Page 23 of Ultimate Freedom

“I know. Same way I feel. Okay, I’ll make you a deal. I hate bringing in the wood and doing the supper dishes alone. How about you take on those chores as payment for you staying here? Would that be okay?”

“Yeah.” Charlie brightened up considerably. “I’ll get some wood now.”

“Hold up. We still need to talk. How about we order some clothes for you that fit… if you want brand new. If not, Norrie gave me a big box of stuff that the ladies in town dropped off at the store. Things their own kids grew out of. Now, if you don’t want hand-me-downs, I understand. Lord knows, I grew up in them myself. But if you’d rather use your money to order new things, we can do it together.”

“A boxload?” His eyes were huge. “I don’t mind wearing other folks’ clothes. My mom only bought me stuff from the thrift stores, so I’m used to it. I can save my money for books.”Pleased with this idea, he looked to see if she had anything else to add.

Backing away, knowing it was enough serious discussion for now, she stood up. “Great, you load up this wood box from the shed I showed you yesterday, and I’ll clean the kitchen. Then we can go pick up Harold and Lefty, the two old guys I told you about.”

“You mean the sick man from Vancouver?”

“Yep. He’s the one that sold me Blue, my truck. And he gave me a garage-full of gear he swore I’d need to live here in Alaska. Most of it I’m still using.”

“Have you known him long?”

“Never met the man before that day. Same with Lefty. He owns a restaurant Harold took me to. I’ll tell you the story on the way to town. Let’s move. I don’t want to keep them waiting. Oh, and I put that box in your room in case you decided to keep some of the gear.”

Happy now, Charlie raced to his room. A short time later, he appeared wearing an outfit that looked like new. Jeans way too long, a flannel shirt a bit too big, and warm socks, all were different colors and nothing matching.

Demi stifled the laugh trying to break loose.

“I’ll just get that wood.” The boy grabbed his torn parka and floppy boots and rushed from the house, only to be met by a wolf still not sure about this new human.

Demi scrubbed at the frosted window to get a view and watched as Charlie stood still, letting Nito approach. Making sure the boy hadn’t frozen in fear, she looked at his relaxed face and knew that wasn’t so. He had stopped as a kind of tribute to Nito, a way to show respect and of not provoking him.

The wolf approached, sniffed Charlie’s face, and then snorted with acceptance before coming to growl at the door.Charlie turned back and opened it for the animal and then ran off to gather his armload.

***

Demi felt good seeing her Vancouver family relaxing around the kitchen table after they’d filled up on the lunch she’d served. The salmon steaks had disappeared quickly as did the little golden potatoes and sweet peas she’d grown in her garden.

Both Harold and Lefty had caught her up on all their news and were now pestering her to tell them stories about her life in Alaska.

“Okay, but first, we need to go and relax in the living room. These chairs get hard on the tush if we stay in them too long.” Demi made sure not to look at Harold when she said that, but she’d seen him wince a time or two.

Charlie, who’d stayed to visit with the oldies, jumped up. “I’ll clean the table.”

“You will? Thanks, bud. I’d appreciate that.” Wanting the boy to hear what she had to say, she made sure to speak a bit louder. The stories she would tell were ones he could listen to.

Once they were settled, she described her first few weeks in Hyder, and her meeting Glen and Whit. Without going into any damaging details, she described life at the beginning and how different her new world had suddenly become. About how they all fixed the cabin together, fished and gardened, storing food for the winter.

She elaborated on the story of saving the wolf pup and how that decision had paid her back tenfold. The descriptions of him saving her life not once but twice kept the males mesmerized, as well as the boy who’d snuck into the room, sitting on the floor against the wall, his rapt attention never wavering.

Soon, her voice began to give out, and she looked over to see Harold fast asleep. Motioning to both Lefty and Charlie, she pointed to the kitchen. When they followed her, she whispered,“Wanna go for a walk? There’s a blue sky and it’s sunny today. Let’s take advantage of the unusual, good weather.”

They quickly dressed and headed outside, Charlie in the direction of the wood shed. “Hey, Charlie. Just leave the pile by the door so you don’t wake Harold.”

He waved to let her know he’d heard. “Okay.”

Once alone, she took Lefty’s arm to be sure he didn’t lose his footing, and they made their way slowly to where she parked her truck. The road had been plowed from there and easy to walk on. “Harold doesn’t look good, does he? He’s lost so much weight.”

“Since you last saw him, yes. I guess he overdid things getting ready for the trip. But I haven’t seen him this happy for a long time. Being here with you, it’s the best medicine in the world.”

“I’m glad.” Demi felt herself getting choked up over Lefty’s words.

“All he could talk about last night was being back in the mountains again and seeing your pretty face. I swear, if he died today, he’d go happy. Best thing a man could ask for.”

Surprised at the total acceptance of death, Demi slowly released the dread she’d had twisting in her guts since she saw her friend at the airport. If his best buddy believed Harold would go happy because of seeing her, then she’d accept the truth of it.

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