Chapter 1
"Coming soon to your town, Knights of the Round Table!" the announcer proclaimed. Robin Simon cheered from her box seat as Ian and his fellow "Knights" rode around the arena. "Sir Richard, the Green Knight, Sir Percifal the Proud, Sir Ian, the Blue Knight, Sir Eldred, the Black Knight! All these and more, await your pleasure, Knights of the Round Table!"
Once more the foursome reared their horses in the center of the arena, then...
"Cut!" a fierce voice yelled, "Print, ok, that's a wrap until Friday!"
Instantly the riders brought their horses down, and the "crowd" of onlookers, friends, family and casino employees burst into applause.
As the others dismounted, Ian rode to the terrace where Robin waited, blushing as wolf whistles from some of his friends accompanied him. "Don't mind them, honey, they're just jealous I've got the prettiest rooting section!" he grinned, leaning over and giving her a kiss.
"And the loudest!" she laughed, as her brother and Sheriff Rob Gomez waved from the next section.
"Hey, guys, thanks!" he bowed. "Robin, I have to change, then I'm free for the night, do you think the guys would like to have dinner upstairs? It's on me, well, rather on the director!"
"Sure, they were hard at it for their licensing exams over at the convention hall. I bet Robbie could eat two steaks!" she giggled. "Hey, guys, dinner's on Ian!" she yelled, and got a thumbs up from the two Robs'.
"Meet you at the entrance then, sweet!" he said, smiling, then boldly put his arms around her and kissed her. Flushed, she whispered, "See you!"
As her knight galloped off, Robin stared after him, then heard "Robin!"
"What, oh, sorry guys!" she stammered, seeing Robbie's teasing glance.
"Rob, don't rag your sister, I think he's pretty good!" Rob told her, putting an arm around her. "Thanks, Uncle Rob, it's ok, Ian kind of surprised me, that's all!" she beamed, ignoring her brother's snicker.
"Yeah, right, well, come on, before Sir Galahad decides to come back and "surprise" you again!" he teased, then ducked as she whacked him with her program.
After a laugh-filled dinner, at which the three men got along astonishingly well, Rob went to check his messages and Robbie to call his wife. "I'll give you a call before I turn in, Robin, if you talk to Mom and Pop, tell them I'll talk to them later!" he reminded her, letting the other two go ahead. "Night, Rob, thanks again for coming!" Ian told them, seeing him to the restaurant door. "Thanks for the invite, it was good seeing you again, pal!" Rob told him, then quietly added, "You're a lucky guy, Ian, she's a treasure!" "I know, the more I get to know her, and well, all of you, the more I've got to pinch myself!" he admitted.
"Just take care of her, that's all I ask!" the sheriff said paternally, then shook his head as Robbie approached. "What were you doing, giving her curfew!"
"As if! Pop'll probably do it for me!" he laughed. Shaking hands with the young performer, Robbie hesitated, then told him, "I know you really care about my sister, that's why I trust you to keep an eye on her. Just not too late, ok?"
"Don't worry, Robbie, I know you've an early start tomorrow, I don't want anyone falling asleep at the wheel!" he grinned, at the same time appreciating his confidence.
Going back to their table, Ian saw Robin's quizzical look as he approached. "What were those two up to, giving you instructions?" she asked.
"No, actually, making me feel pretty good. I'd forgotten Rob was like a father figure to you two growing up, I feel like I've known him all my life. Your brother was just reminding me that you have an early start in the morning, for that matter so do I." he answered "The video shoot for the commercials is near Grandfather's ranch, so I'm going to stay there instead of in Flagstaff."
"That's great, maybe when you're done you can come up to Phoenix for dinner or something on the following Monday!" she offered, anticipating getting to see him again.
"If you want to, honey, I'll be there!" he promised, then taking her hand, added, "You are the most important person in my life, did you know that? I've learned so much from you, and your family. I just wish I'd had that much back up from my folks growing up, I think I would have grown up soon if I had!"
"Ian, you are grown up, you never would have become so positive and giving with everyone if you hadn't. You just needed someone to show you how wonderful a family can be." she softly told him, then kissed him. "Well, you're my someone, I never want to hurt you or drive you away. I keep thinking of what your mother told me once about sharing, and, well, one of these days I'm going to be able to share everything with you, but only when we're both ready!" he replied.
Embracing, a couple of cat calls interrupted them, and Ian turned to see a couple of his fellow riders waving at the two. "Ok, Ian, I think we'd better call it a night!" Robin sighed, as an embarrassed Whitehorse settled the bill and helped her out of the booth.
Seeing her up to her room, Ian held Robin in his arms and kissed her in the empty hallway, then admitted, "I'd like to come in, but I don't think you'd get such an early start if I did!"
