PacNorWest
Veteran Member
#58b
"I want a high level of caution around here," Benny began his reveal. "There are one or more looters or gang members lurking in the neighborhood, probably the guy that knifed Wayne. We are working on finding them, but another problem has taken precedent.
We have the McCann family in town that have been threatened by a terrorist." he fiddled with the tea mug. Finally making up his mind after a long pause, Benny reached for Lainey's casted hand resting on the table. Holding it in his firm grasp, he continued.
"Lainey, this next part concerns you. I am asking you to stay out here, and avoid your Dad. These are my reasons;" Benny absently rubbed his thumb on her fingers.
"Kent is a top notch investigative reporter. Unfortunately, he can sniff out a story, or make one out of nothing."
Lainey was very much aware of that fact. Her Dad had created monsters and ruined lives through his hard hitting, no stone unturned journalism. Many times during her younger life, she had been under house arrest for her protection, or had a bodyguard dog her steps in school and then college.
Teaching in the more rural setting where she had met Clora, Lainey for the first time was enjoying the semblance of a normal life.
"I understand, I really do. More than you think." Lainey said with a sigh. " It's nothing new, to be isolated from my family for protection reasons." she shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "I will leave here, if you want me too." she offered with a heavy heart.
Both Evie and Benny said 'NO!" at the same time. "No," Benny repeated less forcefully. "I want you here." he looked at Evie for confirmation and got the nod he wanted.
"I want you to stay here, please." he looked square on at Lainey's face. "We need help guarding the home place here, the gardens have to go in soon and working leaves a person vulnerable. Would you help us?" Benny was a smart man. Asking for help makes a person feel needed, and much more likely to be agreeable to what they have to do.
Lainey would have walked over hot coals if Benny requested it, but she ducked her head and swallowed hard. Smiling, she said 'yes," with a cow eyed, adoring look at the handsome man.
"I don't like you being out here, isolated," Benny continued in his official capacity. "I'm sending Wayne out here to recuperate, and help guard with Sandy and Lainey."
"Yes!" Sandy did a fist pump with a goofy grin on her face.
"No running," Benny admonished sternly. "I don't want either of you leaving here." He was well aware that Wayne might revert to acting feral to recondition himself. It was a familiar act the mountain man wanna be used to work out his frustrations. Wayne still didn't have a grip on his emotions and tended to act out more than was healthy. "I don't want you pressuring him," Benny warned his sister. "Let him be comfortable, so he will stay."
Sandy pretended to pout, but the effect was ruined by her jubilation as she hugged herself.
"Oh, you can depend on me," she promised with a laugh.
"Yeah, I'll just bet I can," Benny wryly spoke his doubts as to the restraint his sister would exercise.
"I've got to go, I need to speak with Brett and Wayne before it gets much later, Doc gets a bit testy if I keep his patients up late."
Benny smiled at Lainey, ignoring his Grandmother and sister.
Evie touched Sandy on the hand and they retired to the living room. "Ick," Sandy flipped the tips of her fingers like she was shaking off the super sweetness happening in the kitchen.
"Don't be a pot, calling the kettle," Evie shook her finger at Sandy. "You should listen to yourself."
"Oh, I'm not that daffy," Sandy said confidently. "No way."
Evie laughed, genuinely amused at her positive Granddaughter. "Humm, well maybe," she offered.
Benny walked rapidly back to town. The cool night air was refreshing, it had been very warm in the kitchen. Sandy must have loaded the stove to capacity when she heated the tea water.
Brett and Wayne were waiting for him in Wayne's room. Doc gave him a stern look when he walked in, letting Benny know he didn't appreciate the late night conferences. The men discussed the best way to protect the people they cared about, and when Benny suggested Wayne stay at Grandma's, it was well received by the bearded wonder.
"Work's for me," he managed to say with a straight face, "I can manage that, if you can take me out there. I can't walk that far as of yet."
Benny said 'yes, and Sandy tells me that Ev's had a looter."
"Let's get him in here," Brett suggested," he's a mess right now, but needs to know what's happening."
Ev blanched white, when he was told, but swore quietly under his breath. "Get back as soon as possible," he ordered Brett, while looking cautiously down the hall to where Cheryl was sleeping.
"Back from where?" Benny queried, and got filled in on the latest happening.
