Читать книгу Sgt. Billy's Bride - Bonnie Gardner - Страница 14

Darcy hung up the phone and sighed gustily. What had made her think that she’d be able to find someone to tow her car out of that roadside ditch and repair it, when she didn’t know the name of a single garage and tow company in south Alabama? And it didn’t help that she wasn’t exactly sure where the ditch containing her car was.

She’d already spent a huge amount of time calling long distance trying to get somebody to take care of the problem, but she’d gotten the royal runaround. And she’d thought military bureaucracy was hard to circumvent. She’d never tried to work within the system of a small Alabama town, and she was doing it blind from a hundred miles away.

At least she had been successful in getting an appointment for an interview with Dr. Williamson for the opening he had. It amazed her that he still kept his office open on Saturday mornings.

Darcy wondered if landing the job would be as easy as landing the interview. No, she told herself. Nothing had ever come easy for her before. She might as well be prepared for a long, hard haul. Still, it would be nice to have a job lined up right away.

She started to try again to find someone to tow her car, but stopped when she heard the sound of a car pulling into the drive. Had Bill returned from Barney’s General Store, or had the first of the party guests begun to arrive?

When she’d agreed to pretend to be engaged to Bill, she hadn’t known that the family was planning a party tonight. If they were really in love, she would have known that Bill had celebrated his twenty-eighth birthday alone while he’d been in Nevada on the last training exercise. It might be a birthday party, but it was too much to hope that the “engagement” would not come up.

Still, she hoped for a miracle because it was going to be hard to lie to his friends and relatives without having her partner in crime standing at her elbow. After all, they had to be able to keep their stories straight.

At least, for a little while.

Darcy breathed a relieved sigh as she heard Bill call from outside. “Come open the door. My hands are full.”

She scurried to the door and let her “fiancé” in. She had been trying to force herself to keep thinking of Bill as her intended so she wouldn’t slip up in front of his guests, but when she was alone it was hard to do. Now that she could see him again in the flesh, her breath caught in her throat. Any woman would be proud to be engaged to him. She could stare all day at his broad chest, showed off to perfection by the form-fitting T-shirt the color of Carolina blue skies. And those faded, snug jeans were bleached out in the most interesting places and made her wonder what lay beneath.

She almost wished she really was.

Darcy drew a deep breath and forced herself to speak. “How did that short list grow to three full grocery sacks?” she asked as she took the bag dangling precariously from Bill’s right hand and headed with it to the kitchen. “I thought you were getting milk and ice.”

“Got two more bags in the Cherokee,” he said as he lowered the two he carried onto the kitchen table. He shrugged. “You know how it is. You see stuff you need….” He paused and grinned. “And you see stuff you don’t really need but you kinda want, and pretty soon your short list has grown a foot long.” He turned to go back to the car, but looked back over his shoulder. “I saw Earline at the store.”

“And…?” Darcy asked, hoping the comment wasn’t prefacing bad news.

“She’d heard the news from Lou and was already blabbing to Barney. Who knows how many other folks she’d already spread the word to by then? Don’t reckon we’ll have to make much of an announcement tonight. Pretty much everybody in the county’s gonna know.”

Darcy sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of.”

FOR SOME REASON everyone was late this time. Bill stood by the front window watching for the first car to arrive. The lateness of the guests, family mostly, had given him a little more time to get his story straight with Darcy, he supposed, and it saved Momma from the stress and commotion of all the kids so soon.

Still, he couldn’t help thinking that he wanted to get this over with as soon as he could. It was one thing to stretch the truth to his mother for a good reason, but another thing to announce it to half the town. If they weren’t careful, they would find it in the local paper, and he sure wanted to prevent that.

And was it really a white lie?

It was one thing to let Momma think what she thought, it was another thing to carry it on as if it were true. Damn, when did life get so complicated?

“How do I look?”

He turned to see Darcy standing in the hallway to the back of the house.

“I don’t have any party clothes with me,” she said, smiling apologetically. “I wasn’t expecting to be engaged quite so soon.” She struck a pose, holding her arms out and doing a slow turn. “This was the best I could do.”

Billy whistled, long and low. If that was short notice, he’d like to see what she looked like when she was really trying.

No. He wouldn’t. This was make-believe, he reminded himself. They were pretending for Momma’s sake.

Darcy was wearing jeans, and he wondered if she had any other clothes. This pair was newer, and instead of a T-shirt, she had on a sweater set in a soft blue that hugged her curves, yet looked delicate and demure. How’d she manage that? And why did he keep thinking about her as if she really were his fiancée?

“Oh, you look fine,” he murmured, shaking his head appreciatively. “More than fine.”

“Thank you,” Darcy answered primly. “I didn’t have anything dressy with me. I thought I’d be able to send for the rest of my clothes when I got where I was going and before I needed anything special.”