"You're right, besides, I have a feeling my brother and Rob might just check on me, I know Mom will have asked them to if not Pop!" she giggled.
Unlocking her door and seeing her in, the two kissed again, then she promised, "I'll call you when I get in tomorrow, we're having a barbeque for our friends, but I'll try to reach you before you go on."
"It's a plan, talk to you tomorrow!" he embraced her. As she watched him go down the corridor, neither of them noticed a figure standing in the window alcove.
As she closed her suite door and locked it, the watcher crept down the hall and disappeared, but not before Robbie had opened his door to leave a room service tray out and spotted the man.
Waiting a minute, the deputy closed his door and going back inside, knocked
on the connecting door to his sisters' room.
"Robin, are you in?" he called softly, feeling uneasy.
"Yes, Robbie, just a minute!" she replied, annoyed that he was already checking on her. Opening the door, she was startled when he came in and closing the door, hugged her. "What is it, Rob, is something wrong?"
"I don't know, I opened my door to put my tray out and there was someone watching your door. He was in the window alcove, then he took off down the emergency stairs." he answered, peering out her door. Seeing no one outside, he locked up.
"I wonder who it was, what did he look like, Rob?" she asked, grabbing a glass and filling it with some water. "Never saw him before, older guy, dark hair. Is Ian having trouble with anybody in the cast, maybe someone wants his job?" he added, taking the water from his sister.
"Not that he told me, a couple of the guys were giving me the wolf treatment after you and Rob left, but we just ignored them." she said.
"Maybe we'll leave the connecting door open tonight, I know there's probably an explanation, but better safe then sorry! "Robbie decided.
Just then the phone rang, and checking the caller id, Robin breathed a sigh of relief. "Hey, Pop, how's it going?" she answered. "We're good, how did the shoot go?" Rick asked, grinning at his wife.
"Good for 23 takes!" she laughed, "You and Mom would have gone nuts! Is everything ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes, your uncles caught some more fresh water trout when they went to the Lake with the Chief, and Steve flew in some shrimp on ice, so, we've got something for everybody for tomorrow. Listen, what time are you two leaving, you know the traffic's going to be crazy!" their father told them.
"I think eight o'clock, let me have you talk to Robbie then I'll say good night to you and Mom." Robin replied.
There was a pause, then "Hi, Pop, I heard the menu's getting bigger for tomorrow!" his son teased.
"Yes, son, you know your Mother, well, heck it's me too. It's going to be a great party, I can hardly wait for you two to see the decorations and stuff we got!" Rick smiled. "I told your sister the traffic's supposed to be rough with the end of summer stuff and all, what time are you guys leaving?"
"We're meeting Rob downstairs at eight, we'll make a pit for breakfast after we hit state line. Do you and Mom need anything picked up along the way?" Robbie offered.
"I think we're ok, wait a minute, Rob, remember that outfit you saw in the Holiday shop?" Rick lowered his voice, seeing Laurie out of the room for a moment. "Yeah, I think Robin picked it up." his son remembered, then turned and saw a thumbs up from his sister.
"That's a yes, Pop! Wait 'til she sees it, I think Mom'll be surprised when instead of just a card and cake like she expects, it's gift time!" he laughed.
"Thanks, son, now your mother wants to say good night to you and Robin, so you can get some shut eye!" he said, feeling a poke from his wife. "Drive careful and I'll look for you around noon." "Ok, Pop, say, something strange happened tonight, probably nothing but, well, there was someone watching Robin when she came in tonight." Robbie told his father briefly what he saw, then the two of them agreed it was probably nothing.
Nonetheless, Rick made a mental note to call Rob Gomez and have him check on his children before he turned in.
"Good night, Pop, love you!" Robbie said, then got on the phone with his mother.
Once their children were wished good night, Rick called the sheriff and closed up for the night, still ticking off the items yet to be completed for the thank you/end of summer barbeque. As he and Laurie had planned back at the end of June, when the help of their family and friends had meant so much, this party was a special thank you and celebration for everyone from Temple and Downtown Brown to Captain Ron and Captain James from Santa Barbara.
Seeing Laurie putting Mike in the kitchen and closing the door, he marveled at how his heart flipped every time he saw her. To him she was still his childhood sweetheart, the one who believed in him no matter what. "Come to bed, darlin', we've got a long day manana!" he said, going over and putting his arms around her.
"Yes, Rick, I want you to sleep in tomorrow a little. Everything's ready, I'll even make you breakfast in bed, darling, how's that!" she teased, kissing him. "Ok, sweetheart, just as long as I have time for a little," he picked her up and kissed her back," eye-opener!"
Giggling as Rick carried her to bed, she let him take her robe off and put her between the sheets. As he climbed in next to her, Laurie cuddled against him and whispered, 'for that matter, how about a nightcap?"
