Silent Ranks

by USMC Best Friend

  “I was meaning food”

  “I know but I didn’t have any” he laughed “And if you think about it at least I was a gentleman about it” He moved away and stood up as the truck stopped in a cloud of dust. Uncle Brody jumping out with Lore.

  “What the hell happened?” he ran across “Lore bring the first aid kit” He looked at me head “Okay you’re Momma’s going to kill me for sending you home battered and tore up” he smiled warmly Lore handed him the first aid box from the trick and he put a dressing on it “It’s already bleeding through” he sighed “so what did happen?”

  “A snake spooked her horse” Justin explained pointing to where the snake lay in the two pieces he’s left after he shot it “And she fell”

  ‘We’ve all been there” Lore sighed.

  “Shes not steady on her feet she tried to get up”

  Hey I’m still here you know” I waved my hand

  “Okay lets get you back to the ranch”

  “What about Semper?” I looked to where he was grazing

  “He’ll be fine Justin can bring him back” Uncle B lifted me from the ground.

  “Okay slight problem he doesn’t like going with other people when I’m not here, there’s only you that he’ll go with other than Ryder”

  “I can take the truck” Justin said a little too quickly. Uncle Brody looked at him

  “Semper will be fine if you lead him and not try to ride him” he chuckled “because I think that one kiss of life you gave Alyssa was enough” Okay ground open up and swallow me NOW… I closed my eyes and muttered a few choice words in my aching head “You can leave the paddock for now and head back down”

  “Okay” Justin nodded

  “Hey I thought Brent was supposed to be with you”

  “So did we I think he was going to go check on the Cows in the back 10” I muttered it was the only thing I could think of.

  “Okay lets get you home and get you sorted out” he put me in the truck Lore sliding in next to me.

  “What happened to the Marines?’ He laughed

  “Okay I’m ignoring you right now” I sighed my head was really starting to hurt now. MyUncle drove me back and the doctor was waiting when we got there. Everyone was hovering around while I was cleaned and stitched and a dressing put on the top.

  “I say you need to rest young lady” the doctor smiled down at me “No horses for a few days”

  “Yes sir” I nodded

  “You can sleep but someone needs to check on her every couple of hours”

  “That’s Fine, no problem there” Aunt Lucy was sitting next to me stroking my hair “Brody can you take her up to one of the bedroom’s”

  “Bunk house” I looked at here “I’m so much more comfortable there in the summer”

  “Okay” She smiled dropping a kiss on my head I went to get up and grabbed onto her arm sitting back down

  “I’ll take her?” I looked round at the sound of Justin’s voice

  “Okay” Brody gave a half smirk as the door knocked “that’ll be the Horses” Justin walked over to me and picked me up “Oh Justin”

  “Yes sir”

  “She had her tonsils removed when see was five if that’s what you were checking for” Justin flushed I looked at my Uncle

  “I’m so not sharing a plane ride with you”

  “Damn that’s what I wanted to say I can’t go with you”

  “Good you and Dad right now would push me over the edge”

  “Alyssa Tess you love me really” he laughed

  “Yeah only because I can’t pack Semper in my hand luggage and take him with me” Justin started for the door Uncle Trey opening it for us. Milo was walking out of the bunk house.

  ‘Hey you okay?” He came over “Dad said you got thrown”

  “Yeah I’ll be fine once the pain stops” I smiled at him “and only 6 stitches”

  “Her bed’s the one on the right” Milo looked at Justin and started to walk away “Oh and condoms are in the dresser under the window”

  “Oh you wait” I moaned not even able to yell at him “They all get worse” Justin walked into the bunk house and put me on my bed. He stepped away and pulled the curtains closed.

  “You need help?” He asked sittingback on the edge of the bed.

  ‘You can pull my boots off I don’t think I’ll be able to bend to do it” I nodded. Justin pulled off my boots and looked at me. “What?”

  “I was wondering what would happen if I did this again” he bent and kissed me deeper than before what the hell was happening to my head in fact why was the rest of my body tingling as well.. Oh damn I think I’m having a stroke.

  Chapter 14

  So much for thinking here!

  Somehow I don’t quite know how but Justin’s shirt was on the floor and he was lay next to me on the bed Holding me to him his mouth on mine, his hand moving under my shirt. I put my hands on his chest and pulled back a little.

  “Slow down cowboy” I looked at him

  “I’m sorry” he trailed his fingers across my stomach “but you are so…” the door opened to the bunk house.

