UNBROKEN PROMISES
by
Dianne Stevens
Smashwords Edition
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PUBLISHED BY:
Dianne Stevens on Smashwords
UNBROKEN PROMISES
Copyright © 2006 by Dianne Stevens
All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Luly and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.
* * * * *
There
are a few people I’d like to thank…
Rene, for your friendship and your willingness to edit this story--twice. Trisha, I would not have done this without your encouragement and support. And finally to my family, y’all are my heartbeat. I love each of you beyond measure.
This book
contains content that may not be suitable for young readers 17 and
under.
SOME
SCENES AND LANGUAGE MAY OFFEND
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UBROKEN PROMISES
CHAPTER ONE
Southeast Texas
1973
Jesse hid a bemused smile behind his tilted cowboy hat. He knew eight-year-old Beth had a big crush on him because, every time he turned around, she was there--two steps behind. If he unconsciously shifted directions too quickly, he had to be careful not to step on her or knock her down. He really didn’t mind though; he knew Beth still hurt and missed her mother. It had only been a few months since she and her cousin moved to the ranch. If he was able to cheer her up, even just a little, it was worth it. Jesse did his best to be patient when she asked her million questions a day...every day. Elizabeth seemed to have a built-in sonar concerning him. He could be anywhere on the ranch, at any given time, and she would somehow find him.
This hot afternoon Beth had found him in the dank barn where he was brushing the dried mud from his horse’s coarse tail. Along with being hot, it was as humid and sweltering as a sauna. Although it was a little cooler in the barn, there was absolutely no breeze. Elizabeth was quiet at first, but Jesse could tell by the way she fidgeted with her hair and stubbed the hard-packed dirt with the toe of her shoe that she was trying to build up the courage to say something important. He turned and hung the brush up on a nail that jutted out of a nearby post, barely missing the swish-snap of the mare’s tail as she popped a horsefly off her tender belly.
Jesse lifted his cowboy hat and raised his arm to wipe the sweat off his forehead. He leaned his back against a nearby beam, folded his arms in front of his slightly youthful, but already well-built chest and crossed his booted legs. And waited. He saw her take a deep, lightly shuddered breath, “Jesse, will you promise to wait until I grow up before you get married, just in case you might want to marry me?” Beth spoke without pausing. It was as if she had rehearsed it a hundred times and was determined to say it all before she chickened out. Her vivid blue eyes shimmered with hope and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she raised her chin and stared him straight in the eyes as she waited for him to answer.
Jesse knew his eyes widened slightly before he could master his surprise. He fisted his hand to his lips, coughed a little, and cleared his throat. He didn’t answer at first. He didn’t quite know how to answer such a loaded question. Then his eyes crinkled at the corners and his stance relaxed. Her honest request was so innocently sweet and her eyes were so full of hope. He knew he would rather rip off his right arm than hurt her feelings. He tugged on her long dark ponytail, chuckled softly, and nodded his head, “That’s a promise, pumpkin.”
“And, you don’t break promises, do you, Jesse?” Beth spoke with more statement-of-fact than question.
Again Jesse’s eyes widened slightly. He gazed sightless above Beth’s head then turned his eyes back to hers, shook his head slowly back and forth, “No, I don’t. That is one thing I’m determined to never do.”
After he answered, Beth didn’t say anything else. She just nodded once and, with her shoulders straight, turned, and walked away. As soon as Beth was out of sight, Jesse lifted both hands in bafflement, “Why didn’t I just dance around that?” “Maybe because you want to see the woman she grows into.”
Jesse walked back over to the post, picked up his brush, and returned to currying the horse. Jesse lived at the ranch with his brother, Jordon, and his wife, Susan. The large ranch had been in Jordon and Jesse’s family for four generations. Their dad retired early from the ranch life and signed the ranch over to him and Jordon. Jesse could have traveled with them but he had always been extremely close to Jordon and chose to stay with him. To Jesse, his parents seemed more like his grandparents and Jordon, who was 13 years older than he was, always seemed more like his parent. Then Jordon met and married Susan, whose whole nature was motherly and protective.
Jesse loved his beautiful sister-in-law. Susan was God-fearing, loving, and usually sweet tempered; and the rare times that Susan did lose her temper...Jesse always found a way to make himself scarce.
Elizabeth, or Beth, as most everyone called her, was Susan’s sister and Cody, a 10-year-old boy with red hair and unusual deep copper colored eyes, was their cousin. Cody had lived with his widowed aunt and Elizabeth since he was two. He moved in with them after his own mother, his aunt’s unwed sister, was killed in a boating accident. Now, since that gentle woman passed away, Elizabeth and Cody lived at the ranch.
Jordon, Susan, Elizabeth, and Cody lived in the main house--a large two-story ranch style house. Earlier that year Jordon had built a small bungalow and connected it to the back of the house through the breezeway. Jesse really wanted to move into it. At first Jordon said no because he was uneasy, knowing he wouldn’t be able to keep up with all Jesse’s comings and goings. After much begging, Jordon finally agreed on a trial basis.
Although Jesse loved his older brother and had a lot of fun with him, Jordon could be very stern at times. Jesse thought he was grown being 16-years-old, but Jordon apparently thought otherwise. Jordon still kept a firm hand on him. He was a lot more lenient now that Jesse was older, but it hadn’t been that long ago that Jordon had taken him to the barn for something other that currying the horses.
