Christmas With Hover Hill (15 page)

Bud handed the poles back and glanced at the wall
clock. “I think we better be headed back. I don't want to be on the
road with that sleigh after dark.”

“
Why, Uncle Bud? Will the sleigh turn into a
pumpkin?” Megan asked.

Everyone laughed.

Susie said, “You have your fairy tales mixed up. It
was Cinderella's coach that turned into the pumpkin.” She turned to
Elizabeth. “I'm glad Bud thought to do that for you. Sometime, I'd
like to take a sleigh ride like that myself. Sounds like such
fun.”

Bud grinned. “Was that a hint?”

Susie shrugged, “No, just saying.”

Elizabeth turned to Bud. “Why can't we take everyone
out to the house for dinner, ah supper? Maybe Frank could follow in
his car and take Susie and the kids back home later. If he doesn't
mind?”

Frank nodded approval. “I don't mind if Susie and the
kids want a ride in the sleigh. Bud ought to get his rental money's
worth out of it that way. What do you say, Susie?”

“
Frank, you know I'd love it,” Susie said
excitedly. “What about it, kids?”

David said, “We'll get our coats and boots on real
quick.”

Bud frowned at Elizabeth. “Are you sure this will be
all right? I mean with Hover and all.”

“
Sure. It will be fine. The only problem is I
told him to just fix some sandwiches for me and you. He won't have
enough dinner fixed for all of us. He might not be happy about
that.”

“
No problem. I have all those leftovers in the
kitchen we can box up and take in our car,” Susie said, heading to
the kitchen.

Elizabeth trailed after her. “I'll help.”

“
What a great idea you had,” Susie said to
her.

“
I thought maybe you can give the kids a tour
of the house while you're there. Bud and you can tell stories about
your family for the kids to remember later on to retell to their
children. I'd like to hear the family stories myself,” Elizabeth
said.

As soon as the boxes were packed in the car, Susie
and the boys climbed into the back seat. Megan sat between Bud and
Elizabeth. The children had a field day spotting deer along the
side of the road that came out later in the day. Wild turkeys were
scratching through the snow for something to eat in one pasture. A
rabbit, in the ditch, perked up when they drove too close. The boys
saw it all.

Megan enjoyed the jingling bells. She said it
reminded her of the song Jingle Bells. She smiled up at Elizabeth
and took her gloved hand. “This is fun.”

“
I'm glad,” Elizabeth said. She looked over
Megan's head at Bud. As their eyes met, she said, “I think so,
too.”

Susie enjoyed the whole experience, seeing how
excited her children became as they watched the scenery from the
sleigh.

When Bud pulled up by the front porch, everyone
climbed out. Frank parked his car beside the sleigh. Bud helped him
carry the food boxes.

When Elizabeth opened the door, she called, “Hover,
we're back.”

“
So I see,” Hover droned softly from the
kitchen doorway.

“
Come meet Farmer's family,” Elizabeth said.
Hover didn't move. “It's all right, Hover. I want them to meet
you.” Bud's family stared at the robot unable to digest what they
saw. “This is when I explain to all of you about Hover Hill. You've
heard about the man that lives with me. Well, he is a
robot.”

Megan reached out and poked Hover's arm. “What's a
bot?”

“
He's a robot,” Frank said. “That means he's a
mechanical man.”

“
Hover, meet Frank, Susie, David, Jimmie and
Megan,” Elizabeth introduced.

“
I am not programmed to say their names,” Hover
stated.

“
I know, but you can come up with a name for
them like you did Farmer, once you get to know them,” Elizabeth
suggested. “They are going to be here for awhile. I've invited them
to stay for dinner, ah supper, with us.”

“
You said to just fix sandwiches. Four is all I
fixed,” complained Hover.

“
We've got the solution. We brought all the
leftovers from our house. The food needs to be warmed up if you
don't mind doing that,” Susie said.

“
I do not mind. It is what I am programmed to
do,” Hover said, turning back to the kitchen.

