Granite
When we get to the store, it’s not difficult to pick up on the rumors that are flying around the town about the crazy couple that used to live there and went to move in the woods. Rumor was that Lana was mentally unhinged, they say, and that Tom had taken her to live in the woods to try to keep her safe and to keep her away from hurting others. I guess that didn’t work out so well for him. I wonder if anyone in the town knew what had just happened. I am guessing that they didn’t or else the rumors would have been a lot spicier than they already were.
Amber is still worrying about Pete, but I tell her that there’s really nothing that we can do to help him. The best we can do is to hope that he got away and made it over to Ashville on the other side of the mountains. Maybe there he can find a family to look after him.
We spend the next few days helping the old widow around her house. I make repairs, all of which are very small and easy, and Amber helps to tidy and clean while the old woman cools for us and tells us stories about her past. Amber seems to really like the lady and I agree that the woman does seem lonely without any family. I’m glad that we crossed paths with her, not only because she is helping us so much by giving us money and food and a place to stay, but also because it’s nice to be able to help her too, and to spend some time around a sane and kind person for a change.
“You know,” the woman says while she sits at her table and watches me give Amber a quick kiss on the cheek before going to straighten a broken cabinet. “I’ve quickly grown quite fond of the two of you. You were exactly what I needed at this point in my life; some youthful and friendly company.”
That makes me smile and I think that Amber and I can both agree that she was exactly what we needed right now too.
“I’d like to do something for you,” she says. “My late husband had a cabin in the mountains, just a few miles from here, within walking distance for young folk like yourselves. I am sure that it’s run-down by now. It’s been abandoned ever since he passed away years ago and I haven’t been able to make the journey there to see it. When you are done helping me here, and if you would like it and can promise to fix it up nice and do my husband’s memory justice; then you are welcome to it. It’s nothing fancy, but it would make a nice little home for the two of you.”
“Really?” Amber says with a wide-eyed excitement. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” the kindly woman says as she nods her head. “It’s not like I can use it and I don’t have any family left. The two of you are the closest thing to friends and family that I have.”
“Thank you,” I say. “That means more to us than we can put into words. You have my word that we will fix it up very nicely and take good care of your husband’s cabin. And once we have it all in repair, we will take you up there so that you can see it again for yourself.”
“Oh,” she says with tears in her eyes. “I would like that very much.”
