Rest and Relaxation

Liana was a nervous wreck. She kept checking on the roast in the oven, then pacing the dining room, living room, and downstairs bathroom again to make sure everything was in order.

"Darlin', " Ben said with amusement, as he came down the stairs. "You're gonna wear a trail in the floor. They're just comin' to eat supper. Long as we feed 'em, I'm sure they'll be happy. And I hope they get here soon, 'cause I'm starvin'."

Actually, he was looking forward to seeing Richie Roberts again. There was something he liked about the man, in spite of his having been a cop. And, as he looked around at the house, he felt a sense of pride. Everything looked right, including the Christmas tree they'd decorated just two nights ago. It had only been their home for a little over a week, but it looked damned good, he thought to himself.

And his wife looked damned good too. Liana was wearing a soft green dress that was just right with her dark hair. He had a home and a wife a man could take pride in, Ben thought, as he heard the doorbell. He went to answer it, grinning to himself as Liana checked all the rooms one last time.

Richie parked the Rover in the drive and went around to open the door for Toni, "A log house, nice." he said.

"Honey if they lived in an out house it couldn't look bad to me tonight. I never thought I'd be so desperate to get away from our own house and family."

"I know thank God for the Wade's...the invitation couldn't have come at a better time."

"Probably averted WWIII. What do I look like I hardly remember dressing?" Toni fussed with the sundress straps.

Richie gave her a quick kiss, "You look delicious."

Richie rang the bell and the door was opened by the man himself, "Wade, how ya doin'?"

The door widened to show his arm was possessively around Liana, "Hi Liana, we're so glad to be here." said Toni with a big smile.

"Doin' fine, Roberts! Doin' fine!" Ben shook Richie's hand. "Come in."

"It's so good to see you, Toni." Liana gave her a quick hug, excited at having another female to talk with at last. "And we saw your wedding announcement!" Puzzled, she noticed that Toni had a rather strained look on her face. She'd get her alone to ask about that.

"Seems congratulations are in order," Ben was saying to Richie. "Why don' we have a drink an' celebrate? I'm sure those two," he smiled at Liana and Toni, "wanna talk female talk alone somewhere."

"Drink sounds good Wade to tell you the truth I'm ready for one," he cast a look over his shoulder as the women headed for the kitchen. "Inlaws are worse than outlaws." He thought he heard Wade chuckle.

"Nice spread you've got here, I hear you're bringing in horses?"

"I love your house Liana it smells so clean and fresh and new. Ya'll have done a great job. We appreciate the card you sent everything seems to be falling into place for the wedding. I've done my bid the rest is up to Richie.You should have heard him tonight he set my family straight, bless his heart."

"You're family's here for the wedding?" Liana asked, thinking wistfully of her own parents, whom she'd lost three years ago. "That must be-" She'd been about to say that that must be nice for Toni, but stopped abruptly as she saw tears building up in Toni's eyes.

"Oh, no." Liana looked around for tissues, but that was one thing she'd forgotten to buy. Handing Toni a napkin instead, she asked, "Is everything okay?"

In the den, Ben was pouring a whiskey for himself at the bar. "Honey!" he called to Liana. "Would you bring Richie a beer?"

Finishing with his bottle, he settled into the leather sofa across from the chair Richie occupied. "So, inlaws are worse than outlaws, huh?" he asked with a grin. "I've never had any inlaws, so I wouldn't know. But I do like readin' history, an' I've come across a few outlaws I didn't think sounded too bad."

"Thank you, darlin'." He smiled at Liana, as she handed Richie his beer.

Liana decided not to mention Toni's crying to Richie just yet. Going back to the kitchen, she sat down next to her new-found friend and squeezed her hand. "Would you like something to drink, and you can tell me all about it?"

"I'm sorry Liana, we just had this blow up at the house before we left, it's still running through me. Drink yes something alcoholic please. My parents are wonderful people hit with a bad situation right now, it seems my brother and I have a half brother in France.Mom just found this out two weeks ago and she and Dad have split. I mean split to the point they flew over here on separate planes. They are now under our roof, both of them. While Richie and I were getting dressed tonight they got into a shouting match and something crashed in my kitchen. Richie went down the steps at a run and let them have it with both barrels. He told them they could be civil and respect me and the reason they were here or they could take it back to Virginia. I did clean it up for translation so you see where I am right now."

"Thanks Liana," said Richie taking the beer.

"I think a lot of what was published about outlaws in the old west was just to sell papers and books, just like it is today. You can't believe half of what you read anyway. The bad guys are always made to look blacker and the good guys white and shiny." Richie took a long drink of his beer. "I've know some so called bad guys in my time and some I'd call friends."

"I'm so sorry, Toni. Wine okay?" At Toni's nod, Liana poured two glasses of wine and brought them to the bar where Toni was sitting. "It must be so hard to deal with all this right now. I mean, with the wedding and Christmas and everything right here."

As they both took sips from their glasses, she said, "But at least you have Richie with you. Sounds like he's really ready to deal with them if he has to." She laughed softly. "As for cleaning it up for me, there's really no reason to do that. You should hear Ben when he really gets going! And he's done much worse than just-" She stopped short, realizing in time that there were some things about Ben that she couldn't share with anyone.

"Anyway." She looked excited. "I want to tell you something that might cheer you up. Our first horses arrived yesterday! Ben acted like a little boy, he was so thrilled! And they're beautiful! I've never been around horses before and I can hardly wait to learn to ride! But here's the best part! A carriage arrived with them, and I was talking to Ben, and we wanted to offer you a carriage ride for your wedding!" She stopped, out of breath.

In the den, Ben was gazing at Richie in approval. "And I've known a few so-called good guys in my time who were worse than any outlaws you'd ever want to meet." He settled back into the leather sofa with his whiskey glass. "So, you have your law practice set up? Lookin' for any new clients?"

"Oh Liana...yes the carriage would be a really nice touch. Thank you so much. I assume my Dad can drive one". Toni beamed, "that was really nice of you."

"I don't ride either but I hear there's going to be a riding school so maybe I'll learn. With all this wide open country it'd be a shame not to ride. Ha, I was just thinking Richie will be glad he doesn't have to drive it.

Listen, I'm sorry I dumped on you as soon as I got here. Sometimes you know you get to the point when you're just about to bust open."

"Yeah, hung out my shingle. I'm always lookin' for clients Wade. I guess you heard about the cook Andy from the boarding house, I think he might have a case. Of course he doesn't have any money," Richie winced, "but I think I'd do it for him as a favor he's catering my wedding." Richie drained his beer bottle, "you lookin' for a solicitor?"

"Oh, it's okay." Liana gave Toni a brief hug. "Sometimes things just build up and you have to dump on someone. Feel free to dump on me any time. Listen, it'll take this roast a few more minutes. You want to wash your face before we eat? I'll let those men know we'll be ready to sit down soon."

Ben drained his whiskey glass. "Solicitor. I gotta get used to the language down here. It's English, but it ain't." He grinned at Richie. "Yeah, I can use a solicitor locally. I have some in the states who've handled everything for me so far, but I need one here."