13 comments/ 23109 views/ 1 favorites Lost in America By: Egmont Grigor WARNING: The sex like the story builds slowly. Set mainly in Ohio, you'll find a slight cultural gap as the English-speaking hero comes from Dubbo. Where's that? The heroine's mother knew. Chapter 1 Daytona Mitchell was driving home late from the office in Columbus, Ohio, when she spotted a man waving from the opposite of the road. She stopped, ready to accelerate away if felt threatened and wound down the passenger side window. "Yes, may I help you?" "I'm lost." "Aren't we all?" He grinned and said she had a pretty smile. Her foot hovered over the gas pedal but he did appear to be a traveler; he had a backpack so she gave him a second chance. In what she thought was a Californian accent he said: "I hitched a ride from 120 miles away and just on dark was dropped off not too far from here. The little old lady told me to walk to the bright lights and I'd come to the city -- that was eighty minutes ago. I realized what I was walking towards was a huge airport, not a city. I attempted to take a short cut towards much more extensive bright lights but it turned into a long cut -- I've been walking through flat terrain for the past quarter hour with trees everywhere and bright street lights so haven't been able to see the faraway lights of the city. "The city is a little to your left in the direction from which I've just driven from; it will be a long walk. Why the city?" "Cheap beds." "Bed -- you'll only want one." He grinned and said she was sharp. "You ought to be a lawyer." "I am. We are you from?" "Out of Dubbo where my family has a cattle station." Daytona asked if that was in Texas. "No, Dubbo is over 400 miles west of Sydney and we're a half hour out from Dubbo." "Sydney Australia?" He smiled and asked was there more than one Sydney? She smiled and asked to see some ID. "What are you wanting to marry me?" Daytona snorted and said she was thinking of offering him a bed in her parents' home where she lived but first she needed to check him out. He ambled over and she wound her window all but up. He slid his passport through the gap. "Don't go roaring off with that; it's the only one I have." "Do you mind if I scan this?" "No, why?" "For personal security. If I should come to harm these details will be on my office computer and easily found." "Look lady, hand it back; all this is a little too spooky for me. Have you Yanks forgotten how to trust one another?" "My sister was brutally beaten two years ago when she stopped and gave a guy a ride. He stole her money and her car. He was never found and she's now living in Florida." "God, I'm sorry. Just hand me back by passport and I trek on." "It's okay," Daytona said, unlocking the doors -- come aboard -- er -- Austin she said, reading the name she'd just scanned. "Wow, pretty neat car. What is it?" "The latest Volvo convertible." "That scanner -- you had that installed just to collect guy's ID's?" She laughed and said it was to transmit and receive legal documents and notes on the run. "By the way, l'm Daytona Mitchell." "What after the international speedway?" "God, you've from Australia and know about that? But no, I was conceived at Daytona Beach and my parents couldn't agree on a name so dad had me registered as Daytona. Mom threatened to divorce him and leave me with him if he didn't register me with a proper girl's name but he procrastinated and before she knew it she'd gotten used to it." * * * Daytona introduced her guest to her parents. "This is my mom Eileen Mitchell -- mom this is Austin Flinders." "Good evening ma'am." Ma'am was still looking rather upset. "This is my dad, Raymond Mitchell -- he's the best lawyer in town and is my boss." "Hello Austin," said Raymond. "Your accent -- are you from Texas?" "No sir, from Dubbo." Eileen, looking a little dated with her faded blonde hair in a bun and wearing a long muli-colored floral dress reacted immediately. "My God, you're an Australian." Austin, who'd been told by his travel agent who'd been to The States several times that nobody in all of America except Australians would know where Dubbo was and most wouldn't know any other places in Australia except Alice Springs and Sydney. "Mom is an assistant professor at our university in geography," Dayton explained. Eileen smiled. "I was so upset when Dayton said she picked you up off the street but now I know you are Australian I'm somewhat relieved." "Thank you for your trust ma'am, I'll reciprocate at all times otherwise you are invited to make dog tucker of me." The Mitchell's laughed politely as if understanding what dog tucker meant. Austin was on to that and explained, "It means carve me up and feed me to the dogs." Eileen turned white and Raymond went to hold her but she brushed him away with a thank you. "Although your idiom is a little strange you seem to be a polite young man -- are all Australians that polite? "I wouldn't think so, especially to fellow Aussies but my mom was born and reared in Boston." "Oh, a charming city," Eileen said. "What was your mother's maiden name?" "Irma Hoffmann, her father was a veterinary surgeon and she became one. Three years after graduation she immigrated to Australia and took up a position in a country town out from Dubbo. My father was the landlord on behalf of the family trust as his father owned most of the commercial premises in the town or rather a township -- it's very small." "Oh, the smell romance," Eileen said. "It was nothing really -- she was gored by a bull and dad saved her life." "You say it was nothing?" Eileen said weakly as Raymond asked them to come through to dinner. "Sir, could I pop into the shower -- I have been on the road for two days straight and slept in a bus shelter last night." "Yes, of course." "I'll show you the bathroom -- we share it," Daytona said somewhat obliquely which made Austin wonder; moments later he found the reason for that. As they walked up the stairs she said without any preamble, "I suppose you have sex with all the females you meet?" "If I would be so lucky." "I'm in the same boat," she smiled. "I guess I'm too choosy. Would you ever consider having sex with me?" He grinned and asked was that a trick question or would the answer be transmitted to her office computer, She just glanced a smile at him and continued the climb as if they were talking about the weather. He replied, "I'll think about it after dinner; I'm really not into casual humps." He fell back slightly so he could check out the legs and ass. Upfront everything looked first-class. The house was huge and the parents looked wealthy so it was unlikely she were a slut. "Excuse me?" "Er, casual humps translate to gratuitous sex." "In that case I'll also determine my position over dinner." He asked what positions she preferred but was ignored. Austin frowned wondering what the hell was going on here. "Are my legs okay?" Now what the hell was Daytona on about? He clicked; his face felt hot and she glanced at him again as he was back level with her. "Classically sculptured." They reached the landing and she sniffed: "That was an appraisal of a simple-minded farm boy but that response was far from it. Are you college educated?" "I graduated from university and although I live at home with the family I work for a law firm in Dubbo." "Oh really," she said, her interest moving up a couple of notches. "In what area do you specialize?" "Employment contract issues particularly wrongful dismissals and breaches by either party, workplace accident compensation claims, workplace safety issues and prosecutions of employers." "Oh really, my father will be interested in chatting with you; we are short in coverage in employment issues as two of our seniors left to start up their own specialist practice in that area and took two juniors with them." "That could be a big blow, even for quite a large firm." "We'll it was for us as we are small; their sudden evacuation gutted us and litigation continues. Here's my bedroom -- the pink is mom's choice, she won't let me change so I mostly move about with my eyes shut. This is the bathroom and as you'll be sharing it with me please apply best hygiene practice with the facilities as well as yourself. Now through here is your blue room which was my brother's pad -- he's married and with his wife in Vancouver." "A legal family." "We think so; our business here was founded by my paternal great-grandfather. My brother was heir-apparent but chased after a piece of skirt in Canada and she refused to leave her family, so guess what?" "How disappointing." "For my parents yes, but I may have what it takes to succeed dad; if not so what? What I like about that torrid affair between my brother Stephen and Kate is it blossomed into a true love romance that one rarely comes across these days and with two little kids later their love for one another is still there -- it's so amazing." "So that's what you are looking for?" Daytona glanced at Austin stonily and said: "Go shower -- I'll unpack your backpack and leave a fresh shirt out for you; the shorts you are wearing are okay. I won't find anything disgusting