sorry, ticky's been preoccupied *G* I promise I havent forgotten ya'll *G*
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sorry, ticky's been preoccupied *G* I promise I havent forgotten ya'll *G*
I eagerly await to see what you come up with next Rhonda
I've tried to be very patient (since if I remember right, I was in Timothy's arms last time we were in the story) but I think we could all use a fix. Rhonda, I'm sure you can't possibly be that busy with the holidays and family and all-right? Could you maybe find some time for the rest of us here? :hilarious:
OK guys, here ya go.. *G* There's more to come ..
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Jessie had promised Cami he'd find her a washer and dryer, he hadn't told her where.
"Unfortunately, Eaglesville doesn't seem to be large enough to merit a laundromat, so we have to make due."
Cami looked at Jessie in the drivers seat of the tow truck and raised her eye brows. "Please tell me we're not going to pound our clothes on rocks in the creek."
Jessie laughed and grinned. "Nah, I promised you a washer/dryer and we'll find 'em."
Cami was skeptical but Jessie seemed to know where they were going so she sat in the seat next to him and watched the scenery go by. Eaglesville wasn't all that small population wise. She'd met quite a few people and she knew there were more. It rated a motel and a diner, albeit not the most glamorous of establishments, but they were there and supported themselves. Cami thought about what wasn't here and what would be beneficial to the town. Definitely a laundromat, and a store! Were the people here having to drive to the next town to buy groceries?
"Does Eaglesville have a store?" Cami turned her head to Jessie. He grinned. "Yeah, we do. It's just a small general store run by Don, well it's supposed to be run by Don, but his little sister's been minding it for some time now. She's just 18, but a smart kid!"
Cami cocked her head at Jessie.
"Where is it?" All she had known about Eaglesville was the hotel, the diner and Jessie's garage.
"It's on Seven Bridges Road just past the second bridge." Jessie had just pulled up the drive of the Bitter Creek Ranch. Cami had seen the gate and the drive, but hadn't been here yet. She knew Jessie's brother's ran the ranch and Jessie was a partner in it. She hadn't known how big it was.
"..if you want, we can go there when we're finished with laundry." Jessie was grinning like Christmas morning.
Cami looked at him and smirked. "You're enjoying all this, aren't you?"
Jessie grinned at her.
"Well, yeah! I mean I usually don't like doing chores like this. It's boring and time consuming. But doing them with you, well, it's kind of nice. Like being a real couple just living our everyday life." He was thrilled with the concept. Funny, it'd been the everyday life stuff that had made Cami run away from her last life, and now here she was looking at this beautiful man thrilled to live this simple, uncomplicated life. It was starting to look very appealing to her too. She smiled back at him.
Jessie pulled the truck up in front of the ranch house. He leaned over and pulled her close pressing his warm lips softly to hers.
"It's doing these things with you that makes then special."
Cami blushed and smiled. Jessie grinned at her as she turned away. Raw, real and honest emotion was something that was still hard for her to accept openly.
Jessie hopped out of the truck and pulled the bag of dirty laundry from behind the seat. Cami slipped from the truck and stood looking at the ranch house. It was big with a covered front porch that wrapped all the way around the house as far as she could tell from the front. There were a set of steps that lead up the porch to the front door. An elaborate old fashioned screen door covered the large solid front door. Big picture windows flanked either side of the house and rocking chairs, three of them, sat in front of the window on the left side, while a what was once white wicker settee, table and chair sat in front of the other. Jessie walked around to Cami's side with the laundry bag slung over his shoulder.
"Wow! this place is amazing! It's like a scene from a movie or a TV show!" Cami was gazing at the gable windows above the porch. Three of them protruded from the upper floor.
Jessie looked up and grimaced. "Yeah, my big brothers like to live that straight and narrow cowboy code kind of life." Jessie escorted Cami up the steps and into the house. There was a type of stand in the entryway, Cami was pretty sure it was called a hall tree. It had hooks on the top for coats and hats, a stand below for shoes, boots and umbrellas and a large mirror in the middle. Cami caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair was wild and completely out of control.
"YIKES! Oh wow! I didn't realize how bad my hair had gotten." Cami was primping and pressing her hair in the mirror to no avail. Jessie stood behind her and looked in the mirror over her shoulder.
"Whadaya mean? I think you look great." Jessie grinned at her and kissed her neck. He walked into the living room and dropped the laundry bag on the faded Persian style rug.
"I don't suppose you have a hair dresser in town?" Cami was still grimacing in front of the mirror. Jessie let out a short laugh.
Just then Willie pushed through the swinging half door from the kitchen. She smiled at Jessie and looked over and saw Cami. She looked back to Jessie.
"Well hey you two! What's so funny?"
Jessie hefted the laundry bag again and grinned at Willie.
"Hey Willie, good ta see ya. Cami thinks she needs a hair dresser. Mind if I borrow the washer for a bit?"
Willie looked at Cami who was distressing in front of the hall mirror.
"Sure Jess, No problem. I just finished doing some myself." Willie walked over to Cami. "I'm afraid there isn't anything like a hair dresser in Eaglesville, but I used to cut hair back home in the off season. I worked at the "Curl up and Dye" salon from October through March. I can cut your hair if you'd like."
Cami spun and looked at Willie. "Really? I just hate it when it's like this. The dry weather here gives me such bad split ends and my hair looks like a whirlwind nightmare!"
Willie grinned. "Sure. Looks like your guy has the laundry under control. Why don't you go get your hair wet and Ill get my scissors. Meet me in the dining area."
Cami grinned back at Willie. "Thanks, I really appreciate this." Willie pointed Cami in the direction of the bathroom and trotted off to her bedroom to find her scissors. She came back and found a chair in the dining room with a low back and a fresh garbage bag which she cut a hole in to fit over Cami's head. Cami came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head. She saw Willie waiting for her at the dining room table and sat down in the chair offered to her. Willie opened the garbage bag and started to put it over Cami's head.
"WHOA! What's this?" Cami ducked. Willie laughed.
"it's okay, it's clean, brand new! I just didn't want stray hairs getting down your back."
"OH! right! good thinking!" Cami grinned and then grimaced as Willie slipped on the garbage bag and fit the hole over her head. Willie began combing out Cami's long dark hair and she shook her head.
"This climate is not doing your hair any favors. You know, there is a shampoo you can get down at the general store that would help you. It's made for horses, but it's great for long hair that's prone to get dry."
"Horse shampoo? you want me to use Horse shampoo?" Cami was agasp.
Willie laughed. "I know it sounds weird, but it really works. Just try it. I'll lend you mine.."
Cami looked at Willie's hair. It was all tied back now in a long blond braid, but it was thick and shiny and beautiful.
"Well, if it will manage my hair like it does yours.."
Willie grinned."It will! I promise!"
Willie began to snip away when Jessie came in and took a seat by the table near Cami.
"I still don't see what the fuss was about. You look beautiful to me." Jessie grinned at her. Cami smirked and looked at Willie. Willie smirked and looked back. Both women rolled their eyes with a shared "men.."
Cami grinned at Jessie. "Thanks, Honey. My hair is just uncontrollable when it gets too long and dry."
Jessie raised his eye brows and shrugged.
James came down the stairway on the far side of the living room tucking in his denim shirt. He looked up and saw the threesome in the dining room area and blushed.
"Oh hey. I didn't know we had company. Hey Jess, hey Cami. Now Willie, What's going on? You opening a salon here?" James grinned at her teasingly.
Willie smiled but didn't look away from her work.
"A girl's gotta make a living." She grinned.
James paused at the kitchen door. "Well, if you put it that way, I'm next! any coffee left?"
Willie sighed. "Sure, why not?" She said under her breath. "Yeah, fresh pot!"
James walked out of the kitchen with a steaming mug and looked up at Jessie as if he'd just noticed him.
