Table Manners

Travis, Jan and Tee sat down to dinner it was apparent to Travis immediately that Tee had no idea how to eat.

"Tee, watch and learn…Jan help him out with his knife." Jan smiled and showed Tee how to hold his knife and how to use it at table.

Tee didn’t seem to mind that his every movement was scrutinized and corrected. He was a quick learner and picked up on things even when he wasn’t shown, like what to do with his napkin. He’d showered and was dressed in one of his new shirts and jeans. He was feeling pretty good about himself tonight especially after his talk with his Uncle Travis.

Jan watched them both with pride and a little sadness. The conversation was all about the cattle ranch and it was obvious Tee couldn’t wait to get there. Travis was as excited about it as Tee. She knew Travis couldn’t understand her refusal to live with him at the ranch and it saddened her that she couldn’t tell him. He loved his mother and though not blind to her faults he didn’t see and never heard the words spoken to Jan.

Bill McGee went out the door to see what had the dogs so fired up, they’d been barking for awhile now. He walked down to the pen where the dogs were kept at night and saw nothing out of the ordinary. On turning to go back to the house he noticed lights on up at the guest house. He scowled thinking it would be a good day when that fellow left, he could tell Travis didn’t have much use for him and wondered why he’d asked him to come here in the first place.

Sarah was waiting for him when he came back to the house, "did you see anything Bill?"

"Nope not a thing…noticed that Sweeny is back."

"I wonder why he didn’t come up for dinner. Oh well he’ll be gone soon I guess. I still don’t understand why Travis didn’t bring our grandson out here immediate like. Why was it important for him to stay in Sydney tonight…?"

"Travis is his own man Sarah I don’t tell him what to do, maybe he just wanted some time with the boy."

"Humpfh, more likely he’s with that woman."

"I think I’m gonna turn in early tonight Sarah and if I was you I’d mind my tongue about Ms Rollings."