Ride to Redemption

by D. J. Wilson

  “Candi,” I started.

  “Yes, D?”

  “Just what do you see in me, really? If you don’t mind my asking, I’m 15 years older, my hair is graying and I’m not in the best shape of my life. I have good attributes I know, but you do realize you could have any number of guys drooling at your feet. Right? So my question is, why me, why here, why now?”

  Candi, taken aback by my forward questioning, thought for a moment before answering. “There’s something special about you, D. I honestly can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s there. As I said earlier, you make me feel special, and I appreciate someone who can do that and does it because he cares. I think you’re real, D. Does that answer some of your questions?”

  “I think so. I hope so. I'll take what I can get, at least for the this moment.”

  Candi continued. “You seem lonely, D, but you’re not alone. You exude integrity and truth, yet I sense you’re intentionally hiding something. You genuinely care much more for other people than I do. I’m a shade more self-centered and protective of my privacy, than you are most of the time. That’s what sets you apart from most. You really do make me feel special, like I’m the only girl in town. Am I anywhere close to getting my point across?”

  It’s hard to be completely honest, when the past controls the present. Nevertheless, Candi’s insight into me seems genuine. If only I could believe that what she sees in me is something she could want to be a part of. Then, maybe I could let down my walls. “You’re insightful, Candi. How you come to realize all this about me in just a few short hours of togetherness, both honors and perplexes me?”

  I continued, “Much of the mystery you see in me has more to do with all the heartbreaks and disappointments I’ve experienced in my past … and in trying to repair them while I still can. I’ve been blessed most of my life to have more than I need. I’ve always given generously out of abundance, but have rarely given generously when I was in need myself. This, I have learned as of late, may very well be the very best time for me to give. Perhaps, when I have little left to give, only then will I realize the sacrifice and cost — at least in comparison to my past. My life has been a roller coaster, where I have sometimes struggled to maintain a tight grasp. Other times, my ride has been gentle slopes and calm tracks. I see in you some of the same ebbs and flows I’ve experienced in my past. Being a part of these different roller coasters is a bit scary for me, but I’m drawn to you like no one ever before.”

  I stood and paced the boat quietly, letting my words continually flow. “Not too long ago I had much, much less than I do today. Had it not been for the kindness and generosity of friends and others who continued to believe in me, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I’ve come to realize that life is far more than just stuff. It’s those you have in your life that makes one wealthy, not all the things you accumulate — just to die and leave behind for someone else to dispose of.”

  “Don’t get me wrong; you need essentials to survive and thrive. Money does pay the bills, but it never guarantees happiness. Sure, it gives you the finer things, more exotic trips, expensive clothes and exotic cars; but they’re all just manmade things that eventually wear out and must be replaced. Thankfully, as I’ve so aptly learned of late, by investing in people, one is not always confronted by this problem, at least until they flat out fail you. Therein lies my current roller-coaster ride.”

  Candi was the perfect listener. Maybe the wine was unwinding me instead of her!

  “Now, on the other hand,” I continued, “if you’ve made money and invested it to provide for your future and someone takes it away recklessly, that is another story. Enough about me; tell me more about you.”

  “Well, there’s not much to tell. I grew up not wanting for anything and leading a protected life. My parents, for the most part, always chose my schools, my classes and even my friends. That being said, D, no boy was ever deemed good enough for me. Would you believe I went through all of high school without even having a real date? If the truth were known, the boys were probably scared of my mom and dad. That, too, is a long story for another time. We should compare our stories, mine for yours or yours for mine. Whatever, baby … Will you remind me what I just said, and however I said it, later? The wine is getting the best of me.”

  Feeling like we were heading for a deep, dark hole, I decided to lighten the mood. “We’ve had enough drama for now, let’s go swimming.”

  “I didn’t bring a swimsuit, baby.”

  “No swimsuit needed,” I proudly stated, standing brazenly in the raw before her. “We’re going skinny-dipping.”

