January Gets Her Gunn

Chapter 7-1

Chapter 7Thad wrapped his arms about Jan and pulled her against him. She had spread her feet on the bench and he knelt between them. Thad started kissing her face, eyelids, and cheeks. Then he found her neck.

“Mmmm, you rascal.” Jan’s voice had taken on a new timbre, huskier. He was totally against her now, and she discerned a growing hardness in his jeans in the right place. Her hips moved almost of their own volition, rubbing against the rising bulge.

His hand found its way up under her blouse to where her bra spanned her back. His fingers explored the elastic.

Jan couldn’t help it. She giggled. “It unfastens in front.” She pressed harder against him before his hand could get between them. Her hand slid down until it rested on one of his buns. She pulled him tighter against her. His lips had gotten down as far as her collar and his other hand was trying to get at her blouse buttons. When she ground her chest against his, she heard him groan. Now it was her turn to kiss his neck. She enjoyed the feel of the stubble against her lips. It tickled. In another minute, Thaddeus Gunn, I’m going to turn into a wild woman and tear your clothes off.

Suddenly Thad released her and stepped away. Jan was caught by surprise. He was out of her grasp before she could react.

“Oi canna, Oi canna!” It was a cry of anguish.

“What’s wrong? What can’t you do?” All sorts of images flashed through Jan’s mind.

“I canna continue. ‘Tis wrong.” He turned from her.

“Why is it wrong? I’m an adult and I haven’t complained.”

“I’m your training officer. I’m not supposed to take advantage of you. It isn’t fair to you.”

“Oh God! A conscience attack.” Jan stepped up close behind him. She put her arms around his waist. “If I was doing it to blackmail you, ya big lug, we’d have done it in the first half hour we were here.”

He was trying to get her arms from around his waist. She held on with all of her strength. “Believe me, I want it as bad as you do.”

“No, it is wrong. I knew you were in the Legion. I should have gone some other place.”

“But you didn’t. I came out here with you of my own free will. Dammit Thad, you’re attracted to me as I am to you. Maybe it’s only physical. I don’t know. At the moment I don’t care.”

When he didn’t respond, still standing as rigidly as if he were at attention, Jan let go. She stalked back to the table to lean against the end. She fished a cigarette from the pack in her purse and lit it. She took angry puffs, blowing them out as she stared over the river.

Thad turned and watched her. “It isn’t fair to you. As long as both of us work for the RPD, we can’t get married.”

Jan didn’t answer until she had smoked the cigarette down to the filter. She ground it out beneath her foot. “Oh cripes, who said anything about marriage? Do you contemplate marriage every time you take a woman to bed?”

“No, of course not.”

“I didn’t think so. Marriage would mean letting someone into your life.” Jan lit another cigarette. “So why is this different?”

“Because of you.” He sounded as if he had just been caught in the commission of some dastardly crime.

“Because of me. Because I might use a roll in the hay as blackmail? Or because I might not let go and force you into marriage?”

“No, none of that. You aren’t that kind.”

“How do you know what kind of woman I am? Let me tell you something, you big lug. I can be had. I just happen to be a little choosey. I’m no prude and I’m not a virgin. I happen to get turned on by good looking men and I speculate about how they might be in bed. Sound familiar? Every day, I check the pool at the apartments. If there are any good looking guys out there, I go out with the skimpiest bikini that’s legal. Tonight, I put on these damned tight jeans and went to the Legion to play pool. Every time I bent over to shoot, every man in the place ogled my rear. Unfortunately, you were the only single man under seventy to come in. You don’t know one damn thing about me.”

“You were out trying to pick up a man?” The shock in his tone was also written all over his face.

“In a manner of speaking. Hey, I’m healthy and normal. I like male companionship. But no, I don’t do one night stands if that’s what you mean.”

“You make it sound so practical and mundane.” She sensed Thad was pouting. His tone bordered on surly.

“I’m a practical person. You don’t catch fish with an unbaited hook. No, I don’t kiss frogs. I gave up fairy tales at about age thirteen. You know what my biggest problem is right now?”

“No.”

“I wear a blue uniform with a badge and carry a handgun. You’d be surprised at the number of guys who show interest until they find out I’m a cop. At that point, they flee for their lives. I guess there isn’t a male version of police groupies.” She chuckled, “At the Legion, because I was in the Marines and now I’m a cop, I’ve became one of the guys. Oh, they notice the physical differences, but I think half of them think I have a hairy chest.” She had to laugh at the expression on Gunn’s face.

“I’m serious Jan. You’re a beautiful woman. I desire you, but you’re off limits. That’s all there is to it.”

“I’m serious too, Gunn, but you’re making a mountain out of a mole hill. If we’d had s*x tonight, I doubt it would have become a federal case.”

“Why if, then. There’s still the rest of the night.”

“No. It won’t be tonight. You blew it. I was on the verge of ripping your clothes off, but I’m not going to risk another conscience attack. Thank you, but no way, Jose.”

“Okay. I understand.” He turned towards the other end of the table. “Damn!”

“What?”

“A deputy. What’s he doing up here on a Tuesday?” He turned back towards January. “He doesn’t need to see you. Go get in the car and sit on the floor.”

“No way, I don’t have anything to hide. We’re dressed. I have no undone buttons and your shirttails are still neatly tucked in. We came up here to talk things out and that’s what we’re doing. I’m not going to be part of a sordid little scandal in the making. Sit down, Gunn.” January picked up her purse, circled to the other side of the table and sat on the bench. She took out another cigarette and lit it.

