Riley's Pride

by Sandra R Neeley

  Riley looked around to be sure no one overheard, then back at Scott, “Riley. Just Riley when we’re out here.”

  Scott looked chagrined, “Oh, okay. Sorry. Riley. You gonna fix a roof?”

  “Yeah, we are.”

  “And put up some decorations, too, I see. That’s a lot of decorations!”

  “Well, we didn’t have any, so we’re starting fresh,” Richie said.

  “Oh, I see. Okay. You got a tree?” he asked.

  “No, not yet. But we’ll get one,” Riley answered.

  “Gonna take a while for ya’ll to get all that set up and the roof fixed, too. Just the two of you, ya know?”

  “We got time. We’ll get it done,” Richie answered.

  “Alright, well, you’re all set, all loaded up,” Scott said, knocking on the side of the truck to signal they were clear to drive away.

  Riley waved out of the driver’s side window, and they were gone.

  Scotty watched the end of the building where the Alpha’s truck had disappeared behind the corner. He really wanted to be a part of whatever the Alpha had planned. He was starving for approval, affection — he needed to feel that he was wanted someplace, any place. And his gut told him Alpha Riley was a good male.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  “Why do I have to stop at the grocery? I just want to go home and get something accomplished today!” Riley complained to Richie.

  “’Cause. I didn’t get anything to make cookies. And you can’t have Christmas without cookies,” Richie answered.

  “It’s still weeks ‘til Christmas!” Riley answered.

  “Never too early for Christmas cookies,” Richie said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  Riley huffed, “Fine, but we’re waiting in the truck. Hurry up.”

  “I’ll just be a second,” Richie said, opening the door and jogging toward the front door of the grocery.

  After a quick run through to grab the stuff for cookies, Libby rang him up and sent him home with several candy canes for Cristie. He was to the front door, the automatic doors already having slid open for him, when he realized… “Hey, do you babysit?” he called to her.

  “I can. I have in the past. Why, you need someone to watch Cristie?”

  “Yeah, maybe. We have some work to do on the store, and it’s hard because she can’t get up on the roof with us, and we can’t leave her in the house by herself.”

  “I could watch her for you,” Libby answered.

  “Great! Could you come by later and talk to Riley? We’ll be putting up decorations and making cookies for a while.”

  “Sure, I get off at noon, I’ll see ya’ll later. Amos’ old place, right?”

  “Yep, that’s us!”

  Riley grumbled most of the way back home, finally ending with, “I’m not going in another store for a damn month! Had enough.”

  “Okay,” Richie answered, forever cheerful, “You don’t need to. We got everything, and if we don’t, I can go for whatever it is.”

  “Fine. When we get home, I’m putting up Cristie’s decorations, then, I’m getting up on the roof.”

  “I know. I’m gonna help. Oh! And I got us a babysitter, too.”

  “You did? Who? I’m not leaving her with anybody I don’t know.”

  “Libby, and you don’t have to leave her anywhere, Libby’s coming to us. She’ll watch Cristie while we fix the roof or whatever we need to do. We’ll be right there, just Libby will watch her for us, so we can get some stuff done.”

  “Hmpf, not bad. Okay, good deal.” Then Riley grumbled again, “But we’ll never get anything done if we don’t stay out of the damn stores!”

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Libby pulled her little blue jeep into the gravel parking area extending from the old store to the front of Riley’s house. She smiled as she turned off the engine and watched Cristie running back and forth hugging the big inflatable Christmas Dragons her Dad had set up for her. They’d been busy since they’d gotten home. There were bright multi-colored lights on the overhang protecting the porch on the first floor of the house, as well as around the upstairs windows and the line of the roof on the second floor as well. There were lights running down the top of the new fence extending both to the left and the right of the gate, a large lit wreath hanging on the gate and an even larger one on the front door. Further to the left of the Dragons and closer to the fence was a Christmas scene complete with Santa, his sleigh and reindeer. They’d even managed to get a Mr. and Mrs. Frosty on the right side of the yard, and pots of Poinsettias were sitting on the porch steps and on either side of the door.

