"Did you enjoy it, Gaylord?"
"Did I enjoy it?" He was like a country boy in a big city.
"Don't play so damn innocent with me. I've been around … I'm not that dumb."
"What did I enjoy, Bob … what … please … tell me."
"Listen," Blake began, "don't think you can pull the wool over my eyes."
Gaylord saw the blood color the bronze of Blake's face had turned, as though the words had been an effort, as though it had taken a long time to find the necessary ones.
"I don't want to do that," cried Gaylord. "Why should I?"
"I know you and this Glenn were out in the woods all day," Blake said glibly. "And don't think I don't know what happened. Shit … Guess you should be tired … How many times, Gaylord … did you make up for lost time?" He tried to grin. "You know, you are cheap and common … I didn't think you were … but you are … you're cheap and common." His voice choked. "That kind of crap catches up with you sooner or later … and I thought you were something real special … I didn't think you'd ever do that to me."
Out of the dullness that seemed to completely cover him, the reason had finally been solved. The cause of all those bitter words was plain. Jealousy … Responding to some desperate call of his emotions, he cried, "You're wrong, Bob … so wrong. How could you think such a thing? Don't you know I love you?" Tears came to his eyes, onto his cheeks. He threw his arms around Blake's neck, holding him tightly against his chest. "You must believe me, Bob, or I'll … I don't know what I'll do if you don't believe me."
"Why don't you grow up." Blake measured the other shrewdly; "You can't be a spoiled baby all your life." With a stab of jealousy, he went on. "I hope this Rogers guy really does you up brown …" He shoved Gaylord away. "And stop pawing me."
Time stood still and the squirrel-grey sky grew more melancholy. Even the air seemed more restive and depressed. Gaylord hunched in his seat unable to say any more. What else could he say … What a fool he had been to succumb to Rogers. What a fool … oh what a fool … but he hadn't. Nothing like that had happened between them, but how could he make Blake believe him. After reading the
