The Twilight Twenty-Five
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Prompt: 3, The Laundromat
Pen Name: Kiva Johns-Adkins
Pairing/Main Character(s): Jasper/Alice/Bella
Rating: T

Photo prompts can be viewed here:
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I spent my Sunday afternoon like I spent any other Sunday afternoon in Winston, Texas. After waking before dawn and feeding and grooming the horses and mucking the stalls, I took my favorite steed for a ride around the ranch. I like to start my day off, high atop Patton. It was early fall. While the summer days were still hot and steamy, the mornings could be cool and Patton would work up a good pace, inspecting the grounds, the sweat forming on his haunches, the breath rolling out from his nostrils with each trot. He was beautiful, regal and strong, a black stallion I was proud to sit on, an extension of him. I no more rode him than he rode me. We were partners, one unit. He moved, I moved. It was natural. I couldn't imagine starting my day any other way.

I brought him back to the barn, cooled him down, took off his halter and bit and led him into his stall for the afternoon. When I got back from town, doing the barn laundry, I would turn him out to his pasture and watch him as he ran down the fence line, admiring the mares and fillies a few pastures over. He was a gelding so I didn't have to worry about him running through fences to meet up with a special lady but he still knew beauty and grace when he saw it and paid attention. He loved the ladies, just like I did. What Texas man, whether with two or four legs, did not?

I gave him a pat on his shoulder and nuzzled his face with mine, reaching to pet his forehead between his ears. "Thanks for the ride, General." He whinnied as if he understood and pawed at his hay with his front right hoof. "I'll be back later. Laundry day, my friend. You all need clean blankets. All that rolling in the mud makes quite a mess by week's end."

I stepped out and pulled his gate closed and offered him a carrot through the openings which he gratefully took, spitting just a bit back at me, his own form of sharing.

After moving all the horse blankets to the middle of the barn, I stepped to the outside and hopped into my F-150 and backed it up to the center of the barn where I stacked the blankets. I then got out and carefully loaded them in, tying them down; careful not to lose any on the trip. I had already put the detergent into the front seat and made my way down to my favorite Laundromat on Main Street- Spurs and Suds. They had plenty of heavy duty washers and dryers, along with regular machines for the locals. But us ranchers had lots of blankets to do at once and couldn't do it at home in a timely manner. The Laundromat welcomed us and the ladies that worked there always jumped in and helped us move our blankets from washers to dryers when loads finished at the same times or needed more quarters deposited while we were folding. We were good business for them.

"Hey, Jasper!" Charlotte waved as she came out the door of the old 1950's building that housed the machines that had only been updated as needed. Most of the big machines, like we used, just got serviced, cleaned or painted. They were still original to the 50's. My grandmamma probably used them, to be honest.

"Afternoon, Charlotte," I said cheerfully as I unloaded the first pile of blankets onto a rolling buggy she had brought out to me.

Her husband, and business partner, Peter, rolled out another cart and loaded it as I took mine and found several free machines together. I parked the cart in front of them and went over the change machine, slipped my $20 bill in and held a Styrofoam coffee cup at the change deposit to catch all the quarters. In the meantime, Peter came in with his cart and Charlotte rolled the last of the blankets in, with the laundry detergent riding safely on top.

"Everyone else get their blankets done earlier?" I asked as I loaded the machines, one at a time until I filled five over-sized washers.

"A couple came in earlier, but most of them came in yesterday for whatever reason," Charlotte said as she took her seat back behind the counter where she watched her old black and white TV, still able to pick up a few local channels. She had on the Houston Texans vs. the New Orleans Saints game and there was no getting her or Peter away from the TV.

"You wanna watch the game with us?" Peter asked, raising his Pepsi in the air to invite me over.

I smiled and raised my worn leather notebook as I took a seat in an old beautician's chair and propped my boots up on a worn coffee table covered with PBR Monthly and Texas Living. "I'm good guys," I hollered. "But thanks. I've got some writtin' I need to do on some songs."

