An Empty Chair

Chloe and childhood friend Jopper head out to a small town where fisherman and hunters wave with suspicion as they pass. They get directions to Maggie’s place from store clerk Lisa Lou who, much to Chloe’s dismay, seems to know everything about Chloe.

Loosing their way along a muddy road, the car ends up in the creek. The two find their way to a house where they are greet by a snarling dog and gun. A short and bumpy ride in the back of a pickup truck delivers them to Step-grandmother Maggie’s house

Maggie seems to know everything about Chloe and admits to joining Facebook just keep up with her life. Maggie shares memories that Chloe has no recollection of including one of riding the old horse, Jody.

Next day, Will, 22, brings Chloe’s car back on the back of a car carrier. He is pleased to see Chloe and apologizes for slamming her finger in a door when they were young. (Chloe has no recollection ). Will is disappointed to meet Jopper until he finds out they are simply childhood friends. To Chloe’s irritation, Maggie arranges for Chloe’s car to get towed to town to have the brakes fixed.

Maggie reads the paper that Chloe wrote for her first semester and tells Chloe she understands the why of the lies told by her Grandmother Karen. Angry, Chloe tells her they could have a relationship if Maggie would just tell the truth.

Meanwhile, rain begins to fall on the snowpack and Will heads up the mountain to retrieve kids from the church camp. The low water bridge is broken by the time he gets there and, as he backs out, they are hit by a flash flood.

Back at the range Maggie and Chloe argue about family lore. They are interrupted when one of the camp counselors show up to tell Maggie of the emergency. Maggie is all business and tells Chloe and Jopper they can come along as long as she doesn’t argue.

It’s touch and go, but they manage to get all the kids across the creek before Miller Dam breaks. On the wrong side of the river, Chloe and Jopper are stuck at Maggie’s place. The next morning, Chloe’s rich grandmother. Karen shows up in a helicopter and Karen admits that Maggie has been telling the truth.

Chloe can’t let go of the tales she’s heard growing up and leaves with her grandmother only to be dropped off in town to pick up her car. She and Jopper find the wheel remove and new brakes ordered.

Jopper goes back to the farm with Will for Maggie’s annual “Orphan Christmas Party” while Chloe waits for her Grandmother Karen.

When Karen doesn’t show, Chloe goes to the store where Lisa Lou puts Chloe up on Jody, the horse that she rode when she was little, and sends her off, scared to death with directions to just hang on.

Over the River and through the woods, Chloe gets back to the farm after dark. Dinner is over and the sound of laughter, fun and games emanate from the house. When she goes inside, all get silent. Maggie embraces her grand-daughter and the party continues.