Charles and Leah set out under the black sky and brilliant shining stars in the country, she felt a little sleepy listening to the classical music and the hum of the engine so she drank the last of the hot chocolate from the thermos and reclined her seat cuddling up with the soft warm blanket Charles supplied for. Charles smiled when he noticed she had fallen asleep and was snoring a little, he had a warm feeling in his heart knowing he was doing his best to take care of her, and it was refreshing to have someone to take care of.
It was about 4:30 when he woke Leah as they drove up into the mountains down a long winding road north of Broken Bow, just south of Heavener. The two felt a little lost driving through the deep woods all alone in the dark. After a few spooky moments along the road it finally ended up in the gravel drive of a huge stone and log Adirondack style mountain lodge; which was lit up and was a beautiful structure. There in the doorway stood an old man who was tall, broad shouldered, deep set brown eyes, high cheek bones, short white hair slicked back. The man welcomed his guest and invited them into his home.
"I am so glad your journey brings you safe and sound to my property." he smiled an ancient grin extending his hand to the petite woman standing before him "You must be Leah, it is so nice to meet you." he said warmly as he introduced himself "I am John Coldcreek, and this is my home, and yours, for the next few days." he turned and shook hands with Charles. "I believe we spoke on the phone earlier Charles, so very nice to meet you and thank you for participating, your friend Leah needs our help." John said the smile never leaving his face. Charles shook his hand firmly happy to see the sparkling eyes of this aged, wise man who had been through much in his long, storied life.
"Oh thank you so much for fitting us into your schedule."
"Yes well," John's face saddened a bit "The woman that was to be here this weekend succumbed to the her radiation treatment for her pancreatic cancer, so.., " his voice trailed off. Leah suddenly felt very fortunate and she felt lucky to even be alive. "But now you have been sent to take her place and now you will receive the help she did not have a chance to enjoy. So come the sun rises soon and we have prepared a breakfast fit for a Queen." the three walked through to the great room; which was about forty feet long and thirty feet wide, two massive fireplaces where on each end and where lit filling the room with a comforting warmth. There where groups of long supple leather sofas flanking the fireplaces with woven blankets, a nice collection of handmade baskets, a few large sculptures of buffalo and Native American warriors astride their war horses and there was a baby grand piano by the backdoor. Charles was impressed with all the antiques and the native style of the lodge. He was more impressed when John introduced his daughter to them and she was beautiful. Tall, thin, long black shiny hair, she was of Kiowa and Vietnamese descent, she was about thirty with clear skin like porcelain, she was wearing a simple long black cotton dress that only exposed the skin of her arms, she was barefoot and smiled with a bow as she opened up the two massive wood and glass doors and led them out to the large balcony.
"How beautiful." Leah gasped as she stepped out,the woods and lake below them as the sky brightened and Mt.Ida loomed off to the left, all was peaceful and still, the lake off in the distance looking like black glass reflecting the mountain as the sun slowly warmed the sky with pale colors in the clouds, ribbons of amethyst and coral streaking the sky. A long cedar table, large enough to accommodate twenty, was loaded with a gourmet selection of fruits, eggs, berries, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, etc... Then as the three helped themselves to a big breakfast John's daughter sat at the piano and began playing softly as the three sat and talked sharing conversation's and stories about the mountain and the woods, and the fish swimming in the lake. Leah felt comfortable and safe there on the balcony overlooking the dark and secret woods as the sun slowly filled the sky, looking like a hand painted work of art. Leah sat for a moment burning this quiet serene memory in her mind forever, she had not felt so warm and welcomed in a very long time, and she actually realized at this moment she did not have a care in the world, and she knew this feeling would not last for long, so she wanted to take her time and enjoy it.
It was about 4:30 when he woke Leah as they drove up into the mountains down a long winding road north of Broken Bow, just south of Heavener. The two felt a little lost driving through the deep woods all alone in the dark. After a few spooky moments along the road it finally ended up in the gravel drive of a huge stone and log Adirondack style mountain lodge; which was lit up and was a beautiful structure. There in the doorway stood an old man who was tall, broad shouldered, deep set brown eyes, high cheek bones, short white hair slicked back. The man welcomed his guest and invited them into his home.
"I am so glad your journey brings you safe and sound to my property." he smiled an ancient grin extending his hand to the petite woman standing before him "You must be Leah, it is so nice to meet you." he said warmly as he introduced himself "I am John Coldcreek, and this is my home, and yours, for the next few days." he turned and shook hands with Charles. "I believe we spoke on the phone earlier Charles, so very nice to meet you and thank you for participating, your friend Leah needs our help." John said the smile never leaving his face. Charles shook his hand firmly happy to see the sparkling eyes of this aged, wise man who had been through much in his long, storied life.
"Oh thank you so much for fitting us into your schedule."
"Yes well," John's face saddened a bit "The woman that was to be here this weekend succumbed to the her radiation treatment for her pancreatic cancer, so.., " his voice trailed off. Leah suddenly felt very fortunate and she felt lucky to even be alive. "But now you have been sent to take her place and now you will receive the help she did not have a chance to enjoy. So come the sun rises soon and we have prepared a breakfast fit for a Queen." the three walked through to the great room; which was about forty feet long and thirty feet wide, two massive fireplaces where on each end and where lit filling the room with a comforting warmth. There where groups of long supple leather sofas flanking the fireplaces with woven blankets, a nice collection of handmade baskets, a few large sculptures of buffalo and Native American warriors astride their war horses and there was a baby grand piano by the backdoor. Charles was impressed with all the antiques and the native style of the lodge. He was more impressed when John introduced his daughter to them and she was beautiful. Tall, thin, long black shiny hair, she was of Kiowa and Vietnamese descent, she was about thirty with clear skin like porcelain, she was wearing a simple long black cotton dress that only exposed the skin of her arms, she was barefoot and smiled with a bow as she opened up the two massive wood and glass doors and led them out to the large balcony.
"How beautiful." Leah gasped as she stepped out,the woods and lake below them as the sky brightened and Mt.Ida loomed off to the left, all was peaceful and still, the lake off in the distance looking like black glass reflecting the mountain as the sun slowly warmed the sky with pale colors in the clouds, ribbons of amethyst and coral streaking the sky. A long cedar table, large enough to accommodate twenty, was loaded with a gourmet selection of fruits, eggs, berries, bacon, sausage, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, etc... Then as the three helped themselves to a big breakfast John's daughter sat at the piano and began playing softly as the three sat and talked sharing conversation's and stories about the mountain and the woods, and the fish swimming in the lake. Leah felt comfortable and safe there on the balcony overlooking the dark and secret woods as the sun slowly filled the sky, looking like a hand painted work of art. Leah sat for a moment burning this quiet serene memory in her mind forever, she had not felt so warm and welcomed in a very long time, and she actually realized at this moment she did not have a care in the world, and she knew this feeling would not last for long, so she wanted to take her time and enjoy it.
