Chapter 1

Billy McIntyre pulled up to the house and turned the truck off. He walked up to the door and knocked. Mrs. Greene came to the door. “Oh, hi Billy, Becky-Sue will be ready in a few minutes. So you two are going on a picnic are you?” she asked.

“Yes-um. Becky-Sue has had this picnic idea planned for a couple weeks now. I finally got a day off from the lumber mill so we are gonna take advantage of it,” he said.

“Well, she’s been going on about this picnic thing all week! Take her and go have a good time so she can tell me all about it afterward and I can get it out of her system!” Mrs. Greene laughed.

“Yeah, she can get stuck on a subject can’t she!” he laughed.

“Oh my Lord, yes! The girl drives me up the wall sometimes!” Mrs. Greene said, laying a hand on his shoulder. “But I’m glad she has you. You do know that girl is nuts over you, don’t you?” she asked.

“Yeah, I kinda got that idea. But it’s nice to know that it’s not just me that thinks so,” he said.

“Oh no, it’s not just you – everybody knows that Becky-Sue is your girl and that you are her man. Now there are a few hearts out there that wish different, but I’m glad she has you. You are good for her Billy,” Mrs. Greene said.

“Thank you, ma’am. I’m pretty fond of Becky-Sue as well. And I like coming over here and seeing you too. It’s nice here ... nicer than at my house sometimes. I feel more at home here,” he said. looking down at the floor.

“Well, we are both happy to have you come over Billy,” she said. Mrs. Greene knew about the troubles at the McIntyre home. It was common knowledge around town that Billy’s parents had troubles.

Billy’s father had gotten hurt several years ago working at the same lumbermill that Billy now worked at. A load of logs shifted and rolled off the logging truck and pinned him under them, crushing his legs and putting him in his wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Billy’s mother worked as a cocktail waitress at one of the local bars and was lucky to get that. There wasn’t a lot of work for women in the small town they lived in – it was either work as a cocktail waitress, at the diner when and if they had any openings, or work as a cashier at the Value-Mart, which didn’t pay very well and there were no tips. Billy’s mother didn’t have the high school diploma needed to get a bank teller job or something that would be a good career – she had dropped out of school when she got pregnant with Billy.

While she didn’t mind the waitress job – it paid decently and she usually got good tips – Billy’s father did mind. He knew that she got ogled and pawed on by the men in the bar, always getting hit on and groped.

She had to flirt with them a little just to keep them interested in staying in the bar – it was part of her job. Plus the longer they stayed there drinking, the more she could make it tips. So she was willing to put up with the occasional pat on the ass or comments about her big tits.

But knowing that other men were looking at his wife and knowing that he was unable to satisfy her anymore because of the accident made his jealous streak even worse. He took to drink more than he used to, and now he was a confirmed alcoholic. He tried, unsuccessfully, to find happiness at the bottom of a beer mug or whiskey bottle.

“How’s your mom and dad anyway, I haven’t seen or talked to them in awhile,” Mrs. Greene said.

“Well, Mom still works at the Dew Drop Inn waitressing, and Dad pretty much stays home all day,” Billy said.

“It must be hard on your father. I knew him before the accident – he was always one to do what it took to get the job done and to take care of those around him. Now ... well it must be hard for him,” she said.

“Yeah, especially with Mom working as a waitress. She puts on that little waitress outfit and gets all made up to go to work and Dad just sits at home and drinks to forget that she is around other men like that. I know he gets terribly jealous and wishes he could get out of that wheelchair again. But that will never happen,” he sighed.

“I’m so sorry, Billy ... for you and for your parents. But I’m glad you feel at home here with Becky and I. And let me tell you it’s nice to have a man around here too. Since Dave left, Becky and I haven’t had a man around to fix things and do all the man’s work – you have been a big help to us!” she said with a smile.

“I’m glad to do it, Mrs. Greene. Anytime you need my help, just give me a call,” he said.

About that time Becky came into the living room where Billy and her mom were. “Wow!” Billy said, “You look...” he didn’t finish his comment, but he didn’t have to. Becky could see with his wide eyes and slack jaw that he was visibly impressed.

“Thank you, Billy, do you like my new dress? I picked it out just the other day – I thought it would be just the thing to wear to our picnic!” she said.

