Winter Hearts

by A. E. Radley

  Emmie, still clutching the potted cactus, sketched a wave at her. Her stomach felt like it was tied in knots. ‘Relax,’ she told herself. ‘You see her a couple of days a week…’

  Cass smiled when she recognized Emmie. “What brings you all the way out here?”

  “You did invite me out to see the place a…a while back.”

  She nodded. “That I did.”

  Veering toward Jimmy, Cass said to him, “You’re probably getting hungry about now, aren’t you?”

  The teenager shrugged. “I could eat.”

  “Well, you can knock off on that.” She pulled some money out of her pocket and held it out to him. “Drop this digger off at Nate’s on your way into town. He’s going to take a look at it. Then, get yourself a sub before you head over to the field house.”

  “Thanks.” He took the money from her and put it in his shirt pocket then he took the post hole digger from her and reached for the manual ones he’d been using.

  “Leave those. I’ll put them away. You need to get going or you’ll be late.”

  “Okay…sorry about this.” He held up the piece of machinery in his hand like it weighed next to nothing.

  “You don’t need to be sorry unless Nate can’t fix it.”

  The two women watched as Jimmy put the digger in the bed of an old Ford and then got in, turned it and drove away.

  “That for me?” Cass pointed at the cactus.

  Emmie held it out “A uh, a little housewarming gift, I guess you could say.”

  “A prickly cactus, huh? Just what are you trying to say?”

  Emmie looked stricken.

  Cass took it from her, laughing. “I was just teasing. Come on; let me show you around.”

  Emmie followed half a step behind Cass as she led her toward one of the two small barns nearby.

  “This is my pride and joy. We’ve spent the past month, him and I and my sister when she has the time, converting this into a proper stable. I moved my horses up here over the past couple of days. We’re putting in the fence posts for a paddock and then it’ll be all done. It’s not very big, now, but it’s just right for me.”

  Emmie looked all around, taking it all in. “Cass, I love it. It’s just as functional as our big horse barn out at the ranch is and, you’re probably right, just what you need for a spread this size.”

  “I have 80 acres. Not enough to farm commercially but enough to feed…well, me, Gram and Jimmy and to play on and do what I want to do when I want to do it.”

  “Can’t argue with that.”

  They fell silent as they left the stable and headed toward the other, slightly larger barn. Cass broke the awkward quiet between them. “How’s Seth?”

  “Good. He’s doing good. He’s out for the day with my sister and her family. I needed to do a little work on my thesis this morning.”

  “How’s that coming?”

  “I’m almost finished. In fact, I’ll be submitting it within the next two weeks. My final exams for my last two classes are just before the Christmas break. I’ll have to wait until the middle of January to defend it, probably.”

  “Will you have to go to Austin for that?”

  “Yeah,” Emmie nodded. “One last time.”

  Cass stopped and turned to face her. “You’re not going down there and staying?”

  “No; I’m not staying in Austin.”

  “Good.” Cass turned quickly back away and started to walk into the other barn.

  Emmie swallowed hard and put a hand on her arm, stopping her. She took the letter out of her jacket pocket and, wordlessly handed it to Cass.

  “What’s this?”

  “Read it,” Emmie told the other woman as she took the cactus from her and held it.

  Cass pinched the sides of the envelope and slid the folded sheets out. She unfolded them carefully and started reading. Seconds later she shook her head and looked at Emmie. “You’re going to be teaching at Texas Tech? Right here? Right at the branch campus in Abilene, I mean?”

  Emmie smiled with relief and nodded. “In the fall. I’ll finish out the school year at Sweetwater. All of that is dependent on a successful defense of my thesis, of course.”

  Cass read a little more. “In the mathematics department?”

  Emmie nodded again. “It’s mostly pharmacy and medical students over there but, yeah, they have to have their math prerequisites too. It gets me started. I’ll just be a junior professor.”

  “Just?” Cass shook her head. “And, I guess I don’t get it. What does your thesis have to do with teaching math?”

