Gurn

"Knock knock."

Gunner types one last thing on his computer before turning around to see who was at his cubicle. The visitor makes his eyes widen in surprise, and he immediately stands, smiling. "Well hi there, Cindy! What are you doing here?"

Cindy returns the smile and readjusts Kaylee on her hip. "Um... unfinished business."

Gunner isn't sure what she means, but doesn't pry. "Jason, he... told me about... well, about-"

"It's okay." Cindy cuts him off. "And thanks."

"Yeah." Gunner turns his sights to Kaylee and grins. "Boy has she gotten big."

Cindy chuckles. "She sure has. Haven't you, Pumpkin?"

Kaylee buries her face against Cindy's neck, keeping her head turned just enough to peek out at Gunner, her blonde pigtails bouncing as she moved.

Gunner's grin widens and he moves a little closer, trying to get a smile. "Aw... you're not afraid of ol' Gunner, are you? You shoulda seen me when I was out at the ranch."

Cindy rolls her eyes. "You mean the long hair and shaggy beard look? That woulda scared anybody."

Gunner laughs. "I was just trying to keep the bears away." Catching the glimpse of a little smile on Kaylee's face, he bends down a little more. "Aha... there it is!"

Kaylee finally straightens again, giggling at him. "Gah!"

"No... Gunner."

"Gurn!"

Gunner laughs. "Yeah, close enough."

Kaylee giggles again and reaches out to him. His eyes widen. "What, really? You want to come to me?"

Cindy grins and hands her over. "Looks like love at first sight, Gunner."

He sheepishly accepts the little girl, giving her a playful bounce before holding her up high and grinning up at her. She squeals and laughs, babbling some unrecognizable words. Her laughter is contagious and Gunner cuddles her close, giving her all the attention she was very skillfully trying to get.

Cindy rolls her eyes. "She's becoming quite the little ham."

"Yeah, but a cute ham." Gunner hands Kaylee back over and sighs with content. "So... sticking around?"

"Don't know yet." Cindy straightens out Kaylee's pink t-shirt. "All depends. I just wanted to at least stop and say hi to you."

"Alright... well maybe I'll catch you later." Gunner watches her walk away, only letting his smile fade when her back is turned. She was trying very hard to appear happy but he saw the depression behind her gaze and it worried him.

Making her route across the main floor, Cindy knew the way well. She passes the main hall, though, and takes the back way down to the lower level, avoiding the majority of people. She'd say hi to everybody else later, including Jason. She'd told him she wanted to visit, she just hadn't said when. It wasn't like her not to make plans with him, but this time... this was different.

Finding the right room on the lower level, her pulse quickens a little. This could be a really, really bad idea. Knocking, she waits until she hears the invite to open the door before slowly letting it swing open. Keeping her arms around Kaylee, her eyes find Trey and she gives him a good hard stare for a long moment.

"Don't try saying anything yet because I'm a woman and can out-talk any man I please." She adjusts Kaylee on her hip, holding her stare on Trey, determined to say what she wanted before he had a chance to stop her - or before she lost her nerve. "I know you hate me and never wanted to see me again. But whether you like it or not, I wanted to see you. Recently I almost lost Jason. When I found out about you, I was pushed away. Not long after I got home, I got word that my husband is missing in action overseas - most likely, he's dead." She shakes her head. "I started feeling sorry for myself. Then I realized that I still had blessings staring me right in the face - and you're one of them. You're still alive and still my son, whether you hate me or not. And I'll be hanged if I don't at least try to gain your trust, or friendship, or whatever I can get."

She takes a deep breath. "You can tell me off, you can scream at me, you can tell me you hate me. But I will keep trying until either I get somewhere with you, or I die. Maybe I'm stupid. Maybe I'm crazy. But I can't live with myself knowing that I willingly just gave up trying to get to know my own son."

Tears sting her eyes, but she refuses to let them overflow. She was so nervous and upset that she was shaking, and Kaylee starts to fuss. Calming her daughter, Cindy resumes her stare at Trey. "For starters, I'd like you to meet some more of your family. You have two more siblings on your father's side, but on my side, this is Kaylee. She's your half-sister."

Kaylee sucks on her fingers and gives Trey and inquisitive look before fingering one of her pigtails, then pointing at him. "Who da?"

Cindy nods. "Trey."

Kaylee scrunches her nose and giggles. "Tra!"

Cindy wanted to laugh at the mispronunciation, but her stomach was churning and her palms clammy. She knew it was risky bringing Kaylee with her, but it's what she wanted. She was prepared to be yelled at, cursed at and/or have the door slammed in her face. But it didn't make her stance any less determined.

This, not This

Looking up as Eric enters the office Angel gives a smile noting his limp as he walked. It had been a long time since he came in and asked for anything for the pain. Motioning for him to sit down he new good and well she wouldn't give him anything without looking at what happened first.

   "Let me take a look first and than I can."

Taking a look at the affected area Angel runs her hand over it as gentily as she can knowing it was tender. Seeing the swelling, black and blue make Angel gives a nod. He'd gotten kicked pretty good today and she believe him when he said it she just had to make sure it wasn't hurt any worse and the pain was being masked.

   "Alright let me give you a few pain killers to hold you over till the swelling goes down. Just make sure you are switching between heat, and ice on and off alright?"

Turning around and going to the locked cabnit Angel pulls out an empty pill bottle and another filling the one up with a few pulls. Writing up a quick label she puts it on the bottle before turning around and going back over to Eric. Handing it to him she gives a smile. She new everything Eric had been through as of late though she didn't know how he was doing now.

   "Just make sure you taking these for this.."

Angel points in his leg.

   "Not this."

She than points at his heart.

   "Now I wouldn't think you would but its part of my job to say it anyways."

Hearing someone approach Dan can see Dylan out of the corner of his eye. Finishing up with the whole he was patching on the barn Dan puts the hammer down and turns to him giving a smile. He was happy to see Dylan up and moving around. He still was slightly pale, and thin but he looked much better than when Dan had first picked him up at the gas station.

   "You're very welcome Dylan. Your like a brother to me, and I'd hate to see anything happen to you. I said I'd always be here for you and I meant it. You're a good kid Dylan."

Dan really meant it too. Dylan had made some bad chooses but no one was perfect. He'd been there in life and he got over it and became a better person with God. He could only hope the same thing for Dylan and help him along that path all he could.

   "How are you feeling? Any better?"

   "I think I have a spot in my ever so busy life to hang out with you tonight."

Walking with Jason Katie gives a small smile. It felt good to have Jason ask her if she wanted to hang out with him tonight though at the same time it was still strange to not just think thats what would happen. Maybe all this time her just took him for granted.

Coming to a stop at the end of the hall and hearing Jason's question Katie thinks for a long moment. Was she really ok? No not really but did she need to worry Jason with that? She didn't think so but to say she was ok would be a lie.

   "Yeah I think I'm alright. Just since we woke up I've been feeling...well rather lack of feeling. I think I just need to get use to it and things will be ok. It's just...quiet right now."

Helping a few other customers that wanted drinks and declining some shots that a few of the guys wanted to buy her Beth moves about the bar, every now and than looking over at Zach she would give a wink or just smile sweetly to him.

Finally finding a free moment she comes back over and leans on the bar twords him a little bit. One would think with everything else Beth was doing his question had been missed but Beth's ears were sharp and she never missed when someone was talking to her.

   "Of course I still want to go and if it's with you thats even better. How about tomorrow? That is my next day off."

Pain

Eric's pace doesn't slow until he was stepping up onto his porch. His leg throbbed, warning him to take it easy, but he didn't care. Getting inside, he slams the door shut and sinks down to sit on his bed. Looking over at the mirror on the wall, he glares at it. 

For years he had fought the stigma of being a truck driver. For years he had fought against people thinking that all drivers were dumb or that they only took the job because there was nothing else. When he started out on the road, it was because he couldn't yet function well enough for anything else. Then it had gotten into his blood. He hadn't stayed with it because he was incapable of other jobs. He'd stayed with it because he knew it inside and out, it was good money and he was good at it. He was dang good at it! 

His fist slams down into the mattress. He felt so stupid. He'd opened himself wide for Stacy to see - multiple times, including just two nights ago. He had sat with her and shared with her openly about his past. She knew good and well that he already felt dumb the way it was. And today... today she'd thrown it right back at him. Why? Why had she done that? Did she really not care like he'd thought? Had she just been playing him? But for what purpose? 

