Eyes to Remember

Chapter 46

"Green Acres is the Place to be!"

"Babe, this is beyond silly."

Stephanie walked into 'their' bedroom; Ranger was standing glaring at the bed.
He had his duffel bag on the bed, packing some clothes for the cabin which
were at the loft. Hobo was sitting plain as day inside the nylon bag, green eyes watching. "Meow!"

She told him, "I guess he wants to go too. It's been berserk since we got
home from dinner last night. Must be the full moon."

Shaking his head, "It's not every night your Grandma is passed out on your
sofa drunk from drinking Tequila shots. I've never seen my Aubela like
that."

"My Grandma is outside the norm. My father's going to shoot her one day I know it, because she's around more to drive him crazy. When I went on assignments, I would send a plane ticket for Grandma to meet us there. She stayed with Katie and Allie while I worked or my father would come if he had to get away. At least she got to ride home in the police car with flashing lights so the neighbors could see. I bet my dad and Eddie had a heck of a time carrying her in the house."

Parking in the 'YMCA' lot, "I'll be right back," getting out of her Volvo.
Allie was strapped in her booster seat with her American Girl twins, Sparky
was hanging out a back window, and Hobo was standing on the driver's seat, his
grey head poking out the window. Adding two more girls, it was pure insanity. He got out of the passenger side and got behind the wheel. His shoulder was healing well, so he would drive from here to the cabin.

Julie and Katie came running out of the building, each opening a back door,
backpacks deposited on the floor, and buckling their seatbelts. Sparky
jumped in the back. Stephanie stacked the overnight bags on the sides, held
in place with cargo nets so the middle was free for the Beagle. He got the
feeling she had done this before. Seeing him in the driver's seat, she came around to the passenger side and buckled herself in.

'Hi, Dad," Julie called out happily.

"Hey, Girls."

She looked at him before car backed out of the space, "If your shoulder starts to hurt, pull over."

'I will."

He watched as shoes came off. Stephanie had an old towel between the seats on the console. The cat sat down but let out an angry, "Meow!"

"Sorry, I forgot you don't like the AC blowing on you," Stephanie said adjusting
the vent.

Ranger was laughing, shaking his head as he pulled out into the road heading for Route 31.

Almost 90 minutes later, he was parking in front of the Murdock General Store; Stephanie was buying milk and a few other groceries until they went to the larger grocery store. She came out carrying a bag and a large package wrapped in white butcher's paper.

"Racks of ribs. Wally picked them up for me so I can marinate them before grilling. I hope I bought enough with the guys."

"Those three can be bottomless pits."

Now the Volvo was parked beside the cabin driving the few minutes from the general store. The Beagle was out of the car, nose sniffing the grass. Julie, Katie, and Allie were out of the car with their things waiting for Stephanie to turn the key and open the door. Ranger was watching the cat walk around in what looked to be freshly mowed grass, stepping up onto the porch, and right in the door. He carried in a couple of the overnight bags in his right hand. The girls came running back out with the plastic bottles to fill with spring water. Stephanie came back out and grabbed the remaining bags closing the hatch back.

He watched as Stephanie entered the cabin setting the bags down. Her eyes wandered about the interior. Her eyes closed and breathed deeply taking in the coolness. She just stood there. Slowly her blue eyes were open.

"No matter how many times I walk through this door, I crave the calmness. This was a topsy turvy week," Stephanie said quietly almost to herself.

Ranger just listened as she spoke.

"The training fiasco with your brother, then you getting shot. Allie's birthday party. Yesterday after lunch when you were sleeping, I just felt like I was in overdrive. I answered a question from Wes, from the e-mail responses I started making calls and setting everything up for the Rangeman
Summer picnic. Once I started I just couldn't stop. For so long I was the center with so many people wanting a piece of me and having to coordinate everything to make the goal, whether it was a lingerie show or a magazine," Stephanie was talking, but her eyes weren't seeing anything in the cabin, "It was so easily to slip into that mode again. I came home one evening after having an emergency with the printers; I had a regular sitter for after-school or emergencies. Allie and Katie were asleep. I missed reading my daughter her bedtime story and couldn't help Katie with her homework. I was tired and miserable, the money and pressure weren't worth it. The owner made a final offer tripling my salary to get me to stay. I left for Trenton, needing to come back to my center. That's here," breathing in the coolness again.

