Read Online When the Tide Ebbs: An epic 1930's love story (A Grave Encounter) by Kay Chandler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kay Chandler
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growled, “So your parents didn’t believe we were studying. They don’t trust me, do they? I’ll bet they wouldn’t have worried if you’d been at the bridge with one of the choir boys from your daddy’s church.”
She reached up and laid her hand on my shoulder. “Oh, Kiah, I was only joking. Mother and Daddy never doubted for a minute we were studying.” She brushed her hand over my lips. “Wipe the frown off your face, okay? Your dimples go into hiding when you frown.”
I had plenty of reason to frown. With school out for Christmas, I wouldn’t see her for two whole weeks and three days. By the time school reconvened, she’d realize she had no need for me.
She said, “Meet me at the bridge in thirty minutes.”
I shook my head. “No, Zann. The math lessons are over. There’s no reason for you to go there.”
Her smile faded. “Okay, Kiah. If that’s the way you want it.”
“That’s the way it’s going to be, Zann.” I turned and walked away. Had to. If I didn’t leave immediately, I’d change my mind.
I wasn’t ready to go home. I found an old tin can and kicked it all the way to the covered bridge. I climbed down the embankment and sprawled out on the cold ground underneath. This was our place. The place where I sensed her presence, even when she wasn’t with me. Why did I tell her not to come? Didn’t she know how I ached when she wasn’t near me? How I longed to spend every moment in her presence?
Reality slapped me in the face and set my thinking straight. I told her not to come because it was the right thing to do. As much as it hurt, it was up to me to end things before the situation became more complicated. Our love could never be. Turtle doves and buzzards don’t belong together.
I picked up a pine straw and stuck it in my mouth. As I lay on the ground, chewing on the straw, I closed my eyes. I listened to the sounds of water rippling over the rocks, a mockingbird, a train whistle in the distance, and the crackling leaves as birds scratched around in the underbrush, searching for earth worms. The happiest hours of my life had been the ones I spent with Zann, under the bridge. I tried to picture her sitting beside me. Her hair slung over her left shoulder, her eyes twinkling like black onyx. I sucked in a breath and for a moment, I got a whiff of gardenias, her presence was so real.
“Kiah?”
I opened my eyes, “Zann? What are you doing here?”
She didn’t answer. Her rosy lips curled upward.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She reached down and pulled the straw from my mouth. My heart pounded against the walls of my chest when she leaned down and lightly brushed her lips across mine.
Startled, I sat upright and ran my fingers through my hair. I didn’t know whether to pull her close or push her away. Then, I remembered Mama and jumped to my feet as quickly as if I had a fire lit under me. In a way, I did. Mama was beautiful and naïve once, just like Zann.
I hoped Zann wouldn’t mention the kiss. I didn’t want to talk about it. I wanted to pretend it never happened and I hoped she’d do the same.
Chapter 5
Idiotic desires whirled in my head like sand in a cyclone. I had to pull myself together. With feelings this strong at the beginning of the battle, I feared defeat was only an arm’s length away.
She stood and brushed the back of her skirt. With a soft, pink glow painting her cheeks, she’d never looked more beautiful. “Kiah, I’m sorry if I—”
I placed my palm over her lips and shook my head. “Don’t say it.”
She nodded as if she understood. But did she? Did she feel what I was feeling? I wanted to say something profound, but there was only one thing on my mind, and I could think of nothing else.
She finally broke the silence. “You like pecans?”
I laughed. There was nothing funny about the question, but I laugh when I’m nervous.
She crooked her neck and looked at me befuzzled like. Her lips parted, then
She reached up and laid her hand on my shoulder. “Oh, Kiah, I was only joking. Mother and Daddy never doubted for a minute we were studying.” She brushed her hand over my lips. “Wipe the frown off your face, okay? Your dimples go into hiding when you frown.”
I had plenty of reason to frown. With school out for Christmas, I wouldn’t see her for two whole weeks and three days. By the time school reconvened, she’d realize she had no need for me.
She said, “Meet me at the bridge in thirty minutes.”
I shook my head. “No, Zann. The math lessons are over. There’s no reason for you to go there.”
Her smile faded. “Okay, Kiah. If that’s the way you want it.”
“That’s the way it’s going to be, Zann.” I turned and walked away. Had to. If I didn’t leave immediately, I’d change my mind.
I wasn’t ready to go home. I found an old tin can and kicked it all the way to the covered bridge. I climbed down the embankment and sprawled out on the cold ground underneath. This was our place. The place where I sensed her presence, even when she wasn’t with me. Why did I tell her not to come? Didn’t she know how I ached when she wasn’t near me? How I longed to spend every moment in her presence?
Reality slapped me in the face and set my thinking straight. I told her not to come because it was the right thing to do. As much as it hurt, it was up to me to end things before the situation became more complicated. Our love could never be. Turtle doves and buzzards don’t belong together.
I picked up a pine straw and stuck it in my mouth. As I lay on the ground, chewing on the straw, I closed my eyes. I listened to the sounds of water rippling over the rocks, a mockingbird, a train whistle in the distance, and the crackling leaves as birds scratched around in the underbrush, searching for earth worms. The happiest hours of my life had been the ones I spent with Zann, under the bridge. I tried to picture her sitting beside me. Her hair slung over her left shoulder, her eyes twinkling like black onyx. I sucked in a breath and for a moment, I got a whiff of gardenias, her presence was so real.
“Kiah?”
I opened my eyes, “Zann? What are you doing here?”
She didn’t answer. Her rosy lips curled upward.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
She reached down and pulled the straw from my mouth. My heart pounded against the walls of my chest when she leaned down and lightly brushed her lips across mine.
Startled, I sat upright and ran my fingers through my hair. I didn’t know whether to pull her close or push her away. Then, I remembered Mama and jumped to my feet as quickly as if I had a fire lit under me. In a way, I did. Mama was beautiful and naïve once, just like Zann.
I hoped Zann wouldn’t mention the kiss. I didn’t want to talk about it. I wanted to pretend it never happened and I hoped she’d do the same.
Chapter 5
Idiotic desires whirled in my head like sand in a cyclone. I had to pull myself together. With feelings this strong at the beginning of the battle, I feared defeat was only an arm’s length away.
She stood and brushed the back of her skirt. With a soft, pink glow painting her cheeks, she’d never looked more beautiful. “Kiah, I’m sorry if I—”
I placed my palm over her lips and shook my head. “Don’t say it.”
She nodded as if she understood. But did she? Did she feel what I was feeling? I wanted to say something profound, but there was only one thing on my mind, and I could think of nothing else.
She finally broke the silence. “You like pecans?”
I laughed. There was nothing funny about the question, but I laugh when I’m nervous.
She crooked her neck and looked at me befuzzled like. Her lips parted, then
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