Quaid
Jennings is a psychologist. Along with his business partner, Boyd, he
lives and works in a big city. Lonely and alone, he's happy when Boyd
introduces him to Faydra, one of his many cousins. Faydra has applied
to a program for psychiatric nurses and Quaid has taken her to the
hospital to interview. There, he sees Clyde, one of his buddies who
is a psychiatry resident.
“Who's
the hot blonde in with Hagel?” Clyde asked.
“My
girlfriend.” Quaid bridled slightly, drawing himself up with his
shoulders squared.
“Chill,
dude. You're a lucky man, but you know I don't step into another
guy's action. She is to die for gorgeous, though.”
“Thanks.
I think so, too. She's also got a brilliant mind and a great
personality.”
“She
got any sisters?”
“All
brothers—six of them.”
“You're
a brave man! My brothers and I vetted all our sister's dates until
she was twenty. We still have a go when she brings a new man home.”
“I
haven't met them yet. They live on Alabama.”
Clyde
snorted. “Redneck brothers! All older?”
“Yeah.”
Quaid squinted at his friend. “Why?”
“Guess
you need a lesson in how Southern brothers think.” He put his arm
around Quaid's shoulders. “See, we Southern boys don't think like
you Yankees.” A Southern accent, which he'd concealed until now,
flavored his words.
“No?
Do tell.”
“Yep.
That's a baby sister, whose virtue must be guarded at all costs. Men
like us—the brothers—are on the prowl.”
“All
men are, unless they're ancient or dead.”
“Yes,
but some are more predatory than others. And a young lady's virtue is
her greatest gift.”
“Which
you—the brother—must protect at all costs.”
“Yes.”
“While
trying to nab the virtue of every available woman.”
“Pretty
much. But see, that's the worry of that girl's brothers.”
“And
if she hasn't any?”
“So
much the better. Easier to pluck.”
Quaid
laughed loudly, punching Clyde in the ribs. “You're insane.”
“Which
is why I'm a shrink. But those good old boys will take you apart if
you mistreat the baby.”
“I
have no intention of doing that. Faydra's the best thing that ever
happened to me. I look in her eyes and see the future.”
Clyde
cleared his throat and backed up a little, scratching the back of his
head.
“She's
right behind me.”
“Yep.
Heard every word.”
“Good
that I was telling the truth, then.” He winked at his friend and
turned to greet Faydra.
Fairly
bouncing, she flung her arms around his neck, practically bending him
in half. “I got it! I got it!” She jumped and hugged, nearly
choking him.
“Fantastic!”
he croaked. “Babe. Honey. Faydra!”
“Sorry!
I got it!” She let go and kept hopping.
“I
knew you could get it!”
“You
didn't talk to anyone, pull strings?” she glowered.
“No!
Not a soul. I didn't even know you had an interview here until you
told me last night.”
“Good.
I got it on my own.”
©
2017 Dellani Oakes