Though still fuming, some of his anger was slowly dissolving into a more depressing level. Maybe he really was worthless. Maybe Stacy hadn't really meant it that she was grateful he was in Ashlee's life. Maybe she would prefer that he didn't influence her daughter at all. Maybe he really didn't have a place here like he'd thought. Maybe he did belong back on the road. 

It was quite a conclusion to come to - very far from Stacy's original comment. But in Eric's mind, it really was what it all boiled down to. Everything was connected. Whether Stacy had intended to hit him below the belt or not, she had. Whether she'd intended to hurt his feelings or not... she had. 

Growling, Eric stands up again. Feeling hurt was worse than feeling mad. He'd obviously opened himself up too far and let himself be too vulnerable. Trudging to the bathroom, he strips down and tries to check out his leg. Already, his thigh was swollen and purple. Tundra had done a great job. Eric felt like going out and just offering himself up as a punching bag today. 

Pulling his jeans back on, he tucks in his shirt again and heads back outside. With each step, the throbbing worsened. All he needed was some pain killers and a good hot bath tonight. That's all. And he'd be fine in the morning...

"Angel?" He taps on the door of her office and opens it slowly. Seeing her at her desk, he forces half a smile, trying to hide what was going on inside of him. "I, um... I got kicked a while ago." He gestures to his leg, knowing that she knew good and well it was the same one he'd injured before. "I'm okay but I was wondering if you had anything for the pain?"

Dylan ambles slowly from his bunkhouse, carrying a couple school books under his arm. After a morning of working in the barn, he was exhausted and a little bit nauseous too. But he knew he needed to get some school done - he was so far behind already. 

After getting settled back in his own bunkhouse again, he'd avoided too much contact with other people. Though no one seemed upset with him, there was still a little bit of tension that he hated. It was his own fault and he knew it - but he still hated it. He just wanted things to be normal again. But... they probably never would be now. 

Hunting for a good spot to sit in the sun, Dylan spots Dan over by the barn. Another person he'd been avoiding. Signing, he knows that he can't avoid Dan forever, and... there was something he needed to say to him anyway. 

Walking up to Dan slowly, he keeps his hands busy holding his books. Though still thin and rather pale, his eyes were finally bright again, proving he'd come a long way in the last couple weeks. Now it was depression that was knocking at the door. 

"Hey, Dan?" He didn't want to bother him. "Um... I just... I haven't seen you much and, well..." His eyes drift to the ground. "I just wanted to say thanks... for... well, you know. If it weren't for you, I might not be alive right now." 

"Mmmm, tonight?" Jason thinks a moment as he walks slowly. "Hadn't really thought about it. Maybe do something with you?"

Getting to the end of the hall, Jason suddenly realizes that Katie had cuddled into them as they'd walked, almost like she was searching for reassurance or something. Stopping before going out onto the main floor, Jason looks down at her, giving her shoulder a little rub. "Hey... are you okay?"


"Of course I'm enjoying my day off." Zach grins and accepts his soda, smiling even more. It was kinda fun to just be able to walk in and have her know what he wanted.

"I was wondering when you had off next.... thought maybe we could get together at the animal shelter... if you still wanted to do that?"

Royal mess

Hearing everything Eric had to say Stacy couldn't help her eyes getting larger and larger continue to take steps backwards as Eric came closer till she was backed against the wall. Wildly searching his eyes there was something Stacy hadn't noticed before...Eric's anger had made him down right good looking, more so that she already though he was. 

About to give a protest on what she though of him Stacy was cut off as Eric's lips met hers. Feeling the rough warmth of them Stacy couldn't help but bring her arms around him and return the kiss. Her anger still there but a softness shinning thought as well.

As Eric pulls away and Stacy is just left standing there her heart thumped loudly in her chest as she used the wall to hold her up. Confusion for how she felt coursed through her vain though the urge to run after Eric and protest was there she just stood not moving. She felt shaky, everything almost spinning, and her feelings it was something she hadn't felt in a while and it confused her.

Finally exiting the barn Stacy makes her way to the mess hall to grab something to drink. She felt pretty light headed and needed something before she passed out. Not to mention on top of everything she was still upset about the phone call. Now everything was a royal mess and no one new why.

Impulse

Eric's eyes widen in a form of shocked and offended anger. Had Stacy just thrown him a direct insult about his truck driving? Seriously? After all this? After spending time together, getting to know each other and forming a mutual respect for each other? After her telling him she approved of him becoming a father figure to Ashlee? After all that, she decided to throw his lack of education in his face and make him feel worthless? Had he been that wrong about her?

No matter the reason for her sudden about-face, Eric would have hurt less had she outright slapped him. If she'd wanted to press his buttons, she'd done a good job. "Yeah, us truck drivers are pretty close to the scum of the earth." His tone was laced with icy sarcasm. "We ain't got no brains to do nothin' but run our eighteen-wheelers across the country." 

Leaving his broom near a stall, he sets his hands on his hips, taking a step towards Stacy. His wide eyes had narrowed by now, proving his irritation. His leg was killing him, he was confused and offended, and he didn't have time to stand here and take this from her. "I don't now why I didn't see it before now, but you're just like everybody else, aren't you? All you see is diplomas, money and status. All you see is the outside." He takes another step, now only inches from her. "Which is worse? The way I look or my career choice? My clothes or my lack of college education?" 

Another step forward, he forces Stacy to back up. He'd been a sour mood already, and she had just pushed him over the edge. "Well let me tell you something, Stacy Cullen. There's a whole lot more to this broken down cowboy than a driver's license and a blank wall where there's no diploma hanging."

One more step and he's backed her up to the wall. "I don't know which is worse. You being upset with me now, or you pretending all along that my lack of brains didn't matter." With each word, his anger rose a little more. He'd been put down too many times not to stand up for himself. He'd been called stupid too many times not to fight back. Stacy hadn't said it outright - but it had been implied, and that was just as bad, if not worse. How dare she, especially after all he'd shared with her about his struggles after his accident. This is where it stopped. 

"I may just be a dumb truck driver to you. But let me make one thing perfectly clear." 

Raising his forearm above Stacy's chest, he forces her against the wall, his blazing eyes piercing her own. "What you see on the outside ain't nothing compared to what I got on the inside. And maybe it's about time someone taught you that lesson." 

Acting on pure angry impulsiveness, Eric keeps Stacy pinned tightly while leaning his head down. Pressing his lips roughly to hers, he spends no energy on gentleness. Raw passion explodes as he sets about to prove his point - there was much more to him than just being a truck driver. And today, right now, he'd make Stacy see it, whether she wanted to or not. Forcing his kiss deeper, irritation and pent-up frustration drives him.

Until he realizes that all of a sudden, his kiss of anger is being returned. 

Generously.

Jerking his head back to break the kiss, his eyes lock with Stacy's. His heart was pounding wildly in his chest, and his gaze now held a strange mix of lingering anger and new confusion. Why had she kissed him back? Why did he suddenly feel bolts of electricity shooting down his spine? Why was his hurt and irritation now so confusing? 

Quickly releasing Stacy from the wall, he takes a step back and blinks. His mouth opens to say something, but he didn't even know what to say now. He'd proven his point. That was all there was. She'd have to decide for herself if he was still just a stupid cowboy or not. 

Spinning on his heel, he stalks out of the barn, favoring his sore leg. This whole thing was utterly ridiculous. Every bit of it. From the very beginning. Stupid. Muttering under his breath, he aims for the shelter of his bunkhouse.

Trucker

Take back by Eric's own tone Stacy lets out a huff and folds her arms across her chest. She couldn't believe her ears and she was frustrated at his accusations about college degrees seeing as she had her own.

   "Now you wait a second not everyone who has there degree doesn't end up broke and they don't all flaunt it."

Throwing her hands up in the air Stacy just couldn't believe this. She was so mad so anger that she didn't even stop for a second to think non of it had to do with Eric he just happened to be there and she could yell at him.

   "Anyways I'd rather have a chance of getting a good job and getting on with life than ending up being a truck driver. Never settling down, and always moving around."

Once the words had come out of Stacy's mouth she cringed a little bit. She new she hadn't meant them as they sounded and they probley hit Eric wrong too but it was to late. The words had been said and all she can do is stand there still madder than a wet hen.

Bee

The dull thud wasn't heard by anyone else, but the pain couldn't compare. Tundra skitters to the back of her stall, her hindquarters still lethally aimed towards the door. 

