Love Refound
by: E Walk
(© 2008 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 8
Adults Can be Humans, Too

When Spring and I went to check in at the stables, we just happened to be assigned to the two stalls next to Trent and Trevor and Doug on the other side.  I started to laugh, “Trevor and Trent did you arrange this?  How often would we have the exact same stall assignments two weeks in row.”

Trevor looked as if he was being accused of murder or something, “Who, us?  Just because I spent all of next month’s allowance so we could watch to make sure that Cousin Duke behaves like a southern gentleman.  You accuse us of doing something devious.  I’m crushed.”

Doug was laughing, “You people are all squirrelly.”

Trevor took exception, “Cuz, Ms Spring and Ms Autumn can’t be squirrelly, they don’t have the right physical equipment.”

Trent put his hand over Trevor’s mouth. “Watch it, Trev, you’re saying things that are inappropriate to say in front of ladies?”

Trevor pulled Trent’s hand away from his mouth, “Trent, I wasn’t going to say anything bad.  All I was going to say is that when the two ladies shake their heads you not hear the nuts running around like do in your and Cousin Duke’s.”

Doug couldn’t stop laughing, “I owe several, Trev.”

Trent stopped the frivolity, “I need to get dressed.  I’m the first rider again.  I think the organizers hate me.  Trev, check to make sure that Prince of Tara Heights is ready for me.  I need to get a move on.”

The four of us followed Trent to the arena.  We watched as he walked through the course.  I looked to see who the spectators were.  Leonora was sitting with Mrs. Mitchell.  Mr. Nixon the third was sitting with Mr. Willingham, Austin and Derek.  Mr. Nixon the second was sitting with Dr. Butler, George and Michael, and I thought how weird.

At ten o’clock promptly, Trent assumed the ready position and the competition was underway.  Trent had a perfect round and a very good time.  When he was walking by on his way to the stable, he stopped, “The layout this week is much easier than last week’s course.  It is going to be important to go for speed because there are probably going to be a number of perfect rounds.”

Spring followed Trent back to the stable since she was scheduled to go tenth. I noticed that Mr. Nixon the Second and Mr. Willingham followed them back to the stable.

Five of the next eight riders had perfect rounds but Trent still had the best time.   After Spring and Crackerjack had walked the course, you could see Crackerjack chomping to go as April held him in the ready position.  Once they started, they were flying through the course; they had a perfect round and the best time of the day.”

Trevor looked at Doug and me, “I think, we’re in trouble.  We'd better go get ready since Ms. Autumn is the eighteenth competitor.  We got dressed and were walking back to the arena and Trevor whispered not so quietly, “Cousin Duke is beautiful.  All of him.  He and you could make some awfully good looking children.”

Doug heard, “Trevor, you should be ashamed of yourself.  You’re embarrassing Autumn and me.”

Trevor wasn’t about to back down.  “I was just stating my opinion.  I care about both of you, and I think it would be cool if you could find a way to get together.”

Doug looked at me and shook his head.  I looked at Trevor, “After those comments, I think I had better withdraw from the competition.  I don’t know if I can concentrate on the course.”

Trevor was wound up, “Yeh, you’re just afraid that I’ll beat you.”

We were standing at the entry way when the public address announcer announced, “The next contestant is Autumn Summers, riding General Beauregard.”

I mounted and we surveyed the course.  We had a respectable round going until General Beauregard stumbled as he cleared the next to last hurdle.  I reigned him in, even though he wanted to continue, and dismounted.  I walked him to the exit because I didn’t want him to suffer a serious injury.

Leonora met us and examined his front left hoof and leg, “Autumn, I don’t think it is anything serious, but you were wise to pull him up as you did to prevent any serious damage.  You might want to have a vet check him.”

Trevor yelled at me as he was entering the arena, “Don’t let Mother fool you, she's better than any quack vet.”

I thought that was a weird comment and then I realized Dr. Light was standing there, “Watch it, Trevor, or my needle might land on the wrong body the next time I’m at Fairacres.”

We watched as Trevor assumed the ready position.  He and Knight of Papillion glided through the course, and when he crossed the finish line, a big cheer went up from the spectators. 

Doug looked at us, “That young man is good.  I have my work cut out for me.”

Leonora and Dr. Light looked at me.  Leonora asked, “Who is that handsome young man?”

The public address announcer interrupted our conversation, “Our last contestant today is Mr. Douglas Christiansen, riding Arabian Prince in place of Mr. Howard Willingham.”

Trevor had joined us and we were watching as Doug very carefully studied the course.  When he started, it was if he and Arabian Prince were one piece.  There was no unnecessary movement. 

When they finished the course.  There was silence in the stands.  The public address announcer came on, “Ladies and gentlemen, for the second week in a row there is a tie for first place.  Will Mr. Trevor Nixon and Mr. Douglas Christiansen please approach the judges' stand?”

Trevor and Doug went and got their trophies.  Spring was second and Trent third.

