a winter story, part one

by: Olivia Dale

"Great Aunt Eliza!" Both children replied in unison.

"It was an unusually cold, January day, and lambing season was drawing near. If this cold spell persists, all the newborn lambs will be so cold that they wouldn't make it, Alec King thought as he quickly made his way into the barn. He was shivering and his breath hung in the air, he rubbed his hands together for warmth as he walked over to the lambing pens. They were quietly munching on the summers hay, bleating softly as they saw their shepherd walking past.
"Father, Father!" Felix King, Alec's twelve year old son, panted as he burst into the barn, "Father, you'll never believe it-"
Felicity ran up beside her brother. "Father, Great Aunt Eliza is here!"
Felix frowned. "Felicity, I was telling him!" he blurted between clenched teeth, his cheeks reddening with furry.
"Who?" Alec asked, bewildered.
"Great Aunt Eliza!" Both children replied in unison. They stared at each other.
Alec stood surprised and scratched his head. "Great Aunt Eliza Ward ??" he asked, his voice rising.
"Yes, indeed, Alec," Hetty King's voice ran through the barn, "and if I were you, I'd best go off and greet her before she makes me carry all her luggage."
Hetty quickly made her way out of the barn towards the buggy where she sweetly spoke with the old, pokey woman.
"Eliza, dear, how was your trip?" she asked the grey haired, shivering old aunt.
"I would have been more comfortable in a rumbling jail wagon than in that train any day, if you ask me, Hetty." Eliza complained and she looked at Janet with pleading eyes. "Oh, Janet, dear, would you be kind enough to take me inside? I am frozen stiff, it's so cold out here in the wind."
Janet hovered over her aunt. "I'm sorry, Great Aunt Eliza, here, grab my arm and we'll get you inside and warmed up. Felicity," she mentioned to her daughter who just stepped out of the barn with Felix and her Father, "Felicity, go inside and quickly make a cup of tea for your aunt."
Felicity hurried to the house, taking her baby brother, Daniel by the hand.
"Why, Alec," Eliza told him from her perch on the wagon seat, still hanging on to Janet's arm, "I can certainly see that age has caught up with you since my last short visit."
Alec grinned sheepishly, not quite knowing what to say at the odd comment. "It's amazing that umm, you never seem to change, Aunt Eliza. But really you must have written to us before coming to visit us unexpectedly."
Eliza frowned and stepped off the wagon, clutching Janet's arm for dear life. "I did write. But it's not my fault that my letters get lost some wheres in that house of yours, Alec."
Janet sighed. "Really, Aunt Eliza, as I already mentioned, we never received your letter. Now, come, dear, lets get you inside and warmed up. Felicity has water on the kettle."
"Janet is right, Eliza, lets get you inside." Hetty said as she helped the old lady up the pathway towards the farmhouse.
"Alec, dear, don't forget the luggage." Janet told him over her shoulders.
"And there's lots of it, too, Father." Felix said, staring wide eyed at the many diverse kinds of trunks that were stacked up high in the buggy.
Alec sighed. This was going to be a long short visit with Great Aunt Eliza who would be staying at King Farm for who knows how long."