Page 10 of These Rough Waters

I wave it off, not saying anything. I’d gone this long without having to converse, I’d keep going longer. But there was something nagging at me, some string being pulled that had questions sitting at the end of my tongue.

Turning my back to the pair, I continue sorting the logs when I hear another set of footsteps. This set I recognized, slightly uneven, a scuff on the left side as if they couldn’t quite lift the foot completely off the floor. Ruthie and her dodgy knee I could hear a mile off.

She tuts loudly, “Torin!”

I ignore her.

“Don’t go acting deaf,” she scolds, “How many times have I told ya, boy?”

Boy?Boy?

She said it every time and yet it still grated on my nerves. I haven’t been aboyin a very long time.

“Just making sure you don’t freeze to death.” I clip back.

I pick up the axe to get working on the second half of the stump, swinging deftly while I hear Ruthie comforting the woman behind me.

“Don’t mind him, Maya,” she says, “He’s just a little reserved.”

My mind whirls at her name…Maya…

I stifle my scoff and let her name roll through my head. Maya. Fitting, I think. Pretty and dainty and elegant…

“Torin,” Ruthie calls for my attention and with a sigh I turn to the woman.

“Yes?”

“Would you mind dropping Maya here at the store? I know you’ll be heading that way after this, you always do.”

“It’s okay!” Maya blurts, “Really, I’ll walk.”

“Rain’s coming sweetness,” Ruthie says, not taking no for an answer, “Torin can take you and when he’s done doing what he’s doing, he can pick you up, ain’t that right, Torin?”

I grumble, “Be ready in ten. You’re late and I leave without you.”

Ruthie was, and always will be, a meddler.

Even when Grace was alive, she meddled. Even now she’s dead, she meddles.

“I – oh okay,” Maya breathes.

“I’ll keep Harper here,” Ruthie says, “Show her how to feed the chickens and collect the eggs, you’ll like that wouldn’t you?”

“Yes!” Harper squeals.

With a sigh, I listen to them leave.

How the fuck I managed to get myself into this shit when all I wanted to do today was get this wood chopped, tend to the graves at the small cemetery and then get out on my boat to fish. Now I was a damn taxi to a woman who stowed away on a stranger’s boat.

After I’ve piled the logs in the hut and put away my gear I head back into the lodge, I was covered in dirt and dust, sweat on my skin and leaving prints on Ruthie’s shined wood floor. Served her right for putting me in this position in the first place.

But the woman isn’t late. She’s back in the foyer within the allotted ten-minute time frame, doting on her daughter. She seemed reluctant to leave her, but she does eventually, looking over her shoulder to ensure the girl was safe, rather than where she was going in front of her.

I could move.

Step out of the way to avoid the collision. But I don’t.

Maya runs right into my chest, her tiny frame bouncing off of my much larger one except when she stumbles to the point of almost falling, I reach out and grab her, my hands curling around her arms to keep her from falling on her ass.

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