When Trevor and Doug returned to where I was standing with General Beauregard, Leonora and Dr. Light, Trevor dismounted, “Mother, why won’t anyone let me win anything by myself.  Last week it was Ms. Autumn and this week it was Cousin Duke.  I’m doomed to be second fiddle.”

“Mother and Doctor Light, this is Mr. Willingham’s nephew Douglas Christiansen.  He and Ms. Autumn have a hot date tonight.  Duke, this my Mother Ms. Leonora Nixon, and the gentleman standing beside her is our veterinarian, Dr. Paul Light.”

After Doug shook hands, we walked the horses back to the stable.  After we changed into our jeans, everyone in the world was there.  Mr. Nixon the Second looked at the assembled group, “After you young people get your horses taken care of, we’ll all meet at Leonora’s place and we can caravan to the New World Buffet that just opened in Yardley.  I hear it’s very good.  I’ll even treat.”

As Spring and I were riding home, I was thinking out loud, “I swear the entire world is going bonkers.  I think it is all Trevor’s fault.”

Spring laughed, “Can’t you tell?  Trevor has a crush on you, but he is willing to share you with Doug.”

I shook my head, “Spring, you’re hallucinating.  No one has any designs on me.  I’m going to be an old maid school teacher.”

After we got the horses squared away, we went to get changed and I put on a jeans skirt and a print blouse, since I had no idea what was going to happen.

When Spring and I got to Fairacres, everyone else was already there and Trevor took charge, “I’ll ride with Cousin Duke and Ms. Autumn, Ms Spring you ride with Cousin Derek and Cousin Austin.  Aunt Louisa, you ride with Dad and Dad Howie.  Mother you ride with Dr. Butler and Granddad to make sure they behave.”

Mrs. Mitchell was laughing, “Who’s going to chaperone Trent and Cyndi?”

Trevor had an answer, “They’re too young to get into trouble and besides, they have a party they will be going to after they stuff their faces.”

Doug leaned and whispered, “This kid is a work of art.”

I chuckled, “I’m a psychologist and I wouldn’t even know how to categorize him.”

We climbed into the vehicles as Trevor had prescribed, we followed Mr. Nixon the Second and Dr. Butler to the restaurant.  Trevor talked the entire way for thirty minutes.  It was interesting to see what happened when we got to the restaurant.  We had a long table but it was as if Trevor had dictated how the seating arrangement would go.  The young people were all seated at one end and the older people were at the other end.

The food was very good and as we were finishing eating, Doug looked at Trevor, “Okay, Mr. Nixon, what are we going to do now?”

Trevor  smirked, “I’ve been invited to the same party that Trent and Cyndi are going to, so I’ll ride with them.  Ms Spring, Austin and Derek, you make sure that Ms Autumn and Cousin Duke don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

I could have killed Austin, “They’re probably more likely to do something that you would, than I would.”

Trevor thought about that for a minute, “Cousin Austin, I guess you’re probably correct in that assessment. 

After Mr. Nixon the Second paid the tab, we started to the car and Derek challenged.  “Why don’t we go play some miniature golf or something? It’s too early to call it a night.”

Doug looked at me, “What do you think, Autumn?  This isn’t turning out like I planned at all.”

I shrugged my shoulders, “Doug, I’m not sure what you had in mind but we can go play golf with them and see what happens afterwards.”

It was just the five of us twenty somethings playing miniature golf but it seemed to take forever for us to finish.  I was beginning to be embarrassed by how Austin and Derek were always touching each other. 

When we finally finished the golf game, which Doug won easily, he and I left in his car.  He looked at me, “Autumn, believe it or not, I’m a total virgin and I intend to remain that way until I’m married.  Much to Trevor’s chagrin, I won’t try to get you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

I didn’t know what to say, I was at a loss for words.  I looked at Doug, “Doug, to be honest with you, I expect to be an old maid school teacher.  I have never found a person that I wanted to have a relationship with.  I was burned very badly when I was younger when the person I thought I loved and who I thought loved me, turned out to be gay and left me for a guy.”

“Autumn, let’s just go for a walk around the lake I saw in town.  We can talk and find out about each other.”

As we were walking, Doug started, “I had no idea that Uncle Howie was gay, he told us last night how he became acquainted with Mr. Nixon.  He and Mr. Nixon told us how Trevor and Trent’s grandfather broke up the relationship.  I’m only talking about this because they told us about your dinner last Saturday night and the confrontations with Mr. Nixon the second.”

I leaned my head against Doug, “Doug, the entire world has turned upside down.  Not only did Mr. Nixon and Mr. Willingham’s story come out in the open, but my brother, Austin, and Derek announced that they were more than just friends.”

Doug stopped, “Autumn, you mean you had no idea about your brother until last weekend?”

I looked at Doug, “I had no clue.”

“Autumn, Austin has been playing both sides of the fence since I first met him.  I’m so glad that he found someone he could finally become attached to.  Derek, is a very neat person.”

