Samhain Publishing

Copyright © 2008 Selena Kitt
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication

“Oh, speaking of picking…” Mama poured lemonade over a glass of ice she set in front of the preacher. “Rosie, will you run out back and pick me… Let me think…” She frowned, looking up at the ceiling as if the answer were written above her head. “I’d say…fifteen…fifteen ears of corn should do it.”

I couldn’t believe my luck. We were gonna have the opportunity to be alone twice in one Sunday?

“Sure, Mama.” I didn’t bother with my shoes and I tried to make it sound real casual when I stopped with my hand on the screen door, looked back and asked, “You wanna help me, Billy Ray?”

He slipped behind me, pushing the door open as an answer.

“Your daddy don’t care, does he?” I glanced back at the preacher man on the front stoop drinking Mama’s lemonade and talking with my daddy as Billy Ray and I made our way through the field.

“Oh, he cares.” Billy Ray picked a piece of long sweet grass and stuck it between his teeth to suck on. “He just trusts me, is all.”

I lifted my blue eyes to his dark ones and we both smiled. “We got a new lamb. Wanna see him?”

“Sure.” He followed my change in trajectory as we cut toward the barn.

It smelled like hay and manure inside and the earthy odor of animals. I stopped to give my horse a nuzzle, rubbing my cheek against his silky black nose. Jupiter nibbled at my long, brown hair looking for goodies, and I giggled, pushing him away.

“Not today, Jupiter.” I noticed Billy’s eyes on me as he leaned back against one of the stalls, his arms crossed, just watching.

“He just wants a little sugar,” Billy Ray noted with a slow smile. “Don’t see as I blame him.”

My cheeks blushed even pinker as I moved past him, hearing his boots fall on the concrete behind me as I made my way to the sheep pen. The new lamb was sleeping curled by his mother’s side but he looked up and bleated as we approached. His mother nuzzled him and bleated back as if to say, “All’s well” and the lamb closed his eyes again.

“Ain’t he sweet?” I squatted down to peer through the wooden slats.

“Yep.” Billy Ray leaned over the rail, chewing on his blade of grass. “Not as sweet as you, a’course.”

I snorted, putting my hands on my knees and rocking back, rolling my eyes. “You think I’m stupid, Billy Ray Harris?”

He smiled down at me. “Why would I think that?”

“I know what you’re doin’.” I stood, brushing my hands over my dress as if squatting next to the pen had made it dirty, and put my feet up on the first rail to peer over at the lamb, making me just as tall as the preacher’s son.

“Yeah?” Billy Ray did the same, bringing his height to a full head taller again. His shoulder brushed mine as he reached up to tip his hat back. “What am I doin’?”

“You’re no better than Jupiter.” I nudged him with my knee. The lamb was blinking, swinging its head back and forth between us. “You’re just looking for some sugar.”

“Aw, come on, Rosie.” He tilted his head when he smiled at me. “Can you blame me? Pretty girl like you…you’d just melt in my mouth like sugar…”

“Billy Ray!” I pushed him with my shoulder, meeting solid resistance. He didn’t budge an inch. “What you’re talkin’ ’bout is a sin. What would your daddy say?”

He snorted. “What Daddy don’t know, don’t hurt him. Besides, I told you, he trusts me.”

I hopped off the rail, brushing my hands together. “Well, now, that was his mistake, wasn’t it?”

Billy Ray stepped off the wooden slat and stood in front of me. “Don’t you trust me, girl?”

I met his eyes, trying to decide if the question was genuine. “Should I?”

“Wouldn’t hurt ya.” He brushed a stray hair off my cheek. It tickled. His fingers lingered over my jaw, his thumb rubbing there.

I glanced nervously past him, clearing my throat. “I don’t know ’bout that.”

Billy Ray frowned, stepping back. “You act like I’m Lucifer come to tempt you with a nice shiny apple.”

“I didn’t mean—” I stopped as he turned and started toward the barn doors. “Hey, Billy Ray, wait up…”