The morning after Kay's visit I slept late. It was after nine when I woke up. I was in bed alone in the pool house. The weather was bright and clear. I remembered the storm from the night before. I remembered being with Linda and her enthusiasm. It was a nice thought. I was beginning to truly believe everything was going to be okay. I always feel better, after a talk with Kay. I guess making her clients feel better is what she was trained for. It is her art form.
I went into the bathroom and splashed some water on my face to clear the cobwebs and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked well used. I decided I would find Linda then go to my bathroom to shower. I walked through the patio on my way to the kitchen and found a carafe half full of hot coffee and two cups on the table. Linda had also set out sugar and milk. I poured a cup and doctored it with one lump of sugar. I took a sip. It was good.
I Looked down at the lake and sighted Linda about two hundred yards from the finish line on the trail. I picked up the field glasses and trained them on her. She was jogging easily. I thought, "Damn she is beautiful." She crossed the finish line and just kept running. That meant she was halfway through her run. She has been doing two laps three mornings a week. She does eight-minute miles so she will be back at the finish line in eight minutes. She will walk slowly back to the house and call that a cool down. She will be here drinking coffee in thirteen minutes. I decided I could shower and be waiting for her if I hurried. I took the stairs two at a time.
I got back to the patio to see her halfway between the lake and the house. I had beaten her by over two minutes. The coffee in my cup was cold so I poured it on the grass and prepared a fresh one. I poured one for her as she came through the patio rail.
She wiped at the film of sweat on her face and said, "Thanks, Babe." I see you finally woke up." She kissed my cheek before she sat down.
I replied, "I was having a nice dream about my young and vibrant wife." I paused then said, "You know, she tried to fuck me silly, last night. It was the high point of the evening."
She answered, "You always say the sweetest things." She threw her spoon at me but it was a playful gesture.
We drank our coffee and enjoyed being with each other. We didn't talk about anything heavy. I believe that both of us had our fill of that during the last evening. I wanted to talk to her about Karl and Connie but I procrastinated. I thought, "I'm taking up some of her traits."
She asked, "Do you have anything to do today?
I said, "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Juan called me at work one-day last week. He wants to spend a shit load of money on new fences. I promised him I would take a ride with him around the place to see what he needed."
She asked, "Are you going horseback like real cowboys? I want to go."
I laughed and answered, "No, Sweetheart. Juan will need some tools with him. We will go in his truck. He said he would pick me up at four." Then I added, "We are real cowboys." In my best cowboy accent, I continued, "This ain't no hobby farm, Ma'am." We laughed.
At length, she said, "I'm in the mood to cook. After I clean up, I think I will prepare a special lunch for my wonderful husband that I love so much. What would you like?" She was resting her chin on her hands with her elbows on the table. Her most beautiful smile was on display. I thought, "She is so damned pretty."
I answered, still in character as a cowboy, "Chicken fried snake with a quart of sawmill gravy and a pile of cathead biscuits."
She laughed and said, "Luke that would kill a normal man. I will fix you something I won't be afraid for you to eat."
I continued in character, "Well, git crackin', woman. Times a waistin'".
She said, "That's enough, Luke."
She went to the shower and I went to the den. I found an old John Wayne western, to keep me occupied. It was called, "The Searchers." It had Natalie Wood in it. I thought of Connie.
The movie was over and I was channel surfing. Linda appeared beside my chair. She said, "Lunch is ready."
I pulled her down in the chair with me and said, "Sit with me for a minute."
She slid right in and curled up close to me. I pulled her closer and let my lips brush hers. She said, "Tell me you love me."
I sang to her, "I love you more today than yesterday but Darling, less than to-mar-r-r-r-row." She allowed me to cup her breast in my hand and kiss her a bit more fervently.
She said, "I know this could lead to better things but lunch is getting cold." She jumped out of the chair and pulled me up.
