Charlie looked confused.
“You know, go around with girls.”
He shook his head, looked back down at his can of soda, and took a drink.
“You mean you never had a girlfriend?”
“Just never mind,” he muttered.
“Okay. Sorry.” She sipped her black cherry soda. As she tilted the can down, a cold drop fell to her breast. It trickled down. She saw Charlie look up in time to watch her brush it away. “What about your father?” she asked.
“He run off with a tramp. I was just a kid. I don’t remember him at all.”
“That’s rough,” Leigh said.
“He was no good.”
“Maybe your mother’s afraid
“Not me.”
“That would explain why she doesn’t like you seeing girls.”
“You shouldn’t talk that way about her.”
“I’m sure she’s a fine person.”
“That’s right.”
“I just think maybe you’re missing out on a lot, that’s all. Most guys your age—What are you, nineteen or twenty?”
“Eighteen,” he said.
“Okay, eighteen. Guys your age, that’s about
“I know what you’re up to.”
“I’m not up to anything,” she protested.
“Oh no? How come you keep talking about me and girls?”
“I’m just curious, that’s all.”
“You want me to do things to you.” There was a challenge in his eyes. Leigh felt caught. She wanted to snap out a denial. But Charlie wouldn’t believe her anyway. He knew what he knew. “It’s crossed my mind,” she admitted. “Don’t get any ideas, though. I’m not about to let you try anything with me. It’s not that I don’t like you. I’m glad we met, and I think you and I could be friends if we got to know each other better. The thing is, I’ve already got a boyfriend. He’s back in California, but I’m not the kind of person to fool around behind his back. So we could be friends, you and I, but it would have to be strictly hands off.”
“Well, how come you brought me up here, then?”
“I came up to get the money, remember?” She pressed on, confident now that he seemed to be buying her story. “Just because you had one bad experience, Charlie, you shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Everyone isn’t like that woman who tried to grab you. And you shouldn’t go putting all the blame on her, either. If you were looking at her the same way you’ve been looking at me, it’s no wonder she got ideas.”
Charlie’s eyes widened. His mouth fell open.
“She probably thought you were asking for it.”
“I didn’t look at her that way.”
“Well, you’ve sure been looking at
“She weren’t near as…” He stopped himself and scowled down at his soda can.
“Near as what, Charlie?” Leigh asked in a soft voice.
“You know.”
“Mean and ugly?”
He shook his head.
“Fat and stinky?”
He smiled, fought it away, and raised his eyes to her.
“She weren’t near as pretty,” he said.
“Probably not near as naked, either.”
The smile broke out again. This time, it stayed. His eyes still had a nervous look. “Not to start out with, anyhow.”
“Oh?”
“But what she had weren’t something I much wanted to see. It put me off my feed for a week.”
Leigh laughed.
Charlie laughed a little, himself, shaking his head. “I seen better-looking tits on a road apple. And she had a hind end…” He stopped. His face was suddenly solemn. “I beg your pardon,” he said.
“You don’t have to beg
“I gotta go now.” He gulped down the rest of his soda, put on his strange hat, and stood up. “Thank you for the drink.”
Leigh nudged herself away from the door frame and stood up straight as he came toward her. “I’m glad you came up here, Charlie. It’s been nice talking with you.” He gave the empty can to her, pulling his hand away quickly as if afraid of being touched. Leigh set both cans on a wicker table. She caught the screen door as it swung shut. “Hold up, okay? I’m going back down.”
He waited for Leigh to join him.
“So you’ll be selling baskets the rest of the day?” she asked as they stared down the slope.
“Yeah. I’ll make a stop at Carson’s and then head on away.”
“Do you go to all the lakes in one day?”
“I guess I’ll just get over to Circle today. It’s a full day trip, making Goon and Willow.”
“So they’re on tomorrow’s agenda? How would you like a helper?”
He shook his head.
“I’ve never been to those other lakes.”
“You can’t come.”
They reached the sand, and Charlie took long, quick strides as if wanting to leave her behind. Leigh quickened her pace. “What are you scared of?”
“I ain’t scared.”
“You just don’t want me with you. That’s real nice. It really makes me feel good.”
At the boat, he faced her. “It’s nothing against you.”
“Oh, sure.”
“It just wouldn’t be right.”
“What would be wrong with it? Oh.” Nodding, she pointed at the heart tattoo on his chest. “Your mother wouldn’t approve,” she said softly. Her fingertip touched the tattoo. Charlie flinched but didn’t move away. “I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble with your mother.”
She put her open hand on his chest, feeling his smooth skin, his quick heartbeat. Sliding it down over the firm slab of his pectoral, she felt his nipple stiff under her palm. “Maybe you’ll come around again sometime,” she said, and took her hand away. She was trembling. “Maybe I’ll buy another basket.”
“I gotta get going.”
Leigh stood on the warm sand until Charlie had pushed off his boat. Then she walked onto the pier and watched him row past.
She raised a hand in farewell.
Charlie looked at her as he worked the oars, but he said nothing.
FOURTEEN
His boat was beached at Carson’s Camp. Leigh had watched him unload baskets and carry them up the slope.
She could go over there.
