The fall air snapped crisply around the lovers legs. They walked hand in hand, mindless of the leaves crackling around their feet. Even the breeze through the trees sounded dry, crackly, as if it was electric. An overcast sky accompanied them on their journey, the wind promising rain sometime soon. They could smell it, taste it even. They reached their destination, the smell of wood-smoke and burnt leaves hanging heavily around them.
Kathleen was deep in thought. The summer sun was high- just like the humidity. Sultry, sticky air was stifling her, but it was worse in the big ole heat-storing farmhouse. At least on the front porch there was the tiniest of breezes.
Her laptop was sticking to her legs, and her hair was plastered to her neck. It was hard to write about a chilly fall day when she was so miserably hot. Kathleen could feel sweat trickling along her spine, and she finally gave up and headed into the house.
"Grandma, who services your furnace?"
At the older woman's answer, Kathleen replied, "I'm calling them. I'm getting you an air conditioner."
Her grandmother argued, but not too loudly. The heat was sapping her energy, and secretly she admitted to herself that air conditioning would be nice. Her husband had never believed it was necessary, but he'd been gone for almost five years. It wasn't that she didn't have the money. She was just from the old time where they never had it.
"I don't know how you're supposed to heal up from that surgery in this heat. But you watch, the minute you're cool, you'll perk right up." Kathleen dialed the number and spoke to the company.
"They'll be here between eight and ten in the morning. Just one more night. Thank God."
"Kat, I sure do appreciate that. Honey, could you get me a glass of water?" Ester asked hesitantly. She wasn't one to ask of other people.
"Sure Gram. Don't sound like you'd rather I pulled your teeth. I'm here to take care of you. Don't be afraid to ask for anything, okay?" Kathleen retrieved the water and placed it on her grandma's end table. Kissing her forehead, she added, "I'm going back outside to write."
"Are you sure this isn't any trouble Kat?"
"Gram, I can write just as good on your front porch as I can sitting behind a desk. I love you." Kat kissed her again and headed for the porch once more.
Upon her return, a Corgi and a German Sheppard had taken up residence beside her chair. They both looked friendly, and she was proven right. Too friendly. Her canine companions insisted on helping her write. She tried shooing them, but to no avail. Finally, at four o'clock exactly, they stood in unison and trotted off down the lane.
Kathleen went inside. "Gram, do you know who has a couple dogs? A Corgi and a German Sheppard?"
"Oh yes dear. Those sweet dogs come by every day and visit me. I didn't realize what time it was! Oh, pooh, I missed 'em. Tomorrow, could you let them in so I can visit with them?"
Kathleen was slightly surprised. "Yeah, Gram, sure. No problem." She smiled to herself.
"They belong to Trace who lives up the road. He's such a nice man. And I hear he's available." Gram smiled that sweet smile.
"Oh no ya don't. I am here to watch you and write a book. Not have some fling." Kat smiled.
"Well, you do write romance novels, right? What could be the harm in a little... inspiration?"
"I am going back outside." Kat grinned as she turned, and her grandma's laughter followed her out the door.
The next morning, almost right at eight o'clock, the air conditioning guys were there. Kathleen thanked them profusely, and by that afternoon, she was cool as a cucumber. Gram was breathing easier, and they both ended up falling asleep in the living room.
Kathleen woke to a scratching sound, and when she sat up, those dogs were at the window, making their prescence known.
"Gram, wake up. You have visitors." Kathleen stood and stretched, then went and opened the front door. The canines came in calmly, and both took up position on either side of her grandma.
As Ester cooed and petted and scratched, the dogs lolled their tongues and offered their bellies. Kathleen shook her head with a smile, then headed for the porch. The heat was still awful, but the humidity had dropped out and there was a pretty good wind going. Kathleen stretched again and opened her laptop. The cursor blinked, seeming to mock her, for she couldn't think of a single sentence to write. Maybe Gram was right. Maybe she did need some inspiration.
After her first book flew off the shelves, she was in demand for another. When that one went just as quickly, she was pressed for yet another. This being her fourth, Kathleen was getting slightly burnt out. And she hadn't had time for a social life in months. Her last boyfriend had been around went her first book went out, but he ran because he couldn't handle the pressure. She later found out he had a boyfriend.
Kat found herself woolgathering, but knowing that three chapters were due in as many days, she had to get to work. Time flew as she was typing, and she didn't realize the sun was setting until she heard her grandma ringing her bell. As she stood, she stretched and marveled at how quickly time had went by.
"Yeah Gram... what do ya need?"
"I let the dogs out a couple hours ago. Did you realize what time it was?"
"You shouldn't have gotten up on your own! You could have fallen!"
"It was only a few steps, and I needed to stretch. But I am hungry."
"Of course. Don't get up alone again. How does tuna salad sound?"
"That sounds wonderful." Gram looked away and flipped the TV to a different channel.
As Kathleen mixed in the mayonnaise, the phone rang. She grabbed it off the wall and cradled it on her shoulder.
"Hello?"
"This isn't Gram." A deep, rich voice spoke into her ear. Kathleen felt a shiver shimmy down her back. She felt like the owner of the voice was breathing on her neck.
"No, this is Gram-daughter. Can I help you?"
"Maybe. This is Trace from up the road. I see my mutts were up there pestering again."
"How do you know that?"
"Cause Gram sent a note on one of their collars."
