Only the Candle Shall Burn

By Jonathan Baker Horncock

Only the Candle Shall Burn is another story of life itself because it does happen every day throughout the world. People disappear in their travels and are never heard of again. So many stories and details are unexplainable and remain a haunting mystery through time. Time itself tells no lies, nor does it breathe deception. Our actions and minds interpret what we see or feel, whether it is reality or a fabrication. The result will prevail because it cannot be denied and will give us the true answer that we seek. Therefore, at that time there are no lies or any deceiving of any purpose to prevail unless we are ignorant of the facts before us. So be wary of all you do and see in life, or you might experience what I have written. It is happening now . . . somewhere.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 16, 2017
• ISBN: 9781640824300

Book preview

To my mother, the lady in my life who has cared for me and who has given me the inspiration to strive and succeed in all my endeavors because of the hardships and struggles that we shared together.

This is for her, and may she be caressed and blessed for the love and strength she provided me from my first breath of life.

She is now with the Lord in heaven.

Preface

The world has become a circus of nightmarish events that surround us every day of our lives. To be in the wrong place at the wrong time can envelop us and take us to that hell that we dread and fear.

Fate is a preordained circumstance that can be filled with joy or tragedy and is uncontrollable. So be cautious and tread lightly, or you will be one of the characters mentioned in my book.

As in my other book, it is happening now … somewhere.

Chapter 1

The day was soft in its whimpering, certainly unlike the great sobbing of yesterday. The dark raging clouds of nature and the storm with its pounding rain came through and fed the earth. The thunderous roar of a thousand lions and the fluorescent brilliance of a thousand candles illuminated the sky.

This morning though was a gentle calm, and the sun reflected a friendly warmth as the moisture that blanketed the earth and its natural offspring were bright with a soft radiance. Thousands of beads or small pearls held the light of the sun in their nuclei and illuminated the earth that sparkled into an almost blinding, reflecting light. Like a huge bright candle before your eyes in total darkness.

The trees were very still now and resting from the violent and cruel winds of the night before. The dark, hurling and merciless unseen force that made some of them bend beyond their limits. It was not the gentle breeze of God’s caressing love, but an intense power of an evil entity that scoffed at God’s creation.

Some of the wooden beams broke and splintered, never to stand tall again. Some stood in part like the gallows of death and a crucifix in remembering. The surviving timbers wept in their great loss as the beads of sorrow rolled, and the swollen tears fell from the hands that held them. Their thousandfold sound echoed continuously in the thudding drumbeat of death as the drops slammed down upon the earth.

It was a beautiful summer morning, and the coffee tasted fresh and good going down. It was one of those peaceful, warm mornings that you feel exceptionally well in being alive. A morning that you felt a good warmth of satisfaction inside and made you appreciate life and everything around you. It was my first day of a three-week vacation, and that certainly did nothing to hinder my feeling of the moment.

Suddenly, I felt gentle hands grab my sides from behind. They were warm and slowly moved to my front. They pulled at me in a soft squeeze, and I could feel the warmth of her body against mine. I felt her head press lightly against my back and felt the warmth of her cheek. I raised the cup to my lips and took a sip of coffee as I smiled. Her body pressed harder against mine, and her hips swayed from side to side, rubbing against the back of my legs.

I felt her hands slide gently down my front in a feathery touch and caress what she was craving for. Her gentle massaging created my rod to swell gradually. The touch brought a tingling to my loins, and the desire to follow her wishes grew greater. I felt her hands change course as they circled slowly around my waist. The soft silken fabric stayed firmly against my skin as she came around my side and stood in front of me. Her hands eased downward once more and continued their act of before. One hand cupped my jewels and gently squeezed them. The other formed a closed circle around my manhood and stroked me slowly and smoothly. The enclosed circle enlarged to conform equally to my growth and heightened my pleasure even more.

I looked into her half-closed glassy eyes and then looked at her body as I grew in heat. Her breasts were pressed hard against each other because of her arms being so close together. Her red laced bra plunged deeply and was ready to burst apart because of the load it carried. The bulging mass of bronzed globes quivered gently in a rolling motion because of her stroking movement. I looked farther down, and her matching panties echoed the bra’s act of doing little in covering her gifted assets. Her legs were spread wide apart in fantasy as her hand speed quickened. She rocked up and down in slight movement as she pulled at me.