"I want a high level of caution around here," Benny began his reveal. "There are one or more looters or gang members lurking in the neighborhood, probably the guy that knifed Wayne. We are working on finding them, but another problem has taken precedent.
We have the McCann family in town that have been threatened by a terrorist." he fiddled with the tea mug. Finally making up his mind after a long pause, Benny reached for Lainey's casted hand resting on the table. Holding it in his firm grasp, he continued.
"Lainey, this next part concerns you. I am asking you to stay out here, and avoid your Dad. These are my reasons;" Benny absently rubbed his thumb on her fingers.
"Kent is a top notch investigative reporter. Unfortunately, he can sniff out a story, or make one out of nothing."
Lainey was very much aware of that fact. Her Dad had created monsters and ruined lives through his hard hitting, no stone unturned journalism. Many times during her younger life, she had been under house arrest for her protection, or had a bodyguard dog her steps in school and then college.
Teaching in the more rural setting where she had met Clora, Lainey for the first time was enjoying the semblance of a normal life.
"I understand, I really do. More than you think." Lainey said with a sigh. " It's nothing new, to be isolated from my family for protection reasons." she shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "I will leave here, if you want me too." she offered with a heavy heart.
Both Evie and Benny said 'NO!" at the same time. "No," Benny repeated less forcefully. "I want you here." he looked at Evie for confirmation and got the nod he wanted.
"I want you to stay here, please." he looked square on at Lainey's face. "We need help guarding the home place here, the gardens have to go in soon and working leaves a person vulnerable. Would you help us?" Benny was a smart man. Asking for help makes a person feel needed, and much more likely to be agreeable to what they have to do.
Lainey would have walked over hot coals if Benny requested it, but she ducked her head and swallowed hard. Smiling, she said 'yes," with a cow eyed, adoring look at the handsome man.
"I don't like you being out here, isolated," Benny continued in his official capacity. "I'm sending Wayne out here to recuperate, and help guard with Sandy and Lainey."
"Yes!" Sandy did a fist pump with a goofy grin on her face.
"No running," Benny admonished sternly. "I don't want either of you leaving here." He was well aware that Wayne might revert to acting feral to recondition himself. It was a familiar act the mountain man wanna be used to work out his frustrations. Wayne still didn't have a grip on his emotions and tended to act out more than was healthy. "I don't want you pressuring him," Benny warned his sister. "Let him be comfortable, so he will stay."
Sandy pretended to pout, but the effect was ruined by her jubilation as she hugged herself.
"Oh, you can depend on me," she promised with a laugh.
"Yeah, I'll just bet I can," Benny wryly spoke his doubts as to the restraint his sister would exercise.
"I've got to go, I need to speak with Brett and Wayne before it gets much later, Doc gets a bit testy if I keep his patients up late."
Benny smiled at Lainey, ignoring his Grandmother and sister.
Evie touched Sandy on the hand and they retired to the living room. "Ick," Sandy flipped the tips of her fingers like she was shaking off the super sweetness happening in the kitchen.
"Don't be a pot, calling the kettle," Evie shook her finger at Sandy. "You should listen to yourself."
"Oh, I'm not that daffy," Sandy said confidently. "No way."
Evie laughed, genuinely amused at her positive Granddaughter. "Humm, well maybe," she offered.
Benny walked rapidly back to town. The cool night air was refreshing, it had been very warm in the kitchen. Sandy must have loaded the stove to capacity when she heated the tea water.
Brett and Wayne were waiting for him in Wayne's room. Doc gave him a stern look when he walked in, letting Benny know he didn't appreciate the late night conferences. The men discussed the best way to protect the people they cared about, and when Benny suggested Wayne stay at Grandma's, it was well received by the bearded wonder.
"Work's for me," he managed to say with a straight face, "I can manage that, if you can take me out there. I can't walk that far as of yet."
Benny said 'yes, and Sandy tells me that Ev's had a looter."
"Let's get him in here," Brett suggested," he's a mess right now, but needs to know what's happening."
Ev blanched white, when he was told, but swore quietly under his breath. "Get back as soon as possible," he ordered Brett, while looking cautiously down the hall to where Cheryl was sleeping.
"Back from where?" Benny queried, and got filled in on the latest happening.