If I thought for one miserable minute......
- Thread starter PacNorWest
- Start date
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#47
Tammy McCann cooked the same thing for breakfast that she had prepared for supper. It would be what they were having for lunch and supper again. Free meat was a gift not to let spoil. What they would do when the elk was finished, she didn't know.
The McCann adults spent a rough uncomfortable night in the face of Tammy's incredible anger. She was so angry that Davis and Alan spent the night in the Suburban. Jennings wished she would say something, but Tammy wouldn't look at him. Davis felt a twinge of remorse for setting the scene so that Tammy couldn't help but discover the reason they were camping in the woods.
Alan had talked J into keeping the information from Tam, but Davis disagreed when he finally pried the reason from J.
"Bad, bad idea," he repeated firmly. "This will only backfire in a terrible way. It is never a good idea to keep the wife in the dark. Look, Tammy is a great, level headed gal. This is going to shake her confidence in you in a very big way. Don't do it," he repeated.
Sitting at the table in the dark, J wished he had paid more attention to his Dad's advise. Tammy was everything his Dad said she would be, and more. Holy cow! he had never seen her so mad and upset. She had looked at him and said in a cold, low tone,"That's a deal breaker," and walked away.
To his credit, Davis had not said I told you so. J looked at Alan; that particular skunk just looked off into the woods in that secretive 'I'm a spy' don't bother me, mode.
Tammy had come back into the cabin wearing her gun in the shoulder holster. She pointedly looked at the three of them, all sans weapons. "Thanks for the protection guys," she said dripping sarcasm. "Remind me to call on you in an emergency."
Then she wouldn't say another word to the men.
Tammy made the two oldest kids guardians of the two youngest. "You are never to be alone, at any time!" she stressed harshly. "You always tell me where you are going, even if it is to the bathroom. We have a specialized situation here, we may be in danger and we have to be exceptionally careful. Let's start tonight, be careful with everything you do. If it works, then we can ease up the restrictions tomorrow night. Thanks kids."
Jennings may have thought he was the cool lawman, but Tammy had trained her children during the long hours he was absent from their home. She had a news flash for him, they were better prepared than he was.
Clora drove back to Grandma's with Evie and Lainey. They pulled up in the driveway and Clora said urgently, "stay in the pickup. Somebody has been here. The dogs arn't here and there is smoke in the chimney."
"Clora, what do we do? How did you see all of this. Are we in danger?" Lainey in her nervousness was rattling off at the mouth. To stop the deluge of questions, Evie softly said "Hush," Watch what Clora does. You may need to approach a house this way at sometime."
Lainey promptly closed her mouth. Wide eyed, she followed Clora as she quietly got out of the drivers seat and dropped down behind the front tire. Eventually, she was beside kitchen door, easing it open. Inky and Junior were right there to greet her with slurpy kisses. Clora stood up and waved them in. It had to be someone Inky was familiar with. The gear by the table told Clora it was Sandy.
Evie was happy, she certainly needed a good cup of coffee.
Tammy McCann cooked the same thing for breakfast that she had prepared for supper. It would be what they were having for lunch and supper again. Free meat was a gift not to let spoil. What they would do when the elk was finished, she didn't know.
The McCann adults spent a rough uncomfortable night in the face of Tammy's incredible anger. She was so angry that Davis and Alan spent the night in the Suburban. Jennings wished she would say something, but Tammy wouldn't look at him. Davis felt a twinge of remorse for setting the scene so that Tammy couldn't help but discover the reason they were camping in the woods.
Alan had talked J into keeping the information from Tam, but Davis disagreed when he finally pried the reason from J.
"Bad, bad idea," he repeated firmly. "This will only backfire in a terrible way. It is never a good idea to keep the wife in the dark. Look, Tammy is a great, level headed gal. This is going to shake her confidence in you in a very big way. Don't do it," he repeated.
Sitting at the table in the dark, J wished he had paid more attention to his Dad's advise. Tammy was everything his Dad said she would be, and more. Holy cow! he had never seen her so mad and upset. She had looked at him and said in a cold, low tone,"That's a deal breaker," and walked away.
To his credit, Davis had not said I told you so. J looked at Alan; that particular skunk just looked off into the woods in that secretive 'I'm a spy' don't bother me, mode.
Tammy had come back into the cabin wearing her gun in the shoulder holster. She pointedly looked at the three of them, all sans weapons. "Thanks for the protection guys," she said dripping sarcasm. "Remind me to call on you in an emergency."
Then she wouldn't say another word to the men.
Tammy made the two oldest kids guardians of the two youngest. "You are never to be alone, at any time!" she stressed harshly. "You always tell me where you are going, even if it is to the bathroom. We have a specialized situation here, we may be in danger and we have to be exceptionally careful. Let's start tonight, be careful with everything you do. If it works, then we can ease up the restrictions tomorrow night. Thanks kids."
Jennings may have thought he was the cool lawman, but Tammy had trained her children during the long hours he was absent from their home. She had a news flash for him, they were better prepared than he was.
Clora drove back to Grandma's with Evie and Lainey. They pulled up in the driveway and Clora said urgently, "stay in the pickup. Somebody has been here. The dogs arn't here and there is smoke in the chimney."
"Clora, what do we do? How did you see all of this. Are we in danger?" Lainey in her nervousness was rattling off at the mouth. To stop the deluge of questions, Evie softly said "Hush," Watch what Clora does. You may need to approach a house this way at sometime."
Lainey promptly closed her mouth. Wide eyed, she followed Clora as she quietly got out of the drivers seat and dropped down behind the front tire. Eventually, she was beside kitchen door, easing it open. Inky and Junior were right there to greet her with slurpy kisses. Clora stood up and waved them in. It had to be someone Inky was familiar with. The gear by the table told Clora it was Sandy.
Evie was happy, she certainly needed a good cup of coffee.
Thanks for the new chapter! This story stays exciting!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you, go Tammy.
Phantom
Contributing Member
Wow Finaly caught up with the chapters
it's hard to stop .....want more more more ...
Just a question ....does anybody who ends up at Evie's place ever leave the same as they were?
I'm suprised that any Houses are still standing ...After the Flood, Fire, Earth quakes and such dosen't
seem like much is left.
Love Inky and Pinky
(hehehehehe) that little tike is going to be a chip off of His Dad's Block.
Can't wait till he grows.......Father and Son are going to Really Scare people then.
looks like Sandy and Lainey are looking for the same thing.
and Tammy sound like she would scare even Inky ....A Mamma Griz Protecting her Cubs!
Alan is almost as bad a pete was/is
.....
it's hard to stop .....want more more more ...
Just a question ....does anybody who ends up at Evie's place ever leave the same as they were?
I'm suprised that any Houses are still standing ...After the Flood, Fire, Earth quakes and such dosen't
seem like much is left.