She hadn’t really thought that, consciously anyway, but she had sent most of her things ahead—to Dick’s place—and had only brought the bare minimum with her. Mother and Aunt Marianne had enjoyed shopping for the honeymoon trousseau she hadn’t really wanted, and she’d left that behind when she’d taken off. All she had were the clothes in the duffle bag she’d left in the car.

Strange, she thought, that she’d packed enough in her bag for the trip from school in North Carolina to keep her going until she landed on her feet. Even when she hadn’t known she was going to run. Or had she?

She had an oyster-colored linen suit, badly in need of ironing now, her best uniform left from nursing training, and some jeans and T-shirts. She certainly had packed much more than she needed for the trip to Hurlburt Field.

“Will I pass inspection?” she asked him.

Bill whistled again. “You will do just fine. I might have to fight the other guys off my gir—” He suddenly realized what he’d said. “I’m sorry.” Bill shrugged. “I know we’re only pretending for Momma’s sake.”

“Apology accepted. After all, we have to make it look good.” Darcy grinned. “Feel free to fight off any interlopers you feel like. It’ll do my ego good.”

“I don’t know about your ego, Darcy. But it’ll damn sure do mine just fine.” Bill grinned. “I don’t exactly have the reputation of a ladies’ man around here.”

Darcy arched an eyebrow. “You couldn’t prove it by me. You sure did a good job of picking me up.”

“Ha ha,” Bill said dryly. “I might have come to your rescue, but it wasn’t exactly on a white charger.”

“No, just a dark green Jeep Cherokee. That was good enough for me.” Funny, she hadn’t noticed the color of the Jeep when he’d picked her up.

Now she noticed everything.

Like the way Bill’s chest had expanded when he’d looked at her. And the way he cared for his mother, and his wide-open face, and his green eyes and the touch of his hand…No, she couldn’t be thinking about that. It isn’t real.

It isn’t real, she reminded herself again.

She shook her thoughts away, and looked up at Bill, only to find herself drowning in his deep green eyes. She forced herself to look away before it was too late.

For what?

“What else do we have to do to get ready?” Darcy asked, though she knew they were as ready as they could be. She had to say something to change the subject. Anything. They were heading toward dangerous territory if they didn’t switch to a different topic of conversation.

Bill shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Everything is pretty much under control for now. Lou and Earline are bringing the party. All we had to do was make sure everything was cleaned up and ready.” He smiled crookedly. Odd that they were both acting like a couple of teenagers on a first date. But then, this was more like a first date than a birthday-slash-engagement announcement party.

At least on a first date, they would have been alone.

The crunch of tires on the gravel driveway saved him from any more deep thinking.

“Looks like the first wave is here. I reckon we better get to battle stations.” He glanced out the window. “It’s Earline and Edd and the kids.” With Earline’s kids around, at least, he wouldn’t have time to think.

BILL WAS RIGHT when he’d told her they wouldn’t have to make an announcement, Darcy thought as she assessed the crowd in the small living room. It seemed as if everyone who came in had already heard. It might have saved them from having to stand up in front of the group and tell a bald-faced lie, but it hadn’t made it any easier.

Because everyone already knew, she found herself fielding questions that she and Bill had not prepared for.

Like, when was the wedding?

Since there wasn’t really going to be a wedding, they hadn’t thought that anyone would ask. Both of them had severely underestimated the curiosity of the residents of Mattison, Alabama.

“You really ought to set a date soon, girl,” Ruby Scarborough, Bill’s first-grade teacher, said as she cornered Darcy in the nook by the fireplace, far across the room from Bill.

Bill had told Darcy that Mrs. Scarborough considered herself a member of every family in the community since she’d educated all the kids and most of the parents as well. She attended every party, wedding shower and reception, whether she was invited or not.

“Gosh, Mrs. Scarborough, Bill and I hadn’t even thought that far ahead,” Darcy told her truthfully. “We’ve only just gotten engaged, and we want to enjoy that part of our relationship for now.”

Mrs. Scarborough took her by the arm and pulled her farther to the side. “You know, Nettie doesn’t have much more time,” she said in hushed tones. “Perhaps, you should think of doing it sooner instead of later.”

“Yes, ma’am. We know. But I’ve just gotten out of nursing school, and I want to work for a while first.” Darcy knew her reply was lame, but what else could she say?

Bill came to her rescue. “You’ll excuse me, Miz Scarborough, if I steal my fiancée away.”

“You’re excused for now. But I will not forgive you if you don’t set a date, and soon. Your momma needs to see you married and settled.”

“Yes, ma’am, I know. But, I’m going to be busy with several training schools for the next few months, so we won’t be able to schedule anything until I’m done.”

