AN:
First:
Thanx to little dark starling, Zundra and oucellogal for their great reviews!
And...Oh, dear- real life was such a jackass sometimes.
All I can do to explain it won't be enough- so...
I just try to say „sorry" to all of you who waited so patiently
for another chapter... And to say „thank you!" to all
who are with me for the next!
Hope you enjoy!
Songs for this:
Just to see you smile
and
I do, but I don't
by Tim McGraw
-14-
- That's what friends are for-
Lucilles waved her Stetson enthusiastically up and down the air.
"Lilly! Lilly, I m here! "
she cried out loudly and jumped a little,
to get her friend's attention.
At last she saw the blonde head.
Lil came over and the two ot them hugged each other stormy.
Lucille stopped and put Lil at arms length.
"You're too thin!
I'll have to feed you properly
before we can visit someone who know you!"
she laughed
and looked at the slim silhouette of Lilly Rush with a worried look.
"Oh, Honey."
Lilly pulled her friend in again and closed her eyes.
The smell of hay rose to her nose.
"And you have'nt changed a bit since we last saw eachother!"
Lilly took the proffered arm and now turned to her traveling companion,
who had stopped slowly and at a measured distance.
An impressive picture:
Her pretty little sister,
a handsome young cowboy and
a, since landing, strangely silent Scotty Valens.
Angelo was the first one coming up to them
and held out his hand to greet Honey.
"Hey!
Finally!
Our first personally meeting!
My pleasure."
Honey recognized his voice from the phone
and gave her new employee
her warmest southern smile.
"Yes, Angelo, I m looking forward working with you!
Nice to meet you."
She turned slightly and gestured to the hallway.
„I believe you're expected at the terminal from someone else,
if I remember correctly. "
He nodded solemnly and bowed to the audience.
"The children and Black Jack are waiting for me."
Lucille nodded politely.
"The rooms are already prepared-
I was just briefly talking to Miss Dalaware about it.
A box with an outdoor paddock was freshly interspersed,
the vet has left a sedative dose for Black Jack
and the weather looks promising for the next few days
so we can take him outside to the meadows, too.
You should not have any problem with the arrival at the ranch.
Sue, my Mom and housekeeper will be home
and will introduce you to our leading worker, Josh. "
Honey told him objectively
and then:
"It's nice when life's pulled back on my ranch.
I'm really looking forward for the children
and of course to see Black Jack's Devil, too. "
She smiled and gave him her outstrechted hand again.
Small lines appeared around the corner of her eyes,
but she was still a remarkably beautiful woman,
whose good character could formally be
reading onto her face.
Angelo took her hand gently
and squeezed it short, but strong.
"You have no idea
what it means to me
that you'll give us this chance, Lucille."
Then he turned for a temporary farewell to Lilly and her fellow travelers.
"Detectives, we shall see us more often now!
Such a pleasure to meet ya again. "
He shook Lil and Scotty's hand.
"And please don't overload the first day just with shopping, Elizabeth.
This country has such a wonderful nature...
There are waiting much more exciting tasks at the ranch
for a woman with your skills!
I m looking forward to show you the sunset from horseback later!
Don't forget, you promised me! "
Angelo winked at Izzie
and grinned as she tried to hide her embarrassment
with a slight fidgeting from one foot to the other.
With that he turned
and strode down the hall
to take his charges from the custody
of child care.
"I am, too."
Izzie looked after him.
"An impressive young man."
she whispered softly.
Everyone around her smiled
but she flipped back her hair
and tossed it over her shoulder.
„Lils, won't you introduce us?!"
Lilly gave her sister a little punch against the shoulder
and waved at Scotty by her side.
"Honey, you sure remember Scotty Valens, my partner."
Lucille gave him a friendly nod.
"Of course.
I hope this longer stop in Knoxville will change your opinion
about my lovley home country a little to the Positive, Detective.
We will do everything we can that it'll be more pleasant for you
than the last time when you were here. "
Scottys head was getting redder and redder
but at least he plastered a smile on his face.
