LONDON CALLING

Ruby looked at the food and smiled " looks great and the salad is a nice touch" she heard Angus explain how it was made and came about and she chukled " awe I bet she loved it" she said and listened tohim talk about her brothers " of course thats why they can decorate it the way they want if they want girly posters so be it." she chuckled at the name and then listened to the banter over the chuck wagon sandwich " I think its a great name but yeah you can't say it with out teh accent" she said with a chukle as she too added a bit of a flair to her voice when she said the name. She could not help laugh at the idea of a ten gallon hat.

"Oh that would be some gimik" she said " you could have a wall of pictures for those who did the challange." she chuckled as she took a bite and groaned " humm nice" she said as she started to eat her food " we have to make these at home" she said then looked at Lizzie " this is my new comfort food." she said with a chuckle.

"Within reason, Ru," Angus said when she said her brothers could put up girly posters. "A minimum of clothing is a must. They're still minors." They laughed when she commented on the sandwich name.

"We definitely could do a challenge wall," Lizzie said. "I'll get the crew on designing one. I'm glad you like your lunch, Ruby. You both let me know when you're ready for dessert." She went back to the kitchen.

"I'll have Kieran send me a hat," Angus told Ruby. "If he doesn't have any at the ranch, he can get one easily there. Marcus can bring it the next time Khaat gets here--which is just about every other day. She makes a point of stopping in three or four times a week. She does the books herself and issues all the paychecks, makes sure all the suppliers are paid, makes sure it meets all the cleanliness standards. And if she doesn't get in, Brian does. As busy as they are, they make the time to come here and to be pretty hands on. Did you know they offered to set me up in my own restaurant when I finished culinary school? They offered, but I turned them down. Its enough for me to be able to contribute a recipe here once in a blue moon. The job I had was the one I wanted."

Ruby noded at Angus when he spoke of a limit to how little clothing the girly posters could have " oh I agree" she said then nodded to Lizzie " we will , thank you" she said watching Lizzie head to the kitchen then she listened to Angus talk about Khaats duties at sparks " wow thats one busy woman" she said as she continued to take bites of her sandwich " hey you'll have it again" she sid softly " this isn't perminate , remeber Robert told you that" she reasured him " you and I both know good things come to those who wait, an old teacher told me that" she sid smiling " and well your realy good" she chuckled with a smirk. " but I do agree with the boys though , we have to think of if Abby comes around and wants to go in their room too, shes still a young one"


Now finished her sandwish and salad she sat back sipping her juice. " that was delishious, totaly worth coming here" she smiled at him while one hand held her necklace while the other held her glass.

"I know. You're right," he said when she reminded him it was temporary. "I'd love to have Abbey over, but I don't want any chance that trouble could strike while she's there. She safer at home for now. Hopefully that's even more temporary. I can't imagine I'm going to have to turn up the heat too much more on your father before he strikes. He knows how to be very slippery, that's for sure, and if we're going to catch him, we're going to have to let him try to strike. Not that I want him to be able to do a successful strike, but we have to let him try."

He signaled to the wait staff, and they brought two dessert flights. Each flight had 4 little miniature versions of today's desserts, with each miniature having only two or three bites each. They were plated every bit as elegantly as their full sized counterparts. And Angus ordered an espresso with his.

"Now this is the way to have it all," Angus said. "This way, we get just two or three bites of each one."

Ruby nodded " I agree and I was meaning when the boys were home, you just know shes going to want to check them out" she said smiling as desert floated over to them " ow, they looks devine, so a taster of each then, fancy" she said and chuckled knowing she could not have the coffee she thought about what she could have " so what could I have instead of coffee to go with these?" she asked loking at the bite sized deserts infront of her.

As she ate once she had her drink she loved each bite except for a lemon dester that after one bite seem to not sit right in her stomach " not sure, but I think that one is too lemony for my stomach." she said motioning with her fork to it, but the others were perfect." she smiled as she finished the others and sat back " now this is a night to remember." she said smiling to him " and don't worry we'll get him eventually he can't hide for ever"

He finished his dessert and his espresso,

"It was a great lunch, Ru, but we really should get back," he told her. "I know you're supposed to work this afternoon, and I have some things I need to do too. Thanks for thinking of going out for lunch. I really did enjoy it." He noticed that Marcus and Andrew were done eating too. He gave Marcus a subtle signal that they were ready to leave. When Marcus and Andrew stood up, Lizzie brought out a baker box with two dozen extra large sized chocolate chip shortbread biscuits in it for them to take back and she handed the box to Ruby.

"For your dessert tonight. I doubt anyone but maybe Jack could eat more than one," Lizzie teased.

"Thank you, Lizzie," Angus said.

"Come back soon," Lizzie told them both.

"We will," Angus smiled. "Marcus, take us home." Marcus apparated them back home safely to the duplex.

