The House by the Covered Bridge

Growing up in a small town every one knows everything or at least they think so. Not every thing is as it seems. My mom and I would visit an old lady that lived in the victorian house by the covered bridge. Every one thought her a witch that would cast spells on the bridge so people would disappear. No one knew her name but I lovingly called her Oma. I thought everyone crazy, to me Oma was every bit my grandma. She had long silver hair, sharp blue eyes that saw everything. I would go over after school and we would sit in her garden that was by the river. It reminded me of the Seacret Garden that I read so much. Like most gardens it had life of all kinds, plants and animals. Oma would teach me of the plants what they were and could do. Besides birds we would see deer and foxes which was always exciting. One day I was amazed, when having tea a Wolf dark as night with golden eyes and his pup came into the yard. The pup was a mixture of black with white undercoat. His eyes were a deep turquoise, just as the sky before dawn in the West Texas summer , they had specks of gold in them. I was mesmerized. I started walking towards the pup when a low growl was heard. Oma grabbed my arm chuckleing " Honey, wolves are protective of there young and mates. Why don't you head home its getting late." "But Oma he's beautiful can't I pet him?" The pup tilted his head questionly which made me fall in love with him more. "Now Christiana, he is not a pet run home our lessons are done for the day." She chuckled lightly scolding. "Yes, Oma, but will you tell me more about him tomorrow?" "One day my little nymp..." The smell of lilac and lavender fads as I wake up from my dream. " Chris, your going to be late. Aren't you excited to be heading home" my over excited cabin mate shook me. "I'm up Jen, I'm up, get off me." I grumbled. Home that was a laugh, Oma once said I'd find home were the other half of my soul is. Yea still looking so far no soul shattering love, not that I have had time to look. " Chris come on your coffee is getting cold" Jen yelled as she went down the hall. "I'm coming, how can you be so cheerful in the morning" I grumbled heading into the kitchen. Jen standing at the stove making breakfast. Don't get me wrong I love Jen. She's the closest thing I've had to a best friend . " How can you be a grump.?" She shrugged. "Your going home, while I get to finish out here next month and turn over the cabin to the next set of suckers they got from the college." " You know Jen I would rather be here then in the city. I know you would be excited to get back to civilization but out here I'm free." I was the one that grew up in the woods while Jen was miss popularity. We were two completely different people. Yet somehow this year we became friends. " Chris your going to end up an old crone living in a house alone scaring children if you don't mengle here and there. Seriously go to a club or bar or church if anything just get out there."She begged. " Jen, I'm only going to my Mom's till I can get a house after I find a job, which by the way I have an interview in the town on the other side of the mountain. " " Well that's something" She chuckled. " I know you love the woods, and I do too, but I miss the excitement of being in a city. Not just a town and lord knows I couldn't wait to get away from home. If anything this year has taught me is I'm no good in solitude. One more month and I'm going to be partying, dating having fun while I work." " I hope it works well for you Jen" I laughed as she set eggs and burnt toast down on the table sitting in a huff. " You going to visit when you get out of here?" I asked sheepishly. Shock spread over her face, " Well Chris, I thought I'd never see the day when the witch's pet would invite someone over!" She just laughed. " Of course I'll swing by your Mom's, though don't expect me to go to that lady's house it still gives me the creeps." I glared at her, all of a sudden miss princess had to use my nickname from high-school, " You don't know Oma she wouldn't hurt a fly, but fine just don't use that stupid nickname." I said getting up putting my dishes in the sink to soak while I got finished packing. "OK I was just joking shesh. We have a half hour before we have to leave to get to the airport." " Fine, jumping in the shower" I said as I slammed the bathroom door shut. All these years and you would think it wouldn't bother me anymore. Oma was one of the sweetest persons I knew. It always upset me how people treated her. Of corse she would just chuckle and say people fear things that are different. If Jen was right I'd be just like Oma and you know what I would not mind. I stood with the water running over my body as I thought over the past year. Jen and I went to two different colleges after High School both interested in biology and forestry. Yet somehow we both ended up in this cabin for a year internship in the Ozarks. While studying its ends and outs Jen and I got to know one another and came to the