More adventures with Cody to read, as you consume leftover Halloween candy. And if you have any Payday, Snickers, or Peanut M & Ms, send them my way! On to the story...Cody visits his elderly grandmother, Gran. As Kate indicated, Cody and Brodie have been inseparable best friends since they were introduced to each other at Telluride Tykes, a local daycare facility in town. Brodie was an only child and lived with his mother in an historic Victorian house at the top of Oak Street. Tracy Harrington had moved to Telluride with Brodie just after her husband was killed in a plane crash in Vietnam. Her father was a prominent Hollywood film producer and had always maintained his daughter in a privileged lifestyle. Despite that, Mrs. Harrington was gracious, humble, and industrious. She operated a small diner on Main Street and gave voice lessons to local children. She and Cody’s mother, Sarah Hunter, became good friends when they met at Telluride Tykes to enroll their kids. Sarah Hunter was a family physician with a practice located near the medical center on West Pacific. Finding a daycare facility in town was as good as discovering an unknown gold mine up in the mountains. Mrs. Hunter’s daily routine started with driving down from the ranch on Wilson Mesa, leaving Kate at the elementary school, picking up Brodie, and then leaving Cody and Brodie at Telluride Tykes. Today, Mrs. Harrington is in the early stages of dementia. She cannot be left unattended. It is speculated that the stress from dealing with Brodie’s first bought with cancer precipitated her condition. Sarah continues to assist with her ailing friend, often arranging several meals a week and coordinating her doctor visits to Denver. And now, it is anticipated that Brodie will be returning to live in Telluride while his prognosis is determined. Cody finishes his conversation with his sister and heads to the ranch before he has the opportunity to visit with his maybe-future brother-in-law. Since he was down in Dunton all weekend, he missed his Sunday afternoon visit with his elderly grandmother. As a matter of routine, most Sundays were spent at the ranch with his mother and grandmother. The day would begin with getting his ninety-eight year old family matriarch to the nine o’clock mass at St. Patrick’s, followed by donuts and coffee at the rectory, and then concluded with a large afternoon meal at the ranch. As he enters the gate of the ranch, his mother’s Range Rover is coming in the opposite direction and stops at his Jeep. Sarah rolls down her window and comments, “Glad you are back. Esther is inside getting lunch ready for your grandmother. I am so sad to hear about Brodie. If you want, I can talk with his doctors and track his prognosis.” Cody replies, “Thanks. That would be great. I just cannot believe this is happening, again.” The rain starts to fall in cold sheets as Sarah shouts back, “I have to go into work and then to check on Tracy. I will also call Junction to check on the family that was in the wreck last night. Esther told me all about it and EMS requested some materials last night.” As Cody continues his drive across the windy driveway to the main house on the ranch, herds of beautiful Black Angus can be seen grazing in the rainy pastures along the driveway. The first hints of autumn can be seen through the fog and rain as bands of gold aspen groves appear beneath the snow-capped Wilson Peak. Cody enters the grand log home to be warmly greeted by his grandmother and Esther, sitting in front of a roaring fire in the great room. Gran greets Cody, “Hello boy. Missed you yesterday. Can we get you something warm to drink?” Cody responds, “I’ll have a hot whatever it is you are drinking.” Esther gets up laughing and says, “One hot whatever coming up for my boy.” Mrs. Ellie Hunter, or “Gran” as the kids call her, is still witty, alert, and vibrant for a woman of ninety-eight years. With her glowing white hair, she is as dignified and poised as the grand Wilson Peak visible outside the windows of the great room. She is a living, majestic, and enduring relic of the San Juan Mountains. Gran was born on this very ranch, the Winter Crest Estate, and has lived here ever since. Her parents inherited the ranch from their parents at the turn of the Twentieth Century. They were cattle and sheep ranchers but soon caught gold fever and ventured into the mines along with throngs of fortune seekers from places near and far. Every Sunday, Gran recounts stories about the early days in the Box Canyon and the people and events that framed the community in a manner similar to the mountain peaks and ridges surrounding the town. “So sad to hear about Brodie. And his mom. I remember when she was just a young girl trying to get a fresh start after losing Jack so tragically,” Gran starts. “So you have heard about Brodie already. News travels fast in the Box Canyon, just like the echo of an avalanche,” Cody replies. Gran continues, “You and that boy are living history in this town, just like Butch and Sundance. Although, if I must clarify, Sundance was never involved in the bank robbery. Those two joined up later. But I digress. I recall when the two of you were going off to that college in California. I worried about how two fine young boys from a small Colorado mountain town would react to the big city of Los Angeles. But you did just fine. I guess living in Dallas gave you practice for the big city. I would get so lonely when you kids went back to school every year. But your parents wanted you and your sister to get a world class education and experience life outside of the Box Canyon.” Beginning to feel more secure and at ease, Cody responds, “We did have an interesting upbringing, living in Telluride but going to prep schools in Dallas. It was nice to have family in both places and to never be gone from either place for too long. Although, I absolutely hated the weather in Texas. I would much rather fight sub-zero temperatures and a driving wind-blown snow than the insidious Dallas heat and humidity. And, it was great having Brodie go wherever we went. I remember when Dad died, Brodie took control of an awful situation and made us feel safe. He drove all night to take Kate and me to Aspen to search for the plane crash. Amazing. Both our fathers died in plane crashes.” Esther sits next to the two of them and enters the nostalgic conversation, “Life is amazing sometimes. It seems that some lives are destined to cross and forever be linked together. I watched you, Kate, and Brodie grow up from polite and energetic little kids to successful and responsible community citizens. All those ski competitions, soccer matches in Town Park, and band competitions at the school were so much fun. Why did the years go by so fast?” Cody replies politely, “I am getting old too. But like Grand Dad said, it beats the alternative. I am almost forty with no bride in sight. Just have not had the privilege of meeting that one special lady who will take half of everything I own.” Gran laughingly replies, “Don’t be so cynical. She is still busy wiping out somebody else right now. She will find you when she is done or bored!” Cody rises to leave and comments, “Just do not send her my way if you see her hanging around these parts! Well, I have to go, Gran. I will see you two later. And Miss Esther, you drive home safely. If the weather is still bad, stay here or up at my house.”
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 14:45:52 +0000
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