The way she looked right now would have made any man boil inside. The same feeling of a great fire that burned deep inside like I felt right now. Her sensuality was beyond compare, and the way she responded added so much more to the electrifying mood of the moment. She truly enjoyed the intimacy of life to a great extent and showed it naturally.

Her eyes were still in a glassy daze and held a glow of pleasure in them. Her mouth was formed into a small circle as her full lips protruded slightly. Her head dropped forward, and she watched my heated tentacle throb, while she stroked me faster and faster. Her long tan legs shook slightly now as her muscles tightened. Her wide spread legs trembled even more as her up-and-down movement deepened and gained in speed.

I could see her chest rise and fall, and the fine line that separated her breasts widened and narrowed with her intense breathing. Her nipples were rigid mounds that forced the laced fabric forward in extreme lust.

I wanted to touch and love her bronze flesh, but I didn’t want her to stop what she was doing. I was well beyond the point of no return and could not repel the ecstasy I felt in her demanding touch. My heart quickened its dance of life and rumbled loudly as my body tightened, and the surging river of heated lava stormed upward toward the peak. Our bodies shook together at my violent release, and she moved closer to me as she whispered my name in total satisfaction.

Oh! Adam! Adam! Her words were a whisper of sharing and joining in that blissful moment. They were also the lyrics of love and the melody of life and caring. She hugged me tightly and held me in the hold of love. I could feel her heart was beating just as fast as mine as I released a long deep breath that showed contentment. Velvet pulled away from me and opened her eyes. She still had that dazed, dreamful glow in them as she spoke.

I’m going to take a shower, honey. Would you like another cup of coffee first? Velvet asked.

No, go on. I’d like to look at the maps and go over the list again, I said.

Velvet smiled in response to my reply and rose upon her toes, kissing me on the cheek and, after doing so, left my side. I turned around and watched her leave the room. My eyes absorbed and relished her movements as she walked away from me.

Her long, slim legs led to her small waist that seemed to pull in above her rounded buttocks. There were no layers that shook because of excess, but a fine tight skin of bronze that shone and glistened regularly. Her name was a blessing to her in reality and fit her perfectly in all respects.

Her skin always had a sheen that enhanced the golden-brown beauty that she carried. The smoothness and soft texture of her skin was also a feature that agreed totally with her name.

She disappeared from view, and I heard the shower water slam against the tub. Shortly after that, the forceful sound softened, and I knew it was falling on her body now. I thought of her showering and how her lovely body would glisten with the water streaming down her endowments and how much I loved her. Then I turned into the direction of other exciting matters.

Tomorrow morning we were going to leave for California. A welcome journey of escape and excitement in breaking the daily monotony of routine. Velvet and I have been married for only two years, and she hasn’t seen her family since the wedding. We’ve saved up vacation time, not to mention the money, and we were truly looking forward to the trip.

I’ve traveled alone before on long trips, but on such a lengthy drive like this one, it would be a lot more comforting with Velvet at my side. It would always be a comfort and joy with her at my side, no matter where or for what reason. I know she was thoroughly elated about going and has been in very high spirits the last few days.

I was excited also because I was looking forward to seeing her family again too. I was orphaned as a small child and never knew any true family. Velvet’s two brothers and I were very close, and I felt that they were like brothers of my own, although they truly weren’t. I felt there could be none closer. Even by blood! I had a great warmth for her mother and felt a great closeness for her also. I think the greatest degree of excitement was in having the time off and sharing the trip with my wife and our two closest friends.

When I first moved here with Velvet from California, I was very apprehensive. The job opportunity was too tempting, and I couldn’t pass it up. We left her family behind plus our friends. It was a lonely feeling of newness and being totally strange to everyone around. That, plus the fear of not being accepted and lost is also commonplace at that time.

Although there was a great aura of excitement and anxiety, it was only a covering that concealed the uneasiness and turmoil that Velvet and I felt. It was a hidden thought deep in the recesses of our minds, but was still a lingering evidence of pain in our hearts. We tried having children, and through the many attempts, we’ve always failed. After the first six months of our marriage and being unsuccessful, we decided to see a specialist.

Through the tests, and the many moments of despair and fading hope, we discovered that we were unable to have children. I remember that horrible day as if it were a burning scar branded in my mind. The day of reckoning where we sat in front of the doctor. I recall the picture of the surroundings and the look on his face. The medicinal smell that I always hated and, at the same time, feared. A smell of death and odor of loneliness.

