Lara found a place where she could easily walk into the rushing stream. Her idea was to squat just over the water and relieve herself in the current. The rain fell hard, but under the canopy of thick growth oaks, she had some protection. Still, the water managed to pool and drip in random places atop the canopy and and hit her on the head. As she crouched down, beads of water rolled down her shoulder blades and and channeled itself down the small of her back
She started to shiver while relieving herself. After finishing, she dipped her body into the cold running water, and used her hands to clean herself off.
Even though she was on someone's private property, and even though it was raining, she still found it beautiful and serene, and still felt like she was alone in the wilderness. She could see the house and the barn several yards away through the oak trees.
"This is what I need." She thought to herself.
The water rushed from beneath her, its force stimulating her labia. Lara's head was hung over, facing down towards the water, while her body was tightened trying to generate heat. A constant swoosh of wind and rain blew through the tree canopy, with a steady patter of water droplets tapping the leaves on the ground.
"Lara!" A distant, soft cry echoed.
Lara picked her head up, and listened.
"Lara?"
Again she could barely hear from far away. Lara stood up in the stream, and then walked to the side and climbed up the bank. Now out of the water, her body became more cold. The voice must have come from Nan. She was supposed to come back with a towel.
Back at the house, Julia sat in a reclining chair in the living room, while a warm fire crackled in the fireplace.
"I made you some hot tea, Julia. It'll relax you." The old lady said, setting it down on a coffee table.
"Thanks." Julia smiled.
"I just want to apologize for this afternoon. We just don't get many strangers, and we have to be careful around here."
"Yeah, I understand." Julia answered and smiled.
Julia was beginning to feel a little more at ease being by herself in a stranger's house. The hospitality offered by Nan and her mother was helping. Though, seeing how these two women greeted people with pointed rifles struck her. It wasn't at all like growing up in suburban Charleston.
It was also the first time she had to face this level of adversity without her mother and father.
And there was something strange she detected about this old woman and her daughter. They seemed quite reclusive, no available car, no working telephone... Anything could happen here and no one would know about it.
Lara emerged from the thick growth of oak trees and found Nan several yards away.
"Nan?" She called out.
Nan turned around to look and saw Lara. She walked towards her.
"Where'd you go?" She asked.
"I just did a little exploring in the trees." Lara answered.
"Oh my Lord! You're going to catch a cold out here, especially going around naked!" She said. "I put a towel and some blankets in the barn for you."
"Thanks!" Lara answered.
Lara entered into the barn, with Nan following behind. Lara's body was dripping with water. Her hair completely soaked as if she had just taken a shower, and shivering and shaking uncontrollably.
Nan picked up the towel, opened it up and invited her into it. Lara walked in with Nan wrapping it around her body.
"Here." Nan said.
Lara dried herself off. Nan stood and watched. It felt more warm not having water on her skin anymore. Removing the water off her skin helped make her feel more comfortable. Though, it was still cold in the barn.
"I also put in a new light bulb for you. It's lower wattage so that it don't shine so bright."
"Oh, thank you!" Lara said graciously.
"I don't know how someone goes around with no clothes on!" Nan remarked. "Especially around here!"
Lara began wrapping the towel around her hair. Nan stood by with her hand up to a wall and observed.
"How long you've been doing this?"
"Doing what?" Lara asked.
"This! Going around naked?"
"Well, since I was twelve."
"Twelve! And how old are you now?"
"Eighteen."
"Well heck! Like six years? I guess you get used to it."
Lara began unfolding the blankets. Nan reached down to help. The two laid the first blanket across some broken up bales of hay that Nan had created earlier. Then they laid a second blanket over that, and then followed by a quilt.
"My grandma made this quilt for me when I was young."
Lara had laid down on top of the quilt, opting to settle down before crawling underneath the blankets. She still had the towel wrapped around her hair. Picking up the bag of
cookies next to her, she found a chocolate chip variety and began to
snack.
"Well, I best be getting back inside and checking on Julia. I'll come back in a little bit, OK?"
"OK. Thank you!"
