Part 7

Aileen made it back to the ranch. “Joe, did you see him?” I sighed. “His eyes were beautiful. Deep blue. Why is it guys have better lashes than we do? I didn’t even notice the rest of him or anything else, except maybe his strength. Joe, I want to know more, but you know my obsessive stalker ways.” I chuckled at myself as I finished taking care of Joe.

Joe just snorted and continued eating.

Walking and daydreaming are usually not a good combination for me as I actually made it to the main house in one piece.

“Mmmm, Uncle Scott, that smells delicious, as always,” I said as I walked in through the kitchen door.

“Here, sit,” Uncle Scott said, as he set a plate of chicken and potatoes in front of her.

I sat across from my Aunt and waited for Uncle Scott to sit before asking, “Um, so, do you guys know anything about your neighbor?”

Eileen looked at Scott then said, “No, not really. We see him occasionally walking between the house and the lighthouse. Others say he is a musician. He is gone a lot too.”

“What about the lighthouse?”

“All we know is it is part of his land. He takes care of it for the Northern Lighthouse Board and they let him use the other building. But we have never met him,” Aunt Eileen finished.

“Oh, OK. Just curious,” I replied, trying to sound innocent.

“Why, did you run into him?” She asked.

“Um, sort of. I was walking around the lighthouse, exploring. I didn’t know it wasn’t open to the public. There was no sign. But the ground close to the edge of the lighthouse by the cliff side crumbled under my feet and if it wasn’t for him I might have tumbled down the cliff. He caught me by the back of my coat.”

“Darling. I told you to be careful,” She admonished.

“I know, Aunt Eileen. I just didn’t realize I was that close. But yeah, he escorted me out of that small yard in no uncertain terms and then disappeared back inside the small building.” I paused, then said, “He wasn’t very friendly. Maybe he’s just shy.”

“Maybe he is just a loner. A lot of people around here like their privacy. Well, did you say thank you?”

“No. He didn’t give me a chance.”

“Then try to, if you see him again.”

“For sure,” I said. "I am going out to say goodnight to Joe. I will see you guys in the morning." 

"OK, sweetheart. Goodnight," her Aunt replied.

 I went out and said goodnight to Joe and headed off to bed.