Cindy

by oyster50

Copyright© 2011 by oyster50

Description: Dan's an engineer living in an RV park during a construction project. Cindy is thirteen, living with her trashy mom in the same park. Dan knows his job. He knows his life. He doesn't know how Cindy will be part of it.

Tags: Ma/ft, Consensual, Romantic, Heterosexual, First, Oral Sex, Slow

Published: 2011-08-17

Updated: 2013-01-02

Size: ≈ 318200 Words

Chapter 1

RV parks. I'd seen a few in the last couple of years, chasing construction projects. I was well known enough in the proper circles that I never had any more space between jobs than I wanted, and six or seven weeks ago I wanted to work. A couple of phone calls and here I was in Nowhere, Alabama. At an RV park.

I pulled a big travel trailer behind a pickup truck that caused drool to run down many a chin on a construction site, and my standard ploy was to park the travel trailer at a convenient RV park and live in it, pocketing the sizable "per diem" allowance I got in addition to a very happy number for a regular salary. And that park would be my home for anywhere from six weeks to a year as I played "engineer" on some construction project.

This particular park was one of the nicer varieties. Its clientele tended more towards vacationers and tourists (yeah, they have 'em in Alabama) instead of construction bums. That's why I chose it. Quiet. Grey-headed snowbirds choosing the South for the winter were a lot quieter and more pleasant that a bunch of construction workers. And the park had a pool. And it was late summer, so the influx of Northerners had yet to show up, so it was almost empty.

I'd been here two weeks. After the first week, every day when I came in I'd stop at the little office to check for any mail that might show up for me, and that put me on a conversational basis with the older lady, Mizz Helen, that did most of the day management. We talked a little every day just to pass the time. After the second week I was on her "Let me tell you what's going on here" list. That got me caught up on a permanent (more or less) trailer parked in the far corner of the park.

"Daughter of my husband Herb's brother," she explained. "Her dad is lazy an' useless, and she's lazy an' useless, AN' a slut to boot. Herb let her stay here 'cuz she ain't got no place else to go. That's her daughter you met by the pool."

Yeah, it WAS an "upscale" RV park. It had an activities pavilion and a small pool, and on some days I came in from work and went down there more to soak away the day than to swim.

"Oh, yeah," I said. "What's 'er name? Cindy?"

"Yeah, Cindy," Helen said. "She's the one we feel sorry for. Kid don't have a chance, bein' raised the way she is. Can you imagine livin' in a thirty-three foot trailer with you momma screwing a different guy ever two weeks?"

"That's not good," I said. "But what can you do?"

"Dunno," said Helen. "Just wisht somethin' would come along. Almost anything would be bettern' that."

"I guess," I said. "Anyway, I think I'm gonna do a Friday evening at the pool."

"'Kay, Dan," Helen said.

While I went to my trailer and changed out of my work clothes and into swim trunks, I didn't know that Cindy had walked into the Office and was talking to Mizz Helen and their conversation was about me.

"Hi Mizz Helen, was that Mister Dan that just left here?"

"Yep, said he was gonna change and go soak in the pool for a while."

"He didn't say anything about ME did he?"

Helen noticed the light in Cindy's eyes when she said that, and how she kept glancing at Dan's trailer. The look in Cindy's eyes told her volumes. She could see she was anxious to hear a response, but a little afraid of what she that might be. The only times Cindy had ever mentioned any male before she was obviously worried and afraid. This wasn't anything close to being afraid of Dan.

"Why yes, yes he did," said Helen. She didn't say more. She wanted to see how interested Cindy was in about what Dan said, and how she would ask her about his comments. Sometimes a question someone asked told you more than asking them a question.

"So, what did he ask? Did he want to know if I had a boyfriend?"

That question told Helen all she needed to know. Cindy, who had never shown the slightest interest in boys her own age, and was repulsed by her mom's "friends", and had never had any kind of relationship with an adult male outside of the scumbags her mom Donna brought home now had a DEFINITE interest in at least one male.

"Well, he didn't ask that exactly, but we did discuss you and how it is a shame what kinda life your mom is making you have."

Cindy's face showed her disappointment. Her shoulders sagged and you could hear the breath slowly being expelled.

Helen continued with "He is going to be at the pool in a few minutes, why don'tcha go there and visit with him, get to know him a little more. Maybe he needs somebody to talk to."

That brought the spark back to Cindy's eyes, and with a quick "Thanks Mizz Helen", Cindy was out the door and headed to her trailer.

I'd walked down to the pool and was chin-deep in water, just floating and soaking away my cares when I heard the gate open and close.

"Hi, Mr. Dan," Cindy said. "You beat me here today."

"Oh, hey, Cindy," I answered. "Yeah, I left a little early. Sometimes I get to do that." I turned over in the water to see Cindy.

She was a YOUNG teen. She was maybe five-three and a hundred and five pounds. Hair was short, well into red, sort of aged copper, straight-cut bangs at the eyebrows above a pair of startling green eyes. Leggy, too. Leggy didn't adequately describe her though. While many young girls have "pipe stem" legs, or just starting to show some curves to their calves and thighs, Cindy had well defined legs that a professional dancer works years to develop. Her one-piece bathing suit followed some young girl curves as they began morphing into young lady configuration, and her chest was showing the swells of young breasts, mere risings.

She stepped off the deep end of the pool and went straight underwater, then popped up and shook her head. "Whew..." she said, that always feels sooo good..."

"Tell me about it," I said.

We spent the next half hour kicking back and forth across the pool. I got out first and swished the water out of my short hair and then lay down on one of the lounges beside the pool. Cindy followed and took the lounge next to me. We were the only ones there, it being the middle of the week. Weekends would see more activity.

"So what'd YOU do today, Mr. Dan?" she asked.

We'd been chatting for the last two weeks. That was the routine. We'd both show up at the pool, swim around for a bit, then lounge side by side talking. I'd learned in two weeks that Cindy was not stupid. In fact, I found her pretty darned intelligent, but under-educated. She watched TV a lot, and actually kept up with current events and loved the science and nature channels. And we talked.

"Just uninteresting engineer stuff, Cin," I said. "It's not always magic. Sometimes it's a lot of tedious paperwork."

"Oh," she said. "You hate that, don't you?"

Before I responded, I noticed how she was looking at me, and it had a different look than before. Her green eyes, framed by the longest lashes I have ever seen, had a glimmer that I hadn't noticed before. "Yeah," I said. "But sometimes you have to put up with the bad to get the good." I turned to look at her. The water had turned her auburn hair dark. "What'd you do? Anything interesting?"

"Watched TV this morning until Mom woke up. Me an' her's been arguin', so I got out of there pretty quick when she woke up."

"And then?"

"Walked over to the back fence an' watched 'em harvesting that soybean field. It's interesting, ya know, all that big equipment an' how they do things."

"Yeah," I said, "but be careful, Cindy."

"Careful? Why?" She looked at me quizzically.

"Because you're a pretty young thing an' there are some rough characters that follow those harvests around. I would hate to see something happen to you."

"Awww, Mr. Dan," she smiled, "you're sweet for carin'. I'm careful. Those guys are way on the other side of the field. I just watch." And the look from those emerald eyes made me catch my breath. All at once I knew if anyone DID try to molest Cindy, they would seriously regret that decision if I found out about it. Another part of my brain also responded, as well as another part of my body, that look guaranteed a reaction from the "male" aspects of my psyche. I had to struggle to push that thought down, and I willed the reaction she caused to subside, not being 100% successful with either effort.

"Good!" I said.

"You know," she said, "I was watchin' those big machines an' I was thinkin', like, Mr. Dan probably knows that stuff too. You know lots of stuff, bein' a engineer an' all."

"You flatter me, little girl," I said. "I'm an electrical engineer. That's more of a mechanical engineer's thing."

She smiled. "Yeah, but you know lots of stuff."

"You do, too, for your age. You pay attention." She did. I picked up that much from our conversations. "So," I asked, when's school start back up?"

"Two weeks," she said.

"Excited?"

"No, not really." She sighed. "I'm the outsider. Even for here, living in an RV park puts you on the outside. An' Mom doesn't spend a lot on my clothes. Sometimes people make fun of me."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Kids can be cruel."

"Yeah," she said. "An' if I need help on my homework or stuff, I'm on my own. Mom's, like, ZERO help. I don't know if she' doesn't KNOW, or if she don't care."

I considered for exactly zero seconds before saying, "Cindy, if you need help, I can help you. While I'm here, you know. That'll get you halfway through the year, anyway."

"Oh, thanks!" she smiled. "I could use some help."

"Yeah, just make sure that your mom knows that I'm helping you. I don't want her looking for her missing daughter and finding you at my place for no reason."

"Yeah," she snorted, "like she cares what I'm doin'."

"Cindy," I said, "she cares. Just tell her, okay?"

As the sun set and shadows lengthened, we both headed to our respective homes.

Saturday afternoon found me at the pool again, but this time I shared it with several weekender kids and adults. I did a little soaking and swimming, and then retired to a lounge with a cold beer and a paperback. I was there about half an hour when I heard "Hey, Mr. Dan..."

"Oh, hi, Cindy," I said. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothin' much. Mom didn't come home last night," she said.

I knew from Helen's discussions that this wasn't too unusual. Cindy's mom was a part-time "Barmaid" and had a tendency to go home with a customer. According to Helen, "Better for her to go peddle her ass someplace else than in the same trailer with her daughter..."

"Oh," I said. "You know if anything ever happens, you just come knock on my door, okay?" And you know, on this day when I said it, I was being perfectly innocent and protective.

"Thanks, Mr. Dan," she said simply. Then she hit the water with about half a dozen other kids.

I made small talk with some of the adults until dusk. I was stretching and getting ready to leave when Cindy got out of the pool.

"Mom's not back yet," she said. "I thought she'd be back by now."

"You gonna be okay?" I asked.

"Yeah," Cindy said. "I can fix me somethin' for supper. It's not like this is the first time."

A neuron fired at random in my brain. "Hey, Cin! If you want, you can go out with me and get some pizza..."

Squeal! "Oh, that'd be GREAT!" she squealed. "I NEVER get to go out to eat!"

""Well, go leave a note on your mom's door in case she gets back before we get back. And change clothes. I don't think Pizza Hut's going to like your bathing suit."

"You don't like my bathing suit?" she pouted.

"Oh, no, I like your bathing suit plenty. It's just not up to the high standards of Pizza Hut's dress code."

She flounced off, looking back over her shoulder to smile at me. Cindy walking is a story all by itself, the kind of walk runway models strive to perfect, she just did naturally. From the rear, that meant each butt cheek lifted, moved in a perfect "C" pattern, and was immediately mirrored by the other one. Every two steps was a perfect figure "8", and every male beyond puberty noticed when those long legs topped off by that perfect butt was on the move. Yeah, I watched. And the walk changed to something that can only be described as a suppressed desire to skip. Thirteen!

Ten minutes later I was putting on my shoes, having stepped in and out of the tiny shower of my trailer and changed into jeans and a polo shirt. I heard a knock at the door. "Come in. Or not. I'll be done in a couple of minutes!"

The door swung open and Cindy stepped inside. She looked around. "Heyyyyy! This is NICE!"

"It's a travel trailer, but it's home," I said. I stood up. "You ready?" I surveyed my dinner "date". The hair was dried and brushed and sleek and shiny and the face was scrubbed perfection. She was wearing shorts and a cotton blouse and looking very cute and proper.

"Yeah, but it's clean an' a lot newer than ours," she said. "An' it smells good."

"Well, thank you!" I said. "Let's go!" We headed out to my pickup truck. This got another round of compliments.

"Wow! Nice truck, Mr. Dan!" She buckled in, her small form the entire way across the big cab. She looked at me, beaming. "So where were you this mornin', Mr. Dan?"

I was a little taken aback by the question, mainly because it meant that Cindy was noticing my comings and goings. "I had to go run to the airport."

"Why? You goin' somewhere?"

"No," I said. "I had to make arrangements to get my plane inspected."

"You have your own PLANE!?!?!" Her eyes were wide open with amazement.

"Yeah, but it's not that big a deal. I bought it when I was in Alaska. It's little, and it's old, but it makes some trips a lot shorter." The plane was an old Cessna 180. I was a licensed pilot. Getting it here after a six hour drive dragging the trailer over was fun trick. Friends will do wonderful things for free food and gas, although coming to pick me up in a classic, seventy mile an hour cruise, authentic Piper Cub was a marathon. It's interesting to fly down the interstate highway and get passed up by automobile traffic.

"You, you're like, a PILOT too?"

"Yeah. It's not that big a deal."

"I don't know anybody else who's a pilot." She looked at me. "You do so much cool stuff..."

"It's really not that big a deal. If you saw that plane, you'd understand."

"So show me."

I gave that a second's thought. "Sure. When the mechanic finishes the inspection, I'll take you flying. Maybe in a week or two."

Squeal. "Thanks, Mr. Dan."

We drove twenty minutes into the next larger town and I fed the girl pizza. And I've taken more mature females to top-notch restaurants and received less gratitude. We laughed and enjoyed mediocre pizza and Coke and you'd have thought I presented her with caviar and champagne. After the meal, I dumped a handful of quarters into her hand and let her play video games for half an hour before we headed back.

Pulling into the RV park, we surveyed the space where her mom's trailer sat. No car. I pulled up on the drive in front of her trailer. "Are you going to be okay, baby?" I asked.

"Yeah, said Cindy, "I do this all the time."

"Well, if you need ANYTHING, you come get me, okay?"

"Oh, yeah, Mr. Dan," she said as she unbuckled. I was glad she hadn't yet opened the door because the cab lights would have illuminated her jumping across the seat and planting a kiss on my face. "Thanks so much, Mr. Dan!" And then she exited. I watched to make sure she got into her trailer and then drove and parked at my own. I went inside, showered again quickly and shaved and went to bed.

Sunday morning. I got up at seven, an hour later than my norm during the week. I started to fix myself breakfast. At the kitchenette sink I looked out the tiny window to the far corner of the park. Cindy's trailer. No car. That same neuron fired again. I pulled on some clothes and got in the truck.

Walking up to her trailer I knocked. Nothing. Knocked again. From inside I heard "Just a minute!"

The door cracked open and Cindy's head peeked out. "Oh, hi, Mr. Dan," she smiled. "I was still asleep."

"So you haven't had breakfast?"

"Noooo."

"You still got that note to leave your mom?"

"Yeah," she giggled. "Why?"

"I'm going get breakfast. Wanna come?"

She smiled. "Uh-huh. Let me get dressed."

I sat in the truck for a few minutes and then she bounced out the door. She climbed into the cab, face aglow with her smile. Clothes? Same outfit as last night. Twenty minutes later we were both seated in front of breakfast plates of pancakes, eggs and bacon. Soon sated, we drove back.

"So has your mom ever been gone this long?" I asked.

"Yeah, one time she left for four nights. She called Mizz Helen and tol' her to look out for me. Tol' Mizz Helen that she was with her sick momma."

"Yeah?"

"Except Grandma died when I was eight. An' Mizz Helen knew that."

"Ahhhh..."

"So she'll either call Mizz Helen or she'll be home today, I think. Since I start school next Tuesday, anyway." She sighed. "Just drop me at the trailer."

We pulled up at her trailer. As she unbuckled she looked at me. I looked back. What I saw was sadness in those big beautiful eyes, and I felt part of me wanting to replace that with the happy girl eyes I looked into less than an hour ago.

"I better not kiss you like last night," she said. "But I would, you know. Thanks for breakfast. An' everything." She popped the door open to slide out and when her feet hit the ground, she turned. "See you at the pool later? All the weekenders will be gone."

"I'll be there, princess." And I asked myself what I was getting into.

Cindy did show up at the pool.

"I see your mom's home," I said.

"Yeah, she got home at one. With a hickey and a new tattoo. Nasty! I hate tattoos. Her old ones are turnin' blue..."

"But everything's cool?"

"Yeah, she didn't even ask what I did this weekend. Just showed up. Says she's got money an' she's gonna go with me to buy school clothes this week."

"That's good..." I was trying to be positive.

"Hmmphhhh!" she snorted. "No it's not! You know what Wal-Mart is going to look like? The week before school?"

"Good point! Wish I could help..."

She looked at me, those green eyes boring into mine, sad. "Mr. Dan, I know you would. But not right now..." She and I swam our normal routine and then parted. I watched her walk ahead of me to her trailer, towel slung over her shoulder, wet hair dark against her head.

Monday. Back to work. Stopped at the park office as Mizz Helen was shutting things down. She handed me my mail.

"Cindy said her mom was gone all weekend."

"Yeah," I said. "I felt sorry for her so I took her out for pizza Saturday..."

"And you picked her up Sunday morning for breakfast." Mizz Helen coughed. "Cindy told me. That was nice of you."

"Well, I kinda worry, you know, these days."

Mizz Helen paused and looked at me. "You worry about what? Helping a kid with half a parent?"

"No, worry about somebody seein' a forty year old guy running around with an unsupervised teenaged girl."

"Hon," Mizz Helen said, "I don't think you're the kinda guy's gonna hurt her. An' compared with what she's got right now, just about anything would be an improvement!"

"Still..." I said.

"I'm just happy that none a' Donna's "boyfriends" has tried anything with Cindy."

"Yeah, you're right. Cindy's quite a cutie," I admitted. At least, it was the first time I'd voiced it. Just seeing her around made me smile.

"Hmmmphhh!" snorted Helen. "She don't hafta be cute, Dan! Those guys Donna brings home? They'd do a snake if you held its head ... After all, they're doin' Donna."

I looked at Helen. "That," I said, "would cause me serious heartache..."

Helen smiled. "Well, I just 'preciate you lookin' out for that youngster."

Met Cindy at the pool an hour later. "So how's the new wardrobe?" I asked.

Cindy wasn't smiling. "Yeah. The very best that Wal-Mart has to offer just before school starts."

"Picked over?"

"That's an understatement."

I was a little bemused by this thirteen year old girl in an RV park popping up with words like "understatement" in her conversation. I guess I shouldn't have been, but I was. "Tell me something," I said.

"What?" she asked.

"If somebody was to, like, give you a couple hundred bucks to go buy clothes, how would your mom take it?"

"And who'd do that?" She fixed me in those green eyes again.

"Don't worry about that. Let's just say that Mizz Helen gave you an envelope with two hundred dollars..."

"If Mom found out I had two hundred dollars, SHE'd have two hundred dollars."

"Oh. That's not good. Let's try this again. If Mizz Helen was to, say, take you to town an' pay for some clothes, what would your Mom do?"

"I dunno."

"Is it worth a try?" I looked at her. "I mean, would you catch a lot of crap. Or would she come unglued on Mizz Helen?"

"I don't think she would. Mizz Helen is like my aunt. But we're not really talking about Mizz Helen's money are we?"

"Don't worry about that. Let's swim." We swam. Half an hour later I was hanging on the edge of the pool, getting ready to get out, when I felt arms wrap around me and a face at my ear.

"Thank you, Mr. Dan."

The next day I caught Helen again. "Mizz Helen," I said.

"Dammit, Dan, don't call me Mizz Helen. You make me feel a hundert years old. What!??"

"I'm sorry. Age ain't got nothin' to do with it. It's the way I was raised."

"Yer folks done good," she grinned. "What's going on?"

I told her what I was trying to do. Told her that if Cindy's mom asked, Helen was just paying Cindy back for helping out around the park all summer. And I gave Helen one of my credit cards.

Chapter 2

The plan worked. I got off work early and watched the park office while Helen took Cindy into the nearby big town for some real shopping. I was sitting in the office reading when they got back. Cindy ran into the office squealing, carrying shopping bags. Helen followed her in.

"Dammit, Dan," she said. "I'm too old to be doin' this!"

"Yeah, thought about that after you left. Madhouse, huh?"

"Wasn't quite as bad as Wal-Mart. But bad. An' "Princess", here..." She paused. "Awwww, I can't say that. She was good. She watched the money better than I'd have expected. Had to MAKE her get stuff."

Cindy was rifling through the bags. Every ten seconds was punctuated with "LOOK!" and a squeal.

I smiled. And then she hauled out a dark green sweater. "Tell me you didn't get a dark green sweater," I said.

"Why?" she asked, her face dropping. "You don't like it?"

"No, little red-headed child. Not in the least. It's just that dark green is going to go perfectly with that head of hair of yours. It will look especially nice."

"Awwww, hon," Helen cooed, "you know he's right!"

Cindy was ecstatic as she left for her trailer.

I looked at Helen. "So how'd it go?"

Helen said, "Well, Dan, don't think you were gonna keep a secret. Little snoop there read your credit card first time I whipped it out."

"Oh."

"But you know," she continued, "the way it affected that child, I wish I'da thought of it myself. I could've afforded it too, you know."

"Oh, don't worry about it, Helen. I don't mind it a bit. It was worth it to see her happy for a while.

I walked to my trailer as Helen locked up the office.

The next day, well, things at the project got rather busy and I worked late. I missed my evening swim. Things leveled out the following Friday though, and I was looking forward to another swim. What I didn't know is that I would have a different swimming partner that afternoon.

While I was driving back to the trailer, and thinking about Cindy, she and Mizz Helen were talking about me, again.

"Hi Mizz Helen" Cindy chirped as she walked into the office after being dropped off by her school bus.

"Hi, hon" Mizz Helen responded.

"Don'tcha think Mr. Dan was sweet buying me all those new clothes?" She added, "An' you too, taking me there an' walking all over to get those new clothes. Neither one of ya had to do that you know."

"Don't fret about my part, it was kinda fun shopping like that, hadn't done that in years!" In a more conspirational tone Helen continued "And yes, Mister Dan was sweet to do that for you."

"So why did he do it, we spent a LOT of money and he didn't act like he cared how much we spent!"

"Well hon, if he was like most men, he would be trying to get something from you. But he don't seem that way, he just wanted to see you happy. All he wanted was to see ya smile."

"I know, that's what I think too, and a few other things too!" Cindy giggled and continued "He isn't like any other guy I ever met, Mom's boyfriends never made me feel like Mr. Dan does. I want to run away screaming from them, but I want to run TO Mr. Dan and squeeze him as hard as I can" and in a softer voice "an' maybe more".

"Don'tcha think that just maybe Mr. Dan might be wanting the same thing? Men don't always know in their brain what their heart is a tellin' them, sometimes the girl has to show them that it is OK to take a chance."

Cindy thought about that for a minute, "Mizz Helen, you think there is a chance he could be feelin the same things I'm feelin? Cause I'm a thinkin' he could be marryin' special, and I ain't ever thought that way in my whole LIFE!

"Well hon, he seems to care for you, but maybe not like you're thinkin'. Not sayin' he couldn't get to thinkin' that way, but older guys let their head control them, takes some work to get their barriers down to let their heart take over again." Helen paused, and as she started again, the door opened. She didn't notice Donna walking in as she said "He seems to be single, hasn't mentioned any woman in his life, seems to have money and has a good job too, at that new construction site."

Donna caught that last part, and her eyes lit up, single (although that had never been a prerequisite with her), money, good job and male, Helen had her attention now.

Both Cindy and Mizz Helen paused their conversation as Donna walked in and asked, "So who is this guy, single ... money ... good job, sounds like someone I WANNA know!"

Mizz Helen caught herself and said "Donna, he ain't your kinda of fella! Dan is a GOOD guy, doesn't hang out in bars and ain't lookin' for a "good time"!

"Hmmm" Donna said, "Dan. Yeah, that's the guy that came in a couple weeks ago, has that nice truck and trailer over in the corner. Construction guys make a LOT of money, and being by himself, may be lookin' for a little company to help him pass the time."

Donna wasn't looking at either Cindy or Mizz Helen as she said that, she was looking at Dan's trailer, with a slight smile on her face, and if either Cindy or Mizz Helen would have been looking at hers hands, they would have seen them flexing just slightly, just like a cat flexing their claws before they exposed them just before sinking them into their next prey.

Before they could react to Donna's statement, the door to the office opened and in walked the subject of their conversation. Dan didn't know he was aptly named, as he was repeating the story of his namesake by walking into the lion's den.

"Afternoon ladies" Dan greeted them, not noticing the wildly different looks in each of their faces. "Mizz Helen, any mail for me today?"

"Nope, nothin' today Dan" Mizz Helen tried to get the shocked expression off her face and look as normal as she could under the circumstances.

Dan didn't pick up on her change in demeanor, and turned to Cindy and asked, "and, if your Mom doesn't have plans for you" glancing at Donna "you up for an afternoon swim today?"

Before Cindy could respond, Donna spoke up. "I was just gonna ask Cindy if she wanted to go swimmin', so your timing is perfect!"

Dan was looking at Donna when she spoke and missed the change in Cindy's face. He would have seen absolute shock if he had been looking, but what he saw was Donna, with a smile that he had seen before, and before, caused him to run in fear. Time has a way of dimming unpleasant memories, and all he had was a vague sense of unease about Donna's tone and expression, and responded "Well, I guess I'll see you two at the pool then."

As Dan walked out to his truck, his logical side kept trying to tell the other part of his brain that he was reading more into Donna's actions than he should. Nobody could be THAT blatant. He had convinced himself of that before he finished cleaning up and heading to the pool.

Not too far away, Donna and Cindy were also going through a similar process in getting ready, but their motives were radically different from what Dan perceived them to be.

Once in the trailer, Cindy had recovered from her shock of seeing her mom hit on Mister Dan. Normally, she only saw her mom with a guy after she had reeled him in, she had never seen the beginning part, the flirtation stage, even though with Donna that often lasted only minutes.

"Mom, you never went swimmin' with me before. Why all of a sudden now?"

"Cindy, it ain't about swimmin' with you, it's about swimmin' with HIM!"

"But you don't like swimmin', why now, and why with Mister Dan?"

"Cindy, you need to learn how to land a guy, and Momma knows ALL the tricks!" As Donna was saying this, she was going through a drawer looking for a swim suit she knew she had somewhere. She considered briefly using some lingerie, knowing the effect water had on it, but found a suit she hadn't worn in years and decided that it might be better. She didn't want to scare the prey before she went in for the kill.

Cindy was changing into her suit, the only one she had. She knew, at least she hoped and desperately wanted Mister Dan to not be interested in her mom, but as she saw her getting her suit on, she started having doubts. Mom wasn't fat, being on her feet at the bar kept her in shape, and the exercises she knew she did after work didn't hurt her figure either. Her tits were much bigger, and when she put her top on, she noticed she had made sure the strap was tight across the back, forcing them to push together and kinda spill out the top. Her mom came out of her end smiling, her makeup touched up, and walked to the refrigerator.

"One more trick, Cindy, and then we can go see if anything's biting out there."

Donna reached into the freezer and grabbed two ice cubes. She carefully rubbed them over her tits, and Cindy could tell they were right over her nipples. She continued this until she saw out their window that Dan was leaving his trailer for the pool.

"Come on, Cindy! Watch and learn something about landing a guy." Donna and Cindy walked out of their trailer towards the pool, and Cindy knew Mister Dan was about to get the full force of her mom and didn't know how he would handle it. She realized she didn't know how she would handle it either and the thought of her mom and Mister Dan doing what Mom's other boyfriends did scared and hurt her in a way she didn't understand.

Donna didn't walk to the pool, it was more of a parade. Dan had just settled into one of the lounge chairs and was looking her way, looking for Cindy. Donna made sure he had something to watch as she worked her way towards him. The smile on her face would have been cute except for the gleam in her eyes that said she was on the prowl. Her head kind of bobbed with each step forcing her longer hair to swirl from side to side, and fluff out. Each step was measured, and ended in a hard thump, making sure the bulges at the top of her suit rippled just a little with each step, and that her thighs rubbed together every time she made a move, and she was definitely making HER moves.

Dan saw Donna and Cindy approaching, and was briefly mesmerized by the show Donna was putting on. The bathing suit was obviously small for her, and while not indecent by any means, it was showing a lot and her effort to maximize the effect did have an effect on Dan. Part of Dan took notice and immediately reacted, wanting to give its own praise to the show being put on for his benefit.

"Hi Dan," Donna said. As soon as she got inside the pool area she purposefully walked next to Dan, then stretched across him to toss her towel on the lounge on the other side. The fact that this put her tits just inches from his face, as well as her scent almost touching his nose wasn't an accident, and she observed that this had the desired effect, he was reacting just the way she wanted, and the game was on.

Cindy was having to struggle with her own fire storm of emotions as she watched the spectacle her mother was making of herself. "I mean, why didn't she just whip the suit off and sit on his face!!!!" Cindy thought.

Then Cindy saw her mom almost shoving her cleavage in his face. How could she be so blatant about what she wanted. Didn't she have any shame left? Wouldn't it have been easier to just say "Wanna fuck?"

Before she could get her breath to say anything, she also noticed where Donna had been looking, and knew that Dan wasn't immune to her mother's charms. She didn't know if he ever reacted that way towards her. It had never occurred to her to look before, but he was reacting now and Cindy didn't like that one little bit.

Dan knew from previous experiences with predatory females what Donna was doing, and while his baser male instincts liked what she was doing, his common sense said he had to find a way out of this predicament.

In his head, Dan was doing a tattoo inventory. Donna had one on her left breast, showing above the bikini cup, and the tramp stamp on her back was indeed turning blue. It was some kind of tribal design. Her left shoulder was some gaudy floral thing.

"Time to disengage," Dan thought. He said, "Hey, Donna, ready to go swimming?" A little cold water was exactly what he wanted right now, and he doubted that she'd let her hairdo suffer the dunking.

"No, I think I will just stretch out here, I get enough exercise at night, at the bar, ya know?" And she giggled as she said that.

Dan didn't think as he responded back, "Well, swimming is about the only exercise I get anymore, gotta get the heart goin' at least once in a while." He didn't want her in the water. He couldn't imagine what must be going on in Cindy's mind. Wait! Maybe he could. Cindy's face was stone.

"Darlin', I can think of LOTS of ways to do that for ya!" Donna responded with that gleam in her eye. She knew she had him ready, now it was just figurin how to dump Cindy and get him back into his trailer, just the two of 'em. She hadn't needed to try and land a guy in years, show a little interest and they ALWAYS took over from there.

"Donna, as much as I can only imagine how enjoyable that might be" (yeah, he had been in this position before) "my momma raised me to believe love comes first." "Like," he thought, "you should be raising Cindy."

"Oh hon, you'll be in love, at least you'll love what I can do to you" Donna didn't just say the words, she said it in that breathy, throaty way that promised Nirvana with a definite incentive of pushing those breasts together just a little more, and the rubbing of thighs that showed something should be between them to keep them from getting chafed.

If it wouldn't have been for Cindy, Dan would have just gotten up and walked away with as much dignity as he could muster. He knew she was being exposed to something she shouldn't be at her young age, or any age for that matter. Donna had all the subtlety of a vulture at a carcass, and from his past experiences, just about as much appeal.

"Sorry, just not the way I was raised. My Momma would haunt me if I didn't respect what she taught me." And what little respect Dan had for Donna was totally gone by this point. He knew what Mizz Helen had said, but now he realized she hadn't conveyed how derailed Donna really was.

Donna was in shock. She had never, ever, had a guy say no to HER. Of course, it didn't occur to her that the only guys she normally met were at the bar, and at the kind of bar she worked at, the only difference in any of them was their names.

Gathering herself back, Donna responded "Well, Dan, if you ever feel like relieving some of that "loneliness", you come on over, ya hear?" She slowly lifted herself out of her lounge and walked slowly to the gate. Giving a long look over the shoulder, and making sure there was an extra swing to those hips, she slowly walked back to her trailer.

Dan realized during the entire exchange, he hadn't said a word to Cindy. He didn't know what to say. What do you say to a girl that just witnessed the performance her mom had just put on? He decided the safest thing to do was to let Cindy take the lead, so he just shook his head slowly, letting Cindy know without words what he thought of Donna's actions, and smiled at her.

"Hey, Mr. Dan," she said."Hey, Cin," I replied. "I am dying to get in the water." I flopped backward off the rim into the deep end. I was still under the surface when Cindy jumped in. I surfaced into her arms.

"Cindy," I said. "What are you doing?"

"Giving you a hug."

"Why?"

"You know why."

We swam for a while and she climbed out first. "Come sit," she said.

I climbed out and lay back on the lounge next to hers. "Okay. Here I am."

"Why'd you do that? The other day I mean, not just now with Mom."

"Do what?"

"You know. That was YOUR credit card Mizz Helen used."

"Can't fool you, huh?

She looked at me. "So why?"

"Because you're a sweet girl who should get a break every now and then. I just wanted to do something nice for you."

"We spent four hundred dollars."

"Baby, I make a thousand dollars a day. They pay me almost two hundred a day just to live here. Four hundred bucks ain't much money. Really."

"Mr. Dan," she asked, "don't you have kids of your own to buy stuff for?"

"That's a long story, darlin'," I said. "I don't tell many people. But I had a daughter who'd be twelve this year. She and my wife were killed by a drunk driver while they were coming home from a movie one night seven years ago."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Dan," she said.

"Oh, it's not your fault. But if I want to do something nice for a young lady, it's kind of like I was doing it for my daughter."

"Okay."

"So," I said, "how'd your mom react?"

"Oh, she didn't say much. I'm just glad she ain't the same size as me or I'd have lost my new clothes."

We both turned in the direction of a beeping car horn. A beater Toyota headed out of the park. The woman inside waved.

"Well," said Cindy, "there goes Mom..."

I looked at Cindy. "Why don't you go home and get dressed and let's go out for dinner..."

Squeal. "Pizza?"

"You're gonna turn into a pizza. But yeah, if that's what you want."

We both headed to our respective trailers. I got inside mine, showered, shaved and, hmmmm ... A splash of cologne. Jeans. Polo shirt. Was sitting on the sofa tying my shoes when the knock came.

"Come in or wait outside," I yelled. I heard the door open then close. I turned and saw a vision.

Cindy. Oh, she was always clean and unless her hair was wet, it was short and combed easily into place. But there she was. Wearing that damned green sweater. And a matching skirt. And not a speck of makeup. Her complexion, her eyes, her hair, her lips, they were what sane women used makeup to vainly try to create.

I'd never seen Cindy wear a skirt before. It was always shorts, jeans or her one bathing suit. But a skirt?!?

And before I could stand up she was on the sofa beside me, kneeling, facing me. Bronze hair. Not a single hair out of place. Green eyes twinkling. And she leaned forward and I detected a hint of fragrance on her. And she put her arms around my neck and kissed me on the lips. Maybe just a little harder and a little longer than a little girl kiss. But I could have been wrong. "Thank you, Mr. Dan," she said.

"Goodness, Cindy, you look perfect!"

Squeal! Giggle. "Oh, do you REALLY think so Mr. Dan? Really?"

"Yes. Really. Absolutely Perfect! There's not a prettier girl on the planet right now."

"I remembered what you said about the green sweater." She smiled. "I wanted to look pretty for you."

"My dear, you have exceeded your goal."

"So," she said, "I was thinking..."

"Uh-oh. That's trouble..."

"Oh, don't be mean! I'm trying to be more mature."

"Sorry, baby. You're exactly as mature as you need to be."

"But I was thinking, like, maybe NOT pizza tonight. I mean, if you want to take me someplace else..."

And that's where the other neuron fired and I saw a menu roll through my mind of all the places that I'd like to take this doll. But instead of going crazy, I said, "Are you up for a nice restaurant? Not too fancy, but a step up from Pizza Hut."

"Uh-huh. But you'll have to help me. I've never been to a fancy restaurant before."

"We won't do something too fancy. But it's a longer drive. Is that going to be okay? Will your mom be home early?"

"Mr. Dan, I'll be surprised if she's back before Sunday night."

"Okay, princess. Let's go." And I walked her out to the truck and went on her side to open the door for her. I found out then that big pickup trucks and girls in short skirts are a deadly combination, especially little girls who don't spend a lot of time in skirts in the first place. I helped her into the truck and as she sat on the seat her legs were hanging out the door. Swiveling in, her legs spread, her skirt went ALL the way up, and I saw the spread crotch of a thirteen year old angel and it was clad in powder blue panties.

Her eyes latched with mine as she pulled her skirt down. "Oops!" she said. "Didn't mean to flash you!"

I couldn't talk until I got safely in on my side of the truck.

"Are you okay, Mr. Dan?"

"Yeah, baby, I'm okay."

"You stopped talking."

"Sorry. I'm okay."

So off we drove, mercifully letting the conversation wander around about her new school year and the first week and teachers and kids.

"At least they aren't kidding me about my clothes this year," she said.

"Good!" I smiled. "You'll have another problem, though."

"What's that?" she asked.

"Boys. You wear stuff like that to school and you're gonna have a line of 'em following you around."

"Oh, yeah ... Well, I'm not much on boys..."

My antennae went up. "Oh?"

"No, not like THAT, not interested ... It's just that I've pretty much seen too much of boys and men with Mom an' all..."

"Uh-huh."

"An' I'm NOT gonna be like that."

"You shouldn't be."

She looked at me. I glanced over as I drove. "Yeah," she said. "I don't know how many men Mom's been with. Just this year. I don't know who my dad is. I asked Mom. She doesn't know. At least she won't tell me. An' I'm just NOT gonna be that way. Never."

"Good," I said. "You'll be better for that.

Cindy looked quizzically at Dan "Uh Mister Dan, remember what I said about not bein' interested in boys?"

"Yes" and I was wondering if Cindy was going to change that statement.

"Can I ask, after that show Mom put on and all, are you still interested in girls?"

"Oh yes Cindy, I am still interested, but not in what your mom had to offer. I was telling her the truth, I don't want what she was offerin' if love didn't come first. Ain't worth the pain, like you said." We pulled into the parking lot just as I finished talking.

We had a pleasant dinner at a mid-scale steakhouse. I took time to talk her through ordering and silverware and etiquette, at least steakhouse level etiquette. She was attentive and well-mannered. I never saw or expected otherwise from Cindy.

As the dinner ended, I reached into my pocket and pulled out an object. I shoved it across the table to Cindy. "Here," I said.

"That's a cellphone," she said. "For me?"

"Yes, baby. I get worried about you staying home by yourself all the time with no way to call anybody for help. That's for you. I programmed my number and Mizz Helen's number in it already for you."

"Wow! Thanks, Mr. Dan."

"Now, it's got limited minutes, so let's not get into the habit of calling friends and talking on it too long. And I don't think your mom's gonna be understanding if she sees it."

"Oh, no she won't. I asked her about one and she said we didn't have that kind of money. But she has one. And the day she told me that she got a new tattoo. But maybe she didn't pay for that tattoo." Her brow wrinkled. "Or the phone either. She's had the same boyfriend for three weeks now."

"Baby, I understand your disappointment with your mom, but she may not see a lot of choices." Then I thought for a second. "Three weeks? And she did THAT to me today?"

Cindy said, "I wish I was surprised, Mister Dan. But she goes through men pretty fast."

"Maybe she doesn't think about any other way out."

"Maybe. But she could go to school and do something besides work in bars. The state will pay her to go to school. I read the stuff she brought home one time."

"Okay baby. Let's change the subject." I paid the restaurant bill and we went out in the parking lot to ride home. I decided to help her into the truck again. This time, though, when she was in the door, sideways in her seat, before I could back away, she put her arms around my neck. Before I could react, I received a full kiss on the lips. Much longer than a "thank you for supper, Mr. Dan" kiss. Then she demurely (no skirt displacement this time) turned and clicked her seatbelt as I closed her door.

I walked around the truck and got in, fastened my own seatbelt, and backed out. And drove out onto the street.

"Not talking again, Mr. Dan?"

"No, Cindy. Why'd you kiss me like that?"

"Like what?" she asked innocently.

"You kissed me pretty hard..."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just wanted to give you a 'thank you' kiss and I guess we both moved in the same direction." She paused and almost sadly said, "I didn't mean to do anything wrong."

Driving home, we could see lightning in the distance, late summer storms. Nature was majestic. Cindy said "majestic".

"So, Mr. Dan, like, if I DID kiss you, like, serious, you'd be mad?"

"Baby..." I was calling Cindy pet names now. I knew it. I caught myself several times. "The thing is, you're what, thirteen..."

"Fourteen in a week..."

"Okay, fourteen. I'm forty-one. There are laws."

"I know," she said meekly. "They talked to us about those laws in health class. Took the boys in one room an' the girls in another. About 'inappropriate touching' and stuff. An' sex crimes. But, like, just a kiss..."

"Baby..."

"You call me baby, an' sweetie, an' cutie..."

"I know. And you're desperately cute. And sweet."

"So," she said, "if I kissed all over a boy who was thirteen or fourteen or fifteen, it would be okay, but if I kissed a real MAN who I wanted to kiss, that's wrong."

"That's the law."

"An'," she continued, "if the boy was thirteen or fourteen or fifteen an' we went all the way an', like, DID it, that's legal..."

"Cindy, that would be a bad idea..."

"Oh, I know, Mr. Dan, an' I'd NEVER do it, but I'm just sayin', IF I did, that would be legal, but if I just kissed a real MAN, that's not?

"That's the law."

"Hmph!" she said. "That's stupid." She crossed her arms for emphasis.

I thought it was stupid, too. But I said, "Maybe so, but that's the law. It's there to make it wrong for old men to take advantage of young girls. That probably happens more than it does the way you're talking about."

"It's stupid!" Cindy was sitting there, arms folded, lips pursed, chin tucked in. She sighed. "But then you admit it..."

"Admit what?"

"That it's stupid. That I should be able to kiss you." And a giggle.

"I don't know what you're giggling about, cutie. I'm not admitting anything." I sighed. "And you're making it hard for me..."

That got another giggle.

"Stop that. You're making it DIFFICULT for me. I want to be your friend and to help you out, not take advantage of you."

"B-but Mr. Dan," she sighed, "Don'tcha see? You're NOT taking advantage of me."

"But, Cindy..." I said, "that's what it looks like. I'm nice to you. I buy you things. I take you places. People will say "That old man did all that to take advantage of that little girl." And the law believes them."

"Well I don't believe it. And neither does Mizz Helen."

"Mizz Helen? What did she say about this?"

Cindy took her breath. "She says that you are a very nice person and that you an' her talked about me an' my mom an' you just wanted to help. Said I was lucky to find somebody like you."

"Oh..."

"Look, Mr. Dan, I would have NEVER got nothin' like this from Mom. Or any of her boyfriends. An' some of them look at me an' say little things when Mom can't hear. You know, THOSE men want to take advantage of me."

"I was afraid of that. You have that cellphone..."

"I know. YOU gave me that. Not exactly the thing you'd do if you were trying to take advantage of me, huh?"

"I'm not."

"You're not what?"

"I'm not trying to take advantage of you."

"Okay," she said, "then that's settled."

Lightning slashed across the far horizon. "Ooohhhh," she said. "that's magnificent..."

We talked about thunder and lightning and storms and seasons and she was babbling happily about the year it snowed and I was thinking of lonely nights where the only warm place in the bed was the spot I just rolled out of.

We finally pulled into the RV park. No car at her trailer. No lights. "Cindy," I said, "At least let me go inside with you and make sure nobody's in there..."

"There's no cars."

"Yeah, but baby, since you said that about your mom's boyfriends, I am going to worry."

She smiled a little. "Thank you for caring, Mr. Dan. Yeah. Come check it out."

I did that. She waited outside while I flipped on lights and looked in the very few places in the trailer. It was cluttered and that stench of stale cigarette smoke was there. Finally I opened the door. Before I could step out, Cindy stepped in. And kissed me very demurely. "Thank you, Mr. Dan."

Chapter 3

I returned to my own trailer. I turned on the TV, but it was only background noise as a million thoughts went through my head. Were my motives as pure as I thought them to be, or did I harbor some hidden desire. I finally convinced myself that I hadn't embarked on a premeditated scheme to entrap this dear little princess. Finally I undressed and got into bed. In the dark I listened to the distant thunder, the occasional lightning flash casting patterns on the walls.

I don't know if it was the close thunderclap or the cellphone's ringing, but I woke up with a start. The light from the display of my ringing phone caught my eye and I reached for it. It could have been nothing good at this time of night as I fumbled, thinking family emergency, work, whatever, until I got the display to my eyes and saw the letters: CINDY.

I answered. "Yes, baby?"

"Mr. Dan. The wind's blowing hard an' this trailer's not tied down. It's rockin' an' I'm scared."

That was a legitimate fright. Travel trailers are very much susceptible to the winds from storms. I paid extra to get mine tied down against such troubles, knowing I was going to be here for several months. I guess Donna never thought of that or spent the money. Since it was Cindy's safety at stake now, I'd see that was rectified tomorrow. But right now, I had a scared Cindy to deal with.

"Okay, baby. I'll be down there in the truck in a minute. Watch for me at the door. And bring some clothes, okay?" I had no idea what Cindy slept in. Or if she'd need to get dressed in the morning. Or whatever. I pulled on a pair of jeans and stuck my bare feet into shoes and drove across the park to Cindy's trailer.

I pulled in, getting as close to her door as possible, even though it wasn't raining. Yet. I hadn't stopped before the trailer door opened and Cindy flew out, slamming it behind her. She had a shopping bag in her hand as she pulled the truck door open and jumped in. She slammed the truck door behind her, that sound competing with another thunderclap. The short drive back across the park was flash-illuminated by lightning. Cindy's face, illuminated by the strobing, was seriously frightened. I pulled alongside my own trailer, exited the truck and ran around to open Cindy's door. She almost leaped from the truck to the step of my trailer and I followed her through the open door, fastening it securely behind us.

Inside the trailer, in the single light I left on as I'd hurriedly left only minutes before, I got my first real look at my frightened Cindy. The hair, slightly tousled, face, definitely frightened. Dressed in a nightshirt that made it all the way down to just below the cheeks of her ass. Okay. Not an insurmountable problem.

But I did have an insurmountable problem. You remember when I said I was an engineer? Yeah? Well, we engineers tend to want design optimization, as in, "this travel trailer is my home and it should fit ME!" As in "one bed". MY bed. Gave me a bit more space to make long-term stays in the trailer a bit more pleasant.

Okay. Not insurmountable. There WAS the sofa. I opened a storage cabinet and hauled out a sleeping bag and started unrolling it.

"T-t-thanks, Mr. Dan," she said. "I was REALLY scared. Mom's trailer was rockin' in the wind."

"I know, baby," I said. "It'll be okay now. Here's a sleeping bag. I'll get you a pillow and you'll be okay. You want something to drink?"

"No," she said. "Just the bathroom."

I pointed. "You know how those work..." I waited for her to get out, then I went in myself. And drew a breath. That perfume I'd smelled earlier in the evening. It was there. I finished peeing and flushed. I zipped up and opened the door.

"Heard you pee," said Cindy.

"That's the trouble with these things. You hear EVERYTHING!" I said.

Cindy said, "You think hearing somebody use the bathroom is bad, try ignoring your mom doin' it with her boyfriend at the other end of the trailer an' both of them are drunk an' all you have is that stupid curtain between you an' them."

"Ugh!"

"Yeah."

"Bed time?"

"Okay. I guess." She slid herself into the sleeping bag. Yes, it was late summer, but I kept a healthy air conditioner going. I liked sleeping in the cool air.

She nestled her head into the pillow. I guess I probably shouldn't have, but who can resist giving a girl a good night kiss. I bent over and kissed her on her cheek and whispered, "Good night, sweetness..."

I crawled into my own bed after shedding the jeans. Sleeping clothes for me was t-shirt and drawers. I didn't OWN a pair of pajamas. No, I never expected to share the space with a thirteen year old girl. But I was in bed. With the blankets pulled up to my chin. And the strobing of the storm approaching was accompanied by thunderclaps following in rapid succession. It was getting close. I snuggled into my pillow and prepared to sleep.

FLASH-CRASH-BOOOOOOM! The storm was here! I could hear the winds fighting the flat sides of the trailer but I worried not at all.

Then "Daaannnnnnn!!!!!!" and a bounce and there was a thirteen year old girl plastered against me. "Hold me! I'm scared!"

I had no doubt that she was scared. Shaking. I held her. Of course, she was OUTSIDE the covers and I was UNDER them. So it was chaste. At least in my mind.

"C-c-can I get under the covers? I'm cold..." And it was not time to refuse. And she was trembling scared, so sliding away from the greatest temptation I'd ever faced, that option was off the table. And that "sliding under the covers" part? Cindy slid down. Her nightshirt didn't do as well. Her shoulders were covered. And that's the package I wrapped in my arms. Her head was just under my chin and she turned to put her cheek against my chest. Tendrils of subtle perfume tickled my nostrils. Whatever Cindy's mom might be, she'd chosen perfumes wisely.

"Better?" I asked.

Cindy wiggled into me. "Mmmm-hmmmm. I feel so safe, Dan."

No "Mr. Dan"?

Her leg pushed between mine. "I'm just tryin' to get closer. I'm scared. And cold."

Okay. I was scared too, but it had nothing to do with the propensity of tornadoes to run through trailer parks. No, mine was more of "we, the jury, find the defendant guilty..."

And there was another wiggle. And Cindy's face turned toward mine. A lightning flash illuminated her for a brief moment showing me those beautiful eyes and lips slightly parted. I don't know why I bent my face closer, but I did, licking my lips for moisture. And her face moved upward. That kiss that had caused me such angst earlier? What happened now made that a mere schoolyard peck. Scared little girl's hands pulled me toward her and she insinuated herself fully against me. Her lips were moist, soft and hot and they parted beneath mine to let out a tongue.

Here's another one of those points where I might have had a chance to defuse the situation. I COULD have kept my lips closed. But that tongue touched my lips and they parted. My own tongue had a mind of its own as it met hers.

Our mouths were melded together, tongues exploring. A tiny moan escaped her. The kiss finally ended.

Cindy spoke first. "Dan, I wanted this. You gotta know that. I wanted this. I never kissed a guy before. I wanted to kiss you."

"You've never kissed anybody before. And you kiss like that?"

"Dan, I told you I heard stuff going on. They talk. I couldn't help but listen. I heard about kissing and tongues. Did I do it right? It felt good. Did I do it right?"

I didn't say anything. I answered her with a kiss.

"Mmmmmm" escaped around our joined lips. We broke. A purr. "I did it right..." More kisses. Her body was pressing against mine in ways that were at once knowing and innocent.

I know she had to feel my dick. I was as hard as I've ever been in my life. I'm no giant in that regard. Six inches. But it was in champion form tonight. I hadn't had a woman in, well, I just didn't remember. And now, pressed against me, was perhaps the most perfect young girl on the planet.

"Baby," I said, "you know what you're causing in me?"

"Uh, kinda..." she whispered. "I mean, I've never done ANY of this. All I know is what I heard. Is that your ... uh, your dick?"

"Yes, baby, it is." I took a deep breath. Somebody had to take a deep breath here. This was already way past redemption, but I did have some shreds of scruples left. "Cindy, listen to me."

"Yes, Dan."

"Cindy, you're the single most beautiful woman I have ever kissed in my entire life. But you're thirteen. And we need to stop before we go any further. Really."

"B-but Dan ... s'pose I don't want to stop..."

"Oh god, Cindy. I'm whatever you want, sweetness."

"Dan? Whatever I want?"

"Yes, Cindy..."

"Dan, I want you to be my first. My Dan..."

"Oh, Cindy..."

"I do." She pushed me over on my back. Her hand went down my stomach and her fingers slid under the waistband of my drawers, instantly finding the head of my erection. "I want to learn all about this and I want to learn all about me and I want to learn all about us, Dan."

"B-b-but the storm, Cindy..."

She kissed me softly. "When you kissed me, Dan, that was more than ANY storm could ever do." She reached and turned on a light. I want you to see me an' I wanna see you, Dan." She tossed the covers off us and knelt beside me in the bed, then with two hands peeled her nightshirt over her head. She gazed directly at my appreciative eyes as she then hooked her thumbs into the waistband of those powder-blue cotton panties. She stood on the bed, bent over to avoid the low ceiling, and dropped her panties to her feet, then stepped out of them.

I gazed at her completely nude body. Her breasts were young girl's breasts. There was room for growth, but wow, what was there just now, swelling to an "A" cup, quarter-sized areoles, nipples like little pencil erasers, just as pink, just as rigid. A pubic mount deliciously rounded and decorated with a light sprinkling of fine red hair. The top of her sexual slit was visible, leading to the crease that disappeared between her legs. And those green eyes and that face, framed by only slightly disarrayed red hair.

"Dan, get your pants off for me, baby..."

That took about 2.3 seconds. She looked at my erection. "Where's your hair? You're s'posed to have hair."

"I shave it, baby. Keeps it cleaner and cooler."

"Looks neat. Not that I have a lot to compare it to." She knelt back down beside me and took me in her hand. "Oh, Dan, I want you to show me all about this. How to make you happy."

"Are you sure, baby? Really sure?"

"Yes, my love..." And that was the first time the "L" word had come up in conversation.

From her kneeling position she bent over and closed her mouth over the head of my dick.

"Gahhhhh! Cindy! Baby!"

Cindy looked at me. "That's another thing I heard. Now do you think I'm serious?" She took my hand and placed it on her breast. My fingertips explored her soft, sweet mounds, then teased at the nipples. "Mmmmmm, Dannnnn!"

I pulled her down toward me and kissed her, then pushed her upward to bring her nipple to meet my lips and I sucked it into my mouth.

"Oh, goooooooshhhhhhh! Dannnnn! Your mouth!"

It was time to find about the center of her sexuality. I moved my fingers down her soft belly to tease briefly in the hair of her pubic mound. She sighed and purred, her body shaking noticeably. My fingers slid further, the tip of my index finger tracing just the surface of her slit.

"Ooooooohhhhhh," she moaned. "Yesssssss!"

My finger dipped deeper and started back toward the front. I paused to dip it into her virginal opening. There was the slightest hindrance of a hymen. My fingertip entered easily. "Aaahhhhhh". I silenced her moan with my lips. Our tongues entwined and my fingertip lightly touched her little clit. "Nnnnnnnnnnn" escaped our kiss. As our lips broke apart, she said, "Dan, do that some more."

"I'd rather do this," I said, rolling her onto her back and then kissing my way down, briefly suckling both nipples, dipping my tongue into her navel and showering kisses on her fuzzy mound.

"Oh, yes, Dan. That. I. Want. That!" And a hand pushed my head further down. I could smell the musky pungency of her excitement before the tip of my tongue tasted the juices jeweling the lips of her slit. I loved it with my tongue, replaying my finger's previous journey, savoring all the senses, the taste, the smell, the feel of moist, soft, HOT flesh, hearing her mewing and sighing under my attentions. I heard distant thunder as the storms moved away, and I created storms especially for my Cindy as my tongue met the little pink pearl of her clit head.

"Yessss! Ohhhhh, Dannnnn!" I lapped happily, ending each lick by sliding the tip of my tongue over the head of her clit. My Cindy was quivering. Her hands held my head still, urging me to pay attention to her clit. She was thrusting hips up to press it into my tongue and I was happily obliging.

"Ohgodohgodohgod ... Dannnn. Yes. There. Hard!" I did. And "Ennnnnngghhhhhh!" and she collapsed with an exhaling sigh. Unresponsive. I moved from between the thighs and cradled her lithe body in my arms and kissed her face lightly. And post-orgasmic Cindy was even more beautiful ... her eyelids fluttered and she returned to consciousness with a smile.

"Oh, Dan ... Now I know how that's supposed to feel..." Her hand wrapped behind my head and she pulled me to kiss her. We traded tongues and breath, our arms fighting to pull one another closer. Finally she let me go then pushed me onto my back with a purposeful look in her green eyes.

"I want you to be my first, Dan. Maybe my only ever, but for sure my first..." And she straddled me. Her pussy was still dripping with orgasmic juices when it contacted my dick. My dick was hard enough to cut diamond. Laying flat down on top of me, Cindy kissed me as hips moved her pussy in varying angles in relation to the head of my dick.

"It feels good down there," she announced, then she rose back up on her knees. Her little hand reached underneath her and she guided my shaft with two fingers, lining the head up with her virginal opening. She looked at me smiling. "I love you, Dan," she said, pushing her pelvis downward. I felt the head of my dick pressing into her against some resistance, forcing its way in, expanding that virginal pussy for the first time.

"Go slow, baby," I said. "Let it get used to things."

"Oh, Dan, it feels so good. So full!" And she raised up, withdrawing from me, then slid back down, burying more of me within her. And again. "Mmmmmmm, Dan..." And again. And a last time. Her hands were on my chest as she tried once more to push me deeper into her and realized that there was no more. My dick was fully buried in her pussy. She smiled. "Dan ... You're all the way inside me."

"I know, Cindy. And it's the best place in the whole world."

She stayed still for a few moments and then rose off me, withdrawing, then back down, sinking me inside her. Smiles crossed her face. "I really like this," she said, punctuating her voice with her hips. She experimented with angles and motions until she found where she needed to be on each stroke to press her excited little clit against my dick. Once she determined that motion, she went at it with determination. My little Cindy was taking charge of her own orgasm, and somewhere along the way I'd better get one for myself.

It wasn't going to be a difficult task as I surveyed this happy young beauty making love to me. I held onto her waist as her hips swiveled and thrust, and I was meeting her thrusts with my own.

"Baby, you're doing it to me ... I'm gonna come," I hissed. The pressure was building.

Cindy was into another dimension. Her eyes were clenched shut and she was biting her lower lip, the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile as she worked her first orgasm with me. Snorts of breath were audible as she breathed through her nose. "Nnn." Thrust. "nnn" thrust "Nnnn" thrust. And I was meeting her in mid-thrust, buried into my sweet little Cindy as far as possible.

"Cin," I gasped. "I can't hold any longer." Breathe. "I'm." Breathe. "Commmminggggg!" Spurt!

Cindy felt it and she was close enough that the spurting of my semen in her was all she needed to trigger her own orgasm. "Dannnnn! I. Oh. Ahhhhh! Again ... Nnnnn. Comminggggg!" And incoherently, she did. I caught her in my arms as she fell forward, the last spurt of my orgasm discharging just between the lips of her pussy. I held my Cindy in post-orgasmic bliss, kissing the top of her head until I heard "Mmmmm, Dan..."

"Hello, little girl. I love you, you know."

She turned her head to face me. "I hope so. 'Cuz I love you, too."

Her hand moved down to the sopping wetness between us. She smiled. "We got ourselves a mess, huh?"

"Yeah," I said. "We do."

She withdrew her hand and surveyed her soppy fingers. Her eyes cut towards me mischievously and smiled. And she stuck her wet fingers into her mouth. "Mmmmmm," she said, pushing her hand back between us. This time, she put her wet fingers in front of my mouth. This was no time to be finicky. I sucked her fingers into my mouth, licking them clean.

"It's gonna take a long time doing it this way," I said.

She looked at me quizzically.

"Turn around," I said. She spun around and I moved her legs apart to accommodate my face. "I don't know about you, babe, but I'm licking this." And a gasp as my lips and tongue hit her sopping pussy.

She gasped again and said, "Then THIS is okay, huh?" and I felt her mouth close over my dick, sucking, then lips and tongue moving over my pubis, then my balls. "I hope I'm doin' this okay" she said.

"Mmmmm, perfect!" I answered. Minutes later, we finished.

"Cover me up, baby, my butt's cold," my little darling delicately announced. I was laughing as I searched for the covers.

Next question: "Dan, what time is it?"

"One in the morning, sweetie. Why?"

"Just wonderin'."

"Oh." I paused. "Are you okay?"

Cindy replied, "I'm the most okay I've ever been in my whole life."

"But ... with everything?"

"Dan." She took a breath. "Yes. I am. I know all that stuff about virgins and things like that. That's one thing. And another thing. I'm not going to be pregnant. Mom put me on the pill right after I started havin' periods. So that's okay."

"Wow. You told me..."

"Oh, baby, noooo," she cried, "I don't mean it like THAT. I don't want YOU to worry."

"Baby," I said. "I wasn't worried about you getting pregnant."

"No???"

"No, sweetie. You see, right after my wife had our daughter, she had some complications that could make it very bad if she got pregnant again. So I got fixed. I can't make babies."

"Really?" she squealed. "Really?"

"Yeah," I said. "No babies." I looked at her. "So you might want to think about that 'I love you' stuff if it means 'forever' and husband and wife and family and stuff."

"Hmph!" she snorted. "What's that got to do with how you treat me. Or how I treat you?"

"Just a thought."

"Doesn't matter." A statement she punctuated with a kiss. A Long kiss. With arms wrapped around me. "Dan. I love you."

I regarded the angelic visage before me, sublime smile, perfect nose peppered with freckles ("I hate my freckles") green eyes and long luxurious lashes, and those wild bangs blanketing her forehead ... There were many worse things a man could see before him every day. There were NONE better. "I love you too, Cindy."

"Forever, Dan?"

"Cindy. You're thirteen. Forever is a long time."

"Don't you believe I love you, Dan?" she said tearfully.

"Yes, baby, I believe you. I'm sorry." I kissed her. "I just want you to be sure. I don't want to think about NOT having you in my life."

"Me too, Dan," she said. "Me too."

And we kissed and eased off into sleep, grateful for the thunder in the distance that had bonded us together.

Chapter 4

The next morning I woke up to the soft form next to me. Cindy was still nude, her hair spread in a bronze fan on her pillow. I kissed her face lightly. Her eyes fluttered open. "Hi, Dan," she said. "I still love you."

"I still love you, too, Cindy." The next kiss was MUCH more serious. And ended with a giggle as her hand found my soft dick.

"I remember now," she smiled. "We're together. REALLY together."

"Yeah," I said. "Wanna go get some breakfast and talk about it?"

"Yep!" she said, releasing my dick and bouncing out of bed naked. I looked at this cutie.

"Damn! You're beautiful!" That got me a smile. That turned into a grin. And a full nudity stand up hug.

And she knelt. And fingers curled around my dick. And her face turned up with a smile. "They'll still be serving breakfast in an hour." We did get to breakfast.

Driving there, she looked at me with fawning eyes.

"Cindy," I said, "this is a mess, you know..."

"I know," she said.

"I hope you do. If ONE single person finds out what we did and goes to the cops, I'm going to jail for YEARS. It's that serious."

"Dan, I love you. I WANT to tell everybody. But I won't tell a soul. I promise."

"Yeah, but we need to be very careful with how we are around each other in public. That means no holding hands and kissing and touching and stuff. Just like we were until last night."

"I know."

"I'm serious, baby! I could end up in jail. And I don't want to lose you."

"Okay, baby!" she said.

I looked at the smiling darling there beside me those green eyes bright, the luxurious lashes fluttering above them, that ridiculously seductive red hair. If I was going to EVER fall, this is what it was going to take. And here she was. And I was fallen.

Breakfast was pleasant. So was the drive back. When we got back, Helen was in her office. I walked in, Cindy right behind me. Talked about the storm. Pointed to Cindy's trailer, not damaged, but visibly moved from the winds.

"I saw that," Helen said. "Pretty good storm. A little more an' that trailer'd have flipped. With Cindy in it."

"Yeah. She's lucky she had someplace to go. I can't believe they didn't tie that thing down."

"Most folks don't tie down travel trailers," Helen said. "But most travel trailers don't stay in one place that long."

"So," I said, "Can I pay those guys to come tie Cindy's trailer down? It'll keep me from getting those phone calls."

"Uh, Mr. Dan, (I was "Mr. Dan" In public) I would have been scared, tied down or not," she interrupted.

"Yeah, okay, darling. (slip of the tongue. Oops!) But you like to have lost your house."

Helen smiled. "Sweetie," she said, addressing Cindy, "It's just a good thing Mr. Dan was here to take care of you last night."

I noted that Cindy bit her bottom lip.

Helen looked at me. "Thanks for watching things for her, Dan. You take better care of her than her momma does."

Saturday. Lazy day. Cindy's mom wasn't home, so Cindy pinned the note on the door and we decided to take off on an excursion. A shorts-clad Cindy was climbing into the truck. She looked at me. "Hey, babe, can't you, like, fold this console up out of the way?"

"Yeah, cutie," I said, "but where will I put my important stuff?"

Giggle. "Buddy," she smiled, "since last night you just got something MORE important than all that stuff."

Smiling, I said,"Okay. I suppose so." I moved things around and stowed the console so she could slide over into the center of the bench seat. And that's where she belted in.

I slid in beside her. "You know," I said, "we can do this because we're gonna be out of the local area. Otherwise, back in your old spot. That red head of yours is too easy to spot.

"Yes, baby," she said, "but it's nice to be able to do this."

"Do what?"

Her hand went between my thighs and squeezed my dick. Giggle.

"Oh, that!"

Eighty miles up the road. Down a country path (thank god for four-wheel drive) and into the woods. And a blanket on a bed of pine needles. And we made love. No, she wasn't some sort of "expert". This was session number three. But she loved me. And she was enthusiastic. Eager. Sweetly beautiful. I had eyes for no other.

Back home again. Miss Helen noted our going and coming. Smiled and waved. I dropped Cindy at her trailer and then went to my own.

Sunday. I heard a knock on the door. Opened it to look at those green eyes again.

"Your mom come home?" I asked.

Copper hair shook in the negative.

"Breakfast?"

"Yeah." With a grin.

We brought Helen back a dozen donuts. I spent the afternoon repairing a pump on the swimming pool filter. That got me a free month's rent. Helen got a bargain. Cindy and I got the pool. Lounging. Swimming.

The mom came back Sunday evening. Cindy and I were at the pool. The Toyota stopped and Donna got out and walked over, wearing shorts, and a halter top. A bluing tattoo around an ankle. Another visible high on her thigh. I'd missed those on her previous exposure. And heels, for god's sake. I was nervous inside. This could be a bad thing. Or not.

"Dan, she keeps talking about you."

I smiled sheepishly. "She just wants somebody to talk to and hang out with."

"Yeah," she said. "She says you've been helping her out?"

"Yeah, she's a good kid. Glad to help."

"Well, thanks, ya know. Sometimes I don't know what I'm gonna do with her. Life's tough enough without havin' a kid to take care of." She bent way further over than the conversation required, giving me a clear view of her tits. "You know, you COULD have taken care of us both."

This woman was about as subtle as a rhinoceros with a hard on. "I heard that," I said. Fight ignorant WITH ignorant. "It's kinda nice to have a buddy, yaknow ... And that's all I want."

"Yeah. Well, you an' Helen are sure helpin' me out. Just thanks, okay?"

"Sure, " I said. "Any time."

Donna turned away to walk back to her car. I noted that huge tramp stamp peeking out just above the waistband of her shorts.

Monday I was back at work and Cindy was back in school. Her bus hit the park about an hour before I got home, but we both ended up at the pool. With nobody else around.

She noticed. And leered. "I have something that needs rubbing," she smiled.

"And I'd love to rub it, sweetie. But we can't right now. So let's swim." We swam. And then lounged.

"I'm gonna need homework help," she said brightly.

I smiled. "For real? Or..."

"Both!"

"Okay, little girl," I said. "Here's how we do this. So I don't end up in jail."

She turned to look at me. "How?"

"You're gonna tell your mom an' your mom is gonna tell me. An' Helen. So if anybody sees little red-headed Cindy disappear into Dan's trailer for a couple of hours several times a week, they'll just KNOW she's in there doing equations or essays."

"And she'll REALLY be doin' Dan," she chirped sweetly. "Okay. I can do that."

So the next day I stopped by the park office to check mail.

"Hi, Dan," said Helen. "Donna stopped by. Said thanks to whoever installed tie-downs on her trailer. And said Cindy was going to use you (almost imperceptible pause) for homework help."

"Yeah," I said innocently. "Cindy asked me about it. I said I'd do it if she got her mom's okay. It's bad enough how much time we spend together outside in the open, much less her coming in my trailer."

Helen smiled. "Well, you're the best thing that's happened to the little girl." We caught up on gossip for a few minutes, discussed the last crop of weekenders, and Donna walked in.

"Hey, uh ... Dan?" she said.

"Yeah, hey, Donna, how's work?" I almost said "How's tricks?"

"Slow. Tips are kinda thin lately. Say, the kid's sayin' that her homework is going nuts and you can help her?"

"Yeah, I told her I can help. I'm just hoping that a college degree fifteen years ago will still work for junior high now."

"Oh, you're one a' them engineers. You know all about numbers'n stuff." She was still trying. I got another one of her best "fuck me" smiles.

"Maybe so. Anyway, I'm glad to help. Any time." And cordial. That's all she got from me.

"Well, thanks, dude," she said. And flounced out to her car, hips swinging. And left.

Helen sniffed. "Puts her perfume on with a roller."

"Tell me what you REALLY think, Helen."

Helen snorted derisively. "What I really think? Hah! I think that in four more months, when you got to go to your next job, you should bundle up that little redhead an' take her with you."

"Huh?"

"Yeah. Dad. Husband. Big brother. Whatever. Anything short of murderer an' you're better for Cindy than that ... that slut."

I stared.

Helen continued. "Buddy, when you turned Donna down the other day, that kinda put a bow around it for me."

I looked. "How'd you know about that?" I asked.

"How'd'ya think, Dan? When she's not with you, Cindy's usually in here talkin' with me. SHE told me how her mom tried putting the moves on you. And probably more details than you know about."

"Donna, she gave it a good try, Helen," I admitted. "And in front of her daughter, no less."

"That child's seen it all with her mom, Dan."

"I couldn't believe it myself, Helen. But you know, even if Cindy hadn't been there, I wouldn't have touched Donna with a ten-foot pole. I'm living by myself BECAUSE of women like that."

"Well," Helen continued, "you impressed young Cindy. And me."

Chapter 5

"Look, Dan, lemme tell you somethin', Helen said. "You never met my husband, Mr. Hardison. He died six years ago. Eighty-six."

"But you're not that old, Helen, I said.

"Nope. Herb Hardison was twenty-nine years older'n me. I was fifteen. He was forty-four. He took care of me all my life. Took me out of a share-cropper house. I went with him an' we worked hard, but we never went hungry or did without the necessities. And we did pretty good. I wouldn't own this business if he wasn't who he was an' made me who I am."

"And you're telling me..."

She smiled. "Dan, it's written all over your face how you feel about that little girl. You think that you're getting into something that is so wrong that society condemns it, but I'm tellin' you that sometimes society makes rules for the worst case, an' they completely bury the best case." She took a deep breath. "I'm serious. In four weeks you've turned a ragamuffin who was scared of her own shadow into a nice lookin' young lady. And her manners are better. An' YOU take care of her." Helen looked at me, silent for a second. "An' I think you know what I'm sayin'. Just take care of her, okay?"

"But, Helen, what am I gonna do in four months? I can't stay here after the job's over. Well, I can, for a while. I have savings. But I need to move on, you know."

Helen released an almost cryptic smile. "Don't you worry, Dan. Things change."

I smiled at Helen. "Maybe so, lady. Thanks!" I left and went to my little haven. My cellphone's ring assaulted my ear. I flipped it open and saw "Cindy".

"Hey, cutie," I said.

"Hi, Dan," she chirped. "I got homework."

"Real homework, or..."

"Maybe some of both ... I'm halfway there..."

I looked across the park and she was indeed walking toward me, bookbag slung artfully over her shoulder. So I waited for her to join me at my trailer. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Helen watching at the office door. I unlocked my trailer and let Cindy and me inside. As I landed my computer bag in the miniscule space beside the sofa, I heard the door lock click.

I turned and Cindy smiled, her eyes happy, laughing. Then she squealed and jumped at me, throwing her arms around my neck, pressing her neatly clad body full against me. And she kissed me. We kissed. Long. This was the drink I thirsted for.

"Hello, little love," I said.

"I missed you, Dan," she sighed. "Hi."

She was still in my arms, smiling, her eyes bright. Her head was tilted back because of almost a foot difference in our heights. Her lips were naturally red, soft, still wet from the kiss. I sat back onto the sofa and pulled her toward me. With me now sitting, she was looking down at me and she put her hands on the sides of my face and kissed me again, then a shower of kisses.

"One more," I said between kisses, "and then homework..." I got, oh, two, or three, or half a dozen more. We spread books and notebooks and papers on the little dinette table and went over the lessons. English? Not a problem. Cindy was a reader on her own, and language was easy for her. Math? We worked on math. I explained what the books and the teachers wanted, and we talked her way through problems, and that was done. Science? For a kid who thought "Discovery" was the top-rated channel on TV? Hah!

I heard a knock at the door. Cindy answered it. I looked across the trailer. Donna. "Hey, Donna," I said.

"Hey, Dan," she answered. "I'm goin' in to help at the bar tonight. I was just checkin' on Cindy."

"She's okay," I countered. "She finished all her work. I was gonna take her out for pizza, if that's okay."

"Sure," said Donna. "Saves her from makin' a mess in our place."

"Are you gonna be in early? Or should I watch her?"

"I dunno what time I'm comin' in, but if you watch her, then I won't worry about it. But she can stay there by herself, you know."

"Yeah, I know, but after that storm the other night..."

"Yeah, but the trailer's tied down. Ol' Helen paid somebody to do that after the wind blew it sideways."

I continued, "And that red pickup truck keeps driving by..."

"Oh," laughed Donna. "That's just Larry. He was gonna move in with us, but he's whacked out, an' we broke up, an' he keeps hopin' for another chance."

I snorted. "Yeah. Creeps me out, especially when I see him drive by there and stop on the road and stare at your trailer and I know YOU'RE at work and Cindy's there by herself."

"He ain't gonna do nothin'. It'll violate his probation!"

"Well," I said, "Cindy's good on the sofa here if it's okay with you."

Donna gazed at me. "Yeah, I s'pose so. Anyways, I gotta go..." And she left.

Cindy turned back towards me and smiled impishly and purposefully locked the door. And turned toward the bed, kicking her shoes off. I joined her. Got one trophy-class hug, and she pulled me on top of her. I couldn't resist that, at least for a little while. I propped up on my elbows and surveyed that angelic face at close distance. Her eyes darted back and forth between mine, then she wrapped her arms around my neck and drew me down to kiss her.

"This keeps getting better and better," she said, "an' that's just the kissin'."

Yes, it was. Soft, eager lips. A tongue that was positively athletic. A face that angels envy. That bronze hair, and those green eyes ... And the giggle. And the smile. And the supple, now eager, body that carried all that around.

"Uh, yeah, baby," I said, "about that other stuff..." I rolled off her onto my side, facing her. She bounced once and lay on her side facing me.

"Mmm-hmmm," she smiled, and put a finger on the tip of my nose, then planted a kiss there. "Dan, we made love. My very first time makin' love. It was US!"

"I know, sweetie, and it was wonderful. You're very desirable and beautiful and it WAS wonderful, but I can't help but think that maybe I took advantage of you."

"Why, Dan? Why would you think that? Did you get me drunk? Give me drugs? Tie me up and tape my mouth shut? Huh?"

"No."

There's only one person in this whole wide world that comes even close to being as nice to me as you've been. An' that's Mizz Helen. An' she told me you were a nice guy an' I should be friends with you."

"Yeah," I said, filing that little tidbit for another conversation with Helen later. "But I was being nice without taking you to bed."

"Uh, Dan, I took YOU to bed..." She paused. "You've been so good to me. My friend. My very best friend. The one I can talk to. An' I wanted to give you something. All I had was ME!"

"Cindy, you are a wonderful gift."

"So," she said, looking me in the eye. "When YOU say "I love you", is it hard for you to say? Does it mean anything?"

"Cindy, I told you about my first wife." I sighed. "Four years ago I started seeing another lady seriously. She was pretty nice looking, smart, independent, no kids, and I thought it was going places. I was going to ask her to marry me. And one day, out of the blue, she announced she was moving back in with an old boyfriend that she'd only mentioned to me once in four months. That almost killed me. Tore me apart. I sat at home for a week, in a dark room, then I decided that I needed to get out of that crap. And that's when I started this road work. I've dated a few women. I don't do trash. If a woman is nice, sounds smart, friendly, available, I will do a date or two, but I just don't want that "one night in the sack and let's get married", and I don't like one-night stands, and I don't want my heart broken again. So yes, I know what it means when you hear somebody say "I love you" and it turned out to be on a time limit."

"So what's the time limit for Friday night?" Serious-looking face on this young lady.

"Heaven help me, Cindy, but I don't put a time limit on it. That's one of the things that scares me so damned much about this. I have fallen in love with a thirteen..."

"Fourteen," she interrupted, "Saturday."

"Okay, I've fallen in love with a fourteen year old girl. And fourteen year old girls can have a whole different idea of 'forever' than I do." I sighed.

I got a kiss in return. "Now," she said, "YOU shut up an' let me talk."

"Okay."

"First, I think you're too smart to think that I'm like every other teenaged girl you might have ever talked to. How many of them have a momma makin' her live in a thirty-foot travel trailer? And a momma doin' her boyfriends at the other end five nights a week? An' leavin' her there by herself overnight since she was eight? Huh?"

"You're the first," I admitted.

"So don't you think that I just MIGHT be a little different? I probably know more about men an' women and what they do to each other than most people you know. I know what Mom goes through when she loses one she wants to keep. An' I know what the guy does when she decides she don't want HIM any more. I know about screamin' an' hollerin' an' cryin' an' yellin' an' even hittin'. Do you think that I think that stuff's normal? Or good?"

"No."

"An' I know what drugs an' alcohol do from close up. I didn't just sit through the class at school. I watched my own mom do all that. I know! Do you think I want any of THAT?"

"I should hope not."

She scooted into my arms. "So, Dan, I know you think it's weird. I mean, I'm fourteen an' you're what forty?"

"Yeah. Forty-one, actually."

"An' you're thinking that fourteen year old girls shouldn't be sayin' 'I love you' unless they mean it. An' I'm tellin' you that I know enough to mean it. Really, Dan ... I think you know..." and there was a tear on the cheek of this little angel in my arms.

I kissed the tear away. And held her. "I'm sorry, Cindy. It's just such a big mess. I can believe you mean it. But this job's gonna be over in February and there's no more work here for me. I can stay here for a long time on my savings, but you know that sooner or later I have to go back to work, and that's not going to be here. So where's my Cindy forever gonna be when Dan's gotta haul his trailer halfway across the country?"

"Your Cindy forever's gonna be with her Dan forever."

"Baby, there's a problem here. No state in the union is going to accept you leaving your mom to live with me. What we did Friday night can get me a long prison term in any place in the country."

"So let's get married!"

"Same problem. Some states might let you get married at sixteen IF your parents sign for it. No state will let you get married until you're eighteen without your parents' approval."

"Stupid laws! I read some books that they talk about in history class an' I know that women used to get married as soon as they was old enough to have babies. I'm old enough now!"

"Baby, the laws might be stupid, but they ARE the laws."

So she wiggled a little bit. "An' February, what would you be doing if you didn't have a Cindy forever?"

I kissed her face into a smile for a brief moment, but the smile faded when my lips moved away. "Well, sweetie, the way it normally works is that some of the people I've worked for before will know when I am getting close to finishing this project, and they'll be wanting me to move to the next one. Sometimes I take a month off and go home and stay at my real live house, but then it's back to an RV park somewhere."

She sighed.

"But I will stay here as long as I can ... I have plenty of savings. I could do a couple of years here, just lounging around, maybe taking off for little projects for a week or two. And I could keep my Cindy forever. If she can stand that kind of life."

Cindy was killing me with those green eyes at this close range. "What do you mean, "If I can stand it"?

"Well, baby, I might have to be gone for a week or two at a time. That's a long time for you to be alone."

She pulled back from me. "Mr. Dan," she said, and it was the first time she used the "Mr." part since Friday night, "do you honestly think I'd forget about you in two weeks?"

"No, baby," I said, "I don't. But I'm just wanting you to know the conditions."

She said, "I'm not going to forget YOU. I love YOU!!! And I'd be more worried about some of Mom's boyfriends while you were gone. Did you see that one that keeps drivin' by?"

"Yeah, I saw 'im," I said. I paused and drew a deep breath. "Look, little green-eyed girl, I want you. I'm just trying to figure out how to make this work. I mean, I COULD figure out a way to stay here for the next two years and then get your mom drunk enough to sign papers to let you marry me."

"She'd be glad to get rid of me before then."

"Seriously? What makes you think that."

She grunted, "Hmph! Subtle little hints like "I wish there was somebody you could go live with." and other things I need to hear, like "Billy-Bob would marry me if I didn't have a brat for him to raise." But I think that ol' Billy-Bob's beginning to think that I might be part of a package deal now that I'm a little older."

"Sweetie," I said, don't make me have to go shoot ol' Billy-Bob for messin' with MY girl."

Chapter 6

That got me a giggle and a kiss and a longer kiss. "Can we talk about this some other time. I wanna be with you."

"Be with me?"

"Yeah. Friday night was wonderful. But stuff just happened so fast. And Sunday was wonderful. But I want to play with you. This is all new stuff to me." She sat up in bed and smiled at me in her best "curious little girl" smile.

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Get naked. Let me play with you."

"Oh," I said, "is this one sided? Or can I get a naked Cindy out of the deal?"

"I suppose I could do that," she giggled as I began to unbutton her school uniform shirt. She turned around for me to unhook the two hooks of her bra. That freed two young titties that just begged to be played with. She stood to get out of her slacks and I stood to undress myself. Finally I was completely naked and so was she.

"You are so incredibly beautiful," I said.

She smiled. "And you drive me wild. This is the first time we've both been naked, you know."

"Yeah, I do know," I said. We crawled into bed.

She pushed me onto my back. "So," she said, wrapping fingers around my dick, "let's talk about how this thing works."

"You've been making it work pretty good so far," I answered.

"Yeah, but Friday night, I just sucked it once to show you I was serious, an' then I put it in me, and it was all stars an' fireworks an' I don't know what I did to you or what you did to me ... You know, I wasn't payin' attention. It was all so new an' wonderful."

"Yes it was," I said, "but you did some things that surprised me."

"Like what?"

"Like when you sucked on me, you know, when you said you were serious."

"Dan, I never did that before. I never even saw a guy's thing, his dick before, well, maybe a glimpse of one of mom's boyfriends, but I never looked. But I heard 'em talkin' while they were doin' things an' they always talk about suckin', so I knew it happened. I just never did it or knew how to do it or what to do, so like, there you were, an' it was standin' up, hard, an' I thought, "Well, Cindy, you're supposed to suck this thing" an' I just sucked. There's more to it than that, huh?"

"Yes, little princess, there is. But just that you tried was wonderful. And because it was you, it was wonderful."

"So, like, let me play with it and do that some more an' you can tell me what I need to do an' how it works." She smiled. All this time she was sliding her hands over my dick and balls, exploring. "An' you can do the same for me. I KNOW you know some stuff. You made me feel so good I passed out. An' Saturday. In the woods. We made love. I just KNOW we made love. Because you treated me so sweet and gentle and I could see it in your eyes. I want all that."

I smiled, then a little gasp as her fingers curved under my scrotum. "Baby, I couldn't do anything BUT make love with you Saturday. And I want what you want."

Her fingertips twiddled underneath my balls. "Balls, huh?" she smiled at me. "They feel heavy!" Her fingers closed over my sack. "I like the way they feel in my hand."

"Oh, yeah, baby. I like the way they feel in your hand too..."

"So what can I do with this," she asked.

"Just what you're doing is great. Just roll 'em around like that and tug gently. They're very sensitive to pressure. That's why guys are so vulnerable to getting hit or kicked there."

"Oooooh," she said. "An' you like 'em licked and sucked, too. I learned that already." She'd licked and sucked me clean after each round of intercourse we'd enjoyed. Of course, I'd done the same to her. "An' this thing," she grinned, sliding her hand up the shaft of my dick, "I think I know some of the stuff it likes."

"You sure do, Cindy," I said.

"I like to suck it," she said. "Do you like me suckin' it? Do I do that too much?"

"Come here," I said, and I dragged her lithe form on top of me and kissed her. She was irresistible. She kissed back, too. "You're teasing me."

"I'm certainly NOT teasing you, Dan. It's not teasing if I intend to finish what we started." More kisses. Then she sat back up. "But seriously. What REALLY makes it feel good?"

"YOU make it really feel good, baby."

"Yeah, but, like, can I bite it? I really wanted to bite it, but I was afraid it would hurt you."

I smiled. "Yes, I like biting. Just not too hard."

"How hard?"

"Let me show you." I raised up and took a nipple into my mouth and sucked, then started nibbling.

"Oooooo,"she said.

"Harder?"

"Just a little..."

I complied. When I pulled away from her that left nipple was a fiery pink. "That's how you tell. Just do it. And if it's too much, I'll tell you."

Giggle. "Lemme try!" Bounce. Lips covered the head of my waiting dick. She didn't deep throat. She got a couple of wonderful inches into her mouth and I felt her teeth ease into the play. "Mmmmmm," she moaned. And let me go. "Harder?"

"A little bit. Just bite down enough to where you can move the skin back and forth on the hard part. See how that works." I knew it was working for me. Almost too well. The shiny head of hair bent forward into my crotch, her hand wrapped around my shaft. Cindy followed instruction well. Stroking me into and out of her mouth, I got multiple ecstasies from her lips and teeth pulling on my dick, and then her tongue worked me over.

She stopped, not from any sense of guile or conscious application of technique, but because she didn't KNOW what she was doing to me, that I was on a rapid climb to orgasm. She wanted to know what was going on.

"Is that good, Dan?" she asked simply.

"Cindy, you're incredibly good. That was fantastic. Great!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

"'Cause all I know about it is what you showed me an' what I heard when Mom an' her boyfriend are doin' things. So I know WHAT people do, but I don't know how they do it." Smiling, she bent her head down and took me in her mouth again. A sloppy hot, tongue-augmented suck. Then those ivory white teeth. The same teeth that dazzled me when she smiled, THOSE teeth were just barely capturing the outer skin of my dick, dragging that skin up and down the shaft.

"That really feels neat, Dan." She stopped again, viewing my hardness from close range. Her hand gripped my shaft at the base and squeezed, milking a huge, gleaming drop of pre-cum from the tip. "Is that your juice, baby," she asked. "I hear 'em talkin' about juice."

"That's one kind of juice, baby. It's there for lubrication for when I go inside you. You do the same thing. It's what our bodies do when we're excited, gets us ready for intercourse."

"So I've been tasting this stuff?"

"Yeah," I said, a little tentatively. "It's part of the process. And I'm telling this to the little girl who cleaned the results of TWO orgasms off me Friday night."

That got me a smile. "Yeah, I know ... That was cool. But some of THAT stuff was kinda milky."

Back to teacher mode. "That was semen. When a guy has an orgasm, he squirts out semen. It's a lot of different things, and in a guy who hasn't been fixed, a tiny bit of that is sperm. Sperm is what gets a girl pregnant when it reaches her egg."

"Oooohhhhh," she said. She'd milked another drop out of my dick and rewarded herself with it. Which meant that I was rewarded with a delightfully noisy suck on the head of my dick. "An' if a girl gives a guy a blow-job, that stuff comes out?"

"Yeah."

"An' that's like, in her mouth?"

"That's one option," I said. "Sometimes a girl likes it and enjoys the guy coming in her mouth, and she sucks it all out an' swallows. I've heard of girls who let the guy come in their mouth, but then they spit it out. And there are girls who will suck on a guy but stop before he comes in their mouths. And, you know, there are some girls who won't even put a guy's dick in their mouths at all."

Cindy smiled broadly. "Not me, Dan. Yours is MADE for me to suck." She squeezed out another drop. Head bobbed down. "Mmmmm," she said. "I love that. So, if I sucked on you, you'd come in my mouth?"

"No doubt about it."

"Coming," she said, "I heard that from Mom an' her guy friends a bunch."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. An' I learned two years ago that if I rubbed my little button it started feeling really good, but the first time I made myself have an orgasm, Wow!" And her head bobbed down again. "Mmmmm" escaped the lips sealed around my dick. "But you know, Friday night, that was like the difference between watching fireworks on TV an' sitting on the bank of the river an' seein' 'em live."

She left my dick and slid up my torso, our naked bodies providing sensual friction. And she held my face between her hands and put her forehead against mine and whispered, "Dan, I love you. You made me feel so good. You made me a woman. An' since YOU made me, you get to keep me." And she ended her little soliloquy with a kiss.

I wrapped her up in my arms and held her. My right hand slid down her back, tracing the gentle curve, then the swell of her butt. I cupped that cheek in my hand and squeezed gently, pushing her down against the raging erection I had for her. Her pubic mound cushioned the leaky head of my dick between us. Our lips met again and sealed together for long minutes, tongues caressing each other.

She raised up a little, finally, and straddled me. The pussy of hers was hot and wet and eager. Bronze hair framed her face as she knit her brow momentarily in concentration, her hips actively seeking. Her pussy found. My dickhead met hot, slippery resistance and she pushed down and back, sliding us together. I felt our pubic bones meet. And a sigh. Then with us mated, she lowered herself back on my chest and we resumed our kiss, her pelvis making tiny oscillations, pulling my dick toward climax. I stroked her beautiful hair and held her face to mine, then both my hands moved down to grasp her waist.

"Dan, baby," she whispered.

"Yes, angel?"

"Don't come in me right now."

"Okay. Why?"

Her face pulled back from mine, revealing a mischievous grin. "'Cuz I wanna suck you off."

"You what?"

"I wanna suck you off. All the way. In my mouth."

"I ain't gonna refuse that, baby doll," I laughed. "But are you sure? Some girls don't like it."

"Hah!" she said, "I heard my mom do it so many times I can't count, an' if she can do it to some dude she picked up in a bar, I can do it for the guy I love."

"I love your logic, little green-eyed girl..."

She rolled off of me, and I have to tell you, I was sad that my unsatiated dick left that tight, wet, hot pussy of hers. But what an offer. I backed up onto a stack of pillows so I could see. Cindy noticed this.

Giggle. "You wanna watch Cindy do you?" she teased. She opened her mouth. Her pink tongue started on my scrotum and laved its way up the underside of my shaft and swirled around the head. She had the 'milking' thing down and used her right hand to pull another big drop of pre-cum out. When it appeared, she flicked it up with that mobile tongue. Then, like a little girl kissing a puppy's nose, she planted a demure, close-lipped kiss on the end of my dick. And looked up at me, green eyes, bangs, dimples, and grinning wickedly.

I was holding my breath. I don't know why. I was. And when that delightful head bobbed forward, I finally gasped a breath. Her lips met her hand on my dick with each stroke. Yes, she used teeth. And lips. And tongue. And BOTH hands, one on the shaft of my dick, one underneath my balls, where her fingernails teasingly pulled folds of skin. It wasn't long before I couldn't stop myself from meeting her head bobbing suction with hip thrusts of my own.

"My Dan likes this," she purred, then her mouth closed around me again.

I touched the back of her head. That wasn't because I wanted to do ANYTHING to control her, or to change what she was doing. I just wanted to touch those bronze locks, to tell myself that this wasn't some incredibly erotic dream. My Cindy was purring. Her happy "mmmmm" coursed throughout my being.

"Gah. Cindy. I'm. Close. Baby."

I felt just as much as heard "Mmm-hmmm" as her mouth and hands worked relentless magic on my dick. "Ahhh. Cin. I'mmm commminnnggggg!" And the first spurt escaped like fire from me. Her "Mmmm" changed to "mmmph" and I felt her tongue swallowing the first splash. Her head and hand pulled out the second. And third. And fourth. And she kept her sucking, as my hip thrusts failed, her suction eased, replaced by a tongue lovingly swirling my head. Finally she let me go...

She slid back up my chest. And kissed me. And I could taste myself still in her mouth. Finally she said, "Wow, Dan, that was somethin'. I felt it start pulsin' an' then SQUIRT! I thought it was going to squirt, but I didn't know it would be like THAT!"

"I'm sorry, baby. You sort of get me built up really bad..."

She shook her head, smiling, that bronze hair just bouncing from side to side. "Oh, no, baby! I loved it. If I made you do THAT, I must have made you feel REAL good!"

"You did, Cindy. You just gave me the best one in my whole life."

"Really?" she squealed. "'Cuz I know you've been with other women. An' I think they prob'ly they did that to you."

"Cindy, my love, never have I been as happy and satisfied with oral sex as what you just did for me. Never."

That got me kisses.

"Now," I said, "I want to taste YOU!"

Squeal! Giggle! Bounce! And it was Cindy's turn to prop up on the pillows. Leg spread. Heels drawn up. Knees in the air. The very definition of eager anticipation. And I put my face right in the middle.

No I didn't. I kissed her face, then as I turned on the bed, I sucked each nipple in turn, biting them to pink perfection, her hands pulling my face into her chest. It was only when I got to her navel that she gently pushed my head toward her pink, moist, waiting pussy. But I didn't want to be beside her. I wanted to be between those slim, girlishly muscular thighs. I got there. I planted a kiss on her mound, directly above the beginning of her heated slit.

"Mmmmmm, Dan..." she moaned. "I dream about this..."

I pondered about how wonderful that idea was as my lips and tongue wandered down the outside of her pussy, its lips spread, engorged, deep pink, glistening with a film of musky moisture. The feel of her pussy lips against my lips and tongue was indescribable. I breathed deeply though my nose to inhale the exquisite femininity of that musk. And then I lapped my tongue deep into her juicy pussy to taste the treasures she'd released for me.

When she felt my tongue between her labia she moaned. "Mmmmmmm, Dannnnn..."

I licked back up, sucked first one lip, then the other into my mouth, savoring the moisture. I ran my tongue as deep into her hole as I could. And then I licked up from her hole, just barely touching her little clitoris, her "button", with the tip of my tongue. She shuddered. "Nnnnn. Yesssss!"

I lightly flicked the little pea-shaped head with my tongue. It was straining from its hood. I teased it with my lips, listening to happy moans and whimpers. Her fingers wrapped the back of my head, pushing my face into what was now the center of her existence.

"Lick it, Dan! Right there! Hard!" I did. Then I sucked it in between my lips and stroked it with my tongue, flicking, pushing.

"Oh, yesssss! Babyyyyy! I ... I'm coming! I'mmmm commminnnggggg!" Long legs wrapped around me from behind, heels driving into my back as my baby surged against my tongue. I wouldn't let up. She moaned. She mewed. "Nnnnnnnnn, oh, oh, oh, god, Dan ... no ... oh, oh, god ... another one! Nnnnnnn ... ohhhhhhh." She bucked her hips up, slamming her pussy into my face, then fell back to the bed, limp. I could hear breathing. That's all. Breathing. Her body was limp.

I eased up beside her and scooped her into my arms, cradling her to my chest, kissing her pretty face, her eyes shut. I kept up the kisses, gentle, savoring the angel I had in my arms. Her eyelids fluttered.

"Hi, princess," I said. "Are you okay?"

She turned in my arms, wrapping her own around my neck. "Dan, if you ever leave me I will kill myself." Sigh... "I love you."

"I love you, too, Miss Cindy."

We basked for a bit,

"You know," she said, "I tried talkin' to Mom about sex an' love an' stuff, and she said "don't get 'em mixed up" an' I wondered about that. But now I'm with you, and I think I see how they're supposed to go together..."

"They're supposed to, Cin," I said. "When you split 'em apart, there's a price to pay. In too many ways."

"I guess so. Sometimes I feel sorry for Mom. I think that's part of why she's such a train-wreck."

"I dunno," I said. Cindy's mom wasn't a subject I discussed with her often. I wasn't going to broach the subject. "Sometimes people's paths are different."

"Yeah, but Mom ... I mean. Bars! An' not nice bars, either." She sighed. "An' ya know, sometimes I think she has sex for money..."

"You think?"

"Yeah, I think so. I know there's a buncha times she's had spending money after she stayed out all night, an' it wasn't payday or nothin'."

"Well, that would be a sign."

"Yeah. Dan, I don't wanna be like that."

"You're not like that." I kissed her on top of her head, savoring the smell of her shampoo, now masked with the musk of recent sex. "You get to make choices. I'm here, an' I think Mizz Helen's here to make sure you don't get trapped into something you shouldn't have to deal with."

"Yeah, I like Mizz Helen. She's good to me. An' I think you an' her kinda protect me."

"Yeah. But I don't know how she'd be if she thought we were doin' this..."

"You might be surprised," she said. "She tol' me about how young she was when she got married."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," Cindy continued, "Did ya know her husband was twenty-nine years older'n her?"

"Yeah, she told me that," I said.

"Uh, Dan, do you know that you're only twenty-eight years older than me?"

"Yes, my dearest, I know. I think about that a lot."

"Did she tell you that she loved him from the beginning till the day he died? An' still does?"

"That's a little mushier than she told me. Just that they had a good long life together."

She batted her eyelashes at me. "Saturday's my birthday, Dan. Mom's probably gonna be gone."

"Your mom's not gonna do anything for your birthday?"

"If, an' that's a big 'if', she remembers, she'll have me a present when I get home Friday. Just like last year. It was, like, "Cindy, Momma's gotta work this weekend..." an' I'm thinkin, 'okay, but the bar closes at two, an' you don't have to go in on Saturday 'til like, six..." but the last time that I tried cornering her about that she got real mad an' we had a fight. Didn't talk for a week."

"So there's a chance that I'll have you for your birthday?"

"If you want me."

"Little girl," I said, "we're naked, satisfied, and in bed together. I want you every day for the rest of my life." I paused. "Now, it's getting late. Are you hungry?"

Giggle. "I am. An' I know where I can get me a weenie..." Fingers wrapped around my half-hard dick. It went to full in no time at all. There was another one of those athletic bounces with arms and legs going in improbable directions and then I found myself impaling a thirteen year old girl on my dick. "But I'm not hungry for a weenie right now. Just ate one!" She smirked. And then a couple of swirls of that delightfully mobile heinie and the smirk diasppeared.

"D'you have, like, TV dinners in the freezer?"

A swirl of pussy on hard dick. "Mmmm." I found it hard to carry on conversation with that sort of distraction. "Uh, yeah, why?"

"Then let's not waste time goin' out to eat..." And my next half-hour was filled with humping teen girl and a couple more orgasms. As she lay on top of me, my softening dick slid out of the soppy mess of our juices in her pussy.

"Mmmmm, Dan. My lover..."

"Yeah, my pet..."

"If I turn aroun', an' do you, an' at the same time, you do me, is that "sixty-nine"?"

"Yep."

"Sixty-nine me..." Followed immediately by her spinning around in place, presenting me with her pussy, still oozing a mixture of the juices of our second mating of the day.

You can't pass up a chance like that.

Giggles heard from the vicinity of my crotch. "Hee-hee ... You're fun to suck on when you're soft, you know."

"Now I do..." I buried my face in the wetness between her legs, lapping, sucking, drinking, teasing...

"Stop that! Can't ya see a girl's tryin' concentrate?"

"Oh, excuse me, lady. I shall lick your pussy in a conservative and restrained manner."

That got me a nip on the dick. And giggles. And more wonderful kisses and sucks. Finally she turned around. We snuggled in each other's arms. I looked down at my Cindy. She was glowing.

"Baby, it's getting kinda late."

"I know," she said. "Let's see those TV dinners."

And that was supper, two microwaved TV dinners. We laughed at TV while we ate. When we finished, she bounced up and grabbed my empty tray. "Here! Let me do the dishes." And she tossed the trays in the trashcan. Forks went into the little kitchenette sink.

"Baby, I guess I need to walk you home. It's almost dark."

"Mmmm, Dan, can I stay here? I mean, like, Mom practically TOLD me that she wasn't comin' home tonight."

"That's risky, baby." And she turned and looked at me. "But I guess so." I was the one risking. "We need to go get you some clothes for school tomorrow, okay?"

Squeal! And the love of my life was in my lap, wrapping me up in her arms...

Chapter 7

What a delightful thing, having Cindy in the house with me. Two weeks into our relationship we were less awkward around each other. That's a good thing when the 'house' is an 8x35 foot travel trailer. But snug was okay. The bed was queen-sized, HUGE for me by myself, but perfect for me and my Cindy. We had a sofa we could share, the dinette, a little floor space. The big drawback was the bathroom.

Even though my customized trailer had, for these things, a HUGE shower, it was big enough for ONE. No way two people could fit. So showers this evening were solo. Of course, that doesn't keep a certain little girl from sticking her head in the curtain and giggling as her hand reached for random appendages.

And with curtains drawn around the trailer, we could do nude for a little while before I got into my shorts and T-shirt and she got her nightshirt and panties. We sat on the sofa together. Really together. As in, if I move, she moves with me. Like we're stuck together. And I'm loving it.

Bedtime. We straightened the sheets and comforter and turned them back.

"Uh, Dan," she says.

I look at my angel. Hair still wet. Note to self. Buy a hair dryer. "Yes, love?"

"D'you have to sleep in your underwear?"

"My shoulders get cold..."

"Your pants."

"No, I guess not. Why?"

"I'm takin' mine off. Take yours off."

"Sure." The underwear went on the nightstand beside the bed. Hers went on the other side.

A CD with soothing classical sounds went into the player and the sound went to background levels. As I slid under the sheets next to her, I switched out the lights. She formed herself against me as I lay on my back. Her hand traced down my chest, across my stomach and soft fingers wrapped up my dick, idly fondling.

"Mmmm," she said. "Almost perfect..."

"Just 'almost'?"

"Yeah. Perfect would be if this was every night for the rest of our lives..."

"Yes it would. Now go to sleep. The alarm's set for six. We'll get up, go to breakfast, and I'll drop you off back here so you can catch the bus, just like normal."

She stroked my fresh-shaven face with her hand, scooted up and kissed me. "Even the music is perfection. What is that one?"

"Moonlight Sonata. Beethoven."

The alarm came all too soon and the two of us jumped out of bed, dressing at opposite ends of the trailer to take advantage of the space. Fifteen minutes. Then in the truck and two miles up the road to the little diner that was often a breakfast stop for me. Waitress eyed my companion. She knew me. "Ain't that the little Smith girl? Donna's her mom?"

"Yeah, I said. This is my buddy. Promised her a breakfast if she did good in school."

"Oh ... Well, hi, hon. Whatcha want."

"Pancakes," said Cindy.

"And I'll do that too,"I said. "She gets milk an' orange juice. I get milk an' coffee."

The place was fast. A thirty percent tip every day helped that along. We were out the door and back in the RV park in forty-five minutes. As we were pulling in, I noted that the pickup truck of Donna's old boyfriend was leaving. I took the long way around to Cindy's place, making sure that he'd continued down the road.

I dropped Cindy off and drove to work. And every now and then during the day, I'd think of my little doll and I'd get pleasant feelings from the top of my head to, well, you know...

Things were going well on the project. They didn't need me there all day, so I left in mid-afternoon. Took advantage of that event to make a grocery run. Bought more TV dinners. And a hair dryer.

Back at the RV park, I stopped in the office. I was greeted by Helen.

"Hey, Dan, you're early."

"Yeah," I said. "Sometimes I can get away with it. How's things?"

"Pretty much the same as yesterday. An' you?"

"Great!"

"An' Cindy?"

"Took her to breakfast this morning. She was fine then."

Helen smiled. "Dan, we got to do something about that young lady. You seen that red pickup come through here?"

"Yeah. Her mom's old boyfriend. That's what Donna said, anyways."

"Yeah, I remember her seein' him back early in the year. I worry that he's gonna show up, an' no Donna, but here's this sweet little girl..."

"You really think?"

"I have my suspicious mind, you know. Watch too many a' them TV shows." She continued. "An' I notice that Donna's not just stayin' out all night on weekends. Her car wasn't here this mornin'."

"Yeah," I fibbed. "That's why I took Cindy to breakfast."

Helen cocked an eye at me. How much of that did she believe?

"Cindy needs somebody to take care of her. Looks like that ain't her mom, you know."

"I know. It's kinda sad. She's such a charmer."

Another look from Helen. "You need a daughter?"

"Like a hole in the head. Besides, what judge in his right mind would sign an adoption for THAT fourteen year old cutie to some forty year old single guy?"

"You might be surprised."

"An' do you honestly think that Donna's gonna sign over her own daughter?"

"Dan," said Helen, "I think that if Donna had just a teeny bit of encouragement, she'd be happy to get shed of that responsibility. You know, I could see that happening."

"And," I said, that's step one. What about step two?"

"Like I said, my husband was quite a character. You might think that runnin' an RV park ain't much, but Herb Hardison knew a lot of people. Folks liked him. Even a few judges he used to take huntin' an' fishin'. Old men that still owe favors to the right people."

"But I don't need a daughter, Helen. I travel."

"Remember what I told you about me an' my husband. About an older man takin' a young girl out of a bad situation? Maybe NOT a daughter."

"Helen," I said, "that's thinkin' that would get me twenty years in prison."

"Suppose now, just suppose, that I was her legal guardian. Court order. If 'er mom released her." Helen watched my face. "Do you think that I would let you hurt her?"

"Well, no..."

"So if you drove off with her, do you think I'd let that happen if I thought you'd hurt her?"

"No. but..."

"Dan, I'm not stupid. I watch you two. You smile when you're together. An' it's not a "father-daughter" smile, or a "big brother-little sister" smile. An' your face changes when you talk about her. Your eyes. An' she ain't learnt to be subtle yet, so she just bubbles." Helen's eyes twinkled. "If you two haven't already tied up, you're too damn close to count. Am I right?"

I didn't say anything.

"I'm right." She smiled.

"Helen," I said, "I'm not a dirty old man takin' advantage of helpless little girls. Honest. It's not like that."

"Dan, Dan, Dan, you're awful dumb for an engineer, bud. You're not listening at all. I watched her. I watched you. You an' me talked an' I had you figured for a decent fellow. Cindy's been here for years. I know her like one of my own. One of my own. If one of my daughter's woulda come home with you doin' the "Momma, we're getting married" thing, I'd have been very happy."

"Thanks, Helen. I appreciate that."

"Dan, that's not the half of it. Two or three weeks after you moved in, before school started, Cindy'd come in here every day an' ask about you. We noticed things together. You go to work. You come here. I've had construction guys in this park before, and they was always carousing and goin' out an' bringin' women back here. An' you didn't do none a' that. We both noticed."

I mused, "I didn't know I was being observed."

"Hah, you know me. I ain't got nothin' else to do. But Cindy, she was, like, "Mizz Helen, do you think he's nice?" an' "He's good lookin'" an' "guys like that, they make good husbands, huh?" and Dan, I think somebody set her sights on you. And then you turned Donna down. Flat! Cindy's..."

"Are you serious?"

"I'm serious. So you got a very precious little thing there, an' I don't want to see her broken. No way."

"I would never do that, Helen. I've been tearing myself apart over this. I have one thing telling me "no" and another thing telling me "yes"...

"And if I was her guardian, Dan, when she turned sixteen I'd have you an' her in the courthouse getting' married."

"You think?" There was hope.

"So what do we do for her birthday?" Helen laughed. "An' then ya'll have to make it through the next seven hundert an' thirty days..."

We made it through the week with homework sessions until eight. Cindy's mom had come back Tuesday and hadn't gone to work for the rest of the week. Cindy risked nothing. She dutifully transported books to my place, we did homework, Wednesday we went out for pizza afterward, but none of the roaring sex sessions like Monday night, just on the outside chance that Donna still had enough of a sense of smell to detect the odor of a freshly fucked teen.

Friday evening Cindy came over toting a shopping bag. She stepped into the trailer and extended it. "My birthday from Mom."

I looked at a pretty decent little set of clothes. "At least she got you something," I said.

"Yeah," said Cindy. "I suppose so." She clicked the lock behind her. And smiled demurely at me. And ran into my arms.

"Hello, there, my almost fourteen year old doll," I said, kissing her. "So, what's wrong? You're not smiling..."

"Oh, Dan, you know me an' Mom have been havin' trouble lately. She was just kinda mean today before she left. Told me she'd be married if she didn't have all the extra burdens. She was talkin' about me..."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart." I held her.

"I just want to be held right now."

I guided her to the sofa and pulled her down beside me. She turned into my arms, then backed up into my lap, sideways, head on my shoulder. I wrapped her in my arms and gently kissed the top of her auburn head.

I felt the silent sobs. "Baby, nobody should cry on their birthday."

"Tomorrow's my birthday. An' tonight I just wish I could run away." Another sob. "I really try, Dan. Honest. I clean up, I even cook. I do the laundry. I don't cause trouble. An' she treats me like an obstacle to her life. It didn't use to be so bad, but since I turned twelve, every day it gets a little worse. But I tried..."

"I know, baby ... Sometimes people just aren't right."

Quiet voice. "Hold me, Dan."

And I whispered, "I love you, my Cindy forever."

"I need you, Dan..."

"What you mean, you need me?"

"You're, like, my life..."

"And you're mine."

"Dan," she said, sitting up, looking at me with a serious face, "You need to know that I WANT to be yours."

And a tornado of thought was going through my head. Damn it! She was fourteen. I was haplessly, hopelessly smitten with her. And she was fourteen. And what was I supposed to do? Give my heart to her? She had it. And there was a black corner of despair there, too, as in "Dan, in a year she's gonna be tired of you. And you're gonna be seriously screwed, in more ways than one."

"Cin, my love," I asked, "What does forever mean to you?"

"Forever. Is forever."

Cindy, darlin', I'm not just in this for a few weeks or a few months ... I want forever, too. But I'm way ahead of you in age. When you turn twenty-one, I'll be almost fifty. You'll be a beautiful young lady. What will you do with a fifty-year old husband?"

"Husband? As in, you'd MARRY me?"

"If we were together when you're twenty-one, we'd have been married five years."

"You'd marry ME?"

"Haven't I told you that?"

"We talked about marryin' an' laws an' stuff, but you never just said we'd be married..." Squeal. Her demeanor changed from the sadness of moments before to that twinkly-eyed doll whose smile could melt glaciers. "Dan," she smiled, "D'you love me, like, marryin' an' forever?"

"My dear," I answered, "what do you think I was just asking? I worry that I give you my heart at fourteen and at fifteen or sixteen or seventeen you decide that you're more attracted to people your own age ... It hurts to give away your heart and have it dropped in the street. I know." It was my turn to get teary. Flashes back to happy times. First marriage. And previous girlfriend, who I thought was carrying me out of the loss of my first wife. And then the darkness I had to dig myself out of, and the first ray of sunshine, well, in my heart I knew that ray of sunlight was Cindy.

"Oh, Dan," she said, "Is that a tear?"

"I'm sorry, Cin. Sometimes things get a little too much for me. I don't know if you understand what you mean to me, baby."

Cindy kissed my tears away. "Dan," she said, "I will never leave you. Forever. Like stars in the sky forever." And the next kiss wasn't on a teardrop. It was full on my lips, and the tongue that slid through her parted lips, touched my lips, and met my own tongue, It wasn't wanton, it was tender, yes, tender, caring in a way that belied the youth of its owner. She finally pulled away.

"Dan, you're so wonderful to me. But you know what really did it?"

"No. What?"

She smiled as if she were reliving a dream. "The other night when we went to bed, and you put that beautiful music on an' we held each other. I went to sleep in your arms with not a care. The sounds were perfect. The feelings were perfect. An' you holdin' me so gentle an' sweet was perfect."

"You make me feel good."

"That too!" And a mischievous grin. And a peck of a perfect little kiss. And from six inches away, her face was angelic perfection. "An' are we finished bein' serious? What's for dinner?"

"Let's get in the truck and figure it out on the road..."

Cindy climbed in on the passenger side and was buckled in. I climbed in, and off we went. "Catfish?" I asked.

"Uh-huh ... That's great!" So we went off to a local fried catfish emporium and had a happy supper.

Back in the truck on the way home. Cindy was humming. I thought I recognized the sound. "What are you humming?"

"That song the other night ... Moonlight something..."

"Moonlight Sonata?"

"Yeah, that's the one. Ya know, that was absolutely perfect for the mood I was in..."

I smiled. "I didn't think that teenaged girls did Beethoven."

"I'm not your normal teenaged girl. I know what I want in life. And I have already found the man of my dreams. And I'm gonna make things happen for both of us."

I noted the confident sound of her voice as she said this. The remainder of the trip was talk about school, about friends, who was smart, who wasn't, which teachers seemed to like what they were doing, boyfriend-girlfriend stuff.

"How do you feel when girls your age are holding hands with boys and have dates an' stuff?" I asked. The answer could be very scary for me.

"Hah! They don't have my Dan. Some of those girls are so petty. It's all about clothes and stars an' music an' dancin' an' silly stuff. And the BOYS ... I've had enough of teenaged boys already, except they were older'n that an' acted like teenaged boys. Mom dated enough of 'em for me to know what's on their minds. Most of 'em are so stupid. An' even the ones that are smart in school ... well, there isn't anything ... I don't feel like that, Dan. I see 'em pairin' up an' breakin' up and churnin' through life, an' that's not what I want."

"Yeah? What do you want?" I glanced at her and returned my eyes to the road.

"You. An' I wanna finish high school an' go to college, an' I wanna work on my job an' have people want me to come work for 'em like they do for you."

"Baby," I said, "I'm not that successful. I'm just a grubby field engineer that solves problems. And travels."

"Yeah," she said. "Maybe I could be your assistant. They have girl engineers too..."

I smiled, flattered. "Engineering is sort of tough in college. Lots of math and stuff that just seems totally useless, but you still have to learn it."

"You don't think I'm smart enough?"

That was far from my assessment based on watching her work through lessons. "Yeah, right! You're plenty smart. But you're gonna have to buckle down in school. Too many teachers let kids slide. You're not going to slide through school and go to college and be an engineer. Not a good one."

She caught me glancing at her again. "You know," she grinned, "I think I know just who might help me..."

We pulled into the RV park next to my trailer. I did a quick look around to see if anyone was watching, then we got out and went right inside. September nights. It would have been nice to spread a blanket under the stars, except for maybe a million mosquitoes. I filed away that "blanket under the stars" idea for future.

Inside, I watched Cindy strip down for her shower. Naked, she spun in front of me, knowing how I doted on her sweet body. Fourteen. Curves forming quite nicely. Little breasts, still growing, arrogant in their rampant firmness. Her nipples were like little strawberries perched perfectly atop creamy mounds. Her spine swept down her back to a perfectly symmetrical ass, her cheeks softly rounding. And those legs. My Cindy was a leggy thing, and her legs were firm and muscular. I was thinking that the pool every afternoon was as good for her as it was for me.

While she showered, I cleaned up my breakfast mess in the kitchenette. When she got out, she came out of the tiny bathroom with a towel around her.

"Modest?" I asked, "All of a sudden?"

"No, silly. Cold. You keep it cold in here!"

"Oh. Want me to turn it up?"

"Noooo! We seem to have a way of buildin' up heat..."

I handed her the hair dryer I bought for her. She smiled.

"You bought this for ME?"

"Hey, it's just a hair dryer. Not a new car."

"Yeah, but that means that you went someplace durin' the day an' thought of me."

"Darlin," I said, "it's a bigger trick tryin' to find out when I'm NOT thinking of you."

She was drying her hair while I showered. When I came out, she was sitting on her towel on the sofa, completely nude, her hair dried and combed to lustrous perfection. I dried off and moved to join her.

She patted her lap. "Put your head here," she commanded.

I laid back on the sofa and lay my head in her lap, facing up. She petted me, stroking her long fingers over my face, smiling down at me the whole time. "I think we need each other, Dan," she said.

We watched some movie on TV until ten. When the last program's credits were rolling, my Cindy suggestively dragged the underside of a beautiful young breast across my ear. "Dan," she said, "can we go to bed now?"

"Yes, baby..." I sat up from my position on the sofa. Cindy stood and stretched, unconsciously exhibiting the sweetness of her young teen form. I stood and scooped her into my arms for a kiss.

As we threaded our way to the bedroom end of the trailer, Cindy mentioned in passing, "Oh, I didn't tell you about school today, did I?"

"Noooo. What? Tests?"

"Yeah, sorta. But these tests were those IQ an' something they called "placement". Why do you think I had to take 'em? There were only two of us from my class, me an' some geeky guy..."

"Maybe they think you're different. I think you're a lot smarter than a lot of kids that I've known that were your age."

"Ya think?"

"Yeah, I think. This week, when did you REALLY need help with your homework? No, don't answer just yet. I mean REALLY need it, not just an excuse to come over here?"

"But I really like coming over here..."

"That's not what I'm sayin', sweetie. You have this stuff figured out. Last week you needed a poke or two to get started, but that's because you didn't pay attention before, huh?"

"Nope. Nobody cared if I made C's ... Mom just wanted me gone every day an' didn't want any trouble from school."

"And that's changed now?" I questioned.

"Yeah, you're smart. An' I wanted to be smart like you. It's important now." She smiled sweetly as she knelt in the middle of what used to be my lonely bed. Cindy made it a nest.

"I thought you were smart about the second time we sat at the pool and talked, baby."

This got me a smile. "An' cute, too, huh?"

"Yeah. Very much cute. And it bothered me. Forty-something year old guys aren't supposed to spend a lot of time thinking about cute teenaged girls."

More smiles, then a giggle, and arms around my neck, and a whisper in my ear. "Maybe thirteen year old girls weren't supposed to be thinking about forty year old guys, either, you know."

I parlayed a hug into a long kiss. That got an "Mmmmm" from Cindy. "And here we are," she said, "In bed, naked." And she pushed me onto my back, giggling. "An' I have YOU!"

"And I have you, and that's like the best thing that ever happened in my whole life."

"Really, Dan?" her brow wrinkled. "I know you were married before, an' you told me you loved her."

What a time for a serious discussion, what with a naked, lithe and lively teen female astraddle me. But if my Cindy wanted to talk, we'd talk. "I did, Cindy. I really did. But that was different. We were both in school, and just sort of fell in together. It was pleasant, and convenient and very much just the way I thought things should be."

"Uh-huh," she said.

"And there are a lot worse things than just having somebody who meets the requirements. Yeah, we were as happy as we should have been. And probably that's how it would have been. Then there was the accident. And I lost her and our daughter." I sighed. "But you're different. Oh so different."

"Don't get sad, Dan. I love you. Forever. Okay?"

"Yes, my little angel. You've brought light to my life, you know."

"And, Dan," she said, all of a sudden sounding very serious and mature, "you have rescued me. Just please, Dan, tell me you won't leave me behind, okay?"

"Leave you behind? Never..."

"But in February you're gonna be finished here, Dan."

"I'm not leaving my Cindy forever behind..." I kissed her face, cradling it in my hands, looking, drinking in those green eyes where I wanted to see happiness.

"Dan, I need to be with you. You know what it means, I sleep here, and I sleep all night, an' I don't jerk ever time I hear a noise because I'm by myself, or because one a' Mom's boyfriends might want a feel."

"That's happened to you?"

"Yeah," she said. "An' I screamed bloody murder."

"What'd your mom do?"

"Hmph," she snorted, "she actually threw him out. An' then chewed me out because she said he was a "good one"."

"I'm sorry, baby," I said.

"That's what I mean, Dan." She looked at me thoughtfully. "I don't know much about sex, but I've heard people doin' it for years an' I knew it could be fun, but I knew that it could be bad, too, an' I heard THAT too, an' I didn't wanna do it just to do it."

"But why me?"

"'Cuz you're my love. Really. An' it's s'posed to go with love, huh?"

"Yes it is, baby. Yes it is."

"An' you didn't ever make a move on me or even ACT like you wanted to do things to me. You just wanted to be my friend an' take care of me. An' I found out you loved me."

"Yeah, I found out I loved you, too, but what could I do with a thirteen year old girl?"

"Let her love you back. An' this is part of love." And "this" was a kiss. With a female form impressing itself full length down my body. Her hands swept up onto my chest, cupping my breasts just like I loved cupping hers, but she used the purchase to push herself back up to straddling me. The smile was enigmatic, a kaleidoscope of love, happiness and lust, reinforced by her nether regions sliding slightly downward to impress a hot, wet pussy on my hardening dick.

"Mmmmmm," I moaned, "you are absolutely perfect, dearest."

"You are, too, Dan. I love how you fill me." She fell fully forward, laying on top of me. She was too short for us to kiss like this, but she wrapped her arms around me and tugged me over sideways and kept rolling, pulling me over her. "You never did get on top of me before, Dan..."

"I wanted you to be able to control things, baby," I said. "I don't want to hurt you or force you."

Serene smile. And a giggle. She said, "I just climbed on top of you and put you inside me, so I'm pretty sure you're not forcing me. An' I don't think you will hurt me. An' I want you to push that thing in me. Hard."

I pushed. She pushed back. Hard. Pubic bones met. And active little hips swiveled her pussy around on my dick as I withdrew and pushed back in and there was another hard push...

"Like that, baby," she hissed. "Hard. I want it. I want YOU!"

In this position I could arch my back. I did, in response to her hands gripping the sides of my face pulling me to her hungry mouth. Our lips met, tongues met, locked, breathing synched to the thrusts of our hips as we mated lustily. She broke the kiss. "Nnnn, Dan! It's happenin'! Push! Hard!" And she pulled my face toward hers again. Our mouths locked together and I felt her breathing pattern change as I kissed my Cindy into and through her orgasm. She pulled away just as I started squirting my own liquid fire into her hot pussy.

My diminishing strokes as I wound down from my own orgasm coincided with her change back to consciousness. I rolled over onto my back with my lover in my arms.

"Mmmmmm," she said, then she punched me on my arm. "Dammit, Dan, why've you been keepin' THAT from me?"

"Uh, little girls shouldn't say 'dammit', sweetie," I said. "Only nice things should come out of that mouth."

My softening dick popped out of her wet pussy. With a giggle, she turned, saying, "Somethin' real GOOD is gonna pop IN this mouth." She attacked my dick with lips and tongue and suction. I was presented with a happy, soppy, juicy pussy, and it didn't matter in the least to me that half the juice leaking out of it was mine. My tongue went right into it, leading the way for my mouth to fasten over it and start sucking. A couple of minutes and my tongue started teasing on the pea-like head of her clit.

That mobilized those hips and got me a moan from lips still wrapped around my dick. I kept licking. I thought I knew what my Cindy liked. Her pelvis slamming her pussy into my face affirmed the thought. Gamely she kept sucking on me, but I was determined to break her concentration. And I succeeded. I lost the feel of her sucking mouth on my dick as she pulled it out of her mouth.

"Nnnn, don't stop. I'm afraid to bite you. Nnnnn. Don't. Stop!"

I licked away.

"Nnnnnnngghhhhh! Ahhhh! Dan! Baby! Ahhhhhhh! I'm commminnngggg!" And she did. I knew she was nearing normal when I felt lips cover my dick. "Mmmmmm, baby, you make me feel so good." She turned in the bed, smeared against me, propped on one elbow, stroking my face with her free hand.

We cuddled for a while, letting the clock push midnight, kissing, caressing, giggling, winding down together in wonderful concert.

"Baby," she said, "can I have a t-shirt? My shoulders get cold at night."

"Sure, baby," I said, "Here." I'd foreseen this little need and I had put a pair of t-shirts on the shelf by the head of the bed.

We both pulled them over our heads and I surveyed her, shiny auburn hair, angelic face punctuated with those green eyes. I scooped her to me for another kiss. She pulled me down onto the bed. "Get the covers," she whispered. "An' put some music on."

"Okay, dearest. Let's try this." I punched up the beginnings of Beethoven's "Pastorale", and to the soaring strains of great music we went to sleep together.

Chapter 8

Helen was at the park at eight AM on Saturdays. That meant what when Cindy and I left the trailer, she was looking at us from the office window. And she waved.

"Caught!" I said to myself.

Cindy also saw her friend Mizz Helen and waved happily back. "Let's go see Mizz Helen," she chirped.

"Yeah, Hop in the truck. We'll stop an' see if she wants some donuts when we get back from breakfast." I thought I'd understood Helen's implications in our previous conversations, but one can never be completely sure, and I was a bit nervous about such an obvious situation.

We stopped by the office. Cindy was out of the truck and headed inside in a hurry. I was a bit slower. I watched this cute teen's jeans-clad butt and t-shirt, that outrageous head of hair bouncing ahead of me as I followed her inside.

"Hey, Helen," I said. "How's things goin'?"

And Helen smiled. Big smile. She was on one side of the counter directly opposite the love of my life, and they both were smiling. "Hey, Dan ... Stuff's fine. Just fine. You taking good care of our girl?" She smiled at Cindy.

"I'm trying," I said. "We got the makin's of a scholar there. They selected her for special testing ... The good kind."

"Yes ma'am," chirped Cindy. "An' I'm doin' all A's in school. Mr. Dan's a big help."

"I told you he was, didn't I," Helen said.

"Mmm-hmm," said Cindy. "I jus' love 'im!"

Now the way Cindy said that, you could have taken it several ways. Helen looked at me and winked. "You're lucky he came along," she said.

"Yeah, I am," answered Cindy. "I really am."

"So, Helen, we're goin' out for breakfast. Want us to bring you back some donuts?"

"Oh, yeah, Dan. An' I'll try not to eat 'em all myself."

"They're for your customers," I smiled.

Cindy bounced out to the truck and got in. I joined her and we drove off.

She spoke first. "D'ya think Mizz Helen thinks we're, like, sleepin' together?"

"I don't know for sure, but as long as we LOOK innocent on the outside, I don't think Mizz Helen is goin' to say anything one way or the other. Mizz Helen thinks the world of you, and she worries about you a whole lot."

"Yeah," said Cindy. "She knows all about Mom. You know we been livin' in this park since I was nine?"

"I didn't know it was that long."

"Yeah. Mom lost her job when I was nine an' she couldn't find another one, so Paw-paw gave us his travel trailer. Paw-paw is Mizz Helen's brother in law, an' she said we could stay here for free."

"Oh," I said. "An' now Mom works at the bar sometimes an' she has money, but Mizz Helen lets us stay here anyway. I don't think Mom could afford to get us another place."

I didn't want to consider that Donna might be eligible for all manner of government housing and might decide to move my Cindy into some housing project. I was thankful that they elected to stay here. I hadn't known what was missing in my life until I met Cindy. Now I was obsessing about how I could keep her in it.

"I'm glad your mom lives here, baby," I said.

"Me too," she giggled. "All kinds of nice things here." She smiled at me. "Ya know, Mizz Helen an' me used ta talk about you, before I started really talkin' with you at the pool."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, she tol' me about her husband an' how he was older than her when they met. I thought it was nice a' her to tell me that. All I did was tell her I thought you were cute for an older guy. She tol' me that she thought you were a good guy."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah." Cindy continued. "There was some other construction guys come an' go in the park, an' Mizz Helen tol' me to stay away from them. They was, uh, WERE loud an' they sat outside and drank beer an' stayed out late an' came back with women an' stuff. Me an' Mizz Helen, we watched an' you didn't do any of that stuff."

"I don't. I may drink a beer once in a while, but I don't just drink and I don't do bars and I've told you about how I feel about women."

"An, you know," she said, "I almost think Mizz Helen WANTS us to be together. I mean, like TOGETHER together..."

"I think Mizz Helen wants a good life for you, no matter what it takes. An' I'm sorry, baby, but I don't think your mom's situation is going to do that for you. If ONE of her boyfriends has tried something, as you get older, that's gonna get worse. An' you're too bright a star to end up trapped in that welfare, uneducated single mom business."

"I know, Dan."

I did a quick look at her and saw her eyes coolly observing me. "I want you to shine ... It's gonna be work, but we can do it together. And if you are my Cindy forever, I will stand by you until the day I die."

"I love you, Dan," she said. She twisted. "Damn seat belts."

"Little girls shouldn't say 'damn"," I said.

Giggle. "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean, an' all we need is to have some helpful citizen report seein' a...

"Hey! Happy Birthday, Cindy!"

That got me a big grin...

I continued, "seein' a FOURTEEN year old girl kissin' some old guy..."

"You're MY guy, an' you're not that old..."

We ate breakfast at the diner. I noticed that her table manners had improved in the last few weeks since we'd began frequenting commercial eateries, and the waitress at this one recognized us on arrival, and treated us well. Of course, the fact that I was a generous tipper probably helped. But Cindy was a well-mannered, polite young client in a day where many kids in public were ill-mannered little hellions.

Full, we drove back to the park, chatting happily. The rest of the morning we spent between my trailer and the park laundromat. Yeah, I had the little compact RV washer and dryer, but I also had a bag of quarters and it was faster to do a couple of big loads in the park's machines.

Lunchtime came and we returned to the front office. And Helen had held up HER end of a bargain she and I'd made earlier in the week. There was a birthday cake. And presents. And candles. Fourteen of them. Cindy was tearful...

"You guys ... This is the best birthday I've ever had in my whole life."

The sad part was that she was telling the truth. I gave her an iPod and Helen, knowing her clothing sizes, gave her shoes and new clothes, including, I noted, another dark green outfit. Had I told Helen how Cindy looked in dark green?

"Save that green outfit for supper tonight," I grinned.

Helen smiled broadly, first at Cindy, then at me. "Got us a happy young lady there, don't we?"

I nodded.

"Now," she said, "let me see if we can fix it so she stays that way..."

That rather cryptic comment left me wondering.

The afternoon, well, Cindy and I visited a library. This was a first for Cindy, and even though small-town Alabama libraries might be low on the ladder compared with big cities and universities, Cindy had no reference. She told me this was her first ever visit to any library outside of school. I was able to use Helen's good name as a reference to get a library card and I checked out books for Cindy. You'd have thought I gave her diamonds.

I wanted to give diamonds. At least one.

We went back to the park, stopped by her trailer so she could retrieve a bathing suit, then she and I joined a bunch of weekenders at the pool. Early fall? Still swimming weather in south Alabama. Cindy naturally interacted with a few kids her age, including a teenaged boy, about fifteen, I imagine. I felt jealousy. I didn't show it. I chatted up the adults, the normal, "where are you from, what kind of work do you do..."

After an hour or so, Cindy stood beside me, dripping. "Mr. Dan," she said, "isn't it time for us to go?"

I looked up into those green eyes. Dammit! How could I fall so hard for this doll? "Yes, Cindy, we do need to change. We have a dinner date for our birthday girl."

The couple I'd been talking with offered congratulations on her birthday, and we bid our farewell. And didn't hold hands walking back to the trailer.

"I saw you," she said.

"Saw me what?" I asked.

"Saw how you looked at that KID who was talking' to me."

"Yeah, I saw 'im. An' yeah, since you're not stupid, I admit I was feeling a bit jealous."

"You shouldn't worry. He was fifteen. Hated school. Wanted to know if I was stayin' here an' if I wanted to meet him later. He had some weed."

"What?!?!?"

"Yeah, Dan, THAT'S what I expect from boys my age. Stupid. An' I seen ... uh, I've seen an' smelled enough dope to know better. You think I wanna go do dope with some goofball an' have to fight him off or let him do me?"

"I wanna think you don't." That statement as I held the door open so she could get into my trailer. I was wanting to say "our" trailer. And I closed the door behind myself after I stepped inside.

Cindy pushed around me and clicked the lock. She dropped the towel she'd brought back from the pool and knelt in front of me. Her fingers hooked the waistband of my swim trunks and she peeled them straight down.

"Cindy!"

"Hush," she said. Her mouth engulfed my soft dick. It started soft, but when those lips encircled it, it went straight to diamond-cutting rigidity. She gave me a workover, too, and this was the very first time she'd knelt and taken me while I was standing.

"Gaaahh, Baby..."

"Mmmmm," escaped her mouth from around my dick. Then she stood to her full five feet and three inches, threw her arms around my neck, and I bent over and kissed her lips. "Dan, I will make love to you every day for the rest of my life and figure that I am lucky that I have YOU." Kiss. Giggle. "an' you're lucky you got me, too..."

I was taken. She backed up. "Now," she said. I need to shower an' dry my hair an' get dressed. I have an important date tonight." And she peeled her own one-piece swimsuit off, stripping in front of me, and wiggled her naked butt as she stepped into the bathroom.

Five minutes. She was out. I was in, rinsing off, and I was shaving while I heard the blasting hair dryer. I walked out of the shower, still naked. She handed me a hairbrush. "Here," she ordered, "brush me."

Since I found her hair an object of beauty, I complied, leaving her shiny, sweet-smelling and angelic. And naked as a jaybird.

Another order, "You go get dressed at YOUR end of the trailer, an' I'll get dressed in the bedroom. With the curtain closed."

"Okay," I said.

I knew my Cindy and my Cindy knew me. I was just slipping into my shoes when I heard "Ta-daaaa!" and the curtain opened. Who'd have thought that a simple green cotton blouse and matching skirt would be rendered into all the beauties of the world. They were. Because my Cindy was in them. Her hand smoothed the back of her hair. "Well, love, what do YOU think?"

"Perfect. Absolutely perfect."

She came to me, presented me with a perfect little kiss. Oh yeah, with a little of that pink tongue. "Mmmm," she hummed, "You smell good."

"So do you, lady," I said.

"Naahh," she said. "If I was at home, I woulda stole some of Mom's perfume."

"You don't have to take hers. I will take you to the mall an' you can buy whatever YOU want."

"Oooo," she cooed, "but last time I wore hers, you said you liked it."

"You could smear yourself with peanut butter and YOU'D smell good," I said.

"An' I'd have soooo much fun lettin' you lick it off me..." giggle.

We walked out of the trailer. Mizz Helen was closing up the office, standing on the steps talking with some of her weekenders. She saw us and waved. Into the truck, and off we went. Up the road a bit, Cindy was stowing the flip-down console and sliding herself tight against me.

"I like that," I said.

Giggle. "Then you'll like this even better." Her fingers unzipped me and pulled my dick out through the fly. "Uh-uh," she said, shaking her head for emphasis, that red hair bouncing.

I heard a metallic click. "Put your seatbelt back on," I said.

"Nuh-uh," she said. "In a minute. I wanna do somethin'." She paused. Smiled. "You. I wanna do YOU." And she slid down in the seat and her head went into my lap. For the sort of activities that sweet dolls SHOULD do in a man's lap. For a minute. Then she popped back up. "I ain't gonna make you come. I've seen you come. You'll run us off the road."

"You're very knowledgeable and wise," I said.

She was trying to get my dick back in my pants. "Well," she said, "it came OUT easy..." I helped her. She zipped me up, then patted the bulge. I heard the click of her seatbelt. She smiled sweetly. "There," she said. "I've BEEN wanting to do that to you..."

"You're gonna get us killed," I said, "an' the funeral will cost extra..."

"Why will it cost extra?"

"'Cuz the undertaker's gonna have to work overtime to get the smile off my face."

Did I ever tell you that her laugh was like tinkling music to my ears? No? Well, it is...

Back to the steakhouse. Discussions taking strange twists as she asked questions about my work and how we did things and how things were at school.

Back headed home, I had a thought. "Baby, one of these nights we need to drive into Mobile for the evening. Get us a really nice room. Do a good dinner. Maybe a movie, or a concert or something. And then have a night together in a place where we don't have to bump into each other, maybe shower together..."

"Mmmm," she said, "I like all a'that, 'cept I LIKE bumpin' into you. 'specially the parts that were bumpin' last night."

It was almost ten when we got back in the trailer. Yeah, we checked. Mom's car wasn't there. As far as Donna was concerned, Cindy was on her own for the weekend. Cindy could have been off doing drugs, getting into trouble, having sex ... Oops ... She WAS having sex. Ten minutes after we got back into the trailer. For an hour. Okay, an hour and a half. Then Mozart on the stereo.

And two people, bodies entwined together. Sleeping.

Chapter 9

And it was Sunday morning. We did breakfast in the trailer. Sometimes a bowl of cereal is just what you need. Then we visited a while with Mizz Helen. And got into the truck and onto the road. Headed north. No place to go and all day to get there. Between a GPS and some topo maps, we ended up in the woods on the bank of a creek, miles away from everybody else. Just the right sort of place to bring out an old blanket to spread on the ground.

By the time I spread the blanket out, I was facing a Cindy naked from the waist down. "Is that all I get?" I laughed.

"You can have it all, babe," she said, and she peeled her t-shirt over her head as I stripped. We made love under the canopy of old-growth trees, our music provided by birds and the rushing waters of the nearby creek.

We were laying there in the afterglow when she stirred. "I gotta go pee," she announced.

"Don't go too far," I said. "Never know what there is in these woods that might want to eat a little girl."

"Yeah," she laughed. "That already happened ONCE today!" She took a few steps down the slope away from our blanket and squatted, facing me.

"You know," I said, "I've never seen you pee before."

Eyes twinkled. "Oh, so you, like, wanna LOOK?"

"Uh-huh..."

She reached in between her thighs and spread her pussy lips. The golden stream spurted. I was fascinated. The flow dwindled to drip, then stopped. "I don't have anything to wipe with."

"I got paper towels in the truck. Or..." and I stuck out my tongue.

Giggle. "I usually wipe myself before you eat me."

"I know," I said. "you're very clean. But pee's not what makes a woman smell nasty."

And she was astraddle me, her pussy at my face. And I licked her clean. When I finished, she dropped to her knees and kissed me, hard, wet, her lips and tongue bathing my face and mouth. "Since you did, why shouldn't I?" she said.

"Yeah, but now I gotta pee."

"Oh, I've seen YOU pee. It's neat. Sometimes I wish I was a guy, just so I could pee standing up."

"Girls can, if they want. Takes fingers an' hips."

"And you've seen this yourself?"

"No, but I heard of it. Oh, seen pictures."

"You're lookin' at nasty pictures?"

"Not any more..." I stood and went towards the spot still moist with her urine. She stood beside me.

"Let me," she said. Her fingers wrapped around my shaft. "Oooh," she squealed when the stream started. "That's so neat!"

The stream diminished to a dribble, then a drop. "Shake it."

"Nuh-uh," she said, kneeling. "My turn." Her lips sealed around my shaft and I felt her tongue working, milking me dry.

I sat back down on the blanket, cross-legged. Cindy sat in my lap, facing me, wrapping her slender legs around my waist. "Mmmmm," she moaned through a kiss, then another. "Baby, can it be this good forever?"

"I will love you forever, and I will do my very best to always keep us happy together, excited, loving, caring, just like now. But we're going to grow together, too. And things will change, but that just means different, and better."

Her head buried in my neck. "I don't wanna go back. I'll just have to go home. An' Mom's gonna be bitchy. An' I'm crampin', like my period's fixin' to start..."

"And I want you to stay with me, period an' all. Baby, I'm doin' my best to find a way so we never have to be apart. But it's what we have to do right now, okay?"

Bronze hair swung in a nod. More kisses. Perfect little titties pressed against my hairy chest. Our lips could have been welded together, as long and as tight as we kept them, our tongues writing hieroglyphic love poems.

Finally it was time to get dressed and return. A zip through a fast food line and we ate burgers on the road. Entering the park, no car at her trailer. We didn't expect one. It was still early for her mom to return. Cindy brought her stuff back to her own trailer, except for her birthday present clothes. Now she was leaving clothes at my place.

Five PM. We were at the pool. I was on a lounge and Cindy was swimming when that ratty Toyota pulled on the road beside the pool fence. Donna. "Hey, Dan," she yelled.

"Hey Donna," I returned. "You lookin' for Cindy, she's in the pool."

Cindy's head popped up. "Hey, Mom," she said. "I'll be home in a little bit."

"Take yer time," her mom said as she drove toward their trailer in the far corner of the park.

My place, OUR place was empty without her that evening. Sleep didn't come easily. I kept looking for somebody who wasn't there. I got up the next morning, had a bowl of cereal and headed to work. During the day I thought about Cindy, remembered her tests today, hoped, expected her to do well. Left work early. Things just didn't feel right. Got back to the park before Cindy's bus showed up.

Walked into the office to see Helen for my mail.

"No mail, Dan," she said. But I had a conversation with Donna today."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah. You know that Cindy gets up and gets off to school without her mom even rollin' out of bed? Yeah, she does. Dear Miss Donna came in about eleven. Looked like she just got out of bed."

"Uh-huh. Kinda figured that was the way it was."

"An' she was askin' me questions about Cindy..."

My antennae went up. Helen noticed my demeanor. "No, nothin' about you an' Cindy. Nothin'. But she asked me if I was serious the other day when I said something about me takin' Cindy off her hands."

"You actually SAID that? To Donna?"

"Yeah. I get to be a gutsy ol' broad, you know. What's she gonna do? I let her live here for free. Anyways, she asked me how you make somethin' like that legal. An' I told her, it was a matter of a court order." She smiled. "An' one a'my husband's best huntin' buddies is the local judge."

"You're serious?"

"Yeah, Dan, I'm serious. She can move in with me. But I gotta know. This is your last chance. Are YOU serious? About Cindy?"

"Helen, you dear lady! Yes, I'm serious about Cindy."

Dan, I'm gonna be her legal guardian. By the end of the week. So where's she gonna live? With me. Or with you?"

"Uh..." I stuttered.

"Hah!" grunted Helen. "You two ain't keepin' much of a secret, you know. She GLOWS when she's with you. And it ain't that "I'm with my friend" glow. Well, some of it is ... An' YOU!"

"Okay, Helen, I get the point. But if I don't admit anything, then you don't KNOW anything."

"Yeah, right."

"She lives with me."

"Good. That's what I expected. I'll have her clothes and stuff here tomorrow. Oh, an' her mom's sellin' that trailer, like she can get shit for it. Well, she IS getting shit for it. I'm payin' two or three times what it's worth. Part of the deal. Her dong du jour promised her that they could find good work in Vegas."

"Yeah?" My knees were weak. Yesterday's faint dream was almost a reality.

"Donna's gonna tell Cindy tonight. I tol' her that if Cindy wanted, she could stay with ME tonight after she tol' her. I suspect you might want to be the one who deals with Cindy. I don't know how she's gonna take it. Her an' I talked about somethin' like this before, a week or so ago, an' she kept lookin' at YOUR trailer, like I wasn't gonna notice. Like I said, neither one a'you can keep a secret."

"Wow." I said. "Just wow!"

"Dan, I doubt that I really need to tell you this, but if you ever hurt that child an' I find out, I will have you hunted down like a dog. Tomorrow me an' Donna are goin' to see the judge to sign the papers. Then she's got an airline ticket. Gone. An' I expect hell will freeze over before we see her back in Alabama."

"Helen, you're amazing ... Wonderful." I went around the counter and hugged her. "There's no amount of 'thank you's" for this..."

"Dan, just be good to her." Helen was smiling as I left. I don't think my feet were touching the ground.

I was in my trailer when I heard the bus drop off Cindy. I didn't go outside. The normal drill was for her to go home, then come back to do homework. An hour passed. I heard a knock on my door.

My heart was pounding as I opened it. I expected Cindy. I got Cindy and Helen.

Helen looked around. "You keep good house for a single guy."

"Thanks, I guess," I said.

Cindy looked at me. It was a look I hadn't seen before.

"Well, Dan," said Helen, "I'll let Cindy tell you the news."

"What's up, sweetie?" I asked.

"Mizz Helen says she already told you what's goin' on. Mom's movin'. I'm not."

I stepped toward her and wrapped her in my arms. "I'm sorry, baby, but at the same time, I'm not."

"Me neither," said Cindy, but there was a trace of an uncontrolled sob there, too.

"Mizz Helen's gonna be my legal guardian."

"I know."

"Dan. I talked with Mizz Helen. She says I can live with you." She looked at me. "If you want me to..."

I bent my head down and kissed Cindy on top of her head. "Yes, I want you to."

Helen smiled. "Good! Now I'm gonna go home. With Cindy in my car. Dan, you can leave behind me. An' bring Cindy back with you. I just don't want her mom to see me leave without her."

An hour later, Cindy and I were at the catfish joint. She was smiling. "Dan, can you believe it? We're together! Forever!"

"Shhhhhh!" I hissed. "Don't let people hear you say that!"

"Ooopssss!" she grinned. "But there's nobody around." She was right. Monday was a slow night for fried catfish.

We finished supper and got into my truck. "Now, my Cindy forever, let's talk."

"Yes, my Dan forever."

"We have to be careful. You're fourteen. I'm forty-two. That makes you jailbait. And not only will I go to jail, so will Mizz Helen. If ANYBODY ever thinks that there's more than just friendship between us."

"I know..."

"Now, around the park, well, I don't think people pay any attention, but we still have to be careful in public. A little hand-holding while walking, a hug like you'd give your uncle, that's all."

"I know..."

"Until your sixteenth birthday."

"What happens on my sixteenth birthday?"

"Mizz Helen will have the papers ready for the judge to sign so we can get married."

Squeeeealllll! "Oh, Dan ... it's real!"

"As real as YOU want it to be, Cindy."

When I pulled back into the park, I did my normal visual sweep. Donna's car was gone. Nowhere in sight. Cindy and I went into the trailer and locked the door. And I had a sweet hundred-odd pounds of redheaded doll on me, her legs wrapped around my waist, her arms around my neck, her lips showering my face with kisses.

"I never have to leave you again, Dan."

"I know, Cindy. And you have no idea how happy that makes me. No idea at all."

"Oh, but I do." She sighed. "But baby, I have bad news."

"Bad news?"

"Yeah. 'Member yesterday when I said I thought I was crampin'?"

"Yeah?"

"I started my period."

"So?"

"I wanted to make love to you, but I can't. Well, I can, but I don't wanna. I know Mom did that. Heard her boyfriend say she was on the rag."

"It's okay, baby. We love each other. And we have forever." Kisses. "Homework?"

"No," she said. "I had those tests today, remember?"

"Right. How did you do?"

"I dunno. Lots of funny stuff like "answer these questions in fifteen minutes", an' I really had to work to finish."

"Baby, they don't expect you to finish."

"I finished. The guy who was watchin' us, Mr. Hardesty, he looked at me funny. But he looked at my papers an' smiled. They said it would be a couple of weeks before we find out the grades."

"They're not grades, baby, they're scores. And if you finished, well..." I smiled. "You gonna shower first, or me?"

"Me." It's a good thing that I specified blackout curtains in the place when I ordered it. Because it doesn't take long for a fourteen year old girl to be delightfully, desirably naked. And presenting herself for miscellaneous kisses and gropes.

Fifteen minutes later she got out of the shower and I got in. I finished showering just as the last of the hot water came out. Well, there was enough warm left for me to shave. I stepped out into the aisle and toweled off, then helped my Cindy dry and brush her hair. I noticed she was wearing panties.

"Blue panties?"

"Yeah," she pouted. "Damn ... uh, darned period!"

"You're still smart. You're still funny. You're still beautiful. And periods don't last forever."

She stood and turned to face me, perky breasts pointing their pink nipples at me. Pinker than normal. I touched one. "Oooo!" she squealed. More sensitive, too, apparently. Must be the period.

She kissed me, an act that required me to bend over to make up for our difference in heights. And she whispered, "You know, there's some things I can do to celebrate tonight..."

"I appreciate that, baby, but that's not gonna do things for you..."

"Hah! Don't be silly. You should know that I like playin' with this thing. Come on!" And at eight o'clock we were turning out the lights. Except the one she demanded next to the bed. "I like to see what I'm doin'," she'd said early on in our relationship. "I like to see you doin' me and I like to see what I'm doin' to you."

She pushed me backward onto the bed and crawled her way up me, kissing. All the way to my lips. There it was long, and hot. Then a whisper. "Now your Cindy forever is gonna suck you. An' you're gonna come."

"Baby, that's wonderful that you want to do that, but you make me do so much. I'll tell you when it's close..."

"I know what happens to you when you get close," she said.

"Yeah, but, so you can pull it out so I don't come in your mouth..."

Kisses. "Baby," she purred, "I already know what your stuff tastes like..." She was right. Happiness was having a sweet thing like her clean the juices of your orgasms from your genitals with her mouth. "D'ya think that I was just goin' to do this just ONE time the other night? I LOVED it. It's so neat that I can make you come like this. An' I've come all over your face. So why wouldn't I want to be sucking on you when you come?"

"You're sure?"

She slid down and answered the question with action. Three or four weeks of pleasant explorations and playful interludes, and my Cindy knew what makes my dick work. And she worked it. Suction. Tongue. Teeth. Hands. The head. The coronal ring. The shaft. Balls. Nothing was missed. Everything was eagerly and expertly attended. I was even more excited by the visuals. Red head bouncing up and down. Every now and then those green eyes looking at me. Her mouth would release me and she'd smile. And she'd go back down with an "Mmmmm..." and I was in nirvana. I could feel the feelings building.

"Mmmm, baby! I'm so close."

Smack! "Uh-huh. Your balls are getting tight. Come on!" Slurp. Suck.

"Oh, god ... ohgodohgodogod ... it's. it's. comminnngggg!" And I spurted. Caught my Cindy by surprise, I think.

Her "Mmmmm" changed to "Mmmphh" and she swallowed. And sucked. And jacked. And she knew from our lovemaking how my body reacted in orgasm, the timing, the diminishing thrusts, and how I used her pussy, and she used her mouth in exactly the same way. And she knew that when the orgasm was over, we'd lie together until I softened and fell out of her pussy, and she did that with her mouth, gently sucking and tonguing me past the end of my coming, finally releasing me from her mouth, soft and clean.

And you should have seen the smirk on that face. It broke into a grin. And she made a big deal about wiping up a stray drop of semen from the corner of her mouth with a fingertip, then sucking her finger clean. And her head bobbed, giggling, and sucked my soft dick completely into her mouth, and she chewed gently with tongue and teeth, then crawled up on top of me.

"So tell me, baby, d'you still kiss a girl after she's sucked you off?" I answered with lips and tongue. Then a giggle. "You know, you owe me one."

"Yeah. And I will pay you back. That is the most spectacular thing ever done to me with a mouth. You're the very best."

"Mmmmm," she said, nestling into my chest. "My pleasure, sir."

"I love you."

"I hope so. I don't have a momma any more."

"Yeah, she'll always be your mom. An' you have Mizz Helen, too."

"An' you?"

"Forever." I kissed the top of her head. "Now, let's go to sleep. You have school tomorrow and I have work."

No more lonely nights. The alarm went off at six. I hit snooze and rolled over and kissed my Cindy. Was rewarded by a kiss back. And then we got down to the business of the day." She watched me drive off and then waited for her bus.

I floated through the day. Even the "difficult personalities" that seem to gravitate towards construction work were no hurdle today. I couldn't be shaken. I couldn't wait for the day to end. Somebody remarked that my intensity seemed to be fading. I laughed.

Driving back into the park, I stopped at the office and found Cindy standing there in schoolgirl perfection, talking with Helen. They were laughing when I walked in, and they both turned toward me. Cindy bounced up and gave me a hug that teetered just over the edge of chastity.

Helen said, "You two look like honeymooners."

"Uh..."

"Oh, shit, Dan," she said, I KNOW! So at least acknowledge that you don't think I'm stupid."

All I could get out was an "aw shucks" grin.

"Anyways," she said, "I got the paperwork signed. An', let's see, it's almost five. Donna's just about to Vegas. An' the judge says that I will get money from the state for foster care. I don't need it, so I'll put it in an account for Cindy. An' he's takin' care of all that child protective services crap so they don't bother me. An' I got her medical insurance covered. State does that for foster kids, too."

"Wow! You've got all the bases covered."

"More than you think. Judge, he's a widower. Wife died a year ago. Got ME a date tonight." She was grinning like a schoolgirl herself. "I don't know how to act..."

"Yeah you do," I said.

Cindy was grinning, too. "Mizz Helen's got a boyfriend," she laughed.

"Ya'll go on," Helen said, grinning, waving us out.

Cindy jumped in the truck for the short drive to my trailer space, then got out. I got to the door to unlock it. "I guess since you live here, I need to give you a key, huh?"

"Either that or I'm gonna have to sit on the steps waitin on ya."

Chapter 10

The next day I walked into the park office to find Helen and Cindy chatting. I waved a set of keys at her. "It's time," I said.

"Time for what?" she asked with a puzzled look.

"Time for you and me to go fire up the Starship Enterprise. Or a 1968 model Cessna airplane. Something like that."

Squeal. Hug.

"What?" asked Helen.

"Mechanic called me today. He finished the inspection on my airplane and it's ready to fly again."

"Oh, yeah. You told me you had a plane over there." "There" being the local airport.

"Yeah, and Miss Cindy is getting ready to make her first, and if she pukes all over the place, her ONLY flight in it." I looked at Cindy. "Go get some jeans on. This ain't a "skirt" kind of airplane, baby!"

Half an hour later we pulled the truck up next to an open hangar at the little country airport. There was another truck there, the mechanic's. We shook hands. "John Randolph," I said, "meet Cindy Smith. I tutor her in math, and I promised her a ride if she brought her grades up."

He smiled. Most people, and 99.9% of men, smile when they meet Cindy. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Cindy. You don't have to worry. The wings won't fall off. He might fly into a pine tree, but the wings will be there when he does."

Cindy grinned. "Thank you, Mister John. I'm thinkin' it's worth a risk. My first time in an airplane. Ever."

John turned to me. "Dan," he said, "everything checks out. You're good for a year." He handed me the plane's logbook. I gave him a check. "Call me if you need anything. Okay?"

"You bet, John," I said. "Thanks!"

"Want me to help you pull her out?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure."

We pushed the plane out of the hangar onto the concrete apron. I watched, Cindy by my side, as John drove off.

"Now what?" asked Cindy.

"We do a ritual. It's called a "pre-flight inspection" and you do it EVERY time you get ready to fly."

I did the walk-around with Cindy at my side asking questions every step of the way. Finally I had her open the passenger side door and take a step on the tire, another on the step, and finally into the cockpit.

The last step got me a comment. "Yeah, I think a skirt would have been a little bit revealing." She smiled.

I showed her how to buckle her harness, and then I climbed into the pilot's seat. "Here," I said, handing her a huge pair of headphones with an attached microphone. "Put these on so we can talk to each other without hollering. This old thing's loud." I showed her exactly how loud when I started the engine. We completed the ritual and taxied to the runway.

I looked at her. "Are you ready?" I asked.

She shook her head in the affirmative, grinning broadly.

"Okay. There's a barf bag in the glove box if you need it."

"No way!" she said. "I'm excited. Let's do this!"

"Okay," I said. "Here goes!" I pushed the throttle forward and we took off. Once we were out of the local pattern, I said, "Okay, now put your feet on those pedals and your hands on the yoke."

She looked at me almost incredulous. "Like, I'm gonna FLY this?"

"Yeah. Watch!" I took my hands off the control yoke. "It'll almost fly itself, so don't be scared."

Her eyes were wide. So was her grin. We flew around with me coaching her through turns and climbs and glides and toured the area, overflying the RV park and her school. Finally I said, "Okay. I don't know about you, but I'm getting hungry."

"Oh, no, Dan! I could do this forever."

"We'll see about that. This old thing is burning fifty bucks worth of gas an hour. We've been up an hour. And I'm hungry!"

"Okay..." She took her hands off the yoke.

"Oh, no, little girl. You're still flying." I crossed my arms.

"Eek!" she squealed, grabbing the yoke. We did a quick little porpoise move as her untrained hands wiggled the yoke in and out.

I put my hands back on my yoke and went along as I talked her through navigating back to the airfield and setting up in the traffic pattern, then had her fly along with me as we landed. We taxied back to the hangar and she and I pushed the old plane back into its shelter.

We got back in the truck. "Wow!" she said. "Just HOLY WOW!"

"You liked it, then?"

"Oh, god, yes!" She jumped across the cab and hugged and kissed me. "Do you realize you just gave me the SKY?!?!?"

"It is kinda cool, ain't it?" I said. "Pizza for supper?" I asked. "I can make a phone call and we can beat them back to the trailer." There was a local pizzeria that did delivery.

"Yeah! That's great!" A cellphone call got that on the way.

The ride home was all about flying. She asked the how and the why and I feared I'd created another monster: A cute red-headed one. Oh, well. There are worse things for people to want.

We were sitting together on the sofa when the pizza arrived. After finishing it off, we traded sloppy, garlic-flavored kisses, then did the shower thing.

Afterward, drying her hair, I said, "Baby, I don't know the first thing about getting a young lady's hair done."

"Ain't much to it, honey," she said. "I don't get my hair DONE, I get it cut. That's all. I know the lady that does it. An' I can call her an' get it done. I'm about due."

"Really?" I observed that it was just beginning to drag her shoulders.

"Yeah, it's, like, an inch or two too long."

"You don't get it colored?"

"Nope. This is what color you get. Mom wasn't gonna pay for extra stuff for me." She paused. "Unless. Why? D'you want me to change it?" She turned and looked at me.

"Oh, no, baby," I answered. "I'm a sucker for it just the way it is. Women pay a lot of money to get hair like you have naturally."

That got me a smile. And a twinkle. And a question that sat me back. "So tell me how this hand job thing works..."

"What?"

"Hand jobs?" She looked at me, eyes a-twinkle. "I heard Mom an' whoever ... I assume it's somethin' that the girl does to the guy, from the sound of it."

"Yeah. Girl can do that to the guy, or the guy can do it to himself."

"I heard that's how guys masturbate."

"It is."

"Really? You do that?"

"Yeah, I did that. Thinking about you, since after I moved here."

Giggles "Really? I excited you?"

"Baby, you're the very definition of exciting."

That got me a hug. And kisses. And a hand wrapped around my dick. "Lay back an' tell me how to do this..." She sat beside me, naked except for her panties.

"Ain't much to it. You already do it. Last night, the only difference was that you sucked on me at the same time."

She smiled as she slid the skin up and down my shaft. "Like this?"

"Yeah. Or just slide the whole thing in an' out of your hand, and every now an' then, rub the head. You'll get it."

She was having fun. Right hand was doing the duties on my dick, her left fondling my balls. "Yahknow," she said, "I never saw your stuff come out. I feel it inside me. I felt it in my mouth, like yesterday. But I never saw it come out." Little Miss Flexible bent over and sucked on my nipple, causing my dick to jump. And her to giggle. Matter of factly she said, "Come for me."

She kept jacking and I was getting close. Pre-cum started by drops at first, then a steady flow and my hips were thrusting into her hand. "You're getting' close," she announced.

"Oh, yeah," I hissed. "I'm. Getting. Close. Ohbaby ... Nnngghhh! Yeah. Commmingggg!" I thrust hard and the first jet of my orgasm went straight up about three feet.

"Oh, wow!" she giggled. She kept stroking. I kept spurting. Three or four more good ones, then a steady flow that covered her hand. As I collapsed backward onto the mattress, she smiled and made a show of licking her hand. Then sucking me clean. And she laughed. "I don't know where that first one landed. Wow! I mean, I felt you inside me, and when I sucked you last night, I could tell it was squirtin' but I had no idea it went that far. Wow!"

I pulled her next to me and then rolled on my side to face her. I've often heard of eyes described as "adoring". I looked into Cindy's. And knew what the term meant. "Now you've done it," I said.

"What'd I do?"

"You've finished me off, an' I owe you two now, an' it's too early to go to sleep."

My Cindy grinned. "TV? Cards? Both?"

"Both." Cindy was fun to play cards with. It was always a battle. We were 50-50 at rummy. I tossed her a t-shirt. "Cover up." I put on a t-shirt and gym shorts, with no underpants. We went into the other end of the trailer where the TV and sofa were, and I pulled a little table out for us to play cards on. And we laughed and played and talked and even watched some TV. At ten, it was bedtime.

We crawled in from opposite sides. Well, I started to crawl in.

"Uh-uh," she chided.

"What?"

"Take those shorts off. They get in my way."

"Okay," I smiled.

We slid together under the covers and her hand just naturally grabbed my dick, gently fondling, soothing, juggling my balls in her hand. Finally she rolled on her side facing away from me, and I turned toward her, spooning up behind her. She wiggled her ass onto my dick. I put an arm around her and squeezed on her titties gently, feeling the nipples harden, then I drifted my hand downward, my fingers stroking her pubic mound, firm beneath her panties. The final sound I heard before I dozed off was her "mmmmm".

And so went the week. By Friday a couple of things happened. First, Cindy's period was over. Second, we were settling into a happy routine. Thursday was another trip to the library. More books. We had to figure out how to work a little space into our togetherness. I bought a wireless card for my laptop, then gave it a little more thought, bought another one, and a laptop for Cindy. For school, of course.

Two weeks passed. I rolled into my parking spot beside my trailer. Its door flew open and Cindy bounced out to meet me. This was a sore point, because the first thing that came to both our minds at the end of the day was an embrace that went well past the "young girl greeting her friend" scale.

I met her eyes. "Nuh-uh..." I said.

"Oh, I knowwww," she countered. "I just wanted to tell you that the scores came back on my test. They're gonna call Mizz Helen about them."

"Okay," I said. I looked back towards the office. Helen's SUV was still there. "Let's go tell her." I flipped open my cellphone and called the office. "Hey!" I said when Helen answered. "Can you hang around a minute? Me an' Cindy need to talk to you."

"I was gonna call you," she said. "Got a call from school about Cindy."

"Yes, ma'am," I said. "We're on the way..."

One thing that HAD changed in the last two weeks was that Helen was on our tiny inside circle. How tiny? I knew. Cindy knew. Helen knew. So when we entered the office and I leaned up against the counter, I had Cindy almost welded to my side. She shook her head to get a strand of hair out of her eyes.

Helen smiled. "I like your haircut, sugar," she told Cindy.

"Thank you, Mizz Helen, but I'm gonna need a trim soon," she said.

"We can get that done, baby," said Helen. Then she turned to me. "So, Dan, the school calls me since I'm her guardian. They want to see me about some tests she took a couple of weeks ago."

"Good? Bad?" I questioned.

"Oh, don't get your drawers in a wad. They said they're very much pleasantly surprised."

"Well good, then..."

"Yeah, and they want a parent-teacher conference to talk about it. I told them that I wanted to bring you 'cuz I'm a ol' country girl an' I don't know much about that stuff."

"Okay. I'm up for that. When?"

"Next Tuesday. Nine AM. Counselor's office at the middle school."

"I can do that. I'll make sure."

"This is good, right?" questioned Cindy.

"Yeah, baby, if by 'good' you mean you have to stop skatin' through classes and buckle down an' use your brain..."

"What'd'ya mean, Dan," asked Helen.

"Well Helen, it's like this. Our little Cindy's mind in regular classes is kinda like having a NASCAR racer in the Wal-Mart parkin' lot. She's never had to use most of the horsepower."

"Yah think so?" Helen was perhaps not privy to Cindy's scholastic abilities, having only seen her at the pool and bouncing in and out of the office over the summer.

Cindy was smiling. She should be smiling. I was complimenting her. "Yeah. I KNOW so. So far, it's been a good thing because Cindy's mom wasn't real big on education, so all by herself, Cindy's been able to stay at grade level, all without help, and apparently without trying very hard." I winked at Cindy.

Helen popped, "It's a wonder she went to school at all..."

I continued. "Since this year began, I've been watching her. That "Please, Mr. Dan, help me with my homework" act got thin after the first week. She's sort of idling through her classes now."

"So what do you think they're gonna tell us Tuesday?"

"What I just told you. Except they're gonna tell you in "Professional Educator" language to make it sound mysterious." I fully expected to meet some product of the "Of educators, FOR educators" professional educator type.

"An' what's that mean to me?" asked Cindy.

"Yeah," said Helen.

"Now that could be interesting. I don't know what schools around here offer. Some places would move her into advanced classes. Some might try to move her up a grade or two."

"But she'd be fourteen in high school?"

"Yeah," I said. "I don't know if I like that."

"Me neither," Cindy chimed in. "Middle school boys are yuck enough. Older? No way!" She caught my eye. "Boys, I mean." She swung her hip to bump against my thigh. "You're NOT a boy."

"I guess we need to see what they say, then," I said. "and you can tell 'em I'm her tutor, Helen."

Helen smiled at the two of us. "Ain't that somethin'," she laughed. "Next thing you'll tell me is that she's wantin' to be an engineer..."

And Cindy giggled.

Helen laughed back. "Figures," she snorted. "So that's next Tuesday. Ya'll got plans for the weekend?"

"Yeah," Me an' Cindy're going to Mobile. Nice hotel. Nice restaurants. Tickets to a symphony."

"A symphony?" Helen arched an eyebrow, looked at Cindy. "Since when do you do symphonies?"

"Since Dan showed me that there's more to music than what Mom listened to."

"Dan, Dan, Dan..." Helen laughed, "You're the damnedest thing I ever saw. Take a girl out of an Alabama trailer park an' get her to studyin' engineerin' an' listenin' to classical music in a month an' a half..."

That got both of Cindy's arms wrapped around me as she told Helen, "He is somethin', ain't he?"

"Ya'll go get packed. You got an adventure to go on," said Helen. "I'll probably not see you 'til Monday."

Cindy bounced out toward our (yes, it was "ours" now) trailer. I looked at that cute jeans-clad butt and that red hair swinging. I turned to Helen. "Lady," I said, "I'll never be able to thank you enough."

Helen was smiling as I left to follow Cindy.

By six-thirty we were checked into a hotel.

"Look at the size of this shower, baby," she called from the bathroom.

"Yeah, I specifically asked about it."

Her red head peeked around the corner, smiling. "Big enough for two, huh?"

I smiled back at her. "Absolutely. But first, what're you hungry for? And pizza an' fried catfish are NOT acceptable choices."

"Chinese? You keep tellin' me about Chinese." My Cindy'd never had Chinese.

"I think we can do that. We'll do a buffet so you can pick and choose."

School clothes and work clothes were good enough for Chinese buffets, so out the door we went. I mused about what others would see when they saw us, the odd couple, forty-two and fourteen, 6'2" and 5'3" ... could have been as innocent as dad and daughter ... could have been just that. But how many would have seen two people who'd found their lifemates?

Dinner was a huge success. After cautioning Cindy, "Try a little bit. If you like it, go back for more..." I led her down the buffet line, giving her a running but not too specific commentary. The sushi bar was revelatory. As in "Ewwww!!! Raw fish?!?!?"

But even raw fish was worth a try. And a smile. A further adventure was chopsticks. I used them and got bemused stares. Of course I expected the next, "Let me try" and bits of food flew for a minute, and by the end of the meal, she might not be an expert, but she wasn't scared of them. And we were full. And back in the room just after dark.

Our first showering together. A soapy, wet Cindy is a delightful creature. There's something supremely sensual about two naked bodies in a shower. I already knew this. Cindy found out for the first time. I found out that I'd been missing the upper levels of the experience. She was drying her hair as I was shaving. Short, jawline length hair. She was dry and brushed to perfection and I was shaved and she had my hand, tugging me towards the kingsized bed. We turned back the covers from opposite sides and met in the middle.

The result was a multitude of happy variations to the timeless mechanics of lovemaking. How wonderful can things be, when two people live to hear and taste and feel and see pleasures in their mates? We were finding out.

She rode me. Climbed on top, slid her wet pussy up and down the underside of my hardness a couple of times, smearing me generously with little girl juices, then rose up the exact right distance and angle for the head of my dick to line up with her wet, tight pussy. And slid herself down over me. And she rode. Hard. I held onto her hips. Not for guidance. Not for control. Just because it was HER. She held my wrists and tossed her head back as she neared the edge. I watched her eyes squeeze shut, she bit her bottom lip, snorting short, sharp breaths through her nose, mewing sounds escaping her closed mouth as my hips thrust up to meet her moves, and her "Nnnngghhhhhh!" as she came coincided with my first spurts of hot semen inside her. We shared our spasms together then she collapsed into my open arms. When she scooted up to kiss me, my soft, soppy dick fell out of her pussy. We kissed, long, soft, savoring.

Finally she said, "We're gonna have a mess if we don't clean up..." and she spun around on me. "Too late. You're gonna sleep in the wet spot!" But that didn't stop either of us from licking and sucking the other clean.

Of course, eager lips and tongue had the expected effect on my dick. "I love feelin' it grow in my mouth," she announced. She slid off me and repositioned herself between my legs and lavished kisses and licks and nips and sucks on my balls. I was fully hard again.

"Come up here," I said. She complied. I wrapped her in my arms and our mouths locked together. As we kissed I rolled the two of us over, positioning me above her. Her legs spread, allowing me to sink between her thighs. I moved up, the head of my dick probing for heaven. And found it. As I eased into her, those legs wrapped around me, drawing me in.

Our pubic bones met. "Dan," she said, "Fuck me. Make me come again."

We'd discussed the difference between making love and fucking. We'd made love already. We fucked. Humping, snorting, grabbing, pounding, wet, hot ... Orgasmic. I was spent. Cindy was immobilized.

I climbed out of bed and returned with a moist facecloth and wiped her face. She purred.

"Dan," she said, "I don't think that sex is always this good between two people. Not listenin' to Mom. But I think it's supposed to be just like this. You an' me do it right."

"Yes, princess. I always dreamed of having you."

"You didn't even know me. When you were old enough for sex, I wasn't even born."

"I know. But I had an idea of what perfection was. And then you came along, and you showed me that I didn't have enough imagination."

"Not enough imagination?" she questioned.

"Yes, dearest, you're even better than I ever dreamed."

She looked at me through dreamy eyes. "An' I'll never be with another man for all my life. You're my everything." She pulled my hand to get me beside her. We snuggled.

"TV?" she asked.

"Sure!" I gave her the remote. Fifty channels of "nothing's on." She found a movie, a fairly recent chick flick. "You don't mind this, do you?"

"No, that's fine."

We watched, laughing at the absurd, all the time I was thinking that what was on the screen wasn't even close to being as improbable as my life was at this very moment.

Sex scene. Shot so nothing showed, of course. "Hmph!" Cindy snorted. "We beat THAT seven nights a week." She kissed me. "Sometimes two or three times a night!" She saw something that hinted at the girl going down on the guy and said, "Hah! Watch this!" And with an audible gulp, she took my whole soft dick into her mouth. "Mmmmmm ... D'you think mine's better?"

"Yeah. Because THAT guy didn't lose consciousness when SHE did'im. And YOU are far prettier. No silicone. No plastic. No makeup. Just pure, perfect Cindy."

She was back up, cheek resting on my shoulder, my arm around her. "I'm not perfect, Dan."

"You are, for me."

"An' you are, for me."

Sometime later the TV sleep timer timed out. We didn't know. Satiated. Together. And what more could be asked?

Saturday morning I woke before Cindy. I regarded her sweet form, clad in a white cotton t-shirt, no panties. I couldn't keep my hands off that body. I gently traced the multiples of delightful young curves, leg, hip, waist, stomach upward to the curve of those A-cup breasts.

She stirred. I showered gentle kisses, pushing her bangs aside with my lips to kiss her forehead. Her eyelids fluttered, opening, and she pulled my face down to match our lips up. Completing that connection, mobile hands pulled me further as she rolled onto her back. She slid sideways under me, shoving her right leg under me, positioning me between her thighs.

I hadn't intended to do anything but wake her up for breakfast. My dick, however, noted further possibilities and hardened. That was a good thing, because mobile young hips meant a pussy was searching. And found. And we slid together. And from the fucking of last night, we went into the gentle sweet love-making now.

I didn't hurry. I stroked slowly, deeply, letting her hips move and angle and wiggle, keeping her little clit in motion against the shaft that was penetrating her, and I just rode along, knowing that she was the one who would come this morning. As she neared the edge, she pulled my lips to hers, sounding her orgasmic moans into my mouth past our tongues. And as her body shuddered, mine released in response. I felt her pussy walls kneading my dick inside her, milking my semen from my body into hers.

Finally we rolled apart.

"I can't believe you haven't said 'good morning', sweetie..."

"Mmmm," she purred. "Don't actions say it better'n words?"

"Yeah ... yeah they do." I laughed. "Better do a quick shower. One of us smells like sex..."

We showered, then went out for breakfast, then rode around for a while, waiting for the mall to open. Cindy was excited. "I hardly EVER got to the mall. Maybe three or four times. An' Mom never spent much on me."

"Sweetie," I told her, "malls aren't exactly my thing, but today's your day, an' I have a platinum card an' I know how to use it. So let's go." And off we went. And twice we had to go back out to the truck to drop off bags of new clothes and shoes. The back of the crew cab was full of colorful plastic. I took her by the hand to a jeweler. She left there sporting a delicate gold chain. "We'll think about what to put on it..."

Lunch was at the food court. In the noise and crowds of a mall on a Saturday, I only had eyes for Cindy. She had her head on a swivel, noting styles and sounds and looks of teens and young adults. I noted her attentions and I admit it caused me some unease. Finishing lunch, we made one more visit to a couple more stores. Perfume counter. I was quite happy to whip out the platinum card.

The afternoon was beginning to heat up as we walked out to the truck. I glanced sideways. Her face was at the same time excited and serene. I blame it on the green eyes. And freckles. Sprinkled across that pert nose.

