Finding Home (25 page)

“
He was thrilled with the
heads and claws,” Maggie said.

“
I am sure. He can be like a
kid at Christmas sometimes,” she said with a warm smile.

“
He said he stopped by
earlier, but you were taking a bath.”

“
Yes, he caught me
soaking.”

“
I am sure that felt good to
your muscles.”

“
I was so relaxed, I almost
fell asleep.”

“
A day or two of rest won’t
hurt you one bit you know,” Maggie said.

“
I know, Maggie, but I am
beginning to feel so restless,” Nat said.

“
Is it your heart pulling
you back toward the woods?” Maggie asked.

“
It probably is. I saw a
flock of geese headed north this morning which means I am already
late and my feet are itching terribly. ”

“
You know you will have to
go, don’t you?”

“
Yes, I don’t think I can
handle much more of this sedentary life.”

“
Will Marissa join
you?”

“
No, Maggie she is as
uncomfortable in the woods as I am under a roof,” Nat said. “I
cannot ask her to give up her life here.”

“
You know there may be a
compromise for all of this?”

“
I am listening.”

“
I know that Smithy has a
job waiting for you, and we could make trips to the ocean for
lobster and clams to supplement your income. It would be a lot less
stressful on you, but would still allow you time in the wild.
”

“
That is something to
consider,” Nat said. “I think I will have to go and make a huge
decision. I will have to decide whether my love for the wild is
stronger than my love for Marissa. ”

“
I do not envy you that
decision,” Maggie said.

“
I do not look forward to it
either, but I don’t see that I have any choice. If I don’t at least
make an attempt to return, I think I will regret it forever.
”

“
Yes, you are right about
that,” Maggie agreed.

Nat had continued to whittle as they
talked, her hands moving with a will of their own. She was
surprised when she looked carefully at the chunk of wood in her
hands and saw the form of a rearing bear taking shape.

“
I think that is only
fitting, given the recent circumstances,” Maggie said when she saw
the bear taking shape.

Nat chuckled. “You are probably right
about that too.”

Gyp jumped to her feet and ran to the
edge of the yard to meet Marissa as she returned from
town.

“
That was a quick trip,” Nat
said. “Welcome back.”

“
Thanks.”

“
Would you like to peel
these for Maggie?” Marissa said handing Nat the bag of
apples.

“
I will get those, if you
will loan me a knife,” Maggie said.

“
I will bring a knife and a
bowl for the apples,” Marissa said as she walked inside.

She returned and handed Maggie a knife
and a bowl. “Do you want me to make a crust for you?” she
asked.

“
No, I will roll one out
once I put the apples on to cook,” Maggie said.

“
So, you can pull up a seat
and join us,” Nat said.

Marissa pulled up a crate and sat down
as she watched Maggie and Nat busy with their knives.

“
Those apples smell so
sweet,” she said as she watched Maggie’s hands expertly core and
slice the peeled apples.

“
Before much longer, we can
begin scouring the woods for wild berries,” Maggie said. “The
blackberries and raspberries in this area make great pies and
jellies.”

“
A blackberry pie sounds
good,” Nat said. “It has been years since I have had
any.”

“
I will be sure to remedy
that,” Marissa said.

Silence hung in the air as neither of
them wanted to ask the obvious question. Maggie finished with the
apples and said, “There.” She looked at Marissa. “If you have a
small pot, I will put these on to cook over the wash pot
fire.”

“
Yes, I will be right
back.”

When Marissa returned with a pot,
Maggie took it from her and dropped the apples inside. Then she
walked to the pump and covered the apples with water and then hung
the pot over the open fire. “If you will show me where your
supplies are, I will prepare the crust.”

Maggie and Marissa went inside, leaving
Nat and Gyp alone on the porch. Gyp looked at toward the woods,
following the sound of a small creature, probably a
rabbit.

“
You miss it too, don’t
you?” she asked her companion.

Gyp looked at Nat, her eyes sparkling
with the love she held for her owner.

“
Soon, my friend, very
soon,” she promised.

PART SIXTEEN

For the next week, Nat worked around
Marissa’s cabin, cutting wood and making sure Marissa had enough
meat to last for several months. She returned to town to have the
stitches removed by the doctor.

“
You are going to have a
minimal scar, but as time passes it should reduce in size,” he
said.

“
Thanks Doc,” Nat said and
paid him for his services.

When she left the doctor’s office, Nat
went to see Smithy. He paid her handsomely for the bear and buck
heads. “I still have the bear claws up on auction and I think you
will be pleased with the final price,” he said.

“
Thanks for all that you
have done for me Smithy.”

“
I should thank you for
bringing me such good business,” he said. “Have you given
consideration to my offer of a job?” he asked.

“
I have indeed, my friend. I
feel I must go back into the woods, at least for now and see how
things go without Nathan,” Nat said.

“
I can understand that,” he
said with a warm smile. “The position will be yours whenever you
are ready.”

“
Thanks Smithy.”

“
Do you know yet when you
will be heading out?”

