0 comments/ 17930 views/ 6 favorites Gold Miner By: BobbieWallace "Good morning sleepy-heads! We're on our way to ninety-three so get out that suntan lotion." It was not clear to Mattie what came first, the stray bright beam of light though the errant slat in the blind or the DJ's voice screaming once again what the weather would be. She knew she needed to find a new radio station. What she wished for more was a nice soft pair of lips to nibble down her neck in the mornings. She had almost given up finding such a delight. Mattie laid still as she drifted out of her deep sleep and listened to 'A Beautiful Morning'. The DJ always seemed to play that song after the weather report on days like this one. She had always thought it was cruel to think of such a hot day as 'beautiful'. For her a high of seventy-five would be a much nicer day. As her hand dragged across her mouth, the strong fragrance that filled her nostrils reminded her of what a nice time that she'd had with herself in the early morning not so many hours ago. The more she tried to remember the details, the more she became aware that it was not just once last night. Her fingers leisurely explored where they had been and the wet slurping sounds sent her off on another whirlwind adventure. The world of romance had always been mean and spiteful to Mattie. Growing up in Round Rock, she had lusted after the other girls; something frowned upon. Once she made a pass at her best friend Suzy and their lips had even touched. What a mistake that was. Everyone talked about her for months. She had tried the boy thing a few times in high school and even though she would tell herself that it was just inexperience on both their parts, all that seemed to happen was a kiss, a grope, and after a few strokes she was covered with the results of his orgasm. She always asked herself, 'Where were the fireworks for her?' At the university, she immersed herself in her studies and graduated with a 4.0 GPA and a 0.0 bedtime with anyone. Oh, there had been Kate for a night, but nothing much more than kissing happened. It was now the end of three years at law school and she already had four offers to work at the best law firms for far more money than she thought possible. Mattie was walking on cloud nine. For the last year, Steve had been one of those friends she would confide in about problems and he would do the same. They had never dated, but would sometimes stop at a bar and have a drink after class or go on short drives together. One afternoon after the last law school exams, they parked at the lake. The weather was nice. Lips touched, hands caressed, and soon her naked bottom was resting on the supple tan leather upholstery of the Mercedes seat. It wasn't clear what was turning her on more - Steve's fat forefinger slopping around inside of her or the sight of her skirt wadded up on the floor along with her panties about to slide off the dashboard, but she could almost feel herself start to get involved with the action between her legs. Steve began kissing his way down her body. She had read 'those stories' and the excitement of someone actually kissing her between the legs raced up and down her spine. The letdown of a few laps of his tongue and a brief suck on her clit was more than she could tolerate. "Eat shit!" she screamed as she stood outside the car and dressed. "What's wrong?" he yelled as she walked down the road and towards the bridge into town. The last she saw of Steve was when he flipped her the finger as he passed. The red Ferrari crushed Mattie against the concrete bridge abutment. She consoled herself; at least a rich drunk guy in ONE of his Ferraris was driving. In the hospital, she stared at her left hip where her leg used to start as the attorney dropped off a check with more zeros than she had ever seen. The driver was on his mega-yacht in the harbor at Monaco recovering with a broken finger. It had been a long few weeks since leaving the hospital and Mattie sat in the large richly appointed office of Mr. Sampson, managing partner of The Sampson Group. He was an imposing figure with a reputation for being a driven man - top of his class at Harvard Law School, clerked for an US Supreme Court justice, worked for a big law firm, and had been on the state appellate court for five years before starting his own firm. Mattie had considered not making this appointment and just sending a polite rejection letter, but she felt it was important to do this in person. She had tossed and turned for nights planning exactly what she would say. "I hear that you may not be working with us. I am very disappointed," he said. "The Sampson Group was at the top of my short list Mr. Sampson. The accident and then the generous settlement has opened up some new possibilities." "I understand completely. Let me suggest something I have been considering. I would like to open a free law clinic and I need someone to work maybe two days a month, maybe more. I think you would be the right person. You'd have full control of your time and the cases you choose. When you need help, we'd be here as a resource. I have a few towns in mind for the clinic. I understand you don't need the money, but I'd be happy to make this worth your while." "I still need to pass the bar." "I am sure you already know all the material like the back of your hand. I have someone here that can help you prepare. Susan passed the bar last year and is sharp like you. Making sure you pass the bar would be part of the package I'm offering." The stray