Chapter 2
Split
--
"…at the Ranch! Everybody file up in the correct order by the bus!"
Kris's eyes popped open, realizing she fell asleep on the bus. Trying to rub the sleep out of her eyes, the sergeant's voice blared through her ears, "Let's move it Furillo!"
Kris, tired as she was, snapped out of her seat, robotically replied, "Yes, ma'am." and quickly filed out of the bus with the others.
Stepping off the bus, Kris noticed this was the first time she'd ever been on a ranch. It was also the first time she realized how big it was.
Several scents washed over her. Many were flattering, and many were not. Kris wasn't used to this. She was used to the more claustrophobic places, like an alley in the city, or the compactness of her cell and such. This was by far different.
Kris lined up in alphabetical order, which for her was behind Courtney. It wasn't a long wait until everyone had filed out of the bus and into the line for a quick attendance check. The colored female sergeant in charge soon ran through the list of rules all must follow during their stay; stick with the group, don't touch anything unless they're told, listen to the speaker, be respectful… 'blah blah blah' is how Kris's head translated the words.
Quickly getting bored with the sergeant's monotone voice, Kris began gazing around her surroundings. She saw stables, horses, workers, some stables, tools and equipment, and…
Unintentionally, her eyes locked with someone, a man walking a brownish-black horse to what she assumed was it's stall. Minus the lack of height, he looked to be in his thirties. His well-shaven goatee gave him a kind of roguish look along with his well-tanned skin. She could see his eyes stare back at her, under his cowboy hat, as if meeting her challenge.
"Furillo, did you hear me?"
Kris's head snapped back to the current situation. "Uh, wuh… yes, ma'am?" was the only response she could think of.
Thumbs hanging from her belt loops, the sergeant asked impatiently, "Can you state the last few words I said?"
Feeling the eyes of everyone on her, her cheeks flushed, "No, ma'am." She said just loud enough so she wouldn't have to repeat it.
Eyeing Kris, she asked, "Who can help out Ms. Furillo?"
One girl, short and in the front, raised her hand. The sergeant nodded to her.
"Ma'am, you stated that we'd be touring the stables, and we should walk in twos." She said, her voice a bit too acknowledging and proud.
"Very good, Haley." The sergeant nodded in approval and turned to lead the group.
"Suck-up…" Kris mumbled softly so only she could hear it. She looked back at to whom she was staring at before being distracted only to notice that he had left. 'Hmph,' she thought, 'the sucky sweatshirt labeled Camp Lagrange probably scared him off.'
Their single-file line separated into two shorter lines as the followed the sergeant and their tour-guide. Kris, now standing next to Courtney, overheard someone behind her. "Ok, count to five, we split."
That caused Kris to once in her step. 'Split? Kris became horribly tempted to turn her head and see who spoke those words but strained to keep her neck straight. Mentally, though, she counted to five in her head. Nervously, Kris shoved her hands in her pockets and fidgeted with the pocket lints.
In a moment, Kris heard fast yet stealthy footsteps make a break for it from behind her. This time she couldn't help but turn her head. Two girls had runoff, then another went with them. Looking to her left, and realizing it was Courtney that went with them, Kris hesitantly checked and made sure her sergeant wasn't looking, and ran off after the three runaways.
--
-To be honest, I'm not so sure if the person really is a 'sergeant' or not, but you know what I mean, right?
R&R please, I'll give you a virtual cookie.