  Libby got out of her jeep and started walking toward Riley where he was snapping pictures with his phone of Cristie hugging the Dragons. Cristie spotted her heading toward them and starting calling out, “Look! Lights!” as she pointed at everything, anxious to show them off to the lady that had given her candy in the store.

  Riley had heard her the last mile she drove down the highway toward them and as she pulled into the parking lot, so he wasn’t startled. He turned to greet her, “Hey, Libby. Thanks for coming by.”

  “No problem,” she answered. Then, “Wow, ya’ll wasted no time! I’d say you’re in Christmas overkill,” she laughed.

  Riley chuckled, “Well, once we got started, it was hard to stop.”

  Riley whistled for Richie then held his phone out to Libby, “Could you take a shot for us?”

  “Sure, where do you want to pose?”

  “Right between the Dragons.”

  Riley gathered Cristie up, and they stood between the Dragons, smiling for the picture with Riley thumbing at the Delilah looking Dragon.

  Libby took two to be sure, then said, “Got it! Great picture.”

  “Thanks!” Riley answered, just as Richie came out of the house.

  “Libby! Thanks for coming by,” Richie said.

  “Thanks for inviting me and trusting me with Cristie.”

  “I threw some lunch together from last night’s leftovers if you want to eat a bite with us,” Richie offered.

  “Yeah, please do. Then Richie and I will try to get some work done on the roof over there,” Riley pointed to the little store across the parking lot.

  “Yeah, I could eat. Thanks.”

  While Richie served their plates, Riley washed his hands, then Cristie’s and sat her on her phone books. He took his seat at the head of the table and picked up his phone, pulling up Kaid’s number and texting the photos Libby had taken of him and Cristie and the Dragons. His text was simple, “Merry Christmas. Missing you all, but it’s beginning to feel like home.” He clicked send and set his phone down to accept the plate Richie offered him. He reached to cut up the pork roast for Cristie and realized it was already done. Richie was very attentive to Cristie, which assured Riley of his trust in the male even more so.

  Richie handed Libby her plate and sat with his own.

  Libby took one bite and sounds of surprise left her. “Oh, my gosh! Who cooked this?”

  Riley grinned, “Richie did. Man’s a regular chef.”

  “It’s so good! Yes, you are a chef! Whatever you’re doing for a living, stop. You should be cooking. You’d be rich in no time,” Libby said, taking another bite.

  “Thanks, I appreciate it. But, I’m just helping Riley set up house, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

  They fell into an easy conversation, Riley and Richie talking about fixing the roof and the first steps they’d need to take to do so. Libby asking Cristie what she wanted to play while her daddy and Richie worked on the roof.

  “Color!” Cristie announced, holding her little hand in the air and miming coloring as though she were holding a color in her hand.

  “Well, then, coloring it is.”

  Chapter 7

  Scotty hurried home at noon when his shift was over and grabbed one of the old handsaws hanging on the wall in the barn. Alpha Riley had a lot of work planned, and he was gonna help. True, Alpha had not asked for his help,
but he was going to offer it just the same. And they had a lot of Christmas decorations to put up, too. If nothing else maybe he could do that for him and his little girl. He wanted to apologize for his forwardness when he first met the Alpha, and he wasn’t sure how to do it. But he had an idea. The Alpha had everything but a tree. And that was one thing Scotty had plenty of, trees. He headed out back and wove in and out of the methodically planted trees. Some were going brown, others not quite tall enough. A short while later he found it, the perfect one. It was near the edge of the field, about seven feet tall. It hadn’t been trimmed while it grew, but it wouldn’t take much to have it shaped just right. He knelt at its base and began sawing, a smile on his face. This would be the perfect peace offering — a Christmas tree for the Alpha’s family.

  He was so involved in sawing down the tree, he didn’t notice Travis walking up behind him. He startled when Travis barked, “What are you doing?”

  After the initial jump of adrenalin and a glare at Travis, Scotty said, “I’m cutting down a tree.”

