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 Adoré

   A Tale of Romance By The Star*

   Chapter Seven

   August drenched the eastern slopes of the Cascades with sunshine and
late-summer heat.  Rick wanted to get out of it for a while, before he
headed into the greater heat of the Sacramento Valley.  So he suggested to
Marty that they take a ride--their women were invited.

   Hazel volunteered to spoil Robby while his mother was gone.  He was
always a joy anyway, and this would be a chance for her and Ad to do some
'grandparent bonding'.  "Truth to tell, Adoré, Ad's worse with the kid than
I am.  I don't think the boy can ask him for anything and be refused."

   Adoré just grinned.  "My dad would have been the same...  And mom makes
a point of spoiling him outrageously every chance she gets."

   So when they headed out, it was four riders and two packhorses.  They
wanted to be comfortable, though they were camping in wilderness.

   The first day, they pushed hard to get up to altitude and out of the
heat.  They would spend a few days in the park with the stream running
through it.  Marty figured the grass would support six horses for about a
week.  It was a great place to camp and high enough that the heat would not
be too bad--with cool nights for comfortable sleeping.

   They lazed around, taking short rides of a couple hours or so during the
days, and spent a lot of time holding hands and kissing their mates.  This
time was the real vacation in their 'summer vacation' from school.  They
didn't use the tents, both couples preferring to sleep under the stars. 
Although they slept separated by a good distance for privacy, moans and
cries of ecstasy could sometimes be heard--causing some good-natured
chuckles and occasional reciprocal cries from the other camp.

   After about four days, they decided to ride on up into the
mountains--all four of them saw scenery they'd never enjoyed before and
would remember the late summer ride fondly.

   The boys found time to explain to each other their ideas on raising
horses and Angus cattle as a business.  Both had studied it enough that
they could even, they thought, give some reasonably accurate estimates of
income to be expected, given the current market conditions.

   Each was satisfied that the other had thought it through and knew what
he was doing.



   A week after they returned to the ranch, it was time for Rick and Elin
to make their way back to school.  His pickup wasn't nearly so full going
back--all the laundry was clean and neatly folded and packed, rather than
just being stuffed into the truck.

   The night before they left, Hazel had a big family dinner.  Afterwards,
Ad made a point of spending a moment with Elin--and slipped her a few
hundred dollars.  "We don't need this, Ad," she said, trying to return it.

   "Humor me, honey.  You're moving into a new place.  You always need a
couple new curtains, and a few dishes, or pans, or serving
spoons...telephone deposit and apartment cleaning deposit...  Anytime you
move, there are things you need and they cost money.  I know you are on a
pretty tight budget and I want to help.  OK?"

   She smiled at him, making his day.  "OK Ad.  You win...  this time. 
Thanks.  I appreciate it, really."



   Their drive back to California seemed to fly by.  Both enjoyed the
scenery and the trip, but felt that they arrived at their apartment minutes
after leaving the ranch.

   Then they had all the setting up to do, including getting their
belongings out of storage.  Their first night, they slept on the floor,
wrapped in the bedding Rick brought from home, until they could get their
furniture from the storage site.

   But then, Elin had the apartment the way she wanted it within a couple
of days.

   They had to get Elin registered and get her class schedule lined up. 
She had her meeting with her new academic advisor and arranged her course
schedule.  She would take a track leading to a B.A.  in education, with a
minor in art--those requirements were already finished, since Davis
accepted all her credits from USF.  Although she'd have preferred to teach
at the high school level, she focused her effort on learning how to teach
young children.

   A bright lady, she now knew what life on the ranch was like--and that
she and Hazel would have to be the teachers for her children.  The school
in Sisters, the nearest, was just too far for children to make the commute
in winter.  She found, to her delight, that if she really pushed it this
year, she could graduate with Rick!  She'd have to take eighteen hours per
term, but it could be done.  Rick encouraged her--after assuring himself
that this was what she really wanted to do--so she went for it.