“Until you’re finished with them,” Mrs. Scarborough corrected. “You’re only done if you’ve been baking at 350 degrees for about five hours like a turkey,” she added.

“Yes, ma’am. When I’m finished.” Bill steered Darcy across the room.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered quietly into Darcy’s ear. “I hadn’t expected the news to spread like wildfire. I could throttle Earline.”

Darcy turned and whispered back. “It’s all right. We should have asked your mother to keep it quiet.” Then she stopped. “But, that would have been unfair to her.”

“Yeah,” Bill said. “I should’ve straightened it all out last night.” Then he looked across the room to where his mother was seated regally in a chair, her attendant guests surrounding her.

No, he was glad he’d given her these few moments of pleasure. He and Darcy could pretend to have a falling-out later. He did have that long string of specialty schools coming up. It would be a perfect reason for the engagement not to work out.

Then he looked at Darcy, smiling down at Chrissy, Earline’s youngest. It might be a perfect excuse, but everybody’d think he was a damned fool to let a keeper like Darcy get away.

Too bad she wasn’t really his to lose.

DARCY’S FACE hurt from smiling so much, and it was still early in the party as far as she could tell. There were mounds of food on the table, and the huge sheet cake that Lougenia had baked and decorated herself had yet to be cut. It was going to be a long evening.

Lougenia banged on an aluminum cook pot with a wooden spoon. “Come on, ever’body. Food’s getting cold. Grab a plate and fill it, then find a spot to set.”

Edd stepped up to the table and reached for a plate, but Lougenia smacked her brother-in-law’s hand with her wooden spoon. “Hold on, bubba. Where are your manners? Let’s let the birthday boy and the guest of honor go first.”

Edd backed up, looking duly chastened, but his hangdog look soon turned to a grin. “Better get up there, boy. They’s hungry people waiting.”

Bill blushed, and Darcy couldn’t help liking the man more. He took her by the hand and stepped forward, and as a shock of warmth ran up her arm, Darcy couldn’t help thinking she liked that, too. It was a good thing that Bill was going back to his base soon. If she wasn’t careful, she would be wanting to make this engagement real.

And the last thing she needed right now was another man in her life.

Bill handed Darcy a plate, a chipped piece of bone china in a beautiful old pattern that must have been in his family for years. “Better eat up,” he said low, under his breath. “We don’t skimp on food around here.”

Darcy looked around the room at the well-fed group, and could see that that statement was true. Maybe too true. But that was a crusade she’d fight later. She hadn’t done a cardiology rotation for nothing.

Lucy Carterette, the minister’s wife, Darcy thought, stepped into line behind her as she debated the merits of deviled eggs versus carrot sticks. The eggs won. She could do an extra mile the next time she ran. She smiled at the woman and helped herself to an egg.

“It’s so nice that Billy has found someone,” Mrs. Carterette said as she, too, selected an egg. “How did you and Billy meet?”

“Darcy’s car broke down, and I gave her a lift,” Bill interjected. They’d decided to stick as close to the truth as possible without filling in too many details that could get them into trouble later.

“Isn’t that sweet!” another woman, whose connection Darcy couldn’t quite figure, cooed.

“Yes, ma’am. I was quite worried. I had just set out to walk when Bill drove up and rescued me.” That much was true. She’d managed to keep her story straight, so far. Maybe, if people were busy eating, she wouldn’t have to answer so many questions.

She filled her plate and followed Bill to a spot on the floor by the fireplace.

Bill held out his hand and took her plate while Darcy settled, cross-legged, next to him. They left the sofa and chairs for the older, less nimble people.

Chrissie squealed as Little Edd swiped a carrot stick from her. She shoved her plate at her mother and dashed across the floor and tackled the boy in a play that would have made any football coach proud.

Big Edd got up, crossed the room in two long strides, grabbed both kids by the shoulders and pulled them apart. “Go set with your momma,” he told Chrissie sternly. Then he looked at Little Edd. “What do you mean, picking on your sister like that? You know we didn’t bring you up to steal from girls.”

The boy, head hanging dejectedly, dragged back to his spot on the other side of his mother.

“And you watch about letting people tackle you like ‘at. It ain’t no way to get to the University of Alabama if you gonna let a girl get the better of you.”

Little Edd looked up quickly, then swallowed. “Yes, sir,” he said. “I know I shoulda been watching my flank.” He picked up his abandoned plate and sat down.

“Starting a little early, aren’t they?” Darcy murmured as she tried to hide a smile.

Bill looked at her. “Around here, one of the few ways a poor kid can get to college is to do good on the football field.”

“A football scholarship’s the only hope they have?” Darcy concluded.

“Got that in one,” Bill answered grimly, then dug into a mound of potato salad with black olives and pickles. “That and joining the service.”

Earline looked over the heads of her children, still giving each other dirty looks. “Momma said you just graduated from nursing school.”

