Chapter 72

Again, I don't own any of these characters

The rest of the week in Kettlecorn was a time of taking it easy. With it being winter, there wasn't much work to do on the farm as the crops wouldn't be planted until spring. So, mostly the only real work that needed to be done was to take care of the animals. Bailey was insistent that she could still do that. Cody knew he couldn't stop her, but went with her in case she had any problems. Plus, he was pretty sure she wouldn't be happy if she stepped in any horse pucky with her walking boot.

One night, UCONN was supposed to be playing in a holiday tournament, so the four teens headed down to the only restaurant hoping to catch it on the satellite dish. Kettlecorn still didn't have cable as no cable company thought the town was big enough to make it worth their while. Fortunately, they were able to get the tavern to put one of the TV's on ESPN, and Zack and Cassie were happy to sit back and watch the game.

Cody and Bailey weren't all that into the game, so they made their way over to one of the pool tables. Neither were big pool players, but both enjoyed the physics and geometry the game required. They really weren't taking everything that seriously and were more just having fun when the heard a voice behind them.

"How about a game?"

Cody and Bailey turned around and standing in front of them was Betsy Sue and Moose. Cody and Bailey looked at each other and shrugged. Why not? The UCONN game was still in the first half, so they weren't going anywhere for a while.

"Sure..."

It was then that Betsy Sue noticed Bailey's walking boot. "What happened to your leg?"

Bailey shrugged. "I had an accident and broke my ankle, but its fine now. I'll be out of this in a few weeks..." She smiled. "Fortunately, I had my own pre-med student taking good care of me..."

Betsy Sue nodded. "I guess a lot's happened since we last saw you...Moose and I got married this past summer..."

"We know. Buck told us last Christmas..."

"Are you two married yet? I know you're engaged..."

"Not yet. We're getting married the summer after we graduate Yale. Where in the midst of planning it right now..."

"How are things going up there?"

Bailey smiled. "Wonderful. We graduate in three more semesters, and then hopefully, I'm off to vet school and Cody is off to med school..."

Moose finally spoke up. "Vet school, huh? I suppose there is a nice ring to 'Dr. Pickett'..."

Bailey shook her head. "Actually, it'll be Dr. Martin...Cody and I will be married long before then."

Betsy Sue sighs. "Still have any thoughts as to whether leaving Kettlecorn was the right decision?"

Bailey shakes her head. "Not a one. It was by far the best decision I ever made..." She turns to Cody and smiles. "Well, maybe second best decision..."

"No regrets?"

"None. I knew I was looking for something different than what Kettlecorn could offer me. I was a little nervous at first, but that quickly disappeared. I made friendships that will last a lifetime, got a great education and wonderful experiences and adventures, and I met my soulmate...I will never regret any of that..."

Cody leaned in and kissed Bailey on the cheek. "I'm going to go get some hot chocolate. You want one too?"

Bailey smiled at him. "I would love one..."

Moose grunted. "I guess I can go get us something too..." Both walked off to the bar area.

Betsy Sue sighed again. "It really seems like Cody really loves you..."

Bailey nodded. "Yeah, he does. And the feeling is mutual. I'm so lucky to have someone who loves me for who am I, supports me in no matter what I do, treats me like an equal..."

"That must be so nice..."

Bailey paused. "But..."

"I know Moose has changed some, but I've still never seen him look at me the way Cody just did at you...Sometimes, I wish..."

"What?"

"When you left Kettlecorn over five years ago, I envied you. You were doing what I wanted to do myself. So many times I thought about following your lead and getting out of here, but I'm stuck now. I was afraid to go off on my own though. You weren't. And now you're leading the life I can only dream about..."

Bailey paused again. She debated with herself about how to respond to that. Finally, she knew she had to be honest. "Its not too late, you know..."

"Really? You think so?"

"I know so...If you have dreams, you never want to regret not going after them..."

"What about Moose?"

Bailey paused. What she was about to say could end the pseudo peace she and Cody had with Moose now. But, she knew she had to be honest. "If he wants to hold you back from your dreams, then you are better off without him. Trust me on that..."

Betsy Sue nodded. "You may be right...I'll think about it."

