DOWN THE ROAD

Jeff rode home with Curtis and the kids went with Jon so that Kaye Leigh could do some grocery shopping. When she was pulling out of the church parking lot, she saw Morgan crossing the street. Kaye Leigh parked the car and called through the window to her.

Morgan stopped and turned. She had decided to stay in Peace Ridge for a while; she had not expected to run into Kaye Leigh so soon.

“Kaye Leigh.” She replied walking over to the truck.

“What are you still doing here?” Kaye Leigh asked.

“Oh, I decided not to go home yet. Sam is gone and I just thought I could use a vacation from everything.” Morgan said evasively.

“Well if I had known you were still here I would have invited you to church.” Kaye Leigh said smiling. “How long are you staying?”

“I will probably leave tomorrow morning.” Morgan replied.

“Well I need to get going so have a good day.” Kaye Leigh told her.

“You too.” She said.

Morgan watched her leave thinking that Kaye Leigh seeing her still in town would work well to her advantage. She laughed as she walked back to her hotel.

When Kaye Leigh got home, there was a note that the kids had gone to Jon’s house, and Jeff said he had to go to the office for something. Kaye Leigh decided to go for a ride. She went upstairs and changed her clothes, then headed out to the stable. Curtis was there already.

“Why do we always meet here?” she asked him.

“Apparently we’ve both got a ride in mind.” He said getting Skye ready for her, his horse was already saddled.

“Let’s go up to the meadow.” Kaye Leigh said as they headed out.

“Sounds good to me.” He replied.

Kaye Leigh and Skye knew the trail so well they could ride it with their eyes closed. She had found the trail shortly after starting the ranch and had started coming here whenever she needed time alone. It was one of her favorite places.

“Why did Jeff have to go into the office?” Curtis asked breaking into her thoughts.

“I’m not sure, he didn’t say.” She replied. “Maybe he needed to go over some charts.”

“Maybe.” Curtis replied lazily.

When they got to the meadow, they dismounted and let the horses graze. Kaye Leigh sat down by a tree and Curtis lay in the grass looking up at the bright blue sky.

“Hey guess who is coming in Tuesday?” Kaye Leigh said excitedly.

“No clue.” He said laughing at her; she looked like a kid getting a present.

“Becki.” She announced.

“Oh really?” he replied.

“Don’t act so excited Curtis.” Kaye Leigh said.

“I’m excited want me to do a cartwheel to show that I am?” he asked.

“Sure, but let me get my phone ready to call for an ambulance.” She replied laughing. They sat in the meadow talking for a couple of hours.

Morgan answered the knock on her door; a younger man was standing in the doorway.

“Hello dear.” She said kissing him and moving so he could come into the room. “I was wondering if you would be coming.”

“How could you doubt it, when I saw you I knew that I would be here?” He told her.

“The plan has to be followed just right if we want it to work.” She reminded him. He grabbed her and kissed her.

“I ran into your dear Kaye Leigh.” She told him.

“That should be good for the plan.” He said.

“How long are you here for?” he asked.

“A few weeks then I need to get back to Colorado to get the rest of the plan moving.” She replied.

“Did anyone see you in town?”

“Not anywhere near here.” He assured her. Morgan led him over to the bed. He was not completely hers yet, but he would be soon enough.

“Stay with me tonight.” She begged him.

“I’ll be missed if I’m not back, you know that honey.” He said. “So let’s not waste our time talking.”

Morgan was watching him from her bed; he was a very handsome man, physically fit and tan. She could love him very easily. He was walking around gathering his clothing.

“Come back to bed with me.” Morgan said.

“I need to get back before I am missed too much. We will be together a lot while you’re here don’t worry.” He said leaning down and kissing her. He liked Morgan but one woman took his heart as soon as he laid eyes on her and he needed to return to her.

Morgan laid in bed going over her plan, it would work she was sure of it everything was going good. A few more months and she would have him and everything Kaye Leigh had, and Kaye Leigh would be crying and devastated in what was left of her perfect world. She felt no guilt over her deception, Kaye Leigh deserved what she was about to get.

“See you later.” He said kissing her good-bye.

“See you soon.” Morgan replied.

When Jeff got home, he had seen Kaye Leigh’s note that she had gone riding. He hurried upstairs to clean up and change. When he got out of the shower, he looked at his reflection in the mirror and wondered how he could be doing this. He had never kept anything from Kaye Leigh, he did not feel bad he was doing it, but he did feel bad because he kept it from her and he did not want her to catch him.

“Jeff.” He heard Kaye Leigh call.

“Up here.” He answered.

Kaye Leigh went up to the room where she heard his voice come from. “Hey, I missed you, are you just getting home?” she asked putting her arms around his waist and looking at him in the mirror.

“I missed you too. Yes, I’ve been home maybe fifteen minutes.” He said turning to face her.

“You’re so beautiful Kaye Leigh.” He said kissing her.

“You know the kids won’t be home for a while.” She said looking at him. He laughed and picked her up.

They had had a great afternoon, and were sitting out on the porch talking when the kids came home.

“Hey guys did you have a good time?” Kaye Leigh asked.

“Yes!” all of them said at once.

“Of course they did I am the world’s best uncle.” Jon said.

“What about Rich?” Kaye Leigh asked.

“Yeah like he cares about us.” Josh said.

“He does care, he’s just really different.” Kaye Leigh said.

“Yeah he’s loads of fun.” Jon said laughing.

“I need to be getting home love you guys.” He said waving at them.

“Bye Jon we love you too.” Kaye Leigh said.

