Title: The Stranger

By: greygoose70

Chapter Five

The next morning after breakfast, after Brent returned from the Wilson farm, they got to work on removing the Challengers tranny. As they dug into the guts of it that's when Marlowe discovered its weakness. It was factory stock not equipped to handle the horsepower of the motor, he needed to beef it up and he knew just where to get the parts and it was not that far from his current location, he could probably have the parts in a couple days. They continued with the disassembly, cleaning parts, and laying them out in a logical order on the worktable finishing up just in time for lunch.

The Sanderson Ranch

Nick Blackwell stood at the doorway of his bosses' office and knocked receiving a "come in" from his boss, Carson Pierce. "What do you need Nick," he asked after Nick entered and took a seat. Blackwell proceeded to tell Pierce about the stranger with the car trouble. "Has he done anything that gives you reason he might be trouble for us?" Pierce inquired. "No," Blackwell responded, "but his appearance at this time when we're getting so close to completing phase one seems strange."

"Let's just keep watch on him for now if things change, we'll look at doing something then, okay."

"Yes sir, I'll see that it's taken care of," then getting up to leave.

The Garage

Having done all, they could do with the car, Marlowe not being able to order the parts they required till the next day, they sent the remainder of the day drinking beer and telling war stories so buy the time Jen called them in for dinner they were two beers shy of killing off a twelve pack. All the while Marlowe keeping watch on the figure of a man some three hundred yards away keeping watch on him.

Next Day

The first thing Marlowe did after devouring Jens healthy breakfast was call TSI and order the parts needed to up-grade the tranny so it could handle the power put out by the engine. He even requested a new torque converter, which they had in stock. When he asked about delivery, he was told the parts would go out today (Monday) with delivery being Tuesday afternoon.

For the remainder of the morning, they spent their time cleaning up the bay where Wilson's Massey Ferguson tractor had been parked. After fixing themselves a sandwich for lunch Malone inquired if there was a Western Union in town, he needed to wire TSI the money for the parts. Brent told him there was that he could use his pickup to get there. Malone told him thanks, but it was not that far and opted to walk.

After wiring off the money to TSI he stopped off at Freeman' s General Store to pick up a few things. Leaving there he checked his watch seeing as it was almost time for Jen to be getting out of school he decided to wait and walk her home. As he headed for the school, he could the feel the eyes upon him, he was always vigilant, always aware, it was part of his training; someone in this town is leery of his presence.

Jen was just exiting the schoolhouse, seeing him she ran over asking what brought him here. He explained to her his presence, how he happened to be here this time of day. She said "thanks, it would be nice having someone to talk with on the walk."

They were halfway across the Kahokee river bridge when they heard the vehicle behind them. Jen turned her head for a look see instantly recognizing it as the red and white Ford pickup belonging to Jack Mosley. There was an arm tangling out the passenger side door, slapping it to the beat of the music blaring from the radio. As the truck got closer the music got louder and she hoped it would just pass them by, but no such luck, instead as it pulled up alongside them it slowed down keeping pace with them. The radio was turned off and Bull Grusome the man whose arm hung out the window spoke, "Howdy Jen." A few moments of silence passed Bull then repeating himself, "I did say howdy Jen."

"Hello Bull," Jen finally said in return as her and Marlowe kept walking. As the truck got a little bit ahead of them, she saw two more men in the back recognizing them as two of Pierces men. "doin alright fer yourself aren't ya Jen, got someone to carry yer schoolbooks." Jen swung her arm forward showing Bull that in fact she was carrying her own books.

Marlowe kept on walking, not pausing in his pace, and not acknowledging Bull Grusome in the least.

"Who's the nursemaid, Jen?" Bull drawled. Nothing. "Who's the nursemaid, Jen?" I'm talking to you, Jen," Bull drawled again a little more tersely. Bull may be slow-witted, but his size made up for some of his short comings. At six-two and weighing around two-forty nobody in Baskerville would willingly pick a fight with him. He was big and mean, and a street bully.

Ding, ding, ding his computer letting him know his time was up, so he backed up his work, saved it to his cloud account and shut it down. He went out to the living room saw that Kate was still asleep, so he made his way to the kitchen, figure out to fix for dinner. Scouring through the freezer and cabinets he came up with two possibilities, spaghetti with his special meat sauce or pasta marinara. The pasta dish would be easier for Lily and he could still make his special sauce. His mind made up he began all the necessary ingredients and went to work.

Rick was standing at the stove testing the sauce when he felt a pair of arms being wrapped around him. "You're up" he said placing the spatula down turning to face her. "That amazing aroma coming from in here woke me," Kate replied giving him a peck to the lips. "What are you fixing?"

"My special meat sauce," he responded kissing her back in a much longer passion filled kiss. "Ooh, spaghetti," she declared.

"Well, I was thinking of Rotini pasta for us, small elbow pasta for Lily but if you want spaghetti, I can do it instead."

"Hmm, tough decision, will there be enough sauce left for spaghetti at a future date?"

"Of course, you know I always make extra," pulling her in close kissing her again, a kiss she whole heartily returned. "What can I do?" she asked when they separated. "The salad, while I get the bread ready," Rick replied. "I've already got the water going for the pastas."

Following dinner, cleanup, Lily's bath they settled down to watch the evenings movie, Frozen II. Then it was off to bed where Rick and Kate had some special festivities of their own.

TBC