WISH I’D KNOWN YOU TEARS AGO

Stephen Bly

Broadman & Holman

    In this third book of the HORSE DREAMS trilogy, restless Indiana schoolteacher, Develyn Worrell, prepares to savor summer's end in a cozy Wyoming town from her childhood.  Then a sudden series of random troublesome events resets the pace.  Such chaos would be overwhelming to Devy, except for the steady friendship of one man.  He may lack the charm and flash of other cowboys, but always seems to have just what her heart needs.  She looks forward to whatever happens next.

The hum of the tires on the highway reminded Develyn of the band warm-up before a concert.  Plenty of noise but no discernable melody.  She turned on her Eagles CD and listened to half of Hotel California, then turned it off.

            Maybe it’s the caffeine.  I’m so edgy.  Too many loose ends.  In a few days I need to drive home.  Home to what?  Home to my two cats . . . and my classroom of fifth graders?  No Quint.  No Renny.  No Cooper.  No Casey.  No Uncle Henry.  No My Maria.  Delaney said that she wants to live in West Lafayette, whether she goes to Pardue or not . . . This summer has made a difference.  I just don’t know what the difference is yet.  So much I don’t know.

            Lord, I’m not ready to go home.  I wish the girls had returned from Riverton before I left.  Why didn’t Delaney call from the doctor’s office?  Maybe she just couldn’t tell me.  I should have gone with her.  I should be there.

            But she didn’t want me with her.

            I am determined to return to Indiana with a good relationships with my daughter.

            I’m not putting pressure on you, Lord, but you’ve got about a week for that one.

            Then there’s poor Mrs. Tagley.  She’s outlived her family and friends.  I want to encourage her, but I don’t have the right words.

            And I can’t go home without knowing what Hunter Burke is up to.

            And then there’s Cooper.  Dear Coop.  What a joy to live close enough that we could be friends.  He would be a great neighbor.  He is a great neighbor . . . .

Develyn checked her watch when she turned off the blacktop and bounced down the gravel road to Argenta.

            One a.m.  I haven’t stayed out this late all summer.  But it was so fun to visit with Lil.  I think I missed her more than I realized.  I might have missed her more than she missed me.

            I like Stewart, Lord.  He seems good for her.  He’s a little stuffy but so tenderhearted to her.  That’s what she needs.  He’s so much taller than she is, but then Coop’s quite a bit taller than . . .

            Why did I think of that?

            Lord, maybe I envy Lil.  In a good way.  I’m so thrilled for her.  It’s just, coming out here, well, it’s sort of an impossible dream.  Oh, pooh.  I don’t even want to think about it.

            I think Casey’s right about the barbecue.  It will be a fun way to end the summer.  It’s like the last day at summer camp.  When I think about it, I want to cry.

            When she turned up the drive to the cabin, she noticed a light on in Cooper’s travel trailer.

            She parked the Cherokee and was greeted by familiar big brown eyes as she stepped out.

            “Hi, honey,” she whispered.  “You need to get some sleep.”  She rubbed his ear, then slapped him on the rump.  Uncle Henry trotted off to the shadows.

            She paused in the yard.  The wind drifted clouds past the half-full moon, like a slow strobe light.  The chilly air smelled of sage.  She held her arms.

            She peered at the trailer.  No noise. No movement.  Just lights.

            Go to bed, Ms. Worrell.  One a.m. is not a good time to visit any man.

            Of course, Coop’s not just any man.  Why did Mrs. Tagley insinuate that he was the one for me?  One of the privileges of being ninety is blurting out anything you want.

            Her arms still folded, she meandered toward the travel trailer.

            Coop could be the man.  I mean, if the circumstances were different.  If we lived in the same area.  If we lived in the same world.

            I wish I’d known him years ago . . . tears ago.

            I wonder what he was like in his prime?

            I don’t even know what I was like in my prime.

            Did I have a prime?

            Maybe it’s now.

            The metal door of the trailer felt steel cold to the soft knock of her knuckles.

            “Coop?” she whispered.

Copyright @ 2006, Stephen Bly

Christy Award winner, Stephen Bly, has authored 98 books, both fiction and nonfiction, for children, teens and adults. 

The Horse Dreams Series also includes Memories of a Dirt Road Town and The Mustang Breaker. 

These and others of his books can be found at his website, www.blybooks.com, or through your local quality bookstore, or at www.amazon.com, www.christianbook.com, www.barnesandnoble.com.