The Lemon Orchard by Luanne Rice

Author:Luanne Rice
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group, USA
Published: 2013-06-01T16:00:00+00:00

Roberto

With the sun setting behind the Channel Islands, Roberto fed Bonnie and took her for her evening walk. He followed the path Julia liked. Working in Malibu, Roberto was mostly focused on the job, all the details of keeping the orchard running. But Bonnie walked slowly, and so did Roberto, so he tried to see the landscape as Julia did.

It was beautiful here. He looked down the long canyon, shadows painting the chaparral shades of green and gold. At the bottom the ocean spread to the horizon. Waves broke near shore. He saw surfers—tiny black dots from this height—waiting for their chance. Out beyond, the ocean was dark blue with silver currents running through it, like independent pathways to secret destinations.

The curve of the coast was visible, mountains ranging down to the edge of the sea. He never spent time looking around like this. He’d grown up in the country, surrounded by nature, but he just took it for granted. In Mexico he had worked hard in the fields and orchards, walked home to eat and sleep, or to go to school, and then taken the same path back to work the next day. Landscape was something to be gotten through—crossed, like the desert—not enjoyed.

Bonnie stood beside him, pressed against his leg. He rested his hand on her head. She trusted him. He wondered about Julia. She had driven off so suddenly he hoped he hadn’t upset her too much. Maybe she had to get away from him. He knew he had offended her by kissing her. Maybe he had misread her signals.

Bonnie had started walking again, so Roberto followed. They went slowly, and he breathed in the cool sea air, and wondered what it would be like if Julia were here, if she were walking beside him. They rounded the corner, came upon a herd of mule deer grazing. Bonnie chased them, barking.

Roberto watched Bonnie with admiration. She was bred for herding, and he saw she had a great heart, and in that moment when she ran so bravely after the deer he saw the young dog she once had been.

He wished Julia were here, so he could take back what he’d said, and filled the spaces with what he hadn’t said. When Bonnie returned from her chase, she looked up at Roberto for approval, and he petted her head.

“Good dog, Bonnie,” he said in English, because that was her language. “You are a very good dog.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.