Ashley & Milo

By Norman F. Hewes

Ashley Winslip is a widowed woman, pregnant with her dead husband's child. In a moment of desperation, she heads to a cabin in the hills to remove herself from this earthly plane. Fortunately, Milo Burns is already at the camp, albeit with problems of his own. He is divorced and struggling with the fact that he won't be able to have his two young daughters with him for summer vacation, that is unless he finds a proper home. A night under the stars and a sunrise in the morning give the two just-met individuals the impetus to straighten out their problems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Norman F. Hewes
• Release date: Oct 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311226969

Norman F. Hewes

Norman Hewes was born in the early 1930s. His parents lost everything in the Great Depression. He was nine years old before he lived in a house with interior plumbing, running water or electric lights. The house did have a lot of love in it and this is reflected in the stories he writes. During mud season he often rode to school in the back of a cattle truck. The one thing the town had was a good library. He found much enjoyment and soon read beyond his grade level. All through his youth he worked at various jobs, mowing lawns, shoveling snow and peddling papers. When old enough he worked on a dairy farm. Graduating in 1952, he worked as a bus driver for a few months. The draft soon caught up with him and he was sent to Korea. Returning home he worked as a mechanic, and then as a factory worker. In the meantime he was married and lived together with his wife on a small farm for fifty-four years of happiness. Always, any spare minute, he read fiction and when he retired in 1996, he taught himself to type. His wife helped to make his stories readable, she being in printing as a proofreader. He has continued to write, using volunteers he finds on the Internet to edit and proofread. He is now striving to post 100 stories in different mediums. Many are short stories with a few novels interspersed. He still lives within twenty miles of his birthplace just as he has all his life here in beautiful Vermont. Norm most often used “happyhugo” as the author to write his stories under and uses this for his blogspot. The Happy denotes the type of stories he writes, having a happy ending for most of his characters and trying to follow the Golden Rule of: “Do Unto Others as you would have Them Do to You.”

Book preview

Ashley and Milo

Copyright 2009 Norman Hewes

Published by Happyhugo at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Epilogue

Chapter One

I could hear the old jeep winding up the trail. I knew the sound of it and I had heard it often enough in the last nine years. It wasn’t going to get here and the driver, if it was who I thought it was, would know that too. I heard the jeep spinning its wheels and get stuck in the mud that was always present at this time of year. I knew now that it was someone who had never driven up to the cabin before. The mud hole was a good half mile from the camp. Who could it be and for what reason would they be coming here at this time of year?

I walked up the backside of the mountain and only arrived fifteen minutes before I heard the vehicle. I thought I would examine whoever was coming here before I made myself known. I stepped around to the side after shutting and locking the door. I waited for nearly a half hour before I could see a woman climbing along the trail. When she got to where a vehicle could be turned around she paused. She must have realized then that this was a strictly late summer and early fall trail.

She stopped and surveyed the cabin that was up hill from where she was standing. Christ, she didn’t even have a carry bag or backpack, just a handbag. Most likely containing makeup, something women couldn’t do without. Must be she wanted to see where the road went and started forward without thinking. Damn, now I would have to help get the vehicle out. It had to be done before dark too, since it was impossible to back up the quarter mile from the mud hole to where it could be turned around.

Slowly she made her way up the path, up the steps and across to the locked door. I was surprised when she reached into her purse and pulled out a key and unlocked the door. She must have something to do with the person that owned the cabin with me.

Calvin Winslip and I purchased this land nine years ago and over the years we had built this two-room hunting camp. The joke was on us for any game stayed down in the lower reaches of the mountain. It was a great place to get away from it all. I got away from my wife and Calvin just wanted a place to relax. He never married. Hell, he didn’t need to. He was a handsome devil and could have any women he wanted.

I wish I had gone that route. I was now divorced and paying support for two kids that I couldn’t even see when I wanted to. I eased around to the back door and cracking it slightly, I peeked in. The woman had sat down in a chair at the table and was sitting with her head bowed. Rousing up just a little, she opened her bag and pulled out a gun that looked like Calvin’s .44 magnum and laid it at hand on the table.

I could hear her sniffling and then start to sob. Very carefully, I crept softly behind her and just as she reached for the gun, I picked it off the table. She must have had her eyes closed for she didn’t realize the gun wasn’t at her hand and she fumbled around. Not finding it and feeling my presence, she gave a startled squeak and whirled out of her chair, tipping it over.

