No problem there! I'm thinking of the inquiring minds on the home front!Quote:
Originally Posted by ticky
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No problem there! I'm thinking of the inquiring minds on the home front!Quote:
Originally Posted by ticky
The Hubbies, BF's and SO's? *G* How about I add a town full of Dipsy Chicks... I mean Dixie Chicks and they can all live there? *G* What's good for the goose.. ya know.. *G*
Okay Willie, Time to tote that barge and lift that bail *G* Flex those muscles girl! You're a hired hand!
Stewart had a smug look on his face. He'd put Willie on the back of Ol' Hank, those slowest, dumbest, ugliest gelding in the stables. They liked to use Hank for the grunt work around the ranch, but no one wanted to ride him. He was safe and strong and that was about the best thing that could be said about him. He also had a mean streak and Willie found herself booting Hank in the head several times to keep from being bitten. Every time Hanks head swang around to take a nip out of Willie's calf, Stewart grinned and looked sideways. Luckily for Willie, this was Stewart's tell. Every time she saw Stewart look her way out the side of his eyes, she knew to raise her boot up and push Hanks head back forward. Evidently Stewart and Hank had something in common in the brains department. Willie smiled to herself at what Stewart must be thinking. Maybe this "test" wouldnt be quite so challenging. There were advantages to being under estimated.
They rode out the fence line for a mile or so. Bitter Creek Ranch's spread was further reaching then most people realized. They finally came to a break in the fence line. The equipment was all there. Posts, a post hole digger and barbed wire. So it was going to be fencing. Easy enough Willie thought. Stewart jumped down off his mount, a pretty chestnut filly with a lot of spirit. Willie didnt think she bit much. If she were a horse, she'd bite Stewart.
"Well, here ya go." Stewart swaggerd and grinned at her. He was just sure she was going to take one look at the work to be done and break down.
Willie hopped down and walked confidently over to the last post planted and looked down the line.
"Who's been working on this?" she asked gazing down the line.
Stewart grinned. She was going to ask for help, he was sure of it.
"I was, but I have bigger fish to fry. Its all yours now." He was so cocky.
"Well, it's pretty shoddy work. My fence wont line up very well with yours. Yours is off line." Willie walked away from the last post and paced off to the marker for the next post. "And if I start from where's you've marked, it'll be even more off line."
She walked back to the set post. She pulled a tape measure from her back pocket and pulled out several inches. She held the measure up and sighted it against the last straight post, about 500 yards back, and measured out to a spot about 3 yards to the side of Stewart's last post. She walked to that spot, and paced out 4 yards and she was a good 6 yards off the last marker Stewart had set.
"See? this is the true line. You're about 6 yards off! Do you want me to pull the off set posts and remeasure, set the rest of the posts off or reset the line and just have a jagged line?" Willie stared at Stewart waiting for a response.
Stewart fumed. If this had been a cartoon, steam would be coming out of his ear, but instead his face was red and his jaw was clenched. His eyes narrowed and his pursed lips turned up into an disturbing smile.
"Yeah, if you *think* my work is shoddy and uneven, why dont you just pull it all and start over" Stewart thought he was being so clever. Willie was a little confused at this. It had been her idea. A job worth doing, was worth doing right and if that meant pulling up some half-assed missed placed posts, then she'd do it.
"Great! now if you're not going to help, you'd better get out of the way. I wouldnt want you to get hurt." Willie grinned back at Stewart. He glared at her. She'd probably made an enemy, but Stewart wasnt her problem, not yet anyway.
Willie picked up the post hole digger and tied it to Hanks back. She mounted him and looked down at Stewart.
"Im going down to the last straight post. Thats about 500 yards back. I'll start there." She grinned at Stewart and rode down the fence line.
Willie got to the straight section of fence and tied off Hank, swatted him away from her shoulder as he was going in for a nice juicy bite and untied the post hole digger. She was just headed towards the crooked post when Stewart went flying by on his pretty little chestnut mare. Poor horse would be winded and sore by the time he got back to the stable the way he was riding her. Willie just shook her head. Some people had no business riding horses.
