I love feedback and any comments you have to offer. As noted, this is an edited version...not much has changed with the exception of a few grammatical and spelling errors . Hopefully this will please most of you and if it doesn't...don't read my material. I'm only an imperfect human...enjoying what I write...Drop a line, post a comment or e-mail me. Thanks everyone for the comments...even the not so pleasant ones...!
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I've always loved this time of year...the mountain air was crisp, leaves falling from the trees and the hint of the first snow was being predicted for the weekend. I had plenty of firewood and the kitchen was well stocked with all the food I needed. I made sure that I had plenty of diesel fuel for the generator. The only thing missing was my wife of thirty years...our marriage ended in a battle six months ago and I got the mountain chalet, she got our house, my dog, and anything else she could manage to squeeze out of me. I was sorry about the way things turned out but we couldn't live with each other anymore. The first month was the hardest but now I was in a routine and I kind of liked my freedom. I learned a long time ago that you had to go with the flow and make the best of things but I guess my ex-wife failed to gain that wisdom. So here I was, all alone and loving it!
I'm semi-retired, I have my own real-estate company, and so I pretty much come and go as I please. I've been working on the chalet, making it ready for the winter. I only had a wood stove to put in, the fireplace was great, but I was looking for heating purposes. Trying to make a home of it instead of a mountain hideaway was good therapy for me since the divorce. I had four bedrooms, one on the second floor, the master bedroom and another one on the first floor and two in the basement. There were two and a half bathrooms, one full was for the master bedroom, and the second was down the hall, and the half bath was in the basement. I also had a two-car garage and workshop fully heated. I had installed a hot tub on the wrap around deck and it sure came in handy. I also had another treat and that was a pool table in the basement along with a nice wet bar. Everything was paid for so I didn't have any bills except power. I was glad I had invested some good money on this place well before the divorce because now it was just minor things that needed attending to. I'm an hour to the nearest town and boy do I love the solitude. I don't have to see anybody if I don't want to. The nearest neighbor is an old couple about three miles away and my road isn't traveled much. My place is surrounded by National Forest and the road isn't used by anyone but myself...Perfect for a man like me.
I was sitting on my porch watching the sun go down when I heard a vehicle. It was amazing how noise traveled in the mountains. The noise grew louder, it was heading up my road, and suddenly I spotted a car. I didn't recognize it and I figured they must have made a wrong turn. I noticed a man and woman in the car as they pulled into my drive; I then stood up. The man opened his door and made his way to my porch and I met him at the bottom of the steps. I glanced at him then towards the car.
"Excuse me sir, but I think I've made a wrong turn somewhere and I might be lost. Is this the road to Mr. Ben Smith's home?" he asked.
I glanced at the young man and then I heard the passenger door open up. I looked over his shoulder and was taken back by the beauty that got out. Here stood a slender woman with long jet-black hair. She crossed her arms over her chest as she walked closer, the cool air started to bite at her skin. They both seemed to be in their late 20's or early 30's, well groomed and she was definitely a hottie.
" Nope, do you have any more information than that? I don't know any Ben Smith up here." I replied.
" Oh shit." The man mouthed. "I'll never make it back down the road before dark. I'm almost out of gas too. Would you have a phone I could use to call Ben?"
I looked at him then I glanced at the woman, she had this disgusted look on her face, they both looked innocent enough.
"I knew you'd get us fucking lost!" Remarked the woman. "My name is Jill and this is my husband Pete Smith. I hope you can help us out."
" I think I can manage that. Why don't you and your husband come into the house, it's getting a bit chilly out here." I said. Quickly the young woman said, "Thanks a lot, I've been riding in that damn car for hours and I sure could use a bathroom. Do you have one?"
I glanced over my shoulder at her as I headed up the porch. "I've got an outhouse out back if you really need to go." I started to laugh. The look on her face was priceless...Panic written all over her face.
She started to stammer and stutter...
"I'm just kidding miss." I jokingly laughed. I held the door for them as they entered. "Bathrooms down the hall miss, to your right, second door."
" Pete, my name is Carl White." I said as I stuck my hand out to shake his. "Let's get you some directions to your Uncle's. There's the phone." I pointed to the wall phone in the kitchen.
" Modern technology and I can't even use it up here." Pete stated as he opened his cell phone, I assumed he was looking for Mr. Smith's phone number.
Pete dialed the number then I heard the toilet flush and out came Jill. She had run a comb through her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail, she looked absolutely radiant. It had been a long time that I really looked at a woman for her beauty..."Just my luck, she's married!" I thought to myself. I was leaning against the kitchen sink just admiring her when Pete's voice broke my train of thought.
" I can't seem to get him. I know I've got the right number. Guess I'll try again in a minute or two if it's okay with you Carl?" he said.