Post by bretf on Jun 24, 2021 11:04:48 GMT
Chapter 4
Kevin fell into a routine, his two new best friends and hard work in the garden providing healing therapy. At the end of each workday, he and his four-legged pals went straight to the old truck. However, he paused, looking at the bar, hoping to see Tammy. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if he saw her but he never did, so he’d get in the truck and head for home.
More than once he considered going into the bar to see her but always decided not to. Perhaps after more time, he’d be fit company, but Debbie and the kids’ departure still hurt too much. Plus, he didn’t want to leave the dogs sitting in the truck. So, he went home. Once there, he roamed with the dogs and worked in the garden. Under his daily care, the seeds sprouted and the garden filled with lush green growth. He only went to the house when it was too dark to see. There, Jack and Jill helped fill the empty space.
The garden looked better than it had in years. Free from the demands on his time Debbie and the kids had made, he was able to make it like the gardens of his youth. The weeds that’d been a constant challenge the past few years were hoed and pulled before they had a chance to compete with his vegetable plants. He attacked the weeds with a vengeance, funneling his hurt and tension through his hoe handle.
And when he didn’t have anything to do in the garden, he played with the dogs or walked the fields and woods with them. Their therapeutic healing extended well beyond the Children’s home where they’d been a huge hit.
The garden flourished and it looked like he’d harvest more vegetables than he had in years. Even though he was alone, he’d planted the full garden. It was puzzling to plant that much, but it was ingrained in him, from when he was a kid. If his family didn’t grow and preserve a lot of food, it meant a long, hungry winter. So he’d planted way more than he needed. Some of it would be preserved, but there would be far more than he could use. Extra produce could always be shared at work, he reasoned. Some fresh food would be good for those kids. It wouldn’t be a replacement for a stable family, but maybe they’d like it.
#
“What a lovely garden!”
“Oh, shi …oot!” Kevin exclaimed. He’d been lost in his mind, hoeing the row of carrots, attacking the weeds. The tender leafy carrot stalks were about four inches high, all but the unfortunate swath he’d chopped off at being startled. Biting off further exclamations he turned to the source of the voice. He was startled for the second time in moments.
Her words stuck in his mind. Lovely? The woman standing at the fence was lovely. No, she was more than lovely, she was breathtaking. He guessed her to be in her early thirties, although he didn’t trust his guesses when it came to women. Her light brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her workout clothes were pulled tight over a well-formed body. A very well-formed body Kevin decided. He found himself wishing she was a bit closer to his age, but the thought didn’t keep him from admiring her.
The woman giggled, obviously accustomed to the effect she had on men. They were all too predictable, and judging by the older man in the garden, they never grew out of it. She smiled and filed the information away.
“Oh I’m sorry,” the woman said. “I didn’t mean to startle you. What were those plants you chopped off? Some kind of lettuce or parsley or something?”
“Uhm . . . uh, no,” Kevin said, looking down. It didn’t help. It was no easier to think as her image was burned into his mind. “Those were, uh, carrots,” he muttered.
The woman grinned knowingly. “Well, I’m really am sorry about that. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Anything at all?” she purred and batted her eyelashes at him.
Jack and Jill suddenly appeared. Jill growled deep in her chest. Jack sidled close to Kevin, the hair on his back standing up.
“Jack. Jill, easy, it’s okay,” Kevin snapped as his face turned bright red as her words sunk into his intoxicated mind. “Uh, no … uh … it’s all right. I ... uh planted more than I … uh needed anyway,” he stammered.
“Okay, if you’re sure. But it doesn’t seem neighborly to scare you and have you ruin stuff because of me,” she said. She seemed to dismiss the dogs.
His mind was still in a fog, but he registered two of the words she said. “I wasn’t scared. You just surprised me. And what do you mean by neighborly? I don’t have any neighbors,” Kevin said, a bit defensively. He didn’t want the lovely vision thinking he scared so easily.
“You have neighbors now. We just bought the Johnson farm. We’ll be moving in this week,” she said.
Kevin was numb again. The incredible woman in front of him was going to be his neighbor? He’d be able to look across the field and see her? He couldn’t come up with a response.
“I think we need to be properly introduced. “My name’s Cindy,” the woman said and she started to climb over the fence.
Jill growled and Jack stiffened.
“No, don’t cross there, that’s barbed –” Kevin got out, but was cut off by a gasp of pain and burst of profanity. He stood still for several moments, surprised at the filthy phrase coming from those beautiful lips.
