Far Country
Page 35
Steve sighed and stepped back from Kelly. “We’re here!” He called back to Gracie. We’ll be there in just a minute or two!” He laughed and put his hand under her chin, lifting her tear streaked face to his so he could kiss her. You realize that you will be a stepmother,” he warned her.
Kelly laughed and hiccupped at the same time. “I’ll have to work on my wicked self, I guess.”
“Daaaaddddddyyyyyyy!”
He sighed, and finally stepped back from Kelly. “Come on, We’ll never have any peace until we reach the summit.” For the next ten minutes they climbed up the steep incline, finally emerging to the windswept summit. Gracie was waiting impatiently for them.
“Walk me out to the edge, please?” She begged him. Steve scooped her up and swung her around in his exuberance. He couldn’t remember ever being this content with his life. Gracie shrieked with giddiness and gripped Steve’s hand tightly as they made their way further out onto the center of the huge expanse of bare rock. Small winds buffeted them, but the clear blue sky and crisp fall air was exhilarating. Unconsciously Steve reached for Kelly’s hand too, and the three of them made their way out on the great jutting nose of the overhang.
Steve felt good. Standing here was such a sense of freedom, he thought. Almost as if he were a bird floating in the vast sky that surrounding them. Gracie pulled him forward a few more steps and cautiously peered over the side. Steve looked down too, and then it happened.
His stomach lurched at the sight of the distant ground below and his head swam nauseatingly. Instinctively he staggered back to the safe ground in the center of the rock. Sweat poured down his face and he panted desperately for air to fill his lungs and steady his frantic gasps.
Kelly quickly realized what was happening as soon as she felt his body tense beside hers. She squeezed Steve's hand in understanding, then released it and reached for Gracie’s hand. She pointed out the circling turkey vultures high above them, and led her to another vantage point on the rock. Gracie followed Kelly willingly enough, but she soon looked back to see why Steve wasn't coming with them.
“What’s wrong with Daddy?” she asked craning her neck to see where he had retreated to.
“Nothing, really,” Kelly reassured her. “He stepped wrong and nearly twisted his ankle. He’ll be okay in a few minutes, I think.”
She walked the little girl a bit further away from her father so she wouldn’t see his face until Steve had a chance to regain his composure. Slowly they walked around the rock and then back to the center, where a few brave trees struggled to grow. Soon, Steve rejoined them, pale but calm, and they made their way back toward Deborah, Pete, and the Grahams, who were spreading out some snacks and drinks on Kelly’s old picnic rock. Bored with the slow-moving grownups, Gracie skipped ahead and began nibbling on some of the crackers and apple slices Mrs. Graham offered her.
“Thanks,” Steve muttered, his voice cracked with shame at his weakness. “I’ve been that way since I came back up here.”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Kelly reassured him. “It’s understandable after the accident.”
Steve gave a bark of laughter. “It may be understandable, but it’s a bit of a problem when it comes to my job.” He looked at her and she could see that the question had bothered him for some time. “What if Pete or Chuck hadn’t been there that night when Alyssa fell? I froze, Kelly. Chuck covered for me, and Pete stepped in, but I couldn’t do my job.”
“Give it time,” she said comfortingly, squeezing his hand. “You’ll get your confidence back.”
“I hope so,” he muttered, unconvinced.
“Small steps,” she encouraged. When Steve didn't reply, she gently turned him back to face the edge of the promontory. “Stand here and look around.”
Wearily, Steve did as she said. He shrugged. “Fine,” he said. “As long as people fall into the center of the rock, it will be a piece of cake.”
Kelly rolled her eyes. “Do you trust me?” She asked
Steve smiled at her. “With my heart,” he confirmed.
“How about your body?” She challenged. “Close your eyes and let me lead you.”
Steve stuck his arms out like a sleepwalker. “Lead on,” he said.
As in blind man’s bluff, Kelly turned him around several times to confuse his sense of direction. Then she carefully walked him around, finally positioning him with his back to the ledge. “Open your eyes.” She instructed him.