Lucille said it so simple and calm
that he just could mumbled a:
„Never mind."
and she said:
"I must say, however, that your, let's call it ...
unorthodox request for a free cottage on the ranch had caught me a little off guard!
I honestly haven't planned more than one accompaniment for Lilly ... "
Honey gave Lil a piercing look,
as Scotty's eyes darted quickly to his partner.
But Lil seemed to haven't noticed the quick side glance or ...
ignored him successfully.
Interesting!
He seemed to consider, then said slowly:
"Please call me just Scotty, Lucille.
I am very glad that a place for me is available-
Sorry for the troubles."
Lucille waved absently.
„Never mind, Scotty.
Friends of Lilly Rush are always welcome
and if I'm honest I can use the money
for the assignment of the holiday cottage!
Better a full house than I would have a hole in the high season! "
Izzie pushed herself around Scotty impatiently,
interrupting the others.
"Hi!
I'm Elizabeth-
Lilly's little sister."
Honey shook her hand, too.
"I m Lillys announced accompaniment."
Izzie gave Scotty a overactin', sweetly but warnin' look
and the young woman moaned
as she tried to push her heavy suitcase
down the terminal.
"Honey, I hope there are reasonable taxis!
I have no intention to walk in these shoes even one meter further
than absolutely necessary!
Jeez, and my back!
And that though we have so carefully presorted at home! "
Izzie batted provocatively with long false lashes
in Scotty's direction and was kindly answered
with a little sigh from his side.
But he took the baggage
and the small group
went down the hall.
Without waiting
Iz threw searching glances around
and sighed theatrically,
until they finally discovered the exit.
She started a solitary monologue about her shoes
with murderous paragraphs ahead and Scotty in tow.
The two other women followed at a safe distance
in order to chat quietly
and without an audience.
"Your sister is a real pain in the ass, right?"
Lucille hooked under Lilly and grinned suggestively.
Lilly laughed shortly.
"Well, compares to how you look at it.
But it's ok, honestly.
A blabbermouth with a heart of gold.
She comes right after her mother, thank God.
Because with such messed-up girls like me and Chris
already in the family we certainly don't need one more!
Thank heaven for Celeste's good genes! "
Honey looked at her friend politely
and didn't say something about it.
Her Pickup and taxi ranks came into view
and Izzie already leaned enthusiastically
down into an open taxi window,
constantly persuading the driver,
throwin' wild gestures into their direction.
Lucille studied her friend a second and said:
"You seem so happy. So solved.
I assumed to find someone rattled, after our last phone call.
Is everything okay at home? "
Lilly's eyes roamed -just for a split second- over Scotty's back.
She cleared her throat and lowered her head.
"Chris is doing better,
she makes greater progress in therapy.
My Dad and my Stepmother took up her little daughter Nellie
and take care of her.
Finn, my half-brother, he's Izzies „real" brother,
has quite a crush on the girl
and I visit them as often as I can.
She is a little ray of sunshine,
considering what she had to go through in her short lifetime. "
Lillys heart jumped as she thought of her young niece.
"She really tries it, Honey.
Chris, I mean.
She adheres to the rules of agreements to appointments with childcare
and has even already looked for a job, an apartment and a nursery for the little girl
if she has finally made it out of rehab. "
Lilly was glad when they have almost reached the car.
"And the best part is
that we can talk to each other again.
I'm not used to that- from her.
She has always been someone to worry about.
She only was interested in me if she... wants something from me ...
May it be money..
or a place to sleep ..
Or ... "
Lillys voice failed.
Or a man who means something to me.
Lucille nodded understandingly.
She knew the details of the difficulties
that stood between Lil and her younger sister Christina.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When Lil and Scotty did an interview with Honey on the ranch,
the two women had met the first time.
And after solving the Sugar case
Lilly had informed Lucille a few weeks later
in an email from the stories Dusty
reported during the interrogation.
Because Lucilles destiny never let go of her.
She felt so sorry for this woman
and was impressed how Lucille took
her life into her own hands
after the death of her husband.
Something about that calmness and that attitude
sort of inspired Lilly for her own life.
To let go of someone-
first to give him freedom because of the love
you had for him and after that...
let him pass away because he died
without any resentment...
earned her deepest respect.
