CH11

Rick decided to pull out all the stops as Midas and Maggie sat in the kitchen and watched every move he made. "Oh, alright you two." He relented and pulled out the Turkey Jerky doggie treats and gave each of them one that they almost swallowed whole.

Rick had already thawed some bread dough earlier so he started with that and soon had a loaf in the oven spreading the smell of baking bread throughout the house. Next came three steaks out of the freezer and he started defrosting them; two sirloin steaks and one New York strip steak. He didn't have time for mashed potatoes even though he had raw potatoes, so he cheated and measured out what he needed from a green beans also came from the freezer along with the turkey gravy he'd made for Christmas dinner. He'd frozen what was left over using the vacuum sealer machine. He was only just starting on the green salad when, while keeping an eye on Midas and Maggie, he watched them scramble out of the kitchen without barking. That told him they had figured out that Alexis was home.

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"What!?" Kate asked taking a peek at her mother in the passenger seat of Johanna's car that Kate was driving. "You're sure you don't want me to drive so you can keep your arms around Alexis?" Johanna teased her daughter. Kate had only let go of her when she had escorted her mother to the front door as they watched Rick drive away in his really big truck. "I…" Kate didn't know what to say. That voice in the back of her head was telling her to go to Rick's house and hold onto Alexis at the same time. She had simply overridden the voice and drove. "It's alright Katie. She is pretty irresistible," Johanna commented and turned her head to look in the back seat at Alexis who was just sitting there smiling.

Kate's and Johanna's eyes opened wide when they came into view of Rick's house. "Rick lives here?" Kate squeaked. "You live here?" Johanna turned to look at Alexis who simply nodded. "He has a travel trailer too," Johanna noticed. "I hope he has the space he needs if he plans on taking himself and 5 little girls in that thing." Kate also noticed the large pile of boxes but held her tongue as she parked behind Rick's truck blocking him in.

Kate and Johanna had their heads on swivels as they walked up the stairs towards the front door. "It's a real honest-to-god log home," Johanna remarked as Alexis ran out in front of them to the front door. "It's not a log home Mom, it's a mansion." Kate was still spending her time looking everywhere, right up until two big dogs ran out the front door headed right for them. Two big Dobermans! "Midas, Maggie!" Alexis yelled. It was like she had flipped a switch. The dogs wheeled around and went right back to her as Kate and Johanna kept walking to the door. It was at the door where Alexis stood that Kate and Johanna got the treatment. Two dog noses inspected everything.

"They're mostly harmless. They're just protective of Alexis. They're still puppies and have grown up around Alexis whom they have decided needs to be protected." Rick walked up to them and closed the door behind them. He was right behind them as they both walked in with their mouths hanging open. "Living room, dining room to one side. The kitchen is through the opening. Three bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms upstairs. Theater room, exercise room, game room, and another full bath plus laundry downstairs."

"I love the fireplace," Johanna mentioned as she walked towards it. "I love the windows," Kate murmured and went right up to them to look outside. She saw the view they had out into the small valley beyond. "I own 179 acres that goes way out that way, a little ways to the right and the left and out front all the way to US85. Most of it's wooded except for this little valley and what's out front," Rick explained.

"Is that bread I smell?" Johanna asked. "I find that freezing the dough to be baked later works out better than buying loaves of bread and freezing them," Rick explained. "Make a note Katie, we're freezing our dough to be baked later," Johanna told Kate who silently agreed. "Need any help with dinner?" Johanna offered. "Not necessary, you're our guests, I can manage," Rick assured her. "And speaking of dinner, I need to get busy." He headed for the kitchen not noticing that Johanna was right behind him til he reached the refrigerator.

"I love your kitchen," Johanna stated as she looked around. She loved the floor, the countertops, the cabinets weren't too dark, and she even liked the backsplash. "So what are you working on?" Johanna wasn't taking no for a response. "I was just about to start making the green salad. Baked potatoes take too long so I was going to cheat and use potato flakes and add water with milk mixed in," he admitted. "Leave the salad and baked potatoes to me, you handle everything else. I have a few tricks," Johanna told him and opened the giant refrigerator. "Well?" she said, glaring at him.

