Christmas With Hover Hill (12 page)

“
Well, I guess that's allowed. I don't want to
be this nosy, but I look out for my little brother. It looks rather
strange to me that you have a man living with you. Yet you're
willing to date another man. Bud's been hurt before by a woman. I
hate to see it happen again just because he's too softhearted. You
understand what I'm saying?”

“
Of course, I do. To answer your question, the
man living here is just a friend of mine. As for Bud, we had a
really good time on our date at the Christmas dance. I think he's a
great guy, but as I've told him, I will be leaving here sometime
before the first of June.”

Susie's brow furrowed. “I see. Did he take the idea
that you would be leaving okay?”

“
I think so. Even if I wanted to stay, I
can't,” Elizabeth said.

“
Just so Bud knows that.”

“
He does,” Elizabeth assured her.

“
You can see how I might be concerned. You're
living with a good looking man, and my brother gets starry eyed
every time he talks about you. Does it seem really fair to Bud that
you're living with a man and dating Bud?”

Elizabeth grimaced. “It wouldn't be fair at all if
that were the circumstances, but like I said, the man living with
me is just a friend.”

“
One thing is for sure, I've never known Bud to
take up with a woman that has another man living with her. That
isn't like him at all. That's why I'm worried enough to talk to
you,” Susie said.

“
You shouldn't worry. I explained to Bud
details that you aren't aware of. That's why he doesn't mind dating
me.”

“
It's not like this man is kin. You have said
as much, and that he is not your husband,” Susie probed.

“
I repeat, he's just a good friend that's
staying with me for a while,” Elizabeth said. If she had to answer
Susie's questions honestly, everyone in town might know about her
business by nightfall.

“
I guess that will have to do for right now.
Doesn't look like I'm going to get anything else out of you, and I
have to get back to town,” Susie said as she pulled her coat zipper
up.

After Bud's sister left, Elizabeth said, “All right,
Hover. The coast is clear.”

Hover came from the kitchen. “And you called me
nosy.”

“
I know, but she's just looking out for her
brother,” Elizabeth excused. “I can certainly relate when I think
about the days I worried about Scott.”

Hover asked, “Now I want you to tell me why you knew
this ominous warning from the waitress was coming before she
entered the house?”

“
Her words to me at the dance last night were
something like Missy watch your step. Bud is a good guy. I had the
feeling then she wasn't done with me yet.”

“
You guessed right. She came back for a second
round.”

Elizabeth put on her winter gear. “I think I
successfully warded off another attack from her. Now I need some
fresh air. I'm going for a walk to do some thinking.”

“
What are you going to think about?”

“
What kind of mess I'm going to get into with
Bud's family by dating him. I don't need anymore headaches in my
life right now. Bud has invited me to his family Christmas dinner.
Maybe I should turn him down,” Elizabeth told him.

“
Maybe no more problems would be nice, but a
good romance in your life would sure perks you up,” Hover
stated.

“
Hover, there is no end to your talents. Now
you're Dear Abby. I'm not the type that cares about romance. What
do you think about that shocking bit of information?”

“
I'm telling you there is romance right in
front of you. You should seize the moment as they say,” Hover
replied and left the room quickly.

Elizabeth plodded through the snow in the yard until
she reached the tractor tracks. She looked down the lane at her
tracks from the morning walk. The same walk she took all the time.
For a change, why not walk in the forest and see what it was
like?

She stepped into the undisturbed, deep snow and
labored up the hill to the trees. She hesitated. The forest was
thicker than she thought at first. When she looked behind her, she
saw the holes she made in the snow. As long as she could see her
tracks, she didn't see how she could get lost when she started
back.

Elizabeth clutched her coat tighter around her to
ward off the cold breeze. Not any warmth to the brilliant sun that
made dancing splotches on the snowy forest floor. Tree limbs cast
shadowy strips that crisscrossed the bright splotches. The whole
works looked like a black and yellow, on white background,
impressionist painting.

