A B&B In The Snowy Woods

"Are you going up to the house tonight?" Kara asked.

"Sure am," Will answered.  "Should I pick you up?"

"Please, thanks," Kara answered.

It was just starting to snow when Will left his office.  He'd packed in the morning, skis in the Thule, weekend clothes in a bag in the back of the Subaru wagon.  He pulled up to Kara's condo.

"Hi Sis, ready to go?" he asked.

"Sure am bro," she answered.  "Can you grab my skis?"

"Sure."

The skis went up on top, Kara's bag in back, and they were off.  Onto I-91, headed North.  Kara had been getting close to Klaus, a cool guy in the house, while Will thought that Sue, who came up from the City, was really hot.  If they got there in time, they'd join the gang at the Pickle Barrel to pop a few and see what tonight's band was like.

They'd been doing this most Friday nights since they joined the ski house at the beginning of the season.  If he'd been asked, Will's excuse for getting lost this night, was that he'd heard about a short cut around Chester, and then the snow became blinding.

The Subaru wagon with snow tires was about as good as it got for Winter driving in Vermont.  One of the most popular models in that part of the country.  But the snow was accumulating at an extreme rate.

"Will, I can't see much," Kara said.  "Let's not end up in the ditch."

"Agreed," Will said.  "Look, there's a side road that looks like it's been plowed, and a B&B sign.  Maybe we'd be better off stopping."

"Yes, let's.  But if we don't find the B&B how do we get back to the main road?"

"Main road?" Will laughed.

"Well, it's at least the road we're on," Kara stated.  "If the car tracks fill in we're really lost.  It's snowing so hard, if we don't find anything in 10" we turn around.  Deal?"

"OK, OK."

Eight minutes in, Kara was ready to cut and run.  Just then a cottage like building appeared out of the snow.  Victorian in style, it looked like a gingerbread house.  The snow a delicious icing.

"Looks good enough to eat, but I'm not going to play Gretel," Kara whispered.

"Let's at least see who runs the place," Will said.

There was a large multi-paned front window, with a Christmas tree showing through.  Colored lights, and sparkly decorations.

"Looks friendly," Will said.

On the front door a 'Welcome, Come In' sign.  In the main room a crackling fire in a stone fireplace.

A wrinkled, bent over, woman who had to be pushing 90, came out to greet them.

"Well, well, welcome to the Deep Woods B&B," she said with an old country accent.  "Would you like a room?"

"I don't know," Kara said, not comfortable at all.

"Hot cocoa, down comforters, and a hearty breakfast in the morning Sweetie," the old woman said.

"Sounds good," Will said.  "Kara's my sister, and it wouldn't be the end of the world to bunk with her, but how about two rooms?"

"Of course, of course," was the reply.

After bringing their bags in Will suggested "let's get comfortable, and meet back down here for some of that cocoa."

"See you in a few," Kara replied.

Twenty minutes later, Kara returned to the main room, and settled down in front of the fire place.  It was warm and cozy.  She drifted off.

Waking up, she'd lost track of time.

"Hello," she called out.

"Here I am," the old crone replied coming out from the back.  "Ready for some cocoa?"

"Yes, but have you seen Will?"

"I gave him some warm buns, and a mug of hot cocoa, the better to fatten him up," she chuckled.

Kara shivered.  "Could I have some too?"

"Come," the old woman replied, leading the way toward the back.

The kitchen was even warmer then the main room.  A huge cast iron stove, with a kettle of real cocoa brewing on top.

"I've got a fresh batch for you Dearie," the old women said as she bent to open the oven.

Kara wasn't going to miss this chance.  The old witch wouldn't fit into the oven, but the cast iron would slow her down.  Kara shoved her forward.  The old hags head slammed into the edge of the stove with a crack, and she slumped to the floor.

Kara rushed back to the main room to find Will settled down in front of the fireplace.

"Look at this Sis," he said.  "The latest issue of Vermont Life has a review of this B&B, and a biography of our host.  She's a local heroine, loved by all."

Kara collapsed onto the floor.