   "Darling, I don't think I'll have time or opportunity for college after
this year.  I'd like to get a degree...  to hang on the wall, if nothing
else."

   Rick agreed and said he'd do what he could to help--as long as she
didn't leave him horny _too_ many nights.  She hit him for that remark.

   Elin found immediately that she had to keep her engagement ring on... 
If she didn't, the guys would swarm, wanting to take her to this or that
party, dinner, pizza and so on.  She didn't blame them, nor did Rick.  She
knew how she looked, and she was a really nice person.  Even knowing that
she was taken, more than one student that year fell quietly in love with
the gorgeous blonde.  Rick had a number of friends, too--mostly guys he'd
met in classes, and from his fraternity.  Their apartment soon became a
sort of study club for a few of these.  Elin was always treated with
respect, as were any other girls who might join them.  The girls loved
it--they weren't slobbered over and were accepted for who they were, not
just that they were available female bodies.  (Two marriages that Elin knew
of came from meetings in her apartment.  Good ones, too--at least, they
were still intact years later at a class reunion.)

   The friendships they made that year were important to them later, for
fellowship and an occasional exchange of gossip more than for business
purposes.  Life on the ranch could be really isolated and the occasional
contact with old friends became more important to them as they got older.

   Shortly after they were settled in their apartment, Elin had a question
for Rick.

   "Darling?" she asked, after she'd done her best to drain his testicles
into her body.

   "Yeah?"

   "How soon can I get pregnant?"

   Rick rolled onto his side, propping his head on en elbow, so he could
look at her as they talked.

   "Honey, this is important to you, isn't it?"

   "Very."

   "Well then, why don't you tell me what you're thinking?"

   She smiled her best smile at him.  It usually made him feel like he'd
been hit with a two-by-four...  He did love this woman!

   "I'm thinking I should get pregnant as soon as I can."

   This surprised him.  He'd thought she'd wait until they'd had a couple
of years together at the ranch.

   "You don't want some honeymoon time, baby?"

   "That would be nice, I'm sure.  But this is something we need..."

   "Why do you feel that?"

   "Remember those dreams?" Rick nodded.  "Well, one was that we'd be
living together.  I saw us here, in the apartment...  and on the ranch. 
Another was that we'd have a baby right away--at the ranch, but soon after
we get there to stay."

   "Is it important that we make the dreams come true?"

   "That's not how it works, Rick...  Darling, that kind of dream comes
true.  I've always known that, and been able to tell what's real and what's
pepperoni pizza."

   "So it doesn't matter whether I want kids this soon?"

   "Of course it does.  If you say so, I'll stay on the pill.  But I might
get pregnant anyway.  I don't know.  I only know I saw myself pregnant when
we return to the ranch, or soon after that."

   Rick smiled with love at her.  "So should we change our wedding
arrangements?"

   Elin hit him, lightly.  "Goof!  No, except if I get pregnant
immediately, I think we should get married at Christmas.  It might be too
cold to do it on the knob by the house.  We may need to stay indoors... 
Darling, I really want to get married on the ranch.  That place is our
life. Important things like getting married and having babies should happen
there, too."

   Rick was going to reply, but he decided he should kiss her first.  His
kiss of affection and love turned into lust before he could break it.  Then
they were joined and racing for the finish line.  It was quick and
energetic, but no less enjoyable for either of them.

   "Woman, you do turn me on!" Rick breathed into her ear.  "I was going to
say I'd call mom.  Guess I'll do that now, while I can..."

   Elin grinned and nodded encouragement.

   Rick made his call.  Predictably, Ad and Hazel were very pleased with
what they heard.  Regardless of whether it was indoors or out--the weather
at the time would decide it for them--or the season, it would be a small
affair.

   Elin still had no idea where her mother was.  She'd have Adoré stand
with her--Rick would have Marty.  Ad, Hazel, Denise, little Robby, and a
couple of their friends from college would complete the wedding party.

