Challenge of Mountain Skies

By M.L. Hampton

After reading Prairie Fire to Mountain Skies, so many have come back asking for the rest of the story. Challenge of Mountain Skies is the sequel asked for and will challenge the readers.

Jeffrey City, Wyoming, has wolves on the mountainsides! Then comes the pandemic for Megan Johnson's senior year and barrel racing earni

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Aug 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887388670

M.L. Hampton

Miriam Hampton graduated from Bob Jones University with a bachelor of science degree in music education and taught at Pensacola Christian School. In Florida, she met her husband, who'd returned from Vietnam. He brought her to live by the Colorado Mountains. Life was full with teaching at the academy that her two sons attended, camping, hunting, church activities, and a private piano studio. Retirement brought them to Lander, Wyoming, where they are surrounded by mountains, ranches, and much wildlife.

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Chapter One

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How can so much be packed into just the past few months? Sixteen-year-old Megan Johnson pushed behind her ear the auburn strand that dropped across her face, then pulled her warm cap down. She stared up above Green Mountain at clear blue skies, musing to herself as her eyes seemed to scan past the openness above her. And has it really just been about a year since God took you to heaven from that car accident, Mom? Dad, Justin, and I are doing well. But then you probably know that. Can you see how pure and pretty it is out here?

For all the snow that had fallen during the night, the sky was now bright blue above the brilliant white mountainside behind their home. Wyoming was rugged but quite striking in its beauty at times. Her breath frosty in the air, she murmured, Nobody paints scenes like you, God.

Squinting in the reflected sparkle, Megan patted her ski pants, reassuringly feeling a can of mace in her pocket. From another pocket, she pulled out ski goggles. Haven’t hiked in so long, not in the snow on the mountain. I need a break. This’ll be fun for today. These second-hand snowshoes aren’t so hard. Clumsy, but they do keep you on top of the deep snow. Maybe later, I can learn to cross-country ski back here and move a little faster.

It was Saturday. February had been cold and snowy. She would be finishing her junior year in about three months. So much had happened in the past few months. It was good just to be able to relax.

Her dad and brother had taken the car and gone to Lander to get shopping done. Roads had melted somewhat, enough to dig out from the base of the mountain and get to the highway again with the car. From the neighboring ranch, the Adams had used a plow on the front of their truck to help clear the new snow on their dirt road.

What would we do without the Adams as neighbors? Megan looked across the mountainside toward the Adams’ ranch and smiled, thinking about the past summer. Hiking up to the wild horse herd, the cave, and the canyon had been fun, especially with Drew Adams, now in his senior year at school. When the snow had come, the wild horse herd had moved off the mountain. They were down past the Adams’ ranch now, farther out on the wind-swept prairie where they could get wild grass better and steal hay that ranchers set out for their cattle.

Megan lifted each snowshoe and kept moving at a comfortable, steady pace. The new snow had brought many tracks in the snow on Green Mountain. She recognized some. She slowed and took off her goggles, inspecting rabbit tracks, small bird tracks … and dog tracks?

That’s a big coyote, she thought, looking at many wide paw prints near the ranch fence line. She headed up past the Adams’ ranch toward a spring that was farther up the mountainside. A lot of animals would go there for water. The Adams had mentioned that the spring didn’t freeze over all the way in winter.

January and February were lean times for animals that didn’t hibernate. One day she had watched a coyote wildly chasing a panicked rabbit right below her bedroom window.

Suddenly, loud mooing!

It was a kind of frantic, loud mooing!

Megan started looking around but cautiously kept moving on top of the deep snow. She glanced quickly around at the trees and large boulders.

Really loud mooing now, but she saw none of the ranch herd in the nearby fenced pasture. This part of the mountain leveled off a bit, and a short way ahead of her to the right was a large outcrop of huge boulders.

More strange, loud bellowing of a cow close by somewhere—not in the direction of the ranch to her left. At times it was hard to tell where the sound came from in the lingering mountain echoes.

She skirted a thick fallen tree and suddenly gulped in a breath of cold air. The large fallen tree had hidden bright red blotches of blood trampled around into the pure white snow. Something big. That’s a lot of blood!

A shot cracked like thunder in the thin mountain air! Megan jumped.

Close!

Someone was yelling.

She hurried toward the large boulders. More shouting, bellowing, and another sound—savage growls!

