Dreams Unspoken

by R. J. Layer

  When the boy saw Jo watching, he called out as if he knew her.

  “Hi!”

  “Hi yourself!” She walked closer. “That’s a fine-looking dog you’ve got there.”

  He beamed proudly when the dog laid the stick at his feet. He rubbed its head. “This is Lucky.”

  Jo knelt a few feet away. “Hey there, Lucky.” The dog came right over and licked her face while his tail wagged vigorously. She scratched his neck. “I have a retriever. His name is Jake. He doesn’t chase sticks, though.” Jo rose to her feet.

  “Really?” His expression showed confusion.

  “Nope.” Jo shook her head. “He likes to chase horses.”

  His eyes widened. “Cool.” He handed Jo the stick. “Here, he’ll fetch for you too.”

  Jo took the stick, smiling at the pure innocence of children. Why couldn’t she be innocent in her parents’ eyes? The moment she tossed the stick her phone vibrated in her pocket.

  “How’s your schedule?” Maria asked.

  Seeing Lucky loping back to her, stick in his mouth, she asked, “Can I call you right back?”

  “Sure.”

  She patted Lucky’s head, took the stick from him and handed it to the boy, looking on as he threw the stick again and the dog dashed into the water after it. “Hey, I have to go take care of some grown-up stuff. It was nice to meet you fellas. Have fun!” He waved as Jo turned to go.

  When Maria answered, she said, “I don’t have a schedule. Just tell me when and where we’re meeting.”

  “I don’t know this town very well. I’m about ten minutes east of downtown. You’d be better at picking a spot.”

  Jo picked a little restaurant/bar north of town she was familiar with. She and the gal that ran the place had only been a year apart in high school and it was a place Jo had typically dropped in at whenever she stayed over at her parents in the past. It made for a nice escape from the uncomfortable stiffness, and she and Shirley had forged a casual friendship while sharing pieces of their lives. Nothing deep or revealing, though. Jo didn’t even know if she was married.

  At a quarter of one the place was nearly deserted, the lunch crowd long gone. Sliding into a booth sporting cracked and peeling vinyl seats, she gave a quick wave to Shirley. Minutes later Shirley made her way over and leaned a rounded hip against the opposite seat.

  “It’s not Christmas and it sure isn’t summer yet. Can’t imagine what brings you here.”

  “Family.” Jo rolled her eyes.

  Shirley looked away as the door opened and Maria entered. “Seat yourself.”

  “I’m actually looking for her.” Maria placed a hand on Jo’s shoulder and Shirley stepped aside.

  The touch sent a tingle down Jo’s spine. Maria slowly pulled her hand away and slid into the booth across from her.

  “I’ll be back in a minute,” Shirley called over her shoulder.

  Maria tilted her head and looked a long silent moment at Jo.

  “What?”

  Maria pursed her lips, worry creasing her forehead. “I’m not sure, but you don’t quite seem like yourself.”

  Jo shrugged. “There’s a lot going on right now.” She finally smiled. “This is just the distraction I need, though. I’m glad you called.”

  Maria’s concerned expression faded into a smile. “Well, then…I’m glad I called too.” She leaned closer and crossed her arms on the table. “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “Nah, nothing earth-shattering.” Jo hoped for a convincing tone.

  And in fact it was mostly true. She’d been dealing with the situation longer than she cared to remember. And now sitting across from the very attractive Maria West, gazing into her dark eyes, Jo wanted to put all of it out of her mind and simply enjoy the company.

  “So…” Jo leaned back and stretched her arms across the seat back. “What’s this homeowner wantin’ me to give up on the deal?

  Maria couldn’t help but notice when Jo’s long-sleeved jersey shirt pulled taut across her chest that she wasn’t wearing a bra. She instantly pulled her gaze away and wondered when she had started noticing if women were wearing bras or not.

  “Ms. West…” Maria looked at Jo’s impish grin. “Something wrong?”

  “Uh, no…” Maria shook her head. “I’m sorry, I got distracted by something…I was thinking about something…never mind, I’m sorry.” She pulled a piece of paper from her purse as Shirley came back to the table.

