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Installment #10 The Farewell Party

 Kevin popped the top on a Coors Light.  He preferred Bud but the Coors plant was just up the road a ways so Coors it was.  Colorado and Coors.  He smiled at Greg standing over the grill and poking at a steak.  Greg had made a rub that he was sure Kevin and Meg would like and as the sweet hot smell of the Chipotle wafted upward he knew this was a winner.  This was going on the menu at the pub as soon as he got home.  No hurry though.  Clark was holding down the fort and Greg  knew how much Clark liked playing pub owner in his absence.
 “Hey Kev, when are we going home?  Not that I am in any hurry, just saying.”  Kevin smiled as he reached for another beer.  He popped the top and handed it to Greg.
 “Quiet getting to you, Bro?” He arose and walked over to stand beside Greg at the grill.
 “No, I really like it here.  Sometime you will need to show me Denver.  Do they have much community there?”  Kevin knew that by “community” Greg meant gay culture, like San Francisco. 
 “I never spent much time there.  I do know they have a community center.  Well, so does Colorado Springs.  Pueblo is trying, but they are not so open down there.  Colorado Springs has the world’s largest and most religious centers.  They tried to pass a law one time called Amendment 2 which basically took away any civil rights for gay people.  Guy named Perkins.  It was worded so it looked like a good thing and it passed.  Course it was struck down by the Supreme Court when it was challenged.  You ought to read up on that.”  Kevin leaned closer to the steak sizzling on the grill.  “Damn, Greg!  That smells good.  What is it?”
 Greg beamed.  “Well first you got your basic Chipotle which is just roasted Jalapeno. 
Then I put in some garlic, Vidalia Onion,  cilantro, and brown sugar.  I rubbed that all in and
let it soak for a few hours.  I think it is going to be pretty good.  Going t be hot, but that
is what Chipotle is, isn’t it?”
 Kevin laughed as he hooted,  “ My little Gringo!  Never thought I would see the day!.” 
He reached for Greg and pulled him into an embrace and as he did so he saw the wide eyes of Fred
Himes and suddenly stopped and stepped back.
 “Fred!  Good to see you.”  He stepped forward with his hand extended.  Fred seemed not
to notice the gesture and pulled his hat off his head.
 “Oh, I came for the party, like Mrs. Parker said I should do.”  He rummaged in his
pocket and finally pulled out a handful of bedraggled vines.  He thrust them toward Kevin. 
“Here.  I brang these.”  Kevin stared at the sorry looking offering and then reluctantly reached
for the gift.
 “Why thank you Fred.  Let me go give these to mom.  Take a look at what Greg is making
us for supper.  Do you like hot stuff?”  He headed for the door.  “Be right back.”
 Fred took a few tentative steps toward the grill and Greg.  “Howdy.  That sure does
smell good.”  Greg suddenly felt his heart ache for the old man before him.  What a simple soul
he was, bringing a vine.  At least he knew the rudimentary patterns of behavior.  Greg wondered
at what transpired in this fellows life to bring him to this mountain and his solitary life. 
Well, at least he assumed it was a solitary life.  Greg could not imagine any woman living there
with him.  He breathed a sigh of relief as Meg came outside and went to the man.
 “Oh, Fred.  Thank you for the lovely vine.  I have it in some water and I am going to
try to root it.  I think it would be lovely on the east side of the chicken house.”  She smiled
at Fred and his face lit up like a neon sign.  Meg Parker brought out the best in everyone. 
Kevin and Greg’s eyes met over her head and they both smiled.
 Soon Fred and Meg were seated at the table and the boys were delivering a platter of
steaks and a bowl of grilled vegetables.  Plates were passed and the farewell party was in full
swing.  All were in agreement that the new rub Greg had made was perfect.  Any more heat would
have been to much and any less too little.  Just the right amount of sweet and the tang of the
cilantro melded it together perfectly.  And the crowning achievement was the Flan that Greg had
finally mastered.  Just the right amount of caramel. 
 As the boys began to clear the table, Meg noticed her hands were itching as she held
them up to examine them she detected tiny bumps.  “Well, I must have gotten into something.” 
She excused herself and went into the house where she washed her hands and got out a bottle of
Calamine Lotion which she rubbed on her hands.  “I just don’t understand what I could have
gotten into.” she remarked as she walked back onto the patio.  Kevin turned and held his hands
out to show her that his also were red and tiny blisters.  They suddenly looked at Fred, who was
rubbing his hands together.
 They all three turned and looked at Greg who showed them his hands which were not red. 
It clicked with Meg first.
 “Oh, dear!  Fred I am afraid you have brought us poison ivy!” 

