I woke in the middle of the night in a pool of sweat with my heart pounding in my chest. I sat up trying to catch my breath, trying to figure out what startled me. It was almost as if someone had been standing over us, watching. “You okay Lilly?” I felt his hand on the small of my back. “Yeah must have been having a nightmare, sorry I woke you,” I whispered. He pulled me back down beside him. “It’s all right baby. I will keep you safe,” he muttered half asleep. His arms were tightly around me, and I could feel his breath on my neck, but I couldn’t fall asleep. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had been watching us. I laid there, eyes peeled, watching and listening. The feeling didn’t return and by dawn, I was getting sleepy again.
I must have slept for hours because I woke to Shep, bright eyed and bushy tailed, cooking in the kitchen. I rolled over looking up at him. “Good morning, sunshine,” I said smiling and squinting, the sun’s rays were almost blinding through the window. Funny I never noticed the sun being so bright before. “Morning?” He questioned through his laughter. “It’s afternoon Miss Sleeping Beauty, noon to be exact.”
“What? Why didn’t you wake me Shep? I have to get on the road.” I frantically jumped up from the couch.
“Relax, I made you some food. Your truck is packed and ready to go. I filled the gas tank this morning while you slept, all that’s left is for you to get dressed and say goodbye.” He finished the sentence almost in a whisper, but I heard it.
“Come over here Chocolate Muffin, give me a kiss.” He did, and we made love again, frantically as if we would never see each other again. We laid there entangled again and panting heavily. I buried my face in his chest and he twisted his hand through my hair. I could feel his tears on top of my head, and my eyes welled up again. I was amazed I could produce so many tears. I would have thought humans could only produce so much before they dried up, and I had shed a lot these last few days. I looked up at him, kissing his lips and could taste the salt of his pain. Our pain mixed together and we made love one more time, slowly. This would be the time we held onto.
I was dressed, fed, and ready to go. There was nothing left to do but say goodbye, which we both had been putting off. The time was here and could not be avoided any longer. He stood with me, offering advice. “Don’t venture off the main road. Only stop in places where there is a crowd of people. Check your tire pressure when you stop for fuel. Keep the truck stocked with water bottles for you and the radiator.” I stopped him. “I will be fine Shep, and I will be back before you can miss me.” I smiled even though I knew that last part was not something I could promise. “I know you are more than capable Lilly, I just want you home safe, sooner rather than later. You better go. You need to get over that mountain the map showed before it gets too late.”
He was right. I had to go, yet I felt my feet turn to cement, and I had to force them to move. It felt like trudging through mud, as I tried to make my way to the door. I opened it up, and then I turned to face him. He had one hand on the truck, the other arm resting on top of the door, looking directly in my eyes. I rested my hands on his chest, the light shining off the ring of gold that circled my finger. I glanced at the ring, smiling before I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I love you Shep, and promise to get back as soon as I can. I miss you already.” His arms encompassed me and he gently kissed the top of my head “Get in there Mrs. Chocolate Muffin,” he laughed and patted my bottom urging me into the truck. He was doing his best to keep it together. “Drive and don’t look back at me. I will be fine! I will just be here doing the things I do, passing the time it takes for you to come home to me, my beautiful wife, now go before I change my mind and chain you up in that trailer for all eternity.” His lips curled back into a magnificent smile and I knew he was only half joking. I started the truck, put the seat belt on and grabbed him kissing him one more time. “I love you Shep, and I am so proud to be your wife. I will come back to you and we will be a family. Hang onto that while I am gone.” I smiled, shut the door, and pulled away. He told me not to look back, but I had to.
There he was, my Shep, my soulmate, my husband by way of our own vows, standing there covered in the dirt from my back tires waving with one hand and wiping the tears with another. His face looked so broken I wish I had listened and not looked back. Once I hit pavement I knew I had to keep moving forward. I resisted the urge to turn around and drive back to him. I knew it would only make things harder. So I drove, and cried my way north. The direction I was instructed to go.
~Chapter Three~
Shep was fresh in my mind as I drove north on HWY 97 leaving behind my home and my love. Visions of our last three nights together and him standing there in the dust watching as I pulled away kept replaying in my mind. Tears poured until I hit the town of Chemult. I pulled over for gas, food, and a minute to pull myself together. “Get a hold of yourself Lilly, you’re going to see him soon enough. You have to figure out this puzzle, get your mind off of Shep, and think about your mother, you have to find her.” I repeated the words, over and over before I realized I had an audience staring at me like I was mad.
