August Skies

Chapter 1

Rose

It was almost just like any another morning in Los Angeles, the place I’ve lived just about my entire life. I’d hopped into my car, put on my favorite music and hightailed it out to the 10 Freeway heading east.

Over the years I had started many errands out just like that drive and, as usual, the traffic was terrible. Stop and go, with more stopping than going. Typical freaking L.A. traffic, my mind grumbles.

Like so many times I had before, I beat my way down the freeway that morning, as I often did, but what made it unusual that morning was I knew it was going to be the last time I’d be stuck in that miserable, clogged traffic, and that kept my mood light. Knowing what was ahead of me, I smiled in spite of it.

With the windows and the top of my convertible down, the sunny Southern California breeze whispered through my hair as I inched my way out of town to the beats and rhythms of the music that played over my stereo system.

That was a few days and hundreds of songs ago, many of which I heard several times repeated along the way. Fortunately I’d spent last night in a little town within three hours drive of Eagle Creek Falls and have arrived here this morning with lots of energy and enthusiasm. It’s barely 11:00 a.m.

The remaining stretch of drive in is beautiful. The terrain here is lovely with large, beautiful trees boasting large, reaching branches filled with millions of emerald leaves that hang overhead and shimmer stunningly as they glint in the sun’s light as they sway in a gentle breeze, set in the foreground of the expansive bright blue sky. Masses of wildflowers opulently fill chunks of the surrounding land.

I’ve finally reached the outskirts of town of the place I’ll be calling home from today on and I’m looking forward to beginning to meet my new neighbors.

I’d left L.A. the last day of July and crossed into August somewhere in Arizona. I took a few leisurely days driving to this new place I now will be calling home, taking some time in a few key locations I passed through to see a few notable sights.

It’s now just a few days into August. It’s fitting, I think to myself, along with the new month, I’m beginning a whole new life in this pretty little town in East Texas.

I need to find a real estate agent and, not knowing anyone or anything here yet, I figure I should stop somewhere to find a bite to eat. I probably can chat up someone working there and find out whom to see about getting on with my search to buy a new home.

I drive slowly along what appears to be a main road. It has businesses along it anyway, so chances of finding somewhere to eat along it are high, I figure.

I spot a diner with a sign on top that says: Miss Dina’s Diner. The place is nice looking. I park, step out of the car and into in the golden sunlight, and I walk up to the diner door. When I pull it open a string of bells that cascades down the door’s edge jingles. There’s a sweetness about the sound of it that I like.

I hear a country song playing softly in the background. My mind jumps back in time to when I’d listen to old country classic tunes with my dad when I was a kid, but haven’t heard much country music since then, having been in the L.A. scene and all.

My dad used to prefer country music. I used to listen to it with him on the radio when we’d drive anywhere together in the car and I’d listen to his Kenny Rogers albums sometimes after school. I played them quite a bit those afternoons, but eventually gave way to the Top 40 hits my friends listened to.

I realize in this moment I’ll likely be hearing much more country music again, now that I’m here. I smile.

Good mornin’, would you like a booth or to sit at the counter? the young brunette asks in the most gorgeous southern drawl, riding on a voice as sweet sounding as golden honey, that I’ve ever heard.

I can’t help but smile. Before this moment I’d only heard accents like this in movies, and in a husband and wife couple I’d met a few times in L.A. that were from this place, and now I am here: in a place where people actually sound like this.

Uhm, oh, booth. Please. Thank you. I smile.

Follow me, hun, she sweetly says.

I follow her and vaguely notice there are a few other people scattered lightly through the diner, sitting at various tables and happily eating and chatting with their companions. I’m glad it isn’t exceptionally busy right now. It’s more quiet in here than not and I appreciate that I’ll be able to think and relax as I eat.

She points to a booth and I set my bag on the seat and slide it to the far end, and then slide myself into the seat beside it. She hands me a menu.

Thank you, I smile, looking up at her.

You’re welcome. Is there anything you’d like to drink to start off with? I can’t get enough of her sugary, beautiful voice and the way it slides so gorgeously into that drawl. I smile again. I am really living this. I inwardly smile a big, beaming smile and then feel it reach my mouth.

Yes, I’ll have an iced tea please.

Would you like to try our sweet tea? she asks.

I’ve heard of sweet tea being popular here in the south. I’m interested in learning about my new home and right now is just as good a time as any to start my education. Bull by the horns, my thoughts chime in.

