Chapter 7
Jake woke up at six-thirty the morning after his date with Julie. He could have used a couple of more hours of sleep, but he certainly was not complaining. By the time Julie slipped out of his bed and back to her room at two in the morning, it would have taken a squad of undertakers to get the smile off his face. Jake put on his robe and padded out to the kitchen to start the coffee; he would let it drip while he showered.
Jake exited the shower refreshed and ready for the day. He shaved and dressed before heading for the kitchen. Jake screeched to a halt when he saw Julie sitting at the breakfast bar wearing one of his long sleeved white shirts buttoned part way up, and, as far as he could tell, nothing else. Julie laughed at him as he tried to peek at her unobtrusively. She flipped up the long tail of his shirt to show him pink lace panties.
"You're up awfully early this morning, Julie; are you feeling okay?"
"If I felt any better it would be against the law; I got up so I could hang out with you again today."
"That would make me very happy, Julie. In fact, why don't you spend the next week with me and Melissa; we are going to visit some of my campaign offices."
"Sounds good to me, as long as you can get Mom and Dad to agree and I'm back in time to start school."
They talked about the trip for a few minutes then Julie hustled to her room to shower and dress. She arrived back in the kitchen at the same time that Gail came in from next door. They picked up Debbie, the four of them piled into Gail's Caddy, and zipped over to the Rayburn Building. Julie told Gail and Debbie a lot about the concert but kept her tryst with Jake to herself. She was already looking forward to a repeat session even if she was a little sore from the first round.
In Atlanta, Melissa, Sven, and Erika were discussing the previous evening's gala. It had been a huge success; nothing like free booze and food to bring out a boatload of politicians. They all agreed that, with the crop of volunteers they had met, plus the support of a few key Democrat leaders, they had garnered support that should jump start the Atlanta campaign office. Now it was on to Birmingham, a location where they were already looking strong.
They made one stop on the way to the airport so that Sean Murphy could pick up the police agency checks he had submitted to the Atlanta Police Department the previous day. Sean scanned the computer printouts as they sped to the airport. One college student volunteer had some outstanding traffic citations but otherwise the new crew had clean records. Bernard Kingston had a spotless record without even a parking ticket against his name. Sean had also initiated a credit check on each person but those results would not arrive for a week to ten days.
Across town at the Georgia Life Insurance Company, the Vice-President of Operations knocked on Bernard Kingston's door.
"Bernie, saw you at the Turner's dinner last night but didn't get a chance to say hello. Who was that tall drink of water you were with?"
Bernard concealed his distaste at being called Bernie and smiled at his boss.
"Her name is Erika Johansson, Mr. Proctor; she is Melissa Turner's associate."
"Well, good show, man, I had no idea you were active in party politics. Maybe we can discuss them at the club some evening over a martini; I'll call you."
Kingston stared incredulously at the retreating back of his superior. Bernard had been Chief Actuary for five years and that was the longest personal conversation they had ever exchanged. It was one more sign that he was on the correct path. For once, Bernard was at his desk thinking of something beside statistics as a home movie of Melissa and him ran through his head. Bernard's daydream resembled a nineteen fifties sitcom with him coming home to a spotlessly clean house. Melissa, perfectly groomed and dressed, lovingly meets him at the door. An adorable little girl, the spitting image of his dear departed mother, is there also, wearing a beautiful party dress. Yes, he would have all that soon; he just needed a plan.
As soon as the motion to adjourn was passed without dissent, Jake briefed his staff and cut them loose for the weekend. Gail drove her passengers back to the Watergate where Julie helped Jake pack a bag for the trip. Jake's schedule had them flying out to Jackson, Mississippi at seven the next morning. He would link up with Melissa at the Jackson airport; then he and Melissa would visit the Jackson campaign headquarters together.
