outside a small country hamlet on
a tree-lined dirt road where horse-drawn wagon ran he helped a young woman who
was struggling under two large baskets she carried across her shoulders on a
yoke
she wore a simple scoop necked
chemise wrapped at the waist with a green embroidered shawl
she confessed her eyes were too
bigbut the produce was wonderfully fresh and enticed her she bought vegetables and fruit and cheese
they were aromatic shaped well
she arrived at the market with
a basket then realised she needed a second if she was going to acquire all
that she had only hoped she might find
she
also bought a third smaller one to keep delicate herbs and mushrooms she
didnt want crushed or broken
a merchant who knew her loaned
her the yoke
he offered her his servicehis back
and shoulders
Not that I think you cant manage rather that
you retain your strength for putting things up once youve arrive home Perhaps well make it there quicker too
they walked west soon they approached a property that was
held by an aged split rail fence running beside the road
eightnine metres inside it ran a
brisk creek
there was a gate and a modest footbridge to cross
the water
When
I was a little girl we would take our shoes off and walked through
it. My father built it for my mother. He teased her that she was growing too
fat for him to always carry her across. She, in turn, teased him, and said that
he wasn’t the strong, young man she knew when they met. They would laugh.
he laughed
she opened the gate let him
through closed it at their backs and he let her lead the way cross the bridge
stepping off it they stepped onto
a fieldstone walk grass and wildflowers grew
between the stones anchoring their placement
the house was modest L-shaped the original home was to the left that which ran right looked to be three maybe four separate additions
behind a wide porch that was protected by a low-angled roof
the front door was formidable broad heavy workedwood hinged where iron straps held its planks
it did not make a sound when she
opened it after unlocking a cast iron lock and well-oiled sliding door latch that secured the house
he sidesteppedfollowed her inside
to a great room at its back was the kitchen and huge farm table where he place the
baskets down unyoked them
If youll
give me a moment to work the blood back into my shoulders Ill be happyif you
like to help you unpack the baskets separate lay out your purchases
Yes. Please. May I offer you some
water?
Yes thank you that would be refreshing
on a counter below a window facing
outback was a hand water pump mounted beside a deep zinc basin from an
overhead cabinet to the sinks left she took down two clay cups and a
pitcher she filled the pitcher then set
the three on the table she filled the
cups and handed one to him
Thank you
You’re welcome.
the water was cold and sweet
it was getting latenearing dusk when everything was unpacked and stored
Perhaps I best leave you to your evening now
No. Please. Wouldyou stay for dinner?
Please That would be nice How can I help
after dinner she offered him some
wine and fruit she said shed prepare it
if he wouldnt mind building a fire she
said she felt a chill building outside and if they got ahead of it the house
would warm and defray any advance the weather otherwise had in mind
he liked her notion that the
weather had a mind
seasoned wood was stacked in a
tall iron crib to the right of the doorway when entering the door swung in and left which provided
unimpeded access to the crib when the wood needed to be replenished
he built a fire and moved
two chair from the farm table to an oval handmade rug placed just beyond the
stone hearth he placed them to either
side of a low rustic table where she had placed the wine and the small platter
of sliced fruit
You build a good fire.
he had a feeling it was something
of a test but the feeling passed
their conversation buzzed
along punctuated with appropriate
silences when thoughtful responses or more telling was needed
the night grew long
she rose to refill their wine and
returning she placed another log on the fire
It’s
getting late. I have spare bedrooms if, perhaps, you’d like to stay the night. I need
only make a bed for you; give it a thought.
he didnt think long he didnt have obligations the
following day
and she was correct about the weathers intentions he only had a thin jacket and his walk home
would take him at least an hour
If Im not putting you out I would appreciate staying
Excellent. she smiled I’ve been enjoying our conversation, and
your, what shall I say . . your . particular view of things.
