Prologue: My Mysterious Best Friend

Today, I found myself growing even more curious as to where my best friend, White Horse has come from. I shouldn't get ahead of myself like that, so I'll start with the beginning. I just met my best friend about 4 years ago, while I was hiking. Strange place to meet a new friend? Probably. But she was one of the two man search and rescue crew that my then boyfriend, contacted to find me. I was 15 at the time, and pissed off at the world. My parents were divorcing, and I had to chose between them. I figured things would be better off without me, however I was very wrong. I soon found myself lost in the middle of the wilderness, with no food, water, shelter, protection, or anything. Just me, the clothes on my back (what was left of them), and the bloody sneakers that clung to my blistered feet.

When White Horse found me, she quickly tended to my wounds, gave me food and water to eat, and gave me new clothes to change into. She lifted me up on her horse, and off she rode. Not saying much at all, until I had woke from surgery. I didnt want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be left alone. I refused to talk to my parents, best friends, doctors, and just about everyone that had come into my room. When White Horse appeared in the doorway, I was amazed that she had stayed. She walked in and sat at the foot of my bed.

"I was your age once. I hated the thought of hurting those I loved. I came from a dark place. By age 18, I had attempted suicide at least a dozen times, ran away from home at least twice that, and was full of hatred. I'd have fought the devil if he dared look my way. I trusted no one, and was full of madness for the world. I'd have rather been anywhere, but alive. But I met an old friend once who told me that seeking revenge on those who had done me wrong would get me no where. It just made me stoop to their level. And I was better than that. He said the best revenge was my own success. It would drive them crazy to see me succeed despite how hard that they had pushed me to break. And I've learned over the years that success is not measured by how many times we get knocked down, but rather how many times we pick ourselves back up." She smiled and laid a box with a ribbon tied to it at the foot of my bed, and walked out the door.

The box contained a locket, and when opened the exact words that she had just said were wrote in the picture slots. It made me lay there and think for hours until I finally fell asleep.

When I was discharged from the hospital, I asked my parents if they would take me to see her, but they said that she never said her name or left her contact information. With a little bit of help from the sheriff, we were able to track her down.

I was astonished upon arrival. Such a humble person owned such a beautiful piece of the world, full of peace and quiet and abundant wildlife to watch. White Horse was thrilled to have the company, and welcomed us all. And from that day forward, she was a second mother to me, and we became as close as two people could possibly become.

She baffles me though. She never talks about her past, other than that short little insight into it. She never mentions anyone in her family, nor does she ever speak to anyone in her family. She is very secretive in the terms of her feelings. On meeting her, you would think she was some crazy lunatic with anger issues, but over the years I have come to understand that she is quite the opposite and is just fronting for a deeper feeling. I have always wondered, and have always been curious, but everytime I have ever asked her a question, she tells me "Honey as Reba McEntire once said, I may be the queen of broken hearts, but I dont hide behind the crown. If the deck is stacked against me I just play a different game. Dont spend your time dwelling on the past or you'll miss out on what's right now and what's next."

But today, a man showed up out of the blue, that I had never met before. She was not happy to see him, as she blew his hat right off his head with one quick shot from her pistol, and it sure didnt take him very long to get the hell off of her property. I asked, but again she said "I dont welcome unwelcomed guests." Later, I heard her in the barn sobbing, and right then and there is when I decided that I was going to uncover just what the hell this women's past really was.

So I came up with a plan. You see, White Cloud is going on a camping trip, a week long trip, starting tomorrow morning. She has asked me to look after her farm and livestock and I have agreed. My real intentions however are to become my own personal detective.