Janet by Peggy Webb Page B

them see his disappointment. Psychology was an important
factor in winning. A positive we-can-win attitude was vital.
    “All right, Eagles. Who is going to win this
game?”
    “We are, Coach.” The chorus of excited,
enthusiastic voices made him temporarily forget Janet. The game was
about to begin.
His
game.
His
team. The teenagers
in their navy-and-gold uniforms were depending on him for
leadership and guidance. He would not let them down.
    “Then let’s get out there and
play.”
    In the first five minutes of play, The
Eagles’ goalie slipped in the wet grass and West Point scored. From
the sideline, Dan cheered his team on.
    “That’s all right, boys. The game’s young. We
can do it.”
    Revitalized by the pep talk, two of his
forwards did some dazzling footwork, dribbling the ball toward
their goal. Then little Shoeshine Rogers took a headshot, and the
ball slammed past West Point’s goalie.
    The crowd stood up and cheered for the
hometown boys. Dan was grateful for the support, and he smiled up
into the stands. That’s when he spotted her, Dr. Janet Hall,
hurrying toward a top-row seat, her green coat open and flapping,
revealing a smart blue wool suit. He couldn’t tell about her shoes,
but judging from the way she was moving she was wearing high heels.
Her head was bare, and her dark red hair shone under the stadium
lights.
    She came,
Dan thought. And then,
She’s not dressed for the game. She’ll catch her death of
cold.
    “Coach. Coach.” Suddenly he became aware of
the voice. Embarrassed, he turned his attention to the young player
sitting on the bench. He had been standing in the drizzle staring
like some lovesick fool, right in the middle of a game.
    “Yes, Bobby?”
    “Do you want me to sub for Shoeshine? It
looks like he’s hurt his foot.”
    “Yes. And watch out for West Point’s Number
Three. He’s a tough guard.”
    While the substitution was being made, he
risked one more glance into the stands. He thought Janet smiled at
him, but at this distance he couldn’t be sure.
    In the bleachers, Janet
was
smiling
at Dan. He looked so right in his baseball cap and his navy jacket
that said Coach Albany —as much a part of the soccer field as the
goalposts and the stadium lights and the bleachers and the hot-dog
stand. She couldn’t keep her eyes off him. Vitality simply oozed
from his pores. She could feel it all the way across the field. And
his hair! It was adorably mussed, more so than usual, as if he
hadn’t had time to do more than run his hands through his dark
curls for at least three days. She was so enchanted she forgot how
cold she was. And how wet.
    Around her, the crowd stood up and cheered at
intervals. She had no earthly idea what it was all about. The
scrambling on the soccer field was totally incomprehensible to her.
Still, she was seeing Dan at his work, and that made the rushing
and last-minute juggling of her schedule worthwhile.
    Suddenly a referee blew a whistle, and most
of the crowd made a mad dash for the hot-dog stand. With the buffer
against the wind gone, Janet shivered.
    “You should be wearing a warmer coat and a
hat, and I’ll bet you haven’t had a thing to eat.”
    She looked up into the bright blue eyes of
Coach Dan Albany. In the confusion she hadn’t even been aware of
his approach.
    “I didn’t have time for any of that.”
    “That’s what I thought.” He sat down on the
bleacher beside her. “Here. Hold this.” He handed her a soggy hot
dog and began to button her coat.
    She laughed. “What is all this?”
    “Food and pampering. I call it taking care of
the doctor.”
    “Shouldn’t you be with your team or
something?”
    “My assistant is with them. And we’re two
points ahead. Or haven’t you noticed?”
    “I can read the scoreboard.”
    He laughed. “Someday I’m going to teach you
this game. But right now...” He fastened the last button on her
coat, then took the hot dog from her hand and peeled back the
wrapper. “Eat up,