CH17
She was up, showered, and dressed. It felt really weird to be wearing a uniform again, let alone the giant belt that held all the gear she was wearing. Kate checked her weapon and slid it into her holster.
She looked at herself in the mirror. She had her hair bundled up behind her head and it gave her this serious, greasy, combed back look. It accentuated her face and she kind of thought she liked it. "I look like crap in this color though." She made a disgusted face. Still there was nothing she could do about it so she went downstairs early enough to fix herself breakfast only to smell something cooking as she went down the stairs. Kate found her mother in the kitchen. "There you are! How does it feel wearing a uniform again?" Johanna looked Kate over. She even had a tie, though she had tied it loosely and her collar button was undone.
"Really weird Mom, familiar but weird. What are you doing up so early?" Kate asked. "I'm making my daughter breakfast on her first day on the job, what else would I be doing?" Johanna gave her a glare. "Now sit down and eat; lord knows when you'll eat again. It'll likely be a stupid hot dog or greasy hamburger in some tiny town that doesn't even have a dog for a population." Johanna just knew Kate would probably stop for a burrito even.
Johanna placed a plate on the counter that had two waffles, blueberries, whipped cream, and a strawberry on top and then placed the bottle of 100% maple syrup on the counter. "Now eat like a good girl." Johanna used a tone of voice she hadn't used on Kate since she was five. Still it got Kate to eat until her plate was empty.
"Katie!" Johanna stopped her at the door. She came up and hugged Kate only like a mother could, though if Kate was being truthful, Rick gave better hugs. "Please be careful Katie. I've worried about you ever since you joined the police force. Now you're out in the middle of nowhere with no help for miles." Johanna couldn't help but be concerned.
"I'll be fine Mom, it's nothing I haven't done before. Besides, I'm well trained, I'll be fine." Kate assured her. "I'm still going to worry, it's a mother's prerogative to worry. Someday you're going to find that out." She simply rolled her eyes and kissed her mom's head on her way out to her car. She had picked it up yesterday with her mother's help. "I'd rather drive my Jeep," Kate moaned but this vehicle had government issued items in it and on it. Plus it had space her Jeep didn't.
Kate had her route printed out and entered in her own GPS so she knew where she was going. She drove up to US85. "Turn right on US85," the GPS's female voice said to her. She debated if she should, but her mother didn't give her anything except for what she drank with her waffle. "Fine." She drove straight across the highway. "Make a U-turn," the voice told her. "Oh, shut-up," Kate grumbled at her GPS unit.
She parked up near Rick's garage door noticing that his truck was missing. "Please tell me he didn't go somewhere." Kate got out and walked up the stairs and rang the doorbell. What she immediately heard was Midas and Maggie going nuts. It sounded like they were going to rip her limb from limb. She watched the door open and found Rick at the door with Alexis right behind him still dressed in her pajamas. "Deputy Beckett, to what do we owe the pleasure?" he asked as Alexis grinned at her and Midas and Maggie were giving her new outfit a thorough inspection with their noses.
"I was wondering if that offer for coffee was still open?" Kate knew she wasn't going to last long without more coffee. "Do come in Deputy and let me fix you up." He stepped back, opened the door wide, and motioned for her to enter. She went inside with the dogs right behind her and followed Rick and Alexis into the kitchen. "What are you doing up so early Alexis?" Kate asked since the sun wasn't even up yet and the school didn't open for at least another 2 hours.
"Alexis has a field trip as part of her class today and I couldn't get her to go back to sleep," Rick explained as he started pouring coffee into something. "So you must be excited about this trip to be up this early." Kate looked at Alexis and watched her smile bloom and nodded enthusiastically. "It's going to be cool."
"Here you go Deputy Beckett." Rick handed over a metal container. She took it and held up the cord that was hanging from it, looking at him for an explanation. "It's electric, plug it into a power outlet and it'll keep your coffee hot so you don't have to drink cold coffee," he explained. Kate's face softened. "Thanks Rick." She turned to leave but he stopped her. "This is yours, too." He handed over a bag. "It's your lunch. It even has one of those blue frozen cold packs inside to keep it chilled for you. And have I mentioned how much I love a women in uniform?" he inquired.
"Seriously Rick? Did you get that line from one of your movies?" Kate chastised him. "Well, if it makes you feel better..." Rick moved in to whisper into her ear. "I'd be happy to take it off you." The thought of him stripping her of her uniform had her blood turning hot as some of it went south. It wasn't long ago when she had dreamed of him dong just that.
'Kiss him, kiss him, kiss him.' the stupid voice in her head demanded. Kate licked her lips since her mouth was suddenly dry. "Maybe another time Rick. Thanks for the coffee and the lunch." She lifted up both and headed for the front door. He followed her all the way out to her car and was leaning up against it as she started it and rolled down the window. "What is this…thing?" He most definitely didn't approve. "It's a Dodge Durango with absolutely no options on it. I'm guessing I should be grateful that it has a radio and I don't mean the police radio." Kate answered his question.
