Equal Access by A. E. Branson Read Free Book Online Page A

Russell. Some greasy looking fellow
who probably assumed Dulsie was an insignificant teeny-bopper
nearly knocked her over as he pushed by and snapped for her to get
out of his way. Shad immediately zipped to Dulsie’s side, and he
remembered the impulse that shot through him when he looked into
the crowd after the thug wasn’t much different from what Dulsie
just described. And of all the emotions he strived to keep subdued
lest they became an overreaction, anger was the one Shad kept
tightest rein on.
    “It was very subtle,” Dulsie continued. “The
only thing that gave you away was your eyes. I swear they got
darker. Oh, and you did refer to him as a coward who was missing
part of his genitalia.”
    Dulsie was as adept at sensing people’s
feelings as Shad was inept. Except in situations he was already
acquainted with and could therefore draw upon empathy, Shad had to
rely on the more obvious physical cues that betrayed a person’s
emotions: the position of the brows, the turn of the mouth. Dulsie
had told him the key to reading somebody was to look at the eyes.
Since Shad already had an aversion to gazing into most people’s
eyes, he remained at a disadvantage.
    “Isn’t it funny how people aim for the groin
when they really want to insult somebody?” Shad hoped to steer the
conversation toward a more philosophical discussion.
    “Except Dad would’ve said what you said a lot louder, to see if it would bait him into a fight. But
even though you kept your cool, I was glad to see you do have a
fire in your belly.” Dulsie gave his hand a squeeze. “It was part
of what convinced me I still wanted to go out with you.”
    They’d made that trip together shortly after
the rest of the family figured out Shad’s and Dulsie’s “hanging
out” together had evolved into something more serious. Not that the
two of them had tried to keep their relationship a secret, but
nobody had foreseen such a change in their personal dynamics.
Actually, by that time Dulsie was just the slower of the two to
realize their comradery could lead to commitment. Shad was relieved
to discover his efforts at courtship were working. But that was
also when Jill began to speak up against him.
    Shad frowned slightly as they approached
their car, a bronze-toned Buick. “I would’ve thought that’d make
you worry about me.”
    “I would’ve worried about your genitalia if you hadn’t got pissed off.” Dulsie grinned.
    “Well ... it takes balls to be a man.”
    Dulsie laughed. Shad had simply quoted what
was known as the Delaney family motto. Quaid imparted those words
to his sons and grandsons, and they had done the same. Any
repetition of it was usually done humorously, but Dulsie was easily
provoked to laughter even though Shad didn’t consider himself to be
particularly witty. And Dulsie’s love of laughter was one of her
many endearing qualities.
    “But it’s also to your credit you didn’t do
anything to warrant spending the night in the pokey.” Her grin
became more mischievous. “Rather pacifist approach for a
Delaney.”
    Dulsie didn’t let go of his hand as they
slowed to a stop at the front of the car. Shad smiled warmly at
her.
    “We Delaneys have managed to stay outta
jail.”
    Dulsie chuckled as she placed her other hand
over their clasped fingers. “Only because you haven’t been
caught.”
    Shad wondered if she was referring to a
certain computer activity he had started in high school, and for
many reasons still practiced to this day.
    Dulsie’s gaze locked with his. “I also talked
to Mom this afternoon.” Shad could tell by the drop in her
joviality although she continued to smile that Dulsie was becoming
serious. “It’s time the two of you called a truce.”
    Dulsie’s words caught Shad a bit by surprise
even though this was a familiar topic. “We are keeping the
peace.”
    “It’s more like a cease fire – or a cold
war.” Dulsie’s smile sharpened. “Both of you have gotten
comfortable with