by Nancy Radke
“Saturday night at seven.” He reached for some more pods. “Peter Johnson called this morning trying to reach you but you weren’t home yet — so I told him what you said.”
“Oh — the date with Peter Johnson.” She had forgotten all about it. What would Adam think?
Karen’s shocked face prompted Jo to give her a quick nudge with her foot to keep her quiet. Thinking swiftly, she decided she’d better keep the date. What excuse could she possibly give? To refuse it now would make things more awkward with Gramps. She didn’t dare wonder how awkward Adam would be, especially after forcing that promise from her. “I’m sorry, Gramps, it took me a minute to tune in. Thanks for arranging it for me.”
“No trouble at all,” he said, beaming happily. “Glad to do it. Marv hopes he will take over the farm in time. He has a lot to learn, but Marv says the boy’s smart. Peter’s mother took him to Portland when she divorced his dad, but he’s come back now. You could do a lot worse, Jo.”
“Really, Gramps, I’m only going out on a date with him.”
“Never know. Doesn’t hurt to speculate. He’ll get Marv’s ranch some day.”
Karen was visibly upset, so Jo brought the subject back to Adam. “Anyway, Grampa, I was trying to tell you why I was late last night.”
“That’s nothing new.”
“This time I had a reason. I was riding Paca in the mountain pasture and found the bulls fighting. They had—”
“Trahern’s bull...and ours?”
“That’s right. They had torn—”
“Which one won?”
That stopped her line of thought abruptly. “I don’t know, Gramps. I think I interrupted them before they’d settled it. Anyway—”
“What’s he doing, putting his bull out in that pasture next to ours?” he demanded indignantly.
“I expect the same thing we’re doing, Gramps. Breeding cows so they’ll calve next year. Are you going to listen?”
The old man sputtered, offended. “I been listening.”
“Well, I rode Paca into the middle of some barbed wire...the bulls had torn up some fencing and I didn’t see—”
“That was how you got scratched.”
“Yes. Adam helped—”
“Adam!” he yelped. “What was he doing there?”
“I ran and got him.”
Her grandfather exploded in anger and astonishment. “What? You did what?”
Jo held her breath. Adam, you should be here and take some of this heat! “I needed help. He was closest—”
“I told you to stay away from him! I don’t even want to hear his name around here, especially from you. Understand?” He slammed the peas angrily into the bucket. “That wild Adam...he’s the worst of the lot.”
“But Gramps. Adam cut Paca loose from the wire. I couldn’t. I’d never have made it down—.”
“No!”
“Yes!” Jo insisted, almost in tears as, for the first time in her life, she defied her grandfather. “She’d have cut herself to ribbons. I’d have never made it down and back in time...she’d have killed herself. As it was, he—”
The old man slapped the table so hard with the palm of his hand that the pans jumped, along with both girls. “Him! He spies on this place, up there on his mountain top.”
“But Gramps—”
“Don’t forget they killed your grandma. Murderers! All of ‘em! Keep away from ‘em!” Agitated, he pulled himself to his feet and stomped out of the kitchen around the house towards the corrals.
The girls looked at each other, eyes wide with worry.
“He was breathing awfully hard, Jo. Do you think he’s all right?” Karen jumped up to peer out the screen door.
Jo covered her face with her hands and took a long breath. The encounter had shaken her deeply. How was her grandfather faring? She joined Karen at the door and watched the old man walking down toward the corral.
“I think—I hope—he just went to see Paca.”
“He sure can’t stand Adam. Imagine thinking he spies on him!”
Jo chuckled, but without humor, for the thought of Adam’s telescope flashed across her mind. How much could he see? “I don’t think he likes the idea Adam can look down on him. It must have been a shock to have me stand up for Adam.”
Stepping outside, Jo went to the corner of the house. Gramps was petting Paca, feeding her a carrot. “Whew!” Jo returned to Karen in the kitchen. “He’s fine. Do you want to peel the potatoes or make a salad?”
