Chapter 17
Collins said, "Jud, you and I need a drink."
Jud growled, "I'd rather have one more vote for our side." The two men had just left a town board meeting.
"I wouldn't bet you'll get it. Why not settle for the drink?"
Jud smiled wearily and nodded. "Hotel bar? Meet you there."
They parted as they came out of the town hall, each going to his own car. Jud dropped his folio of statistics on the front seat, thinking how wasted the time in collecting the data had been. No matter how convincing figures might be, sheer stubbornness always won. Local unemployment, mounting steadily, remained an insoluble problem when the solution meant changing traditional ways of doing things. If the old system would not work, nothing would. Jud cursed under his breath, started the motor and wheeled out of the lot.
Collins beat him to the hotel and signaled him from a booth when Jud entered. They ordered and Jud, sighing, slumped back against the booth. The drink helped but Collins himself, just sitting there across the booth, did more to restore Jud's confidence.
Collins said, "Maynard's beginning to listen, Jud. Now that you've got the factory owners to agree to retool."
"But that means nothing unless the board goes along with the adult retraining."
"Money-that holds 'em back. Centerville can't take any more taxes."
Jud said quickly and sharply, "Now you're sounding discouraged."
"Hell, I am. But I know we have to take drastic action or well all be dead. That fact's beginning to seep through Maynard's thick skull-he's reminded every time he reads the cash register in his store. Hell come around."
"When?"
"Who knows? How long did it take me to come around?"
Jud signaled the waiter for another round. "I'd rather not say." He grinned. "By the way, what did finally swing you?"
"My kid."
"Bill?"
"Well-maybe his chemistry teacher, that Williams girl. Now there's a teacher, Jud. I wish we had more like her."
"We would if we could afford it. We'll lose her to some other community that can pay more."
"I guess," Collins sighed. "She did something to Bill I thought couldn't be done. The boy has buckled right down to his school work. Sure, he's a little too hipped on chemistry but you should see the rest of his grades. Studies at home like his life depended on it. Only now and then he'll take off with that bunch he used to waste time with."
"The whole bunch seems to have calmed down a little. Could be a coincidence-but could also be that Bill's spreading the gospel. Nick Archos is the only one to suffer and he's had it coming for a long time."
"I'd give the Williams woman credit, direct or indirect. As I said, she swung me around to your side by getting Bill to take an interest in school. Chemistry won't mean much to him, as I see it, since some day Bill will take over my business. But the business won't do him much good unless the town as a whole prospers. So-I'm voting with you."
A few moments later the two men left the bar. Back in his office at the store, Jud stood at the window looking out on the busy street. Collins had brought April Williams forcefully into his thoughts again, though he had tried to forget her. He glanced at his phone, wondering if he should risk being turned down for a date again. She could be as stubborn as the town board.
As though it happened now, memory of that night at the Corners came to him. He could taste April's lips under his, feel their brief surrender. He literally ached to know them again.
He cursed himself for having treated her on a first date as though she were any common woman. He knew that she still held what had followed the kiss against him. He glared at the phone as though the silent instrument were barring him from the woman he wanted.
At last his eyes lighted with an idea. There was more than one way to get to know a woman.
He telephoned the high school.
"This is Judson Gray," he told the girl who answered. "Will you leave a message for Mrs. Mason to call me at her first opportunity? Thank you."
He cradled the receiver and grinned at it.
The following night, Peg opened the door to his knock. He stepped in, glad for the warmth after the freezing January darkness outside. Peg, dressed in a form-fitting Itahan knit, took his coat and hat and led the way to the main room. He saw no sign of April and hid his disappointment.
Peg suggested a drink before they went out to dinner and Jud agreed, half hoping that April would make an appearance. Peg served him and sat down in a chair nearby. She raised her glass in a salute.
"Mind a question?" she asked.
"Not at all."
"I'm delighted with the prospect of spending the evening with you but-what made you phone me?"
He smiled at her directness. He really saw her tonight for the first time. Her figure made him wonder why he had not noticed her before. He also liked her face. It was less pretty than strikingly mature and her eyes were filled with a cynical wisdom and something more. They had a sultriness in their depths that matched the sensuous shape of her mouth.
"I realized Mrs. Mason was more than just any teacher."
"After all this time? Do you mind if I take that under advisement?"
"During dinner, no longer."
They finished their drink and drove through the winter night to the Jewel Box. In the closed car, the heater going, Jud became disturbingly aware of Peg Mason. She had dropped her coat from her shoulders. Her dress seemed to flow over her high breasts, accenting while concealing them. She wore an elusive scent that reached for his senses, seemed to communicate intimately with all of them.
They spoke casually of school, the town, touched on personalities they both knew and instantly veered off. By the time they reached the Jewel Box, they had achieved an easiness with one another. They had cocktails, dinner, danced, brooded over liqueurs and started home.
Drinks and the evening had mellowed both of them. Peg tuned the car radio down to a whisper and sat close beside him. Jud also felt the warmth of the drinks and now that perfume began really to reach him. He slanted covert looks at her, his eyes tracing the rich curves of her body. She turned once, caught his appraisal. She took a deep contented breath and turned instantly to follow the bright beams of the headlights.
Her house was dark except for a single dim light behind the drapes of the front room. Jud pulled into the drive. He turned to look at her. Peg leaned toward him and came readily into his arms. The avid touch of her lips surpassed the promise of her perfume. Without seeming to move she gave the impression of melting fully against him.
She broke the kiss in a moment, straightened. "Come in. You need one for the cold, cold road."
"Love to-but how about your roommate?"
"April? She's out for the night. I'll see her in school tomorrow."
He tried to hide a quick frown. Where would April be spending the night and-more to the point-with whom? Peg apparently did not see his frown or notice his hesitation. She pulled her coat back up around her shoulders, gathered it at the chin. Jud hastily moved to help her from the car.
