Conleyswifey’s Interviews

Just a book of interviews of characters of my stories! Thought these would be fun and I am more than happy to ask any questions you all want to have answered!  I also will be taking requests on who you want interviewed. They can be hero’s, heroines, villians, supporting characters, children…. Any character from any finished story!! I hope you all enjoy!

Brody Atkinson

He steps in to the quiet diner and I can feel the change in the atmosphere. Bright morning sunlight shines through the windows and glints off the worn metal of the gun on his hip.

I have to admit that Brody Atkinson is quite an impressive sight. His green eyes are sharp with lines at their corners, created by years of looking into the sun and seeing everything around him. Just the way he carries himself oozes deadliness and power. He looks hard, unyielding and, well, quite scary, with that scar cutting across his tense cheek.

I wave when his eyes come my way but his face remains unchanged as he makes his way through the crowd toward my table. I chose a table in the back corner and I stand as he makes his way to me.

Brody tips his hat in acknowledgment and then sits down, though I notice he takes the seat in the corner so his eyes can see everything that happens inside the quiet diner and anyone who steps in the door. And I also notice that he doesn’t help me take my seat or wait until I’m sitting to take his own. It’s good to see that Brody Atkinson is still Brody Atkinson.

After getting the greetings out of the way, I know that it’s time to start this interview so I tear my eyes away from his broad chest and smile.

Me:

“Thank you for agreeing to do this interview, Brody. I know you’re a busy man.”

Brody:

“Not today. The cowgirl let me know I have all the time in the world for you and for this interview.”

Me:

with a smile and a knowing nod “So I have Elizabeth to thank for you being here?”

Brody:

A tiny smile pulls at the corner of his lips

Me:

“Well lets get this thing started then shall we? Since we’ve already been speaking about Elizabeth, I’ll start this interview with a question from @JenDLC . She has two questions but the first is, what your secret is to your and Elizabeth’s marriage being so strong after all this time together?”

Brody:

shrugs and leans back in his chair “She’s the boss. That’s the secret. I say ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no ma’am’ and we both stay happy.

Me:

shaking my head “Really? That’s all there is to it?

Brody:

nods “She knows the things I’ve done, the things I’m capable of, and she loves me anyway. For that alone I’d do anything for that cowgirl.”

Me:

misty eyed “You really are just a big softie aren’t you?”

Brody

: brow raises ever so slightly

Me:

laughing lightly “So has the cooking improved?

Brody:

chuckling “Nope”

Me:

Blushing as I find my eyes looking him up and down “You certainly don’t seem to be suffering.”

Brody

Clearing his throat and looking humorously awkward “I was in the war. I can eat anything”

Me:

“Okay, and @JenDLC had one more question for you. She wants to know what your advice would be for a parent with a daughter who is approaching dating age and starting to notice boys?”

Brody

: Anger flashing in his eyes and a slight growl leaving his throat “A room with no windows and a door with a good solid lock on the outside for her. And guns… lots of guns.. For those boys she’s noticing.”

Me:

Laughing loudly “So you would imprison your daughter and murder any boy who comes around?”

Brody:

Shaking his head “It’s not murder. It’s home defense.”

Me:

Okay, our next question comes from @JenneferWilliams-Hal and she wants to know why, after living such a hard life for such a long time, that you can’t lighten up just a little. She says she finds it’s better to look at the bright side of life so the darkness doesn’t take over.

Brody:

Eyebrow raising “I thought I had lightened up.”

Me:

“I think she means why can’t you laugh, smile and joke more often. Or be a bit nicer to everyone….. Please don’t look at me like that. It’s her question, I am just the messenger.”

Brody:

looking a little annoyed and yet somehow amused “I’m nice to people. I’m practically my own little ray of sunshine.”

Me:

Scratching at my head with my pencil “Riiiight. Okay then, we’ll let that lead us into our next question which comes from @Vampdiaries101 . She wants to know why that when Emily first arrived in town and you were picking her up from the stage office, why didn’t you help her on and off the cart? Was it because you had grown used to Elizabeth doing everything herself or simply because you are rude to most people?

Brody:

“I don’t like most people.”

Me:

“Yes, I can practically see the sunshine coming off of you.”

Brody:

Flashing a rare smile that pulls at the scar on his cheek and causes me to nearly spill the cup of lemonade I’d been bringing to my lips “The way I have it figured is that if a person can’t even get themselves in and out of a cart without help then they don’t need to be coming around here and bothering me. I got better things to do than play nursemaid.”

Me:

Laughing “Like interviews with me?”

Brody:

Tipping his head “Of course. I think that goes back to the question about my relationship with Elizabeth. She told me to be here, I’m here.”

Me:

“I see you keep looking out the window so I won’t keep you much longer, Brody. Just a couple more questions. This one is from @Alwatts , she wants to know what your happiest childhood memory is.”

Brody:

A flash of pain entering his green eyes as he stares down at the white tablecloth. “The mornings. Late spring and summer mornings. The mist and fog would be heavy in the air and laying on the mountains. Mama and my older sisters would be singing while they cooked breakfast. Susie and Sally would be playing in the floor. Me, Jacob and pa would be out in the barns, but you could still hear the singing coming through the open windows… I guess that would my favorite memory. Just the mornings.”

Me:

Misty eyed “That’s beautiful, Brody.”

Brody:

“See told you I’d lightened up. Have you seen me brand any heads today?”

Me:

Laughing “No, I have not… thank the Lord. Now our final question comes from @tanichcaf and this is a burning question that they simply had to have answered.

Brody:

“Uh-oh”

Me:

“The question is…. What is your favorite kind of pie?”

Brody

Yet another famous Atkinson brow raise “Pie? The big burning question is about pie?’

Me:

“Folks are easily amused I suppose.”

Brody:

“I like apple pie.. Peach pie… pumpkin pie… I like pie in general, I guess. Just so long as Elizabeth ain’t the one baking it.”

Me:

“Uh-oh… you know I may interview her one day and that little bit of information might slip out…”

Brody:

shrugs “I’d tell her the same thing.”

Me:

“Yes you probably would. Well Brody thank you for your time today. I really enjoyed getting a chance to speak to you.”

Brody:

pushes his seat out and stands then waits for me to do the same “It was nice to talk to you too.”

Me:

“But you’re glad it’s over?”

Brody

“Yes ma’am.”

Brody leaves the diner just as quickly and silently as he entered it and as I watch his silhouette fade into the sunlight that he’s walking toward I can’t help but smile.

Brody Atkinson is an interesting man. An asshole with a heart of gold who loves his cowgirl more than anything else. And God help his daughter when the boys finally start to come around.

Marston, Duke and Jeremiah

The air inside the shop was filled with oppressive heat and the scent of gunpowder and lead.

I was looking for Marston Jacobs, or Jacob Marston as he now jokingly called himself.

Seeing that he was not in his shop, I stepped back out onto the boardwalk of this sleepy little nowhere town in the Dakotas.

My attention was then drawn down the dusty road to the mercantile when the angry yell of a man reached my ears.

And then there he was. Marston Jacobs. He appeared amused as he stepped out of the mercantile and I wondered who had yelled. My curiosity was satisfied when Jeremiah stepped from the mercantile next with cuffs on his wrists and Pete holding his arm.

“See Marston!” Jeremiah exclaimed, his eyes glaring angrily at his brother, who had his arms crossed over his broad chest… and when I say broad, I mean broad! That man is roughly the size of an oak tree!

“What am I supposed to be seeing, Jeremiah?” Marston asked. I knew the men hadn’t noticed me so I simply stood back and watched them with amusement, though I made sure I stayed near the thick wooden banister just in case bullets began to fly. That tended to happen when Marston and Jeremiah disagreed.

“I told you having a lawman in the family was a bad idea! Dammit, if that girl of yours was mine, I would have said absolutely not when she talked about wanting to marry his ass!”

“Don’t be mad at Pete. You’re the one stealing from the mercantile.”

“I’ll let him go.” Pete said with a sigh and Jeremiah looked smug until Marston shook his head.

“No, he’s gotta learn his lesson about this stealing.”

“I wasn’t stealing!” Jeremiah insisted. “I was gonna pay for it later.”

“So that’s why you stuck that tobacco in your pocket while the clerks back was turned and then headed for the door?” Pete asked skeptically and Jeremiah spit onto the dirt and shrugged.

“I was buyin’ it on credit.”

“Let’s get to the jail.” Pete urged.

Jeremiah snorted. “Fine, I’ll just pick the lock and be home in time for Rose’s ham at supper.”

“Not that lock.” Marston countered. “I made that lock. It’s unpickable.”

“Damnation!” Jeremiah exclaimed as he looked down at the dirt. Then he glanced around them. “Where’s Duke?”

“I believe he went on to the house to let Delilah know you wouldn’t be home for supper.” Marston replied with a chuckle and Jeremiah began fighting against Pete.

“Let me go, lawdog! Please! I ain’t been hit in the head with that bible for a good solid week and I really don’t wanna get hit with it today!”

I decided it was time to let my presence be known. I had questions for Duke, Marston and Jeremiah and I did not want to be speaking through bars.

“Excuse me…” I spoke up as I stepped down onto the street. All three men instantly turned to look at me. “My name is….”

“Conleyswifey.” Marston spoke up before I could finish. “We’ve been wondering when you’d show up.”

“I’m here now. Do you men have a little while to sit down with me?”

“Of course we do.” A voice said behind me and I jumped and let out a squeak before turning and seeing Duke standing behind me. Tall, rangy and lean. A true vision of the old west.

“That’s great. Let’s go find a place to sit down and get this done.” I stated with a smile.

A short time later found the four of us, Marston, Duke, Jeremiah and myself sitting together on the boardwalk outside of the gun shop.

They allowed me to have the bench, Marston leaned against the banister and Duke and Jeremiah sat down on the steps leading to the street, though they turned sideways so they could look at me.

Once the pleasantries were out of the way, I knew it was time to get started.

Conleyswifey:

“Okay, boys, you all know how this works I’m sure. I have quite a few questions from folks that have read the stories of your lives and have things they want to know. I’ll ask you these questions and you HAVE to answer them.”

Jeremiah:

“Are we supposed to be scared?”

Conleyswifey:

laughing lightly “I am a little. Some of these questions make me a bit nervous.”

Marston:

“Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you. We’re not nearly as mean as we look.”

Conleyswifey:

unconvinced “Right. Well let’s get started. Remember some of the questions are a bit personal but you all agreed to answer them here with each other instead of separately.”

