by Caryl McAdoo
Gij lobbed eight balls in to Carlos. The batters didn’t need to see anything he had until it counted. Blue pointed at him. The Angels’ batter stepped into the box. His catcher held down a white-tipped finger toward the ground.
Gij drew the ball to his chest. The park went silent. He reared back and let her fly. As he figured, the batter squared for a bunt. The ball came in high and inside. The batter offered at it, and the ball caught the shank and popped up.
Corporan threw off his mask and easily caught it.
One pitch, one out.
The next batter stepped in. If memory served, this guy was a dead pull hitter. Carlos called for a fast ball. Gij shook him off, but he put one finger again this time with a little attitude. Gij shook him off the second time. He pulled his mask up, called time, and headed for the mound.
“What’s up, Johnson? You struck this guy out twice with no trouble night before last.”
Gij covered his mouth with his glove. “An outside change is liable to get us a double play.”
“Okay, whatever you say.”
As expected, the batter couldn’t lay off. He hit a weak grounder to Odor. A four to six to three double play, a pitcher’s best friend.
Two pitches, three outs.
The fans went wild. Gij headed to the dugout. “Thank You, Lord.”
No question, Jeff sent him out in the ninth. Ten throws and nine for strikes and he ran the gauntlet of his teammates wishing him well. Holland beamed and seemed the most appreciative, high-fived him the hardest.
The gratitude on Banister’s face shone evident in his ear to ear grin. “Thanks, kid.”
Sammi Dan clapped, hooted, and hollered until she realized everyone else in the press box had stopped and were all watching her with big smiles. She loved it. Couldn’t get any better.
Riding the coattails of a legend in the making! She could barely wait to get him home. Funny how after only two nights, it seemed so natural to call his place home.
Well, she did have a post-game interview waiting first.
CHAPTER
ninE
Sammi Dan didn’t ask all the questions she wanted while the lights were on. She wasn’t sure exactly what had become public knowledge about his contract.
But once she got into his truck and the destination restaurant established, a hole in the wall Mexican joint he wanted to take her to in Irving, she hit him with it. “So, I was wondering. How much is a save worth?”
He laughed. “Twenty-five big ones, but blowing one is a deduction of that same amount.”
“That’s so unfair.”
“Not really. Pay if I do, take away if I don’t. Sounds perfectly fair to me, except it doesn’t matter a whit. I’m not going to blow a save or lose.”
“You don’t know that.”
He laughed again a ‘whatever’ sort of chuckle that dared ‘just you wait, I’ll show you.’ “I love this place we’re going; they have the best hot sauce and little Mexican grandmas hand make all the tortillas.”
“Abuelas.”
“Huh?”
“Spanish for grandmother.” She leaned over and bumped her head into his shoulder. “Didn’t you ever watch Dora?”
He glanced over with a puzzled expression.
“Dora the Explorer? You didn’t watch her? It was my favorite TV show growing up. Anyway, you’re awful sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
“I don’t think so, more like full of faith in my God.”
Ah, she should have known, but wouldn’t press it. Maybe he had to be that cocky to pitch in the Bigs. Whatever excuse he used, she’d never been around anyone so confident. It so bordered on arrogance.
Maybe that’s what it was. He believed he was that good, so he was? The power of positive thinking? But on the other hand, her daddy always said if you can do a thing, it ain’t bragging, it’s just fact.
He hit the bulls-eye dead on. Danal’s hot sauce had to be the best she’d ever eaten, and she could be called a connoisseur.
Well, the homemade chunky picante that her daddy cooked up once might’ve beat it, but as many times as he tried, he never could get it just right again. So maybe that shouldn’t count.
And those handmade, stone ground tortillas took her straight to heaven. She could have made her whole meal off them and the hot sauce.
Once home, the man went straight to bed with a sorry we-need-to-get-an-early-start-tomorrow excuse. What was with him? At least he could have stayed up long enough to watch the interviews.
