All things denied….

A Gaby FanFic by PB

Chapter 13

Gaby thought she noticed a familiar car pass her as she walked on the side of the road. It was only when she noticed it did a U-turn in the middle of the road and approached her from behind that she realised it was Miss B's Jetta.

As Jessica pulled off the road and onto the snow-covered gravel shoulder, Gaby jumped the ditch running along side of the road and hopped the wooden fence that marked the adjacent field. She had just started across the field when she heard Jessica's voice.

“Gaby Bond! ... Come here!” Jessica called out loudly. When Gaby didn't respond, Jess called out again, “I know it's you Gaby ... don't make me chase you ... please ... come here ... unless you know of some magic that will let you avoid me for the rest of the trip ... you'll have to talk to me sometime!”

Gaby stopped in her tracks, turned to face the figure standing at the side of the road and in an emotional voice, shouted back, “Leave me alone! ... I just want to go somewhere an' be by myself! ... Sort things out! ... Is that too much to ask?”

“No ... no … it's not ... but … running off isn't the way to do it either! ... Gaby ... c'mon back with me ... we'll work things out … together ... over a tea ...ok?” When Gaby didn't respond, Jessica pleaded, “Ok, if you won't come to me … I'll come to you ... promise me you'll stay there … I need to change into something a little warmer if we're going to stay outside ... I really think we should talk ... don't you?”

“Yeah ... I guess so ... I promise,” Gaby loudly replied, with a shrug of her shoulders. She stood there as she watched Jessica drive off back to her place, then walked back to the edge of the field and sat on the upper rung of the wooden fence to await Jessica's return.

A while later she heard the distinctive sound of horse's hooves on the road. Turning to look down the road towards the sound, she saw Jessica atop of Tonto and with her one hand holding Paint's reins, pulling her other horse behind her.

“I figured this was a good as way as any, to have our talk ... besides … I think ‘Paint' misses you,” Jessica softly allowed as she stopped beside where Gaby was sitting and offered her Paint's reins.

Gaby got down off the fence; hopped back over the ditch then took the offered reins and mounted her horse. Jessica noticed an immediate change in Gaby's disposition.

“That's more like it! ... C`mon ... this way…” Jessica suggested as she turned Tonto in the opposite direction. “I assume you'll want to avoid Mary and the others for now ... wouldn't you?” Once Gaby turned Paint the two started down the shoulder of the road at a walking pace.

“Just to let you know ... I phoned Sandy to let them know you're alright and with me,” Miss B revealed as Gaby drew up along side of her.

“Now ... you think you can manage something a little faster? ... or is this pace ok?” Jess playfully inquired.

Gaby gave Paint a gentle nudge with her heels, a snap of the reins and a sharp, “He-ya!” Paint immediately responded charging forward at a gallop and catching Jessica off-balance.

“Oh, shit! ... C'mon boy ... YE-AH!” and soon both riders were heading up the road towards Chez Jessica.

As Jessica drew along side Gaby, they both reined their mounts to a slower pace. “And just where did that come from, Missy? ... As I recall ... it wasn't that long ago when you thought you and horses couldn't get along!” Jessica playfully inquired.

“I dunno.” Gaby innocently stated with a shrug. The huge grin on her face told Jess this was exactly what the doctor had ordered.

“Next thing you know, you'll be ‘Barrel Racing'!” Miss B flippantly commented.

“Can I? ... Uh ... what's ‘Barrel Racing'?” Gaby excitedly inquired.

( Giggle ) “C'mon ... I know a large field … set off the road … where we can ride and talk ... ok?”

“Lead on McDuff!” Gaby innocently evoked, caught up in the moment. Jessica did a double-take then burst out in laughter as she took the lead, urging Tonto into a trot.

After riding a couple of miles, they entered a large unfenced field. Gaby saw it was perfect for giving Paint some exercise as she and Jessica raced to a clump of trees at the far side. The mood of the ride was only disturbed by the ring tone on Miss B's cell phone. As the two reached the trees and pulled their horses up, Jessica unzipped her coat pocket, took out her cell and opened it.

