The night blood of the surrounding woods hummed with the melody of the early summer night. A fat moon sat heavy in the shifting cobalt belly of the sky. The earth bellow lit up like a stage, with the hues of honey bright light. Yet with no breeze, the heated air filled every space like thick molasses, suspending the world in a lazy frame. As with the sour came the sweets, as the lush flora emitted its ubiquitous fragrances. Wild and peppery the scent of rosemary pushed against the high sugary soft notes of the night blooming jasmine. They fought and dispersed under the brute musk of the surrounding hawthorns and wormwoods of the copse, by the terrace. This was a lazy night even for the nocturnal creatures, as the sudden muteness of crickets, owls, and critters fell by the wayside. The world was still.
Jake wilted under the heavy atmosphere, as he undid the cuffs of his white dress shirt and rolled back the sleeves. He smiled at the disarray of his clothes, wishing Teresa were there to witness it. It always set her expression into that of a stalking lioness, intent on devouring her prey. One of her finely shaped brows would rise slightly, as those velvety russet eyes, drank in the sight of him. His silk vest hung open, over his untucked dress shirt. The wilting wrinkled square collar of his shirt, unbuttoned down to the middle of his chest, exhibiting the wax of his skin. It was his throat she was after. How she delighted in running her fingers down the column of his neck, pressing her warm lips up under his Adam's apple, then down along the sweep of his clavicle. Her nails gently grazing the smooth texture of his skin as she slipped her hand beneath his open shirt where she could feel his heart pounding into her palm. And all the while Jake's electric gray eyes burned like a blue inferno, as he watched her lush rose petal lips part. The warmth of her labored breath licking at his skin thrilled him. Filled him with an aching need to push her chin up to meet his face. After all these years, she still lowered her thick midnight lashes, as her warm tinted complexion blushed. She always smelled of roses. Tasted like roses, and for the rest of his life the sight of that blooming flower would send him to craving her as much as she craved him.
Jake steadied himself on the rail of the terrace. His knuckles reddened as he gripped the thick slab of wood. As the last bits of her memory melted from his mind, he exhaled with a huff. It was time to admit it wasn't Izzy keeping him up at night; it was the absence of Teresa. It was killing him that he couldn't touch her. That he couldn't revel in her scent and taste. Still he supposed it was worse before they were engaged, when she was within his reach but he couldn't lay a hand on her. The paper of her latest telegram crinkled in his pants pocket jabbing him in the thigh. Two days before that dreadful woman would be buried. Three days before he'd drag his wife home and come hell or high water would she leave their bed. Their bed. He hadn't slept in it since she'd gone. Just the thought of turning over into the shallow dent where she should be, tightened the vise around his heart.
"Mayor Slicker?" her voice sliced him down to the bone.
How deep was he that he hadn't heard the hooves of her horse ride up the pass? There was something atrocious about the way she smiled down at him from her barrowed mare. Under the paleness of the champagne moon, her hair glowed like crimson satin, braided as a thick crown around her head. She must have been riding heavily for straight wisps of hair clung down framing her angular face. Her snowy complexion blushed with exertion as she wiped at her brow. Celina stretched her curvy slender lips into a crooked grin. "I think I got turned around."
Jake straightened forcing himself into a close-lipped smile. His eyes arched as he took her in. "What're yah doin' out here at this time of night?"
She shrugged her petite shoulders, with a laugh, "I couldn't sleep. Sometimes a nice little stroll helps, but I thought hell your out in the sticks Celina. Strolling on horse seemed just the ticket."
Jake smiled at her crisp response. His feet moved of their own volition towards the bobbing head of her mare. He took hold of her bridle lightly soothing the velvety tufts along the horse's brown sugar hued nose. "Yah shouldn't be out ridin alone like this. Next time stay close tah town. Yah never know who's lurking around in these woods."
Celina looked around her observing how the vibrate colors of the various and sundry flowers seemed to glow under the night sky. Leaning forward she dared to lock her murky emerald gaze to his storming opalescent eyes. She lowered her voice seductively, "Then it's a good thing I happened into your neck of the woods."
"Papa?" Lucy stood in the open doorway rubbing her eye.
Jake immediately dropped the mare's bridle and darted up the steps to Lucy. He lifted her up into his arms as she wrapped him in her embrace. He turned momentarily back to a pouting Celina. "Good night Ms. Marrow. I'd ride straight back into town if I was you."
Celina nodded venomous as a viper as he turned his back on her. But the little beauty in his arms, eyed her with disarming clarity. Lucy's gaze narrowed with warning at the woman until she turned her horse around on the stone walk. A silent gauntlet was cast down this night. When the last flash of the mare's tail disappeared into the dark alcove of trees, Lucy nestled into her father's neck sighing warmly against his skin. "When is Mama coming home?"
Jake nudged the front door shut with toe of his boot, "Just three more days, Honey. Three more days."