Plans Change The Story Continues 11

I had not intended being gone as long as I had that day but that little mare had been full of energy and ran until she wore herself out, the walk back took hours where we stopped by the creek, I noted that there had been a flash flood recently, which though not uncommon in the desert it was still something that awed me.  By the time I got back to the barn it was quiet, which was something I had grown accustomed to.  Before I left the barn I realized though it was a bit too quiet as there should have been someone milling about and I half expected a woman to walk into the barn carrying a towel headed for the showers down here.  It was my desire to get back to the twins though that got me moving; they were not in the house as no one was in the house.  It was I looked out of the kitchen window I saw a flash, then another only a slightly different color.  It registered on the third flash there was a pattern.  I headed out through the living room onto the front porch and noted almost instantly the same pattern.  I knew instantly those were emergency lights.  I walked as fast as I could which was more of a fast hobble as I did not have my cane.  When I heard a whinnie and looking back saw The Beast trotting up from the barn still with the saddle.  My back was sore today from the rather long ride as was my leg but riding beat walking.  Scrambling up I mounted and nudged him.  I found the boys holding court near the front of the drive with my children still hanging with John on the six by six.  He looked up at me and I saw two things; first since the twins were fussy he was glad to see me and he was worried.  I had one of the men hand the twins up. With them in place I took in what I saw the cars which had been out on the road had been parked along the drive and in front of the cabins; several of the large pieces of equipment were now on the road as you headed out.  I had to do a double take as they were parked in such a way as to block most of the access forming a road block.  The colored lights were in the distance and I knew they were at the diner and then it dawned on me where all those women were.

I looked at the twins who were in no way looking sleepy so I nudged The Beast who seemed refreshed for as long as a run that he did not actually go on.  John asked where I was going and I just nodded.  I knew he was scrambling when I heard the six by six fire up.  I did not actually go to the diner as it was where the law enforcement had come down on and as usual it was the crowd of bikers and roughnecks but added to the mix were a whole mess of high end cars.  I guess someone noticed a man on a horse as several bikes fired up I did not react and would not let The Beast react at first but when the first few bikers decided to get too close as they circled I let the high strung stallion place a couple of well placed kicks before trotting back up the road   By the time Christina got back smelling of cheep booze, smoke and leather; I had the children fed bathed and was sitting on a rocker on the front porch reciting passages from the good book to them.  I knew she wanted to talk but was grateful she went in and showered.  I went in when the children were asleep and as it was still smelling of fresh paint upstairs I put them down on the bear rug in front of the fire place and started a fire.  Whistling I called the dog in which also smelled of booze and stale smoke and kicked him right back out and told him if he was going to go out drinking he did not need to come home until he cleaned himself up as I was not going to have the twins grow up in that environment as he sat and stared at me i told him if I found out he had been playing the field he could forget about becoming a daddy or seeing that pretty thing when the vet showed up.  Plugging my nose I told him he really needed a bath.  Then I caught the scent of an expensive perfume mixed with booze, stale smoke and exhaust.  Turning around I saw the women that would be staying in my house and my daughters.  Plugging my nose I motioned for them to shoo.

Christina came down and was in the kitchen for awhile and coming into the living room she asked if I had eaten.  I nodded and said I had a banana earlier for breakfast but at the moment I was not that hungry and asked if she had fun at her bachelorette party.  Shaking her head she said no but she did miss me at my baby shower.  Making sure the twins were far enough from the fire and covered I went back through the kitchen and put onto the back porch where I found The Beast waiting with his saddle on.  Removing it was a lot more difficult as my leg was now screaming in pain.  Once he was free of his tack I told him if he did not mind checking on Jr I would appreciate it.  As I went back in Christina was watching me and standing in my way, I could smell the wine and when I went to kiss her I saw the bruise on her neck.  I kissed her on the cheek and told her I was sore after my ride today, smiling she told me she was sore after dancing today and could really use a massage.  I touched her neck as I moved around her.  I went and lay next to the twins.  Christina came out and told me I should really learn to let her know where I was going.  I rolled over and asked if the same courtesy would be afforded me, before she could answer I told her for the record I never left the property, until this evening when finding my wife had up and left with no note.  Laying down next to me she quietly grabbed my face and told me to whisper and I should know I was right about not going to the Diner on the weekends as some fool on a horse started a brawl which is where she got the bruise on her neck.  I told her I did not know they had allowed horses inside.  She lowered her eye lids and after looking at me for almost five minutes told me they did not allow horses inside; I asked where the brawl was and she told me inside.  I nodded and asked if the man on the horse got off his horse walked in and started the brawl.  She told me she never saw the man on the horse as she had been dancing; I asked with who or did she not see him either.  Standing up she told me she should of known better and steamed off.  She was back later with a blanket and wrinkling her nose; I nodded and told her today might have not been the best day for someone to decide to repaint the house.  I forced myself to stand and picked up the children and nodded to the rug.  Walking out I managed to get my bedroll undone while holding both of them and walking around the house I went by the front porch and laid it out on the ground and lowered myself down.  The big dog came over and sniffed the twins before laying down against my back.  It did not take but thirty minutes before Christina came out and asked if I was sleeping outside all night; I nodded and watched her what to do; she finally gave in and walked out and asked if I had room for another.  I nodded and told her I needed a new bed spread anyway.

As she tucked herself in she told me she danced with three different men tonight but thanks to my protege they knew to keep it clean and then she mostly line danced and ignored the leers, cat calls and the lewd comments though it did give a few of her friends a fright and something to talk about for the next year not to mention her upping and getting hitched the way she did, my little display of testosterone earlier and then that crazy stunt on the horses like I was in the circus and then that invisible horse man starting a brawl.  I covered her mouth and told her sleep.and was glad I was not picking her up in Yuma or Tuscon.  She rolled her head to look up and whispered how I knew about that; I asked about what she told me one of those men tried to get her to go ride with him to Tuscon.  I told her he probably found someone else, she told me he asked both my daughters and then Ms. Jennifer who kicked him you know where about the time the brawl started. I told her then it was not the invisible man that started the brawl as his hands were full with the twins but there were a couple of bikers who thought they were going to have a little fun and try to scare the twins and The Beast being as protective as he is kicked a couple of those buffoons off their bikes.  She asked if I seriously brought the twins down there' I told her I took the twins for a ride down the block and back as they had gotten restless and was headed back when several bikers saw us and decided we were more entertaining than the women inside and they learned my horse could do things their iron horses could not do. She told me they would probably want to come looking for me and I told her it was not that hard to find me.  She quieted for awhile and then asked when I would be moving back home.  I told her she talked too much and she squirmed and told me to do something about it.

I awoke after a not very restful sleep with her completely unaware of the world around her thanks to her dancing and my fingers doing their own little dance.  The dew had been heavy that morning and the comforter was soaked and it looked and smelled like rain.  Waking her up I got her to go inside.  I was working on gathering up the twins when two very long legs stepped in front of me; as I looked up into the tired face of who I guessed was supposed to be my favorite woman my old handler and now company lawyer and friend of my wife stood wiping sleep from her eyes wearing one of my shirts mostly unbuttoned and when she stretched I found myself facing her midriff which like everything else below my shirt was bare. I asked if she wanted a baby and she smiled as she looked down; I reached up and handed her a twin and saw the look in her eyes of recognition.  When she realized what I was looking at she told me sorry about that but she had to loan her night shirt out and as tired as she was last night she borrowed on of my shirts.  I handed her the second baby so I could get up and take care of the bed roll and comforter which I dropped on the front porch and the big dog following me promptly claimed it as he made a nest for himself.  As I opened the door for her she said I looked like I had a rough night.  I shook my head and told her I had a long day yesterday riding that little wild cat; Christina from the couch told me she hoped I was talking about a horse.and raising her head she told me I still owed someone a massage and she was waiting upstairs and she was next and someone had bought me a real massage table and something to keep all those oils heated. Upstairs everywhere I looked were clothes strewn and in the rooms women were sprawled. I found Miriam in the spare room which half of had been turned into a massage studio while the other half had been turned into a bunk house   Miriam was dressed in a hand towel across her backside as she slept on the table and I asked if she was ready as we could do this later.  She looked at me and told me now as long as I avoided causing any more pain.  I saw the rolling Island they had turned into a work table and it held everything I might need if I was planning on opening a massage therapy business.  Miriam was wake almost the instant I began working on her shoulders and calling on our maker and had a few choice words for me.  An hour later she though stood up and told me thanks for relieving her hangover.  Christina really only needed her leg muscles worked on but I worked on her entire body and though it may have looked like I was applying pressure other than on her legs she knew I was just teasing her.but it was why I was working her legs she screamed.  Afterwards though as we walked out of the room where my girls and their friends had slept there were several face in the door, more than I was sure had slept in the house.

The fact was I had never actually eaten at the diner and only knew of its food because of the caretakers and I was hungry and not about to roll out oats for oatmeal.  After checking on the twins I was told I was worse than a mother hen with those two; Ms. Jennifer said try having me be the one to be your very own babysitter.  I headed for the shower as Christina lifted her head.  I was very sore and after turning off the water just stood in the shower for what seemed like an eternity and was letting my mind drift when I heard a noise and stepping out to check on the noise I scared a woman who I had never met who was just ready to get in; she went running.  Shaking my head I went into my room which still had clothes strewn everywhere including mine I was looking in my drawers for a pair of drawers when Julie and several others rushed in.  She immediately turned as I had turned to see who was now invading my space.  She was telling me to put some clothes on and I told her she could at least knock and tell me where my clothes were as they were not where I left them and she should please close my door as she kindly left and remind people at least my room was off limits.  Christina came in with a pair of shorts and told me I should have not scared that poor women.  I told her I did not scare her as she was technically trespassing and scared herself when she realized the resident of the shower she was trying to steal was currently occupying it and I doubted she was poor, I saw laughter in Christina's eyes as she told me who knew being married could be so entertaining.  Laying down I told her I supposed having some strange naked woman with those dainty fingers and cute pink toe nails and not to mention what I will not mention being so manicured I should be entertained but I think I somehow missed that.  Christina asked if she really had pink toe nails and I told her that and she had a small tattoo on the inside of her right thigh about a half an inch down from something and I thought maybe she had once had a pierced tongue which almost looked like it had been split and I should not forget the cute stud in her nose and the ring in her belly button.  Christina shook her head and said she would see about finding some more clean clothes and breakfast.  I told her I was going to be heading into town today anyway, smiling she told me I still needed clothes and what did I mean by a split tongue.  I told her her tongue had been like that of a snake.  It was my favorite women who she met at the door and told her I could use my shirt back and she was told she could really use a shower.  Christina told her don't let the grumpy man scare her.  My shirt came flying at me as I watched flesh streak into the bathroom.  Christina was still standing in the door and asked if she had anything I might want to know about.  I told her long legs with an inseam equal to mine at least and a tattoo on her hip of a flower with a name in it but I had not really looked that close to see what it said.

