Thank you for your kind reviews. In this chapter, my writing is going to change. More like talking like the town folk. (I'm getting ready for the Renaissances Fair in Tampa! I'm working on my accents, so I will be writing a bit differently in this chapter. )
Pot of Corn
Chapter three- Visit into Town
Mort spent a good ten minutes, driving around, looking for her. Then his mind started to enlighten him on a little fact.
I have no idea what kind of car she drives.
Mort gave a small sigh before pulling into the regular food store. It was actually more like a general store or a pharmacy then anything. It wasn't much bigger then the Wall Greens' back in the bigger towns. Mort got out and walked into the little shop.
Everyone seemed to move at an angle around him, trying to avoid getting too close to him, like he had some type of sickness that would attack them if they got too close. Mort didn't care or notice that much. He had one objective on his mind and that was the woman he had met and meeting her again.
He picked up a basket and looked around on the shelves, figuring he might as well do some shopping while he was out. He grabbed some butter and some salt. He could always use them. He then grabbed a six pack of soda. Then a bag of chips.
A man must have verity.
Mort gave an inward smile at his own joke. He then placed the basket on the counter.
"Paper or plastic?" The man behind the counter asked, with a slight apprehension.
"Paper please." He said with a slight smile. "Recycled paper, if you have any. Don't want to be killing more trees then humans have to."
Everyone seem to tense when he said the word 'kill'. Mort almost chuckled at the insane way everyone would act towards him. To him, it was mere fun playing around with the people like tweaking a character in a story. Every little odd and end would create different outcomes and reactions to the ending.
Mort paid for his small amount of items and then gave a small nod with an almost whispered 'thank you' to the man. He walked out and got into his car. He placed his stuff beside him and fastened his seat belt.
Just down the road, the woman who was grabbing Mort's attention without her knowledge, was sitting in a restaurant. She was sipping a cup of tea and waiting for her order of chicken and rice. She was smiling as she listened to the ladies around her, talk about the town and the people.
Then, one of them looked at her. "Oh darling! Are you new? I don't believe I've seen you here before."
"I just moved here, just by the woods outside of town." She said with a smile.
"Don't tell me you moved into that cabin near Mort Rainey, did you?" She questioned with slight worry.
"Yes. It seems nice enough. Just the place I'd like to live. What's so wrong
with it?" She questioned. See, Kristina was used to fork lore and folk tales.
She, herself grew up on them.
"Why, I reckon you should move from there, unless you got someone living with you." She said, moving to sit across from Kristina. The other ladies in the group all watched and listened.
"Why would I do that? It's not haunted it is?" Kristina questioned, jokingly.
"No. Nothing's wrong with the cabin. It's the neighbor. Mort Rainey. He's a murder." She said, with a slight quiver to her voice.
"Murder? Who did he kill? His wife?" Kristina was still taking this all as a joke. People in small towns talk and create tales. Usually none of it was true.
"Yes. He killed his soon to be ex, her lover, old Mr. Green leaf and one of his friends. No one has found any of the bodies." She said in a weary tone.
"I've personally met Mr. Rainey and he seems to be a nice man. Nothing to be worried about. Now, if you'll excuse me I'd like to eat in privacy." Kristina said, as her food arrived. She didn't like it when people spoke bad about other people. It didn't seem right when they did that.
Kristina ate quickly, almost like she was trying to beat them to starting another story. She kept hearing their conversation involving her and her 'situation' with living near Mort. She would hear bits and pieces of the conversation including 'I wouldn't live alone in there' and 'Poor girl.'
Kristina paid her tab and left the places as quickly as she could. She still had to pick up a few things that she would be needing, which included a welcome mat, a rug and a new chair since her dog chew up the leg on her old, wooden kitchen chair.
She walked two doors down to get to the furniture store. She walked in and was greeted by a sales person.
Mort drove down the road and parked near the antic store. It was next door to the Furniture store. He needed a new desk for his computer since his old was, … marked… and he couldn't have that in his cabin any longer.
If Mort had one weakness that no man really should have, it was antics. He loved them to death and would love to have a house full of them. He also greatly appreciated all wooden furniture. His cabin was after all, wood. That had to speak something to you.
Mort brushed past a few people and made his way to the back of the store, glancing at the redwood desks they had back there. He placed a hand on one. It was smooth and beautifully stained. Probably water resistant. He stepped back from it and imaged it in his cabin. Would it fit in with the rest?
Mort gave a half smile in concentration. It was a little too big for his liking. It would take up too much room for his small cabin. Besides, he didn't like the price they wanted for it.
Mort moved past that and looked at another redwood desk that could go into his house.