Love Inky and Pinky
(hehehehehe) that little tike is going to be a chip off of His Dad's Block. Can't wait till he grows.......Father and Son are going to Really Scare people then.
looks like Sandy and Lainey are looking for the same thing.
and Tammy sound like she would scare even Inky ....A Mamma Griz Protecting her Cubs!
Alan is almost as bad a pete was/is
.....
223shootersc
Veteran Member
goood chapter, needed it
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#48
Clora looked at Sandy hard asleep in the bed. She had scratches on her hands and arms like she had been in the deep brush, Clora thought she had been on one of her 'back to nature' runners.
"Hey, wake up sleepyhead" Clora bounced the mattress with her hand. "This is your rise and shine call. We just got home ."
Sandy opened one eye and groggily said "Huh, what's going on."
"OH, your a real live wire. I think you need a cup of Grandma's coffee." Clora said chortling as ahe opened the window curtain.
"You should be over at Ev and Cheryl's this morning. I've subbed for you a couple of day's, but it is your work. right?"
"Yeah," came from the vicinity of the pillow. "I will get over there right away."
Clora joined Evie and Lainey in the kitchen. "Sleeping beauty will be up soon. I told her she needs to get her fanny over to Ev's pdq."
"What's pdq?" Lainey wanted to know. "I've never heard that before."
"It stands for 'pretty damm quick" Evie said. "Not that I approve of her saying that." Clora snickered, and Lainey laughed out loud. Sandy came shuffling into the kitchen, hair corkscrewed in every direction and her old ratty bunny slippers poking out under the well worn flannel nightgown.
"Geeze Sandy, what happened to your hands?" Lainey pointed at the brier scratches decorating the young woman's arms.
"I was setting snares," Sandy yawned and halfway covered her mouth. "I was after rabbits, but the darn things seem to have evaporated since the last earthquake. In fact it's kinda spooky the way the game has dried up."
Evie looked thoughtful, "animals seem to have a knack for predicting natural occurrences. Did you need food for someone Sandy?
We have some elk, if you know a hungry person."
"Nah, I was practicing, it's so easy to forget. Say, did you know there are people staying at the cabin? I was there and Benny brought a whole family in. I skedaddled, but I thought the agreement was every one had to agree if strangers were invited?"
It was Evie who answered "This was a special circumstance, Benny and Wayne agreed and you were out running." Grandmother smiled at granddaughter, silently asking to have Sandy let it go. "Clora was at Ev's and the decision had to be made immediately.
It may be for a while," Evie cautioned, knowing that Sandy made a habit of staying there as much as possible.
"Yeah, well if what I heard yesterday is a clue, that woman was pretty pissed about something. I think she could have gutted the men and not looked back."
"Sandy," Evie reproved quickly. "Watch your mouth."
"I gotta get ready, Ev will be roaring for something to eat." Sandy made good her escape, before something else happened.
Lainey shook her head, this was some family. Clora stood at the stove stirring oatmeal, "It's ready," she announced, "grab bowls and get ready."
Tammy fried more elk and potatoes. She cooked breakfast for the kids, herself and Davis. The other two she ignored. That Alan was a gold plated skunk. The second skunk was her husband, for listening to his brother.
Davis watched with kind eyes. Tammy was a spirited, capable woman. A fine daughter in law that was doing a superior job of raising his grandchildren. Jennings was gone so much of the time, Tammy had learned to rely on herself with exceptional results. He dared not say a word, she was still accepting him as part of her group, but he was thinking dark thoughts about his oldest son.
Davis didn't know what in the hell was stuck in Alan's craw, but he was leading J down the wrong path. The two of them had that pack mentally when they were together. Smart, intelligent men that turned into blathering idiots when together.
Davis wouldn't look at his son's, Tammy was a darn fine cook and he didn't let her work go unappreciated.
J paced up and down to stay warm. It was a good looking morning, but still chilly this early. The cabin door was shut. Tammy was obviously still angry and the smell created by the breakfast fire caused his stomach to growl loudly. J shoved his hands deeply in his pockets and did some deep thinking concerning Alan's bum advise.
It was painfully true that any problems that happened between Tammy and himself, were incited by Alan. There was a pattern of distrust and meddling that Alan fostered. Jennings knew he was standing at the crossroad. The path's were with or without Tammy. There wasn't room for Alan if he chose the road with Tammy.
His father, the turncoat, had already sided with Tammy. This was a pretty uncomfortable spot to be in. The narrow space between a rock and a hard spot. J walked down toward the pond, ignoring the rest of the world. His devotion to the force had been the glue that defined his personality. He had worked tirelessly to better himself as he worked up through the ranks of the state patrol. Now, all of this was put aside as Alan had pulled strings and over ruled J's position as a Captain. Maybe he had better start with Alan.
The brother in question came hustling down the path, a worried expression on his face. "We are being watched," he said starkly. "I've found a place that was used as a observation post." Alan scanned the brush around the pond looking for eyes.
J sighed. This changed everything. His family was in danger and now he needed to protect them, despite how they felt about it.
Wayne folded his arms behind his head. The stretching movement hurt, even as it was cushioned by the pillow. The knife cut on his chest was healing from the inside out. So slow mending and he was so bored and stagnated. He wondered where Sandy was, and what she was doing? He missed her.
Wayne knew Grandma wasn't happy that he was interested in Sandra. Although they were no relation, they had been raised as brother and sister. It was a dicey thing, a fine line that had Benny looking at him without smiling. Brett had said, "leave her be, she's a baby." Clora didn't say much, but Wayne could tell she disapproved.
Inga and Doc didn't say a word, but he could tell they weren't happy. Wayne felt the pressure of the public disapproval, but held his mouth. He and Sandy had not said much to each other about what was happening. It was still new and untested, he was going slow cause of Sandy's age.
Clora looked at Sandy hard asleep in the bed. She had scratches on her hands and arms like she had been in the deep brush, Clora thought she had been on one of her 'back to nature' runners.
"Hey, wake up sleepyhead" Clora bounced the mattress with her hand. "This is your rise and shine call. We just got home ."
Sandy opened one eye and groggily said "Huh, what's going on."
"OH, your a real live wire. I think you need a cup of Grandma's coffee." Clora said chortling as ahe opened the window curtain.
"You should be over at Ev and Cheryl's this morning. I've subbed for you a couple of day's, but it is your work. right?"
"Yeah," came from the vicinity of the pillow. "I will get over there right away."
Clora joined Evie and Lainey in the kitchen. "Sleeping beauty will be up soon. I told her she needs to get her fanny over to Ev's pdq."
"What's pdq?" Lainey wanted to know. "I've never heard that before."
"It stands for 'pretty damm quick" Evie said. "Not that I approve of her saying that." Clora snickered, and Lainey laughed out loud. Sandy came shuffling into the kitchen, hair corkscrewed in every direction and her old ratty bunny slippers poking out under the well worn flannel nightgown.
"Geeze Sandy, what happened to your hands?" Lainey pointed at the brier scratches decorating the young woman's arms.
