Guess what everyone? It's the last chapter.
*Gasp!
Yes I know, sorry to keep it waiting but here it is. Thank you everyone for sticking through with me, I really appreciate it. Just one last thought to go, I own no material recognisable from the G.I Joe franchise, I obtain no profit through this and it is for entertainment purposes only.
Goodbye and thanks again!
Carefully with an arm around Sabrina's waist and the other holding her hand I led her up the steps to the ranch house, her eyes widening further with every step. "You grew up here?"
"Yup." I grinned proudly, opening the door to show her inside. "And this is where you are going to live in peace and plenty with me." Leading her inside she stared around at the front room, tears rising to her eyes. "I was planning on bringing horses back to the ranch since I've always lived around them. There's a mare ready to foal which a good friend of mine is going to give me and I thought you might like to help me raise them."
"I would love to, Robyn, though I don't know anything about horses."
"It's alright, I'll teach you!" I smiled excitedly, practically jumping up and down in my place. "Come on, I'll show you to your room." I had left the wall stripped back so that she could decide who she wanted to decorate but there was a large bed, wardrobe, vanity table and a comfortable sofa by the window for her to read in and look out onto the ranch whenever she wanted. "Maybe tomorrow we'll go into town and buy some more things for you." I suggested, touching the wall. "I'm guessing you don't want dull white as your wall forever." Sabrina began to cry, flinging her arms around me.
"It's perfect. It's too perfect. I keep on thinking that I'm dreaming and I'm going wake up still tied down with needles prodding me all over. Thank you Robyn, thank you, thank you!" I patted her back gently then hugged her too, struggling to keep my tears at bay. When she pulled back she sniffed then smiled. "Can I see the mare and foal?" Excited all over again, I nodded my head and practically flew down the stairs.
"The foal isn't born yet but it should be any day now. Come on! If we run we might be in time for some supper with Ben and Feline."
"They won't mind, will they?" I laughed, grinning as I gripped her hand.
"It's a small neighbourhood, we all just turn up whenever we please and stay for food. You'll get used to it, everyone's friendly. Come on!" We ran over to the next ranch where I called out to Benjamin as he was working on repairing a stall. "Ben! Ben this is Sabrina!"
"Oh! So this is the famous Sabrina. Howdy." He smiled, touching his hat with a nod of his head. "Come to see Magic, have you?" I nodded my head enthusiastically as Sabrina shyly slipped behind me. "Aw now, don't be shy." Ben said as he stepped out of the stall and dusted off his hands. "I don't bite."
"Much." I whispered with a smile. "Magic is over here. Careful, she's a little nervous around strangers." I led he forwards and clucked my tongue, calling for the mare who instantly stuck her head over the stall, reaching out to me with a whicker of greeting. "Hey girl, miss me?" I peered around to her rounded belly then laughed. "You look like you've swallowed a barrel." She snorted at the insult, making Sabrina giggle as she reached up and stroked Magic's neck. "You're good with horses. I can tell already." I informed her quietly as not to startle Magic. "She's not normally this relaxed."
"Perhaps it's because your friend is as sweet and cool as a cucumber." I smiled around to Feline as she approached, dropping her hay nets to open her arms and catch me as I leaped to hug her. "We've missed you pet. How long will you be staying for?"
"Another two weeks. This is Sabrina, she'll be living at the ranch with me so make sure you don't frighten her away." I warned them. "Now, tell me all that's happened?"
"Oh it was strange. After all this kafuffle with those terrorists and then the banks suddenly becoming worthless, we thought we were going to lose the ranch if the economy fell apart again. It was a very strange time indeed." Feline told me, waving a hand in the air. "But it seems to be sorted. I think they managed to revert the damage before it could become permanent."
"Yeah, they stopped printing money the moment the vaults burst." I informed her. "And they cut off all money transitions before reverting the accounts to how they had been just moments before the hyperinflation. Some people lost money but not as much as they would have."
"What is the world coming to? First the threat on our freedom and then they hyperinflation…whatever next? Aliens?" I seriously hoped not. I was too worn out to fight against an invasion from extra-terrestrials. Yawning slightly with a sleepy smile Feline cooed. "Oh you poor dear, you look exhausted. Come inside and have some pie." Instantly I perked up, looking over to Sabrina.
"Told you. Just turn up and you get fed." We followed Feline inside, the smell of steak pie filling my mouth and nose and I inhaled it gloriously. "Ah…I've missed home." I murmured, pulling up a chair.
"So Sabrina, Robyn tells us you were on the streets together. You must have been so brave to keep your head above water." Feline said as she pulled the pie out of the oven. "What do you plan to do now that you're here?"
