CHAPTER 4
Aidan
I watched her leave as the air left my lungs. I knew that it was best, but I wanted to talk all night with her about this tradition of hers and see her eyes light up with excitement while she talked about all that she wanted to do. I understood that this was similar to being a teenager in a normal household with the usual experimentation, but for Elsa, it was a journey. She was going to see things that she would never see here in her safe surroundings, and I noticed in her body that she craved that. There was a part of me that wanted to urge her just to stay here and stay safe because a lot could happen out there to a sweet innocent girl such as herself.
I thought about the men that she would encounter in her journey, men like me that would want to touch her. I thought about the harm that could come to her and keep her from living life as I paced the floor and walked to the door to look through it.
It was as if she was never here at all. The night was quiet, and the house dark, and I closed the barn door gently before I walked over to the hay bale where the thick pillow and blanket was as I sat down and ran my hands down my leg.
When I was dismissed from the Army, I thought my life was over, and doctors only made me see that more with their diagnosis of cancer. I had lost so much already, and I didn’t see any point in going on until I came here.
I didn’t know what I could do for Elsa, but I knew that I wanted to make her life better. I knew that I wanted to make a difference in her life, if only for a moment.
I sat on the hay and leaned back as I looked out of the small window into the night sky. I felt my mind tormented with thoughts as I reached for my pills and shook two into my hand before I took a swallow of the water that I’d brought out with me. I hoped that they would bring me some peace and some much-needed sleep as I settled back against the pillow and lost myself in the quiet night.
I was dressed in jeans and a button up shirt when I heard the rumble of an engine the following day. I left the barn and took a deep inhale of the fresh morning air as I walked over to the driveway to see a tow truck parked behind my car. “Morning.”
“This is a great car you’ve got here,” the guy said as he looked it over and then looked around slowly. “This is where she broke down, huh? How was that for you?”
“It’s different; that’s for sure,” I admitted as I reached into the car and pulled the handle to crack the hood. “I just lost all power and made it here in this driveway. It’s not like there’s a shop close by and it was near supper time when that happened.”
“It sounds like it could be the battery or some connection to me. Let’s take a look.” The kid was a little younger than me, and he seemed anxious to get under the hood as I gave him a knowing smile. We both leaned over, and I felt eyes on me as we chatted about various aspects of the motor and the car as I tossed a glance towards the kitchen window. I saw someone standing there, and I grinned before I turned back towards the car and continued to talk to the driver.
We determined that it was the battery, and he asked me if I wanted to hop in and go to the shop a few miles away to grab a new one with him. I nodded and gave another look towards the house before I climbed in, and he started the engine.
“Have you heard about their tradition where they get to run off for a time?” I smiled as I remembered Elsa talking about it.
“Yeah, I’ve heard a little about that. I suppose it’s no different that things that other kids do without all of the pomp and circumstances,” I casually replied as I glanced over at him. I’d done plenty of running around with several different women in my life, and I’d seen a lot of things over the years, some of which I’d rather forget. “I reckon that you see a lot of that living around here.”
“Sure have,” he stopped at the light and looked over at me. “These girls are all wide-eyed and eager. Mama raised me to take care of folks, so I never take advantage, but there was one once.” He shook his head. “She was different; you know? I hated to see her go back home, but I’ll never forget her. Do you have anyone like that?”
“I do,” I replied, knowing that Elsa was the one on my mind the most at the moment. “It’s hard to see them go.”
We introduced ourselves to one another at the local car shop, and I found out that his name was Todd and that he’d just turned twenty-one years old. I was already on the front lines by that age, and I took in his soft hazel eyes that hadn’t seen the things that mine had and tried to draw just a bit of his innocence into my veins to feel it for just a moment. We walked inside, and I stepped up to the counter to ask for a battery for my car, which took a few minutes as they scrambled around to my amusement.
You mention a classic car in a room full of testosterone, and they lose their minds. It was always something to see for me. We secured the battery, and I placed it on the seat between us as we headed back to my car. It's been tested there already so I was certain that it was ready to go, which meant that I’d be leaving myself soon.
It was tempting to stay here for a few more days and take in the calm surroundings and a lot more of Elsa. I had a few stops to make over the next week or so visiting so I should just head out this morning. This week of driving the highway Had been one of the most peaceful of my life and staying here appealed to me as much as continuing my journey.
We pulled into the driveway within a few moments, and he got the battery installed and stood back as I started the engine with a smooth turn of the key. It roared to life, and he grinned widely as I shut her down and got out to pay him for the trip out along with a generous tip. I watched Todd drive away with a wistful smile for the country boy that he was and that I knew I would never be.
I headed to the barn for my small bag with the few things that I needed and placed it on the seat of the car as I heard the bell ring for breakfast. It seemed late in the day for that, and I sighed as I started to twirl my keys in my hand.
I was headed to the house to thank them for their kindness as the door opened and Elsa stepped out onto the stoop in a fresh soft yellow dress with her white ruffled apron and bonnet secured to her body. Her hair was pulled into a low bun with the few curls that always seemed to slip out of any hairdo that she had. “Breakfast is ready, Aidan.” She smiled, and I pictured her hair loose around her shoulders as they’d been the night before with a soft smile. “Come on inside and eat something before you head out.” She seemed nervous, and I watched her rock back and forth on her feet before I slipped the keys into my pocket and walked around to lock the doors of the car before I followed her inside.
How could I not? I took in her slim waist and greeted the family as I took the seat beside her for a change with a grin. I saw the look that her brother had given me before he reached for her hand and they said their morning prayer as she rested her soft palm in my large hand.
It felt like everything that I’d ever wanted in my life.