Along Came Pontus

Forgive the generic Minds banner, it's literally all it would let me upload with.

Note: I tried to upload this as a PDF, I had it typeset and all, but Minds didn't like it. If there are any formatting errors then it may be an issue from Copying and pasting chapter by chapter. If there is a number followed by all caps, it's a page header that I missed. Hopefully the whole chapters copied. The PDF didn't copy and paste correctly, hopefully I caught everything.

This is my entry to @danielandangel 's month long #shortstorycontest I hope you enjoy it. 

1 The Fall of Man

 Along came Pontus, from up atop Autumn Abbey Hill, down to the streets where many of his customers lived. He wasn’t there for his usual business, no, his ladies did that for him. Today he’s there to collect. 

The door rapped as it met his angry fist, “Open up Ron!”

Ron quickly came to the door, opened it just enough for himself to slip through, and then promptly shut it, “Listen, I’ll get you your money. Business has been slow, just give me time.” 

“I don’t have time and I don’t care about your business…” 

Pontus tilted his head to the side as he was interrupted by Ron, “My wife is in there, we can do this at my shop tomorrow in the morning, we’ll work something out then.” 

“Are you done talking?” Ron nodded and Pontus put a hand on his shoulder, “We’re not going to meet at the shop in the morning - because you won’t have a shop in the morning.” Pontus squeezed Ron’s shoulder to stop him from talking before the words could find their way out, “My boys are down there taking what ever you have as payment and extra for the trouble. If they don’t find enough then they’ll show up here and we’re going to take your house. Now sit quietly and we’ll wait; unless you can tell me where my money is before that happens.” 

“No no no please, the shop, my house, my wife - they are my life. You’re going to take my life from me, I have some valuable things my grandparents passed down.” 

“I don’t give a shit about your grandparents, I don’t give a shit about your stupid wife, I didn’t come here for family memories, I came here for my money. Unless it’s money, I want you to keep your mouth shut because you’re annoying me.” 

Ron’s wife called down from the window above, “Ron! What’s going on down there” 

Pontus responded for him, “Your husband is a thief, he slept with one of my girls and didn’t pay, now I’m here to collect.” The window slammed shut, Pontus threw Ron inside and shut the door behind him, “There Ron, now you have someone to talk to.” 

Pontus sat on the stoop, lit a cigarette, and listened to Ron’s valuable family heirlooms get smashed, followed by crying, yelling, and begging. He watched the cigarette burn down to the butt, and then came his men. The shop didn’t have what Pontus was looking for so he went into the house, “Hop and Gerald you look for money. Fred and Dave, throw the people out.”

Pontus’ men had done this before. They were quick, furniture tossed to the side, anywhere things could be hidden were smashed, Ron was dragged out first, then his wife. Pontus noticed something was off, “Why isn’t she screaming?” 

“She’s dead sir, we found her like this.” 

“Toss her on the curb and let Ron deal with it.” 

The house was trashed, then cleaned, and by morning there was no sign of altercation or previous residence. Ron took off to the hills, Pontus returned atop his, but in all of this, something was forgotten. Who was it? The son, who watched as his father cowered away. The son who was left with nothing but the body of a dead mother

2 Time to come 

Ron wandered the wilderness, intent on never returning to Autumn Abbey Hill. All Ron had now was time. Time to grow old and think about what went wrong. He knew the end would come, it was just a matter of figuring out what to do until then. Though time was all Ron had, none of it was spent thinking of what he left behind. 

Night had passed over Autumn Abbey Hill with silence except for the long cries that rang through its empty alleys, and the morning was cloudy as the crying boy dragged his mother through the streets. Intent on burying her, but a young boy can’t handle such weight on his own, and the folk of town passed him with nothing but a cruel stare in his direction for being in their way. All except a kind old man who was kept up by the cries; finally spotting its source. An old man, who had nothing left but time, helped the boy carry his mother, bury her, and gave him a place to cry. 

At the same time Ron found a kind old couple of his own to take him in, all they saw was a man at the end of his road. A man they thought they sympathized with. It began to rain, in a house where there is only time to think, Ron still couldn’t figure out how his lies caught up to him. He had gotten away with it for so long that it didn’t seem possible. The truth was that he was even lying to himself. His business wasn’t failing, it was doing as well as ever - he just spent his money as it came in. His marriage wasn’t failing, he was failing his marriage; but the self is the last one to be blamed. 

In Ron’s eyes, he was the victim. The next morning the old couple shared breakfast in exchange for some company that rarely came their way, the old woman said, “What brings you all the way out here?” 

