“You coming for the ride?”
“Yeah.” Arnold hopped off the van. Victoria and Nicola climbed up. David moved in to the back of the van and held the sheep. Amanda sat the other side and did the same.
“You two catch her if she slips.” Victoria smiled and looked at David. He smiled and nodded.
Arnold drove as slow as he could. David soon stood and held the sheep. They arrived at the ranch and a few hands came to help. They soon had the sheep and her lamb on the ground. The little lamb nudged and drank. Amanda smiled.
“She will be fine. No harm done there.” Arnold smiled and nodded. He took out a little bundle of notes and handed them to Amanda.
“Thank you Doc.” Amanda smiled and nodded and put the money in her pocket.
“The four wheeler fixed?”
“Yes Ma’am.”
“Thanks.” She took the money out of her pocket and stuck it in Arnold’s pocket. He chuckled.
“It was a spark plug.” Amanda chuckled. She walked over to the four wheeler and David sprinted.
“Hu uh!” She gurgled with laughter.
“Yours?”
“Yes.”
“Come on ladies. You can run along behind us.” They gurgled with laughter as they all hopped on to the four wheeler.
“Miss Amanda I can see you all home.”
“Not a problem Arnold. They can bite on to the tires.” David grinned.
“Nice meeting you David.”
“And you Arnold.” Victoria and Nicola chuckled as they stood on the four wheeler holding on. Amanda stood behind David. He slowly rode out and waved.
He took it very slow along the road. A van came driving by and everyone waved. Nicola and Victoria giggled all the way home.
“The spark plug was replaced. But I am worried about the shocks!” Amanda roared with laughter. He grinned. He pulled up to the ranch house. Everyone hopped off.
“Take it down to the shed please Nicola.”
“But of course!” Victoria chuckled as the both of them hopped on. David shook his head as Nicola rode down to the stables.
“Shed and stables. Did I say stables?” David watched as Nicola hopped off and they swapped. Victoria rode from the stables to the shed.
“All I see is sparkling teeth.” Amanda chuckled.
“There are a few. And it was not the spark plug. But Arnold would not say.”
“And that is why he paid you and you paid him.” Amanda chuckled and nodded.
“If I asked, he would find an empty spark plug box and charge me the price of that. But I know he would have stripped that engine and found the fault.”
“Decent folk.” Amanda nodded and smiled.
David smiled as they walked in to the house.
“I think a nice cup of coffee.” David walked in to the kitchen.
“Let me get that for you.”
“Thanks David.” He smiled as he took the mugs and poured the coffee from the pot.
“Thought about sleeping over?”
“I have.”
“And?” David nodded and smiled.
“I think so.” Amanda smiled and nodded.
“I hope you don’t think I am being too forward.”
“No. Not at all. A lot of people would pussy foot around the issue. Like Victoria staying for a couple of days. Extend the invitation if you want to. If not then don’t raise the hopes. I rather prefer someone to say what they are thinking. Get it off their chest.”
“I prefer it that way.”
“It is the same as when I give a quote. I wait for days sometimes. Then I get the go ahead. Or I have to follow up and then they turn me down.” Amanda nodded.
“I don’t shoot from the hip. I give everything a lot of thought. But when I make my mind up then I stick to it.” David chuckled and nodded.
The girls ran inside.
“Whoa did you see us! Victoria can ride a four wheeler.”
“And what did we bump in to?” Victoria gurgled with laughter.
“We honestly didn’t.”
“I thought you rode to Timbuktu the length of time it took to park a four wheeler.” Victoria gurgled with laughter.
“Hey Dad have you seen the time?”
“I have.”
“So is there still time to go for a ride on the real horse?” Amanda smiled and looked at David.
“I guess you can. But not for too long. I would like you to be able to move your limbs tomorrow.” The girls roared with laughter and ran out the front door.
Amanda switched the oven on and they both sat down.
“Gosh is it like this all the time?”
