Earth Legend by Florence Witkop Page B

cherries when
I sensed someone behind me. I turned and saw Cullen framed by green
branches and white blossoms. I caught my lower lip between my teeth
as our glances met and held. He was out of uniform. I'd never seen
him in anything other than the navy blue that the crew wore when on
duty. He looked different. Human. Vulnerable.
    He stepped forward. "Hello." Stopped and
waited for me to acknowledge his presence. I inclined my head. "I
was told I'd find you here. You are a creature of habit and today
is your day to harvest fruit."
    "As are you. A creature of habit. You come to
New Rochelle every two weeks." I checked my comunit. "You're off
schedule. So why are you here today?"
    "I'm off duty."
    "Of course. No uniform." But he didn't need
one to tell the world that he was a guy in charge. His bearing was
so straight and his movements so precise that his very self shouted
that he was watching over everyone. Except I didn't want him to
watch over me. I wanted him gone but I shouldn't say so.
    He stepped closer, arms stiff at his side,
and looked around. "I've been checking out what you said the other
day. Now that you called my attention to it, I can see that not all
crops are as healthy as these trees."
    "So that's what you were about?"
    "What do you mean?"
    "Asking questions about me." He stopped
walking. Stayed a safe distance away. Made a quarter turn away.
Pretended to be relaxed but I knew better. "I heard all about your
little visits with people who know me."
    "That's my business. It's what I do."
    "You didn't ask questions about other people.
Not from what I heard. Just me." A good offence is the best
defense, as my cousin Todd used to say. I hoped he was right as I
plowed ahead in an effort to get Cullen out of my orchard and my
life. "In future, if you want to know something about me, ask me,
not someone else."
    "I'll do that." My attack worked. He closed
into himself and left with his back as ramrod straight as when he
arrived. But as he ducked around the apples hanging heavy on the
trees he said, "This fruit is wonderful. You're good." The words
were hard to say, he sounded like he was choking on them. But
Cullen Vail, the perfect security person would be honest if it
killed him. "Those idiots in the greenhouses are making a mistake
in ignoring you."
    "They made their choice." The trees closed
behind him, shooing him along and closing ranks behind him so I
found myself yelling impotently at leaves still quivering from his
passing instead of at Cullen himself. I'd have liked to see his
expression but the fact that I could only imagine what he looked
like didn't keep me from smiling as I followed his soft curses
through the trees. The orchard was a good friend and was acting
accordingly.
    Could it be that his questions hadn't been
personal in nature? That his only concern was failing crops and my
potential to turn things around?
    I left the orchard as soon as I figured
Cullen was good and gone. I went home and found Alicia at my door,
her cat at her feet and her miniature cherry tree in her hands. It
was drooping. "What's with this?" I took it from her after
unlocking the door and leading her and Queenie inside.
    "It's sad. I think it misses the other
trees."
    "It was nice of you to bring it for a visit."
I set it on a small table already laden with other growing things
and I touched it gently. In moments it perked up. "See, it's better
now and I'm pretty sure that it'll be okay. I doubt you'll have to
bring it for another visit." I touched it again, just to be sure,
as Alicia's lower lip stuck out. "But of course you can bring it
over any time you wish." The lip receded somewhat. "Do you have
time for cookies?"
    A huge sigh shook her frame. "Mom says I'm
eating too many cookies."
    "Maybe one?"
    She sat on the couch and nibbled a single
cookie slowly so as to make it last as long as possible. While she
nibbled, she crossed her ankles primly. "Mr. Vail asked about
you."
    "I know. You told me."
    "I mean again. He came