S. is for The Mountain Girl (Chapt.4)

The Mountain Girl
Chapter 4
The Secret

By the time they got the kids tucked into bed it was getting late. The
swim tired all them out. Angel blew out the oil lamp, and crawled into
bed.

Jay was sound asleep he, had worked hard on their new home. She smiled
to herself knowing in a couple of days they, would be in it. She was
looking forward to the space.

Jay had promised that when the work was over he, would take them to
Spout Holler where he was born, and raised. She was looking forward to
a getting away for a while. She knew it would be a long trip for Jess,
and Beth, but they, would enjoy it. She yawned, and cuddled up next to
Jay's, backside.

Jay climbed out of bed, and looked over at the kids, they were sound
asleep; on the old make shift bunks he, had build. He noticed, "Beth"
she, always slept with her hands together; under her, cheek just like
her mama.
She had the golden brown hair like Angel too. She had his hazel eyes
she, was beautiful! He thought, "Beth was going to be like her too, she
wasn't afraid of anything."

But, that sort of worried Jay; because, he knew children could easily
get into trouble here. He had warned her several times not to go into
the forest alone. But to no avail, she, always came back with a hurt
critter for her, mom to patch up." I guess I'm, going to have to teach
her, how to shoot," Jay thought. Jay gave each of them a nudge, and
informed them it, was time to get up.

"Jay"! Angel said, "What time is it"? He replied, "a little past 6". He
strode back to the bed, and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Angel asked, "Why" he hadn't wakened her? Jay told her, "I thought, I
would let you, get your beauty sleep". "Oh, Jay, you are spoiling me!
But, I love it Angel, giggled." Jay smacked her, on the behind, and
said, "you best be getting up!" We have a long day in front of
us.

Jay handed each of them a biscuit with bear sausage. He said, "These
should tie us over until lunchtime." They ate, and finished packing the
wagon. Jay yelled out everybody ready to go. He noticed, that the
children were excited, as they were, to move into their new
cabin.

They arrived at the cabin, and quickly started unloading the tools.
Jess took the shovel, and hammer out of Angel's hand, "I'll carry them
mama," he stated.

Angel watched him as he, walked toward the cabin. He was just like his
dad, except for his eyes. They were the same color as hers. But, he was
all "Jay" tall, black hair, and he, had Jay's sense of humor.

Jay asked, "Jess", are you through patching the cracks in the roof?
Jess replied, "Yes, papa!"

Angel, and Beth were sweeping out the cabin. Angel wasn't allowed to go
into her, bedroom until they, were ready to move in. Jay walked in and
asked; "girls are you ready to move in"? "Yes, they both stated"! He
laughed, and said, "Lets go have lunch, and pick up our first
load".

Angel fried potatoes, and Jay fixed bear steaks saut? in garlic, and
onions. "Jay" Angel said, "That was delicious! I never cared for bear
until I, got with you". Jay muttered, "neither did I", and they both
chuckled.

Beth, helped Angel wash the dishes, and packed them away. Jess, helped
Jay, pack the wagon. Jay said, "I guess that just about does it for
this trip."
Angel yelled, "shut the door Beth on your way out"!

They all climbed a board the wagon. Jess asked, "about the chickens,
and the things that were in the barn?" Jay told him, "They, would fetch
them tomorrow."

They drove up to their new cabin, and started unloading. They set up
Beth's room first, and than Jess's. They were small rooms Angel
thought, "but they were big enough for the kids."

Jay broke into her thoughts, "Angel", follow me, I want you to see
this, he stated! Jay opened up the door to their bedroom it was huge.
She had so much room, and the view was beautiful it, was over looking
the lake. Angel started to cry. Jess asked, "mama" what's wrong; don't
you like it? Jay said, "Jess", I think that is tears of joy. Angel
replied, "Oh! Yes", I love it! She gave them each a kiss on the
cheek.

Beth stepped in, and said, "mama" I tried to tell you. But you wouldn't
listen! Jess screamed, "Beth" shame on you it was a secret! Beth stuck
her hands out, and turned them over. She said, "Well the secrets out
now!" Angel, and Jay bust out into laughter.

