In last week's episode of Don't Look Back, Marshall and Lee continue their trip to San Antonio with some fun in the hotel room. Today they visit and church at the Alamo, and then Lee has a surprise for Marshall. Don't forget to see what the other Briefers are up to. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!
Marshall and Lee rose early the next morning, pausing just
long enough to enjoy a quick cup of coffee before heading to the Alamo church.
Few tourists were about yet. They left an offering in the basket by the door,
lit two candles, then selected an empty pew and knelt, each man becoming lost
in his own thoughts.
Marshall refused to think about the period of his captivity
with his mother unless it was absolutely necessary, which it generally wasn’t.
He preferred to remember his reunion with Lee instead. Lee and Roy spent
several days on the road, once they had Marshall with them, moving from motel
to motel. Once they were sure they weren’t being followed, they headed to
Burnham, Texas, and the home Lee had made for Marshall.
At first, Marshall slept in a room of his own. But every
night, bad dreams ravaged his sleep. He woke up screaming for Lee, and then he
ended up being taken into Lee’s bed for the rest of the night. Finally, he just
slept there, with Lee. Like when he was a kid. He felt more secure with Lee’s
arms around him. Less afraid his mother was coming to get him.
Roy gave up being a private investigator. Over the five
years he’d spent working for Lee, searching for Marshall, they’d become close
friends, and Roy stuck with them, even after Marshall’s rescue. Burnham was too
small a town to support a private eye, but they had a need for a sheriff, and
Roy filled that need. It took little persuasion to convince the mayor he could
handle the job.
Every time they went to the Alamo, Marshall gave thanks for
Roy being able to find him, and for their removing him from an abusive
situation. And most of all he gave thanks for Lee in his life.
Lee slipped his hand over Marshall’s. It was warm and
comforting. Marshall opened his eyes to find Lee’s gaze upon him. His heart
warmed at the sight. I love you,
Marshall mouthed, and Lee repeated the sentiment back to him.
They rose, hand in hand, and left the church to the
wide-eyed wonder of the newly arrived tourists, then walked the short distance
to the garage, to retrieve their car. After that, they did some shopping. First
for computer parts they needed for their business, which they had shipped to
the house, then for clothes for each of them. Afterward, they ate lunch at a
small Mexican cantina. Marshall loved the smell of fresh cilantro that
permeated the air, and the earthy scent of cumin and roasted peppers.
Marshall ordered the hottest item on the menu.
“Sure you can handle that?” Lee drawled, eyebrows
skeptically raised.
“Of course, I can!” Marshall assured him. “Why do you think
I can’t? Been eating hot peppers for years, as you damn well know.”
“Well, maybe because these are ghost peppers, not jalapenos.
But it’s your stomach.”
Marshall stuck his tongue out at Lee. Lee only laughed, and
ordered a big vanilla milkshake to go with lunch.
“Why?” Marshall asked curiously.
“You’ll see,” is all Lee would say.
When their food arrived, Marshall toughed it out as long as
he could, insisting he could handle it. But the ghost chilies set his insides
on fire, and no matter how much water he drank, nothing quenched the flames.
Until Lee handed him the milkshake and told him to drink, and Marshall began to
feel as though he might actually survive the experience.
After that, Marshall ate his food a little more cautiously,
and managed to finish it all. As they got into their car, he asked. “How’d you
know the milkshake would work?”
Lee grinned. “Been there, done that,” he said before he
leaned in and kissed Marshall. Marshall felt a little less chagrined after
that.
To Marshall’s surprise, they didn’t return to the Crockett
right away. Instead, Lee turned the car into a parking lot Marshall didn’t
recognize. Neon letters in the front window proclaimed the name of the
establishment as Flying Free. Once
they parked and walked inside, there was little mystery as to what went on
there.
“A hair salon?” Marshall glanced at the colorful
surroundings. The walls were covered with pictures of gorgeous men. Customers
of both sexes sat at various hair stations, being attended by chic stylists.
“A hair salon, yup. You’re an observant one,” Lee teased.
Marshall’s face heated.
“Lee!” A slender man with a full head of gloriously white
hair came toward them, hands outstretched. “I’m so glad you came!”
“Told you I would next time we were in town, Carlisle.” The
smaller man pulled Lee into a quick hug before turning to Marshall.
“And this must be Marshall!” he declared. “He’s every bit as
handsome as you said, Lee. And such beautiful hair.”
Marshall felt his cheeks heat even more.
“This is Marshall,” Lee confirmed. “Marshall, this is
Carlisle Chambers. He owns this place. I did some computer work for him before
you joined the company, and he’s been wanting me to bring you in, ever since I
told him about you.”
Marshall was flattered. Both at the interest the hair
stylist was taking in him, and at Lee’s obvious pride in him. He held out a
hand to Carlisle. “Pleased to meet you,” he began, but suddenly found himself
drawn into a welcoming hug.
“The pleasure is all mine, sweetheart!”
From this proximity, Marshall could see how the strands of
Carlisle’s hair were almost pearlescent, rather than simply white. The effect
was rather stunning.
Carlisle released him and stepped back, his lips drawn into
a bemused grin. “You didn’t tell him, did you, Lee? You sly dog, you!”
“Nope, wanted it to be a complete surprise.”
“Wanted what to be a complete surprise?” Marshall glanced
between the two men.
“I am personally going to take care of you today!” Carlisle
declared. “Lee said to give you the works.”
Marshall wondered just what that meant.
to be continued
Now go visit the rest of the Briefers!
No comments:
Post a Comment