  I could see the wheels spinning inside her head as she realized the simplicity of my request. “Well, I’ve never done this at night. I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t bring a bathing suit, huh, baby? I’d miss out on all the skinny dipping!” She wobbled and swayed a little as she began to undress before my eyes. I’ll need to remember that one glass of wine is enough to loosen her inhibitions!

  Jumping into Dale Hollow Lake at night is both exhilarating and exciting, especially when you have someone a la natural swimming beside you. Because of the lake’s clarity, her tan lines were visible and highlighted all the beautiful private parts covered up in daylight. There is just something magical about watching a pair of magnificent ta-tas float in 80-degree water while they’re illuminated by the moonlight.

  “Come here, baby,” I called to Candi. “Let’s climb the rocks and jump off the ledge on the bluff side.”

  “I can’t see where we’re going,” cried Candi, still somewhat unsteady from the wine.

  “Nothing to see. Just hold my hand.”

  I pulled her to the shoreline and climbed to the ledge. “This is where trust comes in, Candi,” I assured her. “Close your eyes. We’ll run and jump on three.” Before she had a chance to protest, off we went … one, two, three, launching into the abyss below. The water depth was at least eighty feet, and I’ve never really worried about hitting bottom day or night.

  I was first to the surface, with Candi bobbing up and down, squealing like a child beside me. She screamed, “Let’s do it again,”

  Startled, I noticed off to my right, not forty feet away, a bass boat with two surprised anglers fishing for Smallmouth Bass in the darkness.

  “Are ya’ll okay?” came a voice from the general direction of the boat.

  “We’re fine,” I replied, just as a three million candlepower spotlight shined directly on us in all our glory.

  “Ya’ll can turn that off now! I assure you we’re all right.”

  I heard their quiet chuckles and boisterous comments about our nakedness. I shouted once again, just to get them to leave. “Yes, men, those are magnificent hooters. Now, move along, and we’ll do the same. Sorry if we scared the fish.”

  “Them thangs are prettier than any ole fish we’ll catch tonight!”

  Embarrassed and sobering too quickly, Candi got squarely behind me as I back-peddled toward the boat. Racing me back, she attempted to climb the swim ladder before I stopped her. “We’re fine, baby. Besides, do you know anyone else who can tell the story of flashing two fishermen at night on Dale Hollow?”

  Candi stammered, “Do you realize if we’d jumped a minute later, we might have landed in their boat?”

  “Naw, the way sound travels in the dark on this lake, they would’ve caught onto us before we hit the water. Don’t worry. They’ll be bragging all night and all day tomorrow about those magnificent two that got away!”

  Candi managed a light laugh as she neared me in the water.

  “Let’s not get in the boat just yet, baby. Come here.” I grabbed her hand and pulled her close. I could feel her heart racing. Not from the excitement of being with me, unfortunately, but from the flight of the fishermen. “It’s okay, baby. They’re gone. It’s just you and me again.”

  Ever so slowly, Candi calmed down in the security of my arms.

  “Kiss me, D,” she pleaded, and not being one to ignore her
directions I immediately ravished her with my lips. Tongues probing, and nibbling each other’s lips, ears, necks and shoulders, we were suddenly lost in another moment. The previous ten minutes seemed like a distant memory, and the next twenty became a lust-filled blur.

  “Thank you, baby. Thank you,” were all the words she had the strength to say.

  “No, baby. Thank you,” I gasped, utterly spent myself. “Tonight, we have successfully completed the 4 Ds: dinner, discovery, disaster (albeit diverted) and dessert. That’s a good night in anyone’s book of memories.”

  Chapter 5

  Candi and I arrived at the house exhausted. We both looked longingly at the rose petals lining the stone-inlaid staircase. She stared into my eyes and gave me a naughty smile. “Baby, I’m ready for round two if you are, but just sleeping with you after a long hot shower, sounds just as wonderful.”