"Babe," Ranger's forehead was leaning against hers. Since coming back, he had seen Stephanie vulnerable only a few times. They hadn't really mentioned him getting shot since the hospital and he though that was the real catalyst for this. "You are a Wonder Woman, but don't think you have to be that for me. I getting shot was an emotional upheaval for you. I can't say it won't ever happen again."

"I know," looking in his brown eyes, "its part of your job and you. It made me take a step back and remember life can change within a minute and probably set me on this rush to accomplish everything."

His lips were gentle on hers, "Stop. Take a drink, sit back, and relax. Or on horseback. I'm not going anywhere."

"That sounds wonderful, but you are not getting up on a horse," poking his sculpted chest. "You get up from the left and your shoulder isn't completely healed."

"I know I've been told, but I can still window shop."

The girls came running in with the water which Stephanie moved into the kitchen and filled glasses.

"How about a quick, late lunch? We'll wait for the guys to get here for dinner and go window shopping," she asked pulling out baking dishes to marinate the ribs.

Sitting around the farmhouse table eating apple slices, grilled cheese, and iced tea, Stephanie had a bag and handed it to Katie.

"My cowboy hat!" Katie yipped putting the brown leather hat on and handed a smaller one to Allie.

Bouncing in her chair, "Giddy-up."

"Want to try it on?" Katie handed it to a giggling Julie.

Ranger told her, "You look like a cowgirl, Julie."

As they cleaned up the lunch dishes, Stephanie called Bud who could tell her where Ben Hampton's horses were. Stephanie got the directions and he would meet them there to look over the horses because he was curious as to what he actually had at his farm.

Ranger slipped into the passenger seat of the Volvo. His shoulder was aching somewhat. Stephanie glanced over at him but didn't say a word. He laughed at the backseat. Katie and Allie had on their cowgirl hats and Julie was wearing Stephanie's black one.

They were coming to the city limits of Murdock when there was a sign posted 'Murdock's Big Sidewalk and Garage Sale Tomorrow'. That got cheers from Stephanie and the girls. Ranger knew where they would be spending the morning tomorrow.

Stephanie pointed to a shop, "There's the tack shop, Julie. We'll stop in tomorrow so you can have your own cowboy hat."

"That'll be fun. Maybe Dad will buy one."

Ranger gave an eyebrow to his daughter.

Stephanie turned off the main road as if she was driving to Bud's but made a left turn on a side road after passing his farm. Stephanie made a left turn through a white open gate with a big 'HF' for Hampton Farm. A small stone cottage stood near the road where she turned. In a fenced pasture on the left, counting 5 chestnut Arabians. No sooner did Stephanie park the Volvo when Bud pulled up in his red pick-up truck.

A young man was walking over to them. Stephanie recognized him as the young man who handed Ranger Midnight's papers on the 4th of July.

"I'm Tom Simon, the farm manager. Mr. Stevens called and said someone was coming to look at the horses."

"Carlos Manoso," extending a hand. "This is Stephanie Plum."

"How are you, Tom?" Bud nodded to the young man.

"Good, Mr. Butterfield. There are six horses. Five chestnut Arabians and the grey one," nodding to a horse by himself in a small field, "he's nasty at times. Ghost has tried to bite me."

Julie and Katie were leaning on the fence feeding the five brown horses carrots and apples.

Stephanie with Allie was walking towards the grey Arabian.

"I wouldn't let them get near him. He's unpredictable and I wouldn't want them hurt."

Ranger turned to follow Stephanie, but Bud stopped him, "Let's see what happens. Stephanie won't let anything happen to them."

They went over to the fence. Stephanie sat Allie on the top rung holding her small hand out with an apple in it like hers. The grey horse hesitated at first but walked slowly over. The horse nuzzled Allie's hand, and then the apple disappeared. He moved to Stephanie's and did the same thing. Standing still, both mother and daughter were rubbing his nose and neck.

"Walk slowly," Bud instructed Ranger, Julie, and Katie as they approached the fence where Stephanie was standing. "Was Hampton rough with him?"

"He was hard on them all," Tom explained. "He didn't know anything about horses I think."

