Home of  Mickey Minner

Slam Dunk
First Draft
@ Copyrighted 2011-2012

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

This story is a sequel to my stories, Fast Break and Footsteps (Ghost Towning).

CHAPTER ONE

 Patricia Calvin sat impatiently on the thinly padded examination table. Except for her Jockey briefs, she was unclothed from the waist down, and her long bare legs hung over the table’s side swinging lazily. She squirmed on the stretch of white, coarse paper that separated her from the table’s padded surface, its sharp, razor thin edge digging into the back of her bare thighs. To take her mind off her uncomfortable situation, she looked around the room.

The examination room, rectangular in shape with unadorned sterile white walls, was typical of any doctor’s office. The examination table was pushed within inches of one long wall yet still monopolized the small room. A waist high counter lined half of the opposing wall and a single straight back plastic chair had been placed at the end of the counter. Above the counter and fastened to the wall were three cabinets; their glass doors providing an unobstructed view of shelves stacked high with carefully labeled medical supplies. A basin sat in the center of the counter top, a swan neck spout curving up and over the stainless steel sink.

Hearing footsteps in the hallway outside the room, Pat turned toward the door. A woman wearing shorts, t-shirt, and running shoes under a brightly colored, flower patterned lab coat pushed the door open.

 “Has anyone ever told you you don’t dress like a real doctor,” Pat commented sourly, her irritation at being left so long in the cold room seeping through.

Unaffected by the tone, the doctor smiled. “Good afternoon, Pat,” she responded cheerfully. “I see you still have a problem with waiting.”

Pat grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, Jillian. But you know how I hate sitting around doing nothing.”

“Ah, yes, I know. You are a busy woman, after all,” Jillian said overly serious to the head coach of the Missoula Cougars, the local professional womens’ basketball team. She placed the chart she had carried into the room down on the counter and turned to face her impatient patient. “Then we better get straight to the reason for your visit,” she said leaning against the counter and folding her arms across her chest. She gazed at Pat with a critical eye. “I’ve reviewed everything and nothing I’ve seen would change what I told you after your surgery.”

“You’re sure?”

“Pat, you, of all people, should know that players come back after knee surgery all the time. What makes you think your knee isn’t also capable of doing the same?”

“I just want to be sure.”

Jillian smiled. “I don’t suppose this change of heart has anything to do with a certain point guard you recruited last season?” she asked innocently while retrieving an orthopedic hammer from a drawer.

“Can you just answer my questions,” Pat grumbled.

Jillian moved to stand in front of her petulant patient and lifted the blanket covering her legs. She lightly tapped the hammer against her injured leg just below the scar on her knee. “You’re reflexes are good,” she stated after Pat’s foot instantly sprang upward. “You’re in good physical shape,” she added taking a step back. “The only problem I saw on the x-rays was you’re starting to develop some arthritis in the knee. That’s to be expected but if it starts to bother you, we can go in and try to clean things up. Otherwise, if this is really something you want to do, I say go for it. We’ll keep a close eye on the knee and see how it takes the additional strain. Just make sure you use the knee brace,” she added letting the blanket drop back down over the exposed legs.

Pat looked down at her bare toes peeking out from under the thin blanket. She raised her head to meet the doctor’s eyes. “Will you put that in writing?”

“Already have.” Jillian turned back to the chart and pulled an envelope out from between some of its pages. “I figured you’d want something to show Mac—here you go,” she said handing the envelope to Pat. “If Mac has any questions, she can call me. I am correct to assume you give permission for me to discuss this matter with her… if she calls?” Pat nodded. “Good. You can get dressed now. Say hi to Sherry.”

Pat smiled. “Thanks. I will.”

“And good luck. This gives me a great reason not to feel guilty for renewing my season tickets,” Jillian said then pulled open the examination room’s door and slipped out.

Left alone, Pat opened the envelope and removed the single sheet of letterhead it contained. After reading the doctor’s comments, she carefully refolded the paper and returned it safely back inside the envelope. Then, with a pensive smile, she hopped off the table, retrieved the pair of jeans hanging on the back of the door and began to dress.

#

Sherry Gallagher stood at the free throw line watching as her practice shot swished cleanly through the net.

“That’s ninety-eight,” Pete Sunndee counted when the ball dropped into her waiting hands. “Want to call it good for the day and go grab some lunch? Hey, it was just a suggestion,” she defended after receiving a stern glare in response. She bounced the ball back to Sherry. Both women played point guard for the Missoula Cougars and regularly practiced together. “Do you really think it would hurt to cut this short by a couple of attempts?”

“No, it probably wouldn’t hurt,” Sherry said preparing for another practice shot. “But it would drive me crazy the rest of the day.” She took a deep breath. Two bounces and a pause; one bounce and a pause; then she launched the ball toward the basket.

“Ninety-nine,” Pete noted catching the ball and sending it back to Sherry. “I suppose we could all do with more practice from the line.”

“You do pretty well. What did you shoot last year? Eight-seven percent?”

“Coach wants more.”

Sherry frowned as her final shot bounced off the back of the rim and away from the hoop. “Damn, that’s a game loser.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Pete said, trotting after the errant ball. “You only missed six times.”

“I know. But I hate missing the last one; it’s bad luck.”

Dribbling the ball between her legs and around invisible defenders, Pete worked her way toward Sherry who was walking to the side of the court where she had left her water bottle. “Bad luck for what? We haven’t even started tryout camp.”

Sherry groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

“Gee, you almost sound like you’re looking forward to it,” Pete teased.

Sherry unscrewed the top of the bottle and took a mouthful of the cool liquid. “You know, as bad as tryout camp is, I think I might actually be,” she said after swallowing. “It would mean an end to the endless hours of reviewing tapes and evaluating players.”

“Finding out that being a coach isn’t all fun and games?”

Sherry laughed. “It sure isn’t when you’re living with the head coach.”

“Speaking of… where is our fearless leader?”

“I’m not sure. She said she had something to do and would meet me back at the house later.”

Pete tucked the ball into the crook of her arm then waggled her fingers at Sherry. “Ooo, keeping secrets already? You know what that means.”

Sherry glowered at her friend in mock annoyance. “Stop it.”

Pete laughed. “Yeah, you’re right. She would no more cheat on you then I would on Keith,” Pete said of her husband.

Sherry laughed. “That’s the truth.” She felt a rumble in her stomach. “Hey, didn’t you say you were buying lunch?”

“Eating, yes. Buying, no.”

“Tell you what,” Sherry said reaching out to snatch the ball away from Pete. “If I make this, you buy. If I miss, I’ll buy.”

Pete grinned knowing the distance to the basket was well out of Sherry’s normal range and, more importantly, her comfort zone. “And I get to pick the place.”

“Deal.” Sherry smirked devilishly. “But only if I miss.” When Pete nodded, she turned and squared up to the basket. She bounced the ball once then sprung into the air. At the apex of her jump, the ball left her hand arcing toward the basket. It ricocheted off the backboard and dropped through the hoop barely disturbing the net on its way through. She playfully backhanded a dumbfounded Pete in the solar flexes. “Did I mention that Pat’s been helping me on my long shot?” she asked casually before bending over to grab her water bottle and trot off the court toward the locker rooms.

#

Owner of the Missoula Cougars, Martha Ann Christopher leaned back in her oversized, overstuffed, leather chair to study the woman sitting on the opposite side of her equally imposing mahogany desk. “Are you sure about this? It won’t be easy.”

Pat nodded. “I know.”

“Have you talked to Sherry about it?”

“I don’t need to—I know what her response. What I need to know is what you think about it.”

Mac pressed her fingers together. She studied her coach as she considered the proposition that had just been presented to her. “I want a repeat this season, Pat. A second championship is going to be hard enough. But to add this on top of it…”

“I spent the past few months thinking about this and considering all the possibilities, good and bad. I know it won’t be easy but I really want the chance.”

“People thought I was nuts when I named you head coach. But you came through and made me look like a genius. I have great faith in you as my coach; I did then and I do now. But this… I’m not so sure. I demand a lot from my players.”

“As you should.”

“I demand more from my coaches.”

Pat nodded in agreement. “I can resign as coach,” she offered hesitantly.

Mac bolted upright, slamming her open palms down on her desk. “Like hell you will,” she barked leaning on the desk to glare at Pat. “The Coach of the Year does not resign the very next season. Not unless you’re at the end of a very long career. Which you are not!” Mac walked around her desk to the wall of glass that overlooked the arena and glanced down at the empty arena floor. “I offered you this same opportunity two years ago,” she stated in a calmer voice. “You turned me down.”

“I wasn’t ready then.”

“But you’re ready now?”

“Yes.”

“This could go wrong in a lot of ways.”

Pat stood and moved to join the team owner. “Write it into the contract, the minute you think it’s become too much, I’ll give it up.”

“Which part?”

Pat didn’t hesitate. “Whichever one you want.”

Mac turned. “You’re sure about this?” she asked locking eyes with her coach.

Pat’s return gaze didn’t falter. “I’m sure.”

“Okay. I’ll have a new contract for you to sign tomorrow. But,” Mac jabbed her index finger into Pat’s chest, “you will stop when I say stop.”

“Agreed.”

Mac lowered her finger and held out her hand. “I always hoped you’d change your mind,” she said. “Now, get out of here so I can call our PR department… this is sure going to help sell tickets,” she declared with a wide grin.

“Glad I’m good for something,” Pat said wryly clasping hands with Mac.

“It’s a business, Pat. What can I say?”

“Sometimes, it’s hard to remember to look at that way.”

“You’ve adjusted pretty well.”

“Thanks. I better go home and fill Sherry in.”

Mac stopped her. “You have considered what this can do to your relationship? It’s going to be hard enough for the two of you this year without adding more.”

Sherry had joined the Cougars the year before as a rookie guard and had promptly fallen in love with the head coach. She wasn’t alone in her feelings; Pat had also fallen in love with her. However, relationships between coaches and players weren’t condoned by the league or by the Cougars’ owner. In order to honor the conduct clauses in their contracts, the women had tried to suppress their growing attraction to each other until after the end of the season when Sherry had offered to resign, even after receiving Rookie of the Year honors. But Pat had devised a better solution; she, with Mac’s approval, had offered Sherry a position on her coaching staff.

“If I think it’s becoming a problem, I’ll back off. I won’t risk what I have with Sherry to satisfy my ego.”

“But the question is… will you know?”

Pat thought for a moment. “I expect you to tell me if I don’t.”

Mac gave a short nod. “Fair enough. But, maybe, you need the same deal with Sherry. Make sure you talk about it... all of it.”

#

“Hey, I was beginning to wonder about you,” Sherry greeted Pat when she walked into the house they shared. She picked up the remote control, hit the pause button then flipped the remote and the clipboard in her lap onto the coffee table.

Pat dropped onto the couch. “Sorry, my meeting with Mac took longer than I expected.” She wrapped an arm around Sherry’s waist and pulled her close for a kiss.

“You went to see Mac?” Sherry asked after their lips separated. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have waited for you at the arena.”

Pat slumped back against the couch pulling Sherry with her. “I wasn’t sure when I would get out of there. Any prospects?” she asked of the players frozen on the television screen.

“I made notes on a couple but most are so-so at best. We must be getting down to the bottom of the barrel.”

Pat leaned forward to reach the remote. “Mac always keeps the tapes of players who tried for other teams and got passed over for last.” She ejected the tape and turned the set off. “She’d love the chance to rub another owner’s nose in it if we happen to find someone they passed over.”

“She’s a complicated woman,” Sherry commented off-handedly.

“Yes, but she has a point… you never know what we might see that no one else did. Though, I’ve yet to discover any diamonds-in-the-rough in them.”

“Now you tell me.”

“Sorry. We always get these just before the start of camp, they’re usually just players who won’t admit they don’t have the skills to play pro ball.”

“Like me?” Sherry asked without censure. “I was passed over by every team, including the Cougars, but I kept dreaming.”

“Scouts sometime miss what they’re not looking for.”

“Even Cougar scouts?”

“Yeah.”

“Then it’s a good thing you showed up at my game to scout Dawn. Who knows where’d I would be today if you hadn’t.”

“I hate to think about that,” Pat admitted. “My whole life has changed since that night.”

“For the better I hope.”

“Definitely.” Pat tightened her hold on Sherry. “I can’t imagine not having you around. You do so much for me.”

Sherry laughed. “Like cooking and cleaning.”

“We eat mostly take-out and we have a maid service… lawn service… and snow removal service.”

Sherry sighed contently. “Ah, the good life.”

“At least, all the money Mac throws at us goes for a good cause.”

“That it does.” Sherry kissed Pat’s cheek. “So, are you planning to come clean or do I believe Pete’s hypothesis that you’re stepping out on me.”

Pat gave Sherry a puzzled look. “Why on earth would she think that?”

“She wanted to know why you weren’t at the arena today. I told her you said you had,” Sherry held up her hands and made quotation mark gestures with her fingers, “things to do.”

Pat rolled her eyes. “Oh, good heavens,” she groaned.

Sherry giggled. “She was kidding.”

“She better be. I went to see Jillian.”

Sherry sat up abruptly. “Your knee? Are you having problems?”

“No. Calm down,” Pat said pulling her upset lover back to her side. “The knee’s fine. I went in to get the result of some tests she had done.”

“Pat!” Sherry bolted upright again. “What the hell is going on?”

“I’ll tell you if you’ll let me,” Pat reiterated. “I had some questions—”

“Have you been having problems? I didn’t notice—”

Pat grabbed the agitated woman and gently clamped her hand over her mouth. “Sherry, please. Give me a chance to finish a sentence, will you?” When her lover nodded, she continued. “I’ve decided that I want to try playing ball so I asked Jillian to give the knee a good look over.”

Sherry pried Pat’s hand off her mouth. “You mean… play ball as in play for the Cougars?”

“Yes.”

“As a player?”

Pat laughed. “Well, yes.”

“During games?”

“Yes.”

“Wow!” Sherry started to relax then a thought crossed her mind and she jerked around to stare at Pat. “You’re giving up coaching?”

Pat shook her head. “No,” she assured the concerned woman. “I just thought since we had one player slash coach in the family, why not two?”

Sherry collapsed against Pat. “Holy shit!”

“Not quite the reaction I was anticipating,” Pat said worriedly.

Sherry placed a hand on Pat’s leg and pushed herself back just enough to look into her lover’s face. “Pat, this is great,” she exclaimed excitedly. “I’ve wondered what it would be like to play with you. Not that kind of play with you,” she shrieked at Pat’s playful leer. “Geez, this is so great. Pete’s gonna freak,” she squealed then dropped back down against Pat. “I take it your meeting with Mac was about this?”

“Yes.”

“Is she good with it?”

“Not exactly.”

Sherry popped upright again. “She said no?”

“Damn it, woman.” Pat growled. Grabbing Sherry around the waist, she lifted her off the cushion then moved her to the end of the couch where she plopped her down. She picked Sherry’s feet off the floor and swung her legs up onto the couch then sat on top of them. “Now, maybe we can talk about this without you jumping and down like a yo-yo. Stay!” she demanded when she tried to squirm out from under her.

Sherry slumped back against the arm of the couch then gazed seductively at her lover. “Then make it quick cuz I want you to jump my bones. You big, strong woman, you.”

Pat laughed. “That’s quite a change in subject.”

“Well, you did just pick me and dump me over here.”

“I had to, you were making me dizzy.”

“Okay, I promise not to jump around any more. Now, get off my legs.”

“I’m not sure I can trust you.”

“Pat, get off my legs before I bounce you across the room.”

“Think you can?”

Sherry grinned. “I’ve spent most of the off season in the weight room… at my coach’s insistence, I might add.”

“So who’s the big, strong woman now? Maybe you should be the one to jump my bones.”

“Come on, I give. I said I won’t jump around anymore… and you’re heavier than you look.”

“Gee, thanks. That’s good for my self esteem,” Pat muttered then raised herself up just enough to allow Sherry to free her legs.

Sherry scooted around to sit beside Pat. “Okay, what is Mac’s problem?”

“She thinks it may be too much for me to do both. But she’s willing to give me the chance on the condition that I give up playing and just concentrate on coaching if, and when, she thinks things have gotten out of hand.”

“What kind of things?”

“She wants a repeat championship. That’s going to be difficult under normal circumstances. She’s afraid I may not be able to handle the pressure as coach let alone as a player slash coach.”

Sherry frowned. “Nice to know she has such confidence in you,” she muttered derisively.

“She has a point.”

“Pat, you coached the Cougars to back-to-back winning seasons. They’ve never done that before. You coached them to a championship last year— another first for them. How much proof does she need that you can handle this?”

“Playing and coaching is different than just coaching.”

“You don’t have to tell me that. But I know you can do both,” Sherry stated confidently.

“Thanks.”

“I’m just not so sure about me being able to.”

Pat patted her thigh. “You’ll do fine,” she said reassuringly. “Besides, you’re only an assistant coach. There’s more pressure on the head coach so I have to admit that Mac has a right to have doubts. After all, she has to look at things from a business standpoint.”

“I’ll bet she’s already calculating the extra ticket sales this will generate.”

Pat laughed. “As a matter of fact, she was doing that when I was talking to her.”

“Figures.”

Pat sobered. “She’s also concerned it may make things difficult between you and me.”

“What? How?”

“Let’s be honest, okay?” She waited until Sherry nodded. “You are already stressed out over the additional duties you’re taking on as an assistant coach. Right?” Another nod. “So think about it. You know how I get during a season. And getting back into shape to play again will take some extra effort… especially this close to tryout camp.”

“Pat, you trained with me all summer. You’re in perfect shape—”

“Let me finish. I haven’t played, I mean really played, in a couple of years. It’s going to mean extra hours on the floor. You know what it was like last season… we barely had time to talk to each other.”

“I think that was more due to other circumstances, don’t you?” Sherry asked apologetically. She had spent most of her rookie season trying to suppress her growing feelings for her coach and she’d be the first to admit that she had not been too successfully resulting in Pat having to insist they have no contact off the court.

“Okay, I’ll grant that we did make things hard on ourselves last year. Falling in love with one of my players wasn’t too smart in many ways, especially when you consider what it could have cost us.”

Sherry gazed lovingly at her partner. “I’d give everything up for you.”

Pat smiled sadly. “You almost had to.

“But it didn’t come to that. So, why the concern now?”

“Just because we have Mac’s full support doesn’t mean we won’t get some heat from the press and the league. Admit it, Sherry, this season could be even worse for us than last season was.”

“Last season was great,” Sherry protested. “We won the championship. And you were named Coach of the Year.”

“I’m talking about the off court crap we had to put up over our relationship.”

“I wouldn’t call what we had a relationship. Besides, the league can’t come after us again… their inquest couldn’t find any violations of the conduct code.”

“That doesn’t mean people like Palmer won’t try.”

“He wouldn’t dare,” Sherry sneered remembering the baseless charges of improprieties the other coach had leveled against Pat on her player’s behalf during the previous season.

“He won’t but there are others who think like he does.”

“They can kiss my ass.”

“They better not.”

“Honey, we can’t do anything about people like that… we already talked about this. We just have to live our lives as we see fit and to hell with the homophobes out there.”

Pat gazed at Sherry. “However, things play out— we’re both going to be under a lot of stress. We need to understand that now so we don’t crack under it later.”

“If you’re really this concerned about what might happen, why do it?”

Pat shifted. “I want to have the chance to play with you,” she said quietly.

Sherry lifted a hand up to gently rest against Pat’s cheek. “I want that, too, sweetheart. But I know what this means to you and I know the fears you’ve had about testing your knee. I think you’ve more than earned a chance to prove you can play at this level… don’t you?”

“But, there are no guarantees—”

“You were a great player, Pat… you still are. I’ve seen you at practice; you’ve still got the moves. You’ve still got the touch. It won’t take you any time to fill comfortable back out there on the court.” Sherry saw a flicker of doubt sneak into Pat’s eyes. “Honey, do you want this?”

“Yes,” Pat answered in a whisper.

“Then I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to make it happen.”

“What if it comes between us?”

“It won’t. It may mean sacrificing some of our personal time together and I understand that. But we can always make it up after we bring another championship trophy back to Mac.”

“Are you sure?”

Sherry tenderly cupped Pat’s cheek and gently turned her head so she could look into her eyes. “Are you?”

Pat sucked in a deep breath and released it. “Yes.”

“Then let’s give our fans what they want, you on the court.”

Pat grinned. “You and me on the court.”

“Works for me.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too. Now that that’s settled,” Sherry grinned, “use your big bad muscals to carry me into our bedroom and make mad passionate love to me.”

Pat laughed. “Muscals?”

“Yeah, these big things right here,” Sherry said squeezing Pat’s biceps. “Now, quit wasting time, tryout camp starts soon. This may be our last chance for awhile.”

Pat slid into a prone position. “I’ve had a long day,” she said looking into the eyes gazing lovingly back at her. “My muscals are tired so how about you ravaging me right here?”

Sherry took no time in accepting the offer. “With pleasure, my love,” she declared before doing just that.

#

CHAPTER TWO

 “I still don’t like Jackson.” Pat was sitting in her office with her assistant coaches seated on the opposite side of her desk. The three women had spent the past few hours discussing the players arriving the next day to attend the Cougar tryout camp.

