As steam from his breathing escaped Bill’s mouth, he reminisced about previous years on opening day, climbing up here before it got light. His eyes would adjust, and as dawn began to break, he’d see shadowy images of deer sneaking through before it was legal to shoot. Bill had witnessed some beautiful sunrises from up here, too, and he always looked forward to it, coupled with the thrill of watching wildlife begin to stir. His friends had different ideas about the whole hunting experience and tended to be a bit more competitive.
Bill sat back on his canvas camping chair and tried to relax. At least it was fairly comfortable if he didn’t sit there too long. No sign of any deer yet, though. Were they all bedded down, or just avoiding this area because he, the intruder, was near? Bill had forgotten to de-scent his clothes with the special spray he’d brought along, but hopefully any odors from breakfast didn’t linger on his hat, shirt, pants, or jacket.
In the distance, Bill heard a few shots. Most likely, someone was sighting in their rifle, which was common to hear this close to opening day. He hoped that’s all it was, since shooting a deer wouldn’t be legal until Monday.
If nothing came his way in the next hour or so, he’d head back to the cabin to fix supper. Bill had brought potatoes, carrots, and onions from home as the basis for a savory stew. He’d also packed a loaf of apple corn bread he had made yesterday, and that would be his Thanksgiving meal. Bill didn’t mind being alone in the woods. He enjoyed the solitude. But with today being a holiday when he normally got together with his buddies, he felt kind of lost.
Wish my boy could have joined me today. Bill shifted on his chair. It would have been good to have a little more father-son time together. The three days Brent and I shared two weeks ago went too fast. No wonder Andy chose to go with his family, even it meant being in an environment as warm as Florida.
Bill’s attention came to a peak when a rustling noise reached his ears. He turned his head slowly in the direction it was coming from and sat forward in anticipation. Maybe it’s a deer sneaking through after hearing the gunfire a few minutes ago. He wished he would have put his camera in the backpack, but it was too late to worry about that now. Bill watched and waited and hoped it would be a big buck. It would be nice to know one was in the area and hopefully get a chance to see it on opening day.
The sound grew closer, and when the animal appeared, Bill’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Slowly, Bill sat back against the tree as close as he could get and tried not to move a muscle. Down below, a few feet from the tree, stood an enormous black bear. Bill had heard there were bear in the area, but after years of hunting and never seeing any, he’d thought it was only a rumor, or one of those stories people liked to tell while sitting around a campfire. But here was a bear, as big and bold as you please, and he was a beauty.
Bill blinked his eyes rapidly as they began to water. I cannot believe what I’m seeing. The guys will never believe this. Boy, do I wish I had my camera.
As the bear stood on all fours, looking around and sniffing the air, Bill was glad he had gone unnoticed. A few times, the bruin looked up in his direction, however with Bill wearing his camo clothes, the material blended in well with the tree’s bark. He had read one time, though, that a bear’s hearing was exceptional. I hope he can’t hear my heart beating, because it feels like it’s about to pop right out of my chest. Bill released air through his lips as quietly as he could. He tried to swallow, but his mouth felt too dry.
Oh brother, what am I going to do now? I hope the bear leaves soon, or I’ll be spending the night up in this tree stand. Bill took short, quiet breaths, so the big creature would not hear him. Barely breathing, he watched the bear stick his nose in the air, as though trying to get a scent of something. I should have stayed back at the cabin. How long is he going to stand there like that?
It was cool out, but by now, Bill was drenched in sweat. When the bear started walking around, he could hear the intake of air going through its nostrils as it investigated every stick, sniffing every leaf and what seemed like every blade of brush grass. Then it walked over to the ladder Bill had climbed up on and took a few sniffs of the lower rungs. When the bear stood and looked up at Bill, eyes on each other and unblinking, time seemed to stand still. Please don’t climb this ladder.
Then as if someone had stuck him with a needle, the bear jumped back and became alert. Just that quick, the animal took off running in the opposite direction. How something that big, could run so fast, Bill could not comprehend.