  “Uh, only everything!”

  “I don’t know what to say…congratulations?”

  Emmie set the cactus on the ground, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly then she fixed her gaze on Cass. “That’s a start but I think you can do better.” She moved up next to the other woman facing her and looped her arms around her waist.

  “Yes ma’am,” Cass said. She dipped her head and, without hesitation, touched her lips to the blonde’s as she pulled her into a tight embrace.

  Emmie felt like time stood still as she lost herself in Cass’s kiss and her touch. Her senses were reeling.

  They stayed that way for several minutes, but as the other woman’s hands began to roam, stroking Emmie’s back and sides and cupping her behind, Emmie drug her lips away and looked Cass in the eye.

  “I think we need to finish the tour,” she said, her breath ragged.

  “Now? Uh…whoo…okay.” Cass let out a heavy breath and tried to collect herself.

  “Let’s move on to the house; start with the bedroom. Your bedroom.”

  Cass looked surprised. “You’re sure?”

  “It’s been so long…way too long.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Cass leaned into Emmie, gathered her close and kissed her again as she walked her backwards toward her bed.

  When the backs of Emmie’s knees touched the edge of the bed, she leaned back into it and pulled Cass along with her. The weight of the other woman, pressed against her, had her groaning in pleasure, her body tingling.

  Cass swiped her tongue through Emmie’s mouth, tasting her. Emmie moaned underneath her and ran her hands up and down her back.

  When Cass pulled back, she smiled at the blush of desire coloring Emmie’s face and neck. “Still sure?”

  “I’m absolutely sure!”

  Cass lifted Emmie’s hair away from her neck and kissed along the contour of her shoulder. She leaned up over the other woman and kissed her mouth, gently, at the corner. Emmie turned her head back to the taller woman behind her and offered her lips. Cass took them and kissed her deeply this time.

  Emmie moaned. The kiss was heat and passion and so much more. She tried to shift in the stronger woman’s embrace to bring them side by side, face to face.

  Cass had other ideas. She eased back down, on her back, her head now propped on her pillows then eased Emmie in front of her, leaning back into her. She began to caress and stroke every bit of Emmie’s skin she could reach.

  As Cass touched her, Emmie could feel the heat of her body and melted into her. Cass slipped a hand between her legs and stroked her curls.

  Her touch was electric. Emmie spread her legs and dropped one knee over Cass’s leg as she tried to guide her hand lower.

  She began to move her fingers along Emmie’s slit. Her other hand found her breasts and she kneaded the flesh, rubbing tiny circles over her nipples.

  Emmie moaned and arched at the hips. When she did, she could feel the hard tips of Cass’s nipples brushing against her back and shoulders as she writhed atop her.

  Cass teased Emmie’s clit gently at first but grew bolder with each husky breath the other woman took. She stroked along her slit, spreading her moisture up and around her clit with loving caresses. Then, dipping a fingertip between the folds, she pushed up and in.

  Emmie ground back into Cass and squirmed when she felt the heat of the other woman’s own desire against her backside.


  Cass worked the finger further inside and then added a second.

  Emmie bucked and begged for more, for her to move faster and deeper, but Cass worked at her own, slow, tortuous pace. “We have a lifetime,” she told her.

  Later, as they lay curled up together in a tangle of sheets, Cass’s fingers drawing lazy circles on one of Emmie’s breasts, Emmie propped herself up on an elbow and looked down at her lover. “I love you Cass Prater.”

  “And I love you. I have since we first tangled over that stupid release form.”

  Emmie leaned in for a quick kiss then leaned back again. “So, does your offer…at least the one you implied that night out at the ranch, does that still stand?”

  “Anything I’ve ever said you could have is yours.”

  “So then, when can we move in?”

  “We?”

  “Well, me and Seth, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  CHAPTER 13

  Sunday Morning, November 6th

  Emmie sat in the pew quietly, her appearance giving no indication of the turmoil in her head.