Ruby smiled and nodded " it was my pleasure" she said as she saw Lizzie return with a box . Ruby took the box and laughed at her mention of Jack " oh I know" she said and smiled as she hugged her " thank you for a wonderful meal we will definatly come back" she said and moved to stand with Angus as Marcus ported them back to the duplex. " okay I'll pop these into the fridge then I'll change, I think maybe you should rest a little, won't do you any harm to get some rest." she said to Angus as she kissed his cheek as she too yawned " gesh its only afternoon and Im yawning" she said but chuckled " okay back to the main house I go." she said and ported over to it with the box of deserts.

Porting into the kitchen she smiled as she placed the deserts into the fridge. " Hey Michael we're back." she said smiling still" sparks was wonderful, khaat should be proud of her self " she slipped on an peron " so what do you need help with?" she asked

"Yeah, maybe I will," he told her. He watched her take the biscuits and head over to the main house. Marcus helped Angus into the recliner and then took his leave to go to the main house too, knowing Angus was well guarded with Lee's men. Angus yawned, feeling tired. Ruby was right. A nap would serve him well, he decided, closing his eyes.

"I'm glad you liked it," Michael said. "She sees Sparks as a family project, and I think just about everyone has contributed somehow. Lizzie has borrowed my recipe for a pumpkin cobbler for this fall, and Robert has made a pumpkin pasty tea to send to Lizzie. I've tried it, and i have to honestly say it could be my go-to tea for this fall. It's every bit like a pumpkin pasty in a cup. Kate has been making some stained glass window hangings for Sparks to hang from their front window, and I think they're going to be stunning.

"As for supper tonight," he said, "I have been working on trimming some nice racks of lamb for supper. If I work on the lamb, can you handle some sides?"

Ruby listened and nodded " oh it shows, its a wonderful homey place " she said "and they gave us some buscuits " she opened the box to show Michael them " we could use them for after supper, with coffee or tea." she sugested as she listened more " all right I can handle that." she went to Angus's office and looked into his folder on side dishes. She found one for a Carrot and beetroot salad and another for Garlic Thyme Roasted Butternut Squash, feeling both of those would work well she started on the squash first by Chopping up the butternut squash then she added it to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil and the crushed garlic.Then She spread the speard it onto a parchment paper-coated baking sheet and sprinkle it with fresh thyme, salt, and pepper and placing it in the oven to cook.

Next she made the Carrot and beetroot salad first she grated the carrots then did the same to the beets then she combine balsamic vinegar, honey, olive oil, salt, and pepper into a small bowl. She then tossed everything together so that the carrots and beets are evenly coated. Finally she finished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley as a garnish. "There hows that?" she asked and looked at Michael hoping she'd not messed up.

"Looks great," Michael said. "And I think the biscuits would be a fine dessert tonight. I've got the lamb in the oven, so what if you and I make up the dough for Angus's cinnamon rolls? I found a bit of a variation in his cookbook. He makes some orange ones by adding little bits of candied orange rind and then adding a bit of orange flavor to his white icing. I bet they'd be lovely for breakfast in the morning. If we get the dough made up this afternoon, and maybe put a couple breakfast casseroles in the slow cookers, we wouldn't have anything to do for breakfast but stick the orange rolls in the oven and set out the coffee and tea and juice."

Angus had slipped into a light sleep when he heard a loud popping noise and then started to smell smoke. Andrew and the guards were already scrambling when Angus opened his eyes. They were looking for where the smoke was coming from.

"There!" one of the guards shouted. He had opened the front door and he was pointing to Edward's. "The place is on fire!"

"Go!" Angus shouted. "Get the fire out. I'm fine!" The guards scrambled and left him. And the moment they all ran outside, there was an apparating sound in the house. He looked up and saw Reginald Tyler standing in front of him. Angus smiled. Finally. "Well, well. I wondered how long it would take."

"They're idiots," Tyler sneered. "They need a lesson in distraction techniques."

"Do they, now?" Angus said, amused.

At the main house, Marcus had come down to get a cup of tea, and he glanced out and saw the fire and started to count guards.

"No, no, no, no, no," Marcus said quietly, upset, knowing Angus was surely alone now. "Ruby, stay! Let me handle it." he ordered her. He drew his wand and apparated over to the duplex, but choosing to apparate upstairs so that he could perhaps come up behind Tyler.

"If you have something to say, then say it and be quick about it," Angus told Tyler. "You're boring the shit out of me."

"You've pissed off the wrong people for far too long," Tyler said. "And that's a problem. But now, since you've made it personal, I'm going to take great joy in this one."

"So you think," Angus said.

"And just where do you think you are, anyway?" Tyler asked, looking around. "This isn't the American southwest. No pride left in you, is there?"

"Nope. None whatsoever," Angus said, taking advantage of Tyler's preoccupation with the decor to reach in his pocket and drew his pistol, sliding it now just under the bottom hem of his cashmere sweater. He could see Marcus's figure crouching now just below the banister at the top of the stairs. Tyler was sloppy, and Angus intended to use that to his advantage.