Particular is kind More often theyre greeted as peculiar
That would be accurate too. she smiled largertruly engaging her dimples
as they conversed they did not
talk of relationships although it
seemed not a tension rather a quiet acquiescence that they were involved in long loving
relations
yet
they were enthralled with each other
when she had placed the last log on
the fire she stood casually before it she reached to itwarming her hands she luxuriated in its heat on her cheeks chest belly and thighs she sighed
sitting behind her he could see
her figureher silhouette through her blouse and long skirt she was intoxicating
as the fire diedthough not the
earnestness and variety of their conversation she stood during a pause Let me show you your bed.
beside the door were coat
hooks off them hung woolen shawls throws
afghans
selecting one for him We have to go outside. he took it from her she selected another for herself
wrapped they went out the door
and caught their breathes they blew
smoke You were right he told her
I’ve been living here a long
time. Rarely can the weather fool me, which isn’t to say it hasn’t tried. We,
and this land, are old friends, very old happy friends.
he called into the brisk night
air Good evening I am happy to make your acquaintance
leading him her warm laughter
cut the air like a knife
they went onto the porch under
the awning past the first door to a second This will be you.
the door was unlocked
inside
was a single unmade bed a wardrobe side
table a small desk and chair above the
desk a shelf of books a second
chair near a stone hearth and potbelly stove
across from the foot of the bed a small
crib of wood beside it and kindling rolled paper on end in a hammer-pounded
brass receptacle
the floor was hardwood there was a handmade rug similar
to the rug in the great room beside the bed
a linen chest was beneath the
window beside the door they entered
another door was beside the stove
and crib two discrete steps before it
she rapped it with her knuckles That’s my bedroom.
This is very intimate
Yes. It is.
they made his bed together
finishing that he made a small
fire in the stove to heat the room
Im making an assumption but could I build a fire in your room
Yes. That would be splendid. she took the small steps took a key from the
hip pocket in her skirt and unlocked the door
her bedroom was nearly a mirror-image of his though a bit larger she had a bookcase a tall antique barrister
bookcase etched glass filled to brimming
while he built her fire she
returned to the house and came back with basin and a pitcher filled with
water from the linen chest she took out
a washcloth and a towel
as he entered the room closing the
door behind him she pointed with her toe to under his bed and told him there
was chamber pot
Goodness Youve thought of everything
she gave him a dimpled smile back
she locked the door between their
rooms Let’s return to the house and
enjoy the last of the fire.
A fine idea I enjoy a fires coals its crumbles
flares sounds sighs
I do too.
returning he found she removed
the kitchen chairs and in their stead placed on the broad hearth were two
rolled-arm upholstered chairs they were
warm to the touch
he laughed You do think of everything
Thank you. I try. It’s harder
than you think.
they talked anew covered subjects they hadnt spoken of earlier
the fire was nearly crumbled small spitting blue flames then yelloworange The fire’s exhausted. I’m afraid I am too.
Shall we retire?
Yes I could sleep
I could too. she winked
she went to her other hip pocket
and flipped him a key the front door
key If you would place the horse screen,
and lock the house, please.
Yes I could do that
Thank you. I appreciate your
accommodation.
My accommodationGosh yours Thank you so much Ill join you shortly I have to knock the coals down
he locked the door behind himshifted
the afghan on his shoulderslooked into the deep black sky and startlinglybright
pinpoint stars it was nearly a full
moon it was marbled red and orange breathtaking
he went across the porch past his
door rapped quietly on hers
she was in a nightgown a shawl across her shoulders and breasts
Did you see the moon he asked
No. I didn’t look.
You really ought to step out with
me and look
they took a path that lead down
near the creek its music was a perfect
accompaniment the moon was just above
the horizon on its last legs
Ohmy, she said, that’s beautiful. Thank you for noticing, and sharing.
they watched it until it set
she sighed
gently she took his elbow
and said Would you like to see something
marvelous?
