Willow in the Woods: Guarding the Willow

Chapter 12

Willow

Willow's eyes fluttered open as she cought the pungent smells surrounding her. Everything seemed to smell so strongly this morning. There was coffee and something salty and delectable nearby. Willow could smell fresh fruit. Then there was the more earthy smells. Cedar and chimney smoke. Some smells that could only come from having farm animals nearby. And then there was the smell of Marcus.

Willow bolted upright in bed and looked around. Firstly, she didn't see Marcus or Andrew. She also felt no pain except a little stiffness that told her she had been in bed for a while. And she remembered... everything... She also wasn't in the same room as she had been in before. This one was a little smaller, but it could also just appear that way, as it was actually furnished. Willow was laying in a queen sized bed with the quilt and bedding she had picked out, but there were also two extra thick brown fur blankets thrown on top. The bed frame itself was not the one that Miss Jojo had assembled for her. This one looked more hand crafted. It was beautiful and rustic, with white wooden logs driven together forming an arch behind her head. There was a black leather chair sitting catty corner beside the bed, a massive woven sunrise colored rug that was spread out across the wooden floor, and a large armoire with an amazing wood burned depiction of the forest, bears, deer and wolves on the thick dark oak wood. There was even an extra long dresser sitting right under the double pane window.

On top of the dresser is where she found that salty sweet smell. It looked like biscuits and gravy and fresh fruit with a bottle of V8 splash. This was obviously meant for her, and she was starving! Willow pulled the tray onto her lap and began to dig in. It was a little cold but it was still so good and hearty.

Willow continued to look around the room as she devoured her meal. Willow saw beautiful fresh white flowers sitting on a wooden side table and beautiful white lace curtains with little stitches of ice blue flowers over the window. She also began to notice what was outside.

Small flakes of snow were falling below a cloud filled sky and there was a light frost on the windowsill.

Willow forgot about her hunger, though she took her juice with her as she slid out of bed and crept to the window. Willow had never seen snow before. Other than in a small globe that her parents had brought her back from their vacation... It was... Incredible. It was beginning to cover the green needles of the pines and a pasture that she could see beyond that. She felt like, in this moment, time simply stood still for her as she watched black birds flying overhead and cows slowly making there way over to big medal ringed things with hay filled in them. One little calf was chomping at the snow falling down. It was so adorable Willow felt like she was going to melt.

This had to be a fantasy. She never could have dreamed something like this, as she had never experienced anything like it.

"Baby girl! Look at you! Up and moving around!" Andrew said excitedly as he walked up next to her.

"Andrew do you see this?!?" Willow asked as she took a swig of her juice then stared back outside in an awe struck gaze of that which you would see upon a child's face on Christmas morning.

"Oh ya! Isn't it something else!" Andrew said excitedly beside her, then a solemnness came over him. "Ya. You never quite realize what all you'll miss in life until you've at least had a taste of it." Andrew shook his head and smiled again at Willow. This time the smile didn't quite meet his eyes but she could feel that perhaps, just this once, he would like some time alone. "Why don't you get dressed and help the others out. You do remember everything right?"