Balk (Home Stand #2)

by Lacy Hart

  Karen walked back into the barn and stood in the center space, looking up at the ceiling and marveling at the beauty of it all. “Do you think we can leave some of the hay on the floor, and maybe some bales for people to sit around if they want?”

  “You bet!” Kristin exclaimed. “Trust me, you will love it even more once it’s decorated. There is also room outside down by the lake if you want to have the ceremony there. We can set up the chairs and an archway for you, maybe even get some of the kids from the high school orchestra to come and play music for the ceremony. Oh, and there is an old carriage down at the stables, you can use to ride to the ceremony with a couple of the horses.”

  Karen looked at Kristin as she went on about all that they could do.

  “Sounds like you have thought about this before,” Karen said, putting her arm around Kristin.

  “Sure, I have,” Kristin replied quietly. “Even though Wes and I never talked about it, I imagined getting married here. It’s an idyllic spot and has lovely memories for me here.”

  “That can all still happen, you know,” Karen told her.

  Kristin shook her head to clear out the images.

  “I can’t think about any of that right now. We need to concentrate on your day.”

  “Well, I’m convinced,” Karen said, beaming.

  “Okay, I’ll let Wyatt know, and you start calling everyone involved to make sure they get here for the 22nd. It’s only a few weeks left to the date, so we need to move. Oh, Karen, it’s going to be a lovely night,” Kristin told her.

  “Thanks, Kris… for doing this I mean,” Karen said, taking her best friend’s hand as they walked back towards the car. “I know you’re going through a rough patch right now and doing all this here can’t be easy for you.”

  “It was easy for me, Karen. You’re my closest friend, and I love Wyatt and Jenny and this place, despite the problems I might be having with Wes right now.”

  “Let me call Brian and let him know! This is amazing!” Karen answered as she pulled out her cell phone to call her fiancé.

  Kristin took another look around the area and envisioned the wedding spot filled with happy faces, the décor, the music, and with her and Wes as the bride and groom. A lump formed in her throat and she looked away quickly to get the vision out of her head.

  ****

  The nine-hour bus ride from Washington to O’Fallon, Missouri, where the Wild Things would play the River City Rascals, was just as Wes thought it would be – long, crowded, and uncomfortable. The team had a beautiful bus with comfortable seating for everyone, which was a far cry from Wes remembered from his days in the minor leagues when he bussed to locations near and far. After having spent the last sixteen years of his life on planes and chartered flights with gourmet meals, this scenario served as an awakening.

  The team did stop for lunch along the way at a fast food place to get meals for all twenty-five players, the manager and coach, the equipment staff, and Sabrina, who traveled with the team when on the road and doubled as the traveling secretary as part of her duties.

  Wes knew that most of the guys on the team had limited funds to work with, and the daily allotment from the organization made extra pocket money if they made it last. Wes made sure to get to the fast-food counter first to let the cashier know that he wanted to pay for the entire team’s order.

  Many of the players who were skeptical of Wes on the team appreciated his willingness to do that, and Wes’ secretly hoped it might bring him closer to his new teammates so they might be willing to give him a chance. Of course, once the guys heard they didn’t need to pay for the meal themselves, many went from ordering off the dollar menu to meals that offered more. The total bill came to almost $400 for Wes, but he was happy to pay it.

  Wes had his meal and found an empty table to sit at so he could munch on the chicken sandwich he ordered. When Emil walked past with his tray, he immediately sat down with Wes while some of the other teammates looked on.

  “Nice of you to pick up the tab, Wes,” Emil said as he ate some French fries. “Getting two meals out of you in the last few days is a real treat. I need to remember to keep hanging out with you.”

  “Don’t get too used to it, Emil,” Wes laughed. “Besides, once you are in the big leagues, you will want to remember this. There are going to be younger guys that may need an extra hand now and then.”

  “Man, I wish I had as much confidence in making it as you do,” Emil replied as he squeezed out a ketchup packet onto his burger wrapper to dip fries into. “I’m just grateful to be here.”

  “I hear you, Emil,” Wes answered. “I’m grateful to be here too. But I’m nearing the end of the line. You’re just getting started. I’ve seen you at practice. You’ve got that special something; keep working at it. Scouts and teams want to see you’re hungry and willing to work for it.”

  John Clines came along to rush the guys through lunch so they could get back on the bus and finish the ride to Missouri. Wes went to dump his garbage into the trash bin and bumped into Sabrina, who stretched to do the same.

  “I’m sorry,” Wes said. He gallantly stepped aside so Sabrina could go first.

  “My, what a gentleman,” Sabrina replied. “Thanks for lunch,” Sabrina said to Wes.

  “My pleasure,” he nodded and then held the door open for Sabrina to walk out. Sabrina wore noticeably tight blue jeans and a checkered blouse tied at the waist, hardly an outfit that one might think a representative of the team would wear on the road. Sabrina definitely received notice from all the young men on the bus every step of the way.

