CSI:MIAMI SEASON 11

Episode 5

Calleigh and Horatio woke up to the sounds of loud voices in the hallway and banging on their door. "Calleigh Marie, you get up and get downstairs. You never could remember to set your alarm clock, be be."

Calleigh threw the covers off and she was immediately out of bed. "Yes, Mama." She looked at her husband wiping the sleep out of his eyes. "Come on, Horatio, it's time to eat."

He sat up in bed and took in his surroundings. "Calleigh, it's still dark outside. What time is it?"

"It's four thirty, now come on or she'll be in here next."

"Sweetheart, you're a grown woman, married with children."

"I know, but every time I come here she makes me feel like a child. Speaking of children, we need to get them up and dressed."

"Calleigh, it's four thirty, let them sleep."

"Not in THIS house. Mama makes one huge breakfast, my brother and his family are probably already downstairs getting' ready to eat." She had finished dressing, and went to the closet and pulled out her boots. "Now hurry up, I'll go wake the kids."

"Mom?"

Calleigh just shook her head. Her mother had roused the kids. "Comin' son, is your sister up?"

"Yeah, Grandma got us up, I'm dressed and Patty is almost done."

"Ok, we'll be right out." She looked at her husband, who was scrubbing at the day old beard growth on his face. "After chores, you're still handsome with the scruff." She walked over to him and ran her hand over his face. "Yeah, definitely handsome. Time to go downstairs if you want to eat."

"Since when do you get up and eat?"

"You've been here before, everyone gets up, eats and does the farm chores."

"I thought you had hands for that."

"Can't afford them anymore, even with all the money Daddy and send, and with Ruthie's paycheck, it's just not enough." She sighed deeply. "Look at it this way, with four extra hands we'll get done faster."

She took him by the hand and pulled him to the door just as Calleigh's mother's voice drifted up the stairs. "Do y'all plan on eatin' this morning or should we just start without you? The little ones need to collect some eggs."

She opened the door and yelled down the stairs, "On our way, Mama! Come on, kids, Patty and Caroline need to go and collect some eggs for breakfast." Patty's eyes widened. "You're not afraid of chickens are you, Honey?"

"We're gonna steal their eggs?"

"Well, some of the chickens are for eggs, some for food, and some to make little baby chicks."

"Oh, ok." She smiled and took her brother's hand as they made their way downstairs, where they were met with a huge part of Calleigh's family.

"Kids, this is your uncle John and aunt Ruthie, and your cousins, Caroline, Nellie, and J.J." Bedlam erupted as the cousins all jumped to welcome the newest family members. Their grandmother had filled everyone in, so they were all ready for them.

Caroline took Patty by the hand. "Come on, it's time to go get eggs."

"But it's dark outside."

"It's ok, I'll be with you, and we'll have flashlights so we can see."

"What if somebody's out there?"

Caroline giggled. "There's no one for miles, silly, and even if there was, the dogs would warn us, and then my daddy and your mama and grandma would shoot 'em for trespassing."

Patty smiled. "My mama is a good shot. She has lots and lots of rewards."

Caroline pulled Patty toward the chicken coops. "I think they're called awards."

"I get mixed up sometimes."

"That's ok, so do I." She bent and picked up two baskets. "I'm so glad you're here, I usually have to make two trips. You just reach into the coop and move the chickens out of the way and take the eggs. Be careful not to break 'em when you put 'em into the basket."

Patty opened the first coop and reached in. "Like this?" She pulled on one egg and placed in in her basket. "That's not so hard. I thought the chickens would be mean."

"Nah, you can pet these. Just watch out for the roosters at sunup. We'll have to feed them and they like to jump at the food bucket. I drop it a LOT." She giggled again. "I'm so glad your my cousin. Everyone else is older, and now I have a cousin my own age, we can be like sisters."

"But we live in Miami."

"That's ok, so does Grandpa, and Aunt Calleigh's brothers live here, so does Grandma."

The girls picked up their baskets and carefully made their way back to the house. "We're back, Grandma!"

"How many did you break this time, Te te?"

"None, Patty and were concentrating, and we made it all the way back. I told her we have to be careful of the roosters trying to steal food at sunup."

"Yeah, she said we could be like sisters since we're the same age."

Calleigh smiled. "I think that's a wonderful idea. We're moving into a big new house with plenty of room for cousin who are like sisters to come visit."

The little ones hugged each other and jumped up and down. Austin just rolled his eyes. "Can J.J. Come when she visits?"

"Well, if we're going to have your cousins visit, I don't think any should be left out, do you?" Horatio glanced at Nellie.

"You're right, Dad. Sorry, Nellie, I didn't mean to leave you out."

