“Ruby said food would be ready when we were. Shall we?”
“We shall.” Robin took his offered hand to help her up off the bed, squeezed him tight in a hug as soon as they were standing. “Thank you.”
The tall woman must have heard the old hinges creak as they left the room, her head appearing around a corner. “Hi, kids. Have a nice nap?”
“Uh, very nice. Thank you.” They both wondered if any of their ‘nap’ had been overheard as they followed her into the large, open kitchen. Tom was leaning back in a shaker chair at the round pedestal table, his eyes twinkling. A large ceiling fan stirred the warm air.
He looked closely at Robin. “You look a little flushed, young lady. Too much sun?”
Jay butted in. “Yeah. I used some of the aloe on the burn. I hope that’s okay.”
Tom looked impressed as Ruby crossed her arms, staring daggers at her husband. He struggled to hold back a grin. “That’s fine, Jay. Interesting. I didn’t know you could use aloe for that. Might have to try that one out, Rube.”
“Tom! Quit teasing the girl!”
The old man started to laugh. Robin’s mouth dropped open as her skin further reddened. “You heard?”
Ruby put a long arm around her shoulders. “Sweetie, if anyone was still out by the swimming hole, they woulda heard too.”
Robin buried her face in her hands. Tom gave Jay a big wink. “Ruby, these kids need sustenance. Have a seat, you two. Don’t ever be ashamed of enjoying yourself. Way too many folk seem like to think pleasure is something some creator out there is sorry he or she created. Bullshirt!
“If more found the inclination, inspiration and stimulation to holler their heads off in delight like it’s possible we might have heard a little while ago, I can’t see it making the world a worse place.”
Robin and Jay found themselves both smiling at his rant, any embarrassment gone. Any other day, they’d have been more then uncomfortable sitting sharing another couple’s kitchen table buck naked, let alone being overheard as they’d been.
“I can see why you made such an impression on Dad as a teacher, Tom.”
Ruby shook her head as she set down a large platter with most of a roast chicken, cheese, some dried fruit, and what looked like home-baked bread. “At least Jay D. got to escape, I mean graduate. I had to go and marry the man. Do you drink beer? It’s that or water, unless you want more tea. I don’t like caffeine this late.”
“Make it water, Rube.” Tom said. “It’s been a long hot day and they’re probably dehydrated. We’ve got the best water around coming from our well, might as well share.”
The platter held mainly bones when the two stopped eating. The water was fresher-tasting than the tap water both were used to.
“I assume you both know you’re staying the night at this point. You’ve got your room already, and ours is clear on the other side of the house, so nobody’s likely to hear any snoring or what not.”
The two shared a glance.
“I’ll give you a ride into town in the morning after breakfast. Or Raven can. If it’s all right with the guests, I’m ready to retire myself. This day started early. Make yourselves at home.” After an exchange of thanks and goodnights, Tom shuffled off, not quite as spry as earlier.