Flutter-Field Ranch

Chapter 4

I came back down the stairs ready to go for the day. My wallet was in my back right pocket, my phone in my front right pocket and the keys that Ms. Clemons had given me to borrow were in my front left pocket. I found the kitchen and dining room area almost completely empty as a small group of elderly women sat at the table eating their food slowly as they discussed today's plans and about how the food was delicious. I was starting up the water in the sink in order to start washing the dishes when one of them came over, turned the water off, shooed me out of the kitchen as she told me that they would get the dishes washed like they did every day, and to leave lunch to them as well... dinner was something that I was able to help with if I really felt like it, according to them. So I grabbed an apple as I left them to their work, and was making my way to truck that Ms. Clemons had told me about when one of the young women came running over to me with a few kids running along with her.

"Miss Roark, I'm so sorry to bother you, but do you think you could help me? The mini-van won't start this morning and the kids need to get to school..." The young woman started speaking as if I might get upset with her, but I smiled at her as I cut her off.

"I can get them there on time, but I don't think this truck is going to be able to fit them all inside." I tell her as I open the back door for the kids, leaving my passenger seat open.

"That's okay, I can take the other half in mine." Drew comments as he comes over to us, "I've got to fill up the tank in town anyway."

"Then I'll just follow you then." I say as I close the doors after making sure the kids in my truck were all strapped in, "Did you want to ride with me or with Drew?"

I had directed this question to the young woman who looked at me for a moment before taking a place in Drew's truck after making sure all of the kids were strapped in. I waited until Drew had backed out of his spot and had started a few feet before I backed out myself and had to stop because one of the kids was shouting out the window at a couple of teens running in my direction. All the windows were already down when the 2 young men and a young girl caught up with my vehicle.

"Hurry up now, wee can't afford to have you guys be late." I shout to them as they helped the girl into the passenger seat and then the guys jumped into the bed of the truck, "Anyone else running out at last minute?"

"We're the last ones." The girl tells me as she gets her seat belt on and looks like she's trying to catch her breath

"We're going to have to work on this last minute rush thing." I joke with her as I follow Drew down the drive, checking on the two guys in the back every now and then to make sure that they were okay and finding that they were.

"I'm the one who woke them up and it still almost didn't make a difference." She sighs heavily, "Sometimes I think they might actually like staying home and doing the hard labor."

"Hard Labor?" I ask her in a questioning tone.

"Anyone who doesn't get to school on time, and isn't sick or injured, is given chores through out the entire school day... and then some." She explains with an expression that tells me that she's had to help out before... and my guess it was because of the two guys in the back.

"When do the three of you graduate?" I ask her and she looks to in surprise.

"They graduate this year, I graduate next year."  She tells me as she gives me a serious look.

I feel as if she's trying to see why I'm so interested in knowing things, I guess it was assumed that I merely was going to take over the family business and wouldn't care or have time for anything else... but that's where they were going to be very, very wrong. I continued to talk to the kids in my truck, asking them about their school, their homework, and by the time we pulled into the school parking lot, we were all disappointed because we were having to much fun. I pulled up behind Drew's truck and got out to help the kids out of the truck, the two young guys getting out of the bed in order to help me... but I stopped them from leaving just yet when they turned to follow the girl into the school building. She stopped as well, because they were her friends after all.

"I'm going to be making it my personal business to make sure you guys aren't cutting things this close ever again. She doesn't have time to be worrying about waking you two up, she has her own studies to worry about, so you young lady, I expect to see in my room in order to study when you get home everyday." I inform her and she nods in response before I turn back to the guys, "As far as you two go, I expect to see some effort in the mornings, and to make sure you do, you both know my truck I drove into town in?"

"Everyone knows about your truck. It's needs fixed." The older of the two comments as they listen to me respectfully.

"Well if you two work on getting up on time, I'm gonna let you fix it up. It'll be your own little project, and once it's fixed up, you two will be able to drive it where ever you want... within reason so long as you keep your grades up until graduation." I tell them, having caught the fact that the two liked to work on cars from the young girl.

"Are you serious?" The second guy exclaims in excited surprise as he smiles brightly.

"I never say anything unless I am serious... of course, once the truck's fixed, I don't ever want to hear of you being late to school again, and that means that you are going to be coming to my room to study everyday too." I inform them in a serious manner, "I can't have you working on the truck and letting your grades slip at the same time."

"Thank you Miss Roark!" The girl smiled brightly at me.

"Rachel, Cole, Sam, you guys need to get going!" The young woman who had asked me to help drive the kids into town called out from where she was talking to a member of the staff by the door.

"Go on, have a good day, okay guys?" I say and they take off running toward the school as they shout good-byes and wave to me.