Page 52 of Snow Blind

"Abi yes, Ruth no," Mark replied. "We have to go and cut down some trees."

She asked, "Cut down trees?"

"Yes, the Christmas tree," Mark said. "Our tradition is that when Jay arrives two days before Christmas, we ride out on Michael's land to cut down the Christmas tree."

Michael sighed, "We have to cut two this year, one for my parents and now one for my home for my wife."

Helen looked at Mustang. He wanted to look away. This meant he had to cut down another tree because his wife was going to want one for their house. She gave him that look.

Mustang gave one back. Today was Monday. Tuesday was Christmas Eve. Wednesday was Christmas. Friday, maybe Saturday, they were leaving. She didn't need her own tree. He looked at Helen, whose facial expression indicated he'd better not come back and not have her damned tree. He nodded in submission, rolling his eyes upwards.

Mark tugged at his arm. Michael wanted to talk, but Helen hadn't moved from beside the vehicle. Mustang was about to walk away, but iciness from his wife made him stop dead in his tracks.

"Hey, can you guys help me unload this stuff in the truck while I get Helen settled before we go off chopping down trees," Mustang said, watching her face soften.

"Yeah, no worries," Slow replied, looking at Helen to go open the front door. "How much stuff could she...whoa. Okay. How long are you guys staying?"

"It is Christmas decorations for the house and presents for the family," she told them.

In a matter of minutes, with three men working, the vehicle was unloaded. Slow got the heat going in the home. Mark started the kettle, and in a flash, Helen was ready to get settled in before she went over to check on Cherry.

"She's been waiting for you. They both have," Slow told her. "Hell, me too."

"Give me a moment to get situated, and I will give you the break you need," she told him.

Michael Neary placed both his hands together in the prayer position, bending at the waist as a thank you. This meant Cherry was getting on his nerves, and he wanted another body to break up the whine fest. She could be needy. When Cherry was needy, she could also be bitchy. Before Helen planned to deal with any of that, she wanted to nest a bit in the home she and Mustang would have to escape the family for the next week.

"Honey, are you good?" Mustang asked.

"I'm good," she replied, waving him off.

The cupboard was bare, but in one of the bins, she had the basic food stores. Bread, wine, tuna packs, cheese, and coffee. As a backup, she had enough to make a Charcuterie board if the guys came back from "tree hunting" and wanted a snack. Mustang turned to leave but stopped to provide an affectionate peck.

"I wasn't going to leave without unloading and getting you settled first," he said.

"No worries," she replied, knowing he was anxious to run off to play with the guys. She also knew they had questions for him, which would be relayed to both Ruth and Cherry and answer a great deal of their questions without her having to explain herself to either woman. "I have to set up this nest."

She began to unpack holiday bedding and items she'd created for the home. In one container, there were presents for the family. Another container held decorations for their very first tree as husband and wife in their second home. Helen smiled at the irony of it all.

****

MUSTANG SAT NEAR THEwindow on the bench seat of Mark Neary's old pickup truck. Mark had loaned it to Helen to drive for basic transportation until Mustang had purchased the lady two vehicles of her own, the Subaru and the Chevy Colorado pickup. He was beginning to take pride at his foresight in getting her the truck, considering all the shit she’d brought with her.

Slow, who sat in the center seat of the truck since he was smaller than Mustang by at least twenty pounds, brought back many memories of early morning fishing trips with their dad. He thought fondly of the hunting trips, and although Mustang didn't care much for killing animals, he went along for the male bonding. Today would be no different once the questions about he and Helen were out of the way.

Mark asked, "What all did she have in those tubs?"

"I have no idea, outside of Christmas gifts," he said.

Michael commented, "It's a good thing her car is here so she can get groceries or whatever you need for the week."

Mark circled back, "Did you fly in to where she was training, and you guys drove in together?"

Mustang inhaled deeply and said, "No, we drove from home this morning. It's only a two-hour drive from here."

He could feel the heads turning in the vehicle as they drove across the land, headed towards the woods to locate the appropriate sized trees. Mark and Ruth had high ceilings, so a six-footer was needed. Helen's house wasn't very large, so an average tree would work. He had no idea what his brother would want for his cabin.

"I'm quiet because I'm waiting for you to finish explaining what the heck any of that means," Mark said.

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