Chapter 9

The game between Mekins Academy and Glasgow Prep was a thriller. At the end of the third quarter it was scoreless. There had been some exciting moments. Once, in the first quarter, Adam had stopped his pacing in front of the Mekins' bench and stiffened. Glasgow, sticking to the ground, had brought the ball down to the Mekins' five-yard line. It was fourth down with goal to go. Glasgow could easily have kicked a field goal, but acting upon the advice of their coach, they decided to go for the touchdown. Six points, probably seven, would give the team the shot in the arm they needed.

Everyone in the stands was on his feet when the two teams lined up. A hush fell over the crowd. The Glasgow quarterback's signals could easily be heard. Adam felt a wave of relief when he saw that they were going to try the middle. He had every confidence in his defensive linemen. His faith was justified. The Mekins' line held. They had possession on the three-yard line.

At half time Adam talked to his players with all the confidence that he felt. "Boys, you're going great. I couldn't ask for better performances. Glasgow's probably the toughest team that you'll have to play this season. If we tie them, there'll be no complaints. If we beat them it will be a feather in our caps."

"We'll beat them, coach," a voice cried. "You can count on it."

There was a murmur of agreement among the players. Adam grinned. "That's the spirit. But let's not get overconfident. We've got to do some smart maneuvering to outsmart this bunch. I know Jim Burton, their coach. Played with him once. He's a strategist of the first water. Our job is to out-strategy him, and I think we can do it. This is how."

Adam spent the rest of the half-time period explaining his plan. "It won't make heroes out of any of you, but we may win the game, and that's what counts."

The Mekins' players trotted back onto the field filled with a new confidence and a new respect for their coach. The third quarter was pretty much a repetition of the first two. The ball changed hands four times, with neither team making any serious threats. At the beginning of the fourth and final quarter Glasgow had the ball. They advanced it to the mid-field stripe in a series of brilliantly executed plays. Two plays later they were at the Mekins' forty and had a first down.

Watching from the side line, Adam grated. "Hold 'em! Hold 'em right there."

And the Mekins' players did. They had the ball on their own thirty-eight-yard line. Adam gave Doug Gaskins a nod and the offensive team trotted onto the field. Much to the surprise of everyone-everyone of. the spectators, that is-Doug stepped out of the pocket and sent a blistering pass to Ivan Forbes on the Glasgow thirty-yard line. Ivan caught it neatly and stepped out of bounds.

Two plays later, with ground gains of two yards each, Doug had lined his team up in direct line with the Glasgow goal posts. The scoreboard showed one minute left to play. Adam nodded to Frank Davis, his field goal kicker. Frank already had his helmet on and had started out onto the field simultaneously with Adam's signal. Doug Gaskins crouched over the ball, his hands extended. Mekins' center snapped the ball. Doug caught it deftly and put it in place. Frank ran forward and kicked. It was a perfectly executed boot. The ball arced up above the frantically reaching arms of the opposing team and sailed neatly through the two uprights.

A mighty roar arose from the Mekins' rooters. The score was three to nothing in favor of Mekins. Thirty-five seconds later the game ended. Mekins had won.

Adam had not ridden with the team in their chartered bus on their trip to Glasgow. He had driven down in his own car. Now he was glad he'd made that decision. Driving home alone, he had a chance to think, to concentrate on the game just won. Play by play, he analyzed every movement. Of course, he would wait until he saw the movies before making any major decisions, but at the moment he believed that he had picked up some valuable information that he could pass on to the team.

It was dusk when Adam reached the academy. There was a car parked in front of his cottage. He stared at it for a full minute before recognition came. It was Betty's small compact. He'd been so absorbed in his analysis of the game he'd entirely forgotten that she wag coming. Thanking his lucky stars that he had remembered to make a reservation for her at the inn, Adam ran up the walk. Betty opened the door for him.

"Hi, darling!" She flung herself into his arms and lifted her face to be kissed.