beam of light that had awakened Mattie now was like the beam from a floodlight and filled the room. With a gentle tap on the alarm button, she silenced the song. She sat on the edge of the bed, stretched her arms, and let a long yawn flow from her mouth. At five-foot-eight and slim, most people would describe her as stunning. She combed her fingers through the curly light brown hair that draped casually over her shoulders. She rose and rubbed her hands over her firm breasts and across the tight muscles of her stomach. Balanced on her single foot, she lifted her hands over her head and did her usual morning touch-the-toes exercises. She stood in the large tile shower with the warm water cascading across her body. Her hands chased the suds over her nicely tanned body. The thick fluffy washcloth slipped easily across her body leaving trails of soapy bubbles everywhere. The washcloth fell with a splat onto her toes as her fingers began to recreate the pleasures of the early morning. Her back arched and her head touched the wall as she stared into the water falling from the showerhead and a low moan echoed off the walls. A tall freestanding mirror framed in a dark brown wood stood between the bed and widow. Dressed, she twisted back and forth in front of the mirror. The black high heal shoe accented her calf; the obvious gray seam of the white stocking was arrow straight; and the short brown leather skirt stopped just below the top of the stocking. She lifted the back of her skirt and straightened her panties letting the elastic snap against her hips with a soft pop. Her dark blood red blouse made it clear that there was nothing under it except Mattie. With a quick jiggle of her breasts to straighten them, she sighed a small mummer of approval. Mattie strolled gracefully along Main Street past the trendy boutiques that sold things no one in their right mind would actually need. Somehow, the stores managed to stay in business because of all the tourists that came to Coffeeville to vacation by Lake Johnson. There were several bigger towns not far from away, but it was a nice town and all she needed on most days. The first months she lived there had been good, so far. "Wonderful," the woman next to her exclaimed as they both waited for the traffic light to change. Mattie did not know exactly what the woman was talking about or if she was somehow involved in the 'wonderful' event. When she realized there were no other people near them, she asked, "What?" Mattie looked puzzled while staring at the woman's face. "I'm sorry. How rude of me. I was just taken by your beauty and how nicely you carry yourself." "Oh. I try to not let myself come across as helpless." "My name is Joann, everyone calls me Jo." Jo held out a hand with lovely fingers and neatly manicured nails that ended just over the end of the fingertips and painted an attractive shade of red. "Well Jo, I'm Mattie. Call me Mat. Can I buy you a drink? I'm on my way to the Blue Parrot." "I'd love too." Jo touched Mat's upper arm and let her hand linger just for a moment. The Blue Parrot was at the end of the next block and the two women walked next to each other, occasionally stopping to admire things in store windows. They often had similar reactions to things they saw like "who'd buy that?" or "isn't that exquisite?" "Bar or table?" Mat asked as they walked though one of the large open archways of the Blue Parrot foregoing the tables along the sidewalk. "Bar," Jo replied as she swung her leg over a stool. "Hey Sara, a Corona for me," Mat said to the bartender. "And one for my best friend Jo." "A mind reader huh? What do you do for a living, perform?" Jo teased gently. "Actually I'm an attorney. I was going to be a fancy high-powered one like in the John Grisham novels, but instead I do pro bono work several days a month. The rest of the time I'm a woman of leisure and pick up lovely women on the way to the Blue Parrot." Mat snickered and then smiled. "I feel honored to be your conquest for the day." Jo tipped the bottle and let a sip of the golden fluid roll across her tongue before it proceeded down her throat. "Now that hit the spot on a scorcher like today. Wish highs weren't above seventy-five." "My sentiments exactly. What about you, what do you do besides pickup women on crutches?" "I usually don't tell people that I have a PhD in History. If I do, their eyes roll back in their head and they walk off. These days I write novels and sometimes give lectures. My specialty is the California Gold Rush. I'm starting a new book, my fifth one." Mattie watched Jo talk and realized that the whole time she had been with her, she had not really noticed how attractive Jo was. Though Jo was probably more than a few years older than Mat, her features were smooth and refined like the way she talked. The loose fit of her blouse and shorts hid what Mat assumed was a body well taken care of and fit like her long slim legs that extended 'all the way' to her white running shoes. "You have lovely eyes," Jo whispered. "I hope you don't mind me saying that." Jo's fingers brushed against Mat's in an exploratory touch. Jo watched for any kind of reaction as her fingers repeated the touch again. Mat touched back and left a few fingers on top of Jo's hand. "I was just noticing how nice you look. Thanks for flattering me." Leaving her fingers against Jo's, Mat took another sip of her beer. "Guess I'm not always approachable, glad you tried." "I try to be, but usually people never get all that close. I'll work on