Steve looked straight ahead. The rock was solid in front of him. He smiled. “This is good.”
“Okay, now slowly make a quarter turn.” Steve did, and while the ground in front of him was still solid, he was aware that he was standing near the edge. He tensed. “Relax,” Kelly said softly.
He forced his muscles to loosen up, and took several deep breaths. At last he nodded. “Another quarter turn?” He asked
“Try it.”
He shuffled his feet to the right and found himself staring off into space. He nodded. This wasn’t great, but he wasn’t losing control.
“Now look down slowly, a little at a time.” Kelly told him.
With infinite slowness, he let his eyes drift down, like a feather on the wind, until he was able to see his feet. He moved his eyes further out seeing the side of the cliff fall away abruptly and the rocks waiting for him below…” He gasped and lurched backward.
It was a full minute before he regained control of his breathing. Kelly apologized several times, but when he was finally able to speak, he shook his head. “It was a good experiment, really,” he told her. “It proved that it’s not the height that bothers me, just the landing. As soon as I saw those rocks at the bottom, I freaked out.”
“I guess it also shows that you have a good imagination.”
He gave her a long look. “No imagination,” he corrected her grimly, “just a good memory.” At last he got to his feet and slipped an arm around Kelly. From here, he could look out at the sky and enjoy the wide openness of the summit. If his eyes focused on the rock edges though, he was immediately filled with uneasiness, which he knew would only increase if he were to walk closer to the edge.
He thought of Kelly’s ‘word from God’ that she had shared with him on the trail, and began to chuckle.
Kelly looked up at him curiously. “What are you laughing at?” She asked him.
“Just grateful,” Steve said with glint of his old humor, “that when God said to take my hand and leap, He was referring to marriage and not to cliffs.”
Kelly chuckled with him. “Amen to that!” She agreed fervently. Then she laid a head on his shoulder and sighed contentedly. She wanted to remember this moment always. It was a perfect day.
Ch 41
Not So Merry Christmas
Steve sipped his glass of eggnog, and took in the scene in the Bolton’s living room with a sense of admiration. It was Christmas Eve, and Gracie’s grandmother had decorated their home so beautifully, Norman Rockwell could have taken pointers.
Pine garlands laced with deep red cranberries draped the fireplace and stairway banister. For added color, red and green candles blazed from every free surface, and the warm waxy aroma of cinnamon and evergreen spiced the air.
Kelly was snuggled comfortably at his side on a small sofa, and Gracie, her black hair braided and beribboned, and wearing a red velvet dress, sat on the floor at their feet, staring mournfully at the Christmas tree, which was surrounded by a pile of beautifully wrapped presents.
As was their custom, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton had thrown a Christmas Eve party for a few of their closest friends and family. Steve’s own mother stood chatting with Hester Graham, as both women admired the hand blown ornaments on the huge tree.
Robert Graham relaxed against the fireplace mantel, in a deep conversation with Richard Bolton. Deborah and Pete had also accompanied Steve and Kelly back to Jacksonville to spend the holiday with her parents. They were snuggled contentedly in a deep cushioned chaise lounge across from Steve and Kelly.
A tug on his pant leg brought Steve back to the present, or more specifically, to the presents. Gracie was gazing up at him dolefully. “When can I open my presents?” She mouthed to him silently.
“Soon,” he promised quietly. “Grandma’s sending everyone home in about 30 minutes. We’ll open presents as soon as the guests are gone.”
Gracie’s shoulders slumped and she pouted, her gray eyes reproachful.
“Gracie,” Kelly said. “We can’t open our presents while everyone’s still here, but I think Grandma Bolton told me that she fixed gifts for all the children to take home. Why don’t you see if she will let you put on the Santa hat and pass them out?”
Gracie’s eyes lit up at the idea. She had forgotten about the little gift stockings hidden in the big green Santa bag under the tree! She scrambled to her feet and ran to her grandmother, tugging excitedly on her skirt.
