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- As Things Change
- Part XX
Next day…
Matt wanders into the kitchen around lunch time, looking for
something to eat. He is standing in front of the open fridge
when Nora walks in. “Hi, sweetie. You were up and out early
this morning.”
-
- He grabs a soda and closes
the door. “I was helping Blake with the horses. You haven’t
come down to see Spunky yet.”
-
- Nora grabs an apple from
a bowl on the counter and sits at the table. “I’m not
much for barns. I’ve seen you riding her. You seem to be
doing okay.”
-
- Matt takes a seat with his
soda and a bag of chips. “We’re bonding. Grandpa was
right, she's a sweet horse.”
-
- “I’m glad you like
her.” She looks at him cautiously. “Do you want to
talk about last night?”
-
- He shakes his head. “Kallie
already told me I’m being a selfish jerk.”
-
- “That’s not what
I’m saying, Matthew. I do think your reaction is rather
odd.”
-
- “Why?”
-
- “Well, because it’s
not like you not to want to help someone. Miki is just a little
girl who needs help.”
-
- Matt shrugs. “Isn’t
there another way to help her besides adoption?”
-
- “Maybe…”
-
- “Well, then I think
we should explore that. I don’t want to get into this right
now. Is Dad around?”
-
- “He’s working with
Chuck today. Why?”
-
- “Blake invited me to
go out to check the cattle in the west pasture. I want to go.”
-
- “What would this involve?”
-
- “We’d take the
Jeep out there and stay at a cabin for a couple days while we
check the herd. Blake said there’s a pond out there for
swimming and we could hang out.”
-
- Nora shakes her head. “I
don’t think that’s a good idea. I’d like you to
stick close to the house.”
-
- “Why? I’d be perfectly
safe – Sully is going. And Blake will be there. He’s
not that much older than me.”
-
- “But he’s been
on the ranch a lot longer than you have, sweetie.”
-
- “So.”
-
- “So, he’s more
familiar with ranch life.”
-
- Matt rolls his eyes. “It’s
no big deal.”
-
- “Rex is coming down
with Asa. Don’t you want to be here when they arrive?”
-
- “I’ll see them
when I get back. It’s only a couple days, Mom. I’m
going to ask Dad when he comes in.”
-
- Marcie slips into the booth
opposite Lauren. “Thanks for inviting me to lunch. I wanted
a chance to talk to you without the guys around. I want to know
all the details of your engagement.”
-
- Lauren grins. “There’s
not much to tell.”
-
- “Are you kidding me?
How on earth did you get him to propose? That’s a huge step
for him!”
-
- “He had already made
up his mind to propose before I told him. That’s why he’s
been acting so weird. He was nervous about popping the question.”
-
- Marcie shakes her head. “So
you were freaked out about being pregnant and he was freaked
out about proposing. You’re quite a pair.”
-
- “Yeah, we are.”
-
- “At least you know he
didn’t propose because of the baby.”
-
- Lauren looks down at her
ring. “No, it seems he had made up his mind a couple weeks
ago.”
-
- Marcie smiles at her friend.
“I’m so happy for you. For BOTH of you. So, have you
thought about a date yet?”
-
- Lauren pats her belly. “I’m
trying to decide if I want to wait for this one to make her entrance.”
-
- “Her?”
-
- “I think it’s a
girl. I haven’t done an ultrasound yet, but I just have
a feeling.”
-
- “That’s so cool.
Can you imagine Rex with a baby girl? He won’t stand a chance.”
-
- “So true. I think she
will definitely be daddy’s girl.” The waitress approaches
the table. Lauren turns to Marcie when she leaves after taking
their order. “I wanted to ask you something.”
-
- “Shoot.”
-
- “Even though I haven’t
settled on a date yet for the wedding, I have decided on a maid
of honor. What do you say?”
-
- Marcie is surprised. “Me?”
-
- Lauren nods. “I don’t
have a sister and you’re my closest friend here in Llanview
and you introduced me to Rex. I can’t think of anyone I’d
rather have.”
-
- Marcie grabs her friend’s
hand. “Oh, of course I’ll be in your wedding. I’m
honored you would ask me. I can help you with your dress and
invitations and…”
-
- Lauren laughs. “As soon
as we pick a date, I’ll put you to work on all that stuff.