"Hey little brother, what are you doing here?"
Jessie grinned at James. "Been here the whole time, James. Something got you preoccupied?" Jessie raised an eye brow just as Sheriff Soda came down the stairs in an over sized t-shirt and nothing else. She looked at the group sitting around the table, turned around and ran back up the stairs.
James blushed and grinned.
"I was just wondering what brought you out this way, Jess."
Jessie stifled a snicker as he turned away from the stairway. "Just wanted to borrow the facilities. You know, this town really should have a laundromat."
"And a salon!" Cami piped up. Willie brushed the hair trimmings from the garbage bag and pulled it over Cami's head.
"All done, who's next?" Willie looked at James with an 'I dare you' look in her eye.
James grinned. "Guess that'd be me."
Cami brushed her lap off and hurried off to the bathroom to have a good look in the mirror.
"Hey Cami? why don't you go ahead and use my shower and try the Mane and Tail shampoo. I promise. It'll make a world of difference!" Willie was fitting the garbage bag over James' head. He was looking slightly trepidatious.
"It's CALLED Mane and Tail? You want me to use something called Mane and Tail?" Cami looked incredulously at Willie. Willie laughed.
"Yeah, it's great stuff for your hair!" Willie held up the end of her own braid. It was, indeed shiny and strong.
Cami shrugged." As long as I don't grow a tail and start whinnying" She trudged off through the kitchen towards Willie's room.
Cami pushed Willie's bedroom door open slowly. It felt strange walking into someone elses room when they werent there, like you were invading their privacy. Willie's room was small but very tidy, except her bed was unmade. Cami was staring at it as she walked towards the bathroom. It seemed odd and out of place that her clothes would be picked up and her dresser so tidy and yet she'd left her bed torn up. She pushed on the bathroom door and it pushed back swinging wide open as Cami bumped full force into Tim. She screamed a small shreik and jumped back a few feet. Tim stood in the bathroom door in just his jeans grinning. His hair was damp and loose.
"OH my God you scared me to death." Cami was standing half bent over in Willie's room trying to catch her breath.
Tim laughed. "Sorry, I didnt mean to startle you. I thought you were Willie."
Cami grinned. "No Im sorry. I should have known you'd be close by. Willie is in the dining room cutting hair."
Tim raised his eye brows. "Really? that lady of mine seems to have many talents." He grinned wide as if he were reliving a not too distant memory.
Cami smirked. "Well, yeah, she did a great job on my hair, but she wanted me to wash it with her horse shampoo.Tim laughed.
"It's good stuff. I use it."
"That's what I hear." cami said trying hard not to look at Tim's bare chest. "..uhh. I mean that it's good stuff, not that you use it, although your hair loks great." Cami blushed.
Tim laughed. "Thanks, Im gonna go get dressed now and find Willie."
"Good idea!" Cami paused thinking about what she'd said. She took a breath as if to say something else but just said "..right." and closed the door to the bathroom.
Willie was just finishing up with James when Tim came in the room.
"Hey baby, I heard you were in here giving out free haircuts." Tim sauntered up to Willie, pulled her close and kissed her neck.
James ran a hand through his hair and looked into the hall mirror.
"She does a damn fine job too! Thank Willie." James grinned in the mirror admiring his new hair style. The longer bangs and top made him look 10 years younger. Willie had shortened the sides a little and the back but left a little longer on the front and top. His dark hair drifted across his forehead giving him a boyish quality but the slight graying on his temples made him look sexy and distinguished like a rakish James Bond.
Tim looked at Willie and grinned. "Yeah, she's a woman of many many talents." Willie blushed and hushed Tim with a grin.
James grinned at Tim and winked at Willie as he trotted into the kitchen. He came out with another steaming mug of coffee and headed up the stairs. A buzzer sounded from the kitchen and Jessie jumped up.
"That'd be my first load." and trotted off into the kitchen. A few seconds later a stream of expletives came wafting out the door. Jessie appeared in the kitchen door.
"The damn washer's busted! everything is still soaked! anybody know anything about washers?"
"I do." It was Cami's voice from behind Jessie. He turned around. Her hair was damp but pulled back and she was wearing one of Jessie's old t-shirts and her last pair of clean jeans.
"You do?" Jessie wasn't sure weather to be impressed or drag her back in to Willie's room and lock the door.
Cami grimaced. "Yeah, the washer I had back in Oregon was always breaking down and I couldn't afford to get a new one. It was 20 years old and still going strong when I left. Let me see what I can do with this. Sounds like the belt." She unplugged the washer and pulled it out from the wall. She used a butter knife to unscrew the back and poked her damp head in. She twisted, grunted, pulled and kicked. Jessie turned to Tim.
"Is it wrong for me to be turned on right now?" He grinned and Tim laughed.
"Yes." came resounding from inside the washer. Cami pulled herself out of the washer. She had a grease smear across her cheek and her damp hair was falling in her face. She pushed the washer back in to the wall, plugged it back in and closed the lid. She rest the dial to spin and WHOOSH, it took off spinning.
"That was incredible!" Jessie pulled her close and wiped the grease smear off with his thumb before kissing the same spot. Tim patted her shoulder.
"Good job."
Willie grinned at her. "Seems all of us ladies have hidden talents, you lucky men!"
Jessie reloaded the washer when the spin cycle finished and loaded the wet clothes in the dryer.
Willie and Tim headed back into the dining room. Willie began to clean up the hair on the floor but groaned and sat heavily in the chair.
Tim looked at her and furrowed his brow.
"You okay, sweetheart?"
Willie smiled at him. "Yeah, I just way over did the other day." She shook her head and sighed. "Tim, I don't think I can keep up that pace. I'm just not as young as I used to be. I can still work hard, but that's young peoples work," she sighed again, "young man's work."
Tim stood behind her rubbing her shoulders. She moaned and leaned back into him. He bent down and placed his lips against her ear. "You are a woman of many great talents. You can do anything you set your mind to. If this isn't what you want to do, we will find something else." he kissed her ear and she sighed happily.
Sheriff Soda appeared at the top of the stairs again. She was still dressed in one of James' old t-shirts but now had on a pair of socks. She ran down the stairs and stood in front of Willie. She grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Did you cut James hair?" Her eyes were wild. Willie feared for her safety.
"ye..yeah, is something wrong?"
She hugged Willie tight. "Wrong? no! I wanted to say thank you! It's perfect. He looks younger.." Sheriff Soda whispered into Willie's ear, "He's acting younger too, if you know what I mean." She grinned at Willie and winked. She giggled and ran back up the stairs.
Curl Up 'N Dye...lol! I bet you have one of those in Oregon, don't you!
You'd think, right? *G* nahh I think it was in Chicago. It was the salon where Carrie Fisher worked in The Blues Brothers but it's a classic name isnt it?
Boy, I had forgotten that. You have quite a memory...
Curl Up N Dye--To good!!!! I also need to get me some Mane & Tail--I have the long blond hair but I also have split ends! Actually my son really did use to use that shampoo when his hair was long a few years ago. It really does work!
Great to have the story back! Thanks Ticky!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by eaglesvet
We have one in Ireland
Ok, here's a little more. If I dont completely loose it and go after my beloved family with a hatchet, there may be more *G* it's STILL SNOWING!!!
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Willie, Tim, Cami and Jessie looked after Sheriff Soda who ran giggling back up the stairs.
"Wow," Willie looked at Tim. "What was that about"
Tim raised his eye brows and shrugged.
"She seemed really happy. What was it she said to you?" Cami had pulled her eyes away from the stairs and looked at Willie.
"She just said that James was acting younger."
Tim and Jessie attempted to stifle a laugh but didn't succeed. Cami raised her eye brows at Willie who furrowed her brow at the three. Slowly her eye brows relaxed and a smile spread almost as fast as a blush did across her face.
