Jefferson Graves's Story

Jefferson

Jefferson, also known as Jeff, had been walking for hours down this dusty road, the apparently had left out the city. He took a few glances behind him, to make sure the police were completely left behind. IT was a miracle that he'd got away.
The sun beamed on his skin, and his luggage which held half of his belongings became heavier than before. He took in huge breathes, hoping to find someone with food or water. What time was it? Where was he heading two?, were two major questions that remained in his head for hours.

His mom was probably worried sick. His father will probably hate him when he found out he stole his 400$ in savings. Jefferson rolled his shoulders as he dragged through wearily, with huge acres of land on his left and right, which he found so beautiful. It would have been even more beautiful if he found a house one either side. Jefferson stopped in the middle of the abandoned road, and slid off his leather jacket. He'd had it on this whole time, convinced that it would keep him cool than to make him worst, as he'd seen on one of those discovery health channels one time back at his apartment. He rolled his fingers through his dark brown hair, and took a long stare at something that had seemed to be a house. A Farm.
Jefferson couldn't believe his eyes. "Is that a..." He murmured to himself, barely able to finish his sentence after figuring out that it was indeed a house.
Jefferson became relieved. He sped up his pace as he walked closer to the farm, and on the porch, was an old man, seeming in his late 50's or early 60's, sweeping up some old dust onto the grass.
Jefferson stood a few yards away, starring at the old guy, wondering as to how he should approach him.

(The farmer and his wife can played by you and I, so you can control him also.)

Stephanie

Steph was awoken by the bright light of the sun shining into her room. She let out a yawn and swung her legs over the bed and walked around a bit to wake herself up. It was a Saturday, but they always had things to do. Things to sell and Steph had homework. The dreaded paper that teachers give to her. It was around twelve which means that she slept in late. Farming starts at four, but her father must love her a whole lot. She walked over to the window and saw her dad on the porch and in the distance there were a was man coming. He seemed a bit older than she was so he must be here to see her father. Everyone was.
Walking away from the window she skipped down the stairs to see her mom bringing in fresh milk for Stephanie to drink. Her mother was giddy as usual and also lovely. You couldn't tell that she was your typical housewife. Her mother shook the milk carton before pouring Stephanie a glass. She thanked her mother and sat at the table to eat the pancakes and eggs that were left.

Her father, on the porch, was in his fifties who could pass off for his sixties. He saw a guy in the distance and stood up. His shot gun was next to him and he held it up. He made direct eye contact with the boy and walked down the front steps. "Aye boy! What you want?" he asked harshly.

Jefferson stood at the gate, and watched the man for a few moments. He slowly clenched his luggage and swung it around his shoulder. The man took a look up, and stood out his seat. Suddenly, Jefferson and the man made complete eye-contact. Jefferson swallowed and took in a breath. New to the old man was what seemed to be a 1997 Coach shotgun. Again, Jefferson swallowed. He knew so much about different types of guns, but he didn't know this guy, or what to expect.
Jefferson gave the man a wave from a few yards away, to show that he meant no harm. Yet, Jefferson was still nervous.
Aye boy! What you want?" he asked in a harsh tone.
Jefferson cleared his voice before speaking, "Y-yes, sir! May I have a word with you?" He asked, stuttering more than usual. Something about this old man made him feel intimidated.

Stephanie

Stephanie was finished off her pancakes and eggs. She chugged off the last of her milk and stood up and left the table. She has chores to do. "Mom I am going to the stables." Steph took off through the back and walked toward the stables. Lily was in there waiting to be fed along with the other horses, but Lily was hers. When she got there she was greeted by the neighing of the three horses. She loved it. Grabbing the horse feed she went and fed the horses one by one and stopped to talk to Lily.

Her father walked closer to the boy and held the gun up in the air so in case it went off he wouldn't have killed the boy. "Y-yes, sir! May I have a word with you?" He raised an eyebrow at the young boy in front of him and nodded. "I'm listening. Why are you on my farm?" He said in a slight country accent.