"I was setting snares," Sandy yawned and halfway covered her mouth. "I was after rabbits, but the darn things seem to have evaporated since the last earthquake. In fact it's kinda spooky the way the game has dried up."
Evie looked thoughtful, "animals seem to have a knack for predicting natural occurrences. Did you need food for someone Sandy?
We have some elk, if you know a hungry person."
"Nah, I was practicing, it's so easy to forget. Say, did you know there are people staying at the cabin? I was there and Benny brought a whole family in. I skedaddled, but I thought the agreement was every one had to agree if strangers were invited?"
It was Evie who answered "This was a special circumstance, Benny and Wayne agreed and you were out running." Grandmother smiled at granddaughter, silently asking to have Sandy let it go. "Clora was at Ev's and the decision had to be made immediately.
It may be for a while," Evie cautioned, knowing that Sandy made a habit of staying there as much as possible.
"Yeah, well if what I heard yesterday is a clue, that woman was pretty pissed about something. I think she could have gutted the men and not looked back."
"Sandy," Evie reproved quickly. "Watch your mouth."
"I gotta get ready, Ev will be roaring for something to eat." Sandy made good her escape, before something else happened.
Lainey shook her head, this was some family. Clora stood at the stove stirring oatmeal, "It's ready," she announced, "grab bowls and get ready."
Tammy fried more elk and potatoes. She cooked breakfast for the kids, herself and Davis. The other two she ignored. That Alan was a gold plated skunk. The second skunk was her husband, for listening to his brother.
Davis watched with kind eyes. Tammy was a spirited, capable woman. A fine daughter in law that was doing a superior job of raising his grandchildren. Jennings was gone so much of the time, Tammy had learned to rely on herself with exceptional results. He dared not say a word, she was still accepting him as part of her group, but he was thinking dark thoughts about his oldest son.
Davis didn't know what in the hell was stuck in Alan's craw, but he was leading J down the wrong path. The two of them had that pack mentally when they were together. Smart, intelligent men that turned into blathering idiots when together.
Davis wouldn't look at his son's, Tammy was a darn fine cook and he didn't let her work go unappreciated.
J paced up and down to stay warm. It was a good looking morning, but still chilly this early. The cabin door was shut. Tammy was obviously still angry and the smell created by the breakfast fire caused his stomach to growl loudly. J shoved his hands deeply in his pockets and did some deep thinking concerning Alan's bum advise.
It was painfully true that any problems that happened between Tammy and himself, were incited by Alan. There was a pattern of distrust and meddling that Alan fostered. Jennings knew he was standing at the crossroad. The path's were with or without Tammy. There wasn't room for Alan if he chose the road with Tammy.
His father, the turncoat, had already sided with Tammy. This was a pretty uncomfortable spot to be in. The narrow space between a rock and a hard spot. J walked down toward the pond, ignoring the rest of the world. His devotion to the force had been the glue that defined his personality. He had worked tirelessly to better himself as he worked up through the ranks of the state patrol. Now, all of this was put aside as Alan had pulled strings and over ruled J's position as a Captain. Maybe he had better start with Alan.
The brother in question came hustling down the path, a worried expression on his face. "We are being watched," he said starkly. "I've found a place that was used as a observation post." Alan scanned the brush around the pond looking for eyes.
J sighed. This changed everything. His family was in danger and now he needed to protect them, despite how they felt about it.
Wayne folded his arms behind his head. The stretching movement hurt, even as it was cushioned by the pillow. The knife cut on his chest was healing from the inside out. So slow mending and he was so bored and stagnated. He wondered where Sandy was, and what she was doing? He missed her.
Wayne knew Grandma wasn't happy that he was interested in Sandra. Although they were no relation, they had been raised as brother and sister. It was a dicey thing, a fine line that had Benny looking at him without smiling. Brett had said, "leave her be, she's a baby." Clora didn't say much, but Wayne could tell she disapproved.
Inga and Doc didn't say a word, but he could tell they weren't happy. Wayne felt the pressure of the public disapproval, but held his mouth. He and Sandy had not said much to each other about what was happening. It was still new and untested, he was going slow cause of Sandy's age.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Gads and it was Sandy doing the watching and they didnt even know she had been there, like latching the barn after the animals get loose lol. Thank you so much for the new chapter.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Everybody that goes to Evie's, winds up changed in one way or the other. How can you dissapoint a person that expects the very best you can offer, in such a positive gentle way.
Sandy is older than 13, but her actual age is unknown. Due to her heart condition as a young child, she suffered arrested development. Her mother was a poor excuse, didn't feed or nuture Sandy and dumped her on Benny and Clora's mother when they supposed the child was about 6. Biologically, she should be 17 or 18. Sandy is a thin, slight underdeveloped looking girl. Thinks like an 18 year old, acts like a 13 year old.
Mr. Pac is slowly improving. We leave Sunday to see the specialist and do another MRI on Monday and Tuesday. Hopefully this will show that the repairs are healing.
Sandy is older than 13, but her actual age is unknown. Due to her heart condition as a young child, she suffered arrested development. Her mother was a poor excuse, didn't feed or nuture Sandy and dumped her on Benny and Clora's mother when they supposed the child was about 6. Biologically, she should be 17 or 18. Sandy is a thin, slight underdeveloped looking girl. Thinks like an 18 year old, acts like a 13 year old.
Mr. Pac is slowly improving. We leave Sunday to see the specialist and do another MRI on Monday and Tuesday. Hopefully this will show that the repairs are healing.
bad_karma00
Underachiever
Will say a prayer for you Pac. Godspeed.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#49
Sandy walked over to Ev and Cheryl's brushing her unruly hair. Taming the natural curl was practically a full time job, and she used a heavy duty hair band to gather it up into a pony tail.
Ev was up, looking as wild and unruly as Sandy's hair. Ev had let his once neatly cut and trimmed hair go bushman to match his bushy untrimmed beard. Cheryl didn't have the heart to tell him that she really despised his unkempt look. Ev was such a great husband and father, that his appearance was his personal choice.
Sandy wasn't as gentle and tact urn. "You look like the back end of a bear," she said to the astonished Ev. He ducked his head to look in the hallway mirror and shocked himself.
"I guess I do, how come nobody said anything?" he acted bewildered. "I look pretty crappy, don't I?"
"Yeah, like the north end of a south...."
"That's enough Missy," he looked at Sandy with annoyance. "You explained yourself clearly the first time."
"Yes Sir," Sandy mumbled as she cut bacon strips from the rind and slapped them in the skillet. Cheryl shuffled slowly from the bedroom. "Don't cook anything for me. I'm really feeling sick; Ev, I think we'd better go into the clinic."
"Christy and I will do breakfast and clean up. It's going to be a great day for a walk, so we may go to Grandma's or come into the clinic. Would that be OK?" Sandy asked.
"Sure," Ev replied as he helped Cheryl walk out the door.