Yes though tough to beat the moon
Perhaps. she released his arm and turned went up the
path without another word
he followed
she left the door to her room
open its insides flickered by the light
of the stoves fire
he entered and closed the door
behind him
immediately to his right was a
low cloaked box a yellow light penetrated
the cloth through its thinner worn aspects and through rents and pulls in the
cloth
she was kneeling before it
she didnt motion to him
he knelt beside her
she lifted lengthwise half the
quilt laying it on the remaining half still atop the box
looking down into it he saw the
light was from a small sheltered bulb midway up
beneath it was an angular streamlined insect praying mantis-like though more elegant and larger it shone with its own turning bioluminescence
it stood poised
they admired it together wordlessly
it was mesmerising
after a while his knees ached
from the hardwood floor he caught a
joint he stood
he ran a finger at the shoulder
of her nightgown not covered by the shawl
Thank you for sharing You should get your rest
Yes, she said her voice carrying off the boxs interior I should.
she stood and stooped she
said Goodnight, little one. then she covered the box again with the quilt
he went to the door
she didnt follow
he looked and saw the door
between their rooms was open
he went to that door
Thank you very much for the
day it was unexpected Goodnight
Goodnight.
I also wanted to thank you for
your kindness the food the wine the conversation your company
Thank you for sharing them with
me, I don’t often get to cook and share a meal with someone. And also for your help
carrying the baskets.
Youre welcome
he backed out of her room and
going down the steps he closed the door through the door he said It was a
fantastic day Thank you
she was on the other side of the
door clearly he heard her It was a very fine day. Thank you.
she didnt lock the door
under it he saw her shadow
undress
he watched it or hints of it until the light went out he heard her get into bed
he undressed in the darkthe
simmering failing fire in the stove warmth radiated from it it was
comfortable against the chill
through the small window above
the desk under the bookshelf a black stab or stain of sky laid across his
bed
laying done the blackness was on
his thighs
he could feel its weight on the
cotton blanket smell the sweetgrass expressed
by its weight from the blanket being kept in the linen chest
laying there he could hear her
shiftmove in her bed
she was still awake too
they laid tentwelve feet apart
he wanted to go to herhe wanted
her to come to him
however
what of
their unspoken relationships
hers
his
the two that until today perhaps held their hearts
he had been with his woman eight
years
he wondered how long she had been
with her man . . he smiled to himself . or with her woman
she wasnt aggressive
but he had been fooled before women whose blood went upWHO gave him an unexpected rise but if she was passiveIF she wanted to be dominated though she didnt show any
signsdidnt reveal her hand
or she did
this was her childhood home her property
does a passive woman pursue only
some things leave others to suitors usually there were hints small hints he
didnt pick up on a single hinthad he made any hints NO
she was refreshing thoughtful intelligent
utterly selfsufficient
at home in her own skin
he was tempted to skin her he sat up
the inky blackness across his
thighs grew heavier
was she asleepwas she holding her breath
he imaged himself going to the
unlocked door and opening ithe imagined himself stepping onto the porch
stepping onto the fieldstone crossing the footbridge onto the quiet dirt road
the scent of flowers of the fallen orange moon the cold creek water the odor of
warm horse apples
he imaged the trees lining the
lane sighing occasional leaves letting go twirling in the purple air the rush
of a small animal in the tall grass bushes ticking Nature pensive
as restless as he
he was still sitting up in bed
he crossed back to the house onto
the porch past his door to her door and
he entered without hesitating
she was sitting upright on the
edge of her bed
she was naked
flecked with the coloured
sputtering stove fire
she was beautiful
the nights bluish light lighted
her from behindseemed to penetrate her herglow from inside her asif she was
translucent
he walked over to her
he reached out to her
she placed her cheek on his palm
he stepped closer
with his other hand he held the
back of her head
his fingers twining her long
chestnut-red hair
she raised her arms and wrapped
them around his thighs and squeezed hard her pressure exquisite
he was never so enticed
he couldnt say how long they held
that embrace
she smelled wonderful she emanated
he woke up in bed
the black band that held him was snapped by
brilliant sunlight
0900 -- from a
dream, Thursday, 30 1.
20
1450, Thursday, 9 7.
20