In the house Peg excused herself and Jud dropped onto the davenport, lighting a cigarette. He looked around the pleasantly furnished room and pictured April in it. He frowned again, wondering how he could ask about her and not offend Peg. His wonderful idea seemed less briUiant than when he had first conceived it. He had given no thought then to Peg's own attractions.
Heard a sound near the hallway and turned. Peg had changed to a sleek wine-red hostess gown that shimmered in the shaded light from a distant lamp. She had been transformed from a sophisticated dinner companion to an intimately desirable woman. The flowing gown was at once concealing and revealing-and subtly inviting.
Peg accepted the silent approval of his eyes. She turned toward the kitchen, saying over her shoulder, "Fear not, the drinks are on the way. Have patience."
Jud studied the doorway after she had vanished beyond it and felt a stirring of excitement. He had heard, from time to time, vague whispers and rumors about Peg. Now he began to believe them.
She returned with a tray bearing steaming mugs.
"Tom and Jerries."
She placed the tray on the table and dropped onto the davenport beside him. They clicked mugs. Jud drank slowly and gratefully of the warm brew.
Peg said, "This is the best part of a wonderful evening, Jud. I'm glad April happened to have a night out."
"So am I." He hesitated, plunged. "Does she spend many nights away?"
Peg did not look up. Her finger traced the rim of her mug. "How are you asking that, Jud?"
"What do you mean?"
"As a member of the school board-or just as someone simply curious?"
His eyes narrowed. "Does it matter?"
Her head remained bent but he caught the faint flick of her tongue as she moistened her lips. "You're putting me on a spot."
"I see. Well-let's say I'm merely curious. The school board is suspended tonight."
"In that case-yes, she's away quite often. I sometimes worry about her. She can be a pretty strong-willed young lady when she wants to."
"I take it she sees someone quite steadily."
"Well, she's out pretty much-not necessarily with that same person."
"I didn't know she saw many men."
"I said nothing about men."
"She has women friends?"
"Of course." Peg turned impulsively to him. Her eyes were troubled, uncertain. "Jud, I've said too much. I didn't mean to but-"
He was surprised. "Too much? Why shouldn't she have women friends?"
"I'd like to speak frankly. May I?"
He hesitated. "Of course."
"April can be-strange at times. I think now and then she has a date with some boy-or a man. But her dates with women worry me. They're not-normal, I'm afraid. She's never really said but-"
"Go on," Jud said grimly.
"I think she likes women-in a special way. Not that anything has happened between us. I wouldn't let her go that-I wouldn't let it."
"I don't believe you."
Peg's smile showed forgiving patience. "You had a date with her when she first came here."
"That's right."
She asked softly, "What happened, Jud?"
He studied her in shocked amazement. Gradually he began to understand. He had blamed himself for rushing a girl who esteemed her virtue highly-now, her momentary response and subsequent furious rejection of him made a different, horrible kind of sense. Her continued avoidance of him since weighted the evidence against her. She had held her anger too long, even after he had tried to apologize. She had continued to repulse him. Peg had just told him why.
Peg said with a wry smile, "I think they call it 'swinging both ways.' I really didn't want to tell you but in a way-I'm relieved."
"I'm sorry you've been put in a position where you felt it necessary to tell me what you did."
"So am I, Jud. I think you like her."
"Well, I-does it matter?"
She leaned toward him. "Jud-did you ever see me before tonight?" She stood up abruptly, her face tight. She picked up the mugs. "We need another drink, I think."
Before he could answer, she swept out of the room. He sat quite still, trying to digest what Peg had told him. He felt cold and a little sick. He envisioned April-her feminine loveliness bestowed upon deviates. A sliver of doubt crept into his mind. His thoughts swung viciously between belief and disbelief.
Peg returned, handed him another Tom and Jerry and once more sat down beside him. The warm rum drink sent tentacles of fire through his stomach and body, seemed to lull his indecisions. Peg's robe rustled slightly as she moved and he thought that, whatever April might be, he had a desirable and waiting woman beside him.
They emptied their mugs and Peg gave him a sultry, underbrow look. She asked softly, "Recovered?"
"No-not completely. What you told me was quite a shock."
"You didn't like to hear it?"
"Of course not."
Peg sighed. "That's why you had to know."
He sensed a land of waiting in her. He moved toward her. A small flame flickered to life in her eyes. He put his arm about her and drew her to him. She came willingly, lips lifting instantly to his. She pressed against him, and her tongue parted his lips, making little exploratory darts that sent a surge of desire through him.
Forget April, he told himself.
Her hand dropped to his thigh. As he kissed her, her slender fingers dug into his flesh. He put his hand to the full swell of her breast and discovered that, as he had suspected, she wore nothing under the robe.
She clung to him, her mouth working against his as though she could not get enough of his kiss and hungered for more. He found the zipper of her gown and pulled. Peg's hands taloned into his hips.
The robe gaped, fell away.
Her voice gasped his name.
He bent to her breasts and she pressed his face to them. Next her hands tugged at his shirt, his belt and he felt his passion strengthen. She moaned softly as she touched him and dropped back on the davenport, lifting her arms to him.
He reached for the lamp and turned it off. He tore fiercely at his clothing and then came to her. Bare flesh touched bare flesh as he folded her in his arms. Her hands became dancing flames over his body, touching, caressing, driving him frantic with what she offered.
Her voice lifted in an ecstatic, crooning cry as he possessed her. Her body encased his in a demanding flame-and their union became a kind of sacrificial burning that cleansed his thoughts of April....
Her nails raked his back as her body arched in convulsive tremors and again her little gasps of joyous agony seemed to echo in the room.