Christmas With Hover Hill

by Risner, Fay

  Bud frowned at Elizabeth. “Are you sure this will be all right? I mean with Hover and all.”

  “Sure. It will be fine. The only problem is I told him to just fix some sandwiches for me and you. He won't have enough dinner fixed for all of us. He might not be happy about that.”

  “No problem. I have all those leftovers in the kitchen we can box up and take in our car,” Susie said, heading to the kitchen.

  Elizabeth trailed after her. “I'll help.”

  “What a great idea you had,” Susie said to her.

  “I thought maybe you can give the kids a tour of the house while you're there. Bud and you can tell stories about your family for the kids to remember later on to retell to their children. I'd like to hear the family stories myself,” Elizabeth said.

  As soon as the boxes were packed in the car, Susie and the boys climbed into the back seat. Megan sat between Bud and Elizabeth. The children had a field day spotting deer along the side of the road that came out later in the day. Wild turkeys were scratching through the snow for something to eat in one pasture. A rabbit, in the ditch, perked up when they drove too close. The boys saw it all.

  Megan enjoyed the jingling bells. She said it reminded her of the song Jingle Bells. She smiled up at Elizabeth and took her gloved hand. “This is fun.”

  “I'm glad,” Elizabeth said. She looked over Megan's head at Bud. As their eyes met, she said, “I think so, too.”

  Susie enjoyed the whole experience, seeing how excited her children became as they watched the scenery from the sleigh.

  When Bud pulled up by the front porch, everyone climbed out. Frank parked his car beside the sleigh. Bud helped him carry the food boxes.

  When Elizabeth opened the door, she called, “Hover, we're back.”

  “So I see,” Hover droned softly from the kitchen doorway.

  “Come meet Farmer's family,” Elizabeth said. Hover didn't move. “It's all right, Hover. I want them to meet you.” Bud's family stared at the robot unable to digest what they saw. “This is when I explain to all of you about Hover Hill. You've heard about the man that lives with me. Well, he is a robot.”

  Megan reached out and poked Hover's arm. “What's a bot?”

  “He's a robot,” Frank said. “That means he's a mechanical man.”

  “Hover, meet Frank, Susie, David, Jimmie and Megan,” Elizabeth introduced.

  “I am not programmed to say their names,” Hover stated.

  “I know, but you can come up with a name for them like you did Farmer, once you get to know them,” Elizabeth suggested. “They are going to be here for awhile. I've invited them to stay for dinner, ah supper, with us.”

  “You said to just fix sandwiches. Four is all I fixed,” complained Hover.

  “We've got the solution. We brought all the leftovers from our house. The food needs to be warmed up if you don't mind doing that,” Susie said.

  “I do not mind. It is what I am programmed to do,” Hover said, turning back to the kitchen.

  “I'll be glad to help you,” Susie offered. “Bud and Frank put those boxes on the table.”

  Elizabeth pointed at the television. “Turn the TV on if you want, kids.”

  After supper, they returned to the living room and left the clean up to Hover. Frank commented, “This room is nicely decorated for Christmas.”

  Elizabeth said sheepishly, “Hover did it. He said the living room needed to look festive if we had company.”

  Hover came to the door. “What was your reply?”

  Elizabeth heaved a sigh. “No one would be coming here to see all your hard work so why do it. I was wrong, wasn't I?”

  “I would like to say that,” Hover replied.

  Susie asked the children if they wanted a tour of the house. They were all for seeing where their mother and uncle grew up. Bud and Susie took the kids from room to room and even upstairs so they could look down on the timber from their old bedrooms. Bud told about climbing out on the maple tree limb and escaping to the timber at night to coon hunt. Susie told her children her bedroom walls were plastered with Elvis Presley pictures.

  When they came back to the living room, Susie said, “Bud, remember when we used to roast marshmallows in the fireplace?”

  “Could we do that, Mom?” Jimmie asked.

  Hover called from the kitchen, “We do not have marshmallows.”

  “Look in one of those boxes, Hover. I stuck in a bag just in case,” Susie called back. “All we need is three sticks.”

