The morning's rays stirred Jaye from the bed. She looked around, and remembered where she was, a smile spread across her features. Turning to her side, she saw Flint sleeping peacefully next to her. She gently leaned over and kissed his cheek, but the man did not stir. Shaking her head, she rose from the bed, moving the four blankets that Mrs. Faireborn had on the bed. Even though it looked warm outside, during the night, the temperature had dropped.
Putting on her robe, she opened the hallway door. Noticing no other movements, she assumed that most of the Faireborns were either sleeping or had gone to the farm's main building. Leaving the guest bedroom, Jaye noticed the door to the evil plastic things room was opened. She heard Nancy's voice flow out of the room, "deinde aliquid accidit quod eum coegit circa pedem sursum slalire complures a tergo status ululaverunt. 'pro?" Curious, she glanced inside the room.
Her mouth dropped at the sight of the many books that filled most of the room. Flint was not kidding that Nancy owned enough books to fill a library. On several of the bookcases, around twenty or so dolls, stood in various periods outfits. They didn't look evil to her, giggling at the thought of what Flint called them.
She spotted the youngest Faireborn on Flint's old twin bed, a book on her lap, with a second one, opened, settled next to her . Rowdy had stationed himself at the edge of the bed, sleeping. Jaye was curious as to what the woman was reading, so she stepped into the room.
"Good morning, Nancy," Jaye said, entering the room while looked around.
Nancy looked up from her book. "Morning Allie. Had a good night's sleep?" Rowdy picked up his head, grumbled and went back to sleep.
"Oh yeah." Jaye said. "Your mom helped with that by stuffing me." She went closer to the bed, but stopped a few steps away. "What are you reading?"
"Harry Potter in Latin. I have the English copy next to me, just in case I need some translations." She smirked at Jaye's surprised face. "Sure, I can sing in six languages, read in three, speak in three and write in two, but still cannot find someone around here who has a higher IQ than a bullfrog."
"Really?" Jaye asked. "I speak eighteen languages-- ten of them fluently." She finished walking over to her. Her eyes sparkled in delight. You didn't find many that could speak languages like she could.
Nancy's eyes filled with excitement, "Dash didn't tell me that! I own several books in other languages. German, French, Turkish, Italian, Greek, Latin and so many others. Though I can't read some of them right now, I will hopefully in several years. But it's hard to find some books in the language you want."
"I can get them for you." Jaye said, her hyperness coming through. "I've got books in every language known to man, even dead languages and I even have one for Klingon." She laughed excitedly, and sat down next to the woman. "How old are you?"
The other woman smiled, "Older than you, even though I look like a teenager." laughing at Jaye's surprised face. "Well, I am looking for some books in Gaelic." she added with a smile.
Jaye laughed, and noticed a short haired doll, leaning against the pillow next to Nancy.
"Gaelic was the first language I spoke." Jaye said. She picked up the doll. "Want to do something evil to your brother?"
"Da!" Nancy said excitedly in Russian, causing Jaye to laugh. "What do you have in mind?"
"I've got a digital camera and your brother is dead to the world right now. Let's put some of your dolls in bed with him and take a few pictures and I'll send them back to the base." Jaye's eyes glinted wickedly.
The other woman burst out laughing, "He'll kill us but it will be worth it!" She put her book down next to the other and got up from the bed. "Here," She said, walking towards the bookcase and taking some of the dolls down, "Can you hold these?"
Jaye nodded, taking five dolls from Nancy's hands. Then she watched Nancy take down five more. "I think this will be enough." Then her eyes changed mischievously "I have one more thing that will be perfect!" She walked up to the closet and opened it. Jaye's jaw almost hit the floor, from all the outfits she saw hanging in Flint's old closet. He was not kidding on that part either!
Nancy turned back away from the closet holding small little bottles. "These are perfect, they have no alcohol in them now, but they still have the labels!" making Jaye giggle. This was going to be one interesting picture.
Slowly they walked out of the door, dolls and bottles in hand and tiptoed to the guest room. Jaye gave a silent signal towards Nancy, who nodded. Together, both women entered the guestroom. They stopped dead in their tracks as they heard Flint snore. Both glanced at each other praying that Flint would not wake up, before the evil deed was done.