Marston:

“Let’s just get this thing going. Rose has a ham cooking and I want to get home to it soon.”

Conleyswifey:

“Yes, sir. I’ll start off with questions that are directed at only Jeremiah.

Jeremiah:

chuckling “See I’m more important.”

Conleyswifey:

“Riiight. Okay, first question comes from @dreamweaver18. Jeremiah when was the first time that you were shot by your brother and why did he shoot you?”

Jeremiah:

shifts uncomfortably on the step

Marston:

“Go ahead, Jeremiah. Tell the woman what she wants to know.”

Jeremiah

: “I’d rather not.”

Marston:

“Allow me then! My brother dearest decided that after we robbed a stagecoach and then went our separate ways, it would be a good idea to go to a lawman and turn me in, telling them where I’d gone. Of course he made sure to not tell them about his role in the robbery. Once I finally shook that posse off, which took a week fhard riding and trying to hide, I found his ass and put a bullet in it.”

Duke:

“But they’ve always fought. Fists mostly and the occasional knife.”

Conleyswifey

: nodding with disbelief “We’ll talk some more about that later.”

Jeremiah

: grumbling “Can’t wait.”

Conleyswifey:

“Alright, next question for you, Jeremiah and you had better answer this one. This question comes from @beautifulpinkroses, Jeremiah, why were you so selfish and jealous of the fact that Marston settled down when you are the one who would always settle down somewhere, considering it home?”

Jeremiah

: “Popping up a lean-to for a week is a hell of a lot different than shacking up with some woman and her kid.”

Marston:

growls and stands up straighter “Some woman and her kid?”

Jeremiah:

“Dammit, you know what I mean. I felt like I lost my damn brother when he caught the crazy and I was a damn fool because of it. Let’s move on to the next question now.”

Conleyswifey:

“Hey now, I’m the narrator of this interview. I’ll say when we’re moving on.”

Jeremiah:

raises both brows and glances over at Duke “Is this woman really speaking that way to us?”

Duke:

seeming amused “Sounds that way to me.”

Jeremiah:

“Well then, boss, lead the interview.

Conleyswifey:

“Next question.”

Jeremiah:

“But that’s what I said…..”

Conleyswifey:

chuckles @Aiwatts want to know, Jeremiah, did you learn a good lesson in life to not hurt or let down those who care for you?

Jeremiah:

stands “Where’s Pete? I’m ready to go to jail now.”

Marston:

“Answer the damn question, Jeremiah.”

Jeremiah:

“Fine. Yes. I learned my lesson, mama, and I’ll be a damned good boy from now on. Next question, please.”

Conleyswifey:

rolls eyes “The final question directed just for you comes from @LadyofDarkness. She wants to know: Jeremiah, did you ever realize, until you lost them, how much you needed or cared about Marston and Duke?

Jeremiah:

“I don’t need or care about them bastards!”

Marston:

shaking his head roughly “Hell no we don’t need and care about one another.”

Duke:

“Not at all.”

Conleyswifey:

“Okay, now you’re all lying and I’m losing my patience.”

Jeremiah

: “Are we bad interviewees?”

Conleyswifey:

Sighs “Yes.”

Marston:

“We’ll do better.”

Conleyswifey:

“Okay. These next questions are for Duke.”

Duke

: Sits up a little straighter “I’m ready.”

Conleyswifey:

“@PenvsSword wants to know how it was visiting Marston once the children were running around?”

Duke:

“I kept coming back didn’t I? I liked it. Marston settling down helped all of us, even though Jeremiah won’t admit it.”

Jeremiah:

grumbles “You’re just trying to get on her good side.”

Conleyswifey

: shakes head “Okay, Duke, these next two questions are a bit on the more sensitive side and I just ask you not to kill the messenger.”

Duke:

Raises a brow “It’s actually been a while since I’ve killed anyone. You should be alright.”

Conleyswifey:

“Somehow that doesn’t make me feel any better. Okay, @Marikaobscura wants to know, Duke, why did you leave Carol in the first place? Are men always so stupid? She also asks that you please don’t hunt her down.”

Duke:

pain flashes in his eyes and he pulls out a cigar and lights it “No, we’re not always that stupid, but I was. Didn’t appreciate what I had when I had it and ran scared. I don’t have any other excuse than that.”

Conleyswifey:

“@LadyofDarkness asked the same basic question yet she also wanted to know how you felt about that decision now.”

Duke:

“I’m too old to pretend I’m tough and unfeeling the way Jeremiah does. I feel like a fool for all the years I wasted. Luckily I got me a woman that’s tough enough to forgive me and I don’t plan on wasting another day I’ve got to be with her.”

Conleyswifey

: misty eyed “Duke, that’s beautiful. So it’s safe to say you’ve learned your lesson?

Duke:

“Yes, ma’am.”

Conleyswifey

: @tanichcaf want to know if you and Carol would ever adopt or do you just serve as grandparents to all the children running around?”

Marston:

“They don’t serve as grandparents. They are grandparents. Family is family, blood or not.”

Conleyswifey

: smiles “Did you hear that @tanichcaf? You just got me put in my place.”

Duke:

“We’re too old for adopting babies. We got plenty of children running around to keep us busy.”

Jeremiah

: “Y’all are making me look bad.”

Marston

: “You oughtta be used to that by now.”

Conleyswifey:

“Okay let’s try to stay on track! We’ve still got a lot of questions to go! Duke, @Aiwatts wants to know if you consider yourself as an older sexy all-man cowboy? Or if you think the ladies see you as an older, wiser sex pot. Because she does.”

Jeremiah:

snorting angrily “I’m not a bad catch myself! Why the hell didn’t anybody ask me something like that?

Marston:

“Because they got common sense.”

Jeremiah:

“Don’t think I won’t shoot you just because we’re in the middle of an interview.”

Marston:

“Don’t think I won’t shoot you back.”

Conleyswifey:

lets out a long breath “Duke?”

Duke

: sits up a little straighter and blows out smoke slowly “I’d never really thought of that but tell her I said thanks. I’m sure my wife would agree that I’m a good catch.”

Conleyswifey

: “I don’t even have a response for that and I’m already blushing at the thought of your final question but I suppose it’s time to ask it… Duke, @isadora wants to know that if you and Carol don’t work out do you think you could hit it up with her grandma? She’s sixty and still keeps it going.”

Marston and Jeremiah

laughing

Duke:

flushing red and shaking his head “I’m not sure what all those words meant but I understood enough… Uh, sure, if me and Carol don’t work out I’d be glad to show your grandma a good time.”

Jeremiah:

“I cant’ wait to get home and tell Carol! You’re gonna be up shit creek, Duke!

Duke:

“And you’ll be hit with a bible.”

Conleyswifey: “

Okay these next questions are for Marston. Marston, @speakandbeHeard wants to know how it felt to go from dangerous outlaw to family man?”

Marston:

“I’m still very much a dangerous outlaw. I’m just a dangerous outlaw that happens to have a family.”

Conleyswifey:

“Good answer. Hopefully the rest of the questions will go as easily.

Marston:

nodding “Yeah, me too.”

Conleyswifey:

“@booknerd8D wants you to describe your first meeting with Rose. Did you know instantly that she was ‘the one’?”

Jeremiah

: “Answer carefully, little brother. I’ll be sure to share your answers with your beautiful wife.”

Marston:

glares at Jeremiah “And I’ll be sure to share my bullets with your face.”

Conleyswifey

: “Am I doing an interview or wrangling ten year olds?”

Duke:

“Now you know how I’ve felt all these years.”

Conleyswifey:

“Marston, can you answer now?”

Marston:

“No, I didn’t know she was ‘the one’. I thought she was some man eating woman that prayed on rich old men and I didn’t like her. Wanted to bed her but didn’t like her.”

Conleyswifey

: “At least you’re honest.”

Marston:

shrugs “I’ll try to be as honest as I can.”

Conleyswifey:

@miebakaDima-Dede wants to know when you knew you were in love with Rose.

Marston:

“When I walked into that bedroom after being gone and saw her lying there so near to death. It hit me like a ton of bricks in that second.”

Jeremiah

: bats lashes “Aww, you’re so sweet.”

Conleyswifey

: “Be good. Now the next question comes from @LadyofDarkness and she wants to know if, the first time you left Rose and Langly, you were absolutely certain you would never see them again or if you felt like you would return at some point?

Marston:

“No, I was sure I’d left for good. I don’t think I need to go into what happened to change my mind since that’s the past and we’ve moved passed it but you all know what it was. I knew then that I’d never leave them for good again.”

Conleyswifey:

@WhiteYue wants to know if you felt guilty taking a dying mans money when he specifically told you to give ALL of it to his beautiful, young, vibrant wife? They also say that you are a cold hearted son of a gun.”

Marston:

“I’ve been called worse. And, no, I didn’t feel guilty. I never wasted time feeling guilty back then and I don’t waste much time on it now. Plus, I figure I’ve more than made up for that after all this time.”

Conleyswifey:

“Fair enough. Your next question comes from @MyBrutalRomance and they asked what you would do if Lucy was older and you found out she was dating… or courting, I suppose you would say.”

Jeremiah:

laughs “Did you see that vein just about burst from his head?”

Duke:

“ I saw it.”

Marston:

clenches fists “Do these people want to kill me with a question like that? Damn…. Alright, truth is I’ve already been through one daughter getting married but I don’t think it’ll be any easier the second time around.”

Conleyswifey:

“That leads us in to our next question which comes from @KeelyMasseyBarger. She asks, Marston, if you could pick a husband for Lucy would you pick an outlaw like yourself or a farmer?”

Duke

: “A farmer could never handle our Lucy.”

Marston:

“How about I pick out an outlaw that’s like the man I am now. Not the man I was ten years ago.”

Jeremiah:

“Ten years ago, you were more fun.”

Conleyswifey:

“Jeremiah…..”

Jeremiah:

holds up his hands in surrender

Conleyswifey:

Okay, Marston, @PenvsSword wants to know if you’ve ever gone sledding with the kids?

Marston:

“Of course I have.”

Conleyswifey: “

Okay and @EnchantedDawn wants to know if there are any good parenting tips that you have to share or that you’ve observed from the way Rose interacts with your children?”

Marston:

“Rose is a perfect mother. If all people had mothers like Rose than there would be a lot less bad men like me, Jeremiah and Duke in the world. She’s stern without being strict and she is more than just a mother to the kids. She’s their friend and they come to her when they have problems. Our kids are lucky to have her.”

Jeremiah:

“For once I agree with my brother.

