It was half time and the game was tied fourteen to fourteen. Jock and Gill went with Tom to the bathroom as Ava and Jesse got refreshments at the concession stand for everyone. Ava thought it was a good time to pick Jesse’s brain as they waited in line. “It’s a hell of a game, isn’t it?” Jesse said. “It is. Very exciting. And I had no idea that Dax was the quarterback – or that he could run so fast.” “So, you like football.” “It appears so,” Ava said. “Who knew?” “Are you following the game all right?” “I got the gist of it.” “If you’re confused about something, just ask, okay? I won’t mind.” “Thanks. But right now, I have questions that isn’t about the game itself,” Ava said. “Why can’t Ray make time for Dax’s games? Even some of the ranch hands are here to support him and they’re not his uncle like you.” “Well, they’ve all known Dax since he was a baby, number one
As told, Ava had breakfast on the table at eight. Ray asked Dax for more details concerning the game last night. If you would have come last night, you wouldn’t have to ask. Yet, she kept quiet as Dax answered his father’s questions. That’s when she realized that Dax wasn’t as enthusiastic as he was last night at the diner or coming home when talking about the game. Ray didn’t ask Tom anything at all. Matter of fact, Ray hadn’t even said good morning to anyone. He just sat at the kitchen table and started talking. Ray finished his breakfast and told the boys he would see them at lunch at left. No have a good day. I’ll be at such and such in case you guys need me. Nothing of the sort at all. Ava began to clear Ray’s dishes. She had been quietly eating in the corner next to the sink. She did that because she didn’t want to infringe on their family time, but she wanted to be close enough just in case one of them needed something
Ava, Ray, Jesse, and the boys had ridden out to the stables. Ray was a little surprised when Ava immediately took an interest in the horses. Her brown eyes literally lit up. “Oh, aren’t you a beauty,” Ava said as she approached the American Albino. “I just finished breaking him in two weeks ago,” Ray said. “So be careful. You never know.” “Oooh, I’m sure we’ll get along fine,” Ava cooed as she rubbed the side of the Albino’s jaw. “What’s your name, darling?” “His name is Whisper,” Tom answered. “How cute. I’ll ride this one,” Ava said with too much confidence. She hadn’t ridden before. “You should ride Ella instead. She’s used to beginners,” Ray stated. Ava opened the door to the stall like he had never said a word. “Well, looks like we’re saddling up Whisper,” Jesse commented. Ray didn’t like it but the way Ava was acting she didn’t give a damn. What had gotten into
Monday . . . Since Saturday afternoon, Ray had avoided Ava like the plague and she was glad of it. He hadn’t sat down at meal times with the boys or Jesse. And when Ray was at home, he went straight to his bedroom or study. Jesse had come by her quarters Saturday night after they had all gone out for dinner. He had brought her two pieces of pepperoni pizza. “Don’t let Ray upset you. It was obvious you remembered that you knew how to ride and very well I might add.” “Thank you,” she had said and took the small box that said Frank’s on top of it. “Sure. And one more thing. Ray doesn’t want the boys to know you have amnesia. That’s why he interrupted out there this afternoon. It was obvious you were going to tell them.” “Yes, but it’s not a secret.” “Well, Ray wants it to be a secret from the boys. He said he didn’t want the boys to know you were sick. He’s afraid it might upset Tom and . . .
