The Ranch... Open..

[shadowoftheheart]

She pulled the SUV up behind the sports car, and got out. So, this was a typical Western ranch? Must be, she guessed.

She started walking up the drive slowly, taking in the ambience of the place, of the peace and quiet of the Montana daytime.

She stretched with a soft sigh, fairly certain she was soon going to get a hot meal, shower, and pleasant company.

 

[LadyChance]

Sam

"Nice to meet your Mr. O'Connor, I see my my baby here has caused you some small problems here, sorry bout that." It didn't take much to see that Mr. O'Connor really honestly didn't want George or I there, but to be honest I just didn't care. I was there to help fix the fence from the looks of it and sense Damion was my horse it was only fair that I help do it. Becides there would be plenty of time for him to get to know Kat once the fence was taken care of.

Hitching Damion to the post next to George's and Kat's horses, making sure that Damion on secure and could cause no more damage before handing him his sugar cube. Then slipping the other two animals cubes as well, before pulling out an old set of leather work gloves slipping them on quietly. Heading to lend a hand to Mr. O'Connor pulling and straightening the wire.

I was really impressed by George and the way he went straight to work, seeming to know what would be needed before anyone said anything. I liked working beside him, Mr. O'Connor on the other hand just seemed interested in getting rid of George and I. It was an easy enough fence to fix with the four of us working on it and soon the portion that had been broken was fixed.

 

[Cathleen]

Carolyn

Carolyn
Age: 43
Blue eyes, blonde hair, short and chubby in build.

Background: Carolyn is running from her past, from the pain of her broken heart. She packs up and goes as far as she can and wants. She arrived in Montana a week or so ago and met Katherin briefly. They spoke about Carolyn coming to The Renolds Ranch and helping out, maybe cooking and cleaning for her and the others at the ranch, which she hoped would soon be more then just herself. Carolyn jumped at the idea. (This is my 1st SRP, I'll do my best.)

IC:

Carolyn arrived in the afternoon, she was hot and a bit nervous. She'd never lived so far from home. She tried to shake the word 'home' from her mind, this was home now she told herself. This is home now. No one will know my secrets, my past can be the past and my heart, well that will just stay in the vault she'd built inside.

She saw so many cars and there were people milling about. She didn't expect it but charged headlong into getting to her duty. She could lose herself in work. She grabbed one bag and headed into the house. It was just what she imagined a house on a ranch would look like. She'd never stepped foot on one and had only touched a horse once and that didn't go well at all. She'd keep clear of the beautiful beasts, she loved animals and to watch a horse run was art to her.

Carolyn chose a bedroom on the first floor, it had a bath and Kat had set a few chairs in front of the windows. Carolyn looked out and just saw peace as far as her eyes could see. She'd be very happy here, she knew it. The room was off hallway that lead to the kitchen, a good choice for the cook. It also was helpful to be on the first floor for other reasons but she didn't want to think about that now - or ever.

She took a quick shower, changed into shorts and a tee-shirt and put her hair in a ponytail and headed to the kitchen to see what supplies she'd need and to start dinner for the crew.

 

[Luna-fey]

Anna Kent

Anna spotted a pretty redhead standing near a very new looking SUV. She noticed that it had New York plates. She smiled at her; here was someone else who might be missing the hum and buzz of the city.

"Hi," Anna said, "You don't work here, do you? Are you from New York, too?"

The woman nodded. She had beautiful aquamarine eyes. "I'm Anna Kent," she introduced herself. "My husband is here on business; I came along for a--a vacation of sorts." Anna laughed softly. "It's certainly beautiful. But it's just so dammned quiet. And nothing's signed. I don't know where the hell I am."

The women talked together for a few minutes. They were from the same side of Manhatten and travelled among similar circles. The Hughes family was well known among Anna's set, an extremely old and respected family with oodles of money--and influence. It was refreshing to leave all of that behind; John had always cared much more about things like that than she did.

Anna offered Penny a bottle of Evian who shared some of her own dried fruit with her. She was discovering the American midwest on her own. Anna admired her sense of adventure.

