Free Siren Rock by Laurie Keck

Larina.”
    Grant held his hand out to shake Timmy’s.
    “Nice to meet you, Timmy.”
    “Hello, sir.” Timmy shook his hand.
    Larina smiled. “Hi, Timmy, nice to finally meet you.”
    Timmy shook her hand and said, “It’s nice to meet you. Are you in storybooks? A princess?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    Case put his hand on Timmy’s shoulder and said, “I see why you’d ask that. She stands before us, with a body of delicate strength, in a sweater revealing a single shoulder. Her soft hair frames the most beautiful face in the world. It flows around her graceful neck. Heavenly eyes of emerald that just twinkle with life. She is lovelier than any gem known to man. You’re right Timmy, she’s definitely a princess.” He winked at Larina.
    Grant turned to Timmy and said, “I think he likes her.”
    This made Timmy giggle and Case laugh.
    Timmy asked Larina. “I think I’ve seen you with daddy’s horse?”
    “Your daddy’s horse?” she asked.
    Case shrugged sheepishly “He’s seen my photos of you; they’re my screen saver.”
    She blushed. “Oh I see.”
    Case knelt in front of Timmy. “You’re going to sit with Larina and Mr. Bixby while I play my songs. Then I’ll quickly join you, all right?”
    Timmy agreed and then asked, “Maybe then we can go on some rides?”
    Grant said, “That’s exactly what I was thinking, Timmy.”
    Timmy threw his arms up. “Oh boy!”
    Case mouthed the words, “Thank you.”
    Case said. “Okay, I’ll see you guys soon; you know where your seats are. Cheer me on.”
    He walked away, and the three made their way to their seats.
    As the show began, Case was introduced. When he walked on stage, he was greeted with applause, as well as a few screams, from a predominately female audience.
    He bowed his head and did a short segment on the harmonica. He then strummed his guitar and went on to perform some of his best-loved material. As he finished his set, he received a standing ovation. He and the band left the stage to several more catcalls.
    Case quickly packed up his equipment and loaded it into his truck. He changed his shirt and put on a ball cap and sunglasses to blend with the crowd. He walked over to join them at their seats, so everyone could stay and enjoy the reminder of the show.
    The next act was to be a group who had taught various sizes of dogs to perform acrobatics and dance to music. It would be followed by a magician.
    As that show began, Case whispered to Larina, “I didn’t want to have to follow this act.”
    Larina held his hand tight and placed her head on his shoulder.
    After the stage show, the four of them walked around the fairgrounds. They went on most of the rides, switching up partners each time. Grant opted out of the rides that twirled, leaving Case and Timmy to ride those alone.
    At the Ferris wheel, Case maneuvered a seat with Larina. As the wheel went higher, Larina tilted her head toward the sky.
    “I’ve never felt closer to heaven.”
    Case squeezed her hand. “I have.”
    She moved in even closer to him until the cage started to move, and then she sat still.
    She spoke nervously. “Not that I want to get any closer today. That was scary.”
    Case started to rock the cage, and Larina smacked his knee. “Stop that.”
    They were all getting to know more about each other than ever before. They tried their hand at several of the arcades. Timmy managed to win a plush seahorse, after exhausting an entire stack of tickets. They tasted samples from local restaurants, though decided on hamburgers, hotdogs, and fries. They finished their meal with a caramel candy apple. It was soon time to go back home. Case and Timmy would head back to the ranch. Larina and Grant would go back to the house.
    As Larina bent down to address Timmy, she said, “It was so nice to spend the day with you, Timmy; I hope we see you again soon.”
    “I had fun. Wish I didn’t have to go. Wish I could stay at Daddy’s.”
    Case pulled him in close. “We