“Now focus on your target where you want to land. Be sure to bend your knees so you won’t jolt your spine or hurt your newly healed wounds.”
“Got it. I see where I want to land. There are two oak leaves side by side about a foot ahead of Lightning's nose. Oh, and a pair of bluebirds are feeding their babies in the tree to our left, on the ninth branch from the ground, just in case you’re curious.” I hold my arms out, lifting them from my side and level with my shoulders, then I balance and count myself down.
I leap, not moving my gaze from my anticipated destination. Sticking a perfect landing, I squeal, “I did it!”
Pierce dismounts from Sundance and rushes to my side, kissing me promptly. “Yes! You did it, babe. I knew you could.”
Gazing up at him, smiling, I let myself take in the sight for a moment longer. His eyes are impenetrably dark. I usually can’t tell where his iris ends, and the color starts, but now I can see a sleek line defining the two. Every strand of his eyebrows is twisted in an elegant cluster, forming the perfect arch.
Startling me out of my trance, he asks, “Amused by what you see?”
“Very much so.” A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth.
Peirce palms my cheek with his immense temperate grasp. “Do you think you can focus on changing your vision back? Or are you going to go the unconventional route and slap yourself silly again?”
“Ha, ha. I’ll try to focus and see if I can manage to do it without self-inflicted pain this time.”
Closing my eyes, I inhale for a count of three and exhale for another three, attempting to think the most pleasant thoughts possible. I envision Pierce’s lips, the gentle way he touches my face, the way he looks at me when he says he loves me…
Just like that, I feel a shift in my eyes, and when I open them, everything is as it was before.
Clapping, Pierce congratulates, “Way to go, babe! You never cease to amaze me. So how did you do it?”
“I just went to my happy place.”
“And where, may I ask, is that?” he probes as we make our way back to the horses, hand in hand.
“My happy place is anywhere when I’m with you. You help me find hidden serenity. I just thought of the way you look when you tell me you love me and how it feels when you kiss me.” I beam.
Aggravating me, he nuzzles the top of my head, teasing my hair in all different directions. “That’s fantastic. To know that my love for you helps you so much it can be your touchstone.”
“Well, you may be my peace, but you’re also the source of my anxiety,” I grumble, slapping his hand away. “So, I wouldn’t gloat too much about it.”
With a laugh, we straddle our horses and trudge on toward Pierce’s family’s house.
An hour into our trip our horses start to become restless and goosebumps pepper my skin. I try to coax Lightning down and Pierce does the same to Sundance but they aren’t having it. I look to Pierce to see what he suggests, when we both hear the crunching of leaves behind some trees a few feet away.
Pierce glances at me and yells, “Babe let’s get out of here.” Then we grab the reins and both shout, “Ya!” to get the horses cantering as fast as their hooves will go.
Once we make it to a safe distance past the presumed danger, we slow the horses down to a trot.
Pierce is on edge and says, “Babe, I’m not super convinced you don’t have a target on your back.”
I try not to let my fear show as I respond, “Well, let’s just say I’m glad you’ve been by my side each time something suspicious happens.”
“Yeah, but we need to find out if you really do have a stalker or if someone’s out to hurt you.”
“Pierce, I’m sure it’s nothing. Let’s just focus on me meeting your parents. Ok?”
“I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep from thinking about this.”
“Well, for tonight will you try? I’m nervous enough as it is.”
“Alright, Spitfire. You’ve got it. I’ll do my best.”
“Thanks, love, that’s all I ask.”
Another hour into our excursion, I whirl around to my right and see a meadow filled, bursting with the brightest, tallest sunflowers I have ever seen. Gasping, I point in the meadow's direction. Pierce, trotting close to me, leans over, “Sunflowers are mom’s favorite. She made dad promise to dedicate a field to them.”
“This is your property?” I ask in shock.
Pierce clarifies, “It’s my parents. They farm several crops, have land for livestock, and of course, flowers.”
“Oh, Pierce, I can’t wait to see it all!” I exclaim, unable to contain my excitement.
“You’ll love it.” One side of his lips curls up in a sweet smile.