A gusty breeze whipped frozen limbs, clacking them
together like brittle bones. Snow turned loose and showered down on
her. A scared rabbit bounced out of hiding right in front of her.
Startled, Elizabeth squealed and backed up. The rabbit, with head
back and ears straight up, hopped a few times in front of her while
he assessed his danger. As if he was on a race to save his life, he
skittered away until he disappeared in the dormant gooseberry
bushes. Bud would have laughed long and hard if he'd seen her
reaction because of a harmless rabbit.

Single spaced cloven deer tracks trailed between the
trees along with other prints Elizabeth couldn't identify. If Bud
had taken this walk with her, he'd have known to which animals the
tracks belonged.

Above her in a hickory nut tree, a squirrel chattered
crossly, warning the other animals that danger was coming their
way. Elizabeth stayed in the deer trail, not really paying
attention to her surroundings anymore.

She was too preoccupied with her thoughts about Bud.
She did enjoy his company, but this wasn't the time or place to
have a romantic interlude with a man. She had enough men to figure
out how to deal with at the moment. Letting one more into her life
would just complicated the situation.

Besides, no matter what Hover said, she didn't care
about romance anymore. Right now she was just happy being on her
own away from all the pressures. If she was being truthful with
herself, she had to admit that included her job. At least until she
made up her mind what she wanted out of life.

This timber wonderland had turned quiet. The wind had
laid. Elizabeth silently scolded her self absorption. She should be
enjoying this lovely walk. Her worries dissolved, leaving her with
a sense of serenity. Why hadn't she taken this walk long before
this? She felt like shouting a warning to the wild animals that she
would be back.

Elizabeth's mind came back to the moment in a hurry
at the sound of sharp cracking noises under her feet. She looked
down and around her at the snow, wondering what was happening. Her
stomach did a flip flop when she saw water bubble up, and flood the
area around her boots. She meant to take a step back, but suddenly,
she felt herself sinking. By the time she stopped falling, the ice
water was up to her knees. She felt the coldness soak through her
slacks and fill her boots.

Panic set in. How much lower would she sink?
Elizabeth calmed herself enough to realize she'd stopped falling.
She just had to get out of this hole. She lifted her right leg and
settled her knee on the ice, but the cracking started again. The
ice broke away, causing her to stagger. She grabbed for the water
soaked ledge and submerged her mittens as she regained her balance.
She sure didn't want to sit down in this cold water. She might not
be able to get up. She took a step and lifted her leg. Once her
knee was on the ledge, she put her weight on it. The ledge held.
Elizabeth slowly stretched out on the ice, hoping the ice didn't
break again. She didn't want to wind up completely underwater. The
ice held.

Elizabeth bellied out of the hole by digging into the
snow on the icy surface with her elbows. Once she was completely
out of the water, she got to her knees. Slowly, she crawled back
the way she came, listening for warning sounds that the ice under
her might give way again.

She looked over her shoulder. The water had quit
following her. Maybe she could get back on her feet and move
faster. She slowly stood up. Her stinging feet felt like lead
weights. She staggered from tree to tree, grabbing hold of the
rough bark with her frozen mittens to keep her balance. Her ragged
breathing puffed small white clouds in front of her face. Her lungs
burned from taking in the freezing air.

She didn't dare remove her boots and mittens, but she
wasn't going to make it back to the house before her feet and hands
froze beyond feeling at this rate. She didn't know how far she
walked away from the house. She could yell for help, but even if
Hover heard her, he couldn't help.

Elizabeth started to take a step and found her numb
feet refused to move. She put her hands under her right knee and
raised her leg to take a step. She collapsed into a snow drift. She
rolled over into the deer path and inched along, digging into the
snow with her elbows.

A few feet more was all she crawled before she was
too exhausted to struggle any farther. She was going to die right
there. She would turn into one big icicle that didn't thaw out
until spring.