He stood up to watch, but saw no sign of the bear. All he could hear were sticks breaking and the crunching of leaves, as the lumbering sound grew farther away. After sitting there a few minutes longer, and not hearing anymore noise, Bill hoped it would be safe to leave the tree stand.
By now, it had started spritzing, and as Bill turned to go down the ladder, he heard some cracking noises above his head. He froze, and his scalp prickled when he looked up and saw some dead limbs high above that had begun to rot. The last thing he needed was a tree limb hitting him on the noggin. This big old oak tree probably needs to be taken down soon. Bill grabbed his seat cushion, put his thermos in the backpack, and gave the area one last look. I’m getting back to the cabin where it’s safe.
By the time Bill got to the bottom rung, a steady rain had begun to fall. This time a lot harder than earlier today. He grimaced when the raindrops splattered his face and dripped down the back of his neck.
He’d only made it a few feet from the tree when—crack!—the rotting limb broke off and dropped to the ground with a sickening thud. Letting out a yelp, he shuffled backward, stumbled on a rock, and landed on the seat of his pants. Whew, that was too close for me! If I hadn’t gotten down from the tree stand when I did, that old limb could have smacked me on the head.
Bill’s heartbeat raced as he clambered to his feet. If the falling branch had hit me, I could be unconscious or even dead. It’s probably not a good idea to be out here by myself. I shoulda waited till the guys could join me tomorrow to do some early scouting. So much for me wanting to brag about seeing a deer when Tom and Russ arrive, but at least I can tell ’em about the bear. Sure wish I had picture to prove it, though.
Bill’s leg muscles spasmed with each step he took as he hobbled toward the cabin. Although not seriously hurt, both knees throbbed. Bill made a mental note to rub some joint cream on them when he got back to the warmth of the fire. On top of that, his teeth chattered from the moisture seeping through his jeans and the opening of his jacket. More importantly, Bill was concerned about putting distance between himself and that enormous bear. This would be a memorable Thanksgiving, although not in a good way. At the moment, Bill didn’t care if he bagged a deer Monday morning. All he wanted was to seek refuge and warmth inside the cabin, get out of his wet clothes, and have something to eat. Come morning, he might feel differently—especially once his buddies showed up.
Millersburg
Nicole sat beside her sister at their Thanksgiving table, while Tony sat opposite of them, next to their father.
“The ham turned out good, Dad.” Nicole smiled at him. “I like it better than the turkey Tonya used to make.”
Dad’s forehead wrinkled. “How many times must I tell you to stop calling your mother that? You need to call her Mom.”
Nicole lifted both hands in surrender. “Okay, whatever.”
“I thought Mom’s turkey was fine,” Tony spoke up. “She made good mashed potatoes, too.” He looked over at Heather. “Don’t you think so?”
A cat-like whimper escaped Heather’s lips. “I miss Mom so much. Holidays don’t seem the same without her.”
“You know, kids, your mother is working on getting better,” Dad said. “And when she does, you may be able to spend some time with her.”
Heather’s face brightened. “Really?”
“Yes. Would you like that, honey?”
Heather and Tony both nodded.
Dad looked at Nicole. “How about you? Would you be
agreeable to seeing your mother now and then?”
Nicole pursed her lips. “We’ll see.” Truthfully, she had no intention of spending any time with her mother, but seeing how happy her sister and brother were about the idea, Nicole kept her feelings to herself. There was no point in spoiling the day for her siblings.
Later, while washing the dishes, Nicole glanced out the window from time to time, but her thoughts focused on something Heidi had said during the last cooking class. Was she wrong in refusing to forgive? If Mom meant what she said, and really was trying to get better, shouldn’t she be allowed another chance? It wasn’t as if Mom would be moving back to their house. She’d only come for visits, or maybe Tony and Heather would go to her place sometime. Nicole didn’t want to go, but she wouldn’t say or do anything to sway her siblings or turn them against their own mother.
Nicole’s chin trembled, and then her shoulders began to quake. For the first time in a long while, she bowed her head and offered an earnest prayer. Lord, please help me get rid of the anger I have felt since Mom left, and fill my heart with forgiveness toward her.
