breeding and manners who
could hold up their heads with the Colemans of Austin, Texas.
Had Father Donovan said she hadn't a thing to worry about? That was because he hadn't seen the look in Billie's eyes whenever the young lieutenant was near. That look told Agnes all she needed to know. If Moss crooked his fmger, Billie would run. He could easily take advantage of her. And if he did, where would that leave Billie? Deflowered at seventeen. She could become pregnant and then what? Still, Agnes had a strong hunch that Moss would keep his head. He knew he was tormenting her; he also knew he held all the cards where her daughter was concerned. But there was something in his eyes that said he played fair.
It was five minutes to ten when Moss and Billie walked through the front door. Agnes was gathering up her needlepoint to retire for the evening. "Good night. Moss, Billie," she said quietly. Not for the world was she going to meet the young man's stare this evening. "I have a frightful headache, Billie. Be sure all the lights are out and the door locked when you go to bed." Without another look at either of the young people, Agnes climbed the stairs.
Moss was vaguely disappointed. Of late he'd acmally enjoyed his little staring game with Agnes. Something was up. Tonight there was a nervousness and excitement about Agnes that made him wonder.
"It's a shame Mother has a headache," said Billie, "but that means we have the living room all to ourselves. We can listen to the radio or just sit here and talk. You don't have to rush back to the yard, do you?"
Moss's mind raced. He supposed he could stay awhile. The others would wait for him. He'd never told Billie that when he left her most evenings he didn't go back to the base. He didn't have to report in until seven in the morning, so usually he went with the others to an after-hours club. "I can stay for a while. But I'll have to get back soon, early duty in the morning."
Billie sat on the sofa and was disappointed when Moss sat at the other end. Did he think Agnes was going to spy on them? The news report came on the radio and they hstened silently. She saw how alert Moss became at the mention of the USS Enterprise in the Pacific. H. V. Kaltenbom was speaking.
"Today is June eighth. Less than a week ago a triumph was declared in the Pacific by our naval and air forces off the shores
{42}
of the tiny island of Midway. It was a day of reckoning for the Empire of Japan, which met with the strength of American aircraft carriers Hornet, Yorktown, and Enterprise. Four Japanese carriers were sent to the bottom. The Soryu, the Hiryu, Kaga, and Akagi will never sail into Tokyo Harbor again."
Moss listened with rapt attention. If there was one thing Billie had learned early on, it was Moss's interest in every bit of news. Especially about the war. He could lose track of time when he talked about it. She'd listen with interest until he got to the part where he said he couldn't wait to be reassigned. She always had to bite her tongue to keep from asking, "What about me?"
Moss glanced at his watch. Kaltenbom's news seemed to have shaken him. "I've got to get back, Billie. Tell your mother I hope her headache is better."
"Moss, isn't the Enterprise the ship you trained on last fall? Where is Midway? What does it all mean?"
Moss placed his hand on her shoulders, looking down at her. "It means that if I don't hurry and get myself over there, it's all going to be over." He ran a hand through his thick dark hair. "I don't know what to do, Billie. I don't want to go against Pap, but I know I've got to get in there and do my share." His sudden grin relieved the worry lines between his eyes. "Can't let all the other guys have the fun, can I?"
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lightly, shifting his brain into what he called neutral, allowing himself to relax. Billie was so soft, so feminine, her lips so tender and gentle, promising more if only he dared to take it. He didn't
could hold up their heads with the Colemans of Austin, Texas.
Had Father Donovan said she hadn't a thing to worry about? That was because he hadn't seen the look in Billie's eyes whenever the young lieutenant was near. That look told Agnes all she needed to know. If Moss crooked his fmger, Billie would run. He could easily take advantage of her. And if he did, where would that leave Billie? Deflowered at seventeen. She could become pregnant and then what? Still, Agnes had a strong hunch that Moss would keep his head. He knew he was tormenting her; he also knew he held all the cards where her daughter was concerned. But there was something in his eyes that said he played fair.
It was five minutes to ten when Moss and Billie walked through the front door. Agnes was gathering up her needlepoint to retire for the evening. "Good night. Moss, Billie," she said quietly. Not for the world was she going to meet the young man's stare this evening. "I have a frightful headache, Billie. Be sure all the lights are out and the door locked when you go to bed." Without another look at either of the young people, Agnes climbed the stairs.
Moss was vaguely disappointed. Of late he'd acmally enjoyed his little staring game with Agnes. Something was up. Tonight there was a nervousness and excitement about Agnes that made him wonder.
"It's a shame Mother has a headache," said Billie, "but that means we have the living room all to ourselves. We can listen to the radio or just sit here and talk. You don't have to rush back to the yard, do you?"
Moss's mind raced. He supposed he could stay awhile. The others would wait for him. He'd never told Billie that when he left her most evenings he didn't go back to the base. He didn't have to report in until seven in the morning, so usually he went with the others to an after-hours club. "I can stay for a while. But I'll have to get back soon, early duty in the morning."
Billie sat on the sofa and was disappointed when Moss sat at the other end. Did he think Agnes was going to spy on them? The news report came on the radio and they hstened silently. She saw how alert Moss became at the mention of the USS Enterprise in the Pacific. H. V. Kaltenbom was speaking.
"Today is June eighth. Less than a week ago a triumph was declared in the Pacific by our naval and air forces off the shores
{42}
of the tiny island of Midway. It was a day of reckoning for the Empire of Japan, which met with the strength of American aircraft carriers Hornet, Yorktown, and Enterprise. Four Japanese carriers were sent to the bottom. The Soryu, the Hiryu, Kaga, and Akagi will never sail into Tokyo Harbor again."
Moss listened with rapt attention. If there was one thing Billie had learned early on, it was Moss's interest in every bit of news. Especially about the war. He could lose track of time when he talked about it. She'd listen with interest until he got to the part where he said he couldn't wait to be reassigned. She always had to bite her tongue to keep from asking, "What about me?"
Moss glanced at his watch. Kaltenbom's news seemed to have shaken him. "I've got to get back, Billie. Tell your mother I hope her headache is better."
"Moss, isn't the Enterprise the ship you trained on last fall? Where is Midway? What does it all mean?"
Moss placed his hand on her shoulders, looking down at her. "It means that if I don't hurry and get myself over there, it's all going to be over." He ran a hand through his thick dark hair. "I don't know what to do, Billie. I don't want to go against Pap, but I know I've got to get in there and do my share." His sudden grin relieved the worry lines between his eyes. "Can't let all the other guys have the fun, can I?"
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lightly, shifting his brain into what he called neutral, allowing himself to relax. Billie was so soft, so feminine, her lips so tender and gentle, promising more if only he dared to take it. He didn't
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