[Second Chances 02]California Dreams by Morris Fenris Read Free Book Online

dog, but readily complied, “You’re a good girl, aren’t you?”
    Samuel watched Jane interact with Lucky and hoped that in the coming days, he would see more interaction along the same lines. “Lucky, where’s your stick?”
    Lucky bounded to her feet and tore off around the side of the house, returning seconds later with a stick around three feet in length, and missing all of its bark. “Good girl.” Lucky barked twice and then took off down a dirt path next to the house.
    “Where’s she going?” Jane asked, expecting the dog to come back.
    “The beach. Leave your purse on that chair and follow me. She won’t be content until I throw her stick for her a half dozen times.”
    Samuel led the way down the dirt path that ended up, a hundred yards later, on the sand of the beach. Jane walked towards the rolling surf; stopping just short of getting her feet wet and watched the waves roll in.
    Samuel tossed the stick for his dog and then joined her at the water’s edge. “Take your sandals off and we’ll take a walk. You might want to roll your pant legs up a little higher as well.”
    Samuel did the same, tossing his sandals up a little higher on the beach so they wouldn’t be swept away. Jane followed suit and then rolled the bottoms of her capris up another two inches.
    Samuel took her hand, after once again throwing the stick down the beach, and started walking slowly with her towards the ocean and swishing her feet through the surf as it rolled in.
    Feeling the sand pulled from beneath her feet each time the waves receded, she laughed, “That feels so weird.”
    Glancing at her, he asked, “The sand being pulled from beneath you?”
    Jane laughed and nodded, “Yes. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
    Samuel chuckled, “Wait until you get out into deeper water. Those waves are strong enough to pull your feet from underneath you.”
    “Uhm, Samuel, I didn’t bring a suit…”
    “Not tonight. The first time you go into the ocean should not be at night. The waves can be pretty disorienting and I want you to be able to see everything, even the ocean floor if you dive beneath the waves.”
    Jane was relieved that she wouldn’t have to give away how much the thought of going into the ocean at night scared her. It was so big, and there were so many creatures living in the water. If she was going to encounter any of them, she wanted to see them coming for her first!
    Samuel watched her shoulders relax and chuckled, “You’re not a fan of the movie JAWS , are you?”
    Jane shook her head, “No. But I do remember seeing it. Thanks for bringing that up. Maybe I’ll just stick to dipping my feet in the water, after all.”
    Samuel laughed, stopping to turn them back around and tossing the stick for Lucky once more, “Don’t worry. Besides, I think that movie was shot on the Atlantic side of the U.S., not on the Pacific side.”
    “Does it matter? Just knowing that there are things out there that wouldn’t mind making a snack of me gives me the shivers.”
    Samuel wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed, “I’ll protect you. Besides, they’re much more afraid of you than you are of them. Promise.”
    Jane tried to look convinced, but at his small laugh, knew immediately she had failed. The ocean was safe! That’s what Samuel had told her. The movies would have her believe differently, but what did she really know beyond the silver screen? Nothing! She’d never been in the ocean so she would trust someone else. If Samuel said swimming in the ocean was safe, she would believe him.

Chapter 10
    Samuel led Jane back to his bungalow and headed for the kitchen, letting her wander through his front room at her leisure. There was a small gas fireplace against one wall with a few pictures scattered across its top.
    After getting the salmon in the oven, he started tossing a salad, watching her as he was able; she picked up each picture and looked at it for several seconds before replacing it and