Eyes To Remember Chapter 33 "Waterslide, Here We Come!"
Ranger had known that Stephanie had a restless night. He felt it. She didn't toss and turn, but he felt the rigidness of her body at times in his arms as he held her during the night. He didn't know if she was dreaming or just couldn't stop thinking about the encounter with Hampton. If for some reason he was able to avoid jail, Ranger knew he would give him the worst punishment of his life, if he survived.
It was before 5, the earliest Ranger had been awake at Stephanie's cabin in the times he had been here. She shifted when Sparky came into the room after pushing the door open jumping on the bed.
"Ready to go out?" Stephanie asked rubbing his ears throwing back the blankets to slip out of bed.
Missing her warmth, Ranger grabbed her hand, "Come back."
Stephanie nodded following her Beagle out. She turned on the coffee pot then opened the door. She stepped on the porch in the early warm July morning. The sky was still some what dark but she could see the beginnings of a pink, blue, and orange sunrise.
Tank was rocking gently in the wicker rocker dressed in sweats. Maybe he had an early morning walk around the lake.
"Coffee's on. Will you be here?"
"Yeah," he told her.
Stephanie ran into the bedroom pulling off her t-shirt, slipping an oversized blue worn sweatshirt over her head. Ranger was watching her, tugging on his hand, a twinkle in her eye.
"Let's go watch the sunrise."
"Ok, Babe," slipping on his sweat pants and sneakers. Pulling a t-shirt out of the closet.
Tank was sipping a mug of coffee as Stephanie poured two for them.
"I'll be here," he called after Stephanie and Ranger going out the cabin door. Sparky was running ahead as they walked beside each other towards the lake. It was cooler down the tree lined path, ferns and grass glistened with the dew droplets of the morning. A little mist was lingering over the blue lake.
Stephanie leaned back against the handsome Cuban Man standing on the wooden dock as the sky was slowing becoming lighter, more baby blue appearing through the pink and orange streaks as the sun was coming up behind the trees across the lake.
"That's beautiful, Babe," kissing the top of her head, his arm draped across her holding Stephaine to him. There was movement next to them. Katie stepped up beside them.
"You OK?"
"Yeah," Katie nodded to her then stood watching the sunrise. Very quietly she started reciting a poem.
"Every sunrise is a present, a gift from God above,
Gift-wrapped with scarlet ribbons and tied with bows of love.
Each day's a new beginning, a time to start anew,
While all the stars are sleeping, and the rose is fresh with dew.
Every day's a new creation, too lovely to ignore,
And we may find a blessing, just outside our door.
We cannot keep the past, like fireflies in a jar
Nor journey to the future by wishing on a star.
Every sunrise is a blessing, a gift for just today.
Rejoice, my friend, embrace it before it fades away!"
Stephanie repeated the last few lines with her as Ranger listened to them.
Asking them, "Where did you learn that from?"
Both females looked up at Ranger, tears slowly sliding down their cheeks.
"We received this beautiful sympathy card from my friends at the magazine with a sunrise on the front. That poem was on the inside of the card and just stuck." Stephanie explained quietly, then turning back to the sunrise.
"Hey, Steph."
"What, Sweetie?"
"After breakfast, can we go to the police station," Katie said watching the sky. "I don't want it to ruin the rest of the weekend."
"I think that is the best. I'll call Randy to see when he'll be in."
"Ok," pale blue eyes looking up at her guardian, her stand-in-mom, "we've been through the worst and made it. That man is not worth ruining our weekend."
"No, he's not. I'm proud of you, Katie. How about we inflate the tubes and go to the waterslide for a while. It's going to be really warm today."
Excitement in Katie's voice, "Then go see, Midnight!"
"Yes, I need to see how she is settling in at Bud's."
Stephanie glanced up at Ranger if that was an acceptable day.
"You lead the way, Activity Director," bending to kiss her.
Coming down the path were Tank, Bobby, Lester, and Julie. Allie was in Tank's arms, a blanket wrapped around her.
"I missed it," Allie was pointing to the sun.
Stephanie took her precious bundle in her arms, "Look, there is still some pink in the sky," pointing to faint streaks of color.
Allie pointed to a large graceful bird swooping down to some rocks along the lake's edge, "What's that?" she whispered
They watched as a regal grey bird with a plume on it's head walked into the water bending down to get something out of the water. Sparky had chased a squirrel up a tree and let out a small bark as the animal squawked back at the dog.
"It's a Blue Heron. He's getting his breakfast. How about we go get some, too?" Stephanie asked her as Allie waved to the large bird wading in the water.
They were finishing up pancakes and sausages when Allie was listening to something.
"Mommy, I hears your car," Allie slipped off the barstool and ran to the door. Stephanie pushed back her chair following her daughter. They could hear a rumble getting louder.
"It's Gampy! Gampy!" Allie was running out in bare feet in the wet grass. Stephanie's red Ferrari came to a stop next to the Hummer parked in front of the motor home.
