Chapter 4

I was back at Moorelands at 7:00 am this morning when they opened ... having not gone home from the night before.

I saw the Macklin girl at the front counter again and she smiled when I came in. I knew that Tina wouldn’t have an account here, but I asked about her print shop.

“Good morning Ms. Macklin, I’m here to get materials to build a wheelchair ramp for Tina Mathews at the print shop. Do they have an account ... I forgot to ask.”

“Hi Billy. Let me look on here and see if they do. Yes here it is under Mathews Printing and Office Supply. I read about Mrs. Mathews and the bad wreck she was involved in on the bypass. Is she getting out of the hospital soon?” she asked as she took my list of materials.

“Tina said she was scheduled to be released in two weeks if all goes well, but she’ll be in a wheelchair for six months at least as she re-habs.”

I looked at her fingers as they flew over the keyboard, entering the materials I’d ordered. I saw a wedding ring on her finger that I had not noticed the first time I was here. She sure is pretty and I hope she has a good husband. I couldn’t help but wish I could meet a pretty woman like her. She’s always smiling, and damn does she ever look good, even dressed conservative for work. I know enough about women to tell when they have a hot body under their everyday clothes. Carol Macklin has a HOT body. I was looking at her butt when she looked up and saw me, she smiled and handed me the receipt.

“Take this back and they’ll load you, Billy. It was good to see you again.”

“I’ll probably be back to get materials for a tall privacy fence for Ms. Charlotte Winters, but I haven’t given her my estimate yet. See you soon I hope ... I meant ... hopefully be back soon, sorry about the way that came out.” I said, not wanting her to think I was flirting.

“I knew what you meant, Billy. Already, I know you’re a gentleman ... we all do here. I hope you continue to do well in your handy-man work. We’re getting a lot of good reports about you and I heard Kasey talking to her dad about you too. If they both get on your side, I know you’ll do well.”

“Thanks Carol, I appreciate that news. I’m just starting out and I’m nervous as I can be about making it.”

“You’ll make it, Billy. Just keep up the hard work and keep pleasing your customers. Word of mouth, will get you more business than you can handle. Sometime, when you come back and Kasey is up front, I’ll introduce you to her. She’s seen you and asked me all about you already. She and I are best friends from college and they hired me when my husband went to Afghanistan.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone by the name of Kasey in here. She must not work the front all the time.”

“She’s all over ... helping her Dad order materials and keeping up with the builders orders, builders lists, and bids on the new construction jobs they have going all the time. When you meet her ... you’ll remember her. She’s tall, beautiful, and smart as hell. She’s got long blonde hair down to her butt and she wears Rockies jeans to work all the time.”

“Wow, I bet she’s married and got a houseful of kids too,” I said, fishing for more.

“No ... she and I just got out of college last year. I got married and she started work here fulltime for her Dad ... She’s just 22 and she’s so shy ... I’m not sure she’ll ever meet anyone.”

“Well ... thanks Carol. See you next time,” I said, turning to leave. I knew enough now to realize I was just a handy-man, and the mysterious Kasey Mooreland was a young beauty who will wind up owning this whole place one day. She’ll probably meet and marry a lawyer or doctor one day too.

When I opened the door to leave, I looked down an aisle to my left and saw a beautiful young woman looking toward me as I opened the door, I couldn’t help but stop and stare at her as she looked directly at me ... then she quickly turned and walked behind another tall shelf ... out of sight.

Kasey Mooreland... the thought jumped into my mind. I went to my pickup and drove around back ... I couldn’t get the image of her from my mind. She seemed to move in slow motion and her long hair seemed to float in the air when she turned. I knew I’d never meet a pretty woman like her. But there was no harm in dreaming I could.

Tina told me that I would meet someone special and when I did. She would be that special someone to want me. Yeah right, hell I’m just a handy-man.

A broke on his ass handy man at that.

I got my materials loaded and headed back to Tina’s. I knew she’d be gone by now, but I wanted to have the ramp built when she came home today ... besides I had a date with an older woman who wanted me to swim naked with her. She had me so horny yesterday that I nearly fucked Tina’s ass off. Maybe she likes to fuck too and I can get some more pussy on this job as well. At least it will keep my mind off that tall, beautiful, sexy rich girl that ran like hell, when she saw me looking at her.