Getting into the truck, she pushed the console up and took her seat next to me. We drove out, headed back to the hotel.

"D'ya believe, like, ALL those people?!?" she said.

"I saw you were lookin'."

"I was. An' listenin'. Those girls were sittin' behind me while we were eatin', they sounded so stupid ... like, clothes, an' he says, an' she goes, an' I'm like..." She looked at me. I could feel the stare. "Dan," she asked, "Honest. Am I like that? Do I sound that immature an' silly?"

"Not by a long shot, Cindy. You're refreshingly mature. Especially for your age. I noticed that back when I first talked to you at the pool."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I see this teen girl, and I figure it's all boy bands and fashions and hip-hop and nail polish. And do YOU remember the first thing you talked to me about?"

"No."

"What's gonna replace the space shuttle. I remember."

"Well who cares who Disney's pushin' for music? That stuff all sounds alike. It sucks. It ain't exactly Bach."

"Bach? Have I played Bach for you?"

"Nope. You left a CD out. "Inventions". Can you imagine this guy sittin' there at one of those huge church organs an', like, just INVENTING music like that?"

It was a good thing we were at a traffic light. I had to kiss her. "What a delightful brain you have inside that pretty head," I laughed. "So you didn't see all those young people and wish that was YOU?"

"No way, babe. Those girls, that whole table of 'em, they talked for half an hour an' never used a word with more than two syllables. An' the guys were worse. I mean, if you can't even figure out which way your cap goes on your head ... Please!"

"That's the style, baby..."

"An' what's "style"? A synonym for "stupid"? Huh!"

My darling used "synonym" and it wasn't in a vocabulary exercise. No wonder I was in love.

She was on a roll. "So, babe, how 'bout we go back to the room, I pick out what to wear tonight, an' I get a chance to make love to a real smart, wonderful, mature guy who's gonna be my husband in, oh, like a year an' eleven months..."

"Your wish is my command..."

We hauled a full load of bags back into the room. She laid out several outfits. New. And the dark green sweater and skirt. She saw my eyes. Smiled. "You like me in this."

"Yes. It brings out the very best of your beauty."

"Ya know," she said, "until you came along, I didn't know I had any beauty. An' now, I only have it for you..."

We put her outfit for the evening on hangers. Cleared the bed of clothes and bags. Turned the covers down.

"One more thing," she said.

"What?"

"I bought this with my own money." I'd given her a hundred bucks in twenties. "You were lookin' at socks or something." She held up an impossibly small amount of green cloth fastened together by what looked like thick shoelaces. "My new bathing suit." And twinkly eyes and that smirky grin. "Want me to model it?"

"Oh, yeah..."

I thought that her dropping clothes to complete nudity was pretty good. Helping her into that bikini was even better. It wasn't impossibly small and slutty. Actually, on the scale of swimwear, it was actually rather chaste, if you're thinking about, say, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, but this was on my Cindy, and the effect was breathtaking.

"What'd'ya think?" She twirled. Funny how sometimes a little bit of cover enhances the sexuality. Like she needed enhancement.

"I'm just glad you didn't show up at the pool like that the first time I met you. They'd have me in jail for baby-raping ... An' girls in suits like that don't talk about space shuttles..."

She giggled and came to sit on my lap, straddling me, her arms wrapped around my neck. And we kissed. She whispered, "How come you have all these clothes on?"

Five o'clock, we were out the door. I swear my knees were wobbling. Cindy was glowing. And smiling. We picked a good restaurant together for dinner. She was becoming more poised, familiar with etiquette and manners, and I worried not a bit about taking her to "nice" restaurants. Not anymore.

Our tickets to the concert were centered on the stage, a dozen rows back, perfect, and we shared the soaring strains of great music together, feeding our spirits. As we walked through the lobby afterward, I couldn't help but notice that more than one head turned as we passed. I like to think it was because of the striking image of this young beauty, perfect young face, red hair sleek, shiny, set off against the dark pine green of her sweater.

Nearing midnight, we were in bed in each other's arms. I still detected the wisps of her perfume (yes, THAT perfume) intertwined with the musk of a sexually sated young girl. I breathed deeply. Her face was near my ear as we eased into sleep. I heard a whisper. "Dan, I love you. We need more music like that..."

Chapter 11

Sunday morning. I woke up to a motion in the bed, it slowly dawning on me where I was. And the wet tugging at my groin reminded me who I was with. I extended a hand and stroked the tousled, sassy red hair.

"Mmmmm" and then a pop as her lips came off my dick. "Good mornin' baby..."

"Oh, gosh, Cindy," I said. "any morning that starts off with YOU is a great morning."

Suck. "Do I make a good alarm clock?"

"You are so BAD!"

"An' this thing is MADE for me to suck..." She breathed. "among other things." Giggle. "It's hard." She moved up and straddled me, sliding over me with familiarity. "Sit up," she ordered.

I sat up, taking care to keep her impaled on my hard member. We were now sitting in the middle of a mess of covers, twined together, mated. She reached her hands down and tugged the hem of her nightshirt, stripping it over her head and tossing it aside.

"You do it too," she commanded. "I need to feel your skin."

I complied. She re-established herself pressed against my chest. I could feel her nipples like pencil erasers pressing into my own breasts. Her hips were moving, circles, little bounces.

"It's, like, right there."

What's right where?" I asked.

"My clitty. It's right where your dick sticks out of you." She wiggled, biting her bottom lip. "Yeah. Right there." More wiggles. "I like this. A lot." Her eyes were happy and bright. We were coupled, mated, and she was unashamed, uninhibited with our sharing. More wiggles. "I'm gonna come like this."

"Me too." We wrapped together, rocking, me thrusting in a limited motion, her hips screwing downward, driving me into her. Minutes passed. Her eyes closed tightly and her breathing changed to sharp snorts. I slid my hands down the curve of her back, resting just above her mobile ass.

"I'm coming, baby. I can't hold it any longer." I thrust up hard, trying to get my dick as deep into her as I could before releasing. My first spurt triggered her. We melded, simultaneously consumed in orgasms. And stayed that way, snug together, almost a single unit. I could feel the combined wetness of our orgasms slowly flow from her down over my pubic mound and balls. And we sat there.

She finally sighed. "Dan, don't ya know? This is, like, perfect. I mean, US. We're perfect together."

"I believe so, Cindy. I know it."

"Yeah," she said dreamily. "Perfect. And hungry."

"So ... breakfast, then come back and load up, or load up now and go to breakfast?"

She pulled back a few inches. I gazed, enraptured by those eyes. "Let's load up! Then Denny's!"

"My sweetie is HUNGRY!"

She hugged into me again and her teeth fastened on my ear, sending chills over my entire body, and the little minx KNEW it. Giggled at my shudder. "Yeah," she giggled. "For pancakes THIS time!" I popped her on her ass with my palm, eliciting a squeal. We broke apart. Her nostrils flared. "Oh, babe, I think we need one of those post-sex showers before we go downstairs..."

"Yeah. A good one. 'Cuz tonight we're back to those one at a time showers in the trailer."

"You're right," she said.

"But we can do this hotel thing again. Heaven knows I'm makin' enough money to afford it."

Fifteen minutes later the two of us possessed the cleanest genitalia in the state. I took advantage of her drying her hair to do an uncharacteristic morning shave. Then we started dressing, she choosing loose-fitting cotton shorts and a simple light blue cotton blouse, I in khaki cargo shorts and a short-sleeved rugby shirt. I was pulling my trousers up when she said, "Nuh-uh. Come here."

I stepped over towards her and she grabbed the loose waistband of my shorts and pulled me towards her. She was sitting on the edge of the bed. She released her grip on my shorts and looked up at me grinning lasciviously as she fished my dick free of my underwear. "One more for the road," she giggled. And lavished a wet, lingering suck on me. Then giggled. "I need more practice puttin' this thing away when it's hard..."

"Thank you," I grinned as I jiggled to pull up my cargo shorts and snapped them and fastened my belt.

We packed up our overnight bags, checked the room carefully for anything missed earlier, then each with an overnight bag slung over a shoulder and two hands full of shopping bags, we exited. Walking out of the room, down the elevator, and past the cheery clerk at the front desk, I wondered, hoped, that nobody would tie this forty-year old guy and young teen girl with the sticky spots left in the middle of that bed.

Twenty minutes later we were seated in a booth at Denny's, I on one side, she, chastely and smiling sweetly, on the other, waiting on pancakes. And a glass of milk. And coffee, as in, "Dan, I've drank it before. You drink it. Why can't I?" Post-breakfast, that put us back into the park at ten. Of course, we stopped at the front office to show Helen the Saturday acquisitions.

"You DO look good in good clothes, honey," Helen told her.

"Thank you, Mizz Helen," replied Cindy.

I looked at Helen. "And did you and the judge have another date last night? Hmmm?"

"Yes, we did," Helen smiled. "And Friday night, too."

"Hey, if this is getting serious, I might need to meet him. You know, make sure he's suitable..."

"Oh, get away..." she laughed.

Then a thought crossed my mind. A dark thought. "Uh, Helen..." I said, "This is the judge that signed the court order makin' you Cindy's guardian, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Has he, like, asked about her? Like why she's not around?"

"You know, Dan, if I thought that was a problem, I'd've not gone out with him. Judge's one a'us. I tol' him what was goin' on. An' he's the one who said I should be the guardian so when little darlin' there (and Cindy smiled sweetly) turns sixteen, I can get him to sign off on you marryin' her."

"So the judge knows..."

"Yeah. But you don't know the judge. Like you don't know that him an' my Herb were classmates in school?"

"How could I know that?"

"You couldn't, just like you couldn't know that me an' the judge's wife were the same age, either."

"Whaaat?" I was mildly stunned.

"Yep. Judge knows about older guys and younger girls. An' he grilled me pretty hard about you. And cutie there. " Another one of those smiles from the cutie in question. "An' the judge, he's eighty-something, but he's hardy stuff, an' ain't goin' nowhere, and you know, just maybe he an' I..."

I smiled. "Good for you, Helen."

"Yeah, it's good for me," she said. "I like the old goat. But YOU don't worry. Okay?"

"Okay." I turned to Cindy. "Come on, babe," I said. "Let's go put your stuff up."

"Oh, by the way," said Helen. "You might want to go through her old trailer, make sure you don't want nothing out of it. I got a buyer, as is, where is, an' it's gone by Friday."

"We can go look," Cindy said. "But there's nothing in there that I need. Dan gives me everything." She smiled.

"Yeah," laughed Helen, "I guess he does." And there were TWO wicked smiles.

Back at the trailer, I rearranged stuff in the storage closets so that Cindy had more room. Girls take up room. Lots of room. But you know what? They're worth it.

As I was shuffling the closets and she was hauling in the loot, she said, "Wanna microwave somethin' for lunch?"

"Either that or we run up to the catfish joint."

"You know," I said, "fried catfish sounds good right now. Microwave something for dinner?"

"I can do that."

Hour and half, we're back. "Pool?" she said, looking at me.

"Yeah, but wear your old suit."

"Why?"

"Because if you wear that bikini, every male in the place is gonna follow you with his eyes everywhere you go, including back in this trailer with me. Save the bikini for tomorrow when we don't have weekenders."

"Okay," she said, a little dejectedly.

We walked from the trailer to the pool, her with a beach bag with our towels, joining several of the weekenders. There were two couples, a pre-teen girl and slightly younger boy, and a couple of teens, a boy and a girl. Cindy sat the bag down on one of the lounges and slid into the deep end of the pool. The teen boy was already headed her way, all but leaving a trail of drool behind him.

I nodded greetings to the adults and slid into the deep end myself. I didn't mix with the kids. I did a lazy crawl back and forth for a few laps, then climbed out of the pool, passed a towel over my head to get the water out of my eyes, then lay back on a lounge. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw our young teen stud chatting up my future bride. He was trying, anyway. Cindy was talking to the girl, apparently his sister, more and laughing and calling to the two younger children in the pool.

I chatted with the parents of both sets of kids, how they liked coming down here for a weekend while it was still warm enough, how it was a two hour drive, how one of them had a car dealership in a small town and the other was a manager at a paper mill. When that one found out I was an engineer, conversation wandered around to jobs and where I'd worked and we found we had some commonality of acquaintances.

Cindy finally climbed out of the pool. She was absently toweling off her hair when car dealer guy said, "Man, I think my boy is interested in HER."

"Yeah," I said. "Unfortunately any straight male with a pulse is interested in her. I have to chaperone."

"Doesn't she live in that trailer 'way over there in the corner?" he asked.

"Used to. She's the manager's foster daughter now."

"Oh," he said.

"MISTER Dan," Cindy piped in, "Stop talking' about me like I'm not here!"

"Oh, sorry, Cindy..."

She smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Mr. Dan," she cooed. Then to car dealer guy she said, "Mr. Dan thinks I have to be watched all the time. He's so protective. But he does serve a function. Engineers make good math tutors."

Car dealer guy said "Yeah, me, I just have to plug numbers into a form these days. Ain't like it used to be."

Cindy's tinkling laughter. "Oh, here we go. "I walked to school in the snow. Up hill both ways."

Car dealer guy's wife weighed in, "Don't let 'em get to you, hon. Back when they took math there weren't as many numbers." That got general laughter. And drooling teen boy was now standing, dripping, trying to get any sort of notice from Cindy.

Cindy noticed, alright. "Steve, you're dripping on me..." she said icily.

"Uh ... sorry."

She turned to me. "Dan, I need you to go over those problems I have to turn in tomorrow. My books are in the office, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah..." I stood, picking up my towel. "Go change. I don't want buttprints all over my furniture." I nodded to the group. "Duty calls."

We walked out of earshot together. "Well, what's the deal with young Studly there?"

Giggle. "If he was an adult he'd have his shirt unbuttoned and be wearin' a rolex an' a big gold chain around his neck. And a bad comb-over."

"That bad?"

"Yeah. At least he didn't offer me weed."

Arriving at the trailer, we had the office between us and the pool, so they couldn't see that Cindy waltzed right in with me. She clicked the lock behind us. And slapped me on the ass. "Buttprints all over?!?? I'll put a buttprint on your FACE!"

"Oh, please, lady ... what do I have to do to get that?"

"Cindy's Dan is an ass," she laughed.

We did actually open the books, just to review, but it was like Einstein doing his multiplication tables. A trip to the pool meant the showers were short. All I had to do was rinse and shave, and Cindy washed her hair and dried it as I brushed it out for her. As promised, we did TV dinners. And TV and two computers.

I pointed her to a couple of sites that talked about advanced placement courses. She looked. "Dan, this stuff's interesting."

"Baby, it's like you've been walking on the lawn and you decide to take off through the woods. It's gonna be more work. But if you're into engineering or any of the other science fields, you're going to get to this stuff eventually."

"You'll be around to push an' pull, though."

I leaned over and kissed her. "Yes I will. But don't worry about this stuff tonight. We'll find all that stuff out Tuesday."

I listened to the sounds of two RV's leaving the park. Two of them. We were alone again. "Babe, do you need to see if there's anything you want out of your old trailer? Books? Pictures? Keepsakes?"

"No, babe," she said. "When I left, there wasn't anything there. Didn't have much room. You seem to think that Mom was one a'them moms' that kept baby books an' stuff. Never happened. Old toys? No room in the trailer. Pictures? Not of me."

Note to self. Pictures of Cindy. Just Cindy. And Cindy and me. The two of us. I told her so. That got a squeal and a hug. And kisses. "I'll see about an appointment," I said.

We watched the news. She wanted to discuss a couple of stories. We did. I encouraged her to look on the internet for other slants on the same story. "Remember, baby," I said, "they present a lot of stories like they're all just black and white, but that's not usually the case. Often there's gray areas."

"You mean, like laws that are supposed to protect young girls from old men?"

"Exactly. Both sides of the argument trot out the most extreme case to show their point."

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "We're, like, the BEST case."

"Pretty much. But the law is built around the very worst case. And here we are."

"Yeah. Sucks."

"Uh, yeah."

"Dan," she said, serious face on, "What you an' me are doin'? Do you think it's wrong?"

"Not in my heart. I fully intend to be your husband for the rest of my life. And your partner. And whatever it takes for you to reach whatever goals you set."

"But laws..."

"I know, sweetie, but here's the deal. The law is about sex. And sex with you is the most wonderful I've ever experienced. Until you, I couldn't even imagine it that good, but even without the sex, I still love you and care for you and want you to have the best chance to see your potential." I looked at her. "Seriously, though, you're in total control here. You could make one phone call and they'd haul me off in handcuffs and I wouldn't see the light of day for twenty years. So if you're having second thoughts..."

"Are you kiddin' me, Dan? If I stayed with Mom, who knows? I could be in Vegas, bein' some guy's pet there, an' I bet he wouldn't be carin' about me an' him takin' pictures that I want to hang on MY wall. Or what? Little Studly at the pool? Or one a'those guys to go with those bimbos at the mall? Hah! You treat me like I'm more than a body. You make me WANT to be smart. Smarter. Like smart is important, not what color my hair is or how big my tits are. You know, you put all that bein' smart stuff ahead of everything. You act like you don't care if we ever have sex, or make love, or whatever..." she sighed. "An' THAT makes me want to be with you all the more."

I let her slide into my lap.

"You know, in the last few weeks, I went to the library for the first time. I flew in an airplane. Heck, I FLEW the airplane. And a real live concert that didn't have beer on tap. Yeah, I am sooooo molested. Nope, Dan, I'll never leave you."

"Okay, Cindy princess. Just tell me every now and then."

"When you see me smile, babe, I'm tellin' you. When I slide into bed beside you, I'm tellin' you. An; when I come home every day, I'm tellin' you. And I'll say it. You know, I'd ... wait! You got me this chain..." She fingered the delicate gold chain around her neck. She looked at me. "Dan," she said, "I've never asked you for anything, have I?"

I thought back. You know, she hadn't. The closest thing to asking for something is to pick what's for supper. "No, baby, you never have."

"Then Dan, this is the first time I ever asked you for something."

"What'd'ya want, baby?"

"I want a ring. An engagement ring. I can tell people it's a friendship ring. It shouldn't have a diamond, though. Maybe engraved. But gold. And you'll know and I'll know what it is." She showed me a picture she'd printed off the internet. "Like this!"

"You got it, cutie," I said. "Saturday we're going shopping for a ring." I kissed her. "And please," I said, "stop scaring me like this."

"I'm sorry, baby," she said, "Mom left. Period. All that. And topped it all off by getting hit on by Studly."

"Yeah, Studly's dad thought you were hot, too. I thought I was gonna have to get my gun."

"You have a real gun? In this trailer?"

"Four of 'em actually."

"Uh, you didn't tell me that."

"You didn't ask. You also didn't ask if I had a pair of pliers, a kitchen knife, a hacksaw or a screwdriver. Guns are tools."

"But a GUN? Why?"

"I have things to protect. Me. My property. And now, my Cindy."

"Where?"

"Where what?"

"Where are they at?"

I reached into the space beside the sofa and pulled out a pistol. "One," I said. Rear of top shelf of Cindy's closet. Shotgun. "Two." Inside my closet. AR-15 rifle. "Three". Nightstand by our bed. Another pistol. "Four".

"Wow. Are they loaded?"

"Of course they're loaded. An unloaded gun is an expensive, oddly-shaped stick."

"You know how to shoot?"

"I guess. I was an engineer lieutenant in the army for five years."

"Oh, yeah, I remember you tellin' me that."

"Do guns scare you?"

"I guess not. But I don't know anything about them."

"I will be glad to teach you. If you want."

"Don't you think I better learn? I mean, if they're like, HERE?"

"No, I think you better learn if you think you might use one to protect yourself or others. Those guns have never jumped out of the drawer and gone out looking for trouble. They haven't attacked you as many times as you've been here."

"I think you should teach me," she smirked. "Guns too."

"Then I need to find out about a range around here. I'll ask around tomorrow. Mizz Helen might even know."

"You'd protect me. You WANT to protect me."

"Of course. That's being civilized."

"But what about that whole violence thing? Guns an' violence?"

"My guns aren't violent. I'm civilized. I am responsible for my safety and the safety of my family. That'd be you. And vice versa."

"Wow. Guns. Uh, Dan, any other surprises?"

"Waaaaiiiiitttt! This is freakin' ALABAMA! Guns shouldn't be a surprise."

"Not at Mom's. Not that I knew of. Maybe we better go look tomorrow, though."

"Okay. Enough of that. Next subject? Are you nervous about Tuesday?"

"Nah ... I think that even if I don't get that good of scores, I am still makin' straight A's anyway."

"Good point! But if I had to bet..."

"Bet what?"

"Bet that you didn't do that well ... I think that if you did your best and paid attention, you're on your way..."

She smiled. "You know, there's been a lot of adventure in my life since we met."

"Just remember that when the adventure wears off, the hard work is still there, babe. At least in school. And work. But me an' you? Every day I live with you is a happy adventure."

"You're sweet, Dan. You didn't have to say that. But you did."

"Just because it's true, is all..."

It's just now good 'n' dark. Are you up for another little adventure?"

"Dark? Adventure? You got me now."

She smiled. "Remember that place we went to by that lake? We drove right up to the edge?"

"Yeah," I said. I remembered the place. Took a country road and a short logging trail, but it was pretty.

"You wanna drive over there an' look at the stars?"

"Sure!" Twenty minutes up the road. "Get some clothes on. Birthday suits don't count."

I pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt and slipped on some comfy loafers in the time it took her to do shorts and a blouse. We were out the door in the dark. Twenty minutes later I turned off the engine. We got out of the truck, I with a blanket under my arm.

"Just look at the sky, Dan..." She turned her face heavenward, its features illuminated by moonlight, and becoming more visible to me as my own eyes adjusted to the darkness. She turned to me. "Spread that blanket in the bed of the truck so we can lay down an' look up."

I dropped the tailgate of the truck and spread the blanket as directed and we crawled into the bed of the truck. The blanket did little to soften the steel underneath us, but it was comfortable enough to lay on. Any more strenuous activity, though, was out of the question. The autumn air was comfortably cool, moist, like velvet. Cindy was lying beside me, and her hand found mine and she intertwined our fingers.

"It's magnificent," she said. "We can't see this many stars at the park. Too much light. But here..."

"It is majestic, yes, baby..."

"D'ya think Beethoven was thinkin' stars when he wrote some of that music?"

"I dunno. I see a sky like this and I wish I could put the emotions to music, don't you?"

"Yeah, that's what I mean." She sighed. "See, Dan, you've given me the stars."

"I know, sweetness. I've seen them in your eyes..."

That statement of fact got Cindy up on one elbow to kiss me. "Ouch!" she muttered. "Truck bed's too hard!"

I dragged her on top of me. Kissed her. "Roll over on your back," I said. "and scoot down a little." She complied. I held her in my arms, my chin on the top of her star-lit head.

"I feel you breathe," she said.

"And every breath brings me your sweetness, baby. Mmmmm..."

She wiggled a bit and settled in my arms. Sometimes communication is communion and words are wasted. Like now. The spell finally broke. It took a meteor streaking across the night sky.

"I made a wish," she said.

"Me too." I gave her a squeeze. "Hah! Looks like I got mine..."

"If you're still holdin' me like this in twenty years, I'll have twenty years of mine..." She rolled over and kissed me. "Let's go home."

"Okay, baby."

We got up, I folded the blanket, put it back in the back section of the crew cab, and twenty minutes later we were walking in our door. The clothes came off and Cindy was kneeling in the middle of our bed. Naked. Smiling. And how could I refuse that?

Chapter 12

Monday. I'm not a Monday-phobe, but when the alarm went off I was immediately plastered with a t-shirt-clad Cindy. Kisses. And she started to slide down in the bed. Nothing but the most sterling amount of dedication kept me from just calling in sick. "No, baby."

"Awww, just little bit? An' you can do me?"

"Okay. Just a little bit."

We had our little bit. Got going five minutes late, purposefully moving around the trailer, two cereal bowls, the coffee going, clothes, faces washed, her hair beautifully brushed. TV on to catch the morning news and weather. At seven I was out the door headed to work and Cindy was ten minutes from getting on the bus to school.

I hummed through the day, invoices, change orders, field sketches, pointing out things to the construction crew I dealt with. It wasn't even hard. It's what I had been doing for years and I was good at it. That's why I was here. But four o'clock couldn't come fast enough for me. I didn't need to lose myself in work anymore. I had a life. A five foot three inch, redheaded, green-eyed, freckled life. I didn't hang around after four.

I guess Cindy and Helen were watching for me when I turned my truck into the park, because Cindy waved me to the office.

I walked in. Cindy was leaning halfway across the counter, her arms folded under her, a position that accentuated a pair of small, but very much delectable breasts. "I was just tellin' Mizz Helen about our weekend."

Helen smiled. "Sounds like you're giving her the world."

"Nah," I answered, "I'm just showin' her parts of it. She decides what she wants to get and how to work for it."

"She said you're buying her a ring?"

I looked Helen, then at Cindy. Cindy smiled. "I want to. She wants one. We decided that it won't LOOK like an engagement ring."

"But it is," said Cindy.

"Sweet girl," said Helen. "Take care of her, Dan..."

"It's my life's goal now. Not to change the subject, but we're still doing nine o'clock at the school?"

"Uh-huh," answered Helen. "I may even put on a dress."

"What? And ruin my image of you?"

"Hah! You ought to see me dressed up to go out with the judge. Maybe we can double date some time."

"Nuh-uh," I said. "I ain't rubbin' his nose in this."

"Ain't like that, Dan. He's interested. Wants to make sure things are good between you and Cindy..."

"They're good!" chirped Cindy. "Real good." And the little thing looked at me with a wink that would have been an exaggeration in a vaudeville act.

"Okay, you," I said. "D'ya have homework?"

"Of course. About twenty minutes worth. Let's do some laps at the pool."

"Okay, Helen, I guess I'll see you at school in the morning, then. Let me go drown this girl."

And we went to the trailer, swapped street clothes for bathing suits. I had the same old trunks I've worn for two years. Cindy looked like something off a magazine cover in her new bikini. I swallowed. I extended a towel to her. "Wrap this around you while we walk to the pool," I said.

"But, Dan, you've seen more than this."

"Yeah, I have. But nobody else has. Humor me. For a little while, at least."

"Okay," she said. We walked to the pool. She shed the towel as soon as we were inside the fenced enclosure. And she was in the water.

I went in with her. We did a few laps. I'd coached her into a pretty decent crawl stroke, and she cut the water alongside me for fifteen minutes of swimming, then we both hung in the water on the deep end of the pool, cooling. I felt her sidle against me, her hip bumping mine.

She took a deep, cleansing breath. "That's a good exercise, huh?"

"Yeah. We need something to get rid of all the fried catfish."

Giggles. "Well, we do other exercises, too, you know. We get quite aerobic, don'tcha know..."

"You're an evil, lusty little girl. I may just have to keep you to myself so you won't get in trouble."

Her laughter tinkled in my ears. "I'm already in trouble. I let myself fall in love with some ol' guy an' sometimes I love him so much I can't see straight."

It's a good thing we had the pool to ourselves, because I couldn't stop myself from kissing her. And the kiss got me a squeeze on the bulge in my trunks.

"Come on! Let's get out. We have to figure out supper."

We were toweling off beside the pool. "Let's make Monday a salad day."

"Salad?" I asked.

"Yeah, you know ... green stuff. Like they serve before your fried catfish platter?" Her green eyes glittered mirthfully.

"Oh, yeah ... salad. That's a twenty mile drive."

"What else are you gonna do?" she asked.

"Take you to supper, get your homework done, watch TV, and then go make love to the most remarkable woman I've ever met."

Smirk. "She sounds great! When am I gonna meet her?"

"Where'd you learn to be such a butt?" I laughed.

Walking past the office, we caught Helen locking up. I waved. Cindy unwrapped her towel to show Helen her new bathing suit. My cellphone was ringing when I walked in the trailer. Helen.

"Yes ma'am," I answered.

"Lord, Dan, don't let her wear that thing on weekends. You're gonna have to pack a gun."

"Tell me about it. The one-piece was bad enough. I may just have to make her wear a gunny sack."

"You just make sure you watch her. I don't think SHE'd do anything. But half the population is male..."

"Yeah, I know."

"Okay, seeya tomorrow. Nine."

"Yes'm. Bye."

"What was THAT about? Me?"

"Yeah. You an' your bikini. Mizz Helen said the same thing I did. I need to watch you."

She wrapped me up in a hug. "You can watch me naked. I'm takin' a shower."

Just under half an hour later I was feeling civilized, freshly shaved, and Cindy was charming simplicity, face glowing, hair perfectly combed and shining, jeans and a simple cotton blouse. We left to chase the elusive south Alabama salad.

On a tip from one of the secretaries at the project, I headed to a medium-sized town fifteen miles away where there was a little restaurant run by two elderly ladies who struggled to make a living providing a genteel setting and food that didn't involve vats of boiling oil. They cooed over the image that my Cindy presented. There were two or three other couples in the place, and we got royal treatment. And the place actually had some good-looking vegetable dishes. We had our salads. With a nice vinaigrette, thank you. And steamed asparagus with fresh hollandaise. And portobello mushrooms stuffed with rice pilaf.

We left with promises to return.

Back to the trailer. Homework. Took longer to write the answers than find them again. And we talked about where you could go with the math and science she was studying. I didn't need to talk to her about English. She was blossoming in language skills in our daily conversations. After homework, the stereo came on, not the TV. And books came out. We passed an hour at opposite ends of the sofa, our legs tangled in the middle, reading.

Until bedtime. Pre-Cindy, I was usually in bed at ten and asleep by ten-thirty. With Cindy, We were in bed by nine-thirty, and worn out by ten-thirty. I used to take a sleeping aid. Cindy's enthusiastic body WAS a sleeping aid. Just like tonight, when we sixty-nined each other to orgasm, then cuddled into blissful slumber to the soaring strains of the masters.

Tuesday mornings weren't much different from Mondays. The routine was the same. Right down to the kiss before I left.

I just puttered around the project when I got there, knowing better than to get too involved in anything that I couldn't interrupt. At eight-thirty I was out the gate headed for Cindy's middle school. At least it was Alabama and a big pickup truck wasn't too out of place in the parking spaces. I walked into the unfamiliar surrounds of the middle school in my standard work outfit: safety shoes, canvas cargo pants, a denim shirt, and a pocket protector full of pens and pencils. Hey, what do you expect? I'm an engineer!

I announced my intentions and signed in, and in a few minutes I was summoned by a member of the school's administrative staff. I followed her to the counselor's office. Entering, I smiled at Helen and Cindy and introduced myself to the counselor, a guy about my age, stocky, a little shorter than me. Haircut was just a little bit on the civilian side of whitewall. I looked on his wall for the expected evidence. Yep! There it is. Honorable discharge for a Marine first lieutenant. And a framed picture of a younger version of him with a flight suit, standing next to a Harrier. I shook his hand. He pointed me into a chair next to Cindy.

Inwardly I was already cheering that I wasn't facing down some be-spectacled product of the education establishment who'd NEVER been outside the greenhouses of academe.

He spoke. "I was just telling Mizz Helen (why was she Mizz Helen to everybody?) that we got Cindy's test scores back."

I glanced at Cindy, then Mizz Helen.

He started his spiel. "First, we want to say that Cindy is a whole lot different student than she was the last two years. Last year she was a, let's see..." He flipped up a page on the stack on his desk, "oh, a C student. So far this year, it's all A's. We're very happy. And as you know, all our students took a screening test on the second day of class (I didn't know that) and based on THAT score, we selected her to take these tests. Mizz Helen ... Dan ... Cindy's in the wrong classes." He looked at me. "You're smiling."

"Yessir," I said, "you see, Mizz Helen asked me if I'd tutor Cindy at the beginning of school. Sort of help her with her homework. She doesn't need help with homework."

"How so?" he asked.

"Math. She brought home a lesson on squares and square roots. She caught that, really fast, I thought. I'm an electrical engineer, so I thought I'd give her something to chew on. I asked her to do me a square root of a negative number. She gets it. I know degreed engineers who don't get that. Do you know trig? Polar to Cartesian conversions? I use 'em at work. I showed her ONCE."

He smiled. "Yeah, that's what I thought after talking to her teachers."

Helen interrupted. "So you're sayin' that Cindy's smart?"

We both spoke at the same time, "Yes."

"So what's the bottom line," I asked. "What kind of programs do you have for her here?"

"Folks," he said, "we're just a rural Alabama school system. We don't have much. I suppose we could talk about moving her up a couple of grades, but I personally don't care for that. I can offer it, though, for ya'll to talk about." He directed his eyes to Cindy. "Little lady," he said, "d'you have any idea what you want to be?"

Cindy smiled and looked at me and then at him. "An engineer. An ELECTRICAL engineer."

He looked at Helen. Helen said, "Well, Dan's probably the first guy she ever knew that had a job that didn't involve a chainsaw or a tractor."

He looked back at Cindy. "Little lady, that's a big bite to chew on. But I just think you can do it." He paused. "Dan ... Mizz Helen ... Ya'll think about that movin' up thing. Trouble is, she'd be stickin' out like a sore thumb in high school, and you know that high school is more than just what happens in the classrooms. Besides, if she's in the top one percent here, she's going to be in the top one percent there, too. And outrunning THOSE teachers. So I'm gonna look at some programs you might be able to do at home, and get you some information. Ya'll got internet, I'm guessing?"

"Yessir," chirped Cindy.

"Some of these programs are web-based. I wish I could say I knew all about them, but I don't get a chance to deal with kids like Cindy very often. Any of you got any questions?"

Mizz Helen is the one who surprised me. "Mr. Hardesty," she asked, "since she's keepin' up so well in class, can we, like, be a little more flexible with her schedule. Say, if I wanted to take her out for a few days or a week?"

"Mizz Helen, she's NOT keeping up. She's so far ahead that she's lookin' back. I got a math teacher that trembles when Cindy walks into the room." He nodded toward me. "Dan, you shouldn't have told her about great circles and rhumb lines. Middle school math teachers don't generally understand those things."

I laughed. "I'm surpised that jarhead pilots know those things either."

Hardesty smiled wryly. "Ex-military?"

"Yeah," I said. "Army. Combat engineers."

"Figures," He snorted. "Here's my card. Call me sometime an' we'll get together an' tell lies to each other."

I took his card. "You know, I'll just do that!"

Helen snorted, "Well if you two get finished with your secret handshakes an' stuff..."

"Awww, Mizz Helen, you know how I am..."

"Yeah," she said. "Tell your momma I said 'hi', y'hear?"

"I sure will." He opened the door to let us out.

As Cindy, Helen and I walked up the hall to the front office, I told Cindy, "Now don't let your head swell. You're still polite and decent to the others. An' teachers. Okay?"

"Yes Mr. Dan." Public venue. I was "Mr. Dan." We left her at the office so she could return to class.

I walked Helen back to her mini-van. She looked at me. "None a'that surprised you at all, did it?"

"Nope. Pretty much what I expected. Except I think we'll get more help from former Marine lieutenant Hardesty than from some college girl who's never been in the real world. You know him?"

"Yeah," Helen said. "Me an' his momma were a couple a'years apart in school. She married my cousin.

"Figures," I laughed.

"So what're you gonna do about Cindy? About school, I mean?"

"I'm going to try and walk a delicate line, push her here and there, let her run with some stuff, guide her a little, and let's see what happens. I'm interested in what Hardesty comes up with, though."

I drove back to work and finished my day out. Stopped by the office trailer and stuck my head in the door. Told the secretary how much we enjoyed the restaurant. And then I went home.

Cindy was in the office again. I walked in. She was sitting in a chair, her feet propped up, smiling, a cola can in her hand. "So whatcha think?"

"I'm not a bit surprised, if that's what you mean," I said. "And what DID you ask your math teacher?"

Sweet smile. It covered up an impish mind. "Told her I was confused about the difference between a great circle route an' a rhumb line route on a long trip, an' could she explain it to me."

"Uh ... baby..."

"Welllll, she SAID she wanted us to be interested in math an' ask 'er stuff."

"But you already KNEW the answer, right? We talked about that." I thought about how many young teen girls ever got to the point of wanting to discuss spherical geometry.

"Yeah, I know ... I won't do that again. Not to her."

"Look, babe, you're starting on a long journey. You're going to need help from a lot of different people for a lot of different things, and if you start jerking them around and embarrassing them, well, they'll just pull their heads in and let you go try on your own."

The glum expression. Not one I saw often on her. Especially not lately. "You're a sweet girl. We all know that. But you're also a very intelligent girl. And your teachers should just about applaud when you show up because you're a joy to deal with, not start duckin' an' runnin' because you're gonna beat'em up with that brain of yours. So let's not do that."

"I'm sorry." She looked at me with those green eyes. "I am." She batted those long eyelashes.

I melted. Helen laughed. "Heck of a speech there, Dan," she said. "By the way," she said, "You wanna meet the judge for dinner Friday evening?"

I looked at Cindy. "You up for the big time, babe?"

"Certainly. You're gonna be there to protect me, right?"

I turned to Helen. "Put us down for a 'yes', then. A judge, huh? I'll try not to drag my knuckles in the dirt."

"Smartass," shot Helen. "You two go home an' let me close up. Ain't nobody here that I need to be concerned with." She was right. The park was empty.

As I was driving my truck the short distance to the trailer, Cindy said, "Dan, I think I wanna go through Mom's old trailer. Just one more time. Okay?"

"Sure, cutie. Let's get your key."

We retrieved her key from inside our trailer and drove across the park. At least Helen had left the air conditioning on so the place didn't smell too stale. Still, it reeked of old cigarettes. Cindy didn't even look in her tiny area at one end of the trailer. "I got all my stuff when I left," she said.

We went through the cabinets. Helen had taken all the food out. The canned goods when to the nearby church to help the needy. So did every useful bit of bed linens and other items. There was a large cardboard box filled with junk. The corner of a scrapbook showed on one side. I pulled it loose. Baby pictures. "I thought you didn't have any pictures, babe," I said.

"I didn't," she retorted.

"Look." We did. Together. An infant. A toddler. Then the annual school pictures, up until two years ago. "Can we keep this?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Just one more thing. Help me lift these mattresses." We lifted the mattress on her mom's bed. Dust. Nothing else.

"Okay," I told her. "Let's go. We're finished here." We locked the door behind us and got in the truck. "You okay, baby?"

Her face was tinged with sadness. "You know, Dan, I tried to make her happy. To make us a family. I know some kids at school who just have a mom an' they didn't have to go through what she did or didn't do with me. An' she was gettin' worse every week. An' she left so fast. A hug an' a kiss an' she said 'You'll be better off." Not 'I love you', just 'you'll be better off."

Once inside our home, I held her in my arms, and let her cry. When she finished, I kissed her gently on both cheeks. Both eyes. Said nothing. Waited for her.

"Dan, I love you. That's over. I love you. Forever."

"That's more than I ever dreamed of, baby. I love you too. Forever." Then we kissed as if we were mating, melding with our mouths and tongues.

Finally a sigh escaped her lips. "Don't sit down," she said. "It's buy one, get the second at half price at the catfish joint."

"Huhhh, after THAT kiss? I'm, what, like an appetizer?"

She surveyed me with cool green eyes. "Oh, no, guy! The catfish is the appetizer. I intend for you to be the main course."

"Then we'd better go see about our appetizers, huh?"

In less than five minutes we were buckled in the truck, headed up the road.

"Dan, what's all this 'advanced class stuff gonna look like?"

"I dunno. I never took one..."

"But you're smart. Didn't they do this stuff to you when you were in school?"

"Nuh-uh, babe, when I was your age, schools weren't so much into putting kids in groups for special treatment. An' Dad, bless his heart, he didn't push, so C's were just peachy with him. I got into college, got an ROTC scholarship. The Army paid for me an' I paid them back with five years of my life."

"So you don't know what I'm gonna be doin'?"

"I have my suspicions. We'll wait an' see what Mr. Hardesty comes up with. I'm thinkin' we can get you college credits for some stuff you take while you're still in high school."

"But I'm in MIDDLE school!"

"Not in the courses I'm thinking you'll get. Don't worry. First, you're smart enough to do it, and second, I'm here to help you." I chuckled. "You're already a long way past most of the people in college anyway. They're just going through the motions, and YOU understand WHY things are right - other than 'that's what the professor said". You'll do fine."

"Thank you. You make me feel smart. Instead a' weird."

"Get used to it, Cindy. "Smart" is weird to a lot of people." We ordered. Sipped our drinks. Talked.

"This sure isn't Beethoven, huh?"

"What kind of music do YOU expect at a catfish joint in Alabama?"

"I know. This is what Mom listened to. Some of it's not bad, but most of it is. Bad. Real bad. Like it's made out of some weird plastic, to sound like music." Those green eyes fixed on me.

"It's not exactly my favorite either, but it's hard to get away from it, you know ... I generally ignore it."

Our dinners arrived and we laughed and chatted and ate. "You know," Cindy said, "I really liked that place we ate yesterday..."

"Yeah, me too. I was surprised. Just goes to show that you never know what's around the corner."

"Uh-huh," she grinned, "Or right there in the RV park..."

"That goes both ways, little girl."

We continued our meal with me listening to her explain the reactions of her classmates when she returned from the counselor's office today. And the reaction of her math teacher when Cindy apologized for putting her on the spot. "You know," Cindy said, "I've tried helpin' some of the other kids an' it doesn't work..."

"Why?"

"Uh, two things. Miss My Daddy's a Lawyer isn't really happy about takin' advice from the poor kid from the RV park. An' I just lose patience when they don't get somethin' that's so freakin' obvious"

"I understand the first part. All she has had to go on is her daddy's coat tails. Not her own talents. But the second part, well, I had the same problem until I figured out that most people don't catch onto stuff nearly as fast as I ... uh, WE do. But you shouldn't stop trying. And you should stop sayin' "freakin'" because everybody KNOWS the word you really mean. And you've got too good a mind to use words like that. You have an actual vocabulary."

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't be sorry to me. I've heard every word there is, and said 'em myself, in complex and innovative patterns. But YOU, my dear are a young LADY. With a brain AND looks, and there's no sense in you having a nasty mouth. It's like hearing "Moonlight Sonata" with a drum solo."

"Okay. I get it."

I winked at her when she said that, and she giggled. We pushed our plates aside. I paid the check and we were in the truck headed back. She started punching buttons on the sound system. "Where's that one we started the other day. Name begins with an "M". An' not Mozart."

"Mendelsohn?"

"Yeah. Oh, you're looking for "Fingal's Cave."

"Yeah, that's the one. I'm starting at the beginning." That's what was now pouring out of the speakers. I glanced away from the road. Cindy was leaning back, her head against the headrest of the seat, eyes closed. Smiling.

Chapter 13

Wednesday I pulled Hardesty's business card out and punched the phone number into my cellphone. Ring. Ring. "South End Middle School. Hardesty speaking."

"Jim Hardesty? This is Dan Richards, Cindy's, uh, tutor, I guess..."

"Oh, hello, Dan," he said. "I'm sorry I haven't put that information together for ya'll yet..."

"Thanks, Jim, but that wasn't why I was calling. Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure. I'll try. Whatcha got?"

"Tuesday we said that Cindy's schedule might be flexible. Can you see if I can pull her out of school Friday? I'm wanting to bring her out to the job and let her see a real project in progress."

"Oh. For little Miss I Wanna Be An Engineer? Shouldn't be a problem. I'll call you back."

"Thanks, Jim," I said.

"Not a problem, Dan. Hey! I was serious. It's barbecue an' beer season. You can come over for supper. Give me a call."

"I haven't forgotten. I'll do that. Talk to you later.

Forty-five minutes later I was standing in front of a transformer, pointing at a detail for the electrical foreman and my cellphone went off. I flipped it open. "Hey Jim. Whatcha got?"

Hardesty said, "I checked with Cindy's teachers. They sounded relieved that she'll be out on Friday."

"Hey, thanks," I said. "I'll give you a call next week about dinner."

"'Kay, bud," He said. My phone clicked. I returned to my conversation about the job. The foreman understood what we needed, and I headed back across the plant to the trailer that housed my office.

"Hey, Dan," said Sara. She was our secretary/administrator/receptionist/gal Friday.

"Hey, Sara. I'm bringin' company with me Friday."

"Oh, yeah? Who?"

"Fourteen year old genius named Cindy. Lives at the RV park where I stay. Wants to be an engineer."

Laughter. "Yeah. Show her what you do out here. She'll change that to ballet!"

I'd already taken care of details like clearing the visit with the superintendent and the safety guy, so I was on good ground for Cindy's visit. I spent the rest of my day at my desk with a red pencil, marking up changes and additions to installation drawings. Four o'clock, and I was out the door.

Entering the park, I stopped at the front office. As usual, Helen was being entertained by Cindy.

"Hello, Helen, hello, little green-eyed girl," I said to them. "Cindy, you're gonna hate me."

"Why?"

"'Cuz I called your school today and got you out of class Friday so you can go to work with me."

Squeal. Bounce. Hug. And a kiss of the variety one might expect between friends when one does the other a favor. "Really?"

"Yep," I said. "I already cleared it with safety an' with the boss. Let's go get you some work shoes. We can eat while we're out."

Helen said, "Dan, you're spoiling her."

"Nah," I said. "It's nice to have a buddy. I just have to figure out how I can explain her off when we go to visit the Hardesty's next week."

"My counselor?"

"Yeah. Ex-marine."

Helen laughed. "You need to go, Cindy. You'll get to see 'em gruntin' an' crawlin' in the dirt an' stuff."

"Oh, come on, Helen. I was an engineer an' he was a pilot. Neither of us grunt much."

She was chuckling as Cindy and I loaded up in the truck. An hour later we were in possession of a sturdy pair of girl-sized work shoes, for which I had to tip my hat to equality in the workplace. And we were at dinner at one of those country diners that always seem to provide decent food for cheap. The ride home was conversation while she shuffled through my CD selections, then, "Nah ... We can talk some more."

"I'm just about talked out. You talk."

"Yah remember me talkin' about Miss My Daddy's a Lawyer?"

"Yeah. You didn't punch her or somethin'?"

"Oh, no. We're zero tolerance. They'd call Mizz Helen." She continued, "But let me tell you ... I was finished with the math. Took me five minutes to do those problems the teacher gave me. So I was reading. And the teacher was going around helping kids that were having trouble. And she told ME to go help the first row. An' that's Miss My Daddy's a Lawyer, sitting up front, center."

"And you're telling me that you helped her?"

Yeah. And she thanked me."

"Good. You usually have a choice with how to deal with people. Sometimes they choose to make it unpleasant, and that puts a whole new set of problems in front of you, but if THEY don't make that choice, then YOU choose to make it as pleasant as possible."

"Yeah. I see you doin' that all the time. Now that I know what to look for. And another thing. Nobody's making fun of my clothes any more. You an' Mizz Helen fixed that for me. Andddd..." She emphasized the "d", "I am trying to speak more properly."

"I can tell," I said. " But remember, language is important to people, and if you sound like you're putting on a show or trying to show people up, well, that can bring difficulties. I'm not saying you have to talk like you just fell off a pulpwood truck, but care about the people you're speaking with."

"Okay. But thanks for noticing."

"No, thank YOU for trying." And it was these little steps that made me think that my Cindy was going to grow into a spectacular human being.

We walked into the trailer and went about the evening routine of bathing and hair care and shaving and she pulled a nightshirt over her head, then turned to me and said, "You know, we could go to bed early..." And we did.

Afterward, we lay in each other's arms, listening to soft music.

"You know," she said, "I've been reading some extra books for history."

"No, I didn't know that. That's good, though."

"About customs andddd stuff with the pioneers when the country was young."

"Yeah?"

"Well, you know, it's funny, but back then if a girl was having periods, they thought she was old enough to get married, because she was old enough to have babies."

"You need to think about something, though," I said.

"What's that?"

"Girls didn't go through puberty as young as they do now."

"Oh. But still, that was one thing. Another thing was that people didn't have to go in front of a preacher or a judge because sometimes there wasn't one around, so they'd just announce they were married in front of their friends and neighbors and that was it."

"Uh-huh," I said. "And they'd write the date in the family Bible."

"So why can't we do that?"

"Because as soon as I announced I was married to a fourteen year old girl, I'd be ol' Bubba's boy toy in an Alabama State Prison, and now, Mizz Helen would be in trouble too."

"I mean, we can say it to each other. There'll be a real wedding when the time comes, right?"

"Yes, so I guess I can say I, Daniel Paul Richards, take you, Cynthia Susan Smith, to be my wife, the keeper of my love and my soul, until the end of days."

The green eyes got VERY serious. "And I, Cynthia Susan Smith, take you, Daniel Paul Richards, to be my husband, my happiness, my help, my friend, my love, until the stars wink out in the skies."

That is serious stuff. And that glorious night, to the strains of Boccherini, as my eyes closed to the even sounds of her sleeping breath, I knew somehow that it would be forever.

Thursday was a pretty standard day. The alarm went off, waking us both. We cuddled, caressed, fondled, then got out of bed, stretched the covers over it, and went about our morning routines, ending up at the dinette, dressed, a bowl of cereal and a mug of coffee in front of each of us. I kissed her before I headed out the door, leaving her to wait for her bus.

It was just another day on the job for me. Nothing came up that we didn't already have a handle on, and I spent the last hour of the day walking out the key parts of the project, seeing what I could bring Cindy to see. After work, back to the RV park. When I got there, Helen's van was absent. So were Helen and Cindy. The park's utility guy was in the office. I knew him, too.

"Hey, Steve," I said. "Where's Helen?"

"Hi, Dan. She took her girl Cindy to a beauty shop. Said they'd be back about five."

"Oh, okay," I answered. "Any mail there for me? Helen usually stacks it on her desk."

"I didn't see any," replied Steve. "It's almost five now. They should be showin' back up any time."

"Yeah, you're right. See you later, Steve. Be careful!" and I left for my trailer. Jim was right. No sooner than I'd exited the truck, I saw Helen's minivan driving in the front entrance. So now I was wondering what Helen and the "beauty shop" might have done to the perfection that was my Cindy.

Helen drove right past the office and pulled in behind my truck. Cindy bounced out one side of the van and Helen the other.

"You like my hair, Dan?" she was grinning, and her hair was still the color of a pocket-worn penny, now just a little shy of her jawline.

"It's shorter. That's all I can see. And definitely cute. Am I missing something?"

Helen said, "Those women at the beauty shop wanted to do ALL kinds of stuff to her, but she put her foot down and said to just trim the bangs and cut an inch off the bottom." She laughed. "Told 'em that's the way her boyfriend liked it."

Cindy grinned at me, eyes twinkling.

"She's right," I said. "You got any homework?"

"No," Cindy chirped. "All my teachers know I'm doin' a field trip with you tomorrow and I'm pretty much caught up with anything they have."

"You're past 'caught up', you know."

"Yeah, but my history and language teachers don't want to give up yet. Science and math, they gave up." She laughed.

Helen laughed, too. "Just remember, you two, we have dinner with the judge tomorrow evening."

"Yes, ma'am, I remember," I said. "We'll have plenty of time to be ready after work tomorrow."

Cindy and I walked out. "Is it too late for a swim?" she asked.

"No, we can do that."

"Good. Let's go!"

Zip to the trailer, change into swimsuits, an act that involved getting naked and subsequent groping and giggling, and we were back out the door carrying towels and headed to the pool. This little walk as a pleasant part of the day, and a few laps in the pool were an excellent way to drop stress. Of course, seeing Cindy matching me in my swimming pace, (thank God she didn't wear that bikini!) induced a whole different set of tensions. She knew it, and giggled about it, although in broad daylight, even though we had the pool to ourselves, her responses were limited to quick furtive touches and knowing grins.

"You know," she said, "this is the last weekend that the pool is open, huh?"

"Yeah, I think I saw a notice on the office bulletin board."

"Yeah," said Cindy, "Mizz Helen closes it the first weekend in October. So Sunday's our last chance to swim here."

"Yeah. We'll have to find another way to exercise."

Cool eyes. Wet bangs plastered to her forehead. And a decidedly lustful grin. "I can think of a few."

"Me too. But besides that. You don't have a bicycle?"

"Me? No."

"You've ridden a bicycle, huh?"

"Of course."

"I have a bike. You need one? We could ride together."

"Where do you have a bike? I've never seen it."

"In the storage locker. Up the road."

"You have a storage locker?"

"Yeah, baby. I can't keep EVERYTHING in that trailer. It's stuff I didn't leave back home because I knew I'd need it. I have a bike. Some camping gear. Cold weather clothes. That kind of stuff."

"Camping gear?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Like in 'spendin' the night in the woods' campin'?"

"Or on the beach. Or in the desert."

She giggled. "Uh, this is Alabama. We got woods. We even got beaches. We don't have deserts."

"Oh, dear girl, there IS life outside Alabama. If you think you saw stars the other night when we looked at the sky, let's do that again in a high desert."

"If I'm with you, I can add my own stars." She smiled.

"Well, there are a couple of tents in there."

"A couple? Why a couple?" she asked.

I have one tent for wintertime, when I need a little more weather protection, and then I have my other tent, for the summer, and it has just screen, to keep bugs out so I can see the stars."

"And what do you sleep on? The ground?"

"Nope. Big air mattress."

She looked thoughtful for a few seconds. "How big's your sleeping bag?"

It was my turn to smile. "I guess I need one a little bigger than the two I have, huh?"

"Yeah, that'd be nice, don't you think?" and she smiled sweetly.

We stepped into our trailer and did quick showers. More fondling. Irresistible. As she finished drying her hair, she spoke up. "That place we went Monday? Can we go there?"

"Sure," I said. "They have an interesting menu." And a half hour alter we were seated across from each other at a neat little table being attended to by a genteel lady who was one of the owners. We settled on choices based on her recommendations and were not a bit disappointed.

We returned home. All that was left to do was to be happy with each other, and that was as relentless as gravity. Cindy's pre-bed routine was charming and more erotic than even the hormone-surge fantasies I had as a teen, when sex was the be-all and end-all to existence.

She stripped her jeans and blouse, neatly hanging the clothing for the next day. The panties came off. The bra, yes, she wore a bra over those A-cups, otherwise the nipples would have men leering everywhere she went, she'd turn to me to unhook that bra, pressing forward against me so I had to reach my arms around her back, and that always ended up in a hug.

Tonight was one of the nights where she put nimble fingers to work unbuttoning my shirt, then unbuckling my belt and unbuttoning my trousers. Then the sound of a zipper ... And she sat on the end of the bed, totally, lusciously naked and started peeling off my unfastened clothes. As I kicked out of my trousers at my feet, she tugged me onto the bed beside her. The clothes could wait. Cindy and I didn't. Love-making, it was. Tender, yes, but hot, too, as we explored each other, lavishing love with mouth, fingers, and yes, it ended in a penetration that could only be characterized as a mating.

Sated, I turned out the lights and turned on music, Mozart ... and with Cindy in my arms we drifted off into dreamland.

Six AM. The alarm came on, and we both stirred simultaneously, rolling face to face for the kiss that started our days. Neither of us wore underpants and she wiggled her pubic mound, its wispy down rubbing against morning wood. Her leg went over mine and she pushed me over on my back and straddled me.

"Don't think we're going all the way with this," she giggled. "I'm just stretchin'..." And her hips lifted and she slid me inside her. I loved the way she could treat intimacy as such joyous mirth. She rode me for a few strokes and then hopped off. "Come on. Get dressed. We have a job to go to."

I stood up beside the bed, laughing, my dick stuck out hard in front of me. "It's a horrible person who would get her partner this aroused and not finish the job."

"Oh, I plan on finishin' babe," she laughed, "but just not right now. I just wanted you to have THAT in your head all day today. And for dinner tonight. And THEN we'll finish." She was buttoning a denim workshirt as she received a kiss from me.

Ten minutes later we were out the door headed for the breakfast joint, me in my standard canvas work pants and denim shirt, Cindy a shorter, definitely female version. We walked into the diner for breakfast and I recognized some of my co-workers and said hi. Cindy and I sat in a booth and had breakfast. We were nearing the end of good country breakfast fare when I looked up at one of the guys, another engineer. "Hi, Fred," I said. "Meet Cindy."

Cindy looked up. "Hi, Mr. Fred!" she said brightly.

"Hi, Cindy. Are you the one Dan's bringing to work today?"

"Yessir. It's my reward for good math grades."

"Yeah," I said, looking at Fred. "That's a ripoff. Eight-grade math to this child is like swattin' flies with a sledgehammer."

"Ewwwww! That's a horrible picture!" exclaimed Cindy.

"Oh yeah," laughed Fred. "Ol' Dan's got a way with words." He tapped the table. "See ya'll out there in a bit. Nice meetin' yah, Cindy!"

"Bye," she said. He was turning to head out the door. We finished our breakfast and coffee and then headed towards the job.

First stop was the security guard. He saw my truck, started to wave me through, then saw Cindy. I stopped and he took her name, carefully writing it on his clipboard.

I told Cindy, "that's so if the place burns up, they'll know how many piles of ashes to make..."

"Really?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"Kinda-sorta ... except for the blowing up and ashes part. At the end of the day, the number of people coming in has to equal the number of people going out."

"Oooohhhh!" She stared out the window at what was an alien environment to her. To me it was home away from home. I pulled my truck into a parking space with my name on a sign. This impressed her. "You get your own parkin' spot?"

"Yeah. That's so they'll know which tires to slash..."

"You're jokin', right?" After I'd gotten her with the "piles of ashes" comment, she was going to be wary.

"Yeah..."

We walked into the trailer that was the job's central office. That's where Cindy met Sara, the office administrator. Sara was her normal self, acerbic, not bad looking for mid-thirties mother of two, a little on the plump side, blue-eyed, blonde (this week), jeans and a blouse, sitting behind her desk, queen of the project. "Mornin, Dan," she said. "Is this your visitor today?"

I introduced her and Cindy to each other, then Cindy and I visited the project's safety guy for a hard hat and safety glasses so she could go out into the work areas. As we were leaving the trailer, Sara called out, "Dan, be nice to her out there ... you know how you are!"

Cindy was impressed again. As one of the key engineers, I had a golfcart at my disposal to save time getting around. I couldn't help but notice heads turning. Cindy in a hardhat. Maybe there was some kind of construction site fetish that had to do with short red hair curling out from under the edges of a hardhat. And the jeans, well, Cindy did jeans very well. Her hips were young but swelling into delights and seeing them framed in blue denim, well, there IS poetry in that motion. Her workshirt was just a little loose, so every motion of her torso was a peek-a-boo for one or both of those breasts to press against the cloth. Careful hiding is sometimes better than full exposure. Maybe it was me, but this was pure and inadvertent tease here.

As we drove through the site, Cindy's head swiveled from side to side as I gave a running guided tour. We stopped at various parts of the job, walked inside buildings, I pointed out equipment and talked about it in simple terms. I showed her some of the guys working. Watched her completely melt down one of my millwrights with a couple of smiles as he showed her what he was doing and she asked questions. We rode the elevator to the top of the huge boiler structure and I showed her the site from our vantage point ten stories above ground.

She was enthralled. "This is like the most hugest playground in the world," she said.

"Yeah. But every bit of it is from the minds of engineers somewhere. Nothing 'just happens'. It's a puzzle with a million pieces. And you've got to know what pieces are yours and how to make sure they fit with all the others. That's what I have to do: make sure my pieces fit and work when the time comes to start this puppy up."

"Wow..."

Nearing lunchtime we went back to the trailer. Walking in, Sara caught us. "So Cindy, you ready to take up ballet now?"

Cindy smiled. "Nuh-uh! I want to make MY part of this thing work."

Sara fixed me in her eye. "Well, Dan, you've gone an' ruint her."

"I know," I said. "It's my personal grace an' charm that does it." I paused. "We're goin' out for lunch. Wanna come along?" This got me a little off-kilter glance from Cindy.

"Nah, thanks anyway," Sara answered. "I got diet stuff in the fridge. But thanks for askin', anyway. Take Cindy someplace nice, not that greasy spoon ya'll usually go to..."

Cindy and I walked to my truck. I got stopped twice to answer questions about work. I think one of those stops was just so the guy could get another look at Cindy. I don't if Cindy noticed that, but I did.

We got into the truck and waved at the gate guard on the way out. "So tell me," said Cindy. "You an' Sara?"

"No way, babe," I said.

Cindy pushed the question. "'Cuz she's a little bit plump?"

"Oh, no, she's cute enough in her own way, and she's smart enough, but there are three things right up front."

"Three things? Like what?"

"Like two kids and a husband that would cave my head in with a big wrench if I messed with Sara."

"You've met him?"

"Oh yeah. He's runnin' a couple of our crews out there. Nice guy."

"So you thought about it?" I could feel her eyes even though I couldn't see them. I was focusing on the road while I was driving.

"Nope. Just a nice lady who does a very good job under difficult circumstances and who keeps us all happy. Well, as happy as you can get on one of these projects." I continued, "I didn't come out here to pick up women."

"I know," Cindy said. "Me and Mizz Helen sort of watched you come and go for a while. You didn't run around and you didn't bring women to the park." She smiled. "But you dodged my mom and picked ME up!"

"Uh, nay, little darlin', YOU snuck in under my radar. If a year ago somebody'd have told me that I'd fall in love with a thirteen year old girl, I'd have told 'em they were crazy. I wasn't looking, and YOU showed up anyway."

One of the nice things about being a senior engineer was being able to beat the crowds out the gate to lunch, so when we pulled into the diner it was still relatively early and the place was easy to get into. We got a booth and ordered two plate lunches. Cindy regarded her plate of "a meat, two vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy".

"Purina construction chow," I said. She giggled. "Seriously. I've been eating lunch like this for what, two and a half months now?"

As we ate, we watched the place fill up. A couple of our co-workers took advantage of the empty seats in our booth to slide in with us. Cindy slid way over into the corner leaving a noticeable gap between her and the technician sitting next to her.

"What? I'm not gonna bite," he said, laughing.

"I don't think she's worried about you biting, Phil," I said. "She doesn't want the smell to rub off."

"Heeyyyyy!" he laughed, "I took a mid-week bath this week!"

We finished and they scooted out of the way so we could leave. Back at the job, I showed Cindy my workstation computer. She was impressed by the huge monitor. "I need that," I said. See these?" I picked up a sheaf of 11x17 inch papers. "These are the drawings we have to use to build this place. I need to work on them on the computer and it gets very difficult if I can't do that on a full-sized image."

She was looking around. "This place is filled with paper," came the comment.

"Yeah, sometimes I think the weight of the paper is equal to the weight of all the iron in the project." It was my turn to sigh. "The drawings aren't bad." Then I showed her equipment lists and wiring schedules and other esoterica. "Stare at one of these for a day an' you'll want to run off screamin' into the woods."

From the open door, Sara interjected, "Yeah, sometimes he turns off his light an' closes the door an' weeps softly."

Cindy answered, "You could bring 'im a coke and pat 'im on the head."

Sara laughed, "Nuh-uh, baby. I don't even make these guys coffee. They can get their own stinkin' cokes."

"Y'see," I laughed. "No wonder I go home at night an' cry ... I work with impossible people!"

Sara wheeled her chair away from her desk so she could look into my office. "I try to not make 'im cry unless he needs to. Sometimes he needs to." She laughed. "Paperwork IS the job to some people. Like me. I don't care what goes on out there, but if I don't have receipts to match the bills, SOMEBODY'S in trouble."

I looked at Cindy. "Okay, so I lose a receipt every now and then..."

The rest of the day was more touring. She shadowed me round like a puppy, and like a cute puppy, every place we went, work stopped so guys could just get close enough to see her.

Finally our day was close enough to quitting time that I could justify leaving. I stopped into the office trailer. "Sara," I said. "I'm gonna take Cindy home now."

Sara smiled. "Sweetie," she said to Cindy, "you really oughtta think about that ballerina thing."

"Nah," said Cindy. "My legs are all wrong for it."

Sara laughed. "Okay, Cindy. It was fun having you in here. Get Mister Dan to bring you back, okay?"

I got a couple more stops before we made it to the truck. One the guys said, "Dan, she's an impediment to productivity. Everywhere she goes, work comes to a standsill."

"I know. We noticed."

We drove out. "So what'd you think? Engineer? Or ballerina?"

"I could be like Mizz Sara an' just make your life miserable."

"I'll be sure to tell her that she made an impression on your young mind." We both laughed.

"Uh, engineer, Dan. Definitely engineer." She let out a sigh. "Like you. I wanna be like you. And WITH you."

"I love you, Cindy," I said. What else could I have said?

"I love you too, Dan. Forever."

She was humming on the ride home, lost in thought.

"Baby," I said. "How about a quick swim, then we get dressed for dinner?"

"Mmmmm. Sounds perfect!" she said.

We stopped by the RV park office and chatted briefly with Helen. I got directions to the judge's house.

"And how'd your visit go, baby?" Helen asked Cindy.

"It was wonderful," Cindy answered. "I saw so much stuff. It's interesting. So much to learn."

Helen smiled.

Chapter 14

We did a quick turnaround in the trailer and emerged clad in swimsuits and carrying towels and walked to the pool. Helen was locking up as we walked by. "You know," she said, "we shut that thing down for winter on Monday?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'm gonna miss it."

"We're gonna start riding bicycles, though," Cindy chimed in.

"Bikes? That'll be good. I'm gonna go get ready for dinner. See ya'll there!" And Helen left.

Cindy and I did our pool laps and walked back to the trailer dripping, all the while chatting about the day's experiences. I had to answer a slew of questions, and was trying to not be too technical, but Cindy was drinking it all up.

Back in the trailer, we did our shower thing and she dried her hair while I shaved. This left us both naked. Clean and naked. And she not only looked good, she smelled good. I passed my hand form the sleek richness of her hair down her back to the curve of her ass and squeezed a cheek.

"Now, Dan," she giggled, "as much has I'd LOVE to take you straight to the bedroom, we have to go out in public, and we can't do that with your sweetie smelling all freshly fucked, can we?"

"The language!" I said.

"Yeah. You know exactly what I'm talking about, babe. I've smelled ME on YOU afterward, and I love the smell. I can eat it up. But it is a smell. And we're trying, as you say, to maintain a certain air of decorum. We have, what? An hour before we go?"

"Yeah."

"Then lay down on the sofa" she commanded as she sat down. "Put your head in my lap."

I followed orders, laying on my back, my head resting on the smooth softness of her thigh. Okay, not TOO soft. Swimming every day, you know. She slowly stroked my face. "Dan," she said, "I wish I could tell you how much I love you."

"Thank you, sweetie. I love you too, you know."

"But today. You took me around to those people and showed me off."

"I didn't show you off. I really did want you to see what was going on."

"I know. But that was purely something you did for ME. For no reason."

"I had reasons. First, I love you. Second, you're smart enough to get something out of the visit."

"That first part," she said, "that's what I mean. The way I figure it," she continued, "if I was just a somebody you wanted to have around for the sex, then you wouldn't've done today. So that kinda makes me think I'm not just your toy. I'm feeling pretty important to you."

"A man's toys ARE important," I said. That got me a slap on my bicep.

"Beast!"

"I'm YOUR beast, little princess. Your very own dragon."

"Mmm-hmmm."

"And occasionally dragons have been known to eat princesses."

"You can eat me later ... Right now I just want you to know that every time I turn around I see you doing things that tell me you love me. What can I do in return, Dan. I don't have anything to offer like you do."

"Cindy, my dear, you are beautiful, intelligent, funny, and, if I may say so, of fine temperament. All I want from you is to be loved in return. And you show me that every day, too. You know Mizz Helen said she could see it before you moved in here. Said you didn't hide things very well."

"I know. She told me that, too. I tried. But when I see you, I get happy. If I'm already happy, I get happier. It's like we were made for each other."

"I think so, too, baby."

As she caressed my face and chest with one hand, the other picked up a remote and clicked us up some good music to relax by. Forty-five minutes passed. And it was time to get dressed.

I regarded the young lady I would escort to dinner. She was wearing a dress. A simple dress, simple lines, hemmed just above the knee, plain neckline stopping well short of being revealing. She fished through the drawers that held her belongings and retrieved a black elastic headband and placed it in her hair, pulling the sides back from her face, leaving her bangs hovering as if pointing to those startling green eyes. And a tiny dab of perfume behind each ear and at her throat and on each wrist. Her shoes were simple, too, flats, unembellished.

"Do I look okay?" she asked?

"You are the single most beautiful creature in the universe, baby!"

"No, seriously!"

"I AM serious. If somebody could crawl inside my brain and find every imprint of what I think is beautiful in a woman, it would all add up to YOU!"

"So I look okay?"

"You look perfect. Almost like I need to put you in a padded box so you won't break before I can get us to dinner."

"Nah," she smiled. The front seat of your truck will do fine."

"And, Dan, you look nice, too. I've never seen you wear a tie before." I was wearing a tie. And a jacket. I might be a grubby field engineer, but I can clean up pretty good.

We got in the truck, but first I moved the console out of the way so she could sit next to me. Soft, idle chit-chat occupied our short trip and we pulled up the drive to what I would have called a mansion. Two stories. Landscaped. Circular drive. I parked immediately behind Helen's minivan.

We rang the doorbell, standing together. Helen and the one I assumed to be the judge met us.

"Come in, come in," he said. Helen was smiling beside him. Helen cleaned up pretty nicely, too. Her grey hair was shoulder length, brushed pewter, and darned if she wasn't wearing makeup and it worked well for her. And she was wearing a DRESS. Helen. Who I never saw in anything but jeans and a man's shirt.

He reached out his hand. I shook it. "Charles Peebles. You must be Dan. And this ... this angel ... must be Miss Cynthia." He offered a hand to Cindy and she shook it. "Nice handshake, Cindy," He said. "You like being called Cindy, am I right?" He smiled broadly. Looked pretty darned solid for eighty-something.

"Yessir," said Cindy.

"Come, let's sit while the table is set for us."

""The table is set for us"? Like, I'm not expected to help out in the kitchen?"

Judge Peebles must have caught my puzzlement. "Oh, Dan, it's not that bad. I have a housekeeper, is all. And on the odd occasion that I have something special going on, she takes care of it for me. Her and her daughter do a fine job for me." We followed him to a formal sitting room, wainscoted walls and bookshelves, dripping with gentility. We sat, I with Cindy beside me, a chaste distance separating us, Helen and the judge in a love seat.

Cindy broke the conversational ice. "This is a perfectly lovely room, sir. You have a lot of books."

Judge Peebles chuckled. "Yes, young lady, I do. Been reading since I was a little one. But all this is law and it's not the kind of reading that you want to do on a fine cool evening."

The conversation rolled on, the judge's prodigious history in the local scene, a young attorney, county prosecutor and finally for the last twenty-five years, a state judge. He'd seen a lot, loved to talk, and told stories well.

A middle aged black woman appeared at the door. "Judge," she said, "dinner is ready."

The judge rose with Helen and I and Cindy followed them into a formal dining room. It wasn't set for a formal dinner, but it was several orders of magnitude above a slab of ribs on a paper plate. The judge held the chair for Helen and I did the same for Cindy. The judge motioned for me to be seated and seated himself. The same middle-aged black woman and another, younger version of the same appeared and placed salads in front of each of us. I noted the Cindy had correctly placed her napkin in her lap.

The judge bowed his head and the rest of us followed as he recited an old and familiar blessing before the meal. He raised a forkful of salad and the rest of us followed. After his first bite, he looked at me. "Dan, it's not that bad. The young lady who served you is the daughter of the older lady. She's the third generation that has worked for me here. I pay her mother well, and the young lady is starting pre-law at the university in the winter semester. She gets paid for tonight, also."

"Uh, oh, I didn't... , you know..." I stuttered.

"Yeah," said the judge, "You have been watching too many of those movies. Just because I'm an old white judge in Alabama doesn't mean I still keep slaves, Dan. I don't even like own a rebel flag."

"Judge..."

"You can call me Charley, Dan. Helen does. But I appreciate the thought."

"Charley, I guess I'm a bit overwhelmed. This is a nice place."

"I worked hard for it. Made some good investments, too, but even lawyers have to work."

"I know. I get the "you don't work with your HANDS" bit all the time."

He laughed. "Yes, yes. Helen tells me you're an engineer? Electrical engineer?"

"Yessir."

"Mighty fine," he said.

Dinner proceeded at a modest pace, everything prepared to perfection, soup, poached fish and vegetables for a main course, a delicious pie for dessert. We then returned to the sitting room.

"Helen," Charley said. "You're absolutely right. She is really a beautiful lady."

Cindy blushed. "Thank you, sir."

"Dan," he said to me, "Helen explained the whole case to me. She says she explained how and more to the point, why I felt the way I did about the way we chose to remedy the situation."

"Yessir, she did," I said. "I thank you for your understanding."

"I'm just an old country lawyer, Dan, and I'll be quite honest with you, sometimes the law is an ass. Take our particular interest here. Let's just say there WASN'T a law like that. You and your young lady there would be accepted. Maybe not totally the norm, but still within the realm of acceptability. But supposed the OTHER end of the spectrum happened, and some old guy FORCED a young girl into a situation? Don't you think I would jerk a knot in his butt?"

"Yessir," I said, "I see what you mean."

"Yep," the judge said, leaning back in his chair. "Dumbasses today are afraid to let people do what is right. They have to write more and more laws, and every law has its unintended consequences. You and Cindy there are one of them. But you don't worry here," he continued. "The district attorney, is, ah, my son. And he knows about his mom and me. And Helen and his Uncle Herb."

We continued conversation, listening to a few more stories, a couple that, well, they made me blush, and I saw Cindy blush, too. Finally, after finishing a good after dinner coffee, it was time to go. The judge and Helen escorted us to the front door. Cindy and I shook hands and thanked the couple for a good evening.

In the truck, Cindy tucked in tight against me. "How'd I do?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, did I do anything horrible, like bad manners or something?"

"No, princess, you were perfect. You listened attentively, joined the conversation appropriately and acted mature beyond you years. And this dinner was pretty much 'prime time' for a social event."

"Good!" she exclaimed. "I don't want to be uncouth in public."

"Well, you're not uncouth in private, either..."

Giggle. "We'll see..."

"Yeah," I countered. "The rules change in private."

"What about semi-public, like this, then?"

"Like what?"

"Like ridin' around in a truck in the dark."

"Okay, that's somewhat public."

"Then would THIS be uncouth?" She lifted her hips off the seat and slid her panties down her smooth legs. Checking that we were on a straight section of road, she passed her panties under my nose.

"Now that's not couth. Welcome, but not couth," I said as my nostrils flared. I loved the smell of this girl. And the little doll had dabbed just a hint of her perfume on her pubic mound. I could smell the fragrance mixed with her distinctive musk.

She laughed. "Dan, uh, hurry home."

"Uh, I was thinkin' of pullin' off on the side of the road..."

"Nuh-uh baby..." she said. "If I was wearing something else, I'd love to, but I really like this dress and we'd wreck it." She squeezed the lump in my pants. "Oooooohhhh ... baby ... Can you wait?"

"Yeah, little red-headed girl, but right now I'd do you in the middle of the town square at high noon."

"All because I took my panties off?"

"That's one thing. Second is what we did this morning before we left. And this afternoon. And how beautifully you shined this evening, and, yes, I desperately want you in my arms."

"Then hang on, buddy," she giggled. "I have the same desires." She punched the buttons on the truck's sound system. "Here, this'll help us relax..."

In the door of the trailer, I don't know whose clothes came off first. I do believe that they hadn't fluttered to the floor before two naked bodies entwined on the bed. Our mouths just as well have been welded together. My hands explored the silken skin. I opened my eyes in the middle of a kiss, looking past a freckled face to red hair curled around the back of her ear.

She opened her eyes too. "Uh, you're s'posed to kiss with your eyes closed..." Giggle.

"Then why were you looking?" I laughed.

"To see if YOU were looking."

"I was looking because I am still amazed at how beautiful you are. Even up close."

"That's an acceptable excuse," she chided. "Kiss me again." And again and again. My hand slid between our bodies, cupping over her plump pubic mound and a finger dipped into her cleft.

"Mmmmmm," she moaned.

"So sweet," I whispered.

"Needs kisses," she returned. "Hmmm?"

"Oh, god, yes..." She swiveled around in the bed and pressed her wet pussy gently against my waiting lips. My tongue led the way into her, savoring the sweet, salty, tangy musk of her juices. I felt her hands grasp my dick as she moved down to take the head in her mouth. Her tongue and lips danced over it, then she grabbed behind the head with her teeth, exerting just precisely the right pressure to bring passion, not pain. My own tongue moved in her cleft to meet the pea-like head of her clitty. I flicked it lightly.

"Oh, god, Dan ... Make me come. Fast."

I know my Cindy and I knew that sucking the head of her clit between my lips was step one. The second step was lavishing licks on it with my tongue. Her moans rewarded me richly because she was holding my dick in her mouth as she went "Mmmmm."

I was getting close, but she went over the edge first. Hard. Her body stiffened, her back arched, her thighs gripping my face. "Gahhhh, babyyyyyy! Ohgodohgodohgod! Nnnnnnnnghhhhh!" I held her for some time, letting her ease down from her orgasm. I could tell when she was finished because the suction on the head of my dick returned. In earnest. Without distraction. I started to lick her again.

"Nuh-uh," I heard from the vicinity of my crotch. "Just let me..." And she kept at it. In a mere minute my hips were reaching uncontrollable stage, but her two-handed grip on the shaft of my dick kept me from shoving it into her mouth more than she was comfortable with. But my hip thrusts into her hands and lips, well, that was pushing me fast to the breaking point.

"Babe," I gasped, "it's getting close."

"I know that. I know MY baby!" And she kept on.

"Nnnnnnghhhh! Cindy! That's. IT!!!!" The first surge erupted into her mouth and she received it. I could feel her swallow. And the second, and third. And fourth. And then a gentle, draining suction as she drained me. The arms I had wrapped around her, holding her on top of me, they fell to my sides, limp. This was Cindy's cue to turn back around and mold herself against my side, pulling my arm around her.

"Mmmmmm. Mr. Dan, you sure do taste good!"

"Well, thank you, Cindy Sue! So do you!" I called her Cindy Sue whenever I wanted to get a slap and giggle. I got both. She twisted over me to plant a kiss on my mouth. She might have started it out as a peck, but it didn't stay that way as our tongues twined together.

She freed a hand to fondle my soft dick. "mmmmm, Dan, it's soft."

"No, really?" I said. "after you just turned me inside out with your mouth? How could it be soft?"

"You see," she said, "it's THAT way because it will ALL fit inside my mouth, and then when it's hard again, I have someplace else to put it." With that little declaration, she moved her lithe form down and true to her word, engulfed my soft dick in her mouth, sucking, prodding the soft flesh with her tongue, lightly chewing.

"Ohhhhhh, baby..." I moaned. "You are so wonderful."

"You're pretty wonderful yourself," she said, then popped me back into her mouth. A giggle escaped lips wrapped around my dick. "Mmmmm. You know how I LOVE it growing in my mouth?" More sucks. She pulled away, pressing the hardening staff back against my belly and she worked over the bottom with teeth, lips and tongue, and then directed her attention to my balls.

That was all it took. I was hard again. Cindy had met her goal, and her next step was to swing a leg over me and to impale herself on my dick. Seated herself, she did. Put her hands on her thighs, sitting up straight, looking down at me, smiling enigmatically. I slid my hands lovingly over her thighs, around the curve of that girlish ass, up her sides. She gave a little wiggle. And a giggle. "Just makin' sure it's in the right place," she teased.

"There's never ever going to be a place that is more right than where it is now..."

"Oh, I don't know," she giggled. "I liked where it was a few minutes ago, too."

"But where it is now, we can do THIS!" and I tugged her down to lay on top of me. I curled downward slightly to kiss her and she wrapped her arms round me. There, two bodies completely naked, completely molded together, mated.

"Yeah," she sighed, "There is THIS..." and kissed me again. For some moments we savored our coupling in stillness, and then those mobile hips of hers couldn't resist any longer. We thrust together; I slid in and out of her, my dick's slick upper surface sliding along her clit. After a minute of this she raised herself, placing her hands on my chest and her hips began in earnest again, and I met her back and forth slides with my own upward thrusts. We'd plunge at each other for a minute, then rest, then back at it for another minute, then another languorous kiss. After half a dozen of these cycles, I saw her eyes close and she started biting her bottom lip. The world ceased to exist for Cindy. The corners of her mouth turned up, hinting of pleasure through the passion.

That was the joy of our double-headers. She was putting me far into the fields of ecstasy. Twenty minutes before, I could not have held back an orgasm well before we reached this point, not with the joyous assault on my senses that was Cindy. Actually, I couldn't REALLY control it now; it's just that my second arousal in an hour and things just proceeded at a slower pace.

Little mewing sounds came from her closed lips, the pace of her thrusts took on a different cadence as she bottomed out, rubbing her clit against the base of my dick. I knew she was close. So was I. And I was trying with all my might to subdue my own orgasm until her first spasm. It came. So did I. Both of us. Cindy collapsed into my arms.

I held her, feeling the gentle squeezing and tugging her vaginal walls were putting on my dick as is dribbled the last of the semen deep inside her. We lay together without words for several minutes, my face against the top of her auburn head, tiny tendrils of her perfume mixing in my nostrils along with the heady musk of our copulation.

Finally I felt her head move away from its repose on my chest. She pulled back to regard my face, and I saw a tear tracing a path down her cheek.

"What's wrong, my baby?" I asked.

"Absolutely nothing, my lover," she said. "I can't be more perfectly happy."

"Me, too, baby. Me too."

"You don't understand yet, Dan."

"What don't I understand?"

"What it's like for me. It's been such a rush, but in the last month and a half you've made me alive. Tonight, I mean. Do you know what it meant that YOU brought me with you to meet people? Just like today."

"Cindy," I said, taking her face gently between my hands. I kissed her gently on the forehead. "Don't you know I LOVE you? You're going with me everywhere. It's that forever thing, baby."

"I know," she said quietly. "But Dan, sometimes I just can't believe it's true. And just so you know, I'd bring you everywhere, too."

"I believe you would, little one."

"Yeah," she said. "I would. It's funny, sometimes, 'cuz I listen to other girls talkin' in class about boyfriends an' stuff, and I close my eyes for a minute and I think of YOU. And YOU are what they WISH their boyfriends were like." She smiled. "And YOU! You don't want me just to be your girlfriend because we have sex. You make me part of your life."

"You're wrong, baby."

"How am I wrong?"

"When we became an "us", it means you and me share our lives. You ARE my life."

"Good!" shad whispered. Kissed me. "Very much good." She moved a little and I could feel cool air hit the parts of us still wet and sticky from our coupling. So could she.

"Should I get a towel? We have a mess."

"AH!" she squealed in mock distress. "We make love. I share my deepest, VERY deepest emotions with you. My body. And YOU want to wipe it all up with a scratchy old TOWEL?" Her eyes twinkled and her mouth formed a smirk that morphed into a smile. "I, sir, can clean up MY end of the mess! Can you?"

As she was spinning around I said, "Yes, but that's how this all got started." Then the power of speech left me as her lips and tongue started lapping up our combined juices from my pubic mound, my dick and my balls. I was presented with a pink pussy still partially open from recent penetration, glistening with her juices, and white fluid escaping from its depths.

"Oh, well," I thought, "I put it there, I can get it out." And I covered her pussy with my mouth, sucking gently, moving juices from her sweet folds to my mouth. And when I finished the housework, I let my tongue play with her clit, teasing her into her third orgasm of the evening.

Spent, together in each other's arms, I reached over and punched the button on the stereo to fill the room with the strains of a symphony as we moved off into slumber together.

The morning came, the sun banging against the blinds-covered windows being our wake-up call. I woke up first, years of "get up and go to work" having been embedded in my psyche. I regarded the gentle, soft form in bed beside me. That red hair that was flawless perfection the previous evening was arranged in fragrant and beautiful disarray on the pillow, a few strands whisping forward over her cheek. Her eyes were closed, still in slumber and her mouth, those pink lips, also still closed, a barest hint of smile on her lips. I brushed back the stray strands. She stirred.

I slid my hand under the sheets and touched her side gently, then let it wander around over her ribcage to cup over a perfect breast. A fingertip gently took measure of her nipple. I lingered there for a few moments then my hand wild downward over the flat softness of her belly to the light fuzz covering her pubic mound, her 'muffin' as we called it when playing together. The tip of my finger found the beginning of her slit. I ran my fingertip down the entire length of her slit without entering between those sweet lips.

She rolled over on her back, her eyes opening, smiling. "Do you know," she said, "that the last words out of my mouth last night were "I love you"?"

"Yes, I do know that. And I want to start your morning by telling you that I love you, too." And we kissed.

"Mmmmm," she purred. "That always tastes so good in the morning."

"Yes you do," I answered.

"Reminds me of breakfast. As in where are we going?" Saturday breakfast was our norm.

"No place, dressed like that." She was uncharacteristically completely naked. We usually slept in nightshirts.

"Then get up and get dressed, lover," she commanded as she stood beside our bed. I complied.

We took turns in the tiny bathroom, brushing teeth, washing face, etc. When I got out, she was dressed in jeans and a loose athletic shirt, sneakers. She was sitting there brushing the night out of her hair when I finished dressing myself in something only slightly less casual. I think the difference was that my shirt didn't have a team logo. When she finished brushing, she stood up.

I took advantage of the moment to step toward her, but she already had the same idea and we wrapped up in each other's arms. After all, we still had to work around that whole "he's forty-something, she's ONLY fourteen" thing. I suppose that somebody could've staked out the RV park and noted that Cindy was a permanent fixture in my trailer, but they didn't. She did have her own official room at Helen's house, but that bed had never been slept in.

Anyway, out the door we went, headed to the local diner. By now the waitresses knew us. As far as they were concerned, I was that engineer fellow who was staying at the RV park and Cindy was Mizz Helen's (Everybody knew Mizz Helen) foster kid and my "little buddy". Whether anyone took our constant relationship past that point, I don't know. Nobody ever said anything. They knew Mizz Helen had the park to run on weekends and they knew that Cindy and I were always talking about her school stuff and my work stuff, and that was pretty much it.

So when we walked in on this Saturday morning, nothing was different. Waitress saw us walk in and told us to pick a booth. When she showed up at the table she was holding two coffee mugs and a carafe of pretty good coffee. We ordered breakfast.

"What are we doin' today, Dan," Cindy asked.

"Having breakfast and then going back to the park to pack up for the night."

"For the night?"

Chapter 15

By ten AM we were on the road. I figured a hundred miles or so ought to get us away from prying eyes. I really liked our previous hotel stay, but I didn't want to show up there too often, so we did a whole different city in the next state over.

The motel was a national chain, and on the upper end of the scale as temporary lodging goes. We brought our bags into a clean, bright room with two queen beds. I was paranoid enough today to think that we just didn't look like we should be sleeping in the same bed, and so I chose our room accordingly.

"TWO beds?" questioned Cindy?

"Yeah."

"And WHO is supposed to sleep in the OTHER one?"

"One to sleep in, one to play in," I laughed.

She responded by pushing me over backward and then straddling my chest, her jean-clad crotch in front of my face. I ran my hands up her thighs, over her ribs and then cupped her perky breasts through the shirt. No bra.

"You didn't even notice," she said, faking a pout. "I've been like this since we went to breakfast. An' YOU didn't notice!"

"Oh, I noticed, alright. I've been wanting to touch you for four hours now..."

"Mmmmm," she said. "One of these days..."

"One of these days WHAT?"

"One of these days we're going to be able to hold each other in public. I mean besides a little hand-holding. Like in, arm around you. Or sit on the same side of the booth. Or a kiss by a fountain in the middle of a public park."

"I know, sweetness. Believe me, I want to shout your name from a mountaintop."

"I believe you," she said, then she grinned. "But what I want is, if we get caught makin' love behind the bushes, all they could do is get us for indecent exposure, an' not put you in jail for molesting young girls."

"But I LIKE molesting young girls."

She dug fingers into my ribs. "You better mean just ONE young girl!" Giggles. The young girl was straddling my chest as this conversation continued. "Babe, start your laptop up and let's see what there is to do in this town..."

"Besides YOU?"

"Oh, you'll do me before the night's over, lover."

Okay, yeah, as a matter of fact I do carry a laptop on weekends, even with a pretty, eager, redheaded companion. The laptop provided us with the venue of a local university chamber orchestra's performance. I was certain that the little redhead would provide everything else.

We made love all afternoon. Sweet, uninhibited love. Nearing dinnertime, we showered, dressed, went to dinner, then joined a small crowd for seats in an auditorium and listened to a chamber orchestra bring us Bach.

We left the hall with the crowd. I punched rapidly at the GPS. Cindy noted that. "What're you looking for, baby?"

"A park with a fountain. At ten at night, I think I can kiss you there..."

"Awwwww!" I heard the click as she fastened her seat belt beside me. "You listened to what I said."

"I always do, princess." Several blocks. Found a parking space in an empty lot. There were a few other couples out in the dim lighting. I slid out the driver's side of the truck and caught Cindy as she slid out behind me. With the truck locked behind us, I took her hand in mine as we walked around savoring the relatively cool October air. The fountain was easy to find, the burbling rush of water leading us up the path. I led her by the hand, having her stand on a step. She turned around to face me, the step she was standing on added the height she needed to stare directly into my eyes. She glanced around and saw nobody paying attention to us, and then her arms wrapped me up and we kissed.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"No, thank you, dearest," I answered.

Her face was close to my ear. "Dan," she said, "Take me back to the hotel. I want you. In bed. Okay?"

"Just like that?"

"Yes, love of my life. Like THAT!" She smiled, her green eyes twinkling in the dim light. I promise I broke the speed limits only slightly.

She was undressed and in bed before I was, laying there completely nude in the lamplight, her body glowing, exuding sexuality from her small feet, up her slim legs to the soft red patch of hair on her pubic mound to the flatness of her belly, those two breasts, mounding softly, punctuated by perfectly pink, quarter-sized areoles and nipples like pencil erasers, hard ... and that face. I don't know how you're supposed to mix a young girl's innocence with lust and love, but she was doing it. As I crawled into bed she broke into a smile.

Her hand reached up to pull my face toward hers and we kissed, ending with her giggle. "You know, babe, you're more than I ever dreamed of, too."

My hand cupped a perfect breast and my fingertips toyed with her nipple. I felt a quiver run through her body. Her hand sliding down my side and wrapping around my dick provided her with an answering shiver from me. Our lips locked. Her adventurous tongue met mine as I moved my hand from her sweet breast down to find the cleft of her pussy. I brushed it with the tips of my fingers, then dipped one fingertip just between those lips and traced the length of her lips. On the return my finger dipped deeper, sliding easily in the wetness.

She was squeezing and milking me, pre-cum smearing over the head of my dick as my fingertip teased the head of her clitty. I tasted as well as felt her moan in my mouth as we remained in our kiss. She pushed me onto my back and one of those long legs swung across me as she took charge of our lovemaking. Kneeling astride me, both hands on my chest, she let her hot, wet pussy search for the head of my dick. Her eyes twinkled and she was biting her bottom lip, her "I'm concentrating" face. Her face changed with a sigh breaking into a giggle as the head of my dick met the opening of her wet passage and she slid down on me, impaling herself and bringing indescribable pleasure to us both.

She sat back. "There!" she announced. "I want EVERY bit of you. I want to LOVE you every way we can!"

"We do, don't we, babe?" I answered. "You're my best friend, the love of my life, and my wife."

"Yes, I AM your wife, Dan. Forever!" She fell forward, wrapping her arms around us. "Now kill me. Do me until I pass out!" And we did. Orgasms. I think she had two or three before mine, only one, happened. But my one came with her LAST one and she did indeed pass out, laying in my arms for almost a minute before light kisses caused her eyelids to flutter. I was rewarded with a sublime smile from the one person I loved most in the world.

We fell asleep after she slowly rolled us over on our sides, her breath a measured, soft cadence I felt on my chest. The last conscious thought I had before I slid into slumber myself was the clean smell of her hair against a background odor of the musk of our sexual exertions.

Without an alarm to start our day, it was usually a random selection as to which of us woke up first, or maybe I should say who made the first movements. Sunday morning was my turn. I lay there for some time, inventorying the feelings of my own body awakening, then noting the soft rounded warmth of her perfect ass against my hip. I turned gently so as not to startle her awake. I spooned up behind her and couldn't resist tiny kisses to the nape of her neck where it was uncovered by the fall of her auburn hair. She stirred. I carefully wrapped my left arm over her. Gently holding her. Her hand touched mine and pulled it to cover her breast.

"Mmmmm, morning, love," she whispered.

"Mornin' sweetie," I said.

"Can I ask you something? And you'll be honest with me?"

"You can ask me anything. And when have I ever NOT been honest with you?"

"This is different." And she wanted to have the "titty talk".

You see, Cindy was fourteen and a month or so old now. And she was an "A" cup, maybe getting into "B" territory. I thought these were the most perfect breasts I'd ever seen, and I'd seen a few.

"Do you like my breasts? I mean, really?"

"God, yes, baby. You have the most perfect breasts imaginable. Perfect."

She rolled over to face me. The anatomy in question was pressing gently into my chest. "They're not big."

"So what!"

"That lady in the shiny green dress last night, I mean, she had, well, I thought she had nice looking ones, and they were bigger."

I remembered the lady in question. She was good-looking, mid to late thirties, carefully coifed, heels, in all a carefully and well turned out product.

"Baby," I said, "that was a production. Makeup, hair, bra, dress, heels, all carefully put together. You, little darling, you get up in the morning looking better than she does after two hours' work."

"But I don't have big titties. Most guys LIKE big titties."

"Am I "most guys"?"

"No." the answer was a little meek.

"Haven't I told you that all my life I was looking for YOU and settling for little bits and pieces?"

"Yes. But..."

"No but. You're perfect. Personality. Brains. Body. Sometimes I think about how perfect you are and it scares me. I can't imagine ever living without you."

"But, I mean, like, when I'm on top of you and I bend over, my titties don't dangle."

"And that's a BAD thing? Baby, you don't know how many women wish they were as firm as you."

"How big was your wife?"

"That's another world, baby, long gone."

"But how big?"

"Okay." I sat up. "Let's talk."

She looked at me, her green eyes questioning.

"Here's the deal. She was a C-cup. Last girlfriend, the one that dumped me, she was maybe a C, maybe a D. I don't know. I didn't pay attention. So I've got some experience with bigger titties. Baby, what I'm saying is that it doesn't matter. Your smile, your laughter, your conversation, you could weigh 300 hundred pounds and have titties the size of milk jugs, and it wouldn't matter. Or you could be completely flat-chested. It doesn't matter. There's this YOU that I'm in love with, and you're perfect."

"But..."

"Stop with the 'but's', baby. You have no idea how many men see you and start drooling and lusting. I'm one of them. But I'm the lucky one. You're mine. And I love you. Okay?"

"Okay. Just tell me."

I slid my other arm underneath her and rolled, bringing her on top of me. "Tell you what? That I think you're the cutest, sexiest thing I've ever imagined? That I love you until the sun is a dark spot in the sky? That you make me wish I could write symphonies to your beauty? What do you want me to tell you?"

Then the giggles started. "Tell me where we're having breakfast..."

"Grrrr," I growled, and then clamped my lips over her left breast. My tongue worked over the nipple in swirls, then I bit it lightly. "I think I'll just have these for breakfast."

She pulled away with a squeal. "I guess that means that I'm having sausage!" And she spun around and her mouth sucked my hardening dick in, treating it to a tongue lashing.

"Yeah," I gasped, "You have sausage, an' I get this nice, moist muffin." We moved into a wonderful sixty-nine, her mouth clamped over the head of my dick, my mouth covering her pussy to receive the juices stirred up by my tongue. I cupped her butt cheeks with my hands, savoring the juices filling my mouth, relishing the actions of her combined hands and tongue and lips on my dick. Eight hours' rest was plenty enough for a recharge for me, and my Cindy was always up for coming, and my tongue was herding her there fast.

I heard "Eennnnnnnghhh" simultaneously with her hips thrusting, pushing her pussy into my face, her clit against my flicking tongue. "Gahhhhh! Ohgodohgodohgod! Dan! I'm. THERE!" She came, holding my hard dick against her cheek, afraid to put it in her mouth while she came.

I kept licking, softer now, letting her ride her orgasm to its conclusion. With a sigh, she sucked me back into her mouth, her tongue and teeth working me back to full hardness, then teasing me to orgasm that was almost brutal, and sucking me dry. My softening dick was her signal to turn around and kiss me full on the mouth. I could taste a little of myself in her warm mouth.

"I guess we just love each other, babe," she said.

"I guess we do." I kissed her again. We lay in each other's arms. "Cindy, baby, don't ever think that I want to change anything about you. You're fourteen. You're going to grow. And change. So am I. And I will love you through it all."

"I thought about that, too, Dan," she said. "I mean, how it would be as we changed, and you know, I talked to Mizz Helen about her an' her husband, and she told me that love finds its own beauty."

"Yes it does, cutie. Yes it does."

She rolled out of the bed and went to the bathroom. Returning, she said, "Come on, baby, let's go get breakfast."

"Pack first?"

"Yeah. Then we can leave here and go straight home."

"Let's do a quick shower. Somebody's liable to notice that we smell like a small orgy."

"Uh-huh ... yeah, mister. I feel positively molested this morning already." She looked suggestively over her shoulder as she headed back to the bathroom. I followed. Our shower was sensual, her body seductive, wet, her hands active over my body. We rinsed the soap away, almost finished, and she knelt in front of me, the shower water slicking her hair against her head. She looked up at me, mouth open, smiling, then her hand pointed the head of my dick toward her waiting lips. Her mouth closed around it with an "Mmmmmm" that reverberated throughout my being. And then she pulled her head back, my dick leaving her lips with an audible pop. She stood up. "You know, I have a plan."

"What plan?"

"I'm not telling you. A girl's got to have some mystery, huh?"

"Okay..."

We got dressed, packed our bags, and checked out, walking out, me and this indescribable little red-headed beauty. We found a breakfast place, fitting in with the Sunday morning crowd, laughing, talking about the music, the people, and the clear fall day.

We'd just gotten back in the truck when my cellphone rang. I saw the caller ID. It was Jim Hardesty. I told Cindy, then punched the button on the phone. "This is Dan," I answered.

"Dan, this is Jim Hardesty. From school."

"Yeah, Jim. That's what my caller ID said. What's up?"

"Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"No, I'm good."

"I was wondering if you wanted to come over this evening for supper. I'm doin' ribs on the barbecue."

"That'd be great. But there's one thing..."

"What's that?"

"I have Cindy with me today. Promised her that I'd bring her to the mall. We'll be finished in plenty of time, but can she come along?"

"Hey, sure! That's great! See ya'll about four-thirty?"

"Yep. We'll be there!"

Cindy was watching my one-sided conversation. "What'd you just get us into?" she asked.

"Barbecue at your guidance counselor's house for supper."

"Really? He's nice. Likes us kids. I've seen him really work with some of them."

"Yeah. I know. You're one of them. Are you gonna be okay? I mean, we can't be husband and wife or boyfriend and girlfriend. Just gotta be me and my shadow."

She grinned. "I can do that. On good days, I can actually be quite charming, you know."

"And on better days, you can be delicious," I laughed.

We drove back to the RV park, did the small amount of housework we needed to do to keep the trailer in good order, then we changed into swimsuits, grabbed a couple of towels and headed to the pool for our daily swim. Three weekender families were there, one of them I recognized from previously, the paper mill manager with wife and kids, a couple of other nuclear families, each with a teenaged daughter, one teenaged boy, a couple of pre-teen kids, all splashing in the pool. I greeted the adults politely, shook hands with the guy I recognized first, then the others.

I did a few laps in the pool, as did Cindy, her lithe body easily cutting the water beside me. I was thinking that I'd hate to race her. I finished my laps and climbed out to towel off and occupy an empty lounge. The afternoon was filled with the sounds of (mostly) happy children, and we adults talked about the kids, the work, the news, hunting, fishing, etc. I couldn't help but notice that the appearance of Cindy, even in her one-piece bathing suit, was more than enough to eclipse the older two teen girls. The boy, brother to one of the girls, had apparently been devoting a lot of attention to the other, but when Cindy showed up, well, Cindy was the top of that little heap. I noted him putting his best moves on her, and I also noted her easily fending him off, choosing instead to talk to the girls.

I heard one little comment, though. "Go play somewhere else! I told you I already HAVE a boyfriend!" A little later she got out of the pool, came to me and took her towel and then stretched out on the lounge beside me. And I do mean "stretched", as in arms over her head, back arched, stretched. And when she finished, she looked me and smiled. "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," I said. She listened to us "adults" chit-chat for a while then I bid my leave. "We have to go get ready for you to go home," I said.

"Yessir," she said, playing her role. We walked back to the trailer, carefully NOT side by side.

Inside the trailer, I laughed, "What are you trying to do, give those guys heart attacks?"

"What did I do?" she asked innocently.

"Oh, you KNOW what you did. That stretch!"

"Hah! Those other two girls were pretty, an' both of them had bigger tits. They could've stretched. An' THEY were wearing bikinis! You won't let me wear a bikini," she pouted. "Besides, I wanted to do THIS!" With that statement she went to her knees, pulled my trunks down and took my dick in her mouth.

"Oh, god! Baby!"

She stood up, smiling, wrapped her arms around my waist and we kissed. "I love you, Dan!"

"I love you too, Cindy." I breathed her fresh scent, gazed into those startling green eyes and saw them answer me with love. That's all I need.

We each did a quick rinse in the shower and she was sitting on the stool drying her hair when I stepped out. "What should I wear?" she asked.

"Oh, you're just coming back from a trip to the mall. I'm thinking something informal."

"Jeans and a blouse, then?"

"Perfect!"

"And I'll try not to sit on your lap while we're there..." Giggles.

"Save that for later."

"I have plans, remember?"

"Yeah. I remember. What are your plans?"

"Nuh-uh. Ain't telling you. But I think you'll like them." Sweet smile. With a leer lurking somewhere in the deep background. Her eyes can't lie.

And dammit! Jeans. Blue denim with pockets and seams that perfectly framed a fine female butt. And a dark green blouse. And matching elastic headband tastefully pulling her red hair away from the sides of her face, leaving bangs hovering just above those green eyes. And a pair of athletic shoes. Fourteen. Okay, in that strange way of young girls, she could have been any age from thirteen to seventeen, but she was pure sexuality in a sweet, innocent wrapper. That reached out and grabbed my dick before we left to get on the road. Hah!

I punched an address written on the back of one of my business cards into the truck's GPS and we followed its directions, listening to the classical music on the public broadcasting station as we drove. She was sitting in the regular passenger seat, the console folded down between us. Finally we pulled up in the driveway of a nice brick house, not suburban, but not all the way out in the country, either.

As we were getting out of the truck I heard Jim's voice over the board privacy fence. "We're back here waitin' on yah!" I could smell the smoky goodness of barbecue.

We pushed our way into the back yard, finding ourselves on a shaded patio. Jim Hardesty was tending slabs of pork ribs over a smoky wood fire.

"No charcoal?" I asked.

"Just a little under there to get things started, then it's all hickory all the way. Hi, Miss Cindy!"

"Hi, Mister Hardesty," Cindy answered.

A short, busty blonde woman walked through the sliding glass door from inside the house. "Hi!" she said, "you must be Dan! I'm Ann!" She shook my hand.

"Well, hello, Ann! This is Cindy."

"Hello, Mizz Ann," Cindy said, shaking hands.

"Sweetie, you can come with me. These guys are gonna be hip-deep in war stories in about five minutes. I'm buildin' a tater salad and some baked beans and Teresa's in the den." Teresa was Jim and Ann's daughter, thirteen, a school grade younger and a nodding acquaintance to Cindy. Cindy followed dutifully. "Yes ma'am," she said.

"Have a seat." Jim motioned me to a patio chair. "I hope you weren't expecting lite beer. I like this Texas stuff. Shiner. Hell, I even visited the factory."

"That'll be great. I don't drink that lite stuff either." Over beer we went through the whole meeting thing. He was a former Marine pilot. Harriers, no less. I was a former army combat engineer. We'd both ended up in the same arena for a war almost twenty years before, and Marines, even pilots, know about living in the dirt. We told war stories. I told him about my plane.

"You have a plane?"

"Yeah," I said. "Old Cessna 180. I bought it when I was in Alaska. Flew it back to the states. Had it overhauled. It's in pretty decent shape now, for forty years old."

"Man, that's somethin'," he said. "I get the itch..."

"Then see if you're free Tuesday when I get off work. Give me a call. Two hundred and thirty horsepower and a hundred and forty knots ain't exactly a Harrier, but you're free to come fly."

"Hey, thanks! I just might do that!" he grinned. He told me how he ended up as a guidance counselor at an Alabama middle school. I told him how I ended up as the go-to guy for electrical power projects. We talked about great barbecue and good food in general. The chit-chat was jovial and enjoyable.

Finally Ann stuck her head out the door. "How much longer? You guys are up to your eyeballs in testosterone."

"Never marry a college grad," laughed Jim. "They know too many big words. Makes 'em all uppity!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You marry a Marine, you spend two decades trainin' 'im to walk without draggin' 'is knuckles on the ground!"

"'Cue's ready when ya'll get the table set."

The remainder of the Hardesty clan appeared, bringing out paper plates, drinks, casseroles, baked beans, and the table was set. We had a good, no, a great meal. Their children were well-behaved, and of course, my Cindy knew her way around etiquette, even with food you eat with your fingers. After the meal, Ann and the kids cleared the table and Jim and I took care of the grill.

"Ya know," he started, "one of the things I studied when I was getting my master's was prodigies, Dan."

"Prodigies?" I questioned.

"Yeah. You know. People who are just head and shoulders above the crowd."

"Uh-huh," I said, letting him go.

"I think that describes Miss Cindy."

"Seriously? Cindy? I mean, she's smart. She hauls her homework over and all I do is check over it. She's got it wrapped."

"Yeah. I've talked with her teachers. Not formally, you understand, just feeling things out since we had the meeting, you know."

"She's not being a problem, is she? I talked to her about that rhumb line thing and about showing other people up, especially teachers."

"Oh no," Jim said. "Her teachers are using her like an aide now. She's helping the slower ones."

I said, "She told me she was helping out in math class."

"And language. And science. And social studies."

"Wow! She hadn't mentioned that."

"Well," said Jim, "that's what is going on. You know, Dan, the biggest part of my job is handling problem kids, ones that get to the eighth grade that can't read or do basic math, or who have personality disorders or really, mostly just need a good bit of decent parenting. Kids like Cindy just zip through the system and nobody ever pays attention to them because they're not the problem. Most times, the teachers just breathe a sigh of relief and send 'em on."

"Yeah, I know. Plenty of programs for special education. I wish there was something we could do for Cindy. Smart kids are special too."

Jim turned to me like a light bulb just went off in his head. "Hey! You just gave me an idea."

"Huh?"

"Smart kids are special, too. You said that. Lemme play with that a bit."

"How? What?"

Jim smiled. "When a kid is classified as 'special', the school has to come up with an IEP, an individualized education program, to fit that student."

"Ooooo-kay..." I said.

"Since 'special' usually means the kid is way behind other students or can't do the work, and we have tutors and remedial classes and stuff. But you know," he said, "I never saw anything that said we couldn't run that in the OPPOSITE direction. I mean, Cindy's test scores, well, she's in the top one percent. Maybe I can work the special ed angle for her."

"Well don't get yourself in trouble, Jim," I said. "I'm looking at some on-line stuff for her."

"Good! Good!" he laughed. "You do that. Let me know if you come up with something. And gimme a week." He closed the top of the barbecue pit. "Let's go inside."

I followed him into the house. Cindy, Ann and Teresa were sitting in the den. We joined them.

"Where's the boy?" asked Jim.

Ann answered, "Up in his room, playin' video games."

"Bill," Jim hollered, "come down here and be social!"

"In a minute, Dad," came the answer.

"He'll be down here," said Jim. "We don't let him miss out on family stuff."

Ann chimed in. "Jim, did you know that Cindy's into classical music?"

'No? Really?" asked Jim. "What do you like?"

Cindy smiled. "Ummm, right now I'm listening to baroque stuff. Handel. Telemann."

"Handel? Wow? "Water Music"?" Jim asked.

"Oh, gosh, yes! Mr. Dan gave me a CD. The first time I listened I had tears in my eyes. It's just so moving! It's HUGE!"

"Yes, that's some grand music. Say, didn't Ann tell you that she is a violinist?"

"No. Really?" Cindy looked at Ann.

"Yes," Ann said. "I was in the orchestra in college. I did a few recitals. But it's really difficult to get past that certain point." She sighed. "And then you marry a Marine..."

Jim laughed. "Yeah, you marry a Marine who plays banjo."

I looked at Jim. "You play banjo?"

Jim laughed again. "Hey! This is Alabama. Of course I play banjo." He grinned. "But I started out playing guitar. Gets girls, yah know!"

"Hey!" chirped Ann. "You need to take care of the girl you got!"

"So," I said, "violin and banjo. Sounds like bluegrass to me."

Ann's turn. "As a matter of fact, if you call it a fiddle, yes, we do. A little."

I saw the bass guitar in the corner. "I can do THAT thing. I might be rusty, but I can do that. Straight guitar, too. Rusty at that, too."

"Wow, Mr. Dan," she said. "I didn't know you play guitar."

"It's been a while. I used to get together with some buddies and play. Even did a few clubs. But road work killed that. Besides, I don't get excited about the music I was playing."

"What'd you play?" questioned Ann.

"Oh, the contemporary country and western stuff. Never could find a bluegrass bunch."

Jim said, "Well, let's try some simple stuff. You remember the key of G?"

"Oh yeah," I said.

Dan pulled an amp out to plug the bass guitar into, and Ann showed up with a violin, and Jim reached behind the sofa and retrieved a banjo, and in fits and starts, music was made. At first, Cindy was shocked, then her expression changed to amusement, then enjoyment as we ran through a few old bluegrass tunes.

Jim looked at her. "What'd ya think, Miss Cindy?"

"Wow!"

Ann jumped in. "I love classical music too, but baby, this is people's music. We're people. This is the music we can make."

Cindy said, "You know, I never heard of music like this before. It's great!"

Ann said, "Isn't it, now! Jim, let's do one more before we get the kids headed to bed."

""Ashokan Farewell"? That's a sad one." And we did. And it was sad, haunting, Ann wrung the tears out with her bow and Jim's banjo relived dashed hopes and dreams, and I saw a tear slide down Cindy's cheek.

Finally we left, thanking our hosts profusely and vowing to return.

On the drive home, Cindy said, "There you go again. I didn't know you played the guitar."

"Sorry, baby. It never came up. I don't bring one with me, usually, so you never asked."

"Yeah, well, remember what I said about making music? You guys made music. That's wonderful. And powerful."

"And fun. Don't forget fun!"

"Speaking of fun..." she said as we pulled into the RV park, "I asked Mizz Helen for a key to the pool since she's closing it tomorrow. Let's go for a swim."

"But it's dark."

The little thing grinned. "Yeah. Dark. And nobody else is around."

We emerged from the trailer again in bathing suits. This time she was wearing her bikini, wrapped in towel. She unlocked the gate and we slid into the water. It felt wonderful. Cindy pushed up against me and kissed me. This was not our normal pool activity. But then the pool was off limits after dark.

I kissed her back. She backed away from me and reached behind her back. The bikini top was off.

"Cindy!"

"Plans, Dan!" She ducked under water and then laid her bikini bottom on the edge of the pool. "One of us needs to get with the program."

"Uh-huh!" I stripped my trunks off. They joined her bikini poolside. She cuddled up against me in the water.

"I could beat you swimming now, for sure," she giggled. "You seem to have developed a drag-inducing protrusion, sir."

"I wonder why. It's not right that beautiful young girls should seduce older men in the pool at night."

Giggles. "Yes, but sometimes it's the only way young girls can get old men to do 'em in the pool."

And we played. Toyed with each other. And finally ended up with me backed against the edge of the pool, her legs wrapped around me, our mouths merged, mating, climaxing together in the water. She held onto me for luscious minutes afterward.

Finally, we regained full faculties. "Babe," I said, "I hate to end this, but it's time to get back to the house."

"Yeah, I know, but this is the first time I ever skinny-dipped since I was, like, five. And it's the first time I ever made love in the water."

"But it won't be the last. For any of that." I reached for my trunks and slipped them on.

Cindy said, "Get my bikini!" I grabbed it. Both pieces together weren't a full handful. I held it out to her. "Nuh-uh! I'm goin' nude!" She giggled and jumped out of the water, her body wet and glistening in the light of a half-moon.

"You're gonna get us thrown in jail, baby," I pled.

"Oh, I'm gonna wrap this towel around me. But YOU will know that I'm nude!" She smiled and slipped on her pool slippers. And wrapped the towel around her. It barely covered from the gentle curve atop her breasts to just below the cleft of her pussy. And I could see her eyes laughing as I got out of the pool. We walked hand in hand back to the trailer. She stood on the step, turned around to me, smiled, and dropped the towel, then backed through the door.

I got inside, closing the door behind me, locking it. "You are one sexy little thing!"

"I'm YOUR sexy little thing!" She giggled delightedly and tugged me toward the bed, hauling in between her spread thighs. I was hard, and she was eager and I penetrated her in one swift motion. "Mmmm!" she sighed, "My life is so much better with you, Dan..."

"I don't think I was even living before I met, you, Cindy!" Her legs wrapping around my hips was sign that she was serious about another time, and despite the fact that we were only a half-hour from the previous coupling, Cindy's enthusiasm found its way to my dick. I plunged into her eagerly, finding her hips meeting me on every stroke. Soon we were both in the throes of rising orgasms.

I heard her "Nnnnnnnn" as she climbed her mountain. We kissed. Our kiss broke as our pubic mounds mashed together time after time, and then I felt her kiss my chest. Then the kiss took on suction. And then her teeth started closing on a bit of me. And this was harder than the usual nips we used when toying with each other. I was on the edge of pain as I heard her go "Nnnnnnnghhhhh!" through clenched teeth. I felt her hips push upward, meeting my thrust, driving me deep inside her, then I felt the clenching, spasming walls of her pussy as she climaxed. And all that, well, that was more than enough for me. I squirted my load, spurt after spurt, deep inside her. My Cindy knew what was going on, and little wiggles of her hips augmented the clenches of her pussy. Her teeth released me and she pulled my face to hers and we kissed.

The kiss finally broke, letting me see a bright-eyed, smiling, breathless Cindy. "Wow!" she said. "Does getting THAT excited mean I'm one of those exhibition people?"

"You mean "exhibitionist"? Either that, or you like teasing me."

She giggled again. "I know that teasing you gets me going." She looked at my chest. "Ohmigod! Look at what I did to your chest!" I looked. There was a bruise forming. Around teeth marks. "I am so sorry, baby! I didn't mean to hurt you!"

"You didn't hurt me, sweetie. If I was hurt, I couldn't have done what we just finished."

"So it, like, felt GOOD?"

"Yeah! I guess it did. I guess I saw it as a sign of your intensity."

She smiled. "That WAS pretty intense."

"Mmm-hmmm," I said. "But I need a shower now..."

"Me too. I wish this place had a shower big enough for both of us..."

"I do too, baby, but when I spec'ed it out, I didn't figure that I'd ever find anyone like you to live in it..."

"I understand. But we can have our weekends, right?"

Hotels. With big showers. "Yes, ma'am!" I laughed. "Now go make sure that you don't show up in class smelling like last night's orgy..." I watched her stroll naked to the shower, softly curved ass moving seductively. She cast a last look over her shoulder before entering the little bathroom. I laid out my clothes for the next day and she was out. I went in, rinsed down, and shaved. She was drying her hair went I got out. I helped her brush those copper locks out, and then we went to bed. To sleep this time. With me spooned up behind her, her butt nestled against my happy, satiated dick, the top of her head smelling clean and fresh, my arm around her. She took my hand in hers and moved it to cover one perfect breast.

Chapter 16

And the alarm went off on Monday morning. We shared a very sensual cuddle and got up and started the rest of the routine. By seven I was out the door headed to work and she was waiting for the school bus.

Arrived at the project, just like always. Walked in, fired up the computer, started a pot of coffee and was tapping out the replay to an email when Sara walked in.

Her first words were, "That was some cute young lady you brought in Friday."

"Yeah, she's a cutie, all right. She's also scary smart. I started helping her with her homework and she was interested in what engineers do, so I told her that if she had good grades, I'd bring her out for the tour."

"That was sweet of you. What'd she think?" Sara asked.

I smiled. "She says she wants to be like you and make people's lives miserable."

"Uh, she didn't say THAT!"

"No, really, she did, but she was laughing. I told her what you really do."

Sara laughed, "What? Sit around all day eatin' bon-bons and polishin' my nails?"

"That too," I laughed.

The rest of my day was normal, except for hearing at least a dozen comments about Cindy's visit. Most of them were suitable for polite company, but it WAS a construction site, and a couple of the comments were somewhat suggestive. "Jailbait" was in one of them. "They didn't have THOSE when I was young" was a comment from an older co-worker.

Finally Monday came to an end and I drove to the RV park. Cindy was at the office with Helen when I checked in.

"Cindy says ya'll have had a busy weekend," Helen said.

"Yeah, you and the judge Friday, a concert Saturday, supper at Jim Hardesty's house yesterday. I had to go to work to get some rest."

Cindy smiled. "Anybody say anything about me there Friday?"

"EVERYBODY asked about you," I said. "You are a memorable thing on a construction site."

"Do you have homework?" I asked.

"The normal stuff. Mr. Hardesty waved at me in the hall today, too. That's pretty cool, you playing music with him and Mizz Ann."

"Ya'll played music?" Helen questioned.

"Yeah, his wife plays fiddle, he plays banjo, and I can do a little on a bass guitar and we did some bluegrass stuff."

"Awww! I wish I could've heard that," she said.

"I dunno," I said, "I'm kind of rusty. But it was fun."

Cindy said, "They were GOOD! I never heard live music before, and they were having fun!"

We laughed and chatted for a while longer before Cindy and I headed to our trailer. "I looked at her. "We need to go find you a bicycle."

"What kind of bicycle?"

I said, "Nothing too fancy. Just something we can ride around parks and stuff. We'll go tomorrow. No, wait. I promised Jim Hardesty I'd meet him at the airport. He's got the flying itch again."

"Can I come?" Cindy asked.

"Of course. You're my little shadow, as far as Jim's concerned."

She smiled. "That sounds good. What are we doing this evening? I mean, the pool's closed."

"I know," I said. "Wanna go for a ride before dinner?"

"Yeah. And we can end up at that salad place for dinner. It'll be good for us."

"You got it, sweetie," I said. We drove off. I had a goal in mind, acting on advice from some co-workers, I had a lead on a secluded campsite not too far away from the park. That's where we headed. It was one of those "and then turn off the paved road" places, and just wouldn't have been accessible to a vehicle less capable than my big pickup truck, but after a bit of trying, with Cindy squealing a couple of times as we rode through some rather muddy spots, we emerged on the bank of a creek deep in the woods.

"So this is the place?" she asked. "We're gonna come camp here? And sleep in a tent? And it's supposed to be fun?"

"Yep!" I said. "We try it at least one time. If you don't like it, we don't do it anymore. If you do like it, well, then we can do it again." We got out and walked around. There was a space between the treeline and the creek, about twenty yards of short grass, and then a sandy bank. There was evidence of some previous camping activity, but here between hunting season and summer, it was deserted and I was told that very little activity ever occurred. And that there were no questions about people camping there. I saw the creek, clear, swift water, suitable for swimming and bathing, and there was enough fallen deadwood for a fire, and I was pretty sure that we'd have to visit the place soon.

Cindy looked around, walked down to the water's edge. "We can swim here?"

"Yeah. Don't know how deep it is, though. And it's probably cold. Looks cold."

As I was saying this, Cindy was slipping her shoes and socks off. I watched step into the creek. "Yes, it is cold. Not too bad, but a lot colder than the pool."

"That'll make your nipples perkier than usual."

"Ummm," she giggled. "You're a dirty old man, thinkin' about a young girl's nipples."

"Actually I'm thinking of a moonlit skinny dip..."

She laughed. "Exactly what I had in mind, love," she said. "I wish it was dark right now..."

"Me too," I said. "Maybe next weekend, huh?" This comment was just as a canoe with a couple of paddlers rounded the bend from upstream. I gestured in that direction. "That's why we're not naked right now..."

"Uh-huh." She smiled. And we waved at the people in the canoe, watched as they passed, paddles glistening in the sunlight. Then we returned to the truck and rumbled back through the woods and up the road to the little restaurant.

The ladies who owned the place recognized us immediately. I knew it wasn't me they remembered. It was that red hair and green eyes of my young partner. We were seated immediately and along with menus we were informed of some specials that they whip together, delicious-sounding combinations of vegetables and pork or chicken. We dined well, and afterward as the table was cleared, we talked with first one, then both the owners about the business and the area. It was a pleasant evening.

It was even more pleasant getting Cindy home before eight and lounging around on the sofa, deliciously entangled together after our showers, then to bed for a gentle and satisfying sharing of love.

Tuesday came and we stepped through the routine. It was a pleasant thing to leave the trailer with Cindy's kiss on my lips and the scent of her in my head. Work was work. No big fires to put out. No hurdles to jump. That was one reason that I was hired, to keep excitement at a low level. Four o'clock and I was running out the gate.

When I got to the park, I found my jeans-clad baby talking with Helen at the front office. "Hi, Helen," I said.

"Hey, Dan," she replied. "Charley was impressed Friday night."

"Must've been Cindy." This got a smile from Cindy.

"Actually, it was both of you. He told me that after meeting you two, he was quite a bit more certain that he'd made the right decision."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah," Helen continued. "Said he was surprised you showed up wearing a suit and Cindy looked very proper and pretty and he could see how you two belonged together."

Cindy said, "He's a nice man. He knows how to tell stories."

Helen laughed. "Yes, he does. I just wanted ya'll to know what he thought."

"I was wondering," I said. "He's everything I'd imagined he'd be. You two an item yet?"

It was Helen's turn to blush. "You know ... I just might be makin' that decision. It's gotten to the point that we had supper with his son and his family."

"And the son approved?"

"Yeah. The son used to go to the huntin' camp with his dad and my husband, and I used to run the camp every fall. He knows me. I used to feed 'im pie and run 'im out of my kitchen."

"Oh, great! You pissed off the DA."

Helen laughed. "Yeah. Cindy says you're goin' to go flyin' with her guidance counselor?"

"Yeah. You know he's a Marine pilot?"

"That's what Cindy said."

"Yes, ma'am," I said. "And if you'll excuse me, I need to go change shoes. It's hard to fly wearin' steel-toe boots."

"Ya'll go have fun," Helen laughed.

Cindy and I left and scooted over to the trailer. Once inside, my original task of changing shoes was extended just a little bit while we kissed. Then we were out the door and on the road.

"You're in the back seat today, sweetie."

"I figured that part out. I'll be okay." She smiled. "But we haven't flown since the first time. I really want to go again."

"We will, babe. And we're going to fly home in it for Thanksgiving, too."

Squeal. "We're going to your real home?"

"Nope," I said. "We're going to my OLD home. Thanksgiving with my sister and brother."

Her brow wrinkled. "Your OLD home?"

"Yes. My new home is wherever WE are."

"Awwww ... You're so sweet." She paused a second, thinking. "But what are you going to tell your sister and brother?"

"Just a teeny tiny little lie or two. I'm going to tell them you're eighteen. And we're married."

Another squeal. "You think they'll believe you?"

"What are they gonna do, ask to see your driver's license?"

Green eyes narrowed. "I don't know..."

I continued, "They're my brother and sister. I don't think we have a problem."

We were unlocking the T-hangar when Jim Hardesty drove up. "Hi, Dan! Hi, Miss Cindy!" he said.

"Hi, Mr. Hardesty," Cindy chirped.

"Hey, Jim. Push a door." He and I pushed the doors open on the hangar, revealing the other woman in my life.

"Well, I'll be damned," he said. "She looks nice, Dan!"

I laughed. "Cindy? Or the plane."

Jim chuckled. "Both. But Cindy's not forty. You spent some bucks keepin' this old girl in THIS shape."

"I spent a dime or two. Engine's been overhauled to new. And the prop. And I gave a mechanic a blank check on the airframe. She's not show quality, but she sure is 'go' quality. Let's drag 'er out." We pushed the plane out onto the apron and the three of us did the pre-flight. Cindy climbed the ladder to check fuel levels with a dipstick.

While she was up on the ladder, Jim asked, "She knows what she's doing?"

"Showed her once. That's all it takes with Cindy."

"Yeah. That's what her teachers say."

"Uh, guys, it's NOT polite to talk about somebody when she's right there," Cindy said. "Mr. Dan, you have about three-quarters of a tank. Twice." She climbed down and before I could do it, she folded the ladder and carried it back to the hangar.

Cindy was the first into the plane, buckling herself into the back seat. Jim took the passenger seat, "because it's YOUR plane and I haven't flown in a decade." And I got in the pilot's seat. In five more minutes we were in the air and Jim was at the controls, his round face grinning.

I spoke into my headset. "It's yours. Just remember, plus four G's, minus three, and Cindy's on her SECOND flight of her life and there's only two barf bags."

"Oh, man," Jim said. "This is great. I know. I already tried to find the gun switch."

We flew around. Jim ran us through the operating envelope: slow, hanging on the prop, and steep turns, and a few stalls. I looked over my shoulder hoping that Cindy was turning green. Cindy was grinning widely. "Mister Dan, you didn't show me all THIS stuff the first time!"

Dan popped in, "Oh, I'm sorry Cindy! Am it getting' too radical?"

"Oh, no sir! This is GREAT!"

I smiled. Two happy people. Make that three. Me too. We made a great circuit of the local area, then the shadows on the ground started to lengthen and it was time to go home.

"Plane's yours, Dan," said Jim. "I've never landed a taildragger."

"Then follow along with me. Just requires some footwork and make sure you're pointed in the direction you're traveling when the wheels touch down." We shot a couple of touch and goes and then landed for real, taxing to the hangar.

I grabbed Cindy by the waist and helped her down as the three of us exited. We pushed the plane back into the hangar and closed and locked the door.

"Wow!" Jim laughed. "That was great! Makes me want to get current again." And my own...

"It's expensive, man."

"Yeah, I know," said Jim. "But I'm thinking of long vacations and stuff, an' this one'll do the whole family."

"Yeah, it will. You should've seen what they were haulin' with it in Alaska."

"This was a bush plane?"

"Yep. I flew it back to the Lower 48 after I finished a job up there."

"Man! I might have to dip into the savings for one of these."

"Wanna go to dinner with me an' Cindy? That's our next stop." I smiled.

"Yeah, Mister Jim. Come have dinner!" Cindy injected.

"No, I need to get home tonight. But, golly, thanks!" Jim shook hands with both of us. Cindy waved as he drove off.

"You sure made HIM happy!" she smiled. "And me too! All those maneuvers ... He knows what he's doing?"

"Baby, he's a Marine aviator. He's so far above me in pilot cred that it's scary. He knows everything we did today. It's just that with this little plane, the numbers are all different. Like a baby carriage compared with an Indy car."

"Oh ... But it's your plane. You can do all that stuff in YOUR plane."

"Yes, I can. And since I am now convinced that you won't barf all over, I will show you what we did and why." I paused. "Come on. We have a stop to make before supper."

We got in the truck and drove off. The stop was the local jewelry store. To pick up a pair of rings. I got out, went inside, and came back out, handing Cindy the little velvet-covered box.

She started to open it.

"Nope! Not yet. When we get home after supper."

Her eyes glittered. "Then we're having TV dinners for supper. Drive straight home. Fast."

"Now ain't this just great! I present the love of my life with a ring, and she marks the occasion with TV dinners?!?!?"

Cindy giggled. That giggle. It melted my heart. On the fifteen minute drive home she cradled the little box in both hands, clasped to her chest. When we pulled up to the trailer, she dashed to the door, her key in one hand, the box in the other.

"Slow down," I said. I thought she'd be on the sofa. As I locked the door behind me, I saw her at the opposite end of the trailer, kneeling in the bed. Her face was turned toward me, waiting.

"Let's do this right," I said. I sat on the edge of our bed. "Open the box."

Her eyes were wide as she opened it, revealing two gold rings, filigreed, just as she'd shown me.

"Oh, Dan..." she sighed.

I took the smaller ring and holding her left hand, I slid it onto the ring finger. And kissed her. "My Cindy. Forever!"

"Oh, Dan..." She took the other ring and I held my hand up. She slid it onto my finger. And slid herself into my arms. And I hugged her to me, hearing her whisper breathlessly, "My Dan forever! I love you!"

"D'you like them?"

"Oh, god, YES! That's the one I showed you! And you got YOU one, too!"

"Because I want to be as much YOURS as you are mine!" This got me kisses. Bunches. Some longer than the others. "But sweetie," I explained, "I can't wear mine all the time like you can."

"I know..." she sighed. "On YOU it's a wedding ring."

"That's how people will see it. At work, that's hard to explain."

"I know..."

"But every chance I get, I'll have this ring on my finger."

She took my hand to her lips and kissed the ring. "I know you love me, Dan. And you got us rings. Like we're married."

"As far as I'm concerned, baby, we ARE married. When I tell my brother and sister, I won't be lying. The only thing is that we haven't done it in public records, because we just CAN'T."

"I know, baby." She hugged me. Hard. Pulled me down onto the bed and climbed on top of me and showered me with kisses.

"Married means forever. What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine."

She interrupted. "But I don't have anything."

"You sweet, sweet thing. You ARE everything. The riches of the universe. And everything I have, I give to you."

More kisses. She was tugging at my shirt, pulling it, unbuttoning. She stood up and began undressing herself. "You do you. I'll do me. And then it'll be US. Naked."

And that is a good thing. Thirty minutes later, the orgasm score was Cindy 2, Me 1. And it was shower time. And finally the TV dinners went in the microwave.

And life was good. Very good. Friday night we camped out, just like we'd talked about. Skinny-dipped in the creek in the moonlight. Made love, then lay together under the stars, safe from insects in my screened tent, but still able to marvel at the heavens. It was still warm enough at night to only need a light cover, so we lay on one unzipped sleeping bag and covered with the other. I didn't push the "cook breakfast over an open fire" bit. When the sun came up, we splashed into the creek to wake up and then broke camp and headed back to civilization for breakfast, then back to the storage unit to unload the gear, and then to the airfield.

This time the flying was more of a lesson than the oohing and ahhhing of previous events. Cindy wanted to know HOW. I showed her. We chatted back and forth over the intercom as I showed and told her what to do and why. Two hours and she understood much, but I knew that she needed a practice to turn thought into subtle movements and pressures to fly smoothly. I knew that would come.

We returned to the airfield at lunch and at her insistence we ended up at a burger joint. I had a burger stuffed in my mouth when she said, "Let's fly someplace next weekend. You know, for overnight."

"You know, that's a good idea, babe," I said. "I can get us a rental car when we get there, and a reservation at a hotel, and we'll have a new city to play in."

"Why didn't we do this before?" Her eyebrow was arched at me.

"I dunno. I was just so happy running you around here. Flying will get us a three hundred mile range for the weekend." I was thinking we had four adjacent states to play with.

She was thinking about more flying, among other things. "Let's go back to the field and get the charts. You can show me flight planning again."

"Okay, babe!" I watched that sassy body bounce out of the eatery ahead of me to the truck. Fourteen! And so much potential. And so perfect it made my eyes water. We complied with her wish. While we were there, we chatted up another recreational pilot. He let Cindy sit in his sixty year old airplane. She was tickled by it.

Back in the truck, I said, "Okay, now what?" It's mid-afternoon."

"You said I needed a bike."

"Right! Let's go to town." "Town" was the big city an hour's drive away. I knew there had to be a bike shop somewhere. We found it. The salesman found a mountain bike with a frame that would work for Cindy, I got a bike rack that would fit in the bed of my pickup truck, and we headed back home, stopping by the storage place again so I could pick up my bike.

She already knew what it looked like, and said so. "Like mine, except the frame's bigger, huh?"

"Yep. My leg's longer. Want to go ride around the park?"

She smiled. That's a good place to start. It's been a few years since I rode a bike. There's no traffic in the park."

Which put me riding a bicycle behind a Cindy clad in shorts and a t-shirt. Watching that perfect butt as she pedaled ahead of me - yes, there is truly poetry in motion. I spent some time observing it, then, "Dannn! Ride beside me!"

"Okay," I answered, "we can do that here, but on the street we have to ride single file."

"I know. But we're in a park."

So that's the way we rode. Nope, not spandex-clad bicycle nuts, just two people enjoying the beginnings of fall air on a Saturday afternoon, and yes, it was exercise. The Saturday park population was maybe ten RV's. Two families had kids. A couple of them were on bicycles also. And with the change in seasons, Helen's snowbirds were coming in, people from the northern states migrating south ahead of the cold. These were older folks, and they were clustered on groups, socializing. Some of them waved as we rode by. We put an hour in, lazily pedaling around, then locked the bikes up at the trailer.

Entering our little nest, Cindy said, "Dan, I really need a shower."

"Me too, babe! We've done a lot today."

"Wouldn't it be nice if we could shower together?"

"Yes it would. Are you thinking..."

She finished the thought. "that we should go find us a motel with a big shower?"

"A kiss would make me do that." I got my kiss. And I flipped open my cellphone and punched a number. A couple of minutes later, I hung up and looked toward the bedroom. Cindy was zipping up her overnight bag. Mine was on the bed beside her.

Giggle. "We're packed!"

"Let's go, then!" We kissed before heading out the door. She crawled in the pickup, pushing the console up out of the way, then buckling in the passenger seat, leaving a huge space between us, but she was grinning as we left the park and got onto the open road.

Five miles later she was sitting beside me. Her eyes were sparkling as she played with the gold band on her finger. "I can't believe you got me this, baby," she said. "and you have yours on, too!"

I waved my ring at her. "You bet, baby!"

The month of October passed, and then half of November. The first cold fronts made their way down south, and we saw our first frost of the winter a couple of weeks early, according to Helen. "It's that global warming," she laughed.

On a practical note, living in a travel trailer made us very cognizant of the seasons. Winter meant keeping an eye on the propane bottles that heated the place. It also meant that I spent colder nights with the warming influence of a fourteen year old form cuddled up next to me.

The first one of those mornings, as good luck would have it, was a Saturday morning, and with no alarm clock driving the day, we eased awake in each other's arms. The previous evening was rainy, presaging the coming cold front. And because I was bouncing in bed with a sexy fourteen year old redhead, I forgot to set the thermostat, so forties on the outside translated to fifties on the inside, and green eyes just barely peeking over the blanket.

"'S cold, Dan!"

"I know, babe. I should've turned the thermostat on to heat." I got out of bed. The temperature made the floor cold and my bare feet stepped spritely as I reached the thermostat and flipped it on, then raced back to dive under the covers. I knew EXACTLY what to do next. Cold feet. Warm girl. BINGO!

Screech!!! "Your feet are ICE!"

"But sweetie, you're sooooo warm!" I laughed, cuddling her giggly form in my arms. Kissing Cindy in the morning was finding the universe in harmony.

"Mmmmmm, baby. We sleep sooooo good together. But it's even BETTER when it's cold and WE'RE warm!" And then "What's it like to make love UNDER a blanket?" And a hand found my dick, already hard. She pushed me over onto my back, climbing on top of me, then kissing me a quick peck, and then saying, "Nope! You gotta be on top!"

We rolled together, her legs spreading to accept me. A wiggle had me sliding into a tight but oh so accepting pussy. I reached full penetration to her sigh. She drew a breath and as our eyes met, she giggled. "We're so perfect together, Dan. We feel sooo darned perfect!"

I kissed her pert nose, drew back enough to see the scattering of freckles across it, and answered, "Yes indeed we do, cutie!" And was part of the wonder of making love with Cindy. She was giggling, laughing, savoring, eyes laughing at the pure joy of coupling, right up to the point where she'd bite her bottom lip, a sure sign of impending orgasm. And our bodies on this cool morning merged with each other and in some minutes of kissing and grasping and pushing and sliding and the bottom lip was pressed by perfect white teeth, the eyelashes fluttered over improbable green, and I struggled to hold my own until I felt her first spasm, then I released with her.

"I'm hot NOW!" she announced, throwing the bedclothes off us. "and we're gonna have a mess!"

The "mess", of course, was what we'd have from leaking juices from a happy and vigorous coupling. "I'm gonna clean MY end!" she announced, and spun around, presenting me with a view that, although I'd seen it many times in the last three months, was always new and exciting, and I happily lapped her juicy pussy clean, again listening to happy giggles, then an "Nnnnnnnnngghhhhh!" through clenched teeth as she came once again. When she recovered and turned back around to put her head on my chest, she dragged the bedspread up with her, covering us up again.

"This is gonna be the BEST winter EVER!" she told me.

"Yes it is, angel. And I've already had forty-two of 'em." I cradled her in my arms, stroking her red head, smelling the remnants of the dab of perfume she always seems to dab on before going to bed with me. It was just a dab, and sometimes it was her throat, sometimes the nape of her neck, sometimes behind an ear, occasionally between her perky breasts, or right on her pubic mound, her muffin, and I always took time to search for it. Last night it was on the back of her neck, under her hair, and I kissed the spot. "Mmmmmm!"

Of course the cooler air meant that the bicycle rides were now going to be in jeans, but she defined the effect of jeans on the female form, bent over the handlebars, her legs pedaling, the musculature smoothly flowing under blue denim.

Another thing, too. A couple more visits to the Hardesty's and he and his wife Ann and I decided we were ready for the public. And Cindy had a voice. And one Saturday evening we played our first public show at the RV park pavilion, our audience twenty or thirty weekend residents. We weren't good enough to do requests, and our repertoire was limited to a few bluegrass favorites, but the ticket price, i.e., free, and the accessibility, i.e., we showed up, and sometimes enthusiasm covers up the occasional (all too occasional) wrong note or missed chord change, and a fourteen year old redhead with a microphone and a sweet, although untrained, voice, we got ovations.

Deeper into November, another milestone loomed. Thanksgiving. I had a mandatory invitation to my sister's house for Thanksgiving. She lived in the same town that we grew up in, the town where I owned a home, and it was pre-planned that I would be there.

Thanksgiving week at the project, we were fighting the schedule. My stuff was on track, even a bit ahead, but other parts were lagging, fighting, and it was ordained that we would work the Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week.

And that week was coming.

Chapter 17

Wednesday, the week before Thanksgiving, I walked into the office trailer at the project. Sara was moving another stack of paperwork onto a growing pile.

"Be careful, lady," I said. "Safety's gonna put barricade tape around that stack!"

"Don't I know," she laughed. "I'm so far behind. I need to hire a temp to do some filing."

"Why'n't ya get one?"

"Too much hassle. Just for a couple of days' work."

"Cindy's out of school next week. She's gonna hang around the park anyway. I can ask her..."

"You mean, Cindy, the Engineer's Apprentice?" Cindy'd made three more trips to the site, the second with a few more of her classmates, with me as tour guide, the third and fourth, just by herself. And that fourth trip, a couple of the other engineers whom she'd questioned presented her with a pocket protector filled with pens and pencils. And a hard hat with her name on it. She was almost a mascot.

"Yeah. I think she'd do it. She LIKES you. Don't ask me why."

Sara laughed. "Because I am an island of femininity, charm and sanity in this pool of testosterone."

"Uh, yeah, that's got to be it. Say, d'you think we can, like, PAY her?"

Sara's eyes twinkled. "Let me run it by the boss, but he knows Cindy. I think we can cover a couple days at six or seven bucks an hour. Ask her."

"I will. I sure will."

During a lull in the day, I called my sister. She picked up. "Hey, Tootie!" I said. "Looks like we got all the arrangements made. We're comin' home for Thanksgiving."

"We?" Sister's actual name was Adele. Nobody called her that. She was Tootie to everybody she knew. "What's with "we"? Last time we talked, you had a girlfriend."

"Not anymore. Married her."

"No shit!" Tootie sometimes lacked decorum. "When?"

"A week after the last time we talked. You ought to call more often."

"Phone works both ways, brother," she laughed. "Oh, well. You're a big boy. What's she like?"

"Like eighteen."

"Whaaaaaat? Are you crazy? You're joking, right?"

"Nope. Dead serious. And get this. She's a certified genius. After she graduates, she's going to college for engineering."

Incredulous noises. "She hasn't even graduated? You married a high school girl? Wait! She not pregnant, is she?"

I coughed. "I'm hurt. You know I got fixed after Catherine was born."

"Yeah, but they can reverse those things."

"No, she's not pregnant. Anyway, I need you to get my house opened up and aired out. You can do it yourself if you want. Or hire somebody. I'll pay. I just want it ready when we get there next Wednesday."

"I'll do it," she said. "You can pay me." She snorted.

"Who all's gonna be there?"

"For Thanksgiving dinner? Me and Mike, you and whoever..."

"Cindy. Here name's Cindy."

"Okay. You and Cindy. And Jerry and Sheila."

"What about the kids?"

"Not gonna be here for Thanksgiving. One of mine is stationed in Europe with his wife."

"Yeah, I know." Her son was twenty-two and in the army.

"And Debbie's in California with her husband."

"Okay. And Jerry's sons?"

"Neither of them are gonna be here. One's working four states over and the other just joined the air force."

"Oooo-kay! I was just wondering." I heard my desk phone ring. "Hey, Toot! I gotta get another call. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay, brother! I gotta go spread the news ... Bye!"

That afternoon when I got to the park, it was darkening. The lights were on in the office and I saw Helen and Cindy through the window, along with an elderly couple who belonged to a big motor home parked a couple of spots down. I walked in. "Hi, Helen. Hi Cindy. Hello, folks!"

Helen handed me a couple of envelopes, my mail. "Here ya go, Dan." She nodded to the old couple. "These people are wondering if you and the Hardesty's are gonna do a show this weekend."

The old guy said, "Heck with THEM! Just let this little cutie stand on the stage an' sing!"

"Oh, George!" his wife chided. And to me and Cindy, "You people were very entertaining. This old goat and I loved it!"

"I'll see what I can do, folks," I said. "We may be up for another round of public embarrassment, huh, Cindy?"

She smiled, "Yessir. It was a strange an' wonderful experience. Ya'll were strange an' I was wonderful."

The old couple laughed out loud.

Helen said, "And besides singing, she's a comedienne, too. Dan, try to get the Hardesty's. I'll bring the judge. Even if he don't like banjo music."

Cindy chirped brightly, "The judge is Mizz Helen's boyfriend."

"Ooohhhh," said the lady. "That's nice! Anyway, I'm going to drag my old goat home. I hope you play this weekend!"

"G'nite!" Cindy said as they exited.

After they left, I said, "Cindy, Mizz Sara wants to know if you want to work for her Monday and Tuesday of next week."

Squeal! "She does? What's he want me to do?"

"Help her with her filing. I know you know the alphabet."

"I can do that," she said.

Helen looked at me. "Really?"

"Yes ma'am! Cindy's got her first job. They'll even pay her. Cash!"

Helen smiled. "Ain't that somethin'. What about Saturday night?"

I looked at Cindy. "You up to it, princess?"

"Yep! I'm a star!"

"Yes you are! The brightest star in Beanpole, Alabama!" I flipped open my cellphone and punched up a number.

"Jim," I said.

"Heeeyyyy, Dan! What's up?"

"I got us another gig for Saturday night if you an' the missus are up for it."

"Oh, just a second." Off the phone I heard him put the question to the wife. He got back on the phone. "Yep! We're up for it. Same astronomical pay?"

"Yeah, and the undying admiration of a couple dozen aging Yankees."

"Six thirty?"

That'll work.'

"'Kay. Cindy's gonna sing?"

"Yep!"

"Great! The crowd won't boo a pretty girl." He laughed.

"Then between Cindy and Ann we're safe, huh?"

"You got that right, buddy. She's hollering for supper now. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay, buddy! Talk to you later!" I turned to Helen and Cindy. "Helen, tell the judge to put on his overalls for Saturday night. We're on!"

"That's great!" Helen exclaimed. "We'll be there."

"As long as you don't expect too much..." I laughed.

Cindy added, "We have fun. Looks like some people enjoy that."

Helen smiled as we bid her good night, climbing into the truck. Once inside, Cindy asked, "D'you think we're riding enough to be able to do catfish tonight?"

"Yeah," I said. "I think so."

"Then catfish for supper." And we headed out the park gate.

Thursday mid-morning, my cell phone rang. I looked at the screen. Helen. "Hey, Helen. What's up?"

"Jim Hardesty just called. Wants to know if he can see us tomorrow at 9 AM."

"Trouble?"

"No," she said. "He said he wanted to talk about something called an IEP."

"Oh ... He mentioned that a while back. Trying to see what he can do for Cindy."

"Can you make it? I know it's short notice, but I'd rather not go without you there to interpret."

"I can be there."

When I met her and Cindy at the office after work, Cindy asked the first question. "What do you think this is about?"

"Nothing bad, baby. Dan's trying to get you where you can do yourself some good. You're marking time in middle school classes."

"Tell me about it. I'm the assistant math teacher now. I even do remedial students."

"Good," Helen said. "It's good that you help other folks."

Cindy grinned. "It's fun when they want help and want to try. I don't work with 'em if they don't want help. The real teachers get those."

"I can see where that's a good idea," I said.

The three of us chatted for a few more minutes before we exited to go chase the elusive Alabama salad. Having made the little restaurant a twice a week destination, we were greeted like old friends, and we didn't leave immediately after the meal, either, because we usually talked with one or both of the owners after the meal.

We returned to the trailer feeling the coolness of a fall air. After showers, Cindy said, "Turn the heater down. Makes snuggling so much better."

I can find nothing wrong with that sentiment. We stayed up playing cards until ten and then I turned the thermostat down to fifty-five and crawled into bed, aiming for a spot beside Cindy. Except Cindy was a moving target and I ended up between her legs, her arms around my neck, and her face home to big smile. We kissed.

"D'you know that I love you?" Another kiss.

"Yes, I do, little girl," I said. "And I love you too." I felt her moving her crotch underneath me, her moist slit engulfing my hardening dick.

She giggled. Another wiggle and I slid inside her and she sighed. "Mmmmmm ... You feel sooo good, babe!"

"We really do, don't we?"

"Uh-hmmmm..." Her mobile form was surging against me, meeting my thrusts with her own enhancements. Then she giggled. "Let me suck you, babe. Sixty-nine?"

"Oh, yeah!" I said. She spun around, tossing the covers off us and presented me with moist pink perfection. Her little clit was excitedly peeking out of its home. I licked the length of her slit, my tongue ending up against its firm little head and I flicked it a couple of times, eliciting moans from the lips encircling my dick.

"Mmmmm!" she said, holding my dick in her hand. "When you do THAT, I'm afraid I'm gonna lose control and bite you too hard."

"Babe," I said, "You just bite me as hard as you want. I love eating you." And I went back to the happy meal in front of me. She hooked her teeth right behind my dick's coronal ridge and as promised, her teeth bit. Not hard. Just right. And she sucked. And I licked. Her hips became more insistent, pushing her pussy against my mouth, encouraging me. A subtle change in her flavor told me she was just about there. I sucked her clitty in between my lips and flicked with my tongue. And she went over the edge. My dick came out of her mouth and she held it against her cheek as she came. Finally she turned her head sideways and chewed on my like an ear of corn, then said, "Your turn!" And she sucked me into her mouth. The combination of hand, suction and tongue, plus the heady scent of her pussy, and I went right over the edge myself. After the second spurt, she giggled, sucking the subsequent surges from me.

"I love making love with you, babe," she said.

"You're the very best, Cindy. Best ever."

She cuddled into my side, her hand reaching down and idly fondling my soft dick. "Really? I mean, you're the only man I've ever been with, but I know you've been with other women."

"And baby, nobody ever comes close to being a better lover than YOU are."

"Really?"

"Really. With others, sometimes I would think afterward, if only THIS was different or she did THAT or felt like THAT, or stuff. I had my fantasies about how it was supposed to be. But then YOU came along, and it never crosses my mind that it could be better. And fantasies? I didn't have enough imagination to dream of how it is making love with you. Really!"

"I love you, Dan. I will never love another man."

"And I will never love another woman. I have this ring on my finger, but I have YOU in my heart and in my head."

"Thank you, baby." She kissed me and we drifted off to sleep in each other's arms, the sounds of great music on the stereo. Sweetness in the night was rolling over half-awake and feeling her body seek mine, molding against me as we shared warmth together.

Friday morning and the alarm was on, and we were up and bustling around. Our ways parted per the morning routine, and I went to work, arranging my events to let me get loose to attend the meeting at school.

Nine AM found me walking into Jim Hardesty's office behind Cindy and Helen and Jim.

"You folks can sit down," he said, smiling.

We sat. Cindy's eyes cut to mine, then Helen's and then to Jim.

"Here's a deal I want you to think about."

"Okay," I said. "Lay it on us."

Jim fingered a stack of papers on his desk. "I talked with the curriculum people and the standards people and we all reviewed Cindy's grades and test scores, and they talked with her teachers and the principal. And me."

Cindy fidgeted, uncharacteristically nervous.

"What I came up with, and THEY approved, is a plan that has one Miss Cynthia Susan Smith, age fourteen, graduating from HIGH SCHOOL with the current high school graduating class IF she completes a couple of hurdles.

Cindy giggled. I was just a small bit short of flabbergasted. Helen's mouth was ajar.

"She graduates? THIS year?" I asked. "What are the conditions?"

Jim smiled. "It all hinges on two tests. Her teachers told us that she's TEACHING math and science and history and language. This kind of put us in the position of having to prove her depth of education, so they say if she takes college placement tests, specifically the ACT, and scores in the top quintile, and if she takes the state's high school exit exam and achieves scores of competent or better, they'll give her a diploma. And letters of explanation and reference that she can use in any university in the state."

Helen looked at me. I looked at Cindy. Cindy was smiling. "What?!?!?" I asked her.

"Piece of CAKE!"

It was Jim's turn to look perplexed. "Piece of cake?"

"Yessir," Cindy said, hiding a self-confident smirk, and doing a poor job of it. "You see, you have these test prep books in the library, and they have sample tests for the ACT. And I took 'em. ALL of 'em. And the lowest score I ever got was a twenty-eight."

"My gosh," said Jim. "I had a twenty-four. Twenty-eight is inside the top ten percent."

"I managed a twenty-five, and I was an eighteen year old geek. I told you she was scary smart."

Helen finally spoke. "So let me get this straight. By next summer, Cindy'll be a high school graduate and then..."

Cindy said one word: "College!" She looked at me, then Jim. "Engineering school."

Jim snickered. "I guess then, that you folks are agreeable with the plan?"

Cindy's eyes twinkled as she answered for us all. "They agree."

Helen said, "Hmmmph! I guess I need to see about a college fund."

Jim said, "Oh, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I called a few people. If she wants to go to state, she's got a "gifted" scholarship. Full tuition. Or Auburn. Same thing."

"Man!" I said. "That's a hundred grand right there."

"Well, ya'll can talk about that later. We're good to go with the plan. I talked with the principal about attendance, too, and they'd like to see that she makes most of the days to the end of the year."

"I can DO that!" Cindy said. "So if I graduate, do I, like, get to do that cap and gown thing?"

This got Jim laughing. "Oh, yeah. I used to play softball with the principal of the high school and I asked him about it. I want to BE there when you walk on stage to get your diploma."

That was the end of the conversation. We did a few minutes of small talk, then I had to go back to work. Jim and I and Helen walked out into the hall after Cindy and she was skipping, really skipping, down the hall, giggling.

"God knows, sometimes I just LOVE this job," Jim told us. "Just love it!"

I drove back to the plant and walked into the office trailer. Sara caught my expression.

"DAN! You look like the canary that ate the cat! What's up?"

I told her. "Your soon to be file clerk?"

"Cindy?"

"Yeah, little red-headed green-eyed Engineer's Apprentice. She graduates from high school this spring."

"B-but ... she's FOURTEEN!" She shook her head. "My goodness! I could tell she was something special."

"Yes she is," I said, smiling. "And full scholarship to University of Alabama or Auburn."

"Dammmmnnnnnn!" And Sara NEVER cussed.

I told her some of the tidbits of the conversation. She shook her head.

But there was another conversation when Cindy and I met up at the office after school. "Dan, how can I go to college and you still work? I mean, you travel."

"Yeah, Dan," Helen said.

"Cool it, guys. First, I don't have to travel any time soon. The project runs until at least the end of February. And I can see what's around here for me. Maybe something nearer to the college of your choice. I have options." And for the first time in front of Helen, Cindy threw her arms around my neck and kissed me.

In the trailer, she said, "Dan ... It's like I'm in a fairy tale almost."

"I know, princess. I had NO idea Jim could swing something like this. But your free and easy days are over, baby. I don't know of ANYBODY who went from middle school to college. But if anybody can, it's you."

"With you beside me, Dan. You put me on top of the world."

The weekend was pleasant, cool fall days, Saturday night's "concert" was a success. We played encores. That was a good thing, because our little group only knew about five numbers. Well, The GROUP knew five numbers. Ann, shifted gears and wrung some classical beauty out when she swapped over from bluegrass fiddler to college-educated concert violinist. And Jim swapped his banjo for a guitar and between his guitar and my bass, we skipped through some classic rock. And Cindy knew the words. To Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart."

A seventy-year old Yankee snowbird gave me a DVD of the act. "For that angel," he said.

The judge and Helen came up to us afterward as we mingled with the crowd. He looked at Cindy. "Little girl child," he smiled, "Helen tells me the news."

Cindy smiled brightly. "Yessir! Isn't it great?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said. "Now let me tell you something. In the next few months people are going to tell you a lot of things, knowin' you need to choose a school. But I just want you to know, I am an Auburn graduate." He grinned and mussed her hair. "Don't you let 'em talk you into state!"

Cindy and I followed Helen and the judge to a late night eatery for a round of pancakes and coffee. I knew that coffee that late at night made me restless, but I knew it made Cindy restless, too, and being in bed with a restless Cindy was a goal, not a detriment, especially since we'd wake up on Sunday morning with nothing on the agenda but hanging out and running up the road.

The four of us sat at a table together sipping coffee and chatting. Helen spoke. Dan, Charley's wanting to ask you something. Cindy and I need to go powder our noses."

Cindy looked at me, questioning. I nodded, and she got up and left with Helen.

"Yes, judge?" I asked.

"Dammit, boy, call me Charley."

"Okay, Charley, but you need to know that inside my head you will always be 'judge'."

He laughed. "Okay, son, I'll buy that. I want to ask you a serious question. I think I know the answer, but I'm going to ask one more time."

I was a little leery. "Go ahead, sir."

"I want to know, on YOUR word of honor, that you're serious about marrying Miss Cindy."

"On my word of honor, sir. I would sooner shoot myself than hurt her or leave her. But you already knew that."

"Yes, I did, son, but I was talking with some of my colleagues and brought up the facts of your situation. I guess I'm finally slowin' down, son, because I am a judge in the Great State of Alabama and that's, forgive me Lord, an almost godlike power."

I stared at him.

"The facts are this, as given to me by other old men whom I hold in high regard. State law requires that for a young lady to be married at sixteen, she has to have her parent or guardian's permission. Some of my cohorts have, in a few cases, circumvented that law and issued court orders to allow marriage for participants of younger ages."

"Seriously? Really?" I could feel my heart thumping inside my chest. I thought the judge could see it.

"Yes, son, I should have thought about it on my own. I guess I'm slowin' down. It was more common a few decades ago, when some young lady would turn up in a family way and a family's honor required that she be married before giving birth."

"Ain't like that anymore," I said.

"Tell me about it," the judge said. "People don't care these days. Honor? Nobody knows 'honor' any more, I guess. Well a few of us do. An' you're one."

"Sir," I said, "Cindy's NOT pregnant."

"Didn't think she was, son, besides, that has nothing to do with it. Here's the deal. When she comes back, I ask her, and if she's of the same mind, I execute a binding legal document, signed by her legal guardian, allowing the marriage of an underage girl."

"You're serious?!?!?"

"I am. If YOU are. And SHE is." He looked over my shoulder. "You need to go visit the men's room, son. I need to talk to a young lady."

I was washing my hands in the men's room. The squeal was audible through the wall of the men's room.

I came back out. Cindy was blushing, red. "Dan! Dan! Did you hear?!?!?!"

"Through the walls, babe!"

She was grinning from ear to ear. The waitress arrived with plates of pancakes.

"Oh!" Cindy exclaimed. "I don't know if I can eat."

"Mister Charley, I fear you have given my bride a fever. I've never seen her turn down a pancake before."

Judge Peebles chuckled. "Okay, folks. Let's enjoy our pancakes. And Monday afternoon, you come to my office in town at the courthouse and we'll do this. We'll make you two an honest, law-abiding couple."

"And keep me from lying to my family," I said. I explained to him our plans for Thanksgiving.

"Mighty fine," He said. "You go present your bride to your family." He looked at Helen. "If Helen hasn't told you herself, I'll tell you. Saturday we're getting married too. One of my buddies is gonna do the service for us. He's pastor emeritus at the church in town."

"Congratulations to the both of you!" I said.

Yes, ma'am, Mizz Helen!" Cindy ginned. "Congratulations!"

Helen smiled. "I'm kind of giddy myself," she said. But don't worry. I'm gonna still run the park. Just gonna leave for a honeymoon for a couple of weeks. Charley's takin' me to Europe."

"Wow! Nice!" I said. Charley smiled.

We finished our pancakes and walked out as a group. "I get to kiss the bride," I said. I hugged Helen and kissed her on the cheek. "Helen, you're a wonderful friend! I am very happy for you."

The judge looked at Cindy. "Here!" she said, tiptoeing to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you Mister Charley!"

Charley called out as we got in the truck, "Monday!"

Cindy slid into the seat beside me. "Can you believe, Dan? Can you believe?!?!"

"No. I think this is a dream."

"Nuh-uh, babe. It's been a dream since you came into my life." Her head was on my shoulder and her hands were wrapped around my bicep. "We belong together."

And yes, we did wake up in the middle of the night.

Late morning we finally left the park, waving at Helen on the way out, headed for late breakfast, our bicycles in the rack in the bed of the truck. We went to a state park and rode around for a couple of hours, talking, laughing, feeling the sun and the cooling air of autumn.

Monday morning, we got out of bed at the alarm. As we were dressing, I told Cindy, "Well, baby, this is your last day as a single girl."

"I know, Dan. Isn't it cool?"

"No second thoughts?"

"Nope! Not since the first time you kissed me back."

We did breakfast at the little restaurant, bumping into some of my co-workers. As in "Look! It's Dan and the Engineer Apprentice!" And I found out that if you don't hold a gun to Sara's head and swear her to silence, any good news is published.

One old grizzled engineer came up and shook her hand. "I just wanted to congratulate you, dearie," he said. "I'm impressed. And I want to be there when you graduate from college, too!"

Cindy beamed. When we walked into the office trailer, I saw Sara. "There she is," I said, laughing. "She does a better job of getting news out than CNN!"

"Hon," she laughed, "You didn't say it was a secret and you sure looked proud. So I cut loose." She turned to Cindy. "You're not too proud to help me with my filing, are you sweetie?"

Cindy smiled. "No, ma'am! Just show me what to do."

"She's all yours, Sara," I said. "Cindy, I have to go to work."

"'Kay! I'll be here!"

"I'll get you for lunch, okay? And YOU too, Sara. You can eat a salad."

"Hah!" Sara said. "If YOU'RE buying, I want a filet mignon."

"Yeah, like that place does filet mignon..." and I went to my office, checked email, and then went out into the plant with a sheaf of drawings under my arm. Knowing what was at the end of the day, though, I must admit that my mind wandered more than a little.

I was back in the office at eleven. Cindy was sitting in a folding chair, smiling, sipping a cup of coffee and talking with Sara. "How's it going?" I asked.

Sara replied, "She's a whiz, Dan. I had to make her stop and take a break. Anybody sees her, they'll fire me and give 'er my job!"

"Nuh-uh," Cindy said. "I watched. She's doin' about a dozen things all at once. She knows EVERYBODY who walks in the door. All I have to do is look at the name on top of a piece of paper and put it in a file folder."

"You have no idea how much help she is," Sara said. "She recognizes the difference between invoices and correspondence and stuff and all I did was tell her a little stuff. She took off running with it."

"Good!" I said. "Let's go get lunch!" And in my truck, that put Cindy in the middle between Sara and me. We ran ten minutes up the road and had our "One meat, two vegetables, mashed potatoes and a roll". We saw a handful of our co-workers coming in as we were finishing up, and after almost an hour lunch we were back at work.

Four o'clock, I collected Cindy. She bid good bye to Sara and the project manager who came out of his office to see her leave.

"We have an appointment, I believe," she said.

"Yes, indeed, we do."

Twenty minutes later, a couple, older male, young female, both in work clothes and safety shoes, wearing identical pocket protectors, walked into the office of the judge.

Presenting ourselves to the receptionist, I said, "We have an appointment to see Judge Peebles."

The fifty-ish receptionist cooed, "Oh, yes, he told me that ya'll would be in. Come in with me!"

The judge rose from his seat when we entered. I shook his hand, then Cindy did.

"Mizz Baker," he said, addressing the lady from the desk, "could you bring me those papers. And the seal. And get Mary from up the hall. We need two witnesses." He smiled. "We can sign this stuff when Helen gets here, then I will have the pleasure of performing this ceremony."

We heard footsteps, then Helen's face peered in the door.

"Come, in, come in, dear," Charley said. We need to sign these." We signed the papers. Multiple copies. Mizz Baker dutifully applied the official seal to each of the several copies. "You might want to keep a stamped copy close at hand, just in case somebody gets suspicious," he warned.

He motioned to the rich woolen carpet in front of his desk. "Mary," he said, to the new face in the door, "get your camera. We want to take a few pictures. And bring that tray of glasses and there's a bottle of champagne in the fridge."

"Oh, mercy," Mary said. "This is an EVENT!!!"

Mary brought a camera with a tripod and set it up in the corner of the judge's office. She set the timer and took a picture of the entire party. Then the judge had Cindy and I stand before him in front of Helen and two witnesses. And he started.

"You know," he said, "I've been judge here for forty-odd years. I've married a bunch of people. Some of 'em wanted it. There were even a few who probably didn't, except for daddy's shotgun. But this is one happy couple that I feel real good about!" He smiled and opened a little leather-bound book. And read the words. And we said the vows. And he said, "I now pronounce you man and wife. Dan, you may kiss your beautiful bride."

Between Cindy and I, there were four streams of tears. Add three more sets, Mizz Baker, Mary and Helen. And I don't know ... maybe Judge Charley Peebles had a couple himself. Kisses and hugs and handshakes were passed around, along with congratulatory words.

Cindy and I walked out of the building into the late afternoon sun, holding hands. At the bottom step of the courthouse, I made her stand on the step as I stood on the ground, and I turned to her and in front of everybody, in front of the whole world, I kissed her.

Chapter 18

Our official marriage started auspiciously with a trip to the steakhouse, and soon, we were at the door of OUR home. I opened the door. "Come here, Mrs. Richards," I said. I scooped her into my arms and carried her through the door and deposited her on the bed. "There. Now make me a sammich!"

She laughed. "Nuh-uh. It's time for YOU to consummate our marriage."

An hour later I staggered out of bed behind her as she headed to the shower. She giggled. "Do YOU feel consummated? I feel consummated!"

"Oh, gosh, yes! I do believe that we have consummated each other pretty soundly."

After our showers, she was a beautiful sight, hair clean and brushed, face clean, eyes twinkling, as I finished shaving. I walked out of the little bathroom into her waiting arms.

"Married, Dan! We're married! For real!" She kissed me.

"Yes, we are. Serious stuff, you know, babe! Forever stuff!"

"You held my hand! And kissed me in broad daylight on the courthouse steps! And Wednesday we're going to meet your family!"

"Yes we are."

"It's like a fairy tale."

"All the way to the "happily ever after" part!" We kissed again.

"It's only nine, she said. "wanna play couple hands of rummy?"

"Sure," I said. "It's what old married couples do." She giggled. And beat me. Bad.

Tuesday morning I kissed her when the alarm went off. "Your first day as a married woman," I said.

"Mmmmmm" she purred as we kissed. "We shoulda took the day off."

"Well, when I promised your labor this week, I didn't know we'd be married..."

"'S okay. Let's get in gear!" And we dressed and headed up the road for breakfast. In the truck, she said, "I'm not going to make a big deal in front of work people yet."

"You are a wise person. It may be a shock to find that I married my apprentice. Not to mention all those broken hearts, those old guys lusting after your spectacular young body."

"Hmmph!" she spat. "I am NOT the "fantastic body" type, in case you haven't' noticed. Most guys want big tits on fantastic bodies."

"Well excuse me, lady, but you have PERFECT tits. I can't help it if the world may desire otherwise. Besides, you have a brilliant mind, a fantastic sense of humor, and the most astounding face imaginable. And a cute ass that is made for parading around in jeans."

"I really don't care what other guys think, baby. I want to be YOURS."

"You are. I got a paper that says so."

We parked at the restaurant and went inside for breakfast. Forty-five minutes later we were walking in the office trailer. Sara was just ahead of us.

Cindy finished Sara's filing right after lunch. I spent the day tying up loose ends, making sure everything was at a good stopping point for the five-day holiday weekend. Mid-afternoon, when Cindy finished with Sara, we did a tour of the jobsite, and then headed back to the office trailer. Because I was told, "Get Cindy out of the office until three o'clock."

When we walked back in, several of the engineers and the project manager and Sara were standing around a cake with "Way to go, Cindy!" iced on it. Cindy was surprised. So was I. I knew something was up, but not exactly what. This was special. Cindy certainly thought so. And a couple of the engineers were standing there holding t-shirts, one from the University of Alabama, the other from Auburn.

The boss was an Auburn graduate. "But if you go to Alabama, I won't hold it against you, little lady," he said. He presented her with a certificate of appreciation and then a check. "I am proud to present you with a paycheck for your first job, Cindy. I hope I will pay you for your first engineering job, too!"

Sara gave her a big hug. "I'm proud of you, darlin'", she said.

My mechanical engineer counterpart bent over and Cindy kissed him on the cheek. He returned it. "First time I ever kissed an engineer," he said.

One of the other guys said, "First time YOU ever kissed something that didn't inflate!"

"Guys! This is a young LADY!"

"Oops! Sorry!" he said.

And Cindy leveled the crowd when she said, "That's okay, Mister Bob! He told me you don't date within your species. What'd he mean by that?" And she smiled demurely as Bob squirted cola out of his nose.

We said good bye and left. Helen was in her office when we got back to the park. We walked in, hand in hand. She saw us. "You make a pretty couple, now that you can hold hands in public."

"Helen," I said, "thank you. I can't ever thank you enough! I just wish we were going to be here for your wedding."

"Oh, bull," she said. "You guys had plans already. It's just gonna be me and Charley and a couple of or friends. Don't give it a second thought!"

"But still..."

Cindy piped in, "Mizz Helen, I wanna thank you too. You took care of me for all these years. And you gave me Dan!"

Helen smiled. "I didn't give you Dan. You found Dan yourself. Like two magnets, you two. And this turned out very well, I think."

"Yes, ma'am," Cindy said, tiptoeing to kiss me. "I am soooo lucky."

Helen looked at me. "And he's lucky too. You two just be good to each other. You'll last forever."

I took my wife to our trailer. We inventoried and packed for the next day's trip. She picked up my cellphone and punched the pizza delivery and ordered one for our dinner. After pizza, we gave the little trailer a thorough cleaning, emptying trash, cleaning out the fridge, getting ready for our planned absence. After that exercise, we took our normal turns in the shower.

When I got finished shaving, I exited the tiny bathroom to find Cindy brushing her freshly dried hair. This was normal. The faint scent of a tiny drop of her perfume wafted in the air. That was normal. What wasn't normal is that she was wearing my pajama bottoms.

"What's this?" I asked.

"I've been thinkin'," she said. "Tomorrow night we'll be in your house..."

"OUR house. You're my wife, remember?"

"Okay, so it's the first night for us in OUR house, so I think we should save up to make it extra special."

I kissed the top of her head. "That's admirable thinking, dear, but YOU make things extra special."

She turned and wrapped me in her arms. "Dan," she said, looking up at me, "I still can't believe it. We're married."

"I know. It's like I hit the lottery or something." I kissed her pink lips.

"Go put some pants on, babe! You make it difficult for me to maintain my resolve, walkin' around half-hard like that!"

"Okay," I said. "A man is wise to listen to his wife."

"And get the deck of cards. We have time for a couple of hands of rummy." I beat her by seventy points. Winner gets a kiss from the loser.

We crawled into bed with the thermostat set at fifty-five, punched up Boccherini on the stereo, snuggled our uncharacteristically clothed bodies together and drifted off to sleep.

0600! Alarm came alive to classical music and I rolled over into Cindy's arms. We kissed and then rolled off opposite sides of the bed. A couple of quick tugs and the covers were neatly flattened and we dressed. Twenty minutes later I loaded our bags into the truck and we locked the trailer behind us. Breakfast was at the normal place, the waitress greeting us as regulars. When I paid the check I told Cindy she'd better make a bathroom stop now because we had a three hour flight ahead of us. I hit the men's room myself, and then we were on the road to the airpark.

Together we rolled the plane out of the hangar and loaded our bags into the cargo door, then I backed the truck into the hangar.

"Okay, punkin," I said to Cindy, "did we forget anything?"

"Just so you have the keys to the hangar and the truck in your pocket, I think we're good!" She helped me push the hangar doors closed and we locked the truck inside to await our return.

We pre-flighted the plane and climbed in, and five minutes later the wheels left the runway and we turned west toward Louisiana and home. We climbed to eighty-five hundred feet and set up an economical cruise that ate up the miles. I had my arms crossed, letting Cindy fly, and when the plane was trimmed and cruising, it almost flew itself.

"You take the yoke," she said.

"You have a problem? Something wrong?" I looked at her. She was smiling.

"Just something I want to do." She took off her headset and unbuckled her harness, turning sideways in her seat. Her hand reached for my zipper. "Eighty-five hundred feet. That's way more than a mile. We're going to do our own Mile-High Club."

"B-but we can't, baby. One of us has to fly."

"You fly. I have a goal." And my zipper came down and fingers dragged my dick out. Her head bent down between my belly and the control yoke and I felt her lips close over the head of my dick. She sucked me to hardness, then popped up, smiling as she pushed my stiff dick back into my pants. "There!" she announced brightly. "That's all you get. But you got it!" And she stretched over and kissed me, then sat back in her seat and buckled back in.

When her headset was back in place, she said, "I thought about that half the night!"

"I like the way you think, angel!"

She grinned. "I like the way you taste, bub!"

We crossed the Mississippi River at eighty-five hundred feet, less than an hour from our destination. "That's another 'first' for me," Cindy said. "I've never been west of the Mississippi."

"You are now, babe." Forty-five minutes later the engine was stopped on the apron of a little airfield near my hometown in Louisiana, and I was tying down. Tootie, by cellphone call, was ten minutes away, and we were waiting in the airport office when she showed up. I left instructions to have the plane's tanks topped off for our departure on Sunday.

Tootie pulled up outside and we walked out the door to meet her, each carrying a bag. I dropped mine to hug her in greeting. Cindy stood beside me. Tootie said, "And you're my brother's new wife!" She hugged Cindy like a long-lost child.

"Damn! Brother, she's a cutie!" Tootie said. "Where'd you find her?"

"In the pool at an Alabama RV park!"

Cindy giggled. "Poor thing was there scopin' out the babes! An' I'm the only one that showed up!"

Tootie laughed. "Oh, she's a smart ass, too!" She smiled at Cindy. "Babe, I like you already!"

We tossed the bags in Tootie's SUV and she drove us to my house.

"I opened it up Monday and let it air out, then gave it a good vacuuming, and put out some air freshener. It wasn't bad at all." We rounded the corner to my, make that "our", house.

"There it is, baby," I told Cindy. "That's home base."

