Found in the Woods

by LoRee Peery

  “What are you doing here?” He led her past the reception area to the elevator. “Not that I mind, of course.”

  “To be honest, it was an impulse. I wanted to know about Lakota. But as soon as I saw your face, I knew I’d really come to see you.” The elevator door swished shut. She was acutely aware of the man standing beside her, the air rife with tension. She wanted to soak in the woodsy scent Aiden carried with him. The bell dinged and the doors opened way too soon.

  His office was packed, but not junky. The orderliness suited Aiden. On the mezzanine beneath the window marched a collection of preserved creatures—armadillo, turtle, and giant bull snake. The taxidermy was well-done.

  Her life was anything but orderly. Did she stand any chance for a future with Aiden?

  He remained on his feet, shifting his weight.

  She flashed him a smile. “Am I making you nervous?”

  “Naw. I get antsy when I’m indoors, can hardly wait to get outside. I often grow restless.”

  “It looks to me like you control the restless compulsion to be outside by holding your indoor world in rigid control.”

  “When did you grow so philosophical? But you got me pegged. Everything is in its place. Logical, isn’t it? To have a place for everything?”

  “I’d say it’s logical to give Jesus a place in our hearts.”

  “Amen, sister.” They shared a laugh that visibly relaxed him. Instead of sitting behind his desk, Aiden took one of the two chairs in front. They sat with knees an inch apart. “So, how about that wolf report?”

  “I don’t know who I think of more, or miss more, you or Lakota,” she admitted.

  “Wolf competition. I’d like to think it’s me you pine for.” He took her hand, stroked circles on the back, giving her tingles. “Lakota is still recovering at Wildlife Safari. He’s in the kennel at Wolf Canyon.”

  “Then I can go see him!”

  “Beth, your care for that wolf really gets me. But I’m not comfortable with you going off by yourself while Littlefield is running around.”

  She wilted.

  “I did think about him when I left Platteville, but figure he’s on the job, since that’s what Barton claimed. I’d better head back and let you work. Good to see you.” She stood and weaved towards Aiden, belying her words. Her body wanted to stay.

  “Wait.” He glanced at his watch, and then reclaimed her hand. His thumb, tracing a lazy path, caused a riot of sensation to dance through her.

  “Please don’t go, yet. I can make it an early afternoon. Take you out for a bite. Maybe a movie.”

  Her mind sighed yes. Yes to anything and everything where Aiden was concerned. Having him near felt so right. She stared over his shoulder to avoid the intensity of looking him in the eye. The sensation of belonging went way deeper than physical urges.

  “Look at me, Beth.” She couldn’t resist, slid her gaze to meet his.

  She thought she was needy before? Those soft, cinnamon-flecked eyes magnetized.

  He smoothed her hair, her head and nape. His fingers fondled her neck where goose flesh rose. It felt to her as though he was memorizing the shapes that filled his hand.

  Her eyes drifted shut. She was drowning in the pleasure of his touch. Her knees noodled.

  He pulled her to him, and she let him take her body weight. “You can’t just leave.”

  The way you left me? She wanted to ask. But she knew better. His job, his life, was here in Lincoln.

  And where was hers? She couldn’t live in the loft above Frivolities until she grew old and gray.

  He glanced at the wall clock. “We can make the last matinee. Go for ice cream or coffee afterwards?”

  “Sounds great.” A date. “Would you believe I can’t remember the last time I went to a movie theater?”

  “Then it’s way past time you go again. I’ll check the listings.”

  “Will you buy me popcorn?” Her voice came out as shaky as her insides felt.

  “And toss in a bag of nuts for protein? You betcha.” He gave her a squeeze and sidestepped to the door. “Any idea what you’ll do until then?”

  “I can spend some time at the quilt museum.”

  “Excellent choice.” He escorted her to the elevator with a lazy arm around her shoulder.

  They watched the light above the doors and listened to the descent without speaking. When the door pinged open to reveal no passengers, Beth stood on tiptoe and brushed Aiden’s lips.