Besides, didn’t he want to see his own pitching? She exhaled and headed for the fridge, but a glass of wine didn’t hold its normal late night appeal. Maybe she’d read a while.
Her best friend Carla had sent her a new book, and she hadn’t even cracked it. She claimed Ann Everett’s Laid Out And Candle Lit would keep her in stitches, a light mystery romance, heavy on the humor is how she put it—with a few quite steamy scenes.
She hoped not too, too hot being as how her roomie had so many rules!
Sammi Dan retrieved the novel, clicked on the table lamp, and opened the book. From the start, it hooked her, had her laughing out loud.
Just what she needed. But the budding relationship between Tizzy and her Trooper Cooper only made Sammi Dan think about her own slow moving love life. She laid the book across her lap, opened to her place.
Courting. Really? Had she found her own hero in real life like the Texas Ranger Ridge Cooper in Miss Everett’s story? That’s all she wanted. A real life romance couldn’t be too much to ask.
All she really wanted in the world slept right up those stairs. For her baseball phenom to fall in love with her. Hey, she wanted a Ranger and so did Tizzy! She should go beat on his door and make him….
What? Do his duty or something? Except it wasn’t his duty to keep her entertained or satisfied. But, oh well. Though nowhere near her normal bedtime, she headed to her lonely queen-sized bed anyway.
That memory foam mattress did have a wonderful way of sucking her in.
She got ready then slipped between the sheets. A peace settled over her. Being there reminded her of her childhood, being a kid again. Maybe that’s what it was about Gij. He brought out the kid in her.
Except she didn’t want to be just his friend girl, she wanted to be.… Well, not his sleepover. To hear him tell it, he wasn’t interested in that kind of relationship anyway, and to her amazement, she found herself wanting something more permanent.
His wife?
It had a good ring to it. With no one even coming close, Gij was the best guy she’d ever been around, gone out with. Truth be known, he seemed too good to be true. Like a charming prince right off the pages of a fairy tale.
And didn’t the prince always get married in the end and live happily ever after? That’s what she wanted.
But then what if Gij wasn’t her prince, and her Fred came along later. Could she resist him? Her mother couldn’t, and back then, she’d never known anyone nicer than her daddy. But that wasn’t enough.
Maybe she should call her mother and have a real woman-to-woman heart-to-heart. Find out her why, if she even knew. Would she tell her if she did?
What if.…
A light knock pulled her awake. “Samantha Danielle.”
“Go away.”
Another knock sounded a bit harder and louder. “Come on, sleepyhead weather girl. Time to get up.” Then he sort of sang to her. “I’ve got coffee.”
“Oh, all right.” She swung her feet over the edge, grabbed her robe, and shuffled to the door in her sparkly kitty-cat house slippers.
Gij leaned against the hall wall right by her door holding a steaming cup. “Morning, Sunshine.”
She gave him her best middle of the night smile then stretched. “Oooooh, I’m so tired.” Then she took the cup.
“You’re so beautiful.”
She grimaced, but ended it with a grin. “Whatever.” She closed the door on him. Did he really think she was pretty? She’d always thought of herself a
s average, not hard to look at, but no beauty queen either.
“Aw, come on now. That isn’t fair. I want to talk to you.”
Yeah, well, I wanted to talk to you last night when you scurried off to bed. She sipped the coffee; he made it just like she loved it.
Might as well see what he had to say since she was awake. Maybe he’d had a change of heart. Perhaps he could no longer resist her charms and really wanted to get to know her. Would she be up to it? Knowing how he was?
Oh, coconuts. What a cockeyed optimist she was.
She checked the mirror. “Okay, okay. I’m coming.”
It surprised her that the hall stood empty. She found him on the patio. “So, here I am. What’s next?”
He nodded toward the house. “I got you some surprises. Want to try them on? See if you like any of ’em?”
“You did? Them? When? Where are they? No one’s ever – you shouldn’t have.”
