"This used to be my bedroom when I was little." Nan said, leading Julia down a set of stairs into a finished basement. "When my brother moved out, I moved into his bedroom upstairs."
Julia walked to the bed, and sat down.
"It feels nice." She said.
"If you like quiet, it's gets really quiet here. And if you like to read, there's lots of books on that shelf." Nan pointed.
Julia looked around, feeling uncertain. She felt uncomfortable and vulnerable without Lara.
"I bet you must be hungry." Nan asked.
Julia looked at Nan, and cracked a little smile. "I'm OK, thanks."
"Well, we have plenty to eat here, you're more than welcome." Julia smiled again, but soon looked away.
"Why don't I show you the bathroom?" Nan asked.
Meanwhile inside the barn, Lara stood by the door watching the rain pour.
Nan and her mother lived on several acres of land, and it went on and on for as far as she could see. Much of the land was flat and grassy, while on either side were flanks of thick growth oak trees. It was situated atop the Appalachian Mountain Range, on a flat where a stream ran through.
Lara put her hand to her tummy, feeling a movement. Yet, she didn't see any place where she could go. She knew she wasn't allowed in the house unless she opted to wear clothes. She stepped out of the barn and walked into rain yet again, but this time headed for the thick growth of oak trees on the west side of the property.
The rain was falling quite hard, and it didn't take long for her hair to become fully soaked. She walked quickly, running slightly. The water was dripping off her nose and landing on her lower lip. She was either blowing it off, or lapping it up with her tongue.
When she got into the oak trees, there was less rain, but the ground was slippery with a carpet of oak leaves. She walked carefully past several trees, ultimately looking for a place to squat down. But catching her attention was what appeared to be a ditch further ahead, and proceeded towards it. When she got there, it turned out to be the same stream bed that she and Julia had crossed by the dirt road.
Lara found a path down into the stream. The water was about seven feet across, having swollen under last night's rains.
"This is the bathroom." Nan pointed out to Julia. "We don't have a shower, just a tub, but you're more than welcome to use it."
Julia looked, and smiled, feeling shy and uneasy.
"I bet you're ready for a bath." Nan added. "All that walking probably got you tired out."
"There are towels right here on the wall, and there's a box of salts over there, just feel free to soak anytime, OK?"
"OK", Julia answered with a smile. She was starting to feel a little more pampered.
Less than a few weeks on her own, Julia wished she was back at home with her parents. Growing up under the watchful eye of her mother and father had given her sense of security that she never understood until now. Being miles away from home, up in the mountains, in a house with a couple of gun-toting women, left her feeling afraid.
"You didn't bring any clothes with you from the car, did you?" Nan asked.
"Um, I guess I didn't!" Julia replied, embarrassed.
"I have some clothes you can borrow, and we can wash what you got on."
Julia smiled, expressing the modesty she had been raised to feel.
"I think I'm OK." She said.
"Well, you have to get on some clean panties at least. You can't go around unsanitary like that!"
Julia smiled and opened her eyes wide. "Oh, no! I'll be OK, really!" She reassured.
"Oh shoot! I forgot to get that towel for Lara." Nan exclaimed. "Why don't you go make yourself comfortable, and I'll be right back, OK?"
Nan grabbed a fresh towel from the linen closet next to the bathroom, and headed back to the barn.
