"I saw a rabbit trail down by the river, Pa. Why don't I take the gun, and go get us some meat?"
"No girl of mine is going to hunt. I'll go get us a couple of rabbits, Sarah. Nice work finding the tracks."
Sarah sighed, and watched as Pa headed towards the river.
"He's almost blind, Ma. Why won't he let me help? He taught me how to track animals, and even shoot."
"He taught you those things because you were never blessed with a brother. He wanted to pass what he knew along, even if you'd never use it."
"But I need to use it - now! This place was named Hungry Valley for a reason. Things don't grow easily, and meat isn't guaranteed to stick around."
Ma walked over to the pot, and stirred the aromatic soup. Despite only containing last year's carrots, green beans, and potatoes, she had managed to make it into something delicious.
"I'll talk to him again Sarah, when the time is right. I do worry that he might shoot someone's livestock, or worse..."
"Thanks, Ma."
As usual, Pa returned empty-handed.
Ma and Sarah exchanged a look, and Ma nodded.
Sarah walked towards the door. "I'll go get some wood for tonight."
She took her time - and before she reached the woodshed, she heard Pa bellowing.
She waited until things quieted down, then gathered a large armload. When she walked in, she almost dropped her burden in the doorway.
Pa was sitting at the table, his hands over his face. Ma was peacefully tending the evening meal.
A soft voice emanated from Pa, utterly defeated. "You're going."
Both Sarah and Ma looked at him.
"Pa?" she whispered.
He looked up, and locked eyes with his only child. "GO GET THE RABBITS!"
Sarah's knees buckled, and firewood clattered onto the clean floor. Quick as a wink, she gathered it up and deposited it in the woodbox.
Ma spoke up in her calm, soothing voice. "You already said they're not out right now. She should go in the morning, when they go to drink."
Pa had already slumped again. "Whatever. Just so long as she doesn't come back without meat..."
Unable to extinguish her smile, she went to clean up before supper. She also prepared everything she would need for a full day in the outdoors, so she wouldn't risk her father waking up and ordering her to stay home.
Well before sunrise, Sarah silently slipped out. Her first stop was the rabbit trail close to the river. She was deathly still, waiting. Sure enough, a large rabbit warily hopped into view.
She let him pass, and soon he was lapping up the cool, clean water. Before he finished, two more joined him. When the big one finished, she did exactly what she had pictured herself doing for years.
A few seconds later she was whistling happily, walking up the trail with meat for her family - the first they'd had in several months.
Not wanting the day to end, she hung them high from the porch beam, then headed towards Salt Canyon. "If I can get an elk, we'll be able to eat until the rains come."
Around noon, she found herself on the rim of the canyon. Nothing moved. Sweating, she worked her way towards a small cleft which would provide both shade and cover.
She sighed, looking at the sparse sagebrush and barren stone. "I've got three more bullets including the one in the chamber. More than enough to get an elk - if there are any around."
Next, she decided to try the small stream which was bordered by coveted natural salt licks. Before she made it to the bottom, a small rock slide forced her to almost free-fall the rest of the way down.
Once in the canyon, she quickly located the stream, and refilled her canteen. Then she hid, and waited. "Deer and elk will come to drink before dusk - hopefully sooner," she thought eagerly.
Sunset was magnificent. From the stunning red rays hitting the water to the cool breeze blowing towards Sarah, everything was perfect. As if on cue, out stepped a bull elk, king of all he surveyed.
"He's beautiful," she thought in awe.
Regretfully she aimed, then squeezed. "That's impossible!"
Quickly she dug into her pockets, but the remaining bullets were gone. Most likely lost during her wild ride down the side of the canyon.
She sighed, hands on her hips as she stared a hole through the gaunt cougar atop the still elk. "Well I can't let him have our meat, now can I?"
Tying one of her knives to a sapling as a crude spear, she carefully approached the kill. Before she was noticed, she saw a couple of small shapes creeping forward. Cubs!
Boldly she stood, and began singing the Battle Hymn. The cubs melted into the rocks, but the stunned mother held her ground.
Ever so slowly, and still singing loudly, she kept advancing. Eventually the big cat's nerves were rattled enough that she backed off a short ways with an angry hiss.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Sarah cut off a haunch. Never taking her eyes off of the cougar, she left the rest for the hungry predators.
It was dark when she got home, but the house was lit from within, and the smell of rabbit stew dominated the entire yard.
When she walked in with the haunch of elk, Pa's eyes lit up. "I know about the rabbits, but what else did you get?"
She grinned proudly. "Let me put it away, then I'll tell you and Ma everything."
As the little family feasted, Sarah recounted the day's adventures.
Ma was giggling like mad about her choice of songs, and Pa incredulous that his little girl had faced down a hungry cougar.
As he wiped his mouth, Pa smiled proudly. "Maybe one of these days you'd be willing to have your old man tag along?"
Wordlessly Sarah jumped up and hugged him. After several minutes, she simply said "it's all I ever wanted."
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery