Southfork Ranch Gary Ewing found himself disbelieving what this man was trying to tell him. He sighed, then sat back down.
“I'm sorry Mr. Ewing, but we just can't approve you for another loan.”
“Damnit, just what am I supposed to do?” Gary said in an agitated tone.
“That's not my problem. It's yours. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some more people to meet with other than you.”
“Yeah, well thanks anyway,” Gary snapped. He left the office feeling very frustrated. He'd already invested millions in this project, but that was only the beginning. He needed more money, but if he couldn't get a loan from the bank, where would he get one?
Gary pondered the question on the way back to Southfork. He stepped out of the car into the cool night weather and entered the house. Gary had come to one conclusion on the way back—he needed a partner in this project. But who? Bobby was busy with Pam and Grace. Ray seemed to be a million miles away lately and J.R. was most definitely not an option.
Cliff Barnes? No, he really didn't know Cliff that well. He even considered asking Lucy, but decided against it. Val walked into the room. “Hey Honey.” She smiled with anticipation.
Gary frowned at her. “I didn't get the loan.”
Valene's face fell. “Oh Gary, why not?”
“My credit is not good enough to take out another one. Unless I can find a partner, it looks like this whole idea is going to go right down the drain.”
“Hmm,” Val mumbled. “We can't let that happen. I'm sure there's someone that would love to join you in this business venture.”
“I don't know who it would be.”
Val's face lit up. “You know, I may have an idea.”
“What?” Gary questioned her.
They were interrupted when Bobby and Pam came into the room. Pam was leaning on Bobby and could barely walk.
“Oh Pam,” Val said, “What happened?”
Bobby didn't answer, but walked past them and took Pam upstairs.
Gary and Val exchanged wondering glances.
Back upstairs, Bobby put Pam in bed and covered her up. “Everything is going to be fine Pam. You didn't kill her. You saw her walk out of that jet—she would have killed both of us. Katherine was killed by the police.”
“It's my fault,” Pam wailed miserably. “She'd be alive now if…”
“Don't do this to yourself. Katherine would have taken you away from Dallas if you hadn't tried to stop her. You were just a victim of her trickery and that amnesia act. But it's over now honey…it's over. We can continue our lives without fear of her. We have Grace now—don't forget that. She needs you to pull yourself together so you can be there for her.”
Pam nodded. “I just need some sleep.”
Bobby kissed her on the forehead. “Yeah, get some sleep. I'm going back downstairs for a few minutes, then I'll be back.”
“Okay.”
Bobby flipped off the room light and stared at his wife, fearing for her mental state. A few seconds later, he was back downstairs in the living room. “Sorry about that,” he apologized to Gary and Val.
“What's wrong?”
“Katherine tried to kidnap Pam, like I suspected she would. I had called the police to arrest Katherine, but Pam found out and went to stop her. Apparently, she was letting her use the Ewing jet to get out of the country, but Katherine planned to take her with her. Pam shot Katherine and thought she was dead.”
“She wasn't?”
“No. She walked off the jet with the gun. The police shot her dead.”
“Oh my God,” said Val. “I can only imagine what Pam must be going through. Do you think we should call a doctor?”
“No, I think she'll be alright after a good night's sleep. She's harboring a lot of guilt about this, even thought she didn't kill her and only shot her in self-defense. Well, I'm going up to stay with her.”
“That's a good idea.”
“I'll tell the rest of the family tomorrow, but I'm not up to it tonight. G'night you two.” Bobby went back upstairs.
Ewing Oil, the next day...
J.R. was not encouraged by the doctor's words on Mandy. She wasn't doing any better. As he reclined back in his office at Ewing Oil, he wished that the phone would ring, with the doctor telling him that Mandy was awake and would be fine. After all, he had gotten a lot of good news that day—Katherine was dead. Pam shot her—J.R. couldn't believe it. He had to give that Barnes woman some credit, ridding the world of a psychopath like that. He had Doug Avant do some digging when Bobby had told him the news, and learned that there was one arrest made in connection with Katherine's shooting---a fellow named Kurt McKinney was arrested for aiding and abetting a fugitive.
