DUST IN THE WIND
Chapter Ten
That night, Rose shifted away
from her husband a little and again, for the thousandth time since they’d been
married, examined his nude body, memorizing every curve, every freckle,
relishing how truly perfect he was. His skin was flawless, his hair soft as
corn silk. His eyes were the color of lapis lazuli, and sparkled happily as he
smiled at her with his wonderfully pouty lips. He was a dream come true.
"How did I get so
lucky?" She sighed, cuddling back up against him, basking in his warmth as
his arms enveloped her and held her tightly against his body. His love for her
was boundless, to say the least.
"My father would say we
wished on the right star." Jack happily stroked her hair.
"Your father must have
looked at the stars an awful lot." Rose giggled, remembering the first
time she had looked up at the stars with Jack.
"He did. He used to take me
outside on the porch and point out all the constellations. I still remember
them. I can show them to you, if you want."
Rose glanced up and smiled
brightly. "I think that’s a marvelous idea. I’ll get some of that
sparkling cider we had last night and we can lay out below the stars."
"That’s a great idea."
Jack got up and slipped on his robe. "You get the blankets, and I’ll get
the cider and glasses."
Fifteen minutes later, Jack and
Rose sat side by side on a blanket out in middle of the Dawson yard, wine
glasses of cider in their hands. Jack had an arm firmly wrapped around Rose’s
shoulders and held her close, wanting to keep her as warm as possible.
"They’re all so
beautiful." Rose sighed, gazing up at the stars.
"You outshine them
all." Jack kissed her on top of her head, relishing the smell of rose
petals.
"Which one’s the Big Dipper,
Jack?" Rose examined the sky, trying to find the famous pattern.
"Oh…let me see. It’s right
there. And see the handle, the brightest star there?"
"Yes."
"That’s the North Star. That
star was the runaway slave’s map to freedom. All they had to do was follow that
star."
"How about that one?"
"Orion’s belt. I think he
was the hunter." Jack frowned.
Rose sighed in contentment. She
had never been this happy in all her life. She now knew she had found where she
belonged, under the stars in Jack’s warm embrace. "You know so much, Jack.
Every day I learn something new."
Jack laughed. "I don’t know
any more than you do, Rose. Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned mainly on the
streets. I don’t recommend that school to anyone. It may seem so romantic and
bohemian, but still…it’s a hard life. There were nights I would have given
anything for a warm bed and a hot meal."
"There was a time when I
would have given anything to get a hug. A real one, not one of those obligatory
ones." Rose sighed, remembering her childhood. "Even my father was a
bit standoffish."
Jack pulled her closer.
"Well, you don’t have to worry about that now. Every hug I give you comes
straight from the heart." Jack kissed her forehead. "I love you more
and more each day, Rose. I think I’ve forgotten where I end and you begin, if
that’s possible."
"We end and begin in each
other." Rose smiled up at her adoring husband. "Simple as that."
Jack just laughed and kissed her
once more before a screech was heard inside the house. Jack and Rose looked at
each other in shock and disbelief. That screech only meant one thing.
"Samantha!"