Meg
Meg sealed the last box, added the label, stuck a Priority Mail sticker on it and tossed it into her tote. Daisy and Elvira began to dance around as she took her hat from the hook. She opened the door and started down the drive to the mailbox. The dogs ran sniffing both sides of the road ahead of her. At the mailbox she opened the big door and put the packages inside. Then she raised the flag to let the driver know that she had a pickup. She turned back towards the house, but then turned to look up the mountain. The dogs looked at her quizzically. She laughed. “All right! Just a short one though.”
She crossed Banner Road and entered the field. She skirted the fence that was across the path and started up the hill. The dogs ran ahead as was their habit. Sniff and pee. Sniff and pee. Dogs had such easy lives. Soon they were at the fork in the trail that led to the tree she had discovered on the last trip up the mountain. Without a second thought she turned and headed up the path. Might as well face this demon and put it behind her. She had avoided the mountain when Greg and Kevin were here because of this and now it would be put to rest. As she neared the tree she relaxed. The brush was not beaten down at all. As she looked around she noticed the growth pattern on the big pines was the same as this one. Looked like a ladder. What a silly goose she had been. The path turned slightly to the left so she followed it. About 300 yards and she realized that off to her right was what appeared to be a small cabin. She stopped and studied it. It was a small cabin. There was a worn driveway so she knew it was used by someone. She should go back. This was some ones home. She was trespassing. Well, not really. She was just walking past a house.
The road lay right before her and she knew if she followed the road around to the right it would lead back to Banner Road where she lived. Fred lived up here somewhere, but this looked too neat to be where Fred would live. She scoffed at herself for making judgements about Fred. She did not know where he lived and so could not know how he lived. As she debated whether to take the road back down or go back the way she had come, she heard a vehicle coming up Storm Lake Road. She made her mind up very quickly when the Black Jeep Cherokee approached and turned into the little cabin. Curiosity made her look at the vehicle and she strained to catch a glimpse of the driver as she looked back over her shoulder. So intent was she in that endeavor that she did not notice that Elvira had stopped to itch herself. She stepped on the dogs tail and she yelped. She halted the forward momentum of the second leg and tumbled forward into Daisy. Another yelp as the door of the Jeep closed. The big man whirled and stared in her direction. He did not look happy at all. And then he looked very surprised as he started towards her. Meg rose and was dusting herself off when he reached her.
“Are you alright lady?” He glanced at the dogs who were cowering at her feet. “Did I scare you and your dogs? Why are you up here? This is private property, you know.” He stopped and waited for her to answer.
Meg was frozen in place by his cold steely eyes and then she noticed his scar. She had met this man before. Her and Tommy. Long ago. She took a deep breathe and began her explanation. “Well, I am Meg Paker and I live straight south of here. I was just walking on the trail with the dogs cause that is what I do sometimes. I did not even know there was a house here until I stumbled on it today. I usually turn around before I get this far. I was thinking of taking the road back and then I noticed your cabin. And then you came and so I started back and tripped on Elvira….” Her voice trailed off as she stood waiting for what? Absolution? Wrath? She turned to go.
“Oh.” And that was all he said. Meg was suddenly aware of his eyes burning into her. She shivered as she suddenly felt very vulnerable. She turned back toward the trail she had come up to get here. “It is alright if you walk across my yard.” he said curtly as he turned and walked toward the little cabin without a backward glance. He unlocked the door and quickly disappeared inside. Meg was left staring at a closed door. She suddenly just wanted to be home and she hurried back the way she had come. The sun was past it’s zenith when she hurried inside and the door locked behind her. Home! This was her sanctuary. Her haven. And suddenly she began to sob as she thought of Tommy. Never again would her Tommy hold her. Never would they laugh. As she sank into the overstuffed chair that faced the open window and the mountain she gave vent to the last three years of loneliness and frustration. The dogs stood silently at her feet and stared at the grieving woman.
