Gail twisted her hair into a clamp and clipped it up as she exited the large cabin, staring up disapproving at the relentless sun. At least when she was home she could find ways to stay cool, these old cabins had no air conditioning and there was no real shelter from the intense heat.
Caleb was minding the children while the adults set up and spotted Gail come out to join them. He had felt uncomfortable around her since she chose to frame a man for the murder they were all investigating the previous month, and had been avoiding being alone with her. Although there were children about, this was the first time that his Father hadn't interjected his presence so Caleb didn't have to make proper conversation with her and he was suddenly nervous. 'Ma'am' he nodded courteously when she approached, then closed his eyes when he saw her smile falter.
'Ma'am and not Mom? Seriously, we're that formal now?' Gail asked, feeling wounded by his distrust of her after all they had been through.
Caleb tried to find the words to explain how he felt; however, his mind went blank and he just looked at his feet.
Gail's eyes started to well up, so she let out a small laugh and bit her bottom lip to hide how upset she truly was. 'It's alright, you're entitled to your own feelings and I can't blame you for them. It's just a shame I'm not your Father, if I was what I did wouldn't appear so bad as you always seem to accept what he does without judgement' she forced a smile at his inability to answer the comment, then turned towards the large group of children and narrowed her eyes confusion. 'Well, I know you two' she said sarcastically to Luke and Gail Jr.
'Erm, Ben and the Mayor are here too' Caleb volunteered quietly, sensing he couldn't make her any more sad than she already was.
Gail let out a long breath and shook her head. Of course they were, which meant she was required to keep Rita and Mary in line while her Husband did whatever he wanted with the men.
'Don't forget about me' Merlyn smiled happily as she approached the group, leaving Billy to sort their cabin seen as he'd dragged her out here unexpectedly.
Gail turned to Merlyn relieved, happy that there was at least someone here who could keep her sane.
'Y'all alright?' Merlyn asked Caleb and Gail suspiciously, sensing something was different between them.
'If I was Lucas we would be' Gail couldn't resist making the dig, then gave herself a mental shake and went to Luke who was calling for her excitedly.
Merlyn turned towards Caleb confused, not liking the sadness she sensed in her Cousin and the lack of response from him.
'Don't look at me like that, y'all are the adults and need to leave me alone!' he snapped at his Sister, then left them with the children to go do his own thing where he wasn't expected to feel guilty.
Lucas dropped the large stack of wood he was carrying for a moment and pulled off his shirt, allowing the sun to dance across his skin. Although he wasn't sweltering like the rest of his people, he did appreciate the feel of the hot rays on his skin and it wasn't often he got to completely let his hair down other than when he was in his own private property.
Mary and Rita stood watching Lucas intently, letting out an aroused gasp when his shirt came off and nipped at their fingers excitedly when he picked up the large stack of wood again. The women amused Lucas, he had been used to this kind of attention from a young age and he had learned to take the compliment gracefully. Lucas shot them a teasing wink and looked them over seductively, causing them both to blush. They could fantasise all they wanted but this was just a game to him and their was only one woman he craved.
'Disgustin' isn't it? You'd think he'd have more manners around respectful women' Adam said to Ben bitterly, staring at the women disapprovingly as they ogled the Sheriff unabashed and happy when the Deputy nodded unimpressed in agreement.
Billy stared at both men amused, not bothered at all as his woman would never eye up Lucas and took of his shirt too, picking up a large axe by the camp fire area and moving towards his best friend, choosing to really give the women a show.
'Well if that's the rule' Gail said mischievously as she approached the group with Merlyn, then pulled off her vest as she headed closed to her Husband to leave her wearing only a black bra and tiny cotton. She sat down on a large log and stretch out to revel in the sun on her skin, taking this opportunity to sunbathe while the kids were busying themselves elsewhere.
Merlyn saw Billy's mouth drop open at the sight of Gail's bra, then followed suit and stripped off her top too. She agreed with Gail, if the men were happy giving the women a show why shouldn't they give the other men a show too?
'Good girl' Gail smiled proudly when Merlyn spread out beside her on the log, sensing Lucas' disapproval of her stripping down in front of their present company.
'He ain't seriously judgin' you?' Merlyn whispered to her in disbelief, also sensing Lucas' agitation.
'Much like your Brother, it's always one rule for them and another for us' Gail rolled her eyes, then chose to ignore his eyes burning into her and enjoyed the feel of the sun on her skin.