"I'll, ah…I'll go start the grill," he said and headed for the door off the kitchen leading to the backyard. "You do that," Johanna agreed, taking over Rick's kitchen. She found the potatoes, rubbed them with olive oil, sprinkled them with salt and pepper, jabbed them a few times with a fork then put all of them in the microwave and set it on high for 5 minutes. She started pulling things out of the refrigerator. She found the frozen beans he was likely going to use, except she found an entire bag of snap beans in the refrigerator. Johanna guessed he had forgotten he had them. "Katie, get in here." She was going to put her daughter to work. "What happened to Rick?" Kate asked as she walked into the kitchen and looked around. "This is really nice."

"Here, snap these beans, fry at least 8 strips of bacon, cut these grapes he has in half,bring a half pan of water to a boil with an eighth teaspoon of salt in it, and cook the beans after you're done snapping them." Johanna gave her directions. "What happened to Rick?" Kate thought he was cooking. "He's outside tending to the grill, right where a man who thinks he can cook should be," Johanna stated and glared at Kate til she started frying the bacon followed by snapping the beans. Johanna finished the green salad using what she found in his refrigerator, though she had to admit he was well stocked. Maybe she was short changing him in his ability to cook.

Kate was still frying the bacon while cutting grapes in half when Rick came into the kitchen and picked up the steaks and went back outside.

"Are you making cookies?" Alexis entered the kitchen followed by the dogs who stuck their noses in everyone's business. "I'll start those right after we eat. Do you want to help?" Johanna asked her. "Can I?" Alexis was excited. "Of course. If I can't teach Katie to cook I can teach you," Johanna said, teasing her daughter. "I'm standing right here Mom." Kate stopped cutting grapes. "If the water is boiling put the beans in," Johanna responded. She checked the potatoes and set the microwave for another 5 minutes. Johanna found the pasta and started boiling some more water for it. Then she went looking for mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, and started chopping a small amount of onion. "Find a bowl to put the beans in when they are done," Johanna instructed Kate.

Johanna was soon stirring the beans, onions, vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, and the grapes in the bowl just as Rick came in with the steaks. "I hope you like them medium with a little pink inside," he said. "Sounds perfect," Kate mentioned. "Help me set the table?" he asked opening cabinets and handing things to her leaving the plates on the countertop. Rick and Kate were just finishing when Johanna walked out with the bowl of green salad that had onions, grapes, baby tomatoes, trim slices of carrots, and sunflower seeds that she had found.

Next came a plate that had the New York strip steak, beans and a potato on it. It was followed by two more steaks and a plate that just had the beans and a potato on it. "I assumed she was getting part of your steak," Johanna mentioned just as the oven alarm sounded. Rick went into the kitchen while everyone sat down and Johanna started cutting up Rick's steak to put pieces on Alexis's plate. "MOM!?" Alexis was his child not hers. Johanna paid Kate no mind and finished what she was doing and sat down.

Rick came in with a plate of sliced fresh bread and then returned with a glass of milk followed by glasses of ice water.

"Why did you move way out here?" he asked to break the silence. Kate opened her mouth and then closed it. What did she say? "I lost my husband and wasn't handling it well. We decided to escape New York to get away from the memories," Johanna replied, letting Kate off the hook which surprised her. Her mother hadn't talked much about that time. "I'm sorry. What happened if you don't mind my asking?" he asked, wanting more information. "Dad was run over by a drunk. A rich drunk who was driving without a license due to numerous DUIs. His blood alcohol level was so high at the time it was a miracle he was even conscious," Kate answered, sparing her mother. "I'm still sorry. Losing a loved one suddenly is one of the worst things to happen to a family. What did he do for a living?" Rick asked another question. "He was a lawyer, we both were. Jim was good with corporate law while I was more a public defender. I preferred to help those that needed it but couldn't afford it. I usually picked my own cases instead of having them handed to me by the courts," Johanna explained.