Cody and Moose returned, and they did play a few games. Before long, the basketball game was over, and everyone returned back to the farm. Bailey was glad to be out of there and didn't want to be anywhere around if Betsy Sue followed her advice. That night in bed, she told Cody what she had done. Cody just pulled her closer and told her she had done the right thing. If Moose blamed her, they would deal with it together. Bailey could only sigh in gratitude. She was so glad she had made that decision so long ago.

Soon enough, it was Christmas Eve again. Like the past couple of years, it followed the usual traditions. In the morning, there was a family breakfast. And with Christmas Eve falling on a Sunday, there was an afternoon of football on TV while Christmas Eve dinner was being prepared. After the Chiefs game was over, everyone once again gathered for Christmas Dinner. They ate and they ate and they ate. Once Dinner was over, it was time for presents once again.

Like before, the youngest went first and so on. When it got time for the four teens, they each were given one package in front of them along with several envelopes again. The guys let the ladies go first in opening their boxes. Inside hers, Cassie found a sweatshirt with her sorority letters on it. Inside hers, Bailey found a gift basket with scented candles, her favorite body oils, body wash and shampoo, a pumice stone, and a new lady's razor. Zack went next, and like Cassie, he had a sweatshirt with his fraternity letters on it. Cody was the last to go, and inside his, was a men's grooming kit with a trimmer, aloe shaving cream, aftershave, and a new men's razor. Along with those, each got more gift cards and cash.

When it got time for the parents to open gifts, Kurt and Sarah went first. They each had a gift from all four of the teens. Both opened their gifts and discovered a portable DVD player, a carrying case for it including a DVD folder, and a gift certificate to Best Buy so they could both buy their favorite movies. When it was time for Joe and Maggie to go, the discovered that they had been bought a Direct TV package. Both were a little unsure what to say about it, but Bailey told them that part of the subscription was the Yale TV channel that they could use to keep up with what was going on on campus.

Once presents were over, everyone hung out a little while longer watching the Patriots game until it was time to go to church. After a lovely service, the four teens were saying their goodbyes to Joe, Maggie and the rest of the family. They were about to load into the minivan to head to the airport, when they all noticed Moose and Betsy Sue in a heated argument. All of them noticed Betsy Sue say something to him, and Moose turned and glared at them.

Next thing they know, Moose had turned back, and in front of most of the residents of the town, he slapped Betsy Sue knocking her to the ground. He turned back and glared at Bailey again, and immediately, Cody stepped in front of her. If Moose was going to do anything, he would have to get through Cody first.

However, what Moose seemed to have forgotten was who else was in attendance. Beyond Bailey's brother in law who was a sheriff's deputy, there was Betsy Sue's uncle...the sheriff. The next thing anyone knew, Moose was on the ground writhing in pain. Seems he had just been tased.

Bailey's brother in law had to chuckle. "We just got those in a couple of weeks ago. That was the first time I got to see one used. I wonder how long he'll be out..."

Cody immediately answered. "About an hour..."

"How do you know that?"

Cody turned to Bailey who was trying to keep from laughing. "Oh...Just one of those things I've picked up..."

Soon enough, Moose was in the back of a squad car heading in one direction while the four teens were in the minivan heading in another. A little while later, they were in the Kansas City airport. They made their goodbyes to Kurt and Sarah and waited for their red eye flight to Boston. A couple of hours later, the flight was finally called and they went through the same process they had in Boston about a week ago.

As they sat in the front row again, Bailey had her head rested on Cody's shoulder.

"Cody, what do you think will happen next back in Kettlecorn?"

Cody paused. "Well, with Betsy Sue's uncle being the sheriff, I don't think he's going to be having fun in lockup..."

Bailey smiled. "Her grandfather is the judge..."

Cody laughed. "Ordinarily, I would think Moose could ask for a new judge in that case, but I get the feeling by the time it gets to trial of any kind, Moose will be dealt a harsh punishment..."

"I sure hope so..."

"Me too, Bails..."

"I guess the understanding we had with him is over now..."

"Maybe...But, something tells me it will be a long time if ever before we see him again..."

To be Continued...