Dear Readers, this story is related to other stories I've written as of late, but can also be enjoyed on it's own. I want to thank all of you for your comments and encouragement. I hope you enjoy this story and those yet to come! -puppop
Friday night Dinner
Court recessed right on time, but the Sergeant E. A Hatch, the bailiff, had brought in an old PTO switch that I needed for Katie's tractor. Like me, he likes to tinker, told me to call if I had trouble with the install. So there's me running late. But we don't have a rush hour in the village, in fact, we just don't rush. I pointed my old car north, gliding up my drive about 5:30.
There were voices on the porch. Rusty, my title examiner and Hank, my neighbor two doors down had their feet propped up, drinking tall necks from the outside fridge. Cat arched her back for praise as I came in and Rusty grabbed a beverage for me from the Philco.
I went inside, dropped off my briefcase and lost the tie. Coming out, Rusty was talking about seeing my car out at Katie Ann's farm.
Henry chuckled, "Boy, you do get around, I tell you what. What's your secret? I mean at Christmas, you took that redheaded girl down to your boat, now you're visiting the prettiest widow in the county."
"Yeah Ted, I done told you about burning the candle at both ends with that Gwen." Rusty looked over at Henry, "AND she was a pretty fair fly fisherman, er, person too."
Henry slapped his leg. "I need to get out there, throw a line, come to think of it."
"Hell, come on over. Mattie'll make you up breakfast and I've got some tied flies to try." Rusty poked me in the rib. "Say that one fast, huh? Naw, Ole Lothario here's too busy girl chasing to fish just now."
We all laughed, just old buds, a Friday night. These were my friends, Rusty, with his mustache and red hair always reminded me of Jeff Foxworthy back in the day. They talked and laughed nearly the same way. Rusty is utterly content with his home, his wife and his life.
Henry was a former bush pilot, flying mail and groceries with his Otter over the vast expanses of Alaska. He'd retired some years back but kept an airplane up at Rabun Gap. He's the definition of steady, unruffled, quiet smart.
Then there's me. I'd escaped from a firm in Atlanta and hung my shingle in the village two decades ago. I'd been married, now I wasn't. But 'Lothario' was stretching things a bit. Past stories define my character and person, so I'll leave it at that.
We had some chit chat. Rusty had some work to drop off. Henry had taken to visiting more often since the Christmas flight. I was enjoying their company when Katie Ann pulled up close to the garage and got out with a shoulder sack.
"Oh HEY! Can you come help, there's MORE in the back..."
All three of us dutifully trooped out, knights errant party to a grub run.
Auburn hair glowing in the softening skies, skin fresh and shining, laughing at the outpouring of support for two canvas carryalls. She pursed her lips. "I honestly don't have enough for all of y'all to carry, now careful with those, that one'll be hot on the bottom."
My friends said their howdies to the county's prettiest widow, me included. Everyone knows Katie Ann and everyone is Katie Ann's bestest friend. She's very demonstrative and energetic, the perfect wedding planner.
She'd brought dinner from home for all of us and we got it settled on the stove. Cat wove around her legs, looking for love. When Kate came out to the porch, Rusty dug her out a beer and we all resumed our visit. The sun shone out in Texas and we got the last of it's affections, the kitchen lights beckoning us to a dinner fit for a farmer.
Katie's prowess in the kitchen was close to matching Mattie's with her old Franklin. We ate all the things that modern dietitians scowl and scold about. I think that's why they scowl and scold so much. They're just hungry for decent food.
We pulled back from the table, satisfied, hands on our bellies. Rusty got a toothpick off the lazy susan. "You know Katie Ann, you and Mattie need to swap some recipes. You know why I'm here?"
Kate shook her head, smiling.
"I'm here to tell you, that's how chicken's done, oh yes ma'am!"
We all laughed, spirited conversation and general gossip ensuing, us old gents getting the lowdown from Katie with her dramatic hand gestures on who did what where. The dishes were pushed aside. It was some of the best table fun in years. Finally, a lull. Cat meowed from outside. She had a cat door, but preferred for someone to let her in sometimes, just being Cat. I got up intent on feline rescue as the others clambered to their feet, Henry reaching down for a last bite of pie.
Shortly we were alone, Cat saved. I was standing at the screen door watching the stars appear, seemingly bringing on a gentle breeze that fluttered the leaves on the Bradford pears. Kate rubbed my arm softly, the clean smell of her hair, the luminescence of her gaze, sharing an unspeaking moment between souls.
Saturday
Tentative tendrils began forking across the eastern skies, building in confidence and brilliance, awakening the slumbering birds in the cedars by the front door. I bore mute witness to the oranging of the horizon from the palladium window in the bedroom. Katie Ann snored softly, head on my shoulder.
Cat leaped up to the foot of the bed and launched into her bathing routine, unable to complete this work elsewhere. And of course, I didn't have a sock to throw at her. Katie Ann took in a deep breath and yawned, a sleepy smile as she stretched, while Cat nuzzled her hand for a free pet. It was a cheap ploy, but it worked, the petting bringing on purrs and silly sounds from my soft semi nude bedmate.
I emerged from the bathroom ready for the day, reaching for my bathrobe.
A deep womanly voice. "Pardon me, but would you have any Earl Grey?"
"But, of course!" I watched her rise, breasts full fruits as she donned her robe. I repaired to the kitchen to prepare tea as I punched Mr. Coffee on.
We'd talked on the phone during the week. It first started out that she wanted to grow alfalfa in two fields, put in soy on another. Since I fixed the tractor, (kind of) Kate wanted to do some farming. Since her, (Ray's) land had always raised cattle, I had to coax her back from the edge and also, it was already too late to plant soy after prep. Plus, a host of other factors competed in dimming her chances of success. Leasing her land, maybe...
I heard her breathing on the phone. Comprehending. Next subject. "I think you and I should get to know each other as people, not just, um, how should I say this?
I mean, you MUST think me a tramp the way I've acted, I dunno. I just want to say I've probably given the wrong impression, does THAT make any sense?"
I could imagine her hands doing swoops and spins, her pacing in her farmhouse.
" You shouldn't be embarrassed for being human. Just like our minds, our bodies have needs.."
"I just don't want to cheapen what we have. I mean, I'm not some RAVISHING twenty year old and if that's what you really..."
I cut her off. "Kate, I've admired you for years, not lusted, admired, although you're somewhat cute, but..."
"YOU know the way to my heart, now there you go," she chuckled.
