Chapter 1: Opening Image
The desert stretched out before me, a vast expanse of sand and rock bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. I stepped out of the cozy Airbnb, squinting against the brightness, and breathed in the distinctive scent of sagebrush and the faintest hint of burning wood. The air was dry and crisp, a welcome change from the humidity of the city I'd left behind. I loved it out here—the quiet, the space, the chance to be alone with my thoughts.
The Airbnb was a charming little place, nestled in a valley surrounded by towering red rock formations.
The adobe walls, painted in earthy tones, blended seamlessly with the landscape. I was partial to the large patio out back, where an open-air kitchen and a fire pit sat among native vegetation and sprawling cacti. It was the perfect spot to enjoy a meal under the wide-open sky, or to curl up with a good book as the sun dipped below the horizon.
I had a few things to do before I could settle in for the night. There were dishes to wash, a load of laundry to start, and wood to chop for the fire pit. I was just getting started on the latter when I caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye.
Turning, I saw two figures by the woodpile, their hands full of logs. My eyebrows shot up. Thieves? In this day and age?
I strode over, the sound of my boots crunching on the gravel path. "Hey!" I called out. "What do you think you're doing?"
The two women spun around, startled. One was tall and lanky, with short, curly black hair and a mischievous grin. The other was shorter, with a round face and wide, worried eyes. They were both dressed in jeans and t-shirts, and their fingers were dusty from handling the wood.
The shorter one—I’d later learn her name was Vicky—was the first to speak.
“Uh, sorry,” she stammered, her eyes darting nervously between me and the pile of stolen wood. “We didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
I crossed my arms, not yet convinced. “Yet here you are, stealing my firewood.”
The taller woman, who introduced herself as Maria, laughed lightly. “We saw your stack and figured we could borrow a bit,” she explained, her voice laced with a hint of Latino accent.
“We’re camping nearby and ran out of wood. We didn’t mean to trespass or steal. We’ll pay you for it.”
I raised an eyebrow, taking in their empty hands and the pile of logs they’d already amassed. “Borrow a bit? You two look like you were planning a bonfire for the whole desert.”
Vicky shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flicking towards Maria. “We should go,” she murmured.
Maria, however, held her ground. “Look,” she said, “we messed up. We didn’t think anyone would mind. We’re new in town, and we’re flat broke.