"Ohhh... I understand."
Tim grinned at her. "and I was going to offer to demonstrate for you." He leaned down and placed a firm slow kiss on her head.
Tim stood in front of Willie and held out his hands. She took them and he pulled her up out of the chair. He spun her around and sat in her chair. He lifted his hair over the back of the chair and sighed.
"My turn!"
Jessie, Cami and Willie stood staring at him dumbfounded.
"Tim! No! I couldn't! I would never!" Willie was stuttering and near tears. Tim laughed and took her hand.
"I just want a trim! Just clean it up a little."
Willie bit her lip. She ran her fingers through his hair and down his back. He leaned his head back and smiled up at her.
"You can do it. I trust you."
Willie smiled. Tim had such beautiful hair, long and wavy, thick and silky. It felt almost liquid under her fingers. She watched her hands running through his hair and suddenly had an urge to snip off the dead ends. She ran her hands through his hair a few more times and picked up her scissors. Her hands moved almost automatically snipping off the ends and trimming the bottom. She added some shape and texture to his hair and when she was finished, Tim stood.
Willie stared at him with her mouth agape. He looked wonderful, he looked younger, sexy and a glow.
"wow" she whispered under her breath.
Tim touched his hair. "What? too much?"
Willie grinned. "I'll say! Umm.. unless anyone else wants a cut, I think I'm done." Willie grabbed Tim's hand and pulled him towards the bedroom. "Come look in my mirror." Willie grinned mischievously.
"Dang woman! you're insatiable!" Tim was grinning big and not putting up any fight.
Jessie laughed and sat down. Cami walked up to him and he pulled her into his lap. Her dark hair was shorter and tapered around her face. It fell around her shoulders softly. It was nearly dry now and the horse shampoo had done miracles for it. It was shiny and soft and hung in deep chestnut waves across her shoulder blades. Jessie ran his fingers thorough it pulling it off her neck and burying his face in it.
"mmm, you smell delicious." He nibbled her neck. "You taste pretty good too!"
Cami giggled and pushed away from him a little. She looked at him and smiled.
"I know there is sex happening all around us right now, but you'll have to control yourself a little while longer! At least till we finish the laundry!"
Jessie sighed. "Well maybe I can make myself useful." He gave Cami a big wet kiss, patted her backside and stood up. He headed for the kitchen and started pulling things out of the refrigerator.
"Cami had followed him into the kitchen and stood leaning on the doorframe watching him.
"So... what exactly are you doing?"
Jessie grinned back at her over the refrigerator door. "I'm gonna make a mess of my kick-ass killer chili!"
Cami raised her eye brows at him. "Killer?" she grinned. "Sounds dangerous."
Jessie grinned a mischievous grin back. "OH, it is! but its sooo damn good!"
Cami's eyes narrowed and she smirked. She slowly sauntered over to the refrigerator and stood behind him. He looked amazingly good in those jeans, his T-shirt riding up just enough to show the smooth tanned skin underneath as he bent over. his dark hair swung across his face and neck as he stood. Cami placed her hands on his hips and pressed against him. She whipsered in his ear. "That sounds like you, Dangerous, but Ohh... Sooo... gooood." her lips brushed his skin as she spoke and she punctuated each of the last three words with a small soft kiss to his neck. Jessie stood up straight in the refrigerator door and grinned with a package of meat in one hand and three peppers in the other.
"Oh Now you get all warm and fuzzy on me when I got my hands full of meat and peppers!" He held up his produce.
"Like that's going to stop you?" Cami grinned at him, a definite challenge in her voice. Jessie paused, a slow grin crossed his face then a laugh.
"That sounds like a challenge."
Cami raised her eye brows and smirked. "Oh did it? Well, I understand if you cant manage to do more then one thing at a time. I mean MEN just aren't good at multitasking." Cami lifted her hands and turned to walk away.
Jessie's arm flew around her and pinned her against him.
"WAIT a second there, little girl." Jessie's voice was a little ragged against the back of her neck and his hands were still filled with a package of raw meat and the peppers, but his arms held her fast. "I know when I'm being baited." His lips brushed her skin as he spoke. Without letting go of her he tossed the meat and peppers into the sink on the other side of the kitchen and his now empty hands slid neatly around her waist and spun her around to look at him. His eyes were warm and glazed, his hands slid under her shirt to caress the bare skin of her lower back. His lips brushed hers as he spoke.
"You are a very naughty girl. I like naughty girls. They have good ideas." Jessie's voice was rough and deep. Cami smiled and whispered some of her best ideas in his ear. The chili would have to wait.
""Tim! No! I couldn't! I would never!" Willie was stuttering and near tears. Tim laughed and took her hand.":
Darn right I would be in tears!!! You had me scared there for a minute! I thought I was going to be made responsible for the loss of those beautiful locks! Yikes!! Glad I just got to run my hands thru it and make it all pretty again!:-P
Fab add, as always. Lots of fun to read!
See? it's right here *G* I've been crazy busy with other stuff, but I'll try and add to it today *G* okay?
Here's a little bit. Im on a writing jag right now and if I dont fall asleep to early tonight, There'll be more!! *G*
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James wandered down the stairs and through the dining area. He noted the hair cutting remnants still littering the floor and table. He wasn’t too worried about any messes he saw, he knew it'd get cleaned up. He pushed the door to the kitchen wide and shuffled to the cupboard. He pulled out a glass, shuffled to the refrigerator and took out an earthenware pitcher. He poured himself a glass of Orange Juice, returned the pitcher to the refrigerator and walked past the laundry room door. It was shut and he could hear the muffled giggles and low voices coming from inside. He smiled and shook his head. He didn’t want to know what was going on in there. He continued down the hall that led to the small apartment where Willie was staying. He could hear voices and giggles coming from there as well. He smirked and walked on by. There seemed to be a lot of that happening around here lately.
The covered porch that ran the length of the side of the ranch house was cool from the shade it provided and the slight breeze that blew past. Somehow, when the ranch house had been laid out, the builder had had the presence of mind to put the porch on the breezy side of the house. Not that there was much of a breezy side, but it managed to keep this area a good 5 degrees cooler then the rest of the house. James took a long pull off his OJ and sat on the back steps. From this angel he was looking out over the driveway and the tall sign that rose over it and announced the ranch. Beyond that were the reddish hued hills of the desert country that surrounded them. James sighed and listened to the quiet. He heard the front screen door slam shut and a lone voice echo through the empty house.
"Out here!" James shouted towards the open door. Foot steps, The echo of cowboy boots on the hardwood floors and the familiar gate. Fiddler's head peeked around the door frame and his long legs followed.
"Hey boss man. What'r you hidin' from out here?" Fiddler clapped James on the back and sat on the step next to him.
James grinned and looked down into his glass.
“Just thinkin’, old friend. Do you think Grandpa had the presence of mind when he built this place to actually think about the cool side of the house and where to put this porch? Or was it just dumb luck?” James leaned back on his elbows and stretched out his legs and let the light breeze brush over him.
Fiddler grinned. James’ Grandfather and his own Grandfather had been good friends and had actually both built this old ranch. As much of Fiddler’s history was here as was James.
“Oh I dunno. I kinna like ta think the Ol’ Man had ‘nuff sense in him to know where a good coolin’ porch would go.”
James smiled and shook his head. “Ya know, by the time he was my age, he’d had a family, built this ranch and was successful member of this community. Makes me feel like I’ve lived a very small life.”
Fiddler eyed his friend. “You’ve been all over the world. You’ve built this place back up to where it shoulda been under your Dad, and I hear tell that you did the same for another place out on the coast! Doesn’t sound like a small life, Man. Sounds like more then most men do in a life time.” Fiddler kicked a hole in the dirt at the foot of the steps.
