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"That was my error!" blurted Ashley. "I should have introduced everyone. This is Gwen, Kate, and Paula Anderson. I'm Ashley Summers. I work for the family business."
"Your modesty is very becoming," responded Captain Neary. "I've seen you in movies and read about you on the internet. You're whatever the company or any of the inner circle needs you to be.
"To answer the question, no one needs to leave unless Steve has something he feels he needs to tell me right now. I watched the show last night and you appear to be holding up fine. Are there any issues you feel you want to discuss with me?" asked Captain Neary.
"Not really. It was a long week and some of it was pretty unpleasant. Be sure those girls get some attention. They held up real well, but they saw a lot of death, and they were almost raped. They seemed strong and pretty well adjusted, but we both know how these things can take a toll over a period of time, and they're great kids. Sam is a bit autistic, but not much. She's real quiet and doesn't warm up to people too fast. Roxie really watches out for her."
"Okay, now that I have the official business out of the way, I just wanted to tell you that I was at that bowl game in Arizona when Penn State was handed the game by the refs. I was about fifty feet away from you when you made that beer bottle catch. I still marvel at the memory. You saved that guy's life."
"Was that the first bowl game you played in? The one where everyone thought the refs cheated?" asked Kate.
Steve grinned at the way Captain Neary described the game. "At the end of the game, Penn State had more points than we did. That made them the winner. There was no cheating. The officials did their best, just like us players. Anyone can make a mistake. I sure made some in that game."
Steve thought back to his first year at the Academy as everyone around him continued to chatter about their memories of that first bowl game. His thoughts went back five years as he recalled the amazing experiences and how they all began.
After the huge come-from-behind victory over Ohio State in their first game, and the Labor Day opening of their movie 'Midnight Lights', Steve's status at the Academy was elevated considerably. There was simply no way that the other cadets could treat him like everyone else. He was a bona fide movie star and more importantly, the great quarterback they had been lacking for a very long time.
He began practicing with the first team as soon as he returned from California that Labor Day Weekend. He even spent extra time with the receivers after regular practice, working on learning their capabilities and limitations.
It was time well spent as Navy became a football force to be reckoned with. With a less than difficult schedule, they were able to avoid a single loss through the first eight games. They were known for a high scoring offense, but had a somewhat porous defense. They won by outscoring the opposition.
They traveled to San Jose in late October with a perfect 7-0 record. The team had developed a winning attitude, as well as a bit of swagger. As the guys prepared to climb off the bus from the airport, they noticed several girls standing outside their hotel, obviously waiting to welcome them.
"Look at that one on the left!" exclaimed Jeff Charles, the senior wide receiver and a self-acknowledged ladies man. "She's a stone cold fox. Watch me work my magic, Boys. This is going to be a great weekend."
He stepped off the bus first and confidently walked up to the beautiful girl and introduced himself. She politely shook his hand and smiled. Then her smile suddenly doubled in size as she rushed past Jeff and toward the bus.
"Steve!" was all she managed before she was in Steve's arms. She proceeded to kiss him long and hard before she finally released him.
"Guys, this is....."
"Gwen Anderson!" exclaimed about four teammates, just before Mel Phillips declared, "She's smokin' hot!"
Gwen and Steve both laughed at that proclamation before Gwen led Steve over to see the three friends that had accompanied her to San Jose.
"Cindy! How are you? Dakota, you look great! Audrey! It's nice to see you again, even with your clothes on!" joked Steve as he hugged each of the girls. "Thanks for making the trip with Gwen. You're good friends."
"Yeah, it was quite a sacrifice," deadpanned Audrey. "We rode all the way over just to get hugs from Gwen's boyfriend. You'd think he was Steve Hammer or something the way the girls wanted to ride with us. Luckily we only had room in the car to accommodate the four of us and our suitcases. We'll be cheering for you at the game tomorrow."
"Yeah, and I want to hear Gwen make those strange noises again tonight," added Cindy with a chuckle. "I'm still trying to get the ending down. I can do the rest of it pretty good."
"It's game night and we have curfew, plus rules against having girls in our rooms," so there won't be any funny noises tonight," responded Steve with a long face.
