CH9

They still had some snow on the ground though there was less and less each day. The slow rise in temperature was melting it away. Still it got rather cold each night like tonight.

Rick was just about finished cooking dinner when the doorbell rang, followed by Midas and Maggie flying up the stairs where they were watching over Alexis, Paige, and Jenny. Alexis had asked him if she could have another sleep over tonight and of course he had immediately agreed. Paige and Jenny were turning out to be his little girl's two most favorite friends. He hadn't seen the other two from her birthday party since and hadn't heard Alexis talk about them, so he hadn't asked her about them.

"Midas, Maggie, that's enough you two," he said which was enough to get both of them to stop barking, still they wanted to find out who was at the door. It turned out to be the UPS driver who had three good sized boxes that Rick signed for and carried into the living room. He didn't remember ordering anything, so he wasn't certain what this was. He went into the kitchen and turned down the stove, grabbed a knife to cut the tape, and opened one of them. Once it was open he saw a large number of smaller boxes which all of them had the name Qual-Tron Inc. on one side and a circle that had QTI in the middle and MMIDS, MIDS and EMIDS across the top arch with Intrusion Detection in the bottom arch. "Grey!" Now Rick understood. "Just how many of these do I need?" he wondered.

It looked like there were 24 in this box and opening another box he found 24 smaller boxes while that last box had 8 larger boxes and a letter:

Hey Rick.

You don't get the warranty since you don't have these. Enclosed you will find a map showing GPS coordinates where to place each of the sensors and relays. Your 179+ acres is too large without using relays to send the signal to the house. Each relay has a solar panel and a battery back-up. The solar panel will recharge the battery on a good day. I've given you a few spare sensors just in case. Instructions on how to install each sensor is enclosed as is how to install the relays.

I don't know what it is you are trying to keep an eye out for, but this will detect anything natural or un-natural that is larger than the average German Shepard.

Once you have each sensor buried at the proper depth and each relay installed, install the enclosed software into your laptop and follow the prompts.

Good luck my friend. Remember I expect that invitation and please say hi and kiss Alexis for me.

~Grey

Rick found the map which was in color. It even had elevation lines and a boundary line of the 179 acres that he owned. There were a lot of locations to bury the sensors and the locations of the relays. "How did he get…?" He shook his head. Was nothing sacred in this country? It looked like a heck of a lot of work. Thankfully since the snow was melting, it made the ground softer so digging now should be easier on him, he reasoned. "Guess I know what I'm doing while Alexis is at school Monday," he said to himself.

"TIME FOR DINNER GIRLS!" Rick yelled down the stairs. "Did you wash your hands?" he asked as soon as they entered the kitchen. The three girls ran for the half bath near the front door.

After washing their hands and faces from dinner, he asked, "Movie?" and got three heads nodding. "You pick a movie and I'll be right back," Rick told them. Just as they decided on a movie, they got a pile of blankets, followed by sheets, and then several pillows. "Build a fort that allows you to see the TV girls, you're on your own this time. Show me what you've got!" he encouraged.

After they had finished their fort Rick shoved their sleeping bags inside. "Change into your pajamas girls. Tell me when you're ready and I'll start the movie," he told them and headed for the kitchen. A few minutes later he heard Alexis yell, "READY DAD!" He walked out into the living room to turn on the TV and the movie.

Rick was cleaning up in the kitchen when he heard a door slam and waited to see what it was only to see Jenny come out of the half bath near the front door and run for the fort and crawl in. About half way through the movie he showed up at the fort's entrance where the 3 girls were lying on their stomachs on top of their sleeping bags watching the movie. "Snack time! Oreo cookies and a glass of milk," Rick offered and set a plate with 3 cookies each and a small glass of milk in front of each girl. "Thanks Dad," Alexis told him and picked up a cookie. "Thanks Mr. Rodgers," the other two echoed. "Brush your teeth after you're done," he reminded them.

Shortly thereafter he carried the boxes downstairs. Once there he filled one of Alexis's backpacks with several of the sensors, boxes, and paperwork. Installing this system was going to take him at least a few days he guessed. He just hoped it worked like he wanted it to.

The movie was over and he found sleeping girls just inside their fort, so he left them there then turned off the player and the TV. He went upstairs, got his laptop out, and did a search for a GPS unit. Finding one he liked, he placed an overnight order.

The next morning Rick served up oatmeal with a touch of cinnamon, blueberries, and slices of banana to the girls. Alexis ate hers without saying a word. The other girls looked at it like it was an alien food that was going to eat them from the inside out. "Have you never had oatmeal before?" he asked and got two shaking heads. "Give it a try and if you don't like it we can try Froot Loops instead," he offered and served himself some Raisin Bran. When he turned back Alexis was almost done and the other two were catching up fast.

