"No. You would have to wait-and these woods are filled with wolves in khaki anxious to pick up eighteen-year-old grandmothers. The Fun House?"
'"All right." Then her mouth twitched. "No, I forgot something. Those blasts of air up from the floor-intended to make girls squeal and clutch their skirts. Which I don't mind but-no bloomers, dear. Unless you want everyone to see whether or not I'm truly a redhead."
"Are you?"
She smiled, unoffended. "Tease. Don't you know?"
"It was very dark near that walnut tree."
"Redhead at both ends, Theodore. As I would happily show you were it not for the-frustrating-circumstances. Brian asked me that while we were courting. Teasing, he didn't need to ask; I was covered with freckles then, just like Marie. I let him find out for himself on a grassy spot by the Marais des Cygnes River while a gentle old mare named 'Daisy' cropped grass and paid no attention to my happy squeals. I suppose the automobile is here to stay-but the horse-and-buggy had many advantages. Didn't you find it so? When you started stepping out with young ladies?"
Lazarus agreed with a straight face, unable to admit that his memories did not include 1899 or whatever year she was thinking of. Maureen went on, "I used to fix a picnic lunch and take a blanket to eat on. That was one way a girl of courting age could be unchaperoned as long as I was home before dark. A horse can take a buggy into spots even more private than our walnut tree. Truthfully, despite this modem talk about 'wild women' and morals breaking down, I had more freedom as a girl than my daughters do. Although I try not to make my chaperonage oppressive."
"They don't seem oppressed. I'm sure they're happy."
"Theodore, I would much rather have my children be happy than what our pastor says is 'moral.' I simply want to be sure they aren't hurt. I am not 'moral' by the accepted rules-as you know quite well. Though not as well as I had hoped you would know it, and I'm taking out my frustration in talking about it. Perhaps you would rather I did not?"
"Maureen, since we can't do it, the next best thing is talking about it."
"Me, too, Theodore. I wish I were covered with chigger bites and my soul filled with the peace I know you could give me. Since I can't give myself to you the way I had hoped, I want you to know me as deeply as words can bring us together as deeply as I wish you were in my body this very instant. Does my frankness shock you?"
"No. But it might get you raped right on this bench!"
"Please, not so much enthusiasm, dear one; people can see us-we're talking about the weather. Tell me, is your thing hard?"
"Does it show?"
"No, but if it is, think about blizzards and icebergs-Brian says that helps-because our pony rider needs to be lifted down."
They played both games for prizes; then Mrs. Smith decided that she could risk the Fun House if she clutched her skirts as if crossing a muddy street. Woodie enjoyed it, especially the Hall of Mirrors and the Crystal Maze. Maureen avoided air blasts by watching girls ahead of them, then either walked on one side or held her skirts firmly.
Woodie tired himself out, so Lazarus picked him up and he seemed to fall asleep-as his head touched Lazarus' shoulder. They started to leave, which took them over the farewell air blast. Mrs. Smith was ahead and Lazarus assumed that she had it spotted from the way she swerved-then she turned as if to speak to him, and stood over it. Her skirts went flying high.
She did not squeal; she simply pushed them down a split second too late. Once they were outside she said, "Well, sir?"
"Same color. But curly, I think."
"Quite. As curly as my other hair is straight; As you already knew."
"And you did it on purpose."
"Certainly. Woodrow is asleep and you had his head turned away. Perhaps some stranger got an eyeful, but I think not. If someone did, what can he do? Write a letter to my husband? Pooh. There was no one in there who knows us; I kept my eyes open. And grabbed the chance."
"Maureen, you continue to amaze and delight me."
"Thank you, sir."
"And you have beautiful limbs."
"'Legs,' Theodore. Brian says so, too, but I'm no expert on women's legs. But when he tells me so, he always says 'legs.' 'Limbs' is for public speech. So he says."
"The more I know about the Captain, the more I like him. You have gorgeous legs. And green garters."
"Of course they're green. When I was a little girl, I wore green hair ribbons. I'm too old for hair ribbons, but if there is the teeniest possibility that my curls will be seen, I wear green garters. I have many pairs; Brian gives them to me. Some with naughty mottoes on them."
"Are there mottoes on these?"
"'Little pitchers,' Theodore. Let's get Woodrow settled down in the back seat."
It seemed to Lazarus that "little pitchers" could not be listening; the child was limp as a rag doll. Nor did he wake when he was bedded down; he curled into fetal position, and his mother put the robe over him.
Lazarus handed her into the car, cranked it and joined her. "Straight home?"
She said thoughtfully, "There is plenty of gasoline; Brian Junior filled the tank this afternoon. I don't think Woodrow will wake."
"I know there's enough gasoline; I checked when I went out to meet Mr. Johnson's captain. Shall I find that walnut tree?"
"Oh, dear! Please don't tempt me. Woodrow might wake up and could climb over the back and get out, as easily as he climbed in and hid. He's not old enough to understand what we would be doing; nevertheless, I think his misunderstanding of it could upset him just as much. No, Theodore. What I meant is this: It's not late, it's just late for a little boy. While he sleeps we can ride around and talk for, oh, an hour. If you wish."
"We'll do that." He got rolling and added, "Maureen, although I want to take you back to that walnut tree, I think it's best that we don't. Best for you, I mean."
"But, darling! Why? Don't you think I want you?"
"I do think you want me. And God knows I want you. But despite your brave talk, I don't think you've ever done that. You would want to confess to your husband and if you did, it would make you both unhappy-and I don't want to make Captain Smith unhappy either; he's a good sort. Or maybe you could keep it to yourself-but it would prey on your mind. Because, while you love me-a little-you love him a great deal more and I am sure of that. So it's best. Isn't that so?"
Mrs. Smith was silent a long moment. Then she said, "Theodore, take me straight to that walnut tree."
"No."
"Why not, dear? I must show you that I do love you and that I am not afraid to let you have me."
"Maureen, you would do it; you have the courage to do anything. But you would be tense and worried, afraid that Woodie would wake up. And you do love Brian. All the sweetly intimate things you've told me kept saying that."
"But don't you think my heart is big enough for both of you?"
"I'm certain it is. You love ten people that I know of; I'm sure you can squeeze in one more. But I love you and do not want you to do anything that would make a wall between you and your husband. Or hurt you both through your trying to tear down that wall by confessing. Beloved, I want your love even more than I want your dear, sweet body."
Again she was silent before speaking: "Theodore, I must tell you things about my husband and me. Private things."
"You shouldn't."
"I should and I must-and I shall. But- Please, will you touch me while I talk? Don't say anything, just touch me closely and intimately and nakedly...while I strip myself naked with words. Please?"
Lazarus put his free hand on her thigh. She pulled up her skirts, opened her thighs, pushed his hand more firmly to her. Then she covered his hand with her skirt, and spoke in an even, steady voice: "Theodore beloved, I love Brian and Brian loves me and he knows exactly what I am. I could keep a secret forever to keep from hurting him, and he would do the same for me. I must tell you what he said to me before he went away to Plattsburg-and I must use 'bedroom words,' Theodore; polite words don't have the force it must have.