The group arrived at the football team’s hotel a few hours before kick-off. The ladies carried Laura’s medical supplies to the room Steve shared with Billy. Billy opened the door when Laura knocked, and showed his relief.
“I was worried you guys would get here too late or something. Coach is watching Steve like a hawk. Steve winced a couple times in practice yesterday and coach was all worried about him. He has to be ready to go this afternoon or we’re in big trouble. Coach would rather lose the game than risk any kind of serious injury to a player,” finished Billy.
Laura quickly cut away Steve’s bandages and the wrap that held it in place. She carefully cleaned the cuts and asked Gwen to gently rub some antibacterial ointment over them. Gwen flushed momentarily and then picked up the ointment and began her ministrations. As she worked on Steve’s chest, he thanked Gwen and Laura.
“You two are the best. How many guys get such beautiful women to dress a few cuts? Coach said he wants you nearby for the game, Doctor … I mean Laura. I was going to ask if it was personal or professional, but he’s wound way too tight to joke around with today. He’s going to the big dance in his first year as head coach and he’s feeling the stress,” worried Steve. “You need to convince him that I’m okay and a little blood’s not a life threatening situation.”
Paula watched Gwen treat Steve as he spoke to the young doctor. Small wonder Gwen asked about birth control pills! Paula felt her own face get warm and noticed that Kate was squirming in her seat as she watched Gwen work on Steve’s chest.
Steve was taped and bandaged to Laura’s satisfaction just as the call came for the team to board the bus for the stadium. Gwen made a point of kissing Steve in front of her sister and mother and wishing him luck.
“Mom, how can Gwen change so much? Two months ago she didn’t even speak to boys. Now she’s kissing the school stud every chance she gets. Did Steve do this to her?” wondered Kate quietly as Gwen walked with Steve to the bus.
“It’s a part of her expanding her horizons and growing up. She’s always been a mature thinker for her age. Now her body and mind are on the same level and she’s becoming more confident and accomplished every day. Your sister’s headed for great things if she continues like this. Steve seems to be the catalyst that draws out Gwen’s strength, courage, and confidence,” reasoned Paula. “The next few years are going to be a real trip.”
The Windsor Warriors were the defending state champions. They had not lost a football game in well over a year. They featured a brutal defense that punished its opponents. The offense was mediocre, but with the defense constantly providing them with great field position, it was sufficient. Windsor players and coaches read the papers and watched the news, the same as everyone else. They realized that Sparta relied heavily on the strong right arm of its big quarterback, and their plan was simple; neutralize Steve Hammer.
As the players warmed up, the spectators began to file into the stadium. Lisa and two girlfriends joined her family as they entered the arena. The game was being played on the home field of Lisa’s university. The huge television screens hanging at either end of the field gave some of the fans a few seconds of fame as their faces were displayed.
Shortly before the start of the game, Laura prodded Gwen in the side and pointed at the huge screen. To her amazement, Gwen saw herself and Steve performing their signature dance. She then watched the video of the water rescue as it played on the big screen! The fans were cheering and whistling as they watched. Sparta colors were everywhere on the east side of the stadium and the fans were pumped up and yelling approval. As she watched, Gwen saw her face fill the screen and she broke into a huge smile as the crowd cheered even louder.
The game itself turned out to be a defensive struggle. Steve spent almost as much time on the ground as he did on his feet. His offensive line was badly overmatched by Windsor’s defense. He had to throw quick passes to the tight ends and the running backs before being hit by blitzing linebackers or the two big defensive ends. Still, he managed to lead Sparta downfield for a tying touchdown just before half time.
Every time Steve left the field, Coach Watkins was in his face, asking him how he felt and if he was experiencing any pain. For his part, Steve always shook his head and smiled back at his coach, telling him that he felt fine.