“You okay miss?” The little man behind the counter asked, clearly concerned about my mental status. I think he looked a little afraid of me, which made me laugh out loud. This in turn caused more stares, and I noticed the other three shoppers looking at me with the same fearful look as the little man behind the counter. “Do you have a restroom?” I asked trying to sound calm. He pointed to the back of the store where I saw the restroom sign high on the wall. “Thank you.” I walked back glancing at the shelves on my way, making a mental list of what I was going to buy.
Once inside the bathroom I shuddered at the filth. The toilet was brown when it should have been white, and there was a shower stall full of cleaning supplies that clearly had not been used in quite some time. The smell was nauseating, but I really had to pee. Squatting over the toilet, careful not to sit, I relieved myself quickly, wiped with the one ply cardboard toilet paper and pulled up my pants. I flushed with my shoe and gently kicked the sink faucet turning on the water. As the water washed over my hands, I looked into the mirror and shocked myself into hysterical laughter. “Oh my God, look at me. I am a mess! No wonder the store owner and his patrons think I am mad.” My face was tear streaked and mascara stained my cheek with black marks. My eyes were puffy and red and my red hair was piled in a mess on top of my head. Once my hands were clean, I used the dampness to wipe the excess makeup off my face in an attempt to appear more presentable. I carefully finger combed my tangled hair and attempted a neater ponytail. With my face clean, hair combed and bladder empty, I exited the bathroom well aware people were waiting to see if I was gonna blow the place up.
I smiled at the patrons who were done shopping, but must have been waiting for me to leave. They were huddled at the counter talking to the little man and eyeing me. I grabbed a pre-made sandwich, a big bag of chips, two Snickers bars, a Diet Coke and a bottle of water. With my arms full, I made my way through the tiny aisles to the counter. The three other customers parted enough for me to set my things down but didn’t move far.
“I apologize for my strange behavior sir, it’s been a long day and gonna be longer days ahead of me.” I offered as a weak excuse, wanting him to know I was not there to harm him or his store.
He smiled a little. “It’s okay miss. You looked a little riled up is all. Gotta be wary of folks coming through small towns like this. Gotta protect our own.” He was punching buttons on his ancient register. He looked up stating, “$10.55 Miss.” I handed him $11.00 motioning for him to keep the change, gathered up my things and headed out of the store. I paid the gas man another $35.00 for gas and piled back into my truck.
I tapped the dashboard for good luck. It never hurts to be nice to your transportation. My truck was not new, nor pretty, and ate gas like no tomorrow, but it was reliable. Shep taught me how to work on it long ago, and was sure to pack a tool set. “Just in case,” he had said. I was going to miss him de
eply. The tears were building up again, so I popped in a Bon Jovi CD, turned up the volume and popped open my soda. I couldn’t keep crying. My tears made no difference. Shep told me to be strong, figure this mess out and get home to him. That was my plan. No more tears, time to focus on the task at hand. I opened my sandwich and took bites between songs.
I played the entire Slippery When Wet album belting out every song before nature hit me with the urge to pee again. I was keeping an eye out for a place to pull over when I saw a sign advertising a waterfall. ‘Left turn two miles’ the sign pronounced. I drove the two miles and turned left onto a small paved road. About a mile in, the road turned into a one way. It led me to a set of restrooms situated right in the middle of some giant trees that were the brightest green I had ever seen. I parked the truck, got out and stretched my arms and legs. I made my way to the restroom, dumping my garbage from lunch in the can outside the door. The restroom was dark with concrete floors but still much cleaner than the one I had encountered in the little store back in Chemult.