Eric swallows his urge to scream. He'd been kicked before plenty of times - but this one had come unexpectedly and straight to his left thigh. Though his leg had healed since his trucking accident, it was still quite sensitive, and a blow from a horse's hoof was enough to send the pain shooting through his entire leg. Tundra was a fairly new addition to the barn and had come to them with a problem of not liking people or other horses behind her. It was something they knew they'd have to break her of quickly, but it hadn't happened soon enough. Eric hadn't been careful and had only been coming to give her grain - which was now strewn across the stall floor. 

Sucking in his breath, Eric leans on the wall for a few more moments before limping back out into the aisle and shutting the door. He'd have a hefty bruise for sure - worse, just because it was his bad leg. It was just what he needed. Taking a couple minutes until the pain partially subsided, he grabs a broom to sweep out the aisle. It was usually something Dylan did, but right now, he just needed a simple task to keep moving so his leg didn't get stiff. He'd take a better look at it later. 

It wasn't five minutes before Stacy's sudden entrance into the barn startles him from his work. Straightening and gripping the broom tightly, his brow furrows. He hadn't ever seen her this riled, let alone been the brunt of her anger. 

"Now hang on." Eric's eyes narrow at her tone. "I did no such thing. Yes, I told her college ain't for everybody, but that's true. Be glad I didn't tell her how I really feel - that college graduates like to flaunt their diplomas to the world but wind up broke on school loans." He shakes his head in annoyance. "There's plenty bigger things to get a bee in your bonnet over. Don't snip at me for giving your daughter my honest opinion. I was just having a conversation with her."

Anger

...It wasn't much later after being in the barn with Eric that Ashlee was heading back to her and her mom's bunk. Eric's words lingered in her mind. She know she had a ways to go but the question of college still lingered in her mind and really not wanting to go was there too.

Entering the bunk Ashlee spots her mom at one of the tables with a bunch of paperwork spread across the table. She wasn't sure if now was a good time to talk to her mom or not but she figured she should at least try.

   "Hey Mom, do you have a second to talk?"

Looking up from the paper work she had been working on Stacy does her best to give Ashlee a smile. She didn't want to worry her daughter and she didn't really want to tell her about the phone call today unless she had too. It was just something Ashlee didn't have to worry about.

   "You can always talk to me you know that Ash...I always have time for you. Whats up?"

Sitting down on the car that was across from her mom Ashlee folds her hands over the table and just gathers her thought for a moment. She had lots of idea and stuff she wanted to say but she had to get it all together. 

Finally thinking there was no better way than to just say it Ashlee looks up at Stacy and searches her face for a long moment, She had no idea how this was going to go over.

   "I've been thinking about school and...I'm not to sure if I want to go to college anymore."

Stacy can't help the look of shock that passes over her face. Ashlee had always talked about college and what she wanted to do. Stacy couldn't help that now she had changed that option and it made her upset just a little. Schooling was important and she wanted Ashlee to have the best.

   "What do you mean you don't want to go to college? You've been talking about it forever and its important."

   "...well I like being here and I was talking to Eric and he said he doesn't think all people need to go to college and He's love to have me stay here and help around the ranch. I think I'd like to do that."

...A few minutes later Stacy walked quickly to the bar anger in her eyes. A mixture of what Ashlee had told her and the early conversation made it worse. To think Eric would encourage her not to go to college. What right did he had to go over her head on something like this. 

Spotting Eric in the barn Stacy walks over to her the anger clear on her face as she sets her hands on her hips. She was fuming she new it, but she didn't care Eric was going to get a peace of her mind.

   "Eric, what do you think your doing encouraging Ashlee not to go to college? Oh all the stupidest things you could of done. Don't you understand how important it is for her to go so she can have a good life and not be stuck in life. Well....what did you think you were doing?"





  

Wouldn't Complain

Eric grins a little, knowing that thinking about the future was never easy, let alone for a person as young as Ashlee. It was commendable she was thinking about college, but she certainly had plenty of time to keep thinking about it.

"Well... you got a few years to straighten it out." He finds himself enjoying the opportunity to have this conversation. Maybe he really did have a bigger role here than he'd thought. "Me, I ain't had much use for college myself. I mean, nothing I ever did needed an education to get. Horse racing, truck driving and working here."

He picks up Static's foreleg, cupping the hoof to clean it out. "Not that it ain't worked for other folks. Can't imagine having a doctor that doesn't know what he's doing or something, ya know. Or an accountant that doesn't know numbers. I just figure college isn't for everyone. If it's what ya wanna do, go for it. If it's not... I say don't waste time and money. Besides, you don't have to go right out of high school anyway. Lots of people wait a year or two even after that."

Finished with the hoof, he sets it back down and straightens up, arching his sore back. "That's just my two cent's worth though. Somebody doesn't wanna go, I wouldn't make 'em. If somebody does, I ain't gonna stop 'em." He turns and grins at Ashlee, tossing her a wink. "I certainly wouldn't complain about you staying here and working."


"Oh come on." Justin gives Mackenzie a light shove on the arm. "It's not an 'orange gloppy thing.' It's a sunset."

Mackenzie had followed Justin down the long hall of paintings, trying her hardest not to show that she was quite intrigued with this place. It wasn't much to look at from the outside, but on the inside, it was full of light and color and all sorts of interesting looking things. Justin had gotten her a map when he'd paid their admission, and she saw there was much more than paintings too, but she'd only nodded when he'd asked if going down this hall first was okay. She'd remained quiet as they'd walked - to a stranger, she was a very uninterested girl. But deep down, she really was excited to be in the museum for the first time.

Glancing up to the painting again, she cocks her head. "It's just a smudge of orange and pink."

"It must be where you're standing." Justin takes her by the shoulders and moves her directly in front of where he stood. "There. Now see it?"

"No."

"You have no imagination."

Mackenzie frowns. "I do so."

"Alright, then what do you see, besides a splotchy thing, oh, Miss Imagination?"

The challenge brought on a new spark of interest, and she squints at the picture. "I see a clown."

"A clown?! Where on earth do you see that?"

Mackenzie folds her arms. "If you're not creative enough to see it yourself, I can't show you."

Justin can't help laughing outright. "You got me there."

After that, Mackenzie began to interact more, and quite soon, she and Justin were having friendly arguments over just about every abstract painting, and a few that weren't abstract too.

"You kidding me?" Justin leans so far to the right that he almost falls over. "A dog? Seriously?"

"Uh-huh. Right there." Mackenzie points. "He's sitting up with a bone in his mouth."

"It's green!"

"Can't a dog be green?"

Justin grins. "I guess he could be at that." Glancing at his watch, he sighs. "Well, we're running out of time."

Mackenzie tries not to act disappointed. "Are we going back to the park?"

"Yep. Otherwise your dad might think I kidnapped you."

"Been there done that." Mackenzie rolls her eyes. "We better go."



..."So did you two do anything interesting?" Carson gives his daughter a sidelong glance as he drives.

Mackenzie shrugs. "We went to the art museum."

Carson's eyebrows rise. The word "unconventional" comes back to him once again. "Did you talk a lot?"

"Nah."

"Oh. Well, do you like Justin?"

"He's okay."

"So you'll go again?"

"Whatever."

Carson sighs. So much for learning about the session today. He'd just have to keep on trusting Justin.

Unwanted phone call

Continuing to brush the horse Ashlee lays her other hand on his neck to keep him calm. Next to being in the tack room Ashlee love being right here brushing the horses. Just the smell it was another thing that Ashlee sure did find comforting.

Hearing Eric's question about school Ashlee thinks for a moment. School was going good she was passing all her classes but for the last few days a new question was looming in her mind. The thought of college. She'd always told her mom she would go and even though it was still a little ways away if she was going to go she needed to prepare. Just now she wasn't so sure. What she once wanted to go for just...didn't seem like it fit anymore.

   "School is going ok. I'm still passing all my classes so thats good. I am sure if I wasn't you might be the first one to know about it because Mom wouldn't let me help anymore. Out back behind the barn is pretty peaceful too."

Ashlee starts to brush the horse again as she talks gently smoothing the horses coat to make it shiny and soft.

   "When I am out there...sometimes it makes me think that I don't want to leave here in a few years to go to college. I use to be so sure about what I wanted and now...I'm not so sure. I feel like I fit here and I could do this as my job. I's just confusing I guess sometimes trying to straiten it all out."