He was currently in custody, but it was what Doug had just called him about that intrigued J.R. Kurt's one phone call in custody was to Arkansas---more specifically, to Cally. Using the wizardry that J.R. had come to rely on from Doug, J.R. learned that Kurt was an old friend of Cally's, and that his bail was set at $10,000. He was guessing that Kurt's call was to have Cally come bail him out.
J.R. thought of his son. He was so big now! He had missed all those years, of Justin growing up---taking his first steps, saying his first word. He was almost ten, and didn't even know who his real daddy was. Didn't know that he was part of a dynasty---Jock Ewing was his granddaddy. Well, now it was time to make up for all those lost years. Cally was pissing and moaning about not wanting Justin to know whom his real daddy was. It was time for all that to change, and J.R. had a fairly good idea of how to make his pretty little ex-wife do everything he said.
Southfork Ranch
Kimberly Beam-Lancaster relaxed by the pool, soaking up the morning sun that shone down on the ranch. She heard a door shut and looked up to see Lucy.
“Good morning Lucy,” Kimberly said.
“Hiya Kim. What have you got planned for the day?”
“The usual I guess.” Kim was really eating up the Ewing lifestyle, but knew she was probably wearing out her welcome. A few more days of it wouldn't hurt though.
“Oh, well that's cool I guess. Have you heard from Karen? How is she doing?”
“Karen's doing better, but she's still upset with Christopher and me. I think Chris is really taking it hard. She's supposed to come home at the end of the month.”
“Well, that's good to hear—about her coming home I mean. Look, I need to get going. I need to pick out my wedding dress…you know how all that is.”
“What?” Kimberly sat up and removed her sunglasses, looking Lucy in the eye. “Wedding? Who's getting married?”
“I am. Haven't you heard?”
“You're marrying Neil?”
“Yeah!”
Kimberly put her sunglasses back on to hide the hurt that was visible in her eyes. “Oh. Well umm, congratulations.” She didn't say anything else.
“See you later.”
Kim didn't reply. When Lucy left, she stood up. “Damn you Lucy Ewing! You spoiled little rich brat. You've got EVERYTHING you could want here, but you're taking the one thing I really want, Neil.”
She stormed into the house.
Southfork Ranch: Pam & Bobby's Room
Bobby had been awake for a half-hour, staring at his wife. Eventually, she too opened her eyes and looked into his. “Good morning.”
“Morning,” Pam said.
“How do you feel?”
“Like it was all a dream…but I know it wasn't.”
“No, it wasn't. Oh Bobby, we'll have to have a funeral.”
“Why don't we go say good morning to our daughter?”
Pam smiled. She liked the sound of that—their daughter. She got out of bed and Bobby and her walked next door to the nursery. Once there, Pam lifted Grace from the crib. “Oh Grace, baby, I'm so glad I have you.”
Grace cooed and looked at Pam. “You know,” Bobby said, “I think she's beginning to look more like you by the day.”
“Think so?” Pam asked him.
“Yes I do. Hey, I'm kind of hungry. Why don't we go downstairs and have breakfast with the rest of the family?”
Pam frowned. “I don't think I'm up to facing them yet. Why don't you go fill them in on what's happened—they all have a right to know. I just want to stay up here with Grace.”
“Okay, I'll have Theresa bring you up a tray.”
“Thanks Honey.”
Bobby kissed her and walked downstairs. Several of the family members wished him a good morning. Everyone was there except for Lucy and J.R. “Good morning,” he replied. Bobby then began to tell them what had happened the night before.
Kimberly wasn't paying much attention as she picked at her food. “I just wanted to say something,” she said suddenly. “I wanted to thank you all for your hospitality, but I think I should be returning to Pennsylvania.”
Miss Ellie spoke up. “Kimberly, you know you're welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“Thank you Miss Ellie, but I really need to get back. Excuse me,” she said, leaving the table.