Angie was flying back to Palmdale Saturday morning as well, so Jake took all three of his sisters to dinner at a very nice French restaurant. It was not Jake's first preference, but Gail had made the arrangements so he went along with her choice. His sisters, of course, raved about the food. Jake guessed he was never going to be cultured because all the pomp and presentation was wasted on him. Why, he wondered, was it necessary for five or six people to play with his food, arranging it so artfully on the plate, and bring it to him a little at a time, when all he wanted to do was eat. If he wanted art, he would go to the museum. Jake did get some satisfaction when the waiter blanched at his request that they bring his Boeufa la Bourguignonne without what Jake called 'the gravy'.
"Jake, you are such a shit, picking on him like that," Debbie chided.
Jake chuckled, "I can't help myself; these places are so pretentious. Why can't they just cook the food, bring you a big old plate of it, and leave you alone to eat it?"
Angie gave him a look, "Dining at a place like this is supposed to be an experience, Jacob, a treat for all your senses."
"Well, it's wasted on me; to paraphrase Mister Potato Head, 'eats is eats'."
His older sisters shook their heads in disbelief.
"Jake, for an educated and talented man you sure have some pedestrian tastes," Angie said.
Jake shrugged in reply; this was one of those arguments he could not win. He was mildly surprised though, that his sisters had become so tony and considered him part of the hoi-polloi.
Julia was taking it all in; her generation was much more informal and she pretty much saw things the way Jake did. Her sisters and her mother however, were her role models, and she usually looked up to them.
As if he were reading her thoughts, Jake said, "Julie, don't pay any attention to me. Your sisters are a much better example for you. I think part of my problem is just stubbornness and I hate it when anyone acts as if they are better than anyone else. That probably makes me some sort of reverse snob."
"That's why you are going to be a good president, Jake," Angie said seriously. "You treat everyone with the same respect. It will be good to see someone in the White House that at least knows how to pump his own gas and shop for groceries."
The meal was tastier than Jake thought it would be and the company was superb. He spent a very enjoyable couple of hours laughing and catching up with his sisters' lives; he was going to find a way to spend more time with them in the future, he promised himself. From the restaurant, they drove back to Watergate and carried the conversation into Jake's apartment.
Angie and Debbie called it a night about ten. Julie went to shower while Jake caught the news on cable. CNN had a short piece on the previous night's dinner for former president Carter, including his surprise endorsement of Jake. It was highly unusual for a former president to endorse a candidate this early in the race. Jake pondered the significance of Carter's endorsement for a few minutes. Carter had always been identified with the most liberal wing of the Democratic Party; why would he tap Jake, especially this early in the race?
Carter's speech had been full of references to Jake charitable works. Most of the items Carter brought up had never been spoken of in a public forum before. CNN must have researched Carter's remarks because they threw up a graphic showing how much money, time, and effort Jake had contributed to everything from health care for babies to the Old Soldier's Home. Carter closed his remarks by saying he did not necessarily agree with many of Jake's positions but, as a man, Jake Turner was more than worthy of his endorsement. That about summed up Jake's feeling for Carter. The former president was a good and honorable man but some of his peacenik shenanigans were way out there.
Jake turned off the television and wandered into the bedroom. He had just finished undressing when Julie exited the bathroom. Tonight she was wearing a short red nightie that showed off her curvy body as if it had been custom fitted to her.
"Wow," was all Jake could say, as he looked her up and down several times.
Julia smiled and curtsied at the compliment.
"Sister Debbie loaned me this; she said she was wearing it when you took two of her cherries and took her around the world."
"Your sister talks a lot," Jake observed.
"My sisters talk a lot you mean, big brother. Angie told me about her first time with you some time ago. When she told me how sweet and gentle you were I stopped being scared about giving my virginity to you. I loved every minute of last night; it was all I hoped it would be and then some. Do you think we could do it some more plus try some of the things Debbie told me about?"
Jake allowed that it was indeed possible as he swept the bedcovers down. Julie smiled and jumped onto the bed. When Jake reached for her, she kissed him and pushed his hands away.
"It's my turn to explore tonight, Jake. I want to learn how to please you."
