Monthly Archives for November 2016

Double Trouble: Chapter 93

 

Wednesday Briefs

The continuing saga of three generations of ranching family. Below the story you’ll find links to other flash fictions.

Chapter 93

 

The house was tense when Josh walked in after taking care of the animals before they left. Trent would be in charge of everything while Josh was at the state fair with Danny and Samantha. They’d went every year since the kid’s had joined 4-H, but this was the first year teenage attitudes and hormones were such a factor.

Josh put the last few items in his bag and then stared at Trent. “This is going to be a miserable trip isn’t it?”

“Two hormonal teenagers, at least one with a budding romance? No, not the formula for disaster at all. It’ll be a cake walk.”

He cocked an eyebrow and sneered at Trent for a minute and then chuckled and smiled. “This is all your fault you know. I’m being punished for what a little shit you were in high school.”

“Oh, sweetie. I was a little shit long before high school. Why do you think I’m staying home and you’re going? I’ll be able to see the fireworks from here. It should be awesome.”

“Asshole.”

Trent moved close to Josh and wrapped his arms around him. He gave Josh a warm hug and whispered, “When you get back we’ll have the most amazing sex. I promise.”

Josh chuckled, but a shiver rolled down his spine at what Trent might cook up. He knew one thing, even if it was nothing but a back rub, it would be erotic from Trent. About the time they would have began making out, the twins walked into the room.

Danny wore an expression of pure deviltry that Josh couldn’t resist. “What have you done to make yourself so happy?”

Danny cocked his cap on the back of his head and smirked at Josh. “Nothing big. Rob’s going to be there too. I told him we had plenty of room.”

Josh rolled his eyes and groaned before he returned to Danny. “This is work, not a chance to spend the whole time at the midway. And you are not sharing a bed with Rob. Don’t pull that crap with me.”

He turned to Samantha and said. “And you’re not spending every minute with Levi. Also, there is no way in hell he’s sleeping in the travel trailer. The boy has to find his own place to stay.”

Samantha seemed unfazed by Josh’s instructions. He became worried when the smile never faded from her face. Josh crossed his arms. “What have you done to will my life even more miserable?”

“Father dearest, whatever would make you think I would make your life difficult?”

“Spill it, young lady. What have you cooked up?”

Danny laughed and brought Josh’s attention back to his son. “What’s going on, Danny? Did you help cook something up?”

“No way! This is all Samantha’s idea. I had nothing to do with it.”

Josh turned to Samantha and scowled at her. “What?”

Her expression changed into one less challenging than what Josh had seen a few minutes earlier. “Relax, Da. I just want to spend time with Levi. He’s a nice guy and I think he’d be fun to hang out with.”

“That’s all normal stuff. What has the two of you acting like you’ve found someone to keep you in beer until you’re twenty-one?”

“It’s really not a big deal. We were just going to tease you a little before we told you,” Danny said.

Josh was frustrated at his kids and their idea of humor. He didn’t like the feeling that two teenagers were messing with him. His nerves were at the end of his tolerance. “Spit it out or we aren’t going anywhere.”

“Oh good God, boys are so cranky. Levi hired us to help him take care of his cattle. That’s it, nothing illegal.”

Josh’s aggravation deflated at what seemed to be an innocent arrangement. “Oh, I guess that would be fine. I’m sure Levi’s parents would appreciate the help.”

Samantha picked up her bags and started out the door. “That’s right. Besides, that beer isn’t free.”

The links listed below go directly to the individual stories.

Double Trouble: Chapter 92

Wednesday Briefs

The continuing saga of three generations of ranching family. Below the story you’ll find links to other flash fictions.

Chapter 92

Mitch glanced at Samantha until he’d drifted to the gravel shoulder on the state highway. Samantha yelped as Mitch yanked the truck and trailer back onto the road. As soon as the truck and trailer were under control again he pulled to the shoulder as his adrenaline started to settle down.

He jumped from the truck and walked back to see if the bulls were okay. It surprised him when the other truck door shut and Samantha walked back to join him. They studied the animals in the trailer for several minutes before Mitch motioned to the bulls with his feed coop hat.

“Looks like they’re none the worse for wear. I’ll watch more carefully over the rest of the trip.” He leaned against the trailer and studied her. “How did you and Levi enjoy each others company?”

A peaceful expression covered Samantha’s face. “They have a lot of cool stuff, stuff I’ve never seen.”

Mitch lifted an eyebrow as he watched his granddaughter. Then he muttered, “Like how long you can hold a kiss before you need to breath.”

Without breaking stride Samantha replied, “Naw, I knew that. Although Levi already bested all old boyfriends.”

Mitch’s mouth opened and closed for a few seconds before he closed it. He would not play verbal jousting with Samantha; he was afraid he’d lose. The rest of the trip home was more relaxed and neither of them brought up anything from the trip to the Worthy ranch. They rolled into the Maverick Ranch headquarters and Mitch drove to the corral that would be the new bulls home for a few weeks until they acclimated to their new home. With Samantha working gates and Mitch threading through the sometimes-narrow enclosures, they unloaded with no incidents. In short order everything was accomplished that they needed done and they headed to the house for a late dinner.

He glanced at Samantha. “Are you going to tell your parents about your hot new, long distance, boyfriend?”

“Papa, please don’t tell them. I want something of mine to be private before five men try to help me work out my social life.”

