The Deadly River by Jeff Noonan Page B

for work, I can always use another good man in the sawmill. You could work there and play ball all summer if you decided to stick around. Why not give it a try?” Lee slowly smiled while his gaze locked with that of the older man. “Sorry, Mr. Benton. I don’t need a job and I have other things that I need to do before winter sets in. My answer has to be no. But thanks again.”
    “Well, if you change your mind, look me up. We could use your talent on the team.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    With that, the man limped back to the stands and Lee turned back just in time to see the third out of the inning. He trotted back to second base.
    Lee jokingly told Mike, after the game was over, that they should have just stopped playing after the second inning. But they didn’t and the embarrassed Town Team played one of their best games ever. When they stopped the game at dark, seven innings had been played and the final score was nine to six, with the Town Team taking the game. But no one could believe that the underdogs had done what they had done. It was a cheerful crowd that saw the game end.
    Mike, Tony, and several other team members tried to get Lee to go to the café after the game. But Lee begged off, saying that he was just tootired and he wanted to get a shower and crash. The truth was that he was just too shy to go through another session with the people at the café.
    Mike dropped him off at the cabin, where Lee collapsed into the room’s only chair. It had been an exciting couple of days.

CHAPTER SEVEN: JOB OFFERS
    L ee hadn’t been at the café long enough to get his first morning cup of coffee before Ray and Dawn came to sit with him. Ray immediately asked, “What’s this I hear? They tell me that you’re a baseball hero as well as a bandit-basher! Tell us about it.”
    “Aw c’mon, Guys. It was just a little pick-up game.”
    “Yeah, but you managed to get the whole town stirred up. Nobody has given the Town Team so much trouble before this. Are you a pro ball player or something?”
    Lee laughed at that. “Nope, just a kid with a broke-down car that had been planning to pass through town.”
    Ray wasn’t about to leave it there. “Where did you learn to play ball like that?”
    “I played for my high school back in Pennsylvania.” Lee hesitated, then he added, “I had a baseball scholarship to Villanova. But I left there last spring before the season started.”
    At this admission, Dawn broke her silence, incredulity in her voice. “You had a scholarship and you dropped out?”
    “Yup. A full-ride scholarship. Not too bright, eh?”
    “No shit!” This from Ray.
    Lee’s coffee came and he took time to add some sugar and take a long sip. Ray and Dawn watched him silently. When he finished the little ritual, Dawn broke the silence.
    “Why, Lee? I’ve got a feeling that there’s a lot more to this story.”
    “There is, Mrs. Moore. But I’m not really comfortable talking about it. If you don’t mind, could we talk about something else?” Lee had astrained look on his face and Dawn saw that she had opened a wound. She was quick to agree.
    “Of course, Lee. I didn’t mean to pry.”
    Lee smiled at her, obviously relieved to be off the hook. Looking past her, he saw a familiar face arriving. “Hey, it’s Kurt Kochran!” He was happy to change the subject.
    But Ray had still another subject for them. “Oh, Lee. I almost forgot. Your water pump should come in on the afternoon bus. If it does, your car will be ready to go by tomorrow morning.”
    “That’s great news, Ray.” But deep inside, Lee was not as happy as he let on. He had started to like this little town and its people. His long search for the little lake in the painting wasn’t getting anywhere and he was tired of travelling.
    Ray had risen to greet Kurt as he came into the café. The two exchanged small talk while Dawn took Lee’s breakfast order and moved back toward the kitchen. Then Kurt turned to greet Lee. “Hey Slugger.