Conleyswifey:

smiling at Marston “Well I happen to think that they’re lucky to have you too.”

Marston:

Shifts his feet and simply tips his head.

Conleyswifey:

“Okay, next question, and the final question for only you comes from @Aiwatts and she wants to know how, after all those years of being a father to Langly, did it effect you when he went out to sow his wild oats? How do you let them go?

Marston:

“I won’t lie, it hurt. It hurt bad. I probably wouldn’t have handled it as well as I had if it hadn’t been for Rose. She was strong with it all and knew that you don’t have a choice but to let them go and it’s best to let them go without a fight that way they feel more open to coming back.”

Conleyswifey:

“Okay, I know you all have a ham to be getting home to so I won’t keep you much longer. We’re nearly done, we just have a few questions that are directed at the group of you. Are you ready?

Jeremiah:

“Hell yeah. And this time I’m not gonna let them make me look bad.”

Marston:

“You don’t have to let us, Jeremiah, it just tends to happen.”

Conleyswifey:

“Next question! I feel like this one is appropriate given the way you’re behaving. @BlueRose96 wants to know from Marston and Jeremiah why you fight so much and why do you like to shoot each other?”

Marston:

“Because he’s a dumbass.”

Jeremiah:

“Because he’s an uptight bastard.”

Duke:

“They’ve always been like that. I’ve learned to just stay out of the way and enjoy the show because more often than not it’s quite entertaining.”

Conleyswify:

“Sibling rivalry at its finest. Okay our next question comes from @kaitiebugz and she wants to know who the boss is in all of your marriages. You or your wives.”

Marston: “

Rose.”

Duke: “

Carol.”

Jeremiah: “

Delilah.”

Conleyswifey:

laughs “Really? I thought you would offer more of an argument than that.

Marston: “

The men we are, the things we’ve done, the people we’ve hurt… We’re lucky to have women that love us anyway. We’d be fools to even pretend as if they’re not the bosses. Doesn’t mean I’d tell Rose she’s the boss, she might take advantage if she knew.”

Duke:

“She already knows.”

Jeremiah:

“Delilah’s the boss because she’s a violent little woman with a terrible temper and a heavy bible that she likes to use to hit me in the head.”

Conleyswifey:

“Seems like a good reason to me! Okay, @tanichcaf has several questions. The first was do you still fight and shoot each other or have your wives calmed you down and I think we already know the answer to that.

Marston, Duke and Jeremiah

: chuckling

Conleyswifey: “

And her next question is since you all live together in the house do you split the chores?”

Marston:

“You couldn’t get Jeremiah to do a chore if you put a gun to his head and told him he had to! The only person that can is Delilah so every now and then he’ll muck out a stall just to keep her happy.

Jeremiah

: “If I’m so damn bad why don’t you kick my ass out?”

Marston:

“Because you’re good to have around for target practice.”

Duke:

“Next question?”

Conleyswifey:

sighs with exasperation “Yeah I suppose. The next question is also from @tanichcaf. She wants to know what your favorite pies are.”

Marston:

shakes his head “I don’t like pie.”

Duke:

“Carols pecan pie. It’s the only thing that woman can cook and she cooks it well.”

Jeremiah

: “I like all pie. I don’t have a favorite.”

Conleyswifey:

Next question is for @Tyga_Goo1314 and she wants to know if you could all change one thing about yourselves or how your life turned out, what would it be?”

Duke:

“I would have stayed with Carol.”

Conleyswifey:

So that would be your do over?”

Duke:

“Yes. I’ve done so many bad things in my life that changing just one of them wouldn’t really make a difference so my only do over would be to fix the biggest mistake I ever made in my life. I would have stayed with Carol.”

Jeremiah:

“I don’t have just one thing I’d change. I would have drank less. I would have been a better brother, a better uncle, a better man. I wouldn’t have forced women against their will and I wouldn’t have murdered men in cold blood.”

Marston:

“I would have killed Vincent Sharp better the first time and saved my family a whole load of trouble.”

Jeremiah:

laughs loudly “Haha! My answer was finally better than yours!”

Marston:

grinning “I know. I gave that one to you. I felt bad.”

Conleyswifey

: “I think all of the answers were good. Now our next question is from @beauitifulpinkroses and she wants to know why do all three of you help each other out even though you said you never would?”

Duke:

“I’ll answer this one. I was raised to never care but I think its in our nature, as people, to care about one another. Or at least to care about those we love and deep down I’ve always loved these two boys. I found Jeremiah and then we went and picked up Marston and they became the sons I never had. Was I a good influence? No. But we made it and we’re still here together and that’s why we’ve always had each others backs. We put on a tough exterior for the rest of the world, that’s a must for self preservation in the life we lived, but we know we’re there for each other.”

Jeremiah:

“Aww Duke, you sound just like one of them sensitive men.”

Marston:

“You never did let us know we meant so much to you. Hell back when I found Rose I was worried you would hurt she and Langly just because you could. I didn’t know you saw me as a son.”

Duke:

shrugs “It wasn’t’ something I talked about.”

Conleyswifey:

“See you’re learning all kinds of things about one another. Now our final question comes from @EnchantedDawn and this one is for Duke and Jeremiah. EnchantedDawn wants to know if the two of you ever miss your old lives after living with your wives?

Duke:

shakes his head “No. I was getting too old for that life. Being settled down with Carol is where I’m supposed to be right now.”

Conleyswifey:

“What about you, Jeremiah?”

Jeremiah:

looks threateningly at his brother and Duke “Y’all better keep this to your damn selves.”

Marston:

“I’ll think about it.”

Duke:

“We won’t tell just so long as you don’t let anybody know I actually care about your ass.”

Jeremiah:

“That’ll have to do I guess.” looks back at me “I miss it sometimes. Not the women or the doing wrong! No I love my wife and I can actually look in the mirror now and not hate who I am but I miss the freedom of living on horseback from time to time.”

Marston:

“You’re more than welcome to leave Roses’ and my soup kitchen anytime you want. I’m sure she could find some other needy soul to use a bedroom.”

Jeremiah:

grins “But then Duke would miss me. I couldn’t leave him after hearing how much he loves me.”

Conleyswifey:

“Well I must say that this has been interesting! I thank each of you for taking time out of your day to talk to me and I can honestly say that you are not bad men. You might have done bad in your lives but I would trust each of you with my life if push came to shove.”

Jeremiah:

“You’re a brave woman.”

Conleyswifey:

laughs “Yeah probably.”

Marston, Duke and Jeremiah take turns shaking my hand and then make their way to their hitched horses. I watch them mount up and ride off out of town with the sunset shining on their faces.

They paint an impressive scene. Rugged gunfighters, dangerous outlaws, who know how to handle themselves. Men who have done unspeakable evil in their lives and yet somehow overcame that, overcame all their demons and the scars of their upbringings and have turned into a family with their wives and children.

I know I’m looking at three men that truly represent outlaw spirit and I find myself smiling at Marston’s retreating back as he rushes home to his Rose and her ham.

Langly and Jessie

I can easily tell whose home I am in as I sit on the soft sofa beside a gentle fire and eye the stack of books sitting on the tiny table next to me. Lying beside the books was a large knife that looked sharp enough to split hairs.          

                If I were to guess I would say that the knife belongs to the woman of the house. As if thinking of her made her appear, Jessie came walking into the room, though her normally confident stride was hindered a bit by her large pregnant belly which caused her to waddle more so than strut.

                Quickly, I get to my feet and Jessie waved her hand. “Don’t bother standing on my account.” She scolds. “Cuz I plan on sitting down real quick.”

                “It shouldn’t be much longer before that baby comes, should it?” I asked Jessie and she sighed as she sits on the small sofa across from me and lays her hands over her growing belly.

                “Another two months or so.” She admits, blowing strands of wild golden hair from her face. “I told Langly that if he does this to me again, I’ll shoot him.”

                “Where is Langly?”

                “Hiding.” Jessie replied with a smile as I take my seat once again. “He’s afraid that the great Conleyswifey will ask him questions that he doesn’t want to answer.”

                “Quit your story telling.” Langly’s voice cut in and I turned to see him walking into the room. He’s so cute. Thick chestnut hair that falls over his brow, freckles and a happy smile that reveals the small gap between his teeth.

                His eyes are the same as his mothers and yet there’s something in the way that he carries himself; a confidence that I’m sure he has picked up from Marston.

                “Nice to meet you, Conleyswifey, and don’t listen to my wife. I was just getting us all something to drink.”

                Langly held up the try of tea he was carrying and smiled wider as he handed Jessie and I each a cup before settling down on the small sofa beside his wife. “And she’s the one that’s been worried about this interview.”

                “Why is that?” I asked, sipping the sweet tea and finding that it was delicious.

                “Well I was pretty damn dumb there for a while. I’m sure they’ll be some people that’ll have something to say about that.” Jessie admits.

                “You might be pleasantly surprised.” I countered with a comforting smile.

                “Well then let’s get this thing started. This youngin’ is resting heavy on my bladder and I can’t go too long without running to the outhouse.”

                Laughing, I reach in my pocket and pull out the list of questions, pretending I don’t notice the gentle kiss Langly lays to Jessie’s temple and the way she smiles lovingly back at him.

                “Okay, I’ll start with the questions that are only for Langly.”

                “Sounds good.” Langly agreed, taking a quick drink of tea as he sat up straighter and leaned forward.

                Conleyswifey: ‘Our first question comes from @CheriDawn and she wants to know; Langly how does it feel to have Marston as a dad. What did you think of him when you first met him and what did you think of running wild with your uncle?’

                Langly: “I’m gonna answer those backward.”

                Conleyswifey: smiling mischeviously“Just remember your wife has limited bladder control time.’

                Langly: scoffing ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

                Jessie: ‘She means you talk a lot and she’s reminding you to keep it short.’

                Langly: Shaking his head ‘You know you love listening to me talk.’

                Jessie: laughs quietly but says nothing else

                Langly: ‘Alright then, you bunch of comedians. Running wild with my uncle was fun for a while. I liked sleeping under the stars, talking around the campfires and playing poker. But I got homesick after a time and just wanted to settle back down a while. That’s when the trouble started.’

                Conleyswifey: ‘Trouble being Jeremiah’s sudden urge to rob a bank?’

                Langly : nodding sadly ‘Yeah that.’

                Conleyswifey :’Okay then, if you wanted to answer them backward then the next question is what did you think of Marston when you first met him?’