Christina walked into the bathroom and came out had a quizzical look on her face and asked when did I know she had a tattoo; I told her this morning as I was picking up she came out to help me with the twins and she was not wearing the largest of my shirts as she planted herself in front of me when she came closer  I had not intended going to bed but that was where we ended up for the length of the shower. By then clean pants had been found as someone had decided yesterday to launder all of my clothes.  Dressed and with my cane I went and gathered up the twins and went and found the ranch truck along with the car seats.  As I drove off I was flagged down and Christina asked where I was going with the twins; I told her I did need to go grocery shopping and I had a banana in the last two days and I thought my meal before that was a chocolate sundae.  She told me to whisper as others could hear and she was already getting a reputation.  I told her to give me a kiss and I would when she did I pulled her through the window into the truck.  She told me most of these women had thought she was marrying a gentleman rancher.  Smiling I had told her apparently they had forgotten the news reports so quickly.  On the way to the diner she said she had noticed  there was no television and had not seen a cell phone or computer around the house.  I told her they were there I just had not needed to use them on the way out I saw the equipment had been moved farther up the road and lined up accept for the equipment being used to finish the septic system.  Julie caught up to us as I drove out to see how they were coming along John told me tomorrow when I drove into get my permit the the work should be finished and if they woke anyone up this morning he was sorry but the boys not actually getting paid had wanted to get done fast.  I looked at the trailer still in the equipment shed and asked exactly what he was doing now.  He told me exactly he was helping me out; nodding I told him exactly then I guessed I owed him a dinner as I did not exactly remember telling him I was paying him.  John looked around before he told me he had after almost getting skewered alive decided to try something else for awhile and had gone to work for the Colonel.  I nodded and told him I had decided to kind of fall off the edge of the world, not that it mattered much.  He asked me when he should have them pick up the portable facilities, I looked at Christina and she asked why I was looking at her and I looked over my shoulder and saw more women coming out of their cabins and mentioned that I still had no clue who most of them were and  my guess was they had husbands, children, lovers and other people wondering where they were.  Shrugging she told me she really did not give a time frame but she was leaving in the morning with Beth.  I looked at John and asked how long until he had water up and he told me in an hour.  I told him to keep it off and turn the water off to my house as soon as this round of showers was over and the portable facilities could be locked by noon tomorrow.  Julie said no; I looked at her and she said Grandma was coming. I told her until someone let these fine folks decide it was time to go home at that point Christina told me I was right about the women with ping toe nails, she did have a tattoo on the inside of her thigh a pierced belly button and a slit tongue.  Julie rolled her eyes and asked how could I, I told her if paying attention was a bad thing then I am guilty as charged but as no one has yet told me why they are here, I would just prefer if I could go back to alone with my wife and children preferably but since that was not going to happen I would be content for knowing, who, what, why, when, where and how

John nodded and pointed back to the numerous pits with the various parts of the new septic system going in. As I drove back over the driveway Julie asked if I knew what people were saying about me and I told her I really did not care as tomorrow they would be going back home or to wherever it was they were jetting off to.  Julie told me that woman I scared and I put a finger up and told her that woman who had entered not only my house but my bedroom and bathroom unannounced and proceeded to disrobe in front of me without so much as a hello, my name is and how are you, not that I saw that part as the shower curtain was closed so one of the things I planned on doing was putting in a glass door so next time she can introduce herself properly.before trying to shower with me.  Christina told me she thought I had been done.  Looking at Julie I told her to tell her friend I am sorry for scaring her.as that was not my intention and I hope she is not scarred for life.  Christina told me she was not scarred for life, a little jealous maybe but not scarred.  Julie looked at her mom and turned red, Christina told her not to blame her dad since they all descended on his desert hideaway and invaded his pity party, I told Christina if I remember correctly they interrupted our honey moon and she told me no that was ended when the man with the gun showed up.  I told her and the reason he showed up was the woman he thought he loved had somehow showed up on his doorstep, she asked if that would be the actress who thought she was still in love with the man who once saved her life, because actually he was not here to protect her.  I told her to spit out and she told me to look at all the lovely ladies who showed up for my baby shower; I put my finger to her mouth and asked when she decided to make it a baby shower.  She put a finger on Julie's mouth and asked why I thought it was not originally about the twins.  I told her she did not or had not wanted the twins as she would rather not have that responsibility and I think she was overwhelmed with what happened over the last three weeks and wanted some sort of release but really did not think it through not that I blame her as we were kind of busy catching up and she had been working on some of her patients, projects or whatever she called what she had been doing.  Smiling she told me they were called treatment plans.


I nodded and realized we were on the paved road and told Julie not to let go when she looked around she asked where we were going and I told her I had not eaten anything but a banana since yesterday morning and I had been lead to believe the diner up the road had good food.  She told me there were always cops there and I nodded and told her act natural like one of those Secret Service guys she had been dating. She looked at her mom, as I pulled into the diner I noticed there were a whole mess of bikers, as well as a state trooper.  Nodding to the twins I asked Julie if she minded; she told me her hair was a mess and I told her it was a good thing we were not at one of them restaurants she liked to go to.  Grabbing my cane I stepped out and waited for Julie and Christina, walking in I glanced around the room and as the waitress seated us she looked at my wife and asked if she had been in that mess last night, Christina told her that it was definitely a mess and asked if she had something to work off the hangover she gave a weak smile and said black coffee as they did not serve alcohol this early.Julie asked for cappuccino, pointing to the table the waitress showed her the flavored creamers.  The woman told her her children were cute; and she would see if she could figure out how to make one high chair work for two.  Julie's mouth dropped as she walked off and I smiled and said her babies would be cute if she ever got around to having one.  She told me the problem as she saw it was well she needed the other half.  I nodded. When the coffee came the waitress eyed my leg and the cane.she asked if I got that overseas.  I shook my head and told her it was a recent accident and not permanent.

I watched her eyes and noted she kept glancing over my shoulder; I told her I would like grits if she had them along with biscuits and gravy.  She told me she hoped oatmeal worked.  I nodded.  Getting up to readjust myself I looked over where the state trooper was sitting and then took in the bikers; some were banged up all were what you would expect for a biker.  There were several that were the quintessential bikers; a couple of old ranchers and a family I heard noise coming from the other room and asked where the restroom was.  Julie pointed through the double doors, walking over to them I peaked in and noted these were of a different strain of bikers.  Walking back I noticed the troublemakers kept looking at my table, one of them asked if I lived around here; I smiled and said for the moment just up the road a piece.and asked if they lived around here.  One of them said he was about five miles up the highway and his friend nudged him. I told him I heard there was an invisible cowboy whose horse had a nasty kick which got a laugh from a couple of the old ranchers.  I saw the leg come out and kicked it hard as I feigned to go down before I caught myself apologizing but I was just getting used to walking with a cane.  When I sat back down Christina asked if I found the restroom and I told her I did not want to disturb the meeting.  The food was good and most of my oatmeal seemed to be over the twins.  Julie kept glancing over my shoulder and I asked in a whisper if she saw something that impressed her.  When she gave me that look I whispered they might think so.  When one of the men walked by he dropped a piece of paper in front of her; the look on my daughter's face made me laugh.

She told me it was not funny. Christina smiled as she kept feeding Carrie Ann.  When the State law man got up to leave I held the paper for him.  He asked how that young filly was doing; I told him she was fast, nodding he told me his daughters told him that.  I nodded toward the double doors and he said they were on a Poker Run to raise money for some charity.  Once outside and back in the truck, I asked Julie if I took her home or with us and pointed up the street where the bikers had stopped.  Christina asked what they were doing and I shrugged saying they could just be enjoying the view or they could be waiting, Julie asked for what and I smiled saying one of those boys saw something he liked and probably wanted to know where he could come courting.  Christina said he could also be mad because some poor crippled old man kicked him in the leg.  I told her I apologized, she smiled as Julie lectured me.  I chose to take her with us.  She asked why I gave the officer the number; I told her they all used cell  phones now and my guess is that someone was trying to keep up with the activities of his associates, so his phone records could help them know who he was talking to and when and then could answer why unless of course he found a good lawyer.  She glared at me so I pushed a little and told her I bet he even had a matching vest for her and some leather pants.  Julie told me fine she can admit she was wrong for recommending they all go out to dinner there after I warned them.  Christina looked at me with a grin and said yea but it had been so much fun as there was nothing like a man who could not shower but once a year leering down your dress, though a couple of the cowboys did smell nice and the food was descent though it could use some paint, clean bathrooms, furniture that actually matched.

Having two women do my shopping well it was not what I expected and two children had even more clothes.  When I asked about the baby shower; Christina told me since she forgot to include that in her email  so she took cash instead, I finally told her to stop and save some for later or give some to their mom so she could get a vehicle.  Julie asked why I did it; I asked what I did now.  She told me the twins, I nodded and told her it made sense she was jealous of two infants.  She said actually it was more than that; like where did I go and where did mom go.  I told her we went to the courthouse to get our license and bypassed doing the  church thing and then mom up and changed her schedule jumped on the train and hid out in my cabin. and we came here.  Christina asked when I was going to take a cruise; she then looked at me and said she would be taking one but I needed to know she shared a cabin but I could hide under her bunk.  I told her maybe I would call and see if they needed some help as they always gave me my own cabin.  As we were loading at the Wallyworld I noticed several bikers and told Christina we should get bikes and get matching leather, she told me to start with the glass door as she remembered how good one looked on me.  Julie shook her head and I told her give us a break we were still newlyweds and just starting our family or at least practicing.

The drive back was quiet with me sitting in the back with the twins.  Julie asked really where were we, Christina I could tell was about to give her version but Julie told her she did not mean when she ran off to get a piece of the action.  Julie told her she was gone for like a year and a half and when she got back everything was different, she was no longer out to get dad, she moved home and started her small medical practice and now she was smiling and having fun with dad; the man she had been angry with ever since Christopher was born.  Christina told her she was not angry with dad well maybe a little there toward the end when he was playing the holier than thou crap and kept trying to get himself killed to prove to her how useful he had been to the world.  Julie asked if that meant I was a spy; Her mom told her I was not a spy but a contractor who because of the nature of the work I did was useful and would at times come across information that if shared like that phone number today and he would pass it on.  Julie asked if I had gone to prison because she could not find anything as to where I had been accept that the Marshall service had transported me to March Air Force Base.  Christina told her she should leave it alone and just be glad he was back even if he was behind by twenty years or so.  Julie asked if I was awake and I pretended I just woke up.  When she asked if I had been in prison I told her to take her mom's advice; I could see her think and then told me the US Marshall's also did witness protection.  I told her I supposed they did but if I was either in jail or under witness protection how did I end up with twins as I did not know anyone who would want a criminal to adopt their children and then hang out with them.  As we turned the corner onto the dead end road I noticed the motorcycle crew sitting in front of the diner.  Pulling into the drive I noticed many of the cars were gone and John was parked at the top of the drive in the six by six while the boys all had their pickups parked along the road.  When Christina stopped she told me to tell John I was being a brat when I told him to turn off the water.  She told me to go ahead and get out as she had to make sure everyone had their panties in the right place and just so I knew we were hosting dinner together in or around our house and make sure I grabbed the case for the boys.   I did as I was told. The only thing I could find was a case of some energy drink which as soon as it was on the cart it was emptied.  As she rolled down the window John told her they already grabbed a bite and would be here through Wednesday; she nodded.  As soon as she was gone John asked what I did to stir the hornets nest this time.