Chapter 38
Coshocton
Bill looked up at the clock above the fireplace, wondering when his buddies were going to show up. It was eight thirty Friday morning, and he’d been up since the crack of dawn. Thinking at least one of them would be at the cabin by now, he’d made a fresh pot of coffee, mixed pancake batter, and also fried some maple-flavored bacon. When no one showed up by eight o’clock, Bill ate breakfast alone.
Being used to the quiet, he jumped when his cell phone rang. Bill hoped it wasn’t one of the guys saying they weren’t coming after all or had been delayed. When he picked up the phone he realized it was his son.
“Hey, Brent, how was your Thanksgiving?”
“I ate too much, but otherwise it was good. How about yours, Dad? Did you see any deer when you went scouting?”
“Nope, but I did see a big black bear.”
“Really? So it’s not just a rumor about bears being seen in the area?”
“Apparently not, ’cause I saw the creature with my own two eyes.”
“It must have taken you by surprise. Glad you’re okay, Dad.”
“Yeah, me, too.” Subconsciously, Bill rubbed the top of his head. “It wasn’t just the bear I had to worry about either.”
“What do you mean?”
“I may have to take down the old oak where the tree stand is.”
“How come?”
“I noticed some dead branches above where I sit, and I came pretty close to getting clunked on my head when one broke off and fell.”
“Wow! You’re not going to hunt from the tree stand Monday morning, I hope.”
Bill heard the concern in his son’s voice.
“Definitely not. I’ll look for another spot tomorrow, when the guys and I do more scouting. If they ever get here, that is.” Pressing the phone tighter against his ear, Bill huffed. “It’s not what I want to do, but to be on the safe side, I’ll be hunting on the ground this year. I fear the oak tree is too dangerous now.”
“Smart move, Dad.” Brent sounded relieved.
“It’s disappointing, but yeah, it’s the wise thing to do.”
“Say, Dad, I don’t mean to change the subject or anything, but I’d like to ask your opinion on something.”
“Sure, go ahead.” Bill took a seat in front of the fireplace and put his feet on the coffee table. The heat from the burning logs sent warmth throughout the room.
“You know that day you took me to meet Heidi Troyer, and Kendra Perkins was there?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’ve been thinkin’ about calling her to see if she’d like to go out with me sometime.”
“I see.” Bill picked up his coffee mug and took a drink.
“Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“Well, that all depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether you’re looking for a serious relationship or just want to establish a casual friendship.”
“I don’t know right now. But I’ll never find out if Kendra and I don’t spend some time together.”
“True.” Bill set his mug on the coffee table and slouched in his chair. “You don’t need my approval to go out with Kendra, but I would like to offer a few words of advice.”
“Such as?”
“For starters … She has a baby. Are you prepared to raise another man’s child if your relationship develops into something serious?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I’ve never really thought about it.” This time Bill heard a hint of doubt in his son’s tone. That was good. It meant he was being cautious.
“It’s something you ought to think about.”
“I suppose.”
Bill massaged the back of his neck. “If you decide to pursue a relationship with Kendra, I’d move slow. You don’t want to make a mistake you’ll be sorry for later.”
“Are you thinking of yours and Mom’s relationship?” Brent asked.
“Yeah. We had a few things in common when we first got married, but as time went on, our differences pulled us further apart.”
The rumble of a vehicle told Bill to look outside, so he rose from his chair. Peering out the front window, he saw Russ getting out of his vehicle.
“Sorry, Son, but I’ve gotta go. One of my hunting buddies just pulled in.”
“Oh, sure, no problem, Dad. I’ll talk to you again soon.”
“Sounds good. Oh, and be sure to let me know how things go between you and Kendra.”
“Will do.” Brent chortled. “And if I decide to marry her, you’ll be the first person I tell.” Before they hung up, Brent added one more thing. “Oh, and Dad—good luck Monday morning. Stay safe and watch out for that bear.”
