Page 12 of Curvy Girl and the Mountain Man Wolf
It is beautiful. I've seen this view hundreds of times, in all seasons, and it never fails to remind me why I chose this isolation. The vastness of it, the untamed wildness, the absence of human impact. But seeing Lois and Lily taking it in, their faces alight with wonder, adds a new dimension to the familiar landscape.
"Try your phone here," I say, pulling myself back from dangerous thoughts. "This is the best spot for reception."
Lois pulls out her phone, watching the signal bars anxiously. One bar appears, then two. "It's working!" she exclaims, quickly dialing a number.
I move a few steps away, giving her the illusion of privacy, though my enhanced hearing means I can hear both sides of the conversation clearly.
"Cedar Falls Elementary, this is Margaret," a brisk female voice answers.
"Hi, Margaret, this is Lois Sinclair," Lois says, her voice taking on a professional tone I haven't heard before. "I had an interview scheduled for yesterday with Principal Collins?"
"Oh, Ms. Sinclair! We were worried when you didn't show up or call. Is everything alright?"
"I'm so sorry about that," Lois explains. "My car broke down on the mountain road during the snowstorm. I've been... stranded."
"Oh my goodness! Are you safe? Do you need us to send help?"
"No, no, I'm fine," Lois assures her. "A local... resident took us in. We're safe and warm. I just wanted to explain why I missed the interview and see if there's any possibility of rescheduling?"
There's a pause on the other end. "Let me check with Mr. Collins. Can you hold?"
"Yes, of course."
While Lois waits, Lily wanders over to me, her face bright with cold and excitement. "This is the highest I've ever been!" she declares. "I can see forever!"
I find myself smiling at her enthusiasm. "Not quite forever," I correct gently. "But pretty far."
"Does the wolf come up here too?" she asks, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret.
I glance at Lois, still waiting on her call, then back to Lily. "Yes," I tell her quietly. "The wolf comes everywhere on this mountain."
Lily nods, satisfied with this answer. "I knew it. The wolf watches over everything, doesn't it? Like a guardian."
The child's insight is uncanny. My wolf does exactly that. Patrols the boundaries of my territory, watches over the land, protects it from threats. Guardian is a better word than I would have chosen.
"Something like that," I agree.
"Ms. Sinclair?" Margaret's voice comes back on the line. "Mr. Collins says he'd be happy to reschedule your interview for next Monday at 10 AM. Would that work for you?"
Lois's relief is palpable, even from where I stand. "Yes, that would be perfect. Thank you so much for understanding."
"Of course! We're just glad you're safe. The roads should be cleared by the weekend, but please be careful coming down the mountain."
"I will. Thank you again."
Lois ends the call, turning to me with a brilliant smile. "They rescheduled! I haven't lost the opportunity."
Her joy is infectious, and I find myself smiling back. "Good. That's good."
"It's more than good," she says, coming to join Lily and me at the viewpoint. "It's a second chance. I really need this job, and Cedar Falls seems like the perfect place for a fresh start."
A fresh start. Isn't that what I sought when I came to this mountain? A clean break from my past, from the violence andthe loss of control? But my fresh start meant isolation, solitude. Hers means community, building a new life.
Two very different paths.
"We should head back," I say, suddenly eager to be moving again. "The temperature drops quickly once the sun starts to descend."
Lois nods, taking Lily's hand again. "Lead the way."
