Bluebells on the Hill Read Online Free PDF Page A

engine.
    Resignedly she stood her ground as the old,
gray pick-up rounded the bend, slowing to a stop at the bridge's
edge.
    'You're trespassing,' came a voice she
knew.
    Walking up to the window on the driver's
side, she replied, 'I know. I was following the stream up from the
highway. No harm done.'
    The green eyes studied her. His jaw had not
relaxed. Amanda's spirits sank.
    'I didn't bother anything,' she said
quietly.
    'Never said you did,' was the reply. 'Get in
and I'll take you up to the house. I have something to talk to you
about.'
    Why not? She walked around to get into the
truck. It might be interesting to see where the dreaded Mac lived.
She smiled at her fancy. Dreaded Mac indeed. He was only a
bad-tempered, cross old man. Well, she corrected herself, not so
old either, maybe thirty-five or so.
    She slammed the door and they started. The
bridge creaked ominously to Amanda's ear, but Mac seemed
unconcerned. Once safely across, she looked eagerly about her as
the drive continued through the forest, climbing gently.
    'You on something?' he asked.
    'What?' She swung her gaze to him.
    'Meth users and drug addicts wear sunglasses
all the time to protect their eyes from the sun.'
    'Well, I'm not on anything!' she snapped.
'Millions of people also wear sunglasses just to cut the sun's
glare.'
    'Yes.' He did not sound convinced.
    Amanda gave him a hard look. Gone was the
tranquility, the exhilaration she had felt on her walk, the delight
with the new song. Oh, drat the man, he was irritating!
    The truck ground up a final, steep rise,
coming to rest on the plateau before a large house.
    Amanda sat spellbound. The house was
rambling, with lots of glass. There was no question why: the view
was breathtaking. The land fell away on the far side of the house,
to open up the vista for endless miles. Tree-covered mountain after
tree-covered mountain rose in the distance, a bluish haze blurring
their outlines, blurring, but by no means obliterating. In the far
distance, lofty snow-capped peaks raised their heads, gleaming
brightly against deep blue sky. Amanda was breathless with the
beauty of it.
    To the right, some distance from the house,
were stables and corrals. Horses raised their heads to look at the
truck. But she didn’t notice, she was fascinated by the setting of
the house.
    'Come on in, I'll get you a drink or
something.' Mac got out and waited in front of the truck for her to
join him.
    Amanda reluctantly opened her door. She would
much rather just drink in this view. It was fantastic! She had
heard the Sierra Nevada range was considered one of the loveliest
mountain ranges in the world. Vistas like this one would certainly
reinforce that opinion.
    Meekly she followed Mac into his house,
vaguely aware of music as they approached the door. Opening it, Mac
muttered something and strode in ahead of her.
    It was the first time outside of a rehearsal
hall or review session that Amanda had heard herself sing on a
record. She cocked her head, smiling, listening. It wasn't bad.
    'Shut that thing off!' Mac roared, slapping
his hand on one of the doors leading from the main room.
    Almost immediately, the sound diminished.
Diminished, but was not extinguished.
    Amanda looked at Mac with surprise. Was it
the song he disliked, or music in general? Maybe just the volume.
It had been loud.
    Mac continued to the back of the room,
pausing to glance back at Amanda still by the front door.
    'You can move, you know. What do you want to
drink?'
    She bristled at his comment. Graciousness
obviously was not one of his traits. 'Coke,' she replied.
    When he left the room, she exhaled a sigh of
relief. Why was she so uptight in his presence? Granted, he rubbed
her the wrong way, but that was no reason to let him get to her.
Get hold of yourself, girl, she admonished.
    Refusing to let his remark rankle, she moved
slowly into the living room. It was casually furnished, with good
quality, rugged pieces. The upholstery on some of the furniture