Free Red, White and Beautiful by Bec Botefuhr Page A

outthewindowandforcemythoughtsawayandfocusonthetreesand sceneryzippingbyaswetravel.It’sgoingtobefineSierra,it’sgoingto befine.
    ~*~*~*~*
    SIERRA
    Marcus’family’sranchisgorgeous.Allwhitetimber,wraparound patio,bigbarnsandfencedpaddocksfilledwithhorses.Ismile,feeling myheartswellatthesecludedbeauty.We’reaway,fromeverything,and it’sperfect.IwatchMarcus’facewarminstantly,andasmilecreeps acrosshisface.Seeinghimsohappy,makesmesmileandwhenoureyes meet,Icanseethejoysharedbetweenus.Hegetsoutofthecarand walksaround,openingthedoorforme.WhenI’moutandMarcus’hand isfirmlywrappedaroundmine,wewalktowardsthehouse.
    Whenwegetupthefrontsteps,Marcuswalksrightinside.Ilook aroundthemassivecountryhomeinawe.Ithaspolishedwoodenfloors,a woodenkitchen,olderstyledfurniturewithrusticflowersandsoft material.Ifeelmysmilewidenatthebeautythatisthishome,andthe intensefeelingofloveitholds.Marcussqueezesmyhandandweboth stepintothelargelivingarea.Ihearthesoundofawomangoing‘oh’and webothturntoseeashort,petitewomanwithmousybrownhairanddark browneyesrushingtowardsus.Marcusletsmegoandpicksupthetiny woman,swingingheraround.
    “Momma!”Marcuslaughs,placingheronthegroundandkissingher cheeks.
    “Mickey,myboy.”
    Mickey?
    “I’vemissedyou!”
    Shehugshimagain,shelookssotinynexttohislarge,powerful formandwhenhisarmsgoaroundher,shebasicallydisappears.When theypullapart,Marcusturnstomeandsmiles,puttinghishandout.I stepforward.Thewomanletshergazerakeoverme,andallalong,I expectedtoseedisgustinhereyes,butallIseethereiswarmthand maybeeven…isthat…delight?Shestepsforward,takingmyhand.Her warmfingerscurlaroundmineandshepullsmeforwardandwrapsher armsaroundme.
    “I’veheardsomuchaboutyou.Welcometomyhome,Sierra.”
    “I’veheardsomuchaboutyou,too.”Ismile,huggingherback.
    MarcussmilesatmewhenIlookupathim.Hismotherletsmego andholdsmyshoulders,gettingagoodlookatme.
    “Thisone’sarealoneson,noneofthatfakebeauty,”shesmiles, lettingherbrowneyesscanmyface.“Whathappenedtoyoureyelove, you’vegotarealshiner?”
    “Acrazydrunkgirlthrewacanatmyhead.”
    “Itwasn’tSierra’sfault,”Marcussays.“Thegirlwasdrunkand high.”
    “Oh,that’sawful!”
    Inod,thensmile.“Thankyouforlettingmeintoyourhome,Mrs.
    Harrison.”
    “CallmeJulie,andit’smostcertainlymypleasure.Come,Sierra, tellmeaboutyourself.TellmehowyoumetmyMickeyandhowthis cameabout.Oh,andmostofall,dotellmehowyoumanagedtochange hismindaboutthatmonsterofafiancéhehad.”
    MybrowsraiseandMarcuschuckles.“Toldyou,”hemurmurs.
    “There’smyboy!”
    Weheartheloud,deepvoicethatechoesthroughthehalls.Iturnto seeatall,well-builtmanwalkinginside.Hisdarkhairisthesameas Marcus’,onlyit’sstreakedwithgrey.Hehaslaughterlinesaroundhis browneyesandhisfaceisverywarmandwelcoming.Bythelookofhim, he’sMarcus’father.There’snomissingtheresemblancebetweenthe two,they’rebothincrediblyhandsomeandhavethesamesmile.Marcus stepsforward,shakinghisfather’shand,thentheyarehugging.Ifeelmy smilecomeback,infact,Idon’tthinkit’sstopped.
    “Howareyou,boy?”hisfatherasksinagruff,huskyvoice.
    “I’mgood,oldman,yourself?”
    “Ohyouknow,workin’ontheranch.Bloodytiringworkitis,too.”
    “Heneverstops,”Julielaughs.
    Marcus’fatherturnsandhiseyeswiden.Aslowsmilecreepsacross hisfaceashestepsforwardandtakesagoodlookatme.
    “Welllookie,son,youpickedaprettyonedidn’tya?Howareya, girl?MynameisTed.Whatdidyoudotoyourface?”
    Heextendshishand,andwithaflushItakeit.Hewrapshiscallused fingersaroundmyhandandweshake.
    “It’snicetomeetyou,Ted.I’mSierraandit’salongstory,”Ilaugh.
    “Suchaprettydarnname,andwell,aprettygirl.Goodchoice,son.”
    “Yeah,IthinkIpickedwell,”Marcusgrins,meetingmygaze.
    “Anyway,we’regoingtotalkinthekitchenandpreparedinner,you twoboysgetthebagsandcatchup,”Juliesays,takingmyhandagainand