Disclaimer:

There are only a few naughty words but nothing really brazen, and with two hot tempered women using them. These characters are my creations and are not based on any person, place or incident in the real world.

My heartfelt gratitude to Helen and Ruth for the editing.

This story is dedicated to Cherry. You are an awesome woman and deeply appreciated.

The wipers pushed the snow to the side of the windshield as the Jaguar came to a stop in front of a dimly lit dinner. Piercing green eyes leaned forward to see if she could make out any patrons in the eatery. Upon seeing an apron adorned woman appear in front of the window with a coffee pot, her hand went to the gear level, placed the vehicle in park and withdrew the key.

Disgustedly, the door was pushed open and booted feet secured proper footing as the slender suited figure emerged from the car. She reached behind the seat and grabbed a beige London Fog raincoat and pushed her arm in the garment, then picked up her purse and slammed the door before pulling the garment around her other arm. A loud shriek filled the air as booted feet went flying and the woman landed on her backside in the damp snow.

“Darn.”

The raincoat fell from one shoulder as the woman turned over on her knees and attempted to stand, but again, the footing was slippery and she landed on her stomach, her face emerged in snow. Spitting, she wiped off the access snow with her hand before she put it against the side of her vehicle for support. “I should have let Winifred handle her problem sculptor and gone on to the ski lodge, but NO, I insisted I could change her obstinate and contrary artist mind.” The art dealer mumbled while she pulled the coat back upon her shoulder and turned toward the dinner.

Adriana Lisieux, partner in one of the largest art galleries in Chicago, made her way slowly to the sidewalk and carefully stepped over the mound of snow, then gradually inched her way to the frost covered door.

The talking stopped and all heads turned to see who had entered the dinner. Eyes watched as the woman stomped her feet to remove some of the snow, then close the door behind her. The stranger walked to the counter and sat down on the end stool.

“I’ll be with you in a minute dearie,” Abigail looked back to the table and filled the cup before she walked to the counter, bumped the swinging door with her hip, stepped through and sat the glass pot on the warmer under the coffee urn. “What can I do for you sweetie,” she said, pulling the pencil from her hair and flopping her order pad on the counter.

“I’ll have a larger black coffee to go and some directions if possible” the woman responded.

“What you looking for, sweetie?” The waitress tossed the pencil down next to her pad. “If I can’t help, these fellows can.” Abigail reached for a Styrofoam cup and lid as she turned back to the visitor.

“Thank you,” Adriana turned and smiled at the men who hadn’t taken their eyes off her. “I’m looking for state road 231A, and a woman named Delphy Tudor Madison.”

Old Buck Henson leaned over and spit in the paper cup he held with his left hand. “Delphy don’t like visitors, missy, especially uninvited ones,” he lowered the cup to his lap.

Oh, hell, now I have a bunch of hayseeds giving me advise, she thought, pulling the coat together again. “What makes you think I’m not expected,” she asked, her eyebrow arched.

“Old Buck is right, lady,” Abigail sat the cup down on the counter. “To put it bluntly, Delphy don’t like visitors, period.”

Adriana felt her temperature start to rise and forced her voice to remain calm. “Well, I have business to transact with her, and I need directions, please.” The art dealer opened her purse and tossed two dollars on the counter. “Keep the change.”

“Thanks,” Abigail picked the money up and poked it in her pocket. “

You’ll be sorry you went out there, Miss,” one of the men sitting at the counter said, “but if nothing will do you,” he lifted his cup and drank heavily. He proceeded to give her directions, pausing every few words to sip his coffee.

“You’ll find yourself in a heap of trouble out on that snow covered road, little lady,” Old Buck voiced his opinion. “Harry don’t grade that section ‘cept on Tuesdays, and once you get past the old school with as much snow that has fallen today, you’ll find that little coupe of yourn in a bank or off the side of the road if you ain’t careful; probably end up there even if you are,” he added. All eyes went to the window and the small green vehicle.

“He’s right, Miss,” the man sitting next to her at the counter said, again, all heads in the dinner bobbed in agreement. “Not only that, but Sam has the only tow truck in this part of the county and he’ll be closing his station for the weekend in a few minutes and he won’t go out until Monday for nobody, and no amount of money.” The customer looked around at the other patrons, who were obviously of the same opinion.

“Thank you for your concerns,” the art dealer countered, “But my business won’t wait.” She picked up the coffee and nodded her head to the waitress.

Before she reached the door another customer sitting across from old Buck called to her. “You watch yourself, young lady. You may not be concerned about Delp, but those two dogs of hers will eat you alive.”

Adriana stopped in her tracks. First, I insist on coming here when Winifred begged me not too. Then I get lost when I took the wrong exit off the Interstate, and it takes me six extra hours to get to this forsaken place. Now, these country bumpkins tell me to watch out for two hounds from hell. The young woman opened the door and closed it without looking back. When will I every learn? She inched her way to the snow bank and carefully stepped over. “No, Adriana, you have to challenge even the simplest of issues. You should be at the lodge making eyes at some lovely, but nooo….you just have to demonstrate your persuasive abilities.” She muttered to herself and carefully opened the door, then set her coffee in the console before straightening up and removing her raincoat. Tossing it over the seat, she slid beneath the wheel.

