On Ice (7 page)

Soon she became accustomed to the silence. When she began to relax, a rustle in the brush at the edge of the clearing brought her to full alert. Perhaps a small animal she thought. This time the prickle of fear started at the nape of her neck and ran down her spine. She was sure it wasn't Mark. It couldn't be! She strained her eyes to peer into the darkness under the trees. Rene held her breath as she identified the sound of footsteps. The form coming through the brush was no small animal. In slow motion, she rose from the rocking chair and moved toward the door. She was trapped. No car. No phone. No escape. She located the doorknob behind her, never taking her eyes from the trees.

Suddenly something huge burst through the brush into the clearing. An enormous animal, a moose or an elk, but it could have been a reindeer, for all she knew. It paused as it sensed her presence. They remained motionless, sizing each other up. A wave of relief washed over her.

“
Hello.” She whispered, testing her voice in the darkness. “You are truly amazing." She felt like a giant fist just released her insides.

The massive animal lowered its head and began noisily munching the tender grasses in the clearing.

Rene held her breath for a moment more, then turned the knob and stepped over the threshold, sighing as she leaned against the inside of the door. She turned the locks quickly.

She gathered the packet of unread papers and cautiously turned on the kitchen light. The children didn't stir at all. Settling herself at the table to carefully inspect each document, she learned that, indeed, Maddy had negotiated a seemingly immense salary that would be paid monthly, plus a large bonus, half of which would be received immediately and the other half at the end of her one-year contract. Though never having used her teaching degree, she knew this amount was significantly more than the salary paid to beginning teachers in Texas. She folded the documents and placed them beside her purse in case she was asked to produce them later in the day.

Snuggling in beside her daughter, Rene thought she would get up again soon, but fell back asleep immediately.

She awoke to find the room washed in sunlight. Sara was trying to climb over her. Rene helped the child reach the floor and watched her make a beeline for the bathroom. When she emerged, Sara went to wake her brother.

Seth seemed disoriented, looking around sleepily. Rene joined her children on the sofa.

“
Good morning," she greeted them. Seth responded with a huge yawn. “You can get dressed while I make our breakfast.” Walking toward the kitchen area, she said, “I think I saw a moose this morning, or an elk.”

“
Where?” they asked at once.

“
At the edge of the woods. It was eating grass.”

“
Wow!” Seth said. “I wonder if it will come back.”

“
Probably. Pancakes okay for everyone?” She was met with an enthusiastic chorus.

Shortly after their meal, Rene heard the noise of a vehicle pulling up to the cabin. She peered out the window over her bed, the only window facing the front of the house. Brett was climbing out of the Hummer. Rene ran her fingers through her clipped hair as he knocked at the door.

“
Smells good in here,” he said as she admitted him.

“
We had pancakes!” Sara informed him.

“
I can tell.” Brett smiled down at her.

“
That was wonderful syrup,” Rene said.

“
Old man Pryor makes it every year. He's about a hundred years old and I hope he teaches someone else how to make it before he goes.”

“
Where is he going?” Sara asked him.

Brett seemed to be at a loss for his usual few, terse words. Rene relished his discomfort. Even Mr. Cool could be rattled.

“
Are you ready to sign your contract?” He changed the subject. “It's in my office. I thought I'd drive you over and see if you need anything along the way.”

“
Great.” Rene helped Sara put on her jacket. “You look different today.” Rene noted that he had trimmed his beard and, although still on the long side, his hair was shorter and neatly brushed. Somehow, this simple act of basic grooming made him seem less fearsome.

“
I was overdue for a haircut,” he said. “My office is in my home. Mrs. Jolly’s looking forward to meeting you.”

Brett drove them a relatively short distance and parked in front of a multi-level log house. Deep gables overhung large expanses of glass pointing in all directions. The cabin, nestled among tall pine trees, seemed almost organic.

“
I hear rushing water again,” Rene said.

“
That's the Sad Horse River. It curves around by your place, too. I guess I'm used to it.” He led Rene and the children into the cabin.

A spacious room with high-beamed ceilings and glass on three sides jutted out among the treetops. Rene was drawn to the vast panorama opposite the door. The view of snow-capped mountains beyond pine forests thrilled her, but the sight of the rushing river took her breath away.

“
Let me show you the view from the deck.” Brett opened the French doors and they all stepped out onto a wide deck set under the deep eaves. The pungent odor of pine and cedar mingled with the cool mist rising off the river.

“
This is beautiful,” she said.

“
Mommy, it's so loud!” Sara put her fingers in her ears.

“
It's rushing right now because it was frozen and when it thaws the water wants to make up for being still all winter. It isn't this fast in the summer or fall.”

“
The mist is so pretty,” Rene said.

“
It's due to the difference between the water temperature and the air temperature.”

After a few minutes they all trekked back inside.

“
Mrs. Jolly!” Brett called. “Come meet the new teacher and her family.”

“
I'm old but not deaf, you know!” A plump white-haired woman entered the room, wiping her hands on a dish towel and peering over her glasses with dark, bird-like eyes.

Brett made the introductions and Rene thanked her for their dinner and the groceries.

“
It was nothing at all. I hope I didn't forget anything.” She tucked stray wisps of hair up into her bun. “Were you comfortable last night?”

“
Yes, very.” Rene smiled at her. “We watched a beautiful sunset after we ate your lovely casserole and apple pie. It was so kind of you.”

Mrs. Jolly looked pleased, but continued to protest that she had not put herself out in any way. “It's nice to have little ones in that cabin again.”