   Ad was raised a church-going man, even though the life on the ranch
didn't allow attendance very often.  Still, he contributed to the small
Lutheran church in Bend and was friendly with the pastor.  They would have
a Christian wedding as Elin asked.



   Christmas break saw the whole family at home, in the big house.  Elin
wasn't pregnant yet, so they all laughed about it, and agreed on a June
wedding at the ranch.

   Elin chose a site, a few hundred yards from the big house, where she
wanted her home built.  It was close enough to be an easy walk to work or
to the other houses, yet far enough to allow domestic privacy.  And in
Elin's artist-trained eye, it was a beautiful location.  Ad promised to get
the site leveled and the water and sewer in before they returned to the
ranch.  Elin would have to decide on floor plans before they could start
laying foundations.



   - - * * * -

   Near the end of the winter term, Rick was just starting to study after
dinner, when someone knocked at their door.  Expecting one of their
friends, Rick was surprised to see a middle-aged blonde with a younger
guy--who brushed past him and walked into the apartment like they lived
there.

   The woman was quite pretty, with an exciting shape for a woman of her
age.  She was dressed like a teen-age hooker, though, and wore, in Rick's
opinion, WAY too much makeup.  The guy with her was at least ten years
younger, and just looking at him caused the hair at the nape of Rick's neck
to rise.  Conceited, arrogant asshole, was Rick's snap judgment.

   When Elin came out from the kitchen, the woman shrieked, "THERE you are!
Come give me a love, darling!"

   "Mother!  What are you doing here?"

   "Why, coming to visit my daughter and your boyfriend, of course.  That's
what mothers do, darling."

   Elin, knowing the woman, was even less enthusiastic about this than
Rick.

   "Bullshit, mom.  You didn't want me at your wedding.  You haven't told
me how to reach you--and now you want to be maternal?  Come on!"

   "Now, honey, don't be that way.  Johnny and I have been moving around a
lot.  I couldn't tell you where I was because we didn't know where we were
going to be, mostly."

   "Yeah.  Sure mom.  And you can't drop a postcard to say you're still
alive, either?"

   She simpered.  "Well, we were so BUSY at night...you know?  And either
traveling or working during the day..." She heaved a sigh that almost
popped her breasts out of their inadequate covering.  "ANYway, I'm here
now. Tell me all about what you've been up to...  We had a hell of a time
tracking you down.  I finally found someone at USF who would tell me you'd
transferred up here to Davis.  And why Davis?  Isn't USF a better school?"

   Rick, watching the exchange with interest, noted that Johnny was
wandering around their apartment, looking at everything, handling some of
the items on the shelves, all with a proprietary attitude, as if it was his
place not Rick's.

   Rick noted that he also looked at Elin that way...  as if she was his.

   "What do you care?" Elin asked her mother, somewhat bitterly.  "The last
I heard from you was that you were going to Vegas and then who knows
where...and you'd get in touch whenever.  Meanwhile, I shouldn't try to
find you...  I'm grown up, mom, and making grown up decisions about my
life. Transferring to Davis was one of them and I don't see any need to
discuss it.

   "Now, if you don't mind, I have a very full class schedule and a lot of
homework.  If you're staying in town, maybe we can have lunch or dinner
tomorrow?"

   "Now honey.  Don't be that way.  We'll just stay here with you for a few
days, and get all caught up."

   "Mother, read my lips: N O W A Y!  Rick and I are busy, and we don't
have room for guests.  That's two reasons you're not staying here--either
one of them would be sufficient."

   Johnny decided to put his oar in at this point.

   "Now just hold on here!  How d'you get off talking to your mom that way?
She ain't seen you for a long time and we come all this way..."

   Elin interrupted.  The only time Rick had seen her do that.  "I don't
care how far you came.  You didn't call ahead.  You haven't made any effort
to keep me abreast of what is happening with you.  And you don't have the
right to speak to ME that way.  You can leave my home now, and please take
my mother with you.  If you want to have some social contact while you're
in town, call me and we'll set something up."

