(((I'll have to do that tomorrow, cause I have to get off, I got grounded to only 30 minutes of time on the computer and it is past the time I have to sleep. So I have to go))))
Dusty looked at Caleb and rolled her eyes as he was talking to one of the girls. "Alright now there are two ways we can do the chore lists. I can assign them. Or you can go put your name by one." She said motioning towards a clipboard on the barn. Everyone started walking towards it guys pushing to the front. "WAIT!" She called. They froze, "One thing you guys, and I mean males, need to learn right fast. Your not in the city any more where women aren't taken care of. Here girls go first, sometimes I might let y'all go first. But one thing you need to learn is to be curityous. And letting them go first is a starter. Girls, you are NOT to take advantage of this, I will make you get last in line even behind the other hands if you do. Now, there is a section on that list that the girls are aloud to sign up for and there is a section for guys. They are seperated like they are so that a task wont be to hard. There is also a section of ones that a guy or a girl can do. So now please sign up on hte list. THere is just the right number of chores for the number of people. So every slot better be filled in. Go." She dismounted and ground hitched Broc. The hands walked over and she looked towards the bus then them.
"This'll be an interesting group." She sighed, "Make sure everyone has their stuff packed and then we'll head out."
(((Don't drop out, we're still at the ranch. THe visitors are putting their names on the chores they are going to do then we will head out to the wide open country. )))
**Don't worry, TN, I'm not stealing your guy but it would be out of character for Alicia to not flirt **
Alicia
"Guess I better go sign up then," Alicia decided, blowing a kiss towards Caleb and laughing as he stared after her. She walked past Jude with a wink and waited calmly while the line of girls diminished. She was almost last to sign up.
Picking up the pen, Alicia pouted at the list. All the easiest of the chores - cooking, unsaddling horses - had been taken. But she wasn't a stranger to hard work and she decided that digging the temporary latrines would be no harder than setting up the tents. It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it, she giggled to herself. And better than being the one to cover them back up when we're moving on.
While the boys and then the hands were making their decisions, Alicia collected her bag --how thoughtful of him to place it right next to Megan!-- and opened it carefully, extracting a pair of trousers that she slipped on under her dress and changing her sandals for a good, stout pair of riding boots.
He shook his head and pulled his pack up onto Tux. Had he been less country and more city, he would have rolled his eyes at Alicia's actions with Caleb, but instead he just ignored it.
He glanced over to her and raised a brow to her changing, "Hasn't anyone ever introduced you to a changing room?"
She gave an intriquing head tilt, "It's much more fun this way." Pulling on her boots she turned her feet like a model, "Is this better for you?" She was sarcastic, yet taunting with her words.
Jude laughed a bit, leaning back on Tux and looking over her boots. Clean, unstained--he was not surprised, "Sure, did you buy them yesterday?" He smiled and chuckled again, glancing to his own boots that were probably too dirty for his own good.
***Ok, I had written up a long post, then my thing shut it down. :'(, SO let's try this again and hope it works out better. The hands don't have to sign up for chores though because they will do what is left and then help all the others do theirs too. They will be busier then the visitors most of the time. I know that you weren't Kitty, though she should make it interesting. ***
Dusty---
Dusty watched as everyone slowly moved to their horses. She put her saddle bags up on her saddle patting Broc gently. He got anxcious. He knew what they were going to do and he couldn't wait. She tied her blanket roll, wind breaker, and extra rain coat onto the back of her saddle. She checked her girth and then slipped her rifle sheath onto her horn tying it to the saddle. She walked to her truck and pulled her remodled WINCHESTER 1897 RIOT GUN out of it and slipped it in her sheath. She walked to chuck wagon leading Broc with her so that no one would mess with the rifle.
She had packed a trunk that was in the cook wagon with the medicine kit, extra blankets, a water pump/purifier if they couldn't find good water. A few containers of extra water, and anythign else they might need. SHe had her extra ammo in it along with some on her saddle. She locked her other rifle in the box on the chuck wagon, it was a Winchester Super X Rifle. All the hands had a rifle or two for hunting and protection if they needed it. She favored these two rifles though because she found them to be the best for her. She grabbed the extra ammor for the one on her saddle and hooked the small pouch of over a hundered ammo rounds on the saddle horn securly. She tied down the gun making sure it wouldn't come out and then mounted. Cookie walked over and smiled,
"This should be entereting." He laughed,
"Why, it's like every other year." She smiled down at him.
