“Tilt your head back,” Ellie directed him. “Mother’s a nurse, and she’s shown me what to do in situations like this.”
Jack did as he was told and gazed into the darkening sky.
* * *
On the drive home, Jack felt better. But now that he’d had time to process, he regretted letting his temper get the better of him.
When Clara stopped in front of Jack’s house, he got out, and Ellie walked him to the door.
“Listen,” he said, when they reached the porch, “I want to apologize again for the way I acted tonight. I should never have let my anger get the better of me. You probably think I’m a heathen, don’t you?”
Ellie laughed. “No. Besides, it wasn’t your fault. That oversized buffoon is the one that started it. I know you were only protecting me.”
“Still, I should have walked away. Fighting isn’t always the answer.”
“You’re right,” said Ellie. “It isn’t always the answer, but sometimes it is. When we’re pushed beyond our limits, fighting is the only option we have left. Anyway, I had a good time tonight, so if you’re worried that you ruined the evening, you didn’t.” Ellie glanced over her shoulder. “I should go. I don’t want to keep Clara waiting too long. Good night, Jack,” she said, then kissed him carefully on his lips. “And take care of that lip. We’ve still got plenty of kissing to do before summer’s over.” She winked, then turned and headed for the car.
CHAPTERELEVEN
A Silver Lining
“Long night. You want a cup of tea?
“Thank you.” Ellie discarded her purse in the living room on her way to Clara’s kitchen.
“Coming right up.”
Ellie took off her jewelry and changed into her pajamas before making her way to the back porch. When the tea was ready, Clara joined her.
“There we are,” said Clara. She handed a cup to Ellie. “You might want to let that cool a minute.” She sat down and kicked up her feet. “Tonight was fun, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was.”
“I haven’t seen fireworks like that since your uncle Bill was alive.”
“The grand finale was amazing,” said Ellie.
“I wasn’t talking about those fireworks,” said Clara, eyeing her over the brim of her cup.
“Oh.” Ellie’s smile faded into a frown. “I feel terrible for Jack. His new shirt is probably ruined. Not to mention his lip is busted.”
“Don’t worry about Jack,” said Clara. “He’s tough. Besides, the blood will come out in the wash. And as far as his lip goes, it’ll heal in a few days.” She took a sip of tea before continuing. “So when were you going to tell me about you and Jack?”
“What do you mean?”
Clara raised an eyebrow at her. “This ain’t my first rodeo, darlin’. Men, especially young ones, don’t risk their lives for just anyone.”
Clara was more observant than Ellie realized. After gathering her thoughts, she put down her tea. “I suppose it just sort of happened. Neither of us planned it.”
Clara chuckled. “Well, of course you didn’t. That’s the way it works, hon. One minute you’re riding around, talking, having a good time, and the next you’ve given your heart away without even knowing it. That’s the magic and the misery of falling in love.”
“Is that how it was with you and Uncle Bill?”
Clara nodded. “Your uncle was a wonderful man. Country as all get out, but a wonderful man. And crazy as hell about me. There wasn’t anything that man wouldn’t have done for me. You know, Jack reminds me a lot of him.”
Ellie felt a rise in her cheeks. “He’s special, isn’t he?”
“Yes, he is.”