that for you." "I need to go to my office soon, what are you doing tomorrow?" Mat asked. "Could be here for lunch?" Jo finished her beer as she watched Mat disappear into the bright sunlight. Mat walked slowly back to her house five blocks from the Blue Parrot as she question what she was doing letting someone try to get close to her. Today wasn't her day at the office; she just had to back away from Jo. She lingered in the shade of a tree along the curb and thought about Jo. "Loved the way her words moved me," she whispered out loud and then admonished herself, "Go slow fool." Kevin let out a loud whistle and Mat waved back. "Don't you look good enough to eat!" he hollered. Kevin lived with Carl a block from her and they often traded pleasantries. Mat loved her house right on Dead Man's Cove. The cove was a wide finger of the lake that extended almost into town. The location gave her a great view of the main lake and easy access to town with all the shops, restaurants, and entertainment. With her money, she knew she could have had more, but this gave her all she needed. After a quick change, Mat strolled through the backdoor on her way to the chair on the dock. She was dressed only in a man's white long sleeved shirt; the only fastened buttons were the bottom two. Tucked between a few fingers of one hand was a paperback book, a large commute cup with the top snapped shut and filled with ice tea dangled from the other. As she sat on the cushion of the lounge chair, she dropped her crutches on the deck with a loud thud. "Don't scare the fish," Robert the old man in the small fishing boat teased as he waved to Mat. The electric motor made an almost imperceptible hum as the boat slowly passed her dock. He always was out in his boat, but never caught anything. Mat sometimes kidded him that if he would put bait on the hook, something might bite. Today his wife Doris wasn't with him. Mat waved. She suspected he had a small crush on her. The open book lay upside down spread across her chest as she rested her left forearm over her eyes for a moment before letting the hand drift along her body. She glanced at the toes of her right foot as they wiggled alone in the light breeze off the lake. Thoughts of Jo rolled around her mind as her fingers snaked through the moistness between her legs. The pink skin inside of her was something she would forever enjoy touching. "I was worried you might be all dressed up today," Mat said as she walked into the blue Parrot wearing khaki shorts, white t-shirt, and a brown sandal. "Yesterday I was unusually dolled up, my slutty look." "I just got here. Yeah, I had the same concern. Great minds and all that you know. I'm pretty casual." Jo said without standing. She pulled out the chair next to her in an effort to make sure Mat sat there rather than at the other side of the table. "Wow, you make my heart flutter." "Knock it off," Mat said with a huge smile. "Flattery will get you everything." "What would you like today?" Sara asked. "Two beers?" "I'm going to be wild and crazy. A rum and coke," Mat replied. "Same. Make those doubles," Jo said as she reached over and ran a fingertip over the back of Mat's hand. After Sara walked away, Jo whispered, "Maybe I'll get lucky." Jo giggled another of her pleasant laughs. Mat knew she could get used to Jo's laughs very easily. As they each searched the menu, Jo's finger continued to stroke Mat's hand. Mat could see Jo's mouth move, but she was too deeply engrossed with the lips to hear very much. She pondered what it would be like to just press her lips against those full red pieces of flesh. Everything inside her body was screaming, demanding even, that she just let herself kiss Jo. A tiny piece of her, the rational part, was urging caution. That tiny piece of her was all that had kept her heart safe in the past during the few times of danger that she had encountered. "What can I get you?" Each time she repeated the words, the sound of the voice changed in perception and tone. Sara touched Mattie on the shoulder. Mat realized Sara was trying to get her attention. In a startled voice, she responded, "Oh! Sorry. I'll have a burger and fries, and another drink." Mat hoped that was the right response. After Jo ordered, she asked Mat, "Are you okay?" "I'm so sorry. I was off in another world. It was nice and you were there with me." "That sounds lovely. I hope we can explore it together next time." Jo chuckled and her fingers wrapped a little tighter around Mat's hand. "What were we doing in your fantasy?" "It was just a crazy little daydream, you would laugh at me." "No Mat. I wouldn't. Let me tell you my little fantasy about you from this morning. I don't think you'll mind." "I wouldn't if it was like the one I just had about you." "Oh good. Then I'll save it and we can just act it out after lunch." Mat cooed, "Hmmm." She could feel the puddle growing in her panties as she imagined with great clarity and excitement about what was going on in Jo's mind. The way Jo's tongue wetted her lips in the slow passage from one side to the other added another wave of moisture to her growing puddle. The rear strap of Mat's sandal slipped away and her foot came free. Her toes brushed against Jo's ankle and then up a few inches along the calf. Jo nodded in approval just before she closed her eyes for a moment. Jo whispered softly so only Mat would hear, "Wish you could see what I'm doing to you." Mat mewed back with her eyes closed, "I love the way your tongue feels against me." By the time