"Daddy! Mom!" Stephanie called. She started to laugh seeing her father get out from behind the wheel. He was wearing mirrored Aviator sunglasses.
Picking up Allie, "What? I have to look the part. Hi, Pumpkin. I convinced your Mother to take a ride with me."
Stephanie noticed Ellen hadn't moved out of the car. She looked flushed.
"Mom, are you OK?"
The guys were shaking Frank Plum's hand while Stephanie was talking to her Mother.
She opened the door and got out, Ellen Plum glanced back at the car. "Stephanie," she whispered, "your Grandmother is right. That car does something to you with the vibrations. I'll be back."
Stephanie tried not to giggle.
"Honey, is your Mother OK?" Frank concerned. "She didn't say much once I got outside of Trenton and driving on the highway."
"Daddy, were you going over the speed limit?"
He looked at the smirking males, "Sometimes. That car wants to fly."
Stephanie was trying to explain in a delicate way that her mother was aroused from the motor's vibrations from the powerful Ferrari motor. Stephanie knew the feeling from driving it.
"Daddy, when you drive the car don't you feel the vibrations?"
"Yes," then the light dawned, 'Oh! It gave your Mother," not finishing his thought.
"Mr. P., you're getting some tonight," Lester said with a lecherous grin on his face.
Stephanie's Mother came back outside, she looked more relaxed.
"Are you all right, Dear?" Frank Plum asked trying to keep the smile off his face, not to embarrass his wife.
"Yes. I think you should take us for a drive more often, Sweetheart," Ellen was practically purring.
"Anytime."
"Is it all right that we're visiting, Stephanie? It's such a nice weekend," her mother asked then noticing the bandage on her hand. "What happened to your hand?"
Stephanie relayed the story of Ben Hampton and ending it describing Midnight.
Fury was coming off Frank Plum, "He hurt you! Then scared Katie and you last night! Where is he?"
"Daddy, calm down!" She tried to sooth her father, "Katie and I are going to give our statements and hopefully, he will be in jail for awhile."
"He had better because I'll settle things with him. No one harms my baby daughter and grandchildren!" his face red and fists in balls.
"We'll handle this, please!"
"Uh huh, she's here," Allie was handing Stephanie the cordless phone.
"Good Morning, Randy. I wanted to see when we could come by our office. We have some things to do. Sounds good. Bye," Stephanie clicked off the phone. 'Let's get ready, Katie. He's in right now."
Ranger said in his authoritative tone, "I'm coming with you."
"Gampy, that bad man hurt Mommy." Allie told her Grandfather after he picked her up. "I kicked him where Mommy showed me to hurt a boy. Down there," pointing down to his pants.
Ranger nodded.
"That's my Princess," smiling proudly as they rubbed noses.
Before he disappeared in the cabin, Ranger put an arm on Frank Plum's shoulder, "Sir, if he somehow avoids the law, I'll dish out my own justice."
It was Mr. Plum's turn to nod in acknowledgment.
Stephanie was pulling clean sheets out of the linen closet, "Mom, you and Daddy can have the smaller bedroom. I'll move Allie upstairs in a bunk bed."
Ellen Plum never questioned why Allie wouldn't be downstairs with her as she knew the answer. She had seen the happiness in her younger daughter. She also noticed her Boss glance at the sheets, then at the sofa.
While Stephanie was occupied, her mother pulled Ranger aside, "Mr. Manoso, don't change what you have because we're here. Stephanie is happier than she has been in along time. I was the reason my daughter went through a pregnancy alone while she was grieving. It took almost losing that precious little girl to understand my daughter wasn't the perfect 'Burg' wife material. Because of my insane ideals, they kept her away when she needed her family."
Ranger nodded.
"Now, go and make sure he doesn't hurt her again."
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Stephanie and Katie finished giving their statements to the Chief of Police and the deputy.
"Ok, I think that's everything," Randy Baylor told them as he shut off the recording equipment. "I'll file the assault and battery charges, the endangerment of a minor charges, attempted kidnapping, and anything else I can come up with to keep him in jail. He's shackled to the bed at the hospital. He does have a broken jaw and dislocated knee."
"Good, couldn't happen to a nicer man," Ranger hissed.
"Just so you know, Stephanie, his attorney is a sleaze. He tried to make it sound like you were coming on to Mr. Hampton to make Mr. Manoso jealous, but dropped that defense since a whole town can vouch for you being with Mr. Manoso."
Stephanie yelled, "I only met him yesterday and was introduced before the race!"
"Chief Baylor," Ranger said in no uncertain terms, "these charges had better stick! The DA had better pursue this!"
"And, I will," came a woman's voice walking into the Chief's office. It was Gracie.
"It's not like we have a whole lot of crime up in these parts, Carlos, so I do double duty," Gracie was shaking his hand. "How are the both of you?" hugging Stephanie and Katie.
"Good."
"What can you tell me about this man, Carlos?"
"I was in the Rangers with him. He at times was very sloppy on some government missions and we lost some good men because of him. Big ego. Likes the lavish life style his investment business allows him to live from what I know. I can do some checking to see what I can come up with."
