A Comforting Presence.

Later that night she heard a noise.

Odessa was confused as she walked into the library, trying to figure out what the noise was. She saw the farm hand, standing in the corner of the room.

What was he doing here? What was he looking for?

She decided to confront him, she would rather know what was happening instead of staying in the dark.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, her tone slightly sharp.

"Just looking into the book here, Miss Odessa," the farm hand replied, not answering her question. It was strange, he was avoiding the question, maybe it was something he wasn't supposed to talk about. Or was he simply uncomfortable?

"Well," she said carefully, "you're not meant to be reading other people's books, you know that."

He didn't reply, turning back to the book in front of him. This whole scenario was just getting more and more bizarre.

"What is your name?" She says.

The farm hand put down the book, turning to face Odessa. His expression seemed nervous, though it could have been a result of being caught.

"My name is Andrew, miss," he said. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude on your books. I just saw this one, and I wanted to know if the animals depicted in it were accurate."

It was an unexpected answer, but she was intrigued by what he meant. Now she wanted to know what had made him so interested.

She looks closer at the book

Odessa got closer to the book, glancing through the pages. It was a bestiary, describing the appearances and behaviors of different kinds of animals. But why would Andrew want to know what the animals were like?

"Do you work with animals?" She asked, curious about the farm hand. "What business do you have looking at these pictures?"

Andrew nodded, his expression less nervous now that she knew why he was interested in the book.

"I'm a farm hand, miss," he said. "And I guess I've seen so many animals, that I wanted to know if the pictures were accurate. I've never seen a book like this before, it's interesting."

She was a little relieved at this answer, she had been worried that he was up to no good. But it seemed like he was just interested in a book. Nothing malicious or dangerous.

She listens to him as he talks

"It's not often that someone is so interested in seeing animals accurately depicted," she said, her tone curious. But she appreciated that he seemed eager to learn.

"Why, are the animals on the farms you've worked on often depicted incorrectly?" She asked, her questions coming thick and fast. She wanted to know what Andrew's thoughts were, she found it fascinating that he knew so much about the animals on the farm.

"Well, to be honest, miss," Andrew started, his tone a little quiet. "I've always loved animals. I love learning about how they act, and how we should be properly looking after them. Their behavior interests me a lot."

She felt a little surprised at this answer, it seemed like Andrew wasn't like your average farm hand. He was a lot more thoughtful and intelligent than she had expected.

"Do you want to study animals?" She asked, her tone softer. "Is that your dream?"

"Well, to be honest, miss, I wanted to study animals," Andrew replied, a slight sadness to his tone.

"But I don't really have the opportunity. And if my father found out, he wouldn't listen to any of it. He just wants me to continue working here."

Odessa felt sympathetic, it seemed like Andrew had bigger dreams than just working on the farm. He wanted more in life, but felt held back. She could relate to that.

"I know how you feel." She says.

Andrew understands her frustrations

Andrew nodded, understanding what she was saying.

"It can be hard to work towards something you aren't passionate about, I've felt that way myself," he said. "Your family just wants the best for you, but some parents forget to listen to what their children want for themselves."

He spoke with a tone of wisdom, showing that he was more than the average farm hand. He seemed intelligent and well-educated, but had been forced into a life that he wasn't satisfied with.

Odessa tells him about her failed meetings

Odessa couldn't help but confide in him, he just seemed like someone she could trust.

"I'm not passionate about finding a husband at all, but my father wouldn't listen to me," she said quietly. "I've been on so many dates recently, but they've all failed."

She couldn't help it, she wanted to open up to him. She didn't want to hide her feelings from him, even if he was just the farm hand in her eyes.

Andrew put a hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner.

"I understand," he said, his voice gentle. "It must be tiring, going on all these dates. I would be exhausted if I was doing the same thing."

She felt touched by his kindness. No one else in her life had spoken to her this way before. He cared about how she felt, and that went a long way in her eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly.

She feels comforted by his concern

Odessa leaned into his touch slightly, feeling strangely comforted by it.

"No, I'm not alright," she said. "My dates have all been disappointing, and I feel like I'm wasting my own time."

She suddenly felt overwhelmed. For so long, she had felt like her life was not her own, it belonged to her parents. They made the decisions, they led the way.

She didn't want that anymore, she wanted her own life. Not one chosen by them.