The Oldest Trick

Chapter Four
In the journey's of...Dave Penhaligan

   Jade administered to Dave all that day and into the night, all the time keeping the fire going. She alternated between chopping wood and watching over him. Listening all the while to his ramblings as he went into and out of consciousness. They were both oblivious to what was going on in the outside world and to the fact that power and telephone communications were out.

 

*   *   *

 

 In Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Jades family were glued to their TV set following the news reports. Her mom was used to hearing from Jade and although the news had reported the power and telephone lines down, she knew that Jade carried her cell phone with her at all times.

"I don't like it Cecil, that girl always phone me wit'out fail, I am worried, even though the power out she has the mobile phone."

Cecil drew in deep, "Ya know sometime I just don't believe you tink straight woman, she need the power to charge up the phone, so maybe the battery is dead."

"Oh I never thoughta that, do you tink thats all it is then? You don't tink she injured or stranded in her car? Oh my God my poor little girl, she could be stuck in a snow drift." Gloria began ringing her hands and pacing.

"Now, now Gloria, don't take no news from her as bad news. It's early days yet."

"Wha' gon bad a mornin', can't go good a evening." Gloria moaned.

*   *   *

 

"Katheeee, Katheee." Dave called out in his sleep, making Jade jump from her shallow nap. "Kathy, I'm sorry ...I couldn't stop him pushing you over, Kathy don't die pleeease!" Dave sobbed out in his delirium.

Jade dabbed at his head with the damp cloth. His eyes blinked and struggled to open. He focused in on Jades face, he stared for a while, his mind working to recollect what was going on. He felt as if he was coming up from a long way down in a deep dark well. His throat felt dry, his head achy, he took a deep breath, licked his dry lips, opening and closing his lids to wash his dry eyes with moisture.

"Here, take a drink. You must be parched, your lips are dry." Jade offered gently, lifting his head and placing a cup to his lips. The cool water washed through his mouth wonderfully, he drained it and another cup. Jade washed his face, placing the cool damp cloth to his mouth, she moistened his lips. Dave leaned back and let her, in heaven from her tender administrations, finally he asked as she turned to refresh the face cloth and squeeze out the cool water.

"How long have I been out?"

"Long enough, you were crying out names, well...one name in particular, 'Kathy' That's Kathy Styles isn't it?" She asked, turning back to dabbing at his face and then down his neck, opening his shirt and dabbing and wiping as she went.

"So you know all about that then?" He asked savoring the cool touch of the wet cloth. 

"Only what Mrs. Barnes has told me." Jade replied, as she brushed his hair back from his forehead. "And obviously what's been in the newspapers concerning you being cleared and the arrest of Jack Drago." She provided in soft tones.

"Does it bother you, my, shall we say, chequered past?"

"Oh now this would be a strange time to let it bother me mister." Jade teased. "And anyhow, you were innocent."

"I don't feel innocent, if only I had accompanied Kathy home, instead of staying for that last drink...and...and if I could have caught up with them before that bastard Jack fuckin' Drago pushed her." Dave's hand gripped the sheet, still feeling the helplessness of it all to that day. "I'm sorry Jade, please excuse me my language, you don't need to hear all this."

"Look, I don't mind. Any one is bound to be upset by something like that." Jade soothed. "You've been through a lot, it must have been awful to be imprisoned for a crime you didn't commit and knowing the one person who could clear you was too damaged neurologically to help you."

"I dream of that night over and over, the what ifs and if only."
   "Dave, you need to rest." She announced, her brown eyes searching his face with compassion, "But since you are awake, let me take a look at that wound." She instructed, Dave complied, enjoying this vantage point where he was able to really observe her up close. He had to fight the need to reach up and touch her skin. Skin so rich and brown, smooth and dewy with youth. Her eyebrows were jet black, thick and short. As if someone had taken a thick oil paint brush, dabbed it in black, then dabbed it with precision in the perfect spot above her eyes and a quick brilliant stroke that ended with a perfect peak. Her lashes were very thick and long, fanning and framing her dark eyes. Jade was a natural beauty. She didn't need makeup on at all. Even her lips had a naturally deep, dark maroon like hue,  all it took was a lick to them to make a man wish to touch them. Lips that were very full, dominating her face, the upper lip fuller, reaching up in a broad bow, and the bottom almost as broad. He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to kiss those lips...to taste her. In all of his life, he'd never given much thought to actually having a fling with a black woman, but Jade was that kind of woman that made a man want to try new things. If it weren't for the fact that he needed to freshen up, to brush his teeth, he would have taken a chance with her but he wasn't about to, knowing he needed to clean up first. She must have felt his eyes intently studying her, because she looked up from exposing his wound to let their eyes meet. "What you think you lookin' at Mr. Penhaligan?"