Lucas dropped the wood loudly, waiting for Gail to address him and when she just continued to sunbathe on the log, he felt his rage rising.
'Come on man, they're only doin' what we are' Billy gave him a nudge, signalling towards the other two women by the tree still watching them ravenously and actually proud of his girlfriend for having the confidence to join in the game.
Lucas was not blind to the double standard he was displaying right now; however, the thought of any other man seeing his Wife even partially undressed was starting to send him into a fit of rage.
'Jesus Christ' Gail sighed in exasperation, then stood up and wrapped her arms around him affectionately. 'Come on Master Buck, I'm sure there's some secluded area around her that you want to show me' she whispered in his ear, then bit his bottom lip teasingly.
Lucas' rage instantly subsides and he smiled at her devilishly. 'You understand they'll all know what we're doin' if we just leave like this?' he warned.
'Oh I'm counting on it Soulmate' she winked, then squeezed his behind playfully to show Mary and Rita who he truly belonged to and pulled his hands to her hips.
Lucas slapped her behind hard and started dragging her into the woods, her public show of affection turning him on more than he was allowing himself to show while they were being watched.
'Don't hide on account of those reprobates, it's our vacation after all' Gail advised, then let out a playful scream when he lifted her up suddenly and wrapped her legs around his waste as he whisked her away from their present company.
The remaining adults stared gobsmacked at what they had just witnessed from the two most private people they had ever met, and silence befell the camp.
Merlyn sat still for a moment, suddenly very conscious of how much of herself she was showing, then chose to take a leaf out of her Cousins book and grabbed Billy's hands. 'Well, I for one ain't bein' outdone by people double my age' she whispered in his ear playfully, then giggled childishly when he threw her over his shoulder and slapped her behind, before heading out to find their own private spot.
Ben stared in both directions wide eyed, not believing they had just left him with Rita, the Mayor and his mistress. Rita was frustrating enough these days on her own, his heart sank at the thought of having to handle these other people too. When it was clear that his friends weren't playing and had no intention of retuning any time soon, Ben let out a long sigh and turned towards Adam. 'I guess we better get the wood set up for the kids' he suggested uncomfortably.
'Last thing we need is to be lumped with babysittin' them too', these two are gonna be bad enough' Adam agreed, forcing a smile and wave for Mary when she shot him a suspicious look.
Ben smiled at the comment, clearly feeling as duped as he did. He may actually learn to like this man yet.
Caleb wandered intently through the trees and out into the open where the woods gave way to the small river running parallel to their camp. Being the country boy he was, he loved nothing more than fishing peacefully while the world passed by around him and this area had the potential of becoming one of his favourite places, that was if he had the opportunity to test the water without being disturbed.
'Cal, wait up!' Luke yelled, as he trudged through the woods holding his Sisters hand while Josh, the Mayor's Daughter Emily, Ben Jr and Izzy dragged their heels behind them. When Caleb left the main area, Luke had no intention of being stuck there and followed his Brother closely.
Caleb closed his eyes tight and began counting to ten, you'd think he'd be used to having the kids palmed off on him by now; however, he actually trusted his Father when he said this getaway was for his benefit as much as the adults.
'Silly' Gail Jr said amused as she exited the woods with Luke, sensing Caleb's thoughts and knowing what their Father was like when he managed to drag their Mother out of her usual routine.
Caleb turned towards her and shot her a look of irritation.
'Don't blame us' Luke chimed in, reminding his Brother that he wasn't the only one who had been discarded, then plonked himself down with his Sister on the grass to take in their surroundings.
Caleb let out a long sigh and shook his head, then a thought came to him and a devilish smile crossed over his lips. 'We ain't discarded, we're just unsupervised' he advised, his smile growing wider when his siblings caught on.
'Wait, Momma said we're to be good-' Luke started to protest, but Gail Jr placed her hand over his mouth to silence him and smiled at Caleb mischievously.
'Whatcha talkin' about?' Josh asked nervously, very much feeling out of place on this vacation and sensing Emily was uncomfortable too.
Caleb just shrugged casually, then signalled for his siblings to follow him. When Gail Jr ran excitedly to him, he picked her up affectionately and waved off Luke when his younger Brother remained seated.
'Where you goin'?' Josh asked confused.
'Nowhere good' Luke sighed, then picked up the large twig he had been squeezing in an attempt to keep his composure and resigned himself to whatever trouble Caleb was going to get them into.
-To be continued-