“Go to the end of the street, swing right, then dangle back the next left. What kind of directions are those?” The brown haired woman asked herself, then rammed the gear into reverse and backed quickly out. The tires spun rapidly in place and the car didn’t move when she gave the vehicle too much gas. “Don’t do this to me, you piece of….,” muttered the frustrated woman as she let off on the gas, changed gears once more and pulled forward a few inches before the gear was shifted to reverse again with the Jaguar backing out slowly. Straightening up on the road, she looked for the service station they said was at the end of the street. Spotting the sign, her mouth twitched slightly. “Might as well stop and fill up with gas,” the art dealer turns on her signal and pulls in front of the two old fashioned pumps.

Glancing around, she noticed the attendant pulling his collar up around his neck as he stepes away from the garage door and started towards the pumps. The door opened slowly and Adriana stepped out. Seeing the ‘We Pump, You Pay’ sign, she smiled and said, “Fill it up, please.” He nodded, removed the nozzle, turned the crank on the pump, then looked at the car. The woman smirked a little, then said, “Sorry, forgot to pull the latch,” and quickly bent down and pulled the gas lever. Hearing it snap open, she walked to the side of the station and looked at the road she was suppose to turn on. “Hell, there are two Ys there.” Her frustrations obvious, she turned around and called to the attendant, “Which one of these roads is state road 231A?”

“Swing right, then back left,” he replied without looking up.

The art dealer turned back to look at the unmarked roads. “Damn. Why didn’t I listen to Winifred?” The snow started coming down again, and within moments it was apparent it would not let up any time soon.

“You’ll get stuck out there, lady,” the attendant replaced the nozzle and wiped his hand on a rag he pulled from his coat pocket.

Not another one, she moaned. “Could you please come show me, for I’m not sure about the swing right directions?”

Shaking his head, the man strolled over to her. He lifted his hand and pointed to the first right. “Go there, when you get on the road, swing back to the left as soon as you get straightened out.” He lowered his hand. “That’ll be $10.39 for the gas. You want me to check under the hood?”

“No thanks,” she replied and walked to her car for the money, the attendant following behind.

“You were just in the neck of time, Lady. In two minutes I’d off been in my truck and headed home.” He said, taking the money from her hands. “I’ll have to open the office to get your change,” he turned.

“Don’t bother with that.” Adriana started to get in but rose back up. “How many miles would you say it was to the Madison place?”

Sam Duggan shoved his bear hands into his coat pockets and looked dubiously towards the pretty woman. “Go straight down 231A for 12.6 miles. You’ll see two tall concrete pillars on the right with faint printing on each column. She lives about a quarter mile down at the old tannery.”

“Thank you,” she smiled and started to get into her car.

“Lady, you don’t want to go there.”

What now, she moaned again and stood back up. “Yes, I do. I have business with her.” “Suit yourself, but if you look over across the street, you’ll see what happened to the last two fellows that showed up out there.” His hand came out of his pocket and adjusted his hood down a little to prevent the snow from hitting his face.

Adriana glanced across the street, then did a double take. It was a cemetery. “You have got to be kidding,” she garbled, her eyes glaring.

“Nope. Them fellows thought she needed some special attention to change her views…about men.”

“Well obviously, they….” Her head swung from side to side. This is turning out to be a big mistake, special showing of her works or not.

“Sheriff said self defense. Hell, those two were no good and half the county wanted to pat her on the back for ridding us of them. The other half were just as happy, but kept their opinions to themselves and still give her a wide berth. “

“I see. What about the dogs?”

“Those killers are there now to prevent anyone from slipping up on her after her last uninvited visitors.”

Oh, shit!

“You might want to rethink your trip, or at least wait until Monday. You can get a clean room and some good meals down the street there,” he pointed past the cemetery, “at Mrs. Cannon’s Boarding House. Besides that, I ain’t coming to tow no vehicles until then anyway, and trust me when I tell you this car of yours just isn’t built for that stretch of road.”

The art dealer signed. “I have to be someplace else tomorrow, so I will have to chance it. Thanks again,” the brown haired woman again bent to get into the car.

“Lady, there aren’t but a half dozen houses between here and the old saw mill at the other end of the road, but only one of them has a phone and that’s the first one you pass after the old closed school. You’ll have a long walk,” he advised.

“Thanks again, but I must see her today.”

“Suit yourself, pretty thing, and good luck.” He blinked rapidly as the wind shifted and new snow filled his face. Sheltering his eyes, he watched as she drove off and made a right turn. “Well, that’s the last we’ll see of her. Shame too, she was nice looking.” He flipped the switch on the pump and secured the lock on the pump. He shook his head as he heard the Jaguar’s gears being shifted and the sound of spinning tires in the distance.

Lisieux fought to keep the car in the middle of the highway where the snow seemed to be not as high as the sides. Her speed had slowed to almost a crawl and her wipers couldn’t move fast enough to keep the windshield clean. “Darn it, I can’t see a thing.” Her eyes glanced to the odometer. This is exactly 12 point….as there are the columns.” She noticed the faded writing on the left column, “Falls River Tannery,” she shifted gears as the vehicle slowed even more through the double width driveway.

Only after she straightened the vehicle in the middle of the road did she notice how much deeper the snow had become. “Hell, she could at least grade her driveway once in awhile.” The art dealer fought with the steering wheel to keep the car on the road only to have it pull to the left to avoid the bank of snow in the center of the road. The jaguar swerved back and forth and came to an abrupt stop when it slide across a fallen tree trunk in a shallow embankment.