"I can just sense it will be." He smiled, "I'm gonna get movin. I'll meet you at the first camp site." He laughed getting onto the wagon and getting it moving.
"Alright eveyone, hurry up and make sure you have everything. Me or one of the hands will check your saddle to make sure everything is right then we'll be leaving." She called. She moved towards the first saddled horse to check it.
I sighed as I watched the BOYS try to act all macho and impress the other ladies that had come along. This happened every year. someone should tech them some manners. I went over to Dusty and helped her check girths. "Are you sure I can't stay behind and look after the ranch? what if your dad needs an extra hand?" I asked, reasonably.
"You know just as well as I do that he won't need the extra hand. By the end of this I'll be the one needed ten extra hands." She sighed, "If you really don't want to go then I guess find someone that does. But I need your help, Caleb, you know how to ride in these mountains as well as I do. Everyone of the hands that are coming with us were picked because they are the best in certain areas and are really really good in the rest. I can't make you come on this trip, but I need your help."
I sighed. I couldn't argue with her. I had fallen in love with her since the first day I saw her. "If you promise not to turn those gorgeous eyes on me anymore, then I'll come. but only for you." I strode off and mounted my horse, watching the campers closely.
Dusty looked after Caleb surprised, he'd never talked to her like that. She ran a hand through her hair then shoved her hat back on. She couldnt' think about it now, she had to get everyone ready. But that was all she could think about. She finished checking the saddles as did the rest of the hands. They helped some of the people mount then mounted themselves.
"Let's go!" She hollered. Broc pawed the ground, she needed to run him, but she dind't want anyone to think she was showing off. She bit her lip and rode over to Sammy, "I need to let Broc let lose some steam. I...." She didn't get to say more because one of the visitors screamed as her horse took off into an all out gallop her legs pounding his sides as she pounced. Dusty immediatly pushed Broc after her. SEveral of the guy visitors started after her too and Dusty wanted to yell at them but she had to catch the runaway first. Broc picked up speed as she leaned over his neck a little more. THey caught the girl and horse swiftly and she grabbed the girl's reins pulling back as Broc slowed down. He was used to the runaway chases.
I cursed under my breath and spurred Magic after the stupid camper boys. "Hey, ya'll, what do you think your doing?!" I blew out, trying to calm myself. I pushed Magic in front of them, effectively cutting their horses off. The horses slowed, then stopped, standing still. "Show offs." I muttered. "You boys need to go back to the group. dusty's got it under control." They turned their horses around reluctantly.
Dusty looked at the girl, tears were streaming down her face.
"I-I-I didn't mean to do that." She said wiping at the tears.
"I know, the only reason he kept going was because you didn't keep your feet still, you'll get the hang of it. Do you want to get a different horse?" She asked,
"No, it was my fault." THe girl said,
"Alright," Dusty smiled. She waved to the group letting everyone know it was time to go. She would wait for them here.
"I like to keep my clothes clean," Alicia replied, a twinkle in her eye as she eyed Jude's boots in mock disgust. He laughed at her and they both turned to watch as one of the girls broke away from the group, screaming as her horse galloped away. As the boys surged forward, Jude rode towards Caleb but paused before he reached him, seeing that he had the situation under control.
Alicia watched Dusty ride after the girl, admiring how casually she caught the other horse and how carefully and gently she led the girl back towards the group. I think I'm going to like these people, she decided.
"This way!" Jude called out as Dusty signalled for them to proceed. Alicia coaxed Megan into a gentle walk and smiled as Jude dropped back again.
"What puts her in charge then?" Alicia asked, rolling her eyes at the boys who were urging their horses to move that bit faster, reigns held loosely in one hand.
"Dusty? She's a good rider and knows this place better than anyone. Her father owns the Ranch."
"That's got to be nice, I wouldn't mind working at this place."
"I wouldn't mind owning this place." It was an automatic response from Jude. He rarely admired anyone else based on his own life. He loved his life and he knew it was frivilous to want anyone elses. Jude was not easily coaxed into anything, ever.
He watched the others canter in a line following Dusty. He would follow along side most of the way, keeping the horses under control. Tux was the perfect horse for it and has had much experience doing so. He reached into the front pocket of his sack and pulled out a tank, pulling it on quickly before the trek out.
He glanced to Alicia, raising a brow a bit but still holding a small smile, "Well, Miss Clean Boots, you coming with?"
Your hesitation suggests you are trying to protect my feelings. However, since I have none, I would prefer you to be honest. An artist's growth depends upon accurate feedback. — LCDR Data
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