The Long Story

[ticky]

sorry, ticky's been preoccupied *G* I promise I havent forgotten ya'll *G*

[Peekaboo]

I eagerly await to see what you come up with next Rhonda

[TimothyBFan]

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?

[ticky]

OK guys, here ya go.. *G* There's more to come ..

**********************************
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.

[eaglesvet]

Curl Up 'N Dye...lol! I bet you have one of those in Oregon, don't you!

[ticky]

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?

[eaglesvet]

Boy, I had forgotten that. You have quite a memory...

[TimothyBFan]

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!!!

[Glennsallnighter]

Curl Up 'N Dye...lol! I bet you have one of those in Oregon, don't you!

We have one in Ireland

[ticky]

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!!!


*********************************************
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.