in here, will I?" "No, of course not but you'll have your fingers on my passport again." "Go shower quickly; the folk will become drunk on Martinis if they are left too long without food. I'll see you downstairs." In the shower Austin soaped lustily after shampooing his hair. He tried to imagine Daytona in the shower with him and did such a good job that he generated a partial-erection. "Down fellow," he grinned and then it collapsed completely when he realized Daytona's unpacking would uncover a six-pack of condoms with one missing. Would she find that disgusting? Austin began whistling to clear his confusion. This entire travel cameo was extraordinary as a casual interest had vaulted into becoming a possible sexual encounter and she now had the notion her father would offer him a position. She should be writing romance novels; she appeared to have the mind for it. Actually with that body of hers and fresh and alive appearance -- brown-blonde hair with natural waves she obviously would be a standout dressed up. He'd noticed inquiring green eyes slightly turned up nose and generous mouth with very full lips; she could star in a romantic film. So what was wrong with her -- why didn't she have a line-up of panting guys at the front door? * * * As Daytona entered the dayroom just beyond the dining room her mother put down her glass. "Young lady, I'm still angry with you. Although he appears to be very nice young man you took an unnecessary risk stopping to talk to him. And then to invite him to enter your car -- ohmigod. You father is displeased -- tell her Raymond." "Yes dear, you took an unnecessary risk." "There, straight from the horse's mouth," her mom said triumphantly. Raymond looked at his daughter closely. "You think this is the one?" She nodded, turning a little pink. "From the moment I saw him across the road -- so tall, so open-faced with a heart-tugging smile." "What are you two whispering about?" Eileen demanded. "Why haven't you dressed for dinner young lady?" "Mom, he's traveling light with only that backpack. He's seen me in this business suit so will have become comfortable with that but if I were to change that could embarrass him -- he's coming down in a change of shirt but still in those shorts." Eileen put on a happy face. "Darling, I'm pleased you are showing a little more sensitivity towards young men. Keep this up and you may become marriage material after all. I'll be easy on Austin as he'll be out of his depth." "I wouldn't bother mom -- I asked him how large the family farm was and he said five hundred and ninety three square miles. I thought he was kidding meaning acres or hectares but he said no -- it's pretty dry land and the conditions are hard and they stock as low a one beef cow to a hundred acres in what he called 'the big dry' and even then stock losses can be heavy. "Yes, its arid country -- they'll be out beyond Dubbo presumably and eventually that country runs into desert," Eileen said. "The Big Dry' is a colloquialism for drought which in Outback Australia can continue for several years. Raymond had taken out his wallet to use the built-in calculator. He whistled and said, "The farm is no paddock -- those square miles convert to 380,000 acres." "Well, he's no farm boy," Eileen smiled. "No, he's a lawyer who lives at home but works in Dubbo specializing in contracts, conflicts and prosecutions in the employment sector of business law dad. I thought that would interest you." Daytona's parents looked shocked but recovered as the farm boy-lawyer entered the room. Daytona had heard him whistling coming down the stairs so returned from the kitchen and held out a glass and can of beer. "Oh thanks, cheers. I thought I might have to drink a Martini -- tastes like kerosene to me." "You know the taste of kerosene?" Eileen said, not at all amused. "Yes, I occasionally have ingested some in the start-up when siphoning with a straight tube instead of finding a hand-pump." "How awful." "Yes and no," Austin grinned. "It's why I gave up smoking at eighteen. I had been siphoning and felt a bit crook inhaling fumes so lit up a cigarette..." "Not now please," Eileen frowned. "We are about to eat." "Did you require facial skin grafts?" Daytona enquired. "Daytona!" her mom shrieked. When eating apple pie -- much better than his mom made -- Austin felt one of Daytona's feet touch his for the third time; this time he did not pull away in polite reaction. He looked across and winked at her. She smiled and raised her shoeless foot and rested her leg on his knee. As soon as he finished eating Austin reached under the table while Daytona was talking to her mom and squeezed her big toe. Daytona glanced at him, turning pink and opened her lips a little. He squeezed the toe harder and her lips opened more to show her tongue tip. The magic moment was over with Eileen looking at her daughter and asking, "Are you feeling all right dear?" "Feeling fabulous -- come on Austin, time for bed." "Daytona!" "It's okay mom, I'm twenty-eight -- a big girl now. You are always pressing me to become involved with a man again. Well, here we are." "Raymond," Eileen appealed. "Say something." "Come in late in the morning baby and bring Austin if he'd like to look around. Being on his first sabbatical includes the responsibility to extend his knowledge as well hitchhiking on a $20 a day budget to cross America on that stupid bet he told us about. We would like to learn about law practice in Dubai." "Dubbo, dad. I'll do that. Goodnight mom -- sleep without worry," Daytona said, kissing Eileen who appeared to be in a daze. "Come on mom, I've heard from your old pals about your exploits at college and then university were in danger of setting new standards but then you met dad and returned to being a Bostonian lady." "You are from Boston?" Austin asked and when she nodded her asked may he tell his mom that when he called her tomorrow. "Yes, tell her I was an Elliott. Do you call your mom regularly?" "Yes, I'm under orders -- every second day without fail. If I failed to do that she'd kick-ass. Ooops, sorry ma'am. My mom is a pretty tough cookie as she deals with stroppy cattle and horses although she has The Hulk to help her with the real heavy work but even worse are cantankerous older cattlemen -- she had to become tough to survive in our part of the country. She returns to Boston for three weeks a year to do what she calls 'Drink at the well of civilization' and to see her parents and sisters and their children, at least those who are still around." "How interesting -- what a splendid character she seems to be. Am I likely to see her?" "Depends where I'll be. She's dropping off to see me early next month on her way to Boston. She plans to stay with me for a week so I must continue on to finish my hitch-hiking bet on Manhattan in sight of the Statue of Liberty." "That stupid bet," sniffed Eileen. "Why don't you drop it and look around properly. Hitching across America within ten days on twenty dollars a day is such a juvenile thing to do." "Can't help it now ma'am, I accepted the bet and that's it. No real Aussie chickens out after accepting a wager." "But you said earlier it was your father and his three mates who laid the bet, twenty dollars each, charging that you couldn't do it." "It's not the money ma'am -- it's about winning and winning fair and square; important principles are involve here." "Well I never," Eileen said. "Call me Eileen please -- ma'am makes me feel old. Since you are to have your way with my daughter you better kiss me goodnight." * * * Raymond watched bemused by Eileen's turnaround and raised his eyebrows when he saw her pat their guest's back several times as he kissed her cheek. So the mother connection had done it he thought, waving at the couple as they left the dinning room hand in hand. Eileen had determined a brave woman like his mother wouldn't rear a son who was anything but reliable and true and knowing he had won a law degree and was practicing would have helped no end. "I can't believe I now approve of this," Eileen said, coming and sitting on Daytona's lap and reaching for Raymond's hand. "I know I shouldn't worry but..." "Hush, sex is no big deal with people of their generation," he smiled. "If she lived in her own apartment we wouldn't know what she did and with whom." "Are you thinking of offering him a position?" "Yes, if everything checks out. We are in desperate need because we are presently unable to offer full service to all clients because of this gap in business law employment coverage. We are actively seeking replacements, so far with little success. Because of that we could get him fast-tracked through immigration. I'll chat to Bruce about that in the morning. Meanwhile I've off to my study; collect me on the way to bed if you feel frisky. "God, am I what! I'm thinking about those two at it." Raymond went to his office and on the Web looked up the name of the law firm Austin had mentioned and was satisfied -- Austin was one of two names listed as working in employment and business law. He was even more than satisfied with reading a summary of Austin's