Tamed and Free

Chapter 3: Gatlin

Gatlin's heart was skipping beats when she first that noticed the new guy that the McAnister's had working for him. His perfectly brown beard was just enough to hide his skin but wasn't past his neck. His muscular build proved he had to know his way around a farm. His deep blue eyes looked like night sky. Gatlin's knees went weak when she heard his thick accent.

She threw Beau's food into the back of the Wrangler. Her and Beau climbed into it and she sighed to calm her nerves. She pet her dog and smiled. "All I really need is you bud." She pulled her sunglasses off the necklace and started the jeep. They pulled out the parking lot and on the road heading towards the farmer's market. "Two things down. Your food and the loan. Now on to food for me and I may look into a new dream catcher. Then, the car insurance and rent." She smiled to herself, "Who would have thought at sixteen, I would be all on my own?"

Gatlin found her a spot to park when she got to the farmers market. Her and Beau got out and she did add a leash to him this time. she pulled a folded cart out of the back seat and unfolded it. They walked through all the outside. Gatlin picked out corn, strawberries, a watermelon, canary fruit, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and so much more for her home. They walked to a hunter's booth and she picked out her meats, mainly deer. They walked through the inside and saw all the booths of people selling crafts they make, resellers, people cleaning out their homes, small business before they get a store front. They also walked past people selling fresh lemonade, doughnuts, and boiled peanuts, as well as homemade jams, butters, and lotions. They picked up some local honey and homemade dog treats.

Gatlin walked to a booth selling products from Mexico. A girl with long black hair in pig tail braids and dark skin, dressed in a huipil came up to Gatlin. "Now, you know you're in the wrong native part, right?" The girl asked her.

"Merida. I was just seeing what your culture could offer." Gatlin answered her.

They both laughed as Gatlin led Beau and the cart to the back of Merida's Cherokee. The girls both let Beau climb up and then they sat down together. "I'm guessing food day?" Merida said while pointing at the now full cart.

"Saturday's are always food day." Gatlin answered her. "I just love the freshness of the food here."

"And to see me on Saturdays, Right?" Merida picked.

Gatlin watched Merida sell some of her own products. Merida's parents were from Mexico and they travel back and forth selling souvenirs from both Mexico and America. Merida stays at their two bedroom apartment in the town part of their small town in South Carolina. She was the hand that picked Gatlin up after the fight with Ashley and her change.

"You know it. I was actually wondering if you have talked to Takoda. I want to get one of those huge dream catchers for one of my living walls."

"I did earlier. He wasn't coming out today but I was going to head to his place in about an hour if you want to meet me back here. I know this is the first of the month so its bill day." She hands one of her customers a bag for their items.

Gatlin smiled. She hadn't been out with friends in a while. "Sure thing. I'm going to head on then." She told her friend as she picked up a piece of Mexican chocolate, "and I'm stealing this." She added.

Gatlin made her way to the driveway of her mama's house and stopped. There were about five other cars in the driveway that weren't her mama's, step dad's, or sister's. She got out of the car and told Beau to wait in the car. Gatlin made her way to the door and opened it.

The house was filled with her new step dad's friends. All drinking beer and watching the hockey game on TV. Her sister was in the den with all of her friends drinking and dancing. She found her mama in the kitchen.