Tennessee Whiskey

by Donna K. Ford

  Emma stripped off her clothes and waded into the crisp, cool water. It was invigorating to feel the cold against her naked flesh. She dipped her head under allowing the silence to engulf her. She raked her hands through the pebbles at the bottom, feeling the sand and stone slip through her hands like time through an hourglass. She pushed to the surface, her face breaking the water to be kissed by the warm rays of the sun.

  A branch snapped nearby. Emma spun around to see the source of the sound.

  Dane stepped out into the light. “I hope I didn’t scare you.”

  Emma glanced to her clothes draped across a tree limb.

  Dane followed her gaze, a wry smile spreading across her face. “This must be my lucky day. It isn’t often I stumble across a beautiful woman swimming naked in the woods.”

  “What are you doing here?” Emma snapped, sinking deeper into the water to hide herself.

  “You weren’t at the house. I came looking for you.”

  “What do you want?”

  Dane’s smile widened. “I can see I’ve caught you off guard. This isn’t fair.” Dane began to remove her clothes.

  Emma stared in disbelief. “What are you doing?”

  “Joining you.”

  “No, you are not.”

  “Looks that way to me.” Dane kicked off her shoes and draped her jeans and her shirt over a bush. She grasped her sports bra and pulled it over her head, exposing her breasts.

  Emma froze, unable to look away. The scars on Dane’s arm seemed benign compared to the jagged scars adorning her side and upper thigh. The lean muscles in Dane’s legs and stomach flexed as she moved. Dane slid her hands to her briefs. Emma was sure she would stop breathing.

  Dane stood exposed to her, allowing Emma to study her before she walked, tenderfooted, into the water.

  Emma felt heat flood her face as Dane’s nipples hardened from the chill of the water.

  “This feels amazing,” Dane said as she leaned back, dipping her head into the water, her bare breasts mounds of refuge tempting Emma. Emma followed the stretch of muscles along Dane’s neck to her shoulders. This was so unfair. Her pulse raced, and her mouth watered at the thought of taking Dane’s breast into her mouth.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “What?” Dane said, grinning at Emma.

  “You know what.”

  “Would you prefer I stayed on the bank and watched you?”

  “I would prefer that you had left me in peace. I thought I was alone, or I wouldn’t have done this.”

  “But here we are.” Dane disappeared beneath the surface.

  Emma peered into the water, trying to see where Dane had gone. She turned around and around, panicked.

  Dane surfaced across the creek. She crawled along the rock ledge, her buttocks breaching the surface of the water.

  Emma swallowed. She eyed Dane, unsure what she would do next. Emma began to move toward her clothes. She was torn. If she stayed, she would have to face her growing desire, and if she left, she would have to bare her naked body. Either way she would expose herself.

  “What are you so afraid of?” Dane asked. “We’re only swimming.”

  “Right,” Emma said in disbelief.

  Dane slipped beneath the water again, this time surfacing only inches from Emma. “See, this isn’t so bad.”

  It was Emma’s turn to disappear beneath the water. Two could play this game. She surfaced in the center of the pool. Rivulets of water cascaded down her face as she brushed her hands across her hair, pushing it away from her face. She drew in a deep breath, relieved by the distance between them. Dane turned toward her. Emma slipped back under the water.

  Emma repeated this move each time Dane tried to come near her.

  “What are you afraid of, Emma? I’m not going to hurt you. Just have a little fun.”

  Emma considered the question. Dane wasn’t trying to hurt her, but that was exactly what would happen if she let this go too far. Dane would leave, and she would hurt.

  Dane circled her arms in the water. Emma gazed at the strength in Dane’s shoulders, the pale lines of skin left untanned, protected by her clothing on her long runs. Dane swam for a while, keeping her distance. Emma was tempted to reach for Dane. She wanted to feel the silky smoothness of her skin, slick against her body.

  Dane seemed to read her thoughts. With each turn of her arms, Dane slowly closed the distance between them. Her expression was playful. Emma liked the way Dane’s eyes sparkled when she looked at her.