I stood facing her with the weapon behind me. Tears totally stopped now, Who are you?

I’m Milo Burns, but Miss, I think it is me who should be asking who you are. You come into my cabin and, I paused, what were you going to do with the gun, anyway? It looked like you planned to use it on yourself.

None of your business what I planned. Besides I own half this cabin so you can’t tell me what I can or can’t do.

Well if you’re going to mess it all up with blood and guts and leave me to clean it up, I can tell you, you can’t do that. And as far as owning part of this property, Calvin Winslip and I are the registered owners and you don’t look like no Calvin to me.

She was strangely silent and then she started blubbering, Calvin is dead. He was killed in Iraq a little more than two weeks ago. She couldn’t say more because she was crying so hard.

God no, not Calvin! I knew his unit had been called up, but I didn’t know he had been deployed yet. Where do you fit into this? You’re not his sister.

I caught something she said through her hiccups and tears. Wife.

Are you saying you are his wife?

She nodded. I looked more closely at this woman. Maybe she wasn’t a dog, but she was far from the level of beauty that I associated with Calvin’s women. And here she tells me she is married to him. I hadn’t spoken directly to Calvin since Christmas and it was now June. I had been tied up with my own problems so it wasn’t surprising that I didn’t know about him being married. He had e-mailed me in February that he was being called up. That was the last word I had from him.

I straightened the chair and led her to it and pushed her down. I moved across the room and sat on the other side of the table facing her. Tell me about it.

"My name is Ashley. Calvin and I were childhood sweethearts and we broke up when high school ended. I have always loved him and I guess he found that he loved me too. I saw him at Christmas time and we reconnected.

When Calvin received his papers that said he was being called up, we became real serious and we were married Easter weekend. He shipped out a month ago. Two weeks later, on his first exit from his compound, his Humvee ran over an IED and he was killed. He never knew that we were going to have a baby. She couldn’t continue speaking as again she was crying too hard.

I let Ashley settle down before I asked, Were you really going to use the gun if I hadn’t grabbed it?

Yes.

Are you still planning on doing it?

Yes.

Hey, I’ll do it for you. I pulled the gun from my belt, checked to make sure the safety was off and pointed the gun in her direction. There was a look of horror on her face. I pulled the trigger and the gun fired. Ashley toppled over onto the floor. I got up and felt for her pulse. Satisfied, I found a piece of plastic and spread it out on the bunk.

I picked her up and laid her out, straightening her legs and putting her arms at her sides. I built the fire even though it was June, and I knew it soon would be hot in here. I made several trips out to the little water pipe that was our water supply, bringing back enough water to fill the tub that I had on the stove. It took two hours to bring the water to the temperature that I needed.

I went over to the bunk and shook Ashley. Ashley, wake up. Come on, wake up.

Her eyes opened and she blinked. I’m still alive?

Yeah, still alive. You fainted and have been sleeping for awhile. Look, I think facing death and thinking you were going to die, made you pee your pants. I’ve heated enough water for you to give yourself a bath and maybe wash out your underwear. I’ll give you my spare jeans to put on. I guess you weren’t planning on needing a change of clothes. I mean who needs extra clothes if they know they are going to kill Calvin’s baby and themselves.

I continued, I’d like to see the baby when it is born, but if you are still bent on killing yourself, I’m leaving the gun here on the table. If you do it, would you please step out the back door and not mess up the cabin. I’ll be right outside in front and you can call if you need anything. I laid the gun on the table. It was her decision and I honestly hoped she had given up on committing suicide.

I went out and sat on the top step. I could hear her stirring around. Suddenly the gun went off behind the building. God, no! I was so sure that I had at least stopped her long enough for her to change her mind. I ran around back expecting to see her writhing and dying on the ground.

There you son-of-a-bitch, two can play this game. You thought I did it when the gun went off, didn’t you? I thought I was going to die when you pointed the gun at me. I still ought to shoot you for making me pee my pants. How much longer do you want to keep this up?

I’m done if you are. Christ, you almost made me have to take a bath too. I went back to the front of the cabin and resumed my seat. Before long I was chuckling to myself. That is until I remembered that Calvin was dead and this woman loved him so much she didn’t want to live without him. I was hoping she was beyond that now and especially for her unborn baby’s sake.

Would you come in now, Milo? Where do you want to throw this water?

