The closer she got to the town square, the harder her heart thumped in her chest. Was Johnny going to be the same fun as usual? Would he make it awkward and try to kiss her and touch her a lot? She hoped not. That kind of thing might play with her heart and her mind. She didn’t want to hurt herself in this process. She had to concentrate on the fact that she was getting her own home out of all this.
Once she had her home, though, what new goal would she have? Would she then try to look for love? Would she want to have a husband and children?
Would it be too late?
Flo shook her head. She was scaring herself and that wasn’t making her current situation any easier.
Johnny would have to show her more affection and she would have to return it. If anyone suspected they were just playing at it, they would both be completely humiliated. Marian wouldn’t even look at Johnny again, Flo suspected. They would be the laughingstock of the entire city. It would get back to Hot Springs and she’d have to leave her home out of humiliation. Maybe move back to New York.
“Oh my, Florence Radcliffe,” she murmured aloud to herself. “You are really making this hard on yourself. Quiet these disturbing thoughts and let’s have some fun with Johnny, for pity’s sake.”
She laughed at herself and felt a little better, despite the remaining nervous feeling she probably wouldn’t get rid of until she was in Johnny’s presence. That’s when she would see how he planned to handle all this.
She began to see people wandering around town just after pulling into the Austin town limits. There were thousands of people living in Austin and only a few hundred in Hot Springs. It wasn’t surprising to see everyone out in full force on such a beautiful August day with a nice breeze and plenty of sunshine.
Johnny told Flo to meet him by the ice cream parlor so that’s where she pushed Journey toward. She spotted Johnny’s horse, Comanche, and rode up to leave Journey next to the other horse. As she dismounted she wondered if the two horses were friends, like she and Johnny were.
Before she went up to the ice cream parlor door, she glanced down to make sure there was fresh, clean water in the trough. Seeing there was, she slapped Journey on his large neck several times, resisting the urge to plant a kiss on the beast’s nose. “I’ll be back, boy,” she said lovingly. “You just wait right here for me. Don’t you go anywhere.”
The horse snorted, lifting its head and swinging it back and forth as if to say, “No, I won’t.”
“Good boy, good boy.” She patted the horse a few more times before going up the steps.
The bell above her head tinkled when she opened the door. She instinctively glanced up at it.
“You look up at that bell every time you come in here like you’re surprised!”
The owner of the parlor, Edward Johnson, called out to her from behind the counter.
She grinned at him. “I know. I guess it’s just that no one else has one so I forget it’s there till I come in here.”
Eddie gave her a raised eyebrow look. “Well, that just shows how often you come in here. And it sounds like it’s not a lot.” He grinned to let her know he wasn’t serious.
“I am so sorry, Eddie,” Flo said regretfully.
The older man shook his head. “No offense taken, dear. Just an observation is all. What can I do for you? Can I get you a nice cup of ice cream?”
“I’m actually waiting for Johnny. I… saw his horse out there but he’s not in here.”
Eddie lifted his chin and replied in an understanding tone, jerking one thumb over his shoulder. “He’s back there in the privy. Take a seat if ya want.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
They smiled at each other. “You sit wherever you want, dear,” the man said, turning away to grab a rag and wipe down the outside of the pan he was holding in his hand.
Flo strolled to one of the tall tables by the window so she could look out at the passersby. She wanted to be out there, roaming around, buying pretzels and apples and lemonade from the carts and vendors, playing the festival games. Her anxiety had already abated and she was ready to have some fun.
She decided she wasn’t going to worry about how Johnny treated her. He was always kind and friendly. That was all she needed. She hoped he wouldn’t go overboard, but he was such a quiet man on a normal basis that she didn’t see him making a fool of them both by showering her with too much affection.
Her heartbeat sped up when she heard the door behind her open. She turned to see Johnny coming from the back. He passed the counter and came toward her grinning. “There she is. My favorite girl.”
That was a first. Flo couldn’t help blushing and dropping her eyes to the floor.
“Well, would you look at that?” Eddie said, watching them. “Never thought I’d see the day Flo Radcliffe would flush deep red as a beet!”
The fact that he’d noticed made Flo even more embarrassed. She giggled, which she felt was an appropriate response and took Johnny’s hand when he held it out to her. He covered her hand with his other one and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“You look lovely today, Flo,” he said quietly. “Let’s go have some fun, shall we?”
Flo smiled from ear to ear, relieved. “Yes, Johnny. I’m so ready for a pretzel and a drink. I want to play Cornhole. Let’s go.”