What was that? Was her fuzzy mind playing tricks on
her? It sounded like someone called Lizzy. There it was again. That
could only be Bud.

“
Over here. Help me,” she cried
hoarsely.

“
I hear you. Where?”

“
Come this way,” Elizabeth called, hoping her
weak voice carried to him.

Bud burst from a grove of trees and ran toward her.
“Lizzy, what happened?”

“
I sank in some water hidden under the snow. My
feet and hands are frozen. I'm soaked up to my waist. Can you get
me back to the house?”

“
You bet I can. Hang in there.” Bud scooped her
up and tramped through the trees.

Chapter 10

Elizabeth felt every jolting step Bud took. The jars
were painful to her frozen hands and feet. She knew when Bud
stomped up the back steps, yelling for Hover to open the door.
After that, she passed out. Later, she came to on the couch with a
warm cloth on her forehead and a mountain of blankets covering her.
She was stone cold and couldn't stop shivering.

Bud patted her face. “Wake up, Lizzy.”

“
I am awake,” she mumbled, faintly aware water
was running somewhere.

“
Good. You have to take a warm bath to get the
circulation back into your fingers and toes,” Bud said. “Lizzy, you
listening to me?”

“
Yes,” she muttered. “I don't want to
move.”

“
Lizzy, you have to try to stand and walk.
Otherwise, I'll carry you into the bathroom,” Bud said.

“
All right,” she agreed, but her head was fuzzy
when she sat up. Once Bud had her upright, she couldn't make her
feet walk.

“
I have the water running,” Hover said as he
joined them.

Bud said to the robot, “I don't think Lizzy is with
it enough to get to the bathroom on her own steam. I'm going to
have to put her in the bathtub.”

“
It would be better if you let me do it. I can
undress her,” Hover droned.

“
I can handle that job. This is an emergency,”
Bud snapped.

“
Wait a minute, both of you.” Elizabeth came
alive. “Stop talking about me as if I can't hear you. I'm not
letting either one of you undress me.”

“
You have to get in the bathtub and soon. The
water will be running over. If I turn the faucets off the water
will get cold which will defeat the purpose of this procedure,”
Hover complained.

“
Now!” Bud demanded. “You might lose your toes
and fingers if you don't move.”

“
All right! Just carry me into the bathroom. I
can handle the rest,” Elizabeth ordered Bud. “Hover, bring a chair
in by the tub for me to sit on while I undress.”

Hover rushed to the kitchen for a chair. Bud picked
Elizabeth up and carried her to the bathroom. Once she seemed
stable on the chair, Bud fretted, “You're sure you will be all
right alone in here now?”

“I am sure. Just turn the water off. Hover, go get my
nightgown and robe from my room.” She looked at the inviting water,
wishing he'd hurry back. The water's warmth emanated toward her,
and wispy steam rose slowly up. A bath would feel wonderful except
something was missing. When Hover appeared, she demanded, “Where
are the bubbles?”

Hover droned, “What bubbles?”

“
You didn't add my bubble bath oil.”

“
Pardon me for not knowing what a human woman
puts in the bathtub besides herself,” Hover droned crankily. “What
does this bath oil look like?”

Elizabeth pointed. “That purple bottle on the shelf
at the end of the tub.” She grumbled to herself, “Probably won't
work now since the water has stopped running.”

“
Do you want me to pour some liquid from that
bottle or not?” Hover asked testily.

“
No, I guess not. Just put my gown and robe on
the floor by my chair where I can reach them,” Elizabeth said,
trying not to grimace. She didn't want Bud and Hover to know how
much her fingers and toes hurt. “Leave both of you and close that
door.”

“
I'm going to be right by this door. If you
need help just sing out,” Bud said.

“
I will be there, too,” droned
Hover.

Elizabeth started undressing as soon as the door
shut. She had trouble. Her stiff fingers didn't want to bend around
the tiny buttons and stiff buttonholes. Finally, she had the blouse
off and slid her slacks down. Next came the underwear.