by D. F. Jones
The palm of his hands planted on her butt cheeks. “Yeah, well, then I wouldn’t be able to feel your soft curves next to me.” He linked his fingers with hers, and they made their way toward the party.
Anna and Jerry walked along the pebble driveway over a pedestrian bridge that led to the barn around the back of the main house. The huge barn was painted white and trimmed in black. She peeked inside the barn, and several splendid horses stood inside their stalls. The barn was spick-and-span clean and decorated for fall. On each side of the main barn doors, huge, bright yellow chrysanthemums filled large urns, and cornstalks wrapped with big orange ribbon were flanked by pumpkins of varying shapes and sizes.
Anna said, “Who’d you say this guy was? Daddy Warbucks?”
“Mr. Doune is filthy stinking rich. He sold a company in New York and retired in Tennessee. He plays at being a farmer, but his passion is horses. Nelson doesn’t show his Tennessee Walkers. He breeds and sells them for pleasure.”
Jerry stopped walking, and his hand cupped her chin and tilted Anna’s face to meet his eyes. His piercing blue eyes shot electricity straight to her bellybutton. With a frown, he said, “I believe we may see some country music stars tonight, but don’t be getting any ideas about leaving me for one of them.”
“Not a chance.” Anna reached up on tiptoe to give him a kiss. Jerry’s expression softened. A smile lit his face, and they continued walking.
The barn party was teeming with people in country-western outfits. Anna was so glad she’d worn her Levi’s and cowboy boots. A couple of men were manning two huge barbecue pits. They were roasting ribs, and the scrumptious aroma made her mouth water. There were strings of colorful lights decoratively hung from the main house to the barn. Picnic tables and hay bales were scattered around a huge dance floor backed up to a makeshift stage, and a bluegrass band was playing some kickass tunes.
A line had already formed at a gooseneck trailer laden with all sorts of food and desserts. A big burly man wearing a black cowboy hat came barreling through the crowd toward Jerry and slapped him on the back. “Hey, Mac. So glad you made it. So who’s the pretty little filly you got with you?”
Anna snickered under her breath. Something about the big man reminded her of Sandy—all Yankee with a Southern twang.
Jerry smiled from ear to ear when he introduced Anna to the big man. “Mr. Doune, this is my girlfriend, Anna Kelly.”
Mr. Doune flamboyantly bowed to her and kissed her hand. “Jerry’s a very lucky man, Ms. Kelly. You call me Nelson, you hear? And if there is anything you need, you just holler.” Mr. Nelson melted into the throngs of people.
“Are you hungry? Or there’s an open bar.” Jerry pointed to the bar set up under an oak tree.
Anna placed her hand on the crook of his arm. “Let’s get a drink, and we’ll hit the food line later after the crowd dies down.”
Anna and Jerry walked toward the bar holding hands. “Aw, honey, you’re in for a real treat. Zeke has this one drink where he combines sweet tea, lemonade, and Jack Daniel’s. It has one hell of a kick.”
The bartender wore a black cowboy hat just like Mr. Doune’s and sported a huge handlebar mustache and some very hairy eyebrows. Anna started laughing and turned to look up at Jerry. “I feel like I just stepped into an episode of Gunsmoke, and Miss Kitty and Marshall Dillon are going to walk up any minute as we belly up to the bar.”
The bartender overheard Anna and smiled. “What’s your poison, missy?”
Anna gave him a cheesy grin. “Your sweet tea with a kick.” She placed her hands flat on the bar as he mixed the concoction.
The bartender glanced up at her as he continued to mix the cocktail. “That’s my specialty.” He turned to Jerry and asked, “How’s it going, kid?”
“Zeke, man, never better. I have this little honey by my side, and I’m listening to some pretty killer country tunes. What else is there?”
Zeke threw his head back and laughed, and Anna spotted a couple of gold teeth. “Boy, you got life by the balls.” Zeke turned to Anna and quickly said, “Sorry, ma’am, meant no disrespect.”
Anna gave Zeke a smile and picked up her cocktail. “None was taken.” After she took a sip, her eyes widened, and she coughed a couple of times. “My, it’s very strong, but it’s really good.”
Zeke turned to Jerry and winked. “Thank me later, boy.”
