Chapter 4 Nora
NORA
Afew hours later, Nora sat in the passenger seat of River’s truck, feeling a little twinge of anticipation as he signaled to turn into the long driveway of his farmhouse.
We’re going to see horses…
She still couldn’t believe that they were doing this.
Stealing a quick peek at the back seat, she saw the kids weren’t even going to realize they had arrived until she woke them. John-John had drifted off almost as soon as they left the city. But Pixie was sleeping now too, her little hand still wrapped around her brother’s.
“Will this ruin their night’s sleep?” River asked softly.
“Oh, they’ll be fine,” Nora told him. “They might be a little cranky tomorrow morning, but I’m sure they’ll sleep well tomorrow night after a day spent outside.”
“That’s good,” River said. “It’s going to be so much fun having you guys here.”
The truck rumbled over the gravel path. Even in the pale moonlight, Nora could make out that they were surrounded by snow-covered fields. It was incredible to see so much space around them.
As they came to a stop, John-John awoke with a whimper.
“You’re okay,” she told him gently. “We’re going to spend the weekend in the country, remember?”
“Horses,” John-John murmured.
“Exactly,” Nora told him. “We just have to get inside and go right to bed so you have lots of energy tomorrow for exploring.”
“Pixie,” John-John said. “Pixie, wake up. We’re at a farm.”
Pixie blinked awake quickly, looking a little alarmed.
“We’re going to see horses, Pixie,” John-John told her encouragingly. “It’s just like Bear Haven.”
Pixie smiled at her little brother.
“We’ll see them in the morning,” Nora told her. “For now, we just want to get inside and get settled for the night.”
“Okay,” Pixie said.
“You guys are my very first guests,” River said happily as he turned off the engine and opened his door, letting in a burst of crisp, cold air. “I’m so glad you decided to have a farm adventure this weekend.”
Nora hopped out of the truck and slung her backpack over her shoulder before opening the rear passenger door to lift John-John from his car seat.
He snuggled into her arms, wrapping his legs around her waist, and she figured it was easier to just carry him than to put him down.
Pixie scrambled down and squeezed out right behind him, with both her own backpack and John-John’s. When she got to the ground, she grabbed Nora’s free hand.
They walked around the truck together and followed after River to the house. It was a plain, white clapboard farmhouse, but something about it looked so homey. It seemed to almost glow in the moonlight.
“You can see all the stars,” Pixie whispered, her little face awed as she looked up at the night sky.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Nora said.
“Where’s the big horse?” John-John whispered as he looked around, clearly not interested in something as boring as stars when the possibility of horses was on the table. “And the little one?”
“They’re sleeping in the barn right now,” River said as he jogged up the porch steps. “If you want, you can come with me tomorrow to see them.”
Nora smiled at the idea. She hadn’t really worked with larger animals since she was in veterinary school, but she had always loved horses.
By now, John-John was getting a little wiggly. Nora bent and put him down, then took the backpacks from Pixie, who grabbed her brother’s hand as they ran up the steps together.
River opened the front door and ducked inside. Immediately, the porch and entry area were illuminated.
Nora followed the kids, who were waiting at the door.
“Come on in,” River said from inside. “I’m just turning on some lamps.”
When Nora had caught up to the kids, they all went in together.
Nora and Alma and their parents had only spent a few years in Tarker County when she was younger, but this whole adventure already brought back so many memories.
The walls of the farmhouse were hung with old-fashioned flowery paper and there were exposed wooden beams in the plaster ceiling. Even the slightly earthy scent of the house felt like home.
“I just bought the place,” River said. “So I haven’t made any changes yet. But the bones are good, and it’s got a new roof and wiring.”
She didn’t know what kind of changes he had in mind, but Nora decided that she already liked the house very much just the way it was.
“It’s just like Farmer Bear’s house,” John-John squeaked before she could say so.
“That’s their favorite book,” Nora told River. “And we love that house. Right, guys?”
“Yes,” Pixie said seriously. “It has a ceiling just like this, and a fireplace just like that, but with a big pot in it.”
“Wow,” River said. “That sounds really cool. I wonder if I should get a big pot. Sounds like my kind of book.”
“We brought it,” John-John said excitedly. “We brought the book, so you can read it.”
“I’d like that,” River told him.
But John-John didn’t respond, because he had spotted the long hallway just off the living room.
