Sheep's Clothing by Gary Lewis (dark books to read TXT) 📗

passenger seat. "There was this deer yesterday. It was attacked during the middle of the day. Me and Vance saw it."

"So that rules out the two of you?" Her heavy curiosity began to get sucked into the conversation that she hoped to avoid while they drove through the beautiful midday summer wilderness.

"Well," David said with uncertainty in his voice. "Vance showed up out of the blue at the tower. It wasn't long before we found it." He sank his head to the side. "So... I guess not."

"Is that where you mounted the camera?" Janice asked. "Even with that scope there's no way you're going to get a clear picture from there."

The gleam of Moss Lake rose from beyond the hills ahead and an unfinished conversation broke into a dead silence. Janice slowed as they pulled onto the bridge. The lake finally came into full view, shimmering with the summer sun. There were only a couple of boats visible. She felt David's hand squeeze between the seat and her upper back to slowly rest just below her neck. "I'm sorry, Jan. It's just got me worked up. It's whatever you want, just like I said."

As Janice slowly navigated the hills and curves, the shaded park entrance drive gradually opened up to a more sunlit parking lot.

"Find a spot near the shade," David said, motioning toward the elms that loomed out over the far end, near the beach.

"Not yet," Janice said while she continued driving past the beach parking. She noticed his silence. "It's okay, David," she said as she turned to smile in his eyes. "I'll be fine." Janice focused back onto the freshly paved drive and accelerated just a little.

Finally, the crowded beach parking gave way to the occasional pickup or SUV sitting alone among parking spaces that held only scraps of litter. The playful voices of screaming children splashing had departed behind them when they neared the peacefully quiet boat ramps.

"Here?" David asked.

Janice could feel the impatient anxiety fill the car with his breath. She pulled slowly into the darker, forested end to find a spot near the docks and they came to a dead stop.

Janice smiled and calmly turned to David. "No. Here." A few birds chirped just outside the car from above and a squirrel sprinted to carry its precious food up a large oak tree. The commotion of street traffic seemed a world away as yesterday and tomorrow faded from thought. Nothing existed but that eternal moment, ever-flowing with nature. David stared back with a light smile; his eyes now relaxed. The memories this place still held culminated to that one point in time and Janice couldn't help but wonder if David felt just as happy.

The gentle, rhythmic splash beckoned from outside the car. "Let's go," Janice said with excitement. She opened the driver side door as David hopped out to walk beside her and they strolled toward the docks.

"If you’re sure about this, I am too,” David said. This time his tone carried calmly through the air, deep with conviction. His words now supported her and held her up from within as his fingers slowly slipped between hers and a strong warmth thumped within her chest. She squeezed back and they continued onto the rickety boarded walkway that extended onto the water. As Janice removed her flip flops and sat at the edge to gradually dip her feet into the cool water, it soaked into her soul to wash away the pain. David took his spot beside her. There was no way to capture this feeling in a photo. Her memories of climbing onto the boat with her dad no longer chewed at her heart. She was no longer alone. The darkness was gone in this moment from which she could face the past. It was just her and now. Just us. 

"Look," David said as he pointed to the right. "A turtle."

Janice looked out over the lake. Beyond, the roadway could be seen stretching across the distant bridge. Tiny cars came and went from a world that she knew she must inevitably return to. But not right now.

"Still with me, Jan?" he asked, bringing her back to his face.

"Remember when we were kids?" Janice asked while swishing her feet in slow, wide circles. "Dad used to take us fishing out here every other weekend."

"I used to always wonder why your mom never came along," he said while looking at his lap with a slight smile. He looked up to meet her eyes for a second before leaning back with a laugh. "Remember that huge catfish that almost dragged you off?" His chuckle became louder.

"Oh. Shut up!" she said, matching his laughter. "You couldn't pull that thing up either."

She heaved to give him a playful shove toward the lake. David braced harder than she thought he would and Janice slipped, smacking the surface of the water. The splash engulfed her in fear. Everything went silent. She rapidly flailed her arms and legs to find the surface. Her ability to swim left with the panic that leapt through her body. She was alone, struggling to find a way to escape the abyss. No matter how hard she splashed the surface for a split second of air, she couldn't regain control.

Janice felt her elbow knock into something. It was someone. Arms wrapped around her from behind and paddling feet kicked against hers with a controlled rhythm. She locked her jaw tight, trying hard to hold her lungs as the darkness became light and they splashed out into the air. Bursting into gasps and choking up water, Janice rushed to catch her breath as they propelled toward the bank and she could finally stand to run back onto land. Still gasping for air, she wiped at her eyes. Her clothes now soaking wet, sinuses stinging with water, she wobbled to catch her balance as David wrapped his arms around her shoulder to support her.

Amidst her dripping face, she couldn't tell if she had been crying as she noticed David was also huffing