Quickly throwing down her gloves, Megan fumbled in her ski pants pocket for the mace. Shoving the goggles up on her forehead, she scanned the can label. She had only used mace once before, for practice, after a bear had tried to come into their house. Now she wished she had brought the pistol that lay on the fireplace mantle at the house. Her thumb pulled the orange safety up and back. Looking all around, she bent down slowly to retrieve her gloves, leaving the piece of plastic that had fallen beneath the new snow somewhere. Stuffing the gloves in a large pocket, she moved forward slowly, continuing to scan all the woods around her. The mace can was warm from her being in her pocket, and she held it ready.

Another shot blasted the frosty mountain air! Megan jumped again as a loud yelp sounded close by.

Her mind threw back to the first day they had come to Wyoming. Driving in from the highway toward their house for the very first time, Mr. Adams had stood behind a thick bush, taking a shot at a coyote that had been after the chickens on his ranch. Brand new to Wyoming, it had scared the Johnsons as they were driving along the fence near the bush.

Surveying the mountain around her, Megan moved with baby steps in her clumsy snowshoes toward the huge boulders in front of her. But the bloody trail leads this way! Maybe I can climb those and be safe. She studied the boulders again and realized a dog could probably climb up some of them.

The savage growls were closer!

The distressed mooing was also getting louder.

Megan flexed her arm with the mace, then looked down at the snowshoes. I can’t really maneuver in this deep snow. If this person that’s yelling has the gun, then I’ll be safer there. Maybe it’s Mr. Adams. At the edge of the boulders to her left, she stopped. With the mace in her right hand, she leaned her left forearm on the closest snowy boulder to steady herself. Slowly peering around the edge, she gasped.

A pack of wolves!

Grey and white, and one black, they looked huge against the white snow. They were moving in a half-circle slowly toward their prey. Megan inched forward to see better, yet still tried to stay hidden. Getting a full view, she gasped again.

Backed up by the boulders, Drew Adams stood between the semicircle of wolves and a good-sized black Angus that was bellowing and bleeding. One wolf lay still in the snow to the side. Its eyes stared lifelessly. The cow’s hindquarters were slashed, almost hamburger-like, where dark and bloody hide hung in shreds.

Drew suddenly swung the rifle in her direction. Seeing her, he quickly sighted on the wolves again but spoke loudly, Megan! What in the world!

There was shock written on the cowboy’s face as he frantically looked back and forth at her and the growling pack that was slightly backing up in front of them. Move slowly. Keep close to the boulders with your back. Get behind me if you can. You’re in danger there.

Even as he began to speak, the closest wolf turned toward Megan. With amazement, she stared at steely golden eyes now fixed on her. Teeth bared, the wolf’s dark hackles rose even higher. Its fangs were greatly pronounced against the blood and black rim of its snarling nose and mouth. Megan stood transfixed against the boulder, except to automatically bring the mace up stiff-armed and spray it. It didn’t quite reach the wolf as it needed to be effective, but a quick shot from Drew brought it down. The snow was soon bright red beneath the furry carcass.

Four more backed up but were still looking behind Drew Adams. They sniffed the air, smelling the bloody steer.

Another loud shot!

Now three wolves were prostrate in the snow.

Megan moved quickly sideways, sliding along the boulders toward the steer behind her neighbor, and faced the snarling creatures as she moved closer to Drew. Drew yelled and slightly advanced. The other three wolves now turned and ran as best as they could through the deep snow.

Another shot. One wolf yelped and began limping as it struggled across the snow, down into a gully, and out of sight.

Drew turned in disbelief. Megan! What in the world are you doing out here?

Megan let out a frosty breath of air in relief, then tried to smile. Just taking a hike up the mountain while we have this great sunshine after the snow.

No pistol?

She sheepishly held up the can of mace.

He shook his head but turned away to hide a half-grin. Taking off his cowboy hat, he pushed back the honey-brown hair stuck to his forehead with perspiration, then put the hat back on. You gave me a good distraction before I shot that one wolf turning to the side, and it caused the others to step back for a moment. They should’ve run with my first shot but had already tasted blood. It’s a hungry time of year for them.

Then he got serious. But what if it was you that first ran into this hungry pack all by yourself? They could have surrounded you and come from behind. And what if you ran out of mace?

"That’s a couple of what-ifs that didn’t happen, Drew, Megan defended, then sputtered, you and your cow were the ones surrounded."

Megan, I have a rifle! Drew said with a tinge of exasperation. Then he laughed. And it’s a young steer.

Megan looked at the steer. It was shaking like a leaf. It’s hurt bad, isn’t it.