Jordon demanded respect and to be obeyed. Jesse overheard Susan heatedly inform Jordon one day that he was hardheaded, set in his ways, and chauvinistic. And Jesse, who thought he was standing unseen, was grinning, and nodding his head in agreement. That was, until Susan swiveled her glare, pointed a finger toward him, and said, “And you’re acting more like your brother everyday, Jesse Bately.”
Jesse had a feeling that Jordon was going to be a lot stricter on Elizabeth than he would be on either him or Cody, but he also knew that Elizabeth would have him wrapped around her little finger in no time. Well, the more Jesse thought about it, Elizabeth already had all of them wrapped around her little finger.
As Jesse continued brushing the horse, he thought about Elizabeth and Cody and smiled. They both had two complete different personalities. Elizabeth was mischievous and always getting into trouble, and Cody was a watchdog who was always trying to keep her straight. The two were very close, though, more like brother and sister than cousins. He was glad they came to live with them; he planned to do his best to teach them things. He already taught them how to ride the horses Jordon gave them and he planned to take them blackberry picking tomorrow.
ELIZABETH
Eight years later
“Sophomore! Yes!” Beth said to herself as she made the “yes” gesture, a quick downward jerk with her fist. She was in high spirits about being in 10th grade but she was even more excited in knowing that, in a little more than two months, she would become sweet 16. She wasn’t sure if she would fit the traditional sweet part of the saying, but she would be turning 16 nonetheless. With her new school supplies all stuffed in her new backpack, she headed through the throng of energized students and slamming lockers to her first class. Before she walked through the door of her first class, she inhaled a steadying deep breath, catching a lingering smell of the freshly painted white walls.
It was only a few days after school started that Beth began to distance herself away from her old friends--friends she had gone to school and church with all her life. She still loved them and always would, but she was beginning to find that life boring now. Beth knew her old friends would never do anything wrong and she didn’t want to be a bad influence, so she began pulling away from them. She wanted to do some of the exciting things the other girls at school were doing.
The most popular girls in school began giving Beth a lot of attention. She met them through one of the girls who had been in her class in ninth grade. Everyone in school said the girls were wild and willing; but, to Beth, they were exciting and fun. Beth was flattered that the beautiful girls wanted her to start hanging around with them. She didn’t realize she was just as stunning if not more so.
People were always mistaking Beth to be much older than she was. She could easily pass for 18. Her body was filling out as that of a young and woman leaving behind the skinny little girl she once was. Beth was 5”8’ and weighed 120 pounds. The dark brown hair she had as a child had now turned into a silky black, which made her eyes, which were several different shades of blue mixed with slits of silver and surrounded by heavy black eyelashes, that much more vivid. She had a brilliant smile with straight white teeth and full ruby tinted lips.
At Susan’s encouragement, Beth agreed to enter one of the school’s talent shows. Tonight she was scheduled to sing and play the piano. Beth had mastered the piano years before and her voice was angelic. Moreover, she was used to singing in front of people. She had sung in front of the whole congregation at church for years. However, this night, Beth was so nervous she was biting off and spitting out all of her fingernails. Her family was there to support her; but, instead of helping her nerves, it made them worse because Jesse was there also. Beth hardly ever saw him anymore. Two years after she moved to the ranch, he moved out of the little bungalow and into a dorm. His college was only three hours away and he came home most weekends and holiday; but, when he did come home, he was either working on the ranch with Jordon or out with his friends and wild women.
However, Jesse was here tonight and the main reason for her anxiety. She had sung for him several times in the past and it never bothered her, but tonight she wanted to play and sing better than she ever had before. Beth wanted Jesse to be proud of her.
When they announced her name, Beth walked across the waxed scarred-up hardwood floor of the stage to the old brown piano. The boisterous audience all quieted when she sat down. The piano sat at an angle where she could see out into crowded audience. Before she started playing, she made a purposeful look in Jesse’s direction. When she found him, she smiled slightly and began to play. The song was a love song she had secretly written for him two years earlier.
After Beth finished singing, she carefully walked down the steep steps, praying the whole time, she wouldn’t fall and break her neck. She made her way between the backs of chairs and rows of knees to sit with her family who had saved an empty seat for her. The crowd was still clapping when she sat down between Susan and Jesse. “Honey, you did great!” Susan said as she pulled her in for a tight hug. Jordon leaned over, winked, and gave her a thumb’s up. Three more talents did their acts after her. Beth was so nervous could hardly breathe. When the speaker finally began announcing the winners, her palms were sweating and her heart was racing so fast she could actually see her shirt move with each thump. Jesse put his arm around her, pulled her close, and whispered in her ear.
“You better breathe or you’re going to pass out. Don’t worry; you did great!” Laughter laced his voice. When Beth glanced up at him, his eyes were twinkling.
“Yeah, Beth, I didn’t hear you mess up one time,” Cody piped in from the other side of Jesse.
The words had barely gotten out of his mouth when she was announced the first place winner. Beth squealed and jumped in Jesse’s lap and hugged his neck. “I can’t believe I won!”
“I didn’t doubt it for a minute,” Jesse said with assurance.
“Yeah right, you were nervous, too. I saw you bobbin’ your knees like you do when you get nervous.”
Jesse laughed out loud then. “I guess I was, but I still knew you were going to win.”
After everyone in her family hugged and congratulated her, she walked back onstage to get her trophy. When she came back down, she had to pose for the 100 pictures Susan wanted to take of her. Beth made sure she took some with Jesse, although she had books full of the two of them taken at different holidays.
