NB: Back to the Ranch-Chapter 3
(Background, only)
Copyright (C) 1999 Sampast
and Huggedlots
Regular disclaimers apply,
although there is no spanking in this chapter. Sorry, folks! Comments are
always welcome. Now, on to the story:
The next morning, Jennifer
sat up in bed. She looked around, trying to remember where she was. Then she
remembered; they were back at the ranch. She stood up; she was wet and knew she
had to change. She got out of bed and went into the living area of the cabin
and saw her mother. She went over and climbed into Lisa's lap.
"Good morning,
sleepyhead. Have a good night's sleep?" Lisa asked, sweetly. Jennifer just
nodded. Lisa could tell she was still pretty sleepy. "It's about time you
got up. Everyone else has had their breakfast and has gone riding
already," Lisa explained, as she cuddled Jenn close to her. It wasn't too
often that Lisa had alone time with either of the twins,
and even thought it was because Jenn was punished, she was glad to have this
time with her.
"Why didn't you go,
Mommy?" Jenn asked, sinking deeper into her mom's lap. "Well, someone
had to stay here and keep an eye on you and your cousin, right? I understand
the two of you had quite an adventure last night, huh, little one?" Lisa
asked, turning Jennifer around to face her.
"Yes, Mommy,"
Jenn admitted.
"What on earth were
you thinking, Jennifer Lynn?"
"I don't know, Mommy.
It was pretty stupid," she finally said, after a long silence. Then
Jennifer put her arms around Lisa's neck and held on for dear life. "I'm
sorry I let you and Daddy down."
"Okay, baby, it's all
right, now. You've been punished, haven't you?" "Yes, Mommy,"
Jenn said into Lisa's neck. "Uncle Bob gave me a hard spanking." Then
she lifted her head from Lisa's and looked her mom in the eyes. "But not
as hard as he gave Maggie. How come?"
"Well," Lisa
said, pursing her lips. "Maggie is his daughter,
and I guess Uncle Bob expects more from her. Also, she's older than you are.
And she should have known better, I suppose. Although, you should have, too,
young lady."
"Yes, Mommy."
"I bet you need to be
changed, huh?" Lisa asked. Jenn nodded. "Okay, how about a nice bath?
And then I'll find you some breakfast, okay?" "Okay, Mommy."
Jenn took Lisa's hand and
followed her into the bathroom. While Lisa ran the bath, Jenn pulled off her
wet garment and used the toilet, and brushed her teeth.
Happily settled into the
bath a few minutes later, Jenn did not hear Maggie knock on the door. Lisa was
pouring water over Jennifer's hair, trying to get all the shampoo out, without
getting any in Jenn's eyes. She didn't hear her
niece, either.
"HELLO? Anyone here?" Maggie called.
Lisa heard. "In
here!" she answered. Maggie opened the bathroom door slowly. When she saw
her cousin in the bathtub, she laughed.
"Hey!" she spoke.
"Hi," said
Jennifer shyly.
"You just get
up?" Maggie asked Jennifer.
"Yeah, I was up pretty
late last night," she said sourly. Lisa just looked at Jennifer and
frowned. She turned to Maggie. "Have you eaten, honey?"
"Yes, Aunt Lisa. My
parents brought some breakfast back for me. They left me a note to come here
after I'd eaten and gotten dressed. I guess they all went riding, huh?"
"Yes, Maggie. I'm sure
you understand why you and Jenn will not be going today!" she admonished.
"Yes, ma'am,"
Maggie said meekly.
"Okay, well now that
your cousin is here, Jennifer. I'm going to go do a few things. Call me when
you want to get out, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy,"
Jenn replied.
Maggie sat on the toilet
seat cover and said, "So, you mad at me, or what?" "Yeah, I
guess I am," said Jenn.
"Well, I'm sorry. I
didn't think we'd get caught."
"You never think we'll
get caught, Maggie. That's the problem with all your ideas, you never
think!" As Jenn said that, she splashed some water on Maggie. "Hey!
Cut it out!" Maggie said, putting her hand into the water, and splashing
Jennifer back.
Jennifer splashed Maggie again, and Maggie splashed Jenn again. This went on, back
and forth, until Maggie was screaming and soaking wet. Lisa came running, and
burst into the bathroom. She took in the scene. Maggie was sitting on the edge
of the tub, soaked from head to toe. Both girls were
laughing. "Oh, Maggie, you're soaked!" Lisa exclaimed.
"That's okay,"
Maggie laughed. "These clothes needed to be washed, anyway."
"Mommy, can Maggie come in with me? That way we can finish playing,"
Jenn asked.
Lisa furrowed her brow and
sighed. "Well, I guess so," she said. "Okay, Maggs,
off with those wet clothes." She turned to Jenn and said, "I guess
you two resolved your differences, huh?"
As Maggie stepped into the
warm water, she looked at Jennifer and said, "Yeah, I guess we did."
Lisa said, "Okay,
well, you two, play nicely." She looked at her watch. "For ten
minutes, that's it. Otherwise, Jenn, you'll completely prune up. Maggs, I'll go next door and get you some dry clothes.
Okay?"
"Okay, Aunt
Lisa," Maggie said.
Once her mother was gone,
Jennifer said, "I am sorry, Maggie." "I'm sorry, too. For getting you in trouble, again. I promise it won't happen
again," she said, crossing her heart.
"It'll happen
again," Jenn said, sure of herself.
"Oh, it will, will
it?" Maggie asked, splashing Jenn some more. They played for awhile, and
then Lisa was back, helping them out and drying them off. While Jennifer ate
her breakfast, Maggie was silent. Then she said, "You know, Jennifer,
you're right. I don't think things through. But I'm gonna
try, from now on. Okay?"