I could practically see Peter roll his eyes. "Jasper the renaissance man."

I wasn't sure how much time had passed. I had heard a few hoots and hollers from the front desk, but I was very involved in a verse I had re-written three times. Suddenly I heard the cowbell over the front door ring and a bouquet of the loveliest scents followed; one of lilies and lavender, the other of strawberries and lilacs, not the typical horse shit and b.o. that frequented this place.

I dropped my feet from the table and turned to see who had come by. It was two beautiful girls who obviously weren't from Texas, at least not West Texas. They looked soft, with ivory skin and beautiful dark hair; one with long hair pulled into a ponytail, the other with a short bob. They didn't work the land that was for sure. Their clothes were traveling clothes, but the kind you purchased from L.L. Bean, not Tractor Supply.

Charlotte and Peter were so wrapped up in the game they left the tour to me. I quickly got to my feet and made my way over to introduce myself.

"Hello, ladies," I grinned, extended my hand to each of them. "My name is Jasper. I am just a frequent customer here, but I am happy to help you in any way I can."

"Hey," the more tomboyish girl with the ponytail said. "I'm Bella, Bella Swan and this is Alice, Alice Brandon." The more pixyish girl with the bobbed haircut and perfect make-up took my hand. A shot of electricity went straight from my fingertips to my heart and I felt the need to drop to my knees in her presence. No woman had ever affected me the way that little darlin' woman had.

"It is my pleasure," I grinned, staring deep into her eyes, causing her to tilt her head questioningly to the right.

"Well, we are on our way to Phoenix and um, needed to refresh, wash our clothes, get a bite to eat and maybe find a place to stay for the night before we head on. This is where we hit the wall," Bella said.

"Lucky for you, ladies, this is the only Laundromat in town," I advised, sweeping my arm around as I spun on my boot heel, giving them the sweeping tour of the facility.

"Is there anywhere we can buy some laundry detergent or fabric softener?" Alice asked softly, dragging a laundry bag behind her.

"It doesn't look like you have much and I have some with me," I offered, reaching for the bottle. "I am more than happy to share."

"That is very kind of you," she said, hesitantly. "But, let us pay you."

"That would just be wrong, ma'am," I explained. "That would not be hospitable. You are our guests."

"Would you mind showing us how to use the machines?" Bella asked.

"Not at all," I answered. "Let me get mine transferred to the dryers. I totally got lost in my writing and didn't realize they were done washing."

The girls looked at each other, Bella smiling wryly at Alice, who seemed uncomfortable.

"So what were you writing?" Bella prodded as I pulled the wet blankets out into the rolling baskets to move to the dryers.

"Lyrics. I'm a songwriter."

Alice seemed determined to change the subject.

"Are there any hotels or restaurants in town?" she asked.

"Well, it's Sunday, so all the diners are closed," I told her. "No restaurants to speak of. And we are a small town. No need for hotels."

My answer seemed to deflate her.

"So I guess we will have to drive on to the next big town after we do our laundry," she said.

I loaded my last machine and got the dryers going and made my way to the girls to help them put the detergent in their machines and get the money ready in the quarter slots.

"Just put your colors separately into the machines and push the money in when you are ready to go. Make sure your dial is set to the fabric/color setting," I explained, brushing up against Alice's exposed arm as I leaned over her to help with the detergent.

"Thanks," she said, gently rubbing my arm in thanks.

"My parents have a ranch," I said, knowing they wouldn't mind and I wouldn't mind the company either. "We have plenty of room and my dad does an open pit barbecue on Sundays and my mom bakes some of the best desserts. There's plenty. Please, feel free to stay with us. We have horses. Do you ladies ride?"

"I do," Bella chimed in, excitedly.

"Once or twice," Alice answered, hesitantly.

"Come on over," I grinned. "Bella, if you are comfortable on your own horse, we have plenty and I know we can find one that would work for you. Alice, I am happy to take you for a ride on my horse, Patton. He's as gentle as can be and loves to walk the grounds. You would be safe."