“Her scouting reports are good,” Kelley Stockley said. “And I need another post player.”

Pat looked at the assistant coach. “From what I’ve seen of her in tapes, I think she’s lazy.” Pat paused to re-read the scouting report on the player in question. She finished reading then tossed the report onto her desk.

“But she does have good numbers,” Sherry interjected, “and the reports rate her high.”

“I agree we need more post players to look at, Kelley. I don’t like Jackson but I’ll trust you may be seeing something in her that I’m not.” Pat frowned.” But I want her pushed hard. We can’t waste time on players who aren’t willing to give all they have; even in tryout camp. Understood?” She stared at Kelley until her assistant nodded her understanding of the coach’s unspoken threat. Then Pat turned her gaze to her other assistant coach. “Sherry, we have plenty of experienced guards with Wendy and Amie backing up you and Pete. But with that being such an injury plagued position, we have twelve possibles coming to camp. I need them thinned out quickly so we can use the balance of camp to work with the ones that have a chance to make the roster.”

Sherry looked up from the clipboard she held. “Two? Three?”

“I think we need to narrow them down to four or five by the end of week two. We can decide on the final number when I see how the other positions are shaping up.”

Sherry nodded.

“Anything else, Coach?” Kelley asked.

“Just one thing. Mac signed a new power forward this morning.”

“Oh? I wasn’t aware of any trades,” Kelley responded, knowing that players signed without going through tryout camp were usually veterans traded from other teams.

“No trade,” Sherry explained. “But I think you’re going to be as happy as I am with this player.”

“Seems I’ve been left out of the loop,” Kelley grumbled.

“Not for any of the reasons you’re imagining,” Pat quickly assured her unhappy assistant.

“Okay,” Kelley said hesitantly, not being fully reassured by her coach’s comment. “So, let me in on your little secret.”

Pat smiled nervously. “The new player is me.”

“You? Pat, are you kidding me?”

“No.”

“I never thought I’d live to see this day.”

“It’s great news, isn’t it?” Sherry asked excitedly.

Kelley’s displeasure at not having been informed earlier about the recent development wasn’t easily forgotten. “Who else knows?”

“Me, you, and Sherry,” Pat answered. “I plan to tell the returning players when they report to camp this afternoon.”

Kelley eyed Pat sternly. “You do realize you’re setting us up for a pretty rough season,” she stated harshly.

Pat bristled. “Care to explain?”

“Look, Pat, I’m not trying to be a bitch about this but you have to admit naming Sherry as a player slash coach just so you can sleep with her—”

“You’re out of line,” Pat snapped.

“Stop,” Sherry warned both women. “Calm down before this goes somewhere we’ll all regret.”

Pat glared at Kelley. “You over stepped—”

“Pat, she’s right,” Sherry interrupted, “and we both know it. If we’re going to make this work, we need to have Kelley on our side. To do that, we need to listen to what she’s thinking.”

Scowling, Pat leaned back in her chair. “I’m not sure I want to know.”

“Would you prefer my resignation?” Kelley asked.

“Whoa, wait a minute,” Sherry exclaimed then looked to Pat. “You don’t want that… do you?”

Pat sucked in a calming breath then released it slowly. A voice in the back of her mind was asking you didn’t expect this to be easy, did you? “No,” she answered both the voice and Sherry. “I don’t want that, Kelley. You’re too good a coach to lose.” Slowly, she spun her chair around to gaze out the window behind her desk. “I didn’t think you had a problem with me and Sherry being… together,” she finally said in a quiet voice.

“I don’t care about your personal life, Pat. But I do care about the Cougars. And, to be honest, I have concerns about how all of this is going to affect the team. Last year was hard enough with the crap Dawn was causing and with that idiot Palmer mouthing off all over the league. You have to admit there’s bound to be a lot of leftover distractions this year. Now, you’ve added Sherry to the mix as a player slash coach—”

Pat turned back around to face her assistant coaches. “You don’t think Sherry’s qualified?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. She’s already proven she can coach, I watched her work with the other guards last year— Wendy and Amie both improved their movement on the court. Heck, even Pete’s game went up a notch or two because Sherry was pushing her.”

“But?”

“I’m just saying we’re going to have a lot on our plates… I’m concerned… that’s all… Okay?”

Sherry placed her clipboard on Pat’s desk then shifted in her chair to face Kelley. “I think we all are. At least, I know I am. I’m not a fool; I know this coach slash player situation is contrived so that Pat and I can be together. And I have doubts about being able to pull it off… it’s a lot to take on. But having said that, I want to give it a try.” She could see by Kelley’s refusal to meet her eyes that she wasn’t convincing the other assistant coach. “If it will help, I’ve already told Pat that if it gets to be too much, I’ll quit.”

Kelley stared at the clipboard in her lap, her eyes not focusing on the pages of stats. After several minutes, she raised her eyes. “I’d hate to see you do that.” “You’re a damn good player.”

Sherry smiled. “Thanks, I appreciate that.” She stole a glance at her lover. “But my relationship with Pat is too important to me… much more important than playing ball.”

Pat focused all her attention on Kelley. “I have the same concerns as you and I’ve spent many sleepless nights debating the pros and cons. I don’t doubt that this year could be rough. For one thing, Mac is being very public about insisting on a repeat which means every other team will be gunning for us. And, as much as we would like to think they will, I doubt the press is ready to let the Palmer crap go. And you’re also right about Sherry taking on coaching duties and about me coming on as a player—all of this may end up adding more stress than any of us need… or can handle. But we’ve proven we make a good coaching staff and I’d like to think we can handle anything that may result from all this. But, to do that, I have to know you’re going to be with me… not against me.”

“You know what I think about you as a coach,” Kelley said. “You’ve done a hell of a lot to improve the Cougars since you took over.”

Pat smiled. “You’ve made that a lot easier for me.”

Kelley grinned. “I’m glad you noticed,” she said then sobered. “The last thing I want to do is walk away from what I have here.”

“Glad to hear that.”

“But I think I need some assurance that you’ll listen when I say I’m seeing problems… with the team or with you and Sherry. I think I deserve that.”

Pat rocked in her chair, nodding. “You do. I’ve assured Mac that I won’t let the dual roles, or our relationship, get in the way of the team’s success. If she thinks anything is going bad, Mac can pull the plug any time she sees fit. And I hope that I would be smart enough to think it would be in my best interest to pay attention to you… if, and when, you see a problem and let me know about it.”

“Saying it and doing it, are two different things,” Kelley said apprehensively.

“Anytime you think I’m not being that smart, you’re free to go straight to Mac,” Pat said more sharply than she had intended.

Sherry reached out to place a hand on Kelley’s arm. “We do understand your misgivings. Believe me, we have them too,” she said retracting her hand. “I’ve lost count of all the hours we’ve spent talking about this. But we’ve got our priorities straight… the Cougars will repeat as champions and we will preserve our relationship. Everything else can be dropped, regardless of what we have to give up.”

“And the same rule applies as before,” Pat added in a serious but friendly tone. “When we’re here, we’re coaches; our personal relationship stays at home.”

“Okay, you’ve convinced me,” Kelley smiled nervously, “I think. But I will hold you to what you said, Pat… I will go straight to Mac if I think you’ve gone over the edge.”

Pat nodded. “I’d expect no less.”

Sherry stood up. “How about lunch before we have to meet the veterans this afternoon?”

“You buying?” Kelley asked.

“Nope, Coach is.”

Pat groaned but stood to join her assistants. “Come on, I know a really cheap greasy spoon,” she said then led them out of her office.

#

“Whoohoo,” Pete exclaimed leaping out of her seat and jumping around on the arena floor doing her version of a happy dance. She had been sitting with the other returning Cougar players in the first few rows near center court when Pat broke the news to them. “Hot damn,” Pete shouted. “This is for real, right?” she asked coming to a bouncing stop in front of Pat. “This isn’t an April Fool’s joke… is it? No, it can’t be… it’s not April.” Then she danced over to the assistant coaches standing off to the side of Pat. “It’s real? Really real? Really, really real?”

“It’s real, Pete,” Kelley informed the exuberant player. Sherry was laughing too hard to answer.

“Whoohoo,” Pete shouted again and danced back over to Pat. “Do you know how much I’ve wanted this?” she asked the coach. “Playing ball with Pat Calvin… it’s a dream come true.”

Pat smiled wryly. “So it seems.” Amused, she watched the woman happily hopping around her. “You want to sit down so we can finish this?”

Grinning, Pete danced back to her seat. “This is soooo great,” she told Terry Peters seated next to her.

“All right,” Pat addressed the players. “We know how Pete feels… what about the rest of you?”

“It sounds like good news, Coach,” Val Jensen responded hesitantly. “But…um, what does it mean as far as playing time?”

“I understand your concern,” Pat answered the team’s returning starting forward. “For now, you’re still our starter. I’ll have to earn my place on the floor like everyone else.”

“Forgive me, Coach, but won’t you be the one making that decision.”

“Look I know this comes out of left field,” Pat told the players, many with unsure looks on their faces. “So let me put our priorities right up front. Number one, we’re going after a repeat… Mac wants back-to-back championships and so do I. I’m hoping that’s what all of you want, too.” She waited as the players responded affirmatively. “Okay, good.”

“What’s number two, Coach?” Terry Peters, a returning post player asked.

Pat smiled. “There is no number two. All our efforts will go to accomplishing number one. Anything… and anybody in the way of that, gets pushed aside. Understood.” She looked at Val who still looked concerned. “I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I can even play at this level but I’m going to give it a shot. If I can’t then I’ll step aside.”

“Come on, ladies,” Pete interjected. “You’ve all seen Coach play.”

“College was a long time ago,” Val muttered.

“Damn it, Val. Coach isn’t some old lady and her college days didn’t end that long ago.”

“Still…”

Pete smiled wickedly at the reticent teammate. “She had no trouble whooping your butt in practice last year.”

“All right, enough,” Pat stopped the interplay before it went too far. “Val, as of right now, you are the starting forward.” She paused for a moment. “But don’t think you’re going to get a free ride. We’ve got some rookies coming tomorrow that will be giving you a run for your money. And I’ll be running right with them.” I hope, she added to herself. “Anybody else?”

“Nah, Coach,” Tonie Jessup, another returning post player, spoke. “I say we give you a chance. If we kick your ass,” she grinned, “you can remind us later why you wanted to give this a try.”

Pat smiled.

“No special allowances?” Terry asked.

“No special allowances,” Pat assured her.

“Then let’s get on with this.”

“Guards, you’re with Sherry. Post players, go with Kelley. The rest of you stick with me. We’re going to start out by gauging your fitness. Then we’ll run through some plays to see how many you remember,” Pat grinned when several players groaned. “I sure hope you all kept up with your training schedules during the off season.”

#

“You could have told me,” Pete panted to Sherry. They had spent the past ten minutes running full court wind sprints with the other returning guards, Wendy and Amie, and all were taking a two minute break.

Not breathing quite as heavily as Pete, Sherry took a drink from her water bottle. “I didn’t know myself until a few days ago,” she said wiping an errant drop off her chin with the back of her hand.

“Bet you were as happy as I am.”

Grinning, Sherry closed the top on her water bottle then tossed it to the side of the court. “I didn’t dance around the living room like a damn idiot but, yes, I was happy.”

“Why are you so happy about it?” Amie asked Pete.

“Are you kidding me? Didn’t you ever watch Coach play in college?”

“Sure… we all did.”

“I would have killed for a forward with her moves on my college team,” Wendy admitted. “We probably would have gone as far as the sweet sixteen instead of being blown out in the first round.”

“You think Coach still has the moves?” Amie asked.

Pete stared at Amie. “Honey, have you not been paying attention. I’ve seen her put moves on every single one of us in practice.”

“Practice isn’t a game,” Amie countered.

“What do you think, Sherry? You know her best,” Wendy asked.

“Pat—”

“You mean Coach, donja?” Pete asked with a smirk.

Sherry swatted at the ducking player. “Yes,” she admitted her error with a grin, “Coach only has one speed. Game, practice, or shooting around in the driveway, she goes full out. I don’t think she’ll have any problems. And to answer your question, Amie, she definitely still has the moves.”

A whistle stopped the women’s laughter.

“You plan to stand there talking all afternoon,” Pat yelled from the other end of the court.

“Uh, oh,” Sherry groaned. “Come on, ladies,” she told the others, “we have ten more of these to run.”

#

“Damn, I don’t remember the first day of camp being so rough,” Pat groaned as she slid into the hot tub on the deck at the back of the house. “You’d think I’d be used to it by now.”

Sherry held out a bottle of beer to her lover. “Maybe the rumors are true.”

“Isn’t alcohol forbidden during the season?” Pat asked reaching for the bottle.

“Yes, but, technically, the season doesn’t start until tomorrow.”

Pat placed the bottle’s mouth against her lips and tilted it upward. “That’s cutting a pretty fine line,” she said after taking a long swallow.

“You could report me.”

“Nah, too much paperwork,” Pat said with a wink. “What rumors?”

“You’re getting old.”

“Sheesh, I’m only three years older than you.”

“You keep up what you did today and you’ll seem fifty.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sherry took a swallow of beer. “You’re trying too hard.”

“What?”

“I watched you… you’re trying to out play everybody.”

Pat’s brow creased. “I’m just doing what I expect of everyone else… giving a hundred percent.”

“No, you’re giving ten times that. You don’t have to prove anything, Pat.”

“I’m not trying to,” Pat snapped.

Sherry took another swallow of beer. “Honey, I’m not criticizing—”

“You’re not?!”

“No, I’m not. I’m just saying you need to slow down. If you keep working as hard as you did today, you won’t make it through training camp; let alone the season.”

“You suddenly became an expert on this?”

“Dammit, Pat,” Sherry shot back, “don’t pull that attitude with me. You’re the head coach, act like it. There’s no way you’d allow any other player to do what you did today—you never took a break and you pushed yourself right to the point of exhaustion. If I tried that… or anyone else, you’d sit my ass on the bench for the rest of the day.”

Pat sunk deeper into the water until only her nose and eyes were above the bubbling surface. She glared into the night while she considered Sherry’s words. “Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit,” she muttered under the water.

“Look, do it your way,” Sherry said disappointedly. “Just remember you promised Mac and the players… and me, you wouldn’t do this. It’s only day one and you’ve already broken that promise. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season is like,” she grumbled standing up to climb out of the hot tub.

Pat sat up. “Wait,” she exclaimed as soon as her mouth rose above the water.

Annoyed, Sherry glared at Pat. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Please, sit down.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re right,” Pat grudgingly admitted. “And we need to talk about it.”

Sherry slowly sat then waited.

“Okay, I did act like an idiot today. I’m just… I just don’t want to look like one on the court,” Pat said in explanation.

Sherry groaned. “Ugh! I figured we’d end up having this conversation halfway through the season.”

“Maybe its better we’re having it now.”

“I think it would be better if we never had to have it.”

“Sherry, I’m just trying…”

“I know what you’re trying to do, just don’t try so damn hard. Honey, your first priority needs to be coaching. If you don’t do that, this team will fall apart. Is that what you want?”

“No.”

“Then be the coach. The rest will come… I know it will.”

“I need to practice—”

“Of course you do. But, jeez, Pat, you designed every play we run. You know them inside and out. Do you really think you have to prove that every day in practice by showing up the other players?”

“Was I… doing that?”

Sherry nodded.

Pat slowly sunk down until she was completely under water leaving Sherry to wonder how long she planned to stay that way. After several moments, she emerged frowning. “I’m an ass.”

Sherry laughed. “Some days.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“You’re welcome.”

Pat reached up to smooth her hair, forcing the water from it. Leaving her hands on the back of her head, she tilted it back and sighed deeply. “Okay,” she said dropping her arms into the water with a loud splash and looking at Sherry. “Point taken.”

Sherry stretched out a leg, when her foot made contact with one of Pat’s thighs she began a sensual message. “Did I ever tell you I like older women?”

“No.”

“Really? Hmm, maybe because I’ve been living with one for a year I’ve just acquired a taste for them,” she declared with a sexy grin.

Feeling her body react to her lover’s touch, Pat eased her leg away from Sherry’s foot. “You do remember we have to get up at five tomorrow?”

Sherry groaned. “You do know how to kill a moment, don’t you?”

“Sorry, love.”

“Does this mean no beer and no sex for the season? Cuz if it does, I’ll quit right now. I can’t go that long without you, woman.”

Pat laughed. “No more beer. As for sex, we better limit that to weekends.”

“Shit, Pat, you’re killing me,” Sherry muttered shifting to sit beside her. She turned to face her lover. “All better?” Pat nodded. “Still friends?”

Pat finished the beer then dropped the bottle onto the deck. “The best. Remind me to pick that up later,” she added draping her arm over Sherry’s shoulders. “Thanks.”

Sherry snuggled closer. “You said our number one priority is winning the championship.”

“It is.”

“And you said to kick your ass if you start doing stupid things.”

“I did?”

“You did,” Sherry replied smirking.

“Well, if I didn’t I should have.”

“I love you.”

“Even when I’m an ass.”

“Kiss me.”

“Does it help to know that it’ll be just as bad for me?” Pat asked moments later when their lips separated.

“What will?”

“Only weekends.”

“Oh, that.” Sherry leaned against Pat. “A little,” she said gazing into her lover’s eyes. “Maybe we should say weekends and Wednesdays.”

Pat’s hand slipped behind Sherry’s neck and gently pulled her close so she could again press their lips together.

“How wrinkled do you think we’d be if we stayed here all night?” Sherry asked when they separated to breathe.

Pat smiled and pulled Sherry into her lap. “Who cares?” she asked before reclaiming her lips.

#

CHAPTER THREE

Brenda Jackson drove her rented VW Golf into the players’ parking lot of Cougar Arena and parked in an empty slot near the building. She shut off the engine, climbed out, and walked to the back of the car. Raising the hatchback, she lifted out the tattered equipment bag then locked the car and headed for the players’ entrance at the rear of the arena.

The heavy metal door opened onto a wide corridor and she quickly spotted a woman sitting at a table set up about a third of the way down the hallway. As she walked toward the table, Brenda made note of the doors leading to the equipment, training, and maintenance rooms she passed.

“Good morning, Brenda,” Kelley cheerfully greeted the tall redhead as she arrived at the table set up for the arriving rookies to check into camp.

“Morning.”

Kelly scanned down the list of players on her clipboard and checked off Brenda’s name. “You’re one of the first to arrive,” she said.

“I heard Calvin had a thing about that,” Brenda commented nonchalantly.

“Coach has a thing about a lot of stuff,” Kelley informed the rookie. “You’ll have a better chance of making the roster if you keep that in mind.”

“Is it true she plans to play this year?”

Surprised by the comment, Kelley looked up at the rookie. “How’d you hear about that?”

“It was on ESPN this morning,” Brenda said casually.

Kelley grimaced. “News travels fast.”

Brenda nodded. “I’ve heard a lot about Calvin’s college career. Should be interesting to find out how much of it is hype,” she added with a grin.

“A little sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

Brenda shrugged. “At least, it’ll make camp interesting.”

Kelley looked up at the player. “Do me a favor... I’m the one who insisted you be invited to tryout camp. Don’t make me regret that decision. Camp won’t be easy and you’d be smart putting all your energy into making it through the next few weeks. So knock off the chest beating and just do what you were brought here to do.”

Brenda studied the coach for a few moments. “All right,” she finally agreed not too convincingly.

Kelley sighed. “Locker room is the second door on the right. Pick a locker, stow your bag, and get changed. Two more things, Jackson,” she stopped Brenda before she could walk away. “One, cocky rookies don’t last long around here. We’ve seen more than our share of them and we don’t like them.”

“And two?”

“She’s Coach… not Calvin, not Pat, Coach. I suggest you remember that.”

Brenda nodded then set off toward the locker room.

Scowling, Kelley’s eyes followed the rookie walk down the hallway. “Please don’t be another Dawn,” she muttered.

#

Sherry stuck her head into Pat’s office. She was dressed in the team’s game uniform, her jersey and shorts were yellow gold with a royal blue strip running down the sides and around the neck and arm openings. On the chest of the jersey, COUGARS was spelled out in four inch royal blue letters with her number, also royal blue, set off center under the RS. Her name was on the back of the jersey and the head of a screaming cougar was on the left leg of her shorts.

Pat looked up from the notes she was reviewing. “You’re a bit overdressed for first day of camp, aren’t you?” she asked smiling. Unlike Sherry, Pat had on a practice uniform that lacked the lettering, number, and mascot.

“I thought I’d show the rookies what they’re working for,” Sherry grinned self-consciously. “Do you think it’s too much?”

Pat thought for a minute. “You might be on to something… maybe I should have all the vets wear their game uniforms.”

“Might be a little late for that,” Sherry replied stepping into the office but remaining just inside the doorway not wanting to disturb Pat’s last minute preparations. “Most of them are already out on the court.”

Pat waved Sherry closer. “Something to remember for later then,” she said then set about straightening up the pages of notes spread out on her desk.

“Any last minutes words of wisdom?” Sherry asked dropping into one of the chairs opposite Pat’s desk.

“About?”

“Dealing with the rookies.”

Pat laughed. “If only I had some,” she said. “Best I can say is ignore their attitudes. Most will think they’re better than they are and you’re not going to change that by telling them they’re not. Just show them what you want and keep notes on how well they do it. Once we start cutting players, the rest should adjust.”

