Dominion Falls

Chapter Eight

The next morning, I was up at the crack of dawn, I found myself in bed, but I honestly don't remember coming to bed, I wrapped myself up last night and laid my head back on the swing, next thing I know its morning and I'm in my nightgown and in bed.

Two things I don't remember doing. Laying there I decided I was just too tired to remember what I was doing, I chalked it up to the work and the heat. Getting up I put on my robe and went downstairs to start the coffee pot.

While it brewed the delicious magical liquid, I went around the kitchen, cleaning up stuff I forgot to do last night. I have always liked a clean kitchen, that way the next day I didn't have to worry about the night before stuff.

After having a cup of coffee, I made pancakes for breakfast, After I placed everything on the table, I stood there waiting to hear any noise but didn't. I debated on going up and waking Devon up, but I wasn't sure if he just wanted to sleep in.

I ate my breakfast and wrapped up a plate for him, I was going to take a shower and get ready for the day and if he still wasn't up, I would wake him so he could eat before we started on the last of the barn roof.

I showered and put on a pair of shorts and a tank top, I knew today would get up in the high eighties, this time of year was always hot as hell. I looked at the clock and saw it was nine in the morning already.

I went out into the hallway and saw his door was still shut, I walked over and lightly tapped on the door, "Devon, you in there?" I asked, not too loud though if he was sleeping, I didn't want to jar him awake.

Nothing came back, so I decided to open his door. He wasn't in there, his bed had been made, nothing was out of sorts, I opened his window so fresh air could come in.

I left his room, leaving his door open. I went downstairs and saw his plate still untouched. There was no note anywhere. "Well, this is strange" I said aloud to no one in particular.

I cleaned up the kitchen and got a water bottle prepared, since I realized I will probably be doing the roofing on my own. Unless Devon shows up. I know he can come and go as he pleases but I just wish he would have left me a note.

The rest of the day went by smoothly. Finished the roof and cleaned everything up. Replaced a few boards in a couple of the stalls. I turned on the radio and set to clean each stall so that way when the shipment of straw comes in, I can start to put it in each stall.

I wanted to have a few horses by the time fall rolls around.

I looked at my watch and realized it was going on six in the evening. I should get dinner I thought. I stood back and looked over at what I had accomplished so far. Out of ten stalls I had six done.

Leaving four for tomorrow to finish. "Not bad if I say so myself" I said aloud and went to the house. Once inside I took a shower and threw on a comfortable pair of shorts and a new tank top.

I turned on my cd player and loaded up a favorite mixed cd that I created a while ago. I decided tonight I was going to make spaghetti, a nice dish that will last me two days since it seems I was once again on my own.

After dinner, I cleaned up, took my iced tea, and went to sit on my swing. I have a nightly ritual of that as long as the weather is decent. I could smell the rain in the air, which meant a storm was brewing somewhere and heading this way.

I went inside and closed Devon's window, I decided to take a look around and I opened a few drawers and saw there were no clothes in them, nothing in the closet either.

"I guess he's gone for good" I said to the room, I closed the curtains and shut the door. I figured tomorrow I was going to spend the day cleaning house and will strip the bed and wash and fold the sheets in case he wanted to claim them.

Making sure the back door was locked tight and most of the windows were shut in the rooms, I wasn't going to be in but left the small lamps still going. I never liked a dark house.

Lights had to be on in rooms even if I wasn't going to be in there. The lamps I left on would give a little bit of light, it was more of a security thing with me, I guess.

Once everything was taken care of, I grabbed more iced tea and sat out on my swing. The thunder was evident now, you could hear it from miles away. If this was how the summer was going to go, then I should invest in a generator.

Steve would have to help me with that one, since I know absolutely nothing of it.

The wind started to pick up, instead of a gentle breeze it was getting a tad rougher than I liked. I hope it wasn't going to be one of those violent storms that could turn into a tornado.

The storm you could tell was just a few miles away, the lightning was constant that lit up the night sky along with the thunder that cracked and boomed just as much as the lightning was streaking across the sky.

Within moments the rain started, it was coming down hard and fast. I blew out the lanterns and went inside, shutting the front door so no rain could come in. Going around and making sure all windows were shut downstairs.

I went upstairs to my bedroom and the window was slightly open, no rain was coming in, so I left it open and turned on the fan, so that way if the power went out at least there was some air movement that went on.

I went to the kitchen and poured another glass, the one nice thing was that the one kitchen window off to the side was a window seat, I made sure I ordered a cushion for it so that way I wasn't sitting on the wood.

I walked over and sat there leaning against the side wood part that was made for that also so you wouldn't be leaning against the glass. The storm was upon me now.

Watching as the wind whipped the tree branches around and the rain was giving the dry ground a drink, the only reason I never minded the rain during the summer, it always helped water what needed it.

Suddenly, I saw a car pull up, I smiled, I knew it was Steve. Always during rainstorms after he tended to his animals would he come over and spend a bit of time with me.

I enjoyed his company; I wouldn't ever turn it down. I went and opened the front door, standing on the porch waiting for him. He got out and ran to the porch and once under the cover did, he looked up and smiled at me.

I knew that smile on his lips. Countless times have I watched him without him knowing I was. I could tell his mood just by the expression on his face. "I wanted to stop in and check on you and to make sure you were okay" he said.

"I'm great now" I told him, and I actually was. Sometimes it was hard being alone when a storm hit. The night my parents died it was storming out and their car went off a bridge.

Some nights I wake up crying, having dreams of the events like I was there, but that night I was at my girlfriend's house, having a sleepover before she went away to college.

I took Steve's hand, and we went inside. Once he shut the door, he walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him. His lips gently touched mine, seeking permission.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into me, giving him permission. Our kiss was gentle at first, but the more we kissed, and our tongues danced the more passionate and fevered it became between us.

I don't know if it was the storm or just finally letting things happen between us or a combination of both things, but at that moment with no regret I was opening up to Steve and giving myself to him.