Daddy's plaything(51)

"Really?!" Sherry said. Rory Cramden was possibly the biggest comedian outside of television. "That's wonderful."

"As you know, Rory travels all around the country. He presents just one big show a month maybe – in an auditorium or a concert hall – where he can make a bundle in one shot. None of this working every night. Just scattered rehearsals and the pay is damn good. Since it's a variety type show he uses all kinds of performers. I think between your agent and my agent it could be arranged for you to travel with the company. You might make less money but at least we could be together. What do you say? And even if you can't work on this tour, you could at least arrange to work the next one. I'm talking about Mr. and Mrs. Agnello, Sherry."

Sherry stopped in her tracks and tried to look thoughtful, as though deliberating. Then, despite herself, she was smiling through her tears. "How do I know you're not worse than my father?" she teased. "How do I know that you don't want to marry me just because I have stocks and bonds and money in the bank?" She draped her arms about his broad shoulders and kissed him full on the lips. They embraced for a long time. There was only the sound of the forest and their deep breathing and the gentle lapping of the water against the shore. They parted and Sherry walked more jauntily now, sure of herself, even a little independent. Cocky.

"I don't know," she sing-songed. "I read a book once where a man married a girl and then tossed her in the lake so he could have all her money. Insurance money."

"Come on. Cut it out, Sherry."

"I'm under age," she said. "I'm only sixteen you know. Daddy might not give me permission." She made an ugly face. "Sherry Agnello. Ugh. I just don't know, Tony."

"Keep it up and you are going in the lake," Tony said.

"The kids would be half Italian. All of them Agnellos. Their schoolmates would maybe call them Wops."

"Okay, they'd get called Wops."

"And my career would suffer. I'd make less money."

"Your career would suffer and you'd make less money."

"In bed you'd be just an oaf. You'd use me selfishly and I'd just be sacrificing myself. A love object for your pleasure. Also, your peter's too big and you'd hurt me I'd probably develop female trouble and you'd go seek female companionship elsewhere."

"Cut it out, Sherry. I mean it."

Sherry broke into a run along the shore. Tony sprinted after her, but she had a good head start.

"I can't go through with it," Sherry called, laughing over her shoulder. "I can't cook spaghetti. You're just not Mr. Right."

Sherry darted through the trees and began running away from the lake. Tony raced after her. She wasn't all that fast but she was agile. Tricky. Like a chipmunk. It took twenty or thirty yards before Tony could down her. He pinned her shoulders to a bed of pine needles finally and then they lay huffing and puffing staring at each other.

"Now what?" Sherry said. "I could scream, Tony. You know that. Mounted police or somebody would come and rescue me. I'm only sixteen. They'd put you in jail."

"Never mind. Go ahead and scream. I want to get used to Mrs. Agnello's screams. Let me hear it."

"When the curtain goes up tonight you won't be there," Sherry said. "The show won't go on. You'll be locked up in the pokey. Just what do you think you're doing?" His hand was under her blouse. "You can't do this to a minor," she said.

"If I'm going to jail I'm getting my money's worth." Now his other hand was tugging at her hip-huggers, pulling them down.

"You'll get ten years for this, Tony. Don't be a fool, you lustful Italian."

"Statutory rape isn't ten years. They'll find your clothes at my place and know you cooperated."

"I forgot about that. You tricked me into moving my things to your room."

"Now you let the picture, baby. See my plan? See how it all fits in?"

Sherry was practically naked now. Her hand found him and she spread her legs apart just a little. She still feigned a lingering trace of resistance. "Yes, I see now. I-I want to see how it all fits in."

"Good, I thought you might," Tony said. He shifted so that his weight was not pressing so heavily on the future Mrs. Agnello. Agnello men always showed consideration for their wormen. It was a family tradition and he didn't want to break with tradition.

"Ummmm," Sherry said.

Birds, bees and sundry creatures of the forest went about their business paying no special attention to the lovers beneath the trees. One squirrel paused, then moved on. He had better things to do than watch a couple of other living things (even if they were rather large ones) mating on the ground.