Customer Service

Jeff grins, knowing Katie was right - if Hunter did her wrong, he'd have this whole ranch on his tail. He seemed too smart for that though.

As quietness lingers while they ride, the last thing Jeff expected was for Katie to choose the new subject that she did. A lump rises in his throat, and he fiddles with his reins for a few moments. He knew exactly what she was referring to. Was it that obvious where his mind had been?

"Yeah..." A weary sort of sigh slips out before he can stop it. Spotting a clearing along the trail, he turns Hawk towards it, stopping just short of the small field of tall grass and wild flowers. The sun shone down warmly on the scene, creating an almost surreal picture. 

Leaning forward to rest his arms on the saddlehorn, Jeff's eyes roam the clearing. "Some days are harder than others," he admits. "Especially when I forget I'm surrounded by family and I get to feeling lonely." He couldn't help it that there were days it just didn't matter how much family he had around or how much they loved him. There was just a hole in his heart that left him lonely in ways the others here couldn't remedy. 

Watching a butterfly flit from flower to flower, he gains a small smile. "She would have loved it here. Your mother, I mean. I think she would have taken to the ranch just like you have." 

Swallowing hard, he looks down for a moment, finding it just a little difficult to keep a handle on his emotions. "I'm so glad she left me you," he continues softly. "I've even thought about moving to Nevada just so I could be closer to you but... I wouldn't want you to feel smothered." 

Lydia smiles broadly, her eyes twinkling. "I would like very much to do this again. Thank you... for everything." 

It didn't take long to drive back to the house, and Lydia returns to the kitchen to look after her bread. Today's baking had been for a needy family in church, and she wanted to include a few cookies too. 

Back in the bedroom, Jared was sitting up just a little. He'd made it to the bathroom and back on his own - a feat worthy of pride. He wasn't all that proud today though. He felt too low for that. But... he'd left the curtains open just how Grace had set them earlier. 

Hearing car doors, steps on the porch and the front door, he knows his mother and Grace must be back. Sighing, he lets his eyes fall shut once again. If he was Grace, he wouldn't want to come see a moping body like him. 

Pushing his motorcycle across the parking lot, Alec pauses for a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow. It had not been a short walk, made even longer by pushing his bike the whole way. He knew he could have asked Jason for help, but he hadn't really wanted to impose. He'd been working on his motorcycle but something was still wrong with the engine and it was beyond his knowledge. He didn't have a whole lot of money, but he had a little since Misty had just paid him again, and maybe it would be enough to at least get an estimate and maybe get the repairs started. But it wasn't really the money or time that made him hesitate, seeing the open bays where cars were being worked on.

Bypassing the urge to go that way, he brings his bike around front instead and sets it on its kickstand before going inside. It must have been a slow day because the customer waiting area was empty, as well as the front desk. Ringing the bell brought no one, and Alec glances to the glass door into the garage. He wondered for a moment if he should just turn around and go to the other auto shop another eight blocks away. But...

Straightening from the engine in front of him, Axel flexes his hand, feeling a little tingle in his fingers. He hadn't told anyone about it... he'd hoped it would go away. But it hadn't, and he knew he needed to go see Misty again.

Turning to find a different wrench, his eyes happen to glance over to the door. Stopping, his eyebrows rise and he automatically bristles.

Alec pushes the door open and waits, glancing around the garage. His eyes stray past a couple guys he recognized before landing on Ryan, who looked as though she was deeply involved in an engine problem. This was definitely a bad idea.

"Somebody want to help a customer?" Axel suggests loudly.

Jed scoots out from under his car, not bothering to look at the door. "Ryan's closest!" he hollers teasingly. "I'm sure she needs a break anyway."

"You just want to win the race," Miles quips. "Come to think of it, so do I. Ryan! Customer service is needed!"