Clayton Webb Residence
March 1, 2004
0830 Hrs
Alexandria, Virginia
"Thanks for dinner, Clay. It was wonderful," Mac said, even though she had not eaten much, just mainly stirred it around her plate.
Picking up their plates and taking them to the kitchen, he questioned, "How would you know? You hardly touched it."
"Sorry, I guess I don't have much of an appetite tonight. I did taste it and what I tasted was good." She really just wanted to see what he had come up with. "So tell me, Clay, what do you have for me?" Sitting at the kitchen counter Mac watched him as he made a pot of coffee.
After turning the coffee pot on, he turned to face her, "Alright, but before I begin, I do not want you to worry about anything or feel badly about what we are offering you." Walking toward Mac, he informed her, "It was actually Mother's idea. She said it was a small way to say thank you," Clay pulled his wallet from his pocket as he was speaking, "for keeping her first grandchildren alive."
He showed her the pictures of his two newborns and Catherine Gale. "The one on the right is Neville Clayton Webb and the other is Sarah Porter Webb," Clay commented with the biggest smile that Mac had ever seen on his face, you could even see his dimples.
"Oh, Clay, you shouldn't have." She replied with tears coming to her eyes on hearing the name of their daughter. "They are so beautiful. How is Catherine doing? I bet your mother is on cloud nine with these two." Mac was humbled by the naming of their daughter after her.
"Cat is fine and Mother could not be anymore thrilled then she is at the moment. That is why she came up with this offer and she will not take no as an answer." Clay knew this was the only way Mac would accept their offer. Also, he could keep tabs on her and make sure she was doing well. He also knew she would have some professional help there in the form of an ex-SeAL but was not about to tell Mac that bit of information.
Jumping right in, Clay began explaining, "Mother owns a family vacation resort outside of Denver, Colorado. A ranch called Peaceful Valley Ranch located in Lyons." Handing Mac pictures of a few horses, he described what it had, "It has forty horses that are available to the guests, although I believe the stalls need some work and some of the guest bring their own horses. The original lodge has twelve bedrooms with full baths. There's also a full size kitchen, a dining room, a den that was mainly used for the men to play poker and an office that can be entered either by going through the den, the great room, or off one of the dining rooms. The great room is the first room that you walk into and off to the right there is the master bedroom and bath. There are also two hot tubs which seats eight in each off the back porch. The cabin's empty right now because it needs some work but it will be where you will be living."
As Clay was saying all that, he had poured their coffee and handed Mac's to her.
"There are fifteen cabins and then the main lodge which has thirty-five rooms. It also has the same rooms and four hot tubs as the other lodge..."
Interrupting him, Mac asked, "Why are you telling me all this, Clay?" She could not fathom what this was about.
"Because we want to give it to you as a thank you for all of your help and for all the difficulty you have gone through." Seeing her give him a look, he sighed, "Sarah, I know how hard it is to lie to your friends, which is why I don't have many. Being a spy you tend to keep secrets from everyone. I count you as one of the few I have, even Harm and the rest of the people at JAG." Before she could say anything, he stated, "And no, I will not tell anyone where you are."
After a few seconds of deliberation, she replied, "This is an amazing way to thank someone, Clay, but I can't possibly accept it. It's way too much! You have to talk some sense into your mother." Mac could not believe how generous Mrs. Webb was being.
"Sarah, I told you, Mother will not take no for an answer. Besides she has already drawn up the papers and they are in your name. She also has said any and all repairs or improvements will be billed to her." He saw Mac shaking her head. "Sarah, it's a done deal! And if you think you can change her mind then be my guest, but just to let you know, you will be talking to a brick wall."
"Clay, I don't know anything about taking care of horses. Yes I rode them in Arizona, but never really took care of them. Plus we're talking about running a lodge, what do I know about doing that? Sure I could learn but there is great deal of property and staff and… and…." Mac was coming up with so many things that she knew nothing about.
"Don't worry about that! There are several people there that will help. Ester runs the kitchen just like a Marine. Jeb, Ester's oldest son, runs the skiing which consists of cross country, plus a couple of bunny and mild slopes. He is also the skiing instructor there as well. Jeb also assists with handling the horses."
Passing some brochures and some other pictures of the staff and grounds to Mac, he explained, "Now Zek is a retired ex-SeAL Captain, was in the Navy for twenty-five years before he and his wife Rose moved there. Zek is kind of the ranch hand. Works in the barn with the horses and around the lodge and cabins fixing whatever comes up. Rose does the house keeping along with her daughters and son-in-law. They are Kelsey, Emily, and Rita, who is Jeb's wife and a few other women."
Thinking 'Zek' was a strange name as she browsed the brochure of the resort Mac could not believe how peaceful it looked. She liked what they offered:
Peaceful Valley Ranch
475 Peaceful Valley Road
Lyons, CO 80540
Description: For the best week of your year choose PV Ranch, family-oriented
programs for all ages and abilities; Minutes away from Estes Park and
the spectacular Continental Drive; horseback riding; hiking and
fishing.
Location: Outside of Denver Metro
He knew what she was thinking. "This isn't charity, Sarah. Yes, Mother was thinking of selling, but it was father's favorite place in the world. She wanted to keep it in the family and that is what she considers you" Trying to ease the tension in the room, he joked, "Besides, we know that you would never charge us when we come to visit."
Laughing for the first time in months, she teased, "No, I would never charge your mother, but you on the other hand… I just might." Hugging him, she whispered, "Thank you, Clay," then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"When do you plan on leaving?" He wanted to make sure that the rest of what he was planning would be ready.
"Well, I want to make Friday, March 12th, my last day. I would like to leave by Sunday of that weekend. I'll be putting my resignation papers on the Admiral's desk on Friday night when everybody has left for the day." Seeing the look in Clay's eyes, she responded, "I know it's the cowards why out, but I just can't talk to anyone right now about what I'm feeling. Besides they would just try to talk me out of it."
Taking a deep breath, she told him, "I'm going to write letters to them and give my reasons to why I left. Once I'm settled, I will e-mail them. I just hope they will forgive me for running out on them."
"You mean you hope that Harm forgives you," giving her a knowing look.
"Yes, I mean Harm! I don't ever want to lose his friendship." Deliberately changing the subject, Mac asked, "Now, do they know that I am coming and will be the new owner?"
"Yes, they do and they will be told that you will be there on March 16th. I know that you will want to visit your uncle." What she didn't know was that he and his mother talked the President into giving Matt O'Hara a pardon. That had been Clay's idea. He had always felt badly over the whole Declaration mess.
Nodding her head, Mac said, "Yes, I was planning on doing that, but I do have a favor to ask." She hated to ask for anything more, but knew he would not be here that much anyway.
"Anything, Sarah, you just have to ask."
"Well, next Thursday my apartment will be packed up, except for what I will need. Since everyone thinks we're dating anyway, I thought maybe I could stay here?" She timidly asked.
"That's not a problem," Clay answered, as he handed her the spare key. "In fact that will actually help me out. I am receiving a delivery next Wednesday, so why don't you just move in then. I will be in and out all day and don't want to leave it unattended for too long." He was trying so hard not to give the surprise away. It was a gift for her.
"Okay, that would be fantastic. Thank you so much, Clay, and when you speak to your mother, tell her I said thank you." Saying her goodbyes, Mac left for her apartment.
Clay watched as she drove off and wondered if he was doing the right thing. He would do anything for her and if this is what Mac thought she needed to do, he would assist her anyway he could.
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