Aden selected a large cart and heaped it with sacks of oats, dog food, and various other things. She stood and watched as he paid and wheeled it all out to the truck, heaving it into the back effortlessly. He was obviously very strong and fit. They left the truck and walked over to the grocery, cum general store across the road. He gathered a few dozen items and she picked up a large pack of potato chips, wine, chocolate, and some mints. They returned to the truck with those and got inside.
“We'll get the gas on the way back. Fancy those pancakes Maddy?”
“ You bet. It's the only reason I came,” she laughed.
They drove a minute further along the wide main street until Maddy saw the sign for Betty's in bright blue lights above the diner. They drew to a stop outside. It was a fairly modern looking place. She smiled at Lucas, hoping to get a reaction, but he simply turned away and looked out of the window instead.
They entered and a small middle aged and somewhat plump woman with a blond bun and a spotless white frilly apron called out to them.
“ Well hello there boys! How's my favorite hunks doin'?”
“ I'm good Betty. How's yourself?” Aden replied with a little grin of greeting as he approached the counter, taking a seat.
“ I'm always good. What about you Lukey my love? You look a bit peaky, if you don't mind me sayin'. Never mind. A nice plate of my special stack will put some pep in your step, eh?”
“ Not hungry Bet. Just coffee for me,” Lucas said, wearily taking a seat next to Maddy.
“ I'll have your special, though,” Aden said quickly. “With double whipped cream.”
“ What about your little lady?” Betty asked, looking at her appraisingly. “Where did you find this cute little thing?” she asked, addressing Aden directly.
“ Ha ha...” Maddy laughed loudly at being called cute. “I'm Maddy Jones. I'm a guest at the ranch and I'll have coffee and your special too. As long as it's got maple syrup on it."
“ You bet it has. On it, in it, and under it,” Betty added with a big smile. “How's things at Heart ranch?” Betty asked, busying herself with the orders and coffees.
“ Just great,” muttered Lucas.
“ Oh come on, what's up boy?” she pressed.
“ Nothing I want to discuss in public,” he said sulkily, casting an eye at Aden.
“ Lukeyyyy! That's unusual for you. Can't normally shut you up. Unless you're eatin'. Must be something real bad, eh?” Betty probed none too subtly.
The door swung open with a squeak and they all turned to see who had arrived. Aden sighed deeply. Not in a good way either, Maddy thought.
“Hello there Bill. What'll it be?” Betty called out as he took a seat at the far end of the counter, around the corner.
“ My usual cappuccino and a piece of your apple and raisin cake. Make it to go, and fast.”
Maddy observed the rather overweight, bald and red faced man who had taken up residence and smiled at him. He scowled at her in response and she was completely taken aback at the looks of hatred he was throwing their way.
“Tell me, how's the hay burners doin' Carr,” he spat at Aden.
“ Real good Mayor, real good,” Aden replied pleasantly.
“ I love a success story. That I do. Especially on my patch.”
“ Success is my middle name, didn't you know?”
“ Reaping the dollars are 'ya?”
“ It's been a really good season.”
“ Well how about that! How amazing, I'd never have believed it. In fact, I don't.”
“ Leave it out. I'm trying to have a pleasant afternoon.”
“ Oh well, pardon me! I'm so sorry to spoil it.”
“ Yeah, I bet you are.”
“ You don't fool me, boy... You know, I'm wondering over and over, what the hell you lot get up to out there... I think you're up to no damn good, that's what. That little ranch is a cover for something, ain't it? One day I'll catch you dealing in some kind of illegal business, don't you think I won't. I'll find out what you stow away in that yard of
“We'll get the gas on the way back. Fancy those pancakes Maddy?”
“ You bet. It's the only reason I came,” she laughed.
They drove a minute further along the wide main street until Maddy saw the sign for Betty's in bright blue lights above the diner. They drew to a stop outside. It was a fairly modern looking place. She smiled at Lucas, hoping to get a reaction, but he simply turned away and looked out of the window instead.
They entered and a small middle aged and somewhat plump woman with a blond bun and a spotless white frilly apron called out to them.
“ Well hello there boys! How's my favorite hunks doin'?”
“ I'm good Betty. How's yourself?” Aden replied with a little grin of greeting as he approached the counter, taking a seat.
“ I'm always good. What about you Lukey my love? You look a bit peaky, if you don't mind me sayin'. Never mind. A nice plate of my special stack will put some pep in your step, eh?”
“ Not hungry Bet. Just coffee for me,” Lucas said, wearily taking a seat next to Maddy.
“ I'll have your special, though,” Aden said quickly. “With double whipped cream.”
“ What about your little lady?” Betty asked, looking at her appraisingly. “Where did you find this cute little thing?” she asked, addressing Aden directly.
“ Ha ha...” Maddy laughed loudly at being called cute. “I'm Maddy Jones. I'm a guest at the ranch and I'll have coffee and your special too. As long as it's got maple syrup on it."
“ You bet it has. On it, in it, and under it,” Betty added with a big smile. “How's things at Heart ranch?” Betty asked, busying herself with the orders and coffees.
“ Just great,” muttered Lucas.
“ Oh come on, what's up boy?” she pressed.
“ Nothing I want to discuss in public,” he said sulkily, casting an eye at Aden.
“ Lukeyyyy! That's unusual for you. Can't normally shut you up. Unless you're eatin'. Must be something real bad, eh?” Betty probed none too subtly.
The door swung open with a squeak and they all turned to see who had arrived. Aden sighed deeply. Not in a good way either, Maddy thought.
“Hello there Bill. What'll it be?” Betty called out as he took a seat at the far end of the counter, around the corner.
“ My usual cappuccino and a piece of your apple and raisin cake. Make it to go, and fast.”
Maddy observed the rather overweight, bald and red faced man who had taken up residence and smiled at him. He scowled at her in response and she was completely taken aback at the looks of hatred he was throwing their way.
“Tell me, how's the hay burners doin' Carr,” he spat at Aden.
“ Real good Mayor, real good,” Aden replied pleasantly.
“ I love a success story. That I do. Especially on my patch.”
“ Success is my middle name, didn't you know?”
“ Reaping the dollars are 'ya?”
“ It's been a really good season.”
“ Well how about that! How amazing, I'd never have believed it. In fact, I don't.”
“ Leave it out. I'm trying to have a pleasant afternoon.”
“ Oh well, pardon me! I'm so sorry to spoil it.”
“ Yeah, I bet you are.”
“ You don't fool me, boy... You know, I'm wondering over and over, what the hell you lot get up to out there... I think you're up to no damn good, that's what. That little ranch is a cover for something, ain't it? One day I'll catch you dealing in some kind of illegal business, don't you think I won't. I'll find out what you stow away in that yard of
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