A minute later, Lee Ann Bolton stood in front of the Christmas tree and clapped her hands together to gain her guests’ attention. Once the group had grown quiet, she smiled happily. “I want to thank all of you for coming out tonight to help us celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus! It’s almost time to say goodnight, so that you can go home and spend the rest of the evening with your own families, but before you go, I would like the children to gather over here by the tree. Gracie’s dad is going to read the Christmas Story to us, and then Gracie will hand out gifts to each child.” Lee Ann smiled over at Steve and held out a huge family Bible. “Steven, if you would be so kind?”
Startled and slightly embarrassed, Steve stood and took the seat by the tree. He thanked Lee Ann and opened the Bible to the page marked by a purple ribbon, then waited quietly for everyone to settle down. Slowly, he began to read the familiar words from Luke: “And it came to pass…”
When he had finished, Gracie donned the red velvet Santa hat, and began pulling the Christmas stockings out of the green felt sack. Steve helped her to read the names, and she delivered one to each child, wishing them a cheerful ‘Merry Christmas!’
The sack was nearly empty when the front door flew open, banging loudly against the doorstop. With an exuberant “Merry Christmas!” David swaggered into the room, his arms laden with packages. A blast of cold air preceded him into the room, and for Steve, the bitter cut of the wind felt like a premonition.
With a joyful shriek of surprise, Lee Ann hugged her son, while Richard helped him place the packages under the tree, all the while patting him on the back and grinning with pleasure to have his son home with them again.
As soon as his arms were free, David scooped up Gracie, and gave her a huge bear hug that left her breathless and giggling. Finally, he looked around at the small crowd that was watching the reunion. He gave them a mock bow. “Sorry to interrupt the party, folks, but they released us early and I drove straight through to be with my family.” He waved his hand like a monarch granting a boon. “Carry on,” he boomed. Everyone laughed, and most used his appearance as their queue to collect their coats and say their farewells for the evening.
Steve remained sitting in his chair, warily watching David, and wishing that he had delayed his arrival by just one hour. He glanced toward Kelly, who sat alone on the couch, and unconsciously ground his teeth. He had promised Kelly that he would leave the next meeting in the Lord’s hands, but at the moment he wanted nothing more than to grab Kelly by the hand and whisk her out the back door. Then, he found himself hoping that David wouldn’t even remember meeting Kelly. After all, it had been more nearly two months ago… Slowly, he realized that there was nothing he could do about it now. It really was in the Lord’s hands.
Reluctantly, Steve looked up from where he sat to find David watching him with a cold sardonic smile on his face. “Hello, David,” he said quietly. “Merry Christmas.”
David, Gracie still tucked in his arms, grinned back at his former best friend. “I wondered if you would be in town,” he said.
“Just for a couple of days,” Steve replied. “We leave in the morning.
David laughed. “Jus’ think, if I hadn’t driven straight through, we might have missed this moment altogether.”
Steve frowned slightly. Was he smelling beer on David’s breath?
Several children started to whine unhappily, and Steve realized that there were still some undelivered gifts. “Gracie!” he said, more sharply than he had intended. “You need to finish your Santa duties.”
Gracie popped a small hand to her lips. “Oh yeah,” she said, suddenly remembering what she had been doing before her uncle had burst into the room. “Put me down, Uncle David, please!” She commanded him “I’ve still got gifts to deliver!”
Steve handed her another fuzzy stocking and prompted her toward the eager recipient.
David accepted a glass of eggnog from his mother. He sipped it and made a face. ‘Mother, id’s missing the main ingredient!” He chided her, his words slurring slightly.
She raised an eyebrow and then wrinkled her nose. “You smell as if you’ve had enough alcohol as it is. Don’t tell me that you’ve been drinking and driving again, David.” She said reproachfully in a low voice.