Velvet sat next to me and played with her purse straps out of nervousness. She sat to the side of me, but I could see her lips tremble mildly, and her stare was fixed on the doctor’s face. My hands were cupped on my lap as if they were in silent prayer for something positive. I felt the tingling sensation in my legs and the quick beating of my heart as I felt the moisture gather in my tightly clenched palms.

However, the serious, forlorn look on the doctor’s face told me that everything was in vain. That the joining of our rivers of love would never produce the seed that creates the utmost of treasures, a child of blood from our veins and carries our heart and spirit through a lifetime, even after death.

I was cheated in life again because I had no parents or memories of them. Now I was being denied the opposite and could not be a natural parent myself. I felt so sorry for Velvet because of her pain and the strong love I had for her. That particular day was not only painful, but also shattered my heart with tormenting guilt after I heard his words.

The doctor sat behind his highly polished, elaborate desk in a flawless manner. His white hair was manicured to a fine, flowing cut, and his tie was dimpled perfectly in the middle. He sat back in his leather chair with his index finger pressed vertically against his lips with the tip touching a very thin bristled mustache. It matched the whiteness of his hair perfectly and was also precautiously cut to about a quarter-inch wide and ended at the corners of his mouth. He stared down in solitude at the exquisite desk and finally spoke the words that shattered Velvet’s world as well as mine. He leaned forward and clenched his hands together on the desk. His eyes shifted back and forth in turn as he met ours and spoke.

Mr. and Mrs. Bronson … I have some bad news for you.

I remember him pausing for a short time, and I didn’t see the degree of sympathy I was hoping to see. Of course, I felt sorry for myself and for Velvet and expected a greater degree of comfort and possibly a vast number of excuses. As he spoke, my thoughts were of Velvet and how I would handle the situation. My instincts told me that Velvet was unable to conceive, but how wrong I was!

I’m very, very sorry to have to tell you this. But … well … you are unable to have children. I am very sorry.

At the closing of his statement, my heart that was so quick in exercise seemed to sink to an all-time low and only seemed to vibrate above a whisper. I remember Velvet breaking down immediately, and I pulled her to me in trying to ease her misery and grief. After I settled her down to some extent, the doctor spoke again. I’m sure he realized the situation because of his experience and wanted to clarify everything as soon as possible. There was hastiness as he spoke.

Mr. Bronson! I’m sorry to say that you are unable to father a child … Mrs. Bronson is very capable of doing so. Our tests are conclusive, and I’m sorry to say, very absolute!

That’s when I felt the guilt penetrate and the feeling of being stunned take over. The clamoring of the word why echoed inside my head and caused my heart to skip. I was totally shocked and felt even more deprived as my whole life flashed before me. That’s what they say happens to you just before you die. At that particular moment, on that specific day, I did feel death take part of my existence. It was always the same face of deprivation. The face of loneliness and fear that reflected what I felt inside. The children of the orphanage, which was my only home for so long. Not until I was on my own did I realize that there was more to life than seclusion of the heart.

Even in the darkest moments at the orphanage, I fought reality’s harsh moments and dreamed about having children of my own. Giving them everything that I never had and to make sure that they would never experience the fears and hardships that have plagued me all my life. I always wanted a brother. A pal or friend to play catch with. A mate in brotherhood who joined during times of laughter and shared spirit during times of sorrow. A brother, even to just fight with in a childish way.

In some of my other most depressing moments, I felt a great need to have a sister. So many times, I lay in bed at night never sleeping a moment but only fantasizing. A sister that I could protect and be a hero in her eyes. She would be someone that looked up to me and would say how wonderful I was, how much she appreciated me! I wanted to give my warmth and share those things that I had in my heart, but never experienced myself. A vacant book of knowledge invaded my spirit and told me what could be, but the fate of life held me at bay. Let alone being deprived of a brother and sister, now I was denied both a son or daughter!

After that day, the times were very hard. Even in the youngness of our marriage, we had already faced the harshest of times and greatest of difficulties. It was mainly my fault because the guilt I felt was overwhelming. Velvet was such a valiant soul and kept at my side in the most distraught times. I knew her suffering equaled mine because of the strong love we had for each other. It took a year after that day to smooth the ruffled edges and bring us back to our original bond of love. Yes! It was my feeling of sorrow and guilt for myself that nearly drove us apart. But her drive and influence brought me out of that isolated shell that I precariously ventured into.