  “I can get those for you. Just give me a few minutes,” Bud said, putting on his coat.

  “How about I go along with you to keep you from getting lost in the timber. You're a lot older now,” Frank suggested.

  “Suit yourself,” Bud said, grinning.

  By nine that evening, the kids were yawning. They had gotten up earlier than usual that morning to open their gifts, and they had a big day.

  “We better get our coats on and go home,” Susie said. “Thank you, Elizabeth, for having us come tonight. It would have been like old times if Mom and Dad were here to enjoy it with us.”

  “They were here in spirit, Sis,” Bud said. “I can feel them, watching over us.”

  Susie stood on tiptoes and kissed Bud's cheek. “Me, too.”

  Soon it was just Bud and Elizabeth on the couch and Hover powered down for the night in his spot. “My, isn't it quiet in here now?” Elizabeth asked.

  “Sure is. I know how the kids felt before they left. I've got my belly full, it's warm in here, and I'm getting sleepy,” Bud said. “I should head for home.”

  “It's dark out there. You said you didn't want to drive the sleigh in the dark,” Elizabeth protested.

  “Not close to the highway with so much traffic, but out this way, there's no one but me and you. Besides, the horses can find their way home in the dark with their eyes shut,” Bud said through a yawn.

  Elizabeth laughed. “I hope the horses don't try pulling the sleigh with their eyes shut. Why don't you just stay here tonight? You're welcome to sleep on the couch.”

  “That offer is tempting, but the horses need to be in the barn for the night. They really should have some water and grain after their long day,” Bud said. “Guess I best go on home.”

  Elizabeth walked to the door with him. “Susie told me she was sorry for the way she talked to me. She was really nice to me today. Christmas has never been special for me, but I've had a lovely day with you and your family. Thank you for letting me share the day with you.”

  “I'm glad you had a good time.” Bud gave her a light kiss on the lips. “I'll see you soon.”

  Elizabeth dropped a tea bag in a cup of water she heated on the stove and carried the cup back to the couch. What a day! She knew it would be hard to get back up once she sat down, but she wanted to enjoy the warm fire until it burned out.

  She drank the hot tea and put the cup on the lamp table before she stretched out. Next thing she knew she woke up cold. The fireplace was full of glowing embers. She scooted up, thinking she should go to bed.

  Suddenly, Elizabeth realized the wind was roaring and whipping around the house. She tried to look out the window, but it was glazed over with ice. What time was it? Did Bud make it home before the storm hit? She looked at the wall clock. Several hours had passed since Bud left. He should be safe at home and in bed by now.

  She picked up her empty cup to return it to the kitchen.

  Hover made a whining noise as his motor started. “You are awake.”

  “Yes, I woke up cold. The fire is out. I didn't listen to the weather forecast today. We're having freezing rain, and the wind is roaring. Look how icy the window is,” Elizabeth told him.

  Just as they focused on the window, they heard crashing sounds and a boom. Next a huge flash of gray-white light lit up the window. The light bulb in the middle of the living room ceiling blinked and went out.

  “Hover, what was that noise and light flash? Is the house on fire?” Elizabeth cried.r />
  The robot went to the window. “I can not see fire, but I can not see in the dark. I do not know what happened.”

  “Do we have a flashlight?”

  “Yes, two in a drawer in the kitchen. I will get them. Just stay here,” Hover said, slowly making his way across the dark room.

  The flashlight wavered in Hover's hand as he lit the way back. He handed Elizabeth the other flashlight.

  “It's getting cold in here fast. We need the fireplace lit again. No telling how long we'll have to wait before the electricity comes back on so the furnace will work,” Elizabeth said. “I'm going to bring in enough wood to last us through the night.”

  She pulled on her coat and boots and opened the door. The wind gust past her.

  “Maybe you should not try to go out there,” Hover worried.

  “I'll be alright. The wood stacked so close to the porch will make it easier,” Elizabeth assured him.

