by Risner, Fay
The cab and the farmer smelled faintly of an unpleasant mixture of scents, diesel fumes from the tractor exhaust, manure on his boots, and a whiff of wood smoke. Though maybe the wood smoke was coming off her from walking in the downdraft from the fireplace.
“Where's the big dog this morning?” She asked.
“I don't usually let him ride in the tractor. He doesn't mind me well enough. Makes it hard for me to drive while I'm trying to keep him out of my way. Buster does better in the back of the pickup when he has the whole area to himself.”
The cab's heater worked well. Sitting that close to the farmer, heat radiated off Bud's heavy coat. Elizabeth unbuttoned her coat. “It's warmer in here than I thought it would be.”
“Most tractors have cabs with heaters and air conditioners now. Modern farming equipment has come a long way. Years ago, farmers had to freeze all winter while they did chores in the elements.”
“Chores?”
“Like feeding the cattle hay. I come every morning if you ever want another ride home,” Bud offered.
“Oh, of course. I've never lived in a place where people did chores. Since I've been on my own, I've had an apartment and a career in the city. I do like to take walks all year long. I just might take you up on a warm ride home while the temperature is this cold.”
“There's a difference between city and country living all right,” Bud agreed.
“By the way,” Elizabeth said. “Since I will be here a while, you should charge me for the wood you bring. I don't want to impose on my host since he's been kind enough to allow me to use his house for free.”
“All right.” Bud eyed her intently.
Suddenly, Elizabeth worried her father might already know she was staying in his house. “I've been wondering since I – I mean we just got here, how did you know to bring the wood over so fast?”
“Mr. Winston said if Susie ever gave anyone the key during the winter she should call me. I'm supposed to keep the wood pile stocked for them,” Bud said. “Susie called me right away to let me know you moved in. We know how cold that old house can be in the winter even with heat.”
Elizabeth was afraid of what he might be thinking now that she had asked so many questions so she didn't say anything else. When they reached the house, he slowed the tractor to a stop, climbed out and came around to help her down the step to the ground. Without another word, he drove off in his massive tractor.
The minute Elizabeth drove into the Wickenburg city limits that morning, she wondered how she'd missed all the Christmas decorations in yards and on the light poles the day before. Life size nativity scenes, large balloon Santas and red nose reindeer that had movements similar to robots decorated most of the yards. On Main Street, a canopy of colored Christmas lights were strung crisscrossed over the street. This town certainly went all out for the holidays.
She was surprised Hover didn't point out the festive look to her as a way he'd like to decorate at the farm house. He probably hated taking her decorations back down right after he put them up. Since they would be in her father's house for Christmas, he'd be delighted if he was allowed to fill the yard and house with decorations. That is, if she'd buy them which she wasn't about to do.
It didn't seem like a good idea to spend too much time in town. Elizabeth made the gas station and grocery store her only stops. At the grocery store, she noted an elderly woman walking toward a car. Behind her, the carry out boy pushed a cart filled with sacks. The woman stared at Elizabeth, trying to figure out if she knew her or if Elizabeth was a stranger.
When Elizabeth went through the checkout counter, the checker greeted her. “Good morning.”
Elizabeth nodded.
The woman asked, “New in town?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said.
The checker slid a gallon milk jug over the scanner. “I didn't think I'd seen you before. Oh, wait! Are you the one that's staying in the old Carter house?”
“I don't know who owned the house where I'm staying,” Elizabeth said.
“I'm thinking that's the one all right from what I've heard. Not many strangers show up in town in the winter. The Carter house owner lives off somewhere. Just comes for a spell in the summer. Susie from the Maidrite Diner said a newcomer just moved in there. Welcome to Wickenburg.”
“Thank you.”
“Plan on staying long?”
“No.”
Sliding the last item down to the bagger, the checker said, “Well, enjoy your stay. Have a Merry Christmas.”
