Christmas With Hover Hill (19 page)

“
That could be true,” Hover droned.

Elizabeth came out of the chair fast. “I'm for moving
on right away. Why should we stick around and find out what Steven
thinks? I might be in trouble for taking you away.”

“
I don't think so,” Hover droned.

“
How do we know Steven and Scott haven't
accused me of being a thief. I could be arrested when they find
us,” Elizabeth said shrilly.

Hover came around the table to confront her. “That
can't happen. You were given me as a Christmas gift. I am yours to
do with as you want.”

“
That is a fact.” Elizabeth took a deep breath.
“Of course, you're right. What a relief.”

“
Yes, but keep in mind that might not stop
those men from trying to take me away,” Hover finished.

“
Don't worry. I won't let them, and Bud said he
would help me if Steven and Scott do show up,” Elizabeth said with
determination.

Elizabeth couldn't sleep that night. She stood at the
kitchen window and watched the full moon rise over the tree tops.
When would her world be invaded? In hours or days. Would it be
Steven or Scott barging in the front door, demanding she return to
Cedar Falls. She hated confrontation, but she'd have to make Steven
understand she didn't want to be a part of his life ever again.

While Elizabeth stood there, the moon rose high in
the sky. A cat yowled a screechy scream and knocked the metal trash
can over with a bang. She flinched. If she wasn't jittery enough,
that cat make her nerves worse. She locked the doors and went to
bed. Surely, her battle would be in daylight when she could see the
enemy coming.

Two days later, Bud stops by the diner. “How's it
going, Sis?”

“
Fine. Did you happen to see if that stranger
made it to Elizabeth's house?”

Bud bolted up from the stool. “When was this?”

“
About half an hour ago. He came in and asked
directions.”

Bud snapped, “Did you have to give them to him?”

“
He said they were good friends so I didn't see
any reason not to,” said Susie, sounding distressed.

“
He's probably the man she's hiding from.
That's reason enough,” Bud said.

“
I didn't know she was hiding from a man. A
good looking one to boot. You just said she didn't tell her father
she was here.”

Bud raced to the door. “Sorry, Susie. Lizzy didn't
want me to tell anyone the whole story. I got to go.”

That morning, Elizabeth tried to concentrate on her
writing, but she had trouble keeping her mind on track.

The final straw was when Hover called from the living
room. “A car is coming to the house. I think it is Steven
driving.”

After taking a deep breath, Elizabeth said, “I'm
coming. I might as well get this over with. Just don't leave me
alone with him.”

“
I will not.”

Elizabeth opened the door before Steven, dressed like
a banker in a black suit, shirt and tie, had a chance to knock.

“
So it is true. This is where you've been
hiding out all this time.” Steven glanced over her head at the
room.

“
Go away.” Elizabeth kept a firm grip on the
door.

“
I've come a long ways to see you. Aren't you
going to ask me in?”

“
No, I don't have any reason to talk to you.
Leave,” Elizabeth said, her cool contemptuous gaze clashing with
his.

“
I came all this way to see you. I intend to
talk to you,” Steven said as he brushed her aside and walked past
her. “Well, well, you do still have the robot I see.”

“
Whatever you have to say, I'm not interested.
Go away,” Elizabeth persisted.

Steven walked around the room, looking the place
over. Elizabeth leaned against the wall close to the door, watching
him. Hover stayed by the window. Steven turned back to Elizabeth.
His eyes were frosty as he sized her up. The silence hung between
them like a thunder cloud.

After a long hesitation, he accused, “Did you have to
run off without giving me a chance to change your mind? It might
have helped if you had let me explain how much I care for you.”

His tone caused indignant color to flare in her
cheeks. “Nothing you could have said then or now would make any
difference in the way I think about you.”

A pickup raced toward the house and braked to a halt
out front.

Hover announced, “Farmer is here.”

Elizabeth opened the door as Bud pounded up the
steps. “Please come in. Steven is here.”

