A Brief Preview of Kites Without Strings
"I called Willie this morning and told him to bring the two horse trailer. I'm taking the horses away from here, Connor." Liz looked at him for the first time.
"Liz, what are you talking about? Taking them where? Why?" Connor stood and went behind the counter. Liz watched him as he circled it.
"To Seven Springs," she said. "It's not safe for them here anymore."
"You made this decision all by yourself? You're not asking me? You're telling me? You've already 'made arrangements' to take them? Willie is on his way? Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! Liz!"
"He haunted her, Connor. That gentle, little grass-eating mare was going into shock! He came at her like a bear! His hands in the air, his fingers like open claws!" Liz was crying.
"He's eighty percent blind," Connor said, not in defense of his father's actions; he just didn't know what to say.
"I'm so sorry Connor, but he's insane," was her reply. "I know that this is not fair to you but think about them! I beg you, sir, think about them!" She stopped crying.
"What else?" he asked.
Liz continued, "He grabbed her with both hands. He tried to mount her! For god's sake, Connor! She's bruised! She fell! Arabians don't fall down, Connor!" She was looking hard at him.
"There was a tremor Liz. That's what knocked her over— hell it knocked me on my ass too." Connor wasn't helping his case any; he wasn't really trying to. He was just being honest. But thanks to Liz, he was seeing the bigger picture here. They really were in trouble, not just the horses but all of them. What about the children? He would have to come up with a plan and soon.
"Damn! Damn!" Suddenly he found himself grieving for his mother. Damn! All their lives, and now, even in death. "Liz, take the mare and leave Whitey with me for now. They can't hurt him," Connor said, seeking a compromise.
"What about the cracked rock, Connor? They can hurt him!" Liz said. At that instant, they both looked out the front windows and there, staring back at them, were Whitey and the mare.
"Let's go for a ride," Connor said. "We'll take the horses for a walk and go have a look at the rock. When we get back we'll have tuna fish sandwiches."
A half hour later, they had reached the top of the hill. Connor was riding the mare and Liz was riding Whitey. They would switch mounts on the ride back. Once they reached the turnout Connor dismounted and handed the halter rope to Liz. He circled the rock examining the damage done to it. Liz was looking at the rockslides; they were obviously fresh. She spoke.
"I didn't think that there were earthquakes here. I've never heard of it, have you?" Connor was behind the huge stone squatting down and measuring the width of the crack in it with his hand. The two riders could not see each other, but he had heard what Liz had said.
"This wasn't Mother Nature," Connor replied. He was talking more to himself than to Liz. Liz dismounted and started to touch the stone. She was repelled by it. Connor returned from the backside of the boulder and saw Liz standing there frozen in horror. He rushed over to her and pulled her farther back away from the boulder. He had felt the negative energy also but had just let it pass through him. Connor held onto Liz. "Damn it!" he thought. He should not have brought Liz here. He should have made the inspection alone.
"My god, Connor! What is it? What happened to the boulder? What's happening to us? That wasn't any earthquake I was feeling." Liz was trembling, clinging to him. Connor didn't want to have this conversation with her. Once again, because of her deep-seated connection to him, and as it had been before and always seemed to be with her, he found himself at a loss for words. He was consumed with guilt. He had been careless. He realized for the first time just how much evil had been visited upon his home and to what degree it had manifested there. It hadn't gone away. He took a deep breath, but said nothing.
Whitey had not moved. He, like Connor, refused to be affected by the bad vibes that emanated from the stone. The little black mare on the other hand had stepped back and positioned herself behind the stallion placing him in between her and the boulder. Connor and Liz swapped horses and mounted. They rode in silence.
Liz was confused by Connor's quietness. She was thinking that she might have gone too far with him. The thought that he could be so upset with her was overwhelming. She could see him in her peripheral vision. Connor was as white as a ghost. His eyes seemed like they were a million miles away.