“If it’s one of yours, darlin’, the answer is always yes.”
She cut two pieces of apple crumb pie and sat across from Jesse.
“All he would tell me is he doesn’t want to go to college. But when I pressed him, he claims he doesn’t have any plans beyond high school except to get a job. Then he got angry and stormed out of the house.”
Jesse stared off into the distance. “I know this sounds silly, but maybe it’s kind of a male thing.”
“What do you mean?” Her forkful of pie stopped halfway to her mouth.
“I don’t rightly know, to be honest. But since neither you nor Miss Evans could get anywhere with him, I think I’ll throw my hat in the ring and see if I can find out what’s going on in his head.”
She sighed and pushed away her empty plate. “I hope you can get some answers. I admit I’m at a loss.”
“I’ll take time to talk to him tomorrow.” Jesse stood and removed their empty coffee cups and plates and put them in the sink. “Now it’s time for courtin’.”
She yawned and arched her back to stretch. “I’m too tired to walk tonight.”
“Then we’ll have to sit in the parlor and snuggle in front of the fire.” He took her by the hand and led her to the next room.
Jesse leaned against the doorway of the hardware store across from the high school, watching a steady stream of students come out. A warm day, he loosened his tie and removed his jacket. He hung the light jacket over his shoulder with one finger as he waited for Michael.
When he spotted Michael in a group of girls and boys, he pushed away from the doorway and called to him.
The boy closed his eyes and his shoulders s
lumped a bit. He didn’t try to dodge him, but left his friends and ambled toward him.
“Hi, Michael. How about joining me for a soda at the drug store?”
“Sure.” Michael fell in step alongside him. “I guess they decided to bring in the big guns?”
They walked in silence the two blocks to Alton’s Drug Store, one of the first permanent buildings erected in Guthrie. A long counter with comfortable high seats occupied one entire side of the store. Norman Alton prepared prescriptions in a small glassed-in area. Behind him stood shelves of jars and bottles of all sizes filled with chemicals and powders.
The pharmacist’s perky young daughter, Betsy, mixed two sodas as they sat at the counter. She kept throwing smiles in Michael’s direction, but he sat glumly, staring straight ahead, and never noticed.
“Before you start, Jesse, I know why you want to talk to me.” Michael pulled the soda toward him.
“All right, I figure you for a smart young man, Michael, so what’s the problem? Did you know I got both my college and law school education on scholarships?”
“Did you?” His voice was flat and resigned. “Well, that’s great, but it’s not for me.”
“Since when? Tori tells me you’ve always wanted to go to college. Your pa even saved money to send you. What changed?” Jesse studied him, noting the flush creeping up his neck.
“I don’t want college anymore.” He kept his eyes averted, continuing to stare at his soda like he expected the glass to talk to him.
“I can appreciate that, son, but if you’re going to pass on this opportunity, it must be for something really great.”
Michael sat in silence, moving his straw around.
“Well?” Jesse said.
Michael sighed and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I just can’t go away to college. Can we leave now?”
Jesse ignored the request. “Why not?”
“All right, I’ll tell you.” He sat forward, his eyes flashing and the muscle in his jaw working. “Everybody keeps pushing me for an answer, so here it is. Tori deserves some happiness in her life. Pa didn’t see much of her when she lived in Kentucky, but they kept in touch by letters. He told us she didn’t have an easy time living with her aunt. The woman was just this side of mean, had all kinds of weird ideas about men.” He glanced sideways at Jesse. “But maybe you know about some of them already.”