Adam was vaguely aware that the kiss was different. It was warmer, more moist. He pulled himself away and grinned. "We beat Glasgow three to nothing. Have you checked in at the inn?"

Ignoring his remark about the game, she shook her head. "I'm not staying at the inn. I'm staying here with you."

Adam frowned, not understanding. Betty laughed softly and took him by the hand. "Come," she said. "I'll tell you about it."

She led him into the living room and sat down on the sofa. He saw then that she was wearing a very short miniskirt and that it rode more than halfway up her thighs when she sat. Her legs were bare and her breasts were straining against the fabric of her blouse. She patted the sofa by her side. "Come sit here, darling."

Adam sat and she snuggled up to him. Her body felt warm and smelled delicious. They kissed again, and this time Adam was distinctly aware that her tongue was pressing against his teeth. Tentatively he parted his teeth and her tongue darted inside his mouth. For fully a minute they were engaged in a passionate embrace.

Betty-took one of his hands and pressed it against her right breast. The contact sent a quiver through his body. Looking up at him, she said, "Darling, I want you to fuck me."

Adam stared at her dumbly.

She laughed softly and pressed his hand against her breast. "Do I shock you, dearest? I shouldn't. I'm the girl you're going to marry. Remember?" She kissed him lightly. "I've thought about it a long time, Adam, and I've decided that two people shouldn't marry unless they knew that they were sexually compatible. If they found that they weren't, getting married would be a tragic mistake. Don't you agree?"

Adam nodded without speaking.

"I've been mean and foolish. I've known you wanted me, and I've stubbornly refused. You do want me, don't you, darling? You do want to fuck me?"

Again Adam nodded.

"Say it. I want to hear you say it. Say you want to fuck me."

Good God! Adam thought. Were they all alike? Did all girls want their men to spell it out? Somehow the words seemed out of character with lovely, innocent Betty Walker.

Involuntarily, his hand dropped to her bare thigh. She pressed herself up against him. "Oh! I like that, darling. It feels good. Feel me up. Go as far as you like."

He pulled her over onto him, working her mouth over with his. She drew back. "Now are you going to tell me you want to fuck me?"

"Yes. Yes, I want to fuck you, Betty. I've wanted to fuck you since we were in high school. I've suffered because of it."

"Now I'm going to make it up to you. I'm not going to be foolish any longer." She sat up straight and turned her back to him. "Unzip me. I want you to see all of me."

A moment later, with Adam's help, she had shrugged out of her blouse and kicked her miniskirt aside. He saw that she was wearing the briefest pair of thin black panties. They barely covered her pubic hair. Adam sucked in his breath. What a beautiful woman! What an exciting, sexy body!

"Is it too early to go to bed, darling?" Betty whispered in his ear.

Adam knew a moment of panic. Then relief flooded through him. Mrs. Nulty, his housekeeper, had been in that morning and had straightened up his cottage, which would include fresh sheets on the bed. He picked Betty up and carried her into the bedroom.

Sometime during the night, Adam awoke. Someone had knocked at the back door. He had been expecting it; his mind had been geared, which accounted for the fact that he had wakened instantly. He lay stiff and rigid, hardly daring to breathe. Beside him, Betty slept peacefully. Another knock sounded, then there was silence. But it wasn't until five minutes had passed that Adam relaxed.

For a long time Adam lay wide-eyed, thinking. Once Betty stirred. In her sleep, she put one arm around him and nestled her head in the hollow of his shoulder. He kissed her lightly on the forehead. They had found that they were compatible. Very much so. It was all new to Betty, yet she had been tender and loving and helpful. She had put her trust completely in the man whom she loved.

Adam thought, "Have I made a mistake? Is this the girl I want to marry and spend the rest of my days with? Or do I want to saddle myself down with that damned tramp?" The word came to mind involuntarily, before he could check it. "I got carried away. I let sex rule my mind and my body."

Before he dropped off to sleep, Adam had reached a decision.