descriptive lines about a character in a book he was writing. The character was an evil princess, modeled after Lexie and a few other girls he had met and disliked, who wanted to prey on a poor boy’s - himself’s - only treasure, because it was in fact a key to a great money making plan, a plan modeled after the two men’s supposed plan.

Drake tapped his pencil to his lips as he thought. He had just come to the part in the story when the wicked princess kidnaps the pauper’s little sister, the only one in the world who loves him and the only one in the world he loves, and he’s compelled to take in some younger street urchins to help him rescue her and he’s beginning to find he really likes taking them under his wing and being their big brother.

Drake now pondered where to take his narrative next when he was interrupted by a tap on the door. “If it’s an ugly leprechaun, go away!” Drake called, a name that drove Lexie mad.

“Drake Byron, haven’t I told you not to name call?” Mrs. Carlyle’s shrill voice came in, “Now unlock this door this instant.”

Drake jumped off his chair, vaulted over his bed, and opened the door. “Yes, ma’am.”

“That’s better,” Mrs. Carlyle entered the room, “Now where have you been?”

“Riding,” Drake replied.

“Where?”

“Anywhere,” Drake shrugged sullenly.

“Drake, if you come home this late again, you won’t be allowed to go riding anymore,” Mrs. Carlyle said severely, but Drake wasn’t listening. His attention was drawn to her eyes. Were those tears? Was she really that worried about him?

“Yes, ma’am,” Drake mumbled running his fingers through his hair; a nervous habit of his. After a few more words, she left, and Drake hurriedly shut the door before Lexie could materialize in front of him like she too often did after such chidings.

“The lady of the house never understood why he was gone at odd hours nor could she understand that which were nearest to his heart.” Drake described the pauper’s landlady, a nice old woman who just didn’t understand.

“Nearest to his heart,” Drake murmured, putting away his story note-book he drew out his other one. It was an old leather bound notebook. The cover was worn and on the inside was Drake Matthew Byran. He flipped it to the twelfth page. On it was what looked like a map of some sort of building. It was Drake’s map of the cave.

The entrance he called Pearl Gates. The Outer Sanctuary was separated from the Inner Sanctuary by a cluster of columns, stalagmites, stalactites, and draperies Drake called The Holy Curtain. It was equal distance from each width wall of The Sanctuary and a couple yards from the Pearl Gates. On the right side, beginning in the Outer Sanctuary a little path cut around, separated from the main room by a wall, rejoining in the back area Drake called the CrossRoads Room. From the CrossRoads Room at the rear of the Sanctuary, over twenty-five feet, three paths began. The Pilgrimage, mentioned above, The Narrow Way, a very narrow path leading to a large oval shaped room with a pool of water in the center, and The Wide Way, which Drake had not yet gathered the courage to explore fully. He had gone several minutes down. There seemed to be no ending room or anything, it just seemed to continue on and down.

What if his cave connected with Carlsbad Caverns? Or what if it had an exit near another entry to another cave, eventually leading there? Drake wanted to confirm or disprove his theory very badly, but the problem was Carlsbad was nearly forty minutes down the road. He would need several days to find out.

Sighing, Drake hid his notebooks. Who was this new girl? he wondered now. Had Rachel gone during the day? He hadn’t seen her. Lexie, Ben, Cole, the girl, and himself… that was five. Yes, Rachel must have gone, foster families could not have more than six children at a time. This little girl looked about nine. Was she like Satie and Ash - Ashley or more like thirteen year old Lexie? He had met several little girls even worse than Lexie. It was harder because while he could yell, shove, and name call Lexie clear of guilt, he couldn’t do so with a little girl. I guess it never occurred to him that Lexie might be the way she was because of where she came from, too, while it was an ever present thought in regard to younger children.

Drake was careful not to stay out too long afterwards. He missed Satie everyday. Kayla, the new girl, was okay. She wasn’t a brat, but she preferred to hang out with Lexie and had some annoying sass and back talk. Drake didn’t care that she did not like him either, he didn’t like her. He mostly ignored her and since she didn’t want to learn how to ride, which would have forced Drake to teach her because Mrs. Carlyle had him teach all the children who wanted to learn, this was fairly easy. He, Ben, and Cole spent their days outside or in their room, and Kayla and Lexie had the house and yard.