"And what is the Sheriff driving?" Rick questioned. "He has a 2001 Ford Eddie Bauer version Explorer," she told him, not trying to hide her disgust of this situation. "You get a creepy Dodge while he drives a state of the art Ford Explorer? There's something seriously wrong with this picture," he declared.
"It's fine Rick, I'm the rookie so I get the shit equipment and the shit missions. It happened when I was a rookie with the NYPD. It's nothing new." Kate didn't have a problem with it. "Well, I have a problem with it. What if you break down in this disaster-on-wheels out in the middle of nowhere where there's no cell service?" Rick hated this idea. "Wait right here, do not go anywhere." He pointed at her and ran back inside the house and was back out in moments.
"Here take this with you." Rick handed something over to her. It looked like a phone. "What's this?" Kate didn't understand, she had her own cell phone. "It's my satellite phone, I want you to take it with you just in case." She shoved it back at him and shook her head. "No Rick, I'm not taking your phone." Except he stepped back and didn't take it from her. "I have my cell phone and I have the police radio. I'll be fine." She reached out further to get him to take it back from her, only he just stepped back further.
"Take it, please. Don't make me sit at home and imagine all kinds of things that could go wrong out there. I'm a writer remember, with a very active imagination. Don't do this to me Kate, please." He was already dreaming up scenarios where she ended up dead because she didn't have a phone. "Fine," Kate relented. "Do I get a kiss good-bye?" she asked and gave Rick her best hurt look. He started to take a step forward, all set to plant a big one on her lips when he stopped and stepped back. "So you can shove my own phone down my shirt and take off on me? I don't think so. Now have a nice first day on the job and I'll order another satellite phone." He was on to her tricks.
Kate made a face, irritated that he had figured out her little scheme. "Fine." She placed his satellite phone in a cubby hole of her car. "Do be careful Kate," he urged. "I'll be fine Rick, I've done something like this before," she told him and started her car then began backing up, watching him wave as she drove away.
'We'll be fine. I'll be here, always.' the voice in the back of her head told her. "That's what I'm afraid of," Kate said out loud, worried that the voice would never go away. How was she supposed to stay sane if she kept having a voice in her head talking to her?
"Dad, why did Kate look funny?" Alexis asked after he came back inside. "That's the uniform Kate's required to wear for her work. She'll be gone all day from now on since she has a job," he explained. "Oh." Alexis thought about it. "Will Kate ever come back?" Alexis didn't want for her to leave forever. Rick got down to her level. "Of course she'll be back. A lot of people leave home for the day to work. They work to make money so they can buy things and make their lives better. When I'm on the computer I'm working. I just don't have to go somewhere else to work. Kate has to leave to help people stay safe. They need her. They can't come to her, so she goes to them. She will be back late tonight. Maybe in time to eat with us tonight at her home," he clarified. Johanna had asked Rick and Alexis to come over since her guinea pig was leaving the nest and she needed someone to cook for so she could get in some practice.
"Oh okay." Alexis was proud of Kate for helping people who needed her help.
Rick drove Alexis to school where he met up with Paige, Jenny, and their parents. They were all waving bye as the school bus left with their little girls and everyone else from their class. "Ready to finish? I'm hoping we can finish today," he said. "All set, we'll follow you there." And two cars and one big truck showed up at his house.
It took almost no time to finish the second tower. They had the picnic table, deck, and bridge in place by lunch. "You guys hungry?" Vicki asked as she and Veronica carried out lunch for all of them. "I still want your kitchen Rick," Vicki remarked. "I know the architect who did my kitchen. He was out here last week to help the Beckett's across the street with their upstairs apartment. When he comes out here again I can send him over," Rick offered. "I'm only wishing Rick, we don't have the money to get a kitchen like yours," Vicki had to admit. "You'd be amazed at what Oscar can do for you with a really small budget. I'll bring him over next time." He wasn't taking no for an answer.
The swings, rock wall, and slides were next and were completed a little before dinner. Rick gave each couple an envelope and wouldn't let them open it before they left to go home.
He showered and drove Alexis and the dogs across the street for dinner. "Did you finish your project?" Johanna asked as she was loading up the table with today's selections."All done, you should see it," Rick replied. "It's HUGE!" Alexis spread her arms wide to emphasize her opinion on how big it was. "It's really that big?" Johanna went with it and watched Alexis nod, smiling widely. "Well, I'll just have to come over tomorrow and look at it," Johanna said.
"Have you heard anything from Oscar yet?" Rick asked her. "Just this morning actually. He wanted me to add wine to the list and sent me the steps required to get a liquor license. Names, phone numbers, who to talk to, and where to go. That man is amazing." Johanna was impressed. "He also reminded me to come up with a kid's menu. That may have to wait though. I'm having enough trouble with the main menu," she told him. "You'll figure it out." Rick was convinced she would come up with something.