CV: well qualified and appeared to have had a wide grounding experience. He was twenty-eight, same age as Daytona. Was this an opportunity he could milk? * * * "Come to be and get your mouth around these tits," Eileen grinned, as soon as they left the dinning room. Austin grinned, loving it as did Daytona. She spent half her life appearing to be pompous and very correct but when it concerned sex she turned into a right little slut. He patted his crotch and said, "Come on boy, playtime." Austin went in behind Daytona up the stairs using both hands to playfully pinch right at the top of her thighs; she bit into her wrist giggling and occasionally pushing her ass back at him. She reached the top of the landing pink faced, big-eyed and panting and held out her arms. They kissed long and softly -- their first kiss. "Do you really want me to take you to bed?" he asked. "I'll scream blue murder if you tease me," she said, hauling him by the shirtfront into the pink room and locking the door. She went to the far side of the bathroom and locked that door. "I have to get something," he said. She pulled out a multi-pack from her skirt pocket and said 'Mom came across with them." Austin said he couldn't believe she'd do that and was told that Eileen fussed a lot but underneath she really was a good sort. "She shows that by tolerating Sharon being with me," she said, immediately bending over and pulling up her skirt to reveal pretty lace and ribbon trimmed knickers. Lost in America "Ahhh-r-r-rowl-r-r-r-oooooowl," Austin howled and slapped the butt, pushed her on to the bed and rolled her on to his lap and began undressing her. "That was my impression of a dingo -- an wild dog of national note that Australians generally loathe because they are killers and scavengers," he said. "I think I have a dingo on my bed," she said, breathing heavily. "I want you to really like my breasts." "Do I have any option -- there're the only pair you have?" She started and him. "God you really are something. I generally find men so boring." The jacket was already off. The shirt buttons popped open and he had a breast out holding it in his hand before she really registered. "God, that was quick; what do you think?" "Toss me the other one." "What?" "Would you kindly pull its mate from you bra and push it forward to me aligning it up this one." "Why didn't you say that in English?" "I did -- you White Americans are all the same; if it's not American English you struggle. It must be a real struggle for Americans of other hues. What does toss mean?" "To throw." Daytona said. "Could that to stretched to mean to more or less throw." "I guess so." Austin grinned. "And in this case the other one meant your other tit?" "I would think so." He ran his tongue over the swelling nipple he'd been playing with and said, "So the non-literal meaning of 'toss me the other one' was an instruction a bright girl like you ought to have easily carried out without question. Instead you chose to make a minor issue out of it simply because the expression was unfamiliar to you?" "Guilty Your Honor." "Right." Austin stood her up with ease, unzipped her skirt, pulled her back over his knees facing down, and gave the back of the cute knickers three hard whacks. She turned around glaring at him, green eyes watering ready to call for his blood when her whole body shuddered and she looked shocked. "Christ, you made me come." "It's why people in society try to ban smacking," he grinned. He rolled her over and looked at her crotch. "Oooh, sexy Daytona has wet her panties." Daytona turned crimson. "Christ, you are a brute -- a gentleman would not say a word." "Nor would he go down on a hot wet pussy," Austin said, and with great strength lifted her up to his mouth and he tried to slide his tongue under the elastic but failed -- but eager fingers arrived to pull the panties aside for him. His tongue slipped in with ease and the non-longer embarrassed young woman groaned in delight as he touched the right places. A few minutes later, arms tiring, he placed her on to the floor and carefully removed the knickers while she produced a condom at the ready. He lay back on the bed and told her to roll it on him. She bounced back off the floor in a rush. "This is almost a handsome dick," she said. "The few I've seen ranged from ugly to revolting." "I don't think they were designed and made inflatable to look pretty." She gigged and asked could she climb on to him and he said that was the idea. With some assistance she climbed aboard and her face was a picture as she rolled her eyes as her pussy slid down his not inconsequential erection. He slid his palms under her cheeks as she lifted for the first time and they were away, picking up speed. She stared at him smiling and then shook her head as if refocusing and leaned forward to give his mouth access to one of her flopping breasts. "I don't come all day and all night like some women." "You mean multiple orgasms." She nodded. "Not a problem; I'm not a soda fountain myself." She laughed and leaning forward bit his neck; that slipped her motor into gear. She turned red, shook and signed and seemed to lose energy. "You've had yours, lift the work-rate to get me off -- try squeezing me with your interior muscles. That pushed him along and now Austin was red faced and sweating; she was now panting and on her last legs -- she lacked fitness training he decided. He was close to firing so rolled a finger under her to catch some of the dribbles and slid that finger to work at her back passage. "What are you doing?" she gasped, slowing and relaxing. In popped the finger and he only had time to thrust into her as hard as he could and screw the finger twice when she clutched him around the shoulders and bellowed like a cow calving. He grinned as he felt an increase of liquid running down his thighs and groaning fired into the condom whishing he were firing impressively over her belly and tits making her go "Oh my!" He lay back, taking her with him; sweat dropped off her brow on to him. "God, what did you do to me; that was a finger tip up my ass, wasn't it?" "Yep." "I didn't give you permission to do that, did I?" "No. Are you mad at me?" "I should be -- but you turned me on like a tap." "Sharon and I..." She stopped. "Must fly to the toilet," she gasped and was gone. She reappeared at the bathroom doorway and tossed him a towel. "You're in a mess and it's all me," she said, watching him holding up the condom and checking the fill level. He heard the toilet flush and wondered how many more times could he manage -- two at the most, and then heard the shower being turned on so gathered it was goodnight nurse; perhaps she'd be ready to go in the morning. "Should I put my night shirt on?" she asked. "Does that mean I'm invited to stay all night?" "Yes please." He said no nightshirt -- he wanted to hold on to flesh and went off to shower. She appeared to be asleep when he returned and stirred only slightly when he folded in behind her, slid an arm under her and held on to both breasts. It was just after 9:00 when she shook him awake. "I left my bathwater for you -- it's rose scented -- or take a shower, shave and come down; breakfast is almost ready." The omelet was lovely and so was she in a business suit. "Dad is expecting us at 10:30. He said wearing what you had on last night will be fine -- the partners will be told you are hitchhiking across the country. Late morning tea was served in the boardroom for the nine lawyers and their guest. Raymond as managing partner introduced five partners in apparent order of seniority and then the three associates -- a guy and two females, one of which was Sharon. Although Sharon and Daytona didn't touch as the socializing wore on he became aware that Sharon stuck very close to Daytona and he sense something was going on between them and realized what it was -- not too dissimilar to a bull hustling a cow it was preparing to amount. An absurd comparison for sure but it dropped the penny: last night he'd heard Sharon's name mentioned three times, each time in a vague manner. Jesus -- the two women were lovers. Despite that shock, Austin kept his cool and was given five minutes to speak on his hitchhiking adventure and ten minutes to speak about his life in Dubbo. He accomplished both presentations speaking clearly, interestingly and with passion interspersed with humor and received an enthusiastic ovation when finishing. Raymond gave him a quick tour including the family law department co-managed by Sharon and Daytona and assisted by a team of seven including two legal executives. Then they stayed talking for an hour with the acting manager of the business law sections reviewing what the department did, its workload, success rate, notable victories and disappointments and the worrying loss of clients. "I'll catch up with you tonight and talk business," Raymond smiled. He asked one of the receptionists to call a cab and hand their guest a voucher for the fare. Austin returned to the Mitchell's home very unhappy; he felt betrayed and decided it would have been better had Daytona not made a play for