First day

Looking at both the guys Misty raises an eyebrow before looking back to the bored. Cocking her head to one side and closing the marker she brings it to her lips for a second deep in though. Finally setting the maker down she turns and looking to both guys again throwing her arms up in the air.

   "Your exactly right...its a round numbered wind. Total genius I tell you."

Going back to the table and sitting down Misty grabs her bottle of water and takes a sip before looking to Jason and giving a smirk. Picking up the cards she holds them out to him.

   "Alright Hot Shot its your turn to draw and you better not get like...duck pond or church again."

Shaking her head and rolling her eyes again Katie would go on more with her dad but just lets it drop. She'd already see what going against him got someone and she would rather not have it end like that. Not yet anyways the day had been to good.

   "Yeah yeah see ya for Uno."

Giving a wave to her dad Katie waits till he is gone before leaning back against the chair letting out a puff of air. Come around dinner time she had no idea if she would be hungry or not since she stuffed herself now. Either was though it was well worth it and Katie would do it all over again.

Hearing Hunter's comment about getting in the way Katie gives him a light wack over the back of the head before standing grinning down at him. He new better than to say something like that.

   "That my friend was a warning. You never have been and never will be in the way."

Picking up both empty bowls and bringing them to the kitchen Katie rinses them out before putting them in the dishwasher. Joining Hunter back at the table she thinks for a moment on a few different things they could do.

   "Well I am done with my chores for the day so we can, investigate your new room to get you settled, drive into town encase you need anything, go horse back riding or we can just walk the trails. I leave it up to you since its your first day here. "

Wind

"If I'm doing okay?" Jeff scoffs before looking to Hunter. "Watch her... she likes to think people are older and more feeble than they really are. Wait a year and she'll want you in a wheelchair." 

Hunter wasn't sure where that had come from, but he chuckles. "Maybe that's the request I can say no to. I've been going too fast too long to slow down now." 

Jeff grins. "Good. One of those times you're going fast, convince Katie that sometimes slow is way too boring." 

Hunter gives him a quick salute. "I'll do my best, Sir."

Chuckling, Jeff finally turns to leave, calling over his shoulder. "I will be here later with the UNO cards if anybody dares to challenge me..." 

After watching him leave, Hunter looks to his side at Katie while grinning. "I'm not sure yet, but I think you have a pretty cool dad." He finishes off his glass of lemonade and smacks his lips. "So... what do I do with myself the rest of the afternoon? I don't wanna get in the way."

Sitting next to each other in the lawn chairs, Jason and Alec watch as Misty struggles to draw her picture. Alec twirls his half-empty pop can in his hand, stifling a snicker. Jason rocks on the back legs of his chair and grins from ear to ear. He gives Alec a sidelong glance. "You give her that card?"

"Who, me?" Alec shakes his head, kinda, half-nods, shakes again. "I wouldn't do that to her, would I?"

"Nawww...." Jason coughs to keep from laughing. "I think she's doing a fine job anyway."

"Right right... Um..." Alec squints at the white board and points his pop can at it. "It's a, um... uh... round... number... um..."

"Squishy."

"Sorta like a..."

"Yeah one of those uh..."

"Right. Kinda an abstract form of... of..." 

"Wind." 

Alec blinks and looks to Jason with lifted eyebrows. 

Jason returns his glance, just as bewildered about his own theory. "Round... numeric... wind." 

Both fall into a fit of laughter and Jason throws Misty a wink. "We'll let you pick another card if you want, but I'd say you have a work of art going there."

Fun

Katie could feel a little bit of heat come to her cheeks though she was flattered too. Hearing that Hunter couldn't resist when she asked something brought a strange feeling to her stomach. It was different, a fluttering of sort and almost a shyness for a person she had felt very comfortable around.

She would of thought it was a feel of possible growing feelings for someone but she wasn't sure. It was much different than how it had been with Jason that was a force of emotions. This was slow, easy, a flutter that maybe would grow? Katie wasn't sure but what she did know was it was new, and it felt...good.

   "I am there is SOME kind of request you guy could say now. It's just pushing to far to try and find out."

Taking gives a laugh as she takes another bite of her cheesy chili. She loved putting cheese on top and a little pallet of butter on the bottom to make it a little more creamy. If Katie could eat one thing everyday it would be this.

As Jeff stands to go outside and Katie catches him catch himself she give a little sigh. He was pushing himself again and she could see it. Katie didn't say anything though not really wanting to cause a fight again all she can do is shake her head a little bit.

   "Just take it easy out there and than we will see about cards tonight. If your doing ok I think it would be fun. Hunter need to experience the cards to really know the life of a ranch."

