Dorothy Garlock (27 page)

Goddamn!

When he first had come to town, he had heard about the beautiful widow who washed clothes for a living. It was said that she was prettier than any movie star and that it was a mystery why she chose to labor over a washtub when half the men in town would fight over the chance to take care of her. Most of the men seemed to have a grudging respect for her and only a few talked of getting in her pants.

When Lloyd first saw her, he had been stunned.

God, she was beautiful. Haughty and beautiful. The old judge would have said that she had class. Dressed in the right clothes, and as Laura
Madison,
his wife, they would create a sensation wherever they went. Of course, he'd mused, he'd have to arrange to separate her from that damn kid, but that wouldn't be too hard to do.

With his hopes high, thinking that she would jump at the chance to marry a lawyer, he had gone to the house where Laura lived with her mother on the pretext of hiring them to do his laundry. She had refused coolly, telling him that they had all the customers they could handle and referring him to a woman who lived on the other side of town. When he attempted to linger and carry on a friendly conversation with her, she had practically closed the door in his face.

Nasty little bitch didn't know what she was missing.

It was evening.

At the supper table Thad was in one of his teasing moods. As usual, Joe was his target.

“It beats all I ever saw. When he saw Laura Hopper, his mouth dropped almost to his knees. It was like he'd been hit upside the head with a fence post.” Thad passed the bowl of fried potatoes to Jill before helping himself. “He stood there with his tongue hanging out like a dog that'd run five miles without a drop of water. I thought I'd have to set him on fire to get his attention.”

“If I remember right, your eyes bugged like a bullfrog's when you first saw her.” Radna's remark filled the silence. Joe gave her a grateful smile before he answered Thad.

“You're just jealous because she paid more attention to me than to you.” Joe reached for the bread platter. “The boy can't stand not to have a woman's full attention, ”he explained to Radna. “It was that way back in high school. Just let a girl look at me and he was hot for her. He hasn't changed a bit. Poor Mrs. Hopper had to walk over or around him all day to get her work done.”

“ 'Can I empty the tub for you, Mrs. Hopper? ' ”Thad's attempt to mimic Joe's voice brought a chuckle even from Blue. “ 'May I please carry the clothes basket, Mrs. Hopper? Is the machine working all right? It's squeaking a little. I'll run get the oil can and fix it. ' ”

“You had your chance. You got here before I did, ”Joe retorted. “I'm just trying to make up for lost time. I didn't get a chance to fix the washing machine or make a playpen for her little girl.”

Thad's eyes sought Jill's, but she looked aside.

The teasing between Joe and Thad continued during the meal, with Blue and Radna chiming in from time to time. When they finished eating, Jill and Radna carried the dishes to the dishpan. Thad pushed back his chair.

“You cooked supper, Radna. Jill and I will wash the dishes, but first…”He took Jill's hand and tugged. He pulled her across the kitchen and out onto the back porch. Light coming through the kitchen door made a ribbon across the porch floor. He backed her out of the light and against the wall. “Honey — ”

“Why did you pull me out here? ”Jill tried to wiggle away from him, but he held her.

“Because I've not been alone with you all day.”

“I work here. Remember? ”She pushed on his hard body, but he wouldn't budge.

“And because I wanted to kiss you — ”

“Just because I let you last night doesn't mean — ”

“I wanted it so bad I could taste you all day. I've waited and waited — ”

“Sounds to me like you had good company while you waited. One time doesn't give you the right to kiss me whenever you get the notion.”

“It's been a long day. I'm not waiting any longer.” He lowered his head and kissed the corner of her mouth. Her breath stopped. He trailed his lips down to her chin, then up to cover hers, deepening the kiss until Jill's head was swimming and her heart thumped painfully.

“Tell me you've been waiting for this, little love, ”he whispered against her lips and continued playing with them, letting his tongue slide back and forth until she opened her mouth. He kissed her long and deep, using his tongue to probe and stroke. Then his teeth nipped at her lower lip, sending a quick surge of excitement swimming in her blood.

“Thad … we shouldn't — ”Her breathing slowed like a woman in a deep sleep.

“Yes, we should. Put your arms around my neck.” He spoke softly, his lips close to her ear, and fought to keep his hands from caressing the sides of the soft breasts pressed to his chest.

