Duke spied his Cousin Rolfe standing outside one of the loose boxes. Where Willy was jolly, Rolfe was rangy and stringy. He could look Duke in the eye, but would never take him in a fight. He was the youngest of the Hauser boys, the oldest child of Duke's Uncle Max. He was towheaded-his hair almost white compared to Duke and Willy's 's golden yellow. He often didn't bother to cut it, and shaggy locks hung over dark blue eyes that sparkled merrily. Where Duke was a realist and Willy a capitalist, Rolfe was a cheerful optimist-and a humorist. Throughout their childhoods, Rolfe filled the role of class clown, and seemed unwilling to give up his title.
When he heard their footsteps on the concrete stable floor, he turned, his face lighting up when he saw Duke.
"Ah! Der Herzog! Heard you tried changing careers. How's competitive diving treating you?"
Duke snorted. "I had to go back to my day job. Let's just say I refuse to practice anymore."
"Too bad Vetter. Seems you could use it, the guy on the news said your form was terrible." Rolfe pulled Duke into a back-slapping embrace. "Don't try it again, Conrad." Rolfe whispered in Duke's ear.
"Don't worry Komiker, I don't plan on making a habit of it." Duke stepped back. "Where's Oncle Max?"
"Here, Neffe." Duke spun to see Max striding in, carrying a feeding bottle. He handed it to Rolfe and then wrapped Duke in a bear hug, rubbing the back of his head. "Gott sei Dank, du lebst!"
"I'm not that easy to take down, Oncle. One of the foals struggling?" Max never bottle-fed unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Oh, ja. His mother is not so young. She doesn't quite give him enough. Once a day, he gets a little extra to make up for it." Taking the bottle back from his son, Max let himself into one of the loose boxes. A Friesian mare lounged calmly, one hip cocked. Her coal-black colt wiggled his tail and eagerly butted Max with his head. "See? Already he knows to come to me for supper." Max slipped the nipple into the colt's mouth, and the young horse wiggled his tail again and avidly sucked avidly.
Rolfe laughed. "He's like any man; eager to suck die brustwarzen." All four men broke into rough laughter.
"Lucky bastard; someone takes the time and makes up the difference if he doesn't get his fill." Willy winked.
"Like you have anything to complain about, Willy." Duke chuckled and shook his head.
"Oh Ja, I would have settled for Äpfel, I got die glocken." He laughed and slapped his thigh. "Still, who cares about size as long as they're nice? You know what they say about one in the hand..."
Duke grinned wolfishly. "Don't believe it for a second, Vetter. A lucky man gets all three at once. Two in the hands, and one in the-"
"Conrad! You're here!" Rolfe's younger sister sprung from nowhere and bounced into Duke's arms, auburn hair flying. Annaliese was close to Vincent's age. "Swing me, starker Mann."
He swung her around once, laughing. "Anna! Aren't you supposed to be at school?"
"Fontbonne is out for the summer. But I interrupted you. What were you saying?"
"Ah, nothing. It doesn't matter." Duke kissed her cheek and set her down. Rolfe snickered. "Did you see the new fohlen, Conrad?"
"Ja." Duke found himself slipping into the hybrid German-English they all spoke now at home. "Well, this one, anyhow. He's a winner. That's the one Wally sired?"
Willy nodded emphatically. "That's him. He's registered as 'Waldemar's Mountain Storm.' Anna, here, calls him 'Stormy'."
Annaliese blushed.
Max frowned. "He'll be too much horse for her." He pried the now empty bottle away from the colt and made his way out of the loose box.
Duke turned to his cousin. "Anna, you want this colt? What happened to your pony?"
"I'm way too big for her. We gave her to Kai." Willy's youngest was just big enough for her own pony. "I'm ready for a 'real' horse. Something like Wally."
"Well, you can't have him, but Wally's a pussycat."
"With you, Conrad, and maybe Jack. Possibly even Vincent. But I wouldn't trust him near my little girl. Especially if there's a mare in season nearby." Max smiled. "No offence. He turns into der tuefel."
"As this one will be, unless you geld him." Max crossed his arms over his chest. "You cannot geld a purebred Friesian colt, that's madness. There are few enough as it is registered in this country. He'll be worth money at stud."
"Hah! That's what Oma says about Conrad." Rolfe quipped. Annaliese laughed.
"Rolfe! Sie doch still! Pst!" Max waved both his hands parallel to the ground, shaking his head. "This is not a horse for a little girl."
"I'm not a little girl!"
Willy sighed. "She's fallen in love, Oncle. What can I say?"
Duke thought of the women he knew. "I can't quite see why a girl couldn't handle a stallion, as long as she's supervised till he's fully trained, and she's careful when a mare comes into season."
"Would you put your little Kanichen or Jennifer on Waldemar?" Max raised an eyebrow.
