The McCree's Star Spangled 4th Read Online Free PDF Page A

usual, it was
around seven when he slipped out of the room, but this time I fell
back asleep. It was hard not to spend the night with him again,
especially after what he’d given me. I’d always remember the
fireworks show and how I felt about him.
    Chase left Stinker with me, and around
nine we went down to the kitchen and grabbed some breakfast. It was
time to start cleaning up after the party.
    Millie had stepped out for a few
minutes to help Jerry with something in the yard, when I heard
someone come in the kitchen.
    “ Need help?”
    “ No thanks, Mrs. Carter.
I’ve got it.” I turned on the water and opened the dishwasher.
“Enjoy the rest of your morning before you leave for the
airport.”
    “ Thanks, but I don’t mind.”
She scraped dishes over the trash that had crusted over from being
left out. “I had fun last night.”
    “ I did too,” I smiled, and
for the first time, I felt like we were going to have a nice
conversation. “I’m glad you came.”
    “ Me too. At first I wasn’t
sure about being here, but it’s a nice break from reality,” she
said, stacking more dishes in the sink. “A big ranch in the middle
of nowhere… I can’t blame you.”
    I stared at the soap swirling the
drain, blindsided. “I’m not taking a break from
anything.”
    “ Oh, it’s just us girls.”
She laughed, eyeing the apron I was wearing with an odd expression.
Why dirty my clothes? “You can be honest with me. We’ve all had
trouble with parents and friends and school at some
point.”
    “ That’s not why I’m
here.”
    She blinked, her smile disappearing.
“Briar, this is serious. You just left your home and life. You’re a
child.”
    “ No,” I pulled off the apron
and tossed it on the counter. “I came home. I’ve found my life. I
raised myself, much like Chase, and we stopped being kids a long
time ago.”
    “ Chase did not raise
himself.” She snapped. I’d hit a big nerve.
    “ I’m sorry, but when his
father died it changed him. My parents never paid attention to me.
I’ve been on my own, except for grandma. We know we’re not the
norm, and that’s okay with us.” I said, trying to show her I wasn’t
what she thought I was. I wasn’t a neglected, spoiled rich girl.
“We want you to be okay with us living here, together.”
    “ I’m sure you’ll feel
differently when you’re married to this place. It runs your life. I
got out while I could. I wasn’t ready to be someone’s wife, and I
was too naive and young to be someone’s mother.” She said. “You
should leave. Go home. Grow up and find out what you want before
you end up like I did. A rancher’s wife, with a baby that you
weren’t prepared to have.”
    “ Mrs. Carter,” I lowered my
voice. “I would feel so lucky, and blessed to be Chase’s wife, baby
included. I’d never leave them.”
    I didn’t wait to see or hear her
reaction and ran out into the yard for the barn. I didn’t want to
talk to her or anyone else. Up the ladder, in the loft, I settled
into a corner with one of Ash’s felt blankets and had a good cry.
Crying always made me feel better. It took nothing. Happy tears,
sad tears, excited tears. I was capable of them all.
    But these tears were ones of
frustration and hurt.
    “ What’s going on?” I heard
someone shout from below.
    I peeked over the side and spotted Mac,
one of the hands that worked for the ranch. He was a big guy.
Really stocky and ruddy faced. His mustache curled at the edges,
and he seemed to be perpetually sunburned. “Oh, sorry. I thought I
was alone.”
    “ No, it’s fine.” He climbed
up the ladder to the loft and sat on the edge, dangling his legs
over the side. “Something’s troubling you.”
    I nodded, bringing my knees up to rest
my chin on them. “I can’t seem to change someone’s opinion of me or
why I’m here.”
    “ I see,” he nodded, sticking
a piece of hay in his mouth. “So, do you know why you’re
here?”
    “ Yeah,” it was
obvious.
    “ Then