One

If you read this before my edit, I would like you to read it again, I improved it a little bit.

One
December 7, 1941
Brownsville, Tx

      The cold December air slapped across my cheek and made my eyes pool with water. I wrapped the soft wool blanket tighter around my shoulders and neck and continued walking up the hill. The oak tree was were I was headed. The only tree sitting on top the hill looking down to my home. It's branches once flushed with green spring leaves now hanging with barren branches. But I still went anyway. The morning air waved a scent of pine and dew.
 I looked out onto the Texas Hill country at the array of sunlight that greeted the earth to say good morning. I could hear Uncle Max setting his cassette player as he always did every morning at dawn. A familiar tune filled the air and soon I found myself humming beautiful dreamer.

 I spread out an extra blanket I knew to always bring and layed it across the dew kissed ground and sat and opened my bible. The words sent a peace inside of me and I quoted a scripture as my eyes scanned the sun kissed horizon.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love; for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go for to you I lift up my soul.

I closed my eyes once again and caught a whiff of motor oil. I layed my bible aside and made my way down to the hangar. I knew that scent anywhere. A scent that immediately brought me to my feet and sent a rush of adrenaline through my veins.
The red wore down barn sat in the middle of a field on the other side of the hill to give the Boeing Stearman PT-17 space for take off. To have enough time to roll it's wheels on the dusty soil then take off into the clouds. The barn doors were jarred wide open and I couldn't help but let a smile split right through my face as I neared the opening.

"Well, if you aren't a ray of sunshine this mornin'.'" Benjamin Tally, or as everyone likes to call him, Ben, said. His face split into a full smile as he wipes a stick full of oil on his stained blue jeans staining them even more.

"Morning Ben." I said as I leaned against the old door and breathed in the scent of oil and that new hair gel he was now so fond of. I like how it kept his wild hair smoothed down, it made him look his age.

"Takin' her for a run," Ben pushed in the oil stick and closed the lid. " you ready?"

"Don't you think it's a little early for that Ben?" I asked. Knowing he usually took the PT-17 for spins in the afternoon.

His face cracked into a smile. "I got somethin' to show you Izzy. less'n your not interested."

I rolled my eyes and was already on my way to the cockpit, knowing my childhood friend wouldn't take no for an answer. I snatched our goggles  and climbed into the rear seat like I did so many times before.

"Oh no you don't." Ben jumped into the rear seat before me.

"What are doing?"

 "You drive." A scheming smile worked over Ben's face.

"No way Ben! You know I've only watched you fly, I can't fly a plane--!'

He put his hand up, "Go on Izzy, I know you've been itching to try."

 I couldn't stop shaking my head. "I can't Ben."

I looked longingly at the steering wheel then back to him. I hated him for it.

Ben leaned over the side and came close to my face. He starred deep into my eyes and It was hard to look away.

"You'll never know unless you try Izzy. Just try for me."

I hesitated for a moment. The sternness in my friends eyes set me on edge. Ben lifted a brow as if I was even thinking of rejecting his order.
With a heavy sigh, I strapped my goggles on and climbed into the front seat.

  "Now, you just turn the key.."

 "Shutup Benjamin! I know that." We both laughed.
 He always knew how to take make me feel comfortable when I was nervous.

The roar of the engine filled the still winter morning and the vibrates made my body tingle. A sensation I've felt since I was a just a girl. When Uncle Max would take me into the clouds. Now that Uncle Max has retired from his high flying adventures Ben always takes me. Ben knew I've always wanted more. He knew me better than anyone.

"Where are we going?" I asked trying to make my voice raise over the engine.

"You'll see."

  I lightly steered the plane out of the barn. Panic seized me as I looked out onto the dirt strip.

  "I can't do it!" I turned my head to Ben. I knew he couldn't hear me, so I shook my head vigorously. He unstrapped himself and stood leaning on the edge of my seat.

