Page 50 of Truly, Madly Viking

"Skydiving?"

"Jumping out of an airplane."

Joe gasped. She had already explained to him before what an airplane was when he'd commented on the large objects seen occasionally in the sky over Rainbow.

"Why would anyone willingly jump out of an air machine?"

"My point, precisely."

"And you think I am insane!" he exclaimed with a shake of his head.

Just then the rest of the group came back to the table, all laughing and talking at once. Harry had paused before a mirrored beer sign to adjust his hair drape, which must have gotten mussed during his energetic activity.

Even Steve had joined the dance lessons, much to Maggie's delight. There were so many good things that had happened today, and she considered Steve's progress the best. His willingness to step up to the Vietnam wall was well worth the field trip. He plopped down into the chair next to Joe, signaled the waiter for a cold Coke, then drawled at Joe, "Coward."

"If 'tis cowardly to avoid making a fool of myself, then I admit to being such. I never suspected you could wiggle your arse in quite such an attractive manner."

"Like my butt, do ya?"

Before Joe could answer with the smart retort she knew was coming, one of the band members announced over the loudspeakers, "We're about to begin the weekly amateur talent contest. Remember, folks, all the winners of these weekly competitions get to come back to Boot Scootin' Cowboy on New Year's Eve for the grand finale. It'll be televised on the local cable network. The top winner gets to make a demo with a major record company."

Everyone clapped.

Maggie glanced down at her watch. It was five o'clock. They should be heading back to the hospital about now. Maggie looked at Harry; they both looked at the rapt faces of everyone in their group, including the two attendants, but most especially at Natalie, who was adjusting wonderfully to the nightclub. She and Harry both shrugged, agreeing silently to wait a little while longer.

Joe stood.

She and Harry were immediately alert.

"I'm just going to the privy," he informed them with a clucking sound of disgust. "If I'd wanted to escape, I would have done it at Orcaland, or at the wall."

They both relaxed and turned their attention back to the entertainment. Even so, Maggie was uneasy till he returned a short time later.

First a sister act did a clogging routine to the tune of a fast-paced Charlie Daniels song about the devil coming down to Georgia, They were really good.

Then five boys under the age of twelve, the next Osmond Brothers, she presumed—did a rip roaring medley of country-western hits, like "God Bless Texas," "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Stand By Your Man,"

and "Friends in Low Places."

A college sorority had ten of its sisters do an extremely provocative linedance routine to the old Rod Stewart song, "Do You Think I'm Sexy?" By the sound of the thunderous applause, the crowd thought they were.

There were some duds in the bunch, too. A too loud guitarist from Abilene. A shy piano vocalist whose voice could barely be heard over the sound of her music. A young male comedian who must fancy himself the Andrew Dice Clay of Opryland.

Just before the end of the program, the lead singer of the band took the microphone and announced, "We have one last-minute entry... a little songbird from right here in Galveston whose dream is to become the next Patsy Cline. Hey, a whole lot of women down in Nashville have been tryin' to take her place over the years, but who knows, maybe this will be the one. Let's give a big Texas welcome to our hometown gal... Miss Natalie Blue."

The nightclub burst into applause, but there was an ominous silence at their large table. Natalie was stunned, her face going as white as her cowgirl outfit, and her fingers, which had been encircling a glass, beginning to shake visibly.

"How did this happen? Who signed her up?" Maggie demanded.

As one, everyone's heads turned toward Joe, who was beaming as if he'd just pulled off a big coup.

Apparently his trip to the "privy" had involved a detour.

"Wh-what?" he asked, when he realized no one was tossing congratulations his way.

The applause was tapering off, and the band leader was saying, "Hey, Natalie, where are you? Time's awastin'."

"Isn't this what you always wanted, Not-a-lie?" Joe asked.