“Salad.” Karen pulled fresh vegetables from the refrigerator. “I’ll add some peas to this. What’s Adam going to say to your date with Peter Johnson? That wasn’t in my plan. Why’d you accept a date with him?” Karen wailed.
“I didn’t know I’d be dating Adam — how could I?” Jo attacked the potatoes with a swift hand. “I’ll call him when I finish these.”
“You’re going to tell him?”
“Yes.”
“He won’t be in until around six,” advised her sister. “You can meet in Penny’s pasture, if you need to. Johnny and I do.”
Gramps returned when their father came in and the two discussed the weather, the day’s work and future plans. Jo noticed that although her dad mentioned Mike fixing fence this morning, he neglected to add where or who with.
It’s like a game, she thought, and we’ve all been playing it. It would be funny, except for the sadness it’s caused Karen and Johnny. I hope Adam and I can bring it to an end.
“Ummm...fresh peas with butter!” She took a deep breath of the delicious aroma. “I could make a meal out of these alone. You’d better pick more tomorrow, Gramps. It’s a sacrifice on my part to limit myself to two helpings.”
Her grandfather smiled. “Sure thing.” Then back to her father, he said, “The barometer’s dropping, Frank. We’ll get rain tomorrow or the next day. It was 102 today, supposed to get hotter until it storms. Right, Jo?”
“Right.” Gramps had always been knowledgeable about the weather and Jo had received her love for meteorology from him.
The dishes done, Karen joined the men in the living room. Jo excused herself. She was almost asleep standing up and she still had to call Adam.
How would he react to her news? He didn’t strike her as one who would accept any Peter Johnson in his plans.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jo opened the screen door and stepped out into the soft warm blackness of the night, letting her feet find the well-worn path to the pasture where Adam had said he’d meet her. She walked slowly down the trail, past Penny, the copper-colored Jersey milk cow, and into the next field. The evening breeze—a force two— coming off the slopes, failed to cool her troubled thoughts. She wanted to see Adam, but dreaded his reaction to her news.
The chorus of frogs and crickets were at their height this time of night, as was the beauty of the stars before the moon appeared to diminish their glory. The entire sky twinkled, denser along the Milky Way and almost empty in the north. Easily spotted were the Big and Little Dippers, the North Star, Cassiopeia...and almost straight overhead was Hercules.
Hercules. Strong man of the stars. Strong, like Adam. The more she thought about Adam’s reaction to her date with Peter, the slower she walked and the more anxious she became. This was going to be tougher than talking to Gramps.
Jo walked slowly forward, her gaze on the stars, not seeing Adam until she bumped into him. He caught her arm to steady her, pulling her close.
“Oops,” she said, his sudden presence shattering her senses and sending a rush of pleasure through her. “Where’d you come from? I was supposed to wait for you.”
He had showered recently. She could smell the clean soap on his skin and hair, along with the spicy tang of aftershave. It filled up her senses, pulling her like a magnet into his being.
“No one can accuse you of being over-eager to see me,” he said.
Of course not. Wait until she told him about Peter.
“Do you always walk looking at the sky?”
“No, or I’d fall on my face. I was just renewing old acquaintances.”
“They are something, aren’t they? Look...a falling star.” He pointed.
“I see it.” She watched it fade, then looked around. They were almost at the bottom of the pasture, well out of sight of the house. He still hadn’t released her, clasping her arms as if determined to keep her close. “How did you get here so fast?” she asked.
“Easy. I drive down the road to my lower gate, through my field to the corner and leave the truck there, then cut across your field following the creek. The truck is hidden and so are we. Johnny and Karen meet here all the time.”
“I see....” Her tired mind accepted the information, and struggled for something else to say. Some way to bring up Peter.
“You do?” He pulled her snugly against him and she rested her forehead on the wall of his chest, trying to think. She was tired from the last few days, her mind kept blanking out, refusing to function smoothly.
