[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
provement in the ramifications of modern day law over the crude but
effective punitive passages in Exodus 21, that read:
Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Burning for
burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
A girl came to her husband a maiden. A man neither worshiped false
idols nor went whoring after strange gods. White was white. Black was
black. There was no divorce. The purpose of marriage was to beget and
be fruitful.
Chaff sifted down Ferron s back. The hot stubble burned through the
60
SLEEP WITH THE DEVIL
thick soles of the cheap shoes he was wearing. Several of the blisters on his
palm had broken. He might eventually tan but despite a week spent under
the sun all his fair skin had done was become more sunburned.
He was both pleased and slightly winded when shortly after three
o clock the last cock had been forked up onto the rack and the load on the
rack had been transferred, via an old-fashioned horse-drawn hay fork, to the
bulging mow in the Wayne barn.
Managing somehow to look cool and clean and sweet in the
stifling heat under the high-hipped roof, Amy came into Ferron s arms.
I love you, Paul.
I love you, Ferron said.
Amy s gray-green eyes searched his face. You re so big. So strong.
You will be good to me, Paul?
Ferron spat out a mouthful of chaff and dust and wiped his lips on the
back of his hand. You know I will.
Amy s eyes continued to search his face. And gentle?
Ferron did what he d wanted to do for a long time. He cupped the
tempting bulge of a small buttock. As gentle as David was with Noi.
Amy sucked in her breath. Then, as if the pressure of his hand had
inflamed her beyond all control, she strained against him as they kissed.
Sweetheart. My husband-to-be, she panted.
Ferron felt as if he was holding a white-hot flame in his arms. The small
breasts boring into his chest made the blood pound in his ears. Sweat
dripped into his eyes and blinded him. It was all he could do to keep from
flinging her down in the hay and ripping the gray dress from her quivering
young body. He wanted to hear her scream with pain as he took her, bru-
tally, savagely, then hear her moan with ecstasy as her body acclimated itself
to this new way of life. He wanted to see her small oval face ugly and
contorted with passion when, as the Bible so succinctly put it, they knew
each other for the first time.
His hand grew even bolder. Amy strained against it for a moment,
then took it from where it was and pressed it to her heart. Tomorrow
night, Paul, she whispered. She stood on her tiptoes and nibbled at his
lower lip. Tomorrow night I ll be all yours. Then you can teach me.
Smiling, she descended the haymow ladder to the floor of the barn
proper and walked, a little unsteadily, in the direction of the house.
Ferron stood where she had left him, his blood still pounding in his
ears, sweat still blinding him.
He had been right about Amy. There was a hidden devil in her gray-
green eyes. She was a smouldering volcano wanting to be awakened,
61
SLEEP WITH THE DEVIL
wanting to erupt, wanting to be stoked by a master.
Then you can teach me.
It was going to be a pleasure.
He descended the ladder, then walked down the inside barn stairs to
the fieldstone stable that held the long rows of cow stanchions and horse
stalls. Wayne was just turning the teams out. He slapped the big bay on its
sweaty rump as he smiled at Ferron.
A good week s work, son, he smiled. I ll make a farmer of you yet.
God forbid, Ferron thought. Aloud he said, soberly, It s new, but I ll
catch on.
And fast, Wayne nodded. He took his old-fashioned open-faced
watch from the bib pocket of his overalls. Hmm. Jest a little after three.
You plannin on doing anything afore supper, Paul?
Ferron had considered a swim in the lake. It was spring-fed, reputedly
bottomless, and couldn t be as warm as it looked. But business came
before pleasure, and old man Wayne was his business. No, not particu-
larly, he said.
Wayne returned his watch to his pocket. Then I d appreciate it if you d
ride into town with me, Paul. I got some truck freight down to
Hackensacker s store, some new heavy-duty tires and a new draw bar for
the tractor. Asides, I d sort of like to talk to you.
I d be glad to go with you, Ferron said.
He glanced at the locked trunk of the Plymouth as he climbed into the
seat of Wayne s late model pick-up truck. He always felt easier when the
Plymouth was at the farm. There were no thieves in New Hope but one
could never tell when a stranger might come through.
The old man drove in silence until they were half way to New Hope.
Then, passing the Ben Frost place, he cleared his throat and began to talk.
Now, about that farm I promised to deed to you an Amy, Paul.
Yes? Ferron said.
The old man seemed embarrassed. Well, I I ve kind of changed my
mind.
You would, Ferron thought.
Wayne continued. Tain t much of a farm to begin with an you being
new to farming, I bin a studyin on it and I ve come to the conclusion it
might be best if I deed the home place to you.
Ferron glanced sideways at him to see if the old man was serious. He
seemed to be.
Wayne explained. That way I d still have Amy home with me, and
could give you a hand if anything came up you couldn t handle.
62
SLEEP WITH THE DEVIL
Ferron closed his eyes briefly. There were 2000 acres in the lake farm,
not counting the 500-acre lake. He must, he decided, live right. Instead of
having to con him, the old man was giving him the equivalent of a quarter
of a million dollars.
Wayne added, Of course it would be understood I d always have a
home with you and that you d never sell the farm, or any part of it, that it
would go to the children that you and Amy are going to have.
Of course, Ferron said.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]