   "No Rich, I don't even know how you got this number."

Stacy paces her bunk the phone held up to her ear. The conversation on the other end having been going on for at least five minutes now. Stacy had been shocked to hear the familiar voice on the other end. A voice she thought she would never hear again and now wished she hadn't.

   "It doesn't matter if you have seen the error of your ways or not. You haven't been in Ashlee's life for the last fourteen years and she is better off that way. You can beg and plee all you want you gave up your right to see her along time ago."

She new her voice was going up in pitch and really she didn't care. She was angry and if she could be beyond angry she would be and on top of the anger there was hurt as well. It was like a scab being ripped open. She'd loved Rich with all her heart, but she never would of sacrificed her baby's life for that love. It was unfair that he had made her choose.

   "Fine go try and get a court order Rich, I really don't care because I'll fight it tooth and nail and you will lose. You have no right to be calling me or putting us through this. No you'er not her dad, your her father and thats where it ends."

Stopping at the window and looking out across the way to where she could make out Ashlee and Eric working with one of the horses her heart aches a little more. She could remember when Ashlee was little how she would cry because she couldn't be like the other kids. Her questions of why she didn't have a dad and how she would never be able to go to the father daughter dances. Stacy could still remember the crys and the tears she had to whip away. It only made her anger grow.

   "It's not your right, not anymore. You where never there for a scraped knee, when she was sick, to go places with her, to whip her tears away and answer her questions of why she didn't have a daddy. No Rich you lost that right a long time ago and thats finale. I am done talking about it."

Hanging up the phone with a loud slam Stacy sinks down onto the bed and runs a hand over her face. That was the last conversation she had dreamed or wanted to have ever and now that she had it just put her in a sour mood. She didn't understand why this had to happen, why now after all this time. This was the last thing she wanted.

As Jason puts his arm around Katie she brings her hand up to his. That was the first bit of affection he had really shown since he'd woken up. They had cuddled on the couch a little bit but in public it almost had started to feel like they went a couple. But having this little bit now Katie soaks it in all she can.

   "How about next time I just call to talk. Than I wont have to not tell Rick anything."

Walking with Jason Katie leans into him a little bit trying to feel some kind of emotion like she use to from him. Though it was a lost cause she tried anyways, it was just habit and she really couldn't help it.

   "So what are your plans for tonight?"

Hearing Zach's voice Beth gives a smile looking up at him. It was a nice surprise to see him come in at this time. She remembered he had mentioned he had off today but she hadn't thought he would be in to see her. For sure she had thought he had better things to do. But now he was here and she was glad.

   "Hey Zach! It's pretty slow going today but could be worse. How are you enjoying your day off?"

Turning back around for a moment Beth grabs a glass and pours some soda into it before sliding it over to Zach. Giving a smile to him she was proud she new what he drank. Not that it was hard or a big mixture or anything. It was out of the normal for a place like this though and sometimes it was the smile things that were harder to remember.

Mystery

Eric stands and gives Stacy a sheepish grin, glad to see that there was no awkwardness on her part either. Not that there was supposed to be. Maybe he just hadn't expected to get along with her so well. It was strange... waking up here... feeling refreshed after only a few hours. And doubly surprising was that he'd actually fallen asleep after being so wide awake. Was it the location? Or... the company?

"Coffee sounds like a right good idea to me." Letting Stacy take the lead to the ladder, he stops her before going down. "Oh, hang on..." He chuckles as he brushes off her back and picks a few pieces of hay out of her hair. "Okay there we go."

Following her down he goes with her to the mess hall, ignoring a few odd looks that were tossed in their direction from people who had seen them come from the barn together. To Eric, it was rather amusing and he enjoyed letting them be curious. In the back of his mind though, he did wonder if it was best that Jeff wasn't here right now.

The rest of the day was a good one - at least for Eric. Once he was done exercising some of the horses, Ashlee was free from school so he let her hang out with him some more, letting her help him dismantle grain and water buckets from stalls to take them out, clean them, and put them back. It was no quick task, and took a good chunk of the afternoon. By nightfall, the few hours of sleep were catching up to him and it was easier to go to bed. Although a part of him was tempted to return to the hay loft.

The next day started out pretty good. It had sprinkled a little in the night, making he ground just damp enough that they waited to put the horses out until later in the day. Eric kept himself busy until, as usual, Ashlee found him in the barn...

Eric bends and taps Static's hind leg gently. "C'mon. Up." Cleaning out the hoof, he keeps one eye on Ashlee, who was brushing his horse. He'd said they could give Static some special attention today just for the fun of it, so they'd already hosed him down and cleaned him all up, and now Eric was letting Ashlee brush a smooth shine into Static's coat before she combed out his somewhat scraggly mane.

After yesterday's early morning conversation with Stacy, perhaps Eric felt a little more confident about involving himself a bit more in Ashlee's life. Or maybe he just wanted her to know he was interested. "So how's school going for ya? I see you studying out behind the barn a lot."

"Hmm." Jason nods as Katie tells him about last night. "I knew Kyle was taking Alice to a concert last night. Maybe I ought to give him a call today and see how he is."

Her question brings a smile to his face. "Yeah... yeah I had a real good time. Sandy - she's the one that invited me to hang out - had some of the guys come and we went out for pizza. I haven't seen Will and Rusty for ages so we caught up on each other's lives and stuff. Laughed about stupid stuff and wound up talking til the wee hours of the morning." He had laughed. Actually... laughed. And it had... felt... good. It had felt. Not a lot. Not intensely. But he had actually felt enjoyment and could say with confidence that he'd had a good time. It might have been small... but he knew that this was a step in the right direction. Katie wasn't aware that he'd spoken to Rick just the day before about how he'd been feeling - or rather, not feeling. He'd been assured that it would just take time. Rick had asked him if he wanted an anti-depressant, but he'd said no. And he was glad. Now he knew that last night's feelings had been real, and not just medicine induced. Maybe Rick was right. Maybe it really would all come back, and it would just take longer than anticipated.

Still smiling, Jason slings his arm around Katie's shoulders, giving her a squeeze as they walk back down towards the main floor. "I was gonna call you but it was so late, I figured you'd be home and in bed. Apparently I was wrong." He chuckles, loving the tiny speck of something bubbling inside. "Next time call me so I can get a piece of the action." He glances to his knee. "Just don't tell Rick."

"I don't know what to do with her, Carson." Ken stirs his half glass of pop with his straw. His wife and the girls had left Mom and Pop's a few minutes ago to visit a little shop down the block, and only now did he express his concerns about Mackenzie. "It just isn't getting any better."

Carson sinks down in a chair on the other side of the table. He was tired. His head hurt, and his eyes were a bit bloodshot. But he was trying to cover it up, doing his best to provide another pleasant visit for the family. "Her visits aren't helping, ay?" It was only ever that - just visits. Sometimes here. Sometimes the park. But just visits. Carson still felt awkward. He still felt like a horrible father - if a father at all. But the girl just wouldn't give up insisting she wanted to keep seeing him. So...they let her.

"Well, she's definitely more satisfied about that. No more worrying about her running away at least. She still talks about seeing you more or even staying with you but that doesn't get as intense as it used to. No..." Ken shakes his head. "It's more of just her temper tantrums, problems at school and the like. The school counselor has suggested her seeing a psychologist...again."

"Hasn't worked much in the past, has it?"

"Not really. That's the hard part."

Carson purses his lips in thought. He was only partly involved in his daughter's life, and he certainly would never say he had anything anywhere near figured out about any kind of parenthood, for sure. But a thought did cross his mind. "I..." He pauses. "Nah."

Ken lifts his eyebrows. "What? Do you have a suggestion?"....



"....Hi, Justin?"

"Yes..."

"Um, this is Carson Banks. We may have crossed paths a time or two at TJY."

Justin thinks for a moment, trying to place a face with the accent he was hearing. He did know of Carson, but just snippets he'd heard from Reese. "Yeah, I remember."

"I hope you don't mind me calling you like this..." Carson goes on to explain about Mackenzie, her background and the difficulties both he and her family were having with her. "...she's already been through several counselors and nothing seems to help."

By now, Justin was sitting on his couch, processing the information. "What makes you think I would have any different results?"

"Well... I've heard your methods aren't... conventional."

