Bionic Woman: New Pawn, Old Game
When a new man enters their daughter's life, Steve and Jaime Austin have differing reactions. Will an old friend's obsession spell danger to Chrystal Austin?
(The characters of Bionic Woman/Six Million Dollar Man and Simon & Simon belong to Universal Studios and no money will be made from them. All original characters are the property of jtbwriter and no…you can't have them!)
"Okay, Vally…tell the students how old you are?"
Chrystal Austin saw the look of wonder in her teenage audience's eyes as her horse pawed 6 times with his left hoof.
"And how many carrots have you had today?" she asked, then a gust of laughter broke from the group of students as Vally shook his head. Immediately 3 of the girls came forward with carrot sticks and carefully fed them to the appreciative horse.
"What do you say, Vally?" Chrystal coaxed her mount, who responded with a nay and bobbing head.
"That's one smart horse, Miss Austin!" one of the boys said, and there was a chorus of agreement.
"Well, thank you, Charlie. Now let's go back to the stables, and I'll show you how I take care of Vally." She explained.
Carefully dismounting at the mounting block, the young teacher led Vally towards the large barns surrounding the equestrian center. Having gotten permission to have a field trip to the modern riding facility, Chrystal had decided to include some information on the 4 H clubs and history of horses in the West.
As the group approached the boarding barns, a familiar figure came out of the building, dressed in western clothes from the 1920's.
"Wow, is that who I think it is?" a girl named Diana breathed.
"Yes, that's the deputy sheriff of Silver Rock, Kasey Adams." Chrystal replied earnestly, trying not to laugh at the surprised looks on the teenagers' faces. As they met up with "Kasey", aka her Great-Granddaughter Laurie Simon, she held out a hand in greeting.
"Thank you for coming Sheriff, I have 20 very curious students who want to know how times have changed for riders and horses alike."
"Well, I'm glad to see so many interested faces…. Time was it was part of your schooling to learn to ride a horse and take care of it. Follow me, and I'll show you how different it is today, and how much the same." Laurie exclaimed, smiling.
Taking them inside the barn, Laurie explained the various saddles and feeding methods, showed how to "muck out" a stall, and allowed each teenager to pet and feed Vally and his stable mates.
As they were exiting the stable, an excited horse jumped out of its enclosure, and headed straight for Chrystal. Laurie turned at the sound of hoofs and gasped.
"Chrissy, look out!"
At once she herded her charges behind another stall, as Laurie waved a stick trying to head the young colt off. Suddenly a young man appeared from the horse's enclosure, calling out "Windy, come back here!"
Like it was on a string, the horse suddenly became docile and followed the sound of his voice. As the man, clad in professional riding clothes pulled "Windy" into his stall, Chrystal breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, that was just in the nick of time." She said gratefully, then smiled as he turned around.
"I'm sorry, Windy is rather high-strung, but he's never done anything like that before." The young man replied apologetically, then stared at Laurie's outfit.
"That's all right, young horses usually grow out of such behavior, Mr…" she began.
"Calla, Jack Calla. I'm in charge of arranging shows and managing the horses. You must be Mrs. Simon, and…." He turned, looking admiringly at Chrystal.
"This is my niece, Chrystal Austin…and her freshman history class." Laurie introduced her guests, then sighed.
"Somehow I think we've had enough excitement for the day, Chrystal. Why don't we break for lunch, then head back to school."
"That sounds like a plan…" Chrystal started, then was amused at the disappointed noises the students made.
"Don't worry, guys….we'll come back here again. Mr. Calla, would you care to join us for lunch….I'm sure my students have some questions for you." She continued.
"I would love it, Miss Austin. Why don't I show you the way." Jack shook her hand, and Laurie noticed Chrystal blushed.
"Lead on, Mr. Calla." Laurie nodded, smiling as she saw him color the same way.
"Wait until I tell Jaime and Steve."
"You're kidding, right, Laurie?" Steve had a bemused expression on his face as she shook her head. As soon as she had arrived home she had gotten a call to come over and visit her friends. Sitting around the small living room, she told them of the day's events.
"Nope. He sat across from her and answered all the students questions, then gave her his phone number and asked if he might call her!" Laurie told him. Jaime looked from her to Steve, who grumbled, "A horse nearly tramples my daughter, and all this guy can do is make goo-goo eyes at her."
"Oh, I do not believe you, pal…..I knew this day would come." Laurie giggled as Jaime laughed. Immediately Steve subsided as Jaime said, "It's just a one time thing, I'm sure, Steve. Just in case, I'll check on her when we go to bed tonight, then ask about her day."
"That's my wife…" Steve sighed and pressed a kiss on her cheek.
"Yes, she is. Now I want mine." Rick Simon came to the screen door of the little cabin, and at once Jaime unlatched the door. Instantly he came inside, then picked up Laurie and sat down with her on his lap.
"Now, that's more like it." He declared. Laurie giggled as he kissed her lips, then asked innocently, "How did your field trip go?"
As the other three burst into laughter, Rick looked astonished. "What did I do?"