Old man of the lake of the sky CH. 1 pt. 3

Old man of the lake of the sky CH. 1 pt. 3

"I think I've probably come to the wrong place, and I wonder if you might be able to set me straight. I'm thinking about buying some property in this area, and according to this map, this place is for sale."

The woman glanced at the map and then back at Henry. "I'm afraid you have come to the wrong place. I own this property, and it is not for sale. I don't know where you got your map, but it is wrong."

Henry nodded and smiled at her. "Yeah, I sort of figured that out when I saw your house. I'm sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if you knew there was anywhere else around here that might be for sale."

She shook her head and returned Henry's smile with one of her own. "I haven't heard of anything. We're a bit out of the way in these parts."

"Yes, I know. I just bought a place a mile or so from here. I love this valley. So, that makes us neighbors. My name is Henry Addison."

"Henry, it is good to meet you. My name is Ms. Etna Dodd. Welcome to the Lake of the Sky, and I hope you continue to enjoy the area. I really wish I could be of more help, but I am afraid that I do not hear much news about what is happening in the valley. Good luck on locating the place you're trying to find."

"Maybe, you could ask your husband if he has known of any place for sale around here. I would be grateful if you did. I can come back later and talk to him."

"I'm a widow, and now, if you will excuse me, I've got something in the oven that I've got to check on. It was genuinely nice meeting you. Perhaps, you can drop by another time."

He nodded his head and turned away. There was something about the woman which fascinated him. He found the woman to be extremely attractive, and at the same time, there was something odd about her. Her red hair, the freckles on her small nose, her green eyes, and her bow-like lips had made his heart leap. However, her dress was something, which his mother might have worn when she was young. Henry realized that people in rural areas were very conservative, and they often were reluctant to give up the manners of the parents; however, he could not help feeling that the long dress, with its high neck, was doing a disservice to the girl, who was hidden beneath it. As he walked back toward his cabin, he became more convinced that he had found the best scenery in the valley.

For the next few days, Henry busied himself with checking out property around the lake, but he could not get Etna Dodd out of his mind. He could not explain why she exerted such a forceful attraction upon him, he only knew that he had never met anyone, who so captivated his thoughts. Finally, he decided that he had to go back and pay her a formal visit.

When he had talked to her, she had seemed uneasy with his presence, and he hoped that it was only because she was not used to having someone come knocking at her door. Henry realized he would have to do something, which would reassure her that he did not present a danger to her welfare.

As Henry approached the house, he felt increasingly uncertain about what he would say to the woman. He suspected, that if he came out and asked her if she needed any help, or if he could pick up something for her at the store, she would tell him no. Any woman living alone, in this remote area, would have to be very independent and self-reliant. If he said things the wrong way, she might become offended, and he would end up doing his cause more harm than good. Still and all, he knew he had to try something to get to know the woman better.

When he approached the place, he noticed that at one side of the house, was a pile of log rounds, cut to various lengths, a block for chopping firewood, and two piles of stacked chopped wood. One of the piles had pieces of wood, from ten to twelve inches long, and the other pile had pieces, from eighteen to twenty-four inches long. He went over to where the rounds lay and saw that a splitting mall, an ax, and splitting wedges were neatly stored in a sheltered area, which had been built on the side of the house. He decided that actions would speak better than words. So, he took off his jacket, grabbed the splitting mall, and started to work on the smaller length rounds.

He had only finished splitting two rounds when Etna Dodd came around the side of the house. "What are you doing?"

Henry smiled at her and hoped he was doing the right thing. "I sort of hope I'm helping you out. I saw these rounds lying here just crying out to be split up and this being such an enjoyable day, I could not resist grabbing the mall. I really enjoy splitting wood. Why, sometimes that is about all I do, all day long, at my own place."

She looked at him like he was crazy, and his heart sank. Then, she figured out that he was kidding her, and she grinned. "You love splitting wood, do you?"

"One of my all-time favorite things to do; it is a lot of fun."

She nodded her head as she rubbed her hands on the apron she was wearing over her long dress. "So, I'd actually be making you happy if I let you keep on splitting?"

"Absolutely!"

Etna laughed. "Well, wouldn't want to disappoint you, knowing how your heart is set on splitting up this wood. So, you can be my guest and split away to your heart's content. I have always thought splitting wood was challenging work, but there is no telling what makes people happy. Do not let me stop your fun. You can get back to splitting; I have work to do in the house. I'll check on you after a bit, just to make sure you haven't collapsed with joy."

She turned and went around the corner of the house, leaving Henry to congratulate himself that his actions had not gotten him kicked off her property. In fact, Etna had a good sense of humor. He picked up the mall and returned to his attack upon the wood.

An hour and a half later, he had added two rows of split short wood and one row of split long wood to the wood stacks; however, he was beginning to feel that splitting wood seemed like work. At last, the final log round was split and stacked. He leaned against the firewood to catch his breath.

"Looks like you're about ready to fall down from being so happy. Well, come in the house before you do, I've some pie and cider for you."

Henry turned around at the sound of Etna's voice and saw her beckoning to him. She led him into the house, and she worked the water pump while he washed. Then, she had him sit at the table and sat a glass of cider before him and a small plate, which had a slice of apple pie on it. After fixing herself pie and cider, the woman sat down opposite Henry.

"Thank you for helping me out with the firewood. Unlike you, I hate splitting and it really needed to be done before the weather worsens."

Swallowing a bit of pie, Henry raised his glass to her. "And thank you for the pie and cider. They are well worth splitting a little bit of wood to get."

"Ha, it is nothing at all. In fact, it is the very least I could do in return for your help. There are not many, people that stop here, and I have come to depend upon myself for about everything. Mr. and Ms. Winslow bring me things from the store. They brought me those log rounds. The wood is supposed to be dry enough for burning, but I hope it was not too dry for easy splitting. I'm afraid that I should have split them up a long time ago, but I'm terribly lazy."

Laughing, Henry motioned toward her, as he finished the last of his pie. "Somehow I doubt that. I do not think you know how to be lazy.

Everything about your place here tells me that you keep busy. Is there anything else that I can help you with?"

"Oh no, that would be asking way too much of you. I'm sure that everything is fine."

"I really don't mind helping. I hope you won't mind if I quickly visit again and if you can think of anything that needs attending to, you can let me know about it the next time I see you."

Etna hesitated moments before she spoke. "I appreciate your efforts, but I'm fairly sure I don't have anything, which needs to be done that I cannot do. However, I will think it over and let you know."

Henry finished the last of his cider and stood up. "I had better be going. I have had so much fun splitting wood today that I cannot wait to go home and collapse. I am only half-joking; I really did not mind helping with the wood, and I certainly enjoyed the pie and cider.

Being a bachelor, I don't get much in the way of homemade pie."

The sun was rapidly sinking toward the western mountains as Henry walked back toward his cabin. He was tired from the day's exertions but contented that he had managed to get to know Etna Dodd a little bit better. At least she had not told him straight out not to show up again, and he thought that had to have been a good sign.

It seemed incredible to him, that a lovely woman like Etna could be found living alone, like a hermit. Her mode of dress and the contents of her house seemed to imply that she was a person who wanted to live in the past. Why she had turned her back upon both civilization and the modern world was a mystery. However, he felt that the death of her husband must factor into the matter somewhere. Still and all, she was a fascinating woman; one he was determined to get to know even better.

Two days later, he found himself knocking once again upon Etna's door. He gave her a big smile when she opened the door. "Say, lady do you have any work for a poor guy down on his luck? I'll be glad to work for something to eat."

To be continued