“
I heard. He talked to Susie.” Bud focused on
Steven. “You aren't welcome here. Elizabeth wants you to leave and
don't come back.”

“
I've come a long ways to get Elizabeth and
that robot. They are coming back to Cedar Falls with me,” stormed
Steven.

“
Now we are getting at the real reason you
came. Hover is not going anywhere with you. Not now, not ever and
I'm not either,” Elizabeth said as she took hold of Bud's arm for
support and courage.

“
You lost out a long time ago with Elizabeth
the way I hear it. Time for you to go back alone to where you came
from.” Bud ordered, pointing at the door.

“
Those words aren't coming out of your mouth,
Elizabeth. Come back to Cedar Falls with me. I have a teaching job
now. You can go back to teaching. We'll be fine together,” Steven
vowed.

“
As long as you can take Hover Hill with us is
what you're getting at. Bud did a fine job of speaking for me. It
seems you haven't heard a word I said. There isn't a we anymore.
Hasn't been for years. I tried to tell you that in December after
Scott and you tried to deceive me. Truth is, I'm moving in with Bud
right away. I don't want you hanging around here trying to mess up
my life again.”

Bud's mouth flew open as he stared at her. Hover made
a rumbling drone of surprise.

“
So that's the way it is. What about my robot?
He cost me a lot of money. I want him back,” Steven
demanded.

“
Hover wasn't yours the minute Scott gifted him
to me as a Christmas present. I haven't any reason to give Hover
away.
Him
I'm fond of,”
Elizabeth retorted. “You can't have Hover now or ever. If you feel
you need paid back talk to Scott about paying you. Now
leave.”

Steven marched out and slammed the door. Elizabeth
felt drained. Relief caused her to sag down on the couch.

Bud said, “You all right, Lizzy?”

She gave him a weak smile. “I am now. Thank you.”

Bud pulled the curtain back to see if Steven was
really gone. “No problem. Does that man always dress like he's
going to a funeral?”

“
Pretty much,” Elizabeth said.

“
That guy is a real piece of work. Am I reading
him right? He didn't want you back as much as he wanted Robot,” Bud
said as he sat down beside her.

“
You got it. Hover and I decided just yesterday
that I wasn't the priority in the search for him and me. How did
you know to come at just the right time?

“
I went to the diner for breakfast which I
didn't get. Susie told me a stranger asked about you, I knew who it
was and got here as fast as I could. I can see why you worried
about facing that man. He don't take no for an answer until he's
outnumbered.”

“
You got him pegged. Probably needed the money
he paid for Hover for another poor venture with Scott,” Elizabeth
said. “By the way, you surprised me. That was the first time you've
ever called me Elizabeth.”

“
What I call you is none of that man's
business. I just happened to think the name Lizzy fits you. Matter
of fact, you surprised me, too. Did you mean it about moving in
with me?”

“
She surprised me as well,” Hover droned from
behind them.

“
Didn't you say Hover and I could stay with you
until Dad leaves? That's the last of June. After he's gone, I can
come back here if Dad doesn't mind.”

Bud grinned from ear to ear. “I sure did say that.
How soon can we start packing?”

“
Right away I guess. Do you have a hookup for a
computer at your house so I can work on my book?”

“
You bet I do.”

Chapter 14

Elizabeth couldn't believe in two days they had her
moved out. As far as her father was concerned, there wasn't a trace
that she'd ever lived in his house. Hover had even boxed all the
food in the cupboards to use at Bud's ranch style house.

Elizabeth watched out the large kitchen window by the
table as Bud left to do his chores. Buster barked loudly as he
chased the tractor out of the driveway.

The large dog was way too friendly to suit her. As a
greeting the first time she stepped out of her car, he jumped up on
her. She pushed him down, scolding him to stay away from her.

Buster knew something was different about Hover. His
nose wiggled in a sniffing frenzy until Bud scolded him and told
Buster to go lay down. The dog did mind well and was harmless. She
might get to like him once she got used to him, but she had never
cared much for dogs.

