The Doctor Gets a Visitor V
by: E Walk

(© 2007 by the Author)
Editor Radio Rancher

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...


Chapter 14

Beau Takes Over

The crew going to the Dude Ranch stopped at every other rest stop so the guys could run for ten minutes after Beau and Dylan accompanied them to the bathroom.  They stopped for lunch near Ogallala and had their picnic lunch that Mrs. Wanamaker had packed for them.  They found a table in the pet area and were having a good time when a man came over and asked them not to be so noisy.

Beau looked at the gentleman and said, “Sir, I don’t see a sign that indicates that this is a quiet zone.  In fact, it doesn’t look like you even have a pet so why are you sitting in this area?  You can move if we are disturbing you.  Have a good day.”

Beau turned back to the guys and said in a loud voice, “Come on guys, there are some people here I don’t like very much.  Trey, take Ranger and tell him to go to the bathroom while the rest of us clean up.  Dylan, go with Trey.”

The guys left the area neater than when they arrived.  They stopped one more time before they got to the dude ranch about 5:30.

Carole Anne said, “Let’s stop at the office and let them know that we are here and make sure where everyone is staying.”

They climbed out of the van and went into the office.  “I’m Carole Gordon.  Mr.  Morrison and I will be staying in the main house.  These gentlemen, I believe, have bunk house number one.”

The young man looked up and said, “If they are Beau, Spencer, Jeremy, Chip, Trey, Roddy and Ranger, they are already registered and are indeed in Bunkhouse #1.  Here is a key for each of them.”

Beau spoke up, “I have two questions.  Do we really have to lock the bunkhouse?  Second, do you have a safe or safety deposit box I can put some things in?”

The young clerk said, “There is a small safe in each bunk house in the closet.  All you need to do set the code and only you or those you tell will know how to get in.  Just make sure that you leave it open when you leave next weekend.  Unless you have something you don’t want people to find, then you can leave the door open if you want.”

Beau said, “Okay, so what do we do for food?”

“Chow is being served between 6:00 and 7:00 in the Chow Hall.  You six gentlemen are assigned table #1 with Miss Gordon and Mr. Morrison.”  the young man answered.  “Do you have any other questions?”

Beau looked at him and said, “I have a bunch more questions, but I’ll be back after I see the bunkhouse and eat.”

Beau looked at Carole Anne and Dylan, “Are you going to eat with us?”

“Of course, otherwise we don’t eat.  Why don’t we stop by and pick you guys up at 6:15?”  Carole Anne said, as they dropped the guys at their bunkhouse.

The bunkhouse was like a big suite except that it had three sets of bunk beds.  They had a sitting room with a television and a small refrigerator.  They had their own bathroom with a separate large shower.  Beau had everyone unpack their few things.  The three five years each chose a top bunk.

Beau checked out the safe and set a code.  Everyone who had any money put it in the safe and Beau locked it.  The guys went the bathroom and washed their hands and were sitting on the porch when Carol Anne and Dylan arrived. 

They walked into the Chow Hall and Beau and Trey had Ranger lay down away from the food and the guests but where he would be able to see where the guys were sitting.  They went through the buffet line and were eating when the same man who had approached them while they were eating lunch came up and demanded, “Why do you loud mouths deserve a reserved table when the rest of us have to find our own seats and why is that dog in here?”

Beau stood and said, “This is the owner, Miss Carole Anne Gordon’s table, and we are her guests for the week.  Ranger is here to make sure that none of us is harmed.  He is nowhere near the food or the guests so I suggest you go and sit down so we can enjoy our food.”

Carole Anne said, “Sir, I’m sorry you are unhappy, so if you would to check out, we’ll be glad to give you a full refund but you need to be gone by 9:00 in the morning.”

The gentleman went white and walked away.

When the guys finished their meal, they picked up their plates and utensils and put them into the containers.  The staff didn’t know what was happening and Beau grabbed a cloth and wiped the table and then went to talk to the cook.

“Hey ma’am, them was good eatins.  I can hardly wait to see what’s for breakfast.  We’ll see you in the morning.”  Beau said.

The cook came out and handed Beau a bag and whispered.  “You guys might like these tonight before you go to bed.”

Beau looked at her and winked.

The guys were playing soccer outside their bunkhouse when the same man came by.  “Oh no, you loud mouths live here?”

Chip looked at the man and said, “Sir, we’re bunking in bunkhouse #1 and won’t make any noise after 8:30 unless the Indians attack.  Are you going to the campfire?”

The guys walked away and started toward central area for the campfire.  The guys were seated and the camp manager stood and said, “I’m the Resident Manager of the Dude Ranch, Howard Stephens.  We want to welcome you and tell you about what you can expect while you are here.” 

He ran through a list of items and activities that would be happening throughout the week.  “We are fortunate to have our owner with us this week.  After what has been happening since she and her guests have arrived, I am sure this may turn into a week that none of us will soon forget.  Miss Carole Anne Gordon.”

