Where The Trees End

Paige opened her eyes to see the backyard blanketed with a fresh layer of snow. She shot out of bed and ran downstairs. Paige wasn't yet out of her pajamas while rushing to put her snow boots on. She felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. It was her father, Earl.

"Darling, you have to put some food in that tiny gut before you step one foot outside, "Earl said. He was stern with Paige. She normally listened. He didn't know why this time would be different. "Go get some eggs. They're sitting on the table."

Paige hugged Earl before entering the kitchen to sit and dish out her food. She ate quickly, not fast enough to alert her father that she was rushing, but slow enough to avoid choking. Paige rinsed her plate and went up to her room to bundle up for the snow. She rushed back downstairs and almost concluded her day four steps from the bottom when she lost her grip and slipped, catching the railing just in time to stop her from hitting the floor.

Paige pushed the front doors open and rushed into the yard.

Earl shoveled the heavy blanket of snow from the driveway slowly. His limp only allowed him to carry light piles of snow at a time. He peered over at Paige as she ran into the yard. She spotted Rudy, their Labrador, chasing a rabbit near the edge of the yard where the trees began.

"Rudy!" Paige yelled across the field. Rudy stopped abruptly to look for her, his eyes wandering briefly before charging towards his beloved owner. He charged at her too fast, knocking her to the ground. He licked Paige's face as she tried standing and controlling her laughter at the same time.

"Hey, Rudy. Come here, boy." Rudy ran toward Earl, who was much more prepared to handle an excited Labrador. "Paige, go have fun. I'll need your help in a few hours around the yard."

"Okay, Daddy. I'll stay close," Paige said.

Earl looked at her sternly. "Don't go near the trees. I can't lose you too."

"I won't, Daddy. I swear," Paige said.

Earl nodded and sent her off to play. Please don't do what your brother did, he thought.

Earl didn't talk to Paige much about her brother, Henry, dying the previous year. He told her that Henry fell while climbing a tree. He knew the truth would scare her as much as it would confuse her, so he thought to keep it that way. The woods on the edge of their property contained a secret that Earl didn't want Paige discovering at a young age. He'd eventually tell her at an older age so she wouldn't go wandering towards a secret that Earl couldn't hide forever.

Paige played in the snow, making a snow angel and considering building a snowman that would surpass the one from the previous year. Rudy ran close by and rushed towards any snowball that Paige would toss in his direction.

"Daddy, can you help me build a snowman?" Paige asked.

"In a little bit, darling. Let me finish the driveway first," Earl said.

"Can Mommy help me when she gets home?" Paige asked.

"She might not be home until late tonight," Earl said.

"That's okay. I'll start it for us!" Paige shrieked with excitement. She gathered a large mound together and rolled it into a large ball, reaching a height just below her shoulder. She stopped to catch her breath.

She looked over at Rudy. He sat still, gazing into the woods. He looked at her quickly and back into the woods as if he needed reassurance for what he saw. He growled softly. It intensified as he stood.

"What is it, Rudy?" Paige asked.

Paige walked away from the base of the snowman, towards Rudy. His stance was intimidating when paired with his growl. It was a side of Rudy Paige hadn't seen before. His attention didn't stray from the tree line. Rudy didn't look at Paige even when she approached him.