VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, [6] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 16:59:49 11/18/02 Mon
Author: CCCook
Subject: Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments
In reply to: CCCook 's message, "Re: Studs, Texas - Book Two - New segments" on 16:56:48 11/18/02 Mon

From mks:

Caitlin got out of her car and gave a huge sigh of relief. The day was over and now she could relax…sort of. She still had dinner at Jack’s grandparents house and they were going to break the news about them becoming great-grandparents. She gave Tyler a slight nod of acknowledgment, and then went into the building, wondering how long he would stay parked outside her building. She still wasn’t sure what to think about having the deputy follow her around wherever she went. On one hand, she felt safer than she had over the past few weeks, but on the other, she felt invaded and just couldn’t wait for everything to be over with.

“You’re home!” Jack greeted her as she opened the door.

“It would appear that way, yes,” she replied with a smile.

Jack drew her into his arms and held her close for a few moments. “You okay?” he asked a little hoarsely.

“Yeah, I guess. I just feel, I don’t know, sorta like I’m in a dream. What time do we have to be at your grandparents?”

“Not ‘til six or so,”

“Oh good, I have a little while to unwind,” said Caitlin with a sigh.

“Sit down an’ I’ll get ya somethin’,” said Jack with a smile, heading towards the kitchen.

“How was your interview?” he asked from the kitchen.

“It was great. We should go back this weekend, I’d like to spend a little more time just browsin’ around. This was just a follow up from the interview Aunt Liz had on Monday. Seems like it’s goin’ to be a huge success-oh yea! You remembered to get my ice cream sandwiches! Oh and they have chocolate ice cream!”

Jack widened his eyes at Caitlin’s excitement over the ice cream sandwiches, “Ah, yeah, thought ya’d like those ones, but I didn’t figure you’d be so excited ‘bout it,”

Caitlin smiled sheepishly and gave a little laugh, “Guess it’s bein’ pregnant. I made Janelle stop at the Pear ‘cause I needed a cheeseburger right there and then.”

“Well, as long as these craving’s don’ happen at two in the mornin’,” said Jack.

Caitlin made a face at him, “Ha ha,” she said, “You mean you wouldn’t go out and get me Ben ‘n Jerry’s if I wanted it?”

“Would I have any choice?”

“Nope,” said Caitlin with a smile.

“Figured as much,” said Jack with resigned sigh. “I wonder what Gran’s goin’ to say when we tell her…”

“I sure she’ll have a few choice words,” Caitlin said dryly.

“It’s not like we’re kids anymore,” pointed out Jack, “I can see her getting upset if we were still teenagers…”

“Jack, relax, Rose thinks the world of you. She may be upset at first, but she’ll get over it, especially when we tell her we’d like her help with the wedding,” Caitlin said, full of confidence.

Jack raised his eyebrows and muttered, “I hope so.”

A little while later, they were on their way to the Cooper Ranch. Jack looked around at the parked cars on their street, “Hey, is Tyler still here?” he asked in a low voice.

Caitlin glanced around, “No, I don’ see him. He must have thought that I’d be okay with you,” Caitlin looked him up and down and smiled, “I guess you’ll do, “ she said slipping her arm through his.

“Gee, thanks. I go an’ get ya ice cream sandwiches an’ all I get is a ‘you’ll do,’” he said in mock offense and held open the car door for her.

“A gentleman too, I guess I will keep you,” Caitlin said playfully.

**

Driving out to the Sweet Briar, made Jack think of when he was a kid. He looked out at the green pastures and saw the horses and cattle grazing. The ranch had been in his family for as long as he could remember. He’d spend his summers working there. Jack’s grandfather, Nathan, had wanted Jack’s father to take over the ranch, but ranching had never been his calling. Jack’s uncle was next in line to inherit the ranch, but he’d decided to become a lawyer and was living in Houston. As much as Jack loved working there, taking over was something he never dreamed about and he was very glad that Kyle did. In fact, he was majoring in business so he’d know how to run it properly. Jack would have hated if his Grandpa had had to sell it and he knew how relieved Nathan was that Kyle wanted the ranch.