Justin chuckles. "Yeah, that's what they say." He sighs, thinking. While part of him always wanted to balk at jobs like this, too much of him still had the desire to help. There had been jobs he hadn't liked - people who were unwilling to change or who couldn't take his no-nonsense approach. But this was a girl - a child. A child who had been through way too much way too soon. Maybe she had a temper and bad attitude, but Justin knew straight off that it was only a reaction to circumstance. Could he really say no without at least giving it a try. This really was bad timing for him. He was struggling with a set of his own problems right now. But that shouldn't matter. He should be able to set aside his personal problems to help someone else - it was only right and proper.

The pause was long, and he finally continues. "I can't promise anything. But I don't have any other cases right now, so I can at least give Mackenzie a fair shot."

"Thank you... so much. When can we meet?"

"Um..." Justin stands up and ambles to his wall calendar. "Friday?" Already the wheels in his mind were turning. "How about the park in North Springs?"

"You're in Truman, aren't you?"

"Yeah, but I'm used to the drive."

"Okay. Yeah, the park would be fine. What time, and how long will you want?"

"Noon. Two hours."

"Isn't that... a little long for a first visit?"

Justin gives his phone a wry grin. "Unconventional, remember?"

"Right."

"Oh, and make sure Mackenzie has an early breakfast."

"Why... never mind. Got it. Thanks, Justin. This means a lot."

"Don't thank me yet. Just bring your daughter and we'll take it one step at a time..."


...The park was rather quiet, and Carson finds a spot for the car. Shutting off the engine he gives Mackenzie a sidelong glance. "Ready?"

"No." Mackenzie had fought him ever since finding out he wanted her to talk to someone new. She didn't like it. Didn't want it. And she wasn't going to pretend.

Carson purses his lips. He'd waited until this morning to tell her what was going on, and she hadn't taken it well. He'd just about had to drag her to the car. If it had been fear he'd seen in her, he would have reconsidered. But all he saw was pure stubbornness and resentment to bend to authority. Now he knew why Ken had asked him to take her. He'd wondered why, at first - now it was obvious. Maybe it was best that the girl didn't have one more thing to fight Ken about though. "You know why I'm doing this, right?"

"Yeah, yeah." She opens her car door. "And when this does no good, you'll just look for someone else."

Watching her get out of the car, Carson shakes his head. "Lord, give me patience." Whether Mackenzie knew it or not, this was probably the last effort. Beyond this would be a center for troubled kids and neither Carson or her adopted parents wanted that.

Joining Mackenzie, he walks with her to a shady stand of trees where Justin was waiting. "Justin." Carson reaches for a handshake. "Thanks for meeting us here. This is my daughter, Mackenzie."

Justin returns the handshake then gives a friendly smile to the girl. "Hi, Mackenzie."

Mackenzie's eyes narrow as she stares up at Justin. "You're just another counselor who wants to fix me."

Justin quirks an eyebrow and glances to Carson, already getting a taste of what he'd been warned about the young girl. It didn't scare him though. Folding his arms, he takes more of a cocky stance rather than friendly. "If I thought I could fix anybody, I'd be pretty stupid." He nods to Carson. "I think we'll be okay now. See you in two hours."

Carson didn't like leaving Mackenzie alone, but he did trust Justin. He gives his daughter's shoulder a little squeeze. "You okay with that?"

She shrugs. "Doesn't matter if I'm not," she mutters.

Carson sighs. This was best, and he knew it. "Alright. I'll come pick you up in a while."

Though Mackenzie tried to act as though she didn't care, her eyes did follow Carson back to his car, then watched as he drove away.

"I'm hungry," Justin announces. "We're going to get something to eat."

"Well I don't want anything," Mackenzie retorts.

"Suite yourself. I don't care. We're going because I'm hungry, not because I thought you were." Justin points to his pickup. "Come on."

Huffing a sigh, Mackenzie trudges along with him. Though she was angry and stubborn, she knew better than to fight too much, especially when she hadn't yet pegged her adversary. Getting to the truck, she slides in but turns up her nose. "Nice truck," she comments sarcastically.

Justin ignores the insult to his old vehicle and starts up the engine. "Thanks. Put your seat belt on."

"Whatever."

Justin looks at her quickly and doesn't hesitate to point a stern finger at her. "Not whatever. I don't wanna have to clean you off the dashboard or pry parts of you from the windshield if some idiot runs into us on the road."

Mackenzie's mouth opens slightly, a bit taken aback. Unable to think of any comeback for that one, she simply obeys.

The ride downtown was quiet. Justin initiated no conversation, nor did Mackenzie. The stillness was tense, causing the girl to squirm in her seat, but Justin simply kept driving as if everything were normal.

Arriving at the Sandwich Basket, Justin pulls up to the curb and parks. "Whether you're hungry or not, I can't leave you in the truck, so come on."

Mackenzie sulkily follows orders and goes inside the restaurant with him.

It was unusually quiet for lunchtime on a Friday, but it was just as well. It gave Justin time to stand at the counter and scan the menus on the wall up above. He refrained from grinning when he heard Mackenzie's stomach growl. "Sure you don't want anything?"

"No."

He shrugs and simply continues his study of choices. "Um... I guess I'll have your classic club sandwich."

"Fries and drink?"

"Yes, please."

It was only a few minutes before Justin had his food and led the way to a booth off to the side. Settling in with his backpack to the side, he says a quick prayer and sets about straightening his food the way he wanted it. And soon, he's enjoying his meal, the atmosphere still quiet.

Mackenzie watches him eat, unable to help it that her stomach continued to growl. She scoots sideways in the booth and picks up a packet of sugar to play with. Eventually, though, the silence gets to her. "So is this what you do?"

"What?" Justin takes a sip of his soda pop.

"This." Mackenzie gestures at him. "Nothing. You get paid to sit here and do nothing?"

Justin scoffs. "You're the one that didn't want me to do anything. I just figured I'd take advantage of it and at least get some lunch out of the deal."

Mackenzie rolls her eyes and goes back to playing with the sugar packet.

Justin takes another bite of his sandwich and chews it slowly, letting the pause linger for several moments. "What did you expect?"

She shrugs. "I dunno. Everybody else has nice offices. And they ask me a bunch of stupid questions or want me to draw pictures or something."

"Yeah, well... that's not how I work."

"Why not?"

"Too boring."

Mackenzie quirks an eyebrow. "And this is fun?"

Justin grins as he chews. "Eating alone usually isn't much fun, no."

She swallows hard and glances at his food, then away again. Her stomach protests loudly.

Justin nods. "At least your stomach will join in the conversation."

Mackenzie bites her lip, trying not to let herself like his humor.

Justin picks up the untouched half of his sandwich and tears it in half again, handing it across the table to her.

Mackenzie stares at the outstretched food, really wanting to take it. But if she did, then he'd won, right? But she really was hungry. And it was just a little piece. It didn't mean he'd won anything. It just meant she'd changed her mind. That was all. Settling on that logic, she finally accepts the bit of sandwich, quickly starting to eat.

The table falls quiet again until Justin rattles his cup, finding only ice. "Always run out," he mutters. "Hang tight." Getting up, he's gone for a minute or two to get something more to drink. When he returns though, he not only has his own cup filled up again, but he has another cup with soda pop as well, which he sets down in front of Mackenzie without saying a word.

She studies it for a moment, then looks up to Justin but finds he's concentrating on his food. Looking back at the drink, she chews the sandwich and swallows before finally daring to take a sip of the pop. Ten minutes later, she'd finished the other part of the half sandwich, along with some french fries that Justin had said he didn't want.

When once again the table had fallen quiet, Mackenzie squirmed in her seat. She continued to glance at Justin, but he was simply looking around a people or at what appeared to be off in space. Eventually, the tense silence was too much.

"So are we just gonna sit here the whole time?"

Justin lowers his eyes to his young client. "Bored?"

She shrugs. "Sorta."

"Well, why didn't you say so? I figured you didn't want to do anything."

"I never said that."

"Ah, but your eyes did."

Mackenzie squints at him. "They did not."

"Sure did." Justin gestures to her eyes. "Eyes have a lot to say if you just know how to listen."

"That's silly."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Then how would I know you're unhappy?"

Mackenzie folds her arms. "'Cause my dad probably told you so."

"I like finding things out for myself." Justin leans his elbows on the table. "Here, I'll show you. Tell me what kind of mood I'm in by looking at my eyes."

Mackenzie watches him for a moment, seeing his expression change. She sits back slightly. "You look mad."

"See?" Justin relaxes. "There's an awful lot to people that others don't see, simply because they don't take the time." He nods to a nearby table. "Tell me about that woman."

