Bill stared at Becky for a moment, his mouth hanging open and then burst out laughing.
“Maybe I will invite her out,” Bill said after a moment.
Jake had woken up enough to glance between them but quickly looked down at his food when Bill glared at him.
“You’ll listen to Becky while I’m gone,’ Bill said severely and then turned his glare on Becky, “And you’ll behave yourself as well! I don’t want to hear about Jake breaking an arm because you told him to jump out the loft and then gave him a shove when he refused!”
“Would I do that?” Becky asked innocently.
“Yes,” Jake and Bill said simultaneously.
The next morning Jake woke up even before his alarm went off. He quicky dressed and went down to pour himself a cup of coffee, the automatic coffee maker already having a carafe of steaming hot coffee ready. He sat down and had just began to eat a bowl of cereal when Bill came down the stairs.
“Morning,” Bill said and walked over to pour himself a cup.
“Good morning,” Jake replied with a smile and a nod.
Bill glanced upstairs for a moment and then came over to sit at the table, Jake squirming as Bill staired at him for several long moments.
“Becky… she’s as high strung as Amadeus,” Bill finally said.
Jake spluttered and felt himself blushing, Bill only continuing to stare at him.
“Just as mule headed too,” Bill finally continued, “Will you do me a favor, Jake?”
“Sure,” Jake replied instantly while dreading what Bill was about to ask.
“Talk to her,” Bill said softly, “Make her come ’round and see some sense.”
Jake’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head when he had heard what Bill had said and he had to replay the words in his head before relaxing in relief.
“Talk to her about CSU,” Bill continued, “Get her to enroll in the vet program.
“Judy and I’ve been talking… if Becky goes then Judy and I’ll pay for an apartment for the two of you off campus. Keep you both out of that pile of horse shit of a dorm.”
“Oh!” Jake exclaimed, his emotions whipsawed at the thought of having his own place but also of having to share that space with his cousin, “I… I can do that.”
“Don’t push it!” Bill said severely, “You try to go and force it and she’s likely to carry you up into the loft just to toss you out! Probably more’n once!”
“No,” Jake stammered, “I… can just talk. She was asking me about school when I helped her clean out the barn.”
“Umm,” Bill said and took a sip of his coffee.
“Morning,” Becky said a minute later, her normally cheerful voice flat and unenthusiastic.
She walked over to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup before taking a sip, Jake’s eyes following her since she was still just wearing a night shirt that left her midriff exposed and a pair of cotton panties.
“You forget something, young lady?” Bill asked severely.
Becky took another sip of coffee while Jake pointedly turned his attention back to his cereal.
“Umm, I think I’ve got everything on the list,” Becky replied and held out a sheet of paper.
Bill took it as if he had expected it and quickly scanned over the rather long list.