Read Online Into the Free by Julie Cantrell - Free Book Online Page B

don’t know, do something big. But that’s kind of hard to believe, don’t you think?”
    “Maybe they’re right,” I say. His fingers are long and strong. He could crush my hand in his, if he wanted to. I hear Jack’s voice, “Never trust,” but I just keep moving forward, into the night, with River.
    “I play music for tips,” he says. “Not so big.”
    We accidentally jump a deer, and we steal the warm spot of flattened grass. River pulls me down next to him, so close I shiver. “I can’t imagine anything better than to travel around playing music. Making people happy,” I say. “What’s bigger than that?” I lean into him as the moonbeams bounce across the field of yellow flowers. “Want to hear something funny?”
    “Always,” he says, running his fingers through my hair. My world speeds up. After years of moving along in slow motion, I am suddenly surging through the moments. He touches me, and like flame to dry grass, I am consumed.
    I have imagined him dirty, as he was when I first saw him, years ago, but he isn’t. Not at all. Even his fingernails are trimmed and neat. His hair smells of oranges. His teeth are white and straight. I wonder how he manages to shatter every idea I’ve ever had of his people. “When I was a little girl, I used to think the flowers were stars that had fallen to the ground,” I say. “I thought when I picked the flowers, I was collecting stars. Straight from heaven. Like God was sending me tiny presents.”
    He nods out to the field that surrounds us. “Looks like stars to me.”
    “Not to me. Not anymore,” I say. “Now I just see flowers.”
    “Sad,” he says.
    “Yeah, I figure God has more important things to do.” I laugh.
    “What do you mean?” he asks.
    “Nothing,” I say, embarrassed. “Let’s talk about you.”
    “Tell me.” He delves deep.
    “Oh, I don’t know. I just mean, He seems to have something against me. That’s all.” I laugh again, nervously, wishing I had never brought up such a ridiculous topic in the first place.
    “Can’t be true,” he rubs my arm with his fingertips. Explosive fireballs burst through my body.
    “True. But He did save you from that river and bring you to Iti Taloa tonight. So, I’m almost willing to forgive Him for all the rest.” I smile. I don’t know who this girl is. Talking like this. Not anything like me. I am out of sorts, strangely confident. But I don’t want to talk anymore. I just want to listen. To his voice. To the sound of his breathing. The sound of my heart pounding in my chest.
    River places his hand beneath my chin and tilts my face toward him. “I want to kiss you,” he says.
    “Is that so?” I tease, wondering why a guy so perfect wants anything to do with me.
    “No,” he answers, “not anymore. Right then, yes, I did. But now, right now? Umm, too late.” And then he laughs that sweet, fiery gypsy laugh. The entire cosmos is just one big, wonderful place. There’s no such thing as Jack and Mama and Iti Taloa. Slow down, I think. Make it last. But everything goes faster. Time swallows moments like a great tsunami. River. Me. I curve my body into his and we kiss. A happy, innocent, brilliant little joy. A gypsy kiss.
    I hold still, not wanting him to ever let go of me. Here, in this field, in River’s arms, I can forget about Jack. About Mama. About fear. He pulls me closer, kisses me again, and I never want it to end.
    “Thank you, God,” River whispers, laughing.
    I smile. “I don’t even know if I believe in God anymore,” I confess. The first time saying it out loud.
    He thinks before answering. I like that about him. “Well, I’m sure God still believes in you,” he answers.
    I’ve heard this phrase before. From Mama. I’m not falling for it. He must think I’m gullible. Naive. The dizziness I felt only moments earlier shifts to nausea, and as much as I want to stay with him, I refuse to be another foolish girl, tricked by the charming traveler. Another