"And what about you? Another lawyer?" he asked figuring Kate had followed in her parents footsteps. "I actually started out that way. I even took a semester in pre-law at Stanford, until I decided it wasn't for me. I chose to go to a different school after I left there," Kate told him. "Hm, a specialty school I'm guessing," he surmised. "Police academy actually," she said. His eyes widened. "You were a cop?" He would never have guessed. "I spent my time on the streets in a car before I passed my detective's exam," she told him. "I liked the idea of getting people justice using a different method than what Mom was doing." Kate offered her short explanation. It was a little more complicated than that, but she wasn't ready to talk about it now.

"Detective…Robbery, Vice?" Rick knew there were specialties. "Homicide actually," Kate corrected him. "Like the murders in my books?" It was a strange world if these two were now his neighbors. "I've been trying to get Katie to read your books for weeks, months…" Kate interrupted her. "Why would I spend my day putting murderers away only to come home and read about them?" She once again gave her already well-used excuse to not read those kind of books.

"You're a police officer?" Alexis asked, getting into the conversation. "I used to be sweetie, but not anymore. I might even have my old police uniform somewhere. I got to ride around in a police car with lights and siren," Kate told her. "COOL!" Alexis was impressed. "So what now?" Rick asked. "Oh no, your turn. Tell us why you moved out here with your daughter," Kate countered since she had no idea what she or they were going to do. They still had roughly a million of the original 1.85 million so money wasn't pressing.

He took in a deep breath and let it out. "I left this area when I was in my early 20s to get away from my father. I was always relatively good at writing and moved to New York to make my fortune. Didn't really work out that way initially. Still I managed to get my first book published…" Johanna interrupted him. "In a Hail of Bullets," she said. "You really are a fan it you read that." Rick was impressed. "You have no idea." Kate shook her head.

"Anyway when I started the Derek Storm series my publisher and publicist came up with this plan to increase sales. It meant more money so I went with it. Alexis was barely more than a baby. They advertised me as a playboy, someone who would…well, bring home any woman who looked my way. They would assign women to hang on my arm whenever I went to events. The reality was far from what they published," he said. "I read about some of that. I thought it tarnished your name and would actually lower book sales. Increase the number of women who came to your book signings, yes," Johanna remarked. "Actually the numbers did go up so I kept up with it and as sad as it sounds, started liking it. Up until an event that changed everything." He stopped talking and took a drink of his water wishing it was scotch. Kate noticed his hand shaking. 'It must be really bad,' she thought.

"I got a call from Alexis's school. She had gotten into a fight in school," Rick paused as Kate and Johanna watched Alexis try to disappear in her chair. She wanted to be anywhere but at the table. "She had gotten into a fight defending my honor. Apparently some of the kids' parents were talking and the kids overheard them or their parents were telling them on purpose," he explained.

"They were being mean to my daddy." Alexis was still willing to defend her dad.

"That was the event that got me to wake up. I made arrangements to have this house built. Just before it was done, my contract with Black Pawn ended and I left both them and my publicist. I sold everything - properties, cars, everything, and moved us here. I haven't regretted the decision. Living out here has been…like being free again. No noise, fresh air, you can see the stars at night. Plus I don't have anyone breathing down my neck trying to get chapters for my next book. No more parties with women who have more brains in their, ah...then they have in their head." Rick had to be careful with Alexis around. Still Kate and Johanna got the point.

It also told Kate that he wasn't a man who was only interested in woman with big boobs. That made her smile, she actually may have a chance. 'And just where the hell did that thought come from?' she wondered.

"My only real fear was that Alexis wouldn't like it here. That she wouldn't make any friends at school, leaving her all alone. Fortunately she's found a few. Paige and Jenny," Rick said and looked at Alexis. "They're nice," Alexis simply stated.

"Stay for a movie? I have ice cream and coffee," Rick offered, hoping his enticement would encourage them to stay a little longer. Kate's eyes widened. It was the one thing they didn't have in their new home. She was guessing the previous owners didn't drink coffee, since neither kitchen had so much as a cheap Mr. Coffee machine.

"Coffee it is. Have a seat in the living room while I make it," Rick offered and picked up his and Alexis's plates, only to find Kate and Johanna right behind him with their plates.

