Deep Roots – Part 1

Aileen followed Gus up the steps. She knew Sheridan was watching her as he held the door open. She mumbled a quick “thanks” as she stepped past him and into the house. She stopped and stared in wonder at the beauty surrounding her. 

The logs fit together with such precision the corner joins were hardly visible. She glanced over her left shoulder and saw a dining area. The space was dominated by a long log table and eight matching chairs. An antique hutch rested against the far wall, while a large window bathed the area in natural light.

“Your grandma spent hours at that table! Every morning, I’d drop by to meet your grandpa so we could plan our day. Your grandma would be sitting in a chair, reading her bible, or praying. I swear she almost wore grooves in the floor from kneeling or pacing as she prayed,” Gus reminisced. “Your grandpa was a hard worker in those days. We partnered up and did the work on both our farms when your momma and my kids were young. I don’t know which of us was more stubborn, nor which one told the best stories, but our banter and laughter made the heavy work lighter.”

Across from the dining room was a large living room, with rustic, worn leather couches and matching chairs formed a semi-circle around a massive stone fireplace. It stretched the full length of the wall and disappeared into the ceiling. Aileen could envision many cosy nights in front of the fire and noticed there was a bearskin rug on the floor, complete with claws and a massive head attached.

“This was your grandpa’s favourite room. I remember curling up in that chair over there and listening to his stories for hours when I was a small boy,” Sheridan confided. “Oh, and that bearskin rug is what’s left of an old black bear that had a taste for your grandpa’s cows.

“Grandpa shot that bear?” Aileen asked in awe. 

“Yep, it had one of the young calves in his mouth when he fired. The calf didn’t survive, but it was the last one that bear ever tasted. Your grandpa shot straight and true when he was sober,” Gus added and then stopped talking.

“It’s okay, Gus, grandpa told me about the whisky and other things.”

Gus nodded and moved on. The windows filled the house with sunlight as she looked up in awe at the massive arched ceilings. This was certainly more than a cabin! A huge country kitchen appeared as they turned to the left. The gas stove was magnificent, but that was only a start. “Wow, there’s a dishwasher!” 

Gus burst out laughing. “You thought we’d be doing our dishes by hand in a big sink?”

Aileen nodded, feeling foolish. “Did my grandparents have lots of visitors?”

“No, but the field hands would come in to eat. Agnes wouldn’t hear a word about it. She felt that it was the least she could do.”

“Field hands?” Aileen hoped her ignorance wasn’t insulting.

“Yes, during harvest season, we hired three or four field hands. That’s the busiest time of year with a short window to reap what you’ve sown until the frost comes. Nothing’s changed from then til now.”

“I have a lot to learn about farming, Gus. I’ve lived in the city my entire life! I don’t know what I’m going to do here, but that’s something I’ll sort out.”

“You’re not selling the place?” Sheridan asked with raised eyebrows.

“Not anytime soon. Everything I own is in the back of a moving truck scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Grandpa left me a letter with his will, and he said that I ‘have roots to discover here.’ I intend to find out what he meant.”

“I’ll grab your bags from your car and put them upstairs in the spare bedroom. Your grandpa’s room was the one across the hall. We closed the door, but it’s not locked.” 

“Thank you, Sheridan, I have one bag in the backseat of the car. Out of curiosity, why did you close the door to grandpa’s room?”

“He died in that room, Aileen, which gives some people the jitters, so we thought it best you decide for yourself.”

Aileen watched as Sheridan headed toward the front door. She felt no apprehension at all. Her grandpa died in his own home, something she was certain he would’ve wanted.

Sheridan had her bag upstairs in a matter of minutes, and then he and Gus left. Gus made sure she had his cell number. She was to call whenever she needed a hand or had a question. She headed to the kitchen to see what was in the fridge. She crossed her fingers, hoping Eloise had left something for dinner.

All the shelves and crispers were full of fresh food. There was a large glass jug of iced tea on the middle shelf. Sighing with relief, she put it on the counter and opened the closest cupboard. Glasses and mugs stood all in a row. A further search uncovered everything anyone could need in a kitchen. The pantry was also stocked full. She made a mental note to call Eloise and thank her in the morning.

“Lord, I’m so grateful for the generosity of these neighbours, bless them and their families. Amen.” She prayed aloud as she climbed the hewn log steps up to the second floor. A long hallway with four doors, two on the left and another two on the right appeared before her. The doors were all open, except for the second one on the left. She peeked into the first room on the left and discovered a bathroom with a tub and an enclosed glass shower. There were stacks of folded towels in built-in wooden shelves on the wall.

The first room on her right had big windows along the far wall that let in the evening light. The queen-sized bed was against the wall to her left. She could watch the sunset from here every night. Sheridan had placed her bag beside a tall dresser, and there was a wardrobe in the corner. It was perfect! It took her less than five minutes to unpack her bag.

She returned to the hallway and decided to explore the last room on her right. It covered the rest of the length of the house and was a cross between a family room and a library. She noticed there was no television, but there were lots of shelves filled with books, others with games and puzzles. A cozy dark brown sectional filled the far corner with a log coffee table. In the opposite corner was a puzzle table with four chairs and a puzzle in progress. There was another fireplace, identical to the one downstairs, centred against the far wall.

Aileen turned around to leave and found herself standing outside a closed door. Her grandpa’s room. He was a stranger to her, yet she felt compelled to open the door. She stopped herself at the last minute and returned to the kitchen where she poured herself a glass of iced tea as she prepared a salad to go with the cold fried chicken she found in the fridge. She carried her plate back to her room and sat on her bed to watch the sunset.

Her phone rang at 10:00 p.m. “Hi Gus, is everything okay?”

“I was going to ask you the same question.”

“Everything’s wonderful! Thank you for stocking the fridge and cupboards. I have everything I need already and the moving truck hasn’t arrived yet. I don’t know what I’m going to do with most of my things tomorrow.” 

“You’re welcome. That’s what neighbours do, they look out for one another. Give me a call when the truck arrives and we’ll come down and give you a hand.”

“I will. Sleep well.”

“You too.”

The sun was on its final descent as she hung up the phone. The golden orb of light slipped past the horizon and painted the sky in pinks, reds, and purples. It was stunning. The stars were twinkling when she took her dishes downstairs to rinse and turn the lights off for the night. She went to lock the front door, but there were no visible locks.

She turned the lights back on and checked all the other doors that led outside. They were all the same. They don’t lock their doors here? The vastness of the open prairie and the silence that surrounded her was unsettling. She left the porch light on and climbed the stairs. 

Despite her misgivings, Aileen fell asleep fast and the dream started again. She was back in the courtroom and the judge had given her verdict. Aileen watched as the gavel descended, but it never struck. Instead, she sat bolt upright in bed, wide awake.

There were footsteps in the hallway!