Sherry nodded. “Okay,” she said nervously.

Pat looked across her desk and smiled. “You’ll do fine, honey. Remember, I’m the big, bad, head coach so send any trouble makers my way. I don’t expect you to deal with them.”

Sherry nodded again. “If you don’t need me for anything, I think I’ll go out and take my turn at some practice shots with Pete and the others. Maybe that will settle my nerves.”

“Could you go check in with Kelley instead,” Pat asked looking at the clock which showed less than ten minutes until the official start of training camp. “Hopefully, we won’t have any stragglers this year.”

“Okay. You still want the door locked at eight?”

“On the dot. And gather up the veterans after you’re done there. I don’t any of them coming in late.”

“I don’t think any of them would dare,” Sherry said with a grin. “Nobody wants to start out camp on your shit list.”

Pat laughed. “Good thing.”

After Sherry left and the quiet surrounded her, Pat felt free to admit, if only t herself, that she was just as nervous as Sherry had been about facing the rookies. “Wonder if this ever gets easy,” she murmured leaning back in her chair and closing her eyes. She was content to remain like that until she heard Sherry and Kelley enter the outer office several minutes later.

Kelley walked into Pat’s office first. “Everyone present and accounted for, Coach,” she told Pat dropping the list of players on her desk.

Pat straightened up in her chair then glanced down the list of arrival times. “Any problems?” she asked standing up.

“A couple with attitudes… nothing unusual,” Kelley responded.

“Everyone in the locker room,” Pat asked Sherry.

“Yes.”

“All right, let’s go welcome our rookies?”

Pat let her assistant coaches lead the way out of her office. The three women weaved their way around the desks in the outer office then Pat hung back as Kelley and Sherry entered the locker room. Out of sight of the players, she smiled when the chatter quieted and the players settled down with the appearance of their coaches.

At precisely eight o’clock, Pat strode through the doorway separating the offices from the locker room and walked directly to the front of the room. While the returning players stood along the sides of the room, the rookies sat in rows of chairs between the lockers at the back of the room and the wall of white marker boards at the front. Saying nothing, she stood facing the players; her eyes moving to the face of each rookie and resting there for a few moments before moving onto the next. Unsurprised by the sea of anxious faces watching her every movement, she continued standing quietly for a few minutes before finally addressing the players.

“Good morning,” Pat’s voice seemed extraordinarily loud as it reverberated off the walls.

“Morning, Coach.” Pete led the returning players in an enthusiastic reply intermixed with a few less boisterous responses from the rookies.

Pat acknowledged the greeting then continued. “Welcome to the Missoula Cougars tryout camp. As you may or may not know, the Cougars carry a roster of sixteen active players and four reserves. Currently, we have fourteen of those positions filled.” She paused to let the anticipated groaning fade. “However, as every veteran on the team will tell you, there are no sure bets on the Cougars. You earn your position each practice, each game, each day.” Pat’s tone grew more serious as she spoke, her eyes constantly moving from one rookie’s face to the next.

“You can forget everything you learned in high school and college,” Pat repeated the same speech she used for the beginning of each training camp. “Pro ball is faster, rougher, and more grueling than anything you’re used to. I don’t care how big of a star you were a few weeks ago, today you are starting all over again to prove your worth. I don’t have any stars on my team. I don’t have any ball hogs, hot-doggers, or show-offs. If that’s your style of play, there’s the door,” she said pointing to the end of the white boards where a door led out into the corridor. “Don’t waste my time or yours thinking you can get by on your reputation.”

“For the first week, you’ll be put through a series of drills that will allow us to see what your strengths and weaknesses are. You’ll be split up by position so we can see how you compare to one another. If you plan to be here next Monday, I suggest you don’t hold anything back.” Pat moved a few steps to where a large poster of the championship trophy had been taped to the white board behind her. “The Cougars have one goal this year—to keep this trophy. It isn’t enough that we won last year, we want a repeat. So take me seriously when I say, I don’t have time to waste on players who aren’t willing to work hard. If I, or any of my staff, think you’re not giving everything you’ve got, you’ll be cut. There are no second chances; once you’re told to go you won’t be coming back.” Pat paused to let her message sink in while Sherry and Kelley moved to stand beside her.

“Here are you assignments,” Pat pointed to the board behind her where three columns of names had been neatly printed. “Don’t worry if you’re listed in a position you don’t usually play. Remember this is a tryout and you will get moved around if we think your skills are better suited to another position. Coach Gallagher will work with those listed as guards. Coach Stockley will work with the post players. I’ll be working with the forwards. You’ll also be working with some of our roster players.” Pat smiled. “Don’t make the mistake thinking they’ll be easier on you. Remember, you’re trying to take their jobs. Welcome to Cougar basketball, ladies.”

“Alright, you wanna-bes,” Kelley growled. “Get your asses out on the floor and I don’t want to see anyone walking.”

Pat fought back a chuckle hearing the command. She waited for the room to clear of players then turned to her assistant coach. “Marcie would be proud.”

Kelley grinned. “I figured since she left to coach college ball, she wouldn’t mind if I borrowed it.” Marcie Thomas had been a long-time Cougar assistant coach but had resigned at the end of the prior season. It was her greeting that Kelley had appropriated as her own.

Pat laughed. “Probably not. Come on let’s go.”

#

Sherry frowned when one of her rookies missed another shot from the free throw line. She had taken her assigned players to the far end of the court to shoot practice shots. Guards were fouled a lot during games and were expected to take advantage of the free shots they were awarded. “Hudson, you missed seven out of ten,” she told the player. “According to your stats, you shot eighty seven percent in college.”

“Sorry,” the rookie replied nervously.

“Get back in line. You better show me more your next turn. Wilson, you’re up.”

“Sheesh, Hudson won’t last if she keeps that up,” Pete muttered under her breath. She was standing beside Sherry making notations on a clipboard.

“How many more?”

“We’re not even halfway through them. I’ve never seen so many contortions for a free throw. Half of them act as if they’re being guarded.”

“Let’s split them up. Pete, you and Wendy take six over there,” Sherry pointed to a pair temporary baskets brought into the arena for practices. “Amie, you can stick with me. Bring them back when they’ve each had two rounds of ten shots.”

Pete nodded than trotted to the end of the line of players waiting for their turn at the basket and directed the last six to follow her and Wendy. “Come on, move your feet,” she shouted when the rookies didn’t run like she was. “Cougars don’t walk,” she admonished the players.

With a shake of her head, Sherry turned back to watch Wilson take her shots.

#

Pat was running rebounding drills with her group of rookies and looked across the floor when she heard Pete’s shout.

“Camp isn’t starting off too good, Coach,” Val said quietly so that her comments wouldn’t be overheard by the rookies moving on the floor nearby.

“Is it just me or do most of them look like they’re moving at half speed?” Pat asked, not bothering to keep her voice low.

“It’s not just you.”

Pat reached for the whistle hanging around her neck. Lifting it to her lips, she blew it sharply three times. “Everyone over here,” she yelled. “Sit,” she barked then waited for the players gathered around her to find a place on the floor. “All right, what the hell is happening here? I thought you all wanted a chance to play pro ball but I’m having some real doubts about that. We’ve only been at this for two hours and you all look like you’re ready for a nap.” She took a moment to look into the eyes of each rookie, most refused to return the gaze. “What gives?”

“Come on, Coach,” Brenda spoke up. “It’s only day one, you’ve got to give us a chance to work into this.”

Pat smiled grimly. “Do I?” she asked calmly. “Your chance was when you received your invitation to camp. Your invite told you to arrive ready to work.” She wandered over to where she had left her water bottle at the side of the court. She picked up the bottle and raised it to her mouth. “I guess none of you paid that much attention,” she commented after swallowing. So,” she paused as she walked back to the waiting players. “I guess I’ll just have to take the time to get you all into the right mindset.” She turned to Sherry and Kelley. “Wind sprints, full court. Any player who can’t do ten in five minutes, gets cut today.”

“Okay, you heard Coach,” Sherry addressed the players. “End of the court… NOW!”

“Come on, ladies,” Pete addressed the other veterans. “Let’s show these wannabes how it’s done.” She led the players in a full sprint to the end of the court.

Sherry handed her clipboard to Kelley then followed the players.

Pat beckoned Kelley to join her in a leisurely walk to the side of the court where they sat in the first row of seats to watch the drills.

“So she’s good enough to play but not practice,” Brenda muttered after finishing her first full court sprint and spotting the coach sitting contently in the bleachers drinking from her water bottle. “Thought everyone had to earn their spots on the roster.”

“You got something to say, Jackson?” Sherry demanded hearing the rookie’s mumbles.

Jackson glared at Sherry for a moment then dropped her head. “No, I got nothing.”

“Good. Don’t take too long of a rest—makes you look like you’re not in condition,” Sherry told the rookie then turned away to start sprinting toward the opposite end of the court.

“Wait for us,” Pete called out. She and the other veterans were standing in a group after finishing their first sprint. She smirked at the heavily panting rookies stretched out along the end line of the court. “Ready for number two?” she asked loudly.

“Say go,” Val answered with a grin.

“Go,” Pete shouted then set off back down the length of the court chasing Sherry with the other veterans hot on her tail.

#

“I might owe you an apology,” Kelley told Pat after dropping into the seat beside her.

“Oh?”

“Jackson may be more mouth than anything else.”

Pat smiled wryly. “I’ve noticed.”

“Want me to send her packing?”

“No. I want you to work her butt off. Maybe she’ll lose the attitude when she gets too tired to remember she has one.” Pat lifted her whistle and blew it sharply. “Gallagher, over here,” she called to Sherry who was racing down the court with Pete.

Sherry abruptly changed directions then slowed her pace as she trotted over to Pat. “What’s up, Coach?”

“Sit.”

“But—”

“Sit. Sherry, I know you’re capable of running sprints,” Pat told her assistant coach. “Right now, I need you to put on your coach’s hat and fill me in on your players.”

Sherry smiled. “Oh. Gotcha,” she said taking the seat next to Kelley. “Not much to tell you… so far. I don’t know if they’re nervous or their stats are beefed up but I wasn’t impressed with their efforts at the line.”

Pat ran a hand through her hair. “Any ideas how to improve the attitudes?” she asked her assistants.

Kelley shook her head the looked at Sherry.

“Well…” Sherry started then stopped.

“Spill it,” Pat demanded. “If you have an idea, let’s hear it. We don’t have time to baby sit these kids. I need to know what they’re capable of… and I need to know sooner than later.”

Sherry laughed.

“That was funny?” Pat asked crossly.

“Pat, these ‘kids’ aren’t that much younger than us.”

“Speak for yourself,” Pat retorted then grinned. “Okay, let’s get serious… ideas?”

Sherry looked to the end of the court where most of the veteran players were standing around having finished their set number of sprints and watching the rookies struggling to finish theirs. “How about we bench the rookies for the rest of the day and let them watch a full scrimmage? Maybe when they see how we play the game, they’ll understand what the Cougars are all about.”

Pat sat back in her seat. “That,” she said with a grin, “is a great idea. Kelley, you want to play referee?”

“Be my pleasure.”

“Okay, I’ll go fill in Pete and the others. When the rookies finish their sprints, sit them down. Sherry, you come with me.”

#

Pat split the players into two teams with Pete leading one and Sherry the other. “Okay, let’s not have any heroics out there. I don’t need any of you getting hurt the first day of camp. Play hard but play smart. This is going to be full court— I want those rookies to see what we put into a game. Questions?”

“Yeah. What team will you be playing on?” Pete asked with a wide grin.

“I’ll be starting on the bench.”

“Aw, come on, Coach,” Val protested. “You’ve got to play.”

Pete and the others instantly agreed.

“Oh, I plan to play,” Pat assured them. “But to be fair, I’ll rotate in with the rest of the subs… onto both teams.”

“Hot damn,” Pete exclaimed, rubbing her hands together. “Let’s get this game started then.”

“Hey,” Pat called to the players as they turned to run onto the court. “Remember, first day of camp… take it easy on each other.”

“Hell, Coach,” Terry responded, “what’s the fun in that?”

#

The scrimmage was into its sixth minute and, although the pace had been fast, neither team had managed to score as they each stuck to executing standards plays that were easily defended.

Pete was guarding Sherry who was dribbling the ball across the mid-court line. “What say we liven this up a bit?” she asked after Sherry passed the ball to Val at the top of the key.

“What do you have in mind?”

“We leave the play book behind and go at it for real. You see if you can perform your magic and get through Tonie and Ashley.”

Sherry grinned. “Okay. But fair is fair… You have to do the same to Stacy and Val.”

“You’re on,” Pete said then she spun around and ran to each of her teammates to inform them of the change.

“What’s up?” Pat asked trotting onto the court to replace Sara on Sherry’s team.

“You in to play?” Sherry asked.

“I believe I am.”

Sherry grinned. “Well, as Pete so elegantly put it… Hot damn!”

“Don’t expect too much,” Pat warned.

“I won’t… but just so you know, we’re cranking things up a notch.”

“What’s that mean?”

Sherry spotted Pete dribbling in their direction. “You’re out of position, Calvin,” she snapped then sped off to guard Pete.

Pat looked around indecisively then hurried to her defensive position at the top of the key. She found herself guarding Ashley, a player an inch or two taller than herself.

“Hey, Coach,” Ashley said when Pat stepped in front of her with arms stretched out from her sides. “Hope you don’t take this personal but…,” Ashley moved close to Pat, pressing her arm against her coach’s back. “I do need to take this pass.” She moved her arm slightly to the right giving Pat the feeling she was planning to move in that direction. When Pat took the fake, Ashley spun to her left, coming free off Pat’s side just as Pete’s pass arrived. Ashley turned and buried a fifteen foot jump shot before Pat could react.

“Nice move,” Pat grumbled at the grinning player.

“I thought so when you taught it to me.”

“All right, stop the yakking,” Pete shouted catching the ball after it dropped through the net. “Ashley, get back on defense.” She tossed the ball to Sherry. “Your turn,” she said with a grin.

“You may regret this,” Sherry countered.

Pete was back pedaling down the court. “Never.”

Sherry started her dribble, easily trotting down the floor to where Pete stood waiting for her at mid-court. Just before reaching her counterpart, she turned her body to keep it between the ball and Pete’s probing hands. She continued her dribble moving steadily closer to the basket.

Pat was trying to get into position but was frustrated by Tonie who was guarding her tightly. “Thought we weren’t going for blood,” Pat grunted trying again to get position on Tonie.

Tonie laughed moving to block another attempt by Pat to get around her. “Heck, Coach, I didn’t think you wanted us to take it easy on you.”

Sherry saw the interplay between Pat and Tonie. Knowing it would be difficult to pass the ball to Pat without Tonie stealing it, she looked to the opposite side of the key where Latesha had slipped past her defender. She gave Pete a head fake.

“Gotta try harder than that,” Pete said holding her position.

Sherry took a quick step forward then spun around to her left; Pete was staying with her step for step. Sherry gave another head fake but this time she followed it with her body. It gave her just enough of an opening to pass the ball to Latesha who took one dribble then laid the ball up against the backboard and into the basket.

Pete grabbed the ball as soon as it dropped to the floor and was racing back down the court with Sherry racing after her. Pete didn’t hesitate as she crossed mid-court running full speed for the basket. She didn’t have to look back to know Sherry was gaining on her. At fifteen feet in front of the basket, she pulled up.

Sherry, expecting Pete to go all the way down court, didn’t react in time and flew past her.

Grinning, Pete shot the ball without her feet leaving the floor then stood watching the ball rise toward the basket. Suddenly her view was blocked out by the blur of a body passing between her and it. Her shot, on a perfect arc to the rim, was sent flying harmlessly to the side of the court.

Pat landed on the court in front of Pete.

“Thought you said you lost some of your speed,” Pete grumpily told her smirking coach.

“Seems I got it back.”

“Seems you did,” Pete snarled then smiled. “Rematch?”

Pat shook her head. “I think that’s good for today.” She raised her voice so everyone would hear. “Okay, everyone hit the showers. We start again tomorrow at eight sharp.” She watched the rookies as, with few exceptions, they apathetically made their way to the locker room. “Hopefully, they show up with better attitudes,” she muttered.

Sherry dribbled the ball to where Pat was standing. “Nice block, Coach.”

Pat looked at her point guard. “You blew your defense,” she said seriously.

“I know.”

“Good thing you got that out of your system early.”

“Six didn’t make their sprints, Coach,” Kelley said as she joined Pat and Sherry. “I’ll post their names.”

“No,” Pat interjected. “Let’s see how they do tomorrow.”

“Change of attitude?” Sherry asked.

“Not really,” Pat said then sighed. “No point cutting off our own noses. It was a bad day for everyone. Let’s toss out today’s results and start fresh tomorrow.”

“Sounds fair to me,” Kelley agreed.

“Sherry?” Pat asked.

“You’re not going to get an argument from me. There weren’t too many that made a good impression today. If we cut all the bad ones, we’re not going to have too many left.”

“And that’s something I don’t want to have to explain to Mac,” Pat told them.

With a flourish, Kelley drew a line through her notes. “Second chance for everyone,” she stated.

“Let’s not call it that,” Pat said with a groan.

Sherry snickered. “Don’t want to lose your reputation for being a hard ass at camp?”

“Something like that. Come on, let’s go get a shower. And then you can take me out to dinner.”

“Oooh, that sounds good. Can I come?” Kelley asked.

“No,” Pat and Sherry said in unison.

The women laughed and started across the court to the locker room.

#
CHAPTER FOUR

Elizabeth Brown walked across the training room to her office. “Morning, Coach,” she said surprised to find her desk chair occupied when she entered the room.

“Morning.”

“Giving you problems?” The dark skinned woman asked noticing that Pat was rubbing her injured knee. As the Cougars team trainer, Elizabeth had spent many hours helping Pat rehab after her surgery and was alert to any signs that the coach’s knee was troubling her.

“Damn, Lizzie, it’s only the second day of camp,” Pat grumbled. She was wearing her practice uniform and her heavy knee brace was loose around her lower leg.

“Sorry, if I jumped to conclusions but you are sitting in my office rubbing your knee.”

Pat pulled her hand back from her knee. “Habit,” she explained as Lizzie settled into one of the chairs opposite the desk. “Listen, I don’t want to spend the season wondering what’s going on behind my back.”

“Umm… okay,” Lizzie replied cautiously.

“Oh, let’s cut the crap. I know damn well that Mac probably ordered you to keep an eye on me and my knee.”

Lizzie smiled. “So, you don’t want me sneaking around behind your back?”

“Yeah.”

“So, you want me just to ask you flat out if you’re having problems?”

“I would prefer that, yes.”

“Good. So would I,” the trainer said. “So, how is the knee?”

“Look, I’ll tell you if I start having problems.”

“Pat, I saw the play you made yesterday and I’ll bet your knee hasn’t had that much stress put on it since you injured it.”

Pat’s forehead creased as she gave the comment its due. “Fair enough,” she said after a moment. “The knee is good. See?” she asked flexing the leg in question. “Really, Liz, it’s good. No pain… at least, not any more than normal.”

Lizzie nodded. “All right. I’ll trust your word that if you have problems, I’ll be the first to know.”

“You will… Well, how about if you’re the second?”

“Sherry?”

Pat nodded.

“Deal.”

“Thanks. I better get out there, camp started a half hour ago.”

“How is the class this year,” Lizzie asked watching Pat pull up the brace and adjust it around her knee.

“Most of them looked like old women yesterday,” Pat grumbled. “I’m willing to chalk it up to getting adjusted to the elevation but if they don’t start to show something soon…” She straightened in the chair then looked across the desk with a frown. “Forty rookies and not one of them showed me anything yesterday. Not a single one. I need five good roster players out of this group.”

“Like you said, it’s only day two.”

“Yeah.” Pat stood and started for the door.

“Hey, Coach,” Lizzie said before Pat disappeared through the doorway.

Pat stopped and turned around to face the trainer. “Yes?”

“That was a hell of play yesterday.”

Pat grinned. “Thanks.”

After the coach left, Lizzie stood and reclaimed her desk. “Gonna be a hell of a season,” she said leaning back in her chair with a smile.

#

Pat walked out of the corridor and into the arena to see the rookies were spread around in small groups working with her assistant coaches and the roster players. Detouring to retrieve a ball from one of the racks rolled out to the side of the court, she walked toward the group gathered around Val and Latesha, her two starting forwards.

“Morning, Coach,” Val greeted. “We just finished warm-ups.”

 Pat nodded then addressed the players. “Good morning. It’s time we see just what you can do on the court. We’ll start with playing two-on-two. You’re job will be to get the ball through the defense and into the basket. Val and Jade take the defense.” After the players acknowledged her instructions and took up positions on either end of the free throw line, Pat turned her attention to the rookies. “Being a selfish player won’t cut it. If you plan to get into a position to score, you’ll have to work together. Killen and Dimchek, you’re up first,” Pat told two of the rookies. “The rest of you clear the court. But I suggest you pay close attention to how Val and Jade work together and look for a way to break through their defense when it’s your turn. Okay, let’s go.”