***

“No, I did not want the third edition, I explicitly asked for the first. I don’t care if you can’t find it, you had better. I demand it by tomorrow. Do you understand me?... Good! Good-bye!” a woman who looked much younger than she really was slammed the phone back onto the receiver. She had been told many times that she ought to get a wireless office phone, but she liked to have the satisfaction of slamming down a phone after an angry interchange. It was a common enough occurrence to cause her to put off the improvement in technology. Everything else, however, was up-to-date if not ahead of times. “Come in,” she called in response to a buzz at the office door. A man in a suit stepped in. “Report.”

“They won’t sell the house,” he told her.

“What? Why not? I offered ample money! More than Ares and Johanson could have possibly offered. Why won’t they sell! Without that land, we can’t do this!” she complained in a high pitched whine, “Oh well, I am sure Dr. Johanson will figure out a way to force them off their land. When he does, we’ll step in and buy it. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when I tell him all the favors he’s been doing for me without his knowing. You may go.”

“Yes, ma’am."

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Hey, so it's working. :D Yay! Sorry this chapter is super short!!!

-Lynsi

Story update

Hey readers,
Sorry about the delay. The place I saved my novel is presently and unexpectedly not accessible. So soon as it is, I will post the next chapter, but I don't think that will be until tomorrow.

-Lynsi

William James

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mind."

Among the Oil Derricks: Chapter 1

PROLOGUE

“Hades,” a brusque voice broke the monotone sound of a keyboard typing continuously.

The man behind the computer glanced up. “Dr. Seth, it’s been awhile.”

“Hardly two months,” corrected the visitor, “Are you still doing what you’re best at?”

“What am I doing now?”

“Then I won’t keep you. Uh… once you’re done for the night, come down and see me at my new office. I’ve a mind to start working together again.”

“Do you?” Hades challenged.

“Provided it sounds good to you,” the doctor added quickly.

“What sounds good?” asked Hades suspiciously.

“Are you in?” insisted the doctor.

“What’s it about?”

“It’s what we were wanting in the beginning.”

“Lucrative?”

“And creative enough for both our arts!”

“I guess I can’t turn that down.” Hades leaned back in his chair.

“Great, here’s my card. Don’t leave it around.” Dr. Seth held out a small card.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” the man muttered taking the card and scanning it with his eyes, “Wait! It’s all the way in New Mexico!”

“You plane leaves in two days. Your ticket you’ll find on the table in your apartment.” The doctor informed coolly.

“You broke into my apartment?” Hades asked with annoyance.

“It couldn’t have been easier to open the front door. For the sort of work you’re in, my friend, you really ought to have a safer apartment. Anyway, my flight leaves tonight. I will see you in two days then.”

“My job - “ he began to protest.

“Get it done quickly then. We need to get started.”

“Fine, you owe me.” he grumbled.

“And will be repaid amply. Good bye.” Dr. Seth turned to go.

“Bye.”

CHAPTER 1

----- Four Years Later ----

Shouts of movie crew men filled the field. “Over here!” “Over there!” “I need a go-for guy!” “Where’s the director?” “Perfect!” setting up for the scene to be filmed. The New Mexican sun was high warming up the air uncomfortably. Several actors stood over by the house reading the last minute changes and getting in character and mopping their brows with handkerchiefs before the scene.

In front of the little white ranch house was a long railed porch with a bench on the left of the door and a swing bench on the right. Several young foster children huddled on the bench shyly watching the celebrities. There was one boy however who sat almost defiantly away from the others, his arms crossed, on a swinging bench, indifferent to the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs.’ He was a young boy with red blonde long-ish hair and river blue eyes and freckled. At first glance he looked somewhere between eleven and thirteen.

Sitting with the others was a girl. She sat at the end anxiously glancing at the boy from time to time as though wanting to talk to him. Finally, seeming to gather up enough courage, she hopped off the bench and trotted over to him deaf to an older girl’s “Satie!”

“Drake,” the little dark blonde girl asked in a meek voice, “Drake, will you take me to meet one?” Her hands were clasped in front of her and she gazed at him pleadingly.

The boy jumped off the swing carelessly, “They are busy, Satie, they can’t be introduced. But, tell you what, I’ll take you riding so we can watch them film from the overlook. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

Satie said slowly trying not to hang her head, “I would like that.” But the disappointed look on her face wasn’t missed by the older boy.

