On the way back Meg and Sarah chatted of course, but they did their best to be tour-guides and involve the guys in the conversation. Ben and Jude had found mutual things to talk about among things it had come up that they both had been in a class in economics at the same time at college. It had been a big class so it wasn’t any surprise they hadn’t met really. When they arrived at the farm Meg rushed out of the car and straight to the porch where her mother was standing. The reunion was with tears, but the happy kind. When Ben came up she introduced him and Joan did hug him just like she had Jude the day before “Welcome to Ludlow, Kansas” she said “Thanks Mrs. Cummings” Ben said but not as reassuring as with Sarah, this was after all his future mother-in-law and that made him a bit nervous “You got a lovely place here” Ben said and looked around “Thank you, you have to come another time of the year when there’s no snow” Joan said and ushered all the young ones inside “I’ve got coffee and pie ready for you” she got them to sit down at the big kitchen table. “Do you want milk or sugar Ben?” she asked as she poured “No thanks, black is fine Mrs. Cummings” “Oh Ben, please call me Joan” she answered. “Is daddy in the barn?” Meg asked and Joan shook her head “No your silly father went into town, he tried to convince me that we needed more cat food but I know he’ll stop at Mrs. Carson’s for my Christmas gift” every Christmas since the one they had gotten engaged at she had gotten a new charm for her bracelet. It was filled with animals, fruits and other stuff. The three most precious to her was the one of a little boy and two girls that she had gotten at their children’s first Christmases. “What do you think he’ll buy this year?” Sarah asked curiously “It’s after all your 30th engagement Anniversary this year” “I have no clue what so ever, never had unless the years you both were born, but that was only because of that I got the little boy at Rob’s first Christmas” They had all finished their coffee “Now, don’t let me keep you” Joan said “You must want to unpack” she said and looked at Meg and Ben “I arranged Ron’s room for the guys, Jude’s already settled in” Meg had told Ben about the house rules. “That sounds great Joan” Ben said and since they guys had hit off so well there would be no problems sharing. “Before I forget” Joan started “Mrs. Owen called earlier, Jake will be home for Christmas and he’ll be playing at the Buckaroo tonight” both Sarah and Meg smiled.
When Ben and Meg had unpacked they all decided to get into town, there were always things happening on December 23rd. And of course Meg hoped that she’d meet Susan her best friend and sister-in-law. They had been texting each other and Susan had promised to try and drag Rob with her otherwise they’d all meet in the evening. “Somehow this reminds me of Sunset Beach” Ben said as they walked along the shops “But without the sun and sand?” Jude asked “Definitely” Ben agreed “This is nothing like Sunset Beach” Meg said “At least in Sunset Beach things happens, usually nothing happens in Ludlow” “I think you’re just ‘home blind’” Ben said to Meg and kissed her cheek that was red from the cold weather. Ben looked up and enjoyed the snow falling on his face, Meg snuggled closer to him “Come on, let’s go inside here and have a nice cup of hot cocoa” she said “Mrs. Owen has the best variety in town” Ben held his arm around Meg “The same Mrs. Own as your mother talked about?” Meg smiled “Yes the same” she looked thru the door and saw a free booth “Come on” she opened the door and stepped inside, the smell was mixed; damp clothes, new shopping bags and the smell of sweet cocoa. They sat down and looked in the menus “The Christmas special usually is a hit” Meg said “It’s a different mix every year” Ben looked up “I’m amazed, I’ve never seen a variety of hot cocoa like this” Meg smiled “Too bad it’s not really a business for it in Sunset Beach or you could have added it at the Java Web” “That was a great idea” Ben was a bit surprised with himself, he hadn’t thought about either the Java Web or the Deep since they arrived. He trusted Mark a lot to run both places. “May I take your order?” a lady in Joan’s age asked and Meg looked up “Hi Mrs. Owen” she stood up to greet the woman with a hug. Ben got a feeling that the Cummings’ and the Owen’s were close families “You look great Meg” she said “I heard you were coming home today” she glanced at Sarah “Did Joan tell you my Jake’s home too?” she said proudly “Yes she did and I’m looking forward to hear him tonight” Meg said and sat down. She looked at Ben “What do you say. Christmas special?” they were soon going back to the farm for dinner “Yes, it sounds great” Meg looked at her sister and Jude who both nodded “Christmas special all around and nothing else, mom’s soon cooking” she added. “Coming right up” Mrs. Owen left them alone. She had been taken aback by Meg’s young man’s accent. “So” Ben started “Who is this Jake guy? You seem pretty fond of him both of you” he looked across the table at Sarah and Meg “Jake’s one of the best country singers out there” Sarah said and looked at her sister “And I think if it wasn’t for Tim and then Jake’s breakthrough the story had been told in a different way” Meg looked at Ben “Jake’s a close friend that’s all” she had never pursued her crush on him, mostly because she had Tim “You will love him when you hear him sing” Meg said. Their cocoas arrived and when they had drunken them and paid up they went back out and into a few more shops before they headed back to the farm for dinner.
