Tuesday Tales Traipsing Through a Field
Without further ado...please see my snippet with "field" as the prompt word.
Owen’s voice became uncharacteristically gruff. “I said I
would be okay, I’m a grown man. Dammit, you aren’t my mother.”
Caleb stomped off. “Sure, you’re okay, don’t come griping to
me when you get cancer or some radioactive sickness.” He yelled ahead to the
girls. “Owen’s gonna stay here in the weeds and get ticks. He said never mind
about him.”
The breeze settled through the brush and dipped low,
providing relief from the heavy air. Pearl smiled at Owen and offered him a
bottle of water. “Thirsty? Looks like you guys have been hiking for most of the
day.”
He accepted the refreshment gratefully. “It’s been a busy
morning.”
“Have you found anything suspicious out here? I mean, you are
looking for something, I assume.”
“We are looking for evidence of paranormal activity.” Owen
fiddled with a lace on his shoe. “I guess you’d say we investigate the
sometimes unbelievable.”
“I’ve seen plenty in these woods.” A bead of sweat fell into
a drop down Pearl’s temple. “But, I know how to handle myself.”
“You do…don’t you, Pearl? How is that? You are always alone,
almost isolated…at least anytime I’ve seen you.”
“You can’t count on people to cut you a fair deal, I’ve had
to make friends with nature. There’s nothing in these woods that would hurt
me.”
Owen plucked a wild oat from in front of him. He chewed the
end thoughtfully. “I want a chance to prove you wrong.”
“Prove me wrong? Excuse me Ghostbuster, but, I do believe I know this swamp better than you do
and I don’t plan to get hurt just to see you point and giggle.”
Owen removed the thin weed from his mouth. “No, that’s not
what I meant. I want a chance to prove you wrong about people, Pearl. I want to
be your friend.”
“You don’t know me from Jack the Ripper. Why would you wanna
be friends with a person like me?”
Owen shrugged and adjusted his ball cap. “You aren’t a
serial killer type, you seem to have much in common with me and I would like to
be one human you can count on.”
“Count on you for how long, Owen? A week maybe? How long are
you here for?” She cocked her head and adopted a questioning look. “We become
best friends for a week so you can leave me? That makes so much sense.”
The air became heavy again while the billows rolled in over
the warming sun. The rustling of bamboo, vines, and fresh new spring leaves
completed the scene. Pearl raised her face upward, taking in the scant rays
peeking through cottony clouds. “I’m fine with being alone, Owen. Don’t ask me
too many questions, and I’ll do the same for you. We can hang out and talk
while you’re here. I’ll be a part of your little conditioning experiment.”
Pearl then scowled. “But, don’t expect too much from me. It ain’t a field of
daisies walking in my huaraches.”
the Critter Getter series Goodreads
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