to think of what she might be talking about and wishing he’d paid a little more attention when she’d been speaking.
“Do you want to take me to see the troupe perform?”
“Uh…” Errol raised a hand to his forehead and gently massaged his temples. This was a complication he didn’t want to deal with right now – especially given his relationship with Gale. “I don’t think I’ll have time to take in the sights from the standpoint of a spectator. I’m likely to have my hands full keeping an eye on the performers the entire time they’re here.”
“So you’ll be around then.”
He shrugged. “I suppose – ”
“Great! Then I’m sure I’ll see you there.” With that, she gave him an unexpected hug and a kiss on the cheek.
She still had her arms around his neck when a subtle cough sounded from the doorway. Errol glanced over, and saw the last person he wanted to observe him like this: Gale.
Tall and lovely, she stood there in the doorway, almost completely still in a flowery summer dress that highlighted her figure. In her hands, she held what appeared to be a freshly-baked pie. Her fiery red hair was done up, except for a curly strand that fell down either side of her face to her cheeks. Her features, always comely, were highlighted by a gentle touch of rouge. It had taken Errol awhile to realize it – mostly because he had previously considered her a temperamental shrew – but Gale Beverly was quite beautiful.
Errol quickly disengaged himself from Talia. Gale didn’t speak, but her cold blue eyes conveyed everything she felt about the situation. Talia, wilting under that stare, excused herself and gently squeezed by Gale (who still stood unnervingly still in the doorway) and left. The only movement by Gale came when she subtly cut her eyes to the side as Talia slipped by her, and then she turned her gaze back to Errol.
Neither said anything for a moment – Gale because she was clearly vexed, and Errol because he simply didn’t know what to say. Gale had been with him when he’d defeated the Wendigo, saved his life in fact, as he had saved hers during that same episode. Thus, they had a definite bond, but beyond that their relationship was complicated.
He had always considered her – like the other women in her family – an overbearing nag, and it was clear that she’d always found him to be an irresponsible ne’er-do-well. It had taken their adventure with the Wendigo for them to learn to see valuable qualities in each other. He now viewed her in a much different light than before, but in fulfilling his duties as Warden, he hadn’t had much time to devote to other pursuits.
Letting out an odd little sigh, Gale finally stepped inside. She walked over to the table where Errol took all his meals and set down the pie she was holding. The delicious smell of cinnamon wafted over to him, almost making his mouth water.
“It’s apple,” she said. “I know it’s one of your favorites, so I thought it would be a nice welcome-back present for you after a week in the Badlands.” She then turned and prepared to leave.
“It’s not what you think,” he said to her back, making her stop.
“Then what exactly is it?” she asked, turning to him.
“She was all excited about the troupe that’s come to town. She simply got in a tizzy about that and gave me a hug.”
“So she came all the way to the Warden Station just to give you a hug because some performers are in town?”
“She just showed up,” he said. “I didn’t expect her or invite her.”
“Just like me.”
“That’s different and you know it.”
“No, I don’t know. So tell me.”
As usual, when it came to discussing personal things between him and Gale, Errol was at a loss for words. When it became clear after a few moments that he wasn’t going to say anything, Gale went on.
“Well, since you don’t have anything to say on the matter,” she said, “let me tell you what I know.”
She began walking slowly
“Do you want to take me to see the troupe perform?”
“Uh…” Errol raised a hand to his forehead and gently massaged his temples. This was a complication he didn’t want to deal with right now – especially given his relationship with Gale. “I don’t think I’ll have time to take in the sights from the standpoint of a spectator. I’m likely to have my hands full keeping an eye on the performers the entire time they’re here.”
“So you’ll be around then.”
He shrugged. “I suppose – ”
“Great! Then I’m sure I’ll see you there.” With that, she gave him an unexpected hug and a kiss on the cheek.
She still had her arms around his neck when a subtle cough sounded from the doorway. Errol glanced over, and saw the last person he wanted to observe him like this: Gale.
Tall and lovely, she stood there in the doorway, almost completely still in a flowery summer dress that highlighted her figure. In her hands, she held what appeared to be a freshly-baked pie. Her fiery red hair was done up, except for a curly strand that fell down either side of her face to her cheeks. Her features, always comely, were highlighted by a gentle touch of rouge. It had taken Errol awhile to realize it – mostly because he had previously considered her a temperamental shrew – but Gale Beverly was quite beautiful.
Errol quickly disengaged himself from Talia. Gale didn’t speak, but her cold blue eyes conveyed everything she felt about the situation. Talia, wilting under that stare, excused herself and gently squeezed by Gale (who still stood unnervingly still in the doorway) and left. The only movement by Gale came when she subtly cut her eyes to the side as Talia slipped by her, and then she turned her gaze back to Errol.
Neither said anything for a moment – Gale because she was clearly vexed, and Errol because he simply didn’t know what to say. Gale had been with him when he’d defeated the Wendigo, saved his life in fact, as he had saved hers during that same episode. Thus, they had a definite bond, but beyond that their relationship was complicated.
He had always considered her – like the other women in her family – an overbearing nag, and it was clear that she’d always found him to be an irresponsible ne’er-do-well. It had taken their adventure with the Wendigo for them to learn to see valuable qualities in each other. He now viewed her in a much different light than before, but in fulfilling his duties as Warden, he hadn’t had much time to devote to other pursuits.
Letting out an odd little sigh, Gale finally stepped inside. She walked over to the table where Errol took all his meals and set down the pie she was holding. The delicious smell of cinnamon wafted over to him, almost making his mouth water.
“It’s apple,” she said. “I know it’s one of your favorites, so I thought it would be a nice welcome-back present for you after a week in the Badlands.” She then turned and prepared to leave.
“It’s not what you think,” he said to her back, making her stop.
“Then what exactly is it?” she asked, turning to him.
“She was all excited about the troupe that’s come to town. She simply got in a tizzy about that and gave me a hug.”
“So she came all the way to the Warden Station just to give you a hug because some performers are in town?”
“She just showed up,” he said. “I didn’t expect her or invite her.”
“Just like me.”
“That’s different and you know it.”
“No, I don’t know. So tell me.”
As usual, when it came to discussing personal things between him and Gale, Errol was at a loss for words. When it became clear after a few moments that he wasn’t going to say anything, Gale went on.
“Well, since you don’t have anything to say on the matter,” she said, “let me tell you what I know.”
She began walking slowly
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