Sorry this is taking so long. I just have too much to type. But here it is.
Deeper Secrets chapter six: Rebuilding
The sun rose and Ro woke with her face buried in Remy's chest. She could feel his arms wrapped tightly and securely around her. With every rise and fall of his chest, she watched as her hands, both laying against him, rode the waves. His chin was resting softly on her forehead and she could feel his steady breathing through her hair. Why did this feel so good? Her laying there next to him, his arms wrapped tightly around her. Their bodies close together, seeking each other's warmth.
'This can't be right,' she thought to herself. 'Ah don't even know this man. But this...being in his arms...' She hadn't felt this safe since...Joseph. 'Oh my goss, how can Ah be doing this to Joseph?' she asked herself. She was mollified by that thought. It had been several years since his death. She had let herself go cold, let her emotions become bundled up inside. She had built an ultimate wall around her heart, around herself. Only those that lived with her, were closer to her. She had let no one in. No one else of all.
Then he came, and everything turned upside down. Him with his rugged good looks, those mysterious eyes, that smirk, even the talking in third person had taken her breath away. She had felt it the day he had showed up on her door step. It had only taken a little over a week for him to put a dent in her wall. 'But Joseph...' she thought again. His face came to her, and she remembered the way he had held her. Not like this. They had made their plans, but all had changed that fateful day. She had changed. She had shut herself off from the world and she would stay that way.
That set in mind, she pulled herself from his grasp and went to her wardrobe, changed from the cut-off trousers and sleeveless shirt into work pants and a short sleeve work blouse. Throwing her long hair into a ponytail, she took one last, long look at the stranger still laying peacefully in her bed. She had taken him into her house and spent the night wrapped in his arms. He'd said his past was dangerous; hers, painful. Not a good mix. Nothing could happen between them, and that was that. One last look at the rise and fall and she left, detaching herself from the world again.
When Remy woke she was gone. She had left some time while he was sleeping. He remembered waking once before the sun had rose and had found that she had rolled over and was laying close to him. He had taken both arms, the right still being around her waist, and held her close. Embracing her, he felt the world slip away. All the darkness fell back into their shadows and were blotted out by the light that shone from her face. He could still feel where her hands had lain on his chest though it had been several minutes since he had turned onto his back.
Knowing he couldn't stay in bed the rest of the day he got up and pulled on his pants, leaving them undone, and left for his room. Something had happened last night. Something that had complicated his future, their future, and maybe not for the good.
After changing and grabbing a piece of toast, Remy ran out and went looking for Jeffery. He found him in the stable checking on Delta. Remy walked over and greeted the man.
"Same to ya, Mister Remy..."
"Pleas, jus' Remy."
"Fine. Remy, could you hand me that bucket of food?"
"No problem, mon ami," and he did so.
"Thank ya. Now, how 'bout we go get us some work done?" he said slapping Remy hard on the back.
"Sounds good. Be glad t'get back in da game." Jeffery smiled at his readiness. "What first?"
The two men set to work in the fields. The rains from two nights ago had washed away valuable soil. Jeffery had felt that putting something on top would be the best way to protect what was left. He and Remy had set to work with an empty wagon and team of horses. He had Remy lift several bails of hay into the back of the wagon. He had complained that the strain made his still sore head throb. In truth, he wanted to see how the young man faired at the heavy labor. He had seen him lift the cotton bags into the wagon and was impressed by the strangers unstrained strength.
They went through all of the fields, Jeffery driving the wagon and Remy throwing the hay off the back. Many hours ran by and lunch soon came. One of the younger boys had brought them sandwiched from Sarah accompanied with iced tea. After finishing their meals, the two went back to work. There were more fields to be covered. And in a few weeks, the new crops would need planting.
When a couple more hours had passed, Jeffery called it quits saying the rest could wait until tomorrow. Having the rest of the evening free, Remy took the opportunity to practice on his riding skills. He took Ace out of his stable, saddled him up and lead him out of the barn. He made sure to check on Delta and the calf, which had been a cow. Sarah had let Remy name her, and he had chosen Delta Dawn, because of the hour in which she had awaken him.
When he reached the farthest, unplanted field, Remy mounted Ace with almost ease. He had been sneaking out a couple of nights during the past week when everyone was asleep to practice. He had become friendly with the white stallion, and it showed when he would be asked to feed the horses. Ace, in Remy's opinion, was the greatest horse alive. Strong, muscular confirmation, heavy boned, sturdy back and fast. Everything he had been taught about a good horse, though he had never ridden before. He liked this horse, the power it had. He couldn't understand why Ro wouldn't ride him. Why, when she had him, she would ride on seemingly normal horses. This one seemed to be astronomical. Then remembered what she had said. She had told him that Ace had been a gift...an anniversary gift from Joseph, her late fiancé. She had shut herself off from the world, but last night he had noticed her opening up more, and to him. "If only dat femme knew who she was openin' up to, Ace. She may not like Remy after she finds out his past." He was talking to the horse while walking along. "I was hopin' she wouldn't have t'find out anything 'bout my past, but dat don' seem t'be da case. Seems like da closer Remy wanna get, da farther away he'd push her." The horse gave a snort. "Remy know, mon ami. He truly know. He honestly hopes t'get away from his past." Ace shook his head and snorted again. "Yes. He know dat dere have been problems in Ro's past. He know dat. He also know dat he's starting t'feel something for her," he confessed to the stallion. "I can't, mon ami. My past is too dangerous. Remy don't want her caught up in it. He want t'help wit the plantation. Remy don't know how to though."
That's when he realized how long he had been riding and talking to Ace. He returned to the barn, un-tacked Ace, put him in the stall and headed in. Everyone was sitting at the table already eating. He didn't offer any reason for being late, and they didn't ask. He just got his food and sat down in his corner seat. When Ro mentioned picking up some packages in town the next day, he and Will offered to do the job. Will would be given the money and they would be expected back at night fall.
This was the first and last time he had seen Ro that day. After finishing her meal, she headed to bed early. When he had asked what was wrong with Ro, Remy had been informed by Sarah that Ro had been acting feverishly most of the day, and that all she needed was a good night's rest. She had looked at him when she said that, and he concluded that Sarah had been the one to have brought the food and seen them curled up together on the floor. After some more small talk, the rest went to bed.
End chapter six. Chapter seven 'Internal Fires' coming soon.