                Langly : ‘I thought he was the biggest giant of a man I had ever laid eyes on in my life! But I thought he was great. The mouth shut or get tied up game was a work of genius on his part and I can see me using that on my own kids one day’

                Jessie: shakes head ‘Kid. Singular. We aren’t doing this again’

                Conleyswifey: ‘ And the final question from @CheriDawn. How does it feel to have Marston has a dad?

                Langly: ‘Intimidating.  I am the son of the Marston Jacobs. In a lot of circles there is a lot of pressure that comes from that. Lawman automatically think I’m a bad man and outlaws instantly compare me to Marston and wonder if I’m as tough as he is.  But aside from that having Marston as my father has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. The way he has been with my mama, the way he loves and takes care of her is more than I ever hoped she’d find. And he took me right under his wing and he treats me just like I’m his own flesh and blood. Folks can say what they want about Marston Jacob’s and his past but I know he’s a good man.’

                Jessie :Giving Langly’s hand a squeeze  ‘And he’d be complaining of a stomach ache right about now if he could hear you’

                Langly: chuckling ‘Yes he would.’

                Conleywifey: ‘Okay, our next question for Langly comes from @Aiwatts and ties in to the last question. She asks; Langly how blessed do you feel having Marston being your father all these years? It says a lot about a man being a dad when he doesn’t have to be, don’t you think?

                Langly: Nodding ‘Marston is the best man I know. Sure he’s got a bad past and he’s done bad things in his life but he rode in and he saved my mama and me all those years ago and he taught me how to shoot, he taught me how to work hard and he taught me how to help those who need help even though he wouldn’t admit that he’d help anyone. I hope I can be half the dad to my child that he was to me.’

                Conleyswifey: ‘You will be. I have faith in you.’

                Jessie: Smiling ‘I do too.’

                Conleyswifey: ‘Our next question comes from @LiveLife02  and she wants to know; Langly, before meeting Jessie what type of girl did you see yourself falling for? Does Jessie fit the bill?

                Langly : Casting a nervous glance and grin at Jessie

                Jessie: Smiles with false sweetness and bats her lashes ‘Yeah, Langly, do I fit the bill?

                Conleyswifey: ‘Uh-oh, @LiveLife02, you’ve caused some trouble in paradise.’

                Langly: ‘No, no trouble. I wanted pretty. Blond. I wanted one that could cook and clean….’

                Jessie: ‘Yep you must be awful disappointed then.

                Langly: ‘Not at all. I’d be bored to death with one of those women. You’re all I want, Jessie. And lucky for us mama is a real good cook and it doesn’t take too long to get to her house.’

                Conleyswifey: ‘And next question….  This comes from @CeruleanBlues. They ask: Does Langly ever lose his temper since he seems to be the kind of man who has the patience of a saint?

                Jessie: raises her hand ‘I’ll answer that! No. The man does not. It is the single most annoying trait of his. Those damn patience.’

                Langly: rolls his eyes ‘Most women would be glad to have a patient man. Besides a man with the patience of a saint is the only kind that could put up with a woman like you.’

                Jessie: ‘And he thinks he’s so clever.’

                Conleyswifey: ‘ @MiebakaDimeDede wants to know; Langly were you really going to forget about Jessie? And what would you have done if she hadn’t come back?’

                Langly: nods and taps his fingers against the cup of tea in his hands ‘Yeah I was going to forget about her. What choice did I have? I wasn’t going to crawl after her again. I might not have much of a temper to speak of but I do have the smallest sliver of pride.  And if she hadn’t come back to me then I would have more than likely spent the rest of my life alone and working in that gun shop hoping that one day I’d look over the horizon and see her riding in.’

                Jessie: bites at her lip and nudges him with her shoulder ‘I was pretty dumb back then.’

                Langly: ‘It’s all in the past now.’

                Conleyswifey: @Speakandbeheard wants to know how life would have been different if Jessie hadn’t come back and whether you could have seen yourself ever moving on with someone new?

                Langly: shakes his head quickly “Nope. Never would have. Jessie was my first and she would have been my last; whether she ever came back or not.’

                Jessie : ‘Can we move on to questions that don’t remind me of how foolish I was for a time?

                Conleyswifey: Sure can, for a minute anyway. @Fire-starter asks; Langly while your mama has a heart of gold were you nervous about leaving her and Jessie alone together?

                Langly : laughing ‘No. I talked to mama first so I knew she’d be on her best behavior.

                Conleyswifey: ‘And now that brings us to some questions for Jessie.

                Jessie : Adjusts herself on the cushion and breathes out a sigh ‘Okay I’m ready.’

                Conleyswifey: @Fire-starter wants to know: Jessie do you still talk to your mama and how did it feel to be accepted by Langly’s family so quickly?

                Jessie: ‘Me and my mama send each other letters. I sent her one to let her know I was gonna be a mama and she’s actually coming to visit next month and spend time with us once the baby is born. I’m hoping that goes well since me and mama haven’t exactly been best friends our whole lives. And as far as Langly’s family goes, they are the family I never really had. I never expected them to accept me at all given my past and the way I hurt Langly but they pretty much all took me in with open arms and I’m grateful for that.’

                Conleyswifey: ‘Okay and @JenneferWilliams-Hal wants to know who scared you more, Marston or Rose and why?

                Jessie: Rose. One hundred percent for sure it was Rose.

                Langly: clearly surprised “My mama? Why in the world would you have been more afraid of my mama than of my pa? He’s the murdering outlaw in the family!

                Jessie nodding ‘Yes exactly and I know how to deal with men like that. I was raised up with them! What I wasn’t raised up with was angry mama’s and she was sending death daggers across that table at me the first day I met her.’

                Langly : rolling his eyes “Death daggers?’

                Jessie:  ‘Big sharp ones.’

                Conleyswifey: ‘ Okay  now it’s time for one of those questions that Jessie doesn’t like. @MiebakaDimaDede asks; Jessie, if Langly hadn’t forgiven you what would you have done?’

                Jessie: Glances sadly at Langly ‘I don’t know. I didn’t really let myself think about that possibility. I would have walked away I suppose… I don’t know where I would have gone or what I would have done but I would walked away.’

                Langly: ‘Walking away is hard. I only did it once but damn it hurts.’  Jessie lays her head gently on his shoulder and we all fall into a brief moment of silence.

                Conleyswifey: ‘ @Aiwatts asks; Jessie, I know at first you were afraid to share your heart. After being blessed with such a love what advice do you have for others afraid of taking that risk?’

                Jessie: shrugs ‘Take it. It’s worth it.’

                Conleyswifey: ‘Short and sweet answer’

                Jessie: ‘I’ll leave the long answers to old wind bag over here.’

                Langly: ‘Ha ha.’

                Conleywifey:  ‘And our last question for Jessie comes from @Cerulean-Blues and they ask; Jessie, if it was a special occasion like Langly’s birthday and you wanted to impress and surprise him, would you be willing to dress in a lady-like dress?”

                Jessie: nearly shouting to be heard over Langly’s roaring laughter ‘No. I love him but no. Now I did get up early and cook him a special breakfast on his birthday though.’

                Langly: wipes tears from his eyes and shudders ‘Yes she did.’

                Jessie : smacks his arm ‘I tried! It’s the thought that counts!”

                Langly: wraps her in a side hug and kisses her cheek tenderly, a smile pulling at his mouth ‘Yes, you’re right. It’s the thought that counts.’

                Conleywifey: ‘Exactly. It’s always the thought that counts.’

                Langly: ‘Yeah but it’s the raw sausage that’ll kill ya.’

Conleywifey: ‘Since your wife looks angry enough to kill you we’ll move on to the final question which is directed at both of you. @Fire-Starter asks; Is there anything about your journey together you would change even though everything worked out in the end. Is there any advice you have for couples who might follow in your footsteps. And also what’s one thing that you want your child or children to take away from each other.’

Jessie: waves hand ‘Go ahead, wind bag. You first.’

Langly: shakes head “Fine. Something I’d change about our journey? I wouldn’t have drugged her drink in that hotel that night. I would have just been honest and told her my plan. As far as advice, I don’t really have any. Everybody’s story is different so who’s to say anything I say would help them? And what do I want our children to take from Jessie? Her sheer iron-willed grit and stubbornness. Those might not seem like real good traits sometimes but they are some of the things I love the most about this woman and I think they are good traits for a person to have to survive in this life.

Jessie: ‘Okay, you’re not in as much trouble over making fun of my birthday breakfast now.’

Langly: grinning ‘Thank you dear. It’s your turn to answer now’

Jessie: ‘I wouldn’t change anything. I know that seems crazy since I messed things up so bad but I had to. If I hadn’t ended up back with my mama and gotten shot and had that talk with her then I never would have felt as if I was good enough for Langly. As sad as it all was and as much time as it wasted, it was all necessary. Advice I have to offer would just be to follow your heart. Love can hurt sometimes but damn when it’s good then it’s worth all the rough stuff you might have to get through to find it. And I hope our children get Langly’s openness. His ability to care about and trust every person he meets. It’s one of the things that I love most about him because it makes him so much different from most other people.’

Conleyswifey: “Well I thank both of you for taking the time to do this interview and I can see Jessie squirming a bit so I believe I’ve used up all the time her bladder has.”

Langly: “Come on back anytime. My pa speaks pretty highly of you’

Conleyswifey: laughs ‘Now there was a fun interview. Alright you two, be good to each other and enjoy your happiness. I think you’ve both earned it.”

                As I get on my horse and ride off I think of the journey that Langly and Jessie went through to get to where they are today in their small cabin at the edge of Marston’s property. It gives me hope for everyone else in the world for it two such opposite people, who seemed determined to screw things up can wind up as happy as those two are together then we all stand a chance!

Dawn and Grange

Something in me grows uneasy as I near the cabin nestled in the woods on this winding dirt road. It is as if some primitive instinct tucked somewhere into my subconscious has suddenly roared to life though there is nothing about this cabin, by the look or the smell of it, that should alarm me.

                Something inside my mind knows that there are predators that live here. And that dark recess inside my mind is telling me to run from the danger. Run from the death that I will undoubtedly find if I continue……

                I jump down off my restless brown mare. She too is troubled by this place and the feeling of danger it possesses.

                Then suddenly my senses all go on high alert as a terrible snarling fills the air and a black ball of fur is suddenly leaping from the bushes and barreling straight at me.

                “Maggie! Maggie, don’t you dare!” I hear Brie calling out, though she’s still hidden from view. The tiny black pup jumps in the air and collides with my chest, taking me down to the ground and then covering my face in warm wolf kisses.

                Laughing, I scratch behind her ears and Brie enters the clearing then. “I’m sorry, Conleyswifey. She does this every single time you come.”

