Silent Ranks

by USMC Best Friend

  “Well fell free to come with us I’m heading to the Tattoo shop” I put my arms round him over the back of the chair.

  “You’re going to have more ink that all of us at this rate” He chuckled “and you know I’d be sitting the chair and get another if I wasn’t going away”

  “I know” I kissed his cheek “Love you Dad”

  “Love you too” he smiled as Brit and I walked out.

  “You see the marks on her arm?” Flynn looked at Dad

  “Oh Yeah… I’m waiting for Jordan to call me back because I want to know where they came from.”

  “So you going to let me come to the Ranch with you?” Brit asked as we walked out of the tattoo shop and down the board walk that was already filled with families I looked down at the wrap round my wrists.

  ‘I thought you were going to be going to the Island to see Marek” I took a deep breath.

  ‘I am but that’s not for 2 weeks how long will it take to kick a damn cowboy’s ass” I looked at her

  “You’re crazy”

  “Yes I have to be being related to you” she smiled “Did they hurt?”

  “Like a bitch” I nodded “but I’m now beating Ryder in the ink stakes”

  ‘Yeah but does it count as one or two” she pushed open the door to the pool hall we liked to go too especially when the guys were still around.

  “I’m thinking one Semper Fi should be on I just have half on one wrist and half on the other” “I walked over to the bar and order us some sodas’ while Brit went and set up a table.

  “You’re Dad and Uncle were in last night” the guy behind the bar said handing me the drinks “Sorry the deployments coming so close to Ryder leaving”

  “I know but I swear the Marine Corps likes fucking with people” I laughed he nodded and went back to serving. Brit and I were talking and playing. She knew how to take my mind off things without trying too hard. My phone rang “You get some food in while I get this”

  “Oh I knew you only brought me to pay for food”

  “Hey you just got another OW DAMN it piercing you have to bribe me with pizza to keep my mouth shut” I smiled

  Me * hey Dad

  Dad * okay so this cowboy do you want to explain to us what the hell he was doing with his hands on you?

  Me * say what?

  Dad * Alyssa I spoke to Jordan

  Me * Oh she never can keep her mouth shut

  Dad * Aly what he did is wrong

  Me * Dad

  Dad * You know I don’t tolerate anyone lifting a hand to a woman and when that woman is one I love then they’d better watch out

  Me * Dad

  Dad * I hadn’t finished. Are the finger prints everything?

  So Jordan hadn’t told him everything okay maybe I could get away with this at least till he gets back from deployment.

  Me * I have a few scratches on my back but he got knocked on his ass and a busted lip

  Dad * Damn I’m ready to head to the ranch and kick his god damn ass

  Me * Dad stop you have more to think about than some jerk okay I can handle it you taught me better than anyone how to look after myself.

  Dad * your Uncle’s going to be making a side trip

  Me * What?

  Flynn * I’m taking you back to the ranch Aly and no arguing and let’s see if he wants to go toe to toe with a tattooed Marine

  ME * She told you about him not liking tat’s

  Dad * yes and that you had to lose it with him over the Corps

  Me * So much for trying to work out what I want

  Dad * what?

  Me * nothing I miss Ryder

  Dad * Baby are you okay?

  Me * Yes Dad I hate deployment time

  Dad * I know… I’m going to be telling your Mom when she gets back so watch for the fireworks

  Me * yes sir

  Dad * Aly baby we love you and no man even a Marine isn’t going to hurt any of the girls I love

  Flynn * goes for me too Al

  Me * I love you guys and I’m sorry I let you down

  Dad * you didn’t and we’ll be here when you get home

  Me * we’re at the pool hall

  Flynn * Oooo I think I feel a rack and balls coming on

  Dad * dude you seriously worry me sometimes

  Me * come down when Mom and Aunt Riley get home and I’ll tell Mom about Justin

  Dad * okay

  I hung up as Brit came back over

  “Okay you look pissed”

  “Yeah I need to talk to Jordan and find out how much that fat Texan mouth of hers said to Dad”

  ‘She told him about”

  “No from the sounds of it just half of it” I sighed

  “Come on lets have another game while we wait for the food” she hugged me “It’ll be okay” I nodded

  “Yeah you and Uncle Flynn from the sounds of it are going to be coming to the ranch”

  ‘Oooo Yee haw” she shouted making people look at her “I’m in ass kickin’ mode right now” I groaned and hung my head. We started playing again I stepped back from the table laughing as the cue ball flew through the air when Brit tried a trick shot she said she’d seen on TV.

  “Damn it watch your back” I bumped into something and felt the coldness of liquid run down my back

  “I’m so sorry” I turned round and looked at the guy I’d bumped into.