****************This is the place to buy my first novella***************** 

From the back cover

Chapter One...Loose Ends
Lou Mercer

Meg Parker led a simple life.  She was a widow of three years and lived on a chicken farm at the foot of the mighty Rockie Mountains.  Life was good and her little store on eBay made her extra spending money.  But snow and wildlife were not the only things lurking in the forest above her house.  Nor did it stay in the forest for long.

Marshall Purcell came home a wounded veteran from vietnam.  He still had his dreams, but they were of an incestuous past that threatened to consume him.

When Meg and Marshall met it seemed an inconsequential meeting, but it changed both their lives forever.  And change is not always a good thing.

This is adult fiction at its best without all the sex.  Well, maybe just a little bit. 

About the author.  Lou Mercer was born in Nickerson, Kansas. She came to Pueblo, Colorado in 1977 and is now a product of the majestic Rockie Mountains

Hey look! My very own widget.

Wonder if it works?  You will have to tell me because things are strange on this side of the blog!  LOL

Installment #9 Fred

 Fred watched from the edge of the forest as the shiny car kicked up gravel on Banner  Road.  Yep.  It was that one cop.  Wonder why he drove that car?  Looked like he should drive a black sedan of some sort.  Or maybe white.  White would be good.  Bet he was showing off for Mrs. Parker.  Bet that was it all right!  Well, that was no never mind to him.  He had more important things to do right now.
 He glanced at the sun.  Must be about 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon.  They ought to be thinking about cooking before long and he ought to be thinking about maybe getting cleaned up, but first he had something to do.  He felt the vial in his shirt pocket and turned back towards his cabin.  He better hurry!
 At the cabin he knelt by a solitary scrub evergreen.  He had pruned it so the branches did not touch the ground and the sun could reach the soft dirt for several hours a day.  He stared intently at the funnel shaped depressions in the dirt.  Which one today? 
 He had a grid laid out in his head and numbers for the depressions, but they kept changing positions! Finally he picked one as the recipient for the day.  Pulling the vial from his pocket he held it near his face and stared at the big red ant inside.  It was not moving much.  Oh, it needed air! 
 Fred quickly pulled the stopper out.  The ant began to kick.  That was just in the nick of time!  Better drill a hole in the cork or the next one might not make it at all.  He smiled at the ant as he tipped the vial down and the ant slid down the tube and landed gently in the sandy dirt.  Fred had worked very hard to make the area just right.  It had to be sandy and soft.  If it was not the larvae buried in the sand could not build it’s trap.  He had worked very hard to make this the perfect world.  Antlion’s normally did not live up here on the mountain.  Or so he thought.  He had never seen them before and this was the only ones he knew about.  He could be wrong, but he did not think so.
 He had caught three of the adult damselflies and put them in an aquarium with sandy soil and a little greenery and a grow light all set up right in his kitchen.  He had put up a little card so he would not forget what he had learned at the library.
Common name: Antlion
Scientific name: Myrmeleon sp.
Order: Neuroptera
Life cycle: Complete metamorphosis.  Adults do not fly much but lay eggs in the sand.  Eggs hatch and the larva dig funnel shaped pits in the sand and hide in the bottom.  Ant or other small things fall in the pit and can not get out.
 He had easily recognized the mother antlion when he seen her.  She looked very much like a dragonfly, but much smaller and rather drab with four wings with veins in them.  He was not sure whether the mother was called a damselfly or an owl fly.  Really did not matter.  He knew he was going to get something when he saw her with her tail in the sand in the aquarium and several weeks later he began to see the funnel shaped traps immerge.  They were fascinating to watch, but for some reason when the ant was trapped and the antlion struck, it made him very sad, as now. 
 He watched the ant struggle to get away and slide back down the steep sides into the ferocious jaws to the predator.  As he watched the ant slowly stop struggling and curl into a fetal position he realized that time had passed and it was going to be supper time pretty quick.  He hurried back to the clearing and sure enough, they were making preparations to make more preparations. 
 He hurried to the cabin and through the door to his small cot.  He gathered a pair of boxer shorts, a pair of socks, his newest Levi’s, a white tee shirt with a pocket and his long sleeved blue checkered shirt he had ordered last month from LL Bean. These he laid on the chair outside the door to his shower room.  He had built this little room himself after dad died.  It held a corner shower, a small sink and of course, a commode.  He had bought a taller one because he was a tall man and did not like crouching when he did his business.
 As he stripped and dropped his clothes on the floor he remembered how when he first built this he did not have a water heater.  Mountain water was very cold and he very soon realized that a water heater was a must.  As he lathered his chest he also made a mental note to buy more soap.  He had found that bag of Irish Spring soap laying by the road last winter.  Whole bag not even touched so he had brought it home.  He kind of liked the smell of it.  Maybe he would buy some more. 
 He wondered what kind of soap Meg used.  He could call her Meg when he was here naked in the shower and no one else was around.  When he was at her house he had to be respectful and call her Mrs. Parker.  He bet she was really soft.  He could almost tell that by looking at her.  Course she was in the sun a lot of times, so she wasn’t the creamy skin like his momma. 
 Or like momma used to have.  And she wore tennis shoes mostly, not like the patent leather ones his momma had worn.  His momma had been perfect.  His momma had been like an angel.  Probably why he had not messed with women.  None could compare to his momma.  Still there had been that woman in Kansas that time.  Not a woman really, more of a girl.  Not a little girl.  She was just out of school and working in that café where he ate.  He let himself think back in time for just a moment.  He tried to remember how that woman had felt.  Oh, yes!  She had been so soft and warm.  And she smelled good and her hands pulled him toward her.  And her lips!  Her eyes!  He could almost see her.  He could alost feel her and almost see her as he suddenly turned the hot water off and felt the jolt of ice cold mountain water bring him back to reality.  And with the memory he lost what could have been a hard on. 
 But Fred Himes, Jr. would never allow that to develop.  Not while he had control of his mind.  A woman would never be a part of his life.  And with that came a very great sadness.