They drove through the gates and all along both sides of the drive were the rambling briar rose bushes that Jack’s great-great grandfather named the ranch after. They weren’t in bloom yet, but come June, they’d be some of the prettiest roses in all of Studs. As they got closer to the house, they could see Jack’s grandmother, Rose, working in her flower garden with her two faithful golden retrievers, Max and Daisy, at her side.

Rose looked up as she heard the car rumbled down the drive and smiled when she recognized it.

Jack looked at Caitlin and smiled, “Here we go,”

Caitlin squeezed his hand, “It’ll be fine.”

“Well, hello there Stranger,” greeted Rose as Jack stepped out of the car.

“Hey Gran,” said Jack, giving Rose a kiss on the cheek.

“Hi Rose,” said Caitlin, coming around from her side of the car.

“Hello sweetheart, yer lookin’ lovely as usual,” Rose said as she hugged Caitlin.

“Where’s Grandpa?” asked Jack, looking around.

“Oh, he’s out on the deck prob’ly getting ready to set fire to the place,” said Rose, waving her hand in the direction towards the back of the house. “C’mon, I gotta see if the fire extinguisher is handy. Max, Daisy, come!”

They walked through the house towards the deck where Nathan Cooper was getting ready to fire up the grill.

“Your grandson is here Nathan,” said Rose.

“Hmm? Oh! Hey there Jack!”

“Hi Grandpa, how ya doin’?” asked Jack, hugging his grandfather.

“Just fine, just fine. We had five calves and three foals born today, so it’s been a great day. How ya doin’, Caity?” asked Nathan, turning to Caitlin.

“I’m good, been pretty busy this week though,” said Caitlin, raising her eyebrows at Jack.

“Sit down,” said Rose, gesturing towards the table and chairs, “Lemonade?” she asked, pouring out glasses. “So, have you been busy with wedding plans? Have the two of you come up with a date yet?”

“Rose, they just got here, ya don’ have to start right in on them yet,” admonished Nathan.

“Oh, hush now Nathan, so have you?” asked Rose eagerly.

“As a matter of fact Gran, we have,” said Jack.

“Ya have? When?”

“Ah, June 28”

“June 28 of next year? Oh, that’ll give you plenty of time to plan,”

“No, it’s June 28 of this year, as in three months from now.”

“Wh-what? Why in three months?” said Rose, sounding aghast.

“Um, well, well-“

“Spit it out Jack, don’t you stutter at me,”

“Because we’re having a baby Rose, in October and we’d like to be married before it comes,” said Caitlin, coming to Jack’s rescue.

Rose looked from Caitlin to Jack, her mouth hanging open in utter shock.

“Well, I’ll be, ya made yer grandmother speechless,” said Nathan, with an amused smile. “Congratulations you two, not too sure about be comin’ a great-grandpa though. Guess we still got time to get used to the idea ‘bout becomin’ great-grandparents, eh Rose?”

Rose still sat in silence, looking from the young couple to her husband.

“Say somethin’ Gran. I know this is a surprise an’ all, but don’ jus’ sit there,” said Jack nervously.

Rose let out a snort, “A surprise? You’re damn right it’s a surprise! You’re suppose to be married and then start a family!”

“It wasn’ exactly planned y’know,” muttered Jack.

Rose turned toward Caitlin, “What does your aunt have to say about this?”
Caitlin fidgeted in her sit and shot an uncertain look over at Jack, “Well, truth be known, she’s excited about it. So are we Rose,” she added in a rush.

“And your parents? What do they have to say?”

“They’re excited about it too Gran…” Jack said grabbing Caitlin’s hand from under the table.

“Oh Rose, stop it now. It ain’t like the two of them are teenagers, they both got college educations and good jobs. So they’re doin’ things a little backwards, but Hell woman, it’s the 21st century, things ain’t like it was when we was their age.”
Jack looked at his grandfather, face full of gratitude, and then looked at his grandmother waiting for her response.

“I know it’s the 21st century, I see it every time I go to the market and that cashier has purple hair and a spike through her eyebrow. Goodness, what people won’t do to make themselves noticed, getting tattooed,” she shot a look at Jack, who suddenly found his lemonade very interesting, “Belly button rings…but I’m getting of the subject here,” she sighed and looked at Jack and Caitlin, “Well, I guess if the two of you are happy ‘bout this, then I expect I can be too. Hell, it might be nice to have a little one runnin’ ‘round here again. You two are truly happy about this baby?”

