Chapter 24 - GRETCHEN’S LAST YEARS
Gretchen lived to eighty-four.
She never returned to White Pine stewardship.
Her legal residence remained elsewhere after she voluntarily left the cabin.
She lived comfortably.
Not ruined.
No patriarchal mansion.
No poverty morality play.
She and Stellan repaired some relationship.
Carefully.
Bodie allowed birthday cards.
Nothing more.
Gretchen died after a stroke.
No mystery.
No final crime.
Her estate paid remaining restitution.
Then lawful assets distributed.
She left Bodie:
A pair of vintage snowshoes.
A letter.
He laughed at the snowshoes.
“Is this a joke?”
Maybe.
He donated them to a mountain museum.
The letter said:
The cold was never supposed to belong to you because of me.
Bodie read it.
Kept it for a month.
May you like
Then shredded it.
Paper becomes paper.
