Roswell Fanatics

Begonia9508
Lilah
Natalie36
Michelle in Yonkers
L-J-L 76

Moms who pimp. I like that. If you have ever seen the mothers back stage while their daughters perform, whether it be in sports, musicals or anything else, you see moms who, wanting to correct the mistakes they made, try to guide the destinies of their daughters. The book “Go Ask Alice” anonymous or maybe written by Beatrce Sparks tells this best, as the mother trying to find friends for an introverted daughter manages to try to hook her daughter up with the worst of addicts, and social misfits.


Chapter 11

This time the princess was much more confident than she had been that other time. She watched as the dragon flew past the many communities of the realm. She, also, hadn’t drank all the confections while waiting for the dragon. That was strange because princesses weren’t supposed to be bothered by things like that. Maybe, real life was sneaking into the fantasy. The princess was also prepared when she flew over the land of Enchantment. Yes, there would be mighty ogres and orcs. But the last time she was in the enchanted land, she also found powerful sorcerers and sorceresses. The demons might scream the call called coyote, but there were mighty strong singers like Maria who could sing so many songs and some of them not even fit for a princess’s ears.

When the dragon landed, the Princess Elizabeth had her knight and a carriage waiting.

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As Liz got off the plane she hit the button one, on speed dial, for Max. Liz knew that somewhere a phone was playing Folsom Prison Blues.

Max was waiting for her as soon as she gathered her luggage and made it to the street.

A skycap helped her load the back of the pickup and she tipped him. He smiled and said, “It is good for a lady to have a cowboy near when she needs him.”

Max was holding the door of the pickup for her when she climbed in. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do. Was he supposed to kiss her? They had left on good terms, but she had been home and had time to consider whether she wanted to stay with the people of the east or become a westerner.

It was somehow comforting to be back in the rooming house. Michael had eaten almost everything in both refrigerators. Nothing had spoiled. Max and Liz would buy groceries tomorrow. They both sat making their lists.

Maria had come in to get an apple. As she was going back to where Michael was, she paused to look over each of their lists. Maria stood there for several minutes. Then, instead of going back to her room or to the living room, she just sat down. “Have you two looked at what each of you buy? You should see how much your grocery list overlap.

See here, both of you have listed four grapefruit. And each of you has written ten oranges. Now I know the price of four grapefruits. You can get a bag of a dozen grapefruit for a lot less than you will each spend buying four. A large box of oranges is less than two bags of ten. Michael and I decided last semester just to buy our groceries together. If one of us uses more than the other, we can either settle up on how much we pay. Better yet we just realize that even if one of uses more, we still will be paying less total. Think about it. You do not have to be living together but you might find that doing things together might save money in the long run.

Maria got up to go to her room. Michael was waiting there to rub her back. That was one perk of heavy petting that Maria didn’t want to miss.

Max was looking at Liz’s list. “You know, she is right. We each know what we usually pay a week so we could just make up one list and see for a few weeks how it goes,” Max stated. Liz wasn’t saying anything, yet. Max shrugged and handed her back her list. “Or not, maybe, it isn’t such a good idea.” Max got up to leave.

Liz called to him. “Wait, Max, I think it is a good idea. There are some things I have been wondering about you.”

Max slouched back in the chair, “Shoot, my life has very few surprises.”

“Max, why don’t you date?” Liz asked.

“Right now, there is only one person who I would want to date and I am not sure if she is available.” Max stated. “I used to go with Kyle’s girl, Tess. She didn’t like how much I studied. I have never dated Maria. She has always been Michael’s choice. I think we would end up killing each other. She and Michael fight all time and, then, go through terribly passionate reunions. I couldn’t do that. There was one other, but I do not want to talk about her.”

Liz was playing with her hair, “Have you ever thought of asking me out?” she whispered.

Max looked up, and Liz thought about how bold she had been. Max just told her he was waiting for someone.

“I didn’t think you would want to go with a cowboy, Liz. I thought you were saving yourself for a dandy from back east,” Max replied.

Liz was very serious. “Max, don’t make fun of the men back east. I don’t make fun of cowboys. It is just that I might becoming more interested in men here, than I am those back in New York.”

Max looked down and, then, he raised his sight to look Liz in the eye. “It just always seems that Easterners always do things that tend to make us mad. Like your, Doug, not escorting you across the campus. If some one treated Isabel like that, I would beat the shit out of them, if Izzy didn’t beat me to it. She can swing a mean coil of rope if she is mad.”

“Max, Doug is a bad person no matter where he is from. His father is a jerk and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Liz stated.

“Max, just because we are buying groceries together and I asked if you wanted to take me out sometime, doesn’t mean that I am ready to move in with you like Isabel and Alex. Nor, does it mean I am willing to have a relationship like Michael and Maria. I am just not ready for that yet,” Liz wanted to make this clear.

Max chuckled. “No, Liz, I think you need to take a lot of time to see what you want. I would like to take you out sometime just the two of us. And not as a companion, but as someone that you might care about, given time.”

Max still didn’t make a move, so Liz decided that it would be up to her. She got up and sat in his lap. “Okay then, we will have to discover some rules as we go along.” Liz took his face and kissed him.

In Michael’s room, he called to Maria, who was looking out the crack of the door, “Come on back to bed babe. They will have to work it out without us.”

Liz and Max went shopping together. They each put the amount of money that they would normally spend for groceries. The total amount spent was less than the sum of the separate bills. Liz would be the banker and she would keep the excess. They would talk about it at the end of the month. There was a problem. Since they were fixing meals together, Liz had to admit that she couldn’t cook. “Max, Mom always sent me out to the deli when she didn’t feel like making dinner. I just never learned.”

Max just smirked. He was a good ranch cook and, for awhile he fixed the meals. Liz felt that, someway, she had let him down. Liz was really depressed. She was sure that there were many other domestic skills that she lacked.

School started and things were back to normal. At the nightly ten o’clock meeting they set up a schedule, Liz noticed that Max, more and more, was the one who would pick her up when he could. At times when she needed to attend the library and various seminars, it was always Max who was the one who escorted her. She noticed that the other two men would wait until Max would say that he couldn’t make it, before they would volunteer to be there.

“Isabel, Liz here,” Liz had just called Isabel on her cell phone. She knew that the tune of ‘She Wore a Yellow Ribbon’ had rung. “Could you and Maria go shopping with me, sometime? I want to buy some clothes.”

Isabel raised her eyebrows, even though Liz couldn’t see her. “I thought you bought all your clothes in New York,” Isabel said.

Liz, kind of giggled, “They don’t have the kind of clothes I am thinking about.”

Isabel borrowed Alex’s pickup and the three women went shopping one Saturday morning.

The first stop was one of the biggest western stores in Las Cruces. Isabel and Maria got into a sharp discussion about buying boots. They, finally, decided on a pair of soft black calfskin boots with black and white vamps or upper parts.

Isabel told Liz, “You haven’t ever worn boots before. It takes time for your foot to learn to accept them. Calfskin is soft and it will shape itself to your foot. They bought some soft white socks to wear inside the boots. the sock wouldn’t show and it would help cushion her foot.

Then, they bought several western blouses with ruffles. Isabel laughed, “The more ruffles, the better.”

Maria helped Liz pick out several simpler western shirts with snaps.

Maria and Isabel picked out a wraparound skirt made of a stretch denim materials. Liz had never seen a skirt like this; it was lined with handkerchief print. It was only knee length but as she walked it flashed the lining in a very sexy manner.

Liz drew the line on a mini skirt, but she did pick out a circular skirt like isabel’s. Isabel whispered to Liz and Liz blushed. To go with the skirt Liz and Isabel picked out a pair of very frilly and sexy panties. “The idea of the skirt is so when you spin while dancing, you show those panties. Trust me, they will be very tantalizing.”

They spent most of the day shopping, but by afternoon, they had all that Isabel and Maria thought Liz would need for her first wardrobe.

Liz was very excited, “When can we talk the boys into taking us dancing?” Liz asked. She was ready to go tonight if the other women agreed.

Isabel smiled and Maria laughed. “You need to get the boots broken in first, ”Maria explained.

At first, Liz was only to wear the boots around the rooming house. When her feet got tired or began to hurt, she took them off.

Walking by, Max just looked at them. He didn’t say anything. Liz found that she could wear them longer and longer. When she was sure Max or Michael would not be around, Liz tried on some of the other clothes. The wraparound skirt, she felt she could wear without a problem. Now, the skirt that was like Isabel’s, that was something else. One time while wearing it, she did a fast turn. In the mirror, she did see how her panties were visible. She would be sure to wear the lingerie that Isabel picked out when she wore the skirt for real.

Liz’s classes had been canceled for the day. She had no reason to go to the campus so Liz stayed at the rooming house while everyone else went to school.

She was wearing her boots. They were starting to even feel comfortable. It was late in the morning when she heard the bell ring. Unless Maria forgot her key, there was little reason for the bell to be sounded. Liz opened the door.

There, standing together were Doug Shallow and her parent’s friend, Sean Anderson. “Liz, ask us in. I have come all the way to this hideous land just to talk to you,” Sean said.

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The princess well knew that prince Doug was at the town where she was attending school. That Lord Sean would be here, also, was disturbing. The only thing the princess could consider was there must be problems back in the land of her father’s kingdom. The Princess stood aside as the two men entered her knight’s castle. She saw them look around with contempt. This hurt the princess because she had a lot of respect for Sir Maxwell and the castle he kept for them all.

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“What do you want?” Liz asked coldly.

“That is not very friendly sounding. We have come to this hovel just to talk to you. You might, at least, offer us refreshment,” Sean said.

Liz was, now, becoming angry. The rooming house well suited the needs of the four students. She went into the kitchen to get a coke for them. As she was taking the coke out, Doug reached over her and took one of Max’s dark beers. He tossed it to Sean and got another for himself.

“Those belong to one of the other tenants, Doug. They are not mine to offer,” Liz explained.

“So what, Liz, are these precious cowboys going to make a scene over me taking one of their beers?” Doug turned to Sean, “I doubt that they can even count that high, anyway. What do you think, Sean?”

Sean just laughed. “It doesn’t matter. Liz you have to understand that these cowboys don’t matter. We are all part of something greater. You aren’t part of this, Liz. You are just like us. You just haven’t figured that out, yet.”

Now Liz was furious. “Sean, Doug, get out of my house! You are un-welcomed. If you don’t leave, I will call one of he cowboys and have you thrown out for trespassing.” Liz was small, but as she stamped her boot, she was dramatic.

“Liz, you invited us in. How can we be trespassing?” Sean asked.

“Sean, I didn’t invite you anywhere. You just walked in. You are behaving poorly and now, I am ordering you out,” Liz was showing a side that neither man thought she had. Liz had always been so quiet back in New York.

About that time, Maria burst in. Michael had just dropped her off. She came to a halt when she saw that Liz had company. Maria, in a more stately manner, walked into the kitchen.

“Well, looky here. What have we got?” “Halloo Blonde,” Sean said. As he put his arm around Maria. Maria gave him her most winning smile and put her hands on his shoulders. Liz wasn’t sure what Sean thought he was going to get, but Maria pulled those shoulders down and brought her knee up into his groin. Sean bent over with a cry, but that was just an excuse for Maria to, again, bring his face into her knee. Sean’s nose was running blood. “You damned bitch!” he cried.

Michael had just come into the house. Liz had called him as number three on her speed dial. ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’ from “Appoclypse Now” sounded on his cell phone and the brief message from Liz, had brought him back. This man had insulted Maria. True, she had extracted from him her due, but Michael didn’t let anyone insult his girl. He reached down and lifted Sean by the collar and the belt and, walking to the door, he literally kicked him out of the house. Sean went flying outside, almost hitting the Las Cruses, city policeman, Danny Chavez.

Danny Chavez had been a bull rider before a wife, two kids and his papa telling him to grow up. He had been at the rodeo and he was sure there was more to the story, but he had seen Michael ride Peaches.

Sean, immediately, started yelling that he wanted Michael arrested for assault. Maria walked out about that time. “Danny, Michael didn’t bloody his nose, I did. He insulted me. Michael just threw him out of the house.”

Danny just shook his head. The clothes and manner assured him that this was a man from back east. “Fellow, we just don’t go insulting women ‘round here, especially in their own houses.” Sean was led off to jail in handcuffs.

Doug had seen the writing on the wall, so when they went back in the house, he had fled out the back door.

Liz didn’t want to tell Max, but Michael insisted. It was about 30 minutes before Max could get back to the rooming house.

He grabbed Liz and hugged her. “Are you sure you are all right?” he asked.

Maria just threw her shoulders back, “What about me, Max? I was the one roughed up.”

“Now, don’t get too carried away, babe. That blood on your clothes isn’t a bit yours. I think you might have to explain more about who got roughed up,” Michael told her.

“Liz, what did they want?” Max asked.

“I don’t know. Their bad manners brought things to a head before I could find out what the problem was,” Liz answered.

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Liz Come Back

Did Max actually kiss Tess after the Prom? Did he actually get Tess pregnant? How many times did Tess actually appear to Max and the others. Remember the shape shifters. Answers and me rewriting the third season. That couldn't be that hard. Anything is better than what we had in the episodes. Coming soon "The Second Crash"

Keepsmiling7
Michelle in Yonkers
Begonia9508
Natalia36
L-J-L 76
Lilah
Jake17

One of the things I liked as this story develops is that it isn’t just east vs west but it is about people who are able to take care of themselves against those who are parasites on society, no matter where they are from. A line from Liz when she is talking to her mother explains this.

I was happy when writing this story how Liz was growing up. This happens to many that first year away in college. Please remember that the first plane trip Liz sat drinking ice tea while flirting with a young man. Later she had to face the curse of airplane toilets.

I admit it. I am a guy, an only child and the father of sons. I have a lot of trouble buying women’s clothes.

To Liz the people she met at home were interested in her father’s position. With the cowboys what she learned to do was so much more important.

There is not much difference to a cowgirl whether they are chasing an ornery cow out of their flower garden or throwing a ignorant cad out of their kitchen.

Carole of off work for a month so I hope to get several stories beta’ed

Chapter 12

That weekend, Maria decided they needed some good recreation. Liz was ready to make her debut at the western dance club.

Michael was in a black western suit. Max was wearing his white silk shirt with the calfskin vest. Alex was wearing a light tan western suit. They all three were wearing their best dress boots, by Tony Lama, Nocona and Larry Mahan. Liz was dressed in her circular skirt and a ruffled blouse. She only had one pair of boots and, of course, the panties that they had chosen. Liz felt very self conscious.

Maria came in and told her, “Lizzy, the cowboys who can’t dance with you tonight are going to turn to sheepherding,”

Liz didn’t exactly understand Maria, “I only intend to dance with Max.”

Maria just sighed, “Yeah, there are going to be an awful lot of woolies running through the hills after this.” Isabel had heard her comment and chuckled. It was only Liz who didn’t understand.

It was about 9:00 that Saturday evening when they all pulled up at the “Old Prospector Dance club.” Walking up to the door, Liz had to again produce an ID. They put a double stamp on her hand showing she was to young to drink. They all found a table. Alex, Michael and Max all kept close enough to their girls so that there was no mistake about any of them being free agents.

The first dance Max and Liz had was a waltz. Liz found that the boots were probably easier to dance in than the high heels had been. She was enjoying her self so much that when the dance became a fast 4/4 time and Max started to jitterbug, Liz was right in the swing of things. Her skirt was swinging into a circle, showing off her legs. She hadn’t even thought of this. They sat the next dance out and Liz was watching Isabel.

Alex would swing Isabel out and back into his arms. As she spun, her skirt would rise in a circle, the ruffled panties made a brief, but tantalizing appearance. Suddenly, Liz turned red with embarrassment. She hid her head in her hands. She had just realized how she had looked when she was dancing with Max. Max held her close, whispering, “That’s okay, Liz. We will only dance slow dances it that is what you want.”

The rest of the evening when they got up to dance, it was always western two-step, waltzes and line dancing. The line dancing was a little complicated, but Liz soon learned that she was able to follow what the rest did. Part of the fun was trying. As soon as Liz got over being self-conscious she laughed and talked with the rest. There would only be a couple more dances before the place closed. A very fast boogie was playing. Liz stood up. “Come on, Max. I am going to do it.”

Max, at first, tried to keep the dancing conservative, but Liz kept insisting. Finally, he swung her to him then back out. Then, he was maneuvering around her as she kept spinning. They kept it up until the band quit. Liz almost was collapsed into his arms as they returned to the table.

Liz leaned to Isabel and gave her a hug. “I have felt more free than any other time in my life,” Liz decried.

That night, Liz cuddled up tight to Max as he drove home. When they parked at the rooming house, Liz was thinking, maybe, this is the man. Maybe, he is the one I want to give everything to. Liz was thinking, maybe, I am in love with a cowboy.

