excerpt
Alan’s eyes widened. “He did, though. He was trying to steal second
but the runner on second hadn’t moved, so he had to run back
to first and got tagged. Aren’t you familiar with the game at all?”
“Believe it or not, Alan, I’ve never sat in a grandstand and watched
a baseball game before.”
“Okay, in that case I’m volunteering to be your teacher, Teacher.”
Sarah laughed, suddenly aware that she was enjoying herself immensely.
Her former misgivings and disappointment with the fair
had disappeared entirely.
At some point during the morning Alan excused himself and left
her. When he returned he carried two hot dogs and two cold drinks.
They sat, happily munching, as they watched the game almost to
the end.
As Alan explained each play Sarah became more and more involved.
She soon found herself cheering along with the Colson fans.
When once she glanced at him and saw his eyes on her in open
admiration, she realized this was not a boy sitting beside her but
an attractive, charming man. Suddenly aware of his nearness, she
became flustered. She looked at her watch and gasped.
“Look at the time,” she said, feeling like a bewildered schoolgirl.
“I told Penny I’d meet her at the show tents and we’d have lunch
together.”
“Okay, I’ll come with you. I’d better see how Dave is doing, anyway.
He may want the Junior Showmanship Champion to give him
a few pointers.”
Sarah laughed at him as she made her way down the bleachers,
yet she felt an urgency to get away from the grandstand and from
Alan’s attentions. But as she stepped down to the third level of seats,
a board gave way beneath her foot and she pitched forward. Grabbing
helplessly at the air, she began to tumble off the end of the
grandstand. Alan, only a step behind her, reached out and caught
her by the shoulders. Together they plunged to the ground. Alan
landed nimbly on his feet, supporting Sarah with his arm now
firmly around her. But when her left foot hit the ground she felt a
stab of pain in her ankle.
A flurry of confusion and excitement erupted when people in the
stands realized what had happened. But Sarah was aware only of
the pain in her leg, and the nearness of the man who still held her…
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