Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Adoré

   A Tale of Romance By The Star*

   Chapter Nine - Home!

   Looking back, that final term felt like a continuous party.

   It wasn't of course.  In fact, both Marty and Adoré worked hard on the
books; but compared with their prior college experience, when every waking
hour was spent either on Robby, books, or horses, it seemed like a
wonderful vacation filled with good times and lots of beer.

   An active kid, Robby did well in day care, but, though he was always
friendly and was well-liked, he seemed to the instructors to be basically a
'loner'.  He talked a lot about horses, and riding.  The other kids didn't
believe him, when he told them he rode his own horse when they were at home
on the ranch.  That put him off them even more, and he was, though
physically active and even competitive, not a kid to make friends easily.

   His close friends were his parents and his pal, Denise.

   They managed to get to two weekend horse shows before graduation was
upon them.  Mrs.  Parmentier flew out for the occasion, and took a double
suite in the local hotel--she was pleased to share with Ad and Hazel.  She
spent all the time she could with the kids.  And when they partied with
graduating classmates, she spoiled Robby, so Denise could join in the
debauchery.

   They all suffered through the tedium of the graduation ceremony itself.

   Then they rejoiced with Denise at her wedding.  She was radiant, and
happier than any had ever seen her.

   Denise confided to Adoré that she was determined to break the chain. 
She would not be like her family.  She would be happy, healthy--physically
and emotionally--and stable.  She would be a good wife and mother and
faithful friend.

   Adoré and Hazel gave her big hugs and promised that they were there for
her, whenever needed-and expected to be informed of the wonderful things,
too.  Like babies.

   Finally, they all returned home to the ranch.



   - - + + + + + -

   By March, Elin's pregnancy, at six months, was way beyond probable. 
She'd visited an obstetrician and arranged for regular checkups.  Well
aware that she would probably have the baby at the ranch, with her mother-
and sister-in-law as midwives, she asked the doctor for all the advice he
could give her.  And she entered into a diet and exercise program that she
closely monitored.  She would be fit and healthy when she had this child,
and the baby would have every advantage she could give her.

   She knew in her heart she was carrying a daughter, which pleased her
mightily.  Rick might have preferred a son, but he never said anything.  He
just said he knew he'd love Elin's children as much as he loved their
mother.  Like most farm and ranch owners, Rick considered having children
to take over from him important, just as Ad considered having him and Marty
learning to run the ranch to be important.  Their children were their life
insurance and surety for their retirement.

   She did not tell Rick that this would be the only child they would
have...or that she really wanted to give him a half-dozen children, but
couldn't.  Her obstetrician had noticed something that bothered her, and
ran some tests.  Elin was Rh negative--Rick was positive.  Any additional
pregnancies would probably not be carried to term--or could result in
severely retarded or malformed children.  At Elin's insistence, she'd also
tested her fetus--her daughter would not carry the disease, nor pass it to
her children.  Elin was grateful for this small mercy, though saddened that
she would only give her man this one child.

   She'd tell him all this later.  She arranged that, after she'd had the
baby, she'd have an 'extensive checkup' at the hospital.  She'd undergo a
tubal ligation while she was there.

   So she enjoyed her pregnancy--she even enjoyed the swelling of breasts
and belly, the backaches, and the waddling its latter stages inflicted on
her.  She knew she'd be able to regain her figure and tone--her mother had,
and so had the two aunts she'd met years before.  She savored every nuance
of being pregnant...this once would have to last her for her lifetime.

   Meanwhile, she worked hard making their home into the comfortable 'nest'
she wanted for them.  And she worked as hard learning how to keep Rick not
just satisfied, but ravenous in bed.  She tried everything in the Kama
Sutra her condition would allow, as well as other ideas and techniques
she'd either tried or heard about in the past.  When her pregnancy was too
far advanced to allow normal intercourse, she insisted Rick use anal entry.
And when that was no longer possible, she gave him blowjobs he never
forgot; 'deep-throating' him with ease and mind-blowing results.

   Rick didn't neglect his wife's satisfaction, either; licking and
caressing her until she totally lost it and was reduced to a 'whimpering
mass of female flesh', in her own, appreciative words.

   One night, he ate her until she'd screamed herself hoarse.  She
reciprocated by making him come three or four times with her mouth, hands
and breasts.  Neither was in any shape to keep score.

