seventeen

Kitty did kiss Matt that night. She reined in passion, but let love take the lead.

GS GS GS GS

The mating of their lips felt as natural to him as holding her hand and smiling into her eyes. Initially, there was a pleasurable peace to the act, even as strange instinctive stirrings replaced the need of memories. The kiss deepened and it was he, who brought passion to the forefront and yet it was he who backed away.

This kiss took place at the rear steps of the sun porch, before they entered the cottage. Dusk had fallen, shadows had deepened and colors glowed soft and muted. The night birds were already singing their bedtime melodies. She stood on the top step, he at the bottom, she had turned around abruptly, to tell him something and found herself inches from his face. The need she had fought hours earlier resurfaced and this time she didn't have the will to deny it.

Lips touched, heartbeats quickened, shared breath turned warm and sweet. He dropped the poles and let go the tackle box, to wrap his arms around her, nearly lifting her off her feet with his strength. A heady pleasure replaced uncertainty, and he felt like he could fly, with the joy of it. Emotion, potent and powerful surged through his being, as the kiss deepened. Sensations, primeval in nature, but new as the moment, rained down upon him. He was awash with happiness and flooded with the want of her. She became liquid in his arms, surrendering herself to the heat of their kiss.

This torrent of emotion, was too much for him to bear. His mind was not yet strong. His world clouded, and confusion began to close in on him. To push away from her was like fighting the pull of a magnetic force. Somehow, he did and stood back with ragged breath and pounding heart, to look at her in the glooming light. His kiss had left its mark. Soft wisps of red hair, loosened from restraint, floated around her face, her blue eyes had turned dark with desire, her cheeks burned from his whiskers, and her parted lips were swollen and red. From a lost memory and from a nightly dream, the words came to him and he set them free, "Pret-ty Lady." '

So long, so very long, she had waited for his kiss, waited to hear again his beloved oft-uttered pledge of devotion. She bit her lip to stop the trembling and suppress her cry. The act did nothing to stop her tears or his. A beat passed and then another before she turned around and entered the small house and he followed.

GS GS GS GS GS

She did not read to him that night, and said, "sleep well' from the safety of the hallway outside his room. She shut the door, forming a barrier between them. Leaning back against the wall she closed her eyes and sighed.

Lilly was waiting for her in the kitchen, with a pot of tea steeping on the stove. Kitty poured herself a cup and sat down. Despite the inner turmoil caused by the events on the back porch step, it was time to settle a few things with the `ten-day girl.'

However, Lilly had an agenda of her own to discuss, and she didn't waste any time in pursuing it. She stood up and wagged a bony finger at Kitty, "You was out there in plain site! Anyone lookin' coulda seen what was goin on."

Kitty Russell had just gone through a day that had exhausted nearly every emotion capable to womankind; it was not her fault that she didn't catch Lilly's drift. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm a talkin' about Mr. Beaumont Davis, what kinda idee is he a goin' a get, ifn' he sees you an' Ol' Abe exchang'n spit right out in public."

Kitty took a drink of her tea and tried to appear calm and in control."What I do is my own business."

Lilly began pacing from one end of the kitchen to the other, talking all the way, arms flailing in dramatic gestures, "That may be as you see it, but it ain't what I sees. The richest man in Washington County is pay'n you court and you're outside amakin' love to your own brother."

"Brother-in-law," Kitty corrected, per her dossier, "and we weren't making love."

"AGIN that may be as you sees it, but it ain't what I seen. If'n he was a lookin' Missy, and he was on the river tonight in that there fishin' boat of his, I seen it for a fact ... you can KISS a fare theewell to any more INvites to that there big house of his."

Kitty fluttered her eyes with wounded indignation, "Lilly, as I said, this is none of your business, but since you insist on pursuing it, I don't mind telling you, I have no intention of ever going back to his house."

Lilly snorted, then she shook her head in exasperation, "You is one crazy lady! I done seen me some loonies at St Vinnie's, but you take the cake."

Kitty stared at her feeling the same sentiment toward the `ten-day girl', however after the day she'd just put in she couldn't read her own mind much less Lilly's. "Will you please tell me, what you are talking about?"

"Oh nothin' I ain't a talkin' about nothin'." Lilly's hands bracketed her skinny hips, "I reckon it's been a long day `n I ain't got the strength to fight with you no more. G'night."

She was gone from the room before Kitty had a chance to open her mouth to reply, or put forth her own litany of complaints in connection with Lilly's behavior. Just as well, she thought. At that point she was too tired to think and too numb to deal with anything more.