Revelation of Hearts (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #3) (2 page)

M
ary Beth Penwell was almost nineteen.  She was very shy as well as a very pretty girl with copper red hair and green eyes. Mary Beth was from a coal mining community in Wales. Her father died when she was fourteen. Mary Beth had to quit school and go to work to support her mother and herself.  She had two older brothers that worked in the mines also. They both were married with families, so they were no help; they did well to take care of their own.

For four years, Mary Beth had worked as a maid for a wealthy family.  She dreamed of being free some day and going to live in America.  The very last thing she wanted to do was marry a coal miner.  She wanted as far away from that kind of life as possible.

In April nineteen-twenty-five, Mary Beth Penwell’s mother died.  Mary Beth sold their cottage and packed one large trunk, then bought a train ticket to Liverpool, England.  She asked the shipmaster, “What is the next ship to America?”

“The Morning Star, bound for Galveston, Texas,” he told her.

Mary Beth had heard a little of Texas, but nothing of Galveston. She had long dreamed of going to America. So if this Galveston was in America that was good enough for her.

For one week, Winston and Mary Beth shared a table. He talked and she listened but she talked very little. Next, they shared walks on deck.  By the time, they reached the Texas coast they knew they were in love. They asked the ship’s captain to marry them.  On the fourteenth of June, nineteen-twenty-five, aboard the Morning Star, Winston Jordan Flemming, born the twenty-first of February, nineteen-hundred-two in Leeds, England married Mary Beth Penwell, born the fifteenth of May, nineteen-hundred-six in Wales, England.

Winston and Mary Beth lived in Galveston for one year.  The summer of nineteen-twenty-six, a hurricane hit, and tore up a good part of Galveston. Winston hated the sea. He told Mary Beth, “I want us to move north, as far away from the sea as our money will take us.”

Winston bought two tickets to Dallas. Once again, all they had left was their three trunks, therefore Winston and Mary Beth, with their three trunks, headed north to Dallas. In Dallas, Winston found a job at Sears-Roebuck in shipping and receiving. Mary Beth went to work at the peanut butter factory. Starting over was hard, but they managed. The winter of nineteen-thirty, on December, thirteenth Bradley Jordon Flemming was born. Winston knew his dream of becoming a doctor was out of the question. The next best thing was to become a pharmacist. For two years, he apprenticed to get his license. Winston worked as an assistant pharmacist to Mr. William Wadsworth at Walgreen’s drug store for eight years.

Winston and Mary Beth now had two sons. Winston Douglas was born on November, tenth nineteen-thirty-three. Two years later, their neighborhood drug store came up for sale. With a loan from the bank, they purchased the drug store and Winston and Mary Beth ran it together. They made a playroom in back for the boys. Bradley was in school most of the day, so there was just two-year-old Douglas to watch over. The Flemmings were two hard working people. They were very content with their lives.  They felt they were living the American dream.

To their happiness and surprise, a red haired, green-eyed daughter was born on June twentieth nineteen-forty-four. Winston felt he was surely blessed with a beautiful loving wife and three wonderful children. In nineteen-forty-seven, Bradley won a scholarship to Rice University in Houston. Four years later, Douglas won his scholarship to Tulane University in Louisiana. When both of their sons wanted to go to medical school, Winston and Mary Beth thought it no hardship to mortgage their home to pay their tuition.  When Lora Beth graduated high school and wanted to go to nursing school, Winston made sure the funds were available. Winston and Mary Beth were very proud of their children. They watched their dreams come true vicariously through their children.

Chapter- 3

Captain Michael Patterson

When Lora walked into the ward the next morning, Captain Patterson asked, “Nurse Flemming, where were you yesterday? I missed you.”

“Captain, do you see chevrons on my sleeves?” Nurse Flemming asked.

“No,” he said with a frown.

“Then I don’t believe I have to report to you,” she said.

“She’s gotcha’ there, Captain,” the airman in the next bed said.

While Lora did her early med-rounds in the ward, Captain Patterson could not keep his eyes off her. Lora could feel his eyes following her. She told herself; don’t even think of getting involved with him. He’s far too handsome and I’m sure he has women falling all over themselves vying for his attention.