  Her mother nudged her and whispered, “The sign of peace.”

  At peace she wasn’t, but she shook her head to clear it and smiled at her mother as she took her hand.

  “Where’s your head at today, child?” Trudy asked.

  Emmie didn’t answer. Instead, she turned to old Mrs. Frankle on her right and offered a smile and her hand to her. This will probably be the last time I’m ever allowed to set foot in this church.

  She figured the time after Sunday dinner was as good a time as any to broach the subject of moving away; moving in with Cass, to her parents. Cora would be there. She smiled at her sister in the pew behind them.

  Cora ignored Emmie’s offered hand and pulled her sister into a hug instead. Maybe she’ll be on my side, Emmie thought.

  She turned back to the front as the pastor began to speak again but she didn’t really hear him. Her thoughts turned again to Seth. She’d spent a sleepless night wondering what to tell her son. She still didn’t have any answers.

  “Regardless of all the rest, and I don’t even know where to begin with that,” Trudy Oakes was lecturing, her finger shaking at Emmie, “there’s Seth to think about. Why, you can’t just pick up and move him. You can’t. He’s already had enough instability in his young life without his father being present and there for him, even when he was alive. He won’t want to leave his school, leave his friends.”

  “Mother, he’s only six!”

  “Maybe so, but he was telling me in the garden, just yesterday, how he wants to have you as a teacher in fourth grade. He only has two years to go, after all. Surely, you could hold out for at least that long?”

  And then what? Another couple of years until he’s out of middle school? Emmie took a deep breath. “That’s the other thing. This will be my last year at Sweetwater. I’ll be teaching math classes at the Texas Tech branch campus in Abilene starting next fall…provided my master’s is complete.” Emmie glanced around the table. Her father’s face was expressionless. Fred sat playing with his fork. Ty looked uncomfortable. Cora, meanwhile, was silent, taking everything in. Emmie locked eyes with her for a split second before focusing back on their mother.

  Trudy wasn’t done. She tried to call in reinforcements. “Dusty, say something! Do something!”

  “I…I…” He spread his hands and shook his head, helpless. “I don’t know what to say.” He looked down the table at his wife. “What do you want me to say? You knew she didn’t plan on teaching there forever.”

  “That’s all you’ve taken out of all of this?” Trudy threw up her own hands and gave him a hard look. He shrugged and turned his face away from her gaze.

  “I’ll tell you what, I’m dead set against you moving anywhere, especially if that means taking Seth along with you. That boy belongs in Sweetwater, around his family on the ranch where he’s grown up. Not in Merkel where he has no one. This is his home.”

  Emmie caught a slight nod from her father, out of the corner of her eye. He was leaning toward his wife. “He’ll have me. I am his mother and we won’t be that far away. Merkle isn’t at the other end of the earth for God’s sake.”

  “Watch your mouth, young lady!” Trudy said, half rising from her chair. “You will not take the Lord’s name in vain in this house. You know better.”

  “Mom,” Cora said, “She just meant…”

  The finger turned on the older daughter. “Meant what? Don’t tell me you support this?”

  Fred stood, tapped Ty’s shoulder and motioned for him to leave the table with him. “Let’s go see what Seth’s up to.”

  Cora shot her husband a look but didn’t try to keep him there. Instead, she responded to her mother’s question with one of her own. “Don’t you think Emmie deserves to be happy? To follow her own life?”

  Dusty found his voice. “You can do what you want. You’re a grown woman. We can’t make you stay here, but you need to think of the boy. Like your mother, I’m worried about seeing my grandson and I’m also worried about what kids might do to him when word gets around about what’s really going on. She’s a good woman, Cass is, but come on Em! Kids can be so cruel.”

  So can parents.

  Trudy leaned back in her chair, arms folded. She was quiet for a long time. No one moved until she spoke again. “How about this? How about you go ahead and move? Try your little experiment with this woman,” she said, flipping a hand in the air.