Mitch considered her for a minute but saw what she meant. “Okay. But you have to tell your Dad’s before it gets any more serious than it already is. At least he lives far enough away you won’t be going out every weekend.”

Samantha kept her silence long enough he understood it was already past that stage. “You’ve already got something worked out, don’t you?”

“Well, sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“They’re taking a few of the Senepol to the state fair.”

“And?”

“It might be about the same time the junior cattle show happens. So we would spend time together.”

Mitch stared at her for a minute, “Ah, crap. Tell your parents before then. When does that little event start?”

Samantha muttered something, but he wasn’t certain what she said. “What? Don’t think mumbling will keep me from asking as many times as it takes until I know what you said.”

“Okay, fine. It starts in a week. And I will spend time with Levi regardless of what the five of you think.”

A chill ran up Mitch’s spine at the tone of Samantha’s reply. He recognized a battle cry.

The links listed below go directly to the individual stories.

Double Trouble: Chapter 91

 

Wednesday Briefs

The continuing saga of three generations of ranching family. Below the story you’ll find links to other flash fictions.

Chapter 91

Samantha looked like a star-struck fan girl as she stared at Levi with her mouth wide open. If they had been at home, he might have let his granddaughter make a fool of herself, but not with strangers, and especially not with strangers she might want to know better. Not as good as Danny and his friends, but better than the two of them making cow eyes at each other. Yes, call him old fashioned, or just that he knows the people who live in the area. But he didn’t want to have Samantha labeled as the high school’s easy girl.

No, it wasn’t fair. But he refused to let Samantha do something at sixteen she would regret later. Yeah, Levi was a cute kid. Danny would try to get into his pants, but judging from the expression on Levi’s face, Danny wouldn’t have a chance. But the tall, slender kid seemed even more stunned at Samantha’s arrival than she was at him. Maybe. The hormones ramped up for both of them.

Levi grinned from ear to ear by the time they were close enough to shake hands. He greeted Mitch, but he was almost certain the sweaty palms had nothing to do with how glad Levi was to see Mitch again.

“Hi, Levi. Glad to see you again. Is your Dad around?”

“Yes, Sir. He’s finishing up in the hay barn and said he’d be here in a minute.”

Levi glanced toward Samantha and it looked as if someone had doused his head in red ink. Mitch also realized he hadn’t introduced the two of them. “Sorry, Levi. This is my granddaughter, Samantha. Sam, this is Levi.”

She scowled at Mitch before taking Levi’s hand. “It’s Samantha. Grandpappy forgets things from time to time. He’s getting real old.”

Mitch’s response was delayed when a man closer to his age appeared from the other side of the house, brushing bits of hay from his shirt. He closed the distance and gave Mitch a firm handshake.

“Nice ta meet you. I’m Addison Worthy.”

“Mitch, Mitch McRichards. Nice to meet you too.”

Addison stepped back and motioned toward the pen of bulls they’d looked at the other day. “Levi said you were interested in some of our Senepol yearlings.”

“We are, those are some impressive looking yearlings. We bought a couple of bulls in Colorado, but yours were too good to pass up. Last week when we stopped Levi was good enough to take us on a tour of the place, tell us something about the breed, and take a look at your young bulls.” He glanced over toward Levi and found his gaze locked on Samantha. Mitch grinned and couldn’t help himself. “We appreciate you taking the time to give us the tour, Levi.”

Levi startled, snapping his eyes back on Mitch. His face was so flushed Mitch decided you could light a cigar from it. Realizing he’d been busted, Levi tried to spit out an answer. “Yes, Sir. No. I mean it was no problem.”

Mitch couldn’t let it go on for any longer. The poor kid was squirming and Mitch didn’t press him. “Well, we appreciated it. You did a good job too.”

Addison glanced between the two young people and shook his head before turning to Mitch. “I’d be happy to go through the bulls with you. Levi knows them as well as I do, but he and I haven’t talked about the selling price of each one.”

“Dad, if you and Mister McRichards don’t need me. I thought Samantha might like to see the new Paint we bought.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun. I’m up for it,” she said.

Mitch looked between them and cocked his head. “I’m okay with it so long as Mister Worthy doesn’t mind.”

Mitch glanced at Addison and knew they agreed. These two needed some time, but not too much.

Addison said, “Okay, but stay where you can hear me in case I need you.”

That was the final word, Levi and Samantha sprinted out of sight. Mitch and Addison turned and went through the young animals. Time passed quickly for Mitch when he glanced at his watch and realized the morning was gone, they also hadn’t seen Samantha or Levi in all that time.

“I think we should locate the kids. We haven’t seen them in a while.”

Addison nodded in agreement. “Yeah, my son’s a good kid. But hormones are hormones. I think I know where to find them.”

They walked to an imposing building and the minute they opened the doors he knew it was the farm’s hay barn. They stood for a moment and heard what he’d expected: the kids had moved past talking. He didn’t want to walk in on them and see more than he needed to.

“Samantha. We’re about ready to go.”

The soft sounds from a few minutes earlier erupted into a flurry of movement. A few seconds later, Samantha appeared brushing a few stray pieces of hay from her jeans. She looked at Mitch.

“Levi’ll be here in a minute. He needs to think for a while about mucking stalls in January before he comes out.”

The links listed below go directly to the individual stories.