by Ava Catori
Chapter 5
Chester Hills was named for one of the families that settled there. The Chester’s ran a good part of the area, owning the small market, the notary, a tavern, and most of the land at the center of town.
There was talk of getting a traffic light put in sometime during the next year or two. A little bit more traffic was finding its way here, with a newer exit built off of the interstate highway. A fast food restaurant tried to build at the exit, but the town voted to keep them out. While it would mean a few jobs, it would also mean gaudy lighting, late hours, more traffic, and the possibility of more trash and litter. They were trying to hold off on the progress. They knew once they were in, next it would be big box stores that were popping up all over. They already saw what happened in Lawrence with the amusement park, and what the owners left behind.
Ty would hate to see the town he knew and loved turn into another city of franchises and big box stores. And what would become of all the small businesses – they’d be forced to close, and families that had worked for years, would be displaced. No thank you, they didn’t need that around here.
Ty had only left the area one time to go to school; he needed to go to the city. He knew it wasn’t for him, and promised himself he’d settle back in a quieter, rural area when he graduated. Growing up on a farm, he wasn’t afraid of hard work, and longed for open space and being outdoors.
Stopping in the post office, he chatted with Sadie for a bit, a little woman with gray hair down to the middle of her back. Tomorrow was vaccination day, the day of the month he offered free or low cost vaccinations for family pets, and it was usually busier. He was enjoying the slower pace today.
Kristin drove into town, wanting to see if a package had arrived. Going into the post office, she found Ty at the counter chatting with Sadie. Her package wasn’t there quite yet.
“Well, hello there,” he smiled. “How’s Molly doing?”
“She’s good. She’s getting steadier on her feet every day.” She was happier to see him than she expected.
“I’m offering free or low cost vaccinations tomorrow if she’s not up to date on her shots.”
“We took care of those before we headed out here, but thanks so much for the offer.”
“Sure thing,” he said.
Sadie watched the couple talking. She hadn’t seen Ty smile that big in ages. Did this woman realize that smile was for her? She glanced at the new girl, Kristin, and saw a matching smile. She wondered if they’d figure out there was something between them.
They lingered, not sure what to say, but neither wanting to leave. What was it drawing them together? There was an attraction, sure, but Kristin wasn’t even looking to meet someone, and certainly wasn’t ready, and…she found excuse after excuse, but still didn’t want to leave.
Sadie interjected, “Regina just made some fresh blueberry pie. You’ve absolutely got to try it, both of you.”
“That sounds good, I could go for a slice of pie,” he jumped at just the right moment.
“I haven’t had blueberry pie in ages.”
“Would you care to go get a slice? Regina makes everything from scratch, good eats.”
“Only if I can have a scoop of vanilla ice cream on it,” she said, smiling bigger than she meant to.
Making their way over to Regina’s shop, Ty felt the urge to reach down and hold Kristin’s hand, but resisted. He knew it was forward, and didn’t want to force things, but something was going on between them, he was sure of it. She had a wall around her, and he understood why, but he couldn’t turn off the feelings that were starting to bubble up inside of him. It had been such a long time since he’d been interested in somebody. She wasn’t even his type, and dear goodness she was from New Jersey of all places, but there was something that spoke to him, leaving him wanting to spend time with her.
Kristin hadn’t intended to like the guy. In fact, he was a bit gruff, and certainly not her type. And yet when he was around, she felt better, happier, and she didn’t even know why. It didn’t make sense, yet here she was happy to spend a little more time with him, even if it meant getting a slice of blueberry pie. She hated blueberries, but she didn’t want to give up the chance of sitting and talking to him a little bit longer. She’d choke down a few blueberries if it meant she could look at his smile and take that image home with her.
The little café was quiet. The wood paneling on the walls went waist high, and framed black and white pictures lined the walls, one above each small table. The place could use another coat of paint, but was clean none the less. Sitting at one of the tables, a waitress took their order.
“Two slices of blueberry pie, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on each please,” he ordered, and got a couple of drinks to go with it.
They sat looking at each other, both realizing something was going on, almost afraid to say it.
When he reached across the table to take her hand, she let him. “Maybe we could try dinner again sometime.”
“I’ll think about it, okay.” Looking into his eyes, she was slowly melting. “I almost feel guilty being attracted to you.” There, she said it, admitted it out loud.