I asked what hornets nest he would be referring to.  He pointed up the road and said the cute little boys on their tricycles seemed a little antsy and my little fan and his crew had been busy escorting these lovely ladies out most of the afternoon.  I told him I had not noticed any law enforcement types at the diner.  He told me they were around and grandma who had shown up early was entertaining a few and their sons who all were a past of the boy scouts,  I asked if the trees were down and he smiled and said none of them were about to drop those on my house but they were using them for rappelling lessons.  I asked how many dads, he looked at one of the other guys who said when he had set up the rigging there were a couple dozen and they had set up their tents behind the equipment shed.  John told me since technically the road was on my property they had erected a gate and pointed.  just beyond the drive in the dimming light I noticed a very substantial gate.  I asked him to be honest and he said yes they had been hired to kind of check up on things as someone had figured I would be more comfortable with people I already knew.  I asked if they did know I technically owned the firm.  John said he had never seen my name on a single card or contract and from what he understood there were a couple of investment groups that owned a large piece of the pie.  One of the younger guys asked if I had been here all along;  I told him for the most part but I still was not sure how many people were aware of that and it should probably not go far.  He told me when they were questioned they all got to spend a week in that Palm Springs house.  As the other security company came driving in he lifted his can he was holding and then told me what he found out today was one of those guys in this unit had been on the security detail that had been ripping off Ms. Christina the ones with the dogs.  I shrugged and said I still wondered why they were here; John said it really was just a coincidence as a couple of the young ladies were daughters of some movers and shakers and were prime targets for kidnapping and my boy Jeff was still hot that someone had come up with the brilliant plan to go eat in  the biker vs. cowboy bar and just so I understood it was him that started the rumor that the brawl was started by an invisible horseman.  I shook my head and told him there had been an incident when a couple of those peanut sized brain trusts decided to try to spook The Beast and he let them have it knocking them off their bikes but I am pretty sure the fight started when Ms. Jennifer kneed a pushy fellow in an effort to make him understand he was not sleeping with anybody.

All the boys toasted her; John then looked at me and said I should start thinking about a teen girl who would be driving out to see those little ones.  I said it had crossed my mind today; he said enough to maybe move closer, I told him that house I would not be staying in unless i actually was put under house arrest for two reasons and the main one currently had to do with the fact I pretty much turned it over to the government.  John said that would explain his two week vacation with the bright light bulb in his face.  I asked how the other two were handling that.  He said Gregorio had taken it pretty hard and it kind of put him back across the water so they all kind of pitched in to help get his own construction company up and running and pee wee thought it so much fun he went and joined the Navy and last time he checked he was becoming a tadpole inspired when some Marine told him about this Mr. C fellow out swimming those boys.  He told me Christopher had taken that pretty hard and had broken up with his girlfriend after I went out and knocked a couple boys to the ground just so I could have my day in court.  I told him which never happened; smiling he said if you looked for them the news stories were out there like the fellow who had come home a war hero and was appointed to run a law agency having to resign over some sex scandal which his secretary brought to light shaking his head he smiled and said that one wanted to talk to the man who gave her the job.  I told him not to look to me because I was not in charge of hiring.   He nodded and told me the way he heard it was I went and told the senator who she had been using like bong in front of a crowded room he needed to stop sleeping with his help and in front of his wife and that man at the time happened to be on some intelligence committee which somehow was tied up in some gun running scam with the cartels south of the border who happened to not be against using local help up here to do their dirty work.  I told him I had been aware of that for some time.  I could here the motorcycles up the road aways.  It was then I heard a voice that had just left three weeks ago ask what we were up to sitting in the dark.  I looked up to see a couple of the feds who had been my room mates of a sort walking our way.  I stood up and walked over and gave my half hugs saying we were just enjoying the night.

I was asked directly if i had been at the diner and I said this morning for breakfast but if he was referring to last night I had been gone all day riding the little she devil, so I had not been invited.  He told me somebody was given a phone number by a wanted fugitive.  Smiling I told him if they put their faces on milk cartons it would help out a lot as one of those fellows who thinks bathing will make him melt who thought he looked good with his gut hanging out over his belt in just a leather vest gave my daughter his number this morning which I promptly turned over to the State Trooper.  The look on his face and him holding his hands together caused me to chuckle and I told him actually I had two older daughters and a son and the daughters were here now or at least one of them was so i do not know who has shown up and left today.  The female agent Mary Jo told me I should really be keeping low profile; I raised my hands and told her I went home like I told them I would and when I got there and started discussing the wedding ceremony she decided at the courthouse to skip all that and go straight for desert.  She smiled and said she just saw her and she did look happier and it appeared the twins would have to swim through those clothes, to find their door; I told her she ought to see the house in the Carolina's as the first night there she went out and had to have spent several thousand dollars on them.  Patting her belly she told me to save some for her.  I told her as far as I was concerned she could go shopping in the house and if it still had a price tag or looked like the twins would be out of it soon she could have at it and she should be careful if she was going to go wrestling with Mr. GQ up the road.  She told me actually they were kind of hoping I might go up and see if I could spot him.  I gave a whistle and was told that was not what they meant.  I smiled and told her tonight she was my daughter and not only could I pick him out but I could get him back here and into one of those cabins and cuffed to the bed as long as no one told my daughter about it.  Christina came up holding the reigns of The Beast and told me he had been locked in the barn and seemed rearing to get out.  As he nudged me I had to hop around to keep from getting knocked over.  She asked exactly what should we not tell our daughter. I pointed to the Marshall's who explained what they wanted and what I had planned.  She shook her head and told them if she was that man and rode up and saw all these fine hard working boys just sitting around by themselves she would know something was up.  I asked what did she suggest and she told me she had a few friends who were actresses who did not mind showing skin and put them with a couple of those boy scout daddies pretending to have a good time when that man and whoever else he rode up with would be none the wiser.  I told her there were a lot of kids around and she told me they could just as well go hike to the creek along with all of their guests for a night hike as it would take time to get the grill going.

John told Christina not leave them out of the fun; she told him they were not all getting paid; one of the men cracked open another energy drink and said that they were also not boy scouts and would have loved to have been in the middle of that brawl last night.  She looked at him and told him then next time they could trade places, she would stay home to watch the children while he went and danced with a bunch of flee bitten cods trying to figure out how they would get him out of his dress without that large dog chewing on them.  As the laughter died down he asked what kind of shoes would he be wearing with the dress as he was leaning toward flats or boots and anyway all those bikers had seen them at lunch and of course heard them chat about the very lovely ladies who they were trying to impress with their speed and stamina as they laid down the pipe.  I gave the young man a look and he said he was talking about the water main and just trying to get into character.  I told him if we do this my ground rules were this each of the women were to be treated as my daughters or my sister or mother and these days I would just assume the worst and apologize for breaking fingers later.


One of the agents spoke up and told me to stop all they needed was for me to go point out the man who belonged to a number; I told them to be honest I just saw the hand place the number on the table as they walked out as I was focused on my daughter, but there had been a state officer who left just after they did and just before us so which one of the half dozen bikers who were not part of the poker run who dropped the folded piece of paper which I assumed was a number I could not be sure.  I was then asked if I had been inside the bar last night; I asked since when did I start going to bars.  Mary Jo said they had to ask.  Smiling I told her actually yesterday I was able to ride that little girl of hers; her eyes asked for how long and I told her I figured out she liked to run so I brought her out here with her dad and while they were running I moved over and it was like I was a kid again.  I heard Christopher say I was never a kid.  I glanced back and asked when he got here; with his hands in his pockets he told me Grandma wanted to see Texas, and drive the hummer.  He asked why I neglected to tell them I had been in prison.  I looked at Christina who told me I still needed to start the charcoal.  I handed the reigns to Mary Jo and apologized for not being able to help but my guess who they were looking for would be along soon enough, if not him then one of them ranch hands looking for his misses or even both of them if for nothing else just out of curiosity and the biker fellow will either be the one with the limp or with the one with the limp.  I smelled the smoke of the barbecues early on so I took a seat on the porch of the first cabin which was in the shadows.  Christina looked down toward the house and asked if I was going to cook; I told her to take a deep breath and tell me what she smelled.

Leaning against the rail, I knocked on the door of the cabin and when no one answered I opened the door and went in to use make use of the facility and realized they also changed the fixtures.   When I walked out Christina told me she smelled dirt, rain and smoke.  I told her someone had started the barbecue or my guess barbecues and she shook her head and told me to take a deep breath.  I could smell smoke; apparently so could others as they began running from building to building.  I took another deep breath and new it was not the smell of a building on fire but more of a grass fire mixed with plastic.  I whistled and when   The Beast I pulled myself up and told Christine to please check on our guests.  I rode between the cabins someone had started  a fire next to a stand pallet of plastic pipe but it was not going anywhere on account of the bare dirt.    Nudging The Beast I told him to find him.  We had just past the next cabin when I noticed a leather clad fella at the edge of the front.  The Beast pretty much tried to run him over.  I could tell one of the  boys found the source of the fire.  I glanced to see someone had noticed me and headed down to the house and heard the motorcycles first coming down the road and then they stopped.  Apparently the sheriff had made use of the large area behind the house and the barn had come around.  I wondered where Christina was until I happened to turn to look back up at the storage shed and saw her pushing someone away.  The man was wearing jeans and was definitely not a biker.  When he grabbed her hair I pushed The Beast.  The cowboy I could tell was on liquid courage and he told me not to interrupt.  Sliding down next to him I nodded toward the beast who nipped him when he did not let go of Christina the horse bit him harder; he let go of Christina and she came to me and I asked if she knew this poor lost soul;  She shook her head and the man still rubbing his arm told me they were going to Tuscon, I nodded and told him that was funny because she told me we were going to dinner but if he would tell me where his friends were he looked at me and I told him to hand me his phone and I would call them up and we could sit down and chat about Tuscon and laugh about our party last night.  He handed me his phone and I called the first person on the call list; I asked where were they as we were waiting and that pretty thing I was dancing with last night well she was in a hurry and I found their invisible man.  The voice asked what about the mother and her two twins.   I told him there was a problem with that as the boy scouts had showed up and there were so many moms I needed to know what she looked like because no one gave me a picture.

The voice talked to someone else and then told me the one I was looking for was the daughter of Tuscon so have her show me.  The Marshall's were there by then and I asked where the motorheads were.  When John showed up I asked where my babysitter was she came running and told me she had been down at the house.  I told her to have all the buildings cleared and make sure everyone was in one spot and she should use her professional courtesy.  Christina was about to lose it so I gave her a hug and asked if she was okay, she rubbed her head and looked at the drunk cowboy and told me he was not dressed like that last night.  I asked how was he dressed, she told me he had a leather vest on but for a biker he had been well dressed and he could dance. Mary Jo asked what was up and I still holding the phone picked it up and asked if he said she was a mother; when the man cursed I said I found her in a cabin with ; and if he wanted her for himself he better come quick and hung up the phone.  I told her I do believe her boy was on the way and all she had to do was go sit in that first cabin real fast and clear her boys out of sight.  She started to say something and I told her it was either that or I practice my second amendment rights and start a nice little war.  Grabbing the drunk cowboy's hat I told John to go make it look like they were having a good time up in the Marshall's tavern and make sure all the boys had some heat but on second thought we have all them trucks up there and we don't need that big of a road and my guess there was something besides energy drinks,  When no one moved I told them I could just get on my horse and ride out to say hello.  When I saw Christopher I told him sorry but I needed him to gather up his sisters and brother and if anyone tries to get to them that he did not know shoot them and he would find my rifle in a hollow behind my head board.  The Marshall's looked at each other and when Mary Jo did not move I climbed back on The Beast and pulled her and Christina up.  I watched as I pushed them both inside John and the boys meander up to their trucks and start rearranging them as if they were going to drag race.  I looked at The Beast and told him to go hide but stay close and find that big dog and tell him to start making his rounds.  When the horse shook his head I told him he had to but he only had to hide behind the cabin and if anyone walked back there he could play as much as he likes.