James chewed on his words for a moment. “Maybe, but I’ve wasted a lot of time. Too much time, time on what I thought I wanted and time on what I thought I should want.” James stood and stretched. He picked up his now empty glass and looked again out at the vast empty landscape. “I’m done wasting time. There are some things I need to live up to now. Things I need to face that I’ve been putting off too long.” He looked down at Fiddler and smiled. “It’s time for me to grow up.” James walked into the house.
Fiddler sat on the steps and watched the shadows shortening under the morning sun and sighed deeply.
“Funny,” he mumbled to himself. “I thought you’d done that way too early.” He stood up feeling very old suddenly and turned towards the barn. Cathy was just finishing up at the barn and closing the door. Fiddler smiled. If there was anyone in this world who could make him feel like a teenager, it was Cathy. He started to walk towards the barn and broke into a trot. Cathy was getting into her truck so Fiddler whistled to get her attention. She looked around till her eyes fell on him and a grin spread across her face. She leaned against the door of her truck and waited as he slowed to a walk as he approached her.
“Hey, beautiful.” He slipped his hands around her waist and leaned in for a kiss.
“I was just thinking about you!” Cathy smiled and returned his slow enthusiastic kiss.
Fiddler leaned back and furrowed his brow at her. “Hmm… You’ve been talking to cows and thinking about me? I’m not sure I approve!”
Cathy grinned and raised her eye brows. “You don’t know what those cows have to say! After all, they hang out with the bulls.” She wiggled her eye brows at him.
He cringed and took a quick breath through his teeth. “Ooh, those are some big shoes to fill!”
Cathy giggled. “It’s not his shoes I’m worried about”
Fiddler groaned and chuckled. He leaned in close and whispered into her ear. “Are you doing anything tonight?”
She fingered the button on his shirt. “Why? You have plans?”
“Sure do. I wanted to show you the size of my shoes.” His face was buried in her hair so his words were muffled. Cathy understood every word.
She smirked and pushed him away. She climbed into her truck, shut the door and started the engine. She reached through the car window and grabbed him by the collar. She pulled him close till his mouth was less then an inch from hers.
“Come by tonight, 6pm. I’ll cook dinner.” She kissed him long and slow, pulled back slightly and grinned at the shocked expression on his face. “Bring a tooth brush.” She could have sworn she heard him groan and she did see him smile, but the growl of her engine masked any noises coming from him.
Ooooh, sounds like I'm having Fiddler for dinner - and dessert!
Another wonderful add, Rhonda. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Okay, I know I'm a little long between posts here, but I've been working on this one a while.. I'll get around to everyone eventually *G* anyway, here's a little Thomas and Shirley for ya'll :)
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Shirley had finished cleaning the second story early and she was contemplating taking on the El wing just to get away from the lobby and temptation. It really didn’t matter anyway. She’d noticed he’d covered his mirror with a towel. She’d been avoiding him like the plague, trying to stay out of his way, trying to keep her mind off his lips, his chest, his long legs. Men equaled trouble. She’d learned that a long time ago and she wasn’t about to forget it. She wasn’t afraid of him, no. There really wasn’t anything to be afraid of. He acted a big story, but she could tell his heart wasn’t in the tough stuff. There was something else there, something gentler, creative and well hidden under years of a forced tough exterior. Well, it didn’t matter anyway. She wasn’t going to be a part of all that, ever. She’d waffled long enough and was heading towards the El to start cleaning when his door opened. Shirley took a deep breath and held it. Oh please, please don’t let him see her; don’t let him talk to her. He looked out and spotted her. A slow grin covered his face and his eyes narrowed.
“Hello beautiful lady. Might I have a word?” He beckoned her to him. She had to follow. Not only was it her job to keep the guests happy, her feet seemed to have a mind of their own. Something seemed to be pushing her. He smiled at her, evidently pleased with her willingness to indulge him. He smiled and leaned against the door frame with his hands in his pockets.
“Good.” Though Shirley. If his hands were in his pockets, she’d be relatively safe.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Palmero?” She refused to look into his smug, self satisfied, deep, dark sexy eyes. She’d concentrate on his chest, oops! No, not good. Okay, his neck, long slender, well defined, UGH... no... Uh, the wall behind him. Good! That worked, the wall with the mirror. The mirror that had shown her... OH God, no, nothing was working. She just closed her eyes.
Thomas smirked at her uncomfortable fidgeting. “Well I can think of a lot of things you can do for me.” The corners of his mouth twitched and his eyes softened a little. How could she know all that if she had her eyes closed? Oh, she didn’t. DAMN, she was staring directly into those dark eyes.
“But for now, the bed side light in my room seems to need a new bulb. Do you have one?”
Shirley looked into his room. The lamp by the bed was one of those small lamps, oddly sized she supposed to fit well on a bed side table, but she thought they looks like they belonged in a child’s room. The bulb that went into it was an odd one too. Forty watt and shaped like a candle flame. RIGHT! As if anyone was going to be fooled by that. She sighed. She knew exactly where to find those but it was kind of a pain. She nodded and hurried down the hall to the supply closet. It was a walk-in style but just barely and way over filled with supplies. She unlocked the door, swung it open and stepped inside. She barely fit. It was a tiny space. She stepped on a small stool and lifted her arms over her head and stood on her tip toes. As she stood and reached for a box over her head she felt a pair of hands on her hips and flinched. He had followed her!! He was standing behind her holding her waist. She started to spin and stack of toilet paper came down on their heads and at the same time the door flew closed. The rolls of toilet paper wedged itself around her body effectively freezing her in place. Thomas started at the slammed door.
“WHAT THE..??” He tried to turn but he was stuck. He reached around his back and tried to open the door but it was locked fast.
“IT’S LOCKED!! GET ME OUT!! HELP! I NEED OUT!!” He was shouting which wasn’t doing anything to help the situation.
“HEY!! Stop shouting. The key is in my pocket, just reach in and slip it out. My hands are stuck.”
Thomas’s breathing was rapid and shallow. He was panicking and Shirley knew she had to get him under control or he was going to pass out. The only control she had on him was an obvious attraction. Why did it always come back to sex? MEN!
“Thomas? She nearly whispered, deepening her voice and making it as sensual as she could manage, being covered in toilet paper and her arms stuck up over her head. “Thomas, listen to my voice. Are you listening?”
He was pressed up against her. She leaned back into him. She needed to get his attention on her and not on the locked door. It must have worked; she could feel his hands slide up her waist and around her rib cage. Uh oh, maybe it worked a little too well. She needed his attention, not his groping.
“Thomas, I want you to listen to what I’m going to say. I need you to slip your hand into my pocket and find the key. You can unlock the door and we’ll get out. Alright? Can you do that for me Thomas?” Her arms were starting to tire.
Thomas slipped his hands around to her belly and worked his way down to her jeans pockets. Her body was reacting to this whether she wanted it to or not. She sighed and rolled her eyes at the tingles working their way down her body. “OH geeeeeszzz…” she thought. Betrayed by her own body. Thomas’s hand found her pocket and slipped inside. She thought he was spending more time then was necessary searching her pocket for the key. She was sure he’d found it and was just playing now. She’d say something but she didn’t want to scare him into panic again. That’s what she was telling herself anyway.
“Got it.” He pulled the key out of her pocket. She could hear the smile in his voice. Relief? Conquest? His chance to feel her up? She wasn’t sure what drove that smile this time, but she was relieved he had the key. Her arms were starting to cramp. She heard him fiddling with the lock, metal on metal and then a gasp and tink tink tink…
“Uh oh...”
Shirley hung her head and sighed. He’d dropped it. Thomas’s breathing was getting faster and he was starting to sweat. Not a pleasant thing in these small quarters. She had to regain control. UGH!
