101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion
101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion
Elara made her way down the winding path that led to the apple orchard. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the mountain landscape, painting everything in warm golden hues. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the crisp mountain
air.
“Daddy! I forgot to tell you about the frog we saw in the garden! It was THIS big!” The little girl’s hands spread wide on the screen.
Vivienne Dubois stood before them, wrapped in an elegant cashmere shawl. Her gaze darted between Elara and Beck, her perfectly sculpted eyebrows rising in obvious
surprise.
“Hello,” Elara said, her voice automatically warming as it always did around children.
Elara laughed softly as Beck ended the call.
Finally, a woman’s voice called from somewhere off–screen. “Shanice, time for bed!”
“Don’t be. She’s delightful.”
Elara found a flat boulder and sat down, letting the quiet seep into her bones. No laptops, no phones, no algorithm problems to solve. Just her and the mountains. Twenty minutes later, she emerged onto a small plateau. The view stole her breath away. The valley spread out below her like a painting, with the retreat complex looking like a miniature model amid the vast wilderness. Beyond, mountains stretched to the horizon, their peaks already catching the reddening light of the approaching sunset.
Beck looked questioningly at Elara, who nodded slightly. He turned the phone to show the panoramic view.
“Well, well,” she said, her voice silky. “What an… unexpected pairing”
Something in Elara softened slightly at the mention of his daughter. She’d seen photos of the little girl around the office – a bright–eyed eight–year–old with her father’s
smile.
Elara’s eyes snapped open, She turned to find Beck standing a few feet away, a phone in his hand. Her peaceful expression immediately shut down into neutral politeness.
101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion
“It was! And it was green and…” The child paused, peering at the screen. “Who’s that with you, Daddy?”
By the time they reached the bottom of the trail, darkness had nearly fallen. The retreat’s lights glowed welcomingly in the twilight. They were approaching the main entrance when a figure stepped out onto the path.
“I didn’t realize anyone else was up here,” she said, her voice cooling several degrees.
Elara’s posture remained rigid. “I should leave you to your call.”
Beck seemed to sense her discomfort. “Sorry to intrude. I come up here for the cell signal when I call my daughter. The reception down at the retreat is spotty.”
“Hi, Ms. Vance!” Shanice waved enthusiastically. “Are you on a mountain? That’s so
cool!”
Sweet juice flooded her mouth. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d tasted something so simple yet delicious.
“Aww, Mom!” The little girl pouted. “Bye, Daddy! Bye, Ms. Dragon Lady!”
Behind her, she heard Beck explaining, “We just happened to be at the viewpoint at the same time. Nothing more.”
The temperature dropped as the sun disappeared behind the distant peaks. Elara shivered slightly in her light sweater.
For once, being alone felt like a choice rather than a punishment.
Beck glanced at Elara apologetically before angling the phone slightly. “This is Ms. Vance. She works with me.”
She closed her eyes, feeling the gentle breeze play with her hair. The silence was absolute, broken only by occasional birdsong and the rustling of leaves.
Elara didn’t break stride. She walked past Vivienne without acknowledging her presence, heading straight for the lobby doors.
“No need.” Beck gestured to the phone. “I was just wrapping up. Shanice wanted to show me her science project before bedtime.”
“Beautiful view, isn’t it?”
101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion
Without overthinking it, she began climbing the trail. The path grew steeper, making her legs burn pleasantly with exertion. Work had consumed her mind for hours; this physical activity was exactly what she needed.
After gathering a few more apples in the small bag provided by the retreat, Elara noticed a narrow trail leading further up the mountain. A wooden sign indicated it led to a sunset viewpoint. She checked her watch – still plenty of time before dusk.
Elara nodded, gathering her bag of apples. They began descending the trail, with Beck leading the way. The path was steeper going down, and in places, loose gravel made footing treacherous. When Elara slipped slightly, Beck instinctively extended his hand, but she caught herself against a tree instead, pointedly ignoring his offered help.
Elara clutched her bag of apples tighter and headed for the elevators. Let Vivienne think what she wanted. Let her whisper her suspicions to Damien and the others.
Beck shrugged, smiling. “She has a vivid imagination. Sorry about that.”
The lobby doors swung shut behind Elara, cutting off whatever accusation Vivienne was about to make. Through the glass, she could see them standing together, Vivienne gesturing animatedly while Beck’s posture grew increasingly defensive.
An awkward silence fell between them. The sun had begun its final descent, casting deep orange light across the landscape. Elara turned her attention back to the view, hoping Beck would take the hint and leave.
“We should head back,” Beck said, rising from his boulder. “It gets cold quickly once the
sun’s gone.”
“Can I see? Please, please, please?”
For once, Elara didn’t care what stories they told about her. She had algorithms to perfect and dragons to find.
“Wooooow!” Shanice’s voice was full of wonder. “That’s like in my storybooks! Are there dragons there?”
The orchard was more beautiful than she’d expected. Rows of apple trees stretched across the gentle slope, their branches heavy with ripe fruit. Elara approached the nearest tree and reached up, plucking a perfect red apple. She polished it against her sweater and took a satisfying bite.
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101 Sunset, Silence, and Suspicion
Before she could respond, Beck’s phone chimed. “Actually, that’s her calling back. She forgot to tell me something.”
Neither spoke. Elara was grateful for that. Beck seemed to understand that she hadn’t come seeking company.
Beyond them, further down the path, a group was gathering around a newly lit bonfire. Elara could make out Damien’s tall form among them, with Cora close by his side.
Elara’s smile deepened. “I haven’t seen any yet, but I’ll keep looking.”
“Is that so?” Vivienne’s voice dripped with suspicion. “Beck, you two…”
The walk back was conducted in complete silence. The earlier moment of warmth during Shanice’s call had evaporated, replaced by Elara’s customary reserve. She kept several paces behind Beck, maintaining distance…
They sat in silence as the sun sank lower, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange, pink, and purple. The retreating daylight transformed the valley below into a tapestry of shadows and golden highlights.
Elara hesitated, then nodded curtly. “It’s a free mountain.”
They chatted for a few more minutes, with Shanice asking increasingly imaginative questions about mountain wildlife. Elara found herself responding with equal enthusiasm, momentarily forgetting her discomfort around Beck.
He answered the video call, and immediately a child’s excited voice filled the mountain
air.
Despite herself, Elara smiled. “I am. I’m watching the sunset.”
“Dragon Lady?” she asked, one eyebrow raised.
Instead, he sat down on another boulder, keeping a respectful distance. “Mind if I watch the sunset too? It’s why I came up here after
my call.”
Beck chuckled. “That sounds like quite the frog, sweetheart.”
