At the end of the avenue of booths, a throng had clustered, and cheers occasionally rose from the mass. As Elinor came closer, she realized that the crowd was encircling the 4-H Club dunking tank.
People stood four and five deep cheering the pitcher who was obscured from view by the masses. Elinor's feet came to a halt as she recognized who was sitting on the tiny platform ready to be dunked at any moment.
Cole had taken off his Italian loafers and rolled up his trousers. He sat confidently on the platform, his white teeth glinting as he smiled at the pitcher.
Without a conscious choice, Elinor found herself weaving through the herd until she stood just behind the dark-haired woman who was aiming a softball at the target.
Mayor Stephens was manning the 4-H booth, wearing a styrofoam huckster's hat and a bow tie. He handed three balls to his daughter.
Norell had apparently attempted several throws. The catcalls from the crowd urged her to "Try it again!" She pulled back her hand in a mock wind-up . . . and threw the ball like a sissy.
The people around her groaned.
"Go on, Norell. Give it another shot. You'll get him this time."
"Yeah," the mayor urged her. "You'll get him yet."
Norell shook her head, laughing as she turned away. "It'll take a better woman than me to knock that man off his perch."
Insanity struck Elinor then like a bolt from the blue. She looked at Cole where he sat above the water, relaxed with his legs swinging slightly And she wanted more than anything to bring him down a peg. When would she ever have a more beautiful opportunity?
"I'll take a shot at it." Elinor dug in her purse for the money. "Give me twenty dollars worth." No matter how many tries it took, she was going to drown the man.
In the midst of dispersing, the crowd wavered and regrouped. A whispering hum seemed to go through the mass, and Elinor knew its source. Small towns didn't allow for secrets. By this time, most of Bayville would have heard about her fight with Cole.
"Come on, lady!" called out the smart aleck in the dunking tank. "Give me your best shot."
Aware of how ridiculous she must look hefting a soft-ball while wearing an outfit from a brown-wrapper catalog, Elinor swiftly dismissed the thought from her mind. She played pitcher once on a girl's ball team and she knew she had to stay focused.
This was her moment.
"Go ahead, beautiful. Don't hold back!" Cole hollered.
Elinor felt her teeth clench. He was asking for it. She picked up the first ball, tossing it lightly in the air to get the feel of it.
Tweaking her sleeves up one last time, she wound up and let loose. The ball went wide as the crowd howled.
"Love you in that outfit, El!" Cole called. "You look like a Barbie trying to play baseball."
"Give it to him, Elly!" cried a matron standing nearby. "He deserves it for that remark."
"You have no idea how much he deserves it," Elinor told her through gritted teeth before throwing the second ball.
The white sphere flew through the air, glancing off the side of the target. Cole laughed mockingly.
Without hesitating, Elinor picked up the third ball and concentrated fiercely as she envisioned Cole's face emblazoned on the target. She wound up and threw the ball with the zing of a professional pitcher.
Crack! The target shuddered under the contact and Cole splashed into the tank of water.
As the crowd went wild around her, Elinor saw Cole surface, slinging his wet hair back with a grin. She should have known it would take more than a dunking to wipe the smile off his face.
Feeling suddenly fatigued, she turned away from the booth, bearing the congratulatory slaps on the back without comment.
"Hey, Mayor!" Cole called as he climbed out of the booth. "I'll pay the 4-H Club a hundred dollars if our hotshot pitcher will take a turn in the booth."
"Revenge! Revenge!" yelled several men in the bunch.
"Do it! Do it!" Elinor's steps slowed as the crowd took up a chant. She turned back to look at him.
Cole climbed out of the tank, his drenched clothes plastered to his body. His blue gaze met hers, a challenge shot through with laughter.
Slowly, she pivoted, her friends and neighbors urging her on.
"We've had a challenge!" the mayor called out. "What about it, Elly? Will you do your part for the 4-H Club?"
"I'm sure you have other willing victims," she declined, regretting her impulse to take Cole on in front of a crowd.
"What's the matter, El?" he taunted. "Chicken?"
She felt her backbone stiffening. He thought she'd run.
"Do it! Do it! Do it!" The chant rose around her.
"How much did he pledge, Mayor?" She raised her voice above the crowd's noise.
"A hundred bucks."
Cole stood watching her, a smile glinting on his handsome face. His blond hair darkened by water, he seemed totally oblivious of the soaked shirt and pants that molded to his muscular frame. How did he manage to look so good in such a ridiculous situation? she wondered in despair.
"Do it! Do it!"
"Where's your civic pride, El?"
"Make it five hundred," she snapped. "If it'll earn money for the 4-H Club, I'll do it."
"Atta girl!" Cole encouraged her, stepping back as she was urged forward by the cheering crowd.
It was a very different matter, Elinor realized a few moments later, to climb above a dunking tank wearing a short, full skirt. But she managed without exposing herself too much. She settled on the tiny platform, sending Cole a killing smile.
This was a mistake. The realization hit her with full force as she sat on the platform with her bare legs dangling above the water. How had she allowed herself to get talked into letting Cole throw softballs at her? It was the final humiliation.
"How many balls do I get for five hundred dollars, Mayor?" Cole tossed one of the balls easily in his hand.
The mayor stroked his chin in thought. "Well, boy, I don't know. Let's see. How about twenty-five balls? That seems fair."
"And after that, can I go on a five-dollar-per-ball rate as needed?" Cole wore a deadpan expression, only his eyes giving away his amusement.
Mayor Stephens threw Elinor a humorous glance. "I guess so. How wet do you need to get her?"
Cole laughed. "That remains to be seen."