They were all walking toward the exit when Beth stopped. “I’ll be right back. I want to talk to my friends a minute.”
“Okay, but don’t be too long,” Susan said.
Beth only found Becky and Annette.
“Beth, we didn’t know you could sing and play so beautifully. You did great!” Becky said for the both of them. “Hey, do you want to go shopping with us at the mall Saturday?”
“Yeah, I want to go, but I’ll have to ask permission first.”
“Girl, don’t ask,” Becky said with a flip of her wrist. "Just tell them, ‘I’m going to the mall this Saturday with my friends. I’ll probably see you around six o’clock.’”
“There is no-o way my dad would tolerate me speaking to him like that,” Beth said shaking her head. “But don’t worry; I know how to maneuver him into letting me go. He’s actually more lenient than my sister is. Oh, don’t get me wrong, he can be very strict at times, but I usually end up getting everything I want. What time are you leaving?”
“We want to be there when the stores open, so around 10 a.m. There is supposed to be a big sale at the mall. The one thing I picked up from my mom is the love of sale--shopping. My mom can afford anything she wants; but, if it isn’t on sale, she won’t buy it. I think we’ll have a good time. We’ll show you how to get the best bargains,” Becky said. “Also you can tell your dad if you want that my mom will be going with us.”
“Is she?’
“No, Julie, my sister, is going to take us. You like her, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I like her, I don’t know her very well, but she seems like a lot of fun,” Beth said. “Well, I’ve got to go. Everyone’s waiting on me. I’ll call you later.” As Beth was walking away, she had a funny feeling. It was almost as if her conscience was warning her she was getting in way over her head. She had never talked back or lied to her sister or Jordon. Yet her new friends seemed to think nothing of it.
Jordon was hesitant when Beth asked if she could start going places with her new friends. He told her he didn’t know any of them or their families. Susan didn’t like the idea of Beth abandoning her old friends. It worried her that Beth had stopped going to church with her. She always had some excuse not to go. Susan didn’t want to make Beth do all the things she was raised to do, but she had hoped Beth would find a love for the strict standards she had come to love. Susan always had the promise she made their mother in the back of her mind. She was trying to do her best in fulfilling it--to raise Beth and Cody as her mother would have done. However, she felt as if she was failing miserably. Susan also felt that, by forcing Beth, it would make her more rebellious than she was already becoming.
Susan knew that she had failed God many times--like the time she was jealous over Jordon. She knew she would most likely fail again; nevertheless, she still could not help wanting to protect Beth from the things she knew could hurt her. Although Susan did not feel at ease with the idea, in the end she and Jordon both gave in and agreed to let her go. She told Beth she better behave and they wanted to meet these young ladies pretty soon if she was going to be hanging out with them.
Two of the girls were seniors and had their own cars. One of the girls was Becky’s sister, Julie, and the other senior was Tammy. Annette and Jana were juniors and she and Becky were sophomores.
They were all beautiful girls and fun to be around. Julie was the boldest. Tammy was laid-back, not the one to initiate anything but willing to do whatever anyone else suggested. Annette was the most cautious of the group and Jana was the clown who usually had them all laughing.
Beth liked Becky the most. She guessed it was because she had known her the longest and they were in the same grade. However, Becky was just as daring and bold as her sister, Julie.
Their first trip to the mall together was a blast. The mall was crowded with people walking in every direction with bags hanging off their arms. The aroma of cookies baking in one of the little shops drifted pleasantly, making Beth determined to buy some before they left. There was a choir singing in the center of the mall and their voices, and instruments echoed throughout the entire mall. Beth tried to stop and listen, but her friends tugged her into yet another store. They didn’t miss a single store and Beth bought tons of stuff, mostly Christmas presents for her family. She knew it was early to be buying Christmas presents, but she couldn’t pass up all the good sales. She spent almost everything she had saved. Beth regretted she wouldn’t be able to show Susan all of her good bargains because she would have to hide them.
When they dropped Beth off, everyone but Julie got out to meet her family. They ran into Cody as he was coming out of the front door. Beth was almost sure Cody knew all her new friends. She was about to tell him hello and ask him if he remembered them, but stopped short with her mouth half-open. The angry narrowed eyes Cody stabbed at her warned Beth not to make any reintroductions. Beth knew Cody was furious with her having anything to do with her new friends. Ever chance he got he reiterated how she was going to end up getting into trouble hanging out with such ‘trash.’ And knowing Cody, if she gave him the least opportunity, he would probably say something insulting.
She hurried everyone past him to where Susan and Jordon were. Jesse, as usual, wasn’t home. Jordon was in the recliner with a newspaper lying over his face. Beth would never understand how he slept with the smell of ink and paper right in front of his nose.
Susan was sitting on the couch beside him reading a book. A vanilla candle burned on top of the fireplace mantle giving off a welcoming fragrance. She put her book down and stood as soon as they entered. Jordon fought a few moments with the squawky handle on his antique recliner—recliner he refused to get rid of, before he was finally able to get out of it.
“Susan, Daddy, this is Tammy, Annette, Jana and Becky. Susan, you should remember Becky from last year. She was in most of my classes, and she was with us when we went on the class trip to the museum. Girls, this is my sister, Susan, and her husband, Jordon, who I call ‘Daddy.’ I know it sounds confusing, but my dad died before I was born and Jordon’s the only daddy I’ve ever known.”