“Thomas? It’s all right. We can still get out. Don’t panic.” She shifted a little. If he leaned hard against the door she might have room to turn around. If she could turn around she might be able to put her feet on the door and push it open. If Thomas helped push, they might break the old wood around the door frame.
“Thomas. I am going to turn around and face you. I think we might be able to break the door frame together. I need you to lean back as far as you can against the door so I can turn around. Do you understand me?”
Thomas’s body became slightly slacker against her body in answer. Shirley slowly began to turn; Thomas gasped and let out“Oof” as her hip pushed into his abdomen.
“heh, sorry.” Shirley was trying to figure out how she was supposed to suck in her butt; instead she leaned in close to the shelves. It wasn’t too bad as the fallen toilet paper shifted and cushioned her a little. Soon she was turned back around and face to chest with Thomas. She could feel the flush of embarrassment start from her toes and gradually work its way up to her neck. Thank goodness the light was very dim in the small closet. Maybe he wouldn’t notice.
“Well, helloooo…” There was an all too familiar and somewhat unpleasant humor in his voice. Damn, he noticed.
“Look, let’s just concentrate on getting out of here, Okay?” Shirley was starting to sweat too. A small space completely filled with two bodies forced together, Why the friction alone… “Shirley shook her head. She had to stop thinking about those things.
“First thing’s first. I have to put my arms down” Shirley was examining the situation as to where the best place to put her hands would be. She could pull them into her own chest which would put them in Thomas’s face. While this would solve some issues for her, she was pretty sure he’d complain. The only other option was to put them around Thomas’s neck. This was not a good idea. This would be trouble, but she was in control, not her body. She could manage this situation rationally and with dignity, she thought. She lowered her arms around Thomas’s neck. He looked up at her. He was tall, she hadn’t noticed how tall he was before, but now his face was just inches from hers, his lips were so close, his eyes were so deep and intense. She closed her eyes and silently counted to 20. She thought about emergency medical training and open sores, Old nuns and how cheese was made. Anything that might take her mind off its current course.
She took a deep breath.
“Okay. Look, here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to put my feet on the door on either side of you and push. As I do that, you’re going to push back as hard as you can and maybe we can break the door jam. Got it?”
Thomas thought about it for a moment and a sly smile slipped across his face, then a chuckle.
“Awe Baby, you didn’t need to go to all this trouble to get me in that position. You should have just asked.”
Shirley thought about slapping him but, considering the circumstances, it was probably better that he was making bad sexual innuendos then panicking… and she couldn’t reach his face right now, well not with her hand. Deep breath.
“Yeah, right, Romeo. Let’s just get out of here, Alright?”
Shirley leaned back as far as she could and slipped her knee up and placed her foot under Thomas’s right arm and firmly against the door. Then she lifted her other knee and slipped her foot under Thomas’s left arm. She supported herself by pushing against the shelves behind her.
“Okay, push!” She felt Thomas lean back and press firmly against the door as she pushed with all her might. Nothing happened.
“Damn, I have to put my legs down.” Shirley pulled one leg down then the other. She was out of ideas, but she had to keep him calm.
“Okay Thomas. I’m out of ideas but I’m sure someone will be along soon, so we just have to keep ourselves entertained for a few hours.”
Once again that sly grin crept over Thomas’s face and his tongue slipped across his lower lip.
“Well, I can think of some pretty entertaining things we could do.”
Shirley must have been tired or maybe oxygen deprived because she actually considered his idea for a moment. She shook her head and took a deep breath.
“Think again, Casanova. I’ve no interest in you that way. You are a guest here and that’s all. I was thinking we might chat a bit.”
Thomas must have caught on to her pause. He wasn’t buying it.
“I think maybe you’re lying. I think maybe you do have some interest in me.” His hands were still wrapped around her waist. His thumbs were now caressing her back and sending shivers all over her.
“you..you really need to stop that.” Shirley hated that her body was betraying her. Her breath was short and skin tingled where he was stroking it.
“Really? You want me to stop?” His lips were less then an inch from hers and his breath stirred the hairs around her ears.
“No,… I…I mean yes. Yes, stop.” Was she leaning closer to him? NO! She couldn’t be! But then, she was.
“Yes? No? No? Yes? You sound confused. Maybe you should think about it a while.” His lips brushed her.
She’d lean back, or better yet, step back a little. She was sure there was a little room on that little stool for a half a step. She shifted her foot back and… The stool slipped and she fell forward. He caught her lips first, then his arms and body cushioning her fall against him. It was an accidental kiss that lasted a good 15 seconds. The second kiss was less accidental, lasted a little longer and her hands slipped into his hair all on their own. That’s when the door swung open and they fell into the hall, along with all the toilet paper, a stack of clean sheets and the box holding the oddly shaped 40watt light bulbs.
Shirley separated herself from the toilet paper and Thomas and looked around for whoever had opened the door. No one was there except her and Thomas. She stood and reached into the box, pulled out a light bulb and handed it to Thomas. She smiled at him.
“Here ya go. Have a nice day!” and hurried off down the hall.
:yay:
Just for fun....
Lisa heard the familiar voices in the room from behind the closed bathroom door. It didn’t seem to be room service and they didn’t sound as if they were going to leave anytime soon. She pulled a pair of khaki shorts and a lace trimmed camisole from her bag and walked out of the bathroom and looked up at Joe and Rhonda.
“Well, hey you two! What are you doing here?” She leaned forward into a warm if not confused hug from the couple.
“Congratulations Lisa and Frank. We were so happy for you when we heard!” Rhonda placed a light kiss on Lisa’s cheek.
Lisa chuckled. “So you drove all the way here to say congratulations?”
Rhonda looked at Joe and his brow furrowed slightly.
“Not exactly. Some strange things are happening at the café, We needed to find you to talk about it.” Joe was glancing back and forth between the other couple.
“At the café? Is everyone alright?” Glenn had moved to stand beside Lisa who was still looking confused.
Rhonda smiled half heartedly. “No, everyone’s fine. It’s just that…” She looked to Joe.
“Well there’s a stranger in town and he’s saying the Café belongs to him.” Joe was talking to Lisa but looking at Rhonda.
“What? Who is this guy?” Lisa was indignant with her fists on her hips.
Rhonda looked back at Lisa. “He says his name is Thomas Palmero. He says his father Papa Palmero is the rightful owner of the cafe”
Lisa’s face went ashen and her eyes went wide. She grasped the side of the sofa and sunk dead weight into it.
“Baby? You okay?” When Glenn saw how pale she was and her knees began to buckle, he jumped to her side.
“I’m… I’ll be alright. I… it’s just… I know that name.” She turned a panicked face to Glenn. His brow furrowed and he pursed his lips.
“Yeah, I do to. That’s the bastard who’s out to kill Frank.”
Joe and Rhonda looked at each other confused.
“But you’re…” Joe started.
Lisa broke down crying and covered her face with her hands.
Glenn cradled her. “It’s okay, baby. He wont find us here.”
Lisa shook her head emphatically.
“You don’t understand.” She looked up into Glenn’s face. “Papa Palmero is my father.”
Lou watched the white, cream-ladened milk pour into the 50 gallon stainless steel vat. A 50 gallon vat was pretty small for cheese making but she’d gotten a great deal on it on Ebay and it was someplace to start. She was about ready to graduate up to a bigger vat and she had her eyes on a 300 gallon vat she’d seen in “Cheese Making Illustrated”, but she didn’t have the $30,000.00 they were asking for it new. She hoped that one would show up on Ebay or Craiglist, but it didn’t seem likely.