Anna opened her mouth to say something, but Jerry interjected, “Zeke, dude, I don’t need any help. I think you may want to add a little more tea and lemonade and a little less Jack.”
Zeke nodded and grabbed the drink out of her hand. He poured out some of her beverage and added tea and lemonade. “Is this better, missy?”
Anna grabbed her drink and narrowed her eyes at Zeke. “You’re a real bad boy, aren’t ya?”
Zeke laughed so hard his shoulders shook. “Y’all go have some fun.”
Anna and Jerry stepped over to one of the picnic tables and were about to sit down when, out of the blue, a tall and voluptuous brunette ran up to Jerry. She threw her arms around Jerry’s neck and pressed her boobs into Jerry’s chest. She completely ignored Anna.
The Amazon gave Jerry a big pouty lip. “Jerry Mac. I’m mad at you.”
Jerry looked mortified, glanced down at Anna, and shrugged. “Rachel, what have I done now?” Jerry slipped out of Rachel’s grasp and took a big gulp of his drink.
Rachel still didn’t look at Anna and turned Jerry around to face her. “So, did you and the redhead break up?”
Jerry spit out his drink. “Rachel, Anna is my girlfriend. She and Ruby are best friends.”
Rachel turned around to face Anna and checked her out from head to toe. She frowned at Jerry. “I’m only going to ask you this one time, Mac. Am I not pretty enough for you? Why haven’t you ever asked me out?”
Anna flushed bright red with anger and balled her hands into fists. She might be small, but dynamite comes in small packages. Anna narrowed her eyes at Rachel and Jerry. She was getting ready to let Ms. Doune have more than a piece of her mind.
Jerry shook his head and said, “So Rachel, how many of Zeke’s specials have you had?”
Rachel rolled her eyes and turned to Anna. “Hon, I don’t mean to piss you off, but I’ve been trying to score with this hunk since I moved here.”
Anna stood several inches shorter than Rachel, but she squared her shoulders, jutted out her chin, and shouted, “Get in line.”
Rachel frowned. She took a step back and gave Anna a smirk. “You’re pretty feisty for a pipsqueak. I’ll give you fair warning. This guy, right here, is going to be mine.” Rachel abruptly walked away and left Anna fuming.
Seconds later, Anna heard Rachel scream. Anna and Jerry ran to Rachel, who lay next to the fence row where the barnyard met the main lawn. Rachel screamed, “Snake, Snake, I’ve been bit by a snake.”
Jerry surveyed the area quickly and caught sight of the rattlesnake slithering from the lawn into the tall field grass. Jerry jumped over the fence as Anna knelt down beside a hysterical Rachel.
Anna could feel the healing power surge into her fingertips as she wrapped her fingers around the spot where the snake had bitten Rachel. The bite was swelling fast. Anna said calmly, “Close your eyes, Rachel. Everything is going to be all right.”
Anna’s anger melted away. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her healing powers. She breathed in and out slowly as the power rushed into her fingers. She blocked out the background noise, the people screaming, and the footsteps crunching on the pebbles behind her. Anna held onto Rachel for a moment longer. By the time Jerry joined Anna on the ground, her powers had dissipated, and Anna released her hold on Rachel. The snakebite disappeared.
Rachel’s eyes widened with alarm, and her face turned pale as a ghost. “What the hell did you do to me?”
Luckily for Anna, she had two things going in her favor. One, Rachel was drunk out of her mind, and two, she wouldn’t remember a thing about the healing incident an hour from
now.
Anna shrugged. “I didn’t do anything. I just looked for a snake bite.”
Rachel lay back in the grass with her arm thrown across her forehead.
Jerry looked at Anna and seemed confused. He’d seen the snake bite but didn’t rat her out.
Mr. Doune ran up to them with someone Anna suspected was his wife, Mrs. Doune. He shouted, “What the hell happened?” The big man leaned down to his daughter, took one sniff, and shook his head. “Jesus, child, you’re drunker than a skunk.” Mr. Doune turned to Jerry and asked, “Did you see a snake?”
Jerry nodded and pointed to the field. “Yes, sir, I killed it. It’s just a few yards from the fence in the field.”