“Yep, that’s right,” Jordon nodded, then pulled Beth to him in a playful manner and threw his arm over her shoulder. “Beth was barely a year old when I started dating her sister. The first time I picked her up in my arms she looked at me and said “Daddy,’” Jordon said with awe in his voice and a boyish grin on his face. His eyes crinkled and he ruffled Beth’s hair as if she were still only a year old. “Ain’t that right, Sue?”
“Well, kinda.”
“What do you mean, kinda?” Jordon said with mock affront.
“You were holding her when she looked up at you, but what she said was...‘da-da-da-da-da.’ Then you looked at me like a little boy who just got his first new train set and said, ‘Sue,’ did you hear? She just called me ‘daddy.’ Then you sat down on the couch and held her for what seemed like hours until da-da-da-da-da became dad-dy. And you have been ever since.”
Jordon smiled at the girls, mischievously ignoring Susan. “Do you girls like to ride horses? We have plenty of horses to go around. If y’all want to, come over and ride sometime.”
All the girls, especially Becky, stared goggle-eyed at Jordon. Finally, Annette spoke, “Thank you, that sounds like a lot of fun, Mr. Bately. I’ve never ridden, but I would love to learn.” The other three nodded in agreement.
Beth walked back outside with her friends and waved to Julie, who was waiting in the car listening to the radio. Becky spoke in amazement. “Oh my gosh! Beth, your brother-in-law is gorgeous! Don’t get me wrong, your sister is pretty,” she added hastily. “You know, you and she favor a great deal. I mean, you both have dark hair and blue eyes, even though her hair is dark brown where as yours is black, and her eyes are more of a smoky blue and yours are—are--um,” Becky squinted into Beth’s eyes, “several different shades but royal blue seems more prominent. Anyone can tell y’all are related.” Becky took a breath and let out a whoosh whistle, “but your brother-in-law slash dad is HOT! My-my-my, I don’t know if I have ever seen anyone who has as fine a body as he has.” Becky turned to the other girls, her animated hand gestures showing how excited she really was. “And did y’all see his eyes? They are hunter green with gold flecks, and the outside of the irises are rimmed in black. And, even though his hair is light brown with blonde highlights, his eyebrows, and his heavy eyelashes are almost black. My gosh, I was almost hypnotized just looking at him. And, when he grinned that boyish grin with those straight white teeth and beautiful sculptured lips, I could hardly breathe.” Becky turned back to Beth, “Does his brother, the one you’re madly in love with, look as fine and sexy as he does? If he does, it’s no wonder; you have been in love with him your whole life.”
Beth was a little taken back by this verbal worship of her dad. “Uh, yeah. In fact, Jesse and Jordon would look like identical twins if Jordon wasn’t 13 years older.” Beth had never really thought about it before, but she and Susan did favor, and Jordon and Jesse did look almost identical. Beth guessed the big age difference between her and Susan and Jordon and Jesse was one of the reasons she never paid much attention to their resemblances. Beth always found their age gaps odd especially since they had no other siblings.
Suddenly Beth thought with indignation, “Susan is just as beautiful as Jordon is handsome.” But, of course, her friends would fawn more over a good-lookin’ man. Jordon and Jesse both had the good looks and bodies women fawned over, although it never occurred to Beth that Jordon might be just as sexy and physically appealing as Jesse. “Eewww-gag,” Beth thought as scrunched her nose. “Not going there.”
Becky broke Beth out of her musing by saying, “I don’t care how old Jordon is; he is one good-lookin’ man! When are we going to meet the illusive Jesse?”
“Oh, I don’t know. When he comes home on the weekends, he usually goes out. I very rarely see him myself.”
“Where does he live when he’s in town?”
Beth motioned them to follow her to the end of the front porch. She leaned over the rail and pointed around the side of the house toward the back. “He lives in that little house, or whatever you want to call it. Sometimes we call it an apartment, sometimes we call it a bungalow.” Beth continued more to herself than her friends, “You know, Jesse really needs to close in his bedroom. That way he could have somewhere to hide all his junk if someone comes over. He’s so messy.” Julie beeped the horn and waved for them to come on.
“We better go. We’ll see you later, Beth,” Becky said and they all walked to the car and got in.
* * * * *
CHAPTER TWO
After their first shopping trip, Beth and her new friends spent almost every weekend doing something. If they squeezed together, they could all ride in one vehicle. It was more fun to ride like that instead of taking two cars. The things they first invited Beth to do were innocent--like going to the mall or out to eat, but each time they would do something a little more daring.
One Saturday Julie had a fantastic inspiration. “Hey, y’all, I have a great idea! I know a way we can go out and party until closing. Jana can tell her parents that she is staying with me and Becky and the rest of us can say that we are staying with Jana. I know a place just across the state line that has two dancehalls side-by-side.” Then Julie smiled a mischievous smile, “And I know of a way we can all get in, too.”
“The age limit to get in Louisiana nightclubs is 18. Although Tammy and I will be legal, my plan will get y’all in, too. They don’t usually card if a person looks old enough; but, just to be on the safe side, I know of a way to get fake I.D.’s. Beth, Annette, Jana, and Becky, y’all bring me a small picture tomorrow. A school picture will be fine. I’ll put them in the mail for fast delivery so we’ll have them by the time we’re ready to go out. Everyone looks 18 and, with the fake I.D.’s, we shouldn’t have any problem getting in. We’ll be home free.”