him. Now he was close to losing respect for her. The cabbie pointed the direction of a bus route for Austin to be taken across to the outskirts of the city to a secondary road where he was likely to find a lift at a truck stop to continue his journey east. He packed his bag and on the notice board above the kitchen bench found Eileen's cell phone number. She was surprised to hear from him and asked if everything was okay. "No, at the office I interpreted distinct vibes that Daytona has a lover." "Oh God, Sharon was obviously acting a little possessively. I warned Daytona there could be trouble if she took up with you. Then when she was determined to proceed I advised her to tell you about Sharon and allow you to make your decision about whether to proceed. She didn't tell you, did she?" "No, but thinking back I think she came very close, twice mentioning the name Sharon but not finishing." "Are you mad?" "A bit gutted." Eileen uttered a four-letter word almost under her breath. "I suppose you will head out tomorrow?" "I'm leaving now; I've called you to thank you for your hospitality, not to talk me out of this action to leave." "I wouldn't do that; you too need a cooling off period. You said you had forwarded your travel bags to an aunt in New York. Will you have a cell phone connection?" "Yes." "Leave the number of your phone on the bench and enter Daytona's number into your phone so you can decide whether or not to answer if she calls. I'll suggest she call you every evening from a couple of nights from now by which time you easily should be in New York which is some 525 miles from here. At the very least she'll want to say she's sorry at the way she let you down. She had a bad experience with a male and that threw her -- he jilted her ten days from the wedding." "So she was done with men?" "At least for a while but it's been a long while -- three years now and the very next year disaster struck her sister so emotionally that the two experiences combined to leave Daytona in a bit of a mess. Look, whatever happens arrange for me to meet your mother -- I'll happily come to New York for a weekend to show her around." "That will happen, Eileen; I promise. She'll really like you. So it's goodbye." "Goodbye Austin -- you were such a lovely house guest." * * * Austin failed to find a ride taking him to New York in a straight line. Instead he zigged-zagged on five different vehicles taking one and a half days but slept in two of the trucks at night stopovers and was given free miles. When hitching a ride, Austin pulled on his Aussie Flag t-shirt and held out a sign of his destination. The first ride from Columbus only took him forty-nine miles but the cheerful driver said he'd pointed Austin in the right direction. The last driver -- a courier van driver returning on his final run of his shift -- took Austin right to the front of his aunt's apartment building and refused to take a tip for a beer. "I'll go to Aussie one day," said the driver. "It want to go to that pub which is Crocodile Dundee's watering hole and I'm be hitching rides to get there. You're love New York mate." Austin's first impression was Manhattan was a little bigger than Sydney. Auntie Ada, his mom's oldest sister and husband Trent, were expecting him as the courier driver had phoned them. They took their nephew up to their apartment and Ada already had a hot bath ready for him but first he had to shampoo his hair in the shower -- she said to get rid of the road lice. The shampoo was some foul carbolic concoction that would have killed all lice within 10 feet, leaving Austin wondering if it would also kill his hair as well as ruining any chance of making out with any Manhattan women. When in the bath he found on a shelf a bottle of beer waiting for him with a note: 'After 10 minutes shampoo again with the commercial mix in the blue container on this shelf and the lice and nasty smell will be removed'. Miraculously it worked. The next night his phone went at 6:00. He'd decided not to answer the call but weakened as he and Trent had downed four bottles of beer each and had been yarning like brothers although the age gap was twenty-six years. "Hello." "Oh Austin, I'm so terribly, terribly sorry. I was a stupid cow. Please forgive me. Here's dad, he wants to speak to you." Huh? "Hi, glad to here you made it to New York okay. I guess you won your bet?" "Yes, two days to spare and I had thirty-eight bucks left in my hitchhiking budget thanks to the generosity of people along the route especially you and your family." "Look, I hope you don't mind but you went out of contact without me having the chance to sound you out about this so I went ahead; bawl me out if you like. I called the senior partner of your law firm in Dubbo, Alec Ronald. He sends his best wishes. We chewed over my proposal and have come to an agreement which is this: You work for us for a year to get our employment issues section in our business department back up to speed again and the deal is with Alec that we send Chip Reynolds to Dubbo to set up a section in his specialty which is chasing clients, more often than not the bereaved to represent them in litigation and ensuring they receive they full entitlements in other areas such as air crashes, truck crashes and farm accidents involving vehicles and machinery. What do you think?" "I could be interested. Some international experience would benefit me and look good on my CV." "Smart thinking. Any conditions?" "Three." "Let's have them." "I need three days to think this over; a reconciliation is necessary between Daytona and me before I sign anything and I want to work a minimum of ten hours a week learning the ropes in your aircraft, truck, train and bus litigation and accident investigation department so I'm in a position to take over from your Chip when he and I swap back to our home offices. How do you think he'll cope in Dubbo?" "Fine -- he was born and raised until college age on a ranch in Texas when his folk sold and moved up here. The first and last conditions are acceptable. As for Daytona, what is there to resolve? I heard her apologize to you." "True, but I would not welcome working in your firm if there was tension between Daytona and me; I think it's best to get it sorted before we come to any agreement." "Agreed, so you don't want me to fire her?" "Hell no, all she did was to act tricky with me in a very personal situation and rather shattered the personal relationship I saw building up between us." Raymond said: "Personally I think what those two are doing is immoral but they don't so where does that leave me?" "Caught hanging out the washing?" "Excuse me." "A saying my grandfather uses." "Look, I have a forty percent stake in a similar size legal practice in Cincinnati -- we work in a lot together. What say I arrange for Sharon to transfer to that office for a couple of years to bone up on something that could be of benefit to our office?" "Raymond, you do anything to ease the situation -- all I require is for Daytona and I to establish a cordial friendship but please do not involve me in anything that Daytona would not approve." "Fine, I hear you well. I'll work on this and arrange an exchange between Dubbo and us that suits everyone. This will include working on immigration issues those we envisage no problems there because it's an exchange of professional expertise. By the way, how big is Dubbo?" It has around 40,000 people and a catchment servicing area of some 120,000 people." "Ah, I told Chip it was a large town and you tell me it's a small city. That won't worry him -- he wants to go to Australia for the surf and the beach chicks; like your Chip is not yet married." "Oops, you better tell Chip to look at the map of New South Wales -- Dubbo is 450 miles in from the sea. But guys with private planes in the area fly to Sydney for a weekend of sport or debauchery or both; tell him he could get lucky and under up with a couple of Dubbo District babes with their own plane." "Sounds great," Raymond laughed. "Might need to go there myself to check up on how Chip is surviving rural Australia. Want me to fetch Daytona -- she went off a little weepy?" "No, say goodnight to her and Eileen for me. Keep in touch." Chapter 2 Daytona had been devastated to be told by her mom that Austin had packed and gone, leaving Columbus for good. "He found your lack of openness to him in respect of Sharon unacceptable." "But he can't do that to me, he's the one!" Sharon said, becoming very upset. "What do you mean he's the one; what are you talking about?" asked the geographer who thought rather pragmatically -- some would say a mind trained in longitudes and latitudes and tended to think romantic thoughts belonged to the English literature or foreign language departments. "From the moment I saw him I knew he was the guy for me." "What, you saw someone waving to you and felt that? I can't believe it." "Daddy accepts it." "What, you shared this piffle with him and not me?" Sobbing, Sharon said she knew how her mother would dismiss such a sensitive notion. Eileen snorted and said at least Sharon regarded it as a notion. "I