Casually bouncing the ball, Pat backpedaled to the cougar painted on the center of the court so she could watch the rookies and see where the pair positioned themselves. Killen, a willowy blond whose scouting report said she was tall and fast but lacked the strength to out muscle opposing players, was standing nervously near the right side of the court midway between her coach and the two defensive players.  Dimchek, approximately the same height as Killen but was more muscular, had taken a position close to Val on the opposite side of the court.

“Ready?” Pat asked the players. When they responded affirmatively, Pat fired a pass at Killen.

The rookie almost dropped the ball when it smacked into her hands so hard they stung from the impact. But Killen managed to control the pass and turned to dribble toward the basket. Her path was immediately blocked when Jade ran out to meet her. Not anticipating the quick response, she looked helplessly at Dimchek who was having trouble breaking free from Val strong defense. Spinning around on her plant foot, Killen tried to find enough of an opening to pass the ball to the other rookie.

Pat blew her whistle to stop Killen’s feeble attempts to maneuver out of Jade’s trap. She motioned for the rookie to return the ball to her. “This time, catch the ball on the run. If you stand still, the defense will be on you before you can do anything. If you’re moving, they have to move with you and still protect their part of the court.” Then she addressed all of the players. “Your chances to avoid being trapped are better if you keep moving. Let’s try again. And Killen, don’t forget you are allowed to dribble,” she told the rookie.

Chagrined that in trying to escape Jade’s defense, she had failed to try to dribble out of the trap, Killen just nodded then returned to her starting point.

Pat slapped the ball to put the players in motion. When Killen started running across the court, she shot the ball to her.

This time the rookie grabbed the pass and immediately started dribbling. She angled for the far corner of the key and straight at Val. Jade edged over to close the gap and pin Killen between her and Val. Seeing Dimchek had managed to slip behind Val, Killen tossed the ball through the gap between the defensive players and toward her teammate.

Val snatched the pass out of the air and passed it back to her coach.

“Did you really think you could throw between them?” Pat asked in amazement. “Come on, you’re dealing with pro players now. You’re not out on your local playground. Think! Killen, your teammate made a good move, what should you have done to take advantage of it?” Receiving no answer, Pat addressed the other rookies. “Anybody?”

“Fake a shot,” Dimchek offered.

“Why?”

“Her defender would have had to move out on her.”

“Exactly,” Pat agreed. “Do something to make that defender come to you. If you can separate the defenders, you have a better chance of getting the ball to your teammate. Killen, off the court. Take some time to think about your options for the next time. Dimchek, take her spot. Leigh, you’re in.” Pat waited for the players to switch positions then she started them into motion.

Dimchek caught the coach’s pass on the run and dribbled up the side of the court forcing Jade to come out to defend her. Switching the ball to her right hand to keep her body between it and her defender, she watched Leigh work around Val’s defense and come open at the free throw line. She spun away from Jade the fired a pass at Leigh.

Leigh caught the pass. Momentarily, free of any defense, she glanced at the basket but, instead of shooting, she started to dribble to move closer to the basket.

Anticipating the move, Val regained her defensive position and blocked the rookie’s progress.

Startled by her defender’s quick adjustment, Leigh tried to pass off to Dimchek but Val slapped the ball out of her hands. “Dammit,” she snapped as the ball bounced away from her.

Pat blew her whistle to stop the players. “Give the ball back to Leigh,” she instructed Dimchek who had chased it down.

Leigh caught the ball then nervously looked at her coach.

“Shoot it.”

Leigh turned toward the basket and threw up an awkward shot that banged off the front of the rim.

Pat walked up to the player. “Was that your best attempt?” she asked.

“Um… no,” Leigh answered.

“Give her the ball.” After the ball had been retrieved and bounced back to Leigh, Pat told her. “Try again.”

Leigh took a calming breath then squared her body to the basket and executed a perfect jump shot.

“Good,” Pat said after the ball dropped through the net without touching the rim. “I never want open shots passed up,” she addressed the players, “especially, if you’re in your comfort zone. And, on this team, I expect anything within twelve feet of the basket is within every players’ comfort zone. Understood?”

“Understood, Coach,” the players confirmed.

“Good pass, Dimchek,” Pat acknowledged as she backpedaled to the center of the court. “Okay, let’s try it again.”

#

“Who recharged their batteries?” Pete panted.

“Rookies too much for you?” Sherry asked.

Pete tossed a mock glare at the grinning assistant coach. “No. I just wasn’t expecting so much energy from them after yesterday.”

With the help of Pete, Wendy, and Amie, Sherry had been running the rookies through several dribbling and passing drills. Both skills were essential to a guard’s success on the court. “Me either. But it’s nice to see,” she commented making a notation on her clipboard. “Take a breather,” she called out to the players. “Make sure you get some fluids.”

Pete walked with Sherry off the court and sat beside her in the first row of seats. “Got a couple out there that show some promise.”

“Care to share?” Sherry asked raising her water bottle to her mouth.

“Wilson. And I hate to say it but Hudson showed some nice moves.”

Sherry frowned. “I agree but her shooting is awful. Coach is never going to go for a guard who shoots less than twenty five percent from the field.”

“Maybe she’s just nervous. Weren’t the scouting reports on her better?”

“Yes. And so were her college stats. Something doesn’t add up.”

“Maybe you should talk to her,” Pete offered.

“Think I’ll talk to Coach first.”

Pete giggled.

“That’s funny?”

“Nope. But hearing you call her Coach is a little hard to get used to.”

“Why? I called her Coach all last season.”

“True. But that sure isn’t what you called her during the off season. After hearing all the honeys and sweethearts and dears exchanged between you two lovebirds, it just sounds funny now when you call her Coach.”

Sherry shifted in her seat to glare back at Pete’s twinkling eyes. “It’s a damn good thing there isn’t a rookie within hearing of that comment,” she said angrily.

“Ah, come on, Sherry… you know what I meant.”

“I know. But, you, of everyone around here knows how hard we work to keep our personal life off the court. You could be a little more supportive of that.” Sherry stood. “It’s time to get back to the drills,” she snapped through clinched teeth.

Pete jumped up then reached out to stop Sherry. “Hey, I’m your best friend,” she said keeping her voice low. “And Pat’s. And you damn well know I support you two. I didn’t deserve that.”

Sherry took a deep breath then released it. “It’s just really hard sometimes to keep the two biggest parts of my life separate,” she told Pete. “I expect comments from some people… I just didn’t think you’d be one of them.”

“All right, I guess I kinda asked for that,” Pete admitted. “I’ll make sure to keep those thoughts to myself from now on.”

“Just keep them off the court… okay?”

“You got it. Still friends?” Pete smiled hopefully.

Sherry shook her head. “Not right now… I’m coach, you’re player.” She lifted her whistle to her lips and blew one short blast. “Guards, back on court. You too, Sunndee, get your butt out there,” she told Pete trying not to smile.

Pete grinned. “Yes, Coach,” she shouted trotting back onto the court.

#

“Come on, Jackson, you didn’t even try to block,” Kelley yelled at the rookie who was standing at the top of the key, hands on her waist, and breathing hard. She had been running the post players through drills for almost an hour. “You’ve got to show more than that if you want to make this team.”

“Jeez, you’re running us into the ground,” Brenda complained. “I need a breather.”

Kelley smiled. “So, what you’re saying is you don’t want to be a Cougar?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” Brenda panted.

“Sounded like it to me. Stacy, take her place,” Kelley told one of the roster players standing nearby. “Jackson, when you catch your breath, start running laps,” she instructed the rookie now walking toward the side of the court.

Brenda groaned. “For how long?”

“Until I tell you to stop,” Kelley barked.

“That’s not fair, Coach,” Jackson protested.

Kelley signaled Stacy to begin the next drill then she walked purposely over to the rookie. “I had high hopes for you, Jackson,” she said in a calm voice. “But, so far, all you’ve shown in camp is mouth. If you don’t start showing something on the court, you won’t make it to Friday.”

“I’m better than most of—”

“Really?” Kelley cut off the boast.

“Yes,” Jackson said determinedly.

“Prove it,” Kelley growled then to return to her players. “I’m sick of your attitude, Jackson,” she called back to the disgruntled rookie. “Step it up or get the hell out.”

“Damn, she’s full of herself,” Ashley, another roster player, said to Kelley when she returned.

Kelley nodded. “Sad part is, she’s got talent if she’d just shut up and show it.”

Ashley watched the rookie start her laps, putting in as little effort to her running as she had shown in her playing. “I guess I’ll have to take your word on that.”

#

Pat blew three sharp blasts on her whistle. “Let’s break for an hour,” she called out loud enough for everyone to hear. Players, scattered about the arena in small groups, began to make their way toward her end of the court and into the corridor that would take them back to the locker room where lunch was waiting. She waited for Sherry to make the walk from the other end of the court.

“What a morning,” Sherry declared as she walked up to Pat.

“Problems?”

“Not sure.”

“Damn, I’m hungry,” Kelley announced when she joined the other coaches. “Yelling at players can sure build up an appetite.”

“You’re not supposed to be yelling at them,” Pat responded seriously. “You’re supposed to be teaching, guiding, influencing.”

“Oh?” Kelley looked at the head coach in surprise. “And just how do you do that?”

Pat shrugged. “I yell at them,” she said with a grin. “Come on, let’s exchange notes in my office.” She led her assistant coaches into the corridor and down the passage past the door to the locker room. They entered the next door that led into staff offices and between the office staff’s desks to her office at the back of the room.

Kelley dropped her clipboard on Pat’s desk then picked up one of the prepared lunch plates set out on the table at the side of the room. She snatched up two bottles of water before claiming one of the chairs in front of the coach’s desk. “I have to say,” she stated un-wrapping foil from a turkey sandwich, “today was much better than yesterday.”

“I agree,” Sherry said carrying the other two plates from the table. She placed one on the desk then settled in the chair next to Kelley. “Much more energy out there today,” she added as she leaned forward to push the plate across the desk toward Pat.

“Thanks,” Pat smiled at Sherry. “I would say that I feel the same.” She unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. “Okay, let’s hear your thoughts,” she said after swallowing.

“Go ahead,” Kelley told Sherry between bites.

Sherry laughed. “Dang, you are hungry. So far, it’s been a good day. Everyone is giving good effort.”

“But?” Pat asked.

“I’m not sure. It’s Hudson. She’s a good player. Fast, smart, shows some good moves—”

“Sounds like another player I know,” Pat said with a wink.

Sherry grinned knowing she had just quoted her own scouting report from a year ago.

“What’s the problem?” Kelley asked.

“She can’t shoot worth beans,” Sherry responded with a groan. “Except for lay-ups; she nails those every time but from the field or the line… it’s ugly.”

“Hudson? Isn’t she the player from Texas U?”

“Yes.”

Pat rifled through a stack of folders on her desk. “Let’s see… eighty three percent from the line; sixty seven percent from the field; and thirty four percent on three point attempts. Doesn’t sound like a bad shooter to me,” she said tossing the stat sheet across her desk to Sherry.

“I know. I read it… many times. But she doesn’t prove those numbers out.”

“All right, I’ll give her a watch this afternoon,” Pat told her assistant coach. “Kelley?”

“Only problem I have is Jackson.”

“Attitude?”

“That and being lazy as hell.”

“I saw her running laps,” Sherry said.

“Thought it might get her attention.”

“Did it?” Pat asked.

“Not really.”

“Want to cut her?”

 “Yes…” Kelley sighed. “But I think we’d be making a mistake. She has what we need. I just need to find a way to get her to prove it.”

Pat studied her assistant. “All right,” she said after several minutes. “Give her an honest chance but, if she’s doesn’t come around, let’s not waste our time. Agreed?”

Kelley nodded. “What about your group, Coach?”

“Couple of duds I doubt will last the week. But I’m impressed with Dimchek.”

“The gal from Slovakia?”

“She played college ball at Washington,” Sherry said.

“She’s got a good feel for the game,” Pat replied. “And she’s in great shape—she was giving Val a run for her money this morning,” she added with a grin. “I suspect Val will be spending more time in the weight room after today.”

“I’ve got a few who would benefit from that, too,” Sherry noted.

“If you’re talking roster players, assign them time,” Pat responded. “If you’re talking rookies, wait until we know they’re going to make it through camp.”

“Okay.”

“Anything else?”

“Not from me,” Kelley said as she stood up. “If you don’t have anything else for me, I want to double check some of my observations with Ashley and the others.”

“We’ll see you out on the court in a few,” Pat told her. “Problem?” she asked Sherry after Kelley left.

“Um… not really.”

“Come on, Sherry, we agreed this will only work if we’re honest with each other.”

“It’s really nothing. Pete just made a comment that… well, I know she didn’t mean anything by it…”

“But?”

Sherry shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“It must be something or you wouldn’t be stressing over it. Come on, Sherry, I don’t have time for games right now,” Pat said forcefully.

“She just said it was funny hearing me call you Coach after the way we refer to each other at home. And I… I kinda over reacted.”

“Over reacted how?”

“I bit her head off. I said I didn’t think I’d have to worry about her bringing up our relationship.”

“I’m sure she didn’t mean anything by it,” Pat assured her lover.

“I know.”

“So, what’s bothering you?”

“I guess I’m just concerned that if I snapped at Pete… how am I going to handle it if one of the other players says something?”

“Let’s hope they don’t.”

“But what if they do?”

“Then you’ll take a deep breath, smile, and call me so I can punch them in the mouth.”

A startled giggled escaped from Sherry. “Honey, you’re not helping. I’m being serious.”

Pat stood and walked around her desk to sit beside Sherry. “We can’t stop the comments, sweetheart. All we can do is try to maintain our composure and go about our business.”

Sherry glanced up into Pat’s caring eyes. “I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am. Feel better?”

“Yeah.”

“Good, because we just broke our rule about staying all business when we’re at work.”

Sherry grinned. “We sure did. Do we get a Mulligan?”

“I sure hope so.” Pat stood then held her hand out to her partner. “Come on, we better not be late getting back out there,” she warned. “You can imagine what that might lead to.”

“Oh, god,” Sherry moaned as she allowed herself to be pulled up from the chair. “I don’t even want to think about it.” She carried her empty dish back to the table then retrieved her clipboard from the desk. “Just out of curiosity,” she asked following Pat out of the office, “how many Mulligans do we have?”

Pat laughed. “Probably not enough to last the season.”

#

While Sherry went straight from the office to the arena, Pat had detoured through the locker room to catch any stragglers. She was happy to discover the room empty of players and was just about to walk out the door to the corridor when she heard a noise coming from the back of the room. She reversed her steps to walk back across the room. Rounding the end row of lockers, she found Hudson sitting on the bench outside the shower room. She had removed her shoes and socks and was staring down at them. “Giving up?”

Startled, Hudson’s head jerked up. “Ah… um… sorry, I didn’t know you were there,” she said tensely.

Pat leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. “I’ve had players quit camp before but never one with your potential.”

“I can’t cut it,” Hudson said dejectedly.

“That’s not what I’ve heard. Coach Gallagher has said some pretty good things about you.”

“What? That I can’t hit the broad side of a barn?”

Pat pushed off the wall and sat on the bench leaving a reasonable distance between herself and the rookie. “She did mention you seemed to be having a problem with that.”

Hudson leaned back placing her head against the wall to stare up at the ceiling.

“Your scouting report said you were a pretty good shooter,” Pat continued. “And your college stats proved that out. I’m guessing by you being in here and not out with the rest of the rookies trying to win a spot on my roster that you’re as confused by this as we are.”

“I don’t get it,” Hudson said with a shake of her head. “I can’t figure out what I’m doing different.”

Pat thought for a moment. “Do you want to quit?”

Hudson sat up and looked directly at the coach. “Hell, no. This is all I’ve thought about for the past year. But I’m not stupid. You’ll never sign a player that can’t hit the basket.”

Pat blew out a breath then shifted on the bench to lean back against the wall. “I hate to give up on someone the second day of camp,” she told the rookie. “So we better figure out what the problem is.”

“I’ve tried.”

“Hmmm.” As Pat considered the possibilities, her eyes drifted to a poster taped to the wall several feet away. “Hudson, take a look at that poster.”

Hudson turned her head in the direction Pat was looking. “What about it?”

“What does it say?”

“I don’t know.”

“Read it.”

“Put your dirty towels here,” Hudson read the words written in bold letters at the top of the poster.

“What’s it say under that?”

Hudson’s eyes closed into tight squints as she struggled to make out the words written in smaller print. “All towels are prepared for the Cougars. These will not be tattered,” she read out loud in hesitant clips.

Pat laughed. “Not quite.”

“No?”

Pat smiled at the rookie. “All towels are property of the Cougars. Theft will not be tolerated.

Hudson grinned timidly. “Guess that makes better sense.”

“I do believe we found the problem. When’s the last time you had your eyes tested?”

“I don’t know. A couple of years ago.”

Pat jumped to her feet. “Then I think it’s time you saw an eye doctor. Come with me, Hudson.”

#

“Where have you been?” Sherry asked after Pat appeared from the corridor and jogged across the court to join her.

“Solving your problem.”

“My problem?”

“Hudson.”

“She never came back after lunch. I figured she decided to give up.”

“She did. But I talked her out of it.”

Sherry stared at Pat. “You talked a player out of quitting camp?”

“Why is that so hard to believe?”

“Miss Let Them Quit— it’s saves us from tossing them out, talked a player out of quitting? Yeah, that is hard to believe.”

“Maybe I’m turning a new leaf,” Pat offered.

“Right,” Sherry responded in mock disbelief. “So where is Hudson if you talked her into staying?”

“At the eye doctor’s.”

“What?”

“Seems she has a little problem seeing the basket which might explain why she can’t hit it.”

“She can’t see?”

“She can see, she just can’t focus.”

“Damn.”

“I looked at her numbers again. They showed a steady decline from her sophomore year to her senior. Her college coach must not have been paying attention or she would have had her eyes checked.”

“How’d you figure it out? Shoot, how did I miss it?” Sherry asked in frustration.

“Can’t see what you’re not looking for. We assume players take care of that stuff by themselves. Just goes to prove that we need to remember to look outside the box at times.”

#

CHAPTER FIVE

Thursday morning, Pat sat behind her desk studying several sheets of paper filled with descriptions of the rookies’ abilities, attitudes, and general observations of her own and her assistant coaches. Dropping the pages onto her desk, she looked over it to Sherry and Kelley. “Unfortunately, it looks like a few haven’t lived up to expectations,” she told them. “Some of the cuts tomorrow look to be pretty obvious.”

“I really expected more from some of them, Coach,” Kelley said with a sigh.

“Jackson being one?”

“Yeah. I know she has the talent… but damn if I know how to bring it out.”

“Sometimes, you just can’t,” Pat observed. “I’ll need your recommendations for cuts by the end of the day. I want time tomorrow to check them out myself.”

Sherry looked down at her clipboard scanning the notes made on the rookie guards she had been working with for the past three days. “Coach…” she said scratching her head. “Well… it’s just… I’m wondering…”

“Spit it out, Sherry,” Pat urged.

Sherry raised her eyes to meet Pat’s. “Okay, here goes… I know when I was in college that I used to hate the endless drilling. I got to where I would sorta turn my brain off and run through them on automatic. But give me a game and I was really into it. I’m just wondering if—”

“Some of these kids might be doing the same?” Pat finished the thought for her assistant coach.

“That makes some sense,” Kelley spoke up. “Think about it, Coach. Most of these kids played at colleges where they were the stars. They knew no matter what they did in practice, come game day, they’d be on the court.”

Pat leaned back in her chair to consider their comments. “So, you think it might do some good to put them in actual game situations and see if they step it up?”

“It can’t hurt,” Kelley responded with a shrug while Sherry nodded in agreement. “And it might actually help in the reverse, too. Just like some players stink at practice, some are great at practice then freeze in games. I’ve got a couple I’m on the fence with; they’re outstanding running through the drills but something is making me doubt what they could do if the game was on the line. It would be nice to be able to see how they might handle that.”

“Wouldn’t you be able to evaluate that next week when we normally start game situations?”

“I guess so. But I’d really hate to find out I recommended cutting the wrong player.”

“Could we wait on the first cuts?”

“I can’t do that, Sherry.”

“Could we give it a try today, Coach?” Kelley asked. “We can always go back to drills tomorrow.”

Pat chewed her lip while she considered changing up her normal training camp routine. “Alright,” she finally said. “I guess we need to do something to kick start some of them. But, if we do this, I need the two of you to do things differently today. Sherry, you need to put on your coach’s hat, no playing. I want you both in the stands on opposite sides of the court. I’ll work the players and you’ll put together scouting reports on each rookie. We’ll discuss what you have this afternoon after we release the players for the day.” Pat reached up to rub her temples. “Damn, I hate this part of coaching.”

“Right there with you,” Sherry muttered.

Pat glanced at the clock. “Okay, let’s get the day started,” she said pushing herself up out of her chair. “Hopefully, the players have managed to find their way to the court by now. Please make note of any that haven’t.”

#

Pat walked out from the corridor and stood for a moment observing the players scattered about the court in small groups. Most were either stretching or shooting baskets but a few were simply standing and waiting. She snagged one of the ball carts parked at that end of the arena and walked with it to the painted Cougar at mid-court. She looked up into the stands to see where Sherry and Kelley were seated then walked to the top of the key and lifted the whistle hanging on a chain around her neck. Three short blasts stopped all movement in the arena.