“Okay, Satie, common, I’ll take you to meet an actor, but they’re just actors,” Drake caved.

“Oh, thank you, Drake, thank you!” the little girl grabbed Drake’s hand and followed him as he took her over to the actors and actresses dressed in their old-west clothes.

Standing nearest was a handsome young actor in his mid-twenties. He was the main character for the movie. As soon as they came up he flashed a smile, put away his script and greeted them, “Hello there, how are you?”

“Good,” Drake answered callously with a judgmental glance up and down.

“Good,” Satie replied breathlessly gazing strictly at the actor’s deep blue eyes.

“Do you live here?” Satie nodded her head. “What’s your name?” He had a very friendly smile which Drake did not like.

“Satie Kuhn.”

“And yours?”

“Drake, sir,” the boy replied.

“Derek, we’re ready to shoot,” the director Roger Chandler called.

“That’s my call, nice to meet you two.” The actor turned and, joined by an actress with blonde hair, mounted the ready chestnut horse and prepared for the shoot.

“Bye!” Satie exclaimed.

“Bye,” Drake said dully, then with much more animation turned to Satie and said, “Do you still want to ride?”

“Yes, please!”

“If we hurry we can still watch them film!” Drake pulled her after him toward the stables a few yards away from the right side of the house. “You can ride without a saddle, can’t ya?” he asked Satie.

“You taught me,” she answered in her usual timid voice.

“Good,” Drake lifted her onto a beautiful white stallion that had been named Shadowfax after the horse in Lord of the Rings by a former foster child. He jumped on behind her and cantered out of the stable and onto the Carlsbad plains. The brush seemed a blur. Desert dust kicked up behind them in a huge cloud. Not a tree was to be seen for miles. There were hills and mounds and Drake intended to take them to one on which they could watch the shoot.

Satie’s blonde hair whipped back and Drake’s reddish-sandy hair ruffled. He loved the feel of the wind against his face. He felt free. For a brief moment, he felt free from his hate of everything, he felt free to love and be loved, he felt free from distrust. He trusted the stride of Shadowfax to take him without stumbling as far as he dared go, he trusted the wind to blow his cares away, he trusted Satie to cling to him like he was her brother, and he trusted himself to be able to be his sister’s keeper. It was everything he longed his whole life could be.

“Drake! Drake! Stop!” Satie fairly shrieked, “I can’t stay on!” Drake’s mind snapped back into reality as his arms instinctively closed around Satie’s waist to keep her seated while using his feet to stop Shadowfax. Just ahead of them was a large ditch that Shadowfax could easily jump over, but Satie would not be able to hold on, Drake knew.

Satie began falling despite all Drake could do. “Sate, trust me,” Drake murmured, allowing her to slip, but guiding her safely to the ground. Shadowfax cantered a couple yards past where Satie fell before Drake turned him around. “See,” his spiteful self hissed in his head, “you can’t even trust yourself to watch over Satie!”

 “Are you alright,” Drake slid off the horse and held out a hand to the little girl.

Satie stood up, shaking all over, and dusted off her clothes. “My hands are scratched and so are my clothes,” she pouted.

“I’m sorry, here, let me lift you up.”

Sate stepped back and shook her head, “I don’t wanna ride anymore.”

“You have to,” Drake’s voice became quickly dry, “it’s too far back to walk. Let me help you up.”

Satie pursed her lips and let Drake lift her up. They both knew that Drake would win this argument if they had it. Satie didn’t think she’d get over it quickly like Drake assured her she would, but as soon as she saw the actors riding across the plains, her fall was forgotten.

 “Look, there they are,” Satie pointed, “Wow, look how fast Derek is riding! They’re shooting!”

“They are doing a posse scene,” Drake explained following the chase with his eyes.

“How do they not kill each other?” Satie asked with wide eyes.

“They are using blanks,” he told her, “back in the editing they will use computers to CGI the bullets. See those people who fall? They are stunt people who are trained to know how to do the dangerous stuff without getting hurt. They don’t want their main actors getting injured.”

“Oh!” Satie replied in awe. Drake sighed as the hot sun beat upon them. He wanted to take off his shirt, but Satie had told him before she didn’t like it when boys did that. He smiled to himself. Sweet Satie.