Lunch was broiled quail from the freezer. I had shot them, last fall. Linda had also prepared French cut green beans, small baked potatoes and a lettuce, tomato and cucumber salad. Iced tea, a pitcher of water and a plate of dinner rolls were on the table. "Fantastic," I said. "This is another reason I love you." We ate. The food was scrumptious.
When we were finished, she looked at me from across the table. She said, "Say you love me again."
I said, "I love you."
Her eyes misted some and she said, "I really do need the reassurance, Luke. Tell me you love me every time we are together for the next few days."
I said, "I always do that anyway." I stood and continued, "Come with me." I took her hand and led her to my office. I sat her in the plush chair that Kay had used last evening and I sat behind my desk. I fished one of the blue cards out of my desk and began to write on it.
Linda said, "Oh Luke, I don't even want a hall pass today." I looked up to see the tears well up in her eyes.
I said, "This is not a hall pass and I will never give you another one unless you ask for it. Maybe, I won't give you one even if you do ask for it." I walked around the desk and handed the card to her. I said, "Read it out loud."
She brushed the tears from her eyes and read the card to me. It said, "Linda darling, I love you more than you can possibly know. I will always love you. Never doubt my love for you. It will last forever and ever." I signed it, "Luke.
I said, "I want you to carry this with you in a pocket, all the time. If I am not with you and you need reassurance, take it out and read it out loud. Pretend that I am speaking to you. The words are true and they always will be."
She came out of the chair. Her arms went around my neck and her legs around my waist. She kissed me so violently that I feared injury.
I held her that way and we finished the kiss. She nestled her head into the hollow of my shoulder. She whispered, "Now would be an appropriate time for me to do that, "silly," thing that Kay told me to do but I want to wait until your trip with Juan is over. We won't have to hurry and I can have time to plan the event." The tears were gone from her eyes and had been replaced with a devilish Glint. I could detect happiness in her voice for the first time today. Her smile alone was enough to excite the monster.
We spent the next hour or so in my chair. At first, I tried to find something to watch on TV but I soon gave up. I fired up the stereo and just let the radio play music from an easy listening station. I turned the volume way down so the music was just playing softly in the background. We lay there together and just cuddled.
At length, Linda said, "Juan will be here in fifteen minutes. He is always on time. You need to change into boots and Jeans."
I said, "Okay, but let me hold you for one more little minute." She snuggled in closer to me. I asked her, "What have you got planned for me when I get back? I know you've been lying here thinking about it."
She giggled quietly and said, "Maybe we can play with some of my toys. You seemed to enjoy the egg. I might start before you get back."
I said, "Oh hell, I wish I hadn't asked. I won't even be able to think about fences now. Juan will think I am a blithering idiot." I got up and changed clothes.
Juan showed up right on time. Linda came with me to meet him and asked about his kids. We left and made the rounds. He showed me the fences that were in the worst shape. We decided to replace them and to do some serious repair to some of the others. I didn't see how he could accomplish everything we had agreed on for ten thousand but he assured me it wouldn't cost that much. He wasn't planning on hiring a contractor. He would hire six or eight young strong Mexican boys and supervise personally. The going rate for Mexican labor at that time was twenty dollars a day. A day was from dawn to dusk. I instructed him to have Maria cook for them twice daily and she would be excused from her work at our house during the project. He said he could do the job in four or five working days. He figured material would cost less than three grand.
Juan said, "Everything, including food, will be half the number you mentioned."
I said, "That sounds like a plan to me." I thought, "Take me home." Then I sang to myself, "I've got Linda on my mind."
As he was dropping me at home, we had the financial discussion. I said, "Buy the materials and everything Maria needs with your company credit card. I will bring you cash to pay the hands. Pay them daily but no advances."
Juan said, "That will work boss. I will get the materials this week and we will start Monday of the next week. We will be finished in two weeks." He paused then asked, "Do you mind if I hire my two oldest sons as hands? I will need one to do the welding and the other to drive your tractor. We will use the three-point auger to dig post holes at the corners."