Octobers Paridise (part 2)

All he could comprehend at the moment was a numbing pain in his backside. This horses saddle was definatly not one made for comfort. October was stopping Rapture. Oh thank god! There was no possible way his ass could have taken anymore of the abuse. He flung his leg over the saddle horn and sat sideways on the seat. Looking down at the ground he began to regret not asking Tobe for Dismounting 101 lessons. It was a long drop from the top of Justify to the hard ground. Oh who was he kidding, he'd jumped off things much higher than this at the gym for christ sake. Granted that the gym floors were lined with thick blue padding of course. Aaron drew in a breath and slid, frontwards, off the horse. He felt his ankle pop as his Converse made contact with the dirt. That hurt.

" Ya okay over there Aar?"

Crap. Had Tobe seen the small squint of pain he'd shown? Again... who was he kidding, he'd practicaly screamed. " I'm fine. Just... just a little dismounting problems thats all." He said the last parts in a mumble. He caught Fin trying to surpress a series of laughing fits. " Shut up ass hole." That did it. Fin burst out into a fit of histarics, clutching his stomach from the pain.

" Oh this is great...." Fin paused to let out another laugh," The almighty now it all can't figure out how to get off a horse!"

" Thats pretty sad dude." Included Talon, dismounting Desert Rose... the right way. Both of the boys began to snicker as Aaron rubbed the injured apendage... and both were met with Octobers fists.

" If you value your lives, you will shut the hell up." Her glare was enough to quite them for the moment. Her mood switched automatically as she gained rule over the current male species in the vacintity. " So, who wants dinner?"

Aaron felt himself grin. She was almost bipolar. Maybe thats why he was so attracted to her. Wait... what the hell was he thinking! This was October for christ sake! The same girl who used to cover his phone in glue and laugh as he went to the docters with it attached to his ear. The same girl who used to put worms in his socks and snicker as he screamed and ran in circles. He hated worms... nasty little buggers. Something flew past his head. A small yelp drew his attention away from his thoughts for a moment. Talon was sitting on a stump rubbing his left eye. A peice of buffalo jerky lay on the ground beside him. His eyes drifted to October who was smiling inoccently and digging out another peice of meat. She tossed it to him gently, obviosly trying not to make the same mistake in depth perception as she had with Tal. They sat and knawed on the jerky for a while, enjoying the soft breeze that occasionaly blew by. Tobe smiled the whole time. It was nice to witness her happiness. She had hid it for so long since her mothers passing. Aaron had no idea how something as simple as taking a ride on a couple of horses and throwing jerky at her friends could lighten her mood so drasticaly. It was a true mystery to him. He contemplated it as he mounted Justify for the second time that day. The wonder drifted away as soon as his butt hit the saddle. Great... the pain was coming back already. It was going to be a long day.

" Damnit Beth, are you out of your mind!" she tried to shush him. The man was creating such an un needed scene for their guests.

" Control yourself Thomas." she hissed at her husband. " You know damn well that this is the best choice for the ranch. I can't talk to you about this here. It's rude."

" Don't try to weasle your way out of this, Beth." Tom spoke. His voice was lower softer. He grabbed her small hands in his big ones and led her to the kitchen. Shutting the ajoining doors to the dining room he sucked in a deep breath. " She's not ready for this and you know it."

" You don't give her enough credit. She's a strong girl, Thomas."

" Her mother just died. She's been living in New York for the past 3 years. She can't get used to this lifestyle as fast as you think she can." he protested getting out a mug and pouring himself a cup of coffee.

Beth smiled at her husband. The pour guy put so much thought and love into this ranch. He was having a hard time leaving it. " You forget that for the other 16 years of her life she worked on this very ranch with her very hands." she paused a second to look at him lovingly," This isn't really about her not getting used to the bussiness is it?"

He winced a little at the question before sighing and sitting down in one of the kitchen table chairs." No. No this isn't about her not learning the bussiness. I have all the faith in the world that our grandaughter can run this ranch. I'm just having a hard time letting it go. We worked so hard. We formed this ranch with nothing but the sweat on our brow and the strength of our backs. It's just hard to face the fact that I'm an old geezer instead of the young stud you married 29 years ago."

" Oh Tom," she walked over and wrapped her frail arms around his shoulders," Your still the stud I married... just not as young."

He chuckled that deep sort of giggle Beth had come to love so well. " Thanks darlin. Thanks for tryin."

" Mmmmm, you're welcome, honey." she kissed the top of his head, his speckled grey hair tickling her lips.

" I suppose we should tell her now." Tom suggested getting to his feet and grabbing Beths hands.

" Mmm, no she and the boys are out on Justify, Rapture, Rosie, and Phenomenon."

" Boys? You mean those trouble makers that came with her from New York? I can't believe she let them on our horses."

Beth smiled at his protectivness," Their good boys. Just a little misunderstood, like our own grandaughter happens to be at the moment. And you should be more worried about what the horses do to the boys than what the boys do to them."

Tom sighed and ran a hand through his thinning hair, " I know their good boys... they just don't look it and that bothers me."

" Well, not everyone can be the natural working boy that you were back then."

" Of course not. I'm one of a kind, consider yourself lucky."

She giggled, " I'm lucky enough, now move it buster we have guests to entertain."

