Chapter 5
From noon on, the clock proved of great interest to Janie Kent. Dave Chalmers was to pick her up at three. For reasons unknown to herself, she was anxious to see him, to be with him and learn more about the handsome young lawyer.
During the morning Janie had worked on revisions of her questions for the sex survey. She worked hard at it, hoping to devise some system of questioning that would not involve herself. It was difficult, at times nearly impossible, for changes had taken place in Janie Kent. And they all concerned sex and her work on the subject. Her experience with Mona Andrews had shaken her badly, proved to her that she was vulnerable to the sensations of love. And, because it was so, she knew fear for those interviews that still awaited her attention, those she was charged by the will to investigate.
Janie looked at the clock often during the afternoon. When at last it reached two, she gave up her work in the study and retired to her upstairs bedroom to prepare for her ride to the lodge with David Chalmers.
Janie undressed slowly in front of the full-length mirror on the vanity. She looked at her body curiously, wondering if the changes that were taking place were merely mental, or also physical. Then she wondered if she was destined to know sexual response-to know it as Mona Andrews had described it; a thrilling, physically shattering event that churned everything within her in a delightful turmoil.
When she breathed deeply, Janie noticed that her breasts seemed fuller than usual. She raised her right hand and touched each breast. They seemed hard and full. And the touch she made was cause for her nipples to immediately grow. She touched them too. Janie dropped her hand and hurried to take her shower.
The shower didn't calm her very much. There was the business of soaping her body with a large sponge, and it seemed that every part of her that she touched ignited excitement. Janie both cursed it and loved it. Finally, feeling somewhat depraved at this new interest in her body, she turned the shower handle to 'cold,' stood beneath the harsh spray for a full minute, then left the shower cubicle.
Toweling her body offered more stimulation. Janie tried to ignore it, but could not. She finished as quickly as possible.
She chose simple clothes for her journey to the lodge; a white blouse, a short skirt, sandals through which her red painted toes stuck out like daggers, only this and nothing more. Janie couldn't explain to herself the reason she decided against underclothes. She found herself rationalizing the hot weather as the reason, but she knew it was something more, something deeper. She decided against investigating it further.
Downstairs, she settled in the study and waited for Dave Chalmers to arrive. She kept visualizing him and wondering about his life, about his girls-and if he loved any of them. Then she wondered about herself, especially about her interest in sex that seemed to trespass over the lines of mere professional interest. Well, after all, she told herself, she was twenty-two. It wasn't at all surprising that she should think in terms of sex and fulfillment. Her experience had been limited to Jack Prescott alone. And he had been perverted and disinterested in her own fulfillment. And now--. Now she was charged with learning more of Jack and the others, charged with the sexual information of many people. Janie thought of her uncle's will and once again wondered why he had omitted David Chalmers from the list of subjects for her investigation.
Soon, the door chimes sounded. Janie moved to the door to greet David Chalmers.
"Hi," he said. "Ready?"
"Ready," she answered. "It looks like a lovely day. I haven't been outside once today."
"Then the ride will be good for you."
When they were in the car and moving through the town to the road that would lead to the lake and the lodge that dominated it, Dave looked at Janie, smiled, then asked, "How's the sex survey going?"
"Fairly well. But please don't call it that," she said. "Why not?"
"Because it sounds crude."
"Sorry," he said, his smile widening. "I just never considered sex crude. Guess your uncle didn't, either."
"Perhaps not," she said.
Janie turned and looked out the window. Dave submitted to her wish for quiet. But after fifteen minutes, he turned to her and said, "I'm anxious for you to see the lodge."
"I'm anxious to see it, too. Uncle Amos didn't have it when I was living here."
"I know," Dave said. "But I want you to see it for another reason."
"Oh. And what's the reason?"
"Well, it seems to me that it would be an excellent setting for an underprivileged children's camp once you get your money and start spending it on good works."
"Oh, really." She paused. Then she said, "Maybe I'm just going to squander my uncle's fortune. Didn't that ever occur to you?"
"No, because I know it couldn't happen," he said. "You're not the type."
"What type am I, David?"
He grinned at her then turned back to the road. "Well, you're pretty serious for such a young girl. Too serious, for my money."
"Oh, sorry," she said poutingly.
"But you could get over that. But, there's a part of you that's pretty sincere, I think. And, since an underprivileged children's group is one of my interests, I kind of hoped you might like to invest in it, too."