When he trotted off; Christina started to leave and I stopped her and told her we were going to finish our honey moon.  She stared at me and told me I had my girlfriend and there were men coming and, I put my hand to her mouth and told her it was okay, I have done this kind of thing before so if she could, could she and my girlfriend go ahead and take their shirts off and get on the bed or even better into the shower.  When both women asked if I was nuts I heard the motorcycles fire up.  Pointing outside I told Mary Jo if that man walks in here he is going to know she is a cop the way she is dressed and he will also probably realize my wife is not my daughter fairly quickly but if we gave him something to look at besides me and their faces;  Christina asked what I was going to do; I told her I was going to make sure no one touched either of them.  When I heard John drunkenly talk to someone on a bike; I stared at the women.  Mary Jo told me this was crazy and I told her she had seen me shower enough times; Christina looked at her and then me and was told by the agent it was part of her job.  Christina said fine and yanking off her dress she came over and kissed me; when I reached down to tickle her she laughed nervously and told me to stop and wait; reaching down I told her I needed to decorate, dropping her panties.  When Mary Jo stripped I told her to keep her gun and walking into the bathroom I turned on the cold water and shoved them both in and told them to scream as loud as they wanted to but keep the water cold.  Someone shoved the drunk cowboy in and when I poked his head into the bathroom he let out some sort of unintelligible war cry.  Pointing to the bed I told him to get himself ready for those two, Christina told me no as the man struggled to strip he fell over a couple of times and I went and stood by the half opened door, Mary jo was moaning and my wife was cussing me out telling me if I ever wanted a piece I had to better than this.  When two men burst through the door, I tripped the first and smacked the second with the door and shoved him back out.  When the first man looked up I recognized him as the man I kicked, when he tried to kick me I grabbed his leg and started pulling him out and saw The Beast Jr and I nodded and he came and grabbed the boot and clamping down began pulling and told him not to let anyone else interrupt.  John sent the second man back up to me and I shoved him into the wall.  Going back in I dragged the struggling drunk out and told him to never interrupt me again and going back in, I slammed the door.  I could tell pretty much another brawl was taking place outside during which two more came in and I sent them out and followed them.  Christina drug me back in by the ear and glared at me; smiling I told her she was cute when she was naked.  Mary Jo reached into her pants and made a phone call and I heard the sirens and then a gun shot.

She told me she was going to have to treat me like a criminal for a moment or just until they could round up the boys, she was giving directions on her cell which after I heard the numerous returns; when wrapped in a towel she came out with a gun to the back of me head everything hit the fan as officers swarmed, I heard The Beast playing with his bit and glanced to the side of the cabin where he just stood watching.  Grabbing Christina who had just wrapped a towel around herself and was behind me trying to see I went to the horse and pretty much tossed her on as I jumped on and took off.  I heard Mary Jo tell someone to go after me before I did something crazy.  I was checking on the twins and verifying everyone was accounted for when the sheriff said he was not sure what just went on but he was supposed to walk me back up in cuffs,  I told him he would look better if he rode a horse with me on mine.  Seeing my daughters give me a look I told them to get dressed put on a large hat and make sure no one say their long hair and they could go along and pretend they were deputies.  Christina in her towel told me no and I needed to hurry back so I could cook dinner and make sure to get her clothes.  She took the twins and headed upstairs, I asked if anyone had checked up their as I headed up and got in front of her.  I found a man in my room looking through stuff and realized it was the state trooper form earlier that day. I went with him out the window but was able to catch myself as I rolled off the roof and landed on The Beast who stepped under me and held the officer down.  The sheriff seemed like he had seen a ghost when he came out.  He told me that horse looked like a fine idea.

It was a while before I got back to the house as they had waited until after we were all booked in the county jail before letting myself and John along with the few boys who had partaken in the brawl out.  John's eye was swollen and their were more than a few black eyes, a broken lip and one knife scratch.  As we were dropped off one of the boys asked what was for dinner; Christina told them there were leftovers in their fridge and they were sleeping outside and grabbing by my ear she told me I could either walk and behave or she could drag me.  When we were in the room and I had been showered for the second time that night, she softened and I told her it turned out fine.  She had looked at me and told me she had been scared to death and I had acted like everything was normal and she wanted to know what the hell was all that about anyway.  I told her all of it I did not know but apparently from just what I had observed was their little stunt of all piling into their fancy cars and running up to dance with the local rodents got the local rodents into thinking that they were up for grabs.  She asked if I was saying it was her fault and I shook my head and told her no I was just explaining that it was not mine and she should be thankful that nothing more than a brawl had taken place and that now the local biker gang thought I was some hard ass from back east because now when she and her gals come out they will be left alone.  She told me she did not want me to stay here; I told her as I held the twins who were crying that when I could I would move.  She added home and I asked if that was so the next Bubba that came over i could smack down when he did not listen when I explained to him that just because a pretty woman smiles at him does not mean he is getting a piece.  She looked away and told me she had not wanted an argument and told me for the sake of the twins we should stop.  I handed her Carl and told her I would need my cane for a little while longer as in my attempt to save my damsel in distress I tore my knee up some more and we should probably go down and tell her guests what was going on.  She told me my girlfriend the really pretty one with those very perfect chest muscles who was having my child; when I looked at her she smiled and said she meant my God child had told them some and with all the boy scouts and now their families camping out front we should not worry and she was staying for a bit as she just took her maternity leave.

Raising my hands I asked Christina if she was still mad; she looked down and told me she had not been mad just scared out of her wits earlier and had thought; I touched my finger to her mouth and told her it did not happen and now if I could get some dinner and she told me sorry about that but tonight again since she had a household of nervous women they pretty much ransacked the kitchen.  I nodded and told her just as soon as I got the twins to sleep I would run down to the diner and pick up something either that or I was driving into town and shopping.  She got that look and told me no I was staying in and hanging with the family.  I told her I needed calories as in the last two days I had a banana and biscuits and gravy so she had a choice find me something I would like to eat or I would and I did not want any chips or cookies as I needed real food.  She had to take both twins as I could not make it down the stairs without both hands.  Now that the adrenaline rush was gone my leg pretty much had become more of a hindrance.and even with the cane it hurt so as I sat in the living room waiting for food with the twins on my lap I knew it was back to the doctor.  It was almost midnight when i finally got the most real meal I had had since getting married for the second time.  Three hours later the gals from the Carolina's left with Christina but not before we made up and me telling her I was going to make another appointment to see the doctor for my leg.

Plans Change The Story Continues 10

My plans that day changed not that I had set out with any real plans other than ti begin working on the prep work for the additional area, accept there were way more folks than I had planned on having around moving about, and my leg was feeling the strain of the last two weeks.  I went into find the twins only to find my two older daughters were here along with a few other young women, Julie asked what happened to walking mom down the aisle of the church.  I called time out and told her to back up. When she looked at me I told her hello, nice to see her again without going so long between visits and I was wondering if I could at least get a hug as my day was not going so well.  Handing the spoon to one of the other girls she walked over and told me she was not trying to be mean.  Smiling I told her first she could start by telling me why she was there not that she could not just show up and stop in but my guess was mom was up to something, because I had not old a single soul beyond those who needed to know we got married again.  My second in line came over and told me she thought the place was kind of cute and really liked the furniture.  One of the girls who I did not know told her especially the yard furniture.  I told her I did not know I had yard furniture and as I looked out I saw one of the loaders go by.  My daughters red face gave me a clue.  I told her just so she knew those boys had not been invited by me and I guessed they were married.  Julie told me not all of them.  I pushed my way in front of the twins apologizing to the young women saying  a daddy could not be too careful these days around strangers.  Julie looked at me and looking at the ladies I realized I had met one of them and apologized and told her her name had slipped my mind since we last met.  She smiled and told me it happens and asked how I had been doing and I told her my guess she had finished her degree by now.  Nodding she said yes she had; I asked if it had brought her everything she had ever wanted; Julie scolded me.  I told her to please not interrupt up my reintroduction to, she told me her name was Sarah.  I told her thank you and she rolled her eyes.  I finally asked Sarah which one of them had been at the house it disappeared.  Sarah pointed and I eyed her and saw the same cheekbones as Christopher on a slightly more oval face and then looking at the other young woman I saw the same bone structure but her eyes were definitely her dads and I told them I knew their dad.

They looked at each other and I told them my bark was worse than my bite these days, the one who had been at the house asked if I was alright as she pointed to my leg and I told her that had not come from my car getting blown up as it happened recently when I was working with one of the horses.  I watched as several faces got brighter and asked Sarah said they had been kind of hoping they could go for a ride,  I told her that depended on whether or not someone was actually clue me in the names of her friends and let me on mom's secret.  Julie told me mom did not have a secret; I nodded and asked if that was why I had a steady stream of women in various states of undress parading through not only my house but my bedroom also.  She offered that my water lines were broken.  I told her no they had been leaking for some time but they had still worked. Sarah said I knew Christina and she always knew how to have a good time and knew how to do up a women's night out and by the way the two young women who were so kind in helping babysit whoever's children those two were were Michelle and Kelly Jo and were Chris's other sisters.  Nodding I told her I had deduced that from their facial structure and those children were Christopher's twin brother and sister.   Julie told her I had adopted them.  Sarah told her that her mom must have loved that.  When she said yes she did; I asked how her shower was and was told it was a wee bit on the chilly side and I might like to know the man with the gun was back.  I told her with all the traffic driving by the diner I bet he was a bit curious and my guess most of the neighbors were up there as well watching all those fancy cars turn down the dead end road and never come out not to mention the supply trucks.  Sarah told me it was bit full when they drove by this morning.  Smiling I told her if she liked good old comfort food she couldn't beat it but I would not recommend going there on a Friday or Saturday night even with the live music or more to the point because of the live music.  Michelle asked if I did not like country music and I told her I liked country music just fine but in her case my guess some good ole boy would buy her a drink; and she would say yes to a dance or two and sometime between that first drink and the morning she would have to ask herself if she was sober enough to understand if she really wanted to do the horizontal two step and get whisked away on the back of a Harley with only a leather vest to keep her warm.

Christina told me she had not been to a biker bar in a long time and I told her that was no biker bar just a middle of the nowhere diner which had a dance floor and a small stage in their lounge and banquet hall.  Eyeing her I told her if she really wanted to dance there were much more family friendly places not as close but close enough to make it worthwhile and there was also Laughlin or an Indian Casino which all had at least one night of Country music and line dancing at least a couple times a month if not every week.   When another large piece of equipment drove by heading to the front of the house I picked up the twins and hobbled out and told her I would be watching the show.  I asked someone if the could get the child gate from under the stairs.  Sarah brought it out and I told her later I would show her what horse she could ride if she could promise not to fall off.  Once the gate was secure I gave a whistle which brought the movement to a stop.  Beth and John who were surveying came over and she told me the trees had to come down and I told her I knew that and had put out and invitation for the boys scouts to come over when I dropped them.  She looked at my leg and I asked since she was volunteering her services did she really want her boys doing that part of the job  When she nodded she showed me the computer aided version of my colored drawings.  I eyed her and she told me it was john's doing not hers as most of these boys had enough trouble reading the black and white prints and she did have a team of decent mechanical engineers who when she sent out my renderings jumped on it right away and I should have a complete set of construction drawings to turn in when I went to pull a permit.  Smiling I told her she already knew I was going to get my own colors and make new ones.  John told me the new septic system was on its way and the figured on letting leach behind the cabins.  I told him I had already figured that as it would also make a good place to put a ball field.  Eyeing the twins he asked how long I intended on staying. I told him for the moment mom had another year of school and we were close enough when she got her car next month we were close enough for her to jump in it on Friday's drive out and then be back to school on Monday morning.