Very soon, however, even he was laughing with the girl at the many little mistakes the actors and stuntmen made. One dropped his gun, another fell off his horse, several forgot their lines or places. She had gotten over her fear of someone hurting themselves by the second shot.

After a bit, Drake began to bore and his eyes wandered aimlessly over the flat lands. A distance away, movement caught his attention. What was that? His arms tensed. It was those men! What were they doing on the Carlyle’s land? Half of him wanted to spur Shadowfax towards them, but the realization that Satie wouldn’t understand and start screaming forced patience. It had been two hours, so Drake decided it was a good time to head back before he would not be able to control his anxiety anymore. They had watched over five re-takes. They were both very thirsty and hungry.

“Satie! Satie! Drake!” an older girl ran up, “Guess what?!”

“Judging from the symptoms, I would diagnose a degree 10 of fangirling, which would mean what you have to say most likely has something to do with the actors, and I would assume Derek, since he’s your celebrity crush.” Drake joked dryly helping his young charge off Shadowfax.

Lexie rolled her eyes and exclaimed to Satie, “Derek and Emilie are having dinner with us!” Satie squealed with delight and a moment later she and Satie were sprinting back to the house. Drake smiled ruefully and shook his head as he took the white horse into the stable. He was not amused with their foolishness as he called it. Nonsense of silly girls, he thought to himself.

“That’s a lovely horse you have there,” a voice commented from behind. Drake turned to see Derek. “What’s the name?”

“Shadowfax,” Drake grunted less gruff than before.

“Shadowfax, now I wonder where that name came from,” Derek laughed. Drake smiled apathetically. “Did you name him?”

“No, some other kid did. Our foster parents let us name some of the new horses sometimes.” Drake opened a stall door and led Shadowfax in.

“Have you named any?” Derek asked. The stable was large with many stalls. He passed several as he walked up the Shadowfax’s stall where Drake was.

The boy nodded. Closing the low stall door, he walked over to a darker horse in another stall, “This is Spero. I named him.” Spero was a strong looking dun quarter horse with a black mane and tail.

“Sparrow?” Derek repeated.

Drake nodded. He never bothered correcting people’s mistakes. “And this is Ama,” he motioned to a brown mare across the alley, “and this one is Pisti.” He patted a dappled grey Andalusian to the right of Shadowfax.

“Ama and Peesty?” Derek asked. Drake nodded. “Interesting names.” Drake didn’t say anything. “You named those three?”

“I was the only kid in the house when they came,” Drake explained coming back over to Spero and petting him fondly.

“What are the other names?” Derek asked, hoping to buy time to explore what Drake might like to talk about.

“This one is Snow White, Cinderella,” Drake stopped stroking Pisti and walked by the stables with the horses as he said their names, petting each one, “this one is Spice. Ten altogether. There was another horse that I named, a mare. I called her Alithia. She’s at the YMCA of the Rockies working, doing trail rides.”

“That is a pretty name, I know a girl named Alithia,” Derek remarked.

“Why aren’t you going back with the crew?” Drake asked abruptly.

“That scene was my last, now it’s all pick-ups for the other actors and all the other details,” Derek explained not liking the tinge of hostility in Drake’s voice.

“Computer editing, audio, putting together,” Drake shrugged relaxing again, “backstage stuff.”

“You could say that,” Derek replied slowly randomly petting the horse closest to him.

“I don’t watch many movies or play computer games. I prefer to be outside than sitting on a couch in a world made by somebody else directed by somebody else. Its bad enough not being able to direct my own life hardly without being a sitting zombie in front of someone else’s who you’ll never meet, never be like, and never relate to.” If Drake was surprised at his sudden outburst, Derek couldn’t tell from the look on his face. And if Derek was surprised at the outburst, Drake couldn’t tell either for the same reason. Both hid their surprise in a very composed manner.

The air became very awkward each pondering how to proceed when Derek remarked to avoid staying in it too long, “Have you met Emilie?” Drake shook his head. “She’s a horse lover too. She was one of the one of the lesser characters in the movie. She used to be a big time actress for awhile.” Drake didn’t seem very interested in talking anymore. Derek was disappointed, but he could tell he was listening. “She’s talked about wanting to be a park ranger at Carlsbad. Have you ever been?” He paused for an answer, but none came, so he continued. “She told me she went first when she was nine, again when she was sixteen, and several more times since then. Out of all the National Parks she’s been to, she said she would like to be a ranger at Carlsbad best.” Another pause. “She’ll probably like Shadowfax, she is a fan of the Lord of the Rings. She once told me that if the Glittering Caves Gimli found were more beautiful that the Carlsbad Caverns, they would have to be very beautiful indeed.” Drake nearly smiled here. “She also loves the oil derricks especially at sunset or sunrise.” The glowing look in Drake’s eyes told Derek he agreed. “I grew up around here, so I saw lots of that. I actually grew up around the oil derricks. My father drilled oil and we lived near the well.”