Nine days later the cards came in the mail. The ID’s had their picture, name, town, state, and fake birth date on them. They looked real. The girls were all laughing and bragging on Julie for her cleverness. They knew everything was going to work out and were going to be able to party hard the next weekend. Beth was excited but praying nothing would go wrong.
The next Friday they all did as planned and asked to stay at the right houses. When everything was ready, they left for Louisiana. As soon as they got to Lake Charles, they stopped at the first hotel they came to. They hurried into their cramped, musty smelling room, with an awful gold and brown décor. Beth turned on the loud clanking air-conditioner so it would be cool when they returned. Then they changed into tight blue jeans and cowboy boots. Beth didn’t own either so she borrowed both from Becky. After looking each other over and agreeing everyone looked sharp, they drove about ten miles to the dance halls.
As soon as they got out of the car, Julie said, “Y’all stop acting so nervous! You’ll cause them to become suspicious. If they ask why you don’t have a driver license, just tell them you don’t drive. Tell them your parents can’t afford for you to have a car right now, so it was no use in going to the trouble to get your driver’s license. Act like we do this all the time.”
Beth thought, “Sure, Julie can act calm. She isn’t the one fixin’ to get busted.” Nevertheless, she took a deep breath and followed them up the steep wooden stairs to the nightclub.
Beth was amazed. The floor was lit up and dancing with the music. There was a huge silver ball hanging from the ceiling reflecting the brilliant lights from the floor. The thick haze of cigarette smoke that drifted above their heads also reflected the dancing lights. From the amount of smoke, it seemed every person in the place enjoyed cigarettes. The music was so loud; Beth could actually feel the vibration of each beat. They all paid to get in; but, as they walked further inside, Beth heard Jana being questioned. Even though she had the fullest figure, her shortness made her look younger.
Beth held her breath waiting for Jana to reply. To her credit, she told the woman at the door what Julie had told her to say in a calm voice. Jana said they all came to Louisiana because it was legal for them to get in. The woman looked her over again then told her to go ahead. They all met up in the bathroom and burst out laughing. “Oh, Jana that was just too cool. You did great, girl!” Julie bragged. Everyone else patted her on the back and excitedly agreed.
Beth picked up dancing as if she had been doing it all her life. She even found a partner to teach her the two-step. She wasn’t able to do all the twist and turns she saw some of the more skilled dancers doing but she thought she was doing pretty good for a beginner.
“Hey, come on, y’all, let’s try this!” Beth waved the other girls over. They all lined up to do the Cotton-eyed-Joe. Each girl locked arms around the backs of the one next to her and stood in a line. As the music started, they watched the group in front of them and copied their steps. By the end of the song, they had it down pat. They even shouted on cue “Bullshit!” when it came up in the song.
Beth didn’t remember when she had so much excitement. She only wished it wasn’t wrong, but then it probably wouldn’t be as fun if it were legal. The sneaking was what put the added excitement to it. The others were drinking beer, but Beth was so busy dancing she didn’t have time to try drinking. She hardly sat out a song. The time passed by quickly and, before they knew it, they were announcing last dance. They didn’t even make it to the place next door. Since everyone else was drunk, Beth decided she would drive, but she didn’t know if she would remember how to get back to the hotel.
Beth cringed when she heard the crack of thunder in the not-so-far distance. Not having anything to shield her against the rain, Beth shivered as the cold water soaked through her shirt and met the warm skin on her back as she bent forward trying to dodge the mud holes as she rushed to the car. She was already panicky because no one was in any shape to tell her how to get back to the hotel. She made a couple of wrong turns and was never so glad to make it to a parking lot in her life. She almost had to pry her fingers from the steering wheel because she had been holding it so tight.
As soon as they got inside the hotel room, everyone climbed in bed and went to sleep, clothes and all. Beth volunteered to take a rickety cot that had a permanent hard crease where it folded and lumps everywhere else. She tossed and turned all night and hardly got any sleep. The next morning she was exhausted while everyone else woke up bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and raring to go.
They woke up at 10 a.m., but, by the time they all took showers and packed, it was noon. They stopped at a country store and picked up a few snacks and some cokes, and 30 minutes later they pulled up to the tiny beach. Murky brown salt water inched its way higher up sand with each powerful wave. Compared to the thunderous storm the night before, the day was beautiful and clear. The breeze whipped against them as they made their way across the warm gritty sand to find a place to the lay their blankets.
As they began setting everything up, Beth glanced out across the water in time to see a seagull swoop down and catch a fish. With the wriggling fish clamped tightly in its beak, the bird darted away from the companions who were trying to steal his prize.
The small beach with its light brown sand was packed with people, all trying to get in the last days of suntan weather. She just knew she was going to be able to add to the tan she had been working on all summer. Beth stood with her back against the wind as she tried to spread out their flapping blanket. The other girls rushed to set everything on top of it to hold it down.
“I am so-o thirsty and hungry!” Julie said.
“Me, too!” everyone else said at almost the same time. None of them had eaten anything since before they went dancing the night before.
“I’ll fix the sandwiches,” Beth said. “Annette, why don’t you dig out what everyone wants to drink from the ice-chest?” After they ate, they put suntan lotion on each other and kicked back. Beth was lying on her back, drinking an ice-cold coke, and talking to Becky when a group of guys started walking toward them. Beth smiled conceitedly knowing they were coming to flirt with them.