"Yeah, right,
Maggie," Jenn said. Then when she saw that Maggie was
serious, so she added, "Okay."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, on the trail,
Robin rode her own horse, as did Charlie, Bob, and Heather. Both Heather and
Charlie were old pros, having been there before. But Bob hadn't ridden in
years. He admitted he was never fond of horseback riding. But Heather assured
him it was like riding a bike; he would remember as soon as he got back in the
saddle, so to speak.
They were enjoying the slow
ride, when all of a sudden, Heather began to slip from
her horse. She regained herself pretty quickly, but it was enough to worry Bob.
He jumped from his horse and ran over to her.
"Honey, are you all
right?" he asked, concerned.
Heather laughed.
"Yeah, it was silly. I just felt dizzy for a minute, there." Then she
saw the worried look on Bob's face. "Hey, don't worry, I'm fine," she
assured him.
"You don't look so
fine. You look pale. Are you sure you're all right? We can go back," Bob
said.
"Don't be ridiculous.
I'm fine, hon. Come on, Charlie and Robin will wonder where we've gone,"
Heather said.
She sounded so sure of herself, that Bob had to believe her. He got back up on his
horse, and they continued the ride. But every few minutes, he would look her
over to make sure she was okay. Heather tried to be stoic, but in reality, she
did not feel so well. Her stomach was killing her. After the ride, she admitted
her stomach hurt. "Maybe you have the flu," Bob said.
"Oh, hon, no, I'm sure that's not it. It was probably the chili
from last night. I knew I shouldn't have had that second helping," Heather
stated. Charlie was concerned, as well. "I don't know, Heather. Before we
left the island, there was that new virus going around. Maybe you caught it and
didn't even know it."
"No, Charlie, really,
I'm fine," Heather insisted, even though she wasn't so sure herself. The
last time she had felt cramps like this, was when she was pregnant with Maggie.
But no, that couldn't be it. Besides, that was ten years ago; she couldn't
possibly remember what that felt like.
The four of them headed
back to the cabins. Lisa was sitting outside with Jennifer and Maggie. They
were playing cards at the picnic table. "Hi, baby," Charlie said,
kissing the top of Jenn's head. "Oh,
hi, Daddy. How was your ride?" she asked. Jenn didn't even look as
though she cared that she had missed it.
"Oh, it was so fun,
Jenn," Robin exclaimed. "And, Maggie, your mom almost fell off her
horse!"
"What?" Maggie
asked.
Charlie put his arm around
Robin and said, "Robin! That's not exactly what happened, and you know
it!"
"Sorry, Daddy,"
she said.
"I'm not the one you
should be apologizing to," Charlie said, pointing to Heather.
"I'm sorry, Aunt
Heather. I didn't mean anything by it," Robin said. Heather put her arms
out for Robin. She happily engulfed her niece. "I know you didn't, honey.
It's okay."
Maggie watched all this and
asked, "So, what's wrong, Mom? You look funny." "Are you trying
to say I'm funny-looking, Margaret Anne?" Heather asked, chuckling.
"No, you know what I
meant, Mommy!" Maggie insisted.
"I'm fine, really. I
was just a little dizzy before. And my stomach hurts," Heather admitted.
Lisa stared at her
sister-in-law. "You don't think you're...?" Lisa stopped, aware that
everyone was staring at her.
Heather started to shake
her head back and forth. "No, no, it was just the chili. I'm sure of it.
I'll go to the bathroom and I'll feel much better." Everyone laughed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The whole family headed to
the mess hall for lunch a short time later. Heather just had soup, while
everyone else had roast beef sandwiches. "What're we doing the rest of the
day, Daddy?" Robin asked. "Well, we thought maybe you kids would like
to go to the camp they have here at the ranch," Charlie announced.
Robin thought back to last
year and wrinkled up her face. "I don't think so. I didn't care for it
last year. Besides, I want to stay with you, Daddy." "Well, Robin, I
think it would be good for you three to be with other kids your age. And I know
we won't have the same problems we had last year. Will we, girls?" Charlie
stated, looking mainly at Maggie and Jenn. "No, Daddy," Jenn said.
"Uh-uh, Uncle
Charlie," answered Maggie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, it was decided, the
girls would spend the rest of the day with the camp. And it wasn't as bad as
Robin expected. She actually had fun. They had an arts and crafts area, of
course, and Robin kept busy with that. Jenn and Maggie chose, instead to play
soccer. The teams were co-ed, and the other kids soon realized how good Maggie
was.
That night, the camp was
having its own children's dance. The twins and Maggie asked their parents if
they could go.
"You want to?"
Charlie asked Robin, surprised.
"Yes,
Daddy. I had fun
today. I liked it," Robin admitted. Charlie was relieved. Usually, Robin
clung to him on vacations and he felt as though he could not breathe. He had
been shocked that she had left his side that afternoon without a fight or
tantrum. He was happily surprised that she was showing this much independence,
and he was glad. He thought she was finally growing up. Later, he would realize
he wasn't ready for his babies to grow up.
~~~~~~~~~
The girls had a great time
at the dance. The camp dropped them off at their cabins at 10:00. The twins
were both exhausted and went right to sleep. Maggie, too.
Bob was glad; she had behaved herself the entire day. He knew he would not have
to send her away.
Next door, Charlie had
different thoughts. He wondered how long it would be until the next time he
would have to spank his two children...or all three of them. Hmmmm, he thought.
to be continued...