Aednat and the Wolf

Chapter 9 Iron Mountain

"You drove quite well half-pint."

"Thank you Davey, it was fun after a while."

"Dad has let Rosie drive up here since she was eight. She will be taking driver's training at Denby High in October, would you like to join her?"

"Yes, are we really in the mountains?"

"The Porcupine Mountains."

"They don't seem very big."

"They are the oldest mountains in the world Nit, so they are also the shortest."

"It is beautiful here. Where are we staying?"

"Dad and his brothers own an old camp ground just east of Iron Mountain, near the Wisconsin border. We will meet his brothers and their families and Mom's at the camp. It's rather nice. They rent out the cottages throughout the year, we will occupy the entire camp for the next two weeks. It has a lake and several boats. You are going to learn water skiing and to sail."

"Are we having lunch here in Iron Mountain?"

"No at a gas station in Aurora, it's just down the road and has fresh pasties and an ice cream parlor."

"What gas station?"

"The Shell, right over there. The owner is my uncle and I bet he'll let you pump gas and wash windows if you ask."

"Does Rosie?"

"Every time we come." They pulled into the gas station and piled out of the car.

"Red! You're all grown up," Ted the gas station owner said.

"Hi Uncle Teddy, this is my long lost twin sister Aednat."

"She's actually my wife Uncle Ted," David corrected.

"Come inside, please, Ruth, William, Peter, and Gert, it is good to see you." They walked into the large gas station. There were tables set up next to the soda fountain, a jukebox and a sigh saying Ted Hendersen's Watch Repair over a door on the far side of the room.

"How's the watch business Ted," William asked.

"Slow. Hey Rosie you planning on pumping gas while you're in the area?"

"Yes, and can Aediy help too?"

"With two beautiful redheads working business will be booming."

"Can we do a car wash too?"

"Let me know what days and I'll advertise."

"We'll have some of your famous pasties," Peter said.

"You should move up here William, lots of Norwegians in the area to talk to."

"I do miss it up here bro, but Detroit has been good to me, I met Ruth in Detroit."

"Maybe I should come down and find a good woman for myself," Ted said.

"A car just pulled in!" Rosemary shouted, "Aediy follow me." Rosemary pumped the gas and Aednat washed the windshield and checked the oil. "My twin said your oil is fine but looking a little dirty, she's filling your windshield washer tank now." The man in the car thanked them, paid and drove off.

"Look Rosie, two more cars!" The sudden onslaught of cars stopped and the girls returned to the gas station just in time for the pasties. They also requested a root beer and ice cream.

"I'll see you at the cottage for dinner," Ted said. Martin and Paul are already there with all their kids." They all piled back into the car and drove down a narrow winding road. They passed through a tall stone gateway and under a sigh reading Lake Hendersen Resort.