the food arrived, both were in near orgasmic bliss from the words drifting between them. Jo whispered as she let go of Mat's hand to hold her burger, "My appetite for food is being replaced for something else you know." Mat replied with a devilish grin, "I do hope we can have 'dessert' at my place after we leave here." Their purses hit the floor at the same time the front door clicked shut. The quick intoxicating kiss in driveway gave way to a long exploration of each other's mouth with adventuresome tongues. Jo's hand wandered past Mat's navel and into the wet darkness of her panties without regard to the uniqueness of Mat's body. Mat was enjoying herself too much to even consider stopping to explain. The elastic waistband of Jo's shorts quickly slipped over her hips followed by the hipster panties she wore. "I need you down..." Mat gasped as her fingers stroked though the well-trimmed hair between Jo's legs. "I need to be down...here," she exclaimed. "Now." "Bed?" Jo asked as her hand explored similar places. "Too far," Mat groaned as she pulled her tongue out of Jo's mouth for a second. They waltzed the few feet to the couch and fell next to each other. Lips touched skin, as body parts are uncovered, kisses are applied. Small, wadded piles of clothes began to appear on the floor. "I hope you don't mind," Mat offered as Jo's face kissed near the missing leg. Jo's kisses over the light faded scars were the only answer she needed. The wonderful aroma of Jo that filled Mat's nostrils were from a place she had never been, one that she knew she could become addicted to with ease. Her fingertips parted the pieces of skin and she savored the wet pinkness in front of her with each lap of her tongue. The "Ah-h-h," that came from the other end of Jo urged her to continue. Jo's fingers were playing her like a finely tuned instrument and quickly all the notes appeared that signaled immense pleasures were soon to arrive. The sounds of passion that filled the living room made it clear that they both had finished the same tune at the same time. "I want to lick me off your tongue," Jo said as she twisted around and held her face inches from Mat's and breathing deeply. "It excites me that you were there." Jo dragged her tongue slowly across Mat's lips. She sucked Mat's tongue between her lips as Mat held it out. "I need you," Jo hoarsely groaned. Mat placed Jo's hand over her missing leg and rubbed. "Thanks for not minding." "Darling, I want all of you. And that includes that piece of you." "Maybe we should adjourn to the bedroom." Mat giggled. "Only if we can stay for a long time," Jo whispered as she repositioned herself and let the tip of her tongue touch the wet, engorged, almost pained, begging clit, just enough to make a shiver race though Mat's spine in both directions more than once. "Anything you want!" Mat exclaimed as she combed her fingers though Jo's hair. Jo popped back up with a smile of victory, and then strolled into the bedroom. Mat could not suppress the small groan as she watched Jo's naked ass wiggle with each step. "I heard that," Jo said with a 'follow me' wave of her finger. Mat was happy she had at least pulled the covers up on the bed even though that did not hide the smell of her morning ritual affair between her fingers and the smooth wet pink skin between her legs. Gold Miner Jo inhaled deeply. "Someone diddled with herself," she teased. "Shame, you know that will make you go blind." "Yeah, then I'll just have to feel you all the time." They lay across the bed. Jo pulled Mat's back against her, kissed the crook of Mat's neck, and fingered a nipple. It was all Mattie could do to sigh as the still fresh memories of the most resent orgasm flowed though her body. The new touches were turning those in to a tsunami and the moisture left her mound a dripping wet swamp. Mat's head fell back across Jo's shoulder as Jo began to kiss her way up towards the sharp ridge of Mat's jaw and over to the edge of her lips. "Not going to let you forget this," Jo whispered into Mat's wide-open mouth with the tongue reaching for hers. "Already past there. Just kiss me fool." Their lips touched in an electric blaze as Mat twisted in Jo's arms. She straddled Jo's thigh and dragged herself along the smooth tanned flesh. Mat arched her back to try to maintain contact with Jo's lips and thigh. Her hot breath filled Jo's mouth. Partial words and sounds drifted back and forth. The moans became louder as Mat's head tossed back. Jo massaged Mat's breasts and twisted the nipples until the ripples from the orgasm began to subside though out Mat's body. Limp, weak, and not remotely finished with each other, they lay rapped in each other's arms with their lips occasionally touching. Mat slipped her short silk robe on without bothering to tie the strap and walked towards the great room. "Look at the sunset," she called back to Jo. Jo was lying on the bed with her head propped on a hand and watching Mat walk away. "Rather just watch this lovely view of your backside." Jo gave in and followed. She stood behind Mat in the doorway and gave her a new sense of balance as she wrapped her arms around Mat's waist. Jo's chin rested on Mat's shoulder. Sometimes she gave Mat's neck a peck and others she just looked past her chin at the lake. "I've not been here much, you know, with these feelings for someone. It scares me." Jo softly said between pecks near the back of the ear. "Life and love have sucked for me." "It's been three years. I like to think I'm over her. Some