"When I'm there, yeah. I've plopped Rabbit and Jenn on Wally plenty of times. He adores them. Besides, if Anna's there while little Stormy grows up, and then is part of his training, he'd probably listen to her just as much as anyone else. Power isn't always a muscle thing, Oncle."
"You tell me this, Bärenjunge?" Max nodded at Duke's powerful frame. "You, who spend so much time lifting heavy weights and running all over the pastures? You, who slings the hay as farther than any man on the ranch?"
Duke frowned. "Me, who is frequently tossed on my ass by a woman half my size." He turned to Willy. "Look, no one paid me any stud fee for Wally. Not that I ever ask. That colt is staying here no matter what." Duke looked back at Max. "No one told me he was spoken for. Is he spoken for, Oncle?"
"Nein."
Duke Turned to his lanky cousin. "Did you want him, Rolfe?"
Rolfe held up his hands. "Nah, I'm not ready to manage my own breeding, right now." He winked at Willy with his off-eye, so Max couldn't see.
"Right. No one else has called me about this colt, and since it really is sort of up to me, I say let Anna have him, if she is ready to take proper care of him."
Anna's grin looked liable to split his face in two. "Danke, Vetter."
"Yeah, well, you'd better take good care of him. I get wind you aren't, I take him back."
Max threw up his hands. "Fine, Conrad. You think a little girl can manage an intact stallion, you give him to her. That's good money down the drain."
Annaliese interrupted. "Papa, that's not fair. Conrad understands. He works with women who fight on the front lines. If they can do that, then why can't I handle a stallion? I've helped everywhere with the horses, all my life. If women can fight terrorists, little girls can ride stallions."
"Pfah!"
"Papa…"
"Look Oncle." Duke put a hand on Max's shoulder. "Since he's being kept intact, I'll give you the right to his first four offspring. Does that sound that fair, Willy?"
"Ja."
"Oncle?"
"Ja…fine. But I want to be there to manage the training. No child of mine will get herself killed her own notgeil stallion."
"That's not for almost a half year yet, anyhow. Fine. Everything's worked out. Now show me these other foals."
Rolfe slapped Duke's back again. "Why is it, Conrad, that every time you come home, you give a little girl a horse?" He laughed and then winked. "Perhaps if you had more foals and older girls, you'd be married by now, and have your hands full on a nightly basis." Annaliese giggled with her brother.
They lead Duke to another loose box to examine a new Hanoverian filly. He leaned against the rail and half listened to Max rattle on about the lineage.
Duke sighed. Dammit, I could. Horse or no, Duke knew if he really wanted to bother, finding company for the night, every would be no problem-barring the time it took to go off base and pick someone up. He'd certainly done it before. The stories that circulated Bragg about some of his wilder exploits were not for Annaliese's ears. There was the time with those twins…He could fall into that kind of life again.
The problem was, Duke's hands and his heart yearned for someone in particular. Ached for her, actually. God, that day at the pool.
"Well, it's rare to see youhere, Duke." Lady Jaye, lifted her sunglasses as she lounged on a pool chair. She took a sip from the sweating glass of iced tea next to her.
"Even I get an afternoon off now and again, Lady Jaye." He looked out over the water speckled with bobbing Joes. Shipwreck floated on his back on an inflatable raft, hat tipped over his eyes. Polly sat on his chest. "I haven't had the chance for a swim since we put this in. Seems like a good day for it." He lowered himself on a chair next to her and started slathering on sunscreen. He heart the thrum and twang of the diving board followed by a splash and a squawk as someone doused Polly.
"Sure, it's blazing." Lady Jaye sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees. "You fair people don't do so well in the sun, do you?"
Duke shrugged. "No sense in cooking myself if I don't have to I'm not as bad as my cousins. They go from snowman to lobster in seconds."
"They sound like Scarlett. Speaking of our resident ginger ass-kicker, she'll be here any time now."
"Oh?" Duke tried to sound nonchalant. He knew exactly where Scarlett was going to be today. He rubbed sun block up his arm to his shoulder.
Lady Jaye was all smiles. "Oh, yeah, we dragged her out and forced new swimwear on her. He last suit probably qualified more as a 'bathing dress'. This one's much more modern."
"Well, um, OK." Duke wondered why Jaye thought he really cared about such things. He reached over his shoulder to get at his back. "How fun for you."
"Sure." Jaye grinned again, relaxing back onto her chair. "Here she is now."
Duke looked up to see Scarlett walk onto the concrete, her hair loose under a huge hat. She sported sunglasses and wore a white flowy thing. It looked more like a loose robe than a suit. "Yeah, Ok. I can see 'modern'. Sort of the opposite of what I thought you meant."
Clutch waved to Scarlett and started to climb the ladder up to the high dive. Lady Jaye shook her head. "That's a cover up, Duke. Although she rips Viper lungs out with her bare hands in a body hugging uniform, it would seem our little Scarlett is somewhat shy when it comes to swimwear."