After dinner and devotions by the time, everyone got upstairs in bed it was almost eleven. Kaye Leigh went and cleaned up the kitchen and straightened up the other rooms. On her way up to bed, she stopped in each of the kids rooms, straightened up what she could, and kissed each of them. She loved to watch them sleep, they were so peaceful.

When she got to their bedroom, she thought Jeff would be asleep so she opened the door quietly.

“About time you got up here.” He said when she shut the door.

“I thought you would already be sleeping.” She said as she went to change her clothes. When she finished she climbed into bed and lay down next to him.

“I like to fall asleep with you in my arms.” He told her pulling her close.

Jeff was at work and she had a house full of kids, all the kids had gathered at her house today. Kaye Leigh loved to watch the kids interact, especially when they did not know she was watching. All the kids thought she was a “cool mom”. Kaye Leigh made some snacks, poured drinks, and put them on the kitchen table for the kids.

“I’m going out to the stable for a few minutes if you need me.” She told them.

Tim was in the stable when she got there.

“Hi boss.” He said.

“Hi Tim how are you today?” she replied.

“Great, it’s a beautiful day, I’ve got a job I love what more could I ask for?” he said smiling.

“I’m glad you like your job.” Kaye Leigh said laughing. “Have you seen Curtis?”

“He went out this morning, I haven’t seen him come back yet, and I’m not sure where he was going.” Tim said.

“Thanks.” Kaye Leigh said. She walked to Skye’s stall. “Hey there, how’s my baby today?” she said patting Skye.

“You know I think you like that horse more than Jeff.” Curtis whispered. Kaye Leigh jumped; she had not heard him come in.

“You scared me. Of course I don’t, but she’s my baby and she needs me.” Kaye Leigh replied laughing at him.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to startle you. Jeff needs you too.” He replied.

“Not really he could live without me although I don’t know how.” She told him. Curtis laughed.

“What’s on your agenda for today?” he asked.

“Getting ready for Becki to come tomorrow, do you want to go to the airport with me?” Kaye Leigh asked him.

He looked at her then said “Sure why not.” He was trying not to look too excited.

“We’ll have to leave by eight.” She told him.

“I’ll be there.” He said.

“I need to get back up to the house, I have a house full of kids, and I’m afraid if I’m gone too long I won’t have a house left.” She said. “See you later Curtis.”

“Bye boss.” Curtis said.

Kaye Leigh had cleaned the house and made sure Becki’s room was ready. She was really hoping that something would happen between Becki and Curtis so that Becki would stay in Texas. She was glad that Curtis agreed to go with her to the airport, that way the ride to El Paso would not be that bad.

She had just started dinner when Jeff came in.

“Hi sweetheart.” He said.

“Hi yourself.” She said. She went to him, hugged, and kissed him.

“How was your day?” she asked.

“Good, but extremely busy.” He told her.

“We’re going to eat outside since we have all the extra kids today.” She said.

“Ok, I’m going to run upstairs and change then I’ll be back down to help.” He said.

Jeff was back down in about ten minutes.

“I’ll make the salad.” He said taking the stuff to the other counter. Curtis came in.

“Need any help?” he asked.

“Sure can you take the plates and stuff outside for me.” Kaye Leigh said handing him a stack of plates. When everything was ready, they gathered outside and ate.

“We’re going to have a great football team this year.” One of the boys said.

“It’s going to be awesome dad.” Dan said excitedly.

“You guys will be there won’t you?” someone asked.

“We’ve never missed a game yet.” Kaye Leigh said.

“Yeah mom is the loudest one.” Josh said laughing.

“Well just for that this year I am going to be using some of your nicknames.” She said laughing.

“Please no!” Josh yelled shaking his head. “Dad don’t let her, she’ll ruin me.”

“I can’t control her mouth Josh; if I could she’d be a lot quieter.” Jeff said laughing. Curtis laughed.

“Oh ok I understand now, I won’t say anything, we’ll see how far your team gets without my support. As for you two, I’m not speaking to either of you.” Kaye Leigh said trying to sound hurt. “I’m leaving now; I know when I’m not wanted.” Kaye Leigh got up and started for the house.

“You’re wanted really; we just don’t want to hear you.” Curtis said. She went into the house with their laughter following her.

Kaye Leigh was cleaning up the kitchen when Jeff and Curtis came inside.

“Need some help?” Jeff asked.

“I might talk too much.” She said smiling at him.

“We’ll just grab some ear plugs.” Curtis said. Kaye Leigh threw a towel at him.

“I won’t be talking anymore tonight.” She said. They laughed at her.

When they finished, Curtis left and they did devotions with all the kids before they went home. Once the other kids were gone, they sat down in the living room to watch a movie.

“What time are you leaving tomorrow?” Jeff asked her. Kaye Leigh pretended not to hear him.

“Hello?” he said.

“You can’t just ignore me.” He said while poking her in the side. She was trying not to laugh.

“You’ll break soon I know it.” He said tickling her.

“Ok stop!” she said laughing. The kids were laughing too. “Curtis and I are leaving at eight.” She said.

“You asked Curtis to go and not me?” he replied.

“I want Curtis and Becki to get together, plus I didn’t think you would want to take the whole day off to go get her.” She told him.

“You’re right, but I am taking half the day though.” He said.

After the movie, everyone went to bed.

“What are the kids doing tomorrow?” Jeff asked.

“They are going to the lake with David’s parents again.” Kaye Leigh replied. “I can’t wait to see Becki.”

“Me either, she needs to visit more.” Jeff replied.

“Oh I forgot I’m not speaking to you.” Kaye Leigh said smiling.