Jake nodded and lay on his back. Julie started at his forehead with gentle flicking kisses and worked her way slowly down his body. She was either a very inventive young woman or this was not her first rodeo. By the time she had teased her way to his diamond-hard shaft, his hips were involuntarily lifting off the bed. Julie gave him a shy smile and tentatively licked his dick. Jake smiled at her in encouragement so she wrapped her lips around him. She tasted his precum and made a cooing sound then she started sucking him as if she had done it all her life. After a minute, she stopped and popped her mouth off him.
"Ooohhh, I love doing this and I love your taste. Am I doing it right?"
Jake grabbed her head and pulled her back down.
"You're a natural," he said.
Julie grinned up at him from between his legs and let him guide her head back to his throbbing erection. Her enthusiasm was bringing him to the verge of cumming much quicker than he thought possible. Julie was going after him as if her life depended on his cum. She slurped noisily and moaned around his dick as she played with herself. Jake reached down and tugged on her nightie until she took the hint and spun around. She was on fire when she dropped her wet, bald pink slit onto his mouth. In fewer than two minutes, he grunted and ejected his load into her gasping mouth. As soon as he started spurting, she moaned around his dick and ground her quim in circles on his tongue. Her juices were flowing almost as thick as his as she hunched her hips.
Julia swallowed as fast as she could but his load was too large for her and dribbled out the corner of her mouth back down his shaft. She started lapping it up even as she shuddered from little after-shock orgasms. Jake fastened his lips around her clit just as she was almost relaxed and rapidly flicked it with his tongue. Julia squealed and stuffed his semi-erect penis back in her mouth. She was a game little trooper, not about to stop if he wanted to keep making her climax.
Jake's face was as wet as if he had been in the shower when he pushed her off his face and pulled her face out of his crotch.
"Nooo," she protested.
Jake positioned her over his dick and her eyes lit up as she figured out what he wanted. She made incoherent noises as she slid her tight channel down his erection. She lay on top of him and experimented with moving her hips until she found the stroke that seemed to hit every feel-good spot inside of her. She ground against him, her orgasms so close together her pussy was constantly clamping and releasing him.
Jake could not hold back any longer.
"I'm gonna cum," He gritted out through clenched teeth.
Julia flipped off him as if she were an Olympic gymnast dismounting his pommel horse. She recaptured his dick with her mouth just as he exploded again.
Two minutes later, they were lying side by side on top of the trashed bed, bodies slick with sweat and other bodily fluids. Julia looked as sexy and satisfied as Jake had ever seen.
"Debbie didn't know how right she was when she said I'd like oral sex," Julia understated. "I see a lot of that in my future; I even have a good idea of who'll be next. Thanks, Big Brother."
"My pleasure. Is your next target anyone I know?"
"Could be," she grinned, "I'll let you know if I succeed."
It seemed as if Jake had just closed his eyes when his alarm clock woke him with its insistent buzz. He had to struggle for a few seconds to get to the clock because Julie was sprawled across his back and had her arms wrapped around him. Jake turned off the alarm and gently woke her up. Her eyes popped open and she smiled sweetly at him. Jake loved how cheerful Julie was in the morning.
"Get a move on, you insatiable little vixen, we need to shower, dress, and be out of here in forty-five minutes."
Julie stretched her arms over her head and pulled the sheet off her naked breasts.
"God, I feel even better than I did yesterday. I could get used to this."
She kicked off the covers and pounced on Jake, pressing the length of her body on top of him. Jake stroked her back for a minute then swatted her on the ass.
"Don't try to start something, Miss Hotpants. Get up and hit the shower while I start the coffee."
"Only if you promise to join me," she said as she nibbled the stubble along his jaw.
Jake said it was a deal so she rolled off him and swished her small cute ass into the bathroom. Jake hustled to the kitchen and started the coffee then he sped back to the bathroom. Julie was lathering up her hair when he stepped into the large shower enclosure. He took over for her as she moaned her approval.
"You are going to spoil me for any other man, Big Brother. I am going to end up like Debbie and Angie, waiting for another one of you to appear."
Jake stopped massaging her scalp and turned her to face him.
"I don't even want to think that might be true, Jules. Your sisters are single for some reason besides pining for me."
