Second Chances: The Simon Boys Ride Again
A new version of the old "Range Rider" tv show is being filmed in Old Phoenix, and the Simons are excited to welcome their old friend Buck Yancy to town. When a stunt man is injured, Ricky Simon replaces him while Rick and A.J. try to find out if it was an accident or attempted murder. What they find is a act of revenge 30 years in the making.
(This is a work of fiction. No money is being made on it, and the characters of Simon & Simon, Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman are owned by Universal Studios and are only being borrowed for a little while. Story elements inspired by "Rough Rider Rides Again" episode from Season Two, written by Michael Piller and "Quint Is Out" episode from Season Five of Simon & Simon, written by Bill Dial.)
A/N: For any new readers, "Second Chances" is my "what if?" for Rick and A.J. Simon...What if they didn't end the partnership or A.J. didn't marry Janet or Liz... What if Rick had a long-lost sweetheart who needed protection from a crazed stalker? And ...what if Rick and his girl fell in love, adopted her niece and nephew, and made a new home in Arizona? These "what if''s" are the basis for my continuing "Simon & Simon" as if they never went off the air. This series also includes crossovers from Six Million Dollar Man/Bionic Woman and Dark Shadows...so feel free to read my other stories for the whys and wherefores of these three worlds meeting!
Now enjoy the 90th story in the FF saga of "Simon & Simon"...
"Hold still, Melly…. that's it, sit up straight Ceci….Laurie, one more minute…..Okay, one, two three!"
"Are we done, yet?" Robin whined, and Linda shook her finger at her youngest son. "Robin, you stop that-this is for your daddy's birthday…now smile!
"One, two three---got it!" Instantly the assembled Simons, all four of A.J.'s children, Linda, Laurie and brother Rick, cheered.
"Okay, you can dismount now." The photographer announced. Immediately there was an enmass clamor of "help me off, Auntie!" and "wait for your uncle" as Rick and Laurie got off Light and assisted A.J.'s kids off their horses.
"Thanks, Rick, sis….I think A.J. will really like this!" Linda beamed, and at once Ricky Simon put an arm around his mother. " You have great ideas, Mom…..now I really have to get to school….I have an open book test at 11."
"Just make sure you open the right book, son." Rick teased his namesake, and Ricky burst out laughing. "That's good, Uncle Rick….I'll use that one at school. See ya!"
As A.J's oldest rushed around the house to the parking area, a little black streak started to go after him, barking madly. "Jacky, you come right back here, Ricky will be back!" Laurie called, and at once the terrier turned tail and raced back to his mistress.
"That's a good boy, now show Daddy your new trick." She continued, holding a treat where Jack could see it. Instantly the little dog sat up, then held out his paw and barked, like saying "please?". "Here you are, now what do you say?" Laurie added.
"Bark!" Jack sat, then thumped his tail. Rick started laughing as the kids took turns in praising their dog, then he put an arm around his wife.
"That was priceless, darlin….I can hardly wait for Oscar and Rudy to see him in action!"
"Well, they're going to be here for dinner, love." She smiled, snuggling up to him. "Seems Dad took Mom out for a belated birthday dinner last week, and then Rudy drove her over to the "Pirate" dinner theatre yesterday, so she decided to "treat" them both to supper with us."
"Why those two….. I wish Mom would make up her mind…." Linda came out to the patio with a plate full of cookies and put them on the picnic table. Immediately Ceci, Robin and Melly ran to the patio and gathered around the treats, then burst into giggles when Jack sat down next to them. "Look, Mom….Jack thinks he's one of us!" Robin declared, as the little dog put his paw on the table, then looked at Laurie expectantly.
"Oh, no you don't, Jack!" Rick took a sugar cookie from the plate, then led Jack to his dog house with the treat in his hand. As soon as Jack stopped in front of his food dish, Rick crumpled up the cookie in the container, then told Jack, "All right, you stay put, Jack." Surprisingly, the dog yipped, then ate every scrap of the treat and curled up on his baby blanket.