"Hey, Hammer!" called Jeff Charles. "Are you going to keep all of these ladies to yourself, or are you going to introduce them to us?"
Steve laughed and escorted the girls into the hotel where he spent an eternity introducing the girls to his teammates. Gwen laughed and joked with the guys as they all crowded around her. Many of them had their phones out and were taking 'selfies' as Gwen smiled and posed with everyone that asked. It wasn't until the next day as the team warmed up that Steve realized that seeing Gwen in person had raised his position with his teammates another notch.
He lost track of how many of the guys told him what a beautiful woman Gwen was and how lucky he was to have such an incredibly sexy, but down to earth girlfriend. In the short time she had spent with them, Gwen had made a tremendous impression on the team.
Steve realized that he had never given much thought to Gwen's skill with people. She joked and flirted with the guys on the team, but never misled any of them and never said or did anything inappropriate. She knew what position each guy played and even mentioned some of their more memorable plays from the season. She was beautiful, intelligent, and extremely personable. Even the coaches thought she was tops. Steve's appreciation of his girlfriend increased to an even higher level after the trip to San Jose.
When Gwen sang the National Anthem before the game, the guys were even more impressed, if that was possible. The game itself was a laugher as Navy scored early and often to win 42-21. On the plane ride home, Gwen was a bigger topic of conversation than the victory. That was when Steve realized that he needed to adjust his perception of how much effect Gwen had on men. She practically had his teammates bewitched!
The next week, Notre Dame came to town. They played the game in Landover, Maryland. Notre Dame was ranked seventh nationally. They were led by an explosive offense and a stingy defense. Steve passed for almost four hundred yards, but the Irish had too many weapons and crushed Navy 48-36. The score was actually closer than the game had been. A late touchdown made it look like Navy had been in it, but they had been thoroughly flogged, and the players knew it.
Rather than spend time worrying about the loss, the team increased its efforts, and won the rest of its games. The Army game wasn't even close. Army had no answer for the high flying offense of the Navy. When Navy received an invitation to play Penn State in one of the lesser bowl games, everyone on the team was ecstatic.
The game was scheduled for the Saturday afternoon between Christmas and New Year's. 71,000 fans filled Sun Devil Stadium to watch the most exciting bowl game of the year. Pregame hype focused on the Jared vs Steve showdown. It was well known that the two had gone to high school together and were close friends. Would they be able to put aside their friendship and play their best against each other?
The first play of the game answered that question. Steve faked a handoff to the running back and then turned throw a pass to the tight end. That was as far as he got before Jared hit him like a truck and flattened him for a six yard loss.
On the next play, Steve stepped ahead to pass only to find Jared jumping high in an attempt to block his pass. Steve simply double pumped and then rifled the ball twenty yards down the field to his wide out for a first down.
Navy began keeping the fullback in to help block Jared as no one on the Navy offensive line was able to contain Jared by themselves. The score seesawed back and forth the entire game. Navy found itself with the ball and down by five with just over two minutes left. They were on their own fifteen yard line.
Navy fans were on their feet, fully expecting Steve to lead the team down the field for the winning score. Navy did manage to march to the ten yard line with seconds left on the clock. On the final play of the game, Steve's pass was just beyond the outstretched hands of the tight end. When the replay was shown on the big screen at the stadium, a Penn State defensive was shown to have clearly held the jersey of the tight end, preventing him from getting to the ball. The Navy fans became extremely irate and vented their wrath on the officials.
Objects began flying onto the field in the general direction of the officials. Luckily, most of the items tossed there way were light and had little effect. Steve was disappointed at the outcome of the game and how the officials missed a critical play, but he had learned long ago that it was part of the game. They were simply men doing their best, but still prone to human error.
Steve made the snap decision to join the officials as they headed for the tunnel to their dressing room. He hoped that his presence would prevent the Navy fans from overreacting. He was trotting alongside a line judge when he caught movement from the corner of his eye. Instinctively, he turned his head in that direction as his left hand shot up and caught a half full beer bottle about a foot over the line judge's head.