  Dane took a deliberate step toward Emma. Once again, Emma sank into the water. When she surfaced, Dane was gone. Emma turned, unable to see anything. Her heart raced with anticipation. She squealed when Dane’s hand brushed against her side. Dane pulled her against her, Dane’s body gliding against Emma’s as she surfaced in front of her.

  Emma was shocked by the sudden contact. Her head swooned, and she caught her breath as she clasped her arm around Dane’s shoulder. She didn’t have time to think or react. Dane’s lips were on hers. The tender brush of Dane’s lips and the heat of her body took her breath away.

  Emma wrapped her arms around Dane, giving in to the kiss.

  Dane stroked her back. She kicked her legs, propelling them upward. Emma’s foot brushed against the soft, pebbled bottom. They were moving into more shallow water. Dane never relinquished her hold, deepening the kiss with each stroke of her tongue.

  In the shallow water Dane lay back, pulling Emma on top of her, their bodies gliding against one another.

  Emma was lost. Dane was strong yet tender. She was persistent but not demanding. Emma felt something change between them. She wanted this. She wanted Dane. But she couldn’t let this happen. She couldn’t.

  “Stop,” Emma said breaking the kiss. “I have to stop this.”

  Dane peered up at her. Emma could see the desire and confusion mingling in her eyes. “Why should we stop? I’ve wanted to kiss you for ages.” Dane placed her palm against Emma’s cheek. “I know you want this too.”

  Emma shook her head. “Please. I just can’t.” Emma pulled away. Her heart ached as she slid out of Dane’s arms. She walked out of the water and gathered her clothes, dressing quickly.

  “Don’t go. You don’t have to go,” Dane pleaded. “We can just talk. At least stay and talk to me.”

  Emma pulled her shirt over her head and sighed. Her heart stopped. Dane was propped up on her elbow on the rock ledge, submerged to her breasts in the water. Her skin glistened in the sunlight. It was all Emma could do not to go to her.

  “I’m sorry, Dane. I have to go.”

  Dane followed Emma out of the creek. She reached for her clothes, but it was too late, Emma was already leaving.

  “Just wait, okay.” Dane hadn’t meant for things to go this far. She’d wanted to tease Emma. Help her loosen up a little. She hadn’t planned to seduce her. “I crossed a line. I’m sorry.”

  Emma didn’t stop. Dane pulled on her jeans and T-shirt. She stuffed her underwear into her shoes and ran barefoot after Emma.

  Emma had already reached the porch before Dane caught up with her. She dropped her shoes and grabbed Emma’s arm, spinning her around to face her. “Stop it. Just talk to me. Why are you running away from me?”

  Emma let out a sharp breath as she met Dane’s gaze with a piercing stare. “Because you’re just going to leave anyway,” she blurted.

  Dane flinched as if she had been slapped.

  “Just forget this ever happened,” Emma said, her voice softening.

  “What if I don’t want to forget?”

  The sound of tires on gravel interrupted them. Emma looked up to see Curtis coming up the drive. She shook her head. “Don’t do this, Dane. Not now.”

  Dane let go of Emma’s arm. Emma stared into her eyes. Her heart ached for what Dane offered and what she knew she couldn’t have.

  Emma went into the house, leaving Dane staring after her. She could feel Dane’s eyes on her as she walked to her room, silently closi
ng the door, shutting Dane out.

  * * *

  Dane drove the back roads with no real destination in mind. She wasn’t sure what was happening between her and Emma, but she couldn’t get the whole encounter out of her head. The wind whipped through her hair as she sped along the narrow curving roads. Memories of touching Emma whirled through her mind like a storm kicking up dust. Emma had turned her away, but there was more—Emma had looked stricken. Emma was right, she was just passing through here. This wasn’t her home. It wasn’t fair to Emma to start something she wouldn’t finish.

  It was late when she returned. The bar was dark. Emma had already closed for the night. Dane drove to the house. A single light glowed through the kitchen window. Emma was up.

