In Every Heartbeat Part 14

"Martin's, then?"

"No." Pete pushed the remaining waffle back and forth on his plate with the fork's tines. "We all went to school together. So we're . . . friends." Or were were friends. With all that had happened since they'd come to college, Pete wasn't sure he could define his relations.h.i.+p with Libby or Bennett anymore. The thought saddened him. friends. With all that had happened since they'd come to college, Pete wasn't sure he could define his relations.h.i.+p with Libby or Bennett anymore. The thought saddened him.

"Then she's available?"

The eagerness in the man's voice raised Pete's hackles. He dropped his fork, his appet.i.te gone. "Why are you asking me?"

Roy shoved his tray to the side. He rested both arms on the table and leaned close to Pete. "Because I think she's the prettiest girl on campus, and I'd like to get to know her better. I've tried. She resists me. And I'm not one to back off from a challenge."

Pete shook his head, baffled. "I still don't know why you're asking me."

"Because I think you can get me what I want."

Pete laughed. He hadn't intended to, but the sound rose up without effort. "How?"

"You just said you went to school together. That you're friends."

"Yes, but-"

"And I've got something you want. You help me, and I'll help you."

"What do you have that I want?"

Roy's grin turned conniving. "A place in Beta Theta Pi."

Pete chuckled. "I'm afraid you're mistaken, Roy. I'm not pledging Beta Theta Pi."

"Sure you are. Your name's on the list. Right below that buddy of yours, Bennett Martin."

Pete frowned. "I didn't ask to pledge a fraternity."

"But your buddy did. And it looks to me like he wants both of you to get in. Well, here's the thing." Roy c.o.c.ked his head to the side, his eyes narrowed. "Right now I'm seein' the two of you as a matched set. What one gets, you both get; what one loses, you both lose. If I don't take you, I don't take Martin." He waggled his hands in the air. "Is any of this makin' sense to you, pal?"

Roy was making perfect sense. And Pete didn't like it at all. "Listen, Roy, if you think you can blackmail-"

"Now, let's not use ugly words." Roy sat back, his expression so friendly anyone looking on would a.s.sume they were best friends enjoying a chat. "Let's just call it a trade-off. You know what Martin wants-to be a member of Beta Theta Pi. Poor sap-growing up in an orphanage, never having a family." Roy clicked his tongue on his teeth, his brow puckering. "Understandable why becoming a member of the fraternity is so important to him. But that'll only happen if you choose to join, too. And I'll only invite you if you help me get what I want: Miss Elisabet Conley on my arm."

Roy's grin turned smug. "You pitch a mean baseball, Peg leg. Are you as skilled when it comes to pitchin' woo?"

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.

Why hadn't he gone straight to the train station and skipped breakfast? Pete could have avoided-or at least postponed- being placed in an impossible position by Roy. Already uptight at the prospect of seeing his parents, he didn't need another worry added to the list. "Roy, I-"

Roy threw his hand in the air. "Don't answer now. I expect you to think about it. Take a day. Or the weekend." His gaze shot somewhere behind Pete's shoulder, and his smile grew. "Or if you'd rather not put it off, you've got a chance right now . . ." As he spoke, he pushed away from the table and lurched into the aisle. "Miss Conley, good morning."

Pete jerked his head to find Libby standing at the end of the table, blocked from pa.s.sage by Roy's body. Her eyes darted back and forth between Pete and Roy, confusion reflected in their velvety depths.

"Good morning," she said without smiling.

"Peg leg and me were just talking about you." Roy flicked a grin at Pete then tipped toward Libby. "But I think we're done. I'll leave you two alone to . . ." He twirled his pointer finger in circles at Pete then ambled off with his hands in his pockets.

Libby watched him go, her face marred by a scowl of displeasure. She spun back to face Pete. "What are you doing, talking with him about me me?"

She sounded hurt. Betrayed. Heat rose from Pete's middle and filled his face. "Libby, I . . ." He swallowed. How could he explain?

Sinking into the chair across from him, she searched his face. "He was just trying to get under my skin, wasn't he? You weren't really discussing me." She blew out a big breath, nodding as if a.s.suring herself. Sending a venomous look at Roy's retreating back, she pursed her lips. "Just like Roy, trying to create problems where none exist." Then she licked her lips, a pained expression creasing her brow. "At least . . . I wish no problems existed between us, Petey."

Without thinking, Pete reached out and took her hand. He squeezed. "None that can't be fixed."

Relief broke over her face. The beauty of her innocent smile nearly tied his heart in a knot. How he wished he had the freedom to openly profess his love for her. But he couldn't-not without taking something precious away from her. He quickly released her hand and stumbled to his feet. "I . . . I have to go. I have a train to catch."

