Stars and Water

Chapter 4

Clark couldn't believe how stubborn and independent Maria was. She wouldn't let him carry her and it killed him to watch her limp back up river to where her shoes were. She did at least lean on his arm and he tried to take as much weight as possible but it wasn't enough.

He watched her bite her lip and smile a little too brightly while she joked about how they should try next time to meet in a way that didn't involve him getting wet. When they got to her shoes he insisted she sit down and let him check her feet. "Well?" she asked as she watched him stare at her feet intently, "How are they, must we amputate?"

Clark looked up at her with amazement on his face. "I can't believe you walked at all." He said, "Your feet are full of thorns and scratches, they're scraped raw and bruised" He spoke with authority now. "You are not walking another step. I'm carrying you to my house, which is close, and then I'll drive you home."

Maria tried to argue but this time Clark would have none of it. He simply picked her up as she struggled to put on her shoes and in the middle of the words "I'm not light you know…" she found herself with a running shoe in each hand being held close to his damp yet warm, broad chest. He carried her up the slope and started across the fields, striding confidently without any sign of strain or breathlessness and he would not put her down.

"Wow!" she exclaimed "I can't believe you're doing this…I mean it's not that you don't look strong but I'm not little…I 'm five foot ten and I weigh…well, like I said I'm not light and… and, aren't you getting tired ?"

Clark grinned at her "Nope," he smiled "you weigh a lot less than Bessie's calf."

"Clark Kent did you just compare me to a cow?" huffed Maria.

Clark chuckled. "A very cute baby cow. Seriously Maria I carry 100 lb sacks of grain and haul around bales of hay all day, you aren't too hard for me to lift and you're kinda nice to carry." He smiled down into her eyes and she couldn't help but grin back.

Maria resigned herself to her fate and decided that there were worse things than being in Clark Kent's arms. She rested her head against his chest, closed her eyes and listened to his heart beating a slow steady rhythm. She was exhausted and must have drifted to sleep because the next thing she knew Clark was lowering her gently onto the porch swing at the Kent farm. He quickly spun a chair around and propped both her feet up on it. Then he told her to rest a moment and he'd be right back.

Maria sat on the swing and enjoyed the cool breeze that played across her face. She closed her eyes but opened them quickly when something tickled her cheek and made a snuffling noise in her ear. "Well, hello." She said to the furry face, wide open panting mouth and lolling tongue that filled her vision. "You're certainly friendly." She giggled, reaching out to scratch the neck of the large golden retriever that was darn near in her lap. The dog wagged his entire back half enthusiastically and slurped her chin.

"Blech." Maria defended herself from further displays of affection by crossing her arms in front of her face and said firmly, "No. sit." To her surprise the dog sat immediately and then watched her expectantly like he was waiting for the next command. "Well, aren't you well trained? Good boy." She crooned.

"Sorry if he's bothering you." Clark said as he came back out on the porch. He was carrying a basin of warm soapy water with a wash cloth in it, and a pair of tweezers. He had a pillow under his arm and a towel around his neck. "He loves visitors."

"He's not bothering me. I love dogs." said Maria, scratching the dog behind the ears while keeping an eye out for his sloppy, wet tongue. "What's his name?"

"Shelby" said Clark, and the dog pranced over to Clark wagging and trying to stick his nose in the bowl. "It's not food you goofball." laughed Clark, and he put the bowl on the porch, lifted Maria's feet and put the pillow, with the towel covering it, under them on the chair.

"What are you doing?" asked Maria nervously, eyeing the tweezers. She hated to let someone else take out slivers. It usually hurt less somehow when she did it herself.

"Taking care of you." said Clark with a reassuring smile, "Just relax, I know what I'm doing." and he very gently used the washcloth to rinse off all the dirt and gravel on her feet, hissing in sympathy as he saw all the cuts, thorns and bruises there were.

When her feet were clean he picked up the tweezers and Maria braced herself. To her surprise it hardly hurt at all. He was staring intently at her feet and when he pulled out a thorn he always got it at the first try. Maria relaxed and accepted his help. It was kind of nice to let someone take care of her and his hand holding her foot was warm and gentle. His thumb was stroking the top of her foot soothingly and she found her thoughts wandering.

"There, is that better?' said Clark as he finished her other foot. Maria came back to the moment with a little jump. "Oh, um, oh yes Clark. Thanks." Her voice came out husky and low and she cleared her throat, blushing furiously at his slightly puzzled expression. "I guess I was kind of falling asleep."

Suddenly Maria sat up in alarm. "What time is it? I have to get my little brother Nickie at three o'clock!"

"It's only about two thirty. I'll take you home right now and you should be able to get there on time." said Clark.

Maria quickly pulled on her socks and shoes and stood up. Her feet were still sore but they were a lot better and she grinned at Clark. "They really are better. I'll walk to the truck, thanks."

On the way to her house Maria tried to look out the window but her eyes kept wandering over to Clark. Now that they were both out of danger she couldn't seem to keep her eyes off the way his damp T shirt clung to his body. Her eyes moved to the rippling muscles in his arm as he shifted the truck, then down to his strong, sensitive hand on the gear shift. Clark looked over at her and smiled and she blinked rapidly. Caught! She smiled weakly. "Thanks for giving me a ride Clark. Are you sure you're okay to drive, you hit your head really hard back there." She asked.

"I feel fine." he said "I've got a hard head." He grinned and tilted his head to one side. "Just ask my Mom."

She grinned back at him. "It must be hard. I heard it hit and it sounded awful." Her smile disappeared and she looked seriously into his eyes "I'm really glad you're okay."

"Thanks" he said quietly and he looked back to the road.

He certainly seemed fine. She couldn't see a bruise on him, of course his shirt covered his body where he had slammed the rocks and he had thick hair. Really nice hair, it had been nice to touch his hair…stop Maria. What was with her? You'd think she had no decency at all. Here's this nice guy who nearly died saving her life, giving her a ride home and her thoughts were in the gutter. Time to look out at the scenery; corn, and corn, and more corn, oh and a crow, and corn, hardly distracting but Maria was determined. Darn they were at her house.

Clark struggled to keep his eyes on the road but he kept looking over at Maria and it was a rewarding picture. Her hair was disheveled in a decidedly sexy way and the dark curls were clinging to her cheeks and flowing across her shoulders. Her wet T-shirt outlined her curves clearly and they were very nice curves indeed. Clark quickly looked away as the heat rose in his face. What was he doing? The next thing you know he'd be using his x-ray vision to see her better. She sure was beautiful and his eyes slid over to her again. Oh man, she was looking at him this time. Clark smiled. What did she just say? Oh, about his head. How was he going to explain that? Better just shrug it off, maybe make a joke. Now she's looking all worried and sweet. God, he hated to lie. Clark looked back at the road. Darn, this must be her house.

"This is it." said Maria "Thanks again for the ride and for saving my life, oh, and taking care of my feet and, just…thanks." and she leaned across the seat and kissed his cheek. She was out of the car and running to her house before Clark could respond, he noticed she ran with hardly a trace of a limp. She turned at the door and waved then popped inside before he had time to do more than lift his hand. Clark drove away with a thoughtful look in his eye and a smile on his face.

To be continued…