Title: ATF/AU ”Carving Contest”
Author: Midnight Profit
Rating: PG
Written: October 2004
Disclaimer: Trilogy, MGM, and the Mirish Corporation own The Magnificent Seven
characters. They are not mine. The only purpose of this story is for
entertainment. No money is being made.
Authors notes: Wendy, as you’re new, and have enjoyed the kissfics so much, this one’s for you. >g< Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to Lisa for betaing – you rock!!!

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"Carving Contest"

Buck parked his car in Wendy’s driveway and got out, leaning into the backseat he brought out two nice sized pumpkins. Balancing them in each arm, he headed up the front walk. It wasn’t until he got to the front door that he realized he had no way of ringing the bell.

Lucky for him Wendy had been watching and was already opening the door. “Need some help?” she asked with a smile. She was really looking forward to the evening ahead, and the ATF agent’s company.

"Nah…I got 'em …just tell me where to put 'em,” Buck said with a wink.

“The kitchen table’s all ready for them,” Wendy said, leading the way into the kitchen, where Buck set the pumpkins on the newspaper covered table. She grabbed something off the counter and held it out for Buck. “I picked these up at the store today.”

”Pumpkin carving kit?” Buck read aloud. “’Ten different designs to choose from; complete with carving tools’.” He looked up from the package and gave Wendy one of those looks, the kind of look a man got when he wasn’t going to ask for directions though they were sorely needed. “I don’t need a kit to carve a pumpkin.” He shook the package to emphasis. “It’s all a bunch a hooey. People have been carving pumpkins for hundreds of years without instructions, sweetheart.”

“Suit yourself,” Wendy said. She was trying very hard not to grin, as she’d known he’d react much this way. She took the kit from him, saying, “I think I’m gonna do the witch design.”

”Go right ahead. We’ll have a contest. How’s that?” Buck rubbed his hands together when Wendy nodded her approval. “All right then…let’s get started.”

Buck grabbed a knife from a kitchen drawer while Wendy peeled back the plastic packaging and withdrew the booklet full of designs, set it aside, and then took out the carving tools.  Both set right to cutting the top open, Buck doing a classic circle, while Wendy followed the directions in the booklet and cut her in the shape of a star.  With the tops off the two were then able to dig in and pullout the ‘guts’ of the pumpkins.

Wendy’s kit came with a wide spoon, perfect for scooping out the messy seeds. Buck, however, resorted to using his hands. With every handful, Buck found his hands slimier and slimier, until finally he was unable to get the stuff off. Wendy continued her task, watching Buck out of the corner of her eye and trying not to smile.

It was hard not to, especially when he shook his hands a little harder than he’d meant to and sent a string of the goo flying across the room. It hit the white wall with a splat. A wide eyed Buck looked at his hands for a moment, then at Wendy, who it appeared had not seen the flying object.

Buck cleared his throat. “Uh, I’m just gonna wash my hands right quick,” he said. At the sink he grabbed a towel and cleaned the muck off the wall before Wendy could turn and see it. “So, how’s it comin’ along?” he asked upon returning to the table with clean hands.

”Just fine, thanks,” Wendy said, looking up with a smile. She’d sat down and was applying the paper to her pumpkin that would be used to transfer the design onto it.

”Glad to hear it.” Buck sat down, picking up a black felt pen and uncapping it. “Prepare to be amazed.”

Half an hour later Buck sat back, folding his hands behind his head. “I’m done, how about you?”

”Just…finishing…now,” Wendy said and set her utensils down, having put the finishing touch on her pumpkin. “Ready to find out who won?”

”Now slow down there darlin’,” Buck said, sitting up. “Only the candles reveal the winner.”

Wendy snatched up a package of tea lights and a book of matches and stood. “Bring the pumpkins; we’ll set them on the front porch.”

A light fog had settled in as the two gathered on the porch, Wendy handing Buck the candles and the matches. After a moment, they were inside the pumpkins, lit. The two stood back, arm in arm, admiring their handiwork. Wendy’s pumpkin was indeed the winner, an intricate face of a cackling witch, the glow of the candle illuminating every detail. Buck had gone with ‘an oldie, but a goodie’, as he put it: Two misshapen triangle eyes, a smaller triangle nose and a lopsided mouth of jagged teeth.

”Kinda romantic, ain’t it,” Buck said, his arm secure around Wendy’s waist. “The candle light and-” Before he could finish the sentence the top of his pumpkin collapsed inside, sputtering out his candle.  “Well, uh, looks like you win, hands down.”

Wendy shook her head, looking up into the ladies man’s face. “No…I think we both won,” she declared. “And your prize,” she added softly, standing on tiptoe and pressing her lips against his.

Surprised by her declaration, Buck was caught off guard by her sudden kiss. But he quickly caught up as he applied a little pressure and deepened the kiss, his tongue slipping inside her mouth.  The feel of his soft lips ... the scratchiness of his moustache against her skin ... his clean masculine scent ... made her lightheaded as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tighter.

When they finally parted it was only to catch their breath. "So, if that was my prize, what’s yours?" Buck asked softly.

”You’ll see,” Wendy said with a grin as she led him inside.

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end