Johnny looked so happy. Flo was mildly surprised by it. The two of them went out the door and into the sunshine with big smiles on their faces.
The next hour went smoothly. Flo had fun beating Johnny at several of the party games the town had set up. When they were tired of walking around, they sat under a large oak tree with branches that stretched out for what seemed like forever on one of the benches at its base.
“Are you having a good time?” Johnny asked, settling in next to her, stretching one arm out over the back of the bench. Flo was conscious of the fact his arm was behind her and for the first time, felt a little nervous that he was touching her back.
“Oh yeah,” she replied, as calmly as possible. The last thing she needed was for him to think she was nervous. He would be apologetic and she didn’t want to make him feel that way. “Are you?”
He sighed contentedly, nodding. “Yeah. It’s a beautiful day for this.”
“It’s gonna get hot this afternoon.” Flo looked up to scan the blue sky but the tree branches were in the way. “You probably won’t want to be out here when it’s like that. We could go into the community hall. I think they have more games in there. They usually do.”
Johnny nodded. “Probably will. Even though everyone else will be doing that, too.”
Flo moved her eyes around the crowd to see if anyone was looking at them. No one was. It wasn’t surprising, since the two of them were often seen together. But they usually weren’t so close to each other. She was glad no one seemed to be noticing.
As she scanned the people around them, she saw Johnny’s father in the crowd. He was hobbling along using a cane to support his right side. She knew he had a problem with his leg but had no idea what it was.
“There’s your pa,” she said, pointing in the direction of the older man.
Johnny’s attention sharpened. Flo saw the concern on his face.
“What is he doing?” Johnny pushed himself to his feet, mumbling the words. “He shouldn’t be walking around like that.”
Flo reached up and grabbed his arm before he could leave. “Johnny,” she said gently. “Don’t go over there and scold him. Look at that smile on his face. He’s happy and his friends are around him. They won’t let him hurt himself. Look, Mrs. Paxton is holding onto his arm. She may not be a lot of support for him but I think the fact that she’s trying is what’s important to him.”
Johnny stayed upright for another moment as he pondered what she’d said. To her relief, he sat back down, but he was quiet and brooding.
Chapter 6
Johnny couldn’t believe his pa was risking so much by coming to the festival and walking around. Anything could ha
ppen to him. If he fell and hurt himself, Johnny would never forgive himself for not interfering.
But Flo was right. John Sr. did indeed look happy. And he didn’t want to ruin it for him.
“I just don’t think he takes good enough care of himself. He’s sick. He needs to stay home and get better.”
Flo leaned close to Johnny and said in a quiet voice, “But is he going to get better?”
It was a hard question to hear. Johnny loved his father deeply. He knew the man wouldn’t be around forever.
“He needs to live his life while he can, doesn’t he?” she asked, softly.
Johnny leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees and plunging both hands into his hair. She was right. If his father stayed at home, knowing he wasn’t going to get better, he would waste away the rest of his life and never be happy again.
The smile on his face was what kept Johnny from going over there. And the words of his best friend. He looked over to see she had also leaned forward, but her concerned eyes were on him. She put her hand on his back. She’d done that before, but it was the first time he’d felt a bit tingly when she did it.
“You’re right, Flo. He is happy. I need to let him live while he can. I’m just so… scared of losing him. He has always been there for me. He has taught me everything I know. He taught me how to be a man, how to be compassionate and kind to others. I will… It will be very hard for me when he…”
He couldn’t finish. Flo nodded and leaned over to put her forehead on his shoulder. “I know, Johnny. I’m sorry.”
He cupped his chin in his hands and watched his father for a moment. He was talking with his friends. When the three people he was with all burst out laughing, Johnny couldn’t help but smile. His father was well liked in Austin and Hot Springs. It made Johnny’s day to see his father living well for once.
“Well, what do we have here?”
His eyes quickly moved and Flo pulled her head up so they could both stare at Marian, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
“Marian,” Johnny said, his heartbeat suddenly speeding up at the sight of her. “H… Howdy. How are you today?”
Marian lifted her eyebrows. “Oh, I’ve been having a lovely time. It looks like you are, too.”
Johnny felt a bit apprehensive. The conversation he’d just had with Flo had been emotionally taxing and for some reason, Marian took the way he looked as him having a good time. The look on Flo’s face while they were talking about his father told him that he didn’t look like he was exactly happy at that moment in time. Marian didn’t seem to notice his distress.