Laughing, he stood and held his hand out. “Inside on the sofa. Come on.”
She couldn’t believe it. Three complete outfits. Two adorable dresses with shoes to match. A long black skirt with one, two, oh my, three blouses, and all of them so different. And two more pairs of shoes.
“Wow, Gij, when did you do all this?”
“Yesterday, I got your sizes from April, and I know a lady at Neiman’s. Why don’t you try ’em on for me?”
Overwhelmed, she went to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you so much.” He hugged her back, but without much enthusiasm. She backed away laughing. “I’m sorry! I forgot rule number one just for a minute.”
“No problem.”
“But it wasn’t an I-want-to-jump-your-bones hug. Oh, egg fu young!” Her face burned. “Gij, I am so sorry, that just came out, I didn’t mean –”
“It’s alright, really. I know it was an innocent, thank you hug.” He reached out and touched her nose. “Those are allowed on certain occasions.”
“But, I –”
“Check out your surprises. I can’t wait to see them on you.”
She gathered up the hangers and the first two pair of shoes and twirled all the way to her room. “I’ll be right back.”
The first dress was as classy as classy got, refined and so tasteful. A solid salmon trimmed in crisp white with white flats that felt like gloves on her feet. It looked like a million dollars on her, and he might just have paid that much.
The second, a beachy looking dress with a big tropical flower print, made her want to do a little hula for him. One after another, she paraded out. She loved them all and put on an exclusive fashion show just for her benefactor, walking the runway, dramatic turns, and the whole works.
The skirt’s cut made perfect waves as she whirled. She liked the bejeweled blouse best of the three. It danced of its own accord in the light. But Gij’s favorite was the one in shades of green with deep ruffles.
She felt so feminine in it, like such a girlie girl. Gij said it brought out her eyes. And emeralds covered one pair of the fanciest flips she’d ever flopped. Wouldn’t surprise her to find out they were real stones either.
Sure could get used to so much money.
He laughed, and she giggled. It was absolutely too much, so much fun, and she loved it—the best morning in history. Never, ever, never had she been so spoiled, so insanely lavished with such perfect gifts.
And it wasn’t even her birthday! He helped her decide on the second dress for her trip home.
Except it wasn’t, not anymore.
She went back to her bedroom to change again, thinking of stopping by her apartment. It had always been just that, her apartment or her place, never even in the running for home. Not one time in her year there had she thought of it as such.
Dimple had always been home, but now, easy as anything, Gij’s place was. Hands down. She chuckled at herself. What did they say about home being where your heart was? She only hoped she never had to leave.
Couldn’t stand it if things didn’t work out.
Sure wouldn’t be anything like leaving Dimple. But when Gij discovered the real Sammie Dan, could he even think about her as a wife candidate? She suddenly wished she could wipe her past clean.
No doubt she’d make a few changes on some of her old bad decisions. But she couldn’t. No one could alter what’s gone before. Damaged goods, and her own fault. And not one thing anyone could do to correct any of them.
Oh, well, while it lasted, she’d enjoy the ride and his gifts. Never knew anyone like Gij before. Neiman’s. Who would have ever thought she’d be wearing something back to Red River County from that highfalutin’ fancy store?
That aspect of a relationship with him hadn’t garnered much consideration, but rich seemed too modest a word. Evidently, it’d be safe to call the man wealthy out the kazoo. Might as well not get too used to it though.
George Herman Walter proved way too wonderful for her in every arena. And he’d find out that truth soon enough. She knew it.
But as long as he continued in the dark, she’d gladly fly along on his star. Although…for the life of her, she still could not figure why he chose her to tag along. That remained an unsolved mystery.
She checked out her new glamorous self in the silky Hawaiian print that accentuated her bronzed arms and made her waist look half its size. Whether she stayed forever or not, she wouldn’t think about.
Not now, not this day.