"Looks nice, Dan! Really nice!" We parked in the drive and walked in. Cindy looked around. "Nicer than I expected."

I turned to Tootie. "Cindy 'n' I have been living in my travel trailer. It doesn't give me room to display my mad decorating skills. Hey, before you leave, lemme make sure my car starts."

"Is that a hint?" Tootie laughed.

"Hint?"

"Oh, don't be coy, Dan!" Cindy giggled. "She thinks we want to be alone!"

"Oh, no, that's not it at all. I didn't want to keep you here if you had something' else to do."

Tootie snickered. "Uh-huh..."

"Seriously!" I said, walking through the kitchen and through the door into the attached garage. Cindy followed me. I hit the switch to open the garage door and then opened the door of my SUV. I stuck a key into the ignition and turned it. It started on the first try. "Cool!" I said.

Tootie said, "You've been gone since the middle of summer and your car starts?"

As I popped the hood I said, "Sure! I'm smart enough to leave a charger on the battery." Opening the hood I disconnected two clamps and hung them on the wall next to the charger.

"Yep!" Cindy laughed. "That's my Dan. Takes care of things!"

Tootie sighed. "Okay, then I can go now. Ya'll gonna come over for supper? We have a gumbo on the stove."

I looked at Cindy and she nodded. "Yeah, we'll be there." To Cindy I said, "Tootie does a good gumbo."

Tootie left as Cindy and I backed out of the driveway. We'd talked about taking a tour of my home area, and that's what we did. We passed old schools and homes and generally had a pleasant drive.

Five o'clock found us knocking on my sister's door. Her husband Mike answered.

"Hi, Mike! This is Cindy!" I said.

Hi, Cindy! You look too cute to be with this old goat!" he laughed.

"Hi, Mister Mike. Thank you!" Cindy smiled, shaking his hand.

He grinned. "Do you call him Mister Dan?"

"Nope!" said Cindy. "I mostly call him Master!"

"Tootie was right! She is a smart ass!" he said to me. To Cindy he said, "I'm just Mike, and you'll fit right in here! Ya'll come in!"

Tootie called from the kitchen, "Hey, Cindy, come back here with me while I finish the potato salad!"

That left me and Mike in the living room. He was smiling. "Where'd you find HER?"

"I was swimming at the pool at the RV park right after I set up there and she walked up. It's a long story past that."

"Damn! She's a doll! Kinda young, though?"

"I know. That part worried me. But she's smart, and cute, and I adore her. And she acts like she adores me. I figure past that, age is just numbers."

"As long as you're happy, I guess." He hollered toward the kitchen. "Woman, where's the food?"

"It's gonna be in your lap if you call me 'woman' again!" That was Tootie. Cindy was giggling behind her. "You gotta train'em like puppies. An' even after that, they'll still pee on the carpet if you're not lookin'." Cindy giggled some more.

"Ya'll come fix your bowls in here. We can eat at the table." And in the tradition of informal Cajun homes everywhere, we filled our bowls from steaming pots on the stove and sat down at the table.

The sounds of rich, soupy, savory gumbo being consumed filled the dining room. Cindy said, "This is GOOD! Dan, can you cook this?"

"Yeah, I said. I watched the same momma and grandmas cooking it that she did."

Tootie feigned outrage. "You married this girl an' you never made her a gumbo? They must do things different in Alabama!"

Cindy countered, "Yeah, but he did pay the required dowry in possums!"

Mike laughed. "Man, she's good!"

"She's a little YOU!" Tootie answered. "No wonder you're married."

"You should see her on the jobsite."

Mike looked at Cindy. "You've been to his job?"

"Oh, yeah," said Cindy. "I have my own pocket protector and everything."

"She's starting college in engineering next fall," I said.

"Dan! You've corrupted this girl!"

"Had to do somethin' with her." I smiled. "Because she's so perfect!"

Tootie said, "Awwww!" Then turned to Mike. "See! You used to be like that!"

He pulled her to him and kissed her. "I still am," he said, "but if I show it you take advantage of me!"

And we had pleasant conversation. One thing came up. "I figured Jerry and Sheila would be here, too?"

"Nah," Tootie said. "I asked. But they'll be here tomorrow." She looked at Cindy's ring. "Cindy! That's a pretty ring!"

Cindy beamed. I chose it myself!"

"I love it! No engagement ring?"

"Nah! We've only known each other since July. Started dating in August. Decided to get married and didn't make a big deal out of it. We're kind of on our own over there. So we just got these and called it good!"

"Practical! In a woman. How novel!" Mike laughed. "Dan, where can I get one of those?"

"Be careful, Mike! Tootie can cook. I can't."

"But you're an excellent conversationalist."

That got giggles from Tootie AND Mike. With the meal finished, Cindy and Tootie cleared the table and Mike and I returned to the living room. In a few minutes, they joined us.

"Are you gonna need help with the cooking tomorrow?" I asked.

"Nope," Tootie said. "With just six of us, it won't be that big a deal. A little turkey. A little ham. Dressing. A couple of vegetables. And the pies are already done."

"You have pie?"

"Yeah. Pecan. And lemon meringue, like Mom used to make. And they're for tomorrow, so forget it!"

"What time, then?"

Mike said, "Eleven. And next year YOU get to cook."

"We can do that. Next year." I stood up and Cindy stood beside me. "We're gonna go."

"Yeah," Tootie teased. "Time for some of that conversation." She paused. "Awwww, look! Cindy's blushing!"

Cindy was indeed blushing. "We may do more than conversation," she said. "I can beat him at rummy, too!"

"You play rummy? Dan, we need to do that!"

"Okay," I said. "Friday night?"

Mike said, "You're on!"

And we left. And OUR house had a big shower. Not huge, but very much accommodating to two people who might just want to play around under a spray of warm water. As I was shampooing that red hair, Cindy said, "You know, this is our first shower together as an officially married couple."

"You're right. It is."

She turned around as I rinsed her hair. Her hands went inexorably to my dick. It was characteristically hard. After all, I had a wet, happy, sexy redhead all clean and wet in front of me. She was smiling. As she knelt.

"You make my knees weak, little girl!" All she could go was go "Mmmmm-hmmmm!" I could feel my sack tighten. So could she.

"Oh, no you don't, babe!" she giggled, standing. "What's going on? You're usually not THAT fast!"

"Uh, little red-headed girl, you started it. We didn't do anything last night. You got me all charged up eight thousand feet over Alabama. And then you were perfect at Tootie's house. I was so proud. You're smart, and beautiful. And funny. And oh so sexy!"

She insinuated her wet body against me and we embraced, kissing under the warm shower. "And you treated me like you were proud of me. And like I was your wife. And I love you." She gave my dick a squeeze. Now, let me get my hair dry and I'll give you a couple if you'll give me a couple. Hmmm?"

"I love it when you're conversational."

Giggle. "Tootie caught me off guard."

"Yeah. You blushed. I never saw you blush before."

"I was just surprised. You know, that adults would tease about stuff like that."

"Tootie's a bit forward sometimes. You have to expect that."

"I guess I should have known. When we were in the kitchen, she was asking me questions about us. How we met. What I thought about the age thing. Not really prying, mind you, just conversation."

I finished toweling off. Cindy was seated on a stool with her hair dryer, getting ready to dry her hair. "I already warned you about Jerry. He's worse than Tootie is. And he knows about you, but he hasn't seen you yet. So be ready!"

She looked at me. "I think I can handle it. And if I can't, I'll hide behind you and Tootie." She stood up, naked, perfect, turned her perky face to me. "Lemme get a nightshirt on and you can show me the whole house.

I did. It was MY house, like the travel trailer, designed and built to my specification. I was proud of the kitchen, oh, hell, I was proud of the whole house. As it was, though, I used just one bedroom, the master, with the bath we'd just used. A queen-sized bed occupied the center of the bedroom with walk-in closet and big windows. The other bedroom, I'd turned into an office, complete with desk, computer, shelves, a printer. The living room was spacious, but the total wasn't a BIG house. It was MY house. Now, it was OUR house.

And after the tour, MY wife took me by the hand and tugged me back towards the bedroom.

The score was Cindy - 3, Dan - 2. I thought we were done for the night as we lay side by side. I felt the bed move and turned to see Cindy's bright eyes inches from mine.

"Dan," she said. "Your ... uh, OUR back yard's got a privacy fence, huh?"

"Yes it does."

"Then what's the use of privacy fence unless you do something back there that needs privacy?"

I kissed her on the nose. "Let me get a blanket. It's about time that we put that fence to good use!"

She started to grab her nightshirt. "Nuh-uh," I chided. "Absolutely nude!"

Squeal!

We walked out the back door into the cool night air and I spread the old blanket on the grass. She knelt on it and tugged on my hand, pulling me to her.

"You're already half hard," she observed. Her lips changed that to a hundred percent. She pulled me down and I turned her to a sweet sixty-nine on top of me for a couple of minutes, then she twirled around and impaled her pussy, still wet from a mere half hour ago, on my hardness. I regarded the luminous halo that moonlight created in her hair as she lowered herself on me.

I didn't know at the time if it was the novelty of the location or the aftermath of our previous coupling only a half hour before, but only a minute of happy Cindy working her pelvis on my dick and the smile was transformed into her "I'm gonna come" face.

Plus, she told me so. As in "Baby, I'm gonna come! Do me hard!" And the magical thing about pairing up with Cindy is that the motions that made her so happy we just exactly what it took to bring me back to my own peak. Oh, yes, she came. And I came. The semen might have been a mere dribble compared to the first two this evening, but the sensation was measurable on the Richter scale.

As she collapsed on top of me, I knew this was one of her MAJOR orgasms because she was past the edge of consciousness. I cradled her immobile form, and half minute later, she drew a deep breath. "Dan! You SEND me to the stars..." And we kissed. And lay on a blanket, nude in our back yard, dreaming the moon together for half an hour, silent together.

Finally, "Uh, babe?"

"Yes, princess?"

"I'm getting a little chilled."

"Well, then I suppose we should get that cute naked butt back in the house, huh?"

She sat up. "And you can drop this blanket in the laundry room. We made a mess."

I chuckled. "Yes we did. I need a quick shower."

"You're not doing that by yourself," she giggled. "You made a mess."

"I made a mess? YOU were on top."

She giggled. "You're the one who built the fence around the yard. Just what exactly DID you have in mind?"

"Apparently I was prescient, preparing for my soulmate to show up."

She kissed me when we stood up. And giggled again. "I like this. Does that mean I'm kinky?"

"Nope! Just adventurous. And stay that way."

We went back inside, showered quickly and were in bed sleeping in half an hour. Morning came perfectly, I was drifting along on that sweet edge between sleep and awake when I felt Cindy stir. She wiped her eyes, touched my chest with her hands, then her head disappeared under the blanket. What I felt next caused me to moan. From under the covers I heard, "good morning, lover!"

And then that red head popped back out to kiss me. "I just thought I'd start with a taste! Mmmmm!"

We got up, got dressed, I put a somewhat sticky blanket in the washing machine, we had a light breakfast.

"Tell me," she said. "We walk into the house where you haven't been for months, and there's fresh milk and eggs and bread. How?"

"I called Tootie last week and asked her to get the house opened up and aired out for me. She asked about groceries, and that's what I told her to get."

She smiled. "You have a handle on this stuff."

"I try. You'd have done it yourself if you walked into the house and smelled stale air and found nothing in the fridge."

Finally it was time. I regarded my cutie, clad in jeans and a dark green short-sleeved shirt. The green set that head of red hair off like a neon sign on a dark night. I thought she was perfectly charming.

"Let's go!"

Chapter 19

It was a fifteen minute drive to Tootie's house and when we drew near, I saw my brother Jerry's truck already parked. We pulled in behind him. The front door opened before we got to the last step and Jerry stepped out. I grasped his hand and clapped him on the back. "Good to see you, Jerry," I said. "Meet Cindy, your new sister-in-law."

"Hey Cindy!" he said, holding out his hand. When she took it, he enveloped her in a hug, too. "I'm glad to meet you."

Cindy feigned surprise. "Dan! His knuckles don't even REACH the ground!"

"Oh-ho-ho," Jerry laughed. "Toot told me she was fast. Come in. I can't wait to talk to you. I have to straighten out the lies he's been tellin' you."

We went inside and Cindy met Jerry's wife, Sheila, and the two of them joined Tootie in the kitchen.

I sat on the sofa at the opposite end from Jerry. Mike was in his recliner.

Jerry was shaking his head. "Ya know, I figured you'd remarry, but I'll be damned if she's what I pictured you with..."

"Yeah. Me neither. Damnedest thing I can imagine, though."

We were in the middle of catching up on life's happenings when I heard Tootie's voice from the kitchen shouting, "OMIGOD!"

Mike stood up quickly. "Baby, is something wrong?"

"No," answered Tootie, then she said, "Dan, can you please come in here?" The tone was just a little bit more than tense.

I got up, totally confused as to what was going on. I walked into the kitchen. There was Tootie and Sheila, looking like they'd just seen a unicorn, and Cindy, with a smile. A smirk, actually.

Tootie spoke first, in a low voice. "Dan! I thought you said she was eighteen." She sucked in a breath. "She's NOT eighteen."

"What makes you think that?" I asked.

"Oh, I don't know. Let's see!" she said through clinched teeth. "Exactly how'd it go? Oh yeah. As in "Cindy, how old are you really?" and she says "fourteen"!"

Cindy said, "Dan, I didn't want to lie."

Sheila got the next question. "She didn't look eighteen. She's fourteen. A child! You could go to jail."

Cindy fielded this one. "Yeah. If we weren't married. But we are. Legally. The same judge that signed the court order allowing underage marriage is the one who performed the ceremony. Wanna see the papers?"

"Uh..." Tootie backpedalled, searching for words. "Wow! Shit! Wow!"

"Tootie," Cindy said, "Dan didn't do anything dishonorable or wrong. Never coerced me or forced me or tricked me. Ever. And I truly, forever love him."

"And I love her, Toot. I never planned on this. It fell into my lap. Well, maybe that's a bad choice of words."

Cindy giggled nervously.

"But we were in a situation where we just fell together. I found what I was looking for, even if the package was unconventional. And..."

Cindy interrupted. "And I found Dan. I hope you don't hate him because of me. I love him, and I'd do anything for him."

By this time, Jerry and Mike were at the door, having caught most of the conversation. My eyes flitted from Mike to my brother. He was the first of the two to speak. "Damn, bro! You amaze me."

"Yeah, me too!" said Mike.

Cindy stepped beside me. "Okay," I said. "We're one hundred percent legal, just a little unconventional. If we're going to make you all uncomfortable, we can leave." I put my arm around Cindy.

Her expression was serious. "We're husband and wife. He can tell you how I'm NOT your standard fourteen year old girl. If you want to listen. He's ... We're your family, you know."

Tootie popped in. "I thought Mike's dressing was going to be the toughest thing to digest today. Cindy, darlin', you ARE family. And just another of the events in my brother's life. I want you here."

Mike said, "Yeah, me too. We might talk bad about him. But not you."

Sheila and Jerry were standing off to the side of the kitchen now. Sheila said, "You know, I have a niece that's fourteen and pregnant and she doesn't have a clue. You act like you got a clue."

Jerry said, "Yeah, I guess so. Okay. Let's go sit down and talk. I can't wait to hear some of this."

Tootie followed us into the living room, saying, "Give the stupid turkey another half an hour. I want to hear this."

In the living room, I said, "Now some of this might be painful to Cindy, so I'll leave it up to her to talk about her situation."

To attentive and sympathetic ears, Cindy recounted a bit of her situation when I met her last summer. She talked about how Helen helped her and took care of her in the absence of mothering from her natural mom, and how they'd talked when I first showed up.

We talked about our early relationship, how we became friends, how I was the tutor, how we started going places for meals, the time I sent her and Helen to the mall, how the relationship just grew. We didn't talk about sex. Nothing. And we talked about school.

"And that was the part where somebody had ulterior motives," I said. Cindy smiled demurely. "after the first week, after I sort of kick-started her in math, she took off. Straight A's. She came over every day, it took longer for her to write the answers than figure them out. And we talked and got to know each other. It was difficult for her, being the only kid at the RV park, and we just hung out together. I was glad to have a friend to talk to, and she did, too."

Then we talked about Cindy's mom signing over custody. And the whole school thing. When I explained, with Cindy's able help, the way things went at school, they were amazed. Especially when I explained last week's conversation. "You might look at her and see a fourteen year old girl, but she's a much more mature package than any eighteen year old I know of. And a lot of women in their thirties, too, for that matter. But she's graduating high school this year with a full college scholarship."

Mike said, "Dayum!"

"And as of Monday, we are officially married. So that's the story. She knows about my first wife and daughter. She knows about the last girlfriend."

Tootie interrupted. "Cindy, did he tell you how that messed him up?"

"He told me about her. Said when she left, it messed him up bad."

Jerry filled in. "We worried that he was suicidal. He didn't come out for a week."

"Yeah," Tootie said. "It was pretty bad."

"Well," Cindy said, "He sort of rescued me. And I rescued him. And this is the way it's gonna be for us. Forever. I know enough about bad relationships. I watched Mom go through plenty of them, and every time she did, I made mental notes, you know, like, "You don't do that," and "You should do this," and "Couples should be like," and stuff like that."

Sheila asked, "But Cindy, you're so much younger. What about the things kids your age are doing?"

Cindy was in control. "Mizz Sheila ... I'm sorry, but what ARE kids my age doing? Like struggling in school? I'm not struggling. Experimenting with sex and drugs and relationships? I have a very permanent and very happy relationship with somebody who is my match, mentally, emotionally and" she shot me an obvious and theatrical wink, "physically. Bouncing around after every fashion and fad? I am learning what I want to learn. I listen to the music I like. I dress conservatively but well, and appropriately for the situation. Trying to find something that means something to them, or just not caring and going along with somebody else because they're not strong enough to choose on their own? I go to school and I listen and talk to them. I'm NOT that way, and bless 'em, they're who they are, but I'm not trying to be one of those. I get to choose my own path." She sighed. "I got to see all the "good boys" and "bad boys" in relationships. My Mom tried 'em all. I saw what sex meant as far as building a relationship, and that love and sex weren't the same thing, and sex without love was a downhill slide. I ... I was a virgin when I met Dan. I think love should come before sex, and if there's love, then it's NOT sex. I learned that there was a time to look at myself and see what I want. I found that out. And then Dan came along, and all he wanted to do was help me. He never acted like he wanted anything else besides just to help me get the best for myself. And you, know, it didn't take much for me to figure out that HE is the best for me."

The room was silent for Cindy to continue her soliloquy. "He showed me music that I heard and it gave wings to my soul. And darn it! He gave me wings, for real, with that ol' plane of ours. And I went to work and saw what he did and how much he loved it, and how people acted around him, and I want to be like that. And this college thing? Can I be an engineer by the time I'm nineteen? Dan thinks I can. So if Dan thinks so, then I think so. Because it's not just me and Dan. It's us." She turned to me. "Right, babe?"

"Right, love!"

And she kissed me.

Tootie said, "huh! Well I'm not going to say another damned thing! He's yours, and you're part of our family. Forever. HE can go. YOU stay."

Cindy rushed over and hugged Tootie.

Sheila the skeptic had a tear on her cheek. She elbowed Jerry in the ribs. "You old ass," she said, " I love YOU like that, too."

Mike said," Well, people, that gives us something to give thanks about. Wanna eat?"

The appearance of a turkey and a ham and a very workmanlike table had us all seated in anticipation. Mike, being the head of the house, delivered a blessing for Thanksgiving. The conversation around the table became a lot more relaxed. Cindy was quick-witted and acerbic in countering Jerry's jibes at me and her. She was gracious in comments about the food and afterward, helped clear up the mess.

"Hmmph!" said Sheila, "the men should be doing THIS part!"

Tootie said, "Well, they DO have an important football game to watch!" Three sets of hands made short work of tidying up and the ladies returned to the living room. In order to accommodate Sheila on the sofa beside Jerry, Cindy plopped her sweet round butt in my lap and wrapped her arms around my neck.

And kissed me. And said, "This is the best family thanksgiving dinner I've ever had. And the first one in five years. And nobody's drunk, and there hasn't been a fight. Thank you all. Especially Mike and Tootie for letting us in their house."

"Oh, no, babe," chided Mike. "You're family now. You're ALWAYS welcome here."

"Yeah," Jerry said. "You said for better or worse. This is the 'better'."

Sheila interjected, "Saturday ya'll need to come over to our house. We'll make cinnamon rolls."

"Yum!" Cindy said. She looked at me. "Babe, we're gonna need to ride bikes across Alabama to work all this off."

"Yeah," I said. "That's assuming we can get the plane off the ground to fly back."

We hung around watching football and laughing and talking. Dinner was another slice of pie. Well, TWO slices. One pecan, one lemon meringue.

Jerry and Sheila left right after the game was over, both of them hugging Cindy. Jerry's last comment out the door was, "Damn! Bro! She's a doll! Seriously." Sheila just said, "Sweetie, you take care of Dan. I can tell he loves you and you love him."

After they left, Tootie said, "So, Cindy, Dan tells me you play rummy. Ever try partners?"

"No," said Cindy. "Just me and him. I think I'm a little ahead."

"I think she cheats." I laughed.

"Mike, wanna play? Partners?" Tootie asked.

"Sure," said Mike.

"Now, watch, Cindy. Tootie's been cheating at cards since she could count. The only chance we have is that Mike's more honest than she is."

"I dunno," said Mike. "Twenny-two years. She mighta ruint me."

We lost. I figured we would, because playing partners requires a bit of a different mindset, and Tootie and Mike had been playing like that for years. It was our first try. But by the last round, we were getting the hang of it.

Finally it was time to go. They saw us to the door. Tootie said, "It's been quite a day, hasn't it."

"I'm sorry I upset things, Tootie," said Cindy.

"Oh, no, babe," said Tootie. "We had to find out sooner or later. This way we worked it all out at once. And I think Dan's got a wonderful wife. Heaven forbid, you're just like him when he was young."

Cindy looked at me.

"Yeah, he was different from other kids his age, too. You two belong together."

Mike said, "Come over tomorrow. We have left overs."

"And a rematch," Cindy said. "We'll call first, but we'll be here for dinner."

We were holding hands as we walked to the SUV. Cindy looked back over her shoulder and waved. We got in the SUV and drove off. "Well," she said, "that was interesting!"

"Yeah. Interesting is a good word. I thought they were going to tear me apart. You just came right out and said, "Yeah, I'm fourteen"?"

Giggle. "Yep. Tootie said, "You look younger than eighteen. How old are you, really?" And I said, "Fourteen." She smiled. "I can laugh now, but I thought I really messed things up with your family."

"You're my family now, cutie!" I said. "And they'd have eventually come around. But I'm glad the truth is out." But when I walked in the kitchen, you were smiling."

"Because you should've seen the look on her face!"

"Yeah, I bet ... Glad it's over, though."

"Hmm. Me too, babe," she said. "Now we can relax around them."

"And that was quite a speech you gave. You had Sheila crying."

"It was the truth. All the truth. You know that. And you did pretty good yourself. Except for the part where we've been sleeping together for two months before we even knew we COULD get married."

"Yeah. I figured that one little detail didn't need to be focused on. Let 'em think what they want. We don't have to advertise."

"Yeah, no sense in rubbing their noses in it." She laughed. "You should have seen the looks, though."

"I bet! I was worried, though, for a while. But everybody accepted it. They might go home and think about it, but I think we're over the hurdle."

"Dan, I didn't want you to have to choose."

"I know, baby. We shouldn't have to choose, but I would have chosen you. Any day." She reached across the console and took my hand. I squeezed. Five minutes later we were in our house.

She walked into the house, straight back to the bedroom, and started undressing.

"Did anybody say anything about green shirts and red hair."

"Yeah. Sheila. Said she'd die for my hair. And eyes."

"I figured you wouldn't go unnoticed with that look."

"It's not a look, babe. It's just YOUR Cindy." She stepped into my arms. "Get this stupid bra off me."

I reached around her back and unhooked the two hooks, freeing her perfect titties. Then I lightly scratched her back, something she doted on. "Mmmmm," she purred as she started unbuttoning my shirt. She ran her fingers over my chest, through my hair. "You know, I like this. I saw those young guys at the pool, and bare chests creep me out."

"I'm glad to hear that. It's pretty much the way things are."

"That's what I mean, babe. You say that I click with you. Well, you click with me, too." And she put her mouth over my left nipple, sucking, then biting. Hard. And her hand reached down to feel the growing bulge in my pants. "Tee-hee," she giggled, "I know how YOU work, and I love it!" She unbuckled her belt and slid her pants down her legs. "Uh, I'm gonna be naked, and you still have clothes on!"

I dropped my own pants. She flipped the covers back on the bed and knelt in the middle of it, smiling, her back arched slightly, thrusting out her chest. Her nipples were perky and hard and perfect. As I crawled into the middle of the bed to meet her, her arms wrapped around me and she fell back, dragging me between her open legs, her pelvis mobile, searching. I entered her indescribable warmth and we made love, softly, her fingers digging into my back as she came. I rolled over onto my back, bringing her on top of me, my dick softening inside her.

"You're every erotic dream I've ever had, red-head," I said.

"Mmmm-hmmm," she purred. "And you're everything I ever imagined love to be." She kissed me, moving up to put her face nose to nose with mine. This meant my dick popped out of her, sopping and soft. "Mmmm, lover, we need to do something about that or there's gonna be a mess."

"I know," I said. "I can feel it." I looked at her smile.

"D'ya know how much I like the way we taste together?"

"As much as I do," I said. And we licked one another clean. Ten minutes later she was recovering from another orgasm and I was happily cradling her in my arms.

The remainder of the extended weekend was happy and uneventful. Thankfully. Too much good food. Not nearly enough time with family. But on Sunday morning, Cindy and I shut the house up, giving it a once-over. I hooked up the battery charger to the SUV and Tootie picked us up to deliver us to the airfield.

I let Cindy do most of the flying. Once off the ground, we set our course for the middle of Alabama.

"You know," she said, "I really had a good time. I love our family."

I noted the use of "our". "Uh... 'our' family? Sometimes I don't want 'em to be MY family, and you've gone and adopted the whole crazy bunch."

"Sometimes people aren't really neat and packaged like we want. But you love 'em, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. And I love 'em even more since they met you and we got all this out in the open and they still accept me."

"And me." She adjusted engine settings and trimmed up the plane at cruising altitude.

"I never figured they'd reject YOU," I said. "As far as they know, you're an innocent little fourteen year old girl and I'm the child molester."

She giggled into her mike. "And we know who molested who, huh!?!"

"Yeah, but I was pretty easy to molest."

"Just what I wanted." She turned to me and smiled. "And," giggle. "So did you!"

I was unbuckling my harness.

"What are you doing?" she gasped.

"My version of the Mile-High Club." I unbuttoned her shirt and placed my lips on a pliant mound and sucked.

"Aaaah. Dan!"

"Kinda does things to your concentration, doesn't it."

"And you think that just because we're even, that means it's over?"

I laughed, buckling back in and watching our flight path as she buttoned her blouse back up. I pulled my headset back on. "I hope we're never over."

She turned to me, a serious look in her eyes. "Dan, I will NEVER be over you, babe!"

"Good! Tootie told you how messed up I was when Leona left. If you left, I'd never recover."

"I know, Dan. I can see it in the way you look at me. And I'm the same way about you."

And we flew onward, talking over the conversations we'd had over the last five days.

"You gotta know that I like the whole bunch. I never got a chance to spend much time around normal people. You and Mizz Helen, and the guys you work with, it's just nice to see people acting normal and responsible and decent."

"I'm glad you liked it. Wanna go back for Christmas?"

"Oh, yeah," she said. "We can load this thing up with presents."

"Yeah, we'll be a regular Santa's sleigh."

Two hours later we were letting down for landing. I talked Cindy through the traffic pattern and we set up on final. She followed me along on the controls for landing. We taxied up to the fueling station and topped off the tanks, then taxied back to the hangar, opened the doors and swapped the location of the pickup truck with the plane. We locked up and went home.

We drove into the park and I noted several spots occupied. The snowbird season was in progress.

I was hustling our bags and Cindy unlocked the door and held it open for me while she called Tootie and reported, "We cheated death yet again!" laughing.

She stepped into the trailer and said, "You know, we're going to really miss that big shower."

"Uh-huh," I answered. "I could get used to having my back scrubbed."

She giggled. "And your front, too, I bet." She paused. "Wanna take a couple of laps around the park? We got a lot of food to work off."

"Sure," I said. We locked the door behind us and began pedaling around the park. A lap around the park was less than half a mile and we did several of them, Cindy beside me, our pace leisurely enough to carry on a conversation. The air was pleasantly cool until the shadows lengthened at sunset. We returned to the trailer and went inside.

Chapter 20

And Monday morning came. I wasn't one to hate or dread Mondays, but I dearly despised going away and leaving Cindy to catch her bus. I went through the day almost on autopilot myself. Fortunately for the project, nothing came up that required a lot of attention. Nah, I can't say that. I shift gears pretty fast in the face of real problems. I was happy none showed up on Monday. As I drove out the gate I speed-dialed Cindy on my phone.

"Hey, sweetie," she answered. "You on the way home?"

"You betcha, I am on the way home, and it has been the longest day of work I can remember." A five-day holiday with Cindy had altered my thinking drastically.

I stopped by the front office to check the mail. No Helen. She was off in Europe with her new husband. Steve was in the office and he handed me my mail. I thanked him, commented on the number of visitors in the park, and then headed to my own trailer.

Cindy heard the truck and met me as I was climbing out. When I shut the door, I turned to find myself in her arms, her red hair shining in the light of dusk. We kissed.

She giggled, the tip of her tongue sticking out. "I really LIKE this! We can kiss in public, babe!"

"Yes we can, babe," I said. And I kissed her again. "Load up! We're gonna go to Aunt Sally's Kitchen."

She was grinning as she got into the truck. The center console was in its stowed position and Cindy's beautiful little butt was buckled beside me. "I kind of thought that's what we'd do today after all the food this weekend," she laughed.

"So how was getting back to school?" I asked.

She smiled. "Mr. Hardesty let the cat out of the bag about his plan. I got some strange looks from some of my teachers. It was cool!"

"Do any of your classmates know?"

"Oh, not yet, but it'll get around, I'm sure."

I sighed. "Then it will get interesting, I'm sure."

Her face clouded slightly. "Uh-huh. I'm not sure how that's going to look. There are a few that already treat me different because I make straight A's and help the teachers out in class."

"Anything bad?"

"Oh, no," she said. "A couple of athletes are still playing because I helped them pass math class. With those guys as friends, I don't have to worry about bullying at school."

"Any of them put the moves on you?" This was a larger concern to me.

Smiles. "Yeah, babe, a few guys have paid attention to me. But I was telling them that I HAD a boyfriend. Today I got a few questions about my ring."

"And?"

"I told people the truth. I'm married. Period."

"Teachers too?"

"Teachers too."

The phone rang. I flipped it open. Caller ID said Jim Hardesty. "Hey, Jim," I said.

"Hey, Dan. I heard some news today. I'm kind of startled."

I took a deep breath. I liked Jim and his family. They were good people. But this might be a bit much. "About a certain red-headed prodigy (his words) wearing a wedding band?"

"Yes. Exactly. What about it, Dan?"

"It's true, Jim. Judge Charley Peebles married us last week. Underage waiver and everything. It's legal."

"Wow, Dan," he said. "That's a hard thing to get my mind around."

"Jim," I said, "I value you as a friend. If you want me to explain it, you're my friend and you get an explanation. I think I owe you that."

"Dan," he said. "I dunno. She's one of my STUDENTS!"

"I understand, Jim," I said. "Before this summer I'd have had the same questions. Heck, right NOW I'd have the same questions. But YOU know that Cindy's a special case."

"Yeah," he sighed. "I know she's a special case. But ... marrying her?"

"All I can say is that we sort of rescued each other."

"But ... Married?"

"Jim. It's just that way. I mean, we're MARRIED. As opposed to sneaking around, or "do 'em an' drop 'em" or anything exploitive. I am an honorable man. And at fourteen, she is a unique and very honorable young lady. Who is now my wife."

There was a pregnant silence, then Dan spoke. "When you look at it that way, Dan..."

"Jim, look, I am very happy to call you my friend. You and Ann both. But have you ever seen me without Cindy?"

"Now that I think of it, no."

"It's still that way. Except we're married. And I ... we still want to call you and Ann our friends."

My truck was parked in the restaurant parking lot by now. Cindy was gazing at me, listening to my side of the conversation and what she could catch of Jim's.

"Have you told Ann?" I asked.

"Yes I did. And she's the one who told me to call you," he said.

"How'd Ann take it?"

"Apparently she took it better'n me. Said you were a nice guy and Cindy was a sweet and unusual young lady, and that stranger things have happened than this. And get over it."

"So are you getting over it?"

"But you married ... a fourteen year old..."

"I would have married this person had she been fifty, too. What a startling person she is."

"Startling. That's an interesting adjective." He sighed. "Okay, Dan. I may wake up in a cold sweat later, but I understand. I think."

"Still friends?"

"Friends. So ya'll need to come over and visit, okay?"

"We'll be happy to. Soon."

"Okay, Dan. Forgive me for questioning your intentions, okay?"

"No, Jim," I said. "Nothing to forgive, there. You take your job seriously. I appreciate you caring about Cindy, in and out of school."

"Dan, that's just me an' you. We both take our jobs seriously. Talk to you later, okay?"

Cindy held her hand out for my phone.

"Uh, Jim, Cindy wants the phone."

"Let 'er talk to me," he said.

"Hi, Mister Jim," she said. "I guess you heard the news, huh?"

"Yes, Cindy, I did. It surprised me."

Cindy sighed, "I'm sorry. Dan and I wanted to tell you personally (a little white lie) but things just didn't line up for that. I really like you and Mizz Ann."

"Cindy," he said. "It was a shock and I guess I took it wrong. I'm a teacher ... well, a guidance counselor, and you're one of my kids. How my kids are treated is important to me. I didn't want you hurt."

"I understand, Mister Jim," she said. "But Dan's a good man, and if it wasn't for him and Mizz Helen, my life would be bad. And you, too, Mister Jim."

"I understand, Cindy," he said. "Everything is okay with us now. I'm happy for your good news. Ya'll need to get over for dinner soon, okay?"

"Okay!" she squeaked. "Thanks, Mister Jim!" And she closed the phone. Looking at me, she said, "Baby, you didn't sweat that much when Tootie cornered you."

"I know. But Jim's not family. He's a friend. And that's a different set of rules. I wanted him to think well of us. You and me."

We went inside and had a pleasant meal. And the dear old ladies who owned the place noted the matching rings. And smiled.

The taller one said, "We thought you were such a lovely pair ... Congratulations!"

Cindy beamed. "Oh, thank you so very much! You honor us!"

That completely melted the two ladies.

We bid them goodbye and left. In the truck, Cindy belted in and slumped against me. "Gosh, Dan," she said, "This bein' married is a strain."

I put my arm around her shoulder. "I'm sorry, babe," I said. "I knew we'd cause some upset."

"You know," she opined, "You'd think people would be happier for us. D'you know how many people just shack up these days?"

"I don't think that's it, babe. I think it's the fact that you're so young. People who care enough to treat us like individuals and to find out the situation, THEN make judgment, they're going to accept this. But a lot of people will look at us and see and older man exploiting a tender young girl."

"Oh, yeah..." She took a breath. "Like I want you to exploit me when we get home?"

"Oh, no, babe," I laughed. "I exploited you last time. This time you have to exploit me!"

Laughing and giggling in relief, we drove back into the park, entered the trailer, and exploited the daylights out of each other.

Life got back to a routine slowly. After a week or so, all the local places we visited, cafes and restaurants, the same places that had gotten used to Dan and his young friend, now were getting used to Dan and his young wife. Or in some cases, Cindy and her husband. Cindy was a striking young lady, both in her appearance and in her polite and mature demeanor and women took a liking to her, conveying on her no guilt or ill will. So I was Cindy's husband and if it was okay with Cindy, it was okay with them.

We finally did get a chance, too, as promised; to go to the gun range and I coached Cindy in firearms basics. I had thought, foolishly, when considering that I had yet to put something in front of Cindy that she backed down from, that she'd be timid at the prospects of handling lethal hardware, but no...

"It's something I've been thinking about," she said. "These are tools. Right now I'm learning to use them."

So I coached her. First range session wasn't going to turn my girl into Annie Oakley, but I showed her how to use both pistols at ten yards (you'll never use a pistol at a longer range, not for self-defense, I told her) and the shotgun at the same distance. I thought a twelve-gauge shotgun would be a bit of stretch, even for little Miss "I can do it", but I told her about pulling the butt into her shoulder and using the ghost-ring sights and SHE asked for the second five rounds. A man-sized cardboard silhouette lacked a midsection from her efforts.

With the AR-15 rifle, she had fun. After a few sketchy "this is how you do it" pictures about the sights, the lifespan of a four-inch clay pigeon at a hundred yards was distressingly short.

Following our exercises, I showed her the fine art of weapons maintenance. She was impressed with the apparent simplicity of good weapons design and function. And after I showed her disassembly and assembly once, I let her try it on her own. With four different guns. And her first attempt needed a little coaching and reminding. Her second and third attempts didn't.

Back at the trailer, I distributed the weapons around the place as they always had been. "Now," I said, "I feel better. I know YOU know what's going on, and YOU know how to use one of those if you need to."

She looked at me wearing her "serious" face. "Yes I do." She smiled. "You, know, babe, you just keep giving me the tools to take care of myself."

"What?" I looked at her.

"You want me to be able to take care myself. You show me that I can do things."

"Oh, well, baby, I want you to be independent. Except for one thing."

Her brow knit in her little "worry" look. "One thing?"

"Yeah," I said, "pulling her against me. "I want you to depend on me for your love and care."

She nestled against me. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I will never leave you or forsake you."

"I still worry. You still go to school and see guys your age and you tell me they try to put the moves on you."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me down to meet her face to face. "So what," she said. "You CARE about me for my mind and for my future and YOU know how to do things. You've given me wings, and I'm not just talking about that old airplane, either." She looked into my eyes. "Do you know that when I close my eyes at school I think of getting home to YOU? Well, I do, you know." She held her hand up, showing me her ring. "This means something to me. Everything. Besides, it's Saturday. Why don't we get the heck out of here and go find us a big shower?"

We did. This time when we walked in with bags in hand, we were holding hands. After a marathon session naked in the middle of a king-sized bed, we walked back out, dressed for a concert. She was in an outfit guaranteed to etch itself in any male mind: Simple "little black dress". Tastefully subdued black pumps. Flawless skin. Green eyes. And perfectly aligned, every strand in place, red hair. I was wearing my "let's look civilized" suit. And we walked out, and heads turned.

Our night on the town included a concert by a very competent chamber orchestra, a meal at a fine restaurant, and a stroll in the park. And we returned just after ten PM, stripped off our clothes and showered together. I shaved and Cindy dried her hair and we kept exchanging glances in the mirror we shared.

Naked. In bed. I pushed her onto her back and pinned her, our mouths meeting, tongues caressing each other. Her arms and legs wrapped around me drawing us together, my dick trapped between us.

"You are perfect, Cindy! I am the luckiest guy in the world."

Her eyes twinkled. "And I'm the luckiest girl. Because we're MADE for each other." Her mouth met mine again and she squirmed under me until my dick popped from between us and slid down her wet, waiting slit. "Mmmmmm, baby," she purred. "All my perfect evenings end with us mating."

"Why is it that when I'm thinking of something, getting ready to say it to you, you say it to me first?"

"Cuz," she said as she wiggled her pussy to line up with my dick, "it's like when I told Mizz Sara we were married. She said it figured, 'cuz I was a little female version of you."

Her pussy caught the head of my dick and I slid, well, with her deliciously tight pussy, I pushed inside her. "OH, god, baby. That feeling will NEVER get old."

"Mmmm! No it won't." She giggled. I felt her butt's musculature tighten as she pushed up forcing me further into her. As we pushed together her delight was expressed in tinkling glee and I laughed along with her.

"You are a joyous lover, babe!" I said.

Her eyes were bright, but she bit her bottom lip, then said, "We always start out laughing, but then it gets serious..." She pushed up and I pushed forward and we hit our rhythm. I could feel her thighs flex, wrapped around me. My hands found their way to her waist and I gripped her to better gain purchase as I drove my dick into nirvana.

Her own hands were on my shoulders, her fingers digging in and as things got more intense, she moved her head forward, her mouth searching for purchase on my chest. I felt her teeth bite into my chest, her lips sealing around the point of contact, sucking.

As she reached orgasm, I heard muted cries from her occupied mouth and I joined her in a parallel universe, my balls contracting as I sent spurt after spurt deep inside her pretty pussy. Her head fell back to her pillow and her eyes opened.

"Oh, Dan, I did it again ... I'm sorry..."

I was going to have a bruise. With teethmarks. I rolled sideways, holding her in my arms, putting her on top of me. "I'm not! It just adds to something that is an indescribable mixture of sensations. All of them intense. And if you want to bite me, then I need to be bitten." And I kissed her. Well, she kissed me, easing forward for her lips to meet mine.

"Now I want to taste the mix we made, baby!" She kissed me again and spun around, presenting me with a soppy, freshly fucked pussy, glistening with juices, hers clear, mine pearly. And I leaned forward to cover it with my mouth as my tongue scooped it into my sucking mouth. Cleaning off her clit got me a moan from her that reverberated the entire length of my body.

Finally she turned around and I looked into those green eyes. My hands touched the sides of her head, brushing that red hair back and drinking in the smile. It was MY smile. For ME. I had found the most perfect girl in the world and she loved ME.

And I had a strong suspicion that she felt the same way about me.

I went to sleep with my cheek on her mons, the scent of perfect femininity in my nostrils.

I woke up in the middle of the night to the soft, wet tugging of her lips on my soft dick. In the dim light of the room, I stroked her sleek head. Her tongue worked me to hardness and she mounted me smiling. "Hey, babe, I don't think I can wait until morning." Giggle. She was grinding her pubic bone into mine. My Cindy knew herself and me as well and I started adding a vertical component to her sliding horizontal motion. She was taking care of her clit with her moves. Mine was massaging my corona deep inside her pussy, and we were both headed to heaven together. I watched her toss her head back, biting her bottom lip, going "Nnnnnnnngghhhh! Dan! Push! Push me OVER! Yeaahhhhh!"

I pushed up, lifting my ass off the bed, lifting my mate with me as my dick poured liquid fire into her depths. "Aaauuughhhh! Cindy! Doll!"

This time she fell forward into my arms. I scooted up in the bed, finding my pillows and she fell asleep on top of me.

We woke up mid-morning in a luscious tangle of arms and legs. After giving my baby a kiss on her lips, I moved down toward her mons. I would have been happy just to feel her downy red pubic hair against my cheek and to smell her femaleness, but a hand pushed my head towards a goal further down.

She giggled. "Roll over. I get to be on top."

I feigned a whine. "But you were on top last night..."

More giggles. "I'm the girl. I get first choice." And she put herself in position for a perfect sixty-nine. I lapped happily, bringing her to orgasm. She lifted me to ecstasy once again, and we showered together before loading up and leaving for breakfast.

Walking out in the cool morning, she was wearing a pair of jeans she filled perfectly, and a pine green sweatshirt that illuminated that head of hair as if it was a spotlight. We talked our way through breakfast, lingered over a coffee apiece.

"Mizz Helen's supposed to get back today," she said. "I'm anxious to see her."

"Do you think she'll still manage the park, babe? After all, she's married to the judge, and he's got money. She doesn't need to work."

Cindy smiled. "She didn't need to work before. She liked to work. Maybe she'll just do weekends and when there are a lot of people. She likes that most of all."

"We'll see, then, won't we. I'd miss not seeing her at the office every day."

"That's your clue, babe. She didn't take days off, hardly ever."

I ran back through memory. "You know, you're right?!?!? I never paid attention."

"Wow! We need to get home. I need to mark this day down in my diary."

"Why?"

She giggled. "It's the first time I can remember that I knew something that you didn't."

"You know," I said, "I doubt that it'll be the last. Let's go." I paid the check and we walked out into a fine fall day. An hour later we were at the park and Helen's car was indeed there.

We walked in to find Helen at the counter and Judge Peebles sitting in a chair. Cindy ran to give Helen a hug and I shook the judge's hand. I noted the gold band.

"So how's the married couple," he asked, smiling.

"Great. Wonderful. Perfect," I answered.

Helen and Cindy were smiling at us. I sat down in a chair beside the judge and we chatted. I asked about where they'd visited and what they'd done, and I watched Cindy's face.

"Dan," she said. "When your project is over, can we go? To Europe, I mean?"

I turned to Judge Peebles. "See what you started?"

He grinned. "If I were you and I took HER to Europe, I'd chain her to my wrist so some modeling agency doesn't kidnap her. She's even more beautiful than when I married you two."

Cindy bounced over and kissed him on the cheek and turned to me grinning. And she stood by my side. I put my arm around her waist.

Charlie said, "So tell us, how's the news of your nuptials being accepted?"

And Cindy recounted the Thanksgiving dinner story. And I told them about me and Jim's conversation. And a few others.

Helen said, "You know, Charlie and I talked about that. We figured it would cause some heartburn, but you don't look like a child molester and she doesn't act molested."

Cindy smiled demurely.

Charlie said, "I don't even have to ask about regrets. You two are the epitome of a happy couple."

"We are," Cindy interjected. She recounted her recent school exploits and the flying and last night's concert.

"Speaking of concerts, you and your friends need to do another show here one weekend."

"I thought you didn't like banjo music," I said, laughing.

"You damned engineers. You don't forget anything!" He laughed. "I do so much enjoy seeing people having a good time!"

Cindy was walking out to the truck. Helen said, "Dan, Donna's old boyfriend's been comin' in the park pretty often lately. I don't know why. Just thought you oughtta know. I called the sheriff's office and they know about it now."

"Thanks for the info, Helen," I said. "We'll be careful."

I told Cindy. "Oh he's just a weirdo. No tellin' what he's thinking."

I also made a phone call to Jim Hardesty.

"Hey, Jim," I said.

His voice sounded a little bit closer to the guy I used to talk with before he found out that I married one his fourteen year old students. "Hey, Dan! What's up?"

"Not much. Cindy and I were wondering about Tuesday evening. I can foot the bill for pizza so Ann doesn't have to cook."

I heard him yell in the background communicating the option to his wife. "Ann says no anchovies."

We'll see you guys about six then."

"That works for me. Everything okay?"

"Yeah, just work stuff. Mizz Helen's back from her honeymoon."

"Helen had a honeymoon?"

"You didn't know? She married Charlie Peebles. Judge Peebles."

"No joke? Ain't that somethin'!"

"Kinda what I said."

"Isn't he the judge that married you and Cindy?"

"Same one!"

"Hah!" he laughed. "Okay. We'll expect ya'll Tueday. Like around six?"

"Yeah. I'll call the pizza place when we get on the road."

We finished out our weekend with bicycle rides around the park after run up the road to grab the nearest fast-food burgers. Oh, yeah, my Cindy has a soft spot for burgers, among other things. Nice thing about running through a drive-through is that we were back home in the trailer in twenty minutes. Half an hour later we were swapping places in the trailer's tiny shower. I was shaving and she was drying her hair.

Next on the agenda was opposite ends of the sofa, legs tangled in the middle. TWO laptops. I heard giggles, then my email beeped, and I looked at the latest cute picture that had tickled my young love's fancy. By nine-thirty we straightened up our little home and I dutifully followed her to bed.

There's a lot of soft talking that can take place when you love the person in your arms. We talked. And loved. And slept.

The Monday morning alarm's cruel intrusion woke us, and Cindy adjusted my attitude in a positive direction by crawling atop me for good morning kisses. And a giggle.

"There!" she laughed, bouncing out of bed. "That's all you get until we get back home."

It wasn't all, exactly. There was a long, luscious kiss before I headed out the door.

Monday was Monday. The staff meetings were getting a bit more anxious and strident as various parts of the puzzle that was a modern industrial site were being brought together. Some pices hadn't made it to the table in the expected times and tempers were fraying. I was happy that MY piece of the pie was actually ahead of schedule. Ever the team player, I pitched in where I could to help the project along.

Four o'clock rolled around and I was out the gate. I found my Cindy at the front office with Mizz Helen and Judge Charlie. Cindy gave me a chaste little kiss in welcome and I greeted my two older friends. We spent a little while discussing the events at work and the latests happenings in the news, and then I collected Cindy for the short run to the trailer.

We were in the door of the trailer in another minute. Cindy dropped her bookbag at the end of the sofa and turned to me smiling. We embraced and kissed. "God, I missed you," she said.

"I missed you too, little green-eyed girl." I viewed her face, that faint spattering of freckles that she wanted to hate and that I adored, telling her they were like glistening drops of dew on a perfect rose. I kissed each cheek softly. She quivered and sighed.

"Salad for dinner?" I said. "And then..."

She smiled at me. "And then homework, shower, and..." She giggled lasciviously, "Whoopee!"

"You sure are practical, babe! You still getting homework?"

She sighed. "Yeah, the math teacher and English teacher both think that the exercises will be good for me. I'm talking to the math teacher, though. Asked her if I could take her final exam before Christmas break, and if I pass it she drops the homework thing."

"And English?"

"She gives me credit for writing," she said as we locked the door behind us. "And I love to write, you know."

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I DO know. Do YOU know that some of your stuff has been forwarded to a couple of college professors?"

"He-he! Yeah! Isn't it cool?" Cindy's English teacher was angling for a college position herself and had been putting forth my Cindy's work to build her case. I don't know how much good it was doing the teacher's chances, but the name of one Cindy Smith-Richards was making its rounds at a couple of institutions of higher learning.

"What about science?" I asked.

"I took some of your pictures and gave a presentation on your project. I showed one of your substations and showed what the equipment looked like in real life and what it looked like on the drawings."

"How was that received?" I asked.

"The teacher loved it. And a couple of geeky kids. And there was some "Wow, cool!" But you know, there's a bunch of kids that just don't know, don't want to know, and don't care."

I shook my head. "Sadly, babe, that's too much of the population. If they can have a few toys and whatever, they're happy enough. Willingly oblivious."

"That's a perfect phrase. Anyway ... had fun with it and so did a few others. And I got an "A" and the science teacher pretty much leaves me alone. Sometimes I show up, sometimes I help out in math class." She paused. "D'you know that some of the OTHER math teachers are asking for me to help out in their classes?"

"I didn't know that. I'm proud!"

To the strains of Chopin ("I don't know if I LIKE Chopin. Sometimes it seems like he's trying too hard to sound sophisticated," according to Cindy) we navigated to the restaurant. Seated at our Monday table, we were joined by one of the owners. She recommended our choices of fare and at our request joined us for conversation as we enjoyed a leisurely dinner.

As we drove back into the RV park, I noticed a familiar red truck heading to the exit from within the park.

I showered while Cindy finished her homework, then I was watching TV when she got out, waved to get my attention, then playfully struck a pose, showing off the naked body that I worshiped. And she dried her hair. As she finished, I stood behind her with a hairbrush, polishing those bronze tresses to perfection, knowing that in half an hour they would be in tousled disarray.

We watched an hour's worth of TV together, I in gym shorts and a t-shirt, she in panties and a t-shirt, each of us possessing an end of the sofa, our legs in a tangle in the middle. She snaked her toes up the open leg of my shorts and twiddled my balls, leering at me.

"Enough TV, babe?" Her eyebrows raised in suggestion.

"More than enough."

She withdrew her foot and got up to walk ahead of me to the bed at the other end of the trailer and crawled straight onto it from the foot, resting on her belly. I crawled right in behind her and bit her ass through her panties.

"Eeeek!" she giggled. "You still hungry?"

"A wise man always leaves room for dessert!" I laughed.

She twisted under me, flailing legs, to lie on her back. Her thumbs hooked the waistband of her panties. Her eyebrows arched above a happy smile. "How about a peach for dessert, then. I know how you love a nice, juicy peach!"

I skinned her panties off in one move. My mouth found one of several favorite places on the nubile beauty before me and I received a juicy reward until she pulled me up face to face with her. "My turn," she purred into my ear. And she pushed me onto my back. As she repositioned herself, she peeled off her t-shirt.

In profile I viewed her perfect titties, nipples pointed in arousal. And she bent her flexible young body to take my hard dick into her mouth. Her teeth bit gently behind its coronal ridge and she moaned, "Mmmmmm" through lips encircling my shaft. I felt the vibrations throughout my being. She sat up and eyed me lustfully. "You know, " she said, " I just bet that if you ate me and I sucked you, we could both come about the same time."

That was a bet I had to accept.

Repose came to us, a satiated couple, in the form of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos.

Chapter 21

Work in the morning. Cindy off to school. During pauses in my day, I imagined what HER day was like.

I didn't have that many pauses. The project was getting to the part where we were actually closing switches and introducing electricity into my equipment for the first time. I labored over reports and procedures and meetings. The reports? I'd stayed on top of them, so that was no problem. The procedures? This wasn't the first time I ever did a project like this, so I dipped into my archives well ahead of time and had them prepped. But I couldn't avoid meetings. Interminable meetings where people who knew little asked questions and received answers they understood even less. But that's the way it is.

I was out the gate a half hour late and calling on the phone as soon as my tires hit the highway. I drove into the park to find, as expected, Cindy at the front office yakking with Helen, and the now-familiar form of Charlie Peebles on a chair in the corner.

"Hello, ladies. Hello, Charlie." I shook his hand.

"I just told Helen she needs to get me a better chair," he laughed. "Cindy says ya'll are eating with the Hardesty's this evening?"

"Yessir," I said. "You know, I think that he was the one person who had the most difficult time accepting us being married."

Helen said, "Well, him working at school and seeing a whole building full of girls her age, I can understand some of that."

"Yeah," repeated Charlie. "He's thinking of jailbait."

"I know about jailbait," I said. "You know how many dreams I had that ended in "we the jury find the defendant guilty"?"

Charlie chuckled. "Dan, that's one of the reasons I took an interest when Helen explained. I guess if she thought you were honorable, her words, then I needed to make you legal."

"I was 'jailbait'?" chirped Cindy.

"Oh, no, dear," said Charlie. "You were as honorable as Dan was. With jailbait, somebody's without honor. In it for the kicks. Or for no reason at all."

I smiled. "Babe," I said to Cindy. "If I thought you were jailbait, then you wouldn't have gotten within fifteen yards of my door. And I still had bad dreams."

She smiled at us all. "HAD! As in past tense."

Helen laughed this time. "You don't know how much I worried for the last few years about this girl. Now I can sleep at night, too." She smiled at Charlie. "Of course it's easier to sleep when you have someplace to stick your cold feet."

She started closing down her office as Cindy and I left.

We had just enough time to deposit my computer case and Cindy's bookbag in the trailer, kiss passionately and head back out the door. Before I left, though, I got on line and placed a pizza order, then we headed out.

I liked being married to her. I liked having her sitting beside me in the truck. I liked her red head resting on my shoulder as we drove. I liked her choosing music to listen to, and I liked when she turned it down to let us talk, and I even liked when she said, "hold that thought. I LOVE this part!" and turned it back up.

The music was turned down. "You thought I was jailbait, Dan?"

"Cindy, remember the first time I saw you? Where were we?"

"At the pool. You were wearing your dark green trunks. Swimming laps. And I was wearing the only suit I owned."

"Yeah. And I thought, "Cute. But too impossibly young. Don't even think about it." And I didn't."

"There were other people there that day. It was Sunday. You moved in the day before." I was amused at how much she remembered. "I didn't talk to you that day."

"No," I said. "That was the next day. Monday. Late. And we were the only people there. And I was nervous about you."

"What made you stop being nervous?"

"Baby, I stayed nervous about you until the day we said "I do". But when we just sat there and talked, and the conversation was about everything under the sun, and I found out that you could actually carry on a real conversation, I relaxed. That's when I knew you weren't jailbait. You were my friend. Too darned young, too darned cute. But a real friend."

"Yeah. After about the second week I started talking to Mizz Helen about you, you know."

"I didn't know then."

"You treated me like I was a real person, not a dumb kid."

"About the first time we talked I figured you weren't a dumb kid."

She smiled, holding onto my arm as we pulled into the Hardesty's driveway.

"Let's go see the Hardesty's," she said.

And Jim met us at the door with Ann right beside him. I shook his hand, pulled him to me and clapped him on the back and got a man-hug in return. "Jim," I said. "I'm so glad I can still call you my friend."

"Me, too, Dan. Me too."

Cindy and Ann were hugging too and Ann was making congratulatory sounds. Then we changed places. More hugs, then we went inside and sat in the living room.

Ann was first. "Ya'll make a cute couple. And we're happy for you. But you should've seen the colors Jim turned when he first found out."

"Heyyyy," Jim said. "Water under the bridge."

"Yeah," I said. "And the river flows." Cindy slid a little closer to me. "I got to marry my best buddy."

Cindy smiled at me.

Jim said, "I had to wrap my mind around that one. But you know, I'm guidance counselor at a MIDDLE school. And this year we've had sixteen pregnant girls. In a MIDDLE school. And those are just the ones I know about because they're still students. I probably don't find out about some who transfer or just stay home or whatever."

He looked at his wife. "Ann pointed that out, Dan. Said that I needed to see that Cindy wasn't one of THOSE poor kids. Thirteen or fourteen and pregnant. And how many kids are having sex and in and out of unhealthy relationships and situations, and here you and Cindy are, and you're trying to do the honorable thing, and I think that's about the time that I got hit on the side of the head. Attitude adjustment. You know."

"I know, Jim."

The doorbell rang. Pizza. I heard kids coming down the stairs. We all dove into pizza and then retired back to the living room. Jim grabbed his banjo and pointed me to the bass. Ann showed up with her violin. "Fiddle, thank you! This IS Alabama!"

We practiced, that is, if you can call a roomful of people singing and laughing to the sounds of musical instruments "practice."

"You know they want us to do another Saturday show at the RV Park?" I said.

Ann laughed. "That just means they've had a hundred percent turnover since our last one."

Cindy looked at Teresa, Jim's thirteen year old daughter. "Teresa," she said. "I know you're in chorus at school. We could do a duet. Or you could do a solo."

Teresa twisted bashfully... "I dunno. Maybe a duet?"

Jim looked at Ann, beaming.

I looked at eleven year old son Bill. "Oh, no," he said. "Not me. No way."

"You're missing the fun, Bill. Musicians, like, they have GROUPIES," I joked.

Ann kicked Jim playfully. "Hon, you got all the groupie you need right here."

"Yeah, Dan," he laughed. "Last time I had a groupie I ended up marryin' 'er."

"Actually," Ann teased, "He was the much more rare orchestra groupie, and I collected HIM!" She kissed him, eliciting a "Mommmmm!" from her daughter.

"Come on," Cindy said. She held up a sheet of paper with the words to a song, a simple little bluegrass hymn. "Let's try this one!"

And we played along happily as Teresa and Cindy, honey blonde and redhead, young beauties both, sang. We ran through that number three times, pronounced it good, then worked on another.

On the way home Cindy turned down the stereo. "Dan, babe, THAT'S the way life is supposed to be, right?"

"Supposed to be?"

"Yeah. Friends who love and accept you, families that love each other. Fun that isn't destructive. Like that stuff we just did."

"That was pretty good, wasn't it?"

She purred on my shoulder. "We have good friends. The Hardesty family. Mizz Helen and Judge Charlie. And family. Your brother and sister. Now they're OUR family." She sighed. "Don't you see, Dan, this is the way it's supposed to be?"

"Yes it is." I pulled my eyes off the road to kiss the top of her head. "I never had this either, babe, not like this. You've made us a life beyond riches." I kissed her again. "I love you."

"Mmmmm," she purred, nestling against me. "I love you, too, babe!"

Wednesday was work and school.

Thursday started out as a normal day. It went downhill for me when I got to the job and we started down the list to energize one of my electrical substations. We were rolling along pretty good, as I expected, when the unexpected happened and something operated that wasn't supposed to operate, causing an industrial grade "Oops!" We started troubleshooting. I was pretty sure, almost certain, of the cause, and we were working to reduce it, and I could see that I was going to be working late. At three thirty I called Cindy.

"Babe," I said. "We have a problem." I explained what went on. I didn't have to soft pedal too much. Cindy was forever asking questions and while I wasn't giving her "engineer" answers, she readily absorbed the technical stuff.

"How late?" she asked.

"Eightish," I said.

"Okay babe," she said. "I'll do a TV dinner for me and you can have one when you get home, 'kay?"

"Great, babe!" I said. "Love ya!"

"Love ya, too!"

And I went back to work. Things checked out pretty much the way I'd suspected. We found a problem. A technician who should have known better had made a rookie mistake and this is where it showed up. No equipment was damaged but a few reputations took a beating. At seven-thirty we closed the switch and things were normal. At the job.

My cellphone rang. I answered. Cindy. "Dan!" Tears. Sobs. "Come home quick! I shot somebody."

I looked at my lead technician and the project manager. "Emergency at home. I'm outta here!" And I almost ran out of the building. My golfcart scorched the road to my truck and I was pedal to the metal all the way out the gate.

Halfway to the park the phone rang again. I didn't recognize the number. "This is Dan Richards."

"Mr. Richards, I'm Deputy Stevens with the sheriff's department. Are you on your way here?"

"Yes I am, sir. Is my wife okay?"

"She's fine, Mr. Richards. There's been an attempted break-in. She's fine."

I breathed a half a sigh of relief. "But she said she shot somebody."

"Uh, yessir," he said. "There's been a fatality"

I breathed deeply, trying to control emotions. "Accident?" I couldn't see Cindy PLAYING with our guns. But...

"Nossir. This no accident. I'd say it was pretty much on purpose. We got a 9-1-1 call. I was the first one on the scene."

I rounded the last corner before the park, the truck's diesel howling. "I'm almost there. I'll talk to you in a second." The park was full of flashing lights. Sheriff's department. Fire and rescue. Ambulance. I had to park down the road from my own trailer. When I stopped Cindy was running to me, tears streaming. Into my arms.

"Dan! Oh, Dan. I shot 'im. He tried to break in, and I shot 'im!" She sobbed uncontrollably.

So I had her side of the story, although I didn't know who "him" was. I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the crowd, meeting a deputy walking in our direction.

"I'm Dan Richards," I said. "I'd shake your hand, but..." Cindy was clinging to my neck.

"I'm Greg Stevens with the sheriff's office. We just talked."

We walked back together. Another vehicle added to the crowd, this one with Judge Charlie and Helen. Helen held her arms open, beckoning Cindy. Cindy reluctantly left my side and joined Helen. Judge Peebles came to stand at my side. Sotto voce he said, "Son's on the way."

"The D.A.?" I paused. "Does he usually come to these things?"

"He does if I call 'im." He looked at me. He was a whole lot more alert than you might expect for a man in his eighties. "You folks're family." He led the way as we pushed through a crowd of onlookers. A shooting wasn't something you saw every day in an RV park, and I think the whole crowd was there.

Judge Peebles got us to the inner circle. There was indeed a body lying on the ground, covered with a sheet. An inordinately large pool of blood surrounded it. Cameras flashed. Several were taking pictures of the door of my trailer and the scarring where somebody'd obviously pried at it. The frame was scarred. And so was the door.

The deputy turned to me and the judge. "Looks like he forced the door and when he stepped in, she shot 'im. From about three feet. With a twelve-gauge. And when he tried to get up, she shot 'im again. Twice. No, three times. That's one messed up dude, there."

"Who is it?"

"Belongs to that red pickup," the deputy said. "Tags are registered to one Larry Strucker. Not the nicest of guys. Record was long enough I had to scroll through it on my computer. You know 'im?"

I sighed and looked at the judge.

"Go ahead and tell 'im. Son'll be here in a second anyway." He eyed the deputy. "I'm Judge Peebles. My son's the DA."

The deputy nodded. "Yessir. I know him. And you, sir." He looked at me. "How do you know," he gestured toward the body being loaded onto a gurney, "this guy?"

"I don't, really. He used to date my wife's mom. They broke up last summer and he's been driving in here since then. Didn't know what he was looking for."

The deputy shook his head. "Well he sure ain't gonna be lookin' any more. That's one dead dude."

Another man joined our little cluster. Judge Peebles introduced him. "Dan. Deputy Stevens. This is my son Jerry. The District Attorney."

We shook hands. I stood silent as the deputy recounted the findings thus far.

"Where's Miss Cindy?" he asked. He looked at me. "Your wife. She was the shooter, right?"

"She was a young lady at home by herself when somebody tried to break in."

He looked at me, then his dad, then back to me. "Dan. Don't take me wrong. I might not be CSI, but I can see enough evidence to tell you that I wouldn't file a case against her if my life depended on it."

"Sorry. My string's stretched pretty tight."

"I can imagine," he smiled briefly. They were loading the corpse on a gurney into the back of the ambulance. "Let's go talk to Miss Cindy."

We walked over to Helen and Cindy. A few questions were asked by the deputy. Three others were busy getting names and statements from the occupants of nearby RV's.

Cindy recounted her story to him as she'd given it to me, except she'd now regained a bit of composure. "I was at home doing schoolwork," she said. "I heard a knock on the door. Not a nice knock, either." She breathed in. "I didn't open the door. I asked who it was. He said, "It's your old friend Larry. Where's your mom?" I told 'im she moved. And then he said he just wanted to come in and talk to me about her. And I told him I wasn't going to let him in. And he beat on the door. That's when I called 9-1-1."

"That was 19:32, uh... 7:32 this evening, according to the log," Deputy Stevens said to the DA.

Cindy continued, "Then he started breaking the door. I was scared. I got the shotgun."

"Did he come in the trailer?" asked the deputy.

Cindy nodded. "Yessir. The door popped open and he stepped inside. And I pointed and pulled the trigger." She was shaking, reliving the trauma. "And he fell backwards. And when he tried to get up, I shot him a couple more times. He stopped moving."

Charlie edged up at me and whispered in my ear, "Three rounds of twelve-gauge double-aught buck at two yards. I guess he DID!"

I held Cindy again as her shoulders heaved in sobs. "I was scared."

Jerry, the DA, spoke next. "Miss Cindy, you didn't do anything wrong. You did right. There's no tellin' what he'd have done if he got in."

Deputy Stevens said, "Yeah, Miss Cindy. You did exactly what you should have done. I'm glad you called 9-1-1, but he was already dead when I got here. That could've been you instead."

There were more pictures and reports and a couple of news crews to deal with, and Judge Peebles, the DA and the deputy fended those off.

The judge told me, "They can't publish her picture or her name because she's a minor, but there will be a story about this on the news and in the paper."

I tried the door on the trailer. It would close but wouldn't lock. Deputy Stevens said "Mr. Richards, that's probably the safest damn trailer in the state right now. With Miss Cindy and her shotgun." He went to his car and turned off the strobing blue lights and brought back my shotgun. "Here." He handed it to me. "Heaven knows, she's better with it than I am." He handed me four unfired shells to go with it.

Jerry Peebles herded us all to the diner after the authorities (they WERE the authorities) released everybody. Cindy was clamped to me on the drive over. It was our first chance at a private conversation. She was still shaking, the adrenaline finally working its way out of her system.

"Dan, I killed 'im." Tears streaked her face as the realization hit her.

"Yes, baby, you did. In self-defense."

"B-but, he didn't touch me. I just shot 'im."

"Three times, doll. Just like we talked about. He broke in. He was not going to pat you on the cheek. You did right. Really."

She took a deep breath. "I feel ... different."

"You are different, little one. You always were different."

"But I'm probably the only one in the whole eighth grade who's killed somebody."

"You're quite possibly the ONLY girl in the eighth grade who single-handedly defended yourself and your home from an intrusion by a convicted criminal who broke in while you were alone."

She took a deep breath. "Dan, have you ever killed anybody?"

She'd asked about my military service and I told her that I was an engineer lieutenant in Iraq, the first war. But I didn't do details. This time I told her. "Yes, babe, I did. Same thing. Those guys weren't gonna pat me on the cheek either. One of my bunch was hit, not bad. I got two. The rest of the bunch got four more. It's not pretty. But they could've run or surrendered. Most of the Iraqi army surrendered. We ran into some hard-cores."

"Oh, Dan." She buried her face into my shoulder, sobbing.

We pulled up into the parking lot of the diner. The diner was experiencing a surge of customers for the late hour on a weeknight. We sat at the two tables they'd pulled together for me and Cindy, Charlie and Helen, and Jerry. Helen pushed a cup of coffee at each of us.

"I know it's late for coffee," she said, "But just drinkin' it will settle your nerves."

Jerry said, "Dan, drive her over to the emergency room after this. I made a phone call. They'll give you and her couple of pills to help you sleep tonight. Okay?"

"That's nice," I said. "We'll take you up on that."

We were chatting among ourselves when the waitress came by the table. "Did ya'll hear about the shooting at that RV park?"

Helen popped. "Yep. My park."

Then Cindy did the unexpected. She raised her hand. "I did it. Protected myself from an attacker. He broke in on me while I was alone."

The waitress stammered, "B-but, you're the little cutie that I see at breakfast sometimes! You're what? Fourteen?"

"Yes, ma'am. And my husband taught me to take care of myself."

The waitress smiled. "Good for you, sweetie! And you too, hon." She smiled at me.

Jerry leaned back in his chair. "You're liable to be famous, Miss Cindy."

Cindy nodded. "Like I need to be MORE famous."

Helen explained some of Cindy's recent life.

"Wow!" he laughed. "Dan, you've got quite a catch there."

"Yes, I do," I said. "Yes I do. Excuse me for a minute," I said, rising. "I need to make a phone call." Walking outside, I called the project manager, Bill Carmody.

He answered, groggy. "Dan! Are you okay? You sure left in a hurry. Your wife okay"

"I'm okay. Cindy's okay. We had a situation come up. I'm probably going to be really late tomorrow. Sorry!"

"Uh, okay ... Is there anything I can do for you? To help?"

"No," I said. "Just cover for me until around noon. I'll be in for a while then."

"Okay, buddy," He said.

I went back inside. "Had to tell the job that I was going to be late."

We broke up and headed our separate ways. Cindy got another hug from the others in our party and we headed out to the local hospital's emergency room. I picked up a little bottle of pills and a handshake from the ER doctor.

"I heard the story," he said. He nodded to Cindy. "I'd have hated to see her in here on a table from that guy."

Cindy glued herself to me again as we drove home.

"You okay, babe?" I asked.

"Yeah. No. Yeah, I guess so." She looked at me. "When you did it, did you think about it afterwards?"

"Yeah, babe. But war is different. Those were soldiers trying to do their jobs like I was. I didn't hate them. But I darned sure wasn't gonna let 'em get me or my guys. Yours was way different. That guy had no good reason to even TRY to get in the trailer. I killed soldiers. You shot a cockroach."

"I suppose. Okay." She didn't sound completely convinced, but she punched up a violin concerto on the stereo.

When we pulled into the park, there was one of the other residents, an old guy, sitting in his lawn chair where he could watch our door. "Just wanted to make sure nobody went in until you got back," he said.

"Thanks," I said.

He looked at Cindy. "You're quite a young lady. I'm glad you're okay."

"Thank you, sir," Cindy said.

We skirted the spot where the body had landed. Emergency services had cleaned up the blood. There was bare gravel. We opened our damaged door and went inside. Cindy got into the shower and I squeezed enough of myself in the bathroom to wash her as she stood there. She got out and dried her hair and I did my routine. We each took a pill and went to bed together. And held each other.

"I could've lost you tonight, babe," I said.

"I know, Dan," she said. "I was scared. But we're still together." She kissed me. A peck, then a longer, hotter kiss, then buried her face in my chest as we held onto each other.

And we slept. Hard, dreamless sleep. At least mine was. Cellphone rang at nine in the morning. I had to blink a couple of times to get my eyes to focus. Helen.

"Good morning, Helen."

"Good morning. Ya'll okay?"

I ran my fingers over my head, scratching. "Yeah. Cindy's still asleep." I saw a stir then felt a hand as she pulled against me. "Wait. Maybe not."

"If you want, ya'll come over to the office. I got coffee and donuts."

"We'll be there in a bit."

Cindy's tousled head rose from her pillow. "M-mornin, babe. 'S that Mizz Helen?"

"Yeah. Coffee and donuts at the office."

She pulled up to a kneeling position beside me and kissed me. I kissed her back.

"Wow! Rough night, wasn't it."

"Yeah, something like that. You okay?"

"I'm okay. I have you, don't I?" She punctuated her remark with a hug. "And friends. And family."

"Yes we do, babe."

We got dressed and she chose to walk to the office in the cool fall air. We walked in to smell a fresh pot of coffee and settled into chairs with a mug and a donut apiece.

"Mornin', Helen," I said. "Rough night."

"Yes it was." She looked at Cindy. "You okay, baby?"

"Yes, ma'am," Cindy said. "It was like a bad dream. Except I didn't wake up in time."

"I suppose so, baby," Helen said. "Dan, I called a guy that fixes RV's. He'll do a good job on your trailer."

"Great!" I said. "I was going to ask you if you knew somebody."

Park guests started filtering in and out as we sat, and Cindy was the object of attention. She collected lots of handshakes from the men, mostly older men, and hugs and coos from the ladies. "Any news?" I asked Helen.

"Cindy's the news. The shooting made the TV, but they didn't mention her by name." Helen looked at Cindy. "You sure you're okay?"

Cindy sighed. "I appreciate you worrying about me, Mizz Helen. I'm okay. Really."

Helen said, "I'm sorry, baby, but you're like my own daughter to me."

"Thank you, Mizz Helen." And Cindy got up and hugged her.

That was when my phone rang. The job. Sara. "Hi, Sara," I said.

"Dan!" From her tone I could imagine her jaw tight, Sara's "I'm stressed" look. And the timbre of her voice. "I heard you had an emergency last night."

"Yes, we did."

"At the park?" she asked.

"Yes, here at the park." I answered. I knew where she was heading. I decided to let Sara drag it out of me.

"Somebody got shot tryin' to break into a trailer? The shooter was FOURTEEN?!?!? A young GIRL!?!?! Tell me that wasn't Cindy!"

"It was."

"Omigod! Is she okay?"

I looked at Cindy. "It's Sara. She's just heard."

Cindy's face was neutral.

"Sara, Cindy's fine. Do you want to talk to her?"

Sara said, "If she wants to talk to me, Dan. Poor darlin'!"

I looked at Cindy. "Wanna talk to Sara?"

Cindy took the phone. "Hey, Mizz Sara. I guess you heard..."

"Omigod, baby!" I could hear Sara without a speaker.

Cindy held the phone away from her ear. "I'm fine, Mizz Sara. Really!"

"You're a brave girl," Sara said. "I'm glad you're okay. I am soooo glad! Lemme talk to that husband of yours."

I took the phone back. "Okay, Sara, what's up?"

"Bill found out this morning at breakfast. He says take the weekend off. They'll call if they have an emergency. And I don't know if you want to repeat it, but he said to tell the Engineer's Apprentice, in his words, "Way to go, girl!""

"Tell him we said thanks," I said. I looked at Cindy. And repeated Bill's message. And got a wry smile.

Cindy said, "Tell Mister Bill that I said thanks, too! For givin' Dan the weekend and for his comment." She gestured for the phone.

I handed the phone back to Cindy. She asked, "Is Mister Bill in the office?"

Sara said, "Yeah. He's here."

"Call 'im and put us on speaker, 'kay?"

I put my head next to Cindy's to hear better. I heard Sara's phone click onto speaker and then Bill's footsteps. Sara said, "Cindy's on the phone. She asked for you."

"Hello, little engineer," Bill said.

"Hi, Mister Bill. Thank you so MUCH! You're the first one that hasn't treated me like I'm fragile today!"

"Well, Cindy, I worried, ya know, but if you can put up with Dan, you can put up with anything." He paused. "I'm just glad you're okay, ya hear?"

"Yessir," Cindy said. "and thank you an' Mizz Sara for asking. Tell everybody else I'm okay, too, huh?"

"We'll do that, babe," Sara said. "Is Dan there?"

"Yes ma'am," said Cindy. "Here he is."

I took the phone. "Yes ma'am!"

"Ya'll do something special this weekend, okay?"

"Okay," I said. "Thanks!" I heard the phone hang up.

"We're supposed to do something special this weekend, Sara says," I announced.

Cindy looked at me, then Helen. "Mizz Helen, you put that notice on the bulletin board already? Announcing our concert?"

"Yes, baby, I did. But if you want to cancel, that's okay."

"Nuh-uh," Cindy said. "I want to be with my friends!"

And then there was the next call. Jim. Same story. Poor Cindy. Etc.

"Jim, I appreciate it, but Cindy's less upset about it than I am." I handed the phone to Cindy and she told him herself.

Then she smiled at me. "We're on! But we're supposed to have dinner at the Hardesty's again tonight. Mizz Ann's doing potroast."

"I sure can go for that. I get tired of restaurants."

"Me too," Cindy said. "Come on, babe," she ordered me. "Let's ride around the park."

I laughed. "You ride a bicycle around the park and people are gonna line up and throw confetti!"

And that was almost the case. We got stopped a dozen times. Cindy got seconds on the coos and hugs and handshakes from earlier. And comments of expectations for the Saturday evening concert. Finally we gave up the bikes and left the park in our truck and went looking for a certain spot in the woods.

It might have been months ago since we first made love, and I know we've made love a hundred times since that night at the end of August, but each time was fresh and exciting and wonderful and I loved Cindy so much that thinking about her could cloud my vision with tears. The cares of the world slipped away as we melded together under the canopy of pines.

Chapter 22

Dinner at the Hardesty house was relaxing once Cindy and Ann got over the hugs. Ann went through her "I'm so sorry, baby" phase and Cindy responded with "Thank you, Mizz Ann, but I'm FINE! Really!"

After a very good potroast meal, we retired to the living room and picked up instruments and laughed our way through a practice session. Jim's daughter Teresa worked with Cindy on a duet on a couple of songs and to our amazement, the two actually worked out a little harmony. Sounded pretty good. We figured we were ready for Saturday night.

Saturday morning we were up early, answering the knock of the guy who was going to repair our trailer door. He looked at Cindy. Cindy was in her "I'm knockin' around on Saturday" uniform of jeans, a sweatshirt that was a concession to the cool December morning, just a shade of blue just a bit darker than her jeans, and her hair glowed in contrast to it.

He said, "You're the little girl?"

She tilted her head. "Little girl?"

"Yah," he said. "I heard..."

"Oh, yes," she said. "That was me."

"Damn!" he said. "Uh, sorry ... I'm mighty glad that you're okay. I knew that guy. He was not a nice person. Went kinda goofy. Was on medication for a while, but he quit, an' got kinda crazy."

I stood behind MY Cindy. "He made a bad mistake."

The old guy brushed his bald head. "I guess he did. Twelve gauge? Three times?"

Cindy nodded.

"You're kinda small to do a twelve gauge, huh?"

She took my hand and pulled my arm around her. "My husband showed me how to shoot."

"I guess he did, huh? Baby girl, you did the right thing. That guy, well, they were investigatin' him for some other stuff, too. He could be violent."

He looked at me. "Mister Dan," he said, "I can get this to where it'll close an' lock today. An' I can fix it right next week when I can get the materials." He looked at the bare gravel six feet from the steps. "Not like anyone's gonna try to come in, now, though..."

Cindy didn't say anything. I did. "Not if Cindy's here." I paused. "And I appreciate you doing this for me. You need some up front money?"

"Nah," he said. "Helen said you're like her son-in-law. If Mizz Helen likes you, that's good enough for me."

"Thanks," I said. I handed him a key. "Just drop this at the office when you finish. Cindy and I are going for a ride."

"I'll leave the key with Helen. Ya'll be careful!"

"Thanks!" Cindy smiled, and we left. And hour and a half up the road it was lunchtime and we stopped in on a promising-looking country barbecue joint. It was plenty good enough. We turned around and drove back, chatting, interspersed with "Hey! I like this part!" on the stereo. We stopped at the office to retrieve my key. Helen was there, and Judge Charlie, in a new chair.

I laughed when I saw that. "I see you got your chair," I said.

He smiled and accepted Cindy's hug. "Yessir, I like my comforts, you know."

"Helen, you're still gonna run this place from here? I mean, married and all?"

"Yeah, Dan. Gives us something to do until our next trip. We're arguing about where to go." She started to hand me my key.

"Nah, keep that. When the guy comes to fiinish fixing the trailer next week, he'll need it. He just got us to where we could lock the door today. Needs stuff to finish."

"Oh, okay," she said. "He'll do you a good job. I use 'im all the time here."

"Seems like a nice guy."

Cindy reinforced my comment. "Yes ma'am! He does. Are ya'll gonna be at our concert tonight?"

Charlie smiled. "We wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Cindy said, "We'll see you there!" as she grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door. I waved over my shoulder, smiling.

We had a couple of hours to kill and in ten minutes we were in the trailer, door locked, curtains drawn, and Cindy and I were stark naked. I ate her up. She ate me up. We mated yet again. And tangled in each other's arms we dozed off for a short late afternoon nap. We woke up at five and went to help the Hardesty's move the gear for our concert. We were set up at six-thirty and sitting on the stage sipping cold drinks as the park crowd started filing in. Some of them were first-timers with us, and others had seen us before. And we had fun.

We played. Jim and I sang. Not too bad. But get two sweet, pretty teen-aged girls on stage singing, and you've got something. Cindy did a couple of solo numbers and Teresa joined her for a couple of duets. People clapped and hollered and whistled and Cindy and Teresa displayed poise and talent and a good time was had by all, us on the stage as well as our audience.

The crowd called for encores and we gave 'em encores. But it WAS a park and we were a family, well, TWO families, band, and at a little after ten we started packing up. Cindy and I followed the Hardesty's home and we unloaded the amps and the instruments and bid our friends good night.

In the truck, Cindy was sitting next to me in our favorite position, her holding onto my right arm, her head on my shoulder. "Babe," she said, "THAT'S what I call a great evening!"

I smiled at my young mate. "Yes, sweetie, it was. You were great! I liked the way you carried yourself. You and Teresa made 'em happy!"

"We did, didn't we? That's just cool! Making music and making people happy!" She grinned broadly. "But let's have some Beethoven! I need a break."

We soon pulled into the park and were in our home. Two showers. Two naked bodies. And a bed.

"Love me," she said.

I wrapped her in my arms and she rolled me on my back, our mouths engaged, tongues teasing each other. I ran my hands down her sides, over the sweet curves of her butt, and gripped her at the juncture of her thighs and that sweet ass. Her knees moved up as she straddled me. Cindy liked being on top, and I happily accommodated her. When she was there, she was in charge and she was as attentive to my desires as I was to hers.

She looked down at me, smiling angelically. "Babe," she said, "this is my favorite place." She grinned. Loving Cindy, loving WITH Cindy was fun, joyous, happy, and she liked to giggle. "It's my favorite place. Except for all the OTHER favorite places, like you on top of me, or behind me, or us eating each other..." and her mobile bottom lined her juicy expectant pussy up with the head of my dick and we merged into one.

I curled up to fasten my lips over one of her small but perfect titties and teased her nipple with tongue and teeth, biting gently, just the way she liked it. I knew she liked it, because she did the same to me, and when I did hers, she tossed her head back, that red hair fanning in the air, and bit her bottom lip and purred, "Mmmmnnnnnn, oh, Dan!" and put both hands on the back of my head and pulled my face into her chest. That's HOW I knew.

That, and her sliding forward and back over my dick as I plunged it up and back down inside her, and her hands got more desperate, grabbing me, pulling, squeezing, as our bodies tuned to one another and came, my semen squirting hot inside her, her pussy rippling, her cervix pushing against the head of my dick deep up inside her. She collapsed onto me, into my waiting arms and we kissed, at first hot and mobile, then just leaving our lips molded together, breathing each other.

When the kiss broke, she raised her head and smiled.

"I adore you, baby," I said.

She smiled. "I was thinking the same exact thing." And she switched ends and we cleaned up the juices of our copulation, a process which, if things were even close to right, resulted in her whimpering through yet another orgasm. And then she crawled up and fitted herself against me and we lay together. And we slept.

Sunday morning was a gray, drippy late autumn day, promising the passage of a cold front. Rather than venture out, we stayed in the trailer, had cereal for breakfast, and made a pot of soup, Cindy following me through the effort.

"I'm sorry, babe," she said. "I never learned to cook. I didn't exactly grow up with supermom, you know?"

"I know, sweetie. That's okay. But I'm not a TV chef myself. I know a few simple things that work well, and there's enough of 'em to where I don't get bored."

Mid-morning the phone rang. Tootie. Our weekly phone call.

"I didn't interrupt anything, did I?" she laughed.

"Nope. Just me an' Cindy making navy bean soup."

"Yum!" said Tootie. "How're things going?"

I took a deep breath. "You won't believe our week, sis!"

"Bad?" she questioned.

"You don't know the half of it." And I told her the short version of Cindy's ordeal. And Cindy got on the phone and filled in details. That pretty much sat Tootie back on her heels.

"But we're okay, Tootie. Really!" Cindy chirped. "And we're coming home for Christmas."

"That's what I was calling about, at least part of it." Cindy put the phone on the table and hit the "speaker" button.

"Yeah, we'll probably fly in on Saturday morning. If you want to get the house opened up again."

"I'll do that," Tootie said. "And Cindy, I'll put some potpourri in it this time so it smells nice."

"Good!" Cindy said. "And you guys need to come over so we can do one of those gumbos. And play cards."

"We'll have plenty of time for all that. How long are ya'll gonna be down?"

"We start back up on the project the Monday after New Year's. So, like, two weeks."

"Oh, that's nice," Tootie commented.

"Yeah," Cindy said. "It will be."

"Okay, babe. Brother. I'll talk to ya'll later," Tootie said, and the phone clicked off.

Cindy sat back in her chair. "Family. We have family." She smiled. "I got you. And I have a family. And friends. And, you know, I always wondered how life could be, if it was like normal. And this is it, and it's good."

"I love you, babe. It's good because we have each other."

The rain let up a bit and we visited Helen and Charlie at the office. Cindy told them that we were heading out on Saturday to go home for the holidays.

"That's nice, ya'll," said Charlie. "We are going to Germany for Christmas. They make a big deal about it in Nuremburg. We'll enjoy ourselves. And Steve can take care of the place for us."

"Yeah he can. Sounds like we all have our plans."

Then Wednesday I brought Cindy to work with me. By this time the story of her exploits with a shotgun had gotten around. It made a noticeable difference in the way people talked with her. That, and the other bit of knowledge that had gotten around, a situation having to do with identical gold bands on our two ring fingers.

She was still like a mascot on the site, though. I worked in the office trying to get caught up on records and drawings and one of my fellow engineers after another came in, saw Cindy, and took her out to see what was going on. Lunch came and Cindy, I, the boss and two other engineers went to out to eat. Four o'clock came and we were out the gate.

"The people you work with treat me nice," she announced.

No doubt," I laughed, "Especially when the story got around about you and the shotgun." After a couple of weeks, Cindy was over the shock and realized that although she'd ended the life of another person, that person, as they say in the south, "needed killin'".

Still, it had been a process. I'd held her many a time when the enormity of ending another's life hit her, even if she was defending herself and our home.

"Oh, Dan," she said, faking exasperation, "It's not THAT at all. One of 'em said that I asked better questions than the people who are supposed to be working there. D'ya know I got INSIDE a boiler today?"

"Uh-huh," I said. "They mentioned that. And showed me the pictures you took. Saved somebody else a trip. And babe," I said.

"Yeah, babe?" she looked at me.

"Boilers are a lot more fun when they're new. Just so you know."

"I figured that out myself. Even if we ARE burning natural gas."

Which left me considering the enigma sitting next to me, a fourteen year old girl who even gave a thought to combustion characteristics in boilers. I laughed and freed a hand from the wheel to give her a hug. "Dammit! Cindy," I said, "If you were eighteen they'd have you out here as an intern."

"I know," she said. "Wouldn't that be cool?"

"That would be the coolest thing imaginable." I was serious. I knew couples who needed to be apart from one another. I'd been with Cindy every night since her mom left almost three months ago. And Cindy was just perfect. The right amount of funny. The right amount of serious. Inquisitive. Insightful. A joy to be around. Work with her all day and go home with her at night? You bet. More of the stuff dreams are made of.

We made our customary stop at the park office to visit a little with Helen and Charley. I finally, at this stage, stopped calling him "Judge" but he was still Mister Charley most of the time. And Helen was still Mizz Helen. Yeah, they both objected a bit, but I told 'em that training is hard to break.

Cindy recounted her day at the project, gaining Charley's rapt attention.

"You know, Dan," he said, "She REALLY gets excited about this stuff."

"She's almost the mascot out there. They call her "The Engineer's Apprentice". I tell 'em what day she's gonna be there and they always manage to figure out what's the most exciting thing going on for her."

"That's mighty fine," Charley said. "She's quite an impressive young lady."

I smiled at her when she realized we were talking about her and turned around. "Yessir, she truly is. She's got a mind even more dazzling than those eyes."

That got me a Cindy skipping over to give me a chaste kiss in front of our friends. "Mister Charley, you oughtta see Dan in HIS element. THAT'S my inspiration!"

I shook my head. "Darlin', you'll pass me up. I'm just another guy engineer. You're gonna show up one day and completely disarm the whole place when they look at you, and THEN you'll take 'em apart and put 'em together right."

Helen commented to Charley, "See! They're like a set, bookends, salt and pepper shakers, whatever!"

Charley said, "Helen, my dear, I never doubted you. It's just that seein' 'em together makes me happy."

That's a good note to leave on. Cindy and I took off for dinner.

The next night was a pizza party at the Hardesty house. As in "Dan, you DON'T have to buy your way in here with food."

And Friday night we did fried catfish. And Saturday morning we were at the airfield early, loaded up, the plane rolled out onto the apron, Cindy perched on top of a ladder checking the fuel levels, the truck backed into the hangar. I touched the controls lightly as Cindy taxied us out onto the runway. I was only slightly more active when she did the run-up and take-off.

Yeah. It was like that. Show her once, and let her go. Well, to be honest, five feet three inches has problems getting on the toe brakes on the rudder pedals, and the nose of a Cessna 180 gets in the way of vision when taxiing even if you're over six feet tall, and a certain amount of flying is muscle memory that comes with practice, but her moves were in all the right directions even if they weren't polished. And she flew from the right seat, having to look across the cockpit at the instruments in front of me, but she did just fine.

Four hours later she had us on short final for the home runway and I followed her as she handled the toe-dance that was required to land the old tail-dragger. Tootie's SUV pulled up next to us as we tied the plane down on the apron. Cindy got the first hug as I was unloading luggage.

I sat in the back seat and let Tootie and Cindy talk. They laughed, giggled, and caught up on things. We walked into our house.

"Wow, Tootie! You made it smell soooo good!" Cindy squealed.

"Yeah! I'm gonna hate to see my potpourri bill."

"Oh, get over it, Dan! Cindy is a LADY! She doesn't need a house that smells like an armpit!"

I laughed as Cindy glided in beside me and took my arm.

"Put the luggage in the bedroom, babe," she said. "We need to go to Tootie's for gumbo. And be nice to your sister or she's gonna spit in your bowl."

As I hauled the bags into the room and dropped them, I heard Tootie comment, "You're trainin' 'im right, Cindy!"

I chose to ignore sister's gibes. I opened the garage door and checked to make sure our own SUV started. It did.

"We'll follow you home, Toot!" I said.

The gang was there when we walked in. Mike, Jerry and Sheila all lined up for hugs and then we trooped into Tootie's kitchen and filled up bowls of steaming gumbo, then sat around the dining table and started talking amongst the clink of spoons and bowls.

It was asshole brother who finally had to ask, "So Cindy, can you talk about your incident?"

Cindy's expression was a polite little smile. "What'd'ya wanna know?"

Jerry pressed. "So what exactly happened?"

"Well," she took a deep breath. "Dan had to work late so I was in the trailer by myself, doin' homework (ha!) and watching TV and reading, and somebody knocks on the door. I was thinkin' of who that might be, and I couldn't come up with anybody, so I said, "Who is it?" She breathed. "An' he said "I'm your Mom's old boyfrien' an' I wanna talk to you." And I said, "What do you want to talk to ME about? She moved to Vegas. An' he said he just wanted to come an' spend some time with me. And I said NO! and for him to leave. And he went away for a minute and came back and started pryin' on the door. I got the shotgun and dialed 9-1-1 and told him to go away, that I'd called the law. And then the door flew open and he stepped a foot into the trailer and I pulled the trigger. He fell down and when he tried to get up, I shot him twice more."

"It's a pump. She cycled the action three times. The deputy sheriff had to remove the round in the chamber and three more in the tube," I elaborated.

Mike said, "Damn!"

Jerry asked, "So you just lit his ass up?"

"Yeah," said Cindy. "It was him or me. And Dan showed me how to shoot. So I wasn't gonna let him hurt me. And he was in MY house!"

Sheila's question brought the house down. "But, Cindy! I mean, what did you FEEL when you SHOT the guy?"

Cindy smiled demurely and said, "Recoil."

My brother blew gumbo out of his nose.

"And THAT is why I married her," I said. "That, and the fact that she was taking photos inside a boiler on Wednesday. Of course, she fits through the manway a lot easier than my lard-assed associate."

At around ten in the evening we bid goodbye to family and drove back home. With doors locked behind us, I was somewhat surprised at the next question, although I guess I shouldn't have been.

"Uh, babe, do you have guns here too?"

"Yes, my love, we do." And I showed her.

The next move was a shared shower and then my shaving and her hair-drying and then a happy young redhead kneeling in the middle of the bed naked. Forty-five minutes later we were in each other's arms, breathless, the musky smell of recent sex hanging in the air.

"Babe," she said, "are you up for a serious talk?"

"Sure, sweetness." I had no idea of what serious subject she'd breech.

"I really like us having a house. Like this."

"I do too, sweetie," I said. "It's been my refuge and my home base. Now it's ours."

"Can we afford two?"

"Two? Why two?"

"Because next year I'm going to college. And there's no college close by here."

I had only given her point a tiny amount of thought before, but now she wanted it analyzed. "So what are we thinking about then?"

"Mister Hardesty says that if I graduate this year according to his plan, that I've got full scholarships. In Alabama."

"We don't have a house in Alabama," I noted.

"I know, baby," she sighed. "And please know that if all we ever had together was our trailer, I'd want us to stay in our trailer. Forever. But you gotta admit, the house thing is nice!"

My mind wandered to a giggly wet form in a shower an hour earlier. This was an easy answer. "Yes, my dear one, it is nice!"

She continued, "So your project finishes in February. You said you could stay where we are in the park until I finish school. Then what? Where?"

I considered a bit. "I guess then we need to have a place convenient to your university of choice, huh?"

"Can you do that?"

We'd talked a bit on the subject before. I had a few connections that might parlay into a full-time staff position with a regular office and mostly staying at one location. "Let me see what I can do, babe. I've been thinking about it. In January I can start making some calls. But you need to make a decision on which university you'll grace with your presence."

"Yeah," she said. "I need to talk to Mister Hardesty. He said something about visiting them. Maybe you and he and I can do that."

"I think that's a good idea, babe. We can talk to Jim when we get back, okay?"

"Okay!" Grin."Back yard?"

I looked at her. "What about the back yard?"

"It's a cool fall night and nobody can see in our back yard, and the sky is clear..."

"Uh ... oooohhhh!" I laughed. "Let's get a blanket, then..."

It was a little on the cool side, but there are many things about Cindy that are very warming. We used all of them. And Cindy naked out in the moonlight, wow! Forty-two year old guys aren't supposed to chug out two orgasms in two hours, but then most of them don't have redheaded, giggly Cindy, either. It was after midnight when we got back in the house, still glowing, but chilled. The blankets on the bed provided us a wonderful nest.

The next couple of days were just hanging out, visiting, riding around. And I had an issue to resolve.

A phone call to the airfield had me set up for my biennial flight review, a necessity to keep my license current. So in the early afternoon Cindy and I showed up to meet with the airpark manager, an old friend. He was also a flight instructor and he could do my check ride. He reviewed my logbook and asked a few questions to make sure I was staying current on regulations and such.

Then it was time for the actual flying. Cindy rode along in the back seat of the plane for the second time. Forty-five minutes later we were back on the ground.

"Greg," I asked, "What's the rules say about putting an unlicensed person in the left seat?" The left seat was the pilot's seat, even though the plane had dual controls.

"It doesn't matter, just so a licensed pilot can fly the plane from the right seat. Why?" he asked.

I nodded towards Cindy who was standing a bit off away from us. "Tell you what. I'll pay you for an hour's instruction. Let Cindy go through the motions. She's a little short, so she might need some help taxiing, and you want to follow real close on takeoffs and landings, but see what you think."

"Her? How old is she?"

Cindy could see we were talking about her. She smiled.

"Fourteen. I know, too young to get a student license, but humor me, okay?"

"Sure," he said. "Miss Cindy, take me flying."

Cindy bounced over and went through the steps we'd walked and talked through many times. At each step she explained her actions on the pre-flight inspection. I watched from a safe distance. Greg looked over at me and raised an eyebrow.

"It's your plane, little lady," he said.

"Then let's mount up!" she said.

I walked back into the office and waited. An hour later I heard the ticking of the engine and looked out to see Greg with his hands raised, indicating he was controlling the aircraft. Cindy was just visible over the instrument panel. The plane swung into place at the tie-downs. I walked back outside.

"So how'd she do?"

Cindy was smiling, and that was a pretty good indication to me, but Greg verbalized it. "Take her up and let 'er shoot touch and goes and landings to a full stop. Show her the prescribed maneuvers for a flight test. Get her ground schooled. But she can fly pretty darned good right now. When she's sixteen she can get a student license and accumulate hours, and she can get her private license and fly this thing when she's seventeen."

"That's what we read," Cindy said. "But I still like to fly."

"And you can fly all you want as long as you're with a licensed pilot," Greg said to her. To me he said, "Seriously, no problem at all. I'd probably sign off her solo in four hours, just like she is."

We tied our plane down and went inside so Greg could sign off the entry in my logbook and I was good for another two years. He refused payment for Cindy's hour. "Your plane, your gas. And you're my friend."

On the drive home Cindy was giggly. "Mister Greg was nervous. He kept watching REAL close when I was taxiing and I made extra sure to stay slow and careful. And I lined up exactly right for take-off..." She recounted the rest of her day's adventures. "You know what an Extra is? Airplane?"

"Uh, yeah ... unlimited aerobatics. Why?"

She grinned. "Mr. Greg has one. Said if it was okay with you, he'd take me up in it."

"And you're gonna leave me for a guy with a faster airplane."

She giggled. "Yeah, after we meet him and his wife for supper. Besides, he says it's tandem, not side by side seating. So I can't reach over and give him a squeeze like YOU get." Another giggle.

"Babe," I said, "I've done aerobatics with Greg before he got the Extra. I don't get airsick, but some people might. Like you." I was thinking of Greg's first plane after the army, a little Citabria.

"I won't know unless I try, huh?" She smiled. "You know, most kids my age are happy to ride a four-wheeler around the woods. YOU get me rides in aerobatic airplanes."

I snorted. "Just so you look at that as a "plus" when it's over, babe."

She wrapped my right arm with her hands. "I love you, babe. I hope you don't mind me sayin' we'd have supper with 'em."

"Oh, not in the least, cutie. Let's do it right. We'll bring Greg's wife flowers. That ought to get him goin'."

"Flowers?" she asked.

"Yeah, Fred married a German girl. We were on the same post in Germany, and good German etiquette says that when you visit, you bring flowers or a bottle of wine. Heck, we may just do both."

"Ohhhhhh," she said.

Dinner was fun. Greg's wife, Hanna, was much matured from the days when she met a young American pilot in Germany, and she laughed after I ran through my entire, very rusty German vocabulary, but she thought Cindy was adorable, so that made a roomful of us. Greg and I talked about old times and current events and flying and Cindy helped Hanna out in the kitchen and played gracious server and joined the conversation, very interested when she found that Hanna was also a licensed pilot and had participated in aerobatic competition.

Three hours later we were bidding good night with Greg's invitation modified to where Hanna would be doing the flight with my Cindy. As Hanna put it in English tinged with her German roots, "I vill fly mit her ... Men vish to show offfff too much."

I had an excited Cindy at my side on the way home, and she was excited for a different reason than normal.

After showers and giggly lovemaking, we lay together in bed talking.

"That's so cool, Dan! Hanna's the first female pilot I ever met."

"They're out there, sweetie. And in a couple of years you'll count yourself as one. If it wasn't for that whole "She's fourteen" thing, you'd be getting a license in a couple of months."

"I like flying ALMOST as much as I like YOUR engineering stuff. Can I do both?"

"I dunno, babe. Depends on how you want to do it. I do it as a hobby and a nice way to travel. Greg does it because it's what he does for a living. Hanna does it because it's a joy to her. All of those are valid reasons. We can't justify it on economic grounds, but who applied economics to a hobby? Especially when it gives us such flexibility in travel. But to own a quarter of a million dollars' worth of airplane that's burning a hundred dollars of gas an hour just to cut interesting holes in the sky? It's gotta be what you LOVE!"

"When you put it like that..." she sighed. "Sometimes reality sucks."

"Don't I know..." I sighed in concert with my cutie. "But we do the best we can. Anyway, fly with Hanna tomorrow. Maybe we'll get lucky and you'll hurl all over the cockpit."

Giggle. "Not a chance."

"Well," I said, "If you're thinking you've got it under control, ask her for a lomcevak. If you can keep your stomach after THAT maneuver..." A lomcevak is a radical, tumbling, move in three axes. I've done 'em. And had to fly along straight and level for ten minutes afterward to retain MY decorum. At the house, I showed her videos.

"Maybe I can try just one," Cindy said. "Just to say I did."

I smiled. When I'd flown with Greg, the airplane he owned was much less capable. One of his buddies had something a little sturdier and I got my introduction to a maneuver that I swear gave me the opportunity to see myself going backward in time.

The next couple of days were spent just living, enjoying days where neither of us had anything pressing other than happy life. We visited the old folks who were still around, old friends, drove endless miles though the countryside, flew a few hundred more, skimming at scenic altitude over the marshes and coastal beaches.

Cindy got her aerobatic flight in, too. She and Hanna taxied the Extra out as Greg and I looked on.

"Be very afraid, Dan. I thought I was going to give Hanna a thrill and she'd never bother me again. Now she's got a quarter of million dollars out there."

"You get to use it too, though, don't you?"

"Oh, I do, Dan, but the sad thing is, she's BETTER with it than I am." He smiled sheepishly.

We watched the red monoplane disappear heading south from the airfield, then went back inside and sipped coffee and talked about airplanes and work and money and politics, waiting for our wives to return. The office's Unicom radio crackled with Cindy's voice giving the aircraft identifier and notifying us that they were five miles out.

"She doesn't SOUND sick, Dan. You're screwed." Greg laughed. "Best I can offer you is her and Hanna can fly together whenever you're down here."

"Yeah ... I can't imagine doing a cross-country in that thing," I said, following him out the door. I could spot the little red airplane in the distance.

"It's not as bad as you might think, Dan. But it's not that ol' flying pickup truck of yours, either."

We standing side by side when the Extra taxied back in, canopy open, Hanna grinning like a Cheshire cat, Cindy obviously concentrating. When the propeller stopped, I was there to help Cindy out.

Squeal! "I landed it, Dan. It's just like ours except I can see better!" Cindy was ebullient. "I just LOVED it!"

Hanna was smiling.

"Lomcevak?" I asked.

Hanna held up three fingers. "Und snap rolls, und spins. Zhe is a happy girl, Dan."

"You're screwed, Dan." Greg gibed. Together we pushed the little plane back into the hangar, Hanna and Cindy walking behind us, chattering excitedly.

Cindy and I bid our hosts goodbye and left. In the car on the way home, I asked, "So, it was that good?"

"Oh, yes, babe," she giggled. "And that PLANE! It's like all you have to do is IMAGINE something and you're THERE!"

"I've heard that," I said. "It's a whole different design idea."

"Yeah, I know," she said. "Our plane, you know how we can take our hands off the yoke and let it fly by itself? You can't do that with this one," she said. "I mean, you CAN trim it up, but if you tilt your head, you're going in another direction. But it's some kind of fun!"

"What about the maneuvers? You didn't get sick?"

"Nuh-uh," she said. "Hanna warned me, and we started off with the easy stuff. And then ... wow! Snap rolls. And that lomcevak thing."

"Uh-huh. And where's this put Cindy?"

She smiled, green eyes twinkling. "Just another thing you've given me that I'd have never gotten without you. It's exciting. And might be fun to play with, you know ... but not too practical. Wasn't enough room for Christmas presents in that Extra."

"Oh," I said, "You're not ready to go out and buy an Extra?"

"Nah," she answered. "But Hanna said I could fly with her whenever I'm down here." She giggled. "Why? You thought I was gonna go off the deep end over that?"

"I gave it an eighty percent chance that you'd enjoy it, babe. But when I saw you when you stopped out there on the apron, I figured you were hooked."

"Almost. Let me get thought college. And a job. And two incomes. And we'll think about it, okay? One thing at a time."

Practical, was my Cindy.

Chapter 23

Christmas Eve: that was the traditional big party with my family and the whole rowdy bunch was at Tootie's for an informal get-together with tables loaded with everybody's favorite recipes for pies and snacks. Nieces and nephews showed up with their spouses and "friends" and it was noted that Uncle Dan's wife was the youngest of the bunch. It was interesting, but no hurdle. Cindy was dragged into one conversation after another, and after a little initial apprehension on my part, I soon noted that she was quite comfortable surrounded by members of her new family.

Oh, I shouldn't have worried. Early in the afternoon I was seated on the sofa with a crowd, and with space at a premium, Cindy was perched on my knee, innocently dressed in a pine-green sweatshirt that fitted her loosely but accented that head of red hair like a spotlight.

Jerry's youngest son Rick was feeling particularly feisty and popped up, "Uncle Dan, if I'd 'a known you wanted a YOUNG wife, I could fixed you up a LONG time ago."

I was taken aback. I don't think he really meant to be disrespectful, but I noticed the room get quiet. And then Cindy stuck her tongue out at him.

"Hmph! Rick, Rick, Rick..." she said. "He wasn't lookin' for a young wife. HE didn't know WHAT he was missing until WE found each other!" And she twisted and kissed me. "Right, babe?"

"Absolutely right, sweetie. And, uh, Rick, until you fooled Miss Britney there, any THREE of your previous girlfriends wouldn't've added up to half a Cindy in intelligence."

Britney, Rick's freshly-announced fiancée, giggled. "Uh-huh, Uncle Dan. He used ta not date women whose IQ's were higher than their hip measurements." She punched him playfully. "That meant he settled for a lot of fifties." Giggle. "So a couple of 'em would have made two or three Cindy's on weight, maybe."

Jerry laughed. "He's got you there, son! What'd that last one wanna be? A nail technician?"

Britney punched Rick again. "Yeah, I'm what, the first girl you dated that graduated college?" Britney was a school teacher. "Oh, heck! I'm the first girlfriend YOU'VE had that didn't have to sing that song to remember the alphabet! 'Sides, I talked to Cindy. I KNOW what she's gonna do..."

Tootie stepped in. "Yeah, she's gonna graduate high school when she's freakin' FOURTEEN!"

Cindy got off my knee, walked past Rick and gave Britney a hug, and stuck her tongue out at Rick again. "You better be nice to her, Rick. She carries enough sense so that you'll survive on this planet without having to collect roadkill." And she went in the kitchen and collected up a paper plate full of little snacks, then sat back on my knee and made an obvious show of feeding me.

Tootie got up to do something and walked by, stopping to give Cindy a hug. "Way to go, Cin," she said.

After that, I pretty much didn't worry. She was family. Yeah, another one of Uncle Dan's strange ways, but family nonetheless.

A pleasant time was had by all. The informal appetizers and gumbo of Christmas Eve was succeeded by a full layout of food on Christmas. The week between Christmas and New Year's was filled with socializing with family and old friends.

Somewhere in there, Cindy and Hanna conspired for another episode of cutting strange holes in the sky while Greg and I swapped the tires on my Cessna. The skies darkened early in December and suppertime found us at Greg and Hanna's eating schnitzel and drinking wine. And yes, in good German tradition, Cindy had her glass.

The other thing was a "fais-do-do". For you poor folk who didn't grow up in south Louisiana, that's "Fay-doe-doe" and it's Cajun, almost literally, for "bop 'til you drop", an impromptu party of music, food and friends. It went down starting with a phone call from my brother.

"Yeah, Jerry, what's up?" I answered.

"We got the pavilion at the parish park for Thursday. Family, friends. Music. Your cousins. They wanna know if you can come an' bring Cindy. And your bass." He continued, "It's gonna be fun. An' if Cindy doesn't leave after this, she's a keeper." He laughed out loud.

"I thought I was pushing it with Christmas Eve, " I said. "Lemme talk it over with her."

"It's a good chance to show her the rest of the bunch, Dan."

"I know," I said. "Including that part of the family tree that has root rot."

"You'll be on stage with them, boy. You get to play Cajun music with your cousins." My cousins were just a stage above 'garage band' except they were pretty adept at the music indigenous to south Louisiana. One played fiddle, another accordion, a third guitar. They could usually scare up a drummer and I'd filled in on bass guitar more than once.

The venues tended towards small drinking establishments and social events like this one.

"I'm leanin' that way. But let me run it by Cindy before I say okay." I kicked the recliner back in our living room as Cindy came through the door with a bowl of popcorn.

"Who's that, baby?" she asked.

"YOUR brother-in-law. Wants to know if you want to go to a party with a bunch of drunk Cajuns."

Her eyebrow arched. "Do we KNOW any of them?"

"Yeah," I said. "You married into the bunch. They want me to help out in the band."

"You mean that Cajun stuff we were listenin' to at Tootie's? I'd buy a ticket to watch that."

I laughed again. Jerry chuckled. "Sounds like a 'yes' to me."

"Okay, we'll be there." He gave me the details. I dutifully repeated them to Cindy as she sat beside me. I hung up.

"Baby, this ain't gonna be like Saturday nights at the park. This bunch doesn't do ANYTHING without alcohol, so there's gonna be some pretty serious drinkin', and they can get kind of raucous."

"I can handle that, Dan. They're goin' there to have a good time, right?"

"Yeah. Jerry will be there early makin' a big pot of gumbo, and there's gonna be plenty of food. And beer. Lots of beer. And if it runs true to the last one, last summer, there's gonna be a margarita machine, plus a soda fountain."

"Sounds like a production." She regarded me with a little smile. "Call Tootie."

"Tootie? Why?" I asked.

"'Cuz she said I needed to learn to dance. Said these things always have dancin'."

"Yeah, there is that. YOU call 'er. Tell 'er to come over tomorrow evening and I'll do a pot roast and we'll trade dinner for dancin' lessons."

"And I can watch you cook that roast," she said. She flipped her cellphone open and commanded "Tootie" then she smiled at me.

I laughed. "I don't EVEN want to know what word you use to call Jerry!"

She stuck her tongue out at me. "Oh, hi, Tootie!" Pause. "Yeah, remember you said I needed to learn to dance?" Cindy leaned over to put the phone between our ears so I could hear.

"Yeah, hon," Tootie answered. "SO I guess ya'll are goin' to the fais-do-do, huh?"

"Uh-huh," Cindy said, a little more excited than me. "Dan's gonna play with the band."

Tootie snorted. "Band! Huh! Get four drunk coonasses (the colloquial term Cajuns called each other) together and they call it a 'band'. But Dan's gonna play, huh?"

"Yes, he is," Cindy said. "And there's gonna be dancin'. An I don't want to look stupid."

Tootie laughed again. "Babe," she said, "with that bunch you could slide across the floor on your belly pushin' a peanut with your nose and you'd look like the upper tier. But me an' Mike are gonna be there, too."

"Good!" Cindy said. "Anyway, your brother's cooking a roast tomorrow an' want's ya'll over for dinner. And bring some of that music."

"We'll do that. His roast ain't as good as mine, but I'm just happy that I don't have to cook tomorrow."

"'Kay! We'll see you about what? Four-thirty? Give us time to talk an' stuff!" Cindy's eyes twinkled at me.

"Sure. Can I talk to your worthless husband?"

"Hi, Toot," I said. "What's up?"

"Just want to see if I can bring something..."

"Pie?" I asked. "You can buy one. Just want a little something for a dessert."

"You got it, brother," Tootie said. "An' now I got something to look forward to at that fais-do-do."

"Yeah," I laughed. "Bye!"

"Bye, Tootie," Cindy said, and then closed the phone.

She smiled at me. "Looks like we got ourselves another event, honey!" and she pushed popcorn into my mouth.

Dinner the next day was just fun. We talked, ate then retired to the den and Tootie and Mike and I got Cindy up to speed on the two dances necessary for survival at a fais do-do.

"Remember, baby," Tootie said. "It's not complicated. These are made to be done by drunk Cajuns." And she showed my Cindy how to do the two-step and the waltz, at least the rudimentary versions we grew up with.

Tootie and Mike left us and we shut the house down before heading to the shower together. The hot water and soft hands worked wonders easing the stress out of me. Stress? Not really. And if there was any stress, soft loving with Cindy would've driven it from my happy universe.

That put us getting up the next day tangled together, letting the first conscious move I made be a kiss on the top of that tousled copper head. Her first sound was an "Mmmmm" and then a squeeze, pulling us closer together. "G'mornin', love," she said.

"Mornin', punkin," I said. "What's for breakfast?"

"If I help in the kitchen, can we do grits'n' eggs'n'bacon? Hmmmm?"

Now, by this stage of our relationship, Cindy could've asked me to walk barefoot over hot coals and I would've been peeling my socks off, so cooking breakfast with her was obviously an easy thing to accept. We staggered together to the bathroom. I hit the sink first, washing my sleepy face giving her time to free up the toilet, then we changed places.

The kitchen was a happy set of collisions as we laughed our way through breakfast prep. The coffee was dripping as we hit the table with our plates. After the meal, we opened the curtains on the window to our back yard and watched the birds feeding on the ornamental berries of the hedge.

We bumped around the roads together, had a light lunch, then ended up back at the house in time to shower and dress for the evening.

"I'm assuming, hon, that this event doesn't call for my little black dress, huh?" she swirled out of her closet with that simple black sheath in front of her almost naked body.

"Uh, no ... You're going to be trouble enough in jeans, cutie," I said.

"Okay," she grinned, "jeans it is. Now, what about a shirt?" she pulled another hanger out of the closet, showing me long-sleeved, pine green cotton. "You like me in this one," she said.

She was correct there. Her pale natural complexion and aged copper hair color were spotlighted by that dark green. "Yes I do. But I don't know if I want you THAT stunning, sweetie."

She stuck out her bottom lips, feigning a pout. "I think you have a burlap sack in the garage..."

"No, brown's bad, too..." I laughed. "Go with green."

We walked into the pavilion together, me with my bass slung on my back in a gig bag, Cindy on my arm looking like a vision, every hair in place, those green eyes twinkling, and a winning smile. And everybody wanted to see Uncle Dan's new wife. I made a noble try at trying to remember names. I was successful with relatives, but their wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, oh well, the target moves too much.

I left Cindy to her own resources and went to the stage to meet my cousins to get set up for the music, then retrieved Cindy. We did a little food sampling, settling on Jerry's rich gumbo for our dinner meal. We were chatting with a succession of people when the sound system squealed.

"If Uncle Dan will work hisself up here, we'll play a little music," the fiddle player said.

I winked at Cindy. "Stardom calls, little darlin'."

"Just remember, there, superstar, that you gotta dance with me sometime tonight." She hauled my face down and kissed me, a move that got squeals and catcalls from the surrounding crew.

I took my spot on the stage, and off we went. Bass player in a Cajun band. Tough job, especially when you realize that the musical structure is driven by the archtypical Cajun musical instrument, a diatonic accordion, is tuned in a single key, in this case the key of C, so it wasn't hard to follow the music, and Cajun music is folk music, not fancy. We did the fast ones, two-steps, and the slow ones, waltzes.

The floor filled with dancers. As my fingers ran on autopilot over basic rhythms, I watched for a redhead in a green shirt. Tootie's husband Mike dragged her onto the floor for the first dance, and every time her eyes caught mine, she was smiling. We picked up the next song, a waltz, and Jerry tagged Cindy. As he swept her around the dance floor to sad songs in Cajun French, she smiled and stuck her tongue out at me. And crooked her finger.

When that song finished, I tapped my cousin.

"Hey, I need to go dance a couple with my wife, Gene."

"Yeah, go ahead, Uncle Dan. If you don't, I will. She's pretty good. And damn! That red hair!"

I put my bass in its stand and stepped down off the stage. Cindy was waiting. I looked back over my shoulder. "Gene, do us a two-step!"

Sprightly sounds poured forth and I took this delightful thing in my arms and we laughed and danced around the floor. The next song Gene picked was a sad, slow waltz and I gathered Cindy close against me. She rested her head on my chest as we moved to the music. When the final strains poured forth, we finished our dance with a kiss.

I left her on the floor and resumed playing with the band. Despite the fact that friends and family had plied the musicians with a steady stream of beverages, we finally got to a breaking point.

Gene caught me. "Hey, Uncle Dan, I figured you'd be getting rusty."

"Nuh-uh," I said. "Me an' Cindy play with another family every other weekend or so, doin' bluegrass in Alabama."

Cindy smiled.

Gene asked Cindy, "You play an instrument?"

"Oh, I wish," Cindy answered. "I just sing..."

"You sing? What kind of songs?" He looked surprised.

"Oh, a few simple bluegrass things, and a few old rock and roll things. Dan an' Mizz Ann and Mister Jim play, and I sing. Sometimes Teresa sings with me. She's a year younger than me, and she's Mizz Ann and Mister Jim's daughter.

He plied her for song titles. "Uncle Dan, we can do some of these ... Cindy, you wanna?"

"But they're not Cajun," she said.

"Hah," Gene retorted. "It's not like we all don't listen to a little bit of everything here. Uncle Dan used to play country an' rock and roll. Me too. So if you wanna..."

Green eyes met mine. "Would it be too embarrassing, love?" she asked.

"Hardly. If this crowd can put up with us, you'll lift 'em to a higher plane."

She wrapped her arms around me and rested her chin on my shoulder. "I'll do it, hon," she said. "A couple of songs, okay? That's all."

So the band's break was over. We got back on stage. Gene pulled Cindy by his side and picked up a microphone. "Folks, we've been havin' a lot of fun this evening. Ay'll all saw Uncle Dan's new wife, Cindy, here. Well, I found out on break that Uncle Dan an' Cindy's been singing in Alabama, and now we're gonna get Miss Cindy to do us a couple."

Cindy waved a shy little wave, almost like the first night she'd taken the stage at the RV park in Alabama.

Gene continued. "Ya'll all know that Miss Cindy's from Alabama, so this won't be Cajun, but it's some old rock and roll we all know. So here's Miss Cindy Richards."

I wish I could say we got that much applause when it was just us guys.

Gene dropped his accordion and walked back, returning with an electric guitar. Our fiddle player did the same thing. Cindy approached the mike, and we cut loose. And so did Cindy. And the crowd didn't let her quit at two. We did four, and she walked off the stage, stopping to kiss the bass player, and on the dance floor, I thought she was going to be mobbed.

We lapsed back into Cajun favorites and after three dances, Cindy sat down next to Tootie and turned down several requests for a turn around the floor. That is, until I took another leave and danced with my little gem myself. After our two dances, she held my hand and escorted me back to the stage. And somebody started chanting, "Cin-dy! Cin-dy!" until she stepped up on stage again.

"Okay, folks," Gene said. "We gonna do dis one more time, but dat's all. I keep havin' to retrain my fiddle player."

To laughter and applause, Cindy took the mike, front and center, and we ripped out a couple more for her.

Ten o'clock came and it was time to shut things down. Cindy pitched in with Tootie and Jerry and their spouses to break down the food part of the evening while I worked with the music gang, coiling up cables, loading up equipment.

Out at the back of the band trailer, Gene caught me. "Dan, if she could do Cajun, we could work every weekend, TWO nights. She's somethin'!"

"Yeah, she is, Gene. But she's got college ahead of her next year. Not time for a career in Cajun music, I don't think."

"College?" Ain't she, like, fourteen? Dat's what I heard..." He looked at me.

"You heard right. But you didn't hear that she's graduating high school this May. She's scary smart." I smiled proudly.

"You a lucky man, Uncle Dan. Me, I'm envious." He smiled. "Look, nex' time ya'll come down, PLEASE let me know, jus' so we can get together an' let her sing."

"I'll do that, Gene." The rest of the band was there now. "Ya'll did darned good tonight. We had fun."

"Yeah," the drummer said. "Now if it could be just a little more work, an' a little more money."

"Don't give me that crap," I laughed. "You make plenty of money on your day job." I knew that he worked with an oilfield service company, a young engineer.

"Yeah, I know," he said. "But what's the glamor in drillin' mud..."

They were laughing when Cindy came bouncing out to see what was keeping me. She slid up against my side. "Thank you, guys! I had fun singin' with ya'll."

Gene spoke for the group. "Miss Cindy, you can come sing with us ANY time. I just told Uncle Dan to PLEASE call me next time ya'll get back here."

"We will. I promise," Cindy said, dragging me away. She hauled me to see Tootie and Jerry. "Ya'll, it's time for us to go. But we really had a good time."

"We did, too, Cindy," Jerry said. "Dan," he said to me, "Do you, like wake up every morning thanking god that you have this girl?"

"Pretty much, brother," I said. I pulled Cindy around in front of me and kissed the top of her head. She twisted to meet my lips with hers.

"And I thank god that I have him, Jerry. We have such a good time. Like tonight. And thank you for dancing with me. I needed to work off that gumbo of yours."

Sheila caught his arm. "between you an' me, we worked some gumbo off HIS old butt, too, Cindy!"

Tootie said, "I know ya'll are gonna fly back to Alabama soon as the weather's good. Let's get together at our house tomorrow evening. We can play cards or something.

"Food?" Jerry questioned.

"Pick something up at the market. Everybody's getting' tired of cookin'," Tootie said.

"We'll be there," Cindy answered for both of us.

"And we're goin' home now. I'm tired. Ain't used to dancin' and playin' late like this," I said.

Cindy waved as we left. We climbed into our SUV and headed out of the parking lot. She tossed her head back against the headrest.

"So, Little Miss Rockstar, what'd you think?" I asked.

She turned those green eyes to me. "Like nothing I ever imagined, Dan. You know how, when you're a kid (this coming from a fourteen year old girl) you imagine how it would be to be a star? And then you think, 'Yeah, like THAT'S gonna ever happen... '?"

"Yeah," I said.

"Déjà vu, Dan. Tonight when they did that 'Cin-dy, Cin-dy!' thing, I almost fainted, because I had this picture when I was, like, eight..." Her fingers brushed my face. "Dan, I love you. Tonight was one more thing that you made me part of, that was only a dream..."

"Well, that was because you're good, and you're waaaay different, too. Everybody there's heard US before." I smiled.

"Wait'll I tell Mister Jim an' Mizz Ann."

"They'll be proud of you too, princess," I said.

"So when can we do this again, honey?" she asked.

"Well, baby doll, the project's getting critical now. But I'm hoping we can get loose and get down here for Mardi Gras."

"Like in New Orleans?" she asked.

"Oh, no, baby. Mardi Gras here is small town, Cajun tradition. It's not NEARLY like what goes on in New Orleans." I told her about Mardi Gras traditions in Cajun country. "And there's gonna be a big fais do-do like tonight, except bigger."

"If your cousins play an' they have a place for you, I want you to play with 'em, baby." I looked. She was smiling.

"You really liked it that much, sweetness?" I asked.

The smile covered her face. "Mmm-hmmm. I did."

"Well, little one," I said. "Tonight was family. Mardi Gras, maybe not. And a whole lot more drinkin' an' stuff. I don't know..."

She looked at me. "Seriously, Dan. Is there anything you and I can't handle together?"

"You're right, Cindy. But that doesn't meant I want to expose you to that. Besides, you're fourteen. I don't know if you can even play in a commercial establishment that serves alcohol."

"Okay, you're right." Giggle. "It happens." Giggle again. "But if it's a family thing like tonight, I want us to do it, okay?"

"Okay. One hundred percent, baby."

"Good," she said confidently. Then she punched the car stereo on. A trumpet concerto streamed out of the speakers. "Time to get my head straight, Dan."

"I love this one, Cindy." I was remembering its purchase.

"I know. It's one of my favorites, too. We need to see what's gonna be live when we get back home."

"Yes, we do, dearest," I said. "I want to take you somewhere to hear a good orchestra. And give you an excuse to wear that black dress."

"You like me in that, don't you?" she said.

"Oh, yes. I didn't know about that whole 'little black dress' thing until YOU wore one."

We were pulling into our drive now. Minutes later we were inside. I locked the door behind me and felt myself pushed backward against it.

Cindy's hands were on my chest. "So tell me," she smiled, "Exactly HOW tired are you?"

"I'm not THAT tired, redhead," I laughed, scooping her into my arms, her giggles filling my ears. I carried her to the bedroom and dumped her in the middle of the bed, crawling over her. Her arms wrapped my neck, pulling our faces together.

I held her, rolling onto my back, pulling her atop me.

Giggle. "These are the arms I wanna be in. It was fun dancin' an' all, and I know that dancin' with other guys is just sociable, but I wanted to be in YOUR arms, Dan." She planted a shower of kisses on my face and neck.

"I know, baby. I watched. I was just a bit jealous, you know, but there's an advantage, too, when I saw you."

"What's that, love?" she asked.

"I got to see how pretty you really are, how you move, how other people look at you..." I returned the kisses on her neck, reducing her to a wiggly giggly mess.

"Well, buddy boy," she said. "This stuff is yours and yours alone..." she pulled out of my arms and sat up, unbuttoning her shirt.

"It's all I ever needed, Cindy. Even before you were born, you were all I ever needed."

She presented me with herself, naked from the waist up. Beautiful. Delightful. Enticing. Lowering herself back into my arms, my hands traced her back, her sides. She wiggled against my hardness and kissed me deeply.

"Uh, Dan..."

"Yes, little one?"

"Let's shower. Then start this all over, so we can do it RIGHT!"

That was an order happily complied with...

An hour later, sound asleep, completely naked, her head on my chest, her breath soft in my ears.

Chapter 24

And on December 30th, we decided to take advantage of a spot of clear weather and fly home under the blue skies between a succession of cold fronts moving like a parade across the map.

We bade goodbye to Greg and Hanna on the flightline after Cindy and I did the preflight. They laughed as Cindy ceremoniously pushed me aside and climbed into the left seat. The pilot's seat. At a thousand feet we turned to a direct heading for the Alabama version of home and Cindy trimmed up for a cruise-climb to cruising altitude.

"You know, I hate to leave, Dan," her voice came though my earphones over the intercom. "I never get over having FAMILY!"

"I know, rockstar," I said. "I was worried about you being there with the nieces and nephews..."

"Yeah, like Rick," she interrupted. "But he's cool. Bag of wind, sometimes..."

"That comes from his dad," I said.

"Yeah," she laughed. I did notice THAT! But Britney's good for him, and they love each other. And she's pushing him to get back into college for the summer semester."

"Yeah, you built us another engineer in the family," I laughed.

"Yeah," she giggled. "Britney told him he couldn't let himself be beat by some little girl."

"Uh-huh, but the little girl has an IQ off the end of the scale..."

I enjoyed the satisfied smile on her face when she glanced over at me. "IQ doesn't matter with family, love. They were nice to me. They accepted me. Just like I am. They accepted US. Now, what altitude do we need?" she asked.

"Seventy-five hundred feet. That's good for our course. We're going east." She leveled us off pretty close to the target altitude and we set up for a decent cruise speed.

"And that music thing. What d'ya call it? 'Fay-doe-doe'?"

"Close enough, doll," I said. "You liked that, huh!"

"Oh, yes I did. So many people, and there was so much fun there."

"That's the way it's supposed to be, sweetness," I said. "I'll take it if you get tired, Cin."

"Maybe I'll let you fly," she smirked. "But I kinda want to do this all by myself. So I can say I did it. It's important to me."

"It's yours, then, cutie," I said, making a big deal of leaning back away from the yoke. We flew along for an hour and a half, chatting about our time at home and the expectations of our return. I noticed her wiggling a little.

"Problem, sweetie?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah, husband. Your wife is starting her period a day early, I think."

"Oh, hell," I said. "This ain't the best place to find that out."

"Look at the chart. What's the closest field with that we can find a bathroom at? I could try to do that up here, but I'd really rather not."

I picked up the chart between the seats and opened it to show our path. "Yeah," I said, tracing my finger along our course. "We're here. Turn to uh... 175 degrees. We're about ten miles out. Cut the engine back pretty hard. Leave the cowl flaps closed to keep the engine temperature up until we get ready to land. We'll do a fast descent."

As I was giving directions her hand was dipping the right wing and backing off on the throttle. She kept the speed up and we descended handily.

"Call Unicom," she said, indicating that I make a general call to the little uncontrolled rural airfield. We slid tight around the pattern and this time I followed HER through the landing. We taxied to the hangar/office and the engine had hardly stopped when she was out the door with her purse. "Hi!" she said to the old guy walking out to the plane to meet us, almost running right past him.

I got out. "Sorry! She's in a hurry," I said. I told him where we were headed and where we started.

"Damn, boy," he laughed. "You're halfway there!"

"Yeah, I know, and we were planning on a single hop, but when a young lady announces, well, NEEDS..."

"I know whatcha mean there," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Got time for some bad coffee? By the way..." He extended his hand. "Ray Weston."

"Dan Richards. That little redhead in a hurry is my wife Cindy." I thought he might act like that announcement was unusual, but I was wrong.

"Young cutie, she is," he said. "She's flying left seat?"

"Yessir," I said. "And doing pretty good, too."

We walked through the door as Cindy came out of the bathroom.

"Cindy," I said, "this is Mister Ray Weston."

"Hi, Mister Weston. I'm sorry I didn't stop to introduce myself earlier." She smiled that smile that disarmed so many.

"That's okay, young lady," he said. "You gotta go when you gotta go. Lemme make a fresh pot of coffee if ya'll have a few minutes."

Oh, thank you!" Cindy chirped. "That would be so nice."

The three of us shared a few minutes over coffee, talking about airplanes and little airports, and then it was time for us to go. We shook hands all around, did an abbreviated preflight, and lifted off for two more hours in the air.

"Stop at fifty-five hundred feet, babe," I said. "No sense getting too high for a two-hour leg," I said.

"'Kay," she answered. "Sorry about the short stop."

"Hey, we HAD to. Things happen," I answered.

"I thought I was good at least till late this evening. I guess all the excitement got me off track..." She smiled at me and pointed out another plane off in the distance. "He's not even close. We'll be above him and behind."

I quickly searched and found the target. "You're right," I said. "Good call." Soon we were over the home field, circling to land. I kept my hands and feet near the controls, lightly following Cindy's control movement, just in case. Her landing had a little bounce, but we were home. Thirty minutes later we were in the truck and the plane was safely locked away.

"Home," she said, scooting against me in the truck's wide front seat.

"You miss our little box?" I asked.

"You're there. I'm there. That makes it home, baby," she said.

"What about dinner?"

"There's an idea. Visit our friends and have a salad?" she smiled. I knew the two old ladies would be happy to see us back.

We wheeled into the RV park to find it fairly full of vacationing snowbirds, and Steve waved at us as we drove by the office. Cindy waved back.

Entering the trailer after an absence of over a week, I was pleasantly surprised to find it NOT stale-smelling, but we opened up every window in the place anyway, letting the chilly late December wind clear the place out as we put away our luggage. Forty-odd degrees, though.

"That's enough, Dan," she said. "I'm closin' windows."

"Curtains too, baby," I added. I turned the thermostat up from the "freeze-stopper" setting of forty to a more respectable sixty-five. Both the propane-fired furnace and my little "hey, I'm an electrical engineer" heater came on to bring the interior temperature up.

My own temperature surged when Cindy slid into my arms, tilted that red head back, and kissed me.

She pulled away, with a smile and a little sigh. "It isn't much, but it's home when we're here, baby!"

I savored how her body formed against mine. She turned her head to rest her cheek against my chest and I bent my head forward to rest my own cheek on top of sleek hair, colored like aged copper. I felt her breathe, and for a moment I think the universe ceased to exist, such was the simple loving perfection of the moment. After a few seconds, I turned to kiss her head.

"Dinner," I said. "after a stroll around the park?"

Her eyes twinkled with her smile. "Uh-huh! Let me get my jacket!"

We walked a circuit around the park, holding hands. There were a few people who'd been there before we'd left for Louisiana, and these greeted us with a little more enthusiasm than the normal nods and hellos. Yes, we got questions: "When are you going to play us another concert?"

Cindy fielded that one with her disarming smile. "We have to talk to the rest of the band. But we're thinkin' it's going to be soon."

I raised an eyebrow.

We finished our walk, ending up in the truck, headed out, hoping that the little restaurant was open the day before New Year's Eve.

They were. We were greeted at the door as friends and enjoyed a convivial meal and conversation afterward as the two owners wanted to know about our trip home., Cindy was becoming a source of joy for the two elderly ladies, and every time Cindy looked at me, one of them patted my arm, smiling. We could've talked all night, but finally took our leave.

Belted in beside me, Cindy stretched her arms above her head. "You know, baby, I think I want to be in our own bed tonight," she said. "Family is wonderful, and so is travelling, and I love flying places, but right now I just want a shower and then I want to snuggle up with you."

I laughed. "We can do that," I answered. "And there's no reason to jump out of bed in the morning. We can sleep late."

"Not too late, okay? I want some pancakes at that diner up the road." She smiled as I turned to look at her.

"We can do that, little one," I said. An hour later, we were showered and sitting on the sofa playing a few hands of cards and listening to music. At nine we turned off the lights, except for the lamp next to the bed.

I scooted in on one side and Cindy slid in on the other and we met in the middle, arms and legs entwined, kissing and fondling and finally settling down together, laughing. Laughing? Yes. Just happy that we were together, just soft caresses and we relaxed on another into slumber.

Morning came. I knew it was morning because I woke to little giggly kisses and "Let's go get those pancakes!"

The fact that she moved to stretch out her lithe young body full length atop mine made me question her resolve. That, and the wiggling. And the eyes. Definitely the eyes. Okay, pancakes can wait a little bit. We giggled and hugged and caressed.

She was lying full-length atopo me, our faces inches apart. "Darned blue, eyes," she said. "I love your eyes, Dan."

"So you've told me, sweetness. And those green ones of yours..." I didn't get to finish my sentence, silenced by her kiss. Then she rolled off me and out of bed.

In the truck and on the road, she turned to me. "It's New year's Eve in Alabama, Dan. Fireworks! Did you do fireworks back in Louisiana? I saw the fireworks stands."

"Oh, yes, red-head," I said.

"Why don't we see what the Hardesty's are doing for New Year's Eve?" she said. "I bet they'll have fireworks."

"Let's see," I said. "Sounds like a good idea." I flipped open my cellphone and punched a couple of buttons.

"Hey, Dan," Jim's voice answered. "Are you still in Louisiana?"

"No," I said. "Me and Cindy flew back yesterday. Didn't want to push the weather thing too hard. You know how nasty that can be."

"Yeah, I do," he said. And he beat me to the point of the call. "Why don't ya'll come over and spend New Year's Eve with us?"

"What can we bring?" I asked.

I heard Ann's voice in the background.

'Who's that you're inviting?" She asked.

Jim said, "Dan 'n' Cindy. What do they need to bring?"

"Themselves," she replied, laughing.

"You hear that?" Jim asked.

"Yeah ... but I feel like a bum, invitin' myself over..."

Jim laughed. "If it was JUST you, maybe so, but you're bringin' Cindy..."

"Fireworks!" Cindy shouted.

"Oh, yeah, I'm supposed to ask about fireworks."

Jim laughed again. "Uh-huh. The neighborhood is gonna sound like a young war tonight. I dropped a hundred bucks on stuff for the kids."

"I'll bring some big stuff, then," I said. "What time?"

"Any time this afternoon. My lovely wife is cooking..."

Thanks, Jim. We'll be there. And we're bringing junk food. And consumer explosives."

"Yeah," Jim chuckled, "Like you an' me didn't get enough explosives when we were younger..."

Cindy was smiling. "Wow, Dan! Friends an' family for New Year's Eve. Life is soooo good!"

And we pulled into the diner parking lot and attacked a couple of stacks of pancakes together. Of course, this was the same diner here we ate at least twice a week, so it was "Hi, Cindy! Hi, Dan! Go pick a table!" and conversation with our waitress and the manager about how slow things were with the holidays with all the construction folks gone on vacation.

After breakfast, we stopped at the grocery for necessities. And a head of cabbage and some black-eyed peas.

"What're you getting THOSE for?" my young wife asked.

"Old Cajun tradition, sweetness. You always eat cabbage and black-eyed peas for New Year's Day. For health and prosperity."

"And I get to help you cook that? So I can do it next year?" she grinned.

"Yes, my love, because any year that starts with you is a good one." And the last stop before home was a fireworks stand. Back in the park, we whipped out sandwiches and canned chili for lunch.

That gave us the afternoon to play, ending in me gazing at the closeness of Cindy's face as she relaxed for blissful little nap. I joined her in that, too. At three we woke up from the drifting afternoon nap. Time to go.

New Year's Eve. Blustery, breezy, chilly, and that put Cindy in jeans and a sweatshirt that went well with her red hair. And a big fluffy ski jacket. I put on my heavy canvas work jacket over a long-sleeved plaid flannel shirt.

"Got that lumberjack thing going, don't you babe," Cindy teased.

"Yeah," I laughed. "And with you posing as a ski bunny..."

"You've probably cut down more trees than I've been skiing," she giggled as we loaded food and fireworks into the truck. "Have you ever been skiing?"

"No," I admitted. "Hasn't been on the agenda. Is that something you want to try?"

"Maybe. But it's waaay down on the list. Now I'm thinkin, though. Have you ever flown the plane to Colorado?"

"I came through Colorado on the way home with the plane. From Alaska. It's not a big deal, as soon as you realize that when you take off you're already a mile above sea level. And there's times when the mountains are higher than you are. Makes for some pretty flying, though."

"Darn you," she laughed. "Now I want to go, just to sightsee. Like we did down on the Gulf Coast."

"Maybe when the project's over," I said. She was right. You can see a lot of mountains from the window of a light plane. "Summer in the mountains, flying, beats the heck out of the South in the summer. We may have to do us an adventure."

"Like this hasn't been one big adventure since August," she smiled. "Wonder what Mizz Ann's cookin'?"

"I didn't think to ask," I said. "I trust 'er, though."

"Oh, me, too," Cindy affirmed. "That last roast almost killed me. I need to learn to cook like that."

"Oh, I'm sure that you won't have any trouble, little one. A few basic ideas and you'll be quite serviceable."

"Uh, love, I don't want to be serviceable. I want to be GOOD!"

"Baby, nobody excels at everything." I smiled. Cindy was good at so many things. I envied her quick mind. All my life I thought I was the quickest study around. But now there was Cindy, my best friend, my wife, bright pretty precocious. And she was sitting next to me with her arm entwined around my bicep, her head resting against my shoulder. Perfect.

We pulled into the drive at the Hardesty's home. Jim was out front watching his son playing with fireworks. He met us at the door of the truck.

"Hey, Dan! Cindy! So how was Louisiana?" He smiled.

"Home and family, bud," I answered. "Good times."

Cindy laughed. "You missed it. Dan playin' bass in a Cajun band, Mister Jim."

"It wasn't much, Jim. My nephews and a couple of their friends. And all in the key of C, until they found out that Cindy sang."

"You sing Cajun, uh ... French?" Jim asked.

"Oh, no sir. But when they found out I sang here, they made me sing some old rock songs." Her grin...

"I wish you could've seen it, Jim. You think a bunch of aging Yankees like 'er, you should've seen her in front of a crowd of drunk Cajuns." I chuckled, then ducked as a bottle rocket whistled a bit closer than I expected.

"William Keith Hardesty!" Jim barked, "AIM those things towards the woods!"

"Yessir..." his son Bill answered.

"He mighta BEEN aimin' it at the woods, Jim. You know bottle rockets aren't noted for accuracy."

"Yeah," he laughed. "Like an Iraqi AA gun, but I'd hate to get hit, even if it WAS an accident. Come on inside. Let me help you with stuff!" He grabbed a couple of bags and I caught a couple of bottles of soft drinks, and a six-pack of beer. Shiner, of course.

I saw Cindy bent over near Bill, lighting off a skyrocket. After all, there was still a lot of 'fourteen years old' there in that cute red-headed frame. "Be carefully, sweetie," I called. "You don't want to be the first eighteen-year old, red-headed, little girl engineer wearing an eyepatch."

"Arrrrrrrr, matey!" she laughed.

As Jim and I walked inside, I said, "That's another thing to love about her. She's multilingual."

Ann walked in from the kitchen. "Hi, Ann," I said. "Smells good in here."

She kissed Jim on the cheek. "Where's Cindy?"

"Outside watching Bill shoot bottle rockets," I said. About that time, I heard the door open.

"Hi, Miss Ann," Cindy chirped. "Mmmm! Smells good in here!"

Ann laughed. "Ya'll make me feel good about my cookin'. Let's unload some of that stuff."

We arranged junk food around the sideboard then fixed drinks and retired to the den to talk about our recent adventures. Ann got up to go tend the cooking and Cindy followed her.

Jim looked at me. "Dan, are things still good with you two?"

I smiled. "Jim, d'you ever do something and have a little voice in your head kind of talkin' to you about things you need to do?"

"Uh ... yeah, I guess..." he said.

"Cindy's like that to me. It's like I married that little voice. Seriously, Jim ... You and I never talked about it, but since you asked..."

"Look," Jim said, "I admit it took me a bit of swallowing to accept it, but Ann just told me that there are so many worse things. But..."

"Okay," I said. "You need to know that I was helping her with homework, and just being a friend, and she turned out to be this amazing creature. And now, it's like half the time she finishes my sentences for me. And quick. She flew us back from Louisiana, from the tie-down to the hangar. The only time I helped was when we had to make a fast stop in Mississippi for a little female emergency."

Jim smiled. "She's got you pretty well impressed, Dan."

"And you?" I asked.

"Yeah ... academically ... You guys need to do some visits to the universities and talk with them. I know you're thinking engineering, but hard science might be a choice too. And there's some talk from the liberal arts department at Auburn. One of our teachers has been trying to move into a university position there and she's sent some of Cindy's writing."

"You know," I said, "if that's what she wants, we could do it. It's not like we have to worry about her income with a liberal arts degree. Hard sciences, though ... interesting."

I saw a red head peek around the corner.

"Are you talking about me, Dan?" she smiled.

"My favorite subject," I said. "Dan says we need to go talk to some colleges about you."

"That's kind of, well, not exactly scary, but Mister Jim, it's a whole new world for me." She shook her head sideways, flipping her bangs off her eyebrows. "Are you gonna help?"

Jim smiled. "I'll do everything I can, Cindy. But it's uncharted territory for me, too. I've never had to deal with somebody like you."

"Is that good or bad?" she asked.

"I'm thinkin' it's a good thing. When school gets started back up, we'll make some phone calls, see what we can stir up. D'you want to look at both universities?" Jim asked.

Cindy looked at me, then at him, then back at me. "We should, don't you think, baby?"

I was amused by being called 'baby' by a fourteen year old girl, but then, I was, after all, her husband. "I would think so. Jim?"

Jim laughed. "I'm liable to really throw some choices, people. I sent her package to a bunch of schools. Like Stanford, MIT..."

My breath stopped for a second... "My Cindy ... MIT..."

Cindy looked at Jim. "You really think..."

"You can fly, Cindy. That sky you fly in, it's NOT YOUR LIMIT." And I'm just a guidance counselor in Armpit, Alabama. I don't want my lack of imagination to limit you."

I sat back on the sofa. Cindy sat down by me. "Dan, you look shocked."

"Uh-huh ... that's a good word for it." A million thoughts were going through my head. How was I going to tailor my life to give Cindy the best path forward for her own. I knew I could work things out down here in the South, where I was known, but how could I support an MIT or Stanford bid?

Jim said, "Dan, Cindy ... We don't have to do ANYTHING right now. Let THEM see what they can do, what they want to do, and let them come to us. In the meantime, Cindy, you have a wrap here in Alabama."

Ann showed up and surveyed the faces. "Jim, did you drop those other colleges on them?"

"Yeah, hon," he said.

Ann sighed. "I told him to break that to you easy. He was proud of himself for thinking of it."

"I hadn't even thought of it myself," I said. "I was still getting my mind around a full scholarship for State."

Cindy said, "Oh, come on, ya'll. We'll figure it all out, and it'll be good. My whole life has been soooo good since August. This is just another thing..."

"Yeah, Dan," Jim said. "It's a gift. Like ... Well, that's what you get for marryin' a gifted girl."

"Don't worry, Dan," Ann said. "It'll work out."

"Yeah, I'm sure it will," I smiled. But inside, I wasn't sure how it would work out.

Cindy's arms around my bicep helped. And the smile. "Adventure, babe," she said. "We were talking about another adventure on the way over here."

Chapter 25

Dinner with the Hardesty family was great, as can be expected. Ann's a good cook, one of those who can take a recipe and make it her own. We ate well, although Bill and Theresa were itching to get back outside with the fireworks. And Cindy.

Cindy and Theresa helped Ann clear the tables and secure the kitchen after dinner. Jim and I moved outside and started setting up the bigger fireworks I'd purchased.

"I need a place to site these, Jim," I said.

"Dan, you spent some bucks here," he said, eyeing the collection of pyrotechnics.

"I thought we might want to set the neighborhood back on its heels. Sometimes fun costs money." I unloaded another box full of wires and a box with lights and switches.

"Man, you don't want to drag THAT through the airport, Dan. What is it?" Jim asked.

"My homage to my electrical engineering. It's an electric firing system. Help me string these cables." We strung a pair of wires to each of the fireworks and I taped electric igniters to the fuses. Then I connected the cables to the control box, turned a big key switch to 'test' and tested the circuits. Satisfied, I turned the switch to 'off' and stuck the key in my pocket.

"You've done this before," Jim laughed.

"Uh, yeah ... buncha times. This is my civilian version"

"Ooo-oohhh!," Jim said. "Combat engineer stuff."

"Or whacked out pyrotechnic fool stuff. Or maybe a little of both. You'd've thought we got enough of this way back when..." I said.

"Yeah, but just like flyin', sometimes you get the itch..." Jim answered.

"Yeah, and this is a whole lot more fun when you're not worried about keepin' people on the other side of the ditch. These are a lot prettier than claymores, too."

About that time, Ann walked out with Cindy. "Guys..." and then she saw my toys, "Omigod! Dan! You're nuts!" She laughed.

Cindy laughed too. "I told ya, Mizz Ann. We flew back with that in the cargo compartment."

"Yeah," I said, "Like Jim says, I would have had soooo much fun getting that on a commercial flight ... even without the little explodey things."

"Explodey things?" Ann asked.

"Yeah. Each of these wires goes to an electric igniter, just a little tiny one, but big enough to give TSA apoplexy. When I put the key in and arm it, pushing a button lights off the igniter and that sets off the firework. And I get to sit waaaay back here in a lawn chair and watch the stuff instead of lighting them by hand and running."

Cindy looked at Ann. "See ... don'cha just love it..."

Jim said, "We can go inside or we can stay out here." 'Out here' was noisy as the neighbors were all having their own celebrations. The various bangs and flashes weren't much of an impediment to conversation, though. "I vote for out here."

Ann said, "Cindy, wanna give me a hand bringing our loving husbands some snacks?"

Cindy knew how to handle this one. "Or we could just stand her and let them be satisfied with our presence..."

Ann laughed with Cindy. ""Oh, baby, I've tried. He STILL wants beer and chips!"

"Oooo-kay, then ... let's feed 'em..." Cindy said.

Jim and I waited for our wives to return, then the four of us sat ... Make that three of us. Cindy joined Bill and Teresa in adding to the sights and sounds, shooting rockets into the air.

"I didn't ask," I leaned over to Jim and Ann. "Were you guys planning on hanging around until midnight?"

"Can you stand it? "Ann asked. "That's what we were planning..."

"Okay, then. We're in it until midnight."

We watched and talked, occasionally joined by Cindy, but she was playing, doing things that I honestly think she'd not been able to do in her previous life, watching, talking, excited as other groups of kids from up and down the street made their way around.

Finally she came and sat in the chair next to me. "Okay! I've done that."

"Done what, baby?" I looked at her.

"Lit off just about every firework they had. All we have left to do is our big ones."

Jim said something to her.

"Yessir. You know, Mister Jim, I halfway expected my husband to tow one of those artillery pieces out from somewhere. I mean, he keeps surprising me..." she smiled at me. "Baby?"

"Jim, she doesn't know. And it wouldn't fit in the plane to bring back..."

"Oh, shit, Dan. You have artillery?" Jim was incredulous.

Cindy was staring. "You DO?"

I smiled. "Well, sorta ... One of my jobs, we were messing around in the machine shop of this powerplant, and there was the huge lathe and a big chunk of steel..."

Jim's attention was mine. "And..."

"And we build a bowling ball mortar. Dump in a few ounces of black powder. Drop a bowling ball on top of it, light the fuse, and WHOOM!!!! A bowling ball goes a few hundred yards."

"I cannot believe, Dan. I mean, I've HEARD about those..."

Cindy was resting her chin in her hand, elbow propped on the arm of the chair. "Mister Jim, I told ya. We should've known..."

"Awww," I said, "It's really not that big a deal. I mean, just a toy. After you shoot a dozen bowling balls, it kinda loses its appeal..."

Jim was shaking his head. Ann understood. "Jim, he was SINGLE. He had toys ... You're married. You got me. And Teresa. And Bill."

"And I'd trade all of my toys for Cindy," I said.

"Awwwww," Ann said.

"Nuh-uhhhhh!" Cindy said. "I LIKE your toys. I get to play with 'em. Unless you're gonna buy me a red Extra..."

Jim's ears perked up. "Extra? Like aerobatic..."

Cindy grinned. "Oh, Dan didn't tell you?!?"

"I didn't get around to that part, cutie..."

"So YOU tell me, Miss Cindy. I'm all ears."

And Cindy related that story.

"Now I'm jealous," Jim said. "I always wanted to play with one of those."

Cindy fueled the fire, talking about controls and visualizing maneuvers and then cooled things down. "But Mister Jim, YOU got to play with a fighter jet!"

Jim smiled. "Yes, Miss Cindy. But that was then. This is now..."

Ann reached over and touched Jim's arm and smiled sweetly. He patted her back and feigned a pout. "Cindy got to have fun in a little red airplane an' I didn't!"

"We'll do something fun later, Jimmy," she said, and then turned bright red. Stammering, she said, "I, uh, meant the fireworks."

Cindy giggled. "Oops! Sorry!"

Ann looked flustered. "Mercy! That came out wrong. She playfully slapped at Jim. "See! See what you caused!"

He kissed her hand. "I'm sorry, my love!"

Playful banter, chips and dip, another beer, and it was pushing midnight. By this time of the evening, word had gotten around, too, as in "Hey, they got some BIG fireworks at the Hardesty's" and we had over a dozen more visitors, adults and kids.

"It's show time," I said. I reached in my pocket and retrieved the arming key for the firing box, then bent over and inserted into the keyhole.

Jim asked, "Wanna countdown?"

"Yeah," I said. "I have ten shots. Nine little, and a big one. Let's start at thirty seconds to midnight."

"Okay, you have fifteen seconds to go."

"Everybody stand clear, folks!" I hollered. The crowd was waiting. I held my hand out. "Cindy, love..."

She smiled, face glowing. "Whatever you're doing at midnight on New Year's Eve..."

"Thirty-five ... four ... three ... two... " Dan counted.

I hit the first switch. BOOM! A star shell. When it exploded in the sky, I shot the second ... Heard oooohs and ahhhhs. Third ... Fourth ... sequencing. Cindy was holding my arm with both hands.

Somebody in the crowd started "TEN ... NINE"

Hit my fourth to last... "EIGHT ... SEVEN ... SIX..." third to last. BOOM! "FIVE ... FOUR ... THREE..." second to last. BOOM! "TWO ... ONE..." Simultaneously with shouts of "Happy New Year!!!" I fired the biggest shell and scooped Cindy against me, kissing her in the varicolored glow of the chrysanthemum shell high in the sky.

Our lips parted and I noted that Ann and Jim kissed just a little longer. I shook Jim's hand and hugged Ann and Cindy got hugs from both of them, then the kids.

"Jim, Ann, I hope this New Year brings us as much good as the old one did. I put my arm round my little red-headed cutie. "I started it out right."

"Yeah, buddy," Jim said. "If we can just live up to what our wives deserve..."

We picked up the debris from our little display, accept a few thank yous from the neighbors who'd come over for our finale, and rolled up the cords for my magic box. Finally we said bye to Jim and Ann and headed home.

"Did you have fun, little one," I asked.

"I sure did, baby," she said. "I know I sort of ignored you for a while there, but I never got to do that..."

"Do what?" I asked.

"You know, just run up and down the road with kids, and doing fireworks and stuff."

I glanced at her. Every now and then my amazing wife was replaced by a fourteen year old girl.

"No, it's not like that, my love. You give me, us ... we have a whole different level of excitement. But it was fun for a little while ... and then I realized, whatever those kids were playin' at doin', we, you and me, we're doing it for real. Like playin' Flight Simulator on the computer or preflighting Sissy." 'Sissy' was Cindy's name for our airplane. Like in "Dan, Cessna? That's close to Sissy. And I think she needs a name."

"Thank you for telling me that, sweetheart. Sometimes I wonder if I'm robbing you of your childhood."

"Dan, I'm fourteen! My childhood was over, what little of it I got to enjoy with Mom. I was gonna be a young lady, and Mom wasn't much help for that at all. You know we've talked about this."

We had. "I know, cutie, but still..."

"And exactly what was happening to YOU at midnight? I MADE my choice." She had that 'and you KNOW I'm right' expression.

I gave up. "Oh, I was kissing the most amazing woman on the planet..."

"There!" she huffed. "I will NEVER leave you, Dan."

"'Kay, princess," I said.

She folded her arms across her chest, feigning upset. "Like I'm gonna dump everything WE are to go pop firecrackers twice a year..."

"You made Jim jealous with that Extra business," I said.

"I didn't mean to make him jealous. I just wanted him to know how excited I was that I got to do that." She smiled at me again, finally. "Like you said, he flew Harriers."

"I know, sweetie, but sometimes us older guys would like to have some of the adventures from their younger days. Kinda like me with those fireworks."

"How's that?" she asked.

"When I was in the army, we used to mess around with hundreds of pounds of high explosive. A twenty dollar firework shell is NOTHING. But it's what I have now..."

She was thinking. "And you didn't tell me about that bowling ball thing?"

"Oh. The mortar. Honestly, babe, I haven't played with it in years. It's just stuck in the corner of the garage."

"Do you have any OTHER surprises, my guy?" In the dim cab lighting, I could see the angelic face, bright eyes, and smile."

"I'll have to think, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing significant..."

"You know what?"

"What?" I asked.

"We need to take Mister Jim and Mizz Ann on one of our weekend trips. We could fly somewhere, and rent a car. I'd sit in the back seat with Mizz Ann. I mean, since everybody knows we're married, we could be two couples..."

"That's a thought, you know, princess." I smiled, lightly kicking myself for not seeing the idea myself.

"And we need to find US a concert, too. I love going with you to those things. It feels good getting dressed up and going out among nice people and hearing beautiful music. What'd you say, four or five hundred miles for a weekend trip?

"Five or six hundred, if we're ambitious. Maybe a bit more," I said.

"So that's uh ... Houston. Atlanta. Kansas City. Charlotte. We're bound to find something..."

"Somebody's been thinking about this," I said.

"Yep! According to the manual, we have a thousand mile range, and you usually cruise at a hundred thirty-five knots. That's like a hundred and fifty miles an hour." She smiled.

I should've known better than to imagine otherwise. "Okay. Cindy's done her homework."

"Just thinking. You. Me. Concerts. Something I like." Smile.

"You know, Cindy, I've loved this music all my life. I've had a wife and a couple of girlfriends, and they just tolerated my choice in music. And then there's YOU."

"No, Dan, there's not ME, there's US. And YOU got me started with this music. I remember the first one..."

"First one? Moonlight Sonata."

Squeal! "You remember too..."

"Of course I do, sweetness. You are memorable." I remembered the perfection of her innocently sweet, soft frame pressed against me that night.

We pulled into the RV park at near one in the morning and Cindy hit the shower first, followed by me, followed by bed.

"Leave the little light on," she said.

That meant only one thing at one-thirty in the morning. Cindy wished to play. I wished to play whatever Cindy wished. Sassy red hair bounced above green eyes and spectacular smile. "What you're doing on New Year's Night, you're going to do all year..."

"Who you're doin'..." I said.

Giggle. She rolled atop me and kissed me, filled with glee. "You. Me. US. We're doin' US.!"

"Us is better'n I ever hoped, Cindy." I passed my hands over that outrageous copper hair, kissing her again, then I rolled her onto her back and went from her face downward, kissing, nibbling, savoring every squeal, shudder and giggle as her hands controlled my head and my hands wandered, exploring a body that was absolute delight.

I ended up brushing my lips through the light fuzzing of reddish brown hair on her pubic mound, kissing, studiously avoiding going near a cleft glistening with expectation. She spread her legs and pushed on my head, guiding me, and I teasingly kissed on both sides of her pussy, its lips pink and turgid, parting slightly.

"Ohgod, Dan! Stop teasing me!" Her hands clamped on the back of my head and she curled her torso, planting my face where she wanted it.

Okay. Time to stop teasing my doll. "Mmmmmm," I hummed, savoring the scent, and as my tongue flicked between those lips, the taste and texture.

It was her turn to go "Mmmmmmm." And "Oh, Dan ... that feels so good..." her hips became mobile as my lips and tongue roamed. "Dan! My button!"

I can follow directions. The 'button' in question was pushing its little pink dome among moist folds of delight and I knew that my baby liked to have my lips work on it. I did. I was rewarded by gurgling, breathless hisses and then "Nnnngghhhh! Yesssss!" She was rewarded too, apparently.

Her fingers curled and dragged on my head. That was a sign that my face's presence was required elsewhere. I moved up near her. Her face was relaxed, smiling, post-orgasmic, but not ready to quit yet. Giggle. She slid down me, her lips parted by her pink tongue. Two hands wrapped around my excited shaft. Another giggle. "I like it when you're excited."

"I stay excited around you, red-head," I said.

"But it's REAL excited!" An electric pulse coursed through me when her tongue flicked the head of my dick.

"Ohhhhhh, Cindy..." I moaned. "Mmmmm..."

"I like this," she said. "I like feeling you..." Her head bobbed, pushing soft, moist mouth over my shaft. I felt teeth grip the skin, and I felt the giggle as she played with me like a toy, teasing with teeth, sucking, her tongue mobile in her mouth, working me. "Mmmmm!" giggle. "I tasted that!" Her hand milked me. "Gimme another one." Her right hand kept my dick from going too deep into her mouth and her left curled under my sack, toying, tugging, working my balls, and I was on the way to the precipice.

"Cin, doll ... You ... I'm close!"

Giggle. "I know that, baby," she said, then her mouth covered me again, her right hand milking me into her mouth where her tongue augmented the suction.

I could feel my sack tightening. I knew she could feel it by the activity of her fingertips, and I felt the "Mmmmmm" from her lips, and that was all it took.

Her "mmmm" ended in "mmmmppppphhh!" as my first spurt escaped. She sucked, her tongue active as she swallowed, and she squeezed gently and tugged in time with my pulsations and kept right on sucking as my orgasm passed and I started to soften. She climbed back up beside me, her right hand dallying with me as she kissed my face.

I turned so our lips met and we kissed, keeping our mouths together, breathing though our noses for some minutes as I stroked her hair, then down her back to her firm, sweet butt. When our kiss broke, she moved over me and fastened lips and teeth to my left nipple.

I growled from the intensity of the feelings. "You KNOW what that does to me, baby," I said.

"Yes, guy, I do. That's why I'm doing it. That, and it's fun to feel you wiggle." Giggle.

I was getting hard. She knew that my left nipple was sensitive, almost too sensitive, and capitalized on the knowledge.

Her hand squeezed. Squeal. "It's hard! Again!" And in a youthful bounce she was astride me and I was inside and god what a wonderful place to be, under a giggly Cindy. I enjoyed her riding me, meeting her hips with my own thrusts, knowing that she was already halfway to orgasm from her earlier one, and I was only able to stand the intensity of the sensations because I'd had one of my own only a few minutes before.

Sensations? Every one of them: Sight? She was just plain cute. Nubile, young, perfectly formed, face like an angel WANTED to be, freckled, green eyed, and every thrust of hers caused a sassy shake of that red hair. Smell? Clean. A perfect hint of perfume. And the heady musk of sexual excitement. Sound? Started with a happy giggle, then excited moans and hissed breaths, and anything from a growl to a squeal when she came. And touch. Everywhere she touched me, it was like a straight path to the centers of pleasure in my brain.

And she was doing that "Mmmmmm" breathe, "Mmmmm" and her bottom lip was tucked behind her teeth and the corners of her mouth were turned up, smiling, and she was coming and I started coming myself and I wrapped her in my arms. Her eyes were squeezed shut. They opened when her breathing normalized. And she kissed me.

I lay back on the bed, carrying her gently with me. Another kiss.

"Mmmmm. Love, turn out the little light. And turn on the music."

I did. "Moonlight Sonata."

I woke up to her stirring. Happy New Year, baby," she said.

"Happy New Year, sweetness," I answered.

She tugged and I moved close and kissed her. "Let's go find breakfast, baby doll," I said.

"Uh-huh. Move. Bathroom!"

I got out of the way and then followed her, standing patiently, waiting my turn. I went in, heard her brushing her teeth, then came out and did the same thing while she was dressing. I got dressed and we stepped out into the weather that the previous day's overcast had foretold, nasty, blustery, bits of rain blowing, and she scooted into the truck in a hurry as I ran around to the other side. That console that once separated us? I considered it a thing of the past. Cindy's place was in the center seat, buckled in beside me.

A few minutes up the road and we walked into the little restaurant. We're regulars, as in "Hi, Cindy. Hi Dan. Pick a table. I'll bring coffee."

The waitress showed up with two steaming mugs and some little creamers and took our order, pancakes for Cindy, hash brown potatoes, eggs and sausage for me.

"Mizz Becky, this isn't your regular day," Cindy chirped. We had a pretty good handle on the staff of the restaurant.

"No, hon, it ain't," Becky said. "But the boss needed help coverin'."

"So here you are," I said. "I know the feeling. I've had those days."

"Uh-huh," she said. "Lemme go put your order in."

Cindy and I weren't alone in the place. Apparently a lot of people wanted somebody else to cook breakfast on New Year's Day. We ate, left a heftier than normal tip, waved at Becky as we left, and drove back to the park.

Back in the trailer on a nasty day, Cindy watched as I started the preparation of cabbage and blackeyed peas for the traditional Cajun New Year's Day meal. After we got the pots simmering, we retired to the sofa, the TV on, playing cards.

Her green eyes looked at me, sublime smile on her face. "Dan, this is the first time in years that I didn't do New Year's by myself. Thank you."

"Oh, no, baby," I said. This has been the best one for me since, I can't remember, too."

"It's gonna be hard getting back in the routine Monday, you know..." Monday was her first day back at school, and naturally, my first back at work.

"Yes, I know. You know I love my work, but YOU came along, and there's more to my life than work, now." I grinned at her. "You're an excellent reason to be independently wealthy, doll."

Giggle. "We'll do okay. A day at school, and it's so good to get home to you. 'Sides, how we end up together every day, and what we did, that's some of the adventure."

I smiled. The little redhead was turn both of us into philosophers.

I flipped open my cellphone. Her eyebrow raised. "I'm calling YOUR sister-in-law!"

The grin I got in return was adorable.

My phone rang, then a voice: "Happy New Year, brother!" Tootie.

"Happy New Year, sis," I said. Cindy leaned her head against mine to share the speaker.

"Hi, Tootie! Happy New Year!" she chirped.

"Oh, hi, Cindy! Didja have a good New Year's Eve?"

"Yep! I was kissin' YOUR brother at midnight!" Cindy's eyes were laughing.

"Well," Tootie picked, "I'm sure it'll get better..."

Tootie might have been joking, but my Cindy was dead serious. And smiling. "I'm sure it will, Sis!"

"Ya'll got lunch..." Tootie started.

Cindy finished. "Cabbage and black-eyed peas. My husband smuggled the sausage back from Louisiana."

Tootie tittered. "My brother..."

"My husband," Cindy smiled. "Tell Mike we called, 'kay?"

"I'll tell 'im," Tootie said. "Ya'll have a good day, little sister. Talk to ya later, Dan!"

"Okay, Sis," I said. "We love you!"

Cindy kissed me and purred. "Now call Jerry."

The phone call to Jerry was much the same. Sheila took the phone from him and she and Cindy talked for five minutes while I tended the kitchen. I could feel the winds from the cold front subtly rocking the tiny trailer, and I was very much thankful that we had the day to ourselves, cozy, happy in our strange little cocoon.

I heard, "'Kay, Sheila! Tell Jerry bye for us!" And then I had a hand reaching to wrap fingers around my bicep. "Whatcha doin' honey?" she chirped.

"Just tending pots, sweetie..."

"Smells good! Even the cabbage. I thought you were crazy about the cabbage."

"My little cabbage," I smiled, "Just like you. You're sweetness in the most unusual places."

Giggle.

I was wrong, of course. I scanned the form standing next to me, clad in the most casual clothing, jeans, sweatshirt, athletic shoes. She gave her head a toss, flaring that red hair out, and I don't know ... to me, she was sweetness defined.

By the time we ate lunch, the overcast was breaking up outside, clouds chased away by a raw, gusty north wind.

"Let's go for a walk, babe, ' Cindy said.

"It's raw cold out there, doll, ' I said.

"But the sky's blue. Put your jacket on. Just once around the park. If it's too bad, we can come back and warm up."

How could I argue with that? I opened the closet and pulled out two jackets. Out the door we went. You know what? Brisk, biting cold wind, red hair, a fair complexion...

We did a lap, half a mile. One brave couple in their seventies were seated in the lee of their big RV, bundled, soaking up the sun. They'd been in the park for a month. From New York.

Cindy waved. "Hi," she chirped, her smile infectious.

"Hello, little Cindy," the lady returned. "it's good to see you back."

The old guy laughed. "Myra, her husband's back too. You ignore him like you do me."

Myra smiled. "Claude, look at her! She's ... beautiful. Sorry, Dan. You and Claude are just nasty ol' men."

Cindy clung to my arm. "Thank you, Mizz Myra. We're just like ya'll. Enjoying the winter sun." she swung her hip into me. "An' he's not TOO nasty..."

Myra and Claude nodded, smiling. We continued walking, then decided another half lap. After all the food over the holidays, the exercise was good, and the chill wind made us step lively. Ending up back at our trailer, I started to open the door.

Her hand touched my arm. "Not yet, Dan." She stood on the step and turned around, her face reddened by the wind, her bangs tossed in delightful disarray to the sides of her forehead. "I need an outdoor, cold, wintertime kiss." The chilled air and bright sun made the eyes even greener. Chilly? Warmed me right up.

Several kisses. Giggly, smiling kisses.

We went inside the trailer.

"You know, Dan, I'm thinking leftovers for dinner, and we don't have to go back out today."

"Okay, cutie," I said. "It's supposed to be a hard freeze tonight. Good snuggling weather."

Giggle. "Set the thermostat for fifty-five when we go to bed and we'll stay glued together all night." She paused. "Not that we wouldn't anyway..."

The temperature continued to drop during the day. We stretched out together on the sofa with a movie in the DVD player and two laptops going, our legs tangled together between us, laughing, reading, exploring.

Every now and then Cindy would pause the movie and say, "Listen!" and play me a sound clip. Or my email would ding and I'd find a cute or funny picture. I did the same to her. An hour on the computer was enough, a decision signaled by a sock-clad toe tracing up the inside of my thigh.

"You've got my attention," I said.

"Put the stupid computer down. It's in my spot." She was setting her own laptop down beside the sofa. I did the same and was rewarded by Cindy turning around on the sofa and snuggling back into my arms, her head on my chest, my cheek against the top of that pretty head. The movie ended and we shifted to music, drifting along blissfully together.

"It's like you wrap me up an' nothin' can ever hurt me, Dan," she said.

"That's what I want to do, darlin'," I said, kissing the top of her head. I pulled her closer against me. Haydn symphony. Cindy. Perfection.

The early darkening skies of deep winter ended our reverie and we reheated the lunch and had that for dinner. Cindy wasn't through. She handed me my jacket.

"Sweetie, it's dark and it's thirty degrees outside."

"So we'll walk briskly," she said. "I want to feel that cold air, and feel my face warm up and I want to get chilly and unzip your jacket and snuggle ... like today!"

"Okay. You've sold me, little one." In the dim light of dusk, the wind gusting from the north like chilly blades, we did walk briskly. She flipped the hood of her jacket up. One lap. Back in the door. She shivered as she shucked her coat and then wrapped herself in my arms.

"Mmmmmm," she said, burying her face into my chest. "This is what I meant!"

I rubbed her back briskly, then tickled her ribs, collapsing her giggling into my arms and I scooped her up, not an easy thing in the cramped confines of the tiny trailer, but I did it, and deposited her on the steps leading up to the bed.

"It's kinda early for this, isn't it, baby?" she giggled.

"Depends on what 'this' is," I said, crawling over her with the intent of smothering her in kisses, but she wiggled down and beat me to it. I suffered horribly before she announced, "let's get showered."

"Yes, ma'am," I said. "One more kiss..." Okay, more than one, but we did get up and while she showered I straightened up our little home.

We traded places in the shower, and I paid attention to the hot water supply. Low temperatures might begin posing problems. I managed to shower, though, although I shaved with lukewarm water while she was drying her hair. I mentioned it.

"I'm sorry, baby," she said. "You're right, though. We'll have to watch that."

"I never worried about it when it was just me. But with two of us using it ... But I'd rather have you and cold water than hot water..."

Giggle. "I'm glad I have precedence."

"I could make you shower last..."

A pink tongue stuck out at me. "We could both shower together if we REALLY tried."

We'd had this conversation before, and actually tried, one time. We did indeed fit in the enclosure, but actual showering, washing, was impossible. "And I can just see the news cameras when they have to get the Jaws of Life to cut this thing open to get us out. You think you're famous now..."

Another giggle. "Or I could just watch how much hot water I use..."

"Sit still," I said, wielding a hairbrush on her head, bringing shine and order to her hair. When I finished she stood and gave her head a little shake, knowing full well that my adoration of that hair approached fetish level. And then she put her arms around my neck and pulled me down to kiss her.

"Mmmmm, life is good. Let's sit in bed and play rummy." She smiled.

That was a good part of life, and it was made better because after an all too common ass-kicking at the hands of a fourteen year old, my hurt was soothed by energetic lovemaking and drifting off to sleep the little angel curled up in my arms.

Sunday started off with a run to the restaurant for breakfast, then to the airpark for a couple of hours of touring the countryside. Last thing I wanted was to let Cindy's burgeoning skills go away, so I let her do the planning to an airfield seventy-five miles away as I watched, and then I let her do the whole thing, following really close on take-offs and landings, and making suggestions for altitudes and cruise settings. Unfortunately the destination airport was small and there wasn't a soul there to see the satisfied look on her face when we dismounted to stretch our legs and look around.

A fast food burger took care of lunch and we were back to the trailer. The wind and temperature had mellowed somewhat and the day was pleasant for walking, as evidenced by several of the other occupants, mostly couples, that we met on our own circuits. We sat with one couple, joining them on the sunny side of their RV for coffee and home-made cookies, chatting about the weather, both here and their home on Lake Erie, their travels and our own.