Misty lets out a laugh as she it up drawing on the white bored. How on earth was she to try and draw a clockwork toy. The most she got was a circle with number on it and something that looked to be a big blob. There was no way anyone was going to be able to guess this.

   "How come I am getting the hard ones and you guys get the easy ones. Is this rigged?"

Pointing her marker at Jason and Alec a smile still was spread across her face. After there meal a game of piconary was deiced to be played and now a little laughter travailed around. Misty figured they were being a little loud for being outside so late but so far no one had complained and she was having a good time so thats all that mattered.

   "I think it is. You guys know I can't draw to save my life so your giving me the hard ones!"

Prisoner

"Something mellow, huh?" Jeff muses. 

"Hey now." Hunter nudges Katie's shin under the table. "Mellow? What, you think I can't handle any real work?" 

Jeff chuckles, shaking his head. "I think she's just trying to be nice."

"Well..." Hunter smirks at her anyway before thumping her on the side of the head. "She's not supposed to be nice. She's supposed to say, 'Here, Hunter, earn your keep!'" 

Jeff just grins and finishes his small bowl of chili. "Don't worry. We'll give you plenty to do if you insist on it."

"I do. If I'm here as Katie's guest then it's the least I can do." 

"I'm sure she'll rope you into a few horseback rides though - you better not say no to those."

Hunter laughs. "You kidding? I can hardly say no to anything she asks." 

"That seems to be a common thread around here..." Jeff throws Katie a loving wink. It was true though - his daughter was respected and loved and there was rarely a person who knew her well that could say no to any request. "Well... I'd better get back out to the barn..." As Jeff stands, he catches himself on the back of his chair, feeling a little dizzy. He ignores it though, shaking it off. "Gotta finish up that last stall I started." He nods to Hunter. "Glad you came, Hunter..." He turns his sights to Katie. "And I'll see ya later. Maybe we'll have to have an UNO game tonight." 

After rescuing Melissa from the tiny spider in the bathroom and chiding Josh for making fun of her, Jay retreats to his and Jessica's bedroom. Wandering to their dresser by the window, he picks up the dusty picture frame and wipes it off with his shirt. Leaning on the dresser, he studies all the young faces staring back at him. It wasn't just two families that happened to be friends... they'd formed their own clan. The Hensons and Pents overlapped as if they were all one family, not two. And now that Mick and Rosetta were married, it connected them in even more ways. 

He runs his finger over the faces. So young. So stressed from the Agency. But so happy. He stood on the end next to Jeff... it seemed appropriate. He was always on the outskirts. Never in the middle. Never involved in the battles or daily trials of living with Agency interference. It had always been that way. Jay had involved himself from time to time, helping at certain points when needed... and he'd still run if called. But as a general rule, he avoided the clan altogether. And he'd been left in peace because of it. He had spared his family the trials and fears. He had spared them tragedy and torture. 

And yet...

Sighing, he returns the photo to its place. Not a day went by that he didn't feel guilty. He felt a coward. A traitor to his family's name. He'd had a different life than the others. A different path. Different choices. But he was still a Pent. He was still a marked man for the Agency, whether he was under their thumb or not. And he was ignoring his family. His kids and wife were safe... but at what cost? All these years, Jay was just waiting for something to happen. For the Agency to attack, despite his efforts to avoid them. So if he was living in fear anyway, what had really been solved? 

And he missed his siblings like no tomorrow. Every day it grew worse. The older he became, the more he longed to see his brothers and sister. Was he wasting time? Was he really sacrificing the right things to keep his wife and kids sheltered? Was it really the right choice? Or was there a way to have the best of both worlds? He wondered. 

"Jay?" 

Turning quickly, he's startled by Jessica's presence in the room. "Huh?" 

She smiles but looks at him with a little worry. "I've been calling you... are you okay?" 

"Oh yeah... yeah..." Walking up to her, he wraps his arms around her and kisses the top of her head. "I'm okay." 

Jessica leans into him, resting her head on his chest. "You sure? Is everything okay with Rosetta?" 

"Mm-hmm... She's worried about Jeff. I guess that spat I had with him didn't wear off and he's upset. I need to make it right with him." 

Pulling back a little, Jessica looks up at him with sympathy. "Why don't you go to the ranch?" 

"You know my reasons." 

Jessica reaches up to place her palm on his cheek lovingly. "But it's killing you not to go." 

"But it's safer." 

"What's the price of safety?" She cocks her head. "Is it not better to live life to the fullest despite the risks, than never taking a risk at all and having the life of a prisoner?"