“Thank you. Merry Christmas to you, too,” Elizabeth returned politely as she grabbed the handles on the four sacks.
The bagger stopped her. “Let me carry those sacks out for you. They're heavy.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth said. She handed the sacks over and led the way to her car.
“Must be new in town, huh?”
Elizabeth sighed. “Yes, just here for the holidays, and maybe a little longer.”
“Well, come back again to shop with us any time. Have a good visit while you're here,” the boy said as he set the sacks on the back seat and slammed the car door.
When she pulled up by the house, Elizabeth spotted an electric candle with a lit bulb shining in the front window. She gasped. Hover had done it again, but where did he find the candle? Her father didn't spend Christmas at this house. There shouldn't have been any decorations hidden in a closet for Hover to rummage through. She carried part of the grocery sacks through the front door and nudged it shut behind her with her foot.
“Could I have a little help in here?” She called.
By the time Hover walked from the kitchen, she was turning in circles, surveying the living room recently ornamented with her Christmas decorations. Her angels, holly wreaths and garland were scattered everywhere. “How did my Christmas decorations get here?” Elizabeth demanded.
“I accidentally packed the box with the other boxes and suitcases in the trunk,” Hover said innocently.
“Accidentally? Right. Of course you did!”
“I dislike your not trusting my words. Anyway, since the decorations traveled here, I thought I might as well make use of them. They give the house a festive feel in case you have any company,” Hover suggested.
Elizabeth headed for the kitchen, talking as she placed her bags on the table. “If you say so, but no one will come here I'm telling you. At least, I hope they don't. You better hope so, too. The only possible people to come here would be the very men I don't want to see. My brother, Steven Mitchell or God forbid my father.
If they do, we have to go back to Cedar Falls where Steven can pester me. Now do you have time to come to the door and carry in some of the grocery sacks still in the car, or do you have more decorating to do? I'd hate to interrupt you if you're too busy to help me.”
“I can help right now, but I do not appreciate your sarcastic tone of voice. For your information, I had just finished my Christmas decorating.”
“Ooh,” Elizabeth groaned as she went out the door. “Just remember the rule hasn't changed. You put the decorations up by yourself. You take them down the same way.”
Once the sacks were on the table, she left the grocery put away to Hover. Since he did the cooking, he needed to know where the food was stored. The coffee pot was still plugged in. Elizabeth poured a cup and sat down at the table.
“You were only gone forty minutes and thirty seconds,” Hover surmised, stacking cans in the cupboard.
“Well, I mistakenly thought I shouldn't hang out in town long. I only went to the grocery store and the gas station. I thought if Scott and Steven were to show up, they would be more likely to run into a dead end if they asked about strangers, and no one remembered seeing me.”
Hover folded up the empty sack. “Why was that a mistake?”
“Because the town is small enough that everyone in it knows everyone else. I stuck out like a sore thumb. Susie from the Maidrite Diner alerted the checker at the grocery store I was living here. The checker
called this house the old Carter house. All the shoppers took a turn staring at me to size up what they call a newcomer in town. I sure hope my brother or father doesn't think to look here. All they have to do is ask anyone in town to find out I moved in.”
“Would they come here this time of year?”
“I hoped they wouldn't think to look here since I didn't particularly like it here in the sticks any time of year. They know that. I thought this was the last place they would look, but I could be wrong.
Say, Wickenburg is decorated big time for Christmas. One night after dark would you like to ride around town with me so you can see the Christmas lights?” Elizabeth asked.
“I would.”
“I thought you might. I have a feeling you might appreciate the decorations better than I do.”
“Yes, I can always use some new creative decorating ideas.”
Elizabeth stared at the robot, trying to figure out if that was Hover's idea of a joke. She couldn't tell if he had a sense of humor or not.