That night as they walked into the rooming house Max was holding Liz very close. When he got her inside, Michael and Maria had already gone to bed. Max didn’t know to bed in which room. Max was kissing Liz and she asked, “Max, do you want to come to my room tonight?”

“Liz, more than I could ever tell you. But, the time is not right. You asked the other day what girls I had dated. I told you some of those I had gone with. What I didn’t say, and, Maria, Michael, Isabel or Alex won’t tell you, is last year, I was almost married. That is why I bought this house. I was hoping to fill the bedrooms, not with roomers, but rather children. She went back east and wrote me. The important part of her letter was that she couldn’t see herself married to a cowboy and living out here in the desolation.”

Max held her and, then, he released her. “Liz, if I come to you to night it wouldn’t be to make love with you, but it would be because I am in love with you. There is a difference. Liz, if you can go back home, and on returning, tell me that you are in love with a cowboy, then, I would come to you and never leave.

Liz was thinking about Sean who made it clear that he only wanted to have sex with her. He didn’t even consider marriage a deterrent to what he wanted.

The next day was Sunday. Max and Michael had to attend to something at the animal pens so it was just Liz and Maria alone for breakfast.

“Maria, I don’t know what got into me last night,” Liz said.

“You were having a good time, Liz. You were beautiful out there dancing,” Maria replied.

“That is not what I meant, Maria. I asked Max to come to my room last night. He said we weren’t ready. I felt like such a fool. What does he think of me?” Liz cried.

“So he refused to come to your room last night, and you want to know what he thinks of you? Liz, Max is plumb crazy in love with you. That is what he thinks,” Then, Maria went on, “Last year, Max was deeply in love. She thought she was in love with him, also. But, she was unsure of the southwest. She was from New England, some place or the other. It doesn’t matter now. She went back home and wrote Max a letter. It was pretty rough, but the main part was she had no intention of living in New Mexico. She had no intention of secluding herself off on a ranch somewhere. When she saw clearly, away from New Mexico, she could see that it was just infatuation.”

Liz couldn’t believe this. So this was why Max was always a little scared of her.

Maria went on. “Isabel was living with Alex and she didn’t think she could live with a guy under the same roof with her brother. Michael and I were still in the dorm, but we decided that we would take rooms here to keep Max company. That night when Isabel brought you here, Max was really worried. When you went back home for Christmas, Max figured you wouldn’t be back. That is why he won’t make love with you until you are sure you might want to stay.”

The next two days, Liz noticed that Max was a little cold to her. It wasn’t that he did anything different from before, but Liz thought, that with what had happened, he would be a little more amorous.

Wednesday morning, Michael had already gone. Maria wasn’t even up yet and there was just Max and Liz at breakfast. “Max, you said I had to want to come back and stay before you would make love to me. You aren’t helping in the ‘want to came back’ department. You need to keep giving me reasons to want to come back.”

Max reached across the table, “It is just, that I feel foolish. A beautiful woman invites me to her bed and I seem to refuse. That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Yes, is does, Max. I haven’t made love to a man yet and I want it to be special. I just thought that it was the night, last Saturday. I want to be sure, also. I want my love to be with someone forever,” Liz explained.

Max took her in his arms and just as Maria walked in, he was kissing her. “I can go back to bed if you want and you can have the whole house to yourselves,” Maria said.

It was getting close to spring break. They were sitting eating breakfast, “When do you intend to go back home, Liz,” Max asked.

“I don’t know, probably, the first of summer,” she answered.

“Are you going to spend the spring break with me?” Max asked.

No, I am going to spend it with your mother. She promised to teach me to cook and sew. Things my mother couldn’t teach me.” Liz answered.

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The princess wanted training in domestic issues. She called queen Diane and requested that she instruct the princess in this matter. How could the princess rule in issues of domestic labor unless she her self had more knowledge? The princess was considering a position that would require her to have more knowledge of both kitchen and home. The princess, also, was becoming confused in her relationship with the knights. The knights wanted so much more dedication than did the princes back in her father’s kingdom. Why, Lord Sean had suggested that the princess offer him her body, even though he was intending to marry someone else. And when she actually did offer her body to Sir Maxwell, he had said that they should wait until they were sure their love would be real. The Enchanted Land was mysterious, in many ways, but some of them were very good. Oh, pshaw, the princess had no idea what she meant. She just was sure that Sir Maxwell cared for her a lot more than the men in her father’s kingdom.

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This time, Max took Liz through a different way. There were more mountains, but they weren’t as high. It was a little faster. When she got to the ranch, Diane and Philip greeted her. The first day
Philip made it clear that he needed Max’s help. So Diane and Liz were alone with each other most of the time except for when Isabel came by.

For the first few days, Liz would just help Diane. She fixed the breakfasts. Diane showed Liz how too make cowboy coffee. Back in Las Cruces, they had a Mr. Coffee coffeemaker. Diane showed Liz how to make perked coffee. The coffee was run over and over through the grounds, getting stronger all the time. It was an art to pick when to stop. Getting the strongest coffee without making it bitter.

Diane showed Liz how to make piecrust, mixing the lard with the flour and ice water. This hurt Liz’s hand so much, she was ready to cry.

“Honey, that is how you make it, but we use another way. Go to the freezer and get some prepared pie shells.

Diane taught Liz so many things. Liz used every bit of the ability she had as a scholar. By mid-week, Liz was making the suppers under Diane’s guidance.

Diane had, also, started Liz sewing. She told her that it took several years of practice, but Liz, at least learned, the basics and enough to know what she would want in a sewing machine.

Saturday night after supper, Max and Liz went to town to see a movie. Max took Liz to a late night restaurant where they were talking.

“Liz, what is this thing you have with my mother about learning to cook and sew?” Max asked.

“Don’t you think a girl needs to learn those things? Do you know how to sew?” Liz returned.

“Yes, on a ranch, a man has to do everything. I can’t make a dress, if that is what you mean, but I can fix a tear in my jeans or take up a shirt,” Max explained.

Liz frowned. These were things that her mom or dad, if they had to face, they would just throw the garment away or, maybe, take it to a tailor. Liz had never had the idea of fixing something.

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The princess was learning that the way she grew up was far from universal. She had never considered the management of a castle where so many things were made right there. In her land, when you wanted something, you had to go to a professional craftsman and purchase it. In the realm of Queen Diane, so many things were, by necessity, made right there. Liz was also learning that Philip and Max could do many of the things that normally, would be the chores, of Diane. Liz was sure she would, also, learn that Isabel could do many chores of the men, such as fix minor automobile problems and change a tire. Somewhere, the fantasy had faded.

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As they were driving home, Max pulled off the ranch road. Do you want to sit and watch the stars for a while? Liz was thinking she had already offered her self to Max and he had said wait. If he changed his mind was she still ready? If she had gone on that mid night boat ride with Stewart her senior year, she was sure there would have been no question when he stopped the boat and they sat becalmed.

Max took her in his arms. Liz could smell his Old Spice deodorant. When Max was working at school with his animals, there was always the smell of sweat and the faint aroma of manure from his boots. When Max was on a date, like tonight or when they went to the dance club, there was only the man scent that engulfed her senses, the scent, that almost drove her wild. In her mind, she could imagine those strong arms wrapped around her naked body. His kisses were so invigorating, that Liz could only wish Max would agree to take her and bless her with his love. She worried open the snaps on his shirt and placed her hands against his bare chest.

Max held her face against his chest as he caressed her head. Liz would play her tongue on the flesh of his chest as she caught herself wondering what his body would taste like after he came home from working.

Liz could feel herself rapidly growing out of control. As she leaned against his lap, she could feel the swelling in his jeans. Liz was uncaring about what could happen. She wanted Max.

Max gently pulled her from his chest. “Liz, things could easily get out of control. I think we better get home.”

When they were finally at the Evans ranch house, Max carefully helped Liz out of the pick up and guided her up to her room. They saw a faint light under Isabel’s door so they tried to be very quiet.

Liz was dressed for bed when she heard a faint knock at her door. She opened it a crack. For a minute, she thought that maybe Max had changed his mind.

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The princess had agreed to deliver up her virginity to the Knight, Sir Maxwell. He boldly knocked at her door and she, in a shear gown, quickly threw opened the barrier. He strode into the room, slamming the door shut behind him. The princess lowered her eyes appropriately to show her wiliness to place herself beneath his person. Before he undertook the formal deflowering, Sir Maxwell pulled her to him. His strong arms crushed her to him. His kisses were so hot that they hurt, but the princess was willing to under go any pain to give herself to this knight.

After his blitz of kisses, Sir Maxwell held her at arms length. He gazed at the curves beneath her gown. The princess could see the lust that accompanied his love. He beheld her. With one thrust, Sir Maxwell ripped the gown from her body. Before the princess ever had a chance to feel shyness, Sir Maxwell was gazing upon her nakedness. He showed that he approved in every way. With this affirmation what need did the demure princess have shyness or any other defense?

Sir Maxwell leaned his sword against the wall. He removed his coat of chain mail and stripping his body of its clothing, Sir Maxwell swept her naked body into his now naked arms and placed her upon her bed. The ceremony of the princess entering womanhood would begin.

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Liz opened the door. Isabel, in her nightgown, was standing there. “May I come in?” she asked.

Isabel was worried. Gazing on Liz, also in her nightdress, Isabel could see that Liz was in a sweat. Isabel, instantly became fearful, had Liz succumbed to the flu or something else?

“Liz, are you all right?” Isabel inquired.

Liz was breathing hard, almost like she was out of breath from some sort of exertion. “Yes, Isabel, my imagination just got the better of me.”

Did you and Max have a good date?” Isabel couldn’t find a politic way to ask, “Did you and Max have wild sex?”

“Yes, Isabel, Max wants me to be sure I want to stay in the southwest before we go any further,” Liz stated.

Well, Isabel guessed that partially answered the unasked question. At least it was the best Isabel was going to get. Isabel sat on the bed facing Liz. “Liz, what was the reason that you asked mom to help you learn things? Mom hasn’t been this excited helping some one since I was in junior high.”

“Isabel, if I wanted to stay here, I would need skills that I was never given. If I make a choice about staying and I have the skills to stay, then it is my choice. If I don’t have the skills, I might be afraid to stay and just go back home. Isabel, it is complicated, but I want for the time to feel like, maybe, a cowgirl,” Liz explained.

Isabel had to laugh. Liz was so serious. She had worked so hard this week to learn all that Diane Evans could teach her.
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Liz Come back is almost over. Liz and Max have to see if they can get some of their past life back. There are still a few questions to answer.

Did Max actually kiss Tess after the Prom? Did he actually get Tess pregnant? How many times did Tess actually appear to Max and the others. Remember the shape shifters. Answers and me rewriting the third season. That couldn't be that hard. Anything is better than what we had in the episodes. Coming soon "The Second Crash"

Liz of the Desert 3. Liz is married into the alien household. She and Max stop the dope smuggling and stop the war on Antar. Now they have angry prince Kivar after them. He wants vengence. They are back on Navajo land, making friends who will help them in their battle.

Begonia9608
Keepsmiling7
Michelle in Yonkers
Natalie36
L-J-L 76


Chapter 13

Every one was back at school. Liz was working very hard to finish the semester. Of course, except for the Montgomery dorm and a few fraternity houses who were about to loose their charter, every one else was working toward the end of the semester, also.

Liz had seen Doug a few times, but he kept his distance. She had heard a couple of other girls talking that he was having a hard time in class. Of Sean, she had heard nothing more.

Liz, when Sean had come to see her, had called her father. She asked him if there were any problems, but he had assured her all was well. Jeff was curious about why Liz thought there might be a problem. They were looking forward to seeing her when the year was out.

Liz and Max went to a few school functions like the old movies and a few lectures. They just didn’t have much time to take in anything more. As soon as the summer break started, Max told her that he, Michael, Isabel and Alex would be on the college rodeo circuit. Alex was going to have to cut back on his participation short because his dad had a big contract for well-broken riding horses this summer.

Liz was dead tired. She had been up since early this morning. She had no idea where Max was. She thought that Maria was in Michael’s room but she wasn’t sure. She just left her books on the couch were she had been reading. Liz would have to get up in a few hours, but she just couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. The words were streaming across the pages and she had been looking at the same page for the last 30 minutes. Liz just went to bed.

Liz took off her blouse and dropped her slacks. She placed them in the laundry basket and stumbled to her dresser. She took out a gown and pulled it on. She reached under her gown and removed her bra. Then, the last thing was she pulled off her panties. Sitting on the bed with only the small light on, the dresser still on Liz started pulling off her socks. The last thing she remembered was reaching for the alarm to make sure it was set.

Liz was grabbed from behind. Her face was forced into the pillow. Liz tried to scream, but with her face in the pillow, she couldn’t. She could only gasp for air. Her gown was ripped and, then, she was roughly turned over.

In the dim light of the glowing alarm clock, Liz looked into the face of Sean. He was almost crazed.

“Your little stunt of having me thrown out made me have to ask for help from my father. Now, he is threatening to punish me. Liz, I gave you a chance to come to me back in New York. You didn’t have the sense. So I have come to you. Don’t worry, I will leave you for that stupid cowboy when I am through.

Liz had always been just a bit afraid of Sean, but back home, her father’s power had always protected her. Now, it looked like she was at his mercy. He was holding her throat, but she finally managed a scream.

Michael was holding Maria. Every day he loved her more. Maria was dressed in baby doll pajamas. When she would walk around the room, Michael could just marvel as he watched her. Now, she was lying on her stomach and teasing him both with her fingers running across his lips and, also by the nearness and vision of her breasts hanging inside the pajama top. Michael was within a minute of pulling that top off his girl. The thought of freeing those breasts was so strong in Michael that he could barely stand it.

Both Maria and Michael heard the half scream from Liz. Maria was off the bed in a minute. Neither she nor Michael bothered to reach for any robe. Michael was through Liz’s bedroom door in an instant. He saw Sean sitting on Liz with his hand on her throat. Michael was beside the bed immediately. He grabbed the hand Sean had on Liz and yanked him, flinging him onto the floor.

Sean came up holding a knife. Sean had seen too many movies. He came at Michael, but Michael just stepped inside Sean’s guard and hit him. Hands that pitched bales of hay to the top of a stack, hands and arms that placed cedar post in a fence all day and hands that held on to “Peaches” knocked Sean completely over. Michael stepped toward Sean and hit him again. Sean was almost unconscious. He was slumping to the floor, but Maria grabbed him and held him up. This gave Michael a third chance to smack Sean with several generations of pure cowboy brawn.

This time, Maria just let Sean slump to the floor. She quickly ran to Liz. She took a robe and helped Liz dress.

Michael, as the girls were sitting together, returned to his room. First he rang Max. The ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ brought Max on his way instantly. The second call was to the Las Cruces City Police. By the time the City PD arrived, Alex and Isabel had arrived, also. The policeman looked at Sean. It looked like Sean was going to visit the hospital before he made it back to jail. They took Liz’s statement. “Miss, do you need to see a doctor? Did he rape you?” Liz shook her head no, both times.

The policeman saw Alex and waved. Before wife and kids, he, like Danny Chavez, was active in rodeo. He had been a fair saddle bronc rider. He knew Alex both personally and, from seeing his performances.

Maria looked down at Michael. She screamed. The area on his robe at his waist was soaked with blood.

Every one turned to Michael. Isabel pushed him down on Liz’s bed. She rolled him onto his side and opened his robe. With deft fingers she examined the cut. It wasn’t deep, just across the flesh of his flank. As Max was coming into the room Alex returned from his pickup with the first aid kit. With the policeman watching, Isabel reached over and handed Michael a rolled up sweatshirt from Liz’s dresser. He bit down on a part of the shirt to keep his dignity and not scream. With help from Alex holding a towel, Isabel poured peroxide into the cut. Michael made a terrible face. With a Kotex packaged in the first aid kit, Isabel cleaned the area surrounding the wound. The Kotex was a state police trick that many of the rodeo crowd had learned. The items were sterile and they were absorbent.

Michael’s tetanus booster was always current. Isabel poured some animal grade antibiotic in the wound and with small butterfly bandages she repaired the cut. She placed another Kotex on the wound and fixed it with a bandage. As far as any cowboy was concerned, he was fixed.

The city policeman just smiled. He remembered how many times, his father had fixed cuts and abrasions on him and his brothers almost the same way.

Sean was handcuffed to the gurney and sent on his way to the hospital, then to jail. Maybe, his old roommate Bubba was still there waiting for him.

Maria and Michael went back to his room. Unfortunately, not to the adventures they had planned, but Maria would tenderly care for him.