Outside was an information board announcing my arrival to Salt Creek Falls. I read the history of the falls before heading down the trail that read ‘Falls this way’ with an arrow pointing me in the right direction. I walked one hundred yards or so before the sound of water rang in my ears and the massive falls came into sight. I stood at the railing mesmerized by the beauty. The falls were enormous and fell into a tiny creek down below. Looking to my right, I noticed a trail leading down to the creek at the bottom of the falls. I walked quickly back to the truck, grabbed my small backpack, filled it with my bottled water, one of the Snickers bars, my camera, a pencil and small pad of paper. I grabbed my light jacket, tied it around my waist and walked back to the falls. I took the stairs to the right that went up about twenty steps offering an even better view of the falls, before turning and heading back down. The stairs eventually turned to rocks that had formed into somewhat of a path that led steeply down the side of the cliff. It took me about 45 minutes of careful climbing to reach the bottom.
The land down below was covered in the greenest wild grass and the rocks were covered in moss. The flowing water was too small to be called a river and too big to be a stream. The water was beautifully clear and was enveloped by towering trees. The sound of falling water was so loud it blurred any other sounds the forest may have been making. I wandered as close to the falls as was safe. The closer I got, the more the moss covered the ground, making it slippery. The closer I came to the falls, the colder the air became. I put my jacket on and found a log to sit on. Perched in that spot I took in the surroundings.
The sound of the falling water assaulting the creek below was as pleasing to my ears as music. The smell of fresh water mixed with fir trees and moss was intoxicating. The vivid shades of green and brown, mixed with splashes of purple and yellow, against a white backdrop courtesy of the waterfall was breathtaking. The place was mesmerizing. In that minute, I understood why my mother had always encouraged me to see more of the world. Until this moment, I had believed nothing could be as beautiful and peaceful as the chunk of land I called home. After a few minutes, I pulled out my Snickers, savoring it, before washing it down with my water. I put the rest of the water and the wrapper back in my pack and pulled out my camera. I snapped a few dozen pictures in an attempt to re-create this place for Shep and mom. At this point, not finding my mother was not an option, so I included her in all my thoughts. After I was satisfied I had enough I pulled my notebook and pencil out and began writing.
I tried to describe this place in the greatest detail possible. I decided I would describe this place to Shep via letter and photo as soon as I developed the film. After I spent a good two hours down there, exploring, writing and photographing everything, I decided to make the hike back to the top. I made my way back to the cliff’s wall and could already feel the air warming the further I moved from the falls. When I reached the wall, I tied my jacket around my waist again, and started the climb. On my way up I noticed a bunch of wild lilies growing just to the left of me. They looked as if they were hanging onto the side of the cliff. I thought it was strange that I didn’t notice them on my way down. Lilies are my favorite flower, and I usually have a keen eye for them. I also thought it strange they were growing wild on the side of this cliff, but dismissed the thought and reached over to pick one. They were a little beyond my reach. I steadied myself on the rock, held the rock above me with my right hand for balance and leaned as far to the left as possible, reaching for the closest flower. I rocked my body back and forth just enough to grab and pull one bright purple lily from its roots. Once I had the flower, I tucked it carefully in the outer pocket of my pack and continued my hike to the top.
It took a little over an hour to get to the top. Once I got up there I noticed the sun was setting west of me and nightfall was quickly approaching. I may love the outdoors, but I am not one to be out at night. As I walked back down the trail to my truck, I couldn’t help feeling I was being watched. It was irrational I know. After all, I hadn’t seen another person the entire time I had been there. I couldn’t shake the feeling though, and felt myself panic a little as the memory of the night my mother disappeared flashed in my mind. I picked up the pace back to my truck. I found it sitting all alone, just the way I left it. Yet, I still felt uneasy. I sprinted the last twenty five yards to my truck. When I got there I quickly unlocked it and threw my pack on the passenger seat. I didn’t take the time to empty the contents. I hopped in and locked the door almost faster than it closed. I was breathing heavy, and my heart was pounding.
“Calm down,” I said aloud to myself. “You’re just being paranoid. Obviously there is no one else around.” I took some deep breaths to slow my heart and took out my keys. My truck sputtered to life, and I drove away from this magical place by day, eerie place by night. Yes, I thought, definitely coming back here with Shep!
I drove a while longer, enjoying the beautiful scenery until it was too dark to see. I was getting tired of driving and decided to find a spot to stay the night. Just after the mountain town of Oakridge, where I ate dinner, I noticed a little campground called Deception Creek. Odd name I thought, but interesting. I was not into the idea of sleeping in a hotel. I had packed a sleeping bag and inflatable mattress anticipating the need for them. This was the occasion. I pulled in, found an empty camp spot and parked. I noticed other camp fires burning and decided to make one of my own. I grabbed my travel chair and sat next to the fire.
