"There were plenty of times. You just didn't know her
that well."
"Poor darling. I know you were crushed when she died.
I know what it's like to lose someone you love. It's sheer
misery."
Her voice, so soft, changed suddenly, as did her expression.
No longer a shrinking violet, her features hardened with
resolve.' 'Junior, you must stop letting Angus embarrass you,
especially in front of other people."
He gave a careless shrug. This was familiar territory. "He
doesn't mean anything by it. It's just a habit of his."
"Then, it's up to you to break him of it. Darling, don't
you see," she said, "that's what he wants you to do. He
wants you to stand up to him. Angus only understands one
tone of voice--harsh.
"He doesn't know how to be soft-spoken and genteel,
like us. You have to talk to him in a way he understands,
like Reede does. Angus wouldn't dare speak to Reede in
the condescending way he does to you because he respects
Reede. And he respects him because Reede doesn't kowtow
to him."
"Dad thinks Reede can do no wrong. To this day, it sticks
in his craw that Reede left ME. He'd much rather have Reede
than me around to manage things. I never do anything to his
liking."
"That's simply not true!" Sarah Jo objected, showing
more spirit than she had in weeks. "Angus is very proud of you. He just doesn't know how to show it. He's such a
hard man. He's had to be tough to accomplish everything
he's done. He wants you to be tough, too."
Junior grinned, doubling up his fists. "Okay, Mother, tomorrow
morning I'll come out slugging."
She giggled. His resilience and sense of humor had always
delighted her. "Not literally, I hope, but that's the spirit
Angus wants to see in you."
Laughter was a good note to leave on. Junior seized the
opportunity, said his good night, gave her his promise to
drive safely, and left. On the stairs, he met Angus, who was
carrying his boots and limping. "When are you going to see
a doctor about that toe?"
"What good's a goddamn doctor, except to take your
money? I ought to shoot off the sonofabitch and be done with
it."
Junior smiled. "Okay, but don't get blood on the carpet.
Mother would have a fit."
Angus laughed, all traces of anger gone. It was as if the
episode in his den had never happened. He placed his arm
across Junior's shoulders and gave them a quick squeeze. "I
knew I could depend on you to get that girl out here. It worked
out just like I hoped it would. We've put her on the defensive
and planted seeds of doubt. If she's smart, and I believe she
is, she'll call this thing off before too much damage has been
done."
"What if she doesn't?"
"If she doesn't, we'll cross that bridge, too," Angus said
darkly. Then he smiled and affectionately slapped Junior on
the cheek. "Good night, boy."
Junior watched his father hobble across the landing. Feeling
much better, he whistled softly beneath his breath on his way
downstairs. Angus wouldn't be disappointed in him this time.
The job he had been assigned suited nun to a tee.
His experience in handling women was legendary. The
challenges that Alex presented would just make the chase that much more exciting and fun. She was a damned attractive
woman. Even if Angus hadn't told him, he would have wooed
her anyway.
Doing it just right, however, would take some time and
thought. He would give himself a few days to come up with
a sure-fire strategy. In the meantime, there were lesser worlds
to conquer. He saluted his handsome image in the hallway
mirror on his way out the front door.