                “It’s no problem.” I assure the tiny red head as I get to my feed and wipe the dirt from my backside. “I’m just here to interview Grange and Dawn for the readers.”

                Brie looks quite amused as she snaps her fingers at Maggie and the puppy suddenly shifts and becomes a girl. Brie wraps a small blanket around her tiny shoulders. “Get on to the house now, Maggie. Your papa isn’t going to be happy that you ruined that pretty red dress.”

                “Sorry, mama….” Maggie sighs. “But I really scared you that time, didn’t I?” she adds to me and I nodded, though it’s a lie.

                “Yes you certainly did. I nearly shook right out of my boots.” I tell her, lifting one foot and wiggling it around. She giggles loudly and then runs back into the woods toward Brie and Nickolai’s tiny cabin.

                “Grange and Dawn are in the cabin. The boys took Creed to the lake for swimming lessons. Grange wanted to go but Dawn reminded him about the interview…. He’s not looking forward to it. As a matter of fact, if you walk in and see the alpha tied up and gagged on the sofa, you’ll know that Dawn had to resort to drastic measures.”

                I laugh loudly. “He isn’t scared is he?”

                The cabin door opens and Dawn steps out, smiling with amusement. “He is afraid you’re going to ask about his feelings . He says he has none.”

                “Well let’s put him out of his misery then and get this interview started shall we?” I offer and I hear a deep voice, gravelly and probably quite scary if heard by someone who didn’t know the true nature of the man whom it belonged to call out:

                “Or we could just forget the whole thing!”

                Dawn and I share a look and she laughs. “That’s not going to happen, darling. You might as well just sit there on that sofa, look pretty and answer the woman’s questions.”

                “Pretty?” that deep voice asks with amusement and Dawn grins.

                “Yes, Grange. Nice and pretty.”

Conleyswifey: “Grange, first I want to thank you for allowing me to come into your home.”

Grange: Points at Dawn “Thank her.”

Dawn:  “You don’t have to thank us, Conleyswifey. We’re happy to have you here, aren’t we Grange?”

Grange: Slides his arm around Dawn’s shoulders “Yep.”

Conleyswifey: “Dawn, since Grange seems so patient today, we’ll go over your questions first. I know you are both busy between the pack and the bakery so I’ll try to make this quick. By the way, how is the bakery doing?”

Dawn: Smiles proudly “Great! It’s a bit harder to keep up the inventory with the pack growing the way it is but I’ve been running it for four years now and I’m happy with the way it’s going.”

Grange:  “There’s one question down. Let’s hope there aren’t too many more.”

Conleyswifey:  “Actually that one didn’t count.” grins evilly “That was simply a warm up question.”

Grange: grumbles under his breath

Conleyswifey: “Okay, Dawn, our first question comes from @vovnix and they ask: Dawn, how many more children would you want to have? And @vovnix as well as @AngelsHeart27 would like to know what you would name a baby girl if you have one.”

Grange: sits up straighter and beams with pride “Actually…..”

Dawn: Blushes and puts her finger to her lips “Grange, be quiet.”

Conleyswifey: frowns “What’s going on?”

Dawn: “Since Grange opened his big mouth—glares at Grange while he grins sheepishly “—I guess I can go ahead and tell you. Grange and I are already expecting our second child.”

Conleyswifey: smiles happily “That is wonderful!”

Dawn: “We’re happy. His reaction was much better this time.”

Grange : shakes his head and lets out a sigh “There aren’t a million different threats looming over our heads this time, love.”

Conleyswifey: “So how many children would you like to have?”

Grange: “There are laws about how many children we can have. Only three within fifteen years and then we have to wait another fifty years before we can have more. We have to let the mortal generations age and move on before we go about ‘starting’ a family again.”

Dawn: “We have to do what we can to be discreet about what we are, even though most in this town has figured things out for themselves.”

Grange: “If we are not careful then the other packs could decide we’re a threat and decide we need to be eliminated. I would not let that happen, obviously, but I never have been the type to invite a fight unless it’s necessary.

Conleyswifey: And the other question, Dawn? What will you name your first daughter?”

Dawn: shrugs and looks thoughtfully at Grange who shrugs as well “I haven’t really thought about names… we’re just focusing on getting the newest pup into the pack healthy.”

Grange: grins “Éclair. Torte. Truffle.”

Dawn : laughs “We are not naming our daughter after dessert.”

Grange: shrugs “I like dessert.”

Conleyswifey: Dawn, @SimplyAWriter_D wants to know if you’ll be naming your daughter since Grange named Creed and I think it’s safe to say, based on Grange’s name choices, that the answer to that question is yes?

Dawn: nods “I think that’s fairly safe to say.”

Conleyswifey: laughs lightly “Okay, moving on…. Dawn, @SimplyAWriter_D wants to know: Did werewolves turn out to have fleas and, if so, how are you dealing with them?”

Grange: grumbles and looks over at Dawn “Damn you, woman. You’ve got the whole world thinking we’re ate up with fleas”

Dawn: laughs “Well we are part canine and most canines have fleas.”

Grange: scratches at his thick black hair “Well werewolves don’t.”

Conleyswifey: gives pointed look “Yes I can see that.”

Dawn: Pats Grange’s leg comfortingly “No we don’t have fleas unless you count Ella but she doesn’t give us itchy red bumps.”

Conleyswifey: “Next question comes from @KimDixon45 and she wants to know if you are still happy being a werewolf knowing that you’ve killed for your family’s protection?”

Grange: growls angrily “This again? Dawn doesn’t need to dwell on that anymore!”

Dawn: “It’s okay, Grange……”

Grange: “No, it’s not. I almost lost you once because of the killing and I’m not eager to talk about it now.”

Dawn: kisses his jaw and he visibly relaxes “These are those feelings that we were talking about Grange being uncomfortable with,” she sighs “I have never had a problem with killing to protect my family. Yes I was shocked very badly by the wolf’s urge to kill even a helpless man but I have come to terms with that and accepted that side of me.  I am still very happy being a wolf and having my wolf beside me.”

Conleyswifey: “Alright, Dawn, I have one last question that is directed at you. @isadora asks  where is Grange ticklish?”

Grange: snorts “Grange Michaels is not ticklish.”

Dawn: rolls her eyes, reaches out and tweaks at his nipple, causing the tough werewolf to nearly come off the couch as he laughs loudly and moves out of her reach “Yes he is.”

Grange: “glares at her* “I am the alpha of this pack. It’s best for others to not know my weaknesses”

Dawn: “You heard it here first, American packs. If you want to take down the great Grange Michaels, all you have to do is tickle his nipple.”

Conleyswifey: laughs loudly and wipes at the tears in her eyes “You two are so cute together.”

Grange: settles back down on the couch “Are we done now?”

Conleyswifey: “Not quite. It’s your turn now, Grange.”

Grange:   “Oh yay.”

Conleyswifey: “Grange, @vovnix wants to know what gave you the idea to name your son after Dawn’s brother? And they also ask how you would compare your new life with the pack to the solitary life you led before?

Grange: “Dawn told me stories about her brother and the fondness she had for him. I wanted to give her something of her brother and the best I could think was to name our son after him. And my old life was much quieter and simpler when compared to life in a pack. I had less headaches.”

Dawn: glares at him “I’m glad we’ve added so much to your life.

Grange: shakes his head “Don’t even try. You know I love you and I…. am fond.. .. of the pack.”

Conleyswifey: ‘Are these those feelings again?”

Grange: “Be nice to me.”

Conleyswifey: “I’m always nice. Okay, next question. @FaviZapata wants to know how you’ll handle your children dating.”

Grange: “I haven’t thought much about that.”

Conleyswifey: “So if ‘Little Dumpling’ dates you won’t have a problem with that?”

Grange: chuckling “Probably not. I’ll let you know when it happens.”

Dawn: “Our poor daughter… “

Conleyswifey: “Okay, Grange, @SimplyAWriter_D asks; what was your first thought when you found out that Farrah was Trig’s mate?”

Grange: “I felt sorry for Farrah” laughs at his own joke “No.. Honestly, I was worried about Trig. Cats are not known for their loyalty but Farrah has been a pleasant surprise for our pack and a good asset.”

Conleyswifey: @SimplyAWriter_D also wants to know: You always grumble about how you never wanted a pack but can you imagine your pack without any of its present members?”

Grange: “No.”

Conleyswifey: raises a brow “That’s it. No smart remarks? No jokes?”

Grange: “Nope.”

Conleyswifey: “You’re ready for this to be over aren’t you?”

Grange: “Yep.”

Conleyswifey: “We’re getting close to being done, Grange. I promise. @Joeniel14 asks what you would have done if Dawn had been a vampire?

Grange: shivers “Plugged my nose.”

Dawn: “How romantic.”

Grange: simply shrugs

Conleyswifey: @Joeniel14 also asks what would you do if Dawn didn’t know how to cook?

Grange: looks quite horrified “I’d be hungry.”

Dawn: speaks dryly “While he plugs his nose.”

Conleyswifey: “But he still says he’d be with you at least!”

Grange: Kisses Dawn’s temple “Of course I would. That was never up for debate.”

Conleyswifey: “Okay just a couple more questions and these are for both of you. @Joeniel14 asks what you both would have done if Dawn had had two ‘pups’ instead of one?

Dawn: “Slept less.”

Grange: “Kept the prettiest and gave the other one to Brie and Nickolai. They love babies.”

Dawn: smacks his chest “You would not have!”

Grange: laughing “This interview is simply painful. All you’ve done is smack and pinch me!”

Dawn: looks quite sheepish “Well you’ve asked for it.”

Conleyswifey: @ SimplyAWriter_D wants to know what your most frequent argument is about and I thought that was a fitting question considering the way this interview is going.”

Grange: “Dawn’s stubbornness”

Dawn: “That’s not true. We don’t argue much. We usually try to talk instead of argue. Usually it’s me trying to get him to be more open with people and less grumpy.”

Grange: “I’m getting better.”

Conleyswifey: @AngelsHeart27 wants to know how you keep the romance alive?  And are there any special things you do for each other?

Dawn: laughs “Grange and romance don’t exactly go hand-in-hand. But to me it’s the little things. There are times when I’m washing the dishes or hanging out clothes, that he will walk behind me, slip his arms around my waist and simply hold me before going back to whatever he was doing before. He always looks at me as if I’m the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen and he helps me whether I ask for it or not.”

Grange: puffs his chest out “I’m a better mate than even I realized.”

