By the time Sonny and the team reached Yemen and managed to get some quiet time, it had been four days since they had left VA Beach. Four days that had gone by in a flash, at least for them, he wasn't too sure it was the case back home and they all had suffered from not being there for Thanksgiving or reaching out to their families. Heck, they hadn't even had anything close to Thanksgiving either.
He entered his barrack after having removed his tactical gear, showered, and changed into more relaxed attire. It was late evening and he opened up his computer to call Emily on Skype.
It rang a couple of times and Emily picked up. His eyes lit up the minute he saw her. She was wearing a t-shirt and a plaid button-down shirt. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she was wearing his cap with Texas State on it, and had a bit of hay and dirt on her face.
"Hey beautiful," he said.
"Hey stranger," she answered back.
"You look like you're ready to go honky tonk on me," he said amused and smiling.
He then heard the moo of a cow and looked at the screen puzzled. She moved and he saw a herd of cattle behind her.
"Where are you?" he asked confused.
"I'm with your dad at his ranch," she said softly.
"Em, what's going on?"
"Your father broke his ankle. That's why he couldn't come. I called him to say hello the night you left, and he told me."
"What? Why didn't he tell me?"
"Babe, I don't know. I think he didn't want to trouble you."
"But he told you."
"I guess he didn't think I'd come down and help him."
"Is it that bad?"
"No, he's doing OK. He obviously has a cast and is out for a couple of weeks, but one of the guys that works at the ranch, stopped coming and he was a farmhand short."
"You went to help my dad?"
She smiled. "Well, yeah. You would have come help him if you weren't away. We're a family, so it was only natural that I came out here to help him, anyway I could."
"What about Thanksgiving?"
"Well, Zoe wanted to spend it with Jacob and Julia wanted to be with her friends, so I let them head back to Brown. Your father and I had a nice dinner for Thanksgiving."
Sonny was at a loss of words. How could he ever show her how grateful he was? "Is my father giving you a hard time?"
"What? No. He's charming and it's nice to finally meet him and spend time with him. I also met Hannah. She stops by every day and brings us something to eat from time to time."
He pinched his lips and she noticed. It made her smile.
"What? You think because I met one of your ex-girlfriends that I'm going to give you a hard time? She's a great person and I think she's trying to convince me that you are great guy. As if I didn't know that already and needed convincing."
"Is that Percival?" he heard his dad's voice ask.
"Yes," she answered Emmet. "Hang on a second," she said to Sonny as he saw her walk. "He's on the front porch."
A minute later, Emily put his father on the screen.
"Hey Pops, are you alright?"
"Now son, don't you worry about me, I'm in good hands. Emily is taking good care of me and has everything here under control. You sure picked a hard-working and amazing woman, you know that?"
"Yeah Pops, I know. I wish I could be there to help you."
"You focus on what you need to do. We've got it covered. I'm proud of you son."
"Thanks Pops."
"I love you son."
"Me too Pops."
Sonny looked up at and noticed Ray leaning against the doorframe.
"Hey Pops, I've got to go, can you put Emily back on for a minute?"
"She's right here," answered Emmett as he showed Emily sitting next to him on one of the patio chairs.
"Baby I've got to go. I don't know how long it'll be before I can call you again or how long we'll still be here."
"Don't worry. I'll stay with your dad for as long as needed. You be safe out there and say hi to Eric and the guys for me."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you more."
Generally, he never answered, but not this time.
"I think that's impossible, because I love you more than you can possibly imagine."
Emily's eyes teared up, not with sadness, but on the contrary with joy and love. She nodded and put an end to the call.
Sonny closed his computer and looked at Ray.
"Emily is at your father's ranch?"
"Yep. What did I do to deserve her?"
Ray smiled. "I think she may be asking herself the same question when it comes to you. Just take the win, brother, stop asking yourself so many questions. When it's good, it's good."
"Do you know where Eric is?" asked Sonny.
"I think he's in TOC. You coming for dinner?"
"I'll meet you guys there. I've got something to do first."
"Sure," said Ray as he nodded and walked out with Sonny following behind him.
Ray watched as Sonny headed for TOC.