“
I'll be glad to help you,” Susie offered. “Bud
and Frank put those boxes on the table.”

Elizabeth pointed at the television. “Turn the TV on
if you want, kids.”

After supper, they returned to the living room and
left the clean up to Hover. Frank commented, “This room is nicely
decorated for Christmas.”

Elizabeth said sheepishly, “Hover did it. He said the
living room needed to look festive if we had company.”

Hover came to the door. “What was your reply?”

Elizabeth heaved a sigh. “No one would be coming here
to see all your hard work so why do it. I was wrong, wasn't I?”

“
I would like to say that,” Hover
replied.

Susie asked the children if they wanted a tour of the
house. They were all for seeing where their mother and uncle grew
up. Bud and Susie took the kids from room to room and even upstairs
so they could look down on the timber from their old bedrooms. Bud
told about climbing out on the maple tree limb and escaping to the
timber at night to coon hunt. Susie told her children her bedroom
walls were plastered with Elvis Presley pictures.

When they came back to the living room, Susie said,
“Bud, remember when we used to roast marshmallows in the
fireplace?”

“
Could we do that, Mom?” Jimmie
asked.

Hover called from the kitchen, “We do not have
marshmallows.”

“
Look in one of those boxes, Hover. I stuck in
a bag just in case,” Susie called back. “All we need is three
sticks.”

“
I can get those for you. Just give me a few
minutes,” Bud said, putting on his coat.

“
How about I go along with you to keep you from
getting lost in the timber. You're a lot older now,” Frank
suggested.

“
Suit yourself,” Bud said, grinning.

By nine that evening, the kids were yawning. They had
gotten up earlier than usual that morning to open their gifts, and
they had a big day.

“
We better get our coats on and go home,” Susie
said. “Thank you, Elizabeth, for having us come tonight. It would
have been like old times if Mom and Dad were here to enjoy it with
us.”

“
They were here in spirit, Sis,” Bud said. “I
can feel them, watching over us.”

Susie stood on tiptoes and kissed Bud's cheek. “Me,
too.”

Soon it was just Bud and Elizabeth on the couch and
Hover powered down for the night in his spot. “My, isn't it quiet
in here now?” Elizabeth asked.

“
Sure is. I know how the kids felt before they
left. I've got my belly full, it's warm in here, and I'm getting
sleepy,” Bud said. “I should head for home.”

“
It's dark out there. You said you didn't want
to drive the sleigh in the dark,” Elizabeth protested.

“
Not close to the highway with so much traffic,
but out this way, there's no one but me and you. Besides, the
horses can find their way home in the dark with their eyes shut,”
Bud said through a yawn.

Elizabeth laughed. “I hope the horses don't try
pulling the sleigh with their eyes shut. Why don't you just stay
here tonight? You're welcome to sleep on the couch.”

“
That offer is tempting, but the horses need to
be in the barn for the night. They really should have some water
and grain after their long day,” Bud said. “Guess I best go on
home.”

Elizabeth walked to the door with him. “Susie told me
she was sorry for the way she talked to me. She was really nice to
me today. Christmas has never been special for me, but I've had a
lovely day with you and your family. Thank you for letting me share
the day with you.”

“
I'm glad you had a good time.” Bud gave her a
light kiss on the lips. “I'll see you soon.”

Elizabeth dropped a tea bag in a cup of water she
heated on the stove and carried the cup back to the couch. What a
day! She knew it would be hard to get back up once she sat down,
but she wanted to enjoy the warm fire until it burned out.

She drank the hot tea and put the cup on the lamp
table before she stretched out. Next thing she knew she woke up
cold. The fireplace was full of glowing embers. She scooted up,
thinking she should go to bed.

Suddenly, Elizabeth realized the wind was roaring and
whipping around the house. She tried to look out the window, but it
was glazed over with ice. What time was it? Did Bud make it home
before the storm hit? She looked at the wall clock. Several hours
had passed since Bud left. He should be safe at home and in bed by
now.

She picked up her empty cup to return it to the
kitchen.