Willie spent the rest of the day relining the fence posts, digging the post holes and kicking, pushing and pulling the posts loose. She'd gotten to the last of the miss-set posts when she saw Fiddler on the back of a very handsome Arabian stallion. His horse was young and a bit jumpy but beautiful! He still had his gray muzzle and feet but the rest of him was white except for a little dappling on his hind quarters. He was something right out of a fairy tale.
Willie watched Fiddler ride up. Now this was a man who knew how to ride. He handled his mount like a loving parent of an anxious child, and his horse, in return, followed every movement of Fiddler's long lean body like a conductor of a symphony. They were beautiful to watch. Willie found herself leaning on the unset post and watching when Fiddler finally reached her.
"You've been out here a long time. Thought you'd be further then this. Aint this where Stewart left off?" Fiddler was talking to her but staring off into the distance. His way of keeping her in her place, she supposed.
"Had to reset his posts." Willie said half to the ground and half to Fiddler's feet. The sun was directly behind him and it was hard to look at his silhouette. "They were off line."
Fiddler's head snapped around. Willie assumed he was looking at her, but it was hard to tell in the sunset. He rode off down the line and stopped at the first post Willie'd reset. He walked his horse around the area till he found the filled hole she'd emptied when she pulled the post and reset it. Fiddler rode to the next missed place post hole now refilled with soil and then the next and next. He sat on his horse at the last missed place post hole a good 6 yards from where Willie now stood with the post and the new hole and looked down the line. Fiddler pursed his lips and looked down. A quiet but audible string of expletives came drifting away from him. Willie turned her head away and smiled.
Fiddler finally looked up at Willie. "Well, I think you've bout proved yourself out here, young lady."
"Willie, my names Willie." She said directly to him. She didnt look away. She'd earned that much respect and she would have it.
"Willie." Fiddler grinned at her. "Alright Willie. We'll see how you do with the other chores tomorrow." He glanced over at Hank who was sleeping tied to the fence. "I see you have some horse skills. You're riding Hank and you dont seem to be hurt!"
Willie grinned. "Hank isnt so bad. Kind of like a man I used to date. Just keep an eye on him and kick him in the head when he tries to bite."
Fiddler threw his head back and laughed at this.
"Well maybe so, but I think we can do you better." Fiddler grinned at Willie. He was starting to like this lady. She might just be able to hold her own out here. "Come to the stable when you get back and we'll see what we can round up for you."
"Right!" Willie grinned back and began to align the post she'd been leaning against.
Fiddler watched her. "You comin?"
"Right after I finish setting this last post." Willie grunted as she pushed and pulled the post straight and started to pack the dirt around the base.
Fiddler jumped down off the little Arabian and looped his reins around the a pile of posts. He helped Willie set the post and fill it in. They worked well together and finished fast. Then they both mounted up and rode off down the new and straight fence line towards the barn.
Yea Willie!! you go girl!!
Nice Job, Willie!
*G* time for someone new!
Cami had been driving for hours. She'd actually been on the road for days. She was heading east, but to where, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that the rural country side of Southern Oregon just didnt hold anything for her anymore. She was moving east, somewhere and it was her car that had made her decision for her. She'd just past a sign saying EAGLESVILLE 3 MILES when her '93 Honda Civic started bucking and making noises. she drove another 100 yards and it made a huge gasp and rolled to a stop. Steam or smoke was rolling out from under the hood and she didnt think it would be a very good idea to pop the hood and take a look. She picked up a small back pack off the back seat. It was her emergency over night bag. A tooth brush, change of underthings, fresh shirt, a few dollars and some condoms. You never knew what you might need. Cami headed out down the road.