We were having a pleasant time, too, because the shadows started lengthening and we started talking about dinner plans and the four of us ended up at the catfish joint for dinner.

Back at the trailer afterward, we showered and sat down to catch some TV and talk about Monday. The holiday was over.

?

Chapter 26

Oh, Monday. Two weeks of pretty much doing what we wanted on our own schedule was nice, but now it was back to reality. Cindy chose the restaurant for breakfast, so we did run into a couple of my co-workers, as reluctant as I to dive back in. Cindy, however, was another story. School for her was not like it was for most teens, what with her gifted status, and she kissed me demurely at the trailer so I could go off to work while she waited on the bus.

The staff meeting this morning was epic. A couple of key players weren't in yet, one snowed in up in New England, the other fighting flight delays, and reports from the field supervisors told us that on the level of the actual hands on workforce, the condition was even worse, but the project started back up. At least most of my big pieces were in place, and my crews were some of the more responsible of the bunch.

Also slowing us down were the clouds moving in, foretelling another weather system. That, too, though, was to be expected. I met with the two foremen of my electrical bunch and we talked about inside work and outside work and how we could continue progress in the face of freezing rain. Of course, we all knew that really bad conditions would shut the job down. Yes, my schedule would slip, but so would every other schedule on the project. It wouldn't make me happy, but it wouldn't put other workgroups in a bind because they had to wait for us.

That was the sort of stress I hated. Yeah, I was the 'geek engineer' type. I loved the technology, the design, the problem-solving, the putting the pieces together. I put up with the admin bullshit and the scheduling headaches because it provided me the path to do what I liked. I was good enough at both aspects that I got jobs just like this, and I regarded the day's problems as the part where I had a real job, not just a hobby with a paycheck attached.

I was not the least bit reluctant to motor out the gate at the end of the day. I returned to the park and pulled up at the front office under a light drizzle. Weather was turning to crap. Cindy was inside the office, sipping hot chocolate and chatting with Steve and two of the older couples who were staying at the park.

Steve saw me walk in the door. "Hi, Dan," he said.

"Hi, baby," Cindy chirped.

"Hi, sweetie. Hi folks. I thought ya'll came down her to get away from this stuff," I said. I knew the two couples were from up north.

One of the old guys said, "Son, right now home has two feet of snow and they're expecting another foot tonight. This is positively balmy!"

I laughed. "Yessir! I guess all things are relative."

His wife said, "Miss Cindy tells us you're quite a Cajun cook. Would you be interested in doing ... what was it, Miss Cindy?"

"Gumbo!" Cindy grinned. "I told 'em about you and Jerry's gumbo."

"Ah, yes!" the trim little grey-haired lady said. "Gumbo. You know you can't trust what they serve in restaurants to be the real thing."

I said, well, ma'am, there's a lot of interpretation. I do the one I learned from my mom and grandma and great-grandma, and as far as I can tell, it's authentic."

The old guy said, "Well, son, if ... would you, like maybe Saturday, if it's okay ... you can tell us what to buy..."

Here we go, I though. "No, sir. You don't buy anything. I'll buy, and we'll use the kitchen at the pavilion," I looked at Steve, "If it's not scheduled."

"Not at this time of the year it ain't," he said.

"Okay, we'll do it there. so how many? Me an' Cindy. You four. Steve?" I arched an eyebrow at Steve.

"An' da missus," he said.

The little lady said, "Hubby and I will poll the other occupants and give you a count tomorrow."

Steve said, "Mizz Helen and Mister Charlie'll be back tomorrow. She's gonna love this."

The other old guy dropped the second obvious shoe. "And I think it would be wonderful if you and this little lady and your friends could do another concert."

Cindy superstar fielded that one. "We'd love to, but we need to ask the rest of the band." She took my hand. "Come on, baby, I have some homework, then we can go get a salad."

The little gray-headed lady said "Salad? You know a good salad place?"

Cindy said, "Meet us here at five-thirty and you can follow us."

"We'll see you people in about an hour then," I said.

Cindy hopped into the truck for the short roll to our trailer. The cold drizzle was heavier, nasty weather. I closed the door and kicked the truck's heater on high.

"What'd you just get us into, little red-headed girl?"

Her smile was disarming. "I liked your gumbo better than Jerry's. I was tellin' 'em about how ya'll do it, and..."

"And I've got, what, maybe five pounds of sausage from home, and, oh, crap! Hang on!" I flipped my cellphone open. "Tootie" I commanded the voice recognition.

Cindy watched, silent, smiling.

"Hey, brother," Tootie answered.

"Sis, I've got an emergency!"

"Omigod! What?!?!?"

I shouldn't take advantage of people's good natures like that, I guess. "Cindy's got me cookin' a gumbo for a bunch of snowbirds this Saturday and I need some stuff."

"Nobody's hurt? Cindy's okay?"

"Cindy's perfect," I said. I gave Tootie the list. "Put it in a box and Fed-Ex it to me. I'll pay you..."

She laughed. "Thinkin' about you cookin' for a buncha Yankees is pay enough," she said.

"Thank you, sis. I owe you..."

"Put Cindy on the phone. I'm finished talkin' to you."

I handed the phone to Cindy as we pulled up next to our trailer. I got out, unlocked the door, then held the truck door open as Cindy dashed inside the trailer. I locked my pickup and went inside with her, listening to her laughing on the phone with Tootie.

Her eyes laughed with her voice, head bouncing in animated conversation. Finally she closed the phone. "Tootie says bye. She'll ship your stuff tomorrow." Her green eyes fixed on mine. "You're not mad about this are you, baby?"

"No, it's not the first time I've done this sort of thing. We'll have fun." I paused. "Let's call the Hardesty's and see if we can put the band back together."

Cindy giggled. "You make it sound like 'the Blues Brothers'."

"With more finesse. And our lead singer is sooooo much cuter..." That got me a kiss.

The phone came out again. I punched up the Hardesty house. Ann answered. "Hi, Dan!" she said.

"Hi, Ann! Is Dan home yet?"

"Oh, sure. You need to talk to 'im?"

I said, "You two are interchangeable." I heard her laugh. "Cindy has volunteered me to cook a gumbo for the park this Saturday and we've been asked if we could play Saturday night."

"Oh, I think so, but let me ask His Highness." I heard her holler, "Hey, Jarhead!"

"Wow, that's sensitive," I said.

She giggled. "He's the love of my life, and he knows it! Here he is."

"Whatcha got, bro," Jim asked.

I repeated the whole plan.

"Wellll, I have ONE question."

"What's that?"

"Are we like, 'hired help', or do we get to eat, too?"

"Bring your gang and your appetite."

"We'll be there. Ya'll need to come over, say, uh ... Wednesday for dinner."

"Barring any disasters, we'll be there. Want me to save Ann from cooking?"

"If you want." I heard him holler, "Baby, Cindy 'n' Dan are coming over Wednesday and they're ordering pizza!"

"Tell 'im thank you!" came the reply.

"Okay," I said. "We'll be there. Fivish!"

"You got it, buddy!" Jim laughed. "SO now you're a cook, too..."

"Yeah," I said. "Wisht I'd brought the cannon."

"Oh, yeah," he said. "Food and artillery. Wonderful combo."

"Alright, Jim. Holler if you need something."

"Hey, I'm gonna be sendin' Cindy home with an application to take the ACT in a week or so. So don't be surprised."

"Okay! Thanks for the heads' up! See ya'll soon!" I flipped the phone closed.

Cindy handed me a pair of street shoes. I changed.

""We're gonna have fun with this gumbo, right?" she asked.

"We are, cutie," I said. She curled her legs up underneath her on the sofa and snuggled in against me. I was laughing to myself.

"What's funny?" she asked.

"You. Me. Us. Happy kind of funny, though." I turned and kissed the top of her head. We sat for a few more minutes then got out into the nastiness and met two couples at the front office. We caravanned to our genteel friends' restaurant.

Walking in, Cindy introduced them to the two old ladies who owned the place and explained the situation. We pushed a couple of tables together to seat us all as a group and had a great, tasty meal and good conversation with the owners joining us.

Reluctantly we left, arriving home rather later than normal, but not a bit disappointed for the fun we'd had.

I am happy to report that Cindy's efforts at conserving hot water let me have enough to shave with. Showered, shaved, her hair dried and brushed, I asked, "Homework?"

"You're kidding, right?" She looked at me. "I'm trying to rescue the basketball team in math. Some of those guys have real trouble catching on." She read my expression. "Don't worry, sweetie, I don't do anything one on one. Everybody knows I'm married, and I have some friends on the football team who act like my big brothers."

"Still," I said, "Even in middle school, there's that jock mentality."

"One guy said some stuff. One time. About me bein' married and, in his words, 'used to doin' it'. I told the math teacher that I would NOT be helping him any more. He apologized to me before Christmas vacation and asked if I'd PLEASE help him again."

"You didn't tell me that, little one." I said.

"I didn't want you upset, and you teach me to do things myself. And the teachers are watching out for me. And Mister Jim." She sighed. "And after the shotgun..."

"You catch any trouble from that?" I asked.

"Surprisingly not. I still got a question today, though. Just 'What happened.' Not like before, when it was 'Who taught you to shoot?' Dan, I still think about that guy ... I shot 'im."

I had held Cindy more than once since the incident, once or twice feeling her gently sobbing, a couple of times just 'Hold me, Dan', and I suppose that 'post-traumatic stress' wasn't just something from the combat zone. If that's what it was. I guess if it had been worse, I'd have sought professional help, but she did seem to be handling things in typical Cindy fashion, in other words, better than expected.

"Baby, people like that aren't in a position to be talked into a reasonable action. You did what you had to do, and you had to make a decision in a split second. The other decision and I could've found you in the hospital. Or worse."

"I know, Dan. But all these nice things, you know ... Our family for Christmas. That dance. New Years Eve. And everybody's so happy and nice to me. And sometimes I stop for a little second and think 'Cindy, you killed a guy.'"

"Every one of those people are thinking that if they were in a similar situation, they hope they can handle themselves as well as you did, Cindy. It wasn't the kind of thing a fourteen year old girl should have to decide, but sometimes the world doesn't separate things into age-appropriate categories." I sighed. "I'm glad you handled yourself so well, and I'd give anything if I could've protected you from it."

"But you did protect me, Dan. S'pose I was one of those little Barbie dolls that cain't do nuthin' (Cindy was rolling. Her attention to grammar and pronunciation went away) but squeal an' wave their hands?" She was pulling herself out of the pit. "I'd have been raped and beaten to death or somethin'." She sat up. "I'm dealing with it."

"You're my Cindy. I will do anything you need, baby. Do you want to talk to somebody about it? Professional?" I watched her eyes.

She shook her head. "It's not like it's all I think about, honey. Just every now and then, you know ... I can't help it."

"You never get rid of memories, little one. All you can do it try and put them in perspective."

"I know, Dan. Perspective. That's a good word. That night was the worst one I've had since we've been together. I was by myself. And I handled it."

I kissed her cheek. "Yes, dear one, you did."

She expelled a sharp breath. "Okay. School. D'you think I should do some exercises? You know, for those tests?"

"You said you took some of the practice tests, didn't you?"

"Uh-huh ... But just for practice ... Like exercise."

"You don't imagine that helping those people at school ... teaching a subject reinforces what you know about it. You get asked questions that you have to explain the answers to, and you do it. If you're a good teacher." I reminded myself of my own experiences. Some of the young engineers I'd mentored over the years were now showing themselves quite adept. Of course, some of them were as useless as nipples on a bull, too, but that wasn't my fault.

I shared that thought with Cindy. She giggled. "I know about that already," she said. "Some kids really try, but it's just not something they're going to ever be good at."

"I know, baby," I said. "That's just one of those uncomfortable facts of life. You know how we've talked about that Bell curve?"

"Gaussian distribution," she corrected.

What are you supposed to do with a fourteen year old redhead that knows about Gaussian distributions? "Yes, okay, Miss Smartypants."

"Well," she said, "It's shaped like a bell, but then that guy Bell wrote that book, so when you say 'Bell curve'..."

"I know," I said. "But you know what I mean."

Giggle. "And I like messing with you every now and then." She stuck her tongue out at me. "Okay. Serious now." Her 'serious' face broke me up. More giggles. "Okay, really serious, now!"

I tried to recover my thoughts. "High school math is made for the biggest part of the distribution. Kids on the high side have little trouble. Kids on the low side might have to kick and claw to get enough to pass the class, but they'll never be comfortable. You're starting to see how many people only learn enough to go through the class, and when they stop using it, it's gone."

"Uh-huh," she said. "I guess you don't need to understand integrals and derivatives and quadratic equations to sell lingerie at Wal-Mart."

"And I'm gonna have to watch what I say to keep little redheads from repeating it."

Giggle. "Just so you know that I pay attention to my mentor." She jumped closer to me and kissed me. "And my mentor is my husband, and that's a good thing." Her face turned serious. "Dan, those kids that have trouble, you know I would NEVER put them down. Just because I'm uh, I guess, smarter, an' it's easy for me..."

"Good, babe," I said. "You're going to be in worse positions than me in the real world, baby. You're further out on the flat part of the curve. I know some guys who're terrifically intelligent, but they are horrors to work with, because they never miss an opportunity to flaunt their intelligence."

"I watched you, Dan. At work. When you were explaining something to one of your technicians, the others came over to listen to your explanation. That's the right way, huh?"

"When there's time to explain, explain. People will notice that. And then sometimes you don't have time to explain, and you just say 'Do it this way' and you hope people are mature enough to understand before it's all over."

"Sometimes people aren't that mature, baby," she said.

"Don't I know it, little one," I said. "And just because mine are older than yours doesn't mean that they're any more likely to be mature about it. Sometimes I think mine are worse, because they've had years to develop egos that get in the way, or they've got years of experience at doing things wrong and getting away with it."

The 'Cindy close enough to kiss my cheek' changed to 'Cindy with her arms around my neck, a more satisfactory configuration. Even better was 'Cindy pushing Dan down on the sofa and climbing on top of him and tickling him'. "Okay, that's enough serious talk about the world and human interaction." and kisses. "We talk about stuff. I like that."

"Uh-huh," I said. "You save me from idle conversation."

"You want the long list of the things YOU saved me from?"

From six inches, I could see the golden flecks in those green eyes. "I can't begin to tell you my own list, angel."

Giggle. "Good! The bed's at the other end of the trailer." She rolled sideways off me and walked away, glancing over her shoulder. I was right behind her. "Leave the little light on."

When I got back to the park on Tuesday, I saw Mizz Helen and Charlie's SUV at the office. I walked in. "Hi, folks! How was Nuremburg?"

Helen smiled. "Everything I could imagine. Wonderful."

Charlie said, "The city's beautiful. We had quite the time there. How did you two do for YOUR holiday? Cindy tells us it was very interesting."

"Cindy's a star in two states now," I said.

"Mighty fine," Charlie commented. "We used to have that sort of thing hereabouts."

I looked at Cindy. "You haven't told 'em yet?"

"Oh, I forgot ... Mizz Helen, Dan's gonna cook a big Cajun gumbo Saturday at the pavilion. And then we're going to play. The Hardesty's are going to be here..." she reached in her backpack and removed a USB drive. "I need to print this flyer and put it on the bulletin board."

Helen moved. "Come use this old computer, Cindy."

The little grey-haired lady and her husband walked in. Hello, Helen, Charlie, did Dan tell you..."

Helen smiled. "Just now. Sounds like we're having an event here."

"Oh, yes! We walked around this morning and talked to everybody. Dan, can you cook for thirty?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said. I was already counting chickens and computing rice and pot sizes.

The old guy with her (probably ten years junior to Judge Charlie) said "You didn't want to let us pay for it, but we're going to put a bucket there for contributions. That's what we told everybody."

"I appreciate it. Tell everybody to bring drinks. I'll provide the gumbo."

Cindy was at my side. "You won't be disappointed. It's really good!"

The little lady said, "We assume nothing less, Mizz Cindy!" She turned to me. "You have a reputation to live up to, Dan."

"MY wife is writing checks I hope I can cash, Judge."

Charlie laughed. "Dan, you wouldn't be married to her if she wasn't special."

We spent another half an hour catching up on their trip and ours, then took our leave.

We got in the truck for the short trip to the trailer. Cindy said, "You have to teach me to cut up onions without cutting my fingers off, now."

"And how to stir a roux." 'Roux" was the browned flour in oil that was the base of much Cajun cooking. It required a lot of stirring.

"I wanna learn. For our next trip home. I wanna cook for Tootie an' Jerry. So they'll know I'm a proper wife."

"Oh, yes, certainly," I laughed. "Five foot three, hundred and five pounds, red hair, you're the picture of a very improper wife..."

Giggle. "Wait'll the door closes behind us. I'll show you 'improper', bud!"

"See," I laughed. "That's where you're wrong. Behind that closed door, NOTHING we do is improper!"

Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Simple. And happy, when you're sharing it with somebody you love.

The remainder of the week was as much routine as life will allow. The project picked up with the return of full staffing, but winter weather caused delays and concerns. Still, progress was made, and allowance had been built into our schedule for these delays. That was work.

The best part of life was now, for me, away from the confines of the industrial facility we were building. Our Wednesday meal with the Hardesty's was a good piece of conviviality. I played on Jim's pride in his own outdoor cooking, roping him into working with me on Saturday, and a little flattery over Ann's kitchen prowess got her and Cindy and Teresa lined up for potato salad. Jim's son, Bill?

"Bill," Jim said, "Women rule the kitchen when it comes to food. Every place else, that's a man's world!"

"Says the guy who knows how to barbecue. And that's it!" Ann chided.

"Dad," Bill said, "I'll help..."

Friday I took off early to buy the ingredients, and Saturday we put the production together, and at five o'clock, the entire park population was lined up waiting. I stood behind the big pot with my official ladle, offering suggestions about condiments and enhancements and dispensing folklore and history and explanation.

There was a five-gallon plastic bucket on the stage, subtly labeled "TANSTAAFL" and then below, for the culturally illiterate, "There Ain't No such thing As a Free Lunch (Contribute to the gumbo fund)". Cindy elbowed me. As empty bowls ended up in the trash can and people filtered back to the serving line, asking about seconds, there was also a healthy stream of money going into the bucket.

We shut down the serving line and a few volunteers helped us clear pots and clean the tables and we started setting up the musical instruments for the evening.

Steve sidled up to me. "Uh, Mister Dan, me an' the missus'll clean this mess, the pots an' stuff."

"Sure, Steve," I said. "I appreciate it. Let me pay ya'll."

"No, you don't..." he said.

"Oh, yeah. I appreciate it. "Seventy-five bucks enough?"

"That's too much, Dan. You don't have to..."

"Then it's enough," I said. "We appreciate it." I gave him four twenties.

"I don't have a five..."

"Then don't worry about it at all. We'll call it even."

Setting up on the stage, I eyeballed that plastic bucket. Just estimating, I thought that we covered my costs and then some.

The tables were pushed out of the way and the folding chairs were now facing the stage, and Jim and I and Ann and Teresa and Cindy took our places. And after doing this for four months, we had a few things down pat, and our playing was a bit more polished and out management of sound equipment had improved. On top of it all, though, Cindy's poise was infectious. Teresa perked up when they did their duets and Cindy's solos were, well, cute counts for a lot, but cute and enthusiastic, and with some natural talent and showmanship...

Something new, too. A couple of our audience asked for the opportunity to join the band, and after our regular set, a bluegrass jam session started. Wouldn't have been so bad, but one old guy was better than Jim or me both. That was the cause of a few laughs and claps on the back.

Our previous performances we ended at ten PM. The jam session kept us until almost midnight. We had help loading up and Cindy and I followed the Hardesty's back to their house to unload. Cindy was a drowsy thing when we finally walked into the trailer, but we both needed a shower, and then it was to bed. Soft caresses and kisses were enough to take us to dreamland together.

Chapter 27

The day after our gumbo and bluegrass blowout, we woke up to another one of those nasty winter days, an occluded front keeping the skies leaden and dripping. I didn't feel like cooking breakfast and cold cereal just wouldn't do on a day like this. I kissed the nose that was peeking out just above the blankets.

"I'm going back to bed, wife. Call me when you have breakfast ready."

The blanket came down far enough for her to stick her tongue out. "Pancakes and hot coffee sounds awfully good, husband. And you wouldn't have to worry about wakin' up tomorrow morning with an icepick in your earhole."

With the appearance of her red lips, I kissed her through her giggles. "That's another thing to love about you. You know how to compromise!" We got dressed as the thermostat forced the heat from the fifty-five degree "I love to snuggle with you" to the sixty-five degree comfort zone.

It was hovering around forty, the wind raw and damp and gusty as we hustled into the pickup and headed off to breakfast. By this time, not only did the restaurant staff know us, but we were starting to be familiar with some of the Sunday morning crowd. I wrote that up to the striking little redhead I was with.

There were many narratives floating around about Cindy: Mizz Helen's foster daughter. Married at fourteen. The high school thing. Little Miss Cindy and her shotgun. But the Sunday morning crowd was mainly a church crowd, so those who took time to say something, well, they said something nice. I did notice, as did Cindy, that there were a few people who seemed to look askance at our situation.

One of those WASN'T the older guy in a neatly pressed deputy sheriff uniform who was there with his wife. They stopped by to say 'hi'. "You're the little girl that Deputy Stevens told us about, ain't you?" he asked.

"Yessir," Cindy said.

"Me an' Myra just wanted to say 'hi' to you, young lady. Didn't mean to interrupt your breakfast."

"Oh, that's okay," I said as Cindy smiled. "Thank you for taking care of us. Deputy Stevens seems like a good guy."

"Oh, he is," the old guy said. "But he still talks about Miss Cindy here. You're her husband?"

"Yessir. Long story."

"We've heard bits and pieces. He smiled. "Stranger things have happened. Myra was fifteen when she trapped me."

Myra punched her husband playfully. "And he was eighteen. And goin' in the army. And forty years later ... Old goat!"

"Ya'll got time, sit down and drink coffee with us," Cindy said.

"Oh, no, dear," Myra said. "We have to get to church, but maybe some other time, okay?"

"We'd love that. We're here a lot of Sunday mornings," I added. I stood and shook their hands as they left.

I took a sip of coffee, smiling at Cindy. "I'm married to a famous woman."

"It was nice of them to stop by," she said. "But you're what makes me famous. If it weren't for YOU, I'd be just another screwed-up schoolgirl." She paused. "Well, Mizz Helen might've rescued me, but NOT nearly like you did. An' you KNOW I love Mizz Helen. But I seriously doubt that Mizz Helen would be teaching me to fly."

"Maybe not, cutie," I said, "but you might've found an equally interesting path with her. Of course," I mused, "My life would be much poorer."

"Mine, too, Dan." She tossed her head. I don't know if she did that because she was conscious of how I adored her face, framed by that aged copper hair, but every time it did, a part of me melted. "Finish your coffee so we can go home." And a smile that had just a hint of sexuality.

I drained the mug and we stood, paid the ticket, and we were out the door into the nasty drizzle.

"We got beans, baby," she said. "It's a 'soup' kind of day."

"Yeah," I said. "Too nasty to go out and exercise."

Giggle. "I know some pretty good indoor exercises..."

I glanced away from the road to see the delight in those green eyes. "You make a rainy day perfect, little angel," I said. "Perfect for makin' soup and makin' love..."

What a way to spend a nasty Sunday: make happy, giggling love, watch an old movie, stir the soup, eat, take a nap to the occasional sounds of wind-driven rain striking the walls and windows. Make love again. Go find another movie. Reheat the soup for dinner. Play cards with the TV on in the background, shower, go to sleep with the most perfect partner imaginable.

Monday morning's weather wasn't any more pleasant than Sunday's. If anything, it was worse, although the front was slowly pushing through, promising cold and clear in the near future. We did breakfast at the restaurant, I dropped Cindy back at the trailer to wait for the school bus and I went to work.

The project was past the '90% of the work takes 10% of the time' stage and I was tied up in taking all the big pieces and little pieces and correcting the "I didn't know THAT would happen" issues. It was old stories with me, for the most part, communication and control issues, changing modes from those used to facilitate the initial application of high voltage power to those that would carry and control loads when the facility came on line for real.

I'd just had ANOTHER revelatory discussion with the "systems integrator" about how his plans for tying the power system communications needed to, 'you know, actually consider that my communications protocols were ONLY compatible with the rest of the system if we put a little magic box between the two systems, and that MY equipment specifications showed that the magic box and the programming thereof was on HIS scope of work'.

"There it is, right there! In black and white."

"Okay! You got me. Now what?" He said, disgusted.

"We get the interface, connect it up and program it. Piece of cake. My system's got holes in it waiting for us to plug into. I'll help you through this." I was only cheating a little bit. The problem was one I'd faced before, and I had some files that would get up and talking, then it was a matter of him deciding what data he needed. "Order the box," I said.

That's why some days I felt tired when I got home. Actually, I stopped by the park office to find Cindy perched on a chair, laptop out, tapping away, stopping to chat with Helen and Charlie, then back on the keyboard.

"Wow!" I commented. "She's busy! Homework?"

"Kinda-sorta," she said, smiling. "Doin' a little project for my English teacher. A short story."

"Oh," I said. "Is this one going to show up at another college English department?"

Charlie chuckled. "She told us about that. I find it amusing."

"Amusing is a good word," I laughed. "Astounding works, too."

Cindy looked up, grinning. "Ya'll are talking about me like I'm not here."

"Oh, we know you're here, sweetie," Helen said. "We're just talkin' about some of the happy things about you."

"I know," Cindy answered. "This is fun stuff. I get to make things up."

"DO I get to read it before you turn it in?" I asked.

"I hope you do," she said. "You're a better spell-checker than Microsoft." Giggle.

Charlie said, "Yes, son, when I was a young lawyer, the very best you could hope for was a secretary that could take your henscratch and make you sound intelligent."

"Those are getting hard to find these days," I said.

Another giggle from the little redhead. "Ummmmm! I'm gonna tell Mizz Sara you said that..."

General laughter.

"Yeah, there ARE exceptions. But Sara seldom does correspondence for anybody, what with email and word processors, and you'd be scared to read the writings of some of my co-workers, knowing that people who can't spell or write any better than that are building industrial facilities." I laughed.

Cindy was shutting down her laptop. "Salads for dinner?"

"Sounds good to me." I looked at Helen and Charlie. "You want to join us?"

"Thanks for asking, Dan," Helen said, "But we'll have dinner ready when we get home." Judge Charlie's housekeeper took care of her eighty-odd year old employer and his sixty year old wife. "We'll have to plan something, though."

"Yessir," Charlie said. "We'll do that."

Cindy and I went to our trailer. She dropped her backpack and we rested for a while sitting on the sofa with me listening to her school happenings and then telling her my hurdles. Dinner almost went away when she swiveled from beside me to be seated on my lap with her arms around my neck and her lips fastened to mine.

"Don't get ideas now, boy," she giggled. "I have my heart set on something stuffed in a big Portobello mushroom."

"That makes me soooo sad, little redheaded girl, that I come in second to a mushroom..."

"And the Sommers sisters..." she tittered. The Sommers sisters, the owners and operators of our 'salad place', were kind and friendly to us, the strange pair that came in so often.

"Okay, cutie. I'll take the back seat to the Sommers sisters." It was five o'clock. When we walked out to the truck, the wind was brisk, biting, but there were streaks of orange tingeing the western sky as the clouds broke up.

Despite the truck's heater rapidly taking the chill out of the cab, Cindy was belted right up against me. As soon as I got the truck into 'forward', I took that arm and draped it around her, gaining me a purr from my little kitten. She reached forward, punched up some music, then took that hand to pull my arm tightly around her.

"Life is good, Dan," she said.

"Indeed it is, princess," I said.

The next day Cindy came home with an application to take the ACT in February. That was easy enough, except for the part where we decide which colleges to send official copies to. I flipped the phone open.

"Hi, Dan," Jim answered. "I expected you to call."

"Then you know what I'm going to ask."

"Why don't you two come over for dinner tomorrow. I think Ann's doin' Purina Baptist Chow."

"Huh?" I blurted.

"Casserole, man! Casserole!"

"Yeah, okay! Sorry! I'm punchy from the project today."

He laughed. "So you're tellin' me that a trailer full of engineers is worse than five hundred and sixty-three middle schoolers."

"Your middle schoolers don't yet have the opportunity to screw up a two hundred and fifty million dollar construction project," I said.

"Yeah, but they would if they had a chance."

Cindy said, "Hi, Mister Jim. We'll be there!" loud enough that Jim heard it.

Jim laughed. "It's fortunate that we marry women who have better sense than we do, ain't it?"

"Yeah. And tell Ann that it won't match hers, but I'll bring a pie for dessert."

"Dan an' Cindy're bringing pie," Jim said to Ann.

"That's good," Ann said. "Just make sure he brings Cindy!"

Jim said, "You heard all that?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'm now defined by the personality of my wife."

Jim laughed. "As are we all, Dan. We married above our station, Dan."

"Yeah. We got lucky, didn't we? Okay, We'll see you tomorrow."

"Tell Cindy that I'm gonna want to talk to her tomorrow in school."

Cindy's ear was pressed against mine. "'Kay, Mister Jim," she chirped.

We hung up. She wrapped her arms around me and whispered, "So what were you tellin' me about simple foods? A pot of rice, some vegetables? Indian?"

"I think we can fake some of that. I worked with a couple of Indian engineers on the last project. We talked."

"I can see that happening, love," she said. "That's something I learned about you that I find very attractive."

"What?" I asked.

"Well, I can't remember you not talking to somebody. When we go out, you find friends easily. And you know, look at all the stuff we've shared. You love to do things. And you love letting ME do things. You want me to be ME!"

"And at the end of every day, I want you to think that 'me' is a part of 'us'."

Her face was inches from mine, her green eyes connected to my blue. "Dan," she said earnestly, "I stopped being 'me' and became part of 'us' when you admitted you loved me."

Some basmati rice, a little bit of exotically spiced chicken and a handful of vegetables made dinner for us. She hovered as close to me as she could in the tiny kitchenette. I talked about the ideas that my old buddies Sanji and Asif had shared in our conversations about mommas and grandmothers cooking for families and I added little pinches of spices to try and replicate the tastes of an Indian restaurant that they swore was almost home cooking for them.

When the meal was over, I looked at her. "Well?" I asked.

"Interesting," she answered.

"Worth further research?"

"Yep! Maybe they have one of those restaurants in Mobile, for the weekend..." she smiled. I remembered that only a few months back she'd had her first try at Chinese food.

"So you're looking for an adventure this weekend?" I looked at her across the little table.

"Maybe a little one. But what I REALLY want..."

"What do you REALLY want, kitten?" I smiled.

"What I REALLY and is for us to find another of those fantastic evenings with an orchestra and something REALLY special. Haydn. Bach. You know ... Make a big weekend of it."

"I think that would be perfect, little one. We need to do a search. Anything within six or eight hundred miles. We can fly that far with no problems."

" ... can fly that far. And if we have to do instruments, YOU can do it." She sounded confident.

"Yeah, just remember, sweetie, that ol' plane isn't a REAL instrument platform. No punching fronts and getting crazy. No ice."

She leaned over the table, her chin propped in one hand. Her eyebrows raised above those green eyes and there was a twinkle. "So we need a good day to leave, and if we get stranded a day because of weather..."

I chuckled. "So you're, like, planning for our plans to crash..."

"Nah..." she smiled. "I'm just sayin' that if they were to come apart, it wouldn't be soooo bad..."

"Stranded on a desert island with you for the rest of my life wouldn't be soooo bad..." I laughed.

"What?!?! No gumbo? No whatever that Indian thing we just had? Nope. Desert islands are a definite no. but Memphis or Nashville or Atlanta or Houston..." her smile melted me faster today than it did the first day I laughed with her at the pool at the end of last summer.

The north wind gave the trailer a little shudder. Little Miss Always Thinking said, "IF we crack a couple of windows for a minute, we can cross-ventilate and clear the air out of here."

"Good idea," I said. She opened a window on the south side and I opened one at the opposite end of the north side, and the wind almost whistled through the little trailer. The temperature dropped like a rock. We gave it five minutes then closed the windows. The heating system kicked into high to get us back up to sixty-eight. We cleaned up after dinner, I played on my computer while she worked on her story, then we showered and went to bed.

I hit the shower after her. She finished drying her hair, and as I came out I saw her flipping her nightshirt onto the little bedside table. "Just bring your clothes, guy. You won't need 'em for a little while." And a smile.

Why should I resist? She expected me and I relished her. And we loved each other. Softly at first, then she started getting insistent and I reacted and somebody had to sleep in the wet spot because when we stopped, there was only a small gap between the little death of orgasm and the sweet oblivion of satiated sleep.

The alarm brought us back to the everyday universe: Breakfast, school, work.

My buddy's magic box came in, courtesy of a phone call to another project that had one on the shelf. We plugged in a couple of pairs of fiber optic cables, I plugged in my laptop, did a few programming things, and then the configuration file slid right in. That hurdle was in our dust. The next one involved some calls to our engineering firm and a few comments verged on strident as I pointed out a couple of mistakes that could have been critical. They promised corrected files in two days.

I went home. My cellphone rang a few minutes after four. Cindy.

"Hi, cutie," I said.

"Hey, my guy," she chirped. "Just wanted to make sure you were on the way home. We have dinner at the Hardesty's."

"I remember, baby," I said. "What did Jim want to talk with you about at school?"

"College choices," she said. "We'll talk about it tonight when we get there. I'm trying to reach a decision. I need you to help. And Mister Jim and MIzz Ann."

"Okay, baby. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"I'll meet you at the trailer, love," she said.

I hung up, reflecting on the absurdity of a fourteen year old having to "reach a decision" about college. I never had to reach a decision. I graduated high school in the middle of the thundering herd, grade-wise, stood out ONLY because I had ACT and SAT scores that reflected my abilities rather better than my actual grades did. And there was a university in town that I could get into with the savings Mom and Dad had for my college, plus a part-time job, to pay my way. And then ROTC helped.

And Cindy was fourteen and if I was a candle in the dark, she was a bonfire, and two universities had room for her under 'gifted' programs already, and for all I knew, there were others. My dilemma was how to support her, to hold the ladder as she stepped to the stars.

I was happy as an engineer, really. I'd considered myself a success, especially in the last few years, but I wondered. Cindy said she wanted to be like me. And I wondered if she was setting her sights too low.

I waved at Helen as I passed the office, heading to the trailer. Cindy heard my foot hit the step, because when I opened the door and stepped in out of the brisk air, it was right into her arms. I worked a hand free to close the door behind us and kissed her back.

"You've been thinking, haven't you," she said. "Hard stuff."

I nodded. "About us?"

"Yes, Cindy love. About what happens when you graduate."

"We have an adventure, baby. You get to be the husband of a college student. I get to go to college. And become an engineer. Like you." She kissed me. "So stop worrying. Okay? You and me. Forever."

"I worry. I married a rockstar. I don't want to limit..."

"Shush, hon!" she said, touching a fingertip to my lips. "Since we met, there's not a day that I haven't seen you, and we're married."

I nodded. "But..."

"But nothin'" and there was that 'I know what I'm saying' wrinkle above her nose. "I know you get wrapped up in all these things, like I'm just fourteen, and all that, but baby, YOU of all people should know ME and you should KNOW that fourteen doesn't mean a thing when it comes to us."

She gave me a push backward onto the sofa and straddled me, her forehead touching mine. "Just remember, Dan. We stood together in front of our friends and promised. Forever."

"Okay, punkin," I said. "You win. Me."

Giggle. While she was straddling me, she wiggled, knowing full well what her wiggle did. I, well part of me, responded in the most intense manner and she planted her lips on mine, her tongue emphasizing our connection and she ground her crotch against the hardness in my pants.

"I adore you, Cindy," I said.

"Then you need to understand that I adore you just as much. You rescued me..."

I sighed. "And you rescued me..."

She said, "You didn't need rescuin', Dan."

"Oh, but I did, little one. I had no idea how dead I was until I met you."

"Good!" she said. One more grind, to which I moaned. "We'll go have dinner and talk with our friends, and then we'll come home and see if we can make each other pass out." Her face lost the serious look. It was all 'happy young girl', and I wondered what I'd ever done to deserve her. I got one more kiss before she climbed off my lap and donned her jacket.

Her hi-tech florescent colors were a stark contrast to my own jacket, a nut brown canvas thing common on jobsites, and when she pulled a knit wool cap down to the tops of her ears, forcing that red hair to flare at her jawline, my heart stopped. She saw me stare, and that meant that she struck a little pose, one knee bent, smiling, the absurdly rare Alabama ski bunny. "Let's go, guy!" she said. And we were off.

Twenty minutes later, we were knocking on the door at the Hardesty house. Teresa answered the door. Jim was rounding the corner, laughing. "Careful, sweetie," he said to Teresa. "You never know WHO you're gonna let in."

"Daaa-adddd," she groaned.

Ann's blonde head peered around the corner. "We'll eat in ten minutes. Make yourselves at home, 'kay?"

"Hi, Ann," I said.

"Hi, Mizz Ann," Cindy said. "Can I help?" Cindy was carrying the pie we'd picked up on the way over. Apple.

Ann headed back into the kitchen. "You and Teresa can set the table. Billy! Glasses with ice, son!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Billy answered.

"Come sit," Jim said. "I had a talk with Cindy today, but I'd rather discuss it with both of you. You've got a single-minded young lady there, Dan."

"She's something," I said. "You know, I've hung around women who weren't that 'together' that were twice her age."

Jim looked at me. "Sorta what I keep coming up with. You know, until this year, she was just in the background, loping along, hidden in the herd."

"She said she did C's without having to try, just wanted to keep her mom off her case."

"Yeah," Jim said. "I get that. But I'd have never sat her down and talked, you know, REALLY talked with her. We talked for about an hour today, Dan. You know, every case I put in front of her, she went through this 'what if' analysis, and a lot of it was how it would affect HER, but she always worked in how it would affect both of you. It was like watching a good chess player thinking so many moves ahead."

I smiled. Just a little.

"We sort of talked like, you know, friends, because we ARE friends, our two families. And she said she stood by her original plan. Wants to be an engineer. Because her best friend in the whole world, her life mate, is an engineer." Jim smiled smugly.

"Yeah, you smile. But how do you live up to that?" I said.

"I know. Ann pulled that same stunt on me. She could've done well as a professional violinist, but she said she fell in love with this goofy-assed Marine." He sat back. "So every day I thank God that I have her and she has me and that's the way it's supposed to be. I mean, she could be playing in a symphony somewhere, and I could be wrapping up a career in the Marines, but you know, it might sound sappy, but we were made for THIS. So when Cindy says ... fourteen going on forty, that she belongs with Dan, then I guess I'm inclined to believe her."

Ann's head popped around the corner. "If ya'll are finished draggin' your knuckles in the dirt, dinner's ready."

Jim snorted. "See! Pure love and respect!"

We sat together at the table, bowed our heads, and yes, I felt blessed.

Ann said, "This is my award-winning casserole. Got a ribbon last year at the church for best main dish in an oblong pyrex container." She did that twinkly eye thing pretty well, too, along with a smirk that broadened into a grin.

Small talk covered the meal. Teresa sat next to Cindy on the side opposite me and they were talking about teachers and classes for a bit until Cindy's ears perked up at the mention of a concert schedule.

"Mobile?" Cindy said. "we ought to go to that one together..."

Teresa said, "Mom?!?! Bach? Beethoven? Not my thing..." I saw Billy nodding agreement.

Jim said, "Well you two could stand spending the weekend with your cousins, huh?"

"Oh, yeah," Billy said. "He's got X-box, too!" It was Teresa's turn to agree.

Ann said, "That's weekend after this one. We could drive up on Saturday."

"Yesss!" Cindy said. "We do that! And have a nice dinner, then a concert, then late night snack." She smiled. I know why she smiled. "And then we get up and have breakfast and drive home."

"Or we could leave EARLY Saturday and do the mall!" Ann said.

"That makes it an expensive weekend," Jim snickered.

"I need a few things, Jim," she smiled sweetly.

"And I can..." Cindy started.

"Help," I finished.

Teresa's face was showing mixed feelings now. "Mooo-ooommm! The mall?"

"Okay," I said, reaching for a compromise. "How about you ladies, Ann, Cindy, Teresa, go to the mall this weekend and do a round trip, and next weekend, we'll just do the concert."

Cindy turned to Ann. That meant Ann had a thirteen year old AND a fourteen year old looking at her. "And you guys can have a testosterone day. Go slay a beast or something."

I looked at Dan. "Rifle range? Billy?" Billy's grin told me we had him sold.

"Pie, anybody?" Ann asked. We had pie, and then we jumped into clearing the dining room table. Five minutes after the meal was over, Cindy and I were side by side on the love seat in the Hardesty living room.

Ann started off on the main subject. "Cindy, Jim says ya'll talked about colleges today..."

Cindy smiled. "Yes, ma'am. We did. I need to make some decisions, but I wanted to talk with you an' Mister Jim and Dan all together."

Jim said, "We talked about her going to one of the high-powered big name universities like MIT or Stanford."

"We did, baby," she said. "You know, the idea about those big names is exciting an' all, but you know what I talked about with you from the beginning..."

I did indeed know. But it was in the beginning when I knew her to be just bright and precocious. In the months we'd been together, I learned that she was more than just bright. While back then I was flattered that she wanted to attempt the climb to 'be like me', now I saw her as leaping over me to heights I could not imagine.

"Dan, Mister Jim and I talked. I want to be an engineer. That's what I want right now. When he talks about it, maybe that will be step one, but that's going to be MY step."

I looked at those green eyes. She read my expression because that little 'I know what I'm saying' wrinkle showed up above her nose again. I could read her face, too, you know.

"I fell in love with you. I want to be LIKE you. Engineer. Now we have to see if it's University of Alabama or Auburn."

"That's what I got out of her today, Dan," Jim said.

Ann wrapped her fingers in his. "Sounds like she's chosen a path, Dan."

"Yes, ma'am, Mizz Ann," Cindy said. Her hand held mine. "Y'know, before Dan came into my life, I didn't have much at all to look forward to. Now ... I can't imagine all the possibilities like Mister Jim talked with me about today. But I know that my future wouldn't be as good without..." she kissed me lightly on the cheek, "this guy. Not even a choice, really."

I patted her hand. "Are you sure, sweetie?"

"What'd I say? We got MARRIED. We'll have THIS adventure, then we'll see about the next one. We got each other. And we've got the BEST friends! We'll do fine!"

Ann interjected, "We're just trying to give you all the options Cindy. The final decision is between you and Dan."

"I know," Cindy answered. "I appreciate that. And that's what we're doing. And ya'll are helping." She turned to me. "Mister Jim's setting us up a visit to the people at Auburn and University of Alabama soon. I hope you can get loose for them."

"I'll try," I said. "Work's, well, it gets crazy when we start things up. But I'll try. Jim, I trust your judgment on these things."

"You shouldn't, Dan. You're the engineer here. And Cindy's the proto-engineer. What's that they call her out there?"

"The Engineer's Apprentice..." and a satisfied smile from the cute little redhead.

Chapter 28

Thursday I ended up working late. Wasn't MY fault. We closed breakers the size of washing machines to squirt electricity into a part of the system that powered a couple of big electric motors. I knew my electrical equipment was good, but as happens all too often, when the commissioning team started the first of my little (smaller than a pickup truck. Twenty-five hundred horsepower) motors, it spun a couple of times and tripped.

AND as is usually the case, that meant that a mechanical engineer in charge of test-running some pumps comes screaming into my substation hollering that there must be some sort of electrical problem. I routed him to my computer, set up for JUST this event, because heaven knows, this is NOT Dan's first rodeo.

I pointed out the record of the start attempt and said, "There's where it tripped. Notice the flag, Randy. It says 'external device trip'. Since you guys insist on protecting YOUR equipment by tripping MY motor, you oughtta make sure everything is right before you ask ME to start up." Yeah. Just a wee bit of sarcasm. But I was smiling when I said it.

At least Randy was smiling when he said, "asshole!"

"Of course," I continued, rubbing a little salt in his open wounds, "you guys DID set up your field trips to latch and tag the event record so we can find out exactly what tripped from out there, right? My stuff does that!"

"Mine better do that," he said. Off he stalked.

He didn't return immediately, so I had to hunt him down. "So what'd you find, Randy?" At least I didn't ask him that in front of the boss.

His face spoke volumes. "Dammit, Dan! We hired these people to program that system, and it's just like you said: the trip inputs don't latch. They're fixing that right now."

"So what tripped us, then?"

He said, "We had to go line by line through the event log, but somebody forgot to open a valve to a sensor. It didn't see oil pressure. We're going to be ready to try another start at a quarter to four, after the guy finishes updating the logic."

I saw myself leaving late, then. "I'll be here. But as soon as my motor's up to speed and you guys load that compressor up, I'm gone."

Randy laughed. "If I had a cutie like Cindy waiting on me, I'd be gone, too!"

I grinned. Every time somebody mentioned Cindy out here, I couldn't help but smile. Randy was one of the bunch that started the 'Apprentice Engineer' tag. I flipped my cellphone open and did a quick text to Cindy: "I'll be a little late this evening. Call me when you get out of school."

I walked into a couple of my other substations and talked with my electrical crew and technicians, killing time, short-stopping a few issues, then retired to my office and worked though signing off some test reports. I watched the clock dragging toward four o'clock.

Cindy called and I told her the situation. "Just come home when you can, sweetie. If it's after five or so, I'll eat here."

Randy's bunch is running late. I was just getting out of my chair to go see what was slowing things down when I heard his voice on the radio.

"Come in, Dan Richards." Randy's voice.

"Go ahead, Randy." I said, putting my jacket on.

"We'll be ready for a run when you get here."

"On the way, dude," I said.

This time things worked exactly as we expected. They ran all the way up to full load with not a single adverse electrical indication. Randy walked into the substation.

"See what happens when mechanical gets their shit together?" I teased.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." Randy laughed. "We'll do Number 2 Pump first thing in the morning."

"Wanna bet it runs okay?" I jibed, heading for the door. I looked at my lead technician. "Jason?"

"Piece a'cake," He laughed.

I called Cindy when I got in the truck. "Hi, baby! I'm on the road."

"I thought you might be. I'm being all domestic an' stuff..."

Domestic? Cindy was neat around our little domicile. She did her share of dishes and sweeping and such, and as far as we both could fit in the kitchenette area, she helped out, but never had she announced herself as domestic. So... "Oh yeah?" I asked.

"Uh-huh. I'm getting all the stuff ready to make pasta alla carbonara. I was gonna wait until you called to start heating the pan."

"Heat the pan, princess," I said.

I walked into the trailer to find the smell of garlic and onion and bacon. She was doing it. Our biggest pot was boiling on the back burner with the pasta. I saw a little bowl with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. And with that smile and those eyes, she could've served me a plate of wood chips and I'd've been happy, but she knew that I favored a carbonara every now and then, quick, filling, and she was sure trying...

"Boiling the pasta heats the trailer, too. The air gets so dry in here."

Cindy in an apron. I was astounded. I said so.

"Just tryin' to be a good little wifey," she giggled. I kissed her on the top of her head. She laughed. "It's about time I actually cooked us a meal that didn't include "Peel the plastic film off the tater tots."

I laughed. "You can't be EVERYTHING. Except maybe to me ... and you don't need to cook for that..."

A few minutes later we were sitting at the table. She was twirling her pasta onto her fork. "Well, husband, how's the meal?" her eyes twinkled.

"Perfect!" I admitted.

"I put more pepper in it than I thought it needed." She had little beads of perspiration on her forehead.

"I think it's perfect, baby. But you don't have to make yourself uncomfortable. I can add pepper to mine."

"Maybe I'll cut back just a little next time. But that red pepper sure smelled good in the oil. And I took the eggs out when I got in the trailer so they'd be at room temperature, like you said."

"You nailed it, Cindy." I ate lustily. It was a favorite dish, one that was hard to find done right in a restaurant, and I liked my version. The one Cindy nailed.

"For real?" she said. "Tell me if I need to do something different next time."

"Nothing, baby. Seriously."

Giggle again. "Then I should be, like, rewarded?" Green eyes flashed, along with a killer smirk that morphed into a smile. "Reward. You know. Cold night. Warm bodies ... Reward!"

I wasn't dense, you know ... I just liked hearing her verbal joustings about our very satisfying love life. "I suppose you ARE due for a reward. After we air the place out so it doesn't smell like an Italian lunchbox. And we get some showers." I smiled. "But since you were EXTRA good, you will get an extra special reward if you want."

We made short order of cleaning up after dinner, and the brisk wind cleared the trailer's stale air in a matter of minutes, although the temperature dropped almost thirty degrees. A half-hour of TV sharing a stadium blanket (little blanket. Two people have to be VERY friendly to fit under one) for warmth until the heating system recovered. Then it was time for a couple of showers.

'Rewarding' Cindy is its own reward.

"Leave the heat up, baby," she said. "I don't want blankets in the way." Her eyes twinkled with happy lust. Stark, delightfully naked, she crawled into the bed, tossing the spread and blankets back out of the way as she looked back at me, her copper hair pulled back over one ear.

I bowled her over onto her back and kissed her once, then twice, then her titties were just too damned alluring to ignore, so I fastened my mouth on first one, then another. She curled her torso around me, pulling my face into her.

"Gah, Dan, you make me CRAZY!"

"You're my everything, Cin," I answered. "You're my dreams, in such a cute package." I kissed my way downward from her titties. My lips brushed their way through the wisps of red hair on her soft mound and landed on the beginnings of a moist, fragrant slit.

"Oh, yesssss!" and then a giggle. "Love it! Just LOVE it!"

"Lots of fun doing it, too, cutie!" I couldn't restrain a giggle myself as she wiggled excitedly. Her fingers pushed the back of my head, signaling her enjoyment. Her breathing changed cadence.

"Get up here, you," she giggled. "I have a hunger."

"Whatever for, little redhead?" I asked jokingly as I moved up onto the bed.

She didn't talk. She pushed me onto my back and spun around, climbing atop me.

"Omigod..." I blurted as her mouth closed over my hardness.

Giggle. "You like THAT? Then you'll LOVE this!" Her teeth gripped me with expert pressure and she wiggled her pussy into my face.

For a couple more minutes I licked and savored her soft musky delights and then she pulled my dick from her mouth, holding it against her cheek as she shuddered through an orgasm. I didn't stop. The second came shuddering behind it.

She rolled sideways off me and said, "Dan, get in me. Do me..."

And my orgasm took place with her mouth firmly welded to mine, swallowing my groans, her legs wrapped around mine, holding me in as I shuddered uncontrollably. She gently rolled me over and then swung back into a delicious sixty-nine. This time when I feasted on her, her own juices were mixed with mine. She was sucking and licking me clean.

When we finished, I reluctantly got up and lowered the thermostat and passed her nightshirt to her as I crawled back in our bed. We pulled the covers up and she snuggled into my chest. I looked at her soft, sweet face from a distance of inches and felt nothing but love.

"Cindy, I love you again today..."

She purred into my chest. "I love you too, Dan. Thank you for all this..."

"This?"

"This life. Friends. Family. A world."

"Cindy," I said, "I was just going through the motions when you came along. Sometimes I look back and think I was like a coloring book, black lines on a white page, and meeting you is like giving that page to Rembrandt."

Giggle. "Thank you, love," she said. "Punch that playlist up. The one with 'Air on a G-String' and 'Moonlight Sonata'. You're holding me and I can't imagine it being more perfect."

Stereo on. Lights off. And the soft breathing of the one I loved most in the world.

The rest of the week? Nominal, as they say. Cindy went to school. I went to work.

Saturday morning we got up, ate breakfast, and drove to the Hardesty house. Cindy, Ann and Teresa loaded up in the Hardesty SUV, headed to the mall in Mobile. Jim, Billy and I loaded up a few firearms and some ammo and headed to the rifle range. In January it was cold and deserted. We had the place to ourselves.

At Jim's request I had the shotgun that made Cindy famous, and a couple dozen shells. Jim took a turn, I took a turn, and Bill, well, he was about fifteen pounds lighter and four years younger than Cindy, but, in his words, "If Cindy can shoot it, I can shoot it." Two rounds later, full-bore twelve-gauge had given him a reason to pick up his dad's .22.

He did run a magazine through my AR-15, though, and did pretty good. Jim said, "I tried to teach 'im."

"He's doing okay, Jim. A little coaching and..." I said.

Jim said, "And another expensive hobby." He smiled. "He can shoot a million shots on the X-Box. Costs me diddly."

"Yeah, but a young man and a rifle..." I smiled.

After the shooting was over, we visited the fried catfish emporium for lunch, then headed back to Jim's for firearms maintenance.

Chapter 29

Jim, Bill and I were sitting in the den of the Hardesty home when the female contingent returned bearing an array of colorful bags.

Jim collected a prim kiss from his wife. My wife's version was slightly more enthusiastic. "Wait'll you see what all I bought," she chirped.

"Yeah," Ann said. "Good stuff. Including a dress for that concert we're planning on going to hear, baby!"

They announced our upcoming concert weekend, based on Ann's calls to her friends from her own concert days.

"Cindy said that we could fly anywhere in a six hundred mile radius on a weekend. This one's in Atlanta," Ann said.

Cindy smiled. "We'll even let you an' Mister Jim sit in the front seats," she said.

I turned to Jim. "Looks like our wives have made plans, buddy!"

He laughed. "Mine has been making plans for me for years. Is this your first one?"

Cindy giggled.

"Come to think of it, bud," I said, "yes, it is..."

"They'll let us in on it," he said.

"I just hope we've got the weather to fly there," I said. "I'm instrument rated, but the plane's not gonna do any storm-punching or ice."

"Yeah, but still..." Jim said. "What's Cindy say? 'Another adventure?'"

Ann slid beside Jim and kissed him. "We need an adventure, huh, baby?"

"Mooo-ommmm!" Teresa whined.

"'S okay, Teresa," Cindy said, laughing.

We said goodbye to our friends and headed to our strange little nest.

We went inside. Cindy showed me her new acquisitions after I put our guns away.

"Some new panties," she smiled, holding up a pastel rainbow. "I know you like these." She pulled out a powder blue pair. "I think I was wearing some like these the third time we went out to eat."

I recalled that night. I remember that being the first time I'd seen her in a skirt, and I remember her sliding into the truck as I held the door, and seeing her skirt ride up. I remember my heart stopping. "Yes, I remember, baby," I said. "You almost killed me right then and there."

"I really didn't mean to flash you, Dan. Really. You were just my friend then. But I wore those panties after ... you know..." she smiled. "And I remember that you liked me in them."

"Or out of them, sweetie," I said.

Giggle. She leapt to wrap her arms around my neck and I held her weight off the floor as we hugged. "I missed you today, babe," she said. "I had a lot of fun with Mizz Ann an' Teresa, but I missed YOU!"

"I had fun, too, cutie," I said. "But I missed my Cindy!"

Her feet hit the floor when I released her. "So, did Bill shoot the twelve-gauge?"

"Yes, he did," I said. "He said if YOU could do it..."

"He's almost my size, Dan, " she said. "How about the AR-15?"

"His first try with it. He's been shooting a .22, though, so he knows a little about rifles. He had fun. We had fun."

"Good," she smiled. She showed me a couple of other purchases. I smiled.

"I didn't go crazy, baby," she said. "Didn't want to waste money. An' we're kinda tight for space here."

Yeah. Living in a travel trailer made one rethink the acquisition of things.

"But I bought some new perfume." Her eyebrows spoke a question.

"Yeah. Uh-huh. I smelled it. Why don't you dab a spot or two on after your shower tonight."

Giggle. "I just think I will." Twinkly eyes.

I couldn't resist. I had to kiss her, a move that apparently was quite in line with her wishes. Is it okay to say how much I enjoyed watching her disrobe for her shower?

I finished shaving just as she was putting away her hair dryer. I smelled a whiff of enticing fragrance in the air.

"I put my nightshirt beside the bed. Yours too!" She headed to the bed at the end of the trailer, looking over her shoulder, green eyes drawing me along.

I followed. One, because I'm male, apparently possessed of a brain that had a little redhead-shaped hole in it. Two, because I am totally in love with her. Saturday night coupling was a romp in pleasures. I don't pretend to know all her feelings, but as for my own, I had this magical little kitten of a partner, cute, sexy, eager, excited, and ALIVE.

I don't know that she intentionally did anything. When we were loving, it was playing, sharing, each of us bent on giving as much as we could to the other, knowing that it was in the giving that we truly received. Wow! Metaphysical, ain't it? I'm trying to say that perfection for me came in a short, redheaded package that approached lovemaking with giggles that soon morphed into sighs and ended up breathless, in my arms.

And that was our Saturday night. Right up to the part where we'd both expended ourselves in the happiness of each other and there I was lying on my back in the cool evening air of our little trailer and she was lying full length on top of me, her hands folded on my chest, her chin resting on them. A pair of green eyes regarded me at close range, peeking from below perfect eyebrows, shaded by perfect bangs the color of an old penny.

"Dan," she said. "D'you think life is as perfect right at this moment as I do?"

I caressed her head, drawing my fingertips slowly across her cheek. "Little one," I said. "I worry that I'm going to wake up from this dream. The only thing that saves my sanity is that I realize that my dreams were never this good."

"I know. You know how there are stories about princesses and monsters and white knights and happily ever after?" She sighed, ending her sigh in a smile. "I used to read those and think how that never happened in real life. But look at us..."

"Yeah. I've looked at us. Like from a distance, I look like a child molester."

She scooted up to kiss my lips. "I'm sooooo molested, baby." Another sigh. "Your friends ... OUR friends, they all act like they accept us. I mean, look at Mister Jim. An' Mizz Ann. And the gang at work."

Yeah, my co-workers, for the most part, were 'the gang' to Cindy.

"Uh-huh," I said.

"And how YOUR family became OUR family. An' Mizz Helen an' Mister Charlie."

"Just remember, sweetie, we had history with most of those people, so there was some incentive to think about us together. But there's gonna be some who don't react as positively."

"I've thought about that," she said. "But we DO have real friends and family behind us. And we've got this fantastically wonderful US."

"Yep, little girl! We're in it together."

She slid off to my side and wrapped a long leg over me and pressed against me. I cuddled her in my arm and we drifted off to sleep.

We woke the next morning in the chill of the winter storm. As she cuddled warmly against me, she said, "Honey, it's another one of those days."

"I know," I said. "As much misery as the summer heat is, this is just nasty." The sky was leaden., low clouds moving hurriedly north to meet the approaching front. It wasn't raining, yet.

"Are you in the mood for pancakes up the road?" I asked.

"Mmmm-hmmm... " She purred into my chest. "I guess we need to get dressed."

"Yeah, cutie ... As much as I delight in seeing you naked, I don't think you'd find it enjoyable today."

Reluctantly we unwrapped from each other and got out of bed on opposite sides. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved sweatshirt with an University of Alabama logo on it. I donned a pair of tactical pants and a flannel shirt, and we sat side by side on the sofa and pulled on socks and shoes. I tossed her that knit cap and she pulled it on, shoving her hair into a delightful disarray.

She knew what that did for me because she turned and smiled sweetly.

"Don't be too cute, there, Cindy, or we'll be eating a late breakfast..."

Her smile changed to a pink tongue sticking out at me. "Nuh-uh, love of my life! I want pancakes. And coffee!"

"I will defer my lusts until we have had breakfast, little one," I laughed. I started for the door, got grabbed and spun around, a pair of arms laced themselves around my neck, and she hauled me over to kiss me.

"We have a whole day, baby. We can put some beans on, then go play while they cook."

The nasty look of the low clouds was actually deceptive as they were pushed by a moist south wind. The temperature wasn't particularly cold as we climbed in the truck and left for breakfast.

Eight-thirty at a restaurant in Alabama, you're guaranteed to run into the church crowd, various families on the way to worship services. Such was the occupancy of the restaurant when we walked in. the hostess was a lady who knew us well as frequent customers.

"Hi, Cindy! Dan! There's a couple of booths open in the back corner. Janine's workin' that end today."

"Thank you, Mizz Lee," Cindy chirped. We threaded our way through the crowd to a corner booth and sat down. The waitress, Janine, showed up with our customary mugs of coffee.

"Ya'll doin' pancakes this mornin', hon?" she asked.

"That's perfect, Janine," I said. Cindy just smiled. We sipped our coffee while we waited on pancakes, gazing out the window at the scudding clouds.

"That front's close," I said. It's going to be a hard freeze tonight."

Giggle. "Good snuggling weather, dontcha think?" Green eyes twinkled.

We were talking about the ideas of flying in foul weather when a nicely dressed lady approached us.

"Excuse me," she said to Cindy. "Didn't you come to Sunday school at our church? Our bus picked you up at that RV park?"

Cindy smiled. "Yes, ma'am. That was the beginning of last summer. Some of ya'll were really nice to me."

"I would hope so," the lady said. "Some weren't?"

Cindy's face lost a bit of its shine. "No ma'am," she said. "Some kids picked at me because of my ... well, where I lived and who my momma was..."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie," the lady said. "They shouldn't've done that. Are you doing okay?"

I was sitting silent, watching my Cindy. Carefully.

"I'm doing fine, ma'am. I'm still livin' in that park, but Mom's moved away. And I'm married." She patted my hand. "This is my husband, Dan Richards. He's an engineer!"

The lady's expression as she looked at me was, shall we say, strained. She turned back to Cindy. "Baby, I thought you were a young teen."

"I'm fourteen," Cindy said.

"Ma'am," I interrupted, "would you like to sit with us for a little while?"

"Oh, mercy! I don't know..."

"Please," I said. "And I'm Dan Richards, like Cindy said. And you're... ?"

"Mona Simmons." She wasn't exactly smiling.

"Mizz Simmons," I said, "I can only imagine the things people could think about Cindy and me..."

"I've heard stories..." Mona started.

"Mizz uh ... Mona, lots of people knew about my mom. An' if they knew about 'er, it wasn't good stuff. I'm not like her."

Mona started, "But you're..."

"Fourteen," Cindy said. "A number. I've been married for," She looked at me, "two months, I'm being taken care of, I have friends who love me and my husband, I have a real family now..."

"Mizz Mona," I said. We appreciate you caring. Cindy's an unusual young lady. You might want to ask Jim Hardesty at the middle school about her education status. It's very likely she will start college in a few months. At fourteen. There's a lot..."

Cindy interrupted. "There's a lot that makes me different, Mizz Mona."

A tall man, vaguely familiar, showed up behind Mona. "Sayyyy," he said to Cindy, "Ain't you that little girl they call 'The Engineer's Apprentice' out at the new plant?" he changed his gaze to me. "An' you're what, the head electrical engineer?"

"Oh, gosh," I said. "I thought you looked familiar. I'm sorry. So many faces out there. I can't connect your first name." I stood and offered a hand.

He shook it enthusiastically. "Jeff. Jeff Simmons. I have crew of pipefitters out there. But I've seen HER!"

Mona's face was just a tiny bit uncomposed. "Jeff, you know about her?"

"Oh, yeah ... Lots of talk. She came out on one of those school visits. She's famous" He grinned at Cindy and she smiled back. "She's out there about every couple of weeks." He laughed. "You got in that boiler before Christmas and took those pictures for our engineer." Jeff turned to Mona. "Our engineer's a little too chubby to get in the boiler. Cindy wore those paper coveralls."

Mona was flabbergasted.

And our pancakes arrived. "Please, Jeff, you an' Mona join us..."

Janine set our plates down. "If you folks want to sit here..."

"Great," Jeff said.

I scooted deeper into the booth. Jeff sat next to me. Mona sat beside Cindy.

"Hon," Jeff said, "These people are the talk of the project. Cindy had it tough. Now her an' Dan..."

"Oh, dear," Mona sighed, trying to maintain her Southern persona. "I guess I've only heard what SOME people think ... Cindy, you don't look like an unfortunate..."

"Oh, no ma'am," Cindy interrupted. "I think I'm the most FORTUNATE person in the state."

Jeff and Mona's order showed up and the four of us ate. After the meal, we continued to sip coffee.

"I'm sorry, Cindy. Dan. Sometimes people get the wrong idea..." Mona said.

Jeff said, "Mona baby, you need to lighten up. What about Rick 'n Stacy's daughter?"

"Oh, dear," Mona said. She sighed. "Their daughter's fourteen. And pregnant. Tragic."

"I know her. Kelly. I help her in math class. She's broken up over it, but her mom and dad..."

"Baby," Mona said. "Her mom was almost suicidal. We prayed with 'em. That's a hard thing..."

"I can imagine," Cindy said. "I feel sorry for her. Really. But Mizz Mona, that's not ME."

"Okay, hon," Mona said. "Jeff, how come I don't know more about this? 'Engineer's Apprentice'? that's cute!"

"Aw, baby, you don't want to hear what I think is cute out at the job..." Jeff whined.

"Hmmphhh!" said Mona. "I don't want to hear stories about your guys locking some poor guy in a porta-john. You should've told me about HER!"

"Yes, dear," Jeff exaggerated, grinning.

"You're impossible!" Mona said, feigning aggravation.

Jeff glanced at his watch. "Okay, Mona, we're gonna be late for services. Cindy, Mister Dan..."

"Just 'Dan', please, Jeff!" I said.

"Dan, we didn't mean to bother ya'll..."

"You didn't bother us," Cindy said.

I stood as Mona slid out of her seat next to Cindy. "It wasn't a bother. I know we're not the standard couple. But we're very happy."

Mona said, "Maybe ya'll can vist us sometime?"

Cindy smiled. "We'd love to..."

When Jeff and Mona departed, I sat back hard against the back of the booth.

"Baby, ' Cindy said softly, "Relax ... Take a deep breath."

"Okay, princess. But I thought..."

"You thought she was one of those who were going to get in our faces..." She smiled. "I kinda worried. But I figured that if I survived tellin' Tootie that I was fourteen, I could survive this." Giggle. "You know, we oughta show up for Sunday services at the Baptist church one Sunday."

"That's a thought," I admitted. "But I don't want to rub peoples' noses in our situation. Those that accept us, that's one thing. We shouldn't go out of our way..."

"I know, baby," she said. "But you know, we're really pretty normal..."

"For a forty-one year old guy and his cute fourteen year old wife who's four months from graduating high school. Yep. That normal..."

Janine topped off our coffee mugs. "Everything okay, hon?" she asked Cindy.

"Oh, yes, Mizz Janine. It is now..."

Janine leaned toward us in a conspiratorial stance. "I've overheard Mona an' a couple of other church women talkin' about ya'll. Not so good, either."

Cindy answered, "Well, unless she's lyin' to us, we straightened her out. Dan knows her husband from work..."

"Yeah, uh-huh," Janine said. "Jeff's just a good ol' boy. His wife, she gets kinda uppity sometimes. Likes to talk down other people sometimes."

"People ain't nice and neat, Mizz Janine," Cindy sighed.

"Mister Dan, you got a smart one here," Janine said, smiling.

We paid the ticket. And a little extra on the tip.

In the truck, on the way home, she giggled. "I WAS a little scared, Dan. I mean, she ... people like her, they can't HURT us. We're 100% legal an' all that. But I like our, what's your word? 'harmonious' life together."

"I know, princess," I said. "I like us to enjoy our pancakes without people judging us on parts of the story."

We pulled back in to the park and did domestic stuff, laundry, a pot of beans on the stove for the traditional laundry day beans and rice, and true to her word, once the process was started, she tugged my hand toward the bed for another great thing about winter days and simmering pots: plenty of time for love.

The morning romp was followed by lunch, the domesticity of folding, hanging and stowing laundry, and by now the scudding clouds from the south were replaced by pelting rain as the cold front moved through. As is typical with frontal passage, though, the rain ended almost a quickly as it started, and the moist south wind was replaced by a biting, edgy north wind driving the humid air away. Even in early afternoon the temperature was dropping. The low clouds of the front were pushed south, too, leaving high layers that were breaking up, allowing glints of sunlight to break through.

Donning jackets, I and my cutie decided a walk outside in the brisk air was a good thing, so we made a lap around the park, then another, finally stopping in the office to find Helen and Charlie and two of the retiree couples sitting in the office.

"Coffee's fresh, son," Charlie said. "And I finally talked Helen into using some better stuff."

Cindy said, "Sit, baby! I'll get you a cup." Hey! We'd been married for months now. She knew how I liked my coffee, among other things.

I sat. She brought me a mug, steaming, and squeezed beside me on the office sofa.

One of the retirees, an old, plump, bald fellow, said, "Well, that front's through."

"Yes, indeed," Charlie said. "Hard freeze tonight. In the teens." He laughed, nodding at the others. "Of course, that's cold for HERE. You folks from Minnesota..."

"Oh, certainly," one of the ladies answered. "Cold at home doesn't start until there's minus in front of the number. But that's why we're down here!"

Both couples were survivors of our gumbo and music bash, and that gave us topics for conversation. We left, promising to get them copies of the recipe we used for the gumbo.

As we were walking back to the trailer, Cindy swung her hip to bump me. "Hey," she said, "can we go fly this afternoon, or did I spend us broke yesterday?"

"Got the itch, babe?" I laughed. "Are we gonna fight about who gets the left seat?"

Green eyes laughed at me. "Nope. I get the left seat. No argument."

By the time we got the plane out of the hangar, the broken high cloud was down to a mere scatter overhead and to our north.

After the preflight, we were in the cockpit, the engine rumbling at idle, and I had the area chart open. "Okay, sweetie," I said into the intercom mike, "give us an hour, and let's go north or northwest. Where's that put us?"

She pointed out several airports on the chart. "And I'm thinking that this one or this one will have a bathroom and a coffee pot. Or at least a coke machine. Looks like, oh, three hundred degrees oughtta get us there."

I folded my arms. "Take us there."

She taxied us to the run-up ramp, ran through the checklist and grabbed the microphone. She looked at me. "One-twenty-two point eight?" That was the frequency. I nodded.

She pressed the transmit button on the control yoke and in a young girl's voice said, "Holt traffic, this is Cessna five five two three uniform, taking off from Holt County, north departure." Nobody replied, and off we went.

The destination did indeed have a coffee pot. Horrible, horrible coffee, but sometimes it's who you're with, after all. The guy manning the desk at the destination was amused to see Cindy climbing down out of the left door of the Cessna as the engine cooled.

We drank coffee, talked about airplanes and walked out into the big hangar with him to see a beautifully restored World War II trainer. Cindy HAD to sit in the cockpit, and that brought the stories about her and Hanna in the Extra, and it was time to go. We landed at the home field in deep dusk, put 'Sissy' away, and went home, stopping on the way for dinner at the catfish emporium.

The remainder of the evening was the kind of routine people dream of, watch a little TV, listen to a little music, bath, then into bed for love and very satisfactory sleep.

Monday's alarm got us up and going again. I was back at work, Monday morning staff meeting, then closing out equipment reports, and the afternoon was a training session with the guys who'd be running the new plant when we were done. I felt my phone buzz, and when I got to a clean stopping point, I glanced at the display. It was Jim Hardesty's work number.

Once I was clear and could call without disrupting my job, I called.

"Hey, Jim," I said. "Sorry I couldn't answer when you called."

"Oh, you know that I understand where you're at, Dan. I was wondering if you could do a visit to Auburn with Cindy and me on Friday?"

"I dunno, right now, Jim. I'll see what I can do. It's that time in the project. Lots of stuff happening." I was being truthful. All of my utility substations were hot, but there was new process equipment constantly rolling for the first time.

"I hope you can, Dan. I'm gonna talk with Cindy before she leaves today, but if you can, how 'bout ya'll coming over for dinner..."

"On a Monday? Yeah, sure! How about pizza?"

"On Monday?" he laughed. "Either that or Ann's gonna do something with Sunday leftovers."

"Barring a disaster here, we'll be there, buddy!"

"Okay, thanks! Talk to you later."

One of my engineer co-workers overheard part of the conversation. "What's up?" he asked.

"The school guidance counselor wants to take Cindy for a visit to Auburn Friday. Wants me to go with 'em. You got anything spinning up on Friday?"

"No," he said. "The last forced draft fan is the only big one we have left, and it'll be Monday or Tuesday before we do the first run."

"Good," I said. "I think that puts me in the clear. Lemme go talk to the boss."

Bill was talking with Sara when I walked into the office trailer. I explained to him what I wanted to do. Sara listened in.

"Well, you know what we need to do," he said. "I don't see a problem, at least not right now."

"Bill, you know that if something comes up, I'll take care of things."

"Oh, I know," Bill said. "So. Auburn? That's the decision?"

"Oh, gee, Bill, I don't know. This is the first one we visited. She's scratched MIT and Stanford off her list, at least for her baccalaureate."

Sara snorted. We turned to look at her. She was smirking.

"Wha-att?" I said.

"You do realize that you just said 'baccalaureate' an' you're talking about a fourteen year old girl..." she snorted. "I know she's special, Dan. But it strikes me funny."

"Me too, sometimes, Sara," I admitted. "I was tryin' to figure out how I was going to support her move if she wanted MIT or Stanford."

Bill said, "I dunno, Dan ... I know some people. They might not know your reputation personally, but they know who they can call..."

"Nice to know, Bill. But Cindy's said she wants to stay in Alabama for the time being."

"Well," he said, "Bullshit aside, Auburn's a good school..." Bill was an Auburn grad.

"Oh, I know," I said, "Aside for the occasional mistake..." I smirked.

"Asshole!" he grinned.

I met Cindy at the RV park office after work. She was leaned over the counter, balanced on one foot, her other kicked up behind her, talking to Helen.

"Hi babe," I said. "Hi, Helen!"

"Hi, Dan," Helen said. "My little girl's going to interview at Auburn!"

Cindy's grin was epic. "Mister Jim talked to me about it today. Can you come with us Friday?"

"I talked with Jim today, cutie. I'm planning on going."

"Yeah, I know, honey! You have a lot of things going on the job right now. And Mister Jim says if you can't go, it'll be okay, but I'd really like you with me."

"I'll do my best babe," I said. "Jim wants us to go to their house for dinner."

"'Kay," she said, grabbing her backpack. "See you tomorrow, Mizz Helen."

"Tell Charlie she's going to talk to Auburn, Helen..." Charlie was an Auburn grad, too.

We opened up the trailer and deposited her back pack and I changed out of my workshoes, impeded by a giggly Cindy bent on kissing me into submission. Okay. I submitted. Why not?

We were out the door. I called the Hardesty house. Ann answered. "Hi, Dan! You know, I'm hurt..." she said.

"Hurt?" I asked.

"Yeah, my husband talked you into pizza instead of one of my fine and tasty 'leftover specials'."

I laughed. "Lady, I was raised like you and Jim. We lived on leftovers half the time."

"Yeah, I know," she chuckled. "The kids are happy about pizza. I'll 'leftover' 'em tomorrow."

"Okay. I'm ordering the pizza. See you in a few."

Cindy had her characteristic smile, belted in beside me. "I'm kind of excited, Dan," she said. "this visit thing makes this all seem real."

"I know, baby," I said. "But don't get expectations too high. We have no idea what to expect, really."

"You know, I was thinking about that today. D'you know you've turned me into an optimist? I mean, like, last summer, I just didn't see a whole lot to get excited about in life..."

"Baby, you were thirteen..." I said.

"Yeah, thirteen. And life was, well, baby, it was kinda scary. With mom and drugs and her boyfriends. And being an outcast a school..." she sighed. "But NOW! It's like one of those stories where somebody gets a winning lottery ticket or something..."

I smiled. I was glad she was happy. When I'd first met her, that was all I hoped for, just to help her along as I found out the circumstances in her life. And now she was my improbable, remarkable friend, partner, and wife.

We were greeted as friends by the Hardesty's, Cindy jumping in with Ann and Teresa to set the table, young Bill filling drink glasses, Jim and I sitting in the living room.

"Man, I like the chauvinist stuff, Dan," he laughed. "Of course, it only works in winter. All summer she watches me and Bill out doing yard work..."

The doorbell rang. We received pizzas and I paid the delivery driver. We all sat at the dinner table and ate and talked, just the way family and friends were supposed to do. After the dinner mess was cleared, we went back into the living room to talk.

"I got Cindy a time to chat with a few people at Auburn. They're interested in seeing what they can do for her."

"Okay," I said. "Any ideas?"

"Well, obviously her test scores impressed them. The guy I talked with said that if her ACT scores follow that pattern, they expect that she'd be a great fit in mathematics, one of the hard sciences, engineering, of course, and GET THIS, the liberal arts. Somebody's been reading her writing."

Cindy smiled. "We'll listen to what everybody has to say, but I am GOING to be an engineer. Since I'm already an apprentice!"

"Let's just keep an open mind, okay?"

Ann chimed in, "Cindy, there's always the possibility of a double major."

"Uh, yeah," I said. "I knew double majors in like something AND education, or two programs of liberal arts, but I..."

"I know of people who did double majors, Dan," Jim said. "Baby," he said to Ann, "that's an interesting idea..."

Cindy said, "Yeah, engineering and poetry..."

I laughed. "Oh, yeah ... the poet-laureate of Alabama ... That's a career option..."

"Heyyyy," Ann said, "We got culture here..."

Mid-morning Friday we were ushered into a well-appointed office on the university campus.

"I'm Doctor George Stebbins," he said. "Please call me George. And you're Miss Cynthia Richards?"

"Yessir," Cindy said. She'd dressed to kill: green, simply-cut dress of tasteful length, her hair shining perfection, held back from the sides of her face by a matching headband. "This," she said, turning to me, "is my husband, Dan Richards, electrical engineer, and this," she turned to Jim, "is Mister Jim Hardesty, our school guidance counselor."

"Please, folks, sit down." George said. "I find the 'husband' thing rather surprising, but Mister Hardesty explained to me some of the circumstances, and I find his explanation satisfactory." He paused.

Cindy's mouth was a straight line. Uncharacteristically nervous.

"I also find that I have received mail from a couple of Auburn alumni concerning Miss ... You go by 'Cindy', correct?"

"Yessir," she said.

"Please, Cindy, relax. I'm your friend, too." He smiled at her. "As I was saying, I got real letters, not that email stuff, from a couple of alumni. One's a Mr. Bill Carmody, a graduate of this college of engineering. I actually KNOW Mr. Carmody, although it's been some years since we've talked. He writes rather glowingly of you, Miss Cindy."

Cindy let her smile loose. Her face lit up.

George smiled back. The other letter is from an Alabama judge who says he's known you for some time and that he's the one who married you two. And I took it upon myself, after talking to Mr. Hardesty here, to call and talk to your current teachers."

More smiles from Cindy. Jim and I sat silent. It was George's court.

Miss Cindy, none of them had anything more negative to say than your math teacher, and the words she used were 'scary smart'. Your English teacher has created a stir among our liberal arts folks with some of your writings." He turned his attention to Jim and me. "You gentlemen are associated with an impressive young lady. We'd very much like to see her part of our programs."

"She's had an impressive year with us this year, Doctor Stebbins."

"Please! George," he said. "So here's the path, if you decide to work with us. And I do hope that is your decision." He continued, "Assuming that you meet the requirements your school has placed on you for graduation, I would like to see you enrolled with us. You might consider the summer semester, too."

Cindy fielded that one. "Sir, I, we, Dan and I, are certainly entertaining the idea of me attending Auburn. Mister Carmody is Dan's manager, and he strongly urged me to come here. But the summer semester is, well, a stretch."

"How so," George asked.

"Dan has been working on his project since last summer, and we got married in November, and when I graduate, he has promised that we'd fly the Rockies. I would happily start classes in the fall."

George bridged his fingers thoughtfully. "Would you be available for some programs, perhaps, in July? It is possible that you may be able to test out of a lot of prerequisites."

"I would certainly try that, ' Cindy said.

"It would be well for you to attempt, young lady. You're here because you are, in a word, 'gifted'. It is apparent that you've impressed a lot of people around you. I suspect that, if you can handle the environment, you will be challenged. And you will do well." He looked at me. "You're an engineer, she says?"

"Yes," I answered. "I graduated from a little university in Louisiana. I wish I'd had this opportunity."

"What discipline?" he asked.

"Electrical. I do industrial power mainly. Some controls."

He smiled. "And Miss Cindy wants to be an electrical engineer. Interesting ... If you folks want to wait a bit, some of our faculty will be here for lunch. A couple of them have heard about Miss Cindy."

"That would be fine," I said.

"Good!" George said. "Friday we have sandwiches and cookies."

On the way home, Cindy was buckled in the center spot of my truck's seat.

"Well, Cindy, what do you think?" Jim asked.

"Interesting," Cindy answered. "I was nervous."

"I could tell," Jim said. "Kind of a new thing for you, isn't it?"

"Yessir," she said. "This has to do with my future. " she turned to me. "OUR future. I didn't know what to expect."

"Me neither," I admitted.

"That makes three of us. And I talked to him on the phone."

"So you think I'm ... they'll take me?" Cindy asked Jim.

"And be happy to have you. Of course, you have your ACT next month, and then the high school exit exam in late April." Jim smiled. "You don't act like you're worried, though..."

"Not about those, Mister Jim," she said. "You know, a year ago, I didn't know ... I guess I didn't care, either."

"That was then, this is now, Cindy," he said.

She punched me. "It's HIS fault, Mister Jim. That's why I love 'im!"

Chapter 30

A cellphone call had us meeting Ann and the kids at the catfish joint for dinner. Cindy recounted her day to Ann.

"You sound impressed," Ann said.

"I am," Cindy countered. "Last summer, I was just hopin' to get out of middle school, an' today I was talking to the Dean of the Engineering School at Auburn."

Teresa said, "Mom, is it okay if I'm a little jealous?"

"Ann," I chuckled, "Teresa's not the only one that's a little jealous."

Jim smiled at his daughter. "Jealous is okay, baby, just so you recognize that Cindy's got a gift and we're all very happy for it."

"I know," Teresa said. She smiled. "Cindy, you KNOW I'm happy for you. Really. But still..."

Bill looked up from his plate, swallowed a mouthful of fish, and said, "Cin, I'm good with it..."

We all laughed at that.

We were working on desserts, still talking about things.

"So what time at the airport tomorrow, guys?" Jim asked.

"It's a couple of hundred miles. An hour and a half, flying. There's gonna be a rental car waiting for us at the airfield. We go to the hotel, check in, change, do dinner, the concert. I guess we should leave a little leeway, so let's leave at noon," I said.

"That gives us plenty of time to get the kids to my sister's," Ann said. She looked at Cindy. "How do YOU dress when you fly in this thing?"

Cindy spread her arms out, tilted her head, and smiled, posing. "Like this! Believe me, it's not a 'skirt' kind of airplane!"

Ann sighed. "Oh, well! Dan, can you accommodate a pretty big suitcase? So I can pack my dress properly?"

"Baby, that's an Alaska bush plane. It'll handle the four of us and a whole moose."

She stuck her tongue at him. "But that moose didn' have to worry about dressing up in a wrinkled dress, Philistine!"

Jim laughed. "There she goes with the big words again. I do gather from her uppity tone that I've been insulted."

"Only lightly, dear," she giggled, patting him on the arm.

Teresa said to Cindy in a stage whisper, "My parents are comedians."

"Yeah," Cindy giggled. "Don't'cha jut LOVE 'em!"

Bill didn't comment. He just rolled his eyes and ate his pie.

Leaving the restaurant, Jim rode home with his family and Cindy and I drove off in our truck. She twisted in her seatbelt and leaned back against me, my arm wrapping her, holding her warmly against me in the January cold.

"Tired, baby?" I asked.

"Mmmm-hmmm, love," she said. "Today's been a little stressful."

"I think you did just fine, cutie. I didn't know what we were walking into. You did fine."

"D'ya think Alabama State's gonna be anything different?" she asked.

"I haven't the foggiest idea. One thing, though. We only know ONE Alabama State grad."

Giggle. "That was nice of Mister Bill an' Mister Charlie to write those letters. Seemed like Mister, uhhh ... Doctor Stebbins was surprised by that."

"Maybe so. It certainly didn't hurt," I said. "It's nice to have friends and family."

"That care," she added.

We pulled up to our trailer under cold, crisp, clear skies. I estimated twenty degrees. We stepped rather lively into the trailer.

"Brrr!" she went.

I wrapped her in my arms as soon as the door closed. "Cold?"

"Gosh, yes! I miss summer. Didn't miss it when it was here, but I do now!"

"Shower. Then hot cocoa," I said.

"You got it!" she grinned.

She was in the shower and I was whipping up a little pot of hot cocoa. I left the pot on low heat when she got out. She was drying her hair, finishing as I was shaving, and when I put my razor up and donned a pair of workout pants, our nod to pajamas in the cool trailer in January, she was standing there with a steaming mug for me.

We curled up together on the sofa, savoring the steamy liquid.

"So what outfit are you wearing for tomorrow evening?" I asked.

She turned her green eyes to me and smiled. "I seem to remember something you tell me about dark green. I have the sweater that matches that dress and shoes that you like."

"Perfect!" I said. "Atlanta hasn't been hit like that since Sherman."

"I hope I don't do as much damage," she giggled. My Cindy learned her history.

"Scarlett O'Hara doesn't hold a candle to my Cindy," I smiled.

I retrieved a hard suitcase from the under-bed storage and we carefully stowed her dress and my suit and shirt. Our normal, informal attire went into the duffel-style overnight bags we each carried on our weekend outings.

After packing, we went to bed, cuddling in the cool air of the trailer, listening to the north wind howling outside. The cuddle started something because a little redhead pushed me from lying on my side, facing her, onto my back, and her mouth fastened to my chest.

I felt teeth. And a giggle as her hand slid down my belly to find me hardening. Fast. "You're not THAT tired, are you, sweetie?" Giggle. "Part of you just woke up!"

Some pleasant while later, that part was ready to rest, an act made far easier by a purring redhead curled up beside me.

Moring came with pleasant pause. I felt her stir, and I got up and turned the thermostat up to warm our little trailer from 'snuggle' to 'breakfast', then went to the bathroom. I walked back beside the bed, finding a pair of green eyes in the gap between red bangs and the edge of the bedclothes.

"Bed gets cold FAST without you," she said.

I slid back under the covers and got wrapped in a tangle of arms and legs. Bright eyes and soft lips only added to the delights.

More giggles. "I wanted to get warm. Tee-hee ... Now I AM!" And we found out exactly HOW warm.

She lay back in my arms. "Whew! That's good before breakfast!"

"Mmmm-hmmm," I agreed. "Wanna dress warm and go up the road?"

"Pancakes," she smiled. "And coffee. Not as good as OURS, but still good."

"Then get that cute little butt dressed, cutie! I shall give you pancakes!"

I got up on one side of the bed, she on the other, and we bumped pleasantly getting clothes out of compact drawers and closets. She finished tying her shoes and stood up, a doll in jeans and an orange Auburn sweatshirt. The dark blue watchcap she pulled down to her ears set her hair off.

"Oh, that's CUTE," I laughed.

Twinkly eyes and a grin. "Mister Bill would like it," she grinned. "An' Mister Charlie bought it for me."

"Let's go, baby doll. Pancakes await!" I opened the door and saw our truck's windshield coated with frost. "Never mind. Let me start the truck and let it defrost." I dashed outside, cranked the truck, and turned the defroster on high, then dashed back in.

"Cold?" she asked.

"Twenty. Maybe."

"BRRR!!! Sit!"

I sat. she climbed into my lap and we wrapped up together.

"I like doing things with our friends, baby," she said. "Makes me feel like you really care about me!"

"You don't know how deeply I care about you, angel," I said.

She giggled. "That, baby, could be taken as a suggestive comment."

"That, too," I chuckled. We kissed each other like new lovers for a few minutes.

She held my face in her hands, gave me a pert little kiss and said, "Check the truck. I have an overriding urge for pancakes now." Her eyes danced with delight as she slid off my lap.

I peeked out the window. "Let's go," I said. The cab of the truck was warm when we climbed in. My partner punched up the stereo and we listened to a little music on the short drive.

Walking into the restaurant, Cindy spotted Bill Carmody about the same time he spotted us. He waved us over.

"Hi Mister Bill," Cindy chirped.

I pulled her chair out to seat her, then sat beside her.

"Cindy, I like your sweatshirt. You folks are out in THIS?" he grinned.

"Either that or one of us had to COOK breakfast at the trailer," Cindy said.

"So here we are," I laughed.

"By the way, Mister Bill," Cindy said, "Thank you SOOO much for the letter to Auburn!"

"Awww, sweetie," he grinned, "The dean an' I went to school together. Been a bunch of years. I oughtta go see 'im. I just thought he needed to get another idea about our Engineer's Apprentice."

Cindy giggled. "Well, thanks!"

The waitress came with two mugs of steaming coffee without asking. That's what we get for being regulars. She looked at Cindy. "Pancakes, sweetie?"

"Yes, ma'am," Cindy said.

"Me too," I added.

"So what's on tap this weekend for you two?" Bill asked.

Cindy laid out our plans.

He smiled and nodded. "Hey, I been meanin' to ask you, somebody told me that you an' Miss Cindy and some other folks've been playing' music out there where you're stayin'."

"I guess I could've said something," I replied. "Ain't much, really. Me, Jim and Ann Hardesty. Jim's Cindy's guidance counselor at school."

"And Cindy sings," he said. "Don't'cha think that some of us might've been interested? I mean, Cindy's like everybody's daughter or little sister out there." He shook his head. "'Cept you, Dan!"

"And for me, she's my best friend and..." I paused. "Bill, the music, it's a step up from a jam session. We're not that good..."

"Not what I heard," Bill said.

Cindy said, "Dan, we're getting a LOT better. Mister Bill, next time we decide to do a show, we'll tell you. I'll make sure!"

"Please do," Bill said. "Makes the job more pleasant, ya know."

Cindy and I attacked our pancakes and Bill demolished a plate of grits and eggs and bacon. When we stood up, he grabbed the check. I started to protest.

"No way," he said. "My treat! Ya'll go off an' have a good time!"

"Thanks, Mister Bill," Cindy said over her shoulder as we left.

In the truck, Cindy said, "We can talk to the Hardesty's about that, like maybe next weekend."

"They might get tired of doing that, baby," I said.

"I think they'd tell us if they were, don't'cha think?"

"Well, let's ask them if it's too soon..." I sighed.

"Oh, I was going to be tactful," she smiled. "I can be, you know..." She punched on the stereo and found us some music.

We killed time back at the trailer for a couple of hours before leaving for the airport. I wanted to be a little early. As it was, we got there five minutes before Jim and Ann. Cindy and I were just finished pushing the plane out onto the apron when they arrived.

"Back your car into the hangar," I said to Jim. I did the same thing, and we closed and locked the hangar door.

Cindy stood beside Ann as Jim and I stowed the bags in the cargo compartment and preflighted the plane.

Climbing in, Ann said, "I can see why you said this isn't a 'skirt' situation." Cindy giggled.

Jim and I climbed into the front seat. I turned to Ann. "There's a barf bag in the seat pocket."

"Dan," she said, "I'm SURE!"

"Just sayin'," I said. I turned to Jim. "You wanna read the checklist?"

Jim laughed. "One page ... got it!"

We fired up the engine and got some heat going and I watched until the oil temperature started climbing into the green before we taxied out. "Jim?" I asked.

"I'll follow you," he said. "It's a tail-dragger and I'm too rusty."

After the run-up, we checked for traffic, called on the radio, then lifted off the runway, cruise-climbing on course to fifty-five hundred feet, angled into Georgia.

The intercom and headphones made conversation possible and good friends made it pleasant. Ann said, "I forgot how much fun this is."

In a bit more than an hour we were winding our way thought the air traffic nightmare that is Atlanta, headed to a general aviation field outside the city, watching commercial jets in and out of the big airport that we carefully avoided, and I was pleased to do a real squeaker of a landing. No hop, no bounce, no little sideways wiggle. The wheels kissed the concrete and stuck, and we were in Atlanta.

With the plane tied down, we retrieved our rental car and transferred our luggage, headed to the hotel and checked in.

Jim said, "Wow, baby! Us. A hotel room. No kids!"

"Beast!" Ann giggled. To us she said, "See ya'll at about five?"

Cindy closed our door behind us, smiling. "Me and you. And a big bed. And a big shower. And a couple of hours..." she giggled.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Mister Jim an' Mizz Ann. They looked almost TOO happy..."

"It's probably a rare treat for them to get out like this, baby," I said.

She said, "Still ... you know ... I think about US doin' it, because we DO ... but it's kinda funny to realize that other people ... get excited about it..." By this time she was pressing up against me. "'Course, we COULD sit in the bed an' play cards..." She peeled that watchcap off her head, loosing that outrageous hair and shook it.

"C'mere, you! I have a better idea!"

By four-thirty we NEEDED a quick shower. By five, she was a little red-headed bit of perfection and I was wearing my 'respectable engineer' suit.

The phone rang. Cindy answered it. "Okay," she said. "We'll meet ya'll in the lobby."

Actually we met them in the elevator. Jim I'd seen in a suit before. I'd not seen Ann dressed up, and she did herself well in dark blue, her blonde hair in place, and looking like she was MEANT for Jim, her blue eyes sparkling, make-up an enhancement, not a cover.

"Ann," I said, "you look VERY nice!"

"Why, thank you, Dan! She chirped. To Jim she said, "See! A compliment!" To Cindy, "Wow! Cindy! Green does you RIGHT!"

Dinner for us was a nice restaurant on the 'upper tier' end of things, but not too expensive, and we enjoyed a pleasant meal and good conversation.

When we got to the auditorium, we found ourselves among many similarly attired people heading into the concert, and we took our seats about halfway back in the auditorium. The performance was sublime, a well-turned out chamber orchestra playing a few familiar pieces as well as a couple that I'd never heard before. Cindy tucked the program into her purse. "Stuff we need to buy," she said.

After the concert we found a late-night eatery and the four of us occupied a booth, drinking coffee and eating pastries.

"Oh, by the way," Cindy said. "Word got to people at Dan's job about our concerts at the park."

"Oh, really?" Ann said.

"Yes, ma'am," Cindy said. "Dan's boss, Mister Bill, we had breakfast with 'im this morning and he told us that they found out. Now he wants to come hear us."

Jim looked at Ann, then at me and Cindy. "So, like, this coming weekend?"

"I wasn't going to push ya'll," I said. "I mean, we've been keeping your dance book pretty full."

Ann interrupted, "But Dan, we LIKE doing these things. It's us and the kids, well, Teresa sings with us, even if Billy just helps set up and then plays his Gameboy. It's fun!"

Cindy turned to me with the beginnings of s smirk. "See! I told you I was tactful!"

God, she was beautiful, smiling, happy. "Yes, I see! But folks, we've been doin' this for a bunch of aging Yankee snowbirds. Now we're adding construction workers to our audience."

Jim laughed. "An' they know YOU and they know Cindy. And you an' me, we've faced down the Iraqi army, so what's there to be scared of?"

"Ever watch the country and western bar scene in 'The Blues Brothers'? The bunch I work with makes that look like the 'Tuesday Afternoon Sewing Circle'."

"Nah," Cindy said. "Another adventure! It'll be FUN!"

Cindy and Ann got up to visit the ladies' room. Jim turned to me. "Dammit, Dan, we have a couple of good-lookin' wives!"

"Married WAYYYY out of our leagues, man!" I laughed. "Lucky! That's all I can say."

"Cindy's cute as a button in that outfit! Green, with that hair." He shook his head.

"Sort of like Ann in blue. With those eyes of hers."

He smiled, satisfied. "Yes, she's quite the beauty, fifteen years into the game!"

When they came out, Jim and I were smiling. And yes, I did notice more than one head turn among the rest of the clientele.

I took the tab for the late night snack and we headed back to the hotel. In the elevator, Jim said "Let's not get crazy. Eight? Nine?"

Ann said, "Nine sounds good to me."

"Me too," Cindy said. "An'we're the girls, so we get to say!" She smirked at me.

"Yes, you get to say."

Quick shower. She blow-dried her hair and I shaved and we curled up together, completely wasting most of a king-sized bed. I turned out the bedside lamp and kissed her. "I love you, Cindy."

"I love you too, Dan." She laid her head on my chest and sighed. "Perfect. Today was perfect."

I mentally affirmed that idea, falling to sleep with her firm little titties pressing against me though her favorite cotton nightshirt, her hand softly caressing my dick.

I awoke with a little start as she got out of bed, heading to the bathroom. I heard the noise, then the flushing sound, then through slightly opened eyes I saw her face above mine. 'God, ' I thought, 'please never let me wake up from this dream.'

The dream kissed my lips, at first a soft, brushing kiss, then when I reacted, it got more firm and her hand caressed my face. "Wakey, babe," she said. "It's eight-thirty."

I smiled. "You SURE you're not a part of a wonderful dream?"

Little giggle. "I am if YOU are," she said. Another soft kiss, then the next and her tongue brushed my lips, signaling me to part them.

I ran my hands up under her nightshirt, my fingers savoring the feel of her soft skin, relishing every sweet, feminine curve. Every time I touched her, it was as exciting as the first, although married, I didn't have the undercurrent of being a despised criminal. My mind gave assent to that fact and I pulled her into me, finding her as eager and excited as I was. Faced with time constraints, though, we settled for kissing and caressing for a bit before she sat up.

"Uh, Mister Richards, ONE of us needs to responsible enough to say 'no'. We're supposed to meet our friends at nine for breakfast."

"Yeah, and they're probably having the same discussion we're having," I sighed.

Giggle. "Ya think!?!?" she grinned.

"Wouldn't surprise me a bit."

"Yeah," Cindy said. "Mizz Ann was looking good last night. I could see it Mister Jim's eyes. Still funny to think about other people that way, though..."

"Just like us, baby," I answered. "this," I said, squeezing her firm ass, "is part of a loving relationship, along with all the other stuff." I saw her smile. "I guess we should get dressed."

She chuckled. "'Cuz going to eat with friends is part of a loving relationship."

My cellphone rang.

"Mornin', Jim," I said.

"Mornin'," he answered. "Are ya'll ready?"

"Yeah, I was just getting ready to call YOU."

"Are we plannin' on checkin' out now, or are we comin' back?"

"Cindy and I usually check out, but it's your call. If you want a little more time after breakfast..."

There was a pause. "You don't mind? I mean, I got this blonde here that wants breakfast right now, but..."

"But after breakfast, hang the 'Do Not Disturb' sign until noon?"

Laughter.

Cindy's eyes were unusually playful when we met them in the lobby. Jim and I were back in jeans and long sleeved shirts and Cindy and Ann were in jeans and sweatshirts.

"G'mornin', Mizz Ann. Mister Jim," she said. "Did you sleep good?"

Jim looked at her, then me... "She knows too much, Dan. We may have to kill 'er before word gets out that my wife and I enjoyed an evening together..."

Ann smiled demurely. "We slept wonderfully, Cindy. And you two?"

"Mmm-hmmm!" Cindy grinned.

We all loaded into the car and went to breakfast. This time Jim and Ann occupied the back seat. An IHOP provided the pancake destination we sought and a GPS provided directions to one nearby. The conversation drifted around from the quality of the concert (Excellent!) to family and work and school.

Jim said, "So now it's University of Alabama's turn. They're supposed to call me back this week, and the engineering school is looking to meet with Miss Cindy. I'll let you know as soon as we find something out."

"I'll try to make it, Jim, but you know how work can be," I said. "I'll do what I can."

"I know, baby," Cindy said. "But either way, we'll be okay."

Ann's cellphone rang. "Teresa," she said, then answered. "Hey, sweetie." Pause. "Yes, we had a good time." Pause. "We're eating breakfast with Cindy and Dan." Another pause. "No, we're going to leave around noon. We should be home before dinner." Pause. "Okay! We love you, too!" She turned to us. "That was the 'Momma, when're you coming home' call."

"Ya'll want to, we can just go back to the hotel, pack up and leave," Cindy said.

Jim and Ann glanced at her, then each other. "Nah," Ann said. "Noon's soon enough."

Fifteen minutes later we were back at the hotel, and another five I was in our room, behind closed doors, Cindy naked astride me.

"You sweet, sexy thing," I said as she curled her fingers into my chest hair. I curled up to kiss her and she met me half way, pushing me down.

Her lips left my mouth and moved to my chest. Her purr changed to a tiny little growl as I felt teeth add to the sensation of her lips and tongue. Her bottom slid against my hardness. She pulled her face away from my chest and tugged me sideways urging me on top of her, her slim legs wrapping as far around me as she could get them.

Her eyes connected with mine. "I love you, Dan. I wanna hard one. Fast an' hard!"

I raised my hips. My dick leapt from being trapped between us to a perfect angle. I let the head drag once the length of her juicy pussy and then pushed. I was met by her own lunge upward, ensconcing me within her.

"Nnnnnghhhhh," she moaned. "I live for thisssssss!"

"You're so absolutely perfect, Cindy," I whispered. I gave a tentative stroke, then moved to a rhythm. I could tell it pleased her because she was bucking under me, meeting me stroke for stroke, mobile hips angling and swirling over me.

Her eruption preceded mine, precipitated mine, released mine. I knew my body wasn't going to be happy hovering over her, so I curled my arms under her and rolled over on my back.

She drew a deep breath. "Gaaahhhhhh, that's GOOOOOD!"

"The most wonderful physical feeling in the world, little one, except for all the others you cause in me..."

"I will love you forever, Dan," she said.

"And I will adore you, Cindy."

"Oops," she giggled. "It fell out." And that quirky grin.

"So do we leave big spot?"

"Nuh-uh," she said. "I like you soft an' soppy, too." Big smile. I have no problem with that. I got to do her in return. Juicy. And very reactive. Make that Dan - 1, Cindy - 2, for the day's first match. She lay in my arms, purring softly.

Eleven-thirty, rested, VERY relaxed. "Babe," I said, "Do you have anything we need to pack?"

"Nope," she said and with fourteen year old energy she bounced and landed face down above me. "Kiss me. Lots!"

I kissed her. She felt me harden. I scooted back on the bed to sitting position and she straddled my lap. Her hand went down and guided me inside her again.

"This is just for safekeeping, now. Don't get excited." She giggled. We played. I delighted in her nipples, watching the pink flesh harden, the tiny little wrinkles around them. She thought I was taking advantage of her, so she climbed off me, and took her turn on mine, holding onto my dick in her hand. She stroked the skin up and down over the shaft and felt a droplet of precum.

"Oooo! Juice!" her head dipped and she sucked me vigorously, then lavished nips and sucks over the shaft. I was in heaven, then she popped straight up, giggling. "Playtime's over! Time to get dressed!"

I growled and rolled her onto her back as she squealed, and I lapped her pussy amid gleeful noise. And only then did I let her go.

She tiptoed nude, kissing me. I wrapped her in my arms. She whispered. "You win! And even when You win, I win."

Five minutes later she was putting her hairbrush back in her purse, her watchcap pulled at a proper angle to her ears. I held her jacket for her to slip her arms in, and we opened the door, luggage in hand. In the lobby, we met Ann. "Jim's pulling the car around."

We loaded back into the car and in half an hour we were at the airfield. We drove the car up on the flightline to transfer luggage and I did the preflight while Jim turned the car in. The rental company gave him a ride back to the plane. I had the engine ticking over at an idle, warming up, when he buckled in. Ten minutes later we were at two hundred feet, crossing the departure end of the runway. Fifteen minutes west of Atlanta, I was starting to relax as we got away from the busy aviation hub and over the rural areas of Georgia.

An hour later we were touching down, back home. We pulled our two vehicles out of the hangar and pushed the plane in after topping off the fuel, locked the doors, and then after a round of happy hugs and handshakes, we parted ways, Jim and Ann to collect, in his words, Thing One and Thing Two, and Cindy and I back to our little home.

In the truck, she sagged against me. "now THAT was a weekend, don't'cha think?" she said.

"Lots of fun," I said. "Jim and Ann are good people. We're lucky to have friends like that. Especially since we're not your standard couple."

"I know," Cindy admitted. "Sometimes it's kind of strange, but you know, I think that the barriers that WERE there are coming down."

"WERE there?" I asked.

Cindy sighed. "Yeah, like how does a thirty-eight year old woman relate to a fourteen year old girl who's married and therefore, obviously having sex..."

"And..." I urged.

"Mizz Ann, last night when we went to the ladies' room, she said ... she asked if everything between us was normal ... between you and me. An' I told her that there was absolutely NOBODY before you, and I was VERY happy in that regard, an' if 'normal' was any better I'd just DIE." She giggled.

"And she responded?"

Giggle. "She said, 'good, baby! I hope it's as good for you an' Dan as it is for me an' Jim.' That's quite an admission, I think."

"Yes it is, baby," I said. "Jim and I watched ya'll walk off and you two turned some heads in the place. We decided we both married way better than we deserve..."

"Let's just get home, Dan. We can do TV dinners tonight, can't we? I want some serious 'Dan' time."

"TV dinners will do just fine, little one," I said. I might've pushed the accelerator just a little harder, too, but who knows?

Chapter 31

Monday I walked into the office thinking all was pretty darned good in my world. It was, really. The major parts of the power distribution system were 'hot', had real live electricity on them, and we had no problems. I thought I was hanging around the project, just waiting for the big generators to make electricity, basically making sure the documentation package: drawings, equipment manuals, reports, the myriad details of 'this is what we built for you', and training the owner's staff on my piece of the pie.

Trouble was, I was a person who 'knew things'. Therefore, I got dragged into discussions about fans that ran on a continuous overload and data networks that dropped packets and a whole bank of instrumentation that didn't send out good signals. Other peoples' problems, basically. But that was one of the reasons I keep getting called on these jobs: I help things along. I facilitate. I pull in resources that somebody else might've overlooked,. And I make things work. And I give credit to the whole team's effort.

So I was late getting home Monday night and Cindy was finishing a TV dinner. She giggled when I pointed out the tater tots. And then cooked me one...

"I talked to Mister Jim today," she said, "Right after school. He says we visit the University of Alabama on Thursday. Can you make that?"

"I should be able to, doll. I got one big motor to run tomorrow, and if everything looks right on my end, I think I can go with you," I said.

"I hope so. S'pose they ask me something I don't know..." She sat across the table from me as I ate.

"I don't think they'll ask you anything earthshaking, baby. I think this is just like Auburn, where they say 'let's see what this bright star looks like'. You're very much able to handle yourself in conversation every time I see you. I watch. You impress people."

"I wanna impress people like YOU do," she said. "I want people to WANT me to be there because I add something they can't get elsewhere."

"You do that for me," I said.

"Not THAT!" she smirked.

"Oh" I said, feigning anguish. "You think THAT is ALL I get from you? What about your mad kitchen skills?" I pushed my TV dinner tray, empty, toward her. "I notice the particularly artful way you peeled the film back away from the tater tots."

Red hair. Green eyes. And a tongue sticking out at me. Giggling.

"It is so good to have you, kitten, to laugh with," I said.

"Me too," she said, hugging me before she removed the empty tray. "We can just relax and be ourselves. Can't we?"

January. I'd known her since the previous August. We'd been living together since the first of November, married since the week of Thanksgiving. I'd never felt the need to be anywhere other than with her every second I could. The only time I'd heard her use cross words was the horrible 'big toe versus the dinette leg' incident. I was required to do extra cuddles that night. So, yes! We could be ourselves.

"Did Jim say anything about our weekend?" I asked.

"He said it was the best weekend he an' Mizz Ann have had in a long time. Said that he was getting used to being impressed with the way you an' I carry on in public."

"That's 'cuz he doesn't want to think about us carryin' on in private," I jibed.

"Oh, I doubt he gives it much thought. Mizz Ann had a big smile on HER face at breakfast yesterday," she tittered.

"C'mere, little angel. I feel the urge to hold you," I said, sitting back on the sofa. That got me the desired outcome, an armful of delightful, giggly redhead. She flopped on top of me, our faces inches apart. I wrapped her in my arms.

She clasped my face between her hands. "Oooo, baby's all bristly," she giggled, and then she rubbed her cheek against a day's worth of beard growth, purring.

Sometimes she was so much like a kitten.

An hour later, showered, freshened, and for me, shaved, we were sitting on the sofa sipping herb tea she'd gotten from Ann, and playing cards. I was in the midst of a retreat.

"I almost wish we didn't have the music thing this weekend, baby," she said. "I long for a big shower and lots of hot water, and me an' you walking along in a park in the dark."

"It's twenty-five degrees out there, sweetie," I said.

"An' we both get cold and rush inside and take off our clothes and dive under the covers."

"Now that's inventive," I said.

"Don't want you to be bored..." Green eyes twinkled.

"With you, cutie, I'll either be VERY interested, or DEAD!"

An almost shy smile spread across her face. "So which one are you right NOW?"

"I still have reflexes," I laughed. "Turn that light out."

With a youthful bounce she had her hands on my waist, following me to the bed at the end of the trailer. I started to crawl up from the foot of the bed, but as soon as I was on my hands and knees a little hand cupped my balls.

"I like YOU from behind, too, you know," she lilted.

I saw her nightshirt flutter onto the nightstand on her side of the bed. That told me that there was, in very close proximity, five feet three inches of eager redheaded girl. I escaped my tender captivity and stripped my own shirt off and turned to accept a collision of nubile female flesh. I fell backward with her in my arms, a mere feather of a girl who held my heart in her hands.

I pushed a hand between us and cupped her hot little pussy, then one finger slipped between wet folds. She grabbed my wrist and pushed me hard, shoving my finger inside her as her mouth met mine, our tongues twisting together.

Her own hand circled the base of my dick, fingers stroking the skin of my scrotum.

"I would REALLY like to eat you, little girl."

Squeal! "I was hoping you'd say that!" and her athletic young form twirled, presenting me with a view of pink wetness, plump with excitement, begging to be tasted, licked, suckled, savored. I enjoyed my happy task, receiving in return some wonderful attention to my dick by precious hands and mouth, until her hip movements took on an insistent rhythm as she neared orgasm.

She came, breathless, speaking words without language, then turned back, kissed me, my face moist with her own juices.

"D'ya mind if I do THIS one for both of us now?" She slid her legs sideways and sat up, straddling me. A little hip bounce and she was impaled on my hardness. She was already biting her bottom lip, the corners of her mouth curled up in a smile as my hands explored her hips, her waist, her chest. That close to her previous orgasm, the next one wasn't far behind, and my first one was waiting at the gates, primed by her beauty and her previous eager attentions.

She was mewing as she came, spurred on by the throbbing of my own orgasm as she held me deep inside her. She collapsed into my arms, semi-conscious.

"Towel," she said. "I don't wanna move."

Beside the bed was a fleecy hand towel for just this occasion. Nobody needed to sleep in the wet spot.

She cuddled into my side and said, "Lights. Music. I love you. Kiss me." I kissed her and slid into another night of being thankful that THIS was happening to ME.

Tuesday was a little better. By mid-morning we had all the players around for the last big motor. I stood by in my substation with a radio, waiting. When the time came, somebody out there initiated a count-down and at the sound of 'zero' I heard an authoritative THUMP, as expected. On my laptop's display I watched the huge amount of electricity rush into the motor as it spun up, knowing full well that too much for too long, and my stuff would shut things down. We got past that, ran long enough for the mechanical people to get vibration signatures, and then I heard what I called the 'unthump', signaling a normal stop.

I leaned back in my folding chair, looking across the table at one of my technicians. "Another day in paradise," I said. "Good work!"

"We do it right, Dan," he smiled. "Most of the time, anyway." Yeah. Sometimes things slip through. Not often. That's why we test and retest.

I walked out and took my golfcart back to the office. Catching my mechanical buddy, I asked, "so when are we doing the four hour run?"

"We're planning on starting at eight in the morning," he answered.

"Great!" I said, seeing the idea of working late disappearing over the horizon. At four I was out of the plant and on the way to the trailer. I found Cindy in there, tapping away at her laptop keyboard.

"Whatcha doin', cutie?" I asked.

"Something for social studies."

"You're doing an assignment?"

"Yep!" she said. 'Cuz I want to."

"Can I interrupt you to ask about dinner?"

"Pizza," she said.

"You don't wanna go out?"

"Nope. I got thoughts I need to put down." She smiled over her shoulder.

Okay! I'd seen Cindy get this way while she was writing before. And yes, she wrote. It's pretty good stuff, really, not only from my somewhat biased perspective, but also from her English teacher's view. And also a couple of university English department people. She was funny in a cute way. She got into a 'zone' until she reached some internal setpoint and then she was right back out of it.

Accordingly, I backed off, ordered the pizza and then sat back on the sofa and picked up a book. I heard the pizza guy show up and met him at the door with money in hand. I guess that was Cindy's stopping point. She closed her laptop and got a couple of paper plates and we dove into pizza.

"What's the assignment?" I asked.

"Well," she said, "the teacher was discussing how societies change and she said something about the 'nuclear family' and I said something about 'does that mean daddy works on a reactor' and she and about three kids laughed.

Okay, I snorted cola in my nose...

"But then she talked about what she REALLY means and assigned us a two-page essay on what WE thought caused changes in the nuclear family." She bit a chunk off a triangular slice and chewed. After a sip of her drink, she continued, "So I have ALL these ideas. You know I read some of this stuff. Like that time I told you about how people used to get married before there were judges and licenses and records an' stuff. But you know I read stuff."

"Yes, you do read stuff, baby," I said. She did. One can't fly around the countryside or make love ALL the time. We did try, though. But back to reading. Library? The local one was, well, 'small' is a rather generous term. But this is the age of the internet, and I showed her free books and she was voracious.

She read a lot, too...

Oh, okay ... Cindy loved learning. "So you're distilling that knowledge into two typed, eleven-point, double-spaced pages?"

"I am proposing a few causative factors," she said. "And THAT is what my paper says."

"Now you have my curiosity piqued." I talked with this person every day and I was often amazed at the turns a conversation might take.

"D'ya think we're normal?" she asked.

"Oh, come on! You're fourteen, I'm forty-one..."

"But let's look at some other things. You're male, I'm female..."

"No doubt about that," I laughed. "I've checked!"

"Neither of us was divorced. I wasn't pregnant."

"When you put it like that," I said, "it sounds good. But when somebody sees us for the first time, what'd'ya think they see? Dad and daughter. Uncle and niece. Teacher and student. They have to have a reason to get past that when they find out we're married. Like Mona Simmons."

"Yeah, the lady at the restaurant the other morning."

"Uh-huh," I said. "She was all full of the wrong ideas about us. Maybe we got through to her, but you gotta know that there's other people out there who've heard about us, maybe even seen us, who still have those ideas, and with some of them, no amount of explanation will be enough."

"Anyway, I was just thinkin' about the whole family and marriage thing since we were talkin' about it in class. I'm the only one in the whole school that's married." She smiled.

"You're in MIDDLE SCHOOL!" I laughed.

"You'd rather I waited?"

"Nope. I am just glad that you seem to not be catching crap about it." At least I'd not heard anything about it from her.

Smile. "No, not when there are a bunch of pregnant fourteen year olds around. Like Mizz Ann said. Even if what we did was BAD, there are a lot WORSE things." Her hand touched mine. "And I don't think what we have is bad. Not even a little bit."

"You don't feel like I'm exploiting you? That's what a lot of people think about relationships like ours."

"Oh, yeah, I think you're exploiting me. I NEVER get to do what I want, even stuff I never expected to want. You know, like flyin', and concerts, and singin' with a band. TWO bands, actually. And COLLEGE. And goin' to your job. And after you get a shower, I plan on getting exploited some more." When she grinned, her nose wrinkled, a characteristic that made me melt.

Wednesday went absolutely normally. The run of the big motor was without a hitch.

Thursday we all piled into my truck to go to visit the University of Alabama.

We were ushered into another well-appointed office, a large window overlooking the campus. The well-dressed gentleman came around his desk, hand extended.

"Welcome! I'm Doctor Raymond Minnets, dean of the School of Engineering." He approached Cindy first. "And you're somebody we've been interested in, Miss Cynthia. Or is it 'Cindy'?"

"Cindy, sir," she said, shaking his hand. "I'm happy to meet you. This is my husband, Dan Richards, an electrical engineer, and my school guidance counselor, Mister Jim Hardesty."

Dr. Minnets shook each of our hands. "Please, folks, sit down. Let's talk with Miss Cindy."

Cindy was dressed beautifully, this time in earth tones that let her pale skin and red hair speak for them.

"Cindy, do you enjoy learning? Challenges?"

"Yes, Doctor Minnets," she said.

"Wait. What do you call HIM?" he asked, indicating Jim.

"Mister Jim," she said.

"Then, please, Cindy, I'm Mister Ray, okay?"

"Yes, Mister Ray," she said, smiling a bit more. "I enjoy learning. I enjoy teaching, too."

"What are you doing right now that you're not TOLD to do?"

I was a bit impressed, seeing him getting into Cindy's idea of her place in the world.

"Oh, let's see," she smiled. "I'm learning to fly. We have an airplane. I'm visiting an industrial construction site two or three times a month since last September. It's a combined cycle cogeneration plant. I'm singing with an amateur bluegrass group. I'm helping tutor my middle school contemporaries (Contemporaries? Yes, that was the word she used.) who have difficulties, mostly in math."

He looked at me. "Am I to assume that you're associated with that powerplant?"

"Yessir," I said. "Head electrical engineer."

"Ah," he said. "That's why your name rings a bell. You have a reputation, it seems. And she's ... your wife? Fourteen?"

"Long story, I said. "She's a unique creature."

"So I've been told." He turned back to Cindy. "I have a letter here, speaking highly of you as, and I quote, 'Engineer's Apprentice'. It comes from an alumnus, Gary Denham."

"Mister Gary," she smiled. "He's the mechanical engineer that works on Dan's project. I took pictures inside his boiler."

"Yes. Gary Denham. Says you're not the 'ooooh and ahhhh' kind of visitor. Sent me some pictures of you in a hardhat and safety glasses and a pocket protector."

Giggle. "Yessir. They're very sociable. But the project. So many thousands of pieces that have to ALL be engineered and fit together to make a functioning whole ... I want part of that."

"Admirable. Did Dan and Mister Jim explain to you the sorts of coursework you'll be required to complete?"

"Yessir. As a matter of fact, I've been playing with some courses on line. D'you know you can get complete courses from MIT?"

He looked at me again. "She calls an MIT course 'play'?"

I shrugged. "I told you she's not standard."

He smiled. "I surmised as much from her test scores. Jim tells me of the plan for her high school graduation. Miss Cindy, are you going to have any difficulty meeting those requirements?"

"No sir," she said. "And please understand I'm not bragging. It's just that I've seen practice ACT material and practice high school exit exams, and, well, no sir. Not a problem."

"I'd be interested in seeing how you do about testing out of some first year courses for college, too," he said. "But they're not practice tests, Cindy."

"All I could do is try, sir. I might be able to get by on some, but sometimes I think that the classroom work would be good, too."

"Cindy, college is quite a bit different from what you're used to. I think you'll do well, but I also think it will be quite a change."

The conversation continued for half an hour along the same vein. Halfway through we were joined by a couple of the professors, more because Cindy was a curiosity than any actual need to interview her.

Our visit ended with the expression of fervent desire that Cindy consider studying at University of Alabama.

There was a little lunchroom conversation with a few other faculty members. A couple of them engaged Cindy in questions and answers.

Afterward, we climbed back in the truck and started the trip back.

"What did ya'll think," Cindy asked.

"I was more impressed by Dr. Minnets' line of questioning," I admitted.

"Me too," Jim added.

"I thought it was interesting myself," Cindy said. "And he sort of warned me about the work. And those other professors that talked to me ... Interesting."

"You don't have to make a decision right away, baby," I said.

"No," Jim said. "these are just quick looks. Give 'em a couple of weeks and then we'll talk some more with them. If they don't call you, we can call them."

Cindy crossed her arms. "They'll call," she said. "I'm sure they will."

I hoped they would.

The rest of the trip home was conversation about the upcoming 'concert'. Word was out on the jobsite and I expected at least a handful of visits from people out there who paid attention to the little redhead who kept popping up every couple of weeks.

Since we had Jim in the truck, we had to drop him off at his house. We stopped by a fast food chicken place and picked up dinner, saving Ann a bit of cooking and giving us another chance to enjoy the company of friends.

And finally we were home. While Cindy was showering, I checked email, tapping out one to my sister and brother about Cindy's latest college event, and then I saw one in the queue that was different. Addressed to me. About a job. A permanent job.

I heard the shower shut down, signaling the end of Cindy's shower, meaning it was MY turn. I shut the laptop's lid and got up to do my evening routine, catching a squeeze from a naked Cindy as she pulled her nightshirt over her head. I did my own thing, finishing up my shaving in time to assist Cindy in brushing her hair to spun copper.

She joined me on the sofa.

"Baby, I got a bite on a job in Montgomery," I said.

"Ooooo," she squealed. "That's University of Alabama."

"Yeah," I said. "or, if we pick a spot east of there to live, it's close enough to commute to Auburn."

"Except I'm too young to drive," she said.

"There is THAT," I admitted. "We'll make something work, though."

"I bet they have groups that carpool an' stuff," she said. "I could pay gas or something."

"Uh-huh. We'll work out something, if have to hire you a chauffeur," I said.

"So what kind of job is it, babe?" she asked.

"Staff engineer. Power plant. Sort of like the one we're building, except older."

"You could do that standing on your head, sweetheart," she said. "Oh, look! Tootie emailed me, said you told 'er about the UA visit."

"I did. I'm proud of you. But this job thing, it's not the only one I sent feelers out for, you know," I said.

She closed her own computer and slid across the sofa and into my arms. "Things work out for us, Dan. They just DO!"

I wanted to buy onto her optimism. Somehow things WOULD work out. I hoped. I saw that I needed to do further research. Some more emails. Some more phone calls. It's been a long time since I had to look for a job. The last couple of years I'd had one on the back burner before I finished the one I was on, but that was always another few months on the road in the trailer or some other temporary arrangement. This time I wanted a job that would last me until Cindy got out of college, however long that might be.

Cindy read me like an open book. "Honey, you're thinking again, aren't you?"

"Yes, little one," I said. "Just trying to find the job that's going to take care of us while you're finishing college."

"Not having a problem, are you?" she asked.

"Nope. Told everybody on my cover letters that I would be available in July. That gives us time for this project to finish, for YOU to graduate from high school, Miss Fourteen, and for the two of us to fly the length of the Rockies, then come back and set up housekeeping wherever we need to be."

Her face was inches from mine. "It would be nice if we were close to my new college, even if we had to take a little lower pay, wouldn't it? I know you could make a lot more money traveling, but that would be difficult while I was in school."

I remembered the early days of our relationship, where all I wanted to do was hang around until I got her through the school year. And then the box opened and I found out what sort of prize was inside. And now I was planning my life so I'd be able to give her more than she ever imagined. But now her imagination was expanding.

"We'll do just fine. The house in Louisiana is paid for. I ... Uh, WE don't owe a stinkin' dime to anybody. I've done pretty well with investments and we've got money in the bank. We'll get you through school and then we'll both get jobs together, at least in the same city, and life will be great."

Her arms laced around my neck and a kiss landed on my lips. "Great. Like it is now. Even better."

"Yes it is, dearest," I said, returning the kiss.

"Let's go sit on the bed an' play rummy," she said. "and just relax."

"Okay," I said. Well, we started off playing cards, anyway."

Friday. Cindy off to school, me back to work. I spent most of the morning uploading a control program and watching a couple of technicians run it through its paces. The appropriate lights blink and the appropriate noises came forth. Reporting this bit of the project as complete made me happy. In the afternoon I filed the reports, archived a copy of the software and documentation, accompanied the client's new electrical supervisor through the facility, and it was time to go.

Out the gate, I called Cindy. "Hey, cutie, I'm on the way home."

"Okay, love," she answered. "I'll be at the office with Mizz Helen an' Mister Charlie."

"Okay, sweetie, ' I said. "Be there in a minute."

I drove on, dodging through dozens of cars with the same idea I had, to get home.

My cellphone rang. I flipped it open and saw 'Jim Hardesty'.

"Hey, Jim! What's up?"

"Your wife's stirred things up at school, that's all."

"Something wrong?" I asked.

"Oh, no. It's a good stir."

"What happened?" I asked.

"She turned in a paper for social studies. I've seen it. I think the title is 'Who Dropped the Bomb on the Nuclear Family'."

"Oh, really? She was wrapped up in that Wednesday night. I picked at 'er because it was supposed to be two pages and I thought the subject was too broad."

"Well, she turned in THREE pages, and her social studies teacher wants her to put it in the social studies fair."

"Oh, that'll be interesting. She's already too different, Jim. Married. Graduating at fourteen."

"And" I added "How many people know about her shooting incident?"

"Everybody," he admitted. "And she's going up against high school students. Unless you say 'no'."

"Lemme ask the little darlin' what SHE wants to do," I laughed. "But what do YOU think?"

He laughed. "I think that if she feels like it, we let her put together something, rough it out, you know, and then we see what her social studies teacher says. And then..."

"Then we let Cindy run with it," I laughed.

"Yeah. But we don't push her," he said. "Like we've ever pushed Cindy."

I told Cindy about the conversation.

"Oh, yeah," she said. "I'd love to give that a try. She read my paper right after we turned 'em in. told me she liked it."

Saturday was a cold, blustery day. We popped out of bed and let the restaurant up the road provide us with breakfast, and then retreated to the trailer for something thrown together in one pot, leaving us with the afternoon to lounge around reading, not feeling guilty about it because it was just nasty outside. At five we were at the Hardesty house loading up equipment for the Saturday evening show.

The flyer on the park bulletin board made sure we had almost a hundred percent attendance from the park denizens. That was pretty much normal. What was different this time was the work crowd, My engineer buddies, one of my technicians, the electrical foreman, several of the crew, Jeff Simmons and his wife Mona, who we met at the diner a couple of weekends ago.

We rolled out an extra rack of folding chairs, and in a redneck version of the parable of the loaves and fishes, ice chests and coolers appeared and cold beverages were passed around on one side, and a big coffee urn provided hot beverages on the other and our motley crew mounted the stage.

I introduced the band to the crowd and welcomed all our guests, noting that we did indeed have twice the normal participation, and then we laid into the music.

Yeah, simple, unsophisticated stuff at first. Got people to clapping and feet to patting and loosened up, and then Cindy and Theresa did a few, and then we took a break and got approached by a few people who offered to give things a try. You'd be amazed, sometimes, to find out that the old guy with the paunch and grey fringe around the bald head could really shred a guitar. If they fit, they played.

We noticed several video cameras out, too, recording the show.

Jim and I and Ann lapsed into a slow waltz and Bill Carmody came up and tapped Cindy.

"Can you dance, Miss Cindy?" He asked?

"Yessir, not real good, but I can try," she answered.

"If you'll dance with me, I'd appreciate it." He held his hand out. She grinned. And I watched my wife dancing around the floor, five-three with six-four, three hundred pound Bill, and that got a few other couples up to dance. We finished the number and got calls from the audience to do another waltz.

Cindy got picked on to dance with several others before I implored her to return to the stage for a couple more songs. I got a couple of the fill-in players to do a waltz, playing with me, so Jim and Ann could take a turn around the floor together, and then they returned the favor for me and my brilliant little redhead. I also noted a smiling Mona Simmons dancing with her husband.

Ten o'clock was our scheduled ending time, but when we announced our final number, groans and calls from the audience talked us into a few more sets. Fortunately, the same people who called for us to hang around, hung around themselves to help us load up. Of course, when it came time to unload at Jim's, we had no help, but we laughed and got the task done.

Ann came up. "Look! We got a collection tonight!"

"A collection?" I asked.

"Yeah," she said. "I put a bucket out front, and people dropped money in it. We got a couple hundred bucks."

Jim said, "Now what are we supposed to do with that?"

"I dunno," I said. "When we did that gumbo, I gave some to Steve for cleaning up."

"Here," she said. "What'd you give 'im?"

"Seventy-five bucks."

She counted it out. "I'll save the rest and buy some refreshments for next time."

Cindy chirped, "It was something the way things just showed up. Cold drinks. Some beer. Somebody made coffee."

"That was Steve," I said.

"Well, it was great," Cindy said. "even better'n last time."

"An' dancin'," Cindy said. "First time for that?"

"Yes," Ann said. "Your Mister Bill broke the ice on that one."

Jim wrapped his arm around Ann's waist. "How long's it been since we danced, babe?"

Her eyes twinkled. "Too long, guy. That WAS nice! And YOU asked me!"

"'Cuz you're still the prettiest girl at the ball," he said.

"Flattery'll get you ... oh, never mind!" she giggled, blushing.

"Then we'll get out of your way," I said. "c'mon, Cindy. These people..."

Teresa moaned, "Mooo-oommm!" To Cindy, in a stage whisper, "They're sooo embarrassing!" And she smiled.

Chapter 32

We were home, in our own little nest, the door closed behind us. I touched her shoulder to wrap my arms around her and she beat me to it, pressing her jeans and sweatshirt-clad self against me. Long kiss.

"You know what time of the month it is, don't you?"

"Yeah, I kind of thought so. You taste a little different right before, ' I said. "So just starting?"

"Yep. Darnit!"

"Uh-huh. Like THAT'S the only thing I love about you."

Another kiss, green eyes sparkling. "Lemme get my shower. You're scratchy..."

"Shower, then, cutie," I said.

"On the way, babe," she said.

I heard the water running as I sorted a couple of days' worth of laundry into piles, debating on whether to sacrifice a handful of quarters in the park Laundromat or to spend the better part of a day using the miniature washer-dryer combo in the trailer. The water stopped and in a minute she stepped out of the tiny bathroom, her hair dark from the moisture. She was wearing panties, her concession to that 'period' thing.

I undressed and slid past her, nude, a move that got me a good groping from a giggly teen. I started my own shower, mindful that the hot water supply was not only finite, but likely half gone, and January wasn't the time to be taking a cold shower, and if I was desirous of warm water to shave with, I needed to be careful. I wet myself down, turned the water off as I lathered and scrubbed and shampooed, then turned the water back on to rinse off. When I stepped out of the shower, I heard the hair dryer blowing.

I shaved and stepped out to help her with her hair. Oh, yeah, she was perfectly capable of drying that short copper-colored style, but to me it was almost the level of a fetish. When I finished, she turned to me, smiling, and she was perfect.

"Come on, baby, it's late," she giggled.

Her period. Every time she had one, she steadfastly refused to harbor the thought of intercourse, and honestly, I wasn't that heated on the idea myself, but I'd do anything for her. So on Period, Day One, at almost midnight, I surmised that we'd do a little kissing and cuddling and slide off into slumber.

I shut the lights off in the trailer except for the little overhead light above the head of the bed, and she was sitting cross-legged in the middle of it as I made my way there.

That wasn't what she had in mind. "Lay back," she said, her eyes laughing.

"Baby," I started.

"Hey, sometimes it's not about YOU," she giggled. "I like this, too, you know..."

"Well, if you insist..."

More giggles. She crawled up and kissed me passionately, stroking my hardness as she insinuated her slim form atop me, then she bit my chest, sliding downward, and then she started working me over with her lips and tongue and teeth, knowing what made me work. Of course my moans and involuntary thrusts might've given her some ideas, too. Her tongue was urging the spurts as I came. She kept me in her mouth until I began to soften, then she crawled up beside me.

"Now, don't you feel better?" she smiled.

"You have no idea," I sighed.

"Yes I do, guy. 'Cuz you do the same to me..." She molded herself into my side as I set up some music to fall asleep with and turned off the light.

Wonderful winter Sunday morning. The trailer was below sixty degrees, our "Let's snuggle" temperature. As the vestiges of a winter sunrise made it past the edges of the blackout curtains on the windows, I stirred, wakened by my internal clock, and then I realized what day it was, where I was, and most importantly, what that warmth was, pressed against my hip. I turned over to drift back into sleep and that motion precipitated one from my delightful partner. A tiny "mmmm" came from her lips and then soft motions as she twisted to find her own version of comfort.

We drifted back off together for another half an hour before pressure from my bladder made me have to get up. As I stood, happy with the feeling of an early morning piss, I felt the trailer shudder slightly with the footsteps of my young love. Her hand touched my back as I finished and she took her turn.

"Breakfast?" I asked. "Here or..."

"The diner," she said.

"Got it," I said. That put me on the path of dressing for the trip. She came out and took her own tack toward that goal and when I finished, I watched her buttoning a long-sleeved flannel shirt, then brushing her short hair.

I put the first load of laundry in the little washer and then we made the short dash out the door and shivered in the cab of the pickup until it warmed enough to defrost the ice on the windshield. And off we went. The diner had the expected Sunday crowd, including Mona and Jeff Simmons.

They saw us walk in and waved enthusiastically for us to join them. We slid into their booth.

Mona was smiling today. "Ya'll, we had a wonderful night. Ya'll do pretty good on the music! And I actually got HIM to dance with me."

Jeff grinned. "We don't do the clubs and it's been a long time since we went to a family thing where there was any kind of dancing." He patted Cindy's arm. "When I saw you an' ol' Bill, I figured if YOU could dance with HIM, then I could give Mizz Mona a whirl around the floor."

"We had a good time!" Mona said. "I think everybody did."

"Well," I said, "The Hardesty's are good friends, and we certainly enjoy playing together."

We enjoyed our breakfast with them, talking, laughing. They left for church, inviting us to go with them, but we were in jeans and flannel and we respectfully declined. Jeff picked his ticket up to leave and I grabbed it.

"Hey..." he said.

"Hey, yourself. We enjoyed sitting with ya'll. I got this." I smiled.

"Well, I get the next one, then..." he replied.

"That's fine, but I'm not worried."

"Thank you," Mona said.

Cindy just smiled and said, "You're welcome!"

Cindy and I finished our second mugs of coffee after they left, then got up and paid our ticket and got back in the truck. As was a general rule, yesterday's nasty, blustery day gave way to blue skies and a brisk north wind. As I turned to get into the truck, I faced into the breeze, letting the sting make me feel even more alive. I slid in and Cindy was already in the middle of the bench seat, waiting on me.

I bent over and kissed her. She giggled. "I remember how much I wanted to be able to kiss you in broad daylight, Dan," she said. "Remember? When we first got started?"

"Oh, yes, sweetness, I do." I thought back to those days when I thought I must be absolutely crazy, but couldn't stop myself from adoring this girl. "I'm glad we don't have to hide now..." I cranked the truck and we drove back to the trailer. We spent the rest of the morning doing laundry and ended up having canned soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. And after lunch...

"It's sucha pretty day, don't'cha think, babe?" she smiled. "The sky's just soooo blue..."

"That somebody should be carving a hole in it?"

"Can we?" she grinned.

"Of course we can," I answered.

"Then let's swap the laundry and we can go..." she said.

We were on the road again and a half an hour later we were dragging the plane out of the hangar to spend a couple of hours making a grand loop out of a chunk of Alabama, as well as some interesting arrangements of climbs and banks as I showed her the sort of maneuvers she'd be learning once she got old enough to actually log time for her own license.

"Maybe I oughtta go back to Louisiana an' let Hanna teach me in the Extra," Cindy said. "That little thing ... the controls are so easy..."

"I've never heard of somebody getting a private license in an Extra," I said. "Of course, most people don't do it in a 180, either, but you're doing pretty good with it." Yeah, I still followed her pretty close on landings and take-offs, but she was getting pretty good. Sadly, the law said she had to be sixteen to be an official student so my wife could neither drive nor fly on her own.

"Show me that 'stall' thing again, honey," she said.

Four thousand feet over the Alabama countryside I talked her through pulling the throttle back and holding the nose up. "Feel the controls get mushy?"

"Uh-huh," she said.

"Now hold the nose up, and the wing is going to stop flying..."

The nose dropped. opped.

"Now release the back-pressure and add power and let the wing start flying again."

"Ooooo-kayyyy, I see," she said.

"Climb back up to four thousand," I said.

The Continental engine pulled us back to altitude. We talked about the maneuver and how simple it was. "Unless you get stupid when you're close to the ground, and you don't have the altitude to let your nose down to recover. Stalls are usually fatal near the ground. Let's do another and see how much altitude it takes you to recover."

This time she did it all. "Four hundred feet," she said. "We lost four hundred feet."

"You can do better than that with practice, but remember, you wouldn't be practicing stalls near the ground. You'd be doing something like trying to make the end of the runway without adding power or something, and it'd catch you by surprise..."

"I see," she said.

"Now let's look at another kind of stall..." And I showed her some more. "Let me know if you get queasy," I said.

"Oh, please, baby," she huffed. "Hanna an' me did lomcevaks!"

"That was then. This is now. I don't want to have to clean up a mess."

She looked at me. "So, okay ... Full power. Forty-five degree bank. Establish the turn. And pull back!" Accelerated stall. The plane shuddered and rolled as the wings lost lift. "An' release the back pressure." And we were flying again.

"That's the same scenario, Cindy. You're on approach to the runway and you misjudge, and you haul back too hard to tighten a turn, and you're in the trees."

She got us back to four thousand feet. "Okay! One more. Other direction."

"And then home. It's gonna get dark." I folded my arms and let her play and then she flew us back home. The shadows were getting long as we left the airport in search of fried catfish. The restaurant, at least. I got mine grilled.

Sitting there sipping iced tea while we were waiting on the food to show up, she was grinning. "D'ya know how much fun THAT was?"

"What?" I asked.

"Stalls. Learning more stuff." She was glowing. My baby loved to learn. Life was her adventure. She was mine.

By the time we got back to the trailer, the wind had died down, the temperature dropping fast after sunset. While she showered, I folded laundry from the dryer. And put the wet clothes from the washer on to dry. She was out of the shower, wearing her panties and nightshirt, and she started drying her hair. I did my nightly ablutions and we cuddled up on the sofa, a blanket and our body heat fighting the chill as the temperature dropped.

I wrapped my arms around her. "You know, little girl," I said, "I've spent many a cold night in my life, but none of them was ever as enjoyable as being with you, all cuddled up." Her red head came back against my chest. I kissed the crown of it, and rubbed my cheek against that outrageous bronze thing.

She giggled. "Ya know," she answered, "Me too ... Last winter, Mom's heater used too much propane, so we had a little electric thing and I'd get so cold sometimes that I'd just curl up under the blankets and not wanna come out." Giggle. "Now I snuggle with YOU an' don't wanna come out..." She rolled from laying back in my arms to facing me. "Just like this!" And our mouths melded.

"Oh, yesssss," I said. "wonderful!"

"Yes we are, aren't we!" More kisses. TV was being ignored. The computers hadn't even been booted up. THIS was entertainment, even though she was 'stupid period!'.

"When we get that last load out of the dryer, we can move this to the bed, okay?" I said.

"Uh-huh. Hold me." She turned her freckled face to mine.

I don't know if she knew exactly how perfectly delightful I found her face but I knew. It was like somebody'd scanned my brain for every neuron that ever fired on 'cute' and then built HER to hit them. I had her in my arms. She was lying on me and our legs were entwined, and it was love.

"You're perfect," I said, planting little kisses on her face.

"I'm not, except to you," she smiled, "and you're perfect to me, an' that's the way it's s'posed to be..."

"You betcha, babe," I said.

"Turn that TV off," she said. "Let's get some music going..."

That's when the dryer buzzed and I folded the rest of the clothes as she turned back the bed's covers and selected some music for us.

I lowered the thermostat to 'snuggle' temperature and then joined my little sweetie under the comforter in our bed. I was reaching to turn off the light when I felt a hand slide up the inside of my thigh and she softly said, "Nuh-uh."

I looked at her and she was smiling.

"Would you mind terribly if we played with this for a little bit? Hmmm?" she smiled.

"Yeah. I'm gonna refuse that," I laughed. "I belong to you, little one," I said.

"Good," she giggled. "Like, I know this TRICK," she said playfully. "If I do THIS," and she started stroking me from the base to the tip, her hand sliding lightly over my shaft, then her grip tightened and she was sliding the skin up and down. "an' If I do THIS," and her head bobbed downward, the head of my dick disappearing into her mouth, and she turned her head so I could see her eyes twinkling mirthfully, "I think I can get SOMETHIN' to happen..."

In a matter of minutes, something did indeed happen, and when it was over, her head popped back up, green eyes, red hair, and a sublime smile. We kissed, not because of some fetish about swapping semen, but because she was mine and I was hers and we were supposed to kiss.

As she pulled the comforter up to cover us, I said, "Baby, you know..."

She stopped me with another kiss. "Dan, don't even start. You KNOW I'm not doing this 'cuz of anything but I love you and I LIKE doin' it with you. You say you get happy that you can make ME come so hard an' so many times," she said, kissing me again, "Well, I'm the same way about you."

"I love you, little one," I said. "You make me so perfectly happy."

Her head was on my chest. "Dan, it's been US since August, and you've never made me feel like I had to do anything. We satisfy each other. You. I'm just happy with YOU. And I like doin' stuff with you. Okay?"

"Okay, love of my life," I said. "And you make me feel wonderful."

She cuddled up against me. "And you do that to me, baby," she purred.

Monday morning the alarm put us back in contact with the rest of the world. I rushed out and cranked the truck up to get it warm while Cindy dressed. I took her to breakfast and after cups of coffee we went back to the park and we sat in the truck, staying warm until she got on the bus. Incongruity. My wife. Fourteen. Getting on a school bus. I shook my head, thinking of the strange twists that life could take.

I wasn't but a few minutes late getting to work. Well, actually, I was on time instead of the half-hour early that was my norm. Sub-freezing temperatures slowed the outside work down, but my crews had most of their outdoor tasks completed. The staff meeting was nothing unexpected. We went over plans for the first firing of the boilers. That wasn't a big deal to me. My stuff was already proven. There was a 99.9% chance that any hurdles that came up would be something wrong with somebody else's piece of the huge and complex pie.

Like one of the process engineers announcing that some water lines were exposed and had frozen and ruptured.

"And once again, we prove that water does INDEED freeze below thirty-two degrees," I said, under my breath. Bill heard me.

That was a delay right there as crews had to start covering exposed equipment with plastic and directing portable heaters into the areas to thaw things out. Then SOMEBODY had to replace broken pipe and fittings and valves. That was money. I was fortunate. Electricity doesn't freeze.

With another cold night coming and temperatures staying below freezing all day, I had my crews assist in siting some electric heaters on other critical equipment, and when I left at four-something, I was sure that we'd be firing the boilers the next day.

Out the gate, I flipped my phone open and called a little cutie. "Hi, babe," I said.

"Oh, his, sweetie," was the answer. "I'm at the office with Mizz Helen an' Mister Charlie."

I was there with them in twenty minutes. We visited for a while, making pleasant small talk, and then I collected my little wife and we headed up the road for the elusive Alabama salad. As always, that was a pleasant move. One of the elderly owners told us, "You must try our soup tonight!" She was right, but adding a rich, creamy soup sort of wiped out the gains we might have made by going for salad. Still, the ladies were just so sincere and charming, we couldn't refuse.

Tuesday I got a call from Jim Hardesty. "Hey, man," he said, "How's the project?"

"Right now they've got a few burners lit off on the boilers. It's a milestone," I said.

"Are you gonna get off at the regular time?" he asked.

"Barring any disasters, I will."

"How about you an' Cindy joining us for dinner? Ann left a crockpot full of soup going, and we'd be glad to have you two."

"Jim, that sounds wonderful. We'll be there."

"'Kay, buddy! Go back to work." He laughed and hung up.

I visited the site of the big excitement, watching colorful lines showing flows and temperatures on flat-screen displays in the control room, prompting the operator to pull up screens that showed me how my power system was working and how much energy was flowing to run the big motors and blowers that fed air and water into the boiler. My stuff looked good.

I was eating a sandwich at my desk when I heard the sound of escaping steam. Under some circumstances, that would've been cause for concern, but not today. Venting steam was normal at this stage of the game.

I left the job and picked up Cindy and we went to visit our friends. Jim let us into the house and Ann stuck her head around the corner from the kitchen as Cindy went to join her.

"Darn, Jim, what DID she do to that crockpot?" I asked.

"I don't begin to know, buddy," he laughed. "Smells magical, though."

"Talk about!" I said.

"She wants to loan you our kitchen one Saturday for you to cook us a gumbo, though. Wants to watch."

"We can do that," I said. "It's not rocket surgery, you know."

Jim laughed.

Cindy stuck her head around the corner. "Table's ready!" she said.

We merged our two families for dinner: mashed potatoes, beef shortribs, a couple of vegetables, and family. Life was good. After the table was cleared, we were all sitting in the living room.

Cindy related to Jim the Sunday practice session. "I know it's not your Harrier, Mister Jim, but it's very exciting to me."

"Oh, Cindy," he said. "I remember the first time I did those things, and I wasn't flying MUCH more than your 180," he said.

"Cindy, baby, be careful," Ann said, "Or you'll start dragging YOUR knuckles on the ground like them."

"Oh, don't worry, Mizz Ann," Cindy countered, "I shall remain the epitome of femininity and refinement in spite of Dan's Neanderthal tendencies." She giggled.

"Oh, shucks, Dan," Jim said, "Now YOU have one a'them uppity wimmen!"

Teresa rolled her eyes. "Comedians! I'm being raised by comedians."

"Yeah," Cindy told her. "Ain't it wonderful?"

Ann said, "On a serious and pleasant note, I found out about a concert you guys might be interested in. It's a chamber orchestra out of Europe, and they're doing a concert in Charlotte."

"Like in North Carolina?" Cindy popped up.

"Yes," Ann said. "they're going to do Bach's Brandenburg Concerto Number Three," she continued. "We'd love to go, but Teresa's got a choral festival that weekend."

Cindy looked at me. "Brandenburg Number Three? That's like a musical avalanche. Baby, d'you think..."

"Weather. Work. But we'll try. Why not? We can all do another one, can't we?"

Jim smiled. "Oh, yeah ... I sure liked the last one we did together." He winked at Ann. Cindy caught that and giggled.

Ann simply smiled at her. "Uh ... Kids?"

"Mom, that's not MY music," Teresa stated. Teresa put up with the bluegrass thing because she was participating, but she was not a fan of classical music.

Bill was sitting there with his Gameboy. He looked up. "I can stand another weekend with my cousin," he said.

"And so a plan forms," Jim said. He smiled at Ann and winked, getting another giggle from Cindy.

We talked about that a bit and the conversation drifted to the progress at my project.

Jim said, "Take 'er with you tomorrow morning. She probably wants to see that."

"You interested, Cin,?" I asked.

"Of course. I wish I could've been there today when they lit it off."

"It's not that impressive, sweetie," I said. You have to go out to the boiler and look in a little hole to see the flames. I just watched the temperature on the monitor in the control room."

"Still," she said.

"Well, lemme check with Bill in the morning, and if he okays it, I'll call Jim and then come get you, okay?"

It must've been okay. She gave an excited little bounce. "Ya'll have to understand, I've been out there a lot. I wanna see it run!"

Jim grinned. "So do the people that paid for it, I'm betting."

"You got that right," I countered.

Conversation drifted to school. Teresa was doing straight A's a year behind Cindy and Jim and Ann were appropriately proud.

"And my son, Bill," Jim said, "COULD be doing straight A's as well ... He just needs to pay more attention in social studies."

"Daaddddd! It's BORINGGGGG!" he whined.

"Boring or not, it's a hoop you need to jump through," Ann spoke. "Just apply yourself a little more."

"I'm tryin', Mom," he said. "I'll do better. I promise."

And it was time to go home.

The next morning I posed the visit idea to Bill. "Go get 'er," he said.

Forty-five minutes later I was coming through the door of the office trailer behind Cindy.

She stopped at Sara's desk. "Hi, Mizz Sara."

"Hi, Cindy," Sara said. "Sounds like I really missed a performance Saturday night. I wish we could've been there."

"Maybe next time," Cindy smiled.

At the sound of Cindy's voice, Bill came out of his office. "There's the pretty girl got to dance with. Hi, sweetie," he said.

Sara chuckled. "How come you don't call ME sweetie? Huh?"

Bill laughed. "Oh, let's see. First, she can't file a harassment suit against me. Second, her husband's not gonna whack me with a wrench. And third, she doesn't go out of her way to bring misery upon my head..."

"And she actually IS a sweetie, ' I added.

"Hunh!" Sara said. "Johnny thinks I'm sweet." Johnny was her husband, running a mechanical crew on the project.

"He has to. He married you," I said. "Come on, Cindy, before this person corrupts your mild and pleasant demeanor."

That got me the rare privilege of having the project administrator stick her tongue out at me.

Cindy got her hard hat and some ear plugs and off we went, touring the boiler outdoors in that area where one side felt the heat of combustion, the other the nip of the winter air, all overshadowed by the constant roar of escaping steam as pipes were pressured up and checked and the interior of the boiler was brought to operating temperature for the first time. We had to bake it, just like a cake.

She recognized some of the big motors that were part of my world, except now they were working hard. Racks of control equipment, once sterile collections of dead electronics and banks of wiring now flashed seemingly random sequences of tiny lights as they reacted to the various inputs and outputs, and now the deskfull of flat screen displays showed the ongoing operation in colorful graphic detail.

She was interested. Sure, there was a certain amount of 'oooh' and 'ahhhh', but she'd followed along with us on frequent visits and she asked questions, and to my co-worker Phil Geary, the controls engineer, she paid extra attention as he gave her a little demonstration of the programming behind the controls.

"Here," he said. "Sit here, and let me show you the mock-up." He had a second, redundant set of control equipment sitting there, not connected to the real world, where we tested changes inthe programming. I backed up as Cindy sat at the console.

"Are you REALLY interested in this?" he asked Cindy.

"I sure am," she chirped. "An' you say we can play with this one?"

He turned to me. "Does she have time?"

"All day," I said.

Cindy grinned.

"Tell ya what. I got a couple of things to go check on. If she's not keeping you from REAL work, I can go do that. If you finish, call me on the radio. I'll be back."

"She'll be okay here," Phil said. He was already letting Cindy into his world as evidenced by the changing background on the console monitor before them.

My tasks took me to a few 'loose ends' jobs going on, those 'Wow, I didn't think THAT would happen' events that creep into jobs, often because they guys in offices hundreds of miles away don't actually get to see how entire systems work together.

When I returned to collect Cindy, Phil was shaking his head. "You know, Dan, I've HIRED people who don't know as much as she's picked up in an hour." He turned to a grinning Cindy. "Cindy, let's take this pushbutton and make that buzzer sound, for one second, no matter how long I push it."

She giggled her 'I'm having fun' titter and said, "Okay, that button is on input 1-1. The buzzer is on output 3-1. So I map the input to the output through a one-second one-shot." She clicked, dragged typed. Then she turned to me. "Push the button, baby!"

I pushed. Buzzzzz.

"Easy," she said. "and you can do logic. You know, if this AND that happen, then do this other thing..."

"yes, sweetie," I said. "That's all 'small-wire' stuff."

"Interesting stuff," she said. "Thanks, Mister Phil!"

We took off to look around some more, then returned to the office at lunchtime.

She walked in, and Bill saw her. "Well, little apprentice, what'd'ya think?"

"Impressive. It's like I have a part of it, as many times as I've been here." She was smiling.

"It's lunchtime. Dan, I think we need us a business lunch, don't'cha think?" He eyeballed Sara. "Sara, don't'cha want to talk to us about progress reports?"

She huffed. "Bill! You know I'm on a diet!"

"So come eat a salad, then. Project's buying..."

"If you put it like that," she said, grabbing her purse.

We beat the crowd to the nearest decent restaurant and were already eating when several of the gang walked in. Seeing us, we were subjected to the requisite amount of ribbing, all in good fun, and G-rated, too, because we were sitting with Cindy and Sara. Without them, the language would have been a little bit different.

After lunch, Cindy became Sara's assistant for an hour, to Sara's delight, taking care of some of the 'dog work' of filing, and then she took a ride with the mechanical engineer as he checked on the running pumps and blowers. I ended up in view of them as they watched a vibration analyst collecting data. She stood safely back out of the way until he motioned for her to step a little closer to see the readings.

Three-thirty, we were back in the office, winding things up for the day. Phil came in. "Bill," he said, "Cain't you fake a birth certificate for HER? She's better'n two of the guys we hired to do the programming!"

"Nuh-uh," Sara countered. "I got first dibs."

"I'll pay more!" Phil said.

Cindy took her hardhat off and gave the head of auburn hair a shake.

"A LOT more..." He laugh

Chapter 33

Wednesday was going to be one of those 'parent-teacher' open house events. I called Jim.

"Sure, you OUGHT to go," he said. "You're interested. The science teacher knows you. And Cindy's YOUR responsibility. I'll be there. Ann'll be there. And YOU should be."

"Okay, ' I said. "Work clothes okay, or should I wear a suit?"

Jim laughed. "I've seen what you work in, buddy. You're gonna be at the upper third of the scale."

Cindy was watching me as Jim and I talked. "Told ya," she snickered.

"We'll be there, then," I said.

"Good! Why don't ya'll come over for dinner before we go?" Jim asked.

"You want pizza?" I countered.

"Oh, gosh, no," he answered. "Ann's got stuff in the freezer. Lasagna might be nice, don't'cha think?"

"Lasagna tomorrow at the Hardesty's?" I asked Cindy.

Her red hair bounced as she nodded in the affirmative.

"We'll be there," I said.

Tuesday and Wednesday passed without incident. I knew that the day was soon coming when we'd have to fire up the two gas turbines and put steam on the steam turbine, and for the first time, my generators would have to actually make electricity, but that wasn't on the agenda just yet.

So Wednesday after work, I collected a little redheaded cutie and hauled her off to dinner with our friends. After dinner, we traveled to the middle school in separate vehicles and walked in together. Jim took off to perform his functions as school guidance counselor and Ann did the same as music teacher. Teresa went with Ann.

I let Cindy guide me around. Her science teacher was somebody' I'd met previously, having guided him and his 'honors' class on a tour of the construction site.

"Hey, Mr. Hollis," I said, shaking his hand.

"Hello, Mr. Richards. Good seeing you again. How's the project?" Hollis said.

"A few weeks from going on line," I said. "Two hundred or so megawatts."

"Sounds like fun," he said.

"Has been. Did Cindy tell you about programming the control system?"

"She mentioned it," he said. "Like she understood what she was doing."

"Impressed the instrumentation engineer," I said. "He wanted to hire her."

"I bet," Hollis said. "She's definitely in a class of her own."

"That's our Cindy," I said.

"Yeah ... when she popped up with a wedding band, it was a bit hard for a lot of people to swallow," he admitted. "But she sure doesn't fit the whole 'abused little girl' thing."

"I know," I said. "But I can understand how it looks to some folks. But she's unique."

"Yeah," he said. "But it was the talk of the teacher's lounge for a while."

Another mom and dad walked up so Cindy pulled me up the hall to talk with her English teacher. The English teacher called the Social Studies teacher over and we talked about Cindy's participation in the Social Studies Fair, a month in the future.

"Her work?" one of the two asked. Mrs. Greenlee was her Social Studies teacher.

"Hundred percent," I said. "How's she sound in class?"

"Like it's no surprise that she'd come up with something like that," the other said. "Precocious is one thing. Having brains behind it is another." That was Mrs. Turbermann, her English teacher.

She glanced at the wedding band on my ring finger. Her face clouded. She glanced around to see who was in the vicinity. Just me, Cindy, and her fellow teacher. Her voice lowered. "That marriage thing, though..."

Cindy chimed in, "Mizz Turbermann, Dan's an engineer, and you should see him in HIS element. He works like YOU, because he loves what he's doing. It's a good quality. He's a teacher to me. That's another good quality. He showed me that there is life outside of where I came from. And you KNOW where I came from. Everybody kinda knew about Mom. And..."

Mrs. Turbermann spoke, "Fourteen years old..."

"Mizz Turbermann, does Cindy do ANYTHING like a standard fourteen year old? Really?" I asked gently.

"Mister Richards, you have to admit..." Mrs. Greenlee started.

"That she's a unique creature in a situation where everybody is put off balance by her..." I looked at Cindy. She was smiling, green eyes calm, which was more than I could say for the heart thrashing in my chest. I continued, "and I found myself falling for her and killing myself because she WAS only fourteen. That she and I decided to marry is still astounding to me. But we ARE married."

Cindy coolly added, "Mizz Greenlee, how many pregnant girls in school this year?

"Fourteen," admitted Mrs. Greenlee.

Cindy put on a disarming smile. "I'm NOT! And I AM married. Completely and totally devoted to HIM and he is to ME."

"And all I want to do is watch her climb to the stars. Like you do," I said. "Good teachers want that."

Mrs. Turbermann sighed. "She IS a pleasure to work with. Not that she needs much work..."

"You see her in the classroom. I wish you could've seen her Monday working with one of the other engineers out at my job," I said. "She impresses people out there, too."

Cindy smiled. "Learning. And doing things with it, that's fun!"

Next stop up the hall was the math teacher. Cindy did the introduction. "This is Mizz Crockett, my math teacher. Mizz Crockett, this is my husband, Dan Richards."

"You're the one responsible for HER?" Mrs. Crockett smiled. "I haven't taught her a thing since September. She's my assistant."

"I told her to make herself useful," I said.

"She has," the teacher said. "She makes ME able to do a better job."

Cindy stood close to me, holding my hand, smiling.

We waved at Jim as he navigated up the hall past us.

Cindy wanted to show me the library, and we found it almost deserted. And that's where the skirmish took place. I mean, every place you looked you saw kids holding mom or dad's hand. Well at least a few. You know how many teens want the world to believe they're just too cool to associate too closely with parents. You'd think that Cindy holding MY hand wouldn't be any more significant than that, despite the fact that I wasn't Mom or Dad, or in a few cases, grandparent. But we were husband and wife, a fact almost universally known.

And apparently not universally accepted.

We walked into the library, smiling and holding hands. Cindy started to introduce us: "This is Mizz Chambers, our librarian, and this is Dan Richards, my husb..."

"I KNOW what he is," Mrs. Chambers said through tight lips.

"Excuse me?!?" I said. "I'm her husband. Engineer."

"I think you KNOW what I mean," she said.

"I'm not sure I do, Mizz Chambers."

She eyed Cindy. "You think that takin' a fourteen year old for a wife..."

"Oh, I see where you're heading. Let's get something straight up front. I didn't "take" Cindy. We agreed. She had a horrible life up until last August, and her mom left her with a nice person who became her guardian. I was just her friend, nothing more. She wanted a tutor. I can do that. We found out pretty quick that she's NOT your standard fourteen year old. But SHE makes her own choices."

"She's FOURTEEN. That's too young to make those choices." Mrs. Chambers hissed.

"Mizz Chambers," I said, fighting to maintain composure, "I know people who are FORTY that aren't mentally prepared to make those choices. I'm sure YOU do, too. Age is simply ONE factor."

"It's just immoral," she said. "Wrong."

"Mizz Chambers," I said, "do you read your Bible?"

"I certainly do," she sniffed. "What's that got to do with THIS?"

"Oh, I dunno ... You know the story of David? You know, killed Goliath. Wrote the Psalms. King of Israel. That guy?"

"OF course," she said.

"What's the name of his last wife?" I asked.

"I don't remember."

She was backpedalling now. I kept on. "I remember. It was a young lady named Abishag. He was old. She was very young. You want more of the story?"

She glared at me, silent.

"Let me tell you, then. She joined him in his old age, and the bible says "he knew her not". Mizz Chambers, there are many reasons why people get married. Two people giving companionship and comfort to one another is as good as any."

She caught her breath. "You're saying that you and Cindy..."

"I'm saying nothing. We're MARRIED. I can show you the papers. And what we do inside that marriage is OUR business. On the outside, to anyone who cares, we are a couple. You know Cindy. You know why she doesn't spend much time in the library some days, right? Why's that?"

She sniffed and admitted, "She tutors other kids..."

"Has Cindy ever gotten into trouble in this school? Any unseemly behavior? I mean, her being a married woman and what, 'knowledgeable in the ways of the world', and all that..." I was on a roll. This was MY Cindy we were talking about here.

"No. I don't believe she has."

"Has she ever flaunted her status, married OR academic?"

"No. she hasn't. But she ... Shot..."

"I'm sorry, Mizz Chambers, but perhaps you'd prefer that she be found molested and dead instead of what happened?"

"I didn't say that," she said.

"Then what DO you say? Please, I'm trying to understand. You have this particular little redheaded girl who's an outstanding student and by your admission, a pretty decent human being, and YOU'RE upset that she's MARRIED?" I took a deep breath. Time to trot out a statistic. "Mizz Chambers, how many pregnant girls in school this year?"

Nailed her. "Nine or ten, I think..." she said.

"I heard fourteen. Babies up for adoption. Or raised by mom's who're still kids themselves. Or by grandparents who apparently weren't doing too good a job of raising kids themselves." I looked at Cindy, her face neutral. "Cindy, are you pregnant, sweetness?"

Cindy's red hair splayed out as she shook her head. "Nope. No, ma'am."

Time to soften up. "Mizz Chambers, I appreciate you being concerned about these kids. Somebody needs to be concerned. But please, save your energy for some of the others. They need help, for sure. Cindy's doing just fine."

"B-but..." Mrs. Chambers stuttered.

"Mizz Chambers," Cindy said softly, "I appreciate you caring enough to say something. But we're okay. Really!"

Mrs. Chambers straightened up and drew a deep breath. "It's just VERY discomforting, Mr. Richards."

"I can imagine," I said. "Jim Hardesty's our best friend, him and Mizz Ann. Can you imagine how hard it was for us to break the news to him? Liked to've killed me. One doesn't like to lose good friends." I put my best 'come on over to MY side' smile on. "Now, can we say we're past this?"

She didn't look all that convinced, but she said, "Yes. I suppose."

"Now," I said, "how much fun is it running a school library?"

I was asking about HER world, and her eyes softened. "It's gotten so different, Mr. Richards..."

"Please, I'm Dan," I smiled.

"Yes. Certainly. Dan. They can find so much stuff on line, it makes my reference section seem archaic."

"Ah, yes, all the Google and Wikipedia answers," I said.

"Don't get me wrong," she said, "I wish it was like that when I was in school..." Mrs. Chambers was probably mid-fifties. "But I'm trying to keep this place relevant, and kids have no attention spans any more..."

"Cindy?" I asked.

"I'm researching my project. I enjoy going through the real books, but the latest data..."

"See?" Mrs. Chambers said, "And SHE is actually working the system..."

Finally we bid good-bye to the librarian and walked back up the hall, running into Jim and the Principal.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Cindy did her smile. "Hi, Mister Bresser. Hi Mister Jim!"

"Hi, folks," I said.

"Well, what'd'you think of our school now, Mister Richards?" Bresser asked.

"I'm sorry this is the first time I got to walk around and talk to people," I apologized. "You got some good folks."

"Mostly," he said. He looked at Cindy. "I wish we could keep Cindy. She's an addition to the staff more than she is a student. And she's the first one I've had graduate from high school out of the eighth grade, too."

Cindy grinned.

Another family walked up. The apparent dad was dressed in suit and tie and the mom was in a two-piece business dress. Maintaining a carefully measured detachment distance was a blonde teen a couple of inches taller and twenty pounds heavier than Cindy.

Cindy recognized her. "Hi, Kaylee! Dan, this is Kaylee. We have classes together. Kaylee, this is Dan. My husband."

That statement left me pondering exactly how it DID sound to other people.

Kaylee smiled, not too big, but a smile, still. "Hi, Mister Dan!" she motioned to her parents. Mom and Dad, this is Cindy. The one I told you about! She's been helping me in math class. And this is her husband, Mister Dan."

The daddy stepped forward, hand extended. "When I'm not Dad, I'm Don Spears. And mom here is my wife Barbara."

We shook hands. "I'm Dan Richards. Engineer on that new powerplant on the other side of town."

"Great," Don smiled. "I'm an attorney. Barb's a bank manager. You two've been subject of some discussion, you know."

'Here we go again, ' I thought. I said, "I can only imagine." And I did a subdued smile. Trying NOT to look like the cat that ate the canary, all five feet two inches of her.

"Even in Alabama fourteen year old brides are rare," Barb said.

Thankfully Jim stepped in. "And so are fourteen year old high school grads. Cindy's rather unique."

"D'ya hear that," Kaylee said, elbowing Cindy, "You're unique!"

"On top of everything else," Cindy said, feigning disappointment.

"Mommmm! I TOLD you Cindy's the reason I get A's in math. She's MY friend."

I caught Cindy's expression. Satisfaction.

The two girls stood side by side, a sweet-looking pair.

Jim whispered to Don, "IQ measures on the Richter Scale. Never saw one before. May never see one again. But there she is..."

I folded my arms. "Jim! Shhhhh! Her head'll swell..."

Barb and Don looked at him, then me. Jim said, "That's the GOOD part. That HASN'T happened."

Don said, "Honestly? Kaylee was asking me an' Barb for help on the math thing, and I couldn't do that any more, and Barb..."

"I MANAGE a bank. I don't do those problems any more. But I was trying. And then it stopped. Don an' I waited. We expected our precious daughter to bring home a horrible report card, and she surprised us. Said Cindy was helping out in class and took time to help her."

"That pleases me," I said. "I was a nerd in school and I remember how it was. I didn't want her picked on, and I talked with her about using her powers for good, not evil..."

Don laughed. "I'm afraid I wasn't that self-disciplined. It's good somebody is..."

As we stood there talking, Cindy and Kaylee waved and chatted with several other classmates, and I was introduced more times, shook dozens of hands, and finally I saw Ann walking up the hall toward us. The evening was ending.

Cindy and I were soon in the truck headed home. As soon as her door closed, she lept across the cab and kissed me, just a quick peck on the lips.

"Don't go doing something that's gonna get me lynched," I said.

"Oh, yeah, you horrible thing, molestin' teens an' stuff..." She sat back. "I had no idea Mizz Chambers was that uptight about me."

"Kind of surprised me, too, baby. I wasn't' worried about me, I was worried about you. I don't want YOU suffering because of..."

"Because I'm MARRIED to you?"

"It's that 'fourteen-forty' thing, baby. Some people just can't see past it. Some are young, some are older."

"Sometimes I really just don't care," she said. "Sometimes I just want us to wrap up so tight together we'll never be apart again!"

"Me too, cutie," I admitted. "And aside from the times where we have to be apart for work or school, we will never be apart. And you were perfect this evening."

"I was biting my tongue hard with Mizz Chambers, you know..." she said. "That's one thing you have over me, being older. You've had time to develop some people skills."

"You're incredibly mature for your age, baby. And you'll get better. Just remember that you don't get to take words back, so choose wisely. Very seldom is it useful to cut loose on somebody."

"Would've felt good," she said, almost under her breath.

"Yeah, and she'd've turned colors and felt completely justified in a totally incorrect assessment of what the real situation is with us, what with you being an out of control wild teen ruled by emotions and hormones, right!"

"Yeah," Cindy admitted. "but I like colors, you know..."

"Uh-huh. But now you have to know that she's had her confidence in her own assumptions shaken. Best case is that she changes her mind completely."

Giggle. "And Kaylee. Did you see the look she gave you?"

"Nooo," I admitted. "I was too busy seeing if her mom and dad were going to do a 'Mizz Chambers' on me."

Giggle (again) "She said you were hot in a geeky sort of way..."

"And you think that's funny?"

"No, I think it's neat, though. I mean, YOU push my buttons, guy. But Kaylee kind of affirmed that I was normal in that regard." She touched my face with her fingertips. "I know that other women look at you, you know, older ones, but just the idea that somebody my age ... well, it tickles me."

"I am glad you're amused that your friends think of me as a piece of meat," I said.

She didn't miss the sarcasm. "Oh, little boy, if you want somebody to treat you like a piece of meat, take me home..."

"See," I laughed, "That's EXACTLY the kind of sexual exploitation that people think about when they see us."

"Nope. They think YOU are exploiting poor little innocent ME." she giggled again.

"I think that being perfectly fair about this, we should exploit each other."

"Wrong again, love," she tittered. "You need to exploit me at least TWICE!" Her hand teased the crotch of my pants as she turned sideways in her seat, holding onto my arm, her cheek on my bicep.

"You're an amazingly wonderful thing, little girl," I said.

"And I love you, Dan. We belong together. But you may not want me after I take the ACT next week."

"Is that next week?"

"Yep," she said. "Wednesday. Mister Jim's gonna drive me to the high school to take it."

"And why would I not want you after that?" I asked.

"If I don't score high enough, an' you find out you're married to a plain ol' middle school kid..."

"First, are you actually worried?"

Smile. "Not really."

"Second," I said, "I fell in love with you when you were, as far as I knew, a middle school kid. That fact upsets some people, but I'm okay with it. And third, Little Miss Green-eyed Redhead, YOU will NEVER be 'plain' anything. You of elfin, magical visage. And I would love you forever even if you had to take off your shoes to count past ten."

"And I'd love you if you were ... what was that you said the other day? 'Tail gunner on a vacuum truck?'"

"But I'm me and you're you, and life is pretty good right now..."

We pulled alongside our little trailer and went inside. Two showers. A pre-bed mug of hot cocoa, and let the exploitations begin.

She was standing on the step to the sleeping area when I wrapped her in my arms. She backed into me, her ass wiggling deliciously.

"Perfect," she purred.

My hands slipped downward and then back up over her taut belly, stopping to cup two perfectly small titties. My fingertips tweaked her nipples initiating a wiggle.

"You're a perfect armful," I whispered. From the subtle scent of perfume on her sleek red hair, to the bottoms of her little feet, as far as I was concerned, she was perfection.

Her hands clasped my arms to her for a few seconds as we enjoyed the contact from this position. Then she dropped her hands to grasp the hem of her nightshirt. I let her go and she stripped the shirt over her head and tossed it onto the nightstand at her corner of the bed.

Naked, she pirouetted to face me, lacing her fingers behind my head, pulling me down for a kiss, then she said, "Guy, you have WAAAY too much clothing on..."

"Easy fix," I said, stripping my own t-shirt over my head. By the time I got it off, I saw a perfect little ass crawling up on our bed. I grasped her hips and pulled her butt back to my face, burying my mouth into the puffy pink lips of her pussy.

She squealed with glee. "Roll me over, baby!" she said breathlessly.

I complied. Her thighs spread, giving me a beautiful view of pink nirvana, a feast for lips and tongue, and when I succumbed to that temptation, her hands were on the back of my head encouraging me. I lapped, teased, nibbled and sucked happily at her juicy pussy, listening to her breathing change as she approached climax. I knew she was getting close.

Suddenly she tugged at my head. "In me!" she commanded. I bounced up and penetrated her, the path generously slicked by her juices, and as I started my second stroke, she went over the edge. I kept stroking as she slid straight from one climax to the next, her pelvis bucking up to take me as deep inside her as we could manage, and her enthusiasm had me building rapidly. I kept on plunging as she whimpered, "Yes. Go. HARD. One ... More!"

I was on the edge of losing control. I felt her shove herself up on my shaft and she said, "Unnnhhh!" and I splurted. "YESSSSSS, BAAABY!!!!" She squealed. "I feeeeel it!"

I felt it too as several wonderful surges racked my body. On the verge of total collapse I scooped her in my arms and rolled sideways onto my back, ending up with her happy, breathless form on top of me.

Her eyes fluttered open. "Baby, I feel truly and solidly exploited now..." Her red lips kissed mine.

"Mmmmm," I said. "Earthquake. I think I lived through an earthquake." I felt a soft wet plop as my softening dick fell out of its tight home. "Baby," I said, " can I..."

Another kiss from red lips and she turned around. We feasted on each other. I got cleaned up. She got cleaned up. And another little climax. And sleep.

Thursday we put the first eighty-megawatt turbine on its first spin. Successful completion of that task made the people I work for very happy. Tomorrow we'd make some electricity.

Made it to the weekend with another cold front dragging down from the north. Rain and wind kept us in the trailer Friday evening, but Saturday was too much. We hurried out the door through cold, nearly freezing drizzle to get into the truck and then it was off to find a motel for the weekend. With an indoor pool.

"I feel bad, baby," she said, lazily floating on her back. "It's, like thirty out there and I'm swimming..."

I swam too, knowing that I'd end up with sore muscles from the effort, but I needed to be careful or I'd turn out like one of my pudgy buddies. And with that little redhead slicing across the pool, I wanted all the strength and stamina I could muster.