Alex and Isabel went back to their apartment.

Max was sitting on her bed with Liz, holding her. She was crying and he didn’t know what to say. He asked if she wanted him to leave, but she just gripped him tighter and wouldn’t let him go.

Liz started to get drowsy. Max tried to pull himself from her. She woke up and whimpered. “Liz, I will be back. Just let me go to the bathroom,” Max assured her.

Max went to the bathroom and, then, went to his room. He changed into a clean set of boxers and a tee-shirt. By the time he got back to her room, Liz had gone to the bathroom and cleaned up. She put fresh sheets to replace those covered by Michael’s bloody ones. Liz put on a fresh gown and was under the covers shaking. Max crawled in with her and she turned over and let him embrace her.

That night, Liz from New York fell asleep in the arms of a cowboy. She had a few nightmares, but they all ended with a man on a white horse taking her away from everything.

The next morning, Liz was in the kitchen with Michael and Maria. Maria had already had a time getting Michael into a shirt and pants so he would be ready. Before that, Michael had to suffer the indignity of standing in the bath tub while Maria bathed him with a wet cloth. The indignity because normally he would have found this an erotic experience, but any exertion or excitement of his muscles brought back pain. Michael just had to stand there and endure this. He was determined that when he was well, he was going to find a way to get Maria to do this again.

Maria had undertaken the fixing of the coffee and breakfast that morning. Michael seemed to be in good spirits, except if he laughed, then he grimaced in pain. He was very stiff and couldn’t raise his arms very well.

Liz told them about her dream.

“Liz, I don’t think much of your cowboy rescuer, if the durn fellow was riding a white horse. Liz, most of them white varmints are albinos. They are mostly hard headed and many of them are crazy, besides. If you want a real hero to rescue you, then dream up a good man on a sorrel, maybe, with a white blaze on his face. Dream a man carrying a Winchester on that horse. Now, there would be a man to carry you across the river,” Michael explained. For some reason, there was a flash of Max as he placed his Winchester in the scabbard that day they went riding.

Max came in and pulled Liz to him. He kissed her passionately.

Michael was going to try to make classes. Maria would be driving. Max told him to just close his eyes until she got him on campus. They both hoped she wouldn’t grind too many gears. Maria didn’t have classes until noon so she would help Michael this morning.

Max would take Liz this morning. If Michael had a hard time, Maria would bring him home and either take his pickup her back for her classes or one of the men would pick her up and bring her back. Isabel would be over to change Michael’s bandage. She would examine carefully for any signs of infection, but if it was clear, he should be all right in a few days. He would be tender for some time, but he had been hurt much worse by bulls in his riding career.

That night, they had all managed with help from each other. They were even managing to get back to studying. When they got ready for bed, Maria, again, had to help Michael with his clothes. It was hard to get his shirt off. Michael, usually, just slept in his shorts. He had trouble finding a way to be comfortable. He had visited the infirmary at school. They examined the bandage and complemented the person attending him. They gave him some painkiller and something to help him sleep. They were used to treating cowboys.

Liz prepared herself for sleep that night. She was very uncomfortable. She finally knocked on Max’s door. He let her in,

“Max, last night a man wanted to take from me what I did not want to give him. Max, don’t make me go back to New York and face the temptations that will be made by my parents and the society I face there. Max, I want to make love and I want to be loved. I will return and I want to be the lover of a cowboy.” Liz had been preparing what she would say the whole day.

Max sat her on his bed. He had just taken off his clothes and was in his shorts. “Liz, I always dreamed of us with candles, soft music and after a romantic date.”

“No, Max, it isn’t about ceremony or special timing. It is about us loving each other and making a statement of that love,” Liz told him.

Max took her shoulders in his hands. He began to kiss her. Her lips, her throat, her ears, all were so dear to his touch. Liz raised her arms and Max drew off her her gown. For the second time in his life, Max gazed upon her body. This time with her permission and also her aid. Max got up and it was several seconds until he found the old box of condoms stuffed way back in his underwear drawer. He placed one on the end table. Then he pushed Liz back on the bed. He was kissing her body. To Liz, this was what she hoped for in being loved. She felt secure. Max and his friends had, once again, proved that they would protect her. She was sure that Max really loved her and, with the help of his mom, she would learn enough to be considered the lover of a cowboy. With the protection of the condom, Max made love to Liz and she gave her love to the man of her choice.

The rest of the semester went by. Liz didn’t move in with Max, but she did spend a lot of time at night in his room.

Maria’s room became a storage room. She and Michael moved most of the excess stuff he had and they were able to buy a better bed.

The last night before Liz was to return to New York, she and Max had just completed a satisfying night of love. Max, as always, was caring for her future.

“Tomorrow, you will return to the world you grew up in. This is what you must face and see if you are ready to return to the life with a cowboy,” Max stated.

“Max, I have already made you break your word about waiting until I returned. I would be a poor lover, indeed, if I didn’t return to what you have given me; to what all of you have given, including your mother,” Liz said as she tried to make herself cuddle tighter against Max.

“Just remember, Liz, you will face things which have influenced you for most of your life. These would be things that, many times, you might regret leaving. Spend the summer experiencing what you might loose and return to me if you can,” Max whispered in her ear.

Liz was, now, on the airplane. Her mind was wandering.
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New stories soon

keepsmiling
Begonia9508
Rar1942
Michelle in Yonkers
Natalie36
L-J-L 76
Illah

Remember the world of wealth and priviledge is so different from the world of sweat and hard work.

Chapter 14

The princess was to return. She was on the royal dragon. This time, facing her, were many sprites. “Princess, where have you been? You have been neglecting us,” the sprits chorused.

The princess look chagrined, “Maybe, just maybe, I have found my prince.”

“Princess, you seem different, somehow. How have you changed?” the asked.

“I have experienced love,” she answered. “I have loved and been loved by a man who has shown he will care for me and protect me. Also, a man who I think really makes me the most important thing in his life.”

The sprites all cooed like so many doves. “Is he a man who will meet the king and queen?”

“Yes, someday, I hope he will meet the king and queen. By that time, I hope the king and queen will accept him as a son. I have already, almost, been accepted by his family as a daughter,” Liz replied.

“What about all the princes of your kingdom? Can you leave them? So many of them are lusting for your favor. So many are lusting for the favor of your parents. It will be difficult to meet them again, knowing that your heart is already pledged,” the sprits pointed out.

“They all want me to give them something. Some want my body and some want my favor. Many want the privilege of being honored by my parents, the king and queen. My knight never asked anything of me. He even asked me to be sure before I gave him my love. I only made him love me when I saw how easy someone else could take that love. My knight will make me his equal, his partner and his queen.” This was a long argument for Liz to carry on with herself. By the time she had brought understanding to the fantasy part of her self, she was back in New York.

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Liz was met by her parents. She thought that her father was a bit more gruff than she remembered before. She just put it down to the fact that she had been gone for almost half a year and been under different influences for the whole year. Liz, now, thought differently from the frightened little girl just 18 who left for her first time away from home so long ago.

Liz went to her room as soon as she got home. The room, which before had been a place of comfort, was now sterile. Liz didn’t really know what was missing, unless the missing part was a cowboy, left back in the wilds of New Mexico.

When Liz came down to the rest of the house, she found other things empty and sterile starting with the refrigerator. Fortunately, this was New York and that could be remedied.

Liz made a call to the grocer and requested that an order of groceries be delivered to her house. That night, Liz told her mother that she would take care of supper.

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Queen Nancy smiled, the princess wanted to be responsible for the evening meal. She would probably phone the deli or some other establishment that she had missed in the wild lands and they would all experience her longings together.

Queen Nancy and King Jeff were sitting in the study. The princess had requested they remain there until she summoned them. King Jeff smiled at his wife. He had some hard talking to do with the princess, but it was nice to see her taking charge of something for a change.

The princess announced, “Dinner is served.”

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When Jeff and Nancy entered the room, they didn’t see boxes of food stuff pushed to the side of the room as they had expected. Instead, they were greeted by a table set for three with two candles burning. Prominently placed on the table was a platter of filet of minion, carefully wrapped in bacon and baked to the point of both tenderness and of flavor. There was a salad of greens, several different types all mixed with small nuggets of flavor, which would enhance the dish when consumed. There was a side dish of potatoes, carefully sliced and covered by a cheese sauce.

Jeff sat and at the frown of Liz, for once, instead of digging into his food, Jeff offered a blessing. Liz never had been sure of the beliefs of her parents, but here she was making them, at least, affirm some sort of belief.

Jeff turned to Liz, “Where did you discover this deli? The food is so fresh and delicious.”

Liz looked, first, at her mother and, then, at her father, “Daddy, Mom, I cooked everything here myself.”

Later that night, there were still several hurdles they, first, all must pass, Jeff would say to Nancy, “It is amazing how much our Lizzy has grown.”

After the meal, Liz and the family retired to the study. Jeff, for the first time, poured Liz a glass along with her mother of his best wine. “Lizzy, there are several things I want to talk to you about.”

Liz was, to an extent, reveling in the fact that her parents seemed to be considering her as an adult, an equal. “Yes, daddy, I have completed my first year and my grades have all been with honor.”

“Yes, yes, I am proud of you, but both Mr. Shallow and Mr. Anderson, Sean’s parents, have been in touch with me. We have been discussing your school and we all feel that, maybe, you aren’t getting the best education that you can. You know that, …that, school had the gall to request that Doug Shallow not return next semester. A boy with that strong of a family and such a promising fellow being insulted by being asked to not return.” Jeff had been patient with his daughter, but the rumors coming to him from his associates were disturbing.

“Daddy, Doug did not apply himself. He partied constantly and did not even attend class much of he time. I made honor grades as did the others in my rooming house. Daddy, you have to work if you want anything. You taught me that,” Liz explained.

“Yes, and that is another thing. Mr. Anderson said that his son was visiting you and twice, he was accosted by those cowboys. Mr. Anderson will have his lawyers look into that. Those people must be kept in their proper place.” Jeff explained things as they had been explained, to him, by reputable people, of his social and business circles
.
“Daddy, Sean was not a welcome guest at my rooming house. He forced his way in the first time. It wasn’t a cowboy who beat him up. It was a women very little bigger than I am who he chose to insult! She kneed him in the groin and, then smashed his face with her knee. It was her boyfriend who threw him out of the house,” Liz, again, explained to her father and mother.

“Oh Lizzy, Sean wouldn’t insult a women. Look how many times he has been around you. He hasn’t ever insulted you,” Nancy saw the world the way she wanted to.

“Mom, they pushed themselves into my house and were pilfering the possessions of the other roomers. Mom, yes, Sean insults me every time he is around me. You just do not want to see that,” Liz stated.

“Oh, now, Lizzy, a nice man like Sean. How could he ever insult you?” Nancy asked.

“Mom, every time I am with him he only asks when I am going to sleep with him. He put his arm around Maria and she didn’t tolerate that,” Liz said.

Nancy turned to Liz, “Lizzy, you are growing up. You are going to have to get used to men asking for your favors, that is just part of the game of being an adult. That hussy had no reason to hurt Sean just because he was bestowing his interest on her. She should have been complemented.”

“Lizzy,” Jeff started (he was very stern as this was hard for him to say), “I know that I still think of you as my little girl, but I realize you are growing up. I accept that when you are dating men, sex is necessary. When Sean brought you home from that date, why did those roughens beat him so badly that he had to go to the hospital? Why didn’t you come to his aid and explain to the police that it was consensual sex and not rape as they are trying to make it. Sean will have to return to that hideous town and face a court. I have no doubt that he will get off Mr. Anderson will see to that. Maybe, he can force the court to look where it should and punish those terrible people.”

“Daddy, I never dated that ‘bastard.’ Every time he tried to get me to sleep with him, I told him to shove off. I tried to do it in a nice way, because that is the way I was raised. He sneaked into my room and ripped my gown. Then when Michael came in, Sean had a knife. He did hurt Michael and it was attempted rape. Michael and Maria, again, just beat the ‘shit’ out of him,” Liz screamed.

Her mother looked at her with disapproval, “Young lady we will not have language such as that in this house.”

Jeff continued, “It is my decision that you should have the experience of attending an academy of science in Europe. School will start by the middle of the summer. I want you away from the influence of those people.”

Liz fled to her room.

As soon as she closed the door, Liz dialed Max. She knew that ‘Folsom Prison blues’ was playing somewhere. The cell phone tried and tried, but there was no answer.

Liz threw the phone across the room and fell onto her bed crying. She had felt so powerful as she fixed the meal for her parents and, now, they had created in her the same feelings she’d had as a little girl.

Liz tried, again, when she woke up. This time, the phone rang twice and, then, she was informed that, “The party you are calling is not in available at this time. Would you like to leave a message?”

Yes, Liz wanted to leave a message. She could hardly talk, but she did say that something terrible was happening and would Max please call immediately!

Liz kept to her room most of the morning. She was informed that some men wanted to interview her in the study. Liz was frightened. Nothing was going to be good news except to hear from Max.

Mr. Sales and Mr. Waldorf were lawyers for Sean Anderson. They wanted to talk to Liz before she was subpoenaed before the court in Las Cruces.

“Miss Parker, are you familiar with Sean Anderson”? they asked.

“Yes, my parents have known his parents for years.” Liz answered.

“Did you ever attend a social event with him?”

“Yes, my parents arranged for him to escort me to a Broadway play and, also, an art show at the museum when I was in high school.”

“So, it is true that you did date him socially?”

“No, I told you my parents arranged for him to escort me to two functions when I was in high school.”

The two men frowned, “Now, Miss Parker, you are going to be under oath. Did you ever challenge him to find out if you were still a virgin at the Christmas party this year?”

Liz made a face. “No, if I remember right, I told him that he would never discover this.”

“Miss Parker doesn’t that sound like a challenge to a hearty, healthy young man?”

“No, you are ridiculous! I did not ever invite Sean to my room and I never went out with him. He did attempt to rape me and the roomers at the rooming house threw him out.”

“Miss Parker, we are talking about the reputation of a young men who is an important person in society. Don’t you want to cut him some slack and see this for what it really was, a challenge you made for him to discover the facts of your virginity? Say the right thing and we can get his case dismissed. Maybe, we can sue those ruffians and the young man will not have to live with a record. Miss Parker, maybe you haven’t thought about it but if he is convicted he will have to live with this for the rest of his life.”

Liz stood up. “You can fry the cowardly bastard for all I care! He tried to assault me and he lost. If I am ever near him, I just hope I can do the same as Maria, but I won’t stop until his huevos are hanging from a tree!”

Liz stamped out of the study. As she left, she heard the lawyers talking to her father, “If she doesn’t return to Las Cruces, the charges will be dropped.”

Liz went back into her room and called Max, again. After two rings, she got the same message. Liz left a plea for Max to call her. Thinking again, she called Maria.

“Hello, Maria, I need desperately to talk to Max. I have dialed his cell phone several times and there has been no answer. Can you get a message to him? I am in big trouble and I need to talk to him soon!”

Maria turned to Isabel and Alex. “You know what Max said. He doesn’t want Liz to know what happened. She does sound scared.”

The four of them were sitting in the waiting room of he hospital. Michael stretched, “Max doesn’t want her seeing him like this. He wants her decision to return to be hers, without feeling that she owes something or she feels sympathy for him.”

A nurse came in. “You can see him, but keep it quiet. He is just coming out of the anesthesia.

The four friends filed into the room where Max was lying. He had tubes running to his body and he was very pale.

“Max, you should have known that only Michael would be able to ride ‘Peaches.’ Why did you let the son-of-a –bitch step on you?” Isabel softly said.

“I wanted Michael to taste a little humility. I thought I could do it. I was just unlucky that he wasn’t watching where he put his feet,” Max weakly said.

Isabel snorted, “That big bastard knew exactly were he was putting his feet. He probably was getting even for Michael being able to ride him last year.”

Maria leaned over, “Liz has called. She sounds desperate and scared.”

Max frowned, “No, Maria I don’t want her to see me like this. Just put her off until I can get on my feet.”

Isabel said, “Max, maybe, she needs help.”

“Izzy, she is in her world, now. We wouldn’t even know how to fit into that place. She can probably handle her world better than any of us could. Just put her off for a while.”

They couldn’t stay long, but when they were outside of his room Isabel was not convinced that what her brother wanted was for the best. “Maria, what did you do with the winnings Max made in that last rodeo?” Isabel asked.

Maria opened her purse. There was about a thousand dollars in a packet. She hadn’t had time to bank it in Max’s name. She and Michael had picked it up as they were heading to the hospital. She handed it to Isabel. Isabel just smiled at Alex, “Alex darling, I want you to take me to a show.”