“Well don’t just stand there! Help me!” the woman snapped. The fence was tight mesh woven wire with two strands of barbed wire at the top. Her leading leg was across the fence with her heel pressed precariously into a space too small for, it and her trailing leg was snagged on the top row of wire.
Kevin shook his head and mumbled, “Sorry,” and hurried, rather tried to hurry across the garden to where she was stuck on the fence. He had to keep pushing the dogs aside to advance. When he reached her, he saw where the barb was dug into her yoga pants, saw the slice in the material and the toned leg beneath it with the line of crimson coming from the scratch the barb had made. “Uh,” was all he could say.
“Can you get it free?” she asked. “It’s not exactly comfortable here.” She was leaning forward heavily, the caught leg holding her in place.
His hand shook as he reached forward and took the wire in one hand and carefully placed his other hand on her leg. “Oh, sh … oot!” he exclaimed as the shaking caused the rip to grow larger. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean –”
“It’s okay, just get me free,” she snapped.
“Uh, yeah, right,” Kevin said. He focused on his task and released the barb from the material. She’d been leaning over Kevin, and with her leg suddenly released, toppled over on top of him, driving him to the ground.
The fall knocked the breath from Kevin and he lay on the ground stunned. It was hard to breathe and it took him a few moments to figure out why. Then he gasped in a staggered breath and turned bright red for the second time in minutes. The woman lay on top of him, pressed tight against him, her curves very conspicuous. He didn’t see or hear the dogs’ menacing growls.
The vision’s face was inches from his and she smiled slyly and said, “As I said, my name’s Cindy. What’s yours?” She lay there expectantly, not moving, waiting for him to respond.
Kevin was struck dumb. He’d never been so close to any woman other than Debbie. He decided he liked it though it terrified him at the same time.
“Oh, I see, the strong silent type,” Cindy said. And then she winked at him.
Kevin couldn’t believe it. This incredible woman was lying on him, lying right on him with all her parts pressed against him and she winked at him. He was dumbfounded.
“So are you going to tell me your name? Or maybe it’s a secret. Maybe you’re a drug lord like the guy in Breaking Bad. That’s why you live hidden out here. No, you’re probably in witness protection because the cartel is looking for you.” She nearly purred the last sentence and Kevin was even more uncomfortable.
“No!” he gasped. “I’ve never had anything to do with drugs. Nothing at all! They do nothing but cause problems! I was just startled. And my name’s Kevin,” he said defiantly.
A look passed her face Kevin had no clue how to interpret and she laughed. “Oh, I know you’ll be a great neighbor,” she said.
Kevin was enthralled as she lowered her face even closer to his. She turned her head, her lips brushing past his and kissed him soundly on the cheek. “Pleased to meet you, neighbor Kevin,” she said, and put her arms on both sides of his head and pushed herself off him.
He was relieved to have her off him and missed it at the same time. “So, uh, you bought Harvey Johnson’s place?” He asked after standing up. Jack and Jill flanked him.
“Yes, me and my husband,” Cindy said. She noted the disappointment on his face when she said “husband.” It was something else to file away. Continuing, she said, “We were looking for an out of the way place and it was perfect. It’s a bonus to have such a handsome neighbor,” she said and winked at him again.
Kevin turned red. Handsome? She thinks I’m handsome, he thought to himself.
“I hope your wife isn’t the jealous type,” Cindy said with a grin, fishing.
The dogs growled low.
“No … uh, she won’t mind you being around here,” Kevin mumbled.
“Hmm,” Cindy murmured, thinking. She pointed towards the row Kevin had been hoeing. “I really am sorry you chopped those off. Can I help you replant anything to make up for it?” She walked over to the mentioned plants turned to face him and bent low to pick up the leafy carrot tops.
Kevin ‘’s eyes widened and he gulped and said, “Uh, no, there’s nothing to be done for them. If I accidentally chop of a vegetable plant, it’s a goner, unfortunately. It’s too bad they aren’t as resilient as the weeds. But really, I planted way more than I’ll eat.”
“All righty then. But don’t forget I’m in your debt. Now I better go. Charley is probably finishing up with the realtor. Is there a better way to leave than over the fence?” she asked.
“Charley?” Kevin asked
“Yes, my husband. He and the realtor had some boring stuff to cover so I came to look around. And I’m glad I did,” she said with a sly smile.
Kevin was glad she had as well, despite his discomfort, but kept the thought to himself. “Umm, yeah,” he mumbled. “There’s a gate over there,” he said pointing.
“Okay, well bye-bye neighbor. I’ll be seeing you,” Cindy said, winking.
Kevin watched her walking away, enjoying the view, then turned red again when she turned and caught him staring.
