Authors: Debbie Gordon
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Prospecting for White Hats
…Synopsis…
Mary Lou Carpenter has always been a little different from other girls. She works hard and really doesn’t party a whole lot. In fact a lot of people have described her as being boring, but she didn’t care. At least she didn’t think that it mattered that much in the grand scheme of things. She had watched too many women suffer the consequences of bad relationships and was pretty sure that she didn’t want to get back into any relationship. Her last one had ended badly anyway. Then she won that contest and lets herself get convinced to go to that dude ranch in the south. That’s where Devin comes strolling into her life like a man who stepped right out of a western. With his dusty jeans and scuffed boots she can easily see how a woman would love to get lost with him, but she’s on a mission to stay single.
Still what happens in the desert stays in the desert, and when the pair gets caught up in trouble with a group of criminals trying to mine on government property they have to figure out a way to get to safety. It isn’t going to be easy, but somehow they have to figure out their burning passions and find a way out of trouble. How are Mary Lou and Devin going to figure out how they feel about each other when they have to deal with the creatures in the desert and a group of criminals?
…The Story Begins…
Chapter One
Mary Lou Carpenter sat at her desk allowing the tick of the clock to hypnotize her. She stared at her computer until the words on the screen began to blur. She shook her head as she snapped out of her boredom induced trance and took her eyes from the computer screen. She glanced at the clock.
Yes! Thirty more minutes until lunch, it’s going to feel like three hours. It is going to be a long day
she thought. She let out a sighed and looked around her miniature cubicle with its dull beige painted walls. God she felt like a caged rat in here. Oh, how she wished has some glamorous and exciting job, something that would make her life feel fulfilled, something that would make her family, friends and even strangers both impressed and envious when she revealed what she did for a living.
A girl is allowed to dream.
But she had to be grateful that she landed this job, in one of the largest accounting firms in Detroit. She had worked her ass off to get here, working two jobs and putting herself through college. She was a twenty- six year old college graduate with a decent career.
Guess I didn’t do too badly for myself.
She kept that comforting thought as the clock stuck twelve. She jumped up, snatched up her purse and set off to get lunch. As she made her way down the hall she smiled and waved to a few of her co-workers. Caroline Ambersely, a short red head with animated blue eyes, a ready smile and an exuberant personality, stepped out from her cubicle stopping Mary Lou in her tracks.
Oh no, here
we go again
, Mary Lou mentally rolled her eyes.
“Hey Mary, a few of us are going out for drinks later, and the activities are guaranteed to evolve into more than drinking” she gave a girly giggle and winked “are you in?”
Mary eyed Caroline wearily. She liked Caroline; she was always friendly to her and was pretty much her first friend at the firm when she started one year and five month ago. Caroline has made it her life’s mission to break Mary out of her shell ever since.
“Not tonight Caroline, sorry. Reign check”? Mary was certainly not the outgoing type. She knew she would feel extremely out of place with the rowdy group of co-workers that always turned Friday nights in to a party. She had heard plenty stories of their wild weekend celebrations, and she wanted no part of it.
“Come on Mary its Friday, you never accept my invitations” Caroline replied in exasperation. “Live a little honey, you look like you could use some enjoyment in your life” she said assessing Mary from head to toe with a small frown on her face, taking in her tortoise shell glasses, simple ponytail, make- up free face, frumpy grey suit and sensible black pumps.
“I- I already have plans for tonight.”
I am such a damn liar.
“Sure you do” Caroline said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, hands on hips, ready to break Mary down.
“You know what; I really need to get going.” Mary quickly stepped around Caroline and darted through the door and hopped into a god-sent empty elevator before Caroline could comment any further.
Narrow escape
Mary mused.
Exiting the elevator, Made her way to her favourite deli located on the first floor of the building which she worked. .... Deli had the most delectable grilled chicken sandwich with melted cheese, topped off with fresh vegetables and fries seasoned to perfection. She placed her order then took her usual seat next to a front window so she could watch the people mixture of people go by. Detroit was such a big, beautiful city bustling with life. Mary couldn’t imagine residing anywhere else, she was a city girl though and through.
She continued to stare out the window.
Look at those gorgeous women, and fine-looking men
she thought to herself. They all look so happy and confident, unlike her. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window.
There is good reason why my confidence is near to the ground
she mused. She studied her vague image in the window. She was no great beauty, with her black medium length, naturally curly hair, unremarkable dark brown eyes, round face and curvaceous body. Her two best assets according to everyone else were her flawless deep brown skin and voluptuous lips.
I suppose I do have pretty great skin
she thought.
Growing Mary Lou was always the quiet, mousey girl who preferred to stay in the back ground or “blend in with the wall paper”. She often sat by herself in the school cafeteria and imagined what it was like to hang with the popular crowd. Since she wasn’t gifted with the skills and looks of a social butterfly, she focused on using her braid to get through life. Striving for academic perfection almost her entire life didn’t leave her much time to make friends, party, or even develop the basic social skills.
Mary Lou spotted the slender, sexily dressed waitress coming her way, out of her peripheral and snapped out of her self-pitying recollections. She gracefully placed the tray on the table. “Enjoy”, she said with a smile.
“Thank you”, Mary said returning her smile and gazed appreciatively down at her sandwich and fries. Just as she was about to dig in, she spotted a woman smiling and waving at her though the window. Mary gave her a warm smile and waved back as the woman made her way to the door of the deli. I was her best friend Yvonne. She took in Yvonne as she sauntered over to her table and took notice of the men who turned to give her a second look.
