DISCLAIMER is on the Introduction Page.
Italics denotes thoughts
Cock-a-doooo! In the fog of sleep, Scott wondered what in the blue-blooded blazes that awful noise was. He groaned. I can't believe it. I actually think it's a rooster.
He rolled over onto his back and sleepily opened one eye. A face with a goofy grin and a big mop of bright red hair was staring into his. "Good morning, Mr. Sherwood."
Scott searched his mind, trying to remember the introductions last night. "Chester, isn't it?"
Chester sat back up on his bed. "You can call me Chet. Everybody does." He suddenly hit on a terrific idea. "Say, would you like to see some of Betty's baby pictures? It'll only cost you a penny a peek."
Scott chuckled to himself, Do I have a kindred spirit here? Betty would be mortified at the thought. Out loud he said, "Maybe some other time Chet. And you can call me Scott."
Scott slowly got up from the floor of Chet's room where he had bedded down last night. He had assured Mrs. Roberts that he had slept on floors lots of times and he would be fine. It was true. He had slept on many floors in his travels. As he grabbed the ache in his back, though, he wondered, Maybe I'm just getting too old for this.
Scott looked down at the pajamas Chet has loaned him and looked around for his clothes. Chet went over to the dresser and returned with some cuffed dungarees and a plaid flannel shirt. "Mom said to loan you some of my clothes for the day since we're about the same size. She's washing your shirt and stuff."
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In the kitchen, Betty was helping her mom clean up the breakfast dishes. She hoped that Scott was getting to sleep in. She worried about him driving all the way back to Pittsburgh by himself without a good night's rest. As she dried her hands on a dishtowel, Scott walked into the kitchen. Betty quickly put her hand to her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Was this really Scott Sherwood, the meticulous dresser who was so rarely seen in anything but very stylish business suits, looking like a farmer? He was rolling the cuffs of the flannel shirt when he looked up and caught the twinkle in her eyes. He walked over to her and in his deepest, most threatening growl, "Not one word or giggle out of you, Betty Roberts."
A chortle slipped out. "Scott, I can't help it. You look so..."
"Handsome? Debonair?"
"I'd say more like...cute." She managed to get it out before she broke into a full belly laugh.
"Cute? Did you say cute? I am not cute! Kittens and puppies are cute. Scott Sherwood is not cute."
Ida joined in the laughter. "Oh, I agree with Betty, Scott. You look very cute."
Scott turned to Chet in a mock serious voice. "Chet, my boy, I guess I will take you up on your offer to show me, for a very reasonable price, the slightly embarrassing, but adorable I'm sure, baby pictures of one Miss Betty Roberts."
Chet let out a whoop of joy and loped off down the hall with Betty following on his heels. "Chester Floyd Roberts, you wouldn't dare!"
Ida observed the friendly banter between Scott and Betty with great interest. What interested her even more was the look in Scott's eyes as his gaze followed Betty. I do believe that Scott Sherwood is very much in love with my daughter. I wonder if she realizes it.
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It was unusually warm weather for late November in Indiana. The men had been banished to the back porch out of harm's way. Inside, the kitchen was a hive of activity with preparations for the meal flying fast and furious. Seth and Louise's two kids were in the yard seeing who could spin in the most circles before falling down.
Ida tested the potatoes. "Betty, can you give me a hand draining the potatoes?" When there was no answer, Ida glanced around. For at least the tenth time today, Betty had wandered to the window that looked out over the porch.
"Betty?" Betty looked back startled. "Your help please?"
"I'm sorry mom." She hurried over to her mother. "What do you need?" Betty noticed her mother's raised eyebrow and felt the need to explain why she kept looking out at Scott. "I'm just a little worried about Scott fitting in. He's not used to all this noise and turmoil and family stuff." She saw the skeptical look her mom gave her. "Mom, I'm just trying to be a good hostess like you always taught me."
A burst of masculine laughter erupted from the porch. Betty and Ida looked at each other when they heard Harold, who rarely laughed out loud, say, "Scotty, boy I can't believe you actually managed to pull that off." Then Chet, "That is the greatest story, Scott. Where else have you lived?"
Ida dryly observed, "Sounds to me like he's fitting in just fine. Hand me the masher, dear." Ida began working on the potatoes.
Betty wandered over to the window and peered out again. She watched in amazement as little 4 year old Maggie marched over to Scott, climbed on his lap, took his face between her two little hands and demanded, "Uncle Scott. You tell ME a funny story now." Then in her best coquettish manner, "If you do, I'll give you a butterfly kiss."
A butterfly kiss was something completely foreign to Scott, so he looked to Seth for help. As Seth proceeded to explain, Ida walked over and stood behind Betty.
"I imagine he has that effect on many of the female sex." All Betty could manage to do was nod. She didn't think she could speak. She had never pictured Scott liking kids, but the way he was being so kind and gentle with Maggie touched something deep inside her. She could hear him start to spin some fractured fairy tale that, judging by Maggie's squeals of laughter, was a hit.
Ida gave a sidelong glance at Betty's very revealing face. "Hmm. Scott Sherwood is certainly a charming man. And he's quite handsome."
Betty, trying to be nonchalant, agreed. "I guess so. In sort of a charming way."
Ida continued softly, carefully watching her daughter's reaction. "And, if I'm not mistaken, he's very much in love with my daughter."
Ida expected a reaction, but not the one she got. Betty turned to her mother, her eyes puddling with tears. "Oh, Momma, I've ruined everything!"
Betty's Journey of Discovery Series
Go to Betty's Journey of Discovery#19 - Thanksgiving Food for Thought!
Go Back to Betty's Journey of Discovery#17 - On the Road to Indiana!
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