  She leaned against the kitchen doorframe. Emma had fallen asleep sitting at the kitchen table, her head resting on her arms. Dane kneeled beside her and touched her hand gently to Emma’s thigh.

  “Emma.”

  Emma jolted awake.

  “It’s okay. It’s just me.”

  Emma looked at her, wild-eyed and confused.

  “What are you doing in here? You should go to bed.”

  Emma shook her head. “I was waiting.”

  Dane’s heart sped up. Had Emma been looking for her?

  “Waiting?”

  “Curtis hasn’t been home. He didn’t come to the bar. I hoped he was with you.”

  Dane swallowed her disappointment and quickly replaced it with worry. “He wasn’t with me.”

  Emma buried her face in her hands.

  Dane frowned. She expected Emma to be worried or even angry, but this was more than that. “What’s happened?”

  “The sheriff stopped by earlier looking for Curtis. Several people died today after smoking some kind of new drug, some kind of new marijuana. They think it was the same stuff Curtis had on him when he was arrested.”

  “Shit.”

  “They need to find him. They need to know where he got the stuff, so they can prevent more of it ending up on the street.”

  Dane’s blood ran cold. “That means the police are not the only ones looking for him.”

  Tears flooded Emma’s eyes. She nodded her head again.

  Dane reached for Emma, pulling her into her arms. Emma twisted her fists into Dane’s shirt and pressed her face into Dane’s neck. “What if he uses that stuff? What if they get to him first?”

  “Shh. I’m sure he’s okay.”

  “I told the police that Trevor has been looking for Curtis too. I told them he threatened me.”

  “What did he say?”

  Emma faced Dane. “They are pretty desperate to stop this. He asked me if I would be willing to set Trevor up. I could agree to run the drugs to save Curtis. If the police can catch Trevor in the act and they can trace this drug back to him, he could face murder charges.”

  Dane shook her head. “There has to be another way.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know what to do.”

  Dane cupped Emma’s face in her hand, brushing aside a tear with her thumb. “Give him a little time. Curtis will turn up.”

  Emma nodded.

  “Come on,” Dane said, getting to her feet. “You need some rest. I’m sure Curtis will show up tomorrow asking for one of your famous bologna sandwiches.”

  Emma stood, still holding on to Dane’s hand. “If you see him, promise me you’ll tell me.”

  “I will. I’ll drag him in by his ear if I have to.”

  Emma smiled. She pressed her fingers to Dane’s lips. Her gaze lingered on her hand touching Dane’s mouth. She looked up into Dane’s eyes.

  Dane had the overwhelming desire to kiss Emma. She wanted to wrap her arms around Emma and hold her. But she didn’t move. She didn’t want Emma to run from her again.

  Emma’s chest swelled as she took a deep breath. She stepped back, putting distance between them. Dane still didn’t move.

  Emma pulled her fingers from Dane’s lips and walked out of the room.

  Dane thought her heart would burst. She shuddered trying to break the spell. She looked around the room at the tired wallpaper and the worn Formica table.

  Emma was right—she was a visitor here. She had come here looking for answers. If she was ever going to have anything to offer anyone, she had to get to the roots of who she was. Emma didn’t need her adding to her problems. She had lost enough.

  * * *

  The sun was already high above the trees by the time Emma finished the morning chores. There was still no sign of Curtis. Emma climbed the narrow wooden stairs to the hayloft, hoping to find Curtis dozing among the hay bales. The loft was full of square bales of hay harvested earlier from the surrounding fields. Curtis wasn’t there. She hadn’t really expected to find him. She just wanted to be close to him, and this was his favorite place. She drew in a deep breath, pulling in the smell of drying straw and the history of her family. Her heart was heavy with fear and worry. Something bad was coming. She could feel it.

  Dane had left early, and Emma never knew from one day to the next if she would be back. The farm was quiet without Curtis and Dane. The chickens clucked and there was the occasional bleat from a goat, but the life of the farm seemed to be dwindling. Fall was in the air and everything was changing. She was tired of being scared. She had chosen to stay here for Curtis, but in truth she stayed to hold on to her past, her parents’ dream, her family. Aunt Lily had offered to take Curtis in when her momma died, but Emma felt guilty that she had been away so long pursuing her own dreams.