regard it as the truth," Sharon said, "but a truth that requires confirmation. Going to bed with him was a way of accelerating our relationship to the ultimate." "Okay," Eileen said. "Suppose I bought that and he bought that: haven't you forgotten the third person." "Daddy." "No you fool, Sharon. He'd see he had landed innocently into a web and his instinct was to escape. This is why he told me on that phone that afternoon he felt betrayed." "Betrayed?" Daytona said. "You didn't say that when I urged you to tell me what he said -- you told me unacceptable." "Same thing isn't it?" "No it isn't!" screamed Daytona, grabbing a cushion from the sofa they were sitting on, holding it against herself and bending over, heaving into heavy sobs. "Unacceptable is a reprimand; betrayed is a statement indicating there is no way back." "Are you sure, darling?" Eileen said, placing her arms around the heaving shoulders of her daughter. "Yes mother -- don't you know anything?" A little later, calm again, Daytona drove off. Raymond arrived home a minute later and said he'd seen Sharon driving away but she apparently didn't see him. He asked where was she going. "She didn't say," Eileen said. "Probably out to get drunk." "She shouldn't be driving," Raymond said in alarm. "She'll have the brains to come home in a cab and ask one of us to return in the cab to collect her car -- she'd done that before in times of high emotional stress." "Stress, what's stressing my baby." Eileen told Raymond about Austin leaving and his daughter's reaction to that. "Well, who's to blame for that?" Raymond asked. "As a trained lawyer she must have known how to handle the situation gingerly." "I would think rising emotions are not trainable," Eileen snapped. "Why didn't you tell me she had this notion that our visitor was, um, the one?" "Because I knew you wouldn't understand." "Well it may have allowed me to make sense from her disgusting behavior of jumping into bed with him when they hadn't even dated." "Ouch, I concede. Are you sure you're not a lawyer?" He took Eileen by the hand and led her to the bar. Softened by more gentlemanly behavior Eileen said after the first sip, "What do we do now? We had conceded she was off men for life and now we've had this amazing turnaround. God people can be so complex." She then told Raymond about Austin's invitation for Daytona to call him any evening around 6:00. Presumably at other times he'd have his phone switched off. "I'll call him tomorrow evening," Raymond said. "It could take more than a day for him to hitchhike right through to Manhattan unless very lucky." "Why, what can you do to unwind this mess?" Raymond said because he wanted Austin working at the office pretty damn quickly. He said the firm was bleeding from losing established clients through being unable to offer a top-level service in full business law coverage. "This month alone the loss of potential fees revenue to the firm is around $150,000. On an annual basis we could be stripped of perhaps two hundred grand as some of our loyal customers finally see the need to move." Lost in America "But can't people be transferred from other departments, read up on that segment of law and fill the gap. That's what we do at the university -- one must be flexible." "Yes, we are doing that, but one does pick up experience from books or training CD's and the instinct of where to find the under-belly and go for it. One doesn't acquire from training media and law lectures knowledge of legal protagonists in face-to-face confrontations..." "All right, I'm convinced. But here's what I want you to do: One, fire Sharon and two I want Daytona to phone Austin tomorrow evening before handing the phone to you." "That suggestion about the phoning is great and I'll back you on that, but as for firing Sharon just because she's fucking our daughter..." "Raymond, for God's sake." "Oops, just because she and our daughter are in a personal relationship that no longer is convenient could easily cost our firm two hundred grand in wrongful dismissal and damages for humiliation and a possible career blimp. We may even be ordered to take her back. On top of that, guess who my partners will expect to pick up the total tab for this one?" "Oh, what a mess and all because Daytona behaved like a stupid selfish juvenile." Raising an eyebrow Raymond asked what did she mean and was told Daytona obviously had decided to keep Sharon hidden under the blankets in case her pitch for Austin didn't come off. "Of course -- unwise but would have appeared to have been the right thing to do had it come off. Good thinking darling -- it appears our daughter is not quite the idiot I though she'd become. People can be so difficult to understand at times -- don't we both know that. "Yes," Eileen said dryly. Daytona came in after 11:00 and didn't go to her parents' bedroom as usual to see if they were still awake so she could say goodnight. "She drove home so must be okay," Raymond said. "Go to here." "I will when I think she's in bed. She's been to see Sharon." "How could you possible know that?" "Logic helps but it's what I would have done." "Hell, I would have driven away in the opposite direction." "Yes, but you are a male and sneer at their version of love." "Christ your mind is like a rapier tonight; obvious skullduggery sets you alight." "That's a poor choice of words -- come here and say you're sorry." "Hi mom. Sorry I didn't come in. But once I dropped into bed I was hoping you'd come in to me like you used to do in my troublesome teenage years." "Hullo darling. What was Sharon's reaction?" "She took it hard -- but how did you know I went to see her?" "Well, you are a little too intelligent to know drinking yourself legless will not solve this one." "You can be very smart at times mom. We fought tooth and nail but finally agreed to take a break for a while -- to give me time to sort things out with Austin given the opportunity and for her to get over the hurt I've burdened her with. It wasn't pretty mom, but we ended up okay and decided to continue as if nothing had changed except there won't be anymore sex in the meantime." "That is a sensible decision by both of you." "Thanks. We kissed as I left without passion and that seemed rather strange; she'd really hurt mom. I took a gamble and invited her to lunch with me today expecting a rejection but she sobbed and hugged me, saying thank you, thank you." "Good, now your go down and find a 24/7 florist and send her half a dozen white roses with a card than simply says 'Sorry, Daytona' and ask for immediate delivery. It will cost you an arm and a leg but it's the right thing to do?" Daytona jumped out of bed and hugged her mom. "You are so right, why shouldn't Sharon always remain my best friend whatever happens. Thank you mom; this confirms they reason why I continue to live at home -- it's really the convenience of having good people around me rather than the convenience of the facilities." * * * The next evening Daytona virtually blurted out her profound apology to Austin; she knew what he got was the best by way of an apology anyone had ever gotten from her. His voice had reached her core and as she ran from the phone into her mom's waiting arms she felt immediately calmed, saying, "My delivery was a dog but he will have taken aboard the sentiments. What do I do now mummy?" Eileen sighed. "It's all right mom, I'm an adult with a trained mind. I know what to do. I leave it, don't contact him apart to write him a letter of humble apology and then allow time to heal. Then I need your assistance: when you go to meet his mom I want you to take me with you but not as a surprise. Just reply when the invitation comes would they mind if you brought me along. If he chooses not to be there I won't mind -- I love New York." "Yes dear. That's wickedly strategic thinking." "You already had that in mind." "God Daytona, that's a comment not a question: you are so damn bright. Yes, the thought had crossed my mind several times." Daytona told her about lunching with Sharon. She said they were the two prettiest women in the restaurant -- she in her egg-shell blue dress, midnight blue jacket and matching ankle boots and hair loose while Sharon was in her pin striped jacket and skirt, emerald shirt, blonde hair in a French roll and black ankle boots with emerald ribbons at the back of them. "We must have been the two most gorgeous lesbians in all of New York." "I'm sure dear," Eileen said a little nervously. Daytona said they were both uptight but stiff Martinis soon had the relaxing a little. "I told Sharon that whatever happened I wanted her as my best friend for life and she seemed pleased to have that confirmed." "And?" "She asked what if another opportunity came her way during this hiatus." "I said take it. What do you think of that mom?" Eileen said she'd have to say it was the right reply, as young women these days appeared to need sex and a lot of it. "What about you?" "I'll wait for my Prince." "God Daytona, for an educated woman bred by very stoic parents you do have a wishy-washy side to you." Raymond arrived with drinks and