Whispers
by Nzie
Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program
"Big Valley" are the creations of Four Star/Republic Pictures and
have been used without permission. No
copyright infringement is intended by the author. The ideas expressed in this story are copyrighted to the author.
Victoria stepped out
into the cold, dark air. It was the day after Christmas and she had risen early
to continue in a secret escapade. Dressed in her riding pants and coat, she
stepped across the light inches of snow.
The day had always been one of remembrance. Since leaving home at seventeen she
had always set the day aside. In the beginning, she thought of her hometown and
life before marriage. Later, she mourned her parents and lost child. But today,
she mourned Tom as she had since his death. So sudden. So awful. So, so, so
everything. So nothing. The first December after his death had been filled with
questions, too soon after an all too subdued holiday. Why? Why now? Why him?
Why? Questions God didn’t answer, or at least not loudly enough.
The cold air made her pants crisp and cold to her skin, but she liked it. The
shiver it created was oddly comforting and fun and, and crisp. It was as if
nature was giving her ice-hugs. A welcome and goodbye through reminders of her
hometown. She surveyed the beautiful spot on the ranch that was for the day
hers and hers alone. Hers, blanketed in the snow so much like a little New
England town she loved. Hers, not a working ranch but a patch of earth that
held a patch of her heart. A place that always brought peace, even through pain
that faded but did not end. A place to talk to God and wait for an answer that
always came somehow. Perhaps not that day, not that week or month, but soon
enough, and at just the right time.
The year after Tom’s death, the day had fallen on a Sunday. She had taken her
ride earlier so to get to Mass on time. God’s answer came soon that year, for
she had never realized or taken into account that her special day was the feast
of St. Stephen. The old priest told the story of the saint traditioned to be
the first martyr. Not long after the death of Christ he had stood up for his
faith and beliefs and he been stone. On her way back from church, she detoured
from her family to stop at the grave to talk to Tom about Stephen.
Victoria smiled remembering her prayer that day. This year all she had was
thanks and memories. So many wonderful memories. Such a wonderful time with
Tom. she mounted up, blowing a kiss into the wind where she knew Tom was and
smiled as she caught his in the cold air that blew back. There was not so much
pain there now, just a glimpse of Heaven through old memories.