“I’m trying to start fresh I suppose.” Ron had all night to twist reality, “I was in a bad relationship and the best thing for me to do was to go someplace new to start over.” 

The old man could relate, “I’ve seen it happen with my brother, he just couldn’t find himself a good woman. Always the layabout that does nothing but let him do the work.” 

“Yes, I had this shop, it was what put food on our table and my wife just refused to do her part. We had fight after fight over the shop failing, but who went in day after day? Just me. Well it finally failed, it’s hard enough to build yourself up from the bottom, no way I can do it for two.” 

The old couple held each other, “Well, not everybody can be as lucky as us.”

Ron’s stomach turned from the blend of the couples whiskey, almost as old as they were, and the sight of two people who genuinely loved each other. 

The son, sitting in the cellar of his kind old man, who had introduced himself as Henry, was having a drink of his own. Not with permission, mind you, Henry was a stern man, and the boy would soon find out that he wasn’t getting away with the things he could under his old parents. Henry came down into the cellar, looking for the boy and when Henry spotted him the boy quickly became introduced to the belt. 

Henry sat the boy down after giving him just enough of strike to let him know he’s serious, “Where’s your father?” 

The boy stared menacingly at the old face, “I don’t have a father.” 

“That woman was all you got?” they stared at each other, “Well I’m not letting a little thief run loose on the streets of this fine town. You can have my son’s old room, but if I catch you down here you’re going to regret it.” Henry poured two glasses and drank them both, “What’s your name?”

 “Cole”

“Well, Cole, go upstairs and to the left, clean that room and go cry like a normal kid does when their mom dies. You don’t fix these things by drinking it away.” 

Henry sat alone in the cellar and thought about what a mess he had gotten himself into now. He worked his whole life, raised three children, lost his wife the winter before, and now he has to spend the later years of his life raising a kid whose father couldn’t do the job right. It never occurred to Henry that it wasn’t his problem, or that the boy wasn’t worth saving. Cole felt about as happy as Henry did about the whole situation, but in reality he was lucky to have someone who cared enough to discipline him, and not just set him loose on Autumn Abbey Hill.

3 Grief and Repentance 

Cole didn’t know how to process grief at his age. He cried until it bored him to do so, he spent more time trying to imitate Henry’s face in his reflection on the window. What troubled him most was the fear of having a parent who will watch over him. Cole missed the old life that had been taken from him more than anything else, a life where nobody saw him. He could get into what ever trouble he wanted, then go home and listen to his parents either arguing or making up for their arguments. His old room, a collection of things he stole. The few moments Cole and his father, Ron, spent together were ones that they connected on levels they didn’t understand. After all, a cheat is not so different from a thief, though neither knew the truth about the other, and both were great at keeping secrets from mom. 

Cole began to cry again when he realized his next few years, an eternity to a child, would be spent with the strict discipline of Henry. Of all the things Henry might be able to fix about Cole, he couldn’t fix what his father had left behind; a reputation. Word got around town fast, especially as Pontus bragged about it. 

Henry’s door would be knocked on three times, informing him of that bad kid up in his window, one said, “Leave him on the streets.” A second, “Put him in the orphanage.” and the third, “Sell him to Pontus.” All of them got nothing but a scowl from Henry. Everyone knew Henry had a reputation as a good man, and his three kids came knocking so their reputation wouldn’t be tarnished by their new brother. Henry made dinner and some extra for Cole, both stared at each other the whole meal, trying to figure the other out while not giving anything away about themselves. This went on until their plates were emptied, then the only words exchanged were Henry’s, “Go to bed.” 

Followed by Cole’s, “Goodnight.” 

Henry slipped a paper into Cole’s hand before they went their separate ways, a list of chores around the house for the next day with “DON’T STEAL” on the bottom.

For Ron on the other hand, bed time was the first in a while with no woman to share it with. The first time he actually realized that his old life was gone. How would Ron handle it? The same way he seems to deal with all of his problems. He ran from it. Ron went barging out the old couples house without a word. Maybe if he was in the wilderness it wouldn’t be so quiet that he could hear his own conscience. But that night was like many after the rain, still and silent. 

Ron told himself, “I’m the victim in all of this. Anytime I needed help at the shop she wasn’t there. How many times did I come home from work to a dirty house? She did nothing for me and it drove me to do what I did.” 

If Ron could talk over the voice in his head, then fine. There’s one thing that noise can’t silence, however, something he couldn’t out run, and that’s the image of his dead wife. How when she’d get up in the morning, next to Ron who wasn’t there when she went to bed. She’d wipe the dry stuff from her eyes left over from crying, so she wouldn’t trouble Ron with her little worries as he went to work. When Ron got home she was always there, but when she got home where was Ron? With one of Pontus’ girls. 