"Go figure."
She found her way to them. "Fine, I'm here. I can't believe you talked me into this thing. I think I've seen lingerie with more fabric." She stood over Jaye, arms crossed firmly over her chest. "Oh, hi Duke." Her voice softened. "How often are you here?"
"Occasionally the downtime gods smile on even me." His ears had perked at 'lingerie'. Now he was definitely interested.
She laughed. Jaye waved a hand languidly. "Well, come on. I spent all afternoon getting your swim attire into the eighties. You might as well show it off."
Scarlett blushed. Jaye's voice grew commanding. "Let's go Sergeant. Brazen out!" Clutch began to bounce on the board, preparing himself for some spectacular dive.
"Oh, fine!" Scarlett tossed her hat on an empty chair next to Duke, untied her belt and flung off the cover up, revealing a black bikini that could be described as 'minimal' on the best of days.
Oh…lordy.
There was a yell and a splash as Clutch missed his footing and flopped off the board into the water. Duke looked to see him surface. Shipwreck, seeing Scarlett, suddenly decided to flip onto his stomach on his raft.
Scarlett flounced down next to her hat and yanked the sunscreen out of Duke's hands. "With this thing, Jaye, there's just so much more of me available for the sun to burn." She started rubbing lotion on her legs. Duke felt his heart start to pound.
"Oh, shut up. You look great. Just coat yourself well, and you'll be fine." Jaye rolled over to tan her back. "Duke, help her with her back, why don't you?"
"Would you?" Scarlett looked to him, her eyes smiling. "If I miss and inch, it'll end up burgundy." She held the bottle out to him.
He took it and smiled, unable to stop himself from drawing his eyes over her whole body. "Sure."
She gathered her hair over one shoulder and turned her back to him. Duke squeezed some sun block out into a hand, rubbed his hands together, and started to apply it to her back. Her skin was soft, but he could feel firm muscle underneath. He started at her shoulders, and carefully moved his way down.
"Rub it in well, Duke." Lady Jaye muttered. "She's such a whiner when she gets the teensiest bit of color."
Duke nodded, more to himself than anything. His hands shifted down to her mid back, moving under the thin strap of the top, and…and... Oh God, this was nice. Her skin was so very silky. His hands slowed, but his breathing picked up. He gently moved to her lower back, caressing more than rubbing. Eventually, he reached the upper hem of the bikini bottoms. He gently ran a hand ever so slightly under the fabric. Duke heard Scarlett sigh.
Oh, God. I can't do this. I can't. She's off limits. I want…wait, don't….don't…Crap.
His hands stopped, resting against her hips. "You know, dammit, I forgot I had to call Abernathy in Washington." He adjusted himself before she could turn around and stood.
"That's too bad. Poor you. It was your afternoon free." Scarlett looked genuinely upset for him.
"Heavy lies the head that wears the crown." Jaye mumbled from her chair. "Well, maybe not right now."
"Uhhh, right. I'll probably be back later." Duke beat a hasty retreat.
"…Conrad?"
Duke shook himself back to the present. "Sorry. Miles away."
"Are you OK, Neffe?" Max looked worried. "You're head feel OK? Perhaps more damage done than they thought?"
"I'm fine. Just thinking Oncle." He looked down at the third foal, another Hanovarian. "Those two are pretty nice. We going to put both up for sale?"
Willy clasped his hands. "One is spoken for. Some rich woman back east wanting to get her kid into jumping. The other we'll hang onto until she's a yearling. We'll get the word out on her then."
"Good deal." Duke looked at his watch. It was two fifteen. "Crap! I promised Rabbit I'd pick her up after school. Willy, can you drive me down to our place?"
"Sure, Con. Let's go."
Duke embraced his uncle and waved goodbye to Rolfe. He kissed Annaliese on the cheek. She kissed him back, hugging his neck. "Thank you, Conrad. Thank you for believing I can handle him."
"Sure. Just prove me right. C'mon Willy. There'll be Hell to pay if I'm late."
He managed to pull up to the curb right after the bell rang. He'd rushed into the garage, strapped the Motocross helmet to the back of the bike, flung on his own gear, and roared to Osage Elementary at a speed that would make a cop faint. Screaming children exploded out the doors and down the front steps. Scanning the mob, Duke picked out Rabbit and her pink backpack, surrounded by a troop of her friends.
Oh, Hell, she asked.
He revved the engine a few times to get her attention. It got the attention of quite a few people. Including a couple of teachers supervising the exodus. Duke saw Rabbit look his direction and smile. She pointed and hollered something unintelligible, waved, and ran towards him. He pulled off his helmet, gloves and glasses and managed to get off the bike before she flung herself at him.
"Duke!" She jumped and slammed into him, and he caught her before she dropped butt first to the ground.
"How was school?"
"Fine. Except for Princess Abby and her bragging butt. It's over now. Four days left 'till summer!" She thrust both fists skyward.
