No Dominion The Walker Papers - By CE Murphy Page 0,49
for an answer.”
Under my breath, I muttered, “An’ that’s why somebody oughta be walking you home,” then louder said, “Gimme a minute to get my coat?”
Her steps slowed an’ I took that as a yes. Some doll at the coat check had seen me running out, and had my coat ready for me. I gave her my best grin and slung it on as I went back out the door to catch up with Annie Macready. She wasn’t alone, not quite. There were other couples heading home, some driving, but a lot more walking like me and Annie. There were a few groups of girls all hanging together, which made good sense. The Eagles Club was close to a neighborhood, just far enough out that late dances wouldn’t make the neighbors complain too much, but it backed up to a big wild park where anything could happen. Annie led us away from the park, into the heart of the neighborhood, and girls peeled off from their groups the deeper in we got. “’If it’s anybody I know givin’ you a hard time, I’ll take care of ‘em for you.”
Her voice got syrup-sweet. “And what does that mean, Private Muldoon?”
“Means I liked it better when you were callin’ me Gary,” I muttered again, then, louder, said, “I donno. Talk to ‘em an’ knock some sense into ‘em if that don’t work?”
“At least you started with talking. I hate the idea of men getting into fights over me, even for the most noble of reasons.”
“Thought girls liked that kinda thing.”
“I suppose some of them do. They probably don’t want to be nurses. Can you imagine the ignominy of having to patch up two or three of your suitors because they were fighting over you?”
“Darlin’, I barely know what ignominy is, never mind having to feel it.”
Annie Macready gave me a sideways look that turned into a laugh. “I don’t think I believe you, Private Muldoon.”
I grinned down the street. “Believe what you want, sweetheart. Not much I can do about it.”
“You’re a very confident man, aren’t you, Private Muldoon?”
“Yeah, but I think I found a girl to give me a run for my money, Miss Macready.”
Her nose wrinkled. “I like ‘Annie’ better.”
“Then you gotta stop callin’ me Private Muldoon. It makes me feel like I oughta be standin’ up and saluting.”
“Oh, all right. I was just teasing you anyway.”
“Me too. I got a rise outta you faster, is all.” I offered my arm and she wrinkled her nose again an’ tucked her big fuzzy sleeve into the crook of my elbow. “How far we going?”
“In a hurry to get back?”
“Figuring how to make it last.”
A giggle burst outta her. I raised an eyebrow an’ she stared straight ahead, trying like the devil not to blush or laugh again. I got a grin that spread slow but wouldn’t quit. “Why, Miss Macready, I think maybe you got a little bit of a dirty mind there. And you seem like such a straight-laced girl!”
Her cheeks turned bright pink and her grin was so tight I thought it might explode right off of her face if she let it go at all. “I have two older brothers and a father who are all soldiers, Mr. Muldoon,” she said, prim as she could through fighting that smile. “Sometimes they say things a lady shouldn’t hear.”
“And then she’ll keep askin’ around until she finds out what they meant? Aw, c’mon, darlin’, don’t tell me girls don’t whisper ‘bout the same kindsa stuff we do,” I said when she gave me a cautious look. “I got a sister too, you know.”
“I didn’t.” She latched onto that, and I guessed I couldn’t blame her. “Older or younger?”
“Older, ‘bout four years older. Name’s Irene. She used to give me advice about girls. Guess she still would, if I needed it.”
“But you’re a football hero,” Annie said, which made me laugh.
“A couple seasons of college ball don’t make me a hero, doll.”
Her smile lit right up. “Don’t spoil my fun. Football hero is how I’m telling the story, and surely a football hero doesn’t need help with girls.”
I grinned down the street. “You tell me.”
“You’re doing all right.”
“Hmph. ‘All right’. I’ll take it, but next time I’m gonna do better.”
“Next time?” Annie stopped at a driveway beneath a big ol’ leafless tree. “You expect there to be a next time? This is me.”
“I sure hope so.” I looked up the drive at a plain little cozy-looking house and shook my head.