We managed a pleasant dinner and a movie and a long, soaking, giggly shower together. Sunday was breakfast and back home.

Monday and Tuesday were nominal at the job, and Cindy reported nothing more than routine at the school. Wednesday I left for work knowing that she was going to go to school and Jim Hardesty was going to drive her to the high school to take the ACT.

This was one of the two hurdles she needed to jump to graduate at the ripe old age of fourteen.

...

Cindy knocked on the door of Jim Hardesty's office as soon as she got to school.

"Hi, Cindy," he said. "are you ready?"

"Yessir," she said. "Let's do this."

Jim grabbed his keys and shrugged into a windbreaker for the short walk to his car, Cindy following dutifully behind him. "Should still be warm," he said, unlocking the doors. Cindy got in on the passenger side and buckled in.

The short trip to the high school was occupied with small talk: what was going on between this student and that one, who was 'going with' who.

"I just don't understand that," Cindy said. "A girl an' a guy 'go together' for two weeks an' they hold hands and sneak a kiss or somethin', and then one of 'em decides to move on an' the other one is devastated for who knows how long. "I saw a girl crying on 'er desk Friday because her boyfriend broke up with 'er."

"It's all part of learning to build relationships, Cindy," Jim said.

"Reminds me too much of my mom," she retorted. "God, I'm glad that I have Dan..."

Jim laughed. "You an' Dan make a great couple, Cindy. Looks weird. But it works."

"It does, Mister Jim. I love 'im to pieces. He's like my starship, carryin' me out into the galaxy."

"Never heard it put like that, but that's the way it's supposed to be: two people making each other's lives richer."

"Yessir," Cindy said. "Some people never get there ... sad..."

Jim pulled his car into a visitor slot in the school parking lot and together they walked into the school. They signed in at the office and got directions to the registration desk for the test. Walking up the hall, they were silent in the empty space, the sounds of classes in progress seeping out from closed doors.

The registration desk was manned by two teachers and a pair of students shuffling papers.

One of the teachers looked up. "Hello, Jim," she said. "How are you?"

"Great," Jim answered. "Ya'll should have Miss Cindy Richards on the list for the test today."

She looked at the computer in front of her. "Yes we do. Wow, Miss Cindy. Fourteen. Are you the one I heard about at the school board?"

Cindy smiled. "You might've heard a lot of things about me, ma'am. Some of them are pretty good."

The teacher smiled. Her associate was listening now. "It's the part that says Cindy Richards graduates from high school if she scores well on the ACT and the high school exit exam."

Cindy grinned. "That's one of the good ones."

Cindy was processed and ushered into a classroom filling with high school students. The teacher who spoke with Cindy at registration pointed out a desk and then talked with the teacher who was proctoring the tests. The proctor looked at Cindy and smiled.

The girl in the desk next to Cindy leaned over. "I don't know you. Do you go to this school?"

"No," Cindy answered.

"Are you one a'them homeschoolers?" the girl asked. "You look young. How old are you?"

"Fourteen," Cindy admitted. "I go to the county middle school. By the way, I'm Cindy Richards."

"I'm Kaitlyn Fuller," the girl said. "Why're ya even takin' this test?"

Cindy sighed. "If I do good on this, I take the high school exit exam, and I graduate this year."

"No JOKE?!?!?" Kaitlyn said. "That's un-freakin'-real!" She glanced at Cindy's left hand. On Cindy's ring finger was a simple gold band. "Is that a wedding band?"

"Yes, ' Cindy answered simply. "I've been married since last Thanksgiving."

"Why? Were you..."

"Pregnant? No. In love? Yes. Still am. Always will be." Cindy smiled. "S'wonderful!"

The boy in the seat behind her had been listening. "Wai-wai-wait! Do you, like, live in that trailer park over off the main highway?"

"Yes," Cindy said.

"You're the one ... that guy broke in ... shotgun..."

"Oh, for heaven's sake," Cindy said. "Let's not talk about that, okay?"

"It WAS you!" he said, rather loudly.

"If I could have your attention, please!" the proctor said in a loud voice. "We have a full day ahead of us. I don't have to remind you of how serious this test is for those of you who are planning college careers, so let's get our heads on straight now."

The testing started. The room was almost silent except for sighs and breathing sounds. After the first two segments were completed, the proctor turned the room loose for a break.

Kaitlyn rounded up Cindy when she stood up. "C'mon, Cindy. Let's go drink a coke."

Walking down the hall, Kaitlyn asked, "So you're married. Your husband's in school?"

Cindy smiled, thinking about Dan at work. He'd told her what his day was supposed to be, putting the new steam turbine on turning gear for its initial heating, not an electrical function except for the motor that did the turning. Dan was excited.

"No, he's the chief electrical engineer at that new powerplant." When I get out of high school, I'm going to college for engineering myself. So I can be like him. With him."

"You, like, married an OLD guy?" Kaitlyn was incredulous.

Cindy snickered. "Was I s'posed to marry some young guy? No job. No future?"

"B-but ... you didn't have to get married..." kaitlyn said.

Cindy sighed. "I don't know how to explain it. I met 'im. He was nice to me, treated me like I was worth something, became my friend, somebody I could depend on, he encouraged me, helped me with school stuff when I needed it. And I fell in love with 'im."

"Wow!" Kaitlyn said. "But an old guy? What'd'ya have in common?" Kaitlyn started rifling through her purse for change for the drink machine.

Cindy reached in hers and pulled out a handful of quarters. "Here!"

Kaitlyn handed her a coke.

"Now, what do I have in common with Dan ... Music. We both love classical music, and I didn't know THAT until I started hanging around him. Flying. He's got a plane, and we fly places, and I get to fly it. We play music with another family. He plays bass and lead guitar, and I sing, you know, bluegrass stuff. We swim. We bicycle. We go exploring..."

"Wow," Kaitlyn said. "That shotgun thing that Jason said..."

"Dan told me that if I was going to be responsible for my safety, I needed to learn how to shoot. I thought it was fun to learn. It IS fun. But one night it was serious. But that's us, Kaitlyn. We make each OTHER better." Cindy glanced at her watch. "Better start heading back, huh?"

"Ughhh! The tests..." Kaitlyn groaned. "So how're you doin' so far? How many questions did you have left?"

"Left?" Cindy said, surprised. "I finished. I went back and checked on some..."

"Oh, no, ' Kaitlyn whined. "I didn't finish. I thought NOBODY finished."

"That's what they said," Cindy mused. "So you're prob'ly doin' okay, you know..."

"Oh, gosh, I hope so. Mom an' Dad'd just DIE ... they want me to go to college sooo bad..."

Back in the class room, the tests started back up. A quarter past twelve, the booklets were turned in and Cindy and Kaitlyn walked out together. Jim was waiting.

"Hi, Mister Jim," Cindy said. "This is my new friend, Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn, this is Mister Jim Hardesty, our school's guidance counselor and the banjo and guitar player for our band."

"Hi, Mister Jim," Kaitlyn said.

"Hi, Kaitlyn. How'd you two do on the test?" Jim asked.

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes. "Cindy finished and went back an' checked her work. I had questions left over."

"Kaitlyn, that's normal. Cindy's, well, she's Cindy. She goes around astounding people."

"I see that. We've been talkin'," Kaitlyn said. "Cindy! You have my phone number. Call me. I liked talkin' to you..."

"Okay, Kaitlyn," Cindy chirped. "See ya around!"

Walking out to the car, Jim looked at Cindy. "You finished?"

"Yessir," Cindy said. "I feel pretty good about it..."

Chapter 34

Thursday morning. Up. Dressed. Out the door. In the door of the little restaurant. Cashier saw us walk in. "Hi, Cindy! Dan! Get yourselves a table!"

We saw Bill Carmody at about the same time he spotted us. He waved. We joined him.

"Hi, Mister Bill," Cindy piped.

"Hello, sweet thing," Bill said. "Hi, Dan. Kinda nasty this morning, ain't it."

I laughed. "Another day in paradise," I said. "But it'll move through today."

Cindy was smiling, a fact noted by Bill. "Tomorrow ya'll're going where? Charlotte?"

"Yessir," Cindy answered. "He's getting me out of school at eleven. Should get to Charlotte before dark."

"Hotel reservations. Rental car. Concert tickets. And if the weather holds, we'll be back Sunday. But it's kind of shaky for Sunday."

"Heard that," Bill said. "You're scheduled to roll Number Two on Tuesday, right?"

"I'll be back for that. My techs are monitoring the temperatures on the generator, and your mechanical folks are taking care of the turbine. I'll be on the cell phone," I said.

"Yeah, that's good! Your stuff hasn't been a problem. Yet."

"That's why I get the medium bucks," I laughed.

We enjoyed breakfast, greeting several other project guys as they showed up for breakfast. Bill finished while Cindy and I were still eating and he grabbed the ticket. "We talked business, didn't we, Cindy?" he laughed.

"Yessir. Thank you." She gave him her best smile.

I dropped Cindy off at the park to catch her bus and I went on to work. I caught Sara getting out of her car. She rode to the office trailers with me in my golf cart.

"Darn!" she said. "It's NASTY!" The open cart did little to mitigate the raw blowing drizzle and the chill. Fortunately an early bird buddy had the coffee pot going when we walked in. We had an informal progress meeting, I made a visit to some of the critical places in my world, and then got back to the office, like many of the workers, trying NOT to be out in the nasty weather.

The wind changed at lunchtime and by four o'clock the low clouds were gone, replaced by high overcast, and it was breaking up.

I got back to the park and walked into the office to find Cindy, Helen and Charlie chatting.

"How's the project?" Charlie asked.

"We're going to spin the second one next week," I answered. "Already made electricity with the first."

"Gettin' close to finishin', sure enough," he said.

"Yessir. Getting there."

Our girl's excited about the concert," Helen said. "She played us one of the selections."

"I'm excited too," I said. "It's a favorite of mine. And this group is supposed to be very good."

"You know," Charlie said, "One a' these times, Helen and I will join you two in Mobile for one. Gives us an excuse to dress up and act civilized."

I considered that. I'd NEVER seen Charlie look less than civilized. Not Helen, but hers came from a personal presence that showed through the veneer of checked shirt and baggy jeans. "That's us, ' I said. "I get to put on a suit, and you KNOW what Cindy looks like when she dresses."

"Oh, yes," Charlie said. He smiled at Cindy. "Dan's right. You're quite the beauty."

"Ya'll MAKE me blush, ' she said. She was blushing. And beautiful.

She and I finally left, dropped her backpack at the trailer, and then puttered up the road for a soup and salad meal with our dear lady friends. After the meal, we sat for a while chatting with them over herb tea and cheesecake.

Back at the trailer, it was packing time. Cindy flipped open her laptop and opened a checklist, calling out each item as I collected and packed it.

"Green dress, green sweater," she giggled. "I know what makes MY baby happy! And pack your blue underwear. That makes ME happy!"

"What?" I asked.

"I like 'em," she giggled. "When I know you have 'em on, I think about, you know..."

"Why didn't you say something? I'd've bought more."

"Not the same. Like eating too much chocolate kills the effect. But a taste..." She was smiling enigmatically when I turned to look at her.

This was the first time she'd said something about a turn-on. My cutie and I had an active and joyful sex life together. She had a lot of favorite activities, favorite positions for her moods, and her body telegraphed her desires quite nicely, but this was the first time that she'd said that she desired a particular bit of clothing over what we regularly wore. Damn straight those blue drawers went into the bag. "That's a new one, baby. You never said anything before."

Green eyes. Twinkling. "Wear those Saturday night. I'll KNOW you have 'em on under that respectable grey suit. Beautiful music. Great dinner. And the whole time I'll know that you're doing something a little bit special, just for me!" She grinned.

"Oh, little doll," I said. "Since August I've lived my whole life just for you."

"That goes both ways, you know," she said. "But it's like my green dress. I know that you LOVE that color on me, so I kinda make sure that it shows up from time to time. Just so you know, guy."

"You charm me, little one!"

She abandoned her laptop and strode the short distance up the trailer's little aisle to engage me in a few hugs and kisses and some happy fondling.

"Pack enough so we're covered for Monday," she said.

"I got mine," I answered. She handed me another pair of her jeans and a sweatshirt.

And a pair of powder-blue panties. "D'ya still break out in a sweat?" she giggled.

"Oh, yeah," I answered. "You looked so perfectly innocent and so unbearably cute and..." I described the first time she'd worn a skirt to go out to eat with me.

"I WAS innocent," she said. "That was unpremeditated. But when I saw your FACE ... I mean, I hadn't even thought of how I might affect you. You were this nice older guy. An' I was just a young girl who enjoyed having a friend." She leaned over to kiss me full on the lips as she handed me her socks to pack.

"But the look on your face ... You made me feel ... well, you know what happened."

I knew exactly what happened. After that night I thought I was going to hell by way of an Alabama prison. "I know, baby. You were impossible. Now I've found myself living a dream I didn't even dare to entertain."

She hopped up on the edge of the bed and spread her arms. I stepped between them to kiss her upturned face. "I still love you, Dan! And it's a long way to forever."

"Yes, forever, angel," I said, kissing her again. We finished out the packing and stowed the suitcase and our two travel bags. It was time for showers.

She stepped out of the bathroom, mussing her hair with a towel. I handed her nightshirt to her and she pulled it over her head before she started her hair dryer.

I stripped and stepped into the shower. Fifteen minutes later I was shaving. I finished.

"Aftershave!" she shouted at me.

"Okay, sweetie," I said.

I stepped out to pull on my own nightshirt. As I pulled it over my head, temporarily blinding myself, I heard a giggle and felt a warm hand curl under my balls.

"Love playin' with 'em," she said.

We curled up on the sofa, her in my arms, leaning back against me, the two of us covered with a blanket against the chill winter temperatures, flipping through the TV channels to find something to watch. Ended up on a nature show.

I turned my eyes downward to regard the perfect head of copper-colored hair leaning against my chest. I planted a slow, savoring kiss to the top of her head and she responded by nestling back deeper into my arms.

"Mmmmmm, this is the perfect way to spend a winter night, Dan."

I admitted that it was perfect.

At nine we turned the television off and retired to the bed. "Leave the little light on," she said.

I knew exactly the significance of that instruction. She crawled up onto the bed from the foot, looking over her shoulder at me, short hair swaying seductively, her eyes happy, expectant. I crawled in behind her and she rolled onto her back, drawing me down onto her with her clasping arms. Our mouths merged. I breathed Cindy.

"You make me tingle, guy," she said.

"Yeah? What do you think you make ME do?"

She slid a hand between our bodies. "I KNOW exactly what I make YOU do. And I LIKE it!"

Yes, seven months into the relationship and the closest I ever came to initiating sex was to lightly caress and fondle her. Many an evening we'd slide under the blankets together and our legs would tangle and we'd pull together, and a little hand would start stroking me. And off we would go.

Tonight was one of her more emphatic variations, portending a furious and tasty bout of sixty-nine, leaving us both drained, the score at Cindy - 3, Dan - 1, and her laying atop me, her nose touching mine, smiling. I loved her atop me. Our breathing normalized and then synchronized.

She kissed me and slid off, turning her back to me and shoving her butt against me. I turned toward her and we spooned up, her hand tugging my arm tight around her. And we slept.

The alarm clock broke our reverie and we hit the floor running. Our plan, premeditated, was to leave the trailer this morning and not return until our weekend was over. We dressed. I started the truck to warm it when I got dressed, and I started loading bags. By the time we'd secured the trailer for the weekend, it was just beginning to warm up in the below freezing temperature.

We did breakfast, missing Bill. Some mornings he stayed in his apartment and had breakfast there. We waved and chatted at a few of the other guys who passed through, and I dropped Cindy off back at the park to catch her school bus. I went to the jobsite.

I made the grand tour of my critical equipment, chatted with my lead technician and the electrical foreman and the new owner's electrical engineer and made sure we all knew what the schedule was going to be for the next few days.

I stopped back in the office, prodded Sara to make sure that none of MY paperwork was nearing the 'critical' mark on her works in progress. I sat at my desk and ran through the email one more time to make sure that I hadn't missed anything, and then I stuck my head in Bill's office.

"Hey, boss! Anything else before I escape?"

"Nope!" he said. "Just take off and have a good time. Take good care of our girl."

...

Bill had grandkids Cindy's age. We'd talked about it before. The guy could've run me off, made my life hell, forced me to quit, had he taken a mind to do so when he found out about Cindy and me getting married, but he didn't. He just shook his head. We went to lunch, talked a bit.

"Dan, it's not my place to get into your personal life, you know..."

"I know, Bill. This is what? Our third project together? You're more my friend than my boss."

"I feel the same way. You're like a son, if not a younger brother. But you INTRODUCED us all to Cindy. Dan, she's awfully young." He sighed heavily. "I have a grandson and a granddaughter, like, HER age."

"I understand, Bill. But I MARRIED Cindy. She's special in a lot of ways and I was never less than completely honorable about her. She's not my toy, Bill. She's my partner. Young. Looks strange, maybe even wrong, to a lot of people, but I will be with her until I die."

He eyed me seriously. "You're not one of those skirt-chasin' fools we see all the time, Dan. I'm inclined to believe you. But you're forty. She's fourteen. YOU have to be careful for HER sake."

"I guard her more than my own life, Bill..."

"I hope you do, Dan..."

...

"Oh, I will, buddy!" I answered.

"AN' you might want to see about her being here next Tuesday when ya'll roll the Number Two unit."

"Good idea, Bill. I'll talk to the school. It's getting a bit dicey, though, with all the client people around."

"I'll tell 'em what's going on. As long as we don't break the access rules, I think we're okay."

"Okay, buddy. See you later." I wheeled around and said bye to Sara and I was on the road.

At the school, I was greeted in the front office. They knew me by now, as many times as I'd picked up Cindy for one thing or another. Jim must've heard my voice because he walked up while I was waiting for Cindy.

"Sure wish we could've made this one, Dan," he said.

"Me too," I admitted. The trip we'd made with him and Ann was a great time for all of us. "We'll get other chances."

"Yeah, I know..." he sighed.

Jeans and sweatshirt-clad Cindy came bouncing up, her backpack slung over one shoulder. "Hi, Mister Jim. Hi, Dan!"

"Another adventure, huh, Cindy?" Jim said.

"Oh, yessir!" she chirped.

"Where ya'll goin'?" asked the school administrator.

"Charlotte. Bach concert," Cindy said. "We're flying our plane over..."

"Wow, sounds FUN!" she said.

"It IS!" Cindy said. "The best music ever!"

"Uh, Jim, I need to see if I can get Cindy out of school on Tuesday. We're spinning up a turbine out at the job, and she needs to see that. My boss asked if she was coming."

"I'll take care of that for ya'll, Dan, ' he said.

On the way to the airfield, we stopped for a meal and a bathroom call. Finally at the field, we pulled the plane out of the hangar and backed the truck inside. Together we loaded our luggage into the luggage compartment and tied it down carefully.

"Truck keys?" Cindy said.

I patted my pocket. "Right here," I confirmed.

"Okay. Let's lock up the truck," she said. She tugged one door and I tugged the other, closing the truck inside the hangar and locking it, and then we completed the preflight checks.

She got into the passenger seat this time. I popped the plane's window open, yelled "CLEAR!" even though we were the only ones visible on the apron, and then cranked the engine. It caught and settled to an even rumble. Oil pressure was up, and we sat, checking the cockpit and unfolding the paper charts that we used to augment the GPS we used for navigation, until the oil temperature needle started edging upward.

We taxied to the end of the runway, ran through the engine checks, made a general radio call, scanned the vicinity for other aircraft, and then turned onto the runway into the northwest wind. The low temperature and the brisk wind had us off the ground faster than normal and we climbed out in an arc that carried us off to the northeast.

Cindy's finger traced our course along a penciled line on the chart and we chatted over the intercom as we flew along making a good hundred and sixty miles an hour towards our destination. Farmland gave way to forests and hills and mountains, at least what passed for mountains in the southeastern United States. I was looking forward to showing Cindy REAL mountains in the Rockies this summer.

We left the mountains behind us as we neared the general aviation field that was our destination.

"Landing lights, Cindy," I said. It was nice having a copilot. Especially one as pretty as this one. She reached over and flipped the switch. The extra light was a big plus to enhance the visibility of our plane near the airport, just in case there was somebody out there flying without a radio. It was common at these general aviation fields. Recreational aircraft didn't require radios.

As I pulled us around in a standard traffic pattern, I noticed another plane being tied down on the apron a thousand feet below us, the occupants getting in a car and driving off. Cindy did the landing from the right seat and did a darned good job of it. We taxied to the transient flightline and tied down and then walked to the airfield office. There were two rental cars there, one for us, one to transport the driver back to his office. I signed paperwork and gathered keys, then talked to the airport operator, arranging to have him top off our plane's tanks.

We drove our car out to the plane and offloaded our bags and off we went to find the hotel, a task made much easier by yet another GPS.

Cindy complained about her only shortcoming. "I wish I could drive sometime, Dan," she said. "You have to drive everywhere."

"In due time, baby doll," I said. "You can't do everything all at once."

"Oh, Dan, it JUST aggravates me, you know. I'm getting ready to graduate. I'll prob'ly be the only graduate who doesn't have a driver's license."

"Hah!" I laughed. "That's because you'll be the only one up there who's only fourteen!"

Little darlin' stuck her tongue out at me.

We found the hotel without a hitch, parked the car and walked in with our luggage. I was standing at the desk when I heard a strangely familiar male voice, muffled to sound like the imitation of a radio transmission.

"Dan Richards, report to the supervisor's office immediately. Your transformer blew up!"

Cindy and I both wheeled around. I was looking at a guy about my size, his hair a shade darker, standing there with a teenaged girl beside him, luggage in hand.

"Alan Dean Addison! What the HELL are you doing here?"

Cindy's eyes flitted back and forth between me and him.

"I was going to ask YOU the same thing, buddy!" he said, shaking my offered hand vigorously and then pulling me in for an embrace. He turned to the young lady beside him. "Tina, this is Dan Richards. He's one of the guys I worked with in Arizona a few years ago."

She extended a hand. "Hi, Mister Dan. I'm Tina. Alan's wife." She smiled prettily.

Okay. Let me parse that later. My turn. "Cindy, this is Alan Addison. We worked together on a project in Arizona. Alan, uh ... Tina, this is MY wife, Cindy!"

"Hi," Cindy said, smiling and extending her hand. "I'm happy to meet you."

"So what are you doing HERE, Alan?" I said.

"Concert. Tina an' me..."

"Bach?" Cindy asked.

Tina nodded enthusiastically. "You too?"

"Oh yes! Tomorrow evening!"

Alan said, "You're checking in?"

"Yep!" I said, stepping up to the counter. I answered the desk clerk's questions, presented a bit of plastic, signed a form and received a couple of keycards. "Your turn, "I said.

Alan stepped up and mirrored my actions. Turning around, he asked, "Where're you working?"

"New powerhouse south of Birmingham," I said. "You?"

"Plastics plant east of Nashville. How'd you get here. Airline?"

"Nope," I answered. "Cindy and I flew in. Remember that plane I was getting rebuilt in Arizona?"

"No joke? That old bush plane. What was it? Cessna 180?" He questioned.

"Yeah. I spent some bucks, but she came out nice..."

"And the airport east of town? You flew in there?"

"Uh-huh," I answered.

"We saw you fly in. Tina and I were just driving off."

"Okay, okay ... what room are ya'll in? We need to go drop off bags and then we can catch up if you want."

"One-thirteen," he said.

"We're in four-twenty-nine. What? A few minutes? Our place or yours?" I asked.

"Ours," he laughed. "Fifteen minutes. Okay?"

"Okay. Cindy?" I turned. Cindy and Tina were standing in the lobby chatting, smiling. Alan's Tina was a few inches taller than my Cindy, her hair several shades darker, but still with an obviously red hue.

"Yes, baby?" she answered.

"Let's go put our stuff in the room, then me an' Alan have some catching up to do."

"'Kay," she said brightly. She turned to Tina. "We'll see ya in a bit, okay?"

Tina's head bobbed. "We sure will!"

We got on the elevator. Before I could open my mouth, Cindy spoke. "Dan, I don't believe this..."

"What part?"

"All of it. We fly four hundred miles to someplace we've never been, walk into a place and you meet somebody you've worked with. That's ONE thing. The guy has a wife still in high school. That's ANOTHER thing. And we all flew here in our own planes. That's THREE!"

"Four," I said. "Alan's an electrical engineer too, baby!"

She giggled. "What is this? Some kind of mutation caused by high voltage electricity?"

I let us into the room and handed her a keycard. We put our bags down. She administered our standard "Whoopee! We're in a motel room!" kiss and hug and we flopped onto the bed together.

"This is liable to be one of the stranger weekends we've had together. Alan and I have a lot in common."

"I can see that, baby," my little redhead said. "You're almost the same height. His hair's a little darker. Both of you have blue eyes. We're here for the same concert. He's got a young wife.

"You need to know more. We're the same age. Graduated the same year, two different Louisiana colleges a hundred miles apart. Both were in the army, both in the engineers. His wife left him. You know about me. He's like a brother from a different mother.

"And ya'll met on a job in Arizona." She smiled coolly.

"Uh-huh. And when that job finished, he left first, and I hung around for a couple of weeks. But we worked together. Had a lot of fun."

"Why didn't you keep track of each other, Dan?"

"Oh, we emailed back and forth for a while, but you know how those things go. We just went in two different directions. That was two jobs ago for me." I looked into the cool green eyes of my Cindy. "Baby, if they're up for it, do you mind us all hanging around together?"

She giggled. "I think it's the neatest thing I can imagine," she said. "I mean, they might not want to, if they're like us, you know, looking at the weekend like a little honeymoon. But yeah, if they want..." Smiles.

"okay, love, ' I said. "We'll have our time."

"Let's go wash our faces and go meet our friends," she said.

I was in the bathroom when the phone rang.

"Hi! This is Cindy!" Pause. "Yeah, Tina! We'll be right down. One-thirteen? We'll be there in a minute!" She saw me. "Come on, baby! Let's go!"

I followed her out to the elevator and down to the ground floor. We walked up the hall. Cindy was just about skipping, for heaven's sake!" She knocked on the door.

It opened, Tina standing there smiling. "Come in," she said. "Nice rooms, huh?"

Alan said, "We try to do this every two or three weeks. Gets us out of..."

"Don't tell me you're living in a TRAILER!" Cindy squealed.

"Remember when you and I talked about getting trailers custom built to go on the road, Alan?" I asked.

"I did, Dan. Worked out fine on the last job." Alan shrugged. "This time..."

"Me too," I said.

Tina and Cindy were sitting cross-legged on the other of the two queen-sized beds chatting.

"How'd ... last time I knew, you were divorced. Tina ... How old?"

"Seventeen," Alan said, watching my eyes. "And Cindy?"

My turn to be sheepish. "Fourteen ... Legally married. Since the week of Thanksgiving."

"Day-um!" Alan blurted. "Tina and I since October."

"Okay," I said. "One more question. What kind of plane?"

Alan laughed. "Actually we have TWO. We flew here in our Cessna 182. I bought Tina a 150 to get her license with. It's for sale now."

"She's got..."

"Dan," Cindy squealed. "Tina's got her PILOT'S license!"

I gave up. "So, what are you guys doing for dinner?" I looked. Cindy was grinning.

"We usually sort of wing it," Alan said. "Tina, fire up the laptop and see where we're going to eat tonight?" He looked at me. "Any preferences?"

"Cindy?" I asked.

Cindy was looking over Tina's shoulder. "We're lookin', baby. We'll let you know!"

Tina looked back over her shoulder. "And it won't be fried ANYTHING!"

Cindy giggled. "We're gonna have to help 'em out. They're all giddy."

I looked at the pair at the computer, then at Alan.

"Alan, the last time we did something together we built those bowling ball mortars.

"Hell, Dan," He laughed. "I still got mine!"

"Me too," I said. "Made for an interesting traffic stop in Texas on the way home with it," I laughed.

"I bet," he said. "Speeding?"

"Worse than that, buddy. West Texas deputy sheriff followed me for ten miles before he pulled me over to look at it. I thought I was going to have to shoot the thing." I chuckled.

Cindy said, "We got it!"

"Where are we eating, then?" Alan asked.

Tina said, "We found a neat Italian place. It got good reviews. And it's not far."

I looked at Alan. "She run your life?"

He grinned. "She IS my life, Dan."

"We're two lost son-of-a-guns, then, buddy!"

Chapter 35

Cindy perked up. "Baby, you're NOT lost. I found you!"

Tina said, "You might've found HIM, my Alan found ME." Then to the group: "Who's got the biggest car? We should ride together!"

Cindy giggled and nodded assent.

"Ford Taurus," Alan said.

"You win," I said. "I went with a sub-compact! We could all FIT in a Focus..."

Alan laughed. "No, we'll take the Taurus. Do you two need to go back to your room first, or are we ready to go?"

I looked at Cindy. "She LOOKS ready, but you never know ... Baby?"

"I'm ready. You ready, Tina?"

Tina shut the cover on her laptop and stood. "I'm ready. Let's go."

Alan patted his back pocket to verify his keycard was in it, and we walked down the hall behind Tina and Cindy. Tina's walk had a little more gentle flow to it. Cindy never seemed to shake the idea that she was on the verge of skipping, her hair bobbing delightfully.

Allan nudged me. "Look," he laughed. "Cuties!"

"Uh-huh," I said. "Apparently in my former life I rescued puppies or something to have karma like this."

At the lobby the girls stopped and waited for us. Cindy took my hand and Tina linked up with Alan and we strode past the front desk, two couple headed out for the evening. The air outside was crisp and chilly as we walked to the Addison's parked car.

Tina said, "Guys in the front, girls in the back. Ya'll are taller."

We got in the car. I closed the door and felt familiar fingers touch my face.

"We're buckled in back here," Cindy chirped.

Alan started the car as I punched up our destination on the GPS, and off we went.

I started the conversation about work. I REALLY wanted to hear how another wise sane middle-aged engineer would end up with a teen-aged wife. I mean, besides ME.

"Sounds like the same division as in Arizona," I said. "I ended up with the generators and you got the distribution."

"Pretty much. Only generation I have is the emergency set that keeps the control room coffeepot going. Got a nice utility substation. We built it too."

"Those are fun," I said. "You get Tina out there?"

"No," he said. "I tried but our safety guy's one of those anal retentive ones that's hard to work with. I'm surprised he's still there. You're telling me that Cindy..."

"I'm the "Engineer's Apprentice," Cindy said. She turned to Tina. "I've got all kinds of pictures on my laptop in the room. You gotta see 'em!"

"You remember Bill Carmody, right?" I asked Alan.

"Yeah. He's on your project?"

"Yeah," I said. "Project manager on this one."

"Day-um! He was good running the mechanical side of that last job."

"He's doing a great job with this one, too. He's like Cindy's godfather out there. She's out there almost every week. Sometimes twice."

"Alan, I wish I could visit your job."

"I know, baby," Alan said. "We talked about it. But lemme work an angle on it. Might be able to get you out there with your physics class, and work from there. Uh, Dan, doesn't that interfere with her school?"

"Uh, Alan, I'm kind of proud of my Cindy. She's sort of a unique case in the eight grade."

"Unique?" Tina questioned.

Cindy had a little smile but kept quiet.

"Yeah," I said. "She's graduating from high school in May."

"Me too," Tina said. "But I'm a senior. What's the deal, Cindy?"

"I took a test. And another test. And Dan gave me a little push abut school..."

"She's just scary smart, is all," I said.

"Got me one a'those," Alan laughed. "Tina's an honor student, even with missing half a semester last year as a high school dropout."

Tina lowered her eyes. "It's part of a long story, Mister Dan."

My little redhead patted her new friend's knee. "Tina, Dan an' I know about long, sad stories. I got my own..."

Alan's eyes flitted off the road and at me. "Who starts first?"

"I think I'd rather let Cindy decide what she wants to tell. I just sort of showed up at the RV park..."

She picked the story up. "Me an' Mom were livin' in a trailer in an RV park. It wasn't a very good situation. My mom was..."

Tina sensed the connection. "Mine was horrible, Cindy. I lived with my grandma until she died, and then I had to move in with Mom."

"I lived with my mom in a thirty-foot travel trailer," Cindy said. "An' Mom worked in a bar..."

I sensed a bit of a quiver in Cindy's voice. "Baby, you don't have to..."

"Hush, honey," Cindy said. "I want people to know how bad it was before you came along, love. Tina, my momma gave me up when I was fourteen to the nice lady who ran the RV park, just so she could go to Vegas with some dude she picked up at a bar..."

Tina said, "Alan found me about to get the crap slapped out of me by my mom's boyfriend. They were going to meet a guy to do a drug lab in Arkansas. Mom's in jail now. Alan offered me a place to stay until we got things sorted out. I did all kinds of sorting, and he kept showing up on the top of the stack." She smiled and reached her hand forward to caress Alan's neck. "I love you, Alan. D'ya know that?"

"Yes I do, angel," he said.

"Dan was somebody to talk with, then somebody to help me with schoolwork, then a friend, and then there is no reason it the world that I'd ever want NOT to be with him. I don't know how we lived without each other..."

I couldn't see her. The car was lit only by the ambient light of a city street and my little love was seated behind me, but I knew her 'happy serious' smile, green eyes atwinkle, the way the corners of her mouth turned up as she showed dimples to accentuate the freckled nose.

"He gives me the stars..." She reached up and gave me a proprietary touch.

"She's my star," I admitted. "You oughtta see her onstage."

"Stage?" Tina blurted.

We were pulling into the restaurant parking lot. "We can tell that story inside," Cindy said.

The four of us walked into the restaurant like the two couples we were. Fortunately it WAS a family place because we were all in our 'travelling clothes'. For Cindy that was jeans and a sweatshirt. This time it was University of Alabama.

I noticed that Alan and Tina made a cute couple. The top of her head reached his ear. My Cindy was ten inches shorter than me, a delightful thing, in my mind, but the difference in our heights emphasized the difference in our ages.

We were taken to a table in a corner, nicely removed from the traffic flows. "Just don't forget us back here," Alan chided the waitress.

We pored over menus and chose a couple of appetizers and our entrees and chatted the whole time. Cindy told her story about our musical exploits. She set her eye on Alan. "Did YOU know he could play guitar?"

Alan raised his hands in surrender. "Nope. He kept that part pretty well hidden." He paused. "Well, there was that one time, but he'd had a few beers and so had I, company party, you know, and he took the bass from the guy in the band for a while, but who can tell when a bass player's any good?"

I laughed. "I see you still have a decided lack of discernment in music."

"Hey, bud," Alan said, laughing, "I'm here for the same concert YOU are..."

"That's probably Tina's idea," I picked.

Tina stood by her guy. "I'm just the navigator on this one. The first time I ever saw a live concert, Alan was sitting there next to me." She smiled. "First time in an airplane, too."

"And now you have your license?" I asked.

"I took my flight test two weeks before Christmas," she said.

"I'm jealous of that," Cindy said, feigning a pout. "I have to wait 'til I'm seventeen. It's gonna be my birthday present."

"Little darlin' wrangled a couple of flights in an Extra," I said. "Thought I was gonna have to buy one..."

"Oh, really?" Alan said.

"Didn't we see one of those somewhere in Kentucky?" Tina asked.

"Yeah, baby," he answered.

Tina's turn to stick a pouty lip out. "Cindy, now I'm jealous."

Cindy giggled. "Don't be! I'm sure you have plenty of adventure all your own."

"Oh yeah," Tina laughed. "Like escaping Tennessee before Alan got arrested for child molestation."

"Alan," I said, "You were molesting this lovely child? You DOG!"

"I molested him first, Dan," Tina admitted. "He was all perfectly honorable and everything..."

Cindy cut her eyes to mine, smiled, and said nothing.

Tina continued, "And we thought the age of consent in Tennessee was sixteen like a lot of other places, but it wasn't, so we had to do a flying trip to Louisiana for a judge to fix up some paperwork and marry us."

Another knowing glance from Cindy. And a giggle. "Oh, Dan an' I know about judges and paperwork," she said.

The chatter continued through the meal. Cindy and I did our normal trick of ordering two different entrees and swapping plates halfway through. No, we wouldn't do that in a 'white tablecloth' place, but this was a family-style restaurant and we didn't feel bad about it. I noted that Alan and Tina split a dessert. So did my Cindy and I. And four coffees afterward before Alan and I almost went to fisticuffs over who picked up the tab.

"Dammit, Alan," I finally said, "YOU drove. I pay!"

"Alright," he gave in. "I get lunch tomorrow. If you guys wanna hang out with me an' Sweetie."

Cindy and I were a duet. Together we said, "Of course!"

I paid our check and the four of us trooped out to the car and rode back to the hotel. I heard low voices and giggling in the back seat as Alan and I talked about work things. We exited in the parking lot and walked back into the hotel.

"Tina and I figured this out, guys," she said. "We all have been living in travel trailers and tonight's the night for loooong hot showers."

Tina looked at Alan, smiling. He looked enraptured. She said, "So, we all do our own things for breakfast, and we'll get together around elevenish and figure out lunch." Giggle. "C'mon, THING," she said.

"Yeah, c'mon, THING!" Cindy giggled, pulling at my hand, urging me toward the elevator.

"How can I argue with this?" I laughed.

I let us into our room and Cindy turned the deadbolt and fastened the chainlock. I scooped her into my arms and kissed her. Then she kissed me back.

"Wow, guy," she said. "I never in a million YEARS expected anything like this!"

"It's kinda got me floored, too. But you and Tina seem to hit it off."

"I never had a sister, Dan," Cindy said. "Tina's, well, I don't know ... I LIKE her ... She could BE my sister, in an only slightly parallel universe."

"Me an' Alan said the same thing, baby. Ya'll look like sisters."

She pushed me backward onto the bed. "Uh, Dan, love of my life, d'ya think you might be interested in a long hot shower? Hmmmm?" Her eyes sparkled. "I think it would be nice to be wet an' naked and soapy..."

"That's a wonderful idea, little redheaded girl," I said, pulling her against me. Her face moved towards mine, our lips fusing.

She hopped up, sat cross-legged on the bed and untied her shoes. I slid my loafers off and wrapped her in my arms from behind and attacked the nape of her neck, pushing aside her short bronze hair, reducing her to a giggly mass.

"Stop that, ' she giggled. "We need to take a shower."

I didn't stop. She twisted around and captured my mouth with her own. "Okay, guy," she smiled. "A couple more."

Finally we stood and stripped together and hit the shower. Unlimited hot water, lots of soap, we spent half an hour, I guess, before we finally got out. After toweling off, she began to dry her hair while I tended to my shaving. She was still drying her hair and brushing it when I finished. I observed the diminutive beauty as she finished and walked into the room. It was very pleasant. Her breasts were growing a bit, the undersides taking a sweet roundness, still a delightful A cup, pushing into B territory, still perfection for her slender form, and she strode into the room with confidence and expectation, straight into my waiting arms.

I rolled her onto her back.

"Oooooo," she squealed. "Somebody's INTERESTED!"

"D'you know how absolutely beautiful you are, Cindy?"

"Only when you tell me, baby," she smiled. "You, I believe." She sighed. "You. Because you love me."

"I do indeed love you. And adore you. And worship you."

"And I NEED you, Dan. Right now." She tugged me down to kiss, insinuating her right hand between us to grasp my dick. "I wanna play."

This was signal for fun. I rolled sideways off her, awaiting the next move. It came quickly as her small hand pushed me onto my back and she deftly straddled my thighs, giving her easy view and access to her 'toys'. Green eyes flashed along with her smile as two hands reached down to tease and explore.

My own hands stroked her thighs.

"Hard tonight, babe," she grinned.

"Don't know why," I grinned. "You're cute and smart and I love you and I've been looking forward to this for a week."

She slid forward from her position on my thighs to bring a happy bit of moist warmth into contact with my dick, then she fell forward into my arms.

"Absolutely perfect!" I said to the bronze-wreathed face before me.

Inventory, okay? Physical beauty? Five-three, hundred and ten pounds, green, like in 'emerald' green, eyes, hair the color of bronze, no enhancements desired or needed, skin pale from some convergence of Scandinavian and Celtic ancestry, with that spatter of freckles across a pert nose, a complexion that should go on magazine covers. Make a big "X" in the 'physical beauty' box. Intelligence? Surely you jest. If somebody showed her something, she LEARNED it. And then, if it was interesting to her, she went and found out MORE. And heaven help us if she could actually practice a skill. I was always the quick one in any group I joined, but Cindy ... I found myself overshadowed. Personality. Seven months ago I'd met a shy, introverted, scared of her own shadow, little girl. Today she was happy, confident, at ease with others. Maturity? She was FOURTEEN! And honestly, I'd dated women almost three times her age that had less poise and maturity. Yes, I know she lacked a lot of the life experiences I'd gained by hanging around a few decades more, but she stayed right with me if we got into something that she'd not yet experienced.

Yeah! Absolutely perfect!

And she was laying in my arms, smiling!

"Dan, you just zoned out, babe. What are you thinking about?"

"You, little one," I said. "Sometimes the reality hits me."

She knew this talk. "That you found yourself married to a KID?" Giggle.

"No. That I found myself married to YOU!"

Her arms looped around my neck and we kissed some more. Her mobile hips rose up and my dick sprang free to a purposeful angle. She toyed with it knowingly with little nudges as we kissed and then said, "I'll be back." And she spun around to present me with her pussy in my face. My mouth reached her about the same time hers reached me and we both moaned.

Nimble fingers worked magic on me in concert with her mouth. My own lips and tongue were in a joyous playground of taste and texture and the efficacy of my actions were signaled by the insistent motions of her pelvis as she writhed under the stimulation.

She pulled her mouth off me. "I thought I could wait, babe. I can't. Do me." She clasped my dick against her cheek and her pelvis rhythmically shoved her clitty against my tongue as I played with her.

"Nnnnngghhh!" and she drew a sharp breath and held it. "Nnnnnngghhhh! Yessssss!" she hissed. "Ohgodyessssss!"

I gave her a bit of time to get past her orgasm and tentatively flicked my tongue out again.

"Ohpleaseonemore!"

"Mmmmmmm," I moaned. "As long as you taste like this..." and I was quite pleased to give her one more.

It was a good one. She went limp. I let my head drop to the pillow, breathing through my nose, savoring the tangy, sweet musk of her orgasm. I heard her sigh.

"I love you soooo much, Dan."

"I love you right back, Cindy."

She turned back around, kissing me, my face slick with the juice of her orgasm. "Your tongue..."

"Incentive," I said. "I get a happy Cindy out of that deal."

Giggle. And a hop. And she was impaled on me. Her head was tilted to the left, her eyes twinkling, her face a dimpled smile. She took my hands in hers. "You got a VERY happy Cindy!" And she started riding.

The smile modulated to involve her biting her bottom lip, somewhere in the time it took me to get to my orgasm. That was a gauge of hers. She paid attention. When I just couldn't stop it, I thrust upward hard into her and she did a couple of horizontal slides that brought me and her both to the pinnacle.

"Hold me," she said.

"Yes, my love."

"Mmmmmm. Baby." She gave me a shower of tiny kisses.

I answered with my own. I felt a plop as my softened dick fell out of its tight nest. I felt the juices spreading down over my scrotum. "A mess down there, cutie," I said.

"I shouldn't waste that," she said. "It's us..."

"I was thinking the same thing, sweetness. Why don't you..."

Giggle. And she twirled around. In a few minutes she was shuddering through her fourth orgasm and I was squeaky clean. She came back to my side, nestling in my arm as I lay on my back, her hand idly fondling me.

"Still think I'm perfect, guy?"

"Past perfect, doll," I said. "There'd have to be TWO of me to love you enough."

"I don't want TWO. I want the ONE I've got right now." She propped up on an elbow. "You know, you're not exploiting me, guy."

"I tired, baby. Maybe I'm getting too old to exploit you properly."

Giggle. "No, be serious. You know what I mean. I was reading the news on the internet the other day and I followed some links on stories about exploited kids."

"Sweetness," I said, "You have no idea how much I battled ... when you first started showing up in my life. I almost moved..."

"Dan, you never told me that..." Her face was so tender-looking.

"I did, sweetness. When I felt myself starting to have the first feelings past the ones that made me want to help you in school and give you a little better life..."

"I know, Dan. Me an' Mizz Helen had more than one talk about older men and young girls. She told me that whole thing about people using each other. I knew about people usin' people, Dan. Mom gave me a great course in it."

"But that's adults using other adults."

"People using people. I'm sure that some of those kids I read about had their own motives. Those articles didn't come out and say it, but I could see that happening. You know, when I first started hangin' out around you, I knew I could get things out of you if I wanted to."

"Baby?" I said, "You never told me that."

"Because it never happened. But you were just nice to me. You were better to me being nice than I could imagine if you'd've wanted to, you know ... I kinda fell in love." She paused. "No, not 'kinda'. I did. Fall in love. Before we ... And really, that first night, the one with the storm, I didn't plan that."

"I never figured out if you did or you didn't, sweetie. But you had me, whether it was that night or four years later. If you wanted me." I was honest.

"When Tina and I went to the ladies' room at the restaurant, we kinda talked real quick. She said she didn't feel exploited either."

"Oh," I said. "So that's what started this."

"Not really, love," she said. "Sometimes I want to talk about how I feel about you. With somebody else."

I knew how she felt. Even if guys weren't supposed to talk about feelings, sometimes I wanted to just simply tell somebody. The closest I'd come to date was with Jim Hardesty.

"It's hard, you know," she said simply. "I kind of said some of it to Mizz Ann when we went on that weekend with her an' Mister Jim, and I said some of it to Tootie, but I couldn't tell them all of it, because I don't know if anyone would understand how we fell in love when I was thirteen."

"And with Tina?"

"She made me feel like she understood. I don't feel exploited. I feel totally loved. I feel like it's, you know, it's hard to explain, like it's an US. That together we're more than just the two of us."

"I've felt like that from the beginning, babe," I said. "before we..."

Giggle.

"Yeah," I continued. "I fell in love with your personality and your brain first."

She giggled again, dragging my hand and pressing it against her pliant breast. "But this part..." Grin.

"Is fantasy. No, my imagination was never that good. I didn't have fantasies about cute little redheaded girls."

"So I want you to know, Dan, I will love you forever. I already do. 'Forever' doesn't start and end. It's always."

I pondered that idea while I looked at the remarkable person who voiced it. "Forever," I replied. "I loved you before I knew you existed."

She crawled over me and kissed me as she slid atop me into my arms. I brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her. "Magic," I said. "You're simply magic."

We held onto each other for some minutes before she had to get up for a bathroom visit. While she was in the bathroom, the room phone rang.

"Room 429," I said.

Female voice. Familiar. "Mister Dan, this is Tina. Can I talk to Cindy?"

"In a minute," I said. "She's..."

"Who is it, baby?" Cindy called.

"Tina," I answered. "She wants to talk to you."

"Is she in her room?"

"Are you in your room, Tina?"

"Yessir," she said.

"She's in her room."

"Tell 'er I'll call her back!" Cindy said.

"Uh, Tina, can she call you back?"

"Sure!" came the chipper answer. The tone of the answer told me that things were okay.

"Okay, she'll call you. What's your husband doing?"

Giggle. "Same thing your wife's doing, prob'ly."

"Okay. She'll call."

"'Kay! Bye!"

Presently I heard the toilet flush and Cindy popped out. "Wonder what she wants?" she said.

"I can only imagine." She looked at the clock. Nine-thirty. She dialed the room number.

"Oh, hi, Mister Alan. Tina called." Pause. "Hi, Tina! What's up?"

Giggle. "No, you really can't do that all evening!" giggle. "Lemme ask 'im." She turned to me. "Tina wants to know if we wanna go get a late snack."

I snorted. Like I was going to say no. In the year we'd worked together, Alan was the spur of the moment guy, so I imagine he got what he deserved. "Yeah, why not?"

"He's okay with it. Yeah, we'll see you in the lobby in five minutes." Little redhead was still stark beautifully nude when she bounced on top of me, kissing. "You don't mind, do you?"

"No, I don't. I imagine we ought to wear a little more than smiles, though." More giggles and kisses and we got out of bed and slid into our jeans and her idea, matching long-sleeved rugby shirts. She was tying her shoes when I stood up.

She turned to look at me. "You do realize that this counts as recharging time, don't you?" she stood straight into my arms.

"And that's a perfectly lovely way to go to sleep," I said.

We headed out the door and up the hall to the elevator. Inside I was attacked by Cindy. Giggle. "Elevators make me crazy!"

"Uh-huh," I said, catching my breath afterward. "I have no problem with you being crazy."

The doors opened and I saw Tina and Alan standing there waiting. Tina had him encircled around the waist and Alan was smiling, shaking his head.

"Didn't we just SEE you two," I laughed.

"MY thoughts exactly," Alan smiled.

Tina giggled. "I have an appetite. You, Cindy?"

Red head nodded. She had her hand inside my bicep. "Recharging." Sweet smile.

Chapter 36

The four of us loaded into the car, headed to an all-night pancake house just up the road. The girls exchanged knowing glances, giggling all the way from the lobby to the car.

I questioned the sanity of drinking coffee at 10 o'clock at night, so we opted for hot chocolate instead. The pastries that came with it were not as sweet as the little redhead sitting next to me. I looked at Alan. "This is a new one for us. Cindy has never asked for a late-night snack."

Cindy giggled. "Not one that we had to leave the building for." Big grin. "But this is kind of a special occasion. It's like I found a new sister that I didn't know I had." Her eyes gauged the three of us. "And we found out that she's married to Dan's best friend."

"That's how I feel," Tina said. "Cindy and I are not gonna let this drop. You guys should have kept in touch."

Alan spoke. "Yeah, I know. But you know, guys are like that. And if Dan and I had been in each other's back pocket, we might've missed you two. It's almost like it was meant to happen this way. Dan and I get to work on a job together, become good friends, split ways, find the loves of our lives, and then our paths cross again. If we weren't sitting here at this table at 10 o'clock at night talking about this, I'd think it sounds like fiction."

"I have to agree with that," I said. I laughed. "If we've been working on the same job, we would probably be out running the roads. I don't know, maybe things would've been a lot different, but I certainly don't think they could be any better." I looked at Cindy. "Cindy came along at a time when we needed each other. I didn't know I needed anybody. But then Cindy popped up. I found out that sometimes you need things that you don't even know about. Like cute redheaded girls."

Cindy smiled. "I needed somebody. I needed a friend. I didn't know what a friend would look like. I mean at school, I was kind of on the outside. A lot of kids didn't associate with me because they knew what my mother was. And even in Alabama, living in an RV park sets you off as different. And people knew that I'd been living in an RV park for years."

Tina reached across the table and patted Cindy's hand. "I know some of the stuff you're talking about, you know, the mama thing. I had it good as long as I was staying with Grandma. But when she died, my life went downhill fast. It's like it caved in on me." She sighed. "When we loaded up to evacuate from the hurricane, I honestly didn't think I'd get back home alive. Mom's boyfriend was crazy. Not to mention that some of her friends were already making comments like they wanted to do things with me that I didn't want to have done."

Alan said, "See, that's another example. If Dan and I had been working on the same job, I would'nt've been driving up the road that day." He paused. "I mean, I'd been fighting traffic for three hours, and I stopped for breakfast, and all that crap broke loose. I figured it was just what I needed to end an otherwise horrible day. And look how it ended up. It's funny how life twists around. Sometimes tragedies are just doors opening for some really good things."

Cindy slid tight up against me in the booth. She turned half sideways, wrapped both arms around my bicep, put her chin on my shoulder, and smiled. "Best possible outcome," she smiled. "I know my life has been fantastic. It's been some kind of funny fairytale with a funny looking little castle on wheels."

Tina said, "Tell Alan about your college stuff."

Cindy smiled. "No, I don't want to sound like I'm bragging."

Tina laughed. "It's not bragging, Cindy. I think it's neat. Tell him. I know you're not bragging."

"Okay," Cindy said. "Right now I have gifted scholarships. I interviewed with the deans of two engineering colleges in Alabama. I'm still trying to figure out which way to go."

Alan smiled. Actually he laughed. He looked at me and said, "Engineering? Electrical engineering? "Engineer's Apprentice" thing, isn't it?"

"Yes, Alan," Cindy said, "the first time I saw Dan in his element, I knew what I wanted to do. Since then, every time I visit the project, it reinforces what my first thought was. I want to be an engineer like Dan."

I shook my head. "That's not the worst of it, guys. She's had letters of interest from a lot of schools. We even had conversations about MIT and Stanford."

"But I kind of want us to stay in Alabama," Cindy said. "Dan and I talked, and we figured that it would be a lot easier for him to work down here. And The University of Alabama or Auburn, they both have great schools of engineering, and graduating from either one of those would be just fine."

Tina smiled. "That's funny, Alan and I have been talking about my college. I used to think about college when I lived with Grandma, but when I moved in with Mom I gave up on any dreams of college. The first thing Alan talked about was getting me through high school. Since he found out how well I was doing in high school, we been talking about college. Up until I met him, I had no idea about a major. Guess what. I have an idea now."

Alan laughed. "See, Dan. You're not the only one that could delude a young lady."

I looked at Cindy then Tina. "Tina is an honor student too?" I looked at Tina. "How's your math, Tina?"

Tina grinned. "AP classes, Dan. Straight A's."

"That'll do just fine, then," I said. "I think math's the hardest part."

"I don't think she'll have a problem with any of it," Alan said.

Cindy's the one who dropped the bombshell. "Why don't y'all move to Alabama." Her biggest brightest grin. "We could go to school together. I think that would be an absolutely wonderful thing."

Alan and I looked at each other in amazement. "You know," he said, "there just might be something to that."

I looked at Cindy. "Sometimes you amaze me." I paused. "No, make that 'you amaze me just about every day', little girl."

Sometimes it was fun to watch her when she had a little bit of encouragement. She started, "I mean, come on guys, doesn't that really make sense?" She glanced around the table. "I mean, you two, maybe you can work something out as far as where you work and what you do." She looked at me. "Dan, you were talking to that new powerhouse bunch. That's always an option. You talked about the money and you said that that would keep you in the area. But maybe there's a way that you can keep doing the "let's get that 'Dan' guy," thing. I know you can make more money doing that, but you wanted to be around while I was in college. But if we had our own little community..."

Alan looked at her. He looked at Tina. He looked at me. "Maybe she's on to something."

Tina smiled. "That's my little sister!" Giggle.

"Well," I said, "it's something to think about. And we don't need to make a decision tonight."

"Yeah," Cindy giggled. "We can sleep on it and make a decision tomorrow!" Another giggle. "No, seriously. I was just thinking and I thought I would put it on the table."

Alan looked serious. "No, Cindy. I think it's an interesting idea. Like you said though, we can sleep on it, we can go home with it, we can think about it, and we can talk some more. Dan and I need to toss some ideas around for the business angle and see if we can come up with a model that makes sense."

I laughed. "There you go talking like an MBA. When you start tossing words like 'model' around, I start getting nervous."

Alan countered. "You know exactly what I mean," he said.

"Okay," I said. "Let's think about it."

I looked at Cindy and she had that "you know I'm right" smirk. Tina was smiling, too.

The next half hour's conversation was about the upcoming concert and some of the concerts we'd listened to in the last few months.

Tina was telling us about some of the bluegrass concerts that she and Alan had been to. She smiled at Cindy. "Of course that's not the same thing as standing up on the stage." She playfully elbowed Alan. "Don't you wish you could play a musical instrument?"

"I do, baby," he said. "Actually I play several."

She looked at him quizzically.

He had an evil grin. "Yeah, CDs, iPod, and a bunch of ancient instruments, Dan knows about 'em, things like cassette tapes and vinyl records."

Cindy giggled. Poor Alan got another jab in the ribs. I laughed.

Alan and I got into another minor altercation over who paid tonight's ticket. I gave up this time. We paid and we all piled into the car to go back to the hotel. Back at the hotel, we agreed to meet for lunch the next day. Alan and Tina headed up the hall to their room, and Cindy and I hit the elevator.

When the doors closed, Cindy squealed and jumped into my arms. I love it when she does that. Her bright young face melts my heart. She could tell me to jump off the roof with that smile, and I'd get a running start.

"Baby, I didn't mean to put you on the spot." Her eyes were twinkling. "But sometimes I get an idea, and I just kind of blurt it out."

"Oh, sweetie, you didn't put me on the spot. You came up with a good idea. And you put it in front of the people that need to discuss it." The elevator doors opened. We walked up the hall and into our room. I locked the door behind me.

She started undressing, smiling. "You know how," she grinned, "you're all relaxed after sex, and it's so easy to go to sleep, and you sleep so good?"

I couldn't help but smile. "And where exactly is this leading?" I grinned.

She flashed those green eyes at me with a mischievous smirk. "Well, just maybe a little bitty one for each of us, you know, so we'll sleep good."

We slept VERY good. The next morning, we lounged in bed, cuddling, playing, until about nine. We got up and dressed casually and went downstairs. The hotel had a continental breakfast set up. We had a couple of pastries and a couple of cups of coffee. Then we got the car and drove around town, following a traveler's guide and seeing sights.

Nearing 11, we were in the vicinity of the hotel again. "Why don't you give your sister call?" I said, smiling at Cindy.

She giggled. "It IS kind of like that, baby. I mean, she and I have so much in common. Don'tcha think that, since you and Alan have so much in common, that you'd both be attracted to the same kind of people?"

"Yeah," I said. "You're both girls." I laughed.

"You know exactly what I mean. She's even got red hair!"

"No, sweetie, she's got auburn hair, you've got red hair."

"And she's an honor student."

"Yeah, well, some of us guys go for the bright girls. I always said that after the sex and after your buddies have seen what you brought home, you've got an awful lot of hours where you have to talk to the person."

She looked at me smiling. "Now isn't that rather clinical," she said.

"Yes and that's quite a statement, and from Little Ms. Analytical. But it's the truth. You have any idea how many marriages fall apart because two people can't sit in a room and carry on a conversation?"

"You're probably right, when you think about it. Remember when we first got together? And I told you it wasn't just sex for me? And then I felt like you wanted me for something besides sex?"

"Uh-huh," I said. "And I meant it. That was one of the first things I noticed about you. When you and me would sit by the pool and we'd talk. You didn't sound like a 13-year-old girl. You had ideas and opinions and you stated them well. I didn't know what to make of you."

"Dan, I think that was the first thing that attracted me to you. You didn't treat me like a kid. You did not act like I was bothering you. And we actually talked about things, you know, questions and answers. And it wasn't just me doing the questions and you doing the answers."

"I know," I said, "and that's why I was happy to be your friend and to be your tutor. I could see you were smart and I could see that you are interested otherwise you would'nt've asked. And then, as things went along, it was like I planted a seed, and this wonderful little flower blossomed."

She smiled, reaching across the console, patting my forearm. "You'll never know how much I love you," she said. She pulled out her cell phone, flipped it open, and punched a button. She held it to her ear. "Hi, sis! What are y'all doing?" Pause. "We're a couple of blocks from the hotel and its getting to be lunch time." Pause. "Okay! We'll meet you in the lobby in five minutes."

"Sounds like a plan," I said. "Maybe a light lunch? The concert starts at seven so we can do some place nice for dinner in the vicinity of the concert hall and have plenty of time to get there. We've got reserved seats, so we don't need to get there too early."

"But I certainly don't want to get there late," she said.

"We're not going to be late, baby," I said. "I've been wanting to hear the Brandenberg #3 performed live all my life."

"Me too," she said, beaming. " And a year ago I didn't even know what Brandenberg #3 was. You're the one responsible for creating THIS monster, you know."

We pulled into the hotel parking lot, parked, and walked in holding hands. Yes, heads turned. Trouble was, I didn't know if it was her University of Alabama sweatshirt, or if it's because she was a stunning little redhead with green eyes, and she walked in, an obvious teenager, holding hands with a middle-aged guy.

When we got inside, we didn't see Alan and Tina, so we sat on a sofa in the lobby. An older gentleman walked by, saw Cindy's sweatshirt, and stopped. "Don't see too many people wearing that shirt around here," he said and laughed.

"I'm really FROM Alabama. We're in town for the concert," Cindy grinned.

The guy looked at me.

"Don't look at me, I'm from Louisiana," I said.

"What concert?" He asked.

"There's an orchestra from Europe that's touring the U.S.," Cindy chirped. "We're here to listen to Bach concertos."

The guy laughed. "Well, welcome to North Carolina, even if you do have the wrong shirt on. I hope y'all enjoy your concert."

Cindy handled herself well. "Why, thank you, sir," she said, flashing a winning smile, her emerald eyes glittering.

Alan and Tina walked up in the middle of this conversation. Alan said, "What'd you do? Get caught wearing enemy colors?"

Cindy laughed. "Apparently some people attach more significance to the color of the sweatshirt than the fact that it's warm."

"Oh, yeah," Alan said. "It's even worse during football season. A guy wearing the wrong shirt can get the crap beat out of."

I added, "Of course, they'll probably exempt cute little redheads."

Alan asked, "So where are we going to have lunch?"

Tina looked at Cindy. "Did y'all talk about doing something light? For lunch?"

"Uh-huh," Cindy said. "We thought we'd put more effort into dinner before the concert. And then after the concert, like we did last night."

Tina looked at Alan. "See! We think alike! Sisters!"

Cindy stood beside Tina, bending one leg and cocking her hip, the two of them striking a pose.

"That reminds me," said Alan. "We need to get a camera and take some pictures of this group."

"You're absolutely right," I said. "I know old Bill Carmody would love to see them. He's not going to believe that you and I ran into each other, and he's really gonna flip out when he sees you and Tina."

"I can just imagine," said Alan, " what'd he think about you and Cindy getting married?"

"You know," I said, "him and the rest of the guys at work already knew Cindy. I brought her the job by herself, I brought her with her science class, and then I brought her to the job by herself several more times. They knew her. It wasn't me that started calling her the Engineers Apprentice. That was Bill and a couple of the other engineers. You know, when we got married, I lost sleep worrying that I'd ruined the relationship I had with those guys, but even worse, I worried about Cindy and how the guys would treat her."

"I worried, too," Cindy said. "I mean, Mister Bill treated me like a granddaughter, and the other guys treated me like a little sister."

"They used to see us having breakfast together several times a week." I continued, "but after we got married, I walked into the office with a wedding ring on my hand. I wasn't going to say anything until somebody asked. It didn't take long for somebody to ask. And I came right out and told 'em. That was in the Monday morning staff meeting. Bill looked kind of surprised, but he looked at me and said, "Well, good! Stranger things have happened. Cindy's a bright, smart kid. If she wants to put up with you, then I know you'll take care of her. Or you'll come up missing and we'll save five bucks worth of concrete." And he laughed. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the crew."

"I think the guy that took it the hardest," Cindy said, "was my guidance counselor, Mister Jim. Me and Dan go to their house for dinner all the time. Even before we were married. They're the ones we sing bluegrass with. But I think me getting married shook him up."

I said, "Apparently, he saw Cindy's wedding band and asked about it."

Cindy nodded her head. "I could tell it kind of disturbed him."

"When he called me," I said, "he sounded stressed. I told him that I valued his friendship and that I could understand how me and Cindy being married might be a disturbing thing on one level. You know, his wife came to my rescue. She's a music teacher, and she pointed out that they had several pregnant middle schoolers, and that none of those were going to be married, and that Cindy was married and WASN'T pregnant."

Cindy giggled. "An' she asked Mister Jim when he'd ever seen Dan without me right there with them. Ms. Ann said we made a cute couple."

"Alan, I sweated that one. Jim Hardesty is like my best friend over there. He did a lot of things for Cindy that I think are above and beyond the norm. And I didn't want him thinking bad of her because she married me."

Alan said, "Tina and I got a few strange looks at her school's open house. We run into a few thorns every now and then, but I guess seventeen is a little easier to swallow to most folks."

"Dan got nailed by her librarian," Cindy giggled.

"Sure! You laugh now, but at the time it wasn't that pleasant." I continued, "the librarian had cast her religious angle on things. I was going to hell as a child molester. I did my best to set things straight. I don't know if I did any good, though..."

"You did good," Cindy said. "She stop treating me like a cross between the devil's spawn and a poor little abused child."

"Wow!" Tina said. "I mean, I got a lot of questions, mostly from the kids at school, but more than one faculty member sort of pulled me to the side and asked if I was in trouble. Sometimes it was hard not to laugh, I mean, they were sincere in trying to help."

Alan glanced at his watch. "Hey, why don't we keep talking while were driving?"

Tina said, "okay." She looked at Cindy, then me. "D' you guys have a problem with Applebee's?"

"No," I said. "They have stuff on the menu that's just light enough for what we want today."

"Dan's never taken me to an Applebee's," Cindy said. "So this'll be the first one."

"So, Dan, what kind of places do you take this lady to eat at?" Alan asked.

"Oh," I said, "in the immediate vicinity of the RV park, things are kind limited. We practically have a table with our name on it at a catfish house. And when we walk into the café for breakfast, the whole staff knows us. But when we're out of the area for the weekend, we try little bit of everything."

Cindy smiled. "First time I ever had Chinese, was with Dan. Lots of other ethnic restaurants, too. The way I figure it," she said, "I'm too cute for them to poison."

"That's a good one!" Tina said. "Alan's kind of adventurous when it comes to food, too."

As we got in the car, Alan said, "Ain't nothing adventurous about an Applebee's."

The destination was barely a mile away from the hotel. We pulled in just in time for the lunchtime rush, but it was Saturday. Wasn't too crowded. We got another booth, Cindy and I sitting side-by-side on our side and Alan and Tina on the other. We ordered our drinks, declined appetizers, and ordered entrées. While we waited for our food we continued talking.

"Alan, maybe I'm being nosy, but what about your daughter?" I asked.

Tina smiled. "Oh, Dan, we had her with us for the Christmas holidays. Terri flew in. We met her at the airport. She and I hit it off real well. I was worried about that. You know, the whole thing, little girls and their daddies, and I guess that I saw too many TV shows about evil stepmothers, or even worse, resentful stepchildren. So I was worried."

"Me, too," Alan admitted. "That's one of the bad things about being a part-time dad: you don't get to keep very good track of how your child's personality is developing. I mean, I get Terri for a few weeks in the summer and for either the Christmas or the Thanksgiving holiday. The last couple of those efforts, it was just me and Terri. I wish I could say it was pleasant, but how do I take care of a seven year old girl? We got through it, but basically it boiled down to me doing whatever she wanted. All I could do was make suggestions. I can't think like a little girl." Alan sighed. "I worried about how she would accept Tina. I shouldn't have. I think she was happier to see Tina than she was to see me. The only difference though, is that instead of doing whatever one seven-year-old girl wanted, now I have to do what a seven-year-old and a seventeen-year-old can figure out between themselves." He laughed.

"We're still having ex-wife problems, though," Tina said.

"To lapse into a colloquialism," Alan said, "Da bitch be crazy."

Cindy giggled. Tina gasped. "Baby! That's rude!" But her eyes twinkled. "And I concur with your assessment."

"It's that whole ' blended family' thing," I said. "I hope things work out good for Terri." I expected Alan to say something to that but Tina spoke up first.

She had a wistful look in her eyes. "I wish there was some way that we could be a bigger part of her life. I really had a lot of fun with her, but more than fun. It's kind of like she'd push until she found out what the rules were, then she tried to push the rule, and she waited for me to push back. She's a smart kid and she's got a lot of energy and it needs to be directed. I wish there was a way..."

I looked at Alan. His eyes connected with mine. "Yeah, I think Tina is right. I just don't see a way that we can do much more unless her mom agrees to it. And I revert to my former statement."

"That's a problem that Cindy and I don't have. Of course, she's gonna put up with a bunch of weirdos that she's related to by marriage now."

Cindy smiled. "Oh, it's not nearly as bad as he makes it out to be. Me an' his sister gang up on him. It's funny. If you look up ' good ol' boy' in the dictionary, there's a picture my brother-in-law. What's funny, though, is that Dan's nieces and nephews are all older than me. I think it's funny." It was Cindy's turn to look wistful. "You know, that's another thing that Dan has given to me. I mean, living with Mom, I very seldom saw any relatives. We never had the kind of relationship that Dan has with his brother and sister and their families. You know, people just get together, laughing, socializing, having a good time. It's like I changed over to a parallel universe." She smiled.

"When I was living with Grandma," Tina said, "we met a lot of my older relatives, you know, great aunts and great uncles, people like that. But they were so much older. I mean, they treated me nice, but mostly I just kind of sat there and listened to them talk. But I'm like you, little sister, when I met Alan's folks. It's kind of the same thing. They're good people. Alan's niece, Haley, she came right out and asked me if I didn't think Alan was too old. I laughed it off. I know she wasn't being nosy, she's just trying to get under Alan's skin. Just pickin', you know. Just fun. We had a great time. So, Cindy, you're not the only one that collected a family out of this deal."

"Yeah," Cindy laughed, "and now you and me are sisters!"

Tina concurred with that statement.

Alan looked at me and said, "how 'bout that, brother-in-law?!?"

Cindy folded her arms with a smug look on her face. "'Nother one of those blended family things ain't it?"

The meal came and went, along with small talk. True to his word, Alan caught the check. Cindy and Tina walked out of the restaurant ahead of us. Alan nudged me. "Dan, this is turning out to be a very surprising weekend. It's like we just ran off the end of our road map. There's a road out there, we're on it, but we have no idea where it's going to end up."

"Yeah," I said, "but you know? I've been with Cindy, married, since November. I've known her since August. We've only had the one bad day."

"Bad day? What kind of bad day?" Alan asked.

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything, I thought. The bad day involved me having to work late, and Cindy having to defend herself. That subject hadn't come up this weekend. We talked, Alan and I. And Cindy and Tina were talking now. They were learning a lot about each other and Alan and I were just being amazed. But the story of Cindy and the shotgun hadn't come up.

"Maybe she needs to decide whether to tell that story," I said. "It wasn't a problem between us, it was an incident. She handled it."

"Well, now you've got my curiosity up," Alan said. "But I'll leave it at that. You're right, though. I guess the worst night that I've had with Tina was right after she started back to school. I was still being big brother and all that. She was just this neat young lady that I was helping out."

We were at the car. Tina and Cindy were looking at us. Tina said, "you two guys look too serious."

"I was just telling Dan about the worst evening, no, it wasn't a whole evening, the worst HOURS, that I've had since you crawled in the front seat of my pickup truck."

We got in the car. Tina leaned over and caressed the side of Alan's face with her fingertips. "Baby, what hours?"

"Your first week of school," Allen said. "You know, when you decided to go out with your friends."

"That was the night..." Tina said.

"I know, baby, but you know, I told you how torn up I felt when you left to go meet your friends."

Tina smiled softly. "Cindy, I thought I was going to take off and be like a normal school kid. I mean, I'd been at that school for a week. This girl, Susan, invited a bunch of us to her house to watch movies on Friday night. There was this nice looking guy in one of my advanced placement classes. He was smart and Susan said that he liked me an' he was gonna be there. So I asked Alan if it was okay if I went."

"I couldn't tell her no," Alan said. "I mean, I didn't have that much hold on her, legally, and what she asked wasn't an unreasonable request. So I let her go. And when she left, I felt more alone than I've felt in years."

Tina picked up the story. "I went to the party thinking that I was going to have a good time, you know, friends talking and laughing. Wasn't like that. First thing, a couple of the guys brought a cooler of beer. Wasn't legal for us to have it but there it was. And the guy that was supposed to like me, first thing he did was tell me he had some weed and that we could go someplace in my car and smoke it. When I didn't buy that act, his next move was to get me up against the wall and tried to kiss me and feel me up. I told him no. I pushed his hands away. He kept on. An' I did the only thing I knew, to fight him off. I grabbed his crotch, squeezed and twisted. And then I left."

Cindy was paying rapt attention, resting her elbows on the table with her chin in her hand.

"Anyway," Tina continued, "I went home and Alan gave me a shoulder to cry on. We watched TV then turned out the lights to go to bed. He was in his bed, and I was sleeping on the sofa, because he's got that darn custom trailer. Anyhow, I was laying there thinking about how I was treated, and what I wanted in a guy, and I did the inventory, an' Alan kept popping to the top of the stack. And that was the night..."

Cindy looked at me, then said, "Took a thunderstorm. I was home by myself in Moms dinky little travel trailer. We had this bad thunderstorm. The trailer was shaking. I called Dan because I was scared. He came and got me and brought me to his trailer. An' he made me a bed out on the sofa. The storm got worse, and there was a big crash of thunder, and it really scared me. I ran and jumped in his bed."

It's a good thing we were in the car, because what Cindy had just admitted could get me put in jail for years. I said so.

Allen said, "I was in the same boat, you know, with that ' underage' thing. In Tennessee, it's eighteen. Me and Tina thought we were perfectly safe. Didn't find out until the lawyer told us, the day we were signing papers for the plane."

Tina said, "we can laugh about it now, but we flew out of Tennessee the next morning. And if we could'nd've gotten legally married, Alan was gonna give up his job."

"What a mess," I said. I looked it Cindy. "Darlin', you're worth it."

We were back at the hotel. Walking into the lobby, I I told Alan, "See y'all down here about four thirty?"

Alan said, "We'll be here. Dressed and ready to go."

Cindy and I returned to the room with a couple of hours to kill.

Chapter 37

At five o'clock the four of us walked into a restaurant, having made reservations previously. Alan and I looked quite respectable in suit and tie, but the girls, that was a whole different dimension.

Getting dressed, Cindy asked, "Are you SURE, Dan? I mean, another dark green dress?"

"You don't like it?"

"Oh, no, baby, I think it's beautiful. But..." she started.

"I just think that it sets your hair off perfectly. You're beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. And I can't help but want to show you off just a little bit."

"Okay, then. I LOVE the dress. Even more if you REALLY like it." She slid up against me and pulled my face downward to kiss me. I kissed back. The dress was tasteful, short-sleeved, and she had a matching sweater to go with it, a concession to the cool temperatures. Make-up? Nothing past the perfume that extended tendrils, beckoning me to her. Those green eyes, the luxurious long lashes, the arch of red eyebrows, I knew that when she walked in, she'd be the prettiest thing in the place.

And now here I was standing beside Alan, and his Tina was no less a beauty, her only slightly darker hair counterpoint to a navy blue dress.

Dinner was subdued, simple, not too filling. The girls complimented each other on their attire.

Tina said, "Don't you think it's nice, seein' 'em in suits every now and then?"

Cindy nodded enthusiastically. "Kinda lets me know that he really IS civilized, sometimes. That's one of the nice things about these concerts, you know."

"Uh-huh," Tina said. "And you can look at him and see how he stacks up against the others, you know..."

Cindy giggled. "And feel sorry for all those other ladies..."

Walking out after the meal, yes, heads did turn. Alan elbowed me somewhat discretely. "Man, we did REAL well, buddy!"

"Yes, we did indeed," I said. I smiled as the two girls looked back at us over their beautifully clad shoulders.

At the concert hall, we were equally proud as we entered with our wives.

The concert. In a word, soaring. Other words: Grand. Ornate. The music was done to perfection, and it WAS a favorite set of pieces. I was moved. Equally moved was my Cindy. Her hand clutched mine tightly, and several times I looked over to see her with her eyes closed, tears on her cheeks. It was THAT kind of performance. I admit that she wasn't the only one carried away by the pieces.

We worked our way out of the place afterward and headed back to the hotel. Well, not exactly. Back to the pancake place, first.

The waitress came to the table. "My, don't you folks look GRAND?!?" she said.

"Thank you!" the girls said in unison.

"Hey!" I said, "She could've been talkin' about me an' Alan!"

"Wasn't," the waitress quipped. "Might've just blown my tip, though."

Cindy tossed her head, smiling. "Don't worry! We'll take care of you!" She was backed in her assertion by an equally smiling Tina.

Hot chocolate and pastries all around, and we chatted amiably about the concert and the days' events.

"You know," Cindy said, "The music was great! The best! But what made THIS weekend is US all getting together."

It was obvious that Tina shared that sentiment. As for me, I wasn't unhappy with it, I was just rolling one scenario after another through my head.

I had entered the weekend with a little plan, a path where I stayed in Alabama to support Cindy's college career. I hadn't given much thought past that, thinking that if she pulled off a solid performance in college, she's have another layer to her 'rock star' performance and that she could leverage that into a selection of engineering jobs before she was old enough to drink.

Now I was looking at my old buddy, Alan, certainly a VERY capable engineer in his own right, and the scenarios involved how we could connect our two overlapping skillsets into a viable business, and further, how we could match up Tina's college performance with Cindy's. It was a whole new rainbow of possibilities.

Cindy read my face. "Baby, what are you thinking?"

"Just all the possibilities we have before us. Buncha thoughts, babe!"

Alan was apparently there with me. "Uh-huh. Lots of things to consider. But, yes, I am glad we all met."

Tina said, "And we're gonna keep in touch, right? I know Cindy and I will. I'm talking about you two."

It's Alan's wife, so HE hung his head. "Yeah, I know, baby ... I'm just a guy ... Some things just slip. And I need a good woman to civilize me..."

"We have to do that, Tina," Cindy giggled. "Actually, most of the time, Dan's pretty organized. But he did let him an' Alan slip. That's guys, though. We're SISTERS!"

"I think we learned that," I said. "Alan and I got lucky, finding you two."

"Yeah," I added. "I saw the way people looked when you two walked into the theater tonight. Impressed. And that's just the outside."

"Weather's not looking good for tomorrow," Alan said. "Are you two okay for another night?"

"I told Bill there was a real possibility of me not getting back to work Monday," I said. "The room's not a problem. You guys?"

Tina looked at Cindy, smiling. "We need to get on the computer and see what to do tomorrow."

Alan said, "Apparently we don't have a problem, either."

Cindy said, "We can get up an' have breakfast together here, and then maybe museums or something like that."

"Rain," I said. "Probably rain."

"So, indoor stuff," Tina said.

I signaled the waitress for the check. "Sounds like a plan. How early for breakfast?"

"Nine?" Alan suggested, looking to Tina for approval.

Tina looked at Cindy. Got a smile and a nod. "Nine, then."

"Yeah," Cindy said. "I get awfully used to showering without worrying about running out of hot water. And room..."

"I'm with you there," Tina said.

I wrote a hefty tip onto the check. No sense in angering my cutie. We got up and walked out. I could feel the moisture on the shifting winds, presaging the new weather system. We went back to the hotel and went inside, saying our goodbyes in the lobby, then Cindy and I took the elevator to our floor.

I locked the door behind us, viewing Cindy, cute, desirable, as she walked ahead of me. "Turn around, baby," I said. "Let me get just one more look at you."

She turned, her head tilted, her eyes soft, lovely, the sweetest of smiles on her lips, holding her purse in front of her with both hands.

"You are the loveliest creature in the universe," I said. And I meant it.

"Would I be as beautiful if I was naked and freshly showered?"

"Yes. Absolutely, yes."

"Then you may want to help me out of this dress, sweetie."

I helped her to delightful, unadorned nudity. She was right. Slender, so perfectly shaped. I could see that she was still growing from the first time I saw her naked, the hips were a little broader, more feminine than boyish, the waist slender, and the breasts, while still small, had also taken on a more rounded shape. And she was MINE.

"You oughtta get undressed, too, honey," she said. "Shower. Then..."

In two minutes we were in the shower together, enjoying, as she'd said, the unlimited hot water, and the room to soap each other up with loving enthusiasm, followed by rinsing with equal enjoyment. We toweled off and she started drying her hair while I shaved. I finished shaving and took over brushing duties to finish our ritual and then I scooped her up as she giggled, and carried her to the bed, lowering her into the center of it, then putting my face in the center of her.

"Mmmmmmm, Dan..." she purred. "I love you."

"That's a neat thing to tell me while I've got you totally naked in our bed, ' I said.

"No, seriously! I LOVE you."

I looked into her green eyes and I knew she was serious. "I love you, too, Cindy Sue." Her given name was Cynthia Susan. I called her Cindy Sue when I wanted a happy giggle. I got a kiss that curled my toes. Then the giggle.

"Let's turn the covers back," she said. We did. Then she was on her hands and knees, facing me, smiling.

I crawled back into bed and she wrapped me up, rolling herself backward, drawing me atop her. "Sometimes I want you pressing on me, possessing me," she whispered.

"I want you, baby."

Flash of green eyes. "You got me. Now what're ya gonna DO with me?"

"Eat you. Starting right here. I LOVE necks." Her's was graceful and oh, so exposed, under the curtain of that red hair. I went in just behind her ear, bringing down peals of giggles

I pulled free.

"That's a good start," she said.

"Then THIS part." A pert pink nipple centered in a little aureole, just begging for sucks and nibbles. I did. "And look, another just like it!" I loved on the partner. Then I popped up and kissed her.

"I get to do some of that," she giggled, pushing me over on my back. "But I have a GOAL!" She went straight for my erection. When her mouth closed over the head and first inch of the shaft, I was transported to another universe.

"OHgodCindy," I blurted as I struggled to get my breath back.

Her response was a giggle escaping around the hard shaft in her mouth, and more sucking, her tongue working me over, punctuated by gentle rakes of her teeth, something she liked and I doted on. Then she stopped and slid her lithe form up, straddling me, sliding higher, presenting me with perhaps the most perfect pussy in the world.

My nostrils flared as her delicate odor came to me, then I extended my tongue to the uppermost aspect of her slit. When it touched her sensitive skin, she reacted with a little jerk forward, burying my tongue in between her moist folds.

"YES! Dan, YESSSSS!"

I flicked and licked and sucked, knowing what made her happy. I thought I was doing well. I was certainly enjoying it. Her hands clasping on the back of my head, pulling me into her reinforced my assumption. Little quivers racked her body as she came.

She lowered herself onto me, guided by my waiting arms. It took a noticeable time for her breathing to become regular and when it did, our mouths merged for a long, loving kiss.

"Inside me, Dan. I want you inside me. Hard. Weld us together." A gentle tug indicated that we were supposed to roll over. We did, her legs splaying apart, opening herself in welcome. I entered her, relishing the slick, hot tightness. Her legs tried to clamp around me. Instead, her heels dug into my buttocks, urging me into a rhythm. I wasn't long for this stimulation. "Mmmmmm, baby," I moaned. "You're too much. Too good. I can't..."

"PUSH!!! DANNNNNNNNNNNN! Nnnnghhhh! PUSH!"

I had about two pushes left before oblivion, and I gamely gave them to her, the second resulting in an upward buck of her hips and a "YESSSSSSSS!!" hissed through clenched teeth.

My own orgasm erupted. I managed little thrusts in time with the eruptions of fiery ecstasy. "Ohgodbaby! Ohhhhhh goddddd!"

A gentle tug indicated that she wished to end up on top of me, a wish easily granted. With her atop me, she tugged a pillow into position behind my head, supporting me in kissable range to the angel on my chest.

"I adore you," I sighed.

"And I adore you. Dan, all those wonderful people we saw tonight. I wonder how many of them are as in love as we are?"

"I dunno, sweetness. You're the one that makes this possible for me. The ONLY one..."

"Mmmmm," she purred, drawing away from a kiss. "We do. Make it possible for each other, I mean."

"Mmm-hmmm," I answered softly. "We complete each other."

I felt the juices flowing from her as she relaxed. So did she. Her eyes met mine. "Towel. Or..."

"Turn around," I said. We cleaned each other, during the course of which she shuddered to another orgasm as my tongue searched for the remnants of our happy coupling.

We retrieved the covers and she snuggled into my side, lit only by the bedside lamp.

"Wouldn't it be nice if we all could end up together, Dan? You, me, Tina, Alan?"

"You're pretty serious about that aren't you, babe?"

"Mmm-hmm. I felt, like, a connection. Sort of like with you. Except you're my MATE. She's my sister. Yeah, I think I'm serious."

"Futures have a way of doing their own thing, baby," I said. " Alan and I, I know we can work, but we're talking about FOUR electrical engineers, two fresh out of school. That's an unusual way to start a business."

"Don't you have some technicians, too? Like Jason. That you trust?"

I was listening to Cindy's stream of thought and a plan was forming in my mind, one of Alan's 'business models'. "I see where you're heading, little one, and I'm not even sure YOU do."

That got me the same smile that I first noticed one day back in August. It was simply cute back then. Now it was everything. I kissed her bangs.

"Nope. I like that, but I want THIS," she said, pulling my face downward to connect our lips. I don't think she consciously batted here eyelashes at me, but they fluttered, doing delightfullness in my mind. I kissed her again.

"Never wanna do without you, Dan," she said. That was her last word before we slipped into slumber. Sometime during the night I turned the lamp out and rolled on my side facing away from her. A tiny whimper escaped her lips and she cupped her body against my back.

I woke in the morning facing her, our legs a tangle, her face a bit of angelic perfection. Gently I let my hand trace the sexy curve of her buttock from her waist to her thigh. I felt a hand flutter, searching, then fingers curling around my dick. She burrowed her face into my chest, rubbing, then turning to connect her teeth to my breast.

"Mornin', cutie," I said softly.

"Mornin', guy," she answered. Her hair was tossed in delightful disarray from sleep. She propped up on one elbow and shook her head to bring it to some sort of order. Next issue was a good morning kiss. Or two. Or enough to get Dan trapped flat on his back by a fourteen year old cutie. For a few seconds, anyway, before said cutie bounded out of bed, headed to the bathroom, followed by her biggest fan.

Water was running in the sink as I finished my important business of the morning. I walked out of the bathroom as she finished washing her face. She smiled. "We can get dressed and then call Tina an' Alan for breakfast."

"Okay," I said, taking my turn at the sink. The moist cloth was refreshing, almost as much as the coffee I expected shortly. I entered the main room in time to see Cindy sliding yet another sweatshirt down over her head. She was wonderfully bra-less, just begging me to touch her firm titties, and she giggled and wiggled out of my grasp when I did.

"Don't start, Dan! You KNOW how I get..." she giggled.

"Oh, Oooo-kayyy," I said. "Too much temptation."

"Uh-huh," she smiled. "Get dressed."

She was sitting in a chair putting on socks, and in a second or two, so was I. I was sliding into my shoes when she punched up the room number for Alan and Tina.

"Hi, Sis," she chirped. Pause. "Yeah, Himself is putting on his shoes right now." Giggle. "Uh-huh. Looked like a sad little puppy dog when I said no." Another giggle. "Okay. We're on our way down. See ya!" She turned to me and smiled.

"Sad little puppy dog? What was THAT comment about?"

She waltzed up to me and grabbed my belt, pulling me against her. She turned her face up and I turned mine down and we kissed. "Just a teensy little joke, babe. Let's go!"

The crew assembled in the lobby and traipsed out to Alan's car under leaden skies. Sliding into the front seat and buckling in, I told Alan, "Us sad little puppy dogs need to stick together." Alan looked at me quizzically, especially when the two girls in the back seat laughed.

In the diner, we begged for immediate coffee and ordered breakfast. Alan looked out the window. "doesn't look good for flying home today," he said.

"Nope," I admitted. "I used to run under scud like this in Louisiana when I was in a hurry, but not when there was mountain range to cross. Or the love of my life sitting beside me. Maybe tomorrow will be better."

"Forecast says so," Tina said. "Oughtta be VFR at sunrise, so we can leave whenever."

"Mid-morning," I said.

"That gives us time to have breakfast together, huh?" Tina asked.

"Of course, Sis," Cindy smiled.

The waitress deposited the first of several plates of pancakes. Cindy grinned. "I love pancakes. First time Dan took me to breakfast, he bought me pancakes."

My mind remembered the almost unbearably shy, uncertain little girl that was Cindy then, and compared that to Cindy now, every day more poised, confident and capable. And every day I loved her more and more.

We laughed and talked our way through breakfast, then sat back and savored more coffee before heading back to the hotel. Alan and I sat in the lobby watching the news while Cindy and Tina went to Tina's room to search out a day's activities. It wasn't long before they came back with a stack of notes.

Tina read them off: a couple of museums, a German restaurant (lunch), and a movie.

"That's a day, there," I said.

Cindy nodded. "Yes, it is."

And off we went. By bedtime I was pretty well 'funned' out. Of course, after showering with Cindy, there was still enough of me left for "Baby? Hold me..." and afterward, another of those blissful slides into sleep.

The morning brought us all to the lobby before breakfast. We loaded up our cars, paid the bills, then met at the pancake place yet one more time, then had our own little two-car caravan to the airport under clearing skies.

We took turns oohing and ahhing over each other's airplanes. I was really impressed with the condition of Alan and Tina's 182. Of course, it hadn't spent the biggest part of its life flying mooseheads around Alaska.

"Who gets left seat flying home?" I asked Alan.

"She does. I flew here."

Cindy smiled. "Good, Tina. I'm left seat for us, too!"

Rental cars were turned over to the rental company and two couples walked out to the flightline. With one little folding ladder there, our two pre-flight rituals were a model of choreography. I held the ladder while Cindy checked the wing tanks, the passed the ladder to the waiting Alan.

Pre-flight checks complete, Alan and I shook hands and the girls administered hugs all around. Within minutes two Continental engines were spinning propellers in the crisp morning air. I watched Cindy, amusingly incongruent in her jacket, the communications headset on her head, shoving that red hair into interesting configurations. Her voice filled my ears over the intercom as she ran through the checklist. We rolled.

"Careful, babe," I said. "We have company." Indeed, Alan and Tina's 182 was a couple of hundred yards ahead of us on the taxiway.

Alan's voice popped through on the radio, advising traffic in the area of their impending departure. I followed almost immediately with a transmission of our intent. As their plane taxied onto the runway and turned into the wind, I saw Tina waving enthusiastically out the window. Cindy waved back. We watched the plane accelerate, then rotate and lift its wheels off the runway. They were on the way. We waited until they cleared the end of the runway, headed north, before we mirrored their action.

Cindy loved take-offs. "I'm doing a 'short-field', she said. This was literally a stretch for five foot two Cindy, as it required her toes on the brakes while she simultaneously hauled the control yoke back to keep the tail down while she ran the engine up to max power.

Oh, I'm cautious. My hands and feet were mere factions of as inch from the controls in case things went wonky, but there she was with that little 'I'm concentrating' wrinkle on her nose, right between her eyes.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Let's do it!" I said. I felt the lurch as her toes came off the brakes and we rolled. She let the tail come up just clear of the runway. We accelerated and I knew she was reading the feel of the aircraft as lift developed over the wings. The main gear came off the runway and she let us accelerate to best rate of climb speed and held that, flicking the trim wheel knowingly.

"How's that?" she asked.

"Pretty much perfect," I admitted. Apt student.

A quarter mile off the end of the runway she rolled into a turn that put us on a direct path to our little home field and lowered the nose into a comfortable 'cruise-climb'. Cindy looked at the GPS. "Groundspeed's 'way down. Stiff headwind."

"Yeah," I said. "Had one behind us coming. Works against us going home. Could be worse, though."

"Worse?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said. "We got it on our quarter. Alan an' Tina's got it right on their nose."

"Alan 'n' Tina," she repeated. "Didn't see that coming, did you, baby?"

"Not in my wildest dreams," I admitted.

"Could be one of those life-changing events," she said.

"Everything's a life-changing event," I said.

"You know what I mean," she said.

"Interesting thought you had about a community, ' I said.

"Was just thinking of you trapped inside ONE plant forever. Like using a hammer to swat flies, I think." She sighed. "But I wasn't sure how I could work out with goin' to college an' you going on the road."

"I wasn't sure how that would work either. I mean, chances are there that we'd end up with some decent neighbors and you'll probably have friends you meet in college, so you'll have some network going on."

"But we don't KNOW that..." she said. "I get nervous."

"Not as nervous as you USED to be," I said.

"I love you, Dan, that you're willing to change what you do, just to take care of me. But if we can do BOTH..." she looked at me. "This might be a way."

"Might be." I smiled at her. "And you two COULD be sisters."

"I think so," she smiled. "But, you know, I looked at Alan 'n' Tina, an' I can see how people must see you an' me, you know, the age thing."

"Worse for us," I said. "You look considerably younger than Tina."

"Not that much," she said. "'Nother thing, too. I saw how she looked at him when we were driving around. She's in love, Dan."

"Good. Alan took that divorce hard. We traded 'lost wife' stories."

"I didn't know guys talk about those things." Green eyes.

"Some guys do," I said. "First time we both didn't buy into the 'drink beer, chase women, and raise hell' thing at that project."

"Same thing me an' Miz Helen noticed about you," she said.

"Took a little redheaded girl to make me think I needed more than a buddy," I said.

"That's sort of what happened with Tina 'n' Alan," she said. "'Cept they have an ex-wife and a little girl to deal with."

"And all YOU have is a herd of whacked-out Cajuns."

"I LIKE my new family, guy. Tootie says she likes ME better'n YOU."

"That's cuz you didn't grow up in the same family, terrorizing one another..."

"I bet ya'll were horrible when you were kids, ' she giggled.

"Mom an' Dad wore us out more'n once," I laughed. "Tootie told you some of the stories. Just the ones where SHE looks good. Wait'll next trip. Ask Jerry."

"When IS our next trip, baby?"

"Asks the girl flying the airplane," I laughed. "Let's have a weekend or two to ourselves, and then make an excuse."

"Isn't it almost Mardi Gras?" she asked.

"This week," I said. "We talked..."

"Oh, yeah, I remember," Cindy said. "We really DID want the Bach thing instead. Thank you. I always wanted to see that performed live. An' I know you did, too."

"You an' me'll be married a long time, baby. We'll have plenty for time for Mardi Gras. Maybe next year..."

"So when do we visit home for the weekend?"

"Maybe a week or so. Let's see how the project's going."

"Yeah," she said. "Tomorrow you're taking me with you. Turbine start-up, right?"

"Yep. Reminds me. Lemme call Bill and let 'im know that we're on our way back."

Bill's voice on the phone was relaxed. "Everything's on track for tomorrow," he said.

"It's still okay for Cindy to come?" I asked.

"I talked with the owner reps. As long as she's escorted. And no more 'Let's get Cindy to take pictures inside the boiler' stuff," Bill said. "Mean's I'm gonna have to get more skinny engineers."

I laughed. "Cindy, Mister Bill says you don't get to go inside the boiler any more. You're upsetting the safety department."

"Hi, Mister Bill," Cindy said, loud enough for him to hear.

"Tell 'er I said 'hi' too. We'll see you at breakfast?"

"Sure will. And have we got stories to tell." 'And pictures, ' I thought. Of our mutual friend Alan and his new wife.

The miles passed easily beneath us and finally we were curving downward towards our home strip. Cindy executed an almost flawless landing and thirty minutes later the plane was behind locked doors.

Cindy flipped open her cell phone. "I'm calling Tina to let 'em know we made it home." She punched a button. "Hi, sis!" Pause. "Yeah, we're on the ground. Home." Pause. "Uh, okay. Call when you land. And email an' stuff." Pause. "'Kay! Love you too! Bye!"

I caught the 'love you too' comment and filed it. Maybe they WERE serious about that 'sisters' thing. I mean, outside of doting husbands, neither had real family, at least not family that cared. We loaded into the truck, Cindy firmly tucked in beside me, and we were headed to the park.

First order of business was to stop at the office and give a synopsis of the weekend to Helen and Charlie.

"Wait!" Cindy said. "We have pictures!" She retrieved the laptop and put it on the counter. After it booted up, she opened the photos. "Me an' my new sister!" It was a picture I'd taken of her and Tina on Saturday after lunch. Two sweatshirt-clad cuties."

"Goodness sakes," Helen said. "There is a resemblance."

I let her recount her version of the Alan 'n' Tina thing. The judge shook his head. "Right down to needing to get a judge to sign off and marry 'em. Mighty fine!"

Cindy's cellphone rang. She flipped it open. "Hi, Sis!" She turned to Helen and Charlie. "It's HER!" then back to the phone. "Ya'll are landed? Good!" Pause. "Yeah, we'll talk. Take care. Bye!"

Cindy showed them the best picture, in my opinion. It was her and Tina, fully decked out for the concert, standing together. Striking. Breathlessly beautiful. I said so. Helen and Charlie agreed. Cindy blushed.

Finally we left for our trailer. Cindy held the door as I hauled in bags, and then we locked ourselves in. I turned the thermostat back up to 'living creatures' and we started putting things away. Didn't get finished before a diminutive redhead accosted me.

"Something about being in OUR place, babe," she giggled. And she tugged my hand, pulling me toward the bed.

Chapter 38

So this week, Monday came on Tuesday. It was a 'take Cindy to work' day. I enjoyed these, and it was apparent from the reactions of my coworkers that they enjoyed this, too. Our breakfast at the little roadside restaurant was one of those things where we found a table and as soon as we sat down, we were joined by Bill and another one of the engineers, Phil, the guy that was doing our controls.

"So, Miss Cindy, how was the concert?" Bill asked.

Cindy beamed. "Oh, Mister Bill, it was magnificent. They played one of my favorite pieces. It was so perfect that I was in tears."

"She was," I said. "She was moved more than I was. And I've been waiting to see that performance all my life."

Bill smiled. "Well, I'm glad you all had a good time. I hope we have as much fun today."

Phil laughed. "Dan, you and me might be good at our jobs, but we ain't no Bach!"

Cindy wasn't gonna let that one go by. "Maybe not Johann Sebastian, but maybe a son?"

"Bill," I said, "do you remember Alan Addison?"

"Yeah, you and him worked together on that project in Arizona? That the one?"

"Yeah, that's the one. We ran into them in Charlotte."

"Them?" Bill asked.

"Yes sir," Cindy chirped. "It's 'them'. We met him and his new wife. Got pictures and everything."

"Bill," I said, "it won't do you any good for us to tell you about it. Wait'll you see the pictures."

We ate our breakfasts, lingering only slightly over the coffee. Work waited on us. To be honest I was kind of excited about it. These big generators were my reason for existence. Not very many people get to play with toys this size. We'd done our work correctly. I and my crew knew exactly what we were supposed to do and we had the tools to do it with. I expected things to go smoothly. After all, that's what they paid me for.

Cindy looked cute, bundled up against the raw cold of the early morning in February. We walked into the office. Cindy stopped for a few minutes to chat with Sara, excitedly relating some of the weekend's events as I fired up my computer and started checking the backlog of e-mails. There wasn't anything to stop the day's events. I'd already touched base with the controls engineer. Our mechanical engineer and an engineer belonging to our client wanted to talk about what was going on for the day.

"Boilers are checked out. The turbine's on turning gear. We've had steam on it since four o'clock this morning. We're about ready to bring her up to speed." At least that's what our engineer said. The client representative nodded his head in agreement. He'd better nod. This was his first start up of a steam turbine generator.

"Okay, then," I said. "I guess I'll go to the control room and start the festivities." Cindy was standing patiently in the background. "Come on, Cindy! Let's go see if Mister Jerry's new toy starts." Jerry was the client's chief engineer.

Cindy smiled over her shoulder at him as we walked out the door. She looked cute in her hardhat and safety glasses. And if somebody had checked, she was wearing a little pair of steel toed shoes. Of course, being an escorted observer, she could've gotten away with no steel toes. But we bought those before the client was on the project and Cindy was taking a much more active part.

The ride to the control room was brisk in the front seat of an open golf cart. The warm air inside felt really good. And I knew that when I walked behind the control panel, MY technicians had a coffee pot going. There were already several people in the control room: start up crew, the client's new operators, a handful of our interested engineers. On the control console, a binder was open, several pages into the startup procedure. Yes, I was a major author of that startup procedure. I was proud of that.

The procedure bringing the turbine up to speed was the responsibility of the mechanical guys. All I had to do was stand back with my arms folded and stay out of the way. I thought that's what Cindy was gonna do, too, when somebody pulled a chair up at the console, a little off to the side and motioned for her to sit in it. "So you can see what's going on."

The client engineer sidled up to me. "The guys say that's your wife?" In a low voice.

"Yes, she is. You're looking at a girl who'se gonna graduate high school when she's fourteen and in the fall of next year, she's gonna be enrolled in engineering school at either the University of Alabama or at Auburn." I was sure he'd heard that part of the story, too, but I was proud of my Cindy.

"Yeah," he said, "Bill Carmody told me all about 'er. I've heard of kids like that. I mean, you know, really smart. Just never really got to see one. I wonder if they're all that cute?" He looked at me, smiling. "Phil told me about her programming the test console."

"Uh-huh," I said. "She surprised 'im. But you just wouldn't imagine how fast her mind grasps technical things. Did any of them tell you that she's flying a plane, too?"

"Oh, no. Seriously?"

"Yeah, we own a plane. Little single engined job. She's too young to get a license, but age is the only thing that keeps her from getting one. She's an old soul in a young body."

I guess I was talking too loud. She turned, flashing a smile under those green eyes. "It's not polite to talk about person behind her back."

"Just tellin' Mister Jerry about you, that's all." I smiled at her.

We patiently watched while the mechanical folks brought the turbine up to speed. That took a while. They bring it up a few hundred RPMs, let it stabilize, check temperatures and vibrations and flows, then advance another few hundred RPMs and repeat the process. I was looking for 3600 RPMs. When they got up to 3300, that's when I got interested.

My procedure called for this first production of electric power from this generator to be under manual control. I stood behind the console operator, viewing the control screen for the electrical part of the turbo generator. I could see that the icon for the excitation system that would make my generator start generating was properly in the 'manual' position.

"Coming up to full speed," somebody said.

I can hear the pitch change is high-pressure steam rushed through thousands of precision blades, spinning tons of steel and copper. I saw the magic number '3600'. "Get your readings," I said, "and say when." A minute passed.

The mechanical engineer looked up. "Looks good," he said. "Let's see if your shit works."

"George! Watch your language! Cindy's here!" That was Bill. He was here to watch the festivities and now he was taking care of his adopted grand-daughter.

George turned bright red. "Oops! Sorry, Cindy. I don't mean to be coarse."

Cindy giggled. "That's okay, Mister George. Dan says not to expect too much out of mechanical guys." Her comment caused titter of laughter to run through the room.

"Now that the social proprieties have been addressed," I said, turning to the operator, "go ahead and start increasing the excitation. Let's get it up to thirty-five hundred volts."

I remembered working in powerhouses where that procedure would've involved turning a large wheel. That was the old way. This was state-of-the-art. A mouse moved the pointer on the screen and a couple of clicks were made and I watched the voltage climb. 25 percent. "Okay," I said, "let's go to seven thousand."

That was easy. At seven thousand volts there was no sign of any problem. "Okay," I said. "ten five." That was close enough to seventy-five percent voltage to satisfy me. Again the right number showed up on the screen and there were no problems.

Cindy turned and smiled at me. She smiled at Bill. "Here goes," she said.

The operator looked at her and smiled, then looked at me. "Thirteen eight?"

I nodded in assent. "Here goes!" the operator repeated Cindy's comment. A couple more clicks on the mouse and we were at full rated voltage. We looked at the display and saw no adverse indications. "Okay," I said. "We contracted for fourteen four. Let's get there." And we got there.

Along with the mechanical guys, I scanned the indications for any problems. Saw none. "Okay! Let's let 'er cook for a couple hours," I said.

George was following along in the startup manual. "And after that we tie to the grid?" He looked at me.

"Yeah, I guess we should, I mean, if you folks want to sell some electricity," I said.

"Yeah," he laughed, "it's a big beautiful toy but I think my boss wants to make money off of it."

Bill looked at his watch. "Let me get Sara to order some sandwiches for this crew. Looks like we're gonna work through lunch."

"Looks like it," I said.

The operator looked at Cindy. She had a smile a mile wide. "What'd'ya think?"

"I think it works like it's supposed to," she smiled. "We do good work, don't we?" With that infectious grin of hers, she got smiles from the room.

My lead technician stuck his head around the control cabinet. "Got doughnuts to go with the coffee," he said.

I laughed. "And that's exactly why you're the lead technician," I said.

The rest of the day was just as exciting. It was a good kind of excitement, you know, where months of work in preparation all come together and things work like they're supposed to. You walk out of the place, feeling satisfied.

Midafternoon, Cindy and I were back in the office trailer. Cindy went to Bill's door, peeking inside to see if he was busy. He looked up and saw her. "Hey, Princess," he said. "Whatcha got?"

"Got those pictures of me and Dan and Alan and Tina from the concert," she smiled. "Thought you might want to see."

"I sure do," he said. He followed Cindy back into my office where I had the pictures up on my monitor.

I turned the monitor so he could see. First thing he said was, "Cindy, you sure do look nice in that dress."

"Thank you, Mister Bill," Cindy said. "That's sweet of you to say so."

He bent a little bit closer to the monitors to get a better view. "That IS Alan Addison," he said. "And that's his wife? How old is she?"

"Seventeen," Cindy chirped. "And I think she's my sister. We adopted each other." She giggled. If that giggle melted my heart, then it vaporized Bill's.

Bill straightened up, smiling. I flashed the second picture up, the close-up of Cindy and Tina.

"I can see where just about anybody would think that," he said. He looked at me. "When you an' Alan worked with me in Arizona, wasn't he, like, a recent divorcee?"

"Wasn't that recent but yes," I said. "He got divorced about the same time as my wife had her accident. We hung out together."

"How long's he been married?"

"'Bout as long as me and Cindy," I said. I gave him the synopsis of the Alan and Tina story. He looked amused as he left.

Cindy pulled out her cell phone. "I'm gonna call the Hardesty's and see if we can bribe our way into their house with pizza," she said. She dialed Jim's office. "Hey, Mister Jim. It me! Cindy!" Pause. "Yes sir! We had a wonderful time. I'm here with Dan and we were wondering if we could save Mizz Ann from cooking supper. We'll buy pizza." Pause. "Okay, great! We'll be there when we get off work." She looked at me. "Dinner with the Hardesty's." She smiled.

I finished up some loose ends around the office while Cindy gave Sara a hand with some filing. Then it was time to go. On our little golf cart ride to the parking lot, we noticed that the wind shifted around. Welcome to winter in the South. A couple of clear days ... a couple of rainy days. Repeat. For months. We got in the truck and as I was driving down the road, Cindy was ordering pizza for delivery to the Hardesty's. We didn't even go by the trailer to change clothes or shoes. Didn't bother me any. I thought Cindy was cute as a button in her 'Little Miss Engineer' costume. As a matter of fact, I had a few new pictures on the computer from today's festivities.

After she finished ordering the pizza, she turned to me. "I'm gonna call MY sister," she said. She poked at her cell phone, then held it to her ear. "Hi, sis," she chirped. "How's everything?" Pause. Pause. Little gasp. Pause. "You're okay? Alan's okay?"

I looked at her, trying to decipher the sound of concern her voice. Her eyes were wide.

"They went to supper last night. Alan got in a fight the parking lot. Some guys jumped him."

"No kidding? Alan? Is everybody okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah, babe, they're both okay." She put the phone back to her ear. "I just told Dan. You sure everybody's okay?" Pause. "I can't believe..." Pause. "No, I didn't go to school today. They were startin' up a new generator at the project. They let me come out an' watch." Pause. "Uh-huh, it's like MY project. Well, really, it's Dan's. But I've been watching it grow all along." Pause. "We're gonna have supper with our friends, the Hardesty's." Pause. "Yeah, that's right! The ones with the music!" Pause." Okay, sis! I'll e-mail you some pictures when we get home." Pause. "'Kay. Love you too!"

"Alan got in a fight in the parking lot? I wonder what brought that on?"

"Why don'tcha call him? Later, I mean." She looked at me. "He's YOUR friend. An' almost brother-in-law."

"Okay, sweetie," I said. "As soon as we leave the Hardesty's. Don't want to call them too late."

She giggled. "Uh ... Yeah, not too late. I didn't think about that."

"Uh-huh," I said. "That goes both ways, sweetie. We haven't been worried about people disturbing us, either."

"Uh, Dan," she giggled. "We CAN be ADULT about this."

That statement amused me. "Coming from a 14-year-old girl," I said.

She punched me in the arm. "Old soul," she giggled.

"You weren't supposed to be listening," I laughed.

"Might be an old soul, but it's a young body. Good ears."

I gave her a squeeze, relishing the feel of that little body against mine, even though it was in the front seat of a pickup truck going down the highway in Alabama. "Lots of other good things, too," I said. I watched her face for an expression. Beautiful expression.

We pulled up into the Hardesty's driveway. Cindy bounced out and together we walked to the front door and knocked. Teresa answered it.

"Come in," she said. "I want to hear about that concert."

"It was wonderful," Cindy said. By this time Ann had maneuvered her way down the stairs. "Hey, Cindy. Hey, Dan. Y'all saved me from a Tuesday night casserole." She laughed. "I appreciate not having to cook. And the kids appreciate not having to eat a casserole."

Jim came in from the back of the house. "But, baby," he said, "I LOVE your casserole." He looked at me. "Dan, you look like you could use a beer."

I smiled. "That would be a perfectly wonderful thing," I said. "Pizza'll be here in a minute. A beer sure sounds good with that."

"Yeah," he said. "Sit down. Tell me about your trip."

Cindy said, "Let me go get the laptop out of the pickup truck. We got some pictures."

"Jim, it was a wonderful trip. But sometimes some of the most unexpected things happen. I ran into a guy I worked with a couple of jobs back. Him and his wife. When you see the pictures..."

Cindy returned with the laptop, took it out of its case, and started it up. "We left to go to a concert," she said, smiling. "Was a beautiful concert. And I ended up with a sister."

By this time, Ann was back in the den, so Cindy was sitting there with the laptop on her knees with Jim on one side and Ann on the other. Once the computer booted, Cindy went right to the folder full of photos. She proudly showed the pictures of her and her newfound sister.

Ann cooed. Jim just looked and shook his head, then looked at me. "So this is, like, your buddy?"

"Uh-huh," I said.

"She DOES look kinda like Cindy. How old is she?"

"Seventeen," Cindy chirped. "Mister Jim, she was having the same kind of problems I was having." She related Tina's story.

Jim looked at me. He shook his head. "What is it with you engineer types? Do ya'll, like, come from some kind of strange parallel universe where this kind of stuff is NORMAL?"

I started to say something in Alan's defense, but before the words got out of my mouth. Jim was smiling. "Worse than that, Jim," I said. "We flew in the airport right behind 'em. They were in a Cessna 182. BOTH of 'em are licensed pilots."

Cindy flipped through the files and pulled up pictures of their plane. "See?!?"

The sound of a car in the driveway announced the arrival of pizza. We retired to the dining room, me, Cindy, Ann, Jim, Teresa, and Bill, and had a happy meal together. After the meal, we spent another half hour on small talk. Talked about the possibility of putting together another concert at the RV Park. Then it was time for us to leave.

Once we got in the truck and backed out of the driveway, Cindy poked me in the shoulder. "Baby, brother-in-law." She had that adorable smirk. The 'you know I'm right' look. Pure Cindy.

I pulled my phone out, flipped it open, scrolled down to Alan's number, and punched it up. It rang once. Twice. Three times. I was getting ready to hang up. Alan answered. "Hey, Dan! Tina told Cindy..."

I laughed. "Just as well get used to it, old son. I think we created a monster." I paused for a second. "A pair of 'em. So what's the deal? You punching up people in the parking lot?"

Cindy was leaned up against me so she could hear the conversation. Alan said, "Three drunk rednecks, and I only had to fight two of 'em."

"What happened?" I asked.

Alan gave me the story. "Typical drunk bullies," he said. "Prob'ly never had anybody put up a real fight. The first one was a high school kid, about my size. His big brother outweighed me by 40 or 50 pounds. Both of them were drunk. And they tried, one at a time. Wasn't much of a fight. The big guy went to the hospital., Set of knuckles in the throat."

"Wait, wait, wait!" I blurted. "Wasn't a fight the way you got hooked up with Tina in the first place?"

"That wasn't exactly a fight." He sighed. "Anyways, those guys were known troublemakers. Sheriff's Department arrested two of 'em. And we're okay."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that," I said.

"So anyway," he said, "how's work? You get your generator running?"

"Yep! Sure did! Cindy was there watching."

"Tell 'er I said hi," Alan said.

I turned to Cindy. "Alan says hi," I said.

She was twisted sideways in her seatbelt, holding onto my bicep with both hands, her chin on my shoulder. She smiled sweetly and said loudly, "Hi, brother-in-law!" Giggle.

"See what I mean?" He said.

"Okay, Bud," I said. "Since you're okay, I'll let you go back to doing whatever it is you do for entertainment in Tennessee on Tuesday night."

"Prob'ly the same thing that you're planning on doin' on Tuesday night in Alabama," he said, laughing. "Bye, dude!"

"Bye, son," I answered. I hung up the phone. And I looked at Cindy. "I wonder whatever he might mean about Tuesday nights in Alabama?"

She smiled sublimely. "I can think of several things. We'll just have to see what comes up..."

"Uhhhh, is that a lewd remark?"

"Sir! I'm just an innocent young girl! How dare you suggest that I make lewd remarks!" Her eyes twinkled. "But, yes, it certainly was." Giggle.

One of the bad things about small trailers in the wintertime is that even if it's warm, the simple act of opening the door long enough to get two people inside drops the temperature considerably. We were home and it was shower time. I pulled clothes out of our little clothes dryer and started folding them while we waited for the trailer to warm up. Cindy took time to put the kettle on, boiling water for a late night hot beverage. We alternated between herbal teas and hot chocolate.

I let her get her shower first. That way, she was assured of hot water all the way through. Me, I've had experience in my past, and what I used to call my misspent youth, i.e., my days in the Army, where a cold shower was not unexpected and ANY shower was wonderful.

But you have to remember, Cindy and I had been conducting the same drill for some months now. She was aware of the limitations of the little water heater. So she conserved. When she walked out of the tiny bathroom she had a terrycloth robe on, not out of a sense of modesty or anything, but rather because the trailer was cold. I took my place in the shower, being VERY careful to save a little hot water to shave with. As was normally the case, I finished my shaving just in time to brush out Cindy's sleek red hair.

I could hear the kettle at a gentle boil. "Tea? Or hot chocolate?" I asked.

She was putting her hair dryer away and she looked over her shoulder. "How about that red chai stuff?"

I fixed us each a mug of hot tea and we sat on the sofa at opposite ends, our legs tangled together under a light blanket, our concession to the chill. It didn't make sense to heat the trailer up to where we didn't need the blanket, since we were just going to lower the temperature when we went to bed anyway. Cindy turned the TV on in a futile search for something worth watching. We finally settled on a show with some wildlife in it.

"So what you think about the start up?" I asked.

"You know" she stated, "when we were at the concert, I was amazed at that so many people could come together with all the different pieces and make something work like that? That was music. Today I saw the same thing, except it was steam and electricity and steel. Orchestration! And you had a part in it." She smiled. "And all those guys made me feel like I had a part in it, too."

"Yes, cutie," I said. "Just remember, today everything went right. I mean, that's not a matter of luck or anything. We worked hard to make sure that things came together right. But you ought to see one of these things when something doesn't go right. Somebody pushes the button and you hear a loud noise that you didn't expect to hear. I've been there! Those same people that were smiling for us today can be capable of some truly horrible expressions when things don't go right."

"Dan, baby," she said. "I'm not so naïve, you know? I can imagine how it is after millions of dollars and thousands of man-hours, and things DON'T work. But that wasn't today!" She continued to smile. "I saw that the first time I went to work with you. And that's when I decided that I wanted to do what you do. And you tell me that I've got the potential to do that."

I looked at the cute face at the other end of the sofa as she sipped her cup of tea. She had me wrapped up on so many levels. 'Smitten' didn't come close to describing how I'd been about Cindy almost from the beginning. "Baby doll," I stated, "you have the potential to put me in your shadow."

"That's not what I want to do, baby," she smiled. "I watch you. You don't do that to people. Out there, you act like it's better if everybody comes along together. That's why guys come looking for you. One of them told me. Said Dan's the best guy to ask about how something works or why you do something. And that was way before you and I got married. One of the first few times I went out there."

"Well, baby, I try to do that is much as I can. It makes my job better if I don't have to get up and go stick my nose in something every time somebody's got a little bit of a question or a sticky spot."

"I guess some guys would worry that they were teaching themselves out of a job. You don't worry about that?"

"No, baby," I said. "There's always room for knowledgeable practitioners. And you know, that whole karma thing, what goes around comes around. I didn't get where I am because people were keeping knowledge to themselves."

We kept talking for a little while longer, caught the 10 o'clock news, then put the mugs in the sink and headed for bed. That terrycloth bathrobe disappeared. The little redhead who crawled in bed with me was clad in a cotton nightshirt. ONLY a cotton nightshirt. And so many cute things under that thin cotton, things that not only did I wanna play with, she wanted me to play with them, too.

Very happily, she also wanted to play. The teasing and tickling, and the giggling morphed into a very satisfying melding of our two bodies. Satiated, we went to sleep facing each other, my arms around her, hers folded between us. The last conscious sensation I had before I slumbered was a sweet smell in the soft feel of that outrageous red hair.

Chapter 39

Friday afternoon, after a good day at work, I rolled into the RV park expecting to find Cindy at the front office with Helen and Charley. The scene was pretty much what I expected. Cindy was leaning over the counter chatting. Charlie was in his favorite chair and Helen was at her desk.

"I'm bein' recruited, baby," Cindy said.

"I know," I answered. "Any news?"

"I'll say," she smiled. "Mister Jim got a call from Auburn today. Somebody's coming down to visit my school."

"Sounds like they want another look at our Miss Cindy," Charley laughed.

"And I wasn't impressed with our first visit to Auburn," I said. "I didn't think they were that interested."

"Maybe they are," Cindy said. "Comin' to visit my SCHOOL!"

"During the day, I assume..."

Mister Jim was laughing in the office," she said. "Says it's the first time that a college recruiter has EVER visited that school."

"It's a MIDDLE school, kiddo. They're usually interested in high schools." I smiled. It was extremely pleasing to me to see my special little Cindy's effect on the lives around her. She was like a pebble tossed into a calm pond. The ripples went on and on.

The sideways glance she tossed me had its usual effect, too. My head was reeling. She was packing away her bookbag. "I guess we're gonna go home, Mizz Helen. Mister Charley."

I grabbed her bookbag. "Can I carry your books, sweetie?"

She tossed her head, knowing how that affected me, and flashed that smile. I thought about that smile. It was far different than the shy smile of the Cindy I'd met in August. This one was self-assured, confident, optimistic. My Cindy had indeed grown much in our few months together.

I tossed her bag in the back of the truck and she slid into the cab from my open door on the driver's side. No sooner than I closed the door, I felt a hand on the crotch of my pants. I turned to look at her. She KNEW what she was doing to me. To ME!

"Is it okay if I just WANT you, Dan? I dunno why. I just WANT you."

"Before dinner?" I said, mostly teasing.

"Right NOW." Magical, she was. I was hard. And I still had to get out of the truck and bring her bag in. She giggled at my maneuvers to hide my obvious erection from the views of the winter denizens of the park. She unlocked the door for me and we went inside. By the time I sat her bookbag down, she was peeling her sweatshirt off over her head.

"You're serious!" I said.

"Sometimes I just NEED you," she smiled. "I dunno why. I really want YOU. US!"

She was backing toward the bed. I knew this drill, too. Minimal foreplay. Cute little redhead laying back on the bed, legs spread, a pink rose of a pussy open, wet, waiting for me. I kicked off my workboots and unbuckled my belt, feverishly working to match her rapid stripping. I finally got naked. She was kneeling on the end of the bed waiting on me. I stood at the foot of the bed and she wrapped her arms around my chest. Her mouth was ravenous when we kissed.

I said nothing. She wasn't in this for conversation. She pulled me into the bed, rolling on her side and twisting around, taking my dick into her mouth. The proximity of her pinkening pussy to my own mouth was instruction as to what she wanted. My own lips and tongue stirred the juices up for a few moments, then she turned again, ending up on her back, legs spread, knees in the air.

I practically leapt between her legs, my shaft guiding itself to her waiting opening and I plunged in.

"Ahhhhhhhh, Dannnnnnn!" she hauled me down atop her. Her face was reddened. "Sometimes I NEED you. THIS! I been thinkin' about it half the day." She pushed her hips up, encouraging me to pump her. "I think my period starts tomorrow. Maybe Sunday."

That was a finding I'd cataloged as a possibility in previous months. I thought I noticed that the two days prior to her starting her period, she was extremely horny. And it wasn't a bad thing. "Okay," I said. "Soooo..."

"Hard! I'm not gonna break."

I noted the twinkling, happy eyes and started to comply with her request. She latched her mouth onto mine, and in a few minutes of almost frantic bucking and humping, we kissed, breathing through our noses because she wouldn't break our lips apart. It was like she wanted us as coupled as we could get. There was only one thing that would override the kiss, and her mouth pulled away from mine.

"Oh, nnnghhhh, Dannnnn! Hard!"

And I knew she was there. I stopped running calculations in my head. I could let myself go, because my Cindy, my little mate, was THERE. She pushed her pussy up to get me as deep as she could, her little clitty pressing against the base of my dick as she came. And I came. Hard. Like I was squirting fire. One! Two! Three! Four! Then a continuous burning release...

Before I became completely immobilized I rolled to my left, carrying her on top of me. Her face was flushed, her eyes closed. I couldn't move.

Finally her eyelids fluttered and her green eyes opened, her mouth forming into a smile. "What did you DO to me, Dan?!?"

"I dunno, angel, I was in another universe at the time." She WAS an angel, pink from the post-orgasmic flush, smiling, her red hair swinging down on the sides to frame her face. Her light summer tan was gone in mid-February, leaving her skin almost alabaster, except for the spatter of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

"It's s'posed to be like this, ain't it, baby?" she said, letting her attention to grammar lapse.

"Most people only DREAM it's like this," I answered truthfully. "I know I did..."

"I kinda felt like I was takin' advantage of you," she giggled. "But if I can't take advantage of my HUSBAND..." She looked thoughtful for a second, then said, "Towel? Or..." and wiggled her butt. With a twinkle in her eye, looking directly at me, I felt a plop as she gave her pussy a squeeze, ejecting my semi-soft dick.

"I'd hate to waste that," I said.

Squeal! "That's what I was thinking," she said, turning to present me with her oozing pussy to 'clean'. I got an extraordinarily good 'cleaning'. So did she. With a second orgasm.

This time we lay together for a few minutes, both our faces glistening with our collective juices. Finally Little Miss Practical rolled onto an elbow. "What about dinner?"

"I just had strawberry pie," I said.

She giggled. "And I had a weenie, but I'm still hungry..."

"Let's wash up a little before we go. I imagine we smell like a recent orgy." I twisted to sit up. Got a giggly Cindy on my lap, facing me, her legs wrapped around my waist, and I immediately hardened. She impaled herself.

I stroked her soft, natural hair, relishing the texture, the way it moved so freely and enticingly and with a sassy headshake, it fell back into place. It was part of the wonderously neat package that is Cindy, and I knew that it was the most striking feature when she was entering a room. She didn't have the classic 'killer bod, ' and if her mom was an indication of a genetic pattern, Cindy would never be tall or big-breasted, and at fourteen, she still had growing to do, but to me, she was perfection.

Giggle. "Or we got TV dinners ... Looks good for the evening's entertainment, too..."

And Cindy's cell phone rang. She looked at me, slightly, no, make that pretty much annoyed until she slid out of my grasp, picked it up and saw the display. The cute little frown morphed into a grin.

"Hi, Sis," she said.

That explained a lot. I just laid back against the pillows, watching her animated conversation.

"Uh-huh! Yeah, were just hangin' out. You know..." Giggle. "No, it's OKAY! You didn't know ... That happens." Pause. "I'm sure I'll catch you an' Alan one of these days." Giggle. "Yeah, he's doin' that 'sad puppy' look again." Giggle. "No! Stop that! I gotta tell ya somethin'." Pause. "Uh-huh! A guy from Auburn's comin' to my school Monday. Mister Jim, he's our guidance counselor, you know, he said I was being recruited." Pause. "Yeah! You oughtta talk to your guidance counselor too, an' get applied to Auburn an' University of Alabama. And see what they say. We HAVE to go to the same one!" She looked at me and made a kissy with her lips, then her free hand gave my semi-soft dick a squeeze.

Squeal! "That's a GREAT idea! Easter weekend? Lemme talk to Dan. I LIKE it!" Pause. "Okay, Sis! I love you! Bye!"

She turned back to me, smiling.

"What is it that's a great idea and that you like and we're getting ready to do on Easter weekend?" I asked.

"Fly home an' all meet up an' stay at one of our houses an' meet each other's families. I said something to her about it. And she says Easter weekend."

She was stark, incredibly cutely naked. Do you think I was crazy enough to argue?

She continued smiling. "Easter's, what, five weeks away? How's that gonna impact your job?"

"Impact"! Fourteen years old and she knew jobs were 'impacted'. "I might be finished, cutie. OR if I'm not, I'll be doing the end of project work, writing documentation for the client. That weekend shouldn't be a problem."

She lay down beside me, propped up on an elbow. "Really ... good idea?"

I thought about it. "I don't see any problem with OUR family with Alan 'n' Tina, but what about Alan's bunch?"

"Too late, guy. They already KNOW about Alan's friend and the sweet innocent girl he carried off and had 'is way with..."

I laughed. "Yeah, if you put it like THAT..."

"D'ya know how much I appreciate havin' family like OURS? That are not in an' outta jail an' no drugs an' stuff. I mean, here, I have Mizz Helen an' Mister Charley, and the guys at work, an' the Hardesty's, but down there I feel like I have real family."

"That's what Tootie says, baby. You're like her sister-in-law an' a daughter, all in one..."

"Well, we need to start plannin', huh?" she said. Her eyes got playful. "Now, where were we when the phone rang." She looked at me with pixyish smirk. "Oh, yeah, THIS thing was hard. "I can fix THAT!"

I never tired of the sight of that red head bobbing in my lap. And Cindy was delightful. She had fun. She giggled. She smiled. She'd do something, a bite, a suck in a special way, and she'd turn those green eyes to me, grinning, for approval. The fact that her lithe, youthful body was completely nude and within reach of my exploring hands only heightened the experience. I was hard in no time.

"Now, sit back up," she said, and she returned to my arms, wrapping me in those sweet legs, impaling herself again on my hard dick.

It was eight before we showered and had our TV dinners.

Saturday we visited the Hardesty house. Mid-February still had plenty of cold and nasty weather left in it, and that meant Cindy was a cute bundle. I brought with me the fixings for a gumbo, because Ann swore she was going to learn to cook one and the explanations in her library of recipe books were not up to the task.

A good gumbo is at least a half a day in preparation, including the simmering time, so after sandwiches for lunch, we retired to the kitchen and Cindy and Jim sat at the bar between their kitchen and dining room and watched as I showed Ann, a good Alabama girl, the lessons I'd learned at the stoves of my Cajun grandmothers and mom. It wasn't an uncommon scene in kitchens across the South as the meal was prepared amid conversation. Life and love revolved around the kitchen stove in the homes where I was raised.

After I showed her the Big Trick to authentic gumbo prep, the conversation quickly got around to the scheduled visit.

"Real, live Auburn recruiter," Jim said. "I've seen athletic recruiters come to high schools, but this guy's with the Engineering Department, and he's coming to a middle school. Tickles me just to think about it."

Ann smiled. "I had a recruiter come see me when I was in high school," she said. "Makes me all the more proud of Cindy." She gave the gumbo a stir, then looked at me. "Now what?"

"Just let it simmer," I said. "That's the way most Cajun cooking is. Do a little bit of work, put it on the stove, then go off and do something else."

Jim laughed. "Got a bass in there with your name on it," he said. "Baby, get your fiddle!"

"Philistine! I, sir, am a violinist." She stuck her tongue out at him.

He laughed. "You might've started out as a violinist," he chortled, "but when you married me, you became a fiddle player." He caught her as she passed by grabbing her around the waist with his arm and pulling her into him and getting a kiss for his efforts.

"Mommmmm!" Teresa said.

Cindy grinned. "Teresa, you don't know how lucky you are to have parents that love each other like that."

Teresa sidled up to Cindy, bent over and whispered loud enough so that I could hear, "I know, but I can't let them think that." She smiled, giving Cindy a little hug.

We went into the living room and dragged out the instruments. It felt good to get the bass in my hands. It felt even better when Jim started laying down a familiar melody with his banjo and Ann picked it up with her violin. Bass players have it easy. I joined in, smiling at Cindy, and she picked up the words to the simple tune. Teresa stood beside her, they sang a few bars in unison, then looked at each other and split up into an improvised harmony. Jim looked at me, smiling, nodding his head.

We finished that song. He said, "We need to set up for another weekend at the park."

"We sure do," Cindy chirped. "It's always so much fun!" I noted that Teresa smiled in agreement. Billy just looked up at us and shook his head.

"Billy," Jim said, "you know, Son, you're really good enough to join us. You don't have to be a virtuoso." Jim looked at Ann and then smiled. "It's about playing the best you can and having fun doing it. People will see that, and they'll have fun listening. Why don't you get your guitar and join us?"

"Oh, alright, Dad," he said. He left for his bedroom and returned with an acoustic guitar.

"Okay," Jim said, "let's crank out another one." And we did.

About every third song, Ann would leave to go check on the gumbo.

"Ann," I said, "You don't have to check it that often. Stuff was invented so that people could cook a meal and do things that they needed to do at the same time."

"I understand that," she said. "I'm nervous, though. You got two centuries of history behind you. This is my first pot." She smiled, picking up her violin. "This is for you and Cindy." She played a little solo piece from one of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos.

Cindy grinned. "Yes! That's the one we heard! We got the CD from 'em."

Ann sighed. "I would've loved to've heard that one," she said.

We went back to bluegrass. We played until almost ten o'clock before putting the instruments up. We bid our friends good night, and left. Took a break for Ann's first gumbo, pronounced a success by all.

"I never can get over it," Cindy said. "How much fun we have. How good it feels to be with people like the Hardesty's." She snuggled up against me in the cold cab of the pickup truck. We were a few miles down the road before the heater caught up, but that didn't stop Cindy from staying tight against me. And I certainly wasn't complaining. We got home, did a quick run through of our shower routine, and went to bed. I turned the light out.

Cindy was in her panties and nightshirt, concession to the period thing. Her hand predictably slid down my belly to grasp my flaccid dick. "Turn the light on," she said, smiling. "I STILL wanna play!"

I laughed. "Little girl, d'ya think I'm gonna just let you dive down there and have your way with me? Just like that? Where's the romance?"

She giggled at my feigned outrage. "I got a hunnert pounds of romance right here, guy!" she said, crawling on top of me. We smothered each other with kisses. She pulled back, a smirk on her lips. "Enough romance?"

"Maybe just a little more," I said.

She purred, fitting so easily in my arms, like I was holding some delicate, beautiful, and oh, so erotic, feather. A few more luxuriously long kisses and her bright eyes met mine. Her smile morphed into a grin. "Romantic enough for ya?"

"I have been properly romanced, young lady. You may proceed with your designs."

That got me a giggle. It also got me a young red head in my lap, noisily sucking and lapping. The nips were silent from HER end, but produced moans and groans of pleasure from mine. That encouraged her even more. The turned her face to me. "Dan, you KNOW I love this ... I'm so glad I got YOU so I can do it!" Her head bobbed down a little so she could suck the purple plum of my dick'shead into her mouth. She kept smiling, looking at me with those green eyes atwinkle. She KNEW what she was doing to me.

She went back to serious sucking and I was well on the way, something she gauged by her fingers tugging my ballsack and, from the 'mmmmmm' escaping from her lips, the taste of my pre-orgasmic juices.

When I could no longer control my hips, her right hand was clasping the shaft of my dick so I wouldn't thrust uncomfortably deep into her mouth. The uncontrolled and erratic nature of my quivering hips changed her 'mmmmmm' to happy giggles because she KNEW I was close, and SHE had done it to me. She went back to noisy slurping sucks, punctuated with her teeth at a level of biting that rode the ragged edge between pleasure and pain, and I came.

FOREVER I came. If I were to have, at that moment, flashed into the Great Void, I would've gone with a silly grin on my face, because I CAME!!!!

Between her sucking and her hand milking me, she emptied me, then she kept me warm and happy in her mouth, gently kneading the head of my dick as it finally started to soften. When she released me to move up beside me, she wiped a stray droplet of semen off the corner of her mouth, sucking her finger clean, then grinning.

"What did I do to you, baby?" she asked. "That one was EPIC!"

As she slid back into my arms, I said, "What did you do? You're my Cindy. That's what you DID. You were Cindy."

"I am perfectly happy you feel that way," she cooed. "Put us something soothing on. And you can turn the light out now."

We had a bedtime playlist set up. I started it up and thanked god for winter and a sweet little redhead who liked to snuggle, and we went to sleep.

Sunday dawned as yet another miserable, drizzly, drippy day. We drove out for breakfast, got depressed by the leaden skies and constant beat of the windshield wipers on the drive, and started back to the trailer.

"What do you want to do today, cutie?" I asked.

"Stupid period!" she said. "I KNOW what we could've done..." she looked thoughtful. Cindy ... even when she WASN'T 'looking thoughtful', I knew she was thinking.

"Go by the grocery store. Tootie says this is a 'soup day'.

"Absolutely is," I answered.

An hour later, a vegetable soup was simmering on the stove and Cindy and I were playing cards, cross-legged on the bed. One of us or the other would get up between hands and go stir the pot, and then it was back to her embarrassing me at simple games.

Tiring of that, we did a little recreational snuggling. Well, it wasn't completely recreational. The wind whipped cold rain against the outer walls of the trailer and just the sound of that, alternating between rain and sleet, that was chilling. Cindy had the completely opposite effect.

We curled up on the sofa, reading, our legs mingled under a blanket. A bit after noon, we dove into bowls of soup. "We can have this for dinner, too. One pot. Two meals." She smiled at me.

I smiled back. Cindy. Sure didn't look like the textbook 'June Cleaver' domestic goddess, but she was wearing THAT hat, too. Partner in housekeeping. Did the laundry. Shared the kitchen. Asked questions about cooking on the occasions that we cooked. Even called Tootie to ask questions.

Monday. I was at work. Cindy was at school. Mid-afternoon my cell phone rang. I looked. School. I answered, "This is Dan."

Jim's voice: "Dan, any chance you can get up here and talk to this Auburn guy? I know you're at work, but you really ought to, if you can..."

"Lemme check out with Bill," I said.

Sara overheard the call. "He's in 'is office." She nodded in the direction of Bill's door.

I stuck my head in. "Bill, I need to cut loose to go to Cindy's school. Auburn recruiter's there."

Bill smiled broadly. "I figured they'd be back. You didn't sound too excited about your visit, and I just can't see how they weren't impressed with Cindy. Take off."

"Thanks, buddy," I said. Twenty minutes later I was walking down familiar halls in Cindy's middle school.

I knocked on Jim's door. He called me in. "Dan Richards, this is Aneeta Patel, with the Engineering Department at Auburn. Mizz Patel, this is Dan Richards, Cindy's husband."

Mizz Patel was fiftyish, ebony hair streaked with wisps of grey, dark skin indicating her ancestry from the south of the Indian sub-continent.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Mizz Patel," I said, shaking her delicate hand.

Her voice had the lilting accent that was so common among Hindis who spoke English. "I am happy to meet you too, sir. We at Auburn are very interested in Cindy."

I looked. No Cindy. Jim caught my quick glance. "She's in class, Dan." He glanced at his wrist. "Actually she's got six kids in the library doin' remedial math work."

Mizz Patel smiled. "That is what I came to view, Mr. Richards. It is not unusual for students to be portrayed as having somewhat more ability than the reality suggests. I have talked with your Cindy. I do not see that in her case."

"Jim," I said, "Should you show Mizz Patel Cindy's library class?"

Jim smiled. After all, a lot of what Cindy was experiencing today was a result of HIM caring enough to do his job. "Yes. Mizz Patel, if you'll come with me? Dan, we'll be back in a few minutes. Why don't you go to the office and talk with the principal?"

"Not the first time I've been told that," I laughed.

We headed in two different directions. The ladies at the school office were all smiles about Cindy and the Auburn recruiter. The principal came out and we chatted a bit.

"First time a college recruiter came to look at one of my students for academics," he said.

"That's what Jim said," I countered.

"Kinda nice," he said. I noted from his hulking shape that he was likely...

"I got recruited, too, but it was in high school and my skill was bouncing off the offensive line, goin' after quarterbacks ... Now I'm a 'professional educator' and I am ... WE are sure proud to have Cindy." He smiled.

We continued pleasant small talk until Jim and Mizz Patel walked by. I followed them back into Jim's office.

"She is more impressive each time I turn the page," Mizz Patel said.

"She's coming here in a few minutes, Jim. She was explaining some problems." He grinned. "Says she needs to take care of her friends first.

"Doctor Stebbins regrets that he did not have the ability to spend more time preparing for Cindy's visit. He asked me to assure you that next time she visits, he will see that she is given a better representation of our institution."

"I understand that Doctor Stebbins is a busy man," I said. "I have ... Cindy has a lot of people who are hoping she goes to Auburn."

There was a soft knock at the door. We all turned to look and saw a smiling redhead peeking around the corner.

"Come in, Cindy. We're talking about you again," Jim said.

Cindy walked in. Jeans. ( Oh, the symphony those jeans played on that youthful ass when she walked away from me... ) Long-sleeved rugby shirt, dark green and white stripes. Athletic shoes. And a smile.

"Hi, Mizz Patel," she said. "Hi, Mister Jim." She looked at me, her eyes loving. She sat in the chair next to me.

Mizz Patel looked at the two of us. "I was married at fourteen. It is not uncommon among us. Was not." She smiled at Cindy. "Miss Cindy," she continued, "We would like you to join us at Auburn. I understand that you would not be available until July. I envy you your plans to fly the mountains. My husband and I have toured there by car. He is a geologist." She smiled. "In July, we would like to have you registered. From interviews with your teachers here, and from reviewing your test scores, it is our opinion that you might successfully test out of many first year classes. We think you should do this."

Cindy's smile was sublime. "Dan, what do you think?"

"I certainly want to give this some thought," I said. I looked at Aneeta. "Mizz Patel, do you think that maybe her attendance at those entry-level classes might help her socialize and get used to college?"

"Mister Richards," she answered, "Do you not see how she works here among her peers in this middle school? She's created her OWN socialization commensurate (don't you LOVE college folk?) with her intelligence. She does it well. I could tell you horrible stories about children with her intelligence who do NOT have her ability to socialize." She paused. "Cindy, I watched you in the library. Do you get a lot of 'nerd' and 'geek' names put upon you?"

"Only a few. But I have a lot of friends who see that I don't get picked on."

"That is what I am suggesting, Mister Richards. She would benefit from being encouraged to accelerate her learning."

Jim was sitting back, enjoying the show.

"As you might imagine, Mizz Patel," I said, "Cindy and I wish to take some time to think about your information. I'm..." I glanced at Cindy. That was an epic 'Cindy' grin there. "We are very pleased that you came down to talk with us about it."

She opened her purse and pulled out an iPhone. "A question, also." She looked us. "Who is William Carmody? And Judge Charles Peebles?"

Cindy grinned. "Judge Peebles is my foster mom's husband. Mister Bill Carmody is Dan's boss. He's like my godfather. They're both very important people in my life. An' Auburn alumni."

"Miss Cindy," she said, "I will not detain you and your husband any longer. I am very impressed with you and the impact that you have on those around you." Mister Hardesty. Mister Richards. I thank you for your time. Cindy, you should talk with your husband and your Judge Peebles and Mister Carmody. I think you should be with us at Auburn." She stood up.

"Can we walk you to your car?" Cindy said.

Aneeta smiled. Why, yes! Thank you!"

We signed out at the office and walked Aneeta to the parking lot. After she got into her car, Cindy and I got into my truck.

She finally released a squeal that must've been building up for hours. "BABY! I think I'm goin' to Auburn!"

Chapter 40

At work for the remainder of the week was the almost excitement of the qualifying run of our client's brand new powerplant. For forty-eight hours the utility company configured its system so we could run at a hundred percent of the rated load of the new installation. After I watched the generators come up and tie to the utility lines and I saw the load hitting the numbers, I started breathing easier. At this stage of the game, I expected NO electrical issues. However, I'd breathe a lot easier when it was over.

Known fact: In ANY electrical installation, ANY problem is automatically electrical in nature. At least until the electrical department points out the pieces of the mechanical device spread from the pump shed to the parking lot.

I went home a little late Tuesday after assuaging the feelings of the mechanical engineer when one of HIS pumps burned up a seal. Of course he pointed out that it was MY motor turning his pump at the time...

Clearing the parking lot, I called Cindy.

"Hey, baby love," she chirped.

"I'm on the way home."

"Good," she said. "We're doin' dinner at Mizz Helen and Judge Charlie's tonight.

"On a TUESDAY?"

"He says his housekeeper's doin' fried chicken. Nothin' formal. Just come pick me up at the trailer."

"Okay." I had to ask. "Did ya talk to Tina today?"

"Uh-huh," she said. "Alan's over his shock. You're over yours. We're talking about a plan. When you get here, we can talk. Drive safe, okay?"

I pulled up next to the little trailer and a luscious little redhead bounced out of the door, turned and locked it, then jumped in the truck, sliding across the seat to give me a kiss before buckling in.

"Hi, cutie," I said.

"Hi, my guy," she answered. "Ever'thing running like it's s'posed to?"

"Wide open," I said. "One of the feedwater pumps tore up a seal. Not my problem. Not gonna stop the test. So what'd you an' your sister have to say?"

"We wanna meet this weekend. Maybe Chattanooga. Two hours for us. Short hop for them. Weekend. Me, you, Tina, Alan, an' Susan. Our community."

I thought about that. "You payin' attention to the weather?"

"Should be good from Friday afternoon to Monday."

We pulled into the broad circular drive of the Judge's house. Nice, BIG house. Knocked on the door and were welcomed in by his housekeeper.

"Good evening, Mizz Cindy. Mister Dan. Please come in," said his housekeeper.

"Thank you Mizz Sam," I said. "Are you takin' good care of yourself?"

"Oh, yessir," she said, smiling.

"How's your daughter? Pre-law, right?" I asked.

"Oh, yes, Mister Dan. She's right off into it. Doing well, she tells me."

"You must be proud."

"I certainly am."

We were led into the sitting room to join Charley and Helen. Cindy excitedly recounted the visit from the Auburn recruiter, eliciting a broad smile from Charlie.

"I just sent the ONE letter," he said. "Of course, it might've gone to several people. Just want to take care of my young daughter."

Cindy smiled. Technically, Cindy was the foster child of Helen, Charlie's wife, and that DID make Cindy like a daughter to him.

"Of course, I sort of did the same thing to Mizz Eletha's daughter, too." Eletha was Charlie's housekeeper. "It's my happiness that I became successful and now I can help deserving young people like her." He smiled at Cindy. "And you, Cindy. You get more beautiful every time I see you, darlin'."

Cindy blushed. "Thank you, Mister Charlie."

Mizz Eletha stood at the door and announced the arrival of dinner. "At the kitchen table, as you asked, Judge Charlie," she smiled.

Charlie looked at me. "Her momma made the fried chicken that I ate as a kid. I'm happy to say that Mizz Eletha does ever' bit as good a job!"

Eletha grinned. "Momma RULED that kitchen. Us kids BETTER pay attention." She looked at Judge Charlie. "Course, you sendin' Caroline off to study law, that might wreck the line of fried chicken cooks..."

"And start a line of bright young lawyers..." he said. "And I keep telling you that you're not too old to go back to school yourself."

"First one of my family to get through high school," she said. "Momma was proud a'that! And you're a fine one to push me. You, that's been tellin' people that learnin' is learnin' even if you DON'T get somethin' ta hang on de wall."

Charlie explained to us, "Mizz Eletha volunteers as a tutor for the local schools. If she had a degree, she'd be in the classroom, teaching."

"Uh-huh. Miss Cindy, YOU tell 'im what goes on in those classrooms these days. Thisaway, I get to help the students who WANT help, not try and force them that wanna be someplace else, doin' somethin' else."

Cindy said softly, "Mister Charlie, Mizz Eletha has a point, you know. EVERYBODY has to go to school. Only some of 'em wanna learn. I found that out." She grinned at Mizz Eletha. "I tutor in math an' I know what you're talkin' about..."

We filed into the kitchen to find the table already set for us, mashed potatoes, gravy, a platter full of golden brown fried chicken.

"Mizz Helen says you're partial to pecan pies, Mister Dan. I made you one..."

Cindy giggled. "He is. And 'thank you'."

"Mizz Eletha, I do hope you're joining us, ' Helen said.

Eletha looked at me. "Oh, no, Massa Chahlie say Ah got's ta be eatin' in da quahtahs out back!" she broke out into a broad smile.

Charlie laughed. Apparently a joke was being had at my expense.

Eletha smiled. "The Judge tol' me about the first time you and Mizz Cindy came over ... Jus' thought I oughtta help out..." and she sat with us.

We had a great meal: good food. Good conversation. And pecan pie.

We left Charlie and Helen at eight and headed home. In the truck, she said, "Good time wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was, cutie. Really good." I caught a quick look at my pretty young wife in the dim light of the cab of the truck as we drove. Wasn't a day that went by since last September that I didn't close my eyes and thank God for Cindy. Seven months from a frightened little ragamuffin of a girl-child to a poised young lady who rose to every situation and who entered a room bringing happiness with her.

That was the Cindy that the world saw, at least those of them that took a few minutes to get past the "She's ONLY fourteen" part. Or the "Fourteen and MARRIED" part. That was the Cindy that had latched onto total strangers, Alan and Tina and now, Susan, and put together the outlines of a plan.

And when we walked into our trailer, I got the OTHER Cindy as she started shedding her clothes into a neat pile. I knew she was going to shower, but I couldn't resist at least one good, long caressing hug of her neat young body.

"Mmmmmm, Dan ... all that other stuff ... THIS is the part that makes it sooooo much better." And she added a sensous kiss to the hug. "Now, lemme take my shower. Then yours, then US!"

"Yes, ma'am, Mizz Cindy," I said.

She flashed a smile at me as she went into the shower. She was out, I was in, then we were in bed and it was perfectly lovely.

She wasn't the only thing that was perfect. So was the project. Well, almost. There was, in common parlance, a "punch list" of items to be completed or fixed, and happily, there were no major electrical issues.

We had the meetings. Lots of meetings. I'd pop out of meeting, head into the facility to see work in progress or the testing that came afterward.

There was an outcome from all this that I found a bit of a pleasant surprise. We were 'de-mobing' the site, construction being essentially over, and Bill called me in.

"Yeah, boss," I said.

"Dan, they wanted me to ask you if you'll stay on and do some training and some documentation stuff with them."

"Oh, be still my beating heart!" I said. Bill knew how much I hated paper exercises. "I still work for you? Or they hire me as an independent?"

"Either way," he said. "If I was you, I'd negotiate a better rate as an independent."

"I don't wanna piss YOU off, Bill."

"No skin off my butt, Dan. I leave at the end of the week next week. An' it's not like you're leavin' me high an' dry. Or disappearin'. You'll be right up the hill in a new office for a month or two." He smiled. "I know you're not leavin' Alabama until Cindy graduates, anyway."

"Oh, I didn't get a chance to tell you yet. Ain't leavin' Alabama until Cindy graduates ... from Auburn!"

"She chose?"

I told Bill about the recruiter. He grinned. "You're awfully proud of 'er, ain't ya, son?"

I admitted to that.

"I am, too. Sure didn't wanna think you'd gotten some teenie sex toy when I found out about 'er."

"Never was like that, Bill. Couldn't've been. But I never thought she'd fly like this, either..."

You know we'll have to stay in touch, huh?"

"Absolutely," I said. "You're, oh, I dunno, depends on what she's thinkkin' from one day to the next: god-father, grandpa, mentor ... an' always friend."

"Well, before we part ways, lemme take you an' her to dinner."

"Gladly, Bill!"

I brought the news to Cindy. "It's a way that we can keep from dippin' into savings until you graduate," I said.

"It'll all be here, right?" Cindy asked.

"Yep. Brand new office, for a couple of months. No excitement. Home every night. Gonna bump 'em a bit on the money. Gotta cover my health insurance and extra taxes as an independent contractor."

"Will I get any more visits?"

"I dunno about that, baby. Doesn't belong to us any more. Mister Bill's leaving next weekend. A week from Friday's his last day."

"Make sure you get contact information from ever'body," she said. "This is almost like a family I was adopted into. Kinda sad, really."

"I know. Been through a bunch of these myself. But sometimes it's just like this: I end up workin' for Bill. I'm sure that in the future we'll cross paths again. And with YOU in the mix in a few years..." I looked at her green eyes, seeing a hint of sadness. "Oh, come, baby," I said, "They're still gonna be around somewhere. And look at YOU! These are all people you've met since September. You'll keep meeting people. You'll remember them. They'll remember you. Life goes on."

"I didn't think about that 'since September' thing," she said. "You're right. But you still gotta know that ever' one of 'em's special to me."

"I know, baby." I guess consolation was the best thing I could do now. This was a fourteen year old's view of the world. The stream of time with its large number of faces entering and leaving, I'd had forty years of it. She had fourteen, and a limited fourteen, at that. Sometimes I realized that she was, despite being spectacular in so many ways, just a fourteen year old girl.

So I held her. "Baby," I said softly, "A lot of people will come and go in our lives. But we'll ALWAYS have each other. Always. Dan an' Cindy. Forever. An' then we got family: Helen an' Charlie. That bunch in Louisiana. And now you have a new sister and brother-in-law. That's forever, too..."

"I don't mean to get all weepy, baby," she said, stepping into my arms.

"A soft heart is a wonderful thing, baby," I said. "It's okay to have feelings. Makes us human." I kissed the top of her head.

She turned her face upward. "Kiss me."

I kissed her. "Better?"

She nodded. "Let's go get a salad..."

"'Kay. Let's see what they have for us." The two old sisters often had something new and interesting to present.

Off we went. Tuesday was the day that Tina called Cindy. They alternated. Cindy's phone rang.

"Hi, sis," she said. Her voice lacked its normal exuberance. "No, Dan's job is winding down an' some of my friends are movin' on, an' I got all sad ... That's all." Pause. "Uh-huh. We're lookin' at reservations at the hotel tonight. Are we still talkin' Friday AND Saturday?" Pause. "Yeah, we'll get two queen beds. Susan stays with ya'll one night, us the other night." Pause. "Of course! That's just to sleep. We'll hang out together the whole weekend." Giggle. "Well, ALMOST! You know..." giggle. "Yeah, we're goin' to eat right now." Pause. "Okay. Might call ya later..." Pause. "No, not AFTER nine..." Pause. "Love ya, too, sis!"

She closed her phone. "Talkin' to you an' Tina helps."

"That's the way it's supposed to work, little one," I said. "Sounds like you have a plan between you and her."

"Don't forget Susan, baby."

"How did I end up with a Susan out of all this?"

"Kindred spirit. 'Cept Susan has normal parents. They trust Alan 'n' Tina with Susan."

"Life keeps getting curiouser an' curiouser," I said.

"Oh, it'll be fun. An' with both couples having rooms, we'll shuttle Susan between them so we both have time for US. You know, showers..." Her hand sliding up my thigh indicated that her thoughts extended past mere showering."

We walked into the restaurant and were greeted as friends. Made for pleasant conversation. They were interested in Cindy's education accomplishments and plans, as well as the approaching date that we'd be moving out of the area.

"We hate to see that happen,"one said. "You're good customers and we love you visiting and talking with us."

"I know," Cindy said. "We'd be here for the food, but we like the conversation, too."

We headed home.

The short few steps from the warm cab of the truck to the door of the trailer: "Baby! It's COLD!" Cindy squealed. "Kiss me!"

"Inside," I said.

"No! Right here. I'm standing on the steps and I adore getting kissed outside in the cold!"

Cindy standing on the bottom step put her at the same height as me, and indeed, the chill air DID seem to heighten the impact of her warm lips against mine. Add to that the moonlight illuminating the skies... "I love you, Cindy Sue..."

"I love you, Danny..."

Then we went inside. Showers. Mugs of hot chocolate. Bedtime.

By noon Friday I had closed out my office. Jason, my lead technician, was helping me haul boxes to the truck. "So we just about wrapped this one up. Where's your next one?"

"I dunno. Gonna spend a couple of months here until Cindy graduates. An' you remember Alan Addison?"

""Arizona? Distribution guy?" Jason Ellerbee at twenty-six was another of those guys who traveled from one project to another. If I wanted to simulate, calibrate or communicate with power system equipment, Jason was the guy to have standing beside me. Why he WASN'T an engineer was one of life's mysteries.

"Yeah. That's the one. Cindy and I met him an' his wife by accident a couple of weekends ago at a concert. Wants to talk about a new business. We might be looking at a few openings for good technicians."

He looked at me, obviously interested.

"So if you know of any, can you gimme their contact info?"

Deadpan serious look on his face. "I'm afraid I couldn't do that, Dan."

"Why?"

"Wouldn't want my friends workin' with assholes..."

"We've been working together TOO long, dickhead," I laughed.

"I'd be interested. Talking, you know. Getting a business off the ground that's gonna make US some money, that might be a trick. But you an' me, we stay busy, don't we?"

"Seem to," I answered.

"So maybe we get a name an' some cards and stationery and put some feelers out an' we're off to the races."

"So I can put you down as a 'maybe'?"

"You know you can," Jason said. "You thinkin' about Phil, too?"

"Sure," I said. "He's good. He'd be lead on this project if you weren't here."

"I might have a couple more names. We can talk. Money. Work situation. That kinda thing."

"All in due time. We're looking at mid-summer."

"Dan, just remember, you an' me, we been rollin' stones in this stuff. I've been sockin' bucks back for a while. I might wanna settle myself down, you know, if the right circumstances come along."

"I know, Jase," I said. "Nothing's permanent."

"Yeah, that's what my wife said, headin' out the door..."

"Happens," I said. I knew some of Jason's story. "Anyway, I just wanted to get you to thinkin' about it, buddy."

I started moving into my new (temporary) office. I already knew many of the client's key players, having rubbed elbows and bumped heads with them for the last couple of months. Better yet, they knew ME. And Cindy. Since it was a temporary office, my desk was bare. An electronic picture frame that started sequencing pictures, each of them containing a cute redhead somewhere in them, that made the space MINE!

There was a familiar face in the atrium, too. Sara had wangled herself a position as the maintenance and engineering department admin clerk, complementing her husband's position as mechanical maintenance supervisor. I was happy. Both of them were semi-local and this put them on solid footing. With kids at home, it meant roots. I also pondered that having seen both of them at work, the client was getting good people.

Sara was pointing out the way she wanted HER space configured. "Hi, Dan!" she said when she spotted me.

"You getting' set up?"

"Uh-huh! I still have another week at the trailer, though. Just took time out to decorate the new digs. You hangin' here for a couple of months, I hear..."

"Yeah. Cindy's graduating in May. Gonna be here for that. Well, maybe not HERE in this office, but here in the area."

"Why'n'cha bring 'er by? Show 'er your new office." She smiled. "Lovely girl. You don't know how lucky you are..."

"Oh, but I DO!" I said. "She's my own bit of perfection."

"That's just it," Sara smiled. "She says the same thing about you. Girl's cute as a button. Confused, but cute as a button..." Laughter.

"Shame on you! I thought we were havin' a MOMENT!"

"We were," she laughed. "But THAT'S over now..."

The new boss walked out of his office to survey the noise.

"Hi, Jerry," I said. "I just want to compliment you again on your company's concession to hiring the disturbed."

Sara looked appropriately outraged. "Uh, Mister Styers, this CONTRACTOR is creatin' a hostile work environment."

"I'm sure he is," Jerry laughed. He looked at me. "She, my awfully intelligent and capable administrator, said something about you bringin' Cindy to visit?"

"Yeah. You know Cindy. I'm hopin' that this place is the first of a long line of HER projects."

"Bring 'er. As long as she's an escorted visitor, the safety asshole..." He caught his language. "Oops! Sorry, Sara ... I didn't mean..."

Sara looked demure.

I said, "She's heard it. Matter of fact, the Great 'Sara Hooked Her New Jeans on the File Cabinet' eruption goes down in history as one of the most constructive uses of profanity in the recent history of the English language..."

Sara smiled. "End-of-month close-outs. Several missing invoices and shipping lists for a mere two million dollars, and my NEW jeans!"

"I wish I could'a recorded that."

"Anyway," Jerry said, "Safety department'll be okay with Cindy. Why'n'cha bring 'er Monday? I'm tryin' to get all the key bunch from construction together before they leave. I wanna picture of the whole bunch. Just as well put Cindy front an' center."

"We'll do that."

I escaped the place in early afternoon and scooped Cindy from school. Met with Jim Hardesty briefly and made arrangement for Cindy to spend Monday at the project.

"I want one'a those pictures," he said.

"You got it."

Cindy and I went by the trailer and threw together a bit of clothing for the weekend and then hit the airfield. As I was locking the hangar door, I saw Cindy in the plane, cellphone to her ear. I knew that she was giving a situation report to Tina.

Fifteen mintes later our wheels left the runway. Yes, Cindy was in the pilot's seat.

"What's up with the the other end of our team?" I asked.

"Your brother-in-law is lifting off with important cargo as we speak," she said. "They're a bit behind us, but they don't have as far to fly." She giggled. "An' he's in the back seat. At least YOU get to ride up front."

"Wha..."

"Tina's flyin', Susan's in the right seat, an' Alan's sittin' in back."

"Alan's created a monster..." I said.

"He's in love ... people in love, they'll do anything to make somebody happy." She smiled at me, eyes twinkling.

"You got that right," I said. "An' if you love the right person, you'll find that what they want to do is what you wanted to do anyway..."

"So you'll understand when I do THIS!" and she dipped a wing, sweeping into a pretty decent steep 360-degree turn. "I like to feel the G's. Let's me know I'm flyin'..."

"Pretty good one, babe. You lost a little altitude. If you do it right, you'll run into your own turbulence."

"I know. You showed me that. An' Hanna..." She grinned. "Now, back to work!" and she regained the bit of lost altitude and put us on course again.

We were easing down from cruising altitutde when we heard a familiar voice on the radio. "Jackson Unicom, this is Cessna six-seven-six-five-Golf, five miles out, landing Jackson, runway three-three."

Cindy giggle. "Tina!" She waited a few seconds for any other traffic, then she pressed the mike button on the control yoke. "Uh, six-five golf, this is Cessna five-five-two-three Uniform. Ten miles southeast, destination Jackson. Squeal!"

"Uh, young Padawan, that's not a very professional squeal."

"Roger, two-three Uniform, we'll watch for you. Giggle."

"You two have set aviation communications back twenty years."

Green eyes laughed at me. "Just happy, baby!"

"The air traffic control system can probably survive you and Tina on Unicom," I said.

As we entered the traffic pattern, I saw Alan's plane taxiing to the transient tie-downs. A few minutes later, we were pulling up beside them and the lone representative of the fixed base operator was somewhat amused that the pilots of both planes were teen-aged girls. And that Alan was in the back seat.

Alan. Tina. And a short, plumpish blonde girl, maybe an inch taller than Cindy, a couple of inches shorter than Tina. And she broke away from the group and screamed "Cin-deeeee!" and ran to scoop my wife up into her arms.

Of course, Cindy reacted with "Susannnn!", finished the hug, and said, "this is my husband, Dan. Dan, this is Susan!"

"Hi, Susan!"

"Hi, Mister Dan! I am SOOO happy to meet ya'll!

We went inside and met the representatives of the rental car agency and signed for a minivan for the five of us, then loaded up for the trip to the hotel.

"Alan, you can drive if you want. I understand you've been in the back seat today."

He laughed. "Seems that I've created a monster, Dan."

"Well, buddy," he said, "We seem to have created several."

The three girls slid into the center seat of the minivan and buckled in. I turned sideways in my seat to see Cindy. Susan was in the center slot, and while she was a bit plump, she was a cutie. And she was smiling.

"Mister Dan," she said, "I hope I'm not an inconvenience to ya'll. I've been on these weekends with Alan 'n' Tina before."

"She has, Dan," Alan said.

I was wondering exactly how THAT worked, but then I thought about me and Cindy and how we'd handle that if WE were in the same situation, and I came up with the idea that a little decorum was applicable and that we could probably swing that. After all, we had more to our relationship than just sex. At the same time, though, in the several months since we'd been together, we'd NEVER had a night where we didn't enjoy our private time. This weekend promised to be a 'first'.

We made our way to the hotel, and as soon as Alan had a cardkey, the girls grabbed it and disappeared. He waited until I finished checking in.

"They'll come looking for us in a bit. If I had to venture a guess, right now they're giggling and looking for a restaurant for dinner," Alan said.

"Who's the ringleader of that trio, Alan?" I asked.

"Most of the time, it seems to be Cindy. Not that Tina isn't perfectly capable of her own excursions. I think Susan was Tina's idea."

"About that..." I started.

"Susan's little bunch of friends getting together was a week into Tina starting school there. Things got out of hand. Tina came home early. That's the night she announced she was in love with me. And I admitted it to her. I think I was trying to deny something up to that point."

"And how'd Susan play into that?" I asked.

"I think Susan's a little naïve about human nature. She's an 'only' child. Mom and Dad dote on 'er. And she apologized to Tina about things. They became best friends. I wanted her to have friends her age." He continued. "We kinda hang out with Susan and her folks. They're good people. And she and Tina ... well..."

"And then my Cindy dives in..."

"So what do YOU think about it? I mean, their plan..."

"Their plan? I have no problem with THEIR plan. I'm thinkin' about OUR plan..."

"Me too," he said. "We got us. That's TWO experienced electrical engineers. Both of us have professional certification."

"And good reputations," I added.

"And I'm talking with one of my technicians."

"Bingo!" I said. "I was talking with one of mine this week. You're thinking an engineering house with field service capabilities, right?"

"I think we could make that work," he said. "But down the road..."

"Room for Cindy and Tina?"

"I think we should, don'tcha think..."

"If Cindy comes out of college with the same mind she's going in with..." I told him about her on the control system programming.

"I think Tina's like that, too. And heaven help me, but Susan's as smart as Tina. They're gonna be number two and three when they graduate, and both of 'em's been in every advance placement class they have this year."

I was rubbing my chin, digesting that data when I heard, "There they are!"

I turned to see the trio entering the lobby. "Baby, we need to go put our bags in the room."

She turned to her friends. "We'll be right back down!"

I grabbed the bags after handing Cindy the cardkey. We hit the elevator and went to our room. Inside, I was accosted by a wiggly redhead. And kissed. Lots.

"Baby," she said, "Let's not be too demonstrative (Demonstrative? Not a fourteen year old's vocabulary, I thought.) in front of Susan. She's ... not jealous ... that's not it. But I think ... envious. And she's a sweet girl."

"We can do that, baby. Who's she stayin with tonight?"

"Us."

'Oh, well, ' I thought. 'Time to put actions to my thoughts.' "Okay, sweetie. We shall be the epitome of decorum."

"Come on, Mister Decorum. I need..." she wrapped her arms around me and we kissed, hot enough to peel paint. "I love you, Dan Richards."

"I love you, too, Cindy Richards."

"Let's go meet our friends for dinner."

Chapter 41

When we got to the lobby, Alan, Tina and Susan were waiting on us. When I saw the enthusiasm displayed by the three girls while Alan and I stood back, I realized that the giggly, happy trio was seeing life as a much broader, brighter path to adventure then I was. Don't get me wrong, but at this stage in life, I was deliriously happy with Cindy as a wife and friend, and I could easily see a path forward for us.

What I was seeing with the three girls was that they were EXCITED about where they were going. They weren't looking for comfort and ease, they were on the path to adventure. Cindy looked over her shoulder at me and smiled. If anything in my life needed to be contagious, it was the joy that I saw Cindy and her 'sisters' displaying.

"Come on, Alan," I said. "We just as well join in. We're here for the ride anyway."

Alan looked at me, amused. "I wasn't that excited when I graduated, Dan. And they're excited about GOING!"

"Tell me: When you left to go to college, it was just YOU, right..."

"Uh ... yeah, as far as going into engineering. There was a bunch from my graduating class, but I was the only one majoring in engineering."

"So you started out on your own. Got friends, whatever, after you got there."

"You did something different?" He asked.

"Nope. Pretty much the way I was. But this bunch ... similar goals, standing at the door together ... I guess they have a reason to be excited." I thought for a second. "Was there anyone in your family that could back you up? I mean, academically?"

"No," he said. "Pop was an operator at a chemical plant. He would've helped if he could've. But all he had was a high school diploma and anything like college math was out of his league."

I pointed towards the three girls. "They have us..."

"If we can keep up," he said. "Those are three bright girls. I dunno..."

"You have a point," I said. "I know my Cindy. It's liable to be a rough time..."

We stopped that conversation when the trio turned around and started toward us.

Alan asked the question first: "Where are we going and what are we doing when we get there?"

"Dinner an' a movie," Tina said. "We wanna see THIS one, an' while it lacks the blood, mayhem and explosions necessary to satisfy the male of the species, we have determined that both of you have the capability to endure temporary privation in the interest of future reward."

I chuckled at Alan. "You married her?"

Cindy jumped in. "Uh, Dan, my SISTER is a woman of much worth. Alan recognizes this. You should learn..." And Tina and Susan BOTH stuck their tongues at me.

Amid laughter we walked out and got in the minivan and headed to the movie theater. Tina was correct. A man WILL endure things in the interest of future reward. Actually, the movie was funny, and the company pleasant, and one can hardly ask for more than that.

The girls' dinner selection was a chain restaurant. Wasn't a big hit on the pocketbook, not that such a thing mattered. Susan protested when I picked up her tab.

"Oh, let 'im," Cindy smiled. "He needs to win every now an' then..."

Susan grinned at me. Pleasant little thing, she was. "Then go ahead. Cindy knows best!"

My little redhead smirked at me. "I know YOU, baby!" Her fingers touched my arm.

"Don't worry about me, cutie," I said. "I've been winning since I met you."

"Awwww," the other two girls said in unison. And Tina patted Alan's arm.

Back at the hotel, Susan came up to the room with me and Cindy.

"Get the cards out," Cindy said.

I got the cards out. The three of us sat cross-legged on the bed, playing rummy, laughing, talking.

"How do you do it, Cindy?" Susan asked. "I catch all kinds of crap at school for bein' smart..."

Cindy shrugged. "I did, for a while," she said. "But I'm helpin' a bunch of kids in math, an' some of 'em are football and basketball guys who NEED to get good grades to keep playin'. I'm kinda 'off limits' to anything other than the occasional strange look." She sighed. "I got more crap from bein' married."

"Really?!?!" Susan said. "How?"

"First, EVERYBODY thought I was pregnant. Had to be, yaknow ... until a few of my teachers met Dan. An' we hang out with Jim an' Ann Hardesty. He's my guidance counselor and Mizz Ann's the music teacher. But one guy made a remark one time when I was trying to help him with math. Said that since I was married, he knew I was 'used to doin' it' and he made an indecent suggestion. I shut my book an' walked away and told the teacher that HE would NOT get any more help from me. He came to me himself an' apologized."

"Wow," Susan said. "I guess, fourteen an' all that..."

"I think that's a lot of it," I said. "Word got out about Cindy graduating high school about the same time word got out about our marriage. That's a lot of stuff to get around a middle school."

"I bet," Susan said.

"Oh, it was VERY interesting," answered Cindy.

"Well, I remember the 'she's pregnant' talk about Tina when she showed up with a ring. And now, six months later, she's NOT and some people had to eat their words." Susan smiled. "Mom was one of 'em. But it didn't take Mom six months. After she met Tina 'n' Alan..." She sighed. "But I know some of the stuff that was said about Tina, so I can imagine..."

"Oh, it's been quite a ride," I said. "But Cindy's worth every bit of it."

Cindy smiled. "And Dan's worth it. Even if we were livin' under a bridge somewhere..."

Susan took that opportunity to lay down her last card, ending the hand, catching me with a handful of cards, and she and Cindy giggled as my score went negative.

"I finally got used to the distraction of playin' cards with a cute little redhead," I said. "You're a new distraction, Susan."

The cute, plump blonde giggled. "Tina says that if I keep my head about this stuff, I can find a guy like you or Alan. And maybe HE can play cards."

Cindy laughed.

We continued playing, the two girls running neck and neck, me trailing badly. The room phone rang.

"Dan an' Cindy's room," Cindy answered. "Hi, Sis!" Pause. "Sitting in the bed beatin' Dan at rummy." Pause. "Yeah, here she is..."

She handed the phone to Susan. "Hi, Tina," Susan said. "Yeah, we're havin' fun!" Pause. "Okay, I'll be up there in a minute!" she hung up the phone.

"You goin' to Tina's room?" Cindy asked.

"Uh-huh," Susan said. "For a little while. You know..." she smiled at Cindy knowingly. "Later. Call..."

She left the room.

"I take it this is all one of those plans?" I asked Cindy.

"Uh-huh. I get Dan time. Tina gets Alan time. And we all get to spend time with Susan." As she was talking, she was shedding clothing. "Big shower, baby ... me an' you..." and twinkling green eyes.

I undressed and as soon as my feet came out of the pants at my feet, she was up against me, soft, warm, eager.

"Oh, NOW I remember..."

"Remember what?" she asked.

"What these weekends are for..."

Giggle. "Oh, me? Naked? You get ME all the time. I'm YOURS, remember..." And we kissed. Then she started the shower.

We spent a long time savoring each other, lathered, wet, happy. Rinsed off under unlimited hot water, I knelt and suckled her delicious young breasts, then I stood and she knelt. I thought my knees would buckle. I enjoyed my Cindy's enthusiasm. I wasn't so experienced as to be able to comment on skill, but every time her mouth closed on me, I was transported.

We got out of the shower and attended to our respective tasks, her hair drying, my shaving, then we headed straight for the bed, still nude, and tossed the covers back to clear the playing field. And we played.

The playing over, we washed our faces and she bounced back into the bed and grabbed the phone. She dialed Alan and Tina's room. "Hi, Alan! Where's Susan?" Pause. "Hi, Susan! Whenever you wanna come back over. We can play another game of cards!" Pause. "'Kay, See ya!" and she hung up.

"Tonight she sleeps in this room, so Alan 'n' Tina can have a night. Tomorrow night, we get the room to ourselves."

"Ooooo-kayyyy," I said.

"You don't mind, do ya, sweetie?" she questioned, smiling at me. "We're forever ... an' we still get to snuggle, just have to wear clothes, okay?"

"Okay, kitten," I said.

"This is gonna be good, you know ... We, you an' me, Alan 'n' Tina, and now, Susan. We're going to do wonderfully. Just wait."

"Okay, sweetie," I said. And somehow, her enthusiasm was contagious.

I heard the knock on the door. Cindy let Susan in. The two of them exchanged knowing glances before they jumped on the un-used bed.

"Get the cards, baby," Cindy said.

"Just one hand, then I gotta take a shower," Susan said.

I lost another one, then one went my way when Cindy and I played while Susan was showering. She came out wearing pajamas and looking quite cute. The three of us played another couple of hands and it was bedtime. Cindy and Susan found a channel suitable for setting the sleep timer on, and we went to sleep.

I don't remember ever sleeping with Cindy with my pajama bottoms on, and the only time SHE wore panties under her nightshirt was during her period, but tonight we slept like that, cuddling wonderfully, her hand exploring me gently, mine savoring the wonders of her body. We were quiet, in respect for Susan sleeping in the adjacent bed.

Waking was a function of simply yielding to bladder pressure for me. I eased out of the bed as stealthily as possible, but my movement woke Cindy. She pursed her lips to send me a kiss as I headed to the bathroom.

I relieved my bladder, then washed my face, waking myself up completely. I walked back to the bed, bent over, and kissed my redheaded kitten.

"Guess I should get up," she said.

I grabbed my clothes and dressed in the bathroom, then came out and sat in the chair and watched her dress. After she pulled a sweatshirt over her head, hiding my view of a pair of cute titties, she walked to the foot of Susan's bed and jiggled her toe.

"Hey, Susan! Wakey time!"