Mrs. Doune looked anxiously at Jerry first and then at Anna. “We could hear Rachel screaming all over the farm. Was she bitten?”
Anna shoved her hands into her blazer pockets. “Mrs. Doune, there’s no snake bite. You may want to check for yourself to be on the safe side.” Anna technically wasn’t lying.
Mr. Doune placed his hand on Jerry’s shoulder and squeezed. “Thank you for responding so quickly.” Mr. Doune helped Rachel to her feet, and she went with her parents to the main house.
Jerry and Anna walked slowly back to the barn party. With a frown, Jerry said, “Anna, I saw the bite. I saw Rachel’s ankle swollen with it. What did you do?”
Anna decided to take a chance and tell Jerry about the stones and the cave. “Several years ago, when I was fifteen, I went spelunking with Ruby and Sandy in Campbell Ridge Cave. We found a hidden room, a totem, and these mystical stones. The next day, I healed a hummingbird with a broken wing, and I’ve been healing folks ever since. I wish I knew how my power works. All I know is I can heal some injuries. Whatever is happening to me, I know it’s a good thing. I know I’m supposed to help heal people.”
Jerry didn’t say anything until they sat down on one of the hay bales near the food wagon. “I’ve been in the cave, Anna. I found the room when I was seventeen.”
Anna drew in a sharp intake of breath. Hell, she might faint. “Oh my God, do you have powers, too?” Her fingers tingled while Jerry talked about the cave.
Jerry placed his hand on her thigh before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a deep blue stone. “My stone is called lapis lazuli. It’s ancient Egyptian. I’ve done tons of research on caves and my stone. I discovered soon after my visit to the cave that I could solve complex mathematical equations. I hated math in school, and suddenly it was a breeze. It’s like that stone unlocked a key to incredible brainpower. I mean, man, did you know there are geomagnetic properties that can manipulate gravity?” Jerry paused for a second to study her reaction.
Anna grabbed his hand and squeezed. “I believe you. The miracles from Campbell Ridge are linked to The Creator. I can’t believe you have a stone, too.”
Jerry hugged her so tight against his chest she couldn’t breathe. He allowed his hands to drop away from her. “I’m so glad I can finally talk to someone about the cave. My parents think I just woke up one day and became a genius.” Jerry laughed nervously, and Anna joined him because Anna’s parents had had a similar reaction when they’d witnessed one of her healing events.
“As my math skills accelerated, I began to write binary code. And now, all I want to do is write code. When I started college, I was doing some research in the library and came across the I Ching. It’s this five-thousand-year-old text some folks call the Book of Changes, and it describes the binary poles of yin and yang as male and female. Many think that yin and yang is about good versus evil. But I believe it’s about keeping a balance between good and evil.” Jerry ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes briefly as if contemplating what to say next.
“The I Ching philosophy uses a broken line for yin and an unbroken line for yang. I spent hours in the library scouring over many books to help me figure out what the heck this all means. I Ching uses those lines to develop eight trigrams, and they turn into sixty-four hexagrams. They say it’s the way to the divine.”
Jerry stared into Anna’s eyes and swallowed hard. “I’m sorry if I’m talking too fast.”
Anna brushed her hand down his jawline. “No need to apologize. I understand what you’re saying about yin and yang. I’m just not sure how you use it while writing code.”
Jerry kissed her knuckles and smiled with what looked like relief. “Okay, so this is the scary part—sometimes when I write code, I kinda space out. I go into the ozone somewhere. When I look down at what I’ve written, the code begins to change on the page. The code changes into text all by its dang self. It’s like an encrypted message being decoded right in front of my eyes without me doing a dad-blamed thing. The code changes into ancient hieroglyphics, and then it’s translated into English. It freaks me out.”
Anna’s eyes went wide with amazement, and she inched closer to him. “What does the code say?”
“The first message gave me the details of the day I went inside the cave and received my stone. The message stated that I’m to help those I love. The message ended with, “Do not be afraid for I am with you.” The second time, the text revealed the New York City blackout that happened in July. In the text, it revealed the date, the time, and where the lightning bolts would strike. It described in detail what would follow. I didn’t receive any specifics on what I was supposed to do with the information, and when it happened, I damn well almost died of a heart attack.”