"Easy, big boy, I was joking. Besides, Debbie does have TJ and Angie has a new boyfriend she is getting serious about. I just meant that you set the bar pretty high when it comes to men in general and lovers in specific. Now get back to pampering me; we are on the clock, remember?"
Jake started back on her scalp but his thoughts were on her words. What she had said had been a source of concern for him since day one. The last thing he ever wanted to do was mess up the lives of any of his women. So far, he thought he had done pretty well at it; except for Angie and -- to an extent -- Debbie, all of them had good marriages and families of their own. He was going to have a talk with his other sisters as soon as possible about this, he decided.
When he finished Julie's hair, he lathered up the rest of her firm young body. She was small boned but had just the right amount of fat on her, Jake decided. She was fit from tennis and golf while being neither as toned and muscled as Debbie nor as slim as Angie. Julia was the All American girl; she reminded Jake a lot of Melissa at that age.
After he was sure that she was clean as a whistle, she returned the favor. She paid extra attention to Mr. Johnson, getting him hard with her soft hands. She giggled when he spun her around and had her grab the towel bar for support. Her giggles turned to squeals of pleasure as he sank into her.
Even with the extra-curricular shower activities, they were dressed and eating an English muffin when Gail cruised in to take them to the airport at six-fifteen. Debbie and Angie arrived a few minutes later. Gail was giving Angie a ride to the airport as well, and Debbie was traveling with Jake. Jake looked Debbie over carefully as they rode in the back seat for the tell-tale bulge of the pistol he was sure she carried. In a summery dress and short heels, it must have been a concealed weapon indeed.
Debbie saw him checking her out. "What?" she asked.
"I was trying to figure out where your pistol is. Don't tell me you are unarmed."
Debbie laughed at his remark.
"I don't go to even the grocery store unarmed, Bro," she said reaching into her purse.
She pulled out the .45 automatic that Tiny had given her almost twenty years ago. It had been re-blued and had custom grips installed. Jake could only imagine how else Tiny had modified the old Army-issue pistol. Debbie put the pistol away and inched up her skirt.
"Of course, I still have my little popgun," she said.
Jake noted with interest that the small .25 Colt was secured to her upper thigh in a Cordura and Velcro rig that fit around the top of her thigh high smoky stockings.
"It would almost be worth getting shot just to see you pull it out," he said dryly.
Angie and Gail said their goodbyes at the hanger where they dropped Jake and his remaining sisters. The Leer Business Jet took off at seven exactly and pointed itself towards Mississippi. Jake gabbed with his sisters and read some very boring reports on the economy during the two hour flight. Gail Martin had assembled him concise informational books on about any subject you could name that involved the government. She had also determined in which order he was to assimilate them. The interrelationship between government actions and the economy was incredibly complex.
Melissa was waiting in the limo for Jake when his plane landed. She exited the car and ran to him when he came down the sleek jet's stairs. Everyone was constantly amazed at the bond between Melissa and Jake. They knew from experience that it was genuine and not contrived for public consumption. She flew into his outstretched arms and they clung to each other fiercely.
"It keeps getting harder to be apart from you, Hubby. Regardless of how this election goes, when it's over we are not spending a night apart ever again."
"You have a deal, Mrs. Turner," he replied.
Jake and his party joined Melissa, Sven, Sean, and Erika in the stretch limousine for the ride to the Jackson campaign center. The office was a buzzing beehive of activity when they arrived. Mississippi was a state that Jake planned to do well in; his populist views of the way government should work resonated with both blacks and whites here. The campaign office staff was friendly, dedicated, and motivated; Jake was overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. At noon he took them all to lunch; Julie and Sven volunteered to man the office while the staff ate.
They went to a place called Po' Folks; to Jake it was what a restaurant should be. They put piles of food in front of you then came back every five minutes and asked if you wanted more. Jake was working hard on a plate of barbeque when a middle-aged man in jeans and a checked shirt came up to the table.
"Excuse me, sir," the man said, "but ain't you Jake Turner?"