 I saw Christina raise her eyebrow but she did not say anything.  When my big dog showed up I let him on the porch and seeing the twins he sniffed them and then lay down.  Carrie Ann saw him and let me know it was time for her to get down.  Setting them down I took a seat and studied the lawn area and looked at the conceptual blue print.  I made some notes and redrew the facing and added a second story to the rec center drawing on the back I drew what I wanted it to look light and even added a few people.  I handed it back and told Beth I was looking to stay with the old west thing but I liked the idea of a steel building.  She took the drawing back and I told her I had not planned on building this in one day so as long as she finished the water and the newer septic system and used it for the cabins and out buildings I could take care of the rest.  John told me my water would be on in another hour and then tomorrow the boys said they could have water on to the other buildings and if no used the toilets he doubted anyone would care if the shower water ran out for a couple of days.  I asked if he had a line on portable toilets and he nodded and said he had thought of that but wanted to check with me first.  I told him I was not having a thousand women strolling through my house all hours of the night.  They walked off; Christina asked if that was how we were going to treat our guest and I smiled and told her know it was how I was going to deal with having not to tell them they would have to take a shovel out back as my septic system was not designed to deal with that number of women and neither was the septic system on the barn.  Smiling I told her John was smart enough to bring in the trailered bathrooms with showers.  She asked if I told someone the house was off limits;  I told her yes I did and again the reason was this place was too small to be a meeting room and since they could use the hangout.  She told me we also had to figure out how to feed them; I asked her why as I did not remember inviting anyone over for dinner last night and there was not much to begin with and my guess would be when I went to get my breakfast there would be not much more than a bottle of wine and water in the fridge.

Before she got mad I told her it was okay I would not let them starve but right now I was not driving into town.  Sarah started to offer to go to town and then told me to look down.  The twins had curled up next to the dog and were sleeping.  Looking at her I asked if she was up to taking a look through the barn and making sure everyone was fed and watered and there should be a couple of children already in there taking care of their animals and were pretty good about making sure mine were fed and on every stall it was listed what they were to be given and how much.  As I looked at the women who were now wandering around in small groups with a few looking like they were getting ready to go jogging, I told Christina I think I might be able to handle breakfast with a little help but lunch was more or less borrow a carrot or apple from the barn.  Looking down at the still napping twins I glanced at my wife and saw her looking down.  I asked if she minded if I left for only a few minutes; her look changed to one of worry.  Looking at the daughters of her one time fling I asked if they had found a place to sleep yet, Julie told me all the beds were filled in the cabins.  I asked why she thought she needed to sleep in the cabin.  She answered that on there way in the security told them the house was off limits to guests.  Taking her hand I told her she was not a guest and since she was kind of a sister to her three friends they were not guests either and if one them would be so kind to help mom with the wee ones I needed to see to some things.  As I began my journey I decided to skip the cane and push my leg a little.

Christina spoke my name and I waved as I hobbled down the stairs.  I forced myself to walk as normal as I can even though it shot pain up my spine. but it was nothing like the shoulder had been or my two weeks of electric shock therapy which I had not thought about over the last year as if having to lay it out for the world to see was a therapy in itself and made it someone else's problem.  I was aware that the man behind that was on his way out from his political appointment and that he had taken credit or had been given credit for some of the information I had passed on during the months of debriefing my entire adult life or much of it as there was some things I did not tell as I knew there would be ramifications and then I saw one of those objects of some of that information looking around the corner of the equipment shed; she saw me so I waved her over. She was in her jogging attire and for some reason caused me to think of what I supposed were our intimate times together serving as a security consultant but immediately jumped to the meeting Christina and I had with her in Colorado.  When she jogged down to me across the lawn I saw why she had been lurking as the man with the gun came around the corner and headed straight for her.  Shaking my head i watched as he looked more mad at her than as if he was concerned for her protection and the look of fear in her eyes.  I kept walking toward the equipment shed; he was not focused on me at all until too late and just to prove a point i dropped him while taking his side arm and wallet.  The man was agile and was up as fast as he went down.  His focus was still on her and not me; so I pulled her in front of me and whispered to her to play along and with that I put the barrel of the gun which I had already cleared and removed the clip from to her head.  At that point he stopped focusing on her and looked at me.  I lowered the piece and started walking a woman who I once had to babysit in a manner of speaking up the hill and when I stopped to take a look back he was using his comm to call for reinforcements.  I told my captive if she wanted to lose this babysitter to kiss me.  I did not expect the kiss to be in the middle of my face and with tongue or the grip she would have around my neck.  When I pried her off he was three steps behind me and raging.  I got the hint and when he swung I put him down again.  Beth's boys who had been my boys or at least many of them had stopped their work and had closed in on me while his team came in with guns drawn.  I waved them off and told them if this had been real the person they were supposed to be protecting who their team leader had decided to make his main squeeze would be dead.  Pointing to the man who was back on his feet I told him to stand down or the next time he went down he would be staying there and if I ever caught him sleeping with his charge again it would not be her life but his he had better be worried about.

He tried to stare me down and when that did not work I told him twice now a crippled man had disarmed him albeit the first time I had help from The Beast so he also needed to learn to stop relying on his sidearm and start relying on his mind and use it which brought me to another point and that was his trespassing which I could forgive the first two times but now it seemed we would have to deal with that as well.  That shocked him into regaining his composure and I handed him his gun back and told him his clip was somewhere in the lawn about fifteen meters back so his charge was never in any real danger other than she was about to get a spanking for trying to suck my tonsils out.  When I looked at her I gave her the look telling her not to argue yet.  She looked at me and then past me and I could tell Christina was coming toward us; she said she was sorry about that and had been overwhelmed with emotions that got the best of her and would explain it to the lovely bride.  As she hurried off the man before me shook his head and told me that one, I told him not to take it personally.  Just then my marine stepped out of the trailer and asked if we were done playing.  I told her the lesson for today was over.  Looking at me she smiled and told me good and for my information she asked for some help for two reasons, one as a professional courtesy and two she had no idea who all these people were and now with my little construction project she was also having to deal with delivery issues as well as having to worry about those bunch of fellows sitting up at the diner who had taken an interest in all the well heeled ladies driving down the dead end road.  Looking around she said she was more than willing to undo her professional courtesy if they were not willing to remain where she assigned them.  Pointing to the fellow I had to school she told him to please stay put as she had talked to his boss.  When she went back inside the others walked off and he looked at me and said damn.  I nodded and said she was one of the best.  Christina who had stood off chose to step forward and holding the clip she said someone dropped something and she had little children running around,  I looked down and noticed the girls had them out on the lawn helping them walk. As the security guard took his clip her voice softened and asked if he had been hurt anywhere.  He called her ma'am when he told her he was fine and she told him Ms.Jennifer was just a bit tired of the overwhelming show of force and if he could tone it down a wee bit it would help her emotional state.  Reaching up she grabbed my ear like mom used to and told me I should no better than scaring her like that.  I said yes ma'am.

Patting my chest she told me about breakfast not to worry about the women as most had brought snacks for that very purpose and if I needed a cup of coffee there were at least a dozen coffee machines in The Marshall's Tavern and if I could not figure out how they worked without taking them apart she gave me permission to smile nicely and at least half a dozen women would come running but if she heard I asked one of them to kiss me.. she let it go and reaching up gave me a kiss which forget the tonsils she was going for my lungs.  As she turned to stroll off she stopped and turning her head she told me that as they were short of beds, my boys would be shacking up with John, the five girls, Ms Miriam, Ms.Jennifer, Beth and her daughters would be staying at the house and of course my favorite women in the whole world.  Smiling I told her I was glad and would be glad to continue sharing a bed with her.  She shook her head and told me she was not my favorite woman.  I told her I guessed I could give up the bed for mom.  Looking at me she told me mom was not here as she was a little bit mad because I forgot to invite her to the wedding ceremony; I shook my head and told her it was her idea to skip the whole church thing when we got to the courthouse.  Waving her hand she told me it all seemed kind of fuzzy now, but she did talk mom into coming out to help me next week and she was bringing her sister.  Leaving me she walked along talking to the men who worked for Beth getting several laughs as she kept moving on.  I had to sit so I moved into the equipment shed which at the moment was empty accept for the portable refinery I had been working on which was nearing completion.  The fellow told me he guessed he might as well introduce himself; reaching his hand out he called himself Jeff.  I think he was trying to test me a little and when I pulled him onto the drum next to me.  i asked Jeff why he was here; he told me he was here to protect Ms. Jennifer; I raised my eyebrow.  He said yes and no; yes they had gotten close and no they had not.  I asked who he worked for, when he said Sir; I asked if that was a hard question.  He did not have to answer as my current keeper walked out of the trailer.  I looked at her and followed her eyes;

She glanced our way then walked to the far end of the shed, I was asked how long did he have to stay and I told him it was not like she was his boss.  He started to get up and then sat back down, then got up and feigned interest in my project, one of many during my stay.  He asked what it was for; I told him that was too keep me from going stir crazy.  He asked who I was and how did I do that thing out there.  I shrugged, looking up he told me no one had ever dropped him.  I told him then it was a good lesson for him and he really needed to learn not to rely on firepower.and not get emotionally attached with women who liked to play the field, particularly if they would not get emotionally attached to you.  Shaking his head he said that was done with, he had just wanted to talk to her.  I told him here was not the time or place.  He told me she kissed me, I nodded and said that I had not expected after I did not even remember how many years.  He stared at me but before he could ask a thing a dump truck drove by causing him to look behind him.  I left going behind the trailer and ran into an ex marine who said if you listened it was amazing what one can learn. She handed me a banana and told me to enjoy breakfast and I should really think about grocery shopping.  I told her I went shopping the other day.  Before she got by me I asked who she was babysitting.  Smiling she told me don't worry about it and have fun and then motioned for me to move on.  I ate the banana on the way to what was now a meeting room.  Walking over I looked at the numerous machines and not one of them had a coffee pot.  I don't think I was smiling when my handler came up she asked what flavor did I want; I asked if they had coffee flavored coffee, she smiled and asked if I still made coffee on the stove.  I shook my head and told her now I preferred the campfire.  She kissed me on the cheek and told me thanks; I eyed her as she walked off, smiling I wondered what was she up to.  Five women came up to get there coffee and watching I was impressed with the way they warmed the milk with steam.  When I went to pick one up Christina told me to put it down and step away.  She handed me a cup and told me she found the coffee maker in the barn.  One of he women turned to offer me a cup and seeing I had one she got that stance I had seen so many times over the years. I traded coffee with her and headed outside and had to jump out of the way of the loader starting to push dirt back in the trench twisting my leg.