As if in a trance, Jill lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. A groan came from deep inside him. His hands went up and down her back and around her waist. He wanted to feel every inch of her. Her skin was warm, soft. The scent of woman filled his senses. He felt the little tremors that passed through the sweet curves pressed to his.

As his mouth devoured hers, Jill allowed herself the luxury of being held so tightly that she could feel a rock-hard part of him pressed to her belly. Being a farm girl, she knew what it was, and gloried in the fact she had this effect on him. Somewhere in the corner of her consciousness she was aware that he was trembling violently.

“Sweetheart. My little …love …”Thad lifted his mouth and buried his face in the curve of her neck. His breath was coming in low, throaty whimpers. “I shouldn't have kissed you like that. I got carried away by my …wanting you.” His mouth moved to hers as if he couldn't stay away.

She turned her head so that her mouth could reach his again. Her lips clung, wet and hungry. Suddenly his hands moved to her shoulders and he held her away from him. He looked down into her face. Embarrassed by her wanton reaction to his kiss, she couldn't look at him.

“Jill, look at me. Did that mean as much to you as it did to me? ”

“What do you mean? ”She looked up as far as his mouth. “I don't go around kissing every man I meet.”

“Am I special to you, Jill? Am I? ”

“Of course you are. I've known you all my life … almost.” She kept her eyes lowered.

He sighed and his shoulders sagged. “It's too soon for you, isn't it? ”

“Too soon for what? I'm twenty years old, Thad. I've been kissed before.” Pride caused her to add, “Lots of times.”

“When? Where? Who? ”

“None of your business. I've not asked you who you've kissed.”

“Never again.” Thad's hands gripped her shoulders tightly. “No one kisses you from now on but me. Get that, Jill? ”His voice was so harsh it surprised her. Her eyes went up to his. He was glaring down at her.

“You can't… tell me what to do.”

“I can and I will.”

“You don't own me, Thad.”

“I want to. Oh, honey, you're tying me in knots.”

He touched his lips to hers. Tenderness was the last thing she expected after his harsh words. His kisses were soft, sweet. His lips asked nothing but to be allowed to caress hers. His hands moved from her shoulders to wrap her securely against him.

“I'm sorry if I was too rough with you, sweetheart. It drives me wild to think of you with someone else.”

“You weren't too rough. I'm not a fragile flower.”

“Thank God.” His arms moved down to her waist. He bent, clasped her to him and lifted her up to whirl her around. Her arms hooked around his neck as he continued to spin her around. He took a step and whirled again as if dancing to music only he could hear.

“Thad! Put me down.”

“No.”

“No? ”

“We're dancing.”

“You're
dancing. I'm just going along for the ride. Put me down.”

“No. I like dancing with you.”

“Thad, you idiot, put me down.”

“Not until you kiss me.”

“I can't. You're squeezing the breath out of me.”

“If I put you down, will you kiss me? ”

“Oh, all right.”

He stopped and let her body slide down his until her feet reached the floor. The palms of her hands came up to frame his face. Her lips passed over his with a feather touch.

“Oh, no. Sweet as that was, I've got to have more.”

“That's cheating, Thad. I filled my part of the bargain.”

“That was a baby kiss. Kiss me like you mean it.”

“You didn't tell me what kind of a kiss.” Jill's heart was pounding with happiness.

“I can't tell you. I'll have to show you.”

Wrapped in his arms, she gloried in the lips that captured hers. They were soft and supple and sipped at hers, moving over them with infinite care, as though he feared she might vanish before he could drink his fill. Her lips parted as she felt his tongue gliding along them, slipping between them teasingly but not breaching them completely. Unaware that her lips opened to admit him, she suddenly realized that he was inside her mouth, molding his lips with hers in a kiss that sent pleasure roaring through her.

Lost in a haze of desire, Thad tasted, explored and enjoyed the mouth beneath his, until a heavy hand was placed on his shoulder.

“Unhand her, you masher! ”Joe's voice broke into the trance they had fallen into. “Do you want me to poke him in the nose, Sis? ”

“No, thanks.” Jill pulled away from Thad, but he kept his arms around her. “I can do that myself.”

