May 29, 1943
“You’re dismissed.”
With those words Tom spun toward the barracks. He had an A pass in his back pocket and could taste the freedom of a couple of days without demands. After this week, he needed the break.
“Heading to Lusk this weekend, Hamilton?” Sergeant Lewis joined Tom.
“No, think I’ll stick closer to base.”
Sarge nodded. “Good work this week. You’ll complete basic in seven, and life’ll return to normal. At least for the quartermasters.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Keep it up.” Sarge ambled off, and Tom shook his head. The exchange had a surreal feel to it. Where was the bark and bite Sarge prided himself on?
Tom took a quick shower, then felt like a new man. Sid and Bill entered the barracks, both looking a little wet around the ears. Lucky Bill had endured basic training before Robinson, so he’d spent the week filling gaps left by the men in training. Sid appeared as wrung out as Tom felt. Yep, the three would light Crawford up tonight. They’d settled on the pavilion dance in the park rather than travel to Chadron, Alliance, or Lusk.
Sid plopped beside Tom on his cot. “Time’s wasting if we want a real meal before the dance.”
They hurried out to Tom’s ’41 Chevy and hopped in. He revved the engine through the bends in the highway, and slowed only when they hit the gas station that signaled the beginning of Crawford. “Where to, fellows?”
“Well, there’s Babcock’s.” Bill licked his lips as he rapped his hand against the window frame in time to the strains of “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.”
Sid shook his head. “Already had pie there this week.”
“That doesn’t leave many options. We can always head back and inhale the wonderful grub at the mess hall.” Tom looked away from the road long enough to grin at the other two guys.
“Yep. I mean, nope.” Bill shrugged. “Mrs. Babcock’s it is.”
Sid nodded enthusiastically. “Maybe some of the gals would like a ride to the dance.”
“Looking for the positive, aren’t you?” Tom stopped in front of Mrs. B abcock’s and hopped out. He looked for a short gal with dark hair and sparkling eyes. He stopped abruptly. He had no right or reason to look for Lainie Gardner. He jerked forward as Bill plowed into him.
“Come on, I hope we aren’t too late for her stew.” Bill bolted to a table and plopped onto the closest chair. The tablecloth slid across the table into his lap, a candle wobbling precariously. Bill steadied it.
“Slow down. You know she’ll have something for us.” Sid looked around the room. “It’s a hopping place tonight.”
A buzz rose from the tables surrounding them and formed a backdrop as Tom settled in. At most tables, couples stared deep into each other’s eyes, but a few spots were filled with soldiers he recognized from the post.
Ellen, Mrs. Babcock’s regular waitress, waltzed to Tom’s table with her order pad in hand.
“What can I get you fellas tonight? The special is country fried steak with all the fixings.” She disappeared into the kitchen with three orders for the special. In a moment, she returned with mugs of iced tea. She winked at Tom as she slapped them on the table. “Courtesy of Esther.”
Sid groaned and picked up his mug. “This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I imagined holding a cold mug.”
“Yeah, but you’ll enjoy the night a whole lot more.”
“Might even remember it.” Bill snickered.
The meal tasted better than Tom had hoped, with Sid and Bill joking back and forth with a neighboring table. The gals boarded with Mrs. Babcock and seemed to enjoy the banter. Tom couldn’t help noticing who wasn’t at that table. “Hey, Ellen.” He stopped her as she moved by. “Is Lainie Gardner here tonight?”
“No. Some lieutenant picked her up earlier. Think they’re headed to the dance later.”
For some reason, his stomach twisted at the thought. “Thanks.”
“Trouble in paradise?” Sid grinned across the table at him.
Tom rolled his eyes. “You know better than that. Found someone to take to the dance?”
“Absolutely. These two beautiful women were waiting for us to accompany them.”
Tom nodded to Dorothy Banks and Ginny Speares. “It’ll be great to have you join us.”
“Are you sure you’ll have enough room?” The gal named Ginny leaned closer. Bill hadn’t taken his gaze from her bright-blue eyes and mirrored her every move. It was almost comical to watch.
“No problem.” Feeling like the odd man, he led them to his car. It was a five-seater with plenty of room, but he felt like a chauffeur. It wasn’t the first time and wouldn’t be the last. They crossed the train tracks and pulled into the city park. Tom wove the car along the road until he reached the end of a line of parked cars. Everyone piled out to walk to the pavilion. The sound of a band warming up accompanied the cadence of crickets and cicadas.
Clusters of people congregated around the edges of the open-air pavilion. A few shuffled dance steps along with the music. Tom scanned the crowd, looking for Lainie and her escort. He couldn’t shake the bad feeling he had, and couldn’t understand its source.
