Chapter 8
Lucy told Theresa that the guys usually showed up at the tavern at around two p.m. when she took a break. Theresa didn’t have any classes scheduled during that time, so she agreed to put in an appearance.
Lucy was still working when the door to the tavern swung open. She was disappointed to see that it was a couple in their sixties who had come in for lunch. She smiled broadly when she saw that Joel and Jesse were following close behind them. She quickly smoothed down her hair and straightened her blouse. She’d taken extra time with her makeup this morning, wanting to look her best for them. Especially for Jesse…
Midday in the middle of the week was slow at the restaurant and Lucy was rolling silverware since she didn’t have any customers at the moment.
“Thought you might show up,” Lucy said. “Nice to see you.”
Theresa wasn’t there yet, but would be shortly. Lucy was eager for her help in asking them questions she was too nervous to ask, but she was also a little worried about what her friend would say. Where Lucy was shy, Theresa was fearless.
Joel and Jesse each took a seat at the table where Lucy was organizing all the utensils and wrapping them in napkins.
“How you doin’, sweetheart?” Joel asked with a smile.
Having a grown man, especially one as handsome as Joel, call a woman sweetheart should have been insulting, but somehow it wasn’t. Something in the way he said it just didn’t sound derogatory. It sounded gentle and kind.
“Good. Not too busy today,” Lucy responded.
“So you up for a little chin music?” Jesse asked.
“What’s that?”
“It’s the, uh, old-fashioned term for talkin’,” he told her.
Lucy laughed. “Ah, I see. You guys really know your 1860s stuff, don’t you?”
“Sure do,” Jesse said with a wink. “By jingo, you sure do got a lot of the oil of gladness ’round here, don’t ya?” Lucy followed his eyes as he surveyed the dozens of alcohol bottles displayed behind the bar. “You gotta be pretty sound on the goose to afford all of that!”
Lucy laughed warmly as she wrapped another set of utensils. Jesse loved seeing the amusement in her eyes when he used nineteenth-century terminology. He tried to think of some more old words to use.
“Can I offer you boys something to eat? Fried bacon? Hardtack?” Lucy asked. She knew from her studies that was what Civil War soldiers had subsisted on.
Joel laughed. “Even if I was starving on a desert island, I don’t think I could ever choke down another piece of hardtack.”
“Thank ye, ma’am,” Jesse said. He patted his stomach. “But my bread basket is full at the moment.”
Lucy chuckled again, but she couldn’t help but wish Jesse and Joel would be more honest with her about who they really were. She found their characters immensely entertaining, but what she really wanted was to know more about the real people underneath the costumes. Where did they really come from? What did they like to do? Did Jesse have a girlfriend?
Lucy glanced over at the door, wishing Theresa would hurry up and get there. Distracted, she accidentally tipped over the basket of forks, sending them clattering to the floor.
“Shoot,” she said, looking at the mess and blushing at being so clumsy in front of the men. She hoped Jesse wouldn’t realize that part of her nervousness was due to his presence.
Joel didn’t miss a beat. He looked over at Jesse and said, “Well, what are you waiting for? Help the lady!”
Jesse glared at Joel, but didn’t move.
Lucy eyed Jesse curiously. After waiting a moment, it became uncomfortably clear that Jesse wasn’t going to help.
“That’s okay,” Lucy said a bit dryly. She crouched on the floor and gathered all the forks, finding it quite odd that her favorite, chivalrous Southern gentleman wouldn’t help her with the task.
The door to the tavern swung open with a bang. Lucy was still on the floor, but she could tell by the clacking of heels that it was Theresa.
Theresa looked a bit surprised to see her friend on the floor, then she spied the forks.
“Having fun?” Theresa asked.
“Always,” Lucy said. She walked back behind the bar to put the now-dirtied forks in the sink. She picked up some clean ones and returned to her seat.
Theresa surveyed Joel and Jesse, making no secret of the fact that she was checking them out and that she liked what she saw.
“So these are the famous soldiers stalking you. Yankee Joel and Rebel Jesse.”
Joel looked at Theresa with interest. She had beautiful skin, and her reddish-blond hair, reaching just past her shoulders, set off her lovely, light blue eyes. She wore a fairly low-cut, light blue blouse, tight jeans, and high-heeled pumps.
“Yes, ma’am.” Joel said before Jesse could say it. “I’m Private Joel Casey of the 124th New York. Victors of the War of Southern Rebellion!”
Theresa looked Joel up and down, and Lucy could imagine all the naughty thoughts that were running through her head.
“And I’m Private Jesse Spenser of the First Texas Infantry,” Jesse said, tipping his hat. “Proud to be a soldier in the War of Northern Aggression!” He shot Joel a fierce look.
“Pie eater!” Joel said.
“Little coot!” Jesse shot back.
Theresa looked back and forth between the two, then over at Lucy. “Damn, you weren’t kidding. They’re crazy!”
“Yeah, but they’re beautiful to look at and they keep me entertained, so I like having them around,” Lucy said, glancing at Jesse before looking down at her hands. Her face felt hot.
The soldiers stopped glaring at each other and smiled at Lucy, pleased at her compliment. Theresa put her hands on her hips.
“Don’t you boys think Lucy’s pretty?”
“Theresa!” Lucy admonished, her cheeks turning a deeper pink.
Jesse looked longingly at Lucy. “I think she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Lucy looked at him, surprised both at his words and the passion with which he’d said them. He really knew how to turn on the charm. Lucy waved her hand in the air dismissively. “Oh, come on.”
“Lucy,” Jesse said firmly. “It’s the truth.”
Lucy looked into Jesse’s eyes, not quite sure what to make of him. He was always in character as a Confederate soldier, so he was obviously a great actor. Still, he seemed so genuine.