Mackenzie follows his gaze then shrugs. "How should I know?"

"Don't be so quick. Study her for a moment."

Mackenzie sighs, but the exercise was just curious enough to hold her attention, and she looks back at the woman who was nicely dressed, though a bit haphazardly. She was eating rather quickly while trying to talk on her cell phone and type on her laptop all at the same time. "She's busy."

"Mm-hmm. What else?"

Mackenzie cocks her head. "She probably gets paid a lot 'cause she has nice clothes. But she's in a hurry." The woman's face grows frustrated and she runs a hand through her hair. Mackenzie purses her lips. "And I don't think she's having a very good conversation."

"Why do you say that?"

"She's frowning and trying not to be loud, but it looks like she wants to yell."

"Who is she with?"

"Nobody."

"You think she likes it that way?"

Mackenzie, now caught up in the little game, stares for a few more moments. "She looks lonely."

Justin nods. With a bit of prompting, Mackenzie could become a very perceptive child. Which would be good. "Here." He rummages in his backpack and pulls out a small mirror to slide across the table.

Mackenzie furrows her brow. "What?"

"Take a look."

She rolls her eyes, but obeys. "Yeah, so?"

"What do you see?"

Mackenzie's eyes grow dim and she swallows hard. Putting the mirror down, she shoves it back towards Justin. "This is a stupid game."

"Just because you're afraid of something doesn't make it stupid."

"I'm not afraid of anything."

"Then why won't you tell me what you see in yourself?" Justin cocks his head. "You know how you feel, Mackenzie. You don't need a mirror."

"So? What do you want?"

"Honesty. That's all."

"About what?"

"About you." Justin leans forward and down to be at her eye level. "I can read people well enough to make good guesses. Just like that lady over there. We can guess all day long about who she is and what she does, but in the end, they're just educated guesses. I don't want to make educated guesses about you. I want to know the truth. But you're the only one who can tell me what the truth really is."

Mackenzie's fingers find another sugar packet to play with. Her jaw was set stubbornly, but she looked down, uncomfortable with Justin's intensive stare. "Maybe I don't know either."

"Then how about we find out?"

"What's the point?"

"Sometimes when we discover the truth, it makes us feel better. It's like solving a mystery."

Mackenzie doesn't respond.

Justin leans further across the table until she looks up at him. "It's okay not to know why you feel like you do. But if we're going to solve the mystery, we have to work together."

She chews on the inside of her lip, her shoulders sinking just a little. "I don't wanna do all that stupid stuff other people have made me do."

"You kidding me?" Justin sits up again and spreads his arms. "Do I look like a normal stuffy counselor to you?"

She almost grins. "I guess not."

"Alright then. You and I are gonna solve this mystery. The fun part is finding all sorts of clues along the way and putting them together like a giant puzzle. And when we're done, I'll know you a little better, you'll know me a little better and you'll know yourself a little better too - which feels great." He offers his hand across the table. "Partners?"

Her eyes narrow. "How long will I have to see you?"

"As long as it takes." Justin shrugs. "That's part of the fun too."

Mackenzie looks back at his hand. "What if I wanna quit halfway?"

"If you were trying to solve a murder mystery, would you want to quit halfway? Did Columbus quit halfway to his destination? Do you stop a movie halfway and never find out what the end is?"

She sighs. It takes her a moment, but she finally accepts the handshake. "I'm not looking at paint blob thingies."

Justin laughs as he lets go of her hand. "I hate those things." Turning, he puts the mirror back into his backpack. "If it's all the same to you, I really don't wanna hang out here any longer. You ever been to the art museum?"

Mackenzie shakes her head.

"Well, there's a few paintings there that don't look like much more than 'blob thingies' but there are some cool things too if you wanna join me."

She thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "I guess that doesn't sound so bad."

"Good. Let's go then..."

"Hey, Beth!" Zach wanders up to the bar. He'd had a day off, had come here in the afternoon on a whim, and now was smiling to see his newest friend. 

Sliding onto a barstool, he leans on the counter, knowing he needn't tell her what he wanted. "How's it going?" 

Miss, Enjoy

Feeling movement around her Stacy slowly opens her eyes letting them adgust to the light that streamed through the window. It takes a moment for her mind to leave the fog and figure out where she was. Finally opening her eyes the rest of the way she remembered. So much for not falling asleep.

Sitting up and starching her back out she could feel it resist from the way she had slept last night. But once again she felt overly refreshed like exiting a deep long sleep. Looking over to Eric she gives a grin at his comment.

   "Oh we didn't miss it, we just didn't stay awake long enough to enjoy it."

Standing and give a large stretch to the sky Stacy twists a little bit too just trying to loosen herself up and get all the kinds out. She'd be late on her morning rounds now but it just meant she would have to catching up. She didn't mind at all though she just felt peaceful at the moment.

   "I think coffee is calling out names again. What you think? Care to join me for a cup?"

Meeting Jason in the hall Katie gives another small smile as she looks up from the folder hearing his voice. It was good to see him and know he was doing alright. Katie wouldn't have said anything but she had been what she though felt like worry. Seeing him now though she was happy he was alright though a strange feeling washed over her. No kiss, no hug...it was very lonely not getting those.

   "Yeah we had to bring in some guys who were drunk down at the concert last night. Hunter and one of his other buddy's. I guess he got into it with Kyle a little as well. Reese wanted me to question him and see if he new anything about the Agency but as far as I can tell...He doesn't."

Looking down at the folder again and than up at Jason Katie searches his eyes. She wondered how last night went and if Jason had a nice time. He hadn't mentioned anything so she wondered if it had been a good time like he'd hoped.

   "How did your evening go? Have a nice time with your friends?"

Quite an Evening

Eric chuckles and shakes his head. "I wouldn't care if you did. Somebody's gotta like a lumpy pillow."

A yawn slips out before he can stop it. All of a sudden, it seemed his insomnia was giving him a break. Sure... right when he wanted to stay awake. Should stay awake. The sunrise was coming. He couldn't fall asleep now.

Burrowing in a little deeper, his shoulder leans against Stacy's. Another yawn emerges and he laughs. "So much for feeling wide awake."

Widening his eyes, he focuses out the loft door, but slowly, slowly, his eyelids begin to droop. He catches his head from nodding several times, until eventually, his body's tiredness has its way with him...

...The rattling of buckets stirs Eric's mind into partial consciousness. He shifts around a little, feeling as though something were strangely out of place. But he was comfortable. Wait... he felt rather stiff... why wasn't he lying down? Why wasn't he in his bed at all? And what was he leaning his head against that was so warm and comfortable?

His eyes fly open to stare into a dimly lit hayloft. The sun was already up. From the noises below, someone was already starting chores. Eric hadn't even realized he'd fallen asleep at all, let alone for several hours without waking until now.

Then he realizes that not only had he been asleep, but it was Stacy whom he was leaning against. Shooting up to sit straight, he tries to shake the cobwebs from his mind. For a split second, he feared he might have invaded Stacy's space in who knows what way while he'd been asleep. But realizing his arms had still been folded and kept to himself, he relaxes.

"Aw crap..." He rubs his hands over his face, feeling he need to shave. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he looks over his shoulder at Stacy. Had she fallen asleep too? "So much for the sunrise," he muses sleepily.


As Hunter is left alone again, he just stares at the closed door. Had that been a bit of.... softness in Katie? He wondered. He also wondered if him knowing where Kyle was would change anything. Though still angry, he knew it had been stupid of him to slug Kyle last night. He didn't know if he would have, had he been sober or not. And he knew that the little bit of twisting deep down in his gut was guilt. But he and Kyle... they weren't friends anymore. It just had to be that way. Maybe Kyle's life was perfect, but Hunter's wasn't, and he didn't want to be reminded of his failings or misfortunes. No... it was better this way.


"Hey, there you are." Jason meets Katie in the hall, giving her a small smile. "When I got here, I couldn't find you. Reese said you were questioning somebody." He tucks his hands in his pockets. "Heard you had quite an evening last night."

Not To

Continuing to hold her smile Stacy glances at Eric as he moves around in the loft a little to find a more comfortable spot. Seeing him nod to the spot next to him Stacy thinks for a long moment. She had trust in Eric that it was a gesture of kindness and sitting down here her back was getting a little cramped So why not?