Adriana attempted to back the vehicle up, but the wheels only spun rapidly and the back sank deeper into the snow. Finally, she put the car in park and turned the engine off. Her eyes attempted to look down the road, but a curve prevented her from seeing any structure.

“Guess I’ll have to walk,” she muttered, and reached over the seat for her raincoat and placed it open on the passenger seat before she reached into the back again and pulled the liner over the gear shift and laid it on the coat. “Good thing I thought about bringing this along…but I could open my luggage and get out my ski coat.” She thought out loud, but decided the London Fog would give her the best wind and snow protection during her walk. It only took a minute for her to zip in the lining and she wiggled to get into the coat before opening the door and stepping out. She reached over to the passenger side and grabbed her purse. The long strap was flung over her shoulder before she reached for her keys and dropped them into her pocket. From her left pocket, she removed a pair of fleece lined gloves and quickly put them on prior to shoving the door to the vehicle closed.

She stumbled to the middle of the road and adjusted the coat then buttoned it all the way up. The hood was flipped over her head and pulled down as far as it would go over her face before she started down the snow laden paved road.

Her boots were almost to her knees, but in places, she sank in the snow over them and could feel the dampness before she had maneuvered the curve and climbed a large mound of snow, then slide down the snow bank to the center of the highway. “

Looks like she deliberately pushed that mound there so no one could get past, but this part of the road was probably graded in the last couple of days,” her breath frosted as she spoke. “Not only a temperamental artist, but a recluse as well. Well, Winifred did warn me.”

The snowing stopped abruptly. The young woman looked off in the distance and saw two distinct snow clad peaks, rising above her almost as if watching over her as she inched along the snow clad road towards it. The sheer majestic aura that it emanated had gripped her by the lapels and wouldn't let go. “At least she picked a beautiful spot to play hermit,” observed Adriana dryly. Her pace quickened when she saw whirling smoke in the distance. “A fire,” Adriana took a deep breath and pressed on.

The snow started again, this time laced with delicate droplets of fine sleet. The art dealer pulled her hood down again, and clamped it around her chin with one hand when the sleet hit her face. “Getting really uncomfortable,” she paused and looked down the road to see if any structure was in sight, but the snow alleviated even the trees. “Well, he said about a quarter of a mile, so it can’t be much further,” her hand clasp the hood tighter as she bowed her head and stepped into the falling sleet and snow.

Delphy Tudor Madison rounded the corner of her house with a fifty-pound sack of dog food under her arm to an abrupt when she heard a commanding shout.

“STOP!" DON”T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!” Adriana stood with her feet planted and her right arm extended towards the dogs. “I’m wet, cold and tired, and I will knock your heads together if you even sniff me,” she declared. “NOW SIT!” When both dogs started towards her again, she pushed her hand forward. “I SAID SIT.” The animals sat down in the snow, but did not take their eyes off the young woman.

Delphy was startled by the demeanor of the snow-covered visitor and by her obvious power over her dogs. “Well, that’s a first,” she whispered and took a few steps closer to the woman. “Didn’t you see the NO TRESPASSING sign when you turned in?” Delp asked. Without giving the visitor an opportunity to respond she looked down at the hunkered canines, “A fine pair of watch dogs you two are,” she scolded her pets. The animals continued to observe the woman in front of them and did not turn to look at their owner.

Adriana took a deep breath to calm herself. Animals, at least the four legged kind, she could handle, but she wasn’t sure about the woman standing beside the dogs.

“You’re trespassing. You need to leave,” Madison stated abruptly, and then turned to go up the steps.

“WAIT JUST A DAMN MINUTE!” Adriana shouted. The dogs stood and started to growl. “YOU TWO SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN,” she commanded. Surprisingly, the dogs obeyed.

Madison placed a boot on the first step and turned. “Leave,” her voice lowered,

“Leave now.” The sculpture started up the step not looking back.

“WAIT UP,” Adriana called, and stomped towards the steps, the dogs following close behind. “I came to see you about a special showing of your sculptures, Madison. I won’t leave without a commitment from you to show ten pieces at our Gallery in the spring.” The brown-headed woman flipped the coat hood onto her back when she came to a stop beside the woman who placed the bags on the snow-covered rocking chair next to the door.

“It isn’t going to happen, so you can get in you car and go away.”

“Funny!” The gallery owner squinted. “Do you see a car, you…you.”

At that, Delphy did glance toward the road, but wasn’t surprised not to see a vehicle. She had deliberately piled the snow in the driveway for that very reason. “Doesn’t matter." LEAVE.”

“Just how do you propose I do that as my car is stuck in your damn snow bank back close to the entrance?”

Delphy pushed open the door and stomped her feet. “Jump back on your broomstick and whoosh away.” Her voice wasn’t threatening, but did carry an ‘I don’t give a damn’ ring to it.