Sandy fried the bacon and toasted bread. Ev did a good home cure and smoking on his bacon. He didn't over fatten his hogs and the bacon was lean and delicious. Christy woke up to the enticing smell and hopped out of bed hungry. Sandy had a good rapport with Christy, and the morning went fast.
The warm spring morning was a fine day, if the riffles of ash hadn't been all over the road. Sandy wet a couple of bandannas and they tied them over their noses. Christy chattered constantly behind the blue covering, the triangle end of the cloth flapping back and forth as she talked, and talked and talked.
Sandy went to the diner first. It was empty save for Brett and Abby. "Hey where's Trey, Christy is looking for a playmate?"
"He's in time out in the hallway. He still has five minutes to go." Brett said in a exasperated tone. Abby constantly monitored her son as Trey was a handful and didn't mind.
Sandy had an idea of how she could improve Trey, but so far nobody had asked her opinion on the matter. Trey already gave Sandy the eye, like he was aware what might befall him if they were left alone.
Sandy and Christy ordered a soda and sat enjoying the infrequent treat. When Trey's time out was over, he walked into the room with a smirk. His eyes lit up when he spotted Christy, "Hey, you wanna play?" he asked in a baby talk sing song.
Sandy reacted in mock terror. "What did you say?" she demanded. "I thought you were growing up, not going back to be a baby."
Trey considered what he was going to say, and then repeated the sentence in normal tones.
Sandy affirmed her approval to Trey, and the child nodded happily.
"Can we go over to the playground?" Sandy asked. Brett looked at Abby and she nodded. "OK," Abby agreed, looking doubtful that Sandy could handle him.
Once the children were out the door, Brett took Abby by the hand to sit at a table. "Abby, honey, we need to have a better program for Trey. He's 5 and out of control." Brett cupped his wife's hands in his, they were at a crisis point that had to have a better resolution than was happening.
Brett was amazed that Sandy had the intuition to come when she had. He and Abby were fighting so bad with Trey as the problem. Brett felt if he could spank Trey just once to enforce a an order, the child would change.
Abby refused to let him punish Trey, coddling and babying the boy into a 5 year old monster. Lately, not even she had been able to keep Trey under control. She knew she needed to do something, but felt so guilty and bad about his start in life that she was compensating with no control.
Sandy was smart enough to guess what was happening in the diner, she could see the frustration of Brett's face and the utter exhaustion in Abby's.
On the way to the playground, Trey reached around behind Sandy's back and pinched Christy hard in the soft part of her upper arm. Sandy's justice was swift and complete. Little Trey got his first spanking.
The people looking out their windows at the squalling, screaming episode in the park, were relieved that there was not a crime being committed and most were happy that control was being applied to Trey's seat of accountability.
Sandy walked over to Ev and Cheryl's brushing her unruly hair. Taming the natural curl was practically a full time job, and she used a heavy duty hair band to gather it up into a pony tail.
Ev was up, looking as wild and unruly as Sandy's hair. Ev had let his once neatly cut and trimmed hair go bushman to match his bushy untrimmed beard. Cheryl didn't have the heart to tell him that she really despised his unkempt look. Ev was such a great husband and father, that his appearance was his personal choice.
Sandy wasn't as gentle and tact urn. "You look like the back end of a bear," she said to the astonished Ev. He ducked his head to look in the hallway mirror and shocked himself.
"I guess I do, how come nobody said anything?" he acted bewildered. "I look pretty crappy, don't I?"
"Yeah, like the north end of a south...."
"That's enough Missy," he looked at Sandy with annoyance. "You explained yourself clearly the first time."
"Yes Sir," Sandy mumbled as she cut bacon strips from the rind and slapped them in the skillet. Cheryl shuffled slowly from the bedroom. "Don't cook anything for me. I'm really feeling sick; Ev, I think we'd better go into the clinic."
"Christy and I will do breakfast and clean up. It's going to be a great day for a walk, so we may go to Grandma's or come into the clinic. Would that be OK?" Sandy asked.
"Sure," Ev replied as he helped Cheryl walk out the door.
Sandy fried the bacon and toasted bread. Ev did a good home cure and smoking on his bacon. He didn't over fatten his hogs and the bacon was lean and delicious. Christy woke up to the enticing smell and hopped out of bed hungry. Sandy had a good rapport with Christy, and the morning went fast.
The warm spring morning was a fine day, if the riffles of ash hadn't been all over the road. Sandy wet a couple of bandannas and they tied them over their noses. Christy chattered constantly behind the blue covering, the triangle end of the cloth flapping back and forth as she talked, and talked and talked.
Sandy went to the diner first. It was empty save for Brett and Abby. "Hey where's Trey, Christy is looking for a playmate?"
"He's in time out in the hallway. He still has five minutes to go." Brett said in a exasperated tone. Abby constantly monitored her son as Trey was a handful and didn't mind.
Sandy had an idea of how she could improve Trey, but so far nobody had asked her opinion on the matter. Trey already gave Sandy the eye, like he was aware what might befall him if they were left alone.
Sandy and Christy ordered a soda and sat enjoying the infrequent treat. When Trey's time out was over, he walked into the room with a smirk. His eyes lit up when he spotted Christy, "Hey, you wanna play?" he asked in a baby talk sing song.
Sandy reacted in mock terror. "What did you say?" she demanded. "I thought you were growing up, not going back to be a baby."
Trey considered what he was going to say, and then repeated the sentence in normal tones.
Sandy affirmed her approval to Trey, and the child nodded happily.
"Can we go over to the playground?" Sandy asked. Brett looked at Abby and she nodded. "OK," Abby agreed, looking doubtful that Sandy could handle him.
Once the children were out the door, Brett took Abby by the hand to sit at a table. "Abby, honey, we need to have a better program for Trey. He's 5 and out of control." Brett cupped his wife's hands in his, they were at a crisis point that had to have a better resolution than was happening.
Brett was amazed that Sandy had the intuition to come when she had. He and Abby were fighting so bad with Trey as the problem. Brett felt if he could spank Trey just once to enforce a an order, the child would change.
Abby refused to let him punish Trey, coddling and babying the boy into a 5 year old monster. Lately, not even she had been able to keep Trey under control. She knew she needed to do something, but felt so guilty and bad about his start in life that she was compensating with no control.
Sandy was smart enough to guess what was happening in the diner, she could see the frustration of Brett's face and the utter exhaustion in Abby's.
On the way to the playground, Trey reached around behind Sandy's back and pinched Christy hard in the soft part of her upper arm. Sandy's justice was swift and complete. Little Trey got his first spanking.
The people looking out their windows at the squalling, screaming episode in the park, were relieved that there was not a crime being committed and most were happy that control was being applied to Trey's seat of accountability.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thank you so much for writing another chapter with your life so busy.
223shootersc
Veteran Member
crime and punishment, ove the chapter
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#50
"I hate you, your mean!" Trey sobbed, rubbing his bottom.
