Read Online Darkness the Color of Snow by Thomas Cobb - Free Book Online Page A

how demure she was, but it was impossible to ignore the legs, long and coltish. Even under a full skirt they couldn’t be ignored. Early on it took him a while to say anything because he didn’t want to appear overly lecherous and scare her off, but in the springtime, when she showed up for an evening date in Bermuda shorts, he told her she had beautiful legs.
    â€œI do, don’t I?” she said.
    â€œI thought it would embarrass you if I said that.”
    â€œYou didn’t think I knew? They got your attention, didn’t they?”
    â€œI didn’t think you knew.”
    â€œYou’re sweet,” she said. “Dumb. But sweet.”
    T HE KNOCKING ON the door wakes him up. Ronny looks at the TV where Monday Night Football is in progress. He has fallen asleep, waiting for this. He gets up quickly and goes to the door. Vanessa.
    â€œSorry I’m so late,” she says. “There was an optional question on the final. I thought I better do it.”
    â€œYou think you needed an extra question?” he asks, momentarily relieved to be on this sidetrack of the conversation.
    â€œNo. I did well. I know that. But what if he decides that he’s only giving A’s to the ­people who choose to do the optional question as well. See what I mean? You could get screwed for doing too well. I mean, if you figure you did well and skipped the extra question. I had to do it.”
    â€œYeah, I guess. Sounds pretty bizarre, though. A little paranoid?”
    â€œWho isn’t? I mean, you’ve got to be. At least sometimes. How are you?”
    â€œFine. I’m good.”
    â€œBut you got hurt.”
    He pulls up his sleeve and shows her the bandage. “Road rash. A week or two and it will be gone. Some on my leg, too.”
    â€œYou poor thing.” She steps in and gives him a hug. When she steps back, he tilts his head to kiss her, but she is already moving to the side to put down her things.
    â€œYou want some coffee? Anything?”
    â€œNo. I’m afraid I can’t stay. I have another final in the morning. I’m going to have to study for it tonight.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause it’s a final. I have to do well.”
    â€œBut you will do well. You’re smart. You do all your work. You will.”
    â€œThanks. I wish I could believe that.”
    â€œYou’ve got a 4.0.”
    â€œBecause I work hard. That’s why. Besides I’m here for you, not to argue over grades. You’re really all right? It must have been awful.”
    â€œYeah, I mean, I wish it had never happened.”
    â€œIt must have been horrible. You saw it all happen?”
    â€œI was right in the middle of it. I was trying to cuff him when he got hit.”
    â€œThen you’re lucky you didn’t get hit.”
    â€œYeah. I guess. I don’t feel very lucky. I got suspended for five days.”
    â€œThey suspended you? Why?”
    â€œBecause I didn’t call for backup. You’re supposed to when you think there may be trouble, and I had a car full of drunks. Trouble. I should have called.”
    â€œBut you didn’t kill Matt. You weren’t the cause.”
    â€œNo. He fell in the road and got hit by a hit-­and-­run driver. I didn’t really do anything to cause his death. If there had been another officer there, maybe Matt wouldn’t have tried to resist arrest. That’s the thinking. That’s why I’m suspended, and I see their point. But I figured I knew all those guys and I could handle them. I wasn’t really even going to arrest Matt, probably. Not until he started fighting with me.”
    â€œYou had a fight?”
    â€œNot really. He knocked me down with his car door. The next thing I knew he was out in the road and the car came right over the hill.”
    â€œWas it awful?”
    â€œI hope I never see anything like that again.”
    She came in to him and hugged him again.