“All players, down here,” Pat called out sternly.

Unlike the roster players who were charging toward their coach at full speed, the rookies, with few exceptions, were trotting to her end of the court. Seemingly unconcerned, two rookies moved leisurely toward her chatting as they walked.

Pat waited until all the players stood between her and the basket then she turned to face where Kelley was seated several rows up in the stands. “Coach Kelley,” she barked.

“Yes, Coach,” Kelley responded loudly.

“Make note about Wagner and Fisher. They appear to be incapable of running.”

“Already noted, Coach.”

Pat turned back to face the players and focused her glare on the two chastised rookies who refused to meet her gaze. Then, for several seconds, she allowed her eyes to slowly scan over the rest of the players. “You’ve been here three days. Most of you have demonstrated that you can pass and shoot. Now I’m going to find out if you can do that in a game situation.” As she talked, her eyes continued to move from player to player. “It does me absolutely no good to have a player who can hit the bucket from outside the three point line unless they can do it when we’re down to the final seconds and need the points to win. I can’t have a player on the court when time is short and our opponents are tossing out fouls if that player can’t drop her free throws.” Her eyes darted back to Wagner and Fisher still too embarrassed to lift their eyes off their shoes. “And I definitely will not have a player on this team who can’t give her teammates one hundred percent effort all the time.”

“Some of you have shown you truly want to be a member of the Cougars,” Pat continued. “Some of you have only gone through the motions. Let me make this very clear… I don’t care how much of a star you were on your college team. Until you prove to me that you’re the caliber of player this organization prides itself on having, you will not be here Monday. Tomorrow, if I don’t make them sooner,” she again looked at the two reprimanded rookies, “I will make the first cuts. What you show me today will have great influence on whether or not your name gets erased from the board. Got it?” she snapped.

“Got it, Coach.” Immediately, the roster players roared back while the rookies’ voices chimed in a beat later.

“I see some of you haven’t been paying attention,” Pat noted wryly. “From this point forward, you are to keep an eye on the player list in the locker room. If you find your name has been removed, get your gear, and leave. Stacy, Jade, take defensive positions,” she told two of her returning post players then turned and walked to the ball cart at mid-court where she acknowledged a young man sitting patiently at a table set up along the side line. “Light it up, Rob,” she instructed.

Rob pushed a button on the large panel in front of him. Instantly, all the arena scoreboards burst into life and a loud buzzer sounded causing several of the rookies to jerk in surprise at the unexpected sound.

Pat turned back to the players. “Let me set this up for you… rookies, you will be put into teams of three. As you can see, there are only twenty seconds left in a tied game. After our opponents scored, we managed to beat all but two defenders down the court. Your job will be to score before time runs out. Dimchek, Leigh, Jackson, you three are up first; take a position at mid court. Everyone else get off the floor.” Pat plucked a ball off the cart and began to idly dribble it as the rookies took their positions and the rest of the players moved to the sidelines. “Oh, and one more thing… no dribbling is allowed,” she told the rookies with a smile then fired a pass at Dimchek.

Dimchek caught the pass. Unable to dribble, she had to wait for her teammates to move further down the court toward the basket.

Stacy and Jade moved out to guard Leigh and Jackson.

Seeing Jade moving toward her, Leigh abruptly changed directions to sprint at an angle across the court.

Dimchek passed the ball to Leigh then ran toward the key that Jade had just vacated as she followed Leigh.

Closely guarded by Stacy, Jackson worked herself into a position at the side of the key opposite Dimchek.

Leigh stopped, spun around and passed the ball back to Dimchek now unguarded at the top of the key.

Seeing the pass, Jackson took a quick step to the side, planting herself between Stacy and Dimchek and effectively preventing the defensive player from moving out on her unguarded teammate.

Catching the pass, Dimchek turned to the basket; her jump shot dropping through the net just as the buzzer sounded.

Leigh trotted after the ball.

“Good teamwork,” Pat told the rookies after Leigh passed the ball back to her. “Stacy, don’t let yourself get beat like that again,” she scolded her veteran player.

“Yes, Coach.”

“Next three.”

#

Sherry tried to stretch out her cramped legs within the tight confines of the arena seating. She made another notation on her clipboard then squirmed in her seat hoping for a more comfortable position. The morning session had almost run its course and she was looking forward to the lunch break. She reached down to retrieve her water bottle from where she had placed it next to her feet. “Damn,” she muttered after she sat back up. Oh, boy, I really must be hungry, she thought closing her eyes in hopes that would help end the odd sensation that her arena was spinning around her.

A blast from Pat’s whistle caused Sherry to open her eyes. She sat, unmoving, for a moment and was pleased to find the momentary dizziness had disappeared. Raising the water bottle to her lips, she took a long drink of the cool liquid.

“That was weird,” she told herself then dismissed the memory as she refocused on the players on the court.

#

“Oh, my god, what a day,” Kelley moaned walking into Pat’s office. “Damn, those seats are uncomfortable.”

“Tell me about it,” Sherry concurred walking behind Kelley. “I finally had to move to sitting on the steps. My legs felt like pretzels.”

“Take that up with Mac,” Pat told her assistant coaches as she entered the room. She walked to her chair, dropping into it with a thud.

“I doubt she’d care,” Kelley groused of the team’s owner. “We keep winning and she keeps adding seats. Pretty soon the fans will have to put their legs over the shoulders of the ones sitting in front of them.”

Pat laughed. “They aren’t that bad.”

“They are when you have to sit in them for ten hours,” Sherry said, her voice somewhat strained as she was bent over at the waist attempting to stretch out her leg muscles. Cautiously, she straightened relieved that she didn’t experience any more dizziness.

“Okay, like you said, it’s been a long day,” Pat said working the brace off her knee. “Let’s go over your notes so I can get home to the nice hot tub waiting for me.”

“I was rather pleased with many of the rookies,” Kelley started. “Especially, Jackson.”

“She did appear to be more in tune today,” Pat agreed.

“That move she made on Stacy was sweet,” Sherry said with a grin.

“So, I guess she’s safe for another day,” Pat observed. “Let’s focus on the ones who didn’t do well. Wagner and Fisher come to mind.”

“Damn, they’re both mine,” Sherry groaned. “I hate to admit it but I didn’t see anything to impress me today.”

“I noticed when they weren’t involved in a play, they didn’t seem to care what was happening on the court,” Kelley commented.

“Yeah. I noticed that, too.”

Pat pulled a clean sheet of paper out of her desk drawer and wrote the two rookies’ names on it. “Alright, any argument that, unless they show something tomorrow, they’re done?”

“Not from me,” Kelley answered.

Slumping back in her chair, Sherry blew out a breath. “Bad choices on my part,” she muttered frowning.

Pat looked across her desk to her discouraged assistant coach. “Sherry, decisions on players are my responsibility. I don’t ever want you, or Kelley, to feel that you’re to blame for those.”

“But I’m the one who recommended they come to camp,” Sherry protested.

“Yes, you recommended; but I decided.”

“But—”

“No. Both you and Kelley made recommendations of rookies to invite. Some are here, some aren’t, because of what I decided. Listen, some players work out and some don’t. That’s just the way it is. We look at their tapes, we study scouting reports and stat sheets; but we never truly know what a player is capable of until we get them in camp and can see for ourselves. Until then, we go on our gut feelings. Sometimes, we just make a bad call.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Sherry said pursing her lips together in frustration.

Pat smiled. “Of course, I’m right. I’m Coach.”

“It’s hard, Pat,” Sherry snapped.

“Don’t you think I know that,” Pat snapped back. “That’s why I don’t want you to shoulder that responsibility. Now, who else is going on this list?”

#

“Damn, it’s too bad my coach is such a hard ass about drinking during the season,” Sherry proclaimed after pushing open the sliding door leading to the deck attached to the back of the house. “Because I could sure use a beer tonight,” she added juggling a large tray as she carefully stepped out onto the wooden surface.

“Need help?” Pat asked. She was already buried up to her chin in the bubbling, steaming water of their hot tub.

“No, dear, you stay right where you are,” Sherry said sardonically using her hip to slide the door closed. “I wouldn’t dream of asking you to leave your little haven.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.”

Glaring at her grinning lover, Sherry carried the heavy tray over to the hot tub and set it down on the low table positioned beside it. “I was too tired to do much more than slap together some sandwiches,” she said as she stepped into the tub. “Luckily, we had a bag of salad fixings in the fridge. I wasn’t sure what kind of dressing you would want so I brought out a couple of different ones.”

“Anything would be fine,” Pat said as she straightened up then reached for one of the sandwiches.

“How’s your knee?” Sherry asked picking up one of the plates heaped high with pre-prepared salad. She grabbed a fork then settled down into the tub leaving only the top of her shoulders exposed as she held the plate just above the surface of the water.

“The knee is fine. Dressing?” Pat offered to retrieve one of the bottles.

Sherry shoved a forkful of lettuce into her mouth then shook her head.

Pat grimaced. “Plain salad. Yuck!”

“But it’s healthier without the dressing,” Sherry said after swallowing.

“If you say so. Want a sandwich? They’re pretty good.”

Sherry nodded. “Thanks,” she said when Pat carefully placed one onto her plate.

They sat in silence for several minutes as they fed nourishment to their exhausted bodies.

Sherry exchanged her empty plate for one of the water bottles on the tray then settled back into the water. This time she took a seat next to her lover. “Need me to make more sandwiches?” she asked when Pat reached behind her for the last sandwich on the tray.

“No. Want to share?” Pat offered the sandwich to Sherry who took a generous bite. “Well, after that, you might have to,” she grumbled.

“Sorry,” Sherry mumbled, her mouth full of sandwich. “My cooking duties are over for the day. It’s your turn now.”

Leaning back against the side of the hot tub, Pat slipped an arm around Sherry and pulled her closer. “If it had been up to me, we’d have gone hungry tonight. I’m too pooped to move.”

“So I noticed.”

“You feeling better?”

“Uh? About what?”

“About Fisher and Wagner?”

“Oh… yeah. I thought about what you said.”

“Good.”

“But, I still feel like I must have missed something.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

“Honey, I always second guess my choices. Did I see more than was there? Did I miss something? Was I making a decision because I wanted a player to succeed… or fail? It’s not easy to hold someone’s future in your hands.”

“Do you ever wonder what happens to the players that get cut?”

Pat nodded. “I do. Some want so badly to play pro ball. And when that doesn’t happen… anyway, I just hope they go on with their lives… in a good way.”

Sherry leaned her head on Pat’s shoulder and stared up into the cloudless night sky. “I know I would have been crushed,” she murmured looking at the blanket of stars overhead.

“What would you have done?”

“I don’t know. I sure didn’t want to go back to Arizona. Maybe I would have tried for one of the teams in Europe. At least, I could have seen other countries that way.”

“What’s wrong with Arizona?” Pat asked intrigued as to why Sherry would not have wanted to return to where she grew up.

“Nothing really… if you like snakes, scorpions, heat.”

“But what about the Grand Canyon and the petrified forest; places like Montezuma’s Castle and Tuzigoot; and the ruins of the Anasazi?”

Astounded by not only her lover’s question but also the intensity of emotion behind them, Sherry twisted her head to look at Pat. “You know about those places? I mean, the Grand Canyon, sure you know about that. But the others?”

Pat smiled and bent her head to kiss Sherry. “I love the National Park Service website,” she explained. “Someday, I hope to visit every historical park, monument, and site this country has to offer.”

Sherry snuggled closer. “That could take a few years.”

“I figured I’d get a nice camper for the pickup and just explore. No timetable. No commitments. Just go when I wanted to go and stop when I wanted to stop.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

“You really think so?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve always wanted to see the historical places of our country and the world. The pyramids of Latin America and Egypt; Machu Piichu; the castles of Ireland and Scotland; New Zealand.”

“New Zealand?”

“Yeah. I fell in love with New Zealand watching Xena.”

“Me, too.”

“I always thought it was so great that they traveled around and saw so much of the world.”

“Even though the timelines were a bit mangled?”

Sherry laughed. “You noticed that, too?”

Pat grinned and nodded.

“I thought it would be wonderful to travel the world like them. Maybe some day we can do that.”

“I sure hope so,” Pat told her. “But I’m not walking and I’m not sleeping on the ground.”

“But if we don’t sleep on the ground how will we be able to look up at those?” Sherry asked pointing skyward at the twinkling stars.

“We’ll get a camper with a skylight.”

Sherry stood up then shifted to straddle Pat’s legs. “You are sooooo romantic,” she warbled before leaning down to capture her lover’s lips.

Pat wrapped her arms around Sherry, pulled her into her lap and deepened the kiss. “I love you,” she whispered when they were forced apart to breath.

“I love you, too,” Sherry whispered back. “Now, please take me to bed before I fall asleep,” she said yawning.

Pat managed to stand and pull Sherry up with her then helped her climb out of the tub. As they walked across the deck carrying the remains of their dinner, Pat told her, “Just so you know, I’m not forgiving the ‘bad ass coach’ comment.”

“For the record, I said ‘hard’ ass.” Sherry grinned reaching for that particular part of her lover’s anatomy. “And, sweetheart, you have one of the best—”

“Dammit, Sherry,” Pat squealed in surprise. “Get you hand off my butt!”

#

CHAPTER SIX

Sherry’s eyes fluttered open. “Ugh,” she mumbled, rolling onto her side and curling one arm under her pillow while she draped her other arm over her lover’s waist.

Pat playfully ruffled Sherry’s tousled hair. “Good morning, to you, too, Grumpy.”

Sherry snuggled closer. “Sorry. Is it really morning already?” she asked even though bright sunshine flooding through the uncovered bedroom window.

Pat shifted to wrap her arm around her lover’s shoulders. “Fraid so.”

“Then I repeat… Ugh!”

“Well, at least, it’s Saturday.”

Sherry squirmed about until she could comfortably rest her head on Pat’s shoulder. “Thank goodness for that. I never want to go through another Friday like yesterday again.”

Pat rolled her head to the side and kissed Sherry on the forehead. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“Was too,” Sherry grumbled.

“Honey, I thought it went pretty well. The rookies showed a lot more effort. At least, some did. And the others we don’t have to worry about any more. I’m actually starting to feel good about camp.”

Sherry sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

“I keep thinking about the players we cut.”

“I cut,” Pat corrected.

Sherry propped herself up onto her elbow to look her lover in the eye. “Sweetheart, I know you keep telling me that you’re the big, bad Coach but I’m not stupid. I know I have a role in this, too.” She dropped back down. “Yesterday was tough. The look on Wagner’s face when she saw her name had been erased…”

“Sherry, Wagner didn’t do anything to expect she’d make it past the first week. Neither did Fisher or the others we cut. I can’t feel sorry for lazy players. Honey, not to sound mean, but you really need to toughen up because we have more cuts to make before camp ends. I know it’s not pleasant but it is part of the job.”

“I know. It’s just…” Sherry blew out a long breath of frustration.

“What?”

“We cut a third of the rookies yesterday. I can’t stop thinking that some of them might have made a stronger showing if they had more time.”

“We don’t have more time,” Pat said annoyed. “They know what they’re getting into when they come to camp,” she continued her voice rising in exasperation. “They know they have limited time to prove themselves. Damn it, Sherry, I don’t have time to babysit these kids. Things are going to get a lot tougher in the coming weeks. If they don’t show up for camp willing to make an effort, they’ve got no one to blame but themselves.

Sherry sat up. “Don’t get mad at me. We promised we’d keep everything out in the open… I’m just telling you how I feel.”

Pat looked up at her upset lover and took the time to gain control of her growing anger before she replied. “I’m not mad at you,” she said forcing her voice to stay calm.

“You’re mad at something.”

With a deep sigh, Pat raised her arm and tucked it behind her head. Then she locked onto her lover’s eyes. “There are things about this job that suck, sweetheart. Cutting players is just one of them and, if you want to be a coach, you’re just going to have to find a way to deal with that,” she said sternly.

“And if I can’t?” Sherry shot back.

Pat dropped her eyes. “We both know the answer to that,” she replied quietly.

Sherry exhaled loudly as she settled back onto the bed and pressed her body against her lover’s. “Dammit,” she spat out.

“Are you going to be okay?” Pat asked after several minutes of unsettling silence.

“I’m a big girl… I’ll figure it out,” Sherry answered a bit more harshly than she intended. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to sound like it did. I understand what you’re telling me… it’s just going to take me some time. Okay?”

Wrapping her lover in her arms, Pat kissed her on her cheek. “Of course,” she agreed. “But you’re going to have to cut me some slack on some of this, too.”

Sherry forced just enough separation between their entwined bodies to be able to look into Pat’s eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Cuts aren’t easy for me either, honey, and I really don’t want to rehash every lousy part of the job when we come home.”

Sherry dropped her eyes. “Oh. I guess I didn’t think about that,” she admitted contritely.

Pat pulled Sherry back into her embrace. “I know it helps to talk about this stuff...”

“But?”

“Let’s not over talk it, okay? Cuts were made. As coaches, we discussed them and I made the decisions that had to be made. They’re done and we need to forget them now and focus on the rest of camp and the season.”

Sherry was content to lay quietly enjoying the feel of Pat’s loving arms wrapped around her even if her mind was still in turmoil. In an attempt to force her thoughts out of the cycle they were locked in, she raised her eyes to look out the window on the opposite side of the room. “Looks pretty nice out,” she commented on the sunny day developing outside.

Pat rolled her head to look. “Seems so.”

Sherry lowered her eyes to her lover. “What say we go out and find something fun to do?”

Pat’s eyes widened in mock dismay as she asked, “You don’t find this fun?”

Sherry poked her in the ribs, laughing when Pat yelped in surprise. “Yes, this is fun, you silly goose.”

“Then why don’t we just stay in bed all day?”

Sighing happily, Sherry squirmed into a position providing even more skin-on-skin contact. “Okay, if that’s what you want to do.”

“What was that?” Pat asked, her ears detecting an odd rumble.

“What?

Pat raised her head when the noise repeated. “That?” she said looking around their bedroom for the source of the growling.

Sherry laughed. “Oh, that. It’s just my stomach. If you recall, we skipped dinner last night.”

Pat dropped her head back onto her pillow with a thud. “Damn, we did, didn’t we?”

“One of the sucky parts of the job—coaches’ meetings lasting until almost midnight.”

“Yeah, sucky,” Pat muttered in agreement.

“Tell you what,” Sherry said finding a ticklish spot under a very conveniently located rib. “I don’t want to lay here listening to my stomach grumble all day so let’s get showered and dressed and you can take me out to a late breakfast.”

Pat slapped at the offending fingers. “What’s in it for me?”

“We’ll drive down the Bitterroot, spend a few hours at Lee Metcalf to look at the birds; then I’ll take you out to dinner at that steak restaurant you’ve been hoping to check out.”

“The one on the road to Skalkaho Falls?”

“Yep.”

“Intriguing offer.”

“Is that a yes or a no?”

“Depends.”

“On?”

“Whether or not you will join me in the shower?”

Sherry laughed. “I know that’s not a serious question,” she said sitting up and tugging on Pat’s arms. “Get yer arse out of bed, woman.”

#

“This was a good call,” Sherry told Pat as they exited a small café just off the highway in Florence, a community halfway to their destination.

The café was constructed of logs and best described as rustic with a large stone fireplace situated at one end of a modest dining area filled with mismatched tables and chairs. But it was cozy with a friendly staff and food that was both reasonably priced and tasty. “I feel much better now.”

“It’s a nice place,” Pat commented as they walked to the truck parked a few feet away.

Sherry climbed into the cab and settled back on the seat, content to leave Pat to the driving as she watched the scenery passing by outside her window. They had traveled a few miles south of Florence when she spotted a sign announcing the upcoming turnoff to the Bass Creek Campground. She smiled. “Hey, Pat.”

“Hmm?”

Sherry pointed at the sign. “Remember when you took me there?”

Pat gave the sign a read then tossed a quick glance at her smiling lover. “Technically, I did not take you; we met in the parking area.”

Sherry laughed. “So you do remember?” she asked thinking Was it really less than a year ago?

It was near the end of her first tryout camp and Sherry had been called into Pat’s office to receive the unexpected, but very welcomed, news that she had not only survived camp but would also be offered a short term contract with the Cougars. Surprised as she was by that news, she had been even more astounded when she had impulsively suggested that the coach share a day off with her. Her request was immediately, and prudently, rejected. But later that evening she had received the phone call that changed her life.

She was about to go to bed when her phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Sherry?”

“Yes. Who’s this?”

“Coach Calvin.”

“Coach?”

“Listen, I was planning on a hike in the morning.”

The words had rushed out of Pat forcing her to listen carefully so she wouldn’t miss any of them.

“Larry Creek Fire Trail. Go south on Highway 93 approximately twenty miles to Bass Creek turnoff. Drive to the campground and take the road to the horse trailer parking area. I’ll be there around nine.”

Before she could reply, the line went dead.

“I remember I was scared to death,” Pat interrupted Sherry’s thoughts. “I spent all night tossing and turning and telling myself I had made the biggest mistake of my life. I can’t even remember how many times I started to call you back and tell you not to come. I was so sure that Mac would find out and I’d lose my job.” Pat sighed. “It was the absolute worst night of my life.”