Sure, I smile. I’m feeling pretty adventurous, after all.

Alright, honey. I’ll just grab that for you. She saunters off in a casual, but well-paced manner. Not too slow. Not too fast. Kind of just right to make me feel like she isn’t being lazy, but it isn’t stressing to watch her either. It’s a nice balance. Watching her reminds me of the proverbial Goldilocks Zone.

She returns a few minutes later with the sweet tea and sets it down gently toward the top right side of my place setting. Are you ready to order?

Oh, um, I sort of forgot to even look, I smile apologetically, Um, do you have any salads?

Sure, honey. She points to the area of the menu where the salads are listed. She doesn’t seem at all impatient or annoyed I haven’t already figured out what I want.

Ohhh, that Southwestern salad sounds great! I hear my voice ring out more brightly than I intend. My mouth waters as I imagine the flavors of the ingredients listed combined together and my stomach begins to ring the dinner bell aggressively in response.

Sure thing, I’ll get one of those for you. She saunters off again and disappears into a swinging door. She returns with the salad a little while later, sets it in front of me and begins to walk back to the front of the place.

While I hadn’t been all that hungry at the time I’d arrived, my hunger has been kicked into hyper-drive ever since I’d read what was going to be in the salad I’ve ordered. I eagerly dig in, though I do try to maintain some semblance of a lady-like appearance as I do.

Mmmm. This is faaantasic! I exclaim without quite realizing I’m saying it out loud. My taste buds have been set into a whirling spin over how delicious this it.

The waitress turns back to look at me and smiles. I’m glad you like it.

Wow. I love listening to her too. I could get used to this.

I rapturously eat bite after bite of the delicious combination of flavors, sipping the quenching sweet tea between bites. Mmmmm. Amazing, I note.

I’m lost for a little while delightfully enjoying each bite as the wonderful combination of flavors dance over my taste buds.

After some time passes and I’ve devoured most of my salad, the front door jingles for the first time since I’d entered through it. The sound yanks my attention towards it as it opens.

In through it emerges a tall man who is silhouetted by the rush of sunlight streaming in the front entrance area and hitting him just perfectly in order to turn him into nothing more than a blacked out, moving figure.

All that is obvious is that he is towering, well built, mostly fills the doorframe as he passes through it, and is wearing a cowboy hat as he makes his initial approach inside.

I’m completely transfixed on this scene. It’s so striking that it’s almost unreal.

As he moves in through the doorframe, he grasps the top of the hat in his right hand, lifts it off his head, and brings it down, now holding it to the right of his body. His left hand comes up and rakes through his hair, sorting it out. I gasp.

Holy crap, my mind rambles. I’m breathless and still, just watching this scene.

I’m frozen; suspended of any motion. My breath had caught in my throat somewhere between when his silhouetted image first dawned through the doorway and when he lowered his hat and that breath is still at a halt, stuck somewhere between my lungs and my mouth.

Once he walks in far enough to get out from the glare of light I can see he has sculpted arms, chest, back and torso under his fitted charcoal gray t-shirt. Dark, slightly tousled hair tops his head.

Cowboy boots, coming out from under boot-cut dark denim Levi’s, step across the floor, bringing him over to where the waitress stands. She’s behind the counter where the register is and he’s now in front of it. I can only see part of his face from my angle and it looks like it might be beautifully chiseled as well.

My breath has been completely halted from the moment he entered, walked over to the waitress, to even now as I sit here transfixed by the sight of him. And, since the moment of the initiation of this visually stunning display, it has been as if nothing else exists. Everything around me has long faded back into oblivion.

This scene I’ve just witnessed is seriously like watching something in a well-done movie. It’s visually that striking. Only in the movie this entire segment would have surely been shown in slow motion.

I finally breathe again and, when I inhale, the breath is sucked in more audibly than usual. My eyes still remain frozen, transfixed on him.

Well, good mornin’ Jesse, the waitress says, her words draw my attention.

Jesse, my mind echoes his name. Tingles rush over my body.

Odd, that’s never happened before, my mind notates regarding my physical reactions.

Mornin’ Dina, he replies. He shifts the hat to his left hand and places it down on the counter to the side of the register.

His voice is low in timber and smooth. I notice odd tingles prickle over my skin, like little electrical currents buzzing and pricking along the entirety of my body.