Alex nodded. He seldom understood what Isabel wanted, but that didn’t make any difference. He always complied, if he could. “I want you to take me to a Broadway show.” Isabel turned to Michael. “Can you and Maria take us to the airport? Mom and dad will be in tonight to help you with Max.”

Liz had remained in her room all day. She had refused to talk to her mother. It was only after a lot of pleading that she consented to unlock the door and allow her father to come in,

“Lizzy, we only want what is best for you. If you bring shame on the Anderson family, they can make it miserable for you. You know how appearances are in this town.

“You say that Sean didn’t hurt you, so maybe, it was just a mistake in him seeing you as a challenge. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to my little girl,” Jeff said.

“Daddy, I didn’t let Sean hurt me, but I am not your little girl anymore. I am sleeping with a man, a man who I think will love me and give me all that I want and need,” Liz stated.

Jeff was taken back. He had been slightly upset to think that, maybe, she was having a social affair with the boys that he knew. Somehow that she had an affair with someone beyond his knowledge was more disturbing. Jeff was petting Liz’s shoulder, “Lizzy, two years in Europe and this will all be forgotten. You can return and start over. Sean will have moved on and you can associate among those you know best.”

“Daddy, you don’t understand. I love him. I have been trying to call him and I just know that something is wrong,” Liz cried.

“See, Liz, once you are out of town, he forgets all about you. I am sorry that you have to learn this way, but maybe, it is for the best. You go study abroad and, then, when you come back, things will be back just like they were before.” Jeff, in his mind had everything under control. He would get Liz out of the country and this would pacify the Anderson conglomerate. Things would have been so much easier if he had had sons.

One more day passed. Liz still couldn’t get through to Max. Max’s cell phone was lying in a box at the motel where they had stayed. When they cleaned the room of the man who was hurt, the manager had put every thing in a box and put the box in the safe. He was an old rodeo hand and he remembered many broken bones. Cowboys were tough. That young rider would be back soon to pick up his stuff.

Liz called Maria one more time. She was sure that something was wrong. Maria acted as if she might have been crying.

It was late in the afternoon. Liz, as usual, was in her room. There was a ring of the bell and when opening the door, Nancy was confronted with a tall blonde in a conservative dress suit and a tall man wearing boots and carrying a tall crowned hat.

“Ma’am, we need to see Miss Liz Parker, if you please,” Isabel said.

“Miss Parker is not receiving right now. If you leave your name and number, I will have her call you when she is able,” Nancy said.

Alex looked at her, “Ma’am, we can’t rightly do that. See, we came all the way from New Mexico and we can’t hardly stand this city too many days. We might just bust out and get in trouble. If you would just tell Liz that Alex and Isabel are here, I am sure she will want to see us.”

Nancy was about to insist that these annoying people leave when Isabel put her fingers to her lips and let out that piercing whistle. It brought in taxi cabs, called cowboys and alerted good friends that they were wanted.

Liz couldn’t believe her ears when she heard that whistle. She bounded from her room. There were Isabel and Alex standing in the doorway fronted by a very angry Nancy Parker.

“Izzy, Alex, you don’t know how glad I am to see you,” Liz shouted.

Nancy turned to Liz, “I don’t think your father would approve of these people being in our house. I just don’t see how they got past the door man.”

Clarence Bryce lived a fantasy life much like Liz’s. He had just seen a performance of the Black Rodeo Association in Madison Square Gardens. To him, cowboys of any color were a race apart. When he met Alex and Isabel at the door, he spotted Alex’s trophy buckle first off. He asked him, “What is your ride?”

Alex would talk rodeo with anyone. He introduced himself and Isabel. “Izzy and I ride team roping. She is a champion in barrel racing as I am in saddle bronc. We just need to get it together one season and we will get the team roping championship.

Clarence replied, “Oh my, it is a pleasure to meet a real cowboy and, now, the pleasure of a real cowgirl. This is a lucky day. How can help you folks?”

Isabel smiled. This was the smile that opened doors anywhere. “Liz Parker is the girlfriend of my brother. He was stepped on by a bull and we need to see her as soon as possible.”

“Oh lordy, little Lizzy going with a bull rider. Listen kids, the Parkers are kind of snooty people, if you know what I mean. Lizzy is home and if you can get by old lady Parker I am sure she will see you.”

Liz ran to the door and with Alex on one arm, Isabel on the other and a glare, for her mother Liz led them into the parlor. Liz quickly told the two what had been happening.

“Liz, what is the status of your finances?” Isabel asked.

Liz frowned, “I don’t know, for tax purposes my school account is in my name. So, I guess I don’t depend on anyone.”

“Well, then, no problem. I am sure your parents will come around, but for now, why don’t you just return with us to Roswell tonight?” Isabel was not explaining everything Liz was sure. There was something wrong.

“Izzy, there is something else. What is it? I haven’t gotten a straight answer form Maria anytime I talked to her.” Liz said.

Isabel looked down, “We aren’t supposed to tell you, but Max was hurt, critically. ‘Peaches’ stepped on him several times. His riding is over for a while. Max didn’t want this to influence you, but I don’t agree. I think you are good for him anyway we get you there. If you want to go, we will take you.

It was shortly afterwards, even before she saw her father, that Liz was back on the plane with Alex and Isabel.
-------------------
Liz Come back is now finished.
Second Crash is a new canon story

Michelle in Yonkers
Keepsmiling7
Rar1942
Begonia9508
L-J-L 76
Lilah
Paper

What clothes does a cowboy need? Several pair of shrink to fit Levies, (shrink to fit as you want to get as many washings as possible and way to soon they will be the worn faded look the dudes pay extra for) several blue denim shirts, (of course with snaps, they are faster to get on and off) a pair of Tony Lama work boots, (leather sole as the man-made sole is more libel to hang up in the stirrup if you get bucked off your horse and you may get dragged) and your Stetson hat from two or three years ago. Of course you wouldn’t wear the new one you just spent $300 for during work. Women’s clothing is more interesting.

Like a pseudo royalty, the children of the socialites, always need to bow to appearance. Liz’s parents aren’t uncaring they have just lost sight of what is important. They need to listen to Clarence the doorman.

Going with Max, Liz inherits family and friends and in rural settings they all come together to help. Maybe some of you can see this in some neighborhoods.

The Winchester is a rifle. Even now most working cow camps have at least a 22 rifle somewhere. There are always predators to be dispatched, animals can get badly hurt in the back country where you can’t get a vet very easily. A horse, with a broken leg, back in the hills has no chance. The pistol is way too difficult to carry while wrestling cows so usually some one has a rifle somewhere many times carried in a scabbard on their saddle.

Don’t worry Max soon will be called to stand by Liz. What she asks him to face, “…he would rather geld peaches with a pocket knife than do what she asks…” Look up the verb geld if you do not know it.

Chapter 15

Her stay at the kingdom was not pleasing at all. The princess found that many enemies had gotten the ear of her family. The scoundrels had told stories that were lies against the good name of the princess. She was to be excommunicated to a distant land where the knight couldn’t find her. Meanwhile, the knight himself had been badly trampled by a monster. The knight didn’t want the princess to see him in such a wretched state. He feared that if she saw him, thus, she would no longer trust his invincibility. Maybe worse, she would feel that she must take upon herself the task of his rehabilitation.

It was the lady of quality and her protector coming all the way to the Kingdom where the princess was staying with her family, who led her back to the enchanted lands to sit with her true knight and watch over him. This was a gift he couldn’t turn down.

Their enemies, now, would not be able to falsify her story to get the knave free who had assaulted her person.

____________

Liz arrived at the hospital and was in time to be present when Diane and Philip were to take Max home. There was no question of Liz not coming to the Evans ranch. Diane was concerned when she learned the problems Liz had with her family.

Michael rolled the wheel chair into the ranch house. Max and Isabel had had a room on the second floor. Now, it was just too much trouble to take Max up the stairs so one of the rooms on the first floor was set up with a bed and what things he would need to stay there. The doctor said that Max would be up and about in a week, but ‘about’ meant very limited movement.

As soon as Michael had moved and set up a bed, he had to leave for the Whitman’s . Alex had already wasted much of the time that his father had allotted for him to be breaking the herd of horses that the elder Whitman had already sold. Michael went over to the Whitman ranch to help. Michael was no Alex, but he could tire a bronc without breaking his spirit. Mr. Whitman wasn’t unfeeling, but he did have a ranch to run. With Michael’s help, they would probably finish the string in time before school started.

Now, Liz was seeing Max in another way. Diane whispered to her, “Liz, it is sometimes difficult when we see a lover as a child. I know that you always saw Max as powerful and he has always been so. He is a son that I am very proud of. Now, he is almost helpless and that is very difficult for him. It is also difficult for him to know that you see him when he is helpless. Liz, that is part of love. You see each other at your best and at your worst.”

The first week that he was back, Max was weak. He was, also, drugged. Many times when he needed things, Diane would send Liz. When Diane waited on him, Max did revert to a child, but something in him would come forth when it was Liz doing for him. This wasn’t the simple bandage that Isabel had fixed on Michael and changed every day. This was a serious problem.

Max had to be restrained to not cause himself more harm. They would take him to the doctor in two days to be checked, but it was the women, who loved him, who cared for him day to day. When he wanted to go to the bathroom, it was little Liz who put his arm around her shoulders to steady him. He made her wait outside the bathroom until he was through, but she still had to help him back to bed. Liz was also helping Diane in the kitchen. Liz was sharpening her domestic skills. When they gave Max sleeping pills, it was Liz who kissed his lips as he drifted off.

Several times, Max tried to pull her to him. The pain caused by both the exertion and the pressure on his chest, that made this impossible.

Philip had his usual hands so he wasn’t that dependent on Max and Isabel for chores. Liz still picked up the eggs and helped churn the cream into butter. This last was easy because they had a motorized churn.

There was one very long talk with her father. Liz wouldn’t tell anyone what was said. She was crying a little when she hung up the phone. Diane just thought, she was such a dear thing. How could any parent not see the gifts she had brought to others.

It was Philip, Isabel, Diane and, of course, Liz who helped Max to the wheel chair and into the sedan. It was almost an hour’s drive to the doctor office. The doctor checked Max and stated that his prognoses was good. Max had to do light exercise and watch himself. The doctor told Philip that the pain, itself, would limit Max for some time.

Max would sit talking to Liz for hours. She, now, knew almost every thought he had ever had. He did have one disturbing thing to tell her. His girl friend, who had gone back to New England, had written him asking if he wanted her to come see him before school started. Max had told her no. He believed that she would be better off in New England.

That night, Liz had terrible nightmares. She was dreaming that her father had found a way to make her go to Europe. Would Max tell her that she shouldn’t return from Europe to the wilds of the southwest?

Liz needed to talk to Isabel and soon. Was she about to be involved in a triangle? One not of her chosing.

“Liz, the girl’s name was Corrine. She didn’t like it here. She wanted to make Max go back with her. She wanted him to get a job with her father. I do not know what that job would be. Max wasn’t willing to leave the ranch. He has ranching in his blood.” Isabel had tried to explain that there were several problems between Corrine and Max.

Sean’s trial didn’t come up. It seemed with Liz back in New Mexico, the lawyers, wisely, took a plea bargain to avoid a trial. When he was out of jail, Sean would be labeled a sex offender and not be welcomed anymore in New Mexico.

School was starting soon. When they were ready to go back, it was Liz who drove the pickup. Max complained all the way about her having to pull the front seat so close. Liz smiled and said, “You could have gotten bucket seats and, then, we would never have been able to sit close together. Besides, I have missed most of the potholes. Just sit back close your eyes and we will be there, soon.

The Evans, Diane and Philip had driven the sedan. They were there when Max fixed his rooms for the winter. Diane looked at Liz as she was moving furniture around. “Do you want this dresser in the room you had last year or in Max’s room?”

Liz went to Max. “What do you want, Max? Do you want me back in my room or in here with you?

Max reached for her and pulled her close. Then he let out a yelp. Liz would be in his room, but it would be a while before they did more than just sleep beside each other.

Max had to get used to lots of things. Michael had to have Maria care for him only a short time. By the end of the summer rodeo season, Michael was back on the bulls and digging his heels into the dirt, wrestling steers. It would be some time, before Max even could wrestle his big pickup around the campus.

Most of the cowboys and their followers all knew of him getting hurt. There was plenty of good-natured hazing about making a pair of boots out of “Peaches.” There was, also, plenty of hazing about the beautiful little brunette Max had chauffeuring him around campus and, also, caring for him. Several of the cowboys who didn’t at the moment, have a significant other, told Max that they would willing let ‘Peaches’ sit on them if it meant they could get the same care that Max was getting.

Liz had changed a lot. She wasn’t wearing skin-tight jeans like Maria wore when she wanted to be sexy, but Liz was wearing jeans and a boys small sized western shirt with snaps, along with her boots. She, Maria and Isabel had gone back to the boot store and Liz had purchased some lizard boots just like Max had. Liz got her boots in caramel color instead of the black like Max had. Liz had, also, been seen more and more wearing a western hat with a low Colorado crown.

Alex had some disturbing news. The ranch adjoining his father’s place had been sold. He asked his father, but the old man didn’t seem to know or even care much about it. The rumor was that it had been sold to some one from back east. That worried Alex because, most of the time when easterners bought property, it was for development. Alex intended to run his father’s horse ranch. Developers were not good neighbors for ranchers.

Max was getting stronger all the time. Liz didn’t think that he should wrestle the big four-by-four truck. The truck had all the modern conveniences, but it still was a handful when parking and driving on campus.

At first, Liz always went with Max when he went to care for his animals in the husbandry classes. Liz couldn’t do the heavy things, but she was all the time being able to do more. Liz went to the Las Cruces High School and hired a boy out of the Future Farmers of America association to come to the college and help with the heavier things. At first, the young man did not seem to be too thrilled to be working for a woman. He was surprised when Liz gave him his orders. At least, she knew what she was doing. Later, when he learned that he was actually working for her boyfriend who had been hurt riding bulls, he reappraised the situation. He asked Liz if she had any younger sisters. If so, he would really like to meet them.

As Thanksgiving got closer, Max was getting stronger. He couldn’t have any weight on his chest, but Liz found ways to give him loving. Being with Max every night, Liz never tired of feeling his body next to her. Max was lying on his back. Liz stripped off her gown and, by being very careful about any pressure on his chest Liz made her first attempt at love since his accident. When Max’s body jerked in orgasm, he did wince but for the both of them, just going back to a physical relationship was a relief.

This was the delight of being a lover and not just an occasional date. They carefully approached romance, always testing Max’s physical limits.

Liz had heard very little from her parents. Liz sent information about her grades home, but she heard neither good nor bad from them. She hadn’t talked to her father since that phone call when she was at the Evans Ranch.

Liz often wore her wrap-around skirt. It was comfortable and since the skirt flapped when she walked, it was cool in the Las Cruces heat. Between driving Max’s truck, managing the care of his animals at the agricultural site and helping Max in the so many things he hadn’t been able to do, Liz was a far cry from the little girl who flew in last year and pleaded for protection from her partying dorm mates.

Max would accompany her at night when she had to be on campus, but it was a question of who was protecting whom. Max was walking with a cane. During the day, if one of the men couldn’t pick up the other girls, Liz would drive the pickup to get them, again, only during the day.

There was only one incident and no one would have know about it except that Maria just happened to be walking by. Liz still didn’t look like she belonged in college. She was dressed in a wrap-around skirt. She had bought several more of them, her boots and her snap shirt with the first two snaps undone. Several of the party boys had seen her. For some reason known only to them, they came up to her.

One man actually came up to her and put his arm around her shoulders. “Listen, my little cowgirl; we are having a party tonight and we are supposed to go out and bring a date to the party. I choose you.”

Of course, the minute she saw this, Maria called Michael. Then she called Alex. They were both on campus.

Liz tried to shake off the offending arm. “I don’t go to parties with out my boyfriend,” she replied.

“That is okay. We just won’t tell him. I am sure we have a lot more than any cowboy has,” with that, he tried to kiss her.

Liz knew that she might be in trouble. She was wearing Texas pointed boots with fairly high riding heels. Liz stamped the instep of her boot on the top of his expensive, but lightweight Italian shoes. He let out a bellow and bent over. The wrap-around skirt did give plenty of freedom to kick and Liz did. The point of her boot met the junction of his life. He couldn’t even grunt for several seconds. The men with him became angry. This slip of a girl had not given in to their attention, but actually, rebuffed them with violence. They began to surround Liz. But, then, they looked around. There could be 30 or more men all wearing boots, some with their girlfriends hanging on their arm, but there was no mistaking their attitude. “We don’t insult women in these parts,” Freddie Lujan said. The way his girl friend, Lisa Morales, was glaring at them the party men decided to go elsewhere.