Sherry nodded sympathetically. “Mine, too. I remember the drive down here from Missoula. I kept telling myself to turn around and go back. It was wrong. We were heading for a dangerous path.”

“It was a dumb thing for me to do,” Pat declared honestly. “I was your coach. It went against clauses in my contract… my own moral code… I knew it was so wrong.”

“But you still came,” Sherry said with a smile.

“Yeah… but I came pretty close to leaving,” Pat admitted.

“You did?”

Pat nodded. “I was at the parking area. As I waited for you to arrive, a voice in my head kept screaming for me to leave. It took awhile but I finally accepted what that voice was telling me.”

“But you stayed.”

“I waited too long. You arrived and I couldn’t leave.”

“You could have. I would have understood,” Sherry said softly.

Pat turned to look at Sherry. Seeing the cheerless look on her face, she asked, “Would you have?”

Sherry shook her head. “No. Well, I mean I would have understood up here,” she said tapping her forehead. “But here,” she dropped her hand, clinching her fist over her heart, “I would have been devastated.”

Pat removed her right hand from the steering wheel and reached for Sherry’s left hand resting on the console between them. “Me, too,” she said interlacing their figures.

“I knew we were playing with fire but, damn it, Pat, I had to be near you. I wasn’t even sure why then… I just did.”

Pat grinned. “Looking back, it was so obvious. I was dopey in love with you.”

Sherry laughed. “Oh, honey, I think we both were.”

Pat sobered. “Boy, was it dumb to do that though. If Mac had found out…”

“I would have been booted out of camp, for sure,” Sherry stated wryly.

Pat thought for a moment. “What would you have done?”

Sherry shrugged. “Cried for a month; then, maybe, tried to get on with a team in Europe for awhile.” A smile slowly crept onto her face. “Then I would have marched right back to Missoula and camped out on your porch until you opened the door and took me in,” she said squeezing Pat’s hand.

Pat smiled. “Believe me, you would have had a very short wait. That might have been the worst night of my life but it was sure followed by one of the best days.”

“Absolutely,” Sherry readily agreed. “I’m glad we did it, sweetheart. No matter the risk, I’m glad we did it.”

“I know it was wrong but I’m sure glad everything worked out in the long run.”

“Oh, boy,” Sherry said exhaling loudly. “And was it long. When you told me we couldn’t have any contact, except for on the court, until the end of the season, I thought I’d never make it.”

“But we did.”

Sherry smiled. “Yes, finally.” She turned to look out the window toward the Bitterroot Mountains to the west. “We should go back there,” she said seeing the mountain trail with her mind’s eye.

“Today?”

Sherry turned back to Pat. “Oh, hell, no,” she blurted out. “After this past week, my legs are too tired for that hike. A nice easy walk is what I’m looking forward to.”

“Then onward to Lee Metcalf. We’re almost there.”

#

Pat steered the pickup into a parking area at the beginning of several walking trails in the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. She pulled close to the rail fence that separated the parking area from the wetlands and turned off the engine. “Trees are starting to turn,” she commented observing the yellow and orange coloring of leaves on several of the trees on the other side of the fence.

“Fall is definitely in the air,” Sherry concurred after pushing the door truck’s open and feeling her skin react to the cool air. “Even with the sun shining, it’s a little chilly out here,” she said walking around the back of the truck to join Pat who was just climbing down from the cab. “I’m beginning to regret letting you talk me into wearing shorts.”

Pat opened the back door of the cab. “We should warm up when we start walking. But, we did bring jeans and I put our jackets in this,” she said retrieving their day pack from the back seat. “Want to change?” When Sherry shook her head, Pat shut and locked the doors. Settling the pack on her back, she reached for Sherry’s hand.

“Which trail?” Sherry asked with a smile.

“How about the long one out to the bridge and over to the sandbar?”

“Oh, I like that one. The river is down low enough we should be able to walk along it almost to the picnic area.”

The refuge, home to deer, squirrel, porcupine, pheasant, and visited by several varieties of migrating waterfowl, bordered the Bitterroot River. A variety of trails led from the parking area to the river. One of the trails was paved for handicap access and wove an easy path to a picnic area at the river’s edge. The rest of the trails were dirt, rocky, and uneven, and wandered through pine, aspen, and large cottonwood trees to the river. After leaving the parking area and passing the portable toilet, the women started down one of the dirt paths. Almost immediately, the trail split and they veered to follow the right branch. The trail narrowed forcing Pat to reluctantly drop Sherry’s hand and take the lead.

#

They hadn’t walked very far when Pat abruptly stopped in the middle of the trail. “Look,” she whispered.

Sherry quickly spotted the whitetail buck Pat was pointing to on the far side of a small, grass covered clearing. “Nice,” she whispered cautiously stepping close to Pat to unzip the side pocket on the pack. “Make it stand there until I get out the camera,” she directed.

Pat laughed silently. “How do you suggest I do that?”

The buck raised his head to peer at the women.

“Hush. You’ll scare it,” Sherry warned holding the camera out in front of her to look at its display screen. She centered the camera on the deer and pressed the button to take a picture just as the buck started to lower his head back to the grassy field.

The sound of the camera’s shutter startled the buck. Its head jerked up then it turned and bounded into the trees and out of sight.

“You do know that we have deer in our yard practically every day?” Pat teased.

“It’s not the same.”

“Why?”

“They’re not wild.”

Pat laughed. “They seem pretty wild to me.”

Sherry chose to tuck the camera into the front pocket of her shorts instead of returning it to the pack. “It’s not the same,” she explained nudging Pat forward. “I don’t want a picture of a deer standing in front of the house… it just isn’t right. Out here they’re in their natural surroundings.”

Pat continued down the trail. “You know, you could just Photo Shop any pics you take of the deer in town,” she teased. “Just change the background.”

“Oh, please,” Sherry groaned pushing Pat further down the path.

#

Pat had found herself a patch of sandy ground next to the river and was sitting on it, her long legs extended out in front of her soaking in the warm rays of the sun. She was enjoying the sun and her view of Sherry stretched out on her belly a few feet away. “Is that really necessary?” she asked.

“Quiet,” Sherry hissed. “I don’t want it to fly away.” She held the camera up to her eye and was peering through the view finder at a large bird on the opposite bank of the river.

Closing her eyes, Pat tipped her head back tilting it toward the sun. “It’s just a heron.”

“And your point?”

“You’ve taken about two dozen pictures of it already and you’re preventing me from one of my favorite pastimes.”

Sherry adjusting the zoom and took another picture. “It’s a digital camera for a reason.”

“You’ll fill up the memory card.”

“Doubt it,” Sherry countered as she shifted positions to get a better angle on the heron. “I can take a couple thousand with the new one I bought.”

 “Oh, brother,” Pat muttered tilting her head back to expose her face to the sun.

Having located nothing in the river’s water worth having for a mid-day meal, the heron spread its wings then with a slight bend of its knees and a flap of its powerful wings, the heron took flight.

“Alright, it’s flying away.” Sherry watched the large, graceful bird disappear around a bend in the river before rolling over and sitting up. “Now, you can do whatever it is I was keeping you from.”

Before she got the words out, Pat had launched a fist size stone at the river.

“That is one of your favorite pastimes?” Sherry asked after the rock hit the water with a loud plop.

Pat smiled and nodded. “Wanna give it a try?” she asked holding out another stone of equal size. “It’s fun.”

Sherry laughed and shook her head. “Seriously, I sometimes wonder about you.”

“Only sometimes?” Pat asked launching another rock at the river.

“Aren’t you afraid of scaring the fish?”

“Nope. Unless there is someone around here fishing… then rock tossing is frowned upon for that very reason.”

“Oh? So there are rules to rock tossing?”

Pat fired another stone toward the water. “Sure. Besides not throwing them if anyone is fishing, you also have to make sure you aren’t throwing them at people… or animals.”

“Aren’t fish animals?”

“Yes, but they’re under the water and have time to get out of the way.”

“I’ll take your word for that.”

Pat tossed another rock then brushed the sand off the palms of her hands. “Ready to head back to the truck?” she asked after standing.

“Yes.” Sherry reached for the hand being offered to her and allowed Pat to pull her up to her feet.

“Good. Cuz my stomach is beginning to sound like yours did this morning.”

Sherry laughed. “Then I guess we better take a shorter trail back to the parking lot.”

“That is definitely a good idea,” Pat agreed as she led Sherry across the field of river rocks and back to the bridge.

#

CHAPTER SEVEN

Dressed in their practice uniforms, Pat and Sherry exited the pickup’s cab. Sherry opened the back door and removed the equipment bag packed with extra uniforms, personal items, and a change of clothes for both of them.

“Ready?” Pat asked when Sherry joined her at the back of the pickup. She waited for Sherry to nod then turned to walk the few feet to the players’ entrance at the back of the arena. Reaching the door, she pulled it open and held it for Sherry to enter the building.

“I know you have a lot you want to go over this morning,” Sherry said when they started down the long corridor. “Is it okay if I get my practice shots in first?” she asked knowing Pat’s routine was to review her own notes before calling for her assistants to join her.

“Yeah,” Pat replied distractedly.

“Something wrong?” Sherry asked. “You were pretty quiet on the drive here this morning.”

“Sorry,” Pat apologized. “I got a text from Mac just before we left the house.”

“Problem?”

Shrugging her shoulders, Pat glanced at Sherry. “I haven’t a clue. You know Mac, she isn’t too much for providing details in advance. Anyway, she said she’d be waiting for me.”

“Should I stick around?” Sherry asked stopping in front of the door leading to the coaching staff offices.

Pat reached for the door knob. “No. Go ahead and get your shots done. She probably just wants to check on the progress of the rookies,” she added.

Kelley looked up when the door opened. “Morning, Sherry,” she greeted the women. “Mac’s waiting in your office, Coach.”

“Thanks,” Pat said walking past Kelley’s desk.

Her eyes following Pat, Sherry stopped at her own desk and dropped the notebook she carried onto its surface.

“What’s up?” Kelley asked after Pat had entered her office and shut the door. It was rare for the team owner to make visits to the coaches’ offices as she preferred her own office high up in the arena for meetings.

Sherry shook her head. “Don’t know,” she said placing her equipment bag in her chair. “Anything going on I need to know about?” Sherry asked the other assistant coach.

“You mean besides that?” Kelley asked casually pointing her pen toward the closed door.  When Sherry nodded, she continued, “No. Pretty quiet so far this morning, only a few players have shown up.”

“Okay. I’m going out on the floor. Give a holler if I’m needed back here.”

“Will do.”

Tossing a curious look at Pat’s closed door, Sherry turned and walked out of the office. A moment later, she re-entered the room. “On second thought,” she explained to a bemused Kelley, “maybe I should go over my notes.”

#

“Morning, Pat,” Mac greeted her head coach.

“Morning, Mac,” Pat responded cheerfully. After closing the office door, she crossed to her desk and took a moment to set down the notebooks she carried before sitting in her chair. “Coffee?”

“Kelley already took care of that,” Mac answered holding up a cup.

Wishing she had grabbed a cup for herself, Pat settled back in her chair. “What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” she asked knowing her employer was not much for small talk or pleasantries when she had something on her mind.

“Tell me about the cuts you made Friday.”

“I sent you a report.”

“Yes, and I read it.”

“So why the question?”

“Tell me about Wagner,” Mac responded ignoring Pat’s question.

Pat straightened in her chair then reached for her desk drawer. “She was lazy and put out almost no effort,” she said pulling out a folder and placing it on the top of her desk before pushing the drawer shut. Opening the folder, she flipped through the pages until she found the notes for the player being discussed. “Poor attitude,” she read from the page, “her shooting was inconsistent and her effort in drills was at the bottom of the scale. She paid little or no attention to instructions by the coaching staff.” She leaned back in her chair and looked across her desk. “She was a big disappointment, we had expected much more out of her.”

“I see. And Fisher?”

Pat flipped through the folder and pulled out another page. the paper onto her desk. “Much the same… here, read it for yourself,” she said pushing the paper across the desk to Mac. “This is the first time you’ve questioned my choices for cuts, Mac,” Pat said guardedly.

Mac leaned forward setting her empty coffee cup on the desk then picking up the paper. “I received a call over the weekend that concerns me,” she said after reading the coaching staff’s notes on the cut player.

“About Wagner?” Pat asked confused.

Mac shook her head. “Not specifically. But a question was raised as to whether or not you give rookies a fair shot.”

“What the hell!” The response exploded out of Pat.

To calm her irate coach, Mac held up her hands with her palms facing Pat. “Hold up there, Pat. Let me finish.”

Fuming, Pat bit back the expletives on the tip of her tongue to let her boss talk.

“Look, Pat,” Mac began in a calm voice, “I know you and I know how you handle the rookies. I’m not putting any credence in this but I do think you need to know about it.”

“Who made the call?” Pat demanded.

“Jackson.”

“What?!” Pat abruptly stood and began for the door.

“Pat, stop,” Mac stood just as quickly and bolted to the door to block her coach from storming out to look for the player. “Sit down!” she ordered. “Go on,” she added when Pat stood indecisively in front of her.

Pat retreated to the back of the office to stare out the window.

Mac allowed the upset woman the time to settle herself. “If you want, I’ll escort her ass out of here myself,” she finally said after several long minutes.

Pat glanced over her shoulder at the diminutive woman watching her and had to smile at the thought of Mac throwing the larger player out of the building. “Damn,” she muttered returning to her chair. “You’d think we could get through one season without this kind of drama.”

“You’d think,” Mac agreed.

Feeling her blood pressure beginning to recede, Pat slumped back in her chair. “I don’t know what Jackson has to complain about, she wasn’t cut,” she told Mac.

“My guess is she wants to keep it that way.”

“Great way to go about it,” Pat grumbled.

“That’s basically what I told her. Listen, Pat, I told Jackson that it wasn’t up to me who made it through camp… that’s what I have a head coach for,” she added with a shrewd smile. “But, I’m serious about having her thrown out… if you want.”

“Damn, idiot,” Pat said shaking her head. “She probably would have made it through camp.”

“So you want her gone?”

Chewing on her lower lip, Pat considered the question. “I don’t know. She has potential… if she’d just shut up and show it,” she muttered. She raised her eyes to meet Mac’s. “Let me run this past Kelley and Sherry and see what they think.”

Mac nodded. “All right. Just be careful how you handle it, the last thing I want is another press frenzy to distract us.” Mac stood and retrieved her coffee cup. “Let me know what you decide.”

Pat nodded then stood and followed Mac out of the office.

“Thanks for the coffee, Kelley,” Mac said placing the dirty cup in the sink next to the coffee pot. “One thing is for sure,” she told Pat, “if you do end up signing her, I’m going to save some money on her salary.”

Despite her mood, Pat laughed at the team owner’s way of turning any situation into a money maker. She waited until Mac had left through the door leading into the locker room. “Come on in,” she told her anxious assistant coaches.

#

Waiting for practice to begin, Brenda was sitting on a bench in the locker room when Mac walked through the doorway from the coaches’ offices. She smiled at the team owner. “Good morning.”

“Miss Jackson,” Mac responded curtly then continued across the room and through the doorway to the corridor.

“You look like you just won the lottery,” Killen commented sitting on the bench.

Jackson smirked. “Maybe I just did,” she said smartly.

“What’s with you, anyway?” Killen asked bending over to tie her shoes.

Jackson drew her eyes away from the door leading into the offices to focus on the other rookie. “What do you mean?”

“I figured by now you would have lost that cocky attitude.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” Jackson retorted.

Killen sat up. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

“Should I?”

Killen shrugged. “I would if I had allowed someone to score a winning basket on me. I don’t think I’d ever forget that player.”

“What are you talking about?” Jackson asked sneering.

“NCAA simi-finals two years ago... your team was up by two with less than twenty seconds to go… and you had the ball.”

Jackson’s eyes narrowed as she thought back to the moment. She turned and glared at Killen. “That was you?”

Killen grinned. “Yep.”

“What happened?” Dimchek asked. She had been sitting a few feet away listening to the exchange.

“She got lucky,” Jackson snapped.

“You got greedy,” Killen countered then turned to Dimchek. “She tried to make a dunk… ball bounce off the rim. My teammate got the rebound and threw it to me. I was barely past half court when I heaved it at the basket. Longest damn three pointer I ever made,” she said proudly.

“Nice,” Dimchek said appreciatively. “’Course, that sucks for you,” she directed at Jackson.

“Like I said,” Jackson grumbled pushing up from the bench. “She got lucky.”

Dimchek and Killen laughed as Jackson stormed across the room and disappeared out into the corridor.

#

Pat detoured to the coffee pot where she filled a cup for herself. “What a way to start a Monday,” she told her assistants as she carried the cup into her office.

“What’s up, Coach?” Kelley asked.

“Seems Jackson takes exception to the way I run tryouts,” Pat explained sitting behind her desk. “And she took it upon herself to call Mac over the weekend.”

“Are you kidding me?” Sherry blurted out.

“No.”

“Oh, dammit,” Kelley sighed. “Sorry, Coach.”

“Kelley, this is not on you,” Pat told the coach who had asked for the rookie to be invited to camp.

“What did Mac say?” Kelley asked nervously.

Pat smiled. “She said, and I quote, ‘I’ll escort her ass out of here myself’”.

Kelley laughed. “Damn, I’d pay money to see that.”

“What now?” Sherry asked.

“That’s a good question,” Pat answered. “Mac says it’s up to me but she doesn’t want this to turn into a media circus.”

“Which it probably would if we tell her to leave,” Kelley commented. “If she’s stupid enough to call Mac, she won’t hesitate to go to the press.”

“And say what?” Sherry asked in disgust. “She didn’t work hard enough to make it through camp? Come on, Kelley, she’d just sound like the crybaby she is.”

“Maybe so, but, be honest, Sherry, there are members of the press just waiting for another scandal to come out of here.”

“That’s bullshit!”

“Hey!” Pat barked. “Knock it off, both of you. Damn it, we can not allow this kind of crap to cause problems between the three of us. Got me?!”

Kelley leaned back in her chair to stare at the ceiling. “What a freakin’ mess,” she muttered.

“Pat, what are we going to do?” Sherry asked apprehensively.

“First, you two are going to kiss and make up... figuratively, of course,” Pat quickly added when Kelley tossed her a skeptical look. “Then we’re going to decide how to handle Jackson.”

Kelley straightened in her chair then turned to face the other assistant coach. “Sorry, Sherry,” she offered contritely. “Heat of the moment.”

Sherry smiled apologetically. “Me, too.”

“Now, about Jackson?” Pat asked.

“I say we boot her,” Sherry said.

“I know I should agree,” Kelley said thoughtfully, “but, damn it, I still think she has what we need.”

“She’s trouble,” Sherry countered.

“I’m not arguing that. But, so was Dawn, and she worked out.”

Sherry turned to look at the head coach. “Pat?”

Pat took a drink of coffee. “I’m not willing to cut her just because she made a bonehead move calling Mac. But I’m not going to keep either just to stop her from complaining she didn’t get a fair tryout. For now, she stays. But she doesn’t get a free ride… she has to prove herself just like ever other rookie in camp. If she doesn’t, she gets cut. Agreed?”

Sherry and Kelley nodded.

Pat glanced up at the clock. “We’re late. Anything else?”

Sherry and Kelley shook their heads.

Pat stood up. “Okay, then let’s get going.”

#

The players waiting in the locker room quieted when the three coaches entered and walked to the front of the room. Sherry and Kelley stopped at the end of the wall of white boards while Pat continued to the center of the wall.

“As you can see,” Pat began addressing the players, “there are fewer of you today than last week. That means both good news and bad news for you. The good news is you survived week one; the bad news is it’s going to get tougher for you to stay. Some of you may have thought you didn’t get enough playing time last week,” she said looking directly at Jackson who glared back. “That won’t be a problem this week. Less players means you’ll be spending more time on the court. I hope you’re ready for it,” she challenged the rookies. “Also, starting today, you will spend two hours after workouts in the weight room.” She smiled as a few groans escaped from some of the players. “Our team trainer has worked out an individual program for each of you and she’ll be in charge of your weight training. I strongly suggest you work with her and not against her. Okay, let’s get out on the court.”

“Right, Coach,” Pete responded. “Let’s go. Move it,” she shouted at the players.

The coaches watched as all but one player jumped up and ran out of the locker room after Pete. Pat followed the players.

“Jackson, stay back,” Kelley told the rookie.

Jackson smiled. “Sure, Coach,” she said smugly.

When the room had emptied of players, Sherry walked over to the door, pulling it shut behind her as she left the locker room. She quickly caught up to Pat. “Think we should be in there?”

“No,” Pat said bending over to pull her knee brace up over her knee. “I don’t see any reason to listen in every time one of my assistants sits down for a one-on-one with a player.”

“But…”

Pat straightened. “Honey, Kelley’s been coaching a long time. I’m sure she’s more than capable of handling Jackson. Come on, we’ve got a lot to do today,” she said then turned and trotted down the corridor to the arena floor.

Sherry hesitated a moment then ran after Pat.

