Free Marysvale by Jared Southwick Page B

wouldn’t think so. It’s
really best not to press your luck until you’ve healed. You’ll stay
here, of course, until you’re ready?”
    I was relieved. It must have shown on
my face because, before I could give her my answer, she said,
“Good. There are matters we should discuss.”
    Quizzically, I asked, “Really? Like
what?”
    “ First let’s eat and then
we’ll talk.”
    Indeed I was hungry and said, “I won’t
argue with that.”
    She smiled. “Yes—and you’ll learn it’s
best not to argue with me at all.”
    I grinned. “No, I can see
that.”
    “ Now, let’s see if you can
be obedient and get out of my way while I get the food
ready.”
    I was obedient and the food was
delicious.
    After lunch, we retired to the porch,
with a cup of tea (which was also delicious). Thankfully, she left
the ridiculous hat inside. It would have been difficult to have a
serious conversation with that on her head.
    “ So, what did you want to
discuss?” I inquired.
    “ Get right to the point
don’t you?”
    “ Umm, I suppose it’s in my
nature….We can just sit if you’d rather.”
    “ That would be nice,” she
said and took a sip of her tea.
    There are times when a conversation is
desired, and other times when it is enough just to enjoy each
other’s presence; this was one of the latter. We watched the cows
roam around the pasture in no particular fashion. A warm, gentle
breeze rustled the leaves in the trees and caressed my face.
Despite the warmth, there was still a suggestion of fall in the
air. I thought of the calm before the storm, lulling the
unsuspecting into a false security. As quickly as the weather can
change, so can our fate. In an instant, victory can change to
defeat and defeat to victory. I was nearly overcome in the woods,
yet here I was.
Had I really conquered defeat or simply
postponed it?
I pondered that question.
    Sarah finally broke the
silence.
    “ I’ve always enjoyed sitting
here, with the fragrance of the forest in the air, and the quiet
sounds the wind makes.”
    I agreed and told her so. I also took
advantage of the broken silence and decided to fish for
information.
    “ If you keep avoiding my
questions, I’m going to think you’re hiding something.”
    She smiled.
    “ I told you, I am,” she said
teasingly. It wasn’t a flirtatious tease, it was more like joking
between two old friends; and it had the surprising effect of
disarming me. I found myself opening up in ways I normally wouldn’t
with a stranger.
    I played along. “And why would you want
to do that?”
    “ Because… if I give you all
the answers, you’ll leave.”
    I raised an eyebrow.
    “ Sooner or later I’ll leave
anyway.” I replied, although I had no desire to go.
    “ I know; but I prefer
later,” she said.
    “ I didn’t know I had such an
effect on women.”
    “ Oh yes, I’m very sure you
do.”
    Continuing the banter, I said, “Well,
now that you mention it, I do know my appearance is quite
irresistible to your kind.”
    “ Quite,” she said, trying to
keep a straight face.
    “ And my demeanor can be very
intoxicating.”
    “ Naturally. You’re
forgetting, no doubt, your incredible strength and quick
wit.”
    “ My dear woman, if you’d be
patient I was getting there.”
    “ Ooh, beg your pardon, sir.
Apparently, I had forgotten about your modesty, too.”
    “ Yes, of course—quite
understandable in light of my other qualities.”
    She laughed. “You better stop before I
change my mind and throw you out.”
    “ Maybe you should, you
barely know me.”
    “ Perhaps I will, but not
yet. After all that time I spent fixing you up, it would be such a
waste.”
    “ I am thankful for your
help,” I said more seriously. “I’m fairly certain I wouldn’t be
alive now, had I not found your place.”
    “ Yes, well, I’m glad you
did. And it has nothing to do with the fact that I’m going to put
you to work when you’ve healed up a bit,” she said with a wry
smile.
    “ It’s the