told him about his conversation with Austin, urging Daytona to hear him out before reacting. "Well," he asked. "That's cool." "Is that all you have to say -- I've worked my butt off trying to string this together. I know it's for the firm but it also presents possible outcomes for you." "Thanks daddy." "I think Austin's response indicated his attitude has slipped back from betrayed to unacceptable," Eileen said. Frustrated, Raymond said: "What on earth are you talking about." "Mom is saying Austin has backed off and is now in negotiating mode. All I have to do is to tell him my sexual relationship with Sharon is over but she will remain my best friend. If he can stomach that then I'll have to woo him." Raymond finished his drink in a gulp. "Then do it girl." "I will daddy when the time is right, in the right place and both of us are face to face in the right mood." "Christ, how long will that be?" "Two to three weeks." "No longer?" "No -- but don't rely on an outcome to suit you." "Two to three weeks will be okay by me. I have an optimistic feeling about the reconciliation between you two because he's tasted the honey pot..." "Raymond!" Raymond and Daytona grinned. "I'll proceed with the bilateral swap tomorrow -- it will take a few weeks to finalize. In the meantime I'll send the young man a jar of honey." The two women looked at Raymond and shook their heads, holding out their empty glasses. * * * Nine days later as arranged, Eileen and Daytona flew into New York at 6.45 and went by cab from LaGuardia to their hotel where they settled in before going to Mrs Flinder's hotel. The two older women were already on first name basis, having conversed twice on the phone and Irma Flinders already knew about the lover's fallout and reason for it. She promised to help as 'a subtle fence mender." The three women bonded instantly. Irma, a fading blonde and over 6ft tall with a swimmer's shoulders smiled widely, had an open and trustworthy face and a hearty laugh; her personality was infectious. Eileen and Daytona could see something of his mother in Austin -- the eyes were similar and the way she moved and some of her expressions were very similar but he was a little less outgoing. Irma poured them a drink and said they would meet Austin at one of the hotel's restaurants. "At a restaurant?" Daytona said nervously. The two women exchanged glances. "Yes dear," Irma said. "Please relax; it will be fine as he knows you will be coming with us." She sat on the two-seater and patted to the place beside her looking at Daytona while Eileen sat on a chair. "Please dear, try not to be cross with me. Pete my husband and I have been in despair for at least six years because of Austin's refusal or more likely inability to settle down with one of the nice women he always takes out for a while and then poof -- they've gone although one or two have come to me crying, to no avail because Austin won't talk to me about it sensibly. I thought he was doomed to be a bachelor until he called me less than a fortnight ago to tell me about this wonderful girl he'd met. I've spoken to your mom about this but asked her not to tell you. He called me two nights later on schedule the night he arrived at my sister's apartment to say he met this women Eileen who would like to meet me because he'd made me so interesting and she was formerly from Boston as well. So that was arranged. Then I asked him to tell me about this wonderful girl he'd met; he replied what girl and terminated the call. Your mom has filled in the missing pieces for me." "Tell me what he said again, the exact words if you can recall." "Mom, I've met this wonderful girl; I think something has triggered between us." Daytona cupped her hand across her mouth; a muffled "Oh God!" could be heard. There was a silence until broken by Eileen. "This is one of those times when kids even at twenty-eight have to reply on mothers knowing best. Irma and I agree that when meeting him again you should not over-react -- I said you must keep calm and beautiful and Irma ask if you were beautiful and I said Oh-yeah." "Oh yeah," Irma echoed, placing an arm around young woman beside her and then easing off the grip when feeling the trembling. "Go on mom." "Irma's suite has only a king size bed whereas our room has two queen size beds. With your agreement, Irma and I propose she takes your bed and we leave the restaurant before coffee, leaving you two talking with you having to explain the revised sleeping arrangements." "Oh yes -- and being a horny male he'll jump at the chance to sleep with me and off we'll rush to this suite. Come on mom, you're dreaming." Eileen showed a rare side; she turned tough. "Listen to me young woman. You've wrong-footed on him and this is your chance to get back in step and allow him to get a full look at you -- go to bed by all means but get out and walk the parks, visit and couple of galleries, see a show and find out if he'll go shopping with you; that one will be a real eye-opener." "Listen to your mom Daytona. You are have trained in advocacy so you know how to win. I know the same applies to Austin but you have the drop on him; his mouth is down and he doesn't know you're fighting for your right to be with him if you can convince him to have you. He'll simply assume you're being friendly to help your dad and his partners out -- become friends and that condition to working with your father and his team for a year will be removed. Come on darling, your mother and I are taking you shopping to dress for dinner -- we have almost two hours as we booked for 9:30." "This dress is suitable for dining in New York, isn't it?" "Of course it is my dear but we want you dressed to make the entire restaurant to sit up and say, "Who's that girl?" "They won't, this is New York." "The will," Irma smiled. "You mom and I am in agreement with this; if it happens it will be a tactical victory for us. You really have no idea how sex sits in pride of place in a man's mind and what having other people admiring his choice does to his ego." "That's a brainless way of thinking but because it's men I suppose it's almost believable. I've caught you out in your morale boosting Irma. First you said the entire restaurant will sit up and take notice and moments later you adamantly said and I quote, 'If that happens'. "Your Honor -- the plaintiff is harassing one of her own attorneys." * * * The maitre d' drew attention to the new arrivals, bowing and performing an extravagated welcome to the three blonde women who performed a planned entry. Irma went first behind him, an impressive figure although aging -- almost 6ft 3in in her low heels, a black pleated dress cut to mid calf that softened her rather full figure, with a short gold embroidered jacket and matching skirt. Four paces behind her, also in a new dress with her hair in a French roll came Eileen. Her much trimmer figure was clad in wine jersey, gathered in ruffles under the bust and finishing at knee length in wide scallops; her accessories were black. The chatter around them had already hushed noticeably but died at nearest tables when four paces back came Daytona. She'd found her dress quickly and had raced off and found a bored hairdresser without custom who agreed to do a rush job by blonding Daytona and transforming her flowing waves into strings of soft cascading curls; her hair looked magnificent. Her dress, purchased by her mom and Irma, was black jersey, with a deep V-neck, empire waist, spaghetti straps and a flowing skirt to mid thigh. It was apparent her breasts were unrestrained. Daytona met Austin's eyes and could tell he was hugely impressed. She had been embarrassed by the slow walk and spacing but saw the sense of it because as she arrived at the table he'd already greeted his mom and her mom and seated them watched by the aloof French maitre d'. That allowed Austin to concentrate on her. "Hello again." "You look handsome" He kissed her smiling. Daytona offered her a cheek but he gently turned her face and kissed her lips -- but only just. She thought it had the touch of a butterfly skidding to a landing. But at least it had been shaped up for a proper kiss -- the poor boy was nervous. At that moment she knew it would be all right between them; he would know through the mom network that her affair with Sharon was over. Chapter 3 The year had sped by and it was time to make decisions. Daytona and Austin were living comfortably in an apartment within walking distance to the office where they worked Austin had wo young married English lawyers with appropriate experience to join the business law department at Raymond's office. Daytona was asking him every night now had he come to a decision -- but she wasn't the only one. It was causing a small rift in the household of the senior Mitchell's -- Raymond afraid he was about to lose a potential son and business partner, Eileen going the other way and fearful she was to lose her daughter to Australia. With Daytona in tears this particular evening over it, her mother pressuring her to seek a decision, Austin called Chip Reynolds in Dubbo at 8:00; Australia was 11 hours