"Perhaps I will. If I get my Uncle's money." He glanced at her and frowned. "Is there any doubt?"
"There's a lot of doubt that I can complete this stupid thing. There's some doubt that I even want to attempt it."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because it seems rather senseless."
"Two million dollars is hardly senseless."
"No, but the means to it can be senseless. Really, I'm sure Uncle Amos was demented."
"Or as shrewd as a man can be."
"He was that, all right." Janie was silent for a few moments, then she asked, "How long have you been interested in underprivileged children, David?"
"Ever since I was one of them," he laughed. "Were you really?"
"Yes. I have that rather dubious distinction."
"How exciting."
He looked at her. His face clouded. "It's not exciting at all. And that brings up a point that most of you sociologists miss. There's nothing exciting or cute about kids who are hungry and not able to live as other kids do. There's nothing the least bit good about it."
"But it's exciting when one child raises above it and succeeds. A child like you were, David, one who rose to become a lawyer, a respected member of the community, all--. "
"There's nothing good about that either," he interrupted. "Kids shouldn't have to struggle to become anything. They should just have the opportunity. That's one reason I'm anxious for you to see the lodge. Maybe you'll be interested in a project of mine. Oh, I don't mean that the lodge could be turned into one of these two-week camps for kids from the slums and all that. I mean maybe you could do something really worthwhile with it. Establish a permanent school for delinquents-they're the ones, incidentally, that I've been working with. They need a chance more than they need punishment."
"What have you been doing with them?" she asked interestedly.
"Taking them from the courts. When a judge sees fit to give me a chance with them instead of sentencing them to jail, I take them under my wing for awhile. You know, expose them to fishing and hunting-all that stuff."
"Why, that's wonderful, David." Janie felt a glow of happiness. She was surprised too. David Chalmers hardly seemed like the friend of underprivileged delinquents.
They remained silent for the rest of the trip, each with their individual thoughts. Janie, looking out the window, was thrilled by the early summer countryside. She remembered some of it from her childhood. But it seemed greener and wider and happier than she remembered it. She wondered if the presence of David Chalmers had anything to do with it.
"We're almost there," David said when he turned onto a rutted, dirt road. "The road looks unused."
"Just about," he said. "And when it rains, it's impassable unless you walk."
The car jolted and twisted and wound its way around the road until at last they stopped at the rear of a large log house. David parked at the rear.
"I had no idea that this place existed," Janie said, staring out the window.
"Come on, I'll show you the rest of it. After all, it's going to be yours."
David left the car, walked behind it, opened the door on Janie's side, then held it as she alighted. Then, together, they walked toward the front.
A hill swooped downward from the front of the house and at its foot there was a huge lake. The water rippled against the shore and as Janie looked to the west and the sun that was beginning to lower, she was nudged by some long-ago memory. The long white dock was well cared for and at its end, two sailboats bobbed merrily to the rhythm of the water. The grass on the hill was very green. A few wild flowers grew there. And the scent of all the area filled Janie with the kind of happiness that a child knows when starting summer vacation.
"It's beautiful-just beautiful," she said softly.
"Yes, it is," David agreed. "Your uncle had good taste. He bought the place just three years ago and, unfortunately, never had a chance to spend much time here. I don't know what he intended to do with it."
"Uncle wasn't much for fishing and that sort of thing," Janie said.
"No, he wasn't," David answered. Then added, "Come on, I'll show you the inside."
He touched at Janie's elbow. It sent a little electric shock through her. She found it thoroughly enjoyable.
David took some keys from his sports jacket pocket and unlocked the door. He held it open as Janie entered the house.
"Oh, it's heavenly," she exclaimed.
"Dusty, too," David laughed. "I haven't had a chance to hire anyone to clean the place since your uncle died."
Janie turned to him. "You were very close to my uncle, weren't you? I mean, even in the short time that you worked for him, you were close to himhe liked you."
"I think so," he smiled. "Amos Kent was the kind of man that I admire. Oh, he was odd, as we damn well know by the conditions of his will, but he was a good man and I admired him. Everything he acquired in life, he acquired on his own, without cheating, just straight, hard work."
"Yes, he was that," Janie said reflectively. "Uncle was never a cheat."
"He used to talk about you quite a bit," David said, glancing at her again.
"Really?"
"He admired you, but thought that you were a little cold and restrictive-that you didn't know enough about people to become a sociologist."
"Oh, did he," she said rather angrily.
