by Risner, Fay
“You should calm down,” Hover droned. “You are like a bunch of Indians circling a wagon train, anticipating your attack.”
“I can't help it. I've never felt so ridiculous in my life, wearing this Cinderella gown,” she retorted.
Hover made a loud drone.
“What's wrong with you? Bud coming?”
Hover said, “He sure is. I think I should warn you that you are in for a large surprise. What you have been waiting to circle is not a covered wagon. Not by a long shot.”
“Now what!” Elizabeth joined him at the window. She stared at Bud ambling toward the house and giggled at his outfit.
Chapter 15
Elizabeth glanced past Bud and did a double take. “Mercy, Hover! How do you suppose Bud managed to get his hands on a coach like Cinderella rode in and two white horses to pull it?”
She opened the door and burst out laughing. With a silly expression on his face, Bud waited for her to calm down enough to talk. “Look at you, Bud. Who are you pretending to be?”
Bud grimaced uncomfortably at his knee length white pants and white full length stockings. “Susie said this is how Prince Charming dressed in the fairy tales. She was playing a trick on me, wasn't she? This is the silliest outfit I ever saw let alone wore out in public.”
“I know how you feel,” Elizabeth sympathized, patting the skirt of her gown. She gave him another inspection. “I want you to know I think you look quite handsome, Sir. Just the way the Prince Charming should look that is going to take me to a dance.”
Bud stared at her unabashedly. “ Not half as good as you look, Lady. Wow! You're the prettiest Cinderella I ever saw.”
“I thank you, Sir, though now I'm wondering how many other Cinderellas you're acquainted with. Looks like, clever man that you are, you found the appropriate conveyance for a Cinderella and Prince,” Elizabeth complimented, pointing at the coach.
“I think so. Shall we try that coach out?” He held out his arm for her to take.
“Tell me, did Cinderella's coach have bows on it?” Elizabeth asked, amused.
“I haven't the foggiest idea. That book wasn't on my reading list when I was a kid. I just added the bows to brighten the coach up.”
“A festive touch for a regal coach.” Elizabeth relaxed in the seat next to Bud and checked out the inside. “Where did you find something this over the top?”
“At the salebarn in a horse driven carriage sale. I couldn't resist buying it.” Bud gave her a searching look again. “Seems to me, some woman I know told me that there wasn't any such thing as fairy tales with happy endings. I have produced the fairy tale, my lady, but sooner or later you're going to have to make up your mind which way you want the story to end.”
“Oh, how good you and Hover have become at throwing my words back at me. I've been resigned for some time now to live alone for the rest of my life. It's rather hard to get out of that deep hole I dug for myself,” Elizabeth declared. “For now, can we just go have fun?”
Bud winked at her. “You got it, Cinderella.”
The ride was as magical as the moment. Ahead of them, the sunset colored the horizon in pinks and lavenders. As the cool evening air met the warm ground, a misty film hovered over ponds and in draws, adding a mystic atmosphere.
A cluster of men and women in a variety of costumes mingled in front of the Legion Hall, enjoying the fresh air before the dance started. Mouths dropped open when Bud and Elizabeth parked. Bud came around the coach and helped Elizabeth out. She waited while he led his horses over to a hitch rack at the edge of the park.
Not only were they a hit with the crowd that evening, but they won first place for the best costumes contest. Elizabeth was convinced the addition of the coach to the dance theme helped influence the judges.
While they were drinking punch during a break, it occurred to Elizabeth to ask, “How did you know that buying that Cinderella coach would be right for how I'd be dressed? Maybe I'd have bought a Goldilocks or a witch costume.”
Bud grimaced. “I wish you hadn't thought about asking me. I'm never sure telling you the truth is a good idea, but here goes. I set you up.”
“How?”
Bud explained, “You have really pretty clothes of your own so any gown you wore would have worked. A witch dress wouldn't have been too cool, but I doubt you own one of those.