“Is it dinner time, Cole?” Drake suddenly asked as a boy around ten years old entered the stable.

Cole, a cute little boy with curly brown hair and brown skin, grinned sheepishly at the famous actor, “Yes.”

“Alright, we’ll… I’ll be right in.”

Drake ran out and washed his hands, Derek followed him, and they went into the house. There was a little sigh from the children when he came in. There were several comfy chairs in the living room which followed the foyer after one came in the front door. Despite this, all the three girls squeezed onto the the red couch Emilie was sitting on. Drake took a second glance. She was no longer blonde with blue eyes, she had dark brown hair with brown eyes. He realized she had been wearing a wig, but Drake’s eyes were drawn to her jewelry. She wore a Voyage of the Dawn Treader necklace, an anchor and rope bracelet, and  earrings that reflected light like raindrops. Her dark eyes sparkled as the two came in.

“I’ve always dreamed of being a famous actress,” Lexie was murmuring shyly, her legs were curled up on the couch as she gazed with a cheesy smile at Emilie, much to Drake’s disgust.

“Never stop dreaming, Lexie,” Emilie touched her hand, “and here is something to remember in all dreams of life - never do anything for renown, because renown is fickle. And never seek for security and worth from people because that will never come from something outside. God will give you worth and security no one else can.”

“Alright everyone, dinner time,” the friendly foster mother came into the living room, “to the table!” She was a full woman, full of joy. She had a broad, white smile and a motherly air. Her arms were open to anyone and her chest ready for all the tears a child could cry. The children filed into the dining room, followed by the actor and actress.

A delicious, steaming dinner of roast and mashed potatoes was set with glass plates and crystal clear glasses. Everyone was famished and eagerly waited for the dinner prayer to be said so they could eat.

“Drake, would you like to pray?” Mrs. Carlyle instructed rather than asked.

Drake’s stomach turned. No he did not! “Father God,” he began, “Thank you for this meal and thank you for Mrs. C’s wonderful cooking abilities and please bless this night and our guests. In Your name, Amen.” He swallowed quickly to wet his dry mouth.

“Very nice,” Mrs. Carlyle murmured smiling comfortingly at him. He knew she had purposely chosen him that night which frustrated him.

    “I’ve always dreamed of being beautiful,” a ginger headed girl named Rachel said in response to one of the conversations.

Derek laughed, “Every girl is the most beautiful girl in the world and every boy is the most handsome boy in the world, but I think that I am truly surrounded by the most handsome and most beautiful girls and boys I’ve ever met. Not because you have been photo shopped or have make-up, but because you are you and that is very special.”

“So don’t try being like everyone else, we have enough of that in Hollywood. You be you! Please!” Emilie encouraged.

Other than the prayer Drake didn’t say anything throughout the entire meal nor could his facial expressions be read. He was pleased with how nice the guests were, which was more than he could have said before about anyone attached to movies. “Where are you going next?” Mrs. Carlyle inquired.

“To Carlsbad Caverns,” Emilie replied, “I went to ranger school a while back, but wasn’t able to ranger because I had a movie. I am hoping to be able to ranger this time. Derek is coming with to see the park.”

“We’ve been down there a couple times,” Mrs. Carlyle remarked, “It is a very beautiful place.”

“It is one of my favorite parks,” Emilie told her with energy, “If I get a job down there, maybe I’ll see you sometime.”

“Maybe,” agreed Mrs. Carlyle, but Drake caught that something in her voice was sad.

“Common Cole, you wanna help me with the horses?” He stood up and said loudly.

“Aww… it’s Ben’s turn!” Cole cried.

“Whatever, I don’t need your guys’ help anyway,” Drake shrugged, “You wanna come, Ben, or are you staying?”

“Can I help you tomorrow?” The eight year old black haired dark eyed boy asked cautiously.

