"Stay here." I told Alice. But of course, as soon as I stood up, she stood as well. I sighed. Did this girl care about her own safety at all?

"Alice, please." I begged as she began to follow me into the forest.

"No, I'm not going to let you go in there alone. Your dad said there were wolves in the area."

"That's exactly why you should stay. You'd only be a snack."

Alice rolled her eyes.

I stood, glaring at this tiny goddess. She was so stubborn! But the resolve in her eyes was clear. She was not going to let me go into the forest alone.

I stared at her beautiful blue eyes for another long moment, debating on my next course of action. It was a difficult task. I almost got lost in the depth of her shimmering eyes. I decided that Alice was far more important than my curiosity. I wasn't going to put her in danger.

"Why don't we just go back to the house, take a break." I suggested.

"Oh." She blinked, confused by my sudden change of heart.

"That was really weird…" Alice said as we made our way back.

"Yeah." I agreed with her. "We don't usually get wolves here."

Alice sighed. "I supposed that is weird too."

I raised my eyebrows. "What are you talking about, then? Something else?"

"Yes." Alice said in a way that made me realize she was frustrated. "I usually see these sorts of things, you know, immediate danger? I'm not usually taken by surprise like that."

"So you just see dangerous things?" I asked, curious about how her gift worked.

"Not just danger, but I like to look out for danger." She said thoughtfully. "But I see lots of things. What people say, what they do, the outcome of their decisions." Alice turned to me, her blue eyes suddenly loving. My chest suddenly felt hot. "I see when you're about to turn and kiss me, when you smile at me…"

"Y–you can predict everything I do?" I asked, mortified.

She smiled at my horror. "Some of the things you do, yes. But don't worry, you still manage to surprise me." She stopped walking and wrapped her arms around me. We were near the house now, next to Firerain's barn. I could hear him whine from the gate, probably wanting some dinner, but none of that mattered now. All I could see was Alice. Her eyes were blue and twinkling. She leaned in and gave me a kiss on the check. There was nothing better than the feel of her warm lips.

"How do I surprise you?" I murmured against her neck.

She shivered. "Your future shifts very fast, faster than I can keep up. So you don't always do what I expect you to do. I'll see you say one thing, and then you say something different. Or I'll see you touch me… but that touch never comes." She pouted.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the adorable expression. "Sorry I disappointed you."

"Really?" She gave me a stern but playful look. "You don't look sorry."

I chucked some more. "Why do you think that is? Why do I shift so much?"

Alice's gaze moved to the blue sky above us, her expression far-away. Then she turned back to me. "My theory is that you might be one of those–" she wrinkled her nose, "Overthinkers."

"Ha!" I exclaimed. "Well that`s a given. I am the master of overthinking things."

She tried to look stern, but she couldn't keep from smiling too. "I imagine, when someone's thoughts keep turning around, their decisions keep shifting. And when their decisions keep changing, I can't really get a clear picture."

She frowned, the corner of her lip turned down delicately. My heart squeezed. "I'm sorry I frustrate you." I ran a finger down her cheek. She leaned into my touch and smiled.

After a moment, she sighed. "It's just so frustrating that I didn't see it coming. We could've been in danger, and it would have been my fault."

I looked down at her in alarm. "Of course it wouldn't be your fault!"

She met my gaze. "Yes, it would."

"You can't expect yourself to see everything, Alice."

Her eyes narrowed at my words. She looked offended.

"And why not?" She snapped.

"Well… uh…" I stammered, backtracking. I wasn't sure why she was offended. "Isn't that why you're scared and stressed?" She continued to stare at me. So I continued to talk, hoping I wasn't digging myself into a bigger hole. "Trying to see and know everything? Not just the bear–or wolf–thing, but with us. That's a lot you know. A lot of pressure. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself."

Her expression softened. I exhaled in relief. Angry Alice was scary.

"I can't help it." She said. "If you saw what I saw–you would also be scared."

"What did you see that is so bad?"

She looked away from me. Her expression was solemn. My heart squeezed. Was it that bad?

"Come on, Alice." I said gently. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what we're up against."

But she didn't answer. She continued to gaze into the distance.

I sighed, frustrated that she did not trust me.

"I think everything will be okay. I'm not going anywhere." I told her.

She looked at me then, her eyes suddenly desperate. "Promise?"

I stared at her in alarm. "Of course!" I reassured her. "I am not leaving you." I cupped her small face in my hands. Her skin was as soft as silk. Her eyes were glued to mine, still frantic.

"Now," I said softly, "Will you tell me what you are so afraid of."

"It's nothing."

I could tell she was lying. There was something that she was hiding. Something she was afraid of. But it was hard to be angry with her when she was in my arms.

And she was so very stubborn.

"Let's go," I looked toward the house. "We have more chores to do."

It took longer to finish my chores, having to show Alice everything, but I didn't mind. Her eyes were filled with wonder and joy. It made me realize how sheltered she'd been. She may have gone to college already, but she'd never repaired falling panels, dug through the hard earth, and given sustenance to plants and animals. It was all boring work, but to Alice, it was a world she hadn't seen. For some reason, she seemed to enjoy being out here with me. I was glad. Very mystified…. But glad all the same.

When the sun began to set, the farm took on a beautiful orange hue. Alice stood on the porch, transfixed as the sun settled over the treetops. "It's really beautiful here." Alice said softly.

"I guess so." I said, not really paying attention to the scenery. It was difficult to focus on the scenery when a goddess, more beautiful than the sunset and landscape combined, was standing on my shabby porch.

I shook my head clear. I was stacking eggs on the table, one wrong move and we would have a big mess. And Alice's presence had a tendency to render me useless. Counting the eggs, I realized we would have to go to the market soon, there were too many for us to eat.

"Looks like we need to take a trip tomorrow." I said, more to myself than anyone in particular.

"To sell eggs?" Alice appeared at my side.

"Yes."

"Sounds great!" Alice beamed.

I sighed. It was difficult to understand how this girl found the tedious life of a farmer to be even remotely exciting, and yet, she stood there beaming, as if this was the most exciting thing in the world.

In the distance, another howl ripped through the evening air.