Jake acknowledged he was and asked the man what he could do for him.
"Mr. Turner, what are you going to do about dairy farm subsidies if you get elected?"
Jake looked at the man's serious continence for a few seconds before replying.
"Mr... ?"
"Watson, but best you call me Otis, same's everyone else."
"Well, Otis, I don't know anything about milk except how expensive it is at the supermarket. I thought you dairy farmers were doing okay. If that's not the case, why don't you sit down and tell me about it?"
Otis did. Melissa went back to the campaign office when Jake said he would catch a ride with Otis. The two men sat down over coffee as Otis told how the milk processors kept the price of raw milk down regardless of the farmer's cost.
"If you knew how hard I have to work to produce a gallon of milk you'd understand better," Otis said.
Jake thought for a minute and replied, "Well, Otis, you are going to have to show me. Give me directions to your place and I'll be there Monday morning."
Otis was skeptical but drew Jake a map on a napkin and drove him back to the campaign office. Jake invited Otis to the campaign dinner that he was hosting that evening but Otis said he started milking at six and did not finish until after ten. The men shook hands and Jake went inside.
The dinner in Jackson was another love fest with the state's democrat elite although the politicians were coy in withholding their endorsements.
After the dinner, Jake and Melissa made glorious love in their hotel suite. Melissa was especially hot that evening because of Jake's description of his nights with Julie. Melissa was coming down from a particularly strong orgasm while Jake was lightly lapping up her sweet juices.
"I think your little sister is trying to seduce me," Melissa said. "She was very flirtatious any time we were alone today."
"I guess you must like the idea judging by how hot you are tonight," he replied.
"That heat was mostly you, Hubby, but the idea does appeal to me. I think I'm going to let her work at it and see where she goes; if you don't mind, that is. She is so pretty and, since going to DC, she oozes sexiness. I also like the idea of being seduced by someone who looks so much like Helen. You know your mother has been a fantasy of mine for years."
"Go ahead, Baby, but I want to know all the details. Just the thought of it makes me hard," he said.
The following morning it was on to New Orleans. Jake was looking forward to the Big Easy because he was going to see Rebecca Doane and her son Joshua there. He would also get to see Katie and LaMonte Dupree and probably their daughter Rachael.
The Doane sisters had handled the issue of their childrens' paternity openly and honestly without providing specifics. Jake was acknowledged as the father when the children had asked but his contribution was explained as the donor for an artificial insemination. The issue had never become a problem. LaMonte loved Rachael about as much as one person could love another and vice-versa. LaMonte had adopted her before she was a year old and to Rachael he was her Dad, regardless of biology.
Joshua Doane was a different case. He knew that Jake was the donor of half his genetic material but was perfectly content with the life he had with his Mom and his position as the bearer of the Doane name. Jake visited, called, and generally filled the position of favorite uncle. As a matter-of-fact, Josh called him Uncle Jake.
After the visit to the campaign headquarters, Jake and his crew prepared for their evening gala. It was getting old hat for Melissa as this was her fourth in four days -- but she was a trooper and showed up radiantly beautiful and gracious. The Democrat Party hierarchy in Louisiana was lukewarm towards Jake but they sure appreciated his taste in women. The party chiefs compared Jake to Hughie Long, big on equal rights and fond of pretty women. Both were themes that played well in the Bayou State.
Katie and Rachael Dupree were at the soirée, as was Rebecca Doane. LaMonte did not attend because his and Jake's politics were polar opposites. LaMonte thought that anyone left of Ronald Regan was a card-carrying member of the Communist Party. Rachael Dupree was a sophisticated young woman blossoming into a first rate artist. She was majoring in Art and Design at Tulane and had already sold a number of her paintings. Rachel had illustrated the cover of her Aunt Rebecca's last three books. She had the fine, delicate good looks that were the Doane trademark.
Rebecca had aged some but was still the tiny, vivacious woman that Jake had adored since high school. Katie was the genteel, attractive Dean of Academic Affairs at Tulane. Katie still advised Jake on ethical issues; she had a knack for making both sides of a case without infusing the argument with her opinion. She did not make decision-making easier but did make sure Jake had a grasp of opposing points of view.