Lainie tried to put a little space between her and Lieutenant Daniels. She’d been surprised when he showed up for dinner and insisted she join him. He’d kept their conversation freewheeling and light. He’d been attentive and made her feel like the center of his world during the meal. When he’d asked her to accompany him to the dance earlier in the day, she’d gladly tossed aside the current issue of the Saturday Evening Post with Norman Rockwell’s cover art of Rosie the Riveter exchanging it for a fun night.
Now she wondered if she’d been smart to join him.
The band swung into a jive, and Brian kept her on the dance floor. She caught her breath and tried to smile. Maybe she should call a hiatus from dances. A cool breeze tickled the hair away from her neck as they jitterbugged. One dance turned into four without a pause. Lainie could feel the heat in her cheeks.
“I need a break, Lieutenant.”
He eyed her and shook his head. His grip on her tightened, and she fought the urge to squirm. She glanced around, but everyone seemed absorbed in their companions.
She pushed back on his chest. “Let go of me.”
“Sir, she’s asked you to step back.”
Lainie felt a flutter of hope at the sound of that deep, steady voice. A smile touched her lips when Tom Hamilton winked at her over Brian’s shoulder.
Brian stiffened and turned. “Soldier, this is no concern of yours.”
“She’s a friend whose request you’ve ignored. It is my concern.”
Brian pushed Lainie away and whirled on Tom. He sucker punched Tom in the stomach. Lainie stumbled backward and screamed. The music wailed to a halt, and everyone’s attention descended on the two soldiers. When the lieutenant noticed, he took a step back and straightened his coat. “Your superior officer will hear about this.”
Sid and Bill hurried up and helped Tom to his feet as Brian stalked away.
Lainie scurried up to Tom and clutched his hands. “Are you okay?”
Tom rubbed his stomach and nodded. “Don’t think I’ll dance much tonight, though.”
“We have to quit meeting like this, or I’ll add hero to your list of titles.”
Tom laughed and then winced. “I’m far from a hero.”
“I hope you don’t get in trouble.”
They walked away from the crowd and wandered through the park.
“If I do, it’s all right. I have a low tolerance for men who don’t listen to their dates.”
Heat climbed Lainie’s cheeks. “He asked me to join him tonight, and it sounded like fun. Maybe I’ll avoid future dances.”
“And spend all your nights holed up at Mrs. Babcock’s? I doubt that.”
“Okay, so that’s not a great option. Especially considering me.”
“Hmm?”
She stopped and waited until he turned to look at her with a quirked eyebrow. “You really care about the answer, don’t you?”
“Yes.” He shrugged as if that covered everything.
“You are one of a kind, Tom.”
He grinned. “What’s that make? Five labels? I’m waiting for Superman to join the mix.”
“Keep this up, and it might.”
Soft conversation filled the space between them as they walked. They crossed the tracks and headed back into the heart of Crawford.
Tom pointed to his right. “See that road? The fort extends all the way to this street. I doubt I’ll ever explore all of it.”
“It seems so contained when you’re there.”
“You haven’t looked for the horses or seen the pack mules.” Tom spread his hands wide. “The sheer size of Robinson is why many of us have jobs. Few places could handle thousands of horses and mules at a time. It even makes it the perfect place for dogs, with a ready food supply and room for maneuvers.”
Lainie crinkled her nose at the thought. “You don’t mean horse meat …”
He nodded. “The dogs have to be fed something, and Army surplus works fine.”
She shuddered at the thought.
The shops along Main Street had closed, and he steered her around the bars that had popped up with the influx of servicemen. Tom listened to Lainie talk about her family and friends in North Platte. She quieted, and he realized he’d enjoyed her stories. The people had come to life as she mimicked voices and mannerisms.
“You have a flair for storytelling.”
“Is that your way of saying I’m dramatic?” She made a funny face and then wrapped her arms around her middle. “Too bad I can’t parlay that into something useful.”
“How about visiting soldiers at the hospital? I’m sure they’d love the break.”
“Maybe someday. Right now it hurts too much. Reminds me of my dream. Besides, the doctors said I need to be careful for a while.”
“Careful about what?”
“I contracted rheumatic fever while in Kentucky. That’s why I got sent home.” Her shoulders drooped, and Lainie kicked a pebble.
Tom stopped in the well of light from a home’s front porch. Shadows had doused the usual sparks in her eyes. “You’ll get through this, Lainie.”
“Maybe. Not everybody does.” She shrugged and walked ahead. “It’s my road. Fortunately, most days are good. Unless I overdo it.” She looked back at him and smiled. “I’d never do that.”
He chuckled. He could see her doing just that.