“
Children lived there before?” Rene was amazed.

“
In the old days everyone lived in one room. The cabin was in Ben Franklin’s family for generations.”

“
I’m glad a bathroom was added.”

“
Ben's quite a carpenter. He added the loft and built the furniture.” Mrs. Jolly bent down to the children. “Would you like some warm cookies and milk?”

The children were easily lured to the kitchen while Brett showed Rene into his office.

“
I have your contract here someplace.” He rearranged papers around on his desk. “Here, let me move those things.” The only other chair was covered with small boxes and folders. “I'm sending those samples to be tested.”

“
Is this what you're looking for?” Rene held up some papers clipped together with her assumed name on the envelope on top.

“Yes. That's it!” Brett un-clipped the papers, giving two copies of the contract to Rene to read before signing. Since she’d read his offer letter she was delighted with the terms, which included the bonus and housing. Rene signed both copies, noting that Brett had already inked in his signature. She handed one copy back to him and he gave her the envelope.

“Wow!” she said as she saw the amount of the check. “This is great.”

“
Payday is the first of each month and you get the rest of the bonus when you complete the contract. Is the cabin okay?”

“
Yes, but-- There are a few things--"

“
Such as?”

“
I felt so isolated. How about a phone?” Rene saw Brett grin and shake his head. “I know. I don't know anyone to call yet but with two children and no transportation there could be an emergency.”

“
I see. I'll put in a telephone and you can use my old truck. It runs great, but it's not pretty. What else?"

“
The loft is so high. I’m afraid the children will fall. Any suggestions for making it safer?”

“
I’ll look into it,” Brett said.

“
Thank you." Rene was trying hard to maintain her composure, resisting the urge to jump up and down and shout with joy. She doubted that this bear of a man would appreciate her display.

“
I'll show you the truck." He fished a set of keys out of his desk drawer. “We can go around." He opened a door leading to the deck from his office. Rene followed him to a faded red truck parked under the trees. The door creaked when he opened it and swung his large frame onto the seat. He put the key in the ignition and the motor started right up. “Purrs like a kitten."

“
More like a full grown alley cat." Rene smiled at him.

“
Now, Ms. Nichols, this truck may look shabby on the outside but she's had lots of TLC. Nothing but the best for this old girl." He patted the steering wheel affectionately.

“
I promise not to abuse her," Rene vowed.

Brett turned off the motor and tossed the keys to Rene. “I'm sure you wouldn't know the meaning of the word abuse.”

Rene's smile froze but she quickly recovered. “Perhaps, not.”

~*~

Rene had all but forgotten how to drive a stick shift. Slowly she maneuvered the truck along the unpaved road leading back toward the town. She tried to stay clear of the deep ruts cut in by heavier vehicles.

“
Sorry, kids,” she said, putting the truck into park. “If I don’t do this, I’ll just pop.” She turned off the ignition and swung her door open. “Yes!” she screamed as she danced around. At first, both children stared at her through the open door and then scrambled down to join in.

“
Yes! Yes! Yes!” they chanted as they whooped and jumped. Rene had to sit down on the rusty bumper to catch her breath, but she couldn't stop grinning.

Seth came to sit beside her as Sara continued to jump and shout. “Was it something good, Mom?”

“
Better than good,” Rene said. “Brett gave me a big check and this truck to use. And he's getting us a phone.”

“
We can call Aunt Maddy.”

“
We can't do that,” Rene said, abruptly sobering. “At least, not for a while, but we can call for help if we need it---Let's find a bank.”

“
Mom,” Seth said when they were once more bouncing along the road. “What is a tyke?”

“
Tyke?” Rene glanced at him but had to jerk the steering wheel hard to avoid a huge rut.

“
That lady called us tykes and she kept asking us questions.”

“
Questions?” Rene’s skin prickled.

“
Yeah. She wanted to know what we were doing up here all alone. She asked me where our father was.”

Rene tried not to take her eyes off the road. “What did you tell her?”

“
I said he was dead.” Seth's furrowed brow revealed his discomfort. “I didn't know what else to say. It just came out.”

“
I understand.” Rene frowned.

“
She just kept making clicking noises with her tongue and saying, “poor fatherless little tykes.”

“
I see.” Rene tried to ignore the knot in her stomach. “It can't be helped. We have to try to avoid the subject from now on. I don't want you to have to lie but if you're ever forced to answer that same question, just remember to give the same answer.”

The bank, a two-story pink granite building with the year 1887 carved over the door, stood in the middle of the main street. Rene opened the heavy front door for the children. The beveled glass and gleaming brass surfaces posed a bright contrast to the dark mahogany walls. They headed for the only teller who ushered them to the office of Mr. Belker, the President.

“
So happy to meet you,” he assured her, coming around from behind the massive desk to shake her hand. He was rotund and several inches shorter than Rene. His blue eyes twinkled behind thick glasses.

She glanced down at her hand that was still clasped in his soft, slightly damp grip.

He released her immediately and she resisted the desire to wipe her palm. The banker seated them and bustled back around his desk. He was grinning broadly as he ran his hand over his shiny pink head patting the blond hair wisps into place. He reminded Rene of a leering Kewpie doll.

“
Now, Miss---”

“
Nichols. I'm the teacher.” Rene was afraid she might not be able to control her quavering voice.

“
Oh, yes!” He ran his finger around his tight collar. “We've been expecting you.”

“
I want to open an account.” Her eye twitched unexpectedly.