  Maybe it was time to do something different.

  Emma looked up at the sound of tires on the drive. She went to the loft door and peered out over the farm. She gasped. Curtis was driving up to the house. Emma turned and ran down the stairs to meet him.

  Curtis stepped out of the truck just as Emma reached him. She threw her arms around him and squeezed with all her strength.

  “Hey, Emma,” Curtis said. “You’re gonna squeeze me to death,” he grunted.

  Emma let him go. She punched him on the arm. “Where the hell have you been? I thought you were dead.”

  Curtis shook his head. “Naw, just had some stuff to do.”

  Emma took a closer look at him. His clothes were dirty, there was mud in his hair, and blood was crusted in his nose.

  “What happened to you?”

  “Nothin’. I just fell down a bank down by the river.”

  Emma narrowed her eyes at Curtis. “What were you doing down by the river?”

  “I just needed to get away for a while.”

  “Listen, Curtis, I think you’re in some real trouble. The sheriff was here.”

  Curtis flinched. “Why? I ain’t done nothin’.”

  “Did you hear about the people who died this week after smoking some of that stuff you were arrested for?”

  Curtis looked confused. “Who died? What are you talking about? That’s just crazy.”

  “I’m serious, Curtis. People are dead.”

  He stared at her as if the words didn’t make sense.

  “You have to go to the police. You have to tell them what you know. If they don’t get these drugs off the street, more people could die.”

  Curtis shook his head. “No. I don’t believe you.”

  “All right then, come inside and look at the newspaper—you can see for yourself.”

  Curtis followed Emma inside. He stared at the newspaper as if it were written in a foreign language.

  “Whatever it is you’ve gotten into, you have to go to the police,” Emma said, placing her hand on his arm.

  “I just gave them a little weed. Weed won’t hurt nobody.”

  Emma shook her head. “It wasn’t just marijuana. The stuff the police took from you was some kind of new marijuana, something they called K2, and it had some other drug in it.”

  Curtis frowned.

  “You haven’t smoked any of this stuff, have you?” Emma asked.

  “I haven’t smoked in a while. I gave the las
t of what I had to Mark weeks ago. I had just picked up the other stuff when the police got me. I didn’t smoke any after that because of the drug tests for probation. I knew you’d kill me if I failed one of those.”

  Emma felt the sting of tears in her eyes. “Thank goodness for that.”

  “I didn’t hurt nobody, Emma. I promise. It wasn’t me. The cops took my stuff.”

  “Okay, sweetie. I believe you. But do you understand how important it is that they know where you got the drugs? Someone else has the same stuff, and they’re selling it to your friends.”

  Curtis shook his head. “I’ll talk to my PO. I have a drug test today. Sam will tell me what to do.”

  Emma sighed. “Okay. But don’t go anywhere else. If you are involved in this, whoever you got those drugs from will be getting pretty edgy. Don’t talk to anyone except Sam or the police. Okay?”

  Curtis nodded. “Okay, Emma. I promise.” He looked back at the paper he’d crumpled in his hand. “I think I’ll go take a shower.” He tossed the paper on the table.

  Emma watched her brother walk up the stairs. She knew the information had rocked him. He had some hard choices to make. She just hoped the police got to Trevor before Trevor found him.

  Chapter Eight

  Dane pulled into the visitor lot at the Pikeville Prison. The grounds were surrounded by fields of vegetable gardens. Inmates in gray-and-black striped jumpsuits dotted the fields, harvesting the crops.

  She took a steadying breath and willed herself out of the Jeep. This was the last place she had ever expected to find a connection with her mother’s family. But she had unearthed too much to turn back now. She needed to know what had happened to her mother.

  The entrance looked like the waiting room at a doctor’s office. A guard came to the glass window. “Can I help you?”