Honor Thy Mother & Thy Father Ch. 26

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After their company left, he asked, "Now where were we?"

"We were on our way to the barn to check on 'Timeless.'"

"I don't remember that as part of our conversation?"

"You must be hard of hearing." She opened the door of the motorhome, and ran towards the barn.

He yelled, "I can spank you just as hard in the barn, young woman."

She did not answer him; she just kept running. She could smell the eucalyptus leaves in the vaporizer that were being used to help 'Timeless' breathe, while she recovered from her severely bruised ribs. The veterinarian was worried she might develop pneumonia because of her condition and age. He had her on antibiotics and vitamins, as it just in case. He put her in a canvas harness that lifted her off the ground. He did not want her to lie down, so fluids would not build up in her lungs. When she saw Patty open the door to her stall, she swore that the horse smiled. 'Timeless' face was severely bruised on one side. The Doctor put salve all over her to keep them from getting infected. He even took off the lightweight steel shoes from her feet, to let her hooves heal naturally. While the Vet was working on her, Brad stood behind him, and kept pointing out things he was missing.

The vet turned around at one point and said to Brad, "If you don't leave me alone, I'm going to give you a shot of Ketamine, instead of the horse."

Brad asked him what Ketamine was.

He backed up when the Vet took out a 5-inch needle with a 6-ounce syringe and told him it was a horse tranquilizer.

Brad was quiet after that, and even helped with the ropes that lifted 'Timeless' off the ground.

When Patty arrived and opened the gate to 'Timeless' stall, the mare was so high off the ground she needed a something to make her taller to reach the horses' face.

She saw a crate, and as she bent over to move it, when Stephano smacked her behind hard.

Patty screamed in pain, and the horse became extremely angry. She tried to get out of the sling to protect Patty, and get at Stephano.

Patty reached up and scratched her friend's muzzle. She spoke softly to her, and said, "It's okay girl, he was only playing." She continued talk to her in a soothing voice, and scratch as much of her nose as she could.

Stephano moved the crate into a position, where Patty could stand and talk to her favorite animal, face to face.

"I don't think I'll do that to you again, when she's feeling well. She might not understand that you deserved that smack."

"She is very protective of me Steph. She is extremely smart, and until I met you, she was my best friend."

"I can believe that, especially the way she protected Brad when you asked her to. It was amazing."

"It was amazing to see the change in Brad also."

"I still hate that fucking horse."

They turned and saw Brad and Bonnie walking up to 'Timeless' stall.

"How is she; not that I care."

"If you don't care, what the fuck are you doing here so early?"

"You two are sleeping in the Motorhome, and I left my computer in there. I came to retrieve it."

"You know the code; why didn't you go in there, get your computer and leave?"

"You could have been fucking, and I didn't want to see that. It would have been disgusting watching two amateurs rutting."

"Steph, he just called you an amateur. Would you like to compare notes with him?"

"No, it would depress him more than his mother does."

"There is no way in hell you had more women than I did."

Bonnie took a pail of water and dumped it on Brad's head.

As he sputtered and tried to clear his eyes, he turned to Bonnie and asked, "What was that for?"

A smack across his face was his answer.

Angrily she said, "You promised never to talk about them again. Do you want to call this off?"

"I'm not comparing them to you. I make love to you. I only fucked them."

"If you remember, I WAS ONE OF THEM!"

"It was seven years ago, and we were in high school. You have to let that go."

"Did you stop fucking while you were in college and graduate school?"

"Bonnie, stop this. Let's not argue over something that is in my past. You knew what I was like. I told you all about it when we had lunch for the first time. I had never told any woman the truth before I met you. I love you with all my heart, please let this incident die."

"Okay."

Brad had a stunned look on his face. "Okay, that's all you have to say? You just put me through hell, and your answer is Okay!"

"I was just checking."

"I am going to kill you, right after I kill Patty and that horse."

"You have my permission to kill Patty. I don't know what you will look like after Stephano gets finished with you. You may feel wonderful for the one second between the time you kill her, and him starting to beating the shit out of you, if you can remember it, when he gets through with you."

"I didn't think about that. I'm just going to have to kill the horse."

She kissed him on the nose and said, "I guess I'm going to live a very long life. You are never going to hurt that horse, any more than you will going to hurt Patty, or me."