As Lora came to check on her ward before going off duty, a sergeant across from Captain Patterson said, “Hey, Nurse Flemming, the Captain here said, “He’s gonna marry you.”

Lora turned around and looked at the captain, who had three WAF’s visiting, and said, “No sergeant, it would never work. I have no desire to live in a harem!” That set the whole ward chortling.

On Friday, Captain Patterson was discharged. Lora rather hated to see him go. It had been fun bantering back and forth with him.  She knew better than to take him seriously. She had been warned about, ‘These fly boys,’ when she came to work at the hospital.  As Lora left the hospital at three-thirty who was waiting leaning against the fender of her old Ford Fairlane but Captain Michael Patterson. 

“You love this place so much you can’t leave it?” 

“No, Nurse Flemming, it’s you I love so much, I can’t leave you.”

Lora looked all around and said, “You can, can that, Captain.  There’s no audience here to hear.”

“The only audience I want is standing right in front of me,” Captain Patterson said. “Come, have an early dinner with me.”

Lora opened her car door, started to get in and then turned, “Captain, my momma didn’t raise no fool. I know you come from a big city back east and I’m just a little ole’ Texas girl from Dallas. I’ve had four years of nurses training. I know about the birds and the bees, and I have no intentions of being another notch on your belt.” 

Michael caught the door as she started to close it. “I know the birds and the bees thing, however, I’m not familiar with the notch on the belt, thing.  I’ll be here waiting every afternoon until you agree to go out with me.  I’m not a bad guy, honey.  Hell woman, I’m one of the good guys.”  Michael closed her car door and stepped back.  Lora backed out and drove away.

Lora went to the laundry-mat to do her washing and then home to starch and iron her uniforms. Her mind was on Captain Patterson the entire time. Lora told herself; stop this now. She knew she was attracted to him therefore she must nip-it-in-the-bud, so to speak.

Every afternoon, for the next three days, Michael was waiting at her car. Each afternoon they talked a little bit longer. Tuesday was Lora’s day off.  She wondered if he would show up anyway. She had just returned home from the laundry-mat when Michael pulled in behind her. Lora just stood and looked at him.

“I have you surrounded, so invite me in,” he said with a grin. “As you can see I’m not wearing a belt.” He opened his bomber jacket to show her and then took the laundry basket from her hands.

“Well, come on in,” Lora invited him, laughing. Michael helped her by putting her towels and sheets away. When he got to her dainties, he smiled as she took the basket.

“I’ll put those away,” she said.

They talked while she ironed two of her uniforms, then they went to eat at the drive-in, just outside the east gate. When he took her home, he asked, “Am I going to scare you off if I kiss you?”

“No,” she said. “I really don’t scare that easily.”

Lora had been wondering what his kiss would feel like. She had dated a normal amount and had been kissed before many times, but none of her previous experiences had prepared her for the breath taking, light headed, feeling Michael’s kiss had made her feel. She was speechless and tingling all over. When she could focus again, Michael was smiling at her.  She stepped back away from him and said, “I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

Michael looked at her confused, then in his flamboyant way said, “Good god woman, don’t tell me my kiss was that bad.”

“No Captain, I’m sure you know exactly what your kisses are like. I’m sure you’re very experienced,” Lora said.

“Why are you calling me Captain again?” Michael asked, “And yes, I’ve kissed women before, but I’ve never felt what I felt with you just now. You said my kiss wouldn’t scare you off.”  When Lora didn’t say anything, he asked, “Has some man hurt you before?” 

“No Michael, that’s what I’m trying to avoid now.” 

“Baby, all I want to do is love you and marry you.” 

“Let me think about it,” Lora said.

“Fine honey, think about it but don’t take too long,” Michael said. “There’s a war on out there.” He pulled Lora to him and kissed her again, then walked to his car, backed out and drove away. 

Lora could hardly sleep for thinking about Michael.  She remembered the old adage, ‘Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.’

The next day at three-thirty, Michael was waiting for her at her car. “Will you go out to dinner with me?” he asked. He was dressed in his uniform and was so handsome it made her weak in the knees.

“I’ll pick you up at seven,” he said.

He was there at seven on the dot. Lora knew he had been sitting out front for almost twenty minutes. When she opened the door, the look on Michael’s face told her volumes.

“My god woman, you’re beautiful. You look like a young Susan Hayward!”