"Not think... I know what I'm lookin' at and I like what I see." His left hand rose carefully and tested her, giving her dark arm a slight stroke and touch of his large white hand. Jade froze and swallowed, like a captured bird her heart fluttered and thumped madly in her chest. "Echm..." She cleared her voice very nervously and looked away saying, "It appears that you feel much better."

"Not better than you feel." He returned huskily, his nether appendage responded, filling with blood. It had been some time since he'd laid with a woman, wound or not - this one stirred him, making him long to go further. Jade moved her arm, and turned back to his wound. Dave let his hand fall back to the bed, deciding to let her off the hook for now. "Well what's the verdict nurse, it doesn't seem to hurt as much as before." Although another part of him ached a bit.

"It's good Dave, it's definitely improved from yesterday, thank God for the silver." She replied relieved.

"Silver? Oh I remember now, where'd you find it? I never heard of silver as an antiseptic, Uncle Jethro was a one for old fashioned cure alls."

"Yes antiseptic and antibiotic, it's one of the oldest natural remedies, in fact years ago they used to put a silver coin in the milk to stop it spoiling, or at least slow down the process." Jade said smiling.

"Well you live and learn don't you."

"Are you teasing me again mister."

"Would I dare? Especially as you have the means right now to cause me so much pain."

"Well, that's it for now." Jade said, finishing up dressing his shoulder. "If we keep treating you and your shoulder with the silver, the infection might subside in a couple of days, how do you feel?" Jade asked.

"Well, to be honest I haven't been feeling myself lately...I..."

Jade interrupted. "Yeah, you're on the mend, with your innuendos, all you need is something to eat."

Dave chuckled and controlled himself, oh what he would have loved to have said.

"That's right Mr. Penhaligan, mind your manners. I'm going to wash and freshen up, then I'll make breakfast, I think your light-headedness is making you overly bold."

"Emmm, I could eat a horse and go back for the saddle." Answered Dave stretching.

"Well, a horse I can't promise, but I'll rustle up what we have." She said showing she could joke too.

"Oh." Dave began chuckling. "Horse...rustle up...I get it, oh you are learning quick girl."

"I think its because I have such a good tutor." She gave a backward glance and a wink as she went out of the room to the bathroom.

 

*   *   *

 

"Well, it's a good thing you have a gas stove instead of electric, seeing as we have no power." Jade commented as they finished eating.

"Well, as long as the propane lasts anyway." He replied, wiping his plate clean with his last piece of bread.

Jade began clearing the table but as she was taking the dishes to the sink she stopped suddenly, screeched and dropped the plates. "Oh my God, oh my God, OH MY GOD."

"What's up?" Dave shot to his feet asking.

"Oh! Oooh! Kill it Dave, oh kill it please!" She rasped almost whispering, wiping her palms down her sides repeatedly, at the same time squirming and shuddering.

"What, kill what?"

"There! Over there on the draining board...kill it Dave quickly."

"Oh dear me, what is it luv, a little mousie?" Dave teased.

"No you rotter, it's a gigantic, huge spider, now stop tormenting me and kill it or wash it down the sink...or...or both...yes...yes both, then put the plug in."

"Okay, don't worry, I'll get it." Chuckled Dave, walking to the sink and then he did the unforgivable as far as Jade was concerned. With his back to her he flicked the spider down into the sink but picked up a tomato stalk laying on the drainer and turning dramatically flicked it at Jade while shouting. "Woah! look out, it's going for your throat."

"NOOOOO - GET IT OFF ME - GET IT OOOOOF!! OH GOD IT'LL BITE MEEE!" She screamed, slapping at her chest panicking as the ferocious tomato stalk landed on her lapel.

Dave stood laughing uncontrollably until Jade's head rolled back and she dropped to the floor. His laughter choked back instantly running to her and then noticed that she'd wet herself before she fainted.

Jade came round five minutes later on the cottage sofa with a concerned Dave kneeling beside her holding her hand and gently saying her name. She immediately panicked and with widening eyes started brushing frantically at the front of her lapel. "It's okay sweetheart, it's okay, it's gone...I...I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were so afraid of spiders, and ...erm... it was just a tomato stalk. I flicked the real spider down the sink."

"You bastard! You horrible bastard!" Jade began sobbing, "I ...I hate spiders and you make sport of me by terrifying the life out of...m...me."

