Always Tried and Proven (7 page)

      There was a second of silence.  Nobody who had ever seen Callie entertain before, had seen her present herself in this way.  Then a series of wolf whistles seared her ears.  She took Dalton’s Stetson off his head, settled it on her hair and pulled it down in a very business-like way, and let her long legs do some talking as she went back onto the dance floor and took a seat on a bale of hay that had been put against the stage for decoration.

      The spotlight found her and adjusted.  With her long, silky hair curling against her waist, and her long, slim legs, she made a very tempting picture.  She sang the sexiest song she could think of, and she did it in the most sultry manner she knew how to achieve.  Apparently, it was very effective, if the response from the male portion of her audience was any indicator. 

      Near the end of the song, she stood and walked to the center of the floor, still singing like a siren.  As she repeated the last line of the song, she let a bit of a growl roll out of her throat.  "I said I want you, baby, and nobody else is gonna do ..." she let her voice trail off into a whisper, then she finished in a very deliberate, suggestive way,  "what I can do … to you."

      She turned, her skirt swirling and revealing a shapely thigh.  She walked back to the stage as the crowd made a deafening noise.  When she turned back to face them and picked up her guitar, she smiled and felt a shyness steal over her features.  She couldn't help it.  What she had done, she had certainly never done before, and it made her feel acutely exposed.  Actually, to be honest, she was embarrassed.  She put Dalton’s hat back on him.

      "All right, boys, let's hit some Western swing with 'Down Josie's Way'!"  She growled, and then did a four count that couldn't be argued with.  Sean clicked his sticks and hit it hard.  Callie lost herself in the song, and gave her all.  She knew that if she just kept her nose to the grind stone and worked hard, she could forget that Samuel was out there; she could forget that she had made a fool of herself; she could forget her embarrassment and shame.  But she was only a little bit successful.  She prayed to heaven that he'd be gone when she looked up again.  And she certainly put off looking up again.

      That was the longest set of Callie's life.  And she never did lift her eyes to see if Sam was still sitting out there.  When closing time came, Callie smiled brightly and gave her goodnight speech, waving a cheerful hand at the audience.  She couldn't help seeing that Sam was still there, watching her with arms folded across his broad chest.

      "Oh, my stars."  She muttered.  "Jimmie, honey, will you do me a really big favor and put my guitar in its case and bring it out to my truck?  Don't ask questions, please just do it."  She growled.

       "Whatever you say, sweetheart."  Jimmie drawled.  "Is there anything I need to take care of?"  He asked pointedly, folding his arms across his chest and raising one eyebrow meaningfully.

      "No, no.  Everything is fine!  Please, just do this one thing for me, and I'll be eternally grateful."  She assured him.  Then she went out the back door, as quickly as her legs would carry her.  Another bad word escaped her lips as she reached her car and discovered that she did not have her purse or keys.  She turned on her heel and barreled toward the door again.

      Just as her hand reached the building's back door, it opened; and she found herself colliding with Sam.  His arms caught her warmly as she met his chest.  She gasped and jumped back from the hard warmth of his body, in alarm.

      "I thought you were sneaking out on me," he said quietly.  His eyes examined her calmly and then he smiled, looking strangely intense.

    "Um, actually I thought I'd get home early tonight."  She explained very quickly and breathlessly.  "It has been a pretty long day."

     "I can't argue with you on that.  But I'd really like to buy you some coffee or whatever you'd like, if you will spare me a few minutes."  He said quietly.

     Jimmie came through the back door with her guitar, and a scowl on his face.  "Everything all right, sweetheart?"  He asked darkly.  He narrowed his eyes and eyed Sam with displeasure.

     "Everything is fine, Jimmie."  She soothed.  "Thanks so much for giving me a hand with this.  I uh ... I forgot my purse."

      "I noticed."  Jimmie snapped, producing her purse from his shoulder.

     Relieved, Callie smiled her thanks and kissed his cheek.  "Jimmie, this is Sam.  Sam, this is Jimmie, my bass player."

