Checking Pute's messages on the way, Jess got word from
the university that she had been chosen to be the valedictorian for
graduation. Well, she was excited. Flee too. She wanted to do it,
of course, but said, "hell, we can't do that, can we?... 'Cincy'
would be there, I bet...."
        Kit knew she wanted to do it a lot and should not be kept
from an honor like that. "Heck, you've got to do that, precious.
We can get around him if he shows...even if we have to split up
for a little while..." hating that thought, but knowing it might be
needed.
        "Aw, thank you, darlin'. You are way good to me." Jessy
kissed his cheek, then she and Flece celebrated and started putting
together funny openings for her speech while Kit started his mind
onto a plan for all that. After minutes of the girls' revelry, Jess
turned back to him, "but we better not have to split up..." kissed
him again and started helping him work out a plan. He was just
joyous that she didn't want to fathom splitting up either.
        They called back to the ranch from Santa and checked on
the Gold pickup and everything was bueno. They were, in deed,
muy rico. They called Ev and Stef from the airport, got the 310
ready to go, started up and got in the air headed for Taos.
        "Great to be flying again, skipper!" Jess cheered, a little rusty
on the controls and things, but quickly getting her wings re-lubed.
They had purchased oil changes and minor maintenance on both
planes while their craft had sat those ten or so days, using different
credit cards and different mechanic shops, so things were in good
order. Jessica flew them up the Rio Grande Valley and made a
good part of the landing, just loving the twin, just like Kit.
        Evan and Steffi were there at the airport with the Jeep and
they all went for a ride in the 310 first, then, on the way to town,
Kit and Jess gave them the proposition - moving to the ranch,
staying in their cabin, working the mine and other work and
getting a quarter million bucks, for starters. Well, Ev and Stef
didn't believe it. But when our guys explained it more, they were
blown away, asking why them and such. Well, sure they were
young, beautiful and handsome, smart and talented. But, more
importantly, Kit told them, they had pure hearts that could be
trusted. On and on their conversation went and Evan and Stefani
accepted.
        They went to Jenny's and got some cervezas at the cantina
as Ev put in his resignation, telling Jenny that he had decided to
"move on", as they had planned in the Jeep on the way. And
everyone partook in that darn going-away party, Kit buying all the
rounds again. The other employees, though, seeing the same
goddesses with Kit, demanded to know what the hell was going
on. But Jess just answered, "Kit bought the joint."
        "What joint?" Martina, the head waitress, asked.
        "I'm sorry. I meant the 'gentleman's club'," Jessy answered.
        So the party was good and Kit had a quiet short talk with
kitchen-manager Dave about getting together on a business soon
and then the guys were out of there.
        They decided to drive back to the ranch in the Jeep as Ev
and Stef got the things they needed from their place. Kit called the
airport to let them know they would be leaving Romeo there a day
or two, knowing it would probably be less but, again, making any
edge that presented itself, always thinking about those "remote
viewing" possibilities, besides the possibility that agents were aware
of their planes. They got groceries and stuff, then got stoned
together as Kit drove them to the ranch and they filled their friends
in on what they should know.
        It was partytime - celebrating the new money - with everyone
before and after dinner, after showing the new arrivals the mine -
which they could NOT believe - and around the ranchstead some,
which they loved. And the Casa Band had a great practice out at
the bonfire, Ev fitting immediately right in on guitar, harmonica,
sax and voice. And Ria gave Stef the family's Spanish tambourine
to use.
        Kit and Julian recruited Wallace to head up the "emergency
response team" of neighborhood volunteers they could trust in case
someone did attack the ranch. Wally and Junior had been bringing
their families up on the past Sundays, so had pretty much become
part of the extended "Rancho de Meegs" familia. And Evan and
Steffi were not into guns, and no one was going to ask them to
change, so it was up to the others.
        Before Wallo and family cut out for home, he and Kit had
some big bear hugs, then the girls took their turns, since they would
be gone on the morrow, they had announced. Then Junior got the
same treatment, along with the rest of the family.
        Es was the one that night who brought up her going with them
on the Western excursion. She asked Jessy and Flee first what they
thought, then Kit, and they were for it, of course, if Jul and Ri were.
Julian and Maria weren't. It would be great education, Es argued,
and she had never had a vacation away from the family, and other
reasons were hatched. Eventually, Jul, then Ria, relented, knowing
that their daughter was growing up. Kit promised them that he
would take care of Estrella like his own. And he would, of course,
but Ria wanted a promise of "no hanky panky" directly from Kit's
mouth, eyes and heart. So he promised his part, but then reminded
Mar that there were the girls, and Es herself. Maria accepted that.
Well, all the girls were most happy together at the news. The
responsibility, though, was beginning to hit Kit.
