Call of the Mountains

Chapter Three - Shallow Roots

Packing everything both Josh and I owned into one car was just as hard as you might think. First Josh owned a lot of shoes, way more than I did. Second, we were both living in individual apartments in the city, with our own furniture, so pairing everything down was extremely difficult. 

Josh and I may have complementary personalities, but we did not have the same personal styles. Where Josh was light, airy, bright, and colorful, and where I was dark and neutral. 

"Say goodbye to the big city, 'Kotes. Cause we ain't coming back any time soon!" 

The drive to the mountains was long, our destination is a small town up north of the city about 5 hours. It was almost like we were driving in different countries. the landscape going from bustling city and tall buildings, to vast golden prairies, but we eventually had begun our decent and luscious forests of pine soon enveloped the road on both sides. It was peaceful and calm. 

I stared sleepily out the window as we drove off. Memories of my time there and memories of Jamie, the good and the bad. Would a town in the mountains really be the solution?

The road and traffic cleared up as soon as we left the city and I was just thankful Josh chose to drive. Granted he had a car and I did not. I gave mine up when I first move to the city, in favor of money savings and public transportation.

I opened the window to let in the fresh air, breathing it in. 

Crisp. Clean. Fresh.

Josh peered at me with his light hazel eyes. 

"Everything good? Getting carsick? We can pull over if you need! 

"No, no. " I trailed taking in another fresh whiff of pine and dew. "It smells nice," 

"Smells like a fresh start doesn't it?" Josh teased, and I laughed. "Now that's the smile I love, it's been a while." 

"You really just know what to say to cheer me up, don't you?"

"Well, what else is a best friend supposed to do?" 

"You really think us city folk can make it in the boonies?" 

"I think you'll make it, I might need some adjustment" he laughed, turning the wheel to pull into a roadside gas station. "Speaking of...This should be the last stop before we arrive in the main part of town. My phone's signal out here isn't all that great and maps barely work. Looks like I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way, how refreshing!" Josh said excitedly as we shut the door behind him. I nodded as Josh pulled the keys, stepping out of the car into the market. 

I looked around the stop, it was old. It's the rusted roof and old-style gas pumps. There was a junkyard to the left of the market, evidence of what used to be an auto service center with old tires and rotted old cars. Several fences hung low, their barbed wire bent and twisted into different shapes due to years of people breaking in.

Suddenly I heard the little door bells twinkle as Josh stepped out, two sodas in hand. He looked at me and shrugged. "That guy was no help,"

"What do you mean?"

"I couldn't understand a word he said! But I'm pretty sure I caught that town's down the road just a bit," Josh said handing me the soda. Before I opened it someone else pulled up in an old pickup truck. I noticed the man inside immediately, his strong features and dark brown hair. He parked his car and immediately went towards the market, a toothpick in his mouth like a cowboy. He was wearing sunglasses but I could tell he was staring at our car and us. 

We clearly didn't look like locals, and it was obvious. Given the car was packed full and Josh's car definitely looked a bit fancier than most cars we passed on the road.

"Maybe this guy knows? Hey!" Josh said walking towards the guy. The guy tried to ignore him, but he stopped in his tracks in slight annoyance. He peered at Josh, then back at me, his eyes peeping over his sunglasses. His face remained like stone.

"Do you happen to know if Three Rivers is just down the road? You see, my maps aren't working cause the signal isn't great and we could really use your help!" Josh asked, I could tell he was checking him out. The guy stiffened, his eyes moving towards the store. Then he took a deep breath, his broad shoulders moving up and down in slow motion. 

He was taller than Josh, looming over him slightly, his jeans rolled up slightly against brown boots. His leather jacket was clearly a favorite as I could see the wear and tear in the fabric. He had small, light dirt patches all over his clothes from what looked like forest work. Then he opened his mouth to answer Josh.

"Yeah, ya'll are just gonna hop on the highway, turn right around, and head your city dwellin' asses right back." He said then walked away. Peering back at me in the car with a frown. 

What the hell was that? I glared back at the man, giving him the middle finger. He gave a slight smirk and went into the store.

"Not sure what his problem was, but he was FINE!" Josh giggled as he got back in the car, frustrated. I watched as the door closed behind the man.

"Really? He was kind of an asshole!"

"'Kotes, that man was a cowboy 100% and if there's more like him in town, I can't wait to arrive!"

"Let's not get lost first," I laughed at Josh's positive attitude. 

Without anyone's help, by some miracle, we made it to the town of Three Rivers. The sign loomed against the forest, slightly battered due to weather and age. 

Welcome to Three Rivers, population 3,000, established in 1880.

The first signs of life as we continued on the main road through town was the downtown area. Its old brick buildings with pine tree-lined streets were a refreshing thing to see. It was like the Old City, things haven't changed much around here. Small businesses filled the buildings from Patty's Bakery to the Postal store, and even a bar loomed in the distance. The residents looked happy with their lives, a gentle mix of old and young.

 The cars were older, the life was slower. 

As Josh drove through the main town, I couldn't help but noticed a few kids riding their bikes and hanging out by a Market. Their gentle smiles and laughter. I sighed, what a refreshing sight it was. The city was always loud, and bustling, and kids hardly 'hung out' by the market innocently.

Josh asked a couple of people for directions to the cabin we had rented since our cellphone maps couldn't keep up with the old streets. The people were so welcoming and even offered to help us move in. We politely declined, needless to say, I was a bit shocked as the city taught us better than to trust a stranger.

Just a few streets down from the main downtown area was our street, 361 Spruce Avenue. I had very little knowledge as to what to expect as Josh had done most of the locating a place to live and work, so it was interesting to see the houses were few and far between on this street. One thing I did know is that the house we had was at the end of the road.

When we pulled up to the cabin I was pleasantly shocked. Its log siding is mixed with stone. It was quaint and nice. It was surrounded by pine trees, full of life as the evergreen glow popped in the mist. There was a small detached garage but it was more like a small shed, which to us city folk would still be big. The dirt driveway curved in front of the shed and the house, weeds were growing here and there as it had been some time since the last tenant.  

When we opened the door we were a little shocked. It looked nothing like the pictures, the furniture was covered in mismatched sheets and dust. There was some evidence of critters with some small straw nests in the corner. The kitchen, living, and entrance were one bif open space with two rooms on either side of the house. The pictures Josh had shown me were a bit more clean, and the kitchen looked slightly different. I couldn't help but laugh, but I have to say for a small cabin in the woods, the house was pretty decent. 

Josh's jaws dropped.

"I got catfished!"