CH 75

In the locker room, the girls finished getting their uniforms on. Joan thought of something. "Hey Allie, those LA girls like to tease right? How about if we give it back to them?"

Patty eyed her. "How do you mean?"

Joan shrugged, "I was thinking, the Jackson sisters are a bit tubby. I'm going to nickname them, jelly belly."

Gina snorted out a laugh. "Yeah, OK. Do that and they will be out to hurt you."

"Like we're scared of them," Allison said.

Carla chuckled. "Joan, just don't lose half your face like you did in that soccer game."

"If I do, they will be missing all their face," Joan replied.

"Joan," Roberta said evenly, "They do get rough, watch yourself. Looks like everyone's ready, go get the coach."

.

In the stands, John sat between Cameron and Delilah. He swore most of Driftwood was here. JJ and Peggy sat on the other side of Cameron, Louise was by Delilah with Martin and Sarah on her other side. Daniel and Claire were behind them. Around them was half the town of Driftwood. A glop of high schoolers brought cardboard sign and a sheet they had written on with them.

From loudspeakers, an announcer said, "Welcome all to LFL Football! Today we have our home team, the Austin Acoustics, facing off against the Los Angeles Temptations! I am Jack Carter. With me is Jay Keaton. Jay, what can you tell us about today's game?"

"Well Jack, both Austin and LA won their first games of the season, but I have to tell you, with Austin's primary quarterback being injured, this may be a rough game for them. To fill in the loss, two players from their farm team have joined the squad, the new quarterback is the 18 year old rookie, Joan Connor..."

A whole section of stands exploded with a roar of cheers on hearing Joan's name.

" ... and from the sound of the crowd, she is known by some fans..."

.

Coach Baker gave his pep talk then they headed out onto the field. On the other side, the LA team was coming out. Lining up outside their team benches, they stood for the national anthem, then the Coach went out for the coin toss.

"Give'em hell, Joan!" a boy cried from the stands.

"Show'em what dynamite can do!" a girl yelled.

Joan smirked at the comments as she watched the coin toss. Austin got the ball first. Their offense jogged out to receive the kick off. Joan led them over to their end zone and said, "If we can, let myself or Allison grab the ball. everyone else, guard the ball handler as well as you can!"

"If it comes in the end zone, take a knee," Roberta told her.

"Nope, we run it for all it's worth," Joan told her.

"You are fuckin nuts!"

Allison laughed, then yelled, "Here it comes!"

High in the air the ball was falling towards them, under it the LA team was charging at them. Joan tracked the ball and got under it. "I got it, Allie, left side, Patty right."

"Try to run it and they'll kill you!" Roberta snapped.

"They can try," Joan said. She backed up and caught the ball. She was in the end zone. LA was slowing. They were expecting her to take a knee. Joan tucked the ball and charged. The LA player in front of her gaped at her briefly, then Joan stiff-armed her out of the way. Behind her the Jackson sisters converged on Joan. Timing their approach, Joan pushed off with a foot as she stiff armed the one to her left and shouldered into the one on the right. She slowed, but both sisters went flying. The weak grab that one had on her was broken as she bounced away. Joan ran past them and Allison appeared to bump into another tackle attempt, the Patty shouldered into another one. Ahead, the field was clear. Joan ran hard down field as roaring came from the crowd. She didn't slow down until she reached the LA end zone.

"Touchdown, Austin!" the announcer yelled, mixing with the roar of the crowd.

Joan and Allison were alone in the end zone. They did a little hip check dance to celebrate. Joan noticed the LA coaches were staring at them.

"Jack, Did you see what I saw? I got a feeling Austin opened up a powder keg and LA is going to be feeling the pain! Joan Connor made a touchdown straight from the kickoff. That is has never been done before!"

"You're right Jay. It was the Jackson sisters that Joan Connor ran through to get past their defense. That had to be a shock to them. No one had ever knocked those two down. Joan Connor is a freight train!"

"Austin is setting up for a two point attempt."

.

On the field the teams were setting up. Joan got her huddle together. "Shotgun formation, Jump play to our left. Allie cover the left safety, everyone keep it close. Let's do it!" she clapped her hands and they got on the line.