Kevin fell into a routine, his two new best friends and hard work in the garden providing healing therapy. At the end of each workday, he and his four-legged pals went straight to the old truck. However, he paused, looking at the bar, hoping to see Tammy. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if he saw her but he never did, so he’d get in the truck and head for home.
More than once he considered going into the bar to see her but always decided not to. Perhaps after more time, he’d be fit company, but Debbie and the kids’ departure still hurt too much. Plus, he didn’t want to leave the dogs sitting in the truck. So, he went home. Once there, he roamed with the dogs and worked in the garden. Under his daily care, the seeds sprouted and the garden filled with lush green growth. He only went to the house when it was too dark to see. There, Jack and Jill helped fill the empty space.
The garden looked better than it had in years. Free from the demands on his time Debbie and the kids had made, he was able to make it like the gardens of his youth. The weeds that’d been a constant challenge the past few years were hoed and pulled before they had a chance to compete with his vegetable plants. He attacked the weeds with a vengeance, funneling his hurt and tension through his hoe handle.
And when he didn’t have anything to do in the garden, he played with the dogs or walked the fields and woods with them. Their therapeutic healing extended well beyond the Children’s home where they’d been a huge hit.
The garden flourished and it looked like he’d harvest more vegetables than he had in years. Even though he was alone, he’d planted the full garden. It was puzzling to plant that much, but it was ingrained in him, from when he was a kid. If his family didn’t grow and preserve a lot of food, it meant a long, hungry winter. So he’d planted way more than he needed. Some of it would be preserved, but there would be far more than he could use. Extra produce could always be shared at work, he reasoned. Some fresh food would be good for those kids. It wouldn’t be a replacement for a stable family, but maybe they’d like it.
#
“What a lovely garden!”
“Oh, shi …oot!” Kevin exclaimed. He’d been lost in his mind, hoeing the row of carrots, attacking the weeds. The tender leafy carrot stalks were about four inches high, all but the unfortunate swath he’d chopped off at being startled. Biting off further exclamations he turned to the source of the voice. He was startled for the second time in moments.
Her words stuck in his mind. Lovely? The woman standing at the fence was lovely. No, she was more than lovely, she was breathtaking. He guessed her to be in her early thirties, although he didn’t trust his guesses when it came to women. Her light brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, and her workout clothes were pulled tight over a well-formed body. A very well-formed body Kevin decided. He found himself wishing she was a bit closer to his age, but the thought didn’t keep him from admiring her.
The woman giggled, obviously accustomed to the effect she had on men. They were all too predictable, and judging by the older man in the garden, they never grew out of it. She smiled and filed the information away.
“Oh I’m sorry,” the woman said. “I didn’t mean to startle you. What were those plants you chopped off? Some kind of lettuce or parsley or something?”
“Uhm . . . uh, no,” Kevin said, looking down. It didn’t help. It was no easier to think as her image was burned into his mind. “Those were, uh, carrots,” he muttered.
The woman grinned knowingly. “Well, I’m really am sorry about that. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you? Anything at all?” she purred and batted her eyelashes at him.
Jack and Jill suddenly appeared. Jill growled deep in her chest. Jack sidled close to Kevin, the hair on his back standing up.
“Jack. Jill, easy, it’s okay,” Kevin snapped as his face turned bright red as her words sunk into his intoxicated mind. “Uh, no … uh … it’s all right. I ... uh planted more than I … uh needed anyway,” he stammered.
“Okay, if you’re sure. But it doesn’t seem neighborly to scare you and have you ruin stuff because of me,” she said. She seemed to dismiss the dogs.
His mind was still in a fog, but he registered two of the words she said. “I wasn’t scared. You just surprised me. And what do you mean by neighborly? I don’t have any neighbors,” Kevin said, a bit defensively. He didn’t want the lovely vision thinking he scared so easily.
“You have neighbors now. We just bought the Johnson farm. We’ll be moving in this week,” she said.
Kevin was numb again. The incredible woman in front of him was going to be his neighbor? He’d be able to look across the field and see her? He couldn’t come up with a response.
“I think we need to be properly introduced. “My name’s Cindy,” the woman said and she started to climb over the fence.
Jill growled and Jack stiffened.
“No, don’t cross there, that’s barbed –” Kevin got out, but was cut off by a gasp of pain and burst of profanity. He stood still for several moments, surprised at the filthy phrase coming from those beautiful lips.
