by Alta Hensley
Holly kneels beside her and takes her hand in hers. “Shhh… you don’t need to worry about that now.”
Violet looks at Ember. “I’m sorry, Ember. I know I can never take back what I did. Why I did it… I’m sorry.”
Ember takes her other free hand. “Promise me you’ll never do this again. We love you, Violet. Nothing is ever so awful that you have to…. Promise me.”
Violet nods but continues to cry.
I stoke the fire as Mountain Man begins to work on splinting Violet’s leg, noticing the storm isn’t letting up as I had hoped. I really thought I’d be hiking down the mountain soon, but now with Violet’s condition, this plan is definitely going to have to be modified.
Ember returns her attention to the mountain man, then looks at Holly and Violet and clearly sees what I do. This man isn’t exactly a stranger to the sisters. “Do you know this man?” she asks Holly.
Holly glances at him and nods. “We do.”
“He saved me from a mountain lion,” Violet says. “And he’s been watching over us ever since.”
“Why didn’t you tell me it was him out there watching us?”
“He likes his privacy,” Holly says, shifting her weight and avoiding eye contact with Ember.
“Scarecrow would kill us if he knew we’ve spoken to another man,” Violet says. “So, we kept him secret.” Her eyes look up at him lovingly. “But he’s always looking out for us. If it weren’t for him, we would have starved when Scarecrow and Richard left to find you. They didn’t leave us with any food or means to hunt for any.” She hisses in pain as the mountain man secures the splint tighter.
Ember smiles and shakes her head. “Was it you giving the rabbit and mushrooms to Violet a couple of days ago?” She shakes her head. “I was wondering how Violet could be so lucky to find all that.”
“Do you have a name?” I ask again, liking the man but uncomfortable not knowing his name.
“Isaac.” He sits Violet up and asks, “Do you mind if I run my hands up your spine and on your ribs? I want to make sure you didn’t do any harm to them.”
She looks toward Holly to make sure she’s doing the right thing by allowing him to touch her even more than he already has.
“Go ahead,” Holly says for her.
Violet cringes in pain when he touches her, but Isaac seems happy as he nods. “Nothing looks broken. Just bruised, which will still hurt like a son of a bitch.”
Ember stands from her crouched position and walks over to me. She doesn’t say a word but rests her forehead against my chest. I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer to the fire.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life,” she says quietly to me. “I don’t know what Holly and I would have done without you and Isaac.” She tilts her head up at me. “But we can’t leave. I know you want to. But with Violet hurt… and the reason she jumped was… it’s my fault for her fall.”
“No,” Violet calls out, hissing when she moves too quickly, overhearing what Ember is saying. “Don’t you blame yourself. Please don’t. I don’t know what got into me. It’s just that sometimes I’m so sad. So… it feels like blackness covers me. Like a thick tar. I can’t see hope. I can’t see good. But this is not your fault, Ember. It’s not. Please, please don’t think that. I was stupid. Reckless. And God gave me a second chance that I will not take lightly.”
“Why did you do it?” Holly asks, new tears falling from her eyes. “Why?”
“The thought of leaving was too much for me. I didn’t want to go. But I didn’t want to stay.”
I notice Isaac look up at her and scowl, but he doesn’t say a word.
“I feel lost in the woods with no trail,” she adds.
“Well, right now, you don’t have to worry about anything but healing. You’ll have to stay off this leg for a while. No chores. No firewood gathering, and absolutely no hiking down the mountain,” Isaac interrupts, still frowning.
Ember looks at me, and I nod in understanding.
We may be here a while.
But at the same time… we have to leave before Scarecrow and Richard return. We have a time limit, and my gut tells me we’re running out of that time. Those men won’t stay gone for long.
Isaac stands up, warms his hands by the fire, and says, “I’ll be heading home. But if you need anything—”
“Please don’t go,” Violet says as Holly wraps a quilt around her shoulders. “It’s snowing outside and getting dark. I can’t live with myself if someone gets hurt because of my actions. Please stay with us. We don’t have much, but we can make up a bed. Please.”
“Yes, stay,” Holly adds. “I don’t know where your home is, but since we’ve never seen it gathering wood or foraging for food, I know it has to be far enough away that walking in the snow and at night isn’t safe. So please. I’ll start supper too. Stay.”
Isaac looks at me, and I simply shrug. “Women have spoken. As you can see, I’m not going anywhere either. I think we’re stuck here for at least the night.”
For the first time, I see Isaac smirk as he nods. “You may need my help lifting Violet,” he says, not saying yes but not saying no.
“Then it’s decided,” Holly announces, turning her attention to making supper.
Violet reaches out for Isaac’s hand again. “Thank you, Isaac. I’m so happy to have you in my life. If it weren’t for you—twice—I wouldn’t have one.”
He squats next to her and with his free hand swipes her hair away from her face. “Never again, little one. Do you understand? Never again.”
She nods and swallows hard. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why….” She begins to cry, and Isaac pulls her into his chest. “I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to stay. I don’t want this life anymore. I don’t know what to do.”
“Shh,” he says. “Everything’s going to be okay. Just rest right now. Rest.”