A hush enveloped the fans in that part of the stadium as they realized what had just transpired. Steve had just saved the man's life. The bottle had been traveling directly for the man's head. With the distance covered and the weight and speed of the bottle, there was little doubt what the results would have been if not for Steve's speed and coordination.
The man Steve saved never saw the bottle and had no idea how close he had come to serious brain damage, or death. The officials kept trotting for the lockers while the fans nearby began clapping and cheering as Steve stopped running, and held the beer bottle up in amazement. The moment had been caught on camera and was soon being replayed on the huge screens on each end of the stadium as the players left for their lockers.
When Steve entered the locker room, he heard the expected bitching about being cheated out of the win by the officials and felt he had to say something. "I can't speak for you guys, but here's how I see it. We lost the game, not because the officials missed a call. I missed three passes in a row in the second quarter and we had to punt. I threw an interception that killed a drive. I was sacked three times and hurried a bunch more.
"Blaming men that have to be in on every play and are expected to be perfect on every play isn't what Navy football is about. Blame me. I wasn't in for every play like the refs were, but I made more mistakes than they did. We've had too great a season to have it end with us players acting like spoiled kids. This is the test. Anyone can be a gracious winner. We lost. How we handle that loss will determine what kind of a team we are and what kind of men we are. So if anyone asks why we lost, blame it all on me if you need someone to be responsible."
"I don't think that's accurate," stated the halfback as he studied his shoes. "I fumbled the ball on that long drive in the third quarter. If I hadn't dropped the ball, we would've scored."
"Hell! I missed at least three easy tackles. One was when the punt returner ran the ball back for a touchdown," declared Jake Dern, the big middle linebacker. "This loss is on me. We all know that."
By the time the players had showered and reported to the media room to answer questions directed at them by sports reporters, not one of them would blame the officiating for the loss. Each man would point out a mistake they had personally made that may well have cost the team the game.
When Steve made his way to the podium for the post game interview, he received more questions about his catch of the thrown bottle than about the game. It made the evening news as well as the highlight reels.
Lady in Red Productions had leased Sun Devil Stadium for the evening of the game as soon as it was known that Navy had accepted an invitation. Three hours after the game ended, Gwen, Jordan, Charlie, Steve and the band took the stage to perform. The game had been a sellout and the concert enjoyed the same success. All profits were donated to a local children's hospital. Lady in Red Productions' reputation for charitable works continued to grow.
"Hello! Steve!" called Kate as Steve's daydreaming was brought to a screeching halt. He shook his head to clear it and to bring his mind back to the present. He swept the memories of that first bowl game from his mind and concentrated on what Kate was saying.
"I guess I'm not all that interesting to you. I was telling Captain Neary that you still have that beer bottle stashed someplace. You did put it away somewhere, didn't you?" continued Kate.
Steve was about to respond when the doorbell rang. Ashley jumped to her feet and hurried to the door. She soon returned with Chip Martin following her closely.
"Paula, I'd like you to meet Kate's white knight. He's also the man that may be your future son-in-law. This is Chip Martin. Chip, this lady is Kate's mother, Paula. Tread lightly."
The young man stepped up to Paula and took her hand and brought it quickly to his lips. "Mrs. Anderson, it is truly a pleasure to meet you. It's obvious that your daughters inherited their beauty from you."
Paula's face reflected her surprise as she looked from Chip to Steve and back to Chip. "I understand that I owe you for saving my daughter's life last night, Chip. That and the fact that Steve speaks so highly of you makes you always welcome in our home. Is proposing to a damsel in distress after you save her part of the job description of a hero these days?"
"I understand your confusion. For half a dozen years, your beautiful daughter, Gwen, has been keeping company with a guy that's afraid of commitment. When one of your other beautiful daughters meets a real man that's willing to take the next step without fear, or need of persuasion, or a shotgun, you quite naturally experience surprise and suspicion. Not all men share Steve's fear of commitment. I'll take Kate and we'll go pick out a ring right now."