Angel was looking out the window when Jay, entered the bedroom. He
tiptoed over to her, and slid his arms around her waist. Angel rested
her weight against him. She slightly turned and said, "Oh, Jay" I am so
happy!

Jay muttered, "let's you, and I take a nap". She asked, "what about the
kids?" He whispered, "They are sleeping." Angel mumbled, "Whatever
makes you happy Mr. Crabb." Jay gently picked her up, and said, "You
make me happy Mrs. Crabb!"

Angel sneaked out of bed. She decided to go fishing, and catch some
fish for supper. She thought a mess of wild greens would be nice
too.

Angel caught several sunfish, picked the greens, and hurried back to
the cabin.

Jess, and Beth were just waking up from their nap. Beth said, "mama
why" didn't you take me, with you fishing? Angel said, "maybe tomorrow!
Now, go wake your pa! So he, can get up, and wash for supper".

Jay walked into the kitchen half asleep, and washed his face in the
cool water. He looked at the table fish, greens, cornbread, and apple
pie, "yummy" he, said. They ate, and talked about their new home.

Jess said, "Mama" you, and papa, go set out on the porch. Beth, and I
will wash the dishes for you. Angel told him, "Sounds good to me".
Angel, and Jay retired to the porch, and watched the sun set over the
lake. Angel said, "what a gorgeous view we have here"! Jay muttered,
"Yes it is perfect", and he took another sip of coffee.

Jay asked, "Shall we take the kids and go for a walk? Angel replied, "A
walk is just what I need!" Jay called out, "You two, about finished in
there?" Jess yelled, "We're finished papa!" Angel told them, "let's go
for a stroll!"

Jess said, "papa" I thought you might like to take this! Jay muttered,
"Good thinking Jess! A fellow should never leave the house without his
gun." Jay strapped it on his hip as he, stepped off the porch.

They walked through the meadow, and climbed up on a slope, and peered,
down through the valley. Jess said, "When I grow up I'm, going to build
my, house here!" What do you think papa?

Jay replied, "I don't think you would have one long! You're, to close
to the mountain side, an avalanche would fall on top of it." "I never
thought of that pa," Jess, stated.

Beth yelled, "mama look what I got!" She held up a big snake. Angel
started to scream, "put it down, put it down!" Jess went running over
to Beth. He grabbed the snake out of her hand. Jess yelled, "Mama" it's
a black snake, and tossed it in the bushes.

Jay called out to "Beth one of these days young lady you, are going to
get bitten!" Angel yelled, "Beth please don't do that again!" You
almost caused me to have a heart attack! Beth muttered, "sorry
mama!"
Jay said, "We best be getting back to the cabin it will be dark
soon."

Angel hung a pot of water on the hook in the fireplace to boil. She had
a few things to wash before bedtime.

Jess said, "Papa", tell us a story. Jay shook his head, "Not tonight
son, I'm tired. Besides it's time you both get to bed."
Beth mumbled, "Oh! Papa", do we have to? Jay swatted her lightly on the
behind, and stated, "to bed young lady!"

Angel poured the wash water out, and said, "I'm worried about Beth. She
never thinks things, through! I'm afraid she may run upon something
she, can't handle one of these days."

Jay told her, "Don't worry honey she'll, be all right!" But deep down
Jay, was worried too. He told, "Angel" I'm, going to bed, you coming?
Angel replied, "I'm right behind you!"

Jay slid out of bed; got dressed, and quietly tiptoed into Jess's room.
Jay, shook Jess, and said, "Wake up son! Jess muttered, "Ok pa!"

Beth came in, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Jay told her, "get back
in bed it, was to early for her to be up!" She asked, "Papa can I, go
with you, and Jess?" He replied, "No, we have work to do!" Jay reached
down picked her up, and carried her back to bed. He said tell your,
"mama, we're, be home for lunch." "I will papa, Beth, responded."

Beth waited until she, heard them leave. She quickly jumped up, and got
dressed. She peeked outside, and quietly shut the door. Beth said
aloud, "I'm going fishing!"
(To be continued)