So! Since dad's death I have written absolutely nothing of my own. I've done little things. Outlines, character pages. But nothing serious. But now? Now I can show you, internet, what I wrote tonight in the last three or four hours. THREE THOUSAND WORDS. Holy shit. That's a first chapter right there! That's damn impressive, I don't care what anyone says!
I stared at a blank document for nearly an hour before actually doing things. I kept trying to talk myself out of it. "No, I'm not in a good mindset tonight. It'll be shit." "No, I'm not ready. It'll be shit." "I'm not sure where exactly I want to go with it. It'll be shit." Getting a theme here? But I did it! And I'm so glad I did. It feels good!
So here you are, internet. Hopefully there's someone out there to read it who will actually see that I wrote it. Because holy shit! I wrote!
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Eden slammed her hands on the steering wheel. She been
driving for two days. She’d stopped once at some little place in Utah last
night just to sleep for a couple hours. Now she was in the middle of nowhere
surrounded by the definition of rolling hills. Beautiful scenery, tall pale
grass and emerald green trees as for as the eye could see. Or at least it would
be beautiful if she wasn’t stranded. It seemed to taint everything.
She slammed her hands on the steering wheel again. And once
more for good measure. The car had just stopped, made a few little spluttering
noises and chugged to a stop. The old station wagon, Clara her dad called it,
managed to get her this far. From L.A. to Wyoming. Middle of nowhere Wyoming.
She had to ask for directions in Livingston to a little town called Millhope.
Then she stopped at a diner there in Millhope and a sweet lady named Annie gave
her directions out to Hart Stone Ranch.
They’d been simple directions. Take River Road west out of
town then turn right at the unmarked dirt road past the burnt tree stump. She
took the right turn, but Annie had told her it would take about twenty minutes.
She’d been driving on the dirt road for half an hour, the trees on each side
just getting thicker. No ranch in sight.
After stewing in the car for a few more minutes, she finally
climbed out. Immediately the wind assaulted her, slamming her door shut again
for her. She checked the door and had to bite her lower lip hard to keep in a
loud curse when she found it was locked. With her keys in the cup holder.
She rubbed at her eyes as the wind whipped her dark hair
around her face. She wouldn’t cry. She refused to cry. She looked both ways
down the road. According to Annie the ranch couldn’t be too much further down
the road. And the other direction was a half hour drive back to the main road.
Groaning she pulled her long hair into a quick bun and started down the street.
She’d been walking for only about ten minutes when she heard
the rumble coming down the road. She stopped and turned to watch an old yellow
truck bounce its way down the pitted road. The driver pulled to a stop beside
her and leaned way over to roll down the window. The man inside was young and
blonde, a brown well-worn Stetson perched on his head. A little rough around
the edges, well built, shaggy and stubbly. Just the kind of guy her friend
Bettina would go for.
“Hey,” he called, resting against the steering wheel. “That
your station wagon back a ways?”
“Yeah. Broke down,” she replied, trudging over to hold
herself up on the truck. She was grateful for the wind block if nothing else.
“Are you lost?”
She laughed. “God, I hope not. I’m trying to get to the Hart
Stone Ranch? Please tell me I’m going the right way.”
The driver stared at her a moment, looking confused. Come to
think of it, Annie at the diner had given her that same look. “You’re headed
the right way,” he finally said. “But why you headed out there?”
“I got a job working for Mrs. Molly Porter.”
“Oh! I heard Miss Molly mention she’d convinced Gideon to let
her hire some help for the summer.” He leaned over to push open the door,
making her realize there was no handle on the outside. “C’mon. I’ll give you a
ride. We’ll get your things and I’ll send Jim back to see to the car.”
“Thank you,” she said emphatically as she climbed in. “But I
locked my keys in the car as well.”
“Just not your day, is it?” He drummed his fingers on the
steering wheel. “Well, if you can do without for a couple hours, I’m sure Jim
can see to bringing your stuff up as well.”
“That’d be great. You are my hero,” she gushed.
“It’s no problem. I’m Cody Stone,” he said, offering his
hand and a charming smile.
“Eden Dale.” She returned the smile and slid her slender
hand into his for a firm shake.
“Are you from Montana, Eden?” he asked as he put the truck
back into gear and started down the road.
“No, I’ve never even been out here. I’m from L.A.”
He barked out a surprised laugh. “What are you doing out
here? I thought city folk normally, y’know, stayed in the city.”
“Normally I’d agree,” she said with a smirk. “I guess I just
got sick of people. Everywhere. I wanted a new start in the middle of nowhere.”
“Well you’ve succeeded.”
He only drove a couple minutes longer before the trees
seemed to just magically open up to reveal a wide expanse of land. To the right
an old, but well kept ranch house. Three stories tall with a porch that wrapped
all the way around. Potted plants lined the railing and hung from the awning
giving the otherwise plain exterior and bright and colourful appeal.