Susan sat up for a few seconds, gaining her bearings and parsing the unfamiliar inputs. "Oh, hi, little sister," she said. "G'mornin', Dan!"

"Mornin', Susan," I answered. "How'd you sleep?"

"Oh, really good," she replied as she got out of bed.

"Bathroom's yours," Cindy said. "I'm gonna call Tina an' we'll go find breakfast."

"'Kay," Susan said. She took a travel bag into the bathroom with her.

I watched her disappear, a pleasant young thing in her own right, but the impact of a hundred-odd pounds of wiggly redhead in my lap reminded me that I already had far more than I'd ever hoped.

Cindy wrapped her arms around my neck and we kissed.

"I love you, Dan," she whispered. "Good morning! I love you some more!"

"That's how I know I'm having a good day, baby! I wake up and YOU love me."

She gave me one more little kiss and then picked up the phone. After she dialed, she flashed those green eyes at me, smiling.

"Hi, Alan! Are ya'll up?" Pause. "Us too! Susan's getting dressed. We'll meet you in the lobby in a few minutes."

Susan popped out of the bathroom, brushing her hair. We put on shoes and went downstairs and out to breakfast.

Banter. Happy talk. Plans. Back and forth between Tina and Cindy and Susan, the conversation was about apartments and 'going to school' cars.

"I won't be able to drive for two more years," Cindy pouted.

"If only you were normal, then you'd be right in the middle of your middle school class, worrying about getting a 'B' in social studies and who was going with that new cute boy and stuff like that," Tina said, BEFORE I got a chance to make a similar comment.

"Cindy, between Tina an' me, we'll make sure you get to where you need to go, if Dan can't do it..." Susan said. She looked directly at me. "That's one of the things about our little community, Dan." (Now I was "Dan" to Susan, too... ) She continued, "We'll have that 'diversity of scheduling' thing going, so chances are better that we can support each other for transportation an' stuff."

Alan looked amused. "Diversity in scheduling?"

"Yeah, you know, baby," Tina said. "Chances are good that of the three of us, with a little planning, at least TWO of us will need to be at the campus on any given day of the week, and if there are TWO of us, then by inference, at least ONE of the two will have a license and a car."

And Cindy finished the discussion, "And it might not be exactly as convenient as if all three of us had licenses and cars, but we're still willing to put up with a little inconvenience, you know, waiting for a class to start or end, so we can ride together."

I looked at Alan. "That's what we talked about. You and I didn't have that. We had to figure it out on our own. They go in with a built in support group."

"Yeah," he said. "Big problem is to find housing for US that won't be surrounded by the party kids from college..."

"That is a problem," I said.

"We'll get it figured out. But I think we should be, like, CLOSE," Tina said.

Cindy's eyes mirrored agreement, as did Susan's.

"So," I said to Alan, "What's our business going to look like? Seems like the girls have the social and housing angle worked out."

"Working it out," Cindy said. "But ya'll talk. We can handle this."

The waitress came by, cleared the plates and refilled the coffee. Alan slipped her a ten dollar bill. "We're gonna be here a while," he said.

"Ya'll go right ahead, Hon," she told him.

We talked business. "We need a few GOOD technicians that aren't afraid to think on their feet and don't mind hands-on, either." I was thinking of a couple of names. I'd already talked with one of my guys. He's my lead tech, and he's thinking about it."

"Seriously?" Alan questioned.

"Yeah. Wants to know how we're gonna structure it. Pay, work hours, equipment, an office, whatever ... He'd be a good one. I got another one, too..."

"I haven't talked to mine. But I will."

"It'd be nice to have at least three techs. Four would be better. What's that term? 'Diversity of scheduling'?" I commented.

Susan perked up and looked at us, smiling. "You paid attention!"

"I'd be stupid not to," I said. "You're part of the crew now..."

Squeal! "Did ya hear that? Dan says I'm part of the group!" The three of them smiled.

Alan chuckled. "Surrendering to the inevitable," he said.

We prepared to leave. The girls got up en masse and headed to the restroom. I pushed a credit card at the ticket and turned to Alan. "Susan's a good fit, you know. She's right there, mentally. I just..."

"Odd man out," Alan said. "I know ... but she's Tina's best friend, and I like her and her folks and I can't..."

"I know," I said. "She's a cutie, too..."

"Plump little doll..." Alan commented.

"Major league humor when she gets going," I said. "I'm serious. Part of the crew. As long as she wants. I don't think she'll be a problem, you know..."

"Speaking of non-existent problems, here they come..." Alan said, standing.

I stood and the five of us walked out of the restaurant.

We turned the morning onto a visit to a park and a museum, and the afternoon was a walk under leaden skies along a nature path. Dinner came and went and the evening was a neat little concert by a local bluegrass group in a family venue.

We were enjoying ourselves. The music had the easy feel of friends playing for the joy of it.

Susan leaned over and whispered, "Doesn't Dan do this stuff?"

Cindy's head bobbed. "And me! I sing! But we're not PURE bluegrass. Dan plays a bass guitar, an' that needs an amp."

"Oh, that's RIGHT!" Susan said.

During the band's break, Cindy and I talked with some of the players, adding to our enjoyment of the evening.

"What songs do you sing?" the banjo player asked.

Cindy shook her red head and ran down her list, smiling.

"You wanna do one with us?" he asked her, looking at me.

She looked at me. "Can I? You don't mind?"

"Certainly not," I said.

I was suitably proud of my Cindy on stage. She can't sing any but the saddest songs without that smile creeping in, and with her choice in music, she smiled through a couple of numbers, and left the stage to applause.

The performance made for interesting conversation after the concert, when we stopped for a late snack.

Back at the hotel, we did the drill with Susan moving between the two rooms until both couples had showered, and then she ended up in Tina and Alan's room for the night. That put me in bed with a very naked Cindy. A delicious, very naked Cindy. Who went to sleep in my arms after a couple of memorable orgasms.

Meant extra time for a shower in the morning, and the breakfast place was filled with the church crowd when we got there. We took the first available seating, a booth normally meant for four, and I ended up wedged between Cindy, who was against the wall, and Susan, next to the aisle. Fortunately I am ambidextrous when eating, so I managed pancakes without badly bruising the sweet, plump blonde to my right.

Sadly, our weekend was winding down. We made our way to the airfield. On the flightline, after pre-flighting the two planes,, we said our good-byes, Alan and I shaking hands, the girls hugging, kissing. Alan got a kiss on the cheek from Cindy and I got two, one from Tina, one from Susan.

Twenty minutes later we were cruise-climbing on course for southern Alabama and what we called home.

"So, baby," Cindy said over the intercom, "Susan..."

"She fits. I just hate to see her alone. I know how that is. Being the odd man out..."

"Yeah, I know," Cindy answered, "but she's so friendly an' sweet, and this community thing would be good for her. And us."

"I know. I agree with that part a hundred percent," I replied. "She's talkin' about staying in the dorms?"

"We're still talking about THAT part."

"Oh?"

"We could do like we did this weekend, you know ... she stays at one place for a while, then the other..."

"That's kinda hard when you're talkin' two different addresses," I said.

"But you wouldn't be against it, then..."

"No, I think we could reach some sort of equilibrium. Especially if we got a place with two baths."

"I'm glad you're thinking it's okay, baby. But you gotta know, you an' me, WE come first..."

"Yeah," I said. "Usually at the same time..."

Squeal! And a punch in the arm. "You're a BEAST!" she giggled.

"I'm YOUR beast," I smiled. "And one of these days you have to let me fly in the left seat again."

"Oh, you know you can any time, baby," she said. "But you created THIS monster." She smiled, her hair pushed in delightful disarray by the bulky headset.

I smiled back. Every time I saw that face, I gave up my soul. She knew it. I was all too happy to admit it. I reached over and played with the hair that fell behind her ear. She giggled.

"Do us a steep turn, baby," I said.

She grinned and banked forty-five degrees to the right, sweeping around, holding back pressure. Three hundred and sixty degrees later, I felt the little bumpiness as we ran into our own wake turbulence, one sign of a well-executed maneuver.

Squeal! "I feel it," she said. "Same altitude. Same heading!"

"No doubt about it. You're getting good," I said.

An hour later our wheels touched down in Alabama. In another half an hour, we were driving away from the hangar.

"Only bad thing about the way things are, baby," Cindy opined, "is that I'm fourteen an' I can't drive an' I can't fly by myself. That's what makes me jealous of Susan 'n' Tina."

"We've talked about this," I said. "That's something brains can't fix, baby ... they'll let somebody with the IQ of a sack of potatoes get a license if they're sixteen, and after you get a license, you can be almost blind and not able to hold a coffee cup, and you can KEEP your license. But the government's all about putting people in little boxes, and age is a good place to start. Just like that marriage thing. Keeps a lot of people from doin' it before they're ready, stops some that are..."

"Still sucks, though," she said. She realized her word usage. "I mean, it's stupid."

"Not a battle we can even start to fight, baby ... we got lucky on the marriage thing."

"Yeah, we did." She smiled. "I would've stayed with you, married or not, baby ... That's what we thought we'd have to do."

"Yeah, sweetie." I thought about how nervous I was with our situation back then, and how relieved I was to have a marriage certificate filed away.

We stopped by the park office and talked with Helen and Charlie for a while, recounting the adventure and going over plans.

"Lemme know when you decide to incorporate, ' Charlie said. "I think I can find you a lawyer..." he grinned. In the six months I'd know him, Charlie was surrogate grandfather, filling in for my own who'd passed away years ago. And he did a good job, exactly like grandfathers were supposed to do, wisdom, stories, humor ... And Helen, friend, surrogate mom, unexpected jewel in my little universe.

Charlie said, "You know, son, I'll, that is, Helen and I will do anything we can to help you out."

"Charlie," I answered, "this right here is the best thing anybody's ever done for me. Fixing things so I could have my Cindy."

"Yessir, Dan," he said. "But really, let me take care of your legal stuff. If there's a conflict with anything you need to do, I'll see that you get the proper assistance. Just so you know."

"I appreciate that, Mister Charlie," Cindy said.

Helen reached across the counter, touching Cindy's face. "Baby, all we want to do is make things better for you. You an' Dan seem to be doin' a pretty good job of it, you know..."

"We're trying," I said. "And we have friends and family. You two are at the top of the list."

"OH, let's not get all weepy," Helen said. "We're just doin' what we can."

Cindy and I went to our little trailer and put our weekend's effects away.

"Too early to eat," she said, tuggin my hand towards the bed at the end of the trailer. "And NOTHIN' on TV. What did people used to do for entertainment?" she giggled.

"I dunno," I said, falling backward onto the mattress. "Why'n'cha lay down with me an' we'll think about that."

Her crawling up atop my body answered that question.

An hour later she handed me the phone. "Call the Hardesty's an' see what's up this week," she said.

"Okay, but tomorrow I gotta take you out to the project. They want you front and center in the group photo for the end of the thing."

"Really?"

"Yeah. This is Bill's last week here. Jerry wants to get him and the other key players in a picture before they take off. They'd like YOU in the middle of it."

"Should I wear anything special?"

"Yeah," I said. "Long-sleeved work shirt. Steel-toe shoes. An' your pocket protector. Gotta look like the 'Engineer's Apprentice', you know..."

I dialed up Jim's number. Ann answered. "Hi, Dan!"

"Hello, Ann. What's 'himself' up to?"

"He's participating in some male bonding ritual with our son. Apparently it involved slaying of mythological characters in a virtual universe..."

"Oh, don't let me interrupt that. Was just seein' what your week looked like..."

"Standard week, Dan. You an' Cindy were out of town this weekend?"

"Yeah. Flew up to meet her new sisters."

"Multiple? Last time she talked with me, she only had the one."

"They've consorted to add another. I'm sure that she'll be better at explaining the situation than I would, so I'll let her fill in the details. Ya'll up for a pizza Tuesday?"

"I don't see why not," she said. "I'll have Jim call you when he's loose."

"Okay. I guess I'll email the school. I'm keepin' Cindy out tomorrow. They want her in the group photo for the end of the project."

"Oh, that's just CUTE!" Ann giggled. "We need a copy of that photo."

"Everybody who's heard of it wants one," I said.

"Hi, Mizz Ann," Cindy said loudly.

"Hi, Cindy," Ann said.

I handed the phone to Cindy. The two of them chatted for a few minutes while I put a load of wash on and puttered around the trailer, then I felt footsteps as Cindy came beside me, clad in her nightshirt.

"Dinner here, baby?" she questioned.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Your grilled cheese sandwiches and some canned chili works for me," she said. Then a walk around the park, if it's not raining. Then the sofa or the bed. Book. Music." She smiled demurely. "And you again."

The griddle was on the stove in a flash, as was a little pot for the chili, and the sun was low in the sky, half-hidden by treetops when we left the trailer for our walk.

We stopped and greeted some of the people who were out doing the same thing, enjoying the crisp air, knowing that the same clouds that gave us the colorful sunset would likely tomorrow bring nasty drizzle and rain.

The next morning Cindy joined me for breakfast and we sat with Bill, greeting many of our co-workers, knowing that the project was almost over and some of these people would be leaving for parts unknown. Such was the life of a construction worker. Promises to keep in touch, well, we made 'em, but things have a way of going by the wayside after a while.

One of our inspectors whipped a camera out and took pictures of me and Cindy and Bill. "For posterity," he said.

We showed up at the project. I left Cindy in the company of Sara.

"I know you have stuff I can help you with," Cindy told her. Made Sara happy.

I went about my business for an hour, patrolled the control room for a look at the 24-hour operation, strolled through my high voltage switchgear, listening and smelling for signs of problems. Jotted a couple of notes and passed them on to the new owners and then to Jason and Phil. We did a few quick code changes to make the indicator lights look consistent. I went to my new office and saw a stack of boxes, each holding a pile of drawings and manuals.

I synced my laptop to the desktop computer that would stay on after me, and I went to work. At ten, Cindy and Sara showed up.

"They're trying to get everybody together for the picture, Dan," Sara said.

"Okay," I answered. I put the computer into standby and followed her and Cindy. I enjoyed following Cindy. Jeans did her youthful form quite nicely, the pockets and stitching framing that delectable young ass as she walked.

After several minutes of radio calls Bill finally had everyone herded into the new maintenance shop and we arranged ourselves into a couple of rows. Everybody on the front row was kneeling, except for a five foot three inch redheaded fourteen year old in a blue sweatshirt with an Auburn logo on it.

The project paid a real live photographer to make the shoot, and for the money he received, he pleasantly took the time to shoot the scene with HIS professional camera as well as a half-dozen others handed him by the crew. A sign-in sheet listed email addresses so he could send out the digital versions to the bunch. Cost extra. Project covered that, too. The big, 'official' print would go on the wall in the atrium of the new office building. And there was Cindy, recorded for posterity.

Chapter 42

I always liked riding out of the plant with Cindy beside me. Sure, there was the excitement of having this little doll with me, that was one thing, but another was that is was almost surreal, she was fourteen, my WIFE, and she had impressed quite a few people who found her to be much more than a cute ball of fluff (which she was!) or a curious schoolkid (that too!).

In the truck, headed home, she was smiling.

"You're happy, my little one?"

"Yes I am, sweetie," she said. "I was just kinda goin' over the last six months." She rubbed her cheek on my shoulder. "Last summer, if somebody would've told me that I'd be the mascot of this project I would've thought they were crazy. Or that I'd be flyin' around visiting friends and goin' to concerts." Her hands gripped my bicep. "Or that I'd be MARRIED!"

"It has been a surprising ride, little one," I said. "I can't imagine it being better up to now..."

She rubbed her face into my shoulder. "Me neither," she said. "With Mom..." her face clouded. " Sometimes I wonder what's up with Mom. I mean, baby, it's been six months and I haven't even got a postcard..."

"I know, sweetness. I'm pretty much surprised myself. I'd've expected SOMETHING ... I'm sorry..."

"Not YOUR fault, babe," she sighed.

"Yours neither, little one," I replied.

"I'd just like to think things got better for her, Dan. You know, she thought I was an impediment."

We pulled in next to our trailer and went inside.

Cindy looked sad.

"Baby," I asked, "is there anything I can do?"

"Hold me."

"C'mere," I said as I sat on the sofa. I opened my arms and she slid backward onto my lap, cuddling against my chest as I wrapped her in my arms. "I love you, princess. You've got a whole lot of people that love you. Friends, family..."

"I know, guy," she said. "But you'd think that my mom would care a little bit..."

"Sometimes people are just oblivious about how other people are affected by their actions, baby. Sometimes one person thinks that the other person is as unfeeling as they themselves are."

"You know about this," she observed.

"We talked about Darcy, baby..." Darcy was the girl I thought I was headed toward marrying a couple years after my wife and daughter had been killed in the car crash. "She didn't see her connection with me as being that important, and derived that mine with her was as weak."

"You're saying that some people think that how strongly THEY feel is how strong others feel." She looked into my eyes.

"Yes, and little one, it is sad to say that there are some people on this planet that just don't feel strongly about others. Sometimes they're just selfish and they think everybody else is as selfish. They lie to get what they want and they figure that everybody else is lying, too."

"I think that there are some people who KNOW that others aren't the same, and they take advantage ... Mom did that to more than one of her men, an' I KNOW that some of them did that to her, too." She nestled into my chest. "'S why I watched YOU and talked to Mizz Helen about you. I didn't want one of THOSE."

"I worried, too, little girl."

"I know ... that whole 'jailbait' thing..." she turned her face to mine. The sad look started to show a little sunshine. "You decided different, though..."

"I had difficulty rationalizing 'jailbait' with somebody understanding the idea of imaginary numbers." I bent my head forward and kissed her head.

She twisted and moved her face toward mine. Green eyes. Lips so soft ... her hand went to the back of my head and lightly pulled me to her and we kissed.

"I'm sorry about that, baby ... sometimes I think too much about things."

"It's okay, sweetness," I said. "That's what I'm here for..."

"I just wish that one day she'd show back up an' look at me, at US, and at least think that in spite of everything, I turned out okay..."

"Just okay? Try 'spectacular' little one," I said. "I'm looking at a girl that last year was a 'C' student, just one of a thundering herd of middle school average students, a face in the crowd." I met her lips again. "And now ... You're so far above the crowd that there's no category. You're getting ready to graduate from high school at fourteen, starting college with a scholarship..."

"Married," she picked up the thought. "Hopelessly, totally in love, devoted to a guy who worships me as much as I do him. Happy. Healthy." She paused, looking thoughtful, for a second. "We're kinda counting blessings, huh?"

"Yes we are. And I have my biggest one sitting in my lap."

She sighed, face darkening for a brief moment. "I just wish I could show her ... Maybe she'd see that there IS a different way..."

"Maybe so, Cindy," I said, "But most people in those sorts of situations KNOW there are other paths, but they don't see themselves taking them. For lots of reasons. Back to that 'people are messy' thing..."

Her lips met mine again. "Just love me, okay?"

"Only forever, little one."

"You get that back at ya..."

"Gosh, I hope so," I said. "You've ruint me for other women..."

"That's good," she giggled. "You got ME!"

"Yeah," I laughed, happy to hear the edge of a giggle in her voice. "And in bit, I'm gonna have a hungry YOU. Let's go find something to eat."

"Are you too tired of grilled cheese sandwiches?" she asked.

"No. But we had 'em yesterday."

"I LOVE your grilled cheese sandwiches."

Prior to finding Cindy in my life, I ate quite simply when left to my own devices. Eating the same thing a couple of days in a row wasn't a shock to my sensibilities. I'd had more than one week of making a batch of beans and eating leftovers for several days. If a stupid sandwich two days in a row made her happy, I was happy.

"What kind of soup" I asked.

"Lemme look!" She got up and rifled through the cabinet and took a can out. I started the griddle to heating and she dumped the soup from the can into a pot and put it on the back burner. A short while later we were eating, talking happily.

"Mister Jim says my ACT scores are due any day now," she said.

"That leaves you with one more hurdle for graduation," I noted.

"Uh-huh. And that'll be the first week of May. Mister Jim says he's gonna get me all the stuff from high school so I can order my cap an' gown an' graduation invitations and stuff."

I laughed. "Fourteen..."

She giggled. "It IS kinda funny when I think about it," she said.

"We need to get the date nailed down."

"Uh-huh. You know what me an' Tina an' Susan wanna do, don't you"

"I can just imagine."

"We talked. If theirs and mine aren't on the same night, we wanna go to each other's."

"But, baby ... Tennessee..."

"Two hour flight," she said. "We go up there, stay in a hotel, go to theirs. They come here, stay in a hotel, come to mine!"

"Has Tina talked to Alan?"

"Hee-hee," she giggled. "Tina said when she told 'im, he just threw his hands up an' said, 'Naturally!'."

"The high school should already know the date, baby. Check with Jim. We can start planning this one, too."

"You think it's a good idea, don't you?" she had that way of looking all shy and sweet and innocent and I was one manipulated son-of-a-gun.

"Naturally! What else would you want to do? Miss your own sister's graduation?"

"Both my sisters," she giggled.

I remembered the picture that scrolled on the frame on my desk: the three of them from the weekend, some kind of cute, stair-stepped kaleidoscope, Cindy, the shortest, and her copper hair, middle height was Susan, plump and blonde, and Alan's Tina, the tallest, her hair chestnut, pushing red. What a set!

"It'll be interesting," I said.

She smiled as she stood up, taking my soup bowl. I got up and wiped the stove down as she washed the two bowls and spoons and dried them. That was our standard: clean up immediately. Tiny trailers clutter up fast if you do otherwise. After she finished the dishes, we took a thirty-minute interlude to watch TV and check email, and then it was shower time.

I assumed that we'd be back in the sofa end of the trailer after showers, but when I got out, that end of the trailer was dark, and there was the light on above the bed. That was something much more entertaining than TV.

"Don't even put your shirt on," she said. She emphasized her desire by kneeling on the bed and stripping her nightshirt off over her head. "Now, it's YOUR responsibility to keep me warm!" her grin was precious, melting my heart, and firming up another part of me quite handily.

I crawled over the end of the bed to meet her. "How absolutely beautiful you are, Cindy," I said. And I meant it. I looked at her and saw absolute perfection, perfection that extended its arms and wrapped around my neck, drawing me to her face for kisses. I loved kissing her giggly mouth, little kisses, flirtations with her tongue, punctuated with soft endearing words that told me that we were a single entity.

We both knew each other's special spots and favorite things and love-making tonight was slow and tender, interspersed with sighs and giggles. Cindy was a joy to all my senses and from the way she treated me, she felt the same way about me. After her third orgasm, I held her tenderly in my arms, stroking her red head like she was a favorite kitten. As she was.

Tuesday was a nominal day. No issues, no turmoil, little stress. I worked with my counterpart, the electrical engineer who would inherit the new plant from us. Actually, the client already had possession and responsibility. I was hanging on to give them a new set of documentation above and beyond the construction package, and part of that was being an educator for a young engineer who, while quite knowledgeable, lacked experience. He had a good attitude, though, and we worked together well.

I got off work and drove home. I called Cindy when I got on the highway. "Hey, cutie! I'm on the way!"

"Good, honey!" she chirped. "I'll be at the office with Mizz Helen an' Mister Charlie." Then a little squeal. "I got my ACT scores!"

"How'd you do?"

"Thirty-three on English, thirty-two on reading, eleven on writing, thirty on math and thirty-one on science! Composite is thirty-one point something!"

"Ouch!" I said. "You beat me so bad it's scary, baby!"

"It ain't about beating you, honey! I'm gonna GRADUATE!"

"Uh-huh! Okay, I'll be there in a minute!"

"We're goin' to the Hardesty's, remember?"

"I remember," I answered.

I walked into the park office and greeted my friends.

Charlie was sitting in his chair, smiling. "Dan, I'm impressed by our Cindy."

"Yessir,"I replied, "Pretty much EVERYBODY is impressed by our Cindy!"

She slid up beside me. "Hi, baby!"

Helen agreed. "She sure is a different person than she was last year in school."

"Happier," Cindy said. "I can come home every day an' not worry about who or what I find when I get there. I got somebody who CARES if I do good. And I know that it makes a difference."

"We were talking about this last night," I told Helen and Charlie.

"Ya'll are goin' to the Hardesty's tonight, Cindy says," Helen said.

"Yeah. Wanna think about another concert?"

"If you folks are up to it," Charlie said, surprising me.

"We'll see if they want to," Cindy said. She grabbed my hand. "Let's go, guy!"

"Bye, folks!" I said, letting Cindy lead me out the door.

We stopped at the trailer to offload her bookbag and for me to change shoes. I offered to bring her bag inside while she sat in the truck, but she wouldn't have that. She followed me inside. As soon as I set the bag down, she was in my arms. Or I was in hers. Anyway, you get the picture.

"Excited?"

She giggled. "Uh-huh! I mean, I KNEW I was gonna do okay on that test, but seeing it on paper, that's ... SOMETHING!"

"Yes it is, cutie! Have you talked to Tina? Maybe she got hers, too!"

"I wanna be careful with that, Dan," she said. "I don't wanna sound like I'm gloating."

"I understand, baby," I answered. "But she and Susan are both pretty smart, too, and they have the advantage of more years in school. There's a pretty good chance you three are all in the same range."

She grinned. "It COULD happen," she admitted. "My sisters ARE smart. We talked about it. We all finished ahead of time an' went back checking our work."

"Scary," I admitted.

"How?" she asked.

"I was doing good to get a twenty-five, and you and your sisters are in the thirty range."

"Your fault," she smiled. "Without you nudging me along, I'd be makin' 'C's' in eighth grade math..." she hugged me. "You gave me a new world, my guy..." And a kiss and we were back out the door, headed for the Hardesty house.

I drove. Cindy had her cell phone out, ordering pizza as we went. We finished the trip to the strains of Vivaldi.

Cindy smiled. "I love his 'Autumn'!"

"Me too. It's hard to not get a lift on the opening, isn't it!"

She smiled, leaned against me and closed her eyes, absorbing the music, until we pulled into Jim's driveway. I opened my door and she slid out of my side of the truck, into my arms and we walked to the front door holding hands.

Jim had the door open as we stepped onto the porch. "There she is!" he grinned at me. "And her husband!"

"Be nice to my husband, Mister Jim!" Cindy chirped.

"Oh, I'm plenty nice to 'im. But YOU..."

"What'd she do now? Cold fusion in the science lab?" I laughed.

"No, but that little redheaded girl of yours is the possessor of the highest ACT score in the county this year."

"No joke?"

"Nope. Folks at the school board office said so."

Ann walked into the den to see us. "Congratulations, Cindy! You've set a high bar, and then jumped over it!"

"I'm amazed, Mizz Ann. Glad, too, but amazed." Cindy was trying to determine how to express her glee without seeming cocky.

"You're very blessed, Cindy, ' Ann said. "You have natural ability."

Cindy turned to me, smiling. "I had it last year, too, but last year I didn't have Dan." Her fingers touched my face. "He made the difference."

Jim smiled, shaking his head. "That's just how WRONG I can be," he said. "When I found out you two were married, I thought so many things, you know..."

"I understand, Mister Jim. They're all true. It's just that Dan is soooo bad at exploitation..." She giggled.

The conversation was interrupted by Cindy's cell phone ringing. "Sorry..." she said. She pulled it out. "It's my sister!" she flipped it to her ear. "Hi, Sis!" Pause. "Uh-huh! Got mine too! We're at our friends right now. He's my guidance counselor. What'd YOU get?" Pause. "Seriously Thirty-two?!?! Squeal! You beat me. I got thirty-one." Pause. "I know. That's what Dan said. What about Susan?" Pause. "Hee-hee! Great! We're tied!" Pause. "Okay! If I don't call before nine, I'll talk to ya'll tomorrow." Pause. "Love you too!"

She closed her phone and looked at us smiling. "Didja hear THAT?"

Jim asked, "Those were THEIR scores?"

"Yessir," Cindy giggled. "Tina got a thirty-two and Susan got a thirty-one."

"Have you seen the picture of this crew, Jim?"

He shook his head.

"Show him and Ann the ones on your cell phone, baby."

Cindy played with her cell phone and then showed the display to Jim and Ann.

Ann said, "That's a cute crew!"

Jim shook his head. "Trouble! I know what it's like marryin' a smart woman..."

Ann punched him in the arm playfully. "We're quite complementary, you know..."

"No doubt," I said. "You bring enough class to the marriage for both of you..."

She looked at Cindy's phone again. "The blonde one in the middle..."

"That's Susan," Cindy said. "Tina's best friend up there. She's a good one, too."

"Alan an' Tina are friends with Susan's parents, too. He assures me that they are quite normal, and they think this idea about the crew showing up together at Auburn is the best possible outcome they could hope for. They were worried about sending their only child off to college by herself..."

Ann smiled, "So she goes to college with TWO friends of equal intellect who happen to come with their own support networks in the form of a couple of husbands."

"That's the plan," Cindy chirped. "We're all pursuing engineering, all going to try for the same schedules, but if we don't, I have two drivers working with me to get me to class, and if husbands are out of town, we have each other to lean on."

"I wish I'd had as much support. I had a loving set of parents, but on campus I was on my own until I got some friendships going," Ann said. "Guys're different..."

"Yeah," Jim laughed. "We just wander aroun' campus draggin' our knuckles an' gruntin'..."

"You didn't tell me that's how ya'll did it," Cindy laughed.

"It was almost like that for some guys. Us engineering majors traveled in packs."

We talked about college experiences until the pizza arrived, then we all sat around the table. Teresa quizzed Cindy about the tests and what all of it meant to her.

Teresa looked at her parents. "I'm just a little bit jealous, you know..." she turned to Cindy. "Not YOUR fault. I'm very glad for you. It's great!"

Jim looked at his thirteen year old daughter. "Teresa," he said, "Your chance will come soon enough."

"Teresa," Cindy said, "They have some books in the library with sample tests if you want to give it a try..."

"But don't be discouraged if you don't understand a lot of the questions, baby," Ann said softly.

After dinner, the paper plates disappeared into pizza boxes that disappeared into the garbage can, Cindy and Teresa helped Ann straighten up the kitchen and by the time they got to the living room, Jim and I were picking tunes out together, he on his banjo and me on a guitar.

"Not doin' the bass?" Cindy noted.

"Thought it'd be fun to see how bad I am at this," I said. "Rusty. Really rusty."

Ann tuned her violin and jumped in with us. Teresa, of course, sat beside Cindy so they could sing together, and to my surprise, Bill picked up the bass.

"Remember, son," Jim instructed, "You don't start off perfect, you start off tryin'."

"Got it, Dad," Bill said. "I'll try."

"Good, son," Jim said. "Okay, let's try one!" And we did. No, Bill wasn't perfect, but then neither were we. Well, Ann was. And Jim was almost. And Cindy and Teresa.

After our session, Ann asked, "Are we up for another show at the park?"

I looked at Jim. "If you guys are..."

"Yeah, why not ... Tell your friends..."

"Don't know how many of 'em will come. Project's basically over. I'm stayin' busy at the request of the new owners, for at least a few weeks."

"Hangin' around for Cindy's graduation, of course, ' Jim said.

"Oh, yeah, we ARE," Cindy said, getting excited. "Can I tell you what we have planned?" She amused Ann and Jim with her excited explanation of sharing high school graduation with her extended family.

"I think my sister and her husband may drive in for it, too," I said. I hadn't told Cindy this tidbit.

Squeal! "Tootie? Really?" Cindy squealed.

"She sent me an email. Wants to know when..."

"My fault, Dan," Jim said. "I'll email you the schedule tomorrow. Between Ann and me, we'll get Cindy back and forth to the high school if she needs to go there to order cap and gown and stuff."

"I may be able to do some of that," I said. "Or Mizz Helen..."

"I WANT to, Dan," Jim laughed. "The principal of the high school's an old buddy of mine. I wanna rub 'is nose in it a little bit, MY middle school student is graduating and has better ACT scores than his whole graduating class." He grinned. "Can you imagine what goes through people's minds when they see Cindy walking down the halls, knowing she's graduating and she's only fourteen?"

"Surreal, I'd imagine, ' I said. I noticed Cindy had a self-satisfied look on her face. She leaned against me.

"What if I walked in with my HUSBAND?" she said.

"That's a whole different thing, Cindy," Ann said.

"Yeah ... I know," Cindy replied. "But that's the part I'm happiest about, you know..."

"Thank you, little one," I said, twisting to kiss the top of her head. To our friends I said, "I guess we need to go home now. Got a day job an' all that..."

In a few minutes we were on the road, Cindy leaned in against me. I could feel the vibrations as she hummed along with the stereo.

"Happy, kitten?" I asked.

"Mmmm-hmmm ... so happy." She twined her fingers in mine, drew my hand to her lips, and kissed it.

We took our showers and then worked together taking care of our laundry while we watched a documentary on TV for a bit before going to bed. Bed didn't mean 'sleep' for forty-five minutes. Sleep came to me with the soft, warm form of Cindy against me in the chill of winter. Her arm was flopped over my chest as she lay with my arm around her.

We made it through Saturday night with no problem, just fine, thank you!

We slid through Sunday and into another week. Work was well past the adventure stages of startup. I spent most of my day in my temporary office. I got called once to visit the control room with the new plant engineer to talk about some possible changes to some data and control displays. After the conversation, I offered to work with him to make some changes. One of the miracles of modern technology was the huge amount of data we collected, and a lot of it was just being used invisibly in the huge control programs for the new facility.

Putting it on a display was just a matter of going into edit mode and building a neat little box somewhere on one of the many screens the operators and engineers could pull up.

That was as exciting as it got. I'd worked myself into boredom. At work. Home was another story. February was drawing to a close. Cindy and I did our daily walks and bike rides if the weather permitted. When I got home Monday, she was waiting for me at the office. We had a short chat with Helen and Charlie and one of the elderly snowbird couples who were working their own path around the park. We dropped off Cindy's backpack in the trailer and started our own circuits, stopping to chat with various of the park's occupants who recognized us (Cindy, really. I was just another guy. Cindy was memorable) from the Saturday concert.

After thirty minutes of walking, we loaded into the truck to go to dinner. Monday was our night to go visit the Sommers sisters for the salad and whatever surprises they might have on the menu. As soon as we were in the truck, Cindy's phone rang and she chatted with Tina for five minutes, giggling. She'd no sooner said good-bye to Tina than Susan called. Another five minutes of conversation. And then it was my turn.

She wanted details of my day. I explained about the drudge work of engineering. "Pays the bills," I said.

She smiled wanly. "You'd be off on another adventure if it wasn't for me, huh?"

"I'd be single, and where would my Cindy be?"

"I dunno ... probably not nearly where I am today. But you..."

"I, sweetie, am working. Might not be in the spotlight. Might not be glamorous. But it pays well. And I can certainly take it." I gave her a squeeze.

"Are you sure it's okay, baby?" she asked. "I remember one of the things I liked about you when we first met was that you seemed to enjoy your work."

"I still enjoy my work, baby. And I would put up with horrible things to make things good for you. 'S what a man does for his wife..."

She perked up a little, seeing an opening for a little verbal jousting. "That's rather sexist, don't you think? I'm s'posed ta stay home all barefoot an' pregnant?"

"Where on earth did you hear that?" I blurted.

"Mizz Ann," she giggled. "She goes on about her an' Mister Jim. Laughing the whole time, you know..."

"They're good together," I said.

"I know," Cindy replied. "You can see the way they look at each other. But you..."

"I adore YOU," I said.

"'S not what I mean. Work."

"Little one," I said, "Every day can't be rainbows and giggles. What I'm doing is just fine. And you know, I'm writing these procedures and the client gets the finished documents, but I keep the drafts, and next time one comes along, I have a lot of the grunt work done."

"You showed me some of that before," she said. "You sure this is okay?"

"Of course it is, sweetness," I said. "And in two months we're going to get you graduated and then you and I are going to fly out west into the Rockies for a little vacation, then we're coming back here and putting you in college. If that's what you wanna do."

"I guess I have to," she giggled. "High school grad or not, I'm too young to work at Wal-Mart."

Chapter 43

Wednesday was a good day, too. I walked out of my office and dropped a fresh CD on Sara's desk. "Gonna need that one printed out and in a binder, lady. Got the title page an' everything. Two copies."

She laughed. "And nobody had to go beg you for it?"

"I'm past the begging stage. How's Johnny an' the new job?"

She smiled. "He's lovin' it. You don't know how happy I am that he's outta the construction game."

"I can imagine," I smiled. "What do the kids think?"

She smiled. "Same school two years in a row? New record. They'll be fine."

I left work at the appointed time. Cindy and I went out for salads and soup and were home before it was fully dark.

"There's home," she said, sitting beside me.

We got out and went inside. We were piddling around the house when I noticed the flash of headlights in the curtained windows. I didn't place much thought on that. People were coming and going at odd hours anyway, especially with the dozen or so winter guests. I didn't even get concerned when I thought I heard the sound of tires on gravel nearby.

I perked up, though, when there was a knock on the door. We weren't expecting anybody, and on the few occasions when somebody dropped by for a visit, there was usually a phone call first. Even the neighbors in the park were good about asking loudly outside before knocking. And this knock didn't sound friendly. Couldn't put my finger on it. Call it a premonition.

The door was locked. Always was when we were at home. I approached it. "Who is it?"

The voice outside was male and slurred, like maybe a beer too many, or maybe some recreational pharmaceuticals. "Don' you worry 'bout who it is. I wanna see dat l'il redhead."

Cindy perked up. I made a pistol-shaped sign with my right hand. A cabinet thumped and my .45 automatic hit my open palm. "9-1-1, babe. Now!" I whispered. She retreated to the bed end of the trailer and picked up her cell phone.

"Sir, I'm not opening the door. I'm not talking to you in the dark. You need to leave."

The next sound, even through the wall of the trailer, was chilling: the unmistakable sound of a pump shotgun racking a shell into the chamber.

"Down!" I hissed at Cindy as I hit the floor. I heard a report and a small circle of the trailer wall disappeared in a cloud of splinters and fibers.

"I want dat l'il BITCH whut killt mah brother!" came a scream from outside.

I didn't hear the next shell being pumped, but the doorlock disappeared in a shatter of metal and wood. I was on my belly. I knew from experience that untrained shooters aim at waist height into a room. I wasn't going to be at waist height.

The doors on travel trailers open to the outside. Mine was now minus a lock, and the impact of the shotgum blast gave it enough kick for it to swing open. I thumbed the hammer back on my Colt 1911 and steeled myself. The inside of our trailer was lit, not too brightly, but brighter than outside, and when the guy jumped in the door, there was a brief second that he paused to regain his sight. I was pulling my gunsight onto his chest.

This caused me to come up on my knees and as I did, I saw the barrel of his shotgun coming down to line up with me. Time went into slow motion. I was lining up with his chest and my finger was squeezing the trigger as the barrel of the shotgun came down. I squeezed, felt the .45 buck, simultaneously with the searing blast of that shotgun. I felt tearing on my shoulderblade and my butt and my calf. I ignored those feelings and pulled the trigger once more.

The invader fell, and as he did, I pulled a third shot off. He hit the floor, not moving.

"Elray!" I heard screamed from outside.

'Omigod, ' I thought. 'There's another one!'

Another shotgun blast, this one from an angle. It raked through the wall and down the little aisle of the trailer. I heard Cindy cry out. Not fright. Pain! I tried to get up. Floor was slick. Blood. Mine. I couldn't see the shooter, but he was outside. Another blast. This one was closer to the door. I dropped the pistol and reached inside the cabinet next to where I was laying. I felt a familiar plastic shape, wrapped my fingers around it, and tugged. My AR-15 came out. Shaking, I cycled the charging handle and pulled it into firing position as a third shotgun blast shredded another bit of the trailer wall.

I could hear Cindy whimpering. I tired hard to keep the red veil off my eyes as I slid the rifle into my shoulder, not making a sound, waiting. I saw the barrel of the shotgun first. 'He's coming!'

I acquired my front sight and waited. He had the barrel at an upward angle.

'You ain't huntin' geese, dumbass, ' I said to myself. 'I shoot back.' And as soon as his head and torso appeared, I pulled the trigger.

I need to send flowers to Eugene Stoner's grave because that silly black rifle didn't move off the target with the recoil. I pulled twice more, three shots in less than two seconds, and in the exaggerated focus of the expanded time, I saw the impact, the dust flying from a dirty coat, three center of chest hits.

The shock of being shot caused him to pull the trigger on his own gun, but the shot was into the air, harmless, as he fell back, more from the surprise and his own gun's recoil than from the three high velocity projectiles that I'd just put in (and likely THROUGH) him. He landed on his back. I saw an arm and a leg move, and I squeezed off two more rounds into him. He didn't move again.

I laid the little black rifle down and tried to stand. The floor was slick and my foot slid and when I tried to catch my balance, pain racked my body, but there was my Cindy crumpled in the end of the hall, her orange sweatshirt, crimson down her left side. I went to her. I could feel blood running down my leg.

"Is it over, Dan?" she turned her pained face to me.

"It's over. Where do you hurt?"

"My shoulder. My side." Her eyes scanned me. "You're bleeding bad." She pulled her right hand back from around me. It was covered in my blood.

"No, baby..." I gently pulled her into my arms.

I was holding her in my arms as screams and yells came from outside. No sirens. Yet. The first human I saw was grey, balding, and carrying a revolver in a very workmanlike fashion as he scanned the scene.

"Mister Dan, are you alright?"

"No. Cindy's been shot. Me too."

"Ericka!" He hollered. "Come quick!"

I saw a greying brunette head appear in the door.

"Careful, sweetheart! There's blood all over!"

She, Ericka, came to us. "I'm a nurse," she said.

I held Cindy to her. "Look at my Cindy first!"

Erick knelt beside us and gently started assessing. I could hear sirens now. Getting louder. Blue flashing lights.

The old man said, "I'm going out there an' try to direct things..." He left.

"Cindy, you'll be okay, baby," Ericka said. "You got shot, but it's not life-threatening."

I heard more voices. Shouting. Saw the outside light up from spotlights. Saw red lights flashing. Ambulance.

I heard my friend outside (I didn't know his name, but I was gonna make sure I found out) talking loudly to somebody. "Two wounded inside. That's Dan an' Cindy. They live here. An' there's a dead one in there. My wife Ericka, she's a nurse, she's in there with 'em! Ambulance? Gonna need TWO!"

"One out here, too," that voice sounded vaguely familiar. "I know this trailer." I saw a head peer inside. "Miss Cindy, are you okay? It's me, Deputy Stevens. From last time."

"I'm ... not as good as last time. They shot Dan," she said tearfully.

Another voice, apparently the ambulance guy. "Is it safe?"

I saw Deputy Stevens poke the foot of the guy bleeding on my floor. "This one's not gonna do anything," he said. "Be careful, Stu. Blood all over the place.

"Stu" and another paramedic stepped into the trailer. Ericka stood up. "She's got left shoulder, superficial, and left chest, superficial, outside the ribcage. I haven't seen him yet. He won't let her go."

Stevens was behind the paramedics. He gingerly picked up my pistol.

"Clear it," I said. "I only shot three out of it."

The pistol was covered in blood. Mine. He dropped the magazine and pulled the slide back expertly, catching the live round from the chamber. As he did, he looked at me. "What about that AR?"

"Five gone out of it. One in the chamber. Rest of the magazine." I winced as I was being probed. A couple of volunteers snaked a stretcher down the aisle and I was loaded onto it, on my right side, and strapped in, then a second stretcher.

"I can walk," I heard Cindy say.

"You sure, baby?" Ericka asked.

"Just hold me."

"No," Stu said. "Put 'er on the other stretcher. Another unit'll be here in a minute. I don't want 'er slippin' an' fallin'."

I could feel the pain coming in now as the adrenaline rush died. They loaded me into the back of the nearest ambulance and buttoned the door. I felt the surge as we started rolling. The second paramedic started towards me with shears in his hand. "Let's see what you got, there, buddy!"

"Don't cut my stinkin' belt," I said.

"Oh, you got an attitude," he said.

I felt tugging and snipping and then he said, "You got a chunk blown out your ass cheek. That's where most of the blood came from." More snipping. "Just a furrow on your shoulder. Lucky." More snipping. "Entry and exit wound on your calf. Bleeding's almost stopped. Lucky again."

"Where's my Cindy?"

He looked out the back windows. "'Bout a half-mile behind us in the other unit."

I winced again. "She gonna be okay?"

"I'm not a doctor, ya unnerstand, but looks like YOU took the worst of this one."

The pain was really starting to get good. He checked pulse and blood pressure and a few other things and then made a radio call. He came back with a syringe.

"This won't knock you out, but it'll ease things up a bit."

It knocked me out. At least pretty much. I closed my eyes and opened them in the bright lights of the regional trauma center. I was lying on my stomach. I could feel tugging at various parts of my body, shoulder, calf, ass, and I gathered that local anesthesia was working its magic. A nurse noted my eye movements.

"He's back, doctor."

The doctor was masked but I thought I saw a smile. "Mister Richards, you're doing just fine."

I had only one thought. "Cindy..."

"Little redhead? She's fine too. Better'n you."

"Where is she?"

"On the other side of that curtain."

"CINNNNDY!" I croaked as loud as I could.

"You settle down, now, Mister Richards!"

I settled down. After I heard a sweet voice say, "I'm okay, baby!"

Some undetermined amount of time later I was unceremoniously wheeled over to the curtain and one of the nurses slid it back. Cindy was sitting on the edge of the table, one of those horrible hospital gowns on her, except for her left shoulder, which was a mass of bandages. A bulge under the gown on the left side of her chest told a further story. Her hair was a tousled red mess.

Our eyes connected. "Oh, gosh, Dan, I was worried."

"I was worried, sweetie," I said. I reached my hand toward her and it wouldn't reach. The nurse pushed my gurney a little closer. I clutched her fingers.

"We're still together, huh, babe?" she said.

"Yes, we are. Little ragged, though." I looked, and there was Helen and Charlie. And Deputy Stevens.

"Dan," Helen said, "We're gonna take Cindy home with us tonight. She's done here. They wanna keep you, at least overnight. We'll bring her in the morning if she's up to it."

I nodded. "Sweetness, go with 'em. I'll see you in the morning, okay?"

A tear coursed down her cheek. She stood and came to me, trying to figure out how to hold me with the bandage on my back. She bent and gave me a little kiss. "I love you, Dan."

"I love you, Cindy..."

Helen left with Cindy. I noticed Judge Charlie standing there with Deputy Stevens.

The deputy asked the doctor, "Can we talk with him now?"

"Why don't you get him in his room?" the doctor said.

We had a little parade through the hospital and I was somewhat gently moved to a bed. The floor nurse did her thing and left.

"Dan," Charlie said, "Deputy Stevens wants to ask you some questions. I advise that you should always have an attorney present for this. I'm more than happy to do this for you, but if you want somebody else, I can call any of several good people."

"Judge Charlie, you ARE good people. Just make sure they use a clean rope to hang me, okay?"

Charlie laughed. "Either those are GOOD drugs, or he's back to normal," he told Stevens. To me he said, "Son, if my boy even hinted at charges in this incident, I'd be writing 'im out of my will!" Back to the deputy, "Go ahead. An' remember, you an' the sheriff BOTH came to the huntin' camp last fall."

"Yessir, Judge," Stevens said. "You know what we gotta ask."

He asked questions and I answered.

"I'm convinced that the first guy was in your trailer, because he was still layin' there when I got there. he's the one that shot you?"

"Uh-huh. We were goin' at the same time. I beat 'im. Mine went into his middle before he could get his barrel down on me. He got close, though."

"I guess. There's a hole in the floor right behind where you were at. The shot went right over your shoulder. Carved your butt an' a stray pellet went through your calf."

"Man," I said. "Survived an ambush in the Gulf War without a scratch, only to get shot in the ass by a drunk redneck. Funny."

"Another inch and it wouldn't've been," Stevens said. "You got three hits on 'im best I can tell without watchin' the autopsy. He must've been goin' down on when you fired the last one. Went in right by 'is nose. Came out the back of 'is head. You used good ammo. Big mess all over that end of the house." He sighed. "But this other guy..."

"That's the one who shot Cindy. What, three, four rounds through the side of the trailer? First one hit 'er."

"You had time to change guns?"

"My AR was in the closet where I was layin'. He was outside. In the dark. I wasn't sure I could do any good with the pistol. He coulda killed us both."

"Not any more," Stevens said. "Three rounds in the chest. I could've covered the group with my hand. Why'd you keep shootin'?"

"You don't have to answer, son," Charlie admonished.

"Thanks, Judge," I said. I told Stevens, "He was still moving. You saw my WIFE? Bleeding? If you hadn't shown up, I was going out and BAYONET the motherfucker ... I'd like to put his head on a stake."

Stevens had to turn his head. The smirk was only slightly gone when he turned back to me. "You shot him five times..."

"Three in the chest. I saw those hit. When I hit him the first time, he squeezed one off from that shotgun..."

"It had an empty in the chamber," Stevens said.

"He went down with the first three, but he acted like he was trying to get up. He had a shotgun, and I had a hurt wife, and if he could've sat up, he could've finished us off, so..."

"Two more."

"And he stopped moving." I sighed and rubbed my eyes with my good hand.

"Two more hits," Stevens said. "His legs were spread. You must've been stressin', because one of those hits was in the crotch. While he was on 'is back on the ground. No exit wound. The other ... That head on a stake? There's a convenient hole under his chin and it comes out the top of his head. By the way, those three in the chest? You got three .223 holes in the side of your pickup's bed. An' you need to get it washed."

The nurse was back in the room with a syringe, messing with the IV bag. "Are you about finished?" she asked Stevens.

"Just a few more ... Uh, Mister Richards, any questions?"

"Yeah. Who WERE those guys?"

"That guy Larry Strucker? His brother is the one laying in your trailer. Cousin's in the front yard. We had no idea he was even in the state."

"Just came from choir practice, I'd guess," I said.

"Rap sheets got ever'thing from breaking and entering to drugs. This'll close 'em out, though."

"Another question: Old guy, first one in the door, his wife's Ericka, a nurse. I can't remember his name."

"Gary something-Polish. Retired cop from Cleveland. Showed me his badge. And .357."

"That's him. Wojahowicz or something like that. Was at the concert Saturday night. Charlie," I said, could you have somebody call the plant tomorrow and tell'em I'm not comin' in?"

"If they haven't heard it on the news. But, yes, I will have that done."

"Tell Cindy. She'll have all the numbers."

Charlie patted my good shoulder gently. "Rest, son. I'm proud of you!"

I saw Deputy Stevens' eyes. He smiled. "Cindy's gonna be okay, buddy. But I'm givin' that trailer park to somebody else."

The nurse looked at me. "Mister Richards, if you want, this'll make you have a real good rest."

"Gimme your best shot," I said, trying to smile.

"Comedians! I always get the comedians."

And the world went away.

The next morning the breakfast tray came in with Cindy and Helen and Charlie. Cindy delicately hugged me and gave me a little kiss.

"Mornin', sweetie! Now you really DID save my life!"

"Wasn't fast enough, baby. How's your stuff?"

"Sore. I got this sling. An' my ribs hurt. First time I ever got shot."

"Me too. I don't recommend it."

Got a little more of a smile from her.

Helen said, "Dan, after careful thought, I have come to the conclusion that YOU need to move out of my RV park. Two shootings in four months..." she smiled. "Really, when we check you out, we want you to come stay at Charlie's place. Got a great guest room. You an' Cindy are welcome to it while you get better."

"How's our trailer?" I asked.

"I need to know who you have it insured with. I'll call 'em for an adjuster, but I'm thinkin' it's totaled. You really messed it up, bleedin' an all that. An' the end where you blew that guy ... I wouldn't wanna live there. I don't know if you can EVER get all that ... uh ... stuff out of there."

Charlie said, "I know some people I can get to get all your personal stuff that's not damaged, especially the sensitive things like computers and records and stuff. We'll collect that, and have the thing sealed."

"Okay," I said.

"You're on the morning news, baby," Cindy said. "Prob'ly be in the paper."

"I figured as much."

Helen said, "Look, this is what I think: When you get better, why don't you an' Cindy stay in my old house until you go to the new place. I don't live there any more, and I don't want to sell it just yet, so just stay there. We'll get ya'll's stuff moved there."

"You sure?"

Helen smiled. "My daughter an' her husband just had their house blown apart. Of course I'm sure..."

"Your other kids..." I said.

"I'll explain. They ain't come back here since last summer. It won't bother 'em."

"That's a good deal," Cindy chirped. "By the way, I called EVERYBODY!"

"Who's 'everybody'?"

Our family, you know, Tootie, Jerry, Tina 'n' Alan 'n' Susan, and Jerry at the plant, and Mister Bill and Mizz Sara..."

"What'd they say?" I asked.

"You might get a visitor or two ... How long are you going to be here?" Cindy asked.

"I hope I go home today," I said. "The doctor wants to make sure that the leg doesn't swell."

Helen said, "We got the room ready for you when you get out. An' I'll have my old house cleaned up for ya'll."

"Thanks, Helen" I said.

The nurse came in, checked vital signs, including feeling the foot of the damaged leg. "If there's swelling in your calf, this pulse'll go away. We don't want that to happen," she explained.

While she was in the room, a guy in a suit stuck his head in the door. "Mister Richards, I'm the hospital system's media coordinator. Can I talk with you?"

"Sure" I said. "What's up?"

"Sir," he said, "You're a bit of an item right now. I just got calls from one of the local TV stations and they'd like to do an interview. Our policy is that YOU have to okay it."

"Good policy," I said. "When's this supposed to happen?"

"Ten o'clock if you're up to it." He looked at the nurse. "Can he be moved to the conference room?"

"As long as he keeps that leg elevated," she said.

"We'd prefer that you do the interview in the conference room. It's a bit better accommodation for everybody concerned."

I looked at Charlie. He smiled. "Dan, you know how to conduct yourself, son. Just remember, that TV news crew isn't about getting the truth, it's about getting ratings. YOU can say a dozen things. THEY will show what meets their agenda."

"Oh, I know, but thanks for the advice, Charlie. What're they gonna do? Shoot me? I'd rather say something than get that "He declined to comment" statement."

"Then I will tell them you will be available at ten o'clock," the suit said.

"That'll work."

I saw Bill Carmody's head peeking in the door.

"Hey, Mister Bill," Cindy squealed.

"Hi, baby girl," the big guy said. "I'd hug you but..."

She took care of that, hugging him like he was her grandfather. He could've been. He was carrying a potted plant and a card. He sat the plant on the table beside the bed and handed me the card. "Sara picked out the card and the plant. You can keep the card. She says she wants the plant when you're finished with it. Says it's symbolic."

Cindy giggled. "I tol' 'er to get a nice plant for her office."

"I dunno," I laughed. "I feel a strong attachment to this fern. Tell Sara to get herself a cactus. More appropriate."

"Ummmm! I'm gonna tell 'er you said that," Bill laughed. "How're you doin'?"

"Butt hurts," I said. "Leg too. But I'll be okay."

"Cindy says your trailer's messed up."

"Somebody shot it full of holes, Bill. And Cindy. And me. But the trailer's not gonna heal itself. And what we did to the inside, I don't think they're gonna get cleaned up."

"Two guys," Bill said.

"One in the trailer. One outside. Outside guy's the one who hit Cindy."

"Look," Bill said, "I have that apartment in town. Got a spare room. And you can keep the lease if you need ... I'm leaving at the beginning of next week."

"Oh, gosh, thanks, Bill! But Judge Charlie's putting us up at his place for a while until I recover, then Helen's gonna put us in her old house since she's married to Charlie an' she doesn't use it any more."

"Good," Bill said. "Just want to make sure Cindy's taken care of. You, you're a guy. You could do a cardboard box under the overpass."

"Thanks, Bill. That's one of the things I enjoy with you, your unlimited compassion..." I opened the card. It was signed by everybody at the plant, and at the bottom, in Sara's neat and professional hand, was a note: "We're really more concerned about Cindy!"

I showed the card around, generating chuckles.

The bedside phone rang. Cindy answered. "Dan Richards' room. This is Cindy!" Pause. "Oh, hi, Tootie!" Pause. "Yeah, he's awake. Leaning on one cheek!" Giggle. "Here he is!" she passed me the phone.

"Hi, Sis," I said. "Is this a sympathy call, or are you gonna add to my suffering?"

It was always (well, not ALWAYS) good to hear my sister's voice. "Why can't it be BOTH, dumbass!" She giggled. "Cindy told me where you got shot. You just became my half-assed brother."

"Niiiice," I said.

"Seriously," she said. "You're okay?"

"I'm okay. Really. Was a BAAAD night, Sis. I heard Cindy scream..."

"Omigod," Tootie said, "Cindy told me her side of it. Said you kept shooting..."

"They messed with my Cindy," I said. "But we're okay. Really!"

"Ya'll need to come home as soon as you can sit that long," she said.

"We will, Sis. I love you!"

"I love you too, big brother. Lemme talk to Cindy!"

I handed the phone back to Cindy. "Hi, Sis!" she said. Pause. "Yeah, we'll do that. And I'll take good care of 'im." Pause. "Love you too. Bye!" She hung the phone up.

Bill looked at me, then Cindy. He shook his head. "Dan, son, you two continue to amaze me. Cindy, I gotta go. Call me if you need anything!"

"Tell Mizz Sara I'll water her plant," Cindy giggled.

The nurse threaded her way back into the room, syringe in hand. "Mister Richards, you're up for another shot of Demerol if you need it."

"Can I wait until after that news crew thing? Don't want 'em to think I'm drunk."

"Your call," she said.

Helen touched Charlie. "Why don't we go get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria an' let Cindy stay with Dan a while, Hon?"

"Good idea, darlin'," Charlie said. "We'll check on you in a bit."

They left. The nurse finished readjusting my IV. "That's Judge Charlie Peebles? How's he related to you?"

"My wife's foster mom's husband," I said.

"He's eighty-something, ain't he?"

"Yep! Gets around pretty good, too, don't he?"

"Yes, he sure does." She looked at me. "If you need anything, just push the button." She left.

I looked at Cindy. "Got all I'll ever need right here..."

Chapter 44

"Is it gonna hurt you if I hug you again? Last night was the first night we've been apart since November. I missed you."

"I missed you too, little love. Only way I could go to sleep was drugs."

She smiled. A little kiss. Then 'serious Cindy'. "They tried to kill us. ME! You stopped 'em."

"Ain't no way somebody's ever gonna hurt you while I'm in a position to stop 'im," I said.

A soft kiss. "You proved it, baby. Like I didn't already BELIEVE you..." Her brow knit into the 'Cindy's thinking about something' look. "Baby, they came into our HOME. OUR HOME." Her lips formed a straight line, an uncharacteristic expression for her normally soft and happy face. "Dan, can we fix it back up?"

"I dunno, baby, it's messed up pretty bad. You and me, we bled all over. And that guy ... That whole end of the trailer..."

"It's OUR home, Dan. Would you WANT to?"

I could see where Cindy was. In her short life, the places she'd lived had never been scenes of comfort and happiness, up until she moved in OUR trailer. Home. It WAS, to Cindy.

"Sweetie," I said, "Insurance might say it's totaled."

Why did I think, for even a brief moment, that this little thing hadn't already gone up the road to answering her own questions.

"I talked to Mizz Helen. And Mister Charlie. He says he knows that there are people who specialize in cleaning up crime scenes and THEY can clean up ours. He says when they finish, you'd never know anything happened there."

I raised an eyebrow. "An' Mizz Helen says she'll get Randy to look at the siding and stuff. You remember him, right? He fixed us up after the first time."

"Yeah. Helen said he was the guy..."

"MIzz Helen says he'll be able to fix this..."

"You sure this is what you want, little one?"

"It's OUR home. We won't stay there much longer, but when we move out, it'll be because WE want to, not because some assholes shot it out from under us..."

"Asshole? My precious little angel says 'asshole'?"

"Your 'precious little angel' saw her husband bleeding on the floor, guy. I had the little pistol, but you were between me an' him..."

"You..."

"Uh, somebody told me that I needed to be responsible for myself and my own," she said. "I thought that if YOU saw something coming, then I needed to be ready too..."

I was mulling over that set of thoughts when there was a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," Cindy said.

It was an orderly, the floor nurse, and that hospital media guy.

"Are you SURE you're up to this, Mister Richards?" the nurse asked. The suit guy looked over her shoulder expectantly.

"Oh, sure," I said. "As long as you got something soft for that wheelchair seat. And I get to go to the bathroom first..."

The nurse watched closely as I turned and sat up. Cindy watched even closer. I winced when my compromised ass cheek hit the mattress.

"Are you okay, baby?" Cindy asked, concern coloring her face.

"Not as okay as I was before I got shot in the butt," I said. I stood for the first time since I was wheeled in the night before. Shaky. And pains in my calf and butt. But I walked gingerly to the bathroom under my own power.

I couple of minutes later I emerged. There was a pillow in the seat of the wheelchair. I sat. As I was wheeled out into the hall, Judge Charlie and Mizz Helen were just coming up from the other direction.

"We're going downstairs, ' Cindy told them. "A TV news crew is there."

We had a little parade through the halls and into a nicely-appointed conference room, the hospital name prominently located above a small stage. They wheeled me onto it.

The news crew was indeed there, a well-dressed reporterette and her cameraman, who, taking advantage of the fixed scene, had set his camera up on a tripod.

Cindy fussed with the hospital gown, straightening it out and patting it to as close to presentability as one was likely to achieve in one of those things. "There! Ready for your debut!" she giggled, delivering a kiss on my cheek.

I looked at our reporterette. She was a cookie-cutter example: Neat, tasteful dress meant to convey respectability and trust. Blue eyes. Blonde. Hair nailed in place with some sort of chemical mix. Make-up was well done, if you didn't get close enough to see it. Up close, it looked excessive.

She smiled sweetly, giving me her most disarming look. "Mister Richards, I'm Tammy Jellens from Channel Six. We want to interview about your incident." Smile. "Are you feeling okay for this?"

"I'm good, thank you..."

"Gary Beeler is our cameraman."

"Hi, Gary! Nice rig! What, two years old?" I said to him."

"Year and a half," he retorted. "You know this stuff?"

"Just a little," I said.

Miss Tammy was looking only a tiny bit miffed that I ignored her over her cameraman. I think she's one of those who likes to be the center of attention. But I wasn't going to relinquish control. "Just so you know," I said, "This is Judge Charlie Peebles and his wife Helen. She owns the RV park. He's the retired district judge for our county. And this is my wife, Cindy. She's part of the story, too, but she's too young for you to put in your story."

Cindy smirked and gave a little finger wave. "Fourteen!"

Tammy's eyebrow went up.

I wanted to get away from that little fact. "So where do you wanna start, Mizz Tammy?" I asked.

She started. I guess I was supposed to be awed, but I've addressed captains of industry and senior military officers and people who were desperately in need of help and a blonde reporterette wasn't nearly enough to sway me. Cindy watched, discreetly off-camera. We went through the standard ice-breakers.

"How long have you lived in the park?"

"Since last August."

"Where do you work?"

"I'm not sure my employers want me to say that on TV," I said.

"Very well." She drew a breath. "We'll edit that out. What do you do?"

"Pretty close to the same question, don't you think?"

She looked exasperated. "Mister Richards, I'm just trying to get some background."

I glanced at Cindy, then Gary. TWO smirks. "Let's just say that I'm well established in a technical field and that I'm in the area working at one of several possible locations."

"Okay, then let me ask that question." She smiled. Looked a little forced, if you want to know what I think. She asked the question and I repeated the answer.

Next question was about my lifestyle. I explained about itinerant construction work in general terms.

Then came the questions about the shooting. "What were you doing?"

"At home with my wife, minding my own business."

"How'd you know the guy was hostile?"

"I told 'im to go away and he shot a hole in my trailer, blew the door open, then stepped inside with a gun. And pointed it at me and my wife." I shuddered a little, reliving THAT moment in my head.

"How did you have a gun in your hand?" she asked.

"When I wasn't expecting a visitor and he didn't leave ... He said he wanted to get even with my wife for a previous incident."

"Previous incident?"

"Yes, back in December his brother broke in on my wife while she was home by herself. She shot him in self defense."

Now I was presented with a "Concerned Reporter" look. She flipped open a sheaf of papers, telegraphing the fact that she already KNEW where she was headed. "Mister Richards, it says right here in the investigation that the man she shot was unarmed." She looked at me like she'd just uncovered the Watergate breakin.

I wasn't buying it. "Mizz Tammy, does it also say that the guy was six-two and two-thirty-five? Exactly how ARMED does he need to be to threaten the life of a fourteen year old girl? All HUNDRED pounds of her?"

"She could've called the authorities."

"Oh, yeah, she did. They got there fifteen minutes later. He'd been layin' on the ground for fourteen." I could see THAT comment wasn't making the thirty second spot tonight.

She shifted tacks. "Don't you think that gun laws might've prevented this?"

I knew the next statement wasn't making the cut, either. "Dear, dear Mizz Tammy ... Let's see what laws were broken. BOTH of them were convicted felons. It is illegal under present law for them to possess firearms. Yet there they were ... They shot into an occupied dwelling. There's a law against THAT. Broke into a dwelling. They ignored THAT law, too ... Tell me, lady ... What law do you propose we write that those two were going to pay attention to?"

I caught a glimpse of ol' Gary giving me a suble 'thumbs up' sign behind Tammy's back.

"But if guns were harder to get..." she started.

I didn't let her finish. "Two-thirty-five versus a hundred ... And help fifteen minutes away..." I smiled my most disarming smile, then continued. "I DO believe in gun control, though..."

Miss Tammy thought she'd been granted a reprieve. "You believe in gun control?"

"Yes, ma'am," I grinned. "I ... uh, let's see ... eight shots, eight hits." Before her expression could collapse completely, I added, "And Cindy's three for three. Gotta admit, that's gun control you can believe in..." I saw her cameraman looking away, obviously fighting off laughter.

Her expression was, shall we say, struggling for control. "Mister Richards..."

"Mizz Tammy," I stepped in, "My HOME has been violated by criminals who intended to harm my wife. Don't you hope that if something like that ever happened to YOU, somebody'd be there on YOUR behalf? Or like Cindy, YOU could protect yourself?"

She nodded. "That's not the point I'm trying to make."

Now I was getting feisty, having pretty much written the interview off as adversarial. "Okay, what point ARE you trying to make? That I and my wife should be willing victims? That you know some magic formula that will make criminals start obeying laws because YOU think they should? Sorry. I don't accept your point. Lady," I said, "I am a combat veteran. YOUR country ... MY country saw fit to put me out in the desert to protect YOUR way of life. Was I supposed to go back to being a sheep after that?"

"n ... No, that's not what I'm saying, Mister Richards," she countered, trying to rescue the situation.

I dove right back in. Glanced at Cindy. Full smirk there. "I'd think that a RESPONSIBLE," I almost spat the word, "report would talk about a criminal with a rap sheet a page long would be out on parole. Or at least do a positive story of TWO people surviving a home intrusion. Can you do that?" I looked at Cindy. "Tell me this: If the tables had turned, would you have even run the picture of her as a victim?"

"I ... Uh..." she turned to the camera. "Kill it!" She looked aback at me. Mister Richards, you're not making this easy."

I motioned Cindy to my side. "Mizz Tammy, see this lady? She's the most precious thing in my life. Somebody tried to kill me and her. And you want to make a point for gun control?"

"I'm sorry," she said. "Do you wanna give me another shot?"

"Bad choice of words, don't'cha think?" Cindy chirped.

"Oh, gosh," came the flustered answer. "Okay ... This time, no gun control questions, okay?"

"Okay."

"Don't wanna get you started again." She looked at Gary. "Okay, roll it."

This time the interview was, in my mind, satisfactory. Finishing up, I asked Gary for a copy of the whole session. He laughed. "Yeah, you just KNOW that's gonna get out, don't you?"

Tammy looked at him sternly. Then her face softened as Cindy sidled up beside her. "Miss Tammy, we watch your show, you know..."

"Why thank you, sweetie," Tammy said to Cindy.

"I wish we could've met under better circumstances." Cindy was smiling.

A neuron fired in my head. "There's you a story, Miss Tammy, if you're looking for a positive one. Cindy's fourteen. Graduates high school in May. Gifted scholarship to Auburn. Talk to her."

Cindy smiled. "He's proud. So's my foster mom." She motioned towards Helen. Helen smiled.

Before they left, Gary came up and shook my hand, then Cindy's, and then they left. I looked at the hospital guy in his suit. "I fear I may have damaged the reputation of your establishment."

"No worse than me wetting myself during your speech," he said. "You think you could come to visit our rod and gun club? Maybe give a little talk?"

"Can Cindy come with me?"

"Of course," he said.

"Like preachin' to the choir, don't you think?"

"Oh, you might be surprised, Mister Richards," he said. "But we'll buy dinner if you show up."

"Just tell me when and where," I replied.

"I'll do that," he said. "And thanks, okay?"

I got wheeled back up to my room in time for a hospital lunch. I lifted the cover on the plate.

"Good lord, son," Charlie exclaimed. "That's horrid! If you'll wait twenty minutes, I can get us some real food up here..."

"Charlie, I know how YOU eat. If you say 'real food', I'm all for it." I put the cover back on the plate and pushed it away.

Charlie picked up the phone and placed a call, ordering a clean dozen barbecue plate lunches to be delivered to the floor. Finishing, he grinned. "Be nice to hospital people, 'specially when you're MY age. That's some good barbecue. Good people!"

True to his word, twenty minutes later the delivery arrived. Helen and Cindy pulled four clamshells from the shipment for us and passed word to the nurses about the rest. More than one head popped in the door to say thanks.

We talked about Cindy's ideas about the trailer. "Baby," Helen said, "I should've moved y'all into my house two months ago. Really!"

"Oh, thank you, Mizz Helen," Cindy said. "An' we'd've probably done it, then. But now it's about OUR house ... Not gonna let the bad guys win..."

"I understand that, Miss Cindy," Charlie said. "But reality is you'd have more room..."

"Thank you, Mister Charlie," she said. "But we've never needed much room. I would like to bring my husband back to OUR house, if we can get it fixed up."

"Well, I called those people I told you about, and they'll get started tomorrow. If that's what you want."

She smiled. "Thank you, sir," she said.

One o'clock, the doctor came in. "Well, Mister Richards, let's see your good side," he quipped. To everyone in the room, he said, "Could you folks wait outside?"

"Can Cindy stay?" I asked.

"Your daughter?" he asked.

"Common mistake," I said. "Wife."

"Oh. Sorry. Miss Cindy, you can stay if you want..." He then noticed the bulge of the bandages swelling the shoulder of her shirt. "Uh ... sorry, NOW I remember ... YOU got shot, too..." He smiled. "How's that going?"

"Fine, thank you," Cindy said. "Mine was open. Dan's calf is a puncture."

"Yes," the doctor said. "Roll over, Mister Dan. Let's have a look." He peeled back the bandage. "Pretty colors, buddy," he said. "Purples, blues, a little yellow, but not the red that I didn't want to see." He checked pulses on my foot. "We were worried about infection inside the muscle sheath. Looks like you got past that." He replaced the bandage. His next look was my ass. "Neater'n a chainsaw wound..."

"How many people chainsaw themselves in the ass?" I laughed through clenched teeth as he palpated the site.

"You'd be surprised," he laughed. "This'un's okay, too. Gonna be an interesting scar. What was the comment about an Iraqi ambush that I heard?"

I repeated it. He laughed.

Next look was the shoulder. "Clean. But you got powder burns. How close were you to that guy?"

"Another step and he could've hit me over the head with 'is barrel."

"You'll have an interesting scar. With freckles." He patted my other shoulder. "Not nearly as cute as Miss Cindy's."

I turned my head to see her smiling.

"Tell you what, I'm gonna write an order to get you new bandages and a prescription for oral antibiotics and some painkillers. You can use the pain pills if you need 'em. Use ALL the antibiotics. Go home. Don't get too athletic for a few days, but if you can sit, you're good to go do what you want. Crutch might help for a week or so. We'll see you at the office in a week."

"Just like that, you send a mortally wounded man home..." I laughed. "Thanks."

"Oh, yeah," he said. "Homer says you're gonna come to our rod & gun club meeting?"

"Homer?"

"Yeah ... hospital media guy..."

"Oh, okay. Didn't figure him for a 'Homer'..."

"Nobody does. He's a nice guy, though." He laughed as he left.

When the door closed, Cindy let out a little squeal. "We can go home together!"

"I need clothes," I said.

"Got 'em in the car," Helen said. "Cindy gave us the sizes. Eletha went out for them. Says she knows you need a little extra room in the butt right now."

Cindy said, "Lemme have the keys, Mizz Helen. I'll go get the bag." Keys in hand, she took off.

"How's she doing?" I asked Helen and Charlie.

"She's a trooper," Charlie said. "Cried about YOU. When she found out you were gonna be okay, she got happy again. Then this morning, she thought about your trailer, and got really kind of irate. "First time I ever heard an improper word from her mouth..."

"Me, too, Charlie," I said. "I didn't understand at first, but I can sort of understand why that trailer is important to her. So I'll go along. She's my Cindy, my heart..."

"You're hers, too, you know, son. Man's awfully lucky to have a woman like that."

Helen smiled. "So y'all can stay at OUR house for a while, at least until you get an idea of how long to get your trailer back in shape." She turned to Charlie. "And you old goat, you're MY heart..."

Charlie smiled. "I'm lucky, too..."

"Cindy and I are lucky we've got you two," I said truthfully.

"Oh, don't get all syrupy,"Helen laughed. "Family. It's what families do."

Cindy came through the door with a bag. "New tennis shoes. New clothes. They saved your belt and stuff," she said.

A nurse entered the room with a rolling cart. "New bandages, Mister Dan," she said. "Then you can go home."

"That's wonderful," I said, "not that y'all aren't wonderful here, but this is all a massive pain in the ass..."

Cindy giggled.

The nurse looked at me sideways. "Your husband? Comedian?"

"A legend in his own mind," Cindy tittered.

"We'll step out while you get bandaged and dressed," Charlie said.

As the nurse peeled off the old bandages and cleaned the wounds, she kept a running commentary on what Cindy should look for. "Not like he can look back here himself," she said.

Cindy laughed. "Nope! Finally got something he can't do for 'imself."

"I'm not making these things as bulky," the nurse said. "But you won't be as well-padded, either. You might have to favor one cheek for a while."

"My sister-in-law says he's 'half-assed' now..."

"Cute!"

"Embarassing," I said.

"Puts the 'ass' in embarrass," Cindy giggled.

"Oh, she's a quick one, Mister Dan," the nurse said. "There you go. You can take this little bag of stuff with you," she said, handing Cindy a bag of bandaging supplies. "And you can buy the same stuff at the drug store. Cindy, just keep it clean. Soap and water is his friend, okay?"

"Okay, thank you!" Cindy smiled.

"Stop by the nurse's station and get his check-out package. We'll see that he's wheeled down to the front door."

"Okay," I said.

She left and I sat up gingerly so Cindy could remove that accursed hospital gown.

She looked down. "Everything looks okay there, baby," she smiled. "Have to check it out better when we get in our own room." She dipped into the bag and came up with a set of boxer shorts, and helped me get them on, then a loose-fitting pair of khaki pants. Next came a shirt, and that's when I found out how much that 'flesh wound' on my shoulder could hurt. I winced.

"Let ME do that, love," she said. And when she raised HER left arm, she bit her bottom lip. "Forgot," she said. "Ouch!" and she gamely finished putting my shirt on.

I stood. Standing didn't hurt much. Between the two of us, I managed to get my belt on, then I sat back down and we fought with socks and shoes.

"There. Ready to go," she said, giving me a little kiss.

"I need a bunch of these, ' I said.

"I know," she said. "Me too." She stuck her head out the door and waved. Helen and Charlie followed the orderly with a wheelchair into the room.

Cindy put a pillow into the wheelchair and I sat down. We stopped at the nurse's station for me to say 'thanks'.

"Not a problem," the head nurse said. "Your people bring food." She turned to Mister Charlie. "Thank you, Mister Charlie. We sure did appreciate it."

"Glad to do it," Charlie said. "Thank you for taking care of our boy here!" He patted me on the good shoulder.

At the front door, Cindy and Charlie waited with me as Helen brought the car around. "Car"? Full-size SUV. I got into the back seat, buckled in, and heeled over at an angle to lighten the load on my butt. A short while later we were in the drive at Helen and Charlie's. Helen tapped the horn once and we started getting out in front of the main entrance.

Eletha opened the door for us as I started walking gingerly.

"Thanks for the pants, Mizz Eletha," I said.

"Oh, stop callin' me 'Mizz'," she said. "I know you needed extra room in the butt. Cindy told me where..."

"Well, they're perfect," I said.

"Good! Now get in here. I fixed up the guest room for y'all. Cindy, it's a lot better now." She smiled. "An' Dan, I hope you can sit long enough for plain ol' meat loaf for dinner."

"I'd stand up to eat your cooking, Eletha," I said.

I'd never toured Charlie's house, and I was happy to find that the guest room was at the end opposite the master bedroom.

"Go lay down for a while, son," Charlies said. "You've had a long day."

"Thank you, Charlie. It has been." I turned and Cindy took my arm.

"C'mon, baby. Let's get you rested."

As I eased down into the bed, I let her undress me, at least down to the boxers. She giggled. "You don't like boxers, I know." Her fingers worked their way into the fly to find an old friend. "This relaxes you," she said, gently fondling me. Giggle. "Up to a point."

Both our right arms were intact, and her right hand gently explored and massaged my balls and dick as she leaned over to kiss me. I carefully pulled her down to me with my right arm. "Mmmmmmm, I missed my Cindy," I purred.

She pulled her lips away from mine, smiling, her green eyes giving me a place to lose myself. "I could've lost you last night, baby," she said. "While you were tryin' to protect me..."

"It's what a man does for his wife," I said. "What else could I do? Besides, you had the other pistol ... protecting me."

"Still ... I love you, Dan. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"I'm the same way, Cindy. And we need to talk to Charlie about wills and stuff. You're my only heir, but I wanna make sure we have all of it covered ... the house, the plane, insurance, all those things."

I felt a little sob. "They're just THINGS, Dan. You're my LIFE."

"You're mine as well, little redheaded girl. Never was any like you before. Never will be another."

"Can we figure out how to lay in bed together? I wanna be by you."

"You're tired, too, huh, princess?"

She bobbed her head.

"Crawl in. We can figure this out." I had a good right arm and she did, too, and she was a little too sore to put her left shoulder down. So was I. So we both lay on our right sides, spooned, her red hair at my lips, where I could kiss her, and at my nose, where I could breathe her. And I could hold her in my arms.

That's exactly how we were when there was a soft knock at the door. Helen's voice. "Kids, dinner's ready!"

"We'll be right down," I said. Cindy stirred, got out of bed, then kissed me and helped me back into my pants. She kicked a pair of house slippers to me.

"You don't have to bend over to tie these," I said. "Good idea!"

She smiled. "Mizz Helen an' Mizz Eletha," she said. "Let's go. Our family is waiting."

I didn't exactly sprint. A provided crutch helped take the pressure off the leg, and by virtue of not requiring as much movement, my butt. Of course, it did add to the tugging on my shoulder, but that was bearable.

"Eletha, join us, why don't you?" Charlie said. At the table, we bowed our heads as he, our chosen patriarch, gave thanks for the meal, for friends and family and for us all being together again. He was sincere. We believed him.

The meal was good. "If Mister Charlie had said something, I coulda done special," Eletha said.

"Special?" I replied. "People would die to eat like this. You cook like my folks, Eletha."

The conversation stayed light. Charlie looked at his watch. "Time for the news," he said. "Let's see if you made the cut."

We went into the den and turned on the TV. I made the cut, at least thirty seconds of it, "Defending his home" "Armed criminals." Even "Didn't have time to wait for the law enforcement." And that was it.

Cindy watched, her laptop open in her lap. As soon as the segment finished, she found it online. "I'm sending a link to everybody," she said. Cindy had a 'friends and family' mailing list. One click, and everybody had the video.

A couple of minutes passed before Cindy's cell phone rang. She looked at the display, smiled. "My sister-in-law!"

"My sister Tootie," I told the room.

"Hi, Tootie!" Pause. "Yeah, he was sittin' on a pillow." Pause. "Oh, yeah, I'm okay. Mine was a scratch." Pause. "Uh-huh! Saw when the doctor took the bandages off. Here, talk to 'im! I love you!"

She smiled and handed me the phone. "I don't mean to be rude," I said.

"Oh, talk to your sister. She's probably worried," Charlie said.

"Hi, Sis," I said. "I'm here with Cindy and Charlie and Helen and Eletha. We just finished dinner."

"Are you okay?" Tootie asked.

"For the millionth time, yes. Just like the cowboy movies... 'only a flesh wound'."

"So when are you coming to visit?"

"I'm NOT showing you my scar," I said, laughing. "But let me get to where I can sit a little easier."

"Okay. You scare us, you know..."

"I scare US," I said. "Tell everyone we're okay and we love 'em."

"'Kay, Brother," Tootie said. "I love you!"

"Love you too, Sis. Bye!" And I handed Cindy back her phone.

"Sorry," I said. "I hate to stop the conversation to talk on a cell phone."

Conversation picked back up. Cindy's phone intruded again. She looked. "Tina." She handled that call. "No, he's gonna be okay. We're staying with Mister Charlie and Mizz Helen." Pause. Giggle. "Plenty BIG enough. Watch 'Gone With the Wind'. Remember 'Tara'? This place is like that, 'cept better plumbing!"

I watched Charlie snicker. "Girl has a way with a phrase, doesn't she?"

"My Cindy," I said, proudly.

"No, I WANT our trailer back. Really. The first home I ever felt LOVED in..." Pause. "Is that Susan? Put 'er on speaker." There was a pause. "Hi, Susan! We're okay." Pause. "I don't know ... Just a second, I'll ask 'im."

Cindy turned to me. "Susan wants to know what you know about Jason."

"Top notch technician," I said.

Cindy repeated that. She turned back to me. "She said she don't care about that. Is he a nice guy?"

"I suppose," I said. "I never saw him come to work hung over. Didn't hear any stories. Hey! Why?"

"She says she's just curious, is all," Cindy chirped. And there was a little twinkle in her eye. "Okay, tell Alan everything is okay." Pause. "yeah, a weekend. As soon as Dan can sit good..." Pause. "Okay, sisters. I love ya! Bye!"

"Well, that' leaves us one more. And if Tootie calls 'im, my brother might not call. Might have to call him so his feelings aren't hurt."

"It's a strain," Helen said. "Not every day a family member gets shot."

Chapter 45

I actually fielded one more phone call from Alan that evening. Seems he was more than a small amount interested in Jason Ellerbee's personal traits, based on the requests of one of Cindy's new sisters, Susan.

Again I apologized for interrupting the conversation for a phone call.

Helen waved her hand. "Dan, don't give it a second thought. We understand..."

"Oh, thanks, Helen, but that wasn't a a 'how're you doing?' call. That was my old friend up in Tennessee asking about the technician I sent 'im. Seems like Alan thinks the guy is interested in Cindy's new sister, Susan."

"That's the blonde girl in your pictures, right?" Helen asked.

"Yes, ma'am," Cindy replied. "And I didn't know that HE'S interested in Susan. Susan is interested in HIM."

"Goodness," Helen said. "Susan's YOUR age?" she asked Cindy.

"Oh, no ma'am," Cindy chirped. "Susan's the oldest one of us. She's eighteen."

"And how old is this guy, Dan?" she asked.

"I think he's twenty-six or twenty-seven," I said.

"Dan, once she's past eighteen, she pretty much does what she wants. And the age difference..." she looked at me, then Cindy. "What WERE you thinking about the age difference., exactly?"

"She's got you there, son," Charlie laughed. "I can't defend you..."

"I can try, baby," Cindy said, patting my knee. "Susan's an only child. I know, ... was an only child, too, but Susan's mom and dad sort of sheltered her. Everybody's worried that Susan's a bit naïve."

"Oh, that paints a different picture then," Helen said. "So, is the guy a decent person?"

"I think so, from what I could tell. But I'd hate to set Susan up for hurt..." I said.

Cindy jumped in. "Tina and I have been talkin' to her. Tellin' 'er not to rush ... Honestly, she just wants to be happy..."

"Don't we all, baby," Helen said.

The four of us chatted for a bit longer before I excused myself. "I'm still a little tired. I hate to be a party pooper, but I need to shut down."

"I'll go with you, baby," Cindy said. "You're gonna need some help, I'm sure."

"Yes, I will," I said. "Charlie, Helen, you folks have my undying gratitude."

"Son, don't give it a second thought. This is what families do."

I hobbled back up the hall under Cindy's watchful eye.

The adjoining full bath was well stocked, including the medicines I was going to need for the next couple of weeks. Once inside the room, I got a decidedly hot kiss from my young wife.

"That's what I wanted to do all evening, Dan," she said softly. "Are you going to try a shower tonight? I think maybe tomorrow might be better."

"I need to wash, baby," I said. "I feel rank."

"Well, if you must..."

"Do we have enough stuff for a change of bandages?"

"Yes. The nurse sent me home with that bag of stuff."

"There's a lot of areas I can't reach with this arm, just yet," I said.

"I'll help you if you'll help me," she smiled. "First time we shower together for other than purely recreational reasons, huh?" she giggled.

"I won't be nearly as rambunctious this time, little redheaded girl," I said.

We helped each other get undressed. It was the first time I saw the extent of Cindy's wounds. When I peeled the bandage off her shoulder, the wound I saw was a furrow, surrounded by bruising. Her ribcage was barely a scratch, stitched closed. She WAS fortunate. I pondered what might have been with just a few inches to the right.

She'd already seen mine.

"Am I leaking?"

"No," she said. "The nurse said soapy water is your friend, though. And I'm betting it's gonna sting..."

"I'll try not to weep," I said.

"This REALLY is about us getting clean, baby. This time. We'll have a recreational shower soon enough."

We got through the shower. She didn't wince as much as I did. I felt rejuvenated from the hot water soaking the funk off my body. I even managed to shave myself with one hand. It hurt to raise my left arm high enough. I was going to have to work on that.

Cindy's left shoulder was painful enough that I had to give her a hand drying her hair. I noticed the dryer was hers from the trailer.

"Mister Charlie talked to the sheriff's office and they let Steve get stuff out for us. He says it's a mess. But we got clothes and personal stuff, and he emptied out the fridge so nothing is in it to spoil."

"Good," I said. "But all that blood..."

"We'll get started on that, baby. Mister Charlie talked to some people. They'll get started tomorrow. Mizz Helen said the insurance guy's supposed to be there in the morning."

I finished drying her hair and between the two of us, we got her brushed out, then I did a pretty good job of replacing her bandages with a hand and a half to work with. She seemed satisfied with the job she did on mine. We dressed in night clothes, Cindy's characteristic cotton nightshirt and panties, I in my t-shirt and uncharacteristically, in boxers, a concession to the bandage on my butt. Yeah, we usually slept without anything below the waist except when Cindy was on her period, but we decided that wearing pants was a concession to staying at Charlie and Helen's.

The bed was still rumpled from the afternoon when we'd napped in it. We turned the covers down and she smiled as she crawled into the middle.

"Ain't we a sight, baby" she smiled. "Two cripples..."

"Not THAT crippled, little one," I said. "You're still the cutest angel in the heavens..."

Giggle. "You can't sit, you can't lay flat, I can't lay on my back..."

"We did pretty good spooning this afternoon," I said.

"Yeah," she smiled. "We did."

We were able to replicate that position, and it felt good to hold my Cindy in my arms again. I was starting to doze off, the magical scent of my Cindy, her touch filling my senses, satisfying me, when she said softly, "I love you, Dan..."

"I love you, Cindy." The painkiller did its work and I went to sleep. I winced awake a couple of times during the night when I rolled over incorrectly. Still, that meant that every time I moved, I woke up, and every time I woke up, I reached over to confirm that my dream was real, that I still have my Cindy.

Morning came with a soft knock on the door.

"Kids, breakfast in about ten minutes, ' Helen said.

I didn't know how breakfast worked here in Charlie's house. I knew that dinners were generally the work of Eletha, but I doubted that she worked from breakfast to dark.

Cindy and I helped each other dress and then I followed her down towards the kitchen.

"Biscuits and bacon and eggs," Helen said, straightening up with a pan from the oven.

"Those ain't canned," I said. "Those are REAL!"

"You talk about getting life lessons from YOUR momma, Dan? My momma would roll over in her grave if she caught me feeding canned biscuits to my family!"

I winced as I sat in a chair at the breakfast table, but I was able to wiggle half off the chair so I could sit. Charlie noted my pain, as well as Cindy favoring her left shoulder somewhat.

"We can get you a pillow for that chair, son," he said.

"Oh, no, I'll be okay. I need to get used to it," I said. "But thank you."

"Just trying to help, son," Charlie said.

We had a good breakfast. I complimented Helen. So did Cindy.

"Your cooking's better than Dan's, and he's GOOD!" Cindy said.

We went to the park office with Helen, the better to get on with putting things back to normal. Our arrival there was something of an event. It didn't take long for word to get around that Cindy and I were back in the park, and you can imagine that in the two days since the incident, we were the topic of much discussion.

A steady stream of visitors dropped by the office to see us. Cindy was cooed over and hugged and my hand was shaken a dozen times and both of us recounted the story together four or five times.

At nine, a neatly marked SUV pulled up, the sign on the side identifying my insurer. He walked into the office. "I'm here to see Helen Peebles or Dan Richards," he said.

I stood. "I'm Dan Richards. The lady behind the counter is Mizz Helen Peebles, and this is my wife Cindy."

"Okay," he said, shaking my hand. "I'm Will Andrews. I'm here to look at your travel trailer."

"Let's go," I said. "I haven't been in it for a couple of days."

"Dan, I had all the valuable stuff that wasn't damaged put into storage for you," Helen said.

"Okay," Will said.

I stood, wincing just a bit.

"Oh, YOU'RE the guy..." he said, a realization coming upon him.

"Uh ... yeah. I'm the guy ... My trailer."

We took Helen's latest acquisition, an electric golf cart, to my trailer. Will followed in his SUV. Crime scene tape still wrapped the trailer.

"You can ignore that," Helen said. The sheriff said they're finished.

A temporary bar was across the blasted door, and there were four more shotgunned holes in the trailer besides the missing bit of the door. Will had his camera out, shooting pictures.

"Somebody was AFTER you," he said.

"Not me, Cindy," I said.

His eyebrow raised. "Her? Why would anybody wanna hurt HER?"

"Long story," Cindy said.

"I'd be interested in hearing, I guess, if you wanna tell it. Lemme get this finished first, though." He snapped a few more pictures from different angles.

"Oh, by the way, there are three holes in my truck, too. I don't know exactly where. The deputy said there were, though," I said. My truck hadn't moved since that night. "I'm thinking that if you draw a line from the trailer door though that bare spot you're standing in, all the way to my truck..."

He looked down where the gravel and grass had been scraped away, a patch he was standing in, and stepped sideways away from it. "You mean..."

"Yeah. That was the guy who shot those two left holes in the trailer," I said. "They cleaned the mess up."

He looked at me. "The news said there were TWO."

"The other one was inside the trailer."

"Oh. It's liable to be a mess."

I walked over to my truck, looking for the holes. I found them. "Through the side of the bed," I said. I looked into the bed. "And on the inside." I looked across the bed. "And they stopped at the liner on this side."

He took pictures of that while Helen's handyman, Steve, removed the bar screwed across the door. "As soon as the sheriff department said I could, I got in there and cleaned up as much as I could, Dan," he said.

I didn't know that. I was relieved. Still, I pushed the door open. I was thankful that this wasn't summer, because the stench would've been overwhelming. As it was, it stank of blood from three people. Will took more pictures.

The blasts from the shotguns had taken out the side of the shower, damaged paneling, cabinets, much of the tightly packed interior of the trailer. The blast that had gotten me had ripped up a chunk of the flooring. At the living room end of the trailer, there was spatter of brown and greenish grey stuff I identified. I didn't tell Will what it was. More pictures.

He looked at me. "I don't want to think of what those spatters are."

"You're probably guessing, though," I said. "I was on the floor. He was standing. Third shot."

"Ouch," he said.

"I honestly don't think he felt that one..."

He snapped photos of the bare mattress, the brown stain where Cindy'd fallen back against it.

We stepped back out of the trailer. I took a deep breath of fresh air. "What do you think?"

"I think I could be convinced to total it," he said.

"We don't wanna total it, Mister Will," Cindy said. "We wanna clean it up and fix it. That's MY home ... OUR home there, and I do NOT want to be run out of it by two drunk rednecks!" Her expression was one of determination.

"Well, Miss Cindy, Dan ... let's talk about the money, then."

We stood out there in the sunshine, a brisk north breeze blocked by the trailer, and like business used to be done, bickered back and forth. Finally he gave me a number that I liked, we shook hands, Cindy smiled.

"I'll have the check Fed-Exed to you in the morning," he said. "Now, Miss Cindy, are you up to telling me that story? I'm good for hot chocolate and donuts up the road..."

She smiled. "Make it coffee, and we'll be there with you."

Helen looked at us. "Y'all go have a break. Dan, I'm gonna call those people to come bring your trailer to that shop. They'll call you."

We joined Will at the café up the road. I drove. Yes, I could drive. Propped up at a little angle to favor the left ass cheek, and I was careful, but I drove.

Small-town cafes are information centers, and Cindy and I were regular customers anyway, so we were recognized when we walked in on a normal day. Today wasn't a normal day, even for a Saturday. More hand-shaking, hugs for Cindy, one for me, causing me to squinch my eyes when the waitress inadvertently pressed on my shoulder bandage.

Will looked amused. "You folks're like celebrities here."

"I know," Cindy answered. "This isn't the first time this happened."

"What? The big greeting?"

"No," she said softly. "The first time we came in here after a shooting." She told the story, starting with "Mom dumped this guy 'cuz he was kinda nuts..." all the way to the end.

"We didn't know he had a brother," I said. "And the local law enforcement thought that he was out of the area. And neglected to tell us."

The conversation wandered to what I was doing, what WE were doing living in the RV park, touched on our weekend excursions, lifestyle issues, and it was over. We shook hands with Will and walked out of the restaurant with him. He drove off as I eased gingerly into the truck beside Cindy.

"You still act like it hurts, baby," she said.

"Uh ... yeah. I was shot in the ass three days ago. I think I'm doing pretty good. I notice YOU'RE kinda sitting back slow, yourself."

"Yeah, but I'm gonna go to school Monday."

"I was planning on going to work, too, but that seals it."

"What abut your butt?"

"I'll bring a pillow..."

Giggle. "I oughtta call Mizz Sara..."

"I'm sure Mizz Sara knows, baby," I said.

"Me too!" Giggle. "But I was gonna see if you'd get sympathy..."

Cindy's cell phone rang. She looked at the display. Giggle. "My sister." She flipped it to her ear. "Hi, Sis!" Pause. "Yeah! We're MUCH better. He's drivin'." Pause. "Uh-huh. I'm goin' to school Monday and Dan's going to work." Pause. "They're gonna fix our trailer. The insurance guy was here this morning." Pause. "Yeah! On a Saturday! I wish I knew how long before we get back in it. It's our HOME!" Pause. "Yeah, we'll talk about it. Next weekend, maybe!"

She put the phone back in her purse and smiled at me. "They wanna get together with us whenever you can fly again."

"Oh, boy," I said. "And we owe Tootie a visit, too, remember."

"I know," she said. "Could kill two birds with one stone and EVERYBODY meet at your house in Louisiana."

I laughed. "Why don't you try that one on Alan and Tina, baby." We pulled into the RV park and I stopped the truck next to the office.

I slid out the door and she said, "Stop!"

I turned around. "Kiss me," she said. "I need to be kissed."

"You do, you know." I wrapped her in my arms as she sat sideways on the truck seat. I was careful with her shoulder and her ribs and she was careful with my own shoulder, but lips met and we kissed in the winter wind.

"Seein' the trailer and all those holes, that reminded me of how close we came to losing each other." Her normally happy eyes were sad, unsure. "I love you, Dan. I live for you."

"You're my life, Cindy. Been that way for so long..."

"Forever, baby," she whispered. "No start. No finish. But we ... you could've ... I got the little pistol and I was getting ready to ... but you got up on your knees and I couldn't get a clear shot."

"You were going to save ME?"

Her eyes brightened and her head bobbed. "Was gonna protect what was mine, baby. At least try."

I kissed her again. "You didn't tell me that." She hadn't. Nonetheless, I believed her.

"You're not the ONLY one in love, here, Dan..." And another kiss. "Let's go inside."

We went into the office. Helen pushed a slip of paper towards me. "Deputy Stevens called. Asked if you'd call 'im back at this number when you got around to it."

"I guess I oughtta," I said. "Every time we shoot somebody, he shows up."

"I'd better do that," I said. I dialed the number on my cell phone.

He picked up. "Deputy Stevens, can I help you?"

"Uh, Deputy Stevens, this is Dan Richards, from the RV Park."

"Oh, hello, Mister Richards," he said. "How're you doing?"

"Pretty good, actually. I just drove my truck. I have to sit funny."

"Your wife Cindy, she's okay?"

"Yessir," I said. "How about yourself?"

"I'm doin' just fine. Nothin' happened nearly as exciting as Thursday night, you know."

"Gosh, I hope not."

"Tell ya why I called. We got all the guns out of your trailer. Wanted to give 'em back to you if you have a place to keep 'em."

"Oh, man, I appreciate that. I didn't even think to ask where they ended up. Figured you had three of 'em."

"We got Miss Cindy's twelve-gauge, too. Standard procedure when there wasn't gonna be anyone home when we left."

"Want me to come get 'em?"

"If you want. I'm in the office today. Weekend supervisor. Or I can bring 'em by next week."

"We're on our way," I said.

"Okay," he said. "We'll look for you."

I closed my phone. " Deputy Stevens has our guns, baby. We can go get 'em. Oughtta see him anyway to thank 'im. You wanna come with me, right?"

Cindy grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Helen smiled. "You two be careful."

Cindy and I were back in the truck, talking and driving. "You oughtta call the Hardesty's, baby," she said.

""Yeah, we haven't talked to them. I'm sure they know..."

She folded her arms. "EVERYBODY knows."

I opened my phone. "Jim Hardesty," I said to the voice dialer.

"Hello, this is Ann!"

"Hi, Ann..."

Squeal! "Dan, we wondered..."

"Should've called. We're fine. Just wondering what's going on at the Hardesty place."

"How's Cindy?"

"Better'n me, Ann."

"What're y'all doin' for dinner?"

"No plans yet. But we didn't call to bum a meal..."

"I'm SURE! Come over, if you're up to it..."

"Fivish?"

"Absolutely. Pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy ... I'll tell Jim!"

"Great. We miss you folks!"

"We worried so much, Dan."

"Thank you." Cindy's hand touched my arm. "Cindy wants to talk."

"Oh, yes!"

I handed my phone to Cindy.

"Hi, Mizz Ann!" My wife's voice was happy. Friends.

They chatted for a few minutes, Cindy describing her injuries and mine, talking about our temporary living arrangements, about getting the trailer fixed, and other things.

I pulled into a parking spot in front of the sheriff's office.

"We're here, Mizz Ann," Cindy said. "We'll see y'all at five." Pause. "Uh-huh. Love ya! Bye!"

Together we walked into the building. Got stopped at the front desk. A uniformed lady sat behind a security glass window. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Dan Richards. This is my wife, Cindy. We're here to see Deptuy Stevens."

"Oh, yeah! You two! He's waitin'! Push that door!"

I heard the buzz of the electric lock and we went through the door.

The lady was waiting for us. "I'm Belinda Zumback. One of the dispatchers. I'm happy to meet you two. You're kinda famous..." She looked at Cindy. "Baby, you're so YOUNG!" she looked at me. "I've heard so much about HER! The first time, I mean..."

Deputy Stevens must've heard the commotion. He came walking up the hall. "Come on back! I just made a fresh pot of coffee, if you have a minute."

Cindy answered for both of us. "Sure!" she said brightly, smiling.

"How's your shoulder, Miss Cindy?" Stevens asked. "And you can call me Rick," he said.

"I'm fine," Cindy said. "Hurts when I bump it or try to move the wrong way. But I don't have trouble sittin', like Dan."

He looked at me. "How're YOU doin', Mister Dan?"

"If I can call you Rick, you can call me Dan," I said. "Like Cindy said. I have to sit at an angle. Shoulder's stiff. Leg's sore. But a whole lot better'n it could've been, thank you..."

"Thank me? By the time I got there, it was all over 'cept the picture-takin'." He looked at Cindy. "Just like last time. But you're right. Could've been a lot worse. What abut your trailer?"

"We're getting' it cleaned up an' fixed. It's my HOME! I'm not lettin' a couple of drunk rednecks run us out of it."

Rick smiled at me. "Feisty little thing, ain't she?"

"You've seen the evidence," I said.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I have." He paused. "So they can fix that?"

"Yep! Had the adjuster out first thing this morning. We'll have a check Monday. And the trailer's gone to the shop today."

"Well, good," he said. "Like I said, we collected your guns out of your trailer." He opened a desk drawer and pulled out MY .45.

I'd expected to see a mess. Blood is an aggressive rusting agent. The pistol was pristine. "It's clean," I said.

"Oh yeah," he said. "We have a local gunsmith that takes care of our stuff. Gave 'em to 'im yesterday. He cleaned 'em so they didn't rust." He put the pistol on his desk after locking the slide back, then laid an equally clean magazine beside it. "Four rounds in the mag. You used the other three." He laid the other pistol on the desk. "This one was by you an' Cindy."

"Cindy was getting ready to protect me," I said.

His look was priceless. "Cindy, you were gonna do it again?"

"Would've, Mister Rick. But Dan got in the way. An' then I got hit. But I still would've."

"Ya'll come get a cup of coffee. I gotta get the rifle and the shotgun out of the weapons locker."

We were sipping hot coffee when he came back into his office with the rifle and the shotgun.

"Sheriff said for us to take care of y'all," he laughed. "You've taken three felons off the street in the last three months."

"I think I wanna stop. It's too stressful," I said.

After a little more chatting, finishing the coffee, we left. On the road again, we called Helen.

"Charlie's comin' for lunch. If you two are goin' to be here, I'll call 'im to pick up barbecue."

"Oh, gosh, yes," Cindy said.

The four of us were sitting in the office eating barbecue when I recognized a couple of faces walking in.

The guy was the first face in the door after the shooting stopped that night.

"Mister Gary! Mizz Ericka!" Cindy said.

"How ARE you, Baby!" Ericka said.

"MUCH better," Cindy chirped.

"How about you, son," Gary said.

"Pretty good, really! I really appreciate you comin' in like you did. Both of you!"

"Been a long time since I had to do crap like that, son," he said. "Me an' baby doll..." he indicated Ericka, "we were tryin' to find something worth watching on TV when we heard the shots. I knew the two of you, and we knew the story about Miss Cindy..."

Cindy smiled politely.

He continued, "I knew there was trouble. I was tryin' to get shoes on and get my piece. Three shotgun, three pistol. That was you and the first guy, right?"

I nodded.

Then another shotgun, and five rifle. AR-15. I know that sound. They started puttin' 'em in patrol cars when I retired." He looked at Ericak, then the rest of us. "By the time I got out the door, the shootin' was over. Wasn't much I could do 'cept direct traffic."

Ericak picked up the narrative. "I was so afraid of what I was going to find in your trailer. I mean, Cindy ... but you already had her in your arms..."

"And now we have an adventure to talk about," Gary said.

"And I wanna take you folks out to dinner tomorrow, if you're up for it ... I can't repay, but let us do that much."

"We'd love to," Ericka said.

"Are they gonna give you your guns back?" Gary asked.

"Just got back from the sheriff's office. Got 'em."

"Good! They do things different here. Back in Cleveland, you might've NEVER got 'em back."

"Really?"

"Different mindset there, ' he said. "I think I like yours better."

That got me on the path fo discussing my abortive first interview with the TV news crew. And got the two of them laughing."

"It's funny now," Ericka said, "but you're right. Cindy against one or two of those guys ... Or even YOU, Dan. You against them. Seems like the thugs don't have trouble getting guns."

We finally escaped back to Charlie's house and I stretched out on the bed, Cindy beside me, for a nap before we went to meet the Hardesty clan.

Cindy's head was on my chest as I lazily stroked her red hair.

"I still get the shakes, baby," she said. "This is worse than that last time, I think. I worried about YOU this time. I felt so helpless."

"With a pistol in your hand. You felt helpless."

"I couldn't stop 'em from hurting YOU."

"I was tryin' to protect YOU, baby," I said. "We're okay ... Still got friends and family. Still got US!"

Chapter 46

The barbecue lunch at the park office was satisfying. The judge had given us a house key, so Cindy and I left to catch an afternoon nap. After all, it had been only a couple of days since we'd both been shot. A nap was in order.

Saturday was Eletha's day off, so the house was empty when we went in. I still marveled at the richness of his home. Cindy and I went straight into the bedroom. She closed the door behind us. We turned the covers back, revealing sheets still a bit rumpled from our night's sleep.

"Dan," she said softly, "are you too sore?"

"No, baby, I'm not. If you're hinting..."

"I'm trying to be subtle." Those green eyes laughed.

"It'll help us relax for a nap."

"Is THAT the only reason?" Her mouth was so expressive. That smirk morphed into an unavoidable grin.

"Oh, no, there are others. I miss my mate." I carefully put my arms around her. I looked into those green eyes. "How did I ever live before you, little one?"

She nestled her face into my chest. "I know. I know." She turned her face toward mine and we kissed.

"How can we make love, baby?" she asked.

I looked at her. "I can lay on my back if I move slowly."

Grin. "That'll work. Get your clothes off!"

I suspect that such a command from a redheaded fourteen year old would send some into apoplexy. I just smiled and complied. We helped each other with shirts over injured shoulders and both ended up nude except for patches of gauze and tape in a few places. I looked at Cindy. A little ragged around the edges. But still perfect.

Her hand touched my erection. Yes, I was erect. I had naked Cindy in front of me, I had a pulse, I was conscious. Of course I was erect.

"Take your time, Dan," she said.

I eased into the bed on my right side, scooted to the middle, and very gingerly rolled onto my back. Raising the knee of my left leg relieved the pressure on that calf and the cheek of my butt and the pressure on my shoulder was acceptable. At least the erection remained.

Cindy's eyes were sparkling as she crawled into the bed, headed for my dick. "I missed this part of us, baby," she said. Her head descended and her sweet, sexy mouth sucked me in. She released me, looked at me with that sexy little smile and said, "Mmmmmm. Missed that."

"I miss things too, you know," I feigned a whine.

Giggle. "Oh, here, then!" she reversed herself and carefully got atop me, my face between her thighs.

She was, as always, delicious. And wiggly. And she was taking care of me up until she was on the edge of coming herself.

"Ohgodohgod. Nnnnngghhh! Yeah!" Her final sound was a prolonged sigh. I felt her cheek rest against my dick. "Dan, I missed that. I ... I ... Us ... it's not just about sex, but YOU'RE my life." Carefully she got up and turned around, astraddle me.

"If this hurts too much, we can stop, baby..."

"Oh, no, sweetness. Please..." I said.

She was still flushed from her orgasm as she raised and then lowered, sliding down over my erect member. My turn to sigh ... she wiggled a bit, savoring the feeling of me inside her, giving her little pink clitty a little friction against the base of my dick, and she leaned forward. I curled up and met her halfway for a kiss.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Perfect!" I saw beauty and love. "My little darling, you're so absolutely beautiful."

She rolled her hips and tried a few easy strokes, sliding back and forth, her eyes surveying my face for signs of discomfort. Apparently she saw none, because she started a familiar and very satisfying rhythm. When I tried to meet her thrusts, there was indeed a twinge from my wound, but the urgency of the need to push into her hot pussy.

"Oh, yeah, Dan. It's soooo wonderful." The way she sounded, you'd think we'd been separated for months instead of two days without mating. But I wasn't complaining. She rocked along, my hands roving from her delectable little titties to her hips, holding her as she rode me. Her smile modulated. She started biting her bottom lip, a sight I'd always thought charming, the corners of her mouth still in a smile. Her eyelids closed and her nostrils flared. Cindy was close.

So was Dan. I felt the heat building. "Come on, baby ... You've got me there."

Cindy wasn't into conversation. "Nnnnn. Nnnnn. NNnnnnnngoddddd!" and her pussy slammed into the base of my dick. The first spasm deep inside her was what triggered me.

"Mmmmmmbabyyyyyyy!" I gasped. I pushed upward with each surge.

"Ifeeeelit..." she sighed. "Ogosh!" Her eyes opened. "Oh, Dan! I love you!"

"I love you, little angel," I said.

She looked thoughtful. "Uh, we can't leave a wet spot on this bed, baby!"

"You don't imagine that they just might suspect that a married couple might have sex?"

"No, that's not it. Just not nice. You clean me an' I'll clean you." This time she moved faster. She'd figured out that we weren't going to hurt each other, and in ten minutes we were both clean and she was sighing from her third orgasm.

Now, we ended up in each other's arms, and yes, we did get a nap.

At four-thirty, we were out the door, headed to the Hardesty house.

Arriving, we were greeted before we got to the door.

"You're walkin' funny," Jim said.

"You try walking gracefully when you get shot in YOUR ass," I laughed.

Ann was hugging Cindy. "Baby, I'm so GLAD you're okay!"

Teresa was at Cindy's side. "You're okay, huh?"

"Yes, I'm okay, Teresa, like getting' caught in a barbed wire fence. 'Cept a lot faster."

We all went inside. I sat down rather gingerly, a move noted by Jim.

"You CAN sit, huh? You want a pillow?"

"Your sofa's a little firm. A pillow, if it's not too much trouble."

"Billy, bring a pillow down for Mister Dan!"

Billy came into the room with a pillow, handed it to me, and kind of stared.

"What's wrong, Billy?" I asked.

"Uh ... You got shot?" his eyes glanced toward Cindy. "And Cindy?"

"It happened," I said.

"Don't be rude, Billy," Jim chided.

"Oh, it's okay, Mister Jim," Cindy said. "It's a legitimate question, you know..."

"I don't want 'im bein' rude," Jim said. "Or morbid."

"Dad, you said you were proud of Cindy back in December," Billy said.

Jim shook his head. "I hate it when they remember things I said." He looked at Cindy. "If you wanna talk about it, but you CAN tell 'im to shut up and go away."

"I won't be rude, Dad," Billy sighed.

I looked at Teresa. She clearly was curious, too, but let her exuberant little brother take the heat.

"How'd it feel," Billy asked. "Is it okay to ask that?"

"It hurt, Billy," Cindy said. "But ask Dan. He got it worse than me."

Billy looked at me.

"I was too hopped up to feel it until it was over, Billy," I said. "I was trying to save Cindy." I looked at Jim. "I was trying to save Cindy, and SHE had that little nine millimeter, trying to get a clear shot to save me. I got in the way before she could shoot."

Jim gazed at her. Ann's eyes widened. "Wow," Billy said.

"Gosh, Cindy, you REALLY were?" Teresa blurted.

Cindy nodded. "I was tryin', but Dan stopped him. And the shot that got me came through the wall of the trailer. We couldn't even SEE him when he started shooting."

Billy came to a realization. "Uh ... Dad, I shot ALL those guns, didn't I?"

Jim looked at his son. "Yes, son, you did..."

"It was kinda like a GAME when we were at the range. You guys did it for REAL."

Jim picked that one up. "That's a good reason to keep guns, son. Protect your family."

Teresa stirred things up a bit. "Mom, can YOU shoot?"

Ann smiled. "I'm a country girl, baby. Of course I can shoot. Probably better'n your daddy. Does this mean you want to learn, baby?"

Teresa's blonde head bobbed in affirmation.

"Guess we need a range day or two, huh, Hon," Ann said, looking at Jim.

"I guess," Jim said. "At least get Teresa familiarized."

"How much practice has Cindy had?" Teresa asked.

"Two times at the range," Cindy said. "I'm not, like, an expert or Delta Force or anything ... Dan's the combat veteran."

"Wow! I didn't KNOW that," Billy said, wide-eyed.

"Billy, my friend," I said, "So's your DAD! He's a Marine fighter pilot!"

"Yessir, but..."

"Your dad and I were in the same war. I was in the dirt. He was somewhere in the sky. Both jobs needed to be done. You should be proud..."

"Oh, I am. Just I didn't know that about YOU!"

"Just a job, Billy. You do what you're supposed to do. With me, it was my engineer platoon back then. I'd do anything for THEM. And they'd do it for me. The other night it was my Cindy."

"And my Dan," Cindy said. "It's what friends and families do for one another."

Then the conversation went in the direction of "Are there any charges?"

"What's the law say, Dan?" Ann asked.

"Home invasion. Self defense. Pretty much self-explanatory. And Judge Charlie, Mizz Helen's husband, his son is the district attorney. The two guys, they had records as long as my arm," I said.

We talked about the TV interview.

"The one they showed wasn't what I expected out of that bunch," Jim said.

"I got sort of snippy with 'er," I said. "She re-did it. I still expected to get torn up on local TV."

Cindy giggled. "You shoulda seen it, Mister Jim. He had her flopping around like a dying catfish when she came up with her gun control agenda. He said he believed in gun control and her face lit up. An' he dropped the hammer on 'er: 'Yeah, eight shots, eight hits. And Cindy's three for three.' Her camera guy almost busted a rib trying not to laugh out loud at 'er."

Ann looked incredulous. "You TOLD her that?"

"Don't tell me I can't defend my Cindy. Or let Cindy defend herself. The woman was full of herself, and frankly, I don't think she's used to being called out on her crap." I saw Billy grinning. "Billy, just 'cuz adults do stuff like that, doesn't mean it's okay."

Jim laughed. "But THAT was okay!"

Ann left and returned. "Kids, let's set the table. Dinner's ready."

We gathered at the table and were properly amazed by Ann's ability to put together a meal of this quality with both her and Jim working full time.

After the meal, we talked a little while longer and then Cindy and I headed back to Charlie's house.

In the truck, Cindy snuggled into my side. "You're sitting better, baby."

"I know," I said. "But it still has its moments. How's yours?"

"I think I'm doing pretty good. You can look when we take our bandages off to shower."

"Do you think you could sit for a couple of hours?" she asked.

"Where's this going?"

"To Louisiana. To see Tootie an' Jerry..."

"You want to do that? Like an overnighter?"

"If you're up to it."

"Call Tootie. Tell 'er we're coming. But you need to be in school Tuesday and I need to be back at work."

I'd no sooner finished the sentence than the phone was in Cindy's hand.

"Hey, Tootie!" Pause. "No, we're both fine!" Pause. "We're thinkin' of flyin' in, first thing in the morning, spend the night, fly back Monday." Pause. "I know. We miss you too. What with all the stuff that's happened, Dan needs a break." Pause. "Yeah, I know. Okay, here he is." Cindy passed the phone to me.

"Hey, Tootie," I said. "Can you put up with us for a day or two?"

"You wanna stay here?" Tootie asked.

"No, but since the kitchen's bare, and we're coming in, we thought we'd all get together for dinner, at least."

"We'll be waitin' for you," Tootie said. "You gonna call Jerry? Tell 'im we'll meet over here."

"We'll call 'im," I said.

"'Kay, brother. Tell Cindy I said 'bye'!"

"Okay, Sis. We'll call you when we're close. Bye!"

The next call, to Jerry, was rife with crude references to the place I got shot. But he was happy we were coming in. I expected no less.

We ate dinner with Helen and Charlie, discussing our plans.

"You don't think that sitting on one place for three hours is gonna mess you up?" Helen asked me.

"No," I answered. "I think it's okay. It's really just a flesh wound."

"You can't do that in a 'John Wayne' voice, can you?" Helen laughed. Charlie laughed.

Cindy looked at me. "You'll have to help me out. I've HEARD of John Wayne, but I don't think I watched any of his movies."

Charlie looked at me. "Son, I am surprised you haven't introduced her to John Wayne. Both of you have a lot of that spirit in you."

"I'll rectify that," I said, "but it almost seems to me that Cindy got that whole 'I can take care of myself and YOU too' attitude all on her own."

Cindy smiles demurely. "You folks're flattering me."

"Oh, no," Helen said. "I guess that one thing that floated to the top after living with your mom was that you learned to take care of yourself."

Cindy's hand circled my arm. "Took this guy an' you, Mizz Helen, to make it work."

"Sweetie," I said, "You always had that potential."

After some more conversation, we excused ourselves and retired to the guest room. Our shower routine was altered by the need to carefully remove bandages and tend to wounds. I could see that Cindy's were healing well, no redness, no swelling.

"Gonna have yourself a conversation starter when you wear a bathing suit, baby," I said.

"You too, hon," she said. "But I don't think they'll be THAT bad."

We showered. I was able to move my left arm a lot easier, three days out from the incident, and I noticed Cindy was equally healing. Being able to use two hands to brush her hair was my reward. We dressed a little more conservatively in Charlie and Helen's house, so after she bandaged me and I bandaged her, we donned pajamas.

Cindy in pajamas. That's a fine example of how covering something up can make it even more exciting. I said so.

She kissed me, then stepped back. "Tomorrow night. In OUR house. And we can be noisy."

"Oooo-kayyy," I said. The disappointment was only slightly feigned.

We packed for the departure the next morning, and after I finished that, I opened up my laptop and sent an email to my employer, advising him of my absence on Monday. I'd no sooner hit 'send' and shut down than the phone rang.

"Jerry," I told Cindy. "Hey, Jerry," I answered.

"Buddy, I got your email. Don't worry about Monday. Hell, you got SHOT! Take as much time as you need."

"Really, Jerry, I'm doing fine. Cindy and I are going visit my sister in Louisiana tomorrow..."

"And you're going to be at work Tuesday? You guys must be flyin'."

"Yeah. Quick trip. My sister is distraught."

"I can imagine. Her brother's in Alabama engaging in shoot-outs in a trailer park ... You've got a place to stay?"

"We're staying with Cindy's foster mom. Great people. Until our trailer gets fixed."

"You're moving back into it?"

"Yep! My first home with Cindy. She says we're going to move out under OUR own volition."

"Well, bud, when you get back to work and she's straight in school, trot 'er on out here again. Everybody's asking about you two."

"We'll get Cindy out there before the end of the week. If everything stays good, she's going to school on Tuesday."

"Okay, buddy," Jerry said. "You two be careful."

"Okay, thanks, friend," I said. "Bye!" I turned to Cindy. "Jerry says they wanna see you out there for a visit when you're up to it."

"I'm up to it," the little redhead said.

"Yeah, but you need to go to school Tuesday and let THEM fuss over you..."

"Oh, I know," she cooed. "It's gonna be crazier this time."

We turned back the covers on the bed and crawled in, a little bit easier than the previous night. Healing. It's a wonderful thing. So's a pain-killer, because Cindy said, "Take one, so you'll get a good night's sleep."

I did get a good night's sleep, and woke up with the sunrise streaming in the window.

We followed Helen and Charlie to the restaurant for breakfast, then headed to the airfield. Sunday morning. The place was empty. Recreational aviation wasn't what it once was. I was fortunate. Cindy and I had our 'leaving' routine pretty much figured out and in half an hour the engine was ticking over at the idle as we arranged the cockpit.

Oh, yeah. Cindy in the pilot's seat. And we were on the way. About three hours later we were descending into the pattern at the destination field. It was equally deserted. Except for Tootie and her SUV. Cindy got a bigger hug than I did, and a snicker didn't accompany hers.

They let me have the back seat.

"I figured we'd get a bucket of chicken for lunch and do a gumbo for dinner," Tootie said.

"Mmmm," Cindy interjected. "Love your gumbo, Tootie."

"Good! I guessed I could make a big pot and cover us an' y'all an' Jerry an' Sheila an' whoever else might drop in." Tootie replied. Tootie had the act down pat. Gumbo was the 'stretch it out' dish of Cajun country, but I knew better than to think that she'd make a small batch and add water. She glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "You okay back there, brother? You're sitting funny."

"I'm quite fine, thank you," I said.

"Sounds sarcastic, doesn't he, Cindy?"

"Only 'cuz he has to sit at an angle," Cindy giggled.

"I guess I coulda brought 'im a pillow," Tootie replied.

"That doesn't help that much. I tried."

"Poor thing..."

"I am fortunate that I have a loving wife," I said.

"Who's covering her mouth, giggling at you, right now," Tootie laughed. "We'll get y'all home so you can get off your butt for a while. Rest. And we'll be ready for you any time you show up this afternoon."

"We appreciate you putting up with us on short notice," Cindy said.

"Oh, Hon, it's not a problem. We're glad to see you ANY time, but since THIS ... uh, INCIDENT, I mean, you're FAMILY!" She tossed me a glance in the mirror. "and him, too..."

We pulled up in our own driveway and unloaded. Due to the short notice, Tootie had only opened up the house that morning, so there was still a bit of the closed-up mustiness, but I'd stayed in worst hotel rooms. Before Tootie left, we made sure that our SUV would start.

After she left, I flopped face-down on the bed. "Butt hurts, baby," I told Cindy.

"Maybe we over-did things, guy," she said. "But I really wanted to come here. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," I said. "I wanted to be here, too. I'll be okay in a bit."

"Can I lay down by you?"

I smiled. There's been only ONE answer to that question since a thunderstorm last August. "You never have to even ask, baby," I answered. "You make everything better."

She crawled into bed beside me, laying on her right side. "Would it help if I sort of massaged it?"

"Might," I said.

Her small hand gently worked around the slight lump of the bandage. "Am I helping?"

"You're doing wonderful. A kiss would help even more."

I got a kiss. Then, with her arm draped over me, we took a little nap. The nap was good. Waking up next to Cindy, even with the slight throbbing in my butt, was even better. I rolled back onto my left side with only the slightest of winces and Cindy slid forward into my arms. I kissed her. "Was just a house, Cindy. Now it's a home."

"Not lettin' drunk rednecks run us out of this one either, babe," she said, kissing me back. "Let's get up and go visit our family."

"One more kiss."

"Mmmmm," she said. Kissed. "Maybe more than one."

Okay, we DID get out of bed. I washed my face, the cold wet cloth a refreshment. She was brushing her hair back to perfection when I wrapped my arms around her and planted a kiss atop her head.

"I love when you do that, you know," she said. "I feel sooo protected." She sighed. "'Specially now..."

"You're MY Cindy."

She swiveled around in my arms and kissed me again, a little soft, the touch communicating pure love. As she pulled away, though, the green eyes were laughing. "Gumbo! Tootie's got GUMBO!"

As I released her from my arms, I said, "Well, there's not a Cajun alive that wouldn't be happy to find himself alongside gumbo as his lover's priorities."

"Come on," she said. "I love you more than cold gruel..."

We pulled into Tootie's drive and parked beside my brother's truck. I opened my door and got out, and Cindy joined me, grabbing my hand.

"Okay, punkin," I said. "Into the belly of the beast!"

We didn't reach the door before it opened, my brother Jerry stepping out, throwing arms up for a bear hug.

I stepped back. "Shoulder," I said.

"Oh, yeah..." He shook my hand. "Glad you're okay."

"Cindy's shoulder, too," I said.

"I can stand a hug, though, Jerry," she smiled.

"You're not the wuss, are you?" he laughed.

Sheila was hovering behind him and she herded Cindy into the living room. I could hear Sheila's worried cooing noises.

"It's really okay, Mizz Sheila. Dan took the big ones."

"Yeah, but, baby..."

"Stuff happens, Mizz Sheila."

Mike and Tootie joined us and the questioning began. I let Cindy take the lead as soon as I saw she was comfortable with it.

"Comfortable?" We're talking about Cindy. After seeing her grow in poise and self-assurance, a frequent image in my mind was THIS one as an engineer, handling one of those meetings where things were wrong and words needed to be said.

She had them laughing at her account of the interview. "Yeah!" She cast a feigned hurt look at me. "He told me to stand back and keep my mouth shut. And then he told that reporter that as far as gun control, he was for it."

"You TOLD her that?" Jerry asked, incredulous.

"Uh-huh. Said not only was I FOR it, I was GOOD at it. Eight shots, eight hits. And Cindy was three for three."

"Awwwww, shit! You didn't!" Mike said.

"He did," Cindy said. "And I wanted to say that the score was Dan - 2, Cindy - 1, and drunk rednecks were getting scarce around the trailer park."

"Ohmygoodness," Sheila blurted. "You didn't say THAT!"

"No, but I wanted to. Mizz Sheila, all we did was protect ourselves from people who wanted to hurt us. Guys that shoot through the walls of trailers with shotguns are NOT good people. I'm not bloodthirsty..."

"But she had that little nine millimeter pistol when he came in the door..." I added.

"Dan got in the way. I was gonna protect Dan."

"Oh, baby..." Sheila said.

"Oh, yeah," Jerry said. "Sheila would shot HIM with My gun, then shoot ME with his..."

"Oh, sweetie," she said, patting his leg, "Not since you said you were sorry and bought me a new car."

Tootie made a quick trip into the kitchen, then called out, "It's ready! Come fix you a bowl!"

Conversation continued during the meal, including Cindy's insistence at keeping the trailer, and why. And the further adventures of her and her 'sisters'.

"We may all end up down here for the Easter weekend."

"Really? HER husband's from here?" Mike asked.

"Well, thirty miles up the road. He went to the other university. But we talked about it. He's gotta see if he can get off on Good Friday to fly in."

"Oh, yeah," Jerry said. "That's not a regular holiday in a lot of places." Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, was a work holiday in much of South Louisiana with its strong Catholic roots. Local workers scheduled it. Us road warriors knew better.

"Won't be a problem for me, though. I'm on a day to day schedule right now, and I may be finished by then. If not, then it's not a big deal to skip a day. No deadlines, you know."

"Must be nice," Mike retorted.

"Don't give me that. You have a 401k, medical, all that. And you're home every night, not living on the road."

Tootie laughed. "Yeah, and look what you got for a souvenir!"

Cindy giggled.

We finished the evening at a bit after nine. Mike, Sheila and Jerry had work to go to in the morning. Cindy and I had, from the forecasts, a good day to fly back to Alabama. Hugs were exchanged in the front yard before Jerry and Sheila and Cindy and I headed in separate directions.

"Call me in the morning, baby," Tootie told Cindy.

In the car, Cindy reached across the console and touched my arm.

"Happy?" I asked.

"Baby, there was NOTHING wrong with this evening. Except maybe seconds on the gumbo."

Back at the house, we put the car away for extended stay, secured the garage, and showered. And, no, we didn't pass up a visit to the house without making it a venue for sharing our love.

Chapter 47

We slept until almost eight Monday morning. While I was in the bathroom, Cindy called Tootie.

"Hey, Tootie," she said. "Yeah, we're up, whenever you get here. Have you had breakfast?" Pause. "Why don't we go get breakfast and then you can drop us off at the airfield." Squeal! "'Kay! See ya in a few!"

I walked out of the bathroom. "Got Tootie lined up, then?"

"Yep!" she said, squeezing by me heading into the bathroom.

I heard the water run, then a pause, then the toilet. Then Cindy popped out red hair perfectly in place, green eyes twinkling, a smile on her red lips, ready for the world. I pinned her back against the wall, kissing her.

She giggled. "Sometimes I want you to just trap me and keep me forever," she purred.

"Exactly my intentions, little one," I said. "Let's make a pass through the place and make sure it's battened down."

We did that. Moved our two overnight bags to the front door, stretched out on the sofa, me sitting, a neat little redhead perched atop me, giggling.

"You're getting better, babe," she said.

"Yep," I said. "I know it's there, but I think that the bad part's clearly over."

"We still need to wash each other, though, just to make sure."

"Oh, there's no ulterior motive there, huh?!?" I laughed.

"Sir! How dare you think that a young lady of my demeanor should have ulterior motives?" and kisses. I loved the kisses. I loved the face that hovered back, inches from mine, when she stopped. And I moaned when I heard the sound of Tootie's SUV in the drive.

"Let's go, beauty," I said.

We opened the front door just as Tootie's foot hit the step.

"Y'all ready?" she asked.

"No," I answered. "I'm carryin' this bag 'cuz it matches my outfit."

"Dan!" Cindy exclaimed, "Don't be rude!"

"I'm used to it, Cindy," Tootie sighed. "He knows that you're here to protect 'im, otherwise he'd be hitch-hikin' to the airport."

We enjoyed breakfast, laughing, talking, then it was off to the airfield. Tootie left after she and Cindy shared tearful hugs. We talked with Greg in the airport office, promising to meet with him and his wife Hanna when we got a chance. There just weren't enough hours in the day to spend time with all the friends and family we had.

"Left or right seat, baby?" she asked.

By this stage of the game, Cindy's flying skills were such that it didn't make a difference. The path from South Louisiana into the middle of Alabama wasn't tricky and we'd done it a few times now, and I knew she could do the whole thing herself. "Paper, rock, scissors," I said.

Her paper covered my rock. "Just like in real life," I said. She giggled. Greg laughed.

"I could curl up in the back seat and got to sleep," I told him. "She's getting better and better."

She smiled. "Mister Greg, tell Mizz Hanna I'm sorry we missed her!"

"I'll do that, Cindy," he said.

We removed and stowed our tie-downs after the pre-flight inspection, and Cindy climbed into the left seat. After the engine started, she waved to Greg and bumped the throttle to start our taxiing to the run-up ramp. A few minutes later our wheels left the runway.

"Gahhhh, baby..." she exclaimed.

"What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Every time we come here, I wanna stay."

"I know, sweetie," I admitted. "Me too ... I was serious. I wish we could've had an evening or two with Greg and Hanna. And a few days to ourselves. I've been thinking of a plan, though."

"A plan?" she giggled. "Me an' my sisters make the plans. But I'll entertain your thought." She turned to me with that smirk that drove me nuts. Of course, she had a whole repertoire of expressions that drove me nuts.

"How about when you graduate, we drag our trailer home, and we use this as a base for our operations until we get settled in for your college? By that time, we should be able to get us a place up there, and we can leave the trailer here. That way, we can fly off for a week or so in the Rockies, then come home and kick back with friends and family."

Her head turned in my direction, a smile on her face. "That sounds like a plan, Dan!" She giggled. The juxtaposition of 'plan' and 'Dan' caused that more than once. "Got a question, though."

"What's that?"

"I can't legally fly OR drive. How're we gonna get the plane AND the truck and trailer BOTH back here?"

"We'll find a volunteer. Maybe we can drag Mizz Hanna back to fly the plane back, or we could fly back and take Tootie with us in our SUV and I could drive the truck back."

"We'll figure out something."

The broad Mississippi River was a ribbon passing a mile below us as we crossed, east-bound.

"Three-sixty!" she announced, whipping over into a steep bank. Startled me. Execution? As we neared our original heading, the plane shuddered, running into its own propwash, sign of a good execution. The other sign was the smile from the pilot. "Sometimes cross-country is boring."

"Uh-huh," I said. "But really you're only supposed to do that in a practice area." As infractions go, it was mild.

"Oh, okay..."

"But well-executed, anyway."

Smile returned. An hour or so later, the pine trees of central Alabama were a thousand feet under us in the traffic pattern of our home field. Forty-five minutes after that, the plane was in the hangar and we were on our way to Charlie and Helen's.

We parked and walked in the back door, knowing we were no surprise, after we called them on our touch-down. The two were sitting at the breakfast table.

"How was your trip?" Helen asked.

I let Cindy handle that conversation. Helen, as much as any of us, relished Cindy's enthusiasm. I hauled bags in from the truck. Mizz Eletha caught me going into the guest room.

"Dan, just pile those dirty clothes by the door. I'll get 'em."

"Oh, thank you, Mizz Eletha," I said, "but I can do laundry."

"It's MY job, Dan. How was your trip?"

"Shows me that I get lonesome for home and I don't know it," I said. "Cindy does too, and it's not even HER home."

"Most folks want a place to call home, Dan. She calls whatever you call home, her home."

"That's fine with me, lady," I said. "She's the light of my life."

"Yessir, I can see that. I've seen plenny go t'other way, you know, old guys who take young wimmen, sometimes they marry, but not much these days. And I see you an' little Cindy, and there's a lot of things I know, but one of 'em's that not many people fool Judge Charlie, and I watch. And I talked with Miss Cindy more'n once. You two make a pair. Belong together."

"Thank you, Eletha," I said. "That means a lot to me." I looked over Eletha's shoulder and spotted a red head peeking around the corner. "We need to say nice things about 'er. She's probably listening."

"She's behind me, ain't she," Eletha smiled broadly.

"Hi, Mizz Eletha," Cindy chirped.

"Hello, sweet one," Eletha answered. "Just talking with your husband about you."

Cindy came and stood by me, putting her arm around my waist. "He IS my husband. We're fortunate to have each other."

"That's a good way of putting it, Miss Cindy. You have each other. He doesn't just have you, and you don't just have him. You have each other." She smiled. "You ARE going to join us for dinner, aren't you? I made roast beef, and I have difficult time keeping Mizz Helen out of MY kitchen."

"We'll be there, Mizz Eletha," Cindy answered.

"Good! Now I have work at the other end of the house." Eletha smiled knowingly and picked up the basket of dirty laundry.

Cindy turned to me, grinning. "I do believe we've been given a clearance," she said.

"I could use some time off my butt. Kinda sore," I said.

"Take off your clothes and lay down," she instructed. "I know what you need."

I complied, and as I was stripping out of my pants, she was undressing, too. We helped each other out of shirts. Her bandages were more for sanitation than anything. My own on my butt and calf were still providing cushion.

I had a nude Cindy. White skin, green eyes, red hair. Pink nipples. She pressed her nakedness against mine. Immediate reaction from her friend caused her to giggle.

"It still likes me," she said, smiling up at me.

I kissed her. "Nobody ever did it as much good as you do, dearest. Like I never made love before I met Cindy." She fit into my arms so perfectly.

We turned the covers down and crawled into the bed. I rolled onto my left side and pulled her to me. My shoulder twinged a little, but it was something I could live with.

"I love you, Dan," she said to me, eyes bright. Her right hand disappeared between us. I knew exactly where it was going and I relished her soft touch as electricity shot through my body. Her lips met mine, another level of connection. "I'd really like to suck you," she said.

"You don't have to, baby. We can just hold each other," I said.

She smiled. "You know, love of my life, this is the ONE thing I always have to argue with you about. I just want to suck you. I LIKE sucking you. I think it's so powerful that I can make you shake so hard when you come, all with my mouth. I like the way you feel, and I like tasting you. So stop fighting with me about it." She smiled. "Hmmm?"

"I love you, princess," I answered. "And I absolutely LOVE you sucking me. But then I get to pay you back tonight, okay?"

Grin. "Okay. Get comfortable."

I re-arranged myself and watched my little redhead move to an advantageous position for her fun and games. She was holding the shaft of my dick in one hand. She brushed her hair behind her ear, smiled at me, eyes atwinkle, her head bobbed, and she planted a soft kiss on the head of my dick. She mouthed "I love you" silently then took the head into her mouth, and I was on the road to heaven.

With little mews and throaty purrs, she enjoyed herself on my hardness, working me inexorably toward explosion. "Mmmmm," she said during a pause, "I love how you get all juicy right before you come." And her head bobbed back down, teeth working with hands and lips and tongue, bringing me to the edge, a condition she recognized in so many ways, least of which was the uncontrollable little thrustings of my hips. Her hand guarded her from me pushing uncomfortably into her mouth, but her tongue went into overdrive, and I came.

I squirted. I blasted. Her "Mmmmm" changed to MmmpHHH!" as she started swallowing and timing her tongue and suction to my surges. And she worked me dry. I fell back against the pillows.

Her red head bobbed up, smiling. "Mmmm, good one, baby..." and she crawled up into my waiting arms. We kissed. I tasted myself in her mouth and felt the love in the contact of her body and her lips.

"I love you, princess." And we took a very restful nap with her nestled back into my arms. I woke when she rolled over to face me, and her intent was to kiss me awake.

"Hello, little girl," I said. "You're awake."

"You are, too," she said, kissing me. "Let's get dressed and see what's going on around the house."

Almost reluctantly I got dressed, still feeling a warm glow in my groin from the wondrous activity there an hour or so before. We were both clad in jeans and sweatshirts and we walked downstairs and outside for a stroll around the grounds. The walk felt good, as did the small hand in mine, and the private moment together under the umbrella of the pine trees in the far corner of the acreage. We headed back towards the house. Saw a bench in an alcove in the hedge. It just begged for a dalliance, so we went into the little green nook and sat together, savoring the soft sounds of the day.

"I'll be glad when we get our place back, Dan," Cindy said softly.

"Me too, little one."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm so glad that Helen and Charlie took care of us, but I want OUR place."

"I'll call tomorrow and see how long that might be, Princess," I said.

She leaned back into my arms, her back against my chest, the crown of her head at my chin. I wrapped her in my arms, buried my nose in that red hair and breathed deep, savoring wisps of perfume and other wisps of pure Cindy.

She twisted to give me a little off-center kiss and took my right hand and slid it down between her legs.

"Mmmmm, I love your hand there," she purred.

I moved my hand up, popped a snap and pulled a zipper down, receiving another purr as affirmation of my intent. My fingers slid inside the waistband of her panties and my fingers found a slit, wetness increasing as I explored. She squeezed her thighs together, trapping my hand, then hers pushed my fingers between the lips of a responsive pussy.

I gently nuzzled and kissed her neck and face as she grasped my wrist and I fingered her to a mewing little orgasm. Her coming was indicated by her back arching, and it ended with her collapsing back, relaxed, into my arms.

"You're an amazing, wildly beautiful thing," I whispered in her ear.

"You are my everything, Dan," she said. "I don't know of anybody else who has a mate who actually defended her life."

"You were going to defend mine, Princess," I said. "We take care of each other."

"Dan," she said, "I don't own anything. I can't make money. I ... I don't give back much here..."

"My sweet, dear Cindy girl," I said softly, "you're my love. You give me something money can't buy. Never was anybody like you before. Never would be again. You give back LIFE." I cradled the little redhead in my arms.

Finally we decided it was time to show up at the house again before search parties went out. We walked in the back door.

"Mizz Helen?" Cindy called.

Eletha's head appeared in the kitchen door. "Baby, they're in the den. Dinner'll be on the table in ten minutes.

We walked into the den. I still had a slight hitch in my step if my stride was too forceful. Charlie noticed it. "But you ARE getting around good, son," he said.

"Yessir," I replied. "Going to work tomorrow."

"And I'm going to school," Cindy said, smiling.

"Good for both of you," Helen added. "You know, I think you could stay at my other house if you want some privacy for a while, until you get your trailer back."

I started to say something, but Cindy beat me to it. "We love it here, Mizz Helen. But thank you. It wouldn't be trouble for us to stay there for a couple of weeks?"

"Oh, no, child," she said. "I should've moved you two into my house right after me an' Charlie got married."

Charlie smiled. So did Cindy.

"I appreciate that, Mizz Helen, but really, I liked living with Dan in our little trailer. It's the first place I ever lived where I felt really happy and loved and cared for."

"Kinda like you an' Herb and that shotgun cabin y'all had when you got started," Charlie said. "That's just the way people are."

"Oh, yes, I remember that house," Helen said. Herb built the bathroom onto it so we'd have an indoor bathroom. Those were some tight money days." She looked wistful. "I remember boiling water and scrubbing that place from top to bottom. And we made it OUR house."

"That's the trailer, for US," Cindy said.

"Excuse me, folks, but dinner's on the table," Eletha said.

"Come sit with us, then, Eletha," Charlie said.

"Why thank you, Mister Charlie," she said. "I'll get another place setting."

Damn! Eletha could cook. We sat at the table and bowed our heads for Charlie's blessing, then dove in.

"Eletha ran me out of the kitchen," Helen laughed.

Eletha smiled. "Too many cooks spoil the broth," she said.

We talked of family and homes and tough times. Yes, Charlie was a retired judge and a successful and respected attorney, but "I didn't get born to this big house." He told us stories of country lawyers in a much more rural and poorer Alabama. "It's not cliché', son. I did a will for a couple months of fresh eggs, and handled a succession for a slaughter hog."

"I've heard of that," I laughed.

"It's the gospel truth, son," he laughed. "Man wouldn't let you do 'is work for free, but he'd sure pay you with a pig." Smiling, he continued, "Of course, there's a time or two that one of 'em'd get an unmarked envelope with the proceeds from the sale of that pig, too. I might be a country lawyer, but I'm not raising no hogs!"

We talked until the meal was finished, then Cindy and I excused ourselves and went to the guest room, showered, laid out our clothing for the next day, and went to bed.

When we awoke the next morning, we both completed our morning ablutions and dressed. This time we did things different. I took Cindy to the restaurant for breakfast, then dropped her off at school, knowing that me showing up a little late for work would be no problem.

We were recognized almost immediately by the waitress at the restaurant and Cindy got cooed over and hugged. I got some rather strange looks, but having Cindy with her arm around me, and my obvious (although getting better) limp sort of paved the path for me to get a hug or two. A couple of guys shook my hand.

"It's not a big deal," I said, touching Cindy's arm around my waist. "I was protecting HER!"

We ate our breakfast, eyeing the clock, paid our ticket, and were out the door. I dropped Cindy off at the front of the school, then I made the trip to work. Driving through the front gate, the security guard led off what was to be repeated several times during the day: "Hi, Mister Richards! I heard about your incident! Way to go! Glad you an' Miss Cindy are okay!"

I parked my truck and walked inside the building and down the wing of the maintenance department. To Sara's desk.

"Dan, Dan, Dan ... Are you okay?" Sara said.

"Mostly," I said.

Jerry heard Sara and me and was out to see me. "Dan! You good enough to be back at work?"

"Here I am, ' I said. "A little limp, and I sit funny, but I'm fine. Really."

"Yeah, yeah," Jerry said. "So tell us the story."

"Lemme get a cup of coffee," I said.

"I'll get your coffee, ' Sara said.

Startled, I looked at Jerry. "Jerry, apparently I've died and didn't notice it. This MUST be heaven. THAT lady NEVER offered to get me so much as a half cup of tepid water, before."

Jerry laughed. Sara did her best feigned exasperation face and said, "YOU never took a bullet savin' Cindy before.

Sara returned with my coffee. I smiled. "This may quite possibly be the most remarkable cup of coffee I will ever have in my life."

She stuck her tongue at me. "Just can't settle for bein' a nice guy, can you?" She was grinning when she said it, though.

I told the story of the attack and my defense. Made darned sure I told them that Cindy had a pistol out but I got into her line of fire.

"She was gonna save YOU?" Sara's face was incredulous. "OUR little Cindy?"

"I'm learning that in so many ways, Cindy's like a whole force of nature all by herself." I smiled, thinking of that face with those green eyes and that almost perpetual (since we'd begun our life together) smile. "Every day she amazes me."

I got prodded for more information. I explained that we were getting the trailer repaired, Cindy's idea, again. I told them about being taken in by Charlie and Helen, and the level of THOSE accommodations, including Cindy's "like 'Tara' in "Gone With the Wind", except better plumbing" comment.

Finally, we finished my grilling and I went to my office. Jerry popped in a few minutes later. "Just wanted to remind you that you need to bring Cindy out here whenever you can."

I put in a good day's effort, mainly taking MY previously written documents and incorporating them into other documents, cross-referencing, bundling, cataloging. It was like being some sort of over-paid librarian, but I wasn't complaining. I did complain a bit after sitting too long. I'd get up, stretch, walk around a bit, catch a cup of coffee, chat with whoever happened by, and then duck back into my cave.

The day finally passed. I knew that Cindy would be at the trailer park, because that's where her normal bus stop was, and as soon as I got out the gate, I called her.

"Hey, babe!" she said brightly.

"You sound like you had a good day," I said.

"Pretty good, actually," she answered. "I'll tell you when you get here." She paused. "Oh, and just a reminder, we're supposed to take Mister Gary and Mizz Ericka to dinner. I think this is a good night, if I can catch 'em and if you're up to it."

"See if you can get 'em, sweetie, ' I said. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes." Payback. Gary and Ericka were the first on the scene after the shooting, and they were good people. I was looking forward to the visit.

I pulled into the park and stopped at the office. Cindy and Helen were there.

"Where's Charlie?" I asked.

"Oh, he had a regular medical checkup this afternoon. He's probably going straight home after it's over," Helen said.

"Nothing wrong, huh?" I asked.

"Oh, no," Helen replied. "He's healthy as a horse."

"Good," I said. "He's good people, Helen."

"I know," she said.

I looked at my cutie. "So how'd school go?"

"Almost the same as the first time. Except I had to talk about my wounds. D'ya know I'm the ONLY kid in middle school who's been SHOT? It's even cooler than Danny Watson's rattlesnake bite last year." She giggled. "I was talkin' with a bunch of kids in the hall and Mister Jim walked up and said I was due for a Purple Heart."

I laughed. "Then we'd both have one. Did you talk with Gary and Ericka?"

"Yep! They're gonna meet us at that steakhouse at six. I hope we made a good choice. Mister Gary said he wanted a good slab of beef."

"That's perfect," I stated. "We owe 'em more than that!"

"I said that," Cindy answered. "Mister Gary said 'Nonsense!' but he appreciated it and they would be glad to join us. Uh, did you call the trailer people?"

"Yes I did, little one. We oughtta have our home back in a week and a half. Like maybe next Friday."

Squeal! "Good! I miss my house."

"Well, we're getting a new mattress, new sofa, new curtains..." I ran down the list. He said that they got the smell out of it, and they're replacing everything that got hit or messed up. He said if it was porous and got spattered, it got replaced. They were able to clean some of the ceiling and wall."

"But it'll look the same?"

"He said they matched everything up pretty good with the original." I smiled. "My Cindy will have her home back!"

Helen smiled. "Good! Cindy and I were talking. If you want, y'all can stay at my old house. We'll get your stuff moved tomorrow, if that's not too soon."

"Helen, are you sure you don't mind?" I asked.

"Mind?!?! Dan, I'm the one who proposed it! You got my daughter here..." She pointed at my smiling Cindy.

Cindy giggled. "You know he's a pretty good housekeeper, don't you Mizz Helen?"

"I've visited his trailer before. He does keep it neat."

"'Nother thing, baby ... High school exit exams are in a couple of weeks." That was the last hurdle that the county had put in the way of Cindy's impending graduation at the age of fourteen. The first, a credible result on the ACT, a college entrance examination, was lying shattered in her wake.

"You're not going to get all worried about that, are you?" I asked.

"Mister Jim showed me some test prep stuff. I think that after the exit exams, I'm going to start going after college level stuff. See if I can skip out of some of the entry-level courses." She was smiling even bigger.

We took off for Charlie's house and showered (very pleasantly) and changed into clean clothes for our dinner with Gary and Ericka, then, as planned, met them at the steakhouse. It was a particularly good meal. He was a retired Cleveland police lieutenant and she was a retired registered nurse, and they were happy and intelligent and made a good time of telling stories in the way that only happy, long-married couples can do, finishing each other's sentences, good-natured ribbing, and lots of smiles. We lingered long after the meal, over desserts and coffee, relishing the evening, but finally we said our good-byes in the parking lot and Cindy and I headed home.

I had Cindy's arm twined around mine. "I hope when we're married a long time, we're like Gary an' Ericka. They seem to fit each other."

I smiled. "Sweetie, do you know how many times I've been told that you and I look strange together but we just seem to fit? We ARE like that."

"I hope so, baby," she said softly.

The next day was an image of this one, except when I met Cindy at the park, we headed for Helen's house, key in hand. It was only the second time I'd been there. The first was the day I followed her home, when she's accepted custody of Cindy from Cindy's mom.

We walked into unfamiliar surroundings.

"Mizz Helen says to use her bedroom. It's got the best mattress, she says." Cindy's eyes twinkled. "And the fridge's empty, she says. We need a little grocery shopping. But there's our bathroom stuff already here, and we have a whole house to ourselves. An' when I go to the doctor Friday, I think my bandages will be off for good. Yours on your shoulder, too. Maybe your others." She was in her broadest grin. "Dan 'n' Cindy are BACK!"

Chapter 48

Cindy's Turn-

Hi! I'm Cindy! Dan's been telling our story for a while. He's doing pretty good, I think, but I think I want to take a shot at it. So here we go. I hope you like it.

Like he was saying before, Friday was the day we both went to the doctor. It was a week after our really horrible night, but we're on OUR way back. We went to the doctor. Of course Dan drove. I think that's one thing that I find most aggravating: I can't drive. I'm fourteen. I can fly. On our last trip to Louisiana, Dan let me do the whole thing, from origin to destination, start to stop, communications and all. But I can't get THAT license, and I can't get a stupid driver's license. So Dan drives. Of course, with HIM driving, that means I get to snuggle against him.

So we're at the doctor. He looked at me first. He says I'm in good shape as far as healing. I don't have any infection and my wounds are just scratches, really. Doctor Granelo says that I can lose the bandages when the scabs start falling off on their own.

I watched him examine Dan. Dan's shoulder was kind of like mine, scabbed over. Dan's leg, well, it was still off-color, but a shotgun pellet went in under the skin and came back out. It's a good thing that doofus was loaded with goose loads. If that had been a buckshot, Dan would still be hurting bad.

My baby's butt ... You have to know I LOVE Dan's butt. He's pretty muscular, not one of those grotesque weight-lifter guys, just not fat. And I love feeling his butt. That one cheek, though, well it's healing, but that was his worst wound. The doctor says Dan needs to come back next week.

He told Dan that he seems to have a pretty good handle on bandaging and wound care.

"I have a darned good nurse," Dan told him.

"Turnabout is fair play. He changed my bandages. I changed his," I said.

"You both do good work," he said. "No infections. Looking good." He told me, "Just keep doing what you're doing. And make him come back in a week, okay."

"Yessir! I'll get him here." I will. I'm taking care of the thing I love most in the world.

When we left the doctor's office, we went out to the project. You just have no idea how I feel about going out there. The first time I went there, six or seven months ago, it was a huge mess. Now it's all clean. Noisy, too, and most of the people that used to wave at me are gone on to other construction jobs somewhere else, but I feel like I have roots in that project.

Mizz Sara was happy to see me. EVERYBODY knows about our incident, mainly because I made the phone calls after it happened, and Dan had already been back to work, so they knew most of the details, but when I showed up, they fussed over me. Dan brought me into a new world, you know. People treat me like a person. I know that I'm like a daughter or a little sister or niece. Or like Mister Bill, Dan's old boss. I was Mister Bill's grand-daughter, he said.

One of the guys that's running the plant told me he wished his daughter would have half of my ambition about those things. I told him, "Mister Ray, I appreciate that. All you can do is love her and give her places to choose a path and then help her along it."

I don't know. That's something about me and Dan. It's eerie. We just sort of clicked together, like two magnets. He always talked to me like I was a PERSON. Mom and none of her friends ever did that. Mizz Helen always did. And then there was Dan! Before I met him, I thought an engineer was the guy at the front of the train. Dan told me what engineers do. And when I saw him in HIS element, I KNEW what I wanted to do.

So we visited my project. MY project. One of the supervisors took me to the new control room and spent some time showing me what was going on. It was neat, because when he said 'boiler feedwater pump', I actually KNEW where that pump was, and which motor control center it came from. I told him that, and I honestly think it shocked him.

"You pay attention, don't you?" he said.

"Yes, I do, Mister Lee. Three different engineers showed me that pump during construction."

Mister Lee caught one of the operators walking by. "Brian, do YOU know where #1 pump feeds from?" The guy shook his head. Mister Lee laughed. "She does. Pack your stuff. She's replacing you!"

I knew he was kidding, and so did the operator. But it's neat that we can laugh about it.

We went through the maintenance shop and I saw Mizz Sara's husband, Mister Johnny. He's got his own office there. I know Mizz Sara's happy about that. We get a chance to talk when I help her with her filing in the office.

When we got back to the big office, Dan was there with Mister Jerry. He's an engineer too. Dan's working for Jerry right now. Jerry, as far as I'm concerned, is an excellent replacement for Mister Bill. Treats me like I'm his daughter, even though I'm married to Dan.

When I got there, Mister Jerry was telling Dan that it was okay for just go home and come in Monday.

"Thank you, Mister Jerry," I said.

"That's okay, darlin'," he answered. "I know it's been a crazy week for you and Dan."

"It sure has," I replied.

Dan and I walked out to his truck and got inside.

"I guess we'll go see Helen at the park, huh?" he asked.

"I guess," I answered. I snuggled against him and held his right arm as soon as he got straightened out on the highway. And I leaned my head on his shoulder. Secure. Dan makes me feel secure. This guy got shot trying to protect me and my house. I like to think that most couples are that way about each other. But I KNOW Dan is.

He asked why I just giggled. I told him, "Because every time I play with your butt, it's gonna remind me that you defended me."

"Not gonna let somebody hurt my Cindy," he said. He touched my knee, and then his hand went on the inside of my thigh. That makes me quiver. I think he knows it.

We got out of the truck at the office in the RV park. I wish our trailer was there. then we'd be home, with a whole afternoon to ourselves.

Mizz Helen was at the same place she always was, in the park office, and she smiled when we walked in.

"Hi, Mizz Helen," I said.

She always seems to be able to smile for me. Even back when I was living with Mom. Maybe more then, really, because until Dan came along, Mizz Helen was more of a mom than my own was.

"How'd the doctor visits go?"

"He said we're doin' good," I said. I explained about the bandages. "Dan's gotta go back next week, but I'm done."

Dan said something about how it had been an interesting week.

Mizz Helen looked at him funny. "Dan, you and your wife got shot. You killed two guys. And you flew to Louisiana and back, THEN went to work. You know how to make a week interesting."

I giggled. I always thought Mizz Helen was smart, and to hear her talk, that confirmed it. And she's what Dan calls 'good people.' Like Mister Charlie.

"We're getting back to normal," I said.

Dan hugged me a little. That's another thing. Ever since we got married and he won't go to jail for touching me, he touches me and I touch him. It's like we're confirming that each other is real. He keeps telling me that it's like a dream.

He said, " Like there's EVER been anything normal about us."

That remark got Helen to laughing. "You know, I'm too close to y'all. I'm used to you two. I can only imagine how it looks to other folks."

My turn to chuckle. "Dan's the one the catches all the flack for that. But we have soooo many friends who treat us like we're normal. Or something like it, anyway."

We all talked for a little while and then Dan pushed me out the door. We were headed to Mizz Helen's house. It was nice of her to give us a place to stay. We were fortunate. Mizz Helen and Mister Charley took care of us so well after the incident. Mister Charlie's house, well, I told Tina that it was like 'Tara' in "Gone with the Wind". I was only exaggerating a little bit. They all did their best to make us at home, and it was exactly what we needed, but now I want Dan and I want privacy.

I'd really like to have our little trailer back. But Dan says they told him MAYBE next Friday. I can't wait. When I moved in with Dan, that was the first time in my life, well, at least since I was old enough to pay attention to such things, that I felt safe and cared for. It was little, but I've been living in a travel trailer with Mom for years, and the size didn't bother me a bit. It was me and my guy. US! And that made it home.

Mizz Helen's house, as nice as it was, and as nice as it was for her to let us stay there, it just wasn't OUR home. I think Dan understands this. But we both appreciate the idea that we'll be in a place with a little more privacy. Seriously, when we ... Well, sometimes we get a little noisy. Me more than Dan. But we DO! I have plans, you know.

Dan looked at me while we were driving to Mizz Helen's house. "You're thinking about something, little redhead," he said.

Pet names. Dan has a million of 'em. And I love every one. He looks at me and I can see that he loves me. And when he talks to me, I can hear it in his voice and the words he uses. Dan's the smartest guy I know, and with Mister Charlie as my adopted grand-dad, and Mister Bill and Mister Jerry, I know some SMART guys, but Dan, he's the top of the list. So I know that he chooses his words. And he chooses ones that make me happy.

He caught me smiling again while I was thinking that. "Okay," he laughed, "NOW what are you thinking?"

"Just that you started calling me names like that the first time we went out to eat together."

"That's because you were this impossibly cute little girl that should have reasons to smile," he said. "After Mizz Helen told me your circumstances, I thought that at least I could do what I could to make you happy." He squeezed my knee.

"And, sir," I picked, "exactly when did that include marrying me?" I liked talking about the evolution of our life together. Makes me appreciate it all that much more, you know.

"The night of the thunderstorm. And no, it was BEFORE you jumped in my bed."

I saw those blue eyes of his and THEY were smiling. I didn't trap this guy at all. He was meant for me as much as I'm meant for him.

"But what could I do?" he continued. "You were thirteen." He sighed. "I guess you lived more than a lot of women twice your age, though. God, I love you, Cindy!"

And that's why I hate seatbelts. My guy needed a kiss right then. Oh, well. We all have to deal with adversity.

It wasn't too long before we pulled into the driveway of our temporary home. We went inside and soon as I was in the door, I locked it behind me and captured Dan from behind.

"Wow, sweetness," he said. "You make me feel good when you do that."

I had my arms around his waist and was holding him as hard as I could. Sometimes I wish we could just melt together. I let him go so he could turn around, and as soon as he did, I gave him that kiss that I'd been keeping since the drive over. I love kissing. Dan's the ONLY guy I ever really kissed, and when we kiss, my toes actually curl. And if we're standing, he HAS to hold me, because sometimes my knees get weak.

When we stopped that kiss, I took him by the hand and dragged him towards the sofa. No, NOT the bed. Yet.

Dan knows me. He laid back on the sofa and spread his arms. That's my place: In his arms. He likes it. I like it. I can tell he likes it, because he gets so hard, soooo fast!

"I'm not hurting you, am I, baby?" I asked him. I didn't need to ask. His eyes didn't say anything about hurt. I learned to read Dan's eyes a long time ago.

His lips kissing mine answered my question. I don't want to think about how passionate Dan might have been before he met me. I know he was married, and I know he almost got married after his first wife died, so I know he had sex with other women. All I know about sex was what I heard from Mom and her boyfriends making noise at the other end of our old trailer.

But here's Dan, and honestly, if it was any more intense, I fear I might burn out my brain. I actually pass out sometimes when he makes me come, because I wake up and he's holding me in his arms, kissing me softly, the way he does sometimes. Mizz Ann asked me one time if I was happy about 'our relations'. Mizz Ann is sooo refined and genteel. But she asked me. And I told her that if it was any better, I'd just DIE. Mizz Ann smiled.

So her I am, laying on top of the guy who is the ONLY man I will ever make love with, and his hands are roaming over me, loving me, touching me, and causing quivers all through my body. My own hands, this time, I was holding his head. Dan still keeps his hair, like, Army short, just like Mister Jim. It's not stylish, but Dan's 'style' is something he IS, not something he looks like, and I love feeling his hair, bristly on the sides, soft on top where it's a little longer, and I know that even if we weren't tangled up together, he purrs when I caress his head.

I pulled away from his lips and kissed him on the nose. "Baby," I said, "Why don't we go to the bedroom? Hmmm?" Ummm, he's SOOOO obvious!

He's still got a little limp in his walk, what with that chunk missing from his butt and the hole in his calf, but he was right there with me. He went to one side of the bed and I went to the other and we pulled the covers back. Mizz Helen has excellent tastes in mattresses. This one is perfect. It's even better when you crawl across it naked and find the love of your life meeting you in the middle in a similar condition.

Dan likes my titties. I'm glad. They're not very big, even in the eighth grade. I used to worry. I stopped worrying. I mean, he does things to 'em that ... Well, he can play with 'em for a while and then all he has to do is TOUCH my button and I come my brains out. Of course, I can do the same thing to him. IF I do his LEFT nipple. It's funny. The right one is not nearly as sensitive.

So we're in the middle of the bed, on our knees together, and I'm wrapping one arm around him and the other one is kind of between us because I know he's hard and I like feeling him and our mouths are together and we're playing little games with our tongues and it's really magical. And I know what I want. Right NOW!

I pulled Dan back on top of me and I spread my legs so he's between them and he knows what I want because I'm wet and he's leaky and I don't stop kissing him and I feel his hard thingie slide down from between us, over my muffin, and then it's between my lips and I sort of work my butt a little and the head of that THING just pushes its way into me and we're MATED! This is the part where I leave this universe!

Dan is so perfect. He says that it's not him, it's US, we're perfect together, but I can feel him inside me and everything is just so unbelievably good, and if I wiggle just a little bit I can rub my button on him every time he pushes into me and then I wrap my legs around his and make SURE that he hits ME every time he pushes and I know it's our first one today but I've been thinking about it and he's been just being Dan and now ... it starts with little tingles and gets bigger and bigger and my universe shrinks to just THAT part and BANG!BANG!BANG! and he reads me and I'm coming and I feel my Dan coming because it's hot and and it's squirting deep in me and he's throbbing and he can't push those long strokes any more, just little short ones and that's just fine with me because they just tickle my button to keep me coming ... Ahhhhhhh!

When it's winding down, Dan always rolls over on his back and keeps me on top of him. Little kisses work good then. And then I feel him fall out of me. This is decision time for us. We can do this three ways. We can just lay there, and that leaves a big wet spot. Or we can get a towel. I put a little hand towel by the head of the bed, just in case. Or my favorite.

"Baby," I asked him, "We're gonna have a mess. I can take care of MY end..."

"And I get MY end," he laughs.

And we twist around and I can lick and suck and get all that juice from us. But he doesn't just get that juice that's coming out of me. I'm still glowing down there and when Dan cleans me up, he's VERY thorough, and then he uses his tongue on my button and EVERY time we do this I come again. This is the one where I pass out sometimes.

This time I didn't. I just turned around and slid off his side and we rolled to face each other and held on.

"Cindy, my little Cindy," he said, stroking my face with his hand, "You're the most astoundingly perfect lady in the universe."

"I love you, Dan," I said. "I really do love you. When all the stars turn off, they'll say 'Look! Cindy STILL loves Dan!" I make him smile. When he smiles, BOTH our lives are richer.

I talked to my adopted sister Tina about that and SHE understands completely. We have that whole 'trashy mom' thing in common, and we both found these guys who're perfect for us, and we both understand when we talk to each other about it.

I gave Dan some little kisses and he was touching my hair and a while later I woke up from a nap I didn't know I was taking. I raised up on an elbow and saw my guy asleep, but he wasn't sleeping too deep, because his eyelids fluttered and opened and I kissed his cheek and he smiled.

"Memorable," he said. "You're such a kitten."

"Your kitten's thinking about dinner, guy," I said, giggling.

"My kitten has a practical side." He laughed. "Let's go visit the Sommers sisters."

I liked the Sommers sisters and their restaurant. They usually had time to sit and talk to me and Dan when we went there, and the food was always a change from the ordinary. Sometimes it was healthy, like steamed veggies and interesting spices, and sometimes it was rich. They did somethings with sauces that I wanna learn.

Learn. In the the kitchen. I was trying. I even called my sister-in-law when I tried cooking, and Dan does pretty darned good himself. Even if I AM going to be an engineer, I need to be able to do a credible job in the kitchen.

"I'm getting dressed and YOU'RE sitting there," Dan told me. "If you DON'T get dressed, we can have TV dinners and..."

He makes me smile. "We can go out to eat and STILL do that," I giggled. I started getting dressed, and then I brushed my hair and we went out to the truck.

We were driving down the road when my phone rang. I wasn't surprised. Not a day went by that I didn't talk with Tina. Usually it was Tina AND Susan.

"Hey, sis," I said.

"Hi, sis," she giggled. She must've had the phone on speaker, laying on the table, because I heard Susan say 'Hi, sis' too.

"Hi, Susan! What's up, guys?" That's actually quite funny. I have pictures of the the three of us, and we're like stair-steps. Tina's the tallest, I'm the short one, and Susan fits in the middle. She's blonde, and I'm pretty far into red, and Tina's right on the edge between red and brown. She's a pretty auburn. But Dan's got a fetish about MY hair, so I'm not complaining.

Susan and Tina told me about them playing Trivial Pursuit with Jason and Alan. Sounded like fun. I don't know Jason that well, but Dan says good things about him. It'd would be funny in a nice way if Susan and Jason ended up together. I know how happy I am, and I know how happy Tina is. Can Susan find that too?

My sisters and I laughed and talked a little about school, too. Two weeks until high school exit exams. We were all going to take them about the same time, and we all needed to pass them, and NONE of us was the least bit worried.

"Let's get our dates together for graduation. I hope there's a difference," I said.

"Yeah," Susan giggled. "So we can go to each other's."

"I hope so," I said. "Dan thinks we're funny."

"So does Alan," Tina giggled.

"My mom thinks it's cute. Dad just shakes his head," Susan said.

Of course, Dan was hearing one side of this conversation, but he was smiling. He was pretty happy about the whole 'sisters' thing.

We ended up at the restaurant and let them talk us into their idea of a Greek salad with some kind of flatbread and a tasty dip and I loved it. I noticed Dan didn't leave anything on his plate, either.

"Got the recipe off the Internet," the oldest of the two sisters said. "We tried it on our European trip and loved it."

The younger sister (Hah! She's maybe sixty-five) said, "We played around with it just a little. But we think it's close to authentic."

Dan smiled. "Perfect! But I've never been to Greece."

We talked with them about springtime in Alabama and the spring vegetables and greens they'd soon be getting and my school stuff and how soon we'd be moving, and that made me a little sad. These were some more of those nice people in my life since I started with Dan.

I'm smiling while I write this because we did leave the restaurant and Mizz Helen's house has a shower big enough for two, and me and Dan got to shower together. Of course, some of that was entirely necessary so we could attend to medical necessities of tending each other's wounds. But he spent a LOT more time on something else. He had to hold me up. My knees quit working when I come.

And that meant that when we went to bed later, I was STILL glowing and when THAT one ended, we couldn't move. First thing in the morning, we had to put the sheets in the washer, then we went to breakfast. Same restaurant as we always do for breakfast, where the waitress sees us walk in and says, 'Hi, Cindy an' Dan. Go sit where ya want!' and she shows up with coffee automatically. That's nice. I miss catching Mister Bill there most Saturdays. He's moved on to the next project after he finishes a couple of weeks in Hawaii.

Back in the truck, Dan commented about how pretty a day it was. That gave me a yearning to do another thing that comes with my life with Dan: flying! By the time we got home, we had a plan, and Dan spent a few minutes on the laptop while I packed our bags and back out the door we went. We called Mizz Helen so that somebody would know where we were, and then I called Tina and told her.

She giggled. "That's great! We'll meet you there!"

"Seriously?" I couldn't believe. I was hoping, but ... nahhh!

"Yeah," Tina said. "We were talking about bout flying off this weekend. That's a good one! 'Bout the same distance for us. Want Alan to talk to Dan?"

"Yeah," I said. I handed the phone to Dan. "Here! Talk to Alan."

Dan looked at me. He does this 'raised eyebrow' thing when I do stuff like this. He took the phone. "Hi, Alan. What kind of mess are we getting into THIS weekend?" The smile on my guy's face told me what his words REALLY meant.

He listened for a second, then said, "Okay, yeah, I already have us a rental car. I can call and upgrade it. Uh, what about Susan?" Pause. "Uh-huh! Okay ... did y'all have a destination?" Pause. "Good! I guess we're subject to another one of those plans, huh?" He laughed. "Okay bud! And Susan and Tina, thanks, ladies!"

I took my phone back and listened to my sisters giggling. "See!" Tina said. "That's how THAT works! We'll see you this afternoon." I clicked my phone off.

Dan was driving along when I wrapped my arms around his bicep and put my chin on his shoulder. He knows that when I do this, I'm happy. "You don't mind, do you, baby?" I asked. I batted my eyelashes on purpose. That makes him laugh.

"I guess not," he said. "We have friends. We have family. And I'll always have my Cindy!"

Before Dan, I never gave a thought to people having airplanes, much less being able to fly one myself, but we had 'Sissy', our old Cessna 180, and I could fly her. And that's exactly what this Saturday was about. We went to the little airport and got our airplane out of its hangar and backed the truck in its place and locked the doors, then we flew off to meet our friends.

I can just barely see over the instrument panel when we're taxiing, but Dan says that S-turns are what you're supposed to do anyway, and that some planes are a lot worse than this one. But once we're in the air, everything is great! I love flying. Dan just shakes his head. The only time he gets in the pilot's seat these days is if we're flying into one of the big cities where there's all those funny traffic restrictions. I'm learning, though. I'm going to get my student license for my sixteenth birthday.

My sixteenth birthday. I was going to get married that day, but that was before Mister Charlie turned into Judge Charles Peebles and did those legal maneuvers to let me and Dan get married. Now, since we're married, I'm gonna use that day to get my student license. And then, when I'm seventeen, I'll get my private license. I'm a little jealous of Tina for that. She's got hers. But she's seventeen already.

We wear these big headphones with a microphone hanging off the front so we can talk on the plane's intercom. I think Dan looks dashing, wearing his, like one of the heroes out of an old war movie. I think I look ridiculous, but Dan has pictures, and he says I look cute because they make my hair do interesting things. Like I said, Dan loves my hair. And I'm good with it. But with the headphones, we can talk all the way to where we're going.

And we did. Seems that Tina and Alan and Susan had found a community college with a chamber orchestra to go listen to, and that's where we're heading. One night. We won't be able to to 'musical Susan', as she named it, where she sleeps in one room one night, and another, the next, so that both couples get a night to themselves. I don't mind either way. Dan and I are not about JUST sex. I mean, the sex is WONDERFUL, but like we talked about early in our relationship, the LOVE is the thing.

Our timing's getting better. Ten miles out, I switched the radio to the UNICOM frequency and called, "Danner Unicom, this is Cessna five five two three uniform, ten mile southeast, landing runway one-five."

And the radio broke squelch and I heard Tina, "Roger, two three uniform, this is Cessna six five six seven golf. Ten miles east, landing one-five at Danner. We'll look for you. Giggle."

Dan laughed at Tina's giggle.

Ten minutes later, both our planes were sitting on the flightline. I let Dan finish tying us down and I ran to meet Tina and Susan. I didn't feel TOO bad about that. He grabbed our bags and came to meet us. Alan was with him and they were talking. At least they were smiling.

Alan walked through the office door. He poked Dan. "Look! Cuties!"

"Why thank you for saying so, Mister Alan," Susan said. She was giggling. Susan's funny. She makes a good sister. I wish we lived closer to them. But we'll get our wish this summer in Alabama. Dan and Alan will start a new business and the three of us, me, Tina and Susan, we'll start college at Auburn.

Our rental car showed up and Dan signed the papers. We loaded bags in the trunk and then we girls got into the back seat. I was in the middle, since I'm the shortest. I turned to Susan. "So, sis, what's with this Jason guy?"

Mizz Helen used to tell me that I didn't do a good job of hiding how I felt about Dan, before we became 'official'. When I saw Susan's face, I kind of understood what Mizz Helen was seeing.

Tina said, "Shhhhhh! Don't talk about that. Alan gets all nervous!"

Susan just smiled. Sweet smile. Like she was happy. I just want them to be happy like I am, that's all. If it takes Jason, well, that's good for me.

I was getting used to these hotels. Before I met Dan, I remember spending ONE night in a hotel. Now we did this once or twice a month. It's a break from our trailer. Main thing, as far as I'm concerned, is the BIG shower and all that hot water. I got careless once and the hot water in the trailer ran out on Dan. He shaved with cold water. And reminded me.

But here we are, and there's time for us to go to our rooms and shower and get dressed up for dinner and the concert. Susan came out in a basic blue dress that sure worked good with her blonde hair. Susan's got curves. Some people might say she's a little fat, but she's just nicely rounded and I think she's cute, and that blue dress ... Maybe Jason needed to see THAT. Or not. Might burn out his brain.

Tina was in her navy blue dress, just like in the concert where we met, and this time I did Dan's favorite, dark green, because he said he liked it. Several times. Our guys look good in suits, too. We got the desk clerk at the hotel to get some pictures of us all. I've seen some of those pictures. Dan has one of those electronic picture frames on his desk, and he's got it loaded with our pictures. And he's got that one big one of both of us, just our faces, printed out and framed on his office wall.

We had a good meal, and then the concert was good, too. I hadn't heard any of those pieces, but they were beautiful. Classical music. Yeah, a 'Dan' thing. And I agree with him a hundred percent.