  “What can I get you gals?”

  “Coffee, please,” Maria replied.

  Shirley looked at Jo. “Your usual?”

  Jo’s eyes moved from Maria to the waitress. “No, I’ll have coffee too and a piece of whatever today’s pie special is.”

  Shirley looked from Jo to Maria and back to Jo before she left.

  “Should I ask what your usual is?”

  “A beer. I sometimes stop in when I’m home visiting my folks.” Jo shrugged. “They don’t really socialize outside the church, so I usually come by here. Shirley and I went to high school together.”

  Maria turned a scrutinizing gaze at Shirley and back to Jo. “Your parents don’t know, do they?”

  “Know what?”

  Maria leaned close and lowered her voice. “About…you know…your lifestyle.”

  “Excuse me!” Jo appeared stunned.

  “I’m sorry. Maybe I’ve made the wrong assumption.”

  Jo said nothing.

  “I assumed since you didn’t want to live close to your parents, you’re obviously not married and somewhat mobile that you, you know, bat for a different team than I do.” Jo’s lips twitched. “I apologize if I’m off base. No pun intended.” Maria knew her cheeks were turning a rosy red.

  “All pretty good reasons for making such an assumption, but you forgot the most glaring one.” Maria furrowed her brows. “The way I look.”

  She gave Jo a long, lingering once-over. “Well you certainly appear much stronger than any woman I’ve met, I think, but I wouldn’t presume on that alone.”

  “Okay.”

  “You know this really is none of my business. Forget I brought it up.”

  Jo ran a hand through her hair. “We don’t talk about it. They act as though it doesn’t exist. They’re embarrassed by me, so I stay away most of the time.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Maria knew all too well what it felt like to be ignored by someone you cared about.

  Jo waved her hand. “Don’t be. It’s been this way so long I can’t remember a time when it wasn’t.” She leaned close. “I hope this won’t prevent our doing business together.”

  “Are you kidding? I’m a salesperson. We’d never let a tiny detail like this affect a business deal.” She laughed and it felt good. She liked that this easygoing cowgirl could do that.

  Jo liked when she could make Maria laugh. She got the cutest little dimples in her cheeks that she wanted to touch her lips to…Whoa! Where on earth did that come from? Maria was a straight mom and married in all likelihood, given the rings on her finger.

  While they had their coffee and Jo shared bites of her pie, they hammered out the details on the property and Jo’s offer. Jo noticed Shirley eyeing them curiously more than once before they parted an hour later.

  * * *

  The weeks flew by and Jo continued to see her parents once a week. The contract on the Ohio farm had been accepted thanks to Maria, and Cecile had worked overtime performing her magic to get a contract on the Kentucky farm. By the first week in June, with Jo’s farm sold, she was driving her truck and horse trailer to their new home in Ohio. “They” being her faithful retriever Jake, Daisy Mae and Cobalt. She contracted the move of everything else, including her four remaining horses. Life was going to be very different, but Jo knew she’d adjust. She’d spent her life adjusting.

  As Jo and Daisy Mae trotted through the pasture, Jo saw dust rising from the drive and caught a glimpse of a little black car headed down the drive from the house. She headed toward the road.r />
  “Come on, girl, let’s run.” She clicked and gave Daisy a gentle nudge. Angling toward the corner of the pasture where the drive met the road, they were about to catch up when the car came to a stop. Jo reined in Daisy Mae and circled around it. Maria seemed oblivious to their presence. Jo was ready to dismount when Maria finally saw them.

  As the window lowered, Maria tossed her phone over on the seat. “I was just about to call you.” She put the car in park and climbed out, shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun.

  “Oh yeah?” Jo smiled and leaned casually over the saddle horn. “And what was it you were planning to call me?”

  With a chuckle Maria approached but stopped a number of feet shy of the fence. When Jo climbed down and walked with Daisy Mae closer, Maria stepped back.

  “I left a little housewarming gift on your porch.”

  Jo thought the sight of Maria was the best kind of gift she could imagine. “I was on my way in. If you have time, I can offer you something to drink.”

