Chapter 1
It was quiet. There hasn`t been food for about a few days now. Thomas is getting restless. Luda Mae is unusually quiet. Monty keeps flicking the T.V channels. Drayton`s stomach keeps making gurgling noises. And I sit in the car a few kilometres away from the house waiting for someone to pass by. I hope someone comes soon.
I run a hand through my gray hair and sigh. I sit there for a moment or two before opening the car door and stepping outside into the Texas heat. I pull my shades out of my shirt pocket and put them on and tilt my hat a little bit forward. I close the car door and lean against the car itself. I missed the good old days. Me, Chop Top, and Drayton would go down to the watering hole to cool off on days like this.
I hear a noise rumbling off in a distance to my left and turn my head. I tilt my hat back a bit to see a car that seems to be speeding. I get into the car and get the speed thermometer out to check the speed. The fastest you can go down this road is 60 m/ph. I point the thing towards the window to my left to wait for the car to pass. 100 m/ph; the car is speeding. A good reason to pull them over and take them home for supper. I turn on the siren and start the car to catch up. To my surprise the car pulled over immediately to the left hand side of the road.
I walk up to the driver`s window and tap lightly. The window rolls down and the man sticks his head out the window. I bend down to get eye level with the man. I examine the back seat to see two teens; one listening to music and the other playing a game system thingy. I`m too old to even know what it is. I look across to the passenger seat to see a young woman wearing a white dress with yellow flowers on it.
"Was I speeding officer?" "Yes sir you were. I`m afraid I`m gonna have to give ya a ticket." I started writing the ticket even though the man kept giving me excuses. "Ow. Dad Jack hit me." I watch the man turn around and hit the poor boy in the face. "Please let`s not start here dear." I hear the woman beside him say.
"Well here`s your ticket sir. And may I ask were ya`ll headed for?" "Oh. We`re going to Mexico for family vacation. By the way do you happen to know if there is an inn nearby? My family I and are tired from the trip." I just smile at the man and nod my head. "You folks could stay at my house for a night. That sound good?" "That would be great sheriff..." "Hoyt." I said looking at the young woman. "Yes well that does sound nice sheriff Hoyt but do you know where we can get food too?" "My house. My ma won`t mind one bit."
I see the young woman lean over and whisper something in his ear. "Well sheriff it turns out my wife thinks it would be proper if I introduced us all. I`m Markus, this is my daughter Rachael, my son Tim, and my wife Jean-Louise." Jean-Louise. That`s a nice name. "Well mighty nice to meet you lot. Just keep going down the road and you will come across a large mansion. That`s my house. Oh and one more thing. Don`t go over the speed limit." The man fakes a smile and closes the window and starts heading down the road.
I watch as the car leaves nothing but a trail of dust behind him. I walk over to the car and open the door. I pick up the radio and hold the button down. "Chop Top. Come in Chop Top." I wait in silence for a couple of moments before the radio stutters to life. "This is Chop Top. Over." "We have some guest coming over soon. Over" "...ABOUT TIME!" I hear him and a few of the others howling. When the howling and celebrating is over I hear some of the others talk about their favourite dishes to have. "Chop Top." "Yeah." "There is a young woman with them named Jean-Louise. Does that name ring a bell?" There is nothing but silence for a few minutes. "Yeah it does but I can`t remember. What does she look like?" "She has brown hair, brown eyes, a white dress with yellow flowers on it and is married to the man." "Are ya sure?" "Yeah. I am." There is nothing more but silence for a few more minutes. "Listen they just got here. Can you come home and we can talk about this in private...and in person?" "Sure. See ya soon." I hang up the radio and start the car up. I then keep thinking about that young woman for some odd reason. I start heading towards the house wondering why I why should know her but why can`t I remember her. I guess I have a surprise in waiting for me.
This is my first TCM love story. I like Hoyt for some odd reason. I don`t know why but I just like him. I hope you like this first chapter. Please review! Thanks! Also if you are wondering why I changed the first chapter it`s because I didn`t like the way the story was already turning out to be. Besides this is the original plot idea for this story. Please forgive me!