Tenderness (28 page)

The door of Pauline’s room was ajar. Jesse pushed it open. Pauline was taking down her hair.

“May I come in?”

“Do.” Pauline burst into laughter. “I’ve never enjoyed anything as much as hearing you put down one of the mighty Harpers,
especially Edsel. I’d love to have seen his face when you called him a sappy, stuck-up jackass.”

“I lost my temper.” Jesse closed the door and sat down on the edge of the bed. “It really riles me when people talk about
Wade in such a nasty way; they don’t even know him.”

“It’s the Harpers’ town. They control the money so people listen to what they say. Jesse, there’s no way I’ll stay here another
school year.”

“Not even if The Looker is caught?”

“Face it, Jesse.” Exasperation was on Pauline’s face and in her voice. “If he’s caught, he’ll brag about all the naked women
he’s fondled. He might even name them, too. I couldn’t bear that.”

“I don’t believe Marshal Wright would allow that to happen.”

“We’ll see. I looked at each of the men who were at the school today and none of them looked back at me as if he knew what
was under my dress. Of course, if it was a man with a wife, he’d have no need to look at naked women.” Pauline’s laugh was
more of a snort. Then in a lighter vein, she said, “You sure blew away your chances with the Harpers tonight. When word gets
out that you’re going to marry Wade Simmer, they may tell all the people they give loans to that it would be better to doctor
someplace else.”

Jesse snorted in disgust. “Where would they go? When they’re sick they want a doctor. Papa would be the first to say that
if they want to go to Frederick, or Knoxville, let them go.” Jesse went to the door. “Tomorrow I’m going to be seen with Wade
by half the people in this town. I’ll be proud to be seen with him. If they are so narrow-minded that they turn against me,
I’ll not lose any sleep over it.”

“You’ve got a lot of hurt coming, girl,” Pauline said seriously. “It would be better if you married Wade right away and moved
to the hills.”

“I’ll not go and leave Todd and Susan with Louella. And I’ll not let the people of this town run me out like a dog with its
tail between its legs. I’m sure that not all the people feel about Wade as the Harpers do. I’ll stay here and hold my head
high. I’ve nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Good for you. It sounds like we’ll have an interesting summer.”

The family attended church as usual on Sunday morning. Jesse, Susan and Pauline sang in the choir. Doctor Forbes and Todd
sat in a pew toward the back of the church. Just before the service was to start, Mrs. Lindstrom came in, looked around and
sat down beside Todd.

“That old biddy wants people to think she’s part of the family,” Susan whispered to her sister.

“I wonder why she’s here?

“Last Sunday she went to the Methodist church and managed to get herself on the bazaar committee.”

“I hate her!”

“You shouldn’t say that… in church.” Jesse grinned and picked up the hymn book.

If the people in the congregation were incensed because Jesse had been seen with the notorious “hellion” from the hills, they
didn’t show it. Much to Jesse’s relief, they greeted her as usual. Most of them owed Doctor Forbes in one way or another,
either in money or gratitude. The gratitude extended to his daughter.

Jesse had spent nights in their homes when they had had serious illnesses. She or the doctor had always come as quickly as
possible when there had been an emergency. Jesse was as handy as the doctor at stopping blood and stitching wounds. Both of
them gave generously to the church. If she strayed a little, it was forgivable. She would soon see her mistake and be back
in the fold.

When the service was over, Louella left immediately. Doctor Forbes and Todd stayed inside to visit for a few minutes and the
girls inquired about choir practice before they left the church. Outside, Susan scanned the area. Louella was nowhere in sight.

“She’s hurried home to impress Papa with what a wonderful, reliable housekeeper and cook she is,” Susan said as she walked
alongside her sister.

“That means we’ll have a good dinner on the table.”

“I can hardly wait to go to the ball game.” Susan moved ahead of Jesse and Pauline and turned to walk backward. “Can I walk
with you and Mr. Simmer? Pauline, are you and Mr. Bredlow going to walk with them?”

“I doubt Sir Galahad will show up. He’s all talk,” Pauline answered drily.

“He’s handsome as sin. Mary Sue almost swooned when she saw him. When Jeff was having trouble with his bicycle chain, Mr.
Bredlow fixed it”

“Hurrah for him. I’m glad he’s good for something. As far as I’m concerned, he’s a masher, a lecher and a blow-hard.”

“What’s a lecher?” Susan asked, still walking backward.

“Ethen Bredlow!”