The clouds continued to hang overhead. Upon hearing that the nearest hotel was many, many miles away, Anna began to wonder if maybe she should plan to stay here for the night, if possible.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Penny was glad to meet someone who was at least from the same side of the world.

"It is quiet. I don't know if I would call it too quiet. Doesn't the constant buzz get to you? I mean, sometimes?"

Evian! Glorious ... though strangely as she drank it, she thought it missed ... something. Something that the tapwater, drunk from a metal canteen, had about it. Penny pondered this for a moment.

"Thanks, Anna. I don't know if they will be able to put us up or not, but I think we need to give it a shot. Shall we?"

Penny started walking boldy up the drive.

"Hello? Anyone here?"

 

[Trailryder]

I watched as the authoritative woman got out of the cab and walked over to us me sizing each one of us up. She then blurted out that we were all hired and would be staying in the main house before taking off to the saddling paddock. I stood back observing having learned along time ago that one can learn alot more by watching then running head first into things. I rated the proud stallion looking at his confirmation. Nice head, small ears, very large nostrils, broad chest and a very good engine. Standing about 16hh he was not a bad looking race horse. There was no sign of bucked legs and he did not appear lame. There was no bow over or under the only thing that stood out was the angle in which his front hooves had been trimmed were all wrong. That could be fixed however. The thing I liked was the large nostrils no not large huge would be more correct as this is often considered a tale-tale sign of race horses. I needed that horse as I could improve him without ever seeing him breezed. My attention then turned to a red sports car pulling into the small parking lot that was totally out of place. A very attractive woman got out of the car. I watched as she looked around surveying the place and she was also out of place. A minute or so behind her another expensive vehicle, some sort of foreign SUV pulled in behind the sports car. A very striking red head stepped out and in a few moments the first woman was chatting with the red head. I could tell they had no idea what they were doing here and wondered if they were together. Maybe they were two friends from the city wanting to try a little cowgirl stuff. I thought, I could show them some cowboy stuff as I almost laughed out loud. The chance for a simple man like myself to ever bed either those two was certainly out of the question. They were way outta my league but one can always dream. The actual chance to have a real relationship was even more remote.

I walked over to them introducing myself. "Hello, I'm Dave and though I was just hired to work here on the ranch can I help you two?" I offered my hand to each of them.

 

[bullshot]

George

I was really impressed by George and the way he went straight to work, seeming to know what would be needed before anyone said anything. I liked working beside him, Mr. O'Connor on the other hand just seemed interested in getting rid of George and I. It was an easy enough fence to fix with the four of us working on it and soon the portion that had been broken was fixed.

"That's finished, If it's OK with you Miss Katherin I'll be heading back to make sure everythings alright with the horses Mr. O'Connor's men have driven back to the pens," George suggested once the fence was secure again.

He unhitched his horse and mounted ready to leave.

 

[LadyFairy]

Kathrein smiled and wipped her brow when they were done with the fence. Looking over at George she said. Thank you George i think Sam and I will head back with ya.. There is still alot to be done today.

Looking over at Jay O'Conner she said as she extended her hand to shake his. To thank you for ye'r help with the fence...If your of a mind to. You can come over for supper this eveing.. My cook should be arriving shortly, now if you'll excues us i am sure you have alot to get done on your one Ranch.

She said smiling as she took her hand back and walked back to her horse gathering up her rains. Looking over at George and Sam as she mounted Kat looked over and said. Ready when you are.. This time allowing Sam to take the lead back to the Ranch.

As they road back Kat got a mischevious look on her face and grined, knowing that if she kicked her horse into a run that she and Sam would race back to the Ranch but she didnt think it would be fair to leave George behind. Looking over at George she smiled and asked. Hey George?? Do you like to Race??

 

[bullshot]

George

As they rode back Sam took the lead leaving George riding along side Katherin, he could see a silly grin on her face and wondered what she was up to.

He found out quicker than he expected when she looked at him and smiled.

and asked. Hey George?? Do you like to Race??

"Normally yes! But this horse of mine has been carrying me across country for a week and I don't think it's fair on her, but if you want to race Sam back I'll be along shortly," he answered. Guessing that the girls were already back in their old habits.

