"Truck won't start," he said. "Cell phone won't work, either. I need to use your phone."
"Fine, come in." She showed him the phone and then escaped the room, but stood by the door.
"I know what I'm doing," he mumbled. "No, let me handle it. Okay. Fine. I got it." When the phone clicked, Caitlin hurried to the table where she thumbed through the mail.
"Is someone coming?" she asked.
Scott remained quiet. When she turned, the pain filtering through his eyes met her. Layers of hurt and misery filled him. "Talk to me," she said, her heart suddenly opening to this man.
"What am I supposed to tell you?" He looked at her as if looking through her and seeing something he did not like.
"Why are you here?" she said moving towards him, her hand reached out. "It's only important to me." He took off running down the drive. When the screen door finally slammed shut, Caitlin shivered. She truly believed she was in a nightmare; one she could not awaken from. With a deep breath she went outside but refused to chase him. It would get her nowhere but more confused. He held the answers, but he refused to talk.
"Let him go. You'll do nothing but hurt each other and Garrett."
Inside the kitchen, the cast iron skillet banged on the stove. "These men are driving me insane," she said, cracking the eggs in the skillet. "Think they can come in here and do all the work and protect me. Kiss me when they want; ignore me the other times. They don't know me."
She tossed the eggs onto the plate and ate without tasting them.
"Any left?"
"No and the kitchen is closed." She went out the back door, ignoring the tall, lean man who rested his shoulder against the doorframe, just the way her granddaddy had done every morning. He had no right being here with his rude, arrogant ways. As she walked and walked, mumblings grew louder until her voice shrieked. "Life was never this confusing or complicated." The fishing pond lay ahead and it proved amazing she had traipsed two miles. Leaves floated on the water, letting the breeze steer them. "How simple it seems," she said. "Yet, life offers distractions and confusion. How do I let nature lead me?"
The wind picked up and the trees played their own symphony with many crescendos. During the softer passages, Caitlin immersed herself in the moment, forgetting her woes, frustrations, and doubts. Grandma Emmaline's voice spoke in the music, "Don't force your decisions. Let time show you the path that is best for you. Don't let others steer you in any direction."