“Well don’t just stand there! Help me!” the woman snapped. The fence was tight mesh woven wire with two strands of barbed wire at the top. Her leading leg was across the fence with her heel pressed precariously into a space too small for, it and her trailing leg was snagged on the top row of wire.
Kevin shook his head and mumbled, “Sorry,” and hurried, rather tried to hurry across the garden to where she was stuck on the fence. He had to keep pushing the dogs aside to advance. When he reached her, he saw where the barb was dug into her yoga pants, saw the slice in the material and the toned leg beneath it with the line of crimson coming from the scratch the barb had made. “Uh,” was all he could say.
“Can you get it free?” she asked. “It’s not exactly comfortable here.” She was leaning forward heavily, the caught leg holding her in place.
His hand shook as he reached forward and took the wire in one hand and carefully placed his other hand on her leg. “Oh, sh … oot!” he exclaimed as the shaking caused the rip to grow larger. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean –”
“It’s okay, just get me free,” she snapped.
“Uh, yeah, right,” Kevin said. He focused on his task and released the barb from the material. She’d been leaning over Kevin, and with her leg suddenly released, toppled over on top of him, driving him to the ground.
The fall knocked the breath from Kevin and he lay on the ground stunned. It was hard to breathe and it took him a few moments to figure out why. Then he gasped in a staggered breath and turned bright red for the second time in minutes. The woman lay on top of him, pressed tight against him, her curves very conspicuous. He didn’t see or hear the dogs’ menacing growls.
The vision’s face was inches from his and she smiled slyly and said, “As I said, my name’s Cindy. What’s yours?” She lay there expectantly, not moving, waiting for him to respond.
Kevin was struck dumb. He’d never been so close to any woman other than Debbie. He decided he liked it though it terrified him at the same time.
“Oh, I see, the strong silent type,” Cindy said. And then she winked at him.
Kevin couldn’t believe it. This incredible woman was lying on him, lying right on him with all her parts pressed against him and she winked at him. He was dumbfounded.
“So are you going to tell me your name? Or maybe it’s a secret. Maybe you’re a drug lord like the guy in Breaking Bad. That’s why you live hidden out here. No, you’re probably in witness protection because the cartel is looking for you.” She nearly purred the last sentence and Kevin was even more uncomfortable.
“No!” he gasped. “I’ve never had anything to do with drugs. Nothing at all! They do nothing but cause problems! I was just startled. And my name’s Kevin,” he said defiantly.
A look passed her face Kevin had no clue how to interpret and she laughed. “Oh, I know you’ll be a great neighbor,” she said.
Kevin was enthralled as she lowered her face even closer to his. She turned her head, her lips brushing past his and kissed him soundly on the cheek. “Pleased to meet you, neighbor Kevin,” she said, and put her arms on both sides of his head and pushed herself off him.
He was relieved to have her off him and missed it at the same time. “So, uh, you bought Harvey Johnson’s place?” He asked after standing up. Jack and Jill flanked him.
“Yes, me and my husband,” Cindy said. She noted the disappointment on his face when she said “husband.” It was something else to file away. Continuing, she said, “We were looking for an out of the way place and it was perfect. It’s a bonus to have such a handsome neighbor,” she said and winked at him again.
Kevin turned red. Handsome? She thinks I’m handsome, he thought to himself.
“I hope your wife isn’t the jealous type,” Cindy said with a grin, fishing.
The dogs growled low.
“No … uh, she won’t mind you being around here,” Kevin mumbled.
“Hmm,” Cindy murmured, thinking. She pointed towards the row Kevin had been hoeing. “I really am sorry you chopped those off. Can I help you replant anything to make up for it?” She walked over to the mentioned plants turned to face him and bent low to pick up the leafy carrot tops.
Kevin ‘’s eyes widened and he gulped and said, “Uh, no, there’s nothing to be done for them. If I accidentally chop of a vegetable plant, it’s a goner, unfortunately. It’s too bad they aren’t as resilient as the weeds. But really, I planted way more than I’ll eat.”
“All righty then. But don’t forget I’m in your debt. Now I better go. Charley is probably finishing up with the realtor. Is there a better way to leave than over the fence?” she asked.
“Charley?” Kevin asked
“Yes, my husband. He and the realtor had some boring stuff to cover so I came to look around. And I’m glad I did,” she said with a sly smile.
Kevin was glad she had as well, despite his discomfort, but kept the thought to himself. “Umm, yeah,” he mumbled. “There’s a gate over there,” he said pointing.
“Okay, well bye-bye neighbor. I’ll be seeing you,” Cindy said, winking.
Kevin watched her walking away, enjoying the view, then turned red again when she turned and caught him staring.