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Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

CASH

Being a single dad of two little ones, I try to come in from the fields at a decent time. My mom watches them and fixes dinner for us while I work, but the ranch is time consuming. I can’t expect her to spend all her time taking care of my kids when she shouldn’t have to.

Walking into the house, the smell of dinner cooking makes my stomach growl. This morning, Mom fixed me and the farmhands breakfast, and that’s the last time I ate.

“Daddy, Grandma made your favorite. Pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. I helped her cook,” Bailey says proudly.

Brooks, not to be outdone, adds, “I set the table and helped make dessert.”

I get washed up for dinner and sit at the table with my two children. Bailey and Brooks are six and seven years old, respectively. Bailey looks more like her mama every day.

“How was your day, Cash?” my mom asks.

“Fine. It’s almost time to inseminate the cows. My days are going to become longer until breeding season is over. I’ve been thinking, maybe I should find a nanny to take care of the kids.”

“Shush. I won’t hear of it, Son. My grandkids are no trouble for me, and you shouldn’t waste your money paying a stranger to watch them.”

“Mom, you’re in the best stage of your life. You shouldn’t be stuck here taking care of my kids.”

“Daddy, why did our real mama leave us?” Bailey asks, unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

“She didn’t like us, Bailey, and she’s a bitch,” snaps Brooks.

“Watch your mouth, Son.” I glare at Brooks, hoping that’s enough to shut him up. He overheard his mother when she was leaving, and he isn’t lying. She said she didn’t enjoy having kids.

“Your mom loved you both, but she wanted to do other things like have a career. You can’t do that out here on a ranch in the middle of nowhere.”

Bailey still cries herself to sleep because she misses her mother, but Brooks is just pissed off. His anger is becoming a problem, and I don’t know how to address it.

Brooks won’t let it go. “Bailey, she’s been gone for over a year and hasn’t so much as called us. You need to forget her. She’s not coming back.”

My mother can’t stand my ex, Becky. The woman left her children and for that, there will be no chance of forgiveness from either of us.

“Brooks Young, I noticed the bread I’d baked for dinner tonight went missing. This is the second loaf I’ve lost this week. Boy, I told you not to bother my bread or pies.”

Brooks looks at his grandmother with furrowed brows. “But, Grandma, I didn’t take any bread. I only stole cookies from the cookie jar.”

“Kids, why don’t you go upstairs and get ready for bed? Your dad will be in to tuck you in soon.”

As soon as the kids leave, she turns to me and says, “Cash, I want to mention something to you, and I want you to hear me out.”

“Ok, Mama. What is it?”

“Becky’s not coming back, and if she does, you won’t forgive her. Am I right?”

“Of course, I’m not forgiving the woman for abandoning our family. No way in hell.”

“Good. Glad to hear that. I never liked the heifer, anyway. What I wanted to say is you need to consider getting back out into the dating pool. Find a mother for those kids. Bailey is going to need a woman around, and Brooks is angry as hell. I don’t blame him, but I don’t want that woman’s actions to hurt his future.”

Furrowing my brows, I think about what it would be like to have a mother for my children. One who actually acted like a mother. Becky never took to mothering.

“Mama, have you been putting my shirts away? I’m missing T-shirts,” I ask, rubbing my chin.

“No, Cash. All the laundry I’ve washed has been folded and put away.”

After feeding the pigs, chickens, goats, and cattle, I make my way to the barn. My favorite horse, Chestnut snorts.

“Hey, sweet girl, ready to go?” I rub her shiny brown coat.

While saddling her up ready to ride out, I tell her about all the things I need to get done around the ranch.

“Today we’re going to go ride the perimeter of the land and make sure the fencing is stable.”

Some of the cows have been getting out, and I don’t know where from.

Riding Chestnut around the perimeter of the ranch, I soak in the beautiful scenery. Living in the North Carolina mountains makes ranch work challenging. It takes heavy equipment to get through the terrain, but the beautiful landscape is worth it.

Scanning along the fence line, I spot a large hole, one that wasn’t there a few days ago. As I approach the shed where I house my tools, I notice the padlock is unlocked.

“What the hell?” I mutter to myself. This shed is on the edge of my land, and I keep it locked all the time.

As the door opens, rays of sunlight pierce through, illuminating the dimly lit room. The first thing I notice is that my missing T-shirts are sitting folded on a sheet. Beside them is a half-eaten loaf of bread, still sheathed in the plastic bag it’s stored in.

Distracted by my discovery, I’m startled by a thump, and quickly realize whoever is in here is hiding behind my farm equipment. Grabbing a pitchfork, I walk to the back of the shed.

As I make my way back, the air carries the scent of hay and manure, mingling with the earthy aroma of the surrounding fields. The tarp covering my animal feed rustles, revealing a glimpse of something unexpected—a sliver of pastel pink fabric peeking out. Curiosity piqued, I approach cautiously, the sound of birds chirping in the distance filling the air.

Reaching down towards the tarp, I lean over, the smooth texture of the plastic surface brushing against my fingertips. There, amidst the feed bags, I spot the unmistakable sight of a shoe, its worn-out sole barely visible. My heart pounds in my chest as I climb up, the truck bed creaking beneath me.

With my free hand, I reach out and grasp the ankle of whoever is concealed beneath the tarp, only for a high-pitched scream to momentarily halt my movements. The sound reverberates in my ears, sending a chill down my spine. It’s a woman’s voice, filled with fear and surprise.

Once I’ve pulled her out far enough to see what she looks like, I’m stunned. As I gaze at her, the sight of her hair flowing like a river down her back captivates me. Its chestnut brown hue complements her delicate, fairy-like features. Her youthful appearance is undeniable, yet her wide, fear-stricken eyes reveal a depth beyond her years.

As she stands in front of me, the sight of the smudges of dirt on her cheeks immediately catches my attention. They sit in stark contrast against her pale skin, making her look as if she's been hiding away in the shed for days. The air around her carries a faint earthy scent, a mix of soil and dampness. There's a certain weariness in her eyes, telling a story of hardship and struggle. I can almost feel the exhaustion emanating from her.

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