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Back in school the next day, Cora, Hank and Jesse ate lunch together, which they did most the time. Brice was eating at another table with his friends. He would look their way, nod to his friends, say something and they would all laugh.
“The guys are giving me a hard time, Jesse,” Hank said. “They’re saying that football practice is going to get pretty rough if I keep hanging out with you.”
“Brice is stirring them up, Hank. I don’t want them hurt you,” Cora said, rubbing his shoulder reassuringly.
“Aw, I can take a couple of tackles. Besides, this full back can tackle right back, and they know it.”
“Did you talk to Janice this morning?” Jesse asked.
“I got her mother on the phone. I told her I'd heard about the accident. She said that Janice would be out of school for the rest of the week. When I asked to speak with Janice, she said she was still sleeping. I got the feeling she was hiding something. I wonder if Janice told her what really happened. In any case, she should see a doctor.”
Hank, elbows on the table, watching Brice between bites of his sandwich. “What do you mean, just in case?”
“Hank, you can be incredibly dense sometimes,” Cora said. “You know, in case she’s pregnant.”
“Oh man,” Hank said. “I didn’t think of that. Janice must be going crazy with worry.”
“That’s why she should tell her mother,” Jesse confirmed. “She’s going to need her.”
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Janice came back to school the following week. Her eye was still tender, but her Mother helped her cover it with make-up. Then, of course, they all worried together. They stayed away from Brice, but they could see him and his pals watching and whispering in the halls.
A couple of days later, Janice was all smiles and pulled Cora off to the side. She whispered something in Cora's ear, and both girls got excited.
“Oh, thank God,” Cora said and hugged her friend fiercely. Tears ran down both faces. This disaster had been averted. Brice watched the exchange and knew he was safe, at least for now.
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The following Saturday Jim and Katy stopped by the Sullivan farm on their way home. Doris set out a nice lunch on the porch for all of them.
"Katy, pass your father another chicken salad sandwich, and if anyone wants pickles, you'd better speak up before my son eats them all."
Jesse looked up in surprise. His expression made everyone laugh. It wasn't until then that he realized his mom was teasing.
"Here," Ted said. "Have some more iced tea."
"We have lemonade, too," added Doris.
"What's for dessert?" Jesse asked.
"I helped your mother make the strawberry shortcake," Katy replied, proudly.
"After lunch, I'm going to take Katy to see how the calves have grown," Jesse announced.
"Jesse said no one named them, so I came up with a couple of names. Would that be okay, Mr. Sullivan?" Katy asked.
Ted looked from Doris to Jim. "Well," he began slowly choosing his words carefully. We don't want to get too attached to them. They will be leaving us in a while."
"I won't get attached," she said. "I just think they should have names. Would that be all right?"
Ted looked at Jim for support.
"As long as you understand that they won't be around for long. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I do."
"Then it's all right with me," Jim said and took another bite of his sandwich.
"Well, all right is all right," Ted said, settling the whole issue.
"Do you want to know their names?"
"Of course, we do. What names have you chosen?" Doris seemed truly interested.
Katy sat back in her chair and made her big announcement. "I thought about it a lot. I have picked the names..." she paused, looking at each one; ready for their reaction..."Roy and Dale!"
The others glanced around. It was like someone told a joke and no one got it.
"Don't you understand? Roy and Dale Evans. They are a cowboy and a cowgirl!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
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After lunch, Jesse and Katy strolled to the barn to check on Roy and Dale. Jesse explained how starting tomorrow they would spend their days outside in the pasture and come back into the barn at night. In time they would remain with the rest of the cattle all the time.
Jesse showed her how to spread more straw. They were too big to be bottle fed now, so she took handfuls of grain and they ate from her hand.
"Katy, I have to tell you something. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone, but I have to tell you. It's about Brice. He's not only ugly and crude, but he's also very mean. That night you met him... after we left, he beat Janice up and... Well, he hurt her really bad."
"Oh my. Is she all right?" Katy was stunned. He beat her up? Why?"
"Brice is a bad person. He's mean. He says and does things to hurt people. Like what he said about you. He'd never met you before. He didn't know you. He just said it to be mean."
"But, Jesse. What can we do?"
"We can’t do anything about it now,” Jesse said. “Hank, Cora and I are watching him. We are avoiding him and don't want to cause any more trouble. But he knows we’re on to him. It’s only a matter of time before he slips up and gets caught.”
Katy leaned her head on his shoulder, “Can he hurt you? I don’t want anything to happen to you."
"I'm careful, but if it comes to a fight, I won't back away.” He held her close. “Don’t worry. Nothing’s going to happen.”
They were quiet for a moment enjoying the different smells of the barn: the hay and grain, the two young calves nearby and the warmth of one another.
Jesse broke the silence. "Oh, I want to show you something." He rose, took her hand and led her to the wooden ladder nearby. He started up first. "Climb up here. You're going to like this." She followed him up to the loft where more hay was stored. He put a finger to his lips signaling silence and motioned for her to follow. He led her to a dark corner of the loft and pointed at something in the straw. She peeked in and saw two eggs almost hidden from sight.
"Oh, what are they?" she whispered.
"They're barn owl eggs. I saw the mother fly out one morning and I found these."
"When will they hatch?"
"I don't know, but I'll keep watching."
They climbed back down the ladder. At the bottom, Jesse took her hand and helped her the rest of the way.
“I have something to ask you."
