Environmental Romance Part One

It has come to my attention that many of you, my dear readers are slogging along in petty lives of drudgery and woe. I feel you crying out for something…something to lighten your day, to lift your spirits, to get your cholesterol clogged heart pumping. What you need is…A GOOD ROMANCE!


And, so, in the spirit of service I offer you:

Flora: An Environmental Love Story

By: Laraine F. Eddington

(Best read aloud with expression - by candlelight)

Installment numero uno


“There you go little guy” Flora gave the diminutive raccoon a gentle push with her slender fingers. The black-masked rodent looked over his furry shoulder plaintively, as if to say Can’t I stay in your gentle arms a wee bit longer Miss Flora?”


“Now get going you silly” said Flora with a throaty chuckle. “Go find your family and stay off the road or next time you might be seriously injured, or even killed.” The thought sent a slight shudder down the lithesome frame of the young Forest Ranger.


Flora tucked a curling blonde tendril back under her Smokey the Bear Hat and sighed, thinking about how deeply she loved the creatures of the forest; the elk so muscular and noble, the wary deer, shyly sequestered in the dappled shade. Her heart softened at the thought of the prickly round porcupine, that reminded her so much of the father she had lost when she was seven. Her thick black lashes closed over her emerald green eyes as she pursed her full red lips. She shook her well shaped head, she couldn’t think about all that right now.


She noticed the lengthening shadows and checked the position of the sun with a practiced eye. Goodness gracious, it was already 6:45 p.m. Flora had once again lost all track of time, absorbed in the woodland, protecting the creatures that were her closest friends. She opened the door of her clean burning propane forest service vehicle and climbed in. It had been a busy day and she was looking forward to her Tai Chi class.


Before she could turn the key she heard the blast. Flora’s heart thumped wildly under her left bosom, a perfect twin to the one on the right. She rolled down the window and heard another rifle shot. Triangulating the sound, altitude and slope of the hill told her where the shot was coming from…the old corrals.

Dust boiled behind her as she mashed the gas pedal with a shapely foot clad in the soft leather of a well worn boot. Another shot pierced the forest calm. Her breath caught in her throat, thinking of the forest creatures running willy nilly with fright…away, away from the frightening sound. She skidded to a stop beside a jet black Ford Truck with expensive rims. Throwing the door open, she jumped out of the truck. And then she saw him.


To be continued…