Ah, the final countdown. It's a magic time. Duke looked down to see a gaggle of little people staring up at him in awe.
"Look…it's Duke! He's here!" Gasps and whispers trickled from the crowd. Drew waved at them.
"Look, it's Duke everyone. Randy, you better tell your brother to get ready. He's going to clobber him." She snarled at a kid in a Cardinals cap. He was standing in front of a very nervous teenager.
"Oh, Hell no. I thought you meant Vincent!" Randy and the teenager took off.
"Wait, what?" Duke eyed Rabbit. She was shaking a fist at Randy's retreating back.
"That's right, coward, run. I told you!"
"Rabbit," Duke turned her head around to face him. "You told him what exactly?"
"She told him her big brother could beat up his big brother." A slim woman in her sixties approached, followed by a younger lady in a nurse's outfit. The rest of the children scattered. "Gregory picks Randy up from school everyday, so I assume Randy let him know he had to prove himself. Naturally, Drew didn't tell Randy which big brother she was talking about. Hello, Conrad."
"Miss Patty? Is that you? Hello!" He put Drew down and shook the woman's hand excitedly. "My God! Miss Patty!"
"Duke, her name's Principal Moore." Drew corrected him. "You've got her mixed up with someone else."
"No, Rabbit, I don't. To you she's Principal Moore, to me, she's Miss Patty. She was my fifth grade teacher."
Drew's eyes grew wide as she looked at her Principal. "Principal Moore, you're that old?"
"Hey!" Duke looked down at his baby sister. "I'm not ancient, you know."
"Neither am I." Principal Moore laughed. "Lord, Conrad, I had to intervene in a lot of your fights, but I didn't think I'd be doing it today. When the gossip got to me, I really did think she was talking about Vincent. Figured I should get out here with Nurse Levinson to wipe up the blood."
Duke nodded politely at the young nurse, who smiled prettily back at him. "Ma'am." He picked Drew back up and moved her so she could hang on his back. "Rabbit, did you really think I was going to fight with a teenager? That wouldn't be a fair fight."
"Yeah, I know. You can destroy Greg. Kapow! Kapow!" She demonstrated a couple of jabs against his chest.
"Rabbit, I'm not getting into a fight at Osage Elementary School."
"Principal Moore just said you did all the time." She looked thoughtful. "Well, she said you had a lot of fights, anyhow. I bet you won them all."
"Oh yeah, pretty much." Duke grinned, remembering schoolyard skirmishes. He had won a lot of them. When Miss Patty had caught him, he'd spent a good amount of time afterschool and held in for lunch. Those were the times she'd talk to him. Not lecture, but talk. She knew why he fought. She knew about Papa. She knew about the rage. Principal Moore coughed. "But they were very, very, bad things to do, Rabbit. Really. Mostly. A waste of time I could have spent learning about things. Important things. Waste of time."
"Well, yeah now you're paid to do it. Seems stupid to have fought for free." She shrugged. "Still, couldn't you have, you know, just sort of picked him up and shaken him a few times?"
"Rabbit." Good God, first teenage girls trying to get at me, now Rabbit arranging for me to beat up some punk kid, how many more chances are there to get arrested this trip? What's next? Vince is going to ask me to hold up the bank? "I'm not about to lay hands on a kid half my age."
"Just a little? Could you maybe sort of threaten a bit?"
"No."
"You promised to beat up Jennifer's guys."
"That's different." Duke sighed.
Principal Moore and the nurse laughed. "I think Gregory and Randy got the overall message, Drew. But please stop trying to intimidate the boys."
"Oh, fine, but he's a jerk sometimes." Drew pouted.
"There are better ways of handling it." The Principal sounded like the matter was settled. Duke thought back to his school days. Sometimes a fight really was the only way he could settle a matter. At least when the rage inside was threatening to rip him apart.
Principal Moore turned to him. "Conrad, this is Betty Jean Levinson. She came into town from Kansas City just this year."
Duke shook her hand. She kept hers soft, even in his grip. She shook out her hair. "Hello, Conrad…I feel I should be calling you something else."
"Conrad's fine, Ma'am. Some people call me Duke."
"He can bench press four hundred pounds! He beats up bad guys! But not Gregory, I guess."
Nurse Levinson laughed nervously. "Yes, well, I know that. I mean that people call you Duke. I didn't know you could bench press four hundred pounds. I did know you beat up the bad guys." She laughed again. "Please, call me Betty." She fiddled with an earring.
Drew leaned forward and whispered loudly in Duke's ear. "She likes you."
Nurse Levinson blushed. "Oh dear, look at the time! I have to get back and tidy up a bit." She trotted back to the stairs and up into the building.
Duke sighed. "Rabbit…"
"I'd better go, too. We have a staff meeting, and then I have a few parents to call." Principal Moore came forward and placed a hand on Duke's shoulder. "Conrad. I'm glad you're OK. I'm very proud of you. Very proud. I always knew you'd go on to do well for yourself."
