The Cogan Legend by R. E. Miller

 They broke quickly when they saw the girls.
    â€œWell, Father, this is how we’re going.  Do you approve?”
    â€œYou wore the outfits from Gratztown, and you feel warm?”
    â€œYes, I do,” said Ann.
    â€œAnd you Rachel”
    â€œI’m very comfortable and warm,” Rachel acknowledged.
    â€œWell that should do then,” Charles responded.
    At dinner Charles announced the departure time for hunting.  “I’ll wake you at five o’clock, you best get to bed early.”
    Ann asked, “Five o’clock.  Why so early?”
    Charles explained, “The deer move at daybreak, and a good hunter must be in the woods before they stir.”
    Â â€œDress as warm as you possibly can; perhaps an extra shirt may help,” instructed Charles.  
    In anticipation of the hunt and unable to sleep, Charles awoke at four thirty and went into the bath area before waking the girls.  He gently tapped on Mary’s door to awaken her to start breakfast.   Now it was time to wake his hunting companions.
    He went into their room and in a quiet voice shook each of them, “Ann, it’s time to get awake. Rachel, wake up!”  
    The girls came down in their nightclothes and slipped into the bath area.   
    Mary was already in the process of preparing breakfast.  As they sat down to eat, it was obvious Rachel was not happy to be up so early, but she didn’t say a word.  Ann was just glad she didn’t make a fuss.
    â€œYou girls are in for the experience of a lifetime,” Charles exclaimed in a gleeful mood.  He looked at Rachel who held her head down and rolled her eyes upward and then back at her plate as she ate.  Charles knew she wasn’t happy.  “Tonight you can write to Tom and relay what a tremendous experience you had and tell him all about it.”  
    Rachel never looked up from her breakfast and frowned even more.   
    As breakfast ended Charles requested, “Go dress in your warmest garments and boots; we’ll be leaving soon.”
    As they entered the bedroom Rachel started, “Ann, I’m so opposed to going. I feel like quitting and taking a stage back to Philadelphia.”
    â€œYou know I don’t want to go either, but maybe Father is right.  This will be an experience we’ll never forget.”
    â€œOh please, let’s just get it over.  I’m sure I’ll have regrets as soon as we leave the lodge.”
    Charles, already dressed warmly, retrieved his flintlock rifle, powder, and balls while the girls were dressing.  Then he thanked Mary for breakfast and gave her a peck on the check.   
    As they came down the steps, Charles smiled and bit his tongue to keep from bursting into laughter.  He knew he couldn’t say anything derogatory and laugh aloud or they would refuse to go.   “Now, you’re dressed for the weather and look like hunters.  This is going to be a successful day.”
    Overnight the weather had turned blustery and cold, and snow squalls had dropped two or three inches of new snow.  When they stepped out of the lodge, a gust of wind blew and snow fell from the roof and hit them directly in the face.
    Â  “Oh my goodness! Now my face is all wet!” whined Rachel.  “We’ll freeze to death before we get ten feet and it’s totally dark.  We have to be out of our minds to be out here now.”
    Ann couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Father, Rachel is right. Must we go?”
    â€œYes” was his only response, and he kept on walking.  It didn’t discourage him at all.
    Off they went, Rachel just shaking her head and muttering to herself as they followed Charles.  It was breaking daylight as they walked down a trail from the lodge toward the mountain.  It was a clear morning; the wind diminished as they approached the mountain and without sunlight to warm the hollow,