Authors: More Than Memory

Dorothy Garlock (20 page)

BOOK: Dorothy Garlock

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“I always wanted a suite of offices on the lakeshore,” he quickly replied.

“You’re about as obvious as a tank,” she said, glancing at him sideways. She had read of Norris Smithfield’s rumored sexual exploits in the gossip columns. That is, if this was really the Smithfield who was heir to the farm-machinery fortune. From the facts she had picked up, she was almost sure he was.

“I try never to miss an opportunity.” He grinned wickedly.

“Foul creature.”

The repartee was easy for Nelda. In her line of work, such light banter was something that went along with the job. It was in no way threatening.

Norris’s tone grew more serious. “What do you
find to do out at the farm all day? Don’t you find it dull?”

“Dull?” She glanced away, veiling her expression and carefully avoiding looking at Lute. “Dull?” she repeated, and laughed. “I should say not. I love it. I miss the traffic, the noise, the tight schedules, and the pickpockets like I’d miss a toothache. Besides, I do get out now and then. And then there are exciting moments like being propositioned by the boy putting gas in my car.”

“What did you say?” The words traveled across the quiet room.

Nelda’s eyes flew to Lute. His lips were still parted from speaking. He was looking at her as if she’d just exploded a land mine. She felt herself flush. Later, when she had time to sort things out, she would be angry with him for forcing her to take center stage, but at the moment all she felt was embarrassment.

“I said that I don’t miss noise and traffic—”

“—You said that you had a flirtation with a gas station attendant,” he interrupted.

“Boys will flirt, that’s all there was to it.” Nelda replied with a forced smile.

“Boys don’t usually flirt with an older woman unless they are led to believe she welcomes that kind of attention.”

Nelda checked a gasp. She wanted to laugh, or scream, but she did neither. The room was deadly quiet, everyone locked into silence by the vehemence of the exchange.

“If I did lead him on, it wouldn’t be any
business of yours. I told you it was no big deal, so back off!” She spoke quietly and with dignity.

Burning with humiliation, Nelda turned and faced Norris’s twinkling eyes.

“She’s right, Lute.” It was Meredith’s lilting voice. “I imagine things like that are an everyday occurrence in the city. I’m sure Nelda is old enough to handle them.”

Her emphasis was decidedly on the word
old
. Nelda saw that Norris could barely contain his laughter. She chuckled, too. This whole argument was so ridiculous.

Meredith was speaking again. “I’ve been to every gas station in town, and the boys who wait on me are always pleasant, and never say anything out of line.”

“I guess you’re not as lucky as I am,” Nelda responded coolly; she let her gaze include Lute. He was still glaring at her.

Later, while the men were playing pool, Nelda had the opportunity to apologize to Rhetta.

“I’m sorry for losing my temper with Lute and embarrassing your guest.”

“Lute’s the one who should apologize,” Rhetta said with raised brows. “I’ve never known him to be so boorish. He acted like a tomcat with a sore tail.” When she continued it was with mischief in her eyes. “It sure didn’t take Miss Home Ec long to figure out you’re the Nelda from Lute’s past.”

Past, is right. She’s his future
.

“I didn’t come here to interfere in Lute’s life. I
didn’t know he was here. I thought he was still in the Navy.”

“I don’t know why he got so riled up all of a sudden. Our Lute has been acting strange lately.”

Nelda waited patiently for one of the couples to leave, not wanting to be the one to break up the party. After Bill and Jean left, Nelda announced her intentions and went with Rhetta to the closet where her coat had been hung.

“I’ll follow you home, love.” Norris took his overcoat off the hanger.

“You don’t need to do that,” Nelda protested.

Rhetta lifted a brow. “Don’t argue, Nelda. He’ll do as he pleases.”

Lute and Meredith were standing in front of the house with Gary and Rhetta when she pulled out of the drive. Seeing him with the girl clinging to him had pierced Nelda like a knife to her heart. She just wanted to go home, get in her bed, and cry. She hoped that Lute noticed that Norris was following her home. It was comforting, she admitted, to see the headlights of his car in the rearview mirror as she approached the farm.

Norris was pulling into the yard behind the house when Nelda got out of the car to raise the garage door. He waited for her after she parked it inside.

“Thank you for seeing me home.”

“My pleasure.” He pulled down the garage door. “Shall we have dinner together some evening?”

“I’d love it. Give me a call.”

“Let’s make the date for tomorrow night, so I’ll not have to remember your phone number.”

“I wouldn’t want to put a strain on your memory, so tomorrow night it is.”

He looked around, before remarking, “It’s pretty isolated out here for a woman living alone. What kind of protection do you have?”

“I have a good yard light, as you can see. I have a dog who barks at every rabbit or squirrel who crosses the yard, and I have a small handgun. I’m well equipped to take care of myself.”

“Good girl. Do you know how to use the gun?”