He felt himself puffing up. "Thank you, Miss Patty. Really. Thanks."
"Take care of yourself, Conrad. I expect you back to visit me again." She smiled.
"Yes Ma'am." He nodded, and she turned to go to her meeting.
"C'mon Rabbit, let's get home." He put her on the back of the bike, slipped off her glasses, and jammed the helmet on her head. He rapped it with a knuckle. "You OK in there?"
"Yeah." She nodded and reached out for her glasses. Duke handed them back to her so she could slide them on again. He tossed on his own helmet and glasses, slipped into his gloves and started the bike. Drew slapped his back.
"Pop a wheelie!"
Duke shook his head. He'd done it, once or twice. But it wasn't easy on a heavy cruiser, and pretty dangerous. "Sorry, Rabbit."
"You are no fun today, Duke."
He made it up to her by slinging it around a few sharp corners and bends. She whooped just as loud.
By the time they got home, Mamma was back with Vincent and Jennifer. Drew took off into the house for a snack while Duke took the time to put away the helmets and check over the bike. Once finished, he followed her up to the house. His stomach rumbled as he pushed through to the kitchen.
"Oh Grrrrrr! Sounds like someone needs his own snack." Mamma leaned against the counter and laughed. Vincent, Jennifer and Drew sat around the table eating. Drew was telling Vincent something apparently serious, but Duke couldn't hear what. Jennifer was beaming happily, but quiet.
"I guess I missed lunch." Duke sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Lena gave me coffee and pastry mid morning, but I can't remember eating much after that.
"It's OK. I made you a sandwich!" Drew beamed and held a plate aloft.
"Thanks, Rabbit, I'm famished!" Duke took the plate from her, and took a large bite. He chewed speculatively for a bit. Jennifer looked at him and laughed.
"That's a thoughtful expression for a sandwich..."
Duke swallowed. "Rabbit, I'm kicking myself, because I should have asked you this oh, about a minute ago." He eyed the sandwich critically. "What's on this?"
"Well, ham and cheese, because you like it, and a little onion." She counted ingredients off on her fingers. "Some mustard. Oh, and grape jelly, because you like that, too. And peanut butter, because what's jelly without it?"
"Ah."
Vincent made a gagging noise. "Gross, Drew."
Duke sighed and took a second bite.
"You're going to eat that?" Jennifer sounded shocked.
He shrugged at her. "Trust me, I've tasted worse. You've never had to choke down an MRE." He smiled at Drew. "The jelly gives it, ah, zing, Rabbit."
"Thanks. Is it modern food?"
"It's SOMETHING, that's for sure." Duke leaned next to Mamma. She gave him a squeeze with one arm.
"How were Willy and Lena?"
"Oh, fine."
"Did Lena say anything to you?" Mamma did her best to look interested in her nails.
"Lena said quite a bit to me. Lena also fed me strudel and gave me coffee." Duke finished his sandwich and put the plate on the counter behind him. He raised an eyebrow and looked down at his mother. She found something really interesting on the nail of her right index finger. Duke put his arm around her waist, hugged her, and leaned down to her ear. "Stop worrying, Mamma. I'll work it all out. Stop worrying about me."
"I have news everyone!" Jennifer stood and dramatically waved her arms.
"I thought something was up. You've been bouncing and ready to explode since lunch." Vincent finished his milk and grinned under a milk moustache. "So, what, there's a sale on at the Mall? The new Rob Lowe calendar come out early?"
"Shut up, Vince. No, it's way, way better." Her eyes sparkled.
"Oh, the two Coreys have become one, massive, all powerful Corey! Panties will fly, I tell you."
"Shut up, Vince. No….it's… RobertShwartzmanaskedmetotheformalonFriday!" Jennifer took a deep breath and then issued a high-pitched squeal at the top of her lungs.
"Wow, really? I hear insanity runs in his family."
"That's wonderful Jennifer!" Mamma smiled. "But didn't he wait a bit long? You don't have much time to get ready?"
Drew looked confused. "It takes you four days to get ready? You're not that ugly."
Vincent laughed "Hi five! Good one, Squirt."
"Mamma!" Jennifer flopped back in her chair and stuck her bottom chin out.
"You two have homework you should be starting?" Drew and Vincent looked at each other and shrugged. "Then go start it."
"Right, Mamma. Hey, Con, I need to talk to you a little later. I need your help with something."
"Sure. You can fill me in on this Robert kid who's after our sister. Do I have to kill him, or can I get away with a little light maiming?
"Conrad!"
"You're lucky, Jenn. He won't kill any boys for me!" Drew looked jealous.
Vincent and Drew went to their rooms. Vincent grabbed an apple on his way out.
Duke smiled at Jennifer. "It's true. She couldn't get me to do it. But I'm all ready for lung removal for you."
