It was mid-morning of the following day before 586 had finished saying 'Good-bye' to everyone and she and Hotch got started on their trip back to Farm #3.
"The kitchen staff packed us a picnic lunch so we can stop to eat along the way," she told Hotch as they set out. "I hope you like deviled eggs – I know there are some of those. And I think we also have some cold chicken."
"If you like it, I'll like it," Hotch assured her. "Although, I have to admit that I prefer the food that comes out of our kitchen. Five oh two has been doing an excellent job since she took over."
"She has," 586 agreed as she guided the horse down the dry dusty road. "And I think she is really enjoying it."
"Now, tell me again what we are taking back with us," Hotch looked at the boxes stacked in the wagon.
"First off, we have some fresh fruit," 586 told him. "Strawberries as well as raspberries and grapes."
"I love fresh strawberries," she confided with a smile.
"Then, there some jars of the jams and jellies that Farm #2 makes to send off the island," she continued. "They aren't the fancy jars with the cloth tied over the tops, but they are some of the mixtures I suggested, as well as some of the plain fruit ones."
"What exactly did you suggest?" Hotch asked curiously.
"Well, they had been making plain fruit jams," 586 began. "And I suggested mixing the strawberries with the mangoes. I also suggested mixing the berries with the papaya."
"And the packaging?" Hotch prompted her.
"I suggested that they dress the jars up with a piece of gingham on the top tied on with a piece of twine," 586 explained. "And, apparently, that made a difference. Now they are getting more orders than ever before. That's why they needed to find a way to use that old, dry field."
"You know," Hotch said thoughtfully. "If that irrigation system really is something completely new, you could probably patent it."
"What is that?" 586 asked, puzzled.
"You would file paperwork to make sure that no one else could use the system without paying you for the right to do so," Hotch thought that was a simple enough explanation.
"Pay for it?" 586 questioned. "You mean like giving me credits at the mercantile?"
"Something like that," Hotch replied. "You really need to look into it."
"Maybe some other time," 586 dismissed the thought as she guided the horse towards a shady spot next to the road and then told it to stop. "Right now, what about some lunch?"
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"You realize this is the first time we have actually been totally alone, don't you?" 586 asked a short time later as she and Hotch sat on a blanket in the shade eating their picnic lunch.
"It is, isn't it?" Hotch replied thoughtfully.
"And, since we are all alone and nobody else is around," 586 began crawling across the blanket towards Hotch. "Maybe we can – "
"My – My – My - What have we here?" The loud voice echoed across the clearing.
"It looks like someone is having their own private picnic," the voice answered its own question as a man strutted into the clearing.
"Five thirty seven, what are you doing here?" 586 asked.
"Yes, what are you doing here?" Hotch echoed. "Shouldn't you be somewhere working?"
"Like you are?" the man challenged. "I don't see you doing any work."
"I was assigned to accompany 586 on her visit to Farm #2," Hotch replied. "And we are on our way home from there."
"It doesn't look to me like you are on your way home," was the retort. "It looks to me like you are out here trying to – "
"Five thirty seven, what are you doing here?" A new voice joined the discussion as three men walked into the clearing; foremost among them was 479.
"Didn't I send you to help out in the cotton field this afternoon?" he asked.
"I must have taken a wrong turn," 537 mumbled morosely.
"A very big wrong turn," one of the men observed dryly.
"Why don't you let us help you make sure you take the right turn this time?" the other man suggested as he walked over to stand next to 537. "Come along now."
Sullenly, 537 allowed himself to be led away.
"Now, as far as you two are concerned – " 479 grinned knowingly at 586 and Hotch. "I might suggest that next time you want to be alone you find a place that is a little more secluded. This is a bit obvious."
"Would you like a deviled egg?" Hotch offered weakly.