In the silence Adam slipped one hand under her hair at the back of her head, kissing her gently on the forehead and firmer on the mouth.
It took her by surprise, she didn’t have time to clamp down on her emotions. An immediate response flamed through her, frightening her with its intensity. This wasn’t why she wanted to see him.
She jerked back, pushing away from him, but his arms were wrapped around her, immovable, and she went nowhere. Easy, she told herself as she fought down the first stir of excitement. Darkness always intensified her feelings.
“That woke you up,” he said. “Why’d you call me? You sounded upset on the phone. I expected you to launch into it the moment you saw me.”
“Oh, that. Why, um, to tell you that I...that Gramps....” Her mind went blank again. The words weren’t forming.
“Go on, Jo—you what? Take your time, we have all night.” His assurance did not steady her any, and his hand gently caressing the back of her neck was not calming in the least.
What to say...how to say it? She should have told him over the phone.
Adam towered over her, the square jaw and wide forehead proclaiming an iron will. Would he be upset at her news? That first day,” she began, “before I saw you, and before Karen came up with her plan—” she stopped.
“Yes?” he prompted, encouraging her.
She swallowed. The only way to enter cold water was to dive in...all at once. “Well, Gramps asked me if I’d go out with Peter Johnson, and...and I said ‘Why not?’ and—”
She felt the tension snap though him as he shoved her back a step. “Peter Johnson? You said there wasn’t anyone else.”
“There isn’t...wasn’t. I mean—”
“Then where’d he come from? I never heard of him before.”
“He’s Marv Johnson’s grandson. Gramps arranged this before I saw you.”
“Then why didn’t you mention him?”
“I forgot.”
“You forgot? A date?” It was clear he didn’t believe her.
“Yes. I forgot. It was easy. After I got home today, Gramps brought it up. I couldn’t see how to get out of it without bringing you in. And I didn’t think Gramps was ready for that yet.”
“How can you forget a date?”
“It wasn’t like Peter asked me. Gramps set it up. It wasn’t that important at the time.”
“When?”
“Saturday night.”
“Can’t you get out of it?”
“How? I don’t break dates.”
“You did—the one you had with me,” he reminded her unfairly, and pressed her firmly close again.
She roused herself sufficiently to protest. “That was different. That was unfair, Adam—you put me in an impossible position. You even had a bet on it.”
He laughed softly, remembering. “A dumb move on my part, I’ll admit.” A kiss landed on her nose, then both eyelids, sending a wave of warmth through Jo, making her want more.
“The boys were saying that I could have my pick of any girl in high school and I said I knew one who wouldn’t date me. So they bet you would—and I bet you wouldn’t. Then they laid down conditions, like being there when I asked you, and having to go to the football game where they could check up. I added the part about picking you up, although...,” he paused thoughtfully.
As he spoke, Jo’s temper began to flare. So that was what had happened. He had set it up so his high school buddies could watch him embarrass her. She had thought the group of boys had gathered out of curiosity. “Although...what?”
“Although I wouldn’t have minded losing that bet. Like I said, it was dumb. So...you’re stuck with this one?” He shrugged his shoulders, then began to trail kisses down her neck.
She jerked away, still ticked off about his admission. Adam was more to blame than she’d realized. “Yes. I am.”
“I can’t say I like it any. I don’t. Do you know where you’re going?” His left hand began to lightly explore her backbone, sending delightful shivers up her spine in spite of her resentment. A fire burned deep within her that he was gently fanning to life.
Jo trembled slightly. “Gramps set it up. I haven’t talked to Peter. I expect we’ll go to town, see a movie or have a meal. There’s not much else to do.”
As I well know.” His voice mellowed in amused remembrance. “In high school we used to cruise main street... up one side and down the other, and in and out of the hamburger spots. Not much trouble you can get into around here, although I tried hard enough.”
“Gramps calls you ‘that wild Adam.’”
“I was at that time although I stayed away from liquor. One tragedy in the family was enough. Johnny won’t touch it either.”