Hover made a whining noise as his motor started. “You
are awake.”

“
Yes, I woke up cold. The fire is out. I didn't
listen to the weather forecast today. We're having freezing rain,
and the wind is roaring. Look how icy the window is,” Elizabeth
told him.

Just as they focused on the window, they heard
crashing sounds and a boom. Next a huge flash of gray-white light
lit up the window. The light bulb in the middle of the living room
ceiling blinked and went out.

“
Hover, what was that noise and light flash? Is
the house on fire?” Elizabeth cried.

The robot went to the window. “I can not see fire,
but I can not see in the dark. I do not know what happened.”

“
Do we have a flashlight?”

“
Yes, two in a drawer in the kitchen. I will
get them. Just stay here,” Hover said, slowly making his way across
the dark room.

The flashlight wavered in Hover's hand as he lit the
way back. He handed Elizabeth the other flashlight.

“
It's getting cold in here fast. We need the
fireplace lit again. No telling how long we'll have to wait before
the electricity comes back on so the furnace will work,” Elizabeth
said. “I'm going to bring in enough wood to last us through the
night.”

She pulled on her coat and boots and opened the door.
The wind gust past her.

“Maybe you should not try to go out there,” Hover
worried.

“
I'll be alright. The wood stacked so close to
the porch will make it easier,” Elizabeth assured him.

She left the door ajar so that she could open it with
her foot when she came back. The porch was glazed with ice and so
were the steps. Elizabeth braced her feet and slid toward the porch
edge. She grabbed the brace pole and stepped off the porch. No way
was she up to a nose dive trying to go down the steps.

The icy rain pelted her coat and stocking cap. It
took time to break the logs apart, but she carried two armloads
back to the porch, crawled onto the floor and stood up. She carried
an armload of wood inside and started the fire right away. Her
fingers burnt in her cold, wet gloves. She took the gloves off and
held them close to the fire.

Before she went back to get the other armload, Hover
asked if there was anything he could do to help. Elizabeth told him
to bring blankets and a pillow to the couch. She'd sleep in front
of the fire so she could keep it going. Besides, that would be the
warmest place in the old house.

When she came back with the next load, Elizabeth
said, “We can't call out to tell anyone since we don't have
electricity. If the problem was just here, no telling how long
we'll have to wait for help. The water pipes may freeze as cold as
it is.”

“
Didn't you bring your cell phone with you?”
Hover asked.

“
I did. It's in the bottom of a box in my
closet under some clothes. I doubt the battery is charged after
this long, but it's worth a try. You want to go look for the phone
while I make two more trips. After all, you're the one that's good
at going through my closet,” Elizabeth snipped.

“
That was not nice,” Hover complained as he
walked down the hall.

He was waiting for her when Elizabeth dropped the
next batch of wood on the hearth. “I think that is plenty. You
could wait until daylight to get more if we need it. Here's the
phone.”

“
Good! I agree as cold as I am I could wait
until I need the wood to bring in more. Now hold your flashlight
over on the phone while I turn it on,” Elizabeth said. She peered
at the screen. “It has a little life. I don't know the light
company's phone number. Where is the phone book?”

“
We do not have a phone book,” Hover
said.

“
Why not? We have a phone.”

“
Your father pays the bill. The phone book
would be sent to his address,” Hover reasoned.

“
Of course, you're right.”

“
I always am,” he said with
confidence.

“
We should just hunker down by this fire and
wait until daylight. Maybe others in the neighborhood have already
called the light company. I'm chilled to the bone from carrying in
wood. As late as it is, all I want to do is cover up and
sleep.”

“
I agree,” Hover said, moving over to his spot.
“Good night, Beth. What's left of it anyway.”

The next time Elizabeth woke up, it was time to put
more logs on the fire. She tried to do that as quietly as she could
so she didn't disturb Hover. Just a few feet away from the
fireplace was drafty and cold. She wondered if Hover would be all
right. His transmitters weren't used to getting this cold. Maybe it
would help if she covered him up.