11. Rake

Chapter 11

Rake

M y mother and Mica, Lucy and Stella sit together at the table, chatting about a variety of subjects. The cleaning bot remains busy picking up after us, quietly incinerating trash or washing dishes and repacking them for transport back to the main ranch. Leftover food is sent to our cook to be devoured by the ranch hands who I'm certain will make quick work of this bounty.

The females finish their meal and make plans to go shopping. Stella invites them all upstairs to meet "Coco and Boots."

There's an immediate buzz of excitement.

I am pleased to see them getting along. I simply wish this was happening at someone else's domicile or at a public restaurant.

Both my niece and nephew are here. Locus, Thorn's child, is a toddler, able to walk on his own. Kelli, Burl's daughter, is still a sleeping infant.

"Thank you for bringing the small beasts," I tell Lucy as she breastfeeds her daughter.

"Oh, see I knew you'd like them. Cats are irresistible. Gryce recently adopted a kitten too."

"I do enjoy them, but my female enjoys them more. I have a feeling she likes them better than me and considers them better company."

Lucy laughs. "You might be right."

"The cats will help keep her here."

"I agree, they will make her more comfortable, seeing a bit of home. I like her. Thank you for bringing another human I can befriend."

I let out a snort of smoke. Lucy is my favorite human. I enjoy Mica, but I like Lucy's bold speak. I have a feeling she and Stella will become fast friends.

Eventually my mother, my future bound, and the other two humans all walk upstairs to "see the kittens."

Lorn returns to work with a pat on my shoulder. "Don't worry, we can all pick up the slack."

I'm left alone downstairs with my father, my two brothers, and my friends Burl and Erid. We are all seated in the pop-up chairs, with fire ale. They are disgruntled over the fact that I purchased a mail-order bride without telling anyone first.

"I do not need to explain myself to anyone," I respond.

I need to return to work, but these grumbling fire starters stay so long I'm concerned I won't get anything done today.

Erid continues to try and quiz me about the purchase of Stella, but I say very little.

I had no need to tell anyone what I did. I do what I want. I live out here on the ranch so I can live my own life. I gave the main responsibility to Sten because again, that has too many ties. I live out here quieter, smaller and I like it like that. No one comes over much and for the first time since I've lived here, my entire family has arrived. And they have far too many opinions.

My mother has been here once, briefly. Father has been here several times, but he hadn't seen the finished product. Burl has been here the most. He's helped me and I have helped him. I know that this is the first time that Erid, Thorne and Sten and I have all been here together.

"I like the house," Thorn says.

"It's small," Sten comments. "And it needs furnishings."

"You did a good job, son. Reminds me of the domicile my great-uncle created."

"Which great-uncle?"

"You never met him. He left and moved to the fire island."

"Oh, that's why we have relatives there to this day?"

"Yes. And he also built his own lodge there by hand. Still standing to this day. I think they've turned it into overnight lodging."

My mother comes back downstairs with all the other humans in tow. "I'm taking Stella with me to town," she announces. "Your female doesn't have the right kind of clothes and this needs to be fixed immediately."

"Immediately?" I grin, doubting the emergency of the situation.

"We'll take her shopping and make sure she has everything she needs and then we will bring her back."

I stand, walk over and take Stella's hand and gently pull her aside. "Is this what you want? My mother means well, but she is also extremely bossy. Are they talking you into something that you don't want? You don't have to do this. You could just stay here."

"I can hear every word you're saying," my mother grouses.

"No, I want this," Stella tries to whisper, but her voice carries. "I like the idea of spending time with your mother and Lucy and Mica. But you'll have to watch the kittens while I'm gone. They're in the cage and they've been fed so it's easy. If you leave to go back to work, just make sure they are still in that cage."

"I will." I look over her shoulder at my mother. "She needs to nap every day. Bring her back in a few hours."

Stella waves a hand. "Oh, I don't always need a perfect nap in a bed. If it turns out we're pressed for time, maybe I can doze off in the car on the way back, as long as no one minds me doing that."

"Don't worry, we'll care for her."

"As long as they treat you well."

"They will." Stella smiles up at me and then gets on her tiptoes and gives me a kiss on the cheek. "Goodbye, Rake. I'll see you later."

I stand on the porch, sipping at my fire ale as I watch my mother and all three humans get into my mother's luxury vehicle and drive away. My father, brothers, Burl and Erid are all standing behind me. Burl and Thorn each hold a child in their arms.