I talked Susie into going with you to the store if you asked her for help. A month ago when I helped plan the dance, I suggested the fairy tale theme. Right away I asked Holly to lay back the gown you have on. If you didn't come for it, I'd pay the rent for it anyway. One way or the other, Holly wasn't going to be out anything. Susie and Holly were supposed to steer you in the right direction. Looks like they did a fine job of it.”
“Oh, you are so clever,” Elizabeth bantered.
“I thought so, but it hinged on you looking for a fairy tale dress. I wanted to make sure the gown matched my coach. I just lucked out is all,” he said, smiling at her.
Elizabeth paused a moment. She gave him a meaningful look. “Actually, this fairy tale wouldn't have come true if you hadn't helped it along, now would it?”
Bud was undeterred. “No matter what happens in life, you have to help the fairy tale come out the way you want it. I told you that before. That's the way I feel, and that's what I did. Now that the band's ready, let's go dance, Cinderella.”
Later that night, Elizabeth and Bud rode home under the cover of a full moon that lit the landscape in a fanciful glow.
“You lucked out tonight, Bud,” Elizabeth said.
“That's the way I feel, dating a beautiful woman like you and having a fun evening,” Bud said softly. She frowned at him. “All right, I'll ask. How am I lucky?”
“This is the second time you've had me out in a conveyance without lights. Look at that gorgeous full moon helping you see the road.”
Bud chuckled. “That moon is a humdinger all right.”
Only small girls had a right to dream about a ride in a Cinderella coach. How had she been so lucky to experience an evening like this? She glanced over at the good looking man's dark profile beside her and knew the answer was Bud.
He let her out by the house and drove on to the barn to unharness the horses. Elizabeth went inside. She debated about waiting for Bud to come in. If she did, she was fairly sure after such a romantic evening what would happen next.
No! As much as she'd like this dreamy evening to end that way, she couldn't end up in Bud's bed until she was sure she wanted to remain there for the rest of her life. It wouldn't be fair to Bud or herself. If she made the wrong choice now and hurt Bud later, she wouldn't be any better person than Steven Mitchell was. She went to her room before he returned.
Monday morning, Bud had some errands to run. He wanted to take the coach back to the salebarn to get it in line for the Wednesday sale. He'd be gone all day.
Elizabeth was too antsy to work on her book. “Hover, want to ride into Wickenburg with me while I do some shopping? I need to return the Cinderella gown and Bud's costume. Maybe we could stop by the Maidrite Diner for lunch.”
“Aren't you afraid of being seen?”
“At the Maidrite? That is one place my father wouldn't eat in. Not fancy enough for him,” said Elizabeth. “Besides, I'm not in hiding anymore. I don't mind talking to him if we meet while he's here. After all, I do want to ask him if I can live in his house after he leaves.”
“I meant about being seen with me,” Hover corrected.
Elizabeth giggled. “Um, I think that ship has sailed by now, too. You're the most well known robot in town I'm sure. I'd say it's time everyone gets to see how likable you can be. At least, that's what I'm going to tell them so please don't make a liar out of me in front of anyone.”
“Polite was programmed into me. For some reason, that mode of servility does not come out of my mouth when I am putting up with you,” Hover droned.
Elizabeth gave him a stern look and then burst out laughing. “You're tel
ling me!”
The Maidrite Diner was crowded. Hal and Hover sat down in the one remaining empty booth. Susie rushed over and greeted them. “Hello. It's good to see you two out and about.”
“It feels good to get out. I've been cooped up way too long except for the Memorial Day dance” Elizabeth answered.
Susie asked, “Where's Bud today?”
“Taking that coach back to the salebarn to get rid of it while I'm returning the costumes,” Elizabeth said.
“That brother of mine is sure full of surprises. I didn't dream he had it in him to pull this far fetch scheme of his off. You're good for him. You know that?”
Elizabeth felt herself blushing. “Ah, I don't know about that, but I do enjoy his company and his surprises. However, I heard he had a little help from you, pulling this latest scheme off successfully.”
