Dream About Me: An HM64 Fanfic

Chapter Three: Green Ranch

Ann spent the rest of the day showing Popuri around the ranch. It was far larger than Popuri had realized, even larger than Jack's farm. The two girls ended the tour in the barn, where Ann showed Popuri where the barn cat had hidden her litter of kittens in the sweet-smelling hay. The girls spent a long time playing with the kittens, talking and laughing all the while. By the end of the day, they were better friends than they had been, and Popuri was glad of it. It would make her stay at the Grren Ranch much easier.

Although they had gone all over the farm, Popuri still hadn't seen any sign of Gray. When they returned to the house, Popuri saw that her bags had been moved into her room, and she remembered Ann saying that Gray would do that for her. Popuir washed up and was just about to go downstairs for dinner, when she remembered something.

Ann was a lousy cook.

"I have to eat her cooking for a whole year?" Popuri thought. "No wonder Gray is always so cranky." She giggled, and felt better as she went downstairs.

Ann, and Gray were already seated, and Doug was carrying a pot to the table. Doug set the pot down and held Popuri's chair out for her. She smiled at him, and sat down. There was stew in the pot, and it smelled heavenly. Popuri's stomach growled.

"Who cooked the stew?" she asked.

"I did," Doug said, chuckling a little. He ladeled some stew into Popuri's dish. "Gray and I do all the cooking around here, and I've gotten pretty good at it, if I do say so myself."

'That's great! I'm so relieved!"Popuri blurted out. She gasped when she realized what she had said,and clapped her hand over her mouth. Doug burst out laughing.

"My cooking isn't that bad, is it?" Ann asked, but she was grinning when she said it. Only Gray did not laugh; he just tugged at the brim of his cap and ate his stew in silence.

Popuri woke early the next morning. Unlike many people she didn't have any trouble falling asleep in a strange bed, but fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. When she awoke she was bursting with energy. She washed up, changed and went downstairs. Someone was already awake and she could smell sausages cooking. Stomach growling, Popuri walked into the kitchen and saw Gray standing at the stove.

"Good morning!" Popuri said. She peered over his shoulder to see what he was cooking. "PANCAKES!" she squealed, and clapped her hands. "I LOVE pancakes!"

"Okay," Gray mumbled.

"Pancakes are my favorite breakfast," she said. Gray didn't say anything, but Popuri didn't expect him to. "I even have them for dinner sometimes!

Gray placed a plate of pancakes in front of her. Popuri was so eager to taste the pancakes that didn't even pour syrup on them. She cut off a piece and popped it in her mouth. Her face lit up.

"Its really good!" she exclaimed. Gray handed her the syrup.

Popuri discovered another good thing about Green Ranch that day...It was very close to Jack's farm. Popuri paid him a visit that same afternoon, following Jack around as he did his chores. She chattered away as she did, saying whatever nonsense popped into her head. Finally Jack had enough.

"Please, Popuri, I've got a headache...can you just, um, be quiet?" Jack said.

Popuri blushed. "I'm sorry," she said.

"No, its okay; you don't have to apologize or anything. Just...don't talk so much,"

Jack got the quiet he wanted, but it was an awkward one. Several times he started to say something, then stopped, because it seemed hypocritical of him. Then he had an idea; he beckoned for Popuri to follow him, and led her to a small patch of seedlings. Popuri's eyes lit up and she knelt down to get a better look.

"These are pink cat mint seedlings!" she exclaimed.

Jack blushed. "Well, I knew you liked flowers..."

"Thank you, Jack!" Popuri looked around her. "Gee, it sure is getting dark. I should be getting back to the Green Ranch..."

"Okay, Popuri, "Jack smiled, "Feel free to visit whenever you want!"

Jack walked Popuri to the gate, and held it open for her. Then, to her surprise, shut it between them, with her outside and him inside. Jack gave a little wave and headed back to his house. Popuri waved back weakly, but as soon as Jack was out of sight, she curled her hand into a tight fist. Some gentleman he was! Sure it was only a little ways to go, but that wasn't the point. He should've walked her home. Popuri remembered that the time she had helped him carry his seeds home, he hadn't excorted her home then either. By the time she got to the Green Ranch, she was fuming! Stupid old Jack. See if she ever paid him a visit ever again.

As she neared the barn, Popuri heard a strange sound. It sounded like a cow was in pain. She hesitated, then started to walk to the house when she heard the sound again. This time, she knew she could ignore the sound, even though she had no idea what she could do to help a sick cow.