By mid-afternoon, Abby had succumbed to Bella’s prodding and ventured outside for a walkabout. The sun tucked behind a giant cumulus cloud brought shade to accompany her. She felt unenlightened regarding Hidden Haven’s curiosities, as Gita referenced them. She did feel a tug to discover more about the place. Standing in the front yard, Abby deliberated which direction to take. She heard what sounded like a babbling brook to the west, but then an English garden with a rock wall waited to the south. “Which path do I take?”
“That’s easy. The ‘one less traveled,’” answered Nash, coming alongside.
“A fan of Robert Frost has snuck up on me.” Abby twirled around.
“Guilty times two. I confess that The Road Not Taken is a favorite poem of mine. Also, Emerson and I get along pretty well. The rest of the poets and me, not so much.”
Abby nodded. “Poetry is an acquired taste for most of us. At least you chose a message-driven poem.”
“Yes.” His foot kicked away Will’s stray ball.
Abby felt a little flutter as Nash tipped his black cowboy hat’s rim. A vision of him atop a dark stallion and whisking her onto the saddle flashed. Abby admonished her runaway mind and reengaged. “So, what’s on your agenda at this moment?” Her voice sounded breathless. She hoped he hadn’t noticed.
Nash stepped closer. His eyes sparked. “My agenda? Easy. I’ve come to offer my company if you’ve decided on a direction.” He cast a glance around the land. “There’s no wrong choice, Abby. Not here.”
She met his gaze. “That’s an intriguing taunt.” Abby’s fingers tapped her chin while she considered an answer. Extending her arm, she pointed north. “To honor Mr. Frost’s wise teachings, how about we head that way into the woods?”
“Good choice, and it’s certainly less traveled. As a matter of fact, it’s hidden on purpose.” Nash took a sip from his water bottle.
“It’s hidden on purpose? Tell me, does anything mundane or ordinary exist in Charm?” Abby adjusted her small backpack.
Nash released a loud laugh. “Come on, Abby Drake. Let’s go find your true north.” A whistling Nash walked toward the forest.
Abby caught up, bringing more questions. “Could you slow that long-legged pace of yours a tad? And pray tell, explain this hidden-on-purpose business.”
Nash matched his strides to Abby’s. “Better?”
“Yes, thanks. And what about that hidden—?”
“Patience, my lady. Pick up speed if you lack patience. Otherwise, enjoy each step.” Nash stumbled over a tree root on the path and laughed. “Except that kind of step.”
“Okay, I give up trying to get a straight answer out of you.” Abby entered the woods and felt her pulse slow and seem to mellow. The feeling was unfamiliar in her stressful workaday world where lab findings chased deadlines, and expected results often got massaged by others higher up. Charm evoked a calmness of spirit like no other place Abby had visited. How odd that her body seemed simpatico with her spirit. Her mind remained the only holdout.
“Nash, does your pulse rate feel like it’s slowing down? Mine does. Why?”
“Yes, and that’s because your body appreciates exposure to the natural elements which serve to soothe and balance. You’re receiving forest medicine.” Nash’s eyes scrutinized Abby.
“You said forest medicine? Please tell me more.” She felt Charm and Nash’s appeal growing.
“To draw from poet Emerson’s, Nature, ‘In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel nothing can befall me in life, no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving my eyes,) which nature cannot repair.’” Nash halted and turned to Abby. “Well?”
“That’s beautiful, and I quite agree.” She bent down and touched a vivid orange wildflower. “My research has always been with flora, so I’d love to hear about forest medicine. It sounds fascinating.” Abby ambled onward.
Nash’s dimples appeared when he reached Abby. “So, to build on the healing aspects, trees release a substance called phytoncides. Research shows the oils reduce blood pressure and heart rate, which explains your pulse drop, right? Want more?”
Abby’s mouth opened, but a nod was all she could produce.
“The oil can boost immune function and creativity. One of my favorite forest activities, forest bathing, was actually introduced by the Japanese. Being in nature does our bodies good, while urban living depletes life’s essence. Trees heal us. They’re nature’s elixir for our spirit, mind, and especially the body.” Nash inhaled.
“My kind of talk. What else?” Abby sipped from her water bottle.
“Okay, how about this tidbit? Many of us living in Charm enjoy a daily dose of forest medicine.” Nash drew in another deep breath and spread his arms wide. “Care to join me?”
“Certainly.” Abby tucked her bottle away and stretched her arms open, and sighed. She felt her body and mind calm. “Is this forest bathing?” She glanced at Nash, noticing he’d dropped his arms.