“You betcha.”

His next question surprised her. “What’s between you and Lute?”

“I was married to him once,” she admitted without missing a beat.

“Uh—oh. I should have known. It’s no wonder Miss Home Ec was in such a twist.”

Nelda forced a laugh. “She’s got nothing to worry about. Lute can’t stand me.”

“Thank heavens for that!” he teased. “I’d hate to think all this hard courting I’m doing is for naught.”

“Good night, Norris. I’ve got to let my dog out, and he just loves to gnaw on the legs of men with red hair and glib tongues.”

“I’m glad you came to town, Nelda Hanson . . . with an
o
,” he called, and waited until she had unlocked the door and had walked into the house before he got into his car. Then, with a short toot of the horn, he was gone.

“Did you miss me, Kelly?” Nelda fondled the dog’s ears. “I’ll let you out, but you stay close, hear?”

She stood on the steps and watched Kelly roam the yard. He had decided of late that it was fun to wander in the grove beside the house and venture off down the road, blatantly ignoring Nelda’s call to return. The coddling he’d received during his convalescence had had an adverse effect on his behavior. If Nelda was out of his sight, he conveniently put her out of his mind as well, returning to the house whenever he pleased.

After Kelly had revisited the various places where he had left his scent and had rewatered some of them, Nelda called to him.

“Kelly, come.” The dog looked at her and then away. There was something very important out of the circle of light that needed his attention, so he paid no attention to her summons and disappeared around the corner of the house. “Kelly! Dammit, Kelly!” she called, then shivering, she stepped inside the house to wait. Minutes passed, but the dog didn’t come back.

“Dumb dog,” she muttered. “Tomorrow I’m going to get a rope and tie you to a tree. Your gallivanting days will be over, and you’ve brought it on yourself.”

When headlights lit up the lane she frowned, thinking Norris was returning, but the vehicle that came into the yard was unfamiliar to her. When Lute got out with his hand firmly attached to Kelly’s collar, Nelda flung open the door. Dog and man came inside.

“I found him down the road. You’d better keep him at home, or he’ll get to running with a pack and someone will shoot him.”

“He’s just started running away.” Nelda’s voice trembled as she explained. Her frantic thought raced even as she spoke.
Go away, Lute. I don’t want you here
.

Lute stood there, looking down at her.

“You’d better get on back to Miss Home Ec,” she reminded him.

“There’s plenty of time.”

“I’m surprised you’d leave her to come over here and freeze your rear off to bring my dog home.”

“You don’t forget anything do you?”

“Not when someone tries to make me look foolish.”

“If you must know, I took her home.”

“It isn’t important to me what you do with her.”

“Norris will have you in bed before you know it. Is that what you want?” he asked angrily.

“You had me in bed before I knew it. What do you expect from a mare in heat?”

Nelda lifted her face and glared at him defiantly.

The ringing of the telephone broke the tension between them. Nelda took the necessary steps to reach it.

“Hello,” she said crossly.

She heard heavy breathing on the line, then—“Are ya in bed? If I was there, I’d be rammin’ it in ya—”

“Pervert!” she yelled, and slammed down the receiver.

“Who was that?” Lute’s voice came from behind her.

“A personal call.”

“Why did you say ‘pervert’?”

“Did I say that?”

“What’s going on, Nelda?”

“Butt out of my business!”

The phone rang again. Lute’s hand darted out and beat hers to the receiver. He held the phone to his ear. An expression of surprise flickered across his face, then anger.

“Listen to me, you lowdown piece of shit,” he bellowed into the receiver. “When I find out who you are, I’ll break off that thing you’re playing with and stuff it down your throat.” Lute slammed down the phone and glared at Nelda.

“How long has this been going on?”

She looked away, tilted her chin, and looked down her nose in a dignified manner.

“It’s not your concern. I’m asking you to leave.”

“How many times?” he insisted.

“I haven’t counted them. The door is right behind you.”

“Have you reported these calls?”

“I’m perfectly capable of handling this by myself without any advice from you.”

“Like you were capable of handling the cookstove.”

“It’s decent of you to throw that up to me.” She moved around him, went to the door, and opened it.

“You little fool! The man could be dangerous!”

“I’m from the big city, remember? I can take care of myself.”

He looked down at her for a long while before he said, “Be careful of Smithfield. He’s rich, and
he’s got more women on the string than a dog’s got fleas. He’ll sleep with you, but he’ll not marry you.”

“Well, look who’s talking!” Nelda countered, her voice heavy with sarcasm. She was so angry she failed to notice the stricken look that flickered for an instant across his face.

Suddenly and violently, his arms came around her, and he jerked her against him and jammed his mouth down on hers and held it there for a long, hard kiss.

“Think about that, you stubborn little mule!”

He pushed her from him and was out the door, slamming it behind him.

C
hapter
T
welve