Thunder Snow (Thunder On The Mountain Series) (2 page)

CHAPTER THREE

W
hen the jingle of the bells stopped, Sam and I exchanged the smile of old friends. I couldn’t help the burst of laughter.

“He’s a friendly sort,” I said with more than a touch of sarcasm. “That was almost fun.”

“I ain’t never seen him so rude.” I saw Sam’s rascally smile as he wiped down the counter.

“I understand you and my dad go way back?” I said by way of changing the subject. I wasn’t ready to dwell too long on Jack Franklin and the motivation behind his surly manner.

“Yer pa was fresh out a college ‘bout thirty years ago when he came up here. We was both lookin’ fer somethin’, and he found it in yer ma. She was livin’ in Denver and passed through one day. They thought it was kismet, him bein’ Charles and her bein’ Charlie. The rest, as they say, is history.

“I was downright heartbroke’ when they moved out a the area cuz they was ‘spectin’ ya. Yer ma jest didn’ wanna risk the cold winters and isolation that come with bein’ up here. So Charles took her back ta Denver.

“When yer ma passed a few years back, yer pa came up here ta finally build his cabin, and we was fast friends again, as if there ain’t never been no time past at all. We kep’n touch over the years, but I waited a mighty long spell ta finally meet the li’l bundle a joy that made ‘em move.

“I jest never ‘spected ta wait all these years,” he said affectionately. “I kin die a happy man now. Yer pa told me some a what’s been goin’ on with ya. Ya gotta know yer safe up here. Ain’t gonna let nobody get near ya.”

“Oh, Sam, thank you. You make me feel like I’ve come home.” I said, patting his hand. “Things got pretty rough for a while. One of these days we’ll talk about it. In the meantime, I can’t imagine a more heartfelt welcome than what you’ve given me. I can’t believe my mom didn’t want to stay.”

“Don’t ferget, they didn’ have no fancy house on the side a a hill. They jest had a li’l cabin that blew a lotta cold air whe
n the snows came. Easy ‘nough fer two healthy young ‘uns, but tweren’t no place fer a baby.”

“When my dad suggested I stay at his cabin and told me I could make it my ‘escape hatch,’ that’s what I was expecting - a not-quite-drafty large room. In my wildest dreams I couldn’t have imagined what I found. What a magnificent place he has. I don’t think I’ll ever want to leave.”

“That’ll be all right with every one a us. I’m a thinkin’ ain’t nobody gonna mind havin’ ya ‘round.”

There was that wicked grin again.

“I never could figure out why he was so secretive about his Fortress of Solitude. He wouldn’t even let me come up while it was being built.”

“I think it was part a his healin’ time, honey. They had talked so often ‘bout comin’ back, and now here he was, doin’ it without her. She sure woulda loved it.”

“Wouldn’t she, though? She would have changed her mind in a heartbeat about being up here. I will always be sorry she wasn’t able to see it.”

“Seasons. Everythin’ in its own time.”

“Well, I, for one, am certainly ready for this season in my life, Sam. I’m looking forward to hiding out in a remote location and finding out a whole bunch about Callie Weston I don’t have a clue about because I never slow down long enough to look at her.”