Halfway through the third quarter, Steve found Derek Johnson racing down the left sideline with a perfect pass from Sparta’s ten yard line. The TV announcers insisted that it traveled well over sixty yards in the air. The extra point was blocked, so Sparta led for the first time, 13-7. The lead held up until Tyler Smith coughed up the football at midfield after making a circus catch and trying to run for more than was there. A Windsor helmet hit the ball under his arm and dislodged it. Windsor recovered and scored a touchdown just before the quarter ended. After three quarters of play, the score was 14-13, Windsor.
As the teams switched sides for the final stanza, Gwen felt Kate pulling on her sleeve. She turned to face Kate, only to see Kate staring at the huge screen hanging over the end zone area. There, in full glory, was the bitch that Gwen had seen meet Steve at the restaurant! Gwen watched in shock as the announcer identified her as Amber O’Leary, the daughter of the governor-elect! She was attending the game with her parents, Patrick and Janice O’Leary. Kate watched her sister’s face turn dark. Somehow she had known this was the woman that Gwen had described in such detail over the past few weeks. Gwen’s appearance confirmed Kate’s suspicion. By this time all of the Anderson women, as well as Laura, had seen Gwen’s reaction to the woman on the screen.
Gwen forced herself to return her attention to the playing field and smile, but no one was fooled. Gwen was close to tears and her sisters moved closer to her to show support. Then the fourth quarter began and everyone’s attention returned to the game. Sparta received the kick-off and moved the ball for two first downs. Then a blitzing linebacker avoided the attempted block by the running back and hit Steve at full speed. Somehow, Steve managed to hang onto the football, but it was ten yard loss and Steve was slow getting up. A murmur began going through the crowd.
“Hear that?” asked Laura. “Steve has blood leeching out between the numbers on his chest! Look! You can see his jersey isn’t very white in front. I doubt if it’s anything serious, but Coach Watkins won’t like this one bit.”
As Laura predicted, Steve’s replacement came running onto the field, signaling for Steve to go to the sidelines. Knowing better than to disobey the coach, Steve trotted off the field and up to Coach Watkins. The fans could see the two engaged in a lively discussion. Meanwhile, Joe Lent, the replacement quarterback lost two yards on the next play and three more on third down. The punting team was sent in. After a very decent punt and a five yard return, Windsor had the ball at midfield again, with less than five minutes to play.
Steve turned to his teammates as the defense prepared to take the field and yelled, “Guys, you’ve got to hold ’em and get the ball back! We can win this! Get the ball back in our hands!”
The players stopped to stare at Steve as blood blotted out most of the number 12 on his jersey. Steve was waving his helmet and urging his teammates on.
“Holy shit!” muttered Will Stevens, the captain of the defense. “That guy’s giving his blood for this team. Maybe we better stop these bastards and get that ball back!”
Dr. Laura Masters had made her way to the coach’s side and was engaged in a very animated conversation with him. The Sparta fans found it almost as interesting as the game. They couldn’t hear what was being said, but could tell that it was emotional, and quite frank.
“Get your head out of your ass, Coach!” yelled the young M. D. “He has lots of blood. It always looks worse than it is. I positively guarantee that he’ll easily be able to finish the game. Think of the damage you’re doing to these kids. They’ve worked their asses off to get here. They deserve a coach that stands behind them and gives them every chance to win. You pull Steve now and you’ll forever be known as the goddamn wimp that lost the only championship game Sparta ever reached. The kid is ready to play. He wants to play. His doctor is telling you that he can play. How much time will be left if you get the ball? A couple of minutes? Give the kids the chance to walk out of here winners!” pleaded Laura.
Windsor managed to run the ball for a couple first downs. After the next first down, the ball was on the ten yard line. Two running plays later and with the ball on the seven yard line, the two minute warning was given. After the warning, another running play netted another yard. Windsor lined up for the field goal attempt. It fooled no one when the place holder tried to run around the left end for the touchdown. Every kid on the Sparta team had seen Windsor run the same play on the videos they had studied. The runner was pushed out at the five yard line. Sparta got the ball back on downs with a minute and twenty seconds left on the game clock and no time outs.