Saturday night . . . Ava had cooked racks of lamb, asparagus, and roasted potatoes for dinner. It was the first time she had cooked lamb and it turned out great. The boys seemed to like it. Ava had wrapped up a plate for Ray and put it in the microwave as usual. She hadn’t seen him since the day they had all gone riding and she was glad – in a way. Despite his attitude, he was easy on the eyes. But Jesse was handsome, too, in his own right and she would be looking at him half the night. Ava and the kids walked out of the kitchen to the living room. “Will you two be all right until your father gets home?” Apparently, Ray, Gill, and Wes rode out on the range to check on a small herd that had wandered to the east end of the property. “Yeah,” Dax said as he plopped down in an arm chair. He swung his leg over one of the arms. “Are you going to get ready for your date with Uncle Jesse?” Tom asked as he sat down Indian s
Jesse wore a brown Stetson, blue jeans that were nice and tight around his buttocks and a long-sleeved, ivory buttoned-down shirt. His features were attractive, nose of average size, brown eyes, and a smile that would make Ms. America contestants swoon. Ava did find him attractive but she found Ray more physically attractive with his chiseled jaw and his once in a while unshaved shadow. Him being in his fifties just made him more handsome and distinguished. His metallic-colored hair shimmered in the sunlight sometimes. If Ray had Jesse’s personality, she might make an outright pass at him. But Jesse was nice enough and seemed fun. Ava could use some fun. Ava had put on a brown leather skirt that came above her knees and a semolina-colored blouse. She left the first two buttons undone. “What do you want to try first? The tequila or the beer?” Jesse asked. Ava picked up the beer mug. “Beer it is,” Jesse said as he leaned back i
Jesse put his arm around Ava’s waist. They had only taken three steps away from the dance floor when Ray and a smaller, younger man had approached them. “What the hell are you doing here?” Jesse asked with slight surprise. “We’re here for a change of scenery. Right, Shane?” Ray said as he looked Jesse square in his eyes. “Yes, sir,” Shane said like a dutiful solider. Jesse’s gaze did not avert from his brother’s. “Yeah. Ava, I don’t think you ever met Shane. Shane, Ava. Ava, Shane.” “Nice to officially meet you, Miss Ava. I sure did enjoy that chili you made over a week ago,” Shane said as he tipped his white cowboy had at her. “Thank you,” Ava said with a little smile. What in the world is Ray doing here? She refused to believe he had come to hang out with this little cowboy. Just the way he was staring at Jesse told her something was going on. “Shane, why don’t you escort Miss
Ava, Ray, and Jesse, said goodbye to Shane, Lance, and Gill and headed for the front door. It was after eleven. “Hey, where are you going?” a man asked loudly. They turned to see Hawk Calhoun. “What about that dance?” Hawk asked. “Oh,” Ava nearly slurred. She had forgotten. “Another time, Hawk, we’re leaving,” Jesse said. “I just want one dance,” Hawk slurred. “It will only take five minutes.” “All right,” Ava said. She didn’t want the situation to escalate all because – “No,” Ray said sternly. Jesse rolled his eyes as he started taking off his watch. “What?” Ava and Hawk slurred at the same time. “You’re not dancing with him tonight or any other night,” Ray said nastily. “I’m not,” Ava squeaked out. “You’re not,” Ray reiterated with determination. “Why –” Ava began. “Why don’t you let the lady s
Lester loved Ava. He truly did. But he hated and despised the pussy she came out of, namely Whitney. “How could you not call me when my only child – our child was in a plane crash and reported missing! How!” Whitney shrieked. “I always knew you were a rude and crude bastard, a liar, a cheat but I never thought you were a complete sociopath! “Yeah, yeah, yeah, what is it the young people say now? All that talkin’ do that shit while you walkin’,” Lester said as he glared at her. “Out the door and out this house so that we’re clear.” “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on, you, you . . . demon from hell,” she sneered. She wore a dark red collarless peplum blazer with a matching pencil skirt. A mink fur was hanging over her shoulders, secured with a gold chain in the middle that hovered above her waist. She looked damn good as always, but the black widow looks good, too, until she strikes. “Detestable woman, if
The New York Times Society Young Billionaire Heiress Missing! By Judy Budd I had found it suspicious that Ava Bartholomew had not been seen at any summer and this season’s events. After a lot of questioning and digging for almost a month, this reporter has learned – to her horror, Ava Bartholomew has been missing for a little over four months! Apparently, one of her father’s, billionaire publisher and investor, Lester Bartholomew, jets had mal
Being a smart ass or not, both brothers met her in the kitchen. She had gotten a first aid kit from the hall bathroom. Jesse had wanted a steak over his eye, but Ava had made him use a small ice pack she had made for him. “It’s a waste of food,” she had said haughtily. Jesse’s side was sore, but she couldn’t tell if he had any broken ribs or not. “Even if I do, there’s nothing that can be done about them,” Jesse said. “Ribs have to heal on their own.” Ava cleaned and attended to the cut on Jesse’s hand. Ray held a handkerchief over his nose as she bandaged Jesse’s hand. “Thank you, lovely,” Jesse said. “Would you ever be so kind to get me a beer from the fridge?” Ava got him a beer and even opened it for him with the can opener that was on a magnet on the refrigerator. She handed it to him and went to Ray. “Let me see,” she said. “It’s fine,” Ray insisted. She smacke
