Don't own Chuck
Sam ran down to the paddock as fast as her two legs would carry her. When she got there, she climbed up on the fence to watched them off load Lord Nelson. Alicia stood off to the side until Sam called to her. Alicia told her father she'd be over with Sam if he needed her. He nodded but he wasn't paying any attention. He was more concerned about getting the horse safely out of the trailer. A simple scratch and infection could turn a million-dollar horse into Alpo.
"How'd things go at the race," asked Sam as Alicia walked over to her. Alicia just shrugged her shoulders but she could see Sam was bubbling over.
"It went well… we won but something strange happened. Her Majesty has decided not to auction off Lord Nelson tomorrow. I can't help think this has something to do with our conversation the other day?"
"You'd have to ask Chuck about that but I've got some news too. I went into the woods as soon as everyone left and I found them."
"You found them who? You know you shouldn't go into the woods by yourself. Bad things happen to little girls in the woods. Just look at Little Red Riding Hood or Hansen and Gretel."
"Then how do you explain Masha and the bear. If Masha hadn't gone into the woods she would've never met bear."
"How can I argue against logic like that," said Alicia as she shook her head. "Okay, I'm game what did you find?"
"I found where Mrs. Boss lives with her two baby Bosses. I spent a few hours playing with them before I came back. But you can't tell anyone because they don't know I snuck off."
"You found the coyote den with two pups and the mother let you play with them? Are you sure they're well? You know you could've been bitten or worse."
"Well at first she wasn't too happy to see me. She did get in front of me and did some growling but that was just a misunderstanding. Boss came out of nowhere and got between us. He told her something in coyote then everything was okay. I brought some biscuits along and fed them. I named one Alicia and the other Sam," said Sam. The more she take to more excited he got.
"Do you even know if they're male or female? You know what you did was very dangerous and by rights I should tell your parents."
"But if you do then I won't be able to take you. You can see for yourself that there's nothing to worry about. They're just like puppies and they love to play. When I tried to leave one grabbed me on the back of my skirt and tried to pull me back."
"I've never been around puppies before. My dad would never let me have one because they scare the horses. I can't believe I'm going to go along with this crazy idea of yours… but okay I'm in."
"Good we should get up early feed Boss then after breakfast when everyone is busy doing something we can go. They'll never miss us then when we come back we can tell them we went for a walk and time slipped away."
"I don't know whether to be impressed with your ability to fabricate lies or taken a back with the way you concocted this whole scheme without batting an eye."
"Let's go with the first one but lies is such a bad word. Can't we go with alternative facts? That sounds much better."
"Okay have it your way so we'll make our move after breakfast. That will be good for me Dad is going to go to the auction."
"Good then it's a plan. You should see the little ones they are super cute and cuddly. Mrs. Boss keeps then in line but you can tell they're a handful."
"They sound like someone else I know," said Alicia as she looked at Sam. "You should've brought a camera along and taken some photos."
"I didn't think about it. I'll grab one tomorrow before we go and that way we can document our adventure together."
"What are you two up to," said Roscoe walking over. "Lord Nelson is in his stall and your father is giving him a rub down. He told me to tell you that if you want you can go up to the house now. Sam, where's your father at? Clive wants to talk to him."
"He had to make a conference call but that was a while ago. He's probably inside trying to contact Mommy. If I were you I'd start with the kitchen, then go up to our room."
"Why does Dad want to talk with him," said Alicia. "Does this have to do with why her Majesty decided not to auction off Lord Nelson?"
"I really don't know. He just asked me to tell Chuck he wanted to talk to him and that was it," said Roscoe as he opened the paddock gate then walked out but as he closed the gate a car came driving down the dusty drive towards the farm. "It looks like your mother's home."
"That's not my mommy," said Sam. "That's a sedan Mommy and Uncle Casey left in an SUV. I could tell you the make and model if you want?"
"You can really do that," whispered Alicia but Sam smiled then shook her head.
"Of course not, I'm five and a half years old. Who do you take me for? But he doesn't know it," said Sam as they watch the vehicle rapidly approach then turn off near the bunkhouse. Sean got out then turned and kissed the driver. He stood there for a few minutes watching the car drive off.
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[A few minutes before]
"You take this next exit off Seventy-one then continue all the way back to the end. The farm is at the end of the drive."
"This leads all the way back to nowhere," said Gladys as she started driving down the backroad. "How far back is it… I mean in time to get there?"
"That sounds like you want to get rid of me or something?" said Sean as the car hit a couple of good sized potholes. "I hope you didn't that your oil pan out on that one."
"That was a big one… Look I don't want to get rid of you. We could work out a deal with my sister if you want to spend the night with me again."
"No, we talked about this and I really think this is for the best solution. Although I'm probably going to have to take a cold shower as soon as I get back."
"I appreciate what you're trying to prove but I want you to know that it's not necessary. This won't change the way I feel about you one way or the other. You are still mine."
"I appreciate that but I need to prove to you that I'm more than just a pretty face," he said as he laughed.
"I wouldn't think that although you do have a pretty face. It's one of the adorable things that I first noticed about you."