“Look, you fruitcake,” Adriana pushed by the sculptor and started removing her coat. “I’m wet and cold. I haven’t eaten since nine this morning, and my car is stuck in your driveway. You are going to give me something hot to eat and drink and then you are going to help get my car unstuck.” The coat went flying to an oversized stuff chair and the woman looked through the open French doors to see a small table and chairs and heard the whistling of a tea pot signaling the water was hot. The gloves were removed and tossed on top of the coat when she walked past on her way to the adjoining kitchen. She pulled out one of the chairs and sat down. The dogs were immediately at her feet. The gallery owner bend over, rubbing each dogs head and cooing to them as she caressed each of them tenderly. “You are great looking dogs. I like that.” Her hand patted each head again before turning to the still startled artist. "Are you going to let that tea kettle whistle all afternoon?”

“You always barge into people’s houses uninvited?” was the response. Delphy walked over to the open pantry door and sat the sack of dog chow down in a rubber tray. The artist reached down and wiped the snow from the bag with her glove before she pulled the string at the top of the bag and ripped open the top a quarter of the way. The storage pail sitting next to the tray was uncovered and she lifted the bag once again and empties its contents into the container. After carefully folding the empty container up, she placed it back in the tray and secured the lid to the storage bin. The dogs started towards the container but stopped immediately when their owner muttered “sit”. The door was closed and the woman patted each sitting dog.

“I can’t stand it,” Adriana jumped up from the chair. Looking around the stove she spotted a mitten on the other side of the tea pot. Her hand went in quickly and she lifted the pot to the back burner and turned off the gas. “Where are the cups and I‘ll make the tea?”

The light wheat headed woman gently closed the panty door, but did not look at her uninvited guest. Her gloves were shoved into her coat pocket before the artist removed it slowly and hung it over the back of a chair.

“I asked, WHERE ARE THE CUPS?”

Delphy still didn’t look at her guest, but went to the cupboard and removed a tin which she slowly placed on the table. When she felt her guest about to explode, she exhaled, then walked to the sink and opened the cabinet door next to the window and pulled out two mugs and reluctantly placed one on the opposite side of the table before sitting down. Her movements were unhurried as if to irritate the standing woman even more. She opened the tin and pulled out an orange spice tea bag, which was dropped in her cup.

Adriana puffed out her lips, but had no intentions of allowing the artist to get the upper hand. “You could have placed one in my cup. You are very inconsiderate,” she remarked and poured the water into the cup in front of her and deliberately returned the pot to the stove without filling Delphy’s. She tossed the mitten on the table and sat down.

The wheat haired woman stood, taking her mug with her to the stove. After pouring in the water, she went to the window and looked out. “The snow has stopped. As soon as you finish your tea, I’ll get out the plow-tractor and we’ll go check on your car.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I haven’t eaten since this morning.” The gallery owner sat the mug down harder than she meant to and a little tea sloshed over the side. “Oh, darn.” Adriana jumped up and looked around the kitchen for paper towels.

On turning and seeing the mess, Delphy closed her eyes and shook her head. Her right hand went down to the cabinets below the sink and she open the right side and stepped aside. There on the door was a roll of paper towels in a holder.

Adriana quickly grabbed at the roll which came loose and rolled around on the floor. “Oh, great. Just what I needed.” She bent to pick up the roll which had hit the table leg and pulled off several before placing it on the table. After cleaning up her mess, she sat back down at the table. “Miss Madison, I don’t want to cause any problems, but I am hungry and a little weak to go back out in this weather right now. Could we please have something, if only a bit of cheese and crackers?”

Delphy took another sip of her tea before answering. “If we wait too much longer, the coming storm will prevent you from getting back to town.”

“Couldn’t I just stay here for tonight and go back in the morning?”

“Not a chance. I’ll go get the plow and be back here in about five minutes. I need you to ride on the tractor with me so you can steer the vehicle as I tow it from the bank.” She set the empty mug in the sink and put on her coat and gloves. Turning to the dogs, she calmly ordered, “Stay here boys. Don’t come out the front door.” With that command, she left the kitchen.

The gallery owner rolled her eyes and picked up her mug, but sat it back down. Getting up, she went to the crock pot sitting on the counter next to the stove and lifted the lid. “Oh, goodie, some kind of gumbo-stew,” she sniffed and set the lid to the side. Opening up several cabinets, she didn’t find a bowl, so she went to where she saw Delphy remove the cups and took down another mug. “This’ll work,” she smirked, then took the cup to the pot and dipped it in until it was about three quarters full. She took a sip and allowed the broth to run down her throat. “Hmm.” Her effort to locate a spoon resulted in opening several drawers before locating a tray filled with silverware and removed a teaspoon. Within a minute, most of the contents of the cup has been hurriedly eaten and it was once again dipped into the pot and the stew eaten just as quickly as the first cup. She replaced the lid and went to the sink where she ran water into the used mug before returning to her tea.

The dogs had not changed positions except to watch the woman move around the kitchen opening doors and drawers.

Adriana sat back down and picked up the mug, taking a few sips before she motioned for the dogs to approach again. “You and I are going to become good friends, aren’t we?” she rubbed first one dog then the other, before drinking more of the tea. Within moments she heard the sound assumed to be a tractor in the distance and stood quickly taking her mug to the sink. She walked into the living area and hurriedly put on her coat and gloves before going to the window to look out.

Coming up a small incline she saw a large tractor with a snow blade attached to the front and nearly touching the ground. The snow poured off the angled blade and formed a slight mound to the right of the tractor. It stopped in front of the cottage. Delphy motioned for her to come and patted the box just behind the driver’s seat.

