Chapter 31

My fears were realized as we exited our wedding lodge afterward. There was quite a crowd waiting with many cheers, catcalls, whinnys, and neighs. Thus my name among the people became "Stallion who rides through the night". The short version was just "Stallion".

My family got a kick out of that and the reservation wasn't the only place I would hear it, I was sure. My parents were even calling me "Hoss". There was talk of changing Angeni's name to "Bowlegged spirit" or "Spirit who screams all night" but I think they were kidding.

Angeni's sister Wichapi (Star) got the biggest laugh when she asked if I could give her "riding lessons".

My other wives seemed to take Angeni's performance as a challenge. The following five nights were as wild as the first. Connie wanted to go last and she was different, as usual.

Instead of her usual "sex with abandon" request we made love slowly and tenderly all through the night. It was a pleasant change. Damn, but I missed her constant company!

When we left, Angeni came with us. She was appointed "personal physician and trainer" and would also oversee our clinics (hers being one of them). Spring training arrived and Rhonda and I had to head out. She was playing AAA ball with the Fresno Grizzlies, a Giants farm team.

She should have been called up the previous year, but the bias against her was still too strong. That might change this year. The phone was ringing when I entered my hotel room and an excited Rhonda told me she had been traded to the White Sox and was to report to the Charlotte Knights as soon as possible. Given the history of the Sox, a novelty such as a woman first baseman was a possibility.

They called her up three games into the season as a way to increase attendance, nothing more. She had to wait several games before the team had what the manager felt was an insurmountable lead and he put her in. I was able to watch the game on TV since we were off that day and promised myself to punch Jim Wright in the chops if I got the chance.

The first pitch was high and tight, like he was trying to scare her or get her to hit the dirt. Rhonda didn't even blink. The next one was a high fastball, and she didn't even move the bat and it was ball 2. From the next pitch it was obvious he didn't take her seriously.

He threw a fastball right down the pipe. It was a pretty good one; I'd say 90+ mph. I think it was moving faster than that when it cleared the left field wall. Rhonda's first at bat in the majors was a two run homer. Everyone in the stadium and watching on TV was shocked except me and the White Sox. We had seen her play before. I could see her blush when the team and Tony LaRussa congratulated her. She got even more pink when she was pushed out of the dugout for a curtain call. I guess I wouldn't need to bust Wright's chops after all. Rhonda did it quite nicely.

She finished the year starting at first with 22 home runs and a .323 batting average. She also only had one error and I still think the scorer screwed the call up. The throw to first was wild on a double play attempt and it got by her.

The fact that she did all of this while pregnant was even more amazing. She didn't stop until September when she was in her sixth month. The rangers captured another world series that year. I pitched and played as the designated hitter. We took the series from St. Louis four games to one. I ended up as the MVP (winning 2 complete games and having 6 home runs in the series). I also got the Cy Young that year with a 24-4 record.

Football season went just as well. I knew that Miami had made it to the Super Bowl this year but lost to Washington. The strike sucked and would always taint the season but this time we beat them. We were undefeated for the second time in team history but this one had an asterisk. Only 9 games were played.

My assignment in the Super Bowl after halftime was to "stop Riggins". I always admired the guy but that didn't keep me from doing my job and we won 32-21. I was very sore after the game.That gut was a load! I actually managed to get MVP again.

Yule was even better than last year. I had seven different births to attend at the same time and due to all of the work we had put in at the hospital a ward was used. This way Their "brother" could be in the room with all of them when the children were born.

It blew the staff away when the children were born in sequence with none of the births overlapping. It didn't surprise us at all. Tina was first, and delivered a beautiful blond girl who was dubbed Marcy, after my cousin who we had lost log ago.

Faith followed with William, who was named after my father. Faith had adopted my parents as much as they had her. Her only complaint during her pregnancy was that she wasn't having twins to honor them both.

Jackie took care of that when our daughter Suzanne was born next.

Beth had patiently waited her turn and promptly delivered twins, dubbed Mathilda and Madison. They were almost as pretty as their mother.

Sharon followed next with Sonia, another cutie and then Rhonda with Pepin, another pretty girl like her mommy.

Finally, it was Angeni's turn. Her labor had been more prolonged and she was exhausted by the time our twin sons Chatan (Hawk) and Chayton (Falcon) came into the world. Both were fortunate in that they looked just like their mother. It had been an eventful day.

1983

1983 presented dilemmas and agonizing choices. With one of our eventual goals being the containment of terrorism, we couldn't afford to alter events in a way that would change the tactics of the enemy. We reluctantly concluded that the embassy bombing on April 18th was such an event. We all realized that casualties are inevitable in war but that didn't make it any easier.

The mood was very somber in the group until September. There was no way we were going to stand by and allow the attack on the Marine barracks in October. This attack was supposedly by Hezbollah and much more deadly. This time, the 19 ton truck filled with explosives detonated just as it departed the warehouse for its mission and 36 terrorists died instead of 241 Marines, Sailors and Soldiers.