"15, 13, HIKE!" Joan headed for the ball as it came to her. LA smashed into her line and the Jackson sisters struggled past Patty and Carla. Joan raced at the left side of their line and vaulted. By the time a Jackson sister got through, Joan was gone. Joan sailed over astonished LA heads and landed behind them. two steps and she was in the end zone, Allison by her.

"The attempt was good, Score, Austin 8, LA 0."

.

At home the sheriff was sitting leaned back on his couch, Aliana lying with her head on his lap as he petted her and watched the game on TV. The announcers were going nuts.

"That was amazing! At the kickoff, Joan Connor pushed through THREE tackle attempts and gained clear ground to run to the end zone!" Jack said, "Then she flies over the line of scrimmage to walk into the end zone for two more points. Look at the faces of LA, they are stunned!"

"I found out a bit about Joan Connor. Her mother, Cameron Connor, played college football and was known as the Iron Maiden. No one could stop her! She brushed off tackle attempts and in a couple cases, carried the tackles across the line into the end zone with her. It appears Joan has the same toughness as her mother."

"LA had better be afraid, that's for sure. This certainly isn't the Austin anyone was expecting to see."

"let's see if LA can answer that goal with one of their own."

.

On the field, Joan hated to return to the benches as the defensive squad set up. She did and a few rows up in the blechers, some of her school friends held up a white sheet and sang what was spray painted on the sheet.

Joan's TNT,

she's dynamite!

TNT!

And she'll with the fight!

TNT!

She's a power load

TNT!

Watch her explode!

The students then cheered. Joan stopped and thrust a fist in the air then waved. They all waved back.

Coach Baker grinned at her. "I think that's the fastest eight points I've ever seen."

"I still think I should help with defense," Joan grumbled.

"Let your team do their job," he told her firmly.

Setting up, Allison was center of the defensive line, Patty and Carla on either side of her. LA broke their huddle and got in place. Only one Jackson sister was on the line, the other was on the benches with an ice pack to her chest over the purple bruise where Joan's shoulder had rammed into her.

On the hike, Allison charged and pushed the LA opponent in front of her to the side. Patty did also, Carla struggled with the other Jackson sister. The quarterback had moved back to pass and found she was bracketed. She cocked back and threw. Watching the angle, Allison leaped. She caught the pass and raced for the end zone. Right when Allison caught the pass Patty tackled the quarterback. Allison was over the line in short order.

"Interception and Touchdown by Austin!" the announcer shouted. "That brings the score to 14 Austin, 0 for LA. This is looking to be a hard game for LA!"

Joan was happy to go out for the extra point, Coach Baker said to try for two again. She heard the announcer talk about one Jackson sister was being looked at for a possible injury. Walking over to the line, the other one pointed and yelled.

"Think you're hot shit doan't ya!"

Joan called, back, "More than you, jelly belly." She noted a couple other players hold the sister back.

With only ten yards to go, Joan put her strongest blocks, Allison, Patty and Carla, on the right side. At the hike, she raced around to the right and plowed into the safety on that side to push the girl over the line before they fell down and tumbled into the end zone. They got the extra points, bumping the score up to 16-0.

LA called a time out. Walking back over to their own benches, Joan asked, Allie, Patty, Carla, "You guys OK out here?"

Patty laughed. "We're having a blast! I think that coach would pull his hair out, but he doesn't have any."

"Let's keep kicking their ass!" Carla said with a grin.

Gathering around their coach, they listened.

"You are doing great out there. LA is sure to be starting their shit, don't get suckered into it! Defense go keep them back, keep up the good work!"

This time, LA tried a run and managed to get four yards. Another run and they got another five. The next only got them two, but they'd made it to another first down. A sack, a couple more plays gaining three and four yards, then they fumbled but recovered the ball for a two yard loss. For their fourth down, LA set up a shotgun formation. Allison and Roberta dropped back from the line expecting a pass.

The Quarterback threw to the right, Allison's left. Tracking the ball, Allison ran for it. The receiver was set to catch it, Allison dove in front of her and caught the ball. She was also going too fast and couldn't stop herself from running out of bounds. It was still an interception.

Allison felt a smack on the back of her shoulder.

"You lucky freak!" the girl she'd stolen the ball from yelled.

"At least I pay attention," Allison retorted.

Another smack. "You can't even run straight!"