"The way I see it, you have two choices. Now stop blubbering and listen. You can hate me while you play here, or you can hate me when your sitting in time out at home. You tell me which one you want.
Trey was a smart kid. He thought about it for a bit, pouting and watching Christy play on the Merry Go Round. "I wanna play," he finally said with a small voice.
"Then you play nice, or you'll get another spanking." Sandy said reasonably, promising another paddling with her voice. Trey looked at her out of the corner of his huge, beautiful brown eyes. Sandy stared at him unblinking, winning the stare war with calmness and authority.
"Don't you hurt me," Christy ordered. Standing with her hands on her hips, impaling Trey with her own mean look.
"OK," Trey said happily. "I wanna swing."
The kids played well, way past noon. "I'm hungry," Trey announced. "Let's go get a sammich from Mom."
"Sandwich," Sandy corrected, giving Trey a level look.
"OK," he said. "Let's go."
Brett was dishing out bowls of chicken rice soup to the people clustered at the tables. He looked hot and flustered as he ran between the area and the grill. Sandy set the two youngsters at the kids table in the corner, dished up soup and crackers and cold glasses of grape drink.
Snagging one of Abby's aprons, she worked right along side Brett helping the lunch crowd enjoy their food and superior service.
When the last paying customer left, Sandy sat down with a cool drink and nibbled on a cracker. She looked at Brett and raised her eyebrow, silently asking where Abby might be.
Brett wouldn't meet her eyes, and slammed his massive frame into the protesting chair. "She left," he announced. "Left Trey and me to get along the best we can. Said she wouldn't be a part of a family that hit kids."
"I hate you, your mean!" Trey sobbed, rubbing his bottom.
"The way I see it, you have two choices. Now stop blubbering and listen. You can hate me while you play here, or you can hate me when your sitting in time out at home. You tell me which one you want.
Trey was a smart kid. He thought about it for a bit, pouting and watching Christy play on the Merry Go Round. "I wanna play," he finally said with a small voice.
"Then you play nice, or you'll get another spanking." Sandy said reasonably, promising another paddling with her voice. Trey looked at her out of the corner of his huge, beautiful brown eyes. Sandy stared at him unblinking, winning the stare war with calmness and authority.
"Don't you hurt me," Christy ordered. Standing with her hands on her hips, impaling Trey with her own mean look.
"OK," Trey said happily. "I wanna swing."
The kids played well, way past noon. "I'm hungry," Trey announced. "Let's go get a sammich from Mom."
"Sandwich," Sandy corrected, giving Trey a level look.
"OK," he said. "Let's go."
Brett was dishing out bowls of chicken rice soup to the people clustered at the tables. He looked hot and flustered as he ran between the area and the grill. Sandy set the two youngsters at the kids table in the corner, dished up soup and crackers and cold glasses of grape drink.
Snagging one of Abby's aprons, she worked right along side Brett helping the lunch crowd enjoy their food and superior service.
When the last paying customer left, Sandy sat down with a cool drink and nibbled on a cracker. She looked at Brett and raised her eyebrow, silently asking where Abby might be.
Brett wouldn't meet her eyes, and slammed his massive frame into the protesting chair. "She left," he announced. "Left Trey and me to get along the best we can. Said she wouldn't be a part of a family that hit kids."
Good riddance!
But isn't Trey her own kid? I do NOT understand women who leave their children and go off by themselves. If she honestly thought Trey would come to harm from being 'hit', she would have taken him with her. There has to be more to it than this. Who was waiting in the wings for her, hmmm? Well, this will leave Brett in a fine pickle of taking care of the diner and doing all the work there as well as taking care of Trey.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
thank you
bad_karma00
Underachiever
He's likely better off without her, and Trey now has a chance to grow up into a man instead of a whiner.
Great update!
Great update!
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#51
"One of us will be back to help you with supper," Sandy assured Brett. "I've got to check in with Cheryl at the clinic, then either myself, Clora or Lainey will be in for the supper rush. I'm gonna take Trey and Christy. Trey will stay with Grandma, till you get it sorted out."
Trey looked at Sandy with worshipful, puppydog eyes. He gathered up his clothes and stuffed them in his star wars backpack, washed his hands and grabbed his jacket. "I'm ready Sandy," he said shyly. Trey yawned, and bravely uncrossed his sleepy eyes.
"Bye Brett, see ya." he yawned again and grabbed for Sandy's hand. "I need to be towed," he mumbled.
With Christy on one side and Trey on the other, Sandy headed for the clinic. Inside the door, Sandy could hear Cheryl crying. So this was not going to be a good time to ask about using Ev's pickup.
Inga came into the waiting room when the overhead bell on the door rang. She put her finger in a shush motion and jerked her head back toward the exam rooms.
"We have complications," Inga said with sad eyes. "Not for young ears."
"Yeah, we have them also," Sandy shook her head. "I need to use Ev's pickup to run these two out to Grandma's and bring available bodies back to help Brett. Shouldn't be gone more than an hour at the most."
"Cheryl will be here for a couple of days, so go ahead. Tell Mom hi." Inga said softly.
Sandy really liked Ev's old pickup. It was cool and rattled like a pickup should. Both Trey and Christy were asleep by the time Sandy had maneuvered out of the parking lot. She drove slow, enjoying the peace and quiet.
Grandma was resting, Clora and Lainey were sitting outside enjoying the spring day when Sandy came rumbling up.
"We have problems," Sandy sat in the other chair, slumping in the shade. "I spanked Trey for pinching Christy. Abby got mad and left Brett. Cheryl is bad off, and two of us need to go back to town and help Brett for supper and breakfast. The kids are sleeping in the pickup, and Inga says hi."
"For crying out loud, can't you ever come home without a ton of problems?" Clora wanted to know waspishly. "What's eating Abby?"she questioned sharply, never having liked her sister in law.
"Well,...." Sandy looked at the pickup to see if the kids were still asleep, "Brett says Abby is feeling trapped, like her young life is passing her by, nobody appreciates her, and she's too young to be a mother."
"What a load of crap," Clora said disgustedly. "Yeah she's young, but it was half her indiscretion that caused the original problem. It's not like he's a sweater you return if you decide you don't want it."
Lainey shook her head, not wanting to make a comment on family matters, but not liking the sound of the impending problem.
"Two of us need to go into town to help Brett, what's your pleasure? Sandy asked. "I have to get the pickup back to Ev."
"I'll go," Lainey volunteered. In the back of her mind she had the notion she might see Benny again. Acting cool and collected, Lainey tried to pretend she didn't care one way or the other.
Clora and Sandy looked at each other and smirked, Clora rolling her eyes and Sandy pursing her lips like a kiss, carefully done behind Lainey's back, of course.
Clora and Lainey went back to town after carefully removing the sleeping children from the pickup and depositing them on the couch. Sandy elected to stay at Grandmas, she wanted to keep Trey's education on track.