Conleyswifey : “And Grange? What does Dawn do that is special?”

Grange: “She always has my favorite cookies with fresh icing waiting on me whenever I step in the bakery. She isn’t afraid to challenge me and yet she stands beside me and has my back. What more can a man ask for than a beautiful woman who loves him with all she has, is a loving mother and can bake a mean batch of cookies?”

Conleyswifey: “Not a damn thing.”

Grange: wraps his arm a little tighter around Dawn “Exactly.”

Conleyswifey: “Grange, you’ll be happy to know that this is the last question.”

Grange: “Best thing I’ve heard all day.”

Conleyswifey:  @tanichcaf wants to know what kind of pie is each of your favorite.”

Grange: “Any kind Dawn bakes. That’s one of the best things about being mated to a baker.”

Dawn: “Peanut Butter pie is my favorite.”

Conleyswifey: “And that is the end of the interview. Thank you both so much for your time. Grange, I know this was the last thing you wanted to do today but I do thank you for suffering through it.”

Grange: “My pleasure.”

Atkinson Spread Interview

Interview at Atkinson Spread

                I must say I feel a bit more confident about this meeting with Brody Atkinson than I did our first meeting. He is a man who inspires great fear and respect from everyone around him and you either love him or hate him. Thankfully he seems fond of me; of course that could simply be because Elizabeth told him to.

                Smiling I see the ranch in the distance and I speed my horse up just a bit. This large family is waiting for me. Even Thomas and Sally had made their way back to Texas and the ranch just for this interview. The sun is hot and the sweat is trickling down my brow. With a sigh I wipe it away and try to contain my excitement.

                I’m meeting the whole family! It will be intimidating with so many strong people around me at once but I’m hopeful that it will go well.

                Atkinson Spread is truly an impressive place. The new log ranch house is gorgeous and the barns and corrals sprawl out for acres and acres before giving way to the hills which stretch as far as the eye can see. As I dismount my horse, Frank is there and he smiles and takes the reins, “They’re waiting for you in the third barn.”

                “Thank you,” I tip my head. Frank says nothing else, simply walks away with my horse toward the first of the barns.

                My legs are shaking a bit as I walk toward the barn and then I’m distracted by laughter from one of the corrals. Following the sound, my eyes find the children playing happily. There are a bunch of them and they are laughing as they rope the calves.

                “I was told to come see where you were.”

                I jump ten feet in the air when a voice is suddenly behind me and I turn to see Nick appearing apologetic as he rubs at his neck and smiles, “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

                “I’m sorry for keeping everyone waiting,” I reply.

                “It’s no problem. Come on and we’ll get this started. I’m not looking real forward to being asked personal questions but Aiden insists I have to.”

                “Well thank goodness for Aiden. This is for the fans, Nick. The people who have read the story of your life and fallen in love with you and with the family.”

                “That’s what he said,” Nick grumbled.

                I fight back laughter, adjust the sack on my shoulder and smile up at him. He’s very handsome in a stern, stoic way with his gray eyes and sharp features, “Lead the way.”

                Entering the barn was just as overwhelming as I had imagined it would be. There they all are. Brody, Elizabeth, Aiden, Jacob, Ellie, Liz, Ty, Sally, Thomas, Susie, Ryder (who is currently walking back and forth across the shorter stall doors as if they are balance beams), Wendell, Kaitlyn and even Cookie is there.

                “Hi!” Elizabeth greets brightly as she rises from the hay bale she’d been seated upon and rushes to me. We shake hands and she motions for me to sit down. “Welcome to Atkinson Spread.”

                “Thank you.” I reply with a tip of my head. “We have a lot of questions from a lot of folks so what do you say we get this thing started?”

                “Sooner we start, the sooner we can be done,” Brody grumbles which earns him a sharp glare from his wife.

                “We’d love to get started,” she amended quickly and Brody nodded, though his lips were twitching with amusement.

Conleyswifey- Okay, I have questions for everyone. We’ll start with the questions that are directed only at Nick and Aiden.

Nick-

(sighing and taking a seat beside Aiden on a hay bale) Might as well.

Aiden- These questions aren’t too private, right? (chews on lip)

Conleyswifey- Well… Yeah, some of them are pretty private, but you agreed earlier to answer any and all of them truthfully so…..

Aiden

(glances at Nick) Is it too late to run away?

Nick-

(nodding) You’re the one who agreed to an interview so you aren’t running now. We’re going to go from hiding everything about ourselves to answering questions that would have a lot of folks readying their ropes and sharpening their pitchforks.

Conleyswifey- Where I’m from things have changed quite a bit for gay men and women. Marriage is even becoming legal now.

Brody- So folks have figured out how to pull their heads from their asses?

Conleyswifey- They’re getting better.

Aiden -Alright then. Let’s get this over with.

Conleyswifey- It’ll be fun (smiles brightly). Okay the first questions comes from @wildwolf2012 and they ask, Nick why didn’t you like Aiden in the beginning and why were you so mean to him? And they also want to know how you felt about his harsh treatment, Aiden.

Nick

(frowns) I wasn’t mean

Cookie- Yes you were. It was from frustration of holding back his feelings. Same as Brody and Elizabeth and Sally and Thomas…Heck even our Susie was mean to Ryder for a while.

Ryder: I like it when she’s mean.

Nick- I wasn’t mean; I was just distant. And that was because I was attracted to him but being attracted to a man could end up with me or him dead. (sadness enters his gray eyes) It has happened before and I was scared it would happen again.

Aiden-

(squeezes Nick’s hand ) And I felt confused by the treatment of course. I’d catch him looking at me with, well, (a bright blush rises on his cheek),  you know, and then he’d glare and storm away. I’m glad all that is over.

Nick -( nods in agreement) Me too

Conleyswifey- Okay our next question is for Nick and it comes from @vovnix . They want to know how you met your first lover and if you have always known you were attracted to men.

Jacob- Let’s keep this somewhat family friendly.

Ellie- Why? The kids aren’t here.

Thomas

(swallows hard) Yeah but we are. Now we’ve accepted Nick and Aiden but that don’t mean we need to hear details about…Well about what two men do together.

Elizabeth- Stop being an asshole, both of you men. Go ahead and answer the questions however you see fit, Nick.

Nick-

(appears as if he’d rather be anywhere but where he is) Yes, I’ve always known I was attracted to men…..

Ryder:

(leaps down from the stall door and sits beside me on the hay bale with his chin in his hand) Really? Do explain… how did you know you were attracted to men instead of women?

Conleyswifey -Who is the interviewer?

Ryder- It’s a team thing

Susie

(just shakes her head and sighs)

Conleyswifey-

(shrugs) Answer the question

Nick

(really looking quite unhappy about the turn of events) It was pretty easy to tell. You know how most boys reach a certain age and their lower half begins responding to pretty girls? Mine didn’t. Mine responded to the other boys.

Jacob -I really didn’t need to hear that.

Ellie

(slaps the back of his head) Get over it.

Conleyswifey- Thank you for being so honest, Nick. (smiles at Jacob) If that one was too much then this next one will send you running…. It might just send me running as well simply because I can’t believe I’m going to be asking someone something like this….Thanks a lot @BelezaPrincess

Aiden -If it’s that bad you don’t have to ask (Blushes furiously) I’d be okay with just skipping a question or two…

Conleyswifey: I can’t do that. People took time out of their busy days to send me these questions and they will be asked. Now, this is for both Nick and Aiden. @BelezaPrincess wants to know if Aiden is always the bottom or does Nick sometimes take that role?

Elizabeth -Oh my….

Jacob- Please don’t answer that…..

Thomas- I don’t need that image

Nick -I’m not answering that

Aiden- me either (his words are barely a squeak)

Brody-

(laughs quite hard)

Conleyswifey-

(scratches my cheek and sighs) She’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t get an answer.

Ryder-

(nods thoughtfully) Nick is the top. Aiden might have been the top once or twice just for laughs but Nick is the dominant one.

Susie

(blushes so deeply her ears are glowing) Ryder!!!!!

Conleyswifey- ( blushing nearly as badly as Susie) Nick, Aiden, can y’all just nod if he’s right.

Nick-

(nods slowly)

Aiden-

(nods as well before burying his face in Nick’s shoulder)

Conleyswifey- Okay now that that’s over we’ll move on to the next question!

Brody- This is more fun than I remember

Conleyswifey- Because you aren’t the one in the hot seat… for now. (turns back to Aiden and Nick) Our next question comes from @BelezaPrincess as well….

Nick- I don’t like her. Let’s just skip her questions.

Conleyswifey- I already told you I can’t skip questions. Now she asks Nick and Aiden what is one thing that annoys each of you about the other one?

Aiden- He always has to act so stoic and tough. It takes an act of congress to get him to admit when he’s upset, scared or sad about something. And he snores, really loud, all night long. I’ve taken to stuffing a bit of cotton in my ears on some nights because it gets so bad…… (His voice trails off as he realizes Nick is staring hard at him)

Nick- Go ahead and be honest, Aiden. (his tone is dry) Don’t hold back because you’re afraid of hurting my feelings.

Conleyswifey- And Nick? Is there anything about Aiden that annoys you?

Nick- He can be a bit over emotional sometimes. He’ll think and think about something until he creates a problem that wasn’t there to begin with.

Brody- Sounds about like a woman

Aiden- You’ll never get tired of calling me a woman will you?

Brody-

(brow raises ever so slightly) Nope.

Conleyswifey- Okay, no more interruptions because we need to pick up the pace or we’ll never get done. Nick and Aiden, @rinegirl wants to know if y’all learned how to communicate better after realizing what each other was going through during those months in between the wedding and the hanging?

Aiden- I’ll answer this one. The lack of communication wasn’t Nick’s fault. He tried to talk to me and find out if I was okay but I was shut down. I wouldn’t speak much, or smile or laugh or cry or anything. I felt like a shell and I didn’t even realize Nick was hurting even though I should have. (Nick reaches over and squeezes his hand) I did learn to not shut myself down again.

Conleyswifey- Nick would you agree with his version of what happened?

Nick- Yeah. It was hard too. I wanted to help him and I couldn’t reach him. That was a scary time for me because I didn’t know if he was gonna be okay.

Conleyswifey: @rinegirl also wants to know what is it like to be a member of the Atkinson family and not have to worry about hiding your relationship?

Nick

• I for one feel pretty damn blessed for that. These people didn’t have to take us in the way they did. They didn’t have to stand behind us and risk their own family the way they did. I’d say Aiden and I are just about the two luckiest men there are to have found our way here to this ranch.