Jefferson bit his lower lip before responding, "I'd- I'd like a place to stay, sir!" Jefferson had began, trying to sound as convincing as possible. "I've been walking the road for a few hours now, I have no place to go, sir." He said over the yards of land at the man. He wiped the small drops of sweat from his forehead, and made eye contact.

Her father eyed the boy that was shouting across the yards of land and pointed the gun downwards at the grass. He clicked on the safety and walked until him and the boy were face to face and close up. The young man in front of him seemed serious and intimidated. "What kind of skill you got?"

The man pointed the gun down and approached Jefferson, neck to neck. Jefferson kept his head up and kept calm. "What kind of skill you got?"
"Well," Jefferson began, "I can, I can," He thought, then remembered. "I can lift. I'm fast, I can ride horses. A little. I can farm. I'm quick to learn many other skills." He said.

The old man looked at him once more and had an idea pop into his head. "Alright son, you got yourself a deal. You stay stay here, but you must work your ass off to pay for it." He said pretty harshly. "Name's Jack." He said sticking out his hand for the young man to shake it. "Come on boy." Jack turned and started walking towards the house to give him a proper meal. His wife Carol was an amazing chef.

Stephanie had finished feeding the horses and she was back in the kitchen with her mom. "Mom where is dad?" she asked putting away the extra feed from the barn. She leaned against the counter. "He is out on the porch. Why?" She asked washing dishes in the sink. Steph nodded and walked toward the front where her mother said her father would be. "Bessie is pregnant." She shouted before walking out on the porch. She didn't see her father. She looked across the land she saw her father with a boy. "DADDY!" She shouted and gestured for him to hurry up and get over here.

The old man looked at him once more. "Alright son, you got yourself a deal. You stay stay here, but you must work your ass off to pay for it." He said sternly. Jefferson nodded in agreement. "Name's Jack." He said sticking out his hand for the young man to shake it. Jefferson gave him his best grip and shook it. "Come on boy." The man turned, and started toward his nicely built farmhouse. Jefferson picked up his things and followed aimlessly behind. As they neared the porch, and girl had walked on the porch and called "DADDY!" The young female had shouted a few yards away.

Jefferson, a bit dumbfounded, watched the farmer's reaction. What was going on? went through his head. Yet, his eyes wandered back at the girl who called the farmer over. Jefferson lifted an eye brow as he walked closer to the house behind the farmer.

Stephanie saw the boy from earlier following her dad to the house. She placed a hand on her hip and cocked it to the side as her father approached. The guy had luggage with uim which means he was staying. Have to ready the guest room Her father walked up to her with a smiled on his face and Stephanie moved to hg him. "What is it babygirl?" He asked referring the fact that she had called him over earlier. "Bessie is pregnant." Stephanie doesn't work with any of the pregnant animals. That is he dads job. Her attention went back to the boy that had followed close behind. Without even asking a question her father gave an answer. "I hired a worker Steph for when you are at school. I'm too old to do it," he said with a chuckle. Stephanie nodded. "Oh. I'm Stephanie," she said wih a semi smile.

Jefferson approached the ranch porch, where the girl and her father spoke over a few things. "I hired a worker Steph for when you are at school. I'm too old to do it," The farmer said, followed by a hardy chuckle. A chuckle that reminded him of his dad. Jefferson followed his gaze from the farmer to his daughter. "Oh. I'm Stephanie," she said, with a half smile.

Jefferson nodded, and held out his hand for a gentle, handshake. He nodded. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jefferson. Jeff for short." He let out a smile, then looked back at the farmer. "Uh, w-who's Bessie?" He asked, confused.

Stephanie saw that he stuck out his hand for a handshake and she complied. Her father was going to answer, but Steph had beat him to it. "Bessie is our cow," she said trying to reassure him that it wasn't a person. People always freak out when she talks about Bessie like a person. Her father nodded at Jeff and turned his attention to his little girl. "I was gonna show the boy his room, but I'm gonna check on Bessie instead." Jack smiled and Stephanie let out a frustrated groan. If she already didn't have enough chores. Her father left the shot gun on the porch and went to aide Bessie. That left Stephanie and Jefferson alone. She felt a bit awkward, but that would pass.

