Chapter 24: FALLING TO SHAMBLES

When Olé, the original Bella, and two Bella clones arrive, ten hours later than Isi, she’s recuperated and is up and about again. She declares all has been done for Morgan, that can be done, with what’s available. He’s comatose, but stable and out of shock. He would be in an intensive care unit if he was in a hospital. He’s not. There is no hospital and no doctors. The only care they can provide, besides trying to keep him stable and comfortable, is intensive love and fervent hopes.

Bella sets up IV drips and Xrays Morgan’s head. Skull is fractured, but no obvious loose internal bone chips visible. Isi concurs. The bullet furrow is scabbed over already. Hopefully no more cranial fluid will be lost, and the skull fracture will reknit and close. Hopefully. Damage to the brain itself? Certainly there’s a concussion. Bruising of the brain. Degree of recovery is a matter of time, wait and see. People with severe strokes have recovered from worse. The bodies power to heal itself is miraculous, and that includes the brain.

Olé and Big Bella need to leave. He is needed back home, at the Ranch. Young pregnant wives are getting very antsy over his prolonged absence. Olé offers to leave his fast electric hybrid scout car, the one they arrived in, in exchange for the diesel six-by-six. Skeet explains she still needs the truck awhile longer, for transporting building materials, so declines to trade out. Diesel fuel is running low though. Skeet asks if a tank of diesel could be delivered to the farm from the Ranch. The Bella clones fix it. They simply conjure up full tanks for her. Fill the truck and the storage tank behind the barn.

The pair of Bella clones will remain to nurse Morgan, until the Franklins wish them gone. Wish them gone? Unlikely to ever happen. The clones can order up more IV fluids and anything else needed or desired via their built in nano-bot connections. Everyone is pleased they’re staying. It’s quite a bit like having twin beautiful, friendly genies, at everyones beck and call. Nobody wants that changed. Phil and Stevie least of all.

They’re sexy genies, too, programed to serve any reasonable request. Adolescents Phil and Stevie tested their age inhibitions. Absolutely none, that is, until Tom instructed the Bella clones, boys under fourteen years old, are not entitled certain reserved for adults services. Roy ignores and resists their licentious solicitations, and Alma’s teasing too.

Isi takes note of his self discipline and wonders if it is all just show for her benefit. She invites Roy for a sit down heart to heart. Roy selects a picnic by the waterfall as conducive grounds for good conversation. After Roy explains, it is she and her infant he wants, and seriously wants to rebuild a family with her and no other will do, Isi tests his resolve. Roy proves he desires her, full round tummy and all. His strong roughened hands lovingly caress all her rounded body, and he is tender and careful not to penetrate too deeply. They decide together, a marriage is desirable between them.

Isi was nearly convinced already, that marrying Roy was a smart thing to do, even before the picnic tryst. All the Franklins spoke highly of him. His tender lovemaking is only the clincher.

Their only ceremony, a public, meaning before the assembled family and clones, declaration of commitment, is recorded by Tom. The date of their bonding, and their names.

A record preserved for posterity in the Franklin family Bible. Who would dare inscribe fraudulent data in a Bible? Bible entries are more reliable than City Hall records, where a fraud is merely an illegality, and not necessarily eternally damning!

Isi and Roy, drive his remaining cattle home, before them. Everyone wishes them happiness and many children. Their farm is only a few miles down the road. Seeing them again, and frequently, is unavoidable and pleasant to contemplate. Mrs Franklin will be Isi’s midwife when the baby is due...

Immediately after Isi’s departure, and without Isi’s buoyant personality to bolster her spirit, Alice Franklin sinks into a deep depression and despair. Takes to her bed, unwilling or unable to arise and deal with life’s everyday problems.

Granted, the problem she faces is overwhelming. Worse than an empty nest syndrome, she contemplates the end of the line. Her line. Her families line. An unrepentant lesbian daughter, and with her only grandson hovering at death’s door, her lovely dream of a flock of great-grandchildren is fading fast, dimming by the minute. The cutoff dead end of her family converges in her mind with her own imminent demise. Why continue on? For whom? For what? No heirs.