"That's all right. What about all the other cousins?"

Austin's eyes got bigger. "There's MORE?"

"Sweetie, I have four brothers, they all live close by. You'll meet them all before we leave."

"You sure will, petite, the boys want a shrimp and crawfish boil while you're here. Calleigh Marie, you HAVE boiled for these angels haven't you?"

"Mama, we've had them two whole days. Anyway, the boys can boil better than I can.

"Mommie, what's a boil, and why does Grandma use your middle name. Are you in trouble?"

"No, Sweetie, I'm not in trouble, that's just the way some people in the south talk, and a boil is a great big pot outside filled with vegetables, crawfish and shrimp. We eat it outside on a big table covered with newspaper."

"What's crawfish?"

"It's like a baby lobster."

"Is it good."

"It's very, very good. You had some in your gumbo last night."

"Mmmm, I liked that a LOT."

"Ok, you, hop up in a chair to stay out of the way while Grandma and I finish breakfast."

"What's in that pan?"

"Those are grits, Patty, and yes, they are also very good."

"Ok." The two girls started whispering and giggling, and Calleigh was relieved the inquisition was over. She had a lot to teach these kids.

Once breakfast was done, Horatio and John took the boys out to the barn to feed the animals, while the girls helped clean the kitchen. Before everyone knew it, it was lunch time, and Calleigh and her mother whipped up some po boys for everyone. After lunch they went to the barn to watch Austin learn how to milk the cows. Once he got the hang of it, he did a great job, but he was more interested in riding the horses. His uncle promised him that once all the chores were done he'd get him in the saddle.

The milk jugs were filled and Austin wiped the sweat from his brow. "Is it always this hot, Uncle John?"

"Yeah, pretty much, you're probably just not used to all this hard work. I'll bet your mama spoils you."

"So far she has, not sure is that's gonna last though. Are we done?"

"You ready for that ride?"

"Can Patty come, too?"

"I think your mama and auntie are putting them on the ponies. They're too little for these big horses." John picked out a good horse for Austin, one that was tame enough to respond to a beginner's commands, and then saddled him up. "This one should be perfect for you." He stroked the horse's nose. "I'll get you up as soon as I saddle my horse."

The one John picked was huge, and Austin's eyes went wide. "Wow, that's a big horse!"

John smiled at his nephew as the horse was saddled. "Yeah, he's the biggest here, and I'm the only one who rides him. He doesn't always like to do as he's told." He lifted Austin up into the saddle and gave him some instructions, and then mounted his own horse. "Ok, you ready?" Austin bobbed his head up and down. "Give him a little kick and loosen the reins."

As his horse moved forward, Austin grinned. "This is so cool! Which way do I go?"

"Just follow me." He turned his horse away from the house and they headed out to the pasture. "We're going to go check the cattle."

Austin looked at the front porch as they went by. "Bye, Mom, we're going to check the cattle!" Calleigh waved and smiled as she watched her son disappear down the road. She leaned back as her husband's arms slid around her waist.

"Hard letting go, Mom?"

"It's not that, I think I need a ride, too. When I'm done, I'll take the little ones out."

"Feel like some company?" He moved her hair aside and kissed her neck.

"I'll get mom and Ruthie to look after Patty and we can go. I'll meet you in the barn" She turned in his arms and placed a gentle kiss on his lips before heading into the house. A few minutes later she was in her riding clothes and heading for her horse. "Let me give you an easy one to ride, I don't need you getting thrown off." She went to the end of the barn and led a beautiful animal to him. "This is J.J.'s, he won't mind you riding him." She saddled both horses and watched Horatio struggle with the mounting. "Do you need some help, Handsome?" She giggled as he finally made it into the saddle. "Ready?"

He kicked the horse and took of ahead of her. She simply shook her head and gave chase. She knew these horses, and she knew her horse would overtake his and leave him in the dust in a matter of seconds. She blew him a kiss as she passed him, and then stopped at the top of the hill under a large oak tree to wait for him. Once he got there, she hopped off her horse and tied their reins together. "Get down here, Handsome."

He quickly complied, and as he slid down, her arms snaked around his neck and pulled him down into the plush grass. "Sweetheart, do you think this is wise?"

"Probably not, but no one can see us, and the boys are tending the cattle and won't come up here. John knows this is my thinking spot, this is where I always came to write in my diary."

"Now THAT is something I'd love to read. Calleigh Duquesne the teenager."

"Oh, shut up and kiss me." She slowly undid his buttons, running her hands over the tight muscles of his chest until her hands reached his belt. She looked up at him with an evil grin and slowly began to undress him.