"Guess I will show you to the spared bedroom," she said as she turned to walk in the house. It was simple with two stories and it was obvious that it has been hand made. Her mother, Carol, was no longer in the kitchen. Leaves out introductions She thought as she jogged up the stairs. The first bedroom on the left was going to be his. It had its own bathroom. "This is where you stay."

"Bessie is our cow," Stephanie said, putting Jefferson out of the state of confusion. Yet, it seemed as though after he asked the question, it didnt matter as much as he gave a few glances at Stephanie, trying to not make it seem obvious. She was a pretty young thing, Jefferson thought in the back of his head. He looked about her age, maybe a little younger. As the farmer walked off, it left them alone. Jefferson glanced at Stephanie, then at the house. "Guess I will show you to the spared bedroom."
"Right, of course.." He said, breaking his slightly longer glance. He then picked up his nearly 25-pound luggage with his forbidden belongings and followed behind her. "This is where you stay."

In the bedroom, was a simple bed, wooden floor, a closet, and a small dresser for his things. This wasn't what he was used to in the city, but it was fine for now. He sat his things down, and turned to Stephanie. "Um, thanks..I, uh, appreciate it." He said, glancing at her then at the ground. "So, is your father always like this?" He asked, referring to his intimidation. Jefferson was fine with it, but maybe one day he can loosen the old man up.

Stephanie leaned against the door frame as he examined the bedroom. "So, is your father always like this?" She laughed even though it clearly wasn't a joke. It was funny how people always asked that question. She nodded. "Only to people outside the family. He wants to seem like the bigger person even though he is nothing, but a giant teddy bear," she said reassuring him that there was nothing to worry about.

"But he does know how to use the shot gun," she added. She has seen her father practice countless time with that thing. Mostly on the animals that the family was going to eat for dinner. Pushing up off the door frame she got a better look at Jeff. He was older than her, but most people were. He was cute, but she knew better than to date. Father would have her head. "Are you hungry? I think there is left over something you can have."

"Only to people outside the family. He wants to seem like the bigger person even though he is nothing, but a giant teddy bear," Jefferson grinned. "But he does know how to use the shot gun," She said, which in some way, kept him on his toes. Jefferson was three seconds away from adding the comment that he was very familiar with weapons and guns, but he decided against it. His mind drifted on Stephanie like any other young guy would, but it quickly slapped him in the face at the thought of what she added just moments before. "But he does know how to use the shot gun,"... guns didn't so much intimidate Jefferson, but the people behind them more-so did. He'd knew that if the farmer found out about him making passes at her, he'd probably have him running for his life down the dirt road he'd just spent 4 hours walking up.
But that doesn't mean I can't try...it's only if he didn't find out...No..but I can't take that risk...Of course I can! Or should I even try...what if she doesn't even like me? Non-sense, look at me!..But seriously... Jeff's thoughts wondered back and forth, until her voice broke his thought. "Are you hungry? I think there is left over something you can have."
"Um, sure, yeah. Let me just...get settled in, I'll be right down," He said, patting his bag.

Stephanie nodded and walked out of the room. [i]Extremely cute[i/] She thought on the way down the stairs. Both of her parents seemed to be with Bessie trying to make sure she was actually pregnant and not just sick. Steph couldn't tell the difference between them. She looked around the kitchen, trying to provide the new farm help some decent food. She pulled out a carton of eggs, milk, and some left over pancakes that she didn't finish. Steph started with the eggs by cooking it on the stove while she put the pancakes in the oven. They don't own a microwave. It was strange. Once the eggs were done she put them on a plate poured milk into a cup and pulled the pancakes out of the oven. She skipped over to the table and placed Jeff's food down.