It felt good to relax. The day had been so long. I sat thinking of home and my mother. I tried, for the hundredth time since she left, to try to put together some explanation. Why did she leave? Was she forced? Was it by choice? Is she ok? Is she alive? I shuddered at the last thought, yet couldn’t help but consider it. I would be foolish to think I would find her waiting for me, happy, healthy and alive. Yet, I prayed that’s how I would find her. I grabbed my sweats out of my bag, a flashlight and toothbrush and set out to find the ladies room.
After I had changed and cleaned up, I took some time to organize the truck. I hadn’t packed much really. I had one small suitcase with my clothes, another bag with my toiletries, my backpack that held my small can of mace, a lighter, camera, sketch pad, pencils, a deck of cards, my journal, a few small books, a small picture book that held photos of Shep and me and my mother, the note my mother left me with the key and cash. I also had a little box full of basic tools that may come in handy, my air mattress and a sleeping bag, my ten favorite CD’s, and a small basic emergency kit. I am a basic kind of girl and don’t need a lot, but I like to be prepared. I guess I learned the basics of survival and living simple by growing up surrounded by forest and having Shep as my best friend.
Shep taught me how to start a fire without a match, but suggested I always have a lighter. He taught me mechanic basics, how to chop wood, how to fight, and how to hunt. I personally hated to hunt animals and only went a few times with Shep and his dad. It only took those few times for him to sh
ow me what I needed to know. I loved animals far too much to kill one. I knew how to shoot a gun though and if I had to, for survival, I could hunt and skin an animal. On the other hand, I loved hunting wild berries, fruits, mushrooms, and wildflowers. Shep tried to pack a little hand gun for me. “For protection Lill,” he reasoned. “A beautiful girl, such as you, needs to have protection if traveling alone.” He nearly begged me to take a gun, but I refused. I saw no need for it. My mother wouldn’t send me to a place where I would need a gun. At least I didn’t think so. I had enough cash, so I didn’t anticipate needing to hunt my food. I compromised by taking the can of mace and Swiss army knife.
I finished cleaning up and inflating the mattress just before 10pm. I decided to read a little before bed and settled in next to the fire with my tattered copy of Twilight, my favorite book. I was almost through the first chapter when the feeling of being watched came over me again. I stopped reading, held still, and listened. I don’t know what I was listening for, but I sat there, silent. Nothing. I tried to calm myself down and kept reading, but it just wasn’t working. Something felt off to me. I just didn’t know what. I grabbed my can of mace and knife from my bag, locked the cab of the truck and climbed in the back. I locked the canopy door and crawled inside my sleeping bag. The night was warm, and I probably would have been fine without it, but it made me feel a little safer. I set the mace and the knife right next to me, just in case. It was almost too quiet. I thought about turning on the flashlight and reading, but decided if someone was out there, light would attract them. Instead I rolled over and tried to sleep. I went to sleep thinking of Shep and our last night together. I had hoped that would help me sleep peacefully. I was wrong. I dreamt of my mother.
It was dark, almost too dark to see. I could hear her calling my name, but I couldn’t see her. She didn’t sound panicked or scared, more like she was coaxing me. Trying to get me to go somewhere I didn’t want to go. It was working. I kept following her voice, happy to hear it, not caring where it was leading me. I ended up at a large house. It seemed to appear out of nowhere and was massive. It was old and in shambles. It stood lonely in a clearing, stark white against the black sky. The house frightened me. I stood motionless not knowing where to go when I heard her again. “Lilly May, baby girl, come on, follow my voice, follow me, you will be okay. Just follow me.” I did. I followed the voice right up to the house when suddenly I heard Shep yelling, “No, Lilly it’s a trick!” I stopped and turned, but I didn’t see him. My mother and Shep started to argue over me. I didn’t know who to trust or where to go. Just as I was ready to run to Shep’s voice, my mother appeared, holding out her hand to me, beckoning me inside. Just as we were almost inside she disappeared, and I woke covered in sweat. I kicked the sleeping bag off and sat up, trying to catch my breath. The sun was up and shining.
Neveah Box Series (Neveah Box Set Book 5) Page 3