  The sweet scent of butterfly bushes greeted her as she skipped to her truck behind the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission building. She burst out with a joyful gasp when a Monarch and a pair of lavender butterflies brushed her side, reminding her of the tickly zing of contact with Aiden’s mouth.

  A few short blocks down the street, she parked in the lot behind the impressive International Quilt Study Center and Museum. An internal signal put her on the alert. Whatever it was, sixth sense or voice of reason, guardian angel, or the Holy Spirit, she deigned to listen.

  She got her bearings and listened to the bugging, incessant feeling that she was being watched. Littlefield could be in a number of places, thanks to trees and parked vehicles.

  Would she go through the rest of her life looking over her shoulder?

  Something cautioned her from stepping into the open parking lot. Surely, a group of visitors would arrive to prevent her from crossing the span of concrete alone.

  She waited a short stretch of time. A Lincoln Town Car pulled up. Several jovial women in red hats and purple shirts climbed out. When they drew even with her pickup, she left her truck and brought up the rear.

  Safety in numbers didn’t prevent that prickling alertness that had made her wait. Like the persistent, annoying fringe on cut-off jean shorts, she felt a malicious undercurrent in the air.

  Once inside the quilt center, Beth made sure she knew where the exits were located. She noted restrooms and corners. She paid her admittance fee behind the red-hatted ladies and tagged along as part of their guided tour.

  Another day she would have appreciated the glass front and curving stairs of the architecture. Soon, she wouldn’t be able to tell Aiden about any of the artful quilts on display. Her time inside passed in a blur. Beth returned to her pickup in the lot the way she had left it, trailing the group of women.

  And feeling just as sick to her stomach as she had before she began the tour.

  ****

  Aiden caught sight of Beth through the glass of Game and Parks before he exited the building. She was leaning against her truck in the closest parking stall to the entrance, visiting with an older couple about the flowers that lined the walk, according to their hand gestures.

  He scrubbed his hand over his jaw. He hadn’t bothered to attack his whiskers since he’d come back to Lincoln.

  She was beautiful. Thanks to the Lord in her life, and his, he could now believe people had the ability to change. Not on their own, but through faith.

  He nodded to the couple as they walked past on their way inside.

  “Hi.” Instead of looking relaxed and happy, her face was pale and shaken.

  “Everything all right?”

  “It is, now that I’m with you.”

  She balanced his world as well. Aiden handed her the plastic sack he carried.

  She raised her brows in question and shot him a slight smile. “What’s this for?”

  “For you. Be careful, it’s heavy. Sorry it’s not wrapped fancy. Hope you appreciate it.” He shrugged and felt the heat of satisfaction in his cheeks.

  He watched her face as she pulled out the tubular goldfinch feeder. The weight of a bag of thistle seed almost slipped from her other hand.

  “Oh.” She actually had moisture in her eyes. “This is more precious than a handmade Valentine. It would be perfect for the cabin. Thank you.”

  “You get your eyes full of feminine gee-gaws at Frivolities. You love birds, so I thought you’d enjoy watching the goldfinches.” And maybe think of me when you
do.

  “I know exactly where I’ll put it, hanging from a shepherd’s hook on the loft balcony.”

  He pulled the folded newspaper with the movie listing from his back pocket and handed it to her. He took the sack from Beth with his other hand, and through the pickup window, carefully set it on her seat.

  “Not much to choose from,” he said when he straightened. “A couple animated for kids, an adventure, a sci-fi, and the last one listed, a chick flick.”

  He drew in the scent of her hair while she perused the list. The light perfume reminded him of the nearby flowers.

  “Would you mind the romantic comedy?”

  With you by my side? “Think I can handle it. How about leaving your pickup here, and I can drop you off on your way out of town?”