Her guy had shopped for her, and she intended to relish every minute of introducing him to Daddy. She smiled to herself. For all her old man knew she’s only flying out with a friend; he’d never dream who.
Not only did Gij have a plane at the Grand Prairie Municipal airport, he owned a hanger with plenty of room to park his truck inside, too. Once strapped into his cute, not so little Cessna, a tension crawled up to her shoulders then met in the high middle of her back.
It traveled up her neck as he taxied out onto the runway. Was she making a petits fours faux pas? He’d never shown her his licenses, but surely he wouldn’t lie to her. He handed her headphones and motioned her to put them on.
What about her daddy though? Should she be taking the pitcher to meet him? Hadn’t brought a boy home since her sophomore year in high school. Well, he knew everyone in the community then and their families, so what was the point?
But this was different.
What was he going to think? Surely he’d heard about Gij’s contract, maybe even about him insisting she’d be the only one to interview him on air. She shook her head. If he had, he’d surely get the wrong idea.
Might change how he treated Gij.
The shiny silver bird lifted off the ground as though floating on a cloud. She experienced no sensation of speed like in a commercial liner, and with the earphones, the engines’ roar sounded barely above a bumblebees’ buzz.
She loved it.
Her shoulder muscles melted like the muffin in French onion soup, and she relaxed. What a way to go.
“Well, what do you think?”
She nodded. “I like it. It’s great. Now pay attention until we’re away from town. And don’t go doing any fancy flying to impress me either.” She glanced over, but he didn’t move a muscle. “You won’t, will you?”
“No, ma’am. Wouldn’t think of it.”
“Good.”
True to his word, he flew straight to Clarksville, circled the cow pasture with one long asphalt landing strip, two little metal buildings beside it, and her daddy’s truck. She waved at him.
Then Gij set the bird down like it rode on a feather pillow. He taxied back around to where her father waited next to his pickup. Wow, what had it taken? Less than an hour to get there? She loved it.
Why hadn’t she ever done it before? Oh yeah, she’d never had a rich boyfriend who owned his own plane. Once he came to a complete stop, he reached across and unlocked her door. She jumped out and ran to her father.
He opened his arms. “Hey, Sweetie, it’s been too long.”
Sh
e threw herself on him, and he twirled her around.
It hadn’t really been that long, maybe only a couple of months, but it’s what he always said.
“But I’m here now.” She kissed his cheek then pulled back and grinned at him. “Come meet my friend. You’ll never guess who he is.”
“Is he the new Texas Ranger?”
“How’d you know?”
“It’s on Twitter, whatever that is. They’re talking about you two, according to Corrie Cate.”
“Really?” She needed to see what was being said. Peanuts! She hadn’t gotten on last night. Why hadn’t someone said something to her? April was going to hear about this. She held her hand out as Gij strolled toward her.
“Daddy, meet George Herman Walter Johnson. G.H., this is my father Dan Davenport.”
Gij stuck out his hand; the man took it and shook. Good and firm, but not too hard. His rough hands cried hard work. “Please to meet you, sir.”
“We’ve meet before.”
Gij smiled. “I wondered if you’d remember.”
“What?” Samantha Danielle stepped back and looked from him to her father. “When? What’s going on here?”
Mr. Davenport laughed and faced his daughter. “Remember that time I helped your Uncle Jim with his T-ball team?”
“Yeah, sure, what about it?”
“Our all-stars, Mesquite Number One, played the Irving Red team to see who advanced to the state semifinals. George here, except back then everyone called him Gij…he’s the kid who beat us.”
“Oh, wouldn’t say that now.”
Her father shrugged. “We went into that tournament thinking we’d walk away with it.”
A right jab landed square in his forearm. “And you knew this all the time?”
“My Pappaw talked about that game forever, always called it my first shutout.” He grinned, rubbing his arm.
He turned to Gij. “But you guys beat our brains in. Shame when you’re emotional well-being is determined by how well six-year-olds play baseball.”
