Emily woke up to a bird singing outside her window again, and a fresh breeze teasing her skin. This time the clock read 6:04, and as her senses recovered, she remembered the sound of rain during the night. She'd slept naked for the second night in a row, and her body tingled at the prospect of new sensations. She'd also made sure the door was shut so the dawn patrol couldn't slip in. The morning smell of an early breakfast was in the air, but no sounds came from the kitchen. Peeking through the door, she saw a note on the table: "Lydia had to work, I'm in the garage. Come on out whenever you're ready. Breakfast is in the oven."
Looking in the oven door, she saw sausages, biscuits, gravy and eggs staying warm, with coffee in the maker waiting for her. Scratching her head, she saw no reason to eat just then, and sensed a chance to try something she'd been curious about.
She felt like a schoolgirl playing hooky as she walked across the front yard naked, away from sight of the garage. Of course, she knew Graham wouldn't have cared, but it felt more exciting to sneak around this way. The wet grass squelched under her toes and she wiggled them a little to savor the feeling. Approaching the end of the yard, she looked at the wheat field before her, lush and green, shining with the new rain. It came up to her shoulders, and she carefully stepped into the field, walking carefully not to crush any plants, letting them embrace her.
It was a bit scratchier than she expected, but the feeling excited her a little, so she went out a little farther and let some plants come up between her legs. She stopped, willing herself to put down roots and looked east, willing the sun to come out from behind the clouds and warm her. Her arms reached out to pull the wheat close to her, embracing the feeling with her whole body, savoring the sensations. Turning around carefully and slowly, she retraced her steps out and lay down on the grass after she exited, wincing as a thorn stuck in her bottom.
After this mystical experience, she showered and helped herself to the bounty in the kitchen while wrapped in a towel, then put on a Tennessee Volunteer t-shirt and orange shorts to go with her flip flops after she finished. When she crossed the back yard, she heard some hammering coming from the garage, and saw Graham trying to put a couple of boards together.
When he saw her approach, he gave her a big smile. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Oh quite nice. Lydia had to work too damn early this morning, but she'll be back this afternoon, ready for some fun. Thought I'd get started on this new project: it's a crib."
"A crib? How come?"
"My youngest girl's finally getting around to having a kid, and I've made cribs for her two sisters, so I've got to do this for my little princess."
"How long do you have?"
"She's due in August, so I've got enough time I don't have to hurry. Brent can help me when he gets home next week, and we've got an excuse to visit Niall and his wood shop to turn the posts for the rails."
"Where's he live?"
"Memphis. Yeah, I know that's your territory. Maybe we can do lunch while I'm in the area."
"Maybe, I know some great places for ribs and music."
"I bet."
"How many grandkids do you have?"
He thought for a moment. "This makes eighteen. Probably will get over twenty unless Brent becomes a monk, which I doubt. Oldest granddaughter got married last week, so the next generation may be on the way."
"Sheesh. You're, you're, you're. . ."
"Prolific. Want to help me a little bit? Need somebody to help me hold things together while I get the clamps set."
"Sure."
They worked about an hour and a half getting pieces ready for the new crib, and took a break in the kitchen for midmorning coffee while a Mozart symphony played on NPR. "How's it going for you? You enjoying yourself?" he said out of the blue.
"Yeah, very exciting. I can't believe how much it's turned me on, seeing Lydia suffer. For a minute I thought she was spanking you last night, that's why I looked in on you. . .you. . .you. . ."
"Fucking. Don't worry about it, I don't care. Not into pain myself, except out of curiosity. Always try to get an idea of how something feels before I try it on somebody."
"Somebody? Aren't you just playing with her?"
He looked both ways then back. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Yeah. Pinkie swear."
He laughed and stretched out his pinkie to circle hers. "Pinkie swear. You're so different, Emily. I have a couple other friends who stop by for fun now and then. One lives up in Hays, the other's a traveling sales person who swings by when she's in Denver or KC. Lydia's out here the most, but she knows I'm not promised and she's not either. Well, you wouldn't be here if Lydia wasn't interested in sharing me with you."
"How many grandkids does she have?"
"Eleven. Her three girls are wild and crazy like their mom: they fuck like rabbits."
They left the out building and walked back across the yard to the house. The puppies shadowed their every step, barking for attention and getting it from Emily, who knelt down to pet them and let them lick her face. Graham smiled and said: "We're going to meet Lydia at her favorite diner in Dodge for lunch, then head over to her place for a while. Sound good?"
"Yeah."