“I know fer a fact yer gonna like what ya find.”

~~~

With a thermos of fresh coffee and my new Nikon, I set off for a day’s adventure. Normally dressed to the nines for work, I marveled at how totally carefree I felt in my hiking boots, jeans, and a long-sleeved tee shirt. My SUV took to the winding dirt roads with ease. The surroundings were lush as summer came to a close, the colors vibrant. I found a trailhead close to town, parked, and headed out.

When the phone rang and I saw it was daddy, I was looking forward to chiding him.

“Yeah, yeah, you old buzzard. How could you have kept THIS a secret?”

“Hey, sweetheart,” he said with affection. “I see you made it okay?”

“Not only did I make it, I doubt I’m ever gonna leave.”

There was wistfulness in his voice when he said, “We were right out of college. Nederland is a place where hippies were welcomed, and we wanted to be part of the movement. But we had to work to get the money to pay for the land, then you came along and one thing led to another, and we never made it back.”

“Can you imagine how much she would have loved it, Daddy? It’s a work of art. I’m not sure I’ve ever been in a place with as much warmth. It’s ingenious how it fits right into the landscape.” I saw his place again in my mind’s eye and was bewitched all over again.

“Looking out over the water, over the Rockies - hidden but accessible, great functionality . . . it’s the BEST. It has to be a Montgomery, right? He’s too unique not to recognize his work, but I want to know how you scored THAT, and how could you EVER have kept that secret from me?”

“Yeah, pun’kin. When I decided to finally build, I worked with him to have him do the design, then one of my crews did the actual work.”

“Well, you just may have to kick me out after the Spring thaw. I’m not sure I’m ever gonna be able to leave. Some real serious heart attachment already. Good job, old man.”

“Glad you like it. I take it you met Sam then?”

“What a treasure he is, Dad. He’s been so helpful, and the Amber Rose already feels like a second home with its warm leather booths and carved wooden stools. I certainly feel like I’ve always known him.”

 
“He’ll protect you with his life. We’ve been friends for decades.”

 
“He told me some of your history. Things you never really talked about. I loved hearing his stories. There was someone else there . . .”

“Yeah?”

 “A guy named Jack Franklin . . . you know him?”

 
There was a short pause before he said, “Good man, that Jack. But he’s chasing a lot of demons. Protect yourself, pun’kin. I hear he has some razor-sharp teeth.”

“Oh, no worries on this end, Daddy. I haven’t seen the ‘good man’ side of him yet. And I’m comin’ to get away from crazy men, remember? Not run into the arms of the devil himself.”
 

CHAPTER  FOU
R

I
was excited when I got back into town and felt like a kid at the thought of telling Sam about my first outing. The weather had held, it was still warm. I had taken some phenomenal shots of the wildlife and the scenery from the top of a hill that had been simple to climb. Until I knew the area better, I would start with easy trips.

There were several people sitting at the counter and at the booths when I walked in. Sam got a huge grin and held up a cup, almost in salute, and set it at the end of the counter, motioning for me to sit there.

I wasn’t in a mood to sit and relax, so I followed Sam into the back and asked if there was anything I could do to help.

“I jest fixed a fresh pot. I won’t mind if ya wanna warm up cups while I put another one on ta brew.”

“Sure thing,” I said, thinking how familiar this all felt. I belonged here, and was aware I was content. I emptied the last of the coffee into a cup when I looked up and saw Jack standing there. My expression didn’t change, even though my heart rate did.

For a long time, I had worn a cloak of indifference to shield me from the crazy forces surrounding me. It had been conscious self-protection, but I could feel it falling away. Now was not the time to think about what Jack did to me, but on some level I didn’t mind a bit. It meant I was alive. I hadn’t relaxed enough to feel anything in so long, this was almost welcome.

Playfully I said, “Take a seat, cowboy, I got a fresh pot in the back,” winking as I headed to the kitchen. I wasn’t sure he’d be there when I came back, but I didn’t care. I felt vibrant.

“You might want to start another one, Sam. Drained this pot dry and more to go,” I said, heading back to the dining room.

He was sitting in a booth, staring out the window.

“What brings you to town, stranger?” I teased as I poured his coffee.

He looked at me almost in surprise, and a smile appeared on his rugged face.

“Nothing nearly so elegant as Alice,” he said, remembering our previous conversation. “I came in more on the Hounds of Hell.”

“That musta been a rough ride. You keep ‘em tied up ‘round here?”

“Nah. I let ‘em run free as much as possible. Hoping someone else will take ‘em off my hands.”

Our eyes met and I said gently, “If you don’t feed them, they’ll lose their power and go looking for someone else to torment.”

“I’m waitin’ for that day, little one. But they’re not hanging around as much as they used to.”

I loved the spell his voice created, the insight he had given without saying anything.

“Want something to eat?”

“Sam putting you to work?”

“Nah. Had such a good day and wanted to share it, but when I got here, it was busy and I offered to help. Not used to relaxing. Something I hope to learn while I’m here.”

“What had you all wound up?”

“Doesn’t take much for me,” I chuckled. “I want to get really good at taking pictures - of everything. Today I took a hike and got scenery and close ups of some of the fall vegetation. Helps me to look at things with a different eye.”

“You been over to the Carousel yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Can’t stay around here without knowing about the Carousel of Happiness. Took Robert twenty-six plus years to carve the life sized pieces and paint them. It’s a work of art. I imagine it would be an unusual photo op for you.”

“Then I’ll make sure it’s on my agenda soon.”

“How about the Pioneer Inn? It used to be a hangout for Rock legends like Elton John, Billy Joel, Carole King— lots of the big names came up to record at Caribou. Not a whole lot there, but certainly a piece of the town’s history to help you get a feel for the place.”

“Thanks, Jack, I’ll start there. So many times in so many houses I have wished the walls could talk. Could you even imagine the stories THAT place has to tell?”

“I can’t imagine. I would have paid good money to have joined in on any one of those jam sessions.”

“Sounds like a great place. You hungry? Sam just took a beautiful meatloaf out of the oven.”

“You said the magic words.”

~~~

By the time I got home, it was dark outside. I could see the faint lights of the town through the expanse of glass that overlooked Barker Reservoir. Even so, the house had a sense of privacy, as well as an illusion of being suspended in mid-air. If I had searched the world for an ideal escape, I couldn’t have conceived of a more perfect hideaway.