“I’m not going to stop you,” Drake responded nonchalantly.

“Can I come with you, Drake?” Emilie offered standing.

“Sure,” Drake smiled smugly. He wanted to know if she really knew about horses. He had a hard time seeing this beautiful actress mucking out stables.

“I’ll come, too!” Lexie jumped up.

“No you won’t,” Drake hissed under his breath. Lexie made a face at him and came along anyway. Satie followed by Cole and Ben tagged along behind.

“Will you come Derek?” Lexie asked hopefully just before they left the room.

“I don’t think so,” he replied, “I actually ought to be going pretty soon.”

“Oh,” Lexie looked disappointed, “please don’t go without stopping at the stable and saying bye!”

“Don’t worry, Emilie is coming with me, I have to!” Derek promised. Lexie smiled and followed the rest out.

“It must be a handful,” he remarked after they had gone, “to take care of six kids. Is Mr. Carlyle gone often?”

“Business trips, yes,” Mrs. Carlyle nodded, “recently they seem to have sky rocketed. Usually he likes to be here around the kids where he can to give them a father figure to look up to. Many of them don’t have any good examples.”

“Did Drake come from a ranch?” Derek asked.

“Oh no,” Mrs. Carlyle laughed, “He was found nearly starved under an Albuquerque bridge when they found him, I was told, but we never really know.”

“When was that?”

“Seven years ago?” Mrs. Carlyle shrugged, “As far as I know he has been in and out of foster care until his mom died several years ago when he was put into permanent foster care until he’s adopted. I don’t think he knew his dad. He doesn’t talk much, but that’s alright, it is his small piece of privacy he gets to keep to himself.”

“How long has he been here?”

“Almost nine months.”

“Is that normal to have kids that long?”

“No, but a month after he came a CPS agent came to take him to another home so we could have another child. Drake became very upset. He shouted at them saying they had finally brought him some place he likes and now they were trying to take him away again, probably to some cramp little house in the city that’d he’d hate. Then he ran off and rode away on Sparrow. He didn’t come back until the agent had gone. They decided he could stay. We expected to have him until he’s an adult, since he hasn’t seen anyone interested in adoption. You wouldn’t believe it, but Drake today is a huge and wonderful improvement from the Drake who first showed up at our door. He’s good around the house and generally likes playing the older brother to the younger kids. He hates any form of bullying, though I’ve had to scold him a time or two for his own.”

“I hope everything works out for him and all of them,” Derek said earnestly unsure how to respond to such a story. All those pity stories he had heard from his fellow actors about their deprived childhood now seemed like jokes. Mrs. Carlyle smiled dismally. “I - it’s a little late and Em and I want to get to Carlsbad tonight and settle in to our hotel rooms before it’s too late, so I guess I’d better get her.” Derek shoved his hands in his pockets awkwardly.

“It was a pleasure having you for dinner,” Mrs. Carlyle beamed politely, shaking his hand, “I hope you enjoyed yourself and have a pleasant visit.

“Thank you! I will!” A few minutes later he and Emilie were driving away with all the kids excluding Drake waving good bye.

The next morning everything was back to normal though Lexie seemed to have a more dreamy look on her face and would often stare off and not be aware of the real world until someone shook her. Ben and Cole were eager to help Drake with the horses, partly because they really enjoyed the horses and partly because they didn’t want to him be mad. Satie watched sweetly, helping with what she could, and begging Drake to take her riding that afternoon. For the most part he ignored her.

“No, Satie,” he told her coldly after a while, “No.” But she persisted imploringly. “Alright, alright, I’ll take you,” Drake shouted finally, throwing down a bundle of hay, “Stop nagging, Ashley!”

Satie started and said timidly looking at Drake with wide eyes as she shrank away, “My name’s not Ashley, I’m Satie.”

“That’s what I said,” Drake stated quickly. Satie shook her head. “That’s what I said, OK?” Drake’s voice rose again, “I never said Ashley, why would I call you Ashley. I – … I didn’t call you Ashley. You’re Satie.”

“I know,” Satie murmured, “I’m Satie.” Tears filled her eyes as she continued to shrink away slowly. Cole and Ben had frozen and were watching wide eyed. Drake glanced around then stormed out with a growl.

