The Ranch, June 26, 1989
Jerry watched Moonwalk run riderless across the prairie. He lit Sky down the slope to the river bottom east of where he left the herd on safe ground. He was not familiar with this side of the river and prayed that God would show him the way. Every second counted. Jerry rode like the wind, Sky directing the way. She led him to a one-lane private bridge recently spanned with I-beams and wooden planks that connected the dirt road of their ranch with the adjoining property. Praise God! The cadence of hooves across the four by twelve planks echoed off the river. A cloud of dust billowed behind as Sky sprinted down the dirt road. The backfire was doing its job on the first angle of the V and spread toward the wall of fire as it sucked air across its flames. Jerry cut into the tall grass and sped towards the apex. He stared at the red and orange, its heat pulsing on his face.
His dad was lying face down and motionless between the walls of fire that closed in as plumes of greyish white smoke filled the gap. He had one choice—jump the backfire flames.
Emily watched the scene unfold through binoculars from the hayloft door. Lisa was in the stable placing a halter on Zion, her quarter horse trained in barrel racing. With the bridle in place, she grabbed his mane and sprung off the stool to mount and kicked his sides as she hugged him between her legs. Lisa grew up with horses, and bareback she flew out the barn.
Jerry buried his heels in the mare’s flanks and on God’s wings, Sky leaped through the ten-foot flames. She automatically came to a stop at the head of the rancher she knew as her master. Jerry swung himself off the saddle and knelt at his father’s side. His dad’s face was red and dry from heat stroke, and the cloud of smoke thickened as the fire advanced. He turned him over and checked that he was breathing then scooped him into his arms. What we do not understand until we are there is the superhuman strength that God can give us if we walk in faith and do what is required. Jerry walked with his dad cradled in his arms, fire all around him, not a burn to either one of them. He walked through the backfire focused on the painted stallion that raced towards them.
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Excerpt from PURSUIT, a novel by Jeff
Cambridge.
Author of transformational fiction—
Realistic
characters in real life drama that tell the story of their transformation to
become a better person.
To read the scenes
sequentially, begin with
“PURSUIT: A Novel
– Prologue”
Located in the
May Blog Archive. Click on the episodes and enjoy.
This episode is pre-published.
The book will be available Spring 2018.
Your comments
are welcomed and appreciated. Check one of the reaction boxes below, write a
comment, or email me at lightbycambridge@gmail.com.
This novel is a
work of fiction. Any references to real events, businesses, organizations, and
locales are intended only to give the story a sense of reality and authenticity.
Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
v
One mistake changes the course of three lives…
Jessie –
chasing the dark side of destiny
The daughter of an alcoholic father
in prison for manslaughter and a mother who has abandoned her for her latest
boyfriend, Jessie has but one objective in life – to find the big ticket out of her miserable childhood.
Christina –
striving to bring comfort and light
The daughter of a nurse who
served in the Army medical corps, she follows in her mother’s footsteps,
pursuing her passion to care for the disadvantaged. A ballerina – a thousand eyes behold her, the dance
flowing seamlessly.
Jerry –
living in the grey of his circumstances
The son of a sixth-generation
Kansas rancher, his desire is to make it rich – to find the American Dream. A cowboy with a tender heart and
crystal blue eyes, he finds love in unforeseen places.
An allegory
of destiny and choices,
of wasted dreams,
of paths
that lead to nowhere…
of trials,
we face every day.
PURSUIT
Where will
the chosen path lead?
v
Copyright 2018 © Jeff Cambridge
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