"But I don't suck like you do," Allison retorted, walking away.

"Say that to my face!" the girl yelled.

"Nope, you're an ugly bitch."

"Why you!" She moved towards Allison, another girl from her team restrained her.

Joan went out again. Allison quietly told her, "They're starting the harassment."

Joan got her huddle together. "Long bomb, Allison get out there fast. I'm going back 25 yards. Guys, ignore their shit. Let's go!" She clapped her hands and they got in position.

On the hike, Joan raced back then turned and found Allison and threw. A Jackson sister was racing at her. Joan watched her coming, then just before she hit, Joan dropped into a squat and braced herself. The Jackson sister tumbled over her as Allison caught the ball in the end zone. Another six points.

Joan stood up. "Try again, jelly belly," she said and walked away.

"What did you call me?" the sister wailed.

"Most women don't have tits that wiggle that much, jelly belly," Joan replied and kept walking.

"I'M gonna teach your skinny white ass a lesson!"

"Please, do, I've love to see you kicked from the game for being stupid," Joan said. A hand smacked her shoulder.

"You're a chickenshit!" the sister spat.

"You're an idiot." Joan got smacked in the back of the head right after she spoke. She stopped and turned. "Do you really want your ass kicked?" she asked.

The sister got right up in her face. "You are..." Her words stopped as Joan shoved her away to fall back on her ass.

"Come on, get up and take a swing," Joan stated.

Two refs came up and separated them. "Break it up! Back to your teams!"

Joan stood in place as the sister stormed back to their teams now at the other end of the field. After she was walking away, Joan followed.

For the extra two points, Joan had seen how LA charged the line, so she decided to do a line collapse. On the hike, she raced back a few yards then turned found Allison alone in the corner and fired the ball. Again Jackson Sister was charging at her. Joan shouldered into her. On impact, the sister bounced off Joan to land on her back, then grew a look of pain and held her side.

The first quarter ended with Austin ahead 24-0. As one Jackson sister was taken from the field on a stretcher, the LA coach screamed unnecessary roughness. Tapes were reviewed and showed Joan hadn't moved, only braced herself for the tackle attempt long after she'd released the ball. The claim was denied.

The other sister came back out with a fire in her eyes.

.

On his couch, now with Aliana sitting on his lap wearing nothing but a thin blanket as he idly fondled her, the sheriff listened to the announcers.

"Jack, I have to say, there, in the third and forth row up is a sheet sign calling Joan Connor 'dynamite'. I have to say they are right! Every time she'd gotten her hands on the ball, she gets it to the end zone, and it appears there is nothing LA can do to stop her."

"You're right Jay, and by accident or design, only one Jackson sister had been able to be on the field, which is weakening LA's defense. They try to play rough, and Austin has been throwing it back in their faces very effectively. That has to be frustrating."

"With the score 24 to zero at the end of the first quarter, I'm not sure LA can recover. They will need 4 touchdowns just to catch up and so far, they haven't even seen the Austin end zone."

Aliana wiggled closer and in a purr asked, "If I ran, would you tackle me?"

the sheriff grinned and said, "I'd just watch you run."

"You'd let me get away?"

"Didn't say that."

On the TV, a camera was listening in to a LA team huddle. Their coach was obviously frustrated. "Stafeties, STAY BACK! They have been blowing right though you EVERY TIME! Watch out for that long bomb, be ready to move if she jumps over the line again! Now get out there and at least TRY to stop them!"

.

By the end of the second quarter, LA still hadn't made a goal and Austin was up to 42 points. During half time, Coach Baker took the cheers of the students above them and had the team do a TNT dance and cheer for Joan, which the crowd loved. At halftime, Coach Baker also did some replacements. Carla was looking tired, so he replaced her and two others who were looking worn out. Thankfully, Joan and Allison didn't even look winded yet and Patty was still in good shape. He warned them that LA did try comebacks in the second half, and they would be getting mean. Joan was ready for it.

During the third quarter, LA did try hard at a comeback, and managed to get down to the Austin 15 yard line. A turnover on downs, then Joan got the ball and raced through the line to get another touchdown. Later, Carla got an interception when the LA quarterback was hit and the ball tumbled free. Carla plucked it out of the air and ran it, making it down to the LA 13 yard line before she got tackled. From there, Joan took it in.