;">********************For Sale by owner*****************

From the back cover

Chapter One...Loose Ends
Lou Mercer

Meg Parker led a simple life.  She was a widow of three years and lived on a chicken farm at the foot of the mighty Rockie Mountains.  Life was good and her little store on eBay made her extra spending money.  But snow and wildlife were not the only things lurking in the forest above her house.  Nor did it stay in the forest for long.

Marshall Purcell came home a wounded veteran from vietnam.  He still had his dreams, but they were of an incestuous past that threatened to consume him.

When Meg and Marshall met it seemed an inconsequential meeting, but it changed both their lives forever.  And change is not always a good thing.

This is adult fiction at its best without all the sex.  Well, maybe just a little bit. 

About the author.  Lou Mercer was born in Nickerson, Kansas. She came to Pueblo, Colorado in 1977 and is now a product of the majestic Rockie Mountains

Installment #8 Jack Farley

 Meg watched from the doorway as Jack Farley unfolded himself out of the Corvette.  As he stood he instinctively brushed at a wrinkle in his gray slacks.  Then he tucked his notebook into his left hand and firmly closed the door of the car.  He turned toward the house and his eyes met those of Meg Parker as she held the door open wide.  She stepped aside as he walked through the door and into the kitchen.

“Good morning, Mr. Farley.  Did you have a nice drive down? “  She indicated a chair at the table.  “Or would you prefer the living room?  It has softer chairs.  Or we can set on the deck.  It is nice out there in the morning and evening.”

Jack frowned.  He had been here less than a minute and was already given three choices.  Jack did not like choices.  He liked to know exactly what his next move would be and this woman had him going in three different directions before he was completely in the house.  He looked at her in consternation. 

“Mrs. Parker!  This is your home.  Wherever you want to sit to hear this gruesome tale I bring you is entirely up to you!  Kitchen, front room, deck, roof, chicken house, I really do not give a damn!  Just pick a place.  Any place!”  He stared in horror as he noticed a tiny tear well up in her eye and slowly start down her cheek.  Ah shit!  What a way to start the day.  It could only go downhill from here, he was sure of that.  And he was right about that as he noticed Kevin and Greg staring at him in disbelief.  Kevin was the first to find his voice.

