Chapter 8: Makeovers

Around ten the next morning, we finally went down stairs. Dakota presented us with borrowed robes to wear to breakfast. Personally, I was starved. Supper was a bountiful spread we ate very little of. Dallas rejected my urging to accompany us to Dakota’s house for dinner, unwilling to face off with her yet. As dinner quickly devolved into prurient excess, I felt relieved Dallas wasn’t present to inhibit us.

Dallas was waiting for us when we arrived downstairs. He accepted Dakota’s invitation to breakfast with us, but ducked away when she attempted to hug him. She managed a quick tousle of his hair as he slid past her. He looked annoyed, she looks disappointed.

“We don’t like each other enough for fake family huggy-kissy stuff.”

“We aren’t fake family, just estranged. We can mend fences, if you’ll let me try.”

“Joey said you want me to take over running the ranch. If that’s a serious offer? I want it in writing and witnessed and I’ll accept.”

“So formal, you sound like a business man. After breakfast, I’ll fill you in on current affairs.”

“No need. Just call the staff together, announce the change in management, I’ll take it from there.”

“There is a lot more to running a ranch than you can possibly know.”

“Not so. I know everything. Kept my eye on you and that dumb fuck you married, everyday since I became your ward. Never trusted you for a moment. Look at my friends for example. I hope you didn’t succeed in seducing their minds and hearts as well as their bodies. You tried didn’t you. You hoped to leave me without allies. Did she succeed Joey? Gail?”

“We negotiated all the daylight hours free to use as we choose. We choose to continue working with you on the project. We believe in it. We’re with you still. You haven’t lost any friends, Dallas.”

“Today and all the weekends are mine, don’t forget.”

“We didn’t discuss today.”

“Occasionally I need an extra day. You agreed. Today is the first extra one. We have to go shopping, and to the hairdressers, physical checkups at the doctor and dentist offices. Lots to get done today.”

“What are you planning to do to my friends?”

“Make them over into traveling companions and guards. While you run the ranch, I’m going to run around catching up on all the fun I missed over the years.”

“What about Virginia and Georgia?”

“My girls will be watched over, no fear. They’re my concern, not yours. This house and ten acres it sits on, and all within, are exempt from your authority. This is my place, my personal space.”

“Okay, Dakota. But remember this. Your daughters are my nieces and I care about them too. I intend to stick my nose in if needed.”

“Just don’t presume to put your foot down. You’ll regret being kneed where it hurts the worst.”

“Well, I’ll call all hands, round them up, so you can tell them the good news.”

“You do that then. I hope they don’t all quit when they learn you’re the new boss.”

“They won’t. They may declare it a holiday, though.”

“If you allow that, you won’t be much of a boss of anything.”

“You’re right, of course. I need to show them who’s boss. I should declare the holiday myself.”

Dallas departed, munching on a final crunchy wedge of toast.

“Okay lovers, if you’re about finished eating, I suggest you hurry back to your boats, dress, and return quickly. We have much to do.”

We did hurry across the ranch, uncomfortable to be seen in our togas in daylight. We walked slowly back wearing our jeans.

“What do you think, Gail? Is this a colossal blunder we are embarking on?”

“Dakota wants to buy us new clothes. No downside to that.”

“I suppose not. What about those checkups she mentioned?”

“Good health depends on advance detection and diagnosis. A clean bill of health is a comforting thing. And if a problem exists, that’s good to know too, even if it’s a little unsettling at first.”

“Beauty and brains in one package. I wish you were my girl.”

“That I am, Joey. And you are my sweetheart, don’t doubt it.”

“If that were only true.”

“My heart isn’t located in my pussy, Joey. Is yours in your scrotum?