  “I can see that. Why are you cutting down a tree?”

  “’Cause I’m taking it to Alpha. He came through the store today to get some supplies and had everything for Christmas except a tree. So I’m taking him one.”

  “Did he ask for one?” Travis asked.

  Scotty stopped sawing, “No. But he didn’t know we had some, either. And I like him. So I’m taking him one.”

  Travis sighed, then said with a disgusted tone in his voice, “Just leave the male alone! If he wanted you all up in his business, he’d have invited you.”

  Scotty ground his teeth, maybe he wasn’t the strongest or the best male, or ever even came close to living up to Travis’ expectations, but he was tired of Travis’ constant harping. No matter what he did, it was always wrong — too much, or not enough, or too fast, or not fast enough. No matter what he did, Travis always found fault with it. He jumped to his feet, throwing the saw down on the ground. “Just what is your problem?”

  “I need you to think; that’s my damn problem!”

  “I think plenty. And you know what? Nobody asked you to come back here and lord it over me day and night. I was just fine without you. No matter what I do or what I don’t do, nothing is ever good enough for you.”

  “Scotty, that’s not true…”

  “Yeah, it is, and you know what else? If you’re so damn miserable having to be stuck here, you hate me and being here with me so much, just go the hell away! I thought coming home to your family was supposed to be a good thing. We were happy when you came home. Me and Libby was so excited. And what did you do? You came home hating all of us, wishing we was gone and you didn’t have to deal with either one of us. Well, now I wish you didn’t either! I was happier when you were gone!” Scotty shouted. He stomped past Travis, bumping into his shoulder as he hurried away. He got no more than a few feet away when Travis called, “Scotty!”

  “Just leave me alone! And leave Libby alone, too. We ain’t never done nothing to deserve you being so damn mean to us. We’re both tired of it!” Scotty yelled, before breaking into a full run, showing no signs of slowing.

  Travis watched him go, then raised his arms, locking his fingers behind his head as he turned in a slow circle taking in all around him, finally allowing his eyes to settle on the saw lying on the ground where Scotty had left it. “Well, fuck,” he said without any passion at all.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Riley and Richie made a lot of progress. There were four spots that needed patching, and with Libby helping by playing with Cristie they were making good time. They were able to strip the old broken shingles, pull up the tar paper, and replace the old wood underneath. They rolled on the fresh tar paper, slid the new shingles under the ones that were still good and replaced from there. They were halfway done, and just as they were moving their tools to the next spot, a lone figure came jogging up the road toward them.

  Richie chuckled, “That male wants to be a part of your Pride.”

  “Our Pride,” Riley corrected. “And I know he does. But he’s got a brother that I don’t think shares his desire to be a part of us. Could get messy.”

  Richie shrugged the pack of shingles off his shoulder, “Maybe. Maybe not. But something keeps drawing him to us.”

  Libby and Cristie were sitting on the porch coloring and singing Christmas songs when Scotty jogged up.

  “Hey, Scotty! What are you doing all the way out here?” Libby asked.

  “Hey, Libs,” he said, a pouty tone to his voice. “Came to see if I could help Alpha.”

  Libby’s eyebrow rose, “Alpha?”

  “Yeah, didn’t you know? Mr. Riley is our new Alpha.”

  Riley and Richie looked at each other, then started calling Scotty. Libby was human, and they were pretty sure she had no idea that shifters existed. “Scott! Hey, man. What’s up?” Richie called, standing and waving from his place on the roof.

  Scotty waved back, “Hey! Came to see if ya’ll needed some help.” He forced a bit of enthusiasm into his voice.

  “I’m gonna go see if I can help some. See ya later?” he said to Libby.

  “Yeah, I’ll be here. I’m watching Cristie for Riley. You okay? Is something wrong?”

  Scotty shook his head, “Same thing that’s always wrong. Why’s he gotta be so damn angry all the time?”

  “He’s got a lot on his shoulders, and his life has changed a lot. Try to be patient. Isn’t that what you tell me?”

  Scotty shrugged his shoulders, “Tired of making excuses, Libs.”