  “Okay.”

  Jo’s stomach fluttered. “I’ve got to unsaddle her.” She quickly mounted Daisy Mae. “But it’ll only take a few minutes.” Anxious to move, Daisy started to prance. Jo pulled her back around and gave her a pat. “The house is unlocked. Let yourself in.” Jo gave the horse a soft heel, and she instinctively trotted toward the barn.

  When Jo entered the house, Maria was standing in the middle of her empty living room. Empty, that is, except for two folding lawn chairs, a sleeping bag on the floor in front of the big stone hearth and Maria, holding a basket in her arms.

  “I love what you’ve done with the place.” She offered the basket to Jo with a smile. “I hope you can find room for this.”

  “Shouldn’t be a problem.”

  Maria followed her into the house’s large kitchen, where she put the basket on the center island. She replaced her worn, tan Stetson with the equally worn ball cap sitting there and pulled the fridge door open. “I can offer you beer or water.”

  Maria stood at the island. “It’s a little early for beer, I think.” Jo handed a bottle of water across the three-foot counter that separated them and looked over the contents of the basket.

  “I didn’t know if you drink wine. If not, perhaps you have a lady friend that does.” Maria tilted her head.

  There wasn’t anything subtle about Maria’s inference. “This is mighty nice of you, but you didn’t have to go to all the trouble.”

  “I always give a buyer some type of gift. Usually a gift card, but I didn’t have a clue what kind of gift card to give a cowgirl.” She gave Jo a wide smile. “It’s obvious now that you are indeed a cowgirl. The hat,” she motioned toward the Stetson on the counter, “the boots and the pickup truck out by your barn.”

  “Don’t forget the horses.”

  Maria laughed. “Of course, the horses.”

  God, Jo loved the way Maria laughed. They stood silent and when it lasted too long, Jo said, “We can sit out on the porch if you’d like.” Maria nodded.

  “Would you mind?” Jo asked in the living room and handed Maria her bottle of water so she could pick up the chairs. Maria held the door for her.

  Maria sipped her water. “I love this versatile furniture. Use it inside or out. What a novel decorating idea. Are you actually sleeping on the floor?”

  “Yep. Until the movers bring the rest of my stuff and I get a chance to put the bed together—the floor will have to do.”

  “That can’t be comfortable.”

  Jo waved a hand. “It’s better than sleeping on the ground outside.” Maria’s brow arched. “I took a vacation about ten years ago at a dude ranch out in Colorado. We rode trails and did all those cowboy things you know, like a sleeping bag on the ground under the stars.” She shuddered at the memory. “I can tell you that floor in there is a whole lot better. No snakes, no bugs and no critters. They can keep their stars.”

  Maria laughed yet again. “I can’t imagine you being afraid of bugs. You can stand next to an animal that could kick you to the moon, and you’re afraid of bugs.”

  “Not just bugs…spiders.” Maria laughed harder. “Big, hairy spiders.”

  Maria pressed her hand to her side. “Okay, I got the picture.” She calmed her laughter. “I’m pretty sure Kathleen has one of those inflatable mattresses if you’d like to borrow it.”

  Jo gave it a moment’s thought and decided the only mattress she wanted from Maria would have to come with her on it. Dang, Jo, get your mind out of the gutter. “Nah, it’s not necessary. They’re supposed to have my stuff here by Tuesday.”

  For reasons she couldn’t explain, Maria wanted to invite Jo to come stay at her house. What with her husband traveling so frequently, she was starved for company. Jo could make her laugh. There wasn’t nearly enough laughter in her life.

  “Well, if you change your mind, it’s no trouble for me to check with Kathleen.”

  Jo asked where the best places were to post job opportunities, and Maria provided a number of possibilities. They sat in silence for a bit, simply listening to the sounds of the country.

  Jo finally broke the tranquility. “You’re not afraid of horses, are you?”

  “I think I am, yes.”

  “They’re such gentle animals.”

  “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

  “Well, you’ll have to come out sometime and I can take you riding. Get you over your fear.”

  “I think my fear is fine where it is, but thank you for the offer.”

