went off in search of more bedding. After unsuccessfully
looking in a tiny linen cupboard, she decided to check Jed's
room. She carried her kerosene lamp in there to light the
way, feeling very much like an interloper, a trespasser, yet she
had no intention of freezing tonight, and she felt certain that
Jed would not want her to freeze either. His room, only
slightly larger than Leah's, was neat and orderly, with a four-
poster bed in the center made from hand-hewn pine logs.
Looking for You All My Life2~9
The bed was topped with a handsome patchwork quilt and
matching pillows made from a variety of plaid flannel fab-
rics in shades of mostly red and black-very woodsy and
cabinlike. It occurred to her, and not for the first time, that
Jed had good taste. But before she removed the bedding, she
was drawn to a massive dresser against the wall below a
window. It too seemed to be the handiwork of Jed White-
water. She ran her hand across the smooth top, admiring the
grain of the wood in the soft glow of kerosene light. A
number of framed pictures adorned the top of his dresser-
all in unusual handmade frames which she was sure had also
been made by him. There was an older photo of two people,
a handsome Native American couple dressed in clothing that
suggested the forties or maybe fifties. The woman was pretty
with her thick dark bangs curling over her forehead. And she
looked amazingly like Leah. The man, tall and dark,
appeared very serious and there was something about the
mouth that reminded her of Jed. No doubt these were his
parents. She set the picture down and picked up another.
This was more recent, a shot of Jed and Leah together, taken
at the Harvest Party that had been held in her own barn not
that long ago, although it seemed like a lifetime. Even this
morning seemed ages removed from her now. Somehow
be ing out here in Jed's cabin, cut off from the world in many
ways, made her feel as if she had traveled in time. She wasn't
sure if she'd gone forward or back, but it definitely felt like
an entirely different dimension. Something about being out
here made all the problems that had been plaguing her in
town seem small and insignificant. She sighed and set the
photo back down. Just as she did so, another caught her eye.
This one was in a lovely frame made from white birch bark
branches, and the face she found in it was her own. She
stared in wonder at this photo. She was wearing a white shirt
and khaki walking shorts, along with a healthy tan, and was
standing on top of what looked like a high ridge with moun-
tains off behind her. Apparently she hadn't been aware that
a photo was being shot, for her expression was completely 270Melody Carlson
candid. In her eyes was a faraway look, almost dreamy, but
with just a trace of sadness. Suddenly she remembered that
day vividly. Shortly after arriving in Pine Mountain, she,
Buckie, Kate, and Jed had taken a vigorous hike-it was