are harder than others to get over." "There's no rush Jo. Take your time. Just know I enjoyed this." "Thanks. Sometime I'd like to know more about you. There's no rush." Jo sighed and rubbed her palm over Mat's heart. "There's goodness in here. I can feel it." It didn't matter to Mat that Jo did not spend the night. After all, things were proceeding quickly towards a place she had no experience. The first rays of sunlight broke though the trees across the lake as Mat stepped into her wooden canoe. The green painted sides contrasted with the nicely varnished wood. The lake was glass smooth in front of the canoe. As she pulled her paddle though the water, small swirls formed and quickly disappeared. A fish jumped to the left leaving growing concentric circles that eventually echoed off the canoe. "Robert better get out here," she mouthed trying to not break the silence of the dawn. Several hundred feet from shore, Mat slipped to the bottom of the canoe and rested her head on the woven rope seat. She watched the hawk overhead as the canoe drifted quietly though the water. Another fish jumped and a large bird screamed from its nest in the top of a tall pine tree. For Mat, mornings like these were the salve for life's wounds. Mat had been in the kitchen just long enough for the waffle to pop from the opening of the toaster when the phone rang. "Hey Jo." "Tried to go a whole day without talking to you, but failed. What a long twelve hours." "Silly woman. I thought about you as I paddled my canoe this morning. You were the hawk circling over me." "Can I talk you into driving to the coast with me today? Just a few hours drive. We can put the top down on the Miata. We could get a room overlooking the ocean." "Are you trying to romance me?" Mat chuckled a few times as she listened to Jo's pleasing voice. "Sure. I'll be ready when you get here." Mat wrapped the rubber band around her ponytail and pulled it though the opening in the back of her baseball cap. Jo pulled her cap down slightly. "Ready?" Jo asked with a huge smile spreading across her face. She leaned over and kissed Mat. "Thanks for filling that seat. It's been empty too long." Jo moved the shift lever to A and drove though the winding streets of the cove before turning right onto Highway 43 south. "Actually it's always been empty. I got this after her." The landscape on either side of the two-lane road consisted of long rows of pine trees waiting for harvest to become paper. Endless lines of log trucks with the logs stacked neatly across the back passed them going in the opposite direction. Occasionally there were short stretches of used car lots or junkyards, gas stations or fast food places, sometimes even the intersection of a crossroad that seemed to go nowhere. The warm sun and cool wind filled the car as they held hands, talked, and laughed about nothing. "Not quite three hours and we're to the bridge," Jo said as she tossed the four quarters into the basket. "I made reservations at the Sea Gull Resort. Hope it is as nice as the pictures." Mat's head jerked back as Jo accelerated quickly away from the tollbooth. Mat reached up to grab the bill of her cap just as the wind caught it. "Well the room will have you in it. I can't ask for anything better," Mat replied. The tires squealed as the dark blue Miata turned suddenly right before heading down the road a few hundred yards and then left into the parking lot. "Moment of truth," Jo teased as she braked hard under the portico. Mat followed her into the lobby. "Ocean view, king, no smoking for two. The name is Mattson. Jo Mattson." "It's not accessible," the clerk said in a painfully slow drawl as she stared at Mat. "It doesn't need to be. It just needs a REAL good view of the ocean," Jo replied. "It does have a REAL good view of the ocean doesn't it?" "I can put you up on the third floor for the best view, and the elevator is just though the lobby. There is a boardwalk out to the ocean. And there's a pool." Mat opened the door to the balcony as Jo clicked the lock shut on the room door. The sounds of the pounding surf filled the room as the drapes billowed inward. The surf was not the only thing pounding. Jo pulled Mat back against her. "I want to make you roar like that," she said. "That will be easy," Mat replied as she turned and kissed Jo. "I left my panties at home too." Mat took Jo's hand and pushed it inside her shorts. "Oh My!" Jo gasped with pleasure. "So wet already." "Bed's big enough we'll need a map to get out," Jo said as she sprawled on the king sized bed with her arms to the side and her knees up. Mat sat next to Jo's hips and pulled her shorts slowly along her legs. As Jo's mound was finally exposed, Mat said, "There's my friend." With a hard flick, Jo's shorts and panties sailed across the room and landed together on the chair by window. "We won't need those." Mat pressed the back of Jo's thighs forward letting the dark mound spread the petals of the flower exposing the lovely pink center. "Oh yes," Mat drawled and inhaled deeply. Her tongue traveled though the wet swamp and sucked the dewdrops from the edges of the labia. "Just like that," Jo moaned. First one, then two more fingers filled the sopping wet tunnel. "Ah-h-h," Jo groaned as her knees fell to the side and before her legs rested on Mat's shoulders. Jo's mound began to hump and ride against Mat's hand and Mat kept telling her, "Cum for me." Mat and Jo weren't the only people casually dressed in the dark romantic restaurant for dinner. The flickering