"Every town has got one," apron clad proprietress Sally Lunn hissed at headlights peeking through Buttermilk Donuts store front window.
"Oh, he's not so bad," sporting croissant moon grin, cashier Madeleine Olla spoke up.
"Get a grip, before reality gets a grip on you, Maddi. You are out of your mind dating that, that pig in a blanket, Herbert Garden." Sally shuddered, rubbed goose bumps from flesh of forearm.
But Herbie is so cute," Maddi protested.
"Yeah, Herb sorta is the kimchi of cute," Sally muttered.
"Don't be a sauerkraut Sally," Maddi pouted.
"Just looking out for my favorite niece." Under arm, Sally hugged Maddi, let out a hearty, "Humphhh," in the direction of Herb Garden as he stepped out vehicle onto parking lot tar. "What man would drive an old butchered up van?" Sally shook head.
"Herbie cutting torched it behind front seat and added a wooden bed. He calls it his eco-truck. Creative isn't it?" Maddi admired.
"That's about as creative as onion fudge. And look at what he is wearing, stained overalls. Now that's a fashion statement!" With pinch of leaven, Sally added, "Maddi, you have wasted over a year dating nothing more than a handyman."
"Never judge an Herb Garden by his overalls," Maddi cooled Sally Lunn oven. "Herbie is Christian and uses his skills most every day to help the widows, children and poor of our town."
"Poor being the key word. How Herb even has enough money to buy coffee and a donut, I'll never know." Sally fretted.
As Sally gritted teeth, Herb strode in, sallied up to Sally and Maddi at counter, tipped paint spattered cap, said, "Sweet morning to not one but two scrumptious donut gals."
"If only you knew," Sally gave sourdough rise.
From under counter, Maddi popped out white paper bag donut half dozen and coffee thermos. "Your usual, Mr. Herbie." She leaned over counter, her sweet smile interrupted with kiss of Herb.
Herb let loose Maddi lips, grabbed donuts and coffee, headed for front door, over shoulder reminded, "See ya at two o'clock quitting time."
"Now I see how he affords my donuts... and my coffee," Sally Lunn baked.
"Now Aunt Sally, I always pay the till for Herbie, because I know the money he saves goes to help those in need." As Maddi watched eco-truck lights back out, turn and leave parking lot, she also shared, "I finally get to see Herb's home sweet home this afternoon."
"That log shack up on the ridge? Good luck it doesn't cave in and fall over the edge. But then again you get what you date; poor handyman equals... poor house. Wake up and smell the poverty, Maddi." Sally warned.
"Icing without cake... is but riches without soul..." Maddi hugged Aunt Sally.
An Aunt Sally who worried out loud, "I fear the bacon is just about to hit the frying pan. There is just something a tad strange bout old Herbie."
Two o'clock came, and two o'clock went up a winding gravel trail; and as eco-truck climbed so did the anticipation of sweethearts side by side inside, until...
"A... one room... cabin?" Standing in a rocky front yard punctuated with prickly pear cactus, Maddi was a wee more than a bit underwhelmed that the stone chimney overwhelmed the tiny log cabin and front porch.
"Ah, but are the least of true homes, not homes of mansion?" Even more than profound, Herbie teased..
"It's okay, Herbie." Maddi hugged his arm. "Mansions are of the heart."
And up the steps, and on to the porch, and through weather beaten cedar plank door, the two entered hand in hand, stood upon cabin stone floor. "Cozy," Maddi offered, as she studied every bare log of wall, each wood brace of roof, the native stone of fireplace hearth, the hanging cast iron pots, the cupboards, the rustic wood cot, the total lack of electricity, and no running water.
"Cozy," Herb interrupted her thoughts
"Cozy," Maddi repeated, punched Herb in the the same arm she clung to. "Now, funny man, where do you really live?"
"What?" With smile Herb fained, "What makes you think I don't live here?"
"Because you never stink," Maddi giggled, added, "no bathroom."
"Hey, is that not an antique wash stand, basin and ewer by yon back window?" Herb offered proof.
"Why yes, yes it is; and a very dry and dusty wash stand, basin and ewer they are." Maddi gave wide eyed the jig is up.
"Quite observant for a donut girl." He pulled her to him, caressed her neck with his nose all the way up to ear, whispered, "Oh how I love the fresh baked aroma of my Donut Girl." So followed the plant of Herb Garden kiss.
"So where?" Out of corner of kiss cornered lips, Maddi muttered, "Where do you really live?"
"There," Herb sort of pointed with nose to near log wall.
Out of corner of eye, Maddi starred hard, reached out, pushed. A fist sized portion of log sank in. Broad hidden door slid open. Herb stumbled as Maddi took off, dragging him with her into...
"This is no bathroom!" Maddi blinked, "Its an elevator... with lights."
"I got a bit tired of the manual chain hoist to your left and installed electric controls. Pretty nifty, eh?" Herb was not above admiring his own handy work.
"Down, please!" Maddi squealed in anticipation.
Herb pushed button, teased, "Descent of Donut Girl into dungeon below. BwaaaHaHa, BwaaaHaHa, Bwaa-erk!" Donut Girl elbow interrupted Herb ribs.
"You got some explaining to do, Mr. Herb," Maddi demanded. As elevator settled to floor, Maddi eyes saw, "The light, under ground sunlight! Everywhere, the sunlight is so bright!"
"Takes a while for the eyes to adjust, doesn't it?" Herb steadied her.
"Drawing tables, plans, computers, printers! My Herbie is an architect?"
"Guilty." Herb grinned.
"But sunlight? Under ground?" Arms down, palms up, as a moth to flame the light drew her from the arms of Herb to the... "Windows,.. oh my!" She gasped. "How high up are we?" The majesty of the river valley straight below swept her heart away, almost as much as her equilibrium.
"Roughly, I'd say it is about 399.33 feet or so from your feet to valley floor." Herb had surveyed. "But if you really want to see something, look to your left."
As wide as Maddi's eyes were, they grew wider, "A city, an underground city?" In near trance Maddi's feet felt as if floating toward...
"Not exactly under ground, nor a city." Herb explained, "Pueblo is the Indian term. In this case a town of cliff dwellers, who lived in these adobe buildings centuries ago."
"Wow, but how," Maddi wondered, "how many people have seen this?"
Of the living only one, until a minute ago, now two." Herb took her hand, "This alcove simply is not visible from any place, any angle it faces.
"But who found it and built the cabin, obviously over the entrance?" Maddi asked.
"The who found it, according to my late Dad, was my great grand father's horse Nugget. Seems old Nugget stepped into the camouflaged entrance and near broke a leg with great grandpa Eden Garden in saddle."
Pondering all these things in her heart, Maddi returned to the windows; and gazing out into the lush valley below, she felt familiar nose and lips warm her neck, She smiled, "I've said it once, I'll say it again, you just can't judge an Herb Garden by his overalls."
Standing behind her, Herb gathered her round waist with arm and hand. With other he retrieved from pocket a certain gold and diamond circle. Into her ear his warm breath waft sacred whisper, "Until now, I never promised you an Herb Garden... Maddi, will you..."
Bright sparkle drew the eyes of Maddi down to the hand of her Christian man. And without turning Maddi answered, "To never end... my Herb Garden shall I attend."
Isaiah 58:10-11; John 4:14 & 8:12; John 10:9-10
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