Jaye inched closer to the bed, and as Flint mumbled something in his sleep, she had to bite her lip from laughing. She picked up his hand and put a doll under it, then gently rested his hand on the doll, as if he was hugging it. Nancy had moved to the other side of the bed, and did the same thing in his other hand, while Jaye set a few of the evil plastic things on his stomach in various positions. She almost burst out laughing when she saw Nancy set a doll near Flint's head, the doll staring down at his face. The two women shared a smile, then added the small bottles around the dolls and the dead to the world Flint.
Taking the camera, Jaye took several pictures of the warrant officer, with his new sleeping buddies. Nancy had to cover her mouth to keep from not releasing the laughter that so desperately wanted to escape.
Jaye signaled a thumbs up to Nancy, indicating that she got a good shot, and together both women slowly took away the dolls and bottles. Flint grumbled and tossed, they froze once more, hoping he would not wake. They sneaked out of the room and went directly back to the other one. When Nancy closed the door behind her, they burst out laughing.
"That was brilliant!" she said, walking to the desk and grabbing her laptop, "Now, which person do I send this too?"
"We'll have to do it from my laptop because of the security levels." Jaye grinned as she snuck back into the bedroom she was sharing with Flint and grabbed her laptop and quickly returned. "But I'm going to send these to my best friend. We call her Scarlett."
"Alright. How about the email titled, 'Revenge of the Evil Plastic things.'" Nancy asked. Jaye nodded in approval, got online and within a short time, had emailed the picture to Scarlett.
"Done."
Nancy snickered, "This may get a few laughs." then added, "Let's go downstairs for coffee, and knowing Mom she has probably baked a ton pancakes, toast, muffins and who knows what else." Jaye held her stomach tightly, just thinking about the food, which made future sister-in-law laugh out loud.
But before they left, Jaye sneaked her laptop back in the room, and grabbed her cell phone just in case Scarlett called laughing her head off from the image they just sent her.
They walked downstairs and into the kitchen, pouring some coffee and each grabbing a muffin. As they sat at the table, Nancy turned to Jaye. "I hope he does not-" but her words were cut off.
"NANCY!!!!!!" Flint's voice shook the walls of the farmhouse.
Both women glanced at each other and gulped, he sounded livid! And they both wondered how in the world he found out so soon.
His feet banged the stairs as he thundered down them. He strode straight into the kitchen, his face red, livid, and his nostrils flaring. His entire chest moving up and down from his heavy breathing. His eyes narrowed, his jaw set and his lips in a tight thin line.
"Hot water." He growled at them as they held their coffee cups in mid air, trying to look innocent.
Nancy titled her head, "Dashie, if you want some tea, I can boil some-"
"I'm going to boil both of you! Duke just called! He and what seems most EVERY Joe on base, received one interesting picture via email! titled, 'Revenge of the Evil Plastic Things.'" he looked from one woman to the other. "EVERY Joe is making a joke out of me! Duke even asked if I had a great time drinking with the dolls! I'm going to--" they cringed waiting to see what he would do next.
Suddenly Jaye's phone rang, her eyes glanced at it, then at Flint, who grabbed it before she even had a chance too. He answered it on the third ring.
"Don't bother warning her, SCARLETT!" His voice thundered over the phone. Jaye pictured her best friend gulping on the other end. "They are going to get what is coming to them. And as for you, Breaker already found out from who's computer the file went through, so by now you will have a certain visitor!" And with that, he hung up the phone.
He then glanced at them, "Well, your partner in crime just got busted, Duke just walked into her office." He announced, making both women swallow hard. "So, what do you two have to say about this?"
Jaye calmly stood up and looked at him. "I say we are now even for those pictures you and Shipwreck took of me when you slipped his blow up doll into bed with me when I was knocked out with those pain killers last month." Her voice was calm and even. She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a 'what are you going to do now' look.
He blinked twice, and stared at her, shocked.
Nancy choked on her coffee. "He did WHAT!" sending her brother an evil look.
Flint grumbled, mumbling to himself about something, then turned around heading back towards the stairs. "I'm going to take a long hot shower." He growled going up the staircase.
Jaye and Nancy watched him climb the stairs, and when he was no longer in earshot, looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Brenna walked in. "Why is Dash grumbling and why are you two laughing?"
Nancy started to say something then burst out laughing again. Brenna watched her sister and Allie hold their stomachs with a raised eyebrow.
Finally Nancy, wiping a tear from her face began to explain, "Bren, you just missed some action. Allie and I put some of the girls on Dashie, in various positions, even one on his head! With, as I might say, a nice touch of adding some of those mini bottles Papa gave me last year. Then Allie took a picture of him and she sent it to her friend Scarlett, who sent it to all the others on the base. Guess, their CO found out and called Dash, who came down here all in an uproar." she started to laugh again at her sister's shocked face.
