Well, here we are in a nice new year waiting for something to happen. So far it has been quiet. Due to our Christmas being right in the middle of the our last case, we decided to have it today instead. I had managed to buy some of those jewels we retrieved in that case in Sweden last year, so, they made some good gifts for certain people. 

I gave a nice small diamond to Storm, which he had to work for so he could rightly claim he was giving it to Muffin himself. I had it cut to almost match the one she got from MC years ago, which is now on her collar. This one will also go on her collar. Rusty also gave one to Ginger. Then the mail arrived which Dawn picked up and brought in to me. 

“This one is for you Dawn,” I said. ”Me?” she questioned, “Why would I get something?” ”Open it and see,” I told her. A couple of the other girls got letters from family which they were so happy about. I watched Dawn, she did not look very happy. She then got up, swore, crumpled up her letter and tossed it in the wastebasket. Then she went back to her room, lay down on her bed and cried. 

“That is not like Dawn at all,” said Sky. ”I think she needs you,” I said to her. ”You know Steve,” she said, “I think sometimes these girls would like their older brother to come and talk to them, especially those girls without family. And Dawn qualifies since her family will not talk to her.” She just sat there looking at me. ”I know I would like that,” said Amber. ”Me too,” said Tracy. 

“I also would enjoy that Steve,” said Kristina. I got up to go see Dawn. Storm had dug out that paper from the wastebasket Dawn had tossed away and was going to give it to me. ”Give it to Sky,” I told him, which he did. I went down to Dawn’s room and knocked on the door. She said to go away. Hmm, well, I can go in to their rooms anytime during the day, so I went in. 

She swore again and said to go away. ”I just want to talk with you Dawn,” I said. She had been facing the wall and did not know it was me. She turned quickly. ”I, I am sorry Steve,” she said quietly, “but I am just so upset!” She swore again, several times. Then she started crying again. I sat on the bed beside her and started rubbing her back. 

“H, how did you know I liked that?” she asked. ”Remember when we had to spend all that time together alone?” I asked, “Well, I actually listened to what you were talking about, I heard every word.” ”No one ever listens to everything I say,” she said, “what about when I was 16?” So I told her what she did at that time, and when she was 17 and 18. 

“Shall I continue?” I asked. She turned over on her back and looked at me. ”You really did listen,” she said smiling. ”I told you I did,” I reminded her. Then she told me what it was all about. Her grandmother had left her a cabin out in western Wyoming, but her dad is contesting the will on the grounds that Dawn is not fit mentally. 

“He will win too,” she said, “he won when mom left me some things in her will and it all went to my sister instead.” ”We will fight that,” I said, “you have good lawyers now.” We talked some more. I told her we would win in court and then we would go take a look at her new cabin she inherited. ”Um, do I need to remind you of my 10 demerits I picked up today?” she asked, “That means I am on inactive duty for the next month.” 

“I only count 2 demerits,” I said, “this is your private bedroom, I give you no demerits for what you do in here.” ”Do you remember what else I like?” she asked smiling. ”Yes, I do,” I said. ”Um, can you do it for me, just a bit?” she asked again. I smiled and did what she asked. 

“One more request?” she asked. ”Okay, one more request,” I said. She got up and sat beside me. ”You are the best older brother a girl could have,” she said, “and best friend too.” Baldwin got his lawyers on the case right away and won it easily for Dawn. So, now we are on our way to Wyoming to check out this cabin in the forest… 

To Be Continued.

©2024 Steve McLeod.