The floors looked like warm mahogany. I wondered if I laid down on them if my hair would get lost in the color, and if that had been an intentional choice on my dad’s part. The elegantly recessed light fixtures gave plenty of illumination; curved walls gave separation to the open flow of the rooms; tall ceilings were obviously angled for heavy snows.

The kitchen was polished granite with a large island that had plenty of room for sitting or leaning. The Wolf stove was gleaming steel, and there was even a wine refrigerator neatly tucked into the island. He had spared no expense. The pantry was stocked, and there was enough food here to ride out the winter. Soft towels and summer fresh sheets filled the linen closet. It was so well organized, I wondered if fairies had arranged the shelves.

I poured myself a glass of wine and sat in front of an inviting fire, thinking about the surroundings. The house spoke to me, telling me I was safe, that it was okay to let go, that I would be protected here, that I was home.

CHAPTER  FIVE

 
A
ngie and I met our sophomore year in college. As different as we were, we hit it off immediately. Kindred spirits to be sure, we were inseparable during those formative years. Not too long after graduation, Angie married Mark, a very nice but boring young man she had met the previous year.

As Maid of Honor in her wedding, I was paired with Mark’s Best Man, his brother Jason. Pleasant on the surface, somewhat attractive, I had no interest in him and rebuffed his advances more times than I could count. I kept my distance. Angie kept telling me I was being unreasonable.

“Oh, Callie,” said the starry-eyed young bride to be, “please just go out with him. He’s such a nice guy. I think you’ll like him a lot.”

“You know how much I love you, Ange, but you and I want totally different things. Jason is SO intense, kinda creepy intense. I don’t want to get married for years yet. I want to travel and work and build a name for myself. I can’t imagine Jason would be good for just a few dates, so why bother?”

“Not even for me?”

“Not even for you,” I insisted. “We’ve had a great time planning your wedding. It’s been your own fairy tale. But the planning and the doing and the excitement will be over soon, and then I’m gonna throw myself into my work with that same kind of determination. I don’t need clinging young men messing up my plans.

“Besides, he told me he’s looking for someone who will stay home, take care of his house, not work, and take care of the kids. While I have always wanted kids one day, the thought of that at this point in my life makes me want to swoon with hysteria.”

“How can we be so different and still be so close? I’m so eager to marry Mark and settle down, I can hardly wait.”

