Rebel Soul (4 page)

CHAPTER SIX

Sat 9th June

The Canton family rule of eating all three meals together had continued even as Emily and her brothers had gotten older. Ricky even though he lived in a trailer on the other side of the cornfield still brought his wife Amy and ate several meals a week with them. Emily was nibbling on a piece of Bacon and listening to Josh talk to Ricky about the hot girl he had meant the night before as, Amy set and rolled her eyes. When her phone vibrated, she checked the text message quickly, it was from Billy, She felt a little jolt of joy in her heart as she read the text and smiled, “good morning” it read.

Her Dads stiff voice brought her mind back to her surrounding, “I thought I told you, no phones at the table during meals Emily” He looked at her sternly. Afraid that he would take the phone away, she quickly hide it under her leg, without answering the text. Her mind wondered to Billy as she half listened to Dan talk with her dad about the corn crop they were expecting this year. Boring this is boring as Emily anxiously waited to be excused from the table, thinking the meal might not ever end.

“You want to go fishing later,” Joe interrupted her thoughts as he looked at Emily and ask taking a bite of his bacon.

“Sure,” The ideal of fishing and spending some quality time with her brother excited her. “Sounds like fun. I haven’t been fishing in a while.” She smiled.

“After you help me with the dishes” Judy told her, as she set do, finally getting to begin her meal.

“Ok Mom” Emily rolled her eyes. She hated doing the dishes, hated housework period.

“I have to help Dad anyway,” Joe said slowly as he looked at Jack, who had given him that, you have something to do also look. All her brothers worked on the farm, and you don’t get a day off from farm life, she had heard her dad say often.

“I’ll send you a message when I’m done” Joe added sadly, as he looked down at his plate.

Finally excused from the table, Emily quickly left the room, “Good morning to you to” she smiled as she send the message to Billy, her heart was churning.

“You want to go for a walk” the answer came quickly. Wow, he must be setting on his phone, she smiled. Yes, yes, yes, her soul was screaming.

“Got to do dishes first, will let you know, when I leave” She quickly, text him, at speeds she didn’t know she had.

“Ok” her phone vibrated. As she ran to the kitchen.

After doing the dishes Emily told her Mom she was going for a walk.

“Ok honey, you still fishing with Joe today?” Judy ask.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it” her eyes lit up. Then she ran to her room, throwing on a pair of blue jean shorts and a red tee-shirt then headed toward the creek area. Texting Billy on the way.

“Down by the creek, I’m on my way.” The excitement of seeing Billy leaped inside her.

“On my way” she quickly heard from him.

She stopped at the area by the creek were she had seen Billy and his brothers a few days before and waited eagerly. She sit down on some old, fallen maple and oak leaves, then text him to let him know where she was as she listened to the water flow in the creek. Her heart was pounding, as she ask herself, what am I doing, she felt drawn to him like a magnet, only they were from feuding families, how can this even work?

Billy walked through the woods and smiled as he set down beside her. “Wow” he laughed “I can’t believe I’m setting here next to the beautiful Emily Canton.” He looked at her and they both laughed.

“What are you listening to,” she ask him pointing at his IPod.

“Tom Petty, you want to listen” he ask and handed her one of the headphones. “I have lots of different music on my iPod anything from old rock and roll to hip hop.”

“Really me to” she smiled. They talked for a while about their families and the feud that had been going on forever that would probably never end, they both concluded. She enjoyed his company, he interesting she thought, as she watched his mouth move as he talked, the smile and the happy glow in his cheeks. Why was he a Johnson she ask herself?

“You want to smoke a joint” he ask as he pulled out some papers and began breaking up a bud to roll it, as Tom Petty sang Free Falling, from the iPod.

“Sure, why not” She smiled, a little nervously, she really wasn’t much of a drinker or a smoker and the thought of being high and alone with him, kind of scared her. She didn’t know if she could trust herself, with him. Billy finished rolling the joint and handed it to her.