He just turned the house corner when he saw two men in suits on the porch. He stopped to listen. “Mr. Carlyle is not here,” Mrs. Carlyle was saying coolly, “but we are not interested in selling. Find someplace else!”

“You are losing money, ma’am, and soon the bank will claim your house and we will have it anyway,” the men told her, “We are offering you ample money for your little farmhouse, enough to buy a new one, move, and settle in.”

Drake clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. These were the men who were trying to take their home. After a few more minutes, the rude men finally turned and went down the path to the road. Mrs. Carlyle had gone back inside and closed the door. “Where to next?” one asked.

“The caverns, where else?” replied the taller one. Drake came out from around the corner and glared at them.

“Who are you glaring at?” The first man who seemed to be the subordinate of the duo snapped.

“You!” Drake answered angrily, “What are you doing here! She’s told you before! They’re not selling! Now get off this land or else!” The man was about to mockingly ask ‘else what’, but Drake grabbed a good sized stone and chucked it at the man. He ducked as the stone whistled less than an inch above his head. “You get off this land!” Drake shouted picking up another stone and throwing it, “Go somewhere else!” The two men took to their heels, Drake after them pelting them with all the stones he could find. “And don’t come back!” he shouted as they sped away in their car down the dirt road and onto the highway.

“Drake!” Mrs. Carlyle had come out of the house again, “Drake, what are you doing, you shouldn’t do that!” The boy turned to face her. His face sullen and angry. “I heard about what happened in the stables. I think you owe Satie and the boys an apology. Satie was frightened to tears and is still crying!”

Drake trudged up the porch stairs and into the living room where Satie was crying into a pillow. He opened his mouth to apologize when the door opened again. A social service agent stood there. “Satie’s mother has gone through the steps and can have her back,” she said, “she is ready for her today. Is she ready?”

“She will be in ten min-,” Mrs. Carlyle began.

Drake grabbed Satie’s hand and pulled her off the couch before they could say another word, “No she won’t! I promised to take her riding one last time!”

“That can’t happen,” the social worker protested, “her family is waiting for her.”

“They’ve waited this long, they can wait a little longer,” Drake exclaimed pleadingly.

But she shook her head. “They are a long way away and we need to leave soon.”

Satie had gotten over her fright and now held Drake’s hand for comfort. Mrs. Carlyle instructed Drake to help Satie bring down her things. Satie followed him as he led her to her room. He was surprised to see that she was already packed. “Did you know you were going? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Satie was puzzled, “I didn’t know you didn’t know. I’ve seen a suitcase so often, it doesn’t surprise me anymore.”

Drake looked at her sadly. “Sorry I got mad, sorry I didn’t take you riding,” he mumbled, “I should’ve.” He tried to hide his grinding teeth as he attempted to turn a deaf ear to the condemning voice cursed him and guilted him for his failures.

“I don’t want to go back,” Satie whispered interrupting, “I don’t want to go back. Mama was poor and we were always dirty and cold. The house never had enough food or blankets. And in the summer it was too hot! She would leave me for hours alone in the house. One night she didn’t even come home and the next day she smelled funny and acted weird and angry. She was angry a lot. I don’t like her and I don’t think she likes me!”

Drake sighed, “Most of us come from families like that, Sate. You’ll just have to grow up to do better, I guess. Don’t get all messed up if you can help it, get yourself out of that mess. You might even try praying, you are young enough to try.”

“I pray every night,” Satie said.

“Don’t ever believe you are too old for it,” Drake told her, “now let me help you with your suitcase. Anything else you want?”

“Yes,” Satie became shy again, “why did you call me Ashley.”

Drake paused then with effort said, “Because… you remind me of her.” He forced a comforting smile and took her out to the waiting toyota. It was time to say goodbye. Drake he hugged her and reminded her to keep her head up. The sun was going down when the car drove away with Satie. Drake stood staring after it long after it disappeared. Finally he made his way to the stables, saddled up Spero and went riding. Where he went, none of the household knew, not even Satie knew where Drake went and spent his hours. They just assumed he rode, stopped for awhile, then rode again, until finally coming home again.

But this was not true. Drake had a secret place he kept all to himself. He called it The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary was a deep, hidden cave he had found one day soon after coming. Except by major chance, it could not be found unless it was known. This was where he went now. It was several miles away from the derricks near the farmhouse. There was a little hill he had to go over, so that no one ever saw where he went.