As the Eagle Flies. J. D. Oliver

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СКАЧАТЬ going to take a shower.” Faith got up, I took the baby. She dropped her gown and walked toward the bathroom. My eyes followed her all the way till she pulled the shower curtain.

      I didn’t have any trouble changing Alita; although I had never changed a baby before in my life. The shower turned off, Faith stepped out, grabbing a towel she smiled at me. I stood there with Alita in my arms, still staring. She got dressed in a peasant skirt and blouse, she didn’t bother putting on underwear.

      “Come on, let’s join the others. Felicia’s daughter should be home anytime. She took some stock to town; a few old cows. Her name is Alona, she’s sixteen. A regular pistol.” Faith grabbed my hand, I followed along.

      As we came in, Jake and Dad turned to look, they both stood up. I said, “Dad this is Faith and Alita, the baby’s name is Alita.” Then I introduced them to her. I was still holding the baby. Jake was looking back and forth between Faith and me. Dad had politely greeted Faith, then turned his attention back to Felicia.

      Faith said, “Is Alona back yet?”

      “No, not yet, I’m sorry I hadn’t told them about Alona; she is my daughter, she took some stock to market, we’re expecting her anytime. Jake, perhaps you could meet her at the barn and tell her we have company?”

      It was Jake’s turn to be stunned. He nodded numbly, and left. Faith come up and took my elbow, “Would you like to see the barn? We can go along.”

      “Sure, I think maybe Alita would like the fresh air.” Now how would I know if the baby would like fresh air?

      Faith said, as we closed the massive front door, “I think Felicia and your Father would like some time alone. Did you see how her eyes sparkled? I think she likes your Dad.”

      “Wow! I don’t understand what’s happening. But I like it.” I said. We heard Miguel’s old pickup coming down the lane. He stopped beside us. “I had some time, so I checked the right engine on your plane; I can find nothing wrong with it, Senor.”

      “Huh? Not even some oil on the engine from a leak? There was smoke coming out from under the cowl.”

      “No Senor, I even started it up; the oil pressure was normal. I could find nothing wrong. But yes, when you were landing I seen the smoke you speak of, but now it is fine.”

      Faith looked up at me, “You silly boy, of course there was nothing wrong with your plane. You were meant to come here. We were expecting you.”

      “You mean that just happened so we would land here?” I said. She nodded, while taking my hand and putting my arm around her waist.

      As we stood by the corral, we could hear a truck coming down the lane from the highway. It was a brand new diesel 5 ton stake truck. It came roaring in and slid to a stop. A young dark haired girl in jeans and western shirt jumped out. She quickly glanced at Faith and me, then turned her gaze to Jake. They stood there staring at each other.

      “Alona, this is Jake, the one you’re staring at. And this is his brother Clay, he’s mine. The father to them both is in the house with your mother. It’s like the Eagle told us; you remember, in our dreams?”

      Alona drew some circles in the dust with her boot toe. She was looking at Jake through lowered eyes. A small smile was growing bigger, showing her pearly white teeth. She said, in a voice just above a whisper, “Jake, would you like to see my Barrel Horse?”

      “Yeah, sure I would, do you Rodeo?”

      “Yes, of course. I know you do too. Did you win last night?” Jake had his composure back. I seen his chest puff out some, he said, “Sure did, I guess you could call it that anyway, I took second place money on a pretty bad bull. Anytime I stick for eight seconds; I call that winning.”

      “I call that winning too.” She said, as she motioned for Jake to follow her. She wouldn’t have had to do that, because he sure would of followed on his own. Course he was a couple of steps back so he could appreciate the view.

      Faith gave me a wink, as we watched them walk off toward the barn. “I think they like each other, don’t you?” Faith said, then added, “Would you like to see our swimming hole? It’s just a short way. Alita likes to crawl in the grass, there’s a lot of shade there.”

      “Sure, I reckon.” I said, as I adjusted Alita’s position in my right arm, as I still had my left arm around Faith. The swimming hole was a natural slow backwater off of the river. The grass grew right down to its edge.

      Faith sat down cross legged with her peasant skirt flared out around her. She said, “Just put her down beside me.” I did so. Alita immediately started to crawl toward a Dandelion plant. She picked it and started to put it in her mouth, I grabbed it and said, “Hey not in your mouth; let’s put it in your hair.” I put it above her ear, she gurgled at me. Then I picked her up and went to set beside Faith. Faith took her and put her in her lap. Alita leaned back between her breasts and started to doze off.

      It was pleasant sitting there in the shade and listening to the water and the birds and the bees. Faith cocked her head at me and said, “Well, what do you want to know about me?”

      “I reckon just about everything. You seem to know more about me, than I do you.” I said, as I took her hand in mine, and looked at the well manicured nails. Then I said, “I’ve never seen a ranch girl with nails like yours?”

      “There’s nothing to say that a ranch girl can’t keep herself up, just because she lives on a ranch, is there?”

      “No, of course not. But I get the impression that you haven’t always lived on a ranch, have you?”

      “No, I haven’t, you’re right. I grew up in the Napa Valley in California. I had a Basketball scholarship to Arizona State. That’s where I met Theodore, he was an Agriculture Major there. We got married right after graduation.”

      “Basketball? You don’t look like a basketball player.” I said.

      “What does a basketball player look like?” Faith said, pinching my hand a little bit.

      “Well you know, sort of butch, I guess?” She pinched me a little harder.

      “Do you think I look Butch?” She said.

      “No, not the least little bit, you’re beautiful. But on second thought, from what I seen in your room, you have muscles in all the right places.” She smiled.

      “Yes, and I bet you do too. Would you like to go swimming? Alita is asleep.”

      “Well, yeah, I guess. But we don’t have any suits; we’d have to go back to the house to get them.” I said.

      “We don’t need suits, nobody can see us.” Faith said as she laid Alita in the grass. Then she stood up and said, “Come on, stand up, I’ll help you with your clothes.” I did as instructed. Ever since we got here I was doing what I was told. I guess I was still in shock. She unbuttoned my shirt and pushed it back off of my shoulders. Her fingers made a trail down toward my belt buckle, before I knew it, I was stepping out of my jeans. She started to pull my shorts down, I stopped her.

      “Not till you’re, you know, take yours off.” I said. She smiled and dropped her skirt, like I said she didn’t put any underwear on. Then she slowly took her blouse off. I stood there transfixed. СКАЧАТЬ