Jake walked over to the Doanes' table while the band was tuning up. Melissa had begun holding court for a bevy of admirers so he had left her table so she could work her magic. Jake kissed all three women on the cheek and sat down with them. They chatted pleasantly for a few minutes about writing, school, and life in New Orleans. Rachael was decidedly uncomfortable with Jake being so near. Flashes of sexual energy kept pulsing through her so strongly she was sure everyone in the ballroom could see her thighs clench together. She felt flushed and breathless, barely able to hold up her end of the conversation.
Jake noticed her discomfort and quickly surmised its cause. He leaned towards her and whispered in her ear.
"I know what you are feeling and I can explain it to you. Dance with me and I'll tell you about yourself."
Rachael nodded, not trusting her voice. Jake stood up and led her out to the dance floor. He put his arm around her and she shuddered as little explosions danced through her groin. His touch caused her skin to goose-bump; it was all she could do to keep from falling to the floor and drag him between her spread legs. Her eyes grew wider as Jake explained her heritage to her. It was a story that was so farfetched it had to be true. When he told her about the Keelmira Valley, she could vividly see it in her artist's imagination. Jake explanation reassured her that she was not going insane, but did little to quench the flames of lust burning in her. Her boyfriend was in for a wild night -- that much was for sure. The song ended and Jake escorted her back to the table. He promised that he would arrange a trip for her to Keelmira next month.
Jake also took a turn around the dance floor with Rebecca. Having her in his arms was a special nod to nostalgia for both of them. Jake promised to visit her and Joshua tomorrow before he flew back to Palmdale.
After his dance with Rebecca, he went to rescue his wife from her admirers. Melissa had already extricated herself, however, and was sitting talking to Julie. Jake greeted his wife and sister then, holding hands with both, they circulated through the crowd. They made small talk with one group after the next, cementing acquaintances that they hoped would translate into political support down the line. Julie looked elegant and ten years older than she was in a gown the women had purchased for her that same day.
They flew back to Palmdale Saturday afternoon; Jake was glad to be back home even though he had only been gone two weeks. Mikayla was thrilled to have her Daddy home again and stayed plastered to him all evening. When Jake said he was going to work on a dairy farm Monday, Mikayla begged to go along. Jake relented when Melissa took Mikayla's side, so Sunday afternoon the pair flew to Jackson. Jake rented a car at the airport and found them a motel on the edge of town in the direction of Otis Watson's dairy farm. Mickey said she did not want to stay alone so Jake took a double room. They threw their bags into the room and headed for the closest restaurant.
After putting a hurting on a couple of big steaks, Jake and Mikayla went back to the room and watched a movie on HBO. Jake took a shower at nine-thirty and put on his pajama bottoms. He was watching CNN when Mikayla came out of the bathroom from her shower. She was towel drying her long cinnamon hair and wearing a long t-shirt that said angel on the front. Jake could not have agreed more. She finished with her hair, handed Jake her brush and detangler, and sat down next to him on the bed.
"Will you brush my hair, Daddy? I love it when you do that for me."
Jake spritzed the detangler onto her hair and first combed his fingers through her thick mane. Then he started brushing. It was a ritual that dated from when Mikayla was five and had grown her hair long enough to breed tangles. It was her time, her time with Daddy to talk about whatever was on her mind.
"So, Dad, I'll be thirteen in a couple of months and Mom said I should be getting my period soon. I won't be a little girl anymore; so when can I start dating?"
Jake, for once, knew he was being set up. He smiled to himself, suppressed the expected gasp, and never missed a stroke with the brush.
"You will always be my little girl, no matter how old you get. But I guess I'll have to let you start dating. Let's see, you're twelve and a half and I enjoyed every minute I've known you -- so double that might just be enough time for me. Yep, twenty-five is the perfect age for you to start dating. Heck, I might even let you shave your legs by then."
