Page 266 of Dirty Discipline, Vol. 2

In His Hands by Maggie Ryan

Chapter One

“What do you mean, you’re done?” Betsy asked from her seat at the kitchen table.

“Exactly what I said,” Jane replied, tossing down a piece of folded paper. “Why are we wasting our time writing to men we’ll never meet when there are men anxious to take us out to dinner and a movie?”

“Jane, we are supposed to be keeping their spirits up. It must be so awful being so far away from home and in a strange country. Not to mention these men are risking their very lives to keep us safe. A few minutes sending news from home to let them know that we are thinking of them is nothing compared to what the soldiers do daily.”

“Look, I’m just as patriotic as you are, but I’m done. When I receive a marriage proposal, I want it given in person, with a very huge diamond in a black velvet box.”

“Proposal? You got a proposal?”

“More like three,” Jane said. “I’m not sure which is worse… men proposing or a man halfway across the world stating that my behavior is questionable.”

“What? Jane, you’re not making any sense,” Betsy said.

Jane laughed and lifted an envelope. “It doesn’t appear that Mr. Bossy approves of my desire to have a bit of fun.”

Trying to wrap her head around the fact that her roommate’s pen-pals seemed far more interesting than her own, it took Betsy a moment to realize what Jane had said. “You have a pen-pal named Mr. Bossy?”

“Well, no, but that might as well be his name. It seems that while he is interested in settling down, I have no interest in his rather archaic beliefs. Why can’t a girl enjoy herself? This is 1943, not the Middle Ages! If nothing else, I think the attack on Pearl Harbor has proven that life is too short and too uncertain to be so prudish. I have no desire to be, as he so quaintly puts it, ‘taken in hand’. The only person to set my behind on fire was my daddy, and that ended when I hit puberty. I promise, he will be the last.”

“He actually threatened to… to spank you?”

“Not in so many words, but when he states that some little lady needs to be reminded what happens to naughty girls, well, you tell me what pops into your head?”

Blushing at the image that bloomed in her mind, Betsy shook her head in disbelief. “Wow, all I get are requests for more cookies or another pair of socks, and you are getting marriage proposals and rather intimate suggestions.”

“Relax. Believe me, there is nothing intimate involved.” Jane paused and then giggled. “In fact, he reminds me of you a bit.”

“Me? You think I’m bossy?”

“No, I just meant that Jack is a bit of a fuddy-duddy—”

“So you think I’m a fuddy-duddy?” Betsy said, not sure what would be worse… being bossy or being so… lame.

Jane immediately reached across and took her hand. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that you have an old soul, and it appears that Jack does as well. In fact, I think you two would be perfect for each other.”

Rolling her eyes, Betsy sighed. “Gee, thanks. Just what a girl wants to hear, that I am perfect for some man old enough to be my father!”

Jane laughed again. “I didn’t say he was old; I think he’s only thirty or so. I just know that he has old-fashioned beliefs and, well, Betsy, you have to admit that you do, too. I, on the other hand, have absolutely no intention of allowing anyone to dictate my behavior or keep me from having fun.”

Betsy was still reeling from the conversation and yet had a question she just had to ask. “What exactly are you writing to these men?”

Jane smiled. “Honey, you seem to forget one very important fact about this pen-pal thing.”

“What’s that?”

“Betsy, these soldiers are first and foremost men. Do you honestly believe they give a hoot about the price of corn, who won the local mayor’s race, or how much money yet another bake sale raised? If you were hunched down in some awful trench full of mud and bugs with bullets flying over your head, what would take your mind off your misery?”

Betsy shuddered at the vivid image that popped into her head. Her heart ached for all those poor men so far from home. “Um, I don’t know but maybe coming home?”

“Even as lovely as that will be, I promise there is something else that keeps those soldiers going.” Jane leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Sex.”

“Jane!”

“Oh, don’t sound so shocked. I’m not talking about allowing a man to get to home-plate, but a little time spent on second base is certainly not a mortal sin.”

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