   When Adoré and Marty returned to the ranch from Corvallis, Elin began
caring for Robby, to allow his parents go get on with their work.  She
loved the bright little boy.  He was a bit too serious, and took
responsibility to heart maybe too much.  But he was fun and mostly took a
positive approach to things.  He'd learned to navigate the distances
between the houses and the corrals safely, no matter if there were vehicles
or livestock between him and his destination.  And Elin understood that
Adoré wanted him to learn about horses and riding as soon as he could, so
she took him to the training ring whenever he wanted to go there, or
whenever Adoré said she wanted him.

   Just turned three, the boy was in Elin's home almost as much as in his
own--more, if you deducted the hours he was asleep.  'Aunt Elin' rapidly
replaced Denise as his 'best buddy.'

   Elin taught him to draw and color, and the fascination of the alphabet.
Soon he knew the majority of the sounds associated with the letters, and
was working on counting to 100.  She'd have him at her side when she did
housework, explaining what she was doing and why, as she vacuumed the
house, or separated laundry for washing.

   When she got too big to move comfortably, little Robby tried to do her
work for her.  He was so serious about it, she didn't have the heart to
tell him that his grandma usually came over and did it again while he was
working on the horses with his mother.

   Soon enough, Elin gave birth, with Hazel and Adoré helping her.  She had
a fine little girl, who cried lustily when Hazel smacked her rump.

   (The guys, including Robby, were in the parlor of the big house, smoking
cigars, drinking whiskey, and worrying about Elin.  Robby had 7-up, but was
included.  He didn't understand what the big deal was.)

   The next day, when Robby was allowed to see his new cousin for the first
time, he told everyone that he didn't see how such a noisy little red thing
could cause such a rumpus.

   "Robby," Adoré said, "she's not a 'noisy little red thing.' She's your
cousin, Audry.  Now say hello to her nicely."

   A good boy, Robby did as he was told.  But you could tell his heart
wasn't in it, and he was just doing what his mother demanded.

   Three days later, Hazel drove Elin and Audry to Bend, for the visit with
the doctor.  When they returned a few days later, they had a car full of
shopping, too.

   Elin and Rick lay, sated, in their rumpled, sweat-soaked bed.  Elin
still couldn't tolerate normal intercourse, but had learned to get off very
nicely from anal penetration.

   "Darling?" she began.

   "Yeah baby?"

   "I need to tell you something.  I have a confession to make..."

   THAT got Rick's attention.  His heart stopped.  He was afraid his worst
nightmare was somehow going to happen and Elin was leaving.

   "I didn't want to tell you before, because I wanted us both to enjoy
this pregnancy, and our wonderful daughter...  Honey...  Rick...  Oh, damn!
This is so hard! ..."

   His heart still in his throat, Rick just held her tight.

   "Darling, I love you so much!" she said.  "I love you.  I love the
ranch. And I love our baby...  Darling...  I can't have any more babies."
She blurted out the last in a rush, and broke down, sobbing convulsively.

   When Rick just continued to hold her tenderly and stroke her platinum
mane, she finally stopped sobbing and looked up at him through her
eyelashes.  Encouraged by what she saw, she asked, tentatively, "You don't
hate me, do you?"

   "HATE you?  What?  Why...  Why ever would you think that?"

   "I know how important children are to you, and to the ranch.  Adoré
can't have any more, and now I can't either.  I wanted lots of them.  I
loved being pregnant by you!  And we can't.  And I've let you down.  Oh,
darling, please forgive me?" She was near sobbing again.

   "Hush, baby.  Of course I forgive you.  YOU are my light and the bright
candle I come home to.  Audry is my expression of how much I love you--and
am loved by you.  I'd like to do it again, but if we can't, we can't.  Tell
me about it, love."

   Her sobs turned to hiccups, Elin explained about the genetic problems
she had--and that Audry had NOT inherited--that prevented them from having
more children.

   "Well, at least you didn't have to go through all the things Adoré went
through--almost dying, then the beatings and all...  We'll just have to
love each other, and Audry, all the more, since this is all of us there's
going to be..." He kissed her tenderly, knowing that while she'd welcome
him into her body again, she didn't need passion now, but rest and healing.

   Over the next several weeks, Rick made a point of being especially
loving in every way he could.  And Elin accepted that he was not unhappy
with her--indeed that he loved her as much as ever, which was a lot.