"Thank you, we should almost be there by now," he said. In the distance they could make out the farm. "You really weren't lying about it being in the middle of nowhere."
"I know see what I mean. You can pull in over there," said Sean as he pointed out a building next to the barn. "That's the bunkhouse where I'm staying," he said as she pulled up.
"Let me get Chuck so he can meet you. Do you mind waiting here for a few minutes while I go run up to the farmhouse and get him?"
"That's sweet of you but I need to go check on my sister," said Gladys as she made up her story for Sean and he fell for it.
"Okay then another time. I'll introduce you to him at the Gala," said Sean as he got out of the car. He turn around then leaned on her rolled down window. "Hey, you're not going to disappear on me now?"
"No of course not, where's this coming from? You where the one who wanted to separate. I've been telling you that you could come over."
"I know it's just… well a sudden feeling of insecurity but I'm over it now. You go on and I'll see you tomorrow," said Sean as he leaned back inside and kissed her.
"This is your last chance until we see each other tomorrow?"
"Get thee behind me Satan," said Sean as he smiled at her. "Go or I'll jump back inside then we'll really scare your sister if she walks in on us."
"I don't hardly think so," said Gladys as she turned around and started to leave. "I think it might be the other way around if you walk in on the two of us." She drove back out the drive making a visual map in her head.
"It's done, I've seen the location," said Gladys as she put in her earbud while driving. "It's completely isolated."
"Then we could park at the beginning of the drive hike back do the hit then hike back out again. If we do this right no one will know what happened until we're long gone."
"That would be one way to handle this and then another way would be we wait for the night of the Gala. You hike in the farm like what you just said but I'll ride back in with Sean. We'll come back for a nightcap or a walk under the moonlight. Anyway, somehow I go back with him then you and I do everyone then. That way we're guaranteed that everyone will be there. From there we're gone on the first flight out of her to somewhere the temperature is always warm and the beaches sunny."
"Now you're talking my kind of place," radioed Louise. "Someplace where they serve drinks with those little umbrellas in them."
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Gladys was still talking to Louise on the radio when a black Discovery passed her on the drive back to the main road. The tinted glass made it impossible for her to see in. But Sarah noticed Gladys as she and Casey returned home from their mission both hungry and tired.
"I wonder who that was," said Sarah as she looked at the car in her side mirror after they passed her. "There can't be that much vehicle traffic on this road."
"That must've been Sean's main squeeze," said Casey. Sarah gave him a look. "What? She is and she didn't wait very long to let him round all her bases before making it to home plate."
"She might be the type who doesn't believe in waiting around. She liked him and he liked her so why wait."
"You know they've got names for women who… as you say don't believe in waiting around... but you know come to think of it they usually do their waiting under streetlights and on corners."
"John, I'm too tired to get mad at you but there are names they call men who frequent women like the ones you just described 'John'."
"Whatever," said John. He was quiet for a few minutes the started again. "I'm just saying this whole thing smells. I think someone should take a good look into this woman and see if she checks out. It can't hurt."
"Well his role is over now but if you think we should dig into this woman's background and it's for a purely professional nature. Not that you're trying to get even for anything Sean might have done to you like flattening your tires..."
"Don't remind me or when I see him we won't have to do a background check on her because Sean will be dead. But of course this is purely professional."
"I'm sure it is... well if you want to then go knock yourself out. I know you're going to do it even if I tell you not to so maybe it's better this way."
"That was exactly what I was thinking..."
"And again… I'm sure you were."
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Not too far away Major Moore was sitting down for a late tea with Nigel and Natasha. It got late because Nigel wanted to follow behind the Queen and observe her as she worked the crowd. Now that they were back Natasha threw together a quick tea. She was explaining the sandwiches on the cart as they took their seats.
"I'm sorry if I this is a little Spartan but I did the best I could with the time and material I had available. On the cart you'll find on the first tier cucumber sandwiches, one the second ham and pea and on the top Marmite as well as Cheddar and pickle."
"It looks lovely," said Nigel as Natasha got the teapot and began serving tea. "You've done a wonderful job. This is my fault for staying so late."
"Well it would've been easier if we'd brought Godfrey with us. But I'll make do and it was nice to watch the horses run."
"Yes, it was but I'd like to know what went on in her Majesty's audience with that Chuck person. Then she decides to not auction off her horse. That was just unfair I wanted to buy him. He would've made a majestic steed for me."
"A horse like that is bred to run. He wouldn't be a very good horse to mount every day. However, he would make good breeding stock."
"See right there was what I was talking about," said Nigel as he took a sip of his tea. Natasha and the Major looked at him. "What? This is a little hot. Let me try one of your cucumber and butter sandwiches."
"I made this with the cucumbers I found here. I should warn you they aren't English cucumbers. They taste a little more like cucumber than ours do."
"No bad but you're right. They certainly have more seeds," said Nigel as he examined the contents of his sandwich. "Try one Major and give us your opinion."
"I'm not much on cucumbers. I'm more a Cheddar fan," said the Major as he ate a Cheddar and pickle sandwich on rye. "These are excellent."