We ended up in a pancake place after the concert. The evening needed more time with friends. And then we went to the hotel and I ended up in bed with Dan. Susan stayed with Tina and Alan. We promised to trade the next time we got together for a one-nighter and let Alan and Tina have THEIR NIGHT. I do like having Susan there, but I really like bein' completely naked with Dan in bed, and then we go to sleep, and we wake up, and sometimes ... well, I like that.

Sunday morning was breakfast and talking and laughing and making plans. When the guys weren't around, Susan told me that her dad had a talk with Alan about Jason. And she was giggly happy when her mom talked with her about it.

At noon, I taxied out ahead of them. Tina laughs. Says "Cindy wiggles her butt when she taxis." Because I have to do those S-curves to see where I'm going.

Once we were in the air, I told Dan about Susan and Jason.

"I hope she's not rushing," he said.

"I don't think so, baby," I told him. "I hope it's HER version of US."

Dan smiled at me. I love it when he smiles.

Chapter 49

So I'm at work on Monday morning and my cell phone rings. I look at the display. It's Alan. I'm in my office, so taking the call isn't a problem. "Hey, brother-in- law," I said. After all, if our wives are sisters, then that makes him my brother- in- law.

"Hello, Dan. How's work?" he asked.

"I'm cleaning up the contract language and turning it into a technical specification," I said. "You know how that works."

He laughed. "Yeah, and if I was gonna bet, you wrote the contract language in the first place."

I smiled. "Might've done a bit of it. Sure looks familiar. How about you?"

"Routine stuff. Got the auxiliaries up, got us on a temporary feed to the new buildings, won't hit the big substation until we're ready to do some major equipment for real," he said.

"Sounds like fun."

"What I wanted to call you about, it's kinda gossipy, but your guy Jason and Cindy and Tina's sister, Susan, they're officially an item."

"No joke?!?" I blurted.

"Nope. He actually asked Susan's parents for their permission to, as he put it, 'court their daughter'."

"Told you that guy was a nerd," I laughed. "Sounds like something I'd've done."

"Doesn't mean I stop sweating over them, though."

"I know, old son. But what can you do?"

"I know," he said. "But she's Tina's friend..."

"And Cindy's," I added the obvious. "But if they WANT to date, what can you really do?"

"I know..." then he laughed. "I just wanted to give you a 'head's up' before you get Cindy's version."

"This'll tickle her. She likes Susan. Says she's a good fit for the community. And one good thing..."

"What's that?" Alan asked.

"Susan's going to Auburn with our wives. That kinda locks ol' Jason in, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess it does, huh?"

"All we can do is hope it works out for them, and if it doesn't, that it's relatively painless," I said.

"Yeah, I guess." Alan didn't sound totally convinced. "You know, we probably need to start looking around Opelika soon. Gonna need to get some ideas about where this troop is gonna live, and where we can do an office, and all that."

"You're right, commander," I said. "Time's flying, you know."

"Well, there IS that whole 'internet' thing," he laughed.

"You're right. Let's do a little recon. See if anything pops up, then we can go over and look."

"Sounds good," Alan laughed. "Of course, we'll have the whole crew with us..."

"Uh-huh..."

"Okay, buddy. Talk to you later. Jason just walked in with a big grin on his face."

"Okay, Alan. Tell 'im if he messes up, I'll hunt 'im down..."

"I'll pass that on," Alan laughed. "See ya later."

I went on about the day's activities, taking time at mid-morning to stretch my legs. Sara was at her desk, fitting into her new permanent job quite comfortably.

"Hello, lady. Who's on your list to terrorize today?"

She smiled, looking over the top of her glasses. "Dan, Dan, Dan ... I don't keep a list. But if I did, you'd be on it ... How's Cindy?"

"Doin' just fine. She's gonna take the high school exit exam in a week or so. I'd be worried. But she's not. And if she's not worried..."

Sara shook her head, chuckling. "You got it bad about 'er, don't you, buddy?"

"Yes I do, lady. She's a joy. Remarkable."

"Your face lights up. So does hers. If I'd been paying attention the first time you brought her here, I might've not been as surprised."

I sat down beside her desk with my coffee mug and looked around. Seeing nobody else in the building, I told Sara, "Nobody was as surprised as I was. I didn't come over here looking for fourteen year olds."

"Yeah," Sara said. "But look at her. She's timeless. Like a reincarnation of Queen Elizabeth. Their first one, that faced down Spain."

I was amused. Sara read my face.

"Wha-attt? I can't be a student of history?" she said.

"No, just that I never actually applied the term 'timeless' to Cindy. Sara, you gotta know how much she's changed since the first time I met her. She was a bashful, almost scared little thing. We'd just swim in the afternoon and talk about things. Then she started school and asked for schoolwork help."

Sara smiled. "I'm sure that's the way it started. And now look at you two. Her. She's quite a bit of work!"

"Yes she is," I smiled. "And it makes me happy when others see a little of what I see in her."

"Well, I can see it now, but I gotta tell you, when I first found out y'all were married, uh..." she said.

"Oh, hell, lady! D'ya have any idea how difficult it was to come to work after we got married? I mean, she's the love of my life, but I was worried that people would think..."

She shook her head, tossing her hair back. "That people would think exactly what I thought, that you were some kind of perverted child molester?"

"Yeah. That. You may not understand this, and if you repeat it, I'll swear you're hallucinating, but I value YOUR friendship. And everybody else's on the job. But you. And especially Bill Carmody. I was afraid that you guys wouldn't accept that, or that you'd think bad of Cindy."

"No, I thought she might be deluded, but any blame would've been YOURS. That's the way the law is, you know..."

"Oh, believe me, I DO know. I almost left the state when she and I started talking about love and relationships. Sara, guys my age who get involved with fourteen year old girls go to jail."

"I know that, Dan. I questioned that in my own mind after you two got married, though. But now, I see you two together. I see HER! Hell, Dan, (from Sara, who NEVER cussed) I'm more abused than HER!"

"You say that now..." I said.

"Yeah. You can imagine the conversations when the news got out and you weren't around." She sighed.

"I can imagine..."

"I don't know if you can. But Bill..."

"Bill told me that if I hurt Cindy, he'd put my body in a concrete pour."

"Sounds like Bill. The first day she came in here, he told me that she reminded him of his grand-daughter."

"Treated 'er like his grand-daughter. Says he's flying back for her high school graduation."

"Oh, yeah, about that. You need to get a headcount. Cindy's gonna need a LOT of invitations!"

"Her new sisters and my buddy Alan are flying down here for it, too," I said.

Sara's eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah, that crew you showed me. Alan's married to a seventeen year old, and that blonde girl, she's part of the gang?"

"Uh-huh. And remember Jason Ellerbee?"

"Your lead technician?"

"Yeah. He's dating Susan. The blonde girl."

Sara's jaw dropped.

"She's the oldest of the bunch. She's eighteen."

"He's what? Twenty-seven?"

"Twenty-six," I countered.

"That's getting closer to normal," she admitted.

"Uh-huh. And exactly how do you think you can tell an eighteen year old girl who she can't date?"

"Her parents know?"

I told her the story about Jason formally asking permission to date Susan.

Sara giggled. "He always had a twist on words," she admitted. "And he didn't seem rude or coarse. And you KNOW how construction guys can be." She raised an eyebrow at me. "But you weren't either, you know. Just so you know that I noticed. Bill wasn't either. I had some real reservations about taking that job. But I'm glad I did."

"I'm glad you did, too," I said. "I appreciated your work. And I'm really happy that you and your husband ended up here after it's over."

"Yeah, it did turn out good, didn't it?" she smiled.

"Uh-huh. Lots of good from the whole thing." I got up and returned to my office.

As the day drew to an end, Sara stuck her head in my door. "Dan? Thank you for talking with me about you and Cindy. You know I love 'er. Question 'er choice of mates, but she's a charmer."

"Thank you, Sara. I appreciate that. Give your hubby a hug."

Giggle. "I'll do that, buddy! You give Cindy one!"

"Guaranteed!" I said.

I left the office a few minutes after Sara, headed home. Somehow, the conversation with Sara had me yearning for a certain young redhead.

I found her at the RV park office, leaning over the counter, one leg raised behind her, chatting with Helen. When she saw me, she bounded over, a bundle of happy young woman, laced her fingers behind my neck and kissed me.

"Well, hi, baby," I said. "Hi, Helen!"

"She misses you, Dan," Helen laughed.

I kissed Cindy back. "That's good," I said, "because I miss her." Cindy backed away a fraction. "What's up babe?"

"Oh, nothing," she said. "Well, the high school exit exams are in two weeks. They're doing reviews over there. I'm thinking about going. I just have to ride the bus a little further, that's all."

"Have you talked to..."

"Mister Jim? Yes. He's the one who told me about it."

Helen was shaking her head.

"I think it's funny, too, Helen..." I chuckled.

"Uh-huh. Fourteen. And she's debating as to whether or not she needs to sit in on reviews to graduate from high school." Helen smiled broadly. "Cindy, d'you realize how far you've come since last year?"

The little redhead's green eyes twinkled. "Yes, ma'am. Sometimes I close my eyes during the day and think about all the changes since this guy showed up here." She had me, her arm around my waist. I don't know where she kept my heart. She looked at me with those smiling green eyes. "Mizz Ann and Mister Jim want us over for dinner. She's got a lasagna in the freezer."

I laughed and told Helen, "Ann's lasagna is a very pleasant surprise. I can't pass this up."

Helen smiled. "You two just go do what you need to do. Dan, have you talked with the trailer people?"

"As a matter of fact, I did," I said. "They're talking about delivery on Friday. I talked to the manager of the shop. He says it'll be like new."

That got a squeal from Cindy. "Our HOME is coming back!"

"Yes it is," I said. "I'm taking Friday off to get our stuff out of storage and back into the trailer, so it'll be livable when you get in from school."

"Really?"

"Really!"

"What if I skip school and we do it together. It is OUR home!" She was grinning now.

"Let's see what Jim says about that. But it sounds like a good idea to me."

"Bye, Mizz Helen," Cindy chirped as we headed out the door.

I waved. Helen was smiling, watching Cindy lead me by the hand, her gait verging on a skip. She climbed into the truck from the driver's side, buckling into the center seat, and I slid in beside her.

"Get us to the house, baby," she said. "I need major hugs."

"Something wrong?" I asked.

"Nope, I got happy, and I wanna hug you to share it. Dinner's at six at the Hardesty's, so we have time."

That was reason enough to push the pedal just a little bit harder. At least we got inside the door before I had an eager teen wrapping herself around me, green eyes twinkling.

"You ARE happy. Something new?"

"Just a day at school, baby," she said. "One of the pregnant eighth-graders is showing pretty good. At least she's still there. I heard that a couple are bein' home-schooled. That's just a way of sayin' eighth-grade dropout, is what I think. And it's tragic. And I was thinkin'g about how tragic it was, talking with Kaylee."

"Kaylee. Isn't that 'Little Miss My Daddy's a Lawyer'?"

"Yep. But she and I are pretty good friends now. We talk at lunch. Her and I and a couple of other girls. They tried to be one of those snobby cliques, but I ignored that when I helped 'em with math and stuff. So now we talk." She smiled. "But let me finish. We were talking about futures and plans an' stuff and how that pregnant girl kinda lost hers, and how sad it was, and I got to thinking about me and you and I've got a future, even if I wasn't graduating in May, and then I thought about, like Mizz Helen said, what was going on last summer before we met, and it made me happy. And made me want to hug you and hold onto you until we melt together." And she kissed me.

Eight months since our first kiss, which was, according to my cutie, her FIRST kiss, and Cindy was GOOD at it. My hands cradled that copper hair, then I gazed into those green eyes. "Cindy, sweetness, if you do one more like that, we may miss dinner."

Giggle. She kissed me on the nose.

"You're not the only one who looks back at how things have changed since last summer, you know," I said.

"I do know, love," she smiled. "You've told me and I believe you. 'S what Tootie says, too." Giggle. "Now, are you gonna change shoes?"

"Uh-huh," I said. "And wash my face." I did that, the cool washcloth feeling good, refreshing, and when I stood up I saw Cindy behind me, reflected in the mirror. I pulled her around to my front, her back against me, and I looked at our reflection.

She knew what I was doing. "Strangest view of perfection I've ever seen," she smiled. "Let's go see our friends."

"Yes ma'am," I laughed.

We were back in the truck, listening to the music, talking.

"Mister Jim says that a good eighth-grader should be able to pass the high school exit exam."

"You have to do more than just pass, baby. You have to do competent or better."

I glanced away from the road to see her face. She was smiling.

"Mister Jim and my teachers say I won't have a problem."

"So why the idea about the review?" I asked.

"Just wanna see what it's like." Giggle. "Seeing as how it's gonna be my only chance at the high school experience."

"Wasn't the ACT day enough?"

"I'd kinda like to sit in a classroom. I'm thinking English, maybe. And algebra. Just to see." She sighed. "I talk with that girl that I met at the ACT day, Kaitlyn, sometimes. She fills me in on some of it."

"And that doesn't discourage you?"

"Noooo, it' makes me curious."

"You're going to be like a sheep among wolves," I mused.

"I don't think so, babe," she said. "First, it'll be for a week or two at most. Second, I'm going to be a curiosity to a lot of those kids AND the teachers, so it's not like I'll disappear into the crowd where I can be bullied or picked on. And third, SOMEBODY taught me how to stand my ground and take care of myself." She sounded confident.

"Yeah, but you can't shoot 'em. No matter how much the gene pool might benefit." She'd heard this speech before.

"I know. Let's see what Mister Jim says."

That was going to be pretty soon, because we were driving up the road to their house by now. Billy was in the front yard when we pulled in. He waved and trotted over.

"Hi, Mister Dan. Hi, Cindy!"

"Hey, Billy," we said, almost in unison.

"I can't go in the house right now."

"You been bad?" Cindy questioned.

"Oh, no," Billy answered. "It's Mom's lasagna. I'm really hungry!" He escorted us to the front door, opened it, and yelled, "Mom! Dad! Cindy an' Mister Dan's here!"

Ann stuck her head around the corner. "Hey, y'all! Make yourselves at home. Jim'll be down in a second. I'm SURE he heard the announcement."

"Can I help you with dinner?" Cindy asked.

Ann smiled. "You can help Teresa set the table. Billy! Ice in the glasses."

I saw Jim coming down the stairs. "Hey, buddy," I said. "How was YOUR day?"

"Not bad," he said. "Did Cindy tell you about our conversation?"

"About her going to the high school for some review classes?"

"Yeah. That's it.," I said.

He smiled. "Yeah, I asked her to come to my office. Got another one of those 'Cindy' conversations, Dan."

"Oh yeah? And how did that go?" I asked. I knew that Jim thought highly of my Cindy.

"I tell ya, every time I propose something to her, she goes into this sort of analytical mode and runs down a list of pros and cons, risks and benefits. She told me it was her only chance to get any of 'the high school experience'."

"Oh, THAT conversation," I laughed.

He looked at me. "So you got it, too?"

"On the way over here," I said. "Between me and you, is she gonna have a problem with those tests?"

"Hardly," he laughed. Her English teacher ran one of her 'Cindy' writings through an analysis program. Her grammar and vocabulary are at the fourteen, almost fifteen year level. I've seen her do a practice math test. Scares me."

"Me too. Bad enough getting beat by a girl. But one that's twenty-odd years younger?"

A red head peered around the corner. "Are y'all talking about me?" she grinned.

"Subject of the day," I said.

"Come on! Dinner's ready," she said.

Thus began another pleasant meal with good friends. "Just ain't right that an Alabama girl can cook a lasagna like this," I told Jim.

Ann blushed. "Flattery will get you seconds," she said. "When we were living in Europe, me and my jarhead, our neighbor married a local girl who actually had talents in the kitchen. Actually, she and her mom showed me how to cook this." She smiled. "And that's who Teresa is named after. We still keep in touch."

"It's THAT good," I said. "You know you owe me a recipe."

"Can't do it, Dan," she said. "When y'all move, you'll have to come visit us to get this."

Cindy fielded that one. "Like we'll NEED an excuse to come visit. I owe ... we owe you two a lot. If Mister Jim hadn't taken the time to work on one little girl's case, I'd still be in the middle of the eighth grade."

"Your husband had something to do with that," Jim said.

"Uh-huh. No doubt." She squeezed my knee, as physical as we ever got when Billy and Teresa were in the room. "But YOU took off with it, Mister Jim."

"Thank you, Cindy. But I doubt that I'll ever get another student like you."

"Thank YOU, Mister Jim. Now, about that high school thing ... Mizz Ann, what do YOU think?"

Ann was taken aback. "Cindy, I just barely talked with Jim about it. He thinks you really won't get much from the review classes."

"Yes," Jim said. "Cindy, you have to realize that those classes are the school trying to get people that might NOT pass at all up to where they have a chance of getting marginal scores, so they can graduate. There's nothing marginal about you, sweetie."

Teresa bumped his knee. Jim put his arm around his daughter, a year behind Cindy in school. "You're not in that group either, darlin'," he said. "You got your momma's looks AND her brain."

"And it is well that you admit, guy," Ann smirked. I knew the truth. She did, too. Jim was no slouch. You don't become a Marine aviator by being dumb. And from Teresa's posture, you could tell she was Daddy's Girl.

"I'd like to at least go a few days," Cindy said. "I talked to Kaitlyn. She's a senior. We met at the ACT's. She said that if you can get me onto HER schedule, she'll help me around the place and keep me between the lines."

I looked at Jim. "Can you do that?"

"I probably can. Let me make a phone call tomorrow. The principal at the high school knows about Cindy and I think they'll bend over backward to work with her."

Cindy had a satisfied smile on her face. "Thank you, Mister Jim."

"Just remember," he said, "just because you start out with this doesn't tie you into anything. You could skip this entirely and still take the tests."

"I know, but this is my only chance to go to high school."

"I know I don't have to tell you this, but use the knowledge you gain to your advantage. High school kids are like middle schoolers, except bigger and maybe more malicious," Ann said.

"I'll be okay," said Cindy. "Really." Her smile was confident. Infectious.

The conversation shifted away from Cindy to Teresa and Billy, Jim and Ann proudly listing the accomplishments of both their kids.

Teresa had a 4.0 going for the year. Billy was a couple of B's and C's shy of that. "But Mommmm ... I hate the stories they make us read."

"We don't always get to do exactly what we want, Billy," Jim said. "Sometimes you have to take on the unpleasant tasks in the interests of future rewards."

"Says the guy who's gotta paint the outside trim," Ann laughed.

"That's an excellent example," Jim said. "I do the outside housework, no matter how UNFUN it is, and in return your mom cooks me good meals and stuff. And Billy, you're gonna help me paint. Me and you. We get the outside of the house."

"And almost ALL the painting," Ann added.

"That's the advantage of living in a trailer," I said. "I hitch it up when we get ready to move, and I drive it through a truck wash."

"You're not helping, Dan," Ann said. "Don't encourage 'im."

Teresa giggled. She was a product of this happy couple. "Mom, Dad really doesn't NEED encouragement."

The clock was pushing eight when we left and it was a little past eight when we got to Helen's house, our temporary home.

On the trip there, Cindy said, "Dan, you don't REALLY think that I'll have trouble at high school, do you?"

"Probably not, little one," I said. "But you know how I am about you."

"I know. You wanna keep me safe and happy. But you're the one that tells me that you can't be there all the time and that I need to work things out on my own."

"That's just evil."

"What's evil?"

"Using my own words against me."

Giggle. "I know. And so do you! I'm gonna tell Mister Jim tomorrow. And I'm gonna call Kaitlyn and have her meet me at school on Wednesday."

"Then you go ahead, baby," I said. "And you know that I'm a phone call away."

"Oh, you act like I'm going into the jungle. I'm going to a high school for a week and a half. I already have a friend there. Mister Jim and the principal are friends, and Mister Jim takes care of me like YOU do, except for different reasons..."

"No doubt," I said. I had my arm around her while I was driving, and I just tugged her closer.

"Just another step in my life with my Dan," she said.

We pulled into the driveway and went in the house. She looked over her shoulder. "Shower, Baby?"

"You betcha, little cutie, ' I said. "I love showering with charming girls."

Giggle. "I'd better be the ONLY girl who charms you..."

"You are. Forever."

"Mmmm," escaped around the kiss she gave me. "Good. Why do we still have all these clothes on?"

"A grave error on my part, little one, and I fear I've distracted you." I stepped back and started undressing. So did she. Stopped mid-way through, me in my drawers, her in her panties, for a sustaining kiss, then we were in the bathroom, waiting for the water to get warm in the shower.

She was bent over, retrieving her hair dryer. I surveyed that sweet nude form, thinking of the unabashed joy with which we shared ourselves with each other, and then a dark thought clouded my mind. In a day or two, this cutie was going from middle school, where at least she was a chronological equal, to high school, where she would be the youngest one in every room. And she was stunning.

When she stood up and turned, she saw my face. "You're thinking again, aren't you, Dan."

"Yeah, I was."

She took my hand, stepped into the shower, and pulled me in. As the hot water coursed over our joined bodies, she said, "You need to stop worrying."

I stopped, at least long enough for us to enjoy the shower. We got out. I shaved while she started drying her hair, and I finished before she did, so I took her brush and the dryer and finished for her.

We were still naked when we put away our things in the bathroom and headed into the bedroom.

We crawled into bed, the reading lamp on the bedside table providing light. She propped up on one elbow, facing me. "Now, baby, tell me what you were thinking about. You looked sad."

I kissed her gently, musing on this delightfully perceptive thing who was my wife. "Baby, I was just thinking how beautiful you are, and now you're going into a high school, and you'll be beautiful AND new AND young and I know that boys will do a lot more than just notice that you're there."

I got a kiss in return. "Dan, love of my life, my ONLY love, sometimes you forget that this is ME. Don't you think I thought about all that? And think about it. How many times did I shut one of those teenaged boys down at the pool last fall? Hmmm?" She looked at me, her face so close to mine. "Oh, yeah, I want me one of THOSE!"

"Baby, you're ... you don't know what you mean to me."

She smiled, her green eyes soft, drawing me in. "But I DO, Dan. I'm not flattering myself. You and I, we connect. I've talked to my friends. I've talked to YOUR sister. I've talked with Mizz Helen..."

"You might be curious..."

"Hush," she said, putting a finger to my lips. "I know what to be curious about. Guys ain't it." Her language was slipping. I knew she was talking from the heart. "I know about guys. I know ALL I want to know. Physically? Dan Richards, YOU float my boat, blow my skirt up, ring my chimes ... I don't care how you want to put it, YOU'RE it. Mentally? Oh, come on ... Emotionally? I was probably into YOU before you were even thinking seriously about ME. And you care about me all the way through, not just what it would be like to do a young redhead." Her mouth was not a smile. It was her 'serious' face. "So YOU need to stop worrying. I'm not about to turn my back on my Dan and OUR family and friends, just because some high school guy makes eyes at me."

And she shoved me onto my back. "My place is right HERE!" she said. She spread her legs and sat back, astraddle me. "Dan, I love you. Okay?"

"I love you too, Cindy. And something as precious as you are in my life, I can't help but be concerned."

"Good. Be concerned. But know, this, dearest. I can take care of myself, and I will take care of US. Didn't we stand in front of Mizz Helen and Mister Charlie and say 'forever'?"

"You're just too much for any man to deserve."

She lay forward, her perky nipples pressing into my chest, and kissed me. "We don't always get what we deserve, Dan. But we have each other, and I am indescribably happy about that." Anther kiss. And another, then an avalanche and she impaled herself on my hardness and squealed herself through an orgasm as I held on for the ride, straining to last until she came. Made it.

Giggled our way through a "We can't leave a big spot on the sheets, it'll stain the mattress" cleaning session that got Cindy another orgasm, and then we donned our nightshirts and curled back into each other's arms. Well, I was holding HER. She was stroking my face and the side of my head, her eyes showing a love that I'd never experienced from another woman.

"Dan, I'll never finish telling you how much I love you."

Chapter 50

Two days later, instead of junior high school, Cindy boarded the bus for the county consolidated high school. She did so with an extra hug and a kiss on her lips.

My own drive to work was not without trepidation. I was vacillating between 'My Cindy can do ANYTHING' and 'I'm sending a cute little fourteen year old to a high school'.

Cindy's turn:

Dan says I'd be better writing down what I saw and felt and learned in my high school experience. I know Dan worries. He worries that I'll be hurt by the comments of people around me, or that I'll get bullied, or even worse, that I'll see some guy who turns me on.

Dan doesn't have to worry, at least about that 'guy' thing. There's exactly ONE guy on this planet that I ever had the thought of being with, and that's Dan.

The bullying thing? At the middle school, I'm a protected species. I helped a couple, well, several of the athletes pass math and other subjects so they could keep playing, and they made sure that I didn't get bullied or picked on. I did get the occasional comment, but I can just shrug them off. The kids that do that sort of thing, they have problems. The school people, all the teachers, Mister Jim, the principal, they have been on my side for months, even when word got around that I was married.

This high school thing, though. I met Kaitlyn the day I went to the high school to take the ACT's and we've kept in touch. We talk at least once a week. She tells me a lot of things. We talk about college, and about how she's doing in high school, and when we talked about me going there for the reviews. She said she'd talk to the principal because she's already in advanced placement classes, at least a couple of them, and I could go to classes with her, like she would be my guide.

I had my backpack, but it's been pretty light for the last couple of months since the middle school teachers seem to think that I've out-stripped the coursework. I keep notebooks and a calculator and a few odds and ends. Since I was sort of like a new student at school, they searched my backpack. Dan thinks this is pretty silly. He showed me that a cheap ballpoint pen is a pretty good weapon. After he showed me what I needed to know about that, I can put a BIC pen through a quarter inch of plywood. But I can't have scissors with points on them. Funny.

Kaitlyn was standing there waiting for me, and she took me to the school office. They gave me a high school photo ID card. Neat! Fourteen, and I have a high school ID. Kaitlyn thought it was funny, too.

"Okay, let's go to home room," Kaitlyn told me. "No class. Just a place to call roll and make announcements."

The hallway was crowded. That part isn't anything new, just different kids. But I'm a little on the short side, even in middle school, and in high school, I don't think I saw about a couple of girls my height. Kaitlyn got stopped by people a couple of times on the way to home room and she introduced me. I smiled and said 'Hi'.

Cameron. Yes, that's a girl. One of Kaitlyn's friends, but she's got a different home room assignment. They're assigned alphabetically. Except me. Kaitlyn's last name is Baker, and mine is Richards, or Smith-Richards, if I want to sound snobby, which I don't, but the school administration just told me that it was best that I hang with Kaitlyn, since she volunteered.

But back to Cameron. "You're FOURTEEN? What are you doing HERE?"

Kaitlyn told her, "Cindy's got the highest ACT score in the county this year. And if she passes the high school standard tests, she graduates with US!"

"Oh, that's just CRAZY!" Cameron said.

Kaitlyn told Cameron the short version of what was going on, then as we walked to home room, she told me, "We'll see Cameron in first hour. That's English. It's regular English. I didn't do the advanced placement class. I should have, but I didn't. We make mistakes, huh?"

Home room was rowdy. I guess it was worse because all the teacher needed to do was check attendance and read a couple of announcements. One of them was about the reviews and how to get extra help for those that needed (and wanted) it. Then the bell rang and it was back out in the chaos of the halls between classes.

"It's not as bad as it looks," Kaitlyn said, when she heard me say that. "Once you know where you're going, you just GO."

We walked into the English classroom and Kaitlyn introduced me to the teacher. I showed my letter to the teacher telling her why I was there. That was Mizz Gregory.

"We've heard a little about you, Cindy," she said. I saw her eyes looking, noticing my wedding band. "You're quite the topic, you know. Your friend Kaitlyn's no slouch. She got a twenty-eight on her ACT."

I looked at Kaitlyn. I remember the day we took the tests. She was worried. Apparently she shouldn't be worried.

"I hope people are saying good things about me," I told Mizz Gregory.

"Frankly," Mizz Gregory said, "Your test score is remarkable. We've also seen your husband's name in the news, too."

"Oh," I said. "That. Could've been really bad." I rubbed my shoulder, remembering.

"We're glad to have you, Cindy. Kaitlyn will get one of the other students to swap desks so you can sit with her."

"Thank you, Miss Gregory," I said.

Kaitlyn got a guy to move and let me have his desk. He didn't mind. It meant he got to sit closer to a buddy of his. I wish I could say that I learned something in the class. I can't. Mizz Gregory went over things that I learned already. Really! I learned that stuff. But kids four years older than I were having problems and she was answering questions. I paid attention, just hoping that there was something coming, but that never happened.

When the bell rang for class change, Mizz Gregory stopped me and Kaitlyn as we were headed out the door. "Kaitlyn," she said, "I know I wasted an hour of YOUR time. Cindy, what about you?"

"I know you have to do this for the other students," I said, "but really, I know all this stuff. Mizz Mason has sent some of my papers to Auburn. They talked to me about a double major." I guess Mizz Gregory didn't know about my Auburn plans. Her eyebrow rose.

"Auburn? Double major?" she asked.

It was old news to Kaitlyn. "Yes, ma'am. I'm starting in the fall in electrical engineering. I have a scholarship, assuming I pass these exit tests."

Mizz Gregory smiled. "Oh, you'll pass, no doubt. Kaitlyn, you better get to your next class."

That was math. Actually, Kaitlyn's math class this year was advanced placement calculus, and I would have LOVED to take that class. She emailed me some of her homework and I went over it with Dan. He took me though basic principles, but compared to middle school and what I was told was high school level algebra, calculus would have been a challenge, something to stretch out with. I told her that.

I told Dan that, too. He laughed. "Sweetness," he said, "we just spent two hours going over this stuff and you're already getting comfortable with it. I'm just amazed."

Even in the advanced classes, they went through reviews. When that teacher, Mister Abott, heard that I was going into engineering, he wished me luck. "But luck's not what's gonna do it for you, Miss Cindy," he said. "Work's gonna do it."

By the time lunchtime came, when Kaitlyn took me to the cafeteria, we had a crowd, and I had to answer a million questions. Some of them were about why I was at the high school when I was fourteen. I explained, trying not to sound like I was bragging or like I thought I was better than anybody.

Several girls asked about me being married. "Are you pregnant?"

I stretched my arms out. I weigh a hundred and five pounds and Dan and I walk several times a week or ride bicycles and we used to swim every day. I'm not fat. "I've been married since November," I said. "Do I LOOK pregnant?"

"Then why're you married?"

I smiled, thinking of Dan. "For the best possible reason. I love my husband and he loves me." You should've heard the commotion when I explained that Dan was forty-one.

And some of 'em knew about the shootings. "I really don't like to think about it," I said. "My husband taught me to shoot, to be responsible for my own defense. I did. And so did he. We have scars to prove it."

The conversation took my mind off the cafeteria food. Just like at middle school.

The afternoon didn't get any better. Different subjects, but still the same depth of knowledge. I felt bad for the kids that actually NEEDED these reviews.

Between fifth and sixth hour we were walking past Mister Abott's class. "Kaitlyn," I asked, "D'ya think Mister Abott would like us to help him with some of those kids who're having trouble?"

"You mean, TEACH?" she looked a little shocked. She knew that I did that in middle school, but this was high school. Then she smiled. "Sure. We can ask."

He smiled when we asked, but he said, "I really can't do that, ladies. I'm afraid that if some kid failed the tests and then said that students did his reviews, we'd have trouble."

"I guess I understand," I said. I knew better than argue.

"We tried," Kaitlyn said.

The school day finally ended and Kaitlyn and I went to wait for our buses. "SO, are you coming back?" Kaitlyn asked me.

"Not tomorrow. Dan and I are getting our little trailer back. I wanna be there for that. It's my first really happy home," I said. "But I'll be back here Monday. I hope I wasn't too much of a pain."

Kaitlyn shook her head. "You weren't a pain. I had fun. This would've been soooo boring without you here."

The bus dropped me off at the RV park. "There! I made it though the first day of my high school experience," I told Mizz Helen.

She laughed. "Fourteen!"

I was telling her all the things that went on when I saw Dan's truck pull in. I didn't wait for him to walk in. I ran out and hugged him.

"Wow, punkin," he said. "Was your day bad?"

"No, baby," I said. "I wouldn't say 'bad'. 'Interesting' is a better word." I hauled him down and kissed him, right there in the middle of the park. We went in and talked with Helen.

And back to Dan:

"I talked with the trailer people today," I told Helen. "They said we should see them here around eleven."

Cindy squealed. "We're going to have our home back!" then she thought about her outburst. "Oh, Mizz Helen, we appreciate so much you offering your place. But this was my FIRST happy home that I can remember. I hope you understand." She smiled. Cindy smiling was a disarming thing.

Helen returned the smile. "Baby, I completely understand. You and Dan fought for it and bled for it. It's yours."

"It was MY first happy place," Cindy reiterated. "All the time that we lived at this place, me and Mom, this office was kind of a refuge for me, Mizz Helen, but the first night I slept at our little trailer was the first night in a long time that I slept all night without worrying."

Little lights went off in my head, just like the lightning on the night she mentioned, the first night we'd slept together, when she ended up, thirteen and naked, in my bed. The night it became OUR bed. And I was an unindicted criminal. In love. Trying to be completely honorable. But in the eyes of the law, a child molester of the most blatant sort.

Helen read the shadow on my face. So did Cindy. Cindy rescued me. "Oh, I know that what we did back then was soooo illegal, Dan. But I loved you. Needed you. And you loved me, even as scared of it as you were." She slid up next to me, placing her arm around my waist, marking me as her property.

Helen said, "Well don't look at me. I wouldn't've said anything. You sure didn't look like the abusive type. Besides, it's not like you didn't get chased."

My little redheaded doll was smiling. "I did, you know ... chase you."

"Oh, no, you didn't chase me, baby," I laughed. "If you'd've chased me, I'd've run for the county line."

"There's more than one way to do a chase," Cindy said.

I loved the story.

Helen smiled. "She'd come in here after you first moved in and she met you by the pool, and she'd ask me about you and what I thought, and how it was between me and Herb, because he was so much older than me. And you'd drive up and she'd start smiling." Helen's eyes sparkled. "I hoped for good things for 'er, Dan. That's all. I just wanted her to have a safe and stable home." She reached and stroked the side of Cindy's face. "Looks like she's got that."

"Had to defend it, too," Cindy popped up. "My home. MY guy."

"And scars to prove it," I said. "Come on, punkin. Let's find out what we can do this evening to stay out of trouble."

"You two be good!" Helen laughed.

"Tell Charlie we said 'Hi',"I answered.

My little cutie got in the truck from my side, buckling in, and we were off on the short drive to Helen's house.

"We need to start packing up some things, baby," I said.

"Uh-huh,"Cindy retorted. "If there's ANY way we can make it work, I want to spend tomorrow night in OUR home."

I regarded the face of this angel next to me. "My plan, too, sweetheart. So how was school? Your high school experience?"

I got an earful. Cindy's well past the point where she's the least bit bashful about telling me her observations and thoughts. In the beginning, I had to encourage her to just trot them out to talk about. Over the past few months, a couple of things have happened. First, she no longer doubted her intelligence. Second, I was her friend, and discussion was, between us, give and take, question and answer and proposition and rebuttal.

She was particularly put out by the school's refusal to let her and Kaitlyn assist in math reviews. "That's an awfully weak reason, don't you think?" she told me.

"Yes I do, little one," I answered. "But you have to understand how paranoid some people are. These days it's just too easy for somebody to get a lawyer to put the squeeze on somebody for the flimsiest premise."

"But it makes no sense. I mean, if we got a bunch of kids together after school, or during study hall, and did it without the school being affiliated officially, it'd be okay."

"You're right, baby, but now they know, and it's a lot easier for them to say 'no'."

She crossed her arms. "I thought the idea was to HELP students."

"That's ONE idea in play in situations like this," I said. "Protecting the school is another. Protecting their jobs is yet another."

"Agendas," she hissed.

"Welcome to the real world, baby."

She looked at me, face softening. "We've had to deal with that before, right? At least we found somebody who helped us around stupid rules. Or you'd still be a child molestor."

"And the victim of seduction by a thirteen year old."

She snuggled against me. "Didn't exactly seduce you, baby. Otherwise you'd've seen more that night than blue panties."

"You're right. You were ... Well, there were those kisses."

She smiled. "You remembered. That was awfully forward of me. But you made me happy. Made me feel good. Special. No, normal."

"You were a cute and unusual friend, Cindy. I just wanted to do good things for you. Besides, you were an excellent alternative to solitude."

"I didn't seduce you, really. That night, the thunderstorm, when I called you to come help me, I really WAS scared. And I didn't have a plan to end up in your bed."

"I'm glad you did, you know," I smiled.

She hugged my arm. "Me too..."

I turned my head away from the road to plant a kiss on the top of her head. "My perfect angel."

"My Dan."

We pulled up in the drive at Helen's house and walked in. Cindy sat her backpack down.

"D'ya know they SEARCHED it at school? Said because I wasn't a regular student. I mean, look at me, Dan! I'm five-three and I weigh a hundred and five pounds. Do I look like a terrorist?"

I laughed. "May I remind you, princess, that you're probably the ONLY student..."

Her eyes widened. "You don't think THAT'S why, do you?"

"Nope. I really don't. That'd be a whole lot more than I expect from the bureaucracy. They probably have a rule on the books that says to search all new students and then they have a list of forbidden items."

Giggle. "I got my combat BIC pen. They didn't take that." She pushed me gently back against the door. "The real weapon is the mind."

"Makes you the most dangerous thing in the state, then," I said, right before she kissed me. I wrapped her in my arms, lifting her off the floor, holding her.

She pulled her face back, licked her lips, then kissed me again, this one softer, gentler. "We need to go get something to eat, then come back here and start packing," she said.

"Either that, or we can do TV dinners."

She wrinkled her nose. "We can sit there and talk."

We pulled into the parking lot at the catfish emporium and noticed a big, shiny SUV already there.

"I wonder," Cindy said, "if that's Kaylee and her folks?"

"I dunno. Why?"

"I can at least say 'hi'," she said. "She knows I went to high school today."

We walked in, waving at the cashier. We're regulars. She scanned the place, looking for a table.

So did Cindy. And she saw Kaylee, squealed, started waving. Kaylee was enthusiastically returning the gesture. "Can we sit at their table?" Cindy asked the cashier.

"They just got here, hon. Let's move y'all to a bigger table."

"Uh," I said, "Before you do that, let's make sure we're not interrupting a private family thing." Of course, Kaylee's waving us over kind of told me otherwise.

Don, Kaylee's dad, stood and offered me his hand. "Hi, Dan. Hi, Cindy. Wanna join us?"

"If we're not intruding on Family Night," I said.

"Oh, certainly not," Kaylee's mom, Barbara, said.

Sarita, the cashier, was right behind us. "Can I move all y'all to a bigger table?"

We were seated at a table for six now, ignoring the extra chair.

"So!" Don said, "How's the project?"

"Over," I said. "They kept me around for training their people and doing some procedures. That's over in a week or so."

Kaylee's eyes widened. "You're not just LEAVING now, huh?"

Cindy smiled at her friend. "No, not yet. We're gonna hang around until I graduate."

"That's, like, May, ain't it?"

"Isn't, not ain't, Kaylee," Barbara said.

"Sorry, Mom," Kaylee said. She smiled at Cindy. "Mom wants me to speak like I'm actually getting an education."

Barb smiled. "A little refinement and decorum, dear."

Don looked at me. "Still in your little trailer?"

"Maybe tomorrow," I said. "We're getting it back."

"Oh, yeah," he said. "You guys got shot up, didn't you?"

Cindy's turn. "Yessir. Got the scars to prove it. But I'm not letting two drunk rednecks run us out of OUR first home. We got it repaired."

"They should be bringing it back tomorrow."

"So where're you staying now?"

"At my step-mom's old house. We were staying with her at her new husband's."

I figured a little name-dropping might help things here. "Cindy's step-mom married Judge Charlie Peebles. They put us up until we got healed a little after the incident."

"Wow!" Don blurted. "Judge Peebles? He's got a nice place. We've been there for social events."

Barb laughed. "And you two lived there?"

"For a week," Cindy said. "But Mizz Helen offered us her old house so we'd have some privacy."

Barb's face clouded for a second. After all, the 'privacy' was needed because Cindy, a girl the same age as her own middle schooler daughter, was married and almost assuredly having sex. She recovered, though. "Kaylee told us some of what happened."

Cindy sighed. I found that it's best to let HER lead on sensitive subjects, so I remained silent. "It was a bad night..." She related the story tastefully, in view of the venue.

Kaylee changed the subject, thankfully. "So how's high school, Cindy?"

"You're going to high school now?" Barb was incredulous. Don's face was equally surprised.

"Yes, ma'am. Part of the program they set up for me to graduate this year is that I have to make 'competent' or better on the high school exit exams. The high school's doing reviews for that for this week and next, so I asked if I could go and sit in on some of them."

Don's reaction was the same as mine. "Cindy, if you're already in this program, those reviews aren't for YOU. Weren't you supposed to do the ACT, too?"

Cindy does 'bashful and demure' very well, too, and she shifted into that mode. Charms the hell out of me. Worked for Don, too. "Yessir," she said sweetly, her tone dripping with 'I just don't KNOW how I do these things' honey. "I got a thirty."

Barb coughed and sat her tea glass down. Kaylee looked at her mom. "Is that a good score, Mom?"

Barb looked at the little redhead. "Cindy, I was class valedictorian. Top of the heap. TWELVE years of school, four point oh average for FOUR years of high school. And I got a twenty-eight."

Cindy did her best crinkle-nosed smile.

I arched an eyebrow at Don. "Don't look at me. Barb's the smart one. Glad Kaylee's got her mom's brains."

"Daa-aaddd! You're a LAWYER! That's NOT for dummies!" Kaylee squealed.

Don smiled at his daughter. "No, baby, but the smartest thing I ever did was marry your mom. So I could end up with you."

Cindy leaned over to her friend and stage-whispered, "You gotta know how lucky you are, Kaylee."

Kaylee smiled. "I know, but so many kids think it's uncool to LIKE your parents."

Barb overheard and laughed. "Darlin', do you honestly think YOU'RE the first generation to think parents were uncool?"

"Yeah," I said. "I found out that Dad got a whole lot smarter as I got older."

Don nodded. "Me too. So you just go on being Kaylee and we'll go on being Mom and Dad and it'll all work out." He looked at us. "So, what's the plan when Cindy graduates?"

"I promised her a flying tour of the Rockies. Then we're moving to Opelika or somewhere close to Auburn, and I'm starting a new business with a friend of mine who has a wife starting Auburn in the fall, too, and that's where we'll be 'til Cindy graduates from college."

"Wow! That's pretty well thought out," he said.

"Should be," I chuckled. "Cindy and her friends in Tennessee came up with it. Except the 'Rockies' part. That's just Cindy and me."

"Are you doing the 'cap and gown' high school graduation, Cindy?"

She grinned brightly. "Yes, ma'am! Mister Jim..."

"Our guidance counselor, Mom," Kaylee explained.

Cindy continued, "Mister Jim has already talked to the high school principal. They went to school together or something. I'll be getting my diploma with this year's graduating class."

"I'm jealous, Mom," Kaylee said. Her smile told us that 'jealous' actually included a lot of 'Darn! You're lucky!' and 'I'm glad for you'.

Barb stroked Kaylee's hair. "You're no slouch, baby. Give it time."

The meal was equally pleasant. Kaylee wasn't bashful about joining adult conversation, and of course, Cindy was, well, Cindy.

After the meal finished the three females laughed while Dan and I stopped just short of arm-wrestling over the tab. Finally I gave in. "Okay, Don, you can be Mister High-Powered Attorney this time. I get to be Successful and Respected Engineer next time." We all walked out together.

As we were saying our good-byes in the parking lot, Don said, "So Dan, if you want, when you're finished with this job, how about stopping by the office to talk with me. I got some cases I'd like your input on. I was going to have to find a consultant anyway."

"Uh, Don, Might not be my specialty."

"Oh, I know that, but you're a hell of a lot more likely to know who I need to get."

We shook hands. I got a hug from Barb and another with a little kiss on the cheek from Kaylee, and Cindy hugged everybody, and we loaded up in our truck and left.

In the truck, Cindy moulded herself against me. "That was something, don't'cha think?"

"Uh-huh," I said. "But we killed an extra hour eating dinner."

"We'll have plenty of time to get things together in the morning," she giggled.

"Uh, what's there to stop us from getting some of it done tonight?"

She bit into my shoulder through my shirt. "If you think you can pack stuff while you've got a Cindy stuck on THIS, then go right ahead." Her hand squeezed my dick for emphasis.

"Oh. Forget the packing tonight. I have a pressing engagement."

Inside the house we showered together. I thought she was going to make me cum right there in the shower. I looked down and saw her hair, darkened from the water, stuck to her head as she bobbed forward and back, sucking me. She was giggling, her fingers and tongue reading her progress as I slid towards the Nirvana that is her eager mouth, but just as things ALMOST got to the precipice, she stopped.

"Oh ... Cindy. Don't stop!"

The little minx stood up and kissed me on the lips. "All charged up, baby?" Those green eyes twinkled, sparkled, teased. "I'm headed for a GOOD one tonight," she tittered.

The post-shower routine was filled with more caresses and teasing touches than normal. As I stood behind her, brushing her short bronze hair, she squealed. "Maybe I teased you TOO much. You're leaking on my BACK!"

I looked down. I was hard and I was leaking pre-cum copiously, leaving visible spots on her bare back. "I'm sorry, baby. I can't control that!" I retrieved a washcloth and did a spot-cleaning. The movement helped things calm down on the connection between my dick and my balls that were filled to burst-level.

She stood up and turned to me, delightfully, deliciously nude, pale skin, the swell of feminine hips, those small, perfect breasts, nipples erect, pink. Like berries. And the face. A smile on those red lips, the green eyes making them look all the redder, and that hair. Okay. Yes. I'll admit it. It IS a fetish. Gotta be. She wrapped her arms around my neck bending me down to kiss her.

"Here's what I want tonight," she whispered. "I know EXACTLY what I have done to you. You have about a gallon in here." She bumped her pubic mound against my dick. "And I wanna suck it ALL out. But first, I want you to eat me good. At least two, maybe three." Little kiss. "Then I will suck you dry." Another little kiss. "And THEN, if we can figure out how to get this thing started again, I want to sit on your lap with this thing in me until I cum again. You have my permission to do so, too."

Paralyzed. I think, when Cindy had executed her plan, I was paralyzed. I didn't think a man's neurons were made to carry that kind of load. If my brain had a fuse ... Well, it would've been the SECOND thing blown this evening.

We lay together, the lights out, the room lit only by moonlight. I was on my side, looking at her. She smiled. For me. MY smiles. "I love you, Cindy."

"I love you, too, Dan." We kissed one more time and adjusted ourselves together for sleep.

Woke up the next morning a little later than normal. Bed was empty. I smelled coffee. Cindy. Making me coffee. She came into the room with a mug.

"Oh, darn, you're awake. I was going to wake you up soooo nicely, too."

"I'll pretend I'm still asleep," I smiled.

"Do that."

I laid back, eyes closed, savoring the feelings as the mattress moved, the covers came back, and that marvelous young mouth took me. "Ohhhhhhhh godddddd, Cindy love."

She crawled up my torso and kissed me. "Good morning, love." Another kiss. "We need to get moving. We're getting our home back today."

Chapter 51

"Wanna go up the road? Pancakes?" I asked.

Squeal! "Yeah, that's perfect!" Her eyes twinkled as she chose the day's clothing. When I finished dressing, she was clad in classic Cindy: jeans, somewhat baggy sweatshirt, tennis shoes. And she was running a brush through her hair, bringing organization to those bronze tresses.

Giggle. "I forgot. Messing with my hair gets you goin'."

"Everything about you gets me goin', little one," I said.

Smile. "I know. Me too. I'm that way about you. But if we start down THAT path, we won't get to breakfast."

"Oooo-kay, then," I said. I did collect a kiss, then a hug, and I caught tendrils of her perfume as her head touched my chest.

We walked out into a bluebird day, cool air, blue skies. The trip to the restaurant was pleasant. Cindy was excited, and if Cindy was excited, it was contagious.

She was almost giddy by the time we pulled into the parking lot. When we walked in, the cashier recognized us immediately. "Sit where you want. Cindy, you're smiling awful big today!"

"Gettin' OUR trailer back," Cindy chirped.

"The one that got shot up?"

"Yes ma'am! OUR first home together. We got it fixed. We're getting it back today."

The cashier smiled. "That's a plenty good enough reason, baby," she said.

We found a table and sat. The waitress was an old acquaintance. She showed up with two cups of coffee. Looked at Cindy. "The usual, baby?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Me, too," I said.

She delivered our order to the kitchen then returned. "Did I hear you're getting your trailer back?"

Everyone at the little local diner knew the story, at least parts of it. "Yes, ma'am," Cindy said. "They took it away the Saturday after the incident. Dan says they changed out everything that was damaged. It's supposed to be back in the park before noon today."

"And you're moving back in?"

I thought it best to let Cindy be Cindy here. "Yes, ma'am. It's OUR first home together. I know people MOVE out of their first homes. I'm gonna be happy to do that. But I'm not happy with getting it shot out from under me ... uh ... US!"

The waitress looked at me. "You agree with her, don't you?"

"Of course I do. I got used to her being right a long time ago." I smiled.

The sound of a bell told our waitress that our order was ready. She busied herself on other things while Cindy and I ate. Finishing, I paid the bill and we went back to our temporary home to start packing. It didn't take long. Our RV lifestyle precluded the accumulation of a lot of stuff, and we never unpacked the few boxes of kitchen utensils and other odds and ends.

"Just enough to spend the night, babe," Cindy said. "Just in case there's something wrong and we can't stay there." She had her travel bag packed. I had a box of bed linens and some new pillows we'd bought, putting them in the truck. I threw in my own travel bag.

"Let's go!" I said. "Maybe they'll be early."

She hopped in the truck, her excitement obvious. She saw my look. "I really AM excited." Her green eyes were gleaming. "It's just RIGHT that we should do this. We don't give up."

I smiled. "Are you the same Cindy that showed up at the pool last summer? She used to be kind of bashful and scared."

Giggle. "She's gone. Replaced by the improved Cindy, with all the added features. She got the essential upgrade." She hugged my arm. "I got my Dan."

"I'm the most 'got' person on the planet, little girl," I said. "And it makes me very happy."

We pulled into the parking lot at the RV park office. Helen was there, and we had a bag of donuts to go along with the coffee we knew would be there.

"Hi, Helen," I said.

"Hi yourself. Hello, adopted daughter." She smiled at Cindy. "I just got a call from a truck driver who's towing SOMEBODY'S trailer, verifying directions."

"How far out?" Cindy asked.

"Half an hour."

"Lemme make a fresh pot of coffee, and we can kill some time."

Cindy'd spent a lot of time in this office over the last few years, and she started towards Helen's coffee maker, intent on performing the function. I leaned on the counter, chatting with Helen, relating the previous night's conversation.

"He wants you to come to his office?" she asked when I told her about our meal with Don and Barbara and Kaylee.

"Yeah. Wants some advice on some cases. Says if I can't help, I'm more likely to know who can help him."

"Kaylee's one of the girls who wouldn't even TALK to me last year," Cindy said. "This year, she's one of my best friends." Giggle. "Funny how things work."

"Ah, but remember what we were talking about on the way here, baby?" I said. "Last year you WERE a different person, inside and out."

Cindy looked pensive. "You're right. I dress better, talk better, do better in school, and I don't walk around all day wondering what kind of mess is waiting at home."

"Makes a difference. I know that deep down, you had the bright personality, but you were under such a load..." Helen said. "But I saw that start to change when you and Dan became friends."

"I can tell that I've changed, Mizz Helen. Feels good, too. Just living is good." She looked at me. "And when you add friends and a real family, like you an' Mister Charlie, and my new family in Louisiana and my new family in Tennessee, and our flying and our music, well, wow!"

"Just remember, punkin, things are going to change up when you get to college."

Helen snorted. "Dan, do you realize that you just told a fourteen year old girl that next year is going to be tough because she's gonna be in COLLEGE?"

I laughed. "Do you realize that I'm MARRIED to that fourteen year old jewel?"

Cindy chirped, "Dan, you and I, we're a big happy bunch of 'weird', aren't we?"

"Very happy," I said.

"I'm happy, too, y'all," Helen said. "And having to deal with Charlie about Cindy worked out pretty good for me, you know."

A little more pleasant small talk and Cindy squealed "LOOK!"

A big pickup truck was towing our trailer up the park road. The driver stopped short of the office and came inside.

"You have MY trailer!" Cindy squealed.

The driver was a rough-looking sort. When he heard Cindy though, his face split into a gap-toothed smile. "Boss told me people were waitin' on this thing. Where do we park it?"

"Follow me," I said.

Forty-five minutes later we were tied down, leveled, electricity, water and sewage connected, and the air conditioner was on, cycling fresh air into the trailer.

Cindy was as amazed as I was. "It's like it was, except newer."

My big question had been whether or not they could get rid of that horrible smell. Short answer? Yes. It was HOME!

Albert, the driver, was at the door. "Mister Richards, the boss, he said make sure you're satisfied. Everything okay?"

Cindy was opening and closing doors and pulling drawers out. She'd already flushed the toilet and tried the shower and the sinks. And she was giggling.

"Mister Albert, it's LOVELY!"

"You sure? He said don't leave until you've checked it out."

"Looks good, Albert," I said. "Thank you so much." I slipped a twenty into his hand as we shook hands.

"Awww, you don't have to do that, Mister Richards!"

"Maybe not, but I did. Thanks for all the help setting it back up!" Cindy waved as he left.

By this time, Helen was pulling up in her golfcart. "How'd they do?"

Cindy answered, "Even better than I ever imagined."

Helen stepped inside. I saw her nose wrinkle as she sniffed. "Can't smell a danged thing, Dan."

"I know," I answered. "That was my worry."

Helen cast her practiced eye around the trailer. She knew where the damage HAD been. "They did a fine job. Did the insurance cover it?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said. I looked behind Helen and Cindy was hauling in our overnight bags.

Helen laughed. "I guess that answers the question of 'When are y'all moving back in?', huh?"

Cindy smiled sweetly. "Mizz Helen, we appreciate you letting us use your house, but..."

"But you should be here. I understand completely, baby!" Helen said. "I'm going back to the office. If you need anything from me, call, okay?"

"Yes ma'am," Cindy said.

"Thanks, Helen," I added.

As Helen rode back to the office, Cindy and I finished hauling our things in. I was starting to unpack my overnight bag into my storage drawers, but Cindy grabbed the plastic bag with the new bed linens.

Her eyes sparkled. "Help me make the bed, guy," she giggled. "New mattress. Gotta break it in sometime!"

In short order, we had the new sheets and covers on the bed and the pillows carefully placed. "Like they'll stay there long," my little redhead giggled, kicking her shoes off.

"So I guess we oughtta..."

Her grin left no doubt as to her intent. "MY house. My guy." She peeled her shirt off over her head.

I undressed. By the time I stood up, Cindy was on her knees, delightfully nude in the middle of the bed. I crawled to her and let her roll me onto my back with her atop me. She held my face between her hands.

"My Dan. My love. You put up with my stuff, don't you?"

"Stuff? Like this trailer? I'm glad you had the idea. It tells me a lot about you that this thing means so much to you."

"Does it tell you how much being with YOU the first time means to me? That you're MY husband now?" She lay down on top of me and kissed me.

I wrapped her in my arms. "You're my perfect dream, little one." The feel of her naked body against mine never failed to have a profound effect, and I guess because she was so excited, I was even more aroused than normal. Like anything having to do with Cindy and me was normal, anyway.

Giggle. "You're just the way you're supposed to be, baby." A wiggle of her hips brought the wet, hot lips of her pussy in direct contact with my shaft.

"And you are too, my love." Ecstasy enveloped me with just a few quick wiggles of her hips as she sat back up.

With both her hands on my chest, propping herself up, her grin was deliciously cute. "Mmmmm!" Giggle!

She spread her knees wide, insuring I was as deep in her as possible, and then she made a little swirl with her hips, her green eyes flashing happily as I released an uncontrollable moan. I opened my eyes to view the face of a redheaded angel. "You are so far past the limits of my imagination, Cindy."

She took my hands off her waist and tugged. I started to sit up. As I did, her legs wrapped around me, and I pulled her tight against my chest. It was a favorite position, and in my mind, one that characterized the most spiritual connections between us. And it felt soooo good. She leaned back a little, our eyes connecting.

"Dan ... I love you."

I smiled.

"No, you don't UNDERSTAND! I LOVE YOU! This! Us mating. OUR home. OUR future."

My turn to giggle. "I do so completely understand, Cindy Sue. I don't know what the spacecraft looked like that left you on this planet, but I love you like the emotion doesn't exist for anyone else in the world."

Yes, we could carry on a semi-lucid conversation while coupled together. After my statement, her mouth fastened to mine precluded further words. I caressed the sleek, sexy form in my arms as we rocked each other towards orgasm.

I moved a hand up to caress and stroke that red hair. She pulled away from our kiss, smiling. I give up. I'm out of words. Possessed. Owned. Attached. Accounted for. Off the market. I just looked into the green eyes twinkling before me.

The mating was unusually long for us. I think we sensed the need to make this connection a special one, a milestone, and when we came together, her teeth had captured a bit of my chest, stifling her whimpers of happiness.

I held her in my arms until her breathing evened out, gently kissing the crown of that red head, caressing it with my lips. She sighed. "Mmmmmm ... Baby, we ... I love you."

"I love you, little one," I said.

She looked into my eyes, hers flashing. "Uh, love of my life, we didn't get a towel."

"Ach!" I said.

Giggle. "I can do MY part."

I laughed. "Let ME do YOUR part and YOU do my part!"

"You know what I mean, beast!"

We finished that job, a juicy, happy sixty-nine, before there was TOO big a wet spot on the new sheets. That left us cuddled together naked. I couldn't resist caressing and exploring her tender body as we relaxed.

The signal that relaxation was over was Cindy propping up on an elbow. "Yes, ma'am," I said.

"Let's get the rest of our stuff moved. That way we can go flyin' tomorrow."

"The other love in your life, I guess."

Giggle. "Another thing I never imagined that I'd like ... And it's YOUR fault, just like sex."

"I'll accept that. Small exchange for being my Cindy."

We got dressed and drove out of the park, avoiding the office so that Helen wouldn't be subjected to TWO silly grins. We loaded up the truck and returned. This time we stopped at the office.

Helen laughed. "I saw y'all sneak out. What's wrong? Embarassed?"

Cindy started turning red.

"Awwww, look, Dan. Your wife's blushing." Helen giggled. "Cindy, baby, you're married. Don't you think I couldn't figure out what was going on when y'all disappeared for two hours?"

Cindy's grin was almost shy. "Yes ma'am ... but..."

"If I was in the same position, me and my husband would've done the same thing. Part of loving each other. Part of marking your territory." Helen looked at me. "Right, Dan?"

"Gee, Helen, it's not like we peed on the tires..."

That got a giggle from Cindy. "You're right, Mizz Helen. We're married, and we love each other. But still..."

"Save your decorum for somebody who doesn't love the two of you like I do," Helen laughed. "One of the happiest days of my life was seeing you two married."

Cindy countered, "It was my happiest, ever!"

"By the way, don't worry about cleaning the house. I'm gonna have Eletha call up a couple of her friends to do that."

"But we don't mind," I said. "You let us just walk in like we owned the place."

"And you can just walk back out. I'll get it cleaned up."

"Thank you," Cindy said. "Baby," she told me, "let's go unload. Then we need to stock our fridge."

I shook my head. Over the months of being close to Cindy, watching her, listening to her, I was impressed at how she seemed to always be thinking ahead of situations. "Let's go, punkin," I said. "See ya later, Helen."

We went about the business of putting our home back on normal footing. I was hauling boxes in with kitchen utensils and clothing and canned goods, and I noted that Cindy was reaching behind the seat of the truck. AR-15. 12-gauge shotgun. Two pistols. And they went back in the same spots they'd always occupied since she first found out about their existence. She saw me noticing.

"Whaa-attt?!?! SOMEBODY taught me to take care of myself!"

I shook my head. "And I am truly grateful that I did, cutie."

"You know, a little practice might be in order. We can't rest on our laurels."

'Laurels'? she used 'laurels'? I chuckled. "Yeah. Why don't we do a range day tomorrow?"

"'Cuz I wanna go flying, too."

"One tomorrow, the other Sunday?"

Giggle. "You don't HAVE to give in every time, Dan."

"What argue about what makes sense?"

She stepped close to me and wrapped her arms around me, standing there in the sunshine in front of our trailer.

I bent my head down to meet her red lips.

"What makes sense, baby, is US!" She kissed me back. "Why don't we see if the Hardesty's wanna meet us for dinner? Catfish?"

"Good idea, ' I said. "Text Ann. Jim's like me. He'll follow her lead."

Giggle. "'Cuz Mizz Ann's like me. She's smart, and she married her match."

"They do seem so right together, don't they?" I said.

We were the 'new' occupants to the park, at least to the people who'd arrived since that horrible night, so naturally some of the other park people came over for a visit. Didn't matter if the the motivation was curiosity or friendliness or both. I'd learned a long time ago that there was a certain protocol among RV park folks. A lot of them were retirees, especially in the South in the cooler months, and they were a gregarious bunch.

The first couple that showed up was typical: guy, probably pushing seventy, and a slightly younger wife, both grey, both smiling.

"Hi, I'm Fred Haako. This is my wife, Patricia."

Cindy took the lead here. "I'm Cindy Richards, and this is my husband, Dan. We're happy to meet you! Pretty day, isn't it?"

Patricia smiled. Who DOESN'T smile when Cindy breaks hers out? "Yes, baby, it IS a pretty day. How are you two doing?"

"Great!" Cindy continued. "We got our trailer back!"

It dawned on Fred about then. "Heeyyyy! You're the couple that..."

My turn. "Who'd you hear it from?"

"Gary and Ericka something Polish," he said. "They left last week, heading to Texas."

"Good people," I said. "Gary was the first one through the door after..."

Fred said, "He told us his version of it. Is this a new trailer?"

"Oh, no sir," Cindy chirped. "We got it fixed after that incident."

"And it came out okay?" Patricia asked.

"Perfect," Cindy answered. "You wanna see inside? It's kind of a mess, because we're moving back in."

Patricia and Fred did go inside briefly. Travel trailers, by dint of their small size, tend toward NOT being featured in "Better Homes and Gardens".

"That's an unusual layout, Dan," Fred said.

'I know," I answered. "It's custom. I work a lot on the road and I wanted something that fit my lifestyle." I looked at Cindy. "Didn't know I'd end up married, but it works for both of us now."

"Oh, yes," Patricia said. "You two are married. Gary and Ericka said you were an unusual couple."

"That's a nice way of putting. I've been told that I should be roasting over a slow fire in Hell," I said, "And Cindy is a poor little abused child that I'm taking advantage of."

Patricia looked Cindy over. Cindy was in her standard casual attire, jeans, not too tight, not sloppy loose. Her shirt today was a favorite rugby shirt, long sleeves, broad blue and white horizontal stripes, a pair of athletic walking shoes. Cindy gave a toss of that red hair, clearing a wind-blown strand. "Hmmphhh!" Patricia said, "I can see where somebody might come to that conclusion, but you certainly don't look abused."

Giggle. "Oh, but I AM! He's just really BAD at it!"

Fred laughed. "I was kinda shocked when I heard about the fourteen versus forty-something, but they set me straight." He looked at Cindy. "Said SHE was cute as a bug, too." Snort! "Understated the facts, I think! Unusual for an ex-cop!"

Cindy blushed. "Mister Gary's a nice guy. Mizz Ericka ... She was the first to get to me after the shooting stopped. Dan was holding me, and Mizz Ericka came in after Mister Gary cleared the trailer."

"She didn't tell us that, baby," Patricia said. "Just that they helped you two."

"They did that," I added. "So, you said your name's 'Haako'?" How do you spell that?"

"H-A-A-K-O," Fred said. "Why?"

"Just curious. Sounds Finnish," I said.

"Bingo," He laughed. "Most people don't know what a Finnish name is."

Cindy grinned. "Most people aren't my Dan."

"Where're you from?" I asked.

"Upper peninsula of Michigan."

"Ahhhh, a 'Yooper'!"

"You know about Yoopers?" he said, looking at me curiously.

"Working construction, you get to meet people from all over. I've met a few from up there. Cold, right?"

"That's why we're down here, dear," Patricia said. "LOTS warmer."

"How long are y'all gonna be here?" Cindy asked.

"Couple of weeks, dear," Patricia said. "Are you doing one of your concerts? Ericka told us you were quite good."

"We might. We have to check on the rest of the band. We're having dinner with them tonight." Cindy's forehead wrinkled. "Ooops! Excuse me, but I have to text Mizz Ann!"

"Oh, that's quite alright," Fred said. "We just wanted to come over and see who was moving in. And we're glad it's you two."

"Thank you," Cindy said.

"Glad to meet you," I added.

The couple walked off hand in hand. Cindy pointed that out. "That's sweet, baby. Forty years from now, will you still hold my hand?"

"Yes I will, cutie," I said, thinking 'Forty years? I'll be eighty-two. I hope I'm still around to hold her hand.'

We went back to the task of refitting the trailer, then loaded up the empty boxes and bags, dropped them off in the trash receptacle and headed up the road to the grocery store.

"Got an answer to our text to Mizz Ann. She says meet at their house!"

"Okay! Sounds good!" I caught her broad smile. "Happy, baby?"

"Happy!" she said, with a satisfied smile.

We made a fast trip through the grocery store, picking up the restock for our refrigerator and a few other odds and ends and went back to drop them off. I got attacked on the sofa by this cute young redhead.

After forcing me to endure a flurry of kisses, she said, "Don't get too worked up. We're gonna go meet the Hardesty's."

"Too late, little one," I said. "I'm already worked up. All it takes is seeing you."

"And that's a really good reason for me to be right here!" 'Here' was sprawled mostly on top of me as I lounged back on the sofa, one foot on the floor. She might've gotten up, but I had my arms around her and she had hers looped around behind my neck, keeping us nose to nose. Nobody ever did 'happy' like Cindy did. And it flowed out of her, to me.

"Am I bothering you?" she asked, knowing full well what the answer to THAT question was.

"Oh, please, bother me forever."

"I'll bother you forever, then." Her eyes twinkled. Little kisses.

We played until after four, then drove to the Hardesty house. As was normal, Billy was playing in the front yard with a neighbor boy. When we rolled in, he led us into the house, throwing open the front door, yelling, "Mom! Dad! Dan an' Cindy's here!"

"Goodness, Billy. Show a little restraint!," Ann said as she entered the living room. "Y'all sit. Jim's uh ... indisposed for a few minutes."

Billy got a wry look on his face. "That's a restrained way of sayin' he's in the bathroom."

Cindy giggled.

Ann looked shocked. "Billy!" she hissed. "Go wash up! We're going out to eat."

"Yes, ma'am," He said, scooting up the hall.

Ann looked at us. "Gets that from 'is dad," she smiled.

"I'm sure you had YOUR moments," I laughed.

"I was sweet and innocent, like Cindy!" Ann tittered.

"I have my moments, too," Cindy said.

Ann raised an eyebrow. "I'm sure you do, Cindy! And why's your husband changing colors?"

Cindy giggled and hugged me.

Jim walked into the room. "Why's Dan red? Ann, are you being forward again?"

She grinned at her husband. "Why Jim! Whatever do YOU mean?!?!"

"I walk in here and you're talking to my best friend and his wife and he's beet red."

Ann giggled. "Where's Teresa? We need to go to dinner!"

Teresa rounded the corner, blonde, happy, a miniature version of her mom. "I'm ready!" She looked around the room, sighed, "So we're waitin' on Billy!" She huffed. "As usual!"

We took two vehicles to the restaurant. Once Cindy was buckled in beside me, she said, "Didja notice?"

"Notice what?"

"Teresa's gettin' boobies!"

"I don't notice anybody's boobies but yours, little one."

"Good answer," she giggled, "But she IS!"

"She's growing. Already looks like her mom."

Cindy sat back, arms crossed. "Hers'll be bigger'n mine! Her mom's ARE. My mom's weren't. No matter how hard she pushed on 'em with those stupid bras of hers. Teresa's will be bigger."

"Then they'll be too big to be perfect," I said. "And let's not talk about a thirteen year old girl's boobs, shall we?"

Giggle, and her arm wrapped around mine. "Oh, I know for a fact that YOU can be REAL interested in thirteen year old boobs."

"Uh, first, I was accosted by a certain young lady, and second, those boobs happen to belong to the most perfect, unique creature I can imagine, and third, I don't think age applies if your mate is from another planet!"

She shifted so she was inside my arm, and she dragged my right hand to cup her breast.

"See!" I said, "this is a perfect boobie!"

Her red head leaned into my chest. "Just so you think so."

We had a delightful meal with our friends. I didn't change colors. Billy was a riot, and Teresa was embarrassed by her brother, and Ann and Jim agreed that next weekend was time for a concert.

I told Jim, "Oh, by the way, Sunday afternoon, Cindy and I are doin' the range. Practice."

And I was just slightly surprised when Ann jumped in. "After church. We can make it a family day!"

My belly was happy when Cindy and I stepped into our trailer. "I forget about the little shower," she said. "That's one thing I didn't miss."

We remembered how that worked, though, and just like we used to do, after I finished shaving, I brushed out Cindy's hair.

"That's enough," she said. She smiled at me, and took my hand, pulling me towards the bed at the end of the trailer. "Our house. Let's be happy in it!"

Chapter 52

Saturday morning. Breakfast. Phone calls. Cindy's phone jingled the tune that signaled a call from Tina.

"Hey, Sis!" Pause. Squeal! "Uh-huh! Better than new!" Pause. Giggle. "Oh, you bet! What would YOU do?" Pause. "I'm sure." Pause. "No, we're gonna go flying later. Range tomorrow with the Hardesty's after they go to church." Pause. "No, it's NOT incongruous. Don't you remember seeing those drawings of the Puritans going to church with their arquebuses? Or is it 'arquebi'?"

They continued the conversation for a few more minutes, then "Okay! Love you! Bye!" and she turned to me smiling. "Arquebuses or arquebi?"

"I never heard of 'arquebi'. And you're probably the only teen in Alabama who'd ask that question."

"I have fun with the language." She smiled, green-eyed mischief on her face. "Mizz Turbermann says she's gonna miss me when I'm gone."

"Lots of people will, little one," I said as we loaded into the truck. "I know a powerplant where ten years from now, people will look at a picture and ask who's the little redhead on the front row."

"And Mizz Sara will tell 'em, too," Cindy said.

A short while later we were pulling the plane out of the hangar on a pretty Saturday morning. Unsual for these times, there was another T-hangar open and an older guy and woman were lavishing care on an old Piper low-wing. We had to go take a look.

They were all too happy to show off the plane and talk about it. Next thing I know, I was standing on the apron in front of the hangar watching the thing taxi off with the old guy in the right seat and Cindy in the left. His wife was standing beside me.

"Your daughter?" she asked.

"Worse than that. My wife."

Her eyes told me that she was parsing that statement. "Kind of young."

"Long story," I said. "Precocious. Seriously gifted." I explained about the school angle.

"Goodness. That would explain a lot. Let's go see what kind of coffee John's making in the office these days."

We walked to the office. John, aircraft mechanic, manager of the airport, friend, laughed when I headed to the coffee-maker. "You KNOW you ain't gonna like my coffee, Dan!" I poured the lady a cup, then one for myself, offered to pour John one. "I already had two." He smiled. "I see you and Mizz Stanley. I guess that means that Cindy hitched a ride in Kevin's Comanche."

"You know how Kevin is with that thing. He likes to show it off." She smiled. "And Dan says she's quite the pilot."

"Never did tricycle gear or a retract," I said. "Only low-wing she did was an Extra."

"Oh, don't say 'Extra' around Kevin. He's got more money than sense about these things. We can travel in this old thing."

"That's a nice aircraft," I said. "Probably thirty miles an hour faster than our old 180."

"Yeah," John said. "It's a goer."

Mrs. Stanley said, "It gives us legs for trips, for sure, but I'm afraid it's getting harder for me to get into and out of it. But he refuses to let it go."

"I wouldn't," I said.

"He won't," she answered. "He's a retired naval aviator, and this is his connection to his youth. Not bad, really. He could've been in submarines, and THEN where would I be?"

We all laughed at that one.

The speaker on the radio tuned to the Unicom frequency came alive with Cindy's voice announcing their location in the traffic pattern for landing.

"Well," I said, "let's go see how big a smile she has on her face."

Mrs. Stanley stood with me. "She REALLY flies? Not just along for the ride?"

"Absolutely," I said. "If she was seventeen, she'd have a private license. She's flown us from here to Louisiana and all I did was go along for the ride to keep her legal." We watched the sleek craft cross the threshold of the runway and flare for landing.

"Nose is higher than John usually does. Wanna bet Cindy's landing?"

"Yeah," I said. "She's a big fan of three-point landings in our plane." I saw Mrs. Stanley looking at the two of us. "Do you fly, too?"

"Oh, no. Kevin made me take a few lessons just in case he becomes incapacitated, but I just never really wanted to do that. I'm very happy as a passenger."

The plane turned off the taxiway onto the apron and the propeller swung to a stop. Yes, there was a big grin in the cockpit. And Kevin was smiling. The door popped open and they exited. I was there to catch Cindy by the waist and swing her from the wing to the ground.

"I won't ask if you liked it," I said.

Squeal! "First time I flew a tricycle gear plane, and retractable gear."

Kevin was there. "You got something with her, uh ... Dan."

"Oh, I know it," I said.

"I don't know if you do. I figured she wanted the left seat and once we got off the ground, she'd do a few turns and play at the controls. Boy, was I wrong."

"Oh, yeah?" I looked at Cindy. She was grinning.

"She taxied. When we lined up with the runway, she asked what the rotation speed was. That should've given me a clue." He looked at my little redheaded doll. "Then," he said, "I thought, 'okay, she wants sightseeing. WRONG! She says, 'I noticed the change in control pressures when the gear retracts. Can we go to the practice area and look at that?'. Dammit! I had to put my instructor hat on, and it's BEEN years since I had somebody who wanted to explore the envelope and who knew that there even WAS an envelope to explore."

"That's my Cindy, sir!"

"Kevin was an instructor-pilot on one of his Navy assignments," his wife interjected.

"Really!" I said. "That's something. And you flew with Cindy?"

"She asks all the right questions," he said.

"Thank you, Mister Kevin. Mizz Sharon. It was fun!"

Kevin wasn't finished. "She flew with somebody in an Extra? Boy, I could see her getting good at that."

"Thank you," Cindy said again, almost bashfully.

"Do you still wanna fly our nasty ol' Cessna now, baby?" I asked.

"Of course!"

"Well, folks," I said, "Thank you for letting Cindy put a hole in your day. I guess we're going to go make a loop around the countryside."

Cindy waved as we walked to our plane. She did the preflight inspection and then characteristically, climbed into the pilot's seat. I saw that Kevin was watching. I smiled and shrugged, then climbed into the passenger seat.

I knew that conversation would be sparse until the wheels left the ground, limited to the mechanics of her flying the plane. I was getting very comfortable with Cindy the Pilot by now and I just watched her concentration at the task at hand.

Once we were established in climbing away from the runway, she said, "I can see where that tricycle gear would spoil a person."

"It is different, isn't it?" I answered. "What about the retractable gear?"

"Boy, you pull the gear up and that thing MOVES!" she looked at me. "Of course, if you forgot to put the wheels down when you land, you wouldn't need brakes!"

"There is THAT," I said.

"And landing," she giggled. "Mister Kevin was like you used to do, just hanging close on the controls in case I let things get wonky, but I just pulled the nose up like I do this plane, and he asked me if I was trying to hook a wire. You know, like on an aircraft carrier. He used to fly off those things. That's soooo cool!"

"And you asked him to let you..."

"Explore the transition between gear up and gear down. Other than that, it's just numbers. That Comanche wants about seven knots faster to break ground, but once it's in the air, it's just an airplane. But I noticed the change when he pulled the gear up, so I wanted to see how that worked, you know, slow flight, wheels up and wheels down."

"You impressed Kevin, baby."

"He's a nice guy," Cindy said. "But it was almost like turning on a switch. He went into 'instructor mode'. I could see where he'd really make you learn things."

"I've heard that those guys can be real bears to learn with. You oughtta ask Jim. That's where he learned."

"I'll have to do that."

We spent the remainder of a couple of hours with a stop at another airfield for a drink from a vending machine and a talk with members of another weekend aviation enthusiast group, and then we returned to our home field and put away our plane.

"Dinner!" Cindy announced as she paged through the music on her iPod, plugged into the truck's sound system.

"Dead cow?" I asked.

"If YOU do it. You beat those steakhouses, and I just think a little rib-eye and a hot cast-iron pan works. And an oven-baked potato."

"I thought teen-aged girls were all about hamburgers and tofu."

Giggle. "Unless they've had YOUR steaks. Let's see what's at the grocery store on the way home." The grocery store she had in mind was not a national chain. They had a really good meat market, and when we walked out, we had a couple of thick pieces of meat and some baking potatoes, along with a few other odds and ends to restock the trailer's tiny pantry.

Lunch? Oh, that's something that we took care of out of a snack machine at the airfield. We got back 'home' to our little trailer in late afternoon, too early for dinner, so we decided to take a walk around the park and first stopped in to chat with Helen and Charlie at the office.

Cindy excitedly told Helen about her latest adventures in aviation. By this point in our relationship, I think Helen's almost at the 'let's see what happens next' stage with Cindy. After all, she's had Cindy around for years, what with giving Cindy's mom a place to park a trailer, but I also know the Cindy that I met last summer. When I think of THAT Cindy, shy, unsure, unhappy, compared to the Cindy who was leaning over the counter, one leg bent at the knee, foot wiggling in a circle as she recounted her story in happy, excited tones, that was more than the proverbial 'day and night'.

Charlie and I chatted about legal matters with incorporation in Alabama. I mentioned the conversation with Don Spears.

"I'd do it, son," he said. "Don's a damned good lawyer, and he's got some cases that need technical support. Do this for him right now, and when you and your crew get formed up, you have an entry in your portfolio that you do consultation on legal matters."

"That's an interesting angle on it, ' I said. "You're right, Charlie. It's time to start thinking about portfolios." I noticed Cindy standing at my shoulder. "I guess that's my cue, Charlie."

"Go ahead. We'll see you later," he said. We made a lap around the park, brisk walk except whenever we ran into somebody of conversational bent. RV parks with late season snow-birds are full of them, so we spent a bit of time standing around talking. I'd like to think that I was what they spotted first, but I knew better. Cindy's memorable. I'm just another middle-aged guy.

We ended up back in our little home. Put the potatoes in the oven, season the steaks, now there's an hour to kill. I looked around. Cindy was stretched on the bed, smiling.

"Come lay down and put some music on," she said. "I feel the need for comforting."

"Stressful day, kitten?" I asked.

As I slid into her waiting arms, she said, "Yes, it's very stressful maintaining the high standard of adorability that my husband deserves."

I landed a kiss on those smiling lips. "Give it up, baby doll. NOBODY deserves this much 'adorable'."

"You're so wrong." And she kissed me. Wasn't a peck. Drew my soul out and merged it with hers.

Two more like that and clothes weren't an option any more. Saturday afternoon love-making. It's wonderful. Would've been MORE wonderful if there wasn't a ticking clock, the potatoes in the oven, but we got out of bed and she put on her nightshirt and I did T-shirt and warm-up pants and put together our dinner.

After dinner, we found a movie to stream for the evening's background noise while we played cards, then it was showers and back to bed.

As we'd planned, Sunday afternoon we loaded up the guns and ammo and joined the Hardesty bunch at the local range for some shooting practice. The only thing new to this foray was Billy standing an awe of Cindy working those guns. And Ann outshooting her former Marine husband with a rifle. We ended up with an early dinner at the catfish emporium.

And Monday was back to work for me and back to school for Cindy.

...

Cindy's turn:

Monday morning Dan and I got up and got dressed and then we went and picked up Kaitlyn and took us to breakfast. Kaitlyn thought that was the neatest thing, having breakfast at the restaurant before school. Of course, having Dan drop us off at school was a lot less uncool than if her mom or dad dropped her off. So there we were, walking across the high school campus, me on my second day of high school.

"You and Dan," she said, "Y'all talk to each other just like Mom and Dad."

"Of course," I said. "We're married, just like your mom and dad."

"Yeah, but you're fourteen. I'm seventeen. And they talk to me like a kid."

"I'm fourteen, but we're married. If he had to talk to me like a kid, I don't think we'd be married." I sighed. "And I've heard you and your parents talk. And they don't talk to you like a kid, even though you ARE their daughter." (Dan and I ran into them on one of our catfish meals. We all sat together. Dan makes friends fast, and we all had a good time.)

"You see it like that? Really?" Kaitlyn said.

"Really! You got good parents, sister!"

Kaitlyn smiled. "How come you don't act all airheaded, like my cousin?"

"How come YOU don't act all airheaded, like most of the kids over there?" I laughed. "We're different. Everybody's different, but some of 'em are more mature. You are."

Of course, eating at the restaurant and getting dropped of, we only had a few minutes before the bell rang for home room, so we navigated up the hall in that direction.

First thing that happened was the girl who sat in front of Kaitlyn turned around. "Where were you Friday, Cindy?"

I explained about the trailer.

"You moved out of a HOUSE back into a trailer?" She was shocked.

"It's the principle, Shawna, ' I said. "It was OUR trailer, and I'm not gonna get run out of it by a couple of drunk rednecks." I know, I've told a lot of people that, but it REALLY did make me angry.

The guy off to the side of us said, "Uh-huh. I heard THOSE guys ain't runnin' anybody ANYWHERE!"

"Jared!" Kaitlyn chided, "It's not polite to interrupt!"

"Just sayin'," he added, backing off.

"But that's where I was Friday," I said.

Kaitlyn already heard about my weekend, but Shawna was a curious sort. Actually, I think it was because I was something new. "So what did you do for the weekend?" Shawna asked.

"Went flying Saturday."

Shawna's mouth was still agape when the teacher started calling roll. After roll-call, Shawna turned around again. "Cindy, where'd you fly to?"

"Oh, just around the area. We own a little airplane. I can fly, but I can't get a license until I'm sixteen." And then I decided to give Jared something to think about with his morbid self. "And Sunday afternoon we went to the rifle range." I smiled. Just for effect, you know. "Gotta stay in practice!"

"Waaaittt!" Jared said. "Ever'body I know has guns. You're the only one I know that has a plane. I wanna know about that."

"It's forty years old, carries four people, and goes a hundred and sixty miles an hour," I said. "We've flown all over Alabama and to Georgia and South Carolina and Tennessee. And I've flown from here to Louisiana and Dan folded his arms the whole time."

The bell rang for first hour, and we got up to go to class. Jared stuck right with me and Kaitlyn. "Uh, Cindy," he said, "do y'all ever, like, give rides?"

Now that's something that Dan and I had never discussed. I know that Susan flies with Tina and Alan all the time, and we took Mizz Ann and Mister Jim to Georgia for that concert, but I never asked about any of my school friends. "I dunno," I said. "I'd have to talk to Dan." I noticed Kaitlyn's face, too.

"If you do, I'd like a ride." She smiled.

Now, I knew ... We knew Kaitlyn's mom and dad, so I thought taking her wouldn't be a problem, but I didn't say so, just in case that Dan saw things differently.

If anything, the English class was more chaotic than last Thursday. Mizz Gregory started out by giving a diagnostic test, and then we each passed our test back to the person sitting behind us to score them. Then she read off the correct answers for us to score them, and we got our tests back.

"Anybody get them ALL right?" she asked.

I looked at Kaitlyn. She winked and raised her hand. Mine was on its way up, and there was another girl on the other side of the classroom.

"You three can go to the library, if you wish," said Mizz Gregory.

I thought about staying, but I saw Kaitlyn moving her notebook to her backpack, so I did the same. Kaitlyn, me, and the other girl walked out of the classroom. The other girl's name was Bailee.

Kaitlyn said, "That felt strange. Everybody was staring at us."

Bailee said, "Oh, noooo, Kaitlyn. They EXPECT that out of us. We've been doin' straight 'A' work all year. They're staring at our friend Cindy. She just showed up and everybody knows she's fourteen." She giggled. Kaitlyn giggled too, and that got me to giggling, and one of the teachers stepped out of a classroom and shushed us.

We got to the library. It was huge compared to ours at the middle school. I wish I'd have been able to spend DAYS in there. We checked in with the head librarian.

"Mizz Gregory asked if we'd mind spending the hour in the library," Bailee said.

The librarian asked why.

"We took the review test for language skills and didn't miss any," Bailee answered.

The librarian, Mizz Watson, looked at the three of us. "I know you, Bailee, and you too, Kaitlyn, but I don't recognize your friend."

"I'm Cindy Richards, Mizz Watson."

"Did you just transfer in?"

"Oh, no ma'am," I said. "I'm from the middle school. I'm here for the review."

She pushed her glasses up on her nose. "Why's a middle school student reviewing the high school exit exam?"

Kaitlyn made me giggle. She put her arm around my shoulder and said, "Mizz Watson, Cindy has to take the high school exit examination to graduate this year." She giggled. "She's got the top ACT score in the county this year and they're afraid that if she stays in school here, she'll start sheddin' IQ points."

Mizz Watson smirked. "Miss Kaitlyn, I can see WE haven't lost our attitude!" She looked at me. "Miss Cindy, make sure that Kaitlyn's attitude does not rub off on you!" But she was smiling when she said it.

The three of us found a library table in the back corner so we wouldn't disturb others and we kept our voices down, talking about college plans. Bailee was like Kaitlyn, one of the brightest students in the class.

"Just like THAT, you got a scholarship to Auburn?"

"Worse than that," Kaitlyn chirped. "She got recruited by University of Alabama, too. And MIT and Stanford."

"Sheeshhhhhh," Bailee said.

"I'm going to Auburn because my step-dad and one of my husband's best friends are both Auburn grads," I said. "And besides, they sent a recruiter to my school to talk to me."

Now Bailee was really incredulous. "Nooo! A recruiter?"

I nodded my head. "Yes. Mizz Patel. From the engineering department. The principal says it's the first time he's ever seen a college recruiter at his school."

"I guess so," Bailee said. "But you act normal."

"I AM normal," I said.

Bailee shook her head. "Nonono! You are fourteen. You're married. You got recruited by a college. And you just got run out of a high school English class because you knew all the answers. That's NOT normal." She took a breath. "It's REALLY REALLY good. But it's not normal."

Kaitlyn. I think I REALLY like Kaitlyn, because she added fuel to the fire. "You forgot the part where she flies her own plane."

"Oh, come on!" Bailee said.

I pulled out my cell phone and showed her pictures. Me and Dan. Our plane. Me in the pilot seat. Me at the project.

"That's your husband?" she asked.

"That's my Dan!" That was the picture of Dan and me standing at the propeller end of our plane. It was a good picture of us. Dan looked even better than normal, and he had his arm around me and we were both smiling.

"How old is he? I heard you were married, but I thought, like, a high school guy."

"Gosh, no," I said. "My Dan's a PACKAGE! He's an engineer. The smartest person I ever met, and I've met some really smart guys in the last year with him. He's forty-one."

Kaitlyn giggled at Bailee. "I know. I think he's kind a cute, too."

I kept paging through the pictures, me and Dan and Mister Jim and Mizz Ann at that concert. I was proud of the way we looked, so civilized, all dressed up. And I showed her me and Dan and Alan and Tina and Susan. "That's my adopted family in Tennessee. We three girls are ALL going to Auburn in the fall. And this guy Alan, he and Dan are starting an engineering business in Opelika or Auburn town so they'll be there with us."

"Wow!"

I showed her the picture Dan took of me and Hanna in Hanna's Extra.

"Girl!" Bailee said, "Red hair. Red airplane. You're something!"

I kind of looked down. "I'm just me."

Listening to Bailee and Kaitlyn talk about their futures, I see one big source of drama that I am avoiding. They're sure they'll find mates, but both of them have had dealings with boys their age already, and haven't seen anything that's husband material.

"But you're still in high school," I said. "You have plenty of time. Don't rush into something."

Bailee laughed at me. "Cindy, how can you say that? YOU'RE married already!"

"That's my point. You don't HAVE to be, until it's the right person."

"You're right, ' Kaitlyn said. "That's what Mom says. But I'm like Bailee. It's FUNNY hearing YOU say it."

Bailee smiled. "Cindy, that's gonna be the cross you bear for years. Every time you say something, no matter how right it is, people are going to look at you just like I did and say 'That little girl? She's like, what? FOURTEEN?"

Kaitlyn giggled. "And of course, you'll still be right."

We had a lot of fun in the library, and then the bell rang.

We went to math class. Mister Abbott caught us at the door. "You two do NOT need review. I am sending my AP students to the library." Kaitlyn started giggling. "What's so funny, Mizz Baker?"

"We just got BACK from the library. Mizz Gregory sent us there from English class."

He shook his head. "And you, little Miss Thirty-One On My ACT, I don't know why you're wasting your time here at all."

I decided he was somebody I could risk a with little levity. "Mister Abbott, this is my ENTIRE high school experience."

He laughed. "God, I wish I had a classroom full of kids like you two. Now you go to the library and let me deal with my misery."

When we got back to the library, Kaitlyn told Mizz Watson, "We're back!"

Mizz Watson looked at us and smirked. "You did pretty good last hour. See that you keep it up!"

This time it was a couple of new girls from the math class, and time flew.

By the end of the day Kaitlyn and I had spent the whole thing in the library. After the last bell, we were walking out to the buses.

"Are you going to come back tomorrow?"

"Sure," I said. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you didn't actually, you know, REVIEW anything."

"I enjoyed hanging out with you, though. If I go back to middle school, then I'm not reviewing anything there either."

Kaitlyn smiled. "I know. So you just as well show up here. I mean, if you want. I enjoyed having you. And I know the others did. Bailee ... Look, there she is!" Bailee was walking in our direction. "Bailee," Kaitlyn said, "Tell Cindy she needs to come back tomorrow, even if all we did all day was hang around the library."

Bailee said, "Gee, I don't know ... three guys asked who the new girl was that we were hangin' out with, and did I have your phone number."

I laughed. "I could give 'em Dan's cell number..."

"'S not guys you'd be interested in, anyway, Cindy," Bailee said. "I wouldn't give one of 'em a second thought, and I don't have your Dan waiting for me every night."

"You might also tell them that I am fourteen and therefore classified as jailbait," I laughed.

Kaitlyn and I rode the bus home. I promised to return to high school in the morning and got off at the RV park.

Dan met me at the office where I was chatting with Mizz Helen.

"How'd your day go, princess," he said.

I told him about the library. "But I had the greatest time, baby! My friends there, it's interesting to hear how they're looking at their own futures. It was all the smart kids in the library."

Dan laughed and told Mizz Helen, "It was bad enough when she was too smart for middle school. But we let 'er go to high school, and she's too smart there, too."

We got in the truck for the short ride across the park. "Baby," I said, "How would you feel about giving rides in our plane to some of my classmates?"

He smiled. "I'm gonna assume that you aren't proposing that I haul around a bunch of idiots. We could do a couple, I suppose. When?"

"Maybe Wednesday after school?"

"Okay. Tell 'em to meet us at the airport. What's the weather supposed to look like?"

He knew I'd already KNOW that. "Should be good," I said. "Some people are curious. Kaitlyn..."

"Oh, well, her, for sure."

"And a guy. Jared. He's not one of the honor students, but he seems decent and pretty smart. You know how sometimes just giving a person a taste of something really gives them a goal. I'm hoping it's like that for him."

Dan trusts me and I would never do anything to break that. Jared didn't look or talk like some of the idiots you see at school. Kaitlyn says he's a pretty decent person, and that goes along with what I saw in a couple of days. So tomorrow I'll tell 'im.

I pushed Dan in the door of our trailer and while we were putting together a quick dinner, I was telling him about some of the conversations from today.

By the end of the week, the reviews were over. Monday was the day testing started.

My life keeps changing. And it's good.

Chapter 53

Playing music with the Hardesty bunch was fun for Cindy and me, but Jim'd given me the itch again. Cindy was amused when I dragged my old acoustic guitar out of storage and hauled it home with us, and she was even more amused when I started dragging it out from behind the sofa in the evening and started practicing, retraining old memory paths and muscles to make fingers go where they needed to produce music.

"You're getting pretty good," she said. "A lot better than the first time I heard you when you put the bass down and tried a regular guitar at Mister Jim's."

"Good enough to impress little redheaded cuties?" I asked.

Giggle. "You 'bout got me ready to pull my shirt up right now!" she smirked, green eyes twinkling.

"Oh, you're an evil little thing," I said.

"Nuh-uhhh," she laughed. "It's not evil when you seduce your husband. But keep practicing."

"I need help," I said. "Some of these songs have words." I was running through some folk and bluegrass standards, simple songs with simple chords and I found that as my fingers limbered and remembered, I could add the licks and the pickings to bring them to another level. A quick spate of internet activity and we printed out lyrics and soon, Cindy and I were doing duets.

I heard a knock on the trailer door. Cindy looked at me and reached beside the sofa, pulling my pistol. She had it cocked and ready. I eased to the door. "Who is it?" I called.

"Bob Skerty. We're in Lot 16. Me and the missus heard you playing."

I opened the door. Cindy was putting the pistol back in its place. "Hi! You wanna come in?"

"Well, we were wondering if you and Cindy would come out. It's not a bad evening at all, and..."

I looked at Cindy. She was putting her shoes on. "I take that as a 'yes'," I said. "Let me get my shoes on."

"Well, if you'll come down to our RV, we have chairs, and Mary's gonna make something to drink."

"We'll be there in a bit," I said. They left. "Looks like we have an engagement," I said. "Bring the lyrics."

And that's how it came to pass that a couple of evenings a week we did our practice outdoors. I related that first time to Jim.

"You're not leaving the band, are you?" he laughed.

"Hardly," Cindy interrupted. "This is all your fault, anyway."

Our weekly sessions with the Hardestys got more polished between my practice and Cindy's solo exposure, and we were getting very comfortable with playing together.

So it was Saturday night and we had a pavilion full of people from the park and now we were gathering people from the church that the Hardesty family attended, and some of the people who had learned of us from the project, and it was getting interesting.

"You're gonna be the MC (Master of Ceremonies) tonight," Jim said.

"Got it covered," I said.

We were setting up the microphones and the amplifier for the bass. It was the only electric instrument in our band. We'd talked about that. "I'd try a bass fiddle, but they're not exactly convenient to carry around," I said.

Cindy and Teresa and Billy were circulating around the crowd when Jim and I finished. Ann, who'd been talking with Helen and Charlie, came up to the stage.

I got on the microphone. "If I can get the rest of the band up here, we'll get started with tonight's festivities." Cindy joined me. Teresa and Billy took their spots.

I went into my spiel. "I'm Dan Richards, and this is the band. Mizz Ann is a classically trained concert violinist. At least she was, until she married her husband, Jim Hardesty, who was a young Marine officer she met in college. Now she's a fiddle player. Jim's playing banjo. Their son Billy's on bass back there, and the little blonde cutie who's gonna sing with my Cindy is their daughter Teresa. Teresa's name comes from a vacation Uncle Sam gave them while Jim was a Marine fighter pilot."

"This little cutie here is my wife, Cindy. And I saw somebody had a canoe strapped on top of their RV out there, so we're gonna start off with the last thing a canoist wants to hear: Banjo music!"

And Jim and I launched into "Dueling Banjos". I'd had to explain the joke to Cindy because that movie was ancient history to her, but to most of the RV crowd, it was reason to laugh. And clap. Because Jim and I were getting good. Maybe not 'Let's sell records' good, but plenty good. And Ann worked the fiddle parts perfectly.

We pulled back after the applause (they applauded us!) and let Cindy and Teresa take center stage. I hit the microphone again. "Much of the music we play tonight falls under the general term of 'bluegrass'. It's the music from rural people who got together informally, and the music was about their lives. Since much in their lives revolved around their churches, a lot of the songs have a religious theme. This is one of them."

We played a little simple bluegrass hymn and Cindy and Teresa put voice to it in simple harmony. 'Cute' was enough to get applause, but cute and good was even better.

We followed with a few more of the same sort, folksy, country.

And then it was our turn. Me and Cindy. We'd practiced. We practiced with the Hardestys. But we'd never tried it in public: Our first duet. We picked a lively, irreverent bluegrass piece, "Salty Dog Blues" because it had breaks to showcase each of our instruments, Ann's fiddle, Jim's raucous banjo, and my increasingly competent guitar, but mainly because it could highlight my favorite musical instrument in the form of a happy, lively redhead with a voice.

We started with a full instrumental entry, then I took the first solo verse. For the chorus, Cindy and I faced each other, singing, and her smile could've melted stones. She took the second verse solo after Ann's violin, oops! fiddle break, and we did the second chorus. She couldn't contain her enthusiasm and was bouncing in time with the driving beat. I took the second break with my guitar, we duetted the third verse and Jim cut loose with a ringing banjo break. I think it was his finest work. We brought Jim and Ann in on the last verse, used all the instruments for the close, and got a standing ovation and calls for an encore.

Cindy tossed her red head, her bangs sweeping a bit to the side, and pulled me back to the front of the stage. "Okay! Cindy says you get an encore." And we did.

We got Cindy and Teresa back in the lead for a rendering of "Wildwood Flower", and kept going for another thirty minutes before taking a break. We were besieged at break. I got clapped on the back, got my hand shook, the normal good words, but Cindy and Teresa got mobbed, hugged by male and female alike. Cindy was glowing when we regained the stage for our last half.

We finished our official show at ten PM as advertised, ending with "Ashokan Farewell", a tune that wasn't traditional bluegrass, but that gave us our best chance to showcase Ann delving into some of the corners of her classical training with a folksy flair, and then I announced the end of the official show, and that we'd be happy to hang around for an hour if anyone in the crowd wanted to come play with us.

We were usually amazed at the talent that walked up and picked up instruments, or in some cases left and returned with their own.

It's a good thing it was Saturday night because it was almost midnight when we loaded the last of the equipment up and followed Jim and Ann and the kids to their house to unload. I commented on the hour.

"Don't worry," Ann said. "The pastor's used to seeing Jim nodding off, and this time he'll know why. He was sitting third row, center, for the whole show."

"Yeah," Jim said. "I have a feeling we'll get a call to do one for a Sunday afternoon social as my penance."

"Uh, Dad ... We're Baptists. We don't do 'penance'," Teresa injected.

"We just don't call it that, baby," Jim laughed.

We got in our truck and left. "Did you have a good time, little one?"

"Oh yeah," she smiled. "I think they liked our duet!"

"I liked our duet," I said. "'Specially when you started bouncing!"

"You know how much I wanna tell the world about us? Well, it was kind of like we were singin' it out to the whole wide world."

I smiled. I smile a lot since I found Cindy. "That's why we came up with the act, baby. For us. And if other people enjoy it, that's just lagniappe." (Lagniappe is pronounced "Lon-YOP". It's a Cajun term for a little something extra, sort of a Cajun 'baker's dozen')

"Made a lot of people happy, I think."

We got back in the trailer well after midnight.

I locked the door behind us.

"I'm not dawdling in the shower, baby," she said. "Whatta night!"

We seldom 'dawdled' in the shower, not with a ten-gallon water heater, but when I got out, I helped her finish drying her hair and we went straight to bed.

"Leave the light on," she said, still naked. "I know the perfect way to unwind." Her face shone.

I met her in the middle of the bed, wrapping her in my arms, our lips meeting, tasting and feeling her purr as we melded. She had me on my back, her in complete control, me just absolutely loving every luscious second of it. The sassy red hair bounced alluringly.

"You know I adore you. This..." The last word escaped her lips in a hiss as she rode me.

I couldn't think of words to describe everything that went through my head, so I just went with the exquisite feelings as my little redhead hit every one of my senses all at once. "You're way past every dream I ever had, princess."

She took my hands and tugged, indicating that I should sit up. She maneuvered herself to keep us coupled as I moved to sitting, and her legs wrapped around my waist, her face level with mine. I bounced a couple of times on the mattress with her impaled on my hardness. Our mouths welded together, tongues knotting happily.

Her hips moved in circles in one dimension and figure eights in another and I was at the point where I couldn't sit still. Our merged mouths trade breath in pants, then she pulled her face back, her eyes tightly closed, her mouth smiling, except she was biting her bottom lip, her nostrils flared.

I was reciting trig tables to myself, trying NOT to just erupt spontaneously, willing, waiting for her to come. She let out a little squeal and a snort and fastened her mouth on my chest, sucking, biting and a shiver told me that she was there. A couple of thrusts compatible with her hips and I pulsed fire deep into her. She felt it, and ground herself down on me tighter.

Finally I had to breathe again. She turned her face up to me. "God, I love you, Dan Richards. Love you."

"I love you too, Cindy Sue Richards."

I could feel the combined juices oozing out of her tight pussy, soaking my balls. I reached for the towel we kept beside the bed. Often, this got me a protest, but tonight, she eased off me and I gently cleaned up the glistening mess from the both of us. Finishing, I turned off the light, punched one of our bedtime playlists up on the iPod, and pulled my drowsy mate into my arms. The smell of recent sex hung in the still air, mingling with the perfume from her hair. It was but one of many pleasant sensations lingering as I drifted off to sleep.

Sometime during the night, we changed positions. I did. I know she did, because I woke slightly when soft fingers grasped my dick gently as she snuggled up against me after I'd moved. She was sound asleep in the morning when I finally had to go relieve my bladder. When I crawled back into bed beside her, her eyelids fluttered, opening to show me a pair of emeralds.

"Morning, love," she said.

"Morning, kitten," I replied. "How'd you sleep?"

"I didn't sleep. I went into a coma. I'm sure of it."

"I heard that people coming out of comas are hungry. Pancakes?"

"And coffee?"

"Might want to put some clothes on," I said.

"I thought you might wanna," I said.

"I might wanna find a place where we don't have to wear clothes at all." She looked at me for my expression.

"I wouldn't mind that a bit, except I don't want every other guy seeing this..." I swept my hands down her shoulders, over her back, and then around to cup those perfect little mounds.

"I don't want to show 'em, either. But I so much love just lounging around naked with you..." she reached in her drawer and pulled out a pair of powder-blue hip-hugger panties. She was smirking as she waved them at me. "If I wear these, can you stand it?"

"You like teasing me."

"Now I do. The first time you saw these I wasn't trying to tease you. I just hadn't had a lot of practice with skirts and pickup trucks and I just wanted to wear the skirt so I'd look nice."

"If I had a weak heart, seeing those panties would've killed me right there."

She giggled. The early days of our relationship, when we were circling like moths around a flame, I was trying to be a decent friend and nothing more, and she was just happy to have a friend who treated her nice, and all the time, we were like two magnets, destined to stick together.

I watched her slender, well-shaped legs slide into those panties. When she stood, she smiled. At this stage of our lives together, she was confident in what she could do to me, and she did things simply because she knew that they brought me little spots of happiness. Of course, I did the same thing for her every chance I got. Seeing her smile, knowing that it was something I did, that brought pleasure to my life.

We finished dressing. She ran her fingers through her hair, fluffing it. I retrieved a hairbrush and tended to her, bringing that bronze crown to sleek perfection. She reached behind her neck and touched. "About time for a trim, baby," she said. "Unless you want me to let it grow."

"I love it like it's always been, cutie," I said. Her hair had never been long enough to touch her collar.

"Me too. It's always been short like this. I don't know if I could stand it longer." She turned around and put her arms around my neck. "And you seem to like it."

I answered by nuzzling her bangs with my lips. "Yes, I do," I said, supporting my demonstration. Reluctantly I released her and watched that jeans-clad little butt sashay towards the door. I followed, puppy-like. And it felt GOOD.

It was one of those clear spring days. We drove to the restaurant, walked into the Sunday crowd, got waved at by the cashier. "Hi Cindy. Hi, Dan. I think we have booth or two open in the back corner."

She was close to right. The busboy was finishing the booth when we got there. We slid right in ahead of the waitress who arrived with two mugs and a carafe of coffee.

She smiled at Cindy. "Is this a pancake day?"

"Yes, ma'am," Cindy answered.

"What about you, Dan?"

"Little breakfast plate. Scrambled eggs. Grits. Sausage."

"I'll have it out for you in a few minutes."

We looked across the room and saw Mona and Jeff Simmons. They were waiting for their check and when they got it, they made their way over to us. I stood to shake Jeff's hand.

Mona smiled at Cindy. "You were in great form last night, darlin'," she said. Mona and Jeff had been at our concert.

"Thank you, Mizz Mona," Cindy said. "We had fun. What'd you think of us doing that duet?"

Jeff laughed. "Looked like you two were telling each other and letting the world listen."

Cindy perked up. "That's EXACTLY what I told Dan," she said. "I'm so glad it showed."

"Well it did, little darlin'," he said. "We really enjoyed it, didn't we Mona?"

"We did. But y'all need to play some more waltzes so this guy will dance with me." She patted Jeff's hand. "But we need to get to church. You two really ought to come."

"Thanks for the invite, Mizz Mona," Cindy said. "One of these days we might show up."

Jeff chuckled. "Word's pretty much out about you two now. Not nearly as many people would pass out if you showed up."

"No exorcisms?" I asked.

"Probably not," Mona laughed. "Our pastor was in the audience last night. HE knows about you two."

"Nobody sprinkling holy water on me to see if I sizzle?"

"We're Baptists. We don't do holy water. You might get crowned with a casserole..."

"Come on, Mona, we're gonna be late for church while you're jousting with Dan." Jeff tugged her arm.

Cindy was giggling over the whole exchange. Mona and Jeff's departure coincided with the arrival of our plates and we dug in. "We really ought to go to church there next Sunday."

"Oh, yeah ... I can wear some tight jeans and a gold chain and a shirt unbuttoned to my navel, and you can wear hotpants and a push-up bra."

She swallowed, then stuck her tongue out at me. "You don't own ANY of that, and I don't have anything for a bra to push up. We CAN dress nice. And just show up. No fanfare. (Fanfare? Fourteen year old vocabulary includes 'fanfare'?) No warning. Just you and I showing up, singing a few hymns, listening to a sermon. Neither of us would melt"

"Some normality in our lives." I looked at her as she forked a chunk of pancake into her mouth and chewed.

"Mm-hm." She said, swallowing. "They used to have a church bus that collected kids on Sunday morning. I went a few times, but I caught a lot of flak about livin' in the park and my mom's reputation and stuff, so I didn't go after a while."

"I remember you telling Mona that, the first time she saw us together."

"I won't even tell you what Mom said about it, when she cared enough to think about it," Cindy said, face clouding. "But some of the people were genuine and nice, too. If it hadn't been for a few ... Just normal, Dan. Sometimes I just want to be normal."

"I know, baby. I think I understand."

"I know," she said. "The school thing, and the 'married at fourteen' thing, there's a lot about me that will never be normal, but I missed a lot." She sighed. "But you've given me so much more than I ever imagined since last August."

"Just wanted you to have some things in your life to be happy about," I said.

"You're my Number One Thing, guy." She smiled. "Sorry about getting morose."

"Little one, you're my best friend. If you can't talk to me about everything, I'm not doing my job."

She still did that 'shy smile' thing that melted me from the first time I saw it. "You do your job just fine. And since YOU came along, I have so many others. Like my sisters, and our family. And the Hardesty clan. And even friends at school."

We finished out plates and the waitress stopped by to drop the check and to refill our coffee mugs. I handed her a credit card. She was back in moments and Cindy and I were out the door, hand in hand, the incongruous couple. Few heads turned any more. We were old news, except for the shootings, and there are always a few people whose eyes are drawn to Cindy's demeanor. She is, after all, a darned cute little redhead with a bounce in her step.

I knew we were close to the Sunday morning phone call as I eased the truck out into traffic. Cindy smiled at me. "Let's see what my sister's up to." She spoke "Tina" into the phone and waited a few seconds.

"Hi, sis!" she bubbled. Pause. "Oh, gosh yes! I think it was our best ever." Pause. "Uh-huh! I wish I had a video. We did our duet. It was wild. We had to do an encore." Pause. "Yeah, the tests start tomorrow morning." Giggle. "What do you suggest I do to get relaxed?" Giggle. "Okay, that takes care of me and you. What about our other sister?" Pause. Squeal! "Really? They ARE?" Giggle. "That's probably smart. Her dad'll be less likely to murder 'im right after church." Pause. "Maybe we should fly up there next weekend. Only two obstacles - Dan and the weather. And I can do something about Dan." She caught my raised eyebrow and mimed a kiss. "Okay! You talk to the bunch on your end. We'll finalize plans later!" Pause. "Okay, sis! Love ya too! Bye!"

"What sort of news is it that causes my baby to squeal like that?"

"My oldest sister's getting married."

"Susan? Jason, I'm assuming."

"Uh-huh. They're gonna talk to her parents after church today."

"You and Tina have been giggling about this ever since Susan met him."

Cindy grinned broadly. "Yeah, don't know what to say about all this. Big difference in their ages. He's been married before, she's an innocent little thing..."

I knew she was jerking my chain. And enjoying it. I joined the game. "Some poor little child being led off to be exploited, no doubt."

"Yep!" Giggle. "You know how those older men are."

"Maybe it wasn't some lecherous old guy on the hunt for young girls. Maybe it was some older guy who was just trying to be nice to people and some young girl set her sights on him."

She sat back in the seat, arms crossed, satisfied smile on her face. "I can see where that might happen, too."

"Or it could be that two people, an unlikely couple, stumble upon one another and find that they've found their lifemates."

"And they live happily ever after," she smiled.

"Except on Sundays when they have to catch up on laundry and stuff."

"I have some wonderful ideas of what we can do while the laundry is working," she said. "Part of that 'happily ever after' thing, you know."

"And maybe a few walking laps around the park this afternoon?"

"Yeah, that'll work."

That was our plan, anyway. We got back to the trailer and started our laundry. We bumped into each other cleaning the little trailer, sweeping, mopping the miniscule floor, dusting, working over our little home together. Day to day, we kept it tidy, but some tasks just needed to be done periodically. The effort required was small, but still an effort, and it was a much happier task when shared by somebody who enjoyed giving and receiving hugs and bumps and erotic caresses.

I moved a load of clothes from the washer to the dryer and reloaded the washer. I looked up and Cindy was smiling. "We need a break, don't you think?"

"What kind of break do you have in mind?" I asked. I had several ideas of my own.

Her eyes twinkled. "The kind where we stretch out in bed and just laze around because we had a wild night last night." Her brow knit briefly. "And I don' t know about you, but I fund it more relaxing if I get out of my street clothes."

"I've found that to be true," I said, playing along again. She was getting out of her clothes and I was trying to catch up. When I stood up, she was clad only in panties, no bra, not that she needed such a thing. Her breasts were perfect A-cup shapes, perkily nippled, slightly fleshed out from conical, with a gravity-defying lack of any hint of sag.

"Panties?"

Giggle. "Gotta leave SOMETHING to the imagination."

"Little redheaded girl, my imagination was never this good," I said. I was being truthful.

We met in the middle of our bed, her soft lips meeting mine, agile tongue working, teasing, tasting the inside of my mouth. She giggled. "This is just so perfect."

I lay back and she straddled me, teasing, the thin fabric of her panties offering only the slightest barrier separating us. She plopped forward atop me, smiling.

"I love it like this," she said.

"Like this?"

"Yeah ... Me. You. Playing."

Darned right I loved it. My hands were playing over her neat body, a tactile cornucopia.

"This is an 'us' thing, I think," she said. "Somehow I never pictured Mom enjoying sex like this."

I didn't really want to think about Cindy's mom and her sexual practices. I'd seen more of the woman than I wanted, but Cindy obviously gave the idea some thought. "Baby," I said, "sex is like other appetites. Different people have different desires and needs and tastes. You and I just seem to click."

She answered this while she was toying with the loose skin of my scrotum. We played for an hour, exploring. Well, maybe it wasn't exactly exploring, because we'd spent many hours in bed playing with one another. Early in our relationship it was Cindy learning about my body and hers, and me learning what made Cindy happiest. Now it was just like spinning a sexual kaleidoscope, playing, teasing, titillating, happy extended foreplay. Our hour ended with us in a familiar sixty-nine, cleaning up the results of charging one another up to the edge of explosion, and my cleaning her with my mouth and tongue gave her another orgasm to go with the two she's already had when play turned serious.

That put us lounging in bed naked, covered with a thin sheet, waiting for the dryer to finish its cycle. I wasn't really excited about getting up when it buzzed, but if we wanted wrinkle-free clothes I had to move. Nude housework. Cute. I pulled clothing out of the dryer and put it on hangers and Cindy took the hangers and put them in our little closets.

While I was shifting clothes from the washer to the dryer and starting another load of wash, Cindy was making kitchen noises.

"Whatcha doin', kitchen pixie?" I asked.

"A frozen block of that chili we made a couple of weeks ago. I thought we'd do that chili and some crackers for lunch. It's not too late to change, though."

"No, that's great."

"I'm trying to be a domestic goddess," she smirked.

"Oh, you make a much better forest nymph," I laughed. "Especially when you're at the stove naked. Be careful you don't burn something we need."

"I'm getting ready to put my clothes back on," she said, turning toward the bedroom where those clothes were in a neat pile at the side of the bed.

As she turned away, I saw the scars left from that horrible night, pink patches that would forever remind us. She was essentially healed, and I was close to completion myself. From time to time I found her tracing my scars with gentle fingertips. One time I asked, "Are they really ugly?" I could see the ones on my calf, a puckered entry wound and a pink, slightly raised scar where the pellet had exited. I couldn't see my shoulder or my own ass, and she giggled when I tried, handing me a mirror.

"Nope. Your butt ... I always liked touching it," she said. "Now when I do, it's like I read a message in Braille that says this guy got shot protecting you." She looked at me with those emerald eyes. "D'you know how few women in the country can say that about their mates? Well, I can."

Now she turned to me with her bra stretched between her hands. "You're thinking again, aren't you," she asked.

"Yeah. About you, naked. And how much I love you."

"And other stuff."

"Yeah. About you naked."

"So don't tell me, then..." She pretended to pout.

"I was thinking of my scars and your scars and how many couples are tied together with experiences like ours."

"Oh," Cindy said. "We had that talk before. Means something to me. You should've seen the stares I got talking about it last week as school."

"I bet," I laughed. "You're probably the only fourteen year old girl graduating high school this year that's combat-experienced."

I got a redheaded teenager sticking her tongue at me, eyes laughing, and yeah, I was still naked and she had a bra on and I rolled her back on the bed. I didn't ask the question, but she provided the answer, spreading her legs to capture me between them, wiggling her hips to find her target, all six inches of 'as hard as I can ever remember', and I plunged into her, relishing her excited giggles.

"I love when we do it JUST like this!" she tittered. "Am I crazy?"

"Not on my universe," I said, kissing her as she wrapped me up. "More like 'perfect', really!"

Any idea that I might be offering unwelcome activities was crushed by her legs wrapping around mine to give her purchase to hunch up, shoving her pussy upward to engulf my dick. I growled with the sensation, meeting her thrusts with my own. She got serious really fast, her mouth fastening on my chest, biting, knowing that she was driving me to edge with that move. I plunged onward.

Three minutes later we were finished, laying on the bed, juices dripping from both of us. She sighed audibly. "Now THAT is what a quickie is supposed to be!"

"God, yesssss," I said. "Life didn't exist before you came along, kitten."

"Kitten. I love when you call me that." She nestled into my arms and purred.

"See," I said. "So much a kitten."

She turned her face up to mine, eyes bright, smile on her face, hair tousled in a pattern that some women would pay a couple of hundred bucks trying to emulate. I was charmed. Again. "You adore me, don't you." She said it like it was a fact. It was.

We finally got up and dressed. I did a bit of laundry manipulation and we walked out into the spring day. It was warm, the sky filled with clouds.

"Cumulus," she said correctly. "Ceiling thirty-five hundred, broken."

"You pay too much attention. What happened to 'big puffy white clouds'?" I asked.

"They're that, too, baby," she said, entwining her fingers in mine as we walked out onto the park road. "Last year I would lay over in the short grass by the pool and stare up at big puffy white clouds and dream. Now I'm married to the guy who took me dancing in those clouds."

"If I could figure it out, we'd journey through the stars, little one."

We were smiling and walking and holding hands, moving from our trailer toward the first occupied slot up the road from us. The retired snowbird couple was sitting under their awning enjoying the spring air. They called out and we walked over. As usual, the lady, in her late sixties, most likely, fawned over Cindy, and the guy and I talked small talk about where he used to work and what kind of work I did and where his next destination was going to be.

"Following a safe distance behind the frost, back to Pennsylvania," he said. "Got a grand-daughter graduating in a few weeks. We'll stay at home for a while, then maybe do Canada."

"Sonny," his wife called, "THIS young girl's graduating in a few weeks, too! She's fourteen!"

He looked at me. "Fourteen. And she's your wife?"

"Long story," I said.

"Can't be too long. She's only fourteen."

Cindy slid up beside me. "And we're married. Six months now."

"Now, Sonny," the lady said, "Don't get your hackles up."

"Mister Sonny," Cindy said, "We're happy together. Doesn't it show? Like last night?"

"She's got you there, Sonny," the wife said. "She doesn't look abused."

"He's just really BAD at it, Mister Sonny. He's taught me to fly, got me tossed from the eighth grade into graduating high school, and I have a scholarship to Auburn next fall." She smiled, her best, most innocent smile beaming on her face.

"You know," he started, "Aw, hell ... That's just nuts! Dan, she's precious. You guys' duet last night was fantastic."

"Thank you," I said. "You okay, Mister Sonny? We don't mean to offend..."

"You don't have to call me 'mister', and I apologize for acting offended. Crap goes on all the time with male and female, and you two seem happy."

"I can see how it might upset some people, Sonny," I said. "It upset me more than I wanted to imagine. But she was my friend and we decided that we needed to be together."

He shook his head. "Well, good luck, then." He looked at Cindy. "College in the fall, huh?"

"Electrical engineering," Cindy said. "Like my husband."

Chapter 54

We were sitting down for dinner together when Cindy's phone rang. She looked at the display. "Susan!" Squeal! "Hi, Sis! Didja?" Pause. "Uh-huh!" Pause. "So when?" Squeal! "Absolutely! We wouldn't miss it for the world!" Pause. "Yeah! We're flyin' up this weekend. We'll be there Friday afternoon." Pause. "Dinner with your mom an' dad an ' you an' your sweetie? You betcha!"

Cindy was in full glow. That was my little mate. Since we'd become a couple, she was usually happy with me, but it always took on an extra depth when she was happy about something good happening to somebody else.

"Oh, Sis, I am sooo happy for you. AND Jason! Tell 'im I, us, we said 'Hi!', okay?" Pause. "Of course! I love you. Bye!"

I looked at the broad grin on her face. "You look awfully happy," I said.

"The circle is almost complete," she said. "You know how I felt about poor Susan being the odd man out on our weekends together. Come the first weekend in June, that's over."

"You ARE happy," I laughed.

"I AM!" she said with a giggle.

We finished dinner, cleaned our dishes, and did a couple of laps around the park. This time we got stopped several times.

"No practice tonight?" Bob Skery asked.

"Sorry, not tonight. We're doing a couple of laps, then Cindy needs to rest up for tomorrow. She starts testing, and when she passes the high school exit exams, she'll be lined up to graduate."

"Fourteen," his wife said, shaking her head. "She sings like an angel, and she's graduating at fourteen." She looked at me. "Dan, you have a real gem there."

"Don't I know it," I said.

Sonny and his wife walked up. Cindy was standing at my side, her arm casually around my waist, a finger hung in a belt loop.

"Hi, Mister Sonny! Hi, Mizz Tammy!"

"Hi, Miss Cindy," Sonny said. "Out for a walk?"

"Yessir," she smiled. "Isn't it glorious this evening?"

"It is indeed, dear," Tammy said. "Did I hear you're testing tomorrow?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Isn't that going to be hard for you?"

"I'd better answer that so it doesn't sound like Cindy's tooting her own horn," I said. "My little cutie has the highest ACT score in the county this year, including the consolidated high school. She went to high school for the last week and a half to attend the reviews they give their graduating students, and she and a couple of her high school friends got run out of the review classes. The teachers said that my Cindy and company don't need to waste time reviewing. So I'm thinking the tests won't be much of a hurdle for her."

Sonny laughed. "Well, then. You could at least get your guitar and play a few songs for us."

Cindy grinned. "I'll go get it, babe!"

So we ended up sitting there with me plunking on my guitar, and Cindy and the rest singing along for an hour.

Walking back to the trailer after it was over, she giggled. "You're too easy, baby!"

"Too easy?"

"Yeah. You'll drop what you're doing to have fun with people."

"They took advantage of me, baby," I laughed. "They got me talking about my favorite subject - you!"

"You're my biggest fan, aren't you, Dan," she said.

"Yes. And you've got some big fans. Helen. Charlie. Jim. Your sisters."

"But you're the one ... the biggest one."

"I will happily accept the title."

"Comes with a kiss, you know," she said, stepping onto the step into the trailer and turning.

I collected the kiss. From a couple of inches, she was adorable. I could make out the freckles that I adored, a sprinkle across her nose. I kissed her nose.

She wrinkled it. "Freckles. You're thinking about my freckles, aren't you?" She knew. I was an open book to this little girl.

"Mmm-hmmm," I said. "Saw 'em on Day One. Melted right through the crust on my heart."

"I used to lay awake at night wondering why I had to endure freckles like that. Thought I was a freak. Turns out that I was just waiting until you came along to think I was adorable."

"You ARE adorable, little red-headed girl."

"Then why don't we go inside and adore each other?"

"Perfect idea!"

"Yeah," she smiled. "I have tests tomorrow. You're supposed to help me relax."

Two showers later, we were in the process of making sure that she was relaxed for the next day.

I had a couple of days' work left on the job so I returned to the familiar haunts of the last several months, walked in, greeted Sara and the rest of the gang, tossed my laptop bag into my temporary office, and then headed to the coffee station.

Sara was there with her mug. "Cindy starts her tests today, right?"

"Yep," I said.

"Thought so. New next door neighbor's son is a high school senior and he's as nervous as a cat."

"Cindy's excited."

"That kid ain't Cindy. 'Is tracks in the dirt are two footprins and a pair of parallel furrows where his knuckles drag."

"Gee, Sara, tell us how you REALLY feel!"

"Feel sorry for the kid, really," she said. "Cindy's excited?"

"Oh, yeah. I get tickled thinking about it. I mean, she's got a few friends at the high school now, but here's this little red-headed fourteen year old running the halls, getting ready to graduate. High school teachers told her she didn't need to do the review classes. Everybody knows about her non-scholastic exploits. You gotta know how many heads shake."

"And tongues wag," Sara added.

Jerry had joined the conversation. "You're proud."

"Yes I am, Jerry. You've seen Cindy since we've been married. Last summer, when I first met her, she was totally different. Shy. Subdued. Unsure. Now, I think she'd be up for the Oval Office."

He laughed. "Cindy's no politician. She knows things. And knows things that aren't so. And knows the difference."

"Yeah. On another note, though, you remember my lead technician, Jason Ellerbee?"

"Sure," Jerry said. "He schooled me on the system protection networking. What about 'im?"

"I sent him up to Tennessee to help my buddy on another project. He's getting married."

"Neat-o. Good guy!"

Sara raised an eyebrow. "Dan, I've been takin' care of you for too darned long to think that's all of THAT story. Spill it."

"His fiancee' is eighteen."

She smirked. "Well, he wasn't a full-fledged electrical engineer, so perhaps his girl-fu was weakened."

"You two are something," Jerry laughed. "Dan, I'm really gonna miss having you around."

"Oh, I'm gonna miss being here. You've got a good little plant here, even if your staff is slightly warped."

Sara stuck her tongue out at me.

"See!" I quipped. "Warped!"

"Well, you know we still want you to drop by from time to time," Jerry said.

"I will," I replied. "I'll bring business cards."

"We'd rather you bring Cindy," Sara retorted.

"Thank you for being supportive, Sara," I laughed. "Now I'm going back to my cave with hurt feelings. I may close the door and weep softly in the dark."

Amid laughter I took my coffee mug and went to my office. I knew better than to expect a word from Cindy today. The school had made a big deal about locking out cellphones for the testing days and I knew that Cindy would be the last one to risk her special status to break a silly rule. The rule was about cheating. Yeah, Cindy was 'cheating'. She came to the game with forty IQ points in her favor.

I got the expected phone call at three-thirty, when school officially let out.

"Hi, sweetie!" I said. "Did it go okay?"

"Puh-leeze!" she said, then giggled. "It was like I was idling."

"Good! We can go out for dinner tonight, okay? The Sommers sisters?"

Squeal! "Perfect! And just so you know ... I was sooooo relaxed."

I was smiling when Sara stuck her head in the door, holding a couple of binders in her hands. "That Cindy?"

"Yep."

"How was testing?"

"She said she was idling the whole time."

"'Bout what I figured. Look at who they graduate these days and what they know, then think about Cindy."

"I know," I said.

By Wednesday it was over. The testing, anyway. And by Cindy's own estimate, she'd achieved her goal, but the official scores would be issued in a few weeks, so she was talking about going back to her old middle school.

Wednesday was church night for the Hardesty bunch, so we didn't visit them, but Thursday she was back on the bus and in middle school.

Cindy's turn:

Okay, I had my 'high school experience'. That's what I told my homeroom teacher when she asked how things went. I tried to NOT sound like I was bragging when I was asked about how hard the tests were. I get so torn over that bragging thing, because I'm really NOT bragging. It's just that so much of this stuff is easy for me. I know it's not that easy for others, and I really didn't understand that I was different like that until Dan and I got started together and he started noticing.

Mister Jim caught up with me as I was walking between home room and first hour and went with me to the class.

"I'm pulling Cindy out for a little bit," he told my teacher, Mizz Crockett. We went to his office and he asked me about the tests.

"I don't think I have a problem, Mister Jim," I said. "You know what I can do."

"Yeah, you scare me sometimes." He smiled. Next to my Dan, Mister Jim has done more to get me where I am. Well, then there's Judge Charlie, too, because without him, Dan and I wouldn't be married.

"I called the school board office and asked them if there was a way to expedite getting your scores. They said we might know by next Monday."

I couldn't help myself. I kind of squealed. Mizz Latham, the assistant guidance counselor, looked around the corner.

"Happy with ourselves, are we, Miss Cindy?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said. "Mister Jim said I might not have to wait a month to get my test scores."

"That's good," she said. "I know that wait would've KILLED me." Mizz Latham was a year out of college herself. She was nice to us students, too, but I'm sooo glad we have Mister Jim. Anyway, she smiled. "I need to call the high school and get you some order forms for your graduation gown and a class ring and your graduation invitations, right, Mister Jim?"

"One of us needs to, Miss Carlee."

"Let me do that, then." She grinned at me. "It hasn't been THAT long that I had to do that stuff for myself. We'll get you fixed up."

"Thank you," I said. "When you get that stuff, just tell me so I can take it home."

Mister Jim smiled. "Cap and gown. Cindy, would you like to make a big deal out of this at our middle school graduation?"

"Big deal?" I talked about that whole 'middle school graduation' thing with Dan and Mister Jim and Mizz Ann, and we all thought it was kind of silly, but a lot of parents liked it. I hadn't thought about middle school graduation. After all, I was headed towards a high school graduation.

"Sure," he said. "All the middle school graduates will be wearing blue and gold, but you'll be wearing your high school gown and it's going to be purple and white. You'll stand out, and the principal will announce you and explain why you're in purple and white. That's all."

"Mister Jim," I said, "I don't want to act like I'm bragging, you know..."

"You won't be bragging. We, us at the school, we'd be bragging. Kind of dishonest, really, because YOU'RE the one with the ability. But we wanna take credit for you using it."

"Okay," I said. "Let me talk to Dan, but..."

"Dan's gonna wanna watch you on the stage, Mizz Cindy. I know how he is about you."

I smiled. "I know how Dan is about me, too, Mister Jim. And I'm even worse about him!"

"Y'all coming over this evening?"he asked.

"Unless there's some sort of tragedy," I said.

"Good," he said. "I guess you need to go back to class. Mizz Crockett's been whining about not having her teaching assistant for the last week and a half."

Every class I went to for the rest of the day, I got asked the same questions about where I'd been and how the tests were. Kaylee and I ran the halls together with a bunch of other kids, including some boys, and Kaylee said they were my 'posse', just like a celebrity. That made me laugh, but then in class the teacher was going on about some science thing that wasn't even close to the things we'd, Dan and I'd done on the project, so I was daydreaming a little, and it came to me. Maybe Kaylee was right. I WAS a celebrity, and a totally different celebrity than the quarterback of our football team, because it was only a middle school football team, after all. But academic celebrities aren't very common. And I WAS one.

I guess I thought I was giggling to myself but it was out loud.

"Miss Cindy? Do you have a comment?" Mister Hollis asked.

"Oh, nossir. Sorry. I was thinking about what you're saying about aquifers and another thought crossed my mind." It was only a little white lie. Dan and I talked about the water supply for the project and I probably knew more about aquifers than most people. Hydrology, Dan said. That was a lot of what happened with me in science. Mister Hollis would talk about something, and I'd go home and ask Dan and sometimes we'd get on the internet and wade through things so I'd KNOW.

Don't get me wrong. Mister Hollis is a GOOD teacher. He tries. He likes us kids, well some of us, and he likes teaching. But it's eighth grade science. It's like he's trying to cover the whole universe and doing it using words of two syllables or less. I mentioned that to him one time when we were talking. "Miss Cindy, I know. But you're something special. And your husband can better take you into whatever subject that interests you, and I can keep doing this class and hoping that I prime the pump for a few interested kids."

After science class, Kaylee couldn't wait to ask me what I was giggling about.

"Honestly," I told her, I didn't know I was giggling out loud. I was thinking about what you said about me being a celebrity."

"Honestly, Cindy," Kaylee said, "sometimes YOU are different. And if you're a celebrity, then I'm, like, your personal assistant."

"Okay," I laughed. "I like that." It's okay for girls to touch one another in public without people thinking they're lezzes, and EVERYBODY knows I'm married, so when Kaylee looped her arm in mine, laughing, as we walked to the next class, it was cool.

Last hour was library and study hall, and I had a table in the back corner where I helped other kids with math and other things. The librarian smiled when I showed up. She asked me about the tests. I told her how much time I spent in the high school library. Then I met the gang at the table and we did math problems.

Dan was surprised when he got home and I met him at the door. I knew he had a good day at work, because I always call him as soon as the bell rings at the end of the school day. It was important to know what kind of day he had, because when I opened the door for him at the trailer, I was completely naked.

He looked surprised. He shouldn't be TOO surprised. I'd done this before. Some days, I'm just happy from school, and I think that the best thing to do when I'm really happy is be loved by Dan.

"Hi, Honey," I said.

"We must've had a really good day," he said, kissing me. See! He knows how I am.

"I did, and we're s'posed to have dinner at the Hardesty's but I wanted..."

"Exactly what I wanted," he said, starting to get undressed.

I giggle when I'm happy and Dan understands that when I'm giggling and we're getting naked that it means that I REALLY want him. He was unbuttoning his shirt and I was on my knees undoing his pants and in just no time at all he was standing there with his knees shaking because I put his thing in my mouth. I know he was excited because he was hard and I was sucking and working my tongue round that soft head and he was letting those little tasty drops of juice out.

I stood up so he could step out of his pants and his drawers and he kicked his shoes loose when he did that and we went straight to the bed. I pushed him over on his back and I got on top of him. I love that. He holds onto me like we're supposed to melt together and I took his face between my hands and kissed him, a dozen little ones, then hard. I sucked his tongue because I wanted to be sucking something else soon.

That 'something' was hard as a rock and I had it trapped between our bellies. When I raised up, Dan's hands were on my waist and he pulled me up just a little so his mouth could get to my nipples. The very first time he did that, it was like touching a live wire. It still is. I was already wet when he got home, thinking about him. Now...

Well, when he pulled me up to get to my titties, it put me in a place where I could wiggle just a little bit and the head of his thing was right THERE, and another wiggle and we were mated. And that's what all this is about for me and Dan. We mate. Merge. Meld. Blend. Unite. And a whole other page of synonyms for us becoming US.

There are a lot of times that I know Dan really adores me. This is one. He feels so good inside me. I will never have another man. And if it was any better between me and Dan, I think I'd die.

He was in me and I started moving my hips and if I tilt just the right way my button hits right where his dick (there! I said it!) joins his body. And every time he pushes or I push, my button gets rubbed. Plus, he fills me up and rubs on the inside in places that I didn't even KNOW about when it was just my finger, so when Dan makes me come, it's like earthquakes and thunderbolts.

Earthquakes and thunderbolts. Soooo good. And sometimes I am transported to another place and when I return I'm in Dan's arms and he's kissing me so gently.

But this time I grabbed his shoulders and tugged. He knows exactly what I mean when I do this. We're careful not to uncouple as he sits up, keeping me in his lap and me keeping HIM inside me. When he's sitting, I can wrap my legs around him for purchase and I can work my hips to get us both. Our mouths connect to go along with the other connection that's so hot and so slick and every little movement makes me quiver.

I'm getting close. I can feel my face flush with wonderful heat. How it gets from down THERE to my face is something I wish I understood. Dan smiles because, he says, when I start getting close, I bite my bottom lip. And then I fasten my mouth on his shoulder when I'm shuddering, shaking, quaking COMING! It gets even better, because I feel Dan's dick grow and pulse and then he spurts incredible heat deep in me.

That's when we're completely, incontrovertibly ONE.

And I'm thinking, just flashes of a though, you know, that maybe when he's shooting his stuff in me, it would make US a baby. A little morph of Dan 'n' Cindy. And we'd do such a better job for our little one than Mom did with me. But right now that's MY secret. I know that Dan's been, as he says it, 'fixed'. And I'm only fourteen and while I know girls my age who've had babies, I know it's riskier. Besides, I've got college to get through.

But this guy, the one that I have my arms around, the one who looks at me with adoring eyes, the one that's as much part of me as I am part of him, THAT guy, he'd give me what I wanted, even if I didn't know I'd ever want it.

I guess all those thoughts went through my head while I was in another world, because I became conscious of gentle kisses on my face, bringing me back. When my eyes opened, Dan said, "I love you, little one."

"I love you too, Dan. God, I love you!" and then I looked at where my mouth had been on his shoulder. Red. Teeth marks. "Uh, baby, I got carried away again," I said.

"I could tell, sweetness," he said.

"Did I hurt you?" I asked. I always ask. And I always get the same answer.

"No. When you bite like that, I think I come twice as hard," he said.

From the wetness down there, I think he's right. That just presents us with a dilemma. We could sit here and let that juice flow and eventually we'd have a wet spot. Or we could get the towel that we keep on the nightstand beside the bed, for just this purpose. Or...

I got up really slow, keeping my eyes in contact with Dan's and I started to go down.

"Oh, no," he said. "I get MY share."

I understand why they call it 'sixty-nine'. All you have to do is look at the Arabic numerals. Or me and Dan. We got in that position and I treated myself to a mixture of three juices, his lubricant. Mine. And a BIG load of semen. Delicious.

Dan was making 'mmmmm' noises while he was 'cleaning' me, and then I felt the fire coming back. I had to take his dick out of my mouth because I was afraid that if I lost control, I'd bite him too hard. And he WAS making me lose control again.

This time when I felt the little kisses, he had me cradled in his arms beside him.

"I love you so much, Cindy," he said.

I kissed him. There are many things that I believe in my whole fourteen years of life. But that Dan Richards loves me, that's the number one.

"We'd better take a quick shower. We smell like sex, sweetness," he said.

'Sweetness'. Pet names. I love 'em. He's got a bunch of 'em for me and I've got a bunch for him and I remember the thrill the first time he called me 'Baby', the very first time he took me out to eat. I remember the thrill I got. He probably worried about saying it, too. I know Dan and I know how he felt so nervous when we first got started.

"The Hardesty's know we have sex, love," I said.

"But we don't want to go over there smelling like it."

I stood up beside the bed. I was going to the shower, but I had a feeling...

Yes! Dan grabbed me and dragged me back into bed for some more kissing and fondling. And this is when I get giggly again. Sometimes I feel silly doing that, but Dan swears he loves it. I have my hand wrapped around his dick and it's getting hard again. I squirm loose from his arms and get down there and put my mouth over that purple head. Mmmmm! A taste of that juice!

But we have to go, so I stand back up. "Come on, baby! Showers. Visit our friends. And then you need to make sure I'm relaxed for tomorrow."

Forty minutes later we were in the truck leaving the RV park. Dan handed me the phone. "Order pizza, baby," he said. "And you don't have tests tomorrow."

"I still like being relaxed," I said. "Don't you?"

I could've used MY phone, one of his first gifts to me, but he had the pizza place on speed dial. I gave them the standard order and Dan's credit card number. After I hung up, I laughed. "Sad," I said. "We have a standard order at the pizza delivery."

My Dan laughed with me. "Strange life we have, you and I," he said. "So absolutely wonderful."

I had my hands on his bicep while he was driving. I kind of turned in my seatbelt and put my chin against his shoulder. He turned and looked at me with those darned blue eyes. I sighed. "So did you think I did the right thing, meeting you at the door naked?"

"Ohgodyes," he blurted. "Just remind me that when I bring somebody home, when we get in a real house, I wanna make sure I call ahead."

I giggled at the thought. I'd never shown myself naked to anybody except the doctor since I reached puberty. With Dan, naked is just the way we're supposed to be. I loved winter with him in our little trailer, but it stayed a little too cool inside for us to spend a lot of time naked. But on our weekends, we'd get to a hotel and the clothes would come off and STAY off.

I know Dan likes seeing me naked. He tries so hard not to stare, but he follows me with his eyes, and every time I get within range, he scoops me in for cuddles and giggles and kisses and nibbles. What he doesn't know, though, is how much I like watching HIM. He works at staying in shape. We walk and ride bikes and in a couple of weeks we'll start swimming again, so Dan's not fat. And he's got a cute butt. I'm not the only one who says so. Kaylee told me she thinks so, too. And she hasn't seen him naked. I have. And I know what it's like when he's just doing things around the house. His dick is soft and it's so cute like that and if I get him in range, I pull him close so I can suck the WHOLE thing into my mouth. Of course, it doesn't stay soft when I do that. Or he'll know I'm watching and I'll stretch in front of him and it'll get about half hard and long. And I'll find myself getting wet and my nipples get hard. For Dan.

Never happens for anyone else, not even the quarterback of the football team. He's my friend at school and I help him with math and science. Other girls go ga-ga over him. I never give him a second thought. Not like that. Just a friend. Somebody I help.

Friends. I guess I really learned how to BE a friend with Dan, and now I knew how to be a friend to other people. Like the Hardesty's. We pulled into their driveway and Billy came running up to the truck to open my door for me.

He always runs ahead of us, right in the front door, hollering "Mom, Cindy an' Mister Dan are here!"

Mister Jim came into the living room. "Ann'll be in here in a minute. She's doing some laundry." He fish-eyed Billy. "We won't be bringing cokes into our bedroom again, will we?"

Billy hung his head like a scolded puppy. "No sir..." he looked at me. "I spilled a coke on my bed. Now I have to drink water or milk for a week."

"We learn from stuff like that," I said.

"'S still a long time. I said I was sorry."

Mister Jim laughed. "Appealing to Cindy's not gonna get your sentence reduced."

"I know," Billy said.

Billy is one of the reasons I think about having Dan's baby. Teresa ALMOST is, but she's only a year younger than me. But knowing that THEY have parents like Mizz Ann and Mister Jim, that erases a lot of the feelings I had about the way I was raised.

Mizz Ann came in. Billy looked all sad and filled with remorse. Mizz Ann saw my face. "Cindy, baby," she said, "Just be careful before you waste the effort of feeling sorry for him. He's entirely capable of play-acting."

"Mooo-oommmm!" Billy whined, "I said 'I'm sorry!'"

"And I forgive you, son," Mizz Ann said. "And I love you. But punishment helps you learn so you won't forget next time."

"Yes, ma'am," he said. He shuffled off like he was on his way to the hangman.

"No canned drinks for a week. It's not a big deal, really. He gets one a day and sometimes he forgets THAT one. It's just that today he sat it on his bed and knocked it over."

The next thing I heard was Billy laughing out loud at something.

"See," Mizz Ann said. "Those puppy-dog eyes, that was all an act. For YOUR benefit entirely."

"And parents are supposed to automatically KNOW this?" I asked.

About that time Teresa walked into the room and waved. Mizz Ann hugged her and looked at me. "And Cindy," she said, "Little Miss Teresa here taught us about that. She can act remorseful better than Billy."

"Mooo-ooom!"

"Teresa," I said, "D'ya know how lucky you are to have parents that CARE?"

Teresa looked at me like I had a horn growing out of my head. "You wouldn't say that if YOU were the one who had to watch TV in the the living room for a week because you left the wrong channel on."

"Maybe not. But how many times have you woke up with nobody home but you? And your next meal was something you put in the microwave?"

"You had to do that?" Teresa asked, a shocked look on her face.

I nodded yes. "If you stood up right now and walked over to your mom or dad, you'd get a hug and an 'I love you, ' right?"

Teresa's turn to nod.

"Lucky," I said.

The pizza arrived, we gathered around the family table and conversed and ate and were happy, then after the dinner was cleared, we did a little playing and singing.

"We're flying up to Tennessee tomorrow afternoon to be with my sisters," I said.

"Really? Sounds fun!" Mister Jim said.

And at noon Friday I was sitting beside the love of my life, headed to the airfield.

Chapter 55

Dan's turn:

So Friday we're in the air headed to Tennessee. Yes, Cindy's in the pilot's seat. I've just about given up the seat entirely. I just wish I could get some kind of waiver to let her get licensed, but she's only fourteen. She has to wait three years.

"Tina's giving us her car for the weekend," she said. "So we won't have to rent. It's not like we're going to tour the countryside, exactly."

"You and your sisters seem to have us scheduled out pretty well," I said.

Giggle. "They're something, aren't they, darlin'?"

"Yes, they are. D'ya know how excited I get, thinking that I have friends like them?"

"D'ya know how scary it is, seeing the three of you together and knowing how much brain power is wrapped up in all that teen-aged cuteness?"

"We're all perfectly normal, thank you," she smiled.

She turned her head. Baseball cap. Headset. Red hair. Green eyes. I didn't ever accept that I just might have a fetish. Seeing that package, I admitted it to myself. It didn't need it to be a fetish, though. She was just cute.

We burbled along at altitude, the Continental engine not missing a beat as miles passed underneath us.

"This is just a get-together, right?" I asked.

"Uh-huh. Tomorrow me and my sisters and Susan's mom are going to Nashville to get Susan a dress to get married in."

"One of those 'Princess Di" things?"

"I was wondering if that was where this was going, but I should've known that Susan's more level-headed than that."

I was thinking of the Susan that I knew, and 'level-headed' wasn't on the short list of descriptors. I said so.

"Susan's kinda funny, baby. She comes off as kind of an airhead, but underneath that is a very well balanced and intelligent person," Cindy said. "Me an' her an' Tina talked the other night. Susan thinks those big weddings are silly. Says it's the people, friends and family, and the couple, that make a wedding, not all the show. She says it's ostentatious."

"That's a 'Susan' word. Or Tina. Or Cindy."

"So she says 'weekend after graduation informal, but she does think a new white dress is called for."

"White?"

Giggle. "Yeah. In the classic reference. She and Jason haven't..."

"Seriously?"

Giggle again. "Really. I take her word for it. She tells Tina the same thing. But it's gonna be at the recreation hall at their church, and friends and family are invited. So we're going to shop together tomorrow and buy dresses and whatever. First time I've met her mom."

"Does 'er mom know how old you are? And me?"

"Susan and Tina have explained it. They say her mom thinks I'm a curiosity."

"Your sisters will take care of you, I'm sure. And knowing Susan, I can't see her mom being a bad person."

"Me neither," she said. "It'll be a good day. And you and Alan and Jason and Susan's dad, you guys get the whole day to hang out and grunt or what ever guys are supposed to do when the women are gone."

I thought about that. "You know, I haven't spent a day without you since last fall. I don't think I like that."

"Oh, you'll be fine, baby."

"It's true, you know. Since we moved in together ... No, since back in August, there's not been a day without you, and since we moved in together, the only night we haven't spent together was my night in the hospital."

"We'll be together in the hotel room tomorrow night. Big shower an' all!"

"Mmm-hmm," I said. "I'll survive. And you'll have a good time."

"We're ALL gonna have a good time this evening," she said. "Susan's dad's doin' ribs. She says he's got trophies from barbecue cook-offs."

"I do love me some ribs," I said.

"We have 'em lined up!"

We flew on. Eventually we closed on the destination. I knew she wanted to do it, so I let Cindy pick up the mike. "Hobart field, this is Cessna five five two three uniform, five miles south, for landing." Her eyes twinkled.

We heard the reply. "Cessna five five two three uniform, this is Cessna four eight seven five three, on the ground at Hobart, waiting on your arrival. " Tina's voice. Including the squeal at the end.

Cindy turned to me, her grin accentuated by her tongue tip just protruding from her smile. "It's great to have friends, Dan. Some nights I wake up and think of what all has happened to me since I met you..."

"My sweet kitten," I said. "I feel the same way."

"But baby, you had friends. You had work. You had family. I almost didn't have anything. Nothing like that. Mizz Helen. That's all."

"I've got the best thing ever. I have my Cindy," I said.

She executed a very satisfactory traffic pattern and put the wheels on the ground with only the tiniest of bounces, then taxied to the ramp, to a reception party awaiting our arrival. She braked to a stop on the flightline and killed the engine. As she was securing the cockpit, I got out and went to her side of the plane and opened the door. She turned sideways in her seat and and I lifted her out and to the ground, getting a little kiss in the process.

We were surrounded. Alan, Tina, Jason, Susan, squeals, hugs, kisses, handshakes and here we were. Tina handed me the keys to her car. "Solves the transportation problem. You an' Cindy have wheels. EVERYBODY has wheels."

"So what now? Everybody coming to the hotel while we check in?"

"Apparently that's the plan," Jason said.

We convoyed up for the trip to the hotel, Jason and Susan leading the way, then us, and finally Tina and Alan. We checked into the hotel. I got to drop our bags in the room, then us guys got hustled out into the lobby while the girls giggled and caught up on events.

Alan, Jason and I did the male equivalent in the lobby. There was a LOT less giggling.

I jumped right in on Jason. "Bud, you've been up here a month and a half and you're already engaged?"

Jason turned to Alan. "Are you gonna take up for me, or do we let the girls do it later?"

Alan looked like he started to say something, but Jason spoke up in a falsetto, imitating Susan. "And how long did you know Tina before y'all got married? Or Cindy 'n' Dan? Or my mom and dad? Hmmm?" He laughed. "Dan, ol' buddy, already been through this one."

"Her mom and dad?" I asked.

"The answer to that one is six whole weeks, first meeting to married. For nineteen years."

"Maybe it's genetic," I laughed.

He reverted to the falsetto. "You wanna talk about AGE? Really? What about Alan 'n' Tina. Or better yet, Cindy 'n' Dan."

I laughed again. "Jace, if she's got all THAT figured out, you might oughtta be running for the state line..."

"Not a chance," he smiled. "She's IT!"

The three of us chatted. Alan and I had already decided that if Jason was going back to school, we'd do our best to accommodate his schedule, and his response was that he'd figure out the best way to work with us while he did.

"Especially since I get a wife out of the deal," he said.

"So what do you think they're talking about in there?' I asked.

"Wedding plans," Jason said.

"The week after she graduates, right?" I asked.

"Yep," Alan said.

"Gonna be a busy week," I said. "Cindy's graduation on Wednesday, Tina and Susan on Friday, then a week later, the wedding."

"Yep," Jason said.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world. Cindy's just giggy about it."

"About the wedding? Me and Susan?"

"Yeah," I said. "My little cutie thinks you'll make Susan happy. You'd better. Cindy can shoot."

Alan looked at me. "I've never seen anything but a happy Cindy."

"Me neither," I said, laughing. "Except in the aftermath of gunplay."

"I can't believe you laugh about that, Dan," Alan said.

"Compensation mechanism, buddy," I said. "It's how I handle it. Cindy still has episodes when it gets to her. My only concern is her. I was a whole lot more motivated to protect her than I was in Iraq."

Before he could comment, Alan's phone rang. He answered it. "Hey, baby!" Pause. "We'll be in there just as soon as we run the adoring women off." He broke into a grin. "We're on the way."

When we knocked, Susan opened the door. It'd been a while since the last time I saw her and I can honestly say she has a perceptible glow about her. Good!

Susan retired to one of the queen-sized beds, sitting. My Cindy was laying on the other on her stomach, one leg bent at the knee, foot in the air, swinging in a circle.

Alan sat on the room's sofa and Tina slid in beside him. Jason sat next to Susan. I sat down beside Cindy and put my hand in the middle of her back. She purred audibly.

"So what's our dinner plans," Alan asked.

Jason gave Susan's hand a squeeze, broadening her smile. "My future father-in-law is doing ribs. We can go over there any time we're ready."

Susan giggled. "Yeah, Cindy. Mom wants to meet YOU!"

"What about me?" I asked.

Still giggling, Susan answered, "Oh, you're optional. Just an accessory." Tina and my Cindy joined the giggle.

Cindy rolled back against me. "Don't worry, sweetie," she said to me. "I'm your biggest fan." I squeezed her back against me. She sat up and kissed me, just a peck, and then grinned. "So! Ribs!"

Susan smiled, her arm around Jason's waist. "ALL the trimmings, too! I think we should go."

We all marched out as couples and convoyed to Susan's house.

Cindy's turn:

Sisters! ALL of us in the hotel room! Susan looks like she got a new coat of 'happy'. I mean, the first time I met 'er she was skipping across the apron at the airfield to hug me after me and Dan had flown in for the weekend and I thought 'What a happy girl!" Susan's a hoot! But that was all sort of overshadowed by me having Dan and Tina having Alan and Susan hanging out there with us, but needing somebody to balance out the situation.

Now she's got Jason. Before he moved up here on this project, I'd met Jason a time or two when he worked with Dan. I always thought he stood out a little because he was a technician and he was in HIS arena at work. I saw him an' Dan bantering back and forth, so I knew that Dan liked 'im. Jason's good looking enough, like THAT'S important. (Not THAT important, but still nice, you know) although he's a little overweight. Not gross. But then Susan's carrying a few extra pounds herself, although SHE looks good. Just a little more soft and rounded than, say, Tina or me.

So Jason and Susan sort of match. At least standing side by side. Or with HIS arm around her waist, like they were, sitting on the bed in the hotel room right before we left to go to her house for dinner. He's even got that sandy hair, blonde, sort of. And Susan, she's BLONDE blonde!

I'd sometimes wish I had that color hair, you know because Mom always tried to be blonde because she said it was every man's preference, but Mom was just so wrong about that. I met my Dan and he tells me that my red hair is like a fetish to him. I giggle every time he says that and tell him he's weird and then I revel in him wrapping me in strong arms and loving me and I know that I can smile and shake my head and he melts. If I was one of those manipulative women, I'd have a blank check with Dan Richards. But all I want is my Dan.

So we're in Tina's car. Tina's car! I get so aggravated at not being able to drive, and Alan bought Tina a car before they were even mated, married, whatever. Yeah, I know the official story about them going to Louisiana to get married, but Tina and I have shared EVERYTHING about our histories and I know that they were sort of like me and Dan, you know, they mated and married waaaay before there was a document making it legal. But before she and Alan were even a couple, he bought her a car, just to make life easier for her.

But I can't drive. I can fly. But I can't get that license either. Sometimes these stupid laws based on age are just WRONG!

But we're in the car. Tina's car. Just for curiosity, I punched the 'On' button on the stereo. Bach! I giggled. "My sister's genuine, you know," I told Dan.

He laughed. "Alan's smart enough not to be snookered by some bimbo who sneaks off and listens to hip-hop," he said. "So Tina says Susan's mom is curious about you?"

"Says I'm a curiosity."

"I can see that. Like if somebody made a little porcelain statue of 'cute'."

"Susan assures me that her mother won't be rude, baby. And I promise that she already KNOWS that I'm fourteen, so it won't be a shock like it was for YOUR family last Thanksgiving." I giggled. Poor Dan. He worries so much about me, and THAT day, I thought he was gonna die. I thought for a minute then that I'd really messed up what he has with his family, but now they're MY family too, and so I really don't see a problem with Susan's mom. After all, if she's decent enough to bring Susan up the way SHE is, then the lady has to have something going for her.

So we're following Jason and Susan. I pointed out to Dan how close she was sitting to him.

"She's working at it," he laughed. "He's got one of those consoles in the way."

We pulled up in their driveway and got out and assaulted (Dan's description) their front door. Susan went right in. After all, it's HER house. "Mom! Dad! We're HERE!"

That's the first time I met Susan's mom, Mizz Kathy. I can see where Susan got a lot of her looks. Mizz Kathy's hair was mostly Susan's color, and Susan was actually an inch or two taller. Both of 'em had blue eyes. And a lot bigger titties than mine. And Mizz Kathy was a little more plump than Susan, and since she was shorter, she was more rounded. But still pretty.

And she was looking right at me, out of the whole bunch.

Susan grabbed my hand and said, "Mom, this is my sister Cindy!" and she pointed her finger at Dan and said, "An' 'er husband, Dan."

Dan got a handshake. I got a hug.

"See, Mom," Susan giggled. "He doesn't have horns growing out of his head."

Mizz Kathy gasped. "Susan! I said NOTHING of the sort. Y'all come back to the patio. The sun's got it just perfect out there." She gave Susan an exasperated look. I think Susan and her mom have a great relationship. With Susan already eighteen and getting ready to graduate and get married, I think her mom sees her as an adult as well as a daughter.

Susan's dad, Mister Mike, was tending the barbecue. When we walked out the door, Susan did the introductions again. He smiled when he saw me. "I've seen too many pictures not to recognize you, Cindy," he said. "Not like you're some little mousy brown-haired thing getting lost in a crowd."

He shook Dan's hand, clapping him on the back. "She's a cutie, you know," he said.

Dan smiled. My Dan. Loves me to bits, and it makes him really happy when people pay me compliments.

"That's my Cindy," he said. "I hear your Susan's stealing our technician."

Mister Mike laughed, looking at Alan. "Yeah, you sent 'im up here and the first thing happens, him and my dear little daughter pop together like two magnets."

"As long as I don't get blamed," Dan said. "It's Alan's fault, anyway."

They started talking about barbecue and me and Susan and Tina sort of slid off to the side with her mom. We sat down with a big pitcher of sweet tea.

"All we have to do is wait on them," Mizz Kathy said. "Everything is ready in the kitchen." She turned to me. "So, Cindy, do you mind if I'm a little bit nosy?"

"Mooo-ommm," Susan whined. "You promised."

"Oh, hush, Susan. I'm just a little curious."

"I already told you EVERYTHING, really!" Susan said.

"Oh, Susan, stop worrying. Let your mom ask." I smiled. "Go ahead, Mizz Kathy. I'm an open book." And a gave her my best smile. After all, she was the mom of my adopted sister.

"I'm sorry, baby," Mizz Kathy said. "You're just the youngest married girl I ever met."

"I'm the youngest married girl ever met," I said. "Did Susan explain what kind of life I had before I met Dan and my mom gave custody to Mizz Helen?"

"Kinda..." she said.

"Wasn't good. Mom wasn't quite into being a mom. Or being monogamous. Or a lot of other things. I'm lucky that I made it to thirteen without fallin' into drugs and sex. But I just COULDN'T." I sighed. I told her about Mom's trailer and waking up in my end of it and not getting out of bed because I knew Mom had some guy at the other end and they probably weren't dressed. And the smoking, not just tobacco. And other stuff.

"Susan didn't give me any of that."

"I never went into detail with Susan," I said. "Just said it was bad." I kept on. "Mizz Helen runs the RV park, and she kind of understood and took care of me as much as she could. And last summer, Dan showed up. He'd come in from work every day and go to the pool to cool off and swim, and I'd just go there to swim and to have somebody to talk to."

"But he's obviously middle-aged," she said.

"Oh, yes," I said. "But in the summer during the week the RV park was usually kind of empty. Very seldom any kids at all. And Dan was always nice and talked to me like I was intelligent and significant. Not like I was some dumb kid."

I saw her eyes cut over to the men. They were all clustered up around the barbecue smoker, Mister Mike waving his tongs to make some point.

"Mizz Kathy, that guy was the most nervous person I know of when I asked him to help me catch up in school. But you gotta know, I knew he was smart and decent and easy to talk with. He became my friend. Took me places I couldn't get my mom to take me. When she didn't spend money on clothes for school, he gave Mizz Helen his credit card and sent me an' her to mall in Mobile to buy clothes. Mom started getting worse. She started out just staying out all night every now and then. By the time Dan came along, she'd leave Friday and I wouldn't see her until Sunday sometime. I don't know what kind of conversation Mizz Helen had with 'er, but Mom hooked up with this guy who wanted to go live in Vegas, and she and Mizz Helen went to the judge and Mom signed papers to make Mizz Helen have custody of me. And she left. I haven't seen or heard from 'er since then."

"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry..." Mizz Kathy said. "Susan didn't tell me that part." I looked at her face. Her eyes were moist. Almost tears.

"I didn't tell Susan," I said. "Except in general terms."

Susan was listening pretty close. "She didn't, Mom. I'm hearing this for the first time."

"Mizz Kathy, I laugh an' tell people that he rescued me. But that's not quite right, not like Alan ACTUALLY rescued Tina. Dan and I just sort of figured out that we belonged together. We convinced a judge to sign papers so we could GET married. I didn't have to. Neither did Dan. But we DID." I smiled. It was time to turn this back to 'happy'. "Now look at me. I have good friends." I smiled at Susan and Tina. "More like SISTERS! I have family. I've met Dan's family. My in-laws. I LOVE em! And I have Mizz Helen and Mister Charlie. But most of all I have Dan."

Mizz Kathy smiled and came over and gave me a big hug. "Baby, I don't know what I was expecting." She looked at Tina and Susan. "I should've taken their word for it, though."

"Mom, I told you ... Graduating from high school. Who cares if she's fourteen on a calendar? She's doing what eighteen year olds do." Susan had her 'serious' smile on.

"Yeah," Mizz Kathy said. "So tell me how that high school experience went for you."

I'd had conversations about that with Tina and Susan. I got to tell it all again. The four of us giggled and laughed. I told them about my stuff and Susan and Tina added their own experiences. I know that Mizz Kathy HAD to be enjoying the conversation.

"Baby, can you bring me the tray for the meat?" Mister Mike called.

Dan says funny things when he's really hungry. I know how he feels right now. Mister Mike has been torturing me with that hickory smoke from the barbecue since we got here, and I was hungry. Really hungry. I have a weakness for barbecue. Didn't get it nearly as much as I wanted it before, but Dan and I know where there are some good places back home. And Mister Mike's was smelling at least that good.

I told him so. Got him smiling even more. "Well, darlin', I hope you like them. I made a bunch," he said.

And if Mister Mike is the Barbecue King, which I pronounced, then Mizz Kathy is the Tennessee Pie Queen. Dan's sister Tootie has Louisiana sewed up for that state's title. All that means, though, is that when Dan and I drove off, heading for the hotel, I felt like I'd overdone the eating bit.

Dan could tell. "You're uncomfortable," he said.

"Ate too much. Ribs were good. EVERYTHING was good." I flopped back on the bed, my arms above my head. It's not my best pose. I don't have big titties to begin with, and when I'm layin' on my back with my arms up, they just about disappear.

It makes not a BIT of difference to my Dan. He laid down beside me and gently rubbed my belly.

"Are you gonna be okay? I may have something for your stomach in my trouble bag."

Uh-huh. His 'trouble bag' went with us everywhere. It had first aid stuff and some basic medicines and ANOTHER multi-tool and all sorts of other things.

"Ughhh," I said. "Whatcha got?"

He got up and rummaged through the bag then brought me a tablet and a glass of water. "This will settle your stomach."

I took the chalky-tasting pill and a sip of water, then sat the glass on the table beside the bed. "Thank you," I said to him. I patted the bed beside me. He laid back down and gently massaged my belly. Finally I just purred and put my hand behind his head and pulled him down within kissing range. After I extracted a very satisfying and promising kiss, I said, "Mmmm, that makes it better..."

He put his lips to mine for seconds. "I didn't want to push you if you're uncomfortable," he said.

He's so gentle sometimes. Like this. He just nuzzled my bangs aside and kissed me, first on the forehead, then on the tip of my nose, then my cheeks (that's that 'freckle' thing he likes) and then on my lips, so softly, like a butterfly landing. I didn't let him get away. I gave him the kind of kiss we do that can start fires at twenty yards.

"My stomach's queasy, guy," I said. "I'm not DEAD!" After all, we were in a hotel room and I knew they had this shower big enough for the two of us, with unlimited hot water, and this bed was certainly up to what I had in mind with my guy.

Now, you have to sort of understand the picture. There I was laying on the bed, feeling a little queasy. Dan gave me this pill and a glass of water, then he laid down beside me and was being so careful and caring and gentle, trying to make me feel better. And I gave him one of those 'fire-starter' kisses and slid my hand underneath him and grabbed him on his dick.

I was used to seeing Mom basically RAPE a guy, so before Dan, I was, like, Little Miss Chastity. With Dan, I found out what sexuality is all about and I found out that I had, like, this PERFECT outlet for it. That's what my hand and fingers were telling him, and when it comes to us and sex, he's NOT dense. Hard, maybe. No, make that HARD, certainly!

He sort of laughed. He knew what was going on. "Here I was, trying to be all gentle and nurturing, and YOU use it as a means of seduction."

My turn to giggle. "Like I ever needed to seduce YOU!" All I had to do was tug on his belt buckle and he stood up and started undressing. "We're gonna take a shower first, baby," I said. "I'll feel even better, and besides, if either of us still has some traces of the barbecue sauce on their fingers, it'd be BAD!" That last comment was from one of Mister Mike's barbecue stories.

He helped me up and we undressed. Okay, two of us naked. We could sure risk some hugs, but we hit the shower immediately afterwards. And big, fluffy towels. Love 'em. And then I was drying my hair and watching Dan shave and he was trying soooo hard not to make funny faces so I wouldn't giggle, but then he finished shaving and he brushed and dried the back of my hair and then laid the hair dryer down and scooped ME up and dropped me in the middle of the bed.

He would've probably attacked me, but I beat 'im to it. What stupid stomach ache? Dan gave me FOUR! And got himself TWO. I smiled with the first one still in my mouth, my pussy tingling like it was shooting off sparks, and dove right back on 'im and we did the second two for me and HIS second in an hour. Dan says older guys are not supposed to be able to do that. But I've done 'im four or five in one day. Of course, I had to do TV dinners for the next day and I couldn't get him to lose that grin and I was walking about six inches off the ground. Do you know what it means to me that I can do that with the guy I love?

And sleeping. Most of the time we have enough energy left to put on nightshirts so we don't get cold shoulders, but not this night. We just drifted from being in each other's arms, letting our breathing stabilize, to just asleep, naked. Yes, my shoulders got cold enough to wake me up later. But I just snuggled in against Dan and pulled the covers up over his shoulders so he wouldn't get cold. He woke up a little bit because he wrapped me up in his arms and I wiggled backwards against him and we went back to sleep like that.

Usually Dan wakes up first, but this morning I woke up and tried to get out of bed and go to the bathroom without waking him. When I got back in bed, he'd rolled over on his back. I KNOW how to wake him gently. It's neat. When he's sleeping, it's soft and I can get the whole thing in my mouth and sort of suck and chew on him. It's not soft for long like that, though. I felt his hand stroke my head.

"Mornin', kitten," he said.

I slid my mouth really slow off his dick, gave one more good suck to that purple head, and then climbed up on top of him and kissed him. "Hi, my guy," I said. Then I rolled off. I know what he needs to do, first thing in the morning. I watched him walk to the bathroom. My baby has a nice butt. Then he walked back to the bed. I like this side, too. I made him stop at the bed and I wiggled down so I could get to his sack and eat it. That gets him soooo hard. And then I just kept on eating him all the way up that shaft to the head and I sucked it into my mouth. I felt his knees shake and I giggled with him still in my mouth. He put his hands on the back of my head.

There was still a little pee taste at first, not bad, but when I got him hard, that went away and was replaced by that salty, slick taste of his juice and I knew what I wanted to do when that starts happening, because I could feel the tingling and the wetness between my legs.

"You're such a doll," he said.

I was scooting way back onto the bed with my legs spread. I know what I wanted. And he was hard and I know what HE wanted. Fifteen minutes later there's a wet spot and I'm laying on his chest and we're deciding that we need a quick shower before we go out in public for breakfast. We got that out of the way.

It's eight o'clock when the phone rings. "Hi, Tina!" I said.

"Are you two getting out for breakfast or..." she giggled.

"Who says we can't do both?" I laughed. I looked at Dan. He knew what we were talking about. "We're ready for the second part of that plan."

"Honestly, Sis," she said, "Sometimes I have trouble reconciling the fact that you LOOK fourteen with the fact that you're married and..."

"And we've already made love before breakfast?" I finished for her. "And pih-leeze tell me that you an' Alan..."

Her giggle told me all I needed to know. "Yeah," she said, "but I'm OLDER."

"Uh-huh ... I'm convinced. So where're we meeting y'all for breakfast?"

"There's a place right up the road from you. Turn left out of the hotel parking lot and drive a mile. And kiss your husband for me."

"'Kay, Sis! We'll see you there in what? Ten minutes?"

"Uh-huh! We're already in the truck!"

"Uhhh..." I tried to sound outraged. "You talk about MY sex life in front of YOUR husband?" All I got was a giggle and a "Bye!" in return.

"Since the subject was our sex life I assume that was Tina," Dan said.

I smiled at him. "My sister was surprised that you and I have a healthy physical relationship."

"Uh-huh."

"She says I look too young and tender to be, you know..."

"And she'd be right, except..." he said.

"Except I am totally and completely yours and I love you and you love me and get dressed we need to go meet 'em for breakfast," I said.

And it was a pretty day when we walked out to Tina's car. I was going to spend the day with a chunk of my adopted family.

Chapter 56

We made it through the weekend and the only damage was to my waistline. Friday evening with Mike's barbecue and the Saturday night dinner at the catfish place and by the time Cindy and I were flying away Sunday she recognized our problem.

"Baby, bicycles and walking EVERY day this week. We ate too good this weekend."

We kept our promise to each other. Bicycling around the park was a bit of a bore, but we knew a stretch of road that was used by a couple of local bicycle groups and they actually set us up with one of the less strenuous of their group rides.

I spent a considerable amount of the following week at Don Spears' office. We talked about a couple of cases he had previously worked, how the technical consultant played a part in those, then we talked about a couple of active cases. It was interesting. Engineers naturally view lawyers with some trepidation, but I found Don to be funny and intelligent and we hammered out the outlines of an agreement for me to bill him for some of my services.

"You do realize of course, that if you bill me a hundred and fifty an hour, I bump thirty percent on that when my client pays."

"I figured that out all by myself," I laughed. "Man's gotta make a living."

We talked about the protection I got for my testimony, a 'hold harmless' arrangement, then started talking about our two middle-school students, his daughter Kaylee and my Cindy.

"I've heard some of the stories," he said. He looked at me, gauging my expression. "About her life before her mom left town. More than one case coming through my office had to do with acquaintances of her mom. Kaylee tells me how Cindy was last year, and how she is THIS year, and all those stories I keep hearing about abused teens just don't seem to apply."

"Judge Charlie's a good fellow. I don't think he'd have offered help if he thought it was abusive. He'd probably be the one telling how to tie the rope to hang me."

Don laughed. "You got Judge Charlie pegged. He's a real judge. Hell of a good man to be trying a case in front of if you're right. But I've watched him rip one of my colleagues apart for trying to bring some humbug suit, too."

"He's like a surrogate father to me, or a grand-dad, well, technically, I guess, foster dad to Cindy. Just good people, is all."

"I can see that. His housekeeper, Eletha? Her daughter's going to law school. I offered her a summer internship." He grinned. "And not just because I want the free help. Speaking of interns ... Cindy's scholarship? In engineering?"

"Yeah," I said. "You gotta know that I tried pointing her in other directions. She got letters of interest from MIT and Stanford. She's got a mind I only slightly comprehend and I thought she might be a good match for hard science or mathematics, but she dug in her heels and said electrical engineering."

"Kaylee's a little jealous of Cindy graduating. Me, I'm just surprised. I never heard of that before. I've heard of skipping a grade or two, but the whole high school?"

"Did Kaylee tell you that Cindy had the highest ACT score in the county this year?"

"Noooo. No joke?"

"Yep!" I said proudly. "And this week she's supposed to get the results of her high school exit exam, and assuming she passes it, next fall she's in Auburn."

"I would imagine that she's not worried?"

"Don," I said, "last summer when I first met her, she was shy and unsure, almost scared. Now she's the least worried person I know of."

We talked about our proposal for the new business. "I know Judge Charlie will be glad to help on all the legal stuff, but I am all too happy to offer my own services, you know."

"I appreciate that, Don," I said.

Wednesday morning I got a phone call from Jim Hardesty.

"Yeah, Jim. What's up?"

"I just printed a document from the school board. I think you ought to be here so I can show it to you and Cindy together."

I assume from your tone that it's good news."

"Oh, yeah," he said. "You'll like it."

I'd shown up at the school office enough times throughout the year that I was immediately recognized when I walked in. The lady at the desk saw me and sent a student helper off to retrieve Jim, then hit the public address system, "Would Cindy Richards please come to the principal's office?"

"I remember when that announcement would have been a death knell for ME," I said to her.

She laughed.

The principal came out of his office. "Hello, Dan! Jim called you?"

"Yes he did," I answered. About that time, Jim came through the door with Cindy right beside him. She was smiling, but I know it got a bit brighter when she saw me.

"You folks come into my office," Mr. Bresser said.

Jim beat me to the obvious comment. "Every time I heard that from the principal when I was in school, it was never a good thing."

"I can imagine," I said.

Cindy just giggled at the two of us. We went in and sat down.

Mr. Bresser took a page of paper off his desk and smiled. "Cindy, this makes it official. These are your test scores for the high school exit examination, and you scored 'mastery' in science and math and English and 'competent' in social studies. Looks like you're gonna be the first student I ever had graduate from high school out of the eighth grade."

Squeal! Cindy bounced. I got a kiss and a hug. Jim got a kiss and a hug. Mr. Bresser smiled expectantly and she bopped around his desk and pecked him on the cheek.

The receptionist stuck her head in the door. "I assume from the happy squeal that we just graduated Miss Cindy," she said.

Cindy's answer was a grin that measured on the Richter Scale.

"I take that as a 'yes'," the receptionist said.

We let Cindy go back to class. Somebody's class. Cindy had a half-dozen younger kids who needed math help and she had her own corner of the library.

"Dammit, Dan," Mr. Bresser said, "I'm proud of her, but I sure hate to lose what she's brought here. If only we'd've known two years ago..."

Jim said, "She was just trying not to be a problem, didn't want anything that would drag her mom into the school. Wasted her daughter's time, really."

"Well, she's on her way now," I said. I'm gonna have to run to keep up."

Bresser smiled. "You know what the great thing is, Dan? She is so level-headed. We had that gifted kid here about three years ago and he was a terror." He looked at Jim. "What's that medical term you used, Jim?"

Jim shook his head. "Nuts!"

"Yeah, nuts," Bresser said. "In his own little world sometimes, and wanted to be the center of attention." He sighed. "And Cindy? She has a way of being the center of attention sometimes, but look! She's in OTHER kids' worlds, helping them out. If the school board was smart, THEY'D hire her for a summer program as a teacher."