  “Well I think the doctor told you to rest Aly not have a half naked cowboy in your bed with you” Uncle Trey was stood in the doorway with a bottle of water. “Justin I think you have a job to do” Justin got up and picked up his shirt and hurried out. “Alyssa” Uncle Trey cocked his head.

  “Don’t ask because one minute I was thrown from a horse and the next he was kissing me” I took the bottle of water Trey offered he sat on Jordans’ bed opposite me “then he brought me in here and…”

  “Was half naked kissing you” He butted in.

  “Something like that” I nodded.

  “Honey… if you find a cowboy then you know this half of the family would be happy and I even think your Daddy would be as well deep down… but you just met him and…”

  “Whoa back up there… why does it for a start sound like you’re trying to marry me off to Justin… and didn’t you and Aunt Rachel hook up when you were a hand here?” he smiled a little

  “Okay you got me there darlin’… I just don’t want my niece to get hurt”

  “I’m having fun… I have things happening in here” I pointed to my head “That I need to work out”

  ‘You can talk to us Aly you know that” he patted my hand

  “I know Ryder is the only one that knows the whole story and that’s okay for now” I looked at him

  “Okay honey but you know the offer to talk is there” I nodded “Now get some sleep while Brody and I talk to Justin” He kissed my cheek. I pulled the comforter over me and closed my eyes I could still feel the touch of Justin on my skin… so much for thinking and getting my head straight………………

  I walked across the yard and into the barn. Semper and Fi were munching lazily on the hay. Semper pawed the ground and kicked his door.

  “Hey Baby” I rubbed his nose.

  “Here you are you had me worried” Aunt Lucy walked into the Barn “How you feeling?”

  “a little groggy” I leant on the door.

  “So Justin?”

  “He kissed me that’s all what’s the big deal?”

  “Nothing I was just asking” she smiled “Oh your Mom called and said there’s a ticket for you for tomorrow at the airport”

  “I wasn’t going till Saturday”

  “I know but I think you’re Mom is still getting used to the idea of Ryder being gone and now your Daddy is going as well… I think she just wants her little girl around for a while” I smiled.

  “Yes Ma’am” She linked my arm

  “Don’t jump in to fast with Justin”

  “Like I told Trey I’m having fun I’m here for a few weeks that’s all and then I’m heading back to the island” I stopped walking.

  “What?”

  “Nothing I just…” I shook my head was I going to be going back to that way of life that’s what I was supposed to be here thinking about “It�
��s okay if I don’t take my things with me I have stuff still at home so it seems pointless taking back clothes”

  “You know it’s okay” she smiled at me “oh and I managed to get Justin off of work so he can run you to Dallas to the airport” She pushed her tongue in her cheek

  “You’re going to be in trouble” I giggled

  “Leave your Uncle to me” She patted my hand we walked out into the yard as the others were riding back in covered in dirt and dust.

  “We missed you” Jordan grinned swinging herself down from her horse “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you got back… how many stitches?” she was gabbling because she knew I’d had all day to tell the family about the weed.

  “Just the six stitches” I shrugged Justin got off of his horse and smiled at me

  “Justin come up to the house when you’ve sorted your horse” Aunt Lucy called out.

  “Yes Ma’am” He nodded

  “Can we talk” Jordan pulled my arm.

  “Sure” I nodded.

  “Garret could you take my horse for me” Jordan batted her eyelashes at him

  “Yes Ma’am” he bit down on his lip as he took the reins his finger brushing her’s as he went. I watched my cousin literally melt in place. I walked over to the fence and sat on the top rail and waited for her she hurried over Justin and Garret walked the horses into the barn with Brent and Lore.

  “So did you and he?” she turned beet red

  “We’re not here to talk about me and Garret” she giggled “and not all the way” her eyes flicked to me and back down again.

  “Okay so how long have you needed to smoke weed to have a good time?” I asked bluntly

  “a few months” she sighed “Come on it’s something everyone does”

  “No it isn’t” I pulled a face “I never have”

  “Yeah well for all your moth theses a lot you haven’t done” she snapped a little harshly.

  “Hey you want to call me out for not getting stoned then have at it I know how to have fun without drugs” I got down and squared up to her “I thought you were sensible Jordan… what happened to you wanting to go to Nursing school you’re almost a year older than me and act like you’re in 8th grade”

  “You think you have a perfect life don’t you growing up in exotic places” she sneered “you’re not perfect Alyssa”

  “Whoa where the hell is this all coming from I never said I was perfect and if you think my life is perfect then take it” I held out my hands “I’m not going to go running to your parents to tell them your smoking crap I don’t’ do that… I’ll confront you and I’ll get in your face because it’s something that could hurt you and I’m not about to let that happen” She looked down. “And since when has Germany been exotic” I shook my head “What’s got into you?”