The doorbell rang and he hurried to the front door where he found both mothers. "Jenny, Paige, your mothers are here. It's time to go home," Rick called. "Have they been any trouble?" he was asked. "No trouble at all. It's been fun having them over," he confirmed. "Are you sure? It looks like your living room is a disaster area," Vicki said. "Is that one of those forts Jenny has told me about?" Veronica questioned. "Yeah, I've found that Alexis loves them and it gives them a place that's all their own instead of having to share with the grown-ups," he explained. "I'm not sure my husband will go for that, but we can try it. …Ready to go honey?" she asked Paige and got a nod. "What do you say?" she prompted Paige. "Thank you Mr. Rodgers, it was fun," Paige said followed by Jenny saying thank you. "You two are welcome, you can come back over anytime," Rick told them.

"Did you have fun pumpkin?" he asked her after everyone was gone and watched her nod enthusiastically with a big smile on her face. "Ready for school tomorrow?" he inquired. "Yep. I read my story, did my writing worksheet, and addition worksheet." Alexis was still smiling. "Do you miss New York?" Rick asked, wondering if she was adapting to her new home and school. "It's nice here Dad. The school is smaller. There's less noise and we can see the stars at night," she remarked. "No problems with your teacher or other students?" and watched as she shook her head. "In that case let's get you into the tub and get you clean. Then we're going into town to do some grocery shopping." He needed milk and other perishables. Alexis flew up the stairs. Going into town usually meant having pizza for lunch at the Pizza Barn!

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Today Kate and Johanna were scheduled to fly to Rapid City, South Dakota. They were going to rent a car to visit the two houses they had selected from what the realtor had sent them. It was the blue house with the white picket fence that had Kate shocked. Finding out that it was actually a house turned into 2 apartments with one on the ground floor and one on the second was what sold it for both of them. It meant that that each could have their own space and for Kate, it didn't feel like she was living with her mother again. She had her own space that was close enough that she could keep track of her mother to make sure that she was eating and living.

They made their offer in the realtor's office and drove back to Rapid City where they stayed in a hotel and flew back the next day. It was while they were in New York that they negotiated the price. The realtor faxed the paperwork for them to sign and the house was theirs. The only thing left was to pack what they were taking and sell or donate everything else for tax purposes.

That was followed by Kate having her little going away party at the 12th Precinct. The very next day they both flew out to Denver, bought Johanna's Jeep and the motorhome then drove to their new home. Armed with the keys, Kate parked the motorhome in the RV barn out back finding that their motorhome just barely fit. From there she rode with her mother over to Rapid City where she bought her Jeep. They spent the night in Rapid City before Johanna followed Kate back to their new home. Kate had already bought both of them portable Garmin GPS units since they didn't know where anything was in the area.

The home came completely furnished including everything in both kitchens. The refrigerator and freezers were empty while the pantry still had a number of items in it. They stopped at the grocery store and bought everything they thought they would need. They had their suitcases with a week's worth of clothes in them. Everything else was scheduled to show up a week.

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Rick once again turned left instead of right after picking up Alexis from school on Monday. He got out and walked around the place, checking to see that the doors were locked and none of the windows were broken. He never did go out to the RV barn since he hadn't noticed it and didn't know it was there. And since most of the snow was gone now there were no tracks leading to it. He was satisfied and got back in the truck and saw Alexis's sad face. "I'm sorry sweetheart, I really am, but they moved away to be with their daughter. Maybe someone will buy it who makes cookies," he said, not sure anyone was going to buy it.

After all who buys houses out in the middle of nowhere?

What he found when he got home was a bit of a surprise. There was a large 18-wheeler that said ABF on the side. The driver and his helper were unloading box after box onto his driveway. "Can I help you?" He didn't understand what they were doing. "Richard Rodgers?" he asked then followed up with Rick's address. "Yes, that's correct," Rick responded still perplexed. "Sign here please after you confirm delivery off of the packing slip," he instructed and the two of them continued to unload boxes and stack them up while Rick read. "It's the play-set!" Now he understood. He started counting boxes and checking them off on the packing slip, matching was supposed to arrive with what he got. After confirming everything, he signed for the delivery and watched them back the large rig all the way back out to 85. "I don't think I'll ever be that good," he said to himself, knowing that one day he was going to have to back his trailer into a campsite and that it was likely going to take him several attempts.

"Now just where do I get help to put this thing together?" Rick had a problem to solve. "What's that Dad?" Alexis had watched the entire thing and now they had a huge pile of boxes blocking access to the trailer. They weren't going camping until all of those boxes got moved. "That, daughter of mine, is your Christmas present. I gave you a playground set that you couldn't have til spring," Rick reminded her. Alexis looked at the giant pile of boxes and wondered how she was supposed to play on that many boxes and why her dad got them for her. It must have been the tilt of her head that gave him a clue. "It's all in pieces inside those boxes; I just need to get it out of the boxes and get it put together," he explained since this Christmas present gave new meaning to the phrase 'Some assembly required.' "Ooohhh!" she exclaimed, very excited.

