Mandy and Me Ch. 04

"Where do we wanna start?" Mandy asked, when she came in.

"Why don't we start in here, Mandy?" I asked, as I opened the feed room door. "What we want to do is wash the walls down, from the top to the bottom, to get the dust off. We need to be careful, though, not to get any of the electrical stuff wet. After we finish in here, we'll start out in the large area."

After finishing the feed room we took a short break, and sat on the tailgate of the truck, sharing a cigarette and cup of coffee.

"Mandy, why'd you want to do this? This is nothin' but a hard, messy job."

"I want to spend as much time with you as I can, 'cause I really like bein' with you. Besides, it'll help get you livin' closer to me sooner. Any time I can get a chance to spend some time with you, I wanna do it, 'cause I like bein' around you so much."

"I'm glad to hear you say that," I told her, " 'cause I've been missin' you all week, too. You've been in my mind ever since the night we went out. I really like spendin' time with you, and like you, I want to do it every time I can."

"How long do you think it'll take to get you out here?" she asked.

"Dunno right now," I said. "I think we'll have the shop ready to start movin' into, sometime after the first of the year, but there's an awful lot to do first. I have to build a wall back there, put in a ceiling and lights, and do a bunch of wirin'. As far as movin' out here to live, Mom and I need to decide.

"She's got all the furniture, in the house, that we'll have to store, and I need to do a few minor repairs to get it ready to sell. A lot depends on Grandma, too. She hasn't admitted it, but I think she's startin' to need some help."

"What're you gonna call your business?" she asked.

"I haven't even thought about it yet," I said. "I'll have to think of somethin' though. I'm gonna have to talk to an attorney about organizin' everything and'll need a name then."

After finishing our break, we got back to work washing down the floor in the main part of the barn. While we were working, Charles came in and joined us. He didn't say anything, but grabbed a broom to help with the wash down.

After we'd washed out the front half of the building, I called a halt.

"That's enough for now. What we've got done is more than I'm gonna need, to start."

Charles was looking around at the interior of the building.

"Mike, what was this originally?"

"My granddad had some dairy cows, back before, and durin' the war, and used this as the milkin' barn. He got rid of the cows in the late forties, when the railroad quit haulin' milk. His operation wasn't really large enough to compete with the big guys, and he didn't have the refrigerated storage the milk plant wanted. He took all the stalls out and then just used it to keep his tractor and some equipment in."

"It's got a lot of space," he noted.

"Yeah, there is," I said. "There's six thousand square feet here. I'm gonna start by usin' about two thousand, plus the old feed and tack room, there. That'll be enough to let me store materials and build cabinets here, before I deliver 'em to the job sites. Then, when the business grows some, I'll still have room to expand, without havin' to build more space."

"Dad, let me show you where I'll be workin'."

She took him to the feed room and I followed.

"Mike says he's gonna put a couple of windows and a door in the front wall and a restroom in here," she said. "He wants to have two desks, one for me and one for him."

"Mike, how're you gonna get all this done? There's a lot of work to do here."

"Well, Sir, I know I'm gonna have to hire some of it out. I've got to have an electrician come out and do the wirin', since I already know the electrical service will have to be upgraded. The plumbin' I can do myself, except for the septic tank and field lines. Raymond, my boss, told me he'd have his framin' crew come out on rainy days and work on the wall and ceiling framin'. I'm probably gonna have my helper out here workin' on weekends too."

"Mike, don't worry about the electrician. I worked as one before gettin' on with the fire department, and I sometimes still work for an electrical contractor on my off days. I can get the materials at contractor's price and'll be glad to do the work for you."

"What about your labor?" I asked. "I can't expect you to work for nothin'."

"You won't owe me for labor," he said. "Just take care of Mandy. Treat her like you have so far and we'll be square."

"Mr. Reynolds, I fully intend to take care of her. I'm not gonna do anything to hurt her, because I like and respect her too much for that."

She grabbed me in a tight hug.

"Daddy, that's why I love this guy. He's treated me like a princess since the first time I met him. I've made my mind up that want him, and only him." Then she kissed me.

"Baby, you know your own mind. I will say that your mama and I like this guy too. He's the best one yet."

"Daddy, he's the one," she said enthusiastically. "They just don't come any better."

