i like ice cream in my coffee part two

Mary Gena Young pranced about outside feeding her barn cats...darn things were kind of cute...and checking on her girls who were fighting on the swing set. She was comfortable in her jeans and tee shirt with no makeup on and in her tennis shoes instead of her boots.

Glancing over at the four gymnasts, she smiled. This was the first day the little darlings had been home since the accident, and she missed them. They were her life, and she was happy her babies were back where they were intended to be. She had even missed all the noise they made.

It was a pleasant, mild and sunny day for October. The earth was so beautiful. Mary let the sun warm her face as she nonchalantly looked around over the acreage, appreciating the mountains in the background and the beautiful paint stallions in the meadows. She was feeling every part of her body relax, grateful for her home and family and grateful for this peace in her heart as well as on her land.

Her nerves had calmed since John was shot days ago, and he was doing exceptionally well, according to his twin brother, Joe. He wore a patch over his eye but was still her handsome husband. John was a strong and healthy man, thank God. Mary prayed he would regain his currently impaired eyesight.

The worst behind them, now, she laughed to herself over him having to stay in bed these past days. Dr. Nick Demmy made clear that in order to be safe and increase his chances of complete recovery, it was very important for John to move as little as possible, initially, and John hated every minute of it. This was probably the first time he ever had to stay in a reclining position for this long. He’d never been sick a day in his life, and he was not a good patient.

But Mary would rather have a bear for a husband than no John at all. She and Joe had taken turns sitting in that room with him, talking, and playing cards or watching movies, because Heaven forbid John take advantage of the time to sleep and possibly miss one minute of life going on around him.

He took his position in Pineville as sheriff very seriously, and lying on his back made him feel worthless to these citizens, as if something scandalous would happen while he lay there, he thought, anyway. Of course he needed to be the one taking charge of this ranch, too.

The gang of women here, Mary’s closest friends, had made sure there was plenty of food and drink these past traumatic nights. They took turns keeping the girls while John got his stamina back. As cute as the four little fillies were, they were loud and hyper, too much for him to handle.

He needed quiet, and while he didn’t feel it necessary, it was imperative for him to rest; however, he certainly didn’t hesitate to ask for anything that came to mind. He’d run Mary and Joe ragged, asking for the newspaper, the phone, the walkie-talkie, printouts from the department and gallons upon gallons of iced tea, which she watered down as much as possible.

Without her friends helping with just about everything, Mary knew she would have lost her mind. John with an injury was as much a handful as the girls, but Mary doted on him. She even washed and braided his hair. She thought it was gorgeous and loved it, very much a part of him now. It was so long, almost reaching his rear end, since he and Joe neither one had cut their hair for seven years. They had a made a pact not to during Joe’s recovery.

Mary liked playing with it, brushing it, and she was more than content to take care of him since she could, not having to worry about anything else, thanks to the gang.

John could get up and walk around later today, and if he wasn’t experiencing any problems from the movement, he could resume life as normal. Dr. Nick would be over tomorrow to check him out and give him the okay that he could resume life.

Mary couldn’t wait for the return of her standard, daily routine. Somehow, the idea of working a full day on cleaning the house or calling her clients seemed like a day at the spa compared to the schedule of bombshells she’d been keeping of late.

Life’s funny, she thought, as she watched her precious babies yell and scream at each other and argue over who gets the yellow seat. They’re dirty and acting like boys, but Maddy had their hair fixed and nails painted when she dropped them off, looking worn out from her turn. Kids don’t worry about anything.

“I’m going to have a party,” she said to herself.

Unwinding in her own world, enjoying the day, she was snapped out of tranquility when she heard Joe’s truck start up in the driveway. She headed for the front of the house to see what the hell he was doing. Right about the time she rounded the corner, he was driving down the road in his Silverado. That’s peculiar, Mary thought. He didn’t say goodbye? Maybe he just ran to town to get John’s correspondence at the jail or check his voicemail, but still, he usually says something. Mary stood there perplexed for a minute, watching the road become quiet again and hoping that’s all it was.

She strolled back to the side yard thinking how good it felt to have no worries.

Hearing the TV as she passed the screen door, Mary instantly froze, her nerves becoming frazzled again as she was stunned by what she heard. The station’s newscaster announced the name Jennifer Baldwin.

Dropping the cat food, she dashed into the house, over to the television cabinet, and turned up the volume. Holding her breath and with her eyes glued to the anchor, she carefully listened.

“A Mister Tom Baldwin was found shot to death in his car late Thursday night in the parking lot of The First All State Bank of Blue Shadow. The police spokesperson reported Baldwin’s wife, Jennifer Baldwin, as an official suspect in the slaying. She is a wanted fugitive

of... ”