Rowland Family Reunion (private)

Nikki pulled her truck up to the gate, and stared for a moment. There was no sign of life from the house, as if Steve wasn't home. She got out, eyeing up the house carefully. Still no life. After a few minutes of fiddleing with the pick her brother had given her last year as a birthday gift, the lock popped loose, and she swung the gate open. The Chevy rolled up the drive, and she finally shut the engine off and got out. The house was nice, plenty big, with several outbuildings and a large barn out back. She smiled, remembering the ranch Steve and her had grown up on. Perhaps she should bully Steve into getting a few cows.

She didn't attempt to open the door, as she knew that he was liable to have an alarm. She would be able to kill it, but she didn't want him to get suspicious. So she settled for peeking through the windows, looking for any activity. The place seemed desolate, as if he hadn't been there in weeks. Odd, Pual had told her that he was back in town. She stood stareing at the front door for a moment, contemplating the situation, then settled down on the porch, her watchful eyes taking in her suroundings. Hopefully Steve would return soon. It would not be pleasant to sit here for a week.

Steven 15 years ago
The cool night air nipped at Steve's face as he drove the rented car down Reeds Creek, a small country road that passed right by his home. The driveway was about 600 feet, but Steve was alarmed before he even reached the gate. Someone had opened the gate, and seemed to be waiting for him. He drew his pistol, thinking of vampires. Maybe they were out for revenge? He looked around as he pulled up to the garage. The gold Chevy Silverado sitting in front of him looked familiar. He checked the license plate. Not a number he recognized, but there was no mistaking the plate frame, which read "Silly cowboys- trucks are for cowgirls!" Only Nik would have that rediculous thing on her ride. He could almost hear the cowbell on the underside of the truck clanging in the breeze. He looked at the porch. In the dim light, he could just make out his sister's white cowboy hat near the door. The figure stirred, and Nikki approached him, smiling in the light from the headlights. Steve got out of the car, hostering the pistol, and walked towards his sister. The two met about at the edge of the driveway, and Steve wrapped his strong arms around his younger sister, who returned the embrace with just as much emotion. He let go, stepping back, and looked his sister up and down.

"Man, it's good to see you!" Steve's voice almost broke with his excitement. He looked at her curiously. "What are you doing here, sis?"
Nikki 15 years ago
The silver car rolled up the drive, and Steve got out, eyeing her up and trying to hide the pistol that he had drawn as he had pulled up. She had to admit, she had never seen Steve look so beat-up. Blood ran freely from a wound on his face, and several large bruises covered most of his head and neck. Nikki got up from her spot near the door, and walked toward her sibling, embracing him when they met. They stepped from each other, and Steve started asking questions.

"I just wanted to welcome my brother back from wherever the hell you've been," she said, snatching his keys and running to the door. The lock popped open with the third key, and she stepped in, taking in the place. It was large, very tidy, and slightly dusty. She flopped down on the couch, and looked back at Steve, who was stading in the doorway, looking around. "I know that look," she said, watching him. "What's got you so spooked?"
Steven 15 years ago
Nikki darted forward, snagging his keys and running up to the house. He followed, watching her blow through the opened door. He walked through the door himself, then stopped dead. His alarm was flashing, and there seemed to have been someone else in the building during his absence. He punched a few keys on the panel, then walked to the safe. The perfectly oiled door swung open, and Steve checked the weapons. The P-90 was still there, along with a handful of pistols, the Remington, and the two shotguns. He placed his bag of weapons in the safe, then turned back to his sister.

"Just had a feeling." He walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge, an looked around. The macaroni salad he had made a few months ago was gone. Perhaps Trin had gotten hungry?He snorted, then took out two beers, and walked to the living room. Nikki wasn't there. "Nik?" He called, looking around.
Nikki 15 years ago
Nikki walked down the hallway, poking her head into the other rooms. There was a storeroom full of boxes, a study, and a bathroom, but at the end of the hall was her objective: Steve's bedroom. There were no pictures of the girl Steve was suposedly seeing, but Nikki found a peice of paper that had a phone number and the name "Trin" written on it. She copied the number into her notebook, then snuck down the hall, where she found Steve looking for her.

"Bathroom," she said, in explination of where she had been. Steve seemed to buy it, because he handed her a beer and sat down. She took a seat nearby, and opened her beer. They had a lot of catchign up to do...


(both out, lock please!!!)