"Dad-dee, I'm serious. Mom said women on both sides of our family mature faster than the boys do. So, if JJ can date at fifteen and I'm more mature, then I should get to date at thirteen."
"Wow, Mickey, that is a well thought-out argument and excellent logic. The only trouble is that when it comes to you I am illogical and over-protective. But I guess you should be able to go on chaperoned outings, if your mother agrees."
"Thanks, Daddy, now all I have to do is change into a swan from an ugly duckling so Jesse Richardson will ask me out."
Jake finished her hair and she crawled up on the bed and lay down in the crook of his arm. Jake turned off the bedside lamp and turned down the television. He started to tell her how pretty she already was when he saw that she was fast asleep. Jake extricated his arm from under her and tucked her under the covers. He gazed at her as she slept, her face tranquil and relaxed. To him she already was the most beautiful swan that ever lived.
The insistent ring of the phone woke Jake at five the next morning. He snatched up the receiver, thanked the desk clerk for the wake-up call, and then headed to the bathroom. Feeling almost human, he exited the bath and woke up Mikayla. Mickey jumped out of bed and made a bee-line to the bathroom.
Jake shed his pajama bottom and put on a pair of worn Levis while she was in the bathroom. Mikayla came out of the bathroom and nonchalantly pulled her t-shirt over her head. Naked except for a pair of aqua bikini panties, she rummaged in her suitcase for her outfit. Jake figured this was also some sort of test but did not know how he should respond. Remembering what Melissa had told him about her fragile ego, he decided not to make an issue of her nudity. However, he noticed his little girl was definitely growing up. Her hips were beginning to take a womanly swell and her breasts were just starting to develop an initial fullness.
Mikayla took her time getting dressed; goosebumps formed on her arms at the thought of being almost nude in front of her father. She shimmied into her jeans and slipped on a black Van Halen tee-shirt. Five minutes later she was ready, her long dark red hair in a pony tail and her face freshly scrubbed.
"I'm hungry, Daddy," she said, "if you don't feed me before we get there I might eat one of the cows."
They drove through McDonalds, ate in the car, and made it to Watson's dairy farm at five minutes to six. Otis was walking out the front door when they pulled up. Jake was amused at his surprised look.
"I'll be damned, Jake, a politician that keeps his word; that's one for the books. Who did you borrow the work boots from?"
"I'm a rancher, Otis, they're all mine; heck, I've even been known to get my hands dirty. This is my daughter, Mikayla, she wants to learn how to milk a cow."
Otis laughed and shook Jake's hand and led them to a long, low milking barn. Otis explained that he milked about a hundred-fifty Holsteins twice a day, three hundred-sixty-five days a year. The cows were brought into the milking barn thirty at a time, fifteen on either side of a central feeding trough area. As part of an experienced herd, each cow knew the order they would get fed and milked; any upstart cow pushing ahead would get butted in reprimand. They also knew which side they preferred. When the cows put their heads through a set of bars to get to the feed, the bars automatically closed and held the cows' heads in place; they had movement up and down, but not left to right or backward. A worker with a milking machine started at the far end of each row. He threw a strap over the cows back, hung a glass bowled milk collector from the strap, and attached the actual milking tubes to each of the cow's four teats.
The procedure sounded simple -- but reality was a different matter. For one thing, some of the cows, no most of the cows, were not happy with the idea of breaking in a new hand. Jake was almost kicked twice in the first ten minutes and slapped countless times buy angrily twitching tails. Also, the pace was fast as the machines efficiently drained over a gallon of milk out of the cows in a couple of minutes. Jake could see the raw milk running through distribution pipes to the refrigeration vat. Jake was only on number five when the other milker met him coming the other way.
After all thirty cows were milked, the bars holding their heads were released and the cows exited the barn at the opposite end from where they had entered. Jake then had to hose down the concrete floor while the trough was restocked with grain for the next shift of Holsteins; a scraping system in a channel under the tailends was used to carry away solid released by the cows as they exited the gates. It took almost three hours to milk all five shifts and another half hour to clean and put away the milking equipment.