“Once I get over the shock of meeting your parents, I’m sure I will. Right now, I just need to keep my nerves in check because the last thing I want to do is frighten your family as soon as they meet me. First impressions are everything; there’s no going back, no do-overs. I’d better win them over right away, or I’ll throw up and never be able to show my face here again.”
“Tova, you have to get out of your head. First of all, they’re big ol’ lovey-dovey huggers who only see the good in people. Second, there’s absolutely nothing they won’t love about you. Trust me. They’re going to love you just as much as I do. You think I fall in love fast? Well, I’ve got nothing on Mom. She falls in love in the blink of an eye. Just you wait.”
“I pray you’re right, Pierce. I couldn’t live with myself if they don’t think I’m the right choice for you.”
We trot past the field of sunflowers and finally arrive at the intricately designed wrought-iron gate guarding the piece of the property where the house sits. The entrance is a massive work of art, featuring an intricate pattern of vines and leaves intertwining through the entire facade.
Descending from our horses, we walk them through the gate and onto Pierce’s parent’s property. Following the wide path, we take the horses to a pasture that’s the perfect size to contain the two. There’s a water trough for them to rehydrate and plentiful lush green grass for them to graze on. Releasing them into the paddock, we lock the fence behind us.
I wring my fingers as we walk, trying to soothe my nerves. Pierce must take notice of my anxious movements because he sweeps me up against his side, settling his arm across my shoulders. “Spitfire, no need to be nervous.”
“Not everyone has nerves of steel like you, Pierce,” I snip.
“Ha, I don’t have nerves of steel. I have confidence in who I am; there’s a difference,” he says with a smug yet reassuring grin.
I crook my head into his neck. “Yeah… well… I don’t have that confidence, okay?”
Wandering toward the steps of his parent’s house, I admire the charming and welcoming ranch house. A large porch extends to two sides of the home, forming an “L” shape and providing generous amounts of space to entertain guests when the weather is favorable.
“I see no reason for you not to have all the confidence in the world,” Pierce preaches.
As we reach the bottom step of the porch, the front door swings open, revealing the most stunning woman, with long blonde hair stopping mid-back and sparkling crystal blue eyes standing in the doorway. She has a strong yet warm ambiance radiating from her smile. “Pierce. I didn’t know you were coming over today, and with company!” The woman all but squeals with delight. Not wanting our first encounter to be more dramatic than it needs to be, I cram my left hand into my pants pocket.
“Mom, this is Tova.” Pierce presses a quick, indulgent kiss to my temple before continuing his introduction. “We met at the track a couple of months ago in training.”
The woman rushes from the doorway and down the steps, sweeping the both of us into a warm hug. I’m forced to retrieve my hand to reciprocate the startling affection. At first, my body is stiff; she catches me entirely off guard, but I quickly melt into her embrace. Her hug is warm and tight and real, a genuine display of a mother’s love.
>
“Ah! Welcome, Tova! I’m Brecklyn, Pierce’s mom. It’s so pleasant to meet you!” she gushes.
Brecklyn lets the two of us go only long enough to hook her arm through mine and drag me up the stairs, leaving Pierce to follow behind. “Y’all come in, and I’ll pour you a glass of tea,” she insists as we enter the house.
Pierce glances at me sideways, ensuring the overwhelming gesture of affection hasn’t rattled me and, knowing him, to see if he needs to mention my disdain for tea. I smile and shake my head, silently pleading with him to not let the cat out of the bag. Thankfully, he keeps it to himself.
Crossing the threshold, I take in the living room with a view that flows directly to a back porch with floor to ceiling windows displaying a stunning view of a grove of large pecan trees. I notice that one tree has a rope swing hanging from its branches.
I’m definitely swinging from that!
Pierce, whose arm has once again settled around my shoulders, tugs me gently toward the kitchen to the left. We sit at a large farm table with benches on both sides and large dining chairs at each end. His mom bustles to the fridge and fetches a glass pitcher full of tea. Placing glasses on the table, she pours, “So, Tova. What makes you want to be a Protector?”