        The guys partied not much longer on, since they would be
making an early departure. But the men, except Kit, were a little
deflated, or jealous, or both, about so many girls going with Cody;
but mostly Julio, who had been becoming rather fond of Felecia,
and she of him some. The other guys, of course, had wives or
girl friend, but all were going to miss the beauties.
        Kit and Jess considered buying a bigger plane so Juli could go
with them, explaining, yeah, they had had Stef and Ev in the 310
with them, but there had been no baggage. It was a close call, but
they were just calling that one on the side of safety. So Julio told
them he would catch the flip side, not to bother with another plane
just for him, plus he knew he was his Padre's right hand hombre.
He and Felecia, though, took a little walk away from the fire at his
behest. And that caught everyone's interest. "What was up with
that?" they all ruminated together. Nothing but good was the
campfire verdict.
        Kit gave Evan some instructions as they walked over to the
cabin together, where, inside, Kitto cut their first check for
$1oo,ooo, reminding Ev about no smoking outside in the open, the
eyes of recon to be upon them, probably from over Texas. Then
Kit showed him the holograph projectors and Pute 2 in the closet
and proceeded to stash it all, including the extra parts, in the little
cellar under the closet floor, explaining that if agents came and
found it Kit would spend his last dime if he had to - and had a
great lawyer - to keep Ev and Stef out of any trouble. But none of
the stuff was illegal, he reminded his bud, and Ev assured him that
he and Stef were with them, behind them and on their side, just to
make it clear. And they shook a hearty bro shake and hoped for
the best.
        Back out at the fire, they got Maria to tell her story of the
mine and revolution for the new ones, then it was time for bed.
They all had special hugs, kisses, pats, shakes and words for each
other, everyone advising Cody and the girls to be plenty careful
out there and get back safe, well, at least the girls, and all.
        Ria and Essy, of course, had a little more talk in Es's room
as she excitedly packed, Mari telling her of Kit's promise.
        After lighting the fires in both rooms, Kit and Evan got the
air mattress blown up for the living room floor, then Jess brought
in the sheets, blankets and pillows. After a little talk with a last
puro, showers and "goodnights", the sounds of ecstasy permeated
the next hour or so, no door on the bedroom.
      Rising at about 5 to get packed and the coffee on, Kit told Jess
about stashing the projectors, Pute 2 and other things gone over
with Ev, which was Code's way of getting her help to not forget
anything, and they smooched away, hoping for the best. After a
quick breakfast, the 6 of them, with Ev and Stef, loaded up "el
Jeepo", including a thermos of java, and Kit drove them out with
the nightvision goggles on. No lights with a quarter moon in a black
Jeep - even if the space cam was on them, they wouldn't be seen,
Kit was saying. Hoping. And he was always mentally projecting that
they were somewhere else for those possible "viewers", and had
told Jess and Flece about it and had them doing it too.
        They stayed lightless almost all the way to Mora, then pulled
into a deserted little campground to turn everything on. Ev, Stef
and Essy were impressed as they tried the gogs on. "Edge is edge,"
Jess said, Kit smiling back. Pute even had the dealer's license tags
under a cyber cover.
        Driving on to Taos, Jessy checked Pute for messages. Their
little lapper told them that the Albuquerque agent that had checked
out Ghost Ranch had been asked to check around Santa - the
airport and elsewhere - for clues, and had already reported back to
"DC" about their Mooney out on the ramp, along with the other
Mooneys on the ramp or in hangars, but their's was one of the
newest additions. Their title, registration and the rest gave the
agents a Pute-concocted corporate owner based in Chicago, plus
just bought in Florida, and Puter continued the ownership flim-
flam to even a phony "birth" for "Papa" back at the factory.
        After Jess told Kit all that, he mentioned, "wait 'till we see
the phone bill. We probably won't feel so rich," and then
explained to the others, who were full of that initial wonderment,
along with twinges of fear, "we just don't like snoopy agents."
They all agreed with that, then he and Jess answered their
questions, without telling about the WPO.
        They made it to the airport after sunup and started loading
up Romeo. Evan and Stef started their farewells, admiring the
plane again with them, wishing a little that they were going.
        Kit and Jess had talked over in the last 24 hours that maybe
they should have asked Josh to come out right away to take their
place at the ranch but, everything considered, Evan and Stef had
been ready and close. Kit had known them over a year from
work and partying after, even golfing with Ev some days up the
valley at "Valle Escondido", and they were just the finest, like
family to him. Thee bestest-est. And a perfect couple. Besides,
Josh may not have wanted to come. But they were happy Ev
and Stef were with them and hoped everything would be fine at
the hacienda.
        They hugged, kissed and shook and then their friends were
on their way back to their place to pick up the last of their stuff
on the way back to the ranch. They guys waved to Ev and Stef
until they were gone, then got back to the preflight.
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