“All the time. I often find I have an extra pair of hands when I am busy doing a little operation. You just learn. Ask for the scalpel. Ask for the clamps. Then you ask for the burger and chips and there is a roar of laughter.” David chuckled as he listened.
“Yes I can honestly say life is never dull. Life is never boring. And life is certainly not quiet. You get to enjoy the lights out period.” David grinned and nodded.
“And at home I make sure to leave a light on. Just in case.”
“We don’t have that here. If there ever was a burglar I think he would probably find himself pinned down with four shotguns aimed at his head.” David chuckled.
“This is their home. And let me tell you. They protect it. Not only is this where they work. But my hands all live on the ranch. The married couples in the married quarters. And the singles in the single quarters. They watch out for each other. They really do. If one gets out of hand he is taken to one side and spoken to.”
“Beaten up?”
“No. Really spoken to. They are like a big family. You have your older generation. Then the younger ones. And the inbetweeners. If anyone gets out of hand the older generation do the talking.”
“That helps.” Amanda nodded. She stood and took ingredients out of the cupboards and put the three bananas and a bowl in front of David with the masher.
He peeled and mashed as he spoke.
“And have you ever had a problem with brawls and things?”
“Not a problem as such. Sometimes it does happen. The next morning you see the blue eye and the scrapes. But they kiss and make up in the morning. Everyone comments on the pretty make up and then the laughter begins. Sometimes the worst of enemies become the best of friends.”
“I guess.”
“They are kept in line. I have a ranch manager. Jimmy. He doesn’t take any nonsense. They all know. If you get out of hand you are off the land.” David nodded and smiled.
“Good to know.” Amanda nodded.
“In everything in life there are rules and regulations. The same applies. This is a business. But they make it their home. Behave and you are welcome. Misbehave and you are not.”
Amanda took the bowl of bananas from David and mixed them into the mixture and poured it in to the loaf tin. David got up and held the tin. He scraped the batter in to the loaf pan.
“Thanks.” She opened the oven and put the loaf tin in to the oven and put the timer on. David made another cup of coffee.
They both sat down. David chuckled. Amanda smiled.
“What?”
“I didn’t even realize what I was doing.”
“Well you were a great help.” He chuckled. He took Amanda’s hands in his.
“I am enjoying this. I am enjoying being here. And I am enjoying your company. Being able to help. In a little way. But I am enjoying the conversation. Being a part of it all.” Amanda smiled.
“It is nice to have the company. It can get a little lonely out here sometimes. I shut the world out. But sometimes you do need someone to answer when you start chatting.” David chuckled and nodded.
“Can you hear those two?”
“That was a very quick ride.”
“I think I heard a different kind of horse leave the stable.” Amanda chuckled and nodded. He left her hands and she smiled.
CHAPTER 6
Victoria an
d Nicola ran in with the biggest of smiles.
“The horse buck you and send you home?” Nicola grinned and chuckled.
“Well. As we got to the stables.”
“Which you never reached. A stable is a stable. And a shed is a shed.”
“Now you see. We were almost at the stables and then Uncle Jimmy rode up on his four wheeler.”
“Naturally. To come and see what the noise was.”
“It gave a tiny little backfire.” David hid his smile. He had heard the backfire earlier.
“And then we went on the four wheeler and Uncle Jimmy and us went to go and check on things.”
“What kind of things?”
“Now don’t blow a gasket.” Amanda rolled her eyes.
“What now?”
“The reservoir. The pipe sort of sprung a leak. So Uncle Jimmy is trying to fix that.”
“I will send Doctor fix it down to Uncle Jimmy. By the time Uncle Jimmy fixes the leak we will have a pond to swim in and no water in the house.”
David grinned.
“Shall I?”
“If you could.” He grinned as he walked out and followed the girls. He walked down to the reservoir. The water was gushing from the pipe.
“Uncle Jimmy?” Jimmy looked up and put out his hand.