"Mamma!"
"He's kidding, Jennifer. He's such a kidder. You're kidding, Conrad."
"Oh, yeah. I can probably just get away with a few taps on his chin."
"Conrad, honestly." Mamma sighed.
Jack came through the back door carrying an engine part. "I think I've got it figured out, Jane…The Toyota should be ready for Vincent to drive himself around in a week. 'Conrad honestly', what?"
"Pop! He's threatening to go after Robert Schwartzman!" Jennifer wailed.
"Why would he do that?" Jack put the part on a piece of newspaper on the table and looked between his daughter and stepson.
"Robert asked me to the formal, that's why. Conrad said he's going to remove his lungs."
"Oh, well, that's no good, Champ. It's his testicles that will need removing." Jack nodded thoughtfully.
"Ooh, there's a thought. A preventive kind of thing."
"Oh God!" Jennifer stalked out of the room, throwing the swinging door shut on the way. Her voice came back through. "Mamma! We need to talk about dresses!"
"After dinner, Jennifer!" Mamma called after her. "I'll come up and we'll see what you've got." She turned to her husband and son. "You two, back off, please. She's been hoping he'd ask her for weeks. Robert's in my second period. He's really a very nice boy."
"Yeah, well, he'd better keep it that way."
"Conrad…"
"Oh, come on, I've been waiting for this kind of thing since she hit puberty. I'm just lucky I was home at the right time. I've missed most of her dates. You really gonna take away my fun?" Duke picked up the pat and examined it. "Oil pump giving you problems?"
"Needs a new gasket and a seal." Jack went to the sink to wash the grime off his hands.
"Urm. Not too hard a fix."
"Conrad." Mamma put a hand on his shoulder. "Fine, enjoy yourself. Just don't get in the way of me having grandchildren." She laughed.
That stung a bit. "Sorry I'm not producing for you, Mamma." Duke put down the fuel pump and left the kitchen, his mother calling after him.
"Wait, wait. Conrad…Kleiner. Wait! I didn't mean it that way! Conrad!"
Duke ignored her and went to see what Vincent needed to talk about.
Duke heard steps behind him and turned to see Jack wander in through the open barn door. "What have you two been up to all afternoon? You disappeared in the car after Vincent finished his homework and I haven't heard or seen you since. I wasn't even sure you came back."
Vincent shook the spraycan and made a few final passes. "Done. We just have to let it dry, and we can put it all back together tomorrow." He looked over at their mother. "Hey, Pop. We just had to get a few things. Con and I had an idea."
Duke smiled. "It was your idea, Vince, and a darn good one. I think it'll work pretty well. We got the coats of paint thin enough. She'll be pretty happy." He turned to Jack. "You just have to help us keep Rabbit out of the barn until tomorrow sometime."
"Shouldn't be a problem." Jack's eyes widened as he took it all in. Their handiwork covered the newspapers all over the barn floor. "Well, you certainly have been busy, boys. Why did you do it? Why all this pink and white?"
Vincent shrugged. "She likes pink. As much as she hates dresses, Drew likes pink. You know she has that She Ra stuff. She told me that her friend Abby was bragging about how many toys she got for her birthday. I think she's jealous of some of the stuff her parents got her. Says Abby made fun of her. She was sort of crying about it."
Duke grabbed a handful of orange smelling Goop hand cleaner and his hands. He wiped it off on a rag and tossed the tub to Vincent. "That crap gets expensive, and I'm not sure Rabbit really plays the same way. So…" He waved over the barn floor, "We went ahead and, well, re-purposed all this."
Jack grinned. "Well, I guess you can be certain none of the other little girls in town will have anything like it." He slapped Vince on the back and shook his head. "Nice job, boys. She'll be thrilled."
Vincent finished scrubbing his hands. Duke handed him a dry rag. "We'll let her have it all tomorrow."
"Good deal, son. Your Mamma says it's about time for supper."
"You two go ahead, I'm going to open the upper door and close everything down here. I'll be in in a few minutes." Duke watched them go. Vincent was about as tall as Jack, his hair as raven black as the older man's had ever been. Now, a few streaks of silver were the only thing differentiating them from behind in the dark light. Father and son. Duke felt something twinge in his chest.
He turned and climbed the ladder into the loft so he could haul open the loft door to let the night air flow in. He stood looking out, and then slid down and sat to stare at the moon. He took a deep breath, inhaling the sweet smell of hay and alfalfa, and let it out in a sigh.
"Conrad!" Mamma's voice carried across the night to the barn. "Come get your supper!"
Duke stood, grabbed the rope hanging by the loft door and slid down to the ground. He pulled the lower door shut and walked past the family stable and across the back yard to the porch, the warm light and good smells from the kitchen guiding him home to his family. Mamma met him at the door.
"Conrad. I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out that way." She sighed. "I know you're not in a position to…I know you have more important things to do."
