Once was lost but saved by a cowboy

More bullies and an unsettling discovery

Sierra's pov

I get to school and Tate is waiting for me at the door. I smile and walk over to him. We walk to class together then I feel a tug on my shirt. I turn around as someone pulls me back. It's popular priss Sarah Davis. She stands over me with a proud smirk. I go back to the talk me and dad had. Punch a bully in the nose if he crosses the line. I'm this close to it. "Ha ha! Such a dork!" She taunts. Her and her friends laugh. I dust myself off, frustrated. One more chance, next time I'm decking her. "Come on Tate let's just go." I hear them high fiving each other. Tate wraps an arm around my shoulders. "I'm sorry people pick on you. I wish they didn't. You're such a nice person." I smile through the tears. "Thanks that means alot." Tears fill my eyes and he hugs me. I rest my head on his shoulder. "It's okay Sierra, I've got you." He kisses my head.

*after school*

Jason's pov

Sierra walks inside, looking upset again. I turn the movie off that Bryson was watching since he's asleep. I follow her into her room. "Are you okay, Sierra?" She lays in the bed, her back to me. "I'm fine." Something tells me that's not true. I sit on the edge of her bed. "Come on darlin', you know you can tell me anything right?" She starts crying and hugs me. I hug her back and ask again what happened. "The girls at school won't stop picking on me. I'm sick of it!" As much as I don't want to encourage Sierra to get in a fight, she needs to stand up for herself and not let them bully her. "Sierra, we need to have a serious talk." I say, standing up and holding her hand. "What about?" "Let's get a snack then talk." We talk over milk and cookies. "Are these girls physically bullying you?" "Yeah they've been throwing me to the ground every chance they get." My hands tense up in anger. "Ok this is what you should do, the next Tims they physically bully you and I mean only physically you knock 'em clear across the face, prove 'em you mean business, cause you're my little girl and I can't stand even for a second that my girl is being hurt, you understand?" "Just punch them?" She stares at me dumbfounded. "Yeah, do whatever you have to do to show you ain't a girl to be fucked with." "I don't know daddy,I'm not a very strong girl." I put a hand on her shoulder. "Yes you are. Cause you're an Aldean, and we don't take shit from nobody. You jut gotta let loose, don't hold back. Got it?" She smiles and nods. "Got it!" "Good, oh and don't tell your mama I encouraged you to fight, she'd have my ass." She laughs and drinks the rest of her milk. "Okay, thanks." "Of course sweetheart." I hug her then she goes to her room. I get to washing the dishes when Miranda comes home. "Jason?" "In the kitchen, babe!" She walks in with a worried look on her face. I turn the water off and turn around to her. "What is it, hun?" "I..... I found a lump on my breast." My hands tense up. First thought in my mind is breast cancer. "D-Did you get it checked out yet?" "No, I just found it today." "We better set up an appointment then." She starts crying. I hug her tightly. "It's gonna be okay baby, we'll get through this. You're strong." "I'm so scared. I don't want to die. I want to watch my babies grow up! This isn't fair!" "I know it's not fair. None of it is." I rub her back comfortingly. Breast cancer runs in her family. That just makes it ten times more scary.