She rose, too. "A train? Where are you going?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he observed Roy in the far corner of the dining hall, watching them. The man no doubt would a.s.sume Pete was convincing Libby to consider him as a potential beau, so he probably should end the conversation quickly. Yet he didn't want to leave Libby's presence just yet. "To Clayton."

Her eyes flew wide. "You are? Why?"

"To see my . . . to visit the Leidigs."

[image]

Libby gasped. Did Petey already know about Oscar Leidig sitting in a jail cell, awaiting execution? "You're going to see your brother?"

Petey looked confused. "My parents. I . . . hadn't thought about seeing my brothers or sisters."

So he didn't know. But maybe his parents intended to tell him. "Did they summon you?"

"It's my idea. Something I've needed to do for a long time."

Petey sighed, and his gaze drifted away.

She darted around the table and touched his arm. He gave a start and looked down at her. Peering into his sad, haunted eyes, Libby felt as though she were looking once more at the artist's drawing of the courtroom scene. She couldn't let him go by himself. If Oscar Leidig was Petey's brother, then his parents would certainly tell Petey. She couldn't allow him to receive this news from people who cared so little for him they'd cast him aside when he was just a child.

"I'm going with you."

Petey shook his head. "You can't do that, Libby."

"Why not?"

"Several reasons." He flicked one finger upward. "I only have one train ticket."

"I can buy my own."

He put a second finger in the air. "You have a.s.signments to do."

"I can work on them away from the campus."

Shaking his head, he held up three fingers. "It would be unseemly for us to travel together, unchaperoned. I won't sully your reputation."

Libby suspected, based on Alice-Marie's scathing diatribe from a few days ago, that Libby's reputation was already in question by a few people on campus. But she didn't want to damage Petey's. Especially when he intended to become a minister. She bit down on her lower lip.

He put his hand on her shoulder. "I appreciate your willingness to go with me, but-"

An idea struck. "What if Alice-Marie came, too? Could she serve as chaperone? After all, you and Bennett and I all traveled together and no one questioned it. If there was a third person, it would eliminate ill conjecture, wouldn't it?"

Petey scratched his head. "Libby, I-"

"Her family lives in Clayton, too, and last weekend I . . . I offended them." The idea grew in merit the more she thought about it. Not only would she be where Petey needed her to be, she could set things right with Alice-Marie's family, which would end the uncomfortable icy silence between the girls. "If I returned with Alice-Marie, I'd be able to apologize to them and restore myself in their good graces. Please, Petey? Will you wait long enough for me to ask her? If she says no, then I'll-" She broke off, unwilling to finish the sentence. She wouldn't let him go alone. She'd follow on a later train, if she had to, but she wouldn't let him go alone.

He heaved a sigh. "Hurry and ask her. My train leaves at ten, and it's already past eight."

Joy filled Libby's heart. "I'll be right back." She dashed across the dining hall to where Alice-Marie sat with several girls from Kappa Kappa Gamma. They all sent unsmiling looks in her direction, but she ignored them and went straight to Alice-Marie. "Alice-Marie, I have a favor to ask."

The girl sniffed. "I'm quite certain the answer will be no, but go ahead and ask."

A part of her wanted to blast Alice-Marie for her self-important behavior, but Petey needed her. She could swallow her pride for Petey's sake. "Would you allow me to purchase train tickets for the two of us to travel to Clayton so I can apologize . . . in person . . . to your parents?"

Alice-Marie's haughty expression softened a smidgen. "Apologize?"

Libby nodded. "I was wrong to sneak away and then hide what I'd been doing." A flurry of whispers carried around the table.

Libby remained focused on Alice-Marie rather than allowing the gossipy girls to distract her. "I would feel much better if I could make things right."

Alice-Marie raised one shoulder in a slow shrug. "I . . . suppose we could do that. I'm free this weekend."

"I want to go today."

Alice-Marie gawked at Libby. "Today? But it's Thursday. I have cla.s.ses."

"We could make them up. This is important, Alice-Marie. It can't wait." She held her breath, her heart pounding, while she waited for Alice-Marie to decide. If they didn't leave until Sat.u.r.day, it might be too late. Petey would gain the information another way.

"Well, you do do owe my parents an apology, and I suppose I could make up my cla.s.ses when I return. . . ." owe my parents an apology, and I suppose I could make up my cla.s.ses when I return. . . ."

Libby's breath whooshed out. "Thank you!" She grabbed her roommate's arm. "Hurry now. We need to pack. The train leaves at ten!"