“How do I get up there, you ninny?” questioned the art dealer looking for some kind of step on the side of the tractor.

Delphy exhaled at the nuisance and shook her head. She pointed to an extended foot bar close to the tractor. “Put you foot on there, and grab my hand and swing up.”

Adriana bent over and looked at the round protrusion, “You have got to be kidding!”

“You can climb over the tire if you want, but you’ll get that fancy coat of yours filthy. Come on woman, place your foot on bar and grab my hand.” She extended her glove and shook it several times.

After several attempts to keep her boot on the bar it finally stayed long enough for her t reach up and grab the glove hand and pull up only to slip and bang her chest into the side of the tractor carriage. Delphy didn’t let go of the hand until Adriana had regained her footing.

“You ever ride a horse?” the tractor driver asked.

“Yes, I’m a fine equestrian.”

“Then treat this as a stirrup and swing your other foot up to the trace board here next to the seat. My hand will act as the saddle horn,” she extended her gloved hand again.

The gallery owner doubted such action would work, but did as directed and was surprised when she landed on the seated woman’s lap. Well, now this isn’t so bad, she thought, but before the idea could take root, the sculptor lifted her to the box behind her.

“Hang on to the box, or seat if you don’t want to fall,” Delphy turned, put the tractor into gear and pushed the gas. The plow dipped once but leveled out as they moved towards the main road.

Within minutes the tractor had plowed a clean track to the knoll of snow that covered the drive. You could barely see the shape of the car from the snowfall. Delphy made several passes at the mound of snow and in no time had cleared enough away to allow the tractor and plow to pass the bank with several feet to spare.

“I suppose as soon as I’m gone you’ll re-bank that snow and close the opening?”

“You are correct.” The driver ran the plow as close to the car as she felt was safe and continued past it almost to the entrance before she turned the tractor around and made several more passes behind the car covered mound. On the last pass, she backed the plow up as close to the car as you could and got off the tractor. “You need to get down so I can get to the chain in the box your setting on.”

Adriana stood and looked for a cleared place to jump. “I don’t suppose you’d help me down?”

Delphy stepped closer to the rear of the tractor and pointed a gloved hand quickly at two places. “Step here, and here, and hold onto the box, then the step on the hitch,” she stomped the protrusion, “then step onto the ground.” Her hand went up to assist the woman once her foot hit the hitch. She climbed up on the tractor and pulled the tow chair from the box and tossed it to the ground. Within moments she had secured the chain around the hitch and tossed it to the back of the covered car.

A short shovel was removed from the box and the artist went to work clearing the snow from the back of the vehicle. She returned the shovel to the box and got down on her knees to look under the car before she carefully secured the chain over the rear axel of the car. “You’re stuck on top of the log,” she said, standing up. “Go stand over there” Delphy pointed to the side of the cleared road . “I’m going to pull it out and straighten it up on the road so I can take a look under the front.”

Adriana moved to the edge of the cleared snow and watched as the artist climbed back on the tractor and slowly moved forward. There was a scraping sound but the car came slowly out of the mound of snow and was pulled to the center of the cleaned road. Delphy got off, bend down and checked the front of the car. Standing up, she brushed the snow from her knees and hands. “Just like I thought. You have several bend bars and I think your crankshaft is cracked. I’ll have to pull it to the barn and go into town on Monday for it to be towed.”

“You mean I can’t drive it?”

“Nope.”

“You a mechanic too?” The dealer asked sarcastically.

“Suit yourself,” she unchained the car and draped the chain over the tow bar and climbed aboard the tractor.

“Aren’t going to wait until I try and crank it?”

‘Lady, that car won’t run more than a minute. You might as well let me tow it to the barn.” The tractor was put in gear and moved forward in a circular turn coming back in front of the stalled car and backed up to it. Getting off and going to the trailer hitch, she looked over at the gallery dealer. “You still want to try and move it?”

“Yes, I want to drive it to your house. I haven’t completed my business with you and we need to talk.” Adriana made her way around the car and started wiping off the snow so she could open the door.

“Even if you end up at my house, we have no business. No special exhibit. No extra pieces for sale this year. Winifred knows I only release two pieces a year and I select the pieces.” The chain was tossed on the ground as the snow began to drift down.

“We’ll talk about that.” After a lot of effort the woman opened the door and slid under the wheel. The key was slid in the ignition and turned. The motor roared to live. Adriana shifted gear and moved forward only to have the car stall as smoke filled the air from under the car. “Damn.” A gloved fist hit the steering wheel.

The sculptor shook her head, then dropped to the ground securing the chain to the front of the car. “You steer while I pull it, but don’t use your brakes until we get to the downgrade before the barn.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she mimicked, watching Delphy climb back on the tractor and move slowly ahead.

The chain tightened and the car advanced gradually. The tractor moved to the left side of the snow road barrier and through the opening. Within ten minutes Delphy had returned the chain to the box and once again bend down to look under the small car.

“Great! Just great,” she arose. Looking around the barn she spotted a cardboard box with a few pieces of lumber sticking out of it. Quickly stacking the lumber neatly against the wall, the box was crushed flat and slid under the vehicle.

“What did you do that for?”

“Leak.”

“Leak from what?”

