Orchard Falls

By Xavier Carter

A story about a little/big town in the northern plains filled with high-powered people. Intrigue and violence along with sweetness and romance fill the days of the people of Orchard Falls.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xavier Carter
• Release date: Jan 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311755193

Xavier Carter

When Xavier was an adolescent, he devoured books in the science fiction genre. All types of science fiction. From the future military novels and shorts stories by David Drake, Andrew & William Keith and Keith Laumer, to the geopolitical novels of Mack Reynolds and Gordon R. Dickson, he liked them all. Fantasy stories on the other hand did not quite have an appeal for him in fact the only fantasy type series Xavier read were the Pern novels by Anne McCaffrey.By far Xavier's favorite authors were Robert A. Heinlein, Gordon R. Dickson, Christopher Anvil and Fred Saberhagen. From Fred Saberhagen’s Berserker series to Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers, he fell in love with military sci-fi. He also thoroughly enjoyed Gordon R. Dickson’s Dorsai series where the future of combat in the universe is in the hands of mercenaries.Stories of cataclysmic destruction of the world we know today fascinated him also. Near future history sci-fi, post apocalyptic sci-fi. How the human spirit would cope dealing with a situation completely foreign to them.Another aspect of sci-fi Xavier found fascinating was the prospect of time travel or inter-dimensional travel. What would happen if you suddenly found yourself in another time? What would you do? How would you react? What if...Xavier first started writing in 1989, after finding himself laid off from his first full time job after graduating. During that time, he started three different novellas’, all of which have been lost due to a disk malfunction. After a long hiatus, he started again in late 2004. His first efforts were not up to his own standards for publication. Xavier has since reworked some of them and published them on web sites where they were well received. This has made him bold enough to attempt to publish via an eBooks publisher.Links:Other:[e-mail]

Book preview

Chapter 1

Don Steel was standing in the corner talking with friends about nothing, as friends sometimes do, when a vision, his vision, of loveliness, entered the room. He did not recognize her as anyone that he knew, but his heart was stunned to silence as he gazed upon her face. Her eyes were what took his breath away, pools of cool blue liquid that shone with such brilliance, even in the bright lights of the ballroom, they were a beacon. She wore a floor length black dress without decoration. As she moved, gliding would be more appropriate, a flash of leg wink from the slits at the sides. The delicate curve of her neck flowed out of her dress, sweeping down to her bare shoulders across the sweet sweep of the top of her breasts. The jiggle behind the dress confirmed that she worn no bra and the smoothness of the dress as it hugged her hips proved she had forgotten her panties. She was magnificent. Don's head felt as if it was going to explode as he finally took a long needed breath. He had to know her name.

George, do you know who that lovely young lady is over by the fireplace? he asked his friend, in the group he was talking with.

Which one? George asked, swiveling his head to look for her.

The lovely young lady, in the black dress, by the fireplace, do you see her?

Oh her, that's Michelle Wilfinger. But you might as well forget about her. She is standoffish and really hard to get to know. George stopped, looking around the group of guys in our circle. They all nodded in agreement with George.

Do you know her?

I've met her before.

Introduce me. Don grabbed George by the arm dragging him over to where she stood. Don had to prod George in the ribs as she turned to them.

Hello George, she said her gaze sliding past him to rest on Don.

Michelle Wilfinger may I introduce Don Steel, a long time friend of mine. Don this is Michelle.

Very pleased to met you Michelle, Don said. As he took her offered hand, he leaned down and pressed his lips to its back. It smelled of soap and perfume.

I'm pleased to met any friend of George's, she said softly as she retracted her hand holding it stiffly by her side.

George turned to leave, Michelle reached out with the hand Don had kissed and touched his arm. George froze at her touch. Seconds passed as this little tableau played out in front of Don. Finally George crumbled to a pose of dejection and walked away without turning. Michelle stood there with her hand outstretched, frozen as she watched George return to Don’s group of friends. She blinked twice, lowered her hand to her side and turned to Don with a smile on her lips.

So how long have you known George?

Not long, a few weeks. He just started at our firm. What was that all about?

It was nothing, nothing at all. And what firm is that? She seemed genuinely interested.

Sarbanes Oxley and Associates, he told her. He would never forget the look on her face as George turned to leave and Don would never forget the way George had walked away.

That's the big IT firm here in Orchard Falls, isn't it? She continued as if nothing had taken place between her and George.

Yes it is. In fact they are throwing this party tonight. Might I ask what you do?

Yes of course you may. She smiled waiting. She was a tease. Don chuckled.

What do you do to fill your time Miss Wilfinger?

I am currently doing my residency at Orchard Falls Medical Center. And please it’s Michelle.

You're a Doctor! Don said with surprise. Not that she couldn't be a doctor or was incapable of being a doctor. He was just surprised.

Yes, I'm a doctor. Any aches or pains you want me to look at? She immediately lowered her eyes in embarrassment as she realized what she had asked him .

No, not at the moment. Can I get you a drink? The embarrassment had passed as quickly as it had come.

I'll walk with you to the bar. He offered her his arm and she took it as they, well he walked, she glided, over to the bar.

What will you have?

