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come to this reunion, I hadn t thought about Hedgecock for years. Being here again
brings back memories that must have been buried in the back of my mind.
Good ones, I hope.
He grinned but she noticed a faraway look in his deep brown eyes. Mostly. It gives
a kid a rush, having everybody think he s good at a sport, particularly at a position
that s as visible as quarterback. Because I d had to leave San Antonio and move in with
my dad after Mom got killed, the high I got from being the hometown football hero
here was probably less pronounced than it would have been if I d lived here all my life,
grown up playing with my teammates. Not to mention that Dad wasn t one to lay roots
anywhere. I knew that when his work was done, we d be moving on, so Hedgecock was
just a stopping point for me. I never let it feel like home.
Like Dave and the others did? Though Susan had put together brief bios about all
the quarterbacks high school careers, her interest almost from the first had been for
Colin. Not because he d been the first of the four to play in the NFL, but because his
handsome face had captivated her from the first glimpse she d had of his photo. He was
even better in person than he d been in her late-night fantasies.
I guess. He headed toward the field, practically dragging her along with him as
she struggled to match his long, decisive stride. Next to the rusty bleachers now, he
stopped in his tracks. Jesus. These bleachers are disasters waiting to happen. I had no
idea they were this bad.
Time tends to do a number on metal, especially when it s outside in the sun and
rain. According to the research Mel did into old school records, these bleachers were
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Ann Jacobs
built years before you were born. By the way, Mel is Bobby s mom. She and Cal Tate
got married last fall. All of us, and Dave, went to high school around the same time.
As though mesmerized, Colin stepped away, toward the field where he d started
his long, storied career. Coach Williams taught me how to throw out here. I set up a
similar arrangement to that for my quarterbacks to use in Savannah to improve their
accuracy, he said, gesturing toward the series of barrel staves hung sideways on ropes
suspended from the goalposts. Of course I had the staves fabricated from stainless
steel and hung from posts on one end of a practice field. I have trouble imagining the
school district not having taken better care of the facilities over the years.
Hedgecock has had hard times. The oil fields have pretty much played out.
Droughts have taken a toll on the cattle industry. A lot of folks have moved away over
the past few years. She paused then met Colin s gaze. Cal s family has owned the
bank here for generations, and he kept digging into his pockets as long as he could.
He s the one who came up with the idea for a reunion.
I had no idea things were that bad.
You d have had no reason to know.
Colin shook his head. I m glad you persuaded me to come back. With a little luck,
the football camp and reunion activities will bring in a bundle.
We re keeping our fingers crossed. Susan thought about the throwing
competition Cal had set up for Saturday, along with some other football-related
activities to amuse attendees and hopefully separate them from their money. I bet
you ve been out there on the field in Savannah, practicing for the competition coming
up on Saturday.
You re right. It surprised the hell out of me, finding out I can still throw a football
seventy yards, given a brisk tailwind and a lot of luck. He turned to her, grinned. In
workout shorts and a Rebels jersey that showed off his muscular legs and arms, he
looked as if he could go out on that field and get back into the game if he wanted to.
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I m not the sort of guy who d let himself get shown up too badly by the younger guys.
Did you think I would be?
No, Master. She said it quietly, in case the bleachers had ears. The consensus
around here is that Bobby Anthony will win the throwing competition, though. Guess
it s because folks remember him best.
It s because Bobby s the biggest and youngest of us, and he s got the strongest
arm. He won t win, though, because he throws a little bit wild. Not that he won t
improve with practice he s damn good for a rookie. He s got a great career ahead of
him if he manages to stay healthy down in Orlando. Colin paused, frowned. Right
now Keith is more accurate and has almost as strong an arm. Dave is, too, only he s
going to be hampered by that injury to his knee.
I m putting my bet on you.
He laughed and drew her up close to his side. As my perfect little sub should.
Seriously, Keith would be the best bet to win. Unless&
Colin had a wistful look on his handsome face when he looked at the barrel staves.
Why d you retire when you did? He d only been thirty-seven, and as far as she
knew he hadn t suffered a career-ending injury the way Dave had in the last Super
Bowl.
I wanted to go out on top, not hang on until my father-in-law and my teammates
started praying I d retire. I m glad I did, because I don t suffer constant pain the way a
lot of former players do. He paused. I was lucky never to get any serious injuries.
Even luckier that I had the best offensive line in the game protecting my ass. I still send
presents to those guys every Christmas.
And well you should, since they took care of you so well. It thrills me to know
you re still in one very hot piece. Master.
He drew her into his arms, bent and kissed her. Want to go play under the
bleachers?
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Ann Jacobs
You ve got to be kidding. There s an inch-thick layer of rust you re asking me to
get embedded in my backside. Not to mention it s broad daylight.
I d let you lay your pretty butt on my letter jacket. If I still had it, that is. His
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