"I was thinking about going into teaching." Sabrina admitted. "As an assistant. I don't have any qualifications but I thought if I started getting experience, I could then start working towards taking exams." She pushed the jug of homemade lemonade out of the way so that Feline could put down the pie. "And look after the horses whilst Robyn is away, of course. She's going to teach me how."
"We'll teach you much more than that, sweetie, we'll get you riding! Can't live out here without knowing how to ride, it's the best way to get around." Feline smiled at her. "Benjamin and Robyn can give you a few lessons."
"Would that really be alright?" Sabrina asked hopefully, smiling. "I've always wanted to learn how to ride."
"I like the lass already." Benjamin declared, nodding his head. "We'll make a rancher of you yet." Sabrina blushed as she smiled, looking to me as I gave her a secret thumbs up. After the pie and some apple crumble for desert, I linked my arm with Sabrina's and walked her home.
"So what do you think?"
"I think I will be very happy here." She answered, resting her head against my shoulder. "Very happy."
"Good. You deserve it." I informed her, smiling as I leaned my head against hers. "You don't have to worry about anything anymore. I'll protect you from everything."
"I know. Though, I'm still slightly concerned you have guns and weapons hidden around the house. Do you really expect someone to come kicking in the door?"
"You never know." I reasoned diplomatically as the house came into view. "Life is full of surprises." Speaking of which, I was about to receive one only the next day. Sabrina was browsing the stalls for new clothes whilst I waited outside, chewing on a piece of wheat as I tilted my head down so that my hat covered my eyes from the sun, keeping me in shade.
When I heard familiar footsteps approaching, along with his scent, my head shot up. Snake Eyes? He walked towards me, thumbs in his jeans pockets, wearing a damn fine shirt and jacket that made him look so tantalisingly irresistible. He wasn't wearing a mask either. My mouth dropped open as he smirked then came to stand before me.
"What are you doing here?" He signed to me. "You came just to see me? I'll be back in two weeks." Smiling softly I stepped closer to him. "Just can't keep you away, can I?" He shook his head then lifted my hat off my head, dropping it onto his own. Okay, this is unacceptable. He looked every inch the cowboy. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Celine shake Annie-Marie and Feline's shoulders, pointing over to Snake Eyes as he continued to look at me. "I think you're about to get introduced to the entire town. I told them your name was Samuel since I couldn't really tell them your name was Snake Eyes. Was that okay?" He nodded his head then leaned forwards.
His lips brushed against mine and I exhaled softly, my eyes sliding shut as one of his hands rested against my hip and mine curled around his neck as he deepened the kiss. I smirked as I heard Celine gasping then clapping her hands. "We have an audience." I whispered to him, making him chuckle as he pulled away, looking to my left hand which remained on his neck.
He lifted it from him then brushed his lips against my fingers like a true born gentleman. My heart skipped a beat as I blushed. "Okay, you're just showing off now." He grinned then nodded his head. "Did you talk to Jinx?" His smile lessened a little, becoming serious as he nodded his head again. "Is she…okay?" He began to sign a few things. "She was a little upset? Yeah I can see why, but she's okay now? No hard feelings? Oh hell! She's not going to kill me in my sleep is she?"
Snake chuckled then shook his head as he continued. "I know you'd protect me, Snake." I murmured, stepping closer to him as I wound my arms around him and leaned into his muscular chest.
"Alright, you've hogged him long enough. Introductions, immediately!" Celine called as she strode over with Annie and Feline trotting close behind. I giggled then glanced up to Snake Eyes.
"Sam, these are my aunts. Celine, Feline and Annie-Marie." Snake looked up then touched a hand to his chest, nodding his head in greeting. Show off. Celine instantly melted as Annie fluttered a hand in front of her face.
"He's such a chivalrous gentleman! Just like you said." She squealed then placed her hands on her hips, all three of them narrowing their eyes. "Now you listen here, cowboy, you better treat that girl with all the love and respect you have, otherwise you have us and our husbands to deal with and believe me, we all know how to use a shotgun." Snake nodded his head then signed to them. They looked to me for translation.
"He said he'd take good care of me." I relayed then looked up as Sabrina who blinked in surprise to see Snake's arm about my waist. "Sabrina! This is Sam, the guy I was telling you about on our flight over." I said to her with a meaningful look. Sabrina blinked then caught on.
"Oh! I didn't know he was coming here. Hello Sam." She smiled then held out her hand, shaking Snake's who smiled at her warmly. "Will you be coming back to the ranch with us?" He looked down to me for an answer.
