Deep in the Heart
Page 41
Clay motioned toward the marker that he had made for Julie’s grandfather. He read the name, “Josiah Mitchell. Born 1748,” and then turned to face her. “I been thinkin’ about your grandpa.”
“You’re going to join with Houston, aren’t you, Clay?”
Clay blinked. “How’d you know that?”
“I know you pretty well, Clay Taliferro.”
Clay stared at her and then shook his head. “Beats me how a woman can figure out what’s goin’ on in a man’s mind. Well, I been thinkin’ about how your grandfather fought back in the Revolution. He told me lots of times how hard it was, but once he said, ‘If I hadn’t done it, I would have felt less than a man.’ I been thinkin’ about it ever since he said that, and now it looks like it’s time for me to fight too. I been kind of a wanderer doin’ what I please most of my life, but now this is different. I’ve got to be a part of this Texas, and this is the way to do it.”
Jerusalem studied his face. “I love this land, Clay, and it’s going to be free soon. I can feel it. Men like you and Houston and Brodie and Rhys and others like you are going to make it that way. It’ll be a good land for children to grow up in and for people to grow old in. More and more I keep singing that song of yours, especially the chorus:
Deep in the heart!
O deep in the heart!
Naught can be lost
That’s deep in the heart!
“That’s what this land has found…this Texas—a place deep in my heart.”
Clay did not answer, and for a time they sat there listening to the sounds of the evening. Finally, Jerusalem said, “Let’s walk to the river. You feel up to it?”
“Of course I do. You think I’m a baby?”
The two walked slowly along the path until they reached the river.
They stood there quietly watching the river flow by, making its sibilant whisper. A kingfisher dove into the water, came up with a silver fish, and then flew off to disappear downstream.
Jerusalem suddenly turned, and Clay turned to meet her. She was wearing an odd half smile.
“What are you laughing about, Jerusalem Ann?”
“I was just thinkin’. You don’t know much about women, Clay. I think you’re afraid of them.”
“Afraid of them! Why, shoot no! I’m just careful around them. They can be dangerous, you know. Kind of like a bear. Most of the time bears will leave you alone if you don’t mess with ’em, but then sometimes for no reason they come chargin’ in and try to tear your head off. I think women are kind of like that. You never know what a woman will do.”
Jerusalem’s smile broadened. “So, women are like bears.”
“Well, they’re a little bit better lookin’, I reckon.”
Jerusalem looked at Clay oddly. “You know, Clay. I haven’t kissed any man except Jake for twenty years. You know what I’m wondering right now?”
“Well, no I don’t. I can’t read your mind like you read mine.”
“I’m wondering what it would be like to kiss another man.”
Clay stared at her and cleared his throat. “I reckon you’ll find out when men come courtin’ you now that you’re a widow.”
Jerusalem said huskily, “Maybe I don’t want to wait that long, Clay.”
Clay suddenly reached out and hugged Jerusalem. He gave her a kiss, almost missing her mouth, and then stepped back awkwardly.
“You call that a kiss!” Jerusalem exclaimed. “That was pitiful!” She reached out, put her arms around Clay, and pulled his head forward.
At that moment, as her lips were pressed against his, Clay sensed the longings for love this woman had and knew the power she had over him. He was not a man to think of such things a great deal, but now he knew she had a way of stirring deep feelings in him he had not known he possessed. He held her tight until finally she released him.
She stared at him, waiting for him to speak. When he did not say anything, she said, “Well?” in a demanding tone. “What do you think of that?”
“I reckon I don’t know. You get a man all confused. I’m a little bit out of practice for that sort of thing.”
Jerusalem suddenly laughed. It was a deep laugh and full of joy. “Maybe you’ll get a little bit bolder after a while.” She saw his expression change and laughed again, then took his arm in hers and said, “Let’s go back to the house.” As they walked back up the path, she said, “I want you to pay me a compliment, Clay. Say something nice about me as we walk.”
Clay thought for a moment and then said, “Well, your elbows ain’t ugly like most women’s are.”
Jerusalem gasped and shook his arm. “You call that a compliment!”
“Why, sure. I mean most women have got ugly elbows all rough and red. The first thing I ever noticed about you, Jerusalem Ann, was your elbows were all nice and smooth and plump.”
“Well, Clay Taliferro, what a beautiful compliment,” laughed Jerusalem. “Tell me more about my elbows.”
As the two walked back toward the house, the sound of Jerusalem’s laughter echoed through the trees. Above, the huge silver disc called the Comanche Moon flooded the pathway. A large bobcat with tufted ears and green eyes watched them pass. Then deciding they were harmless, he licked his forepaw and then leaped to the ground and padded away into the warm silence of the Texas night.