David’s eyes darkened at her words. “All righ’, mother, I won’ tell you,” he retorted in irritation.
Lee Ann’s face, so cheerful only a few minutes before at his unexpected arrival, hardened with displeasure at his surly words. Before she could say anything, however, Gracie interrupted.
“Uncle David!” Gracie called eagerly as she handed a little boy the last gift in her bag. “You missed the story of baby Jesus. Daddy just read it to us!”
“Tha’s alright, Munshken,” he told her dismissively. “I don’t believe in all tha’ shtuff anyway!”
Gracie’s eyes widened in shocked surprise. “But Uncle David, that’s a mean thing to say! It’s the Baby Jesus’ birthday. It’s all in the Bible and the Bible is true!” She scolded him fiercely.
David snorted in derision. “Who’s feedin’ you all tha’ garbage?” He asked. His eyes passed from Steve to the Grahams, who were standing quietly off to the side. “Oh yeah. You.” He acknowledged them in amusement with a dismissive half wave. “Merry Christmas, y’all,” he quipped, and walked away from the tree.
Lee Ann pursed her lips in aggravation, but remembered her duties as hostess, and walked away from David to make gracious farewells to her last few guests.
Almost immediately, David’s eyes lit upon Deborah and Pete. “Well now,” he commented drily. “My ex.” His eyes wandered to Pete. “I see you’ve found a replacement for me at last?”
“Hello, David,” Deborah acknowledged him warily.
David squinted at Pete. “Hey!” He exclaimed. “I remember you! You were gonna arrest me lassummer!” Then his eyes fell on Kelly, sitting alone on the couch.
“Well, Merry Christmas to me!” He said, giving her an appraising look that brought a blush to her cheeks. He dropped into the empty space beside Kelly, his hand falling squarely on her knee. “Hello, beautiful, can I buy you a drink?”
“No, but thanks for the offer,” Kelly said pertly, firmly removing David’s hand and scooting over a few more inches.
“Ah, too bad,” David said regretfully. “How about tomorrow night?”
Kelly gave him a tightlipped smile. “Sorry. Busy.”
From the other side of the room, Steve watched David�
�s drunken behavior with distaste, and then with growing alarm as he took the seat next to Kelly. He started forward, determined to get her away from David’s wandering hands, but Lee Ann reappeared just at that moment and put a restraining hand on Steve’s shoulder. “You stay here with Gracie,” she said firmly. “I’ll handle this.”
Crossing the room, Lee Ann stood in front of her son and shook her head indulgently. “Not home ten minutes and already you’ve found a pretty girl to sit with.”
David grinned up at his mother. “Yeah, well, you know that I always did have a weakness for redheads,” he replied looking from Deborah to Kelly.
“Well, you’re too late, I’m afraid,” she informed him firmly. “These two are both spoken for,” She turned to Kelly and took her hands in her own. “I’m so glad you were able to stay for the party, my dear, but it’s getting late and you will need to be on the road early if you want to get back in time to be with your family for Christmas dinner. Looking both startled and relieved to have Mrs. Bolton come to her rescue, Kelly returned the smile and rose to her feet. “You’re right, of course. It was a lovely evening, Mrs. Bolton. Thank you for inviting us.”
“My pleasure, Kelly. Come visit again if you are ever in town. No invitation required.”
David had only been half following this exchange, but at the sound of her name, his attention sharpened and he looked more closely at Kelly. “I know you,” he said with a slight frown on his handsome face. “You’re the banjo loving dog lady from Hanging Rock!” He studied her with a slow meaningful smile. “I kind of thought you were more interested in me than you let on. What a…coincidence…to find you waiting under my Christmas tree – like you were special ordered right out of the Sears Wish Book!”
Kelly grimaced. “I’m afraid you’re reading the gift tag wrong,” she told him firmly. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I have to be leaving now.” She turned back to Lee Ann who was looking slightly shocked by her son’s comments. “It really was a wonderful party, and thank you again for the return invitation. Good night.”