When I got back to Tina’s house, I unloaded my materials and got one of my long electrical cords out and plugged it in on the porch. I set my sawhorses up and measured once again to make sure I was right.

It was exactly 18 ft. from the end of the porch to the concrete driveway and I knew the ramp would be out of the way here, with the sidewalk leading to the front of the porch from the drive.

I marked and cut the two 18 ft. 2X6’s at an angle that would be flush with the concrete when I put the deck boards on top. I cut a header board and fastened it to the outside floor joist on the porch and placed the 2X6 on top so that it was flush with the floor of the porch when I laid a deck board across it.

When I had my main runners in place, I cut my cross members and set them at 32” apart, fastening them in place with the 3” decking screws. When I had all the cross members in place I put four uprights under the long incline for support, setting them in concrete with the two bags of ready-mix I brought. I squared my first 18 ft. treated 5/4 deck board in place and it fit perfectly.

I was busy and never stopped for a break until I had finished the ramp and looked it over for any flaws. I sat down and drank a 16 oz. bottle of Coke I’d taken from my small cooler in back of my truck, the ice hand long since melted, but I was thirsty and the Coke was good.

I took the treated 2X4’s and made handrails along each side of the wide ramp. I then took more 2X4’s and placed them half way between the ramp and the handrail, to serve as a safety rail if Tina’s Mom’s wheelchair got too close to the side.

I stepped back and looked it over and then grabbed the rails and shook them hard with all my weight to see if they were sturdy enough. They were of course – after all – I am my Father’s son and he taught me well.

Satisfied, I put my tools and sawhorses in my truck, then cleaned up my sawdust and wood trimmings. I backed my pickup out to the end of the drive and stopped to look it over once more. It looked good, and very professional, and I was pleased with it.

I took Tina’s card from my tee shirt and called the print shop. She answered and yelped in surprise that I had called.

“Well sexy lady, I just wanted you to know that you and your Mom now have a wheelchair ramp that will support a Red Thunderbird if you wanted it to. I hope you and your Mom like it when you see it,”

“Wow Billy ... that was fast. I’ll call Mom now and tell her. I know she’ll be happy that it’s finished and ready for her. I wish I could talk more now, but we’re busy and I need to get back to a print order ... will you come by later and let me pay you?” she asked.

“I have an appointment at 6:00 ... can we do it before then?”

“I’ll be home at 5:15, if you want to come by.”

“I’ll be there. See you Then ... have a good day, Tina.”

As soon as I put my phone in my pocket, it rang. I grabbed it, thinking it was Tina calling back.

“Hellooo.” I said in a silly voice.

“Yes, hello I’m calling for Bill Sherman – the handy-man,” the man said.

Shit, I was embarrassed, but never said anything about thinking he was someone else.

“Yes Sir, I’m Bill Sherman. How can I help you?” I tried to sound as professional as I could now.

“Billy, I’ve been wanting to build me a shop building behind my house and I was always afraid I’d screw it up, Have you ever built small building like that ... on a slab?”

“Yes Sir. What size did you have in mind?”

“Well, I want it to be big enough to get my truck in and service it and I have a small tractor that I’d like to leave in it when I’m not using it. Could you maybe come by and let’s talk, and do a little measuring?”

“Sure, I just finished one job and I have until 5:00 this afternoon to measure and figure you a cost for materials and labor.”

“Good, I live out on county road 708, off highway 38 south ... you know where that is?”

“Yes sir, I do. What house do you live in?”

“I live at the end of the road... 708 is my driveway off highway 38.”

“I can be there in maybe twenty minutes. I need to grab a sandwich and eat on the way.”

“Come on out and eat with us. My daughter has dinner about ready ... that is if you like country, home-cooking.”

“Heck yes. I love it ... if you’re sure you don’t mind, I’d love it.”

“C’mon Billy, we got plenty,” he said and hung up.

I’ve never been an overly religious person, but I do believe in God and before I left Tina’s driveway, I bowed my head over the steering wheel and thanked Him for looking after me in my time of hardship. I felt better when I did, and I remembered Dad and Mom both doing the same thing when they felt they were getting the best things sent their way. I never even thought of the things I’d been doing with the women lately ... I didn’t want Him to stop sending the jobs my way that I desperately needed.