“We’re having a wonderful time,” Flo spoke up. Johnny looked down at her. She was smiling at Marian. But he knew Flo. It wasn’t a friendly smile. His nerves were on edge, wondering if Marian was about to cause a scene. “It’s the perfect day for the festival. I’m hoping tomorrow is just as nice, aren’t you?”
Marian didn’t look like she wanted to answer that question. She had a terribly sour look on her face when she looked at Flo, which had been just what Johnny wanted, but suddenly he felt the need to stand up for Flo against Marian. “I reckon I do. Johnny, would you like to go get a pretzel with me?”
Johnny was taken aback by the question, even though it was what he’d set out to do in the first place. He couldn’t remember the last time Marian had asked him to do something with her. In fact, he was fairly certain she never had.
“I’m here with Flo,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t think that would be right.”
“But you did last time,” Marian whined. “Don’t you remember? I’m sure Flo won’t mind. Come on, let’s go get a pretzel.”
Johnny shook his head, amazed that Marian was being so insistent.
“I really don’t want to leave her here alone when we are here together,” he said.
Marian frowned. “You always have at least a pretzel with me.”
“You really want a pretzel, don’t you?” Flo asked, her voice slightly irritated. “You keep mentioning them. If you want one so bad, go get one. There are a lot of other men here who would love for you to ask them that.”
Marian’s frown turned into a scowl. “I don’t want to ask anyone else. I want to talk to Johnny. Won’t you just come and talk to me?” She directed the question to Johnny.
Johnny’s heart was beating a mile a minute. He did want to go with Marian to get a pretzel. But he also didn’t want to leave Flo by herself.
“How about we all go,” he suggested.
Marian gasped audibly, her jaw falling open for a moment. “All of us? You mean her too?” She pointed at Flo as if that was the only way he would know who she was talking about.
Johnny glanced at Flo, whose narrow blue eyes were focused on the woman in front of them. He looked around them quickly, noticing that other people were starting to see what was going on. Most of the crowd either hadn’t noticed or weren’t interested if they had. But a few eyes were on them. He wondered if his idea to make Marian jealous was actually that good or not.
“Of course, her too. I’m here with her. It’s not a gentlemanly thing to do to leave someone alone when you are supposed to be with them. If you don’t want her to go, maybe you and I can get a pretzel together tomorrow if you’re here.”
Johnny was a little nervous suggesting that. How would that make Flo feel? Their arrangement was just that - an arrangement. They weren’t really engaged. They weren’t in love.
He pulled in a breath, bracing himself for what Marian might do next.
Marian huffed, crossing her arms across her chest. “Tomorrow.” She didn’t ask it as a question. She simply said the word, her eyes in slits, the corners of her pretty lips turned down. He thought she wasn’t nearly as pretty when she wasn’t getting her way.
He wondered if that would transfer into a marriage situation if he ever got her to say yes.
That might be a problem.
“Yes, tomorrow,” he said. “Do you want to meet me for a pretzel tomorrow?”
Marian leaned toward them slightly, her eyes directly on Johnny. “I want a pretzel now,” she hissed. “And I want you to get it for me.”
Johnny gave her a look of surprise. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I’m not going to leave Flo by herself.”
“She has other friends she can talk to, doesn’t she?” Marian gave Flo a snide look. “Or is that it, dear? You don’t have any other friends, right? You have to have Johnny all to yourself.”
Johnny glanced at Flo, wondering if she would respond to the hurtful statement. Flo’s face was turning red but she just rolled her eyes and looked away from Marian.
Proud of how Flo had responded to Marian’s unkindness, Johnny decided to put an end to the little hissy fit the woman was having. He grabbed Flo’s hand and stood up, bringing her with him. He picked up his hand, holding Flo’s, and turned it so the ring would be visible to Marian.
“We’re going for a walk, Marian. Please don’t follow us or try to cause any trouble. We just want to be happy today. I think you should try that on for size, too. It’s actually a good feeling. And if you want to meet me for a pretzel tomorrow, I’ll be in town about 10. I’m sure you can find me then.”
Johnny had continued talking, though his mind was on the fact that when Marian saw the ring her eyes widened and the ugliest look of anger crossed her face. Her eyes darted to Flo but before she could spit anything out, Johnny pulled Flo away from the situation.
They could hear Marian huffing behind them. Someone she knew must have come up and asked if she was all right because they heard her voice complaining about not getting a pretzel. Neither of them turned around or looked behind them.
True Love Leaves no Doubts: An Inspirational Historical Romance Book Page 4