   Little Robby, too, 'came around' and began to accept his infant cousin.
In a few weeks, she was notably bigger.  His mother said that before too
long, she'd be big enough to play with him.  And his dad said that, when
she started to walk, Robby would have a 'job'.  He would be responsible to
see that she didn't get in front of vehicles, or underfoot of the horses or
cows moving around the ranch headquarters.  He'd 'helped' before, but this
was the first time his parents had put 'responsibility' on him.  It was
important.  He took it seriously...as much as a three-year-old can.

   Sometimes, when he was in his 'schoolroom' corner of Elin's studio,
she'd let him rock Audry to sleep after a meal.  And when she was big
enough to crawl, Robby could be trusted to help keep her out of mischief.

   Having Elin so conveniently willing to have Robby around was a great
help to Marty and Adoré, who were working long hours with the
horses--though Adoré and Hazel worried that Elin might feel they were
taking advantage of her.  Adoré mentioned it, during a family meal around
Hazel's table.

   "Oh, no!  Don't feel that way, Dory!" Elin exclaimed, surprised that her
sister-in-law might think she'd feel put upon.  "I love kids and can't have
any more.  Robby's a jewel.  And a real young gentleman, too.  It's fun for
me to teach him, and watch his expression when he learns something new--and
realizes that he's learned it.  He's a big help with Audry, too.  I don't
know how many disasters he's prevented." She laughed.  "He's a lot more
help than he is a bother, believe me...

   "You know, of course, that I intend to home-school both kids?"

   Marty hadn't given much thought to schooling his son.  Adoré had, but
wasn't sure just what she could do, other than to take hours from her daily
work to teach him herself.  Since it was a year or so away, she'd put it to
the back of her mind, hoping some other solution would present itself.

   It just had.

   "I didn't know that, Elin, but that would be wonderful.  It solves a
concern that's been nagging me...  You sure you won't get burned out with
little people?"

   "Not a chance.  I really enjoy kids.  They're interesting.  And I was
trained to do this--degree in elementary education and everything.  I'm
looking forward to it...  I just hope that you'll look after the kids
sometimes so I can go riding with Rick?"

   Adoré and Hazel both smiled warmly and assured her that they would see
to it that she didn't neglect her husband.

   Looking around the table, the women decided that their men were too
smugly self-satisfied that the women had solved what could have been a
major problem.  So they made some ribald comments about them--ostensibly
just to each other of course.

   As the months progressed in their cycle, and Audry grew big enough to
sit a horse with help, they evolved a system with the children 'helping'
with the horses and other stock for an hour or so in the morning--the
chores like feeding and mucking out stalls, and cleaning tack.  Then they'd
go to Elin's for the bulk of the day.  Elin fed them lunch, and made them
take a rest afterwards, even if they didn't actually nap.  When they were
up and about again, it was Adoré's turn, teaching them about horses and
riding properly.

   Through it all, the children were encouraged by their parents' love of
their sense of wonder.  When they shared something 'neat' that they'd
learned or discovered, their parents enjoyed their discovery, and showed
it. The attitude they took instilled a love of learning, and made it
all--including the chores--a lot of fun that was shared by everybody.

   When Robby was five and Audry two, they were blessed with particularly
good spring weather.  In fact, it got downright hot.

   With Ad's enthusiastic encouragement, Rick had started his Angus
breeding program.  But they still had a large herd of Herefords on the
ranch--Ad felt they needed the cash flow until the Angus program took off.

   Spring roundup was a grueling task in the unseasonable heat, with
everybody pitching in.  Even Elin and Adoré spent their days in the saddle,
helping find calves in remote corners of the ranch, and bringing them to
the central area where they were branded, castrated, and given their shots.

   The night after they'd finished, Hazel and Ad made love--not wild bunny
love, but slow, gentle, loving appreciation of the other.  Hazel knew her
man was exhausted, and would have waited, but he was horny as well as
tired. And Hazel was not one to let an opportunity pass.

   Early in the morning, Hazel was awakened.  Ad clutched her and groaned.
"Hazel, I'm cold...  Oh! ...  Hazel, I love you..." Then he was gone.

   Hazel clung to his cooling body, and sobbed.  She was heartbroken.  Not
for him--he'd had everything he wanted out of life, and enjoyed himself
immensely--but for herself, left behind.

   She was alone.

   Of course, she had her family.  But Ad was the love of her life.

   And now he was gone.

   There was no appeal.  No making it up to him.

   He was gone.

