Breath of Love 1

It was a sultry August afternoon in Springfield Tennessee. A hundred or more people stood around the casket of John O'Riley, respectfully being silent enough to hear the whispering weeping of his widow,Barbra." The Priest finished the eulogy,"John was on this earth nearly 87 years....he loved his church...he loved his drink and he surely loved Barbra....may God rest his soul."

A slight breeze twirled in the shade of trees and lifted Barbra's black veil, revealing that her eyes were stuck on a young man leaning on the tractor about twenty yards away. His faded jeans were tight on his legs and the white T-shirt he was wearing revealed every curve of his muscular body.

The bronze colored casket was lowered into the ground. The people lined up and the women tossed flowers...the men who were his close friends poured shots of whiskey and finally a basket of clover was sprinkled in the grave by children.

John O'Riley's favorite saying was,"The angels of God are the wee ones....after that beautiful bliss...we all become devils!" Barbra made sure that the funeral went exactly as John had wished. He had left her a fair means of living and an 855 acre farm. She did love him but that love couldn't take her eyes away from the young cemetery worker.

As the people walked away....the Priest asked Barbra if she would like an escort to her car. Barbra pulled her black handkerchief from beneath her veil and said,"Thank you...but I would like a few minutes alone with John...to say goodbye." As the Priest walked away....Barbra could see the young man slowly walking towards the grave site. He stopped just out of the shade...close enough that she could see the sweat beads on his face.

The young man stood silent with his arms crossed. Barbra saw the last of the cars leaving and motioned with her hand for him to come to her. She watched his every step and focused just blow his belt buckle as he walked up. He softly said,"Yes ma'am.?" Her eyes moved from his crotch to his smooth handsome face as she said," My name is Barbra, I am the widow of John O'Riley....to be quite frank...I need help on my farm...I can pay you well and even provide a room if you need?"

The young man said with a Russian accent,"I am pleased to meet you ma'am...my name is Alex Rimochinov...I am new to this country...I would be interested in such work...a room would be good....I have been stay at a hotel in Springfield."

Barbra smiled beneath her veil and said,"I will go and wait in my car as you finish here...they you may drive us to your motel to get your things." Alex smiled and nodded in agreement. He could well see by her hands and legs that she wasn't an elderly woman....also...her voice was clear and soft.

From her car...Barbra watched Alex dump the dirt into the grave. She watched him shovel the final layer on and smooth it over with a rake. Alex finished and walked up to the car...saying,"I must go to main building and get my twenty dollars pay."

Barbra...still talking from beneath her veil...said,"I will pay you thirty dollars to just get in and drive us to your motel and then to my farm." Alex happily agreed and got in the car to drive. They stopped at the motel and Barbra watched his tight behind as he walked to his room. Within minutes...he was carrying out three suitcases. He put two in the trunk and one in the back seat of the red Thunderbird convertible.

As he was about to get in the car...Barbra asked him to let the top down as she unlatched the latches at the top of the windshield. Alex did as she said. As they pulled away from the cemetery...Barbra removed her black hat and veil. Alex was stunned at her beauty. He only got a glimpse of her deep blue eyes as she put on sunglasses. She asked,"Where are you from?" Alex smiled and said,"Stalingrad...I come here to seek the American dream!"

Barbra laughed and said,"Dream is the bigger part of that statement." Alex looked at her with confusion as she patted his leg and said,"Dream on my new Russian friend...dream on." Barbra directed him to the farm as she constantly scanned his body when his eyes were on the road.

They drove about twelve miles north Springfield and turned on to a winding paved lane that cut through a field of clover. The large white frame farmhouse came into view. Three massive white barns and seven silos were off to the left of the house. To the right was an apple orchard and a smaller red barn.

Alex said with excitement,"This place is beautiful!" Barbra smiled as she directed him to the front of the garage and said,"I've lived here for 20 years....I moved here when I was 29...the first time I saw it...it was breath taking." They got out of the car and walked up on the porch as Alex asked,"You farm all of this land?" Barbra took his hand...pulled him to the end of the porch and said,"We...I mean I now...lease 800 acres to other farmers...look just north of the hedgerow...that is the great state of Kentucky...most of my land is there."