“Hello? ... Oh! … Hi Fran ... no … not at all ... Gaby and I are just out for a nice ride ... no ... not in the car! ... The horses! Yeah ... you should see how she's taken to it ... listen ... I was going to call you anyway, but why don't you meet us at the house for a little brunch ... in say ... about an hour? ... Good! ... See you then ... bye!”

“Guess we should be heading back, Gaby … Fran is going to meet us at the house in a little bit,” Jessica allowed as put her cell phone back in her pocket and zipped it closed. She then tightened her hold on Tonto's reins and with a gentle tap of her heels, put him into a trot. “But, not too fast!” ( giggle )

Gaby encouraged Paint to catch up and once beside Jessica, they both looked at each with evil grins on their faces then as though by an unheard command, they both broke into a full gallop to the edge of the field. Once back on the side of the road heading to Jessica's, they brought the horses back to a trot.

“You ok Gaby?” Jessica wondered as she reined Tonto back.

“That was fun!” Gaby shouted as she caught up to Jessica.

“You're right! … ( giggle ) It's been far too long since I last did that!” Jess agreed. “C'mon … we got to get back!” As Gaby smiled to herself, she wondered if Maddy enjoyed the same bond with Jessica.

“Good! … She's not here yet!” Miss B announced as they entered her driveway. Stopping at the house, Jessica dismounted and asked Gaby if she'd take the horses back to their stables while she put on some coffee. Before she went into the house, Jessica called out, “Gaby? ... Can you manage those saddles or would you like me to come out and give you a hand?”

“I think I can do it, Jessica! ... I know I can handle Paint's and Tonto's isn't that much bigger,” Gaby confidently replied as the two parted company. “Anyways ... I can call you if I need you!” Gaby leaned over and grabbed Tonto's limp reins and she slowly rode Paint at a walk around back to the shed housing the stables. Tonto faithfully followed along.

As Gaby rounded the back of the house, Jessica stood watching her and wondering how things had changed so much since they last talked. “Something's terribly wrong! What made her so uncomfortable at Sandy's that she felt she had to get out of there, even if she had to walk back to the Walters? I know she's ridden it many times, but I wonder if she even considered how far it is to walk? When Fran gets here, the three of us will have to have a chat.”

As if on cue, Jessica wheeled around when she heard the sounds of a vehicle coming up the gravel driveway.

“Speak of the devil!” Jessica greeted Fran as she got out of her car.

“What did I do now?” Fran playfully asked.

Jessica explained how she was thinking that the three of them needed to sit down over brunch, and talk.

“Other than what little you managed to tell me from your weekend together … I had no idea! ... She's not said anything to me,” Fran offered.

“C'mon inside ... Gaby's taking care of the horses ... we can have a little visit before she comes in!” Jessica offered.

As Jessica organized things for their brunch, she and Fran started to catch up on things but the discussion ultimately focused on the younger British kids and in particular, Gaby. Jessica soon found herself discussing what she had learned last weekend when Gaby stayed with her and in general, comparing notes with Fran.

“I'm worried Fran … I've a nagging feeling that my time with Gaby has been a highlight, if not ‘the' highlight, of her whole exchange visit ... so far, anyway!” Jessica solemnly noted and then added, “It really shouldn't be like that … know what I mean?”

“Jessica!” Gaby called from the opened back door.

“C'mon in ... you're letting in the cold air!” Jessica called out as she and Fran came out of the kitchen to see what the commotion was about.

“Can't ... boots!” Gaby stated while pointing to her feet. “Can I give Tonto and Paint a treat?”

“Sure ... wait there … I'll get something,” Miss B replied as she turned to head back into the kitchen. Fran stood with her arms folded across her chest, looking at the attractive and obviously happy teenager standing in the doorway.

Jessica returned with two apples, which Gaby accepted and then ran back to the horses. Jessica grabbed Gaby's digital camera and after the two women quickly put on their coats and boots, they also headed out to the stables.

“Sh-h-h-h,” Jessica urged as she and Fran approached the large shed that housed her two horses. As they quietly entered, they observed Gaby sitting astride the low wall separating the stalls, with her arms outstretched simultaneously feeding the apples and talking to both of them.

“Hey! ... That's it! ... I don't have any more! ... ( giggle ) You kin look in my ( giggle ) pockets all you like, but I don't have any more!” Gaby gently admonished Tonto as he was nosing her pockets for more apples.