"Yes." David smiled at her, at the same time moving his eyes over her body. Then he said, "Come on, there's an upstairs, too. And more rooms down here."
He led her through a small library, a study, a dining room, the kitchen and pantry, and up the back steps to the second floor where there were five bedrooms and as many baths.
"This is hardly roughing it in the country, is it?" Janie said.
"Hardly," David agreed.
"It's not large enough for a large number of children-especially delinquents who need space to exercise their hostility," Janie said, thinking of the camp David had suggested.
"I know," he agreed. "But your uncle also bought some hundred acres in this area. It's all shore-line property and a lot of cabins could be built along the lake."
"You really have been giving this some thought, haven't you?"
"A great deal," he said.
"Could I see the lake closer."
"Of course."
They walked down the stairs, then out of the lodge at the back entrance. Janie preceded David down the steep steps of the hill and out on the dock.
"Why in the world did Uncle Amos have two sailboats? Even one, for that matter. He didn't sail."
"They're mine," David replied. "He let me keep them here and use the place whenever I wanted. I'll get them moved as soon as you take over."
"That's not necessary."
"Why?" he asked, looking at her seriously.
"Well-I don't have any use for a lodge. You know, I have my job in the city-that-and--. "
"You're still thinking of returning to your job," he said. "With two million dollars you're thinking of that."
Janie was surprised by the anger that took over his tone. But she answered calmly, saying, "Of course. I just can't leave it undone."
"No, I suppose not," he said, turning from her.
David's change of mood had been quick. It made Janie feel selfish or some way other than she wished to feel. And it made her a little unhappy, too.
"Could I see more of the lake?" she asked. "Not unless you can walk on it," he answered. She smiled. "I was thinking of the sailboat, David."
"Oh. Sure. If you want to."
"I do."
David chose the smaller sailboat. He walked to where the bow bobbed a few feet from the dock. Then, still looking at it, he stripped off his jacket and dropped it on the dock. His tie followed, then he undid the top several buttons of his shirt.
Janie watched as he bent and fussed with the moorings of the small boat. She was surprised at the strength of his body, the bulge of his muscles, the quickness of his movements, not a one of which seemed to be wasted. Then she reflected that many men, men like David, confined to business and the constant wearing of business suits, never had a chance for the true expression of their strength. Then she thought that was probably why David Chalmers liked the lake and sailing and the outdoors, that here, in activity, he was able to give expression to many things within him.
"Climb aboard," David said.
He reached out his hand and held hers as she climbed into the small boat.
"Where do I sit?" she asked.
"Right here by the rudder. With me."
He indicated a space that seemed barely large enough to hold both of them. But she settled herself on a cushion that he had arranged, then waited as he cast off the line and jumped aboard.
David settled next to Janie very quickly. He did some things with the sails that she did not understand, and soon they were nosing into the setting sun, slicing through the water in a graceful, almost sensual way.
Janie noticed other sensualities, too, as they sailed. David, sitting next to her, held his body tightly against her. Janie was very aware of this, of this and every movement he made for all of them brought him into close contact with her own body. Several times his arm bumped against her breast. It excited her. She wondered if the contact made him know that she was without underclothing to restrict her body. His thigh pressed against hers, too. She wondered if he liked the feeling of this togetherness. Then she reflected upon her own feelings of close contact with David Chalmers. She admitted that she liked it, but then she decided that it was just another symptom of the things that she had been experiencing lately, that it was caused by the sex query she was conducting and that it was this, more than the man himself, that excited her emotions. And then she decided to stop thinking about it.
"David?" she asked softly. "Yes."
"Why did you give up practice in the city and move to Port Harris?"
"Because I wanted to, for one thing," he answered.
"Just that? You could make a lot more money in a larger community."
"Correction," he said. "I was making a lot more money in the city."
"Then why did you leave?"
"Because I like to live my life the way I want to, not the way other people want me to live it," he explained. "In the city, practicing law involves a lot of things I don't like."
"like what?" she asked.
"Oh, being nice to clients I hated. Having cocktails and dinner with people I couldn't stand. And, representing the interests of people in whom I didn't believe. And there were other things; the grind, the pressure, the constant drive for success and money-so damn many things that I didn't like. I began seeing myself as an old man doing the same things, then I began to see that someday I'd be like the rest of the people if I didn't get out. So, I got out."
"And now you're happy, eh?" she asked.
