Banner by Sparkles

A Summer Night

 

He broke the surface of the water with a gasp. The heat of the day was still lingering in the bush but the creek was cold, the water flowing down from somewhere up the mountain. He ran his hands over his body, washing away the sweat and dust of the long ride. Above the waist, he was quite tanned, from all the hours spent shirtless chopping wood and clearing the bush around their latest hideaway. Through the clear water he could see how white his legs were and he was reminded of her skin, how it looked and felt under his hands and he closed his eyes for a moment. Jesus. Soon he would see her again. He could feel himself stir, despite the coldness of the water and felt tempted to touch himself but knew it would be nowhere near the same as with her. Her hands on him, her body opening up, welcoming him back. It had been too long. 

He waded out of the creek and lay down on the grassy bank to let the warm night air dry him. Dusk was just falling and the cicadas had started in the trees, drowning out all other bush sounds. The familiar smell of the gum trees mingled with the faint perfume of a flower somewhere. Idly he wondered what Ireland smelled like – he had heard so many stories about that faraway land that was such an integral part of him, yet it was so alien that he could not even imagine it. The vast Australian sky stretched out above him with its millions of stars, the solid Australian earth under his back grounded him firmly to his place in the world. This was where he belonged. 

He got up and stretched. She would be working for a while still, serving drinks in the noisy bar. He wondered if she knew he was coming to see her tonight, if she could feel him thinking about her, wanting her. He thought of her lying on her bed, her hair all spread out around her, waiting for him and he groaned. It was going to be one uncomfortable ride into town if he didn’t stop these thoughts. 

He got dressed and ran his fingers through the damp curls on his head, trying to distract himself with lines from the latest poem he had been writing. As he sat down to pull on his boots, he noticed a smooth pebble shaped like a bird’s egg. He reached over to pick it up and turned it around in his fingers. It was an unusual pale green colour and felt warm in his hand. Smiling, he put it in his pocket, a perfect present for her. 

With ease he swung himself onto his horse and let her pick her way out of the bush. She seemed to know where they were going and the slightest pressure of his thighs was all that was needed to coax her as they moved through the stillness of the night. The road into town seemed deserted but he hugged the shadows, on the alert for the smallest sound, the coldness of the pistol tucked into his trousers reassuring.  

He tied his horse to a tree and watched from a distance as the bar door was bolted after the last staggering drunks had been ushered outside. With soundless steps he crossed the road and easily climbed up onto the balcony running the whole width of the building. He stood to the side of her window, waiting, his heart beating fast. Soon…  

She entered the room holding a lantern and his breath caught at the sight of her. The soft light made her look ethereal, like an angel and for a moment he couldn’t move. She put the lantern on the table by the window, reaching out a hand to close the shutters and at the same moment he stepped in front of her. They looked at each other for a long moment and a slow smile spread on her face. She pulled back her hand and started unbuttoning her dress, her eyes never leaving his face. He could feel himself swelling and the blood thundering in his ears as he watched her slowly undress herself in front of him. Jesus Mary and Joseph but she was beautiful, her skin glowing in the light, the soft curves of her body so familiar he could feel them under his hands even when he was not touching her. He pushed the shutters aside and climbed in.  

“Jesus lass!” He had barely got his lips on hers before she stepped away.  

“I want to watch you do it for me.” Her voice was hoarse and the look she gave him told him that she had been thinking about him too. 

She lay down on the bed, her eyes intent on his. He pulled out the pistol from his waistband and set it on the table. Then he sat down on the bed to pull off his boots. When he went to bend down towards her, she put out her hand.  

“No. I want to watch you do it too. Please?” The mere thought of her watching him undress was almost enough to finish him off and he fought for control. Carefully he got up and removed his jacket, draping it over the chair next to him. Then he turned to face her and started unbuttoning his waistcoat. He concentrated on looking into her eyes as he removed his shirt next, but when his hands went to his trousers her eyes followed and he couldn’t help a moan. In his haste to get his legs free and to get to her he nearly tripped. She laughed, a low intoxicating sound that turned into a sigh when he finally had her in his arms. 

The candle in the lantern had burned down and the stars were starting to fade from the sky when he bent down to give her one last kiss. Then just as silently and the same way he had arrived, Joe Byrne disappeared into the summer night.