Blood of the Rainbow (18 page)

Jared smiled. “I like it. I think we should get the rest of the band here, and see what they think.”

Sara was surprised. “Now? It’s almost eleven Jared!”

“So, they won’t care. They don’t sleep anyway.” He unlocked his cell. “Hey, Steve, grab Luce. You and Carl head over. I want to do some rehearsing.” Sara couldn’t hear what Steve was saying, but it didn’t sound as if Lucy wanted to rehearse this late.

“Ok, but tomorrow is Saturday. She shouldn’t
have
to work…. Just check and see…. All right Steve, I’ll see you then. They’ll be here in about half an hour.” He sighed deeply and put his cell away. “Wanna go for a walk?”

Sara needed to work off some stress before the rest of the band got there. “No, but I do feel like dancing. Wanna join me?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll just patch this stuff through. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Sara went on into the dance hall, and started doing some stretching exercises to loosen up a bit. Jared came in, started the music and walked up to her. “Can I have this dance?” he teased, trying to be cute.

She bit her lip. “If you promise not to step on my toes.”

Jared grinned wryly, and held open his arms. The music started to play. Sara’s plan had backfired. Jared had called her bluff. She was losing this battle. It wasn’t easy to stay mad at Jared; she’d almost forgotten why they were fighting,
almost
.

Jared looked into her eyes and smiled, pulling her closer.

“This wasn’t what you were supposed to play,” Sara said, swaying against his body.

“Yeah, I know, but I needed to be close to you. This was the only way I could do it. You seem mad at me. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now. Please - just hold me and dance with me.” To Sara, this felt so right and natural, the way it was supposed to be. Why was it so hard to get close to Jared now? When they first met, he couldn’t get close enough to her. Now when Sara tried to show him how she felt, he pulled away. She thought about talking to Steve again. He’d been Jared’s buddy the longest. Sara made plans to talk to Steve sometime tonight.
If
, she could get him away from Jared long enough, and
if
they had time alone.

Jared whispered in her ear as they danced. “You feel so good in my arms. I don’t want to fight with you Sara. Please, tell me how I can fix this?” He gazed into her eyes.

“Easy, love me. Let go – don’t hold back. Don’t stop what happens. If things get heated up between us, don’t fight it – go with it. If it takes us all the way, then fine.  I know it’s what we both want.”

Jared opened his mouth to protest. “Sara….”

Sara put her fingertips to his lips and shook her head. “Jared, nothing will happen between us unless I
want
it to. I want you, and I know you want me too, or you wouldn’t keep fighting so hard. Look me in the eyes. Say I’m wrong. Say you don’t want me. Say it and I won’t bring this up again.”

“Sara, I…” Jared stalled.

“Just say it Jared,” she whispered. “That’s all you’ve got to do.”

“I can’t - it’s not true….”

Sara smiled. “If you’re being honest with me. When we’re done rehearsing, and it’s time for bed, please don’t walk away again. If you do nothing more than hold me in your arms, stay with me. I feel safe in your arms Jared. I won’t push you, if you won’t fight what you feel.”

A slow smile spread across Jared’s mouth. He cradled her face in his hands, staring into her dark eyes. He kissed her passionately several times. “I love you.
That’s
all I know.” He kissed her again.

Sara was near to tears as she waited for his reply. “Will you do that?”

Finally, Jared nodded.

The rest of the members of the band arrived.

Lucy hugged Sara. “Hey Kid, how’re you doing?”

Sara glanced at Jared before answering. He smiled at her. Sara sighed deeply and smiled. “I’m fine.”

“Did you want me to help you get your things in the morning?”

Sara stalled. “Ah….”

Lucy narrowed her eyes, glancing from Jared to Sara. “She’s
not
coming back… is she?” She looked directly at Jared.

Sara sighed and smiled. “Jared wants me to stay.”

Jared walked up behind Sara and rested his hands on her shoulders.

Lucy’s voice was serious. “Is that what
you
want Kid?”

Sara looked up at Jared. He smiled, bent down, and kissed her. Sara looked back at Lucy. “Yes, it is.”

Lucy sighed, saddened. She teased Jared. “I knew if I let her anywhere near you, this would happen. Kid, your mother is going to
kill
me for this!”