Looking at Alexis gave him an idea. "Hop back in the truck pumpkin, we're going to go see someone," he told her and selected the home of Vicki and Paige on his Garmin. He got lucky and Vicki answered the door. "Mr. Rodgers?" She hadn't been expecting him. "Is your husband here? I have a request to ask of you three," Rick said. He was soon leaving for home after Vicki and her husband promised to call Jenny's parents and give them the same offer Rick gave them in exchange for helping him erect his playset that Paige and Jenny would also be using when they came over. He was going to cook outside on the grill for all of them, plus he owed them a favor that they could call in at any time of their choosing. He was guessing it would take at least three weekends to complete this monstrosity let alone moving the boxes to the build site.

Rick had just made it into the kitchen when his phone rang. "Hi Mr. Rodgers, we've talked with Veronica and her husband and they've agreed to help us put Alexis's giant playset together according to the terms you offered us," Vicki told him. "That's great! I really owe you guys and I mean it. Anything, anytime, and I'll be there and do it. How about next weekend, not this weekend coming up, provided the weather cooperates. Otherwise we'll just delay it a week," he suggested and could hear her talking to her husband. "We'll be there. We'll call Veronica and coordinate the timing. We'll bring Paige's bicycle that still has training wheels on it and get Veronica to do the same, unless Alexis doesn't have one." Vicki didn't want the girls doing something Alexis couldn't. "Alexis doesn't have a bicycle but she does have something similar so it should be fine," Rick told her. "Perfect! Then we'll see you in about two weeks," Vicki replied and closed the door after they stepped outside.

Well, that was one problem down. Hopefully five heads, 10 arms, and 5 backs would be enough to get it built. "CRAP, I'm going to need tools," he slumped. Living in his loft in New York meant he didn't need this stuff. He just made a phone call and someone came out to fix it. "I'm going to need a lawnmower too." He hung his head, wondering why he moved out here in the first place.

He dropped Alexis off at school the next morning. "Have a good day pumpkin, I love you." He kissed her cheek while they were still in the truck. "I love you too Dad." She hopped down from the truck and went into the school. Then he drove over to the local hardware store and came back out with a whole lot of stuff. Cordless drill, cordless circular saw, extra batteries for both tools, a black case that had a socket set, a second black case that had a wrench set inside it, and another that had a set of screwdrivers.

Next came a trip to the only store he knew about that might have lawnmowers and was soon helping to put a riding lawnmower into the back of his truck using the tire ramps that he also had to purchase with which to get it in and out of the truck. Then he saw something else on his way out of town. It was a motorcycle store but it wasn't the motorcycles that caught his interest. It was the quads that they also had that caught his eye. The fact that he didn't know what he'd do with it or how often he would use it didn't even get consideration. Worse, the itch to buy one overrode his need to start installing those sensors today.

He put his new toys in the garage and went back to look at quads. It was only when the owner of the store was asking what he wanted to use a quad for in order to help him decide what type of quad he needed, that got Rick thinking about using it to get around his 179 acres to install those sensors. He drove home about an hour later with his latest purchase along with a 5 gallon can of gas for the mower and the quad.

Honda FourTrax® Rincon® Olive And it only cost him $7,148.00 dollars.

First up though was time for lunch then he would start the job of burying his sensors.

Rick quickly found the only real trick to this was figuring out where he was exactly via the GPS unit and where he was on the map Grey had given him that had the location of of where to place the sensors on it. His running the perimeter, or what he thought was his perimeter, as a Kodiak bear in the snow had felt liberating and the animal within him had thanked him over and over again.

He had even let the animal within him toboggan down a hill over and over again. It was sufficiently inside his property that he felt safe enough not to be observed by his father or any of his people. Other than that, he let the animal inside him take over for a couple of hours.

Rick had at least spent some time putting batteries in every one sensor that he had brought out here with him. He didn't like the idea of coming back out here and digging them up just so he could replace the stupid battery in them. He was just finishing covering one of them up when he looked at his watch. "OH SHIT! Alexis is going to kill me!" He grabbed his back pack, strapped to his quad then started it up and rode back home straight to his truck. He was already late and hadn't even left yet.

He found Alexis sitting on the concrete up against the wall next to the main doors, looking dejected. "I'm sorry Alexis, so very sorry. I got caught up in what I was doing that I lost track of time."

"EEWWW, you're a mess Dad." Alexis was more concerned about what he looked like than his being late. Her reaction got Rick to look at himself and he started chuckling. His knees were caked in mud, his hands were dirty, and he still had mud on his boots, not to mention the bits of grass and mud that were in his hair. The bear in him however was absolutely happy. "I am, aren't I," he chuckled and waved at the lady standing inside the doors who had been watching over Alexis while she sat outside. "Let's go home, I'll take a shower and we can play one of your board games before dinner. How does that sound?" he offered, getting Alexis to agree.

"What's that?" Alexis saw something new in their driveway. "Oh that. It's called a quad and I'm using it to help with a project I'm working on. Plus we're going to use it to move the boxes to the backyard and set up your playset in a couple of weeks," he explained.

"Oh," she said quietly. She was kind of hoping it was hers, even if it was too big for her. Still a kid could dream, right?