ahead and Chip had just arrived at work for an early start. "G'day mate," Chip answered in an exaggerated Australian accent noting the identity on screen of the caller. "That makes me feel homesick," Austin said. "I'm calling to see if you want to come home?" "Yep, having my ear bashed over it. I put Babs (Barbara) up the duff (she'd became pregnant) so we married a month ago, quietly in Sidders (Sydney). She's been ear-bashing me to take her home to Ohio so I'm itching. We've shoved the application through (urgent application for residency). "I'm having trouble with the line mate," Austin laughed. "It's difficult to understand you -- by the way congratulations on the marriage. You had sent me photographs and a description. She was a couple of classes back from me at high school but the lavish description about her and her assets didn't quite match the memory of a shy, mousy-haired flat-chest kid I remembered. I did tell you that at the time." They agreed to resign effective from one month's time. Chip said he and Babs would land in San Francisco and take a couple of weeks traveling to Columbus as tourists. That gave Austin the idea of touring through the south, hooking around from Texas to San Diego and flying out from Los Angeles. Austin returned to the kitchen where Daytona was finishing clearing up from dinner. He looked grave as because he'd not tell her what he thought about what would happen after his contract ended -- simply because he was waiting for his decision himself. She wouldn't tell him which ending she preferred but he had noticed the laptop in the study, the spare bedroom, had recently been logged into quite a few Australian websites recently including several in Dubbo. That told him a lot but then when looking at her face when talking about her mom's stress over this made him think perhaps there was no way she would go to Australia permanently. So this was the moment of truth. "Been talking to Chip in Dubbo. He married a local girl a month ago and they want to come back. Chip and I agreed to resign today with one month's notice. Sorry if this upsets you and your parents' baby but you all knew it was at least a 50-50 chance of happening." Daytona yelled, her face turned pink in passion and she hugged him, bursting into tears. "Oh mom will be so happy; she doesn't care what you decide but see can't stand the tension of waiting for the decision. May I call her now?" Huh? Confused, Austin nodded and said, "Thirty seconds and I want you back here; we have to talk." Daytona came back -- it only seemed twenty seconds later -- a little red-eyed but smiling hugely. "She's so happy for me and says they'll come and visit us." Huh? "Don't look so dumbstruck -- she's known for months I'd be go with you if you decided to return. Waiting for your decision has put her on a knife-edge -- she'll be her old self again." Austin put down his coffee cup. "Thank you for being so patient." She ran into his open arms and smothered his faces with kisses. Austin heard her mumbling he needed his reward and hoped it was the reward he was thinking. It was. He felt his dick rising and realized it was being stroked softly through his trousers. She unzipped him and told him to sit up on the bench. He complied, obediently and she sucked and fondled away until she almost had him climbing to the ceiling. She stopped, pulled off her panties, hitched up her skirt and climbed on to the table and presented her butt to him, resting down on her arms. The sight of her stockings and the flesh squeezing above their tops always accelerated Austin's motor. Dropping his trousers, Austin lurched forward knowing this was an invitation to be tongued so he pulled her legs apart and went for the honey pot and soon had her groaning as she persuaded her clit to take an interest. As soon as Daytona began pushing back and grunting he knew she was ready. He pushed her back and she lowered herself, crabbing back right to the edge of the table and he inserted. The next few minutes continued without a word being spoken. Daytona rocked back on him as Austin applied slow, deep thrusts -- at first digging his fingers into the shoulder flesh and muscle at the back of her neck, which she loved him doing, and then groping for the now swollen breasts and the bullet-hard nipples. She was ready so clamped him, making him suck in air. Her mouth opened into a silent scream and she really clamped him and they ejaculated with great, practiced timing. Austin eased away, withdrawing with a plop. They table-fucked quite often so Daytona completed her routine -- using her hands to pull herself across the table more and then rolling over while Austin climbed up to kneel between her legs. He pushed his dripping cock into a very awash cunt. Daytona wrapped her legs around her lower back and they were away again. Lost in America Sometimes they both fired again, or one would or they both were unable to come up with second round shots -- but on this occasion their blood was pumping because their excitement was high. Three or four minutes later she moaned into release; he pulled out and squirted on to her belly. Daytona groaned and rubbed some of the come over her tits and then sucked her fingers, making obscene noises as if she enjoyed taking his deposit into her mouth; they both invariably enjoyed the ritual, chests heaving and eyes a little dilated and huge. He rolled off and stretched out beside her on his back. "Wow." "Yes," she sighed. "My cunt is swimming in your come, mixing with mine." He grinned; he loved her talking to him like this but she almost wiped the grin off his face. "Can I have a baby in Dubbo?" Austin swallowed hugely, his sharp legal mind unable to lead him so he relied on instinct. "If that's what you really want -- yes, of course. I'd be all for it." "You won't have to marry me." "I didn't assume the desire to have a baby would be conditional -- not from you." "We think similarly don't we?" "Are you still on the pill?" "Yes." "Come off it when you decide you'd like to do so; but don't tell me -- at least not until you know the period of being safe against pregnancy is over and our exchanges of fluid are primed to make it happen." Daytona yawned, "Our exchanges of fluid -- I'm not sure if that is a romantic utterance." "The images it brings to my mind rings more romantic bell." "It does -- how lovely." Austin ran a hand through her hair. "I love fucking you when you're in your stockings." "I know, you must have said that to me at least a couple of hundred times." "Sorry." "Don't be -- always keep saying it to me." "I think we've had this conversation before." "About two hundred times your big tease. Will I like Dubbo?" "The jury is out." "I've been looking up websites recently." "Have you?" "You know I have you lying toad; you check what sites I've been looking at when I check to see what porn sites you've jerking off at?" "Do you do that?" "You're incredible and so good at pretending your innocence -- your must be a real swine in court when facing the plaintiff's counsel." It was time to bail out. "You'll find Dubbo and environs pretty unsophisticated compared with here; on the other hand you'll find it much easier to make friends and people always have time to stop for a chat and you'll be overwhelmed at the ease people offer to help -- and mean it; this is all part of our culture because we're not too far removed from the pioneering days of first European settlers and holding close to people is a great way to cope with the harshness of the environment." "Harsh? But you don't have snow." "True but we have almost every other climate extreme. Wait till you see for the first time the sun bleached bones of a cattle beast, probably a victim of drought." "Ugh, why don't they bury them?" "It would be a non-stop never-ending job -- stock losses occur even when no droughts are apparent. Sometimes droughts in Australia continue for several years and during a big dry early last century sheep losses were estimated at 20 million and cattle at two million. We are currently in a big dry lasting several years." "Million?" "Yes, million. In a bad year we may lose several hundred cattle on a property." "Oh gawd, I have a lot to learn. I suppose it's wise not to say 'nice weather' unless it's raining though the opportunity of that occurring appear slim." "Yes, and providing we are not experiencing flash flooding or dust storms or having stock killed by lightning." "Oh dear." "One approach is to get sympathy by saying "This weather's killing me." Despite you accent you'll be accepted as shelia who has her marbles properly placed and know how to speak their language. They may be facing possibly bankruptcy on their farm or in their rural servicing business or store in a country town or a business even in Dubbo but they will sympathize with you." "You'll have to localize me Austin to reduce the chances of me making an ass of myself and destroying goodwill. I want my marbles properly placed so I act like a proper Aussie shelia." "There you go, Daytona. You're twining lingo around tits so well you'll be taken for a Jill before the billy's boiled." "Is