  "Do you remember the first time Uncle Max let me fly?" Ben's voice competed with the engine.

I'd heard what he said but I wasn't understanding. "What? No."

 Ben lifted his goggles of his face. "Do you remember my first flight?"

Now I understood. How could I forget. Seeing the expression written on my face, Ben knew the answer.

 He reached down in his pocket and pulled out a tiny hand carved Eagle and handed it to me.
"I was so scared when I got behind that wheel."

"Yes, but you where only twelve." I reminded him. He wasn't nineteen.

"Yeah I know, but you gave me this."

"I can't believe you still have this." I said.
I eyed the hand carved bird that Uncle Max made for me.

"You told me that, if I hold onto it when I flew, that I could pretend that I was the eagle. I could soar just as high and not be afraid."

I twirled the wooden bird around and rubbed it with my fingers.
"You're right."  I took a deep breath. "I can do this."

I tucked the bird in my top pocket and flashed a thank you smile.
I pushed the throttle further away from me, the plane was gaining speed and my heart threatened to pound out of my chest. The run way welcomed me onto it's dirt patched strip, stretching out into the field. The stearman gained speed, I felt like jumping in the back seat with Ben, but just then his hand touched my shoulder, as if he knew.
I felt the bird poke me in the chest and I exhaled. And as soon as I knew it we were in the air looking over the sun patched ground. The light morning dew still blanketed the earth and the cool crisp air burned in my throat. This is what freedom tastes like. I pulled my arms up in the air and let the cold soak through my body. I let a squeal of delight rush out of me. Ben was in the back seat cheering me on. I could hear him laughing over the engine. I couldn't think of any other place I'd rather be then with Ben, right here, at this very moment.

Ben tapped my shoulder.
"Turn here!"

He pointed to the west and I dipped the left wing towards our destination. I was guessing we were headed towards Ben's "surprise". Then again he was always full of surprises.

  We passed over a patch of tress and Ben told me to circle around until I was ready to land. I circled around a large clearing of field, then circled around once more and started descending a path that had already been cleared for a plane.
Curiosity swirled in me and I was anxious to know what he was up to.
I wasn't as nervous to land as I was to take off, for fear of crashing into the trees.
I slowly kissed the ground with the wheels as we came back to earth.

I slowed the plane as we neared the end of the strip. I turned off the plane and Ben jumped down out of  pit. He reached up for me and I was lifted into the air then my feet hit the ground.

"You did it Izzy!" He spun me around and then set me down. I held onto him.
"I couldn't have done it without you."

He smiled and tucked a piece of hair behind me ear. A new wave of cold swept over me and I decided to zip the brown leather jacket I wore.

"It's beautiful." I said, mesmerized over the beauty of it all as I looked out onto the land. The sunlight peeked through the tress sending a beautiful array of sunlight dancing across the yard.

"I thought you'd say that." There was that smile again, that was just many of things Ben was known for.
My stomach fluttered, a feeling that came out of no where. Where did that come from?

  "I gotta show you something." Ben grabbed my hand and led me through some more tress and into a clearing.

  My mouth dropped open. A beautiful pond lay before us, morning fog danced on the surface and I could see sheets of ice gathering on the edges of the bank. It was as if the sunrise swam in the frigid waters illuminating an orange glow all around.

   A small dock entered the water and Ben, still holding my frozen hand , led me on the freshly built board walk.
  My eyes never left his face.

   Even though we weren't blood, we've always had special connection. And as scared as I was to admit it, it wasn't at all a family related connection.

   Ben let out a sharp breath which was surrounded by a puff of fog. A certain gleam in his eye told me something was definitely on his mind.
 
"Benjamin Tally, you better spill," I gave his shoulder a child like shove which triggered another smile from him. "It looks like your heads still up there in the clouds and just your body's here."

  He grabbed both my hands and pulled me close to him that sent a jolt of energy running through my veins as it warmed my body.