What fantastic timing ,she thought sarcastically. The temperature on the road had to be about 110 degrees and it was mid day. She walked about 200 yards before she started to look for a place to wait out the midday heat. Of course there were no cars coming in either direction, no buildings of any kind in sight, no horses, no cows, no signs of life anywhere. Just the promise of some Po-dunk little burg in the middle of no-where called Eaglesville. She thought maybe it should have been called Vulturesville from the looks of her surroundings, or maybe Deathvalley if she didnt get out of the heat soon.
She scanned the horizon. The Dark Dessert Highway meandered off into the distance without an end in sight. It was tumbleweeds and scrub brush as far as the eye could see in one direction but on the other side of the road and down a ways was a small recessed valley. It was so far below the Highway, Cami hadnt seen it at first glance. It was filled with scrub brush and and scrub oaks. All of it was green and shady. Cami knew this meant two things, water and relief from the heat. She headed off the road to the cool of the small glen. The path that did not exist was rough as she made it. There were two large inclines to traverse and several rocks and small boulders to hop, walk or trip over. Her nikes held up well under the rough terrain but her feet were hot and tired by the time she hit the small twisted scrub oaks that lined the charming rocky stream that flowed beneath them. Her shoes were off and her feet were deep in the water with in minutes of having spotted the perfect sitting rock. Cami sat on the rock and leaned back on her hands. The water felt fantastic, almost like it was healing her whole body as she sat there soaking. She could feel her elevated temperature returning to normal, her sore muscles and bruised feet sooth and heal. Even her bruised ego and torn spirit seemed to heal in the magic waters of this stream. After what seemed like a short time she picked up her shoes and stood in the stream. She took a good long look all around her. The wind was scant there in this hidden valley, but it blew through the tops of the scraggly trees swaying them back and forth. Cami felt herself swaying with the trees as the wind rocked them. She watched them for a while, and thats when she noticed the tower through the branches of one solitary oak that sat up farther on the far bank then the others. This was no scrub oak either. It was a grand and majestic old tree. Its branches leaned way out over the creek bed lending to the shade in the gully. A tower seemed odd to Cami. It wasnt like a castle tower though, it was more like a Heathcliff and Kathy tower that belonged on the moors of England.
She couldnt tell much from her vantage point, so she walked down the creek a few yards till she came to a genlter slope on the creekside. It just happened to be directly below the majestic oak tree, so Cami pulled herself up the slope and stood beneath the century old tree. She looked at it in awe. It was enormous and far too wide around to put your arms. She walked around it and gazed. On one side there were carvings that started high on the trees trunk and worked their way down. They were all the same, well mostly. they were all hearts with initials carved in them. The only thing that changed were the initials! Cami gingerly touched the lowest carving which was still far above her head. She couldnt make out the initials except for the distinct "F" that seemed to be inside each heart, all the other initials varied. Finally Cami turned her attention to the old run down mansion that sat on the grounds behind the big tree. It had once been a show place. It was grand. It had enormous circular tiered verandas and large bay windows, now without their glass. Large broken cement pots flanked what had once been the doorways onto the balcony's that now hung by a hope and a prayer from the back of the once magnificent structure, and over all two towers loomed. Both looking worse for the wear of the passing years and both about to fall. Cami desperately wanted to see inside the old place, but it was just not safe. She walked around the outside taking it all in, making a mental movie to recall another day. This place was amazing. Alfred Hitchcock would have loved it! Maybe he did! Cami laughed and shook her head. She was in the middle of no-where, The Twilight Zone! Alfred Hitchcock probably never heard of Eaglesbuge or Vulturesville or whatever this place was called. The Sun was starting to go down behind the trees. Down in the little gultch it would get dark fast and getting back out in the dark would be next to impossible. She scuttled down the banks and across the creek to her satchel. She scooped it up and hurried up the other side of the gultch to the heat infested dessert. UGH! the temperature had to be a good 40 degrees hotter in this last 3 yards! She began to think about the old house. Why had the heat there been so temperate? This had her wondering a lot about the things she'd seen. She walked slowly looking down as she made her way back to her car. Thats why she didnt see him leaning against her car grinning at her.
