Serenity – Saved by Love by KB Belmar

Chapter 1

An array of browns, reds, and yellows, the colors of fall, were scattering the ground as the leaves floated down from the trees that would soon be barren of their foliage. The air, invigorating, and the breeze, gentle. Deer were beginning to emerge from the woods in their quest for food. The water from the small lake reflected the colors of fall like a beautifully painted portrait. Occasionally, a ripple would appear from fish coming to the top to capture a bug that had landed.

The scene, so serene, was the way the lone figure sitting on the deck liked it. She loved sitting on her back porch, drinking hot chocolate, admiring the nature that surrounded her. It was one of the reasons why she had picked this cabin. It was a far cry from where she had lived before, but that was a place she wanted to forget…but sometimes remember. She wanted to remember because it was where she had met Reese and had been making a life with her. But she wanted to forget because it was where that life had ended.  Forgetting was not easy since the pain in her leg reminded of her of the fateful night that caused her to leave the city to live in this small mountain village.

When Kirby first saw this place, she knew she had to have it. The cabin was modest with a kitchen, great room, one bedroom, one bathroom, a loft, and two porches. She thought maybe someday she would connect the two and have a full wrap-around porch. The cabin sat on ten acres of land that included a small lake and lots of trees. When talking with the realtor, she had inquired about the old farmhouse that could be seen through the trees that separated the properties. She did not want any neighbors. The realtor mentioned the house had been sold to a couple with children. She was not happy, but since she really wanted this place, she would learn to deal with it. She was thankful that the trees separating the properties and affording her some privacy were on her land and would not be cut down.

After moving into the cabin, Kirby had decided to limit the use of electricity by using lanterns and a battery-operated clock. She was, however, going to use the running water to its full extent, especially since there was no spring and she didn’t want to have to dig a well. The cabin was not equipped with an air conditioner or heating, so she would use the fireplace as needed for heat, and open windows for cool air. She was in the mountains so cool air would not be a problem. Because she had a fireplace, she hired a couple of the local high school boys to cut the first pile of wood for her. After that, she would do it herself.

Kirby spent most of her days fishing, walking around the lake, working on a jigsaw puzzle, painting, or just sitting on her porch watching the wildlife that happened by. She didn’t want for money as she had plenty saved up, so there was no hurry to find a job. It also helped that she came from wealth, with a trust fund waiting for her after she graduated from college. In spite of this, she only spent her money on necessities. Besides this property with the cabin and lake, the only other things she owned were a Black Ford F-150 pickup truck, a ten-foot jon boat with a trolling motor, and an ATV with a wood hauler.

This day had come and gone quickly, the breeze was becoming colder, and the darkening sky was beginning to fill up with twinkling stars. A full moon could be seen peeking over the tops of the trees and the night creatures were beginning their nightly songs. The ache in Kirby’s leg was also a reminder that it was time to go back inside.

As she stepped through the door, she was thankful she had already started a fire in the fireplace. Usually, she waited until it was time for bed to start the fire, but for this night, the air was a little chillier and the ache in her leg was stronger. She grabbed the bottle of pain medicine from the cabinet and took two pills, hoping they wouldn’t take long to kick in. She glanced through the kitchen window towards the old house, noticed it was still dark, and wondered if her neighbors were ever going to move in, not that she was in a hurry for them to. It had been so peaceful since she’d been here. Though she loved kids, she hated the thought of them running around screaming, especially since she had come here to get away from the noises of city life.

Kirby looked at the clock on the wall and decided to turn in for the night. Tomorrow would be filled with running her monthly errands. She always stocked up on everything to last at least a month, limiting her need to interact with the people in town. They all knew of her, though she had never really conversed with anyone at length. She wasn’t rude when someone talked to her, just not overly friendly. They respected her for wanting privacy.

Using her cane, she hobbled to the bedroom, grabbed her night clothes, a pair of boxer shorts and a T-shirt, and began her nightly ritual. After taking a shower and brushing her teeth, she put on the shorts and shirt and went back into her bedroom with the medicinal cream prescribed to ease the ache in her leg. Sitting down on the bed, she spread the cream along the scar on her thigh, wincing when she used even light pressure. Every time she did this, it reminded her of that fateful night almost a year ago. That was something she wished she could forget but the leg injury would forever be a reminder…along with the constant ache in her heart.

Kirby wiped her hands on the hand towel she had placed next to her, put away the cream, and tossed the towel in the clothes basket. Going back into her room, she grabbed a tissue to wipe the tears that always appeared when taking care of her injury. The tears were from the pain in her leg and the pain in her heart. She pulled down the covers, lay down, and reached for the small picture that sat on her bedside table. The picture was of a time when life was full of joy and happiness…and hope. It was a picture of her and her late partner, Reese Redmond, at their college graduation. She kissed the tip of her finger and pressed it to Reese’s mouth.

“I love you, baby,” she whispered. She placed the picture back, turned down the lantern, covered up, and fell fast asleep.