To the left was a large barn and a wide open expanse where a
few men were working with two large horses. Beautiful dark horses with shining
coats. There was activity all around. She counted at least a dozen men milling
around, carrying heavy sacks or leading horses. Each one seemed burlier than
the last. The men she was used to being surrounded by were much leaner than
this. And far less intimidating.
Cody drove the truck under a tall wooden arch, the words
Hart Stone carved expertly down each side. He continued down the drive that ran
between the house and the barn and pulled around behind the house. There were
several more vehicles around here. Mostly trucks not so different from Cody’s,
a few smaller cars, one yellow bug, and one incredibly expensive looking,
cherry red convertible.
Behind the house she could see another smaller house that,
if she had to guess, was for the workers. Hopefully she’d get a tour. She could
see a few other buildings further away. The whole place was framed by wide open
land, those same beautiful, rolling hills and green trees. She was glad she
could finally enjoy them for a moment.
She had gotten so distracted by the surroundings she
actually jumped when Cody opened her door for her. He chuckled and held his
hand out to help her down. Suddenly a thought occurred to her.
“Wait, Cody Stone? As in Hart Stone?”
“Yeah, Gideon’s my cousin. My uncle, his dad, owned the
place before him. And our grandfather before him. Hart came from grandma, Stone
came from granddad.”
He led her over through screened area of the porch. Jasmine
plants climbed up the railing here and hit her senses strong. There was a
little swing and she noticed a children’s book left open on the ground. Cody
scooped it up as they went inside directly into the kitchen. The smell of
jasmine gave way to what could only be biscuits and gravy. And the best
smelling biscuits and gravy Eden had ever encountered.
The kitchen was large, at least the size of Eden’s old
apartment. A large island sat in the center surrounded by a dozen bar stools.
The appliances were all high end, except the old gas stove.
“Miss Molly?” he called into the house.
“Quit hollering, Cody,” came a woman’s voice with a lilting
southern accent that Eden found happily familiar.
As she came around the corner it struck Eden that she would
have known this woman even if they’d met on the street. She was the spitting
image of her sister, Meg. Short, even a little shorter than Eden herself, a
little round, especially her face. With a pile of salt and pepper hair knotted
atop her head. Big green eyes that smiled with a merry mischief that made her
seem so much younger than she was.
“And take your hat off in my house,” she said sternly,
though a smile tugged at her lips.
He did it immediately. “Sorry, Miss Molly.”
She turned those green eyes to Eden and smiled even wider.
“And you must be little Edie Dale. I haven’t seen you since you were a teenager,
but damned if you haven’t changed a bit.”
She pulled Eden into a tight hug that she was only too happy
to accept. “Hi Mrs. Porter.”
“Call me Molly, dear. Or Miss Molly like the boys do.” She
stepped back and put her hands on her hips. “God, you’re thin. But that’s to be
expected. Meg told me not to expect you until next week.”
Meg Shields had been her ballet teacher and very dear friend
as far back as Eden could remember. She’d saved her life in more ways than one
throughout the years. Molly used to visit twice a year for both of Meg’s big
performances. Eden had always spent more time with them than at her own home.
And Meg her family had always welcomed her with open arms. Even more so after
Meg found out about…
Eden shook her head and gave Molly a bright, practiced
smile. “I wanted to get out here as soon as possible. Needed to.”
Molly’s smile turned a little sympathetic and she patted
Eden’s hand. “But where are your things, dear?”
“In my car,” she groaned. “It broke down a ways back and I
locked my keys in. Cody just happened to be driving by and offered me a lift.”
“I told her I’d send Jim back for the car?”
“Oh, of course. He’s upstairs working on Lilah’s birthday
present.”
Cody nodded and turned back to Eden. He gave her a big,
sweeping bow laughing as he did. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Eden Dale. I
shall tend to your steed immediately.”
“Oh get out of here you ham.” Molly said, shooing him away.
He gave them a wave and hurried away. “He’s a harmless charmer. Well, let me
show you around.”
Without another thought she led her through the house. There
was the kitchen of course, then off to the right through a swinging door was
the dining room. Straight ahead from the back door, under a large archway was a
living room. Large windows on two walls gave the room a bright feel, despite
the dark leather furniture. It looked well lived in, the cushions of the couch
sagged just a bit to look soft and comfortable, and there was an obvious mark
on the footstool in front of the chair where someone had propped their muddy
boots a few too many times. A coffee table sat in the middle of the room also
bore the scuffs of boots along the edges. There was a record player and stereo
along one wall and a large television mounted across from the couch.
Molly led her upstairs to the second floor, showing her
where she slept then a few doors down Eden’s own room. It was simple. A single
bed against the wall, a desk and dresser and small closet. A small bathroom was
attached, and for that Eden was incredibly grateful. Even more so when she saw
the clawfoot tub.
“The third floor is where Gideon and Lilah’s rooms are. We
don’t need to worry about cleaning up after them. Gideon’s always been good
about cleaning up after himself and insists Lilah learns the same.”
“Lilah’s his daughter?” Eden asked for clarification.
“His niece, but her mother’s passed and her father is out of
the picture. Gideon is raising her as her own,” she explained.