"Coming soon to your town, Knights of the Round Table!" the announcer proclaimed. Robin Simon cheered from her box seat as Ian and his fellow "Knights" rode around the arena. "Sir Richard, the Green Knight, Sir Percifal the Proud, Sir Ian, the Blue Knight, Sir Eldred, the Black Knight! All these and more, await your pleasure, Knights of the Round Table!"
Once more the foursome reared their horses in the center of the arena, then...
"Cut!" a fierce voice yelled, "Print, ok, that's a wrap until Friday!"
Instantly the riders brought their horses down, and the "crowd" of onlookers, friends, family and casino employees burst into applause.
As the others dismounted, Ian rode to the terrace where Robin waited, blushing as wolf whistles from some of his friends accompanied him. "Don't mind them, honey, they're just jealous I've got the prettiest rooting section!" he grinned, leaning over and giving her a kiss.
"And the loudest!" she laughed, as her brother and Sheriff Rob Gomez waved from the next section.
"Hey, guys, thanks!" he bowed. "Robin, I have to change, then I'm free for the night, do you think the guys would like to have dinner upstairs? It's on me, well, rather on the director!"
"Sure, they were hard at it for their licensing exams over at the convention hall. I bet Robbie could eat two steaks!" she giggled. "Hey, guys, dinner's on Ian!" she yelled, and got a thumbs up from the two Robs'.
"Meet you at the entrance then, sweet!" he said, smiling, then boldly put his arms around her and kissed her. Flushed, she whispered, "See you!"
As her knight galloped off, Robin stared after him, then heard "Robin!"
"What, oh, sorry guys!" she stammered, seeing Robbie's teasing glance.
"Rob, don't rag your sister, I think he's pretty good!" Rob told her, putting an arm around her. "Thanks, Uncle Rob, it's ok, Ian kind of surprised me, that's all!" she beamed, ignoring her brother's snicker.
"Yeah, right, well, come on, before Sir Galahad decides to come back and "surprise" you again!" he teased, then ducked as she whacked him with her program.
After a laugh-filled dinner, at which the three men got along astonishingly well, Rob went to check his messages and Robbie to call his wife. "I'll give you a call before I turn in, Robin, if you talk to Mom and Pop, tell them I'll talk to them later!" he reminded her, letting the other two go ahead. "Night, Rob, thanks again for coming!" Ian told them, seeing him to the restaurant door. "Thanks for the invite, it was good seeing you again, pal!" Rob told him, then quietly added, "You're a lucky guy, Ian, she's a treasure!" "I know, the more I get to know her, and well, all of you, the more I've got to pinch myself!" he admitted.
"Just take care of her, that's all I ask!" the sheriff said paternally, then shook his head as Robbie approached. "What were you doing, giving her curfew!"
"As if! Pop'll probably do it for me!" he laughed. Shaking hands with the young performer, Robbie hesitated, then told him, "I know you really care about my sister, that's why I trust you to keep an eye on her. Just not too late, ok?"
"Don't worry, Robbie, I know you've an early start tomorrow, I don't want anyone falling asleep at the wheel!" he grinned, at the same time appreciating his confidence.
Going back to their table, Ian saw Robin's quizzical look as he approached. "What were those two up to, giving you instructions?" she asked.
"No, actually, making me feel pretty good. I'd forgotten Rob was like a father figure to you two growing up, I feel like I've known him all my life. Your brother was just reminding me that you have an early start in the morning, for that matter so do I." he answered "The video shoot for the commercials is near Grandfather's ranch, so I'm going to stay there instead of in Flagstaff."
"That's great, maybe when you're done you can come up to Phoenix for dinner or something on the following Monday!" she offered, anticipating getting to see him again.
"If you want to, honey, I'll be there!" he promised, then taking her hand, added, "You are the most important person in my life, did you know that? I've learned so much from you, and your family. I just wish I'd had that much back up from my folks growing up, I think I would have grown up soon if I had!"
"Ian, you are grown up, you never would have become so positive and giving with everyone if you hadn't. You just needed someone to show you how wonderful a family can be." she softly told him, then kissed him. "Well, you're my someone, I never want to hurt you or drive you away. I keep thinking of what your mother told me once about sharing, and, well, one of these days I'm going to be able to share everything with you, but only when we're both ready!" he replied.
Embracing, a couple of cat calls interrupted them, and Ian turned to see a couple of his fellow riders waving at the two. "Ok, Ian, I think we'd better call it a night!" Robin sighed, as an embarrassed Whitehorse settled the bill and helped her out of the booth.
Seeing her up to her room, Ian held Robin in his arms and kissed her in the empty hallway, then admitted, "I'd like to come in, but I don't think you'd get such an early start if I did!"