"He'll get over it." Jaye laughed. "I told him I would get him back when he least expected it."
Nancy laughed again, "I hope your friend Scarlett does not get into too much trouble." then turned to Brenna, saying, "Sit down, I'll get you something to eat." getting up and heading for the kitchen.
"Nan, sit. I'm not hungry right now." Brenna said.
"Oh she won't. She'll find a way to get out of it. Besides Duke was involved in Dash's little picture game of me too, so he better not yell at her." Jaye said.
Nancy turned around, "Are you sure?" giving her one of those worried looks. Brenna nodded towards her, "Alright, but later you better eat something." sounding like her mother.
"Nancy." came the stern voice of Jean Faireborn, coming down the stairs, "What did you just do to your brother? He is mumbling something in the bathroom giving you Pig PT for a month, whatever that is."
The youngest Faireborn gave her mother an innocent smile, "Nothing Mom, Dash is just having a grumpy morning."
Her mother shook her head, "I sometimes wonder, who is going to kill who in this house first." She then glanced at Allie, "Morning, dear, did you sleep well last night? Did you need any more blankets?"
Jaye smiled brightly at the matriarch of the Faireborn household. "Yes Mrs. Faireborn, I slept well. Though your son is a huge bed hog."
Brenna laughed. "Maybe he should have Pig PT."
Nancy turned serious, her face resembling Flint's, then looked at Brenna and Jaye, "Oink Oink." she said, causing the room to fall into laughter.
Jean Faireborn shook her head, "Well, Allie it seems that you have picked the perfect family to join. All three of my children have lost it." walking into the kitchen to grab herself a cup of coffee.
Nancy glanced out the window to catch her father coming out of the barn, holding something that made her jaw drop, "Mom! Papa is using the Windex again!" watching her father turn around the corner of the barn. "He's got the duct tape too!" her eyes widened.
"Oh no, he doesn't." Brenna said and stood up and yelled out the door. "Papa you leave my calf alone!"
"Duct tape and Windex?" Jaye asked in confusion.
Nancy looked at her sister, "Bren, I don't think he is going after the calf. I think he is going to try and fix that broken tractor again." shaking her head, and turned to Jaye, "Papa, for some reason, thinks he can fix and heal anything using the Windex bottle and using duck tape to wrap around whatever he's mending. I haven't the foggiest where he got that notion."
Jean walked towards the screen door, "Logan!" she called out, "Leave it be for now! You know Scott is coming later to fix the thing!"
"Momma! He's going after my calf." Brenna pointed out at their father who bypassed the tractor and headed for the injured calf that had it's leg in a splint.
"Windex and duct tape?" Jaye asked again laughing hysterically.
"LOGAN!" Jean hollered towards her husband, "Leave the calf!!! Remember, the vet is coming for him today!" Then she turned to her daughter, "Bren, stay here. He can't hear me, I'll go stop him." She walked out the door and headed for her husband.
Suddenly, Flint voice bellowed from upstairs, "Nancy!!! Rowdy just took my towel! And he won't give it back!!!"
"Oh oh! I better go up there before Dashie sends my dog packing to Europe without me." She got up from her seat, then headed towards the stairs, "Dash?" she called out, "Emm.. do I need to close my eyes?" making Jaye and Brenna burst into laughter.
"YES!" came the answer, as more fits of laughter came.
Nancy closed her eyes, and slowly climbed the stairs. "Rowdy, come!" they heard her call out to the cocker spaniel. Both Jaye and Brenna listened Flint grumble something, then Nancy saying, "Here you go Dashie." She ran down the stairs, Rowdy in tow.
"You do realize I could have went up there and got it for you." Jaye said with a chuckle.
"Yeah I'm sure Mr. God's Gift To Women wouldn't have minded that at all." Brenna laughed her hand resting on her tummy just below the frog on her shirt that read 'One in the Hopper'.
Nancy smiled, "Yes Allie, but Rowdy only listens to my command, and I didn't want you getting bitten. Dash would probably shoot me and Rowdy then."
Jean walked into the house again, holding a Windex bottle, "Well, I managed to get the Windex, but somehow he escaped with the duct tape. I know he had some calls to make, so he's probably back in the office."
"He touches my calf Momma and I'm afraid I won't be able to hold my hormones in check." Brenna said causing everyone to laugh.