"I've been thinking about the western costumes actually," Johanna commented between bites. "Have you reached any conclusions?" Rick was interested in hearing them. "I've only got 2 steaks and maybe 2 BBQ items at this point and that just doesn't sound western to me. I don't want a Texas steakhouse. So I was thinking of giving the employees black shirts that had the name of the place and maybe a logo on them. Have them supply their own black pants and black shoes. Just keep it simple and understated. I'm also still thinking about the paper cowboy hats and giving the kids a few crayons so they can draw what they want on them and take the hats home with them," Johanna replied.
"A logo sounds nice. Maybe something to do with the Yellowstone theme. A silver geyser perhaps. A pond filled with colors. Both would look good on a black shirt or polo," Rick suggested. "I was thinking fireworks exploding in the sky," Johanna said. "I like it. Three color bursts that overlap each other a little maybe," he proposed. "You could have a short fireworks display on a select day each week or each month maybe. Something short, perhaps 3 or 4 of those multiple shot boxes. Say $10 per box. It wouldn't last long but if you did it each week the cost would add up though. Maybe the same day each month unless it's raining or snowing too hard," he said thoughtfully.
Johanna was liking the sound of it more and more. She'd never heard of a restaurant shooting off fireworks. Maybe it would help spread the word. "I could show them on the billboards Oscar wants me to put up on the highway," Johanna speculated. "We need to take notes before we forget," Rick recommended which got Johanna to get up and come back with pen and paper. "We can send it to Oscar in an email before we go home," he offered just as the front door opened and in walked a dead-on-her-feet Kate.
The dogs were immediately all over her. "Hi Midas, Maggie," she said, petting them. "Katie, honey, how was your first day?" Johanna got up to get her a plate, silverware, and something to drink. "I've never seen so many dirt roads in my life." She collapsed into a dining room chair after she took off her belt and placed her weapon on the table next to her. It occurred to her that she was going to need to get into the habit of what to do with her gear when she got home. She didn't like placing her weapon on the table with Alexis here, but decided it was fine for now.
Johanna started dishing out what they were eating onto Kate's plate for her, since she looked dead on her feet. "Anything happen today?" Johanna asked. "You mean besides the flat I got and the driver's seat that's killing me? Then no, nothing happened," she responded. "Oh, by the way Rick. Thanks for the lunch and the coffee. Both came in handy. I have to get a tire tomorrow before I go anywhere." Kate had shredded it when it blew so she needed a tire desperately.
"I'll have both ready for you again in the morning, just stop by and pick them up," he told her. "Thanks." Kate started eating since she was starved. "WOW Mom, what is this?" She started eating faster. "Slow cooker venison roast with three cheese potatoes, and green beans, with grapes, onion, and bacon," Johanna answered her question. "Is this going on the menu?" she asked with her mouth full. "I haven't decided yet," Johanna replied. "She has, however, decided on a design to go on her shirts and out on the roadside billboards," Rick said. "A burst of colorful fireworks. She's even going to have a short fireworks display each week or maybe monthly," he informed her.
"Fireworks! That sounds nice. I've never heard of a restaurant shooting fireworks before. Isn't everyone going to be inside though and not see them?" Kate questioned, shooting a hole in their idea. "Maybe we can get Oscar to have some outdoor seating for summer," Rick suggested thinking those people would see them. "So the fireworks would only be during summer?" she asked. "It's still a good idea." He defended it. "No, I like it. But it just doesn't sound very practical in the fall or winter which can be bad here," Kate countered.
"Maybe Oscar can come up with something that has fireworks indoors. Using lights perhaps," Rick mused. "Are you still going with the Yellowstone look? Why not have your logo be something to do with that. Geysers or something. Set off fireworks each time the local college team wins a game? Baseball, Football, something," Kate said off the top of her head. Johanna started writing all of that down so she could talk to Oscar about it.
"Want to use the sauna and work out some of the kinks?" Rick offered. She shook her head. "I'm going to take a bath and just relax," Kate said wearily. "The tub has Jacuzzi jets," he offered again. "I'll be fine. It's worked before should work again," she turned him down once more.
She ate, went upstairs, and didn't come back down. "Was Kate like this when she was an officer?" Rick asked sounding concerned. "Kate had her own apartment by then so I can't really answer that. Maybe once she gets used to it she'll be better," Johanna said hopefully.
Still Rick was worried as he drove Alexis and the dog's home that night after thanking Johanna for the meal and making arrangements for them to be guinea pigs again. He went online looking for something and had it sent overnight by air.
Airhawk Airhawk R Seat Pad AHR
Center cutout area runs from front to back of cushion
Re-designed cell geometry improves airflow under the rider: No Hot Seat
Back cutaway allows for a tailbone relief area with a tapered transition for increased comfort
All other properties of regular AirHawk cushions
3-year manufacturers limited warranty
"Is Kate okay Dad?" Even Alexis was concerned for her. "Kate's fine pumpkin, she's just tired from her new job. It requires her to sit a lot and drive a long way each day. Once she gets used to it, she'll feel better, you'll see. It's late and it's time for you to be in bed," Rick informed her and watched as she dragged herself upstairs to her room to get ready.
"I really hope Kate adjusts to her job," he said to himself.