“It’s a diluted version. Wait until we get further into the woods. I’ll show you one of nature’s special places to bathe.” Nash motioned for Abby to follow.
She noticed a bird’s loud chirp. He flitted from one tree to another while others who called the woods home added their say. Nature wasn’t silent. Abby tried to tune more into the frequency, the vibration surrounding her. Words seemed like interlopers amongst the wise elder trees. So, she remained quiet and respectful of the company she was keeping.
Nash halted at a stream crossing their path. He turned to Abby. “You have a choice. We take off our hikers and cross here, or we add a half-mile to our trek and cross at a footbridge. What’s your preference?” Nash watched as Abby considered her answer.
She’d tugged off her shoes and socks. “We’re crossers of mountain streams.” She stepped into the water and sucked in a breath. “Geez, that’s cold.”
“Bracing cold.” Nash blew out a breath. His shoes hung around his neck by their laces.
Abby glanced his way. “You’re a crossing pro. I never thought to drape my shoes. Nope, dumb me, I’m carrying mine, so I don’t have a free hand for balancing.” As the words left her lips, she slipped on a moss-covered rock, landing with a splash on her bottom.
Nash came to Abby’s side and pulled her upright. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, bruised ego and a wet backside pretty much cover my status. At least my backpack was spared.”
“Hey, where are you rushing off to?” Nash’s face showed confusion.
“To get behind one of our tall friends and change out of these wet shorts.” Abby waved a dry pair from her pack. “I always hike prepared. Give me two shakes before we continue to what I hope is dry tree bathing. One pair of britches is all I brought.”
Nash nodded, grasping the plan. “Please take note, Ms. Drake. I’m a gentleman who turns his back when a damsel needs her privacy.”
To his word, Abby watched him spin around. She chose to ignore his broad shoulders and how well his jeans fit, which proved she’d managed to lose more precious grip on reality.
“You decent yet? We’re not walking the red carpet. Ours is green and forgiving.”
“Very clever.” Abby passed Nash. “Lose the smirk, mister. Yes, my dignity is restored.” Abby trudged forward on the trail. One question refused her attempt at ignoring. “Want to tell me how you all ended up in Charm? I bet hearing your story would help me understand more about Charm things.” Abby’s smile brightened.
“Understand Charm things? My, you do like to move fast.” Nash gave a sideways grin.
“Time is of the essence,” Abby countered. “Who knows when I’ll get beamed out of here? Come on. Don’t act shy.” The path widened, allowing Abby to walk by Nash’s side.
“Okay, since you asked.” Pain crossed Nash’s face. “Bella’s husband, Jim, was a super cool guy and in the Special Forces. They’d sent his team into Iraq to extract two informants that our country deemed worthy of the risk. Things went wrong. Someone had tipped the bad guys on the mission. Jim managed to get both assets out, but not himself. A week later, Bella, the kids, and I were heading home from his funeral when everything in our lives changed.” Nash hesitated. “Understandably, it had been a tough day for the four of us. I was driving when, same as you, the road detour appeared and directed us into Charm.” Nash looked away, but Abby caught the raw emotion in his expression.
She touched his shoulder, suspecting he was reliving that life-altering moment. “When was the detour? I mean, how long ago?” She faltered, seeking the right words.
Nash paused a tick and gazed into Abby’s eyes. “Almost four years ago.”
Abby offered her hand. He accepted. She wanted to scream, “Are you kidding me? You’ve been here for four years?” Instead, she laced her fingers with Nash’s. “That’s a long time to be away from home.”
Nash continued staring into the woods. “Yes, it is.”
Sensing a mood shift was needed, Abby asked, “Does that mean you’ve been operating in slow gear learning those lessons?” Relieved, she saw his face crack a smirk.
“Nah, more like I’m a savorer of wisdom. Think tortoise and hare. Slow wins the prize.” Nash released her hand. “Let’s keep walking.
“May I continue with questions?” Abby dodged a squirrel showing off a giant acorn.
“If you insist. What else is rattling around in that curious brain?” Nash’s tone lightened.
“So, you all landed in Charm four years ago. It appears you’ve made a success of creating a wonderful home until you get to leave.”
“Remember that it’s a choice whether to leave if the opportunity presents. Gita will explain,” Nash clarified.
“Yes, yes. But still, aren’t you bored?” Abby offered her best attempt at a dazzling smile. She wanted Nash to stay engaged. “I mean, do you work? Surely you aren’t doing these lessons the whole livelong day?”