 

[LadyChance]

Sam

I knew the minute Kat asked George if he liked to race what she was up to. Grinning like a school girl just offered a piece of her favorite candy, I waited for it. Then it came as Kat past me by... 'Ready... Set.... GO!' Her horses tail flapping at me and her laughter on the wind reaching my ears.

"Hey! No Fair you got a head start!!!"

Laughing louder then Kat with her tossed back comment about Damion and her poor little mare not making the trip like my stallion could. Looking back to George saying, "Catch ya at the stables, I am sure this one will need some TLC here soon. And while I am soaking in a hot tub, I figure you can handle him for me if you do not mind."

"Common big boy lets show sis what we got, I think she has a good enough lead on us to make it partically fair for them." Stroking the prancing stallions eager neck, then giving him his head. Whooping in delight as I feel Damion bunch and then stretch, reaching his body out under me in the saddle. As the ground seemed to be eaten up under his flying hooves. It had been way to long since I had been in the saddle I decided as I felt the wind whip my hair back out of my face.

 

[bullshot]

George

George laughed as Katherin swept past Sam getting a good lead

Looking back to George saying, "Catch ya at the stables, I am sure this one will need some TLC here soon. And while I am soaking in a hot tub, I figure you can handle him for me if you do not mind."

"I'll do that for you Sam," he called as she finally gave Damion his head and they shot off after Katherin.

George didn't know who would win but he was sure the stallion would have a good try at getting back to the ranch quickly. He quickened his own horse to a canter holding her back to prevent her from racing after the other two.

 

[Luna-fey]

Anna Kent

Dave was tall and muscular, Anna observed. He looked like the type of man who was completely at home at a ranch, working in the outdoors. When he spoke, she thought she heard a tinge of the south in his Montana accent.

"Hi, Dave," Anna smiled, revealing dimples. "I'm Anna. I'm on vacation for a little bit and thought that I'd get myself re-aquainted with horses." She laughed softly. "Actually, I haven't been on a horse since I was a little girl. Do they offer lessons here? I'd also be interested in staying here for a couple of days; I've got a hotel but I think this would be nicer. It's a beautiful area."

Her husband would be going back to the city in the morning. Why not stay? John certainly wouldn't care or notice. She could drive back to the hotel in the morning and pick up her things and then return to the ranch.

Anna had always wanted to write. Instead of editing the novels of other people, she secretly longed to write her own. This was just the setting to start--quiet, remote, and utterly different from her home.

It was the singularly most spontaneous decision she had made in a long time.
She felt free and elated.

It was a change she needed--more than she had known.

 

[Cathleen]

Carolyn

Carolyn heard some voices outside. She went out to the porch and saw the two ladies. "Hi, I'm Carolyn. I just arrived too. How about a cool drink? Come on, I'll bring a pitcher of fresh lemonade out."

The women all greeted each other easily and Carolyn headed straight to the kitchen to make the promised lemonade. She was feeling useful and it felt good. She remembered seeing a man over by the stable. She made a large batch of drinks so she could bring some to the people working in the stable.

The women on the porch were chatting and laughing as if they were old friends. Carolyn liked hearing that, it was friendly. She carried a large tray with ice, glasses and two pitchers of lemonade and some crackers with cheese and fruit. "Here you go ladies. Please help yourself." Carolyn picked up one of the pitchers, a few glasses and a bowl of cheese and fruit and headed to the stable.

"Hello? Anyone one here?" She didn't see the man that was there earlier but her eyes hadn't adjusted to the shaded stable from the bright sunshine. As she walked in farther she saw some movement. "Hi, I'm Carolyn." She moved towards the man with a smile. "I brought some refreshments for you." Her eyes finally able to see the man, she extended her hand to greet him. "It seems The Ranch has come to life with lots of people today." She pointed to where she set the lemonade and turned to head out. "I think I need to get back to the kitchen. Looks like there will be lots of hungry people to feed tonight."

 

[shadowoftheheart]

From nothing, to a small army. Penny grinned at all the new people.

"Hello Dave, Carolyn. I'm Penny."