Standing and walking over to the spot next to Eric Stacy sits down and gets comfortable folding her hands in her lap. This was a comfortable spot and a better view of the sky. It had been a good pick on Eric's part for sure.

   "I'll try not to fall asleep on you this time."

Giving a laugh Stacy sinks down a little more and wraps her arms around herself. She wasn't cold but it was a little extra warmth from the chill in the air to ensure she wouldn't get cold. Drawing silent she just sits, waits, and enjoys the company Eric had to offer.

Keeping her eyes locked with Hunters for a long moment Katie wondered if it was a good idea to tell Hunter where Kyle lived or not. If he's assaulted him once who said he wouldn't do it again. Something about the look in his eye though said he wouldn't. Maybe it was faith or trust Katie wasn't sure.

   "I think he still lives with his brother for now at least. He travels around a little bit here and there but its mostly in the area stuff."

Katie wondered what happened with Hunter and Kyle that had left him so bitter. Could it really be that bad to turn two best friends against each other? It was a question that might always be left unanswered...because right now was not a good time.

  "I best get going so you can get out of here. Keep your nose clean eh? I don't want to have to arrest you again."

Katie gives half a smile to Hunter before turning to exit. She wanted to convey she was joking but it was hard to when she could hardly feel anything.

Silent Invitation

Hunter gives a frustrated sigh at Katie's response, but doesn't argue. He didn't understand all of this, but as long as he wasn't in any more trouble than what he'd caused last night, he'd just let it go. This woman obviously had a chip on her shoulder and was determined to be less than friendly.

He takes another bite of sandwich. Although, she had brought him something to eat.

Katie's comment about Kyle sends Hunter's gaze shooting back up again. Locking eyes with her, his shoulders slouch a little, his expression turning to one that mixed anger, regret and sadness. Kyle had talked about him? He wondered if it had been good. Did Kyle remember their fight over Alice? Did he remember their rivalry? Or did he just choose to remember the good and ignore the rift between them?

"Yeah... nice to meet you too, I guess." His eyes do not drop from hers. "You don't know where Kyle lives now, do you?" He wouldn't guess that Kyle was still living with Phil at this point.


Stacy's question turn's Eric's head as he continues to use his arms as a pillow. A little grin surfaces again. She must really have liked doing this before. Why not again? He had nothing better to do, and in all honesty, he was enjoying himself. "Sure..."

Just watching her for a few long minutes, he finally picks himself up and finds a nice spot on some hay bales, stretching out his legs and leaning back where he still had a clear view of the night sky. Settling in, he folds his arms, tucking his jacket in a little tighter. It wasn't really cold up here, but there was a bit of a cool breeze in the air tonight.

As quietness settles over the hayloft, Eric's eyes wander back to Stacy once more. He felt just a little silly that he was over here and she was on the other side. Half a smile emerges and he nods to the empty spot beside him, silently inviting her if she felt so inclined.

Half Hour

Katie shakes her head and doesn't turn around. She new she was being cold, she new she was pushing people away and she new she was being rude to people who really didn't deserve it. Even if Hunter had been taken into custody for being a royal pain he didn't deserve the attitude she was giving him but yet it seemed so hard to just shut it off when she was feeling so low. Maybe taking her own confusion out on someone.

   "I'll let him know that you don't have the information we are looking for. More than likely you will be released in a half hour or so."

Continuing tword the door Katie lets out a long sigh opening it and partly turning to look over her shoulder at Hunter again. Just eyeing him for a long moment. There was something in his eye that maybe Katie new, something maybe she understood. There was bitterness for a situation that couldn't be changed, and a yearning for find where one fit in now. 

   "You were right by the way I'm Katie. It was nice meeting you considering the circumstances. If I am right in assuming your Hunter Kyle talked a lot about you."

 Hearing Eric said she had done a good job raising Ashlee make Stacy feel very good. She had never had anyone say that to her before and though she could tell by the way her daughter acted it was just nice to hear someone else say it. Maybe a confirmation but it was a good one.

   "Thank you, that really does mean a lot hearing you say that."

Shifting a little Stacy leans back on her arms stretching her legs out in front of her to just keep looking up at the heavens and think about Eric's comment about the opportunity passing him by. Maybe it had, maybe it hadn't but if God had it in the cards than it would.

   "So, do we get to see the sun rise again today?"

Great Job

Hunter rolls his eyes and sighs, seeing that he was getting nowhere with his flirting. She said some other time, but what she really meant was for him to bug off for good. He knew the type. And yet... as he stares back at her, there's an odd sort of spark in her eye. She seemed rather cold on the outside - almost depressed somehow. But there was definitely something else in her eye that caught his attention. And it only served to make him a bit curious in the least. But she'd shut him off for now, and that was that.

Still eating, his eyes follow her as he stands, and he throws up a hand in irritation, talking with his mouth partially full. "I do too know what happened! I just told you! Oy!"

He shakes his head. "Thick-headed...." He stops there, figuring it was best. "Thanks for getting my bike back though. At least I've got some way to get home if I'm ever released - although maybe your boss wants to ask me about some other things, of which I apparently know nothing."


Eric finally looks up, only to find that Stacy was trying to catch his eye again. He lets her, only because he knew she couldn't see how red his face was.

He believed what she said about God, and a new smile emerges. Seeing her faith was... refreshing. They could have been sent any number of people to be the security around here. But it had wound up not only being the mother of a daughter who needed a place like this, but a godly woman who could relate to everyone else here who had strong faith.

Stacy's final comment only proves to bring back the heat in Eric's face, and his eyebrows automatically rise. That was coming from her... not Ashlee. Did Stacy...really respect him that much?

He clears his throat and tries to laugh it off. "Well, thanks, but I think my opportunities have all passed me up as far as that goes."

Getting stiff from where he'd been sitting, he stretches his arms, wincing as his shoulders cramp. He'd lifted a bit too much today, apparently. Sliding his feet out, he rolls onto his stomach, using his folded arms as a rest for his chin. He couldn't see the stars this way, but it felt better on his sore shoulders and he sighs deeply.

"For the record..." His voice was a little quieter and just a little muffled as he spoke against his arm. "I think you've done a great job with Ashlee. She's a fine young woman."

Father

Hearing Hunter's comment about the explosion Katie searches his face for a long moment. His answer seemed truthful and it did seem like there wasn't anything more to his answer. Writing a few more things down Katie finally looks up at Hunter and his comment. Even though he wasn't tipsy anymore he was still pretty smooth.

   "I arrested you for being drunk and disorderly, along with damaging property and assaulting someone. The rest of these questions happen to be right place right time for us. So, you can sit and answer my questions now and leave the flirting for...some other time. Right now I am trying to work."

Looking back down at the folder again though her though she brushed off Hunters comments she could feel her cheeks get a little red. He wasn't drunk anymore and he still wanted to have lunch with her. Closing the case book and standing Kaite just stands there for a moment before looking at Hunter again.

   "It would seem you really don't know anything about what happened at the race. I'll let Reese know and see when you can get out of here. Your bike also...was unharmed I had someone go get it from the parking lot last night and bring it here."

Eric's comment about always wanting a daughter makes Stacy's smile grow. Maybe thats why he was so good with Ash and like she had said it was something she needed and Stacy was thankful it was being offered to her. Seeing Eric was a little embarrassed Stacy tilts her  head a little bit to try and catch his eye.

   "You don't need to be embarrassed, I understood what you meant. I always believe God has a reason for everything and I think this was just one of the many he had planned in our life and I am ever so thankful that Ash is getting what she needs before its to late."

Stacy really did believe that and was very thankful for the way God had planned everything out in her and her daughters life. It wasn't perfect in her own eyes but in God's eyes he new what he was doing and she had a great faith in that.

   "I think you'd make a great father!"

Hotter

Eric hadn't expected the subject to turn to Ashley, but he was glad to know that Stacy still approved of him giving her daughter riding lessons. He really was looking forward to the girl's birthday so he could finally tell her. He'd noticed how Ashley had really become attached to the horse and he knew she had to be itching to learn how to ride.

He's about to comment, but stops as Stacy continues. And as she finishes about Ash respecting him, he suddenly finds his face turning just a bit hotter - and he's glad it's dark up here. Why he felt embarrassed, he wasn't sure. Maybe it was because he hadn't realized until now just what kind of role he'd begun to take on in Ashley's eyes. Or Stacy's, for that matter. She... apparently approved, though, of Eric being a male figure in her daughter's life. He thinks for a moment of the other men at the ranch, and it takes only a second or two to realize that Ashley didn't hang out with any of them. Not even Jeff - though his efforts had been obvious. Was Eric... really that important?