So she’s actually Dina? Impressive. So young to own a diner. Good for her.

What’s new Jesse? Anything worth talkin’ about? Dina inquires as she pours him a cup of coffee. He must be a regular, I figure. She knows exactly how he likes it and she didn’t have to ask. Dina looks up into his eyes. He is certainly tall. I’d guess about six-one. Maybe six-two.

His stature is impressive and she looks up pretty far to meet his eyes with hers. My breath catches again when I can’t help but imagine it’s me who’s looking up at him. Currents crackle over my body.

Fortunately I’d gobbled up most of my salad before this breathtaking man walked in because I’m now in a serious haze ever since his arrival and I kind of forgot what I was even doing here. Thankfully I had already eaten most of the fabulous salad before this gorgeous man walked through the door and rendered me frozen and under some kind of spell I’ve never experienced the likes of. Otherwise I’d still be quite hungry.

Well, as a matter of fact, there is somethin’ new, Jesse tells her. In fact, after I have a cup of coffee here, he says, lifting the cup up in gesture, "I’ll be headin’ over to see Greg over at the real estate office. I’ve decided to sell off a small portion of my land. It’s that nice part of the property, with lots of trees overhangin’ the small cottage that sits close to the stream just a ways down from my own house.

We’ll, you’ve seen it, Dina, he says making a motion towards her with his hand, the cup still in it, though it has been quite some time since you’ve been out to the ranch, he adds, then takes a sip from the cup.

I know the place, Jesse. I haven’t been out to your ranch since before your mama and daddy left it for their new property and I haven’t been out to the cottage for a spell longer than that, but I’m surprised to hear you’re sellin’ it, Dina says. It’s so pretty, after all.

It sure’nuff is gorgeous. I have to admit. But no one’s used it in a long time, Jesse continues, and, well, frankly, I just don’t want to be bothered by the upkeep myself any longer. I figure it’d be best to move it along, Jesse says. Let someone else have it who’ll be able to put it to good use.

His voice and accent are both just as hypnotizing as Dina’s. I’m spellbound listening to them both speak to each other back and forth and haven’t even realized I’ve gotten lost somewhere between their sweet drawling voices as the tones bounce from his velvety, deep timbered voice and her honey-sweet higher toned voice.

Well Jesse, Dina says, I wish you all the luck with that. I hope someone will be interested right quick for you. Market’s been somewhat slow lately, I hear, but it is a beautiful place. I’m sure someone will love it.

Well thank you for lettin’ me know your perspective on that. My only concern is that it’s not very large. It’s only got two bedrooms and so it might be a little small for anyone wantin’ to start a family or who’s already got one. I s’pose that will eliminate some people from even lookin’ at it, but I figure it will suit someone for somethin’.

Dina looks caringly at him. Any place will have those people it just won’t be a good fit for and those it will, so don’t worry your head ‘bout that, she says. Just think, a four-bedroom would be too big for some. I’m sure it’ll work out the way you want it to, Jesse, she encourages. It’ll be perfect for someone. She smiles sweetly.

Thank you, Dina. I do appreciate your outlook on the matter and your well-wishes.

I’m lost in how slowly they speak, in no rush at all, which makes their gorgeous southern drawls all the more…well…gorgeous. And it makes me feel calmer listening to them than when I hear people who speak more quickly…typically most people from where I come from, only I didn’t even know it was fast until I’ve heard Jesse and Dina talking.

Without too much thought as to anything I am doing or thinking, I rise from my seat and walk over to Dina and Jesse. I can see most of the side of her face, and part of the front of it, but almost none of his, as his back is angled a little more toward my direction.

Hi, excuse me… I say.

Dina only has to turn her face a little to look squarely at me. Jesse turns his entire body to face me. It’s the first moment I actually see his entire face. My breath leaves the building…no wait…I think it’s just left the planet.

He’s stunning. His face is angular, chiseled and splendidly proportioned. I inhale sharply upon seeing him fully and I hope they haven’t heard the acute sound.

I’m stopped dead in my tracks again, my breath frozen and in my throat once more. It must have returned from wherever it had previously flown off to when I sucked it in so sharply, only now it’s stuck again. My brain has frozen too. Both Dina and Jesse look a little curiously at me.

I gasp slightly as the breath finally releases. It doesn’t seem they notice the sound, thankfully. I struggle to right myself and say something sooner rather than later.