"It is important, Mamma. It's important to you. Heck, I don't think I want to be alone forever. But I can't tell you where I'll be next month. I can't even promise…it's hard to justify anything like that right now." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I can't even get it together to find a good woman, let alone father kids."
"I thought you found a good woman."
"Mamma…its…complicated."
She smiled. "It sounds like your head is muddled."
"A bit, yeah." He nodded.
"But it also sounds like your heart is clear, dear." She kissed his cheek. "Come on, let's get some dinner in you. My boy goes more than three hours without food, someone's going to suffer."
Climbing out of bed long before dawn Tuesday morning, Duke was happy to find Vincent ready extra-early to run with him. He kept up better this time, even in the dark. They finished at the barn instead of the back porch. Duke slid open the door and they both went inside to check their handiwork. Vincent gingerly touched his finger to a piece.
"It's all dry. Looks pretty good!"
Duke handed him a piece of fine grit sandpaper, and allen wrench and a few different screwdrivers. "Give some of the rims a bit of a sand if it doesn't fit right."
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
"Course, you do, kid. You put together models all the time. Stupid of me." Duke started in on a few parts.
"Ah, don't worry about it. No biggie. Pop tells me stuff I already know all the time."
"Vince, lemme tell you, the older I am, the smarter Mamma and Jack get." Duke chuckled. "Here, hand me that tackcloth."
It took them over an hour, but they got almost everything back together and set up. Duke promised Vincent he'd finish up before three and then they both snuck in to quickly shower. Washed, shaved and dressed, Duke entered the kitchen to find everyone around the table. Vincent was already a good ways into his breakfast. Duke helped himself to oatmeal from the pot on the stove and sat next to his baby sister. "Hand me the brown sugar, will you please, Rabbit?"
She drowsily slid the bowl over to him, and he dropped a few spoonfuls in and chased them with blackberries and a small pour of cream. Jennifer handed him a mug of coffee.
"Ready for school, Rabbit?"
"Mrph."
"Did you finish that project you were working on, boys?" Jack let the top of the front page droop so he could see over the paper.
"Yep. It's all done." Vincent scraped the last of his oatmeal out of his bowl and then took his dishes to the sink.
Mamma came in, her bag slung over her shoulder. "What were you two doing, anyhow, out in the barn all last night? I can count the number of times Conrad's been late for supper on one hand."
Drew looked up. "The barn? Why? What?"
"Oh, you'll see after school, Rabbit." Duke took a sip of coffee and winced. "How much sugar did you put in here, Jenn?"
"A couple of big spoons full."
"A couple?"
"Well, two or three. Four? I forget." She took her bowls to the sink and collected up her books.
Duke pushed the cup away. "I can hear my teeth screaming, Jenn."
"Drew" Mamma's eyes widened. "Why are you still here! You missed the bus again." She walked around behind Drew's chair and ushered her up. "Let's go! I don't have time for this."
Duke waved her away. "I'll take her again, Mamma. You go."
"The dishes…"
"I'll do them, dear. Scoot." Jack dropped the main section and picked up the Sports. He smiled up at his wife. "It's handled, Jane."
"Thank you, dear. Let's go, guys." Vincent and Jennifer followed Mamma out the door.
Duke finished his oatmeal and washed out his bowl. "Let's go, Rabbit. I'll take you on the bike."
"Will you show me what's in the barn on the way?" She took her bowl to the sink, climbed up on her stool to rinse it, and then grabbed her back pack.
"No, that's for after school. But I want you to take the bus home, OK? I want to sort of set it up."
"Do I really have to?"
"Trust me, it'll be worth it."
Duke started as Vincent burst through the door and dropped his books on the workbench. "There you are, kid. Did you beat her back?"
"Yeah, I got Larry to drive me and Jenn home. He never drives below the speed limit, so it was no problem. You finish everything?"
"Oh yeah, it's all together and set up. I even waded through the mess in her room to bring a few of her own toys down." Duke smiled to himself as he looked over the display on the barn floor. "This was a really good idea, Vince. She's going to love it."
Vincent grinned happily back. "I hope she will. I hope it makes that Abbey kid jealous. Making Drew feel bad…" He picked one up and looked at it. "They came out really good."
Duke slapped his little brother on the shoulder. "Kid, this is really, well, it's just really cool. And it's all you. I just helped you. The plan was all yours, Vince. Plus, you know, why you're doing this…"
Duke saw his brother's eyes turn, and look into his. "Well, yeah. We gotta look out for each other, right? All of us."
"So what is it you guys have been…oh my God!" Jennifer stood in the open doorway, looking across the barn floor in awe. "This is…incredible. Where did you get it all?"
"The attic, and a few closets. It was just lying around. She probably would have gotten to it eventually." Vincent put what he was holding down. "Most of it's mine. Heck, some of it was Con's."
"Why didn't I get any of this?"
Duke laughed. "You did. You weren't interested. I seem to recall it wasn't girly enough."