“David MacGuire. Can you bring me two clamps and a piece of pipe?”
“Sure.” Jimmy ran up to the shed and came out with the clamps. David quickly broke the pipe and put the piece of pipe in the middle of the two ends and clamped the two ends to the pipe.
“Should do it.” Jimmy chuckled.
“The glue I used last time sort of came unstuck.” David chuckled and nodded.
“What is your hourly rate sonny?”
“Mine?” Jimmy nodded. David gave the figure. Jimmy took the cash from his wallet and gave it to David.
“No I don’t need this.”
“Everybody needs the green stuff. And we all have an hourly rate.”
“Thanks.”
“I would have had to call the mend it man in the morning. I don’t have a handy soul when it comes to this kind of thing.”
“Well you can always call on me.”
“Good to know. This your little one?”
“She is.” Jimmy smiled and nodded.
“My Granddaughter is the same age. Should be here in about a week. Bless the peace and quiet.” David roared with laughter.
David smiled as he walked off with Victoria and Nicola.
“Funny that Dad. Everyone is going to come here. Right here. On this ranch. For their school holidays.”
“Amazing.” Victoria grinned.
“It really is. I wonder if they know how to play Bingo?” Nicola grinned and looked away.
“And do you know what?”
“What is that Victoria?”
“Nicola can swim every morning. And every evening.”
“And does she go to bed at six?” Nicola chuckled. Victoria grinned.
“Just mentioning. Should you want to change your mind.”
“Change my mind about what?”
“My up and coming school holidays.” David chuckled. They walked in to the house and straight in to the kitchen. Amanda smiled as she took the banana loaf out of the oven.
“Goodness!” Amanda smiled.
“A few minutes to cool off. If you would like it warm or cold. Up to you.” David smiled as he looked at the enormous loaf.
“How many minutes did you say?” Victoria gurgled with laughter. David took the money out of his pocket.
“Your Jimmy paid me.”
“Good for him. The right rate?”
“I can’t keep this.”
“Did you fix it?”
“Sure did.”
“Well then put it in your wallet. Services rendered.”
“Sure?”
“Yes of course. He would only have someone come in and fix it if you didn’t.”
“Well it will never come loose again.”
“Stick around. Jimmy loves glue.” David roared with laughter and nodded.
They all sat down as Amanda started slicing the loaf. She put it on the table on a bread board. She handed everyone their little plate. Nicola took the butter from the fridge. David smiled as they all sat around and had coffee and their slices of loaf.
“Running a little late at the moment. So supper will be a little late.” David smiled and nodded.
“I will make supper.”
“Really?” Nicola chuckled.
“Sandwiches?” David grinned.
“Toasted.” Amanda chuckled.
“Now that is what I like. A talented man. Who can wield a spatula as well as a hammer.” David grinned.
“Spatula?”
“Ooh I will be out of this kitchen when the supper is made.” Victoria chuckled.
“Dad cooks and I do the dishes.”
“Very good for healthy clean hands.” Amanda chuckled and nodded.
“Over the weekend I give my housekeeper a bit of a break. But during the week I run out of time.”
“You have a housekeeper and a cook?” Amanda chuckled.
“Victoria she is one and the same. Sometimes she drags me out of bed and marches me to this table. Feeds me. And shoves me straight out of that door.” Victoria gurgled with laughter. David chuckled.
“Sometimes I run out of time. I never know what is next. My clients schedule their appointments. But sometimes it is a little op and sometimes it is a little sweet talking.” Victoria smiled.
“How did you know what to do with the sheep?” David smiled.
“Amanda is a Vet.”
“A Vet! Goodness!” Amanda chuckled and nodded.
“You are as bad as your father. Did you not see the sign that said Vet?”
“Yes but we didn’t know that this here is the Vet.” Amanda smiled and looked at David.
“And the plumber. Uncle David did a super duper job.” David chuckled. Amanda sat back and smiled.
