Page 48 of Honoring Freedom

"Family comes first," Murph mumbled.

Keller sat quietly, watching the verbal exchange between Freedom and his buddies. Sure, she was used to being around the hands, but that was expected of her. But his buddies, there was no expectation of her to be kind. She could have left at any time, but she seemed genuinely open in learning about each of them, especially Murph’s kid. He gladly shared details and photos of his son.

“Has Keller told you about the heavy bag prank?” Taylor said, sweeping a quick glance toward Keller.

“No, he hasn’t. I’m really interested in hearing more about it though.” Freedom curled up on the sofa, eager to listen.

“I’d be glad to explain.” Taylor eagerly rubbed his hands together. “The grueling final week of training nearly did us all in. We had one last exercise which involved carrying a heavy backpack on a long ruck march. We didn't know the instructors would check our bags, so right before the exercise we stuffed Keller’s bag with two five-pound rocks, thinking he’d find them, toss them, and we'd have a laugh. However, you should have seen the instructor’s face when he unzipped the bag and found those rocks. I don’t think he knew whether he should be angry or laugh. But in hard-ass fashion, the instructor commanded that every soldier pick up a rock from the quarry and put it into their pack. Unfortunately, there were only a couple of light rocks and the rest were as big as a bag of sugar.”

“I thought one of the soldiers would wring Keller’s neck as they filled their bags. Turned out, we all paid for that joke,” Murph said. “Keller was unpopular for the next few weeks because of our stunt.”

“I’m surprised he’s still friends with you all,” Freedom said with a chuckle.

“Hell, he’s played worse pranks on us,” Trace shrugged. “It’s all in good fun.”

Taylor rubbed the back of his neck. “I still haven’t got him back for pouring water in my bed making it look like I pissed myself. I had to do an extra hundred pushups that morning.”

Freedom’s cell phone buzzed and she checked the screen. “Well, fellows, I hate doing this because it has been enjoyable, but I have some business to take care of.” She stood.

“I’ll walk you out.” Keller jumped up from the chair and followed her out. Once they were out of eye and earshot, he snaked his arm around her waist and dragged her against him. “I hope you enjoyed the interrogation,” he whispered next to her ear.

“I did. Immensely.” She pulled back, smiled, and stepped over to her car. “It’s the best entertainment I’ve had in a long time. Especially the amusement prior to the men showing up.”

At her teasing smile his body hardened.Damn her. She knew exactly what she did to him.

She started to climb into her car but she paused as if something weighed on her mind. “This marriage you mentioned, are we talking a secret agreement?”

He lifted a brow. “So, you’re interested?”

“Maybe. Maybe not,” she said smoothly. “I need a marriage certificate not a husband.”

“I’ve never been referred to as a marriage certificate, or a husband.”

She crossed her arms and tapped the toe of her shoe. “I’d want to keep this…” she jutted her chin toward the farmhouse, “going. We have a good thing.”

What the hell was this? Freedom was offering him his cake and allowing him to eat it too. Why did he feel a sting to his pride? Yet, truth was, thinking of another man touching her made his skin crawl. He wanted to be the only lucky bastard that was allowed to kiss and touch her. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.” For some women his statement would ruffle their feathers, but for a woman as confident as Freedom, she simply smiled.

“I’ll be in touch later, cowboy.” She winked and climbed into her car.

He watched her pull onto the country road, and he went back inside. The men had already cracked open beers, except for Murph who was in recovery.

“How in the hell did you find a girl like her?” Trace said around a mouth full of chips.

Keller chuckled. He should deny that Freedom was his girl, but instead, he shrugged. “Good question.” If he had his way, she’d be his wife soon. “How about we stop chitchatting and turn the game on?”

Chapter Eighteen

Three months later

Annual Harvest Picnic at Sagebrush Rose Ranch

“Have you told her?” Freedom looked across the top of her pink cloud of cotton candy at Jinx who looked a bit irritated.

He cleared his throat and feigned interest in spooning a heaping full of Mama June Harper’s famous relish onto his grilled hot dog. “Who?”

“Justice. Have you told her?”

He stepped away from the table with Freedom closely following. “Don’t play matchmaker.” He shoved part of the hot dog into his mouth. “You seem too invested in this.”