The subject of Jason came up many times over the years, and every time I remained steadfast in my insistence that I wouldn’t go out with him. Angie and I stayed close, even during the birth of her two babies, but I never changed my mind about Jason, never.

~~~

There was only one car parked at the Amber Rose as I came back from a long day of dealing with business issues in Denver. I was tired of thinking about Angie and Jason. I knew Sam’s friendly face would help get rid of the frustrations and ghosts of my day.

He came out from the kitchen when he heard the bell. “Well, look who’s here. Glad ta see ya got back, pun’kin. ‘Spectin’ a heck of a storm tomorrow.”

“Hey, Sam. It looked like it might be quiet around here. Thought I’d stop in and say ‘hello,’ see how you’re doing.”

“Better’n most,” he said with a wink. “Coffee?”

“No, thanks. I was hoping to get a little something to eat. Got any leftovers?”

“Sure ‘nuf. Ya set yerself right down and I’ll get somethin’ all fixed up for ya,” he said as he headed to the kitchen.

A moment later the back door closed and the car outside started up, its lights illuminating the darkness of the parking lot.

“Who was that?” I asked as he came out with a steaming plate of Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and some green beans.

“Want a malted ta go with that?”

“Are you ignoring my question?” I teased, looking at him closely.

“What question was that?” he said, turning away, but not before I caught a blush creeping up to explode above his beard.

“Well, well, well, you sly devil. Thanks, I’ll just take water.”

When he returned with a tall glass of iced water, I decided not to chide him about who his visitor might have been. He’d tell me when he was ready. “Looks delicious, Sam. I need to stop going all day without eating. I get so busy I completely forget, then I’m ravenous. I’ll start packin’ on the pounds if I’m not careful.”

“That sure ain’t gonna happen. Ya never slow down enough for those pounds ta be able ta catch up with ya.”

The image of running away from Pac Man-type creatures that might be chasing me made me smile, and led to another thought.

“Remember that first morning you and I talked? You told me about my Mom and Dad coming here, told me how they were looking for something, how they found it in each other? You mentioned you were looking for something when you came here, too. Did you ever find it?”

Sam got a faraway look and stopped wiping the counter. After what appeared to be careful consideration, he smiled.

“Yeah, pun’kin, I sure did.”

I was slowly eating my meal, staying quiet, hoping he’d continue.

“Back in the ‘60s, me ‘n’ Rose was so much in love, we knew we could do anything. She had the biggest heart a anyone I ever did meet. All she wanted was ta help people and ta love her Sam.

“She was just a tiny slip a a thing. Hair down past her waist, it was so unruly she used ta wear it in two big braids all the time. I’d pick flowers and weave them into her hair . . . used ta laugh and say they made her a true flower child.

“We decided ta do what a lot a our friends was doin’, joined up with the Peace Corps. We got married in a field in Boulder ‘fore we left. Even though the times was ‘bout free love and free spirit, Rose ‘n’ me loved each other. We made it legal ‘cause we wanted ta be together.”

I loved listening to him. I could see Rose clearly, imagined her happily with a young Sam in a field of daisies. I didn’t want to speak and break the spell, so I waited silently, hoping nothing would happen to disturb his tale. A few moments later he began again, and I knew he was with her, wherever they had gone.

“We ended up in Ecuador. Even though both a us spoke Spanish ‘fore we left, it didn’t take long fer us ta learn the real stuff down there. We made a pact that even when we was alone, we’d speak it so we would know it well enough ta not have any trouble with the people we was there ta help.

“Won’t never ferget the first mornin’ she woke up and was all excited ‘cause she had dreamt in Spanish. Felt like she had truly accomplished somethin’. Everythin’ ‘bout her was fresh, excited, new. It was hard ta be unhappy when she was ’round, she was so full a life.”

I had finished eating, but didn’t want to move. He seemed to become conscious of where he was. He didn’t say anything when he took my dishes and came back with a plate of cherry pie and a cup of coffee.

“Gave ya some decaf. No sense bein’ awake tonight.”

Still I remained silent, not wanting anything to sidetrack him from finishing his account of what had set him on his journey to this little town.

“One morning she woke up and was nauseated,” he continued, “and was excited at the thought that maybe she was pregnant.

“The next morning she threw
up, and continued with nausea fer most of the day. She wasn’t hungry at all, and by the end of the day, she was real sick with a headache. In the whole time I knew her, she had never complained a anything, so I knew she weren’t feelin’ well.

“At the end of the third day, she started feeling better. She seemed like her old self for a day or two, but then she woke up sick again. Her whole body was sore, and her skin was a sickly color of yellow. She caught a glimpse a herself in the mirror when she got up, and laughed and told me she would forever be my Amber Rose.

“When the doctor arrived, he told us it was yellow fever and there was no medication that would get rid of it, only ta make her as comfortable as possible and she’d probably get better. He pulled me aside and told me I should think about getting her ta the hospital, which was hours away.

“By the time we got her there, she was in a coma. She lived for two more days and never woke up.”

Tears softly fell over my cheeks. I let out a little sob. Sam turned and looked at me and patted my hand. “It’s been long enough now I can think a her like she used ta be. Sweetest little thing God ever created.

“I took her body home and wandered. Didn’t want ta talk ta nobody; didn’t want ta know nobody; didn’t care if I lived. After a year or two, I ended up here
– perfect place, as yer findin’ out, ta get away from the demons that’s chasin’ ya.

“That’s when I met yer pa, and he was so good at just letting me get it all out. I started ta heal some, and decided this was a good place ta stay. Can’t tell ya how much it hurt ta see him and yer ma leave . . . an’ how good it feels ta have ya here.”

“Sam, I’m so sorry.” There weren’t words to tell him how much I hurt for him.

“It’s been over forty years, pun’kin. It becomes part a what makes ya who ya are. But thanks for lettin’ me tell ya about my Rose. It’s nice ta keep her memory alive.”

“I understand. I have a new appreciation for all of this,” I said, sweeping my arm to encompass his place.

“Yep, she woulda loved it here. And she sure woulda loved ya. Not a day goes by I don’t think ‘bout her.”

“Thank you for sharing that, Sam. She sounds wonderful, and I love you even more than I did before.”

For the second time that day, I saw Sam blush to his hairline.

“So who went out the back door earlier?” Since he had been so forthcoming about Rose, I thought maybe he’d tell me about whoever it was that had been visiting him.

“Get on down the road with ya now, Missy. It’s late and I need ta be closin’ up this place.”

“Okay, if you’re gonna be that way, I’ll go. Anything I can do to help?”

“Not a derned thing. Get on now. And don’t venture out tomorrow if the weather’s too bad.”

“Don’t you know, Sam, that little boys who lie a lot grow up to be weathermen? I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Don’t go gettin’ all cocky on me, young un’. It can change in the blink of an eye up here. Don’t ya go doin’ nothin’ foolish.”

“Of course, sir.” I went around the counter and kissed him on his cheek. “You’re so special, Sam. I’m sorry it took so long, but I’m glad you’re in my life.”

“That makes two a us, honey.”