Christmas With Hover Hill (9 page)

If Elizabeth was in the mood for the Christmas
holiday the scene was just right. Spending the holiday alone had a
dismal feel to it. She couldn't get in the spirit for this strange
Christmas without Scott. This one was the first in a long time
without her brother, and she missed him even though she was mad at
him.

Oh Joy To The World! Her only companion this holiday
was a bossy robot. It looked like she was safe from discovery by
Scott all right. She couldn't help feeling sorry for herself about
the prospects of not sharing Christmas with her brother.

Hover came to the kitchen door. “You seem depressed.
Why did you not go for the tractor ride with Farmer this
morning?”

Elizabeth turned from the window. Was that worry she
heard in Hover's voice? “I didn't feel like going for a walk as
fast as the snow was coming down. Maybe tomorrow will be a better
day to walk and ride in the tractor.”

Next morning, Elizabeth was out of bed well before
the sun rose, or Hover stirred. For the first time in a long time,
she made the coffee. For a while, she stood at the kitchen window,
watching the sun peek above the trees and cast a glistening shimmer
on the snow.

When the peculator stopped chugging, Elizabeth poured
a cup. She blew into the steaming cup and took a sip. The coffee
was bitter. Next time she probably should wait for Hover to make
the coffee. Evidently, she had lost the knack. Elizabeth carried
her cup into the living room just as Hover powered up.

The robot headed passed her to the kitchen to cook
breakfast, scolding her as he went. “You have already made the
coffee I see. You rose this morning before you are supposed to get
out of bed, according to my programmed schedule. You should have
let me know you were up.”

Elizabeth leaned on the doorway facing. “Why? I was
enjoying the sunrise and a cup of coffee by myself. Don't depend on
that schedule for accuracy. Steven Mitchell didn't know me as well
as he thought he did.”

“
I'm finding that out,” Hover stated as he
hustled from the cupboard to the stove with a skillet. “Now I will
fix your breakfast.”

After she ate, Elizabeth went back to the window to
listen for the tractor. Sounds carried so easily in the winter
stillness. When she heard the tractor turn off the highway onto the
country road, Elizabeth hurriedly shrugged into her coat and pulled
on her boots. As she went out the door, she called to Hover that
she was going to take a walk to get some fresh air. Walking at a
fast pace, she tromped through the deep snow to the pasture fence
by the time the tractor came in sight behind her.

As if they had settled into a routine, Bud hopped out
of the tractor cab and said good morning as he opened the gate. He
climbed back into the tractor and dropped the hay off for the
cattle. Elizabeth watched from the fence.

On his way out, Bud stopped to shut the gate. He
offered her a ride back to the house. Elizabeth wasn't sure she
should get so friendly with this farmer, but she liked him. She
even liked the new experience of riding in his tractor.

She reminded herself she was supposed to be hiding
out. Not attracting attention. She knew it, she argued back to
herself, and she didn't care. That idea hadn't stopped her from
going for a walk when she heard the tractor coming, knowing full
well Bud would offer her a ride back to the house. The little voice
in her head warned her she should be more cautious.

The conversation was sparse during the ride. Bud
stopped the tractor and twisted in the seat to look at her. “Well,
I got you back home safe and sound.”

“
Yes, thank you for the fun ride.”

“
You're very welcome,” Bud said as he climbed
out of the cab. He came around to her side, opened the door and
helped her down the steps. “See you in the morning?”

“
We'll see,” Elizabeth hedged, thinking she
really shouldn't make a habit out of meeting Bud. She had enough
problems.

“
Dang!” Bud exclaimed and pointed behind her.
“Your boyfriend just fell in that big drift by the back
door.”

Elizabeth wheeled around. Hover was flat in a snow
drift. His thrashing around wasn't helping him. Snow was flying
every which way. An inflated, black garbage bag beside him bounced
one way and then the other as he smacked it with his hand.

“
Oh, dear! I'm not sure I can get him up by
myself. I told him to stay in the house. Why didn't he listen to
me? I better hurry. I don't want him to rust.” She took off on a
run for Hover Hill.