A scotch and soda, on the rocks please, she said to the bartender.

I'll have a club soda with a twist of lime.

Not drinking tonight?

I don't drink anymore. I found that I always hate myself the next day.

Then I bet your friends like you on boy's night out? Her smile was intoxicating enough for him as she gazed into his eyes while they waited for their drinks.

You have the most beautiful eyes Michelle. Her blush filled her face darkening her tan and causing the sprinkle of tiny freckles across her nose to appear. She broke her gaze, looking down at the bar top. She appeared quite disconcerted at his comment.

Thank you for saying so Mr. Steel. Why so formal all of a sudden. Had He done something wrong?

Don, please, call me Don.

All right, Don. If you will stop trying to embarrass me I'll call you Don. She was embarrassed being told she was the most beautiful woman in the room. Why would she be embarrassed about her looks?

Just one final compliment and I'll stop. I must say this or I will go absolutely nuts. You, Michelle, are the most beautiful woman in this room. Let me finish. You are perfect. Your hair, your skin, your eyes, your lips, your nose, your breasts, your legs, every part of you is perfect. Now I want to get to know that beautiful person inside of you. The person with the compassion and empathy required to be a doctor. Will you let me in long enough to do that? Throughout his monolog her blush just kept getting deeper and deeper. Her mouth hung open and her beautiful eyes opened wide.

I don't know what to say. She was trying to compose herself. She was waving her hand in front of her face trying to cool herself from the heat of embarrassment. Their drinks arrived and she gulped hers down. Gently setting her glass down on the bar she turned back to him looking into his eyes. She was searching for something. A smile crossed her lips just for an instant, then it was gone.

Dance with me, she ordered, turning to the dance floor. Don quickly followed.

She waited for him at the edge of the dance floor. The band was starting to play a ballad. He took her in his arms and led off. She was soft and smelled heavenly. Her hair brushed his face in a gentle caress. Her delicate left hand rested softly on his shoulder, while he held her right hand in his left, it was warm and supple, to his touch.

He pressed his right hand into the small of her back bringing her closer to him. She didn't resist. He did hear her clear her throat as if to say something but she remained silent as she relaxed into his arms. She was a marvelous dancer, able to follow his every step, even seeming to anticipate them. It was as if they were floating on a cloud. He became more and more enthralled with this woman as they danced. She pushed back a little so she could look into his eyes. Her gaze was penetrating.

Her eyes sparkled as he guided her around the floor. He could see, from the corner of his eye, that everyone was watching them with envy. George was the only one not watching and this struck Don as strange. The song soon came to an end and Michelle and he returned to their drinks at the bar. They had danced in silence and now that silence continued at the bar. He studied her face as they stared into each others eyes pausing only to sip their drinks.

Don, she broke the silence.

Michelle. He loved saying her name.

Why don't we find a table in a nice quiet corner where we can talk?

Sure, sounds good, freshen your drink first. He signaled the bartender.

Chapter 2

She took his arm and they wandered through the crowd toward the back corner of the ballroom. All the while he could feel George's eyes on them. If there was something between these two why didn't he say something when Don asked to be introduced?

As they walked through the crowd, they stopped to say hello or talk with whomever they knew. It took them at least twenty minutes to get to a table in the back corner that was out of the way where they could converse without having to compete with the music.

They sat there for the longest time staring into each other's eyes and sipping their drinks. He was trying to memorize every pore, every line, every cute freckle across her nose. He really didn't believe in love at first sight but this woman had him, he would follow her anywhere, do anything she asked. He needed to know more about her, what motivated her on her quest of life.

So, Michelle, tell me about you.

What would you like to know?

Ok, I'll play. Where were you born?

What? She shook her head as if to clear it before continuing. I was born in a little town in northern Illinois. He sat there looking at her with a look of expectation on his face. Would she go on or play the game she started. He would play but it would be a pain.

"The town is called Mokena and is a far south suburb of Chicago. I grew up on a quiet little street in a quiet little neighborhood. I went to the elementary school and the high school closest to my house. I graduated at the top of my class. Then I went off to college. And believe it or not, I didn't stray far from home for that. I went to a local university in Chicago. I knew I wanted to be a doctor since I was a child. So when I was offered a scholarship I grabbed on and went for the ride.

I graduated second in my class, I then moved on to medical school at the same university. I graduated third in my class. I did my internship at the university hospital, passed my boards and accepted my residency at Orchard Falls just last winter. I'm not married or seeing anyone at this time as I don't have time for things like that as yet. Being a doctor comes first in my life, so until I become an attending or strike out on my own I will not have the time to get involved.

She stopped, looking at him with a little smile on her lips. Beautiful lips, lips he longed to plant light little kisses on. Lips he watched with a fascination of a moth drawn to a flame. This woman had taken over his mind and soul. His heart was pounding, his palms were sweaty and his mouth was dry. He took a sip of his club soda as he thought about the next question he wanted to ask her. Placing his glass gently down on the table in front of him he stared into her eyes.

Do you have any brothers or sisters? He was stalling now.

"No, no siblings, which is unfortunate as I always wanted a big brother or a sister. I thought I was missing out on something while