Chapter 12

Suddenly, she heard a car or truck approaching. The lights from Nick's Ford still shone into the night. The sounds of pursuit, the movement of brush, faded away. She was saved, she prayed.

Leaving her place of concealment, she raced weak-legged to the gravel road, standing in front of the oncoming vehicle, waving her arms. The headlights caught her. She ran forward as the approaching rig halted.

She recognized Lucy and Jud's Caddy. Her breath left her in a rush. She stumbled forward, feeling great waves of relief flowing through her ...

All three girls sat in the Marker cabin living room, having a drink apiece. Rain pounded on the roof. A heavy shower had come up, putting out the forest fire, and order had been restored. The electric power was back on.

Daylight wasn't far away, but no one felt inclined to go to bed. The men hadn't returned.

Nona's experience with the Ridge-runner now seemed like a horrid nightmare. She gave thanks again that Lucy and Ivy had seen her drive out of the village and decided to follow her.

"You look better, now, honey!" Lucy exclaimed, smiling at Nona.

Nona trembled. She had reported to the village marshal about her encounter, and he had promised that when things came back to normal again he would make another search for the elusive hill man.

"What a nice party ruined," Lucy said, regretfully. She swung one leg over the arm of the chair she sat in. "Right when things were getting interesting...."

Ivy nodded. "I wonder that happened to Hugh."

"I didn't see him or his car around town," Lucy said.

"I h-hope he doesn't come back!" Nona added. "He wasn't so bad," Ivy replied. "Fire scares lots of people-including me."

"The road to town's open now, so I suppose he drove back to Lawton," Lucy said.

Nona shivered inwardly. How could they sit and talk so casually with so many horrible things happening? They didn't seem to care any more that she, herself, had been caught by the ugly Ridge-runner. She could have been raped, brutally assaulted, her virginity that she was now saving for Nick ruined and dirtied.

And she could have been killed, too. Just like that poor Zelda girl. Everyone was now saying that Zelda, with her bold sex-flaunting ways, had been asking for trouble right along.

That wasn't being very nice, Nona thought. Maybe all that Zelda had wanted out of life was fun, and she took it in whatever way she could.

She couldn't be blamed for that.

Her thoughts turned longingly to thinking about Nick. The memory of his mouth on hers grew in her mind every moment. She had brushed her hair, redone her lips and mended the tear in her frock.

I hope he didn't get hurt in the fire, she thought.

She still felt a little guilty about taking Nick away from Ivy. But it had been his choice!

She looked at the chair where she had sat, almost naked, receiving his caresses. It seemed ages away. So much had happened. She was still trembling inside, a reaction from her experience out in the brush, her narrow escape.

Would Nick want to leave the village right away? They had had no time to talk about anything, really.

Don't build any false hopes, she cautioned herself. Ivy's available, too!

They talked and waited, and finally Lucy suggested going to bed. She didn't want to be alone. After they had double-checked the front and back doors, making sure they were locked, everyone settled down.

Lucy and Ivy took the master bedroom, Nona the spare.

Once undressed and under the covers, she realized that she was completely pooped.

In less than ten minutes she was dropping off to sleep, her last thoughts of Nick. In the morning she told herself, things would be normal again.

When Nona awakened, the big cabin was very quiet. She heard birds singing outside, and daylight filtered in around the bedroom drapes. The air no longer smelled of smoke.

She stretched sleepily. Evidently the men still hadn't returned.

Today was the day she was to have had the date with Nick. But he would be tired, needing rest and sleep. Nothing to do, really. She didn't want to get up and make noises; her moves might awaken Ivy and Lucy.

As she turned over to catch a few more winks, she heard a faint noise from the large bedroom. A squeak of bedsprings and then Lucy's voice. The words weren't clear, but she was surprised that she could make out as much as she did. Perhaps an air vent ran between the rooms.

". . . don't be that old-fashioned!" Lucy said.

"But Nona might hear us...."

Lucy giggled. "Oh, she was real tired ... Come on! After all that fiddling around last night-and those drinks, I'm hot to trot!"

A silence followed.