We worked together cleaning up and since it was near evening, I opened my backpack and laid out what food I had brought which consisted of mostly bacon, eggs, and bread for toast. I had a gallon of milk to soak up the box of cold cereal and to mix with the bottle of brandy I had thought to include. If I eat up your food, you won’t be able to stay as long as you planned.

No, but if you had carried through on your plans, I wouldn’t have been able to stay at all. I’m glad my stay here has been shortened by just a little under the circumstances.

You know Milo, Calvin talked about you all the time. He said you had some strange ways and weren’t always happy, but you were the best companion a person could have. I think I know what he meant. I mean when you pointed the gun at me, suddenly, I didn’t want to die.

That was the point. It is like when people are young, they say, when I reach 75, I’ve lived long enough, but when they get there, no matter how sick and in pain they are, they think, maybe I’ll make it to 80. You just reached 75 today and decided you might like to see 80.

You are so right. We were sitting at the table across from each other and when we both looked up, there was something being nurtured deep in our minds. A bond maybe?

Let’s sit out on the porch. We have to go out the back door and around to the south end of the cabin. There is just enough room for two chairs and we can look down into the valley. I think the moon is full tonight and will be coming up just as it gets dark. It’s quite a sight.

We sat there and it was just as I said it would be. Nothing needed to be said and nothing was. About a little after ten, I said, I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go in and go to bed. I’ll sleep on the top bunk. You can either go in first or I will.

Milo, you go first. I want to stay out just a little longer and Milo, thank you for everything.

Ashley was shaking me at daylight. Milo, come see the sunrise. I opened my eyes and it is just peeking up. It is coming up fast so hurry.

I smiled to myself. Ashley had evidently not come to bed at all, sitting out and watching the moon and then the stars pop out. Now she was being treated to the most wonderful vision of all. Seeing the sun at this time of day was like being born again. I joined Ashley. Again she referred to yesterday. I could have missed this. Thank you so much. When the sun had fully risen, I went in and started the bacon frying.

After the few dishes were washed and put in the cupboard, Ashley said, I guess you want to know what brought me to the point yesterday to decide to kill myself. In a way it was a question, but I thought it was more of a plea to be heard.

I went for the plea theory. Yes, of course I would. You might listen to me someday and as I’m sure Calvin told you, I’m not always the happiest.

"Fair enough, we can bare our souls and be the better for it. I do need someone to talk to. Cry on your shoulder, if you will. First Milo, look at me and you can see I’m not the prettiest woman there ever was. It didn’t help when I overheard my father say to a colleague of his, that if his daughter was in a whorehouse, she would starve, because I would be the last to get any business because of my looks. That hurt.

I have had most every material thing I ever wanted. My grandmother settled money on me so I have always been popular with my peers because of that. I never tried to fool myself of why I was so sought after either. In high school I was always in the in" crowd. Calvin dated me, but I always felt it was strictly one way on the love train.

"I never was the clinging type and I guess I never made the depths of my feelings known to Calvin. He told me when we met again last Christmas that he wished I had. He said I came off as not really caring, when in actuality I would have died to have him love me back.

"I went on to school and have become a well-respected prosecutor. My love life was almost nil up until Christmas when I ran into Calvin again. I was more open this time around and welcomed his advances, telling myself if I couldn’t have all of him, I could at least enjoy a part of him. Surprisingly, he came to love me very quickly and as deeply as I loved him. We had a short engagement because from the first date on we were making love just like a married couple.

Now he is gone. I’m still rich, I’m still homely and now I’m also pregnant. I feel the only chance I have for a satisfying life from now on is to buy a husband. I know that rarely works. I need my self-respect to hold my head up and look at myself in the mirror. Calvin had given me directions to the camp here, so I thought the perfect solution would be to come here, cry a little and take the easy way out.

Changed your mind a little since yesterday morning when you started out?

More than a little. You have mentioned the baby a few times. Right now I’m awake to the fact that I almost committed murder on Calvin’s baby. How could I have been so stupid?

I guess your priorities have changed. This is good.

They wouldn’t have if you hadn’t been here.

But I was here, so we don’t need to go over that again. Are you going to sit down and re-think your life now?

Yes I am. Hey, I have had a man that I loved and one that loved me. If I never have that again, so be it. Maybe if I smile a little more, people will look past my countenance and see the real me.

It could happen that way. Go for it. Ashley went back over her life and filled in the blanks. She was an eloquent speaker and could paint a picture of