  She left the door ajar so that she could open it with her foot when she came back. The porch was glazed with ice and so were the steps. Elizabeth braced her feet and slid toward the porch edge. She grabbed the brace pole and stepped off the porch. No way was she up to a nose dive trying to go down the steps.

  The icy rain pelted her coat and stocking cap. It took time to break the logs apart, but she carried two armloads back to the porch, crawled onto the floor and stood up. She carried an armload of wood inside and started the fire right away. Her fingers burnt in her cold, wet gloves. She took the gloves off and held them close to the fire.

  Before she went back to get the other armload, Hover asked if there was anything he could do to help. Elizabeth told him to bring blankets and a pillow to the couch. She'd sleep in front of the fire so she could keep it going. Besides, that would be the warmest place in the old house.

  When she came back with the next load, Elizabeth said, “We can't call out to tell anyone since we don't have electricity. If the problem was just here, no telling how long we'll have to wait for help. The water pipes may freeze as cold as it is.”

  “Didn't you bring your cell phone with you?” Hover asked.

  “I did. It's in the bottom of a box in my closet under some clothes. I doubt the battery is charged after this long, but it's worth a try. You want to go look for the phone while I make two more trips. After all, you're the one that's good at going through my closet,” Elizabeth snipped.

  “That was not nice,” Hover complained as he walked down the hall.

  He was waiting for her when Elizabeth dropped the next batch of wood on the hearth. “I think that is plenty. You could wait until daylight to get more if we need it. Here's the phone.”

  “Good! I agree as cold as I am I could wait until I need the wood to bring in more. Now hold your flashlight over on the phone while I turn it on,” Elizabeth said. She peered at the screen. “It has a little life. I don't know the light company's phone number. Where is the phone book?”

  “We do not have a phone book,” Hover said.

  “Why not? We have a phone.”

  “Your father pays the bill. The phone book would be sent to his address,” Hover reasoned.

  “Of course, you're right.”

  “I always am,” he said with confidence.

  “We should just hunker down by this fire and wait until daylight. Maybe others in the neighborhood have already called the light company. I'm chilled to the bone from carrying in wood. As late as it is, all I want to do is cover up and sleep.”

  “I agree,” Hover said, moving over to his spot. “Good night, Beth. What's left of it anyway.”

  The next time Elizabeth woke up, it was time to put more logs on the fire. She tried to do that as quietly as she could so she didn't disturb Hover. Just a few feet away from the fireplace was drafty and cold. She wondered if Hover would be all right. His transmitters weren't used to getting this cold. Maybe it would help if she covered him up.

  Elizabeth brought a blanket from the linen closet and draped it around Hover's shoulders. He didn't move or make a sound. There was a time, he would have come alive and pushed her away, thinking she wanted to flip his switch off.

  Bud's pickup sliding to a stop by the front porch woke up Elizabeth and Hover the next morning. He burst in on them. “You guys alright.”

  “We're fine, but we didn't have a way to call the light company. There was a lot of crashing noise and then a big fireball lit up the sky outside the window,” Elizabeth said excitedly.

  “A tree went down on your transformer. The fireball was the transformer blowing. When I saw the tree down, I called for help from the light company,” Bud said.

  “You're a life saver,” Elizabeth told him.

  “Robot, you doing okay,” Bud asked.

  “I am a little slow, but after I warm up, my transmitters will be back up to speed,” Robot droned. “I can not fix you coffee this morning.”

  “No need. I have a thermos full out in the pickup for Lizzy and me. Maybe you could cook our breakfast if you're up to it.”

  “Standing over the cooking food will feel good to my transmitters,” Hover declared.

  Chapter 12

  All too fast, the days passed. The scenery's color outside Elizabeth's window changed from white to green. When she heard Bud's pickup drive in, she peeked out the window to make sure it was him. No one else came down that dead end road, but she couldn't help feeling jittery even though she'd managed to live in the house without being bothered for several months.

  Spring brought frosty mornings. Trees sparkled in the sunlight, coated with thick hoary frost. Bud was out of the pickup, ambling across the yard. The lowered brim of his straw hat shaded his eyes. His hands were in his jeans pockets. He didn't need to hay the cattle now that the grass was growing. So he didn't have a reason to ride over on the tractor anymore.