Nona's thoughts whirled. What were they doing? Was Lucy trying to make Ivy?

The idea was repugnant to her. A married woman seeking out a young widow-for relief ... And why didn't Ivy leave?

Well, it was their business and none of hers, but already her old, still not conquered, eavesdropping instincts were touched. Nona realized that lesbian activities occurred, but she had always imagined they would be between some real feminine girl and a butchy masculine type.

But Lucy was obsessed with sex-and evidently she found any outlet for it welcome.

Ever since she had known Lucy, Nona had received the impression that the pretty brunette was frustrated. All her photography, mostly of other girls, hinted at oddness. She had a lot of energy that somehow didn't find an outlet.

More light laughter came from the other room, a few murmurs of protest, then again quiet ensued.

Nona went rigid, trying to imagine what the two girls were doing, and how ...

"Ohhh!" came sharply through the wall. It was a soft cry of excitement. "Ohhhh-slower, honey!" Lucy's voice.

Nona began to feel stimulated. This was the worst kind of peeping, because it hinted at unnaturalness-an opening of forbidden doors ... What they were doing was wrong-and her act of listening made it seem even worse!

The bed commenced to squeak, steadily. Faint cries of rising fervor reached Nona's ears. The bitches!

She jerked herself out of bed, picked up her slip and frock and stole quietly out of the room. The living area smelled faintly of cigarette smoke and stale liquor. She wandered into the kitchen, slipping on her clothes. She unlocked the back door, stepping outside. The rain-washed air smelled wonderful. The sun shone brightly.

She wasn't afraid now, not of the Ridge-runner; he apparently preferred darkness.

She sat down on the back steps.

Suddenly, from deep within the house, came a shrill cry of rapture, like a wild bird in agony.

Nona hugged herself, feeling waves of excitement crawl along her thighs. Her nipples tingled. One of the girls in the bedroom had reached a riotous climax.

They're so wise about sex and fun, she thought. And I'm so dumb! If it weren't for Nick I think I'd get my things and go back to Lawton right now!

A bus came through twice a day. It would be simple to pack and take off.

However, she knew she wouldn't take off immediately. She had to see Nick again. The picture of Ivy she had had in her mind for so many years now had to be changed. Perhaps her reluctance to get married again hinted at lesbian leanings ...

The whole thing was disgusting!

She became aware, finally, of movement inside the house, normal sounds. Someone entered the kitchen. Nona had left the back door open.

"Oh-there you are!" Lucy exclaimed. "Come on in! I could stand some strong, black coffee."

Nona rose up, entering the kitchen. Lucy stood at the electric range, wearing a sheer wrapper. The outline of panties showed underneath, but obviously she wore no bra.

Lucy turned, smiling. Nona blushed.

Lucy's eyebrows raised. "What's the matter with you, honey?"

"N-nothing," Nona said, going into the living room.

How many more shocks would she have to endure? She sank into a chair, glad that Ivy wasn't present. Lucy appeared so pleased with herself, as if she had just left a real lover ...

I guess I don't understand these people, she thought. Or is it just Lucy? She's the ringleader. Ivy has never made advances toward me.

Ivy came out of the bedroom. She, too, wore a rather thin wrapper. Her lips looked a bit puffy. Her full breasts swayed unconfined inside the half open robe.

"I had a fine sleep," Ivy said, dropping into a chair. "I wish those men would hurry back!"

I wish Nick would, Nona thought. They had their fun and now they both want more.

The odor of fresh coffee invaded the room and Nona tried to feel cheerful.

"I'm going over to our cabin and freshen up," she announced suddenly.

Ivy shrugged. "Didn't you sleep well?"

Nona only nodded in answer. She needed a shower and clean undies. She was near the front door of the cabin when she heard a car approaching.

Lucy came running from the kitchen and went past Nona, opening the door quickly.

A truck stopped in the parking zone near the cabins and Jud climbed out. A moment later Hugh appeared from the rear of the vehicle. But where was Nick?

Nona felt a wrench of anxiety.

"Well, two of them made it!" Lucy exclaimed.