I’m really terrible at organization, so I will need LOTS
of help. You will earn your title!”
-
- “This is going to be
so much fun! Do you know who Rex wants to be his best man?”
-
- Lauren shakes her head. “No.
But I have a feeling he’ll ask Bo. They’re very close.”
-
- “Maybe that’s why
he wants to go down to the ranch?”
-
- “I think he wants to
go to the ranch because we’ll get a free vacation. And he
wants to check the place out. Rex really does consider himself
part of their family and he feels left out of stuff like this.
I’m anxious to see this spa-like spread that Nora described.
We’ll be hanging out at the pool while the guys do ranching
things.”
-
- Marcie laughs. “I can’t
picture Rex on a ranch! I’ll put together a to-do list for
the wedding and maybe when you come back, you’ll have a
date.”
-
- “And you will have news
too. How did the meeting go with Andrew this morning?”
-
- “It didn't. Michael
got called in to an emergency so we had to reschedule.”
-
- “I'm sorry to hear that.
Don't worry, I'm sure everything will go smoothly. I can't see
any reason you wouldn't be able to adopt. You and Michael will
be awesome parents.”
-
- “Thanks. Let's hope
social services thinks that way...”
-
- Kallie is working behind
the counter at the Putt Putt Park. Raven walks in and Kallie
sees her. She asks a co-worker to cover for her and walks away.
Raven follows. “Hey, Kallie. I want to talk to you.”
-
- She turns. “I don’t
have anything to say to you.”
-
- Raven smiles. “I guess
you’ve heard the rumor about me and Buchanan.”
-
- “I know you got him
in trouble at school and you’re the reason he got in the
fight.”
-
- “He tell you that?”
-
- “Yeah, he did. And before
you say he’s lying, don’t bother. I won’t believe
a word you say.”
-
- “You’re surprised
he wouldn’t want you to know he’s with me?”
-
- Kallie stands with her hands
on her hips. “Matthew is not ‘with’ you and he
never was. I heard the rumor. That may be your fantasy but it’s
sure not his.”
-
- "Is that why his parents
dragged him out of town the minute school was over?"
-
- "Don't flatter yourself.
Matt didn't leave because of you."
-
- Raven laughs. “Why so
defensive? If I’m no competition, why get so bent out of
shape over it?”
-
- “Who said I was?”
-
- “Get real. You’ve
got that jealousy thing written all over your face. Buchanan
and I just had a passing fling. No need for you to worry.”
-
- “I’m not. And I’m
not jealous – especially not of you. Matt and I are friends.”
-
- “Right… I just
wanted to let you know you don’t have to worry about me
cutting in on all that Buchanan cash you got your eye on. I’ve
moved on to other things.”
-
- Kallie shakes her head. “I
don’t care about Matt’s family’s money. That’s
a disgusting thing to say. But I am happy to hear you will leave
him alone. You got him in enough trouble.”
-
- Raven shrugs. “It was
fun messing with him. He’s not the brightest.”
-
- “Bug off, Raven. And
stay away from Matt.”
-
- “Or what?”
-
- Kallie leans toward her.
“Or I can make your life miserable like you did with Matt.
You won’t even see it coming.”
-
- Raven flips her the bird
as Kallie walks away.
-
- Rex walks up to the door,
pulling out his ringing cell. He grins when he sees the caller
ID. “Hey, partner. You miss me already?”
-
- “Funny, Balsom. You
called me. What’s up?”
-
- “I just wanted to ask
you what was the name of that little girl Nora wanted to adopt?”
-
- “Ah… Miki. Why?”
-
- Rex frowns. “Nothing.
I was just curious.”
-
- “Why would you call
me down here to ask about that?”
-
- “I’ll explain when
I get there. I gotta run.”
-
- “What are you up to,
Balsom?”
-
- “Nothing. I’m at
the mansion. I need to talk to Asa.”
-
- Bo frowns. “Don’t
antagonize him, Balsom. It was hard enough to talk him into letting
you hitch a ride on his plane.”
-
- “Relax, partner. I got
it all under control. See you soon.” Rex snaps his phone
shut and slips it in his pocket as he rings the doorbell. Nigel
pulls open the door, surprised to see Rex on the other side.
“Hi, Nigel. Long time no see.”
-
- “Mister Balsom. What
can I do for you?”
-
- “First of all, you can
call me Rex. We’re buddies, remember?”
