WBY - The Love of a Girl (part two)
Adam glances in the rear view of his old truck. He can see Elizabeth talking to Mandy. He can’t see Mandy of course; she is in the backseat strapped in a car seat.
He thinks.
Adam glances back again. Yeah, she’s little enough to be in a car seat.
It scares him for a moment.
A kid in a car seat?
Mandy is really little! He doesn’t remember Jamie ever being that little. Adam is sure he was, but he even when Jamie was small he doesn’t remember him as small as Mandy. Jamie was all bounce and bluster and boy. Mandy is something else entirely.
So is her mom.
He looks in the rear view again. Elizabeth is singing now, rocking her shoulders to an unheard rhythm. On a whim, Adam quickly dials through the radio. This part of Texas is somewhat lacking in radio stations. If she isn’t listening to a CD or Sirius then maybe…he stops at a channel. Glances back one more time. Yup! He’s got it!
"Hey there, fellow
With the hair colored yellow
Whatcha tryin' to prove?
'Cause that's my woman there
And I'm a man who cares
And this might be all for you"
I said, "Excuse me".
He watches as she exaggerates the EXUUSEE ME and flips her hair back saucily.
The truck hits the rumble strips and he straightens her out with a jerk. He offers up a silent prayer when the truck obediently follows his hurried instruction. He does not want to have a conversation with his father about how he smashed his truck up by looking in the rear view at a girl!
He can’t help the slow blush that rises up his neck. He’s unsure if it is because of the thought of John Winchester or the fact that he can’t keep his eyes off of Elizabeth.
It’s not long before he sees the welcoming site of his family’s farm. It’s not fancy, just a crush and run driveway. The board fencing is weathered but in good repair and the paddocks and fields are lush with grass and dotted with horses. He can pick out a few as his family’s horses, but they also have a few in for training - young stock they pick up cheap and they will resell when they are ready. He chuckles to himself. He never thought of his family as horse trainers but they’ve slipped into it effortlessly. Dean rides like he was born to it and Jamie the same. Sam rides well enough although his strength is the books and crushing numbers. Oddly enough his father is never happier than riding, although he tends to spend his hours on horseback riding the fence line. Still checking the perimeter - John Winchester may have adapted to his quasi retirement but some things will never change. Adam can smell the BBQ going and his mouth waters with the thought of the ribs he had marinating in his own special recipe all night.
He stops the truck, jumps out and is instantly greeted by Cooper, the old farm dog. Cooper’s muzzle is white but his eyes are bright and he wags his tail slowly with the restraint that comes with age. Adam ruffles his wrinkled face and is rewarded with a low moan.
Then trouble comes galloping around the side of the house. Teague, the newest addition to the Winchesters - a large Catahoula Cur mix, is all legs and tongue and floppy ears. He skids to a stop and leaps toward Adam. Teague is huge, larger than Cooper but not as massive. Just before he barrels into Adam he plants hind legs on the ground and rears bracketing Adam’s shoulders with huge puppy paws and then proceeds to lick Adam’s face. Adam twists and turns, trying to avoid the slobbery bath but it is to no avail.
He tries to motion to Elizabeth whose car is parked just behind his but he can’t manage to disentangle himself from Teague’s happiness.
Then the unthinkable happens, Mandy is out of the car and heading toward Adam.
Somehow she unstrapped herself from her car seat and is laughing as she runs toward Teague.
He can see Elizabeth struggling with her seat belt and hears her warning to Mandy.
“Amanda NO!”
But Mandy has her sights on the pony-sized dog and it’s obvious she has no intention of listening to her mom.
Teague stops his ministrations and eyes his latest play toy. He jumps off Adam and makes it to Mandy in one galloping stride.
All Adam can think of is 100 pounds of happy dog plowing into Mandy.
“Teague NO!” Adam hears River’s voice as his teenage nephew rounds the house.
Apparently both child and puppy have no respect for the word no.
Then the most amazing thing Adam has seen in a long time happens. Teague stops before he body slams Mandy. His tail is still whipping madly and it catches Amanda’s shoulders but there is no pounce, no dinner sized paw - plates knocking the little girl down. The dog gently rests his head on her shoulder and Mandy throws her arms around his neck. He sits quietly, tail fanning the ground and Mandy buries her mounds of thick honey curls into his neck.
“Darn it, Riv!” Adam yells to his nephew. “Get your moose off of her.”
River grins, “Looks like she is on him.”
Adam glances back and it’s true, Teague has flopped on the ground and Mandy is now sprawled out over him and around him, cuddling the huge beast like he is a teddy bear.
Elizabeth is out of the car and her face, once stricken with horror softens.
“Oh, Mandy….” She says
River looks over at Elizabeth, “Sorry, ma’am. I didn’t know there was a kid coming. I’ll grab him.”
Elizabeth smiles, “No need, it looks like Mandy has found a friend.”
Adam glares hard at River, “You need to do something about that beast.”
River glares right back, “S’not my fault you didn’t tell us you were bringing anyone.”
“It’s your fault the da…darn beast is a menace to society.”
Adam and River are nose to nose.
“Boys.”
Gramps has stepped around the corner of the house.
They both turn to their respective father/grandfather.
“Why don’t you introduce me to your guests, Adam?” Gramps says quietly, but both Adam and River know there is steel under that innocuous question.
Adam blushes, “Uh, sorry Dad. Dad, this is Elizabeth Martin and Teague’s play toy is her daughter Mandy.” Adam can’t help the dig at Teague and therefore at River.
“Elizabeth, Mandy, this is my father, John Winchester and my nephew River Winchester. And that…” he points and the dog happily cuddling with Mandy, “Is Teague.”
“Nice to meet you Mr. Winchester, “ Elizabeth offer’s her hand,
His father makes a vague motion with his hand. “John is fine.”
“I hope we aren’t intruding on your BBQ.”
“No, not at all. With all the boys we have around here, there’s always plenty of food to go around. “ John says and offers a warm smile, “Glad to have you both here.”
John turns to River his voice lowering just a bit, “River, get Teague off that poor girl.”
“But Gramps they are having fun,” River protests.
“Please?” Mandy asks,
John bends down to her level and puts his hand firmly on Teague’s collar. The puppy squirms a bit but doesn’t protest.
“Honey, Teague would never hurt you but he’s a very big dog and you are a very small girl.” He looks over at Elizabeth and smiles encouragingly, “That dog’s tail alone is a deadly weapon.”
“Please Gramps?” Mandy asks again, falling into granddaughter mode without skipping a beat.
John Winchester melts like butter on a hot griddle.
“Sure, baby. If that’s what you want.”
Adam and River’s collective jaws drop.
Baby?
“Riv, you watch Teague and make sure he doesn’t get too rough.”
River is so dumbfounded he doesn’t even acknowledge his grandfather.
“Riv, you hear me?” John asks mildly.
“Uh, yeah. I mean, yes sir.”
“C’mon, Adam. Bring your girl around to meet Dean.”
Adam blushes, “Dad, she’s not my girl.” He quirks an apologetic brow at Elizabeth but she just smiles.
John sighs, “Okay then. Bring your friend around to the back of the house. Unless you want her standing here on the front lawn while we eat.
Adam rubs the back of his neck, “Uh, yes, sir.”
John moves toward the back of the house leaving Riv, Mandy and Teague to their own devices.
Part three
http://wildblueyonder6.livejournal.com/54253.html