Wartime Calls: When He Left

Summer Begins

   I like to remember him, as the sweet southern farm hand who occupied my summer. It's been five years since our "eternal" summer came to an abrupt end. I still see him around; in my memory,  in every poem, in the rain, in strangers passing by, and even standing behind me when I look in the mirror... Of course, as per usual, I realize he is never there.  He is still with me and I don't believe I will never let go.
   I was seventeen when I moved in with my aunt Cassidy in 1964. Aunt Cassidy owned a cattle farm in Culver, Alabama, and I was beyond eager to spend the summer with her. It was a nearly a week after I had moved in when I decided to visit the barn to see the horses when I first met Malachi.
  I will never forget the way his eyes took me in. They may have been the color of ice but they set me on fire. Love at first sight is not real, until you experience it for yourself. His brow furrowed at my sudden appearance.

"Well, who might you be?" A playful smile krept across his face.

"Jane... I'm the owner's niece." I was wearing a daisy dress that day and couldn't stop fidgeting with the ruffles around the bust. "I'm staying with her through the summer."

  "That sure is a pretty dress you're wearing. We could use a nice lady around here to lighten things up." He wiped his hands on his pants before offering one. "I'm Malachi Stevens, your new favorite farm hand."

  Boy was he right about that. Almost instantly we began spending as much time together as possible. He became my best friend over the course of the next month. We did everything together. Whether it was horse riding or wandering the fields we were inseparable. I remember one particular instance when we were running around the farm that changed the course of our friendship. 

  Malachi has just finished his work for the day when he stopped by the house to say hello. Only this time things were different.

  "Do you want to have some fun tonight?"

  "What do you have in mind?"

  We were sitting together on the whitewashed porch watching the sunset.

  "Let's go for a walk." His smirk lead me to believe that he had something else in mind.

  "Right now? But it's getting dark."

  "Are you always this observant? Yes, now." He chuckled.

  "But what about-"

  "Don't worry your pretty little head about your aunt. I'm sure she won't notice for a little while."

  That was the first time he ever called me pretty.

  We began walking around the farm as the sun gently dipped behind the trees. We spoke about our hopes for the future and how life was strange when we stopped at the large pond hidden among the woods.

"I didn't even know that we had a pond..." It was a beautiful hidden pond.

  "I found it last summer. It's my little hideaway from life." Malachi removed his shirt and began to unbutton his pants.

  "What are you doing!?"

  "What's it look like? I'm going swimming!"

  "But it's dark!"

  "Jane, have you never went skinny dipping before?" He jumped into the water sending a wave to soak my white dress.

  "Never!"

  "Then come on in!"

   "Malachi Stevens, are you crazy!?! I'm not going to get in the water!"

   "Chicken!" He started to tease me. He knew exactly how to push me out of my comfort zone. "It won't kill you, princess..."

  "Fine! I'll do it!" I too stripped and valiantly jumped into the murky water. "Are you happy now?"

   "Very..."

  He swam close to my face before stopping. We both went silent. Something was different. My heart was nearly beating out of my chest. His eyes met mine.  Somehow his arms enveloped my waist. Our breathing was synced. I just couldn't look away from his eyes. A hand gently caressed my cheek. I was speechless. What was happening? Instinctively my own hands were on his bare chest.

  "You are beautiful."

  I couldn't reply I was too shocked. I wasn't sure of what was happening let alone what I was doing. He was so attractive that I could barely stand it. I'm not sure if it was my doing or his but we were brought closer. His lips barely grazing mine. I could hardly breathe at this point. Contact! Our lips met and my eyes drifted closed. He began to kiss me with tenderness, but it was something of the wild. He was wild. And I instantly loved him for it.