“How old is she?”
“Five. A little darling. You’ll love her.”
“And Gideon’s wife?”
“Oh Gideon’s not married, dear,” she said with a laugh, like
the idea was preposterous.
She led her back down to the kitchen and began explaining
what her daily duties would be. She’d wake up well before dawn Monday through
Saturday and help with breakfast for Gideon and all the workers. Then lunch and
dinner. Saturdays, the boys got off early and were expected to find their own
food, so she only had to worry about dinner for Gideon, Lilah, Molly and
herself. In between meals they kept the first and second floor of the ranch
house clean, Gideon saw clients here and often times he and some of the boys
would play poker or watch a game after work. Thursday was laundry day, she was
expected to have the workers laundry done by the end of the day. Sundays she
was free to do whatever she pleased.
And for this she would make fifteen dollars an hour, ten
hours a day, and would have free room and board. Honestly it sounded like a
dream come true to Eden. Hard work she could just throw herself into and not
think about what had driven her out here.
“Great. Now I’m just about to serve lunch if you’d like to
help? Then I’ll handle dinner so you can get settled.”
“That sounds great,” Eden said, suddenly hugging the woman
again. “Thank you so much for this opportunity.”
“It’s not a problem at all, Edie,” Molly promised her. “When
Meg told me about your troubles, well, you know Meg. She hardly gets emotional.
But she was crying that there was nothing she could do. You’re like a daughter
to her. That makes you a niece to me. So I know exactly how to help.”
Eden smiled at her. “Thank you,” she said again.
They were just about to call the workers in for lunch when
Molly spoke again. “I have a secret.”
“A secret?” Eden asked with a light frown.
“Yes. A secret,” she glanced around, making sure there were
no prying ears. “I’ve told Gideon I’m bringing you out to help this summer
since he’s hired extra men for the season.” Eden nodded her understanding and
Molly hesitated another moment. “But in truth I’m hoping you’ll be able to
catch on well enough to do it yourself by fall.”
“What about you?”
“I’m hardly as young as I once was and keeping up after
these kids is doing me in. No, come this fall I’m going to retire. I’m hoping
you’ll be able to take my place.”
Eden wasn’t sure how to feel about that. She hadn’t planned
on this being a permanent move. Just something to help her recover and get back
on her feet. But she smiled at Molly. “I’m flattered. Thank you.”
“Now, if you’d like to ring the bell, I’m sure the boys will
all be thrilled to meet you. Beyond thrilled, really. I hope you’re up for some
pretty intense charms.”
“I think I can hold my own,” she said heading out to where
the bell hung.
No sooner than five minutes after she rang the bell did men
start pouring in. Each one greeted Molly with a nod and smile as they removed
their hats. Then they would noticed her, standing slightly behind Molly.
First she met Jaime and Kyle, brothers from Elliston. Some
of the new crop of ranch hands Molly had mentioned. They both had big brown eyes
and dark hair. They were only a few years apart, but looked enough alike that
they could have been twins. She’d just have to remember that Jaime had the
birthmark on his forehead and temple, a dark mark that looked almost like a
kiss.
Cody came in next and introduced her to his brother Mark and
their childhood friend Mitchell. It sounded like they’d all grown up on the
ranch. Mark had dark hair, but the same charming smile and dark eyes as his
brother. Mitchell was a red head covered in freckles from head to toe. And shy
as shy could be.
The net several men all came in together and blurred
together almost immediately. She’d never remember all these names. There was
Adam, Joe, Sam, and Dave. And Michael, maybe? She’d have to ask Molly later.
“Normally Jim would have lunch as well,” Molly told her as
she made a plate and set it aside. “But since he’s taking care of your car,
I’ll just save this for him.” There was a tenderness in how she spoke of Jim
that made Eden smile.
The barstools had seemed comfortably spaced around the large
island a moment ago, now the ranchers sat shoulder to shoulder. There were two
seats left around the table, one between the others, the last sat further away
with a larger amount of space left for whoever sat there. She had to imagine
that one was for Gideon, the owner. It seemed that even when he wasn’t there,
he commanded the men’s respect.
He came in from the main part of the house. He certainly
hadn’t been working with his men all day. She supposed the owner of the ranch
would have other business matters to attend to. She found herself staring at
him and was honestly embarrassed. He was a big man, broad chest, all muscles.
He was, without a doubt, the kind of man people called a bear of a man. He wore
a plaid shirt, the sleeves rolled up his forearms and a pair of jeans that fit
him in just the right way that any woman would find herself staring. (At least
that’s what she told herself. It would be any woman. Not just her.) He had
black hair, with a few stray gray hairs here and there. A scruffy beard showed
even more gray, but underneath, his face still looked youthful. A pair of
crystal clear blue eyes locked onto her and she found herself speechless.
Then those eyes narrowed in anger and she was speechless for
a whole different reason. The handsome bear of a man suddenly seemed dangerous.
She suddenly had an inkling of why everyone seemed surprised she was coming
here. He didn’t look happy to see her.
“Who are you?”