Trying to remain calm and not let my nerves show, I softly reply, “Mrs. Stetson, I believe it’s essential to know how to protect yourself and others. Especially those who can’t protect themselves.”
She gives me a genuine smile. “That’s very noble, Tova, and please call me Brecklyn.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Where’s Dad and Kage?” Pierce asks, thankfully taking some attention off me.
“Oh, they’re rustling up some food for dinner tonight, quail hunting. They’ll be back in a couple of hours. When they get back, they’ll have to dress the birds, and we can prepare the veggies. In the meantime, we can catch up on the back porch.”
We head to the massive oak backdoor that’s already propped open, then out the solid glass storm door that lets in fresh air and light. Glancing to either side of the porch, I notice several groupings of rocking chairs, and we make our way to the ones closest to the backdoor.
Brecklyn’s rocking chair creaks on the hardwood as she sways gently back and forth. After a long moment of uncomfortable silence, she looks over at me and urges, “So, tell me a little about yourself, Tova.”
My heart rate picks up, and I keep my folded hands tucked between my knees as I answer, “Uh…what would you like to know?” I’m so incredibly nervous I can’t even think of a single thing to tell her.
Sensing my uneasiness, she taps her finger on the arm of her rocker, her face and eyes softening in thought. “Hm, let’s see… I guess we can start with, what part of Iron Mountain did you grow up in? I mean, if you’re alright with discussing that.”
I stammer, “Oh um…please forgive me, my nerves sometimes get the best of me,” I explain, blushing. “I…grew up in the southernmost part of the territory on a farm with my mom. She’s a seamstress. Her name is Shenandoah. The farm is much like yours with crops and livestock; we just don’t have any land dedicated to beautiful flowers like y’all.”
“Yes, flowers are my passion. It brings me a sense of joy to take in their beauty while watching the butterflies flutter about taking in their meal. Not to mention the fragrance they bring to the house. They bring an overwhelming aroma that undulates your senses. It's pure nirvana.”
“Sounds like heaven,” I speculate.
“Oh, it is,” she affirms. “One day, you and I can meander through the meadow, and you can experience it yourself.”
“I’d love that!” I reply with a smile. We rock for a couple of minutes in silence, taking in the view of the large pecan trees. There’s so much I want to know, like how old those trees are. Who hung the swing? Finally, I muster the courage to ask, “How old are those pecan trees?”
She stops her rocking and leans forward, appearing to assess the trees before responding. “I’d say at least one-hundred-fifty to two-hundred years old, maybe older. They were here and fully developed when my great-great-great-grandfather started farming this land. If you’re wondering, no, the Dust hasn’t altered the pecans.”
“It’s incredible these trees are so old! And yes, my next question was the Dust. So, I’m guessing you’re able to eat them just fine?”
Brecklyn leans back in her rocker. “Just you wait and see. They make the best pecan pies you’ve ever tasted. We’ll make one this evening.”
“That’d be wonderful.” I lick my lips in anticipation of the treat. But I still don’t have the backstory on that swing. “So, what brave soul hung the swing?”
Cackling, she gestures toward Pierce. “That may be a better story for Pierce to tell.”
Twisting my attention in his direction, he chuckles as well. “That damn swing was bound and determined to be the death of me. I had wanted a swing for my birthday when I was four or five years old. Dad saw that the wooden seat was strong, the ropes were thick, and none of it would break down from the weather. Once we threaded the rope through the seat, we tied strong knots to lock the seat in place. Those ends have frayed over the years, but I swear it’ll still hold a horse. The tricky part was getting the top of the swing tied to that branch,” he explains, pointing to a large limb about forty feet off of the ground.
“I was a daredevil, and because I wanted the swing so badly, I begged dad to let me climb it. I hauled ass up the tree with the rope barely fitting between my teeth. Once I got to the limb, I shimmied to the branch’s edge and tied the rope. When I got to the spot where I would tie the second rope, the branch swayed, and I almost lost my balance. Dad yelled, ‘Son, I’ve got you if you fall.’ I dropped the damn rope out of my mouth in fear as I screamed, ‘Promise?’ He declared, ‘Promise!’ I swear I dropped that rope at least five times before I finally tied the knot. Dad, with his unlimited patience, didn’t stop me. He simply let me press on, knowing my determination would override any fatigue or fear.”