At this time, Alex and Michael ran up. Michael put his arms around Liz. “Little sister, I don’t think we have to worry about you any more. You will do to ride the river with.”

Michael told Max about the incident that night. “Max, that girl handled her self as well as either Maria or Isabel could do. I think you have a partner.
-------------------------------------
Liz Come back is complete
Second Crash
Dragnet New Mexico

Keepsmiling7
Natalie36
Paper
Michele in Yonkers
Begonia9508

Now that we can quit worrying about the open rear of the hospital gown I do need to make a few explanations. “To ride the river with” is a saying of the Border Patrol. It probably came from the early Texas Rangers. The early rangers would be days from help so when a pair rode the Rio Grande and would get into gunfights, they depended upon each other. A new man was accepted when it was said, “He would do to ride the river with.” The Border Patrol also use that statement.

The first wrap around skirt I ever saw was after we got married. Carole and I were attending several Pueblo Indian dances. At that time it was bad form to wear slacks at these affairs. It was very hot so Carole sewed a wrap around skirt for herself. This was acceptable to the dancers and it was cool in the slight breeze.

Pointy boots are good for a lot more than killing cockroaches in the corner.

Chapter 16

Max drove part way, but the winding roads were tiring on him. It was Liz who was sitting tall behind the wheel when they drove into the Evans’ front yard. It was Liz, wearing jeans and a snap shirt. Diane and Isabel helped her take the luggage into the house. Before, Liz had always had a room beside Isabel, but this time nothing was said. Diane and Isabel put all the bags in Max’s room.

When she first saw Max, his mother was going to hug her son. At the almost comical look of fear as she came at him with open arms, Diane settled with pulling his face down and kissing him on he cheek. Isabel already knew how sore he still was. So she just smiled. She found it interesting that Liz assisted Max into the living room. It was Liz who settled him into an easy chair. Only when she had Max comfortable, did Liz head to the bathroom to wash up.

Isabel went upstairs to see Liz. Diane, when she was alone with her son said, “Max, what are you going to do about her? Are you going to marry her?”

Max looked at his mom, “I don’t think I have ever seen someone who tries so much. I don’t think I could do better in a hundred years. The only problem is her parents. I don’t know what they would say,” Max replied.

“Maybe, that is a bull you are going to have to help her ride. Maybe, you are going to have to go to New York and meet her parents,” Diane said.

Max had been worried about that very thing. “Mom, I just do not know what I could say to those people that would make me worthy of their daughter.”

Liz was sure that there would come a time when she fixed Thanksgiving dinner for her own family, but for now, she was helping Diane. Liz thought for a minute, yes, she was helping Diane, but wasn’t she, now, helping fix dinner for her new, extended family?

Last year, Liz had gone dancing and on a hayride. Every night and day had been new revelations for a city girl like her. Tonight, Liz was sitting on the back porch of the ranch house listening to the song of the lonesome coyote. She closed her eyes and saw the varmint in her mind. He was prowling the lands. He would try to steal from the rancher if he could, but if there were no opportunity for this, he was just as welcome to make his own way with honest hunting.

Liz felt a presence and she looked up. Philip Evans had walked out on the porch, “It is a powerful difference, isn’t it daughter? The sounds that feel like home now, were so frightening, last year.”

That was high praise for Liz. She just wished her own folks could feel the same way about her.

There was no attending of parties this holiday. Max couldn’t take that much activity. Saturday night, Maria arranged for a get together for several of Max’s friends. Kyle and his girl Tess, were among them. Liz remembered that once Tess had gone with Max. Alex and Isabel, along with Michael and Maria, all arranged to be at the Evans place. This was a bit of surprise for Max. Diane, with Liz’s help, had made refreshments and everyone had some comment about the crippled bull rider and his relationship with ‘Peaches.’

Kyle and Tess gave Max a small stuffed bull. Tess had stitched a scrap of canvas on the little bull to make a riding blanket. Kyle had placed a large chain dog collar on the toy. They had carefully lettered on the little blanket, “Keep this bull well chained.”

Alex and Isabel had given Max a pair of cowhide work gloves. Inside the glove Isabel wrote, “At least you can wear this hide out. Don’t let it throw you.”

Finally, Maria and Michael came up. Maria handed Max an empty envelope. Printed on the face were the words “Rodeo Prize Money.” Then is smaller script Maria had written, “Sorry, Max, we spent the money bringing back the best thing that has ever happened to you.”

On reading this, Max pulled Liz into his lap and he was hugging her. Liz couldn’t see, but the rest of them could see the pain this act caused Max. He just didn’t care. Yes, this was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Liz and Tess were bring more snacks from the kitchen. Tess was hesitant and Liz wondered why. “Liz, you know that Max and I dated some his first year in college, didn’t you?” Tess asked.

Liz turned a little cold. She couldn’t see where this was going. She just nodded.

“Well, if we are going to be friends, I want to clear the air,” Tess started.

“That is okay, Tess. Max just said that things didn’t work out. What you did before I met him, just isn’t any of my business,” Liz explained. She started to pick up the platter of snacks.

Tess reached out her hand, “Liz, please, this is for me. Max and I dated for a while when he was a freshman in college. We really never got very far. I could see that Max wasn’t ever going to give up the ranch. Liz, I am a city girl. Not from the big city like you, but a city girl none the less. I am not willing, to live way out here. Maybe, I am from the southwest, but I still like conveniences, of town. Now Corrine, was a huntress. She intended to take Max back home and keep him like a wild animal in a zoo.”

Tess had taken a deep breath. Maybe, she was tampering with things that she had no business doing. “You aren’t going to do that, are you Liz? You aren’t going to try to make Max live back in the city, are you?”

Liz shook her head, “No, I intend to live with Max whereever he wants.”

Tess pulled Liz to her and with a big hug, she said, “That is good, Liz. I still love Max in a way. Now, don’t get jealous, Liz, I love Max enough to want the best for him.”

Then Tess straightened up. “Kyle is planning on going in with his dad. Jim has a trucking business and he is fixing for Kyle to take it over. Right now, Kyle is on the road a lot. But, I give him plenty of reasons to break the speed limit and hurry home. I hope we all remain friends, but I want to make my friendship from town.”

Alex had brought his guitar. He didn’t do this very often, but he and Maria sang many western songs together. They stayed late, at least for ranch kids. Michael, Maria and Alex had a long drive home. Alex would make this trip alone. Tomorrow, they all would return to school.

Alex and Isabel worked hard on their studies. They did not want anyone to say that their living together interfered with their grades. Michael, Maria, Max and Liz all put a lot of time into their studies. That was the advantage of living with others who considered education important.
There was one difference, Liz had taken all of her classes only in the afternoon so she could help Max. It would take a year or so before her schedule was back on track for her studies.

They were all getting ready for Christmas-winter break.

Max and Liz had been arguing for a week. “Max, I need to go see my parents and I am not going with outyou. I want you to come with me to New York.”

“Liz, what would I do in New York? That many people, it just scares the shit out of me thinking about it,” Max said.

“Max, you remember how scared I was when I first heard the coyote sing? I got over it because I loved you. Now, I want you to come with me. I need to see them, but I am not going to go there alone,” Liz demanded.

Max hung his head, “Liz what I am really scared of is, I wouldn’t be able to be strong enough to protect you. You understand those people and I don’t. I would do something wrong and make everything worse.”

Liz took his face in her hands, “Max, Max, I would be with you all the way. Just like you were with me the night of the hayride. We are a team, now. Just like Isabel and Alex, our timing might be a little off, but as a team, we will be champions. I need you.”

Liz was sure he would come as soon as he ran out of reasons. Liz knew that the real reason was that the man who attempted to ride ‘Peaches’ was terrified of going to the city.

Liz was willing to come to live in the southwest but she still had ties to the city. She would never completely shed them, but Liz needed to know that she had Max with her.

They soon were on the plane heading to her former home.

Natalie36
Dreamsatnight
Lilah
Keepsmiling7
Michelle in Yonkers
Begonia9508
L-J-L 76


This is the most important chapter of the story. You see a different side of Liz’s parents. They are people struggling to fit into society themselves. Clarence Bryce tells a little of their background. They were not born into society and probably do not feel comfortable in society themselves. Max finds that if he were to try to fit into this group he would fail. He stays himself. He does show restraint.

Liz tells her mother that it is not just cowboys but rather individuals who can take care of themselves that she admires. Liz shows Max the environment in which she was raised and maybe, this will tell him more about her.

Please look up the word “geld” if you do not know what it means. Then you will understand better how Max felt when he faced her parents for the first time. They will return to the southwest and wait for a surprise ending to their story. Liz will one more time face her fantasies.

Chapter 17

The princess was bringing her knight home. She was wearing his colors and she wanted all to know that she was his. He was as afraid of the demons he saw, in her land as she, at first, had been of those in his. Liz had overcome her fears. Now, she loved the southwest. She loved the cowboy families and friends. She had the knowledge that she could do so many things about the house. Before, she had invented the persona of “princess” because she felt so insignificant. Now, she was the girlfriend of Max Evans. The princess was still there, but Liz felt her own strength. She intended to marry Max and live her life out on his ranch. She was, also, a daughter of New York and there were so many memories which crowded her mind, that he had to understand.

The fantasy wasn’t going very well. Real life kept breaking into her thoughts. The dragon never got formed in her mind. By the time she was clear on how she was going to present Max they were in New York.

Liz had called her parents. She informed them that she was bringing her boyfriend home with her. She would meet them at their apartment.

One of the first people Liz saw, as they got out of the taxi and walked into the apartment building, was Clarence Bryce. “Little Lizzy, let me look at you. Wearing boots and all dolled up just like in those old movies. Who is this young man? He looks like he just stepped out of a movie himself.”

Liz, holding Max’s hand, said, “Clarence, this is Max Evans. He is my boyfriend.”

Clarence grabbed Max’s hand, “You must be the man who got stepped on by ‘Peaches.’ Your friends told me you was a real rider until that bull stomped you a bit.”

“Clarence, are my parents in?” Liz inquired.

“Oh, yes, child. They’s in. I just hope you told them you was coming. Springing this young man on them might not go well,” Clarence said with feeling.

Liz took a deep breath, “They know, Clarence. How they will take it is another question.”

Max and Liz proceeded to the elevator. When they got off on the floor where the Parkers lived. Max would have rather been told to geld “Peaches” with a pocketknife than walk into that room.

Liz rang the door bell. Her father opened the door. “Liz,” he said and then with less enthusiasm he said, “and Max.”

Max sat their luggage down near the door. Symbolically, Max said to himself, “That is so we can make a quick get away.”

Jeff Parker ushered them into a room that Max would have called a parlor back home. Nancy Parker was seated and she made a show of not getting up but just nodding in their direction. It was awkward.

Liz tried, “Daddy, mom, I got my third semester grades. I still have my four point average.”

Jeff nodded, “That is good, Liz. We are proud of you achievement.”

“Daddy, mom, I don’t want to cut myself off from you but I have to live my own life. Max is going to be part of that life,” Liz was trying but her parents weren’t helping.

Nancy turned to Max, “Max, we don’t intend to be rude, but we don’t know you. We don’t understand you. Like for instance, what occupation will you undertake when you are out of college? I certainly hope you don’t just intend to be a rodeo rider.”

Max had never been so uncomfortable in his life. He was going to do this for Lizzy. “Ma’am, I will most probably take over the cattle operation of the Evans ranch. We, mostly, raise calves and sell them to other ranches or to feed lots. I am going to school to study how to improve our herd. We have had that ranch now for three generations. I will be the fourth.”

Jeff looked at Max and said, “It has always been my thought that a ranch was just like any other business.”

Max nodded, “Well, kind of, but with a ranch you can’t control production like you can in a factory. If you have a bad year and have to cut back your herd one year, it takes three or, maybe, as many as five years to bring your herd back. The inertia of ranching is much more important than you find in a factory.”

Jeff nodded, “I guess it might be like the blast furnaces up north. They have to plan a cut back because it might take weeks to bring their furnaces all back to full production.”

Max said, “Yes, I don’t hardly know that much about the steel business, but I guess there might be many business where you just can’t turn things off and back on at will?”

“How do you feel about expansion?” Jeff questioned.

“I just know that you better be mighty careful of getting too big. Expansion means that you have to borrow. Usually, if you have to borrow a lot it ends up being from institutions that don’t have a lot of knowledge about livestock. A lot of ranchers trying to get rich end up without their ranch. You gotta have a lot of savvy and you don’t get that all from books. You get that at your grandpa’s knee,” Max informed him.

Nancy had said very little. She had left Jeff to field the questions.

Liz stood. “Max and I need to freshen up and rest a bit before dinner. We will have several days to talk,” Liz said.

She nodded to Max and he went over and got the luggage. “Liz do you want us to put Max up in the guest room?” Nancy asked.

Liz looked straight at her mother, “No, mom, Max and I are together. He will stay in my room.”

Nancy looked at Jeff and they just nodded.

Liz led Max to her room upstairs. Once inside, after closing the door and throwing the latch, Liz turned to Max, “I was never so proud of you. You met Daddy’s questions with good responses every time.”

Max took her in his arms, “Liz, I was never so scarred in my life. I felt that I just had to convince him that I knew what I was doing to win you.’

Liz stood on tiptoes. “Max, you already have won my heart. What you have to do is convince my father that you will be able to take care of me.” She kissed him.

“I thought we were taking care of each other,” Max said.

“We are, but didn’t you see mama? She leaves everything to daddy. I don’t think she can even think of doing something without him. They were both so surprised when I cooked supper last summer. Max, my parents are not bad. They are just different than you are used to. Your mother and father can do so many things for themselves. In the city we are so used to hiring it done. We just aren’t used to doing things for ourselves.”

They just lay on the bed resting. For a minute, Liz tried to bring forth the princess and the other fantasies. They just weren’t there.

Going down to dinner, Liz wasn’t surprised, it was deli food. Liz was determined that she and Max were going to put on, at least. one real supper for the Parker family before she returned to school.

“Max, Liz, as you know, there is the holiday dance that the parents all put on. Maybe, you can come?” Nancy was almost pleading. Liz knew that much of her mother’s standing socially was wrapped up in this affair.

“Yes, Mom, we will attend. Just don’t try to use that to break us up. Remember, neither Max nor I react like folks do here any more. We will be glad to be with you as your children,” Liz stated.

Liz was pleased with her father and Max. They were talking about business and how ranching differed from factories here in the east.

“Yes, Mr. Parker, but we do still have rustling. We don’t hang em like my grand father did and, maybe, that is a mistake. A semi-truck can take a small herd in one night and we can’t trail them very well. If they go to a feed lot or a sales ring the cattle inspectors will pick up on them. But if they are bootlegged to a black market slaughter house, the evidence will be long gone.” Max was thinking of a ring that had been operating in the southwest for years.

“Why do you let the herd get so far away from your control? Looks like keeping them closer in, you wouldn’t give people that much chance to steal them.” Jeff stated.

“Jeff, we have pretty good feed at our ranch, but to the south of us the land can’t hold, but one hundred acres per cow. That is a lot of spreading out. The cows have to eat and if they crowd together, they ruin the graze forever,” Max explained.

They were getting ready for the gala affair. Max was putting on his western suit. He had brought his lizard boots. He had on his calf skin vest and his white silk shirt. He would wear a bolo tie with a large turquoise stone.

Liz had long thought about what she would wear. Max would dress as he always did, but here in her home, Liz felt that she shouldn’t try to be different than she had been for so many years.

Liz wore her party gown. She hadn’t worn it for a year. Back in New Mexico, Liz had always worn her cowgirl things. Max had never seen the plunging neckline or the low back. True, he was tongue tied.

When they were dressed, Liz took both of Max’s hands. “Max things are going to be different than they are back home.” Max didn’t miss how she had said New Mexico was home. “There are going to be several men who want to dance with me. You have to let them. Remember, no matter what happens, I will be in your bed tonight,” she promised.

“Max, there are going to be several women who will see you as a novelty. They will also make plays for you. I won’t say anything, because I expect you to, also, be in bed with me when we come home,” she stated.

“People here are different than you are used to. Things like marriage, to this crowd, just do not mean as much as they will to us. You may get propositioned, by married women, I don’t care how you get out of these propositions, as long as you do. Just be careful and don’t believe any one is for real. Max never forget, I gave my self to you and I want you as well, only to myself”

Even Nancy had to admit that Max was good looking in his black suit. His broad shoulders and strong arms would turn heads anywhere. She smiled when she saw her daughter. Liz always had poise, but now, she had grown up so much. Before she was kind of quiet and shy, but now, she was very self-assured.

