11.

Randy and Momma G were at the dining room table admiring the massive American Alligator Randy had hunted and brought back. The thing was huge. It's tail went off the table and touched the floor.

There were no gunshots in it. Only a single knife wound in it's head.

He looked up at me and smiled, pointing at the gator, "Look what I got! Momma G is going to make me a belt, boots, and smoke the tail for me."

Wasn't that precious.

Hoot appeared behind me a whistled.

Momma G narrowed her eyes at the both of us, "Why you'in's late? You missed breakfast."

Shirtless, Hoot rubbed his neck, "Our boat washed ashore an someone called the cops on us."

Momma G's eyes narrowed, "Cops?"

One of Randy's eyebrow's rose, "Prove it."

Hoot pulled the citation from his jean's pocket, which made Randy laugh. Our citation for indecent exposure. He then walked over to the gator and looked over it with a expert eye. He seemed to be impressed with Randy's first hunt.

Knife in hand Momma G came on over and snatched the ticket away. She looked it over and belted Hoot, who was easily twice her size. She then steered me from the dead animal, "Come on baby-girl, we gonna get you fed. I want any future grand-babies well fed."

Later that day...

For a while I read and then I watched Hoot show Randy how to bleed, clean, skin, and harvest meat from the alligator. When that got boring I turned the TV on to CNN to find out what was going on in the world. Sadly, Momma G did not have cable. She had four TV channels. On one was lunch-time news which covered massive strikes in New Orleans.

Work related strikes.

But I stood and watched for a few moments, watching the angry mobs get more and more violent, especially with the obsessive news clips showing the strike earlier in the day.

Special riot police had been called in.

I felt a itch to go. On more then occasion to serve as a medic for riot police.

It was my kind of work.

But not for our friends.

I strolled out to the porch where the boys were, which was obscene to call them that. But Angela had gotten me doing it, she had grown on me. I spotted the boys and their project.

Leaning against the side of the trailer I informed them, "There are riot's going on down in New Orleans."

Both men paused in their work. They shared a look and Hoot asked, "What part?"

"News didn't say. Riot police were called in though."

Another look was exchanged.

Randy asked, "Could you go get my phone. It's in the bag by my bed."

While I wandered around the deck looking for his bed, which he had made up on the roof of the trailer, a ladder lead the way up. Which I hauled my ass up. He had a cute little niche made out for himself. Complete with sleeping bag, pillows and a pad.

I dug through his duffel bag. Finding a plethora of goodies and weaponry, along with some gadgets that had likely been stolen.

Upon finding the phone it began to ring in my hand.

Me being me, I answered it, having used the bulky type of phone more then once, "Whose this?"

Saying hello on a stolen military phone didn't seem right.

A female's voice came over the phone, "Is Randy there?"

Randy was indeed here. As I hauled it down the wooden ladder I informed her, "Yes he is, who's this?"

"Stephanie, who's this?"

"Diana." I jogged around the deck and found the boys, told Randy, "Stephanie's on the phone."

Which made Hoots eyebrows rise. Both of them. He wiped his gutsy bloody hands on a rag, "I'll call G from inside then."

This got my attention.

I was torn from snooping on Randy and this Stephanie person, or catching Hoot call Gordon and Angela.

But Hoot's fingers gently entwined in mine and he tugged me after him.

Damn, I wanted to overhear the conversation.

Once inside I demanded of my husband, "Who's this Stephanie and how long has she been interested in our little Randy?"

With a look over his shoulder at me, "Baby, don't meddle."

Oh my! I hurried and cut Hoot off from the phone needing details! "I'm not. Now give me details, and real details. Not those little pieces of information guys think are details. I have to report to Angela and Humera."

My husband had the nerve to roll his eyes at me.

He then took my face in his hands and told me, "Baby if I give you details and you run off to the rumor mill, it'll jinx Randy."

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms.

How could grown men be so superstitious?

He walked around me and went to the phone. Where he dialed up a number and leant casually against the wall. Phone to his ear where he could watch me. I was torn, whose phone conversation did I want to overhear? Choices choices!

"G, it's me, yeah Diana caught the tv and was wondering what you and the wife are doin?"

There was a pause and Hoot's eyes lowered to my abdomen. As if he had X-Ray vision and could see if there was any progress in our baby-making.

"Why don't you two come on over? You r'member where we are from last time?" Hoot listened and nodded, he then added, "Yeah, turn off on the second dirt road after the XXX sex-shop."