"Well, it certainly is now." Jennifer leaned sat down on a bale of hay and took it all in. "I just came in to let you know she's here, Vince. I had Mamma distract her with a snack so I could warn you. It won't be long. She's desperate to get in here. Pop's there, too."
"Good. Well, it's all ready. Let her come!"
Duke walked to the door and looked out to see Drew dragging Jack and Mamma across the yard. She saw him and doubled her efforts. "Here she comes." He stopped her at the door. "Hey Rabbit. How was school?"
"Great. What's in the barn?"
"Really great, or just normal great? Because, you know, some days aren't worth the 'really'. Than again some days go beyond it to 'amazingly'. Which one was it?" Duke wanted to give Vince time to get to the door. This was his surprise, after all.
"Awesomely great." She tried to peer around him. "What's in the barn?"
"What happened that was great, Rabbit?" He picked her up and turned around so she was facing towards the house.
She tried to twist and look behind her. "Steven Murphy laughed milk out his nose at lunch. It went all over his sandwich. What's in the barn?"
Vincent walked over. "Hey, Drew. You want to know what's in the barn?"
"Yes."
"You sure?"
"Yes!"
"You sure, you're sure?"
"Yes! Vince! Show me? Duke, make him show me!" She wriggled to get free.
"Nothing doing, Rabbit. You really want to see?" He caught her eye.
"Yes! Yes already! Show me!" She saw his sharp look. "Please show me."
He set her down, holding on to one hand, and Vincent took her other hand and led her in. Mamma and Jack followed.
"Close your eyes, squirt." Vincent took a deep breath. "Presenting…Okay, open your eyes…your new Barbie dream line!"
Drew opened her eyes and squealed. "Oh my God. It's so cool!"
Mamma laughed. "Barbie's never been like this before!"
Drew raced over to where Jennifer and the world's best armed Barbie awaited her imagination. Vincent followed, and picked up a toy.
"This is the Barbie dream jeep. Notice the mounted fifty cal. Now Barbie can fight her way through enemy lines to the Prom in style." He fit a doll inside and rolled it over to the next toy.
"She fits right inside!" Drew pointed. "What's that?"
"This is the Barbie forward outpost, complete with Gucci sand bags. And here is Barbie Checkpoint Alpha. Now Barbie can make sure only her friends can get into her parties at the Barbie Dream Command Post, over there. Any party crashers will be absolutely blown away."
Duke grinned as Drew made the pink security gate raise and lower. "Literally blown away. There's a machine gun mounted in the nest there."
Mamma slid down onto a work stool. "Where on Earth did you get all this?"
Jack laughed. "Two boys worth of Army toys, I imagine, dear. Now I'm glad they both never let you throw anything away."
Drew jumped up and ran around to the other end of the breezeway. "What's that?"
Vincent followed her around. "That's how you set up Barbie's Malibu Beach landing for Operation Dream Date. See Ken there in that pink bunker?"
"Conrad, you and Vincent spent all last night spray painting your old toys pink?" Mamma looked up into Duke's face.
"Sure. It was the kid's idea. Neither of us need them anymore. Rabit needed them more."
"Look Jenn, a motorcycle!"
"I see it, Drew."
"That's the Barbie Dream Assault Cycle, with side mounted Dream grenade launcher." Vincent kneeled down to help Drew take Barbie out of the Jeep and fit her on the cycle.
"This is awesome!" Drew jumped the bike over the Barbie Troop Transport. "Thanks, Vincent! Thanks, Duke!"
"Well, boys, that's a wonderful thing to do for your sister."
"Like I said, Mamma, it was all Vince's idea. I just donated a few things and some gruntwork." Duke watched his baby sister get lost in a world of Dream Missions and Sorties. Vincent sat back on his rear and took control of a tank.
"So, Con." Jenn wandered over. "You're the soldier. What's your favorite toy out there?"
"It's between the Barbie Dream One Woman Attack Chopper and the Barbie Dream FLAK Cannon." Duke pointed out both toys. "I mean, no way any other girl is going to get away with stealing Ken now."
"Screw you, Midge!" Drew demonstrated Barbie's military power by driving her motorcycle over the competition several times.
"If I were Ken, I'd stay on the straight and narrow from now on." Jack smiled and shook his head.
"Barbie's armed to the teeth, and taking names." Duke laughed. "Anyhow, Rabbit's happy. This is more her style than some stupid mansion."
"Hey!"
"Sorry Jenn, but we did take your old Barbie make up head and restock it with cammo face paint."
"That's OK, I guess it's better that someone still uses it."
"Well done, Vincent." Jack called over to where Vince was helping Drew set up a classic enfilade around Ken's pink Bunker. A platoon on Smurfs took up the rear flank.
I taught her that.
Duke joined his mother and stepfather to watch happily as Drew mounted an all out assault on Midge and Skeletor.