The event was unexplained and it was assumed that the nineteen ton truck filled with explosives had an accident. The conclusion was a failure of the detonator but in actuality the truck exploded when we hit it with a test shot from one of our now functional laser satellites. The hope was that the assholes would think their martyrs had simply screwed up.

The Rangers beat the Phillies 4 games to 2 in the series that year but the Dolphins couldn't seem to beat the Raiders. We lost to them twice, with the last being in the AFC championship game.

1984

My wives sprung a late Yule gift on me after the last game. Somehow they had written a screenplay and arranged to have it made into a movie. I would play one of the leading roles, a front man for a cover band who dreamed of being a rock star. The leading lady was all set and I almost fainted when they told me it would be Lea Thompson.

Adam threw in a surprise to help with the picture. He had written a program that could produce songs while he was just playing around. Not just any songs though. These were very good. The input was genre (rock, country, jazz, blues, reggae), theme (love, love lost, patriotic, rebellious, and party to name a few) and instruments (too many to mention). The output was music and lyrics.

Lea would play a ballet dancer who wrote songs in her spare time and was afraid to do anything with them because she thought they weren't good enough. The premise was that I liked ballet and watched her perform. I admired her talent and beauty but didn't know her. She frequented the club my band performed at and thought I was wasting my talent doing other peoples songs.

She worked up the courage to meet me and we clicked. We ended up with a new member who provided original material, a killer voice, and had the stage presence to help us hit the big time.

Lea's career hadn't taken off yet and it had been easy to talk her into the film. It was made between January and April of 1984. She was fairly new to acting and this was her first leading role. She had other offers but none even close to being as challenging.

We worked and rehearsed constantly and I was amazed at her talent. I had thought that early in her career she seemed lost and her performance left a lot to be desired. I was surely wrong because the film was number one at the box office that year and we were both nominated for leading actor/actress Oscars. The sound track album was also atop the billboard charts and got several Grammy nominations.

Heat made an appearance in the movie also. They were still as popular as ever and most certainly contributed to the Grammy consideration. It was fun to get reacquainted but I was a little weak-kneed on the set that week.

Lea and I appeared on the talk shows together and the chemistry between us was obvious. She was just as witty and intelligent as I had believed her to be.

She and the girls got along really well. During and after the filming they got together quite often and I'm afraid my secret crush was revealed during one of their get-togethers.

I found this and a lot more out following our first appearance on the Tonight Show. We did a bit of ad-libbing at the beginning. Johnny acted like he didn't believe we had sung and played our own parts in the movie instead of lip-synching.

First we had Ed McMahon throw a piece of wadded up paper out into the audience. Whoever it hit could pick a song and we'd sing it if we knew it. The woman who caught it chose "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and we had her daughter join us on the stage to verify that we were actually singing.

She was obviously scared but thrilled. She seemed to have a great time and was soon singing along with us as the band backed us up. We had the place rocking pretty good when we finished.

After that I borrowed a guitar and Lea got the loan of a Bass before launching into "Gimme Three Steps". Because of the apparent demand from the audience, Lea then sang an "original" song from the movie.

I admit I had "pre-written" a couple just because I liked them so much. "Follow me" by Uncle Kracker was one of them. I Think Lea did it much better than he had. The applause lasted long after we sat back down.

When it got quiet enough, Lea flashed those irresistible dimples at Carson and asked "any questions?" We wowed them and had Carson, McMahon, and the entire audience laughing for half an hour.

I thought Johnny would fall out of his chair when he asked why a football and baseball star would want to make a movie and with a straight face I answered "I just took the job so I could kiss Lea, and they can keep the money. I already got what I wanted, but I wish there had been more rehearsals!" No one but me knew just how wowed I had been from those kisses...

We had arrived together and left the same way, in a Limo driven by Kathy with trail cars piloted by Gene and George to run interference. It came in handy as we were followed by vultures looking for a tabloid story or picture. They were screened off so professionally that I'm sure they didn't even realize it had been done.

Lea got a kick out of that and with those amazing dimples on display looked at me and quipped "you didn't have to go to all that trouble just to get me alone. You could have just asked."

She was sitting very close to me so I put my arm around her and replied "I wish. I'm sorry the movie stuff is over, Lea. I really enjoyed working with you but even more than that, I love spending time with you. You're something else!"

She snuggled into my shoulder and purred "is there someplace we can go to be alone and talk?"

I started to say something but Kathy looked over her shoulder and smiled "I'm on it"

Our companies had houses and land all over the place and the California operations weren't any different in this regard. We had been at this one before. It was an estate we had picked up at bargain prices before the land value in the area could skyrocket. Sally had liked it so much that they had kept it.

Kathy dropped us off and handed me a key. She said she'd be around and to call if we needed her before leaving. Lea and I settled down on the couch after I started a fire in the fireplace and got us both a drink.