“Race you, Pixie,” the little guy shouted, his feet already moving before the words were even out.
“Oh goodness,” Nora said.
But it was too late to stop them. Before she even had time to think about trying, the two had flown down the hallway toward the dim light at the end.
“They’re used to only being able to run in the hallway of the condo,” she told River apologetically as she took off after them. “This hallway is so much longer. I guess it’s irresistible.”
“Not a problem,” he told her. “There’s nothing here for them to hurt. And I keep a nightlight on in the kitchen in case I want to come down for a snack.”
“A man after their own hearts,” Nora couldn’t help laughing. “We get up for drinks of water and snacks in the night too, sometimes.”
She expected some more running, but when they reached the kitchen the children were at a standstill. They both stared up at the ceiling, where there were copper pots and pans hanging from racks, and what looked like some dried herbs too.
“It’s like a witch’s house,” Pixie whispered, her eyes wide.
“Oh, those are just very fancy pots and pans,” Nora told her. “And some nice spices.”
“The lady who moved out of this house was very sweet,” River said. “She loved to cook. And she left lots of her things behind.”
“She was a good witch, Pixie,” John-John decided.
“Does anyone need a drink of water before bedtime?” Nora asked.
The kids both did, so River opened a cupboard, pulled out amber glass cups, and filled them with water from a pitcher in the refrigerator.
They all sat down at the wooden table to enjoy their drinks. The house was so still and peaceful. The occasional gurgle from the radiators and the rattle of the old windows when the wind picked up were the only sounds.
“Hey, that’s a monkey,” John-John pointed out as he looked up at the old globe light over the table.
Sure enough, a little toy monkey in a faded red suit hung from the fixture.
Pixie giggled and John-John smiled rapturously.
“That came from the house where I grew up,” River told him, looking pleased. “The kitchen table monkey was always my favorite, so my parents told me I could bring him here when it became my house. And there’s another favorite toy of mine in the room where you’ll be staying.”
“Oh, do you think it’s time to find the bedroom, kids?” Nora asked. “I’ll bet you two are getting awfully sleepy. I know I am.”
Pixie looked torn, but when her little brother nodded, she nodded too.
“I’ll lead the way,” River told them.
He headed up the back staircase and the kids scampered after him.
They trust him already, Nora thought to herself as she followed them. Just like that.
And she couldn’t argue. There was something special about River Young. He could put you at ease in a heartbeat.
“Okay guys,” River told them in the upstairs hall. “Here we go.”
He opened the door to a room with two beds and a pretty window seat. Between the beds was a massive wooden train set.
“Trains,” John-John exclaimed.
“We have to ask if it’s okay to play with someone else’s toys,” Nora said quickly.
“Of course you can play with them,” River said right away. “But how about in the morning, when you wake up?”
John-John was already kneeling in front of the trains, his eyes taking them in, but he stood up and yawned.
“Okay,” he said sleepily.
“Good decision,” Nora said, smiling fondly at the sweet boy.
“There are extra blankets in here,” River said, lifting the window seat to reveal the storage underneath.
“A secret compartment,” Pixie exclaimed happily.
“Isn’t that cool?” River asked her, holding the seat open so that she could look inside.
When she was finished inspecting the storage space, he lowered the window seat again and pointed to an extra door on the side of the room.
“Where do you think that goes, guys?” River asked.
“It’s a closet,” John-John said, looking at River like he had lost his marbles.
“Nope,” River told him. “Who wants to open it?”
“Me,” Pixie said.
“Go on,” he told her.
John-John followed his sister, but seemed perfectly content to stay behind her while she opened the mystery door.
“It’s another bedroom,” Pixie announced.
“That’s the room where your aunt is going to stay,” River told them. “It has its own door from the hallway too, but this way you guys can come find her without even leaving your room if you want.”
Nora felt a pang of gratitude. He had anticipated that the kids might feel a little scared sleeping away from home. The adjoining room would help a lot if they did get scared in the night.
“Come on through,” River said.
They walked through Nora’s room, which was a very nice room too, with a bed and dresser, and a door back out into the hallway. Directly across the hall was the bathroom.
“The sink is blue,” John-John said with a big smile.
Blue was John-John’s favorite color, and the sink, toilet, and bathtub were all blue in this bathroom.
“Wow, look at that,” Nora said with a smile.