Jesse could see Pauline’s lips in a tight line and her chin raised.

“I wish I’d asked Ethan and Wade to dinner.”

“Ha! I’m extremely glad you didn’t.”

Susan whooped with laughter. “Old Ghost-face would’ve had a cow if you did it without telling her at least a week ahead. She
had one when I made a picnic for me, Mary Sue and Jeff. I said I’d go ask Papa if we could take a picnic down by the creek
and she shut up. She doesn’t want us to tattle to Papa.”

They went up the steps to the porch.

“I love the smell of honeysuckle,” Jesse said and broke off a small bloom to tickle her nose.

The meal Louella had prepared was delicious. She had baked a hen, made cornbread dressing and chicken gravy, mashed potatoes,
creamed peas, scalloped corn, apple-walnut salad, and pickles. Peach cobbler completed the meal.

And Louella was on her best behavior, as well. She was gracious even when Todd dripped gravy on the tablecloth.

“Accidents will happen.” she said lightly. “More dressing, Doctor?”

“Don’t mind if I do, Louella. You outdid yourself with this meal.”

“Thank you. When I was a child at home, Sunday dinner was always special. We used the best china, silver and, of course, the
lace tablecloth. It was my duty to keep the silver polished and I took great pride in doing so.” She looked meaningfully at
Susan who, when her father was not looking, tightened her lips and rocked her head in a haughty manner.

They had just finished eating when the knocker sounded on the front door. Susan reached it a half dozen steps ahead of Louella,
who stood in the hallway with a disapproving look on her face. It turned into a scowl when Susan threw the door wide.

“Hi, Mr. Simmer. Hi, Mr. Bredlow. Come in. We’re done with dinner. Jesse and Pauline just went upstairs to take off their
cor… to change into something… to get out of their church clothes.”

“Howdy, Wade. Howdy Ethan.” Doctor Forbes came out of the dining room. “Come into the parlor. Susy, get the gentlemen some
lemonade.”

Hollis and Ethan sat on the settee. Wade perched on a chair, his hat in his hand. He wore a soft white shirt open at the neck
and tan britches. His shoes were polished as was his belt buckle. Ethan also wore a soft white shirt but had added a black
string tie.

“Doc, we just came from Ike’s. Jody is running a high fever,” Wade said worriedly.

“Is the vaccination infected?”

“Doesn’t appear to be. It’s about the size of a dime and has a white scab. We put one of those celluloid bubble things over
it to keep him from bumping it.”

“It’s normal for him to run a fever and even have a few spots, but I’d better go over there and and take a look. Is Ike giving
him plenty of liquid?”

“He says he hasn’t eaten much for a couple of days, but takes the water all right.”

“Can I g-go?” Todd slinked from around the corner where he’d been listening.

“Say hello to our guests, Todd.” Doctor Forbes smiled fondly at the boy who was already standing beside him.

“H-howdy, Mr. S-Simmer. Howdy, Mr. Bredlow.”

“Howdy, Todd,” Wade said. That he seemed genuinely glad to see the boy and that his face lost some of its remoteness when
he smiled at him was evident to Doctor Forbes.

“I want to g-go see Jody. He’s my friend. If he’s s-s-sick, it’s my fault. I talked him into l-letting Papa vaccinate him.”
He looked quickly at Wade. “I-I-I ain’t told no-nobody ’bout Jody b-being at Ike’s.”

“We knew you wouldn’t tell and get Jody in trouble. We’ve had secrets before, haven’t we?”

“Yeah.” Todd winked at Wade.

“I thought you wanted to go to the ball game, son.”

“To heck with th-the ball game, Papa. I want to see J-Jody. I could b-b-bring him water and put a wet cl-cloth on his h-head
like Jesse does when I get a f-fever.”

“We’ll go see him together. We’ll have Mrs. Lindstrom fix up a basket of lunch and a big jar of lemonade for Jody and Ike.
How’s that?”

“Jody’ll l-like that.”

Wade felt a stirring around his heart. He had never dared hope that he would be a welcome guest in the doctor’s home or that
Jody would be treated so decently. He heard footsteps on the stairs and glanced at Ethan, who had heard them too. He was on
his feet, alert as a deer, Wade thought. The man was in love. There was no doubt about it.

Susan brought the lemonade.

“The reason it took me so long was old Ghost… ah… Mrs. Lindstrom made me squeeze the lemons.”

