THIRTEEN FOR DINNER

Fifteen

FIFTEEN

            I want to sit up, look Lunar in the eye and thank him profusely but I am weak and the weight of my dress holds me back. “Thank you,” I manage to choke out amidst coughing up river water. He doesn’t say anything; he only sits beside me and stares. Beads of water rolls off his bronzed skin and drip from his long pony tail of dread locks, his features are fierce and his eyes intimidating. Funny thing is I am not afraid of him; but then again, why should I be? He risked the currant to pull me to safety. We stare at each other for a while, me shielding my eyes from the fiery glow of the setting sun, and Lunar boring his eyes into me as if he is trying to decide whether or not rescuing me was a good idea. I can see why Emily is drawn to him. His muscles bulge, sculpting his dark skin, his body in optimum shape, no doubt from hard labor. Mr. Faulkner more than likely abuses him, treating him no better than a work horse, totally overlooking the brilliant mind behind his eyes. I can see it though, and I am sure Emily does as well.

            “You gonna be alright.” He says. “Once you rested up, you get back to that party. And you don’t tell anyone who pulled you out of the water, you hear?”  His tone is harsh and I think he’s trying to intimidate me but it won’t work. I went to high school with tough guys like him. Once you get to know their souls, they’re just like everybody else.

            “Sure,” I say as I struggle to sit.

            “And another thing,” he continues his list of instructions; “I know you were only trying to help Naomi, in town this mornin’, but you done her more harm. She got punished bad for sittin’ on that bench and drinkin’ your water. You may be white, but your opinions about color folk aint taken seriously by the men folk cause you’re a woman. So from here on out mind your business and save us the trouble.”

            In any other circumstance I would be pissed off, but right now I am just thankful to be alive and on dry land.        Having said his peace, Lunar stands, leaving me to dry off in the grass when we hear the Quillan yelling my name. Lunar’s face looks troubled as he glances towards the woods. Cutting his eyes back to me he raises his finger and gives me a final warning before disappearing in the woods. “Remember what I told you, you got out of that water on your own.”

            “Avery!” Quillan sounds anxious. Letting out a few lingering coughs I respond to his call.

            “Over here,” I make an attempt to raise my weak arm.

            Quillan eyes me and breaks into a run. “What the hell happened?”

            “I slipped on a slimy rock,” I answer him and he shakes his head and I think he might be mad again and I’m afraid he’s going to reprimand me for screwing around.

            “You could have drowned,” he says and doesn’t look at all pleased.

            “No kidding,” I fire back. “I thought I was.”

            His face takes on a new anxiousness as he looks around, “Where’s Emily? Did she fall in too?”

            “No,” I cough again. “She left me alone at the gazebo while she ran a quick errand. I was hot and bored so I decided to cool off. I never figured it was so deep not to mention swift.”

            Quillan just shakes his head and looks relieved. “I’m glad you made it out.”

            “Me too,” I mumble keeping Lunar’s secret for the time being, just in case he’s close by and listening. However I intend to tell Quillan once we get back to the hotel.