I went to the side of the tub and knelt down.
"I'll give you a hint," she said and did.
My thank you was silent.
16
----
"You must try to walk. Use me as support."
The morning, sunny and warm, gave Rachel a sense of safety, as did the strong man gripping her.
"Last night I heard strange noises from the forest outside the window," she said as she gingerly put a little weight on her tender leg. "I didn't want to wake you with my concerns."
"Were you frightened?"
“No, you were beside me.”
Morgan held her tightly as they slowly walked the perimeter of the trees. "The night winds bring danger. Here, in this place it is not safe." His father told him that many years ago, yet he had found a home here. He would not stay here long. He never stayed in one place for any length of time, but for now, he could not forsake the forest's mysteries for the humdrum life in the village.
"Did your parents not tell you of the forest's temperament?"He asked her.
"They did not tell me much of anything."
"The forest, at least this part of it, is a moody beast. In the day, it is benign and accepts intruders with either disregard or kindness. When the sun sets, its mood becomes malevolent. It has a sinister, even murderous, hate for all who dare walk through it."
"And yet you did to save me," Rachel said.
"Yes, I did, but only because of that." Morgan pointed to her necklace. "The precious metal that now adorns your neck has a power; the sort I've never witnessed before. It warns of evil. Somehow, it feels its presence. I'm not certain of its methods or why it does so, but it helps keep treachery at bay."
Rachel looked down. Such a delicate ornament to stave off something so powerful.
"I know the night forest, and I think whatever dwells among the trees fears the power of the necklace. That is why I walk at night without worry, though I certainly try not making a habit of it"
They stopped for a moment in the shade of the branches of an oak tree.
"We'll rest for a short while before going back. We don't want to overdo it the first day."
Rachel's leg throbbed, but Morgan's arm around her eased the pain significantly. She drew in closer to him, savoring his warmth against her wound. She closed her eyes and rested her head in his shoulder. Somewhere nearby birds chirped.
"It brightens and becomes warm."
His voice , so soothing.
"What brightens?" Rachel asked, without opening her eyes, without moving her head.
"The cross," Morgan answered. "When evil is near, the cross glows and feels warm to the touch."
She remembered now the warmth on the hollow of her neck as she lay in bed last night listening to the sounds riding the night winds. Had she opened her eyes, would she have seen its radiance, perhaps casting shadows across the walls and ceiling?
Morgan held her close and they kept a slow pace as they approached the cottage, and for the first time in memory, Rachel felt safe from harm.
17
----
The therapist arrived promptly at ten in the morning. I had helped Beckie wash and fix herself up a bit. I must say I was a little jealous over the attention she paid herself for an individual she had yet to meet. In spite of that, it was the first time I'd seen her in make-up and, though attractive before, she became downright beautiful with the help of the products in her purse.
"Can you see my stitches?" She asked when I came to fetch her from the bathroom.
"No," I said with sincerity. "The bandages hide them completely."
"It's getting better isn't it? My face, I mean."
"You're healing fast. You look fantastic."
"Aren't you sweet," she added, taking a final glance in the mirror. "Alright, Monroe, help me to the first chair we come to. Let's get this over with."
I must say I was quite relieved when I opened the front door to a woman. I expected an athletic male with muscles popping out all over the place and maybe a Bavarian accent.
I guess Beckie had the same thought process because she looked a little disappointed
"I'll give you a hint," she said and did.
My thank you was silent.
16
----
"You must try to walk. Use me as support."
The morning, sunny and warm, gave Rachel a sense of safety, as did the strong man gripping her.
"Last night I heard strange noises from the forest outside the window," she said as she gingerly put a little weight on her tender leg. "I didn't want to wake you with my concerns."
"Were you frightened?"
“No, you were beside me.”
Morgan held her tightly as they slowly walked the perimeter of the trees. "The night winds bring danger. Here, in this place it is not safe." His father told him that many years ago, yet he had found a home here. He would not stay here long. He never stayed in one place for any length of time, but for now, he could not forsake the forest's mysteries for the humdrum life in the village.
"Did your parents not tell you of the forest's temperament?"He asked her.
"They did not tell me much of anything."
"The forest, at least this part of it, is a moody beast. In the day, it is benign and accepts intruders with either disregard or kindness. When the sun sets, its mood becomes malevolent. It has a sinister, even murderous, hate for all who dare walk through it."
"And yet you did to save me," Rachel said.
"Yes, I did, but only because of that." Morgan pointed to her necklace. "The precious metal that now adorns your neck has a power; the sort I've never witnessed before. It warns of evil. Somehow, it feels its presence. I'm not certain of its methods or why it does so, but it helps keep treachery at bay."
Rachel looked down. Such a delicate ornament to stave off something so powerful.
"I know the night forest, and I think whatever dwells among the trees fears the power of the necklace. That is why I walk at night without worry, though I certainly try not making a habit of it"
They stopped for a moment in the shade of the branches of an oak tree.
"We'll rest for a short while before going back. We don't want to overdo it the first day."
Rachel's leg throbbed, but Morgan's arm around her eased the pain significantly. She drew in closer to him, savoring his warmth against her wound. She closed her eyes and rested her head in his shoulder. Somewhere nearby birds chirped.
"It brightens and becomes warm."
His voice , so soothing.
"What brightens?" Rachel asked, without opening her eyes, without moving her head.
"The cross," Morgan answered. "When evil is near, the cross glows and feels warm to the touch."
She remembered now the warmth on the hollow of her neck as she lay in bed last night listening to the sounds riding the night winds. Had she opened her eyes, would she have seen its radiance, perhaps casting shadows across the walls and ceiling?
Morgan held her close and they kept a slow pace as they approached the cottage, and for the first time in memory, Rachel felt safe from harm.
17
----
The therapist arrived promptly at ten in the morning. I had helped Beckie wash and fix herself up a bit. I must say I was a little jealous over the attention she paid herself for an individual she had yet to meet. In spite of that, it was the first time I'd seen her in make-up and, though attractive before, she became downright beautiful with the help of the products in her purse.
"Can you see my stitches?" She asked when I came to fetch her from the bathroom.
"No," I said with sincerity. "The bandages hide them completely."
"It's getting better isn't it? My face, I mean."
"You're healing fast. You look fantastic."
"Aren't you sweet," she added, taking a final glance in the mirror. "Alright, Monroe, help me to the first chair we come to. Let's get this over with."
I must say I was quite relieved when I opened the front door to a woman. I expected an athletic male with muscles popping out all over the place and maybe a Bavarian accent.
I guess Beckie had the same thought process because she looked a little disappointed
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