Realizing he hadn't said anything, his surprise and awkwardness suddenly surfaces as a light chuckle and he shakes his head sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I..." He looks at the floor, his fingers shredding a piece of hay. "You're welcome. I guess I just didn't, um..." His eyes weave their way back up to Stacy, though his body language made it obvious he felt undeserving of the thanks and, really, the compliment. "I didn't think what I was doing was that important I guess. I mean I understand, I just..."

He bites his lip. "...Maybe I always wanted a daughter."

As soon as he'd said it, his cheeks become ten times hotter. Finding the piece of hay in his hand very interesting, he stares at it intently, morbidly embarrassed. It wasn't that he was being dishonest about how he felt about Ashlee, but his words had implied much more than he'd intended about not only the relationship with the girl, but Stacy as well. All he could hope now was that he hadn't just offended Stacy with his comment.

"I... I'm sorry that... that didn't... come out right."


"What?" Hunter's confusion grows. He takes another bite of his sandwich, using it to give him time to gather his thoughts.

"Accident? There are accidents all the time, but if you're referring to that explosion, it was some dumb guy trying to hype up his engine and he didn't know what he was doing." He shrugs. "I was there. Right after a race."

He shakes his head, frustrated. "Look, is that why I'm here? Or are you guys just taking advantage of the opportunity that I was picked up last night?"

Finishing the first half of his sandwich, he smirks a little at Katie. "It wouldn't have been that hard to find me, and I would have been more than willing to answer any questions. I still am. But if that's what this is all about, for heaven's sake, release me from my original arrest charge, I'll pay my fine, and then you can ask me all the questions you want in a more comfortable room. Or lunch. Whichever is more fun for you."

Respect

Giving a nod of her head at least Katie new Hunter wasn't tipsy anymore. That was a good thing, means he would hopefully answer the questions honestly, and this could be done with quickly.

   "I guess you have a point she does race against you."

Looking down at her papers again Katie gives a small sigh and she jots a few things down. Her mind seemed to be slightly else where even though she was doing something different. She just couldn't help it. She hadn't hear from Jason today, and he was late coming into work. In a way it made her worried..but why hadn't she tried calling him.

   "Where you there the night of the accident with the one driver? Heard it was pretty bad. Some people day there was more behind it than a simple fluke. Do you have any thoughts on it?"

Listing to Eric Stacy leans her head back against and gives a nod as he talked. She liked listing to him no matter  how long or story the store was. His voice just had a nice tone to it. Continuing to listen a bit of sadness flowed over Stacy. She could tell just about how he talked that he had really enjoyed it.

   "I'm sorry that happened to you. I couldn't imagine something like that happening."

Looking up at the sky and just letting out a content sigh Stacy is silent again just letting it wash over them. It was a nice feeling not having to fish for something to say. Just sitting there in silence letting the breeze blow quietly over them.

   "I know though now, thats why I would feel the safest with you teaching Ash how to ride. I don't think you would ever let anything happen to her. Accidents happen yes but I know you would do what you could to keep her safe."

Turning her gaze back to Eric and giving a smile.

   "Thank you for being there for Ash. She's never had a father or a male figure in her life and I know thats important for a young woman. I know your not her dad, but she really respects you and I just...I thank you for that."

Missing

Hunter's back is turned when Katie enters the holding cell and he whirls around, a little surprised it was her and not somebody else. "Uh...morning."

Eying the sandwich and water, his stomach growls again. He wouldn't refuse food. At least it would satisfy his appetite and help his mouth taste better too. Wandering to the extra chair, he rolls his eyes at her comment about complying. Did she think he was some thug who would only talk while under Chinese torture? He swivels the chair around and straddles it backwards, going for the sandwich first. "Thanks for not wanting me to starve. I really didn't want to die that way."

Unwrapping the food, he prepares for questions about last night - who his friends were, what they'd been up to, and if they'd done the same things at other places. As he takes a bite of sandwich though, Katie's question catches him off guard. His eyebrow quirks and he chews slowly, just staring across at her for several long moments.

"Ryan McKade, huh?" He'd been arrested by the Elite instead of the city cops. He'd been held much longer than expected. Now he was being questioned about something that had absolutely nothing to do with the night before. Was there something he didn't know?

Swallowing his bite, he nods. Picking out a little piece of ham that was ready to fall from the sandwich, he nibbles on it then looks at Katie again. His suspicions were rising, but his curiosity kept him from being belligerent. "Well, I would probably say I race against her." He flashes her a wry grin, his eyes no longer glazed over as they'd been the night before.

Unscrewing the cap on the bottle of water, he takes a long swig. "Quite honestly though... I have absolutely no idea why you're asking me about her. As far as I know, I was arrested for disturbing the peace last night. A few spots are foggy, but I don't remember Ryan being in the mix. What am I missing here?"


Eric chuckles at Stacy's comment about going fast. She was never going to let him live that down... not that he minded. It was rather funny now.

Her question slowly turns his smile into more of a pensive expression as his mind relives the past. "Hmm..." He sighs deeply, letting his eyes wander to the dark hayloft ceiling. "It was an accident during a race - my horse stumbled. Nobody ever figured out exactly what happened but my mount broke her leg and had to be put down. Me... I remember seeing the track, and it was like I was flying in slow motion towards the dirt."

He hadn't thought about this in quite a while, and only now realized that it was a little harder to talk about it than he would have guessed. His eyes remain on the rafters. "The only thing I remember after that is waking up in the hospital. I had a broken leg, fractured arm and neck... mostly though it was a bad hit to the head that took me down." He sighs again. "They figured I got hit in the head with a hoof. It was bad enough that I lost some memory, some motor skills, and I had to relearn things like how to read and write and do math. My balance was thrown way off kilter too, and there was no way I could race again. So... I started driving truck, and... I guess... I never stopped."

Finally letting his eyes come back down to Stacy, he turns his head, still resting back against the hay. He wasn't smiling now. "I miss racing... a lot. I'm too old now anyway, but it was fun while it lasted. Mick and I rode together most races. We were an unstoppable pair and were known for tying our races on purpose. We always had a bandanna that we'd hold between us right when we got to the finish line, so we were both winners. After my accident though... he raced for a while til life got rough but I never set foot on a track again."

He shrugs. "But... I managed to learn and function again... I was eventually able to get back in the saddle... and... here I am."

Maybe all that was more than Stacy had wanted to hear. But Eric wasn't embarrassed. On the contrary, he felt... peaceful. Talking to Stacy, he just didn't have to worry about what she might think or say, and he didn't feel awkward sharing about himself. A new grin emerges. "That's the short version."

Speed

Taking the file from Reese Katie thumbs through it for a moment looking to see what information was in there. Is was the normal papers what not that had when bring someone in they though might be with the Agency. Once again it was something to do so at least Katie was getting that and not just sitting, thinking and doing paperwork.

   "Yeah, ok I'll see what I can get out of him."

Grabbing a pen and take the folder Katie heads to the holding cell. She now wondered herself if Hunter was the key or even new anything about what happened at the tack. It could just be a goose chase but one worth checking out.

Passing the break room on the way Katie remembered he might be hungry now. He'd only had coffee last night. Entering, grabbing a sandwich from the vending mashean and a bottle of water. It wasn't much but at least it was something. Continuing her rout to the holding cell she unlocks the door and enters closing it behind her.

   "Morning! Here something to eat and drink. Don't want you to think we want to starve you or something. I've got a few things I want to talk to you about and as long as you comply you'll be out of here in not time."

Going over to the small table and pulling out the chair Katie sets the stuff down for Hunter before sitting down herself and opening the file. Giving a gesture for him to sit down with her. This could be long, this could be short but it would all depend on Hunter.

   "So you race outside town with Ryan McKade dont you?"

The smile remains on Stacy's face as she sits and just lets her legs swing a little bit. She felt almost like a kind again hanging out at the bridge, or sitting on the old tree branch and just letting her legs dangle. It was a sense of melloncolle but at the same time it was really nice to share this moment with Eric. New memories were good memories along with the old.

   "I didn't know you raced horses..."

Drawing quiet for a moment Stacy gives a chuckle before looking at Eric over her shoulder her eyes twinkling.

   "...Guess thats where your love for going fast came from huh? How come you don't anymore?"