She loved dawn. It’s promise of a new day. A day that could be different from all others if you let it.

Even though many people might call it quiet, she heard the dawn. The morning birds singing, the soft breeze as it drifted through the pine boughs, the tumble of snowmelt over the rocks behind the cabin; these sounds surrounded her, comforted her, healed her. Here she nodded off to sleep, finally a sleep that brought her much needed rest.

The sun was high when she woke up, the day was going to be warm. Inside the cabin she did a quick job of cleaning, wiping the dust down and sweeping the floor. The thought of the ride up to the tree line took away the drudgery of chores.

She grabbed her rifle and a few shells and headed out to saddle up. Her horse was ready, and they headed up the slope. Threading between the pines, picking a trail that would get them up at a pace that would not leave the horse winded.

Below them the valley opened and further still a life she wanted to escape. But how? Think.