She stirred the white frothy milk and watched the last of it drip from the tanks Cathy had brought over that morning. This was a beautiful batch. The milk was heavy with cream and the color was pearlish. It was so fresh it was still warm, perfect for adding the rennet, if one added rennet to their cream to make cheese. That’s not how Lou did it though. When the milk had settled and was a still white pond, Lou walked across the room and washed her hands. She’d been so lucky to buy this small farm on the creek. She even had a fresh water spring. The water was icy cold but smelled sweet. She washed her hands up to her elbows and dried them on a paper towel.
She stood over the small vat and looked down at the still white pool then slipped one finger into the creamy froth, stirring then one finger from the other hand, stirring in the opposite direction. Slowly she slipped her hands into the warm milk and stirred. As she did she could feel the cream gathering and firming. This part of the process was becoming rote and her mind wandered. CJ… she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Those eyes, that smile, that body! She shook her head but the smile that came with those thoughts lingered.
Lou was aware that her feelings came through in the cheese she was making. For instance, once, after a fight with Fiddler, she’d made a batch of the sharpest white cheddar she’d ever tasted, almost inedible, but in the cheese world, things like that were highly prized and she ended up selling it all to a cheese shoppe in Paris for $150.00 a pound! The camembert she’d made after her mother passed away was so soft and creamy, it nearly didn’t set up. It was one of her first purposeful attempts at making cheese. She wondered now, what would come of this batch with such thoughts of CJ running through her mind.
“Brie.” Lou grinned. “This batch will have to be Brie.” It was the perfect blend of sensuousness and bite. A very lustful cheese and fit very well with CJ’s wine! She couldn’t wait to try the two together. They’d compliment each other perfectly and together would create a sensuous, seductive event and she would most definitely be there, and the cheese would be good too!
Brie wouldn’t take much coagulation so she pulled her hands from the already stiffening milk and washed them again in the icy water.
Cathy had just walked into her small but charming cottage. She’d been so lucky to find such a great deal. James had sold it to her for a more then reasonable rate. It was only a few miles from the ranch and town and had a beautiful view of the creek. There was plenty of room for a garden and a beautiful tiny pink rose grew in a massive heaping vine up and over her front stoop. The entry consisted of a small front porch with a white bentwood rocking chair and a fat yellow cat named Henry. She scratched his head as she opened the door. He looked up, purred and smiled at her. Cathy knew he ate, she always put food out for him and it was gone by the time she got home, but she didn’t often see him off his chair. She stepped through the door and the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hey beautiful.” It was Fiddler.
“Hey yourself. Didn’t I just talk to you about 5 minutes ago?” She couldn’t keep the smile out of her voice.
“Yeah, but I missed you, besides, I forgot to ask you if you were doing anything tonight?”
Cathy felt herself blush from head to toe. He missed her. She grinned.
“Well, actually I did have plans to see my boyfriend tonight.”
There was a pause and a sigh on the other side.
“Why does that always happen to me? The good ones always have boyfriends. I suppose he’s some big dumb jock type with lots of muscles and little or no brains?”
Cathy laughed “No, he’s the sweet, sensitive type who cries at sad movies and picks flowers.”
There was a verbal cringe on the other line “Awe cheeeezzz, I thought we were talking about me, but now…”
Cathy laughed. “We were, are. What exactly was it you had in mind?”
“Well, I WAS thinking about dinner and a movie, but now I think I need to redeem my manhood. Pro wrestling? A rodeo? John Wayne and tobacco chewing?”
She laughed again. “I think your manhood is safe and in tact. Dinner and a movie sound great.”
Fiddler chuckled. “Great, I’ll pick you up in 15 minutes?”
“Well, I know you’re a cowboy and you’re used to the smell, but if we’re going out in public, I’d rather smell like something other then cow poo. Give me at least 30 minutes for a shower and getting dressed.”
“Well okay, but we’ll miss the coming attraction previews.”
“I don’t mind if you don’t.”
He didn’t.
The smile never left her face as Cathy thumbed through her mail. Bills, bills, advertisements, and a legal sized, windowed envelope from Los Angeles. Hmm..
Thirty minutes later Fiddler softly knocked at Cathy’s door. It was open and she was sitting on the floor staring blindly into space with her mouth hanging open. In her hand she held a legal sized envelope and a sheet of stationary paper. At the top of the stationary were embossed letters spelling out “Whee, Cheatum and Howe: Civic Law Attorneys”
Fiddler gently kneeled beside Cathy and she slowly turned her head to look at him and handed him the letter.
“Whatcha got there sweetheart?” He took the letter and read. “Holey crap.” Fiddler fell hard on his backside next to Cathy, still holding the letter.
Ticky!!! :yay: It's been so long I can't remember the whole long story! This edition (featuring me) was great! But something tells me anything from the law firm of Whee Cheatum & Howe can't be good!
Oh, and , btw, Cheese Making Illustrated? :hilarious:
Hey! That's where I get all my inspiration! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Prettymaid
This was such a lovely surprise, Rhonda. Thanks for resurrecting it - lots of fun!
Ok, Ticky,I just need a bit of a refresher. I know that Lisa is really with Glenn, but Joe and Rhonda think he is Frank, right? And more importantly, does Thomas think he is Frank? (Or, do any of them know that Frank is holed up with me in the mountain cabin, under the alias of Glenn?)
I pity anyone who is just trying to enter the story now...
Okay, as best as I can remember (and I AM doing this all on memory as I do not have a primer for this story) the only people who know Frank is Glenn and Glenn is Frank are Glenn, Frank, Lisa, Eve, James and Fiddler (seeing as how they are important parts of the ranch and would recognize the switch there for would be in on it)Thomas still doesnt know the difference but then he's not even aware there IS a Glenn and not yet aware that Frank is even a part of The Last Resort since he's there strictly for The Sad Cafe. ALL of these things will eventually tie together.. i think.. well thats the plan anyway.
newbies, start from page one or you'll be hopelessly lost.. even then... good luck
I've been reading up on this every spare chance I get! It is captivating (and confusing at times :hilarious:) Ticky, you are such a great story teller!
Yeah Ticky, you're the best!
:yay: Another entry--it's been so long! I was chomping at the bit yesterday after you told us on Facebook that you had posted another installment and then I couldn't get to it! Glad to see you writing again!!! Keep it up please!
Lol I! I love this! It has more twists than Desperate Housewives!
I'm sooooo glad to see that The Long Story is up and running again. It's been too long. Ticky is truely a master at the story telling!!
Now I have read the whole Long Story! Wow she is really very long!!! I am confused a little bit. It is a little bit difficultly for me , I don´t know some words exactly what they mean. I am not sure whether I really everything has properly understood!However the the Long Story is cool, I had a lot of fun to read the Story!
lil bit more...
Glenn sat on the sofa next to Lisa and cradled her in his arms.
“What do you mean sweetheart? Who’s Papa Palmero?”
Lisa’s face was still ashen and she clung to Glenn like a life preserver.
“My mother was just 17 when she came to America from Ireland. Her mother had died of some mysterious illness and her father was a drunk. She came her looking for a better life but found nothing but more poverty and crime. She finally took a job for very little pay working as a cleaning girl in a huge mansion for Papa Palmero. It was alright at first, she worked mostly nights, cleaning floors and scrubbing out the ovens and fireplaces. Then one day one of the day maids didn’t show up for work and she was promoted.” Lisa’s face wrinkled in disgust at the word. “She began serving Papa his meals and cleaning up after him. He was pig! She never worked harder in her life and all she got for her trouble was constant groping. She was okay as long as someone else was around, but that wasn’t always possible. Eventually he caught her alone and he raped her. After that she was his favorite and it happened often till one day he came to her and told her to get out. No explanation, no good bye, just $100,000.00 cash to shut her up and a ride to the middle of no where. He never even knew she was pregnant, or at least I thought he didn’t, but now…” She turned a worried face to Glenn. His face was sullen and serious as he stared blankly into the carpet. He turned to her and smiled softly. “It’s okay, we’ll figure this out together.” He caressed her cheek and kissed her softly.