Gracie nodded, "Stephanie, do you think he intended to harm you? Maybe even rape you?"
Stephanie shivered thinking about the situation, "He was drunk. His words were, 'I wouldn't want your daughter watching as I collect something for my horse.' And when Katie said he was hurting her, Mr. Hampton replied 'I'll hurt you more after I'm done with her'. I never thought about it that way. I knew I could overpower him to get away, but my first concern was making sure Katie wasn't harmed. But to answer your question honestly, Gracie, I don't know."
The DA nodded, her glasses attached to her neck chain, "I'm going to do everything I can to see he spends time behind bars. Get out of here. Go enjoy all that we have to offer up here in these parts."
"We're going to the waterslide," Katie perked up at the thought.
"Go have a slide for me," Gracie hugged the girl good-bye.
Ranger slipped Gracie a business card while Stephanie was talking with the Police officers, "Any problems, call me," he whispered. "I want to make sure they are safe."
Gracie nodded tucking the business card in her pocket.
When Ranger got a chance, he was calling his contact in the government military forces to discuss Ben Hampton. Maybe that vileness would just disappear off the face of the Earth.
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Ranger pulled the Hummer into the driveway next to the Ferrari.
Stephanie started to giggle. There was Allie with a small fishing pole and her father's way to big fishing vest on her little body.
"Mommy, Mommy!" jumping up and down, "I caught a fish!"
Sparky and Hobo were both sitting beside a bucket watching a small fish swim around in it.
"His name is Brucey."
Ranger just shook his head at how Allie named everything.
"That's a very nice fish, Allie. You know you have to put him back in the lake."
"I know so he lives with all his other fish friends."
Tank, Bobby, and Lester had blown up the inner tubes and rafts since Stephanie had left out her electric air pump. Julie and the guys were dressed ready to go. Stephanie's mother packed a picnic lunch.
"Daddy, are you and Mom coming to the rocks?"
"Pumpkin, I think so. Allie and I will go put him back now that you saw her big catch."
Stephanie watched as they walked hand in hand down the path, Allie still in the vest and her father carrying the bucket.
"He loves that Allie does things like that with him," Ellen told her beautiful daughter.
"Let's go change, Katie, Carlos. I have extra water shoes if you need a pair, Mom."
Ranger pointed to the Hummer, "Babe."
Hobo had jumped in it and was at the open window, "Meow!"
"I'll take care of him."
The guys began tying all the rafts to the top of the Hummer.
Ranger's eyes turned dark as Stephanie had in the bikini from the Rangeman beach party slipping a pair of sweat shorts over it.
"Like what you see, Boy Toy?" asking innocently.
"I'll show you later tonight."
Sparky rode in the Ferrari with her parents hanging out the window for the short drive. Hobo rode in the Hummer on Stephanie's lap between Ranger and Tank.
Ranger was trying to keep a straight face as he drove following Stephanie's directions, "The cat's going to the water slide. I thought they didn't like water."
"Hopefully he won't end up in it. He liked it before."
There was one car in the parking area of the shorter path to the waterfall and the rocks so hopefully not too many people were there. In less than 5 minutes, they were at the same spot as last week but on the other side. A couple of teen-age boys were sliding down the rocks on inner tubes.
"That looks fun," Lester was smiling watching the water carry the inner tubes over the smooth rocks and ending up in a shallow pool at the end of the rocks.
Stephanie looked at Ranger, he was grinning like a big kid.
The water was cool as they crossed to the big rocks, but not ice cold like last week. Since there hadn't been any rain, the water was flowing slower over the rocks. Frank helped his wife across, then carried Allie across. Bobby and Lester carried the cooler. Julie and Katie brought the beach bags of towels. Stephanie carried Hobo, who 'Meowed' all the way across and helped Sparky up on the rocks. Tank and Ranger brought the rafts over to the rocks. What a production!
Lester was the first down on a raft sliding over the centuries worn rocks. The rafts just glided over the rocks. Next, Bobby, went down. Tank rode down on his stomach. Julie was looking apprehensive watching as the Merry Men went down.
"Come on," Ranger took her hand and she sat between Ranger's legs on a raft.
"The water is cold!" screaming as her father splashed her. Both laughing as they went down ending in the shallow pool.
Allie went down with her Grandfather smiles on their faces. Everyone took turns going down Stephanie was shocked when her Mother rode down on an inner tube in her father's lap a couple of times. She had never really seen her parents so cuddly. Maybe, those Ferrari mini-orgasms did something to her.
He was standing on the rock laughing, Stephanie was riding down on a raft with Hobo on her lap and the damn cat was liking it. He was in love with a crazy woman with a crazy cat! Ranger realized what was going though his head had been in his heart. Finally, admitting it to himself. It was a first for him. He, Carlos Manoso, had never been in love. He married Julie's mother because she was pregnant not out of love. Now, she was taking her beagle for a ride! She was so beautifully insane and he was in love with her.
(the author of the poem is unknown.)