Mr. Fix-It
Chapter 11
Stephanie heard the screen door slam on the porch and stomping feet, "Ranger, what's wrong?"
He had a frustrated look on his face, "I can't get the lawnmower started. I primed it."
Stephanie was walking off the deck into the yard heading to the shed with Ranger beside her. She bent over and twisted off the gas cap. "Did you check for gasoline?"
"No. Shit."
She grabbed the gas can, putting the yellow nozzle in the gas tank, then replacing the cap.
"Now try it."
Ranger primed it before he pulled the cord. The mower started. And he immediately shut it back down.
"How stupid can I be?"
"Why, the first time you ever cut grass was a few weeks ago. You're not perfect the first time you try everything. Ok, unless you're Batman," Stephanie giggled.
She took a step towards him and put a hand on his face, "You are out of your normal safety zone. This isn't Rangeman or chasing skips, this is everyday life. Welcome to my world. Go easy on yourself, you've accomplished a lot in about two months. I'm proud of you, Ranger."
He gave Stephanie a sheepish grin, throwing his words for her back at him, "Thanks, Babe. You keep me on the right track."
"If you do a really, really Super Batman job cutting the grass, tonight will be round two breaking in our bed."
His eyes grew dark, "Count on it."
Ranger's truck pulled into the carport while he was cutting the front yard. Barney jumped down and started running behind him with a stuffed dog in his mouth.
"I'll be. He's really cutting grass. Who would have thought a domesticated Ranger," Tank laughed.
"For someone who's never really done anything like this, I give him credit. He's thrown a hammer a few times, but he's given it his all."
"Frank, I know he appreciates your help. This is the closest Ranger's come to having a home in really long time."
Stephanie came out of the house carrying beers and water for Barney. She gave one to her father and Tank then walked over to Ranger getting his attention. He shut the lawnmower down and walked over by the front porch taking a beer from Stephanie. She licked her lips. He was shirtless and had a fine sheen of sweat on his muscular chest.
"Thanks, Babe."
"Good job, Ranger." Frank said.
Barney was sitting on the porch by his water bowl, his new toy in his mouth squeaking it.
"Come on, Barney. Let's go down on the beach. You're being a pain while Ranger cuts the grass. I'll be back," kissing Ranger. "Yummy."
He laughed after her, watching her descend the path to the beach. Barney leading the way.
"Thanks."
"For what, Frank?"
"She's happy."
They were watching as Stephanie and Barney were running in the water laughing. A mass of curls blowing in the slight ocean breeze. She tossed a stick and the puppy took off after it. Bringing it back but tugging on it as he wouldn't let go for Stephanie to throw it again..
"I don't know if Stephanie remembers but her grandfather had this beagle who walked him to work at the mill and walked him back in the afternoon. The dog's name was Barney. You didn't want her here alone and she wouldn't have been. Barney was waiting for her."
"First, the rocking chair and the book. Now a dog. I'll be thinking mysterious forces are working behind the scenes. I've felt that Stephanie belonged here."
"She's happy because of you. You have more money than anyone I've ever know or will know. You could have bought a fancy smancy beach house in some exotic locale, but you bought a simple house in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. You built a deck and cutting grass because my daughter is happy here. That's more than a father can ask."
"Stephanie's memories are here, Frank."
Barney came running up the path and jumped up on Frank,
"You're wet. Is Barney going to ride in the cab?"
"You're taking him in the cab?" Ranger was surprised.
"I don't want Barney alone while you and Stephanie are working."
"I want to walk him," Tank added.
"Are you fighting over our puppy?" Stephanie said coming to the top of the path.
"I'm going to finish the grass. You can figure out his schedule," Ranger walked back over to the lawnmower shaking his head.
Stephanie went in to get a towel for Barney and her cell phone was ringing.
"Hello."
"Steph, how do we get to your house," Bobby asked.
"Where are you?"
"Coming up on the Point Pleasant exit. We left a little early."
"Get off and head towards the boardwalk. When you get to the boardwalk turn left onto Beach Drive. Go about 1 ½ miles until you get to the blue house on the right. Pull in next to the carport."
"See you in a few."
"Who was in the phone, Pumpkin?'
"Bobby and Lester. They left early. Ranger's going to skin them alive."
Barney was barking.
"I think the children have arrived."
Bobby and Lester got out of the Rangeman SUV. They were pointing as Ranger was finishing the grass. Tank was walking to meet them. The mower was put away and Ranger came back around the house.
"Who's minding the office? I'm paying you to be there."
"Hal, Cal, Ram, and Hector," Bobby replied.
Lester had a smile on his face, "But we wanted to see the beach. Ah, Ranger, Tank left early."
"He picked me up at the airport and drove me here."