Joe sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “In the mean time I think it’s safer if you two stay away from Eaglesville for a while. Maybe this Thomas is just after the café, maybe he’s looking for Lisa, either way, you’re safer here.”
Glenn looked sternly up at Joe. “There is one more possibility. The Palmero’s may be after me.” Glenn turned his face to Lisa. She was stricken. Glenn smiled softly again. “Don’t worry. We’re safe as long as we stay away from Eaglesville.”
Joe was looking confused. “Uh, Frank? Care to elaborate?”
Glenn smiled and chuckled. “First of all, I'm Glenn, not Frank. The guy you know as Glenn back in Eaglesville, that’s Frank. We traded places when the Palmeros threatened to kill Frank because he refused to kill another man. He ran to Eaglesville looking for someplace to hide out and we figured they’d be less likely to be looking for a guy named Glenn who runs a hotel. We traded identities and it didn’t take long for everyone to forget who was who. Only my brothers and Frank and I know the truth.” Glenn grinned at Lisa, “Well and now my wife,” He paused, “Oh, and you. The Palmeros are bad people and not to be messed with. It’s too dangerous for you to go back to Eaglesville. Besides,”
Cathy leaned forward and put her face in her hands then suddenly looked up.
“I think I’m going to throw up… or pass out…”
“WHOA there sweetheart!” Fiddler jumped forward on his knees and placed his hand on her back forcing her to lean forward and put her head between her knees. “now take deep breaths, slow, good, in through the nose, out through the mouth… good girl.” Cathy began to relax as Fiddler rubbed her back.
“Does it say how much?” Her voice was kind of muffled from her head being between her knees. She heard Fiddler rattle the paper in his hands.
“Uh, yeah, here it is. Three point five billion.”
Cathy began to hyper ventilate. Fiddler sat her up and cupped her hands over her mouth. “Slow down there sugar, it’s alright.”
Cathy shot a worried glance at him over her cupped hands. She tried to say something but her hands muffled the sound.
“Just a second, baby. Breath deep, slow.”
Slowly her color was returning and she was starting to relax. Soon she was able to lower her hands and speak clearly.
“I didn’t even know the man! I’d heard about him, tales my Mother told me but we’ve never met. I knew he was rich but…”
Fiddler smiled and shrugged. “Well, family is family and if you’re the only family he’s got, know him or not, it’s all yours. How’d he make all that money?”
He helped Cathy to her feet and slipped a supporting arm around her waist till she was sitting safely on the small settee in the living room. “let me get us some tea and you can tell me about it. We’ll figure this all out, don’t you worry.”
Cathy sat looking a little stunned on the settee. “My Mom said he’d invented CheezeWhiz but I always thought she was joking.” She could hear the clinking of the tea pot and running water as Fiddler worked with the delicate tea service. He really was a surprising man. He was the roughest toughest cowboy you’d even want to meet who could whip up one hell of a pot of Darjeeling and scones. Fiddler peeked around the door. “Cheez Whiz? You mean that spray can cheese stuff? I LOVE that stuff!”
Cathy looked at him astonished then shrugged. “I’ll buy you a case.”
He chuckled as he set the tray with the teapot, two cups and a plate of scones on the small coffee table. “Nahh, my sister’s is better.” He poured a cup of tea, poured in a little honey and added lemon. Exactly how Cathy liked her tea. It made her happy to know he’d remembered.
“Your sister makes Cheez Whiz?” Cathy was only half aware at what she was saying. She was feeling sleepy now and comfortable with Fiddler.
He laughed and looked at her surprised. “No cheese. Her cheese is better.”
She smiled. “Right, it is.” She leaned back into the crook of his arm and he cradled her. She yawned “I'm sorry about spoiling your plans for tonight. I’m just so tired.”
He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “No worries, sweetheart. I’d much rather spend a quiet evening at home snuggling with a multibillion dollar heiress then going out on the town. Let’s just pretend we’re on vacation. I like the way that sounds.”
Cathy snuggled in closer and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Yeah, me too.”
OK, Cath, goin' from milkmaid to multibillionaire...what gives??:shock:
This story just keeps getting more and more interesting. I love it!!:thumbsup:
Cheez Whiz!!! 3.5 billion!!! I like the way that sounds!!!
(BTW Ticky, nice reference to Last Good Time there at the end...) :grin:
Cheez Whiz :hilarious:
Gosh Rhonda. I can see why I draw to a complicated life! It seems to be hereditary! Great sequel!
Okay, I got inspired. Here's something new for ya'll! Happy uhh.. Monday *G*
**************************************
Shirley had just finished the rooms on the bottom floor of the main building and was headed up the stairs to the second floor when she heard the shouting. It was Thomas’s voice. She had almost turned around and headed for the old chair and mirror… just to check on him, make sure everything was alright… she told herself. But she stopped and listened. He was arguing with someone on his phone. She felt kind of bad for him. He’d been here a while all alone and certainly not popular with the locals. Everyone knew Lisa and her situation. Everyone was protective of her, but no one really knew who Thomas was or why he was here. She figured that out of all the others in the town, she knew him best. Maybe that was why she felt so drawn to him and why she now wanted to protect him. Lord knows he was definitely a man who could look after himself, but still there was something about him, something fragile and vulnerable. She shook her head to clear it. Vulnerable indeed! He was a gangster who was here for some kind of unsavory business with her dear childhood friend! Why in the world was she having these feelings? Hormones, she thought. It’s got to be hormones. She was just turning around to go back to her work when the fighting stopped and it was very quiet.
She heard his door open quietly and close, but she didn’t hear the familiar tinkle of the front door bell. She waited, but nothing. She came out of the back to check. He was sitting in the old chair with his head in his hands. Right now he truly did looks small and vulnerable. Something twisted in Shirley’s heart and she couldn’t stop herself from setting down her cleaning supplies and going to him. She sat on the settee across from him.
“Are you okay?”
He exhaled and his voice was deep and gravely. “Yeah, I'm fine… just… fine.”
She sat with him for a moment quietly.
“Well, alright. Let me know if you need anything.” She began to stand.
“It’s just that…”
She sat back down and leaned forward to listen.
“I mean, what do you do when you find yourself stuck in a life you hate, you’re surrounded by evil and hate and the people who are supposed to love and understand you are cruel bad people?”
Shirley was pretty sure he was being rhetorical but the pleading in his eyes and the desperation in his voice urged her to answer.
“You father?”
Thomas laughed a bitter chuckle.
“He’s not my father. He’s the devil. He wants me to… well what he wants me to do is bad, evil and I cant do it.” He pounded his fist on his thigh to emphasize this last statement.
She began to notice now how pale and thin he looked. Now that she thought about it, the café was closed, he didn’t know anyone in town and he rarely went out.
“When was the last time you ate a decent meal?”
He looked up at her and met her eyes for the first time since they began to talk.
“I don’t need food.”
Shirley sighed. Men were so stupid when it came to taking care of themselves. Did they all think they were superman?
“Look, I don’t know what it is you’re supposed to do or what you want to do, but you’re shaking so bad right now I would guess you couldn’t hold a pen, gun or knife. So let’s get you some food and at least steady those hands so you can do what ever it is you decide to do.”
He sat there for a while just looking at her then shook his head and chuckled.
“Right. Lead on.”
Shirley stood and held out her hand for him. He looked at it as if she were handing him a gun then took it. He stood and looked at her.
“Who are you? I mean, do you know who I am?”
Shirley released his hand when he was standing.
“No idea, but you are a guest in my hotel and you obviously need some help. That’s why I’m here. The café across the street has good burgers. I’m buyin’”
“Isnt that place closed?”
Shirley grinned. “Yeah, but I know the owner. She and I kind of have a deal.”
