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.
“That’s good, what I want doesn’t
require a lot of speaking.” He said laughing.