Page 9 of Knocked up By the Mountain Man

That wasn’t on purpose. I hadn’t wanted to run away like that but I needed to escape. I couldn’t stand being in Silver Ridge anymore. It was too suffocating, I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I needed freedom, instantly. So I hoped on the first bus I could find and got off when the service came to an end.

That’s how I ended up in Lewistown. I couldn’t get much further because I had nothing.

Unfortunately, in my quest for freedom, I hadn’t thought about practical things. Obviously, I was too young and dumb to consider how much cash I was going to need to survive. I wasn’t prepared for real life.

For a little while, I got by with a room at the cheapest motel I could find, eating as much as I could get my hands on, which on some days was nothing but water. But cheap motels and scavenging for food came with it’s own set of dangers. People staying in those types of motels are usually running away from something. More often than not, it was the law.

I was in the midst of criminals all the time, which came to a head about three weeks after I left home when I ran into a group of terrible men while I was looking for food behind a veterinarian clinic. They had taken my vulnerability for a weakness and it quickly became obvious they had nefarious intentions. Even my pleas that I was pregnant didn’t stop them.

But Daniel did.

He showed up and threatened them, intimidated them despite his age and smaller stature. He scared them off, allowing me to live.

Then he and Sandra took me in, letting me stay in their spare room even after I gave birth to Thomas. They clothed me, fed me, allowed me to work and train with them, allowing me to live out my passion even without a college degree. They gave me a life. Without them, I would have ended up dead by a dumpster somewhere, and Thomas would never have made it.

I’m self sufficient now, because of Daniel and the pay check that I get for my work, so I’m always going to be grateful for him. I’ll always be on time and work hard for him and his wife. I love them. They’ve become a family for me. People who I’m always going to look up to.

But Daniel always treats me like he is grateful for me. “You’ve done it,” he’s saying now with a beaming smile. “You’ve saved the day again. Which actually brings me to something I need to talk to you about…”

“Oh yeah?”

“I have a mission for you,” he starts. This isn’t unusual. Daniel often sends me on various ‘missions’, given my experience and reliability.

But then he hesitates, and my stomach tightens.

“Okay, where am I going?” I prompt, curiosity tinged with a bit of apprehension.

“Silver Ridge.”

The words nearly knock the air out of my lungs.

A flood of memories and emotions crash into me all at once, making it hard to breathe.

“Really?” I gasp out in shock.

“It’s the Marshall Ranch,” he continues nodding. “There are some really sick animals there, and…”

He continues talking but I don’t hear a word.

The Marshall Ranch.

Silver Ridge.

Beau Marshall.

I can’t go there.

Not with Thomas.

He looks too much like Beau.

“I don’t know, I…” I stammer out, but I can’t really get my words out.

Daniel’s face softens with understanding. “I know it’s difficult, Clara. But they really need help. The issues at the ranch are critical, and I believe you’re the best person for the job. It won’t be for long, just until you sort things out. And the pay will be amazing. It could set you and Thomas up for a while.”

I bite my lip, torn between my past and my present. The idea of going back to Silver Ridge terrifies me, but the promise of good pay is tempting. Thomas’s future is always my priority, our own home one day would also be lovely. This job could provide a level of security we desperately need.

“I hate this,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper. “But… maybe it’ll be good to see my brother again. It’s been a long time.”

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