"I have just put you on my list with Patty, Stephano, and 'that God damn horse'. I hate her, him, and it. Now I hate you, too."

She kissed him again, and said, "I have just joined some very elite company. I think I'm supposed to say, 'I hate you too, Brad. Those are four individuals that have nothing to worry about from you."

Stephano and Patty laughed at the two lovers. They were following in their footsteps, although not as volatilely.

Patty asked Bonnie, "Would you like to see my diary, and see how I handled Stephano?"

Stephano looked at his wife. "You handled me? You couldn't handle me on your best day."

She held up her left hand, and pointed to her ring finger. "Steph, what is this?"

"It's your wedding ring, why?"

"How many times during the past year and a half did you say it would never happen?"

"Fuck you Patty."

"You have Steph, many times. However, what was the cost of fucking me?"

"I hate you Patricia Parent Zabo Valentino. The cost of fucking you was that wedding ring."

"Incorrect. Brad, do you remember what I told you about the cost of getting into my pants?"

Brad smiled at Stephano. "She got you big fellow. The cost of getting into her pants was three things: a marriage license, a wedding ring, and the words 'I do.'"

"Fuck you Brad."

Bonnie replied, "I'm sorry Steph, he can't. He is monogamous, and he's mine."

"I hate all of you, except for the fucking horse."

'Timeless' neighed, and shook her head up and down.

Brad said, "I swear that horse understands English Stephano."

'Timeless' nodded her head again, and Brad took a step back. "That fucking horse is scary."

'Timeless' shook her head to say no, and that was enough for Brad. He took Patty off the stool so he could look the mare in the eye. He pointed to Patty and asked, "Can I hit her?" Timeless shook her head 'No.' He pointed to Bonnie and asked, "Can I hit Bonnie?" Again, Timeless shook her head 'No.' Brad pointed at Stephano and asked, "Can I hit Stephano? ' Timeless' nodded her head vigorously.

Brad said, "She is just like every other female I ever hurt. She wants me to get my ass kicked."

Everyone was laughing, including 'Timeless' who was neighing, and bobbing her head.

Brad pulled Bonnie to his side. He said, "Okay 'Timeless' this is your final question. Should I marry this beautiful woman?"

'Timeless' shook her head 'No.' Everyone was stunned.

Brad asked the horse, "Why shouldn't I marry her; am I not good enough for?"

'Timeless' nodded her head vigorously.

"I hate you, you God damn horse."

"If you give me some oats, I'll change my mind."

Everyone was stunned but Brad jumped back off the stool, lost his balance, and fell on his ass.

Shirley, Hank, and Greg laughed like there was no tomorrow. They heard what was going on between Brad and 'Timeless.' Shirley snuck into the stall next to her, and when she had an opportunity like that one, she shocked him good.

Patty and Stephano didn't know that they had arrived from Louisiana. With everything they had gone through, in their first few weeks of employment, Stephano told them to take all the time off they needed to get their lives back in order, before coming to Glens Falls to begin work. Their timing just happened to be perfect.

Brad put three more names on his hate list. He was still lying on the ground, in shock, while six people and one horse were looking down at him laughing.

Shirley reached her hand out in an attempt to help him up. Brad slapped it away saying, "You are not going to get away with that. I am angry with you, I will get even in a very big way."

Shirley replied, "You haven't even met us yet, but we are the flight crew of Stephano's new jet aircraft. Do you know how to fly?"

"I can barely ride a horse, flying is way beyond my capabilities."

"Patty told us that you are an architect. It means you are great with numbers. That's all flying is. Hank is a certified flight instructor. If you are willing to put in the time, he and I can help you learn how to fly."

Brad was suddenly interested in flying. He looked at Bonnie and asked if it would be okay with her if he tried.

She said she would love it if he had a hobby like flying. They could go always go on a short trip by themselves and never have to worry about getting a reservation on an airline, that doesn't go where they want to go, when they want to go there.

Brad asked Shirley when he could take his first lesson. She said the first lesson is always the hardest, and he should make sure he is married first.

Brad asked her why?

Shirley said, "We start out testing your air resistance. It is the toughest test of all. If you can pass this one, you will have no trouble flying at all."