Bella whispered into Alice's ear and she smiled.

"We don't know you, Jasper," Alice said. "We don't even know your last name."

"Whitlock, ma'am," I answered. "I assure you, I am as safe as a lamb."

"He's safe!" Peter and Charlotte chimed in from their game, causing Bella and Alice to giggle.

We spent the next couple of hours chatting about the ranch, my music and their road trip. It turns out Bella was from Phoenix and Alice was from Baltimore. They were college roommates and Bella had flown out to Baltimore for Fall Break. The two of them were driving Alice's car back cross country for a girl's road trip. It was their senior year and they knew the opportunities were fleeting.

The blankets took forever to dry so the girl's clothes were actually done before the blankets were. They helped me fold them and load the truck and followed me back to the ranch.

I called my parents and made sure the invitation I extended was okay with them which, of course, it was. There was always enough food and they enjoyed having girls around.

Mamma and Daddy had dinner already ready and set up around the picnic tables near the fire pit, with fresh pitchers of lemonade and bottles of Rolling Rock beer available.

"Welcome, welcome," my mother gushed, making a bee line to Bella and Alice, to give them each a big Texas hug, offering them each a barn coat to keep them warm against the chilly Texas air.

"Thank you so much for your invitation Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock," Bella offered. "It was so very kind of you. It kept us from having to drive another hour or two."

"That just wouldn't be right of us to send you away," Mr. Whitlock said.

We all sat down and enjoyed one of the best dinners I remember having at the ranch in a long time. Daddy roasted some steaks and baked some beans over an open fire, grilled corn on the cob in the husks and baked biscuits in the fire. Mamma made homemade macaroni and cheese and fresh stringed green beans with ham. It was nice to share the dinner and conversation with our guests. It made me realize just how special and magical the ranch was. Through sweet requests from Alice I pulled out my guitar and sang them the song I had been working on at the Laundromat and was happy with where it was at.

"Okay, Jasper," Bella said, excitedly, jumping to her feet. "I am ready for a ride."

"Daddy, would you mind taking Bella to the barn and getting her saddled up? I think Lady Bird would be a great mare for her to ride." I suggested.

"I think that is a fantastic idea," he said, urging Bella along with a hand on her shoulders.

"And you are taking me for a ride on your horse? Patton?" Alice asked softly.

"If that is okay with you," I said. "If you haven't ridden much I don't want to put you out on your own. I am happy to take you for a ride. He is such a great horse and would be happy to show off for you."

"I think that would be lovely," she smiled, reaching for my hand as we entered the barn.

Alice helped me saddle Patton up, brushing him and picking his hooves and he was a perfect gentleman the whole time, occasionally eyeing me, wondering who this strange beauty was.

I handed her the reigns and let her lead him out of his stall, knowing he would do just as he had done hundreds of times, stopping in the breezeway, ready for me to mount him. I grabbed the reigns, stepped into the stirrups and threw my leg over the saddle, looking down at Alice, who looked like even more of a pixie. I slipped my feet comfortably into the stirrups and handed her hand.

"That's it?" she asked.

"Oh yes, darlin'," I grinned, wrapping my hand around hers as she wrapped her other hand around mine. "I won't let you fall. Just give it a good jump and I will get you up here."

Sure enough, in one try, we got Alice on the saddle, right behind me, snuggled up tight against me; a feeling I could get real used to with her arms wrapped tightly around my waist, her face resting against my shoulder.

I could see Bella riding off in a pasture on the white mare we called Lady Bird. My dad was riding alongside her. Patton strolled the grounds, as he always did, and I sat tall in the saddle, holding Alice's hand in mine, in the reigns, feeling her breath softly against my neck. I never wanted our ride to end as I pointed out different structures of the ranch and some of my favorite horses.

"Jasper, I am so happy we stopped in this little town and ran into you," she admitted as we approached the barn to put Patton up. "This will be a night I will never forget. You are the most charming southern gentleman and have been so very kind, gracious and hospitable to us. To think it all came from stopping at a Laundromat."