Jefferson quietly sat down his bag, and pulled out a woad of button downs, tank tops, skinny jeans, button ups, and even one good suit that he happened to stuff in there at last moment. It was a good set of things, he'd thought.
Under all of the clothes, though, where more deeper belongings. Things that he could never let go. He got on his knees and searched carefully through the bag. The first belonging that he pulled out was a framed picture of his mother, her long honey brown hair dangled down her back as she starred happily into the camera. Jefferson looked over the picture, and sighed. He placed the framed picture on the dresser openly. Next, was a 2mm caliber pistol that he'd held for a friend for years now...He never had a chance to use this one...and was comfortable that he didn't wave this around the house.. He placed the pistol in the third drawer to the right of his clothes. Then the last belonging was a 32 karot necklace...The reason for him being here...the reason the police were after him, and probably are still after him... Jefferson sighed and put that back in his bag. He stood up and pulled off his shirt, revealing his damp half developed eight pack. He picked up his grey tank top, and pulled it over his head.


He picked up his luggage and placed it behind the door. He wondered back downstairs, to a nicely smelled breakfast. It smelled pretty good for leftovers. If he was getting this each morning, he wouldn't mind working on the farm to stay a little while.

There, Stephanie stood, at the oven. He sat down, and dove in, as if he hadn't eaten in days - or even months. "This is good. Your moms a great cook," he said, clearing his throat. "I'd like to see what types of skills her daughter has," He said, with a grin. He placed his fork down, nearly full. "Thanks again," He said.

Stephanie heard Jefferson come down the stairs and she leaned against the oven as he ate the food as if he hadn't eaten in years. It was pretty adorable, but it made her wondering about where he came from and why he was even here. Her father said that he had hired him, but her father usually gave fair warning. Maybe he didn't because he was cute That seemed like a good enough answer to her.

"This is good. Your moms a great cook," Stephanie nodded in agreement. No one could get enough of her mother's food, but this time Stephanie made the eggs. "I'd like to see what types of skills her daughter has," The grin on his face made her giggle. "Well I made the eggs. So those were my skills," she corrected. Stephanie wasn't as skilled as her mom in cooking, but she could do the simple things. Like make eggs.

"Thanks again," Stephanie smiled at him. "Glad you liked it." She pushed herself off the oven and walked towards the back door. She was heading to the chicken coop to clear out dead chickens and get fresh eggs. It was her job early in the morning, but she had woke up pretty late. She leaned down and picked up the egg basket. She looked at Jeff and placed a hand on her hip. "C'mon. We're going to the chicken coop," she told him.

"Well I made the eggs. So those were my skills," He froze slightly. "Great eggs, I may say." He chuckled.

"Glad you liked it." She said, then pushing herself off the oven. She headed towards the back door, as Jefferson watched her as she left, assuming she was going to leave him in the kitchen alone. Jefferson looked down at his almost empty plate, then heard Stephanie say, "C'mon. We're going to the chicken coop," He looked at her and sprung slightly up.

He scooted out of his seat and took in the last fork full of pancakes before following behind her. "I've - never, been in a coop before. Better yet - a chicken's coop." He said, throwing his hands through his hair. "Is that what I just ate back there?" Referring to the eggs. He'd never had anything 'fresh-out-the-chicken' before. He'd wondered what other sources they used around the farm.

Stephanie laughed a bit at his question on the eggs he had just eaten. "We are on farm. Yes your eggs were fresh," she said jokingly with a hint of sarcasm. She wasn't used to people being here and talking to her. Most of the tine it is her dad or mother. She was alright with it, but now she was going to have to clean up her friendship skills. She hasn't used them in a while and if she wanted Jeff she was going to have to try. You can't have Jack. You know that. This one of those timrs when the conscience is painfully right.

The chicken coop was bigger than the traditional house they usually live it. She placed the basket on the floor and picked a chicken. Slowly Stephanie reached under the chicken and pulled two eggs. She put them in the basket and moved the next on. "Do you want to try?" she asked while pulling out two more eggs.