Hi, I’m Rose. Rose Summers. I stretch my hand out toward Jesse to shake. I-I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation…

They continue to look at me. At least they don’t seem annoyed. Just curious as to what I might want. Hopefully I don’t seem mentally challenged to them, but the only way to be sure they won’t is if I can somehow manage to speak normally right about…now.

I force myself to get it together.

Um…I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, I just happened to hear what you were saying. I’m not sure why I feel so nervous. I’m not sure if it’s because Jesse is so outrageously gorgeous or if it is because, for some reason, I feel like I’m guilty of spying.

In actuality hearing them was something that could not have been helped. The room isn’t that large and they were speaking in normal levels of volume, which easily filled most the space. Regardless, I feel very awkward.

Nice to meet you, Rose, he says, as he extends his hand to shake my outstretched one. Electrical currents now crackle in my hand, as its grasped in his, and then spatter up through my arm and then through my entire body.

My brain blitzes at his touch, and it feels as though my body is short-circuiting.

What the heck is happening to me? That’s about the only cognizant thought my stunned brain is capable of having at the moment.

Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. I’m Jesse Brooks. He does that sexy, cowboy nod thing I’ve seen them do, again my only reference to that before this moment being solely from movies.

My breath catches. Again. And is now stuck in my throat. Again. This is really uncomfortable and getting to be a little ridiculous, never mind annoying. I’ve never had reactions like this to anyone before. Not at all. Not even during intimate times, let alone just standing in front of someone or seeing that person walk in through a door.

Not only is he stunning, but his entire way of being is heart stopping, and I’m breathless. What else is new since he walked in the door, my mind quips. Maybe your name should now be Breathless Betty, my brain teases, but its tone is one of annoyance.

The frozen part of my brain thaws, thankfully, and I can think more clearly once again.

Perhaps it’s because I’ve lived so close to Hollywood most of my life that I keep thinking in terms of movies, I don’t know for sure. But, I realize, that to me, this is all so daydream-like that I can’t help but feel like I am in a movie. My very own, really cool, movie of what seems like it could be a most fabulous kind.

Of course I know that for people who live around here seeing a man in a pair of jeans, boots and a cowboy hat walking in through the local business door is completely normal, but for a girl from L.A., who’s never seen anything like this except in films, well, it seems a little as if I’ve found myself cast in the middle of one.

I can’t help but smile at him. Our eyes meet and tingles shoot up my spine. I feel my breath fleet and then return yet again, but, now that I do have it back, it’s shallower than it normally is.

Jesse is simply stunning. Everything about him is nothing short of captivating. I’ve seen gorgeous men before. Even been asked out by some, but I’ve never had this kind of reaction to anyone.

Maybe it’s just because he’s dressed like this that I’m reacting the way I am, I wonder.

I don’t quite realize I’m now lost in his large, chocolate, kind eyes, that just happen to be fringed lushly with thick long, almost-black lashes that would make any girl seriously jealous.

Is there somethin’ I can help you with, ma’am? he asks, his eyes intent on mine.

Oh, Lord help me. I think I’ve just gone to heaven.

My eyes blink, seemingly of their own accord, breaking me free of my once-again stupor. Um, y-yes, I fumble. Well maybe. Um, you see, well I’ve just moved here and I was just having lunch, I say pointing with my thumb over my shoulder to the table I’d been eating at, as if that were really necessary, and then I was going to ask Dina here, I said motioning to her, "if she could direct me to a real-estate agent.

I’m looking to buy a place here, I continue, and I, well, I heard what you were saying, I feel my presence of mind returning more to its normal state as I’ve been forcing the words out, "and I wondered if you might be interested in showing me the place you’re interested in selling.

Maybe it would be a perfect solution for us both, I suggest, pointing to him and to myself at the same time with fingers from each of my hands. Would you be willing to show it to me before you speak to the real estate agent about listing it?

Well, Rose, I don’t see what harm it would do to show you the place first. I could still have it listed this afternoon if it doesn’t work out for you. His smile is kind and sincere. I keep getting lost in it and those eyes of his. My breath hitches, again, and then it begins to flee. I fight to keep hold of it.

Is it far? Your place, I mean? I ask.

No, ma’am. It’s just about 15 or so minutes drive from here.

Great, I smile. Uh, my car is just outside. I could follow you…

That’d work fine, he says. And then he smiles…again.