Anna shook her head in disbelief. She placed her hands palms down on the bale of hay and crossed one cowboy boot over the other. “Sweet Jesus. You’d think if the supernatural forces were going to give you information like that, they would’ve told you what to do with it. The first time I healed a little bird, I came close to a nervous breakdown. It’s taken me years to control my emotions so I can use my power in a positive way. You need to talk to Ruby. She dreams of the future. Maybe you two were meant to work together.”
Anna decided if and when she ever got the opportunity she intended on making a suggestion to Ralph that they explain things a little better for the humans. This otherworld bullshit was confusing.
Jerry met her eyes steadily. “The other information I’ve received is on developing new computer applications. It’s amazing how my mind opens up in a code-writing session. I’ve shared a few of the applications with my professors, and one professor suggested that I open a software business. He said it was the way of the future. But you’re the only one I’ve told about the New York City blackout. One message warned that there were some religious nuts out there who wouldn’t fancy me sharing this information with the world. But I feel this gift is a sacred privilege even though I’m not quite sure how to use it.”
Anna was a little surprised when Jerry mentioned opening a business and didn’t want to overthink the complications that it might bring to their relationship when she went to med school. But at the same time, knowing Jerry had gone inside the cave and received a stone made something inside her shift like she’d found a missing piece to a puzzle. “I get it. Ralph, I mean Raphael, is my guardian angel. He told me not to tell people about my power, or they could turn me into a lab rat. The cave, the stones, and our powers are so incredible, and yeah, it’s a little scary. Oh, oh, you have to start writing your episodes down in a diary. Ruby, Sandy, and I started keeping diaries. We call them the Ditch Lane Diaries. You can come to our meetings. We talk about our supernatural events, discuss our old entries, and add new ones, and Sandy catalogs them into one main journal. I’m not sure how all of this fits together, but we’re getting a better picture. It’s like our destiny.”
Jerry slapped his hand on his knee. “I believe it is, too. Hmm, the Ditch Lane Diaries. Let me guess, Sandy came up with the name?”
Anna chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, it was Sandy’s idea.”
As dusk turned into evening, raucous laughter filled the conversations around them while people milled about the gooseneck trailer, loading their plates with barbecue and desserts. Several
small bonfires were lit around the yard, forming a trail to the main house lawn. Jerry kissed Anna on the top of her head. “Let’s get something to eat and another drink. I need it.”
Chapter 5
Feels Like the First Time
Jerry loved having Anna under his arm at the hoedown. After eating, the rest of the evening was filled with lots of dancing. The crowded dance floor flowed out into the grass. He and Anna danced the Cotton-Eyed Joe. Out of breath, Jerry pointed toward the stage. “Look, Anna, Willie and Waylon are getting ready to come on and play. I told you country music stars would be here, didn’t I? Hot damn, I love Waylon Jennings.”
Anna leaned against Jerry’s shoulder. She glanced up and said, “Hey, who is that man standing behind them? He keeps staring at me.”
Jerry spotted Cole Steele staring at Anna as if she didn’t have on any clothes. It was all he could do not to go over and teach the son of a bitch a lesson on rudeness. “Cole Steele’s farm connects to Mr. Doune’s. The man’s got more money than he’s got good sense.” Jerry turned Anna away from Cole, and he glared at him over his shoulder. Cole just smiled and tipped his cowboy hat.
Anna shivered and wrapped her arm around Jerry’s waist. “He gives me the creeps.”
“Don’t worry about that asshole.” Waylon walked on stage and Willie joined him. The crowd at the party went crazy when they began to play “Luckenbach, Texas.” Jerry nuzzled Anna’s cheek and whispered in her ear, “May I have this dance?” Anna nodded, and he led her onto the dance floor and slowly twirled her around.
Jerry and Anna went into a two-step dance with a quick, quick, slow slide motion of their feet. Other couples on the floor danced in the same direction with the same rhythm. Jerry smiled as he swirled his sweetheart around the floor again. Anna swayed her hips and hummed along with the slow tune while they danced under the stars. God, he loved her so much. He was all caught up in a happy dream. Hell, in his wildest fantasies, he had never thought Anna would be his girlfriend. Anna’s eyes held his eyes, and he knew she felt the same way about him, no words needed.