I drove out to the address the man had given me and when I pulled into the drive from the gravel road, I was met by two large Collies and a small black Dachshund ... all three wagging their tails and yelping a welcome ... not a warning as I got out and made my way to the porch of the two story white frame house.

“I reckon you’d be Billy Sherman would you?” the man said as he motioned me up on the porch and shook my hand. He was using a cane to walk and he didn’t look to be any older than my Dad.

“Yes Sir, I’m Billy. Pleased to meet you Sir.”

“Call me Hoppy, everyone else does Billy.”

“Pleased to meet you, Hoppy. You want to do some measuring now or were you about to eat?”

“C’mon on in, wash up, meet my daughter and granddaughter. They got dinner ready and we’ll eat then go measure and figure some.”

“What ever you say, Hoppy.” I liked this man, he’s country and he’s plain spoken, just like my Mom and Dad.

“Ellen, this is Billy Sherman. He’s the one on the flyer, Cassidy brought from town yesterday. Billy, this is my daughter, Ellen ... The best cook in Missouri.”

“Daddy, stop bragging just because you always talk me into cooking your favorite foods,” Ellen said as she turned to speak to me.

“Pleased to meet you, Ms. Ellen. Your cooking really does smell good and I hope I’m not barging in on you ... coming in at dinnertime, like this,” I said as we shook hands.

Ellen is a short woman. She wore no makeup, dressed in a plain house dress like I remember Mom wearing years ago. She’s probably an attractive woman if and when she makes herself up and dresses different. She sure is small though ... maybe 5 ft. tall and weighs no more than a hundred and ten at the most. She’s got a nice shape to her though and her breasts almost look too big for a little woman like her. I bet she was a looker when she was younger. I couldn’t help but look a woman over, it must have been something I inherited in my genes from my ancestors, it just comes natural for me to assess every woman I see.

“Nice to meet you too, Billy. Go down the hall to the bathroom and wash up...

“Dad would you call Cassidy and tell her dinner’s ready?”

I took two steps and Hoppy yelled so loud I jumped.

“CASSIDY!“

“Dad, I could have done that ... I meant call her from her room,” Ellen fussed and looked at me and smiled. She seemed to relax and she even looked pretty as she smiled. BUT – DAMN what a set of titties on this woman. I wonder if they hang down when she takes her bra off. Damn, I wish I didn’t think things like that about women ... I always get an erection when I do.

“COMING GRAMPS.” I heard from back in the house ... further down the hall from where I was. I found the bathroom and was washing my hands when I saw someone at the door. I turned quickly and saw a young girl, probably 5 ft, maybe 5 – 2... 17 or 18 years old with long black hair down past her butt and an exact image of her Mom ... as she must have looked at that age. BUT-DAMN ... what some titties on this young girl. I wonder if they’ll even stay up with her bra on, let alone when she takes it off. I kept glancing at her and she smiled.

“I’m Cassidy ... that’s Gramps last name and I was named after him. Are you the handy-man that I brought the flyer home about? Damn, you’re sexy as hell. How old are you anyway?” she shot the questions at me and made even me blush when she called me sexy.

“Yes, I’m Billy Sherman. I’m the handy-man I’m here to give your Gramps an estimate on a building.”

“Will you let me help you build it? I’m good with tools. I bet you wear one of those big leather tool belts like the linemen that work on our power lines don’t you?” she was full of questions and I wondered if she was just curious or really this outgoing. She sure is pretty, BUT-DAMN. what some homegrown titties on this girl.

“If I get the job – you can be my assistant,” I said as I turned to dry my hands. She held the towel out for me and smiled a big perfect smile as I took it from her.

“Can I call you, Billy? You can call me Cassidy or Cass ... that’s what my friends all call me.”

“Thanks Cassidy. Now lets go eat and you can help me measure for your Gramps a shop.”

“Hey Billy ... You’re cool. I hope Gramps lets you build it. I like you already.”

“Thanks Cassidy. What grade you in, I’d bet that you are a cheerleader aren’t you?” I knew a short, pleated cheerleader skirt when I see one.