  On the short drive, where every street light was green for a change, Aiden guided his Jeep with a hope in his heart. He’d been so down, worrying about Beth’s safety. Still torn between asking for a vacation in order to return to Platteville and his job in Lincoln; he yearned to be close enough to keep her safe. But he’d left her with a maniac on the loose, abandoned her the same way his dad had left when Aiden was in high school.

  His father’s words taunted Aiden in the middle of restless nights. If you’re a man in the dark, you’ve got to be a man in the light of day.

  A man protected his woman night or day.

  He’d spent so many hours wondering if they’d ever see each other. Yet there she was, sitting right beside him. With a little luck, Beth saw him as a man worthy of love and respect, a real man in the light of day.

  Life could take such unexpected turns.

  He’d been satisfied with the way his life had been before a wolf decided to show up in southeast Nebraska. Then somehow, Beth showed him what he’d been missing. She’d faced her past and risen above it. He couldn’t do a thing to change his past. He’d learned to live with his mistakes.

  He rid himself of pointless thoughts. Beth was here now, and he wanted to have a memorable evening by her side.

  At the parking garage, Beth swung out before he could open her door, shiny blue purse slung over her shoulder, and reached back to lock her door.

  On the sidewalk, he followed the urge to touch her. He grazed her cheek with the back of his hand. “And I don’t want to wait another minute before spending the evening with you.”

  “Oh, yeah. In the dark with a couple hundred other theater-goers.”

  He’d never seen her roll her eyes. They bumped sides. He gave her a squeeze, and then reached for her hand. They took off at a brisk walk and arrived early at the multiplex. He bought three bottles of water at concessions, handing her two.

  Beth hoisted her bag, still slung over her shoulder, to the front of her body so she could slide the bottles in.

  He stuck a hand underneath the purse while she settled the strap back in place. “What do you have in here, bricks?”

  “I keep forgetting to take out the flashlight from when I moved from the cabin.”

  Within minutes, they sank into their stadium seats a third of the way to the top. A glance at the time assured him they had several minutes before slides and trailers would begin. He surveyed the room. Only six other people were in the auditorium that seated at least three hundred.

  Beth rocked, pushing back with her heels. Her head was barely even with the top of the velveteen seat. Her childlike enthusiasm was contagious. “Mmm. I can’t remember the last time I had movie theater popcorn.”

  “It tastes beyond good, but I know how bad it is for arteries.” He reached for tasty kernels the same time she did and felt the sizzle.

  They shared a laugh when they both retracted their fingers.

  Beth said, “As big as this bucket is, we can grab at the same time.”

  Aiden resettled their bucket of corn. “I think we have a funny tidbit about our first real date to tell our children some day.”

  She covered her lips as though she wanted to savor what he’d said, rather than form a flippant reply.

  He’d said it out loud; he’d do anything in his power to make that story for their children happen.

  Only if it’s OK with You, Lord.

  14

  Soft guitar music greeted them when they left the theater. It served as a backdrop to Beth’s reflection over the happily-ever-after movie ending. She wanted to get closer to the musician, but the rise and fall of people on the crowded walk pushed them closer to the street.

  Aiden stepped into the street next to the curb, then back on the walk. Rounding the corner of the block, he guided Beth to circumvent the feet of an impoverished man seated close to the guitar player.

  She liked Aiden’s hand at her waist and was about to close the gap between them.

  But he walked right into a swinging roundhouse.

  “Barton!” Beth screamed, loud enough to open deaf ears.

  It was all her fault.

  Aiden fought for and regained his balance.

  Barton feinted then clipped Aiden on the ear.

  “Please help! Someone!” she screeched in horror.

  Aiden swung. The sound of his fist cracking against Barton’s face was distinct in the gathering crowd. The men were evenly matched in height and shoulder width, but Barton had the edge. He had meanness on his side.

  The thuds of flesh against flesh sounded louder than any movie track.

  Somehow, it registered in Beth’s muzzy mind that several cell phones were held at ears of the gathering crowd, or out in front, snapping the fight.

  It sounded like the blows went on and on.

  Through blood and sweat, Aiden dodged another fist, but managed an uppercut to Littlefield’s ribcage.

