A/N: Leverage characters are not mine. Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment.

Chapter 5

Resolution

Michele took Sophie and Alice on a tour of the barn. The horses all stuck their heads over the chains to inspect their visitors. Alice pet one. "Can I ride him."

"Well, that's a her." Michele laughed. "Come in a T-shirt, jeans and either boots or tennis shoes we'll put you on Charlie."

Alice quickly walked down to Charlie's stall. "He's big!"

"He's what you call a black bay, which refers to his color. Charlie is a Morgan / Quarter horse mix. He weighs about 1300 pounds."

"He's fat." It was Eliot, walking up behind the ladies.

Michele laughed. "Yes he is."

"There's a gathering at your porch." He grinned.

Michele took a look at her watch. "Momma Bears work fast. You all care to join me?"

"Do you think it will be good news?" Sophie's voice sounded doubtful.

"I think we're going to get a mix response." Michele didn't want to be too hopeful.

Michele greeted the visitors. Noting that half of the wives came, along with several of her clientele and families. "Good afternoon everyone."

Clyde Benning, the council chairman spoke. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"What my dad would have done the minute he got wind of what you are trying to do." She gave him a stern look. Noting that his wife jerked his arm and whispered something in his ear.

"You are trying to shut this ranch down, you succeed at doing this you not only hurt the ranch, its employees, volunteers, but the clientele will suffer the most."

Benning looked at the group of people, holding up his hands. "The council met in an emergency session. We voted on paying the insurance needed to hold the event here at El Rancho." People clapped. "And, and we will change the date of our parade."

Someone yelled from the large group. "What about the council trying to rescind the their nonprofit status?" This stirred up the crowd with talking and nodding.

Waving his arms, Benning, started speaking again. "This is under review by the IRS. It will be determined by them." He began walking off, but his wife didn't move. "Elsie, come on."

She had her hands on her hips. "Clyde, if you think you're going home, think again." She looked at Michele . "There's a group of us..." she indicated the group of people. "we're going to see what we can do about this IRS review." She looked at Clyde as he was about to enter the vehicle, pulling her fob, she locked it. "Old man, you rode with me...but you're not going home with me." Several in the crowd laughed.

Sitting on the front porch, Michele sat back relaxing. The crowd was gone, people have signed up to help at the Gala and the others indicated they knew someone who could benefit from the services.

Jeff walked on the porch taking a seat next to her. "Pretty exciting day."

"Definitely different. A little out of my comfort zone." She looked at him. "Dad was much better at this than I am."

"You want to relax?" He leaned towards her.

"Depends. Doing what."

"It's BINGO night at the Lion's Club tonight." He smiled. "Do you feel lucky, punk?"

She tilted her head. "You know, that sounds kind of fun."

Eliot was walking out of the house just as Michele stood up.

"How about going to BINGO, Eliot?" Jeff looked at him.

"Yeah, that might be interesting." He smiled.

Pulling into the parking lot, they all walked towards the Lion's Club. There was a game already going, so they picked up their cards and dabbers. Picking out a table they all sat down with Michele in the middle of the two men.

Someone yelled BINGO! Numbers checked, a winner was announced. The elderly man went up to the table to collect his winnings. Grinning he started walking back to his table when he saw Michele , Jeff and Eliot. He looked around the room. "Hey, we got celebrities here!" He pointed at the table. Everyone turned towards them, staring. Several people started whispering, while others stood and began clapping.

The elderly man returned with a cup in his hand. "I don't have much, but here." He took his winnings and stuffed it in the cup and set it front of Michele .

She began to object until she saw the beam in his eyes. "Thank you. The ranch will put it to good use." There was another round of applause.

By the end of the evening, the room at the Lion's Club was packed. Some were standing along the wall. Most of the winners stopped by their table leaving some or all of their winnings. Each time, one of three thanked the giver, and received a round of applause.

By the end of the evening the cup was packed with bills. Although there was only a few hundred dollars, Michele felt like the richest woman in the world.

Eliot looked at the cup. "I'm beginning to understand how a stripper feels."

Michele gave him a strange look. "I don't want to know how you came up with that comparison."

Putting the cash in the envelope, she tucked it into the desk. The guys were sitting on the porch, drinking beers. Going back into her room, she stripped and put her clothes into the hamper. Turning on the shower. Minutes later, she stepped out of the shower, leaving the fan on to clear out the steam. She brushed her teeth and hair. With her towel still around her, she walked into her bedroom, finding Jeff sitting on the edge of her bed. He saw her image in the mirror, he stood up and turned around. He took off his cowboy hat and set it on the bed.

Taking a step towards her, he embraced Michele giving her a deep kiss. Michele began unbuttoning his shirt. His hand went on top of hers, stopping it. "Only if I have breakfast tomorrow morning." Removing his hand, her fingers worked quickly.

The sunlight pushed it's way between the vertical blinds, waking Jeff. He turned towards the center of the bed. Michele was still asleep, he smiled. Moving towards her, he kissed her on her neck, then her mouth. She moaned lightly. Reaching around her, he pulled her closer to him. "Good morning."

She smiled and stretched. "Morning." Realizing the sun was up, she looked at Jeff. "What time is it?"

He looked at his watched. "It's 7:30. I bet this is the longest you slept."

"I don't think I slept the entire time."

He gave her another kiss on the mouth.

Eliot was in the kitchen drinking coffee when Sandy came in. "Morning."

"Hey." She set down a box of donuts on the table. "Where's Michele ?"

"I haven't seen her this morning." He took a sip of coffee, smiling into his cup.

"She must be with Jeff, I see his truck is parked in the driveway, maybe in the barn."

"Not there, I just came from the barn." He opened the box, pulling out a donut.

"I better check." She started towards the hall.

"I wouldn't." He turned to look at her, but she was already gone. He whispered. "Stop, wait, don't go." Grinning, he popped a piece of donut in his mouth.

Within seconds Sandy ran back to the kitchen, grabbing her purse, she glared at Eliot. "Why didn't you say anything?"

She turned to leave. Eliot's question stopped her for a moment. "Boxers or briefs."

"None." She ran out the door.

"Good man." He grinned as he grabbed another donut.

A/N: Leverage characters are not mine. Please leave a comment. Thanks for reading.