  The team arrived at their motel by three, which gave them just enough time to unload their things before heading over to the ballpark to prepare for the night game. John Clines divided up the rooms, so everyone got a roommate, allowing the team to save some money. Emil volunteered to room with Wes.

  Sabrina approached Wes as they waited outside for their room assignments.

  “Do you have a roommate for our stay?” Sabrina asked.

  “I guess I will,” Wes replied. Just then, Emil walked over, holding a room key, and dangled it in front of Wes.

  “We’re bunking together,” Emil told Wes, handing Wes a key. “Room 225.”

  Wes gripped the key in his hand as Sabrina looked on.

  “Aww, well that’s too bad,” Sabrina said, pouting. “I’m in 117. See you guys back on the bus in a bit.”

  Emil and Wes both watched Sabrina walk away as she pulled her wheeled suitcase behind her.

  “Damn,” Emil whispered. He looked at Wes as they walked towards the staircase to get to their room.

  “Are you planning on trying to get with her? I can go bunk with one of the other guys if you want time,” Emil offered.

  “I… I have someone back at home, Emil, so no, I’m not planning anything.”

  “Does Sabrina know that?” Emil asked as Wes opened the door to their room.

  “I don’t have a clue.” Wes tried not to think about it at all.

  “Well, Wes, she’s on the prowl for you, man.”

  “Just drop your stuff in, Emil, so we can get back on the bus,” Wes said to him Wes dropped his duffel bag on one of the beds.

  The team hurried back to the bus to get to the stadium but rushing to get there didn’t help much. The Rascals outclassed the Wild Things 7-2. The only time Wes moved off the bench during the game was to try and cheer on his teammates, and when Emil got the team on the scoreboard with a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Emil flew around the bases and got back to the dugout greeted by high fives, and he smiled widely at Wes.

  “That was all you, man,” Emil said as he grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and sat next to Wes on the bench. “Those tips for my swing really paid off.”

  “Don’t get home run happy just yet, Emil,” Wes warned. “You’re an excellent line-drive guy. Go for the gaps instead of swinging for the fences all the time. You still have time to grow and fill out your body, and then the home runs will c
ome.”

  The next few games against River City didn’t play out much better. The Wild Things lost all four games, which included shutouts in the last two, leaving a bad taste in the mouth of the manager and the players. It made the five-hour bus trip north from O’Fallon to Schaumberg, Illinois seem even longer than it should be. The team arrived at the hotel at 2 AM, and everyone felt grateful to crawl into bed for the night.

  Schaumberg proved miserable as well, with the team losing the first two games of that series. The Wild Things scratched out just one run, again thanks to Emil, who singled, stole second and third, and then scored on a wild pitch. Wes hadn’t sniffed a baseball bat or glove for any of the first six games, making him feel like he didn’t even need to get his uniform cleaned since it still looked brand new.

  After the second game, and after getting chewed out by John Clines for their play, the team went back to the hotel dejected. It was still early in the evening, and once again Wes sent Kristin a few text messages, as he did each day, but he either got no reply or just a sentence that she was okay. Wes stuffed his phone in his jeans pocket and arose from the bed he sat on. Emil and Felix Machado, the team’s second baseman, were busy playing basketball on the game console that Felix’s parents gave him before the team left for the road trip.

  “Where you are going man?” Emil said as he peered around Wes to see the screen as Wes walked by.

  “I’m going over to that bar across the street for a drink,” Wes answered. “You guys are welcome to join me.”

  “No can do,” Emil said as his video player slam-dunked the basketball, causing Felix to cringe and curse in Dominican. “I’m still underage, and Felix is too.”

  “Okay, well you kids have a good time and don’t stay up too late,” Wes said in a parental tone.

  Wes shuffled across the parking lot, wearing his leather jacket over his t-shirt and jeans. He arrived at the bar, called The Gypsy, and strode in. It was a local place and only had a few patrons in it, all who were clearly regulars. Wes sat down on the barstool and ordered a beer, figuring this was the kind of place where beer was pretty much all the bartender ever did.

  He sipped his beverage and took a quick look up at the TV to see the sports highlights of the Cubs and Pirates going on. Wes thought about the times he visited Chicago with the team, how he loved playing at Wrigley on days when the wind blew out, and how he would always go out to the ivy-covered walls before the game to run his hands through the leaves and think about all the players who played on the same field many years before him.

  Wes drank about half of his beer when he spun around on his barstool to survey the rest of the place. He noticed the obligatory pool table and dartboard towards the back of the establishment, and a few booths along the far wall that had dim, dingy lighting over them. A hand casually raised and waved in Wes’ direction from one of the booths, and upon a closer look, Wes saw Sabrina, by herself, sipping a cocktail.

  Wes knew it was unavoidable, and he would have to go over and say hello. He sauntered over and sat on the opposite side of the booth from Sabrina.