-
- “Yes, Sir.”
-
- “I came to see Asa.
Is he here?”
-
- “He is. Come in.”
Nigel steps back, allowing Rex to walk in. He motions toward
the study. “Mister Buchanan is on a conference call at the
moment. Perhaps if you would…”
-
- Rex walks into the living
room and takes a seat. “I can wait.”
-
- “Would you like something
to drink?”
-
- Rex leans back on the couch.
“Nah. I’m good. I just need to talk to the big guy.”
-
- “Yes, Sir. I’ll
inform him that you’re here.” Nigel leaves the room.
Rex gets up and starts to check out the pictures on the mantle.
He grins when he sees the pictures of a young Bo with Clint and
Asa in their cowboy hats. He is staring at a picture of Bo, Nora
and Matthew when he hears a booming voice behind him. “What
are you looking at, boy?”
- Rex turns with a smile. “Hey,
Asa. Good to see you again.”
-
- Asa walks into the room,
heading straight for the decanters on the side table. He pours
himself a drink, never offering one to Rex. Asa turns and stares
at him. “I hear you’re freeloading on my jet.”
-
- Rex grins. “Bo said
it would be cool if we hitched a ride.”
-
- “What makes you think
you’re welcome at my ranch?”
-
- “Come on, Asa. Bo says
there’s plenty of room. We just want to see the place.”
Asa just grunts so Rex hurries ahead. “I came to ask a favor.”
-
- “I’m already giving
you a ride on my plane and putting you up at my ranch. How many
favors am I supposed to do?”
-
- “It’s not for me.
It’s for Lauren. I just want to make sure your people have
proper training to handle a medical emergency.”
-
- “Medical emergency?
What the hell are you talking about, boy?”
-
- Rex sighs. “Lauren is
pregnant. I just want to make sure your guys know what to do
in case she needs anything, that’s all. Not that we’re
anticipating any problems. I just want to make sure.”
-
- Asa grins. “Your girl
is pregnant? Bo never told me that.”
-
- “He doesn’t know.
That’s why we want to go down – so we can tell them
in person.”
-
- Asa walks over and opens
a box on the mantle, extracting a cigar. He turns and holds it
out to Rex. “Congratulations, boy. Bringing a new baby into
the world is always an exciting thing.”
-
- Rex takes the cigar. “Thanks.
I’m a little nervous. I just want to make sure she’s
going to be all right flying down there…”
-
- Asa puts his arm around him,
walking toward the door. “Don’t you worry about a thing.
My staff is the best in the air. They’ll be ready for anything,
you have my word.”
-
- “Thanks, big guy. I’ll
see you on Friday.”
-
- Later that afternoon…
Bo and Nora are sitting in the living room when Matthew comes
in and drops into a chair. “Hey, Dad. Glad you’re here.
I want to talk to you about going on a trip with Blake and the
guys.”
-
- Bo nods. “Your mom told
me.”
-
- “I really want to go.
Blake will be there and even Stefi is going. Sully is in charge,
so we won’t be just goofing around.”
-
- Nora smiles at him. “You
can ease up on the sales job, Matthew. We’ve talked about
it and it’s fine if you go.”
-
- “It is? But this afternoon,
you said…”
-
- “I said you should stay
near the house, but I changed my mind. It will probably be fun
for you to hang out with the guys and do your ‘ranching’
thing.”
-
- “Thanks, Mom. I can’t
believe it but I actually enjoy the ranching stuff. I guess Grandpa
was right that I’m a natural. Now that my feet don’t
hurt anymore in these boots, I really like being down in the
barns helping out.”
-
- Bo chuckles. “I told
you it would get easier. How’s the horse?”
-
- “Spunky is awesome.
We’re going to take her out with us tomorrow. I’m going
to ride in the Jeep but one of the guys will bring her out so
I can ride her in the pasture.” He holds up his hand. “And
before you say it, Mom, I’ll be careful.”
-
- “That’s all I ask,
sweetie.”
-
- “You guys haven’t
told me why Rex is coming down.”
-
- Nora grins. “I think
he’s jealous because he’s missing out on the ‘family’
vacation.”
-
- Bo frowns at her. “Let’s
not keep up that myth that he’s really part of the family.
You don’t know how fast I had to talk to get Asa to let
them come down with him.”
-
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