‘Click' Gaby turned to face the sound as Jessica pressed the shutter release on her camera.

“Oh what a pity ... the flash didn't go off,” Gaby sarcastically commented while displaying a playful pout.

“No problem … with digitals,” Jessica replied. “Remind me to give you back your camera.”

Watching how the two horses interacted with her, Fran observed, “It looks like you've made two new friends.”

“Besides my cycling friends ... Jules an' you two ... Tonto an' Paint are all I've got,” Gaby softly related.

“I noticed you didn't mention the other kids you came with ... or Britney,” Fran mentioned.

Both Fran and Jessica had entered Tonto's stall and were standing alongside Gaby, who was still sitting on the stable's partition. Gaby was petting Paint's neck while Jessica was letting Tonto playfully nudge her while she stood and talked.

Gaby face fell as she shrugged her shoulders and turned away to face Paint.

“Why should I?” Gaby quietly wondered as she stroked Paint's neck.

“C'mon Gabs ... let's go make some omelettes ... and talk?” Jessica softly urged.

“Okay.”

Gaby resigned herself to explaining her feelings again as she gave a final pat to Paint. She reluctantly swung her one leg over the top of the wall and slid down it, landing on her feet near Fran. Slowly running her hand down the side of Tonto's neck, she then joined the two women as they left the stall and walked back to the house.

“I told Fran about last weekend … ok? … Hey … she does have a right to know, ya know…” Jessica revealed as the three of them made their way across the yard and to the back door.

“I ... guess so,” Gaby replied as Fran put her arm around her shoulder and gently directed the teenager into the house.

A little after noon, Jessica's Jetta pulled up in front of Sandy's apartment.

“Hi, Maddy! ... Good weekend?” Jessica knowingly inquired.

“Uh, yeah ... really neat to get with the rest of the kids ... ummmm ... where's Gabs?” Maddy absently replied.

“Were you expecting her to be here?” Jessica knowingly asked.

“I just thought since she was with you...” Maddy replied. The disappointment in her voice was quite evident.

“Well ... if you must know ... Fran's driven her home,” Jess allowed.

“Miss Cowlishaw?” Maddy anxiously asked.

“That's right ... she joined us for brunch and a nice ... long ... revealing ... chat.”

“What did you do the rest of the morning?” Maddy continued to probe.

“After I met up with Gaby ... I saddled the horses and we both had a lovely ride ... she's really quite good on a horse and she seems to have formed a real bond with Paint,” Jessica explained.

The rest of the short trip back to Jessica's, was in silence until she pulled into the driveway and they both got out of the car.

“The three of you were talking about me ... weren't you?” Maddy quietly asked.

“Should we have?” Miss B asked while studying Maddy's expression. “Truthfully Maddy? ... (sigh) ... We did discuss you ... among other things,” Jessica admitted. Maddy's immediate reaction was to stare in disbelief at Jessica's frank answer.

“I'm not going to tell you how to run ... or ruin ... your relationship with Drew … or Gaby ... but I will tell you ... and it is mainly you … but there are a couple of others ... who are constantly putting Gaby into uncomfortable situations for whatever selfish reasons and thereby risking her discovery each time. I know I told you this once before … but if this continues … there will be consequences! … Am I clear on that Maddy?” A stunned Maddy just looked at Miss B and nodded her head.

“Both Fran and I offered Gaby ... yet again ... a chance to return to Warsop and thus avoid any further ... ‘situations' ... unfortunately … she declined ... again ... not out of any friendship for the ‘gang' as she called it ... but for a promise made,” Jessica commented.

Maddy was going to ask Miss B to explain what she just said, but Jessica clearly wanted to speak of it no further as she walked briskly up to the door and into the house.

Glancing out the front window, Jules noticed a red Ford Focus pull up behind Jocelyn's Forester and kill its engine.

“We're here,” Fran stated.

“Yeah,” Gaby unenthusiastically responded. “Well ... thanks for the ride, Miss!”

“Please Gaby … it's Fran … I told you back at Jessica's ... I'd like it if you used my name when we're not in school ... it sounds so much better ... ok?” Fran calmly reminded her passenger.

“Sorry ... habit,” Gaby quietly admitted.