“I sure am, You’re very observant ... I bet you know a lot about girls don’t you, Billy?”

“Lets go eat Cassidy ... We’ve got a job we need to measure for.”

“OK, but I’ll still want to know the answers to all the questions I have about you and what all you know about girls.”

“When we have more time and when you’re older.”

“Please Billy? Don’t treat me like I’m a little girl. I’m seventeen and I need to know these things from someone like you ... someone who is experienced and won’t lie to me just to get in my panties.”

“Uh ... Cassidy.”

“PLEASE BILLY, PLEASE?”

“When we have time and there are no ears close by,” I wasn’t sure I would be able to take this job if it were offered to me. This girl is too aggressive and too inquisitive to look like she does. BUT-DAMN, What a set or tits and what an ass on this young girl. I was watching her swing it as she walked up the hallway in front of me. When we got to the kitchen, she stopped swinging her sexy butt and walked like a little lady. Sneaky little shit, she is too.

“I see you’ve met, Billy. I hope you haven’t bugged the hell out of him with all your questions,” Ellen said to her daughter as she smiled at me.

“No, Billy and I have a lot in common and he’s already told me that if Gramps lets him build the shop building, I can help,” Cassidy said as she grinned at me and sat down at the table on the side next to her Mom ... right next to the only empty chair.

“Sit down, Billy and I’ll ask the blessing.” Hoppy said and Cassidy looked up from her bowed head and smiled at me.

“Lord, we thank you for the bountiful blessings of life and for this food you’ve provided. Lord we thank you for this young man you’ve sent our way to help us. May we all enjoy his company and come to know him as a family friend, Amen.”

“Amen,” I echoed and so did Ellen.

The table was filled with bowls and dishes of food ... enough to feed an army it looked like. Hoppy served his plate first with mashed potatoes and passed the bowl to Ellen, she motioned for him to pass it over to me and he looked at her and smiled as he did.

I took it and got a big helping and passed it to Cassidy. She smiled that smile of hers ... that had me worried, and took the bowl. She surprised me by taking a huge helping and passing it on to her Mom.

Next came the green beans and I knew they were homegrown, as were all the vegetables on the table and probably the pork chops came from their own hogs too.

“Where you from originally Billy?” Hoppy asked as we helped our plates.

“I grew up over in Wyman, but I’ve lived here since I got out of college about five years ago.”

“What did you do after college?”

“I worked at Wellbourne until they closed down, then I went into handy-man work. That’s what my Dad did all his life and I worked for him as a kid and until I graduated from MIZZOU.”

“What year, I went there too, class of 1990,” Ellen said.

“2000 here, did you go to Rolla?”

“I sure did ... my husband did too. We were married right after graduation. He was in the ROTC and went into the service to get his doctorate. It was cheaper that way. He was sent to the Middle East and ... didn’t make it back.” Ellen said with her head down.

“Sorry to hear that.” I said, not knowing what else to say as I looked at her. She looked up and smiled a warm, friendly smile and I could see the pretty woman that she kept hid underneath her plain dress ... and her face with no makeup.

“Thank you, Billy. I see your Mom and Dad raised a gentleman. You’re a nice young man and we welcome you to our table anytime,” she said as she smiled at me again, as she sat up straighter. She looked at her Dad and he was smiling and I smiled too. I looked at Cassidy and she grinned ... then touched her foot to mine.

“Ellen said it for all of us, Billy. You’re already one of us ... you’re welcome here anytime, day or night, meal time or not. I’m going to let you build me a shop and though I can’t be of much help, I know Cassidy and Ellen will help all they can,” Hoppy said as he grinned and I looked around the table. Ellen was smiling big and pretty now ... her big breasts sticking out proudly and setting high on her chest. I bet they didn’t sag too much the way they perched on her small chest now.

I glanced at Cassidy as I ate my meal and she kept sneaking glances at me, she poked my knee with her finger under the table and I looked at her. With a sneaky grin, she pulled her short skirt up to show her white bikini panties and spread her legs to show a wet spot. Damn, I may have to turn this job down for the good of my health ... but I sure need the money.

