Read Online Redemption Mountain by Gerry FitzGerald - Free Book Online

Redemption Mountain.
    Her weeding done, Natty said a short prayer for her father and sister before the tears came, splattering on the cool, smooth marble. She wondered if her sadness over Annie’s death would ever leave her. A good sweaty run in the heat would take care of today. She thought about Cat sitting in the stream and wanted to get down to her, to hold her and splash around in the cold water and make her laugh.
    As Natty started back down, a white pickup sped up the road. Running into anyone on the mountain was rare. No one lived beyond the DeWitt farm, and there was something official-looking about the truck that made her curious.
    She looked up the road, where the truck had disappeared. A short run up the hill would give her a vantage point from which she could see long stretches of the road as it weaved its way up the mountain. Adopting an innocent jogger’s pace, Natty made her way up to investigate. As the south side of the mountain came into view, she was surprised to see two white pickup trucks, one parked at the side of the road, the other farther up the mountain. She was even more surprised to see several men who obviously were not on the mountain to enjoy the scenery. Two stood by the first white pickup, talking and occasionally pointing out some spot higher up the mountain. Another peered through an instrument mounted on a tripod. Next to him, an assistant stood with a black walkie-talkie and a clipboard. All of the men wore hard hats, blue jeans, and construction boots.
    When they saw Natty approaching, one of the workers nodded at her. His partner stopped talking and turned to watch as she jogged toward them. Natty slowed to a walk, pretending to catch her breath.
    â€œHey, how you boys doin’ today? Hot enough for ya?” Natty got no reply beyond a half smile from the man who held a walkie-talkie. “Don’t see too many people up here, let alone on a Sunday, and working to boot.” Still no response. As Natty came even with the men, she stopped and wiped her forehead with the bottom of her shirt, exposing her thin waist. Behind the men, Natty saw the white pickup truck, a late-model Dodge with an extended cab. On the side of the door, a company logo was painted in dark green. It read, SOUTHERN STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS , and, under it, HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA.
    She didn’t recognize the men, and it was a good bet they weren’t from McDowell County. It was clear that they weren’t going to volunteer any information. “So,” Natty said, as she looked around. “What are you all doin’ up here?”
    The man in charge avoided her eyes. After an awkward few seconds, the other man came to his aid. “We’re just doing a little surveying, ma’am. Couple of days of readings, and we’ll be done.”
    â€œIt’s for the road project.” The supervisor had a deep, authoritative voice. “There’s some federal money available for rebuilding mountain roads, and this one may qualify.” He took off his hard hat and headed for the door of the truck. It was obvious that the conversation was over.
    Natty felt like she’d been dismissed, and her anger started to grow. “Well, sure, that makes sense. A new road.” She talked louder as the men walked away from her. “Could sure use a new road up here, what with all the traffic runnin’ up and down Redemption Mountain. Like a damn freeway up here.” Both men climbed into the truck now, and she raised her voice further. “What we really need up here is a couple of stoplights and maybe a McDonald’s.” Her sarcasm was lost in the roar of the big truck as it left Natty standing in a cloud of hot dust. She watched it drive up the road. “ Road project —what a bunch of bullshit,” Natty said to herself as the truck pulled away. She turned and began her run down the mountain, curious to see if Bud and Pete knew what was going