They walked out the door and towards the road and Thomas stopped. He was looking at a small tree near the parking lot laden with fruit.
“no way. Cant be.”
He walked towards it grinning like a Cheshire cat. He untucked his shirt and began to pick the wrinkled greenish brown fruits cradling them in his shirt like rare gems. Shirley walked to him and looked at his bounty. His shirttail was filled with the plump little fruits and he was smiling widely.
“I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed these before. These are wonderful.”
Shirley wrinkled her brow.
“What are they?”
“You’ll see.”
He nearly ran to the café, excited like a small child at Christmas. Shirley chuckled and shook her head. He was full of surprises today. She followed him to the door of the café, produced a key and opened the door.
“Does everyone in town have their own key?”
Shirley paused for a moment and thought.
“As a matter of fact, I think they do. See, Lisa, she’s the owner, she’s late a lot and most everyone who comes here needs to be somewhere early. So, since Lisa knew everyone and everyone knew Lisa, we just all got our own keys. It’s all on kind of a honor basis.”
Thomas gently deposited his load on the counter. Shirley walked in and flicked on the lights.
“We’ll probably be having company soon. Just so you know.”
Thomas started at this reaching for his hip. Shirley suspected he had a gun there under his jacket. She smiled.
“Relax there cowboy, I mean as soon as anyone turns on the lights here, it’s kind of a call for social hour. People show up to visit and have a cup of coffee.” She stopped and turned. “Speaking of which…” Shirley stepped behind the counter and started the large industrial pot brewing. She sighed. “I'm not much in the kitchen, but I can fry up a mean burger, does that sound okay?”
Thomas had been watching her and now he smiled widely.
“Would you mind terribly if I had a go at it in the kitchen?”
Shirley shrugged. “Go for it, Hot shot.”
Thomas grinned at her. He slipped behind the counter and into the kitchen. He found a colander and lifted his fruits into it treating each piece tenderly and taking them to the sink. He rinsed them, then carried them to the cutting board. He seemed completely at home and instinctively knew where everything was. Within a few minutes he produced a plate filled with the small fruits quartered and shining with some kind of glaze. They were a rich pink inside and smelled sweet and fresh. Shirley hesitantly picked up a piece. The juice and glaze dripped down her hand and she tasted it. Sweet and tart and fruity. It was like nothing she’d ever tried before. She bit into the fruit and all of her senses came alive. It was soft yet firm, sweet yet sour. Small seed like spots popped in her mouth releasing an almost bitter taste that made the sweet tartness come to life.
“OH my God, what ARE these?”
Thomas grinned at her through the pass through.
“Pink figs, fresh and very ripe. I drizzled them with warm honey. Do you like them?”
Shirley’s eyes rolled back in her head and she moaned. Through a half full mouth she said “How did I not know these were out there?”
Thomas was still grinning but had found a white apron and was busy chopping and slicing and mixing. Something was sizzling and the smells coming from the back made Shirley’s stomach growl in anticipation.
“Not many people realize what they have when they’ve got a fig tree, and the pink ones are even more rare.”
Shirley was watching him with curiosity. He’d found his element and was happier them she’d ever seen him in his short time here. Watching him was a show. He flipped things and tossed knives and when he told her to, Shirley would open her mouth and he’d flip a tiny morsel of heaven into her mouth.
The café had started to fill up much to Shirley’s surprise. She hadn’t heard the bell ring on the door. James and Sheriff Soda were the first two through the door sniffing the air and looking confused when they saw Shirley mesmerized at the counter and Thomas in the kitchen. James poured he and the Sheriff a cup of coffee. The Sheriff leaned towards Shirley and asked,
“What’s he making?”
Shirley looked at her startled. “Oh hey Sheriff. I have no idea but it smells wonderful. OH! Try these.”
She held out the plate of figs to the Sheriff and James. They each took one and looked at them skeptically. With the first taste they also were hooked.
“Where’d you find these?” James asked through a full mouth.
“He picked them in the parking lot of the Hotel! That old tree that’s always dropping fruit and making a mess. The one Frank wanted to have cut down.”
James had another slice of fig in his hand.
“Well, it’s not going anywhere. I’d forgotten how wonderful fresh figs are.”
Sheriff was licking her fingers. “What’s on them?”
Shirley smiled. “Warmed honey.”
Sheriff’s eyes went wide. “Wow.” She leaned close to Shirley and whispered, “Why do these remind me of sex?”
Shirley giggled. “I know what you mean. I don’t know why, but…” She smiled
The bell on the door rang again and Cami and Jessie walked in.
“OH man! What is cookin’ on the grill!?” Jessie looked a little like a hound dog on the scent.
Cami cried out in surprise. “Fresh figs! I love these! Where’d you find them?”
“Evidently the tree out in front of the parking lot is filled with them.” The Sheriff said taking another bite.
Cami slipped a piece in her mouth and relished the flavor. Jessie was watching her and practically drooling himself.
“Oh man…”
James leaned over and whispered in his ear. “I know… what is it about these things?”
Jessie grinned at him and chuckled.
“Heads up!” Thomas shouted from the kitchen and three plates slipped through. Shirley jumped up and caught them faster then anyone could see. She picked them up and distributed them among the friends. Thomas produced three more and all were served. The smell of garlic and caramelized onion were the first things to hit, then the beautiful whitish sauce with flecks of red pepper and green herbs topped a golden brown breast of chicken sliced thinly beside a mixture of steamed vegetables. Groans of pleasure and the sounds of cutlery on china were the only sounds heard for the next 30 minutes.
James finished first and leaned back in his seat.
“Thomas? That’s your name, right?”
Thomas’s mouth was full but he was relaxed and smiling. This was a different man from the one who’d come in to the café days before full of unspoken threats and violence. He nodded and swallowed his food.
“Yeah, I'm sorry.” He reached out his hand and took James’ hand in a firm handshake. “Thomas Palmero. Nice to meet you.”
James shook his hand.
“you too Thomas, I'm James Frey. I can tell you, I'm more then a little surprised at all of this. We were under the assumption that you meant harm to some of our citizens and the café here.”
“Oh, I do… uhh… did.” He set down his fork and wiped his mouth on a napkin. “My father had plans for this place. Evidently he knew the former owner. When he’d heard she’d passed, he had plans to claim the property.”
“But this property belongs to Lisa now.” The Sheriff had put on her official demeanor and was ready for a fight if the need came.
Thomas’s face went sullen and serious. “I know. I hadn’t known about Lisa. My father hadn’t known about Lisa. I need to talk to her. If I’m right, she’s my sister.”
Shirley stopped in midfork and looked at him a gasp as did the rest of the group.
Thomas shook his head as if to clear it. “It’s a long ugly story as are most of them that involve my father. Needless to say, He wanted me to… well do something I couldn’t do. I told him to go to Hell.” Thomas looked up at the small group and smiled shyly. “That may have been a mistake.”
Sheriff Soda sighed deeply and leaned back in her chair and looked at James. “I’ve heard of the Palmero’s. Telling Papa Palmero to go to Hell is definitely a mistake.”
James furrowed his brow and firmed his upper lip. Then he turned to Thomas.
“What I don’t get is, how does an amazing talent like you, end up as a flunkey for your father?”
Thomas grinned down at his plate.
“You try telling Papa you don’t want to go into the family business. Especially if you’re the adopted son he never wanted.”
James grimaced and nodded. He turned to the Sheriff. “So, what do we do now?”
Sheriff Soda grimaced and looked into her coffee cup. “We prepare for war.”
Hmmmm, and the plot thickens!!! Just don't leave us hanging for long please!
I'm so glad to see The Long Story up and running again. This story is just so interesting. I can't wait to read the next addition.
I know...I love this thread. I'm forgetting how we came to know that Thomas and Lisa are siblings? Was that a recent revelation?