Kristina paid the woman for the rug and welcome mat she wanted. She was surprised that the furniture store HAD welcome mats in it. She walked past that and spied the Antic store. She glanced through the window and saw a beautiful redwood desk.
She marveled at the contours of it and she loved the way it looked! If only she could get THAT in her cabin…
Mort couldn't help but be drawn to the redwood desk. It was a beautiful work of art. He looked it over again.
Screw it! I'll make room!
He walked up to the front desk. The woman behind it looked at him. She was an older woman with thick framed, pink glasses on with the sting like necklace tied on so she wouldn't lose her glasses and they could hang about her neck. Her hair was turning gray at the roots, but the rest was a pale brown color.
"I'd like to buy that Antic redwood desk, please." Mort said in a very polite tone.
"Which one sir? The 17 century or 18 century one?" She questioned.
"17." Mort answered shortly. He pulled out his checkbook. "Do you take personal checks?"
"Yes we do. But, you have to show ID." She said, ringing up the total of the desk. "Are you taking it now, or do you want it sent?"
"Sent please." He answered, pulling out his wallet to show his ID.
She inspected it for a bit before giving it back to him. "Please fill out the address form and the date you want it, then we'll have it sent to your house."
"Thank you." He wrote out the check and pulled it out of his check book. He handed it to her and then filled out the address form.
The woman walked around the desk and put a 'SOLD' sign on the desk.
Kristina watched as the woman walked towards the desk and put a 'SOLD' sign on it. She gave a deep sigh. She looked at the price and gave a small snort.
"Like I could afford that." She mumbled. She picked up her bags and headed toward the next store, which was an Art store.
She walked in and looked around. The walls were covered in shelves which were in turn, filled with artwork supply. Brushes, paints, canvas, paper, fabric, everything you could think of, this store had. It even had those little beads you use to make friendship bracelets.
Kristina smiled fondly at the beads. She used to make these almost every day back in her home. She would only give them to her best friends, which were more like family then friends.
"May I help you?" The lady behind the counter questioned.
"Yes. Can I get one dozen of these beads with black string?" She questioned.
Mort walked out with a smile. Soon, he would have that beauty in his house! A wonderful find it was, and to image. It was in this hick town.
Mort glanced at the store, next to the Antic store. Artwork. He gave a small snort. He wouldn't be caught dead in a place like that. His only memories of ever being close to those type of arts, were his art teachers who would be covered in paint stains.
In this fashion, Mort always thought of art, as in painting, as the poor part of the art work. Nothing like his writing. Which is why he was never compelled to go into any art store.
He walked past it and went into his car. He sighed.
So much for finding her. I didn't even get a glance of her.
Kristina walked out of the art store with difficulty. The rug and welcome mat were giving her problems. She was close to dropping them when someone took the rug out of her hands.
She looked up with surprise as she saw Mort standing there, holding her rug.
"You looked like you could use some help." He said giving her a small smile.
Kristina smiled back at him, grateful to him for helping her out. She would have looked like a fool if she dropped a brand new rug right onto the side walk. "Thank you." Was all she could muster up. She couldn't help but be effected by the man's charms when they were turned on. He had a rather cute smile on his face at the moment.
"I'll help this into your car if you want." Mort offered, trying to just get her to talk more. She had a very enchanting way of speaking, with that accent and her soft shy way of speaking when she was surprised.
"Thank you yet again Mort. I seem to be having one of those days." She said, walking towards her car.
"I know what you mean." He said, walking in pace beside her, making sure to let her be a little in head of him so her knew where to go.
"If I weren't such a bad cook I would invite you over to dinner tomorrow." She said as she opened the trunk of her car.
Mort placed the rug inside and watched as she placed the two bags in. He backed up as she shut the trunk. "Well, in that case, I guess it's my job to ask you for dinner tomorrow. I can cook."
"Really? A fancy cook?" She asked with a smile.
"Yes. I can make, corn casserole, corn on the cob, boiled corn and any pre-heated dinner you can think of." He said, getting her laughing a bit. "Also, I'm the best ice cream scupper on the planet. I'm not stingy with the chocolate syrup either."
She held a hand to her face to stop from laughing. It was slowly reduced to a grin as she spoke to him. "I love Corn on the cob."
"Great! Because that's about all I got." Mort said with a tilt of his head.
She chuckled a bit.
Mort gave a wide grin. He could feel something in his chest flutter when she started laughing. It made him feel lighter and his legs feel almost like jell-o.
I'm acting like I'm back in high school for crying out loud!