At the beginning of the 4th quarter, score 56 to 0, LA was looking like the steam had gone out of them. The Jackson sister on the field went nuts. Joan just taunted some with 'Jelly belly' and 'lardy pants' then dodged as the LA woman swung her fists, hitting Joan's helmet or missing completely. When the sister was thrown off the field, Joan waved, "Bye bye!" to the sister that was crying as she was escorted away.

Many on the LA team were just wanting this game to be over. It finally was. with 35 seconds to go, normally the winning team just took a knee. Joan made one more play, Allison caught the pass she threw and ran it into the end zone with 3 seconds left on the clock.

Final score, Austin 94, LA 0. While the announcers fawned over the unbelievable upset, the Driftwood section of the stands were singing out 'TNT' for Joan and pumping their fists.

Coach Baker was a happy camper. From what he saw, he had a wolverine for a quarterback.

Although the game was over, now the team returned to their cafeteria to review the game and what went right and wrong. Everyone did agree they had the best game they had in a long time. By then it was dinner time. The whole team went out for dinner and some drinks. They found out in the eastern Conference, they were in the number 1 spot. For the game MVP, Coach Baker had to pick Joan.

Joan was a happy camper for another reason also. For playing in this game, she got $60,000 and a bonus of $15,000 for the win. That was plenty to cheer about.

.

Daniel was thrilled when he found out the Connors were arriving and were going to stay in the mansion. He even helped the maid make sure their rooms were ready. He had their fencing suits clean and ready to put on, their swords polished. He'd even gotten them their own footwear for the matches. Montgomery was coming by so he and Jackie could practice their sparing for the demonstration. Preliminary practice was watching the Princess Bride and learning the moves and dialog for the cliff sword fight. Daniel hadn't see it before. Now, he understood where Jackie got the announcement of,"I am not left handed!" from as well as 'If I use my right hand, it's over too quickly.' she loved this movie.

After their dinner, Jackie went up and got her Man-in-Black costume on complete with black pants, loose black long sleeve shirt, black head wrap and knee high black boots the folder the tops over on. The sword belt she had slung over her shoulder, sheath behind her. Just like the Man In Black.

After dinner the adults were sitting round talking. Jackie decide to make a grand entrance. Jumping up on the stair rail she slid down it to the point where the stairs turned 90 degrees to the right. There she did a flip to land with a hand on the opposite rail cap then turned upright to hit the floor on her feet. Beaming a smile at everyone, a few Collins clan casting her shocked looks, she put her hands on her hips and said, "Does my Man In Black costume look real?"

"You could have hurt yourself!" Mrs. Collins admonished.

Delilah firmly said, "You're not at home, no more stunts!"

"Sorry," Jackie offered meekly. "But does my costume look good?"

"It does," John said, "But like your mother said, no more stunts!"

"Yes, dad."

Cameron cleared her throat and told Elizabeth, "We're sorry our daughter have a tendency to be a little ... flamboyant from time to time."

"I'm surprised she didn't break something," Elizabeth replied.

"We would have replaced it, with her allowance," Cameron assured her.

Daniel came down the stairs normally. "That was awesome!" he said with a big grin. Holding up the bokens he had, he said, "We were going out front for lunging practice."

"Be very careful," Elizabeth told him. "BOTH of you."

* Bokens are wooden sword shapes made for practicing*

"We will, no holes in each other, promise!" Jackie said. The pair went out the front door.

Jackie's statement didn't make Elizabeth feel very assured.

"She looks like a pirate," Barnabas noted.

"That is the character she's going to portray in the demonstration, the Dread Pirate Roberts. It's in a movie." John explained.

Delilah giggled, 'We did that scene when we were making our movie. People didn't believe Sonya and I were using what they call Claymore swords for that. We were wielding them one handed. That was fun. They thought we had movie props."

.

In the morning, Daniel and the Connor family went down to the Fencing center to set up the props for the cliff fight. Not long after they arrived, Montgomery showed up. The small row of bleachers were against one wall. Fake rocks, steps and a platform with fake rocks to make it look like it was all stone, and a parallel bar were set up. The 'wall Jackie had to climb over and some thick rope was by the 'cliff'. They could not duplicate the scene exactly, but did get close enough to make it look decent. Jackie wanted to flip her sword down into the sand like they did in the movies, but there was nothing to stick it in, so on her jump and flip, she'd just toss her sword down by the parallel bar.

