Love on the Line - Deeanne Gist [8]
“Give me the phone, Kyle.”
“Come and get it, Bettina Hyena.”
The nickname didn’t even faze her. Clearly, it was one she’d heard many a time before. “Miss Georgie sent me down here, so hand it over.”
Luke glanced at the ticket counter. An old-timer with round glasses and bushy white brows watched from behind the grill, but made no effort to assist the girl. If anything, he appeared amused by the boy’s challenge.
Bettina flipped a braid behind her. “I’ll go up there and git that thing, Kyle. You know I will.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
All laughter and fidgeting stopped. Luke tensed.
Slim as a bed slat, the boy had gotten a jump on his height. A tiny collection of facial hair tickled his chin and along the spot where sideburns would eventually grow. This was not just a boy, but a boy on the cusp of manhood. The only way that gal could reach the receiver was if she were to climb him like a flagpole. And Kyle knew it.
Luke stepped up to the group. “I believe this little lady’s asked you for the phone, son.”
Kyle started, as did the other boys. Clearly, they’d not even noticed him.
“Who’re you?”
“Mr. Palmer. The new telephone man.” Forcing himself to relax his shoulders and temper his tone, he gave a friendly smile. “I’ll be working with Miss Gail. And if she says to hang up the phone, then I’m thinking you need to hang up the phone.”
“I don’t need yer help, mister,” Bettina said. “I can do my own job by my own self.”
He didn’t take his eyes off Kyle. The boy wavered, unsure of which way to make the scales tip.
Don’t do it, Luke thought. I’m supposed to be nice. I need to be nice.
The boy lifted his chin. “Hyena’s right, sir. This don’t concern you.”
Quicker than the first rattle out of the box, Luke snatched the receiver and handed it to the girl. “Thank you, Kyle. And I believe her name is Bettina. I suggest you use it.”
A murmur of awe rippled through the group of boys. Luke gave himself a mental shake. He hadn’t meant to be so fast. He’d been disarming men for so long, he didn’t even think. Just acted.
Thank goodness only kids and an old-timer saw. If they recounted the exchange, folks would assume they were exaggerating.
He ran his gaze across the group. “Party’s over, boys. You run on, now. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you around.”
The boys looked to their leader.
Kyle hitched up the waistband of his trousers. “Come on, fellas. The smell’s getting so thick in here the candles’ll be ashamed to burn afore long.”
Be nice. You need to be nice.
Luke let him walk out the door in one piece, then turned to Bettina.
“I coulda gotten it,” she said, scowling.
“I’m sure you could have, but a gentleman doesn’t stand by while a young lady’s being abused.”
She snorted. “I ain’t no lady. Ever’body knows that. I’m the town drunk’s whelp.”
He stifled his reaction, reminding himself she was only repeating what she’d no doubt been told countless times. “You’re a lady to me, miss.” He could also see she was too short to hang up the receiver. “Would you like me to hang that up for you?”
“I can do it.”
He sighed. “I’m sure you can, but I’d be honored if you’d let me assist you.”
She scrunched up her face. “You ain’t one of those grown-ups who’s a little shy on brains, is ya?”
He reached out to grasp her waist and lift her up, but stopped short when she jerked back and covered her head with her arms.
Not only a town drunk, but a mean town drunk.
He knit his fingers together instead, making a stirrup. “How about a boost?”
She slowly lowered her arms, then plopped a filthy boot, which had to be two sizes too big, into his hands.
He lifted and she dropped the receiver into the cradle. The minute he lowered her back down, she was off and out the door.
He glanced at the ticket clerk. The man rolled a wad of chew from one side of his mouth to