Thad swore. “You are the stinkingest friend a man ever had. Always showing up at the wrong time.”

“Mr. Evans wants to see Jill. Something about putting an extra cot in a room. I thought if I waited until you stopped kissing her, I'd be here all night.”

“You take care of it.” Thad held on to Jill when she tried to pull away.

“Thad! I've got to go. I work here.”

“Don't go in. I'm just getting warmed up, honey.”

“That's what I'm afraid of.” She hit him on the chest with the back of her hand and, laughing happily, slipped through the door and into the kitchen.

Thad sat down on the edge of the porch. The dog came out and waited patiently for him to scratch her head.

“You'd better get back under there and take care of your babies, girl. Did you eat all those good scraps I brought from the butcher shop? You'll have more tomorrow.”

Joe sat down beside Thad, and the dog went back under the porch.

“I'm crazy about her, ”Thad said.

“Jill or the dog? ”

“What do you think? ”

“What're you going to do about it? ”

“Marry her, if she'll have me.”

“Have you asked her? ”

“Hell, no! She hasn't got used to the idea that I'm more than just a friend.”

“Looked to me like you were doing a pretty good job convincing her. I don't kiss my friends like that.”

“You don't have any female friends.”

“Jill's no dumbbell. She's got to know that you're nuts about her.”

“She thinks I'm nuts about all girls, thanks to your big mouth.”

Joe got to his feet, stretched his tall frame and stepped up on the porch.

“Good. I'll go give her a few more details about your recent amorous adventures. I'm not sure I want you for a brother-in-law, anyhow. It might ruin our friendship.”

“And I just might smash all your vital organs. I'd be sorry, but I'd do it.”

Thad sat on the end of the dark porch for a few minutes, waiting for his erection to go down before he went back into the kitchen.

Chapter 19

J
OE HAD WIPED OUT THE DISHPAN
and was slipping it under the dry sink when Radna came into the kitchen. Her look of surprise was comical.

“Holy ghost! You did the dishes? ”

“Yeah. Me and the boy, here, ”Joe said. “Blue's too high-toned to do the cleanup. He only cooks.”

“It takes no brains to wash a few pots.” Blue sat at the table reading a
Police Gazette.

“You boys are jim-dandies. I might have to marry both of you.”

“I thought you were my girl, ”Thad teased.

“I'm thinking that I'm about to lose you to Jill. Where is she, by the way? ”

“A couple came in with a girl that isn't quite right, ”Thad explained. “Blue and I carried a cot to their room. Jill's putting sheets on it.”

“Justine's asleep.” Radna placed the key to Justine's room on the table. “Keep an ear open while Jill's busy, will you? I'm going to turn in early and catch up on my sleep. Tell her that I'll take a turn with Justine sometime after midnight.”

“Has Madison come in? ”Thad asked.

“If he has, he went up to his room. He's not in the lobby and he's not on the porch. I checked.” Radna went into her room.

Blue's sharp ears heard the soft sound of a bolt sliding into place after she closed the door. Without appearing to hurry, he set aside his magazine and quietly went down the hall, through the lobby and out into the night.

As soon as Radna bolted the door, she pulled off her skirt and blouse, drew a pair of boy's bib overalls and a shirt from under the mattress on her bed and dressed quickly. After piling her hair on the top of her head, she twisted the thick mass into a knot, secured it with hairpins and covered it with an old brown billed cap.

From a wooden box beneath the bed, she took a silver-handled pistol and several bullets. The pistol went into the bib of her overalls, the bullets into her pocket. She tossed over her shoulder the sack she had brought to her room earlier, raised the window and slipped out into the night.

Walking as if she were a boy going home or on an errand, she kicked a rock or swung the sack as she followed the route through the streets where she would be less likely to be noticed. Ten minutes later, she was out on the Oklahoma prairie. Slowing her pace, knowing that she had a long walk, and not wishing to wear herself out before she got there, she walked steadily toward the horizon.

The gentle wind whispered over the face of the land. Radna loved being alone out on the prairie at night. A half moon was coming up into a sky blanketed with a million brittle stars. The quiet was absolute. She liked to think of the time when her ancestors rode their ponies over these unblemished prairies, taking only what was necessary to survive.