The grey horse whinnied at the strangers and backed up a step.

Bud held out a hand causing Ranger to stop. Julie and Katie approached carefully and Stephanie motioned for them to hold out their hands with the carrots. Stephanie was talking softly to the large animal and he did come back over. He checked out the girls and gently took the carrots.

Bud stood there as Ranger slowly made his way the last few yards to the fence.

"Carlos, put your hand out," Stephanie told him and put a carrot across the palm. "Come on, Boy, you want it."

The grey horse looked at the Cuban man snorting as he shook his head, grey mane waving. Ranger stood still as Stephanie indicated and the horse took a step closer. One more and his nose were touching Ranger's hand. He snorted again, then finally ate the carrot.

Stephanie was rubbing his soft nose, "See, wasn't that good."

Allie leaned forward slightly and rubbed noses with Ghost, "He's pretty, Mommy."

Ranger turned to say something to Stephanie, she and the girls disappeared.
But he heard squeals of delight. Following the sounds, he walked past the
large red barn which obscured the house. There was a log house with a stone addition. They were looking in the windows on the porch. There were rough cut logs weathered over time. A worn brown color like an old shoe. The mortar and trim were painted the same cream as the stone addition trim. The stones were light colored like limestone with a dark brown flecks. Sensing he was watching, Stephanie turned around. Despite all the imperfections in the log cabin, some of the timbers crooked, inconsistent widths, windows not perfectly square, bubbles in the original glass he could see, it was perfect. He could envision them rocking in the twig chairs holding hands, passing the time. Horses running in the pasture, maybe chickens running through the grass. His green John Deere tractor parked below in the driveway. Even one or two of those miniature goats eating the uncut grass. That was as close to heaven as he could imagine.

Running painted fingernails along the timbers, "This has to be circa 1800,"
Stephanie said.

"Actually 1803," Tom responded. "Would you like to see the inside?" taking
out a key ring.

"Is that OK, Carlos?"

"Babe, we can do whatever we want," knowing he had never stepped inside a
centuries old log cabin.

Bud let out a whistle stepping inside.

The entryway was dark. The house was cool even with the very warm summer
afternoon. Tom flipped a switch and a wrought iron lantern cast a yellow golden glow. There was the usual central staircase to the 2nd floor. A small
hallway led he assumed to the kitchen with doorways on each side. The inside log walls were unplastered, the horizontal logs left natural. Stephanie went to
the right and stiffened. It was a dining room.

"What's wrong, Babe?" Ranger followed her into the room.

"It's a two hundred year old house and someone put modern furniture in it,"
pointing to a round glass top table on a heavy stone like pedestal and cream
colored rattan chairs and a rattan accented baker's rack with expensive
floral patterned dishes. There was mauve wall to wall carpeting.

"Describe to me what it should look like."

Stephanie stood in the room, closed her eyes, slowly turning around, " More
than likely a middle class 18th Century family. A long wooden table, worn
around the edges from the family who had eaten the many meals at the table. Maybe cherry, oak, or pine. The most plentiful wood at the time. It could be painted black. Low, wrap around chairs. Some mismatched. A washstand with holding a big pitcher and bowl. An open hutch filled with pewter and red ware plates, bowls, and mugs. A big braided rag rug on the floor, the edges of the plank flooring showing. Candles and a wrought iron candlier above the table."

He was smiling at the picture Stephanie created.

"Oh my God!" he heard when she walked into the kitchen from the dining room.

The wall between the kitchen and fourth room on the ground floor was mostly
removed creating a big open, eat-in-kitchen. There was a terra cotta tile floor. The cabinets were almost white with blue graining.

Ranger was feeling them.

"Ash, maybe," Stephanie told him.

A large matching island. The countertops were dark blue. The backsplash
above the sink and stove were Mexican tiles of terracotta, blue, and yellow solids and flowers. The appliances were stainless steel and restaurant size. The wall in front of the dining room housed the refrigerator between two floor to
ceiling pantries. A desk was in the corner. A window faced out to the
side yard. A small one above the sink and a large picture window in the dining nook, which overlooked a slight slope and a small pond in the distance. There was a built-in china closet in a small wall area.