Getting their sword fighting choreography down was the toughest part. They were using the midevel broadswords, which were as long as Epee blades, but a full inch thick. Montgomery wasn't used to heavier blades. Jackie went through some moves slow with him, then picked up the pace more, left and right a realistic flick to disarm him took some time also. He was also nervous they were using real battle swords and not the blunted and tip protected Fencing weapons.

A couple thin posts and 'old' wooden frames were also set up to be destroyed during the fight to show these were real swords and not cheap imitations.

Again and again, they stepped through their moves a little faster each time. Then too turns leaping off the platform to swing on the parallel bar to land like they were supposed to. Montgomery just had to catch it, swing more or less vertical, then stumble to a stop. Jackie did a full swing around the bar then a flip in the air to land on her feet by her sword.

Afternoon, they had their moves down and went through the sword fight at half speed. Then a little faster.

When they went home that night, Montgomery was tired and a bit sore. Jackie was just hungry.

They did their planned word fight the next day as well, then did the whole scene. They kept doing it until every word and move was perfect, then did it again. Montgomery understood why, with these swords, they couldn't have a mishap. He found himself repeating the scene in his sleep.

.

Bob graduated. To his surprise, Joan and Allison were there the day after he graduated. After the hugging and kissing greetings, Allison said, "Now get packed, we're all catching a plane to Atlanta for our next game."

Joan poked him in the chest lightly. "You got the Austin side overhead drone, so no looking down our shirts too close."

"Or constant butt shots." Allison added.

"As least, during the game."

"We're off to Nashville after that, so make sure you bring clothes for cold weather too."

"Let's go tell Mom." Bob said with a grin.

.

Elizabeth Collins, Barnabas and Willy went to the Fencing tournament with the Connors. Going inside, they paid the small fee the went into see the long mat where the fencing was going to take place, then another area made up to look like the ruins of a castle with bleachers to one side. A man in a musketeer outfit was standing on the stage. Once all the spectators and fencers came in to get seats, letting Mrs. Collins sit on the bottom row, he made his announcement.

"Ladies and gentlemen. back before guns became prevalent, swords were used for personal defense. The tale we have today is a fairly realistic sword duel from the movie, The Princes Bride. Indigo Montoya was tasked with killing the Man In Black to stop him from rescuing his beloved Buttercup. The Man In Black is climbing up the Cliffs of Insanity, to rescue her. This is their altercation. Be advised, do not try this at home! They will be using real battle swords."

He strode away. Montgomery, dressed in leathers and carrying a sword came out and walked over to a knee high wall.

"Hello? Do you think you can hurry it up?" he asked.

A female voice called, "You could do something like throw me a rope."

"I will, but if you must know, I am only waiting around to kill you."

"That does put a damper in our relationship," the female called.

"But! I promise I will not kill you until you reach the top."

"I'm sorry, but you'll just have to wait."

Montgomery offered, "I could give you my word as a Spaniard."

"No good, I've known too many Spaniards."

"Is there any way you can trust me?" he asked.

"Nothing comes to mind."

He huffed then said in a serious tone, "On the soul of my father, Domingo Montoya, I swear you will reach the top alive."

"Throw me the rope."

Montgomery tossed some rope over the wall and held on. A hand appeared, The Jackie in her black outfit climbed up, Montgomery helped her over the wall. Standing up, she said, "Thank you," and moved to draw her sword.

Montgomery held up his hands. "Whoa, wait until you are ready."

Jackie nodded to him. "Again, thank you."

Jackie sat down, pulled one boot off to dump gravel out of it, then the other. She put her boots back on.

"I hate to pry," Montgomery asked, "But do you have six fingers on your right hand?"

Jackie stopped and eyed him. "Do you always begin conversations this way?" She held up her hand, fingers splayed.

Montgomery huffed. "I only ask because my father was slaughtered by a six fingered man." He pulled his sword out and presented it. "That man commissioned my father to make this for him. It took my father a year to craft this blade. He put all his effort into it."

"I have never seen it's equal," Jackie said.

