The cabin blended in with the surroundings as it was enveloped within the pine, spruce and birch trees. It looked peaceful and at the same time intentionally isolated. Built with caring hands and from logs cut from this property, you could tell, years ago. It had a rustic quality about it that can’t be matched today.
Hazel had gotten her grandfather’s attention since she and Hank were fifty feet ahead of him. She motioned for him to come quickly. “Papa, hurry up!”
The old man, moving as quickly as he could approached the two wondering what the rush was. “Look up there, Papa, a cabin.” Hazel said excitedly.
“So, it is” the old man commented softly. Perhaps a seasonal or weekend home. I don’t recall seeing it before, but then, it is quite a distance off the path and I’ve never walked up that way. Let’s walk up there and take a look.” The old man took a large step up the path then brought his other foot down hard just off the path in the direction of the cabin. Stepping on a moss-covered rock protruding from the ground, his foot slipped forward causing him to fall backwards. His forward left leg kicked up toward the clouds as his right leg buckled under him. His back hitting the ground first then his head struck a rock. In shock, Hazel and Hank both ran over to him. With a blood curdling scream, Hazel saw blood seeping from under the old man’s head. In shock, she held her hand over her mouth and her eyes wide without blinking. She was scared. Tears began rolling down her cheeks.
With his bottom lip quivering, Hank grabbed Hazel by the arm and said “Hazel! Is he dead?”
Hazel kneeled at her grandfather’s side and placed her hand gently on his forehead and wiped the hair and sweat from his eyes brushing his hair back over the top of his head. “No, he’s still breathing but I’m scared, we don’t have a phone, we’re away from the kayaks, the truck is on the other side of the lake and we can’t drive anyway. Oh God! What are we going to do” Hazel cried in a quivering voice!
“What happened here,” a deep soft voice came from behind them startling the kids.
Reacting quickly, both Hazel and Hank twisted around and saw an old gentleman standing with the sun to his back. The kids both squinted at the tall thin figure blocking most of the sun from their faces. The old gentleman was wearing a long-sleeved shirt that used to be white but was, what appeared to be, sweat stained but still clean, baggy pants with suspenders and old lace up boots.
“We saw that cabin up there and were just going to investigate. Then Papa slipped and fell.” Hazel said with a shaking voice and tears gently running down her cheeks. She was still pointing toward the cabin when the old gentleman stepped in and kneeled and touched the old man’s wrist to feel his heartbeat. Hank said that they were on the kayaks down by the lake and that the truck they came in was on the other side of the lake.
“Yes, I saw them as I was wandering around the lake. He’s got a bad concussion and just unconscious. That’s my cabin up there, come on, let’s take him up there. You two help me.” The old gentleman pulled a clean white rag from his hip pocket, gently lifted the old man’s head and placed it under his head covering the wound. As he turned his back to the old man lying on the ground, still kneeling he said “I’ll carry him. Lift him enough to put his arms over my shoulders.” Using his leg muscles to lift the old man off the ground and bending slightly forward holding tightly to his arms, the older gentleman carefully stepped up the pathway that eventually led to the cabin. Hank opened the door for the old gentleman and stepped inside as Hazel followed the gentleman carrying her grandfather. There was a wood framed day bed on the far side of the room so the old gentleman carried him over and slowly lowered him on the bed then put a clean dressing on his headwound after washing it to clear any debris from his fall. The older gentleman making the kid’s still unconscious grandfather as comfortable as he could.