“
In two days, I think. I am
already so far behind. ”

“
Does Marissa know
yet?”

“
No, and it is not a
conversation I am looking forward to,” Nat said.

“
That is one I don’t envy
you my friend.”

“
Maggie brought up another
solution,” Nat said.

“
What would that be?” Smithy
asked.

“
That I work here with you
and then she and I travel down to the ocean and harvest lobsters
and other sea life,” Nat said.

“
That isn’t a bad idea at
all. There is also quite a bit of hunting and trapping that could
be done in that area. ”

“
It is definitely something
to think about,” Nat said. “I need to go meet Marissa for lunch,
but I will stop in before I leave for the woods,” she
promised.

“
Good, I will see you then,”
he said.

Nat left the store and walked to the
hotel to meet Marissa. They had agreed to meet for a fried chicken
lunch and Nat ate a good portion of the meal.

“
I am glad to see your
appetite picking up again,” Marissa said.

“
Did it ever slack off?” Nat
asked with a grin.

“
Yes, you haven’t eaten
heartily until today since our trip,” Marissa said.

“
This fried chicken is just
too good to stop eating,” Nat said with a grin.

“
I will cook extra and bring
it home tomorrow for your trip,” Marissa said.

“
What trip?”

“
I can see it in your eyes,
Nat I know you are going to the woods soon.”

“
I need to go and see if
that is what I need to do?” Nat said.

“
I know,” Marissa said with
tears in her eyes. “That won’t mean I will miss you any
less.”

“
I will go in two days
then,” Nat said. “I can’t afford to wait much longer.”

“
What can I do to help you
prepare?” Marissa asked.

“
Cook chicken and biscuits
for me to take,” Nat said with a smile. “I will stop by the general
store to buy supplies when I leave here.”

Nat left the hotel and walked to
Maggie’s house. “Hello, Nat,” Maggie said from her familiar spot on
the front porch. “How are you feeling today?”

Nat smiled as Gyp walked up and placed
her head in Maggie’s lap to be petted.

“
Very well, thank you. I got
the stitches out today, so maybe my face will stop itching.
”

Maggie grinned at Nat’s
comment.

“
You are leaving aren’t
you?”

“
Yes, I will leave in two
days,” Nat said. “Are you set for wood and supplies?” she
asked.

“
I am in good shape thanks
to you,” Maggie said. “I even have some money built up in case I
fall upon hard times.”

“
That is very good news,”
Nat said. “You might want to keep an eye on those pickle barrels at
the store and pick a few more up for us,” Nat said.

Maggie smiled. “That sounds
promising.”

“
Regardless of if I stay in
the woods, we will still go to the ocean after the fall to make a
few harvests,” Nat said, not wanting to plant any false hope with
Maggie.

“
I will be glad to see you
return,” Maggie said. “Would it be all right to drop by tomorrow to
say goodbye?”

“
Of course, you are welcome
to visit anytime, Maggie.”

“
I will see you sometime
after lunch tomorrow then,” Maggie said.

“
I look forward to it, my
friend,” Nat said as she moved from the porch to walk to the
general store.

Nat ordered her supplies and requested
they be delivered later that day. When she finished, she and Gyp
made the slow walk home. She stopped off at her cabin. Next time,
she would not bother renting the cabin. She had spent very few
nights here and if she and Marissa were to continue there was no
need to rent the cabin. She began packing up her belongings in
preparation for her trip and carried her packs to the front room.
Gyp followed behind her closely as she moved through the house and
watched her pack.

When the wagon from the general store
arrived later that afternoon, Nat took the supplies into the cabin
and prepared the last of the packs. She would bundle up her
clothing later that evening, leaving all of the next day to spend
with Marissa and Maggie when she visited. She walked out to the
barn to check on the animals.

Hardy rushed to her and nuzzled into
Nat. “Are you ready to travel?” she asked the large horse. Quincy
and Buck also came trotting into the barn to greet her. “Hello
boys,” she said as she patted each of them on the head. “It is
almost that time.” Nat had thought briefly of leaving Buck behind
with Marissa, and then changed her mind. Marissa always walked to
town and Buck could lessen Quincy’s load, making it easier on her
smaller pack mule.

She fed the animals a hearty portion of
grain and tossed the last of the winter hay into the bin. “Eat well
boys,” she said and left the barn.

Nat made a stop at the smoke house to
survey the supplies. There were several pounds of jerky she would
take with her, leaving plenty of the smoked meat for Marissa. She
walked to the house to find Marissa in the kitchen, warming dinner
for them by the fireplace.

“
Hello, darling,” Nat said
when Marissa turned to face her.

Nat could see tears pooling in
Marissa’s eyes as she walked toward her and encircled her body with
her strong arms. “I will be back,” Nat promised. “I just can’t say
when.”

“
I know, but I have become
so used to coming home to you every day,” Marissa said.

“
I will be right here with
you every day,” Nat said as she tapped lightly on Marissa’s chest
above her heart. “It is not easy for me to leave you, but I must go
to find out where I am destined to be,” Nat explained.