"The six fingered man returned and demanded it at one tenth his promised price. My father refused. Without a word, the Six fingered man slashed him through the heart. I challenged the six fingered man. He left me alive, but he gave me this, and this," he said tracing his cheeks.

"How old were you?"

"I was twelve years old. For the last 20 years, I have dedicated my life to life to learn the art of Fencing so one day, I will not lose. I will go up to the six fingered man an say, 'Hello, I am Indigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

"You've done nothing but study swordplay all this time?"

He shrugged. "More of a pursuit lately." Sitting down by her he explained, "You see, I am loosing faith, I cannot find him. I have to work for Vicini to pay the bills. There's no money in revenge."

"Well, someday, I hope you find him," she said and got up.

"You are ready then?"

They both drew their swords.

"Whether I am or not, you've been more than fair," she said.

"You seen like a decent fellow. I hate to kill you."

"You seem like decent fellow, I hate to die."

He nodded. "Begin."

Swords in their left hands, they eyed each other warily. He took a swipe at her, she took a swipe at him. Then they moved faster and truly began to sword fight. She back up in the rocks.

"You are using Bonetti's defense against me?" he asked.

"I considered it fitting due to the rocky terrain."

"You must expect me to attack with Capo Ferro!"

She backed up more as she constantly parried and said, "I find Thibault cancels out Capo Ferro, don't you?" She jumped back off the rock.

"Unless one has studied his Agrippa," he said and vaulted off the rock in a flip, then said, "Which I have!"

They fought more, the pace increasing, the thrusts, parries and retreats happening faster and faster. She began backing him up.

"You are wonderful! I admit, you are better than I am!" he said with a big smile.

"Then why are you smiling?"

"Because I know something you do not know. I am not left handed!" In a parry he switched hands and attacked, forcing her back. She back around a thin post, he swung and chopped it off. She backed up stairs, he perused, nearly getting a hit on her a few times. She was able to parry enough to turn and run up the steps, He followed. They locked blades and he shoved her into the wall.

"There is something I forgot to mention," she said. "I am not left handed either." She pushed/kicked him away tossed her sword to her right hand, did a fast X swipe, then hit his blade to make it fly away.

He gaped at her, then turned and jumped to grab the parallel bar and bring himself to the ground in a stumble and retrieved his sword.

She tossed her sword down by the bar. Putting a little to much angle on it, it stuck in the floor. At last it was where she wanted it. She jumped off the platform to grab the bar, swing all the way around it once then did a flip to land beside her sword and pull it out of the floor all in a smooth, graceful move .

"Who are you?" he asked

"No one of consequence."

"Really, I must know," he begged.

"Get used to disappointment," she stated then rushed at him.

Blades clanging in a blur of motion, they danced back and forth in fast thrusts and retreats for quite a while. He dodged behind a thin frame, she slashed it in an X pattern, sending wood flying and came on again.

She got a slight graze on his head, fluffing his hair. He reacted too late and she hit his sword to disarm hm. He gaped at her a moment, then got on his knees. She walked around behind him.

"Kill me quickly," he said tightly.

"I would just as soon destroy a stained glass window, as an artist like yourself. However, since I can't have you following me either..." she said, then 'movie' whacked him on him back of the head. He fell, she ran to the side.

She stopped, he got up they bowed to the audience.

Elizabeth applauded with the rest of the audience, amazed at the skill she'd seen and their bravery at using real, unguarded swords. Those pieces of wood they hit were cut clean though!

The man in the musketeer outfit came back in. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Jackie Connor and Montgomery Weston! And now, we'll go over to the Fencing area and begin with the first match!"

.

Daniel was becoming irritated. Getting ready for their matches, Montgomery was spending his time near Jackie. Like he was right here with them! Now dressed in their Fencing clothes except Jackie still had her black head wrap on, they watched the current duelers going at it.

Montgomery asked Jackie, "Are you doing anything later today?"

"We're going back up to the Collins' house," she said, watching the fencers. "The guy on the right is telegraphing his thrusts, see?"

"I was hoping we could do something together later," Montgomery prodded.

"Sorry, I already got a full day," Jackie replied.

"Tomorrow then?"

"Heading home."

"You don't live that far away, do you?"

"Southern Texas."

Daniel chuckled.

The guy on the right lost. The score keeper said, "Next up, William Avery and Daniel Collins."