We heard the ringing of a bell.

"We'd better go eat, 'cause that's Grandma callin'. My granddad hung a bell on the back porch, and Grandma'd always ring it when she had the meals ready."

We walked up the lane to the house. I showed Charles and Mandy where the bathroom was so they could clean up. After we'd all washed up, I showed them to the dining room. Grandma, Mom, and Maggie had everything on the table and the places were set. Grandma insisted that I sit at the head of the table.

"It's yours now. You're the man of the house."

We all took seats and began the meal. The conversation was largely devoted to what I was doing and how soon Mom and I would move. Charles and Maggie both offered to help in any way they could. Mandy was sitting at my left, at the head of the table, and I can't remember what we ate, because I was too immersed in her eyes.

After lunch, Charles, Mandy, and I went back to the barn. I was sure she and I would be the topic of conversation in the house.

He wanted to know what I needed for electrical. I had a rough plan with me showing some of the machinery I would have. We looked at the electrical service, and then walked through the barn discussing where I wanted machines and lights. Little did I know he already had much of the needed material.

"Would it be okay if I start doin' the electrical rough in? I've got some material, left from another job, and sure don't mind doin' it," he asked.

"I don't really see a problem with doin' it, but be sure and keep the receipts, so I can pay you for the materials you use," I told him.

In my private thoughts, I really wanted to spend some time alone with Mandy. She must have been reading my mind, because she echoed my thoughts.

"Dad, that's enough, for today. I want some time with Mike."

Charles and I both burst out laughing at her.

"OK, Baby," he said. "I can take a hint."

"What do you want me for?" I asked.

"Mike, I want you to take me down to your lake again, because I want to watch the sunset down there."

"Okay, but we should clean up first. Why don't we meet at the house in an hour or so? I'll get us some drinks and we'll go."

We went back to the house. I had a change of clothes with me and could shower and get ready here. Mom, Maggie, and Grandma had cleaned up the dining room and kitchen, after lunch, and were in the living room. Charles joined them while Mandy went home to shower and change. I told Mom what we were going to do and she and Maggie offered to prepare a picnic for us.

I showered and dressed, and was sitting at the kitchen table with Charles, talking more about the work to do when she got back. After loading up Mandy and I headed for the lake. When we got there, I parked under the big oak tree, and we sat on the tailgate again. She looked around, taking in the view.

"Mike, I really love this place. The lake is so peaceful and relaxin' that I could live here from now on."

"I know what you mean, Mandy, 'cause I really like it too. Where we're sittin' is one of my favorite thinkin' spots. There's lots of times I'll come down here, and sit under this big oak tree, while thinkin' through a problem or a decision. Mom's even got me thinkin' about buildin' a small campin' cabin down here. I'd want it about where we're sittin' now."

"I really like that idea, and it would be a perfect place to do whar we're doin' now," she said.

I took out my cigarettes and lighter, offering one to Mandy. She took it, and I lit the lighter, while she took my hand in hers. While she was lighting up, her thumb rubbed across my palm. She then scooted over right next to me with her thigh against mine.

"Did I do it right?" she asked.

"Do what right?" I asked, playing dumb.

"The I'm interested in you signal, you dummy," as she slapped my leg.

"You did it the way Mom showed me, and I knew what you meant. Please don't beat me anymore," I said with a laugh.

Mandy's laughter was like music to my ears.

"I've been wanting to be with you like this all day, Mandy. You've been on my mind all week, and I could hardly wait for today so I could be with you again. I'm glad we're able to have this time together, where we can talk without havin' to worry about somebody overhearin' us."

"Why do you say that?" she asked, as she turned to look into my face.

"Well, Mandy, you remember me tellin' you about me bein' shy. I figure we're gonna be talkin' about our feelin's for each other, and I think that's somethin' that needs to stay between us, for now."

She leaned over and kissed my cheek.

"I hadn't thought about that, but I can see your point, Mike. I was plannin' on talkin' to you about the way I feel, and, like you, I'd rather keep it between us for now. I think I'm beginning to love you. There's so much I want to know about you."

"I'm the same way about you too," I told her. "I want to know all about you. What's your favorite color and favorite flower? What are your likes and dislikes? What's your favorite food and your favorite music?"