  “Well at least you didn’t get me with the cue” he smiled “and who doesn’t like the smell of beer for aftershave”

  “Let me pay for those” sorry my eyes were drawn to the wet patch on the front of his shirt that was now sticking to him

  “No it’s fine” he smiled “Your friends dangerous with balls”

  “Oh you have no idea” I groaned. “She’s pretty bad when she plays pool as well” I laughed

  “I heard that” Brit scrawled out from under the next pool table with the cue ball

  “Ryne are you going to spend all night chatting up those girls or are you going to play” I guy called from the other side of the hall.

  “Company’s better over her” he laughed back

  “Ryne Stop being a pain in the ass” A girl walked over and took the still full beer from his left hand

  “Am I being a pain” Ryne held out his hands and looked at me and Brit

  “No” Brit shook her head “Aly was the doofus that bumped into you” She shrugged I Gibbs slapped her

  “Ryne” the girl shot him a look

  “I’m coming” he sighed “I’ll shout at you if I’m getting drinks again so we don’t end up wearing them”

  “Sounds like a plan” I nodded turning back to the game of Pool Brit and I were having.

  Chapter 19

  Pool

  “I m going to go run out to my truck and grab a shirt” I handed Brit my cue ‘You eat all the pizza and you’ll be in trouble”

  “Yeah yeah keep yakking” she grinned as the waitress brought over the steaming pizza. I slammed into so something again today really wasn’t my day I groaned.

  ‘At least this time I don’t have a beer” Ryne chuckled.

  “You saw he coming and got in the way on purpose” his friend laughed

  “Shush you’ll ruin my image” Ryne smirked “You running off?’ he looked back at me

  “Yes to my truck to get a clean shirt the smell of the beer just ain’t rocking my world”

  “Oh so does that mean I don’t rock it either” he laughed

  “Er…” I stepped back and looked him up and down “No”

  “Crash and burn” the girl heckled from the pool table.

  “Oh do you know you’ve mortally wounded me”

  “Really” I looked at him and pouted “be careful if you bleed on the floor Doug behind the bar gets really annoyed”

  “Wow you’re quick”

  “Yeah but I bet if I ask your girlfriend I’ll find you’re quicker” I winked I walked by him and pushed open the door

  “Oh my god Ryne
is losing his touch”

  “Ana shut up” he groaned. I walked back in and over to Brit.

  “What was all that about?” she asked handing me a slice of pizza. “He’s cute”

  “Oh you’re obsessed I swear you and Jordan together and no man would be safe” I took a bite of the pizza.

  “You think he’s on vacation” she asked looking round me

  ‘I don’t’ know go ask him if your that interested” I shrugged

  “Hey I have a hot Marine you just have a douche bag rapist cowboy” I stopped with the slice fo pizza half way to my mouth.

  “Really Brit sometimes you have a mouth on you” I put the pizza down

  “Hey, you need to see what he did was wrong” she hissed across the table “Your Dad would go damn AWOL if he knew everything and then he’d shot him a long range and so would Ryder”

  I know that and why do you think I don’t want them to know the whole thing?’ I put my head in my hands “God all I wanted was to get away and think about what I wanted inmy life and now I think I’m going to become a nun” I put my head on the table.

  “Don’t be daft I think you can’t if youo’ve had a cowboy” I looked at her and smiled toyed on her lips

  “You suck”

  “I know and I’m good”

  “Oh TMI” I got up and walked to the bar to grab some napkins “Anyway who told you that?”

  “Marek” she wiggled her eye brows

  ‘So he likes the piercings then”

  “Now that would be telling… but this one made him remember my name” she poked out her tongue

  “EW you’re the freak of the family” I shuddered “You’ve now got what 4 in the ears, one in the tongue and three south of the neck”

  “Yep” she chuckled “You have the ink I have the metal”

  “You’re still a freak” I punched her arm

  “Ow… oh so the mystery man keeps looking over here”

  “Yeah he’s looking at the freak in my family”

  “Yeah you… why a cowboy?”

  “Oh do we have to go back to this again” I groaned

  “Sorry” she held up her hands. “Oh here comes trouble” I looked round as Dad and Uncle Flynn walked in “You know they never look right out of uniform”

  “No they never smell right” I corrected “that dusty, grimy hardworking” I smiled as I closed my eyes a smell that meant Dad was home was something I’d loved forever and a day.

  “Yep I miss it” she sighed

  “Hey you’ve got your own marine if it all works out”

  “I know and I can’t wait for him to meet you”

  “You know I’m going to give him hell right?”

  “He knows I’ve prewarned him he needs the full bomb disposal suit when you get going”

  “We thought you two would be hussling” Uncle Flynn leant over me and picked up a slice of pizza.

  “No just us girls chatting” I smiled Dad lifted my hands.