      Sam held out a hand, with a challenging but friendly glint in his eyes.  "Nice to meet you, Jimmie."  He said quietly.

     Jimmie shook his hand, but the scowl didn't leave his handsome face.  He looked at Callie suspiciously, and seemed to respond to her cue.  "You bet.  Come on, Callie, I'll take you home."  He said.

      Callie put a hand on his chest and smiled.  "I'll be fine tonight, Jimmie."  She said, though she had no idea why.  She wanted nothing more than to run away from Samuel as quickly as her legs would carry her.  But somehow, she knew it would be better to deal with him now, and get it over with.

     With a long look at Sam, Jimmie glowered at them both, and nodded.  He was not convinced.  He went through the door into the lounge, and Callie found herself alone with Mr. Stringer.  She looked up at him with trepidation, and found him studying her with benign interest.

      "Thanks, Callie."  He said softly.  "I appreciate it.  Can we go inside here?  Or better yet, is there someplace where Jimmie isn't?"

      Callie blushed brilliantly and looked at her feet.  "Please, forgive him," she said tightly.  "Sometimes, we find ourselves in very uncomfortable positions, and we have to look out for each other.  When you work with musicians for very long, you tend to become protective of one another,” she explained in embarrassment.

      Sam's arm slipped around her shoulder comfortingly.  "I can understand the need for that, and I can fully appreciate Jimmie's zeal for the task."

      She lifted her eyes to his and found a teasing, challenging glint awaiting her, in his eyes.  She blushed again, and had to look away.  "He's just a friend, really."  She defended quickly.

      "I am very glad to hear it."  He said quietly.

    An electric shock ran up her spine at his words.  A thousand questions tumbled through her brain. 
"He couldn't really be so interested in me, could he?  Even if he could, surely that little performance I put on earlier put a stop to it, didn't it?  Or did he mean that he just didn't like Jimmie?”

    He chuckled, as if he could read every thought.  "Let's definitely go somewhere Jimmie isn't."  He suggested again, pointedly.  He let his fingers explore the sweet line of her jaw.

      Callie found herself panicking at his closeness.  "I could make you some coffee at my apartment, if that would be all right," she suggested quickly.  "I don't really like to run around at night in my costumes."  She explained.

       "Sadie should be there, so that would be fine."  He agreed.

      "Great.  Why don't you just follow me, then?"

      "I parked out front."  He said, and walked away.

     Callie jumped in her truck, and locked the door.  "Oh, boy.  I can't wait until this is over."  She mumbled.  She backed around, and then swung to the front of the building.  The Cadillac he drove pulled out behind her.  He stayed close, all the way to her apartment.

     Callie parked in her space, and waved him to a visitor stall.  She waited for him, feeling very exposed, and embarrassed.  She did not want to face this man now that she was out of her security zone, her stage.  She felt small and vulnerable and she could only wish he would just go away!  But, she smiled wanly as he joined her and put an arm around her shoulders.   

     "I didn't get a chance to tell you that I really like your apartment."  He said lightly.  "You are quite a decorator."

       She smiled.  "Thanks.  I had fun doing it."

     She unlocked her door and flipped on a light, seriously praying that Sadie would still be up.  No such luck.  It was immediately apparent that she and Sam were all alone.

     “I'll make some coffee," she whispered.  "I hope that Sadie is a sound sleeper."

      Sam followed her into the kitchen with a smile, and watched her with lazy interest as she kicked off her heels and took off her jacket.  She started the coffee, and turned to him with a nervous smile.  "Sam, would you mind if I changed my clothes?  I'll just be a minute."  She promised.

       "Not at all.  Take your time."  He urged her.

       Callie shook her head as she walked down the hall to her room.  She closed the door behind her, and heaved a heavy sigh.  "Oh, brother!  What am I supposed to do with this?"  She grumbled.  "I shouldn't have brought him here.  What if Sadie wakes up and thinks the wrong thing?  What if
he
gets the wrong idea?"

      She then tackled the dilemma of what exactly one could wear to a late night meeting with a minister, in one's apartment.  She finally decided that some cotton leggings and a tee shirt would be the ticket.  There was nothing less formal or less appealing, she figured.  She washed her face until it shone and then made her way, barefoot, back to the kitchen.