It finally occurred to Ron that this could all have been his fault. He couldn’t run any longer, guilt was too heavy. He hated himself for what happened. It was him who drove his wife to suicide. It was him who ruined the shop and lost their house. 

Now that he saw the truth he could think of what to do about it. What’s been done is done, and now all he has is time and self hatred. Could it be enough to keep the past mistakes from repeating themselves? Only time will tell. He could try to find love, but then what happens when a momentary urge comes to Ron and even the slightest of willpower isn’t there for it? Will Ron have the strength to choose love over some thing that can turn him on for a minute or two? Only time will tell. Maybe Ron can finally get himself together. Maybe he can hold himself accountable now that he knows the consequences of his actions. 

Ron’s new outlook on life got him up and walking. He found the road and slept with his thoughts until sunrise. In all of this maybe he did learn his lesson, but something was still being forgotten, and that’s Cole.

4 The End of Spring 

A few summers had passed and all of them Cole spent with Henry; learning the trades that it took the old man a lifetime to perfect. The little thief had grown through the past years into a young man who knew the value of honesty and hard work. The reward of a sore body hitting the bed and quickly falling asleep to become sore the next day. That’s how summers were for Henry and Cole. A reminder of those lessons as they worked for everyone who needed them, helping Cole grow out of his old ways. But there was one thing he knew too well, that wasn’t easily grown out of. 

Cole woke up one morning to find old Henry had finally slept in for once. With a smirk on his face he called up, “Dad, you can sleep in the winter, it’s the flowers that are falling. When the leaves go - then you can rest.” 

All Cole heard was coughing from upstairs, he ran to the right and into Henry’s room. Henry was sitting up with blood coming out of his mouth, wheezing and restless. He looked over to Cole and whispered, “I told you not to come into my room.” 

Cole walked to the bed side, “You need help dad.”

 “You can call me sir.” he coughed, “It’s working hours.”

“No, I’m going to get you help.” 

“I don’t need help.” 

“You’re pale and coughing blood! I’m going to get you someone.”

Henry grabbed Cole by the arm, “The business is yours now.”

“No…” Cole realized that Henry was too far gone, “Nobody is going to hire me without you.”

“Well I guess they’ll have to finally look passed your father and see you for what you are.” 

Cole wanted to beg Henry to stay, but Henry waved his hand and shook his head, telling Cole to leave him be. Cole, not intent on watching as his new father, who had taught him what a real parent is supposed to be, who is the only person on Autumn Abbey Hill who would give the boy a chance, died. Cole walked down the stairs and onto the curb. He saw everyone stare at him, that same upset boy they walked passed as he dragged his mother through the streets. The no good thief of a son of a lousy cheater. Without Henry around, Cole would have been better off as the kid nobody saw, because there was no way Cole would be seen for the man he’s become. When Ron ran out and couldn’t face his own problems, he left them behind with his reputation for his son to carry. It wasn’t fair, but that’s Cole’s life. 

Cole walked back inside to find Henry dead, now the boy was strong enough to carry his dead parent on his own. Outside of town, near where the man on his shoulder helped him bury his mother. Cole was done by noon. He sat the rest of the day and thought about the way his life would have been without that stern old man to correct him, and he knew that his life was far better off with Henry than with his old parents. As much as it stung his heart to admit that to himself.

5 As Hard as it Might Be 

The flowering trees of spring sparkled in Ron’s eyes. In the years that Cole grew with Henry, Ron found himself a place to live, a field of his own to toil, and lessons of his own he learned. Ron relished each first morning of spring. Another year he had gone without repeating his past mistakes. In fact, he lived next to a pretty woman, single no less, but Ron wasn’t the kind of man that could trust himself with a woman. But the beauty of flowers in Ron’s eyes weren’t the only thing that sparkled that morning, no, Ron himself glistened in the woman’s eyes, who finally took her chance to make a move on him. 

Sympathy is a powerful thing, for Ron had told nobody of his past life. All she saw was a poor old man who worked the fields alone. Well, she worked her fields alone, and there was no reason they shouldn’t plow together. Ron was drenched in sweat from the heat of the dying winter, but that wasn’t enough to keep the sympathetic neighbor away. Ron was quick to fall for her as well, supposed those old lessons weren’t so strong as he thought. 

It could work out, as long as Ron could keep his wits about him and not fall for the next beauty that comes his way. Then, will his real trial begin, for marriage was soon to come, and we all know how good Ron was at that. The next morning, they would wake up in the same bed. For her she had finally found the man of her dreams, but for Ron it was the first morning in a while where he woke up next to a toy. 