I nodded, “Doug, I decided that I really liked Derek last week.  How could I not when I found out that he was Trevor and Trent’s cousin.  Mrs. Mitchell is really a wonderful person as are Trent and Trevor’s parents.”

We had been walking for approximately an hour when Doug suggested that it was getting a little late.  He drove me home and Austin’s car was still there.  We walked in and Austin started on us, “We’ve been worried sick.  Do you realize how late it is?”

Doug looked at his watch, “To be precise, it’s 9:15 and ten seconds.”

Derek was chuckling, “But do you know what day it is.  We’ve have to shave three time since we left you.”

Doug scratched his head, “We can’t help it if you two are taking hormones to enhance your body parts.  When you do something dumb like that, then of course what little body hair you have is going to grow.  I hope you haven’t had a problem with the most important part of your bodies, too.”

Two pillows came flying our way and Spring and I were laughing.

Austin started, “Look, you weirdoes, Mrs. Mitchell wants to leave tomorrow immediately after church.  She has some appointments next week that she has to take care of.  We’re going to the early service.  We figured you’d be to exhausted to go, so we thought we’d come say goodbye tonight.”

Austin continued, “Autumn, you and Spring certainly do have a crazy set of friends.  Mr. Nixon and Uncle Howie have been filling us in on everything that has been happening.  We need to go if we’re going to be up at o dark thirty to go to early church.”

I hugged the two guys as they left.  Spring excused herself so she could send Adrian an email.

Doug looked at me, “Autumn, I’m going to leave too.  What time is early church?”

“The early service is 8:30.”

He nodded, “I’ll be here at 8:00 to pick you up.  Spring is welcome to join us if she would like.”

I walked him to the door and he kissed me on the lips.

I floated up the stairs after I had locked the house.

The next morning I woke at the first crack of light and went to take care of the horses.  I went into the house and started the coffee and then went to take a shower, then resurfaced in clothes suitable to go to church in and had coffee and some sweet rolls we had in the kitchen.

Spring came in, “Autumn, what’s going on.  You never get up this early on Sunday.”

“Doug is going to be picking us at 8:00 to go to church, if you would like to join us.  I’ve already taken care of the horses.”

Spring shook her head, “I’m going back to bed.  I’m going to need all my strength when I go see the family this afternoon.  You know what a pain in the butt they can be.  I’ll see you later tonight.”

Doug arrived at precisely 8:00 and we were some of the first people to arrive at the church.  We opted to sit in the middle of the church.  We were soon joined by Trevor, Trent and Cyndi.

Doug looked at Trevor, “So how was the party?”

Cyndi started to laugh, “If it hadn’t been for Trev, it would have been very boring.  He told everyone about his new friends and how weird they were.  Miss Autumn, you might want to wear a disguise to school on Monday.”

Trevor frowned, “Ms. Autumn, Cyndi is exaggerating.   All I told everyone was that I was baby sitting a teacher from our school who was cavorting with a want a be doctor.”

Mr. Robert Nixon the third and Leonora came in a sat down in front of us  and they were joined by Mrs. Mitchell and Mr. Willingham.  Austin and Derek came and sat in our pew.  We were a little crowded.  I was surprised when Mr. Nixon the second and Dr. Butler came in and sat next to Leonora and Robbie.  Wait until I tell Spring about this charade.”

After church, Aunt Louisa Mitchell came up and hugged me, “Autumn, you and Trevor are in charge of making sure that Austin and Derek behave themselves.  I enjoyed meeting you.  Please give my regards to Spring.”

Doug looked at Leonora, “Mrs. Nixon, would it be permissible for Ms. Autumn and me to take your scrawny son to brunch.  After what I saw in the changing room yesterday, he needs all the help he can get.”

Trevor had this funny look on his face, “Mom, I’m not feeling very good.  Mr. Christiansen is making fun of me.  I guess I have to go to make sure that he and Ms. Autumn don’t get into any trouble.  You better give me some money, because he’ll probably try to stick me with the bill.”

As we were going to the restaurant, Trevor was leaning over the seat, “Ms. Autumn and Mr. Doug, I hope you don’t mind me tagging along.  I just feel so much more comfortable with the two of you than I do any of the other adults.  I feel as if you are friends and not adults who are always telling what I should do.”

He took a deep breath, “Almost anyone else would have blown me off.  Oh, by the way, Mr. Christiansen,  I already told Ms. Autumn that your entire body was beautiful.  Did you have to have tell the world that I was lacking in certain areas?”

Doug stopped the car, “Trev, I apologize if I embarrassed you, but you have been dishing it out hot and heavy.”

Trevor shook his head, “Cuz, I wasn’t embarrassed by what you said, but surprised that you said it.  It proves to me that adults can be human after all.

To be continued... 
 

Feedback always welcome:      

Editor's Notes:  This wonderful story gets more complicated with every new chapter.  I love the way it is progressing.  I am still amazed at how E Walk can keep track of so many people in so many stories. I can hardly wait for each new chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 01/09/09