A MIDWINTER'S NIGHTMARE

by

PiperMerlyn

CHAPTER 7

THE CHAPTERS

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

"I cannot believe they get a whole floor." Joe looked around the double-occupancy hotel room. "The whole floor."  

"Marc said it's safer that way." Frank looked up from magazine. "Somehow I never thought they'd need safety while on tour."  

Before Joe could answer, there was a knock on the door. Joe walked over to the door and opened it. It was Marc, carrying a box. "Well, we left the poker game on the bus but I brought Monopoly. It's not as tense or risky but it's all we had on the plane."  

The rest of the band crowded into the room behind him. "And since we can't contribute to the delinquency of minors," said Ian. "We brought root beer."  

"And chips. Can't forget the chips," said Adrian , holding up several round canisters. "I hope you don't mind. I don't do bag chips."  

"Don't go doing your commercial for those, please," muttered Erick. "If you do your announcer voice one more time, I'll—" He took a deep breath. "I'll do something. I just haven't decided what's the perfect counter-torture."  

Marc moved the hotel table between the two beds. "Now we'll be comfortable. Who wants to be banker?" He looked around the room and zeroed in on Frank. "You look like a banker – or an accountant. You're elected."  

"I don't remember volunteering."  

Ian shook his head. "Don't bother. When Marc picks you, you're picked." He cocked his head to one side. "Did that make sense?"  

"No," said Erick. "But we're used to it."  

"Hey, what's everyone doing in here?" asked a petite auburn-haired girl. "Ian?"  

"Oh, hey, Penny. Hey how many of those little things we got? How many can play?"  

Marc dug through the little plastic hotels and houses to find the playing pieces. "Uh, eight."

Ian counted to himself, pointing to each person in turn. "Seven. Someone won't get to play."  

Marc held up the rules. "It says if more than five people play, the banker doesn't play." He looked at Frank. "Do you mind?" Before Frank could answer, Marc shrugged. "Why should you mind, thousands of dollars crossing your palms, the ability to mortgage to your heart's content..."  

"It's paper money," said Frank, trying hard not to grin.  

"It's the dream that counts."  

Ian waved to Penny. "Go get Kari and Savannah, they can play too."  

Penny nodded and left the room. Ian grabbed at one of the small metal pieces. "Ah-ha, I got...the wheelbarrow?"  

"I claim the car," stated Adrian. "As is my right. Do you think it looks like the Packard?" he added, holding up the small car.  

Joe grabbed the horse, realizing it was a free-for-all deal. "I got dibs on the horse and rider."  

"Aw, man," muttered Erick. "I guess I'll go with the dog. Is it a Yorkshire Terrier or a Schnauzer?"  

Penny returned with Savannah and Kari and they all crowded around the table. Kari looked through the remaining pieces. "A boot, a thimble and an iron." She picked up the boot. "I'll take that."  

"It's a shoe," said Adrian in overly patient tone.  

"I say it's a boot."  

"I'll take the thimble," said Savannah.  

Penny sighed. "I guess I get the iron."  

"Well, you iron things so well. My jeans, nit-picky managers..." Ian snapped his fingers. "That's who we're missing. Hey, that's who usually plays banker."  

"Until he gets disgusted with our under-the-table deals and quits," said Marc with a smirk. He looked at Frank. "You're made of sterner stuff, right?"  

Frank just grinned. Joe looked around. "What about Leigh?"  

Kari shook her head. "She's talking with her sister."  

Frank started doling out the money to each player. "Fifteen hundred dollars to each of you."  

Ian let out a little squeal. "I'm rich, I'm rich."  

Each player rolled the pair of dice to see who would go first and Erick ended up with the highest number. He rolled a pair of twos and laughed. "Ha, ha." His grin faded when he landed on the space marked Income Tax. "Aw, man." Because he rolled doubles, he rolled again and got two ones. "Snake eyes."  

"You roll doubles again and you're going down," said Ian.  

Erick looked over at him. "Says who?"  

Marc held up the rulebook. "The rules. Ha—" He pointed at the third set of doubles. "Bye, bye."  

Muttering under his breath, Erick marched his dog over to the Jail space.  

