The Elephant Gate

The location turned out to be a small village nestled against a huge craggy mountain. It consisted of about ten buildings, including several businesses: A farmer's market, a restaurant, and a grocery store.

Thadchai pulled the truck and trailer behind the outmost single-story building and parked. He walked into the trailer and removed the bales. Kevin scrambled out and took a deep breath.

The air was cool, indicative of the higher elevation. The captain backed Smoke out of the trailer stall and outside. There was a small stable behind the house. Another roan horse in a stall whickered a greeting.

"That's Rowdy." Thatchai explained. "He's Smoke's brother and my other trail horse. I need to rub down Smoke before I stable him. Why don't you go inside the house?"

"I can help you with the horse, if you want." Kevin was eager to get more answers to the events that led up to the current crisis in his adopted country. Thadchai just shook his head and waved him away.

"That's alright. There are some people that want to greet you." He pointed to the rear porch. "Go ahead."

With no choice Kevin trudge to the porch. He hadn't put one foot on the step before he felt a familiar touch in his mind. There was a sudden scratching at the rear door. "Duchess!" He ran and flung open the door.

Out toddled an old dog, her muzzle almost completely gray. She walked gingerly, nursing her rear leg. Her tail, though, was whipping back and forth.

Kevin fell to his knees as the dog limped over to him and tried to put her paws on his c.h.e.s.t. When she wasn't able to stand on her hind legs, she sat down and put on paw on his leg. He leaned over and hugged her, feeling the scr.a.p.e of a wet tongue on his cheek compete with the tears from his eyes.

"Duchess. Good girl, good girl," he repeated as he rubbed his hand down her back, feeling the bony processes through her skin. The dog gave a sigh and snuggled in closer.

"She's been waiting a long time, young master Kevin." Another familiar voice spoke from the open door. "But then so have all."

He looked up. "Khun Joy! What are you doing here!" His former school teacher had gotten a little soft, and there were streaks of gray at her temples, but her face and smile was just as he remembered them. She crouched down in front of him and rubbed Duchess between her shoulders.

"I'm part of the family. Khun Thad and I were married a little bit more than a year after you...after you...disappeared. We had hoped you would somehow come back to us."

She placed her hand on his head. "I am so happy you have returned. Duchess dear, you have to share."

The dog gave a little grumble but pulled back, looking over her shoulder at the woman. Joy smiled and rubbed her under the chin, her favorite spot. "You can have him back, but I must greet my son."

Something twisted a bit inside when he realized that she was, indeed, his adoptive mother. He stood up from the floor, helping her, and was amaze to find she barely the middle of his c.h.e.s.t.

"You certainly have grown, even more than when you left." She looked up with bright and happy eyes. "And I can see you have been raised well, too. Welcome back."

She stood on tip toes and pulled him down so that she could kiss each cheek.

"How long has it been here?" Kevin asked, wondering if the time moved differently. A beloved figure appeared in the kitchen doorway, a wooden spoon in one hand. "Khun Mattaya!"

"Well now, it must be going past fifteen years now," the housekeeper replied, "And we all wondered how you were doing over there, wherever you were. I see you've grown up fine and straight, Noy Kevin. And we welcome you back."

Kevin nodded, overcome with emotion as his eyes roamed each of them: stepmom, canine, housekeeper. Thadchai watched the scene in the house unfold through the picture window and smiled through his own tears.

"Now we will begin the real battle," he said quietly to himself. Smoke shook out his mane and nosed the man.

"And we'll all be put to the test."