“I
love
Sara, Luce….”

“I know….” Lucy sighed deeply. “You’ll have to tell your mother Sara. She’s not going to like this. She’s likely to blow her top, and come after you.”

“Lucy, I’m an adult. She can’t
make
me go home!”

“She
won’t
make her go home!” Jared’s voice was low, firm, and final.

Lucy glanced at him out the corner of her eye. “No, I know, but she can make it hard on Sara. You know how she is Sara. She’ll lay the guilt trip on you. She’ll badger you, until you think it’s your decision. The next thing you know, you’ll be heading your car south, and you won’t even know why.”

Sara’s tone was determined. “I’m
not
going back to Crooked Creek Lucy!”

“I know Kid. We’ll have to deal with Mom when the time comes.”
And for Kaye’s sake, I hope she doesn’t cross Jared. That’s one fight… I think she would lose.

------------

Sara and the band practiced the songs for the gig several times. They kept practicing them until they were sure they were just right. It sounded good. Jared made a demo CD for the DJs to play as an advertisement for the show. With just two weeks to go, he wanted them to promote it at least a week beforehand.

They took pictures, and Jared and Sara designed the sleeve for the jewel case. Everyone was pleased with the results – very professional. The band didn’t stop rehearsing until nearly half past one. Jared offered for everyone to stay over, but they all refused. Steve and Carl were going fishing, and Lucy had to work half a day. At least she would have a chance to get some sleep, since she didn’t have to be there until noon. That left Sara and Jared alone again.

No matter how much Sara looked forward to tonight, she still had butterflies. She wondered if Jared got them too - probably not. Sara might still be a virgin, but there was no reason for her to think Jared was. It would be rude to ask, so Sara suffered in silence. She decided to sit on the bench by the pond for a while, to clear her thoughts. The night was dead quite, but for the crickets and frogs, that provided a somewhat off-key symphony. The breeze hung heavy with the scent of roses and wisteria. The sky was like a navy blue blanket, sprinkled with silver glitter. Far off in the distance, a lonesome whip-o-will called to its mate. There was the occasional howl of a wolf pack in the nearby woods. Wisteria Hall was Paradise. Sara understood why Jared wanted it so badly.

Sara slid off the bench, and lay back on the cool grass, propping her head on her arms, watching the misty clouds that drifted over the half-crescent moon. She closed her eyes for only a few seconds, and when she opened them again, he was there. Sara jumped. Jared was lying beside her, propped up on one elbow, looking down at her.

“Can I come in?” His voice was soft and warm.

Sara raised an eyebrow. “Come in where? I don’t understand. How did you sneak up on me like that? I didn’t hear a sound.”

 Jared grinned. “Redman - remember? It’s in my genes.”

“Oh, right – sorry - I forgot,” she sighed.  “You didn’t answer my question.”

Jared smiled. “You were a million miles away. I just wanted to know if I’m still allowed in
your
world. What were you thinking about?”

Sara looked back up at the sky. “Nothing in particular. I was just enjoying the night. Well, morning, now. I was thinking, how peaceful it is - I love it here. It’s not loud and busy, like Lucy’s.”

Jared sighed. “I knew you would, even when I bought it. It’s one of the reasons I snapped it up.” He laughed. “I always liked ‘Gone With The Wind’. This place reminded me of it.”

Sara watched a shooting star. “It does, kind of.”

“My parent’s house, down in Texas was rather small,” Jared continued without prompting. “I had to keep my trinkets and artifacts, in storage boxes, hidden away. I promised myself; someday I would buy a really big house. When I did, I would put them out, so they could be seen, and enjoyed. Then, when I bought Wisteria Hall, I made the Navajo room and put it all out, properly displayed.”

“Well, you’ve certainly done a good job. That room looks more like a museum exhibit.”

Jared laughed again. “I know I went a little overboard on some things, here at the house. I spent a great deal of money, researching its past. I wanted to restore it as near to the way it was as I could. The stone bridge across the stream, and the arch in the rose garden, for example. It wasn’t there, even when I bought the house. The old lady had it removed, when she inherited the house, after the war. You see,” he said, running his finger along the side of Sara’s cheek. “A lot of the original house was destroyed during the war.”