“Yeah Gran, we are,” said Jack sincerely.

“Three months isn’t a lot of time to plan,” Rose said slowly.

“We know, but we can do it. We have a lot of friends helping us plan-“ started Caitlin.

“Yeah, our friend Mike booked a DJ from the radio station for us,”

“It’s not that obnoxious one, is it? Than Don the Mon character?” asked Rose, wrinkling up her nose.

“No way, Mike would never do that to us,” assured Jack.

“We have the church booked too, one of the only things left is where to have the reception.” Caitlin said looking at Jack and telling him with her eyes to ask.

“That’s where you two come in. Um, we were wonderin’ if maybe we could have the reception here? We don’ want anythin’ big, mind you, jus’ somethin’ simple, but we would like to have here.”

“Well of course ya can!” said Nathan at once, “In fact, consider it our weddin’ present,”
“That’s right, we’d like nothin’ more than to throw your reception for ya,” agreed Rose.

Jack and Caitlin looked at each other in surprise. Jack cleared his throat and said, “That’s too much you two. We couldn’t ask ya ta pay for the whole thing,”

“We aren’t takin’ no for an answer. Beside, you two need your money for buyin’ things for my great grandbaby. I do hope it’s a girl, always wanted one. Don’t get your hopes up too high for a girl though Caitlin, boys do seem to run in this family. All my grandchildren are boys, (not that there’s nothin’ wrong with that, mind you) it’d just be so nice to buy pretty little clothes-“

“Rose honey, you’re ramblin’ again,” interrupted Nathan.

“Hmm? Oh, yes, well we won’t take no for an answer that’s all there is to it. You two just tell us what you want for it and Grandpa and I will take care of it.”

Jack and Caitlin looked from one grandparent to the other with silly grins on their faces then Caitlin got up to hug both of them. “Thank you so much, this is just-this is just about the greatest gift we could get. Thank you,” said Caitlin with tears in her eyes.

Jack got up from the table and gave both his grandparents hugs too, “Thanks you two. This is way more than we expected but we’re very grateful,”

“Well, we’re happy to do this for ya. I guess I’d better get the food,” said Rose, getting up from the table.

“I’ll help ya Rose,” said Caitlin, following Rose into the kitchen.

“So Jack, tell me what else is botherin’ ya?”

“Why do ya ask that Grandpa?” asked Jack sharply.

Nathan gave Jack a look, “I can jus’ tell, now spill it,”

Jack looked in the kitchen and saw Caitlin laughing with Rose then he looked off over to the pastures and watched the animals grazing before he said anything.

“Jay Sloan was in contact with Caitlin today,”

Nathan raised his eyebrows, “Really? How so?”

“He sent her some flowers. Grandpa there’s something wrong with this guy, he acts as if nothin’ at all happened. I think he’s crazy. At least the Sheriff is finally doin’ somethin’ about it-he’s got one of his deputies followin’ her around now. I swear to God though Grandpa, if he does anythin’, anythin’ at all-“

“Now don’ you go doin’ anythin’ that’ll get yerself into trouble Jack. You got a young family that’s gonna need you ta be with them, not somewhere else. Promise me you’ll let the Sheriff and his deputies handle this. Promise me Jack,”

Jack looked his Grandfather in the eyes and saw the pleading look they held, “I promise ya Grandpa, I won’ do anythin’.”

Caitlin and Rose emerged from the kitchen just then carrying snacks and the steaks.

“Now don’ you go an’ burn those steaks Nathan,” said Rose handing her husband the platter of steaks.

“With you hoverin’ at my elbow how can I?”

Caitlin smiled and shook her head at the older couple then turned to look at Jack, who was looking at her. She cocked her head to the side and asked him silently what was wrong. Jack gave a small smile and held out his hand to her. She took it and sat on the arm of the chair.

Jack brushed a strand of hair away from her face, “Yer beautiful, ya know that, don ya?” he asked he softly.

Caitlin smiled, lowered her eyes and blushed, “Aw, you’re jus’ a sweet talker, like yer grandpa,”

Jack gave a laugh, “Cooper family trait,” he said as he leaned up to kiss her.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Post a message:
This forum requires an account to post.
[ Create Account ]
[ Login ]
[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.