Meg sealed the last box, added the label, stuck a Priority Mail sticker on it and tossed it into her tote. Daisy and Elvira began to dance around as she took her hat from the hook. She opened the door and started down the drive to the mailbox. The dogs ran sniffing both sides of the road ahead of her. At the mailbox she opened the big door and put the packages inside. Then she raised the flag to let the driver know that she had a pickup. She turned back towards the house, but then turned to look up the mountain. The dogs looked at her quizzically. She laughed. “All right! Just a short one though.”
She crossed Banner Road and entered the field. She skirted the fence that was across the path and started up the hill. The dogs ran ahead as was their habit. Sniff and pee. Sniff and pee. Dogs had such easy lives. Soon they were at the fork in the trail that led to the tree she had discovered on the last trip up the mountain. Without a second thought she turned and headed up the path. Might as well face this demon and put it behind her. She had avoided the mountain when Greg and Kevin were here because of this and now it would be put to rest. As she neared the tree she relaxed. The brush was not beaten down at all. As she looked around she noticed the growth pattern on the big pines was the same as this one. Looked like a ladder. What a silly goose she had been. The path turned slightly to the left so she followed it. About 300 yards and she realized that off to her right was what appeared to be a small cabin. She stopped and studied it. It was a small cabin. There was a worn driveway so she knew it was used by someone. She should go back. This was some ones home. She was trespassing. Well, not really. She was just walking past a house.
The road lay right before her and she knew if she followed the road around to the right it would lead back to Banner Road where she lived. Fred lived up here somewhere, but this looked too neat to be where Fred would live. She scoffed at herself for making judgements about Fred. She did not know where he lived and so could not know how he lived. As she debated whether to take the road back down or go back the way she had come, she heard a vehicle coming up Storm Lake Road. She made her mind up very quickly when the Black Jeep Cherokee approached and turned into the little cabin. Curiosity made her look at the vehicle and she strained to catch a glimpse of the driver as she looked back over her shoulder. So intent was she in that endeavor that she did not notice that Elvira had stopped to itch herself. She stepped on the dogs tail and she yelped. She halted the forward momentum of the second leg and tumbled forward into Daisy. Another yelp as the door of the Jeep closed. The big man whirled and stared in her direction. He did not look happy at all. And then he looked very surprised as he started towards her. Meg rose and was dusting herself off when he reached her.
“Are you alright lady?” He glanced at the dogs who were cowering at her feet. “Did I scare you and your dogs? Why are you up here? This is private property, you know.” He stopped and waited for her to answer.
Meg was frozen in place by his cold steely eyes and then she noticed his scar. She had met this man before. Her and Tommy. Long ago. She took a deep breathe and began her explanation. “Well, I am Meg Paker and I live straight south of here. I was just walking on the trail with the dogs cause that is what I do sometimes. I did not even know there was a house here until I stumbled on it today. I usually turn around before I get this far. I was thinking of taking the road back and then I noticed your cabin. And then you came and so I started back and tripped on Elvira….” Her voice trailed off as she stood waiting for what? Absolution? Wrath? She turned to go.
“Oh.” And that was all he said. Meg was suddenly aware of his eyes burning into her. She shivered as she suddenly felt very vulnerable. She turned back toward the trail she had come up to get here. “It is alright if you walk across my yard.” he said curtly as he turned and walked toward the little cabin without a backward glance. He unlocked the door and quickly disappeared inside. Meg was left staring at a closed door. She suddenly just wanted to be home and she hurried back the way she had come. The sun was past it’s zenith when she hurried inside and the door locked behind her. Home! This was her sanctuary. Her haven. And suddenly she began to sob as she thought of Tommy. Never again would her Tommy hold her. Never would they laugh. As she sank into the overstuffed chair that faced the open window and the mountain she gave vent to the last three years of loneliness and frustration. The dogs stood silently at her feet and stared at the grieving woman.
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