"See, sweetheart, I can still teach our dog new tricks!" Rick declared, breaking everyone up.
Later, as Rick watched his wife and sister-in-law fixing dinner, he started thinking about the previously humorous subject of his mother and her "boyfriends". Although Cecilia Simon had been widowed for almost 30 years, he and A.J. had never seriously entertained her remarrying or wanting to be with another man. But if the last five years with their mother had taught Rick anything, it was never say never to Cecilia's plans for her own life.
"Rick, I know the girls and you and A.J. mean well, but I …I just don't know if I want to settle down with Oscar. We have a great time together, and he and I can talk about things, places, memories that we share…"
"But you wonder if that's enough?" Rick had put down the oil can and wiping off the dipstick, put it back into the engine and closed the hood. Glancing over at his mother as she stood holding a cleaning rag, he took it from her hand then dropped a kiss on her cheek. "I think it is, Mom. But only if you feel in your heart that you can't live without seeing Oscar every morning and every night….or that his stubbornness and yours, " he grinned as Cecilia made a face and shook her finger, "can live in the same house."
"All right, son….you've said your piece….and I love you guys for wanting me to have someone. But I do…I have three men who treat me wonderfully, and a family who loves me. That's all I want right now."
"Darling?"
Startled, Rick turned his head and saw Laurie looking at him, a worried expression on her face.
"Sorry, sweetheart, I didn't hear you…did you need me?"
A smile crossed her face. "Yes, I always do….but I was asking if you wanted bacon in your baked potato."
"Yes, and butter and …a kiss from you!" he added, reaching out and embracing her in the kitchen doorway.
"Your wish is my command…" she whispered, then put her lips to his. As they kissed, a coughing noise let them know they were being watched, and Rick gave her lips another caress as they parted.
"Uh…Sis, can you and Rick help set the table, before you heat up the kitchen?" Linda asked innocently, then A.J. laughed as Rick smirked, "so you and A.J. can do it for us..sure!"
Taking a stack of dishes in one hand and Laurie's arm in the other, he led the way to the dining room, where Ceci and Robin were meticulously putting out silverware.
"Nice, very nice kids…" Rick told them, then chuckled as Melly popped up from behind the table. "I'm helping too, I'm picking up the forks when Robin drops them!"
"That's a good girl, Melly. Now you help Uncle Rick put the plates where they belong, and I'll get the cups." Laurie said, winking at her husband.
In no time the table was ready, and the sound of cars pulling up told Rick that his mother and her escorts had arrived, as well as Ricky from his test. Going to the front door, Rick was surprised by the joyful look his nephew was sporting.
"Uncle Rick…where's Auntie….it's all because of her….." he proclaimed, then hugged his uncle as a bemused Oscar followed him into the house.
"I'm glad to see you too, Ricky..but what did your Auntie do?" Rick asked, then saw his father-in-law shrug his shoulders. "He practically came bouncing out of his car, son…."
Laurie appeared in the living room at that moment, then was surprised with her nephew's enthusiastic embrace. "Thank you, Auntie!"
"You're welcome, honey, but what did I do? Did you have a good test score?" she replied, then her jaw dropped as Ricky said, "Better….I get to learn to be a stunt rider….thanks to you and Uncle Rick!"
"A stunt rider?" A.J. came out of the kitchen, then Linda followed as their son explained,
"Well, my test was really easy, so I finished up then went to see Star's new colt at the college stables. Just then the school's ranch hand called me over and said a producer was looking for riders who know roping and riding, for a new television series. I gave my name and then…you'll never believe who was there?"
"Who, Ricky?" Linda asked, taking her son's arm and sitting him down on the sofa.
"Buck Yancy…can you believe it, Dad? He came round the corner of the barn, then shouted "Holy Cow….Ricky?" I could barely make myself talk, but I shook his hand and he asked after you and Uncle Rick and then….he said he'd heard what a good rider I was and that he expected my Aunt Laurie had taught me. When I said yes, he told his stunt coordinator to hire me for his new show…."Buck Yancy Rides Again!"