Поющие в терновнике

           InspiteofhislooksLukewasaboutonaparwiththeaverageruralworkingmanwhenitcametosexualexperience;heknewlittleofthemechanicsbeyondwhathelikedhimself,andheknewnothingofthetheory.Thenumerousgirlshehadmadelovetowerenothingloathtoassurehimtheylikedit,butthatmeanthehadtorelyonacertainamountofpersonalinformation,notalwayshonest,either.AgirlwentintoanyaffairhopingformarriagewhenthemanwasasattractiveandhardworkingasLuke,soagirlwasaslikelyasnottolieherheadofftopleasehim.Andnothingpleasedamanmorethanbeingtoldhewasthebestever.Lukeneverdreamedhowmanymenasidefromhimselfhadbeenfooledwiththatone.

           StillthinkingaboutoldDot,whohadgiveninanddoneasherfatherwantedafterhelockedherintheshearers’barracksforaweekwithafly-blowncarcass,Lukementallyshruggedhisshoulders.Meggiewasgoingtobeatoughnuttocrackandhecouldn’taffordtofrightenordisgusther.Funandgameswouldhavetowait,thatwasall.He’dwooherthewaysheobviouslywanted,flowersandattentionandnottoomuchslap-and-tickle.

           Forawhileanuncomfortablesilencereigned,thenMeggiesighedandslumpedbackinherseat.

           "I’msorry,Luke."

           "I’msorry,too.Ididn’tmeantooffendyou."

           "Oh,no,youdidn’toffendme,truly!IsupposeI’mnotveryusedtoit…Iwasfrightened,notoffended."

           "Oh,Meghann!"Hetookonehandoffthewheelandputitoverherclaspedones."Look,don’tworryaboutit.