  “You coming to help or not?” Riley called.

  Scotty grinned, “Yes, sir! I’m coming!”

  Scotty hurried over to the ladder and headed up to the roof.

  “You be careful, Scotty! I don’t want to have to take you to the hospital!” Libby called.

  “Come on, Libs. Really? I got this.”

  Richie and Riley chuckled at the obvious embarrassment the girl caused him. He was trying so hard to be a strong male.

  Once Scotty was on the roof with them, Riley said, “If you would, help Richie move the rest of those tools over to the next spot.”

  “Yes, sir. Got it.”

  “So, is it Scott, or Scotty?”

  “It’s either. Folks been calling me Scotty since I was a kid, but at some point, I gotta be a Scott, ya know?”

  “I do. But, I kinda like Scotty better. Makes you sound friendlier, more approachable,” Riley said.

  “Okay, Scotty it is then,” Scotty answered, beaming.

  With Scotty’s help, they got the rest of the roof finished in no time. They picked up their mess and leftover supplies and stacked them inside the store. They were walking around inside when they heard Cristie’s voice, “Doddy?”

  “We’re in here, baby-girl,” Riley called back.

  “Hey, okay if we join you? She was worried because she couldn’t see you anymore,” Libby explained, walking into the room holding Cristie on her hip.

  “Sure, ya’ll come on in,” Riley answered. “See, everything is still here. We could clean it up. Repair the ceiling and slap some fresh paint on it. Maybe contact some suppliers, get some new stuff in here. Maybe even see if we can get the gas pumps up and running again.”

  “It’s a lot, but it could definitely be done,” Richie answered. “Kind of big for just a quick stop kinda store though, and what’s this frame here for? Looks like it used to be a wall or something, right through the middle of the room.”

  “It was,” Libby said.

  Richie turned to her, “What do you mean? I thought it was a store and a gas station?”

  “It was on this side,” she indicated the side she now stood in, “but that side used to be separated by a wall, and it was a diner. My mom and dad used to say it was the best place to come when they were dating. Then Mr. Amos’ wife got sick, and he closed down that part of it and just ran the store. Eventually he closed that down, too, when there weren’t many people left in town. T
hose that still lived in town stayed close to home. They didn’t venture out to this side of town much any more.”

  Richie looked at Riley, who raised his eyebrow with a sly grin on his face. Richie walked over to the far side of the building, opening doors, closing them, pulling the dust cloths off what they assumed were shelves and boxes. But they were wrong. Richie gasped, “Oh, Riley, look man! It’s a grill and a refrigerator.” He pulled down a tarp that was tacked to the wall and started laughing, “and a huge oven.”

  “With the way you cook, Richie. You should make it a restaurant. There’s really no need for a store anymore, but a lot of people would come to eat at your restaurant. I think so anyway,” Libby said.

  Richie walked slowly through the diner side of the building, poking around inside the fridge, opening and closing the oven. “They’re kinda old, but seem to be in good condition. It’s definitely a possibility.”

  “Are there any tables left?” Scotty asked.

  “I don’t know, but they can’t be that expensive,” Riley answered. “If that’s something Richie wants to pursue.”

  Richie grinned.

  “You want to do that, Richie?” Riley asked.

  “Maybe. What do you think?” Richie asked.

  “I think it’s your life. You do what you want. If you want to start a restaurant, do it. If you’ve had enough of that kind of thing, then don’t. We’ll open a store.”

  “Riley, it’s your place, man. What do you want to do?”

  Riley shook his head, “I value your opinion. If you’re going to be a part of it, your decisions count, too.”

  Richie didn’t miss the surprise that crossed Scotty’s face.

  Richie shrugged, “Maybe we could do both again. A restaurant on one side, a little quick stop on the other side.”

  Riley walked around looking, then, “You know, maybe we could extend the outer wall a little, make the restaurant side a little bigger. Make it like a tourist stop. A quick place to stop, get some good home-cooked food, and a few souvenirs and necessities. Maybe gas up real quick on the way out. What do you think?”