Christoph reminded me he wanted to have a look through my mother’s books. Given the looming deadline, I washed and dried my hands and went to my bedroom before assembling the sandwiches. I removed the Good Housesweeping volumes from the shelf underneath my desk and placed them on Christoph’s bed in my old office.
Slicing the cucumbers paper thin and cutting the crust off the bread allowed me space to empty my head. I had no memories of neighbors who might have lived across the street, no sudden recall of past events. I finished making lunch, called everyone in, and set the first tray on the table on the back deck. While I finished making pots of tea, River turned into the driveway. Peeking through the kitchen window, I could see he had a passenger.
I yelled for him to come in as soon as he gave a quick rap against the door frame. He was preceded by the water witch. Both had bright pink cheeks and a sparkle in their eyes. River, who usually gave off a sense of calm that could affect everyone in his proximity, was fidgeting with his keys.
“You’re Airlie,” I said, acknowledging the obvious. “It’s so nice to finally see you again.”
Airlie held out her arms and we exchanged a quick hug. Where the druids all carried an underlying musky, earthy scent, she radiated a fluid sensuality. I was inclined to like her on the spot. “You two are just in time for cucumber sandwiches and tea.”
“That sounds lovely.” Airlie stepped sideways into the house, giving River room to enter. I got another hug and directed them to the back porch.
“The bathroom is down the hall if you need it.” Which reminded me I had wet towels waiting to be put in the dryer. “River, can you carry the tea tray to the back deck?”
I had the closet’s louvered door open when Airlie stepped out of the bathroom. She tapped my elbow and leaned against the door frame. “River told me why Tanner called him here today. May I tell you something?” she asked.
“Of course,” I said. My radar leaped at the excitement rolling off her body in tentative waves.
“I sensed a body of water right before we turned into the driveway. I didn’t want to say anything to River just yet, but if you would like to go exploring, I am feeling such a call from across the road that it hurts to ignore.”
I emptied the lint filter, replaced it, and shut the dryer door. “Would River feel the call, too, seeing as otter is one of his forms?”
“Perhaps?” she said, turning to follow me. “But perhaps not.”
Intrigued with her answer, I found a smaller tray and loaded it with sandwiches and a bowl of washed grapes and added plates for her and River.
Tanner sketched a rough map of the area for us to orient ourselves. After lunch, he organized the two other men and they debated possible approaches. River suggested they begin with the parcel to the north, which happened to be where Doug and Roger had first tried to enter my property. I waved the trio off and brought a lightweight quilt to Maritza. She mentioned she wanted to rest for twenty minutes, adding the swing on the back porch would be a fine spot for a nap and that she would not need me once she was refreshed.
Airlie nudged my side and pointed to the front door. You ready? she mouthed.
I gave her a thumbs-up and whispered, “Let me switch out the stuff in the clothes dryer then we can go.” She insisted on helping by folding the still-warm towels as I stacked the dishes from lunch and put away the perishables. Once I used the bathroom and brushed my teeth, I declared myself ready.
Airlie crossed the road after me and waited on the verge as I slipped off my flip-flops and stepped onto land that was not mine.
“You’re an earth witch, right?” Airlie asked. She stepped next to me. I looked down to see she was also barefooted.
“Yes, and I work best when I can make a direct connection to the ground.”
“I work best skyclad, but this will do.” She adjusted her flowy dress and followed me into the underbrush, where curling fronds of ferns waited, then tugged on my arm and made me stop. “Calli, wait a moment, please. I need to find something to use as a dowsing branch.”
I surveyed the nearby trees. “We might find suckers around that old apple tree,” I said, pointing. Blemished, misshapen fruit decorated the branches of a tree that had never been pruned. I led the way, and Airlie used her knife to cut a supple branch for herself and one for me.
“These should do the job. Do you know how to hold them?” When I shook my head, she took the roughly Y-shaped branchlet and curled her fingers around the slimmer ends, her palms up and elbows relaxed at her sides. “Close your eyes to connect with dowser and get an initial read on the land.”
The long end of the branch bounced a bit. I loosened my grip and let the moisture inside the green wood guide me. “I felt something!” I said, and Airlie grinned.
“Me, too.” She lifted her chin toward a rise in the land. Neither of us could see past it for the trees. “I’ll go first. If you feel anything nudging or pulling you in a different direction, let me know.”
We placed our feet with care. I rarely walked the woods with someone who appeared to share my sense of reverence. I might have developed a girl crush on Airlie as I followed the lift of her knees and the soft landing of each of her steps.
“This is fun,” she said, a giggle in her voice.
I agreed, adding, “I find I have to keep stopping to close my eyes and reconnect with the stick. Does