Barney came running out, barking. Stephanie and Frank were coming off the deck.
"Bite them. You're the watch dog," Ranger told Barney.
"Cool dog," Lester bent down and Barney licked his face.
"Is he yours, Boss."
Ranger looked at Stephanie with a raised eyebrow, "Yeah."
"Steph, your house looks great."
"Come on in and I'll show you around," Stephanie motioned Bobby and Lester towards the house.
"Is this the deck you built, Ranger?" Lester was bouncing on it making sure it was sturdy.
Stephanie's father had his arms folded, "It's sturdy, Lester. Ranger did an excellent job on it."
"I'm impressed, Boss."
"Come on, Barney. Here's our kitchen and dining room," following Stephanie into the living room. "Here's the powder room. Our living room. This sofa folds out to a bed."
Bobby and Lester were looking around the house and followed Stephanie upstairs.
"You and Lester can decide who sleeps where," showing them the spare room with the bunk beds.
"Thanks, Steph," Bobby said.
"I like this bed," Lester said laying down on the huge black iron bed in the master bedroom. "It's big enough for three."
"That's our bed, Santos," Ranger was pulling Lester off by his legs.
"All right. I get the picture."
"The bathroom is in here and my father's room."
"Thanks, Steph. We'll get settled in and I'll try and keep Lester out of trouble."
"I'm trying out the hammock," Lester said running down the steps.
"Babe, why did we invite them? I'm going to get a shower before we go to dinner. Join me," pulling Stephanie into the bathroom and locking the door.
Stephanie came out on the porch, ready for dinner. She had on a short red off the shoulder jersey dress on with strappy sandals.
Lester whistled and Ranger shot him an eyebrow.
"Babe, you look beautiful."
"It's not every night a girl goes to dinner with her father, her Cuban Sex God, and her three hunky co-workers."
"Thanks, Bombshell," Tank puffed out his chest at her comment.
Barney was sitting beside Frank.
Stephanie stooped down beside him, "Barney, Mommy and Daddy, Grandpa, and your uncles are going to dinner. You have to be a good boy. We won't be long." Stephanie opened the door so he could go in the house.
"Babe, he's not mine. I look nothing like him."
"I think he has your nose, Ranger," Lester teasing his friend.
"I'll ship you home, Lester. Come on, let's go eat."
Stephanie and Ranger rode with Tank, while Frank went with Bobby and Lester.
Mary Ann looked up when Stephanie walked in surrounded by men. "Stephanie, I like your entourage," laughing as she showed them to her Grandfather's table.
"Thanks, Mary Ann. You remember Tank. This is Bobby and Lester."
"Good evening, Gentlemen."
"It's crowded tonight, Babe."
"And, you're on the preferred list, Carlos," Cliff told him shaking his hand. "Hi, Stephi. Hi, Frank. So, what did you think of Barney?"
"We're keeping him, Cliff," Stephanie giggled. "This is Bobby and Lester. You know Tank."
"Hi, Guys. Wine?" He held up a bottle.
"Bring it on, Cliff," Ranger told him holding up two fingers.
"I'll be back."
Cliff came back with a cart. He put the wine glasses on the table with the open wine bottles. He placed two bowls of dipping sauce and warm bread on the table.
"I'll come back for your orders."
Stephanie dipped a piece of bread in the sauce and fed Ranger.
"It is good," pouring the wine.
"Stephanie, what do you recommend?" Bobby asked.
"Everything. It's all homemade. Cliff's lasagna is excellent."
"That's what I want," Tank said.
"Should we move to another table so the two of you can feed each other," Lester asked. Through out the conversation, Stephanie and Ranger had been feeding each other dipped bread.
"We know what we want," Ranger said.
Cliff came back for the orders. The Merry Men were having the lasagna, Frank was having manicotti, and Stephanie and Ranger were having their steak salads.
"Steph, when did you get the dog? He's an expensive breed."
"Bobby, he was on the front porch when Daddy and I got here on Tuesday. I don't know if he was a runaway or he was abandoned."
"So Barney can be the Rangeman mascot and we can get little look-alike Barney's on our clothes," Lester was pointing to his shirt.
Bobby said, "I want a dozen doggie shirts."
"Order me some too," Tank added.
"Can I get a few with my grandson on it?" Frank asked.
Ranger banged his fist on the table, "No dogs on the Rangeman shirts. What are we 'Taco Bell'?"
"Ranger, Barney would look so cute on our shirts."
"He'd look cuter on your panties."
"Can I have him on mine?" Lester smirked
"You don't wear underwear," Bobby told the table.
"I want the dog on the front."
"No, he should be on the back."
"Front."
"Back."
"Babe, I'm losing control here."
"Ranger, you've been delusional. You never have control with those three."