Brett looked vastly relieved when help showed up. He hadn't been able to finish the lunch dishes before he had to start the supper meal. He was bone tired, frustrated and now heart sick with the turn of events of the morning. He asked about Trey, wondering if he would be too much for Sandy and Grandma.
"I don't think so." Clora laughed as she took a tray of dirty dishes to the kitchen. "Trey is in love with Sandy, he would do anything for her,....even mind." she added with a chuckle.
Brett showed Lainey the menu, as short a list as it was, and told her how he wanted the orders to be written up. Lainey picked up the pad and figured out how she wanted to number the tables. She also preset the tables, and filled the water pitchers.
At 5pm, they were ready.
Tammy sat at the table silently drumming her fingers. The kids played just outside the cabin door, getting ready for a hike and fishing trip to the pond. "Davis," she warned, "I don't want to be mad at you. Don't plead Jennings case for him."
Davis nodded and drained the last of his tea. "Fair enough," he allowed. "I don't like this location,: he changed direction. "This is a poor, poor place to be holed up waiting for trouble. What is your feeling?"
"I know J and Alan want to avoid that reporter guy, but this setup gives me the creeps. I think we would be better off in town where strangers would be easier to detect," Tammy mused as she thought out loud.
"I like your thinking," Davis approved. "Now?"
"Now," Tammy returned. "Kids, come in here please, we have work to do."
"One of us will be back to help you with supper," Sandy assured Brett. "I've got to check in with Cheryl at the clinic, then either myself, Clora or Lainey will be in for the supper rush. I'm gonna take Trey and Christy. Trey will stay with Grandma, till you get it sorted out."
Trey looked at Sandy with worshipful, puppydog eyes. He gathered up his clothes and stuffed them in his star wars backpack, washed his hands and grabbed his jacket. "I'm ready Sandy," he said shyly. Trey yawned, and bravely uncrossed his sleepy eyes.
"Bye Brett, see ya." he yawned again and grabbed for Sandy's hand. "I need to be towed," he mumbled.
With Christy on one side and Trey on the other, Sandy headed for the clinic. Inside the door, Sandy could hear Cheryl crying. So this was not going to be a good time to ask about using Ev's pickup.
Inga came into the waiting room when the overhead bell on the door rang. She put her finger in a shush motion and jerked her head back toward the exam rooms.
"We have complications," Inga said with sad eyes. "Not for young ears."
"Yeah, we have them also," Sandy shook her head. "I need to use Ev's pickup to run these two out to Grandma's and bring available bodies back to help Brett. Shouldn't be gone more than an hour at the most."
"Cheryl will be here for a couple of days, so go ahead. Tell Mom hi." Inga said softly.
Sandy really liked Ev's old pickup. It was cool and rattled like a pickup should. Both Trey and Christy were asleep by the time Sandy had maneuvered out of the parking lot. She drove slow, enjoying the peace and quiet.
Grandma was resting, Clora and Lainey were sitting outside enjoying the spring day when Sandy came rumbling up.
"We have problems," Sandy sat in the other chair, slumping in the shade. "I spanked Trey for pinching Christy. Abby got mad and left Brett. Cheryl is bad off, and two of us need to go back to town and help Brett for supper and breakfast. The kids are sleeping in the pickup, and Inga says hi."
"For crying out loud, can't you ever come home without a ton of problems?" Clora wanted to know waspishly. "What's eating Abby?"she questioned sharply, never having liked her sister in law.
"Well,...." Sandy looked at the pickup to see if the kids were still asleep, "Brett says Abby is feeling trapped, like her young life is passing her by, nobody appreciates her, and she's too young to be a mother."
"What a load of crap," Clora said disgustedly. "Yeah she's young, but it was half her indiscretion that caused the original problem. It's not like he's a sweater you return if you decide you don't want it."
Lainey shook her head, not wanting to make a comment on family matters, but not liking the sound of the impending problem.
"Two of us need to go into town to help Brett, what's your pleasure? Sandy asked. "I have to get the pickup back to Ev."
"I'll go," Lainey volunteered. In the back of her mind she had the notion she might see Benny again. Acting cool and collected, Lainey tried to pretend she didn't care one way or the other.
Clora and Sandy looked at each other and smirked, Clora rolling her eyes and Sandy pursing her lips like a kiss, carefully done behind Lainey's back, of course.
Clora and Lainey went back to town after carefully removing the sleeping children from the pickup and depositing them on the couch. Sandy elected to stay at Grandmas, she wanted to keep Trey's education on track.
Brett looked vastly relieved when help showed up. He hadn't been able to finish the lunch dishes before he had to start the supper meal. He was bone tired, frustrated and now heart sick with the turn of events of the morning. He asked about Trey, wondering if he would be too much for Sandy and Grandma.
"I don't think so." Clora laughed as she took a tray of dirty dishes to the kitchen. "Trey is in love with Sandy, he would do anything for her,....even mind." she added with a chuckle.
Brett showed Lainey the menu, as short a list as it was, and told her how he wanted the orders to be written up. Lainey picked up the pad and figured out how she wanted to number the tables. She also preset the tables, and filled the water pitchers.
At 5pm, they were ready.
Tammy sat at the table silently drumming her fingers. The kids played just outside the cabin door, getting ready for a hike and fishing trip to the pond. "Davis," she warned, "I don't want to be mad at you. Don't plead Jennings case for him."
Davis nodded and drained the last of his tea. "Fair enough," he allowed. "I don't like this location,: he changed direction. "This is a poor, poor place to be holed up waiting for trouble. What is your feeling?"
"I know J and Alan want to avoid that reporter guy, but this setup gives me the creeps. I think we would be better off in town where strangers would be easier to detect," Tammy mused as she thought out loud.
"I like your thinking," Davis approved. "Now?"
"Now," Tammy returned. "Kids, come in here please, we have work to do."
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
Thank you for the thoughts, prayers and kind words.
Today's chapter, [when I get time to do it] will be the last one
until Wed. We check in with the Doc on Mon. morning at 8am.;
and get spit outside sometime late Tues. Then I need to drive
home, [7 to 8 hours] depending on the traffic.
I always have to add more time to my estimations, as we are the
people Murphy's law was written for. Thanks all, for reading.
Today's chapter, [when I get time to do it] will be the last one
until Wed. We check in with the Doc on Mon. morning at 8am.;
and get spit outside sometime late Tues. Then I need to drive
home, [7 to 8 hours] depending on the traffic.
I always have to add more time to my estimations, as we are the
people Murphy's law was written for. Thanks all, for reading.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
All our prayers and well wishes, be safe.
PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#52
Wayne swung his feet over the side of the bed and carefully eased himself into a upright position. The room went to spinning like a child's windmill as he clutched at the bed rail. Gritting his teeth against the pain he sat up as long as he could take the stabbing hurt, and then lay down to rest. Three more times during the morning he tested himself against the limitations of his physical ability. The fourth time, it was easier.
