How my grandparents had remained in this antiquated home for so many years baffles me. Being simple people, the furnishings were still reminiscent of the 1930's especially in the kitchen. I had spent several hours cleaning and scrubbing crusted dirt and brittle cobwebs from the cabinets and chairs and seemed to be making headway. Keeping busy helped me think; think about the events a few days before when a former high school classmate had stopped by unannounced. He was looking for a place to hunt this fall, but our meeting was overshadowed by admiration and lust. That's all I could think about over and over again.
I had spent a fair amount of time on the old cook stove and had built a small fire to take off the chill. Fumbling through the baking cabinet, I had found my grandmother's recipe for cornbread and declared that I was going to make it. I was greasing the baking dish when I heard a truck pull in. As I peered through the wooden screen door, I saw that it was Brady. The fall sun reflected on his tanned face and dark hair, highlighted by his broad smile of bright white teeth. He brushed his hand through his hair as he walked briskly to the door hollering, "Hey! you home?"
I pushed the screen door open and replied, "Sure, come on in." He held the door open as he stepped inside, his big size 12 boots thumping on the hardwood floor.
"I was wondering if it would be ok to set up a tree stand today?" Brady asked, straightening the long sleeves of his flannel shirt.
"I don't see why not," was my reply. "Looks like a great day for it." I added.
Brady smiled, glancing around the unchanged farm kitchen then began to stammer. "You know, I was thinking about the other day. I don't know how to handle what happened, but just want to be sure that it remains a secret." I felt the heat rush to my cheeks and I stood there silent for a moment, ogling his broad chest and shoulders covered in red checked flannel then gazed downward. His dark blue jeans fit snuggly on his legs and thick thighs and I couldn't help but notice the bulge dead center.
"I've been thinking about it too," I finally answered. "Your secret is safe with me."