Tenderness (29 page)

“I just know. Wade knows that I know.” He reached to put his hand on her arm.

“Don’t you dare touch me, you… lecher.”

“For God’s sake! Now I’m a lecher. I’ll never understand you. Come on, let’s go to the ball game before I get mad enough to
throw you over my shoulder, carry you down to the creek and paddle you.”

“You wouldn’t dare! I’d fight you every step of the way.”

“No doubt,” he said drily. “Come on and behave yourself. I promise not to touch you, but I won’t promise not to look at you.
That’s it! Take it or leave it.”

“Oh, all right.” She marched ahead of him down the drive past the surgery door and around to the porch, where Jesse and Wade
were waiting.

“Ready to go?” Jesse looked from Pauline’s set features to Ethan’s scowling countenance.
Oh, boy, they’ve had a set-to.

“As soon as I get my parasol.” Pauline marched up the steps and into the house. She came out an instant later and she and
Ethan fell in step behind Jesse and Wade.

J
esse walked beside Wade, holding onto his arm. Today they would be seen as a couple, and she was so proud of him. He stood
head and shoulders above the majority of the men who passed them on their way to the ball park. A few spoke to Jesse, eyed
Wade and walked on.

Jesse sensed his reluctance and understood it. This was a new experience for him and for her too. It seemed unreal to her
that the big handsome man who walked beside her was going to be a permanent part of her life.

Wade’s heart did an odd little dance when Jesse moved her hand from the crook of his arm down to his hand and squeezed it.
His gaze moved down to her face, and the love he saw there made his knees weak. She had given her heart to him. The thought
brought both ecstasy and torment to him because he knew that there was such a great difference between the life he had lived
and hers.

Wade had never felt so uncertain before. He had spent many of his years among rough men. His granny had been the only feminine
influence in his life, and she had been gone for so long he couldn’t recall her face without looking at the tintype he had
on his chiffonier at home. He was a rough man too, in his own way, impatient with prejudice and stupidity. Experience had
hardened him, yet his chest warmed with the quickening of his own heart at the thought of this woman’s love. He questioned
himself while holding tightly to Jesse’s hand. Could he live up to her expectations? After a while would she regret marrying
him?

The clear sky promised a perfect day and it was—almost.

Wade spread a blanket on the ground at the end of the bench that stretched almost to third base. Jesse sat close enough to
him to let people know they were together. Some who passed greeted Jesse but not one person spoke to Wade except for the postmaster
and his wife, who sat on the end of the bench. Patricia Efthim was seven months pregnant and looked as if she would rather
be anywhere but here at the ball game.

Ethan went for cold drinks and brought some back not only for the four of them but also for the postmaster and his grateful
wife who was perspiring profusely despite the parasol she held over her head. For the most part Ethan ignored Pauline and
visited with Mr. Efthim.

It was not an exciting game. The Grover team had moved ahead of Harpersville six to nothing by the second inning. The crowd
from Grover hooted and yelled taunts at the Harpersville players.

Mr. and Mrs. Harper sat in their unhitched buggy. Their horse grazed on the grass beyond the playing field. Jesse was relieved
that Edsel, self-selected manager of the Harpersville team, sat just left of home plate with the team. More than likely he
wouldn’t come down this way and she wouldn’t have to face him.

Giddy with happiness, Jesse almost failed to notice when the game ended. She held Wade’s hand and smiled into his eyes, then
whispered to him.

“I’m as happy as a dog with two tails.”

He laughed.
And oh, he was so handsome when he laughed.

“I can top that. I’m as happy as a drunk hoot-owl.”

“Oh, Wade, I didn’t dream that it would be so wonderful to be in love.”

“We’ve got lots to learn about each other, sweetheart.”

“I’ll not have to learn to love you or learn how wonderful you are, or how worldly and intelligent and kind and… sweet. I’ll
not have to learn to love your kisses—”

Wade grimaced. “Honey, why do you have to say things like that in a place like this where I can’t grab you and kiss you?”

Jesse squeezed his arm. “ ’Cause I’m mean and cantankerous and stubborn, and I can be a real pain in the neck at times.”

“Hush, I’ll not hear you saying things like that about the woman who will be my wife. Besides, the ball game is over.”

“It is? Who won?”

“Grover. Twenty to eight. Harpersville needs some new players.” He stood and extended his hand to help her up.

“They need a new manager too.”

