PENNY’S ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGE
It was a dark and
stormy night. Thunder and lightening pulled John Cannon from the arms of his
wife and a vivid recurring dream. He rolled gently from bed, careful not to
disturb
Standing slowly, he
moved to the bed and gazed at his sleeping wife. She lay on her side, arm flung
across his pillow, black hair surrounding her like the petals of an exotic
flower. Blue black as a raven’s wing.
After seven years her face was familiar as his own, yet he marveled at the
delicate beauty of her porcelain skin. A soft look stole across his face as he
reached, then stopped. Let Sleeping
Beauty sleep. He picked up a strand of hair and curled it through his
fingers, enjoying the silken feel.
The house was still
save for the thrumming of rain and thunder. Occasional bursts of light flashed
through doors and windows as John made his way downstairs. Water cascaded onto
the flagstones of the porch, the splattering sound echoing through the empty
rooms. He opened the dining room door and stood, watching the rain, breathing
the clean scent. The slats of the wooden hammock were dark with water. I never dream. Why do have this one every
night? His mind drifted over the details.
The afternoon sun
was hot on the ranch compound, the porch providing welcome shade from the
bright glare. His son dozed in the hammock, swaying slightly with the breeze.
Blue’s gloves lay tossed to one side, the right one showing an aging ink stain,
the blotch fading to light purple. His boots, run down at the heel and sporting
tarnished spurs, sat neatly topped by his Stetson. The boy’s face, relaxed in sleep, looked
younger than usual. With a pang, John realized his son’s face commonly was
creased with worry or jaw clenched in determination. His words from years past
rang in his mind. He needs to be tough.
A scuffling noise
from behind broke Big John’s reverie, and he turned to see a figure
approaching. “What’re you doing up, Pa?”
“Same thing as
you, Boy. Couldn’t sleep.”
Blue shuffled to lean
against the doorjamb and stared at the rain. His face was slack with sleep,
hair sticking up in unruly spikes. “Pa?
You ever worry how things’ll turn out?”
John crossed his
arms and answered, “I don’t suppose there was ever a man born who didn’t worry
about the future, son.”
Shaking his head he
replied with a voice full of concern, “I ain’t talking just worry,
John draped a hand
across his son’s shoulder and laughed. “Blue, it’s a little late to be thinking
that now.” He squeezed and continued, “Son, you’re going to do fine. I know
what kind of man you are. I can see what kind of man you’ll be. You’ve got
nothing to worry about.”
Blue sighed
deeply, bit his lip, and nodded. “Guess the cows’ll be up early.”
“Earlier than you
if you don’t get back to bed.” He watched the young man leave, shook his head
with affection, and turned back to the porch, gazing again at the hammock.
Big John replayed
the final details of his recurring dream. A gust of wind tossed Blue’s hair in
wisps across his forehead. His arms crossed to form a cradle on his stomach,
one hand spread protectively across the diapered behind of a tiny, sleeping
baby. Father and son slept in the breeze of an
The rain quieted
to a drizzle. He turned, closed the door against the night, and climbed the
stairs to his wife. Blue Cannon’s son
was born six weeks later.
Author’s note:
This piece is an excerpt from a larger work in progress.
2005 Penny McQueen
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