Fated Encounter

I could hear the voices from down stairs of the guests laughing and having a good time. I really love visiting my uncle and aunt during the new year when snow still lingered on the many acres near their log house. It was a mansion made of logs and every Jan 12th they had a party where everybody who live in their remote town would come.

It was a tradition that I always loved since I was a young child I was wearing my long rust off the shoulder dress and my long black hair was in a braid .I came slowly down the stairs .

Flashing of just a few days ago came vividly in my mind.

I went hiking and I got lost in the woods. The remember the sun was going down and I was getting worried when an owl just appeared on the tree branch over my head. He had an all knowing look and I followed him as he flew away . He actually led me to the edge of the woods where I could see my uncle’s house. Then I saw a good looking. man walking with his dog down the path close to where I was standing .

When he saw me he walked in my direction.

Hello he said.

Hi! I replied.

You must be new around here, he said.

Why do you say that ? I asked.

I’m visiting my uncle .

- [ ] Oh, I just moved here to be close to my grand dad Dr.Mike Long and I thought he introduced me to everyone.

Jane Wilson is my name I said as I reached out my hand to shake.

That would be Ted Wilson the cattle rancher snd you must be his niece. My grand dad had mentioned that your uncle had told him you were coming for his party.

We shook hands and I liked the way my hand felt in his.

Yes! I answered.

There was an instant attraction between us as our eyes held each other’s. With a knowing look.

My grand dad and I will be at the party. He looked around snd looked at me snd said with a concern tone

, It getting dark I think we had best to get home

Yes- nice meeting you I said and waved at him as I rushed away.

That night I hear a noise and went to the window. A owl was sitting in a tree in the yard., it saw me and

then it flew away.

The wind suddenly became intense. I went down stairs and found the house hold were up due to the wind storm. My aunt had coffee for everyone on the table. The men had gathered to go out to bring in the cattle.

Then the front door opened with some of the ranch helpers bringing in a man who had been hurt. He was tossed off his horse. A Dr. was with him and to my surprise

It was the stranger I had meet in the woods. It turns out he was also a Dr. like his grand father. After checking him out and he was fine my aunt encouraged me to take him in the study and she brought cake snd coffee for us. We sat by the fireplace and I could hear the wind howling as it blew around the corners of the house.

He accepted the kind invitation from my aunt to stay over due to the gale outside.

Thank you for the coffee and cake he said .

You’re welcome I said.

We talked about everything and I loved his sense of humor,

I thought he was kidding when he said he has always been fond of owls but he wasn’t and he said does research on them as a hobby and there was that he was sure was following him.

It was getting late so I got up to say good night and he grabbed my hand and when I turned my head and looked into his eyes I saw something -something I hadn’t seen before. He pulled me to him and he kissed me and I didn’t hesitate and responded with the same eagerness.

My aunt June just happen to come in- we quickly moved away from each other and acted like nothing happened and in front of my aunt said good night.

Something had happened to me Ii knew I was falling In love with him. It was hard to sleep as I played our kiss over and over in my mind. Finally I dozed off to sleep. The next day

When I came down for breakfast he was gone.

Now Coming down the stair to my uncle’s party my eyes searched for him in the crowd below. Then I saw him and he saw me at the same time. We rushed toward each other. He took my hand and lead me outside pass the barbecue pits and around the house. We were standing under the old Oak tree. Then he kissed me snd whispered in my ear that he never wanted to ever not have me in his life. He asked me to be his girlfriend ! I said yes.

We were married at that very spot a year later.

My uncle built us a log cabin on his land, and on the first night in our new home I heard the owl. I went outside on the patio and the owl was in a the tree next to the patio. He was not alone. There was another owl with him. I laughed out loud and that owl with the other owl and their little ones live happily in a tree in our backyard .