Fledgling (13 page)

In a cave of her own making, she was seeing the sun for the first time. She had never kissed a boy before. It made her nervous to even think about. What if she didn’t know what to do, or what if she was bad at it?
Ugh, stop thinking about it Ana
, she scolded herself, and struggled to collect the important elements from Laura’s one sided conversation so it would appear she had been listening.

“Wow, that’s great. So, you’d recommend the movie then?”

Laura nodded at her.

Whew.

When their teacher stood up to begin class, Ana was thankful to switch her attention to a subject unrelated to boys.

After school Chance grabbed her hand and led her to the parking lot.

“Where’s the fire,” Ana laughed at him, glancing from side to side in mock horror. She enjoyed the contact with his hand; her skin felt warm and tingled.

“Let’s get out of here. I want as much time possible outdoors before sundown.”

She slid into the familiar cab and Chance joined her within moments, beginning their travels in the same direction as Ana’s house then exited along an unfamiliar stretch of highway. They drove along the river for ten minutes before he turned off on a road, moving them closer to the water. Eventually they came to a dead end and parked.

“Where are we?”

“This is the Clark Bend River. If you go south as the bird flies, your home isn’t far.”

“You go fishing here?” Ana remembered his reference to fishing with his dad when he spoke to Uncle Jace.

“This is a place I go…to observe animals.” One brow arched and his mind seemed engaged elsewhere.

They got out of the truck and the grassy plain stretched before her, bright spring grasses interspersed with flowering purple Shooting Stars. Distant mountains shone bright with white capped peaks.

Chance held his hand out and Ana took it, as he began leading her through the calf deep growth. Both of them avoided looking at the other, nervous with physical contact. Their palms prickled from the electricity shared between them.

Chance tilted his head hearing something and stopped. Ana peered in the same direction, unsure of his focus and discovered a small herd of elk. Still a far distance away they appeared to be grazing. One lifted its head and stared at them, seeming to catch Chance’s gaze.

“Elk,” he whispered. “They eat just like cows do, and have two stomachs. They need a huge amount of food every day. They chew it, regurgitate and chew it again before it goes to their second stomach. This is a herd of females and that one, over there,” he pointed toward a round bellied female that was watching them, “is pregnant. Her calf should be born soon. In the next couple of weeks,” Chance whispered to Ana who listened intently, amazed at his expertise.

“How do you know so much about them?” Ana whispered back.

“I’m outside a lot. Grandfather’s my guide. He knows everything about the plants and animals in the area,” he answered briefly, leading her forward.

They wandered along a faint trail, while Chance pointed out plants and animals along the way. Ana marveled at his knowledge and became enthralled with his hazel eyes as they flashed in the softening light.

“Here…this is for you,” he said reaching down, picking a yellow flower. He passed it to her hand.

The leaves formed a perfect heart shape and the flower itself reminded her of a yellow daisy.

“Heartleaf Arnica,” he explained while holding one of the leaves, regarding her eyes.

“I think I’ve heard of Arnica,” Ana thought out loud.

“It’s used on the skin to prevent infections. It’s put in salves.”

“You could fill an encyclopedia with all of your knowledge,” Ana laughed, pushing against his solid chest. Distracted by his sinewy build, she dropped her hand slowly.

Chance’s breath caught, her physical contact had clearly broken his concentration. He was lost in thought, unable to find words for a moment.

A jittery feeling settled in her stomach and she tricked her awakened senses into returning to sleep by starting a new conversation, “Umm…maybe you can tell me something about foxes. You know, I saw one out at my house the other day. It was the first time I’ve ever seen one-it was so cute. And it didn’t seem frightened of me at all,” Ana smiled.

Chance’s breathing quickened and he began fidgeting with his hands. Ana assumed he was distracted by her touch and blushed.

“Red foxes. Well, red foxes are omnivores. They eat just about anything and have excellent hearing. They hunt alone, and are at the top of their food chain. I mean, as long as coyotes don’t come around.” Chance gave an involuntary shudder and continued, “When they shriek, it sounds weird, like a human screaming. They’re cunning and wise. Native tribes consider them a noble messenger.”

“Hmm, a messenger? Wonder what message it was delivering? Hey, aren’t they nocturnal?”

Chance was surprised by the question and answered carefully, “Yes, they’re known to be nocturnal…but
can
be active in the daytime.” He scratched his forehead.

“Hmm, well, the one I saw was during the middle of the day. I wonder if I’ll see it again…maybe its den’s nearby.”

Ana also remembered the yellow eyes that tracked her at night while she stargazed. She saw them every evening up in a fir tree above her rock.

“What about owls?” she asked Chance, who coughed and shoved his hands deep into his pockets, then began rolling a pebble around with his foot.

His brow wrinkled, “Hmm?”

“What types of owls are around here? I saw a pretty big one the other night. My star rock must be near an owl’s territory ‘cause I keep seeing eyes watching me at night when I’m stargazing. It must be injured though, it’s not very graceful. It doesn’t fly very well.”

Chance chuckled.

Ana looked at him thinking she said something funny and joined him, snickering.

Chance wiped away his smile and answered her, “It could have been a horned owl. They can get pretty big.” He grew quiet and introspective while absorbing the grassy horizon.

Ana’s body drooped with fatigue from their walk. They hadn’t gone very far, she could still see his truck from her vantage point, but simply standing on her feet was too much for her now. She was losing more and more energy.

“Do you mind if we find a place to sit? I’m feeling a bit tired,” Ana unwillingly admitted.