I grinned at her, then frowned my eyebrows slightly and nodded toward her Gramps and Mom. She smiled and left her skirt up high on her thigh. I cleaned my plate and looked up as Ellen got up and pulled a big peach cobbler from the oven. I was done for Then ... I knew I’d die happy if I got killed out here by an old man ... for messing with his grand daughter.

“Ellen, I won’t be able to work after eating all this food. I’ll have to sit in the shade and tell my helper, over here what her to do,” I grinned and looked at Cassidy, she was beaming a smile all around and Hoppy loved it as he laughed and Ellen smiled at me too.

“I’ll help clear the table Mom,” Cassidy said as she sprang from her seat and started clearing the dishes.

“OK Hon. I know you want to get out there with Gramps and Billy, but you’d better put on some shorts, that old cheerleader skirt is a bit small on you this year. I swear, you’re growing up too fast.”

“Awww Mom, Gramps lets me wear it when I ride my 4-wheeler and all I’m going to do today is help Billy measure Gramps shop off on the ground and mark it.”

“Well, try to keep from flashing your butt at Billy, he’s a nice man and we don’t need to embarrass him.” Ellen said and winked at me.

“If she’s used to wearing those clothes, then don’t make her change on my account, I think she’s cute as a cheerleader and I bet she makes head cheerleader her senior year,” I said as I looked at Cassidy leaning over the dishwasher, loading dishes into it.

She turned her butt to me and bent to the floor to pick up a fork and turned to wink at me as I looked at her near naked butt, what is it about this family winking all the time. Damn what a butt though, she would give Tina a run for her money in a butt contest. If I were a judge anyway.

“Billy, you rest a minute, I’m going out to have a smoke and hobble my way out to where I want my new shop built, Cassidy knows where it’ll be, so she can show you when she gets through helping her Mom,” Hoppy said and reached for his cane.

“Hon, run get Gramps tobacco pouch, he always forgets it, make sure he’s got papers in it too,” Ellen told Cassidy.

Cassidy ran down the hall and I looked to see her near naked butt flashing as she ran.

“She’s such a sweet kid Billy, but I’m afraid she’s going to get hurt because she’s so open and honest, asking questions about everything she’s not sure about. I’m afraid she’s just a bit precocious too and I know she got that from me. I hope you’ll take time with her while you’re here and help her understand ... You’re not that much older than her and I can tell by the way she looks at you that she likes you. Gramps is as good as gold to her, but she needs a father figure who will answer her questions and not put her down for asking about sex and how a boy feels,” Ellen said as she came to stand close to me and talk softly.

Cassidy ran back through with a leather pouch in her hand and ran out the door, she slid to a stop and looked back at me.

“Be right back, Billy. I got to catch Gramps; Mom, keep Billy company until I get back, will you?” she said and whirled around, showing her sexy butt again as her short skirt flew up over her hip.

“See what I mean Billy, she’s already infatuated with you, I know, I was the same way when I was her age.”

“Ellen, she has already asked me about sex and I didn’t know what to say or do.”

“Tell her the truth, Billy. She doesn’t need to be lied to, she trusts you and I do too,” she said as she stood so close I could feel the heat of her legs on my hand as I sat in my chair.

“Ellen, I’m a man who has thoughts a young innocent girl like her does not need to know about. I’m afraid I’d let my own feelings influence my answers,” I tried to explain.

“Please, Billy? So this for me and I’ll make sure your feelings are well taken care of.”

“Ellen, she’s already flashed her panties at me.”

“She just wants to play show and tell with you. I know how I was. I wish I had met a man like you when I was her age. Someone who knew all the answers, that had experience and knew how to make a girl feel the right way about her body.”

“Maybe you and I both could get her to sit down with us and answer her questions?”

“Please try it my way, then if she needs more, I’ll sit down and you and I’ll answer any question she may ask and you don’t feel comfortable answering.”

“Any question?”

“ANY question.”

“What if she wants to play show and tell, or see a demonstration?”

“Then I’ll help you there too Billy, I can’t let her get hurt like I was. I was taken advantage of and gang-banged by eight boys because I didn’t know how to handle myself. I thought they all just liked me and I was being accepted.”

“Ellen, do you realize what you’re saying?”

“I clean up good Billy, and look at these,” she said as she unbuttoned her dress top and opened it to show some of the biggest, prettiest breasts I have even seen.