  “Great minds think alike,” I stated, taking her hand and leading her up the rose-littered staircase. We shed our clothes even before we hit the bathroom door. As I adjusted the water settings, we both scampered into the large two person shower. Willingly, we soaped one another up and rinsed away our long, but wonderful day. Seconds after drying off, the bed invitingly called our names, snuggling us into the goose down bedding where we quickly went to sleep.

  Morning broke for me at 5 a.m. I had hoped the dog and I could get in a good three-mile trek before Candi woke up. Major, however, had other plans. It’s funny how a cold nose and wet tongue will awaken even the soundest sleeper, even if it wasn't mine.

  “Hey, baby. Where are you?” I heard Candi call out. “Major, go find daddy.”

  The playful canine was diligent and did as directed, while Candi followed giggling behind him.

  “I’m downstairs. I was headed out to walk, that is, if I can drag Major away from you.”

  “Well, evidently, I’m going, too. Just give me a few to brush my teeth and toss on my workout clothes.”

  It had been forever since I’d had a workout partner. I could quickly get used to this new morning routine. In a flash, she descended the stairs for the second time and joined Major and me outside.

  Candi, Major and I made it to the farm road just as the sun came over the horizon. “This is when I think the clearest,” I confessed to Candi, as we walked briskly down the farm road. “Time stands still here near the meadows and wooded thickets. It’s the best meditation ground I have ever found, bar none.”

  Bob white quail, calling from both sides of the road greeted us, and off in the distance, crows cawed back and forth non-stop, as they badgered a red-tailed hawk. Tall rows of field corn were ready for harvesting and the mass fields of sunflowers were drooping over, announcing their seed would soon be ripe. Thousands of yellow finches danced across the fields just as the sun illuminated the eastern sky.

  “Awesome! Just awesome. What a mind-cleansing place to walk.”

  “Just wait for phase two,” I proclaimed as we approached a herd of young Holstein cows. “I don’t know what it is, but the cows are enthralled with Major.” Suddenly, just like the many days before, the entire herd broke for the fencerow and walked with us at least half a mile, sniffing and snorting at Major the entire time.

  The next thing we came upon were large silver silos that dotted the landscape of a century-old dairy farm, populated with red barns, sporting shiny silver tin roofs. Up and down the green pastures are large herds of Holstein cows, with a few jersey calves thrown in for good measure. “Here beats the heart and soul of America,” I proudly exclaimed. “I sometimes wonder if the farmers know just how majestic this place looks to me.”

  Candi smiled as we walked. “D, you are one passionate guy. You embrace your home, the lake, and even this place with an appreciation and reverence that I’ve never seen. It’s as if there will be no tomorrow and all you have is today.”

  I couldn’t argue. My recent past had only fueled my fire for the simple pleasures of life. In fact, this quaint walk woman and dog is just about as calm and peaceful as anything I could imagine on my own. And the beauty of it is, all I have to do is witness it. That pretty much sums it up, walk, gaze, and wonder.

  Completing our three-mile trek in less than forty minutes was a good way to start the day. We slowed our pace near the end of our walk to let our bodies cool down. This invigorating trek also worked up an appetite. Cooking hearty breakfasts is my specialty — and making country gravy, I learned, was hers. Between us, we had scrambled eggs with pickled jalapenos, sliced homegrown tomatoes, and sausage gravy smothering homemade biscuits. “So much for my weight-loss program this morning!” I exclaimed.

  “D, if we ate like this every morning, we’d be the size of the barns we passed earlier!”

  “This, my dear, is comfort food,” I remarked while the guilt of what we were eating caused me to suck in my stomach just a little.

  “Did you bring that sundress we talked about for this weekend?” I asked hopefully.

  “Of course and more,” Candi responded proudly, “especially since you said they weren’t to wear on the bike.”

  “Great, could you wear one for me this morning and bring jeans and a tee for later?”

  “What, we’re not going to shower together after the fun we had last night?”

  “Not this morning, baby. I can’t control myself around you when your clothes are off. Besides, we’re going shopping. If I get wet with you, we may never make it out the door.”