“F-r-e-e-” they both sang as they smoked laughing. “Whoo Hoo” they both laughed and shouted, at the same time. Emily felt giddy, her mind was blurred but full of Billy at the same time, a weird sort of good feeling. She laughed at herself.

“So Emily” she liked the way he said her name, and smiled. “What do you like to do for fun, besides ride fast rides?” he splashed her with a hand full of water. It washed over her legs sending chills across her body.

She screamed, “That’s cold Billy Johnson” He laughed rolling on the ground, she stuck her hands in the creek then scooped up a handful of water tossing it on him, and watched as his face turned to a look of surprise.

“Here take that” she shouted.

“That’s it you’re going down, girl” Billy laughed as he dipped his hands in the water, then threw it on her. “Aw” she screamed as she kicked the water back at him and tried to run away. They played like that for a while, running, laughing, throwing water on each other, playing like a couple of kids. Then suddenly without warning Emily felt herself being lifted in the air, “No Billy” she screamed as he set her down in the water. “You’re done,” he laughed, pointing at her.

“Ok, ok you win,” she giggled, sticking her hands in front of her, then pretending to wave as if she was waving a flag of defeat. He set back down on the pile of leaves, and she walked over and set next to him. She felt a sense of joy sitting beside him, a feeling she liked very much.

     "So did you have fun last night” he was making small talk she thought.

“A lot of fun” She noticed his eyes scan down her body and situated herself to give him a full view. It worked, he eyed her from head to toe, and then laid down on his back beside her, gazing at the sky through the trees.

"Why has it taken us so many years to begin talking, I mean we've been neighbors all our lives, caught the bus together, went to school together? I’ve wanted to set like this with you forever” He told her. She had to, but she didn’t say it.

"Maybe it's because our families have been feuding since the beginning of time” she answered him.

He turned over facing her and propped his self-up with his elbow, a piece of grass blading hanging out of the corner of his mouth, "Yeah about that, it’s stupid, why we continue to fight over some grandpa's old junk, is beyond me.” His eyes drew her in, she thought that she could stare at them forever.

      "I think so to Billy, but I also have four older brothers who try to watch every move I make. I plan on leaving here someday." She turned her eyes away from his before they could steal her soul and watched a squirrel jumping through the tree limbs.

“You never answered my question” he smiled at her as he touched her face, running his finger gently across her cheek, sending a longing for more through her body. “What do you like to do, for fun?” He ask again.

“Actually a lot of things, I guess, I just never do them” she studied the ground as she talked, she wanted this boy, but, the feeling of guilt, and fear of her family. Send alarms off in her head. But on the other hand, she had a longing, deep in her heart and soul for Billy. She was confused, but somehow followed the conversation.

“Why not” he questioned her.

“Your full of questions aren’t you” she looked at him. She liked the handsome features of his face.

“I just never see you out anywhere” he answered her and rubbed his chin. He’s quite the playboy she thought, at least that’s what she had heard.

“I get invited to a lot of parties and out to do things with my friends, but I don’t go, this town, it’s so full of rumors and gossip, I just don’t want to be a part of It.” she finally answered him.

“I can definitely understand that” he smiled a sheepish grin at her “We will just have to see what we can change about that, give you a little adventure Emily Canton.” the grin always on his face. She had some decisions to make about him, but in her heart she knew she would see him again.

Emily’s phone vibrated in her pocket, she looked down at the message from Joe.

“I have to go now Billy, I promised Joe I would go fishing with him, today” she stood up to leave although now, she really didn’t want to go, and thought about texting Joe back and cancelling.

“How about we go, tomorrow. Fishing, I mean, you and me.” he held his arms out, like why not.

“Not tomorrow, we have church,” She had to think about this, give herself a day or so, she knew she wanted to see him again, but should she pursue this relationship. Relationship is this a relationship she ask herself.

“Monday” he looked disappointed.

“Monday, we got a date” she said and punched him in the shoulder.

“A date hum, I finally got a date with you, can I kiss you” Her heart fluttered.

“You mean now,” he leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Monday” Billy winked at her.

