muttering to himself under his breath. He knew that his was the only control.
"I have to work on my graduation dress if I'm to finish it in time. Call me if you need help with dinner." Impetuously, she kissed Agnes on the cheek to take the sting out of her words, then went to her room.
Billie closed, the door behind her, wishing it had a lock. Four more hours and she'd be with Moss again. The admiral had taken personal leave and that left Moss pretty much on his own, he'd told her. He'd still have the car tonight and they'd drive down to the park. After that first time they'd never gone to the USO again. He still didn't want to share her with anyone else. His possessiveness made her feel all warm and soft inside. Later, when he drove her home, he would wrap his arms around her and kiss her. Again and again. She shivered when she thought of the way he whispered a groan and grew hard against her. He laughingly called her a tease. If he could have seen her eyes in the darkness of the front porch, he would see her silent dare, the loving challenge to go beyond the hmits he had set.
What would she do when he left? The unknown hung over her like a pall. She never told him that she didn't pray for him anymore. Not for his reassignment, anyway. Now she prayed for other things: for him to love her, for him never to forget her.
Moss had agreed to attend her graduation and the dance afterward. He'd wear his dress whites, and the girls were going to die when she walked in on his arm, simply die. Once it would have been important; now it seemed silly and girlish. Now she only wanted to have him to herself, to be alone with
{40}
him. She knew she was in love. Moss's feelings were still a mystery. He liked her; that much she knew. He enjoyed kissing her and dancing with her and being with her. He'd told her. But when he wasn't with her, did he think of her the way she thought of him?
It was after nine when the phone rang. Agnes laid down her needlepoint canvas and took it on the third ring. "Father Donovan, how nice of you to call," she said quietly, then took a deep breath, almost afraid to hear what he would say.
"Mrs. Ames, I did as you asked. I called Chaplain Franklin at the Navy Yard. I think I told you I was acquainted with him. Chaplain Franklin assures me that Lieutenant Coleman is a very fine young man from a distinguished Texas family. It happens that the chaplain is quite friendly with the admiral's wife. That personal reference concurs with the lieutenant's records—he's not married."
Agnes listened while Father Donovan told her about the Colemans of Texas, her ears perking when he said that the father, Seth, had his fingers in many profitable pies. Oil, beef, aviation, and electronics.
"The lieutenant is well reconmiended, Mrs. Ames, and has an excellent record. All in all, I don't think you've a thing to worry about where Billie is concerned. I hope this puts your mind at ease. I wish more parents were as concerned about their children as you are. A few discreet questions could save them a lot of grief."
"Father, I appreciate all you've done. You must come to dinner one day soon."
"Anytime I can be of help, just call me. That's why I'm here. Good night, Mrs. Ames."
Agnes's eyes were sparkling like newly cut diamonds when she picked up her needlework again. Beef. Oil. Electronics. Money. Lots of it. Tomorrow she'd go to the main library and check out the city of Austin and what was, apparently, one of its leading families. She snorted in a very unladylike manner when she thought of Neal Fox and his father's bank.
As she stitched along with a bright vermilion length of Persian yam, listening to the Longines Wittnaur Music Hour, Agnes thought that her clever little ploy of attempting to intimidate a cowboy certainly hadn't backfired. She was glad now she'd used her best china and crystal along with her mother's lace tablecloth. At least he could see the Ameses weren't
I
{41}
peasants, but examples of good
"I have to work on my graduation dress if I'm to finish it in time. Call me if you need help with dinner." Impetuously, she kissed Agnes on the cheek to take the sting out of her words, then went to her room.
Billie closed, the door behind her, wishing it had a lock. Four more hours and she'd be with Moss again. The admiral had taken personal leave and that left Moss pretty much on his own, he'd told her. He'd still have the car tonight and they'd drive down to the park. After that first time they'd never gone to the USO again. He still didn't want to share her with anyone else. His possessiveness made her feel all warm and soft inside. Later, when he drove her home, he would wrap his arms around her and kiss her. Again and again. She shivered when she thought of the way he whispered a groan and grew hard against her. He laughingly called her a tease. If he could have seen her eyes in the darkness of the front porch, he would see her silent dare, the loving challenge to go beyond the hmits he had set.
What would she do when he left? The unknown hung over her like a pall. She never told him that she didn't pray for him anymore. Not for his reassignment, anyway. Now she prayed for other things: for him to love her, for him never to forget her.
Moss had agreed to attend her graduation and the dance afterward. He'd wear his dress whites, and the girls were going to die when she walked in on his arm, simply die. Once it would have been important; now it seemed silly and girlish. Now she only wanted to have him to herself, to be alone with
{40}
him. She knew she was in love. Moss's feelings were still a mystery. He liked her; that much she knew. He enjoyed kissing her and dancing with her and being with her. He'd told her. But when he wasn't with her, did he think of her the way she thought of him?
It was after nine when the phone rang. Agnes laid down her needlepoint canvas and took it on the third ring. "Father Donovan, how nice of you to call," she said quietly, then took a deep breath, almost afraid to hear what he would say.
"Mrs. Ames, I did as you asked. I called Chaplain Franklin at the Navy Yard. I think I told you I was acquainted with him. Chaplain Franklin assures me that Lieutenant Coleman is a very fine young man from a distinguished Texas family. It happens that the chaplain is quite friendly with the admiral's wife. That personal reference concurs with the lieutenant's records—he's not married."
Agnes listened while Father Donovan told her about the Colemans of Texas, her ears perking when he said that the father, Seth, had his fingers in many profitable pies. Oil, beef, aviation, and electronics.
"The lieutenant is well reconmiended, Mrs. Ames, and has an excellent record. All in all, I don't think you've a thing to worry about where Billie is concerned. I hope this puts your mind at ease. I wish more parents were as concerned about their children as you are. A few discreet questions could save them a lot of grief."
"Father, I appreciate all you've done. You must come to dinner one day soon."
"Anytime I can be of help, just call me. That's why I'm here. Good night, Mrs. Ames."
Agnes's eyes were sparkling like newly cut diamonds when she picked up her needlework again. Beef. Oil. Electronics. Money. Lots of it. Tomorrow she'd go to the main library and check out the city of Austin and what was, apparently, one of its leading families. She snorted in a very unladylike manner when she thought of Neal Fox and his father's bank.
As she stitched along with a bright vermilion length of Persian yam, listening to the Longines Wittnaur Music Hour, Agnes thought that her clever little ploy of attempting to intimidate a cowboy certainly hadn't backfired. She was glad now she'd used her best china and crystal along with her mother's lace tablecloth. At least he could see the Ameses weren't
I
{41}
peasants, but examples of good
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