“The Civil War?”

Jared nodded. “I guess its previous owner was not as attuned to detail as I am. She didn’t bother having it restored. The whole of the West end of the house was falling down. According to the local library, a cannon hit next to the foundation, and that whole side of the house crumbled to the ground. It killed some of the slaves. Apparently, the owner had that part of the house set aside for servants. That’s why it’s not quite as lavished as the rest. I had it done that way on purpose. Slave quarters weren’t that important and were usually built with more common material than the main house.”

“I wondered why it had wooden floors and old-style wall paper. Even the curtains look like movie props. That was down to you?”

Jared smiled and nodded again. “Yes. That’s also the reason I chose to build the Navajo room in that part of the house. It reminds me of where my people came from.”

Sara studied his eyes. “I’m looking forward to seeing that. When is the convention?”

“In Arizona you mean?”

“Uh huh,” Sara nodded.

“It’s near the end of July and the first part of August. We’ll need to start getting ready for the show after we’ve finished the Reunion gig.”

The butterflies in Sara’s stomach changed to pterodactyls. “How many people do you think will be at the gig?”

Jared smiled. “More than you can count, I would imagine, if I have my way. I intend to get at least a week’s worth of advertisement from the radio stations. I’ve got a few, ‘
incentives’
for them to play our stuff.”

Sara grinned. “You mean you’re going to bribe them?”

“No!” Jared responded, looking first shocked and then smiled. “I’m just going to pull in a few favors. Besides, once they’ve heard you sing, they won’t
need
to be bribed. You’ll have them eating out of your hand Sara.”

“Could we talk about something else right now? I’ve had butterflies ever since you told me about it. The closer the gig gets, the bigger my butterflies get!”

Jared stroked Sara’s face with his fingers. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Like I told you. I’ll get rid of
all
your fears, starting tonight.” Jared leaned down and kissed her. At first, his kiss was soft and gentle, like before. Then, he deepened it, until Sara was almost breathless.

She pushed his face away slightly. “Don’t! Please – no more teasing. I can’t take it.”

Jared rolled over on top of her, propping his weight on his elbow. “No more teasing,” he said, before his lips covered hers. His kiss was hot, wet and hungry. He kissed her repeatedly like that. Sara’s body was a pool of desire. “Sara, if you don’t want this. You better tell me now, while I still have an ounce of control left. Are you
sure
you want me this way?”

Sara looked up at him through desire dazed eyes. “More than anything.”

Jared kissed her again and stood, holding out his hand. He helped her to her feet, pulling her hard against his body. His kisses were sucking the breath from her. When she swayed, he scooped her up into his arms.

Sara wrapped her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his long black hair. She was getting heated up, but she was afraid of letting go. Afraid of the disappointment that would be coming soon, when he pulled away. Jared didn’t. His lips left her mouth, and he started kissing her face. Down the sides of her neck. He kissed her passionately again and pulled back slightly.

“Let’s take this upstairs,” he whispered, staring into her eyes.

Sara tried to read his eyes, but there was no hesitation or doubt in her answer. “Ok,” she nodded.

Jared carried her back in the house, and started up the stairs, not taking his eyes off hers. They were a quarter of the way up to the first floor, when Jared’s butler stopped them.

“Sir, there’s a phone call for you from your father,” Gerald said, holding out the phone. Jared reached, still not taking his eyes off Sara’s. “I’ll take it in the bedroom,” he said, handing the phone back to Gerald.

------------

Jared sat Sara on the bed, leaned down, and kissed her again. “I hope this won’t take long.” He put the phone to his ear, and looked back at Sara, hunger still blazing in his eyes. “I’ve got it Gerald.” He turned his back to Sara and spoke softly so she couldn’t hear. A couple minutes later, Jared turned and sat on the side of the bed, his face troubled, his eyes glazed with tears.

Sara furrowed her brow, concerned. “Jared, what is it?”

“It’s my grandfather. I
have
to go to Arizona.”

“What’s wrong with your grandfather?”

“He’s had a severe stroke and lapsed into a coma. They don’t expect him to live. I’m sorry to do this to you, but I have to go. I’ll drop you off at Lucy’s, or you can stay here, if you want to.”

Sara stood. “I’d rather go with you….”