#

Left alone with Jackson, Kelley had stood for several minutes gathering her thoughts. “I’m not sure what your intentions were, Brenda,” she began moving to an empty chair near the player. Flipping the chair around so she could sit facing Jackson, she continued. “But I can tell you that you failed to impress anyone,” she continued calmly. “Not Mrs. Christopher. Not Coach Calvin; not Coach Gallagher; and, definitely, not me. In all my years of coaching, I have never heard of a rookie doing what you did. I’m sure you had your reasons but all you accomplished was to make yourself look like a whiney, spoiled child. And the Cougars don’t have whiney, spoiled children on the roster.” Kelley looked sadly at the incensed rookie. “You’re in camp because I thought you had talent. I obviously was wrong because you haven’t shown much. If it were up to me, I’d have thrown your ass out of camp because of this but Coach still thinks you have something to offer this team. So, you’re staying… for now. But understand, you have yet to prove you can play ball at this level. And I can assure you, there isn’t going to be a free ride because of your call to Mrs. Christopher. You’ll continue to be treated like every other rookie in camp… from this point forward, no second chances.” Kelley stood up and returned the chair to its original position. “One more thing,” she said looking directly at Jackson, “don’t make the mistake of calling Mrs. Christopher again because she also wanted you kicked out of camp.” She raised her arm to look at her watch. “Now, you have thirty seconds to get out and join the rest of the rookies.”

Jackson glowered at Kelley.

“Twenty-five.”

Jackson slowly stood.

“Twenty… fifteen…”

Jackson ran for the door.

Kelley exhaled loudly after the rookie left. “Damn,” she muttered walking toward the door. “I hope I never have to do that again.”

#

CHAPTER EIGHT

Kelley stood near the side of the court watching the rookies run through a play. Frowning, she blew a sharp blast on her whistle. “Jackson, you can’t let your player take such an open shot.”

“She hasn’t made a shot from out there all camp,” the rookie countered to excuse not guarding her opposing player more closely.

Walking across the court toward the rookie, Kelley silently counted to ten. “And if the game was down to the last seconds and we were trying to protect a one point lead and she got lucky, what then?” she asked glaring at the obstinate rookie.

“Okay,” Jackson muttered. “I get it.”

“You better,” Kelley told the rookie. “Because the next time you let someone have that much room, you can sit the rest of the day.” Kelley started to backpedal back to her original position. “Run it again.”

#

While Kelley worked with the post players and forwards, Sherry and Pat were working with the guards.

“Take the shot,” Sherry shouted when Hudson broke free of her defender then groaned when the rookie’s jump shot bounced off the front of the rim. “Positions,” she called to the players.

As the rest of the players returned to their starting positions, Pete chased down the ball and passed it to Pat standing beyond the line at the end of the court. Pat slapped the ball to put the players into motion. She faked a pass to Wendy then, without moving her head to look, she fired the ball to Wilson on the opposite side of the key.

Wilson caught the pass on the run, scooted around Amie who was slow to move with her. She passed the ball back to Pat who bounced into the air and easily dropped a six foot jump shot into the basket.

“Nice move,” Pat praised the rookie. “Amie, move your feet next time,” she scolded the veteran player. “Okay, let’s take ten minutes,” she told the players before walking over to where Sherry stood. “What’s with Hudson?” she asked her assistant coach. “That was the fifth time she blew an open shot.”

Sherry grimaced. “I’m not sure. One minute she’s shooting the hell out of the basket and the next… it’s like the old saying, she can’t hit the broad side of a barn,” she muttered walking toward the row of seats where they had left their water bottles.

Pat grabbed her bottle before dropping into one of the seats. “Maybe we should just cut her and be done with it.”

Sherry dropped into the adjoining seat. “I don’t want to do that.”

“There are less than two weeks of camp left and we’ve still got too many rookies. We have to get down to what we carry on the roster.”

“I know. But I like Hudson. I want to give her time to work through whatever the problem is.”

Pat took a swallow of water. “We don’t have the time.”

Sherry glanced at the player in question. Hudson was on the floor taking shots at the basket and making about one out of every three attempts. “Give me the rest of the week,” she requested turning back to the head coach.

Pat was also watching the rookie. “Okay,” she said standing. “But she’s got to start hitting the basket,” she instructed before turning to trot down to the other end of the court and Kelley.

Sherry slumped back into the seat. “And how can I make her do that?” she asked herself.

#

“Having fun yet?” Pat asked Kelley.

Kelley gave her a wry grin. “You bet, Coach.”

“You still want to keep Jackson?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, then let’s see what she’s really capable of,” Pat told her assistant then turned to face the court. She waited for the play to conclude then called to the veteran player working opposite Jackson. “Latesha, take a break.”

“Oh, great,” Jackson grumbled when the coach ran to take Latesha’s position.

Pat stopped in front of the rookie. “You have the rest of the week to show me that you can play for this team. I strongly suggest you don’t waste my time.”

Kelley blew her whistle. “Positions,” she shouted.

Dimchek dribbled the ball to the end line then turned to face the floor. Pat and Ashley, a veteran post player, took positions even with the free throw line and approximately twenty feet apart. Rookie Grindley guarded Terry, the other veteran post player on the floor. Jackson shuffled into position between Pat and the end of the court.

Dimchek slapped the ball. Pat threw a head fake to the right. Jackson bought the fake and moved with it. Pat took a stutter step to the right then abruptly changed direction to run toward Dimchek and caught her inbound pass at a full run. She continued charging to the basket, laying the ball up to kiss the backboard. Jackson ran up just as the ball dropped through the basket.

“Not very good defense,” Pat commented catching the ball and tossing it back to Dimchek.

The play was run again with the inbound pass being thrown to Terry. Grindley was guarding her closely and preventing her from moving toward the basket.

Pat ran toward Terry who passed off to her. She began to dribble but Jackson managed to stay between her and the basket. She passed back to Terry who had managed to break free from Grindley.

Jackson stayed on Pat leaving Terry free to take an open twelve foot jump shot that dropped cleanly through the hoop.

Kelley blew her whistle. “You blew the coverage, Jackson.”

“I was guarding Coach,” Jackson protested.

“Your teammate got beat,” Kelley countered. “You’re supposed to help out.”

Dimchek retrieved the ball while Pat ran back to her starting position. Jackson just managed to get back into position before Dimchek set the players into motion again.

Pat threw a head fake but Jackson refused to follow it. She then spun to her left intending to open enough of a gap between herself and her defender to accept a pass. But Jackson, determined not to be beat again, slid over and blocked her.

Dimchek passed to Terry.

Pat ran toward her teammate then abruptly changed directions to angle toward the basket. Terry fired a pass to her. Grabbing the ball, Pat twisted to square up to the basket only to find Jackson standing defiantly in front of her. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Terry racing toward the basket a few feet from her. Grindley was trailing Terry by a step. Pat flipped the ball to Terry.

Anticipating the pass, Jackson shifted and stretched out a long arm. She just managed to get her outstretched fingers on the ball, diverting it away from Terry and toward Grindley who plucked it out of the air.

Kelley blew her whistle. “Nice play, Jackson.”

The rookie smiled smugly at Pat.

“Let’s see if you can do it again,” Pat challenged before trotting back to her starting point.

#

Sherry stood watching the guards run through plays but her focus was on the rookie Hudson. Pete was working against Hudson and Sherry was amused to see that, even though Pete had played many years at the professional level, the rookie was giving her a good work out. But she wasn’t amused at all to see Hudson continue to miss many of her shots.

“What can I do?” she asked herself again. Then she suddenly remembered a time she was having a similar problem. After taking a hard hit that had resulted in a concussion, she had found it hard to take a shot whenever she was closely guarded. She smiled remembering the way Pat had helped her get past the problem.

Sherry had been doing her self-imposed free throw practice.

“You have a few minutes?” Pat had asked when the rookie had finished her shots and started for the locker room. “Or do you have to get someplace?”

Sherry shook her head. “No. I’m okay.”

“Good. Thought we might talk.” She reached out, tapping the ball out of Sherry’s hands. She let it bounce once before catching it on the rebound. Then, barely glancing at the basket she released the ball in its direction. They were standing near the sideline but the ball dropped through the center of the basket barely disturbing the net. “We all go through spells where we’re afraid to trust our instincts,” she said as she walked to retrieve the ball then passed it to Sherry.

Without thinking Sherry caught the pass and duplicated Pat’s shot.

“My junior year in high school a player from another school took my legs out from under me on a lay-up. I landed on my head.” Pat took a couple of steps into the key before popping up in the air for a five-footer. “I spent two days in the hospital with a concussion.” 

“Damn.” Sherry caught Pat’s pass, took three steps toward the basket and cut left around Pat who was offering a little pressure, before taking a jump shot. “Messed up your shooting?”

“For a few days. I kept hearing footsteps whenever I thought about leaving my feet.”

“How’d you get over it?”

“I forced myself to ignore the footsteps. Won’t say I didn’t get a scare or two but I bulled my way through them.”

As they exchanged baskets, Pat gradually put more pressure on Sherry, guarding her a little tighter each time she had the ball.

Sherry grunted as she tried a head-fake against her coach. When Pat seemed to fall for the fake, Sherry tried to dribble around her but she found her path blocked again. Instinctively, Sherry feigned left, made another head fake then spun a 360 around Pat leaving her nothing but empty floor to the basket. A quick step before she left her feet and the ball kissed the backboard before dropping into the basket.

“Think you can do that in our next game?” Pat asked.

“I can give it a try.” Sherry grinned. Somehow, without her even realizing it, Pat had put her demons behind her.

Sherry turned to the guards standing at the end line waiting for their turn to play. “Amie, go in,” she told one of the players. “Hudson, over here,” she called to the rookie. “Let’s go over there,” she pointed to a temporary basket set up in the corner of the arena. She grabbed a ball off a rack as she led the rookie away from the other players. “How are you adjusting to the contact lenses?” she asked as they walked.

“Okay, I guess.”

“Still having trouble seeing the basket?”

“Um… no, I can see it.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“I’m not sure. I… it’s like I don’t trust my shot anymore,” Hudson admitted.

“Well, we’ve got a problem. I want to keep you around but Coach says your shooting has to improve.”

“I’m trying,” Hudson asserted. “I really am.”

“I know. But trying isn’t going to keep your name from being erased off the board. Stay here,” Sherry said as she left the rookie to move to a spot under the basket. She turned to face Hudson waiting about fifteen feet out but well within her range. “I’m going to pass you the ball and I want you to shoot it. Understand?”

“Yeah,” Hudson answered with a quizzical look.

Sherry fired the ball at the rookie.

Hudson caught the pass then looked up at the basket. After a moment’s hesitation, she put up a jump shot that hit the back of the rim and ricocheted away from the basket.

Sherry chased down the errant ball. “This time, don’t think.” she said passing the ball back to the rookie. “Shoot!” she barked as soon as the ball hit the Hudson’s hands.

Hudson immediately jumped into the air.

Sherry smiled when the ball dropped through the basket into her waiting hands. She tossed it back to the rookie. “Shoot!”

Again, Hudson executed a perfect jump shot.

After an hour, Sherry caught another made shot. “You did quite well,” she said smiling at the rookie.

“I… uh… I wasn’t keeping track.”

“That’s okay, I was. That’s the best you’ve shot since training camp started.”

“Really?”

Sherry nodded. “I think it’s time you forgot about how things were before you got your eyes checked. You’ve got contacts now and you don’t have that problem any more. You need to stop thinking about what might happen if you take a shot and just trust your can make it.”

Hudson sighed deeply. “I wish it was as easy as you make it sound, Coach.”

“Nothing we do here is easy, Hudson. But if you want to make the roster, you’re going to have to change your mindset. Right now, you’re spending too much time thinking and not enough time just doing what you know how to do. You’re a good player. And, when you give yourself the chance, you’re a good shooter. I’ve got to tell you that the only thing keeping you from making this team is you believing in you… and in your ability to make shots.”

“I… I can make the roster?” Hudson asked in surprise.

Sherry nodded. “You could have a good chance at it. We need a good backup at guard and I like what I see in you… except, of course, for your lack of confidence in your own talent. Unfortunately, that isn’t anything I can do much about. I believe in you, Hudson… I just wish you believed in yourself. Now, get back over there and finish practice.”

Slowly a smile developed on the rookie’s face. “Thanks, Coach.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Sherry told the rookie seriously. “You still have to prove that you have a place on this team. And you’re running out of time to do that.”

After Hudson ran back to join the other guards, Sherry glanced to the far end of the court where Pat was demonstrating a move to the players gathered around her. Let’s hope I’m as successful with Hudson as you were with me, she thought.

#

“Ahhh, this feels great,” Sherry moaning as she settled down into the steamy water in the hot tub.

“Tired?” Pat asked adjusting her position to sit behind her lover. She placed her hands on Sherry’s shoulders and began a slow but soothing massage of the knotted muscles under her fingers.

“Oh, right there,” Sherry directed squirming to provide Pat better access to a particularly sore spot. “I’m exhausted,” she finally answered.

“Good thing we only have one day left this week,” Pat noted. “I think we should plan to take it easy over the weekend.”

“I won’t argue with that,” Sherry mumbled hanging her head down until her nose almost touched the bubbling water.

“How’d it go with Hudson?” Pat asked her fingers tenderly probing along Sherry’s spine.

“Not sure. To be honest, I really wasn’t sure how to deal with her.” Sherry straightened then squirmed around to look at Pat. “This coaching stuff is a lot harder than I ever thought. It would have been so easy just to let you erase her name but…”

“You believe in her,” Pat finished.

“I do. I really think she could be a starter in a couple of years.”

“When you get too old to play?” Pat teased.

Sherry splashed water at her grinning lover. “Shame on you,” she scolded turning her back to Pat to encourage her continue her massage. “Remember last year when I had a problem shooting?” she asked after a few moments. “How did you know what to do?”

“I didn’t. I sat up in the stands watching you shoot your free throw practice and questioning how the hell I was going to get you over your fear of being knocked down again. Every thing I thought of to tell you, I discarded for being stupid.”

“But you did get me past my fear,” Sherry protested.

“No, not really. I just showed you that you had the smarts to play tight and not get hurt.”

“And that you believed I could get past the fear.”

“I always believed in you… but you needed to believe in you.”

“Amazing.”

Pat chuckled. “I wouldn’t go that far, honey.”

“No, not you.”

Pat’s grin changed into a grimace. “Oh, thanks,” she groaned.

Sherry laughed. “Stop it, silly. What I mean is that’s exactly what I told Hudson… I believe in her but she needs to believe in herself.”

“Sometimes, that’s the best we can do for a player… let her know we have faith in them and, hopefully, that the nudge they need to step up to the next level.”

Sherry leaned back against Pat. She smiled when her lover’s hands began a sensual exploration of her sensitive skin. “Damn, that’s nice,” she sighed.

Pat bent her head to kiss Sherry’s shoulder. “Maybe we should spend the weekend in bed,” she whispered.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” Sherry said twisting her head to allow Pat to claim her waiting lips.

#
CHAPTER NINE

 At precisely 8 AM, Pat walked into the locker room. With Sherry, Kelley, and the roster players already out on the court, the locker seemed abnormally empty with only a small cluster of restless rookies nervously waiting for her to address them. Moving purposely to the front of the room, she could feel the tense energy coming from the players. Stopping to stand directly in front of the list of neatly printed names in the center of the wall of white boards, she turned to face them. “Good morning,” she greeted.

“Morning, Coach,” came the immediate but apprehensive response.

“Not too many of you left,” Pat told the rookies what they already knew then paused a moment to take in the fretful nods of agreement from all but one.

Jackson sat separated from the others in the last row of folding chairs that were used only for the duration of training camp. She was gazing back at Pat with a resolute look fixed on her face.

“You should be proud that you’ve made it this far,” Pat said with a smile. “But, unfortunately, at the end of today, most of you won’t make it onto the roster,” she continued more seriously. “You’ve had good days… and you’ve had bad days. Now, you’re down to your last day. This is it… one final day to prove to me that you can play for the Cougars. Or that you can’t.” She took the time to meet each of the rookies’ eyes noting the determination in some and the indecision in others. Mentally, she compared the varying responses with the list on her desk of the players she expected to survive the day. She was pleased to note that their attitudes were matching well with her list.

“Today, you will have the opportunity to show me how well you can work to accomplish a goal. And on this team, we have only one goal and that is to win. This morning, we will be focusing on a special half court drill that will show me how willing you are to work with your teammates. This afternoon, we will run a full court, true game scrimmage. That means the clock will be running and play will be officiated. In both sessions, you will be playing against the roster players. And, believe me, they will not take it easy on you so you’re going to give everything you’ve got to impress me.” Pat smiled as the rookies glanced at each other as if to gauge their chances at besting their others. “Questions?”

“I have one,” Jackson said casually.

“Yes?”

“Will you be on the court today?”

Pat’s eyes focused on the rookie. “No,” she answered. “Today, my job will be to assess your play and your attitude,” she spoke directly to the talented but antagonistic player. “And to determine if you will be a good match to this team. I can’t do that from the court.”

“Too bad,” Jackson replied, her eyes holding the coach’s glare.

“You want your chance at me, Jackson?” Pat challenged the audacious rookie.

Jackson grinned. “Yeah… I do.”

“Then I suggest you do whatever it takes to make sure your name is still up here,” Pat gestured over her shoulder at the white board behind her, “at the end of the day. Now, if that’s the only question, let’s get out there and play some basketball.”

“Yes, Coach,” the rookie’s shouted jumping up and running through the door into the corridor.

Pat was surprised to see Jackson race from the room with the others. Today should be interesting, she told herself before following the rookies out of the locker room.

#

Kelley and Sherry were standing at the end of the court talking when the rookies burst out from the corridor. Kelley blew a quick blast on her whistle to stop them from advancing onto the court. “Dimchek, Jackson, Hudson, and Killen you’re on the court. The rest of you on the bench,” she instructed pointing to the sideline where the roster players were already seated and waiting. “Pete, Jade, Val, and Latesha, you’re up first,” she called out.

Pat walked to the free throw line as Pete and the other roster players took positions evenly separated inside the three point arc. “Dimchek, there,” she directed pointing to a position on the floor outside the arc. “Hudson, there. Killen, there. Jackson, there. You will need to work together to get the ball into the basket,” she instructed the rookies as they took their positions. “One rule… you cannot dribble. That means passing. Sharp, accurate, quick movement of the ball will be the only way to get it to an open teammate. And to be open, you will have to move… and keep moving. I don’t want to see anyone standing around waiting for the ball to be passed to them.”

Sherry, having retrieved a ball from a cart, flipped it to Pat.

“Got it?” Pat asked the players. Without waiting for an answer, she slapped the ball and fired it to Hudson who was instantly guarded by Pete. Pat backpedaled to the end line then stood there to watch the players.

Hudson passed the ball to her right where Dimchek had managed to free herself from Val’s close defense.

Dimchek caught the pass and immediately fired the ball to her right where Killen was running toward the basket.

Jade quickly cut Killen off before she could reach the key. Unable to shoot over Jade’s outstretched hands, Killen passed back to Dimchek.

With her elbow, Jackson shoved Latesha back then spun around putting herself between her guard and the basket.

Dimchek swung the ball around Val, passing it to Jackson.

Grabbing the pass, Jackson turned to the basket and shot an easy six foot jumper.

“No basket,” Pat snapped snagging the ball after it dropped through the net. “You pushed off, Jackson. That’s a foul. You’ve got to get around your defender cleanly,” she instructed the rookie. “Let’s do it again.” She slapped the ball then passed it back to Hudson.

Hudson caught the pass then attempted a head fake on Pete. “Damn,” she muttered when the smiling veteran maintained her position. Frustrated, she passed the ball to Jackson.

Jackson fired it right back to Hudson who threw it to Dimchek.

Dimchek faked a pass to Killen who was running toward the basket with Jade right behind her. Seeing Latesha start to cheat over to help out on Killen, Dimchek passed to Jackson.

Jackson caught the pass and looked at the basket. Latesha immediately moved back into position while Pete faded over to double team Jackson. Jackson tossed the ball to a now undefended Hudson.

Without hesitating, Hudson jumped into the air and let loose a twenty foot jump shot.

Pat watched the ball drop cleanly through the hoop and gathered it up. “Latesha, next time make sure Jade needs your help... she was between Killen and the ball. There was no way she was going to have a play. Pete, you left your player too open. Don’t do it again.” She tossed the ball back to Hudson. “Nice shot.”

“Thanks, Coach,” Hudson said catching the pass while smirking at Pete.

“The day is young, rookie,” Pete warned.

“Let’s go,” Pat shouted.

Hudson smacked the ball then before she could pass it off, Pete had moved out on her, guarding her close. Hudson spun to the left but Pete stayed with her, her hands moving rapidly in an attempt to slap the ball free. Hudson spun back around to the right but again found herself again closely guarded.

Pat blew her whistle. “Pete, that’s not what we’re here for,” she gently scolded her veteran guard while fighting the smile that threatened to appear on her face.

“Right, Coach,” Pete said grinning at Hudson as she backed off a couple of feet. “Not so cocky now, are you?”

“Okay, Hudson, let’s try it again,” Pat called out.

#

Lizzie had been sitting several rows up in the stands as she watched the action on the court. She was looking for any signs of injuries that players might be hiding from their coach. She noted that some of the rookies were looking winded and was glad to hear Kelley call out a new rotation.

Sherry trotted off the court with the others. Grabbing her water bottle, she continued to the steps and, running up two at a time, moved quickly up to where Lizzie sat. “Hi,” she said dropping into the seat next to the team’s trainer.

