Copyright HRC - all Characters courtesy of Alliance, to be returned, in tact, asap!
Francesca's Challenge
Francesca was in love. At last the man of her dreams had walked into her life - quite literally. Her brother - Ray - had just come home from work and had brought this tall, dark, very very handsome man with him. Francesca's heart was sold. Sold to the man in the red uniform - the very "bright" red uniform. She had absolutely no interest in why he was having dinner with her family - she was in love with him - or was it lust? She was content to go with either option.
The dining table was covered in huge bowls of pasta, salad and vegetables, and freshly baked rolls. The entire family soon found their seats, Francesa deliberately seating herself opposite the new arrival - she wanted the best view. Staring over the vast amount food - she studied his face. The expression he wore was a dead giveaway - or so Francesca thought. You see, you must understand - Francesca was an expert when it came to men. She could see that this was going to be a challenge, and boy, did Francesca love a challenge.
Almost immediately, she spied that Frasers plate was lacking in substantial amounts of pasta. Swiftly, she hooked up a bowl into her hands and thrust it across the table, knocking over the condiments that had been neatly placed in a central arrangement. Immediately - the Mountie rose to his feet. "Oh dear" he exclaimed, quickly throwing some of the spilled salt over his shoulder. "Really, I do have sufficient to eat, thank you kindly".
Innocently, she smiled and looked Fraser straight in the eye. Slowly she lowered the bowl of pasta back down onto the table, not loosing eye contact once. "Thank you kindly" thought Francesca - that was a phrase she had never heard before. In response she lowered the bowl of pasta back onto the table, resumed her seat - as did the Mountie - and beamed an innocent smile straight at him. Fraser - who thought women were a challenge not to be taken on lightly - coughed lightly in embarrassment, looked down the remainder of the pasta on his plate, now covered in a layer of salt, and then looked across the table to where Ray was sitting.
Ray, was onto Francesca straight away. He ensued with a barrage of insults indirectly pointed towards her past attempts at anything that was remotely male and wore a uniform. Francesca, replied with a snappy remark and then again, turned and smiled at Fraser, who by this time was now insistent on helping with washing up.
Again, Francesca was incredibly quick and came up with a solution to the washing up dilemma. The dishwasher - geez- this was turning out to be too easy. There was only one task left - who was going to clear the table. Fraser obliged - as he always did. Ray was completely astonished to see Francesca helping - never before had he seen his sister so much as even enter the kitchen - unless under protest. Realising it was probably best to not cause a scene - Ray left the two of them to get on with their "chore". After all, why stop his sister learning a few domestic tasks, and Fraser - well Fraser just "was".
When everything was cleared and the dishwasher was full to the brim, everybody retired to the sitting room. They all collapsed onto some form of seating - albeit the sofa, chair or the floor. Fraser, ensured all the women were seated before he assumed position, on the floor, next to the fireplace. Immediately, Francesa flew up from her seat - so quickly that Diefenbaker, the wolf jumped up as well. She sat herself back down next to Fraser. Her excuse was that she felt cold and it was warmer near the fireplace - even though there was no fire alight and it was nearly 70 outside.
An unusual silence followed. By now, the entire family was intrigued by their visitor. He sat, wearing a bright red uniform, which must be like wearing a straight jacket, thought Francesca. "I wonder if I should offer to take his jacket". She smiled to herself at this thought - she knew she could not stop herself at just the jacket.
Ray suddenly broke the nervous silence. He asked Fraser to tell them about the Inuit - he must have a story or two to tell? This was something that Ray would live to regret. Fraser was an abundant storyteller. While Fraser came into his own - telling tales of snow covered lands, otters and childhood memories, Francesca was still sidetracked. Occasionally, she would interject and stop Fraser in his tracks, coming out with some mixed up phrase or babble, then she would shut up as quickly as she has started, going back to detailing the Mountie. She began to trace the small lines in his face, then proceeded to trace his outline in her mind - there was one problem. Francesca had never come up against a uniform that she could not imagine - imagine invisible that was. For the first time in her life - Francesca was stumped! What to do? The uniform, much as she adored it - had to go.
The evening gradually disappeared and gave way to night. The entire Vecchio clan were totally absorbed in Fraser's stories. After all - Fraser did pride him self on being a good story teller - and he had so many fascinating and interesting stories to tell he could go on all night, and day and night!
Francesca - now leaning against the chair which Ray sat in, was totally transfixed by the Mountie. She had not paid that much attention to Frasers story telling - she was still trying to figure out how to shift that uniform. Suddenly it hit her - infact, she was so surprised that her idea was so simple she flinched from the daze she was in.
Fraser noticed this and took it as a sign that she was tired and maybe a little bored with his ramblings. He stood and thanked Ma Vecchio for a wonderful meal and the family for such wonderful company. Dief jumped up - aware that people were moving around him. Fraser looked at Ray in a way which indicated that it was time for him to be leaving. Ray immediately responded.
Fraser bid his farewells and joined Ray who was by now waiting outside in his Riviera, his face a picture of contentment as he listened to the engine purr. As Fraser walked towards the car, he turned to see Francesca standing on the veranda looking back at him. She put her hand in the air and waved slowly, Fraser acknowledge her with a nod of his head and a touch of the brim of his Stetson.