While Libby tossed necessary items into a suitcase, Alice-Marie made up for her days of silence. Libby's ears rang from the girl's nonstop commentary on everything Libby had done wrong since the very first day of cla.s.ses. Libby pretended to listen, nodding and agreeing, while rus.h.i.+ng Alice-Marie across campus to meet Petey. Alice-Marie's tongue never stilled the entire cab ride, but her voice came to an abrupt halt when they reached the train station and found Bennett waiting on the steps of the depot with a suitcase dangling from his hand.

Libby bounded toward him. "What are you doing here?"

"Goin' to Clayton, of course. Didn't think you'd leave me out of the fun, did you?"

Alice-Marie fluttered her lashes. "Why Bennett Martin, you rascal. Libby didn't tell me you were accompanying us."

"Because I didn't know," Libby said. She suspected if she'd mentioned it, Alice-Marie wouldn't have hesitated to miss her cla.s.ses.

Petey hitched forward. "How did you know we were going to Clayton? I didn't say anything to you."

Bennett shrugged. "Came by your room this morning to drop off the pen I borrowed, and-"

"Is that where my pen went?" Petey released a little grunt. "I didn't know you borrowed it."

"Now you do." Bennett laughed, clopping Petey on the arm. "I saw your suitcase on the bed, peeked in it, and found the train ticket."

"Bennett!" Alice-Marie looked scandalized. "You're a common snoop!"

"No, I'm an exceptional snoop," Bennett replied without an ounce of remorse. "I figured, why let Pete have all the fun? If he could skip out on cla.s.ses, so could I. So I packed my bag and bought a ticket." He waved a rectangle of stiff paper. "I'm ready to go."

Libby squealed. "Tickets! I still need to buy mine and Alice-Marie's!"

"Better hurry." Bennett gave Libby a little push toward the ticket window. "There's a long line, and the train'll board in less than half an hour."

Libby dashed to the window. As Bennett had indicated, several other travelers were already in line. She bit her nails and danced in place, watching the round clock on the wall while praying the train wouldn't leave without her. At last her turn arrived, and she handed the money to the tired-looking man behind the counter. Alice-Marie hovered at her shoulder, watching the transaction. The moment Libby had tickets in hand, Alice-Marie s.n.a.t.c.hed one and hustled to the lobby.

Alice-Marie sank down beside Bennett on a long wooden bench, scooting close. She fanned herself with the ticket and grinned at Bennett. Libby could hardly believe this was the same girl who'd been giving her the cold shoulder all week. Being around Bennett had melted her frostiness completely.

Alice-Marie hunched her shoulders and giggled. "Isn't this exciting? It's like an adventure."

Sitting beside Alice-Marie, Libby decided she wouldn't have defined the trip as exciting. Perhaps nerve-racking. Or even heartrending. But Alice-Marie didn't know the true purpose for this excursion.

"You must be certain to come by my house," Alice-Marie nearly purred, adjusting Bennett's lapel. "I'd adore the opportunity to introduce you to Mother and Daddy."

"Alice-Marie," Libby said, a sudden worry striking, "your parents won't be angry at us, will they, for arriving without any warning?" If Alice-Marie's parents wouldn't allow the girls to stay at their home, this trip might turn out to be a bigger adventure than Libby had imagined.

Alice-Marie placed her hand against her bodice and stared at Libby with wide eyes and open mouth. "Mother and Daddy would never never turn me away, expected or not. And of course you'll be welcome to stay there, too, once they've accepted your apology." She a.s.sumed a pout. "But the boys will need to find other accommodations. My parents are welcoming but very traditional. They'd never allow someone of the male persuasion to reside under their roof while I'm there." turn me away, expected or not. And of course you'll be welcome to stay there, too, once they've accepted your apology." She a.s.sumed a pout. "But the boys will need to find other accommodations. My parents are welcoming but very traditional. They'd never allow someone of the male persuasion to reside under their roof while I'm there."

Bennett sent Libby an amused look, but she ignored it and turned to Petey. "How long do you think you'll need to stay in Clayton?"

Petey grimaced. "I'm not sure. Maybe just a day. It . . . depends."

"On what?" Alice-Marie chirped the question, seemingly unaware of Petey's pale, pinched face.

"On how things go," he answered so softly Libby almost didn't hear him over the voices of other waiting pa.s.sengers and the hiss of steam engines outside on the track. But her heart wrenched at the anguish in his tone.

She started to rise, intending to sit beside him and offer a few words of encouragement, but before she could speak a blue-suited conductor stepped inside the waiting room and swung a bra.s.s bell. The room hushed as the man cupped his hand beside his mouth. "Boarding the ten-o'clock train for Clayton! Let's go, folks-time to board!"

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.