She finished her coffee and put the dirty cup in
Hover's dish water. Hover asked, “Are you ever going to get
married?”

“
Some day I might,” she mused.

“
To anyone I know?” He asked.

Elizabeth patted his shoulder. “Maybe, Mr. Nosy.”

“
From around here?”

“
Oh, Hover! Stop asking so many questions. You
will be the first to know when I decide what I'm going to do. I
promise,” Elizabeth said.

“
I do not think I can trust you to keep that
promise. You do not tell me everything. You did not bother to tell
me we were moving in with the farmer immediately,” Hover
complained.

“
I hadn't decided to move in with Bud until I
was trying to get rid of Steven. That decision was made on the spur
of the moment. I had to find some place to live right away. Besides
if I'm living with Bud, Steven might give up bothering me easier.
He won't want to tangle with Bud again.

The change in my lifestyle would be hard to make.
There is something to be said for being single. It's worked for me
so far. I haven't seen the day yet when I couldn't take care of
myself.”

“
That is quite a statement when you consider
for countless days now I have been taking care of you, and just two
days ago, Farmer and I had to defend you against Steven,” Hover
bragged.

“
Fine! Have it your way. I'm going outside for
some fresh air.”

“
Good, but do not fall into water again. Bud
just left, and I can not save you from that without shorting out my
transmitters,” Hover called after her.

Elizabeth slipped onto the swing seat attached to the
ancient oak tree in the front yard. She watched the birds flit from
tree to tree. So much about this place she liked, including Bud.
His home was modern but modest and comfortable. A homey place that
suited Bud.

The question was could she live here with him and be
happy? All she knew was living in the city where people didn't do
chores. If she went back soon she had her teaching position and an
apartment she called home waiting for her. That meant going back to
the same way she had lived before. The same old stagnant routine
awaited her.

Suddenly at the thought of leaving, she felt as if
she couldn't breathe. Her chest tightened up. She whispered,
“Elizabeth, breathe. Breathe deep.”

Bud and her worlds were so different. This was the
only one he had ever known. He was at home here. There would be no
getting him to live in her world. He'd be too out of place and
unhappy. In no time, he'd be headed back to Wickenburg and his farm
without her.

Now that he'd been used to her under his roof, it was
going to be hard for him to let her move out again. He was going to
be upset. Bud knew this arrangement was only for a month, but he
seemed determined to come up with ways to make her want to stay
with him. Sometimes, she thought he was as headstrong and pushy in
his own way as Steven. She just liked the way Bud went about making
his point better than she did Steven's way. She didn't have any
intention of living with a man that she wasn't married to for the
rest of her life. By the end of June, Bud and she could so easily
slip into a married routine without the certificate. No, she
couldn't let that happen even for Bud Carter.

That evening after supper, Bud said, “Lets go for a
walk before dark.”

“
All right,” Elizabeth agreed. They ambled
around the house and along the edge of the timber. She took a deep
breath of fresh air. “I love the woodsy scent the trees give off.
Oh, look! See the cardinal. Such a beautiful bird.”

“
He is that all right. There's an old saying.
See a redbird at sunset, and you're going to be kissed twice before
dark,” Bud predicted.

“
Do you suppose that saying comes true very
much?”

“
Never had much chance to prove the saying one
way or the other. My guess is it depends on the girl,” Bud said
easily. He stopped, pulled Elizabeth around to face him and kissed
her. “Dang! The saying must work.”

Elizabeth stepped away from him. “Not quite. You said
two kisses,” she quipped and sped away before Bud could claim the
second one.

Dusk was closing in on them. The sunset painted the
western sky a brilliant red. The tree frogs and crickets had a
symphony going on. Bullfrogs were making loud, deep croaks on the
pond bank. Bud's cattle gave low dolorous moos in the pasture. All
that nature noise was loud enough to drown out the worrisome
thoughts in Elizabeth's head. She just wanted to enjoy the moment
and the walk with Bud.