Inga brought lunch to Wayne's room as he was settling back from his last attempt. Her lips thinned in disapproval as she concluded what he had been doing. Using her mother's technique of the 'look', she gave him 'silent hell' as she put the tray on the over bed table.
"Your good," Wayne praised, "But your mom is still the all time best." he coughed a little as he amused himself chuckling. "I remember the first day I arrived at Gramma's. I was hurt'in so bad, down as low as a kid can get. Gramma had me come in and sit at the table, pushed a bowl of soup and a cup of her gawd awful coffee in my direction and said "welcome."
"Oh, she pushed me to work at gaining strength. Made me eat when I didn't want to and gave me a way to work out my rage chopping wood, and prayed over me when I didn't deserve it." Wayne smiled at Inga.
Inga gave him a half smile back. "I've got to tell you, she was a tough mother to have when I was younger. Every kid wanted to come to our place to play, and I just wanted to go anywhere else but there." she confessed. "Everyone had to play fair or they were banned for a week. I was such a stinker," Inga laughed, "that sometimes I was grounded inside for being a brat, and the kids still came over to play. Talk about torture, listening to my friends play at my place without me, was the worst punishment possible."
Wayne spooned in the tasty vegetable soup, "I can see Gramma doing that, sound's like her to a 'T'."
Doc stopped by to see how his patient was doing. "Is this a party?" he questioned lightly, listening to Inga's soft laughter.
"Come in," she urged gaily. "We are trading Mother stories. "I have a hundred, for every year of my life!" she emphasized in an amused tone.
Doc had to admit that she had pulled off a 'happening' that he couldn't explain, but he wasn't going to go against the tide of popular opinion and be unreasonable with cold logic and reason.
Kent sat next to Mary Lou's bed. His beautiful wife lay sleeping, so still and quiet. Only the faint rise of her chest indicated she was still alive. Weak as a kitten, she couldn't even sit up without help. Doc had said that resting would be the best medicine. "A stress attack," he had concluded. "That she hadn't died during the attack, showed she would live." Doc Phillips remarked seriously.
Kent was restless and agitated inside; holding a tight rein on himself he stopped short of getting up and pacing the floor. He hated waiting, inactivity of any kind. The paper was always busy and he thrived on the frantic fury, tight deadlines and cutting edge panic created by instant news flooding the wires.
Kent considered himself an adrenalin junkie, and he was flat out of 'fix'. He had never thought about drinking, didn't have the time to waste, but now....he was thinking he needed a stiff shot. Naturally, this less than a one horse town didn't have a liquor store, the gas station sold bread and milk, the grocery store having gone out of business. Kent supposed he was plumb out of luck in the drink department.
Kent had carefully questioned the Sheriff about how to ditch this quaint little village and the information was disturbing. The road down to the interstate was fine and then where the tsunami had hit, there was no road. Just flatlands of gooey mud and uprooted trees, jagged exposed rock and small pieces of people's lives lying about like litter.
The lousy Guard had confiscated his Bell, so walking was the only way to get around. There were a few vehicles still running but the ash and the lack of fuel was sidelining them one by one.
Being a practical realist he sat brooding about the fickleness of nature and how insignificant humans really were. All that thinking didn't gain him any startling insights into solutions, but it gave him something to occupy his time.
Tammy McCann packed the totes, food and children in record time. She refused to leave the cast iron skillet that had been in the cabin, she would return it later. She looked at Davis and said point blank,"you coming?"
Davis shuffled a bit and then said "yep. Let's get gone."
Alan and J returned from their scouting trip in time to see the Suburban heading out the trail. "Guess that's your answer," Alan remarked to the dumbfounded J.
J took a deep breath, started to turn around to tell Alan to shut up, and then turned back and started walking to town. Alan watched in disgust and then turned and went into the cabin.
It took J a couple of hours to get back to town and he was extremely gratified to see the suburban parked in front of the cafe. Tammy and his Dad were sitting at a table with the big dude that owned the place. They had hamburgers that smelled mighty darn good, and big glasses of cool looking water. J was hungry and his stomach rumbled mightily.
Brett looked up to see who had come in the door, the man had a tired, worried expression and stared at the woman and her father in law that had just bought the cafe. So, he concluded rightly, this was the husband.
Brett felt trapped. Now he didn't want the State Police guy mad at him, but he didn't want to turn down the woman's offer of cash either. That was the color of temptations for sure. Brett was amazed at himself, for the feeling of relief the sale of the diner brought to him. He had done what he thought was the right thing and it had turned around and bit him in the butt.
J took one look at Tammy's determined face and knew she had done something she was wanting to do. He walked in and asked if he could join them. Davis used his foot to move the spare chair out towards J. "Evening son," Davis greeted his boy.
Tammy looked square at J and said "hello," and then bent over and pulled a wad of cash from her handbag. "I would like you to count it and write me a receipt and bill of sale."
J shifted uneasily in his chair, he watched intently as Brett counted out five thousand dollars, wrote the receipt and bill of sale. Pushing the paperwork to Tammy, he picked up his burger and finished it.
J glanced over at the grill, one of the big dude's sisters was frying meat and he held his finger up and she acknowledged the request.
The Sheriff came in the door, and gave a friendly nod to his brother and sister. He scanned the room and J could see he quickly categorized the occupants and the threat level, all the while smiling and greeting his friends and neighbors. J decided Alan was wrong right there and then. This county sheriff would be a good guy to have on his side. Any man trained by his friend Will, would have what it would take to be a good lawman.
What J didn't have a handle on was the exchange of that much money. What was it that Tammy had bought?
Benny came over to the table to exchange hello's with Brett and the people gathered. Brett flashed a huge smile of relief and announced happily, "meet the new owner of the cafe, Tammy. This is her father in law Davis, and her husband J."
"We've met," Benny said easily, trying to assess the situation. Why were the McCanns back it town so soon as Alan had made it sound like a matter of life or death that the group be hidden away?
Benny flashed a look at Clora when she brought J's burger to the table. She in turn raised her eyebrow and let him know that big things were happening. Lainey came bustling in with a tray of coleslaw and pie. She stopped so short when she spotted Benny, that the dishes were in danger of flying off.
Clora reached around and steadied the front of the tray, and Lainey regained her composure and set the dishes on the table. She had a special smile for Benny, as she exchanged used plates for saucers of chocolate pie. J watched the interplay and thought the way Alan had read the scenario was probably correct. What a pickle they were into.
Evie woke up from her nap to the pleasure of Christy and Trey staring at her with intense concentration. One set of big blue and another set of elfin brown were watching her every move. "Hi Gramma. Trey said we could make you wake up by staring at your face. It worked." she said happily. "You were right."
Evie smiled at the youngsters and said where's your parents. "Home," they both announced with glee. "We came to be with you Gramma."
Wayne swung his feet over the side of the bed and carefully eased himself into a upright position. The room went to spinning like a child's windmill as he clutched at the bed rail. Gritting his teeth against the pain he sat up as long as he could take the stabbing hurt, and then lay down to rest. Three more times during the morning he tested himself against the limitations of his physical ability. The fourth time, it was easier.