She walked back through the woods, her emotions in turmoil, the kiss on the cheek was sweet, but she knew from her dreams, the kiss she might someday let him give her on the lips, would send passion through her soul. She went to the shed and grabbed her fishing pole and ran to toward the pond, where Joe was already waiting on her.

“Were have you been all morning?” Joe ask as she sit down beside him, ran up out of breath and set down beside him.

“Reading by the creek” She answered him as she baited her hook then cast her line the water. Splat the water shouted.

“Figured you would be here waiting on me” He told her.

“Thought about it, but you know how much I love the woods.” Her thoughts were still on Billy and the morning she had spent with him, what am, I doing, with him, Billy, what, what her soul screamed.

“You just missed that fish Emily, didn’t you see the bobber go under?” Joe laughed hysterically as he reeled in a nice size bream. “You got any plans for this summer,” he ask, as he through the fish back in.

“No, not really” Emily was getting tired of that question, and wished she could talk to Joe about Billy, but knew that wouldn’t go over well. She thought for a minute and decided to check out, his feelings on the subject. “Have you ever talked with any of the Johnson boys, without fighting with them I mean?”

He stared at her for a minute “What, are you crazy, what kind of question is that?”

She laughed, “Just a question Joe, don’t get your boxers in a wad”

“How do you know I’m wearing boxers?” He looked at her with widened eyes.

“You’re so crazy Joe, you know your my favorite brother don’t you” hitting him in the shoulder. He laughed with her, shaking his head, “Only because, I put up with you.” They both were quite for a while, then he ask “Maybe you should go out some, hey you could go out with me and Carly Friday night.”

“Who the hell is Carly?” Emily laughed, shaking her head.

“Oh some cute, little, girl I meant the other day” he laid back on the ground.

“No, you might find a new girl by Friday” they both laughed.

The day was sunny and starting to get hot. Emily could feel the sweat beads forming on her head, when she saw Billy from the distance walk out of his house, shirtless she could see his body, from as far away as she set. Jesus she thought and watched as he worked on one of the dirt bikes with his brother Ed.

“Hey you missed another one Emily” Joe laughed again slapping his knee. “What’s wrong with you?” Laughing with him, she tried to concentrate on fishing but her eyes kept roaming back to Billy. Joe reeled in another bream, “I’m a head of you Emily. Do you think you can catch up?”

“I don’t know Joe” She watched as Billy and Ed jumped on their dirt bikes and took off.

Now maybe I can concentrate on fishing she thought.

“Emily” Joe looked at her seriously “I’ve seen the way you and that Billy Johnson look at each other.”

Shit Emily thought her nerves were in a tight wad like someone had taken them and spun them like a yarn ball. “What do you mean Joe” she carefully ask. “Nothing Emily, just don’t start something, like a war, ok” Everything got quite. Emily felt uneasy but cleared her mind and it wasn’t long before her bobber went under and she reeled in a nice sized shell cracker.

“You got one" Joe shouted “Finally, now that’s the way you do it.” He moved his arms as if dancing.

“Quite are you trying to scare the fish off, afraid I might beat you Joe.”

“Never” Joe tried to look serious.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Sun 10th June

Emily set in the church pew, of the small Baptist church she had grown up in. They had all grown up in. She had always thought it was weird that two feuding families attended the same church, but on Sundays, they were civil, a nice change of pace for everyone, and occasionally she had even heard Mr. Johnson and her Dad speak to each other after the services. On this Sunday though she felt anxious and glanced back at the door several times watching for Billy.

She couldn’t help herself and glanced back again as several families walked in. She saw Billy and his brother Ed as they walked through the door, and shake hands with the pastor. Billy glanced her way and smiled, she returned his smiled then quickly turned to face the front, as she felt herself blus
h
and couldn’t stop the redness from flooding into her cheeks.

     ”What was that all about” Josh whispered in her ear, he had seen the exchange.

“What Josh” she whispered back, trying to play innocent. He shrugged his shoulders and mouthed “nothing” as Pastor Jones walked up to the podium.