"Is Dash still mad?" Jaye asked Nancy.
Nancy nodded, "I think he has past mad, and gone to insane. He told me, instead of taking my evil plastic things for target practicing, he's going to bring me to the base and have a Cover Girl run me over with the Wolverine, whatever that means."
"Wolverine is the name of a tank." Jaye said standing up from her seat. "I'll go talk to him."
Jean shook her head, "Sit down dear and eat something. Dashiell will be fine. He takes after his father with that temper of his."
"Maybe he needs a padded room?" Nancy said.
"Nancy!" Her mother scolded.
"Sorry, Mom." Nancy apologized.
Jaye sat back down.
"No, he needs a straight jacket." Brenna said with a giggle.
"That's it! Both of you are on what Dashiell call it? On KP Duty for this week." Jean scolded both her daughters, watching their mouths drop.
A large thud sounded from above, causing all of them to look up.
"Heaven's knows what now!" Jean said, "Dash? you alright?"
They heard his feet come down the stairs. He was dressed and his features showed a dark mood. A small green object was in his hands. He stopped in front of Brenna, "I believe this belongs to you."
"Ferdinand!" Brenna exclaimed and took her stuffed frog. "Where was he? Nancy's dog took off with him yesterday."
Jaye looked at Dash with a even look.
Flint rubbed his rear, saying, "In the hallway, slipped on him." giving Rowdy, who was now under the table, safely next to Nancy, a 'dog chow' look.
"Sorry, Dash." Nancy apologized for her dog.
"Dash." Jaye said standing back up. "Let's go for a walk."
Jean nodded, "I think that is a good idea, Dashiell, take her around the farm! All she has seen so far is this old house."
"Alright Mom." He smiled at his mother, then turned to Jaye, "I think you are going to like what you see."
Jaye smiled. She took his offered arm and once they were out of the house she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "You still mad?"
He didn't look at her at first, he guided her down the stairs and began to take her to the southern part of the farm that held most of the animals. Jaye was beginning to worry, was he upset with her and Nancy? But from the corner of his mouth a small smidge of a smile roamed, "Me? How can I stay mad at two of my best girls?" He put an arm over her shoulder. "Though both of you are going to have some major punishments. Got to think how exactly I am going to punish you, have several ideas though." He teased her.
"Oh, really?" Jaye said teasingly. "I think we are even now."
"Hmm. maybe.. " His eyes shined. "I'll let you know tonight." he whispered in her ear, making her tingle from head to toe.
She shivered and giggled. "If I don't lock you out of the room first."
"Oh please don't!" he playfully begged, "then I have to sleep in that room with all those evil plastic things."
"Nah you can sleep on the couch in the living room." She teased. The couch was not even big enough for her to sleep on.
"Yeah, me and Rowdy all night alone. just us two men, watching TV all night, raiding the fridge.." his voice trailed off.
"And me all alone up in that big warm bed with nothing on..." She countered playfully.
His heart began to beat faster, "Well, then maybe someone has to keep you warm." He gently rubbed the back of her back. Did she just shiver?
She shivered slightly. "And who would that be?"
"Well, someone handsome, with a nice broad chest, dashing smile, nice brown hair and eyes, and always wears this magnificent looking hat."
"I didn't know Wild Bill was here." Jaye deadpanned.
His mouth dropped, "Wild Bill!" His hand dropped from her back.
Jaye grinned at him. "He's the only one I know of that wears a hat."
He chuckled, "Alright, let me rephrase that.. someone who wears a magnificent beret." sending her a grin.
"Falcon?"
"Falcon!" His jaw tightened. "Falcon!" he repeated a second time.
Jaye began laughing and took off running.
"Get back here Pig PT Queen!" He bellowed following her in pursuit.
She ran as fast as she could, straight into the corn field. Her breathing escalated from the run. Jaye turned to see him enter the tall green columns. "Allie!" he called her name again. Looking to his right and then left, he could not spot her or hear any movement.
She crouched down, silently, watching him edge closer towards her hiding spot. Her green eyes touched his rich brown ones. He was so close. She could hear him breathing. She blinked, he disappeared!
Where did he go? He could not disappear that quickly! Then it hit her, a solid mass, throwing her off balance and onto the cold earth. Her eyes closed for a second.
"Gotcha!" His face was close to hers, his heart pounding on top of hers, his body melting hers into the Kansas ground and his lips touching hers, wishing that they could be this way, forever.