Fragrant Wildflowers with a dash of Temptation

It is a beautifully glorious sunny summers day. Perfect for a sprightly hike in the countryside. After a really long walk, I finally found a picturesque spot to laze in the sunshine. The English landscape with its flora and fauna has outdone itself today.

Not unlike Janie, I am lying amidst the wildflowers reflecting on the next phase of our human evolution.

The flowers were growing in no particular order, just haphazardly choosing a spot and literally growing without a care, just freely existing. I especially love the Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) with its lovely lavender bloom. There were Angelica (Angelica Triquinata), Bee Balm, hopefully these made the bees calm. The Aromatic Aster, Liverwort, Alfalfa and Baby Blue eyes among many others. I felt peaceful, and closed my eyes in appreciation of the aromatic splendor.

The bees are drinking of the nectar of the blooms and glaring at me, daring me to come closer and feel their wrath. I keep my distance. These flowers may be wild, but they are lovely in the sunshine. Butterflies are flitting here and there like little fairies, with their colorful wings on display. What an absolutely wonderful day.

The pear trees off in the distance are laden with fruits, just ready to be picked and devoured joyously. One particular pear tree is standing off by itself, golden fruit beckoning, as if saying 'I am special, but I am lonely, come, pick my fruits'.

It reminds me of myself. Always a little aloof and distant.

Unable to resist the temptation. I drew near and plucked a pear, then another, and returned to my flowery reverie to relish the juicy flesh.

There has been a changing of the guard at the front doors all over the world. Everything as we knew it has done a complete 360 degree turn, and has left us in a turmoil.

The history books will have to be rewritten again. It's as if time has reverted to what it once was all over again. I feel displaced and a little out of sorts. Each day brings its own joys and sorrows it would seem.

But in the meantime, I am eating my delicious pears and enjoying the day. I wonder whose pears they are. I just wandered into the field of wildflowers as I was making my way on my daily nature trek.. Never having been this far before, the pear trees were a bonus aid to my hydration routine.

My ears pricked up. Are those barks?. Dogs. I looked around. 'PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO TRESPASSING'. Well, excuse me, there are no gates, no walls, no fences. How was I to know?.

I saw the large dogs bounding towards me, there was nowhere else to go but up. I climbed up into the pear tree. Luckily for me they were not very tall trees. It was a little awkward getting up but I did it.

Meanwhile, there is this barefaced squirrel, with what looked like manicured fingernails, sitting comfortably enjoying his or her pear and not budging. I had to share an uncomfortable seat beside her. She heard the dogs and ducked into a hole in the tree. Smart critter, I can't fit into the hole, unfortunately.

There were four of them. Huge mean looking buggers. They were making such a racket I could barely hear myself think. What to do?. Where was the owner of the dogs anyway. Should they be running free and unleashed. It was the countryside, but nevertheless.

"Shoo, scat, go away." I started picking pears and throwing them at my antagonists. They just barked even more, and louder. I reminded myself to pick up those pears when this was over. No reason they should go to waste. I stuck my earbuds in, nope, the CACOPHONY of sounds was almost unbearable. The great CATERWAULING kept on for almost an hour.

Finally, the dogs, they looked like Dobermans. I may be wrong. They were so huge. They grew quiet and decided to sit down, in unison, really weird. I wondered why. I know that dogs can detect smells from at least 20K, and hear sounds at a certain decibel from really far away. Well, I may as well enjoy some more pears while I wait for my judgement.

I was in that tree for at least another hour when I heard the slight TINTINNABULATION of sounds, faint as fairy bells. By now I really needed to pee and was happy to see anybody.

A huge gentleman appeared upon the horizon. Why not, in keeping with the size of the dogs, why would he not be a great big brute himself. As he came closer, I saw that he had a sort of bell-like contraption in his hands. He was swinging it in a particular zig-zag way which seemed to control the dogs. They got up and kind of stood at attention. That would explain their behavior, I mused to myself.

He had a surprisingly kind face. He was not a handsome man, but he was attractive in a rugged sort of way. The warmth of the sun seemed to radiate off of his body. He stood under, or rather by the tree and surveyed me and the situation. He saw the pears scattered under the tree, and seemed amused. "Well I'm glad you find this all funny," I thought. This hard seat is murder on my buttocks.

"Hello there. I am Daniel, and who might you be."

"I am Nat....Debra." I might not want to offer my real name, in case I was in trouble.

"Ok Nat/Debra. You can come down now. Aplha, Beta, Kappa, Gamma. Heel." Said firmly.

I eyed the hounds, oh no, no way I was getting down with the Hounds of the Baskervilles staring at me and growling in discontent. He laughed out loud, which annoyed me a little. They were obviously well trained, he lifted the bell contraption, rang it quite softly and the four dogs, as if one, raced off over the small hill and disappeared from view.

I looked to where they had gone, and saw them reappear, all lined up atop the hill. They obviously did not trust anyone with the safety of their master.

I started to wiggle down from the tree, Daniel reached up his hand to help me down, I took his hand and an electric current went through my body. I swear that at that moment I felt the tectonic plates under the earth's crust shifting. Maybe there had been an earthquake or something. The dogs howled sensing contact with their master.