Bud mouthed,
Rust!
Maybe I didn't hear her right
. He ran after her.
“Lizzy, wait! I'll help you get the guy up.”

They knelt on either side of the squirming Hover
Hill. Bud asked, “Are you hurt, Mister?”

“
I may have scrambled a few transmitters,”
Hover droned.

“
I wouldn't worry about your cell phone right
now. You can replace it. As long as you're all right, that's the
main thing,” Bud consoled.

“
He may have a few screws loose,” groaned
Elizabeth.

“
That's more than I needed to know about this
guy,” Bud said under his breath.

“
Relax, Beth, I think I am all right. See, I am
able to move all my parts,” Hover assured her.

Bud ducked as Hover's arm flailed at him. “Looks to
me like he's moving his parts good enough. Let's just get him up,”
Bud said shortly. He wrapped his fingers around Hover's hard upper
arm. Quickly, he turned loose and poked Hover's arm in several
places with his finger.

“
Farmer, you will have to have a stronger grip
than that on my arm if you plan to assist Beth to get me up,” Hover
snapped.

Bud snorted. “Sassy cuss, isn't he?”

“
Oh, yeah. He is that all right, but I've
gotten used to him. I can tune him out easy enough if what he says
bothers me,” Elizabeth shared.

“
Beth, stop talking about me while I am lying
here in this freezing Iowa tundra in need of help.” Hover rolled
his head toward Bud. “And you, Farmer, do not keep jabbing me with
that pointed finger. Help me to an upright position now,” Hover
ordered.

Bud ignored him. His face scrunched up as he squeaked
at Elizabeth. “What is he?”

“
A robot,” she said dully.

“
Robot! I never saw a robot that looked like
him before. He looks human. He just don't feel like it,” Bud
declared.

Elizabeth found his surprise amusing. She grinned as
she popped back at him, “Glad I could be your first to meet a
robot. Let me introduce you to this man robot named Hover
Hill.”

“
Could the two of you hold off on introductions
until you have me on my feet and back into the house. My
transmitters are freezing in place even as I speak,” Hover Hill
droned weakly.

“
If you still want to help just grab hold. You
can't hurt Hover Hill. On the count of three we will lift,”
Elizabeth said, taking a firm hold with both hands on Hover's upper
arm. “One, two, three. Up you come, Hover Hill.” She grunted as she
made the effort. She knew he'd be hard to lift. Hover came up
ramrod straight between them and stood flat on his feet. “Good,
Hover. Bud, as long as you're helping, can you help me get him up
the steps? He can't climb steps well at all.”

“
Sure thing,” Bud mumbled, his eyes glued on
the robot.

As they took one step at a time, Elizabeth scolded,
“Hover, you know you shouldn't be out here. You should mind me. I
said you were to stay in the house. That was for your own good as
you have now found out.”

Hover complained, “It is my job to get rid of the
garbage. Farmer, can you tell me if there is a garbage route in
this wilderness.

Bud shook his head. “Afraid not.”

“
How do I get rid of trash?”

“
See that metal barrel sticking out of the
snow?” Bud pointed at the drift with a brown ring barely showing.
Anything that burns goes in that. The rest, like cans and glass,
you sack up in the garbage bag. That goes to the landfill. When you
have a bag ready just let me know. I can take it for you when I
take my trash,” Bud offered.

“
Thank you, Farmer,” Hover said, concentrating
on the last step. “It is nice to know a solution to this
problem.”

“
Bud, I really appreciate your help. Since
you're here, why not come in? Warm up and have a cup of coffee with
me for your trouble,” Elizabeth invited as she brushed the snow off
her slacks. “I made a pot this morning before I went for my
walk.”

“
Coffee would taste good right about now. Help
warm us both up.” Bud stomped his feet to dislodge the snow from
his boots and stepped inside. He held onto Hover until the robot
was through the door.