“Hey, y’all, look what’s walking over,” Beth said as she pointed with her head.
Everyone turned and watched, waiting to hear what the guys were going to say.
The cutest guy spoke first.
“Hello, I’m Sheriff Chatman and you are all under arrest for having glass bottles on the beach.” The cocky Wyatt Earp wannabe smiled as he flashed his badge.
They all just stared at him with open mouths.
“You’ve got to be joking!” Beth finally said since they were closest to her.
“No ma’am, I assure you, we’re not.”
“Bu-but arrest! Th-that’s too drastic!”
“Ma’am, I don’t believe the three kids and one adult who had to leave their fun-in-the-sun this week to stay in the hospital all day waiting to get stitched up would agree with you.”
“But arrest?” Beth cried out in bewilderment as she chewed on the fingernail of her thumb. Can’t you just give us a warning or even a ticket?”
“Ma’am, we started out the summer doing just that,” the sheriff thinly placated. First we gave warnings and then tickets, but neither seemed to work. We want the news of today’s clean-up method to spread into Texas. So hopefully, by the beginning of next summer, we won’t have this problem. Believe me, you won’t be alone today.”
“Oh, Lord, please don’t let it spread into Texas,” Beth silently prayed. “But this is our first day to ever come here. We didn’t know you weren’t allowed to have anything glass on this beach.” Beth hands were open in a pleading gesture.
“If you look, you’re sitting under the sign that says ‘No glass on beach’ right now!” The sheriff said heatedly, pointing to the sign to the left and above their heads.
Beth moaned and closed her eyes tight. Tears were seeping out at the corners. She opened her eyes wide in hope that no more would follow. What little patience the sheriff seemed to have ran out.
“I’m afraid all of you are going to have to come with me to the police station. The one who drove can follow in her car but the rest will have to ride in our cars. You can pick up your things and put them in the driver’s car. Let’s go please.”
Everyone got up as if they were robots and started picking up. When they got to Julie’s car, she told everyone to calm down. Julie glanced behind her to make sure that the sneaky, beach-clothed officers couldn't hear.
“When we get to the jail we’ll have to call our parents to pick us up. We’ll do just like we did when we told our parents where we stayed last night." Julie pointed at Jana. "Jana can tell her parents that my parents said we could come here today and everyone else will say it was Jana’s parents. We will call home at different times to be sure no parents meet up with each other. If they question you as to why you were left, just tell them you could only leave with the person who was responsible for you, which will be the truth." Julie dipped her forehead towards Tammy. "Tammy and I won’t be able to bail ourselves out even though we’re 18." Julie paused and shook her head in thought. "We may not be able to talk to each other after we get there, so who wants to call first? It doesn’t matter to me; 30 minutes apart should do it." Julie placed her hand on Jana's arm. "Jana, why don’t you go ahead and call so that we can get your parents out of the way. It won’t matter as much if the others happen to meet up. Trust me, it’s going to be okay,” Julie said bravely then added unsurely, “hopefully they won’t put us in the cells.”
“Hurry up ladies,” an officer called from where he stood beside an opened passenger door. Then the arrogant man motioned impatiently to the inside.
After they put everything in the trunk of Julie’s car, the other cops escorted everyone but Julie to the police cars. They directed Beth, Jana, and Becky to one car and Tammy and Annette to the other.
It only took them a few minutes to get to the police station. It didn’t matter what Julie said; Beth was scared to death. Beth knew that, if she told her guardians the story Julie said to tell, Susan and Jordon would be furious. It wouldn’t matter to them which parents said she could drive to Louisiana to go to the beach. If she had not asked them and not gotten their permission, she was going to be in major trouble. She also knew that the lie was still better than the truth. If she could get around by only telling them the story of getting up this morning and driving over, maybe she would only get grounded for a few weeks. Beth closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and let it out slowly through pursed lips. She didn’t even want to think about what would happen if they found out she went to a nightclub and stayed overnight in a hotel.
Who was she going to call? She thought Jesse would be the least of the three evils. She just hoped she could make it sound as innocent as Julie implied it would. The thought passed through her mind about how Julie could know so much about what was going to happen. She would have to remember to ask her when or if they got out of this mess.
“This way, ladies,” the cocky little sheriff said as he pointed toward a door. “You will need to call your parents to bail you out or you will have to stay and visit us a while longer,” he said with a grin that looked as if belonged on a snake. “Your friend’s license’s plate is from Texas. Is that where you’re all from?” he asked Beth.
Their driver had already questioned them and Beth didn’t feel like answering the same questions again so she just looked into his probing eyes and kept walking. At this instant she didn’t care if she made him mad are not. He had already arrested them.
As Beth stepped inside the front of the police station, she inhaled a whiff of something that turned her stomach. The room smelled old, stale, and like sweat. No, that was wrong; it smelled like old stale sweat, not fresh sweat, but sweat that most likely had embedded itself in every porous area of the room over the last 40 years. As Beth glanced around the room, she saw other people in shorts and bathing suits lined up against the back wall. The sheriff spoke the truth; they apparently were not alone. It seemed other people were harassed today as well.
Beth thought it was probably pretty much routine after they were called to the front desk. They asked the same questions. A little chunky woman asked if Beth had any identification. Beth wasn’t about to hand over her illegal identification. She hoped no one else would make that error. She didn’t need Julie to tell her that that would be a big mistake. She gave her Social Security card and driver’s permit. After Beth answered all the questions and she signed the last paper, the woman told her she could call home. Beth told the woman she would have to wait because her guardians wouldn’t be home for another 30 minutes. The woman then told her that she could wait along the wall with everyone else.