What was Francesca to do? She had planned to have the Mountie stay the night - they had a spare room, it would have worked perfectly. It would have been so easy to see the uniform "out of place". Now she had to rethink her who philosophy of men in uniforms! Perhaps this one was just too difficult. When the Riv was out of sight, she stood for a moment - pondering. The warm summer night felt very close, humid. The streets were quiet - unusually quiet she thought. She stepped down into the front garden and took off her shoes - the cool wet grass beneath her feet made her smile. She sighed and giggled quietly to herself. Francesca knew only too well that her time would come - sooner or later. Preferably sooner if she had her way. She began to walk down the side of the house - it was a moonlit night and she could see perfectly.
She heard a car approaching and quickly slipped into the shadow of the house so she wasn't seen. To her surprise it pulled into the driveway. The engine stopped and two people sat inside the car - motionless. Francesca's face beamed. It was Ray, and as far as she could make out - on the dashboard rested a Stetson. This could mean only one thing. The passenger was Fraser!
Trying not to let herself be noticed, Francesca edged towards the front of the house to get a better view. Ray and Fraser emerged from the car - the wolf jumping out after Fraser had pulled the seat back to allow him to get out. Ray slammed the door shut and grimaced. Francesca could see that he was not over impressed with the situation. Fraser then threw something down onto the grass. It landed only about 15ft away from Francesca. She jumped back slightly, desperately wanting to know what was going on. She saw Ray raise both hands in the air - as if in despair - and then heard a door bang shut. Ray was inside the house - Fraser was outside - and so was Francesca.
For a moment, Francesca froze on the spot. How would she get back into the house without the Mountie knowing she had been watching him? While she was busy trying to scheme her way back indoors, Fraser had retrieved the item that he had thrown on the grass and set about laying it out flat on the grass, underneath a tree which adorned their front garden. Suddenly, Francesca realised what was going on - the Mountie was homeless! He was sleeping on a bed roll, underneath the canopy of a tree - in her garden! Infact - he was in direct view, straight out of her bedroom window! She could not believe her luck. There was still just one problem! She wasn't in her bedroom and soon enough somebody would find out!
She had to get back inside the house. As much as she wanted to stay outside - the present circumstances were quite acceptable - she knew what fuss would be made if anybody discovered she wasn't in her bedroom - sleeping. With a deep sigh of regret she turned her back on the Mountie and headed down the side of the house, around the back and found what she was looking for. Ma Vecchio always left a small fan light window open in the kitchen. Francesca had used this as a means of entry many times on late nights. She smiled to herself at returning memories. Slowly she clambered onto the pile of plants racks that were heaped on top of one another beneath the open window. With her usual style and panache Francesca hoisted her skirt up around her waist and planted a leg firmly on the outside window sill. She was never one for being lady like in situations of extreme urgency. All manners and etiquette went clean out of her mind. She hoisted herself up and grabbed hold of the frame of the open window. Suddenly she froze - skirt stretched, arms at full stretch with her hands gripping the window frame tightly - she heard a "panting" behind her. Slowly she turned to see Diefenbaker sat on the ground below her - watching - intrigued by the sight before him. Francesca glared at the wolf - she knew he was deaf so it was no good shouting at him to go away. Besides, if she shouted she would give herself away. She mouthed very slowly to the dog to "Go Away" - and to her complete surprise the wolf turned tail and went. He could lip read - Francesca thought this was pretty neat and felt quite impressed with herself. With the wolf gone she knew she had to move fast. Perhaps Dief had gone to get the Mountie - maybe the wolf thought she was in trouble. With a few minor adjustments to her position she was soon scrambling her way through the small window, down over the kitchen sink and - at last - she was inside.
No sooner was she there, than she heard foot steps approaching down the hallway. Her quick thinking saved her once again, as she poured a glass of water and turned to see Ray coming into the kitchen. Ray explained that he had just been looking for her because she had not been in her bedroom when he looked in to say "goodnight". Of course - Francesca was thirsty and had just nipped downstairs for a glass of water - they must have just missed each other.
Her excuses made, Francesca trotted out of the kitchen knowing she had to get to her bedroom window quickly. Ray followed her up the stairs, he knew his Sister too well and wanted to make sure she was going to her bedroom - with no "pit" stops on the way. Of course, Francesca was not heading for any other room but her's. She entered and closed the door behind her . Carefully she put the glass of water down on her dressing table and stealthily moved over the her window. She pulled up her chair - threw off the few clothes that lay across it and settled down in perfect view of the Mountie.
He lay on his bedroll quite still, his arms folded across his chest. He was not asleep but was looking up into the sky. Francesca strained her neck to look up as well - but the city lights blocked out the stars.
The Mountie lay for what seemed like hours just looking up into the blackness of the sky above - Francesca was getting tired. She was finding it difficult to keep her eyes open. She rested her head onto the back of the chair, and closed her eyes for a moment. She was so tired - a few minutes wouldn't hurt, nothing much could happen in that time.
As she stretched, and yawned, Francesca was horrified to realise that the sun was shining. She sat bolt upright in the chair and looked frantically out of the window. The Mountie was just putting on his Stetson, and then proceeded to roll up his bed. She was heartbroken - it was 6:24am and Francesca had missed her one chance.