After we'd gotten on the plane and were up in the air…I sat on my feet in my seat facing Mark and touched his arm bringing him out of Fantasy Land…and said, "Okay, Spill it…where are we going?" Mark looked over and said, "You sure you want to know…cause I know you said you wanted to be somewhere where no one could find you but Jaden right?" I said, "Yea…stop teasing me…Where are we going?" Mark laughed and said, "Houston Texas darlin'…You're going to stay where I can keep an eye on you…what better place then my home…I have a huge ranch there and haven't been back since my ex-wife left…I have a shit load of stuff todo…and you can relax or work out or write…what ever you want for the next 6 months…so, I won't be in your way."
I smiled and said, "Are you serious?" Mark said, "Yup." I said, "Mark…thanks…You do know you don't have to do this, you could force me to just go home…" Mark said, "Hell no…that guy got to you once…and it will be over my dead body if he does it again." I leaned over and kissed Mark's cheek and said, "Thanks…I really appreciate it." Mark said, "It's no problem, I've got plenty of room…and I'm pretty sure the dogs would love the company." I said, "You got dogs? How many?" Mark said, "3…1 Bull Mastiff named Hades, You know the God of the Underworld…and then 2 Rotwieler's, Pain and Panic…who are Hades lackey's…they do what he says…and it's pretty much the same way with the 3 of them also…" I said, "I'll have to introduce you to Salem some time…My black cat…he walks around my apt and thinks he owns the place…" Mark said, "Is someone watching him for you?" I said, "Yea…one of the neighbors has my spare key and feeds him every day…" We talked for a little while longer and then I slept with my head on his arm for the rest of the way.
Mark could smell Erin's shampoo…and just the slightest scent of her perfume and it was so intoxicating…he just wanted to wake her from her beautiful slumber and plant a kiss on her lips she'd never forget…not in a million years.
When we landed in Houston, Mark woke me and we grabbed out stuff and headed out to his huge Chevy truck…it was enormous…it fit Mark perfect…We drove like 20-25 miles out of town and pulled up to a gate and Mark leaned out and punched in the gate code…the gates slowly opened…and he drove in and hit the button for them to close…The road winded a little and then went to right in front of the house…We got out and Mark grabbed our bags and I was just absolutely stunned beyond belief…it was gorgeous…
Mark said, "So what'ca think?" I said, "Its beautiful Mark…I can't believe someone as rough around the edges as you are lives in a place this gorgeous…" Mark said, "All I did was buy the property, have the house, barn and garage built on it…everything else…came with it…" I said, "It's absolutely breath taking…I can't get over it…God I wish Jaden could see this…She's been on anything green…" I was looking at the green fields that just seemed to go on for days…I said, "How many acres?" Mark said, "100, give or take a few."
Mark showed me to my room and said, "My room is right across the hall…if you need anything just let me know…I'm going to go see what's up in this house…" I said, "Okay…I'll unpack and start some laundry." Mark said, "Washer and Dryer are in the basement…its a little dark down there…but don't worry about it…nothing down there will bite you without your permission." I said, "Gee…that just gave me a whole boost of confidence…Thanks a lot Mark…Leave your dirty clothes at the bottom of the stairs I'll grab them on my way down." Mark said, "Okay…Thanks darlin'.."
I went in and grabbed a shower and got changed into some clean clothes…I put on jean shorts, t-shirt that I tied in the front and let and inch or so of my mid-drift show…plus my tenny shoes…I left my hair down…I took off down stairs and started some laundry…then went exploring…to see if I could find Mark in this huge house by my self…I heard an engine start and knew it was the unmistakable sound of a Harley Davidson…I knew that sound anywhere…My dad used to have a couple of them…so I knew what they sounded like…the engine was revved a little…so I followed the sounds of the purring machine…
I walked out the back door and over into the garage…and there was Mark sitting on a stool next to the running Harley…on the other side of about 15 other Harley's…okay my first thought was DAMN…Mark had on black levis, a black sleeveless t-shirt and a black bandana around his head…and his hair pulled back into a tight braid.