My smiled faded away as he peered deep into my eyes.
"Ben, what are doing?"

"Izzy," He swallowed deep. He lifted his hand and stroked my face.

"Ben I don't--"

"Now Izzy, just hear me out." His tone of voice let me know I wouldn't be able to get a word in to what he was about to say.
 He looked down at his hands in mine.

 I couldn't begin to explain the emotions that were running through my body as I looked at my best friend. We weren't children anymore, I'd realized. At 20 Ben had grown into a handsome young man. I hadn't always seen him like that. The mischievous brown headed boy that wildly roamed the field with me always by his side, was now well groomed and certain. He still had a hint of that mischievous streak in the way his cheek stubbed out.

"I've been thinking about this some time now. God has placed you in my life for a reason Elizabeth Caldwell." Ben was looking into my eyes now. His deep brown eyes showed compassion and seriousness.

He continued, "We've known each other since we were children, we've laughed and cried together, heck we've even played house together. Remember that?."

Tears brimmed my eyes. I laughed and nodded remembering all the good time we had together.

"I wanna make it real Izzy, I wanna come home every night and smell that sweet strawberry scent in your hair. I wanna see your smile and dance in the living room of OUR house."
He pointed over to the other side of the tree line where the plane was sitting on top the wide open field.

"This is my land Izzy, I bought it for us." He flashed a prideful smile.

I stood there trying to take in the word he was saying, Ben was pouring out his heart to me. At this very moment. I tried to take it all in, tried to understand all what he was saying.

"I wanna grow old together, I'll even build us two rocking chairs so we can sit on our front porch late in the afternoon and feel the warm summer air on our faces and just talk about the weather."

He cupped my face in his hands and wiped a tear of my cheek that I was unaware that I had. My face was numb from the cold and my nose was a cherry red. But Ben's hands were warm, cupped across my cheeks. His closeness warmed my whole body. I closed my eyes and pressed his hands tight to my cheeks.

"I want you Izzy."

I looked up into his eyes and realized I'd been holding my breath. I slowly let it out and opened my mouth to say something. Puzzlement was written on Ben's face and he knew I wasn't quite understanding. I was, it's just, I was trying to take it all in to what he was actually saying. Finally he summed it up and made it clear.

"Will you be my wife Izzy?"

I pulled his hands from my face and starred at him. I couldn't help but laugh. And the look on his face made me laugh even more. I knew I was being horrible, but it was a complete shock to me.
"What's so funny?" Ben said, he had a smile on his face but it wasn't the regular Ben smile. His face was lifted in a tight ray of uncertainty.
I gradually stopped my laughter and shame crept over me

"Nothing, Ben." I touched his face and that seemed to ease the tightness.
"I just never knew you were so poetic."

We both laughed and that seemed to shake of the seriousness. A sudden urge to kiss him shocked my senses. We both leaned in. I would know wouldn't I? Know for sure that he was the one with this first kiss. Know that he wasn't just my best friend, but something more?

The roar of an engine shook the ground which immediately stole our attention. We instinctively lifted our eyes towards the sky. Planes by the thousand roared above.

"Is that--?" I couldn't finish.

"War Planes." The coldness in Ben's voice made me shiver.

"Come on." He grabbed my hand and we headed to the plane.

Reviews

[soliloquy]

My goodness! I wasnt expecting that. You are a quality writer. I read and enjoyed.

[Tori]

Thank you so much, that really means a lot!

[soliloquy]

I was expecting something else. I like the abilty you have with character dialogue. That is impressive.

[Tori]

I was wondering how I was doing with the character dialoge, Thank you!

[soliloquy]

I am a fan! Write more please.

[Tori]

Glad to know! Thank you! Working on some now!

[The Invisible Girl]

I love it!! Can't wait for the next chapter!! Send me a read request when you're finished with it! :D

[Tori]

Thank you!!! (: & will do!