Rick used his fancy machine to make lattes for everyone as Kate watched every move. Kate watched the espresso go in first, followed by steamed milk, and then came two different syrups of which Kate only caught one. (Peppermint). Next he took out a can of whipped crème and squirted on the top of the coffee then she watched him grate a piece of chocolate over that. Finally he put a straw in it. "Here, try that." Rick handed it over to Kate who took a hesitant pull on her straw and watched her eyes light up. "You look more like…" and he started making another one. Kate saw him start out with espresso again, then added three different syrups only one of which Kate caught the name of (Vanilla). That was followed by whipped crème and then he took a piece of chilled caramel and grated it, sprinkling it on top and stuck a straw into it and handed it over to her mother.

Johanna took a sip. "WOW, this is good." And Johanna took an even bigger sip. "Is that pumpkin spice and vanilla? I can't place the other." Johanna took another sip. "It's Toffee Nut," Rick explained and began making something else that didn't involve the coffee machine. It had ice cream, milk, two syrups, both of which Kate missed reading, more whipped crème and sprinkled some crushed nuts over it. He handed it to Alexis. "Thanks Dad." And Alexis started sucking on her straw while walking back into the living room.

"I haven't forgotten about you two," Rick called and Kate and Johanna watched him take a bag out of a cabinet and take two items out. The dogs crowded him as their teeny tiny tails wagged excitedly. He gave each of them their Turkey Jerky strip which was almost swallowed whole. "It helps if you two chew it you know," he chastised them, not that Midas or Maggie noticed.

He made a latte for himself and followed Kate and Johanna out to the living room. "What do you two plan on doing now that you're here?" Rick went back to his and Johanna looked at each other. "You could always open your own law office. There are a number of people who live out here who don't have a lot of money," Rick said. He could tell Johanna was hesitant about doing that. "Be a consultant or broker directing people to the right lawyer for what they need. Don't actually take on cases, just direct them to people who can help them. Charge them pennies on the dollar. Even people who don't make much can have a problem taking handouts," Rick offered and saw Johanna's eyes light up.

Kate was smiling wide. Rick had found something that seemed to reach her mother who just weeks or months ago had shut-down completely. "What about Katie?" Johanna asked now that he had given her something to think about. Kate presented him with a challenge. She didn't want to be a lawyer and used to be a homicide detective. He doubted there was much of a law enforcement agency in this town. "Be a deputy to the local sheriff. Run for sheriff when he comes up for election? Run for mayor maybe when his term is up? Start your own business? I could teach you how to make that." Rick pointed to the drink she was holding. "Open a coffee shop?" Kate stated incredulously, not sure it was for her. "That or a donut shop?" he teased. "Oh funny, very funny," she countered, sticking her tongue out at him, causing him to start laughing.

"Cookie shop," Alexis offered since she loved cookies. "COOKIES! We need to start making cookies." Johanna had forgotten and started to get up. Kate loved seeing her so active and engaged in living again, however... "Maybe another day. Mom, we still need to go grocery shopping. Our refrigerator is completely empty," Kate pointed out which got Johanna to sit back down again. "I'm sorry sweetie, maybe next time." Johanna really didn't want to have Alexis angry with her. "That's okay." Alexis was disappointed about not getting to make cookies though. "We'll stop at their house after school tomorrow. That will give her time to make you your cookies," Rick said. "And we'll go shopping for what I need to make those cookies tonight." Johanna and Kate left their empty glasses behind.

"Thanks for inviting us," Johanna said. "I should be thanking you. You made the dinner, all I did was grill," Rick countered. "And I can cook again tomorrow when you come over for cookies," Johanna offered, paying no attention to Kate and the look she was giving her.

"We'll be there. Thanks for coming." Rick drew Johanna into a bear hug the likes of which she had never experienced. Johanna melted into his arms and felt some of her pain disappear.

"Think about it. You could take over the sheriff's job in a year or two," Rick suggested and pulled Kate into a hug. She also melted into Rick. 'Gods above, but this man knows how to give hugs! - Kiss him, maybe he knows how to do that too,' the voice in the back of her head said. Kate actually started lifting up on her toes to do just that before she took over and simply rubbed her lips across his jaw, feeling the light stubble of his unshaved face. Still it had her heart pounding.

Kate was driving them into town. "WHAT!?" she said loudly looking at her mother who was staring at her.