"This is going to be a good match," Thorn says. "I think through that random purchase you got lucky and found someone right for you."

"I agree." My father grunts

Sten shrugs. "Mother seems to like her."

"Lucy likes her too," Burl chuckles, "because she likes the kittens. That's easy."

Thorn's offspring starts to squirm and cry. "I can't stay any longer. Gotta get this one home for a nap."

"I have to leave too," Burl comments.

Soon Sten, Erid, Thorn and Burl all make their excuses and they leave.

Agril Flagstone remains longer, saying he wants a better look at what I've built. I give my father a detailed tour of the house, showing him the extra work by the local craftsmen.

He works beside me in the barn, saying hello to the ranch hands. Lorn is pleased to see his former boss in the barn and they sit and talk for a long time. It's nice. I have some time to talk deep with my father about the business I'm creating and my plans for the ranch. Bouncing ideas with him is highly productive considering the male is an expert on all things wildlands, Flagstone, pyrotaurs and riding beasts.

Eventually, he leaves too.

When I pause for midday meal in the dining hall I message my female. Have you had lunch?

Yes, they fed me.

Did you find clothes?

I'm finding them right now. Do you mind if I also order some furniture for the front room and the dining area?

Please. We need furnishings.

I'm on it.

Later I message again. Are you tired?

I am feeling sleepy. We are about to come back. It'll take a while though because we also have to drop off Mica and Lucy. I'll probably just sleep in the car. Don't worry.

The suns set and I sit on the front porch and wait. Eventually I hear the crunch of the car returning in the driveway. The white, shiny vehicle stops and now it only carries my mother and Stella, both looking very tired.

I open the passenger side door and my female smiles up at me with a sleepy-eyed look. "I just woke up. Your mom was very sweet."

"Can you get all the packages?" my mother orders. "I'll lead her upstairs."

I cannot believe all the bags. It's crazy. I make many trips; my mom comes and helps. Even Stella finally picks up a bag. "There's nothing wrong with me. I can carry something. I'm awake now."

And eventually we get the whole damn load upstairs and inside the closet or in the bedroom. My mom stays, and with the help of the cleaning bot they get all the clothing put away and the closet is full and neatly organized.

Gryce Flagstone looks pleased at the sight of so much clothing. "Because Lucy and Mica are already here, the boutique in town is used to humans and they carry a small amount of clothes. They've upgraded their clothing dispenser and can order human specialty items. Stella now has most of what she needs. There are more foot coverings coming, they are being custom made."

"And I ordered new furniture for the front room. It will be delivered next week."

"I tried to get her to order enough furnishings for the whole house," my mother tells me, "but she insisted on only enough for the downstairs."

"I…I didn't want to order more without you there because…"

"You are my future bound," I remind her. "This is your home too."

"But we haven't walked to the courthouse yet," she reminds me. "I don't want to rush things."

My mother sighs. "She needs time."

"Time," I agree.

Stella gives my mother a big hug. "Thank you, Gryce. The clothes are beautiful. It was fun."

My mother pauses to pet the two kittens. "I'm going home now," she lets us know. "Nobody call me tomorrow because I plan on being in bed for most of the day."

Then she's out the front door, starting the car and driving away.

Finally, it's quiet. It's just the two of us.

"I'm hungry," Stella lets me know.

"I'm hungry too. I waited to eat until you arrived."

"Are we going to go eat in the dining hall with the ranch hands?"

"Not tonight. I need some quiet."

"Oh, I'm so happy you said that. I need some quiet too. I've been socializing all day. Oh my gosh. Do you mind if I go put some pajamas on and rest?"

"Let's go."

We both head upstairs, pet the kittens and change into pajamas.

"Do you like this?" Stella spins around and shows off a luxurious and highly erotic, skimpy nightgown. "I picked this one out myself."

"Yes," I rasp. "I like it."

We sit on the bed and eat human food that my female expertly programmed from the food dispenser. Then we sit up on the bed, lounging back against the headboard and turn on the large screen on the wall to watch my favorite flame throwing competition. Stella ends up really liking it too, so we eat and relax. Afterwards we return to get a small dessert and then watch a different show.

Finally, I look over and see she's looking sleepy. Her eyes start to flutter closed, so I pull her into my side.

The cleaning bot comes by and picks up the last of the dishes and tidies up.

Eventually I turn off the screen, bank the fire in the fireplace and fall asleep too with Stella in my arms.