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Back Come Again No More Save as PDF
Chapters (55)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover
  3. Title Page
  4. Contents
  5. PART I 
  6. 1.
  7. 2.
  8. 3.
  9. 4.
  10. 5.
  11. 6.
  12. 7.
  13. 8.
  14. 9.
  15. 10.
  16. 11.
  17. 12.
  18. PART II 
  19. 13.
  20. 14.
  21. 15.
  22. 16.
  23. 17.
  24. 18.
  25. 19.
  26. 20.
  27. 21.
  28. 22.
  29. 23.
  30. 24.
  31. 25.
  32. 26.
  33. 27.
  34. 28.
  35. 29.
  36. 30.
  37. PART III 
  38. 31.
  39. 32.
  40. 33.
  41. 34.
  42. 35.
  43. 36.
  44. 37.
  45. 38.
  46. 39.
  47. PART IV 
  48. 40.
  49. 41.
  50. 42.
  51. 43.
  52. 44.
  53. 45.
  54. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  55. Touchstone Reading Group Guide

The night of the dance, Jake bought a flask of something fiery off a bootlegger operating from an old Dodge parked outside the Armory. They sat talking in the De Soto, watching the crowd filter inside. He offered the flask. She took a long, bold swallow and felt the liquor like pure flame going down her throat, spreading warmth in her limbs. She felt wild and young and a little giddy.

Inside, they danced three dances to a good swing band. Jake was an agile dancer, long and lean and light on his feet. Emaline was thrilled, her face flushed, grinning from ear to ear as she followed him through a jitterbug, knowing that people were watching the smooth way they flowed together. After a very quick fox-trot that left her breathless and laughing, Jake went to get them both a root beer. She was smoothing her hair down and trying to catch her breath when she saw Bose Hubbard. He was standing with a group of railroad workers in a corner of the dance hall, the bunch of them laughing over some joke. Instantly, she was a terrified girl again, bent over a kitchen table with Bose’s hand around her throat.

When Jake returned with their root beers, she grabbed his sleeve and led him toward the door.

“What’s the matter with you?”

“We have to leave.”

“Why? We just got here. Paid fifty cents to get in.”

“I know, Jake. I’m really sorry, but I have to leave right now.”

“What’s the matter?”

“You see that big man with those fellows over in the corner? His name is Bose Hubbard. He’s the reason I have to leave. Please, I want to go now.”

They stepped outside into the fresh air, stood for a moment in the shadows of the building listening to the band. Jake took her hand. “You’re goin to have to tell me why.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. You had some trouble with that fella?”

“I can’t tell you. I’ve never told anyone.”

“Well, you’re goin to tell me if we have to stand here all night. If he did somethin to you, I’ll take care of him.”

“You can’t, Jake. He’s too strong. I’ve seen him take the back end of a Model T and lift it out of the mud all by himself. Let’s just go. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“I’m not goin to budge until you tell me what happened. Come on now. Out with it.”