candlelight danced across Jo's face as Mat listened to her talk about how much she enjoyed her Miata and the fun drive today. Mat only cared that she was with Jo. Mat's hand held Jo's, their fingers made love as the music of Jo's words filled her ears. The server placed the plates of food on the table. "These steaks look excellent," Jo said. To check the doneness, she cut into hers. "Perfect. About as pink as you Mat." Jo glanced at Mat, and then they both looked at the male server. The server blushed a deep dark red that was visible even in the darkness of the room and walked away. "Oops," Jo snickered. Another server stopped and poured the remains of the bottle of wine into their glasses. "Another bottle?" she asked. "Yes please," Jo replied with a slight drunken slur to her speech. "Good thing we just have to walk across the parking lot." The single slice of half eaten strawberry cheesecake rested on the plate between them and they each took a turn carving off another bite. "I'm having a great time," Mat said after she swallowed a bite. "I've never been in love. Is this what it feels like?" "We've known each other three whole days. Don't rush. I'm not going away." "Yeah. I know." Mat's brow wrinkled and a frown replaced her smile. "I must sound like an idiot." Jo gripped Mat's hand again and gave it a light squeeze. "That's NOT what I meant. My feelings for you...well they are there right where yours probably are for me. It's a struggle not to just let them flood out of me. I've never known anyone like you, not that I have a lot of experience and very few successes." "So...is there anything I need to know? Are you married? Are you an axe murder? Are you about to go to prison? There isn't anyone else in your life? Pregnant or have children?" "No, no, no, no, no, no. Think that was the right number of no's. Can I ask about your leg?" "The bridge abutment won. The driver was rich and drunk. I think you've seen I am pretty independent." The salt filled breeze blew their hair as they crossed the parking lot of the resort and cut through the small cluster of palm trees. "Let's walk along the water," Mat suggested. "To the ends of the earth darling." The full moon cast a slivery glow over the shells in the wet sand as the white suds of the waves pulled back from the shore. The trail of three footprints and two small circles lingered for a few moments until the next wave passed. Jo touched Mat's arm and then pulled her to a stop with their bodies touching. Her lips caressed Mat's, their tongues touched. "I'm glad we came," Jo whispered in Mat's ear between nibbles. "Breakfast for two," Jo said to the hostess. They followed her through the restaurant. A mother and her young son passed on their way to the front door. Jo slid across the bench of the booth first. As Mat placed her crutches on the floor, she heard the little boy yell, "Mommy, what happened to her..." Before he could finish, the mother jerked his arm hard and dragged him out the front door as he screamed and cried. Mat sat next to Jo and wiped the tears from her face with her hand. "Darling, it's okay," Jo assured her. Jo rubbed Mat's back and tried to comfort her. "Listen," Mat started as she struggled to speak though the sobs. A woman in the next booth said, "Sad that she's missing..." Another woman cut her short and said, "Yes, tragic woman." Jo's protective instincts kicked in as she firmly told the second woman, "Keep it to yourself." Mat took a deep breath before continuing. "I have to put up with this. You don't. You don't have to be with me. Let's just go back home." The sobs continued as Sara reached for her crutches. Jo put a hand on each of Mat's shoulders and twisted Mat around so she was facing her. "I'm with you because I've found someone I am starting to care for, even love. Neither of us can make your leg reappear. In the few days I've known you, the number of legs has not mattered to me. It's all about the way you make me feel." Mat leaned her head down and sniffed in an attempt to keep the wetness from running down her upper lip. She stabbed at it with a napkin. "You've got to know being with me will have some downsides. But I think I love you too." The hot summer days had at last given way to the cool autumn mornings. The large doors to the deck framed Jo as she stood with a cup of coffee watching the thick fog resting on the lake. Mat wrote furiously on long yellow pages. Each time she finished one; she would make the 'Doink Doink' sound from Law & Order. Ms Hattie Mae Fox was a big woman who entertained men - many men, and even a few women. Her pleasures were legendary. Everyone in Shelby County knew about room six at the Pine Tree Motel and probably many had been there at least once too. Just because Earl had a knife through his heart one morning when Hattie woke up next to him didn't mean she did it. Mat had decided yesterday in the courtroom that only the prosecutor probably believed Hattie had killed Earl. She had too many clients on the jury. Even the judge had visited Hattie. Mat knew it wouldn't take Clarence Darrow to get the homicide charge dropped even if Hattie did kill Earl, but she was going to have a fantastic summation just in case. "Mat, you know my agent has lined up a speaking tour." "Uh-huh." "I'm going to be gone three, maybe four weeks." "Un-huh." "I'm going to run off with the Hells Angels." "Un-huh." "Can you help me tie this noose so I can hang myself?" "Un-huh...What?" Mat laid the pen gently at a 45-degree angle in the center of the page. She