She once again snuggled up to my side before she began in a subdued voice "Matt, I haven't said anything about this because I've been having more fun than I thought possible but now it's personal and I think I have to. Will you promise me that what I'm about to tell you will stay just between the two of us?"

I smiled agreed and she sighed "I know you'll think I'm crazy but here goes... this is the second time I've lived. Somehow I came back in time. I can't tell you how it happened because then I know you'll think I'm nuts, but it's true."

I gently turned her head and wiped the tear from her eye as I said "I thought I was too at first. At least until Loki explained things to me."

Maybe I should have eased into that. Her eyes rolled up and she fainted. One of these days maybe I'll figure out a way to do this without them losing consciousness, I thought.

I almost caught her drink but missed and she woke up fairly fast when the rum and coke (full of ice) landed right between those gorgeous thighs of hers. I held her tight when she started crying. If anyone could understand her feelings, it was us.

I explained things as she got it out of her system. I had been almost positive my suspicions about her were correct but I wanted to be absolutely sure. It had almost cinched it when I remembered that she and Randy Quaid had been an item around this time. I hadn't seen him. There was also the unmistakable difference in her talent level that had added to the evidence. And then there was that kiss I told her then how it had happened for some of us and how my life had taken a turn for the better because of it.

She had soaked my shirt by now and was still going. "I miss my girls so much and now I'll never see them again! If it wasn't for that, I'd be happy about it. Howard and I never really got along but he was never home anyway. They were my life!"

I gave her one last squeeze and got her attention with "Lea, there's someone here who I think wants a word with you."

She looked up with a start and moaned "you! Why couldn't they come back with me? None of you will tell me why!"

Freyja looked at her sadly and explained "I'm sorry child, but until now it just wasn't possible. You would not have understood what I am about to reveal to you."

Lea composed herself with visible effort and made good use of the box of Kleenex I handed her before saying in an even voice "I'm ready now Lady, and I'm sorry I snapped at you like that".

Freyja gave her a smile and said "that is quite alright. I understand your anger and sorrow. I wish it could have been avoided but it need not last forever. You see, if a child was meant to be born they will be, this time as well as the last. The father need not be the same. Even the mother might be different. If you so desire, you will once again bear your children Madelyn and Zoey."

Lea gave her a strange look and said "what do you mean "if I so desire"? I have a choice?" Freyja gave a tinkling laugh and said "the gods can not make you pregnant, child, despite the stories you may have heard. You must handle that yourself." At that, she faded from view.

Lea went from despondent to euphoric in seconds "wow!" She said as she jumped up and started pacing "this is all too much! There are so many things I want to say that I don't know where to start!" Then she looked down and laughed "it looks like I peed all over myself. I wish I had some clothes with me, this stuff is cold and sticky."

I had a solution for that since we had stayed here before. "I can help there. I'll bet Faith's clothes will fit you perfectly. I'll show you where they are and you can change. There's a nice shower up there too so you can take care of your sticky situation."

I showed her where the bedroom was and pointed at the closet and dresser, explaining that she should feel free to wear whatever she wanted to before leaving her alone and retreating to the living room.

I was getting worried when she didn't reappear for almost an hour but wasn't prepared for the sight when she did. I almost choked on my drink when I gasped at the vision walking down the stairs.

Lea would be beautiful wearing a flour sack but in a black see-through negligee she was a walking wet dream. All I could say was "oh my... What the..."

By that time she had made it to me and closed my mouth "you like?" She said with a shy and dimpled smile. The only reply I could think of was to kiss her, so I did.

We had shared many kisses for the film, but she hadn't been dressed quite like this and that increased the intensity tenfold. My hands zeroed in on her amazing ass and I was surprised when hers grabbed mine in return.

The kiss lasted five minutes and left us both wild-eyed and out of breath. "I guess you do" she purred. "I'm really glad because I want you to be the father of my girls. I've got most of it worked out and I'll tell you later. Right now I want to practice because I've been dreaming of this since we kissed for the first time."

I started to say something but she waved her finger and said "I'm not done mister, so don't interrupt. Your wives and I have been talking and I was told in no uncertain terms that you felt the same way about me. They also told me that I was more than welcome to try and get you to... I think "scratch our mutual itches" was how they put it. Every time you held me and I felt that baseball bat you carry in your pocket against me I got so wet I had to go to my dressing room to work out some frustration. It didn't help when I had all those girls telling me how wonderful you were and how well you knew how to use it. I'm done waiting!"

When we got to the bedroom she shook her head and smiled "I still can't get over that bed!" It was pretty special, Sally had mom's shop make it. It was 14 feet square and big enough for all of her group and more. The headboard, footboard, and posts were intricately carved mahogany.

Lea insisted on undressing me and I wasn't going to argue. She had seen me without a shirt on but still oohed and ahhed over the muscles as she ran her hands over them. After the shoes, she lowered my trousers and stopped. She stared at the tent in my boxers for a long while before lowering them with trembling hands.