"You are wantin' to know it all," she giggled. "You're the first guy that's ever been interested in any of that stuff. My favorite color is either an ivory, like the blouse I wore the other night, or blue. I like pink carnations, and I love the outdoors; horseback ridin', campin', and fishin'. I don't like pushy people and crowds, and I love Mexican food, although my all time favorite is shrimp. I like country music best, 'cause most rock sounds too noisy to me. I really like bein' with you and hate bein' away from you. Now what about you?"

"My favorite color is blue, too," I told her. "I like yellow roses, and like you, I love the outdoors, huntin', campin', and fishin'. I agree with you about people and crowds and all the rest. I do like Mexican food, but my all time favorite is Grandma's fried chicken. I love workin' with my hands and really like workin' with wood, because it's such a challenge. I want to learn how to build furniture and would like to learn how to do some wood carvin'."

"Could you teach me about woodworkin'? And, why do you say it's a challenge? I've seen the furniture you built for your grandmother, and it really looks good."

"I can show you," I said. "Let's wait 'til after I graduate and have the shop workin', though. My mom can show you about stainin' and finishin', since she helps me with that, now. I don't know if you saw it, but there's a small shop by our house in town. I build bookcases and small cabinets for people there, and Mom helps me with the finishin' work. She's much better with the finishin' than I am.

"The reason I say woodworkin' is a challenge is because every piece of wood is a bit different. Even with the same wood, some pieces will be harder than others, or the grain'll be different, because of the way the tree grew. You can take lumber cut from the same tree and will find differences. I've even seen single boards vary from one end to the other.

"The challenge is to be able to cut and finish it so it all looks the same. Furniture factories make large investments in machinery and finishin' equipment that a small shop, like I'll have, can't afford. Their finishin' materials are a bit different, too, so they can get everything to look the same."

"Do you think I can help you in the shop?" she asked. "I wanna work with you any way I can."

"Sure," I said. "Help's always welcome. Say, Mandy, you've given it to me. I know what I'm gonna name my business."

"What's that?" she asked.

"I'm gonna call it A&M Woodworks," I said.

"Why that?" she asked.

I got off the tailgate and helped her down.

"It's for Amanda and Mike. Since we're gonna be workin' together, I want to name it for both of us."

Mandy leapt at me, wrapping her legs and arms around my neck and hips. I had to grab her and hang on to keep her in place. She gave me a kiss with tongue, and I returned it gladly.

"I love it!" she screamed. "I love it, I love it, I love it."

"Methinks you like it," I said.

"You're bein' silly," she said. "Mike, we need to talk"

"I thought that's what we were doin', but what do you want to talk about?" I asked her.

"I want to talk more about us," she said.

I let her down, while she was still hugging me.

"What about us, Mandy?" I asked, after kissing her.

"Mike, where do you want to be in the future? I've been thinkin' about it all week. I know we've just met, but I'm pretty sure I love you. You're exactly what I've been wishin' and lookin' for."

I was drowning in her beautiful brown eyes.

"Mandy, I've been thinkin' about the same thing. I'd really like to have you by my side, and I think I'd like to live my life with you. I think I'm beginnin' to love you also. Is that what you were wantin' to know?" I asked.

"That's exactly what I wanted," she said. "Now, kiss me again."

I grabbed her around the waist and spun around as I kissed her and kissed her again. I was becoming aroused from her kisses and feeling her breasts pressed into my chest.

When I put her down, Mandy hugged me again, while rubbing her groin against me.

"We'd better slow down, Mandy. You're gettin' me sorta stirred up. Maybe we should stop and eat."

"You're probably right, but I sure don't want to. I sure like havin' you holdin' me like this, and I really do like the way your kisses make me feel. When you kiss me, it makes me want you more."

I got the cooler out of the back seat along with the bag. Mom and Maggie had packed left over fried chicken and potato salad. There were forks, napkins, and bread in the bag. Drinks were packed in the ice in the cooler.

We sat on the tailgate of the truck while we ate.

"Mike, Mama and I had dinner with your mom on Wednesday night."

"I know, Mandy," I said. "Mom told me when I got in from work that night."

"Did your mom tell you what we talked about?" she asked.