Inga brought lunch to Wayne's room as he was settling back from his last attempt. Her lips thinned in disapproval as she concluded what he had been doing. Using her mother's technique of the 'look', she gave him 'silent hell' as she put the tray on the over bed table.
"Your good," Wayne praised, "But your mom is still the all time best." he coughed a little as he amused himself chuckling. "I remember the first day I arrived at Gramma's. I was hurt'in so bad, down as low as a kid can get. Gramma had me come in and sit at the table, pushed a bowl of soup and a cup of her gawd awful coffee in my direction and said "welcome."
"Oh, she pushed me to work at gaining strength. Made me eat when I didn't want to and gave me a way to work out my rage chopping wood, and prayed over me when I didn't deserve it." Wayne smiled at Inga.
Inga gave him a half smile back. "I've got to tell you, she was a tough mother to have when I was younger. Every kid wanted to come to our place to play, and I just wanted to go anywhere else but there." she confessed. "Everyone had to play fair or they were banned for a week. I was such a stinker," Inga laughed, "that sometimes I was grounded inside for being a brat, and the kids still came over to play. Talk about torture, listening to my friends play at my place without me, was the worst punishment possible."
Wayne spooned in the tasty vegetable soup, "I can see Gramma doing that, sound's like her to a 'T'."
Doc stopped by to see how his patient was doing. "Is this a party?" he questioned lightly, listening to Inga's soft laughter.
"Come in," she urged gaily. "We are trading Mother stories. "I have a hundred, for every year of my life!" she emphasized in an amused tone.
Doc had to admit that she had pulled off a 'happening' that he couldn't explain, but he wasn't going to go against the tide of popular opinion and be unreasonable with cold logic and reason.
Kent sat next to Mary Lou's bed. His beautiful wife lay sleeping, so still and quiet. Only the faint rise of her chest indicated she was still alive. Weak as a kitten, she couldn't even sit up without help. Doc had said that resting would be the best medicine. "A stress attack," he had concluded. "That she hadn't died during the attack, showed she would live." Doc Phillips remarked seriously.
Kent was restless and agitated inside; holding a tight rein on himself he stopped short of getting up and pacing the floor. He hated waiting, inactivity of any kind. The paper was always busy and he thrived on the frantic fury, tight deadlines and cutting edge panic created by instant news flooding the wires.
Kent considered himself an adrenalin junkie, and he was flat out of 'fix'. He had never thought about drinking, didn't have the time to waste, but now....he was thinking he needed a stiff shot. Naturally, this less than a one horse town didn't have a liquor store, the gas station sold bread and milk, the grocery store having gone out of business. Kent supposed he was plumb out of luck in the drink department.
Kent had carefully questioned the Sheriff about how to ditch this quaint little village and the information was disturbing. The road down to the interstate was fine and then where the tsunami had hit, there was no road. Just flatlands of gooey mud and uprooted trees, jagged exposed rock and small pieces of people's lives lying about like litter.
The lousy Guard had confiscated his Bell, so walking was the only way to get around. There were a few vehicles still running but the ash and the lack of fuel was sidelining them one by one.
Being a practical realist he sat brooding about the fickleness of nature and how insignificant humans really were. All that thinking didn't gain him any startling insights into solutions, but it gave him something to occupy his time.
Tammy McCann packed the totes, food and children in record time. She refused to leave the cast iron skillet that had been in the cabin, she would return it later. She looked at Davis and said point blank,"you coming?"
Davis shuffled a bit and then said "yep. Let's get gone."
Alan and J returned from their scouting trip in time to see the Suburban heading out the trail. "Guess that's your answer," Alan remarked to the dumbfounded J.
J took a deep breath, started to turn around to tell Alan to shut up, and then turned back and started walking to town. Alan watched in disgust and then turned and went into the cabin.
It took J a couple of hours to get back to town and he was extremely gratified to see the suburban parked in front of the cafe. Tammy and his Dad were sitting at a table with the big dude that owned the place. They had hamburgers that smelled mighty darn good, and big glasses of cool looking water. J was hungry and his stomach rumbled mightily.
Brett looked up to see who had come in the door, the man had a tired, worried expression and stared at the woman and her father in law that had just bought the cafe. So, he concluded rightly, this was the husband.
Brett felt trapped. Now he didn't want the State Police guy mad at him, but he didn't want to turn down the woman's offer of cash either. That was the color of temptations for sure. Brett was amazed at himself, for the feeling of relief the sale of the diner brought to him. He had done what he thought was the right thing and it had turned around and bit him in the butt.
J took one look at Tammy's determined face and knew she had done something she was wanting to do. He walked in and asked if he could join them. Davis used his foot to move the spare chair out towards J. "Evening son," Davis greeted his boy.
Tammy looked square at J and said "hello," and then bent over and pulled a wad of cash from her handbag. "I would like you to count it and write me a receipt and bill of sale."
J shifted uneasily in his chair, he watched intently as Brett counted out five thousand dollars, wrote the receipt and bill of sale. Pushing the paperwork to Tammy, he picked up his burger and finished it.
J glanced over at the grill, one of the big dude's sisters was frying meat and he held his finger up and she acknowledged the request.
The Sheriff came in the door, and gave a friendly nod to his brother and sister. He scanned the room and J could see he quickly categorized the occupants and the threat level, all the while smiling and greeting his friends and neighbors. J decided Alan was wrong right there and then. This county sheriff would be a good guy to have on his side. Any man trained by his friend Will, would have what it would take to be a good lawman.
What J didn't have a handle on was the exchange of that much money. What was it that Tammy had bought?
Benny came over to the table to exchange hello's with Brett and the people gathered. Brett flashed a huge smile of relief and announced happily, "meet the new owner of the cafe, Tammy. This is her father in law Davis, and her husband J."
"We've met," Benny said easily, trying to assess the situation. Why were the McCanns back it town so soon as Alan had made it sound like a matter of life or death that the group be hidden away?
Benny flashed a look at Clora when she brought J's burger to the table. She in turn raised her eyebrow and let him know that big things were happening. Lainey came bustling in with a tray of coleslaw and pie. She stopped so short when she spotted Benny, that the dishes were in danger of flying off.
Clora reached around and steadied the front of the tray, and Lainey regained her composure and set the dishes on the table. She had a special smile for Benny, as she exchanged used plates for saucers of chocolate pie. J watched the interplay and thought the way Alan had read the scenario was probably correct. What a pickle they were into.
Evie woke up from her nap to the pleasure of Christy and Trey staring at her with intense concentration. One set of big blue and another set of elfin brown were watching her every move. "Hi Gramma. Trey said we could make you wake up by staring at your face. It worked." she said happily. "You were right."
Evie smiled at the youngsters and said where's your parents. "Home," they both announced with glee. "We came to be with you Gramma."
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oh wow thank you for this wonderful chapter.