She wasn't upset. Western Hospitality appeared alive, and she drank the fresh lemonade with a slow, savoring relish. It tasted so good, far better even than the bottled water that back home she lived on.

"I don't know if you take in borders here, but I have ... some means and would happily pay for a room. I am also on vacation, to see the West."

 

[Cathleen]

"Hi Penny, Anna, it's nice to meet you. I can't speak for Kat but she's been so welcoming to me, I can't see her not having room for more. I'm new to the west too. I always thought I needed to be in Montana, I think it came from some romance book I read as a girl. The idea of Big Sky Country stuck, the lure of open space for miles and miles, folks work hard but enjoy the life here." Carolyn chuckled. "I guess that book did make an impression on me."

"If you want I could use some help getting dinner ready. I can bring out some veggies if you wouldn't mind peeling and cutting?" Seeing Penny nodding her head yes Carolyn went to gather the vegetables. She was going to stay in the kitchen alone but pleasantness of the two women was too nice to miss. Carolyn had spent so much time alone in the past few months and even though she liked time alone she missed being with others.

Even earlier hearing the ladies talking and seeing others on the Ranch made her happy. The sounds of life were different here but she still felt that connection to others, just knowing people were around somewhere was a good safe feeling for her.

She used her hip to open the porch door. She had a few bowls of vegetables and plunked the bowls and herself down to work and enjoy the company of the others around.

 

[Luna-fey]

Anna happily gave Carolyn a hand with the veggies. It felt good to work with her hands. There were no deadlines to worry about, no phones ringing, no horns honking in the distance. She imagined that running a ranch like this must take a great deal of time and effort.

She learned that Carolyn was there to cook and help out with things in the house. Penny was travelling around, seeing different parts of the country. Everybody seemed to have such a set purpose. What was hers?

A Chopin waltz chimed in 3/4 time from her purse. It was her husband. She moved away from the others for a few moments to take the call. He was surprised that she was going to stay on but reacted with his typical apathy. She heard rustling noises in the background and what sounded like a woman's laughter. The phone reception was bad. The connection was lost without time to say goodbye. She turned the ringer off and put the phone back in her purse.

She didn't want to think about any of that right now.

"Are you originally from Montana?" she asked Carolyn, dicing one last pepper.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Penny found the simple act of cutting and peeling vegetables to be calming. Very Domestic. Her father had wanted her to do more like this. For all his wealth and power, he was a very practical man. However many servents a woman has, he would say, she has to know how to please her man, in the kitchen as readily as the bedroom.

Patronizing. But true. She listened to Anna and Carolyn talk, while her own mind ran slowly over her trip up to this point.

She wouldn't call this the highlight, but it felt nice to be with other people, instead of just having prairie-dogs and tumbleweeds for company.

 

[Cathleen]

At times Carolyn let her mind wander and she suspected Anna and Penny did the same. They talked easily but there were those pauses ... the kind that caught you by surprise but had to be acknowledge.

"Actually I'm from Boston Anna. It was time for a change, a big change, a new place and a new start. I packed my car and drove without knowing where I was going." Carolyn felt comfortable with these women. There seemed to be a common element between them, even though Carolyn was twice their age. "Looks like we've got the veggies set. Now who wants to help me figure out what else we'll have for dinner." She laughed softly and admitted she wasn't a great cook. She had told Kat that and still Kat said yes, come to the ranch. She needed someone to feed people and Carolyn needed some kind of anchor and keeping people fed and clean was certainly going to be that anchor.

"I'd expect to see the others soon. I don't want to mess up the first meal." Carolyn smiled and headed to the kitchen. She had taken steaks from the freezer for grilling and now they had a big salad made. "Ladies, help! What else." They followed Carolyn and the three rummaged through the pantry.

 

[bullshot]

George

OOC : LadyFairy has no cable connection today so might not be able to post.

As George came to the top of the hill before the ranch house he could see the two girls racing in the distance. They'd be back at the ranch in a few minutes.

He quickened his horses pace a little, he didn't want Damion standing around after the race. Sam had said she was going in for a shower and asked him to look after Damion for her.