They arrived back at the ranch about seven. All three boys groaning and moping about their sore asses. On the outside October called them wusseys, but deep down her own backside was screaming for an ice pack. She had forgotten how uncomfortable the saddle seats were. Still, it was the most fun she'd had in months. So different from being cooped up behind the front counter of the coffee shop. She left the boys to groom their own horses and went to go find her granparents. They hadn't spoken all day and she was feeling guilty for not spending any time with them. The house still had some people in it, gossiping about their children or their over worked husbands. They all lived in their own little fantasy worlds. Never knowing the pain of being alone. It made October sick to think about such a sheltered life. Grandpa was sitting on the couch playing a game of scrabble with Uncle Bill. She strode up quitly and braced herself against the wall next to the two grumbling men.

" For gods sake Tom will you just spell a word!"

" Don't rush me! Don't rush me! The perfect move takes time."

October mentally snorted, only grandpa. " Grandpa we're getting old here. just spell ' boat' and be done with it."

Thomas's eyes brightned as they wandered to the smiling face of his grandaughter, "Tobie!" he bellowed standing so she could embrace him.

" Hi grandpa.' she closed her eyes and breathed in the sent of him. Gingerbread. She didn't know how he could obtain that particular smell but she loved it. Sweet and spicey at the same time. A delight to her nose." It's nice to see you. I'm sorry about mama. She lived a good life."

The elder man pulled away and smiled at the black haired girl... woman... in front of him," Yes it's such a shame she has to pass. Such a lovely woman your mother. Like you." He smiled at Octobers light blush.

" Wheres Nanna? " she asked scanning the room for the siver haired hostess.

" Busy entertaining Coousin Lucy. It's gonna be a while. Their talking about her kids."

October grimaced at the thought, " I feel so sorry for those kids... Their gonna have to be institutionalized before there 15 I know it."

" Oh Tobie! Thats a horrible thing to say... but so unfortunatly true." They both laughed a bit, before Tom sat back down on the couch," Come on and sit Tobie. This is as much your house as it is mine and your Nanna's."

" Oh grandpa I'd love to but the guys and I are gonna head to the hotel. Their beat and I could use some rest myself." she paused to run a hand through her, once again, tangled locks of hair," But tell Nanna I love her and I'll see her tomorrow. And... I give my sympothy and respect to her for putting up with Lucy. It's a daring task."

Thomas shot up from the couch as October began to head for the door, " Tobie wait! Your Nanna and I want to tell you something."

She turned back to him and smiled, " Tomorrow Gandpa. I'm really tired and just want to go to the hotel. I already took a sleeping pill..." she hugged him again," Whatever it is can wait till tomorrow. I love you. Good night." He watched her slip through the door and wander down to her friends blue van. Tomorrow. Tobie was gonna have one hell of a tomorrow.

This clerk was testing his patcience. Talon wanted nothing more than to get to his room and soak his butt in ice water." Could we hurry this up a little please!" he almost shouted when the short bad man ran his finger over another row of keys.

" Just a moment ,sir." came his overly perky reply. He heard October sigh and grumble something about the clerk needing a damn pair of glasses. She rested her head on his shoulder. Enjoying the warmth he almost didn't notice the clerk jerking a key from one of the hooks and giving it to him. " Room 115. 3rd floor. Enjoy your stay." Talon said nothing as he passed by the desk. He probably should have at least amiled at the guy. Oh who gives a crap he just wanted to go to bed. The click of the door was music to his ears. Stepping in Talon let his eyes soak in the room. Two queen size beds, that meant two to each bed. He couldn't help but wonder who Tobe was gonna bunk with. He watched her check out the bathroom. She was sexy today. Messy hair. Rumpled clothes. She looked good with make up, but the rugged look was a blessing on her. Fin and Aaron were alredy turning down the beds and stripping off their clothes. The bathroom door clicked and Tal figured October was probably changing. He stripped off his own shirt.

" So... who gets the pleasure of bunking with Tobe."

" Now wait a minute. Letting us choose is not a good idea. We'll all pick our self." Aaron pointed out situating himself in the bed closest to the bathroom.

" I say we flip a coin. Winner bunks with Tobe." Talon suggested digging a coin out of his pocket. " Fin. Call it." He flipped the coin in the air and caught it.

" Heads."

" Tails. You don't get her." He turned to Aaron," Call it." He reppeated the toss and caught it.

" Tails."

Talon smirked at his cocky tone. he removed his hand and mentallly collapsed. " Tails. Looks like I'm the lucky winner. Show me my prize Johny!" As if on cue October strode out of the bathroom, the days clothes in her left arm. She had put on her jogging shorts, showing off her tones, and curves of her long legs nicely. The black tank was fit to a T and left no curve obstructed. He got to share a bunk with a goddess. The lord really did love him.

" Who am I sharin a bed with?" There was so much innocence. Talon wondered if she new just how dangerously hot she was.

" That would be me." He stated, lazily lifting his arm. She climbed int the bed and patted the spot next to her.

" Well come on Tal. Don't play shy."

Fin and Aaron sniggerd from their bed. " Yeah Talon. Don't play shy." Fin mocked, tryinng hard to hold in the histerics.

"Shut up ass wipe." With that he climbed into bed and turned off the light. October almost imeadiatly snuggled up to his chest. He enjoyed the warth. He found it odd that none of it felt wrong. Arching his head to look down at the girls mass of black hair he whispered a soft " good night" before nodding off himself. There were no dreams just blackness and 4 horses standing by a feeding post.