Drew examined the steer and pulled out a cell phone. Dad, can you bring Thomas and come straight up past the northwest corner fencing to the first tall outcropping of boulders? A steer got out, and we’ve got wolves. It’s hurt bad. It may have to go in the freezer.

He listened, then answered, Yes, bring it for sure. I’m almost out of ammo. Three are dead, and three ran off. One’s wounded in the hind leg, but there could be more out here hunting. There’s a lot of blood. Yes, we’ll probably need the game sled. See you soon.

Movement to her right made Megan jump suddenly toward him. Drew! She pointed at the second wolf breathing hard and twitching. It’s still alive.

I know, but I need the bullets I have left, at least until Dad gets here with another rifle. What if the other three would come back or there are more nearby? There’s a lot of blood here. Those two young mountain lions could be around as well.

Megan almost felt sorry for the wolf for a moment, but just then, the steer collapsed, lying suffering in the snow. The severely slashed hindquarters continued to redden the snow about it.

Drew stood watch, his rifle ready. I’ll take you home with the snowmobile, Megan. It’s just behind these boulders a little way. This isn’t an area for skiing or snowshoeing. It’s not safe, especially now that we know the wolves are here.

At the sound of another snowmobile approaching, he turned around and put the steer out of its misery, then climbed up on the boulders and waved his rifle at his father and his brother Thomas. As they zoomed around the boulders, he came down and put the last bullet into the twitching wolf.

Well, you didn’t tell me Megan was here, too, son, Mr. Adams said, clearing his throat, trying to cover his surprise. Hello, Megan.

Megan waved sheepishly. Hi, Mr. Adams. Hi, Thomas. With the bright sunshine today, I was just trying out these snowshoes for some exercise.

Drew, I think we’ll plow a path out to here with the truck and drag the steer back to the ranch. You could take Megan home. Thomas and I will start butchering out in the old shed. He handed his son some bullets.

Hi, Megan, Thomas waved as he left the snowmobile, his thin, long legs struggling through the deep snow. He passed by her to examine the carcass of the closest wolf. It smells out here, he exclaimed, scrunching up his freckled nose.

Adding the bullets to his rifle, Drew grinned at his father and with a bit of pride, said, She actually was close enough to try and mace one of them before I shot it. It backed off and turned to the side. Made for an easy shot.

Wow, Mr. Adams said, looking at Megan with renewed appreciation. Then he looked worried. Weren’t you afraid?

When I knew there were wolves, I just wanted to get near to whoever was shooting and had the gun.

Good thinking, he said, nodding.

They’re not as big as a bear, but then there were more of them.

And it’s good to remember that, too, Mr. Adams said. He looked around the area at the carcasses and blood, mumbling, I really don’t like the idea of wolves around here. He took out a cell phone and began taking pictures, saying firmly, And this will help at the next meeting we have with the government about these Canadian wolf packs and ranchers. Drew, I want you to be sure we get these pictures on the computer, so I can have a record of this and do some e-mailing.

Drew nodded. Of the three that escaped, I winged one in the hind leg. If it survives, the game wardens should be able to find it.

Andrew Adams shook his head and stared in the direction the wolves had gone. They’ve tasted the blood of our herd. It’s not good that they went after one this strong and this big. We need to find out how this steer got out and follow its trail in the snow to where it met the wolves. They’ll be back, I’m afraid. He then turned and headed back for the truck.

With the bloody snarling picture of the large wolves still fresh in her mind, Megan shuddered at the thought. She glanced back at the dead wolves, then sat down on a rock to undo her snowshoes, trying to keep her fingers from trembling.

She was amazed at how fast the men cleared a path with the truck’s snow blade and began wrestling with the bloody carcass of the dead steer to take back to the ranch. She couldn’t help but think, My next hamburger will somehow not taste as good.

Last, they tied ropes to the wolf carcasses and dragged them behind Drew’s snowmobile, heading away from the ranch to leave them for scavengers.

Bye, Megan, Thomas shouted. His father waved from the truck as Drew’s snow machine came zipping back over the snow, minus the wolf carcasses. The truck then headed back toward the ranch with the steer in tow.

Megan sat quietly behind Drew on the way down the mountain, holding her snowshoes between them. She could smell the blood on the front of his coat.

You know that was pretty brave to try and mace that wolf so close, Drew said over his shoulder as the snowmobile slowed by the house. He rounded the corner of the house and stopped by the back porch, shutting off the engine.