When they entered the room the first person who met Jeff was Mr. Shallow. Liz knew that, at one time, her father had a lot of money invested with him. Mr. Shallow smiled at Liz and shook hands with Max, but there was a frown on his face as he looked at Max. Liz didn’t see Mr. Anderson. She was glad. She would probably eventually, run into him, but she had not decided what she would say.

Liz was, almost, immediately caught up in dancing. She was right. Max was a novelty. Elena Hornbeck was a lady on her third husband. The other two were somewhere in the room. She would dance with them some time tonight and might even go home with one of them, if it struck her fancy. Luck might even make it the one she was currently married to, unless she got lucky with the young cowboy.

Elena was the first to dance with Max. She was a good dancer, Max guessed, except she kept rubbing his crotch with her bare leg. Any time they turned while dancing, her hand seemed to grace across it in an innocent manner.

There was a Miss Shelly Kreft. She was a blond who danced in such a manner that Max had a clear view of her breast the whole time. After that, Max pleaded that he was still recovering from his accident and he sat down. That didn’t help because there were several who were willing to keep him company.

Liz was, also, besieged with men. She had been gone for a year. There had been rumors circulated about her. Many men were so curious about whether the rumors were true. Charlie Johnson was an affable character. His father had made millions in real estate. Charlie had decided that working was not in the foreseeable future for him.

Charlie had heard that Liz was a first class piece of ass back in college. This was probably information spread by the Anderson family as they continued to battle Sean’s conviction. Charlie decided he would woo the tiny debutant away from that cowboy figure she came with. Charlie used all the things that had worked before. Finally, he was blunt. “Liz what does it take to get you to bed? What does it get for you to take all those clothes off and sleep with me?”

Liz leaned close to him, “More than you got, Charlie, more than you got. First, ride a fucking bull, Charlie, Then, wrestle a steer. When you can do that, prove that you will be there when I need you and make me feel like I am your equal.”

Charlie turned away. This dame was fucking crazy. Nothing she said made sense. Everything she said after the steer wrestling sounded like married and Charlie didn’t want the “M” word to ever come up, at least for a few years.

There was a European man. He mysteriously wouldn’t give Liz a clue as to his nationality. He was smooth. He was suave. As they were dancing his hand was going lower and lower down her back. Conrad, didn’t give another name. Liz couldn’t tell if Conrad was his first name or last. “Liz I hear you attend school in the wilds of your country?”

Liz assumed that this was a question so she said, “Yes I am enrolled in college in New Mexico in the southwest.”

“More than any woman I know, you stir the hot blood in me. You attend school in the wilds, yet were born into the society of the city. You must indeed be a remarkable person. I only wish that I could know you better. In the brief time you will be here, couldn’t we arrange to get together to talk of your adventures.” Conrad was sure his manner would complement Liz. He made few demands and he thought of himself as a novelty, the same way he saw her escort, Max.

“No, Conrad. The short time I am back in New York will be taken up with Max. I have seen his world and, now, I want him to see mine. I will join him in the southwest and I want him to know whence I came.” Liz, again, explained that Max would be her main interest during her stay in New York.

Max was standing waiting for this freak show to end. He could only wish for the cry of a coyote. The coyote was sneaky, and regularly stole from the rancher and farmer’s livelihood. But, he was a stalwart fellow compared to some Max had met in this society.

Jebediah (Jeb) Marston was a little drunk. He was a passing friend of Doug Shallow. He had heard Doug talk many time of getting the girl, Liz Parker, into bed back in the wilds. According to Doug she was the easiest lay he had made.

“Well, Max, I believe that is the name, I see you got the New York Princess.” Jeb leaned close to Max, “Tell me, is she as good in bed as Old Doug says she is?”

Jeff heard that comment and his blood boiled. He had been worried about Doug Shallow since last Christmas when Liz warned him about the Shallow family. He was sure that the volatile cowboy was about to make a scene and Jeff didn’t know on which side he was. He wanted to punish careless lout who made so little of his daughter, but his upbringing and his social standing forbad a vulgar display. Jeff put down his drink and was walking toward Max and Jeb. He hadn’t decided what he was going to do.

He saw Max put his arm around Jeb’s shoulder and bring him close as if to disclose confidences. Then, only from the angle that Jeff was standing, did he see, Max hit Jeb with a short powerful punch in the gut. Jeb began to retch. Max stepped back and in a loud voice he proclaimed, “I thought you god-damned New Yorkers could hold your booze!”

Jeb was helped out of the room and service personnel quickly came in to clean up the mess.

Max walked away from everyone. He had about all he could handle with some of these people. Jeff walked up to him. Max steeled himself for whatever Jeff had to say. “You hurt the boy pretty badly, Max.” Is that how you solve all your problems?”

Max took a deep breath, “Jeff, I sleep with your daughter, because I love her. We hope to be married, someday. She was a very careful girl about her morals. She didn’t ever want to sleep with a man until she was sure she loved him. Back home, I would have seriously put that man in the hospital and, maybe, even killed him. I won’t take anyone saying or thinking bad about her. Jeff, that includes her parents.”

Max, again, turned to Liz’s father, “Jeff, your daughter helped care for me when I was stove up by that bull. She has had my mother teaching her the things that a ranch wife needs to know about running a house. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”

Max walked away. Jeff thought for a minute. He had been warned to not think ill of his own daughter. Max was a powerful man and Jeff was admiring this man more every day.

Max had had about all he could take, at least, for a while. Liz was surrounded by many admirers. Max, simply pushed his way into the circle and taking her hand, he whispered, “I miss you.” Max led her out of the circle. There was one man who, standing in front of Max, and said, “I say, you can’t just come in and take a woman away like that!”

Max leaned to him and said, “Do you want to puke your guts out like old Jeb? if not, just step aside.”

As they were dancing, Liz whispered to Max, “You just can’t walk over people like that.”

Max shrugged, “I can if I miss you too much. They will just have to learn to deal with it.”

It was seen that Liz stayed close to Max the rest of the evening. Max felt that he had behaved admirably. Hell he had only kicked one person’s ass tonight and the way he felt, that was showing remarkable restraint. He doubted that either Alex or Michael could have done as well.

That night, when Jeff and Nancy were getting ready for bed, “Max may be a better man than we thought. He could never live back here in the city, but I think he is very much in love with Lizzy.”

Nancy was pouting. She was not yet that sure of Max. “He would never fit in society, Jeff. He never could give Liz what we have tried to give her.”

Jeff with only his pajama bottoms on, turned to Nancy, “Maybe, he can give her things we can’t.” With that, Jeff pulled Nancy to him. She made token protests, but for once, Jeff’s strong arms went past her protest. Jeff pulled her slip over her head and, then, he released her bra. His hands were caressing her body, awaking many feelings that time and situation had not lost, but hidden for a few years.

When he slipped his hand under her panties and pulled her to him, Nancy was no longer a middle-aged socialite, but rather a teenager being pulled into the back seat of a car. She wasn’t a teenager and the person wasn’t pulling her into a car. Jeff was loving the woman who gave him his greatest gift. He was loving the woman who was the mother of his daughter, Liz.

Liz and Max were in her room. She turned to Max, “What was all that about Jeb Marston? Did you do something to him?”

Max pulled Liz close, “Jeb just had too much to drink. He embarrassed himself by throwing up in public. More than that I think you should seek trust rather than simple truth. Ask your father. He was standing right there.”

Liz couldn’t get over the fact that something had triggered anger in Max. He demonstrated it in a very adroit way. If her father had been there, she would hear if Max did something socially not acceptable. Tonight, Liz was in the bed she had slept in since she was a litte girl. This was the bed where she had given up her virginity to princes and knights, at least in her imagination since she had learned about sex and love. Max was more amorous than usual tonight. She would fulfill all the dreams she had ever had.

The next morning, Jeff and Nancy Parker woke to the smell of fresh coffee. When they came into the kitchen, thanks to Liz placing a grocery order the day before, they beheld Max making eggs and Liz fussing with the coffee machine she had bought last summer. Liz looked at her parents. They seemed younger this morning. She saw that her father had his hands on her mother more than she could ever remember. Children do not like to think of their parents as sexual creatures, but clearly, Nancy and Jeff had renewed a lot of love.

Max and Liz each got discrete phone calls, asking for coffee dates or the like to talk about the southwest. Each tried to be polite, but to inform the callers that their schedule was full just meeting demands of family.

Jeff was going to introduce Max to his business friends. Liz and her mother were at home, just the two of them. “Liz, do you regret what you may be loosing by giving yourself to Max and narrowing your life?” Nancy inquired.

Liz thought a minute, “Mom, I don’t think that Max is narrowing my life. He wants a family and I want to learn enough to raise a family. It is almost as if knowing Max is broadening my view of life. Things like the party the other night, just aren’t that important. I think that I will enjoy the reality I find in the people around the ranch more than I do those here in society.”

“But, Liz, we have always tried to shield you from the dirty side of life. We tried to make a place for you where you didn’t have face the bad things of society,” Nancy explained.

“That is just it, mom! You can’t shield anyone from the bad things of life. There are still people like Sean Anderson who try to force people and who do not respect people that are not like themselves. These people are protected, by your shield, of polite society. They were protected by the belief that their actions were not brought forth because it would cause a scandal and that was something no one wanted. I am sure there were other girls and women who he violated. They just hushed it up. Once he got outside of the shield that your society perpetuated, he was caught and he couldn’t get out of it.”

Then Nancy asked something that Liz thought was strange, “What is it like in the wild southwest?”

“Mom, it is not wild. I am sure it is a lot like many places here in the east where families live and work and the social circles don’t count. The magic for me is that this is where I learned there was a world outside of your social circles.”

Liz went on, “If I had met a man from Maine who worked in any number of jobs, I would find it the same as I do in the southwest. It is just that there I have made friends, I have a second family and I found that I can fit in. Mamma, I can fit in. They respect me for what I do and how I help others. No one gives a fudge about who my family is unless it is to describe where I live or what my occupation is.”

Liz turned to her mother, taking her hands, “Mamma, the wolves in society are the same out there. I have just learned to handle them there I am not sure about here any longer. I brought Max back with me because I don’t want any chance of me slipping back into my old life. I want him to scare away the temptations I would face as to what is considered obligations of growing up here. Back on the ranch, I would have been considered grown up four or five years ago. Growing up there was about taking on responsibility. I am not supposed to be a play toy because I am pretty, or some man wants to earn the attention of my father.”

This gave Nancy a lot to think about. Nancy wasn’t stupid nor was she unfeeling, but the weight of society had suppressed many feelings in her also. Jeff had liberated some of those thoughts the other night.

Max had made one friend, Clarence Bryce. Clarence was delighted to sit and talk with the cowboy. Max learned when Clarence was off and he would be waiting for him in the lounge of the locker room. They would drink a coke and Max would, in true cowboy manner, tell stories and lies. He admitted them to be lies, because the stories with the most truth were the most unbelievable.

Many of the service personnel looked forward to the afternoons when Max would be in the lounge telling tales. Max learned a lot about Clarence, also. Clarence had out-lived one family. His wife had died several years ago and, now, his children were grown and married.

Now, Clarence, considered those who lived in the apartment as his family.
Clarence told about when Jeff and Nancy had first moved into the apartment tower. Jeff had, originally, started a small theme eatery at Coney Island. He had sold that business and invested in a restaurant in the downtown city itself.

Jeff had had very good fortune and he had built his hard work into a fairly large fortune. When they moved into the tower, Liz was still a very little girl. Clarence remembered those large brown eyes always seeing every thing and asking questions from those around her.

Clarence dreaded seeing her grow up. So many of the young people that Clarence saw grew into the social swirl of sex, drugs and whatever they had going for each other. To Clarence, the thought of little Lizzy becoming a social whore was disturbing.

He was pleased when he heard she was to go out west to school. Clarence only knew what he saw in the movies about the west, but he did know of he dangers of the society that was eating into the couple, Jeff and Nancy Parker, he knew so long ago.

When Clarence was told, that little Lizzy was the girlfriend of a cowboy, by Isabel and Alex, Clarence could not help from feeling that maybe now Lizzy had a chance.

Max and Liz had faced the social world of her parent and Max had only hit one fellow. Liz found that she had no desire to be swept away by this world. Max had met her father and, although, her father still had reservations about Max, for the most part he was accepting. They had made dinner for her parents and, again they were amazed how much their Lizzy had grown up. Liz and Max wanted to return to the world where Max lived and which was now the adopted world of his girlfriend.
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Second Crash this is Roswell as i would have liked it to have been.

Dragnet New Mexico Some say that Max was better looking than Jack Webb, but i think Max would have made a great policeman. Of course i think Liz Parker could be anything she chooses.

Keepsmiling7
Michelle in Yonkers
L-J-L 76
Natalie36
Begonia9508

Chapter 18

Again the plane was taking Liz back to the Land of Enchantment. Liz tried to conjure the fantasy, but maybe, her life itself was becoming a fantasy.

Liz leaned back in her seat. Max was busy reading a journal from school.

------------------

The princess looked at the sprites of her world. They gathered closely and spoke in one voice. “Princess, you are changing. You may not be able to play with us any more. Already the Dragon won’t come out of his lair.”

“But, I will miss you so much,” Liz said.

“Princess, you won’t have time to miss us. You will have a husband soon, with a family following sometime. When you have your own family, that is the time we will return. We will let you introduce us to your children. We may not look like we do now, but we will be here for your little ones. The dragon may look more like a white horse, but we will be there,” they said.

Liz laughed, “Oh my, no, Not a white horse. They are hard headed and many times crazy. I wouldn’t want my little ones playing with someone like that. Make it a sorrel, with a white blaze on its face.”

The sprites murmured for a moment, “Maybe, we will settle for a paint horse. They are nice and that cowboy doesn’t know everything.”

Liz had to laugh again. Her own imagination was arguing with her. “If I have a daughter, will you send princes to court her?”

The sprites thought for a moment. “No, I am sure we will send a cowboy or, maybe, an engineer. They are as nice as cowboys and they don’t have smelly boots.”

Liz thought, if Max could hear her fantasy, what would he think? “What about a son? Ranches thrive on sons”

The sprites squeaked, darted and murmured. Then they said, “For your son, we will scour the world for a girl of strength, intelligence and delicate beauty. She may or may not be from lands and people he understands, but he will lend her his strength. She will complement him so that she is willing to join him wherever he must be. They will recognize each other as soul mates.”

As the fantasy faded, Liz turned in her seat and pulled Max’s arm close to her. She smiled as she drifted off to sleep. She, so much hoped her children would find the solace in fantasy that she had. When she woke up, the plane had just landed.

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Max retrieved their luggage and they put it on the shuttle, which took them to the parking lot where they had parked their pickup.

It was a week before Alex and Isabel got back into Las Cruces. They were followed a few days later, by Michael and Maria.

They were all six sitting in Max’s house. “Alex, what did you ever find out about that ranch that sold? Are we going to have to fight developers or what?” Max asked.

Liz thought that Alex looked a little funny, “No, Max so far the owner wants to run it as a working ranch. He does want to add a guest ranch business along side the cattle operation,” Alex stated.

Max thought that there was more, but Alex didn’t seem to be more forthcoming. Finally, Michael said, “Max, I didn’t want to say anything. but I signed on with that place as business manager starting next summer. We should graduate by then and the owner let it be known he wanted someone with ranching experience. That, along with my business degree, convinced him. He hired me to manage the finances. The owner won’t be out here for a couple of years, but he has already contacted Alex’s dad about building a string of gentle riding stock.

Maria looked sheepish. “Michael and I are getting married right after school is out. I have hired on to the guest ranch to create an entertainment base. Michael and I will work together for that corporation.”

Max took a deep breath. Liz could sympathize with him. They had been gone less than a month and everyone else’s life had changed, maybe, moving on.

Max looked at Isabel. She shrugged. The Whitmans have already set up a manufactured home closer to the highway. Alex and I intend to move in there as soon as we graduate. We will have Internet and I can work from home most of the time. Regarding any traveling I need to do, we will just have to see as we go along. We haven’t set a date, yet, to get married.”

Max mused, “Liz still has two more years more to go on her degree and I want to get at least my Master’s degree. I, eventually, want to move a lot of this breeding program out to our ranch, anyway.” Max turned to Liz. “I guess, Lizzy we will have the house to ourselves next year.”

Liz felt a little shiver. It was just that things were changing again. She could remember the first time, now almost two years ago, that she had felt the same shiver when Alex and Isabel had left her off at the dorm. That had been a mammoth change. It hadn’t gone all that well. The change to the rooming house had been like a breath of fresh air, even with the faint odor of the stables on the boy’s boots. Now, what would their new year be like?

Spring break was coming. Liz had made arrangements to visit the Evans ranch with Max. One week before the break, Max found out that he had to prepare his breeding program for presentation. He couldn’t go home. At first, Liz said she would stay in Las Cruces. Max told her he wouldn’t have any time to be with her and suggested she just go out to the ranch. She could ride with Alex and Isabel and, then maybe, Max would be able to come home in time to bring her back to school.