"I don't think that's necessary. Steve's never been anything but fully committed to Gwen. She's in medical school and he's in the service, so the time isn't right for them to take their relationship to the next level. I would suggest that you don't try to demean Steve to me or anyone else in this family. You won't be very popular if you do," cautioned Paula.
"What about it, Kate? Do you care if I run Steve down? He acts all high and mighty all the time. He wasn't there for you in the alley, and I was," reminded Chip. "You'd choose me over Steve any day, wouldn't you?"
"I hope you're kidding," responded Kate. "The truth is that no one is better than Steve as far as this family's concerned. Mom's right. If you made me choose between being Steve's friend or yours, he'd win every time."
Chip broke into a big smile as Kate finished speaking. "You folks have to be the best family I've ever seen! Steve kept telling me how beautiful, loyal, sincere, and intelligent the Anderson women were, but I found it hard to believe. I've never seen anyone like that, and I questioned if people like that existed. I apologize for teasing you like that.
"Steve and I have been through a few things together that forced us to depend on each other to survive. He saved my life during Hell Week. I don't forget things like that. You're right about him. He's the best man I ever saw; a lot better than I am," added Chip. "You backed the right horse."
"Why don't you sit down, have some breakfast, and tell me more about what Steve said about me?" suggested Kate. "Did he really tell you that all of us Andersons were beautiful?"
"Could I speak with Lieutenant Martin for a minute or two first?" interrupted Captain Neary. "I've been tasked with getting a report on the events of last night. I expect a full written report within forty eight hours. It will be precise and leave nothing out. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Sir!" responded Chip as he came to attention. "It will be on time and complete!"
"If I may change the subject, gentlemen," began Gwen, who had quietly listened to the various interactions of the morning. "Chip, do you have a dress uniform here in Sparta? Do you have one with you, Captain?"
"Okay," continued Gwen when both men nodded in the affirmative. "Tonight the hospital auxiliary is having a formal dance as part of the celebration of the grand opening of the new children's wing. I think that you two gentlemen should escort Kate and Ashley to the affair. You're invited to sit at our table. Our company will pick up the tickets and any other expenses that you might incur. What do you say?"
"Kate, would you be my date for the hospital dance this evening?" responded Chip immediately as he looked into Kate's smiling face.
"I'd be delighted!" answered Kate just as quickly.
"Ms. Summers, could I have the honor of escorting you to this evening's festivities?" asked Captain Neary as soon as Kate responded to Chip.
"If you call me Ashley, I would be happy to accompany you, Captain Neary," agreed Ashley with a slight blush. "That is if Steve thinks it would be okay."
"Please call me Mark," returned Captain Neary. "But, can I ask why Lieutenant Hammer has to agree to our evening?"
"The truth is, Mark, that I've made some bad decisions regarding men and dating in the past. Now I rely on Steve to help me determine if I should accept requests for dates. It's no reflection on you. It's all about my past mistakes and lack of sound judgment."
"We've discussed this before, Ashley," began Steve. "You're not the same young girl that you were years ago. You're very capable. You've already indicated that you'd like to go with Captain Neary. He's an officer in the U.S. Navy. His reputation is extremely important to him, as it should be. He'll make an excellent date, and he'll be a gentleman at all times."
"That's all I needed to hear, except for one other thing. You aren't married, engaged, or going steady with anyone, are you, Mark?" asked Ashley pointedly.
"God, no!" laughed Captain Neary. "I'd never accompany a beautiful woman like you to a function if I were in a relationship with another woman. It would guarantee the end of that relationship. Few women are as lovely as you, or secure enough to allow their significant other to enjoy your company for any period of time."
"Does the Navy have courses in courting women or something?" wondered Gwen out loud. "Every one of these officers keeps trying to outdo the other. It's the smoothest group of men I've ever been around. We'll have a lot of fun tonight!"
Later that day, Steve escorted Gwen into the Lady in Red Center, where the hospital auxiliary was holding its formal dance. They entered with Charlie, Jordan, Kate, Chip, Ashley, and Mark Neary. Steve was pleasantly surprised to find Lisa and Jason already seated at their large table with Paula, Ted, Steve's grandparents and Paula's parents.