"Quite happy," he answered.
"You're happy when you're sailing. like now. Aren't you?"
"Yes."
"I can tell," she said. "How?"
"By your eyes. They've changed."
He cocked his head and smiled at her, then said, "Maybe that's because I'm with you. Did you ever think about that?"
"No. And I won't."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want anything to disturb the good happy feeling that I have right now."
"I'll try not to disturb it for you," David said.
He circled his arm around her back in order to adjust the rudder. Then he kept it there. And soon, Janie responded to the warmth of his closeness. She snuggled her head into his shoulder.
The lake was a crazy-quilt of colors from the dusk and the way the sun played with it when David steered the boat into a small cove. The lake was suddenly more placid. It was darker. And a new outdoor fragrance teased at Janie's senses. She raised her head and looked around.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"It's a little cove. Not big enough to be a harbor, but we can call it that. Do you want to get out and stretch?"
"That sounds good," she said.
David nosed the boat toward the shore. When they were about fifty yards from the beach, he dropped the anchor.
"We can get off here," he said, standing up and stretching. "Here?"
"Right," he answered with a laugh.
He grinned at her, then pulled off his loafers and socks and quickly jumped over the side of the boat. The water was waist high. He stood in it a moment, then, seeing that it was deeper than he had anticipated, he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it on the deck of the boat.
Janie, looking at him, was more impressed than ever with the strength of his body.
"Come on. Jump," David said, holding his arms up for her.
"Don't let me drown," she laughed, rising.
"That would be murder," he said.
Janie posed at the edge of the deck for a moment, looked down at David, then leaped over the side and into his arms. The whole thing was quite unnecessary, she knew very well. She could have eased over the side. Neither of them had thought of that.
Janie made a considerable splash in the water and, teasingly, David let her sink beneath the surface a bit, soaking her skirt to the waist and splashing the blouse until Janie felt the rounded outline of her breasts pushing against the thin, wet material.
"You rat. I'm soaked," she exclaimed, pretending to be angry.
"Yes, you are," he said casually.
David carried her to shore. As they moved, Janie was very aware of David's grip upon her body. She felt quite helpless. She liked the feeling. It was good to be helpless and in a strong man's arms. And the closeness of their bodies had an effect upon her, too. Her breasts rubbed against him and the nipples grew hard. Janie knew that they were vividly outlined against her blouse. She wondered if David would notice them when he put her on her feet.
When they reached the beach, David continued holding Janie for a moment. Then he turned and faced the lake, and gently lowered her to her feet. She stepped away from him and looked out at the setting sun.
"Cold?" he asked.
"A little," she said.
"I should have brought my jacket for you."
"That's all right. I'll be just fine."
Janie turned and looked at him. She saw that he was staring at her breasts. The look he gave her made them feel as if they were swelling, rising out to touch him. Then David's eyes traveled to her hips and the way the material clung there. David's eyes took in all of this new outline, too. Then he looked out on the lake.
"It's lovely here," she said.
"I thought you'd like it."
"I do."
"I'm glad."
"Why are you glad, David?" she asked, turning and looking into his eyes.
"Because I like to share things with people."
"All people?" she asted. "No. A very few, in fact."
Janie investigated the beach, picking up stones and shells and admiring them before dropping them back to the sand. All the time, David remained on the shore, watching her. And then she moved to him and stopped in front of him.
"I guess we'd better get back," she said.
"All right."
"I hate to go."
"So do I"
"But we must," she said.
"Yes. This time we must. But first-
She raised her head quickly to see the reason for his interruption. Then she knew it, knew it very well as he cupped her chin with his long fingers and raised her mouth to his.
She shivered against his body as he kissed her. She was surprised that his kiss was so gentle. But then it ceased being that and turned hard and fierce when she cuddled her breasts hard against his chest, burrowing as hard and deep as she could, for she could not help it.
David's tongue explored her mouth. His hands explored her back and buttocks and then one of them sneaked in front to cup at one large breast. She felt the jam of his entire body. It seemed like a spring ready to unleash. And she wished that it would-at her.
Suddenly, David released her. Their kiss ended. Almost roughly, but with the signs of regret evident, he pushed her away.
"Come on, we'd better get back," he said. "Yes," she agreed weakly.
They sailed home slowly. David's arm held her close. And Janie nestled to his strength, feeling a happiness that she had never before known, a happiness that seemed to place the thrill of sex and the security of love in very close proximity.