Initially, Lucille didn't want to have something to do with Dusty,
but Lilly didn't give up.
Because Lil thought that
something about the way Truck Sugar died-
The way he seemed to have fought
for what he believed in and the fact
that Truck couldn't speak for himself
anymore-
was part of her responsibility.
The news about the things Dusty said in that interview
would bring his ex-wife some sort of peace, of closure.
Maybe these last words could've made a difference.
Makes a sense.
A sense to something that never makes sense to anyone.
Like the death of a beloved person.
Trucks last words have caught Lils attention.
The hole thing about his death was such a sad
and almost tragical event...
Because in his last words Truck has made a decision-
for Lucille.
For the life that they have shared together once
and also for his love for her-
And Lilly couldn't help it-
something about these words
had deeply touched her inside.
And as often as many times before
she felt some sort of wish
to bring things in order for the victim.
Even if Truck couldn't start over again-
Maybe Lucille could.
With the knowledge that not everything
about this life and love was over for her husband.
That- though he said goodbye to her-
he would've come back-
if he could have had.
This email was the start of an unexpected friendship
between these two women.
When Lilly and Lucille began their friendship a few years ago
Lucille invited her in for the first time.
It took some hard work
but at least Lucille could persude Lil
to visit her in Knoxville.
Nobody in Lils sphere knew about it
or about their friendship though
and Lucille agreed to keep it that way.
Maybe that was one of the reasons
why Lil began to trust her
and told her about the demons in her life,
'specially her childhood trauma.
They talked a lot when Lil was there.
In endless walks and a few night conversations by the fireplace
Lucille had told Lil about Truck Sugar, the country singer,
her ex-husband, who had died in Philadelphia
and whose case Lilly and Scotty have solved.
This unorthodox friendship simply happened-
Lilly couldn't even tell about the way it was so easy to trust Lucille
the way she only trusted a few people in her life.
Maybe it was the knowledge
that they both have lost someone down that way.
Lil has lost her mother and, temporary, her little sister, too,
and Lucille has lost Truck.
Lil was eternally grateful for the sudden change in her way
to act with someone who wasn't exactly in her „inner circle"
right from the first place.
Because this friendship gave her exactly
the right blend of closeness and freedom
which appeared to be right for her.
Lucille had started a new project now:
Creating a Foundation for indigent kids
from narcotic parents in Trucks name.
The kids can come to the ranch
and learn how to life in a family
a family of understandin' people,
they get the psychological help
and care they needed
and they can learn there-
how to take care of themselfes,
to take the responsibility for another being
and find back the strength and trust in themselfs.
So they are'nt followin' the dark path their parents had.
Workin' and livin' at the ranch with the horses
and with each other should prevent that dark spiral.
Now Lucille hoped to start the project with Angelos help,
who once worked and at least lead a center for delinquent kids.
"If the work with them, if this means
that at least a few of them have the chance
to go down a different route than Dusty had...
If I can do something to prevent that someone else
ends up like Truck...
If I can at least save alone one soul-
I'll do anything I can!"
Lucille "Honey" Sugar told Lil last time they
talked together.
"The people who fight against the drugs
shouldn't be doomed like him."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Now , my friend, tell me what's going on between you and Detective Valens!"
Lucille wanted to know now, grinning wildly.
But they couldn't discuss this interesting question
because they had to say goodbye to Elizabeth.
Who frantically pushed her sunglasses into her shinin', chesnut hair,
lamenting over the thing that she will need an extra treatment
in the city for her hair- together with manicure and pedicure-
before she even could consider the thought
to meet them again for dinner at the ranch.
"You've heard Angelo, Sweetie!
No shopping-exaggeration!"
Lilly warned sisterly.
"Oh Lils, you don't need to worry about your wardrobe anymore!
Now-"
Izzie winked exictedly at Lilly,
„Now that you have me!"
She squeezed her older sister one last time
before she finally disappeared inside the taxi.
"Oh, Iz.
That's exactly what I'm afraid of!"
Lilly sighed wearily
as the taxi sped away
in a striking cloud of dust.