T. Reeder - The Free Republic of Texas 2015 AD

I had seen her dressed in muddy boots with dirty jeans and sweaty from working with us guys outside, and as now dressed like a world class model dressed as a business woman. I was just happy to sit in the glowing aura that surrounded her.

We arrived for our appointment right on time and were taken right in to the CEO’s office, I liked what I saw right off, Bob was his name, he was wearing lace up boots and a blue work shirt, blue jeans.

When we shook hands, his were the work hard hands of a man who did not sit behind the desk all day. He first looked at Sing, then me, then back at her as all men do, his smile showed that he was very impressed with her looks at least.

After seating us he got right to it, no small talk, he asked how they could help us and wasn’t too surprised when Sing took over the meeting, she laid out her thoughts, what we wanted, how we wanted it done and where we wanted it delivered to and when.

Bob asked us to wait a moment while he picked up a phone and asked somebody to step into the office, a moment later a lady walked in, she too was dressed just about like Bob but looked much nicer in her jeans, he introduced us to his wife Sally who was his office staff and second in command.

This pair was all business, no big fancy desks, nobody sitting around; the people we saw were all moving at a very good pace, work was getting done and no wasted time or motion.

He asked Sing to lay out the project again, Sally took notes and asked questions, the two women had taken charge so Bob and I sat back and watched them work together like they had been doing it for years. In less time then I could have handled it, the whole thing was laid out and agreed on, we would have three buildings, two of which would be more or less dorm rooms, with communal showers and rest rooms, like collage all over again, one for women and one for men.

The third building would be bigger, with small apartments with their own bathrooms and small kitchens, these for the couples as they formed, as they would. After talking a bit the gals came to the conclusion we would need a forth building as a mess hall to feed the permanent personnel since the dorms would have no kitchens so to speak except a microwave and a coffee maker and a sink.

When the ladies had hammered out what was needed and how it was to be laid out we took the tour of the place, people working everywhere in teams.

Bob said they had found that having the same people work together as a team as opposed to mix and match daily that things got done much faster and better because the people knew just who they would be working with, and each others best qualities and since some people were better at one thing maybe then another.

Plus there was a weekly competition between the teams to put out not just the most but the best work, it wasn’t a giant operation but it got big things done and done right the first time.

The job laid out, the quote done, the agreement signed and a promise of delivery within 60 days. Their crews to do the set up work, it was to be a turn key deal.

We parted company with Bob and Sally with the understanding that they would come to the ranch with the first set up crew, to look over the operation.

The evening was now free for us to do as we pleased, we headed back to the Hotel, and agreed to relax and then clean up for dinner, Sing made us a drink and we made small talk for a while then she excused herself and went to her room, I decided to try out the big tub with very hot water for a soak, with a fresh drink I slid into it, it was heaven!

Even after 10 years my leg would get stiff if I sat too long and that’s all I had done all day. The drink forgotten I went right to sleep in the wonderfully hot water, and only woke when Sing was lowering herself down into the water, I could only stare, she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, she slid up and laid in my arms with a sigh, and that is all I shall say about that.

Morning came and Sing was still wrapped in my arms, but in the king sized bed in my room, I eased away and headed for the shower where she found me a few minutes later, it’s a good thing that hotels have plenty of hot water.

We ordered breakfast and when it arrived we sat on the small deck hanging on the side of the building about a mile up or so it seemed, we were both quiet but ate with one hand while holding hands.

After the waiter had cleared the mess away we sat with coffee and looked across the distance until I said “And what is Jody going to say about this.”

She smiled the big smile and said “I had a talk with him the day before we planned the trip, told him how I felt, his only concern was that neither of us would get hurt, he didn’t know how you would feel what with your wife and baby, I told him not to worry because it would all work out, so he sent both of us to do this deal when I could have handled it alone.”

She was a very remarkable woman and very astute at least where I was concerned. I asked her where we stood in this, “I’m not making demands Sam, if you want a little R&R as Dad said you had been into in the past then that’s what we have, if you want more, as I do then I guess we decide right now where we stand.”

Talk about having the ball slammed into your court!! I did not even stop to take a breath, I just smiled and said I love you and have from day one, and I’ll leave it up to you if you want to be married to a gimpy old fart like me.

She looked at me a bit and said well, I’ll think about it ok? I said sure, she kinda wrinkled her brows and then smiled and said ok! I accept!! Just like that! I said well what happened to thinking about it? She said I’ve thought about it since day one, I was just tired of waiting for you to make a move so I made it for you!

We didn’t make it back home till the next afternoon, I took her shopping for a ring but she didn’t want a diamond, as she put it, we could buy a matched team of Clydesdales for what I was trying to spend on her, we settled on a nice pair of matching rings that were less then the tax on the one I wanted to buy her, very thrifty lady.

Arriving home I was a bit worried, but Jody came out and looked at us and burst out laughing and said for god’s sake I ain’t grabbing my shotgun!! Got anything to tell me?

Sing said yes we do, the buildings and the set up crew will be here in a month or so. Now it was my turn to laugh, she got him, so all smiling we headed to the porch that had become the boardroom, after we all had a glass of tea we told him everything, well most of it, he was very and truly happy for us both and showed it. He said he could never have asked for a better man for his daughter, but that if I ever called him pop he’d shoot me! While laughing I remembered that line form a movie.

As soon as Sing and I got to the basement we headed to our bedrooms, for me it was to put some of my life behind me before starting a new part of it. I sat for a moment looking at the pictures of my wife and baby and then started packing them away, I knew I couldn’t toss them in the trash but I also couldn’t start to live again with Sing and have them any place out in the open, so I packed them all away, and sealed the box very well, then I wrote out a letter stating that upon my death the box was to be burned unopened, placing the letter in an envelope I tapped it to the lid of the box, it would go into storage. It was very hard to do and left me sad but after a bit I felt like a weight had been lifted off of me and I knew I was doing the right thing.

After going thru everything in my room to make sure there wasn’t anything left that might cause Sing to feel like she had less then all of my attention I headed out to the basement Den/TV room and waited for Sing to come out, when she did I asked her if she wanted to move or should I, since my bed was king size, we decided that would be our room, she asked how I felt about her moving in right now before the wedding was a fact? So I picked her up laughing and carried her across the threshold and tossed her on the bed. She made a come here gesture but I said no way, get your butt up and let’s go see Jody, and we did!