Theresa narrowed her eyes. “So what exactly are your intentions with my friend here?”
“I assure you, our intentions are entirely honorable,” Joel told her. “I just want this fair maiden to admit that she would choose me over this rebel rube.”
“Shut up, ya blowhard,” Jesse said.
“Cram it, you stupid hick.”
Lucy shook her head and laughed.
“Did it ever occur to you that she might have a boyfriend?” Theresa asked. “A jealous one that might not like her hanging around you strange yet gorgeous young men?”
Joel looked at Lucy curiously. “Good point. A girl as pretty and smart as you is probably already taken. Say it isn’t so!” He put his hand dramatically over his heart.
Lucy smiled at Joel, then looked at Jesse shyly. “No, I’m not seeing anyone.”
Theresa eyed Joel up and down. “Well, I am. So don’t get any ideas.”
“Oh, I’m gettin’ ideas all right,” Joel said, eying her figure approvingly.
“Keep it in your pants, mister,” Theresa said with a flirtatious laugh.
“Theresa!” Lucy said.
“No promises,” Joel said. “Lucy, you don’t wanna choose the enemy, now do ya? You gotta stand with the Union! You’re a Yankee lass, after all.”
“How do you know I’m not a copperhead?” Lucy asked. Jesse grinned. A copperhead was a Northerner with Southern sympathies.
“Right! Besides,” Jesse said, looking into her eyes with a mischievous smile. “Forbidden love is more excitin’, don’t you think?”
Lucy laughed softly, but didn’t turn her gaze from his for once. Sure, Joel had dazzling blue eyes but there was something wonderfully warm and sexy about Jesse’s blue-gray ones. The way he looked at her made her tingle all over.
“Lucy, I don’t care if you’re a Northerner. You’re my honorary yellow rose of Texas!”
“I’m honored,” Lucy said. She looked over at Joel, then back at Jesse. They both made her feel so desired, so beautiful. It didn’t matter that it was just a silly game. She thought they were both so sweet and always said such nice things to her that she wanted to return the favor. She supposed they’d eventually force her to choose, but she wanted them both to know how wonderful they each were in their own way, no matter who won.
“You see why it’s so hard to choose?” she said to Theresa, who nodded. “Joel is so very handsome…” Lucy began. She felt her face heat up again, but she tried to ignore it. She hated that she blushed so easily!
“She said I’m better looking,” Joel whispered hoarsely to Jesse, fully intending for everyone to hear him.
“But Jesse is handsome, too. In a very manly, rugged way,” Lucy continued, her blush deepening.
“She called you a pretty boy,” Jesse whispered hoarsely back. Both Theresa and Lucy giggled.
“And you’re both clever and entertaining, that’s for sure. I don”t know who to pick!” Lucy said as she wrapped the last pieces of silverware in a napkin. She turned to Theresa. “Are you hungry?”
“Yeah, I called ahead and ordered already. You boys staying for lunch?”
“Well, we already ate, but we’d be happy to sit with you while you grab a root,” Jesse said, winking at her. Lucy chuckled.
* * *
They sat outsideat the same table as the last time. Jesse again wondered how long they could possibly get away with this charade. They managed to follow the girls out the door and were able to appear to sit again, but it was getting harder and harder to keep the fact that they were dead hidden. Jesse hated that he couldn’t hold the door for the women and couldn’t pull out his own chair, let alone theirs.
Once the four of them were settled, Fillis wandered over. She stood right next to the table, just outside the metal railing that separated the outdoor tables from the sidewalk. She was invisible to the living, but Joel and Jesse could see her plain as day. Both soldiers glanced up at her, and she blew them each a kiss. She folded her arms, making it clear that she wasn’t going anywhere. She was there to see what her boys were up to. Jesse gave her a quick, almost imperceptible smile, then turned his attention back to Lucy.
“You really have no idea who you’re gonna pick?” Theresa asked after swallowing a bite of her cheeseburger. She looked at Joel and Jesse, making no secret of the fact she was sizing them both up.
“No. It’s impossible to choose!” Lucy said, leaning back in her chair.
“What’s ridin’ on this bet anyway?” Theresa asked.
“Oh, yeah! I kept meaning to ask.” Lucy said.
“When I win,” Joel said, leaning in with a grin, “Jesse has to stand in Lincoln Square, wearing his raggedly old Confederate uniform, and sing ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic.’”
Lucy laughed. She should have known it would be something Civil War related. She looked over at Jesse. “Oh, I would love to hear you sing, Jesse.”
Jesse’s ghost heart did a flip inside his chest when she said his name, even if she was talking about his losing the bet.
“And what’s he gotta do if you win?” Theresa asked Jesse.
“Then Private Casey here has to wear his bluebelly Yankee duds and sing ‘Dixie,’” Jesse said.
Theresa and Lucy burst into laughter.
“Now that would be entertaining to see,” Theresa said, eying Joel’s uniform. Her eyes lingered on his broad chest.
“I’m terrified of the idea of hearin’ either one of ya sing,” Fillis commented dryly.
Joel and Jesse exchanged a look, trying not to laugh at a joke that only the two of them could hear.
“Ugh! I don’t want to be the one who makes either of you sing in public!” Lucy said.
“You’re a darling girl, sweetheart,” Joel said with a chuckle. “We should have picked someone meaner.”
“We won’t take it personally, Lucy,” Jesse lied, knowing full well it would crush his heart to pieces if she picked Joel. He felt bad about the position they had put her in. She was so sensitive when it came to other people’s feelings. It was one of the things he loved the most about her. “It’s just a friendly wager. Just pick one of us!”
Lucy let out a weary sigh. Then she said softly, “Maybe tomorrow.”