As Ron woke up sharing his bed, Cole woke up alone. Rain fell on Autumn Abbey Hill, and Cole wouldn’t only have his house to himself, but the streets as well. Cole wandered alone with his thoughts, unconcerned about the rain, only to get away from the house that he never knew without Henry. He kept his head hung and stared at the water rushing down the gutter. He probably knew his way around town based on the gutters better than street names. The path he took his mother on will always be burned into his mind, and he knew where it ended. 

Cole looked up at the house of his childhood, how it blended perfectly with the houses connected to it on either side. Insignificant for anyone but Cole. The window above the sidewalk that always had the light on so he could find his way home after dark. The memories there were like seeing into another persons life. Cole expected to feel differently, or find some sort of closure by coming here. He felt nothing, he didn’t even miss his mother anymore, he realized just how little a part of his life she had been. The most time she ever spent with Cole was when she was getting dragged through the curb. The parent that had the most impact on Cole was Ron, every day of Cole’s life he never got treated like a stranger, because everybody knew what happened and they all stayed clear. Everybody but Henry, Cole’s real father, for all he cared. 

That’s when Cole started to mourn, for the first time in his life he actually missed someone who was dead. He always wondered why he felt so numb to the loss of his parents, now he knew that there wasn’t much for him to miss. 

Cole started to run, just like Ron did when a problem came along. Cole ran through the hills outside of town and didn’t stop until he could see the whole of Autumn Abbey Hill. Each street stacked on top of the previous until the very top, where people like Pontus lived. Cole had been to every street and every house to help with whatever Henry was hired to do. He couldn’t understand why nobody saw him the same as they saw Henry, he knew that if he just kept running then another town would never know who he was and he could finally be a stranger. The thought stayed in Cole’s mind for a long time, long enough for the sun to come out and dry him from the rain. Long enough for Cole to see that all of the houses on that hill might fall apart if he wasn’t there to fix things and no Henry to do it in his place. Henry’s other children were useless with their hands. Cole could leave and let that place that had nothing but bad memories fall apart without him, but that was something Ron would do, it’s what Ron almost did to Cole had Henry not been there to fix things. 

And so, Cole took the muddy path back into town. He was going to face his problems, he was going to figure it out for himself, sometimes other people need you when they don’t want you. Just like Henry was needed when Cole didn’t want him. That doesn’t always mean you abandon them. Cole knew that life was hard, it would be hard in Autumn Abbey Hill, it would be hard wherever else he might go. He chose the place that needed him.

6 and it Sure got Hard 

With all of the lessons learned so far, let’s see if they hold true. Ron was not where we left him, he was in the woods again surrounded by the fiery reds and yellows of autumn. Not on the run this time, no, he had managed to remain faithful to that woman throughout the summer and he was just out hunting for her. Though it got late and the poor old man was lost. Ah, but luck hadn’t forgotten Ron, a man who lived deep in the woods found him. They got along well enough, so the man of the woods took Ron to his home to spend the night. The woodsman had an aging wife and two daughters, the oldest was just around the age to get married, and the lucky girl already had a fiancé. 

They sat at the dinner table, where the older daughter was interested in Ron’s stories, “I’m a city boy at heart, I never lived in the wild until I got chased out of town, almost ten years ago now.” 

The young girl asked, “How did you do it? It takes time to build up those skills.” 

“Kind people like you have been there to teach me and give me a place to stay all these years. It seems things just work out for me.” 

He told them about the old couple and his new farm, how he just got married himself, he even came up with a few sweet words about love. Shortly after dinner the woodsman showed Ron to his room, and Ron kept himself loyal to his new wife, each time he’d eye one of the women in the house - the image of his dead wife popped into his head. 

Ron kept himself together until he got into his room, then the older daughter came in, looking for a few more tips on her new marriage. Ron had a thing or two to say, that he never seemed to run out of. He even ended the evening with a demonstration, he felt no shame until the next morning when he rolled over and saw the young girl at his side. Before she woke up he was on his way, and suddenly the way home was easy to find. 

As Ron was back on his path, Cole seemed to finally have found his. The summer started going well for Cole once people realized that they needed the poor boy’s help whether they liked it or not. Cole had enough work to feel purpose again, in fact, he had never been so happy in his life. Money was all his and the work was all his as well, everybody had to talk to Cole, and a few of them were starting to think that maybe he’s grown into a good man after all, old Henry really could fix anything. 