Michael would stay with Max because some of his senior project was associated with the presentation Max was doing. Maria was going to stay and help them put their papers together.

Alex was needed at the horse ranch. He needed to talk to his father about a contract that they were considering, to train that string of riding horses for the guest ranch that was going to start next door. (Next door in the southwest being about ten miles down the road.) Isabel would be spending most of the vacation at the Evans ranch unless Alex managed to find some free time.

Isabel laughed as Alex dropped them off. “I always wanted a sister, Liz. Looks like that is what we are going to be this week. They put Liz back in the room she’d had when she was at the Evans ranch the first time. They couldn’t stay up real late, but for a time Liz and Isabel indulged in girl talk. Isabel told Liz what her life was like on the ranch.

There had been few other girls, mostly daughters of some of the hands who lived at the ranch, for Isabel to play with. Mostly, her mother would have to take her to town or bring some girlfriend out for a few days. These were girls she had met from school. Most of her playmates around the ranch were either animals or boys. Sometimes it was hard to tell the differences. The girls would rather come out to the ranch because it was more exciting. Sometimes, they would have sleep-overs.

Isabel was always anxious to stay with some of the girls in town because she could go shopping and to movies, things that she seldom got to do.

Isabel had brought a container of rocky road ice cream and two spoons into the bedroom. They were indulging themselves. If the boys had been there, the ice cream would have been eaten almost immediately. Cowboys aren’t known for being dainty with such delicacies. For the girls, it was a social occasion. Liz had wondered how Isabel had grown up. Liz was used to the many children of the city. And to her, it seemed that it would have been very lonesome on the ranch.

Isabel always had animals to play with. Many times there would be baby farm animals to take care of when their mamas rejected them. You do not really get attached to those like you would pets because, eventually, they would be back in the herd and then to market somewhere. You learned to love the animal, not the individual creature.”

Isabel was riding by the time she was six. When she was in her teens, like most ranch kids, she was helping with the cows. High school was the time she got into rodeo. It was, also, the first time she fell in love.

Trying to tell this story, Isabel thought for a minute. “His name was Karl. His daddy was a cattle trader. I met him in school. He was a calf roper. He said he was pretty good, so one day I invited him out here to stay with us a few days. Michael and Max didn’t like him very much. I couldn’t understand, why, at first. They were both pretty fair ropers and I decided it must be jealousy. Karl was good with that rope. We got started team roping that year. He would stay with us and we would practice for hours. I was faster and it was easier for me to get the first rope on the calf. I was the header. My horse was a gelding my daddy gave me. He was good at holding the calf tight so Karl had to come along and catch the hind feet of the calf. You called him the heeler. Later I found out how that title fit him. He was a lot more of a heel than any of us knew. We were good and I was hoping to make a championship that year.”

“What were Max and Michael doing at this time?” Liz asked.

“Michael lived in town. He would work at different ranches during the summer. Both he and Max had starting riding bulls about this time. They sort of looked down on Karl,” Isabel said.

At first, Isabel thought that it was because bull riders are a breed apart. They fall on their heads so many times, about the only people who can understand them are other bull riders. Max and Michael had sort of dismissed Isabel and her racing and roping. She was just their little sister. Michael was almost like a brother at that time.

When Karl and Isabel were starting to win. The boys had to take her more seriously. They had a good year and that was when she fell in love. She worked with Karl day in and day out. Pretty soon Isabel was convinced that there is something real. They were traveling the high school circuit.

Many times, they would take their horses and drive to the nearby events. Maybe, it was after a big win, or maybe, it was when they just missed the win by a few points, but somewhere, they started sleeping together. Isabel told herself self that their closeness helped them work together. Karl was just too typical of high school boys. She just wasn’t enough for him he wanted conquests.

Max and Michael had warned Isabel about Karl. If what they heard had been a little more certain, they would have thrashed him behind the bull pens and no one would have blamed them. Isabel caught Karl in bed with the rodeo queen, down in Hobbs (in the southern part of the state).

Isabel ran both of them out of the dorm with her coiled rope. The joke was she didn’t give either of them time to get dressed. Isabel called Max, loaded her horse and left Karl stranded. He had to call his daddy to come and pick up him and his horse to bring them back to Roswell.

It wasn’t long before Max introduced her to Alex. They had know Alex from school. Alex lived on a horse ranch just a little way down the road a piece. Alex was a bronc rider. Isabel thought Alex was little better than her bull riding brothers, but Alex showed her he could swing a cool loop. Soon they were practicing daily. Max and Michael liked him so much and he was so gentle with his horses that she just fell in love, this time for real. He had trained her mare that she was riding now. Those gentle hands on a horse were even better in bed.

When they started college, Isabel told her daddy that she was moving in with Alex. Philip had raised his kids the best he knew how. He told her to make sure that was what she wanted to do and to act responsibly. He reminded her that she felt she was in love with Karl before. Philip said that Alex was a good man and for her not to hurt him.

Isabel turned to Liz,” Isn’t that funny? Daddy said for me not to hurt Alex. Now, I understand. Alex is the man I want to live with forever. Daddy understood Alex. It was me that daddy was afraid of. All of the men had a deep dislike for Karl.”

“Izzy, what are you going to do when you graduate? Your major is graphic arts. Can you work at this on a ranch away from a city?” Liz asked.

Isabel sort of laughed. “The Whitmans have set up a manufactured home near the highway and they managed to get a DSL line for Internet out there. We hope I can do much of my work on the Internet and help Alex with the running of the ranch.”

That night, Liz was thinking that Isabel had done more than Liz, a girl from the city, before she was even out of high school.

The next morning, they had the chores near the ranch house. Liz met Carla Rosales. She was the wife of one of the men working on the ranch. She had only been married for a year. They were saving so her husband could return to Colorado and invest in a feeding operation. She was a cheerful girl not very much older than Liz. They collected the eggs and milk and stored it in the cooler for the use of those on the ranch. Carla was a seamstress and she could sew very beautiful shirts and dresses. Liz asked if Carla could help her sew a shirt for Max.

Diane started Liz on a shirt pattern and, then, turned her over to Carla. Liz was working in her free time and it took the whole week to finish the shirt. It would be a surprise for Max.

Liz was riding a lot with Isabel every day. She had finally, learned to swing into the saddle so she didn’t have to have Max, or someone else help her up on the horse.

Unless the horse was relatively small, Liz couldn’t bridle it. If the horse didn’t want to cooperate and lower its head, she just couldn’t reach high enough to grab him. She still had a little trouble with getting the saddle on the horse, but she was improving.

The week Liz spent on the ranch changed her a lot. Philip remarked to Diane, “Even her accent is changing. She asked for a glass of water and II understood her.”

Max and Michael came back to Roswell on Friday afternoon. The first thing he asked was where was Liz.

Isabel came about that time. “She went over to the well back in the hills. One of the hands said he found one of the cows partially eaten by a cat. Liz decided to go look for the calf.”

Max was worried, they seemed to be no more concerned about Liz than they would have been about Isabel. If there had been a calf, the chance that the cat would have gotten it first was high. Or, if not, the coyotes would. Coyotes would not bother a grown animal, but a baby one would be fair game to them.

Max got to the well. There was no Liz, but there was plenty of sign that she had been there. Max had been following horses and cows since he was a sprout. He soon sorted out her track. She was nearer the mysterious ranch than she was the Evans spread. Max figured correctly that Liz, for some reason, had decided to go there instead of back home.

The sun was almost down by the time Max rode up to the yard. There were still a couple men working around the yard finishing the daily chores. “Hey, Max, your lady is in the barn with the vet. Seems she decided she could make it here faster to call him, than to ride back to your place. That is some woman you got.”

Max dismounted and entered the barn. There was an electric light and he saw the vet, one of the local hands and Liz crowded around a table. He heard a bawling as they did something to the calf. Liz looked up and, seeing Max, she ran to him.

“The cat got its mother Max, but I found the calf just as the coyotes did. I bounced a couple of rocks off their heads and they decided the calf was mine. It was closer to ride here than to go back home. The vet says the calf will be all right.” Max had to smile at her enthusiam. The little girl who was frightened of the coyote two years ago had come a long way.

Max called and Isabel agreed to bring the pickup. They would leave the horses and come back tomorrow with a trailer and take both the horses and the calf back home.

They were home within a half hour.

Liz was so excited. “I heard the calf call. It was terrified. There were three coyotes coming at it. I yelled and they just pulled off a little way waiting for me to go. They had already cut the little thing. I tried shouting and they just kept sitting there watching me. I found a rock about the size of a soft ball and with a wind up, I put it over home plate. When it bounced off that yodel pup, he yelped and they all left. I guess they weren’t used to girl’s soft ball.”

Philip was delighted with Liz. If Max lost this little girl, Philip might just consider throwing Max out and adopting her.

Maria had already planned for them to all go dancing Saturday night. When Max came back from his shower, Liz gave him the shirt. It was a dress western shirt with white yoke and pocket flaps and the rest of the shirt in blue. Liz waited for his comment. “I made it, you know.”

No Max had no idea that Liz could sew. Even with help from the other women, it was still some feat. Max, Liz and Alex, Isabel, two couples in the full skirts, were dancing. As they twirled, the skirts rose and the ruffled panties peaked forth. The bandleader saw this and he motioned for the drummer to speed up the music. Liz and Isabel didn’t see but when they stopped, the dance floor had quit and everyone was watching the two couples. They all applauded the couples when the dance was over. The band took its break. After that exhibition, they needed it.

Later, when Maria and Michael were waltzing, “Babe, you realize soon we will be Mr. and Mrs.?” Michael asked.

Yeah, Michael, I think we are going to have to quit fighting so much. A marriage is not something I want to chance breaking,” Maria told him.”

But, Babe, making up is half the fun,” Michael stated.

Well, maybe, we should just concentrate in making up all the time without the arguments,” she responded.

They all realized that their lives were making another change. They were now, responsible adults. Oh well, they had been doing the work of adults for many years now.
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Dragnet New Mexico "Just the facts, Ma'am."
Second Crash Roswell the way it should have been.

Begonia9508
Natalie36
Michelle in Yonkers
L-J-L 76

Chapter 19

They were back at school. There were only a few more weeks and everyone, except Liz, would graduate. Max intended to return. He didn’t want to leave Liz alone at school. He also wanted to get a little further along in his education. Max had already talked to his professors about transplanting some of his research out to the ranch. This project had a lot more in it than when he started.

There were to be two weddings this summer. They hadn’t scheduled them yet. Alex and Isabel would marry and settle into the house the Whitman’s bought for them. Michael and Maria would get married and live in the headquarters of the guest ranch where they were both employed.

When Liz had taken the calf there she saw the construction. It looked like a nice place to live.

With Max and Liz, it wasn’t if they got married, but rather when. Max had asked her if she wanted to marry in the summer. “Max, let Maria and Isabel have the summer. If we wait until Christmas, then we can talk daddy and mom into coming out. I want them with me, but I do not want to get married back east."

Liz had called her dad. “Daddy, when do you want me to come home this summer?” she asked.

Her father was some time answering her. “Liz, we are going to be traveling this summer. I think it will be best if we wait to see what our schedule is like.”

Liz felt hurt. Max tried to console her. “Liz you made it clear that your interests lie here in the west. You have to expect your parents to try to change their lives. They are still getting used to the fact that you will no longer be living in New York. Give them time.”

It was settled. Maria and Michael would get married two weeks after school was out. The guest ranch would be open, at least partially, and they would have a week off. Then they could come back to start their new jobs.

Liz had another surprise. Her father and mother had booked two weeks at the guest ranch. They didn’t say how they knew of it, but Jeff stated, “This will give us a chance to learn about this west of yours.”

They would arrive about the time Maria and Michael were due to get back from their honeymoon.

Liz would be at the Evans’ ranch all summer. She was hoping that Diane could think of things to show her parents around the southwest.

Graduation came. For many young people, this marked the end of their youth and the start of adulthood. For Michael and Maria, this was true. As soon as they were married, they would start living at the guest ranch. Maria had already been locating entertainment. She intended to start with local bands and singers. Then, when they got going, she would turn to better known stars.

Maria had contacted Kyle to lead some tour rides. His dad was still running the trucking business, so he was, more or less, free. She rode with him over country looking for a ride that would be safe no matter how well the guests rode or how badly. Also they looked for places which would give plenty of chances for pictures. Jake Chavez would be in charge of setting up hay rides. His father gave him the wagon on condition that he would make a thriving business with this. Maria and Alex would provide the music, at least at first.

Isabel started up her graphic arts business by developing programs, brochures and information booklets on the surrounding area.

The first thing was the wedding of Michael and Maria. For a while Maria had to put her plans for the ranch on hold. Maria had a knee length dress. Everyone was expecting to see her wearing white boots, but she disappointed them by wearing a traditional set of satin slippers.

Michael did have a black cowboy suit. As he left the church and before they threw rice at him, he was handed his white Stetson by Max. Michael and Maria went to San Francisco. In the week they were there, Michael found a lot of material for stories.

At the Evans’ ranch house, Liz, was getting more and more nervous.

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The princess was to see her parents back in the land she had pledged to reside.

“Oh, you are back,” Liz said.

“Yes, princess, we won’t stay long, but we would never leave you in a time of need,” the sprites said in chorus.

The king and queen would be at residence in the castle of a nearby holding. The owner of that holding was a mysterious knight. He had placed Sir Michael in charge. Sir Michael and his wife, Lady Maria, were given charge of the castle until the mysterious man returned.

King Jeff and queen Nancy had ridden the dragon from their home castle. Nancy had been apprehensive the whole trip. In New York, she knew her station. She knew who the powers were. She knew who to trust, which was almost nobody, and who to fear. Her daughter had abandoned the castle of her birth. She had long expected the princess to leave for her own life, but in Nancy’s mind, that leaving was never far from home or from the society that the queen understood.

Now, sitting beside the king, she looked out the window and wondered how people below existed without the guidance and benefit of the “City.” Were there people down there who would take her daughter, love and care for her, as well as return allegiance to the parents of the princess? A daughter was raised, educated and expected to make her own family, but she was, also, expected to, in her turn, to offer emotional support to her parents in their old age.

Queen Nancy thought of the horrible men who her daughter must contend with and that she, the queen must now confront, living below. How did you control those men with out the power of social standing? About the unknown knight, would he protect her daughter from unwanted advances?

The queen didn’t understand that, so far, the only men who had threatened Liz had been those from the surrounds of her birth castle. The queen had no understanding of the men and women, to whom Liz was now showing allegiance, had backed and offered her aid and protection.

The princess was working with queen Diane. They would expect her parents for supper the second day after their arrival.

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“Liz, quit worrying. Your folks will be fine. You have planned the dinner down to the last dinner roll. It will be a fine country dinner with a salad. Everything you will serve will be perfect. Remember what I said about being on a ranch. Most food taste so good here, that any mistakes you make won’t be recognized.” Diane knew that this meant a lot to Liz. Diane had a lot of faith in this girl.

The day of reckoning finally came. Liz was dressed in a country dress that Carla had helped her sew. She had been working all day on the meal. Diane was present, but she, wisely, held off doing too much. Liz wanted this to be her creation and Liz was looking for some recognition from her parents as to her ability to handle this social event.

Today, the sprits didn’t come. Liz didn’t have the time and they knew it. Jeff and Nancy did arrive. Isabel had driven over to the guest ranch with the sedan to meet them. Jeff was interested in who this blonde girl was who knew his daughter so well. Who was she and what did she do?

“I am a graphic artist. With help from many of the local people, I wrote the booklets and information brochures. I will live a few miles down the road when I am married. My husband will be in charge of his family’s horse ranch. My husband is a horse trainer. He also has a degree in ranching genetics. He and my brother will be working on both the horse herd and Daddy’s cow herd.” It will be noted that Isabel didn’t see fit to tell Liz’s parents that she already was in residence with Alex at the home his family had provided.

When they arrived at the Evans’ ranch house, the Parkers got out of the car and, with Isabel leading, they entered.

Nancy was assaulted immediately by the kitchen smells that flowed through the house. The spice of apple pie and the smell of fresh baked bread made them much more hungry than they usually were back home.

Inside, Jeff was presented with the family. Max, he knew but this was a different Max. Back , Jeff thought Max was secure in his ability to protect Liz, but out here the natural power that Jeff saw, caused him to know that Liz would always be safe.