I watch Ember walk over to Holly and take her into her arms. Holly breaks down and begins crying into Ember’s shoulder. And for the first time since arriving, I really see why Ember has been so torn about leaving. She truly loves these women. They truly are her family. And after what happened, after doing everything within my power to save her family and the tiny and broken woman lying on the floor… I can actually picture them as my family too.
Ember walks over to me eventually when Holly returned her attention to the supper preparation. I don’t know if it’s because everything was so bad, so awful, and so dark, but when Ember reaches for my hand and holds it tightly, I get an odd sense of warmth and comfort. Almost a sense of home. A glimmer of light shines through the black. At least for now. Right this second.
I have Ember, my wife.
I have shelter and a fire to keep me warm.
I have people around me who are only good and genuine.
I have simplicity.
For now… I can breathe again.
19
Christopher
* * *
“Looks like the storm fizzled out last night,” Isaac says from behind me.
It’s first thing in the morning, after a long, sleepless night, and I’m questioning if today is the day for the descent or if tomorrow is a better day. I also can’t figure out how we go about moving Violet, and I’m wondering if I need to go down by myself, get help, and take it from there. I don’t want to leave Ember, but at the same time, I know she won’t leave without Holly and Violet.
“I don’t think it will last, however,” I say, looking up at the sky and trying to judge if the clouds in the distance are storm clouds or not.
“Those clouds will bring snow,” Isaac says, answering my question.
I sigh loudly, not sure what our next step should be. “It’s refreshing here,” I say. “Too bad this place is laced with evil.”
“They don’t want to go,” Isaac says. “I think Violet’s desperate act yesterday proved that.”
“I understand,” I reply, turning to face him. “I really do. But you don’t know Scarecrow
and Richard like I do. I can’t in good faith leave those women here. And I also can’t allow Scarecrow and Richard to leave for Wyoming and be free men. They’re sick and belong behind bars. Which then leaves those women alone.”
“I moved to these mountains about ten years ago,” Isaac says as he looks out into the forest. “I live down the mountain some and near a river with a waterfall and large slabs of granite. It’s my paradise, even though you may disagree. Violet and Holly see the beauty in this land like I do.”
“It is beautiful,” I agree. “But as you said last night—no place for two women to survive alone.”
“True.”
“You couldn’t even leave them here alone,” I point out. “You were helping and watching over them.”
“True.”
“So, you understand why I feel responsible for them.”
“I do.”
“And I have my wife to think of,” I add. “Ember loves those women and will not leave without them.”
“She wants to know they’re safe,” Isaac says.
“Of course. I do too.”
“Do you have a plan? Where will you take them once you fly away from here?” Isaac asks, though I don’t get the feeling he is drilling, judging me, or even accusing me of doing something reckless. I get the feeling he generally cares and wants to help.
“I don’t know. I wish I had a concrete plan in my head, but I don’t. I impulsively hopped on a private plane to get my wife back. I didn’t have any idea what would happen after. And then when Holly and Violet were thrown into the mix.” I release a deep breath. “I don’t know.”
“I think the women are picking up on that. I think they know you don’t know what happens next. They sense it.”
“But again, whatever we do is better than what’s happening to them now. Those poor women… and no way in hell will I let Ember be here for another second without me.”
Isaac takes a deep breath, inhaling the crisp mountain air. “When I sold everything I had to move up here, people thought I had lost my mind. I was crazy for wanting to leave a lucrative business, a lavish lifestyle, and basically the American dream realized. But you know what? I was miserable. Absolutely miserable. From the little I spoke with Ember last night, it sounds like her experience in New York was the same. I can relate to that. I hate New York with a passion.”
I nod. “I won’t be going back. Everything there and the people are dead to me. I’m here cleaning up a mess caused by New York, and I won’t be repeating that mistake again.”
“I understand that feeling. I left everything behind,” Isaac says. “My past is dead to me as well.”
“Christopher?” I hear Ember’s voice call from behind me.
I turn to face her. “I’m out here talking with Isaac.”
“Can you come inside? Holly and Violet want to speak with us.”
I nod and all three of us go inside, where Holly is sitting next to Violet, who is propped up and already has renewed color in her face. She appears more comfortable and at ease, and it’s obvious that a good night’s sleep served her well. Holly also seems better. Last night, she fretted for hours, unable to settle and jumping every time Violet moved.
“We know you want to leave today,” Holly begins as we all circle around the fire where they are. “And we know why you do and can understand that. But Violet and I spoke for hours last night while you were all asleep, and we came to a decision.”
“We aren’t going with you,” Violet blurts.
Ember gasps, and I see tears well in her eyes instantly.
“But before you get upset or try to talk us out of it, I want you to hear us out,” Holly cuts in, walking over to Ember and placing a hand on her arm. “Listen. Please.”
“Our mother and father made a decision when we were children to live off the grid. They homeschooled us and taught us to live off the land. Our pa wasn’t always a bad man, but when our mother died, he died too… or at least his spirit did. It got ugly then. Our life got really ugly. But the one thing Violet and I had was the beauty around us. We could see what our mother saw. We could love what she did. We could live the life she always dreamed of. She wanted us to live like this, and for the most part, we loved it too.”