  “I don’t’ know” she shrugged “I’m bored as all hell here I’m sick of horses and cows and the ranch” I raised and eye brow “I have 3 brothers that drive me insane and if my parents aren’t breathing down my neck then Brody and Lucy are” She looked across at me “I guess I’m jealous of the freedom you have”

  “Are you serious” I started to laugh even though my head hurt like all hell “I mean really You get to ride away when things get too much I get to face a bunch of guys in Uniform and you can date easily” has your Dad said anything about you and Garret because I know he knows because he was talking o your Mom about it” he r motuh fell open “I took a gun in a date once because it was either that or we would be followed” She smiled “Or there was the time that I actually started to realy like a guy that worked in the surf store “Till he had a bunch of Marines go in and tell him that if he even thought of getting past first base he’d disappear… I truly don’t have freedom”

  “Wow I never thought… A gun?” She shook her head again

  “Yes a .45” I sighed “Jordan go to school and do what you want hell if you want to get out of Texas then got to school out of state….”

  “Hey you think I can go to one near you?” she grinned “Guys in uniform and all that”

  “Strip off the uniform and they’re all the same underneath” I sighed as Justin and Garret wal;ked out of the barn “Take of there clothes and stand them next to Ryder and they’re the same”

  “Okay Ew that’s’ your Brother and my cousin your talking about and No Ryder has tattoo’s”

  “I’m trying to make a point that’s all” I groaned.

  “I know and I get what your saying” she pushed off the fence “Sorry for going off on you and I promise no more weed”

  “Thank you and after I’m done here why don’t you come back to the base for a few weeks” Justin was walking toward me

  “I might do that hey is your other cute cousi around”

  “Jack?” I pulled a face

  “Yep he’s got one nice ass on him”

  ‘You have a cowboy” I pointed to Garret

  “So do you” she called out as she turned her back.

  “How’s the head?” Justin smiled

  “It’s a dull ache” I nodded “You’d better go to the house Aunt Lucy hates to be kept waiting”

  “You up for going for a walk after dinner” he toyed with a piece of my hair.

  “I think I could manage that” I nodded.

  “Good” he walked away and to the house.

  Chapter 15

  Semper fiesty

  I was sitting on the porch swing with Milo as Justin walked over looking a little pissed.

  “hey” I smiled at him

  “Hi, You okay to go for that walk?”

  “Sure” I got up and walked across the yard and we headed in the direction of the old barn as the thunder rolled off in the distance “Is everything okay?”

  “Well I’m supposed to be taking you to the airport tomorrow” he stopped walking and turned and looked at me.

  “Ah so that’s what she wanted to see you about” I chuckled

  “I didn’t think you were leaving till Sunday?” the first few drops of rain began to fall

  “I wasn’t but my Mom has a ticket waiting for me” okay I was a tad bit irritated now with his reaction to this

  “But your head and us”

  “Excuse me?” I swallowed as he pushed open the door of the barn “My Head will be fine and what us?”

  “You kissed me” he sat down on a bale of hay.

  “No you kissed me to shut me up if I remember right and then you kissed me again ion the bunk” I shook my head “and you got on my bed”

  “You didn’t say no and you kissed me back so you must like me” He reached for my hand and pulled me to sit on the bale.

  “I do like you but two kisses don’t make and us” I sighed “You’ve caught me in a strange place right now I’m looking to sort things out in my head not…” I couldn’t finish the sentence before he was kissing me, I totally lost my mind when he kissed me I forgot what I was trying to say.

  “You were talking to much again” he chuckled

  “You’re making my head hurt Cowboy” I groaned getting up and walking to the window. The rain was now torrential as lightening streaked the sky.

  “I wasn’t trying to I just get this urge to shut you up” he chuckled

  “Okay and talk like that will get you put on your ass again” I shook my head

  “I’ll take you down with me” he put his hands on my hips

  “Really” I stepped back from him “You want a piece of me” oh damn there goes the mouth into gear before my brain yet again.

  “If you’re offering then this cowboy ain’t going to turn it down” he chuckled reaching for me again.

  “You have an ink phobia so I don’t think so” I walked over to hay bale

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” He held out his hands

  “You didn’t like Ryders Tattoo’s when you saw the picture of him”

  “No I don’t think Tattoo’s look good on people other than bikers” he shrugged