One Wish To You

The air was heavy with the scent of roses. Night, it seemed, amplified scent and Melody inhaled deeply of the moonlight induced aroma. She wandered slowly along the narrow pathway, the crushed oyster shells softly reflecting the fading star light to guide her on her journey.

She passed trees and bushes laden with the blossoms and buds. The dew collecting on the tips of thick petals, quivered for a moment on the precipice of crimson, pink or yellow cliffs before gravity pulled them to earth where they melted into the rich soil, searching out roots to nourish.

Melody’s sleeves were wet with dew, the cotton of her blouse absorbing the liquid gems as she brushed past the plants on her way to the small stone well at the far edge of the property. This part of the garden wasn’t as well tended as what grew closer to the house and the wild growth, left unchecked, provided a barrier between what her life was and what she wanted it to be.

Dawn threatened to break, quivering on the edge of the eastern horizon, but the pastel blush was still too weak to be called day. Stepping faster, Melody pushed past overgrown heather and Scottish broom, the purple and yellow blossoms throwing their scent in the air as she made contact with them.

As last she came to a low stone wall, spongy moss and tiny ferns growing in the crevasses, and with practiced precision she climbed over and continued on her way. The shell pathway had stopped at the wall, and her feet were now completely silent on the soft carpet of thyme as she hurried toward the small well that stood like a solitary soldier in the center of a forgotten clearing.

No one used the well anymore, and years of neglect had only served to endear it to Melody all the more. Its small sloped roof wasn’t quite as covered with cedar shingles as it had once been, but those that were left were held in place by more moss. The bucket and winch had long since weathered away, falling down the stone throat of the well.

Climbing up, Melody sat on the stone edge, her feet dangling in the black depths of the well. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a few small, round pebbles; she had made it a habit over the last 16 years to gather them when she went to the river so she could drop them into the well each morning. There was no crime in making wishes, and since she didn’t have pennies to waste, pebbles would have to serve.

Swinging her feet freely in the mouth of the well, Melody watched as dawn fought its way over the hills, beating back the night with bright fists. Pink turned to fuchsia, lavender to purple and yellow to gold, haloing the trees like wooded saints. It was when the light broke over the vast expanse of Wildwood that Melody made her first wish of the day, dropping a stone into the well.

The ancient manor house stood like a protective governess, her arms outstretched to welcome, but hard enough to protect those inside them. The wave of the roof tiles looked like wild red hair, crowning her tall torso and making her quite the imposing figure.

Another wish, another stone fall.

Melody knew that with each dawn came the landlord’s daughter, Hannah. Sitting astride her buckskin gelding she would erupt from the barn for her daily ride across the countryside.

Another wish, another stone fall.

As if cued by the sun she appeared. Her chestnut hair was bound at the base of her head, braids coiled like silken snakes. Her black breeches sheathed her legs and disappeared into the tops of the knee high leather boots, complimenting the blue of her blouse.

Another wish, another stone fall.

Melody watched intently, straining her eyes into the bright morning light until horse and rider disappeared over the hill. Looking down into her hand she pushed the two remaining pebbles across her palm with one finger, her heart steadily beating faster and faster as the minutes ticked by.

Another wish, another stone fall.

Climbing to her feet, Melody stood on the rim of the well, holding onto the rotting roof for balance as she rose onto her tip toes and peered into the distance. The sound of hoof beats was faint at first, and she wasn’t sure from which direction they were coming. The horse pranced out from the thick forest that skirted the clearing and Melody turned, her blue eyes locking with the green gaze that made her heart leap.

Hannah brought her horse up beside the well, reining him to a halt only a moment before leaning toward Melody and the kiss her proffered mouth promised. Melody felt her body flush with heat as she held Hannah’s mouth against her own, gently cupping the back of her head, and she relished the taste of her.

Breaking the kiss they smiled at each other, and Melody held up the one remaining pebble she had, holding it between her finger and thumb. “Only one more wish to you,” she said before tossing it over her shoulder.

The stone echoed, bouncing its way down to the water below while Melody slid onto the horse’s back, her arms wrapping tightly around Hannah’s waist before they rode off to their secret spot to pass the day in a heavy cloud of passion.