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Tonight was the night.
Audrey was going to have to write Skeldale up again and Mr. Bosworth would insist that he could not have a warden who set such a poor example with her own home – though it was not really her house. Nevertheless, like most problems in that house, it wound up being hers to deal with.
She set her bicycle aside and strode for the open back door which was beaming a square of light across the yard, gleefully broadcasting a disregard for basic security. It was like they were begging to be invaded. Audrey shook her head. She was starting to sound too much like Bosworth. Especially after having to lay into four different households tonight who ranged from painfully incompetent to overly belligerent. Her voice was going to be hoarse tomorrow.
“Audrey–”
A hand closed around her wrist. She yelped. Panic seared through her. Someone was kneeling on the ground just next to her and pulling her by the wrist and–
“ Shhh! It’s me!” Siegfried’s panic could be made out clearly in the dark.
She pressed a hand to her chest, hard enough to try and still the pounding. “Bloody hell, you scared me! What are you–”
His gaze snapped away from her and he tugged at her hand again. “Stay down.” Audrey obeyed and knelt beside him, her fear renewing. Were they hiding from something? There were some crates before them, but that didn’t make for the best cover.
The back door closed, eliminating the little light they did have, and quick, soft footsteps crunched in the gravel behind them. Nearly silent, Tristan sprawled himself on the drive next to her, propped up on his elbows, binoculars in hand. Every bit the soldier he’d become. “There’s got to be more than one.” He fixed his lens on the shed.
“But I’ve only seen one,” Siegfried insisted from her other side.
Audrey hunkered lower, convinced they really were about to be set upon by Germans. Her heart rate was thundering. She tried and failed to remember her training. “We need to keep still…” She whispered, trying to keep her voice from shaking.
Tristan whipped his head to look at her. “Oh, hey, Mrs. H! Come to see the owls?” he asked, his tone as bright as his smile.
Owls?
“Look, look, look!” Siegfried squeezed her hand. She hadn’t even noticed when he’d taken it. His excitement quickly distracted her. He leaned closer to her and pointed. “Right there.” She looked where he directed, squinting through the dark.
There was a hole in the shed that created a gap between the eave and the wall. From it, a pale shape emerged. The barn owl darted from the opening and soared over to the neighboring roof. The movement was entirely silent.
Tristan passed the binoculars over her head to Siegfried and it finally clicked that they were in no danger whatsoever. The Farnons were simply being their ridiculous selves. “Is it injured?” It better be. She could at least consider forgiving them for nearly giving her a heart attack if they were doing their job.
“Hopefully not. We think it’s nesting,” Tristan explained.
“ He thinks it’s nesting. It’s too late in the year.” Siegfried had barely glanced through the binoculars before offering them to her. “Do you want to see?”
They were surprisingly heavy and she hefted them to her face. With a light grip on her elbow, he helped guide her into view of the bird. The white heart-shaped face filled the scope and she gasped, regretting she wished it ill. Audrey had glimpsed plenty of owls on her rounds, but she’d never gotten to see one like this. It looked so sleek and soft. She stared in awe of the perfect symmetry of its face, the ridge of feathers that traced down to its hooked beak. It blinked its ink black eyes and looked right in her direction. This is one of God’s finest creatures, she thought, sighing.
There was a brief screech, but the owl’s beak didn’t move at all. She lowered the binoculars just as another owl alighted on the roofline. They nuzzled each other in greeting.
Tristan plucked his binoculars back from her. “Ha! I believe you owe me a few drinks, big brother.”
“Blast,” Siegfried grumbled, glaring at Skeldale’s newest residents. Audrey chuckled.
The three of them sat in silence for a stretch, passing the binoculars between them. The owls pruned and appraised the night. Audrey marveled at the creatures. It was ludicrous, but she felt as though the birds were watching out for them, keeping them safe. Siegfried took her hand again and she held it tight.
And suddenly this damned war felt like it was the least important thing in the world.
“What in God’s name are you all doing out there!?”
Helen’s shout spooked the owls and likely woke the neighbors. Tristan let out a disappointed wail at the fleeing birds. He scrambled up, already claiming she was to blame if they never returned. Their bickering faded as he joined Helen inside.
Siegfried got to his feet. He was already holding one of her hands, so he offered his other to her. She stood, perhaps a bit too close. His palms were clammy and he cleared his throat. “We’ll have to check back again when the owlets are hatched.”
“Definitely.”
He cast a nervous glance back at the house to check if anyone was watching, but Audrey cupped his cheek in her hand and pushed up on her toes. She kissed him firm and brief and he stiffened in surprise still, even though this was the dozenth time they’d kissed. He wrapped her into his embrace and kissed her back. Her heart felt fit to burst and she immediately forgave him for the scare.
She buried her face into his chest, simply relishing the joy of being held. She didn’t realize how cold she’d been. Siegfried rubbed his hand in circles on her back. “Long night?”
She nodded as much as she could while pressing her whole body against him. He chuckled and the sound reverberated through your soul. He gave her one more tight squeeze before unraveling himself from her, though he was clearly just as reluctant to do so as she was.
“Let’s get you to bed.”
He kissed Audrey’s forehead and with her hand in his, led her back inside.