realization that on the inside we weren't that different. While on the outside we were night and day. She was the typical cheerleader, brown wavy hair, big doe eyes, and everything in the right places. I hade pin straight dirty blound hair, grey hazle eyes, and about 20lbs overweight according to the bmi scale my drs used. Jen trys to tell me not to worry about it that I look healthy blah, blah, blah. That's like the princess telling the popper she is a princess too. Anyways we finally became friends in this one year threw exploring the forest and doing experiments with the local forestry guys and gals. Today I would be heading back home to being my life as a full fledged graduate. "Time to go back to reality Christiana." I thought , throwing on a pair of well worn flair jeans, white tank, plaid button down I left open and black hiking boots. I threw my hair in a pony tail as Jen knocked on my door. "Hey, girly it's time to roll." I threw the rest of my stuff in my suit case and headed out the door. "Alright Jen let's go." My anxiety rising as I thought of going to Tulsa airport. I hated cities and crowds. So being at the airport is not my idea of fun. As I enter the jeep I look around and see a pair of glowing eyes. They look familiar but just as I think that they disappear. "Hmm I think I'm going crazy" I mumble as Jen turns up the radio leaving the cabin. We sing all the way to the airport. As we pull up to the terminal Jen starts sniffling. " Jen stop crying you can see me any time and call." I chuckled " Chris, I'm just going to miss your morning grumpyness." She sighed. We hugged, said our goodbyes and off I went into the sea of people to go home to a place I'd rather leave behind me. I finally made it to the terminal after an hour in line with tsa, stopping by the suviner store to grab a snack and a drink. I decided to sit by the window. I liked watching the plans coming and going as it distracted me from the people around me. "Excuse me is anyone sitting here" came a very masculine voice that sent a shiver down my spine. Looking up I saw the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. "Umm, a no just me " I mumbled trying to get his piercing ocean blue eyes off of me. Scooting my stuff over as he sat down. "Thanks, I'm Brian" he said holding his hand out. Taking a sharp breath all I smelled was forest and spice, " Um, Chris, You look like your heading to a meeting, not going on vacation." I stumbled. Why in the world would I say that? Yes he was wearing a nice suit but he could be doing a number of things. Mental face palm and why am I so nervous I thought. He just chuckled warmly as he pulled off his silver tie and undid his top button on his blue shirt. " Just heading home from one. You look as if your ready to run in the woods" he said teasingly. OK, yea thats what I get ,ha ha, for making assumptions. Just then my bording group came over the intercom Quickly I got up with a rushed good bye and speed walked to my place in line. The whole time trying not to look back at the eyes staring at me. "Yup definitely going crazy" I mumbled to myself. Once on the plane I headed toward the back going to a window seat. As I sat down I let out a sigh. I started getting settled stowing my shoulder bag grabing my mp3 to listen to music turning my phone on airplane mode. I went to grab my earphones only to realize I didn't have them."No,no no, they have to be here." frantically looking for them in my bag. " Excuse me Chris?" said Brian " I think you're looking for these?" He dangled the earbuds from his fingers chuckleing. I slowly looked up as I blushed, "Thanks," I whispered out grabbing my one life line for the plan ride praying Brian wouldn't sit next to me. He ran his hand threw his dark brown hair that was almost blound on the underside. " What was with the reverse frost tips," I thought. " Do you mind if I sit here we don't half to talk ." He said with a half smile. "Sure" I mumbled putting my earbuds in with a sigh. Then the same sent forest and spice hit me. I look over to see Brian putting his briefcase under the seat. Surly the sent couldn't be from him if so were did he get his colone? With that I layed my head back and closed my eyes. This was going to be a long flight. As I put my briefcase down I caught I wiff of a sent that sturred in the back of my mind, honeysuckle and strawberry. Looking over to the window seat were Chris sat eyes close listening to music, I let a low growl out. Not that anyone on this plane would hear. How was this girl sturring up so much in my mind. She was beautiful no doubt but she was human. I could not get involved with her. My wolf growled at my thought. Hmm that was strange mabey I can get her number before we depart. I glimpsed again at the wild flower beside me and chuckled as she moved her head to the music and the sun sparkling in her hair. " A little nymph" my wolf growled almost like a purr. I couldn't agree more. "My little wild flower nymph" I thought back to him as I settled in for the flight home.