“Aw, he told you,” Susie scoffed. “Honestly, Bud doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut.”
“No problem. I had a delightful evening thanks to the two of you. I'm certainly grateful Bud has let Hover and me stay with him for a while, too. Today, I decided to give Hover a kitchen break and eat out.”
Susie fished her order book out of her apron pocket. “What you having?”
Hal ordered, “A maidrite with everything on it, French fries and a cup of coffee.”
“Hover, can I get you anything?” Susie said, grinning.
“Afraid not even if I could consume food. Your greasy, cholesterol filled food would be bad for clogging up my transmitters,” Hover said honestly.
“Hover! Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we have a discussion before we left home about you being polite to people if you came with me?” Elizabeth scolded.
Hover droned a deep, “My sincere apologies, maidrite woman.”
“That's fine. I'm willing to consider where the criticism came from and forgive you,” Susie said earnestly, trying not to smile.
“It's just that you shouldn't say such things in front of Susie's customers,” scolded Elizabeth softly.
“Yeah, on second thought Elizabeth is right, Hover. Don't bad mouth my food in front of the customer unless you've tried it. You won't win any popularity contest with me with talk like that if you lose me business,” Susie bantered back and winked at Hover. “Order for one coming right up.”
Susie flitted behind the counter and handed the lunch cook the order. She started a conversation with a highway patrolman who was in the middle of eating his greasy fix. This diner was a second generation business in Wickenburg. With the economy the way it was, the Maidrite was the cheapest place to eat in town. That day it looked like half the town was taking advantage of a lunch break at the diner. Elizabeth was fairly sure no one dared to bad mouth the Maidrite Diner and get away with it.
Soon she was so busy eating her maidrite she didn't notice the man coming at her until he loomed over her table. “Hello Elizabeth.”
That deep voice always had a way of unsettling her. She just never knew what to expect out of these rare encounters. Slowly, she laid her half eaten sandwich down and looked up at the tall, gray haired man. She braced herself for what she would see and hear from him. “Hello, Father.”
“Well, it's good to see you have survived and surfaced. You had many people quite worried these past months with your disappearance act, including myself,” Martin Winston said coolly.
Elizabeth shrugged. “Sorry if I upset anyone. I just wanted some time by myself. Frankly, I didn't think anyone would worry that much about me.”
“Apparently, you didn't think at all, and who would think of looking in my summer house. Certainly not me. You never cared for the place before as I remember,” Martin said dryly.
“That was exactly why I chose it,” Elizabeth said bluntly. “I knew it was the one place I'd be able to get some peace and quiet without being bothered by Steven Mitchell and Scott.”
“It's good to see you looking so well. I thought perhaps you had moved on since I've been here or went back to Cedar Falls. I take it you've found another place to stay,” Martin said.
“Just while you're in town. I've been meaning to stop by and talk to you about that. I'm not quite ready to leave town yet. I wondered if you would let me use the house again after you leave,” Elizabeth said.
Martin's eyes narrowed, sizing her up. “Let me think about it. I'll let you know my decision. Don't you have to go back to your teaching position soon?”
Elizabeth shrugged. “I can if I choose to teach again. I might want to try another line of work.”
“Like what?” Her father actually sounded concerned.
She wasn't about to confide in a man who spent most of his life being her father in name only. “I haven't decided that yet.”
“I see. What is the plan for him?” Martin asked, nodding slightly at Hover.
Elizabeth voice was purposely cool. “He stays with me.”
“Mr. Winston,” called Susie from behind the counter.
Her father looked over his shoulder at the Styrofoam boxes Susie placed in front of her. “My lunch is ready to go. I'll let you get back to yours before your maidrite gets cold. Enjoy your lunch.” As her father walked away, Elizabeth realized just how old he'd gotten. It had been some time since she'd last seen him. She wasn't prepared to see how much he'd aged.