Conleyswifey- I would have to agree with you there, Nick. Okay Nick this one is also for you and it’s a bit on the deep and kinda sad side so I hope that’s okay.

Nick

• After that question from BelezaPrincess I don’t think it can get much more not okay.

Conleyswifey- Okay then. @thunderheart15 wants to know that if Tyler hadn’t died and you two had ended up somehow moving to Bakerstown do you think you would have ended up at the ranch and though you are a loyal man who would you have picked between Aiden and Tyler if Aiden had caught your eye.

Brody- Damn glad it’s him getting asked questions today

Nick- uh…. That’s not a very nice question.

Aiden-

(Shrugs) He would have picked Tyler of course. He was in love with Tyler. And even thunderheart15 acknowledged how loyal he is. He wouldn’t have given me a second glance and that’s the truth.

Nick -Sure, we’ll go with that.

Aiden

(frowns)  You would have picked me?

Nick-

(clearly uneasy with this line of questioning)  I never felt for Tyler what I feel for you, Aiden. It wasn’t near as deep a love I had with him. I can’t say for sure that I would have been quite as loyal as you’re giving me credit for.

Aiden- Oh

Conleyswify- Okay, moving on. Quite a few people want to know the answer to this. @thunderheart15, @BelezaPrincess, @TatianaKnight and @Angelsheart27 all want to know if you, Nick and Aiden, would adopt children if given the chance? Or if you are happy just helping with the ever growing herd of them on the ranch?

Nick- No, I wouldn’t adopt even if we somehow could, which we can’t because it’s against the law.

Conleyswifey -Why wouldn’t you even if you could?

Nick- Because that that child would be harassed it’s whole life. Hell Aiden and I hear whispers every time we go to town and I wouldn’t want that for my child.

Aiden- There’s plenty of children here to keep us busy and happy. We like being the favorite uncles.

Conleyswifey- Okay, that’s it for the two of you for now. Now we move on to Wendell and Kaitlyn.

Wendell-

(clearly very surprised)

There are questions for us?

Conleyswifey- Yes. That’s why I asked you to be here. Now @lynnea400 want to know how the two of you met and when did you realize, Wendell, that you wanted Kaitlyn to be your wife?

Kaitlyn- I don’t think we need to go into details about how we met. I think that’s fairly obvious given my previous employment.

Wendell- We met at the saloon. I’d seen her there a few times and hadn’t really paid her much attention because laying with the women there wasn’t something I made a habit of doing. Then one night I was getting ready to leave and I heard a woman crying. I found her…

Kaitlyn- Do you really have to tell this story?

Wendell- Yes I do. I found her crying behind the saloon with a bruise on her cheek. I took her to the hotel, paid for a room for her to rest in and a bath to wash up. The next morning I took her to breakfast and realized that she wasn’t just some whore at the saloon. She was a smart, funny, beautiful, vibrant woman and I fell for her really damn quick. That night I went to the saloon and paid for her for the night and we just spent the night talking. That happened for about two weeks, and dammit but I was tired from making that long trip every night and getting no sleep while still working here at the ranch all day but it was worth it. I never once lay with her until I convinced her to quit the saloon and that was the same night I started asking her to marry me.

Conleyswifey- That’s a really nice story, Wendell. You’re a good man

Wendell- I just fell in love. Lots of men do it.

Conleyswifey- Whatever you say. Now Kaitlyn, this next question is for you. @thunderheart15 asks, now that saloon life is over for you and you have started your new one with Wendell is there anything you can’t wait to experience with him?

Kaitlyn- Actually…. (she bites her lip) I recently discovered that the one thing I always wanted to give him is going to happen soon. I am carrying our first child.

Wendell-

(smiling from ear to ear) I’m gonna be a daddy.

Conleyswifey- I’m guess the family already knew?

Aiden- Yes. You can’t keep a secret around here.

Conleyswifey- That’s wonderful news, you two. I’m really happy for you.

Kaitlyn- Thank you.

Conleyswifey- @thunderheart15 also asks you, Wendell, how you feel about Nick and Aiden’s relationship. She says that she really admired the way you stuck up for them.

Wendell- Nick was my friend. You don’t turn your back on a friend and honestly their relationship never bothered me. Sure it took a bit of getting used to since I wasn’t accustomed to seeing two men share kisses and hold hands but I was never bothered by it.

Conleyswifey -Again I’m going to say that Nick and Aiden were lucky to end up here with such good people. Now, I have a question for Cookie and I think it’s one we’d all like to have answered.

Cookie- Just one?

Conleyswifey- Sadly yes, but you should know that you were a reader’s favorite. People really like you.

Cookie-

(pats the old hounds head and grins) Of course they do. What’s my question?

Conleyswifey- @thunderheart15 wants to know how you can always seem to tell who will end up with who. She begs you to tell us all your knowledge.

Cookie

(chuckles) It’s really  not hard. All a persons gotta do is shut their mouth, open their eyes and pay attention. I know these folks on this ranch like I know the back of my own hand and so it was easy to recognize the signs each time. Elizabeth and Brody were like lightning and dry prairie grass, they were a fire just waiting to happen. Jacob was so smitten with Miss Ellie from the first time he saw her that a blind man could see that one and Thomas and Sally had been in love with one another for years.

Conleyswifey- Okay, okay, but how about Susie? How did you seem to know what kind of man she would end up with?

Ryder- Yeah, I’m what you’d call unique. (he’s currently hanging upside down from the barn loft.)

Ty: Is that what you’d call it?

Cookie- That one was easy. Susie would fall for a man who would be the complete opposite of her. He’d need to be wild, loud, free-spirited. She needed those qualities in her man so he could help bring them out in her.

Aiden: What about me and Nick? We’re even more unconventional than Susie and Ryder. How did you call that one?

Cookie

(shrugs) I saw Nick watching your backside awful hard as you got down from the wagon and put two and two together. Since I’d never seen him look at any of the other men that way I knew it meant something special.

Conleyswifey- Okay, on to our next interviewee. Ellie, this question is for you and it comes from thunderheart15 as well. She asks, what is the one thing you hoped your children would get from both you and Jacob?

Ellie-

(seems a bit embarrassed to have all eyes on her) Um.. I would have to say that I hope our children grow up to have my open-minded view of the world. I have been on the other side of that line between right and wrong and so I know how it feels to be judged and shunned and I would hope that our children would grow up to understand that there are two sides to every person and to not judge too quickly or too harshly. And I want them to have Jacob’s ability to care so deeply and sacrifice so much to ensure that those he loves have everything they want and need. He sacrificed his entire life as a young man and dedicated it to raising his sisters and giving them everything they needed. It takes a very special boy at the age of seventeen to make that sort of choice and stand by that choice despite the hardships.

Jacob-

(Kisses her temple) Thank you, angel.

Conleyswifey: Jacob, @thunderheart15 says, We all know that you’re the oldest but what is the most brotherly moment you remember having with Brody when you were younger?

Jacob

(Shares a look with his brother) I know when these stories began you all saw a very big gap between Brody and I. We were, and still are because of life, as different as night and day and we didn’t like each other at all. We didn’t use to be like that. Those soldiers that attacked our family didn’t just kill our parents and our older sisters, they took our relationship from us for a long time. Brody and I used to be as close as two brothers could possibly be. There’s only a year difference in our ages and we used to get in all sorts of trouble.

Brody-

(chuckles ) We gave our parents quite a few gray hairs.

Jacob-

(laughs) And we used to have Christine and Catherine breathing fire out their noses too. Remember that time you loosened the leg on the milking stool and Christine sat down on it?

Brody- She complained about her backside for a month!

Jacob -And we did too because pa whooped us good.

Brody- That wasn’t as bad as the time you used Catherine’s favorite bonnet to help gather up crawdads from the river.

Jacob

• I nearly died that day…. Death by angry older sister and her switch of fury.

Conleyswifey- Sounds like the two of you really did have good times.

Jacob- Yeah, that was back before we knew how mean life could be.

Conleyswifey- The next question is for Thomas. @thunderheart15 asks what your biggest regret is and if you would go back in life and change it.

Thomas- I don’t even get a warm up question? Ya just jump right in to the deep stuff?

Conleyswifey- You’re a tough man, you’ll be okay.

Thomas- My biggest regret? (snorts and rubs his face) I would say joining the rangers because of what they made me do for the ‘greater good’ that turned out to be nothing but a bunch of horseshit from an angry power hungry man but I can’t say that because the rangers is what Nathan and Max into our lives. I think that regret I have that I would actually change is taking so long to realize what Sally meant to me and damn near losing her because of it.

Jacob- Not sneaking in her window so you could have your way with her?

Thomas- Hell no, I don’t regret that a bit.

Conleyswifey- No more interruptions! We’ve been here a long time and we’re not done yet. Now the next question is for Sally. @thunderheart15 asks, what is one thing you learned growing up in the Atkinson household?

Sally- Before Brody came back I learned how to work hard. I learned how to make a lot of a little and be happy with the bare necessities. After Brody came back I learned how to kick butt when it needed kicking, to not take no for an answer when it wasn’t the answer I wanted and to defend the ones I loved anyway I had to.

Conleyswifey- So both of your brothers taught you important lessons for life?

Sally- Yes they did.

Conleyswifey- And Thomas and Sally, @rinegirl wants to know how hard it was and how y’all dealt with being so far from the family when you moved?

Thomas- We’ve lived up there about three years now. It’s been hard at times. We had both gotten used to having the whole family there to support us and help out and they were gone. It took awhile to get a crew working there that actually respected my wife and her role on the ranch as more than a housewife.

Sally- But it was good for us. It’s no secret that we fight quite often because we’re both too hot tempered but this move really tested us and made us have to lean on one another. It brought us closer together I think.

Conleyswifey- Ty, we have a question for you as well from @thunderheart15. She asks, what is the craziest adventure you had as a younger man that no one really knows about?

Ty- I never had a whole lot of adventures. I was too busy chasing after Ryder and cleaning up after his adventures .

Ryder-

(still upside down) I stole your childhood and for that I apologize.

Conleyswifey- Growing up with Ryder had to have been an adventure all its own.

Ty- Yeah, you could call it that.

Conleyswifey -Now we’ve reached a couple of questions that are for Susie and Ryder.

Ryder- I’ve never been more ready

Conleyswifey- Do you think you could come down so I can look at you properly. You’re upside down and it’s distracting.

Ryder- I would love to but I am not as young as I once was and I can no longer feel my legs.

Susie- Ryder, get down.