He kept holding my hand even after I was standing safely on the ground and tilted his head sideways looking at me strangely and quizzically. Maybe he felt it too. I was not going to ask. I gently disengaged my hand and started picking up the pears, they were a bit bruised but, who cares. He laughed again, but said nothing. I placed them in my walking pack.

This was a very unusual encounter. I felt unnerved and out of my element, giddy as a schoolgirl. I apologized about trespassing and promised to pay for the pears. He found that funny also. "A few pears won't break the bank," he replied, laughingly amused at my offer.

"It is getting late and I should be getting back. Sorry again for the trouble and the unauthorized escapade. Thank you for rescuing me. Have a good evening Daniel."

"It is a little late for you to walk back, will you be ok. I can take you back home. I feel a little bit responsible since the dogs kept you up in the tree for quite a long time, it would seem. I am sorry, they cannot go beyond the perimeter of the property line. They receive tiny electric shocks if they try to cross over. Lots of private property signs everywhere. The dogs are trained to apprehend only, they will not harm anyone unless directed to do so. People rarely wander this far out anyway. You are a long way from home."

"I'm sorry too, I just started walking and kept going. The countryside is so beautiful this time of year."

I felt strangely peaceful and comfortable in his presence. Hoping I would still be alive tomorrow, I decided to accept his offer to take me home. We started walking up the hill towards the now subdued dogs. The sunlight was waning but I barely noticed. My heart was racing to a different tune. We topped the hill and I saw the most beautiful house, mansion, whichever, it was obviously built long ago but had modern additions and was very tasteful. The lawns were beautifully manicured.

Flowers of every imaginable variety were growing in well tended gardens, It was like a virtual Eden of an oasis in the middle of nowhere, secluded and private and lovely to behold. The different aromas of the flowers blended to give the air a splendid bouquet. How heavenly would it be to live here and bask in this delight every single day. My imagination took wings and soared to great heights of joy.

The dogs had gone ahead, but kept a watchful eye as we followed.

The house was farther away than I first imagined. We talked about little nothings as we walked, we discovered that we were both unattached, in a round about sort of way. At the house, I sheepishly explained my need for a bathroom. He escorted me inside, pointed me to the nearest powder room and went to get the car. A quick look around showed a tastefully decorated great hall. Not a soul was in sight. I wondered if he lived alone. I found my way back outside as he pulled around. He got out and opened the door for me, and we started the journey to my tiny apartment home.

I had moved here a year ago from the United States to start a new job. I never had enough time to take frequent walks. Work was really hectic, so I had decided to make this weekend special and take the time to enjoy nature and fresh air. So far it was going really great.

We passed by a huge paddock with horses grazing a great distance from the house. It was like stepping out of the countryside and into the lifestyle of a fairytale castle. All the land around belonged to his family.

"Would it be presumptuous of me to ask if you can please come trespassing again quite soon. Or, may I invite you to dinner tomorrow evening?" I was quite elated with the offer, but I remained cool and calm.

I pretended to consider the offer, and accepted. Numbers were exchanged, he would call with the details, he said.

"This was a very memorable meeting. I look forward to our next encounter," he smiled, there was tenderness and a little sadness to his eyes. I wondered what had caused that fleeting look of sadness.

I opened the door and exited the car before he had the chance to get out to open the door, I was nervous and wanted to get away to consider the unexpected turmoil of feelings.

"Maybe I can get your real name when I call?.

"It's Natalie." I smiled impishly, remembering my little lie.

"Thank you for the ride home Daniel. Have a safe drive back. Tomorrow then. Good evening." I practically ran to the entrance and disappeared inside. I looked back, he waved and drove away.

I sat down and ate my good luck pears rather distractedly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A whole year has passed, it seems like a lifetime ago. He was a widower with two small children, a boy and a girl, ages five and seven. I fell in love with them immediately. They took a little longer to return the feeling, but they eventually did. They had lost their mother in a horseback riding incident two years ago. The sadness of the loss would always be felt. But she had made them promise to find happiness and never to be sad because her life had been a gift filled with the joy of loving them.

The house was huge, and the children were no longer spending most of their time with their nanny, they said daddy was sad and they were glad that he had found a friend. The good thing was that I too needed a friend, I had been alone for far too long. Well, I had not only found a friend, I found an entire family and a new way of life.

I quit my hectic job and joined in running the family business. I am still figuring out exactly what that is. It does not involve pears.

We are a family now. Everything happened really fast. We had a whirlwind romance. Plans were made. Vows were exchanged.

It took some doing to convince everyone to forgive the horses and start riding again. Daniel had gifted the unfortunate horse to a stable for rehabilitation of troubled teens. The memories were too painful and the poor horse was better off elsewhere. I learned to ride when they finally decided to teach me. After a while we all went riding together. They all needed to heal, and the best way was to jump back on the horse, so to speak, but literally.

We visited the graveside together, made peace with the departed and promised to honor her wishes so she could rest in peace. I just knew she had been a wonderful wife and mother, and hoped that I could fill her shoes resting upon that lofty pedestal.

Strange how some wildflowers and a lifechanging pear tree has made all the difference for our lives.

The dogs and I are friends now. My dream of a house with enough land and space to ride horses has become a reality.

DARE TO DREAM