An Ordinary Fairy Read Online Free PDF Page A

the main path.
    After several uncomfortable minutes, Noah broke the silence. “The Big House is impressive. Did I understand correctly that you and your parents lived there?”
    “For a short time,” Willow said without turning, her voice tainted by irritation. Noah kept further thoughts to himself, lest he disturb Her Majesty.
     
    The path ended at a broad rock shelf that overlooked the pond five feet below. About three hundred feet long and half as wide, the northern end was somewhat flattened where the water butted against the rock ledge, and the south end narrower, almost pointed. From above, it would look like an arrowhead, Noah noted. The woods grew close to the banks on all sides. Maples and cottonwoods stood here, but a fair peppering of white pines and hemlocks encroached on the shore in a few places.
    Shadow bounded toward the water but stopped at the edge of the rock and looked at Willow. She shook her head and said “Not today.” He twisted his head to one side. Noah came alongside Willow as she raised her free hand toward Shadow and pointed her palm toward him. “Not today,” she said in a quiet voice. Shadow walked away from the pond, and plopped down on the opposite side of the ledge.
    “You have him trained for hand signs, I see,” Noah said.
    “Oh, uh, yes. He’s very intelligent. He loves to swim, and I didn’t think you would want waves on the water.”
    “Thanks.” Noah reached for the equipment case. “I can take that now.” As they transferred the case, their hands touched for the briefest of moments, a quick brush, but a flicker of energy passed between them, the same that had haunted Noah all morning. Willow’s expression grew puzzled; she turned away toward the pond. So close, she smelled wonderful: sweet, but earthy.
    Willow waved a hand toward the pond. “So what do you think?” she asked.
    I think you’re the most mysterious woman I’ve ever met.
    “It’s fantastic,” Noah said, gazing across the water. Louie had assessed correctly: this place was perfect. “This is a natural pond, isn’t it?”
    “Yes. An underground spring feeds it. The water drains out to the south.” She pointed to the marshy far end. “From there it follows a little gully out of the woods and into the North Fork River.”
    Noah would have preferred better light for this shoot. The clouds had hung on from yesterday, and the gray sky reflected on the pond surface, so he would have to be creative about his camera angle.
    The Gremlin strikes again.
    He put down the camera cases and pulled out the old Yashica. “Is there any other access to the shore besides this ledge?” he asked.
    “Yes,” Willow said, who had stood with her hands in her back pockets surveying the pond and ignoring Noah. She pointed to a narrow gap in the trees at the west end of the ledge. “That path circles the pond. It stays close to the shore, maybe ten to fifteen feet most places.”
    Noah turned his ball cap backward to be ready for shooting, which seemed to amuse Willow. “Any rule against straying from the path? I want to get right next to the water.”
    Willow shrugged. “Help yourself. I’ll hang around here with Shadow.”
    “Well, actually, it would be better if you came along, and Shadow, too.” Careful, Noah, she’s royalty. “Despite your charming appearance, my editor prefers none of what he calls ‘human intervention’ in his photos.”
    Willow spoke to Shadow. “Hear that, Shadow? He thinks you’re charming.” She flashed a mischievous grin that Noah found quite appealing, even if she was making fun of him. She motioned to Noah to lead the way. Once Shadow saw their direction, he bounded ahead.
    Noah stopped many times to view the pond through the old camera’s vertical viewfinder, from many vantage points and angles. Willow walked quietly along, watching Noah work, looking about the woods, or keeping Shadow out of the water.
    This is awful.
    Noah dragged his eyes to the viewfinder; he wanted to