Page 9 of The Calling of Caellaias
I quirked my head and worried my lip ring, trying to place just how old she was. How many years could she have really lived here on her own?
She folded her hands in her lap as our eyes met again. “I’ve tried hard to make this cabin feel like home for so long. My family abandoned me many years ago. I don’t go into town often, either.”
“I’m sorry to hear about your family. I couldn’t imagine. What about the previous tenants of my cabin? Did you ever talk to them?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to just dump all of that on you,” she said, lowering her gaze to her hands as her cheeks reddened. “There hasn’t been anyone in your cabin for several years, and before that, I rarely saw anyone there. I think it was someone’s secondary vacation home.”
“Interesting. It’s in pristine condition. It doesn’t seem like it’s been vacant at all. Why don’t you go into town?”
“Well, um, I’m not really a people person. Big crowds make me nervous and uncomfortable.” She took a deep breath and looked back up at me. “That’s enough about me for now. Let’s get to the real reason you came here. What would you like to know about the area? Exploring the woods is one of my favorite things to do. I’ve visited every inch of them.”
“Honestly, I’d love to hear anything you’re willing to share.”
“I’d love to tell you all I know, but I have a feeling you’d appreciate it even more if you could experience it. Maybe, once you’re feeling settled and rested enough, we can venture out together, and I can introduce you to the area.”
“That would be amazing!”
“Perfect! Why did you choose this area to move to?”
“Well, I’m a biological engineer who focuses mainly on agriculture. The cabin was perfect for my needs; with several garden plots outside and a massive greenhouse attached to it, I’ll have plenty of space to runmy experiments. I was hired by a Colorado-based company—Vision for the Future—to run experiments using a special additive that hasn’t yet been released to the public.”
“That’s interesting. What kind of additive is it?” she asked, head tilted to the side.
“Well, it’s a liquid full of nutrients you can add to soil. Soil typically needs several different nutrients—potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and manganese, to name a few—to grow plants well. Several of the liquid additives on the market boast their use of the first three, but my company wants to see how well plants grow with higher levels of manganese, too.”
“So the nutrients in the additive are already in the soil, just not in the concentrations you’re using, right?”
“Correct. I’ll be using the additive in controlled environments—the garden plots and pots inside my greenhouse. It shouldn’t harm the existing plants or soil, but I don’t know for sure yet, so I’m trying to err on the side of caution. I’d also like to keep the animals in the area away from it, just in case.”
“That sounds like a great idea. Most of the animals stay away from humans around here, but you can never be too careful.”
“Absolutely. What kinds of animals are there around here?”
“We have a lot of rabbits, deer, and foxes running around. There are also some bears and wolves around, too. So just be careful about going out too far.”
My heart rate spiked at the thought of running into a bear. They’re massive creatures and could easily rip a person to shreds. I shivered at the thought.
“Are there any plants I should be wary of?” I asked.
“Not really. The usual poison ivy, stinging nettle, and poison oak are around, but they’re not super common.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for those. Thank you!”
We sat there for a moment in silence, sipping our drinks. Then she asked, “Where are you moving here from?”
“I’ve spent my whole life in Connecticut. Most recently, I was living just outside the capital—Hartford. It was beautiful, but way too busy for me. I hate the hustle and bustle of city living; I needed the peace and quiet of the outdoors. That’s another reason I chose the cabin.”
“That makes sense. I also grew up in a busy area, so I get it.”
“Oh. So you didn’t grow up around here?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She stilled, and her eyes grew wide. “Um, no. I didn’t, but when I was able to get away, this was my escape. I’ve always loved it here.”
“Well, I’m glad you were able to find your escape. Do you mind sharing it? Because this may very well be my escape, too.”
She huffed out a laugh as she rolled her bottom lip into her mouth. When she released it, she said, “I don’t think I’d mind sharing it with you.”
I took another sip of my water and looked out the window, trying to hide my flushed cheeks. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and splotches of rain dotted the glass. The sky was dark and cloudy.Had the sun already set? How long had we been talking?