When he turned loose, Hover Hill took a few easy
steps to see if he had good balance. “I seem to be walking fine. I
just need to dry off. Thank you for your help, Farmer.”

“
You can call me Bud.”

“
That is not programmed into me. I can only
call you Farmer,” Hover droned.

“
Why?” Bud asked.

Hover stared at Bud. “Farmer is a lower case noun, a
generic term for someone who works in the soil and takes care of
animals. An apt name I think as I inspect you, and I happen to know
all the nouns in the dictionary.”

“
If you say so, Robot,” Bud said.

“
My name is Hover Hill.”

Bud removed his cap and slapped it against his leg.
“Oh, so you can use your own name.”

“
That's right. My name was programmed into me.”
Hover turned to leave, but he stopped to give Bud a piece of
advice. “I should warn you, don't expect too much out of Beth's
coffee. It tastes like paint thinner.”

“
Is it that bad?” Bud asked.

Hover droned deeply. “Take my word for it. The coffee
is as bad as the rest of my day has been.”

“
Hover Hill, you can't drink coffee. You
haven't any way of knowing how it tastes. Go stand by the fireplace
and dry off,” ordered Elizabeth.

“
Your name is Beth?” Bud asked, looking
puzzled.

Hover turned around in the kitchen doorway to answer.
Elizabeth beat him to it. “He isn't programmed for Elizabeth,
either.”

At the same time, Hover said, “I was only programmed
to call her Beth.”

Bud rubbed his hands together and sat down at the
table. “Say, you have it real cozy in here.”

“
Takes a lot of wood to do that. Thanks to a
certain farmer I know I'm able to keep this old house warm,”
Elizabeth said, smiling as she set a coffee cup in front of
him.

“
Just remember the farmer has a name, and you
don't need programing like your robot to remember it. You know how
to say my name.” Bud's eyes sparkled as he looked around. “Sure
hasn't changed much in this house over the years, has
it?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “I thought Mr. Winston would have
done a bit of remodeling as long as he's owned the house, but guess
not.”

“
Maybe he doesn't think it's worth it since he
only uses the house about a month each year,” Bud
reasoned.

“
That's probably right. Now about Hover Hill.
Would it be all right if we kept the fact that he's a robot between
us? I'd rather not let others around here know about him. I feel
safer in this house alone with Hover here since I'm in a strange
place.”

Bud scratched a sideburn. “Well, I don't mind not
saying anything, but I've already heard from several people about
the good looking man that's shacking up with the newcomer in the
old Carter place.”

“
I see. You think the righteous citizens of
Wickenburg might think better of me if they knew Hover was a robot
instead of thinking I'm living in sin,” Elizabeth surmised. “I
can't help what people are thinking. I just don't want anyone to
know about him yet.”

“
All right with me,” Bud agreed. “Want to go
have a bite of supper with me at the diner tonight?”

“
Dinner? With you? Just the two of us?”
Stammered Elizabeth.

“
Don't tell me that robot eats
food?”

“
No, he's a good cook though. I just can't go
out with you tonight. I promised Hover I'd drive him around town to
look at the Christmas decorations as soon as the roads were safe to
travel on. He gets a kick out of all the bright, blinking lights.
It actually means more to him than it does me.”

Bud took a sip of coffee before he asked, “You aren't
much of a holiday person I take it?”

“
Not really. I never had a reason to be,”
Elizabeth said quietly, staring into her cup.

“
Say, I haven't had a chance to look at the
decorations yet myself, and I would like to see them. How about
tonight I pick the two of you up, and we drive around town? Hover
and I can look at the decorations together. At the same time, it
might be a good way for you to get to know where all the businesses
are located with me as your guide.” Excitement built in Bud's voice
as he formulated the night's outing.

“
If you're really sure you want to do that, I
guess it would be all right,” Elizabeth said slowly, glancing
toward the living room doorway.

“
You think the robot would mind going with
me?”

Elizabeth smiled. “I don't think he would since you
helped rescue him. Guess we'll find out. Come after dark, and we'll
be waiting for you.”