     She stopped in amazement to find Sam at the stove, frying bacon.  He smiled when he saw her, and gave her an appraising look. 

     "I hope you don't mind, I am absolutely starving.  If you needed the bacon for tomorrow morning, I'll get some more first thing, and drop it by."

      "No, I didn't have any plans for it.  What are you making?"

    "Well, I thought maybe that if I made you a nice sandwich with bacon and tomatoes on sourdough that you would forgive me for barging in on you tonight."  He explained hopefully.

      She shook her head.  "Done."  Was all she could think of to say.  "I am simply ravenous."

      His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes as he dished up bacon onto a paper towel.  When he was done with sandwiches, he found that Callie had poured the coffee.  They went to the breakfast nook.  She didn't seem to mind, when he sat down beside her.

      Callie took a bite, and closed her eyes in sheer delight.  "You make one mean sandwich, Sam."  She sighed.  "Cream for your coffee?"  She offered, pushing the Half and Half his way.

      "Don't mind if I do."  He answered, and then there wasn't much conversation.  They were both extremely hungry.

     When Sam had taken care of his sandwich, he turned his attention to his hostess.  “So, Callie.  Tell me what you thought about the tent.” He challenged.  His eyes were keen and perceptive.

      Callie froze momentarily, and then forced herself to begin chewing again.  Her eyes never left her sandwich.  “Well, Sam, I did want to talk to you about that.”  She admitted gently.  “I think your tent is a great thing.”

       “But?” he suggested when she did not go on. 

      She lifted her eyes to his, feeling guilty.  “It was a mistake for me to go there and sing.  I don’t belong in that world, Sam.  I belong in the bars. That’s my life,
that’s
where I’m happy.  It’s where I make my living.  You saw me there, tonight.  I hope you can understand, now.”

      Sam just looked at her steadily.  He held his tongue, to force her hand.

     “I felt like such a liar, such a hypocrite singing in the tent.  I’m not the kind of woman you should have singing there!  Surely you could see that, when you came to the club tonight.”

     “Actually, Callie, I saw nothing of the kind.”  Sam denied.  He seemed very satisfied with his opinion.

     “But …” Callie protested.  “I even did that sleazy number to turn you off, to make sure you’d understand! 
Why
can’t you just take the
hint
?” she almost shouted at him.

      Sam looked as though he might be ready to burst out laughing as he toyed with his coffee cup.  “Callie, honey.  You couldn’t be sleazy if you tried for Halloween.” He said evenly.

      Callie sat back in her seat, with her mouth open.  She was horrified!  Sam looked her in the eyes and just held her gaze for a long moment.  Finally, he took a sip of coffee and broke off the intense exchange.  “You can’t hide the quality of your character by singing some commercial song meant to appeal to a man’s baser nature.  I saw your embarrassment.  There is nothing wrong with passion, but you’re not the kind to flaunt it in public.  If it was meant to convince me that you’re not desirable, you failed miserably.”  He informed her calmly.  

      “I have to admit that on one level, it was
quite
effective.  My dear lady,  you had me on the edge of my seat.  I was quite sure that you were singing it for my benefit, though I fear you’d run like a rabbit if I took you up on what you were offering.  Still, I felt as though there was no one else in the room.  Just you, and I.  The only disturbing thought is, that I’m sure every other male in the place felt exactly the same way.”  He smiled into his coffee, but then he looked up at her with seriousness.

      “Come sing at the tent tomorrow, Callie.” He plead quietly.

      Callie sighed, and shook her head.  “Sam, when I told Sadie I’d do this, I had no idea how it was going to be.  I just didn’t understand.  It isn’t right!  If nothing else, you are
very
sincere, and I don’t want to cause any problems for you.  I surely will, if I keep coming and singing in your tent.  And I
can’t
continue to pretend to be something I’m not.  Sam, when all of those people started crying, I felt ashamed!  It’s not right!  I’m
sorry
.”  She whispered.