Page 8 of Homesick, Lovesick
Match gave him a fond, amused look."You're lucky I don't mind you prefer Benny's cooking to mine."
Ronan grinned."Youprefer his cooking to yours, and we won't talk about my cooking."
Match laughed.
Across the table, Lynwood looked peeved, and sounded more than a little snotty as he asked, "How does a pot roast win an award?"
"Smalltown life," Match replied."There's a county fair hosted in Harper Valley every year, and if it can be cooked or baked, there's a contest for it.Can get pretty ugly.Last year, when Auntie Dina won the pie contest, there was an entire shouting match, and somebody slit her tires.Don't even get me started on the drama with the chili cookoff.The cops had to be called for that one."
Ronan snickered."That's nothing.There are entire blood feuds in the quilting community.It's highly entertaining so long as you're smart enough to stay on the fringes and watch.But Benny is not a stay on the fringes kind of person, and the county fair is his favorite time of year.Forget Christmas and shit, the only sacred holiday in that household is County Fair Week."
"Seems kinda lame," Cora said."Imagine putting your entire personality into making the best blueberry pie in the county.Surely there are better things to do."
Okay, now Ronan full-on hatedbothof them."I mean, it's not like attendance is mandatory, and there are lots of other things to do.It's basically a carnival slash food fair, and a lot of fun.Better than watered down aperitifs and stale hors d'oeuvres while wearing a suit and tie for at least six hours.All the otherdelightfulthings my family used to make me do."
Lynwood rolled his eyes."Yeah, what a fucking burden being wealthy and popular must be.I feel so sorry for you."
"That's enough," Minerva said sharply."If the two of you are going to sit here being rude, then you must need something to do.Go sort out the equipment, and have it ready for me to inspect in five hours."
Though they clearly wanted to argue with what must be a shit job, they dutifully rose and left.
Minerva turned to them."I apologize for them.I've no idea what's gotten into them.They won't act that way a second time."
"It's fine.I'm sure to them, knowing not much at all about me, I do sound like a wealthy brat crying about how hard my life is while sitting on piles of cash.I have it good, and I know it."Though he would have thought 'live with my uncles full time' would have clued the dumbasses in that there were real, actual problems with his parents, but whatever."So what's the plan for the rest of the day?"
"We're kind of at a standstill until the rest of the team shows up."Minerva stood and started gathering up all the dishes."Those two are organizing the equipment.We've got packs, sleeping bags, food, all of it for everyone.Labeled with names and everything, so if someone goes missing…" She shrugged."Thankfully, that shouldn't be a concern, but it's foolish not to prepare for the worst.Once that's all ready, we'll deliver it to the various cabins.There will be room in the packs for whatever personal items and tools you want to bring.Just be careful about the weight, because the longer you go, the heavier it will feel, trust me."
"Made that mistake when I was ten, never fear," Ronan replied dryly.He helped gather the dishes, poured him and Match more coffee, and stole the bowl of fruit that Lynwood had ignored."Anything we can do to help around here?"
"Nah, we really are kind of in a lull.Relax, take it easy.The lake is good swimming if you're into that.Lunch will be around one, dinner is at seven.Snacks are always available in the office, along with sodas and stuff.If you wanted to go into town, it's about thirty minutes from here, right back down the mountain until you see the garishly red sign lit up brighter than a Christmas tree."
Match laughed."Saw that last night, almost stopped there until we realized how close the camp was.Trip from hell, let me tell you.If I'd had to do it alone, I'd be in jail right now after that asshole threw a drink at our car.Ronan has more patience than me."
"Not if I ever see that jackass again," Ronan muttered."It's on sight.I might go into town when we get back from our first venture to replace my back tires, since one of them got demolished by nails on the road.I'm lucky they only took out one tire.But today we'll probably just chill.If you do need help with something, just let us know."
"Ya'll rest up, we'll see you at lunch.Think it'll be various sandwiches."
They bid everyone farewell and left.Back at the cabin, Ronan hauled his travel tool bag out of the trunk, stripped off his hoodie, and got to work making the cabin slightly less hazardous.Rewiring electric was beyond the equipment he had with him, but he did make the bathroom a bit sturdier and closed off the outlet right under the sink entirely.Let someone get mad about it and put it back.
He also put a lock on the bathroom door.Not much, just a cheap barrel bolt latch he always kept a few of in his tool bag.Not enough to stop a determined problem-maker, but it would slow them down enough for Ronan to get to wherehecould stop them.
Throughout, Match made a vendetta of clearing out the shitty air freshener scent and making a few of his beloved sachets to stash around the place.By the time they were both finished making the cabin more habitable, Ronan was slightly more confident the place wouldn't fall down around them, and everything smelled pleasantly of lavender, rosemary, and mint.
"Just in time for lunch," Match said.
Ronan pouted."That is not what I wanted it to be time for."
Match grinned."Later, paladin.You know I like when you get out the tools."
Smirking, Ronan went to put on clean clothes."Wonder if there's any laundry facilities.Jackass didn't show us anything like that."
"Probably in the same hall with everything else.I doubt he's ever done laundry a day in his life, so he probably didn't think to mention it."
"Minerva doesn't seem the type to tolerate her kids not knowing how to do the most basic shit."He pulled on a dark green, long-sleeved shirt that saidI Like Swordsacross the front in fancy, fake-medieval font.A gift from Traci, because she thought she was funny.All his friends were smartasses with a taste for ridiculous t-shirts.
"Doesn't mean they retained the lessons, or that they don't squirm out of it as much as possible.Do you honestly see Lynwood doing any of that?"
"Nah, he looked like he wanted to eat canapes and wine spritzers in my place."Outside, after the door was locked, Ronan pulled Match into his arms."Is that the life you want, darling?I think my eldest brother just finally got approved to buy a Ferrari."