Jesse shook out her skirt and glanced at Pauline. She had sat quietly thoughout the game holding her parasol over her head.
She rose to her feet, ignoring the hand Ethan held out to help her. Wade shook the blanket, folded it and tucked it under
his arm.

They said good-bye to the Efthims and with Jesse’s hand snug in the crook of Wade’s arm, they walked back across the playing
field. Most of the crowd had dispersed by the time they reached the dirt road that led into Main Street and turned toward
home, but there were a few stragglers behind them.

Susan and Mary Sue passed them, hurrying to catch up with Jeff who rode his bicycle.

“Wasn’t the ball game fun?” Susan yelled as she went by. “Did you see old Edsel’s face when the Grover manager said the team
was good, but they needed a manager with more than air between his ears? Mr. Simmer, make Jesse tell you what she called old
Edsel. You’ll laugh all over yourself. Bye. See you at the house.” She ran ahead and caught hold of the back of Jeff’s bicycle.

“That girl is more fun than a barrel of monkeys,” Ethan said as the girls raced ahead.

“I can’t imagine a barrel of monkeys being fun.” Pauline snorted. “Poor things all scrunched together.”

“Just what did you say to Edsel?” Wade tilted his head close to Jesse’s.

Jesse knew Wade would not let Susan’s remark go by. She was tempted to give her sister a pinch for mentioning the incident.

“Not much. He came by and wanted to take me for a ride. I refused and he left.”

“That’s all?”

“No that’s not all.” Pauline actually giggled and tilted her parasol so she could see Wade’s face. “She called him a sappy,
stuck-up jackass and all of it fits perfectly.”

Ethan hooted. “Godamighty, I’d like to have heard that. I bet Edsel was struck to the heart.”

“He was more than struck,” Pauline said impatiently. “He was boiling mad.”

Jesse looked up at Wade and caught a grin on his face.

“It’s funny now, but at the time it was not very pleasant. He was so insistent and so sure I’d be grateful to be seen with
him. The puffed-up baboon.”

“Was it because of me?”

“Not necessarily,” Jesse lied. “He’s been trying to court me for a long time. The thought of his kissing me is enough to make
me throw up.”

The two couples strolled slowly along the dirt road. In her haze of happiness Jesse was slow at realizing that four men had
come out of the bushes that lined the road and stood blocking their path. Wade had noticed. He became instantly on guard and
his muscles tightened. One of the men was John Secory, Bertha’s father. He was a rough-looking man, tall, with legs that were
as thick and solid as a tree trunk. The other three were of the same ilk. Bridge workers, Jesse presumed.

“Looks like we got a bit of fun coming up, Wade,” Ethan said with a grin.

“Aren’t you ever serious about anything?” Pauline snapped.

“Sure. About you, honeybun.”

“Wade…” Jesse was holding his arm with both hands. He was watching the men with narrowed eyes and a grim mouth,

“If you’re wanting a fight, you could have waited until we got the ladies home.”

“Ya bastard! Ya didn’t wait to strip my little girl ‘n’ look ’er over. It’s time somebody put a stop to what yo’re doin’ to
the womenfolk of this here town.”

“John Secory, you’re as crazy as a bedbug if you think Wade is the one—”

“Hush, honey. They won’t listen. Take the blanket and get over there beside the road.” He gave her the blanket and his hat
and gently pushed her out of the way.

Ethan had snatched the sleeve garters off his arms. He shoved them, his back derby hat and his gold watch in Pauline’s hands.

“Stand aside, sweetheart, and watch your man in action.” He grinned as he rolled up his sleeves.

Pauline snorted but moved to the side of the road with Jesse.

“We ain’t got no quarrel with you, mister,” Secory said to Ethan. “We ain’t wantin’ to hurt ya.”

“But I’ve got a quarrel with you. It fairly sets my teeth on edge to see four against one.”

“Ethan, you don’t have to mix in this.”

“Sure I do, Wade. That yahoo bled all over my Sunday best shirt. I figure he was part of this bunch. It cost me two bits to
get that shirt washed. I intend to get two-bits of hide. I’ll take the two on the left. They look kind of soft and easy-like.
It’ll take no time at all to whip their behinds.”

“I heard that you were waiting for me down at the bridge… in the dead of the night… like a coward, Secory.” Wade’s voice showed
the contempt he felt for the men. “I decided not to oblige you that night. What happened to the man who tried to steal my
horse?”

“He warn’t stealin’ it.”