Carole Anne stood and said, “I’d like to thank you all for visiting with us this week.  I am going to turn the microphone over to the emcee for tonight, Mr. Beau Benson.”

Beau frowned but went up and said, “C. A, what are you doing to me?  I guess you want me to be tarred and feathered the first night here.  I don’t suppose there is anyone with a guitar is there?  It would make it so much easier.  Otherwise, I’ll be running around tapping people on the head to accompany our singing.”

Seeing no volunteers, everyone sit on the ground and I’ll check you out to which note you are as I tap you on the head with stick.”

Mr. Stephens said, “Rick, go get your guitar so Mr. Benson doesn’t make these people black and blue.”

A young man who had been standing away from everyone left and came back with his guitar.  Beau went to him and whispered and the young man shook his head.  Beau came back and said, “Okay we are going to sing some old songs and then I have something special planned.  After three old songs Beau stood and said, “Some of my friends and I are going to sing you a song and we challenge you to sing with us.”

“I would like to introduce Chip Weaver, Trey Crosby, and Spencer Knight.”  Beau said as he led them off to the side.  Rick started to play and Chip led the guys in with their exaggerated strut.  They sang Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  When they finished everyone was standing and applauding and Beau said, “Everyone take your neighbor’s hand and sing with us.”  They sang Home on the Range.

Beau said, “Goodnight everyone.  Tomorrow night is s’mores so you better bring your bibs.  Have a good night and we’ll see you all tomorrow.”

Beau was standing talking to Rick the young guitarist.  Mr. Stephens came and said, “Come on Rick, we need to disappear.”

Beau said, “Mr. Stephens, do you have a problem with your son talking to the guests?  What exactly is your objection?  He is probably one of the biggest assets you have going for you.  With the way he plays the guitar, he’ll be able to provide the guests with lots of entertainment.”

Mr. Stephens said, “But he’s not a paying guest or an employee.  He’s just the guest of an employee.”

“Mr. Stephens, does that make him less than the rest of us?”  Beau turned to Rick and said,

“You will be at my bunkhouse at 6:15 and we’ll go running and then we can plan the rest of the day.  You and your Dad will be eating with us.  If you and you’re Dad aren’t there, your Dad will be looking for a new job.”  Beau said, as he headed toward his bunkhouse.

To say that Mr. Stephens and Rick were astonished would be to put it mildly.  The guys were getting ready for bed.  The three young guys took their showers and put on clean briefs and crawled into their top bunks.  Beau tucked them in and then he and Spencer and Jeremy took their shower.  Beau was sitting in the sitting area reading as the two guys came and sat down on either side of him.

Beau looked at them and asked, “Okay guys, what’s the problem? Something is wrong I can feel it.”

Spencer looked at Beau and said, “Jeremy told me what had happened to him and he said you told him that something similar had happened to you.  I want to know and I want to know now.”

Beau was caught off guard but not for long.  “Guys, my Father used me as Jeremy’s did him.  But then he started to sell me for money.”

Spencer leaned against Beau and started to cry.  Beau said, “Guys, I’m fine. If that hadn’t happened, I would never have had all of you wonderful men to protect me.  You must never tell anyone else something about another person without checking to make sure it is okay.  I am not upset, but we need to protect each other.  Now I suggest we go to bed and see how much trouble we can get into tomorrow.”

Beau hugged both guys and turned out the lights except a night light.

Tommy’s experiences were much different from the other two guys.  The Peoria people had stopped at the Amana colonies and everyone watched as Tommy swam before dinner.  He and Uncle Lyle shared a room.  Uncle Lyle made sure they shared each other’s bodies.  Tommy was on the giving end.

When they got to Peoria, Uncle Lyle had arranged for Tommy to have a suite and they spent the night together.  The two of them got up Sunday morning had a roll and juice and went to pick the ladies up for an early church service.  Tommy was caught totally off guard when the Father announced that Tommy Wilson would be singing The Lord’s Prayer. Tommy of course did a wonderful job and they all enjoyed a nice brunch at a Country Club. 

They drove Tommy to the airport.  After some emotional goodbyes, Uncle Lyle put an envelope into Tommy’s pocket.  “Goodbye Grandson, we’ll see you in late August if not before.  Love you.”

When Jeff and I picked Tommy up at the airport, he was very agitated.  “Dad, Uncle Lyle is paying me not to work during the school year except to baby sit on the weekends if I choose.”

Jeff said, “Good, then you can have our food ready when we get home at night and you can make the honor roll.  Look at it this way, you can play sports all year and still have money to pay for your room and board.”

Tommy started to laugh and said, ‘Jeff, I’m not sure who is worse, you or Beau.”

Jeff said, “Without a question, Beau is much worse than me.”

To be continued...

Feedback always welcome:     

Editor's Notes:

Why do I have the feeling that something very interesting is still set to happen at that Dude Ranch? Is the guy that runs it the Dude Rancher?

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/25/08