  Several things happened at once.

  Beth swung her purse against the side of Barton’s head. The whap of the flashlight inside landed with a solid plunk, and he staggered into the street.

  A bicycle cop skidded to a halt on the sidewalk.

  Two cruisers screeched to a stop, blocking inner lanes of the intersection. And the strobe effect of blue bubble lights added an eerie glow to the whole scene.

  An officer restrained Aiden from the back.

  Beth pointed at Barton and yelled, “Cuff that creep! He’s supposed to be in jail.”

  She met Aiden’s gaze over the bulk of Barton’s prone body, facedown with a knee to his back. Aiden shot her a smug smile, despite his swollen face. She knew how he felt. The sight of Barton zipped into plastic cuffs felt like the freshness of rain following a drought.

  She only broke eye-contact with Aiden, the man she had endangered, when a police officer approached. Her mind raced between the questions and answers as she and Aiden gave their respective statements.

  Through it all, underlying palpable relief, she felt lower than dirt.

  Aiden was hurt because she’d been distracted by a silly, stinky mouse instead of remembering Barton was a viable threat. If she had been on the lookout back in Platteville, she would have never led Barton to Lincoln.

  The officer wrapped it up. “Well, Ms. Phillips, I’m sorry your friend was hurt. But you got in a good lick with your purse. Be assured, with all these witnesses, and his record, Barton Littlefield will be put away for some time.”

  Aiden approached with the officer who had taken his statement. “And I definitely want to press charges.”

  The cruiser with Barton was the first to leave. They watched the crowd disperse.

  “I could use a walk to clear my head.”

  “Not thinking clearly is right. We need to find a spot where I can clean you up. You can’t hold those napkins against your head forever.”

  ”Let’s head to the Haymarket area.”

  “One of the coffee shops sounds good for a stop.”

  They held hands on the way, but didn’t talk. The sidewalk scene played over and over through her mind. It took scant minutes to reach the renovated historic Haymarket. But it felt like a month, due to her racing thoughts. I’m better off without a m
an. They either abuse me or I bring danger to them.

  Yet, from the depths of her soul, she wanted to yell from the banks of the Platte River, “I want to live, to share, the whole story of my life with Aiden. Can’t I have a fulfilling life to finish my time on earth?”

  But for the good of them both, she’d have to tell Aiden their relationship had no future. He was as good as lost to her. How could he truly love her when he realized what a terrible person she really was?

  She’d been deceiving herself into believing they had a future. She’d never deserved love, even the love of her mother. Aiden was right to be cynical and judgmental towards her, the way he was when they first met.

  No. God saw her as worthy. And what had happened before had been washed clean, in both her and Aiden’s lives. Their future was in God’s plans for their lives, whether they be together or apart. Sorry, Lord. Sometimes it’s hard to see myself as You see me.

  Aiden stopped in front of a coffee shop, gave her fingers a squeeze, and pulled her to his side.

  She finally took note of where they were. The Haymarket area thrived with several businesses, restaurants, and apartments. She turned, and leaned back to look into his face. “I’m all revved up, wide awake. With that coffee, I’ll make it back to Platteville just fine.”

  Beth laid her head on his chest, where his heart beat a staccato rhythm. She felt his tension, as though he’d been drinking coffee for two days without sleeping. Maybe that’s what a good fist fight did for guys.

  She felt high on adrenaline herself, putting off the details of what happened on the street. “Let’s get you inside so I can see your face in the light.”

  “It is making itself known. I don’t feel any blood. Maybe a cold cloth would help,” he slurred.

  “Ya think? I see a growing fat lip, right before my eyes.”

  He started to laugh, but it ended in a groan. They headed inside and wove their way to restrooms in the back. She grabbed several paper towels from the ladies room and ran them under cold water. He waited in the hall. Tenderly, and without words, she attended to his face. His ear had stopped bleeding. The cold helped the redness. “You’re going to have so many bruises come morning.”