Kat was sitting at the bar with Leonard. "I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow?"
Wallis sat next to her and reached over and shook Leonard's hand. "I just couldn't settle down. Between June coming and going and the new project that I'm working on, it leaves me restless."
An out-of-towner came up to Wallis and tapped his shoulder. Wallis turned. The man stuck out his arm and said, "Howdy, my name's Joey Donahue." They shook hands. "The boys down at the other end of the bar say you're the best arm wrestling man around. Is that true?"
"I used to be pretty good, but my arm was always sore so I stopped. I quit when I was twenty."
"How about you arm wrestling just one more time so you can say you beat the champ?"
"You're a champion arm wrestler? I don't think I have a chance if you're a champion."
"Are you saying I'm not a champion?"
Wallis got off the stool, "I didn't say that at all." He was standing three inches taller than Joey.
"Well, big guy from Sonoma, we going to arm wrestle?"
Wallis held back from answering for a few seconds then asked, "If I'm going to have a sore arm afterwards, how much is the bet going to be?"
"I'll bet you a hundred bucks that I can beat you."
Wallis thought for a second, "If I win, you buy the drinks for everyone in the bar, and if I lose, I'll pay you the hundred."
"It's a deal, Sonoma Man."
Kat nudged Wallis's arm. "He's state champ, Wallis. What are you, nuts?"
Wallis smiled. "It's about time for me to be beaten anyway."
Richard Steiner grabbed the arm wrestling table and laid it on the bar. "There can be no complaints, because this tabletop is exactly like the championship top," he declared.
Joey pulled his shirt off and flexed a fine collection of muscles. From the oohs and aahs of the crowd, it appeared Wallis didn't have a prayer.
Wallis turned to Steiner. "It's not fair."
"What's the matter, Sonoma Man? You intimidated by my body?"
"Nah, it's a difference in weight. I must be thirty pounds heavier than you."
"If you're trying to be funny, Sonoma Man, you're not succeeding."
Steiner tried to soften Wallis's words by telling Joey he didn't mean it that way.
"Sure I meant it!" Exclaimed Wallis, still ticked off about his encounter with Sheldon Lewis. He turned back around to the champ and asked, "Are you feeling well? Because your voice sounds hoarse."
Steiner whispered to Wallis, "Don't make him mad. He is going to be mean enough."
With the two bets agreed upon, Wallis stepped around to the back of the bar so the two could face each other. They came together at the table. Steiner brought each of the two hands together. Wallis pulled his hand back. "I haven't done this in a long time, so let me shake my arm a bit."
Joey complained, "C'mon, let's get this over, I'm anxious to whip the Sonoma hero."
That was all Wallis needed to hear. "I'm ready Champ."
Steiner had to place ten coasters under Joey's elbow to make the hands equal in height. Then he clasped hands and Steiner gave the "go." Joey went for the quick kill but found that Wallis was stronger than he thought. In a mere five seconds, it was Wallis starting to make his move. Joey tried desperately to hold, but Wallis gave a quick snap, and the champ was whipped.
The crowd went berserk. After all, they were the true winners of this contest. Joey, the champion, looked back at his two friends in disbelief. Wallis wasn't sure if Joey would fly off the handle and start swinging or gracefully walk out. The crowd became instantly silent.
Joey did neither. Joey stuck out his hand, gave Wallis a smile and they shook.
"You're okay in my book, Sonoma Champ. You've got a lot of character."
"So are you going to honor our bet?"
"Absolutely. What kind of drink do you want?"
"Nothing, Champ. I'm going to work. But this crowd will certainly drink."
"Okay then, let's party. This rounds on me!"
The crowd stormed the bar. Steiner yelled to Kat to help pour drinks. She rubbed Wallis's arm then went behind the bar and pitched in.
Wallis headed for the door to leave. A tall dark haired women stepped into the doorway, blocking his exit. "You want to take me home tonight, big boy?"
Wallis smiled. "I'm spoken for." He went around her and headed for the brokerage.