81 Breaking The Wall Between Them
1221 Words
“You’re too loud,” Noah warned as a smirk appeared on his face. “Soon, they’ll know we’re hiding.”
Joanna cupped her hand over her mouth, the mischievousness running around her eyes.
“Uhm,” Fitch didn’t know what to say. Noah observe him clean his behind, a few fallen leaves stock on his pants.
Cora stared at his outreached hand for a second, but then she let out a sigh. Grabbing his hand, Cora slowly stood from where she was seated, her face contorting into a smile.
The blush spread on Fitch’s face despite the light of the flashlight giving them illumination.
Tilting her head to the side, Cora considered him for a second. She watched him go uneasy, her hand still on his.
“What’s the matter?” she asked as her eyebrows furrowed, “you look beet-red,” she remarked.
“Uhm, that’s—” Fitch swallowed the lump on his throat, “—because I wasn’t asking you to hold my hand.”
With wide eyes, Cora tipped her head down, her eyes catching their entwined palms.
Noah watched as her face turn form collected, to panic. She looked flushed, and the red on her cheeks spread around.
Cora hurriedly turned around to hide her face in her palms, “I—I didn’t mean it,” she reasoned. “I though you were asking me to stand!”
Fitch ran a hand through his hair, “What?” he hollered in disbelief.
Silence engulfed them within a second.
Joanna and Noah looked at each other. The both of them had been holding their laughter for seconds now. They couldn’t bring themselves to come out of their hiding places—not until the situation between Cora and Fitch’s awkwardness dies down.
“I thought we were going to shake hands,” Fitch said as he stood near the yellow tent Noah recognized to be his.
Cora fretted, her fingers fondling the hem of her jacket. She didn’t say anything, but Noah guessed she was growing relaxed as her fondling ceased.
Turning her head to the side, she peered at Fitch, the pout obvious on her lips, “Really? I thought you were helping me stand…”
Fitch’s eyebrows furrowed, a line appearing between them. Then, his mouth dropped.
Taking two big strides to where Cora is, Fitch stood a step behind her.
“We were apologizing to each other, so I thought that we should seal it with shaking hands.”
“Really?!” Joanna mouthed to Noah. “Your friend is so traditional and cute at the same time.”
Noah decided it was now the right time to reveal themselves.
So, he crawled back to the path. He gestured to Joanna, and the brunette made her way to him.
Walking more evidently, the two of them began speaking in loud voices.
“Ah, that was tiring!” Noah began, a grin on his face. “We shouldn’t have explore the stream below!”
They walked pass the bush they were hiding at, Joanna snickering behind the stack of logs she was carrying. “Yeah, you’re right. Oh, hey!” she waved at Cora who now had a small smile playing on her lips.
Fitch, on the other hand, inspected the tents that they had set-up.
“Are you enjoying this camping trip?” asked Joanna as she gently laid down the logs they have gathered for campfire.
“Quite chilly here, but—” he eyes lingered on Fitch’s broad back, “—it’s fun.”
Noah had the cub laid down on the grass near the fire they were about to build.
“What is that?” Cora asked as she kneeled down before it, “some sort of animal?”
Fitch walked to where they were. He stopped beside Noah, “Welcome back,” he patted Noah’s back.
Noah nodded as he gestured to the animal before them, “I’m bringing this bear back home,” he proclaimed as Fitch’s eyes widened.
“What?!” he shouted near Noah’s ear. Noah took a step backward as Fitch began explaining the dangers of owning one as a pet. “Do you even know it’s illegal here to make it as your pet?!”
Noah waved his hand in dismissal, “Yeah, yeah. I would have to consult more lawyers for this baby.”
“Animals were following him everywhere,” Joanna reiterated, “and I find it odd.”
“You mean to say that the animals are tailing him?” Cora looked back and forth between the two of them.
Noah didn’t give much thought about it since animals weren’t really that big deal when he began working on his Stream Ranch. Later on, his speculations of the Magic Ball would be proven wrong.
The camping ended with Fitch and Cora’s wall breaking apart. As for Noah and Joanna, the distance they had established between the two of them grew closer than ever.
Cora was less guarded around Fitch. According to Fitch, they have been getting along on what restaurant to eat.
The moment they went back arrived at the farmhouse, Noah made arrangements for the retrieval of the gray cattle back at the mountain. In addition, the stream that he and Joanna discovered as the shortcut. Joanna’s hunch of it leading back to the Stream Ranch proved correct. With that, Thomas immediately sent a team of men to hunt and bring back the gray cattle to the ranch.
On the same day, they managed to safely transport the cattle to the pen Noah assigned it be placed. He also reminded Thomas that he was to transport the said animals to the farm he had for breeding. Without asking any questions, Thomas arrange for the transportation of the animals to Noah’s place downtown.
The week went by in a blur, and Noah found himself having dinner with Joanna every once in a while. They would talk about the most random stuff, and Noah enjoyed spending his weekends with food, wine, and Joanna’s talk about life, hobbies, and work.
He could say that her presence made everything worthwhile. Although Diana’s face would come by when Snowflake would ran his way. He would bury the thought in the black box inside his mind. He wouldn’t let it resurface again. He promised the woman—even if she hadn’t heard it—that she would respect her decision even if it hurt him the most.
Joanna was there to cheer him up, and she knew about what happened. He hadn’t told anyone but her. Noah was ashamed of the fact that he had to tell it to a previous lover, but Joanna accepted everything he poured in front of her.
He vowed that when the time came, he would return her feelings and effort. For now, he would have to learn how to let go of the memory Diana. That said, it also meant that he was looking forward to the time where Diana’s image in his mind wouldn’t put an ache in his heart.
It’s a quiet Friday night, and Noah just finished asking for the bill.
Joanna was finishing up the shortcake she had for dessert.
Noah observed the way she ate. When her fork lands near her mouth, Noah wondered how she was able to make it seem like being refined and lady-like her movements are. From the way she dabs the napkin to her mouth, to the way she chews the cake, Noah can say Joanna was indeed a lady of class.
“By the way,” he said as he lighted the cigarette on his mouth, “would you like to come with me?”
Joanna stopped midway in eating her cake. She raised a shaped eyebrow, “Where to?” she tilted her head as if she was suggesting something.
Of course, Noah grasped her implication. He blew out smoke opposite of Joanna’s direction.
“To a nearby resto-bar. Brice and I will have a couple of drinks while we talk about his business.” He looked her straight in the eye.
- Writer