  Thankfully, just the thought of going shopping seemed to immediately appease her, whereby, she ascended the stairs with a satisfied, radiating glow.

  I could really, really get used to having her around.

  Chapter 6

  “Hey, baby, it’s our three-week anniversary plus one today!” I exclaimed. “Why don’t you drive us to my leather outfitter, while I practice with the BOA I got you for our anniversary?”

  “A boa?” she questioned, “You mean like a feather boa or like a snake?”

  “Neither, baby. There happens to be a third type. Once we get on the main road, I’ll share it with you … as in intimately.”

  Candi seemed puzzled as I climbed into the back seat of her Range Rover and removed her driver’s seat headrest. “Do me a favor?” I asked as an afterthought. “Run back inside and bring me two pillows from the couch. Trust me,” I assured her. “There’s plenty of method to my madness.”

  With Candi driving the winding back roads, I contemplated my next move. “Candi, when we reach the interstate, pull over on the edge of the on-ramp for a second.”

  “Will do,” she chirped with a sudden rush of excitement in her voice.

  Stopping as directed, I asked her to move her seat as far up as possible, and then lay the back of the seat almost all the way down. Never having done this before, I was making it up as I went, hoping it would work out just the way I had lustfully envisioned.

  “Just how am I supposed to drive?” she asked.

  “Here, put these two pillows behind your back for support. Are you comfortable, baby? Can you see to drive?”

  “It will do,” Candi answered, somewhat perplexed.

  “Then, let’s do this,” I exclaimed.

  She pulled back onto the ramp and merged onto I-40. The traffic was heavier than I’d hoped, but it would have to suffice.

  “Baby, set the cruise to seventy and whatever you do, please keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. We’ve got fifty miles ahead of us, and we want to arrive in one piece.”

  Starting with the nape of her neck, I preceded to bite, kiss, and nibble each side … along each ear, up and down the top of each shoulder. Soft moans escaped her as the heat generated by my lips escalated her excitement. Slowly, I moved my hands around each side of her reclined seat and into the sides of her sundress.

  While continuing to tease her with my tongue, my fingers found their way inside her bra, where I massaged each of her voluptuous breasts. Candi’s breathing increasing rapidly, and I asked if she was doing okay. Looki
ng into the rearview mirror, she nodded hesitantly, while gingerly biting her lower lip.

  “Thirty more miles to go, baby,” I whispered into her ear, “and now for the finale.” I seductively unwrapped Candi’s present, the BOA (Baby Orgasm Accelerator), right before her eyes, glued as directed to the road. After turning it on low, I eased it under her dress and into her nether regions. To my pleasant surprise, my hands discovered that Candi had come willfully prepared for this shopping adventure, as in commando.

  The BOA has a twofold purpose in that it massages two distinct areas of a woman’s woo-hoo. With the expert assistance of the BOA, firmly held in place, exactly as designed to perform its magic, Candi exploded as wave after wave of sensation pulsated through her body. Her hands gripped the steering wheel for dear life as her legs quivered on the floorboard. Thankfully, she followed my instructions to the letter and never once let go of the steering wheel or took her eyes off the road.

  Awesome, I thought. We have so arrived and we aren’t even there yet!

  Chapter 7

  Yes, Leather Outfitters is the best at what they do, especially when it comes to fitting men and women in jackets and chaps. My friend, Les, is even better than the average specialist.

  “Candi, this is Les,” I announced, introducing them. “She needs the works, Les — jacket, gloves, a helmet and chaps.”

  Les’s eyes lit up when I said chaps, while Candi looked back at me quizzically.

  Hesitating to say another word about chaps, I continued, “Let’s pick out a jacket first. The rest you can match to it.”

  “Better start with the best you have, Les, my friend. Her tastes are over the top.” I smiled over at Candi, who was nodding in approval. Sizing her up in his head, Les’s first choice was correct. It was fine Italian leather with a zip-out liner and Kevlar-reinforced elbows and shoulders.