Chance nodded and led her down to the river’s edge. A granite boulder served as a perfect seat. They sat beside each other watching the water swirl past with the movement of billowing smoke, catching in eddies and flowing past submerged bedrock. Occasionally, Chance would point out the form of a fish moving below them. Ana wondered at his ability for seeing and hearing the elements around them.

Contrails left in the deepening sky were illuminated by the sun hovering over the mountains to the west.

Ana’s stomach growled and she realized how late it was. “I need to get home. I still have homework to do,” she said as she threw a smooth flat stone, skipping it across the water.

Chance stood and helped her up. “Me, too.”

It only took minutes to walk back to the truck, because they hadn’t gone far. Hours had elapsed since the beginning of their walk but they had made many stops along the abundant wildlife trail.

Chance drove Ana to her car in the empty parking lot at school. He looked over at her wilting silhouette and was suddenly anxious leaving her.

Ana rubbed her arms trying to warm herself after goose bumps rose from a cool breeze. She reached in her pocket for her car keys as Chance pulled off his thin jacket, draping it around her shoulders. He caught the fragrance of her hair as he brushed by, rose and something more, a fresh smell like the forest after a rainstorm. He drank it in. How could she smell so good?

Grinning, she pulled her arms into the sleeves. “Thanks…I’ll return it tomorrow.”

“No problem.”

Chance held her gaze, then walked to his truck and waved before getting in. He marveled at the physical pain it caused, separating from her.

He waited for Ana to get into her van and leave before leaning his head against the wheel shaking. His feelings were intense, expanding into every cell of his body. Helpless to it, he started his truck and wondered about the outcome.

Chapter 16.

Ana ate her dinner in front of her observant mother and then went upstairs to complete her homework. It was several hours later when she dropped her pencil on her desk and rubbed her blurry eyes. She decided to go to bed earlier than usual and went downstairs to say goodnight.

After taking her evening medicine she returned to her room and realized with surprise she didn’t need to visit her outdoor observatory. Thinking about her day with Chance she felt content and happy. Her reassuring habit no longer filled her needs. She found a place by his side, rather than seeking one in the stars.

She fell asleep with her head upon the pillow, imagining her face against his chest rising and falling rhythmically, soothing her.

A set of glowing yellow eyes watched her window from a nearby fir. The soft sound of a hooting owl wound its way through the lanky tree trunks to her darkened window.

The rest of the week went smoothly.

Ana began to feel happiness take hold where secret loneliness had once reigned.

She came home after school on Friday excited about her plans that night with Chance. She filled her mother in, as she dropped her bag to the floor with a thud. “Tonight we’re going out on the lake again. Then Chance wants to take me on another nature walk on Sunday!” Ana’s eyes sparkled, exuding the hopefulness she was feeling inside.

Melissa rose to greet her daughter’s exhilaration with the biggest grin she could muster. “That’s great, Baby. Maybe you should take a light jacket tonight. It looks like it’s getting a little windy.”

“Are you going to stay for dinner?”

“Nope, Chance is bringing something for us to eat.”

Ana ran up to her room, changed into warmer clothing and waited for the clock to read the right time. Finally, she heard tires on the driveway and ran downstairs. Her mother was in the kitchen unwrapping frozen lasagna and a stack of bills were glaring at her from the kitchen table.

“Chance is here, Mom. I’m ‘gonna go now-I love you.” Ana leaned in and kissed her mother on the cheek.

Eva walked into the kitchen with a disappointed look.

“You’re going out,
again
? You aren’t going to hang out with me?” she asked, her shoulders slumping.

Ana leaned over and kissed her sister on the head while rubbing her back. “I’m sorry D-We’ll hang out in the morning. I bet Mom would love doing something with you tonight.”

Melissa nodded her head in agreement putting on a dazzling smile.

Eva shrugged and walked glumly back to the living room. She plopped herself down on the couch and lilted to the side.

Ana rushed to the front door to meet Chance and leaned in, whispering, “Can you give me just a minute? I need to talk to my sister before we go.”

“Sure-I’ll be in the truck.” Chance touched her shoulder before turning back.

Ana shut the door mutely and returned to the couch to sit down beside her sister. She wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Eva grasped her folded arms against her body; her brow pulled down as though she was determined not to answer.

Ana continued holding her, waiting patiently.

“You’re gone so much now. You don’t spend
any
time with me anymore.” Eva’s lower lip slid out, trembling.

Ana took a deep breath answering, “I know…I’m sorry. You’re used to me being around all the time. Say, maybe I can check with Chance and see if you can come on our nature walk this Sunday. Would you like that?”

Eva peeked up at her sister and the corners of her mouth pulled up in response. Shrugging she answered, “Sure.”

“Alright. I’ll talk to Chance tonight and let you know tomorrow. Have a good time with Mom and I’ll see you in the morning.”

Ana gave her one last squeeze, got up and grinned at their mom who was standing in the doorway watching the discussion. Melissa gave a small wave and a pleased smile as her daughter rose from the couch.

Ana left the house feeling somewhat down. She hadn’t considered how her sister was feeling. She realized that until recently, she was always with her. Eva had grown used to being around Ana all the time and she was always there for her little sister. It was proving to be a rough adjustment for Eva.

When Ana joined Chance in the cab he saw her sad green eyes.

“What’s wrong?” He adjusted his body to face her, resting his fingers on her shoulder.

“It’s my sister. I haven’t been thinking about her much lately. She misses me. I’m always around and now…” Ana looked out the window towards the house and pulled some loose strands of hair behind her ear.

“I see. We can take her along on Sunday? You think she’d like that?” Chance asked hoping to ease his guilt, feeling responsible for taking Eva’s big sister away from her.