"You're right, besides, I have a feeling my brother and Rob might just check on me, I know Mom will have asked them to if not Pop!" she giggled.
Unlocking her door and seeing her in, the two kissed again, then she promised, "I'll call you when I get in tomorrow, we're having a barbeque for our friends, but I'll try to reach you before you go on."
"It's a plan, talk to you tomorrow!" he embraced her. As she watched him go down the corridor, neither of them noticed a figure standing in the window alcove.
As she closed her suite door and locked it, the watcher crept down the hall and disappeared, but not before Robbie had opened his door to leave a room service tray out and spotted the man.
Waiting a minute, the deputy closed his door and going back inside, knocked
on the connecting door to his sisters' room.
"Robin, are you in?" he called softly, feeling uneasy.
"Yes, Robbie, just a minute!" she replied, annoyed that he was already checking on her. Opening the door, she was startled when he came in and closing the door, hugged her. "What is it, Rob, is something wrong?"
"I don't know, I opened my door to put my tray out and there was someone watching your door. He was in the window alcove, then he took off down the emergency stairs." he answered, peering out her door. Seeing no one outside, he locked up.
"I wonder who it was, what did he look like, Rob?" she asked, grabbing a glass and filling it with some water. "Never saw him before, older guy, dark hair. Is Ian having trouble with anybody in the cast, maybe someone wants his job?" he added, taking the water from his sister.
"Not that he told me, a couple of the guys were giving me the wolf treatment after you and Rob left, but we just ignored them." she said.
"Maybe we'll leave the connecting door open tonight, I know there's probably an explanation, but better safe then sorry! "Robbie decided.
Just then the phone rang, and checking the caller id, Robin breathed a sigh of relief. "Hey, Pop, how's it going?" she answered. "We're good, how did the shoot go?" Rick asked, grinning at his wife.
"Good for 23 takes!" she laughed, "You and Mom would have gone nuts! Is everything ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes, your uncles caught some more fresh water trout when they went to the Lake with the Chief, and Steve flew in some shrimp on ice, so, we've got something for everybody for tomorrow. Listen, what time are you two leaving, you know the traffic's going to be crazy!" their father told them.
"I think eight o'clock, let me have you talk to Robbie then I'll say good night to you and Mom." Robin replied.
There was a pause, then "Hi, Pop, I heard the menu's getting bigger for tomorrow!" his son teased.
"Yes, son, you know your Mother, well, heck it's me too. It's going to be a great party, I can hardly wait for you two to see the decorations and stuff we got!" Rick smiled. "I told your sister the traffic's supposed to be rough with the end of summer stuff and all, what time are you guys leaving?"
"We're meeting Rob downstairs at eight, we'll make a pit for breakfast after we hit state line. Do you and Mom need anything picked up along the way?" Robbie offered.
"I think we're ok, wait a minute, Rob, remember that outfit you saw in the Holiday shop?" Rick lowered his voice, seeing Laurie out of the room for a moment. "Yeah, I think Robin picked it up." his son remembered, then turned and saw a thumbs up from his sister.
"That's a yes, Pop! Wait 'til she sees it, I think Mom'll be surprised when instead of just a card and cake like she expects, it's gift time!" he laughed.
"Thanks, son, now your mother wants to say good night to you and Robin, so you can get some shut eye!" he said, feeling a poke from his wife. "Drive careful and I'll look for you around noon." "Ok, Pop, say, something strange happened tonight, probably nothing but, well, there was someone watching Robin when she came in tonight." Robbie told his father briefly what he saw, then the two of them agreed it was probably nothing.
Nonetheless, Rick made a mental note to call Rob Gomez and have him check on his children before he turned in.
"Good night, Pop, love you!" Robbie said, then got on the phone with his mother.
Once their children were wished good night, Rick called the sheriff and closed up for the night, still ticking off the items yet to be completed for the thank you/end of summer barbeque. As he and Laurie had planned back at the end of June, when the help of their family and friends had meant so much, this party was a special thank you and celebration for everyone from Temple and Downtown Brown to Captain Ron and Captain James from Santa Barbara.
Seeing Laurie putting Mike in the kitchen and closing the door, he marveled at how his heart flipped every time he saw her. To him she was still his childhood sweetheart, the one who believed in him no matter what. "Come to bed, darlin', we've got a long day manana!" he said, going over and putting his arms around her.
"Yes, Rick, I want you to sleep in tomorrow a little. Everything's ready, I'll even make you breakfast in bed, darling, how's that!" she teased, kissing him. "Ok, sweetheart, just as long as I have time for a little," he picked her up and kissed her back," eye-opener!"
Giggling as Rick carried her to bed, she let him take her robe off and put her between the sheets. As he climbed in next to her, Laurie cuddled against him and whispered, 'for that matter, how about a nightcap?"