Adrian rolled next and landed on St. Charles Place. "Should I buy? Or shouldn't I? Hmm.."

"It's not like we've got all day," said Ian.  

"I'll buy – my first property. Whoopee."  

Erick just rolled his eyes. Forty-five minutes later, he glanced at the lid of the box where the green plastic houses and red plastic hotels sat. "I want to put a house down. What's the use of property when it's empty?"  

Marc shook his head. "You have to own all three of one color."  

Erick turned to Savannah. "Oh dear..." he said in a sing-song voice.  

"I'm not selling."  

"Why not? You've got one of each color. You can't very well put up houses. You just want vacant lots?"  

Savannah sighed and finally sold him one of her properties to go with the one he had. Erick rubbed his hands together. "Okay, who has the last one?"  

In a blur, Frank had to deal with several players selling properties to each other or back to the bank. Finally, fifteen minutes later he sold Erick three houses for each of his properties.  

Ian promptly landed on of Erick's properties. "What is it, fourteen?"  

"Au contraire, my friend. It's seventy dollars' rent."  

Ian stared at him. "What? Hey, look I'm only squatting. Give me another chance and I'll be gone. It's not like I'm actually renting. I mean that would mean lodging in your house. And it's so small..."  

"Pay up." Erick held out a hand. "Or I'll send you to jail."  

"Na-na-na. I have a get-out-of-jail card. So there."  

Joe watched and laughed. He was really enjoying the game – until they all heard the scream.  

Joe and Frank hurried to the room where the scream had come from. Joe glanced at his brother. "That's Leigh's room." He knocked hard on the door and felt a surge of relief when Leigh opened it seconds later.  

The room beyond was completely dark and she blinked against the glare of the hall lights. Joe could see she was extremely upset. "Hey, you okay?"  

"I had a horrible nightmare." Leigh shuddered and then took a deep breath. "I'm fine."  

Frank relaxed, relieved that it was nothing major. "You sure?"  

Leigh stood there and looked at each brother, and then sighed, "I'm okay. Really."  

Joe and Frank shared a look, and then Joe nodded. "Okay." He took a step back and gave her a nod. "Okay, we'll see you, then."  

Leigh nodded, gave them one last long look and then closed her door. Joe looked at Frank. "Okay, that was kind of weird," he said in a low voice.  

Frank steered him back toward their room where the band stood outside the door, waiting to find out what was going on. "You know the whole family's weird."  

"I mean the way she kept looking at us."  

"Everything okay?" asked Marc.  

Frank nodded. "She had a nightmare."  

Ian gave vent to a wide yawn. "Must have been a doozy."  

Marc glanced at the table in the boys' room and then at them. "Why don't we finish the game tomorrow? We could all use some sleep."  

"Why not just declare me the winner and be done with it," said Erick.  

Marc rolled his eyes and walked over to the table. "Everyone count your money. Whoever has the most wins." There was a few moments of silence as everyone added up their money. Marc sighed. "Fourteen hundred ninety-nine dollars."  

"Thirteen hundred eighty-two dollars," mumbled Savannah. "I almost won this time."  

Everyone named their amount and then started placing the various denominations in their trays. After a moment, they all looked at Erick who was glaring at his money. When he realized everyone was looking at him. "What?"  

"You're the only one who hasn't said how much you had," said Savannah.  

Erick grunted. "Fine. Two hundred thirty-eight dollars." He pointed a finger at Ian. "Would have been three hundred and eight if you'd paid the rent."  

Ian grunted. "I told you. I was squatting. Squatters don't pay rent. Don't you know your history?"  

"I'll show you history."  

Ian took off running out the door with Erick on his heels. Adrian grinned at Frank and Joe. "It's kosher. It's only if Marc gets off the phone with Donovan and he chases Ian."  

Joe started to ask why and shook his head. "I really don't want to know, do I?"  

Marc shook his head. "No, you don't. Good night, guys." He waved everyone else out and closed the door behind him.  

Frank sat down on the bed and sighed. "Whew."  

Joe sprawled across his bed. "They are something, aren't they." He grinned.  "They're fun."  

Frank couldn't deny he'd had a good time. He grinned at his brother. "You got that right."

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