Darcy nodded.

“I got my LPN at John Patterson Technical College. Where’d you go?”

“Duke.”

“Where’s that?” Earline asked, her mouth full.

“North Carolina.”

Earline swallowed. “If it’s in North Carolina, how’d you meet Billy when he’s in Florida?”

Now it was Darcy’s turn to swallow. She swallowed again, but before she could answer, Bill came to her rescue.

“I went to jump school, at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.”

“Oh. Lucky you.”

Darcy didn’t know whether Earline was referring to Bill or to her, but considering the good save, she answered, “Yes, it was lucky. If Bill hadn’t come along when he did, I don’t know what I would have done.”

“That’s enough poking your nose into Darcy’s business, Earline,” Bill said. “Let her eat.”

“Well, I was just interested,” Earline protested. “She is going to be a member of the family. I would like to know a little something about her.”

Bill shot his sister a look, and she drew in a deep, aggravated breath and turned her attention back to her plate.

“Thank you, Bill,” Darcy murmured under her breath. “It seems like you’re always saving me.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Bill said.

Darcy wondered what Bill meant by that, but she didn’t make an issue of it. It was good enough that the questions had stopped, for now, and she could eat in peace.

BILL WOULD HAVE LOVED to have everybody leave so he could take a long nap after all the food he’d eaten, but he figured there were a good couple of hours before people headed home. At least he and Darcy hadn’t been bothered too much since Earline’s earlier inquisition. People had gathered into quiet clumps and the kids were outside chasing fireflies.

He turned to Darcy. “How you holding up?”

She shrugged. “Okay, I guess. I like your family and friends, but I feel funny about lying to them.”

Bill let out a long breath. “I know that, but remember it’s for Momma. And so far, we haven’t really lied. We’ve just sort of left out a few details.”

“What’s the difference?” Darcy said, setting her empty plate on the floor beside her. “They all think we’re engaged,” she said in low tones.

“But we didn’t tell them that. That’s the difference.”

“And we didn’t correct them when they made the assumption,” Darcy persisted.

Bill set his plate on top of Darcy’s. “It’s too late to do anything about it now. We’re just going to have to stick with the plan.”

“Easy for you to say. You get to go back to Hurlburt and business as usual.” Darcy sighed.

“What you two lovebirds doing with your heads together like that? Making wedding plans?”

Bill and Darcy sprang apart, and Bill looked up to where Lougenia was standing at the plundered dining-room table, a cake knife in hand.

“It’s time to honor the birthday boy and to cut the cake.” Lougenia motioned toward Bill. “Come on up to the table, and bring the lovely Darcy up with you.”

“They just want me to blow out the candles,” Bill said, offering Darcy his hand. “And everybody wants to get a good look at you.”

Bill loved the way her small, warm hand seemed to fit in his. He helped her to her feet. “Here goes nothing,” he said as he led Darcy across the room.

Lougenia lit the candles and beckoned him forward. “All right, Billy. Stand here,” she directed.

Bill had barely settled into position when everyone broke out in a chorus of “Happy Birthday.” By the end of the song, even Darcy had joined in.

“Now, make a wish and blow out the candles.”

Playing along, Bill closed his eyes and pretended deep concentration while he thought about his wish. Then, drawing a deep breath, he reared back and blew all the candles out at once.

“Yesss! That means you get your wish,” Darcy said, falling into the spirit of the situation.

“What did you wish for?” Chrissie asked.

“It won’t come true if I tell, sugar pumpkin,” Bill said ruffling the girl’s hair.

“I bet I know what he wushed for,” Little Edd said, his voice dripping with disdain. “I bet he wushed we would all go home so he could make kissy face with Miss Darcy.”

Darcy blushed, and Bill didn’t know what to say.

“Well, brother dear, if that’s your wish, I hereby grant it,” Lougenia said. “Have at it.”

Bill looked at Darcy, who was exhibiting nothing short of sheer panic.

“Kiss her,” somebody said.

“Give her a good one,” someone else chimed in.

“Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.” Pretty soon the room echoed with the chant.

“Do you mind?” Bill said quietly, looking into Darcy’s brown eyes. “I think that’s the only way they’ll quit.”

Darcy drew in a short, quick breath and swallowed. “Okay,” she said reluctantly. “If that’ll be the end of it.”

“Go on, Billy. It ain’t no big deal.”

Bill looked around the room. The noisy chant dwindled as the party guests saw that he was accepting the challenge.

“I don’t usually do this in front of an audience,” he murmured, more for Darcy’s sake than for the people watching. In fact, it had been so long since he’d done it at all that kissing Darcy was a very big deal.

He swallowed and wiped his palms, suddenly sweaty, on his jeans. Then he drew Darcy into his arms, situated her in front of him, and lowered his mouth toward hers.