The Very Thought of You

Chapter 37

Charlie Buckton stirred from sleep. She pulled a little face and stretched her legs and gently moaned in her state of half sleep. Bird song, almost in her ear, persuaded her to prize open one eye to investigate its close proximity. Her eyes began to open and there, only inches away, lay a smiling Joey. Charlie, at first confused by her sleepy state, slightly frowned and blinked, but persistent sleep encouraged her to return to the arms of Morpheus.

"Charlie" Whispered Joey. "Don't go back to sleep!"

Joey moved slightly and placed her lips gently on Charlie's. Charlie smiled in her half waking state, but imagined she was still in the midst a wonderful dream. Joey removed some straw from her lover's tousled hair and chuckled.

"Hey! Sleepy head! Wake up!"

Charlie moaned, reluctant to leave her dream.

Joey, taking advantage of this, placed her lips once more on Charlie's, but this time allowing the kiss to develop. She had the satisfaction and pleasure of feeling Charlie's lips respond in kind and she drew the sleepy Charlie close to her body.

As the kiss finished and their lips slowly parted, Charlie's eyes opened and with almost of jolt of surprise, realised her dream was, in fact, a reality.

"Joey." She murmured. "I thought I was dreaming."

"I know you did." Joey chuckled. "I thought you were never going to leave it!"

"What time is it?" Charlie asked shifting her body.

"Early!" Joey teased.

The evening prior, the girls had confessed their love for one another. They walked, talked and kissed their way along the edge of fields and woodland but their new found passion for each other had led them to a warm and cosy barn, freshly stocked with hay and straw. Here, they spent their first night together, as lovers.

"I can't believe I'm here." Charlie whispered, tingling in Joey embrace.

"I know." Joey agreed, gently letting her finger tips wander down Charlie's bare arm. "Are you okay – I mean, about..."

Charlie smiled at the struggling Joey.

"I'm fine." She smiled. "How about you?" She asked quickly, concerned that maybe she hadn't been what Joey expected or wanted.

Sensing Charlie's sudden apprehension, Joey pulled her close and answering her question with a long, lingering kiss.

"I love you so much!" Charlie whispered as Joey gently caressed her neck with her lips. "I'm sorry I hurt you so badly. I was confused and reluctant and - scared." Here, she lowered her tone as if ashamed of herself.

"Charlie, when your head and heart are in turmoil and conflict over something like this, it's the most daunting and frightening thing in the world! I've felt it myself. Maybe because I've never wanted a relationship with a man, I was able to accept the truth sooner. But it was just as confusing, just as scary! When you have no one to talk to, to ask questions of – it's like living slightly apart from everyone else, looking, wondering and watching but never really being able to join in. It can be very lonely."

Charlie took some comfort from Joey's words. The two girls lay perfectly still, looking into each other's eyes and then, as if by telepathy, suddenly clung tightly to each and cried tears of joy.

"I can't believe you dragged me in a barn and took advantage of me like that, Charlie Buckton!" Joey said with a grin.

"I dragged you into the barn? Oh, I like that, Joey Collins!"

"I know you did!" Joey smirked, pulling her trousers up over her legs and giving Charlie a less than innocent look.

Charlie blushed and fumbled with the buttons of her blouse as she tried to dress herself.

"You're incorrigible, Joey Collins!" She said, trying to sound annoyed.

Joey laughed and threw a handful of straw in Charlie's face. She took a quick breath as she saw Charlie's eyes darken. She dodged out of way as Charlie tried to grab her and ran laughing to the other side of the barn. Charlie armed herself with two handfuls of straw and ran after the giggling Joey, capturing her lover with ease and stuffing the straw down her trousers. The straw scratched at Joey's bare skin and she hopped about trying to evacuate what had once been their bedding.

"You rotten... Uggh!" Joey was unable to finish her cuss as she tripped over something and landed face down in the straw on something very lumpy.

"You okay?" Charlie asked chuckling over the comical sequence of events which she had just witnessed.

"No, I've – OH MY GOD!" Joey screamed, jumping up and stumbling over to where Charlie was standing with a look of horror on her face.

"What is it?" Charlie asked quickly seeing the fear in Joey's eyes.

"It's someone!" Joey replied, shaking and pointed towards where she had landed.

Charlie, clad in no more than a blouse and panties, carefully picked her way over the straw to where Joey indicated and stopped. She looked back at Joey, who was hastily putting her blouse on. Charlie bent over and the removed some of the straw. She gasped as she found an unconscious German fighter pilot.

"Joey! Get dressed as quickly as you can!" Charlie cried, slipping her skirt and shoes on. We've got to report this."

Joey did as she was told.

"I'll stop here and you run into town and give them the wire." Charlie ordered, checking the pilot's pockets and belt for weapons.

"No! I'm not leaving you here with a German!" Joey squealed.

"Joey, I've got to remain."

"And what if there's other's about?" Joey pointed out anxiously.

"There's a pitchfork over there. I'll defend my honour that way!" Charlie grinned.

"Charlie! This isn't funny!" Joey cried.

"I know it's isn't, sweetheart, but it's what I have to do and the quicker you get going, the quicker we can be together again." Charlie said gently to the fearful Joey. "Come here."

Joey did as she was told and Charlie wrapped her in her arms.

"Don't worry. I'll be alright."

Joey gave her a half smile and turned to leave.

"Hey! Don't I even get a kiss goodbye?"

Joey flew back into Charlie's arms.