share with her. Presently, she was alone drinking her fifth glass and the wine was rendering her speechless. Her body hummed a melodious buzz. There was no reason to talk or even think for that matter. For the past three days, Precious had done more than her fair share of wining and complaining. She simply wanted to live in the present. It had been a long while since she’d experienced a sense of serenity. She closed her eyes, allowing her tongue to revisit the wines taste in her mouth. Precious detected hints of spices, and a subtle flavor from wood. She supposed the woody taste came from the barrel used during the fermentation process. The combination melded like a perfect blend. She lifted her glass, sampling another taste of the wine. The flavorful drink was also a source of enormous liquid courage.
Precious palmed her glass, while lifting from the sofa. She crossed the floor wearing a pair of boots, then she wandered out onto the front porch. Not far from the house; Hamilton was seated on a wooden bench, lounging near a stone encircled campfire. It was dark outside, but the fire lit that area like a spotlight. She could see plums of cigarette smoke, mingling with the fumes created by the fire. From where she stood, Hamilton appeared to be enjoying his cigarette. He also looked to be deep in thought. Earlier that day, he’d stood outside, talking on his cell phone. Later, when he came indoors, he’d been unusually quiet. At first Precious pretended not to notice because in time she figured he would surely confide in her. But when hours passed, and he still hadn’t breathed one word, telling her about the phone call; she chose to broach the topic. When he brought her to his remote mountain home, he’d made himself perfectly clear. The location had been chosen to shield her from reporters as well as bad news or shameful reporting. In spite of that, she explained that she wouldn’t be coddled. She wanted to know whatever Hamilton Gantry knew; without the sugarcoating. So when she finally gathered her thoughts, and steadied her nerves; Precious had been quite clear. Outright, she asked him who the caller had been. Notwithstanding his promise to keep her informed, Hamilton had smiled, shrugging if off. He told her that the call was a personal matter; nothing that she need to worry about. Then, he continued on, as if that conversation had ended. That had been hours ago, but she still sensed that something was troubling him. As she considered his curious behavior; her concern for Hamilton outweighed her dislike for the outdoors.
Precious stepped down off the porch, heading towards the campfire. The crackling sounds made by the fire melded with the woodland creatures; causing her approach to be masked by their noise. She was practically standing right behind him by the time he realized that she’d come to join him. When their eyes met, immediately, Hamilton’s expression brightened.
“Precious.” When he said her name, she heard the surprise in his voice.
“Hamilton.” She smiled at him, then purposely her eyes drifted away. She stood still, studying the shape and size of the fire-pit. Since arriving, Precious still had not toured the grounds. Inside of the cabin, some of the walls were decorated with framed photos, capturing the landscape. Hamilton had used the photos as his way to show her the property. As she rounded the fire, choosing to sit on the bench directly opposite him. Precious realized that there weren’t any pictures capturing the campfire pit or the sitting area. With Hamilton appearing to be so relaxed here, she wondered why he’d neglected to photograph an area that he clearly enjoyed.
Hamilton leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He cut her a smile, saying in a teasing voice.
“So, tell me something... What did I do to deserve the pleasure of your company?”
She rolled her eyes at him. This was a worn out topic and she refused to take the bait. Precious didn’t care for the
Precious palmed her glass, while lifting from the sofa. She crossed the floor wearing a pair of boots, then she wandered out onto the front porch. Not far from the house; Hamilton was seated on a wooden bench, lounging near a stone encircled campfire. It was dark outside, but the fire lit that area like a spotlight. She could see plums of cigarette smoke, mingling with the fumes created by the fire. From where she stood, Hamilton appeared to be enjoying his cigarette. He also looked to be deep in thought. Earlier that day, he’d stood outside, talking on his cell phone. Later, when he came indoors, he’d been unusually quiet. At first Precious pretended not to notice because in time she figured he would surely confide in her. But when hours passed, and he still hadn’t breathed one word, telling her about the phone call; she chose to broach the topic. When he brought her to his remote mountain home, he’d made himself perfectly clear. The location had been chosen to shield her from reporters as well as bad news or shameful reporting. In spite of that, she explained that she wouldn’t be coddled. She wanted to know whatever Hamilton Gantry knew; without the sugarcoating. So when she finally gathered her thoughts, and steadied her nerves; Precious had been quite clear. Outright, she asked him who the caller had been. Notwithstanding his promise to keep her informed, Hamilton had smiled, shrugging if off. He told her that the call was a personal matter; nothing that she need to worry about. Then, he continued on, as if that conversation had ended. That had been hours ago, but she still sensed that something was troubling him. As she considered his curious behavior; her concern for Hamilton outweighed her dislike for the outdoors.
Precious stepped down off the porch, heading towards the campfire. The crackling sounds made by the fire melded with the woodland creatures; causing her approach to be masked by their noise. She was practically standing right behind him by the time he realized that she’d come to join him. When their eyes met, immediately, Hamilton’s expression brightened.
“Precious.” When he said her name, she heard the surprise in his voice.
“Hamilton.” She smiled at him, then purposely her eyes drifted away. She stood still, studying the shape and size of the fire-pit. Since arriving, Precious still had not toured the grounds. Inside of the cabin, some of the walls were decorated with framed photos, capturing the landscape. Hamilton had used the photos as his way to show her the property. As she rounded the fire, choosing to sit on the bench directly opposite him. Precious realized that there weren’t any pictures capturing the campfire pit or the sitting area. With Hamilton appearing to be so relaxed here, she wondered why he’d neglected to photograph an area that he clearly enjoyed.
Hamilton leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He cut her a smile, saying in a teasing voice.
“So, tell me something... What did I do to deserve the pleasure of your company?”
She rolled her eyes at him. This was a worn out topic and she refused to take the bait. Precious didn’t care for the
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