gave it a small nudge to position it better and looked up at Jo with her hand under the sweatshirt fondling a breast. "Speaking tour? When?" "Out though the California Gold Country. First stop is next Monday." "Oh?" Mat questioned as her lips wrinkled into a frown. "That sounds wonderful." "You never did bullshit well Mat. I want you to come with me. You'll be done with Hattie today. Let's just go have fun. I can show all the places I've written about and that you read about in history classes. You know, like the frog jumping contest Mark Twain wrote about, the American River and Sutter's Fort where they found gold, all that and more. And best of all we'll be together." Mat leaned back with her hands interlocked behind her head and her foot on the edge of the desk. She watched Jo dance between feet like a little child needing to pee as she tried to convince her to come. There was no reason not to. Even though they still lived in their own houses, these days they were rarely apart. The low rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains were golden brown after the long hot summer and the scraggly oak trees were scattered sparsely across the hills amongst the dark brown rock outcroppings as they drove north along Highway 49 from Jamestown towards Sonora. Mat had never been 'out west' as she called it, but Jo had been all though these hills while working on her thesis. This was where Jo met Karen and Jo was concerned about seeing her again. "Mat, Karen lives in Sonora." "But she's out of your life isn't she?" "I hope so. She was very volatile though. I only wanted you to be prepared. This is the one part of the gold country I fear." "Why would we see her?" "She owns the bookstore where the first lecture will be." "Oh." Jo pulled into a view area overlooking the old train station and steam excursion train at Jamestown. She turned the engine off and rolled her window down as she tried to gather her thoughts. Mat could tell there was much going on in her mind and she tried to brace herself. "Darling...I care about you in ways I never thought were possible. That is important for you to know. What's in my past will remain in my past - I hope." Jo stopped and watched Mat's expression evolve and change while she squeezed and massaged her shoulder and neck. "I know Jo. We're together now. That's what is important." "Karen is petty rough and tumble, loud and boisterous at times. She's a miner - overalls, picks, pans, mules, and all. That's how I met her. I needed a guide and I found her flyer at the bookstore she owned. She taught me a lot about being independent. We were out in rough backcountry for weeks at a time walking along side our pack animals. It didn't take long for us to be sleeping close, making wild love under the stars, you know. We returned to Sonora after the first trip out and I moved in with her and finished my thesis. I even started my first book. Money got tight a year later, she started missing her medications, and things got nasty, and not in a fun nasty kind of way either. She beat me several times a week. It took me a few more years to leave. I was so hooked on her, loving her was better than the beatings. Oh sure, when we had money and she could afford her pills, things would get better. That always helped smooth things over until the next time." Jo stopped. A tear formed in the corner of her eye, and then started to dribble down her face. "I can't go though this again." Jo's head fell against the steering wheel and rocked side-to-side as the sobs grew louder than the wind blowing through the window. Mat understood the power of the moment and that there was little if anything she could do to help ease the torment Jo was reliving. Mat knew from her own experience Jo would probably take this torment to her grave. If she were to be part of Jo's life, she would have to understand that and be as supportive as she could. They walked along Washington Street from the Gunn House towards the bookstore. Jo ducked her head and walked quickly past the bookstore. "Later," she mumbled. "Let's eat first." "Hey stranger," the deep voice bellowed as the heavy work boots clumped over the wooden steps. Jo turned slowly as she braced herself for a firestorm of unknown proportions. Mat gulped as she surveyed Karen whose height and bulk made her look like someone that would win in most fights. The crew cut and large dragon tattoo that covered all of her left arm added to that impression. "Quite a change for you baby," Karen roared, as she looked Mat over from head to foot. "Is this the best you could do?" "Don't be such a bitch!" "Hey, to each her own." "Who you talkin' with Karen?" the tall chubby woman with the short fire engine red hair asked as she walked out of the bookstore. "Oh you must be Jo. I've seen your pictures. You look real-l-l good naked. I'm Fran. Karen's my woman. Now." Fran held a motorcycle helmet and began working it over her head. "Karen, you coming?" she asked as she swung her leg over the chopper. "No hard feelings...right?" Karen yelled over the roar of the engine. "Glad you found someone." The sound of the motorcycle echoed off the buildings on either side of the street and the bike turned left at the intersection. The rumbling sound became fainter, but still echoed in their head. Jo was ashen as Mat pushed her against the wall. "I'm glad I was with you." Mat kissed her firmly and deeply. "I'm glad I AM with you." Kimberly opened the bookstore that night. Karen and Fran kindly choose not to be there. Twenty