Cole sat on a rooftop when the first cold breeze of fall blew through Autumn Abbey Hill, and it occurred to him that pretty soon business would slow down. Fortunately, all that extra money that normally went to Henry was just going into savings for winter, this left Cole with a weird feeling: he wouldn’t have anything to do again. In this thought, however, Cole was mislead, he would have plenty to do this winter. Down on the street, a girl caught Cole’s eye. Not in the way that they catch Ron’s eye either. Cole knew this girl from her parents that he did business with, she wasn’t just any girl. 

Not the usual type that guys go for, she had no outstanding features, but what made her glow in the eyes of Cole came from her nature. Time seemed to slow down around her, the leaves floated courteously by to avoid bothering her. The same breeze that carried the leaves had bumped into her gown and delicately placed it back where it had found it as she bought a flower at the cart on the side of the square. After this moment in Cole’s eye she disappeared, but he knew exactly where she was going and what she would do with that flower. Cole had seen her do in every stage of this trip on other days as he worked, she would carry the flower out of town, just outside where the farms stop harvesting. Then she would find the perfect plot of ground along a stream to replant the flower near her other flowers. 

Cole was infatuated by her care for the smallest creations. He would have all winter to think about her and what he might do to get her. There wouldn’t be much work to distract Cole from these thoughts, but after all, how much money does a young man on his own need to get through the winter? 

Before we get into Cole’s love, let’s finish with Ron. By winter’s end, the older daughter of that man of the woods was starting to show that she was pregnant, seemingly impossible given she had just gotten married. At first people suspected that passion called early for this young couple, but when that man she married finally realized, babies don’t come that quick, he started asking questions. Word got out, Ron’s house was found, and let’s just say his new wife wasn’t as timid as the old one, neither was the man of the woods, the new husband, or the new bride for that matter.

When they were done with Ron’s mangled old body, life was long gone from it. Cole wouldn’t be the only child left without Ron in their life, and maybe it was better that way. Too bad Cole wasn’t there to see this hard lesson.

7 Flowers 

Cole woke up on the first day of spring. Like so many of us, no matter how much extra he saved for winter, he managed to find a way to spend it all. This destroyed all of the lovely plans he had thought up for that gentle maiden that frequented the flower shops. Cole remembered some wisdom passed down by Henry, “No woman wants to be with a man who can’t take care of himself.” 

So Cole went back to work, his first job was to build himself a sign so all of those people who knew Henry was gone would remember there’s still a fixer in town. He walked through the streets with his tools handy, asking anybody - who wasn’t afraid to be seen with the son of Ron - if they needed help. There was a particular house that Cole set his eyes on, the home of the flowery maiden, where Cole would insist that he help her father with something. The man was hesitant at first, but eventually he caved and asked that the boy uproot a tree in the backyard. Then fix a few squeaky doors. And, while he was at it, he might as well go out and get some of the groceries while the man was busy doing what ever it was he did for a living. While at the house, there were a few moments where the girl made eye contact with Cole in passing, and that was enough to make the day feel like a success. 

That day was enough to get Cole through the next week or so, but then he felt the need to try and win her heart for real, not just plotting how to be near her. The boy ate very little for a few days to save money and he made sure to find work, on days where nobody needed a hand he went out to the farms outside the village and lent a hand there. He got himself a nice enough amount of money to ensure a good time and set out to the house of the glowing girl which caught his eye. His gentle hand tapped at the door and the father came quick, “I don’t need your help with anything today.” 

Cole had overheard the girls name while helping the flower shop with some issues getting water to their garden, “Is Ella home? I’d like to take her out.” 

Ella’s father shut the door. Cole was confused, he had been treated with so much respect lately that he wasn’t sure why someone would do that, though under most circumstances he’d know why. Cole tapped at the door again, “Sir, I saved up some money…” 

“Well I’m sure Pontus has some girls that would like your money.” 

The door shut again. This time Cole felt like a statue of shame, he didn’t know why he felt shame, maybe it was for asking, but it would dwell deep within the boy. Normally his sore body had no trouble sleeping, but once again he was kept up by thoughts of the past. All of the times people stared at him and muttered amongst themselves. The people who, to this day, live with a leaky roof because they don’t want that boy in their house. The boy who’s father is a cheater, ran out on him, and left his mother dead, as if that had anything to do with a child too young to know grief.

8 for Ella 

While the boy was recovering from the pain of rejection, without even a chance to prove himself, he saw that girl. She seemed to be just as miserable, but Cole couldn’t understand why. Curiosity overcame the fear to approach, and Cole simply asked, “What’s wrong? You’re usually the happiest person in town.” 