Delphy didn’t respond as she rounded the car and headed for the barn door. “If you have a bag, bring it. I’m not coming out again.” The large door was pulled down the track leaving only a small opening before the sculptor looked back to see the gallery owner still standing in the same place. “You coming or not?”

Adriana threw her hands up in the air in frustration and went to the back of the car. Fishing around in her raincoat pockets, she could not find the keys.

“Try the ignition.” Delphy suggested sarcastically.

The art dealer gritted her teeth, and pounded the back of the car before she went to the driver’s side and jerked open the door. The keys were quickly removed and the door slammed. The truck was opened, with several bags set on the floor, and a ski jacket tossed over the bags.

“Do you need both bags?” Delphy asked. “You’re out of here on Monday.”

“Yes, both bags, and how about you carrying one for me?” she looked over at the woman standing in the doorway.

“No.” Delphy stepped out onto the snow. “You coming, or do I close it and shut you in?”

“You are the most incorrigible woman I’ve ever met,” Adriana picked up the jacket, tucking it under her arm and reached down for the luggage. She was still mumbling and fuming when Delphy closed the door behind her.

Once inside the house, Adriana was told she would be using the bedroom on the left at the top of the stairs and supper would be served in half an hour. Throughout the meal the gallery owner attempted to engage her host in conversation, but was met with brief responses or none at all.

When the art dealer brought up the special exhibit of Delphy’s work, the sculpture’s eyes narrowed and she stopped eating. “What part of NO, don’t you comprehend?” The artist stood, picked up her bowl and utensils and placed them in the sink. After running water over them, she spoke “come” to her dogs and left the kitchen without saying anything further or allowing the dealer to answer her question.

Sometime during the night, the storm increased and by morning, the snowdrifts were well over waist high. Because the wind had picked up before daybreak, the snow was now whirling about, limiting visibility to a few feet at most.

Upon placing her bags in the bedroom upstairs, she noticed the door open to what must have been the master bedroom and saw two large dog beds on the floor at the foot of the bed. After last night’s quick departure of her hostess, she had attempted to talk through the door with Delphy about the exhibit, but hearing the volume on some music being turned up without any response from inside, she went to bed. When she opened her bedroom door this morning, the door across the hall was open, the bed had been made but she knew the room was empty. Winifred, why didn’t you tell me she was incorrigible and didn’t communicate beyond a few syllables? “Oh, hell! What am I blaming her for, she did make it clear Delphy Tudor Madison wasn’t anyone I could push around or bully into doing what I wanted.” The mumbling continued as she descended the stairs. “But, I won’t leave here without that exhibit, and I’m willing to bet half a year’s profits on that little wager,” her hands rubbed together as if to clinch a bet.

After searching the downstairs and finding it empty she returned to the kitchen to find the dishes from the night before now stacked in the drainer beside the sink. Her nose sniffed and the art dealer turned to the stove. A smile crossed her face at spotting the coffee pot. She reached out and found it to still be warm. “Good, I could use something hot.” The mug was filled and set on the table.

Adriana sipped the brew and noticed a dishtowel over a plate before her. A lifted corner revealed several little link sausages, two hard boiled eggs and a couple slices of buttered wheat toast. “Hmm.” The plate was pulled to her and the towel removed. The breakfast was eaten quickly. The plate washed and placed in the drainer with the other dishes. The last few drops of coffee were drained into the mug before she picked it up, walked to the living room, and looked out the window. “Gosh, it’s horrible out there.”

When noon came and Delphy didn’t return, Adriana began to pace about the house. A fresh pot of coffee was brewed and several cups drunk before she decided to chance the walk to the barn. The snow hadn’t let up and although visibility was poor the wind only came in occasional gushes now. The ski jacket was zipped to the top and gloves pulled on before she opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. “Burrrr” she flipped the hood over her head, and looking in the direction she knew the barn was supposed to be. “Can’t see it, but I know I’ll come to it if I just keep straight.

Delphy moved the torch slowly up and down the strand of hair of the statue, attempting to get just the right curve to the curl, and almost fell off the platform when Adriana spoke suddenly from behind her.

“WHOW!” The gallery owner exclaimed. “That is beautiful! It’s beyond words.”

The artist caught her balance, her head turning to see her visitor standing in the exact same position as her sculpture. The bronze figure was nude, posed with her arms by her side with the hands placed over each other at the bottom of her torso. The hair was long and flowing on a slightly tilted head. The eyes were looking forward, almost as if in a dream state. Adriana could have been the model for the figurine, but it was obvious the works was in the final stages and had no model except in the artist's imagination. It was the creation of a genius, one whose mind went beyond imagination.

“Get out.” Delphy snapped.

Adriana stuck out her tongue, proceeded to unzip her jacket and walked closer to the statue. The dogs had been lying on the floor in the sun coming from the window jumped up and trotted to the woman, who immediately bent down and started rubbing each of them. The jacket fell to the floor. “Hi guys, you been in that one place all day?” She asked as she caressed each ear and hugged both dogs to her.

The sculptor went limp. Her own dogs had succumbed to the intruders’ rubbing and loving dog talk. “I said, get out.” “

Oh, hush, Madison. I’ve no intentions of leaving,” her hands rubbed the animals once more and she rose. “Come on fellows; let’s see what your master has back there under those tarps.”