“Same here. I always end up being the designated driver.”
“Have you mentioned me to Gramps yet?”
“Yes,” Jo grimaced. “His reaction was predictable. He stomped out of the kitchen, said I wasn’t to see you again.”
He pounced on her words. “To see me. Did you actually say you wanted to see me?”
“Yes.” She hadn’t planned on letting him know she’d done more than just mention his name, but it was too late now. “I explained how you saved Paca.”
“And he didn’t collapse?”
“No. Just exploded.”
“I said he was a tough old bird. Just keep the campaign going, dear. We’ll wear him down eventually.”
“I hope so...if it doesn’t wear me down first. I’m dead.” Now that Adam had accepted things, Jo found the release of tension left her exhausted.
He looked at her swaying figure more closely. “Didn’t you get any rest today?”
“No, I didn’t feel tired earlier. It only hit me a few minutes ago.” She yawned, shaking her head. “I think I’d better go to bed.” She pressed fingertips to her mouth. Having started yawning, she couldn’t stop.
Her head suddenly feeling too heavy, she laid it against Adam’s chest, feeling his arms encircle her. Once she relaxed, exhaustion hit like a heavy weight.
“To bed...ah, yes. There is that.” He gently turned her around and helped her back up the pasture trail, through the corner gate, supporting her stumbling figure. “One of these days—” He caught her up and carried her past the inquisitive Penny, who followed them a few steps. “One of these days, we have to get together when we have more time.”
Enjoying the sensation of being swept off her feet, she spoke out of her sleep-drugged mind. “Why?”
“You’ll find out. Don’t snuggle in too deep, there. I need to put you down.” He stopped and set her on her feet, turning her to face him, his hands strong and supporting. “This is as far as I go — we’ll be in view of the house if we enter the garden. Why don’t you meet me down here tomorrow night at eight or soon after? We can talk more then.”
“Okay,” she nodded, barely taking in what he said.
He tipped up her head and kissed her, lingeringly, just enough to make her want more. She swayed up against him, but he moved
her away and toward the garden.
“Save that for tomorrow night. Good night, Jo.”
“Good night, Adam.” She watched him walk away, her lips singing with a strange delight where his had touched. All anger, along with any desire for revenge now vanished. She really didn’t want that date with Peter.
The moon was rising — a huge, orange ball as it came up through the dusty air, setting the hills afire with its golden glow. Its light overpowered the stars, and she was able to see Adam clearly until he disappeared into the alder grove. He stopped and waved. Somehow it seemed important that she was there to wave back.
Still yawning, Jo shuffled back to the house. The shower woke her slightly, but her mind remained heavy and sluggish.
Karen was perched on Jo’s bed, eyes alight with curiosity.
“Well?” Karen inquired as she entered.
“Well yourself,” Jo replied, drying her hair half-heartedly because the room was overly warm. More questions, and Karen’s curiosity, weren’t needed just now.
She strode over to open her windows, one on the north and one on the east side of the room. Instantly a cross-breeze stirred the heated air inside, moving the curtains which Jo pulled open. There was plenty of privacy in this room. The covered porch was underneath — where her grandfather loved to sit — and the ground sloped away out of sight from there to the garden.
“If you come in here at night, open my windows, please.” They were closed during the day to keep out the heat.
“Sure,” agreed Karen cheerfully. Jo searched for a cool nightie in the drawer and pulled out a filmy cotton one with deep scooped neck and ragged hem. It had been worn so much it was raggedy.
“I hope you don’t wear that anywhere but here,” Karen remarked as Jo slipped it on. “That hardly covers anything.”
“I know. But new ones have to be broken in. It’s too hot right now. Goodnight.”
Karen could contain herself no longer. “But Jo, what did Adam say? Did you tell him?”
Jo sighed. Karen’s curiosity. “Yes, I told him. He was very understanding....”
“That’s a relief. After what Gramps did to him, I wonder that Adam can be so calm about everything.”