The next morning, Elizabeth stepped out the back door and took a deep breath of fresh air. The sun shone brightly which mistakenly gave the birds the idea that spring was close. The trees were alive with bird conversations. Sparrows flitted back and forth from the ground to the trees when they saw Elizabeth coming toward them. Crows flapped their wings noisily and cawed in quarrelsome tones. Even a squirrel chattered when he saw her coming. So much activity always going on that made her walks enjoyable.
Elizabeth was looking over the fence at the cattle in the pasture when she heard the tractor. The cows perked up. They knew what that sound meant. Food! They bellowed to each other to get a move on as they made their way toward the gate hole.
The farmer waved at her as he climbed out of the tractor. “Morning, Lizzy. Want to hop in and ride along while I feed the cattle this hay bale?”
“Sure.”
As Bud drove slowly into the pasture, Elizabeth looked behind them at the open gate. “Shouldn't you shut the gate so your cows don't get out?”
“No need. The cows would rather follow me to get the hay,” he said.
Lizzy watched Bud lower the bale to the ground and drive the tractor forward to pull the tine out. Cows mingled all around the tractor, only moving out of its way when they had to so the tractor didn't bump them.
“Well, how's your stay in the country going so far?” Bud asked.
“Fine. I went to Wickenburg to get groceries. The checker asked me if where I was staying is the old Carter house. I told her I didn't know. Would that be relatives of yours?”
“That's my family. I and my sister grew up in the Winston house. I built a new ranch home on the back side of this timber. My sister married and moved to Wickenburg. After our folks died, we sold the acreage to Mr. Winston. Folks tend to stick with the name of people who lived on a place the longest so this is still the old Carter place.”
“Thank you for clearing that up. Now next time someone asks, I'll know what to tell them,” Elizabeth replied.
Chapter 7
By the next morning, it was snowing. After breakfast, Elizabeth decided not to get out in the snowstorm for a walk. There would be better days ahead. Instead from the window, she watched the winter scene. Tumbling flakes the size of geese down made her feel like she was on the inside of a snow globe looking out. She heard the tractor rumble. As Bud drove past the house, he spotted her watching from the window. He waved at her, and she waved back.
By late afternoon, the snow stopped falling. The country looked so peaceful from the snowed in house. A uniformed blanket covered the surrounding area, disturbed only by Bud's tractor tires. The indentions in the snow were deep. It didn't look like Elizabeth would be able to get out with her car any time soon. That was all right with her. She reasoned that it worked both ways. If Steven or Scott came looking for her, they couldn't get down the road in their cars to where she was at.
If Elizabeth was in the mood for the Christmas holiday the scene was just right. Spending the holiday alone had a dismal feel to it. She couldn't get in the spirit for this strange Christmas without Scott. This one was the first in a long time without her brother, and she missed him even though she was mad at him.
Oh Joy To The World! Her only companion this holiday was a bossy robot. It looked like she was safe from discovery by Scott all right. She couldn't help feeling sorry for herself about the prospects of not sharing Christmas with her brother.
Hover came to the kitchen door. “You seem depressed. Why did you not go for the tractor ride with Farmer this morning?”
Elizabeth turned from the window. Was that worry she heard in Hover's voice? “I didn't feel like going for a walk as fast as the snow was coming down. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day to walk and ride in the tractor.”
Next morning, Elizabeth was out of bed well before the sun rose, or Hover stirred. For the first time in a long time, she made the coffee. For a while, she stood at the kitchen window, watching the sun peek above the trees and cast a glistening shimmer on the snow.
When the peculator stopped chugging, Elizabeth poured a cup. She blew into the steaming cup and took a sip. The coffee was bitter. Next time she probably should wait for Hover to make the coffee. Evidently, she had lost the knack. Elizabeth carried her cup into the living room just as Hover powered up.
The robot headed passed her to the kitchen to cook breakfast, scolding her as he went. “You have already made the coffee I see. You rose this morning before you are supposed to get out of bed, according to my programmed schedule. You should have let me know you were up.”