Pastor Jones was an older man but young at heart and Emily liked him. She guessed him to be about Sixty Five or so, with greying hair, but cool. He had been the pastor at the church for at least 30 years having watched many of them grow up, and taking extra care to see to it the church had a very active youth program. The pastor raised his arms for all to stand, then led the congregation in few songs before they were released to Sunday school.

Emily walked up the aisle heading toward the back of the church were her Sunday school class was at. Billy stepped in her way and bumped her playfully as she tried to walk past him, and gave her a sly grin, she could till he was trying to keep anyone from noticing.

“Let’s ditch Sunday school, meet me around back.” He mouthed at her, as he moved his fingers, trying to make it were only she could see the motion as he pointed toward the door. Then he quickly slipped out the front door as if he were sure she would meet him.

She laughed shaking her head. He’s so conceited, she thought with a smile. Emily walked down the narrow steps to the bathroom, should I, she kept asking herself, should I? Of course, I want to. She waited to give the hallway time to clear out, stuck her head out of the bathroom door and looked around, the coast was clear, then slipped quickly through the back door.

As soon as she opened the door she saw him, Billy, leaning against a tree, waiting on her, it took her breath away, just to see him. She ran towards him laughing, “Let’s go hurry,” he said laughing and took her hand leading her towards a small dirt path, behind the church.

They followed the path to a clearing, Emily inhaled as she looked at the dark green grass with violets growing all around. “Wow, this is beautiful, how did you know about this place” she wondered how many other girls he had skipped Sunday school with, and brought them here. Laughing he said “I didn’t know it was here.” He shook his head. She wasn’t sure she believed him, he was just to, sure of his self.

“Let’s set down here for a while” he patted the ground beside him and she set down close to him. She was still amazed with the beauty of the place, but soon become aware of his presence beside her, so strong she could feel his body without him touching her, the emotions she felt around him she knew could get her in trouble fast, and couldn’t trust herself alone with him for very long.

They talked and laughed so smooth and freely together as if they had been best friends forever and the time past quickly.

“May I kiss you Emily Canton?” He looked at her with what she thought to be desire.

“This ant Monday, Billy Johnson, we haven’t even been on a date yet” Don’t trust yourself with him Emily, she heard the warning, loud and clear in her mind. Don’t trust yourself with him Emily.

“Why, Emily this is our third date.” he teased her. Always with a piece of grass hanging out of the corner of his mouth. She liked that for some reason. It added to his charm. “And I have already kissed you.” He widened his eyes.

“On the cheek!” she exclaimed and blushed.

“Aw, so sweet, you blush, don’t you Emily” He tickled her side, then pinned her to the ground and gave her a small gentle kiss on the lips. She wanted more but pulled slowly away and tried to regain her composure, as she watched the smile on his face grow. “Did you like that Miss Canton?” He seemed proud she thought.

“Hu, you are conceited aren’t you?” she laughed with him, “Maybe we should get back to the church.”

He helped her up and they walked hand in hand back toward the church.

“You are beautiful” he told her, as they ended the path. Billy leaned toward her and her heart skipped a beat, as she readied herself for another sweet touch from his lips. He gently kissed her. Out of the corner of her eyes she thought she saw, Pastor Jones gaze out the window, but even worst she thought she saw someone in the bushes watching them.

* * *

Billy set in the back of the church, watching her, the beautiful Emily Canton, the object of his obsession for years. He had saw her in his dreams so many times, he couldn’t count them, the most unlikely relationship in this part of the county, the country, possibly even the world. She not only was a Canton, she was gorgeous, smart, and a very remarkable young woman. He knew in his heart, mind, and, soul she would leave here and make something of herself someday, but he wanted her, with everything inside him. He actually found himself praying for her love.

What am I doing with her? He wasn’t sure how she felt about him, but she seemed to like him. Am I kidding myself? He had tried to make her jealous in town the other day with Kara, he had seen Emily with her dad through the Coffee Shop window, and knew she had been watching him. She liked watching him, he thought, having seen her watch him many times. Just staring at him, and he felt so drawn to her, a Canton of all the girls in the county. “A Canton” he whispered. He didn’t know if he should pursue this, but he knew he would, with everything he had, every way he could, he wouldn’t let anything or anybody stand in his way.

