Helen had been giving this a great deal of consideration, especially after she thought of the weapons cache in the floor of Slow's home, as well as the caches she'd created for Bad Apple's place.Her cousin Abigail owned at least six rifles, one which was her favorite named Melody.Abigail also owned several 9mms, revolvers, and a few shotguns.
“I have a 9mm, but no rifles,” she said.“I'm decent with a crossbow, but I will need holsters, ammo, cleaning kits, replacement parts, and more.”
“What's your specialty, or do you have one yet?”Mustang asked.
“Bad Apple was supposed to assess me.Azrael said I have one, so did Passion Fruit, when she talked about my ability to connect with people,” she replied.
“True, considering you somehow managed to connect with the Fer de Lance who sent you some, might I add, kick ass pants,” he said.“Hell, I wouldn't mind a pair of those myself, and I don't carry knives.How did he even know what size slots for your knives?”
“I laid them on the table the morning of his visit.I guess he recognized them,” she said softly.“A workspace.I also need a small greenhouse, maybe midsized, nothing too big, but I need to grow some things.”
“To make your love potions?”
“Maybe,” she said, smiling.
“Okay, so today we walk through that little stinky house, take a look at how it can be fitted to suit your needs,” he said.“In my office, we have a fax machine already.I'm sure Azrael has the number.Your work orders will come through there.I have begun to create caches under the house and in the kitchen, and the bookcases I made for you have hidden compartments to store your knives and a couple of nines.”
“Oh my God, I love you,” Helen said, crinkling her nose.“You know how to get a girl's juices going.”
His eyebrows arched as he looked at her, “I do, do I?”
“Yeah, you do,” she said, smiling at him.“June 21st, which is a Saturday.”
“What is that?”
“Our wedding date,” she said.“It's February, which will give Ruth plenty of time to lose her mind.I think a June wedding will be nice.”
“June wedding.June 21st.Got it,” he said.“Colors or is it too soon?”
“I'm thinking Trooper Blue and blush,” she said.“Are you okay with that date?I mean, it is pretty close to your birthday, but we can have a big birthday celebration as well with the reception.Or we can make it the 14th, in between you and Mark's birthday.”
He smiled at her for remembering the dates from the alarm code on his home in Oregon.“I've never been big on birthdays, so either date is fine with me.Trooper Blue as a wedding color?”
“It looks so good on you, and to think of your team, if you're inviting them, in their Trooper suits,” she said.
“Nope, not inviting any of them,” he said, thinking of the Technicians who would be present.“Never mix the worlds, Helen.It doesn't bode well.”
“Roger that,” she said, looking at the gate and noting the arrival of a delivery truck.“Are you expecting a delivery?”
“No, are you?”
“Nope,” she said as he hit the switch on the back porch to open the gate.
They both stood in silence as the delivery truck rolled in with a vehicle on the back.It came to a stop with a hiss of the air brakes.A slim driver, with a blue cap pulled down low over his eyes, hopped out, scanning both people while holding a clipboard.
“I have a delivery for Helen McDaniel,” the driver said.
“That's me, but what is that?”she asked, pointing at the vehicle on the rear of the delivery bed.
“I have a black Ford Explorer,” the driver said.
“Shouldn't that be an F150?”she replied, frowning.
“Nope, Ford Explorer ST with tow package and four-wheel drive, hill descent modes along with seven other driving modes, sunroof, cloth seats, all the other bells and whistles.Please sign here to accept the delivery,” he said.
Helen signed the paper and watched the vehicle get unloaded.The driver passed her the keys and an envelope with insurance and registration.She was not receiving a Black Ford F150, but instead a mom mobile.
She looked at her husband and said, “What in the entire hell?Where's my pick-up truck?”