"Does it have anything to do with Barn Owls or cows?"
"No," he said rolling his eyes.
"Does it have anything to do with movies?"
"No," he repeated. It has to do with the prom that is coming up at our school in May. I want to ask you if you will go to the prom with me.”
"Hm." She put her finger to her chin as if thinking. "Let me check my calendar. I have such a busy schedule."
Jesse's smile fell away. "Really?"
"No, silly. I am just kidding," and she tickled him in the ribs and ran out the barn door.
“Oh, okay," just getting the joke, he ran after her. They ran into the grove and past the beehives. The day was unseasonably warm with few clouds in the sky. He was almost out of breath when he caught her.
"So, what is your answer?"
"First you have to answer a question I have."
"Okay, what?"
"What's a prom?"
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Jim stood on the screened porch and called, “Come on, Katy girl. We have to get going. Malinda is waiting for us. That got Katy moving. The two ran back to the house.
"We're coming, Dad," she called as they reached the barnyard. "I got to go," she told Jesse, and without warning, she kissed him on the cheek. “See ya.”
“Oh boy,” Jim said as he watched from the porch. He lifted up his hat and combed his fingers through his hair. “I sure wish she was a boy,” he mumbled. Doris smiled.
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The gears whined as they pulled into Malinda’s crushed shell driveway. Katy was out and running to the front door before Jim even turned the engine off.
“Hi, Malinda,” she called.
Malinda came out of the kitchen, a potato masher in her hand, "Hello. You look all shiny and excited. What's going on?"
"Oh, Malinda. I am so happy. Everything at the Sullivan farm makes me happy. The calves are growing like crazy, the bees are buzzing, and Jesse found owl eggs in the loft. What could be more wonderful in the world?"
Melinda smiled and returned to the kitchen. "I understand what makes things so wonderful in the world."
Jim came into the kitchen carrying some rags and an oil can. "I'll be in the back. I'm going to see what I can do to fix that old rattle-trap."
"My guess is it needs to be planted. That old truck died ages ago, and you never bothered to bury it."
"Very funny," he said and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be in the back trying to raise her from the dead."
Jim walked out whistling softly. Katy, who had headed for her room could be heard humming to herself. Melinda sighed. "Oh yes," she said. "I do understand what makes things so wonderful in the world."
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The pleasant atmosphere still hung over the house when they sat down at dinnertime.
Jim reached for the bowl of mashed potatoes, but Melinda rapped his hand and made a Spanish sound in her throat. "We'll give thanks first."
He quickly withdrew the hand and bowed his head as Melinda made the sign of the cross.
"Bless us, oh Lord, for these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from thy bounty through Christ, our Lord."
They all responded, "Amen."
Jim reached for the bowl of potatoes, hesitated and glanced at Melinda. She smiled at him under her eyelashes, helped herself to one of the pork chops and handed the platter to Katy.
"How did it go with the funeral?" Melinda asked.
"Not much change, I'm afraid. I should take it to the shop and let them look at it, but I hate to spend money on something I can do myself."
"I guess it's that or you better buy a shovel." She helped herself to the salad and spooned the homemade dressing over it.
Katy sat looking from one to the other trying to figure what they were talking about. "Did someone die?"
"Something. Yes." Malinda said.
"No," Jim said.
"Is this an argument?" Katy asked, and rubbed the back of her neck.
"No," said Jim.
"Maybe," said Malinda.
Katy just shook her head and took a mouthful of green beans.
"I have been thinking." Jim put down his fork.
"Of getting rid of it?" Malinda asked.
"No, miss smarty. I think we should set a date to get married."
This got Katy's attention.
“I’ve been thinking about that, too,” Malinda said. “Why don’t we plan it for right after Easter? The weather is usually good then, not too hot, and the rains haven’t started.”
“That sounds good. Where did you have in mind? I was thinking about the Bethany Baptist Church. It’s a quaint old church.”
"My family is Catholic." She wiped her mouth with her napkin and took a sip of her lemonade. "There is that new church in North Port Charlotte, St Anthony of Padua. It would be a new church for a new family." She paused, thinking. "The grounds are lovely with several old oak trees. I can call tomorrow and talk to the priest. What do you say?”
"I like that," he said, still chewing.
Katy is following this conversation with interest.
"We'll have to register and announce the bans, but there is time for that." She took another sip.
"We don’t want anything too fancy, do we? Just us and a few friends would be nice.” Jim added.
“Can I invite Jesse, Dad?” Katy asked.
“Of course. I already talked to the Sullivans about it. I've always planned on asking them, and they'd like to meet you, Melinda."
"We should do that soon. Do you want to invite them to your house, or shall we ask them here?"
“You decide,” he said and forked another pork chop.
"Dad, we should probably begin making plans. Malinda will need a new dress and shoes. We should have flowers. Dad, you should make a list of all your friends, and Malinda, too. We'll have to send invitations. That's how it's done, you know."
Jim and Malinda grinned at each other.
"You're right, Katy. We have to remember how it's done, and do it right."
"But we don't want a big wedding... just us and a few friends, right?"
"Oh... okay, Daddy. After all, it is your wedding too." Katy's expression and manner reminded him of old Mrs. Roth, his high school teacher when she was practicing patience. "Maybe I should make a list."
"That would be nice, dear," Malinda said hiding a smile behind her napkin. What a change from that shy little girl she had met not so long ago?