Beth let out a sigh of relief; at least they weren’t going to throw her in jail. When she knew Jana’s parents were almost in Lake Charles, she went to the phone to call home. Jesse had a line in his house and she hoped he was in it.
“Hello.”
“Hello Jesse, Um, what cha’ doing?”
“Beth?”
“Yeah, it’s me, Jess,” Beth answered in a weak voice.
“I just came in to change clothes and get cleaned up. I’m about to go out. Why? What did you need? Susan and Jordon are outside on the porch. Do you want me to get them for you?”
“No!” Beth said startled then more calmly, “It’s you I needed to talk to anyway.”
“Me? Okay, Elizabeth, what’s going on?”
“Well, um, I kinda need you to come get me”
“Where?” Jesse asked suspiciously.
“Well, hmm, I’m in Lake Charles, Louisiana.”
“Lake Charles! What in the world are you doing over there and who are you with?”
“I’m here with some of my friends from school. We went to the little beach they have here.”
“What happened? Did the car break down?”
“Nuh, uh, we didn’t break down, Jess,” Beth said shaking her head her head slowly, the phone held against her ear.
“Did y’all have a flat tire?”
“Nope, we didn’t have a flat either,”
“For crying out loud, Beth, what happened? Did you have a wreck? You’re not hurt and at a hospital, are you?”
Beth could tell he was getting worried and aggravated at the same time. She did not want him getting more aggravated than he was about to be in the next few seconds. So she took a deep breath.
“I’m in the Lake Charles jailhouse,” Beth rushed out and then waited for a whole 10 seconds for it to sink in.
“JAILHOUSE! What in the hell do you mean you’re in the Lake Charles jailhouse? What did you do?”
“Jesse, calm down. The only thing I did wrong was have a glass bottle on the beach.”
“What was in the bottle?” Jesse asked with suspicion in his voice.
“It was only coke. Apparently, they made today the day they were going to rid the beach of anyone who carried a glass container. The room is full of people who did the same.”
“You can’t ride home with one of your friends?”
“Jesse, apparently you haven’t been in jail before because you would know I need someone who is responsible for me to come and bail me out and assure them I’ll be back for my court date,” Beth was getting louder as she spoke. She was upset because he was asking her all these questions and was not on his way to get her. “Jesse, if you don’t get in your truck right now and come get me, they are going to put me in a jail cell with the bad people! And don’t tell Susan or Daddy!”
“Okay, I’m on my way, but it will take me over an hour to get there. Something sure sounds strange about this.”
After Jesse hung up with Beth, he immediately looked up the number and called the police station to speak to the person in charge.
“Hello, I’m Jesse Bately, Elizabeth Barrow’s uncle. I am on my way to get her, but it will take me over an hour to get there. Under no circumstance are you to put that innocent child in a jail cell. If anything happens to her there, I will do everything in my power to bring charges against you. She isn’t even 16 yet--for crying out loud! Brought to jail over glass on the beach, who ever heard of such? What, y’all don’t have any criminals in Louisiana so you make up for it by going out and arresting children on the beach?” Jesse said heatedly.
“Sir, just come get your niece. We have no intention of putting her in the back.”
“I’m on my way,” Jesse said; but, as he hung up the phone, he was a lot more worried now than when he first talked to Beth. Many things could happen in the hour before he could get there. All kinds of nuts would be in that place with her.
When Beth looked up about 50 minutes later, Jesse was walking in the door. She knew he must have flown all the way there. It was a wonder he didn’t get pulled over and brought in to join her. That would have been funny if the circumstances wouldn’t have been so dire. She would have had to call Jordon then to get them both out.
The look on his face when he finally found her and made eye contact was a look of relief for a few short seconds, but Beth noticed it did not take long for it to turn into a look of rage. She didn’t know if he was angry with her or the cops for bringing her in, most likely both. The way he marched over to the desk, she was sure that, for the moment, he was madder at them--for which she was temporarily grateful. She couldn’t hear what he was saying but she could tell by the way that he was using his hands he was ticked off. Beth thought if he did not calm down he was going to end up in jail yet.
Beth walked over to where he was and gently touched his arms.
“Can we leave yet? I can’t wait to leave this place.”
“Yeah, just a second, I have to pay your fine and sign some papers. Wait for me over there where you were.”
“Okay, Jesse, but calm down before they throw us both in jail,” Beth said trying to get him to act rational. She saw that he took a deep breath then bent and signed his name on the documents. He pulled some cash out of his pocket but she couldn’t see how much. He didn’t tell her to leave again so she stayed where she was until the woman said they could leave. Jesse did not speak to her when they walked outside or after they rode in the truck for a while.
It was just fine with Beth if he decided not to talk all the way home because she knew when he did she was going to have to lie to him, not only for herself but for all the other girls, too. She knew if she told the truth about how they went to Louisiana and what all they did that he would most likely tell every single parent, hers included. To her dismay, he broke the silence.
“Beth, tell me again how this came about,” Jesse asked in a slow drawn out way that assured Beth he was trying to trip her up and catch her in a deception. Therefore, she was very cautious when she answered and tried to say only the absolute necessary things. She figured the less said the less she had to cover for.