“But Scarecrow,” Ember interrupts.
“Yes, he’s awful,” Violet says. “Which is why we aren’t going to stand in your way of reporting him and Richard to the authorities. We actually hope you do so we never have to see him again. We want him to rot in jail for everything.”
“So, what we are going to do is leave and find a hunting shack we know exists nearby. We will hole up there until after Richard and Scarecrow return and are hopefully arrested. In which time, Violet and I will return to the chapel—our home—and live off the land. We know how. We want to know how.”
“Then I stay too,” Ember blurts, which rips at my soul.
Holly shakes her head. “No, Ember. You belong with Christopher.”
“We see that,” Violet says with a warm smile. “We see how much you both love each other.”
“But I love you both too,” Ember argues, tears falling freely now.
“Then you come and visit,” Holly offers. “Once everything settles and it’s safe for you to do so. And who knows, maybe someday, Violet and I will want to leave this mountain, and it will be nice to know we have a place to visit as well.”
“What if I find us a place in the mountains?” I suggest. “I could buy us some land, build a house—”
“We want to stay here,” Violet says, her eyes stealing a glance at Isaac, who stands by and watches. “We have a good friend nearby, and we don’t want to leave him.”
“You’re injured,” Ember points out, swiping at the tears on her face. I can see her sadness is morphing into anger. “You both just experienced an awful ordeal and aren’t thinking straight. It’s winter! You don’t have enough supplies, you can barely keep up with the firewood, and this chapel doesn’t even have a completed or functioning chimney! I need you both to stop and think with your minds… not your hearts. I get it. You’re scared.”
“We’re not leaving this mountain,” Holly presses. “I’m sorry.”
Ember whips her head toward me and then to Isaac. “Say something! Convince them that this is just another suicide attempt. You will die in some hunting shack while you wait out the winter!”
Isaac nods. “Ember’s right. You can’t leave here and go live in a shack. I know this mountain, and the closest hunting shack is still two miles away from here, and there’s no way Violet can make it in her condition. Not to mention, there are no resources to live off of during this time of year.”
“See!” Ember squeaks as she returns her attention to Holly and Violet. “Even Isaac believes you should leave with us.”
“No,” Isaac says calmly. “I didn’t say that. I understand why they don’t want to leave. I get why they want to keep this chapel and this land, but I don’t agree with hiding out in the hunter’s shack.” He walks to Violet and squats down next to her so he can look her directly in the eyes. “I’d like to suggest that you and your sister come stay with me. At least until Richard and Scarecrow are no longer a threat. I have room, and I have the supplies to last us through the winter. I can also care for your leg during your mend.”
Tears form in Violet’s eyes, and she shakes her head. “I can’t ask that of you. You’ve already done so much for us.”
“I wouldn’t be offering if I didn’t want to.”
“We know you like your privacy,” Holly says. “We can’t impose.”
“You can, and you will,” he says more firmly. He then turns to look at Ember and me. “I can take good care of them until we get the news that all is safe and those men are gone.”
I nod and look at Violet, who is staring at Isaac as she silently cries. I then look at Holly and ask, “Is this something you would want? I’d feel better leaving you with Isaac. In fact, I think it’s the only way I’ll agree to not taking you both wi
th us.”
I walk over to Ember and take her hand in mine. I squeeze gently, knowing she needs my connection to help her get through this. I know she doesn’t want to lose her friends, but at the same time, she has to understand what they’re going through and why they’re considering other options.
“Violet?” Holly asks. “What do you think?”
Violet keeps her eyes on Isaac. “It’s too much. You’re being too nice.”
Isaac pats her good leg and smiles. “The way I see it, it will save me from having to hike in the snow every day to come up here and check on you ladies. You’d be doing me a favor.”
Violet smiles warmly and then looks up at Holly. “What do you want to do?”
Holly glances at me and then at Ember. “Would you agree to leaving us with Isaac?”
I nod, then wait for Ember to finally answer, “I don’t want to leave you. I’ll miss you every day, but I also understand.” She looks at Isaac. “Thank you for being here. Thank you for being there for them.”
Holly then places her hand on Isaac’s shoulder. “Thank you for your generosity. My sister and I would love to stay with you until the chapel is safe.”
Isaac pats Violet’s leg one more time and stands. “All right then. I have plenty of blankets, food, and supplies, but you ladies better pack your clothing and any other items you want. It’s going to be awhile until you can return.” He then turns his attention to me. “Do you mind helping me get Violet to my place before you and Ember make your journey down the hill?”
“It’s the least I can do,” I reply, more than happy to be of some use.
The man has become all of our savior. He gave a solution to a problem I didn’t feel could be solved.
“Let’s get a move on. We have a lot to do before it gets dark. My place will take about half a day with Violet.”
As everyone scrambles to get to work, I take a minute to pull Ember into my arms and ask, “Are you all right with this?”
“It’s what they want,” she says, her voice cracking. “I want them to be happy. They deserve that.”
