Flutter-Field Ranch

Chapter 5

"You really do have a head for this business stuff don't you?" Drew asks me as they gradually get through my massive amount of office necessities.

"I've always been good with numbers, and so long as it doesn't involve my own personal organization, I can keep anything in its proper order... which is how my room will stay organized if I'm using it as an office at the same time." I reply as I give him a small smile.

"I think I'm going to enjoy watching you go crazy here for a bit while you get all of this organized." He chuckles softly as he holds up each of the printers in turn.

"I won't go crazy... can't say that it won't look like I am, but when I get focused on my work, I tend to look a little frazzled when I'm really not." I laugh softly as I pull out my card and pay for everything when they're done ringing everything up, "Now where's the closest car lot?"

We load all of the stuff that I purchased into the bed and back seat of my father's truck and minutes later I'm following Drew's instructions to the town's best car lot... and I'm sad to say that I've seen bigger and better selections in several of the towns on my way to this one. However, this one had enough of a selection for what I needed for today.

"The trucks are on that side of the lot." Drew tells me as he points to a section of the lot when we're headed to the Lot-Office... but that's not the part of the lot that I'm currently looking at.

"How can we help you miss?" A gentleman asks me as he walks over to meet me.

"Good Afternoon... I want to look at the Vans that you have available." I reply with a bright smile as I feel Drew's eyes on me, "One of the bigger ones that can carry around 8 or more people, if you have any."

"Let's take a look at what I've got in stock for you today." The salesman smiles at me just a little to brightly.

We walk around looking at their selections, Drew and I both looked under the hood of any van I actually looked at, but I finally settled on a Cool-Gray van that looked like is should have a church name painted across the side of it... it could seat around ten people in the back and then the driver and passenger seats.

"Why did you just by a van?" Drew asked as the salesman went to go get the paperwork started for me as I went back to my father's truck.

"Because school's almost out, and the van that they currently have is probably still in need of work because their best mechanic is standing right here next to me... and besides, I wanted to help out, is there something wrong with helping out my long lost family?" I reply as I grab my check book and then turn to look at him directly.

"No, there's nothing wrong with it." Drew comments slowly, "But I don't see why we needed a NEW van."

"We needed a NEW van, because I said so... it's my homecoming gift to everyone, and besides it goes with the emergency first aid kit and gas-jugs I bought." I reply as I give him a mischievous smile.

He just chuckles under his breath as he shakes his head a little in my direction, before following me into the building in order to sign the paperwork and to write them a check for the full amount of the vehicle... as we walked out of the building, I checked my watch and smiled at Drew as I stopped by my father's truck.

"Try not to scratch my father's truck for me. I'm going to get the kids now." I inform Drew as I hold out my keys toward him.

"You aren't like any of the girls I've ever met." Drew tells me just before I go to turn toward the van.

"How would you know? We only just met yesterday." I tease him with a kind and then get into the driver's side of the van.

I pulled out of the car lot, headed for the school pickup area and found the kids standing waiting for their ride... And watched as their eyes lit up when they saw me pull up in front of them and get out to open the doors for them.

"Your ride home is ready for you guys." I tell them as I bow for them in a half graceful movement.

Their cheering was enough to put a smile on my face... Up until a young man from the senior class came up behind the kids and grabbed Rachel by the arm.

"Let go of me Craig." I heard Rachel tell the young man as she tried to get free of his grasp.

"You think you're better than me? The daughter of a whore, better than me?" The young man laughed as he seemed to tighten his grip on Rachel, "No whore's daughter is gonna make a fool out of me!"

"No she won't... but I'm gonna do more than embarrass you if you don't let Rachel go this second." I inform the young man darkly as Cole and Sam seem to flank me... anger resonating from both of them.

"And just who in the hell are you? Her fairy godmother?" The boy laughed as he tossed Rachel to one of his buddies, "I don't care if you're the freaking tooth fairy, she's gonna give me what I want from her and that's the final word on the matter."

He turned away from me, which was a mistake on his part, because I grabbed his arm and twisted it at a painful angle behind his back.

"You don't get the last word when it comes to ANY of my kids." I snarl into his ear and then spin him around so that he lands on the ground to my left as I step forward and take Rachel from his buddy, "Now, you WILL stay away from her, or I'm sure you'll get embarrassed by me again. Understand?"

When ask the young man did was state at me as I kept Rachel within my arms, I turned us both toward the van and looked to the boys.

"Cole, Sam, why don't you guys help Rachel to the van. Can you do that for me?" I am them and come immediately grand Rachel's bag from the ground and Sam takes Rachel from me, both of them guiding her to the van.

"Looks like the country bumpkins have a new ring leader." An icy voice cuts across the scene and it makes my spine shudder a little, but when I turn to see who spoke, feel a deep hatred form within me for no reason as I meet this young girl's confused look with a quizzical one of my own.