“I think that is me done. Saving space for the toasted sandwiches. Now just what do we expect to see on these toasted sandwiches?” David chuckled.
“When everyone has evacuated the kitchen I shall put thought to the meal.” Amanda chuckled.
“Oooh so complex. Dad do you need help?” David chuckled.
“I might pull in the stragglers to assist.” Nicola roared with laughter.
“We shall straggle.” Amanda chuckled.
“Now if you get nibbly the banana loaf will be under the dome. Feel free to help yourself.” David smiled and nodded.
“Dad. Can I show you something?” They both looked at Amanda and then at David.
“Are you girls hiding something?”
“Noooo. We would never hide anything.” David chuckled.
“Would you excuse us?” Amanda chuckled and nodded.
“Don’t rush. If I am not here I am feeding the injured.” David smiled as they walked out.
“And just what are you going to be showing me?”
“Shhhh.” David chuckled as he walked. They walked in to the shed.
“What am I looking at?” Victoria smiled and they walked over to the corner.
“Kittens?” They all went down on their knees.
“Oh my gosh! She just had another.” David chuckled.
“Run and call Amanda.” Victoria ran to the house.
“Aunty Amanda!” Amanda chuckled.
“Dad says you must come.” Amanda smiled and ran out with Victoria.
They walked in to the shed. Amanda smiled and went down on her knees.
“And why are we hiding her?” Nicola smiled.
“Do you think Mom will let me have a kitten?”
“Dad would have a cadenza. So what we do is you both choose which pitch black kitten you would like.” David chuckled.
“And they live here. That way everyone has the best of both worlds. Now Patsy. Take care of them all.”
“So we can really keep them al
l?”
“Well Patsy has been here for a very long time. And I do like to keep the rats and mice down. Yes of course we can keep them all. So who is who?” David smiled.
“Can I pick them up?”
“Patsy won’t mind.” He picked the first one up.
“A boy. And he has a little white spot on his foot.” He picked them all up.
“Well sorry ladies. The little young man is mine.”
“And he came out first.” Amanda chuckled.
“Aren’t they beautiful.” Everyone nodded.
“So Dad has the little man with the dot. Are you sure that is not Tippex David?” David chuckled.
“It is a spot. Spot the man.” The girls chuckled.
Victoria smiled.
“Can I pick one up?”
“I am sure you can.” She gently picked the kitten up.
“Oh Dad.” He smiled.
“So small.” David smiled.
“Any marks?”
“On her chest.” Nicola chuckled.
“Not one of them is pitch black.” Amanda chuckled.
“Very close. I am going to leave you all for a while.” She got up and David smiled.
“Did well Patsy.”
Amanda walked off and walked up the drive towards the surgery. She walked inside and went to go and feed the animals. She smiled at the puppies.
“Pretty amazing. Patsy just had her four kittens. Gosh they are gorgeous. And so little. Real little beauties.”
David quietly walked inside and listened.
“How are you doing Phyllis? Come here sweetheart.” It was all quiet.
“Nicola is going to have a friend over for the week. That is going to be so nice for her. I am going to have such a busy week. And this week I am going to do my gig but I am going to drive over and come straight back. I really don’t enjoy staying over. But this week I had to. And I am glad I did you know. And I am glad I met David. I haven’t ever had a friend like that. And he is a man. I haven’t ever had a boyfriend. I mean a boy. Friend. Oh you know what I mean. And he is rather good looking. Actually he is very handsome. He has a lovely voice. All gravelly and sexy. And good to look at. I wonder what he thinks about me. I wonder if he has thoughts like that.”
David smiled and walked closer. He stood behind Amanda and put his arms around her.
“He does have thoughts like that. I think you are gorgeous. And I think you stay away from the city because you are actually scared of meeting someone like me. I am going to tell you what I think.” Amanda smiled and nodded.
Dreams Come True Page 4