The Unknown
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Seventeen
The pond was a small one. But it was filled with catfish. Jess caught the first one. But Gwen caught the next six.
Jess complained, �If I weren�t healing...�
�I don�t see you having any trouble casting that fishing line,� she countered.
Jess tried again, �And you got more luck...�
�Luck has nothing to do with it. It�s skill. Pure out-and-out skill.�
She waded further into the pond. Her skirt was pulled high. Jess silently admired her legs.
They were shapely. The kind he liked. Another memory. Sooner or later he had to remember everything about himself, he tried to reason.
Suddenly she cried out. �I got another one!� But this fish fought.
�Stay with him!� Jess called out.
�I know what to do and-� She began swaying as she tried to hold up her dress while at the same time reel in the fish.
�You need help?� Jess offered.
�I know what I�m doing!� she said right before she fell head first into the water.
�Ma!�
She cussed. A loud exclamation that Jess knew he had heard and probably used before himself. But he reasoned that he probably hadn�t heard many women uttering that word.
He laughed. He laughed so hard that he lost his footing. Now both were lying in the water. For a moment he struggled. Then he realized the water wasn�t deep.
She turned towards him. She began to giggle.
�You laughing at me, Missus Jackson?�
�I sure am, Mister Harper.�
He splashed water at her.
She splashed back.
For a few minutes they played like children, laughing, splashing. She suddenly stood and tried to walk back to shore. But her dress was weighing her down.
�Ma, you need help?� Ronnie yelled.
�You�re the only left that�s dry. Let me help your Ma,� Jess said as he waded towards her.
�Now be careful, I can�t swim.� He stopped. That�s right, he couldn�t swim. That�s why he
had stayed in the shallow part of the pond.
He held out his hand and she took it. For a brief moment their eyes met. He grinned. �You look like a drowned rat.�
�Flattery will get you no where, Jess.�
He laughed. �Never knew a woman who thought being called a rat was flattering.�
�You�re right about that!� She pushed him. He fell backwards, hitting the water hard. �And that includes me!� she added.
He stood up. Water dripped from his head to his toe. �I was trying to help you!�
�I�m sorry. It was an accident,� she replied her voice dripping with sweetness.
�Oh?� His eyes lit mischievously.
She turned and took off running out of the pond. The water and her wet dress making her move slower than she wanted. Despite his wound, Jess moved quickly, following her. It took only seconds for him to reach her. He grabbed her, twisting her so she faced him. �Apologize.�
�Never!�
His eyebrows raised with surprise. He tickled her. His hands touching her body. He wasn�t shy.
She screamed with laughter. �All right. All right! I�m sorry. Stop. Please!�
He did. But his hands stayed around her waist. She was pretty. He suddenly realized that. Her hair sparkled in the sunlight. Her dimples intrigued him. He started to kiss her. The laughter faded from her face and she quickly moved away. She didn�t look angry, just nervous.
�We better get back to the house. And out of these wet clothes,� she said.
�But Ma-�
�Ronnie, we�ve caught enough fish for supper. Now Jess is probably tuckered out. Let�s get back to the cabin so he can rest.�
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