Wild Swans Read Online Free PDF

left as quickly as it came. The shadow resumed its journey. It slipped away quickly, silently. Jake trembled as he lay on top of her, his face shoved into the nape of her neck. She felt dirty, violated in the deepest most secret part of her soul. Tears flowed down her cheeks. As soon as it was gone, a murder of crows took to the sky, cawing in fear and anguish. It wasn’t until Althea released her grip on Jake that she realized he was crying.

    ****

    “The plantation house ain’t much to look at, especially if you were expecting a big mansion like the ones in New Orleans,” Ruby was saying as she and Mr. Lindt mounted the wide gray planked steps, “but it’s home.”
    “I think it’s charming,” Mr. Lindt said as Ruby led him into the foyer. It was a small unfurnished room, wallpapered in the same drab blue and tan. The floor was rough hewn hardwood. The foyer emptied into a narrow passageway separated by two doors. The stairwell was at the back of the hallway just a few feet away from a smallish stone fireplace. A few feet from the mantle, a set of double doors opened into the kitchen; a holdover from when the house was meant for single family use.
    Ruby led Mr. Lindt to the door on the right hand side. “This is it, and you’re lucky because you’re right next to the kitchen. There’s an ice box and deep freeze in there but since we all use it you’ll probably want to put your name on whatever you buy to avoid confusion.”
    “An excellent idea,” Lindt replied.
    “The mail boxes are at the end of the driveway. This is apartment two, and that number corresponds with the mailbox you’ll use. I assume you saw them as you drove in this morning?”
    “I did indeed.”
    She took the key from Mr. Lindt and opened the door. The scent of musty wallpaper and bleach stung her nose. “This is it,” she repeated, stepping inside so Mr. Lindt could enter. “The kitchenette is this way, but don’t expect to cook much in here. There’s only a hot plate, and enough cabinet space for a coffee pot.” She shrugged. “Mrs. Bristow started to put kitchens in all the apartments, but it was too expensive and she decided against it. As I said before, we all use the common kitchen. The only rule is that you be sure to clean up after you’re done.”
    “It’s perfect,” Mr. Lindt said. “The apartment I mean.” He smiled in a way that Ruby suspected might be charming, and then added, “It will be just fine.”
    “We usually eat dinner on the veranda in the evenings. No matter how you run the ceiling fans or have the windows open it never gets quite cool enough in the summertime. So we all take our meals outside. This of course is purely optional. There’s always the diner in town if you prefer.”
    “I think it’s great. A wonderful way to meet the neighbors,” Lindt replied.
    Ruby shot him a glance. “I have a daughter. She’s getting married in a couple of weeks,” she said.
    “Congratulations,” Lindt replied.
    “You being an older gentleman and from up north, I must assume you might not fully understand this is a very rural area and we still hold on to southern proprieties and expect our neighbors to do the same.”
    “Completely understandable,” Lindt said as he set his suitcase on the small divan. “And I appreciate your candor, Mrs...”
    “Miss. Ruby Thibodaux. There is no mister.”
    “Miss Thibodaux. I will of course honor all customs during my stay. If I fall astray I am sure you can set a foolish old man straight.”
    “I expect I can,” replied Ruby.
    “Do you and your sister own the grocery store next door?”
    “We’re leasing it,” Ruby said as she folded her arms across her narrow chest. “It was originally a part of the plantation, along with a cotton gin that used to be over there.” She unfolded her arms long enough to point out of the window overlooking a broken down chute steadily being overtaken by a wild tangle of giant salvinia, cypress saplings, and kudzu. “The gin