So deep in his thoughts, Billy didn’t even realize church was over till, Ed punched him in the shoulder.

“Were was you man, you skipping class now.” Ed laughed

“Yeah man, I didn’t need to learn anything today.” Billy watched as Emily and her family walked past him.

“Billy” Ed sit down beside him, then whispered, “That little girl right there will bring trouble for you. Jr told me she skipped today also, stop this nonsense now. Before we have to fight her brothers over your obsession with their sister.” Ed stared him in the eyes, “Man come on, get over it.”

“Don’t worry about it Ed, this isn’t your problem.” Then he stood and walked out of the church. Ed couldn’t understand, how could he? Billy thought, hell I don’t even understand it.

* * *

After returning from church, Emily went to her room and changed out of her church clothes throwing on a pair of shorts and a halter top, then went to the kitchen and helped her Mom fix some sandwiches for lunch all the time thinking about Billy. She had to laugh at herself, she couldn’t get his sweet soft kisses off her mind. All through church she had thought about him, Joe even had to poke her, when the pastor had released church because she didn’t even know it was over.

      Billy had taken over her mind, it was crazy, and he was all she could think about. Dam Emily she thought as she finished her sandwich. Emily knew she could lose herself with him, become someone else, he was a wild boy, but the connection to the handsome Johnson boy was so deeply embedded in her mind, she wanted to spend more time with him. But should I? She knew seeing him, could bring so much trouble, in the family. Do I need that kind of trouble in my life? She continued thinking in her mind, but her heart told her otherwise. He’s handsome Emily, you want to be with him, and you want the adventure. You want to lose yourself, for a while. I need to take a walk she thought to herself and grabbed one of her romance books.

    "I'm going for a walk Mom.” Emily said

"Ok honey don't go far." Judy told her.

"I won't mom" then Emily stepped out the front door and walked toward the path by the creek, then wondered toward the clearing, by the old hidden cave. A place she liked to set and read sometimes, it was always quite except for the birds. Emily loved the nature, and often watched the rabbits run throw the clearing. One time a rabbit had ran by her, so close, she could have touched it.

Upon arriving at the clearing Emily sit down under a large oak tree and relaxed, the grass felt good on her legs. Then she laid back with her book and began reading, the sun shining down felt good on her skin and she was soon deep in the story of the latest affair of the books character. She didn't hear Billy approach, and jumped when he spoke. "Care if I join you, what you reading?" He laughed as he took the book from her hands reading it and holding it above his head away from her. “Oh a love story, Hu” He teased her, as she reached to take the book from his hands, but he smiled and continued reading.

"Oh how she loves him” He read slowly almost singing.

"So, we still going fishing tomorrow,” He laid the book down and focused on her legs. “Of course, I wouldn’t ever council a fishing trip” Flirting with him, she liked the way he eyed her and ran her hand along her leg, watching as his eye’s followed.

She smiled at him, as she moved her hands back up her legs, up her hips and across her belly, teasing him as his eye’s continued to follow. “What are you doing on Canton property anyway?” She widen her eyes as if to say you’ve been caught.

He laughed “I’ve seen you here before, from my side of the property, over there,” he pointed, and lit a joint. She watched as he put the joint in his mouth, and thought about his lips on hers. She rolled to her stomach, and touched her finger to her lips.

“Smoke” he ask, his eyes burning with desire, she thought as she continued to tease him.

“Been here before Hu” she tilted her head and ask.

“Watching you” He passed the joint to her. She took the joint from his hand, and set up.

“Watching me, why?” She ask, she really wanted to know.

Billy smiled at her as she passed the joint back to him. “Because, you are so beautiful, Emily Canton. I just want to be with you.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that. She wanted him too. “Billy, I’m going to go fishing with you tomorrow, but I don’t know, how we can see each other as friends, much less as more then friends. We will just have to see what happens. Ok.” she smiled at him, but could feel the worry, as if she were drowning.