Two long and busy weeks came to a close and found Gypsy packing her bags and heading to the airport with Sadie and her family to take a private flight to Bozeman, Montana. Gypsy stepped down from the plane, looked around at her surroundings, and took a deep breath as she smiled. Gypsy followed Sadie and Hank to the waiting chopper for the short flight from Bozeman to Eagle Rock where Sadie lived. Gypsy was really looking forward to her two weeks of relaxation and doing nothing for once in a very long time. Half an hour later, the group got off the chopper. The girls headed into the house while Hank conversed with the pilot.

“Welcome to my humble abode, Gypsy, please make yourself at home. I really hope you enjoy it here. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want, even more than the two weeks you’ve planned. Lord knows you’ve earned these two weeks and more,” Sadie laughed as she sat back on the couch with a sleeping Emily on her chest.

“Thanks, Sadie. But I don’t think I can afford more than the two weeks. I’m already getting calls to be on set for the next film, so don’t tempt me with longer,” Gypsy laughed.

“Evening, Mrs. Patterson, everything checks out in the house. Anything I can do for you?”

“Hi Jerry, no I’m good. How are you liking everything so far?” Sadie asked the newest recruit to the Brotherhood Protectors.

“I’m doing good, Mrs. Patterson. It’s been an adjustment, but Hank has made it easier. Ladies, have a good day.” Jerry “Elmo” Davidson nodded toward Sadie and Gypsy with a warm smile.

“Jerry, this is Gypsy. She’s a friend of mine from Los Angeles. Gypsy, this is one of the newest recruits to the Brotherhood Protection agency, Jerry.” Sadie introduced Gypsy and Jerry to each other with a huge smile on her face.

Jerry reached out to shake Gypsy’s hand, to which she just looked at his hand. “Hi, Jerry.” Gypsy kept her hands in her back pockets, refusing to shake hands with him.

Jerry lowered his hand and just nodded his head with a quiet hi back to Gypsy. “Have a good day, ladies.”

Gypsy became a little uncomfortable after that display. “Um, which room am I going to be in? Are you sure it’s ok for me to stay here? I have no issues getting a hotel room,” Gypsy started rambling.

“Gypsy, it’s ok. I promise there’s plenty of room here for you. Are you ok? I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable introducing you to Jerry.”

“No, it’s ok, Sadie. I just get really nervous around new people. I always have. It’s no biggie. Really. If you can just tell me which room I’m staying in, then I can take my bags up and put everything away so they’re not in anyone’s way.”

Gypsy grabbed her bags and headed upstairs to her room that she was going to be staying in. Gypsy has always been nervous in crowds of people, but usually did ok when she was with or around someone she knew when meeting new people, but usually those were women. Gypsy had more difficulty in a room with men and tended to become uncomfortable around them. Above all, she never talked about her past with anyone.

Gypsy walked into the room Sadie showed her, shutting the door and looking around. Her room was homey, consisted of a nice queen size bed with blue covers and pillows, a few pictures on the wall, and a nice large window with a vista of the nearby mountains. Gypsy felt at peace in this room, something she hasn’t felt strongly in other people’s homes or hotels in a long time, not even her apartment in Los Angeles.

Along one wall, near the window, stood a large dresser with a large mirror that ran the length of the dresser and up the wall. Gypsy placed her bags on the bed and walked over to the mirror and stared at her reflection. At twenty-six years of age, she always looked younger than she was. She had long dark hair she constantly wore up in a messy bun to keep it out of her way while she worked. She often considered cutting it a time or two but could never bring herself to do it. She was 5’4”, toned arms with slight muscle tone from working out. She got into CrossFit and Krav Maga six years ago when she started living on her own. She knew better than most that life wasn’t all roses. She worked her ass off to get the strength and determination that she now possessed.

Despite her dark hair and tan, most were surprised at her green/gold eye color. Most thought she was Hispanic or a foreigner, but in truth, she was as American as pie. Her mother was Irish and her father was Italian. She took after her father more, hence the dark hair and easily tanned skin, but got her mother’s eyes, nose, mouth, and temper. She still talked to her mother every once in a while, but didn’t go to see her parents as often as she could. Gypsy mentally calculated that it’d been four years since her last visit; she had a hard time going home and reliving bad memories.

Gypsy put her clothes away in the closet and drawers then placed her k-bar knife under her pillow - she never traveled anywhere without it. Gypsy placed her e-reader on the nightstand since she had a couple of books she wanted to read during her down time. Gypsy looked over the room to make sure she had everything put away and there was nothing else for her to do, then headed back downstairs to find Sadie.

Walking into the kitchen after, she didn’t see Sadie in the living room or den. Gypsy ran into Hank at the counter marinating steaks and chicken. “Hi Hank, where did Sadie go?”

“Hey. She’s upstairs putting Emily down for a nap. I’m gonna grill some steak and chicken. A couple of the guys are coming over for a cookout, as well as my sister and Swede. Steak or chicken?”