   After she ran out of tears, Hazel washed her face and dressed.  She laid
out her husband's body in their bed, so it looked like he'd fallen asleep.
Then she went to her kitchen and started a big breakfast.

   When it was time for the family to be waking, she called Rick and Marty.
"Son, your dad is gone...  He passed away this morning...  I think heart
attack...  No.  There was no pain--or very little...  He said he was
cold..." her voice broke, "and that he loved me.  Then he was gone...  I've
fixed breakfast for everybody.  Come on over as soon as you're dressed."

   She invited the hands, too.

   Everyone trooped into the bedroom, to pay their respects to Ad's
remains--as she'd expected.  That was why she'd taken the time to
straighten it all up.  Then they sat around her big table where, without
much enthusiasm, they ate the breakfast feast she'd prepared.

   "OK," Hazel said.  "Here's my thinking.  I'll welcome comments when I'm
done...  Rick, you're in charge of the cattle--and the crops, including
hay. Marty, the horses are your responsibility.  Yours and Adoré's.  Elin
will supervise the children, and coordinate schooling and chores and so on.
Gerry, along with everything else you do, you're in charge of fences, and
responsible to keep us all informed of where work is needed.

   "I'll coordinate--although I don't see that as a big deal...  You all
just keep each other advised, and ask for help when you need it...  I mean
that!  You need to talk to each other all the time.  And I repeat: Ask for
help!  OK?"

   Knowing where their mother was coming from, Rick and Marty agreed.

   The three hands were happy they were included, and were assured that
nothing was changed as far as they were concerned.  They would work for
Rick, instead of working for Ad.  Rick was changing the nature of the
cattle operation, but they knew all about his plans and liked them.  They
thought the Angus operation would be easier, from a strictly cowboy
standpoint, and would make more money in the long haul than a pure beef
operation.  Cowboys like their comforts...  their work is usually hard and
difficult.  They are very interested in the long haul.  Gerry was the
"foreman", but that didn't mean a lot, except he was the one they went to
when Rick wasn't handy.

   Hazel continued.  "The other main thing I will do is line up financial
resources for us, and help market our horses and our beef.  I expect I'll
be on the road a bit...  And I'll need that." She almost broke down.  "You
can't know how this hurts.  I'll need your support and love.  But I'll need
to get away from here, too.  There isn't a spot on this ranch that I didn't
share with Ad...  Everything I see reminds me of him..."

   Tears tracked down her cheeks, as she fought to stifle the sobs that
threatened to overwhelm her.

   When she'd gotten herself under control, and waved off her boys who
wanted to hug her and comfort her, she finished, "I do not intend to move
back to Virginia.  This ranch is my life and my home.

   "So...

   "Those are my thoughts.  Do any of you have any other ideas?  Anything I
missed?  Or anything you object to?  I've kind of assigned roles.  Did I
miss anything?" There was a bit of discussion, just to be sure everyone was
on the same page.  Then Elin quietly asked Hazel about Ad's funeral.

   "He'll be cremated as soon as we can arrange it.  I'll spread his ashes
on the slope above Blue Jay Spring.  He especially loved that site, and I
think he'd like that.  Do you think we need a memorial service?" she asked
the others.

   "Yes, mom," Rick said.  The others nodded agreement.  "He had lots of
friends--and all of them would feel that we'd left them out if they weren't
allowed to pay their respects.  We don't need any bad feelings.  Besides, I
need that, too.  It's a way to say goodbye...  And I NEED it!"

   Hazel could see that the others agreed, so she asked Adoré to set it up.

   In the end, they had two services.  The first was a memorial service in
the church in Bend--the three hundred or so mourners overflowed onto the
lawn.  Then they had an "internment" service at the ranch, when Hazel and
her sons spread Ad's ashes over the soil of the ranch he'd inherited, and
loved so much.  They were grateful to their friends when it was all done.
And would remember the strong, quiet man who had shaped all their
lives--for the better.

   Running the ranch worked out pretty much the way Hazel suggested.  Hazel
had no responsibilities except what she took on.  But she was consulted
constantly--and her suggestions listened to and acted upon.



   *(c) 1997, 2001 Extar International, Ltd.  All rights reserved.  Single
copies for personal, non-commercial use may be downloaded or printed.  Any
other uses, including reposting, or posting on an archive site, must have
prior permission from Extar International.  Comments always welcome. 
<extar@hotmail.com>