Big Sky Dreams

Burke - Chapter 2

The first time Burke had seen the newcomer, they were in the Post Office.  He had been in town on his monthly trip for necessities and to pick up whatever meagre mail he would get throughout the month.  She was opening a new post office box for her business.  He watched her out of the corner of his eye, admiring how her jeans hugged her curves, her voice a pleasant murmur as she spoke with the post office worker.  She was tall, only a few inches shorter than his six foot three frame, and all female.

The second time was at the feed slash hardware store a few months later.  He overheard her asking about where she could adopt a dog while the high school kid behind the counter rang up a few home improvement supplies, but all he could see was the reddish blond hair cascading down her back to her waist in a loose ponytail, and how it showed off the lines of her elegant neck and jaw.  He had gritted his teeth as he watched the kids eyes wander down to her ample chest more times than was polite.

The third time was today at Helman's Groceries and Gifts.  He watched as she hugged the little boy with the soulful eyes to her chest, fierce love mixed with old pain on her face as she whispered to him.  Burke couldn't help but stare at the lines of her face as she watched her little boy dash over to his sister, dark blond hair flying behind him, independence radiating out of both of them as they took care of the shopping for their mom.  It was fascinating to him to see her pull herself together, her chin jutting higher and her shoulders going back as she strode out of his line of sight.  She had a lush figure that was emphasized by the fitted jeans and dark green sweater she wore.  

He wasn't following her, but he was pleased to see that they were going in the same direction, mostly.  He watched out of the corner of his eye as she perused the clearance section, always an interesting selection of damaged food packages, out of season decorations, and odds and ends that sometimes get lost in the shuffle.  He itched to smooth the furrow between her brows as she mentally debated between two different kinds of chocolate bars and was pleased when she ultimately decided to get both, along with a random assortment of sprinkles (one of Christmas colors, the other from Valentines Day, not that he noticed) that one could always seem to find marked down.

Burke lost track of her for a few minutes after he couldn't justify lingering any longer in the dairy aisle, but then found her again near the small plant section.  Her full lips were curved in a gentle smile as she dragged a finger down the green leaf of a spider plant.  A chill shivered down his spine as he imagined her fingers tracing down his back.  Reining that thought in, he shook his head and turned away from her.  He needed to get back home.  His skin was beginning to itch from being around people for too long.  And he needed to get the thought of her figure and how her skin would taste out of his mind.  Wanting what he couldn't have was only going to drive him mad.

Heading to the check out, he began loading things on the conveyor belt as Nancy, the cashier, helped the customer in front of him.  He focused on the pictures of the magazines on the rack, even went so far as to pick one up to flip through it, but immediately stiffened as he heard the happy chatter of her daughter approaching.  She was pushing the cart, her kids flanking her, the little girl telling her all about how they had picked out everything on the list.  Her melodic voice sang through him and he cursed at himself as feelings that he had long since thought dead fought free.  He could smell her, sunshine and summer wheat, overlayed with the scent of the brisk day outside.  Closing his eyes, refusing to look at her to finally resolve the mystery of her eye color, he shuffled down the aisle as Nancy finally finished up her small talk with the customer in front of him.

"Burke, how are you today?" Nancy asked cheerfully, as she smiled warmly at him.  "Has it really already been a month?"  He nodded noncommittally as she chattered at him about everything and nothing while she rang him up.  Fortunately, most folk around town were familiar with his taciturn nature and didn't expect much of a response from him.  His nerves were on fire as he listened to the small family behind him, from her throaty chuckles to the high-pitched giggles of the little girl, Elenore.  The boy didn't speak much, but when Burke risked a glance behind him, those blue eyes met his and he saw a kindred spirit in the young boy.  They stared at each other until the spell was shattered by Nancy letting him know what his total was.  Giving her a smile that was more of a grimace, he paid, packed the bags in the cart, and left the store as the scent of the woman he was more than a little obsessed with swirled around him.

***

Thunk.  Thunk.  Thunk.  The satisfying sound of the axe biting into wood was calming.  It was predictable, the axe always landing where Burke wanted it to after long years of practice.  It was headed towards spring, and he had plenty of firewood, but the monotonous act of splitting wood was soothing to his frazzled nerves even as his muscles burned and sweat darkened the fabric of his shirt.  He had long ago stripped off his jacket but the constant movement kept him warm.

Thunk.  She will never look at someone like you.

Thunk.  How could you think of looking at someone else after everything that happened.

Thunk.  You're better off alone.

He liked his solitude.  Craved it.  But sometimes, in the rare times that he allowed himself to acknowledge it, he wanted someone else around.  But she clearly had a life already, the kids to raise.  Although he could easily picture the silent boy following him through the woods as Burke taught him all he knew about the wilderness, those sharp blue eyes seeing everything.  He could picture the fey-like girl flitting through the pasture, picking wildflowers, her barely contained wildness set free to play and explore.  And the woman...

His thoughts skidded to a halt as he refused to go there.  You're better off alone.  If he kept repeating it, he might even begin to believe it.