I headed back toward the house and found the lawn had become a haven for most of the women all in the large hats and sun dresses and I had to check myself as I realized this was some sort of Garden Party.  Turning to watch the boys who were ignoring the women for the most part as they were hustling to get done with the main pipe running to the house.  I wanted to go riding and avoid the mess, I was grateful for the help but over my time spent here I had been doing the projects more or less by myself with some help from whatever visitor was in or the Marshall's though they mostly just handed me tools accept for their area in the equipment shed, I made them do the work themselves.  By the time I made the back porch my leg was definitely a pain.  In the kitchen I stopped as it was a mess, Julie looked up from where she was bent over pulling out all the contents of the cupboards.  There was stuff on the floor I had never seen.  She told me I should clean once in awhile and nodding I told her I did clean but the house had come as is. She asked what I was up to; I told her I was looking for my cane.  She pointed up, I could hear a racket going on there as well.  It took me some time to get up the stairs and I could smell fresh paint, the first one I met was Michelle who had paint all over her but at least they covered the floors was my thought.  Pulling me along she brought me into the nursery which was undergoing a transformation she asked what color I wanted the furniture; whispering I told her it was log furniture so it made sense if it was the color of logs.  She told me no really and I told her yes really and that way no matter what color they used on the walls they would go well together and when I was done with this set and handed them to her then she could paint them.  Her sister asked when she got pregnant which got my daughter number two rushing in asking if she was really pregnant and if her dad knew.  Michelle looked at me and I told her not to worry this furniture would hold out until she was ready.  I found my cane laying under plastic on my bed.  I angered my daughter when I ripped a hole in the plastic.  With cane in hand I left and first went in search of the twins.  John came cruising up on the six by six and had them both strapped in and told me he had rescued them from certain doom as he pointed to the far side of the house.  Jumping on he gave me a ride to the far end of the barn.  Walking in found the locals teaching some of my guests mainly a girl who had gotten to know me through Christopher about the different parts of the tack.  She looked up as John told me he would watch the wee ones for a bit. One of the locals, Kimberly I thought her name was told me they had fed my horses and were about to go riding to check on the water and to see if more hay needed to be put out.

I figured I ought to know there names now as I had not actually set up the boarding aspect of the ranch, that had been the the state detective and his wife.  I asked if she was Kimberly and she said no and pointed to another girl who had brown hair; she told me she was Amber.  Looking past me Amber asked if we were having a party and I told her we were having something but since I had not been invited I was still not sure what it was so I thought I would come down and see if that demon child was ready to give it another try just as soon as I found her daddy.  Someone said she was in the arena and The Beast had been wandering around earlier.  As I walked toward the tack room someone asked why I let him just wander around; I chuckled and said he made a better guard dog than Junior.  Kimberly asked who Junior was and I had to explain that I finally learned the dogs name.  I heard the Beast before I saw him come in the far side of the barn at full speed before he slid to a halt.  As usual this got the other horses making noise.  I had him saddled  in short order and then tossed a second saddle on the railing in easy reach.  After I mounted I rode out with the second saddle in hand which when I got to the arena went on the rail.  I was glad to see the filly still had her halter on and after thinking about I opted not to go through the process of climbing down getting her calmed down in order to get the saddle on her but I was going to add two leads to her halter.  Riding back in I grabbed them off the hook tied the the loose ends together and used her daddy to pin her so I could hook the leads onto her.  I knew if she bolted in the arena again ti would not bode well so with her leads turned reigns hooked over the horn I took her out of the arena and headed up to the road the dirt road was actually a sand jeep trail mostly.  I was not actually thinking about much more than how I wanted to get from her daddy's back to hers.

Thankfully the machines stopped as the men watched me ride by.  Out on the paved road I was surprised at the number of cars lining the one side as trucks were waiting to be off loaded.  My thought was how much pipe did I need; though I was happy to see the local portable toilet vendor pulling a real portable bathroom.  I trotted about a mile up he sand road to warm her muscles before I took a breath and nudged her daddy into a trot I could tell she was straining to run and since he was slightly faster I shrugged and let him have his head and we were off.  At that speed with them running almost touching the transfer was easy but I could tell it was a shock as she poured on the speed.  I just let her go as I used my legs to hold on as I tucked down.  She soon forgot about me as she was free to run.  I was a kid again and like so many other things recently that riding triggered memories so distant I did not know I had them.  It was even before I moved in with mom and dad and Christina.  They were only snapshots really but they were vivid.

Plans Change The Story Continues 9

The fact the twins had actually been able to sleep in their own beds during the last two weeks at least some of the time was not lost on me but as if to let me know fate sometimes had a twisted sense of humor they both decided it was time not to sleep.  Once outside on the porch sitting in my lap they went back to sleep as did I but that sleep was short lived as the sun began its slow climb over the horizon.  I was aware even before my walking fur rug who now was actually cleaned up alerted me to the fact there were vehicles approaching.  I noted them and knew what they were; so much for my honey moon.  The man who stepped out of the first dark colored Expedition was already taking in the details of the layout; I knew his type and guessed he had been a specialist or Sergeant during his military career.  With two infants in my arms I approached him slowly and asked if I could be of assistance.  He spotted the overpriced vehicle and as he walked over he told me he found what he was looking for; I knew his next move was to send the men and women who had climbed out behind him looking through buildings.

I informed him very quietly that maybe I had not been clear in my question and would like to know how I could be of assistance or should i rather give the sheriff a call and tell him to please remove the trespassers on my ranch.  Right then Carrie Ann woke up letting out a scream.  When she realized she was in my arms she quieted down and I told the leader of this troop that he had woken up my daughter who I barely got to sleep again after spending an few hours trying to comfort her.  He was about to say something until an older man closer to my age stepped forward and whispered into his ear.  The leader asked if I happened to be the owner of this establishment; I told him actually it was not an establishment but a private residence and at the moment he was trespassing and being that I neither knew him or invited him and I was in for a rather busy day I did not have time to entertain him or his friends but if he would like to come back later in the afternoon after calling first I was usually available for a chat around three.  I had while talking to him planted myself on the porch of the cabin where my guests or rather my wife's guests were sleeping.  I saw Christina start to come out before ducking back into the house, when she came back out she was fully dressed.  She headed toward the barn and one of the men headed that way and shaking my head I told Carrie Ann that maybe they did not speak English so maybe I should try French or maybe Spanish since we were so close to the border.  My very large dog had planted himself in front of the member of this security detail and smiled.  When the fellow asked if the dog was smiling I told him yes he was as he liked it when new chew toys came over to play.  The leader told me he was not hear to start trouble and I told him he was still trespassing and as of yet since he has not given me any details as to why he was hear I could only assume it was not for very nice reasons.  During the distractions with the dog one of the women had opened the door and took Carl from me replacing him with my cane.  I walked out among the group and told the gentlemen that I was sorry if I seemed rude but being that this was also my honeymoon he could understand why I really did not need visitors and with twins both teething I really did not need salesman or looky loos poking around.

The man asked if he might give me his card and I told him that would be more appropriate and he should tell his firm before barging onto a property to make sure it was not under contract to another firm and if his client did happen to be here she was in good hands and if he left his number I would be glad to let him know when she was leaving.  Someone said gate and I told her know my property line ended at the paved road and if they hurried they could get out before the sheriff made his rounds.  It was not the sheriff who pulled up behind them but the state troopers who asked how my morning was going; I told the officers if they had not heard I got hitched a weak or so ago and between that and both the twins teething I was not getting much rest and was having trouble explaining the directions back to the motor inn, out by the highway where they fed you those frozen eggs and the waffles in the morning.so if he could have someone show these fine folks who seemed a bit lost how to get back there  The leader of the group nodded and everyone climbed back into their vehicles and with me blocking their way from going forward to turn around they had to back up.  The state law officer told me he heard about my spill' I asked if he wanted to see her; he looked at my dog and eyed him and I told him I still had not come up with a name for him since they sent him to me.   He told me he heard at the training academy they called him Beast Jr.  I looked at him and told the dog he was about as big as Beast when he barked it got Carrie Ann to laughing.  When the dog barked again the officer told me he would follow my visitors out, I told him not to be too hard on them as I think they might actually have a client visiting us.  As he left I knocked on the door and it as opened by my handler who asked what that was all about;  I shrugged and told her I did not invite them and they did not seem interested in talking to me so my guess they were looking for someone else someone who probably did not tell her security detail she was stepping out.

I told her she could give me my son back now, she told me he was not there at the moment; nodding i asked if he just walked out and she sneered and told me don't be silly Christina came and picked them up.  I asked who was they and when she opened the door to so I could see the only other person was Miriam just getting out of the shower; I turned away but not quick enough.  Momentarily my nightmares came back causing me to grab the rail on the porch and wait till it passed.  I saw Christina walking toward me as I got to walking toward the barn.  She looked worried and asked if I was okay, I told her I was fine and would get a nap when I was done with the chores.  I told her she could tell her friend to come out now and she told me she had wanted to pet the horse.  I looked down at Beast Jr and told him to go and he went running With the cane I could move fast though it was a bit rocky which had Carrie Ann laughing.  I found a very frightened actress breathing hard and told her she should learn to listen and maybe I should call down to motor inn and tell her security detail where she was and they could come babysit her because at the moment my hands were full.  Standing up she told me she did not need babysitting; I waited for a moment to calm myself down and asked if last night she heard me warn her about the horse in the round pen.  She told me she did not try riding her.  Smiling I told her in the future if she was to visit to please first tell her security detail to call ahead and then if a gate was shut please do not open it and when I tell her not to try to ride a horse please understand I probably meant not to even get in the pen with the horse which she should probably never do unless she actually knew the horse.  Christina got into my face and told me she was not a little girl' I told her no she was not and yet still someone felt she needed babysitting or they would have not sent the knight in shining armor into save her.

She told me that man had never backed down before and I told her then today she got to see a first.  When she blurted out it was like having prison guards twenty four hours a day I told her, welcome to my world.  She looked up and told me I was one of him and I shook my head and told her no at one point in my previous life I had arranged for men like him to do their jobs but I was not like him.  Handing Carrie Ann to her I told her for now she had a reprieve and she could start her day getting to know those who mattered most around here.  For the next several hours I cleaned the stall of the horses that were currently being trained and began letting them out into their paddocks.  After checking on the mares I would be artificially inseminating I saddled up The Beast and after changing the twins I mounted the stallion and had Christina hand me the twins.  I really had no need to check the fences as not only were they electric but if they broke someone somewhere would know and a team would be sent out to fix it.  Today only confirmed my suspicions but like I had told Christina I was planning on ignoring the restrictions of my life now when I chose.  As that had been my first day riding with the twins alone since my fall, I took advantage of the alone time and as I sang some of the range songs the Marshall's had come up with I did some thinking and decided  Christina had a pretty good idea.  When I got down to the creek after a solid afternoon getting off the Beast seemed to be something that was not going to happen holding two infants.  I had been teaching him to lay down to pick up a wounded rider and figured he could lay down to drop off a rider as well.  The fact it worked surprised him but it did take him hopping out of the way waking up both children.  When he heard Christina ask what the hell was that he did not even look up when he told her it was called a dismount.  He had never even seen or heard the six by six she was driving come up and realized she must have come out to have a picnic when he saw the basket.  He apologized if he interrupted her; she asked what he was talking about and he nodded toward the picnic basket sitting next to her.