“You look amazing,” he said. Then he looked down at his old worn jeans and flannel shirt. “I wish I’d have known you were going to dress up – I’d worn something nicer.”

Becky kissed him sweetly on the cheek “Oh, Billy honey, you always look good to me, you know that! Besides, isn’t it the girl’s job to look good for her guy?”

“You two kids better get going, that picnic lunch isn’t going to wait forever!” Mrs. Greene said.

Billy took the basket from Mrs. Greene in one hand and held Becky’s hand with the other as they walked out to his truck. Mrs. Greene stood in the doorway beaming with happiness as she watched her daughter going out with the boy she loved so much.

She liked Billy – he treated Becky right and he was a good kid. He would actually come up to the house and pick Becky up instead of sitting in the truck and honking at her like a lot of the other boys did. And he was very polite and respectful to her as well – sometimes more so than Becky herself!

She sighed wistfully, remembering when that was her and Dave – back when they were together, back in the good old days. She still missed him, even if he did run off with that red-headed tart!

“So where are we going for this picnic?” Becky asked.

“I thought we’d go to Miller’s Lake. There’s a nice grassy area next to the water and it’s been warm enough maybe we could take a swim ... if you want to that is,” he said.

“But Billy you didn’t say anything about going swimming – I didn’t bring my swimsuit!” she said.

“Neither did I,” he replied with a mischevious grin.

“Oh,” Becky said, blushing red.

Becky and Billy drove on for the next few minutes in silence. Becky and Billy had known each other for a long time and been going together for a couple years now. But Becky was a good girl – she and Billy had done some petting and making out in the truck, but she had never gone past “first base” – kissing, French kissing, and groping and petting above the waist with clothes on. In fact, Becky was a virgin – she had never had sex with anyone, although several of the local boys had tried before she and Billy had started seeing each other.

Billy had been very patient with her too – he had not pushed her into anything, wanting her to take her time and wanting it to be special for her. She had appreciated his sensitivity and his patience. But now it seems that he may be wanting to move things along. Becky wanted to please him – she wanted to make him happy.

She knew that Billy was popular with all the girls in town and she knew that boys who didn’t get what they wanted from her would find it someplace else – she’d already lost one boyfriend because she wanted to take her time. She didn’t want to lose Billy too.

But was she ready? Was she ready to move things to that level? She decided not to think about it and see if it even comes to that. She could always decide at that point what she wanted to do. Billy was a good guy – he wouldn’t push her into anything she wasn’t ready for.

They arrived at the lake and Billy found a place to park the truck where they could set the picnic up close to it. He got out and came around to get her out of the truck. “Always the gentleman, huh Billy!” she said smiling at him.

“Always, babe ... for you, always,” he said. She hopped down and into his arms and he planted a kiss on her sweet lips. “If whatever you have in that basket is half as sweet as these lips, I’m in for a treat!” he said.

“You keep talking like that and you certainly are!” Becky said when she got her breath back.

He smiled and took the basket and her hand and walked a little way away from the truck. He set the basket down and went back to the truck to get a blanket for them to sit on. He laid out the blanket under an old elm tree and they sat down on it.

He sat up, propping his back up against the tree and she laid down with her head in his lap looking up at her man. Billy softly caressed her cheek and traced the outline of her lips with his finger. She took his hand and played with it, kissing each of his fingertips in turn.

When she finished with his fingers, he ran his fingers through her soft chestnut brown hair, as she purred happily. “Mmmm, Billy, that feels wonderful!” she said.

“Well, you have very soft hair ... I like playing in it,” he said softly.

“I was thinking of getting it cut. That’s all the style these days – short hair up off the shoulders a bit. What do you think?” she asked.

“Don’t you DARE cut this hair!” he said emphatically. “I hate the short hair look these days. You have long, beautiful hair and you should be proud of it. I know I am. Don’t cut your hair, please tell me you won’t!”

“O-okay, Billy. I promise!” she said. She smiled up at him, happy that he liked the way she looked.

“Good, I’m glad we got that settled. Now what did you bring in that basket – it smells almost as good as you do!” he said.

“Oh, I have all sorts of treats for you, Billy! I have been cooking and baking for the last two days for today’s picnic! I have fried chicken, potato salad, some watermelon, and sweet tea to drink!” she said, sitting up excitedly.