Elizabeth leaned on the doorway facing. “Why? I was enjoying the sunrise and a cup of coffee by myself. Don't depend on that schedule for accuracy. Steven Mitchell didn't know me as well as he thought he did.”
“I'm finding that out,” Hover stated as he hustled from the cupboard to the stove with a skillet. “Now I will fix your breakfast.”
After she ate, Elizabeth went back to the window to listen for the tractor. Sounds carried so easily in the winter stillness. When she heard the tractor turn off the highway onto the country road, Elizabeth hurriedly shrugged into her coat and pulled on her boots. As she went out the door, she called to Hover that she was going to take a walk to get some fresh air. Walking at a fast pace, she tromped through the deep snow to the pasture fence by the time the tractor came in sight behind her.
As if they had settled into a routine, Bud hopped out of the tractor cab and said good morning as he opened the gate. He climbed back into the tractor and dropped the hay off for the cattle. Elizabeth watched from the fence.
On his way out, Bud stopped to shut the gate. He offered her a ride back to the house. Elizabeth wasn't sure she should get so friendly with this farmer, but she liked him. She even liked the new experience of riding in his tractor.
She reminded herself she was supposed to be hiding out. Not attracting attention. She knew it, she argued back to herself, and she didn't care. That idea hadn't stopped her from going for a walk when she heard the tractor coming, knowing full well Bud would offer her a ride back to the house. The little voice in her head warned her she should be more cautious.
The conversation was sparse during the ride. Bud stopped the tractor and twisted in the seat to look at her. “Well, I got you back home safe and sound.”
“Yes, thank you for the fun ride.”
“You're very welcome,” Bud said as he climbed out of the cab. He came around to her side, opened the door and helped her down the steps. “See you in the morning?”
“We'll see,” Elizabeth hedged, thinking she really shouldn't make a habit out of meeting Bud. She had enough problems.
“Dang!” Bud exclaimed and pointed behind her. “Your boyfriend just fell in that big drift by the back door.”
Elizabeth wheeled around. Hover was flat in a snow drift. His thrashing around wasn't helping him. Snow was flying every which way. An inflated, black garbage bag beside him bounced one way and then the o
ther as he smacked it with his hand.
“Oh, dear! I'm not sure I can get him up by myself. I told him to stay in the house. Why didn't he listen to me? I better hurry. I don't want him to rust.” She took off on a run for Hover Hill.
Bud mouthed, Rust! Maybe I didn't hear her right. He ran after her. “Lizzy, wait! I'll help you get the guy up.”
They knelt on either side of the squirming Hover Hill. Bud asked, “Are you hurt, Mister?”
“I may have scrambled a few transmitters,” Hover droned.
“I wouldn't worry about your cell phone right now. You can replace it. As long as you're all right, that's the main thing,” Bud consoled.
“He may have a few screws loose,” groaned Elizabeth.
“That's more than I needed to know about this guy,” Bud said under his breath.
“Relax, Beth, I think I am all right. See, I am able to move all my parts,” Hover assured her.
Bud ducked as Hover's arm flailed at him. “Looks to me like he's moving his parts good enough. Let's just get him up,” Bud said shortly. He wrapped his fingers around Hover's hard upper arm. Quickly, he turned loose and poked Hover's arm in several places with his finger.
“Farmer, you will have to have a stronger grip than that on my arm if you plan to assist Beth to get me up,” Hover snapped.
Bud snorted. “Sassy cuss, isn't he?”
“Oh, yeah. He is that all right, but I've gotten used to him. I can tune him out easy enough if what he says bothers me,” Elizabeth shared.
“Beth, stop talking about me while I am lying here in this freezing Iowa tundra in need of help.” Hover rolled his head toward Bud. “And you, Farmer, do not keep jabbing me with that pointed finger. Help me to an upright position now,” Hover ordered.
Bud ignored him. His face scrunched up as he squeaked at Elizabeth. “What is he?”
