Desert Creature

The sun rose early in the east casting long shadows from the Lotus trees. I too, am a desert creature, thought Sarie as she watched an owl on a near-by limb. She stood very still, blinking her eyes wide and moving her head in small increments. The owl blinked and ruffled his feathers in the spring wind. Then there was a movement and instantly he focused on a small stack of rocks, but the rodent disappeared into the woodpile.
"Sarie, did you forget the water?"
"No, Mama." She drew the bucket to her as the owl flapped and flew away. The full bucket was heavy and splashed in rhythm to her steps. It left a mark on the side of her leg where it bumped too hard.
"Will you ever bring a full bucket when I ask?"
"It’s uphill from the well," said the girl.
"Well, go check for eggs now and be sure to fasten the lid securely after you feed the chickens."
Sarie bounded through the open door and ran rambunctiously toward the hen house. The uphill climb took her around an oasis-like area of plants, small brittle shrubs and a large cactus with brilliant blue and lavender blossoms were in sharp contrast to the stark rocky slope surrounding the hen house.
Opening the grain barrel, she noticed the rodent again. It had traveled through the woodpile, behind the smoke house, and heroically, across the clearing between the smoke house and Mama’s oasis. Sarie turned sharply to scan the near-by trees, looking for the owl, but decided he must have given up the hunt. She threw out the grain in wide patterns, pretending it was rice and she was the flower girl and the bride was an oriental princes—
"Sarie!"
"Yes Mama—"
"Where are the eggs?"
"Coming Mama."
The large round bowl on the kitchen counter was full of eggs. Sarie’s eyes danced as she counted them. "Do we have enough now Mama? Do we get hot cakes now?"
Mama smiled. "And after we eat, you can carry a dozen down to Millie."
A squeal escaped Sarie’s mouth and after breakfast, Mama packed Millie’s eggs securely in a basket. "Now you walk and don’t run, and give Millie a hug for me. Go on now and start back in time to beat the hot sun."
The dirt road led around the back side of the baron hill and down into the valley. Millie’s house was small . . . a little run down, but surrounded with fruit trees and the blossoms filled the air with their fragrance. The high Eucalyptus trees behind framed the north side of the property. The side next to the house was plowed and planted, little sprouts were already showing their inquisitive eyes.
Millie spied Sarie coming, through the kitchen window. She watched her dancing down the dirt lane along the fence. The flowering weeds encroached upon the two trailing ruts barely visible now and Sarie hop-scotched back and forth chanting her morning song. Now and then she would stop and carefully pick a bloom from the sweetclover or a mountain daisy. Then she saw her stop short of the front gate. Her singing stopped. Millie stood on tip toes leaning, straining to hear what was going on.
"Hello Sweet Pea."
Millie slipped to the kitchen door and leaned with her face close to the sheer curtain. She wasn’t even aware that she was holding her breath.
"I told you I’d come back." There was music in Sarie’s voice. "I’ve been all the way across the mountains, and over the sea and back. See what I brought for you?" She said, extending a handful of flowers.
Millie smiled as she watched the little girl and the fawn.