Chapter 54 - Things Are Changing

Belladonna had avoided Eli for as long as she could, until that afternoon in the sheds. He had stepped in some minutes after she had. Disoriented by the shock of seeing him, and trying to find a way to escape any conversation that might develop as a result, she had asked, "You are here for some tools? I will stay out of your way, just--"

He blocked her path easily.

"I am here for you."

"Oh," she picked at the short sleeves of her brown ankle-length gown, futilely searching imperfections where there was none.

"I have been looking for you since we returned from the hunt." He already had his bath but she could still catch that slight whiff of the forest smell on him. His brown shirt was stained with charcoal, with the sleeves rolled up. His pair of black trousers concealed the charcoal stains. The string of the woven straw hat was across the base of his neck, along with... her necklace.

"I wanted to give you this, just in case you are battling with a headache."