Semper Fi by Keira Andrews Page B

surely it would serve their purposes.
    One of the men answered, “Because there ain’t no girls out here in the boondocks!”
    Barely eighteen, Sully agreed vehemently. “I need to pop my cherry before I go face those Nips.”
    Cal slapped Jim on the back. “You may be a married man, but the rest of us aren’t.”
    Soon they were piled in the back of a pickup truck that dropped them outside a dive bar in town. Sure enough, there were girls aplenty, and Jim spent the evening chatting with Cal and trying to avoid the women’s avid gazes. He nudged Cal. “You don’t have to keep me company. Like you said, you’re not married. Go on and find a girl to dance with.”
    Cal drank his beer. “Nah, let the other guys have their fill.” He gazed around. “It’s strange, isn’t it? Our superiors treating us with respect and letting us have time off. I don’t quite know what to do with myself without that son of a gun Tyrell watching me like a hawk.”
    “I can’t say I’ll miss him.” It was odd to think they’d likely never see Tyrell again, and that he was screaming at his new recruits now.
    “No, can’t say I will either, but I have to admit he knows what he’s doing. I’ve never worked that hard in my life. I feel like a new man.”
    “So go dance. You don’t want to sit here with me all night. I’m no fun.” Jim smiled ruefully. “Can’t dance to save my life.”
    “Did someone say dancing?” A blonde with red lips and a wide smile appeared at their table. “How about it?”
    Before Jim could answer, Cal was already standing and edging away. “Sure, my buddy would love to dance with you.”
    Jim shot to his feet and tried to sidestep the woman, but her painted fingers grasped his arm.
    “Come on, sugar. Won’t you take a twirl with me?”
    “Uh…I…” Jim hated to be rude, and quickly gave up the fight. “Of course, ma’am. It would be my pleasure.”
    Holding the woman at arm’s length, Jim swayed awkwardly with her on the small, scuffed area of floor reserved for dancing. When the song ended, he tried to step away, but she edged closer and held on tighter. After another song went by, Jim offered to buy her a drink just to get off the dance floor.
    Of course this led to a long conversation consisting of the woman rattling on while Jim nodded. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but he hated small talk. When he spotted Cal and a local man by the door, he interrupted. “Sorry, ma’am, but I need to go with my friend. Cal!”
    Cal jerked at the sound of his name, looking back with a strangely guilty expression. “We’re just getting some air.” The man beside him disappeared outside.
    Jim hurried to the door. “But we should get going, right?”
    “Nah, not yet. Stay and have fun. I’ll be back in five. We’re just smoking.”
    Gazing around at the thick haze in the room, Jim raised an eyebrow. “Not enough smoke in here?”
    “Go on and dance with the lady again, Jim. I’ll be right back.” The door closed behind him.
    “Oh yes, let’s dance again! You’re a marvellous dancer.” The woman appeared by his side.
    Jim’s gaze kept finding the door, and four songs went by before Cal returned alone. He looked strangely flushed considering it was a mild night. With a winning smile, Cal took the hand of a woman sitting alone and joined them on the dance floor.
    As the tempo increased, Cal whirled by in a blur, and Jim couldn’t quite catch his eye.
     

     
1948
     
    It was late afternoon as Jim and Cal made their way back through the orchard. Jim was more than ready for a shower and a hot meal.
    Cal wiped his hands over and over with an old towel. “You realize my hands are going to smell like shit for days? Even with the gloves.”
    Chuckling, Jim shrugged. “You said you were ready to do anything and everything.”
    “I’d like to revise my statement to exclude anything and everything having to do with fertilizer.”
    “Thought you were ready to get your hands