We discussed so many alternatives, but eventually agreed on adoption. We both agreed it was a solution that best suited our morals and thoughts. We wanted to give a homeless child a new world of joy and sharing, he had more than enough time. I knew because that’s all I had for so long. We applied through the normal procedure of adoption and waited painstakingly for the word of our acceptance. That was another covering that filled our moments now.

My eyelids blinked back to the present as my mind surged forward in time and focused upon the time of now. I decided to have another cup of coffee and started for the kitchen. I walked through the bedroom doorway and entered the hall that led to the kitchen. I passed by the bath and could hear Velvet singing her version of Wind Beneath My Wings.

It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. I smiled in silence as I entered the kitchen and walked up to the kitchen counter. I stood there and poured another cup as the summer breeze flowed through the open window. The bright yellow curtains waved and swirled inward from the strong breeze. Their color matched the blinding jeweled brightness of the sun that lit up the blue sky above.

I could smell the greens of summer and the freshness of life and what it offers. The same cycle of love filled the air as it does in the newness of spring. I took in a deep breath in my lungs to capture some of the creations and felt a swelling of great joy inside. A fresh feeling of appreciation and feeling the first step to the road of having a dream fulfilled. A dream or fantasy that may finally become reality. At least a partial reality that I would cherish equally because of my handicap.

I stood there for a few moments and started to repeat the exercise, but this time I fell short. The scent of fresh soap filled my lungs and overpowered the greens of summer. I turned around slowly because I knew who was there. My act was to tease Velvet in her moment of surprise. I thought I was spoiling her moment of surprise, but lost out completely when I faced her totally and squarely. She stood there in a tightly bound halter top and a skintight pair of old bleached cutoff jeans. They hugged her body and showed every dip and curve of her sculptured figure. Velvet looked at me, and the brightness of her smile matched the pearls of glaring whiteness that I saw earlier.

Her hair was a dark auburn in color and had a frosted streak of red in front that captured and reflected the heated lust she held within her soul. It was a deep red in color. Like dried aged blood!

Her smile also displayed the recognition of my appreciation for her assets that were clearly before me. She came up to me and kissed me gently as our lips made contact ever so softly. Her sweet aromatic fragrance touched me softly and blended in with the clean pleasant smell of soap and oils. It was another freshness that betrayed her whereabouts, a betrayal that showed she was very near. A betrayal that is always welcome in my heart!

There were a great many things to do yet, so I escaped her captivating charm by concentrating on the other matters at hand.

Velvet, let’s check over everything and make sure we have everything in order.

She gave a slight grunt that portrayed mild disappointment and followed me into the dining room. She sat in the chair next to me, and I could smell the distinct aroma of barbecued meats filter in through the window with the seasonal winds that carried them.

I thought to myself and wondered if people truly appreciated the time of leisure. Did people ever notice the green leaves of the summer during a strong wind as they slapped at each other in touching? Did they ever stop to think about the green turning to a white, silverish color?

The vocal words of the King creating the strong wind so that we may not only recognize but also appreciate time itself. The two seasons were like the feelings of love and hate The leaf being green and vibrant on one side, and the other being the forewarning of the upcoming storm of death. The whiteness that would cling to the limbs or outstretched arms instead of the green hands that were so abundant now.

I just hoped the weather would remain this way throughout the trip as I stared down at the map. It lay completely open and nearly covered the tabletop completely, along with the list of what to take and the other usual necessities. I followed the marked route on the map and studied it closely. Velvet nearly had it memorized and could easily tell me the interstates to take at different points of our route. Of course, it really wasn’t hard to memorize because it was nearly a straight shot. I highlighted the route on the map so it was very simple to follow.

I started to go over it once more in study when the phone rang. Velvet responded quickly and answered it on the second ring. I think she was a lot more anxious to being on the trip than in the preparation of it. Her voice showed a relief of escape and a tinge of excitement.

Hello! Oh, hi! She put her hand over the mouthpiece and quickly whispered, It’s Brenda. She then released her hand to listen in silence. Soon I saw her eyes open wide, and a broad smile covered her face. She jumped up and down lightly in excitement, and her breasts bounced and shook much to my delight. I smiled because sometimes her actions were like a little child’s, a child’s way of showing glee and joy when surprised or receiving a gift. Her eyes become a vast sphere that shows innocence and pleasure, a child that I can never have by my blood!

Her gestures of surprised excitement and jubilation stopped, and she looked at me in a questioning way.

"Honey, Bob and Brenda want to do some celebrating tonight