“You going to be ok in there? ... Or do you want me to ‘run interference' for you?” Fran asked, quoting one of the American expressions that she'd picked up. “From what you and Jessica said about the Walters … you're going to get more attention than Mick Jagger at an all-girls school, once you go through those doors.”

Gaby giggled at Fran's analogy before assuring her she'd be able to handle them. She leaned over and gave Fran a hug before getting out of the car and walking up to the house. Opening the font door, Gaby turned to give Fran a final wave as she started to back out of the driveway.

“You're back! “ Jules sarcastically observed as Gaby entered the house.

“Congrats ... you passed your eye test!” Gaby responded in kind as she removed her boots and bounded upstairs to their room.

Realising she could've handled that differently, Jules quickly followed. Brit came out of her room as Gaby walked past her in the hall, without so much as a greeting. As Jules hurried past her, Brit turned and followed her to her bedroom, at the end of the hall.

“Sorry, Sis ... I didn't mean it to sound like it did,” Jules said apologetically. “I knew something was wrong when you didn't come home with Brit.”

“What happened?” asked an anxious Britney. As the three made themselves comfortable on Gaby's bed, Gaby turned to Brit and hissed, “In the future ... if you want to drag me anywhere ... make sure I wanna go before announcing it to your mum and the rest of the world, huh? ... Em had been asking me all week for my answer ... an' there was a reason I didn't give her one ... I ... didn't ... want ... to ... go !”

Before Brit could respond, Gaby added, “If Em never opened her mouth and invited the hosts … you an' your mum would never have known ... but she did open her mouth an' both you an' your mum made my decision for me!”

“Thanks to the two of you ... I had to put up with eight giggling girls ... well, seven ... but Em was just as bad ... an' Maddy ...” Gaby was about to mention her aloofness with Sam, but stopped short of blurting it out with Britney there. Jules put her hand on Gaby's arm as a signal she knew exactly what her sister was about to say.

“Sorry ... Drew,” Brit softly replied.

Gaby gently placed her hand on Brit's leg and offered, “It's done now.”

After a silence, Jules decided to ask, “Brit told us you took off this morning before the others got up ... an' Jessica found you ... So what did you do all this time?”

“Jessica an' I went for a lovely ride in the snow … then we had a nice visit with Miss C ... I think Jessica called it ‘brunch',” Gaby stated as if it was no big deal. With Britney there, she wasn't about to disclose the nature of the talk she had with Fran and Jessica, but made a mental note to tell Jules when the two were alone.

“Ride? ... Cor! … You did say something about Miss Bell having horses,” Jules jumped in.

“Uh huh ... it was kewel ... all that snow ... would've been romantic if Maddy was there instead of Jessica ... but we had fun anyway!” Gaby enthused.

“Maybe I shoulda walked off with you! ... We ended up shovelling Mrs. Jones's driveway and then piled up the snow to make snowmen!” Britney admitted.

“What happened after I left? ... Anyone care I wasn't around?” a curious Gaby asked.

“Like ... when Ally phoned Miss Bell to let her know you walked off … was she ever P/O'd at Mad! … I almost felt sorry for Mad … Ally really went to town on her … things calmed down a bit when Miss B called to say you were safe ... anyway … at breakfast when Mrs. Jones asked why you weren't there … Sandy covered with some story about how you had already arranged to go with Miss Bell early this morning ... I don't even think she noticed the evil looks Ally kept giving Maddy, at the table.” Brit recounted.

“Ally called Jessica? ... Explains why she ‘found' me so quickly,” Gaby commented.

“Don't be mad at her, Drew ... she was really worried about you!” Britney pleaded.

“I'm not, Brit ... I'm not ...she's probably was the only one who gave a sod ... you know she came outside before I left? … She talked to me ‘bout things an' how she thought Maddy was being mean,” Gaby quietly revealed.

“No ... but … I did...” Brit whispered.

“You did what?” Jules queried.

Looking a Gaby, Britney softly answered, “I cared … that … you … weren't there...”

Gaby got up off the bed and moved over to stand in front of Britney and gave her a hug. “Thank you!” Gaby whispered in a voice weak with emotion.

Suddenly it dawned on Gaby that the three of them were the only ones in the house. “Where is everybody?”