I looked around and she told me they were not here as she had come alone knowing I was in a foul mood.  I told her I was not and she laughed and getting out told me it had been our lunch but since someone stood her up some really big dog stole it and she drank the wine, but she managed to save the baby food.  Shifting the children to one arm I pulled down the blanket and saddle bags which I used as a diaper bag.  Christina watched as I spread out the blanket which I supposed needed to be cleaned soon.  The huge dog showed up and was thankfully not muddy and while I took care of the back half he kept the children occupied Today it was his teeth and tongue that amused them.  Once I finished that I let the twins play with their favorite toy as I took off the saddle and planted it on the blanket, removing the head stall I let the stallion run.  Christina asked how I was going to get back; looking up I told her the nice thing about that horse is he always knew when it was time to go back.  Setting the children up against the saddle I pulled out their afternoon meal.  When Christina came over she plopped down on my lap which did not bode well with my leg and told me she was going to feed them,  My first thought was not that she was drunk even though that was evident I pinned her arms while I fed the twins very aware that the bikini she was wearing only enhanced her attributes.  Then she started crying. Then I watched Carl lean forward and drag himself to her, I told her to take a look at that she asked what through her tears, I had to turn her head down where Carl was playing with her feet which were normally very sensitive.  I asked her how much did she have to drink; she bit her lip and did not answer.  I told her okay I am sorry for being late for our picnic; she told me I was not late.as she stared at Carl.  I asked if she ate anything and and she shook her head and then held her mouth.and mumbled something about being sick.  I told the dog to watch the children and he crawled in between them. Carl rolled over and grabbed the dogs paw I managed to get up and then pulled Christina up and holding her on my hip spun her toward the bushes and let her do what she needed to do.  Carrie Ann leaned forward and grabbing onto the dog pulled herself over and hearing Christina throwing up started pulling herself over.  When I went to let go of Christina she told me if I left her with the children alone again it was over.  Picking them both up I told her actually I wasn't planning on leaving them with anyone, but I could use some help sometimes now that they were crawling.

Christina tried hard to get me into an argument with her until she finally finished paying homage to the god's of wine.  When she seemed like she could stand well enough I asked if she could go sit in her little toy and hold at least one of the twins while I picked up.  She looked at the blanket and I told her no she needed food and supposedly a large dog stole what was in the basket; grabbing onto my arm she half smiled and told me she had been mad when I did not show up and gave the sandwiches to the dog.  I kept an eye on her as she held both of the twins as I got everything put into the back. When I finally got in Carl had her bikini top in his mouth while Carrie Ann was trying to get to the back seat where the dog had decided it was a good place to lay down..  I had to dig under Christina to find the buckle and told me I was like a man trying to take advantage of her when she was, and looking down at Carl she smiled and told me someone beat me to it. Buckling her in, I decided to hold both children as I drove.  It proved only a minor challenge but by the time we got back my leg was hurting.  Christina looked like she had seen a ghost.  To make matter worse my guest from earlier was pulling up.  Thankfully, three women were there to help me get Christina and the children inside.  Christina asked who the cute guy in the truck was as she was looking at me.  I told her when I found out I would get his number for her.  He made sure I saw his side arm as he put in his holster.  I asked if I could help him now and he said he was just doing his job and tried to walk around me and I told him today was not a good day to try to barge into my house. He told me he checked and the ranch was owned by a company out of Vegas, smiling I asked if he checked to see who owned the company and if he decided to push the issue I would introduce him to the Beast.  Smiling he told me he could handle a dog; looking down at the dog now sitting waiting I shook my head and said that was Beast Jr and gave a quick whistle.  From behind ran up the horse and I told him to please introduce himself to the nice man who wanted to turn him into dog food.  Walking over he nudged the man and pulled his sidearm out of the holster.and shook his head.  He handed it to me after a minute and then I walked over to the man's truck and seeing he was alone I tossed it inside on the front seat.

I told him let me start over and I would like to welcome him to my current home and latest hobby and could I interest him in a cold beverage or glass of water.  He was still shaking his head as the horse nudged him from behind.  He asked how the horse got his name and I told him I had never been good at picking names and after adopting this fellow stopped by and tried to shoot me and shot the state trooper instead and then tried to steal that horse and he decided he was having nothing to do with that and thought if he could see if he could ride the poor disillusioned fellow. I told him to wait on the walkway as I hobbled over to the house, I knew he had tried to head to the car and found out what it was like to get nipped by a horse as the dog barked.  Stepping in Christina was just coming out of the restroom and I told her I was sorry this fellow had not yet given me his name but I was working on it.  Her face went white so I smiled and told her I would just ignore her wanting to meet him.  Grabbing a couple of bottled waters I used the bathroom and then grabbed my cane and hurried out to meet the waiting gentleman who had resigned himself to waiting  I then looked up and saw the actress and waved her out.  As she was making her way down I looked around and noted there were a couple more cars down by the cabins.  When she walked out I asked if this was the gal he might be looking for.  When he stared at me I told him as he could see she was very safe and my guess he probably noted the officers posted up at the diner.  When he nodded I told him that that was the only access to my road as the paved road dead ended but he probably new that as well as well as the construction trailer on the far side of the cattle guard.  As if on cue up came a pickup truck and I was not surprised to see my ex marine driving it and with her was John who besides being an engineer had been a soldier first.  Shortly after them came the sheriff deputy.  Christina now dressed with her hair still wet came out and carrying Carrie Ann who was not actually screaming but crying.  Handing her to me I asked how she was feeling and she told me better and thanks for listening and as soon as I was done with my guest dinner was waiting.  My Ex Marine was a little more direct as she asked him as soon as she walked up to let her see some ID. John was already looking in his car and telling her the make of the piece on the front seat.  She told him he was either an ex seal or possibly force recon.  As he pulled out his ID he eyed the sheriff deputy who was petting the dog and then watched as he replace his sidearm with an apple.  The Beast went over and nudged him and reached down to get his apple before shaking his head and then looked at me; I nodded my confirmation and he ran off with the apple into the barn.  I heard his daughter with her attitude and then she whinnied.  I excused myself and nodded to the deputy he followed me through the barn to the round pen where we saw my angry little filly eating the apple.  I handed Carrie Ann over to him and he asked if I was nuts as I went and pulled out a couple of carrots.  I told him I still needed to check her leg as she would not let the vet get near her.

I let her dad walk in with me and handed him a carrot and he walked it over and dropped it next to her she eyed me as if she wanted to rush but The Beast stepped in her way and pawed the air giving a snort.  I told him to back off.  I waited until she ate the first one and then held the second one out for her.  I found I had a crowd and Christina asked if this was not the same horse that tried to kill me, I told her no she just had not wanted me to ride her and if she would be so kind to hold her questions until after the evenings presentation I would be grateful.  It took me almost two hours to get her to the point where I could walk up to her and another three before she let me touch her leg and gratefully nothing was broken.  I told her we would try the whole riding thing another day but since she had been so cooperative I would let he run with her dad.  I noticed there were several more deputies and asked if they minded clearing the aisles and getting the gates.  When I was informed they were done I went over and opened the round pen, dad nipped her to get her moving and she at first was hesitant and then cantered out before turning on the speed and heading out the back of the barn.  I hobbled out to watch as the stallion caught up and passed her as they headed out to join the herd.  One of the deputies asked what I thought and I told him after I let her build up her strength we were going to go a little slower and try it again but this time I was probably going to have her run alongside the Beast and then get onto her.  Christina raised her eyebrows, and gave me that we will see about that look.  Catching up to her I asked if she new she was cute when she was mad; she told me that would not be mad she saw but did have a killer headache starting and next time she decided drinking two bottles of wine by herself to remind her how much it hurt.  Pausing she stepped in front of me and told me while I disregarded anything she may have said while under the influence I should go get my daughter before she hooks up with one of the deputies.  It was one of the senior members of the department who had her and was walking over with her keeping her laughing.  He too was direct when he told me he heard a rumor I might be moving;  I nodded and told I had just married; nodding he told me he supposed he should be congratulating me but something told him he might want to wait and see how it turns out this time.

He then told me if I was moving and wanted to sell he had mentioned the property to the Boy Scouts and I told him they could come and use it as long as they called first but it seemed my new wife had this idea of bringing some of the wounded vets she worked with out here with their families and wanted me to leave a some of the cattle and horses.  He looked out at the barn and said horses the boy scouts could take care of as well as cattle.  Nodding I told him it would not be by tomorrow as I would have to find another suitable property, preferably with more grass as hauling hay or having it delivered was a bit costly but like I said have the boy scouts come out and we could work something out and at the moment my lawyer was actually here. Nodding he told me he would be in touch.  I figured the boys scouts would need a pool but hated the idea of a boring blue pool and where to put it.  The pizza was a bit overcooked so I passed and Christina told me she knew I had not eaten at all that day.  I told her she was right but I preferred my food to have a little less carbon and not look like charcoal on the bottom and right now was more tired and sore than hungry but if she wanted me to eat I was sure there was a banana or an apple as I know we bought a bag of mixed fruits and a few bananas the other day.  Miriam said they ate them earlier and share the apples with the horses but only with the ones that were not on special diets as per their charts on their cages.  I told her those were stalls and she told me they looked like prison cells for horses.  I smiled and told her those horses were glad to be in those cages when there was a cougar around.  Christina asked if I seriously had let the twins sleep outside with cougars around; smiling I told her don't forget the rattlers or the scorpions and coyotes, which got a calf about two months ago and I did not see why we were fighting over children whose care she had no say over and their mom and grandpa liked the idea they were not growing up in the city.  When an ex marine walked in she stepped between us and told me I had had a long day and probably had stopped taking my pain medicine long before I was supposed to and then she looked at Christina and told her she had from what she had counted in that basket at least three bottles of wine and should probably eat something and drink plenty of water as she had also been out in the sun.  Looking at me she told me to go get my shower and when John came back with dinner Christina and I could sit down while she enjoyed the company of her god children and yes they were both very happy we had invited them to make use of one of those cabins so they did not have to get stuck sleeping in that nasty old construction trailer.  As i walked into the living room and realized there were not only the seven women who I had mistakenly drove to their hotel but a few more like the pastor's wife from the mountains.  I went upstairs grabbed my clothes and told my new prison guard I would be showering in the barn.

What was my wife thinking, was all I could think as I used the barn's shower. and as I went to the front of the house to watch the grass grow from the front porch.  I realized it would make a great place for a pool, rec area and playground.and my leg said hot tub.  Walking back inside I grabbed a pad of paper and pen and went back out and sat down.  I had planned on sketching out some plans but ended up writing a letter instead to Christina.  This was by far not my longest but was also not my shortest.  I was pondering how to tell her if she ever felt trapped I would not hold her to our marriage covenant when she asked what I was thinking.  I had noted the lightening in the distance and smiled and told her to be honest I had come out to sketch up plans for the pool area, play ground and rec center but had to tell her about my last two weeks and of course today as I figured she ought to know I met this gal down at the creek in a bikini who just showed up as if she had just magically appeared.  Walking out she asked if she knew her and I told her I had never asked her name as well I had to fight it out with my son who decided he liked what he saw.  She put her feet up on my lap and asked if there was anything else that stood out; I told her besides talking to the sheriff about the boy scouts using this place and trying to decide where to put my livestock not much.  She told me it was interesting someone mentioned girl scouts; I told her before she said yes to that she might want to research them a little further.  When she asked what might she find; I told her she might find a CEO who made eight figures a year off the backs of thousands of little girls selling her cookies.  Christina told me she would have to look into that; I told her the boy scouts also had programs for girls.  When she told me she was a girl scout I smiled and asked what they had taught her and she told me okay she might not be the best example.  I pointed inside and told her to go ask her girlfriends how many of them were girl scouts and then ask the nice young lady watching my children if she was in the girl scouts and then ask who was say in the 4-H which by the way a couple of the horses in the barn belonged to children in 4-H and the FFA.  Christina told me it seemed like I had something against girls scouts and I shook my head and told her not against the girls just in how the program was managed and how the management let the consumer of their product believe the money from the cookie sales stayed with the children.  She asked if I had met said management and I told her I had designed several security systems for several of their office facilities around the country and the estate of the lady in charge of that whole racket but that was neither hear not there as they could also let the girls and their moms come out and help muck stables.