“Well, so much for not running into your father. You said he wouldn't dine here,” Hover rubbed in softly.
“Hey, I was right about him not dining in here. He ordered take out. Look at that black B&W in the parking lot. See the redhead in the front seat. My father is taking the maidrites back to his house and sharing them with her.”
“I see with 20 20 vision,” Hover droned.
Like clock work, Martin Winston left town the last day of June. Elizabeth knew that information because Susie called her. “Your father just brought the key for the house back to me. He said I was to let you know that the house was empty again if you want to move back in.”
“That's great. I think Bud might be pleased to get back to his bachelor life style and have his house to himself again,” Elizabeth joked.
“Don't be so sure of that. The few times I've talked to Bud lately that isn't the way he feels about your living with him at all,” Susie ensured her.
Elizabeth had trouble finding an answer for that statement.
Susie said, “Are you still there?”
“Yes, I am, and every word was duly noted. I'm coming in right away to pick up the key. I'll have to get groceries to stock the cupboards again,” Elizabeth said, ignoring what Susie said.
That afternoon as Elizabeth walked through the Carter house living room with her grocery sacks, it felt as if her father had never been there. No signs at all of his ever being present in this house. In fact just like he hadn't been present in her and Scott's lives when they was growing up. The first thing, out of place, that caught her attention in the kitchen was a piece of paper on the table.
The moment she picked it up she recognized her father's scrawling handwriting.
Dear Elizabeth,
I've given your living in my house some thought. I don't think it would be in your best interest to remain here permanently. You're welcome to move in until you find something suitable of your own. As much as I want you to have a roof over your head, I feel that no longer than a month from now should be sufficient enough time to make up your mind.
It is my advice that the best thing for you would be to come back to Cedar Falls before you lose your job. You put many years into being a very good teacher. It would be a shame to give up all that you worked so hard to accomplish.
That would be my advice, but when did you ever listen to me? I'm just your father.
Martin Winston
Elizabeth felt hot tears sliding down her face as she saw he had signed his name as if she was someone he had business dealings with.
She laid her head down on the table and let the tears flow. As always Martin Winston intended to make life hard for her. She didn'
t have any intention of showing the note to Bud. He expected her to move back here. That's what she'd do. She'd have to make up her mind about what was to come later in her future. Hopefully, she could do that before the month was up.
The phone rang, bringing her upright. She wiped her face on her blouse sleeves as she wondered who would be calling. The phone kept ringing. She might as well answer it.
“Hello,” she said tentatively.
“Sis, it's Scott.”
Elizabeth gasped in surprise.
“Wait! Don't hang up on me. I called to tell you how sorry I am for helping Steven trick you. I know you're mad at me. I hope some day you can see your way clear to forgive me.”
She felt anger well up in her. “You are right. I am hurt and upset at you. Just so you know, I had the best Christmas I've ever had with a very nice family complete with a sleigh ride.”
“Oh, really? Didn't you miss me just a little. I sure did miss you while I watched the football game and ate my bowl of chicken noodle soup,” Scott said, sounding bewildered.
The tone of Scott's voice made her feel sorry for him. “You have to know I'd miss you very much no matter what I did on Christmas,” Elizabeth said charitably.
“Would it be possible for me to come visit? I want to see you face to face. If you are still mad at me, I'll let you poke me in the nose like you used to do when we were kids,” Scott offered, genuinely sounding sorry.
“All right, I do want to see you, and I'm not as mad as I was at first. I suppose Steven told you I have been living here.”
“Yes, and Father called me to tell me you were there,” Scott said.
“I thought both of them might let you know,” Elizabeth said. “Did Father tell you he has given me a month to move in this house and move out again?”
Scott snorted. “No, he didn't, but sounds like the old man.”
“Did Steven ask you to pay him for the robot? He left here mad, because I wouldn't let him take Hover Hill. I told him the robot was my gift, and I'm keeping him.”
