Page 20 of Serial Love

“I know, Gram. And I’d love your company as I do my walk-around this morning.”

Linking her arm through her grandmother’s, they started up the road toward the first cabin. The guests had not risen yet and so the morning was quiet, other than for the sound of the birds gathering around the bird feeders she had set out.

As the two continued to walk, Bethany’s mind was on the list of things that needed to be accomplished. The flower box on cabin three was sagging on one side and had to be refastened later before it fell. She had encouraged Gram to spend more money several years ago and have gutter guards installed so the leaves would not clog the gutters. The guards had been a good decision, but cabin four had a small branch down on its roof which could impact the gutters. Checking that out needed to go on the day’s list as well.

“I’ve been here my whole adult life,” Gram said, her voice breaking the morning silence. “Did you know that I was only eighteen years old when Martin and I married?”

Bethany jerked her gaze over to Gram, seeing herclear-eyed and cognizant. Determined to make the most of the memory, knowing at any moment Gram could slip back into time, she said, “Tell me about him.”

The smile on her grandmother’s face was priceless. They had walked several steps in silence again before she began to speak.

“Martin was so handsome, and I fell in love with him when I was only fourteen years old. He was two years older, and I thought he was so grown up. My daddy wouldn’t let us date until I was fifteen, and for a year, we were inseparable.

By this time, they had rounded the lake and were coming to the last two cabins. Bethany kept her attention on her grandmother, knowing that she could easily come back later to check on them. Gram was more important by far.

“He went off to the Army when I was only sixteen years old, but I wrote to him every week. He was gone for almost two years, and the night he got back, he came to my door.” Gram giggled at the memory. “I nearly ran my daddy down trying to get to the door first.” Bethany grinned, imagining the young Ann rushing to get to her love.

“He stepped in, shook my father’s hand and before I could even kiss him, he turned to my father and asked for my hand in marriage. Daddy was stunned, but I knew he was impressed with Martin as a man.” Gram sighed, saying, “We were married the day after I turned eighteen. Never apart for one night. Not one in all those years. Poor years. Hard years. Until we made this place work. But never a night apart.”

The lodge in sight, the two women headed up the path by the lake. Bethany could hear the stirrings of the guests. Two cabins were full of fishermen spending the weekend and they were preparing to leave for the river nearby. The Taylors had left, only to be replaced by other families spending a week or weekend here in the cabins. A couple on their honeymoon had come in the night before and were in the farthest cabin. That was rare since most young couples prefer honeymoons in exotic locations, but occasionally they did come. For the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the peace of a little cabin in the woods.

If I ever get married, I’d like that too,Bethany thought. With that, her mind rolled to the handsome neighbor that she had tried not to think about. But his dark, brooding face crowded her dreams at night and images of his powerful body on top of hers caused her to wake in a lust-filled sweat.

She glanced down at Gram’s ankle, the tracking bracelet gleaming in the sunlight. Gram had been concerned at first, not understanding why she had to wear jewelry on her ankle, but she soon became adjusted to it.To give such a gift, and then turn around and leave so abruptly.And to be silent for weeks. If ever there was a brush off, I guess that was it.She wished it did not sting…but it did.

Heaving a sigh as they climbed back up the lodge steps, she forced him out of her mind.Lots to do today and might as well get going.“Come on, Gram,” she called. “I’ll fix you breakfast.”

Her grandmother looked up at her and smiled. “Sure Helen, and then we’ll find Charlie.”

Bethany just returned her smile, shaking her head.Well, it was nice while it lasted.

That evening, Bethany left the stew in the crockpot while she ran outside to investigate the noises she was hearing. At first, she just thought it was one of the larger groups talking loudly but the increasingly raised voices were now shouting in anger. As she stepped out on the porch, she saw one pickup truck parked in front of the lodge, the occupants out in the gravel drive arguing with the men in the two other pick-up trucks behind them.

A quick glance down at the angry voices, some slurred with alcohol, caused her to stiffen in anger. Her eyes jerked to the side where two families were hustling their children from the lake back to their cabins.Damnit!Gram had followed her to the door and Bethany turned and yelled over her shoulder, “Gram, get back inside. Now.”Please God, let her do what I ask!

“Gentlemen!” Turning back to the scene below, her voice broke through their ruckus. “I ask that you respect the other guests and keep your voices down.”

One man staggered around looking up at her incredulously. “You wanna know what that son-of-a-bitch did? Cut my line. Had a goddamn winner and he cut my fuckin’ line. He cost me the trophy and $250 in winnings!”

She remembered seeing one of the nearby lakes hosting a fishing contest this weekend and now knew why she had several cabins filled with fishermen.

“Whatever the reason is for your argument, you’ll have to keep your voices down and settle it quietly.” Spearing them with a glare, she continued, “And settling it non-violently. I suggest you all sleep it off.”

“Fuck you,” the man slurred turning back toward the man approaching him.

“I didn’t cut your line, you asshole. It just snapped ‘cause you’re a fucking idiot who can’t pull back when you should!” another man interjected, stepping forward.

Before he could continue to protest his innocence, his accuser swung a punch landing it on his jaw, sending him staggering backward onto the gravel.

Uncertain what to do, Bethany instinctively stepped down two steps, screaming, “STOP!” but it was apparent that her voice was ineffective with the ensuing melee. Turning, she spied a broom on the front porch and leaned over, grabbing it— to what avail she had no idea.

The man on the ground jumped up and rushed the angry competitor, taking him down in a tackle, both landing hard on the gravel. Bethany watched in amazement as the one who had been drinking managed to straddle the other and began hitting him with his fists, cursing wildly.

“Do something!” she screamed at the other men standing around.

“Hell, they can fight it out themselves,” one burlyman answered back. “They ain’t hurtin’ nobody but themselves.”

“They’re hurting my business!” she yelled as she bolted down the steps to the two men now rolling on the ground.

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