“Well, let’s do the deck then.  Would you like a cup of coffee?  And mom made some blueberry muffins.  Greg, can you get them settled and then help me here?  I would like to get this over with and get into town.”

Very soon they were seated around the glass top table with mugs of coffee in front of them.  The silence was awkward and Jack knew it was his little tirade that was at the heart of the matter.   Might as well bite the bullet on this one, he thought, as he began to take documents out of his notebook. 

He started with the 17 year old boy 16 years ago and concluded with Jeffery and Ambrose.  As he reported each one he watched Meg grow paler and more withdrawn.  As the threesome realized the full scope of who Marshall Purcell was and what he had done a complete silence gripped the people on the deck.

“Any questions?”  They eyed him ludicrously.  Meg was the first to speak.

“Why?  What would make someone do something like that?  How did I figure in this picture?  How did he find me?  Why did he find me?”  Her voice trailed off as her body was wracked with sobs.  Kevin and Greg hurried to hold her.  Jack suddenly realized that he wanted to hold her and comfort her.  He had never had feelings like that in his 53 years and it scared him.  Better proceed slowly here! 

“That is the big question here.  The only family he has left is his father and step mother.  There does not seem to be any clues there.  Father said he was a good kid growing up and never had any problems.  He was injured in Viet Nam, but lots of guys were.  After the service he was kind of a loner.  Had an office manager and she is helping us track money.  Looks like he planned on taking you to Mexico.  Lot of unanswered questions.”

An uneasy silence followed and Jack began to tuck his documents back in the notebook.  He stood to go.  A vision of Meg in his Corvette flashed before his eyes and he snorted in derision as he knew that was not going to happen.  It was a short walk from the deck to the car.  As he reached for the door handle a small hand appeared on his large one.  He stopped and looked in the gray eyes of Meg Parker.  His heart almost stopped.  What now?

“Mr. Farley.  I need to apologize for my behavior.  I know you went to a lot of time and expense to come here and tell me this and I did not mean to upset you.  Can you forgive me?”  Her eyes silently pleaded with him. 

What the hell?  He behaved like an ass and she apologized?  As he gazed down into the eyes that seemed to be turning from gray to green he felt an emptiness well up inside him like he had not known for years.  Not since he was a small boy at home in St. Louis.  He wanted to say something very profound.  Something she would remember, but all that came out when he finally did speak was

“Meg.” and that was barely a whisper.  Had the boys not been standing on the deck watching them, he might have grabbed her and kissed her, but they were, so he did not.  He needed to think, but that was not going to happen while he was lost in her eyes.  This was the first woman he had ever known that looked him straight in the eyes.  No wavering there.  And he could not turn away.  He could not think.  But he had to think so he had to turn away.  And then he remembered.

“It was not you.  It was me.“  He wrenched the door open and climbed into the seat.  “I should have your computer next week.  Can I bring it to you? I’ll call first.”

 Meg smiled.  “Sure.  Call first.”  She did not bother to tell him that by next week she would be up and running with the new computer and would have little use for the other one.  She just stood and waved as he left the drive and the shiny blue Corvette turned onto Banner Road, headed for Denver.
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Installment #7

Meg

Meg handed her Paypal Business Debit card to Kevin and smiled. “You boys know what I need in the line of a computer. Ebay, something to balance the check book and keep track of my money, a word processor. Big screen. Sound.”

“Oh, one like you had?”

“Right! Only new and here, not in Denver. I don’t think I am ever going to get mine back and my store is waiting.” She frowned as she recalled the events that had led to her computer being taken by Jack Farley. “But wait until Mr. Farley gives us his report. He should be here pretty soon.” Then as an afterthought she added, “I wonder if that man ever smiles?”

Kevin and Greg laughed at the change of topic. “Gee, mom! Where did that come from?”

“I don’t know. He just seems like a very odd man. I guess I shouldn’t say anything. I only met him last week and have only seen him a couple times and that was under rather awkward circumstances. And he is coming down from Denver to fill us in and he doesn’t need to do that, so maybe I am just jumping to conclusions. But first impressions, you know….” Her voice trailed off as the sound of a car pulling up the gravel drive came through the open window. “Ah, speak of the devil!” They all laughed.

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