Jackie put an arm around him. and softly said, "Remember what I showed you."

Daniel nodded, put his helmet on and went over to the mat.

"Daniel isn't the strongest boy, is he?" Montgomery said in a musing tone.

"No," Jackie agreed, "But he is smart. He figured out human ancestry. News flash, we didn't come from apes."

Montgomery grinned. "Science says otherwise."

Jackie glanced at him, then watched Daniel face off with his opponent. "See that is where Daniel is very intelligent. He figured out a few things science likes to ignore. He shared a theory he had with me, and he's right. Way back, Darwin determined we came from apes because that is the animal he knew of that kinda looked most like us, then made up a series of apes that supposedly turned into us. Since no one had a better idea, they took his word as gospel. Darwin didn't make the wrong assumption on purpose, he just didn't have all the facts."

Daniel was doing good against his opponent. He was up two touches to one against William.

"I must ask how you know Daniel is correct?"

"Because I can prove it," she replied. She watched William thrust, Daniel parried like she showed him. He flicked William's blade aside and thrust in for another point then retreated. "Yes! Only two more!" Jackie cheered.

"So what is this theory you can prove?" Montgomery asked.

Jackie grinned. "Use logic and see if you can figure it out." She winced, William got a shot in on Daniel. Daniel did come back and get one in on him.

"You do know I have the money to provide you with whatever You want," Montgomery said smoothly.

"So do I," Jackie replied. Daniel faked a thrust, jerked back to fake a retreat and William fell for it. William thrust, Daniel parried and thrust, catching William with a fifth point. "Yes, ALL RIGHT DANIEL!" she cheered loudly.

Daniel came back over, grinning. "That was the first time I won a spot in the second round!"

"Good job!" Jackie cheered and hugged him. "practice makes perfect, huh?"

"It does!"

"The next round is Jackie Connor and David Foster … David foster has declined the match."

"huh?" Jackie looked over to see a boy walking away. "David?" she asked and ran over to him.

The boy cast her a wary look. "You scare me," he said and walked away faster.

"But, don't give up!" Jackie cried. He kept going into the boy's room.

Awww man!

Another girl came over to Jackie. "Jackie Connor, right?"

"Yes?"

"David's right. That demonstration, you using those swords and how fast you moved. Many of us feel … we don't have a chance."

"You'll never have a chance if you don't get up there and fence," Jackie told her. "Even if you get up there and you don't win, you'll still get experience and can do better next time. You'll know more of what to watch out for and devise a defense against it as well as learn how to attack better. The only way you will truly lose is if you don't get up there and try your best."

The girl grew a brief tiny smile. "You're right. Pricilla said she couldn't be bothered with coming today. I think she was afraid of you humiliating her again."

"The only one who humiliated Priscilla, was Priscilla," Jackie stated. "Any you are?"

"Ann."

"Well Ann, no one starts out being the best. The only way you get there is to try hard and keep trying hard. Take any loses as lessons. Not failures."

Ann nodded. "I take it you have been fencing for a long time?"

Jackie nodded. "Since I was old enough to pick up a sword. Ann, my family has had it rough, we are tough and experienced and it was the trouble we had to deal with that made us that way. I'm not saying you have to go fight for your life to gain experience. All I'm saying is constant practice and wariness teaches you how to handle yourself."

Ann's eyes grew wide. Quietly she asked, "Have you ever had to kill anyone?"

Jackie nodded briefly. "Sometimes, you do what you have to do."

"So like you had to kill someone once?"

"Men kidnapped us and had nasty plans for us," Jackie admitted. "We had no choice. My brother JJ got two, I got six, and Mom got a dozen or so. That was a really horrid experience."

"You killed them with a sword?" Ann asked.

Jackie winced. "I don't want to talk about it any more. Just know that you must never give up or give in. Fencing here is safe, go do your very best at it. Don't give up, OK?"

Ann nodded. What Jackie told her made sense. That was why Jackie was so good at it, she'd had to fence to save her own life, and killed six men in the process! To Jackie, Fencing wasn't just a sport. Jackie was a real-life Zorro!

"The next match, Ann Patterson and Jackie Connor."

Ann stared at Jackie. Jackie clapped her on the shoulder. "Come on, do your best and show me what you got."