"If you'd like." He nodded his head and I smiled up at him. When heavy feet hammered against the ground, my face fell and I looked around, my entire body becoming alert like a hound that smelled the rabbit. Snake tensed slightly, touching my shoulder. "I think you're about to get confronted." I warned him then stepped around, facing Toby Daniels as he strode over, glaring at Snake who instantly became defensive, trying to pull me out of the way but I held firm.
"Get your hands off her!" Toby snarled at Snake who only stepped closer to me, narrowing his eyes. "She's not for the likes of strangers like you!"
"Toby, don't be stupid." Celine warned him nervously, glancing to me then back to the man who had become incredibly territorial at the new threat, which was Snake Eyes. "You don't want to get into a fight with this one."
"Why not?" He demanded, cracking his muscles. "He's touching my girl." Snake tried to shoot forwards but I whirled around and pressed my hands against his chest, forcing him to keep still.
"Don't, I'll handle it." I told him softly, brushing my fingers against his face to calm him down. Everyone began to back away, watching with concern as Toby began to pace before me, rolling up his sleeves to expose the extensive muscle and various scars from other fights.
"Stay out of this Robyn, let us men fight it out."
"I won't let you. All you ever do is fight for the sake of fighting, even when you were a kid." I placed a hand on my hip and narrowed my eyes, hearing Celine whisper to one of the younger lads.
"Go get the sheriff." His feet pounded away, throbbing in my ears as I turned my attention back to Toby.
"I'm warning you. Get out of my way." I refused to move. Toby growled then strode forwards, reaching out to grab me and forcibly move me aside but I grabbed his wrist and turned it over, locking his arm so that he cried out and fell to his knees. "Let go!"
"No." I snorted. "Not until you promise to leave us well alone. I'm not your girl and I never will be." He looked up with dark eyes.
"We'll see about it." Why are men so damn possessive? Oh well. As Toby reached out to try and swipe my legs out from beneath me I let go of his arm and vaulted over him, waiting until he had risen to his feet and turned before kicking him in the gut with a single, doubling over kick. Toby grunted, clutching his stomach before looking up and whistling.
Several other men appeared, leaping out of a truck and gripped their wrenches and bats, slapping them against their palms in an attempt to look menacing. Now Snake pushed me behind him, facing them down without even batting an eyelid. I smirked. This was going to be fun.
Toby yelled and tried to tackle Snake around the middle but he spun out of the way, leg hitting him so hard in the face that he was flung onto his back. I ducked under a wrench, keeping my arms in a boxing stance before hitting the guy in the kidneys three times in quick blows, tucking and spinning out of the way to then sweep out my leg and knock another guy flying.
Snake was now surrounded so I slid along the ground between their legs then rose up, the circle pushing back as they surrounded us. "Get him!" Toby yelled and led the charge. Snake and I fought back to back, our ninja skills coming into practice as our hands, bodies and feet blurred. Pretty soon we'd taken down the less experienced and clumsy guys who thought they could take us on.
Snake and I turned at the same time, gripping each other's hand before kicking out in a scissor kick, knocking out the last two guys before Snake turned me to face him, lifting me up then spun me around so that I could knock Toby out with a final blow. As I landed Snake lifted my hand elegantly twirling me on the spot before bending down and hoisting me up into his arms, smirking.
"Oh! It's so romantic!" Feline whispered, fluttering a hand before her flustered face. My hands curled around Snake's neck as he carried me from the groaning men still beaten down on the ground. His eyes never left mine.
Completely forgetting that everyone else was watching us I closed my eyes and leaned forwards, meeting his mouth in a gentle caress before smiling softly and pulling back, my eyes still closed as I savoured the contact before opening them.
"I love you." I murmured to him and his smile lifted a little further, gazing at me as his eyes replied with all I needed to know. With Snake carrying me back to the others I rested my head against his shoulder, perfectly at ease with everything in my life. I had my man, I had my sister, my home and soon, I'd have an entire herd of horses roaming my lands again, kicking up their hooves and tossing their manes into the wind with their cries echoing across the mountains.
Snake looked to me, placing a gentle kiss against the side of my face, lingering as everyone around us all whispered and gossiped about the fight, proclaiming it to be the best that had ever happened in the town. "Snake? You know I was thinking about not going back to the Joes after my enlistment ends." He said nothing but looked at me, waiting for me to finish. "Because I wanted to be here, home, where I could finally settle down and start a new life." I explained in a quiet voice so that no one would hear us. "But I've realised…I wouldn't be happy, not without you there."
His fingers began to play with my hair, running the locks through with gentle caress. "So I'll go wherever you go. I'll stay here, go back to the base, leave for Japan, anything, so long as you want me there." He mouthed a single word to me.
Always.