~ Mine ~

You Lie (Alternate)

- Alternate Beginning - 

"Brandon hand me that bag of peanuts please." Reba McEntire said to her step-son as she went to sit back down on the couch next to her husband Narvel.

"Sure." Brandon said as he went to hand his step-mom the bag of nuts; his eyes still fixated on the flat screen TV in front of him.

"What's the score?" Reba whispered to her husband, as a handful of nuts went into her mouth.

"I thought you weren't feeling well." Kelly interjected as she peered across from the other side of Brandon, watching as Reba went to eat another large handful of nuts.

"When has that stopped her before?" Brandon snorted questioningly; breaking his concertation from the football game as he looked to the side at his girlfriend.

"Hey!" Reba said in a teasingly hurt tone as nudged her now giggling husband.

"Boy's got a point there babe." Narvel said as he slightly raised his hands in defense.

"Meemaw!" Savannah yelled as she came bounding into the room; before Reba had the chance to respond to her family's taunts.

"Nickelodeon is finally ready for me to ride."

"Will you take me down to Starstruck Farms?" She asked with a wild smile as she pulled lightly on Reba's gray sweater, urging her grandmother to say yes.

"Uh... Yeah, of course, sweetheart, I'd love too!" She said with a sweet smile.

"Really?!"

"I have the best grandma!" Savannah shrieked, kissing Reba on the cheek before running off to get her riding gear from her room down the hall.

"I thought you weren't feeling well?" Narvel questioned with a concerned smirk.

"I'm really not..."

"But can you say no to that face?" Reba asked shyly as she set the bag of peanuts on the granite coffee table in front of her.

"I can tell Sav I'll take her tomorrow; I don't want you overdoing it." Brandon urged as pushed a few of the couch cushions off his lap, standing up and stretching out his stiff shoulder. Kelly nodded in agreement as she peered over; making sure Savannah wasn't already on her way back to the living room.

"No really, I can manage."

"The doctor said it was a just a mild case of the flu."

"Five days ago!" She said stressing the amount of time it had been since she'd visited the doctor.

"I was great yesterday, I'll be even better today." She said with a reassuring smile as she stood up, gathering her things behind her.

"How about I come along?" Kelly asked looking up at Brandon for his approval.

"Really, Ma I can take her tomorrow." Brandon said, momentarily ignoring Kelly's inquiry.

"Kelly I would love that and I already said yes."

"No need to worry." She said as she patted her stepson's shoulder softly, extending out her hand to Kelly, who was still sitting on the loveseat next to Narvel. Grabbing her hand with a smile Kelly stood and pecked Brandon on the cheek.

"Why don't you boys do something with Seth?"

"Make an afternoon of guy time?" Reba questioned as she pecked her own husband's lips, matching his grin as they pulled away.

"A little guy time never hurt." Brandon said raising a playful eyebrow as he watched Kelly and Reba round the corner.

~~~~~

"Savannah Joan look at you go!" Reba yelled in amazement as she watched her granddaughter pull back the reigns, slowly bringing Nickelodeon to a halt. Running her fingers through his mane, Savannah smiled before trotting over to the fence where her grandmother and Kelly stood.

"We've been riding so much these past few months and Nick has learned so much!" Savannah mused excitedly as she slipped off the side of her horse, pulling him behind her.

"Honey those lessons are doing you justice and then some." Reba said as she brushed her hand up against Nick's neck, giving him a tender rub. Kelly watched from behind, staring at another rider from the farms who ran through the obstacles set up behind the fences.

"You and Nick are looking amazing!" Kelly agreed as she moved closer to Reba, smiling down at Savannah.

"Thanks, Kelly!" Savannah smiled as she pulled on Nickelodeon's reigns, motioning for him to follow her towards the barn. Kelly and Reba followed closely behind; waving to a few of the employee's that walked by with the barn's other horses. Reba paused momentarily when they made it to the entrance of the barn, running a hand over her face.

"You comin' in Red?" Kelly asked as she peered behind her shoulder, noticing Reba stall before the barn entrance.

"Yeah, just the smell, I guess I forgot how strong it was." Reba replied with a strained chuckle; crinkling her nose as she continued to follow behind Kelly and Savannah.