“Well ... somebody screwed up and Dad got called in to work ... and Mom took Debbie to the store,” Brit flatly stated. “I guess she trusted Jules and I not to burn the place to the ground!”

“Oh ... here I was thinking your mum would be doing her impression of a tabloid reporter … again,” Gaby sarcastically stated.

“Naw ... won't happen ... I just gave her the same story that Sandy gave her mom and that seemed to take the fire out of her,” Britney replied.

“Thanks! ... I wasn't lookin' forward to the inquisition,” Gaby quietly commented.

During supper, none of the anticipated questioning occurred. As Brit suggested, her mom's curiosity was satisfied with the explanation for Gaby's absence when she picked her daughter up from Sandy's. Instead, Gaby was drawn into a pleasant conversation about her morning ride with Miss Bell.

That evening, in the nightly transatlantic call with her parents, Gaby informed her mum about Erin's offer to ride in the Atlanta Winter Classic and Diane's plans to make her a bike. It struck Gaby as strange that her mum seemed oddly cool to the idea and insisted on talking with Erin directly. The thought was quickly put aside when she got the medical update on her mum's condition.

“Well to be fair I didn't do much more than turn my legs for quarter of an hour and your Dad went mental.” Jenny stated.

“You should be resting Mum,” Gaby replied in a concerned voice.

“I've been resting for weeks Drew and I'm feeling better ... I was talking to this woman at the clinic the other day and she said she couldn't hack the sitting around bit either. At this minute she's training to ride from Italy to Yorkshire on a tandem.” Jenny responded.

“Really, Mum?”

“Really Drew … I'm not exactly up to that just yet … but don't write your ole Mum off just yet,” she confidently replied.

“Mum! ... I'd never do that!” Gaby cried into the phone.

“I know kiddo ... look what I'm saying is ... it's entirely possible that I'll never be up to racing again … but that doesn't mean I'm finished riding.” Jenny calmly stated. This caught Gaby by surprise. She never thought she'd hear her mum talk like that about her cycling. She always assumed her mum would resume her cycling career as she got better.

“Drew? … You still there?” a concerned Jen asked.

“Ummm ... yeah, Mum ... just thinking ... sorry,” Gaby quietly apologized.

“Look I'd best get off this phone ... we'll talk tomorrow okay?” Jen offered.

“Ok Mum,” Gaby hesitatingly replied.

“Okay ... bye darling!” Jenny tried to sound happy. Actually, she was missing her kids, terribly and it got worse each time she talked to them.

“Bye ... Mum ... I love you,” Gaby relented.

“I love you too Drew,” Jen quietly replied. As she put down the phone, Jenny wiped the tears from her face before Dave came back into the room.

As Gaby returned the receiver to the phone cradle, Jules told her that Erin was at the door.

Without a word to Gaby, Erin took a familiar training route turning west, onto 3 rd Street. Gaby knew this became Weyer's Cave Road as it left Grottoes, running out past the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport towards I-81. She also knew it passed by Diane's place. After a short drive up the road, Erin's truck turned into the large yard of Bigg's Fabrications and drove on up to the house.

“Come on, Gaby! They're expecting us,” called Erin as she headed for the front door. Gaby reluctantly got out of the relatively warm truck and followed Erin out into the cold and up to the door. In the cold, to Gaby, it seemed like a long time before someone to answered the doorbell

“Hi guys! You should've just come on in instead of freezing out here.” Diane admonished, ushering her guests inside. “Make yourself at home ... I'll bring out some hot chocolate.”

As they entered the living room Gaby was expecting to find Derek. The TV was on but otherwise it was empty.

“Here we go, this should warm you up.” Diane handed the mugs to them and curled up in a comfy-looking chair.

“Gaby here … was concerned that she didn't meet you on her ride,” Erin mentioned.

“Sorry ‘bout that Gabs ...Derek and I had the Chamber of Commerce here today and they stayed longer than planned.”

“You get it?” Erin asked.

“Well ... I think so ... Derek was very persuasive!” she gushed.

“Speaking of ... where is he?” Gaby asked.

“With Patty ... I think he was going to propose to her, tonight,” Diane smirked.

“Oh ... so what am I here for guys?” Gaby inquired.