The milkers went home after the equipment was stowed; they would return at six that evening for the next milking. Otis, however, had other things to do. By the time they broke for lunch at noon, Jake had baled and stacked fifty bales of hay and assisted at least a couple of tons of manure into a spreader to go on the freshly mowed field. His ass was dragging when they walked back to the house.
"Otis, is this your normal day or are you shining me on?"
"Well, Jake, it's free labor so I might have piled on a little extra," Otis laughed. "But everything we did this morning had to be done today or tomorrow."
"Fair enough, what's on for the afternoon?"
"Well, I usually nap from one to three then I check the cooler tanks and putter around some. Then start all over at six this evening. All that work for eighty-five cents a gallon. This morning we put away about three hundred-sixty gallons. The distributor pretty much sets my price and I have to take it. If we do the same this evening, I'll bring in close to seven hundred bucks. After all my costs, I'll net maybe fifty dollars. Of course, I sell a little hay and a calf every once in a while, but I ain't getting rich at this by a long shot. The so called 'cheese subsidy' you politicians are getting rid of is the only fall back money I get to replace equipment and modernize.
"I guess after lunch you and your youngun' can call it a day. I gotta admit you surprised me; I figured you'd a found some pressing business about the second time one of the cows kicked at you. And that little gal of yours did not complain about anything either. I reckon a man who is willing to work deserves my vote."
Lunch with Otis and his wife was very pleasant. Lois Watson doted on Mikayla; the Watson had two sons and so far, three grandsons. Lois was dying for a granddaughter.
Jake drove back to the motel deep in thought. Working with Otis had been a sobering experience for him because he realized that today was the same as yesterday for Otis. Moreover, tomorrow and every day for as far as Otis could see would be the same. That was work, real work, what little Jake did around the ranch was playing at work. Then there was the money issue. Jake thought that he did not let his family's money affect him. But in reality, he never lacked for anything, unlike Otis who had put off going to the dentist in order to pay his veterinary bill this month. Jake decided that he was going to seek out at least one opportunity a week to work with more real people.
Jake paid the room tab then he and Mickey headed to the airport. Mikayla was itching for the opportunity to fly the Cessna home. She had been taking flying lessons for six months but never had the chance to fly any distance before this trip.
On Tuesday, Jake went to his main campaign headquarters and talked to the team that handled responses to his web site. He wanted to personally read any e-mails or comments that talked about what the writer did for a living. Jake ended up working as everything from a lumberjack to a file clerk during the next six months. He met some great people and came away with a new appreciation for how hard-working Americans really were. He also gained valuable insight into the day-to-day concerns of the people who paid his salary.
In mid-September, Jake spoke at an American Legion post in South Boston. He truly enjoyed talking to the veterans, especially those from World War II. He peppered his talk with funny stories about his encounters in the military and used military analogies for some of his ideas about government. He was talking about veterans' benefits when a question struck him.
"Does any one remember knowing or serving with Elliott Buckley? He was from here and was a pilot in World War II and Korea."
Jake was amazed when about a dozen hands went up.
"Gentlemen, I'd like to sit and talk to you when I finish up here. Elliott was my grandfather; he died before I was born so I never had the pleasure of meeting him."
Jake finished his speech to a much more receptive audience. Once the close-knit, mostly Irish crowd found out he was one of theirs, he became a much more attractive candidate. When he stepped off the dais, a knot of those who knew his grandfather escorted him into the Legion Post's bar area. After a toast to the memory of his grandfather, the men who had known him regaled Jake with stories about him for over an hour. Jake departed Boston with some new friends and supporters. The members of the American Legion would end up becoming a dedicated and tireless cadre of campaign volunteers.
Jake went from Boston to nearby Fort Devens, Massachusetts. His
visit to the Army base was for personal reasons unrelated to
campaigning. Jay Reynolds, his other self, was stationed at Devens at
the time and Jake had business with him. Jake had found a way to make
the Reynolds family financially secure but this would be the first time
Jake would directly interfere in his former life or intentionally meet
with his former family.