Chapter 26: WEATHERING STORMS

“Do you consent to being my wife Stephanie?”

“No, Tom, I’m sorry. I can’t, and I won’t.”

Tom was walking out the door, when Stephanie said.

“But you’re welcome to fuck me again any time you want.”

Tom only nodded, leaving as silently as he’d arrived.

Stephanie begins feeling aches and twinges. Tom is not a gentle lover, and used her hard. She needs a good stretch to even out and recover from the over extensions Tom strained her legs and back to assume. Tom is a knotty fucker. Her muscles have kinks and knots to show for his nights work.

Tired to exhaustion, she fears going to bed now, risking waking up with agonizing cramps and Charlie-horses later.

A quick study of the sky from her window, shows the moon riding low in the West, dawn just graying the horizon in the East, and a towering thunderhead directly in front to the South. To the North is the interior of her room behind her.

A storm is coming. Is there time for a run? Quickly dressing, she risks it. On the road, someone else is trying to beat the weather. Skeet is running a hundred yards ahead, at a fast pace. Neither wasting time, Stephanie sprints to catch her.

Unless Skeet stops, Stephanie can’t catch up to her. Skeet’s long legged stride eats up the ground more efficiently than petite Stephanie’s most rapid paddlewheel-blur-footed sprint. Skeet stops. Stefanie is heaving for air, leaning on her knees after braking a few slowing yards to stop beside her.

A low ominous black line is fast approaching in advance of the actual storm. A front moving in, bringing with it high winds and heavy squalls.

Skeet swings her arm from pointing at the squall line, to pointing at Roy’s and Isi’s farm, a half mile off. Half mile ahead, or two and a half back, leaves little to choose. Skeet signs move it. They run for it. The front arrives there first.

They arrive on the farmhouse porch, looking wetter than the downpour they emerge from. Isi opens the door and urges them inside, quickly shutting out the whistling wind behind them. Isi bends an ear of each woman forward and peers behind it, before ushering them to stand before a welcome crackling fire on the hearth.

“Checking we washed behind our ears, mama?” Skeet jokes.

Isi jounces her baby Lutah to entertain him, and negatively shakes her head. He’s lashed in a wicker cradle-board carrier.

“I bet she’s checking to see if we have gills.” Stephanie says.

Isi grins, all the confirmation they need. The three laugh happily together, dry, warm, and safe from the elements.

Stephanie and Skeet strip. Stephanie dons her abandoned robe. Isi brought it from Yellowstone intending on returning it to her. Skeet wears Slim’s extra long size terrycloth robe.

“That papoose is beautiful workmanship.” Stephanie admires the cradle-board Lutah is bound in.

“This?” Isi indicates the cradle-board, smiling, “is a cradle-board. Lutah is the child. A papoose is a child. Yes, I consider both are beautiful creations! Thank you.”

“Where’s Roy? What’s he up to today? I would expect, he’d be reluctant to be away from his family in this weather.”

“Roy is nearby. He’s soothing the animals sheltering with him in the barn, by singing to them. If the wind didn’t scream so, we could hear him.”

“Roy understands animal husbandry well.” Skeet confirms.

“He’s an excellent husband to me too.” Isi adds.

“We’re very happy for all of your families happiness, Isi.”

“I’m sorry I seem to be nodding off. It’s the charming fire lulling me, making me sleepy, I suppose.” Stephanie apologizes.

“There’s a guest room you both are welcome to use. The storm behind this front, may keep you trapped here many hours. You’re welcome. Please make yourselves comfortable.”

“Thank you Isi. Very hospitable of you. I would like to lay down awhile.”

“Me too, Isi. This is the fist real break I’ve had in months. Maintaining Morgan’s constant vigil is a strain and I’m exhausted. If you don’t mind, we’ll both sleep a spell. Call us if the weather breaks, though I don’t expect it soon will.”

In Isi’s guest bedroom is a double bed, jammed in a corner because of the narrowness of the room. Only one side and the foot allows access for getting into and out of bed. Skeet cordially offers to take the wall side. She’s athletic and exiting over the bed’s foot isn’t a problem for her, if she needs to get out while Stephanie still sleeps. Once both are in bed, Stephanie snuggles cuddly against Skeet’s larger body.