  Emmie started to interrupt, but Trudy cautioned her, “Wait. Let me finish. Move. Try this out but leave Seth here. Leave him out of it until you’re sure this is what you really want.”

  “Mom,” Cora stepped in again, “Mom, I love you, but I’m telling you; back off. You can’t dictate to her.” She flung a hand in Emmie’s direction. “You can’t dictate to any of us.”

  Trudy turned her ire on her eldest daughter. “Think about what you’re saying! I’m trying to protect her. I’m trying to protect my grandson! What will people think?”

  Cora shot back, “What will people think, or what will people think about you? This is really all about your image, isn’t it?”

  “That’s enough,” Dusty said, as he rose. “I won’t have you speaking to your mother like that.” He looked at both of his daughters. “I don’t pretend to understand this, but you’re right. Emmie, you’re a grown woman. If this is what you want, so be it. Just be very careful what you do and how you do it. The only one who’s going to be hurt here is that boy. I won’t have that.”

  Trudy sighed. There was no point arguing any further once Dusty said his piece. Instead, she asked, “When are you planning to move?”

  “Over the Christmas break, I think. I’ll start my new position, in Abilene after the summer break but there’s my thesis defense in January and then lots that needs to be done at…at Cass’s new ranch over the summer. Moving in the spring or summer will be a lot more difficult.”

  “What about Seth, Em?” her father asked. “What about the rest of his school year? Why not leave him here to finish out for now?”

  “Dad, I’ll be finishing out the year at Sweetwater myself. I can bring Seth back and forth with me, just like I do now.”

  Trudy Oakes sighed. “Please, at least consider having him stay here for the rest of the school year. This is his home right now. One adjustment at a time, please?”

  Emmie didn’t see the advantage of having him have to adjust to her not being there and then to moving him later, but she knew when to give up the fight. “Fine. Seth stays here until the end of the school year.”

  CHAPTER 14

  Monday Afternoon, November 7th

  Emmie looked down at the paper in front of her and sighed. She’d gone over the ten long division problems on it three times without really seeing it.

  A shadow passed across her desk. She looked up. Seth was still sitting at a desk in the front row, doing his own assignment. She turned and looked to her left.
Cora stood in her classroom doorway.

  As her sister came forward, she asked, “Not in any rush to get home, I take it?”

  Emmie braced her hands against the edge of her desk. “This isn’t really the time.” She tipped her head toward Seth.

  Cora nodded. “I’m sure the walls have ears too.”

  “You didn’t come all the way over here to see me, did you?”

  “No. There’s a booster’s meeting at the high school. I’m running a little early. Saw your car, so I swung in. Do you have class tonight?”

  “No.”

  “Can we talk later then?”

  “You’re sure you want to be seen associating with me?”

  “Come on little sister; it’s not that bad. Take Seth and go on home. I’ll pick you up around six o’clock.”

  “Maybe I better just meet you somewhere. We don’t need Mom coming down on you any more than she already has.”

  “I have to say, you surprised me yesterday.”

  Cora put down her soda and smiled. “Can I say something to you that you promise not to take offense to?”

  “What?”

  “I figured it out when you were in college. Now, that’s not to say your marriage to Seth Sr. Didn’t throw me for a loop. It did. But, when he died, I kind of figured you might come back around to the real you.”

  “It doesn’t upset you?”

  “You’re my sister and I love you.”

  “Not even a little bit?”

  “Oh, I admit, it was hard to accept at first but all I ever wanted for you, for myself, for anybody, really, is for them to be happy. That girl, back then, obviously made you happy.”

  Emmie furrowed her brow. “What girl? Who are we talking about?” She couldn’t recall her sister ever meeting any of the few women she’d dated while she was in college.

  “Kelly? The girl you had come up for fair week the summer after your freshman year?”

  “Kelly and I weren’t…we weren’t…She was just my roommate. We were friends. That’s all.”