“Howdy, folks, I am Philip Evans. Welcome to my little ole’ ranch.” Jeff was grasped in a handshake that was both firm and non-intimidating. Jeff inwardly laughed. He imagined that he might have to indulge in that male tradition of establishing status, with an almost hand crushing grip. No, Philip could care less what Jeff’s status was, except that here was the father of his adopted daughter and the grandfather with whom, someday, he would share the love of grandkids.

It was not lost on Jeff how close Liz stood to Diane. Yes, this was his daughter, but he was going to have to share her.

Right before dinner they were showed the downstairs bathroom and offered a place to wash up. Then the Parkers were ushered to a table where dishes were set out. There were steaks, cut smaller than usual, vegetables, steamed to a point of taste and crispness, a potato salad with balsamic vinegar and bacon bits along with a steaming carafe of coffee.

The Parkers looked at the meal. There was so much here. Diane smiled, “Usually we have simpler meals, but Liz wanted to show off to you the many advantages of ranch life.

Jeff and Philip were soon engaged with conversation of business in general and ranch business in particular.

Nancy had a little more trouble as the subjects she usually conversed about were shows, society events and the gossip of the east. These had no counter parts here. Finally, Diane found something they had in common. “Liz, made the meal herself. Isabel and I helped, but she planed the meal and did most of the cooking.”

Nancy was surprised. In her society, the avoidance of any work was to be prized.

Diane said, “Liz, also, sewed her dress. A woman married to one of the workers is a seamstress. Liz has been studying with her.”

The conversation between the men had died down at the mention of Liz cooking the meal. Philip, not to be out done, said, “’Our’ Liz went out to fetch a calf and she found it surrounded by coyotes. She bounced a rock off one of the yodel pups and that ran them off, right enough.”

Nancy poo pooed what he said, “The green tree association has assured us that coyotes never eat anything but mice and rats. I am sure the calf wouldn’t be in danger from those defenseless creatures.”

Philip laughed, “Begging your pardon, Ma’am. Those people don’t know beans about wildlife. A yodel pup will attack anything it thinks it can. There were several and Liz was standing between them and their dinner. That rock she must have bounced off it’s head, set the whole bunch right. Anyway our Liz picked up the calf and rode to the guest ranch, where you are staying. They called the vet and she saved the little feller. We think she is quite a cowgirl.”

Liz was a little embarrassed. Diane continued, “When our son was hurt, Liz helped care for him. You have a lot to be proud of with her.”

After dinner, Liz asked her father if he would like to walk in the back. Jeff agreed. He wanted to talk to Liz and this was his chance. They looked at the clear sky. The sprites were quiet tonight but Liz pointed out the constellations to her father. He couldn’t imagine how many stars the actually were.

Jeff looked up at the stars as they descended the steps of he house. They were so bright. Even with the lights from the house, the stars shown through. He heard the silence of he rural country. At first the lack of street noises made the silence deafening. Then he noticed the honking of vehicles was replaced with the sounds of night birds and the inevitable sirens of New York were replaced by a yipping noise that he couldn’t identify. In the distance the coyotes were singing. Mr. Parker jumped at first.


“That is okay daddy I was terrified the first time I heard the yodel pups. Now I think they are a wonderful part of the west. Listen Daddy, you can hear the night birds calling.”

There was a squeal. Liz giggled. “That is an owl getting his meal on the go. It is a rat or mouse that he just caught.”

Way off they could see the lights of the highway. The distances out here were just so far.

“Daddy, I intend to stay here. I intend to, probably teach, but I am sure I know I am going be a rancher’s wife,” Liz said.

“That is what I wanted to talk with you about. New Mexico is a long distance from New York. Won’t you miss the city?” Jeff asked.

“Daddy I am not saying I will never return to the ‘City,’ but my friends and my family are going to be here. I will always be your little girl and return to see you and mom. I don’t promise I will go to those Christmas parties again. Daddy your little girl is growing up. I made the supper tonight my self. I sewed this dress myself. I can ride, not like Isabel, but I can ride enough to help about the ranch.” Liz was trying to tell her father that she still had connections to him and Nancy, but her world was changing.

Jeff hugged her close and they went back into the ranch house.

When they came back into the house they found Isabel and Max sitting in the kitchen. Nancy and Diane, sitting in another room, had the family photo album open and they were looking at baby pictures. They had found a second thing in common. They were both moms.

Jeff wandered off with Philip leaving Liz to sit with Max and Isabel.

“How do you think things went?” Isabel asked.

“Well, Daddy asked me to be sure that I was going to be willing to leave the city,” Liz said.

Max managed to move his chair so he could put his arm around Liz. “Do you think your mom ever believed that you saved that calf?” he asked.

Liz laughed, “Mom will believe what she wants to. I am not sure she wants to know about a world where little calves fall prey to the big bad wolf even when the wolf is neither big nor particularly bad. He just does what is natural and so do we.”

It was late when Isabel returned The Parkers to the guest ranch. She dropped them off and continued to the house she shared with Alex. A phone call to the Evans house indicated that she was safe and settled for the night.
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Dragnet New Mexico a Max and Liz police story.
Second Crash Roswell the way i might have written it.

Michelle in Yonkers
Natalie36
Begonia9508
lilah


Chapter 20


As Jeff and Nancy walked into the guest ranch, they saw Maria working at the desk. “How was the dinner?” Maria asked.

Jeff smiled. “It was really good. They said that Liz did most of the cooking.”

“Then, I know it was good. For a girl who didn’t know how to even fix breakfast two years ago, your daughter has come far. Except that she and Max want to return to school next fall, I would try to hire her to work for us, here.” The Parkers knew that Maria was efficient and a good manager, as was Michael. Jeff had closely looked at their resumes when they were hired.

That night, Nancy snuggled close to Jeff as she was serenaded by the wild coyotes.

The next day, the ten people at the guest ranch were given the option of a short ride. At first, Nancy didn’t want to go, but Jeff told her that they had agreed to sample everything in the west.

Kyle met them at the corral. The hands working at the ranch had eight horses saddled. There were two guests who wanted no part of that life. Maria had plans to entertain them. Nancy was afraid, but she was game. As they were helped on the saddles and getting used to the horses, They saw two cowboys riding up , in the far distance. Jeff marveled how the two men sat straight and tall in the saddles. They were guiding the horses with their reins in their right hands.

As the couple got closer, it was seen that one was a girl. Her flowing brown hair was flying out from under her hat. She was riding a paint mare. The man was sitting on sorrel gelding.

Kyle announced, “For the ride today, we have guests, Max Evans and his girl friend are going to be with us. Mr. Evans will discuss with anyone interested in the cattle improvement program he is involved with at the college in Las Cruces. Miss Parker, whose parents are with us today, will talk about what it is like to come from the city to the west. She is newly arrived from New York City. She is a sophomore at college. That is probably why Mr. Evans wants to complete his masters. I wouldn’t want to leave a lady like that , either.”

Every one laughed, even Jeff. Yes, if he was young, he wouldn’t want to leave a young woman like Liz alone. Well, he hadn’t left the woman alone, Jeff and Nancy were still in college when they met and married.

The riding group divided roughly by gender. Most of the men wanted to better understand ranching as a business and the women wanted to hear what it was like to come to a ranch and stay. “Did you miss the rich life of the city?” was the first question.

The ride was short. They would be longer each day for those who wanted to ride. Tomorrow night, they would go on the hay ride.

That afternoon, Liz was back at the Evans’ ranch, but Alex and Isabel put on a show of roping. They demonstrated their technique in team roping. And then, they both showed their ability at calf roping singly. They showed their horse-person-ship as Isabel could do almost as much as Alex. Alex brought out a cutting horse. This was the college degree of all horses. The horse was the brains and the rider was just along, as they say, for the ride. There were about 15 calves in the corral at the time. One calf had a red splotch painted on his hip. Kyle announced, “Alex will pick out the calf and, then, the horse will do the rest.”

They all watched as Alex slowly rode into the small herd. He directed the horse at the calf with the paint. As soon as the horse figured out what was wanted, Alex just sat with slack rein. Every so often, he did have to grab the saddle horn. The horse just kept putting himself between the marked calf and the herd. The calf knew what they wanted and he was determined to not play the game. He dodged and jumped, but Alex just concentrating on not falling off the horse, was always between the calf and the rest of the herd. Soon, the calf tired of the game and he went in through the gate into another corral.

This was a real , not of horsemanship, but of horse sense.

Kyle made an announcement, “Those of you who didn’t get bucked off this morning, thank Alex. He is responsible for training all these horses. Alex is going to take another step soon. He is to be married next month. We shall see who wears the spurs then.

The whole crowd laughed. It was turning out that Kyle had a flare for showmanship.

That evening when Michael came in, Maria smiled. “It seems that the guest retired earlier this evening.”

“That is okay, babe. We can close the desk and we can have time to ourselves tonight,” Michael responded.

The next day after breakfast, Maria called every one outside. There were a couple of men sitting on milking stools beside the milk cows. Maria had arranged a milking demonstration. There were several questions about the milking: “Did it hurt the cows? Why did they come in off the feed lot of their own accord? Was this milk just like the milk in the cartons?”

After this, Maria took the guests to the barn and they had an egg hunt. Even Nancy was excited at this. They brought the eggs together and Maria announced that these would be breakfast for tomorrow.

The riders took off before lunch. Kyle was leading a burro. He had packed lunches on the little fellow. They doubled the distance and time they spent in the saddle. By the time they were back at the ranch, they all went to their rooms to rest. Tonight, there would be a hayride.

The hayride was directed by Maria. She and Alex sang genuine cowboy songs. Maria was careful not to sing the dirty words this time. Kyle told ghost stories. They had a camp fire and several of the middle aged couples almost felt that were back in the backseat of their cars at the drive in, just like it was when they were in high school. Maria had to laugh. The older folks found quiet places to neck even faster than the college kids.

Maria was careful to make sure they didn’t loose anyone by taking careful count before they returned. The coyotes, the sky and the breeze were all free, but they were part of the west.

Maria, on the fourth day, had a style show. She got some girls from high school and they showed off their finest in western wear. Maria gave a little talk about buying your first pair of boots and how to break them in.

By this time, all but three women had decided their experience with riding was enough. So Kyle gave each person remaining a lunch and off they went. They would be back in time to rest up for the dancing lessons tonight.

That night, they had a demonstration of line dancing and other southwestern dances. Maria had hired two flamenco dancers from Roswell who demonstrated the fiery Spanish dance. Tomorrow night, they would all be taken to town and a country western bar where they could try out their new dancing skills.

That morning, Liz drove over to the guest ranch. Jeff was out riding and Nancy was watching a movie about the southwestern flowers. Liz handed Maria a package marked, “Jeff Parker.”

“Chica, did you finish it?” Maria asked.

Liz giggled, “Yes, about midnight last night. Carla looked at it this morning and said it passed. Make sure he wears it tonight. We will meet you there.”

The ride was finished, the hot tub was in use by most of the guests and Maria had made her plans for tonight. Jeff heard a knock on his door. Maria was there with the package. “Liz says be sure you wear this tonight.”

At eight o’clock the van pulled out. Jeff and Nancy were riding in the pickup with Michael and Maria. Jeff was wearing his new shirt. Inside the collar there was a tab carefully sowed in which said, “Made by Liz Parker soon to be Evans.”

“Well, kids, you did a good job. If you can continue this, I think we will have a success. We will, also, have the regular livestock business as well. I still haven’t told Liz that I bought that ranch. You remember that kid, Doug Shallow? Well, Liz took a dislike to him and told me that his father wasn’t much better. I pulled out my money from his business. That is the money I put into this ranch. It turned out that Mr. Shallow was investigated a little later for bad business practices.” Jeff was explaining to his business manager and his entertainment director about the new enterprise.

Michael said, as he was driving “Yeah, that Shallow kid. Max threatened to beat the shit out of him when he refused walk Liz across campus her freshman year. Then, he comes back with that other slime ball. What was his name, dear?” Michael ask Maria.

“Sean dear, his name was Sean,” she answered.

“Yeah, that is the one. First time he insulted Maria and she beat him up. Then, he tried to assault Liz and that is when I put him in the hospital. It is lucky that Max didn’t get hold of him. He would have killed him.” Michael was explaining the thinking of the west.

Jeff was quiet for a while. He remembered how he actually questioned Liz about that incident. Her friends had supported her without reservation.

When they got to the bar, they found that Maria had arranged for a table to be set up just for them.

The beer flowed and the music blared. Jeff was dancing with Nancy. Alex and that tall blonde who was Max’s sister, came by. Isabel, he thought was her name. Isabel and Alex split and asked to change partners. Nancy found herself in the hands of a real cowboy. He was that horse trainer. If he was as good with the horses as he was in dancing, Nancy was sure her husband had hired a good man.

Jeff felt the slight thrill of holding a pretty young woman. They danced around the floor, “Liz is almost one of the family so I hope we will see you out here a lot. It means a lot for her to see her folks.”

“You are that couple that came to the City to bring her back when Max was hurt, aren’t you?” Jeff asked.

“Yeah, we needed her here. Max was hurt real bad and he was stubborn about us calling her. He just told us we couldn’t telephone her. He didn’t say anything about us going to the City in person. Besides, we used his prize money for the tickets.” Isabel was laughing and when she said that about the money, Jeff chuckled also.

Jeff and Nancy were returned to their table. Isabel and Alex went back to dancing together themselves.

Max and Liz came by and sat with her folks. “Liz, honey, I just can’t believe you made this shirt,” Jeff stated.

Liz smiled, this was a complement indeed.

It was the last break the band would take for the night. Jeff stood up. “I just want to thank all of you for making the first week of the guest ranch a success. We hired local talent and let them go. I think we all can say that this was a success. Nancy and I came as guests to see how we would be treated. It wasn’t until Thursday night that our manager and entertainment director, Mr. and Mrs. Guerin, knew of what we were doing. My daughter wanted to come west and marry a rancher, a cowboy. We felt that she didn’t know what she was doing, but after this week, I think she had the right idea.”

Liz was completely surprised. She had no idea. She turned to Maria.

“Look Chica, he made me promise I wouldn’t tell anyone, especially you. Your parents wanted to see what their daughter was getting into,” Maria explained.

Epilog:

It was eight years later. Liz had completed her masters in biology. She also had her teaching certificate. She had only taught two years when she took off for a while. Max was working on his doctorate degree. He had a strong, successful program at the Evans’ ranch of cattle breeding. Philip was still running the main cattle business. They were raising calves and shipping them off. Max was always working on the genetics and carefully choosing his breeding program. Liz and Max were living in a house about a half mile from the main house.

In her lap, a little girl was sitting. “Michela, listen to the sprites. They will always be with you when you need them.”

“Mama, I don’t see any sprites. I see some buzzards and I see a chicken hawk. But, I don’t see any sprites,”

They are in your imagination. Like the magic dragon who will carry you away,” Liz explained.

“Oh Mama, if I want to be carried away, I will ride on Painted Lady, your old mare. She will carry me anywhere I want to go. Gramps and Gran said they would take me to the City someday.” Michela explained.

Liz chuckled, maybe Michela was still too young to be introduced to the fantasies. Liz just remembered how the fantasies helped her get through her life. Max was driving her to the doctor. The doctor said he thought it was a boy. Liz was thinking a little cowboy. Children were what they built the ranch for. Her parents still visited the City several times a year. Liz had to laugh. Her mama had complained how shallow the people she used to know were. They had gone to a society dinner and neither, she nor Jeff were happy with the society people they used to like.

Clarence had been saving his money. He asked Jeff if he could come out to the guest ranch. He might even try to find a place out there. The city was just getting to fast for him.

The cowgirl princess now had her own kingdom.

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Liz got through life using her imagination. Like many children, her daughter better knew what she wanted in life, even at that young age. She didn’t need the dragon because she had Painted Lady who was more than just transportation she was a friend.

Many cowboys and cowgirls find friends in the animals they tend. It is a different kind of friendship than maybe their city cousins would have. They love the animals, but they also realize that the animals have a place. The little calf that Liz rescued did not become a house pet but it grew up to fulfill its place as livestock from a working ranch. Liz did not hate the coyote, but she would later be willing to shoot one hanging round the chicken house.

Yes her children would have fantasies. We would not completely take that away from them. The sprites promised that they might not look the same as they had to Liz. Max would hope for a daughter or a son who would want to take over the ranch, but he would realize that his children would have many choices to make. His daughter might fall in love with an engineer and the engineer wouldn’t have cow shit on his boots. His daughter might even be the engineer and would fall in love with a cowboy. Max would hope that one of his children or maybe a child of his friends would fulfill the fifth generation to run the ranch. As long as it was a family tradition and not strictly a business it would still have the romance he hoped for and that his wife had learned to love.

Max would always know that what he learned at school would help him be a better rancher, but the values and knowledge he learned at his grandpa’s knee would be what made him a success.
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thank you all for reading
ken r