[legendsport]

San Diego, California: April 6, 1917:

Rufus Barrell was back in his element. Being the director of the Omni Scouting Bureau had its perks, he thought as he sat in the first base box of Langley Field. He was there, ostensibly, to watch the College of San Diego Friars play the Northern California Miners - an AIAA matchup that featured some prospects on whom he'd write up reports. Mainly he was there to enjoy a long-desired vacation with his wife,but as far as the beancounters working for his partner and OSA Business Manager Tom Potentas were concerned, he was there to watch Turk Leach of the Miners and Al Hendrix of the Friars. They'd be in town for the week and catch some Great Western League action as well, since the Conquistadors were unaffiliated and therefore fair game for the OSA.

It had been an eventful winter for the Barrell family. Joe had retired from boxing and was now concentrating on playing football and he & Edna were expecting their first child - it seemed Rufus & Alice would become grandparents in June. Jack was playing minor league hockey in the Montreal City League (the war had shut down the Manitoba league he'd supposed to be playing in) and still attending high school and played baseball as well. Indications were that he'd be drafted by a FABL club in December. Rollie had enjoyed a solid season with the Noble Jones College basketball team and was looking forward to getting back on the golf course. Jimmy... well, he was busy following the news about the increasing tensions between the U.S. and Germany over the latter's resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare. The younger boys were all involved in baseball in one way or another - for this reason Rufus was glad he had moved the family back to Georgia as the weather was much more conducive to early spring baseball than it would have been in Brooklyn. And Betsy... she was the spitting image of her gorgeous mother and still the apple of her father's eye. Then there was Possum Daniels, an honorary Barrell, who was getting accustomed to fatherhood and proving to be a good dad to young Rufus (that still took some getting used to for "old" Rufus).

"I'd forgotten how much I like being at the ballpark," Alice said, giving his forearm a gentle squeeze and bringing him out of his reverie. Rufus smiled and nodded in return, saying, "There really is nothing quite like it."

As the players played long toss and trotted around getting loose, Rufus saw a familiar face walking across the outfield. He groaned softly and Alice, noticing this, turned to follow his gaze.

"Well, well, well," she said as the right side of her mouth curled in a semi-smile. "Is that who I think it is?"

Rufus nodded and sighed. "I'm afraid so," he said.

Moments later, Sam Weatherford, general manager of the Portland Maroons stepped to the rail and grinned at Alice. "My word, is that the always lovely Peaches Reid I see sitting before me?"

Rufus seethed as he watched Weatherford leering at his wife. He noted that Alice's mouth tightened and her eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly - a sure sign that the famed Reid temper was bubbling to the surface.

"That's Alice Barrell, and you well know it, Sam," she said tightly.

Weatherford shrugged and said, "Yes, well... you can't blame a fellow for wishing it were otherwise, now can you?"

Rufus, tiring of being ignored and deciding to be the bigger man, rose and thrust out his hand. "Hello Sam. It's been a long time."

Weatherford, feigning surprise at seeing Rufus, laughed and said, "Indeed it has, Rufus. Indeed it has."

He winked at Alice and asked Rufus, "So what brings you to sunny San Diego?"

Rufus forced himself not to slug the smug s.o.b. and replied, "I'm here to scout some of these college boys for the OSA."

Sam tried to nod sagely - he almost made it. "Yes, that's right. I had forgotten you went into the scouting game after... well, you know..." He frowned and added, "It was a shame. Back in the Coastal Association we all thought you'd be going places, Rufus."

Rufus gritted his teeth. Back in the Coastal Association, when Rufus was a young hot-shot pitcher, Weatherford had been the catcher for rival Spartanburg. Weatherford had been a champion at heckling, rode the teenaged Rufus mercilessly and got under his skin constantly. Rufus typically got revenge by striking him out (although he sometimes walked him; Rufus had a tendency to overload his pitches when angry). He also had tried - unsuccessfully - to get Alice to date him. Weatherford was mediocre at best and never made it out of the Coastal as a player, but had somehow fashioned a reasonably successful front-office career after retiring.

Sam looked up and then smiled and said, "Say, how's that old buddy of yours... Roscoe or something... erm, Daniels. You know that all-mouth, no-talent catcher you had in Savannah. How's he doing these days?"

"Oh, Rollie's great. He managed for a time, but works for me now, doing scouting."

Alice piped up, "That's right. Rufus is the President of the OSA, Sam. He's done very well for himself."

Sam nodded. "That's no surprise, with a fine woman like you behind him."

Now Rufus really wanted to slug the guy.

"Well... are you in town for long?" Sam asked.

"The rest of the week, yes. We'll be seeing your boys play here tomorrow."

Sam smiled and said, "You're in for a show. My boys are legitimate contenders this year... you'll see."

He winked at Alice and added, "You should have married me, Peaches." As Rufus turned red and his hands balled into fists, Sam walked away, saying over his shoulder, "Oh, well. We all make mistakes."

Alice grabbed Rufus by the arm and pulled him into his seat. "Don't let him get to you. You're the only man for me and that's no mistake." And then she kissed him.

------

Back at the hotel later that day, Rufus was straightening his tie when there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" he shouted to Alice, who was still powdering her face. They were preparing to go to dinner with the coach of the Friars and his wife.

Rufus opened the door to find a bellboy waving a telegram. "Telegram for you, sir."

Rufus thanked him and gave him a tip, then asked, "Why do you look so glum, friend?"

The bellhop frowned and said, "Well, sir, I guess you haven't heard, but it came over the wire that Congress declared war on Germany today. We're in it now."

Rufus and Alice, crossing the country by train, had somehow missed the news that on the 2nd Wilson had asked for, and now gotten, a declaration of war.

He stepped into the powder room and told Alice the news. He saw her face drop and was not surprised at all when she said, "We need to telegraph home... right now."

Rufus felt the same way because his first thought was the same as his wife's: Jimmy.