Ella was taken aback by the question, she was used to being alone to deal with her sorrow, “I have this spot where I plant my flowers in the woods, it’s stupid, but one of the farmers took his flock there to drink from the stream. They ate all of my plants.” 

This hurt Cole more than she knew. Cole loved that spot, to him it was a symbol of the kindness some people are capable of. Cole looked around himself, there were flowers everywhere, it gave him an idea. Trying to be coy, he said, “I think I know the spot you’re talking about. Let me see if there’s something I can do about it.” 

Ella’s glow came right back, “Are you sure? It would be amazing if you could.” 

“Well, I fix things almost every day. I’m sure it won’t be too hard to fix that spot up.”

“I can’t pay you for it, my dad won’t let me get a job.” 

“Don’t worry about it, I have a little extra saved. Just meet me here tomorrow so you can pick out which flowers you want and where they’ll go.” 

She gave Cole a hug, he couldn’t remember when the last time came along that someone hugged him. Henry wasn’t the hugging type, after all. It nearly threw off Cole’s whole plan. First Cole was distracted by the way her father had treated him, now he needed to process what ever it was he was feeling. Some of the older people of Autumn Abbey Hill saw what happened as well, and sweet Ella hugging the son of Ron wasn’t something they could keep quiet about. Fortunately for Cole, the word didn’t spread too fast. 

Armed with his savings and a wheelbarrow, Cole took Ella to the market. Hauling plants out of town couldn’t be the hardest thing the boy ever did, especially with such radiant beauty to guide him. The girl was so mesmerized by the dream of her garden and the boy so mesmerized by the girl, that neither of them noticed the dirty looks given by their neighbors. They hurried to the stream as soon as the plants were picked and got to work. With two more trips, the amount Cole set aside for this long awaited date was gone, and the two of them relished in the small realm of bliss they had created together. 

It wasn’t long before her hand found his and her tired head found his strong shoulder. The two of them smelled pretty foul, they were covered in dirt, but they both couldn’t have wished for a better evening than to be tired with someone that shared this beautiful place they built together.

The sunset light turned the stream to gold and heightened the colors of the flowers along with the plants of nature in such a way that they didn’t want to leave, but both of them knew that it was unwise to keep a father’s daughter out too late. The two of them took their time pushing the wheelbarrow back to town, but unfortunately, despite it’s slow spread, the word still got around.

9 Flowers into Seeds 

Ella’s father stood at the door when the two of them came around, each nosy neighbor peaked through their window. He was quick to command, “Ella, get inside! You’ll have nothing to do with that boy!” 

She talked back, “He was just helping me fix something.” 

The angry father’s eye turned to Cole, “She better be in the same condition you found her.” 

Cole was still living in the moment of innocence back at the garden, “What condition?” 

“Don’t play with me boy, everybody knows how your dad couldn’t control his urges.” 

“In all the time I lived with Henry, I don’t think he so much as glanced at a woman.” 

“You know who I’m talking about. Ron slept with every whore in town and we all know better than to let you near nice ladies like my daughter.” 

A little bit of peace couldn’t separate itself from Cole, these things that would justifiably anger him were kept calm by Ella’s gaze from the window above. Cole simply let out the culmination  of all the thought that had occupied him over the winter, “I don’t know my father as well as everyone else seems to. What I do know is how that man’s actions have impacted me all these years since he left. I know better than anybody in this town - the damage that an unfaithful man can cause. It’s because of this, that I want nothing more than to honor your daughter. I have seen how she takes care of things most people overlook: I cherish that about her. We spent today rebuilding a garden she’s been working on for a few years with what ever she could get her hands on. She’s a special person.”

Cole said all that he had to say, and with that nobody had a response. The boy walked alone to his house so he could get back to work in the morning. Though that morning was not typical for him. When Cole opened his door to greet the day he saw Ella instead, just as Cole had seen the loving and nurturing heart of Ella, so she saw his dedication and ability. Cole opened her parents minds and Ella did the rest. The two would continue to build up the garden together as Cole worked through the spring and into the summer; their love grew fast. They were married at the first leaves fall and winter was the best Cole ever had, as his new found father got the boy a job that would be consistent enough to build a family off of. By the following spring; Ella was starting to show signs that a child would be coming.