"I know what y'all talked about," I said. "Mom had the same talk with me a few weeks ago."

"Did she use that book with all the pictures?" Mandy asked.

"Yeah, she did," I said.

"What do you think about all that?"

"Mandy, are you really sure you want to talk about this right now?" I asked her. "Do you think we're really ready to go there?"

"I'm not sure, but I think so," she said. "I've been hearin' and wonderin' about all of it for a while, and I'm already pretty sure you're the one I want to do it with.

"Your mom told me a lot of things I didn't know, and it surprised me the way she did it. I was expectin' everything to be dry and clinical, like a biology class, with a lotta medical terms, but she used words I understood, and even talked the way I've heard other girls talkin'. Was she that way with you?"

"She sure was. She told me that by tellin' me that way, I'd more easily understand what she was explainin'."

"She and Mama both told me that they wanted me to have the knowledge, but they also said that usin' it had to be my decision; that they were not tellin' me what to do. It sure has me thinkin' about things; I have all that knowledge, but the scary thing was them tellin' me it was a serious, life changin' decision I really needed to think about."

"Mandy, Mom told me the same thing; that she wasn't gonna tell me what to do," I told her. "She told me it had to be my choice. She said she was tellin' me everything so that when I found the right girl, and we got to the point we were ready, I'd know what to do and how to do it. Right now I'd like to do it with you, more than anything, but I don't want to force you into doin' somethin' you're not ready for. I like you too much to ever do anything you don't want. You remember me tellin' you it's your choice. You'll have to convince me it's what you want, because I'm not gonna push you."

"Mike, what you just said is the main reason I feel like it has to be you I do it with. You're tellin' me you care about me, and want me to be sure before we do somethin'. I'm not quite ready yet myself. I've got a doctor's appointment this comin' week, 'cause your mom told Mama and me that I needed to have an exam. She also told us about different ways of birth control. She said there's a pill I can take to keep from gettin' pregnant. Mama and I've talked about it and we've decided that would be the best."

"Mandy, like I said, it's your decision," I told her. "I'll do whatever you want, but you're gonna have to make me believe you really want to do it."

We had finished eating while we were talking. We packed up and looked around to see the sun dropping below the trees.

"I wanna sit in your lap," she said, as she scooted over next to me.

I helped her get into my lap. We sat there, and watched the sunset colors deepen into the evening twilight while sharing kisses. I had one arm around her shoulders and the other down by her hip. During a kiss she moved that hand to her waist.

"Mandy, what are you doin'?" I asked between kisses.

"I want you to feel o' me, Mike. Go ahead, I'm ready for that. I want it."

"What do you mean?"

"I want you to feel my tit, Mike. I've thought about it, and I really want you to do it."

"Why, Mandy? You've told me you didn't like the guys you'd dated tryin' to do things like that, so why do you want me to do it now?"

"I've never felt the same way about anybody else that I do you, Mike. You're leavin' everything up to me, instead o' just tryin' to do it without askin'. That's why I want you to do it. I believe you'll only do what I want you to do, and won't be pushin' me to let you go farther."

She kissed me again and put her hand on mine, moving it up her side. I moved on up to the bottom of her breast, where I paused and broke the kiss.

"Are you really sure you want me to do this? Are you absolutely sure?" I asked, while staring into the bottomless pools of her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure," she said, as she took my hand and placed it on her breast. "I want you to feel my tit, Mike. I really want it. I really do want you to put your hand on me and feel me, please? I want you to do it, because of the way I feel about you. I believe I can trust you not to go any farther than I want, and right now I want you to feel my tit."

I kissed her again and gently cupped my hand around her breast. It was soft, yet firm, and so warm in my hand. I gently began to explore this delight through her tee shirt and bra. Her nipple was erect, making a bump on her shirt. I gently squeezed it, which caused Mandy to moan softly.

She broke the kiss.

"Mike, that feels so good. Put your hand up under my shirt and feel me. I want it."

She kissed me again as I slid my hand under her tee shirt. She moaned softly when I cupped her breast through her bra. Tweaking her nipple gently through the bra, I lightly squeezed her breast again. The feel of her breast was arousing me, and the sensation, combined with her kisses, was causing me to become erect under her. She wriggled her hips in my lap.