Stranger's Necktie

"You should rest, your fever isn't going down," Agnes said after giving Nina some herbal soup.

"I don't know when this rain going to stop; I will go pray for your speedy recovery, my dear,"

Nina nodded with a cough, she's so tired from staying in bed for the past two days. It's been so long since she had a fever so the effects were awful and hard to take.

"I will come back later," Agnes said and covered Nina in the sheets.

"Mother,"

"What? Do you need anything?"

"I don't want to meet Gerald tomorrow,"

"I understand. I will ask your father to postpone it,"

"No, I don't want to meet him at all,"

This got Agnes's interest. She pulled the chair close to Nina.

"Why? You don't like him?"

"Yes, I don't want to marry him,"

"Why?" Agnes narrowed her eyes, "Even I heard that he's a gentleman,"

"It doesn't matter. I don't like him," said Nina.

"Alright, Nina. I won't let your father compel you," Agnes smiled to know that finally, all her wishes came true.

"You know, I have a strong feeling that your man is going to come soon for you," Agnes said to cheer her up which is the least she can do for this poor girl.

Nina knew behind her smile, there's a deep sense of greed hiding but still, it comforted her somewhat.

Nina sighed with a blush.

"I get going. You should sleep,"

After Agnes left, Nina took that necktie which she had hidden under her pillow. Her face lit up with a small smile. It's been two days since that storm, and that man's eyes show up every time she closes her eyes.

She doesn't want to forget the moment when she was in that man's embrace but she hates to be reminded of it often. It's unclear whether she will see him again; even if they meet there's less chance for him to remember her so she didn't want to have any sort of feelings for him.

Nina didn't say any of this to her parents, that stranger is going to be her little secret.

He didn't purposely leave it, he must have lost it here, she thought looking at the stranger's necklace. He could be a thief, possibly running away to save his life. Maybe he's a married man and has children, who knows. Nina huffed as those thoughts are unacceptable and didn't seem right.

Maybe I will stop thinking about him if I come out of this fever, Nina pouted and came to that conclusion. All she wishes right now is to get well soon and work on the farm.

Days passed one after the other, as she guessed, Nina stopped thinking about that stormy night often. Her life came back to the usual but sometimes when she's alone she used to think about his eyes, the shed reminded him and the river brought back his hoarse voice to her mind. Whatever she tries, there's no stop to it.

Can't be able to put an end to his perpetual thoughts, to get an insight about that stranger, Nina went to meet an old hunter Mr. Walker who's a good friend of her father. He lives a yard away from her home and he has known Nina very well since she was a child.

She knocked on his door and he was surprised to see her at that evening time.

"What is it, Nina?" he asked, "Is your father fine?"

"Yeah, he is fine,"

"Uncle, I am here to ask you something,"

"Sure, come on in," he welcomed her in.

Walker owns a decent cabin, after his wife's death he's living alone here and his son has gone to live in the capital city where he works as a goldsmith. He rarely used to come here.

Nina sat down on one of the couches, covered in beer's fur.

"Do you want some tea?"

"Please, don't bother,"

"Fine, tell me what do you want to ask me?" he smiled.

"How many animals have you hunted?"

Walker chuckled, "Are you interested in hearing my old stories?"

"Maybe," Nina smiles awkwardly.

"I killed many. I sold most of them," he answered.

"Oh,"

"If you like to see my collection, you should come tomorrow," he said.

"Thanks,"

Nina sighed and came to the reason why she's here.

"Can you tell me what this is?" Nina took the necktie from her pocket and gave it to Walker.

Walker analyzed it and his eyes widened in surprise, "It's a wolf's fang,"

"Oh," Nina didn't expect that quick reply.

"You said it right away," she remarked.

"Yes, because I don't hunt wolves. They were quite dangerous. And a hunter has to know well about animals he shouldn't touch,"

"Are other hunters like you?" Nina curiously asked.

"Yes, most of them don't hunt wolves. They were considered sacred and there's a belief that hunting them might bring you a bad omen," Walker said, "Who wants that, honey. After all every human strive for a peaceful life,"

Nina nodded with a smile, "Yes, you are right,"

"By the way, where did you get this?"

Nina staggered, "Somewhere in the woods. I found it,"

Walker frowned hearing that.

"The owner must be a skillful hunter,"

"How do you say that?"

"Look at how big these fangs are. It must be a big bad wolf. Usually, these wolf breeds live in the dense part of the forest which even great hunters hesitate to go in," Walker explained. "And killing it is another difficult task. I wonder how he did that,"

Nina thought maybe that stranger must have gotten into trouble because of this.

"You know what, I have only heard about these long fangs. This is the first time I am seeing it,"

"Oh," Nina nods, "Can you give that back to me, Mr. Walker?"

"Sure, but if you have any idea to sell it, I will buy it from you," Mr. Waker offered.

"No, thanks. I am going to give it back to the person who lost it," Nina replied and got up.

"Thanks for telling me all this, Uncle. I will see you later,"

She walked to the door and Walker called her name.

"Better you don't meet the person to which it belongs,"

"Why?"

"Just I am concerned,"

"Don't worry. You know it's not easy to find that person," she said, "And, please keep this between us,"

"Sure, dear,"

Nina's smile soon faded when she came out of Walker's home. After talking to him, it put an end to her desire to meet that man again. Knowing all of this, she can't foolishly put her feet in the path of danger but little did she know, she was halfway through it.