Hugh and Jud approached along the trail. The truck drove away. Neither man appeared to be overly tired or out of sorts. Their clothes weren't even dirty.

"Look what we got here, Hugh!" Jud said, grinning. "Three juicy wenches. Great welcoming committee!"

"W-where's Nick?" Nona asked.

"Oh-he got in with another crew. He went right up on the fire line. Hughie and I drew a blank. The rain came before we went into action. Had a good place to bed down and a big breakfast, courtesy of the Forest Service."

Nona experienced a nudge of alarm. She would just have to wait. She left the loud-talking foursome and walked to the cabin she shared with Ivy. She felt alone, left out as usual.

Had Nick been injured or burned? She was sure he would contact her when he returned. And that would be like him, wanting to be up front, in the fire, where the action was. It seemed to fit the general pattern that Hugh and Jud had missed the hard dangerous assignment.

She entered the cabin and locked the front door. She wanted no more encounters with that crazy Ridge-runner.

An hour later, wearing all-fresh clothes, her hair brushed, her makeup on right, she felt much more confident. She had a light breakfast, keeping an eye out for Nick's return.

She found herself wondering what was going on at the Marker cabin.

In order to keep from worrying too much, she cleaned up the cabin and put some of her clothes back in her suitcases. Vacation would soon be over. She would be back at her job again, typing and filing ...

She heard a car, and rushed to a front-facing window. Peering out, she saw Andy's hotrod. She had almost forgotten about him.

She had thought, after their last argument, that he wouldn't be back-but here he was. She sighed. She watched him jump out of his rig and walk loose-jointedly along the trail to the cabin. His clothes looked a bit cleaner than usual. Amazing! Even his sandy hair was combed.

She would put him off, somehow. She didn't care to have him hanging around when Nick returned. He could spoil the whole thing.

On the other hand, he was here, now-available. Nick had talked about a date, and already she was so flustered she could think of hardly anything else. It was crazy, going overboard for a man she had kissed only a few times, a man of the world, an entertainer who would soon be gone, out on the road.

At least, Andy lived in Lawton. He had his faults, as she was sure most men did-but maybe he was growing up. His appearance was much improved.

Andy came up on the porch of the cabin and knocked.

Nona sighed, walked to the door and opened it. He grinned, his eyes sliding up and down her figure.

"I'm sorry about the other night, Nona." He looked very contrite, apologetic. "I heard about the big fire on the radio...."

"Well, come on in," she said, resignedly.

He entered the living room, glancing about, his green eyes curious. She recalled suddenly that he had never been here. They had always gone someplace in his hotrod. True, he had been in her tiny apartment at Lawton, but not for very long at a time.

"Where's Ivy?" he asked, a curiously sly expression on his face.

"Visiting. She won't be back for quite a while."

"Hey, that's great!"

"Well, don't get any f-funny ideas!"

He chuckled, running nervous fingers through his mop of sandy hair. "Your shape always gives me ideas."

"Is that what I am to you, Andy? A shape, a package?"

He shook his head, looking away-but she knew she had come close to the truth. Since she had seen him last she had come in contact with many of the realities of life. She had seen so much and heard so much!

Some of her romantic notions had been knocked into oblivion. Real affection between a man and a woman existed, but it had to be on a physical plane, apparently, at the beginning. Even Lucy couldn't be all wrong!

She made a decision. She was intensely curious about the male body. Here was an opportunity to learn something first hand. She was almost ashamed that she was still a virgin. Society placed no real value on it any more. Nona had been exposed to basic emotions. The kissing and fondling of the night before had left their mark. Even listening to Lucy and Ivy had stirred her desire.

Wanting Nick so badly didn't mean she would get him.

Andy appeared to sense a change in her. His green eyes had a hot shine.

"Sit down and relax, Andy," she said, drifting to the rustic sofa.

"Sure." He settled on the cushions beside her. She crossed her legs. Her short skirt inched back along her bare thighs, above her knees.

I've been denied and denied, she thought. Why not be modern? Lucy and Ivy are over there, having a party. Nick isn't here ...