Free Christmas With Hover Hill by Fay Risner Page A

Maybe tomorrow will be a better
day to walk and ride in the tractor.”
    Next morning, Elizabeth was out of bed well before
the sun rose, or Hover stirred. For the first time in a long time,
she made the coffee. For a while, she stood at the kitchen window,
watching the sun peek above the trees and cast a glistening shimmer
on the snow.
    When the peculator stopped chugging, Elizabeth poured
a cup. She blew into the steaming cup and took a sip. The coffee
was bitter. Next time she probably should wait for Hover to make
the coffee. Evidently, she had lost the knack. Elizabeth carried
her cup into the living room just as Hover powered up.
    The robot headed passed her to the kitchen to cook
breakfast, scolding her as he went. “You have already made the
coffee I see. You rose this morning before you are supposed to get
out of bed, according to my programmed schedule. You should have
let me know you were up.”
    Elizabeth leaned on the doorway facing. “Why? I was
enjoying the sunrise and a cup of coffee by myself. Don't depend on
that schedule for accuracy. Steven Mitchell didn't know me as well
as he thought he did.”
    “ I'm finding that out,” Hover stated as he
hustled from the cupboard to the stove with a skillet. “Now I will
fix your breakfast.”
    After she ate, Elizabeth went back to the window to
listen for the tractor. Sounds carried so easily in the winter
stillness. When she heard the tractor turn off the highway onto the
country road, Elizabeth hurriedly shrugged into her coat and pulled
on her boots. As she went out the door, she called to Hover that
she was going to take a walk to get some fresh air. Walking at a
fast pace, she tromped through the deep snow to the pasture fence
by the time the tractor came in sight behind her.
    As if they had settled into a routine, Bud hopped out
of the tractor cab and said good morning as he opened the gate. He
climbed back into the tractor and dropped the hay off for the
cattle. Elizabeth watched from the fence.
    On his way out, Bud stopped to shut the gate. He
offered her a ride back to the house. Elizabeth wasn't sure she
should get so friendly with this farmer, but she liked him. She
even liked the new experience of riding in his tractor.
    She reminded herself she was supposed to be hiding
out. Not attracting attention. She knew it, she argued back to
herself, and she didn't care. That idea hadn't stopped her from
going for a walk when she heard the tractor coming, knowing full
well Bud would offer her a ride back to the house. The little voice
in her head warned her she should be more cautious.
    The conversation was sparse during the ride. Bud
stopped the tractor and twisted in the seat to look at her. “Well,
I got you back home safe and sound.”
    “ Yes, thank you for the fun ride.”
    “ You're very welcome,” Bud said as he climbed
out of the cab. He came around to her side, opened the door and
helped her down the steps. “See you in the morning?”
    “ We'll see,” Elizabeth hedged, thinking she
really shouldn't make a habit out of meeting Bud. She had enough
problems.
    “ Dang!” Bud exclaimed and pointed behind her.
“Your boyfriend just fell in that big drift by the back
door.”
    Elizabeth wheeled around. Hover was flat in a snow
drift. His thrashing around wasn't helping him. Snow was flying
every which way. An inflated, black garbage bag beside him bounced
one way and then the other as he smacked it with his hand.
    “ Oh, dear! I'm not sure I can get him up by
myself. I told him to stay in the house. Why didn't he listen to
me? I better hurry. I don't want him to rust.” She took off on a
run for Hover Hill.
    Bud mouthed, Rust!
Maybe I didn't hear her right . He ran after her.
“Lizzy, wait! I'll help you get the guy up.”
    They knelt on either side of the squirming Hover
Hill. Bud asked, “Are you hurt, Mister?”
    “ I may have scrambled a few transmitters,”
Hover droned.
    “ I wouldn't worry about your cell phone right
now. You can