  “Nice to see a friendly face here,” Sabrina said as she sipped her drink.

  Wes just smiled and nodded, unsure of what to say.

  “I’m glad you’re here,” Sabrina said, leaning over the table towards Wes so that she flashed a clear view down her cleavage as she spoke. “You can protect me from anyone that comes over to try to pick me up.”

  “Something tells me you’re pretty good at taking care of yourself,” Wes replied as he sat back and drank his beer.

  “Hmmm, you are an observant man, aren’t you? I like a man that sees everything and has experience.”

  The burly bartender wandered over and cleared empty glasses off the table from the booth behind Wes and Sabrina.

  “Get you two another?” he rasped.

  “Sure,” Wes said, as he saw Sabrina’s drink was empty. “I’ll have another beer.” He looked at Sabrina, who smiled at the bartender and handed her empty glass to him.

  “I’ll have another bourbon on the rocks,” Sabrina told him.

  The bartender went off to do his job, and Wes looked back at Sabrina, who had spread her arms out on the top of the booth like a falcon spreads its wings before swooping in for a prey. She pushed her chest out a bit more as she sat and stared at Wes hungrily.

  “Bourbon,” Wes said casually. “Nice choice.”

  “I love it,” Sabrina answered. “A bourbon that fills my mouth and tastes smooth when it first enters and then gives me that slow burn as it glides down my throat… it’s delectable.”

  Wes felt much warmer now in his leather jacket and fidgeted in the booth.

  “So, Wes,” Sabrina began, “tell me a bit more about yourself. Something I can’t learn from the Internet or Wikipedia. I know where you’re from and about your playing days, and I know you have a daughter, but I haven’t seen a wedding ring on your hand.”

  Wes fidgeted some more as he became noticeably uncomfortable with the conversation.

  “I’m not married,” Wes said politely. “My wife and I divorced years ago. I do have someone back home in Chandler,” Wes told her, “at least I think I do.”

  The bartender arrived with fresh drinks, and Wes immediately picked up his beer and started to indulge.

  “You think you do,” Sabrina said boldly. “Things not all hunky-dory at home? That happens a lot with ballplayers. It’s hard to have a relationship when you’re away a lot. I guess that’s why a lot of players don’t do it. They just enjoy the bachelor life and have fun when they can.”

  “Well, Kristin and I have been together for over a year now, but this is the first time we’ve really been apart. It’s a difficult situation; I don’t really want to get into it,” Wes said.

  “Kristin,” Sabrina said as she sipped her bourbon, tinkling the ice in her glass after her drink. “Lovely name. Well, I’m sure it will all work out for the best for you, whatever you do.”

  Sabrina sat back again, and Wes noticed it looked as though she undid another button on the black satin blouse she wore, baring even more of her breasts.

  It was then that John Clines appeared next to the booth, and disappointment shot across Sabrina’s face.

  “Didn’t expect to find anyone from the team here,” John said as he slid into the booth next to Sabrina.

  “Please, join us, John,” Sabrina said sarcastically.

  “Most of the guys are too young to drink, and the others would be breaking curfew if they were here,” John said as he glared at Wes.

  “You can fine me if you want, John, or sit me out tomorrow for being out past curfew. It’s not like I have to worry about getting to bed in time to play.” Wes took a long draw of his beer, nearly draining the mug.

  “That’s where you’re wrong. Martin,” John said as he took a drink of his own beer. “You’re in tomorrow at DH. I’m going to bat you fifth.”

  Wes’ eyes went wide with surprise. “Really? What changed your mind?”

  “Three things,” John answered. “First, we stink right now and haven’t scored a run in three games. Second, I’ve noticed what you’ve done with Emil, taking him under your wing, helping him out, and it’s paid off for him. He’s the only guy in the lineup doing anything right now, so maybe you can rub off on some of the other guys.”

  “And what’s the third thing?” Wes asked.

  “Well, third is I’m tired of Tom calling me after every game asking me why I haven’t used you in the lineup. Hopefully, this will get him off my back for a bit. Either you get some hits, or you play awful; either way, it helps me.”

  “Gee, thanks John,” Wes said as he finished his beer and got out of the booth. “I guess I better get back to the hotel and get some rest then. Have a good night, you two.”

  Sabrina stretched out her arm, trying to get Wes’ attention before he departed, but John turned to her and talked, and she slumped back into the booth, trapped.

  When Wes returned to th
e hotel, Emil lounged on his bed, going over messages on his phone.

  “Game over?” Wes asked, noticing Felix was gone.

  “Yeah, I was kicking Felix’s ass so bad he started to rage in Dominican, and I couldn’t understand what he was yelling at me about. I’m pretty sure it was mostly swear words. He took his stuff and went back to his room. What are you doing back already?”

  “I need to get some rest,” Wes said. “John told me I’m playing tomorrow.” Wes tossed his jeans on the chair by his bed and got under the blanket.