“Why?”
“I feel like I’m betraying him.”
He pulled his hand away. “I’m sorry.”
“Please, don’t be. It’s almost been a year. I’m just not sure how to process the new feelings that are cropping up.”
“So are you supposed to be alone forever, to punish yourself somehow?”
“I don’t know,” she said, her blue eyes pooling with tears. “I’m sorry,” she was embarrassed, and hadn’t meant to get so emotional.
“When you’re ready, okay?”
She nodded. “I need time, but I am interested.”
“I understand.”
“Thank you,” she said, just as the pie arrived.
She ate the ice cream, and played with the edges of the pie.
“Not hungry?”
Kristin flushed, admitting she didn’t like blueberries, but wanted to spend time with him.
Ty laughed, “I’ll eat it, no need to let blueberry pie go to waste.”
She pushed the plate over to him, grateful he didn’t find her a fool.
“I’m glad you came for pie too,” he smiled.
There was something in the air, though even admitting an attraction, it couldn’t move forward. It meant they were exactly where they started.
Ty could wait, he’d waited this long to meet somebody that caught his attention, he’d wait longer.
Kristin thanked him for the pie, and excused herself before getting drawn in. He wasn’t the smoothest man she’d ever met, he was rough around the edges, but something kept pulling her back. Maybe it was his confidence, he sure of who he was, not trying to go out of his way to impress her and be something he wasn’t, and he had this raw masculinity.
There was no denying the physical attraction. He was a man’s man, strong, with a solid body, and not afraid of hard work. She felt safe around him, and didn’t even know why. It was almost a natural reaction should couldn’t explain.
Heading back to her truck, Kristin realized she was smiling. It was nice to smile again. It had been so long.
Driving back, Kristin hummed and realized she was growing more comfortable with the roads, and recognizing where to turn now. On pulling up toward her house, there was something in the driveway, a dog, no….a gray wolf. She slowed to a stop, reality hitting her she was in the wild. Honking her horn, she scared it away, and then sat in her truck gripping the steering wheel. Was it gone? Would it pounce when she went outside? She realized she didn’t know their predatory habits, and never really investigate the wildlife she might come across.
She hit the horn again for a good measure and made a run for the front door. On getting inside, she set about pulling up information on Wyoming wildlife. Thankfully with satellite on the house, she was able to access the internet.
Would she panic every time she
had to walk out to the truck now? Suddenly, the serene home and peaceful environment felt like a zoo without cages. Sitting out on the porch swing all this time, she was so vulnerable, and never thought about it.
Once the fear subsided, she reminded herself there were ways to deal with the wildlife, and most wouldn’t bother with her. It was surreal, she’d been living here and was oblivious – and now she had heightened awareness due to one gray wolf.
Putting Molly out back, she stood watching the grounds around her, nervous the wolf would be back. Was Molly seen as a threat? Suddenly everything she did, she examined and went over with a fine tooth comb, realizing she needed to be more aware – more cautious.
Not only that, but winter would be coming – and she was certain it wouldn’t be like back home, where town snowplows cleaned out the streets. She’d need to be stocked well to get her through snow and ice storms. Nobody would be clearing the dirt roads here. She should have thought things through better.
Kristin’s heart raced, thinking of the wolf lurking nearby. Grabbing onto the door handle of the back door, she gripped it with more force than she expected. Her mind started racing, realizing it was a mistake not to think things through before moving here. Her breathing grew ragged, and as she talked herself down from the edge, she reminded herself she’d been living here without a problem so far. She’d handle things, figure it out, plenty of people live out in the country and get by.
Calling Molly, she went back inside and dropped onto the sofa. Focusing on slow, deep breathing, she cleared the panic and anxiety out of her, trying to calm down. For the first time in a long time, she felt completely alone.
A hot tear rolled down her cheek, and letting go of her past, she sobbed. She was alone, and had to start over. Her body shook as she cried. She didn’t choose this life; she didn’t choose to be lonely in the middle of the woods – did she? She did run away wanting to escape, Ty was right, but it didn’t change anything. Whether she was in Wyoming or New Jersey, her heart was still hurting from her past. She clung to it like a life preserver, and realized until she let the pain go, it would hold her prisoner.
She needed to move forward, stop being afraid to feel things, to lose people, and it was time to live life again.