"Oh, that's probably further than they'll go," I said. "Besides, I promised her that she'd go to her sisters' graduation and then be there when one of 'em got married."

"Sisters? I thought she was an 'only child'" Bresser said.

Jim knew a good bit of the story. I filled Bresser in on some of it. "And after the wedding, I promised her that we'd go fly the Rockies."

"She's a jewel, Dan," Bresser laughed. "If I were you and she wanted the moon, I'd be in the back yard building a rocket."

"I've been that way since we decided to get married," I said.

I was waiting in the school pickup area when Cindy got out at the end of the day. She bounced into the truck, wrapped me up for a G-rated kiss, then buckled in. "You didn't tell Mizz Helen an' Mister Charlie, did you?"

"Of course not. I'm about to split, though. I called Sara and told HER. She's proud of you. EVERYBODY'S proud of you, darlin'."

"It's YOUR fault, guy," she smiled. "If you hadn't come along..."

"People would've noticed sooner or later, little one," I said.

We walked, well, I walked into the park office to see Helen and Charlie. Cindy veritably skipped and bounced, waving the test results.

"IDIDITIDIDITIDIDIT!" she bubbled.

Helen beamed. "I'm so proud of you, baby!"

Charlie grinned. "Wonderful news, little daughter!" That comment earned him a gentle hug and kiss on the cheek.

Cindy turned the 'demure' switch on. "You ALL made this possible."

"Oh, no, dear daughter," Helen said. "We got out of the way and let you..."

"Well it's wonderful and I thank all of you. I love you all." She latched onto my arm. "Especially my Dan!" She was grinning as we left the office, got in the truck and drove to the opposite side of the park, to OUR little home.

Inside, with the door closed behind us, I got what I expected, a giggle, and a happy, excited Cindy being a precursor to a naked and excited and eager Cindy, which in my estimation was the most wonderful thing on the planet. She jumped into my arms, wrapped her legs around me for purchase, and showered my face with a dozen little kisses before her teeth gently latched onto my ear. She backed off just long enough to whisper "TV dinners" before resuming, and I had the happy task of maneuvering the two of us up the narrow hall to the bed. Clothes were still fluttering to the floor as our mouths welded together, completing our embrace.

From a distance of inches I looked into those green eyes. She sighed. "Dan, Dan ... I am in school with five hundred kids and sixty adults and there's just ONE human being that I think about naked all day." She kissed me. "And here you are." She wiggled underneath me, her legs spread, a delightful young pussy searching for something that I had, and I had a bit of me that was searching too. We slid together with a familiar hunger. When I was fully inside her, she was purring.

"You're exactly perfect there, Dan Richards."

"That's because I am in the possession of a perfect Cindy." I was. The little redhead spreading underneath me was my ideal. There was nothing I'd change even if I could. Her short red hair splayed out beside her head.

She could read me like a book. "I like it when you think about me when we're coupled up," she said. Giggle. "Even when you're missing half your blood supply, you still think about me." She wiggled, thrusting upward, knowing that I could stand about three of those before I started my own counter-thrusts, feeling our pubic arches touching as I bottomed out, feeling the hard knot of her cervix against the head of my dick deep inside her. There was another hardness in the equation, too, a little pink nubbin of a clitoris, rubbing as hard as she could get it against the base of my dick.

Her breathing took on a timbre of urgency. "OhgodDan!" Her hands grasped at my head, pulling me closer to her and her mouth latched on my chest. I felt teeth. Suction. The vibration of her tiny cries as she came. And the tremors took me over the precipice with her. When her mouth let loose, there was a soft "Oooohhhhhh!"

I rolled sideways, carrying her in my arms, so she ended up laying full length on top of me. I sighed, "My lovely little Cindy. I love you."

Soft lips touched mine. "I love you, too, Dan. Always did. Always will."

"Forever." Yes, some people might think our conversation about love is sappy, but I am perfectly happy with it, and from Cindy's sweet, post-orgasmic smile, so is she. The words only verbalized what our bodies had just spoken. Lucidity returned to her and the eyes went from dreamy, half-lidded post-orgasm dreaming to wide open, bright, happy green.

"You gotta know that I love this on a happy day. And this is a happy day."

"Yes it is, little kitten. My baby is headed on to the next adventure."

Giggle. "Right now your baby is headed for a towel and a TV dinner."

"I suppose that's a good idea," I said.

The soft, fluffy towel we kept beside the bed was just for such purposes, although most sessions we didn't use it, preferring to 'clean' each other with our mouths, but that often led to another session. My cutie had dinner on her mind. I watched her dab herself clean, then she handed me the towel.

I felt guilty the next day as I dropped Cindy off for school and returned to the trailer. With my laptop fired up on the work table, I started emailing and calling former acquaintances and business associates who might be in positions to offer us new business. Took a break in mid-morning to go drink coffee with Helen at the office, then back to the list. Emailed Alan, both to crow a little bit about my life of leisure and also to see if he had a list.

"I'll send you what I have. We need to talk to Susan's mom, too. She's got a lead on a building for us."

"A building?" I asked. "We just all move into a BUILDING?"

"She said she's getting more information, but a couple of investors were almost through construction on an apartment building when a couple of other investments went sour. We have ourselves an opportunity."

"Interesting," I said. "Where?"

"Auburn. They were angling towards some mid-scale leases, so it's up-scale from a lot of the apartments in town. And since it hasn't been completed, we don't have to deal with occupants."

"Sounds good. Let's get some more information. Maybe Kathy can set up a visit."

"Talk to her. Work around YOUR schedule. I'm rather flexible at the moment," I picked. We talked a bit longer. I fully expected to be looking at the new building in the next week.

I retrieved Cindy and Kaylee after school. Dropped Kaylee off at her parents' house, then Cindy and I ran a few errands together before ending up at a restaurant for dinner. Then it was Friday evening and our quiet routine. Cindy was showering when HER cellphone rang, the ringtone easily identifiable as a call from Tina.

Cindy heard the phone. "Answer it, babe! Tell 'er I'm in the shower!"

Í flipped the phone open and answered, "Hi, Tina! Cindy's in the shower."

Tina's voice was excited. Really excited. "Tell 'er to call me as soon as she gets out. I think we just got us another SISTER!"

"Another sister? Who?"

She was breathless. "I wanna tell Cindy, but it's a girl I knew in Louisiana before I dropped out of school. Dan, when you hear her story, you're gonna think we're making this stuff up."

I heard the shower stop. Cindy stepped onto the bathmat. I handed her a towel with one hand, talking to Tina with the other. I watched as my delicious little redhead assaulted her glistening body with the fluffy towel, then she smiled, extending a hand.

"Here's Cindy," I told Tina.

"Hi, Tina," Cindy chirped. "What's up!" Pause. Squeal. "REALLY?!?!?" Pause. "Tell me the story. Wait. Do you mind if Dan listens?" Pause. "Okay. I'm punching you onto the speaker. Wait a sec until we sit down." Cindy sat the phone down on the shelf beside the sofa and slipped her nightshirt over her head. The fact that this hid a pair of the prettiest titties on the planet did wonders for my concentration. She sat next to the phone and said, "Okay! We're listening!"

Tina was right. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew her to be trustworthy, the story she told of her lost friend WAS a bit hard to swallow. I knew about the devastation from the hurricane down there. As a matter of fact, Cindy and I had done an aerial tour over the Christmas holidays, finding the landscape rife with ruble from demolished houses and little white FEMA trailers and larger mobile homes sitting on lots with bare slabs where real houses once stood. Tina's friend was a survivor who was rescued and subsequently married to another survivor. Something about his house weathered the storm. I didn't ask questions."

"So when are we going to meet her and her husband?" Cindy asked.

"Alan's gonna talk to HIM. He's ... get this, Sis ... HE'S an electrical engineer."

Okay, I couldn't pass THAT up. "No joke? What's his name?"

Giggle. "You're gonna love this, Dan. HIS name is Dan. Dan Granger."

"That's gonna make things interesting."

Cindy giggled too. "Nah! It'll be Nikki's Dan and Cindy's Dan."

While I was listening to the rest of the story, I ran down my mental list for a match to 'Dan Granger' and didn't find a match. Oh well. Not like there were only a dozen electrical engineers around.

The story would've probably been a lot less probable if I didn't already know TWO couples who had all too many parallels in their journeys together.

Finally, Tina's chipper voice. "Okay, Cin! It's late. I'm sure you have SOMETHING (giggle) you have to do. We'll talk some more. I need to tell Susan! Bye, Cindy's Dan!"

"Bye, Alan's Tina," I countered.

"Bye, sis," Cindy said. She pushed the disconnect button and turned to me. "Let me go dry my hair while YOU get a shower, and then we can talk about all this." Giggle. "What's that 'Star Wars' line you use? 'I sense a disturbance in the Force.'?"

"Baby doll," I laughed at her grin, "You ARE the Force!"

Giggle. "What? I'm like, Yoda?"

"Nope. Too tall. Too pink! Your grammar's better!"

That got me a kiss before I hit the shower. I washed, got out, shaved, 'assisted' Cindy in the drying and brushing of her hair. I was stroking the bristles through spun bronze. She had her head tilted back, her eyes gently closed, that freckled button nose begging for a kiss. I couldn't resist. She turned on the stool and wrapped her arms around me. The green eyes were wide open now.

"Well, hello, doll," I said.

"Hi, guy!" she smiled. "D'ya know there's this BED right behind you, and it's just waiting to be used?"

I was encouraged by the fact that she was stripping her nightshirt over her head as she said it, and then she gave her head a shake to resettle her hair, and with a bounce she was kneeling in the bed, smiling at me.

This wasn't time for conversation, other than the occasional breathless 'yeah!' or 'MORE' or 'like THAT' as we guided each other in this particular night's preferences and desires. And the giggles. Oh, I reveled in the giggles from her as she experienced the joys of us connecting our bodies, knowing that at the end, HER end, they'd go away with a sigh, snorts, squeals, and finally, a collapse, and if she was conscious, a soft, "Oh, Dan..."

She was lying in my arms atop me. "Ohhhhh, Dan..."

I was still savoring the fire in my groin. "My perfect little Cindy," I acknowledged.

"We are SUCH a perfect pair," she said.

"Yes we are." I kissed the part in the red hair, then she moved up to bring her lips to mine. We kissed, then she turned.

I need to clean up this mess, love," she said.

"I'll be happy to do my share," I answered.

A few minutes of a moist sixty-nine and she shuddered through a second orgasm, and then we put our nightshirts on. We glanced at the clock together, then laughed when we noticed each other doing it.

"It's not even nine," she said. "Wanna go play a hand or two of cards?"

That put us back in the other end of the trailer. In a real house, it would've been the living room, but in the trailer, you could see all the way from one end to the other. I saw her slide on a pair of sweat pants, a concession to the prevention of a wet spot on the sofa cushion from our recent festivities. I did my old pair of gym shorts, sans underwear.

I set up the little folding table for us and we sat at opposite ends of the sofa to play rummy. In the midst of a hard-fought butt-whipping by my fourteen year old partner, we talked.

"Isn't that SOMETHING about Tina and uh, Nikki?"

"It is. I wanna meet this 'Dan' guy."

Eyes twinkled. "You mean 'Nikki's Dan'?"

"Yeah. I'd like to meet him."

"Let Alan talk to him first, but you're right. We all need to get together. Maybe next weekend. Sooner is better."

I eyed her. Yep, there it was. Self-assured expression. Somewhere since late summer of last year, Cindy got used to being right. She acted like it now. "I suppose that Tina's gonna know that we need to meet, and 'sooner is better.'?"

Her eyes twinkled. "Am I bein' too pushy?" She knew the answer before she asked the question.

"Nope," I said. "You seem to have some ideas about how we proceed, and you trust your sister and her husband, and if it makes sense, we'll be right there."

"Thank you," she smirked. "By the way, I love you. You have excellent taste in mates."

"No, I have horrible taste. If it hadn't been for practically tripping over some perfect little redhead, I'd still be single." Then I watched her slap down a whole handful of cards, catching me with a bunch of penalty points.

"You're gonna start playing cards wearing more clothes. Too much distraction. I can't get all my blood to flow to my brain."

She giggled, wiggling a tiny foot up the open leg of my gym shorts, her toes playing with my balls. She put on her best 'Who, me?' innocent look while she did that.

Saturday morning was a leisurely awakening, then the mundane tasks of laundry and housekeeping and Saturday night was another concert.

We had a rollicking good time. I'd finally transferred to lead guitar and Billy was doing bass in my stead, and the concert was good. I noted to Mizz Helen that there were some people in the audience that weren't staying at the park.

"Yeah," she said, " word's out. I get a few phone calls every week asking if y'all are playin'. If we advertised, I think we could sell tickets."

"Not gonna give up my day job," I laughed.

Unloading equipment at the Hardesty house, I reflected that this was one aspect of my stay in Alabama that I was going to miss. Helen and Charlie were another. Lucky, though, Cindy was coming with me, and heaven knows, Auburn's close enough to drive down and visit really often. I spoke of the subject when Cindy and I were in the truck on the way home.

"I know, baby," she said. "But you're right. We're an hour and a half, tops. We can drive back for weekends. I owe Mizz Helen more than I owe my own momma. And Mister Jim and Mizz Ann. We can't..." She paused. "Besides, you and me doing our duets..." Giggle. "We need to work on some more." Her brow knit for a second. "By the way. I talked with Mizz Ann. You an' I are going to church tomorrow. Nine o'clock."

"You're serious."

"I certainly am. I talked with Mizz Ann. She says that it's the respectable thing to do. Dan, I'm not a heathen. I know YOU'RE not. So we shower good tonight, and in the morning we get up, get dressed, go to breakfast, then we go to church."

"And see if anybody gets the vapors and passes out from the forty year old guy with the teeny-bopper bride."

Giggle. "I'm not wearing a push-up bra and a tube top. I'm wearing my green dress. The DARK green one."

One is wise to listen to his wife.

Cindy's plan went off well. Breakfast. We're sitting at the table, when Mona and Jeff Simmons walked up, having just arrived.

"Do you want to join us," Cindy asked.

Jeff answered by pulling a chair out for Mona. "Y'all did such a good job at the park last night," he said.

"What're you all dressed up for? Big day planned?" Mona asked.

"Following you to church," Cindy smiled.

You have to realize that since the first time we'd met Mona after we were publicly known as a married couple, she'd considerably warmed to us. Part of it was that Jeff had straightened her up about Cindy's status as "The Engineer's Apprentice" on the project, and part of it was because Cindy just had an aura about her that said "I'm anything BUT abused." Besides, Cindy and I were close friends with a family that held a position of respect in their church.

Cindy's announcement, though, that we were actually going to church moved us up several notches on the ladder in Mona's book. I could read it on her face. Jeff saw it, too.

"Mona honey," he said, "it ain't Christian to gloat."

"I'm NOT gloating, Jeffrey!" she said. "I'm happy that our friends are joining us in church. That's all!"

Cindy saw the conversation as banter on the same level that we practiced, so she was smiling.

After breakfast, we did as we'd planned. We walked into the church with the Simmons bunch AND with the Hardesty family. Ann was stunning, as always, their children were well turned out, although Billy looked like he was in chains instead of a suit, but Cindy was a vision.

Baptist churches have Sunday School, and larger churches have them segregated several ways, age being one. Jim's daughter Teresa looked at Cindy. "Young teen class. It's thirteen through fifteen years."

Cindy looked at me. Ann rescued her. "No, Teresa, Cindy goes with her HUSBAND to the same class as us."

Teresa shrugged. "I tried. I guess bein' married counts pretty big."

"Yeah," Cindy said. "Kinda need to be with Dan."

We went to the class. A lot of people already knew of us, and after we introduced ourselves, everybody did. Cindy'd last been to Sunday School a year before, and I was an infrequent church-goer at best, but we knew the ropes. After Sunday School, the church service was pretty much standard, and as we walked out the door, the pastor singled us out.

"Good to see you two here. You've been the subject of some discussion." He smiled. "I hope you show yourselves her more often."

"Thank you, reverend," Cindy answered. "We will."

In the truck, I got a "See, that wasn't bad at all," from Cindy.

I just gave her a look.

"Oh, I know ... there were some stares, but don't you think that a lot of that is because we're not regulars?"

"I'll give you that. And that a lot of it is 'cute redhead in a green dress', too."

"Concede the point, guy. Take me and feed me catfish."

Monday. Phone call from Alan.

"Hi, Brother-in-Law," I said, noting the name on the display.

"Hey, Dan," he said. "How much has Cindy told you about Tina's long-lost friend?"

I laughed. "Probably not as much as she knows. What's YOUR side of the story?"

"She's a survivor. And she married a guy I know a little bit about. We crossed paths a few years ago, sort of like the way you and I did, both in the same office of an engineering firm, right out of college. I hear from other sources that he's got a good rep, and he's in the field now. We talked about what he's doing. It's a good fit for what we want to do."

"And he's interested?"

"Yes, he is."

"We could stand another."

"What about another smart female?" Alan asked.

"Lord," I said, "I'm in geek heaven."

"Look," Alan said, "Dan Granger says his Nikki just jumped a couple of grades in high school. She's graduating at fifteen, so, heaven help us, we seem to have another Cindy in the crew. I'm thinking of several ways we can make this work, buddy. I think we'll end up with something that's gonna do good, and when we get our wives out of college, we ought'ta be sitting pretty nice." He paused. "We really ought'ta think about it."

"I will."

"Not just you, Cindy too."

"Oh, you just KNOW she's thinking about it," I laughed. "Little kitten's probably got a plan already, and Tina and Susan are buying into it."

"You married a ringleader, buddy," Alan laughed.

I laughed too. "Y'know, when I first met her, she was almost afraid of her shadow. I loved 'er then. And every day I see something different and I love that too."

"I'm the same way about Tina," Alan said. "And those girls encourage each other."

"Yes, they do. That's the only thing that worries me, Alan," I said. "We happened on such a compatible little group. I don't want to mess that up."

He sighed. "I talked with Tina about exactly that. She swears that Nikki's gonna fit. I think Dan Granger will, too."

"Well, lemme see what I can get from Cindy. I'm sure she'll have MORE information."

"Okay, buddy. By the way, I heard. Nikki's Dan and Cindy's Dan."

"See what I mean?" I laughed.

I was right. I picked up Cindy at school and hit her with the questions before we cleared the school property.

Giggle. "I'm excited. It's MORE for us!"

"So how far has this moved since this morning?"

"I talked to Tina at lunchtime. We think we all need to meet."

"And when's this supposed to happen?"

"Saturday. In Louisiana. At Alan's house. Nikki an' her Dan will drive in from one direction, we'll drive in from the other. Meet. Talk."

The remainder of the week was back to that 'anticipatory' thing. Saturday morning we were out the door early.

"Dawn Patrol," Cindy giggled.

"Whadda you know about 'Dawn Patrol, little girl," I laughed. "That movie was fifty years before MY time."

Giggle. "And we have a DVD in the school library. But that's beside the point. It's dawn. We're cranking up an airplane. Ergo (Ergo? Where'd THAT come from?) 'Dawn Patrol'. And I wouldn't've said it if I didn't think YOU would get it."

Forty year old guy kissing fourteen year old girl on the apron of a little country airfield.

We were airborne shortly after, and after an uneventful flight we sat down at the home field. Greg was happy to see us, and we promised to meet with him and Hanna for lunch before we flew back on Sunday. Tootie was there too. That meant back seat for me as she and Cindy caught up, especially on the latest developments on the community. We promised Tootie that we'd have breakfast with her and Mike and maybe Jerry and Sheila could join us.

"Cindy's gotta be back Monday for school," I said.

"Why?" Tootie asked. "I thought that since she passed both tests, she was pretty well free and clear."

"Baby, we COULD stay an extra day or two..." Cindy said, flashing those green eyes at me. It was the first time she'd asked anything like that. Tootie was right, though. "I'll call Mister Jim and tell him what's going on so that my tutoring classes get notified. Let's take a day or two."

"Oh, I forgot that you TEACH," Tootie said.

"It's okay. The kids in my class had to take that progress exam, and ALL my students passed." Cindy was proud. "They'll understand."

"Okay," I said. "Then that's what we'll do. We have Sunday lunch with Hanna and Greg."

Tootie laughed. "Lemme call Mike and see if we can't get stuff together for a crawfish boil tomorrow evening."

"Crawfish?" Cindy asked. "Like those crawly things in the ditch? I heard people eat 'em."

"Baby," Tootie said, "You'll LOVE 'em. And it's the price you pay for marryin' a Cajun."

Tootie left us at the house, leaving with a knowing smirk on her face. Cindy was giggly. And yes, absolutely yes, Tootie called the situation correctly. They hadn't turned the corner at the end of the street before Cindy was tugging me towards the bedroom.

A couple of hours later, we were pulling into the driveway of Alan and Tina's house and a bevy of females erupted out the door squealing "Cindeeeeee!"

Chapter 57

Cindy's turn:

Sisters! A whole bunch of 'em! Maybe I've said this before, but when I was living with Mom, I didn't have a lot of contact with other members of the family. Actually, I don't KNOW of other members of the family, certainly not the half that would have come with having a father. Tina and I had talked about this and come up with the idea that it just might be one of the reasons we were so happy with older husbands. Of course, there are so many others.

One of them was the fact that my husband and I had just flown our own plane five hundred miles.

We'd just shut the engine down and the prop stopped and Tootie brought us to our house. She left us there, grinning at her brother. She and I have talked. About THAT! You know, sex. Dan and I are married and everything that goes with it and I know some people are curious, especially with me being more than twenty years younger than my husband, but Tootie just came out and asked how things were between us and I told her. I wasn't graphic, but I guess my smiles and giggles gave as much information as my words. So when Tootie left, she pretty much knew what was going on.

I pushed Dan back into the bedroom as soon as the door closed.

"I think my sister suspects we're having sex, baby," he said and he pulled my sweatshirt over my head.

I giggled, tugging his belt buckle loose. "You think?"

Then we were naked and I pushed him back onto the bed and straddled him. "Yeah. She thinks you're some lecherous old goat..."

He smiled.

"And the TRUTH is that YOU introduced me to sex and and I can't keep myself away from you." Half an hour later I was naked, in his arms, leaking cum from my pussy and I could feel my skin glowing and when I looked into his eyes I could tell he was adoring me. I love when he looks at me like that.

I love the amused expression he has, too, like when I said, "Okay! Let's go meet my sisters!"

He laughed. "You just KNOW they know where the extra hour went between the time you called Tina and told her we landed and the time we show up over there."

"Uh-huh," I said. "And YOU know that if they didn't have Susan 'n' Jason with them, THEY'D have the same hour." I giggled. "It'll be different when Susan and Jason are married."

"They still haven't..." Dan asked.

"Nope!" I said. "Susan is hopelessly conventional and Jason is a really decent guy and they're waiting. I'm thinking they're gonna WRECK a honeymoon suite!"

"She might be shy and retiring," Dan said.

"I don't think so," I told him. "Me an' her an' Tina have talked about, you know ... and I really think Mizz Kathy has given her the premium version of The Talk, too."

We were having this conversation while we were getting dressed. Kept stopping though, to mess with each other in so many wonderful ways. Dan's teasing me and I may have to take my revenge tonight. We finally got in the car and on the road. Alan's home address was in the GPS and according to the display we were half an hour away.

"You're smiling bigger than normal," he said.

"Baby," I said, "You just got to understand how much this all means to me. You had a family growing up. I didn't. This is MY family. I got real sisters!" We talked about stuff all the way up the road. This is Dan's home. He knows a lot of history and interesting things about the area and we talked about the farms we passed and the little industrial-looking places and he explained to me about the oil and gas in the ground under us and some of what it took to get it out. Where I lived in Alabama, we didn't have that. We had a lot of farming and timber stuff and I know about that sort of thing, at least some of it, but this is Louisiana and it's different and I learn from talking with my husband.

We came to the little town that contained Alan and Tina's house and we pulled into the driveway.

Here came this CROWD streaming from the house as I stepped out of the car, and they were squealing my name. I immediately recognized everybody, Tina, Susan, and now Nikki, whose face I knew from Skype. And here's this big group hug. Me and my sisters!

I got introduced to Nikki's husband. He's another Dan. That's his name. Between him and MY Dan, there's a change of hair color, maybe an inch of height, weights within ten pounds of each other. My Dan's eyes were a lighter shade of blue, like a summer sky. And Nikki slid right up next to him and uh-huh, they belong together.

Susan's got beautiful, thick, natural blonde hair and I get a little jealous of it, but then after the shower, Dan helps me brush and dry my red hair and I KNOW what that does to him. Red hair and freckles. I got 'em, and I hated 'em all my life until Dan came along and he almost has a fetish about both of them. At least on me.

But back to what's happening. Here we are in Tina's front yard squealing like a bunch of nuts. The guys were just kind of looking on. Guys! They shake hands and if it's REALLY emotional, there's a clap on the back or Ohmigod! A man-hug, but we girls couldn't leave it at that. I took a peek, though, and there was my Dan and Nikki's Dan and Alan and Jason. I broke loose and shook Nikki's Dan's hand.

"I'm Cindy," I said. "You just met my husband." I got that look from him that I get a lot. You know, that 'You're so young! What are you doing MARRIED!' I SAID, "I'm your new sister-in-law. One of 'em, anyway." Nikki stepped up beside me.

"Two Dans," I said. "Does yours know his master's voice?"

Nikki giggled. "Oh, Cin! Like on those old records? Yeah, he knows. Or I can just wave or whistle."

"So you've trained yours well. Still, we have Nikki's Dan and Cindy's Dan."

Nikki's quick. I learned that early, doing that Skype thing with her and Tina and Susan. She said, "On formal occasions, they can be Dan G. and Dan R."

"Or 'hey, you. No, not YOU! The OTHER one!" HER Dan laughed.

We finally moved the show from the front yard and into the house. Tina gave me and Dan the tour of the place. I elbowed him. "Is there, like, some engineering standard you guys go by to decorate? This looks like OUR house!"

Nikki tittered. "I said the exact same thing!"

We all ended up in the living room. Jason and Susan sat side by side on the sofa. Very close, but still, side by side. The rest of us girls ended up sitting on our husbands' laps, eating from a tray of snacks and drinking sodas and talking about everything under the sun.

Tina admonished, "Don't fill up on junk. I got us booked at the restaurant for six o'clock and you're gonna want to have room for this food!"

Conversation is a fluid thing and with four couples there were a lot of them going on. Every one of us dropped in on first one then another. We talked about school and business and life.

School. I pointed at Jason. "Have YOU talked with a counselor about getting your degree in engineering? It's important, you know, so we'll see where you end up in all of this."

Jason looked a little sheepish. "I need to do that."

I giggled. "Susan, he needs some guidance. Help him along." A little while later, Dan had to go to the bathroom, so I let him up. After a little longer than a bathroom visit should take, he wasn't back. I glanced up the hall and he and Nikki's Dan we talking in the hallway. I let them talk a while, then my eyes connected with Nikki's.

"Where are our husbands?" she asked.

"Up the hall talking."

"Probably about us," she giggled.

"My Dan does that. One time I listened. Made me feel so good to hear him tell somebody how he felt about me when he didn't know I was listening." I remembered the conversation between Dan and Alan.

Nikki smiled. "You know how it feels to be REALLY loved, too, don't you?"

I nodded. "Loved. Cared for. Like I'm important to him."

"Me too," Nikki said. "Wanna get 'em back in here?" Her eyes twinkled to go along with her grin.

"Guess so," I said. "Dannn? Where are you?"

"Yeah, baby," Nikki said. She giggled when they both showed up. "See! We trained 'em well," she giggled.

Our husbands joined us and the others and the conversations continued. There was the sound of a car pulling into the drive and Alan got up to check the door. He opened it and said, "Hi, Elise!", letting in a middle-aged woman who bore enough resemblance to him to validate my supposition that she was his sister.

"Hi! I brought a tray of cookies and brownies," she said. She looked around the room. "Actually, I wanted an excuse to come back over and meet this Cindy that everybody talks about."

"Me?" I squeeked. I stood up. "Hi! I'm Cindy!"

Dan stood right behind me. "And I'm her husband, Dan Richards."

Alan introduced the lady. "This is my nosey sister, Elise. She met everybody else at the airport."

"Don't make me sound bad, Alan!" she said. "I've listened to everybody talk about Cindy and I just wanted to meet..." She looked at me and smiled. "You! You're a doll!"

I almost melted, the way she said it. I stepped up and gave her a hug. "Thank you, Mizz Elise. They were talking about me?" I looked around the room at my sisters.

"Said you were the ringleader," Mizz Elise said.

"I'm not ... All of Y'ALL get in on this stuff. I'll be the mascot, maybe!"

Our conversation wasn't taking place in a vacuum. Susan jumped in, saying, "Actually, Mizz Elise, we're pretty much a set. Like bowling pins. If you don't have ALL of us, it's not gonna work quite right."

Nikki added emphasis. "It's really like that, Mizz Elise. A week ago, THEY were a set. Now WE'RE a set."

Alan told his sister, "Like the Manhattan Project, with cuties!"

Now I caught that joke because I read a book about the Manhattan Project, and I was flattered that Alan considered us to be in the same league as Oppenheimer and his team, but I wondered if Mizz Elise would get the joke. The way she laughed told me that she did.

"Cute!" she said. "Brother, don't try and toss your jokes over my head. I made better grades than YOU in school." To the rest of us, she said, "Does everybody here eat gumbo? Cindy?"

I giggled. "Dan made a big pot for a concert at the park! Yes, I eat gumbo."

"Susan?" Elise asked.

"Alan an' Tina made some for us on one of those nasty wet days. I like it!" she looked at Jason as if to say 'And so do YOU!'

She continued, "If everybody's up for it, I'll make a big pot for lunch tomorrow and bring it over here so everybody won't have to figure out what to do for lunch before you leave."

There was universal assent to this. Did I just say 'assent'? Make that 'Everybody was okay with it, ' in an enthusiastic manner.

Alan and Mizz Elise then made us laugh, talking about how she was going to clean his house after the weekend, and the pranks they used to play on each other. Brother and sister. A little cloud passed over my thoughts. I missed out on that whole 'normal family' thing, growing up the way I did. I sighed. There wasn't a day that I didn't have a thought about that, and since Dan came into my life, there wasn't a day that I didn't pull his arm around me to reassure me that I was loved and cared for and the WE were the new version of 'normal'.

We settled back into conversation, Mizz Elise joining us. She and Nikki and Nikki's Dan hadn't heard much about the shooting incidents. I wasn't going to bring it up. It's not something I go bragging about. After all, how many people do YOU know that have shot somebody. But the subject came up, so Dan and I answered questions. I peeled my sweatshirt up to show the scar on my ribs.

Dan showed the one on his leg. "I ain't showing you my butt," he said.

Nikki elbowed her Dan. "The first time we walked out together after the storm, you brought your shotgun."

"I did," he said. "I had no idea what we might run into. Man's gotta protect what's his."

"That was, like, the SECOND day. I wasn't YOURs yet," she smiled.

"Had to protect innocent bystanders, too," Dan G. said.

Tina giggled. "That's how I ended up with Alan Addision, Protector of the Innocent!"

Jason made everybody laugh. "I protected Susan, too. Swatted a huge, ferocious jumping spider!"

"My HERO!" Susan said in a falsetto squeal.

"Well, it was a BIG spider," Jason over-acted. "She NEEDED rescuing."

"I really did," Susan said. She planted a smiling kiss on his cheek. Jason looked perfectly happy.

"You need to teach me how to shoot. Like Cindy. We live out in the middle of nowhere. I know I can call 9-1-1, but it would take ages for help to arrive." Nikki looked determined.

Poor Dan G. got nailed again about the flying thing. I knew that Nikki was really fascinated that we were all flying. On one of our Skype conferences, Nikki asked a bunch of questions of us. Today I could almost see the wheels turning in that brunette head of hers. I could also see the smug, satisfied look on her face when her Dan seemed to agree that it was a good idea.

Inwardly I thought that The Plan was coming together nicely. My Dan saw my expression. He says that can read him like a book. Well, let me tell you, it's a two-way street. He bent over and whispered in my ear, "Okay, little princess, what's inside that head?"

I whispered back, "We already decided..."

"Who?"

"Me and Tina and Susan and Nikki. But we let you GUYS think it's YOUR idea."

When it got to be time to go to the restaurant, we all piled into two vehicles. Naturally, all us girls ended up in one, and the guys ended up in the other. Tina drove us in Alan's SUV.

Nikki was the first to speak. "You know, I think they can work together."

"I think so, too," Tina said. "It's like a bunch of brothers."

Giggle. "The Manhattan Project, with cuties! I like that!"

"I thought I was gonna bust when Alan came up with that. Sometimes I can watch his face and I know he's thinking about something. I ask him what he's thinking. And he came out with THAT!"

"We got us a good bunch," Susan joined in. "You know, until I met Jason, I never had a date with a guy who was that smart." She looked at Tina. "Sis, I was sooo jealous of you with Alan. But you and him, y'all told me to wait and MINE would come along." Susan smiled so big. "Jason. I am IN LOVE with Jason."

"We're really happy you found each other," I said.

"Me too," Susan said. "But honestly, I don't know if we'll live through the honeymoon."

I looked at her eyes. They were sparkling. "We're really ... Not until the wedding night. But sometimes I just about can't STAND it..."

"You'll do just fine, Susan," Tina said. "It's a great thing you're doing. If things had been different and Alan and I were in a conventional setting, it would've been that way with us. Alan is so perfectly honorable. I had to make the first move. And I wouldn't do THAT unless he was the ONE."

Tina's comments got us all going. No sluts here. With the exception of Susan, we all had the 'crappy mom' experience.

"D'ya think they're talking about us?" Susan asked.

"I can just about guarantee it, Sis," I said. "We're important in their lives."

"They're important in OURS. My Dan is," Nikki said.

"That's why they're talking about us," Tina reinforced.

We pulled into the parking lot and paired up with our guys again and went inside. Tina did good choosing this restaurant. The meal was great. My Dan told me on trips to similar places around his hometown that this wasn't your farm-raised, chain restaurant seafood, and yes, a little Alabama girl learned about eating crabs and oysters. It took some convincing, the first time I ate a raw oyster. I mean, have you ever SEEN one of those things, laying there on a shell?

"We had some brave ancestors, Dan," I told him, the first time he ordered oysters on the half-shell.

"Brave?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said. "somebody busted open an oyster shell, looked inside and said, 'Yeah, I'm gonna eat this.'" He blew coke out of his nose. Very unprofessional.

But he persisted, and I ate one, following his direction. "Chew," he said. "Taste the tastes of the sea."

I did. Bit right into that thing, half afraid I was gonna hate it, but I should've known Dan wouldn't mislead me. That's why Susan was watching, mouth gaping open, when I picked the first one off the tray at dinner.

"You're really gonna EAT that?" she said.

I smiled, stuck it in my mouth, and chewed. "Mmmmmm," I said. "Tina, this place is GOOD!"

"That oyster was probably still in the lake this morning," she said.

Then Nikki giggled. "Dan, you need to eat a few, baby."

I saw my Dan smirking. "Okay, buddy, what's the story. Why's my sister grinning?"

I didn't know the supposed connection between oysters and virility. It was explained in some pretty bawdy terms. Nikki giggled, "But it's NOT entirely true, you know." She grabbed her guy's arm. "The last time he ate a half dozen, only three of 'em worked."

Susan turned bright red.

"Oops! Sorry, Susan," Nikki said.

Susan didn't miss a chance. She turned to Jason. "Baby, make sure that oysters on the half-shell are on the menu for dinner before the wedding."

Jason's turn to change colors.

The food was good. Plates got pushed around so that everybody got samples of the various dishes.

Word got out that I'd passed on a crawfish boil at Tootie's for me and Dan. That's another thing Dan insists that I try, but it's too late, because somebody's dish tonight had a big fresh fish filet covered with a sauce with crawfish tails, and I tried that. Was good! But I'd seen stuff on the internet about what goes on with boiled crawfish and boiled crabs, and I wasn't sure about that.

"Mike, that's my Dan's brother-in-law, he was going to do 'em for us. Tootie says he's won prizes. I was going to try 'em." I was. Really. Break the poor little things in half and peel the tails.

"Crawfish? Like out of the DITCH?" Susan said.

"Not these, Dan says," I explained to Susan. "They farm 'em, or he says the best ones come out of the swamp."

The waitress was refilling glasses. "If you want crawfish, we have 'em, baby."

"They're probably pretty good here," Alan says.

I shook my head. "Not tonight, but thank you!"

After the waitress left, Dan announced, "Tootie says she wants us back in two weeks for a real old-fashioned backyard crawfish boil. My brother-in-law has the set-up to do it for a pretty good crowd."

I added, "If Dan says they do it right, then this is the one to do. Mike 'n' Tootie can cook!"

My Dan continued, "Dan and Nikki, y'all are close enough to drive. Me an' Cindy will fly. Alan? Tina? Susan? Jason?"

"Your sister's okay with this?" Dan G. asked.

"Like I said, Mike's set up for it. All they need is a number so they'll know what to buy."

Tina got that smirk as she dug an elbow into Alan. "I think we have an open spot on our schedule that weekend," she said.

"Can me and my guy hitch a ride?" Susan asked.

I smiled at Dan. "Sounds like a plan."

After the meal, we got down to business. Yes, I know we're supposed to be meek little wifies and let the men make all those hard business decisions while we share recipes and home décor tips, but you need to remember that the very first mention of a community with wives in school and guys in business, that idea was mine. And we all fleshed it out, me, Tina, Alan, my Dan. And then we added Susan. And then Jason. And now Nikki and her Dan. So yes, we all got a say in it.

Again, I was just a little jealous. It's that age thing. Susan was eighteen and Tina was going to be eighteen this summer, and THEY will be able to go to work with their husbands as interns. Me, I'll turn fifteen at the end of August, and Nikki will turn sixteen, so we're sort of in the same boat right now.

I want to GO! I've seen what Dan does and I want to DO that. I want to get out there and learn what the stuff in the books and on the paper looks like in real life and how it works and what it does when it messes up. Nikki's Dan does a lot more 'messed up' stuff, and my Dan knows about how you put it together and make it work, and so do Jason and Alan. Sometimes I get so aggravated about the whole age thing.

But anyway, when we left the restaurant, we all piled back into the same vehicles we came in, and Susan started giggling about that raw oyster thing. "I made my poor Jason turn red," she tittered.

"You did, you horrible thing," Nikki said. Nikki was part of us now. We all felt comfortable together, but I knew that the next milestone was a married Susan. As it was, I felt a little uncomfortable broaching some subjects because she and Jason were not sleeping together yet. After their honeymoon, that would be different. Of course, I never said anything about that. I dearly loved all my sisters and I would never say anything to hurt one of them.

Susan and I had one thing in common, for sure. We weren't Louisiana natives, so a lot of the food was new to us. I don't think Susan was as adventurous as I was, but she was a trouper.

"I'm not sure about that 'oyster' thing," she said.

"I love 'em," I said. "Really! Dan says some people do it to say they've done it, and some people just can't get past the idea, but some of US really like 'em. You didn't even try a fried one?"

She bobbed her head. "Yeah. Those weren't bad."

"You'll like 'em raw, then. Once you get past the idea." Then I had THAT thought! Something else I just adored that was soft and juicy. The end of my Dan's ... I smiled. Dan's in trouble tonight. I KNOW what I have in mind. And HIS oysters better WORK!

"What are y'all talking about back there," Tina asked.

"Oysters. Food," Susan said.

"Wasn't that GOOD?" Nikki said. "We have a place like that about twenty minutes from our house. I love it."

"We have a couple of catfish joints," I said, "and they do fried shrimp and even fried oysters, but nothing like this."

"Louisiana will spoil you for seafood," Nikki said. "Especially if you have somebody to take you to the restaurants."

"Your Dan's a good guy, huh," Tina said.

I watched Nikki's expression at the mention of her mate's name. It lit up. "The best. The absolute, verifiable, forever best."

We rode on. Nikki asked, "Seriously, how hard is it to learn to fly?"

Tina answered, "The actual flying, it's just a set of skills. Add another dimension to driving. Like driving and staying at the speed limit, except three dimensions. If you can drive and walk and chew gum, you can do that part. And the rest? Little Miss Graduating Two Years Early, you won't have a problem. The math is stuff that you'll understand, and the rest is just understanding the rules and committing some things to memory. You won't have a problem."

Susan said, "She's right. Me and Jason studied together to take our written exams. We both passed on the first try. Our instructor says a lot of people don't. You'll have fun."

"But you have to wait until you're sixteen," I said. "Being young and all."

Nikki giggled. "Dan's gonna kill me."

"No he won't," Tina said. "I saw the look on his face. First, he's an engineer and learning is something he lives for. Second, I see how he looks at you, and he'd walk over hot coals barefoot if you wanted him to. And third, you and he will do it together, and..."

"He'll love that." She folded her arms, smiling.

In Alan and Tina's driveway, we all hugged and said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. I slid into the seat of our SUV and reached for Dan's hand as soon as he got on the road.

"Well, hi there, cutie!" he said.

"Hi, Cindy's Dan," I replied. "What do you REALLY think? The Plan?"

"Honestly? I think it's gonna work. I hope that the apartment building thing works out, because that will make things easier on all of us, but the business will work. You gotta understand, there are engineers and then there are engineers, and this is a good bunch. What do YOU think?"

"I think I'm very happy that you think it's a good plan. Our bunch is a riot." I explained to him my feelings about the age thing.

"Darlin'," he said, "I wish I could do something about that, but the days just have to pass. If I ever get a chance to get you involved in something, hands-on, you know I'll have you in the middle of it."

"I know you will. Now the important question." I gave him a second.

"Important question? What's that?"

I giggled. "D'ya feel any of those oysters working?"

He laughed and touched my face. "At least two or three. We don't have to get up early."

"The night's cool, and there are no mosquitoes, and our back yard..." I had an idea. He knew what it was.

"At least ONE back there," he said. "We run in the front door, strip, grab a blanket, straight out the back door..."

I giggled. I could feel that happy tingle down between my legs, and the beginning of wetness. I pulled his hand to my lips and bit the fleshy part of his thumb. "And after that, we can shower, and get in our bed and do another one..."

"Or two," Dan laughed. "I had oysters."

Chapter 58

Dan's turn:

A while later, we were lying under the stars, a blanket between us and the cool earth, our breathing almost synchronized as we happily returned from the heights of a pair of wonderful orgasms. Her face was buried into my chest, but then she rolled away so she could see the stars above us.

"Beautiful, aren't they, Dan," she said softly.

"Yes they are, little one," I said. "I wish I had a starship so you and I could skip off among them, every night seeing a different sky together."

"Mmmm-hmmm," she answered. "Some of those scenes from the Hubble telescope. Me and you, making love with one of those beautiful spiral galaxies in the background."

"Poor galaxy," I said, "all sad because it won't be the most beautiful thing in the sky..."

"Awww ... Dan Richards, I REALLY love you..."

"Cindy Richards, I really love right back..."

She pulled herself back towards me and covered me as much as she could with her diminuitive form, showering my face with kisses. I ran my hand from her shoulders downward over her waist to that sweet little butt, and squeezed, then returned my hands to her head, holding her for more kisses.

"Only one thing wrong with this, baby," I said.

"Wrong?" she asked.

"It's too dark for me to see your face. It's the only way the night sky can compete with your beauty."

"I love when you use words like those for me, baby," she said. "Why don't we move this inside. Shower. And then we're in OUR bed and I want the little light on."

Naked in the starlight. I cannot account for what I might look like, but Cindy was angelic, clad only in the light from the heavens, as she walked to the back door. I gathered up the blanket and followed her, stopping in the laundry room long enough to toss the blanket in the washer, before joining her in the shower.

She was already inside and the water was just the right temperature. "Hi, cutie," she said.

"Well, hi there, little girl," I answered.

"Will you help me shower, sir?" she teased. "I seem to have gotten all sticky!"

"I seem to have a similar problem, young lady," I said. "Perhaps you might offer assistance?"

Then we broke down giggling and just lathered the daylights out of each other, rubbed naked bodies together for some minutes, then actually attended to making sure we were clean before stepping out and drying each other off. I shaved and helped her dry her hair, then ducked downward and kissed her neck. She tossed an arm back and grabbed my head and held me at her level and turned to put her lips against mine.

"Time for that second oyster," she giggled.

That little oyster gave its life for a good cause. We had FUN! Giggling, sighing, purring, moaning, shuddering, quivering and finally, WET fun. And went to sleep.

Neither one of us got particularly ambitious about rolling out of bed when we awoke, but I finally succumbed to bladder pressure. When I got back to the bedroom, it was empty. I heard the toilet flush in the other bath, and then Cindy, nightshirt clad, showed up behind me, pushing me back to the bed.

She shook her head to re-arrange that red hair, then giggled. "Do oysters have a time limit?"

I scooped her giggly form up into my arms and deposited her in the middle of the bed.

"Little girl, the day that I have to resort to oysters in order to get aroused by you is NOT here yet!"

She looped her arms around my neck, pulling me into kissing range. "I imagine as much, dear," she said, "but Nikki says some of her school friends asked about the stamina of older husbands..." she wiggled against my erection. "I don't see where WE have a problem."

We didn't have a problem. She pushed a leg under me as I raised up and she slid sideways, centering herself, then humped her hips up. I met her halfway, rubbing the head of my hardness between moist, slick lips, searching for the opening that was made for me, and we melded.

To the sound of her giggle. "I love it like this in the morning. It's like you're THERE and you're possessing me."

I not only KNEW what the giggle meant, I adored it. I knew that her giggle was a sign of her enjoyment. I knew that the eyes would twinkle and the giggles would happen and then after an interval, they'd go away and her eyelids would flutter and she'd bite her bottom lip, releasing it with the first wave of her orgasm. That is, if I was still in this universe to see it for myself. Happily, all too often, I was somewhere zooming and looping through the throes of my own.

As we were kissing, I did note that my head wasn't bowed quite as far as I seemed to remember. Cindy was growing taller. And every bit was ecstasy in a female package. I fought a little with myself to hold off what would have been a fast orgasm. True to form, the giggling had ceased. Her nostrils flared, breath coming in sharp snorts, and when her eyes squeezed tightly shut, I let myself go. In the midst of her own orgasm her legs gripped me.

"Mmmmmmm," was her first sound, other than her breathing.

"Mmmm, indeed, my sweetness," I said. I clasped her to me as I turned onto my back.

"You KILL me, Dan..."

"Exactly. Time stands still." I shuddered.

"Aftershock?" she asked, a little hint of a giggle in her voice.

"They may go on for an hour."

"Me too. 'S great, isn't it?" And that lovely smile, pink lips, green eyes. Freckles forming my favorite constellation in the universe.

She let her fingers trace my facial contours. "Darned blue eyes," she said. "You should wear sunglasses. You don' t know how often I got lost in them before we mated."

"Oh, yeah. Like I wasn't supposed to get all excited by YOU, you little green-eyed thing."

"You weren't. I am a mere child, sir!" Giggle.

"Who jumped into MY bed..."

"It was a dark and stormy night," she giggled. "Just like in a story..."

I kissed her nose. "Yes, little one. Since I met you, it's been a fairy tale."

"Baby," she asked, sounding totally serious, "Do they have pancakes in fairy tales?" And laughter.

We got up, dashed through the shower, stripped the bed and put the sheets (with a couple of sizable wet spots) in the washer, and we dressed. Heading up the road to the local eatery, she captured my right hand in hers. I glanced away from the road to see her face.

"I adore you, Cindy," I said.

"And I adore you right back, you know. You love me. You feed me pancakes ... and you know, I went from havin' half a mom an' Mizz Helen in my life to having YOU and family all over the place."

"Yeah, I kinda know how that is. I found my heart again. In the form of this really smart, neat, cute little redheaded girl."

"You know," she said, "I talked to Tina about this stuff, and she's the same way about Alan. And I just bet that Nikki's like that to her Dan, too."

"And Susan and Jason?"

Giggle. "Oh, she's off the scale over him, and he's NUTS!"

"They're a cute pair," I said.

"Mmm-hmmm," she countered. "Me an' Tina, well, you should hear Tina talk about how Alan warned her against match-making."

"That can be dangerous."

"What? Trying to connect two of your friends? Or getting in Tina's way?"

"Probably both," I mused.

"Well, Tina really DIDN'T, baby. But Susan and Jason trapped her in the middle. She kept me up to date the whole time. But she didn't encourage things. They just happened."

"Jason's a smart guy. I was lucky to have him on my project. He's a good one."

"So's Susan, you know."

"I know. Comes from good people."

Giggle again. "Yeah. I like Mizz Kathy! She's like, what's that lady on the old TV show? Beaver's mom?"

I laughed. "I don't exactly see Kathy as June Cleaver."

"The Tennessee version!" Cindy's eyes laughed as she talked happily about her friends. "Think about it! Susan's an ONLY child. She's super intelligent. D'ya know how easy it would be to end up screwed up with those credentials?"

"Good point."

She looked smug. "But there she is, a really decent human being, other than being a little flighty-sounding."

"Don't forget her dad, baby!"

"Oh, Mister Mike! He's funny! Loves his daughter to pieces!"

"But didn't spoil 'er."

"No, he could've just let her be the little princess, but he took 'er to work with 'im, and fishing and hunting and everything, and sometimes Mizz Kathy went along, and sometimes she didn't. It worked. We got us a Susan!"

"You and your sisterhood."

"Not MY sisterhood, Dan. Tina and I did one of those parallel development things for THAT."

"What parallel development?!?! The two of you were sitting on the same bed in North Carolina."

"Well, we came up with it together. You know, she needed a sister as much as I did. And Susan's a natural, since she was already in Tina's life there. And Nikki."

We were wheeling into the diner parking lot as she finished that statement. When we walked through the parking lot in the springtime sun, she was almost skipping. She grabbed my hand, though, and slowed down to that walk of hers. She knew it. Gave her head a shake, just to let the sun flash through that red hair, like she was wearing a fiery halo.

I was recognized when we walked in, and we were seated in a booth, per Cindy's request. The waitress was my contemporary, a year behind me in high school, one of those people who were just destined, it seemed, to be perpetually working. She smiled.

"Hi, Dan. Been a long time."

"Hi, Connie. How you been?"

"Okay,, I guess." She saw the ring on my finger. A quick glance, identical ring on Cindy's. "Hi, sweetie. I'm Connie French. Me an' Dan were a year apart in school."

Big grin. "I'm Cindy. Dan's wife! Glad to meet you!"

That got me a sideways look from Connie. When she left with our order, I knew Cindy was dying to ask.

"Y'all went to school together? Anything else?"

I smiled. "A few hundred people went to school with me, and NO!"

"Not that there's much I could say. Let's see, when you were in high school, I was a negative twenty-something years old." Grin. "But I'm always interested in what used to float your boat. She's actually kind of pretty."

"Shhhh!" I hissed. Connie dropped off a couple of mugs of coffee and glasses of iced water and two glasses of cold milk. Cindy shared my thought that pancakes needed cold milk.

"Here y'all go," Connie said. "Pancakes'll be out in a minute. Dan, I heard you'd remarried. Your sister ties into the grapevine, yaknow..."

"Yep," I said. "She can't help 'erself."

"Well, I hope yours turns out good."

"I married an angel," I said. "Thank you, Connie!"

"Thank you, Mizz Connie," Cindy echoed.

"Baby," Connie blurted, "You're a doll!"

"Oh, gee, thank you soooo much," Cindy said. "You make me blush."

"Oh, I'm sorry, hon," Connie said. "It's just ... those eyes and that hair! If you tell me that's natural, I'm goin' back in the kitchen an' kill myself."

Cindy does this demure little smile thing and it MELTS me. She pulled it on Connie.

"Crap!" Connie said. "I was gonna ask what you used..."

"Sorryyyyy," Cindy said.

"Oh, god, don't be. I'd've been crazy thinking I could look like that, anyway. Dan, she IS a cutie!"

"Thank you, Connie!" I said. I was thinking that Connie would have kittens on the spot if she knew Cindy was only fourteen.

That exchange kind of made the pancakes a denouement, but we worked through them, then enjoyed our coffee before heading back to the house.

It didn't take long once we were out of the diner and in the car.

Cindy was smug. "Your old girlfriend, huh?"

"Not a girlfriend. We had a couple of classes together. She was always going with some jock."

"But you WANTED to..."

"Eighteen year old boys WANT to do a lot of things. Connie was semi-pretty and semi-popular, and completely uninterested in guys like me who weren't into sports."

"I know girls like that at school right now, Dan. And I know a few guys like you. No, that's wrong. None of them are even CLOSE to being like you. But you understand what I mean ... nice guys who're are trying hard to do things right, but they get ignored."

"Oh, they don't get too ignored, little one. It's just that high school is a lot of angst and heartbreak."

Her hand slid up my bicep. "And you saved me from that, too ... It's interesting to watch all the social interaction when you know YOU don't have to engage. Sort of like watching the weather on TV and seeing the storm coming and knowing you don't have to get out in it!"

"Neither of us has a storm to worry about, Cindy," I said. "Except that whirlwind thing we do in bed together!"

"Yeah, and when we get home, we need to check ONE more oyster while the sheets are drying. I promise we won't make a mess." Cute grin.

I knew that Cindy's plan for not making a mess while love-making was a session of oral sex that practically turns me inside out.

She caught the look on my face. "I REALLY like that!"

"Me, too!" I said. "You're the absolute best!"

I moved the old sheets from the washer to the dryer and then we put a new set of sheets on the bed. Then we stripped each other and dove in. Delicious. My Cindy is delicious. Apparently, she thinks I am, too, because half an hour, a HAPPY half an hour later, we were lying in each other's arms, satiated.

"GOOD oyster," she giggled.

"You're a little monster," I said.

"YOU created this monster, guy!"

"And I am happy with my creation."

"Good! " she said, disengaging herself from me. "Let's get dressed and go see the gang."

"Oh, if we must..." I whined.

"We'll pick up THIS conversation when we're back in our trailer, baby!" She gave my dick a squeeze.

I had to pick her up off the floor and hold her against me just one more time. In my previous life, I had what I thought was a perfectly adequate and satisfying sex life, but apparently I was wrong. Cindy was an order of magnitude more in both quantity and quality.

"Eeek!" she squealed when her feet left the floor, then "Mmmmm!" as we kissed. Her hands cupped the back of my head. "Dan Richards, if you don't put me, down, we're gonna mess up another set of sheets and be late for lunch with our friends." And she kissed me again. "We don't want to do that..." Kiss. "Mmmmmm."

With utmost self-control and reluctance I conceded her point.

In the car, she had her cellphone out, calling Tina. "We're on our way," she said. Giggle. "I know. You're good people, not doing that in front of Susan 'n' Jason." Pause. Giggle. "Uh ... yeah..." Giggle. "THREE of 'em worked." She hung up the phone.

"Sharing our intimate secrets with Tina?"

"Oh, I was just commiserating with her. Her an' Alan are being all restrained because Susan an' Jason are staying with them. We suffer from no such restrictions."

"Oh," I said. "Commiserating..." I loved the flashes of vocabulary coming from this bright little thing.

"Yeah. It's a perfectly good word. Sharing somebody else's misfortune. In a month, that'll be over. Susan 'n' Jason will be married, and if they live through the honeymoon, they'll be just like US."

"She's gonna kill 'im," I laughed.

"She certainly IS looking forward to it," Cindy said. "We've talked..."

"You talked with Susan about sex?"

"Me an' her an' Tina. Didn't want her scared. 'Sides, her mom gave her The Talk. You gotta know that Mizz Kathy wants her daughter happy. And we didn't get graphic."

"I'm just amazed at their self-control, that's all."

Giggle. "Maybe she needs dinner and a thunderstorm."

"That'd REALLY kill 'im! Almost did ME in!"

"Did not" she laughed. "You were scared and I was scared but we were like two magnets. It was gonna happen sooner or later. I know you thought about leaving before something happened, but I know you couldn't, either, because..."

She was right. We'd talked. "Because you were so utterly charming and fascinating and I'd already decided that I was going to take care of you as long as I could while I was there."

"And that's sort of how Susan is about Jason. She's gonna take care of HIM."

"And that's a good thing, Cindy. If they can only get a little bit of the happiness I have with you, they'll be rich."

"I think they're gonna be good, guy," she said. "Like us."

We continued talking until we pulled into Alan's driveway, joining the others. The 'joining' started before I killed the engine as a swarm of cuties streamed out the door and enveloped Cindy, squealing and laughing.

We all quickly ended up inside where we paired up and let the conversations flow. I had to pay attention to a couple at a time as we all talked at once. It reminded me of happy family Christmases of my youth.

Dan commented that he thought Cindy was growing. I'd noted that earlier myself. Tina jumped in on that thought, and in a flash Cindy and Tina were standing almost nose to nose in their bare feet, checking height.

"I AM getting taller," she announced.

"Almost an inch," Tina countered.

"I'm still a dwarf," Cindy said, pouting her bottom lip out.

"Pixie," I said. "Not a dwarf, a pixie!"

Alan got Nikki and Susan to join Cindy and Tina for pictures. He'd snapped a few when we heard the sound of a car in the driveway, and the whole bunch of them headed out the door again.

"They're like a flock of ducks," I laughed. "If one goes, they ALL go."

They all trooped right back in, carrying the makings of lunch, trailed by a guy I assumed was Alan's brother-in-law. He was carrying a huge stock pot, and headed straight into the kitchen, then came out for introductions.

Twenty minutes of more conversation and then we did the "Cajun family gathering" protocol for lunch. That's serving yourself from the pot on the stove, balancing a bowl and a drink and conversation and everything else. Elise's gumbo was GOOD! And I know good gumbo. We laughed about recipes and the perils of eating gumbo off the menu in restaurants, and we laughed when Susan discovered that a Cajun seafood gumbo contains, along with other marine life, yep!, MORE oysters. And more giggles and a little ribald laughter.

We could've lingered in the situation for hours, but Alan and Tina had plans to bring Susan to meet her future in-laws, Jason's parents.

I actually felt reluctant to leave the group, but we all bade good-bye, promised that EVERYBODY, including Elise and Joe, were going to show up at my sister's house in two weeks for a crawfish boil. I was thinking it was going to be a riot.

We drove back to the house, recounting conversations to each other, because with THAT crowd, neither of us caught everything. We met Tootie at the house, secured the place, and let her bring us back to the airfield. On a Sunday afternoon, we caught Hanna and Greg there. We laughed, talked about Cindy's prowess as a pilot, Greg and I watched Hanna and Cindy disappear for a half-hour flight in the Extra while he and I talked.

I called Tootie. "Can we add a couple more to the list? I'm bringing Greg and Hanna."

"Isn't he the guy at the airport? Your buddy? His wife is German?"

"Yep! But she's acclimated. Does crawfish."

"We'll cover it!"

I turned to Greg. "You're in! But stop lettin' Cindy loose with your wife. I'm gonna end up with an Extra!"

He laughed. "I know where you can get a neat little Decathlon for a good price!" The Decathlon was a decent entry-level aerobatic airplane.

"Don't you say a WORD!" I laughed.

We heard the radio reporting our wives five minutes out, on the way in, and I smiled as the little red plane taxied up. Hanna had her hands in the air, telling us that Cindy was controlling the plane. When the engine stopped, Cindy bounced off the wing and skipped into my arms. Hanna was right behind her.

"Dan," Hanna said, "She is brave. She wanted me to let HER do the flying."

"I LOOPED it!" Cindy squealed. "And ROLLED it."

Her enthusiasm just reinforced my thoughts that there just might be a aerobatic plane in our future.

Amid hugs and handshakes on the airport ramp, we finally departed. I don't even want to tell you who was in the pilot's seat.

Once we were on the heading home, gaining altitude in an easy cruise-climb, she turned to me. "Okay, I got my fix, baby!"

"I'm glad. I invited Greg and Hanna to the crawfish boil, while you were up making holes in the sky."

"Really! Great! I like Hanna. Her accent makes me smile. But she can FLY!"

"That's what Greg says."

"She laughs. Says he wasted his time on helicopters!"

"I'll have to remember that one," I laughed.

And in four hours we were home. Stopped by the park office to see Helen and Charlie. Caught them up on our weekend, and then we went to the trailer and put it back on 'we live here' footing.

I was shoving the last of our empty bags into a storage cabinet when I heard "Dan, baby..."

I looked up. She was sitting on the end of our bed, taking off her shoes. "Wanna test another one of those oysters?"

Chapter 59

We slid easily back into the routine of daily life. Cindy was back in school on a final slide to graduation.

"Dan," she said, "I collected a few students that the teachers will let me work with to help them get along in math. It gives me something to do. And I spend a little time in the computer lab, too."

"Doing what? I asked. Cindy was computer-literate. MORE than computer-literate. She knew quite a bit about what was under the hood. After her foray into programming the control simulator at the project, she tagged me about the idea of programming in general, so we played with that a bit.

"I see something," Cindy said. She looked at me.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Like when Mister Philip showed me how to program on the simulator. Naming things, then performing operations. Looking at inputs and evaluating them. This is the same."

"It is," I said. In my mind, I noted how many people had to go through months of schooling to make that little connection. I smiled.

"Oh, come on, baby," she said. "It's obvious."

"Not to everybody, little one," I said. "Matter of fact, not to MOST people. You pick up on things a lot faster than normal people."

It was true. I saw more and more of it each day. Sometimes it scared me. I was not without experience in working around some powerful minds in my past, but here I was married to one who was fourteen, and with every passing day I saw more of what she was.

She smiled, her green eyes soft and happy. Any misapprehension I held was washed away.

"You're thinking too hard again, aren't you, baby?" she asked.

"I guess," I said sheepishly.

"Stop that," she said. "It's supposed to be fun!"

"What's supposed to be fun?"

"Life," she said. "School's like nothing I ever imagined it to be."

We'd been talking about that. Jim and Ann had given their views, too, as Cindy approached the end of her eighth year of school AND her high school graduation. "What's new with that?" I asked.

"I try to keep out of the way when I go to class, but so many people want to talk to me about graduating. It's silly. I guess a lot of 'em still think that I know some special trick that got me into this position." She sighed, cute face looking a bit sad. "I feel bad for 'em, really. What kind of benefit could you get from some trick that gets you through school? I mean, isn't the whole idea to learn?"

"Not to some people, baby. Some of 'em just want to do their time and get a piece of paper and then whatever job they can work. Some of them will pick up skills along the way, others will forever be at the bottom rung of one ladder or another."

"But still..." she started.

"And remember, you're talking about eighth graders."

She bumped her hip against my thigh. "That's a good point. Some of 'em will get a clue between now and high school graduation."

"I'm glad you got a clue when you turned fourteen."

Giggle. "I had this special guy pick me up and put me on the path to the stars, Dan."

"This guy fell in love with you, that's all. And when I started finding out how smart you are, it was just a happy extra."

She smiled broadly, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me. "Are you up for dinner with the Hardesty's?"

"You apparently talked with Jim," I said.

"Yep. He says they have a bodacious casserole and salad lined up for dinner. He said bring your guitar. And me. But if you have to choose one, bring me!" She grinned.

I couldn't stand it any longer. The grin put me over the edge. I swept her up in my arms, her giggles a melody in my ears.

She planted a kiss on my lips. "We have time for a power cuddle before we go, but we should hold off the rest until we get back home. No sense going over there smelling like an orgy," she said. "I admire your sense of propriety and decorum," I said. "Still..." I carried her to the bed at the end of the trailer and softly laid her down. Her arms were still around my neck and she pulled me down with her, a not unpleasant thing at all.

We kissed and hugged playfully for a while, whispering the kinds of things to each other that marked the happy way we fit together. I can't help it. Nine months of having Cindy in my arms and I still do not tire of the sight of those green eyes and that breathy little sigh when our kisses break. And she knows that a nip on my ear causes ME to disintegrate in her arms.

Her hand slid down past my belt and her fingers closed over the mound pushing against my khaki work pants. "Ooooo," she squealed. "If I had only a tiny bit less self-restraint I'd be unzipping you right now."

I kissed her.

Giggle. "That's enough. I get a little bit of it." Her fingers worked the zipper down as she pushed me onto my back, then her fingers went inside the open fly, fishing my erection out.

My breath caught as her lips encircled me and I was lost. Gone. The world ceased to exist but for indescribable pleasures, one of which was the red head bobbing at my groin. "Baby," I gasped, "I'm not gonna be able to take much of THAT!" The "THAT" was squeezed from my lips in response to a particularly efficacious nip.

Her head came up, her lips releasing my dick with an audible pop. "Now that's the point, guy!" A suck. "I love being able to make YOU lose yourself, Mister Always in Control." Her head went back down, tongue swirling. All I could do was stroke that pretty head as she did what she knew would push me over the edge.

It happened, just as she planned, and just as I dreamed. Her fingers played with my taut scrotum, gently tugging, rolling my balls, as I pulsed my orgasm into her eager mouth. I honestly don't know what dimension I was in as she giggled satisfaction with her success.

Finally she released me from her mouth and gently tucked my now-flaccid dick back into my pants. After zipping me back up, she climbed on top of me, resting her chin on her folded arms.

"So when are we gonna go look at our new building?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

I stuttered, "You little THING! You just turned me inside out, and you ask me about THAT?"

"Sorry." Smile. One quick kiss. Then a second, longer, soft, searching. "Better?"

"Better. And maybe if I can get you out of school Wednesday."

"Not like they're gonna teach me anything else this year..."

"We can see what Jim thinks, baby, but I need to get up there and look at the building and report to the rest of the gang."

"The pictures look good," she said.

Susan's mom had seen to it that we had an extensive set of photos starting with the construction, up to and including the bare walls, and we had drawings from the architect. Those had circulated and been the subject of several conference calls. We had numbers for the purchase process. Still, there's nothing like walking the place out yourself.

"One more kiss and then we'll go," I said. "We'll talk in the truck."

Took several more than ONE kiss. I was still feeling pleasant twinges as I stood up.

Leaving the park we waved at Mizz Helen and Judge Charlie.

"She's almost as excited about me graduating as I am," Cindy said. "And Mister Charlie ... Why couldn't I have a parent like that? Or a grandparent? I missed so much..."

"If you had, little one, then you wouldn't be sitting here beside me right now. What we live through is some of what makes us what we are."

She wrapped her arms around my bicep. "My husband, the engineer-philosopher."

"My wife, a bundle of everything a man could ever wish for, and then some." Yes, I realize that some people would think "Yuck! Too mushy!" But those people would be just somehow wrong. What's mush to some is perfectly correct and appropriate and happy to two people in love.

Yes, I remember being like this when I was married before, but with Cindy beside me, it was almost like life before Cindy was in monochrome.

She reached for the stereo. "What'd you listen to today while I was gone?" A Mozart clarinet concerto came rushing out. "Oh, I LIKE this one," she smiled as she punched the buttons to restart the piece at its beginning. "Especially this part coming up!"

We drove along. "Baby," she asked, "Don't you think they'll have some good music programs around Auburn?"

"I certainly hope so," I said.

"We'll find out. And they'll see us ALL the time." She had a satisfied smile on her face. "And kayaks. Nikki said we need kayaks!"

"Oh yeah," I laughed. "Mozart and kayaks. What else does Mizz Nikki have to say?"

Giggle. "She says she really likes Debussy for lazing around in the afterglow. Says her Dan hasn't complained about her choices in music."

"I can only imagine." I could imagine. My namesake's young wife was a cutie, and from his conversations, more than a bit like my redheaded angel in intelligence. Was I surprised? Damn right I was surprised. My life had been one surprise after another since the first time that young redheaded cutie walked up to me at the pool and started talking.

"Oh, you might NOT be able to imagine. She can cook, too. I'm looking forward to us being neighbors so I can learn from her."

"I'd be able to teach you more if we had a real kitchen," I sighed.

"That's something we need to attend to, baby, when we look at the building. Our new apartment. Gotta have a good kitchen." Her eyes lit up, the tip of her tongue protruding from between her lips, a harbinger of a memorable comment, I'd learned.

"And a shower. Big, RECREATIONAL shower."

We were a block away from the Hardesty house. "Okay," I laughed, "Now let me get the image of a naked, soapy Cindy out of my mind so we can meet our friends."

"You can't do that, and you know it," she giggled. "Just like me. You don't know how often I close my eyes during the day and think of all the ways WE have together. People wonder while I smile so much."

"I know I smile more since Cindy came into MY life," I said. "You're my happiness, little one."

When we pulled into the Hardesty's drive, Teresa and Billy were tossing a softball at each other. Billy was more of a baseball type, but Teresa played on a girl's softball team and it was that time of the year. I waved my hand at Billy when he caught Teresa's pitch.

"Okay, Mister Dan," he said, tossing me a lobbing ball.

I caught it with one hand. Lots of days playing ball were behind me. I might've not gone out for the teams, but young boys in the South cannot escape learning to catch a ball, at least not when I was a kid. I tossed it underhanded to Teresa.

"Wow, Cin," she chirped. "You married an athlete!"

Cindy giggled. "First time I ever saw 'im do that."

Teresa turned and walked with us to the door, opening it and hollering, "Mom! Dad! Cindy 'n' Mister Dan are here!"

"I'm in the kitchen," Ann said loudly.

"I'm comin'," Cindy said. She and Teresa headed back to help with the meal prep as Jim worked his way into the living room with a beer in each hand.

"You look thirsty," Jim said.

"I got you a case in the truck, buddy," I said. "I can't be freeloading all my life."

"It's worth a beer or two just for the conversation," he said. "Cindy tell you about what we talked about today?"

"Nope, what'd you talk about?" Cindy's relationship with Jim was such that she often waited until HE explained some event or idea having to do with her education. I assumed this was no different.

"We'll wait until she's back in here, then." He looked at my face. "Oh, don't get concerned. You KNOW Cindy. It's a GOOD thing."

"I suppose so," I said. "I just wonder how surprising it's going to be. I never know with Cindy."

"You know about the proctored testing we did with her last month, right?"

"Yeah," I said. "Auburn wanted her to do that. She was laughing about some of it, concerned about some of the other parts."

"You told her that the results of those tests, no matter how unsuccessful she was, wouldn't change her status with those people, right?"

"Yeah, but how would YOU feel?"

He laughed easily. "I won't worry about how I would feel. I ain't Cindy. She exists in a different universe from mine. Anyway..."

"Are y'all talking about me, Mister Jim?" she asked as she walked into the room. Ann was behind her.

"Got about another fifteen minutes until the casserole comes out of the oven. Cindy says she and Jim have some news."

Teresa was there with them. She was smiling. "Cin, you're gonna make me more jealous, ain't you?"

"I'm sorry, Teresa," Cindy said.

"'S okay," Teresa said. "You're just blessed in a way that's hard to understand sometime."

"I know," Cindy said. "You know how many kids think I found some trick to get out of school."

"Lot of 'em," Teresa said. "Dad, you know about some of that, don't you?"

"I've heard some talk," Jim answered. "And I've answered some questions from kids AND teachers. But Cindy's genuine. No scam there."

"Enough," Ann said. "What's the news you two are keeping from us?"

Cindy had her 'this is gonna be GOOD!' smirk at full volume. "I'm gonna let Mister Jim say it."

"Okay, then," Jim said. "More phone calls and emails and stuff from Auburn. Cindy's been on phone interviews and Skype interviews and I agreed to keep my mouth shut as long as it looked to me like we weren't keeping disagreeable news from anybody. But it's GOOD news, and it's time that we let you know, Dan."

I looked at Cindy, perched on my knee, and then at Jim. "Okay, this sounds bigger than the news that she's sitting on the podium at the high school graduation. Let me have it."

Jim drew a breath. "They say that she can't be classified like a standard college student, Dan. It was bad enough that she was precocious enough to graduate from high school at fourteen, but they're talking about some rarified atmosphere of intelligence and how it interfaces with traditional academia."

"What's that mean?" I asked.

"It means that she and I have talked to Doctor Stebbins and Mizz Patel at Auburn, and some other people, and those tests she took, and the interviews, well, Dan, your wife doesn't fit in as a standard college freshman."

Cindy was glowing now. "You don't have any idea how hard it's been to keep from spilling the beans, baby," she said. "I'm all over the place from those tests and the interviews. They want you to bring me up there so they can play with me for a week."

"Play with you?" I asked.

"Yeah," Jim said. "You've heard of prodigies that get degrees at absurdly young ages, right?"

"I thought they were almost like fairy tales."

"Dan Richards, let me introduce Cindy Smith-Richards, who is apparently a fairy. All she needs is wings and a wand."

"How old were you when you got YOUR degree, Dan?" Ann asked.

"Twenty-two."

"I was, too. So was Jim." That's the standard way. And if Cindy was to do the four-year route through college, she'd be eighteen. Jim says she might not make sixteen without a degree."

"B-but..." I stammered.

"They say we don't know what questions to ask 'er." Jim breathed deeply. "I can't come up with an analogy. Doctor Stebbins told me that it's like if Lord Nelson had met the USS Missouri at Trafalgar."

"But she's so ... normal!" I blurted.

Teresa, normally polite and reticent when it came to her and Cindy, couldn't contain herself. "Uh, Mom, Dad, Mister Dan, listen to yourselves. I'm the one that says she's NOT normal." She smiled at Cindy. "An' I mean it in the BEST way, Cindy. But you ... you're good to everybody an' nice and polite an' helpful, but look at yourself. Who's teaching remedial math at school? Cindy! And she probably didn't tell you that she's helped her math teacher working on her masters, did she?"

Cindy smiled sheepishly. "I didn't think it was that big a deal. It was easy stuff and she just needed a little bump to get over some sticky parts."

Jim shook his head. Ann looked amused. Me? What's 'flabbergasted' supposed to look like?

"Master's level math, Dan. She's helping a TEACHER with master's level math," Jim said. "But I know what you're saying. Remember me saying that I studied prodigies for my master's?"

"Yeah, I remember you telling me that, early on," I said.

"Then you understand that I do know a bit about the subject. I know that it's not unusual for gifted kids to have personality disorders. But it's also not unheard of for them to be, as you said, 'normal', either. You got a good one."

"Thank you, Mister Jim," Cindy said.

"You need to know that he don't just come out an toss compliments around easy, Cindy," Teresa added.

"Teresa, you're my bright, beautiful daughter. I'm a proud dad."

"Thank you, Daddy," she said brightly. "But it doesn't count if I have to say something."

"Okay," Jim laughed. "I owe you a compliment, then."

"But what's next for Cindy?" Ann interrupted.

"Next week or two, they want to see her at Auburn," Jim said. "I'll email you the numbers in the morning so you can set things up. You just gotta know that she's going to be interviewed by a staff psychologist as well as department people in a bunch of disciplines."

I started getting defensive. "I'm not letting anyone treat my Cindy like a lab specimen."

"Oh, I'll be a lab specimen, sweetie," Cindy said. "But you know I KNOW how to say 'Stop!", too. Department people? What're they gonna do? I mean, I'm FOURTEEN! They won't bite me. The only one that has me kind of antsy is that psychologist."

"Well, I won't be far away, that is, if they won't let me sit in," I said.

"You know they probably want to talk to Cindy by herself," Jim said. "But they know what they're doing."

I wasn't totally convinced and when I comes to Cindy, I'm defensive. After all, she's my everything.

From the kitchen the sound of a timer chime rang out.

"Dinner," Ann said. "Teresa, get your brother."

Teresa got up and as she passed Cindy, she grinned. "Jealous, Cindy! I'm jealous!"

I think we'd all have been a lot more concerned had that statement NOT been accompanied by a huge grin from Teresa and a protruding pink tongue from Cindy.

'Get your brother' involved opening the front door and hollering loudly, "Billyyyyyyy! Dinnertime!" and a muffled response, followed shortly by Billy tumbling through the door in that manner common to active pre-teen boys everywhere.

"Go wash your hands, son," Jim said.

A few minutes later we were seated at the family table, heads bowed, Ann's meal a tribute to the diligence that some working moms put into keeping the family out of fast food joints. We managed to keep table conversation light, what with Billy's exploits in youth baseball and Teresa starting to excel at clarinet.

Having a mom who narrowly dodged a career as a concert musician helped that angle. Once on the subject of music, the idea of yet another concert at the RV park came up.

"Tell Mizz Helen to put the notice up," Jim said. "We won't get a chance to do this once y'all move away."

"It's an hour, at worst an hour and a half drive from Auburn to here," I said. "We can still come down."

"You better," Ann stated. "We got used to enjoying those things. And the pastor wants us to do a Sunday afternoon on the church grounds, too, ever since he determined you didn't have horns and a pointy tail."

Cindy smirked. "I offered to wear a mini-skirt to church..."

"Oh, there's some girls that DO that," Teresa said. "Looks terrible. Just not right. And YOU ain't like THAT!"

"I know," Cindy said, "But some people seem to think that since Dan and I are married, I must be..."

"Oh, I heard that talk," Teresa said. This was the first time I'd heard HER admit it. "And I TOLD 'em that YOU weren't like that at all!"

Cindy looked at Ann. "Can Teresa be my adopted little sister?"

We didn't stay late after dinner. After Teresa and Cindy tended to clearing the dishes, we all talked a bit in the living room before Cindy and I headed for our home.

"The Hardesty's are a really good part of life, aren't they, baby?" Cindy said.

"Yes, they are. I can't see letting them slip out of our lives, little one," I answered.

She folded her arms on her chest. "We won't. I'm serious. You said we could come down every month or so. I plan on holding you to that."

"You get to say, baby," I said. "Now, about you and Jim keeping things from me..."

She unfolded her arms and grasped my bicep, snuggling against me. "You know I'd never keep something from you that would hurt you ... US. I just wanted to see how this stuff unfolded. I talked to Mister Jim a lot about all this stuff."

"You wanna try to do that next week?" I asked.

"Yes! The sooner, the better. That thing you're working on, can you..."

"I'm writing specifications for a client, baby. It's all on my laptop, and I can do some of that while I'm waiting on you, and I am a lot further along than I need to be to meet their deadline."

"Good," she said. "We're off on a new adventure, then." She started punching through the playlist on the stereo, finding something that she knew we both liked, and we finished the trip with her head on my shoulder. I could feel her humming along with the music. Serene. I was almost reluctant to pull into the slot by our trailer.

However, my attitude changed when she got in the door, kissed me, and said one word, "Showers!", because that was like a programmer calling up a subroutine, a whole set of instructions that ran until completion with one word, and when Cindy said 'Shower!' like that, I knew that at the end of the evening, we'd both be drained.

I was right. We ended up in the center of the bed, both naked, her long legs wrapped around me, her butt in my lap, her pussy impaled by my hardness. We locked our mouths together for some minutes, relishing the coupling that far surpassed a mere act of sex. Cindy and I connected.

'Mated' was her word. "We can make love. Sometimes we get crazy, and I understand what it means to fuck. But it's me an' you, Dan, and through it all, we just MATE. You are the part that I need to be me, the way I'm s'posed to be." She'd delivered that little soliloquy early in our relationship, when I was still worried sick about jail. And she delivered on her word.

But, ohhhh, the method of that delivery! Naked, freshly bathed, hair a bit of shiny perfection, and genuinely excited by the act of physical love, Cindy was the partner that even my vivid sexually crazed teenaged mind could never have imagined. She was a combination of exuberance, physical beauty, adventure and intelligence that I never imagined, at least not in the scales where she measured.

We were sitting there, mutually sated after two of HER orgasms and one of mine. That sweet, smiling face turned upward to mine.

"Dan, I love you."

"I soooo much love YOU, angel," I said.

"Me being as intelligent as they seem to think, does that make me, like, a freak? Do you ... are you sure you love me?" There was a little worry in those green eyes.

"Angel, I started loving you when you were just a worried little middle school student. And I loved you. And I loved you more with each day that passed. When I found out every day that you were smarter than I imagined, I loved you even more. And now, I adore you in ways that I can't find words to describe, and no, you're not a freak. You're my completely perfect and unique and unimaginably desirable Cindy, my wife, and if I said 'forever' back last autumn, I still mean 'forever' today.

The worry went away in a glimmer. "And you just hang on, then, Dan Richards. We're getting' ready to show the world something...

Chapter 60

Cindy's turn:

I sort of felt bad about keeping that information from Dan, but I wanted to make sure it WAS news. He says I'm sandbagging sometimes, holding the best stuff back. I don't do it intentionally.

He made a big deal about me helping Mizz Crockett with her math stuff. I have to admit that it was strange at first. Mizz Crockett is my math teacher. Middle school math. Gets all the way up into entry-level algebra. That's about it. This school year, before Christmas, she gave up having to teach me anything ... And she's been using me to help kids that want help. Kind of like a teachers' aide.

I enjoy it, mostly. And I get some good friends out of it. Kaylee Spears is one of them. She was pretty stuck up at the beginning of the year, but then I helped 'er over a rough spot and got her caught up and now she's my friend. Her Dad's a lawyer and her mom works at the bank, and they're kind of friends with me and Dan, too.

It was just about as interesting when I had a couple of the athletes, you know, football and basketball players. Even in middle school, those guys are angling for spots on high school teams and they need grades to play. And when math's a problem and Mizz Crockett's buried trying to get her whole class through the curriculum, she asked if I minded trying.

I wish I could say that I turned them into 'A' students, but I didn't. I did get enough through to keep 'em on their teams and when you got the athletes on your side in school, bullying and picking is not a problem.

It was funny, though, when Mizz Crockett asked if I was interested in seeing some of the course-work for one of the math classes she was getting ready to take. She's working on her masters' degree. I was curious, naturally. It was interesting. I mean, where I was in math, we used the normal symbols like pluses and minuses and stuff. I knew about the signs for roots and absolutes because Dan showed me those. But then she started showing me Greek letters like sigma and theta and things like that.

"I think this is what they're doing with this," she said, explaining sigma. And I swear, it was like all of a sudden I just understood. Some of it is like that. It's like you're looking at 1 + 1 = 2, and you think, well, silly, what else WOULD it be?

But I thought that, well, maybe it was hard for some people, but surely Dan could do this stuff just like I could. Mizz Crockett, though, at first it was like she wanted me to just look at what she was doing, but then I saw that when she was asking questions, she was asking me to explain what I could understand about some of the problems in her books, I was actually TEACHING her.

Then she admitted it to me. Of course, this was after Mister Jim had announced the plans for me to graduate from high school. She went with me to his office.

"Jim," she said, "you need to know something about Mizz Cindy."

Yes, it was "Mizz", not "Miss", because the whole school knew I was married, too.

Mister Jim looked at me kind of funny. "Uh, is it something BAD?"

"Oh, no, Jim. Cindy's..." she took a deep breath. How do you tell one of your peers that you're being tutored on your masters' program by one of your students? "Cindy's teaching me advanced math. Calculus. Trig. You name it."

Mister Jim looked amused. "Seriously?" He looked at me. "Cindy? What do YOU say?"

"Mister Jim, she taught ME! She showed me how to read those funny symbols and what they meant, and the rest, it's ... it's just the way it's supposed to ... it's GOTTA be that way."

Mister Jim looked at Mizz Crockett. She laid one of her books on his desk and opened it to the bookmarked page. He looked, then he whistled a long, low note. He looked at me. "Cindy Richards, you UNDERSTAND this stuff?"

I nodded.

"Okay. When the bell rings for next hour, can you come by and talk with me?"

"Am I in trouble?" I asked.

He smiled at me. "Oh, come on, Cindy. You don't get in trouble for knowing math. The universe might be in trouble, but you're not. I just want to talk with you a little about this and see where we can go with it."

"Honestly, Jim," Mizz Crockett said, "she's ... I just wish I could do like that."

That's the day we started with the next level. When I showed up at his office, he and I talked.

"Cindy, I knew you were smart. Everybody does. Even the people at Auburn. But this ... this is above where I thought you might be. Do you mind if we call those folks at Auburn and talk to them?"

I shook my head and said 'no'.

"Do you wanna bring Dan in?"

"Not right now, Mister Jim. This is gonna put me UP the ladder, if it works out, huh?"

"Yes, it's gonna put you up the ladder. They might just throw the ladder away."

I smiled. I liked where this conversation was heading. "Then let's not get Dan involved until we know something for sure. I don't mind surprising him if it's gonna be a happy surprise.

Mister Jim sent me back to class that day and the next day he caught me first thing in the morning. "Come by my office after first period. We're going to talk to some people at Auburn. The math department and the engineering department."

Poor Dan. He didn't suspect a thing. We did our normal stuff. In the early evening he was reading and I was messing around on the computer. I did my regular Skype with the sisterhood and we both talked with Tootie for a while. He talked with Alan. And all the while he was doing that, I was looking at on-line courses in advanced math.

I did ask Dan about his old college books. He said they were either sold long ago or stored in boxes at our house back in Louisiana. "OUR house," he said without hesitation. He asked me what I was interested in and I told him that I was playing with some coursework on line.

Of course you should know that this didn't interfere with the rest of our lives. I LOVE Dan. I love being loved by Dan and I love having friends and laughing and talking and listening to music and enjoying food and flying, but sometimes I can close my eyes and replay some of those math ideas, too. I don't know if other people do that. How do you ask somebody about that?

Mister Jim and I did a lot of talking over the next couple of weeks with people at Auburn. We even Skyped with some of them. I spent an hour with a man from the mathematics department. He kept asking me questions and and they kept getting harder and harder and I kept trying.

"That's not the way most people look at that problem," he said after I sort of sweated on one, explaining what I thought.

Mister Jim was silent.

"I'm sorry, Doctor Wilkins," I said. "But you must understand that I learned this stuff here in my middle school."

"Miss Richards," he said, "most people do not learn this material at all. Mathematics majors learn it, but they explain it very differently from the method you used. I am very surprised hearing this come from somebody who hasn't been in college for several years."

After that session, I asked Mister Jim why he hadn't participated. He laughed. "Cindy, I can participate in a lot of different things, but when you and Doctor Wilkins were discussing those problems, I was completely, totally lost."

That's when I really started understanding that I was different. Before, it was just that I was doing things that everybody did, just a few years sooner. Now I was seeing that just maybe there were things I could do that ... I tried explaining that feeling to Mister Jim.

"Cindy, yes, I see what you're saying," he said. "We really need to let Dan in on this stuff."

And by the time we got Dan in to talk, Auburn wanted meetings. Dan was at a place in his work that we could spend a week there. And when Dan said we could go, Mister Jim made the phone calls.

When the school day was over, we had dinner with Mister Jim and Mizz Ann and Teresa and Billy.

By the time we got home, I found out about yet another development. We were riding home in our truck and my cellphone started sounding off with the sound that I gave to Tina. I popped it up and looked. There's a picture of Alan and Tina and this little blonde girl, and the email says, "Congratulations! You're an aunt. You need to meet Terri."

I showed the screen to Dan. "Who's the little blonde girl?"

"My new niece. Well, I guess she not NEW, but I just found out that she's coming to live with Alan and Tina."

"I need to talk to Alan, I guess," Dan said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Sweetie," he sighed, "I know that Alan has a responsibility to his daughter. I just wonder if that's going to change our business plans."

"I don't see how," I said. "Don't you think that his daughter will fit in with us? I see us as four families, you and me, Nikki and her Dan, Jason and Susan, and the new, improved, Alan and Tina, now with an extra Terri!"

My love laughed. "That's a totally Cindy way of looking at things," he said.

"Oh, don't worry, baby! We, me and my sisters, we'll talk. But looking at this text, can't you SEE the 'happy'?"

"I'm sure here's plenty of 'happy' there, little one. But a man has to make plans in his life to take care of who he loves, and I worry that Alan's plans may change with Terri in the picture."

"Then you need to call 'im," I said. "But I'm thinking that right now Tina is figuring out a way for Terri to fit into OUR plans." I giggled. "I never had a little sister. Or a niece. D'ya know she's only six years younger than I am?"

"Second grade?" Dan asked.

"I think so. She's been subject of conversation before. You know, we DO talk about our husbands and what we know about them. And Tina's already spent time with Terri. Likes 'er."

"That's good. I still need to talk with Alan, though."

I know my Dan. He cares about people. Alan was his friend, and he was thinking about what Alan might be thinking. Still, he's MY Dan, and I get to say things to him. "Just be supportive. Like you are with me!"

"No other way to be, sweetness," he told me.

As soon as we got to our trailer, he got on the phone.

"Hey, Alan, how's things?" he said into the phone. Pause. "Yep! News travels fast. Cindy showed me pictures!" Pause. "Uh-huh." Pause. "So I'm the SECOND one to call you?" Pause. "Okay. I'm just trying to be supportive here." Pause. "Yeah, I was wondering that." He paused for a while. "Look, I understand that things can change." Pause. "Uh-huh! I already got the 'This is NEW and this is different and it's gonna be GOOD!' from the little redhead sitting next to me." Pause. "Yeah, well you KNOW we'll help in any way we can." Pause. "By the way, if you haven't heard the 'Cindy' version of the story, next week she's going to Auburn for some interviews and evaluations. They want a longer look at 'er." Pause. "Yeah. Masters' level math. You know, the stuff that used to make me wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat." Pause. "Okay buddy! Whatever you need! Talk to you later!" Dan punched his phone off and stuck it back in the holster.

I smiled. "So now what do you think?"

"Just like you said. He's already lining up things. Susan and Tina are excited. You're excited. Nikki's excited. And plans haven't changed, other than they'll need an extra bedroom."

"Well, while I'm at Auburn next week, we can do a 'feet on the ground' look at our new building. Maybe Tina and Terri an' Alan can come down and see it." I knew we'd done a lot of sending pictures back and forth between four different families. Yes, I counted Jason and Susan as a family, okay?

"You can try setting that up, but next week might be short notice. Tina and Alan aren't going to be quite as flexible now that they have Terri."

I smiled. My sisters would have this figured out. "Let me send an email," I said.

"Okay," he answered.

I picked up my laptop and booted it up. A lot of people don't know what to do with the time between the time you push the 'on' button and the time it's ready to use. I don't have that problem. I set the computer aside and slid over to Dan for some recreational snuggling.

He chuckled when, after just REALLY kissing and cuddling, I pulled away and said "Email!"

Opening the mail program, I saw several from the gang, including some more from Tina and Susan with a lot of pictures attached.

I tapped out my message before I opened up theirs, then Dan and I browsed through the pictures.

"They look happy, cutie," he said.

"I think so." Maybe I'm an optimist now. I wasn't last summer. I was living every day knowing that things weren't good and that they could get a lot worse and I woke up every day wondering if this was the day things went completely 'wonky'. That's Dan's word, 'wonky'. He also says 'off track' a lot. Dan's an engineer and the first time he used 'off track' in a conversation I said, "Track? That's the wrong kind of engineer, huh?" I worried every day that Mom would come home all beat up again, worse this time, or even worse, she wouldn't come home at all, or that she'd bring home some guy who'd make a real move on me.

Then Dan came along. I remember walking to the pool that day in late July and seeing him swimming, and how I almost turned around. Weekdays in the summer, I either had the pool to myself or there were couples there, sometimes with kids. And there were no couples and this guy was in the pool, just swimming back and forth, pretty serious about it.

I really was going to leave, but I don't think I ever saw somebody swimming like he was, and I watched, and he surprised me when he hit the end of the pool and instead of turning, he just popped up and said "Hi!" in that way I've seen him do so many times since we met. He has a way with people, making them feel comfortable.

I saw the smile and the blue eyes for the first time and he looked so, I don't know, FRIENDLY, so I said 'hi' back. "Do you mind if I swim too?" I asked. And that's how a friendship started, just this decent guy swimming with me. Then talking after we finished swimming, and he started out with the weather and how old I was and what I did this summer and I asked what he did for a living.

When he said 'engineer', I started asking a lot of questions and he tried giving simple answers and I kept digging and he stopped talking to me like I was a kid.

Now he's made me an optimist, at least about some things. Sometimes we see things and he just shakes his head and says 'entropy'. That was a lesson the first time I heard him say it. How many people talk to a thirteen year old girl about entropy and the Laws of Thermodynamics? Dan did, because I kept asking questions and underneath that 'engineer' hat he wears, Dan's a really good teacher. I saw that on the job with him. People come ask him things just so he can explain in that way he has.

But me and Dan and our circle? That's one of those eddies in the vast system of entropy, as Dan told me, where local conditions appear to reverse entropy. And here we were with Tina's step-daughter Terri, and you could look at her face and know this was going to be good.

Dan put his arm around my shoulder. "Well, little one, I hope you're right about this, too."

My Dan was worried. I can help with that a little. I put the computer aside and slid over onto his lap. This is a move known to get me encircled by a pair of strong arms, and when I turn my face up just a little, I get to look into those cool blue eyes. Kissing range. I know that at the first touch of his lips to mine, the world recedes waaaay off into the distance.

His sigh when our lips finally separate tells me that he's as far away as I am, and wherever that is, we're there together.

"You know, guy," I said softly, "I need to take a shower. Then we can pick this conversation up at the other end of the trailer." The other end of the trailer held a queen-sized bed that we regularly work out on.

"One more of these," he said. His lips met mine. Long, loving, hot.

We finished the week with no more than the normal happy bits of life. Thursday we had dinner with Mizz Helen and Mister Charlie. Friday I got home before Dan and had potatoes in the oven, baking. When he came in, he fired up the grill and did us a couple of little filets, and we added a salad, then had a walk around the park in the waning light.

There were six trailers still in the park besides ours, snowbirds sticking out a bit longer before Alabama got too hot. We expected a few more visitors for the weekend, and that was good. The flyer was up for our concert on Saturday evening and we got stopped a couple of times to chat with people enjoying the evening. It was a little chilly for an Alabama girl like me, but for somebody from upstate New York, it was "quite nice" according to one sweet lady sipping coffee with her husband.

We thought so too.

On the 'Terri' front at Alan and Tina's, this was the weekend that Tina's family was trading living spaces with Jason. Jason's little two-bedroom apartment would make do for Alan and Tina and Terri for a couple of months until they could move into the new building in Alabama. Jason was moving into Alan's trailer, not a big deal since he lived by himself except for the time that Susan was over there.

Susan tells me she doesn't go to Jason's place very often. She says it's just a little too easy to get carried away, and she promised herself and her parents that she was a virgin and would be until her wedding night. "But I'm liable to kill both of us then," she giggled to me.

I think that's admirable of her, and the fact that Jason's willing to wait says a lot to me about him. It wasn't an option for me. I was crazy about Dan. He explained so carefully about how we couldn't get married because I was too young, but I pretty much understood that before we connected. I determined that he was a man of honor and sincerity and I took just a tiny bit of advantage of him. I know. I'm bad for that. But the outcome is good. We ARE a couple, a MARRIED couple. Of all the things I've had or done in my life (I know! Dan says "But you're FOURTEEN!") finding Dan is the best.

Saturday is 'catch-up day' for us. It doesn't take long to clutter up a little trailer, but we never let it get cluttered. There is laundry. And there is a general dusting and cleaning and two people each taking a task at the time make short work.

And there is our concert. Since Dan and I got together, we've been to REAL concerts. He let me into a world of wonderful music. Mom did rock and country music, and she played it around our trailer when I was living with her. It was a constant, kind of like living next to a factory. I got used to the noise. I don't remember ever stopping to listen to a particular song and saying to myself, that's REALLY good. Then there is Dan, and one magical night early in our relationship we were laying in bed and we were both glowing, very satisfied, and it was time to go to sleep. He put on a CD and the most magical music I ever heard came flowing out, perfect for the mood. It was a Beethoven piece, "Moonlight Sonata", and as I got more familiar with Dan and we spent more time together I recognized the music that was in his life and it became MY music.

That wasn't enough, though. The very first time we visited the Hardesty home, I got re-introduced to country music, this time from the roots, the stuff that people can do themselves, sitting around. Mizz Ann, Jim Hardesty 's beautiful wife (she really is pretty, blonde hair, blue eyes, neat soft figure. I was jealous) is a classically trained violinist. Jim, my school guidance counselor, is a good ol' Alabama boy who does guitar and banjo, and when he and Mizz Ann get together, they have a good time. I was a little surprised when my guy, whom I never heard listen to anything but classical music, picked up a bass guitar and played along with 'em.

Now we're doing these concerts in the park, free, and it's me and Teresa, Jim and Ann's daughter, singing and Dan has switched back to his acoustic guitar because Billy, Teresa's brother, is playing bass. And sometimes Dan and I do a duet.

So that was this Saturday night. It wasn't the biggest crowd we'd ever had, but it was still fun, and just like always, we had a couple of guys from the audience who wanted to play along with us. I've seen some surprisingly good talent come up and play, too. Dan laughs like I do when some old bald fat guy comes up and picks up a guitar and rips off something startlingly good.

It also makes me happy when somebody comes up after Dan and I do a duet and tells me that they can see that it's not just a song to us, it's really love.

Or when we play a slow waltzy song and people actually dance.

I caught this from Dan, you know, the thing about making yourself happy and spreading it around.

We got up Sunday morning and went to church. I giggle inside because I have history with a lot of the people there. I was one of those 'disadvantaged' kids that their outreach program brought in for a summer program, and some of 'em were nice to me, but some weren't. And then word got around that I was fourteen and married and it was just like at school, you know, everybody wondering when I was gonna start showing, pregnant. But that didn't happen.

We dressed up in decent clothes. When I put my green dress on, and nice shoes, I turn and smile at Dan. I think I can actually see his knees wobble. My guy. Got a thing. He says it's red hair and a green dress, and it's ME. When we walked up to the door of the church, heads still turned, but no frowns were visible. Several smiles were. It's the big Baptist church in a small town and a lot of the kids I go to school with go to this church, too. So I get to say 'hi' a bunch to kids and then there's the incongruity in that I'm Dan's wife and I get to say 'hi' to a lot of adults, too. But we're accepted now. Strange, maybe. But accepted. Maybe some of it has to do with coming to church, which here in the South is a certain level of respectability, but some of it, too, is that last night some of those people were in our audience, clapping, singing along.

After services, Mister Jim and Mizz Ann brought us to the pastor to talk about doing a Sunday afternoon tradition in the South, a 'dinner on the grounds', a kind of church-sponsored picnic thing. And they wanted us to do the music. In two weeks. The last weekend before I graduate. Naturally we accepted.

Sunday afternoon, weather permitting, is flying. This is where being fourteen is really inconvenient. I can fly. Let's face it, the coursework for getting a pilot's license (I looked) is NOT tough. There's a lot of things to memorize, rules and regulations, a little math, weather, stuff like that, but seriously, I AM graduating high school at fourteen, so the academic side isn't hard. There are flight experience requirements. I need to log time with an instructor. I need to have a certain amount of solo flight hours. That's to get a real license.

What do I get instead? I can go to the airport if somebody drives me (Dan) and get the plane out, do the pre-flight myself, get in the plane, fire it up, fly off to an airport a hundred miles away, navigating by means of a paper chart and a compass only a bit more advanced than Columbus used to find the New World, land, drink a coke, and return. As long as a licensed pilot (Dan) sits in the other seat watching the terrain slide by underneath us. In my middle school, I'm the ONLY one who can do that. Dan tells me that it's likely that in any crowd I will ever visit, I'll be the only fourteen year old who can say that.

So we go flying. Today it's not to a particular destination. We go a few miles out over the countryside, get to a few thousand feet over the terrain, and he works me through the maneuvers that I need to know to take my flight test. Yeah, the test I won't be able to take until my seventeenth birthday. I love the feel of the shoulder harness holding me as we work around the G-forces.

Dan sees the smile on my face. "You're having fun!"

"Yes I am," I say over the intercom. "But you gotta know, if I was in that Extra with Hanna, we'd be upside down by now!" Dan's friends Greg and Hanna run the airport back at our home in Louisiana and she flies an Extra, little fully aerobatic thing, and she's a trophy-winning aerobatic pilot. I've flown with her and there's magic in hanging in your shoulder harness, turning your head in the direction that would normally be 'up' and seeing the ground.

He laughs. "I spoilt you for real airplanes," he said.

"Nope! It's kinda like enjoying fresh fruit, you know, sweet, juicy, good for you, but every now and then you just get a bite of sugary candy. Good, but not meant for a steady diet."

"So now I have a philosopher for a wife," he said. His hand reached over and touched my arm, and he smiled.

'That's it, ' I said to myself. I rolled into a steep turn and rolled right out onto the heading back to our home airfield. Besides flying, we have another very special activity that works on Sunday afternoons.

I asked Mizz Ann once in a private moment, "Does it ever get old?"

"Does THAT ever get old? Sex? Making love?" She had been very delicate in discussing that part of my marriage to Dan. I imagine that part of that was that I was only a year older than her daughter Teresa and I was married and therefore having sex.

"Yes. Making love. It's wonderful, but we've been married only a few months. Am I being too nosey?"

She smiled softly at me. "I've heard some women say so. I'm not one of them. No. Different, yes. Comfortable, yes. But still exciting and satisfying and ... No, it's not old."

Late Sunday afternoon in the trailer Dan and I satisfied ourselves that almost nine months into our marriage we could almost put each other into a coma. When it was over, at least that part of lovemaking, Dan had me pulled up tight against him and he was stroking my face gently with his fingertips, still kissing me lightly on my bangs, loving me oh so gently, whispering words like 'angel' and 'pixie' and 'I adore you'.

And that's why I will be with him forever.

Chapter 61

Cindy's turn:

Oh, gosh! It's almost a madhouse. There's so much going on.

Monday morning we're up early, up the road, drive-thru at McDonalds for breakfast. "Purina Road-warrior Chow," Dan says. Dan's lived on the road and in RV parks for years. I think this last one might've done it for him.

Auburn University is ahead of us. I have a nine o'clock appointment. Mizz Patel from the engineering department has set it up for me.

"Do not worry, dear Cindy," she said when we were talking from Mister Jim's office at school. "This has nothing to do with you coming to Auburn and entering our Department of Engineering. We will have you here. These people are interested in seeing how far along you will be when you start with us."

"Who all will I be talking with?" I asked.

"From the latest reports and the conversations we've had this week, it will be people from the mathematics department. You've already talked with one of them. There will also some language arts people, and a person who works with our extremely gifted program."

I had talked with one of the mathematics people. Poor Mister Jim. He looked at me very strangely, shaking his head, when I was talking with Doctor Wilkins. I'm not bragging, but this guy really pushed me over the edge on math. I hadn't talked much with Dan about math, but with Mizz Crockett, I kind of ran right past where she was with math. Mister Jim told me that I was waaay past what he had to take in college. Dan looked at some of my on-line work and showed me where he thinks his experience left off.

I also found that one of the interview sessions was to be with a psychologist who specialized in work with gifted students. I guess I should just give up fighting it. People think I'm gifted. I must be gifted.

Driving along with my Dan. Mozart on the stereo. I love his concertos. One finished and I hit the 'off' button. "Dan, serious. Am I THAT different?"

His right hand was on my shoulder. He sort of tugged me into his side. "Baby, you MUST be different. Out of three billion females on this planet, YOU alone fit that spot in my heart."

I giggled. "I know about THAT. You know what I mean."

"Okay. You want the truth about intelligence. I'm afraid I can't really comment. Last summer, when we first met, you asked the first questions and I gave you simple answers, thinking you were a typical young teen. Remember?"

"Uh-huh."

He continued. "You weren't satisfied with simple answers. You'd dig. Ask pointed questions. Take what I said, put it together with other thoughts, then come up with more questions. Didn't take long before I knew you were above average. Now you're off the end of the scale for me to be able to judge. Friday night you showed me those articles on the computer. You've moved past me in math. I might be able to get there, but I'd have to sit in a classroom and then study like hell to get there."

"Okay," I said. "But am I weird?"

"That's the magical part," he said. "Jim and I even talked about it. Both of us have known very smart people and most of them have had personality issues. As best as I can tell, the only personality issue you have is being in love with a guy much older than you."

"You should see that guy with my eyes," I said. I mean it.

"But you get along well with others. I can see it. Everybody I know of says the same thing." He turned enough to kiss me on top of my head. That's apparently a favorite move for him. I find it utterly charming. He kept talking. "It's just that you're, I don't know, PERFECT! Weird? NO way! Different? Definitely!"

"Okay," I giggled. "'Cuz I'd hate to think that all this love was in just one direction."

"I will love you when the stars blink out in the skies."

"And the embers of the dead stars will grow cold and Cindy will still love Dan." It's fun little game to play. We do the premium version, too. It involves clean, tight sheets on the bed and absolutely NO clothing on either player.

We pulled into a parking space in front of the specified building at Auburn with fifteen minutes to spare and went inside. Dan had his new iPad, so I knew he was prepared to sit and wait. Better than that, he had his computer in the truck, so if there was going to be a considerable amount of time, he could sit in the truck and work, dictating some specifications he was working up for a client.

Client? Yep. Dan's the de facto CEO of 3Sigma Engineering of Alabama. That's since we're in position to sign papers for the new building, and signing those papers requires a corporate officer. And since Dan's in the corporation now, he's doing work under the new banner. And I'm married to a CEO. That's worth a giggle in conversation in school.

Mizz Patel took charge of me when we walked in. "Mister Richards, she will be in interviews with one or two members of the mathematics faculty today."

"What about lunch?" he asked.

Mizz Patel looked at Cindy. "Do you have a cellphone?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said.

"At lunchtime, we will know where you will be. You can call him."

"I will be sitting under a tree working on my computer," I said.

"If you can find a spot," Mizz Patel laughed softly. "Our trees are very prized for study."

Following Mizz Patel, I entered the 'belly of the beast'. That's one of Dan's phrases. His language is another thing that rubs off on me. She ushered me into a room and introduced me to Doctor Wilkins, who I already met, and his associate, another PhD, Doctor Ramathani, and she left me in their evil clutches.

"Ram," Doctor Wilkins said, "We don't need to start with anything near high school level." And off we went. Doctor Ramathani goes by "Ram", not like the sheep, but with an 'ah' sound, and Doctor Wilkins' first name is Brendon, 'Bren' for short, and by lunchtime I was Cindy and they were Ram and Bren and I explained some math that six months ago I did not know existed in this universe.

Ram would scribble some things on the whiteboard and ask me about them and I'd get up there and scribble right back, except he's been making those symbols for decades and I've only had a couple of months, and sometimes it was like learning to ride a little bicycle, you know, when you still have the training wheels on it and you don't really need 'em.

Ram glanced at his watch and in that sing-song Indian accent, said, "Bren, we can go to lunch and take Cindy."

"Can I call my husband?" I asked.

"Oh, of a certainty, Cindy. I wish to meet the man who is YOUR husband!"

"Where are we going?" I asked.

Bren laughed. "We could adhere to your stereotype, Ram. Cindy, have you had Indian food?"

I nodded my head affirmatively. "Dan took me to a place in Mobile!"

"Okay, you've HAD Indian food. More important question. Did you LIKE Indian food?"

"Specific answer," I said. "Yes! Very much. And you, Doctor Ram, you can suggest some things to try!"

Dan met us there, and we did indeed have an interesting meal. Ram knows the family that runs the restaurant on a first-name basis. We got a dozen little dishes to sample. I enjoyed myself immensely. I watched Dan, listened to him joining the conversation, being questioned about his work. My Dan doesn't meet strangers.

After lunch, Ram and Bren and I jumped back into the interview. At the end of the day, they thanked me for my participation. "Come back here tomorrow, please, Cindy. We want to give you a few tests."

Dan was waiting outside for me. "Okay, princess," he said, "how'd it go?"

"Pretty good, I think. Really. I think Doctor Ram was skeptical at first, but after about thirty minutes, he started getting into the talks. Tomorrow they want me to take some tests."

"Owww, my head hurts, baby!"

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I have this little doll who spent a day talking with two math PhD's and tomorrow they want to give her tests."

"And that person wishes to have a light meal and one method or another that might relax both body and mind." I was thinking of the kind of food that the Sommers sisters cooked up, and I imagine that in a college town there's a place like that, but tonight wasn't the night to try to find it. We settled for a place that had good reviews on Yelp. Then it was time to check into the hotel.

We KNOW what to do in a motel room, Dan and I. We'd had dinner, so that was out of the way. There was the nightly Skype sessions with my sisters. These aren't very good with hotel wireless, so we didn't do the video I enjoyed so much, but I can picture every one of them, including Tina's Terri. Yeah, I think of her as 'Tina's Terri' more than I do 'Alan's Terri'. I guess a lot of that is because I see her face and Tina's face squeezed together in front of the camera when they Skype.

Of course, Dan's over on the bed with HIS computer, doing the same thing with the other three guys. He explained where he was on the first project of our new company, and what I was up to at Auburn and in turn he caught up with what was going on in Louisiana and Tennessee. Sometimes I think we're riding an avalanche, but our conversations end with a giggle. Dan's conversations aren't as bubbly, but they're still good, because he's smiling when he closes the computer.

That means ... Shower! Big, steamy, hot loooong, soapy, loving, shower! And we're squeaky clean a half-hour later and I'm drying my hair while Dan shaves., then he helps me brush it out. And neither of us has a stitch of clothes on. Don't need 'em. Not for what we have in mind.

The room has two queen beds. One to play in, one to sleep in. We turn back the covers on the 'play' bed. You know, in one of those quiet, lazy, drifting times after we've just made love, I was laying full length on top of Dan, toying with the hair on his chest. "This is magic, baby,"

"Mmm-hmmm," he said. "You take that whole 'Tab A - Slot B' thing to a new level."

"Mmmmm, Dannn," I sighed. "I don't ... you're the very first. The only..."

"Trust me," he said. "You're magic to me."

Tonight we relive the magic. Like every other night. Let me tell you, sex is INTERESTING! I love knowing ways that I can make Dan sigh and shake and quiver and lose control, and I'm very happy that he can do the same to me. Sometimes he makes me come so hard that I pass out. He knows this, and I can't find words to explain how it is to open my eyes and see him holding me, usually kissing me ever so gently.

That's wonderful. Somehow I can't see Mom ever having somebody LOVE her like Dan loves me. That's sad. But I wouldn't trade a lifetime of what she had for ONE day of loving and being loved by my Dan.

We found something interesting on TV for a while, and then he starts just kind of mindlessly caressing me, first my neck, then my shoulder, softly, gently, like he's reading a sonnet in Braille from my skin. Kinda wakes me up too ... I wiggle just a little and the hand that was on my shoulder, it falls onto my breast. My sigh is the suggestion that I just MIGHT want to...

I find myself laying back, this GUY, my GUY, halfway atop me and there's just one thing that can happen next. I push a leg under him. Just ONE leg. That means one leg is on one side of him, the other leg's on the OTHER side of him, and HE is in between them. That's how we start, anyway. It doesn't last long like that, then we roll over, still deliciously coupled, and I'm astride him, riding for all I'm worth, the whole universe condensed to the little globe that encompasses the two of us.

This is the one where I pass out. When I come to, he's sitting up, and I'm in his arms and the look in his eyes, oh, gosh, I'm with Dan forever.

The next day, after a nice breakfast, I'm back at the college. Bren and Ram do just like they said, bringing me into a room with a desk and chair. Doctor Ram places a stack of paper in front of me.

"This is a selection of work that I and Bren think would indicate a sufficient grasp of knowledge to satisfy the math requirements for your engineering degree. It's graduated. The problems will get harder, the deeper you get into the stack."

"Cindy," Bren said, "If you were getting your master's degree or, heaven forbid, your doctorate, you'd have to present a thesis and defend it in front of faculty." He looked at Ram. "After you left us yesterday, Ram and I talked. We, that's US, him and me, we felt like we'd just sat through one of those sessions, and you did quite well."

"Really?" I said. It came out in a squeak. I embarrassed myself with that.

Bren smiled. "We're not saying you're at master level in math. Maybe with a bit of a push and a tug and some direction, you'd be there. But I and Ram are going to look at what you do here. If you put on paper the knowledge you discussed with us yesterday, well, he and I will have something to discuss with Mizz Patel."

I knew better than to ask if they were serious. This whole exercise was getting serious. "Uh, can I get a cup of coffee before I start?"

"Uh, sure," Bren said. "Let's go get you one."

They took me to Starbucks. Not my favorite, but the very idea that they wanted to get me something better than the kitchenette back at the math building, that made me feel good.

I sat down and started the tests with my big cup of cappuccino. As I started on the first page, it's like time stopped, you know, like some wormhole in the space-time continuum. At eleven, my bladder was starting to talk to me, so I got up and pushed the door open. "Doctor Bren?"

"Oh, hi, Cindy. Finished?"

"Not quite," I said. "I need the restroom."

"Up the hall to your left. Door's on the left."

It was a real relief. After I finished a 'download' (Dan's term) I cleaned myself up and washed my face. Refreshed. I realized that I'd been working harder than I thought. I could tell from the stickiness on my face, the remnants of sweat. I went back to Bren's office.

"I'm all better. You didn't say 'time limit'. Is there one?"

"I'd like to go home at four," he laughed.

"I'll be finished before then," I smiled. "One way or the other."

I was finished at noon. I walked out of the room and placed the papers on Bren's desk. "This is it," I said. "I've never done anything like this before in my life. Can I call my husband? I need lunch and maybe a Mozart concerto and a blue sky."

"Oh, that's great, Cindy. Ram and I need to go through these. I think Mizz Patel has you meeting some of the language arts faculty tomorrow morning."

He was looking at my papers, shaking his head in little circles.

"Well, thank you," I said. "I hope I didn't disappoint."

He was on the second page. "Oh, heavens, no, Cindy. Not what I see here."

"Well, I hope I see you an' Doctor Ram before I go back home," I said.

He smiled. "Guarantee it, Mizz Cindy."

I was sitting on the front steps when Dan's pickup truck pulled up to the curb. I jumped in.

"Well, little one, how was it."

Giggle. "My brain hurts, baby."

"Did that mean ol' school abuse my baby?" he picked.

"They assaulted me with weapons of math instruction, honey," I said, stealing part of a bad pun. "I desire bits of defunct bovine interleaved between bread of dubious origin."

"Burgers it is, then," he laughed. Word games. We play 'em.

I got my burger. And fries. And a Coke over ice.

A phone call got us a meeting with the people who were building our apartment building. That meant I got to walk through the space that would become our new home. I remember the construction of the office building and shop building and control room on Dan's project. This was sort of like that, except that was all metal, and this was all wood.

To the superintendent, Dan said, "Y'all got all our revisions, right?"

"Oh, sure," the big guy said. "Just what we need, revisions." He laughed. "At least you're a REAL engineer, so you're not asking impossibilities."

"No, I know better'n to piss off the super," Dan laughed. "But I do have to make this little one happy. And her three sisters."

"My friends and their husbands are moving into this building when it's finished," I said. He looked a bit puzzled and a bit amused at the idea that I had friends with husbands, I guess. I DO look fourteen, after all.

Our building. The papers were signed. The corporation bought it, mortgaged, with the four principals, my Dan, Nikki's Dan, Alan, and Jason, buying shares of the business, as well as a little chunk that Susan's mom and dad bought, and a sizable portion of it was held by one Charlie Peebles and his wife Helen, and it was willed to their foster daughter if they departed before she graduated college. Upon her graduation, they would sign over their shares. "Graduation present, Mizz Cindy," Charlie said. "And when you design a starship, put a little tiny plaque with my name on it before it leaves the solar system."

I would, you know. Judge Charles Peebles is one of the great men in my life, kind, wise, caring. That he's Mizz Helen's husband and I love Mizz Helen, that's a plus. That he signed the papers so I could marry Dan, that's another plus.

We spent the rest of the afternoon touring the local area, getting the feel for our future life in a college town.

"Restaurants," Dan said. "Lots of little eateries. We won't get bored eating out."

"If you don't mind hordes of college kids," I said.

"Oh, there's gonna be some of that," Dan said, "but we can choose a little bit. Ask around. People will know. And further from campus, the better." We drove around looking some more until three in the afternoon. My next meeting wasn't until the next morning. That meant we had most of the afternoon to play before either of us got hungry. Well, hungry for food, anyway.

So, okay ... interlude! Followed by happy (and satisfied) couple leaving for an early dinner and a movie. Then back to the room and a nice shower and then bedtime.

The next morning I was walking up the steps to meet Mizz Patel. She introduced me to a man and a woman from the liberal arts school. They were smiling, and the first thing I saw on the desk between them and me were copies of some of the stuff I wrote earlier in the year, including my documentation for the social studies fair.

The lady appeared to be the older of the two. Doctor Singleton. Maybe Mizz Helen's age. I wasn't about to ask. The guy was maybe ten years younger. Dan would say I'm stereotyping, but this guy LOOKED like he'd have a doctorate in literature. His name is Doctor Anders. He's blonde, probably Scandinavian roots, and his ancestor was the guy the Vikings used to beat up on.

"Please, Miss Cindy, sit down and be comfortable," Doctor Singleton said. "We're nice people here."

I smiled. "I hope so," I said. "So far, everybody here has been nice."

Doctor Anders broke a grin. "I would have expected that spending a day and a half with Doctor Ram and Doctor Wilkins would NOT have been nice."

"Oh, they made me work harder than I can ever remember. But they were nice while they did it."

"We wanted to talk with you about some of the writing you've done. It was sent to us by your English teacher."

"Mizz Gregory," I said. "She's a great teacher. Really loves her kids and her subject. On a good day, those two things come together."

"She's impressed by, as she said, 'a fourteen year old who writes better than many college students'. I wish I could say that was a high hurdle, but it appears to me that language skills, especially writing, have deteriorated in the past decades."

I'd heard this speech before, talking with Dan and Mister Charlie and Mizz Helen and others. I said so to the two evaluators. "Spelling, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, style. Who is going to carry on the creation of the literature for the next generation."

When I said that, Doctor Anders sat back, bridging his fingers under his chin. He made a measured glance at Doctor Singleton. She nodded, smiling.

"Cindy," she asked. "These examples Mizz Gregory forwarded, they are YOUR work?"

"Absolutely."

"Your work, alone?"

"Yes, ma'am. This fiction story, I tried to write like Mark Twain. He's got a style that sounds archaic to today's ears, but I find it very amusing and interesting. He does things with the English language, turns of phrase, that lend an elegance that much of today's humor misses. He doesn't talk down to his audience, he works with the assumption that readers will have a good grasp of language."

"That's interesting, Cindy," Doctor Anders said. "You've read a bit of Mark Twain?"

"Yessir," I said. "I didn't go through the novels. I did his essays and short stories. They're easy to digest when I toss them in with everything else that's been going on in my life this year."

"What other authors have you read?" Doctor Singleton asked.

"One of the first books I asked my husband about, before we married, was "Confederacy of Dunces". He told me a little about the author and a little about the venue and the people, and I found it enjoyable."

"What did you find to be particularly notable about it?" she asked.

"His use of the regional dialect. It took me a bit to get comfortable with it, but then it came alive. I liked the construction of interpersonal relationships, several rings of acquaintances, and how those rings interlaced to build the story."

Doctor Anders picked up my document for the social studies fair. "Where did you learn to write in this technical mode?"

"My husband is an engineer," I said. "I read some of his reports. He just completed a project near my home. I read some of his reports and figured that since he's at the top of his game, I should emulate him."

"Did he teach you this?" he asked.

"Oh, nossir. He let me read through some of his drafts. I'm interested in his explanations and findings on a couple of technical issues. I saw how he wrote and thought that would be a good way to write my report for the social studies fair."

"I'm trying to ascertain that you learned this style on your own."

"Yessir. Mizz Gregory asked me the same thing."

"And the, uh, subject matter?" he asked.

"Mizz Gregory was leading a discussion about the family life in some stories and said something about nuclear families and assigned us an essay. I sort of took it to an extreme. Maybe not an extreme, but she wanted two pages, and when I got started, I saw too many things I wanted to explore and two pages was just barely enough to point to areas for further exploration."

Doctor Singletary picked up the conversation. "You were interested in the subject, then, am I correct?"

"I sort of lived part of it. My family wasn't exactly the standard nuclear family. The paper gave me an opportunity to put forth some of my ideas, to think about how society came to the point where what I experienced was unfortunately not as rare was one might wish."

"Your marriage at young age?" she asked.

"Oh, no ma'am," I said with my 'I'm thinking of Dan' smile. "That's a part of my life that I would absolutely NOT change. But I lived all my life with a single mom who had other priorities. I alluded to some of the attractions of a changing society that might have pulled her in that direction."

WE talked, the three of us, about my understanding of writing and language.

"SO you say that you were, at best, a 'C' student until this year?" Doctor Anders asked.

"Yessir," I said. "I didn't want to do so poorly that the school would call my mom. Making 'C's' was easy. Sit in class. Pay half attention and daydream the other half. And make a 'C'. This year, though, Dan, my future husband at the beginning of the school year, gave me a little push and encouraged me to put forth some effort. My guidance counselor took a look at my assessment tests and pushed a little further, and here I am."

"What we're seeing, Miss Cindy, is some of your work in writing and literature and the technical aspects of your language use, that frankly we find to be well above what we expect from a prospective freshman. Well above."

"What I'd like to do," Doctor Anders said, "is give you an exercise. Have you taken a look around the city, around outside campus?"

"Yessir," I said. "Dan and I have driven around."

"Did you notice restaurants?"

"Yessir."

"Here's a laptop computer. We would like you to give us a sample of your thoughts about restaurants you've seen and how they might fit in with the presence of this university."

I bit my bottom lip. Dan says that is one of the 'Cindy's thinking again' signs. "I can do that."

"Can you do it in two hours?" he asked.

"It's not going to be as polished as I would like, but I can probably do a few pages of thoughts."

"We're interested in your draft. After lunch we can look at it and discuss where you would refine it."

"I can do this."

"Shall we take a little break, maybe enjoy a coffee or a soda, before you start?" Doctor Singleton asked.

"Yes, ma'am. That would be nice."

We took the break. I had to answer a call of nature, then I sat with these two very intelligent and educated people and discussed the scenes of late spring and the fashions of some of the students walking across the campus. After I finished my coffee ("You drink coffee instead of a soda?") I went back to the conference room, opened up the word processor and started typing.

At noon, they came in to check my progress. I was pushing five thousand words by then. "Let's go to lunch," Doctor Anders said.

"Can I invite my husband?" I asked.

"Certainly," Doctor Singleton replied.

That got me a ride beside Dan as we followed a little Japanese SUV to a nearby restaurant.

"How's this day going for you, baby?" Dan asked.

"At first I got the impression that they didn't quite believe I wrote some of that stuff. I think they do now. But they asked me to write an essay about the restaurants in a college town, and I think it's just to see if I'm for real."

"I ask myself the same thing many mornings when I wake up with you beside me."

The lunch was pretty good and the conversation was great. I didn't get ignored and neither did Dan. Of course, this meant that the hour or so for lunch just flew by.

That left the afternoon, filled with conversation as the two of them read my essay paragraph by paragraph, asking why I chose to use a certain phrase or to explain my choice of a word, and if I was happy with the structure of a sentence or the punctuation or grammar.

"It's a draft," I said. "I was trying to go just a little bit further than just putting raw thoughts on paper," I said.

"Yes," Doctor Singleton said. "And we are seeing how you would go about changing from a draft to a final copy."

"And we also wanted to see your starting point," Doctor Anders added. "And for myself, I am more than satisfied."

"I'm very happy to hear that," I said, feeling a little worn out and little bit brave at the same time. "SO what does a happy Doctor Anders get me at this juncture?"

He laughed. Doctor Singleton joined in. "Rather straight-forward, aren't you?"

"Yes, ma'am," I said. "Doctor Patel told me that I had nothing to worry about from this week, that as a minimum, I would start in the fall semester as a college freshman pursuing my goal in electrical engineering. Now I've had THIS week, and I am interested in seeing where it will put me as regarding my goal."

Doctor Anders laughed. "The way I see it, Mizz Cindy, is that you can tell your husband that he just saved tuition on three years' worth of college level English. I think you'd benefit from a formal course in technical writing if you pursue engineering as a choice, but from what I've seen today, you might want to consider other options as well."

That afternoon I related the 'other options' comment to Dan.

"I want you to do what YOU want to do, baby," I said.

"I sure do love seeing my Dan in his element. I want THAT!" I said. "Maybe something else on the side?"

"As long as that 'something else' is not 'someONE else'," he laughed.

"Like I could ever replace YOU," I said.

Chapter 62

It's still Cindy's turn:

The next day was the one I was most worried about. I met Mizz Patel at her office and she took me across campus to the office of a psychologist.

"Do not worry about this lady," Mizz Patel said. "She is working FOR you. She is going to do some assessments of your maturity and intelligence." She smiled. "And I see where she will find nothing but what everybody here has found about you thus far. You're mature and intelligent. But her assessment goes into the package we're putting together, a sort of mythos about Mizz Cindy, Star of Alabama."

I felt my face flush. I was blushing. Definitely blushing.

Mizz Patel saw it, too and laughed softly. "Oh, Cindy, I do so much hope this doesn't confuse you. You came to us sounding absolutely certain you were going to be at your husband's side as an electrical engineer. As It stands right now, the greatest hurdle to that goal is that engineering requires a succession of courses on the art and science of engineering. They won't be hard for you. For others, maybe, but not you. They are, however, requisite for the award of an engineering degree. And they must be taken in order."

"I understand that," I said. "I talked to Dan about the whole process. He told me about the math and the engineering courses."

"Math won't be there for you, Cindy. I think our math department associates have just about determined that from Tuesday. They will tell you formally Friday morning. And you know about language and literature, although our friends from yesterday are almost pining to get you into their classes."

"I think ... I'd LOVE to take the classes, though."

"So take them, then, Cindy. Sit in, audit the classes. Do you know how many students would die to trade places with you? Cindy, you have a rare opportunity if you choose to take it. You don't have to go to a lot of classes. You can choose which ones interest you. And I think that you should think about that."

"That's an exciting idea, Mizz Patel," I said. It was. I hadn't thought about being able to audit classes. I have heard the term. I need to ask Dan how that works.

We walked into a nicely-appointed office.

"We're here to see Doctor Stanton. He is expecting Mizz Cindy Smith-Richards."

The receptionist smiled. "He's expecting Mizz Richards. I don't think he was expecting her to look like this."

I wasn't dressed for a formal occasion. I did have on a new pair of jeans and a neat blouse instead of my normal sweatshirt or T-shirt. "Am I improperly dressed?" I asked.

"Oh, no, honey, you're quite properly dressed. You're just ... stunning!"

"Oh, thanks!" I said.

"But you LOOK young."

"Fourteen," I answered. "And a half."

"Oh, you're precious," she said.

"Thank you," I said again.

A greying head peered around the corner. "Connie, is that Mizz Cindy?"

"Yes it is. Come out here, Harold. You need to see her."

He did. "They warned me. Mizz Patel, you didn't use enough words."

"Sorry, Harold," she said. "I have several people on my agenda. Of course, Cindy IS the youngest."

"Miss Cindy, If you would come into my office?"

I followed him in.

"Close the door, please, so we can talk."

I closed the door and sat down in the chair he pointed to.

"Let's talk about you, Cindy."

"Yessir," I said. I wanted him to point out the direction this conversation should go.

"How do you feel about your success at school this year?"

Okay, THAT'S what he wants. I can do that. So I did.

He asked questions. "Why didn't you feel compelled to work harder before this year?"

I explained.

"How do you cope with your classmates when they find out about your new-found abilities?"

I explained the negative comments and the positive comments. "Gosh, Doctor Stanton..."

"Harold, please," he interrupted.

"I had so many big changes this year, especially last fall. School. Getting married."

"About that," he interrupted.

"Oh, I know how I'm supposed to be this exploited little thing from an Alabama trailer park," I said. "But I do NOT consider myself exploited. Exploited girls do not have their husbands drive them to Auburn University, nor teach them to fly or sing or listen to classical music. My husband is perhaps one of the poorest exploiters of young ladies imaginable."

His expression was inscrutable, so I continued. "I think that maturity occurs in any of several arenas. Physically, I am not full-grown, but I am inside the normal range for my age. Mentally? That sort of explains why you and I are having this conversation. Emotionally." I took a breath. "I know something about emotional maturity. I know people who lack measurable emotional maturity in their thirties. Unfortunately my Mom is one of those. I consider myself to be at the other end of the spectrum. I don't get giggly with every boy that smiles at me in school. I know about marriage in the historical context and the Christian context and I and my husband have THAT commitment to one another."

"Okay, Mizz Cindy," he said. "I asked. You explained."

"I'm sorry if I came off as harsh, Mister Harold. I don't mean to be, but I absolutely LOVE Dan. He's bled, really bled, for me. Treats me like a princess when it's time for me to be a princess, and like a friend, and a co-worker, and a wife. We are friends with traditional families as well as some remarkably parallel couples. If you want to watch, three other girls will be joining Auburn in the fall. I call them 'sisters' because we're so much alike in intelligence and family."

"You sound secure and assured in your relationship," he said.

"I am. I have a husband who provides for me, protects me, and lets me see where I can go with my own talents and abilities. And here I am."

"So how did you get here? Academically?"

"Dan, my husband, started this. He's an engineer. I was looking for somebody who might help me with school. He says he kicked the chocks out and I took off."

"'Kicked the chocks out'? I don't think I'm familiar with that phrase."

I giggled. "Another of the abuses I endure is flying. When you desire a plane to remain stationary, you put chocks on both sides of the wheels. Before planes had brakes, a pilot might run his engine up to full power, letting the chocks keep him from rolling, and the ground crew would kick the chocks loose to let him go."

"I get it," Harold said.

"Well, that was ONE thing. The other is that based on some tests, my guidance counselor selected me for further testing. I did well. People started looking. I paid attention in class and outran my teachers. They started using me as an aide, especially in math. The school board reviewed my case and selected me to jump straight to high school graduation. That's next week. I got the highest score in the county on my ACT. I have my own corner in the library for kids who have problems with math and who WANT to do something about it."

"Tell me about your relationships with other students."

That was easy. This year I had friends. I told him about my sisters and Kayla and the kids in middle school and about me and Kaitlyn and Cameron at high school. I talked about helping kids and how many of them really connected with me. And Teresa and me singing duets.

"You sound happy and well-adjusted."

"You know, Mister Harold, sometimes I think that I really shouldn't be. How many kids in circumstances like mine for a home life just trudge right on out doing the same things? Drugs? Sex? Pregnancy? Dropping out of school? I know about all of those things. I lived with a lot of 'em. I just couldn't be like that."

"And you and your husband?"

"One of the most honorable men I ever met. Just wanted to help me. Then we started talking about marriage. My mom left the state, signed me over to Mizz Helen, my foster mom. The judge that signed the custody papers is the same one who listened to our case and signed papers so we could get married, me being a minor and all."

"Mizz Cindy, let me tell you what I see sitting here," he said. He looked serious.

I was a little bit concerned with the look on his face. I didn't know it was his 'business face'. "Yessir," I said. "I'm interested in what you think."

"I think I see a very calm, intelligent, happy, and most of all, for her age, incredibly mature, young lady."

"Thank you," I said. I guess my smile came back out.

"Yes, you should smile, Cindy. This is one of the things I do for Auburn, work with 'gifted' students. I don't know if you're the most intelligent, but you're certainly one of the most well-adjusted. If your file didn't contain things about your test scores and academic acumen, I'd think you were just a good, normal middle-schooler." He sighed. "But you spent quite a few words about your being married and your home life. If I would have looked at those without talking to you, I would have thought, as you said, 'exploited little thing'. But on that subject, if I take away the 'she's fourteen' aspect, I hear a young wife who finds herself married to the man she thinks is her perfect mate."

"He is," I said. "Come with us for lunch. He doesn't meet strangers. You'll see."

"I'll do that." He patted his round belly. "If we can find a place that does a salad."

"Oh, not in a college town," I giggled.

"So," he continued, "I wasn't here today to say yea or nay to your coming to Auburn. I am here to let the faculty know what kind of mess we're getting into. I'm thinking they need to worry about something else."

"Then I passed?"

"No pass or fail here, Cindy. Just observation. But If I had to grade, you passed, okay?"

Friday morning I showed up at Mizz Patel's office, this time with Dan, per her request. She greeted us and led us to a conference room, by way of the coffee machine. When we entered the conference room my whole week's effort was there, Bren and Ram, Doctors Anders and Singleton, and Doctor Stanton.

I gave a little wave. "Hi, nice people," I said. I followed Dan around, shaking hands.

"Let us sit down," Mizz Patel said. "And talk about Cindy."

Below the table, I squeezed Dan's hand. I was nervous. Why was I nervous? I had an interesting time this week.

"Cindy," Mizz Patel said, "each of these groups will give you their assessment, starting with Doctors Wilkins and Ramathani. Gentlemen?"

Doctor Wilkins, Bren, stood up. "Cindy," he said, " the other day, during our Skype session, I said that you had some non-standard ways of approaching problems. Doctor Ram asked me what I meant by that when we talked about you last week. Now he knows. I only wish I could have had you to work with for four years of college. As it is, from the standpoint of Auburn's math department, you have completed coursework sufficient for your chosen goal of electrical engineering. If you wish to pursue further interests in the area of mathematics, we will be happy to bring you in at the senior level in pure math. You do have some holes in your math knowledge, but I attribute them to the evolutionary methodology we use for teaching the subject. Like you said, "1+1=2" on up. You almost appear to have been created at a high level of mathematical understanding. Since I don't want to get into that 'creation versus evolution' debate, I will end my statement here. Welcome to Auburn."

I couldn't stifle it. I let out a little squeal.

Doctor Singleton stood next. Noting my squeal, she started. "Cindy, I'd be surprised if that's all you have to say about the subject. My colleague and I found your writing to be insightful and mature and having a technical merit far above what we would expect from a freshman. Sadly, it's better than we expect from many seniors. Miss Cindy, we see no problem in signing off on completion for all the English courses that may be prerequisite for your engineering degree. You would be advised to freshen up on technical writing, but it appears that your husband had done well as your tutor thus far."

Doctor Stanton didn't stand. "Don't look at me. After yesterday's session, I claim the presidency of the Cindy Smith-Richards Fan Club."

Mizz Patel stood again. "It falls upon me to represent the Auburn School of Engineering in the matter of Mizz Cindy. I personally don't know what a sixteen-year-old graduate from the School of Engineering might do with her new degree, but I suspect that her husband's new engineering house opening up in this city might give answer to some of those questions. Mizz Cindy, Mister Richards ... Dan, Cindy MUST complete the engineering coursework for us to award the degree. It normally takes four years, eight semesters." She smiled. At ME! "However, there is nothing we see that is normal with our Cindy. Cindy, when you complete the courses, you will graduate. I will confer with the professors who administer those courses and see if perhaps we might be able to accelerate your work."

I let out another little squeal. I looked at Dan. He hadn't had a look like that since he found out that we could be married. I remember him being particularly happy at THAT revelation.

"Excuse me," he said, "You folks are telling us that Cindy could be graduating in TWO YEARS? TWO?"

"Yes, Dan," Mizz Patel said softly. "Very doable for Cindy. And the physics department would like to talk with her. They said they regret not knowing she'd be here this week, but could you please give them a call sometime this summer?"

"We'll call them," I said. I looked at Dan and smiled. Got a smile back. And a squeeze of my hand under the table.

"Wow!" he said. "I'm going to have fun spreading this news around."

"You tell the guys, I'll tell the girls." I turned back to our friends around the table. "Good news cries out to be shared."

"Certainly it does," Mizz Patel said. "Dan, please make sure we have pictures of Cindy's graduation."

"Graduation?" Doctor Stanton asked.

"Yes," Dan said, "As part of her accelerated departure from middle school, they offered her the opportunity to stand for high school graduation. She's going to be on the dais with the elite crowd." He looked at me, saw my smile. "Don't smirk, baby."

"Not smirking. Just happy. VERY happy." I smiled at everybody there. "Thank you all so very much," I said. "This has been a very interesting and challenging week." To Bren and Ram I said, "I NEVER, EVER sweated like I did when you guys put me through the wringer." To Doctor Singleton and Doctor Anders, I said, "You two made me think about HOW I write. That was a great exercise." And to Doctor Stanton, "I hope I didn't frighten you. Just remember, YOU started it!"

Mizz Patel spoke for the group, I guess. "We're all very happy you've chosen us at Auburn. We hope to see you early this summer, even though you don't officially start until the fall semester. Remember what I said about engineering courses."

The meeting broke up. I left the building after hugging EVERYBODY. Dan made do with handshakes. Then it was out into the parking lot and into the truck. And I wanted to talk to my Dan.

"Baby," I said, "I'm a bigger freak than I was when I got here." I knew he would understand my little tiny bit of sarcasm.

"I wouldn't exactly call you a freak, little one," Dan said. "Astounding, maybe. But not a freak. Go ahead, call the sisterhood and let them know."

"I don't wanna sound like I'm bragging."

"They won't think you're bragging."

"I'm serious, baby, those two math guys gave me a workout."

"I can imagine," he said. "I'd have been curled up in a corner in a fetal position, weeping, with those two."

Once we lined the truck out on the open road, I attended to phone calls. Happy phone calls. And a big surprise from Nikki.

"You need to tell me EVERYTHING, Cindy. They asked if I could visit the second week of June!"

I told Dan that. "'Cuz she married another 'Dan'. We're special," he laughed.

I giggled. "Maybe that's it. He rescued her a lot harder then you rescued me. I just walked up to you at the pool. He had to drag her out of the rubble."

"Yeah. He told me the story. I wanna see his house," Dan said. "I'm thinking that we should replicate the design."

"That's something that oughtta have a '3Sigma' stamp on it, don't you think?" 3Sigma was our new company. "I don't see why we don't have a few things under our roof that AREN'T electrical engineering."

Dan glanced sideways at me. "Write that down."

"Write what down?" I asked.

"Another 'Cindy' moment," he laughed. "But you know, you might have something there. Right now our business model doesn't have need for civil and mechanical, you know, other engineering disciplines full time, but it might be interesting to offer ourselves as an umbrella for other engineers who need a little shelter for their non-traditional aspirations."

"Nikki's Dan probably knows some people," I said.

I'm glad Dan doesn't get aggravated with me talking on the phone because we covered quite a distance with that thing stuck to the side of my head. I called everybody I knew. Good news should be shared. After the phone calls, though, I settled into 'travel position' for riding with Dan in our truck. That's me snuggled against him, my head on his shoulder, holding his hand.

"Quite a week ahead of us, little girl," he said.

"It's a madhouse, baby," I replied. "We play for 'Dinner on the Grounds' at church on Sunday." 'Dinner on the Grounds'. That's a sort of tradition with Southern churches from days when people used to have to travel a distance to services and didn't want to travel back home before evening services. Everybody used to bring picnic lunches and you know that when you get a group of people together, sharing takes place. Now it's a social event, and there will be pot luck dishes, and we and the Hardesty bunch will provide music. That's easy enough. We know lots of the simple, folksy, old-time hymns.

"And Monday is graduation rehearsal. And Wednesday..."

"Wednesday I become the husband of a high school graduate. Sounds a lot more respectable," my Dan laughed.

"Until they find out that I'm FOURTEEN," I giggled in return. "And Tuesday is middle school graduation."

"I never understood why they have a graduation for middle school," Dan said.

"Somebody makes money off of selling the gowns, you said."

"I try not to be cynical," he replied.

"Oh, another 'Danism': 'That's the highest some of those people ever got on the education ladder'." I giggled.

"You caught me in a sarcastic mood. I should be more charitable towards my fellow man," he said. "What's the weather look like for the middle of the week?"

"Best I can see, it's going to be good. The Tennessee bunch is flying in. Tina says they found a kiddie seat for their 182. And Nikki and her Dan just bought that Mooney. She says Dan is nervous about flying it. It's..."

"It's a 'complex aircraft' according to the Feds. Retractable gear. Constant-speed propeller. A lot of people would have recommended he not buy that with a brand new pilot's license. We talked."

"So did me and Nikki," I said. "She said a lot of it is about checklists, and he's got this NEAT co-pilot. But everybody will be here. Mister Bill is even making the trip. Says he wants to see his grand-daughter's graduation." Mister Bill is Dan's old boss and good friend and he treats me like a grand-daughter and I am very happy about that.

We spent Saturday unwinding and relaxing. Sunday came just like we expected.

News was already out about my high school graduation, so I got called up in front of the church with this year's crop of high school graduates. Yep! Youngest one up there. That's me. And a few people knew about my college plans. Mizz Ann and Mister Jim knew about my week at Auburn and so did a few of their friends, so I got a little recognition over that.

'Dinner on the Grounds' has evolved to an indoor event held in the church's multipurpose building. We got to try some very good food and I saw that Mizz Ann's trophy for best casserole at one of these things meant that she'd overcome some stiff competition. At one o'clock the group got up on stage and we had a good time with the music, sticking with a playlist that did not include some of the rowdy numbers that we played at the park, nor did we do any dance numbers. Dancing is still an iffy proposition at Baptist churches in the South.

Monday. I went to school, just like a normal day, but Dan was supposed to pick me up after lunch so I could go to the graduation rehearsal at the high school. His plan was to turn me loose to go do my thing there while he sat in his truck in the parking lot. That's not 'dead time' for Dan. He brings his computer and dictates documentation, just like he was at an office.

So I'm walking into the high school. I have to check into the office since I'm not officially a student there. I collect a hall pass from the lady at the front desk.

"Would you like to see if Kaitlyn can come join you?" she asked.

"Can she do that?"

"I'm sure she can. I'll call for her."

I few minutes later Kaitlyn walked into the office, smiling. "You're really doin' this!"

"Yes I am!" I smiled. "And you're going to a rival college, right? This might be the last time we can be seen together."

"We're good through Wednesday," she laughed. Kaitlyn was going to University of Alabama. Big college for her, too. Pre-med.

We walked together to the stadium where the graduation was to take place. There was a big platform set up for the speakers and dignitaries and a number of students who were set aside for one honor or another. Kaitlyn and I were both in that group. I followed along as we mingled with the milling crowd of high school seniors. Kaitlyn knows just about everybody. I only know a few.

An announcement over the speakers called for everybody to take their places. That put me and Kaitlyn headed to the stage. As we were looking for our assigned chairs, this HUGE black guy tapped me on the shoulder. Well, I didn't KNOW he was HUGE until I turned around and had to tilt my head back to see his face.

"You dat 'Cindy' girl from da midduh school?"

I was just a little startled, not because he was black. This is Alabama in the 21st century, not 1965, and almost a third of our school is black. What startled me is that he was probably six and a half feet tall, maybe more and had to weigh at least three hundred pounds. It was like addressing a BEAR. "Uh, yeah, that's me!"

"I knew it had to be you." He punched the white guy next to him. "Davis! This is Cindy. She da one dat tutored my little brother so he be playin' nex' year!"

The white guy grinned. "Oh, you're the one they talk about. Scholarship to Auburn an' all that!"

Okay, they were looking at me for GOOD things. I smiled. "Yes, that'd be me!" I looked at the big black guy. "You're JJ's big brother, right?"

He grinned. "Uh-huh. JJ been failin' EVER'THING an' you worked with 'im to pass math! I'm sorry, I'm Demarcus James. This chalky dude is Charles Davis. He the quarterback. Scholarship to someplace nobody ever heard of in Texas. Me, I'm..."

I kept grinning. JJ, that's Jarvon Jemarius James, is a football player and he spent a lot of his time bragging about his big brother who was an all-state defensive lineman who had a scholarship to a big college. "You're all-state defensive lineman," I said. "Your little brother talks about you."

He grinned. "I hope he doin' the same thing I'm doin'. But if you didn't make 'im pass math, he wouldn't. Lemme shake yo' han'."

I shook his hand. It was the size of a dinner plate. And he kept grinning. I shook Charles' hand, too.

"See!" Kaitlyn said, "You're famous!"

That conversation brought in a few others to see what the deal was with the huge black guy laughing with this little tiny redhead. The principal caught up with me.

"Mizz Cindy," he said, "Jim Hardesty told me to take special care of you. I'm assigning Demarcus as your official bodyguard." He laughed. "Ain't nobody gonna mess with Demarcus." He patted Demarcus on the shoulder. "Cindy, all we're gonna do with you in the ceremony is announce your name, and you stand up, and we say a little about why you're here and where you're heading."

We went through the rehearsal. It was a loud, rowdy affair, what with three-hundred-odd high school kids looking at the end of twelve years of school and an upcoming summer vacation for many of them. When it was over, Kaitlyn and I headed out towards the parking lot. With Demarcus by my side. Kaitlyn headed to student parking.

"You don' min' me walking you to your car?" he asked.

"Oh, no. I want my husband to meet you." I could imagine Dan's expression. I knew Dan wasn't a prejudiced person, just that Demarcus was, well, so HUGE!"

"Yeah, JJ tol' me you was married. How's that working fo' you?"

"Perfect. Wonderful. Happy. You'll meet my husband. You'll see what MY soulmate looks like."

Dan was alerted by the sudden outflow of high school humanity, so he was watching for me. I know my Dan's face, so I can read his changes even though they might be subtle. He got what he calls his 'WTF' (I don't say the words) look, the less obvious, public, version when he saw me and my escort. He got out of the truck.

Dan's six feet two inches tall. He doesn't have to look up to many men, but HE had to look up at Demarcus.

"This is Demarcus James, baby. I helped his brother JJ get through math this year. Demarcus, this is Dan Richards, my husband."

Demarcus has a great smile. I know. Stereotype, right? No, silly! Contrast. White teeth. Dark skin. He smiled at Dan. Dan smiled back. "Glad to meet you, Demarcus."

"Ah'm pleased a meet you, too, sir," he said. "I jus' had to see Cindy's husband. JJ talked about her a lot."

Dan smiled as I stood by him. "Oh, Cindy gets a lot of people to talking."

"Demarcus has a scholarship, baby. To Florida State."

Demarcus got this big grin. "I know, Mister Dan. You're thinkin' poetry. Da boy be a poet!"

Dan laughed. "Well, I'm thinkin' that between sonnets, you ought to go scare the hell out of the football team."

Demarcus laughed out loud. "You got it, suh! I gotta go. It's nice meetin' y'all. Cindy, I'll see you on stage Wednesday night!" He walked, no, make that 'lumbered' off. Well, not really. All-state defensive linemen move with some sort of grace that I can't describe.

"What'd you think of my new friend, baby?"

"That's the biggest human being I've ever seen," Dan said. "Man!"

That evening I told THAT story to the sisterhood, made sure everybody was on board with the travel plans, and relaxed with the Sommers sisters for dinner.

Chapter 63

Dan's turn:

Tuesday of a tumultuous week. Today was 'graduation day' for middle school. I question the need to 'graduate from middle school' in the first place, because it's not the end of anything. You don't stop your education in middle school, not if you want to do anything above menial tasks.

Cindy was excited, though. Yesterday was the rehearsal for high school graduation and Cindy had to be there for that. Excited? Yes, Cindy is excited. She was excited last week, too, after four days of interviews and tests at Auburn, culminating in a very favorable outcome. Cindy has tested and interviewed out of a lot of college courses and from what Mizz Patel said, I'm looking at this little redhead propped up on the sofa with her laptop, doing who knows what, and at the age of fourteen she's a couple of years from getting a degree that I didn't get until I was twenty-three. Of course, I couldn't go toe-to-toe with two professors from the university's math department, either.

We sent out for barbecue to be delivered to the park office and shared lunch with Helen and Charlie.

"I'm having Eletha fix us up a big meal. You said everybody's coming in for Wednesday," Charlie said.

"We could just go to a restaurant," I countered.

"Oh, come on, son. You know what it's going to be like any place you decide to go on Wednesday?"

"Yessir, you're right, there."

"So just everybody come over for early dinner, then we'll all troop to the school."

"Baby," Cindy said. Yeah, after nine months in each other's arms, I was 'baby' to a fourteen year old, and I was quite happy with that status. I was also happy with her sense of decorum. She did not flaunt our marriage in general company, not until she knew her company. With Charlie and Helen, we were family, and she could be 'baby' to me and I could be 'baby' to her.

"Baby," she said, "I think that's a good plan. It's a chance for everybody to meet Mister Charlie and Mizz Helen, and it makes life easier. That way, we graduate me, then Thursday we fly up to Tennessee for Susan and Tina's graduation, then get up Saturday morning and fly back to Louisiana for Nikki's."

Mizz Helen said, "It's a good thing you all can fly. That Tennessee to Louisiana trip would be a killer. You could make it if you drove all night. Or all day."

"Yes, ma'am," I said. "I knew that some day it would pay off."

"Got a way to haul your cutie around the countryside," Charlie said.

"Best part of life, ever," I said. "That I have this cutie to haul." I emphasized that statement by hauling Cindy against me. She tossed her arm around my waist.

"Only thing is, I wish my sister-in-law could've made it. Tootie, you know. But her father-in-law's in the hospital so she's kind of committed there." Cindy sighed. "I wanted her to be here."

"Maybe for your college graduation," Helen said.

"Uh, yeah ... Two years from now," I laughed.

"There's a picture," Charlie said. "Cindy, darlin', you should've heard the Wednesday morning old lawyers' club when I told them about you. One of my old cohorts wanted me to talk to you about changing to study law. I told him that last thing the world needed was a REALLY SMART lawyer." He chuckled at his own joke. "But if you EVER gave that a thought, you tell me. I know some people who'd roll out a red carpet for you."

"Stop, that, Mister Charlie," Cindy squealed. "Mizz Helen, your husband is tryin' ta turn my head!"

"Stoppit, Charlie!" Helen laughed.

Still giggling, Cindy tugged me by the hand, headed to the door. "Six o'clock! Middle school!" she said over her shoulder. Walking hand in hand towards the trailer, she giggled softly. "We have plenty of time. I need something that will make me relax."

"Make you relax?" I asked. I pretty much KNEW what she had in mind.

Green eyes twinkled affirmation as I opened the trailer door to let her in. By the time I had the door locked behind me, she was at the foot of the bed, undressing. Giggling, she said, "Dan, you know it's not just about sex, but..."

She squealed as I rolled her over onto her back. "Get your clothes off, guy," she squealed. "You can't do ANYTHING with clothes on."

I buried my face between her thighs. Her breath escaped with a hiss. "Ohhhhh. There is THAT!" And another long sigh, her pelvis moving against my tongue.

I stood, stripping my clothes off. She sat up, 'helping', which meant that there were a couple of times my knees almost buckled. I have a million reasons to be happy with my Cindy. One of them is that she knows every sexual button on me, and happily pushes them all.

An hour later, the score was Cindy - 4, Dan - 2 and we shared a little nap in each other's arms. We ate a light snack, then a couple of showers occurred. After that, I was in my 'businessman engineer' uniform: slacks, matching sports coat, shirt and tie. Cindy was Cindy. In a purple academic robe with white trim, the high school colors. I whipped the camera out and got pictures. Lots of pictures.

Got to the middle school. Cindy was the only purple in a sea of blue and gold polyester gowns. Blue and gold were the colors of her middle school, but between Dan Hardesty and Mister Bresser, the principal, they decided that Cindy, middle school student, should be in her high school colors to emphasize exactly how special she was.

Oh, I was plenty proud. It bothered me not at all to endure the squeals and laughter of a long succession of her classmates who came up to greet her, and I was personally happy to be greeted by name by so many of her teachers, and a few of the parents, including the Spears, Don and Barbara.

I had the big camera, already mounted on a collapsible tripod, and I took pictures of them with Kayla and Cindy, then set the timer and took several of me standing beside them, my Cindy in front of me That got me an avalanche of "Cindy, can we get a picture with you?" and an equally long list of email addresses to forward them to.

I reaped one of the advantages of having Charles Peebles, District Judge Emeritus, as a father-in-law. VIP seating. That was good. The tripod went up in front of me. I guess there were a few hundred cameras in the place, moms and dads taking pictures of their little snowflakes. I was taking pictures of my wife.

Okay, middle school graduation. They didn't have those when I was in middle school, but today EVERYBODY is special, and we have a ceremony and present an award at every turn of the calendar. The band and chorus did a pretty good job of the national anthem. A Presbyterian minister did his best to deliver an invocation without actually, you know, INVOKING any recognizable deity.

It was Principal Bresser's time in the spotlight. He greeted the assembled crowd, introduced the evening's speaker, a state assemblyman, who, thankfully, spoke briefly. He introduced a bevy of students who achieved 4.0 grade averages in middle school. My Cindy wasn't one of those. Until THIS year.

He introduced the school's all-star athletes, including JJ James, smiling tonight. Cindy was sitting next to him, his six foot plus football-player bulk making her look all the more tiny. JJ. I met his older brother, Demarcus. It was like addressing a huge, good-natured bear. I could only imagine what JJ would look like in four years when HE was a high school senior. We'd seen Demarcus and some family winding through the crowd on the way into the building.

Finally, Mister Bresser came to my favorite subject, Cindy. "Folks, this is Cindy Richards. She would be graduating from middle school this year with the rest of her class, but you notice that Cindy's wearing the wrong colored robes. Most of you know that green and white is the high school's colors. That's because tonight, Cindy is a middle school graduate. Tomorrow night she will be on the stage at the high school stadium, where she will graduate from high school. And she has a full academic scholarship to Auburn University, a particularly fine institution. I know. I graduated from it. I just wish I would have hit it like Cindy has."

Then he went through the faculty, and finally read through the long list of names, presenting each student with a certificate attesting to them having completed eight grades of school. And then it was over.

Heading out the door, we saw no need to hurry. It was a big crowd. Angling gently forward, a hand touched my shoulder. I turned, eye-level with the chin of Demarcus James.

"Hello, Mistuh Richards," he said. "Hello little Cindy!"

"Hi, Demarcus," I replied. Standing next to him was his younger brother, JJ, fresh off the stage where he'd sat with Cindy. And hovering near the two of them was a black woman who had all the earmarks of 'Mom'.

My suspicions were confirmed. "Mistuh Richards, Miss Cindy, dis our mom!"

Okay, I had to stop for that one. "Hello, mother of JJ and Demarcus, I'm Dan!"

"Hello," she said. "I'm Janita. I've heard a bit about Cindy, right, JJ?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said. "She saved me."

"Uh-huh," Mizz Janita said. "Boy let hisself get behin' in math, and Lord knows, that ain't my subject. Then 'is grades started comin' back up. I aksed 'im what dat was. And he tol' me dis little white girl was helpin' him an' some others." She touched Cindy's cheek. "Cindy, if JJ ain't said it enough, I'm givin' you a mama's thank you."

"Oh, gosh, Mizz James," Cindy said. "How could I NOT help 'im? I knew the stuff and he wanted to learn. Said 'is momma would be so disappointed if he failed." Cindy grinned at Demarcus, a move that meant she had to turn her head skyward. "An' 'is big brother would kill 'im."

By the time we found a clear spot in the crowd, Cindy, Demarcus, JJ and Miss James huddled together and I took pictures. Finally a good Samaritan took my camera so I could be in the shots. Cindy had a lot of friends, and I had a camera-full of similar shots, but none had the physical presence of me, Cindy, Huge Demarcus, only slightly less imposing JJ, and their mom, smiling brightly.

We didn't get in a hurry to leave, not with all the cars that were destined to leave the overcrowded parking lot. Cindy and I found Charlie and Helen, meeting up with Barbara and Don. Don, of course, knew Charlie, having tried cases before his bench.

We all chatted. My wife and Kayla were appropriately giggly for a pair of fourteen year olds. Both of Kayla's parents were interested in Cindy's Auburn exploits. Don pulled me aside.

"Buddy, do you realize how impressive that is?"

"Tell me about it," I said. "She went head to head with a couple of professors from the mathematics bunch. Do you know what that would be like?"

"I can't even begin to imagine," he laughed. "And if I did, it'd be some sort of nightmare."

"Myself," I replied. "I busted my hump to get my engineering degree. Math wasn't easy. And that little redhead there looks at it and says, 'Well, duh! It's like 2+2=4. What else COULD it be?'. Stuff that I spend nights and weekends to learn."

The little redhead in question sidled up beside me and took my hand. "Mister Don, when Dan tells me that, I get nervous. I don't wanna be some kind of freak."

"Hon," Don said, "You're no way a freak. Gifted in a way that we just can't imagine. But not a freak."

"Oh, no, Cindy," Kayla said. "Freaks are weird. They don't get along with others. You're everybody's friend, if they want to be a friend."

"Thanks, Kayla," Cindy said. "You make me feel good when you tell me that."

"Well, if I hadn't been so stuck up at the beginning of the school year, we could've got me an 'A' in math that first six weeks, and I'd have a perfect 4.0. So we can't be talkin' about people who don't have their heads on straight." Kayla giggled. "Mom says I learned a lesson. And it wasn't math."

Barbara smiled at me. "Precious daughter takes a big step up the maturity ladder, Dan."

The result of that statement was a smile from Cindy. "I got a friend out of the deal," Cindy said.

"Yeah, but my friend's not gonna be with me next year in high school," Kayla said.

"But you can do this stuff on your own. And you have friends who can help. Y'all just get together and do it," Cindy said. "'Sides, there's Skype and email and texting. And we will come back here, you know."

Don said, "And you better make sure that you two let us know when you visit, too,"

"Oh, we will," I said. Seeing the traffic leaving the parking area thinning our, we made our way to the truck and then drove off.

I gave my little cutie a squeeze. "Milestone, baby," I said. "I'm married to a real, live, middle school graduate!"

She squeezed back. "And a very happy one, at that, and I know how we can be even happier." She held my hand up to her mouth, kissed it, then gave it a little bite.

I knew what that meant, but I also knew that I owed a certain little someone a real chocolate malt, product of a mom and pop drive-in. by this time she'd discarded the robe and was down to the Cindy I adored, wearing jeans and a cotton shirt. Seeing her sitting beside me, sucking the thick malt through a straw, eyes laughing, I was very happy. But I don't think I was happier than Cindy.

Finally home, we hung clothes and ran the routine of showers and ended up in at giggly tangle on the bed, adding the magic of lovemaking to all the other happiness of the day. Finally we settled in together to sleep.

I was assisted into slumber with a soft kiss. "Dan Richards, you have no idea how much this all means to me. You made my world magic."

"Oh no, little love. You were a little magical thing just waiting to be turned loose on the world."

"And neither of us knew this when we started."

"Mmmm-hmmm. I knew you were magic on a lot of levels, little one," I said. "Good night."

"Good night, love," she said softly, underscoring her words with her body softly snuggling against mine.

The morning was a rare one in the middle of the week for us, in that we didn't have to react to the alarm clock. Instead, I eased out of bed to make a bathroom call, felt her stir, and when I crawled back in bed, she sleepily tugged me over to face her, then buried her face into my chest. Very pleasant. Her movements told me she was drifting between sleep and awake, so I cuddled her gently for a while until she moved upward and her lips met mine.

"Good morning, Dan Richards. Today's the day your wife graduates from high school."

"Why yes it is!" I said. "And if you get dressed, we will start our day with some pancakes."

Giggle. "You know what makes me tick!"

"I have observed your face upon the presentation of pancakes."

"Second happiest thing that's happened this morning," she said. "First was that snuggle when you got back in bed." She was laying out another pair of jeans and a blouse for the day. Soon we were dressed and out the door.

The breakfast joint was almost as familiar as the table in our trailer and the waitress asked Cindy about the double graduation. That much of Cindy's life was common knowledge, as were a few other things, including the gold band on the ring finger of her left hand.

"I miss meeting Mister Bill and the bunch here in the mornings," Cindy said.

"Me, too, baby." I sighed. Such was the life of an itinerant engineer. Cindy and I had discussed this. And yes, it always tickled me to see Bill's gruff expression soften noticeably when he saw Cindy, at first, when she was just my young friend, and happily, it continued when she became my wife.

"Dan," he'd told me shortly after the news of my marriage got out, "I know you. You're a good guy. I wish my own daughter'd found somebody like you instead of that car salesman bastard she married. But Cindy's YOUNG and you know we ALL think she's special. You married her, buddy. If you hurt her, I will make you a permanent part of the foundation somewhere." And he was only slightly smiling.

Over the remainder of the months of the project, Bill was a part of our life, Cindy becoming an adopted grand-daughter, more or less.

"Mister Bill will be here today," I said. "Said he'd call us when he got here."

That was part of the frantic pace of the day. Meet Bill, who I would NOT miss. Catch the rest of the gang at the airport. Dinner at Helen and Charlie's. Graduation. Late night get-together with everybody who wanted to show up for it, and I imagined that would be at least me and Cindy and Bill and Helen and Charlie, because we'd see the rest of the company and Cindy's sisterhood tomorrow when we all flew in for the next graduation, this one in Tennessee, for Tina and Susan.

Their ceremony was on Friday evening, so we did get a little respite with Thursday night being open, but 'open' was a relative term. You just KNOW that Cindy and her sisters weren't going to all retreat to their various corners in solitude. I'd already heard the gigglings that presaged formation of a Plan.

At noon we met Bill. Had a happy chat, explained to him the latest dealings with the new company, Cindy's enhancement of the email she sent him about her Auburn exploits.

Late afternoon, we were at the local airfield, sitting in the office, listening to the aviation band radio set to the Unicom frequency. We knew that responsible fliers would announce their intentions to land over this more or less universal channel, and when it broke squelch and said, "Holt traffic, this is Mooney 2-8-3-5 Kilo, five miles west, for landing on one-five," Cindy let out a squeal.

"That's Nikki and HER Dan!"

The radio spoke again, "Uh, Mooney 3-5-Kilo, this is Cessna 6-5-6-7 Golf, ten miles north, landing one-five at Holt." And the voice on that call was female.

"Tinaaaaa!" Cindy squealed.

John Randolph, the airport manager, laughed. "This has GOT to be good! It's been a long time since this place had that kind of traffic."

"Wait'll you see the pilot of that Cessna," I said.

"My sister," Cindy giggled.

"Sister?" John asked.

"Seventeen, married, a cutie. And in the back seat, there's another one, eighteen, getting married next Saturday. And in that Mooney, ANOTHER one. They've adopted one another."

He just shook his head.

"The girls in the Cessna are both licensed, too. Tina, the one on the radio, has her private. Baby, how far along is Susan?"

"Thirty hours, baby."

"There you go, John," I said.

The engine sounds of the approaching Mooney beckoned us outside to watch. The gear came down as they turned onto final approach and then the flaps. I observed a pretty workmanlike touchdown in the first quarter of the runway, and then they taxied toward us.

As the Mooney worked its way toward us, we saw the Cessna on the downwind leg, making a complete circuit.

The propeller on the Mooney had barely stopped turning when Cindy was at the wing, waiting for the door to open.

"Cindeeee," Nikki squealed on exit, leaping off the wing and into her sister's arms.

Cindy added her own, "Nikkieeeeee!"

My namesake exited and I shook his hand. "Hi, Nikki's Dan," I said. I introduced him to John.

"Nice plane," I said. "Pictures don't do her justice."

"Yeah, but I'm still antsy about flying 'er. I only have seventy-something hours, total. I've been warned nineteen times that this is a lot of airplane for me. But I've got a heck of a co-pilot to read the checklists."

"Well, buddy," I said. "I worry about you and that little angel that's strangling Cindy."

"Thanks. I worry about the little angel, too."

"And we're getting ready to add to the mix," I said. "Look!"

Alan's Cessna 182 was touching down.

"I guess he found that kiddie seat for the cargo compartment," I said. You could get an optional seat for the Cessna that gave you room for a kid or two in addition to four adults. Of course, you had to be careful of weight limitations.

"Yeah," Dan G. said. "They'll be traveling light."

True to form, there was an auburn head peering over the instrument panel as the plane taxied up beside the Mooney, and I prepped my ears for another round of squeals as Tina, Susan and the much-anticipated Terri, all four feet and eighty pounds of her, joined in a happy scrum.

That's when Helen pulled up in her full-sized SUV. Helen got out, wearing her 'I manage an RV park' uniform, not bad looking at all for sixtyish, and came over.

Cindy broke loose to handle introductions, marshaling the group over. "Mizz Helen, this is Nikki, An' she belongs to THIS Dan. And this is Tina. She belongs to Alan, and this is their daughter Terri, and this is Susan, an' she belongs to Jason. Or vice versa, you know..." To the assembled group she said, "This is Mizz Helen, my foster mom and one of the most wonderful people on the planet."

"We're gonna give Mizz Helen a ride back to her house. She contributed her SUV to the graduation gang for the night," I said.

"That's mighty nice of you," Alan said, beating me to the comment.

"Oh, it's nothin'," Helen said. "All y'all came down for our Cindy's graduation. This is the least I could do." She smiled, stroking Cindy's hair lovingly. "I did a little better, though. Y'all all come to our house, meet my husband, we'll have dinner, that way you don't have to battle your way through one of the local restaurants. And you can get dressed there, and we can all go to the civic center."

"But we don't want to crowd you," Alan said.

"Trust me," I said. "Cindy says it's like 'Tara' from "Gone With the Wind" except with better plumbing. There's room."

After two planes had been tied down, we put that plan into action. Helen went with Cindy and me in our truck. The rest of the gang all loaded into the big SUV, all seven of them, Terri squeezed in between Tina and Alan, Susan and Jason in the rear seat, and Nikki and her Dan got in the front seat. They followed us to dinner.

Our friends were impressed with Charlie and Helen's house as Cindy gave a little tour, and then we all ended up in the formal dining room.

"I see a table full of stories," Charlie said. "Cindy's kept us up on a little bit of some of them."

Along with a great meal, we shared stories, keeping things light and happy. It wasn't difficult with this bunch.

After dinner, we split up into various groups to tidy up and dress for Cindy's graduation.

This made Helen laugh. "This is a high school graduation in Beanpole, Alabama. All you had to do to dress up is button the side button on your overalls and wear socks."

When the time came to leave, we all took places on the steps at the front entrance of the house. I set up a camera and took the group picture of us all, and there in the center was Cindy in her green robe, trimmed in white.

Another convoy left the house, headed for the local civic center, Helen and Charlie leading the way in his SUV, followed by the gang in Helen's SUV, then Cindy and I in our pickup.

Fortunately for Charlie and Helen, he had a 'handicapped' tag on his SUV and he got a good parking spot. As for the rest of us, high school graduation is probably the single biggest crowd of the year here, and the parking lot was full. We found spots and Cindy and I walked over to catch our gang. Cindy was one of hundreds of green and white gowns.

I apologized to the rest of the gang for my seat in the VIP section, but I didn't feel too bad. We located Bill, he recognized and remembered Alan, and they commandeered a row of seats. I had a front-row seat and a camera with a tripod and a fresh set of batteries and the love of my life was going to be on the stage in front of me and the rest of the whole county.

I've been in combat, real 'those guys want to SERIOUSLY shoot your ASS' combat, and I honestly don't think my heart was beating as hard when we crossed the line of departure as it was when I sat next to Mizz Helen and watched MY Cindy ascend the steps to take her seat on the stage.

I caught the expression on her face as she did a quick survey of the view from the stage and her eyes met mine. And twinkled. And a little wave of her fingers, and she was in full 'out-shining the sun' grin.

It was time. All the dignitaries were in place, faculty, notable students, my head was whirling, I had trouble doing details. The principal approached microphone.

"Please rise for the invocation and our National Anthem."

And then we sat. The alma mater was sung. The valedictorian, a rather thin brunette girl, gave her speech, touching on the requisite points of "this is the end of the beginning" and "thank you, all our teachers, we will never forget" and such.

Then the principal introduced the academic notables, the salutatorians, talking about four point oh averages and who had scholarships and where they were going. And then he got to the athletes, yes, including the hulking, good-natured grinning Demarcus James. "Athletic scholarship, University of Florida", the principal said. "We tried to keep him in Alabama, but his horizons have expanded."

A couple more after that, and then he came to the single most important subject in the world, my Cindy. "And the last, most unusual, and especially notable, is Mizz Cynthia Smith-Richards, Cindy. Many of you don't recognize Cindy from high school, because her entire high school career was ONE WEEK. Last night, Miss Cindy graduated from the Middle school up the road. Tonight she graduates from high school. And in the fall, she enters Auburn University in advanced placement status. Cindy, stand for the people!"

Cindy stood, all five feet three inches of her, face beaming, and she raised her right hand and waved. And she looked directly at me and winked.

I have it on the camera. It's somewhere in about a thousand pictures, but I have it.

The remainder of the ceremony consisted of passing out diplomas and took some amount of time, but it was finally over. As you might imagine, it was another madhouse getting away from there, but we reconnected with the gang and Mister Bill and after much patience got away from the place.

My cellphone rang. I looked. Helen.

"Yes, ma'am," I said.

"Dammit, Dan, don't call me 'ma'am'," she laughed. "Me an' Charlie just drove past the diner. You can't even get off the road, the parking lot is so full. Call the bunch and have 'em come to the house. I still remember how to use a kitchen."

"Okay," I said.

Cindy looked at me. "Helen? She wants us to go to their house, right?"

"Yep."

"Lemme call Nikki and get them headed that way." She punched her phone. Said one word. "Nikki!"

That was easy enough. I get the feeling that Bill has been in some pretty impressive digs, because he wasn't awed by Charlie's home. We guys sat in the huge sitting room while the ladies assaulted the kitchen, returning some time later with coffee and carrot cake.

"We didn't make the carrot cake," Helen said. "Eletha left us a note. Said she was sorry she missed Cindy's graduation, but she knew how things worked and we'd need a cake, and Cindy likes carrot cake."

Cindy beamed.

An hour later, it was time to go. As we stood, though, Bill stopped us.

"Uh, Cindy, one more thing, little darlin'. I talked to Dan. He talked to, uh, Mizz Patel, was it? And they said that a college student needs a good computer. Here's a gift certificate to the Apple store. I understand that this amount will get you the great grand-daddy killer of MacBooks."

Squeal! Bill left with a huge Cindy hug and a kiss on the cheek.

We spread to the four winds, Bill and the rest of the gang heading to the hotel, Cindy and I headed home.

In the truck together, Cindy was uncharacteristically quiet.

"You okay, baby?" I asked.

I felt her shoulders heave in a sigh. "Oh, gosh ... think of it from my perspective, Dan. In ten months, where have I been? Where was I when you met me? Where am I right now? It's almost too much ... God, I love you!"

I stroked her head with my right hand, driving with my left, letting her spend time with her thoughts. We finally pulled alongside our little trailer. She carried her folded gown and mortarboard in one hand, her diploma in the other. I let her into the trailer. She put her burdens down on the tiny table, turned to me, fire came to those green eyes and she said, "How would you like to go crawl in bed with a high school graduate tonight?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Good!" she giggled. "I'm all educated an' stuff an' I got me some ideas!"

Chapter 64

Conclusion

The trailer park was still home base of sorts for us. Yes, we did end up back in Louisiana for a week after Cindy's high school graduation.

Our return to Louisiana was occasion for a full-blown family get-together, too. Cindy wasn't the ONLY one there who'd just graduated from high school. She WAS the only one there with a high school diploma who was too young to drive.

The business was making bumpy lifting motions, too. We three principals, me, Dan Granger and Alan Addison had called every old contact we had in our address books, letting them know what was going on, what we could do, how we would do it, and how much it would cost.

I almost laughed. I knew a few of my old clients who'd be right on board with us and as a matter off fact, while Cindy was doing her slate of interviews at Auburn, I was on my laptop putting together draft documents for two clients. Dan and Alan and I had a lot of work lining up, and there were some rumblings about the possibility of getting Jason and another technician out to a couple of clients.

Of course, I knew that Jason was, first, honeymooning the first part of June, and second, we still had to finalize the second technician.

Our new building in Auburn, Alabama was nearing completion. We figured we could move into new digs in the middle of July. In the interim, Cindy and I had located a little RV park that would take our trailer if we decided to move. I don't think Cindy wanted to move until the last possible moment.

But here we have it. Less than a year. I went from confirmed bachelor to happily married. Cindy went from harried, scared little middle school student to bright, unusual wife and student 'of unclassified standing' at Auburn University.

And spread across three states, we had family and friends, and there at a focal point in Alabama, we had Community.

(Author's note: I had to end this story somewhere. This is the end of 'Cindy' as a separate story. If you've enjoyed her life so far, then I point you to the first chapter of the new story, "Community", published here under my pen name. There you will find Cindy and her sisters.

Thank you for reading,

Oyster)

The End

Posted on 2011-08-17

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