Reflecting a brief second, I pause, then continue, “After a few hours, the damn thing was finally hanging and secure. I was so tired that when I climbed back to the ground, I crumpled in exhaustion. I didn’t even think I’d be able to enjoy the swing that day, but Dad insisted. Crawling over to it, I heaved one side of myself up while Dad scooped me up under my arms and positioned me on the seat. I sat there, gripping the ropes while he pushed, swaying me until I almost dozed off. Once my head started bobbling, he knew it was time to stop. He carried me inside while my droopy head rested on his shoulder. I’ll tell you one thing, that’s a birthday gift I’ll never forget.”
I’m so engrossed in Pierce’s story that when he gets to the part where he almost fell, I don’t realize what I’m doing as I grip my knees until my knuckles blanch white. Brecklyn reaches over with her right hand and pats my left, calming my anxieties. I don’t think about the promise ring until Pierce finishes his story. I realize then where Brecklyn’s hand is resting, and my mind immediately starts racing.
Fartknocker, I think I’m going to die right here and now.
I attempt to curl my left hand into a ball, but when I lift it slightly from my leg, Brecklyn cups it with hers, enfolding it in a delicate grasp. I’m not sure if all the blood has left my face or if it’s flushed, but the sound of rushing blood is overpowering my hearing, and my vision is going fuzzy.
No! No! NO! Not now, please, not now. We haven’t even had the betrothal conversation yet. I can’t handle adding the ‘sight’ conversation on top of it!
Taking a few deep breaths, I focus on halting the transformation before the ‘sight’ can take hold. Opening my eyes, I find Pierce kneeling at my feet. I don’t think he noticed my near slip because his face is serene as he reaches out, grasping my hand still held in his mom’s.
Stroking his thumb across our hands, Pierce says, “Mom, I’m sure you already know, you’ve always had an intuition about these things, but I am madly in love with Tova. Th
ere’s no doubt that she’s the one for me. I instantly gravitated to her the first time I saw her. I realized I would do anything for her when she was injured at the track by a rogue arrow that could have killed her. I stayed at the clinic while she was being treated, and I even sewed up her forehead and back. Feelings were swirling inside the entire time I worked on her, mixed up topsy-turvy churns and giddy flips in my stomach, then ones of nausea. It didn’t take me long to recognize those were emotions of love, I vowed to myself to protect Tova and make her mine. If it were up to me, we’d already be united. We’ve decided to have a ceremony at her house by a lake with just close family and friends. I’m going to ask Dad if he’ll do the honors of performing the service.”
Well, I guess just laying it all out like that is one way of breaking the news, ripping the bandage off fast as it were.
Tears well up in Brecklyn’s eyes. “I can see that you love her, dear. You’ve never brought a girl home to introduce to us. I recognized as soon as I saw you two approaching the porch that she’s the one for you.” She looks over to me, then back to Pierce. “You were admiring her the entire time you two were walking up the path. The way you were holding her so protectively and the sparkle in your eyes when I came out to meet you told me everything I needed to know. I couldn’t be happier for you, son, and you, Tova.”
Rising from her rocking chair, Brecklyn opens her arms for us both. We move into her embrace, and I begin to tremble from all the love and acceptance I wasn’t prepared to receive. Stepping back out of the hug, and placing her palms on my shoulders, she asks, “Oh dear, are you getting chilly?”
“No, ma’am. I’m just overjoyed that you’d embrace me and welcome me into your family so warmly,” I explain. Pierce places one hand on my lower back, his touch easing my shivering.
“I’m a pretty excellent judge of character, Tova. Nevertheless, I can sense your unease. Now and then, you have to forget your fears and understand you deserve the best. There’s no uncertainty in my mind that you two are perfect for each other. Pierce’s father, Elon, and Kage will see it too, so please don’t fret,” Brecklyn soothes.
Protecting Tova (Iron Mountain Book 1) Page 13