The voice in Mort's head started to rant about Mort acting like a hormonally driven teenager, but Mort didn't pay any attention to it. She was more important then that irritating voice in the back of his head.
"What time will this grand dinner begin?" She asked.
"At 6:30 tomorrow." He said. "Don't worry about dressing up. It's a casual. The Queen decided she didn't like corn that much."
"Oh. Did she cancel her reservation?" Kristina asked, with a glee in her eyes. She was really liking this joking conversation going on. It made her feel joy. Something she hadn't felt in a while due to her leaving her home almost a year ago.
"Yes. But, I happen to know a man, who knows a man, who knows how to get that reservation for you." Mort said, whispering it in her head.
Kristina could feel her legs almost give out when his breath touch her ear and neck. "And who might that be?"
Mort pulled back. "If I told you that, I'd have to kill you." He gave her a cocked up eyebrow.
Kristina nearly snorted with laughter. She held her hands to her mouth, trying to stop herself from laughing out loud and causing people to stare at her strangely.
Mort nearly laughed when he saw her trying to stop herself from laughing. He slung an arm around her shoulder. "Now. I can get you in. But, you'll have to be under an alias."
Kristina didn't trust herself to speak, afraid it would just come out in giggles.
"You're name will be Mamanalegla. From the land of La La, and the city of Slappy the happy frog clown." He said, leading her to her car door. He could feel her shaking with laughter. "Knock twice on the front door, spin in a circle singing 'I'm a little tea pot' then bark like a dog, followed by mooing like a cow then hop on one leg. A man named Raven will lead you to what is called a coven. Perform the witch's grace of god then jump into the pot, while saying 'I like buttered toast'. After that you will be able to gain access to the secret codes."
She hid her head in his chest, close to tears as she tried her hardest to hold in the fits of laughter. She slapped him on the arm, trying to get him to stop before she burst out laughing. He wrapped his arms around her, waiting for her to stop laughing so hard.
When she finally stopped she had some tears going down her cheeks. "You're a strange one, Mort Rainey."
He gave her a smile. "I try my best."
She nearly started laughing again. See, Kristina was one of those people that had what is called 'the giggles'. When she starts laughing, it's very hard for her to stop laughing. (I suffer from the same fate.. ;.; )
She got into her car and looked up at her. He was leaning against her door and car roof. A gentle smile on his face.
"I'm sure you can remember all that." He said. "I'll be seeing you then."
She gave a nod. "I'll be there 6:30 sharp."
He gave her another smile before backing up. He made sure she was safely in the car before closing the door. He walked back to the side walk and watched her drive off. He waved after her.
He, for the first time in nearly three years, felt truly happy. He gave a happy sigh before returning to his car.
Kristina felt like she was on cloud nine! A completely handsome man, only a few years older then her (she didn't mind about the age), asked her to dinner! He was, funny, charming and seemed to be an all around nice man. Why wouldn't she fall for him?
She set down her keys when she got inside her house. She already set the welcome mat down and was currently moving the furniture in the living room around so she could put the rug down.
Once the rug was done, she put the furniture back. Then stepped away, seeing if it looked right. After a few seconds of debate, she decided it looked good with the wood in the pattern in the sofa and the curtains.
She slipped her shoes off and sat down on the sofa. Shadow came out and hopped up on the sofa and laid his head in her lap. She scratched the top of his head with affection.
"I got a date tomorrow Shadow." She said.
The dog looked up at her in a pouting way.
Mort happily sat down at his desk and stared at his computer. He grinned as he wrote more on the story.
The man in shadows, the man who was neither man nor devil, moved through the forest, trying to find his way to the girl who had come into his forest. He had claimed it as his when he arrived, and for all purposes, it was his.
He glanced around in the darken night and stared at the cave entrance to the girl's house. He would wait. Yes. He would wait until she was alone. Until she was without that brave dog. That's when, oh that is when, he, the shadow, shall destroy her. The forest would be truly his and his alone. Just as it was meant to be, before she was born to it.
Mort stared at the blinking cursor. Why did it suddenly spark up and then leave? His ideas were such a fashion that not even he could understand it truly. He clicked the save button for his story. It was gaining into the climax of the story. So soon, yes, but so right.
'So much for the romance. He's going to kill her.' Mort thought to himself.
You're wrong Mort. He's not going to kill her. He's going to end something, but not her.
"And what would he end that isn't her?" Mort questioned.
The voice simply laughed at him. Just laughed.
Mort gave a sigh of irritation before going downstairs to fix himself something to eat. He could really go for some corn on the cob right about now.
I was in stitches writing this chapter! I hoped you all found it as entertaining as I did. Please review. Reviews are my life's blood!