She told me I would also need a place for people to eat and that was why she came out in the first place and my dinner was probably once again looking like a hockey puck; and I should really change out the oven.  I told her it worked for what it was and rarely used it, or the rest of the house for that matter.  She told me after I built that big old bed she could not believe it.  Smiling I told her until I was thrown I had not used it since the day she left. When she asked why not I told her it had felt empty.  Walking in she looked around the room she spied Miriam and asked her when she had hooked up with that really cute fellow she was telling her about where did they sleep.  Miriam looked at me and turned red; all the other women were looking at her and then me and finally my ex handler asked me when did this happen.  I shrugged and told her while down in Florida seeing to some business someone offered to show me around the keys and then offered to show me around South Beach and then offered to show me around the inland waterways in Texas on her father in law's or rather her ex father in law's sail boat.  When someone asked how big the boat was I  told her that was privileged information.and anything else they wanted to know about details was none of their business and if they wanted to go their I could start asking them some questions and we could all go to bed hating each other or leave the past behind us and move forward but for the record Miriam and I are still good friends and we talk quite often and do so without digging into each other's bedroom lives and if they all did not mind I was tired and sore and did not mind them spending up all night and they would find on the far end of the equipment shed a kitchen of sorts and picnic area screened in which had a television, ping pong table, pool table and a poker table and if the Marshall's did not completely clean it out there was probably something to help them all go to sleep which they may want to do early as tomorrow about sunrise I would be firing up the iron and starting on the new rec center, pool and play ground so there would be some very loud noises like the chain saw when I fell two of those trees out front.  Christina asked if I could do that all by myself and I told her John was here and he could run any one of those pieces of machinery and when it was time I knew some concrete guys and carpenters.  When John came in I asked if he was here to just play prison guard.

He handed me the twins and told me he was going to ignore that question and I told him good because tomorrow we were going to start turning up some dirt for the new pool area, rec room, and play ground so we should probably drag that old trailer over and park to make it look like it belonged.  Eyeing me he said he supposed since he had not heard of this before no one had seen the plans; I raised my hand and said I had and thankfully I was the foreman on the job as well as the hired help.  Nodding her told me to get some rest and while he fired up everything maybe I could take a moment and borrow crayons from my kids and draw him a map like maybe where the water lines were; gas lines, phone lines and any other buried lines and point out where any sacred burial grounds were as he would rather not have natives trying to scalp him, again. He said just so I knew they had cleaned out that little dining area and hoped i did not mind they poured out the fire water.  I told him it had not been mine and I would rather not some child walk in there and find out what pain and misery could be at such an early age.  I told him good night and he nodded and told Miss Christina it was good to see her happy again.  I eyed her as I went upstairs.  I changed the twins and then after getting myself ready for bed I got them out of their beds as they were talking and brought them back to my room.  That night instead of reciting poetry I started reciting some of Mark Twain's work.   When Christina came in she told me she liked that kitchen I put in. I told her that was not me though I did pay for it and design it.  She asked who put it in; I smiled and told her a couple of my prison guards had been planning on remodeling their kitchens so I held a little class on functional engineering meets design for the do it yourself and save all that money while avoiding the pitfalls of I do not have the slightest clue what I am doing.  As she lay down she eyed me and told me she was hoping I would show her how to get rid of a headache.  I told her first in her case it would have to pass but she might want to learn how to avoid that headache and if she was cool with it I would get back to my story.   She told me they were sound asleep and I told her I know but I was not and neither was she.  Smiling she told me to save my place, leaning over she kissed me and I could still taste the wine or as I kissed her I knew it was champagne.  Three bottles of what was she thinking, of course I could also taste her toothpaste and her.

The fact was I liked champagne, I liked the minty taste of toothpaste and had been known at times in the field to carry a tooth brush and toothpaste just to brush my teeth to get the taste of dirt out of my mouth or oil and of course the taste of the smoke in the later years.  Crazy how things make you jump back in time and tonight it was the toothpaste, champagne and the smell of my wife.  The memories of earlier years which I had to recently go through as I had to detail out my life as an engineering contractor which also included civil engineering on a massive scale and that included the social aspects of society.  Along with the aftermath of war and sometimes even the going in in anticipation of that war to help design plans to limit catastrophic infrastructure damage when possible I had seen the good side of people and tonight as she lay there as I studied her face I knew I was seeing Christina's good side which like her side that had caused me so much pain over the years was not one single thing it was an intricate interlocking of the various aspects of her life, my thoughts broke when she whispered whatever I was doing was working.  I had looked down and watched as she was moving her legs.  I sighed as I looked at the children and she told me Eskimo families as well as other indigenous tribes she recently had learned still all sleep in the same room. and after taking off her robe she looked at me and then shook her head and smiling told me it was just too bad I had so much self control and needed to get up before the crack of dawn.. When I moved the twins in between us and rolled I could feel my leg complaining.  She waited until I got it comfortable and told me if I ever needed to she could kiss it and make it all better.  Smiling I told her then when we started the dozing and playing in the sand box she could sit in my cab and kiss the entire time as it would be doing as much work as me arms.  She told me she got to look at one of those machines when I built her the riding trail or rather my company built it for her and she liked those joysticks and how easy it was to make things move.  Her hand was inside my waist band and told me she liked the feel of the power surging through her fingers.  She had gotten my pants down and was holding on when her lawyer who I guess was my lawyer was standing in the doorway asking if she could use my bathroom as the others were all in use.  Christina put her finger to my mouth and told her we charged by  the hour so she had to make it quick,  I told Christina we had twenty four cabins all with bathrooms three in this house and four in the barn, one in the equipment shed.  Christina told me it was okay and being she just got here this evening and none of them new about the one in the equipment shed and probably did not realize there were even bathrooms in the barn or that the cabins were all unlocked even though they were all in use.  I told her time out and asked how many people did she bring to our honey moon.

Smiling she told me that ended last night or rather early this morning when those men with guns showed up and would have ended this evening as everyone arrived.  I asked who everyone was as I did not see my son or daughters out there, or mom or Steve.  She told me Beth was here as was Maria; Ben's wife.  I shook my head and she told me they had gotten here earlier but like me were leery of her behavior around some of these women so had stayed down in their cabins and helped clean up the dining hall.  Grabbing her hand I pulled it up and held as I placed my hand over the twins who immediately grabbed onto it.  I asked how many and she asked if she got it right did she get to play; I sighed and shook my head.  Smiling she told me accounting had never been her strong suit which is why she guessed Beth would not let her take care of her own check book.  I lay there watching her as she watched the twins and finally asked when she had to be back to work.  She sighed and said she wished she did not have to go back but on Monday she had several consultations and one was a very nasty piece of business as she had to reverse the damage by a fly by night doctor who probably got their license out of their cereal box.  I had started to doze when she asked when I had to be back to work.  I told her officially I was now retired and now worked more or less as a consultant.  Sitting up she told me I owned the company and I pulled her back down and told her some of the companies we now owned but they more or less held my shares of the security consultant company and the engineering and development company and though on paper I might be the boss I no longer received a pay check and did not have a say in the day to day operations.  She was getting mad when she said I built the company and I put my finger to her mouth and told her actually the two companies which actively pursued business had been built by Steve, Beth and Carlos on the one hand and the Colonel and her three one time caretakers ran the security company but she should not worry her self over it as I still owned the larger percentage and they let me design some of the projects.  Christina was going to talk all bight until I rearranged the sleeping layout with her tucked in front of me and the twins in front of her.  I was half awake when her one time lover and friend walked out in her silk kimono style robe.  I awoke early and had planned to be out but there was a stream of women who had to use my bathroom.so I stayed where I was holding Christina and the twins.  I finally asked Miriam when she came what was up and she told me that the boys were out and and rerouting the water to the cabins so they had no hot water or any water.  I told her I would trade her a massage for the use of my shower first.  As she sat on the bed she looked at Christina and told me she looked happy again.  I told her I hoped she was.  I was in and out as I was thinking about the septic system which was no designed to take this much water and then realized it would have to be moved as well.

I was glad i got my shower when I did as the water in the house went off and my lawyer came out of the downstairs shower just as I was headed out the back her hair was still sudsy and she was naked; I pushed her back into the bathroom as the back door was open and told her once she had some clothes on she could rinse her hair in the barn as it was fed by a different well.  Beth was outside in a hard hat and i pulled it off her head and asked what she thought she was doing and she told me she had taken a look at the land and figured where I would most likely put the pool, playground and rec center and some of the boys were down from Alaska so she called them and they traced the water main and found it was leaking because of those huge trees as was my septic system.  Smiling I told her in the desert that was the secret to lush green grass and huge shade trees but that did still did not explain what she was doing as I did not hire her to do any work on this property which was owned by a company completely owned by me.  She told me actually it was only half owned by me based on the state where I secretly got hitched and my better half knowing I would be stubborn asked her to find some help and up to now all they were doing was working on the water system which would not support any more.  She told me the funny thing was the barn was on a different system.  I told her it was because we had four wells on the property but were only using three.  I told her first thing she needed to do was tell the women my house was off limits until further notice. As women made there way to the barn she told me she thought that one was already understood.  I told her even after the water was turned back on.  When the sheriff came walking up along the trench where new pipe was going in he nodded and as he approached me I told him we had a bit of a water leak and pointed to the trees.  He looked up and I told him the septic was also going to need to be replaced.  He asked if I was going to get my permits and I said as soon as I got town.  As he watched the women walking back and forth I told him I was only guessing but the misses who did not get her bridal shower or her bachelorette on the account we had the justice of the peace sign his name on the paper had invited a few friends out for a honey moon is over party.  As I walked with him he hit me up on the boy scout idea and I told him I was keeping that in mind with the swimming pool, play ground and rec room I was putting in.  I watched how as soon as the new pipe was rolled in they were already trenching to the outbuildings. and I could tell they were using ground imaging to find a good place for a new septic system.  When I noticed the trailer had been backed into the equipment shed I smiled.  That thing had to be the oldest and ugliest piece of equipment left over from my early years and it never failed it ended up where I happened to be running a job site.  Now Steve and Carlos provided nice large, climate controlled portable offices that needed their own temporary foundations.  I told Beth that thing could never be dragged onto another job site again and we should think about finding a place to bury it.  Christina with her a mess told me absolutely not; I asked why and she told me it had sentimental value and she wanted it turned into her temporary hideaway wherever I decided I was going to sleep outside.

Looking back as he headed toward the barn she said the only exception was it could not be parked in her driveway.  Nodding to the sheriff I motioned for him to walk across the lawn which was already painted to show where the old septic tank was as well as the old water line.  I told him if those boy scouts wanted to see something he should bring them out later when I dropped those two trees.  I told Beth I needed some drawing paper and crayons.  She eyed me and asked would a paper place mat do.  I told her even better and we walked to the Marshall's hangout and there I sat down and free handed my drawings and penciled in my measurements.  I told her that was for John and I would like some of the flag stone in the water fall to be actual flag stone as well as the coping.  I then used my borrowed crayons to color a set of finished concept drawings.  Beth went and scanned them into her computer and then printed several copies out.  She handed he originals to John who told me it would be added my to his collection of design on a bar stool.