“Was he going to borrow it? I haven’t filed charges with Marshal Wright yet. I’m still thinking about it.”

“File all the damn charges ya want. Yo’re jist wastin’ time a-talkin’, Simmer. We mean to beat the shit outta ya and make
ya a new asshole.”

“That’s no way to talk in front of ladies.” Wade’s tone was sharp and he choked down the anger that gripped him so tightly.

“Ladies? I ain’t seen no ladies. To my notion, ladies don’t run with big-peckered hill trash.”

“That’s it. You’ve shot off your mouth enough. Before we go any farther, I want you to know that I’ve fought in street fights
with no holds barred. I’ve fought my way out of taverns in the meanest cities in the world. I know how to protect myself,
and if you don’t apologize to the ladies for what you said, I’m going to hurt you… and hurt you bad.”

“Ha! I ain’t apologizin’ to loose women and I ain’t a worryin’ you’ll hurt me none.”

“Then come on, windbag, let’s get this over with.”

With that Secory and another man charged Wade and the other two charged Ethan. As soon as Secory was within a few feet, Wade
spun with lightning speed. His booted foot lashed out and he kicked the man viciously in the groin. Wade heard Secory scream
in pain as he ducked down to meet the other man’s charge. Wade hit the man in the belly with his shoulder, throwing him over
to land on his back on the hard ground. The air went out of his lungs with a poof. Secory had sunk to his knees, yelling with
pain. He rolled on the ground holding his privates in his two hands.

“I’ll… I’ll kill ya—” he gasped.

The second man regained his breath and sprang to his feet to jump on Wade’s back. Wade struck him a severe blow in the Adam’s
apple with his elbow. The bully gasped, grabbed his throat, staggered back and fell to the ground.

“I could have killed you with that blow had I wanted to.” Wade looked without pity at the ruffian on the ground. “I could
have crushed your windpipe. Don’t mess with me again.”

Secory cursed. “Ya dirty son-of-a-bitch—”

Ethan, in a boxing stance, danced around the other two men and jabbed at their faces while constantly moving to ward off the
other men’s flailing fists. The first blows from Ethan’s fist gave both men bloody noses. He struck one of the men a blow
so powerful that it knocked him off his feet.

Pauline was on the fallen man in an instant with the point of her parasol pressed tightly against the base of his throat.

“Lie still or I’ll poke this right through your rotten neck and pin you to the ground.” The man looked at her with terror
in his eyes. When he lifted his hand toward the parasol, Pauline stamped on his arm and held it down. “I’m not fooling, you
worthless son of a biscuit eater. Move again and you’ll not be singing ‘Dixie’ for many a year, that is if you can sing at
all.”

Wade looked at the two men he had laid low and the one on the ground and grinned at Pauline.

“Need any help, Ethan?” he called. “Pauline’s taken care of one of them for you.”

“Naw. This one’s duck soup. He’s just too bull-headed to quit.”

With a tight fist he jabbed at the only man standing. More blood spurted from his nose.

“I’d knock your teeth out, but I don’t want to cut up my hands,” Ethan remarked in a conversational tone.

The man looked at his three companions on the ground and backed away, then made for the bushes beside the road. The fight
was over.

Jesse, with indignation in every line of her body, marched over to where John Secory was trying to get off the ground.

“You should be ashamed of yourself. Bertha must be mortified knowing what you’re up to. Wade Simmer was in Knoxville the night
the man came to Bertha’s room.” Jesse didn’t know if the statement were true or not and didn’t care. “Even if he was right
here in town, you don’t have one bit of proof that he was the one. You’re a disgusting man, John Secory.”

“I don’t need a preachin’ from the likes of you,” he gasped. “That bastard ruint me.” He stood spraddlelegged and picked up
his hat.

“I don’t feel a bit sorry for you. He warned you that he would hurt you and he did.”

“This ain’t the last of it. He hadn’t ort to a hurt me like he done. It warn’t a fair fight.”

“How can you talk about fair? The four of you would have jumped him if Ethan hadn’t been along.”

“He isn’t worth a spit in the wind, honey.” Wade put his hand against Jesse’s back, then said to Secory, “I told you that
I’d hurt you because of what you said to the ladies. I know a hundred other ways to cripple you, Secory. If you’re interested
in carrying this thing farther I’ll be glad to oblige you. For your own good, I suggest that you go about your business and
stay away from me and Miss Jesse.”