“Hi,” Lizzie answered with a smile. “You look tired.”

Sherry swallowed a mouthful of water. “Exhausted. I sure don’t remember camp being so draining.”

Lizzie laughed. “I think you might have been too focused on something else last year.”

Sherry blushed.

“There’s some good talent down there,” Lizzie said changing the conversation back to the court and off the coach’s personal life.

“Sure is. I think Pat will have a hard time making the final cuts today.”

“Knowing Coach, she already has them done in her mind. Today is just her way of convincing herself that she’s keeping the right ones.”

“Hmmm.” Sherry sucked another swallow from her water bottle.

“So who is she keeping?”

Sherry shrugged. “Don’t know. She hasn’t told me.”

“Really?”

Sherry nodded. “Yeah. We have a coaches’ meeting during lunch to discuss Kelley and my thoughts. She said she’ll make her final decision during this afternoon’s play.”

“I don’t envy you gals,” Lizzie commented. “On the one hand, you’ll make a few players really happy. But, on the other…”

“We’ll destroy dreams,” Sherry acknowledged with a frown. “I know… I never thought about it before but there are some things that make being a coach really sucky.”

Lizzie nodded.

“Damn.”

“What?”

“Dimchek’s winded again. Heck, she’s only been on the court as long as I’ve been sitting here. I guess she hasn’t adjusted to the altitude yet. She’s a good player and I really hope that doesn’t stop Pat from keeping her.”

Lizzie watched the rookie for a few minutes. “Pull her out. Let me talk to her.”

Sherry looked at the trainer. “You know what’s wrong?”

“I have an idea.”

“Okay,” Sherry said pushing herself up from the cushioned seat. “I’ll send her your way,” she told the trainer as she started back down the steps to the arena floor.

#

Lizzie watched as Sherry spoke to Dimchek at the side of the court. The rookie turned to look up at her, her face a mixture of curiosity and concern. She continued to watch as Dimchek nodded to Sherry then turned away from the assistant coach and toward the steps.

“Um,” Dimchek said when she reached Lizzie. “Coach said you wanted to talk to me.”

Lizzie smiled. “Sit. I’m not a coach, I don’t bite.”

Dimchek grinned nervously. “Good to know,” she said lowering her tall body into the less than adequate seat and then tried to fold her long legs into the narrow space between the rows.

“These aren’t meant for long legs,” Lizzie said as she watched the rookie struggle to find a comfortable position. “Do what Coach does, hang them over the seat in front.”

Dimchek followed the trainer’s suggestion then sighed happily when she found that made sitting more comfortable. “How do the fans sit in these for an entire game?” she asked relaxing against the seat back.

“Sad to say, but Mac isn’t as worried about comfort as she is about squeezing in more ticket buyers.” Lizzie waited a moment then asked, “Have you caught your breath, yet?”

“What?”

“You were looking pretty winded down there,” Lizzie explained.

“I’m okay,” the rookie insisted. “Just getting used to… things.”

“You’re in good shape, Sophia. You’re strong and you’re used to running up and down the court for forty minutes without a break. I make it my business to know players’ capabilities,” she explained when the rookie stared at her suspiciously. “It helps to me to know when they’re hiding injuries.”

“I’m not injured.”

“I know. What I don’t know is if you are aware that you have a bad habit of holding your breath when you’re on the court.”

“What?”

“Whenever you’re concentrating on something… a particular move, shooting, whatever, you hold your breath. Even working out in the weight room, you’ll do several repetitions without breathing. You even did it when you walked up the steps just now. Sophia, you’re starving your muscles of the oxygen they need and that’s not good… especially here where we’re almost four thousand feet up. It’s what’s pooping you out.”

“I’m not pooped out,” Dimchek countered angrily.

“Getting mad won’t get you a place on this team,” Lizzie calmly told the rookie. “Now, you have two choices… don’t listen to me, go back down there, and at the end of the day you’ll find your name erased because you can’t stay on the court more than a few minutes at a time. Something I assure you Coach won’t put up with. Or, listen to what I’m telling you and, in the time you have left today, change what you’re doing.”

Dimchek frowned. “How?” she muttered.

Seeing that the player seemed to be struggling with her thoughts, Lizzie waited quietly.

Dimchek took a deep breath then concentrated on releasing it slowly as she thought about what the trainer had just told her. Over the next several minutes, she took several more measured breaths. “I’ve always done it,” she finally admitted. “I’ve tried not to but I can’t seem to find a way,” she said dejectedly.

Lizzie reached a hand out and patting the rookie encouragingly on the knee. “You just need to change what you’re concentrating on,” she suggested withdrawing her hand. “You’re a good player and you’ve developed some good moves over the years. Trust that they’ll come naturally for you and concentrate on breathing.”

“I’m not sure I can.”

“I doubt you can break the habit completely because it’s part of you. But, be aware it’s happening and when it does—breathe.” Lizzie grinned. “Your muscles will thank you. And your energy will last longer.”

Dimchek looked at Lizzie then turned her head to look down to the court where the players were working hard to impress Pat. “I guess I’ve got nothing to lose,” she said retracting her legs from their resting place on the seat back in front of her. She stood up. “Thanks,” she told Lizzie before turning away.

“Sophia,” Lizzie called to the rookie.

“Yeah?”

“We wouldn’t be having this conversation if I didn’t think you’d be around after today. Coach likes you. Now is your chance to show that you can do whatever you need to do to help the team.”

Dimchek stood for a moment digesting the meaning behind Lizzie’s words. Then she nodded, turned and bounced down the steps to the court.

#

“Okay, let’s hear your thoughts,” Pat said as she led Sherry and Kelley into her office. She dropped her clipboard onto her desk as she walked directly to the table where their lunches had been left to claim a plate.

“Killen, Dimchek, Hudson are shoe-ins,” Kelley said placing her clipboard on a chair before moving to the table.

“I agree,” Sherry said picking a ham sandwich off another plate. “Wilson and Karam would make good reserves,” she added after taking a bite.

“I don’t know,” Kelley objected. “They’re struggling.”

“They’re good players,” Sherry countered sitting down and balancing her plate on her lap. “Yes, they’re a little green. But they played at small colleges and didn’t see too much competition at this level. I think with time to gain that experience, they would fit in well.”

“I agree with Killen, Dimchek, and Hudson,” Pat said placing check marks on her list next to the players’ names. “I’ll have to see how Karam and Wilson do this afternoon. What about Jackson?”

“She’s good,” Sherry commented. “But her attitude…”

“Kelley?” Pat asked of the coach who had recruited the rookie.

“Dammit, Coach, for the life of me, I can’t make up my mind. One minute, I think she has what we need. Then the next, I’m ready to kick her butt out the door.”

Pat nodded. “Yep, she’s a frustrating one. We could use her at post… she’s strong enough to not be intimidated.”

“But?” Sherry asked.

“She reminds me a lot of someone else,” Pat answered.

Sherry grinned. “True. But, in the end, Dawn turned out okay. And, there’s one good thing about Jackson.”

“Which is?”

“She hasn’t tried to dump me on my head,” Sherry said grimacing.

“That’s true. She hasn’t tried to prove she’s better than the others by doing damage,” Kelley agreed. “But I still think I’m leaving that decision up to you, Coach, I just can’t make up my mind on Jackson.”

“Fair enough. Sherry?”

“She’s strong. She knows what she’s doing. She’s been trying hard and she’s been listening. Ashley and Toney have been talking about this being their last year. We definitely need someone to fill that void if they do retire.”

“You think we should make her a reserve?” Pat asked.

“She won’t sit the bench,” Kelley declared. “I doubt she’d even sign a contract if she knew that’s what you had planned for her.”

Pat grinned. “Who says we have to tell her?”

“You know reserve players don’t get paid the same,” Kelley snapped. “She’ll know.”

“Calm down,” Pat told her assistant. “You know I won’t lie to a player about that. I’ll give Jackson credit trying but I admit I have doubts too. And I only have two open spots for active players. If I had to make a decision right now, those spots would go to Dimchek and Hudson. So if Jackson won’t sit the bench then maybe we shouldn’t be wasting time discussing her.”

Sherry swallowed the last of her sandwich. “You should talk to her,” she told Pat. “She’s too good of a player to let one of our competitors sign. I’d rather have her on our bench then have to play against her. And she just might surprise you.”

Pat looked at her list of players. “Are they any others we need to talk about?” When both Kelley and Sherry shook their heads, she picked up a pen and started crossing off names. “Okay, let’s see what they do in the scrimmage,” she said putting the pen down and picking up her sandwich.

#
CHAPTER TEN

Brenda was sitting on the bench taking a breather when Pat blew her whistle calling an end to practice. Expecting that all the players would join the others on the bench, she was surprised to see Hudson and Dimchek motioned over to meet with the coach at mid-court. She watched the pair nervously approach their coach; her curiosity quickly changing into a mixture of disappointment and resentment when the pair of smiling rookies were directed to the far end of the arena where they could cross into lobby and to the elevators that would take them up to the office of the team owner. Dolefully, she dropped her head to study the floor beneath her feet.

Using the time to gather her thoughts, Pat waited a few moments. “Another part of coaching I hate,” she muttered under her breath as she started across the floor to join her assistant coaches and address the players. “It’s been a good camp,” she began when she stood in front of her team. “But now the real work begins. Those of you already on the roster can go.”

“It’s early, Coach,” Val spoke up. “I’m good to keep at it.”

Pat grinned at the player. “I know you are; but go ahead and take the afternoon,” she told the veteran. “You know it’ll be the only short day you’ll get all season.”

“Thanks, Coach,” Jade said standing. She started for the locker room, the rest of the roster players trailing behind her.

“We have a championship trophy to defend so I expect to see all of you back here bright and early Monday morning ready to work your butts off,” Pat called to the retreating players then laughed when a chorus of groans rose from the players. Turning back to the rookies, she told them, “I want to thank you for attending camp and for your hard work. You should be proud that you made it this far. You are quality players and I’m sure that you’ll find a place in this league. Unfortunately, for most of you, that won’t be with the Cougars. Okay, there’s no point in dragging this out… Karam, Killen, Wilson, and Jackson, stay put. The rest of you, I’m sorry, I just don’t have a place for you. Before you take off, be sure to check in with Coach Stockley and Coach Gallagher— they have contact information for teams still looking to fill their rosters.

“Lots of opportunities,” Sherry assured the disappointed rookies.

Inwardly, Jackson issued a sigh of relief as the dejected rookies followed Sherry and Kelley off the court.

“Alright,” Pat smiled at the four rookies sitting on the bench looking expectedly at her. “I’m happy to offer each of you a position on our roster.”

“As reserves,” Jackson said angrily.

“Yes,” Pat responded harshly. “I told you at the beginning of camp, I only had two active positions available,” she spoke directly to the irate rookie. “There’s a contract waiting for you, Jackson… if you want it. But I won’t lie to any of you… you’ll most likely spend the season sitting the bench for games. But you’ll practice with the team and you’ll have the benefit of working with some of the best players in the league to help you improve your skills. Each of you is still here because I think you have something to offer this team; you just aren’t at game level quite yet. It’s up to you whether, or not, you want to accept this opportunity or whether you want to try another team.”

“I’m happy, Coach. Where do I sign?” Killen said smiling broadly.

“Me, too,” Wilson immediately agreed then high-fived the other rookie.

“You need to go up and talk with Mac,” Pat told them.

“Hold on, I’m coming, too,” Karam rose from the bench and trotted after them. “Thanks, Coach,” she said as she ran past Pat, “I really appreciate the opportunity.”

“Let’s see if you still think that way in a few weeks,” Pat responded with a smile. After the lobby doors slammed shut behind the trio, she walked to the bench and sat down.

“I suppose you expect me to thank you, too,” Jackson said disagreeably.

Stretching her legs out in front of her, Pat leaned back in the seat. “Not really.”

“I want to play,” Jackson informed the coach.

“I know,” Pat replied nonchalantly.

“I’m good enough.”

“Good enough doesn’t cut it on this team.”

Jackson studied the woman sitting calmly a few feet from her.

Pat turned to the player. “You’ve got talent, Brenda. But talent alone isn’t enough. You have to be willing to work and you have to be willing to give all you have one hundred percent of the time. So far, you haven’t shown me that. If it wasn’t for Coach Gallagher’s belief that you do have it inside of you, you wouldn’t be sitting here right now. I was more than ready to cut you loose.”

Stung by the coach’s admission, Jackson snapped, “I’ve heard from other teams.”

“Good,” Pat said standing. “Then you have other options.”

“If I sign, what are the chances I’ll get to play?”

“I can’t promise you anything. Its basketball… players get injured; dynamics change.”

“Meaning?”

“I don’t have a crystal ball, Jackson. All I can tell you is, if you sign, you will start the season on the bench. But just like every other player who wears the Cougar uniform, when we win the championship you’ll be able to claim part of that trophy as your own. Because even if you never get to play in a game, your contribution in practice will help us win that trophy.” Pat looked into Jackson’s eyes. “If you want the contract, go up and talk with Mac. If you don’t…,” Pat shrugged, “that’s up to you.”

Jackson stood. “I’ll be active by the end of season,” she declared boldly.

Pat watched the defiant rookie stride toward the lobby. “Jackson,” she called then waited until she stopped and turned around. “Don’t make the mistake of trying to get there by injuring another player,” she warned grimacing inwardly at the memory of Sherry’s feet being taken out from under her then slamming, head first, into the floor the previous season.

Jackson smiled wryly. “I don’t need to play dirty to get there,” she replied forcefully then spun about to continue her march to the lobby.

Pat considered the player’s comments for a moment before turning to walk to the opposite end of the arena.

#

Bypassing the locker room where Sherry and Kelley were busy providing information to the cut rookies, Pat walked into her office and dropped into her chair. Leaning back she closed her eyes.

“At least, this year’s camp was a bit more peaceful than last year.”

Pat pried open one eye to spy Lizzie standing in the office doorway. “Thank goodness for small favors,” she muttered gesturing for the team trainer to enter the room.

“I’d ask about your leg but it looks like your head is the problem today,” Lizzie said sitting in one of the pair of chairs in front of the coach’s desk. “Headache?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want me to get you something for it?”

Pat straightened up. “As much as that sounds like a plan, all I really want to do is grab Sherry and go out in the woods for a couple of hours.”

“What’s stopping you?”

“She’s still talking to the players we cut.”

“I’m sure Kelley can handle that.”

“I’m sure she can but we agreed not to let our personal relationship interfere with our work here.”

“Pat, it’s the last day of camp. You sent the players home early because you know they can use the time off.”

“Your point being?”

“You and Sherry are both players. You need the time just as much as the rest of them. So go get Sherry and get away from the game for a few hours. Monday is going to arrive whether or not you sit here. So do yourself, and Sherry, and your team a favor and go get lost in the woods.”

“You sound a little too hopeful when you say that,” Pat grumbled.

Lizzie laughed. “I should be so lucky. Go on, you’re right, getting out there would be good for you and your headache.”

“Oh, good, I’m not the only one,” Sherry moaned walking into the room rubbing her temples. “Mine feels like it’s ready to explode.” She slumped into the other chair in front of Pat’s desk. “I hate to ask, Pat, but do you think we could blow this joint early today?”

“Did everyone get set up?”

“Kelley is finishing up with the last of them,” Sherry replied.

“Good,” Lizzie exclaimed. “Now, you two get out of here.”

Sherry looked hopefully across the desk.

“Grab your stuff,” Pat told her. “Let’s go find a nice place in the boonies to enjoy some quiet time. Then I’ll let you buy me dinner.”

“Ugh,” Sherry groaned pushing herself up out of the chair. “Boonies sound good; dinner not quite so much. Right now I doubt I could keep anything down.”

“Maybe we should just go home,” Pat said worriedly.

Sherry forced a smile. “Nope, I’m up for your first choice. Just give me time to get rid of this headache before we talk about food.”

“Right there with you on that,” Pat said as she set about clearing off the top of her desk. “Give me a few to get this cleaned up and I’ll be ready.”

“Gotcha,” Sherry agreed walking out of the room to the outer office to do the same to her desk.

“Coach,” Lizzie said to gain Pat’s attention.

‘Yeah?”

“Take the weekend for yourselves… it’s going to be a long season.”

Pat nodded. “Good idea. Thanks,” she added with a smile.

“That’s what I’m here for,” Lizzie said with a back-handed wave as she walked out of the office.

#

After leaving the arena, they had driven home to take showers and change clothes since their route took them right past their house. Then they continued south to Lolo and west up Highway 12 to a forest service road that paralleled the East Fork of Lolo Creek. They drove along the gravel road until reaching a spot where they could safely park off the road at a bend in the creek.

Sherry sat on the creek bank with her feet soaking in the cold water. Bemused, she watched Pat, also with shoes off and jeans rolled up, wandering around in the middle of the creek. “Aren’t you afraid you might fall in a hole out there?” she asked.

Pat chuckled. “Sweetheart, the water barely covers my ankles. I doubt there are any holes around here deep enough to cause me problems.”

“What are you looking for?”

“Just looking. You never know what you might find.”

Planting her hands in the grass behind her; Sherry leaned back and raised her head to enjoy the fading warmth of the setting sun. “You’re crazy,” she said closing her eyes.

“Isn’t that what you love about me?”

“One of the many things I love about you.”

“Ah, looky here.”

Sherry opened her eyes just enough to squint in Pat’s direction. “What?”

“Somebody is missing a shoe.”

“Hey!” Sherry popped upright as the object was tossed at her feet, splashing water on her. “And just what do you expect me to do with this?” she asked pulling a water-logged sneaker out of the creek.

“Throw it up by the truck. We’ll take it home and put it in the trash.”

Sherry flipped the soaked shoe behind her. “Your bit for ecology?”

“Doesn’t hurt to do what we can?”

“Hmm,” Sherry murmured leaning forward to rest her arms on her legs. “What do you plan to do about Jackson?”

“Do I need to do something about her?”

“If you ask me, it sure sounds like she was challenging you.” On their drive to the creek, Pat had told Sherry about her meeting with the rookies offered reserve contracts.

“I suppose it could have been… for her.”

“Doesn’t that bother you?”

Pat gave up her search for trash. She sloshed noisily through the water then dropped onto the bank beside Sherry. “I would prefer to think of it as a boast and not as a challenge,” she said dropping her hands into the water to cleanse them of the mud and small bits of gravel covering them. “Maybe she’ll stop screwing around and start to prove that you aren’t wrong about her.”

“Me? What do you mean?”

“You said to give her a chance… that she might surprise me.”

“You think I’m wrong, don’t you?”

“I’m with Kelley when it comes to Jackson. One minute, I think she has possibilities. Then her attitude pops up and I think we’re just wasting our time with her.”

Sherry twisted her head to look back at Pat. “Then why sign her?”

“I had four contracts to fill. There wasn’t anyone else worth signing.”

“You didn’t have to fill all of them.”

Pat shrugged. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe she will surprise me.” Pat scooted closer and slipped an arm around her lover’s waist. “Okay, enough about basketball. Lizzie gave us orders to take this weekend for ourselves and I think we should do exactly that.”

Leaning her head against Pat’s, Sherry reached for her hand and entwined their fingers. “Can she do that?”

Pat laughed. “Have you ever tried to tell her no?”

“I figured out pretty quick that Lizzie doesn’t take no for an answer.”

“And that’s why she’s in charge of our training staff.”

“I guess we better do what she said.”

“Agreed.”

“Do you have ideas as to how we should do that?”

“Haven’t really thought that far ahead. Speaking of heads, how’s yours?”

“Nice transition,” Sherry said with a laugh. “Mine is feeling pretty good. How about you?”

“Only problem I have right now is I’m so hungry I’m ready to start chewing tree bark.”

“Yuck. Better idea, let’s drive back to Lolo and stop at the steakhouse.”

“Great idea!” Pat said releasing her grip on Sherry to stand up.

“It’s amazing what a couple of hours out here can do,” Sherry commented as she was pulled to her feet.

Spreading her arms wide, Pat turned toward the creek. “Mother Nature,” she exclaimed in a loud voice, “the best medicine in the world for what ails you.”

Stepping behind Pat, Sherry wrapped her arms around her waist and looked over her shoulder. “It is so beautiful,” she whispered in her lover’s ear. “Just like you.”

Pat turned her head and claimed Sherry’s lips. “I love you,” she said moments later gazing into her lover’s eyes.

“I love you, too.” Sherry released her hold on Pat’s waist to grab her hand. “Okay, lover, let’s go get something to eat before you start to chew on tree bark. I’m not sure I could ever kiss you again if you did that,” she teased tugging Pat toward the truck.

“Even if I brushed them?”

Sherry shivered in jest. “Yuck!”

Pat opened the passenger door then waited for Sherry to climb up into the cab. She started to close the door then stopped and pulled it back open. “What say tomorrow we get an early start and drive down to Bannack?”

“Oh, I’d love that,” Sherry replied excitedly. The drive to the ghost town was a favorite of hers. “We could camp there over night then stop at Coolidge on our way back.”

“That’s a great idea,” Pat agreed then shut the door and hurried around the front of the truck to the driver’s door.

#

to be continued...

Stories

Projects

Site Map

Contact Me