“Okay Gab … close your eyes,” Diane instructed. Once they were sure her eyes were closed, Diane and Erin struggled with something heavy.

“Open your eyes … now!” Erin ordered.

“Well? ... What do you think?” Diane asked.

“Wow!” Gaby breathlessly enthused.

“Erin managed to get the Campy air freighted from Italy ... it arrived this morning,” Diane offered.

Since the bike was mounted on a turbo, Erin suggested Gaby try it out. Gaby mounted the bike and tried all the gears, brakes as well as checking out the frame for comfort as well as the bar width. She took great delight in noticing the wheels - super light 16 spoke on the front and 20 spoke rear Stelvio Evo tyres.

The entire time she was on it, she sported the widest grin either Diane or Erin had seen.

“I told your Mum it was nothing special,” Erin grinned.

“Erin!” Diane smirked.

“Super light tubes too,” Diane proudly stated, “Only seventy grams each.”

“I've given you a set of Specialized S-Works Zokes instead of my titanium forks but we can change that if you want,” Diane added as Gaby examined the carbon steering set up.

“It's fantastic Diane. How much does it weigh?” Gaby asked.

“I dunno Gabs ... I only finished it an hour ago ... tell you what … Erin you get the other stuff and I'll get the scales,” Diane suggested.

“Sure,” Erin agreed. After fumbling with some boxes from the closet, Erin proceeded to show their contents to Gaby.

“Here we go! .... One team all-in-one!” Erin stated as she shook the skinsuit out. “One jersey!“ She waved a road jersey, then with a small amount of fanfare, “And a trackie! … Welcome to the Grottoes Express!”

“I don't know what to say!” Gaby was near speechless.

“Best try ‘em on Gab ... make sure we got the right size, eh?” Erin urged.

“Okay,” Gaby agreed as she took the offered items and headed for Diane's guest bathroom.

Gaby decided she'd only need to remove her jeans and top and then pulled the skinsuit on over her pantyhose and underwear. It was a bit tight over her breasts but once closed it felt okay. It was pale blue with ‘Grottoes Express' on the front and back. One leg had ‘Erin's Cyclery' down it, while the other leg had ‘Biggs' emblazoned on it. Gaby pulled the road jersey on over the top. Being a woman's, it proved to be a good fit - shaped for the female figure. The tracksuit top was a more generous cut which had ‘Gaby Bond ' emblazoned high on the left breast.

“You died in there?” Erin enquired as Gaby preened in front of the mirror.

“Uh ... be right there, Erin!” Gaby quickly pulled her shoes on and returned to the front room.

“Well, Miss Bond ... up to scratch?” Erin asked.

“Definitely!” Gaby enthusiastically replied.

“Here we go!” Diane stated rejoining them, “Cute look with the hose ... I'll have to remember that!”

Erin had the bike off the turbo already and Diane soon had the bike suspended from the scale.

“What's your guess, Gabs?” Diane asked.

“With all that Campag … the super light wheels ... ummm ... nine and a half kilos!” Gaby replied.

“Erin? ... Your turn,” Diane stated.

“Eighteen pounds!” Erin confidently predicted.

“So?” Gaby pressed Diane for the answer.

“Well you were both over ... how about seventeen pounds?” Diane announced.

“Seventeen?” Erin and Gaby chorused.

“Well seventeen point two to be exact,” Diane added as she corrected herself.

“That's scary!” Gaby pointed out.

“Well ... Derek reckons we could get it down to about sixteen and a half by sticking some more carbon stuff on.” Diane theorized.

“It's sure a nice machine, Diane,” Erin stated.

“Well Gabs?” Diane queried.

“It's beautiful, Diane!” Gaby put in.

“Well, girl ... it's all yours,” Diane allowed.

“Mum said I wasn't to accept anything like this,” Gaby admitted as she looked to Erin for confirmation since she had supposedly talked to her mum.

“It's alright Gaby ... Diane meant it's yours for the Classic and while you're here ... right Di?” Erin replied with a discrete wink to Diane.

“That's what I meant Gab ...yours while you're here,” Diane quickly went into ‘damage control' mode.

“Tell you what ... I'll put it back on the turbo and we can check the adjustment ... we need to set your shoes up anyway.” Erin suggested.

