Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Saturday Stories. #5 Snowshoe Hike Part 2.
It is a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning here. Yesterday was Groundhog Day, as you know, well, perhaps some of you do not know that. I think that is more of a North American thing, but it is very popular. February 2nd is the day that groundhogs everywhere pop out of their little dens and predict how much longer winter will last.
Actually, up this way smart groundhogs remain in their dens this time of year because it is usually way too cold and way too much snow around to venture outside to give a weather prediction. If the groundhog sees its shadow it means 6 more weeks of winter, if it does not see its shadow, then it will be an early spring. Either way it means an early spring for us here in the north, so we cannot lose. I like that.
So, Muffin decided to join in on the fun several years ago and she saw her shadow, which means 6 more weeks of winter, which takes us to mid March. For us that would be considered a very early spring, so I hope Muffin is right. We had a big celebration after her prediction.
Now, we should get back to our story from last week, which you have probably forgotten about already, but if you want to read part 1, just click on the word Snowshoe. So, we are in the house eating our lunch and although it is a fairly cold day and all the windows are broken in this place, it still feels much warmer in here than it does outside.
There are only 3 windows in the house and none are very big anyway so that is actually a bonus for keeping it warmer inside. The sun is presently shining through one of the kitchen windows and right on the table where we are eating. I could just imagine what it must have been like when this place was new and people were living here with the sun shining on the table while people were eating. Krissy was thinking the same thing.
Suddenly a Canada Jay landing on the window frame looking at us, so Krissy gave it a piece of her sandwich. He flew away chirping “thanks” as he went. Then a second one did the same and I shared my sandwich with this one. They each made 4 trips and then disappeared into the forest. Well, it was time to head back. We put our snowshoes back on and away we went.
It was much easier, and faster, going back since we had a trail already. We did stay much longer than we had planned though so it was already getting dark as we passed the half way point. I would like to come back in the spring and look around a bit better though. We heard a couple of wolves howling in the distance. ”I am glad they are not close,” said Krissy. ”It would be nice to see them,” I said.
“NO,” is all she said in return. ”No sense of adventure,” I said. ”What about in the cabin?” she asked, “That was adventure.” ”That was more like dangerous,” I said. She giggled. ”I want to go first for a while,” she said. So I said she could, but as she tried to pass me she tripped herself and fell into the deep snow. However, she grabbed my arm as she fell, pulling me down into the deep snow too.
I brushed the snow off her face. ”You are supposed to hold me so I do not fall,” she said. ”You pulled to hard,” I replied. ”You are lying on top of me,” she said, “are you going to move?” ”Actually I am quite comfortable,” I said. The snow was quite deep at that spot so it took a bit to get us both standing up once again.
It was completely dark by the time we got back to the car, but it was nearly a full moon so it was amazingly light with all that snow around. We were a bit late getting back home but her parents were not concerned at all. That is the end of that story, nothing much exciting happened really, but it was still a wonderful day.
Well, the sun is still shining here and it is supposed to get quite mild today once again, which is certainly nice. Just using some winter pics for you to enjoy today. Have a great weekend everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2024 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Missing Relative Case. Chapter 6. Escape.
I just sat there for a moment thinking. ”I do not see why you keep saying Christopher owns you,” I said, “just walk away from him.” ”That is not so easy,” she said, “he can kill me, and he can kill Kat too. Plus, if I don’t do what he says, he will kill your Sky, and if that does not work, then he will kill you. I am sorry Steve, but I cannot let him kill you because of me.
I have been getting a bit hesitant to help him lately and that is why you are here now, easier to kill you if I do not cooperate.” ”Then you must come with me,” I pleaded again, “like I said, I will get on my knees and beg if that is what you want, but please, please come with me.” ”Sky will not like it,” she reminded me, “then what?”
“Sky will let you stay,” I said, “she is like that, she let Kat stay even though Kat and I had been married for a long time. Please promise me you will let Sky decide.” ”Okay, you win Steve,” she said, “now, we need to go, this is the best time for us to escape, Bomber will be here soon and he has a fast car which we can borrow.”
Then she looked at me just like she used to do. ”I think you are more stubborn than before,” she said, “I really should slap you, but for now I will not. Put your arm around me and you will be safe.” That is when it hit me, my back was no longer paining and I could move around normally again. We went out the door, which was not locked, then down the hall to an exterior door and outside we went.
This Bomber guy drove up at that exact moment. Hmm, amazing timing. ”May I drive it around a bit?” she asked nicely. ”Sure, but only a couple turns,” he said, “I found out where those Black Knights are staying, so we will be going after them this morning.” ”Hey, sounds great,” she said, “that will make Christopher happy.”
He went inside and we quickly jumped into the car and off we went. I need to warn Aari somehow, but neither of us has a phone. Jennifer drives like Sky, terrifyingly! ”How come he could see you, but not me?” I asked her. ”You always did like asking questions,” she said, “right from that first day. I did not want him to see you.” ”Oh, right, makes sense,” I said, “um, do you have any money?”
“Questions. Yes, I took some from Christopher’s wallet this morning,” she replied, “he will not miss it.” I looked over at her. ”No Steve, I never have,” she said, “not Christopher, not anyone!” ”Good to hear,” I said smiling, “now, I need to warn my team.” ”Your team was already warned to leave or you would be killed,” said Jennifer.
“Oh, I never knew that,” I said, “but I still need to contact Sky and get us some different transportation out of here.” ”A wise decision,” she said, “and perhaps it is also good not to say much in the car.” ”Right, a good thought,” I agreed. Once in the city we spotted a couple young people with phones so we stopped and asked if we could borrow one for an emergency call to my wife in the hospital. They were happy to help out.
“Steve! Where are you?” she exclaimed. ”No time to talk,” I said, “we need a helicopter to pick us up at the airport,” I said, “armed if possible. There are two of us.” ”Does ‘us#2’ have a name?” she asked. ”I will talk more in the chopper,” I said, “we do not have much time. Also, A2HF.” I then hung up and we thanked the person and we continued our journey.
“A special code?” asked Jennifer. ”I will explain later,” I said, “I wonder how Christopher knew he could kidnap me last night?” ”Bomber came in after dinner and said your bedroom door would be unlocked and you would have 2 bodyguards,” she said, “is that true?” ”Yes, it is,” I said, “but how would he know that?”
“Someone must have told him Steve,” she said. Jennifer was right, that was the only way. ”That means we have a traitor in our midst again,” I said to her, “but I cannot think of who, I trust everyone.” ”How do you know that you can trust me Steve?” asked Jennifer. I smiled. ”I always have,” I said, “why stop now?”
She smiled back. ”We need to get rid of this car, fast,” I said, “hey, in there!” It was a car dealership and we were soon taking a car out for a drive and we ended up at the airport just as our chopper was landing. Soon we were in the air and heading home again.
“Did you heal my back?” I asked. ”More questions,” she said, “how can I do such a thing?” ”No idea,” I said, “but you did.” She just smiled again. I was about to call Sky when the alert came, Code Red A2! Sky was dead. Now I know who the traitor is…
To Be Continued.
©2024 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 