  A short time later Maria stood. “As much as I’m enjoying the tranquility here, I need to go. I have a date with my son to visit the zoo today.” She smiled.

  “Sounds fun.”

  Maria extended her hand. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Jo Marchal.”

  Jo wrapped her fingers around Maria’s soft skin. She wanted badly to come up with a reason to keep her there or at the very least a reason to return soon, but there wasn’t one. Maria West had helped Jo find her new home, period. That’s all there was to their relationship. There were likely a hundred other people clamoring for her time and attention, and she’d already gotten all she was getting. Sadness settled over her and made her next words hard to speak.

  “I appreciate all your help. Take care, and if you ever decide to get over your horse fear, give me a call.” Jo released her hand, pulled off her ball cap, ran a hand through her hair and forced a smile.

  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Maria’s smile was warm and inviting, and Jo wished for the life of her she could see it every day. She watched Maria walk to her car. It reminded her of their first meeting. She was more than another attractive woman—she was a heartstopper. She gave Jo a little wave as she circled around the drive, and then all that was left in Jo’s life of Maria was a cloud of dust. She stepped off the porch, kicking the ground as she returned to the barn.

  She busied herself organizing in the tack room, but hours later when thoughts of the woman wouldn’t leave her alone, she went to the house for a beer. Swallowing a gulp, she leaned over the island and peered into the basket Maria had brought, recalling her words about the wine. Jo smiled. Maria didn’t appear to be bothered in the least by Jo’s sexuality. Another of her many redeeming qualities. Jo had never been a wine drinker, but she hoped, as Maria had put it, that she someday would have a lady friend to share it with.

  She finished the beer and forced herself back out to the barn. Working like a machine, as she had when setting up her Kentucky farm, she didn’t break until dinner time. Parked on a hay bale inside the barn, she heard car tires on the gravel and watched as a sheriff’s car rolled toward the house.

  The person who emerged from the Dodge Charger was a woman. There was no mistaking the curve of the hips as she stepped up on the porch. As Jo walked from the barn, Jake shot past her, barking furiously. Jo whistled loudly and called him. The deputy spun around, hand resting on the gun holstered at her hip. Jake stopped on comman
d and stood wagging his tail until Jo was beside him.

  She gave his head a rub. “Is that anyway to greet company, boy?” Jo took a good look when the deputy stepped off the porch. Yes, definitely a woman—and almost certainly a lesbian. “Can I help you?”

  With hesitation the officer met Jo’s eyes, then smiled. “You bought the Miller farm?”

  “That’s right.” Jo extended her hand. “Jo Marchal. And you are?” The nametag on her uniform read only K Tyler.

  The deputy swallowed noticeably and wiped her hand down her thigh before meeting Jo’s firm grasp. “Uh…Deputy Tyler…Kate Tyler.”

  Her hand was damp and Jo wondered if it was the heat of the day or nerves. “Nice to meet you, Deputy Tyler.”

  When the deputy took her hand back, she tucked it and its counterpart into her pockets. “Everybody around calls me Kate.” Jo nodded. “I saw the For Sale sign, then it was gone and then I noticed your farm sign out there.” She nodded toward the road. “Anyway, thought I’d stop in and meet our newest resident. I patrol this part of the county most of the time. Our office is in town and I live the next town over. So…if you have any trouble or anything…at all, call nine-one-one and we’ll be out.”

  When Jo simply nodded again, Kate’s head bobbed. She twisted the toe of her shoe in the dirt. Definitely nervous, but cute.

  “Well, thanks for stopping by.” Jo offered a smile.

  “Okay…so uh, maybe I’ll see you around.”

  “Right.” Jo tipped her head.

  Deputy Kate squared her shoulders, pushed out her chest and headed for the patrol car. Her gait reminded Jo of a rooster strutting around the hens. Yes, the sheriff’s deputy was unquestionably gay.

  Jake barked as the car drove off. Jo called to him. “Jake, what is the problem, buddy?” He came back, rubbing against her leg. She knelt and scratched behind his ears. “But thanks for looking out for me.”