“Stay away from my…”

“I’m going to see them, Delphy, so you might as well go back to work.” Her hand reached for the first tarp and whipped it partially off the sculpture. Her hand went to her mouth as she gasped.

She moved around the piece removing carefully the balance of the tarp and stood back in awe. The figurine was a mermaid sitting on a rock. Her tail fin was curbed as if shaking off water, while the arms were slightly behind the perfectly formed body and appeared to effortlessly hold the figure in a sitting position. The head was arched upward as if catching the rays of some unseen sun. The long strands of hair were flowing outward to indicate a breeze was blowing, but two long strands carefully covered the nipples of fully formed breasts, but gave the appearance they too, might succumb to the imaginary breeze.

Adriana slowly walked around the magnificent sculpture, not allowing the slightest detail to elude her trained eyes. Her fingers inched out and gently touched the scales on the tail and ran her digits up the fin. It was almost life like, in the bluest metal the gallery owner had ever seen. Fascinated she crouched down to get a closer look at the underside of the tail. How was it possible, she wondered, that a woman with such rough manners, with such cocky arrogance possessed the wit, the sensibility, the compassion to create such lovely thing out of chunks of metal. “This is brilliant,” she spoke gently.

“Darn intrusive snoop,” Delphy flipped the welder’s shield back down, turned to the figure and began welding again.

Adriana stepped back from the mermaid, still captivated by the beauty and strength of the unique sculpture. Her other pieces have been exceptional and sold within hours of being on display, but this….my god, this is beyond words. Winifred always added her pieces to a running exhibit and Madison never once showed up for the show. My partner always did business with her after her first piece went on display, including sending her commission via mail, and I never cared to get to know the artist, but now….I’m speechless. Her head turned to the dozen tarps and her eyes became excited and her mouth began to water.

The gallery owner went promptly to the next tarp and carefully peeled the fabric from the treasure beneath. The bronze sculpture was an Indian maiden in a stooped defensive position pointing a spear at a huge buffalo in the process of turning before charging. Two of the magnificent animal’s hooves were suspended a few inches above the ground. Saliva dripped from its mouth and nostrils. Adriana shook her head at the action of the animal, shown by a change in direction while running. That representation truly caught the strength of the buffalo. Her eyes went to the features of the young warrior which showed determination without fear. Delphy’s sensitivity toward the subject matter with every detail resulted in a piece that addressed not only gallant animal, charging across the plain, noble and alert, but her strong bronze interpretation of the spirit of womanhood was a bold focal point, which more than delighted the eye…it made her heart swell within. “Oh, my heavens! How could someone that is such a recluse express such sensitive and thoughtful understanding of women and life?” Delphy Madison was obviously a mystery. Yes, a mystery she intended to unravel.

The gallery owner walked around the bison once more, noticing the detail knotted mane and blotches of dung matted into the fur before she moved to the next covered monument. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she pulled the tarp to one side, allowing it to fall to the floor.

The unveiling of Delphy’s next sculpture set the dealer back on her heels, swaying, she looked around for something to sit on. Finding a crate off to one side, she pulled it closer to the creation. The fact the sculptor chose to show the scene in two pieces was a masterful decision. On one side two children free from care, played in a field of flowers. On the other side, a black panther and a lamb lay side by side watching the little ones at play.

The gallery owner sat for a long time before venturing to uncover the remaining nine tarps. Adriana was just as excited when she reached the last which happened to be taller than the others. Her head moved around to find something she could stand on and smiled to see a four foot ladder attached to the wall of the made shift studio. Carefully pulling the tarp back over the tall structure underneath, the art dealer smiled when a horse’s head emerged, followed by the second, only this animal’s head was turned looking back at a figure that was yet to be uncovered. Her hands trembled as she quickly moved around the ten by twenty sculptures, pulling at the covering and stepped back. Her eyes went to the helmeted, body armor clad figure with reigns draped over a forearm and a lance in the other hand standing in front of a beautiful gold chariot, drawn by two steeds, with a magnificent shield hung over the side. It was clearly a woman but not one of usual stature.

Adriana’s eyes leaped from the figure to the chariot and back to the horses as she circled the massive sculpture but stopped abruptly when she spotted a plaque at the base of the sculpture. “Pallas Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War,” she read the inscription out loud. “Well, I be.” Greek mythology had always been one of the loves of her life and one of her undergraduate degrees. Athena was the divine form of the heroic, martial ideal: she personified excellence in close combat, victory, and glory. The qualities that led to victory were found on the aegis, and breastplate, that Athena wore when she went to war: fear, strife, defense, and assault. Adriana stepped back to face the figure, checking out each detail of the goddess, paying particular attention to every element of the breastplate. “Beautiful,” she whispered, then moved to the chariot.

The fact that you chose to show the scene with two full size stallions was a masterful decision, Delphy, she thought. I bet it presented many challenges and I wonder just how long it took you to create this piece. “My goodness, what exacting craftsmanship.”

From the rear of the last sculpture, her eyes went to the artist, who was still working on the figurine’s hair. “You have to let us exhibit all these in a very special show, Delphy, you…” She didn’t finish, but walked swiftly to the foot of the scaffolding where the sculptor, who was still meticulously twisting the strands of hair as she ran the torch over it. The art dealer called to her softly. The sculptor ignored the voice behind her. The gallery owner called her again, this time a little louder. Again, she was ignored.