10 A Past Diminished

Word spread fast of the man named Cole: No longer known as the son of Ron - to all but one that is. Pontus heard that the boy was finally doing well for himself, not one too shy to dig up old debts, it seemed that Pontus had a few lessons to learn himself. Nobody knew the mind of a man better than Pontus. He had spent his life, a much longer life than when we first met him, dedicated to the craft of bringing men to their knees, and sometimes to their backs. That old fool named Ron had built up such a debt to Pontus that even his house hadn’t made enough money to cover it. That debt lasted longer than the color in Pontus’ hair and it bothered him more than the achy bones he developed in all this time. He wasn’t going to charge the son for the fathers debts, at least not yet. Pontus had learned over the years that the sins of the son are not far from those of the father, the difference being that Cole was good for the money. 

Never the less, a mind game is rarely one someone gets too old for, so Pontus devised a plan. He had hired Cole in the past, there aren’t any other fixers in town after all, and Pontus would hire him again. He found something for Cole to do all day, then sent the man out to a spot in the woods for the night. Ella understood that Cole was going to work hard to make sure their child has a fair amount of money when it grows into an adult, and the man wouldn’t turn down any work that didn’t kill him. Cole was tasked with clearing a section of the woods so that Pontus could build a nice farm to retire on some day soon. Cole even added that he would build the foundation and a small shack if Pontus was willing to pay a little extra, this was something Pontus saw as an investment, because he knew that Cole could produce more money in time. In Cole’s eyes, what ever got Pontus out of the town was well worth the effort - especially with the child on the way. 

But the job grew long, and days turned to weeks. Pontus knew that a young man, newly married, had certain needs that could be exploited. Time only made those needs stronger, and for Cole it was true. Halfway through the first week all he could think of was Ella, with time those thoughts began to burn. Pontus could see from the top of Autumn Abbey Hill, each day he checked and eventually the time came where Cole would soon return, so Pontus sent out his girls. 

Cole set out first thing in the morning, he wouldn’t get back to town until dark - as Pontus had intended. Halfway down the road, the girls sent by Pontus were singing. They dressed in a way that a man couldn’t ignore. All the rest of the day, they would accompany Cole. They told him all of the things they had done with men before, Cole didn’t hear it, he was too distracted by the sight of them. Though, all Cole did was keep walking, except for a look here and there. With these distractions, Cole lost sight of the road, and for a brief time needed to stop and find the road again. Pontus’ girls took the time to try and work, but Cole wouldn’t have it, in fact, Cole became angry with them, “I expected money from Pontus, does he expect me to accept this as payment?” Pontus’ girls tried to massage Cole to loosen him up, but again he wouldn’t have it. He knew that nothing from Pontus was free, and he wouldn’t fall for it. Cole even stole a line he learned from Pontus years ago, “I don’t care about what you can do or why he sent you, I just want my money. If you have something to say, and it’s not money, then I don’t want to hear it.” 

It worked just as well on those girls as it did on anybody Pontus used it on. They kept bothering Cole until he finally found the road again, which only made Cole angrier, the girls had wasted time he could be at home with Ella. Cole’s thoughts started to wander as he walked the road, keeping a safe distance from the temptresses who followed: If a job takes him away from his family for this long again, it’s not worth it. Family keeps a man strong, Cole saw that this whole thing was intended to weaken him, and on a lesser man it might have worked. 

Cole started to run after seeing the sun set behind Autumn Abbey Hill, he resisted temptation easily, all this day left him with was anger and a further desire to be home with his wife. There was one thing Pontus hadn’t counted on, it may be true that the sins of the son aren’t far from those of the father, but Ron wasn’t Cole’s father. Sure, Cole was related to Ron, but it was Henry that raised the boy into a man. Henry was ill tempered and didn’t know when to stop drinking on occasion, but being lustful was long in Henry’s past by the time Cole came along. 

The girls returned to Pontus, and Cole walked the streets to his home. They never felt so long. Cole felt a lot of things after the day he had, but most of all, he was excited to be with Ella. After walking what felt like the longest stretch of his journey, Cole embraced Ella and finally found comfort. As they held each other after their long separation, it occurred to Cole just how easy it was to fight off Pontus’ tricks, and any respect left in him for Ron was finally diminished. The void was swiftly filled by excitement, “Ella, I thought of you almost every day that I was gone. Pontus sent some of his whores after me when I was on my way home, I told them no!” 

Ella wasn’t sure why Cole was telling her this, “I sure hope you told them no.” 

“My dad couldn’t, but I’ve finally proven that I’m not the man he was.” 

Ella finally understood what it meant to Cole. She laughed at him, but knew that this was a cloud that hung over her husband all his life, and he finally knew it wasn’t true. Of course, Ella knew that the suspicions of Cole were wrong since the day they rebuilt that garden, but if he could finally see it too, then it made her that much happier. Of course, that night they did what had been on both their minds for a while now. They fell asleep easily with their love at their side, but the morning would bring its own trouble.

