by Risner, Fay
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 wate
r, 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.
Holding onto the tub, she stood up and sat down on the rim. Once she had her feet over the edge, she meant to slide into the delightfully warm water, but she slipped and fell in. The water splatted loudly, sounding like a whale did a belly flop in the tub.
Immediately outside the door, Bud hollered, “Are you all right?”
“I'm fine. Let me soak in privacy, please. Take your ear off the door and give it a rest,” Elizabeth yelled back.
When the water cooled off, Elizabeth grabbed the side of the tub and stood up. She was able to use her swollen feet well enough to step over and connect with the floor. Once she was on the rug, she dried off and slipped on her nightgown and robe. “Are you still out there?”
The door burst open. “We didn't hear anything out of you for so long we thought you might have drown!” Bud exclaimed.
“The warmth felt so good I didn't want to get out until the water turned cold. Now help me to my bed,” Elizabeth said. Bud put his arms out to pick her up. “Don't do that. Just hold on to me. I have to use my feet.”
When she woke up, the room was dark. She made out a figure sitting in a chair beside the bed. Over in the corner stood Hover Hill.
She started to speak and found the words had trouble coming through her cracked lips. “Bud. Bud.”
He stirred on the chair. “Right here, Lizzy. How you doing?'
“I don't know yet.”
Hover came to the foot of the bed. “What can I get you?” He sounded worried. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I think I am. Hover, would it be too much trouble to make me something warm to drink? My mouth is so dry.”
“No trouble. It is what I am programmed to do. One cup of hot chocolate coming immediately, ”Hover said softly and headed for the kitchen.
“Do you have feeling in your feet and hands?” Bud asked as he pulled on the light string.
Elizabeth squinted in the bright light. “Yes, they still burn a little.”
“That's probably a good sign,” Bud said as he sat down. “Can I ask you what you were doing out in the timber by yourself?”
She licked her cracked lips so it wasn't so painful to speak. “Just taking my daily walk to do some thinking. I thought I'd try some different scenery. The forest looked so inviting.”
“A branch winds through those trees,” Bud explained.
“There were many branches on the trees. So what?”
Bud chuckled. “My little city gal, you have a lot to learn about the country. I'm not talking about that kind of branch. Next time you want to walk in the timber let me go with you to show you what I mean. You walked out onto the branch which is a small creek. It was hidden under the snow cover. You fell through the thin ice, but luckily for you, the branch is never very deep. Unluckily for you, you fell in during the winter when you could have frozen to death,” he scolded. “If I hadn't found you when I did, you would be in the hospital right now.”
“Thank you for rescuing me,” Elizabeth said.
“Here is a cup of chocolate,” Hover said from the doorway.
“Sounds good. Help me sit up so I can drink it. Then shut the light off and leave. I want you take the rest of the night off, both of you,” Elizabeth ordered.
Hover droned, “I will power down now. My battery does need recharging after this long day.”
Bud said, “Before you do, Robot, throw a couple of blankets on the couch and a pillow. Lizzy, I'm going to sack out on your couch. If you need anything you call.”
“Really that isn't necessary,” Elizabeth protested.
“It is for me. I'd just worry about you if I went home. I'd come back over here first thing in the morning anyway to see about you. Why not just stay here? Beats getting out in the cold this time of night.”
“All right, if you say so,” Elizabeth relented.
“I say so. Besides, my being here to look after you will give Robot time to recharge,” Bud declared, grinning at her as he turned the light off.
The next morning, Bud and Hover were staring down at Elizabeth when she opened her eyes. “For Pete sakes, I can't tell which one of you is Bud and which is Hover the way both of you are hovering over me.”
“She is feeling better,” Hover droned to Bud.
“How can you tell?” Bud asked.
“From the tone of her voice. I think she is almost back to normal,” Hover conferred.
“Unhuh, I have noticed she seems to have a feistiness about her at times,” Bud agreed.
“That is how I know she is feeling more like herself at this time,” Hover droned.
“Both of you back off. I'd like to get out of this bed and join you in the kitchen for breakfast if it isn't too late,” Elizabeth said.
“It is not too late. Farmer waited for you to wake up, before he would let me fix breakfast,” Hover replied. “I will go cook.”
“Maybe I can help you, Robot. You need anything, Lizzy, just call out,” Bud said as they hurried from the room.
Sitting up in bed wasn't so bad. When Elizabeth started to move her feet, she found that was a different story. Her feet were tender. She managed to get her legs off the bed. The movement made her fuzzy headed. While she gained her bearings, she looked down at her nightgown. She should dress, but for now, maybe the robe would be easier to get on and off. It was easy to reach on the foot of the bed.
She grabbed the chair, gripped it and stood up. Her feet hurt. No way was she going to wear shoes for a day. Maybe two or more. She slipped into her fuzzy, blue house slippers, put on her robe and shuffled out of the bedroom to the bathroom.
The hall smelled of eggs and bacon frying and perked coffee by the time she edged toward the kitchen. The smells made her hungry. That must be a good sign.
Bud jumped up from the table and met her at the door to walk with her. He pulled a chair out. Hover placed a plate of food before both of them and poured coffee.
“Looks like it's going to be a few days before you're steady on your feet again,” Bud surmised.
“I guess so. I sure didn't want to wear shoes this morning,” Elizabeth said. “But I will be all right. Don't you have chores to tend to?”
“If you're trying to get rid of me, could you do it after I finish eating this good breakfast Robot fixed? I'm hungry.”
“I just don't see any reason to bother you anymore. Hover can help me if I need anything which I doubt I do,” Elizabeth said. Bud gave her that searching look again. “Don't get me wrong. I'm very grateful for your help. Thank you for showing up in the forest just in the nick of time and carrying me back to the house. As heavy as I am that couldn't have been easy to do in that deep snow.”
&nbs
p; “I didn't mind,” Bud said quietly. “Better eat your breakfast before it gets cold.”
As soon as Elizabeth ate everything on her plate, she said, “Well, now that I've finished eating, I think I'll go sit in front of the fireplace and warm my feet some more.”
“I'll walk with you.” Bud stood up and helped Elizabeth to her feet. “If you're sure you're going to be all right, I'll go do those chores.”
“I'm fine. I just need a few days to recuperate,” Elizabeth assured him.
Bud sit her down on the couch, covered her lap with one of the blankets he'd used during the night and put the pillow under her feet. “Looks like I could build the fire up some to keep it going.” He placed logs in the flames. They hissed pleasantly. Elizabeth stretched her legs out so her feet were closer to the heat.
Bud sit down gently beside her. “Robot says you were upset about something when you left the house yesterday for that misguided walk.”
Elizabeth bunched the top of the blanket in her fingers to avoid looking at him. “Hover should learn not to repeat everything he knows.”
“He said something strange. He said you didn't sound as if you had any romantic bones in your body,” Bud said.
“For heaven's sakes, I may have said something like that. Looks to me like I need to have a chat with Hover about who he is working for. He needs to remember who he's supposed to confide in. I have a news flash for you. It isn't you.”
Bud grinned. “I don't know how much good chewing Robot out is going to do you. Haven't you noticed? Me and him have become buddies.”
Elizabeth's eyes flashed. “When did that happen?”
“When Robot decided he cared about what happens to you.”
“Impossible! Hover says he isn't programmed for emotions,” Elizabeth stated defiantly.
“Maybe he was keeping the fact that he's programmed for emotions to himself just like you do. You seem to be two of a kind. Take it from me, whether you like it or not Robot cares what happens to you and so do I. Get used to it, Lizzy.