  ‘Okay so what did you get?” I saw his eyes move up my arms to the finger marks that I couldn’t hide in this shirt.

  “Semper and Fi”

  “Nice” he nodded “You’re Mom’s on her way” he looked at Brit “How much do you know about this jack ass cowboy?”

  “Just I want to kick his ass” she smiled

  “Join the line” Flynn scoffed “Aly why didn’t you pound him into the floor?”

  “Do we have to go through this” I begged “I had a weak moment end of story”

  ‘Okay” dad hugged me tight “Your Uncle’s aren’t happy”

  ‘Have they said anything?” I looked up at him

  “No they’re waiting till you get back and I think it’s taking everything your Uncle Brody has not to use him for target practice”

  “He needs it he’s getting worse” I mused about my Uncles shooting abilities.

  “Okay you grew up with a sniper for a Grandpa and a Dad” Flynn laughed “and now your brother is one so that’s a little unfair to Brody”

  “I guess”

  “Flynn Logan Richardson” we all looked round as Mom and Aunt Riley walked in

  “Shit what did you do to piss of Aunt B” Riley giggled Dad and I backed away as mom walked over

  “What’s going on” she stood in front of him “ I have this over whelming urge to shot someone and I keep feeling sick”

  Oh damn the twin thing” Flynn grumbled “sorry honey” he looked at me “B calm down I’m fine” he turned mom round to face me”

  “What’s going on” mom looked at all of us

  “You want to go for a walk?” I stepped forward the color drained from Mom’s face.

  Chapter 20

  Momma bear

  I turned and headed for the door Ryne smiled at me as I walked by him Mom following me quickly I stepped onto the board walk and waited for her.

  “Aly what’s happened?”

  “You know there’s a cowboy at the ranch”

  “There’s a lot there honey. Are we talking about Justin?” I nodded “Anything to do with these?” she rubbed her hand lightly over the marks on my arm

  “Yes Ma’am” I dropped my head

  “He hit you?” Mom kept her voice low and controlled

  “Yes and no” I sat on the wall she sat next to me “he’d pissed me off and I’d yelled at him and was ready to kill him he just bothered me and you know I don’t shut up when I’m”

  “Mad?” she smiled

  “Yeah he managed to shut me up by kissing me” She raised her eye brows “Yes I kissed him back hell he was good at it”

  “It helps” I smiled at her “But there’s a but isn’t there”

  “We got talking and it got to the subject of Tattoo’s and I showed him the picture of Ryder” I hugged my knees up to my chest “and Justin doesn’t like tats”

  “Well he picked the wrong girl to go after” Mom chuckled

  “I didn’t say anything about mine till last night he wasn’t happy I was heading home he seemed to think that two kisses made an us” I looked at her “I wasn’t there to find a guy Mom… I went to find out if the grass was greener”

  “I know”

  “You know?”

  “Yes honey you’re brother was worried about you and if he’d been here he wouldn’t have said anything but he told me and your Dad about why you’d gone to Texas so quickly” I groaned and hung my head “Don’t be mad with Ryder”

  “I won’t I’ll kill him when he gets home” I looked back at her “Are you and Dad disappointed I wasn’t hunting down a Marine for myself?”

  “Why would we ever be disappointed in you” she held my face in her hands “Alyssa as long as the guy you choose respects you and loves you we don’t give a damn who he is… well unless it’s Joey the pizza guy” I snickered a little “But for a guy to leave marks on you that’s not respecting”

  “Even if I punched him first”

  “Okay he must have done something serious for you to punch him. Io know you have a mean streak honey but you don’t hit unless seriously provoked”

  “We went for a walk and got stuck in a barn when a storm blew in and we got onto the tattoo thing again and he seemed holier than though and that if we were supposed to have stuff on our skin we’d have been born like it” I slipped into the Texan accent making mom laugh.

  “So what did you do?”

  “Took off my shirt”

  “Alyssa”

  ‘I had my bra on” I groaned “I wanted to see his face when he saw the girl he was hitting on was as inked up as her brother”

  “Okay” she said hesitantly

  “So I said that he wouldn’t find it sexy… he grabbed me and kissed me and told me he was trying not to think about them”

  “Honey men’s brains seriously hang between their legs” She chewed her lip “I’m not going to like where this is going am I?” I shook my head

  “He… he was un buttoning my jeans and I stopped him… I swear I st
opped Mom” I swallowed hard “but he kissed me again and told no means no” I couldn’t look at her. The last thing you want to tell your parents is you had sex. Mom’s hands were gripping so hard on the wall her knuckles were white. I went to grab my shirt and he said something about me being feisty and with spirit and the next thing I knew I was over his knee getting my ass spanked”