Canton
Kendra had just put little Heidi in the crib when her cell phone rang. When she answered it, she was surprised to hear Brent’s voice. She really hadn’t expected to hear from him. Kendra had called Brent the other day but got his voicemail, so she’d left a message, giving him her cell number.
“Hey, Kendra, how’s it going? Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?”
“Yes, I did. How about you?”
“Good. I ate dinner at my aunt’s place, and even though the food was great, there was too much of it.”
She laughed. “I know what you mean.”
“Say, uh … I got your message, and was glad to hear from you. I was wondering if you’d like to go out to dinner with me tomorrow evening.”
Blinking rapidly, Kendra tightened her grip on the phone. It had been so long since anyone had asked her on a date, she wasn’t sure how to respond. “I’m pleased that you asked, and I’d really like to go, but I’ll have to see if my mom or one of my sisters is free to watch Heidi for me.”
“Sure, no problem. When do you think you’ll have an answer for me?”
“Umm … Can I call you back this evening? I should know something by then.”
“This evening’s good.”
“Okay, great. I’ll talk to you later, Brent.”
Kendra’s stomach fluttered as she clicked off the phone. I hope someone’s available to babysit Heidi for me. I’d sure like to spend more time with Brent.
Cambridge
Lisa sat beside Tim on the couch, engrossed in what he’d been telling her about his childhood. It was amazing how many things they had in common. They both enjoyed cooking, were active in their churches, liked many of the same foods, and spent much of their free time outdoors. Of course, there was also the similarity in their looks. Their hair was about the same shade of blond; however, Tim’s eye color was a darker blue than Lisa’s. Why she hadn’t noticed that when they first met, Lisa wasn’t sure, but thank goodness, they did meet.
While she and her half brother got to know each other better, Mom and Dad had taken Tim’s wife and the boys shopping. No doubt they wanted to play grandma and grandpa and spoil the children a bit. Lisa could
n’t blame them. Finding out Mom had two grandsons, plus a daughter-in-law she’d known nothing about, had been an added bonus to the reunion with Tim. Lisa couldn’t remember when she’d seen her mother look so happy. She’d worn a smile throughout the entire Thanksgiving meal yesterday.
Tim tugged on his ear. “You know, I like what I’ve seen of Ohio so far. If I could find a job and housing, I’d move here in a heartbeat.”
Lisa clasped her hands together. “Really?”
He nodded. “I think my wife and boys would like it here, too, and it would sure be nice to live closer to you and your folks.”
“What about the parents who raised you?” Lisa asked. “I’m sure they’d be upset if you packed up your family and moved away from them.”
Tim shook his head. “You don’t understand—my parents are deceased. They were killed in a car accident five years ago.”
Lisa brought her hand to her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Tim. That must have been quite a shock.”
He dropped his gaze to the floor. “It was a tough time, but with God’s help, and the encouragement of our church family, my brothers and I made it through.”
Lisa swallowed hard. She could almost feel Tim’s pain. “I wonder sometimes how people who don’t put their faith in God make it through difficult times.” Her thoughts went to Todd. He thought he could do everything in his own strength, but he was so wrong. She hoped one of these days his eyes would be opened to the truth.
Focusing once again on Tim, Lisa turned to him and smiled. “If you should decide to move, I have a two-bedroom duplex I’d be happy to rent at a deep discount. There’s someone living in it now, but he’ll be moving out soon.”
Tim clasped Lisa’s hand. “Thanks, Sis. I’ll talk to my wife, and we’ll give it some thought—sprinkled with lots of prayer, of course.”
Moistening her lips with cautious hope, she gave his fingers a tender squeeze. Lisa still couldn’t believe she had a brother. How grateful she was that she’d come to her parents’ for Thanksgiving. It was one holiday she would always remember. And if things went the way she hoped, she’d have her newly found brother living close by. What a blessing it would be to spend time with Tim, his wife, and their cute little boys. If they moved into her duplex, they’d be living right next door. The only thing that could make Lisa’s life any better right now would be if God provided her with a Christian boyfriend.
Amish Cooking Class--The Blessing Page 26