Megan removed her goggles and couldn’t help glancing around the yard and up the mountain, wondering if there could be more wolves even here. Drew caught her glance and nodded slowly, his blue eyes grim behind his goggles.

She shivered. The house and yard suddenly seemed different now. You were right. It was dumb to be up on the mountain by myself. The snow makes it so different than in the spring and summer.

I’m glad you realize that. It’s not like a ski area where lots of people help keep the wild animals back farther into the wilderness. Even this summer will be different with new wolf pups, I’m afraid.

Guess I’m still learning some things the hard way. Sorry, Drew. So really glad that bears don’t run in packs.

Drew tried to keep from laughing. Sliding his goggles off, he replaced his cowboy hat that he always wore. Bears in packs. He shook his head and looked at her fondly. I’ll have to remember to tell Dad that one. But then he got serious again. Megan, you need to pack that pistol your dad got this past summer if you want to hike. Your brother has learned to carry the pistol. I’ve seen it with him several times when he was riding with Thomas. You each should really have your own to carry on this mountain.

Yes. I’m not afraid of guns now, but I need to practice more with Justin and Dad. It’s just been a very busy year, as you know.

He nodded with a wistful look that Megan had not seen before. Then it was gone. It’s been a very fast, busy year. When I leave in a couple of months, Thomas will be helping Dad do more of my jobs at the ranch. He’s complaining, but it’s helping me have more time to study already, and I’m building up strength for what’s ahead.

So, you did enlist?

Yes, I did. He hesitated as if to say more but finished with, It’s done.

When do you leave?

Two days after graduation.

A great sadness came over her, but Megan turned and looked out at the mountainside and then back toward the Adams’ ranch in the distance. We’re really gonna miss you around here, Drew. I wish you didn’t have to go.

I need to do this and get away from home for a while.

But I thought you liked ranching.

It’s good clean living, but it will be good to prove myself somewhere else.

Megan looked seriously at the blue eyes. You have nothing to prove, Drew. And I need to thank you for helping me to be safe today. I really wasn’t thinking about danger. I just wanted to get out and get some exercise. Then she smiled, looking up under the rim of his cowboy hat, which he tended to purposefully lower at times. What am I going to do without you around?

Well, I’m hoping you’ve learned some things about the wild in Wyoming, Megan. His voice had a tease to it now. You’ve been here almost a year.

Megan cocked her head and threw back at him, Yes, I have, cowboy. Do I seem like a cowgirl yet?

He laughed. No way! Then he softened. Well, maybe a little. You did learn about horses rather quickly. He leaned down, dusting snow from his pants and boots.

Yes, I did, and too bad you won’t see Lyn and I barrel race this summer. She has a strong horse now and would love to beat that white one ridden by her cousin that’s almost a legend around here.

The cowboy hat came up quickly, and he looked at her with renewed interest. With a smirky grin, he laid his hat down on the snowmobile and pushed back his hair again. Really? So, you and Lyn think you could beat Jenny? Just so you know, a quarter horse will win over Arabians in a rodeo competition. Jenny might still barrel race this summer, but then she’ll be taking off for college. He chuckled and looked at her again, almost challenging. I believe I get a break for a few days right after boot camp. That’ll be some time at the end of August. I’d love to come home and see you three competing in a barrel race. And then there’s always Misty. She’s fast, too. When did you start this?

Actually, the horse I use now is one of Lyn’s. With Tim’s help, she found a couple of great quarter horses, and we’ve been practicing in the big indoor arena near where Tim keeps his horses. Lyn’s getting quite good at it. She practices a lot. It’s a break from the family business.

You two have really become good friends, haven’t you? What a life that girl has had in the past year. Hard to believe.

Yes. Her mother died, and then her father too. It’s good for her to stay occupied. Tim and Maria have become like parents to her.

And you’ve been a big help, too, it seems. She was so shy before.

She’s tough under that quiet exterior. She’s really kind of like Mr. Abramson was—quiet but tough. She’s planning to have quite a senior year.

You two can make a difference in the school.

Maybe we really can, Megan mused. I hadn’t thought much about that.

Megan, you could run for president of the senior class. You might be able to win. Mandy and her group would back you, and so would Dandy and his group. Or tell Dandy to run, and you be vice president. Let a guy lead.

Why didn’t you run for president of your class?

Everyone already knew Jenny, and if it looks good on her resume, Jenny goes after what she wants. Remember, we Adams have only been here for a couple of years.

She looked at him, thinking of the school year so far. So, you let Jenny win because she was going to college and wanted that on her record. And you were the