   Johnny blew his stack.

   "Listen here, you little bitch!  We..."

   He didn't finish, because Rick hit him square in the mouth.  Then
grabbed him by the front of the shirt and lifted him clear of the floor.

   "YOU listen, asshole!  Nobody talks to Elin or me like that.  Ever. 
When I put you down, I expect you will apologize to her, and then haul your
ass out of my place."

   Johnny apparently didn't get the message.  When Rick put him down, he
started to bluster, "You can't do that.  She's her ma.  I'm her step-dad.
We got a right..." Rick slapped him hard, coming and going.

   "You didn't hear me, did you?  I want to hear an apology--right now!"

   "Fuck you..."

   The obscenity was cut off by another fist, this time to the mid-section.
Johnny was too stupid as well as too arrogant to realize that the ranch boy
was bigger, stronger, meaner, and in much better shape than he was.

   This time Rick punched him twice more, then told Elin, "Call 911.  I
want the police to remove these trespassers."

   Elin's mother tried to intervene that the police weren't necessary, and
they'd just go.

   "No, I don't think so," Rick said.  "The way this character is acting,
I'd guess the police would be really happy to have a chat with him."

   Johnny wasn't unconscious, but he wasn't going anywhere, either...lying
on the floor retching and holding his belly where Rick's fist had landed
just below the solar plexus.

   Turned out, the police were very pleased to have a chat with Johnny and
with Elin's mother.  Johnny was wanted in several states for a variety of
crimes, including rape, fraud, aggravated assault, probation violations and
a couple of parole violations.  They'd left San Francisco in a hurry and
with just the clothes on their backs when they saw a police car in front of
their cheap motel room.  Seems Johnny had stolen a checkbook from a guy he
met in a bar.  When he'd forged a check to himself, he'd made a
mistake--the guy had reported the theft and he was a lodge-brother of the
police commissioner.

   When the police had removed their unwanted visitors, Elin hugged Rick
strongly, and apologized.  "I'm sorry, darling.  I had no idea she'd try to
visit us."

   "Hush, love," Rick replied.  "Don't ever apologize for her.  She made
her choices--you didn't make them for her.  What she does isn't your fault.
I don't think we'll have any more trouble from them."

   "Darling?"

   "Yeah."

   "Make love to me?"

   Though they both had a lot of homework to do, this was more important.
They loved each other tenderly, giving the task their full attention.

   Basking in the afterglow, Elin caressed his chest with her fingertips.
"I wonder if you knocked me up tonight?  We both sure tried hard enough...
I love you, darling Rick.  Oh God, how I love you!"

   Rick looked up from the nipple he was idly suckling.  "No more than I
love you, baby.  Not a bit more."



   Their Easter break was spent in San Francisco, at the apartment of one
of Elin's friends from USF.  They enjoyed walking around the City, hand in
hand, taking in the sights and sounds and smells of that unique place. 
Elin had long since thrown out her diaphragm, and they were trying hard to
get pregnant--so far without success, but enjoying the process immensely.

   Later, they would look on that time as their real honeymoon, though they
didn't marry until June.



   Spring quarter was pure grind for both of them.  Elin was determined to
graduate and Rick had some difficult classes to finish, too.  Their social
life was limited to the friends who studied with them at the apartment and
occasional weekend picnics or barbeques.  There was no thought of joining
the social whirl most seniors got into.  They were too busy just trying to
finish, given the timetable they'd set themselves.

   Finally their grades were posted--they'd done OK.  Ad and Hazel joined
them for their graduation ceremony and shared in a low-key celebration with
their friends.

   Then they headed home--Steele Ranch, central Oregon.

   They couldn't get there soon enough.



