Abandoned

Abandoned (Part Two - Chapter 13)

CHAPTER 13: Maria ...... (Your Review Here)

"There you are! Our plane leaves in 15 minutes."

Blake nodded as he walked over to the magazine rack, thinking that he'd spotted a new issue of, Climbing.

A few minutes later; "Find Something to read?

"Yeah, I can't believe it, there's an article on Kettle Mountain inside." Blake turned the pages until he came to the first picture.

"Wow, where's that?"

"Isn't that incredible? It's located in the Adirondacks—past Lake George—near a little town named, Minerva."

"Sounds like you've been there."

"Oh yeah. My rock climbing club has been there a half dozen times. I'm the one who told them about it because Kettle Mountain was where my dad went deer hunting when he was a teenager, back in the early 60s. Then, after Vietnam my mother took us kids up there every summer. She told me that since this had been my father's favorite place, that the easiest way to remember him was to enjoy the same things that he did—and just like she said, when I'm up there fishing on the Boreas River I can feel my dad inside me."

Enjoying each others company and plenty of time to just sit back and relax during their flight, Blake promised to take Sutton fishing on the Boreas as soon as they could both get away.

It was 10:30 a.m. when their Northwest flight landed in Minneapolis. Only 15 minutes late. About an hour later a taxi dropped them off at their hotel—the weather was perfect.

"Let's go to the desk and check-in before we get some lunch. You've got your own room."

Blake followed, somewhat excited with the new surroundings. He had never been to Minneapolis. "Here's your key—I just have to freshen up my uniform and make a call."

"Sure, no problem. See you then—I'll be sitting over there."

Inside his room Sutton removed his uniform from the suitcase. Now that he was retired he seldom wore it but today he was going to. He just had to let it hang for a while. He got out a spray bottle and filled it with hot water from the tap. An old army trick. A light spray and a few minutes to dry out—all the wrinkles would be gone. That ten pounds he has just lost made the uniform fit just right.

Sutton found Blake sitting in the lounge, thumbing through his magazine. "Come on Blake, let's go to the cafe and get a bite to eat."

"Good idea, I'm hungry."

They each ordered the same thing—a club sandwich with French fries and ice tea.

"Blake, I decided not to call. Cold feet I guess. Look— after we eat, let's just get a car and go on over there. We can probably give the letter to Nick's wife and explain the whole thing in about an hour. Maybe later we'll catch a movie or something."

"Whatever you think is best, Major. I know this isn't an easy thing to do."

"Well, you're right about that but it has to be done."

"742 E. Conrad—our directions say it should be around the corner somewhere." Blake studied the map intensely.

"There it is Blake. The white house with the blue shutters."

Sutton slowed down and pulled the Ford to the curb. "Well Blake, let's hope she's home. Come on, we'll knock on the door."

Looking at the fancy railing as he stood at the front steps, Blake could feel his heart begin to race. Repelling down the side of a mountain was easier than this. Now he knew why Sutton had wanted him to come along. This was something that no one should have to do alone.