Good Stuff

Jade is just helping tidy up one of the guest houses when her phone rings. Recognizing the ringtone, she smiles. Setting down the armful of bath towels, she sits on the edge of the bed and answers to hear Dan's voice.

As he tells her about Dylan, she cringes. Yes, her dad was not going to be happy. And a part of her was pretty disappointed, too. She didn't blame Dan, though. She knew it was Dylan's choice. But...even though she and her brother didn't get along all that great, he was still her brother and she did love him. He just didn't ever let her express it to him so she'd stayed out of his way most of the time. It pained her to see him running away though, especially when there was so much danger out there for him. Would he be okay? She could only hope.

Blinking away a tear, she keeps her voice steady for Dan's sake, and manages to laugh at his final statement. "You goof. I hope you took a cooler with you or that ice cream is going to be mush by the time you get back here in an hour." She giggles. "But even mush is good when it's with you. I'll make sure I have plenty of room to enjoy it with you."

Pausing, she bites her lip. "I'm sure you'll live to see another day, too. You and I both know how Dad is... as quick as his temper is, he usually calms down just as quick."


Mick finally smiles. "Okay. Sounds like a plan."

Glancing to the side out the window, he sighs. "I better get some work done out there or the guys are going to think I abandoned them."

Giving Rosetta an extra loving squeeze, he lets her slide off his lap before standing up. He'd tell her about the things he'd found in Dylan's bunk later on. For now, his head was a little clearer and he did have work to do.

Out in the barn helping Sparky with hay a while later, Mick keeps an eye on the driveway. Dan's truck was gone, proving he had gone to town like he'd said he would. All Mick hoped now was that when he returned, that Dylan was with him. He wanted to go himself... but he'd let Dan do his thing first. The boy had listened to Dan in the past - maybe he would today too. It was more than a hope. It was a prayer. And his eyes remain alert.


Scott bites his lip but grins, sensing Hope's humor. He was glad she could laugh these things off and not be bothered too much by the way he was now. Who knew what the future held? He didn't like not knowing what would come tomorrow, but he was learning to take things one day at a time.

Kneeling down next to Domino, he roughhouses with her for a few minutes before starting to gather up her things. "Okay, bud... let's get you packed up."

Completely wound up, the little dog runs around the living room, up on the couch, around again then finally smack dab into Hope's legs. Blinking and shaking her head she looks up then starts to wriggle with excitement again, putting her paws up on Hope's knee as if to say how happy she was.

Scott sees her and shakes his head. "She certainly hasn't changed much," he muses. "You got a grocery sack or something for her stuff? Knowing Domino she's probably got a few things hidden around your house - you can get them to me or just leave them here for when we come over."


JT rolls onto his side and props himself up with an elbow, looking at Amanda. "Maybe we will at that." A little grin tugs at his mouth. "Maybe we've had a reason all along and just haven't seen it."

Plucking a tiny daisy from the grass, he hands it to her. "Sometimes one just has to stop what he's doing and take a good look around before seeing the good stuff in life."


Gunner smirks in disgust but continues back towards the campsite. "Yeah I think I better give up this idea of a walk for the day. I'm liable to wind up dead."

Finally making it back and finding a nice old oak tree, Gunner flops down in the grass. From what he could tell, they were on the other side of the pond from where he'd seen JT and Amanda earlier. "So you think those two will ever get their act together?"