“When I woke up at Jana’s house this morning, everyone was saying how pretty a day it was. Jana asked her parents if we could go to the beach for a few hours. They said we could go if we were home before dark. So we packed and came to the beach. We weren’t there more than 30 minutes when the cops arrested us. And you know the rest of the story. They brought us to jail and I called you to come get me.”
“I don’t understand how Jana’s parents thought they could give you permission to go by yourselves to a beach in Louisiana.”
“Well, I told them I didn’t think Daddy or Susan would care as long as I was home by the time they told me to be home, which was before dark.”
“Beth, you know good and damn well they would not have allowed you go. Ever since your aunt drowned in that boating accident your sister has been afraid of water. She’s never allowed you or Cody to get near water without Jordon or me watching over you.”
“You’re probably right. I wish I wouldn’t have now. But, like they say, hindsight is 20-20.” Beth held her breath hoping all she had said would pacify him.
“It would have been closer to go to Holly Beach. Why did y’all decide to go to a little tiny beach in Louisiana?”
“I’ve been to Holly beach before. I had never gone to the Lake Charles beach; so, when it was brought up, I also said I wanted to go.”
“You were at the police station by yourself. Can you explain that, too? I don’t understand why the other parents didn’t wait to make sure you had a ride home.”
Beth groaned inside. She couldn’t tell him that everyone turned and hid their faces when different parents came in. They all knew they each had someone coming to get them.
“Well, I was the last one to leave and I told Becky’s parents not to worry and to go ahead and go because you were on your way. They had just left when you walked in the door.”
“I see...,” Beth knew he was still suspicious. But, to her relief, he didn’t say anything else about it. Then, to Beth’s sorrow, she couldn’t restrain herself and had to break the silence.
“When do I have to go to court and how much is it going to cost me?”
“Next month, and it’s gonna’ cost $350.”
Beth sucked in a quick breath, “Why so much? I don’t have quite that much saved. Do you think you can loan me the rest?”
“How much do you need?”
“I think I need about $260. And, do you think you could bring me to court when I have to go?”
“Not quite that much saved, huh? No Beth, if you were 18 you would have to go to court and pay the $350; but, with you still being a minor, you are not required to.”
Beth breathed a sigh of relief. “Poor Julie and Tammy,” Beth thought. “That wasn’t very nice, Jesse.”
* * * * *
CHAPTER THREE
The following weekend Tammy invited everyone to stay over-night. Neither Susan nor Jordon found out about the beach incident. If they had, Beth would have been grounded and not allowed to go anywhere for a month. If they learned the whole truth, forever, in all probability would have been a short term.
After they rode the strip and talked to everyone, they went home. Tammy’s brother rented an X-rated movie for them to watch. The other girls didn’t think it was a big deal to see the sexual scenes, but Beth was blushing through the entire movie. Knowing Tammy’s brother was there, watching it with them, made it even more embarrassing. He was a sweet guy, but Beth was still uncomfortable with him being there. She hoped no one noticed how backward she was because she knew they would enjoy her embarrassment.
Ever since they started going out on weekends, Beth always had to cut everything short because she had to be home before the other girls. Beth began feeling cheated by having such protective guardians because no one else had to be home as early as she did. Her curfew was 11:00 p.m. Beth really liked it when Susan allowed her sleep over at one of her friend’s homes because she was able to stay out as long as they did. Beth knew Susan and Jordon assumed the other girls had curfews similar to hers.
However, Susan put her foot down when Beth wanted to stay at someone’s house every weekend. Susan told her she and Jordon were being very lenient by allowing her go out every weekend. Beth reminded Susan that she used to let her stay overnight all the time with her old friends. Susan didn’t even give her a reply; she just told her that she wanted her home at night. Beth didn’t invite the girls to stay over at her house because she thought they would be bored. Beth was also afraid Susan and Jordon would notice how wild they were and not allow her hang out with them anymore.
It was five days after Beth started feeling sorry for herself for having such a strict family that she was woke up with breakfast served to her in bed. Beth, still half-asleep, just started laughing.
“Happy Sweet 16, darlin’,” Jesse said as he kissed her on the forehead. He was the one carrying her breakfast tray and, just behind him, was the rest of the gang singing the “Happy Birthday” song.
The aroma of fried bacon filled her bedroom. Beth glanced down quickly at her breakfast of bacon, eggs, grits, and toast. “What a pleasant surprise! Does this mean I get to stay home from school, too?”
“Yes, I think that will be okay,” Jordon said as Susan looked a little skeptical.
“Well now, I don’t know about that. She’s only been going a little over two months and she has already missed three days. Besides, she doesn’t look sick to me,” Susan said practically but with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Yeah, I think she should get to stay home from school, and I think I need to stay home too, just to keep her company” Cody said excitedly, as if he had just come up with a brilliant idea.
“Cody Johnson, hush your mouth. With you wanting to be a veterinarian like Jesse does, you can’t afford to take the day off. You have to keep your GPA high and you can’t do that by playing hooky,” Susan said more seriously this time.
“Aw, come on baby, why don’t we all pack up and go to the lake for the day? It’s way too cool to ski, but I don’t think it would be too chilly to do some fishing and relaxing. I know that doesn’t sound like the most sophisticated birthday: but, would you like to do that, Elizabeth?” Jordon asked.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea. I can’t think of anything else I would rather do or anyone else I would rather be with on my birthday,” Beth said and meant it.