  Bud checked the cattle twice a week. When he came, he always stopped in to say hello. Elizabeth had come to expect Bud's visits and missed him on the days he didn't come.

  She opened the door as he came up the steps. “Good morning.”

  “Morning. I wondered if you wanted to ride with me to the pasture to see the cows. It's calving season. I have to check every day now to make sure they're doing all right.”

  “Sure. Just let me put on a jacket.” Elizabeth hollered to the kitchen. “Hover, I'm going with Bud to check the cows.”

  “Fine. Tell Farmer I will have coffee ready when he comes back with you.”

  Bud shook his head as they went down the steps. “Is that robot ever going to learn to say my name?”

  “I'd say it's a stand off. Hover isn't going to use your name until you use his, but what do I know. He says he has to have names programmed into him. What we need is a computer expert to program him for us. Maybe one of these days I will find someone to take care of that,” Elizabeth said.

  Bud chuckled all the way to the pickup. He hopped in and sobered up. “Hey, if Robot isn't programmed for names how is it that he knows to call you Beth?”

  Elizabeth winced. “There's a reason. I just don't want to explain why yet.”

  “All right, I'm here to listen when you're ready,” Bud said reluctantly. He knew better than to press her. Any attempt to push the subject might send her on the run again.

  He got out, opened the gate and pulled it back along the fence. When he drove through the pasture, he honked his horn. The cows came slowly over the hills.

  Elizabeth said, “Looks like your cows are still as programmed as Hover. They expect a bale of hay when you honk.”

  “Cows are creatures of habit I reckon.” Bud looked all around. “Looks like a new calf over there.” He pointed toward a stand of persimmon trees at the base of a ridge.

  “I see it,” Elizabeth said excitedly as she watched the calf stand and nudge its mother side to nurse. “Oh, isn't that baby the sweetest thing?”

  “If you ever go for a walk when I'm not around don't get in the pasture without me. Cows with calves fresh on the ground can be tem
peramental about who comes to visit. A lot like the robot,” Bud said. He grinned when Elizabeth frowned at him.

  “I'll remember that,” she said.

  A couple dozen cows ganged up around the pickup. Bud stopped and watched them. “I'm going to get out and walk around the cows. Want to go with me?”

  “I thought you said I couldn't do that,” Elizabeth protested.

  “These don't have calves with them. It will be all right if they aren't mothers,” Bud said. “I just want to check their back ends and see how much they're springing. That helps me know which cows to watch first or look for when they hide out. When they do that, I know they are with a new calf.”

  Elizabeth stepped out into the grass and edged around the pickup with her back to it until she got to Bud.

  “Just stick with me,” he said and stalked off among the cattle. They parted for him. With his back to her, he said, “See the ones with the tight bags. Looks like they are going to pop any day now.

  I like it when a bunch of calves come at once. Makes calving time much shorter. Also, gets it over with before all the spring rains come that might make the calves sick.”

  Elizabeth felt a raspy wetness rake across her hand. She cried out when she looked behind her. A large black cow brought her long tongue out for another lick. “Bud!” Elizabeth sprang forward and bumped into him. “Help me.”

  Bud turned, glanced at the cow and said unconcerned, “What's wrong?”

  Elizabeth wiped her hand dry on her jeans. She stammered, “Th – that cow tried to eat me.”

  “Her. Old Gerty won't hurt you. I bottle fed her when her mom died. She's one of my pets.” Bud held his hand out to let the cow sniff him.

  “She might be grateful to you, but you just said your cows don't like strangers,” retorted Elizabeth.

  “That's true. Once they get to know you, and you get to know them, you'll see they aren't half bad critters,” Bud told her. “I've been around them so long I can tell them all apart. Most of them have names.”

  “Just introducing me to each of them isn't going to make them like me,” Elizabeth bit back. She kept her eyes on the cattle and made sure to stay close to Bud until he climbed back into the pickup.