2.01 - Welcome Home
The ranch is busy as it’s ever been. I don’t recognize all the faces as I make way through the main gate and towards the main house, but nobody stops me. Generally, if you walk with a stern face and fast pace nobody bothers you. They just think you’re supposed to be there. Something about this place just feels right now that I’m back after being away for almost a year. I didn’t consider it my home when I left, but now that I’m back here and I can smell the air, feel the breeze and hear all the commotion; home is the only thing I can call it. Even as a cough inhaling the dust kicked into the air by an old truck that still uses wheels.
The truck passes me by and slides to a sudden halt causing those on the back of the truck to lose their balance. A door slams in the cloud of dust and before I can get a clear look at him Martin has wrapped his arms around me. I feel terrible about disappearing, leaving Martin and Pauline to run the ranch for nearly a year. I was supposed to be their retirement plan, but at least I can pay them for the ranch now.
“Boy, I thought you were dead,” Martin speaks but doesn’t release me until I pat him on the back.
“Sorry, I ran into some trouble and my,” I stop as Martin holds up a finger.
“Don’t care, we’ll have plenty of time to talk about that. Just seeing you in one piece is good enough for now. Haven’t been able to find a single person with your work ethic since you’ve been gone.” There’s some groans from the workers in the truck. “Don’t get upset,” Martin turns to them. “All you do is loiter until Pauline comes out then you get to work.”
“Well I’m glad to be back,” I try to take some of the heat off the workers.
“I heard you got in some trouble over in the city, didn’t hear from you. Even tried to file a missing person report but they weren’t interested. Said we weren’t family and you’re a grown man. So glad to see you again. Pauline is going to flip, and then punch you out,” Martin causes the two of us to laugh.
“Yeah, I did get in some trouble, tracking down those drug dealers. My brother saved me from a tough spot. But he took me with him out to the boarders of Draconian and Revrell space. I’ve been robbed and beaten by aliens I’ve never seen before. I’ve got a cool new wrist comp with all kinds of illegal features.”
“I’m sure you got a ton of stories and I want to hear them all, meet your brother too,” Martin hugs me again with the warmth my own father never did.
“I missed you Martin.”
“And I missed your hard work.”
“I bet you do.”
Martin sends the workers off to what they were working on before I arrived. As we take the long scenic route to the guest house I had been staying in he updates me on things that have changed. The drug dealers I tangled with don’t deal drugs anymore. They’ve set up a small casino with live entertainment. Martin encourages me to let it go but I don’t make any promises. He assures me that they’re not causing nearly as much trouble but once I’ve started something, I just can’t let it go until I’m satisfied that it’s completed.
“We left the guest house just how you had it,” Martin says as we approach it.
“Thank you,” I hold my Wrist Comp to the door and it unlocks. My little brother Edan really did copy everything.
“I’ll let you get settled in, and get the medical supplies ready,” Martin jokes.
“Why do I need medical supplies?”
“Because Pauline is going to knock you into next week when she finds out you’re back. You gotta be the third man to make her cry.”
“Who were the first two?”
“Her dad and then me.”
“So I guess I’m in good company.”
“Yes you are, but she’ll hit you,” Martin laughs and pats me on the back as he heads off to tell Pauline.
Inside nothing has been moved, I never decorated when I moved in here and I’m sure I brought more things back with me than I had when I left. The thin layer of dust covering everything and spiderwebs in every corner gives the impression that the place has been abandoned for years. But it’s home, one of the few places I ever felt comfortable calling home. Despite all the warm feelings, I know I’ll be leaving here soon. Going back to finish my time in the marines, hopefully come back alive and without losing another limb. For now, the best thing to do is clear out the fridge because I know whatever I had in there is long past the expiration date.
Before I can get that done there’s a pounding at the door. I take a deep breath and mentally prepare myself. I’ve been to war, and I’ve been chased by bounty hunters but nothing and I mean nothing scares me more than a pissed off Pauline.
I rip the bandage off and open the door, “it’s good to see you Pauline,” I greet her with open arms.
“Cut the shit boy,” Pauline lands a solid punch to my gut. “If I wanted to worry about a damn runaway I would have had a kid.”
“Sorry, it wasn’t planned,” I grunt through the pain as she embraces me in a hug.
“Get settled in, I’m sure you’ve got a lot to tell us. But relax, please take a shower and I’m making roast beef for dinner. You better be there, 6pm sharp,” Pauline fights back a smile.
“I’ll make sure I’m there.”
“One more thing,” Pauline stops as she’s leaving. “If you ever go off the map like that again while you’re working for me I’ll personally hunt you down and drag your ass back here myself and make sure you finish replacing the damn fence.”
“I understand. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t laugh at me boy,” Pauline threatens without even turning to see my smile.
I came home on leave from the holidays once. My brother Edan had already taken off to do his space pirate or smuggling thing. My parents weren’t excited to see me. Last year I stopped by and tried to rebuild the relationship with them. I don’t think it well. But Martin and Pauline, they’ve been nothing but good to me since I first wandered onto their ranch. I’m glad they’re still happy to see me after up and leaving without any warning. This time I’ll make sure they have answers.