As he got closer he could see the other new hand and a group of women on the porch, he wondered where they'd come from. He'd find out soon enough when he got to the ranch so he stopped worrying about it.

He also wanted to have a look at the books with Katherin that afternoon when they both had time.

 

[LadyChance]

OOC::: Actually since Lady Fairy & I are in the same house... So we both lose our connection today and will not be back until tomorrow.. *smiles* Sorry all have fun *huggers* To you all...

 

[Hanalia]

If you don't have a connection how are you posting? *confuzzled*

 

[Hanalia]

Breanne

Name: Breanne Logan
Age: 24
Around 5'3", slender, dark brown hair almost to the waist, brown eyes. Always wears jeans. If you see her in a dress you're very very lucky because she hates them and doesn't wear them unless she has too.

Background: Sick of her fathers overbearing and over protective ways she left the family ranch. Raised around horses she figures she can work out a board for work arrangement somewhere until she gets her feet under her. Her only posessions are a few changes of clothes and her horse Blaze. (Like Cathleen this is my first SRP so bear with me, lol)

IC: Breanne knew the Renolds Ranch was around here somewhere. After a while she saw a familiar road and turned south. She was only a couple miles away. She knew it was being run by only one young woman and Breanne hoped she's be happy for some help and company.

But as she cantered up to the gates she saw a croud of people. At least two men and three women. Word must have gotten around that she needed help But on closer inspection two of the women didn't exactly seem the type to muck out stalls. Maybe there was work for her after all.

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"Ladies, help! What else."

Penny was grinning the entire time as she helped her newfound friends find dinner. Penny pulled out a bag of flour.

"Biscuits? Gotta have biscuits for dinner in the West, right?!"

She grinned. She could do this. Well ... she thought she could. There was no recipie on the bag of flour, and she suspected it was a little more involved than mixing Bisquick. And no, there were no tubes of refrigerated biscuit dough in the 'fridge: She checked.

 

[Cathleen]

Carolyn shot Penny a look as if to say 'oh knock that off' then laughed and told her she was on her own with biscuts. The ladies kept peeking and poking around the kitchen.

"Jackpot!" Carolyn shouted that she found the root cellar. She came back to the kitchen with her arms loaded. "Look Penny, potatoes. I'll wash and wrap them to bake." She unloaded her arms and picked up the few potatoes that had fallen. The kitchen was easy to work in. There was a work space with a double sink and cutting boards at the ready. She turned the cold water on and put a dozen or so potatoes in the sink.

"Penny, I have a special surprize for you." Carolyn was grinning so big that there'd be no doubt this was a sort of payback for the comments about the lack of cooking skills the cook actually had. "I'll be right back."

Carolyn had seen some relishes and other canned veggies in the cellar. She thought the fall was the time for canning and thought maybe she could give it a try. It was a far cry from what she had been doing before leaving the life she knew behind. She grabbed a few jars of green and red pepper relish along with the surprise she had for Penny.

"There is so much down there, Penny. It's like going shopping but so much better. I brought some relishes up. Now close your eyes and hold out your hands woman." Carolyn was laughing as she placed the jars in her hand. "OK, open. Some delicious jams and preserves for your fresh homemade western biscuts!" She laughed as she moved to the sink to clean and wrap the potatoes. "Dinner is shapping up don't you think?"

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Penny, her face dusted in flour, laughs happily as Carolyn hands her the jams and preserves.

So, why was the daughter of an investment banker, used to the Manhattan night life and nightly clubbing and flirting with her father's widowed 43 year old business partner so delighted now that her new friend had found wonderful homemade toppings for her biscuits? Penny felt a slight twinge of unreality at that moment. But she shrugged it off quickly.

"Oh, these will be super!"

She glanced back at the recipe book to see what she needed to do next for the big batch of drop-biscuits she was preparing. It was work, and with the satisfaction of making it truly from scratch came also the exhaustion of working with her hands. She had the first tray ready and in the oven, and grinned at her friends.

"Dinner is shapping up don't you think?"

"Oh yeah! Can't wait to have some myself. I am sure the others on the ranch will love it!"