Re:Life (Yellowstone)

The evening light stretched across the dairy farm like an old blanket, soft and familiar. Dakota's muscles ached from a day of work, but it was a good kind of ache. She walked beside her Pop-Pop, her small body covered with the day's work. Mud and manure caked her tiny boots, hay stuck to her clothes, and dirt rimmed her fingernails.

They stepped onto the wooden porch, but before they could go inside, Pop-Pop stopped.

"Sorry we didn't get to go fishing today," Pop-Pop said, hanging his own work jacket on a peg next to the door.

Dakota sat on the edge of the steps, her small fingers working to unlace her boots. "It's okay," she said. "It was my fault for slowing you down."

Pop-Pop's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "You were a big help today," he said, sitting down next to her to take his boots off.

Dakota glanced up at him. They both knew he was lying. Her Pop-Pop had been fixing a section of fence in the south pasture, and she'd been helping—or trying to help. Her small hands and limited strength meant she was more of a hindrance than a help, though she'd tried her best. But it had been years since she last worked the farm.

"I mean it, Dakota. Most girls your age would rather be out with friends." Pop-Pop continued, "Playing. Doing... whatever it is kids do these days."

"I want to be here," Dakota said. The words came out more earnestly than she intended, filled with the memories of a life already lived—of moments lost, of time she'd never get back. The farm, these days with her grandfather, they were precious in a way she now understood completely.

Pop-Pop raised an eyebrow, just slightly, as if sensing something deeper beneath her simple statement. But he simply smiled, his fingers brushing a piece of hay from her hair.

"Come on," he said. "After a shower and supper, you can have some TV time."

.

.

.

Dakota had arrived in this time right after summer break had started, so there was no school. It was the year 2006, and she realized that The Wild Thornberry's would still be on TV. A grin spread across her face as she thought about how much she'd loved that show when she was little.

Once upon a time, her dream had been to travel the world like Eliza Thornberry. Before reality kicked her in the face and she settled for traveling as a soldier instead.

"Pop-Pop," she called from the living room as she settled onto the couch, flipping through the channels on the bulky old TV. "Can we watch The Wild Thornberrys tonight? I think there's an episode on."

Pop-Pop appeared in the doorway, wiping his hands on a dish towel. "The Wild Thornberrys? Sounds familiar. Isn't that the show about the animal folks?"

"Yes!" Dakota said enthusiastically. "It's a cartoon on Nickelodeon."

To her surprise, my Pop-Pop's response was unexpected. He chuckled as he sat down in his recliner. "Cartoon? No, no, that's not a cartoon. That's a documentary series on PBS. I think it's on tonight, though. Want me to check?"

Dakota froze. "Wait... what?" she stared at him. "A documentary?"

He gave her a curious look, then reached over to grab the TV guide from the coffee table. Flipping through it, he handed it to her, pointing to a listing under PBS. There it was, plain as day: The Wild Thornberrys – "Episode 73: Eurasian Lynx."

"I don't think I've seen that one," Pop-Pop added.

Dakota stared at the listing in disbelief. "But… it's supposed to be a cartoon on Nickelodeon," she mumbled, more to herself than to him.

Pop-Pop raised an eyebrow. "A cartoon? What's got you thinking that? Nigel Thornberry's one heck of a naturalist."

Dakota couldn't believe it. Somehow, in this world, The Wild Thornberrys wasn't an animated show—it was an actual documentary series, with real people and real animals.

"Uh, yeah… right," she said, trying to mask her shock. "I must be thinking of something else."

"It's on at seven," Pop-Pop ruffled her hair. "We'll watch it together."

Dakota nodded numbly, her head spinning as he went back to the kitchen. If the Wild Thornberry's was a real show and not a cartoon?

What else might be different? she wondered. Her hands went to her pockets looking for her phone.

Oh, right, no smartphones.

Dakota climbed off the couch and went to her room. She sat down in front of the computer her Pop-Pop bought a year ago. It was old by 2006 standards and ancient to her. Google was slow, but it was still a thing, so that was good.

She searched for information on movies she remembered watching as a kid. Batman Begins had released last year and it had comic fans excited for Superman Returns which was releasing soon. Harry Potter was still a thing, and the Goblet of Fire had been the highest-grossing movie last year.

After an hour of searching, Dakota was staring to realize that she hadn't just traveled back in time; she was in a different reality altogether. She couldn't find anything about Star Wars, Ice Age, any Disney movie, or her Pop-Pop's favorite movie, Field of Dreams.

Dakota sat back in her chair. This was crazy. Billion-dollar franchises, gone. Her eyes drifted to the old typewriter tucked away in the corner of her room—a gift from her Pop-Pop who had it fixed up for her. Looking back on the life she left behind last night, she only had regrets. She had been a dreamer once, imagining herself a best-selling author who traveled the world. However, her life took a drastic turn when her Pop-Pop died. She had tried not to think about him too much and ran away to the military, but she never moved past his death. It had just been her and him since the day she was born. When he died, all her dreams died with him, and suddenly, she was alone in the world.

"Supper's ready!"

Things will be different this time, Dakota decided as she left her room. She couldn't ignore the opportuning that had presented itself. This was a chance for her to reshape her life, to make things better, not just for herself, but for her Pop-Pop.