Dave felt a wave of guilt sweep over him but at the same time an intense protective feeling toward Jade. "You're right, I didn't know, I just - I am a bastard for doing that to you when all you've done is look after me, I am truly sorry, it was a stupid schoolboy prank, please forgive me."

Jade looked up into his eyes through her own tear blurred eyes and couldn't remain angry with him as she could tell he was really ashamed and remorseful. She could feel that she was wet and stood from the sofa, embarrassed that she'd disgraced herself. "Excuse me." She said making a quick exit.

Dave turned on the floor watching her head for the stairs. "Good job Penhaligan - you're on a roll, sure to win the ladies heart." He berated himself. While she was upstairs, he cleaned up after their meal. A few more moments passed and she still hadn't come down. He went to the stairs, staring up them as if he could see what she was doing. "Jade? You okay?" There was no answer. He made his way up them and stopped at the bathroom door. "You okay in there?" He asked. She opened the door, keeping her eyes cast downward, in her hand was her rung out underwear and pants, she must have been washing them out. Around her waist, she wore a small tartan blanket like a wrap skirt. 

"God... I feel like shit for doing something so stupid. I'm so sorry."

She walked past him heading down the stairs with him following close behind her. She spread her underwear and pants on the window ledge hoping the sun might dry them. "Ah come on Jade, say something to me... I'm sorry."

"You didn't know Dave." She said finally, sniffling. "Let me show you something." Jade turned her head to the left exposing the side of her neck.  

"Do you see that little scar there?" She indicated with her fingers, it was a small round, slightly puckered scar that he imagined had been nasty at one time to leave her as frightened as she was.

"Yes I see it luv, what is it?"

"I must have been quite young because I was in my crib, we still lived in Jamaica then. I remember I could hear my mother singing as she went about her chores. Oh God...anyway, I remember seeing this dark wriggly object descending from the ceiling of our home. Slowly, it came closer, I remember at first being fascinated with it, I must have thought it was a toy, but as it got closer I was overcome with a terrible fear. Hovering about two or three inches above my face I could make out it's eyes." She paused thinking about it. "I know it sounds ridiculous, that I would remember something from that far back, but I do." She said as if he might not believe her, again she shivered crossing her arms across her breasts as the frightful memory gave her the creeps again. 

"Take it easy luv, you don't have to put yourself through this, you really don't."

"Wait Dave, I must tell you so you know why I reacted the way I did." Jade explained. "There it was - for what seemed an eternity, just staring down into my eyes I don't even know what sort of spider it was, I just remember it's black eyes and fat body...with...with these brownish striped, stumpy furry legs." Jade shuddered at the memory. "Anyway, after a while it lowered itself onto my forehead and I could feel... feel it's probing movements as it seemed to be testing, tasting my skin." Jades eyes welled up as she continued. "It began moving down the bridge of my nose Dave, it's horrible furry legs brushing my skin ugh! When it got to the tip of my nose it's legs began feeling into my nostrils and then it moved down onto my top lip, brushing there. I was frozen and dumbstruck. I wanted to scream but couldn't, somehow I couldn't Dave. It moved across my face and round to my neck, that's when I felt the sharp burning pain, it was agonizing. Just then my mother came into view, obviously checking on me. She was at first smiling but the smile slipped and a horrified look took it's place as my mum saw the spider on my neck. Poor mum, she let out a scream, calling "Cecil, Cecil come quick. As my mum screamed so did I, dad rushed in and grabbed the spider away, but I was left with what turned into an infected bite. My poor mom always blamed herself for not being there at that moment to protect me." She smiled sadly thinking about her loving mother. "It wasn't her fault Dave. She had no way of knowing that the spider was on me, tasting me. It was no more her fault than...than it was your fault what happened to Kathy. No matter how protective we are, the unexpected can always happen, predatory creatures are always around. No one can be held responsible for the actions of others or be expected to predict the future." She finished, searching his eyes for understanding. Although he'd been light hearted with her, she knew his past haunted him.

Now Dave understood the reason for telling him. His eyes welled up with appreciation. "You are some kind of woman Jade, do you know that? Even in your own discomfort you think of others. Poor you, stuck here with such a knob head - scaring you that way."

Jade smiled. "There are worse places to be stuck. Tell you what... you be good, and I might let you win at Scrabble this time."

"Hang on here! If my memory serves me correctly... I won that game!"

"You cheated!" She accused grinning at him.

"Oooh no you don't young lady... bring it on, out with the board... can't let you get away with that."

To be continued.