Brad asked, "What is the air resistance test?"

"Hank takes the aircraft up to 11,000 feet and levels off. I open the cabin door, and you step into the opening and take a deep breath. You know that the air at 11,000 feet is much thinner than it is at ground level. The test for you is to hold your breath after I push you out of the aircraft, and not to let it out when you hit the ground."

The people in the barn laughed and laughed for what seemed like hours. Brad was fire engine red. This woman had gotten him again. He looked at 'Timeless,' and she was nodding her head up and down also. He couldn't help himself any longer, so he started laughing too.

"Shirley, if you were here earlier this morning, with your traveling roadshow, a lot less people would have died."

"Patty, not here too?"

"Yes, the same people found me here at home, and tried to finish what they started. Fortunately, I had people here helping me this time, and they were able to hold the bad guys off, until the police arrived. Brad nearly died, and so did 'Timeless.'"

"Is it all over now?"

"How can you tell if it's all over, when you don't know who is really after you. They don't show up with a note saying, 'I am the leader,' when only the men they hire show up with their guns. My father is arranging security for us now. He told the FBI that he would no longer leave it in their hands. There is a leak in the highest levels of their bureau. I am going to help them try to find it. Your first job is going to be flying Stephano and I to Washington next week."

"Okay, I'll start making the reservations for the aircraft, hotel, and meals. If you want anything else let me know."

Everyone started filing out of the barn, except Brad. He was holding a bucket of oats for 'Timeless' to eat. He also had a bucket of water for her to drink, when she was finished eating.

Patty whispered to everyone. "On the count of three?"

"One, two, three, (everyone screamed) I HATE THAT FUCKING HORSE!" They smiled, turned, and walked out of the barn, before Brad could say a word.

He did say several words although no one believed him. He screamed, "I HATE ALL OF YOU!" He turned to 'Timeless' and scratched her behind her left ear. She loved this. He put his head next to hers, and said, "I don't hate you girl, I will never hate you. You saved my life, and risked yours doing it. I will be forever in your debt."

Patty stuck her head around the opening to the barn door and said, "I HEARD THAT YOU SENTIMENTAL PUSSY!"

Brad screamed, "PATRICIA, as God is my witness I am going to bury you alive."

She replied, "Does that mean you don't hate me anymore?"

"Anymore then what? Any more than I did before? Any more than being at Chernobyl when it exploded? Any more than stepping on a nail in your bare feet? Anymore than not getting an erection when you're in bed with a beautiful woman? You're going to have to be more specific Patty, because hating you has become an art form for me."

"Does that mean you don't want to stay for lunch?"

"What are you making?"

I was thinking about making individual spinach and ham soufflés."

"Okay, Bonnie and I will stay for lunch."

"Bonnie already said she was staying. It didn't matter to her whether you did or not."

"I'm beginning to hate that woman."

"That's fantastic, because she's reading my diary now, and Stephano is crying, because she's reading it out loud."

"Dear God, are you sure you meant 'Thou Shall Not Kill' was meant for women also? There is one I'd like to return to you right now, and I will pay the postage gladly."

He turned and yelled, "Patty, are you still here?"

She walked back into his view and said, "Yes, what do you need?"

He started moving towards her. "I need you to stay right where you are, so I can take you by the neck, and strangle you."

As she was running away from him, she screamed, "Stephano, Brad is going to kill me."

Stephano was sitting in the living room, while Bonnie was reading Patty's diary to him. His head popped up when he heard her scream. His hands gripped the arms of the chair. His butt cheeks clenched tight enough that he could have picked up a dime. His legs tensed like coiled steel springs ready to go into action; but he did not stand up. A thought moved through his mind at the speed of light. The tension on his face evaporated, and all the muscles in his body relaxed.

"Aren't you going to help her Stephano," Bonnie asked.

"Help who Bonnie?"

"Patty, Brad is chasing her. He probably wants to bring her neck."

"Would you like some tea Bonnie?"

"Stephano, did you hear me, Brad is chasing after your wife."

"Would you like one lump or two?"

"Stephano, she is going to make your life miserable."

"Really, how would I notice the difference?"

"There will be blood on the walls."

"I'll buy paint."

"She won't talk to you anymore."

"Do you really think so?"

