Christmas With Hover Hill (13 page)

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.”

“
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.

You know I've never met a woman your age yet that
wasn't something of a romantic. You maybe haven't given romance
much thought for a while, but I'll bet you're as much a romantic as
any other woman,” Bud assured her.

“
I don't know how you can possibly
tell.”

Bud said, “Let me give you the romance test, and then
we'll both know for sure.”

“
I don't think so,” Elizabeth protested,
wondering what the test could possibly consist of.

“
My test is just a few questions. That's all.
Number one is do you cry at movies that have sad
endings?”

“
I used to. Now I avoid movies like that if I
have any idea how they're going to end. I don't like feeling sad
for no good reason,” Elizabeth answered.

“
Do you like to read paperbacks that have
romantic endings? You know, the kind where the guy talks the girl
into marrying him?”

“
I read a book like that once in a while. As
long as I have to read classics for my job, I can't afford to
indulge in a romance book too often. If I read one, I do like it to
have a happy ending.”

“
I already knew the answer to that question.
Robot told me about the romance books he found on your desk at your
apartment.”

Elizabeth defended herself by holding up a finger.
“One book! Just one book he found on my desk. If he said
differently, Hover exaggerated. Wait until I talk to him.”

Bud pressed on, “When you watch a movie where the
sweethearts have to say good bye and go their separate ways, how
does that make you feel?”

“
My Heavens! I wish I knew what you're getting
at. I guess if I had a word for my feelings I'd say wistful for the
couple. I'd hope they get together again.”

“
What do you think of weddings?” Bud
asked.

“
I haven't been to one lately. My friends are
happy just dating. I guess I'd say I've gotten teary eyed when I
see how happy the bride and groom were. Most women do. That's
natural,” Elizabeth excused. “Now what good are all these
questions?”

Bud smiled at her. “So I can tell you that you just
passed the romance test with flying colors. Relax, Lizzy, and enjoy
the mood when it hits you. It will one of these days. You remind me
of Sleeping Beauty waiting for Prince Charming to wake her up with
a kiss.” Bud gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek as if he was
afraid he'd cause her more pain. “I got to go feed the cows. See
you bright and early Christmas morning.”

When he was safely out of hearing, Elizabeth yelled,
“Hover!”

“
I have good audio transmitters. You do not
have to shout,” he droned from the kitchen doorway.

“
They might not work as well after I get
through bopping you up side the head,” she raged.

“
You are angry with me.”

“
Angry isn't the word for it. As soon as I get
done talking to you, I'm going to go hunt a
screwdriver.”

“
Oh good, I will have a little reprieve then
since you can not walk well yet,” Hover droned dryly.

“
I want you to tell me what you said to Bud to
make him go at me like that just now with his romantic
test?”

Hover shrugged his shoulders. “You heard him right. I
said you did not feel like you could be romantic.”

“
I don't know why you thought it was any of his
business or yours how I feel about romance,” Elizabeth groused.
“That is the last time I'm going to confide in you if you're going
to repeat what I say to everybody.”

“
I did not repeat that statement to everybody
as you say. Only to Farmer. I thought he might be interested. Give
his questions and your answers some thought. Maybe you will come up
with the answer to the question about what could make you feel
romantic on your own,” Hover said sagely.

“
You didn't tell him his sister came here, did
you?”

Hover shook his head slowly sideways. “No, I forgot
about that with my concern over your health scare.”

Elizabeth warned, “I don't want Bud to know his
sister was here unless she wants to tell him. You got that
straight.”

“
I have,” Hover droned and quickly backed out
of her sight.

Elizabeth yelled after him. “You better do as I say,
or I'll go get that screwdriver even if I have to crawl to it.”