Chapter 90 Chapter 90
Shaelan took the free time Nona had given her to walk around the village. A lot had changed while she was away, but in some ways, it would never change, she knew that. She loved her home, and most of the people in it—there was just something she couldn’t put her finger on that made it feel out of sorts all the time. She couldn’t see herself anywhere else, but didn’t always want to be here either.
There were many new buildings she’d have to familiarize herself with. Wouldn’t be good if the healer got lost when she was needed. She hadn’t asked Nona what the head count was now, but she was guessing their little village was large enough to warrant the title of small town. However, to be a town, it would have to have a name, which to her knowledge it didn’t. It was just ‘the village’.
Despite being secluded, there was a store with basic items you’d find in any other store, only more rustic, without things like slushy machines and other fancy automations. They had power, so it was possible, just too frivolous. Their power came from wind and water, which wasn’t always constant, so there were times of lights out early to let the storage systems recharge. The endless power she saw when she was away had been a marvel. So too was the shower, the water pressure was unlike anything she’d experienced, and if she could admit to missing one thing in that other place… that would be it.
Pausing, she glanced in the store window and watched a small boy giving his mother his best ‘please’ smile for some of the homemade candy. Almost every family here crafted items to contribute to the store, along with whatever was shipped onto the mountain.
Money for the collective fund for the village was also made by selling the wares to a broker on the other side of the mountain.
Shae had often wondered where the knowledge for all of this had come from, the power, water, even brokering items… If no one left the mountain, how did they know about wells and windmills… and everything else? They didn’t have telephones or televisions, and sadly there was no internet up here, so how? It was just one more question that made her feel this place had secrets. Question was, did she want the answers or was ignorance the better route? She’s pondered this frequently since being old enough to understand such things.
Stopping, she sat on a bench near the meeting hall, just to observe everyone. With her years of training, she’d been excluded from much, but was content with just watching people. It could be quite entertaining.
So many faces she recognized as she looked around. Since her return though, she had noticed so many that seemed… different, for lack of a better description. Many held wary expressions in their eyes, even with the fake smiles on their faces. She’d even seen fear and couldn’t imagine a reason for it. She was going to have to catch up to her two gossiping aunts and see what she had missed in the last few years, maybe the fear was warranted and she should be aware.
She paused to watch a teacher go by with a six or so rambunctious middle school children. Had she and Billie been that excited at that age? Probably, maybe even worse. In Shae’s mind the best age was around six or seven when everything was fresh and not serious.
Most of the children were like her, with dark complexions, and hair—actually for the most part the entire community was like that, the few with lighter hair and skin tone always stood out. She was sure there was a story there too.
During her pre-teen years, she’d had a crush on a boy with blue eyes and red hair… her father had put a stop to that, forbidding her to hang around with him. To this day, she still didn’t understand why. His family was respectable, he wasn’t a bad child, so why? Shae sighed, Billie may have been right in that her father was some sort of racist, or at the very least prejudiced against those that didn’t fit the ‘norm’. It wouldn’t surprise her if it were the truth. He didn’t even approve of his own daughter.
As if he’d somehow heard her thoughts, the door at the hall opened and out walked her father. With him was a man around Shae’s age, that her father seemed to never be without since she’d come back. They were together each time she’d seen her father outside of the home he and her mother lived in. Maybe he was an assistant of some sort her father was training. He was many things in her mind, but she still respected the fact he oversaw the entire community.
They were in deep discussion over something that looked quite serious. It dawned on her then, they looked so much alike, Brock could have been his son… her brother. She cringed at the thought. Just her over-active imagination again, as Nona liked to call it. Brock was no different then she was with her dark hair and dark eyes, although there was something about him that made her skin crawl. He never had any emotion in his eyes, they were always cold when she’d seen him.
Getting up, she decided to go before they noticed her. She didn’t get two feet before her father’s voice boomed behind her.
“Shae.”
Turning, she smiled as they walked to her. Hey, Dad, hug? Neither returned the smile. In fact, almost identical, cold expressions were on their faces.
“I heard someone fell out of a tree.”
I’m great, dad, how are you? Had he even asked her that since she’d come home? “Yes, a few of the boys were climbing and one of them fell. His wrist is fractured, but not badly. It should heal without any issues.” She tried not to react to the critical look he was giving her as he noted her wearing jeans and not a skirt like most of the women here.
“Good.”
She stood there with a plastic smile on her face, hands clasped in front of her. Looking up into his eyes. Shae wasn’t a short person at five foot eight, but her father still seemed to tower over her, adding to his menacing aura.
“I heard you were in the yards this morning. I don’t want you going there unless Nona is unable.”
What was with that place? Seriously. “It’s part of my job.” She tried to sound nonchalant and keep the snarky tone out of her voice. She’d learned the hard way years before that tone only got her back-handed, although she doubted he’d do it in front of someone. He continued to glare at her, she felt colder from his expression. “Nona wanted me to know my way around in there. Just in case.” It was a reference to Nona’s age. Actually, she and Nona had been using it for years to shut people up about Shae helping on calls. There was nothing physically wrong with Nona, thank the stars for that, but making people believe she could leave this world unannounced at any moment always distracted others long enough for Nona and Shae to get away with little things.
He gave her an abrupt nod. “Just don’t go in there unescorted.”
Why he thought she’d want to go hang out at the jail for any reason other then to administer medical attention, she couldn’t even fathom. “Of course.” She gave him her best I’m-a-dumb-obedient-girl smile hoping he’d dismiss her so she could go anywhere but here.
“Your mother and aunt are going up the hill to visit with Nona tonight, you need to be there.” Without waiting for an acknowledgment, he turned and the two walked away.
Sure thing, Dad! I love you too. Heaving out a breath, she spun around to go back in the direction of Nona’s. One thing was for sure, she never regretted the day she moved up on the ridge with Nona-Eve. She loved and missed her mother, but the cold aura that surrounded Shae whenever her father was near, she did not miss.