Page 4 of How Does It Feel?

Perfect.

I set her on the ground and scowled at the fluttering bird as I wiped myself off, making certain she knew I wasn’t happy about it.

“Where you headed? To the lake?” I asked Cliff before I realized he was on his cell phone.

“Don, she did it. It finally broke down.” He turned to grin at me. “I know, tell her that. She won’t listen to me for shit. How’s about you send Wally out to get it? C’mon, man, do it for me. Git that old thing runnin’ again, and I’ll take you both fishin’ next week. To my special spot.” He rolled his eyes in mock humor before hanging up the phone. “There, now you definitely owe me dinner.” He grinned, making his tan face look extra charming with just a dash of arrogance.

“Forget about dinner, I want to go see this honey hole of yours. You know the bass are projected to be at a thirteen percent underpopulation next spring?” I accused.

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not taking you to my honey hole. Especially if you’re not gonna let me fish!” he shouted with mock exasperation.

For being the head game warden, he was actually incredibly lax about the conservation of wildlife. It was no wonder they had to hire me.

“You dummy, I’m not going to stop you from fishing, I want to study that spot. If it has a lot of activity, we may be able to recreate it and encourage reproduction.” As I said the words, my face began to heat and blush. “Thank you for calling Don. Last time, he told me he’d light it on fire before he towed it again.” I smiled at the memory from last year.

“Ya know, the state isn’t so bad, I know they’d happily give fancy-pants scientist a vehicle to drive if they thought she might stay for longer.” His voice was gruff, with just a hint of hillbilly clinging to the ends of his syllables.

“Ahh, but the migratory flight patterns of the monarchs wait for no one.” I brushed a stray feather from my sleeve. “As soon as I get the call, I’m off to Mexico, baby!”

Even as I said it, I could feel the energy shift within our conversation. I remembered why I didn’t make friends when I moved around.

They never understood when you left.

I had made it up the concrete steps of the back entrance and was about to breach the large aluminum doors when Cliff continued.

“I’ll pick you up at six, Callie Peterson. I’ll have Tom drop off the Jeep here if you need to get out and about.”

“If Tom’s bringing the Jeep then what do I need you for?” I smiled at him as I pulled the big metal handle to shoo Dorothy inside.

She patiently waited as her human servant widened the door to make room for her large feathered body and waltzed in as though she owned the place.

“’Cause I’m taking you to my honey hole tonight. Get all your nerdy notebooks ready, I’ll throw in a fishin’ pole for you too. You want pepperoni on your sub?” he shouted as he backed up to leave, obviously not taking my no as a valid answer.

I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “Extra pepperoni if you’re buying!”

I didn’t want to lead him on or give him the wrong impression, but my friends were few and far between, and though I did try to keep everyone at arm’s length, sometimes it got lonely.

“Callie Peterson, quit flirting and get in here!” Cecelia’s old voice echoed through the back building with a hint of distress.

“I’m coming, what’s going on?”

I scooted Dorothy into her open playpen, taking into account the loose feathers on the ground. She must have flown out of it to escape! That means the tincture I developed last week might actually be working!

I almost skipped on the way up to the front in my excitement as I shoved through the double doors—just before letting out a scream.

Chapter 3

Adventure-Laced Rejection

Callie

The scream I tried unsuccessfully to stifle was enough to make Cecelia drop the clipboard she had been holding. It hit the ground with a clang as the gray-haired woman clung to the large metal desk in shock. The mailman behind her visibly jumped with the clamor of screaming women and clipboard dropping.

“Mother Mary! Will you stop screamin’ and take your damn package.” The old woman’s voice sounded harsh, but I swore there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.

We had an interesting relationship, Cecelia and me. She acted like she loathed me and I acted like it bothered me. Truthfully she had been nothing but a sweetheart to me since I started at the rehab center. I would even call her a friend, but I’m sure that wouldn’t look very good to her fellow townies, so occasionally, she pretended to find my bubbly, perky nature annoying. At least, I thought she was pretending.

“My microscope!” I squealed, running over to the large brown box that waited for me on the desk.