“How do you figure that?”
“I really do love you, and I don’t want to do what I’ll have to so we can be together.” There were tears running down her face now, and her voice was a sob. “I am so sorry! I’d let you go if I could! I swear I would! I don’t want you to have to live like this!”
He mulled it over for a few minutes, during which neither of them spoke.
“I suppose – aw hell, I love you too. I must; I’ve thought about you every day since I met you. Damn it, I’ve made love to you in my dreams every single night!”
“I know, Jake; I was there.”
He paused, taking a deep breath.
“So, what happens if I come over there?”
“You know what’ll happen. I can’t help that any more than you can; it’s what I am. Afterwards, though, we can be together. I’ll love you forever.”
He set a boot in the stream, ignoring the cold water spilling over his ankle.
“Will it hurt?”
She nodded before slipping her dress off her shoulders and letting it fall to the ground, pooling around her feet and reminding him of just how beautiful she was.
“A little bit, but I’ll hold you and I'll love you while I do it. I’ll make it as easy as I can. I promise.”
He continued walking, crossing the stream until he stood unprotected before her.
“I guess I’m yours.”
“I know.” She opened her arms. “Come here Jake; come and love me.”
He came into her arms and kissed her even as she unhurriedly pulled off his clothes, stripping him as naked as she was. Off somewhere behind the trees, he heard a mountain fiddle start a slow, sad waltz, and they danced like two white flames in the darkness, upright at first and then prone in the dry leaves, never missing a beat even when she put her mouth to his throat and began to drink.
~ END
Author's Note
Those familiar with Scottish folk tales may have noticed that RED CREEK WALTZ bears a resemblance to one or two of them; that's no coincidence. Good stories are where you find them. This tale started life as a short story in my book, DARK PATHS, and expanded from there.
If you enjoyed this book, you may be interested in knowing there's a sequel on the way with the working title of RED CREEK RUN, taking up a few months after this story left off with the same characters.
In the meantime, if you like your horror mountain-style, in addition to DARK PATHS, I also recommend WINGS IN DARKNESS, set in my hometown of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and DARK COUNTY, the black-humored first installment in a series of paranormal murder mysteries.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24