   Elin had selected her home.  She'd found a floorplan that suited her. 
Not too large, and open--yet affording privacy to those who would live in
it.  She wanted a studio for herself, intending to continue with
art--painting, sculpture, and pottery...  she didn't really worry about the
medium, but wanted room to do it.  She also knew that it would double as
schoolroom for her children, and Adoré's too.

   The walls of the house were cedar shakes, and its roof slate tiles--low
maintenance and blending into its surroundings.  The interior was well
lighted with large, triple-paned windows and skylights.  Elin wanted a
house that would be welcoming, yet cozy; light and airy to combat winter
depression; and easy to keep up, so she could concentrate on children and
art.

   Hazel liked it, too, and Ad commented he'd get the excavation contractor
back to do the foundations right away.  Hazel stage-whispered to Elin,
"That means he approves, dear."

   Before they knew it, Marty and Adoré were home, with two-year-old
Robbie. Suddenly the big old house seemed full.  Hazel laughed,
"Two-year-olds do that." Elin's wedding took place on the knob by the
house, just as she wanted.  She wasn't pregnant, but she still glowed when
Rick promised to keep and cherish her as long as he lived.  Although a
'flower child,' Elin believed that marriage is a lifetime commitment, not
to be tossed aside when no longer convenient.

   - - + + + + + -

   Since they had more and better horses than they'd expected to own at
that stage, Adoré decided it was time to put some money into the ranch
coffers.  She discussed it with Hazel, and made a large deposit from a
trust that June.  Although it wasn't presented that way, it was Dory's way
of making sure Elin got her house as soon as possible.  With the extra cash
in the ranch accounts, they were able to have the contractors work really
hard to complete Elin's home, and still work on the house Marty was
building for Adoré.  By the end of June, Elin's house was framed, the roof
and siding on, and the plumbers and electricians doing their thing prior to
the interior finish work.

   By the end of July, the house was ready for painting, carpet, and
installation of plumbing and electrical fixtures.

   In August, Rick carried his bride over the threshold.  Hand in hand,
they explored their new home.  They'd watched it come together, of course,
but now they were moved in.  The family had followed them, and enjoyed
watching Elin as much as they enjoyed looking at the finished house.

   That night, their first in the home, Elin and Rick made love--several
times--tenderly, passionately, then violently, and then just to express the
depth of their feeling for the other.  Elin really hoped she'd get pregnant
that night, but it didn't happen until late September.

   Both Marty and Adoré had plenty to do.  Marty had to help with the
calves, then they both worked day and night, it seemed, catching up with
the horses.  There were several colts that Adoré felt showed a lot of
promise.  Champ had done well, and the new mares did well by him.  Marty
spent hours in the saddle, teaching basic dressage and elementary jumping
to young horses.  Adoré spent as many hours, divided between gentling the
young horses, and teaching the fine points of jumping and dressage to the
older ones.

   They also had shows to compete in at least every other weekend...and
were looking forward to the big show in Tacoma.

   Then they were invited to participate in the regional championships in
Spokane.  That prompted a flurry of decisions and preparation.  The first
question to be answered was, which horse would Adoré ride?  She finally
decided to ride one of their new mounts that she had worked all winter. 
Marty would ride Champ, since they still wanted to drum up some stud fees
for him--and the horse seemed to enjoy the work and change of scene that
competition entailed.

   As it turned out, Adoré won dressage, and was fourth in jumping.  Marty
was credible, but ended up well back in the pack.  Since they'd made it
plain that they had to return to school, and could not compete in
Nationals, a third-place dressage competitor was very happy, looking
forward to a trip to Dallas and the national competition.

   On top of everything else, little Robby proved that the "terrible twos"
was called that for a reason.

   By the end of the summer, they were exhausted.  The only saving grace in
the whole thing was that they knew they'd done a good job with the horses
and that Ad, with Rick's help, could keep it together over the winter.

   After the Labor Day holiday, they packed up, hitched up the horse
trailer, and hit the road for Corvallis.

   *(c) 2001 Extar International, Ltd.  All rights reserved.  Single copies
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