Ryder- Yes, my Sue. (pulls himself back up onto the loft with almost no effort and then slides down the ladder before taking his place beside Susie).

Conleyswifey- Susie, @thunderheart15 asks, how it is to raise children that are just like Ryder. You do have two now right?

Susie-(

smiles brightly) Yes, we have two. Our oldest is two and our youngest is three months. He’s in the house with Lexi. She considers herself to be his personal nanny. Our oldest, Paul, is just like his father. I’m hoping some of the energy will fade as he gets older but I doubt it. It’s never a dull moment. We are certainly a family that is always laughing.

Conleyswifey- Ryder, thunderheart15 wants to know what your favorite memory of Susie is.

Ryder- I can’t pick just one! Susie, is my angel. She saved my life and I’m smart enough to know that she’s a saint for falling in love and putting up with a man like me. I know I’m not an easy man to live with. I guess if you want me to pick one it would be when our sons were born. She gave me the greatest gift that a woman can give to a man and I’ll be in her debt forever for that.

Conleyswifey- Aww that’s really sweet, Ryder.  Okay, Susie, we have two more questions just for you. The first one is from @rinegirl  and she asks, did Ryder ever become a church going man? And if he didn’t then she wants to ask Ryder if that has ever affected his relationship with Susie?

Susie- No, Ryder never has turned into a church going man. He comes with me and sits on the porch with Brody until I’m done inside.

Ryder- And nope, my Sue, never has judged me a bit over it. She’s the best person that has ever breathed air. She doesn’t judge somebody just because they don’t live the way she does. She’s a good soul my Sue.

Conleyswifey- And this is our last questions for only you Susie. It comes from @BelezaPrincess. She asks, Susie, did Ryder mature a little when you had your first son or did he simply become more rambunctious?

Ryder- I’m not immature.

Brody- You’re not?

Susie- No, he’s not. He might be hyperactive and I don’t believe that will ever change but he’s not immature. He works hard to support the family and he’s always there to help me with anything that I need his help with. But having our first son did change him a little just the way having that first child seems to change everyone. Suddenly you have this other tiny life to live for and you start putting more thought into the choices you make and the things you do. He no longer spends quite so much time at the saloon. Instead he comes home and plays with the boys and it makes my heart swell every time I see them laughing together.

Conleyswifey- Okay, now on to…. Uh-oh..

Elizabeth- What’s wrong?

Conleywifey-

(flushes) I forgot a question for Susie.

Susie- What question?

Conleyswifey- I’m going to hunt you down @Angelsheart27 and I’m going to torture you with sharp sticks and branding irons.

Brody- Now you sound like me. What in the world is the question?

Conleyswifey-

(swallows hard and prays Brody’s head doesn’t explode when this question is out there) @Angelsheart27 asks, is Ryder wild, energetic, hyper and crazy in bed or does his personality change behind closed doors to a more gentle and quiet kind of man?

Elizabeth: oh my

Brody : Don’t answer that. (his head is nearing exploding level as he glares hard at Ryder.)

Susie-

(blushing so furiously that a cigar could be lit from her cheek) She really asked that?

Conleyswifey- ( groans) Yes she did.

Ryder- I’ll answer that since a cat seems to have gotten Susie’s tongue. I am whatever Susie needs me to be in bed. If she needs gentle, quiet and slow then that’s what I give her. If she wants wild and energetic then she gets that and if she wants rough and rowdy….

Brody- I will shoot you in the face, Ryder. I’m not above doin’ it

Susie-(

Hiding her face in Ryder’s back) Can we move on to the next question now?

Conleyswifey-

(sits up straight and quickly ruffles through my papers) Absolutely! Our next question is for Elizabeth and it’s from @Lady0fthelake. She asks, has Elizabeth’s given up on her cooking skills or is she getting better?

Cookie- Better? Well she ain’t kill nobody recently.

Elizabeth- Ever! I ain’t killed nobody ever!

Brody- We’ve been lucky

Elizabeth- I thought you said I was getting better?

Brody- That’s what I said.

Elizabeth- Were you lying?

Brody- You’re either getting better or my taste buds and stomach have gotten amazingly resistant over the last decade and a couple odd years.

Elizabeth- Fine, I won’t cook anymore.

Brody-

(clearly fighting back a smile)

And they say miracles don’t happen.

Conleyswifey- Let’s not fight! And don’t give up, Elizabeth, I think Brody has earned another year of your cooking least.

Brody- I don’t like you anymore

Conleyswifey- Yes you do. Now the next question is for you and it comes from @rinegirl. She asks, Brody, what was it about Aiden that made you ‘adopt’ him?

Aiden: I’ve wondered that myself….

Brody- Hell I don’t know. (shifts uncomfortably on his hay bale) He was like a little lost puppy. Kinda cute and a lot dumb…

Elizabeth- Brody! He wasn’t dumb!

Brody- When it came to a ranch he was.

Aiden- Gee thanks.

Brody- There was something about Aiden that made me want to look out for the boy. I saw something in him and I wanted to protect him. There is that good enough? Or do I need to further investigate my heart?

Conleyswifey- I’m satisfied with that answer.

Brody- Wonderful.

Conleyswifey- But now I have another question for you.

Brody- Of course you do

Conleyswifey- This one comes from @thunderheart15 and she asks, Brody if you could do anything with no fear of consequences for your actions what would you do?

Laughter erupts in the barn and it takes a good solid two minutes for it to become quiet enough for anyone to speak.

Ty- Are we speaking about the same Brody Atkinson?

Brody- I don’t often worry about consequences. If I think something needs to be done then I do it and everybody can either like it or move on.

Conleyswifey- Well, @thunderheart15, I believe you have your answer. To consequences Brody Atkinson simply says ‘go to hell’. Okay I have another question from @thunderheart15, she wants to know how you and LeRoy met.

Brody- In the war.

Conleyswifey- You gonna give any more details?

Brody- Nope. I don’t talk about the war.

Conleyswifey- Well alright then. Elizabeth, @thunderheart15 wants to ask you what you have done back then if Brody had indeed been dead and never returned to you? What would you do if you lost him again?

Elizabeth

(tightens her grip on Brody’s arm and moves a bit closer to him) Wow, that’s a tough question. I would have been okay had  he never come back because I had the twins to keep me going but I never would have been good again. Brody is everything to me. My children are old enough to get along without me now so if I lost him again…. (she shrugs)  I don’t know.

Brody- You’d be okay

Elizabeth- No…. I wouldn’t.

Conleyswifey- I’m sorry for the tough questions. I have one more for you, Elizabeth, and it comes from @Mystery5. They ask, Elizabeth, if you could change the way one thing in your life happened what would you change and why? How would you have liked it to happen?

Elizabeth- The way my father died. I wish I could have been here and at least had some closure with him before I lost him. I want to know why he thought that was the only way things could go and why he pushed me so hard to marry a man he chose even though I didn’t love him. I would want to know if he approves of Brody now that he can see what an amazing man Brody is and I would want to see his face upon meeting his grandchildren. He would have loved having such a big family here.

Conleyswifey- We are nearly done with our interview for today. There are only a few more questions. Brody, @speakandbeheard asks, what is your biggest regret?

Brody- Not figuring out a way to kill Petey and Rene before they put bullets in me and took Elizabeth. I could have saved her a whole hell of a lot of pain if I’d have just been able to figure something out.

Elizabeth- You went through hell after that too, Brody

Brody- I don’t give a shit what I went through. I just hate knowing how much you suffered because I failed.

Jacob- I think the interview is getting to him. He’s opening up a bit.

Thomas -So sweet.

Brody- Elizabeth’s cooking dinner, you’re both invited.

Elizabeth- Kiss my ass, Brody.

Brody

(grins wickedly and raises a brow)

I’d be glad to

Conleyswifey- Okay! That brings up to the last set of questions and these are for all the couples. They come from @Starlyla and she asks how it feels to have such a large family?

Brody- Strange. I was alone a long time.

Nick, Thomas and Jacob nod in agreement.

Ellie- It’s wonderful. I never had a real family unit and to see how good things can be is amazing. I could never go back to being so lonely again.

Ty- We had a close family growing up, Ryder and I, but the size of this one is pretty damn intimidating sometimes. It’s nice to know that so many will have your back but it makes screwing up that much more scary with so many folks putting you in your place.

Elizabeth- This is how this ranch was supposed to be. Before greed and hatred nearly destroyed it. This was meant to be a family ranch and I am so proud to have so many people that call it home.

Aiden- I’ve never lived anywhere where everyone laughed and joked and loved as much as they do here. Life was stern and boring where I was raised and this ranch is the opposite. Sure everyone works hard but they also play hard and it keeps things interesting around here.

Conleyswifey- Okay, next @StarLyla asks, what is your favorite part about the ranch other than your spouses?

Aiden- The kids.

Brody- Knowing we’re creating something that can be passed down.

Elizabeth- Seeing my children and my nieces and nephews learning the same lessons I learned as a child.

Jacob- Knowing that we’ve finally got money for shoes in the winter and food to get us through the day.

Conleyswifey- What is something that annoys you about your husband or wife? Nick and Aiden you’ve already answered this.

Brody- Her constant need for me to try to ‘fix’ things. I’m more of a let people figure things out for themselves kind of man.

Elizabeth- His need to prove how tough he is all the time. We all know how tough he is and it would be nice if he’d stop putting himself in harm’s way just to make everyone else see it.

Thomas- That damn temper.

Sally- His emotional retardedness at times. I swear his ability to show his emotions was stunted when he was a child.

Ellie- Jacobs quickness to judge at times. Though he has gotten much better.

Jacob- I’m not answering this. This woman has put up with a lot of crap from me so I’m more than happy to deal with any of hers.

Ty- Liza’s ability to make anything and everything somehow my fault.

Liza- Ty’s close mindedness of what is right and wrong… though I know that that helps him be a better lawman.

Susie- Ryder’s lack of filter between his brain and mouth sometimes… though I wouldn’t say it annoys so much as embarrasses me.

Ryder- Nothing. Look how damn cute she is! How could anyone find anything annoying about her?

Wendell- Kaitlyn’s inability to forget about the past at times. It causes her a lot of stress that is really pointless.

Kaitlyn- Wendell’s inability to see how my past effects the way a lot of people in this town look at me. If he could understand that then he would understand why it’s hard for me to simply let go and forget about it.

Conleyswifey- And our last question is; if you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

Cookie- I know the answer to this one for everyone.

Conleyswifey- And what is that?

Cookie- No damn where. Because there ain’t a single place in this world any better than Atkinson Spread.