OOOO who could he be?? *G*
I will own this d*mn ranch before it's all over!!!:whip:
Willie, don't you be stealin' my Fiddler! :fight:
wink wink, nudge nudge
Cami looked up at the silhouette in the sunset and walked slowly to the edge of the incline. He squatted down and reached out his hand to her. She hesitated. She had no idea who this man was and she'd heard stories about stranded women and strangers. When Cami just stood looking up at him, he dropped his hand.
"Is this your car?" the shadow asked.
"Yeah," she wasnt offing any unsolicited information till she knew who this guy was.
"I drove by earlier and saw it here. I kind of figured who ever was driving it must be down by the creek. Thats where I'd be on a hot nasty day like this."
"Uh huh." Cami kept her eyes on him.
He looked down at his boots for a moment and then back up at Cami.
"I'm Jessie by the way." and he held out his hand for her to shake. She looked warily up at him and held out her hand .
"Cami." She still wasnt smiling
"Cami, it's very nice to meet you." Cami knew that if she'd been able to see him, he'd be smiling, just from the sound of his voice.
He clasped her hand firmly and shook it gently. He had strong hands that were warm and dry.
"Now before I let go, do you want a hand up?' Jessie voice was warm and courteous. Cami's leg were tired from hurrying up the other two embankments. She thought she really could use a hand or she might end up falling on her face.
"sure." Cami grasped Jessie's hand more firmly and he pulled as she stepped up and up. Soon she was standing on the side of the road with Jessie still holding her hand. She paused for a moment to take in the young man who'd come to her rescue. He was beautiful. His long legs were jeans clad, he was wearing a black t-shirt that must have been at least two sizes too small but seemed to fit him as if it were painted on. He was all ripples and bumps and all in the right places His neck was long and his chin was square with a small cleft and covered with a days worth of stubble. Cami figured this was one of those guys who wore stubble as a fashion statement. For him it worked. His smile showed white straight teeth like that of a movie star but Cami was pretty sure they were from years of a good farm boy diet and a Momma who was diligent about her little boys dental hygiene. His eye, wow, were dark blue, like the Mediterranean ocean and his hair was dark brown like rich chocolate. It hung down across his forehead and was obviously in need of a cut because it kept falling in his eyes and hung down over his t-shirt collar. It was beautiful. Cami felt an obsessive need to run her fingers through over and over and over.
"H..h..h.hi." She said then she shook her head and realized she was still holding this man's hand and dropped it quickly. "Oh, and thanks."
Jessie grinned at her. She was pretty! She had long dark reddish brown hair and dark eyes. Her olive complexion gave her an exotic look.
"Oh that was no problem. All a part of the service."
"service?" Cami's mind was obviously in a very different place around this devastatingly handsome man. She just kept thinking of all the services she had for him to do. She nearly smiled, but thought maybe she should keep those thoughts to herself for the mean time.
Jessie turned around and looked back behind Cami's dead car to a large red tow truck parked directly behind her back to back, bumper to bumper. He waved his hand towards the truck and glanced back at Cami, a cross ways smile cracked his chiseled cheeks.
"Jessie's tow service. Thats me, Im Jessie."
"Well Jessie," Cami was going to take charge,. This guy was great looking, but he was probably ten years younger then she was. She didnt have the time of the patients to play kid's games. "Im pretty sure there is a town just up the road. A sign back there said Eagles gultch or Vulture City or something like that."
Jessie laughed. It was like music, deep and chesty. It made Cami's knees a little weak.
"That'd be Eaglesville. Thats where I'm from, well, kind of. Thats where I was from but Im coming home I guess you'd call it." Jessie's eyes rolled and he turned and walked towards the back of the car. Cami was taken a little by surprise and followed quickly making up for her pause to take in the implications of his home-coming.