“But my shoes are already set!” Gaby noted.

“Well … we kinda thought you should have new shoes ... seeing as everything else is new,” Diane revealed.

Given that Jenny seemed reluctant to allow her to accept the bike; Gaby figured her mum would go ballistic if she saw all the gear they were laying on her. In the back of her mind she was hoping her mum wouldn't find out.

“Here you go!” Erin shoved a big plastic carrier with a couple of boxes inside, in front of Gaby. “I'll put this baby on the turbo and you check out those boxes!” With Gaby being a bit overwhelmed with everything, Erin found humour in the fact she had to pry Gaby's fingers off the bars.

“I'll heat the subs while you deal with her!” Diane called out as she disappeared into the kitchen, once again.

“This is silly Erin ... I've got shoes and stuff!” Gaby weakly protested.

“Never look a gift horse in the mouth ... besides ... it won't look good if'en your not colour co-ordinated,” Erin whispered, “Go on girl! ... Take a look.”

Gaby sat on the sofa and pulled the boxes out. The bigger box was a new Met Techno Stradivarius helmet, in a white and lilac colour scheme that complimented the skins. Another box yielded a pair of new Gore mitts. That left one battered old shoebox.

“You've got to be kidding!” Gaby exclaimed. She could feel tears threatening to form in her eyes.

“Something wrong?” Erin innocently asked.

Gaby withdrew the Look Chrono Vectrans from the box in awe and admired them from every angle. She examined everything from the ski binding closure to the carbon fibre sole. She noted that Erin had already prefitted the red Arc plates to the soles. Gaby eagerly slipped them on and snugged the fit with the ratchet.

“C'mon ... hop aboard ... we'll set your plates first.” Erin instructed.

Gaby mounted the bike again and remarked that Derek's measurements were almost perfect. Erin adjusted the plates and pedal tension, while Gaby practiced clicking in and out a couple of times before both of them were happy.

“All set Gab ... give it a go,” Erin suggested once all the adjustments were complete.

Erin stood back and was joined by Diane to watch Gaby as she settled into place and started to wind things up a bit on the turbo. She even tried and failed to crunch the gears! Not wishing to get hot and sweaty, she just gave it a quick blast before easing back down to a steady, comfortable rate.

“SUPPER IN FIVE!” Diane shouted over the loud thrum of the turbo trainer. Upon hearing Diane's mention of food, Gaby started to ease it down to a stop.

“Well? … What do you reckon?” Diane asked as Gaby tucked into the supper that she'd supplied. Erin described it as a ‘Filly Sub', a sort of long roll thing with sliced beef and onion inside and melted cheese over the top.

“Brill!” Gaby managed between mouthfuls of food.

“Sure you can't make Saturdays ride?” Erin asked the question that was on both hers and Diane's mind.

( sigh ) “I don't think the other Sherwood Foresters' would think too much of me if I tried to skip the cheer contest,” Gaby replied.

“No ... I don't suppose it would” Erin allowed, “Well, how about Sunday then? ... As long as the weather's okay we could get a decent training session in and get your bike properly bedded in.”

“Okay!” Gaby enthused.

“Derek and I will be there!” Diane added.

“Oh damn! ... Is that the clock right, Diane?” Erin asked as she suddenly noticed the time.

“Maybe a couple of minutes off, why?” Diane asked.

“I promised Jo that I'd have this one home by ten thirty.” Erin sheepishly said.

Gaby turned to look at Diane's Grandfather clock in the hall and saw it was five to eleven!

“So I'll see you on Sunday, Gaby?” Diane called as we waved goodbye.

“Sure will! ... Bye, Diane … an' thanks!” Gaby enthused.

When Erin dropped her off, Gaby had to let herself into the house. After making sure everything was once again locked up, she turned of the lights and made her way up to her room.

“You back?” Jules mumbled.

“Who else would it be?” Gaby whispered.

“Where've you been?” Jules inquired.

“At Diane's ... with Erin ... tell you all about it tomorrow,” Gaby quietly replied as she headed for their bathroom.

“G'nite Sis,” Jules mumbled and then turned over in her bed.

“Night Jules,” Gaby replied as she turned out the small lamp on the table between their beds.

(to be continued)

PB 14.05.08 © 2008
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