"Mommy, there's deers," Allie pointing to five animals. Two does with three young fawns with spots by the pond.

There was a small powder room with laundry off the nook.

Stepping down from the kitchen into the stone addition. The back wall was
glass windows with a large stone fireplace and long chimney in the middle. The windows going all the way up ending with triangular ones at the peak meeting the roof. French doors led outside to a back deck. Window benches lined both sides of the fireplace. White slip covered furniture was gathered in front it. Thick plush carpeting in light beige in the same hue as the stones. Overlooking
the living room was a balcony in the front of the house. Another set of
steps in the front went up to the front room off the entry for a library or
office.

Going up the staircase, there were three normal size bedrooms in the old cabin portion with a modern white bathroom with shower and tub. Only one bedroom had furniture. Walking onto the balcony and through a door was a large bedroom with a bed, chest of drawers, large walk-in closest. A large master
bathroom with Jacuzzi tub and shower. A small workout room was on the
other side of the bedroom. It gave Stephanie the impression it was somewhere
to sleep, not a peaceful area to relax.

"Babe, I love your bedroom. It's elegant and relaxing, but this is plain and boring."

The girls and Bud were roaming through the house. Allie came out of the bathroom, "I had to go potty."

Going back outside, Ranger wanted to check out the barn.

"How many horse stalls?" he asked. "And I understand everything is sold with the farm."

Tom Simon answered, "Fifteen, and yes, everything goes with it." He slid open the large barn door. Ranger blinked and blinked again. Allie wasn't sure what was in there, but went running to Stephanie.

Stephanie and Bud were watching the chestnut Arabians with the girls.

"Mommy," Allie was pulling Stephanie's hand, "it's a 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' car.

Stephanie could see a big smile on Ranger's face. He looked like he was a little boy in a candy store.

"Babe, these come with the farm."

There sitting at one end of the large barn was a white antique roadster.

"I think that's a 1930's Packard," Bud said as he walked around the car whistling.

Tom spoke, "Actually, it's a 1937 Super Eight Convertible."

"It looks like a 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' car," Allie repeated.

Stephanie nodded as she walked around, "It does look something like that, Princess." Her blue eyes got wide, "Do you know what that is?" pointing to a small sports car.

Ranger took a closer look at it and saw the emblem, "Ferrari."

"I think approximately 1964. When I picked out mine, I saw the Ferrari history of cars on the wall."

Stephanie's cell phone was ringing, "Pumpkin!". She hit her speaker button.

"Those are a 1941 Buick Roadmaster Convertible, 1935 Packard Super Eight,1956 Chevrolet Bel Air, and a 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO. Where are you?"

"Looking at horses."

"Those are cars."

Ranger was laughing, "They're included in the purchase of a farm where the horses are, Frank."

"Pumpkin, I want to see them in person."

Ranger's cell phone was ringing and he looked at the caller ID, "Agent Stevens, how much for the everything? Really? Ok, tomorrow at 2. We'll be here."

He no sooner clicked the phone closed when it rang again.

"Poppa, did you get the pictures. At a farm where some horses are up for sale. The whole thing is for sale. A 1935 Packard. At Stephanie's cabin. I will find out. Babe, would you like some more company?"

Stephanie was watching the man she loved. His was smiling and couldn't take his eyes off the Packard Roadster.

"The more the merrier," She told him. "Daddy, can you go to the firehouse and drive the motor home up here. Tommy, Lester, and Bobby are coming. Emilio and Maria are coming to see the cars. Daddy, you should see this grey Arabian! OK, we'll see you soon."

Ranger handed Stephanie his phone. She would call him almost giddy, "Can you give Poppa directions?"

"Hello, Emilio. Yes, he is. If you take Route 78 across from Newark. It will intersect 31 before the Spruce Run State Park exit. Get off at the exit past Spruce Run. Follow the signs for Lake Murdock. After crossing the arched bridge, there will be 'Murdock's General Store' on the left. Turn left on the road running directly in front of the store. This is Lake Road. At the 'Y' bear left. After the fourth cabin which is white there will be a gravel drive on the left. Just pull in. We'll have room. We're putting the boys in the motor home I think."

"Babe, can you say a crowd?" he chuckled then let out a groan, "My Momma."