11 Along Came Pontus 

Pontus came down from atop the hill, he wasn’t coming to pay Cole, he decided he was going to get that money Ron owed him regardless if Cole bought his services or not. It didn’t bother Pontus when Cole was just getting by, but now that Cole could afford it - Pontus wanted his cut. Pontus heard that Cole was a good man, so he only brought two of his men with him; as he expected Cole to be weak. 

When Cole stepped outside to start working, Pontus was sitting on the stoop with a cigarette in his mouth. Pontus motioned for Cole to sit, Cole stayed standing and said the first word, “Did you come to pay me?”

Pontus, bold and impatient, “No, I came for the money you owe me.”

Everyone around turned their head and looked at the moment they had been expecting all these years, Cole announced to Pontus, “No. You sent your girls out to me but I turned them away. You owe me.” 

Pontus sighed and his men knew to grab Cole, one thing he hadn’t accounted for is the strength built up in a man who has spent his life working every day possible; not hurting was the fact that Cole was well fed. He threw the two men to the ground and ripped that cigarette out of Pontus’ hand. Pontus was unshaken, all these years of being untouchable made him forget the dangers of threatening a man, “Listen boy, your dad owed me money. That shitty house and your mom’s body weren’t enough to make up for it.” 

Cole put his hand on Pontus’ shoulder, “You’re going to bring this up right now? I don’t owe you a damn thing, you want Ron’s money then you go find Ron.” Pontus started to talk, but Cole’s rough hand nearly crushed his shoulder, “My wife is inside that house and she has a kid on the way. That money isn’t for me Pontus, you try robbing me then maybe I’ll work something out with you, you’re trying to take money from my family. I want you to think about what ever it is you have to say.” 

Pontus wasn’t one to be pushed around. He had been the one you go to for pushing people around for years, despite him getting soft with age, he could still take most men in Autumn Abbey Hill. From his view he liked his odds, “I don’t care about your stupid wife, I didn’t come here for family memories. I’m here for my money.” 

Cole had heard words like that before and he knew what was next, it didn’t bother Cole one bit, in fact he had been waiting for the chance for years. Pontus knew the look in Cole’s eyes - he grabbed Cole by the shirt and tried to pull him to the ground. Cole’s feet moved a little, but Pontus crumbled under the first strike from Cole’s fist. The two men Pontus brought with him tried to attack Cole again, but Cole wasn’t going to go down easily. In fact, Cole was frustrated with how easily Pontus fell and taking a few punches only felt right to him. Once Cole got the two goons off him, he saw Pontus starting to get up, at first Cole thought to kill Pontus, but that wouldn’t get him or his family what they needed. So Cole stood Pontus up and kept a firm grip on him, making it clear that if the backup came near, at the very least, Pontus wouldn’t be there to finish it. It occurred to Cole that when Henry caught him in the cellar, the lashing could have been far more severe, but Henry only dished out enough to let the boy know he was serious. Cole held Pontus by the back of the neck and pressed hard with his hand to make Pontus squirm, “You owe me now, are you going to pay for the work I did?” 

Pontus cursed and said, “You’ll cave eventually, you might be stronger than me but I’ll own you.” 

Cole let go of Pontus, “If I see you or anybody associated with you on this street then I’ll drag them out of town myself. I’m not some lonely boy anymore, and I know how to bury a body. I don’t want to see you unless it’s my pay.” Cole knew this wasn’t the last he’d see of old Pontus, who would keep coming around. It seems that Ron’s problems were never going to get away from Cole. This bothered him more than anything, he looked to all of the neighbors that stared at and judged him all his life, he called out, “I am my own man! I’m not Ron, I’m not in Pontus’ debt! I have a family and I do honest work.” Cole was almost finished, but then he added, “If anybody wants anything from me, you’re paying upfront now.”

Cole watched Pontus walk away, he stayed at home with Ella in case they came back, but Pontus never did. The old man wasn’t what he used to be, death came shortly after he made it back up the hill. Some new guy took over Pontus’ trade, but they kept clear of Cole most of the time. Regardless, after a while, Cole decided the money was never coming and all that ever would come was trouble. So he took Ella out to the farm he built for Pontus. Autumn Abbey Hill slowly got worse without Cole so easy to get to, it never occurred to the people that maybe they shouldn’t have been so hard on the boy and so tolerant of Pontus. In time the town became what it should have long ago - without men like Henry and Cole to keep things going. The smart ones left while the rest slowly turned to Pontus’ successor. Some people never learn.