Mounting questions kept her brain active. Swimming further, pushing past the comfort zone, should have repelled thoughts, but her mind refused to quiet. "I sense a connection to Colby that runs deeper than I imagined possible. When he leaves I can't wait to see him again and talk more. Each time I see him, my heart races. His smile and the way he says my name gets my stomach doing flip-flops. Is it possible to like someone without knowing much about him?"
The kids emerged from the lake, water sluicing off their bodies. Megan took another minute of solitude by immersing herself in the water. After she came up, she exited the lake, dried off, dressed, and headed back to the ranch, trailing behind the others. Misty's smooth gait lulled her to sleep in the saddle.
With a jolt, she awoke and saw the ranch. After unsaddling her horse, Megan retreated to the cabin. She lay on the bed, her body conforming to the soft mattress. As her eyes closed, she forced them open, but exhaustion won.
"Where am I?" she asked, looking at a large stone wheel in the middle of nowhere. Curiosity abounded in this mysterious place and Megan stayed. In a flash, a fire appeared in the middle. Drumbeats infiltrated the area as the earth began to move. Without thought or hesitation, her feet tapped the ground in time to the jingling bells.
Feathers attached themselves like wings, and pulled her into the circle. Though the drums turned louder, protection sounded in its voice. Dancing became second nature to the young woman with two left feet. Once the circle was complete, a mysterious force entered the stone wheel.
Megan tried to move closer to learn his identity, but a strange energy kept her planted. He moved nearer, never revealing his face. The circle with four seasons stitched on the back of his buckskin vest came into focus. When she reached out to touch him, he moved through her like a wispy cloud passing over the moon. With him he took the drumbeats, bells, and fire.
Megan jolted awake, her heart pounding in every inch of her body. "Did I dream that?" Sweat dripped down her face, stinging her eyes. As she wiped her face, thoughts about the dance and the mystery man took over. "Why was I not afraid? Who is the man?" She looked around the room and into the deep recesses of her mind hoping for another glance at the man. He never appeared.
Grabbing her sweatshirt, she headed outside to the massive cottonwood with wide spreading branches. "Brett said you've been around over 70 years. Can you offer wisdom about my dream?" Minutes passed with no sound or ideas. "Is there anyone who can help me decipher it?" she called to the sky as she sat.