“Bored? In Charm? Hardly,” Nash scoffed. “I’m working using my gifts, but in a much different manner than before. Gita will—”
“Again with Gita.” Abby cut a grin. “Okay, my questions about life in Charm belong with Gita. Duly noted.”
“I appreciate a fast learner.” Nash held a limb back so Abby could pass.
“Thanks. How about this question—will you leave Charm if the chance presents?” Abby felt a sense of loss thinking about Nash leaving. How could she care about this man in the space of a day? That question she couldn’t toss to Nash, but it would follow her.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. It depends on a few factors I’d rather not discuss.” A somber tone returned to his voice.
Abby felt undeterred. “That tells me you must feel a strong connection to Charm if you’d consider staying. Though, I can understand since Bella and the kids are here.” Abby’s expression changed. “But if you have a wife back home—”
Nash shook his head. “No wife. My life revolved around work. As you can imagine, being an archeologist and geologist, I traveled a lot. When Bella called me with the news Jim had died, I was in Peru with a geologists’ group. We were studying the Norte Chico civilization.”
“The oldest civilization in the Americas?” Abby responded, feeling impressed. “Holy mother of mattocks, but your work sounds riveting.”
“You keep impressing me. First that you know about the Norte, but an archeologist’s tool too?”
Abby tilted her chin upward. “I’m a college of knowledge. I do happen to recall the mattock is used to break up hard ground. During my senior year at college, I did a summer dig in Egypt. Enough on me. Keep talking.”
Nash halted and turned toward Abby. “Know what? I like you more and more, Ms. Drake. Don’t hate me, but I hope you’ll stay with us awhile.”
Abby did a curtsy. “Why, thank you, sir. I’ll make sure to ask Gita if I’m—”
“Touché.” Nash continued their hike. “Back to answering your question. Yes, the Caral Society boasted like thirty major population centers. We focused our archeological studies on how they evolved agriculturally. That’s part of the key work I left behind.” Nash’s words sounded wistful to Abby.
“At least it’s not a broken heart, but still a considerable loss.”
“Right.” Nash went silent but kept his walking pace.
Abby ruminated over how she felt being jerked away from meaningful work and flashed to her lab. Only days ago, she’d unlocked the secret of how to mimic a particular flower’s stem cells to reverse skin aging. It was a find worthy of major recognition. She’d planned to present at the board meeting on Thursday. Her notes and formulas were secured, and she’d told no one. Still, how long before someone discovered the files? Abby gave a long sigh.
“That sigh sounded like the weight of the world heavy,” Nash surmised.
“I suppose. Your left behind story reminded me of mine. I was thinking of my ongoing experiments in the lab and a breakthrough in mimicking…never mind.”
“Sounds very hush-hush,” Nash teased.
“Something like that.” Abby gave a solemn nod. “Let me try another tack. I get that I’m only to ask questions pertaining to you and not others.” A funny thought popped into her head. “Geez, gossip must be a rare commodity in Charm.”
Nash chuckled. “You get one more question because we’re almost at the destination. Make it count.”
Abby didn’t pause to think. Instead, she blurted out, “Are you in a romantic relationship with anyone in Charm?” She halted and glanced around for a deep hole that she might crawl into but saw nothing. She buried her face in her hands. “I’m so sorry. That question came from—”
“Your heart, and breathing Charm’s—well, never mind that part.” Nash went to Abby’s side and pulled her hands away. “Look at me.”
Her face felt sunburned from the color of embarrassment. Abby stole a glance at him. “Please forget I asked that question. I don’t know what made me. I mean, it’s none of my business.” Sensations flooded her body. It was the blasted hat’s fault for making him look like a rakish cowboy. “Really, don’t answer me.”
“There isn’t anyone. There hasn’t been anyone. I haven’t wanted anyone. But who knows, maybe that’s changing. How about you? Got some guy pining away in Crestview?” Nash’s voice sounded husky before his expression shapeshifted to amusement. “Really, don’t answer me,” he parroted.
Abby shook her head. The reply wanting to escape would only add more mortification. She swallowed it. An instant realization needed confirmation. “I have one more quick question. Don’t you dare laugh. Does everyone’s mouth speak so forthright, so truthful, in Charm?”
“Under certain circumstances, yes. It’s another little extra benefit of living here. You’ll get used to it.” Nash proceeded down the path.
“If you say so.” Abby stumbled on a root. “I’m okay. Keep going.”
Gads, she didn’t want Nash knowing she felt some crazy attraction to him. Hells bells, she didn’t want to feel some crazy attraction. What else might fly out of her yap? The thought added another worry to a growing list.