that really Aussie lingo?" "I've never heard an Aussie speak quite like that." "Gawd mate, if it weren't for that Jimmy-doo of yours I'd burl you to the crocs." Austin scratched his head. "Are you sure you're psychologically sound enough to enter Australia?" Daytona grabbed his 'Jimmy-doo' and twisted, inviting him to apologize. "I'm sorry," he groaned. "You are beyond reproach." "Just as well," she said, letting it go and wiping her hand on his hip." They sat up, swinging their legs on the table. Austin asked if she were feeling fit and bright. She replied yes, she'd recovered. "Grab my phone and called Dubbo now -- look in the phone book for Alec -- that's Alec Raymond my boss. He'll know I'm coming home because Chip would have told him. Introduce yourself and ask him for a job. Here's a tip -- tell him you're big into family law and have a special interest in environment law." "I have?" "Yes, you've done some work in that field; you learn fast. The office resources are excellent and there is a junior solicitor in the office who's as green as they come and is part-way through her masters to upgrade but she is at sea in court because she lacks the global vision approach to the issues; she needs to team with a lead. I emailed Jane a few days ago to sound out what might be available for you." "So you had made your mind up then?" "No, was gathering info for the for and against assessment." "Oh, sorry. Even so, the firm mightn't want me; I might be considered too expensive to maintain through my learning period." "Good points so talk positively about your environment interests and flexibility in being prepared to do even Monday morning remands and quickie fines in the period while you adjust to Australian law and the local community." "Yuk, dealing with the dregs of society again." "It was only a suggestion to ensure you land the position." Daytona sighed. "Okay, that makes sense." "There is another thing swinging in your favor -- everything likes me including Alec." "Oooh, the inflated ego at work, eh?" "And Alec wouldn't want a rival firm picking you up. In general conversations with him over the past year I've painted you as a crap-hot attorney." "Crap-hot -- that's a new expression for me but I have seen my horse's poo steaming in the snow. We Americans would also be too polite to use such a disgusting term as 'crap-hot'." "You can ride?" "Yes but not to round up the doggies or whatever you do with cattle. Until two years ago I was involved in show jumping." "What ended that?" "My horse had to be put down." "Damn." Daytona jumped to the floor to go off to call Alec in Dubbo. She wiped both eyes. I loved Hannah and was so upset. I decided to give up horse riding. "I ride most weekends," Austin said. "Would you consider taking riding on again?" "To be with you, yes." Daytona came back from the phone smiling. Austin said that had been a short call. "Dad had emailed my CV ninety-minutes ago -- that would have been minutes after I called mom. Apparently they've taken up talking weekly and have found they share several interests beyond law." Daytona said she'd been offered a job at a reduced starting salary, as she would have to work in doing minor court work and helping heads of various departments collect affidavits and doing research for them until she got up to speed. Alec was wrapped to find she had an interest in environment law. He sent his regards. Daytona sent Austin off to shower while she prepared fresh coffee and made them a snack. "I'm ready for round 3, she said, looking at Austin slyly. Chapter 4 Completing a fortnight traveling through southern America and flying from Los Angeles to Sydney where they spent two days, Daytona and Austin flew in a regional airline's 40-seater Dash-8 turbo prop in an hour's flight, arriving over Dubbo just after midday. "There is Dubbo," Austin said leaning over Daytona and pointing. "It looks almost as large as I expected," she said, sounding less than unconvincing. "Look -- there's the Macquarie River that flows through the town -- it originates in mountains and flows 590 into the Darling River," she said knowledgeably. "Our to your left -- see some horses?" "Yes." "That's the Dubbo Horse World Equestrian Center, there're the showgrounds -- we'll attend the three-day show in May where they have show jumping etc and at other times there is horse activity in one of those big barns. Sadly we haven't been able to see the famous Western Plains Zoo." "Oh yes, I've read about that -- it's an open zoon, no cages." They came into land. "We'll go on a weekend pub crawl on horseback soon," Austin promised. There are lots of horse trekking paths around here -- it's great horse country. Dad will give you a horse if you want one -- I have three and have my own two-horse trailer so we can go our farther afield to do day or weekend treks." "That sounds lovely," she said excitedly. "Ooh, the airport looks very busy -- look at all the cars." "It's not usually that busy, Austin said looking out. He grinned. "All this horse activity and having a river going through the city -- I think I'll like Dubbo even if it only looks like a village," Daytona said confidently, grasping Austin's hand for the landing. They sat quietly for that two minutes until the aircraft was braking to taxi-ing speed. Austin was thinking about his family, his friends, his clients, his workmates and business associates -- picking up the pieces to form them back into a whole to resume life at its full again. How would Daytona react, would she plead to return home with or without him and with their child or children? He'd decided to marry her as soon as she announced she was free to conceive. And what about his old girlfriends -- three not yet having been severed despite his year-long absence? It was such a mess but would all come out in the wash -- the secret was to take one day at a time and not to worry unduly. Daytona, who's never been to Texas, mused oh gawd, what have I let myself in for? Out there looks like Texas on a bad day; cattle will be dying in their thousands, sheep in their tens of thousands, breaking up dreams and dropping people into nightmares in towns as well as rural hinterland but surely there are the good years. How long will I last -- a week? Or will I show what it takes and stay her at the side of my man? Who knows? The sensible thing is to take one day at the time. As they walked into the airport terminal a group of perhaps 100 people were grouped behind a banner held by Austin's mom and a smiling lean sun-tanned man with thinning blond hair who looked very much like her Austin, Daytona though, readying the words on the banned, 'Welcome Home Austin." "Who are these people," she said vaguely, rather overcome. "Well, my family obviously, but I guess my over-active ego has managed to conjure up images of people I can pass off as friends," he said slyly. "Oh gawd, I referred to your ego didn't I. May I apologize profusely. But why are they all here -- they would know they'd see you in the next day or two?" Before Austin could answer a slim girl of about fourteen or fifteen came forward with a huge bouquet of flowers. "Welcome to heartland Australia Miss Mitchell," she said in a very loud voice; the buzz of the people behind her had stopped. "We hope you will be very happy here, have lots of babies and add to the culture of our community." Daytona stepped forward and hugged the surprised teenager, bursting into tears and pressing the bouquet between them. "Oh thank you darling, what a wonderful welcoming speech." "She sure looks like a hot babe but a bit leaky around the headlights," someone called. "Shut it Shorty or you'll get a bunch of fives down your throat," Austin scowled. "Can't you see she's totally overwhelmed, expecting only mom and dad to be here to greet us? They don't do stuff like this in American unless it's homecoming of a beauty queen." "She is stunningly beautiful," called a redhead. "She makes the faces of we sun-bleached cows look like old leather. Welcome Daytona -- great name." Daytona stood straight, holding her bouquet. "Thank you for coming everyone this is so unbelievable, I just want to..." She broke up and rushed to Austin's shoulder, wailing. "She's usually only like this after we've done it," Austin called out and the reaction almost brought the roof down. "Behave yourself Austin," the young greeter said. "Everyone will now file past to welcome you back Austin and to be introduced to Miss Mitchell. Then we will all re-group at the Expo Pavilion at the Showground where we will be joined by top city officials and invited business and professional people as guests of Mr and Mrs Flinders. Welcome again Austin and Miss Mitchell. Would everyone please form a single line behind Mr and Mrs Flinders and come forward to meet our distinguished arrivals." Somebody in rich baritone voice began singing 'Waltzing Matilda' and the airport terminal rocked. Austin looked at Daytona who had wiped her tears and was preparing to freshen her lipstick. "How do you like Dubbo?" "I love Dubbo, she smiled. "I shall remember this occasion for as long as I live." THE END