A great roar went up from the onlookers and other contestants. Billy was turning somersaults in the winter grass. Lauren clapped her hands in delight. Jared took all of the slaps on his back with casual aplomb.
“Goddam shootin’ machine, that’s what.”
“Quicker’n a mad rattler.”
“Heard that Rudy Mendez is just as fast. You can tell that sonofabitchin’ Ben taught them boys how to shoot.”
Lauren was so wrapped up in the commotion that she didn’t notice Kurt standing near her.
“It’s a pity he can’t control his drinking as well as he can that Colt.”
She whirled on him, furious. But Jared’s approach prevented her from snapping a rejoinder to Kurt’s petty observation. Instead of wasting thought on him, she congratulated Jared as she helped him put on his coat. “Jared, you were brilliant.”
Undaunted, Kurt interrupted any response Jared might have made. “Lauren, I have a surprise for you. Come over here. I want to show you something.”
“Jared?” Lauren looked up at him. She didn’t know how to rebuff Kurt without making a scene for everyone in town to see.
“It’s all right, Lauren. I’d like to see this surprise, too.” Jared took her arm possessively and followed Kurt’s stocky figure as he plowed his way through the throng. There was a small cluster of people gathered around something, and only when Kurt rudely shoved them aside did Lauren see it was a motorcar.
She had seen them in North Carolina, particularly on her trips to Raleigh, but she had never seen one in Coronado. Apparently no one else had either, because the automobile was causing quite a stir.
“It’s an Oldsmobile. One of the gasoline-powered models,” Kurt boasted. “I want to take you for a ride in it, Lauren.”
The automobile was beautiful. The sides and motor casing were glossy black, trimmed in red. The tires had white sides, and the hubs of the wheels were red. The upholstery was black leather. There were two brass lanterns mounted on the front of the car, and brass accents shone on the steering stick and a mounted horn.
“I… un—”
“I’m sure your husband,” he stressed the word, “won’t mind. Would you, Jared?”
Aware of the people standing by listening to every word, Jared smiled expansively and said, “I think Lauren would enjoy that very much. Here, dear, let me help you.” She saw the tight lines around his mouth as he lifted her carefully into the vehicle. She wanted to protest, but knew she couldn’t.
Kurt went to the front of the car and made a big show of cranking the motor. It churned to life with a terrific racket. Running around to the driver’s side, he vaulted into the seat beside Lauren. Unconsciously she moved her skirt away from his heavy thigh. The gears were engaged and the automobile moved forward. Lauren cast an anxious look back at Jared, but he was staring at Kurt’s back with a threatening scowl.
Kurt took the road that led down to the river and followed near its banks. They crossed a narrow bridge and continued on the road to the opposite side. They were virtually out of sight, hidden by the trees that grew along the riverbank on both sides. Under other circumstances, she would have enjoyed the ride, but the ominous presence of Kurt made Lauren terribly uncomfortable.
“Are you having a good time?” he asked close to her ear.
“It’s very pleasant.”
She shifted farther away from him on the narrow seat. He continued to maneuver the car along the rough road, and Lauren was relieved that he didn’t try to engage her in conversation.
“I’d like to go back now,” she said. “Jared will be worrying about me.”
He laughed humorlessly. “I’m not fooled by this so-called marriage, Lauren. Separate bedrooms, isn’t it?”
“My married life is none of your business, Mr. Vandiver.” Her voice was hard and cold, but her cheeks flushed hotly. His swift, derisive look told her he was not convinced. He did, however, turn the automobile around, recross the bridge, and retrace their way back to where they had started. The crowd was still there. Jared was leaning against a tree, casually smoking a cigar. Only his flashing eyes indicated his anger.
In his haste to get out and help Lauren down, Kurt didn’t take time to cut the motor. Jared strolled to the car with studied leisure, then jumped onto the seat vacated by Kurt.
“You call that a ride, Vandiver?” He rammed the car into gear. Lauren clutched the seat as the car lurched, almost running over Kurt, who scrambled out of the way just in time. It had all happened so quickly that he was stunned as his Oldsmobile sped away at a speed he would never have dared to push it. The crowd went wild with hysterical laughter at his expense.
Jared handled the steering stick like a magic wand, turning corners at breakneck speed, managing to hit every chuckhole in the road. They drove around the square in the middle of town several times, until Lauren’s head was spinning. She clung to Jared’s arm for fear of being thrown off the seat as the car bounced over the streets. Finally they left the center of town, taking one of the lanes that led away from the city.
The wind lashed her face, and her bonnet blew back, painfully pulling against the pins that held it on. She would have reached up to take it off, but dared not release her grip on Jared.
He was laughing uproariously, like a naughty child who had pulled off a tremendously funny joke on his school-teacher.
“Did you see his face, Lauren? Did you? That sonofabitch! I’ll show him how to drive a car.” His hat had blown off, and his hair tumbled around his head. His face was flushed and his eyes glittered in delight over his own devilry.