Oh my.

Chapter 2

Rose

Jesse walks me to my car. We stand by the driver’s side door and he twists his body slightly outward to the left of where we’re standing. He raises his chin outwards in the direction he’s facing while simultaneously pointing his finger out into the parking area.

That’s my truck right there, he says. The charcoal Ram, he adds.

My eyes follow in the direction he’s pointing. I spot a large Dodge Ram truck that is a steely charcoal gray color with tinted windows. It’s very big and commanding in its stature, yet there is something somewhat sleek about it at the same time. It’s definitely stately and demands attention, I notice.

I nod.

We’re gonna make a right out this drive way right here, he then points to the drive way.

And we’ll drive up a ways on this road before turning left, he continues. We’ll then be on some back roads for a short time, but don’t you worry. I’ll keep my eye on you from my rear-view mirror. I’m a good leader and I’ll be sure you stay behind me."

I nod. Okay. Great. I can’t help but think of how many times I’ve been following someone who seemed to forget I was behind them as they flew through lights and around corners, trapping me behind red lights while they just kept right on driving. I couldn’t get through and then I’d lose sight of them. It’ll be nice to be led by someone who’s paying attention.

I was about to open my car door when Jesse reaches over and opens it for me, waiting for me to get in. Seriously? Men still do that for women anymore?

I slip in and looked up at Jesse. Thank you. My eyelashes beat a few times as I stare in awe at him.

Just give me a minute to get in my truck and get ahead of you. Wait to turn out onto the road until I take the lead, he instructs.

I nod. Okay. I smile.

I watch every step Jesse takes as he walks to his truck and then as he gets in it. His butt sure looks fine in those jeans, I notice.

I wait for him to pull out and I’m careful to follow him, staying close enough behind his truck to keep up, but not so close as to be a potential problem.

I’m so engrossed in taking in as much of the surroundings as I can, while keeping an eye on Jesse’s truck at the same time, that I lose track of time passing by. The drive passes more quickly than I had thought it would.

The terrain we passed on the way had been beautiful and, as we enter Jesse’s property, it becomes enthralling. Large trees line the road, as if standing guard along it. Their branches are like long, outstretched arms that seem to be welcoming.

Past the gateway it then opens to expanses of gravel roads in front of rolling lawns and large sections of wildflowers. All of it appears to have been planned out and very well executed. None of it seems random at all.

We pass a very large, stately home. I figure it’s where Jesse lives and we drive a ways past it, through another open area, and pass yet another beautiful outcropping of trees. I see a smaller building and guess it’s the cottage. Just about the time I imagine this is it, Jesse pulls over, parking just to the side of it. I pull up next to him and we both get out.

Jesse walks over to me and, again, my fleeting breath catches me by surprise, though by now I’m not sure why I don’t expect it. I can’t recall anyone ever having this affect on me before.

I’ve always thought these were the kinds of reactions that really only exists in stories or movies, but, then again, everything about this day so far has seemed a little surreal and like I’m in my own private movie, so why should I be surprised?

So this is it, Jesse says, his arm and hand reach toward the cottage.

It’s a little larger than I’d imagined it might be and very pretty. A couple of large trees tower partially over the back portion of it. The front is more open toward the land that spans between it and the main house, which is really quite a distance away and not even visible from where we now stand. I suspect the cottage is a good mile or so from the main house.

There is a lovely garden area that denotes a front yard type of space in the front. It’s got cobblestones, with lovely moss-type of foliage growing between them. I always did think that was pretty.

The way it’s done, this front garden area seems to have it’s own space, yet that’s created with the plants themselves as there is no fencing. There are a few outdoor chairs and small tables attractively arranged, with gorgeous plant life lushly defining the perimeter, but without making it feel closed off to the area around it.

Lovely roses and other flowering plants raise up in the front and some type of pretty little flowering vine grows partially across the top of the roofline and cascades down in various places, falling into the front of the place here and there in asymmetrical falls.

The front, where these lovely vine drops fall into, comes down only a short ways, as this front is actually an overhang of a porch, which is also very attractively done. The overall effect is really quite lovely and a little fairytale looking, yet still sophisticated at the same time.

The exterior is done in beautiful soft creamy colors and, the colors of the plant life in front of it, are beautiful. It’s gorgeous and something that looks as though it was well constructed.

It’s very nicely done and it’s obvious