"Lets get you hooked up" Jessie went right to work and in a few moments had Cami's car's back end dangling from the tow truck. It looked terribly undignified and she felt for the poor car's humiliation. It reminded her of a visit to her gynecologist's office. She patted her car's fender.
"I know how you feel" she said quietly to the car. Jessie must have heard her because his magical laugh came floating across her ears again. She glanced back at him. He was standing by the passenger door to his truck with one hand on his hip watching her. A tell-tale grin on his face. He had heard her. She blushed.
"The Truck's not a luxury vehicle, but it will get us to the garage and it does have air conditioning." He smiled at her. She wasnt sure if it was the idea of air conditioning or his smile that made her feet move without her consent, but suddenly she was at his side. Being somewhat confused at how she'd gotten there, she looked down at her feet and cursed them silently for being so easy.
"Shall we?" Jessie held the door open for her and offered his hand for her for ballast to get in the truck. It was a good couple of steps off the ground. Maybe it was all the climbing she'd already done that day or maybe it was the heat but her knee buckled and she fell back. Jessie caught her in both arms and swung her around in a circle.
"WHOA!" he steadied himself agaist the truck still holding her like a babe in arms. "You okay?" He was genuinely concerned. It had been a scary fall and she'd just been lucky he'd been there to catch her. Her arms clutched around his neck tightly. He was strong! and warm and felt very safe and good. She breathed deeply and waited to answer till she could speak.
"Yeah, I think so, but maybe we should get out of here. I could use a drink." Jessie grinned at her.
"You got it!" He carried her back to the door of the truck and lifted her inside. She hated to let go of him, but she felt safe inside the truck when she finally did have to let go. He shut her door and scuttled around to the other side of the truck to get in the driver side. Cami took that time to regain some of her composure and fix her hair. She looked in the visor mirror. YIKES! Had something made a nest in it? She tried without success to smooth down the ratty areas and pulled out a twig. OH GREAT! trees are in her hair. How attractive is that?
Jessie got in the drivers side and smiled at her. "Off we go. I think you're going to like Eaglesville, I know they're going to LOVE you!"
Ok.. I'll write more, maybe tonight.. but I need to post this now. *G*
ok, this is going to be short. Im tired and I need sleep *G* but I gotta get to the weirdness!!
Cami stared out the window of the truck. She knew if she turned and looked at Jessie she wouldnt be able to look away, and that could be awkward. She remembered the old house she'd seen on the other side of the creek and she looked at Jessie quickly.
"When I was down by the creek I saw an old house on the other side. Do you know anything about that place?"
Jessie smiled.
"Sure! its the haunted house! Every neighborhood has one. An old run down place that the kids like to dare each other to go in. A make out place for the teenagers. A place to go and drink beer or ... do other things." Jessie blushed and grinned.
Cami had been right. Once she started looking at him, she had a hard time looking away.
"You didnt go inside did you?" Jessie was really concerned.
"Oh no. that place is falling down! besides, there was just something about it. I dont know. It didnt seem to want visitors." Cami's skin crawled at the thought of going in the big old mansion.
"It didnt. Others have said the same thing. It's definitely haunted but by what or who or why, I have no idea. I dont think anyone does." Jessie was paying more attention to his driving. It was nearly dark now and they were turning off the Dark Desert Highway on to a road called Seven Bridges Road. There was a nasty looking diner called The Sad Cafe and a nastier looking motel called The Last Resort. Cami thought they were very aptly named places. Right behind The Sad Cafe was a garage called "The Last Good Tire In Town".
"Cute name." Cami watched the sign swing precariously on the rusty chains that held it up over the front door. There was only one bay, but then how many would a small town like this need? So far she wasnt overly thrilled with Eaglesville. She looked at Jessie. But then again...
OK, bed time...
"The Last Good Tire In Town" :hilarious::hilarious::hilarious: Ticky---you are so funny!!!