supplies from her mother and led Lucy to the back seat of the crapmobile. She and Monica waved to Mrs. Savard, and they drove off.
***
POV: Monica
Lucy had decided that Monica’s cookie smelled good and was determined to investigate. “Will you sit! ” Monica yelled.
Lucy looked abashed and lay down on the back seat, but ten seconds later, she was back. Monica popped the last of the cookie into her mouth and glared at the dog.
Erin nodded her head towards Lucy. “She’s actually very obedient. She’ll do what you say, but then she figures she’s done, and her obligation is over. There’s no real concept of ‘Sit and stay sat.’ ”
Monica laughed and patted Lucy, then changed the subject. “So, um, Richard. Kind of an intense guy…”
“Yeah, you’re fooling no one. He’s single. He’s not gay. He’s available. And I could see his brains ooze out his ear when he met you. Just smile and swear a few more times.” They both grinned, and Erin continued, “On the other hand, Bill looks kind of interested too.”
“Nerdy but cute. Good sense of humor. I don’t think I’ll kill him after all.”
The Black Hills
The Black Hills gold rush had begun in 1874, when significant amounts of gold were found in Deadwood and Whitewood Creeks in the northern Black Hills. Eventually the placer gold in the creeks had been traced back to the source outcropping, which was named the Homestake Claim. This location would go on to produce ten percent of the world’s gold supply over the next one hundred and twenty-five years. Most of this gold was extracted using intensive mining methods, but for the early arrivals, each shovelful of creekside earth could deliver up to a year’s wages.
—Wikipedia, “Black Hills Gold Rush.”
July 5 Monica
“Nice planning, Einstein. You’ve never heard of reservations? When I say ‘five-star,’ what exactly pops into your teeny mind?” Monica put on her best glare.
Richard couldn’t meet her eyes, and a flush worked its way slowly up from his neck. “I’m sorry! How many times do I have to apologize? Look, we’ll spend very little time here hopefully. If we can find out where…”
“Yeah, yeah. Pan for gold, everyone’s rich, isn’t it wonderful. I know the drill. But if that bed ends up having a coin-slot, you’re gonna hear about it, buster.”
The drive to the Black Hills had gone without incident, and they arrived ahead of schedule. A steady stream of other vehicles going ten to fifteen mph above the posted limit gave them the cover they needed to push things a little.
However, summer was high season in the area, and there was a dearth of available accommodations. After much searching and phoning, they ended up with a couple of rooms in a Super 8 in Deadwood, a fact that was not sitting well with Monica.
“Hey, at least we each get a bed,” Erin said. “The guys have to all fit into one room and two of them will have to sleep on those fold-out abominations.”
“Two rooms was all we could get…” Richard started to explain.
“Oh, boo-hoo. You owe me dinner for this, bub.” Monica figured she had played this for all it was worth, and it was time to give the poor fish a little bit of slack line.
“No problem, whatever you want,” Richard replied, rising to the bait as expected.
And that’s how it’s done, thought Monica, and winked at Erin.
“Okay folks,” Richard announced, obviously trying to salvage a little dignity. “Dinner, then a couple of us will ask around about tours and such. If we can avoid having to go on one, we’ll save some time. We just have to get the vehicles close to where we want to be, pop over, and do our thing.
“So, now, restaurant. Opinions?”
Monica smiled at Richard. Now you pay.
Study Session
July 6 Suzie
Suzie and her friends were in the Union for another study session. However, as
***
POV: Monica
Lucy had decided that Monica’s cookie smelled good and was determined to investigate. “Will you sit! ” Monica yelled.
Lucy looked abashed and lay down on the back seat, but ten seconds later, she was back. Monica popped the last of the cookie into her mouth and glared at the dog.
Erin nodded her head towards Lucy. “She’s actually very obedient. She’ll do what you say, but then she figures she’s done, and her obligation is over. There’s no real concept of ‘Sit and stay sat.’ ”
Monica laughed and patted Lucy, then changed the subject. “So, um, Richard. Kind of an intense guy…”
“Yeah, you’re fooling no one. He’s single. He’s not gay. He’s available. And I could see his brains ooze out his ear when he met you. Just smile and swear a few more times.” They both grinned, and Erin continued, “On the other hand, Bill looks kind of interested too.”
“Nerdy but cute. Good sense of humor. I don’t think I’ll kill him after all.”
The Black Hills
The Black Hills gold rush had begun in 1874, when significant amounts of gold were found in Deadwood and Whitewood Creeks in the northern Black Hills. Eventually the placer gold in the creeks had been traced back to the source outcropping, which was named the Homestake Claim. This location would go on to produce ten percent of the world’s gold supply over the next one hundred and twenty-five years. Most of this gold was extracted using intensive mining methods, but for the early arrivals, each shovelful of creekside earth could deliver up to a year’s wages.
—Wikipedia, “Black Hills Gold Rush.”
July 5 Monica
“Nice planning, Einstein. You’ve never heard of reservations? When I say ‘five-star,’ what exactly pops into your teeny mind?” Monica put on her best glare.
Richard couldn’t meet her eyes, and a flush worked its way slowly up from his neck. “I’m sorry! How many times do I have to apologize? Look, we’ll spend very little time here hopefully. If we can find out where…”
“Yeah, yeah. Pan for gold, everyone’s rich, isn’t it wonderful. I know the drill. But if that bed ends up having a coin-slot, you’re gonna hear about it, buster.”
The drive to the Black Hills had gone without incident, and they arrived ahead of schedule. A steady stream of other vehicles going ten to fifteen mph above the posted limit gave them the cover they needed to push things a little.
However, summer was high season in the area, and there was a dearth of available accommodations. After much searching and phoning, they ended up with a couple of rooms in a Super 8 in Deadwood, a fact that was not sitting well with Monica.
“Hey, at least we each get a bed,” Erin said. “The guys have to all fit into one room and two of them will have to sleep on those fold-out abominations.”
“Two rooms was all we could get…” Richard started to explain.
“Oh, boo-hoo. You owe me dinner for this, bub.” Monica figured she had played this for all it was worth, and it was time to give the poor fish a little bit of slack line.
“No problem, whatever you want,” Richard replied, rising to the bait as expected.
And that’s how it’s done, thought Monica, and winked at Erin.
“Okay folks,” Richard announced, obviously trying to salvage a little dignity. “Dinner, then a couple of us will ask around about tours and such. If we can avoid having to go on one, we’ll save some time. We just have to get the vehicles close to where we want to be, pop over, and do our thing.
“So, now, restaurant. Opinions?”
Monica smiled at Richard. Now you pay.
Study Session
July 6 Suzie
Suzie and her friends were in the Union for another study session. However, as
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