Lora was dressed in a tan wool skirt with a green sweater and double-breasted jacket to match. Her red hair was just past her shoulders in a flip.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Michael said, “we’re going to the Officers club. I want to show you off.”

“I don’t think I wanna be shown off. I’m not a prize or am I?” Lora asked, suspiciously

“No, sweetheart,” he said, “I was joking. I’m on stand-by alert, and I can’t leave the base for long, actually,

I’m not supposed to leave it at all for the next forty-eight hours.”

“I really know very little about the military.” Lora said. “For what are you standing-by?”

Michael grinned and explained, “I fly B-52 bombers. This is a SAC base, (Strategic Air Command) we might be called up at any time therefore we have to be packed and ready to go on short notice.”

“To where?” Lora asked, “Viet Nam?”

“Possibly,” Michael said, “Or someplace else in Southeast Asia.”

Michael and Lora had dinner at the officer’s club, and then danced to a swing band. Michael told Lora all about himself and how he came straight out of college into the Air Force.  He already knew how to fly as his dad was a pilot in the Korean War and had taught him how to fly when he was sixteen.  His dad now lived in Alaska where he was a bush pilot. His mom and dad were divorced and his mom had remarried to a college professor in New Hampshire. He had three younger siblings. A brother Charles age eighteen and twin sisters Jan and Joy age fifteen.  Michael had just turned twenty-six on the fourteenth of October. 

Lora told Michael about her life, but it sounded dull compared to his.  He had spent many of his summers in Alaska with his dad. “Do you ski?” Michael asked.       

“No,” Lora said. “Where would I do that, on the banks of the Trinity?” 

Michael chortled at Lora and said, “After we’re married I’ll take you to New Hampshire and teach you how to ski, ice skate and toboggan.”

“It all sounds grand,” Lora said, “but you’re taking a lot for granted, aren’t you?” 

“No, I’m going to marry you. Don’t you feel it too, this magic between us?” Michael said as he kissed her hand.

Lora wasn’t about to tell him, but yes, she felt it too.  She was happy and content in his arms as they danced late into the night. When Michael took her home, he asked, “If I kiss you are you going to go ballistic on me again?” 

“Well, you never know until you try Captain,” Lora teased him with a smile.  This time Lora allowed her emotions to guide her.  She put her arms around him and let her body melt into his. He kissed her long and slow.  As he pulled away, he said, “Baby we gotta get married soon. You’re killing me, but what a way to die.”

Two days later the alert was canceled.  Michael called to tell Lora, he might not see her for a couple of days. They were doing fly-a-rounds, but he would be out as soon as he could get off base again.  Two days later Michael was at her door on Tuesday morning.  Lora called her parents and told them, she had a lot to do and would see them next week. Michael came with ring in hand. “Will you marry me?” he asked. “When I have to leave again baby, I need to know you’ll be here waiting for me.” 

This time Lora said, “Yes.” Lora knew she loved Michael and she wasn’t going to hold back.  She took his hand and led him to the bedroom. “Are you sure?” Michael asked.

“Yes, but you’ll have to guide me through; I’m not sure what to do.”

Michael knew exactly what to do. He was gentle tender and loving. He took her to sensual heights she had read about but never experienced. Later, as Lora lay in his arms, he asked, “When do we get married?” 

“Will your family come, if we send invitations?” 

“Yes, I think so, I’ll call and ask. I’ve told them about you already.” 

“You have!” Lora said with surprise. “I guess I better take you to meet my folks then.”

True to her word, Lora’s next day off she took Michael to meet her parents. The meeting went amazingly well. Michael wore his uniform.  His demeanor and sincerity was very impressive. Lora couldn’t believe how lucky she was. 

Michael talked with his mom in New Hampshire and his dad in Alaska. Lora talked with both of her brothers. It seemed June would be the best time for everyone, so Michael and Lora made wedding plans for June.  They spent every minute that they could together. They had six weeks of talking, loving, laughing and just being happy in each other’s arms. 

The first week in March, Michael broke the news that he would be going TDY in a week. “What’s TDY?” Lora asked. 

“It means temporary duty,” Michael explained. “Some of my squadron is going to Guam for three months. We’ll be back in June, and then we’ll get married.”