“I thought there was something special about this lemonade,” Ethan said after taking a sip. He turned the full force of his
charm on the young girl and she blushed to the roots of her hair.

Wade stood when Jesse came into the room. She was lovely in a soft pink shirtwaist and a light blue walking skirt. She came
directly to him and took his hand in a possessive, intimate way.

Wade’s eyes flicked from her face to her father.
Here it comes. Here is where I get thrown out on my ear..

“He knows,” she said simply and hugged his arm to her. “I wish I had thought to ask you and Ethan to dinner.”

“It’s all right. I’m not the least bit hungry.”

Hollis got to his feet. “Well, son, it seems you and I are not needed here. Where’s Pauline?”

Jesse glanced at Ethan. “She went through the kitchen and out the back door.”

Ethan jumped to his feet. “That blasted woman makes me so mad I could spit nails!” He took off down the hall toward the kitchen.

Doctor Forbes laughed. “She’s sure got him all bumfuzzled. He’s like a love-sick calf.”

“Ugh! I g-guess they’ll get a-a-II k-kissy and mushy.”

“What do you know about mushy, son?”

“Mary S-Sue and Jeff k-kiss when they think no-nobody’s lookin.’ Phew! I bet it’s aw-awful.”

“It’s not awful at all. Kissing feels pretty good sometimes. You’ll learn all about it when you’re a little older.” He turned
to Jesse and Wade. “Have yourselves a good time at the ball game. Come on, son, we’ve got to battle old Ghost-face for a lunch
basket.”

Jesse’s mouth dropped open and so did Todd’s and Susan’s. They stared at him in astonishment. Doctor Forbes grinned devilishly.

“I ain’t no dummy, ya know. Come along, Susan. Jesse and Wade don’t need you in here,” he said over his shoulder as he went
out the door.

As soon as they were alone, Jesse raised her face to Wade’s. “Are you going to kiss me, Wade?”

“And go all mushy?” he teased.

“Sure. I like being mushy with you.”

“Sweetheart—love—” The words were a groan. “I’ve thought of nothing but kissing you since I kissed you out there on the porch.”

He kissed her then, taking away what breath she had. His mouth was firm, his body was hard and smelled of cool green forests.
She clutched his arms for support when her knees went weak. He was so male yet so tender and sweet.

She was dazed. “I don’t think we’d better kiss again while we’re here in the house. I’ll wait until we can go to that cool
green place beside the creek where we had our picnic the day I left the hills. Remember?”

They were standing close together, her hands on his shoulders. His trembling arms made her aware of how big he was, how strong,
yet as vulnerable as a young lad.

“How could I forget? I was in heaven and hell.”

“Hell?”

“So afraid you’d think I was just hill trash being fresh with you.”

“I didn’t think that at all. Right from the start I felt safe with you and wanted you to go with me when I made the rounds
the next day.”

“I thought that if I stayed away from you, I would forget how sweet you are and how much I wanted you to like me.”

“Oh, Wade, I would have sat there on that blanket all day if we hadn’t run out of food,” she said with a chuckle in her voice.

“Next time we’ll have things to do beside eat.”

“Promise?” She smiled into his eyes.

“I swear it,” he replied and kissed her nose.

Ethan caught up with Pauline by the clothesline that stretched across the back of the property.

“Pauline!” he called and ran the few steps it took to reach her. He was hot and angry. “You’re the damndest woman I ever met.
Where the hell are you going?”

“Don’t swear at me, Ethan Bredlow. Where I go is none of your business.” She stood proud and defiant. “Come near me and I’ll
kick you.”

“We were going to the ball game with Jesse and Wade.”

“We? You’re ahead of yourself, mister. I never said I’d go with you.”

“Then don’t go with me, damn it. Go with Jesse and Wade and I’ll tag along.”

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you keep… hanging around?”

“Because I like you, you muddle-headed female. Is that such a sin?” Ethan shouted so loud that she flinched.

“The only reason you like me is that I haven’t fallen at your feet in a swoon.”

“I never wanted you to fall at my feet. I wanted your friendship. What’s happened to make you so cold? You’re beautiful when
you smile, which is seldom when you’re with me. You’re intelligent and have a sense of humor. You’re also compassionate or
you wouldn’t be helping Jody. I sense that you’ve been greatly disappointed in a man, or that some man has hurt you.”

“Well now, you’re a regular fortune-teller. And how’d you know about Jody?” She folded her arms over her chest and glared
at him although her face was not quite as frozen as before.