“Oh, um, either one is fine. I’m not picky. Need me to help with the salad or some sides? I can make a mean salad, so I’m told.” Gypsy smiled.

“Sure, the stuff for the salad is in the refrigerator over there. And the knives and rest of the stuff is over here.” Hank pointed everything out for Gypsy.

Gypsy got the makings for the salad out of the refrigerator and starting making the salad for everyone. Having gotten Emily down, Sadie joined them in the kitchen. Seeing everyone fast at work preparing food, she got potatoes and aluminum foil to wrap up for the grill. Thirty minutes later their guests started arriving just as everything on the grill was finished.

Sadie and Hank introduced Gypsy to everyone as they arrived and started sitting down at the large outside picnic table. Gypsy sat between Sadie and her sister-in-law Allie. She felt so out of place and uncomfortable with everyone ribbing each other and laughing, but refused to let it show. Seeing this, Sadie and Allie made an effort to keep Gypsy in the conversation. Hank and the men had their own loud and boisterous conversations about past assignments and their friendly military jokes toward each other.

Gypsy noticed the man from earlier get up and excuse himself to the restroom. She didn’t understand why, but her eyes followed him. For some reason, she always seemed aware of Jerry and his movements ever since Sadie had introduced them earlier that morning. Ten minutes later, Jerry returned with a large envelope that he handed to Hank.

“Hey Hank, your mail lady just delivered your mail since word got back to her that you and Sadie were home.”

“Thank, Elmo. Um Gypsy, this is actually for you,” Hank stated as he handed the envelope to Gypsy.

“Are you sure, Hank? I never told anyone where I was going. No one has reason to send me mail.” Gypsy took the envelope, confused, missing Sadie’s worried look to Hank. Gypsy opened the envelope and saw the letter inside with block letters pasted onto a white sheet of paper, which made sure that the origin of the letter was hard to trace. Gypsy gasped as she looked at the content of the letter.

YOU CAN TAKE THE WHORE OUT OF THE WHOREHOUSE, BUT YOU CAN NEVER STOP A WHORE FROM BEING A WHORE. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE, WHORE!

Gypsy threw the letter down, got up from the table, ran to the nearest bushes, and threw up. Sadie and Allie ran to help her as Hank, Jerry, and Swede gathered around to examine the letter and envelope it came in. There was no return address on the envelope, and the paper was

generic. Regaining her composure, Gypsy walked back to the table with Sadie and Allie at her side.

“Gypsy, who have you told about coming here? Are you sure no one knew you were coming?” Sadie asked Gypsy as she rubbed her back.

“No one, Sadie. I have no one to tell. My agent who helps me with jobs only knows I took two weeks of vacation time. I didn’t tell her with whom or where. My parents don’t know that I’m on vacation so that I don’t get the guilt trip into going home since it’s been four years since my last visit. I learned the hard way not to talk about anything,” Gypsy said with fear in her eyes but steel in her voice.

Sadie held onto Gypsy’s hands. “It’s okay, Gypsy. We’re here for you.”

“Can you think of anyone who might be angry at you?” Hank asked as he looked at the note then at Gypsy.

Gypsy laughed a cold heartless laugh. “Hank, in Hollywood, everyone has enemies just from existing. I have enemies because Sadie is the hottest thing there and she chose me, a nobody, out of everyone with years of experience in the industry to do her makeup for her movies and photo shoots. I was a nobody who got lucky because her roommate happened to brag at an industry party that I did her makeup and hair. The right people heard and took notice. Shit just rolled uphill from there. So yeah, I have enemies.”

“No Gypsy, those are just jealous people. What about the actress from the previous film? Didn’t you have issues with her?” Sadie asked curiously.

“Well yeah, but it wouldn’t warrant this. She’s just a childish little cow who didn’t like being put in her place. She made threats but she’s too self-absorbed to do this type of shit. You know how she is. You’ve worked with her before.” Gypsy shrugged, looking at Sadie.

Sadie sighed, “You’re right, she is. Sorry, I was thinking she might have been petty enough to have hired someone, but you’re right, she’s too self-centered for this kind of thing. She’s more likely to go off in an interview, if reviews are bad.”

“Anyone else? What about your past, Gypsy? No one throws up like that over a note unless they have a genuine reason to fear something,” Jerry said harshly.

“Jerry, that was out of line. Gypsy is not a whore. She doesn’t even feel comfortable in Hank’s presence unless I’m in the same room, or at least nearby within shouting distance,” Sadie fumed.

“Sadie, it’s ok. Jerry does have a point. How much do we really know about Gypsy?” Hank said hesitantly to his wife.

Sadie started to speak up, but Gypsy beat her, “Sadie, it’s fine. Hank is right. No one here knows anything about me. I don’t talk about myself or my past. I didn’t grow up with a fucking silver spoon in my hand like you guys did.” Gypsy stood up and walked away without a backward glance.