"Would you like me to go into the barn and get you the shovel you will need to dig your own grave?"

"No, there will be no need. If Brad catches her, she will beat the shit out of him. God would not let me be lucky enough to get rid of her this soon. Besides that, her mother said she was going to have twin girls; I don't want to lose her before that happens."

The front door of the motorhome open, and Brad stumbled up the three steps holding his left eye. Patty was right behind him. When he didn't move fast enough she kicked him in the ass.

Bonnie looked at her future husband, shook her head, and said, "You were chasing after her, it looks like you caught her."

"Shut up Bonnie, I owe her another three months. It was the only way I could get her to stop hitting me."

"You are a big, strong, handsome, studley man. You let this little girl beat the shit out of you?"

"Did you ever wonder where the black and blue marks on Stephano's arms came from before they were married? I would hate to see what the rest of his body looks like now."

"There is not a mark on my body, Brad. We are perfectly suited for one another."

Patty said, "Yes we were, until you ignored my pleas for help. I know you heard me Stephano, and I know you sat here hoping that Brad would teach me a lesson. As you have heard he didn't, and he owes me three more months of his life. I will do my best to teach you a lesson in humility every day for the rest of our marriage. If you survive that, I will continue teaching it to you in the hereafter."

"No, I will not allow that to happen. I would rather commit a mortal sin and go to hell, rather than thinking about an eternity with you teaching me anything about humility. You don't know the meaning of the word. It always has to be your way, and no way else. There is no room for negotiation with you. No, I am wrong, and I admit it. You do negotiate with one person; your father. He is as strong mentally as you are. He is the only one I have ever seen you back down from, and even he has trouble doing it. No one else stands a chance against you. You are a tyrant, and you make everyone bow down to your wishes."

Patty's mouth was open, but it stopped functioning. The words that flowed easily from her brain stopped coming. Brad, Bonnie, and Stephano waited for her scathing reply, but none came. When she turned and left the motorhome they were perplexed. This was not the Patty they were used to. They had never seen Patty back down from an argument.

"Oh shit, what do I do now?"

Bonnie said, "You let her think this one out. You told her a lot of stuff about herself, and even though she may have known it, nobody ever told her out loud. Now she has to digest it, and come up with an answer."

"I'm going over to the new house to check on the progress they are making. Do you want to come with me Bonnie?"

"Yes, do you mind Stephano?"

"No, you go right ahead. She should walk back in here any time."

He let another hour pass before he could take no more. He knew she would be in the barn with 'Timeless,' because anytime something was on her mind she would talk it over with her. The horse was her second mother.

When he got in the barn, she wasn't there. He walked over to 'Timeless' stall and found a note.

Steff, you were right and for the first time, in a long time, I had to step back and look at myself from somebody else's viewpoint. I didn't like what I saw, and I was ashamed of myself. When you did not come to get me, I could picture you sitting inside gloating over your victory. You had gotten your pound of flesh from me, and you were on top of the world. It no longer had to be 50/50. You won, and now you can dictate the rules. I could not live with that. I so look forward to our lives together, but not the way I saw it coming now. Goodbye, I will have a lawyer send you divorce papers giving you everything except my children. Don't try to find me. You know it will be a waste of time. All my love, Patty.

Stephano screamed so loud Bonnie and Brad heard him. They came running back to the barn, and found him collapsed on the floor crying.

Brad said, "What's wrong, Stephano, what happened?"

"She's gone, she left me."

"She did what; she left you because of what happened inside?"

He handed them the note and let them read it for themselves.

"Steph, it's not what just happened; it's everything that's going on around her. All this running around trying to stay one-step ahead of the people trying to kill her, and just barely staying alive. How much do you think one person can take? She's going to crack. She needs help, professional help, and she needs it now more than ever. Call her father, call local cops, and see if they can stop her. She has to be driving your Mercury. It will stand out like a sore thumb. Let's go, let's move, we have to help her."

'Timeless' neighed and shook her head up and down vigorously.

Brad looked at her and said, "Parlez-vous Francais?"

'Timeless' nodded her head, 'Yes.'"

"Jemand wenn sie Deutsch, sprechen?

'Timeless' shook her head 'No.'"

Brad said, "Thank God, I don't speak German either."