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| Disclaimer: Can be found in Part One.
Melissa Warran sat down at the computer and fired up her accounting program. "Finally I get to start on the books. I swear those kids will be the death of me sometimes." As she began to type in the first row of monthly figures, the loud chimming of the doorbell rang through the house. 'What now?' Mel thought as she rose from her chair to answer the door. "Michaela? Kieron?" Mel called as she strode toward the door. 'Hmmm. I wonder where those two have gotten too?' Usually in the early afternoon the two could easily be found hanging around the house asking their mother what they could do to help her or if they could get anything for her. Mel chuckled in remembrance as she reached the front door. She reached out, grasped the handle and pulled the door open. She blinked as she saw the young woman standing in front of her. 'She's the spitting image of Jennifer.' "Can I help you?" "Ummm," Grace swallowed. "Mrs. Warran?" "Yes?" Melissa smiled warmly. "I don't know if you remember me...but I'm Grace..." "Beckman, Jennifer Beckman's daughter. Right?" "Ummm, yes ma'am. But, I shortened my name to Beck after..." Melissa nodded silently. "I know child, I know. That must have been horrible for you. Come on inside." She beckoned when she realised that they were still standing at the front door. "Thank you." Grace followed Mel into the front hall, to the left and down a short flight of steps into the sitting room. "I think I know why you're here, Grace," Melissa motioned to the comfortable lounge chair across from her own favourite. "Really?" "Yes," Melissa smiled. "I told Jen that I needed a hand out here with things." Seeing the young woman start to interrupt, she raised a hand. "Let me finish..." Grace nodded and leaned back into the comfortable chair. "Good...now as I was saying. I know I could have a dozen servants to help but honestly, I don't want them. I'm perfectly capable of doing things for myself." Melissa laughed at the wide-eyed, open mouthed look on Grace's face. "Don't look so surprised Grace...I've been this way for years." "Oh," Grace closed her mouth quickly, her teeth clicked together as her jaws snapped shut. "Anyway, I asked your mother if she knew anyone suitable for the job and right away she mentioned you." Grace's brows lifted almost to her hairline. "Mom suggested me?" "Ummm hmmm. She said that she couldn't think of anyone more qualified than you. So the job is yours if you want it." "If I want it?" Grace stammered. Melissa smiled. "Yes if you want it." Grace was shocked she never expected to be offered the job. She blinked once and cleared her throat. "Okay, I'll take it." "Great! We can discuss the details over a cup of tea." Mel clapped her hands together and rose from her chair. "Can I help?" Melissa looked at the younger woman. "Sure. Come on the kitchen's this way." Grace followed her into the kitchen. "We might as well make enough for four." "Four?" "Yes four. If I know Michaela and Kieron, they'll be back soon. The others, Marc, Kevin and Hunter, won't be back until eight or so." Melissa smiled, as she filled the kettle and placed it on the stove. "Hey Mike?" Kieron spoke, breaking the silence as they approached the barn. "Yeah?" "Do you really think mom will let you hire someone to help her?" Michaela turned slightly in the saddle to look at her baby brother and raised an eyebrow. "No..but since when did that ever stop me?" "Never, at least not that I can remember." "Right. So all I have to do is keep asking and asking until mom finally gives in." Michaela chuckled. "Or I could just hire someone and she'll have to learn to live with it!" The two siblings laughed the rest of the way to the stables. Once there they dismounted and let the stable hands take care of the horses, while they walked quickly toward the house to find out who their "guest" was. To be continued........ |
| If you have any questions or comments about this site please feel free to email me Special Thanks go out to Barron who provided by the some of the graphics on this page. Check out Barron's Xena Page. And to  for the horse graphics.Note: Names, characters, pictures, and all other related material to Xena: Warrior Princess are the property of Renaissance Pictures or Studios USA who are the Copyright © holders. No infringement intended, nor implied. All rights reserved. Names, characters, pictures, and all other related material to Babylon 5 are the property of the Copyright © holders. No infringement intended, nor implied. All rights reserved. All other material on this web site is the property of T. M. Blakeley. Unless otherwise stated. |