“Damn, I bet its Chappo Benevidez, the biggest mouth at HCSO.” He sat down across from January. “I don’t like this.”

They sat in silence to watch the Sheriff’s unit make its way slowly toward them, shining its spotlight into each ramada. It pulled up behind Gunn’s car and stopped without shining the spotlight their way. When the door opened, a short husky figure emerged to walk towards them.

“Que dice, Gunn?”

“Not a whole lot, Chappo. How ‘bout yourself?”

The deputy shrugged his shoulders and made a flip flop motion with his hand. “Mas o minos. Nada.” He looked at January. “¿Quien es?”

Before Gunn could answer, January spoke, “¿Yo soy January Farrell, numbre serial setenta ocho, policia de Riverton, y usted?” January laid her badge case on the table and flipped it open.

The deputy glanced at the badge, then nodded. “Profirio Benevidez, but everybody calls me Chappo. You speak very good Spanish, Officer Farrell.”

“I try, Deputy Benevidez. Most people call me Jan.”

“Bueno, Jan.” Chappo laughed heartily. “Maybe you can teach Gunn some Spanish.” He pointed his thumb at Thad and winked.

“Oh, I don’t know. I heard him talking Spanish to a young boy the other night. He did pretty good.” Jan smiled sweetly.

“Paco?” Chappo looked at Gunn.

“Yeah, Paco.” In the muted light from the Sheriff’s car, Gunn looked glum.

“Hey, man, you done good. That Cuban slime has his tail between his legs. I hear Judge Gordo gave him hell. That Paco is no bad kid. I would have taken him in myself, but I got eleven of my own. Yeah, man, you did good.”

“Thanks Chappo. What’cha doing out here on Tuesday night?”

“Checking on you. Someone called dispatch and said that you were out here with your new rookie and that you two don’t get along too well. I said it was bullshit but the sergeant said go check.” Chappo shrugged his shoulders.

When she saw Gunn was getting ready to explode, Jan intervened. “Chappo, regardless of what you might have heard, I did not kidnap Senior Patrol Officer Gunn from the American Legion at gun point. Yeah, we have our problems, but that’s why we’re out here. Trying to talk things out without interference.”

“Bueno. I know Gunn ever since he come to Riverton. We tease, but he is muy simpatico. He is a good cop and teacher of cops.” He smiled. “I also hear about the beautiful new rookie, that’s muy bravo y tambien simpatico. I didn’t think there was any reason to check. My cousin Manny says you can take care of yourself.”

“Thanks, Chappo.” Jan stood up and held out her hand.

Chappo looked embarrassed but he took her hand. “De nada, senorita.”

He turned to Gunn. “Sorry, Thad. Sometimes being a cop is hell.” He started back towards his car. “You kids take care, okay?”

“Hey, Chappo, the next time Gunn and I have a fight, you can referee.” January chuckled as she reached down to take Gunn’s hand.

“You do that.” Chappo laughed as he got into his car. He pulled out and drove away.

January stood watching the tail lights until they vanished over a hill. “You have a friend there, Gunn.”

“Yeah, and I didn’t know it.”

“You would probably find you have more if you would unbury your humanity. Folks respect you. That’s a big part of friendship and love. Life is too short to be forever lonely.” She released his hand. “Let’s go home, Thad.”

Long after he had dropped January off at her car and watched her drive away, Thad continued to berate himself. I blew it. She’ll never forgive me for this, just as she doesn’t forget about taking her to the Roost. I’ll never be able to live this down. Why is it so important to me that we don’t have s*x if we can’t get married? It never bothered me before. “Unbury your humanity,” she said. Maybe she’s right.

It was past sunup before he fell asleep only to dream of his mother, who turned into a tall auburn-haired beauty named January.

It wasn’t easy for January to find sleep after she got home, either. She got up and went through the Tai Chi routine, but it didn’t help. She was as angry with herself as she was with Gunn. I could have stopped it before I became so aroused. Why didn’t I? That big lug and his sanctimonious “I’m your superior and should not take advantage of you.” What a crock. Hell, I spent damn near the whole time seducing him. That business with Chappo should put a c***k in his self-made armor. It probably won’t do any good, though. Tonight, he’ll be back to his warped dogmatic self. One thing is for sure, Senior Patrol Officer Thaddeus Gunn won’t get a second chance.

January went to sleep with that thought, only to dream of knights in shining armor chasing her with phallic lances, every one of them with Gunn’s features.

* * * *

18 Aug 1982: 2200:

January drove the RPU out of the lot behind the Police Station and on to the city street. Gunn had commenced the night’s log. He laid the clipboard on the seat between them. “I’m sorry about last night…”

Gunn looked surprised as January wheeled to the curb and stopped the RPU. “What the…”

“Last night was last night. We didn’t do anything. It’s over, kaput, finis, gone. I don’t want to hear another word about it. Understand?” January had turned in the seat and glared at Gunn.

“Yeah, I understand. I was just trying to apologize.”

Damn him, he’s got that whipped puppy look again. “I don’t need your apologies. All I need from you Gunn, is for you to do your job and train me. Nothing more, nothing less. Let’s get on with it.”

“Okay, okay,” Gunn looked out the side window a moment. “You know where the west yards are?”