Her best friend was absolutely stunning with her tall, lithe but curves in all the right places frame, caramel skin tone and long highlighted bronzed hair. Not to mention her sparkling hazel eyes and stunningly bright smile. It often amazed Mary how great of friends they were. They were the perfect opposite of each other. They had been coupled together for a history project in high school and had surprising hit it off. They have been inseparable able ever since. Yvonne often said it was because they were so different, why they were perfect for each other. She often said “
you keep me humble and keep my ass out of trouble”,
and Mary always finished “
and I can live vicariously through you”,
to which Yvonne would roll her eyes and suck her teeth.
“Hi sweetie”, Yvonne said as she sat down, resting her handbag in her lap.
“Hi, I wasn’t expecting you today, nevertheless it’s always a pleasure” Mary replied with a smile. The duo met up for the lunch at the deli every Monday to Thursday, except on Fridays when Yvonne only worked a half shift at the bookstore around the corner. “So what are you doing here, young lady? Shouldn’t you be at home preparing after school snacks for those adorable children of yours?”
Yvonne rolled her eyes “honey, those kids have long passed the adorable stage, when they learned to talk and walk and make a mess of my damn house”. The loving expression in her eyes contradicted her comment. Mary shook her head and laughed. Yvonne had married her High School sweetheart Craig Peters straight out of high school and they produced the cutes kids Mary had ever seen. Kayla who was now seven years but behave like she was thirteen going on thirty old, and Kevonne who was three.
“Girl, I’m walking around town selling raffle tickets for Kayla’s school fundraiser. The school is raising money to make a long list of improvements to the facility. To be honest, I can’t remember half of what is on the list. The child who sells the most raffle tickets gets a free trip for four to the Belle Isle Park. I really want her to win, she is so damn competitive and she is only in the second grade. Anyway, what do you say? Are you ready to spend some cash and buy a few tickets? It’s only two dollars per ticket. I don’t even remember what the prize is” Yvonne said giggling “The winner probably gets a high powered blender or something; who the hell cares?”
Mary smiled and replied “Anything for Kayla. Tell you what give me ten tickets” she said handing Yvonne a twenty dollar bill”.
“What? Alright big spender” Yvonne teased and handed Mary ten tickets, stuffing the bottom of the tickets with the same numbers into her purse. “Thanks a bunch darling you are an absolute doll”.
The two ladies chatted for a while until Mary finished her lunch. They hugged, said their goodbyes and left the deli; Yvonne, to continue selling raffle tickets; and Mary, upstairs to her boring little cubicle.
Four more hours to go,
great
Mary thought as she walked, shoulders slumped as she made her way back to the office.
Three days later, Mary struggled into her apartment which her hands full of grocery bags and holding her mail between her lips. As she kicked the closed she heard her cell phone ringing in her hand bag. Plopping the groceries down on the kitchen table, she dropped her hand bag off her shoulders and dug around for the phone. Gripping it she quickly pulled it out and answered it before it could go to voice mail.
“Hello, good evening” Mary Lou answered, propping her hip against the kitchen counter.
“Good evening. Miss Mary Lou Carpenter?” An unfamiliar high pitched, way too excited voice greeted her.
“Uh, yes this is she” Mary answered hesitantly, wondering who it was.
“I am Amy Valicenti, Vice principal of Bernard Elementary School.”
“Uh, ok...?” Mary hadn’t the slightest idea why the Vice Principal of an Elementary school would be calling her.
“Congratulations Miss Carpenter! I am pleased to inform you that you are the winner of the raffle draw held this month.”
“Oh. Wow. Thank you”.
Awesome
Mary thought, shocked and excited all at once. She never won anything. “This is great news Ms. Valicenti. Would you mind dearly reminding what I have won?”
“Yes, of course dear. You have won an all expense paid trip for one week to Cooper’s Guest Ranch and Tours in Oklahoma.” Miss Valicenti answered excitedly.
“A- A
ranch?
In
Oklahoma?
”
“Yes! Congratulations again. Please drop by Bernard Elementary tomorrow to pick up your package and receive further information. Thank you again for making our May 2015 fundraiser a success. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Ms. Carpenter.”
“Bye. Thank you.” Mary hung up her phone, drew out a chair from the nearby dining table and slumped down in it, arms folded, sporting a disgusted expression.
A ranch, Ugh! What happened to a nice five star hotel here in the city? Hell, even a three star would do. What about the damn high powered blender “or something” as Yvonne had put it? She would be satisfied with that.
“I am so not leaving the city for a ranch” Mary said aloud. “I am going to chew Yvonne’s freaking ear off” she continued, dialling her best friend’s number.
“Hey sugar!” Yvonne answered.
“Don’t you sugar me, I’m pissed. I just got a call from Kayla’s school. I won the stupid raffle draw” Mary huffed.
“Well congratulations and what the hell are you pissed about?” Yvonne asked in confusion.
“Well, a turn out the prize is a trip to a ranch in Oklahoma for one week?”
There was silence at the other end of the line, then suddenly laughing; loud, hysterical laughter. Mary moved the phone from her ear and glared at it, whishing Yvonne could really receive the brunt of her withering glare.
“Wait. What? You won a trip to a ranch? What is there for you to even do for enjoyment on a ranch?” Yvonne could barely get the question out between her bouts of excessive laughter.
“This all your fault” Mary Lou huffed “If you had cared enough to get the full details of the fundraiser, you would have known what the winning prize would be. Now I’m stuck with some trip that I want no part of. You know what? I’m going to go to Bernard’s Elementary tomorrow and politely decline my so called prize.”
“Oh come on, Mary cease the opportunity, take the damn trip. When was the last time you went on a vacation? And it’s all expense paid. A little country air might do you some good” Yvonne encouraged.
“I will take my polluted city air over the country any day thank you very much. Besides-