Ben’s first meeting with Meg’s father did go smoothly and just like his wife he welcomed Ben to their home. Dinner was a pleasant event and around eight pm the young ones as Joan kept calling them went to the Buckaroo “Now, I have to warn you” Meg said as they stood outside the building “This is nothing fancy at all, nothing like the Deep” she held her arm under Ben’s. “I’m not at least worried Meg” he smiled “And I bet this is just fine or they wouldn’t have so many guests here” Ben looked around the parking lot “That’s true” Meg said “There is only one more place and that’s more family like, this is where all the young come” “Shall you two discuss this anymore, or can we go inside?” Sarah asked as she was starting to freeze. She had dressed up in leggings and a fairly short skirt even though the snow was falling. “Sorry” Meg said and opened the door to the sound of a busy bar. She looked around, she knew for a fact now that Susan and Rob were here already. She stood on her toes to look over the crowd and as she did she saw someone wave at her and it was Susan. As Meg and the others made their way over Susan slowly got up of the chair, she couldn’t wait for the baby to be born “Wow Susan, you certainly have grown since I left” Meg hugged her best friend “And you’re tanned, do you spend all day at the beach?” Susan asked just like Sarah had “No, but it’s warm and sunny even in December” she explained as she hugged her brother and then she introduced Ben to them both. “What are we drinking, my treat” Meg said “Beer’s ok with me” Ben said and the others agreed “Water” Susan had that obvious look on her face “Hey, we’ll have beer and wine when you come visit me in Sunset Beach in the spring” Meg said to cheer her up and walked over to the bar. “Hi Jarrod” Meg smiled “Hi Meg, I heard you were coming back for the holidays. You look great” he said “Thanks, you don’t look so bad yourself” she said “I’d like 5 beers; bottles and a glass of water for Susan” “Did you hear Jake’s here and playing tonight” Meg nodded as she took her money out “No Meg, these are on me” Jarrod said “Merry Christmas” Meg shook her head “I should go away more often” she laughed and took the tray with the beers and water over to the table where everyone were talking wildly “We’ve gotten Ben to talk about his club, it will be really great to come see it one day, or at least I hope we will be invited” her brother said “Of course, just let me know before you stand at the doorstep and you’re welcome anytime. But now I have to hear everything about you guys. How are you?” she looked at Susan “How’s the baby, you didn’t tell me much in your e-mail. Susan smiled at her “Well” she said and held on to her husband’s hand “We wanted to tell you all at the same time” Rob gently rubbed her cheek “We’re having twins” Susan said. Everyone got up to hug them and share the joy. “We did tell our parents the other day, but we wanted to tell you all at the same time” Susan was an only child so there was no more ‘close family’ that needed to know at this exact moment. As they sat down again they heard the music from the cd stop and everyone turned their attention to the stage “Buckaroo proudly present my twin Jake Owen” Jarrod introduced him and Jake started to play on of his hits.
Eight Second Ride lyrics
Songwriters: Durrance, Bruce Eric; Owen, Joshua Ryan
Come on
I said, "Hey girl, what's your name? Haven't I seen you before?
I recognize them dark green eyes When you walked through the door"
"Are you alone, or are you with someone?" She said, "As a matter of fact I'm not"
So I took her hand, that's when it all began And we headed towards the parking lot
And she said, "Hey boy, do you mind Taking me home tonight?
'Cause I ain't never seen a country boy With tires on his truck this high"
I said, "Climb on up, but honey watch the cup That I'm spitttin' my dip inside
And hold on tight 'cause it's gonna be wilder Than any eight second ride"
We went ridin' around rockin' to the sound Of "A Country Boy Can Survive"
And I knew then she was my kinda girl 'Cause she was singin' every single line
Then she slid on over put my hand on her shoulder And I asked her what she wanted to do
She said, "It really don't matter where we go Just as long as I'm ridin' with you"
She said, "Hey boy, do you mind Taking me home tonight?
'Cause I ain't never seen a country boy With tires on his truck this high"
I said, "Climb on up, but honey watch the cup That I'm spitttin' my dip inside
And hold on tight 'cause it's gonna be wilder Than any eight second ride"
So we headed out to Old Tobacco Road Put the tailgate down and we made love
She said "A true country boy is hard to find But I found one wilder then any eight second ride"
She said, "Hey boy, do you mind Taking me home tonight?
'Cause I ain't never seen a country boy With tires on his truck this high"
I said, "Climb on up, but honey watch the cup That I'm spitttin' my dip inside
And hold on tight 'cause it's gonna be wilder Than any eight second ride"
Yeah, hold on tight because it's gonna be wilder Than any eight second ride
___________________________________________________________________________
All connections to Sunset Beach and real life characters are purely for your pleasure.
©tinadolphin@comhem.se 2012-
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