AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come on, let’s get him in the tank. I’ve got a princess holding my baseballs at her booth.” Jethro swung his right arm in a big circle and did a few very pitcher-like stretches.
“Let me guess, you played ball in high school?” I’d be getting very, very wet today.
“Division two college ball, too.” Jethro rolled his shoulder one last time and cracked his neck.
My jailers led me around the back of the dunk tank, pushed me up the three steps, and showed me how to scoot onto the narrow seat.
“How’s the water?” I asked.
“I filled it last night.” The sheriff smirked.
The overnight low had dipped down into the forties. So, ball-shriveling cold. Excellent.
I settled onto the bench, my sock feet dangling over the water. In front of me, the crowd lined up to buy balls was deliriously happy, joking and smiling. Kids with cotton candy ran wild, and adults enjoying a morning beer with their breakfast tacos talked with friends and neighbors. Damn, this is one awesome town.
I searched the crowd, looking past Melvin and Wanda, heads bent, gossiping. Past the barista with the nose ring I knew from the Bluebonnet Café. Past Alice, the hostess from Bowie’s. And past Kate with her camera crew, looking for my favorite resident of Elmer. Finally, I found Cameron; she clutched my boots at the edge of the dunk tank area. The mayor stood on her right, Bailey on her left.
I waved, and she waved back. Our eyes locked, and my chest expanded until it nearly burst with emotion. This madness that she’d arranged made me love her more. It was the perfect penance to get me back in the town’s good graces. And despite the chilly dunking coming my way, I couldn’t imagine doing anything better with my Thursday. I wouldn’t trade my spot in this dunk tank for a leather chair in the Bio-ID boardroom or a stool in my lab.
“Time to build a new wing on the library one toss at a time!” I couldn’t see Tracie, but her voice rang out over Main Street, and everyone clapped and cheered. The sound wave was almost enough to knock me off the bench. Jethro, his bucket of balls in hand, strolled up to the line, first to get a chance at me.
“Let’s hear it for the hottest deputy in Elmer!” Tracie’s disembodied voice called, and then the DJ dropped some hits. Well, one hit. Oh yes, that song:Hold Onby Wilson Phillips, a bass-heavy remixed version that didn’t completely suck.
My eyes cut back to Cameron in time for me to see her shrug at something Bailey said and burst out laughing so hard she leaned on her daughter to stay upright. My own uncontrollable laughter shook the hinged seat in the tank. I was still looking at Cameron and cracking up at the absurd perfection of this moment and this place when Jethro let fly his first throw.
I braced for impact. He missed.
Ha! Take that, you cocky young stud, Division two. Pfft. I dared a fist pump.
His second pitch found the center of the target.
Cold water closed over my head and rushed up my nose. I floated suspended in the small tank for a moment, breath squeezed from my lungs. My body felt fully alive from the icy shock, maybe for the first time in years. The weather in California had been warm, but I’d been numb. I needed this dunking. It was my Hill Country baptism. My reawakening. I’d take as many dunkings as the good people of Elmer could dish out, and I’d be better for it.
I broke the surface sputtering.
“How’s the water?” Cameron asked. A towel dangled from her fingertips just out of reach. Déjà vu of that first day on the pool deck hit me like a ton of bricks. I should have known she’d change my life. My Venus rising from the sea.
“Cold.”
“Maybe I can help with that.” She grabbed a fist full of my wet shirt and pulled me half out of the tank. Her arms locked around my neck, and her mouth hovered an inch from mine. I felt the warmth of her breath on my lips for a split second before she closed the distance and kissed me. Mouth open, tongue thrusting, she held nothing back. She kissed me like no one was watching when the whole town stood witness.
I wrapped my arms around her, soaking her hair and clothes. The kiss was perfection--one of the best of my life. A small part of me was aware of the crowd cheering for us, the newest lovebirds in Elmer.
We broke apart, breathless and wet.
“You said wait until I was sure.” She cradled my cheek in her palm. “I’m sure. I love you.”
Epilogue
Fourth of July
CAMERON
I stood off-camera with Jethro. We were watching Tracie and Wilson complete their interview for the Vacation Dream Homeswhere are they nowseason finale episode. My interview was already in the can. Ugh. I mentally cringed at my attempt to use Hollywood slang.
“So, when do we eat?” Jethro asked.
“You and Tracie work up an appetite?” I winked.