Ava, Ray, and Jesse, said goodbye to Shane, Lance, and Gill and headed for the front door. It was after eleven. “Hey, where are you going?” a man asked loudly. They turned to see Hawk Calhoun. “What about that dance?” Hawk asked. “Oh,” Ava nearly slurred. She had forgotten. “Another time, Hawk, we’re leaving,” Jesse said. “I just want one dance,” Hawk slurred. “It will only take five minutes.” “All right,” Ava said. She didn’t want the situation to escalate all because – “No,” Ray said sternly. Jesse rolled his eyes as he started taking off his watch. “What?” Ava and Hawk slurred at the same time. “You’re not dancing with him tonight or any other night,” Ray said nastily. “I’m not,” Ava squeaked out. “You’re not,” Ray reiterated with determination. “Why –” Ava began. “Why don’t you let the lady s
Jesse put his arm around Ava’s waist. They had only taken three steps away from the dance floor when Ray and a smaller, younger man had approached them. “What the hell are you doing here?” Jesse asked with slight surprise. “We’re here for a change of scenery. Right, Shane?” Ray said as he looked Jesse square in his eyes. “Yes, sir,” Shane said like a dutiful solider. Jesse’s gaze did not avert from his brother’s. “Yeah. Ava, I don’t think you ever met Shane. Shane, Ava. Ava, Shane.” “Nice to officially meet you, Miss Ava. I sure did enjoy that chili you made over a week ago,” Shane said as he tipped his white cowboy had at her. “Thank you,” Ava said with a little smile. What in the world is Ray doing here? She refused to believe he had come to hang out with this little cowboy. Just the way he was staring at Jesse told her something was going on. “Shane, why don’t you escort Miss
Jesse wore a brown Stetson, blue jeans that were nice and tight around his buttocks and a long-sleeved, ivory buttoned-down shirt. His features were attractive, nose of average size, brown eyes, and a smile that would make Ms. America contestants swoon. Ava did find him attractive but she found Ray more physically attractive with his chiseled jaw and his once in a while unshaved shadow. Him being in his fifties just made him more handsome and distinguished. His metallic-colored hair shimmered in the sunlight sometimes. If Ray had Jesse’s personality, she might make an outright pass at him. But Jesse was nice enough and seemed fun. Ava could use some fun. Ava had put on a brown leather skirt that came above her knees and a semolina-colored blouse. She left the first two buttons undone. “What do you want to try first? The tequila or the beer?” Jesse asked. Ava picked up the beer mug. “Beer it is,” Jesse said as he leaned back i
Saturday night . . . Ava had cooked racks of lamb, asparagus, and roasted potatoes for dinner. It was the first time she had cooked lamb and it turned out great. The boys seemed to like it. Ava had wrapped up a plate for Ray and put it in the microwave as usual. She hadn’t seen him since the day they had all gone riding and she was glad – in a way. Despite his attitude, he was easy on the eyes. But Jesse was handsome, too, in his own right and she would be looking at him half the night. Ava and the kids walked out of the kitchen to the living room. “Will you two be all right until your father gets home?” Apparently, Ray, Gill, and Wes rode out on the range to check on a small herd that had wandered to the east end of the property. “Yeah,” Dax said as he plopped down in an arm chair. He swung his leg over one of the arms. “Are you going to get ready for your date with Uncle Jesse?” Tom asked as he sat down Indian s
Monday . . . Since Saturday afternoon, Ray had avoided Ava like the plague and she was glad of it. He hadn’t sat down at meal times with the boys or Jesse. And when Ray was at home, he went straight to his bedroom or study. Jesse had come by her quarters Saturday night after they had all gone out for dinner. He had brought her two pieces of pepperoni pizza. “Don’t let Ray upset you. It was obvious you remembered that you knew how to ride and very well I might add.” “Thank you,” she had said and took the small box that said Frank’s on top of it. “Sure. And one more thing. Ray doesn’t want the boys to know you have amnesia. That’s why he interrupted out there this afternoon. It was obvious you were going to tell them.” “Yes, but it’s not a secret.” “Well, Ray wants it to be a secret from the boys. He said he didn’t want the boys to know you were sick. He’s afraid it might upset Tom and . . .
Ava, Ray, Jesse, and the boys had ridden out to the stables. Ray was a little surprised when Ava immediately took an interest in the horses. Her brown eyes literally lit up. “Oh, aren’t you a beauty,” Ava said as she approached the American Albino. “I just finished breaking him in two weeks ago,” Ray said. “So be careful. You never know.” “Oooh, I’m sure we’ll get along fine,” Ava cooed as she rubbed the side of the Albino’s jaw. “What’s your name, darling?” “His name is Whisper,” Tom answered. “How cute. I’ll ride this one,” Ava said with too much confidence. She hadn’t ridden before. “You should ride Ella instead. She’s used to beginners,” Ray stated. Ava opened the door to the stall like he had never said a word. “Well, looks like we’re saddling up Whisper,” Jesse commented. Ray didn’t like it but the way Ava was acting she didn’t give a damn. What had gotten into