people sat in a small semicircle, a few others stood, as Jo sat on a table and read from her second book, 'Travels with a Gold Miner'. "The raging waters from the melting snows of the Sierra Nevada would move rocks and the river silt exposing gold nuggets by the handful. Whither 1848 or today, the people were much the same. I traveled with several of them," Jo started causing everyone to move forward in their seats. Prospectors, like mobsters, thieves, and pirates, seemed to have colorful names like Lonesome Jim and Whiskey Slim. The mines and claims sometimes had fanciful names like the Lost Dutchman Mine or the Glory Hole. Jo told story after story of men and women who lived by and dug in the cold waters looking for gold. The tales of half-pound nuggets, claim jumpers, gunfights, and people trapped by landslides for days, or forever, entranced the audience. The way Jo talked made them feel like they were out in the gold fields with the miners. Gold Miner After breakfast the next morning, both women were glad to see Sonora in the rearview mirrors as they continued north on Highway 49 towards Angels Camp. The cool morning air changed into a comfortable heat as the sun rose higher. While the car wound along the twisting curves and over the different grades, Jo told Mat about all the prospectors that she had met on her travels with Karen. Jo turned down a rutted dirt road and drove for about half a mile. She parked in front of a cabin about the size of a large bedroom that sat in a clearing under tall redwood trees. Nothing seemed to be close by, not houses, not another soul. The light that filtered though the high canopy of the treetops cast a silver light on the ground. Jo appeared to be at ease as she strolled from the car. Mat followed. An old woman wearing jeans and a khaki work shirt stood in the open door and watched them. Her long hair was salt and pepper colored. Her skin was brown and leathery like the hat she wore. "Hi Margaret," Jo called out. "Jo? Is that you?" she replied as the stepped from the small porch. "What? About three years?" She slowly walked stooped over and with a noticeable limp in her left leg. The cane she held in one hand barely helped her walk. She held a half-smoked hand-rolled cigarette in the gnarled fingers of the other hand. Margaret smiled as she raised her head to look at Jo. "At least. I was in the area and just had to see you. This is my best friend Mat." Mat reached out her hand and Margaret stepped right up to her and gave her a big hug. "Any friend of Jo's is worth knowing. Well, maybe one isn't." Margaret said. "I met Karen briefly yesterday. I'm happy that is over with," Mat said. "Jo and I spent many days panning for gold together. I showed her all the things that Karen had taught her wrong, at least about mining. Do you want something to drink? I just made some tea." "We can only stay a moment. I wanted you to meet Mat. I think of you often. You saved me so many times." "Is Mat the love of your life?" Margaret asked. "You two look good together." "Yes Margaret. Yes she is just that." The women sat on a log, Mat and Jo listened to Margaret tell stories of adventures in the gold country. Margaret had lived in the hills alone all her adult life and she was able to spin yarns that made Mat feel like she was listening to some someone that might have come west in a covered wagon. As they stood by the car, hugging, and saying their goodbyes, Margaret said, "Doctor says I may not last much longer. Hope I see both of you again." The cloud of dust obscured the road behind them and the tears streamed down Jo's face. "She seemed like a very special person," Mat said as she rubbed her hand along Jo's thigh. "I'm so glad you let me meet her." "She was special." Jo sniffed and dragged her hand under her nose. "Margaret took care of me when Karen would beat the holy shit out of me. She stitched me up a few times and even helped with a broken rib once. We weren't lovers, just very dear friends. I'll miss her the most." Having seen Karen for the last time and now Margaret probably for the last time, Jo appeared to be more comfortable. Her old smile was back and she relaxed and stretched out some while she drove. Her past was now in her past. Along the uneven sidewalk of Angels Camp, home of Mark Twain's 'The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County', they stopped to read the inscriptions on plaques in the concrete sidewalk. Each plaque described the winning frog jump from the year's contest. "Twenty-one feet!" exclaimed Mat. "Did they shove a stick of dynamite up his butt or something?" Each night Jo would read from one of her books, tell her stories, answer questions, and sign books, and then the next morning they would drive to another town. The crowds were always small, but friendly and curious. Everyone seemed to truly love Jo's work. Mat was thrilled to see this side of Jo. Jo's agent was kind enough to change the schedule of lectures and arrange a two-week break in the middle of the trip. At Placerville, they headed east on Highway 50 towards Lake Tahoe. It was not long until they rounded a bend in the road and began the long decent when Mat saw the dark blue waters of the lake for the first time. "I don't care where we go, just so I'm with you," Mat said as she rested her hand on Jo's thigh. "Being with you is exactly what I've always wanted." "I'm looking forward to being back at 'our' house at Dead Man's Cove. Just us," Jo replied as she wrapped her fingers around Mat's hand. -o-O-o-