“You have truly captured the spirit of each piece and wrapped those intangible qualities in a visual aura." Adriana called rather loudly.

The torch was pushed to the side. Doesn’t that woman ever give up? She asked herself and sighed as she turned to face the annoying visitor. The artist didn’t turn the torch off, but did raise the helmet and stared at Adriana. “Don’t touch my creations. And I don’t give a rat’s butt what you think about my work. Don’t bother to cover them up, just get out and don’t come back in here.” With that, she flipped the face mask back down, turned back to the figurine and began working again.

Frustration filled the dealer. Never had she been so discouraged by any artist’s actions or behavior, but Delphy Tudor Madison was starting to touch the one spot that really annoyed her, “rejection”. Simple rejections and she wasn’t even after the woman’s body, just her creations. “Now you listen to me, Madison,” she barked to the back of the artist. All the sculptor did was turn the torch up and continued with her work. “Madison, I’m talking to you,” she shouted again. After being ignored on three more attempts to get her attention, Adriana looked around and spotted the acetylene tank, and knew her next action.

The torch spurted and immediately stopped burning. Delphy opened the face mask and looked at the curved instrument in her hand. She had attached a new tank just and hour ago and couldn’t imagine the problem, until her eye fastened on Adriana’s hand resting on the control valve on the top of the tank. The artist flung off the helmet, hooked the torch over the bracing and hopped down off the scaffolding.

The angry artist covered the space between them faster than Adriana thought possible. Before she realized what happened, Delphy had her by the arm and was practically dragging her to the work area by the window. The sculptor simply shoved the dealer into a rocking chair beside the homemade drafting table, and then glanced over where the two dogs stood in the sunlight puzzled by their master’s rough handing of their newfound friend. “You two sit,” the artist ordered.

Adriana rubbed her arm where Delphy had squeezed it as she drug the visitor to the chair. “You are the rudest, most ill-mannered, most insufferable woman I’ve ever been forced to attempt business dealings.”

Delphy was tempted to smack the beautiful face below her. Instead she bent down so her face was only inches from the agitated art dealer. Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t ever touch anything in here again. Touch nothing,” she spit through gritted teeth. “One last time, there will be no extra pieces and no special showing you thick headed knuckled brain.” The artist rose, still gritting her teeth. “If you bother me anymore, or touch anything, I will toss your butt out into the snow. Your fate will be a frozen cube before you get to the highway. Now get out of here.” The artist backed up two steps back and pointed to the door.

Adriana rose, still rubbing her arm, although it was a blatant attempt to make Delphy feel guilt. It was obvious, the artist did not. She took a step forward, watching the artist eyes narrow, watching her mouth tightened. “We’ll talk later, Madison,” she went towards the door. “Is it okay, if the dogs go to the edge of the meadow with me?” she asked without turning around.

An unfamiliar clutching in her stomach had Delphy trembling. “If they want to go.”

“Come boys,” she opened the door and stepped out into the snow with the dogs following.

The clutching in her stomach continued as she watched the door close and turned towards the acetylene tanks. After turning the nozzle back on, Delphy went back to the scaffolding and climbed up on the walkway around the figurine. She hoped she had convinced Adriana that her willingness to become friendly or allow pieces to exhibit was finally reached. Also, it did annoy her that both dogs went willingly with the visitor without first coming to her. That was really starting to tee her off. The animals were already becoming fond of the woman and enjoyed the rubbing and scratching the art dealer showered on them. When she returned to the house last night after leaving the dogs in there after lunch, she found them in a wad on the floor playing and only gave her a quick side look before they went back to the friendly tug-of- war.

The striker was squeezed and the flame shot from the torch. The temperamental artist raised the flame to the steel hair and continued to feel the clutching in her stomach. She didn’t like the woman. And certainly didn’t approve of her pets being so attracted to the visitor. At the first sign of a break in the storm, “She’s out of here,” the artist said out loud, and adjusted the flow of the torch until a longer blue streak shot from the tip. She is so distracting, I could have damaged my eyes, she mused and adjusted the torch again before allowing the flame to touch the strand of hair she had been working on, only to move it away from the structure. She managed to take three or four normal breaths. Degree by degree she felt her system level and the clutching in her midsection ease. Any woman who is as annoying as that should be…should be what Madison, she thought. “Drawn and quartered maybe. She has a one track mind that would drive anyone to thoughts of homicide.” Delphy shook her head several times before forcing herself to concentrate on her work

Down on the snowy meadow, the art dealer was deep in thought. How to act when she returned to the barn, or later tonight when they ate. The dogs ran around her and barked for her to play chase with them. “Go on, fellows, I’m not in the mood to play.” Uncertainty filled her voice. The large animals didn’t understand and finally jumped up on her, flattening her in the snow. “Okay, okay,” she chuckled. “I’ll race you guys to the edge of the trees,” she said as she jumped up and attempted to run, only to fall flat on her face. “That was most unsatisfactory, “ her lips puckered as she attempted to blow the snow away. Later, standing at the frozen creek that ran though the trees, her thoughts went back to the clash in the barn. “I’ll just continue on as nothing happened,” was her final decision and she clapped her hands for the animals that playtime was over and they needed to make it back to the house before the snow became any thicker.

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