"I'm glad you like them," said Natasha. She was satisfied that she had succeeded in her goal of being a good hostess.
As they were finishing there was a knock at the door followed by one of the Major's men who walked inside. He immediately went over to the Major and whispered something in his ear. The Major looked over at Nigel as he waved to man to leave. However, Nigel wasn't one to be left out of the loop.
"Can you wait a minute," said Nigel. "Is there something going on I need to know," he asked as he looked at the two of them.
"There was an incident over at the other farm a little while ago. One of the security lights went out so they sent extra sentries out on our ATVs to cover the grounds. Standard security procedures you know when the lights go out … a plan B if you like… a backup of sorts to cover the hole in our security array."
"So what does all this mean? Are you telling me we had intruders over there? Did they do a head count of our guests. Do we need to take any special precautions here?"
"We don't know. The farmhouse was never breached but I'm going to go over now and see what happened. Three of our ATVs wouldn't start… only one did; however, it seems the driver had a tire blowout on him on his way to his assigned station and got thrown off."
"We should interrogate him and see if he saw anyone or anything. It seems a little strange that three ATVs wouldn't start and the one that did had an accident."
"Well accidents do happen and if someone did sabotage the three ATVs why didn't he or she sabotage all four. Why leave one that could start? I don't know it just doesn't make much sense to me. We should be talking to this driver."
"That will be a little difficult to do because he broke his neck when he got thrown. Let me go over and see what happened. I'll let you know what I find out when I get back."
"Very well but I want to know straight away. This whole thing sounds a little strange to me," said Nigel. The Major got up excused himself then left.
"More tea," asked Natasha as she got up and went to the tea cart. "What do you make of this," she said as she brought the teapot over.
"You should let me do that. How is your shoulder," he said as he got up and took it from her. "Your shoulder will never heal if you keep using it and don't insist. Let me serve you for a change."
"You shouldn't do this or I might get used to it," said Natasha as Nigel poured her tea then brought over the sandwich tree for her.
"The Major was right. The Cheddar and pickle sandwiches are good," said Nigel as he put the sandwich tree back on the tea cart.
"You haven't answered my question yet what do you make of this?" asked Natasha as she took a sip of her tea looking at him over the top of it.
"I don't know I'm going to wait for the Major to return but it just dawned on me Billy Bob didn't show up today. He sent his man in his vice. I just wonder if he isn't up to something."
"Do you think he's capable of doing something like this to us? The man seems like he was born without a spine if you ask me."
"That's what I think or thought too but now I'm not so sure. He could be acting but if he is he deserves an Emmy for his performance. However, I can't rule it out."
"It wouldn't hurt to give him a ring and rattle his cage a little," said Natasha. "You know just to but some fear into him."
"You're right," said Nigel. He pulled out his phone and dialed Billy Bob. He put the call on speaker then sat it down on the table. It rang and rang then finally there was a click then a pause. "Billy Bob, it's me Nigel Bishop…"
"I'm sorry but Billy Bob is indisposed at the moment," said LeRoy. "Remember I told you about his cold at the track."
"He's too ill to talk with me? I need to talk with him now. It's important so you can go and drag him out of bed then put him on the line."
"I would if I could but the doctor gave him sleeping medicine and now he's dead to the world. But if you want you can leave a message with me. I'll see to it that he gets it. Maybe it's something I can do for you?"
"Maybe, there was a possible intruder at the farm. I need for your boss to shake the tree of your organization and see if anyone has decided to take action into their own hands."
"I really doubt that but I'll check… naturally after I talk to Billy Bob and get the go ahead from him. But consider it done."
"I don't care how it's done I just want it done," said Nigel then he hung up without waiting for LeRoy to answer. "That should light a fire under him."
[Meanwhile on the farm]
The Major drove up with his man. He got out and was taken over to where they had their man laid out. The rest of the men were standing around the body holding a type of wake passing a bottle around. As soon as the Major showed up one of the men passed him the bottle so he took a hit then passed it on.
"Now can someone tell me what the heck happened here," said the Major. He went over and examined the body. The head laid at a strange unnatural angle. "No bullet holes but definitely a broken neck."
"He took off up there past the field and had the accident in the pasture. There are some pretty nasty ruts up in it that are dangerous during the day let alone in the dark and with a flat tire."
"Where's the ATV at? I want to see this tire," said the Major. One of the men took him to the shed where other men were working on the other three trying to get them to run. "Have we figured out what's wrong with those three?"
"Two have gummed up carburetors and the other one had water in the petrol tank. That one we'll have up and running soon the other two won't be running anytime soon."
"I'll get our man here get us some replacements. So let me see that tire," said the Major. The took him to the ATV.
"It got pretty busted up when it rolled. We're going to cannibalize it for replacement parts. I can take the carburetor off and get on of the other ATVs up and running so we'll have to functioning. Here's the tire," said the man as he handed the Major the shredded tire. The Major took it and just shook his head then he took out his phone.
"It's me. I just looked over the ATV and will it could've been an accident but I'm not convinced. You need to contact Billy Bob and have him get us two ATVs as replacements. … You already talked to him and got LeRoy instead. … That is strange."
