Page 1 of Something More

Chapter 1

Dakota

Being the oldest of five girls, I was always the one keeping things together. I was the daughter my parents didn’t worry about. It wasn’t that I was the responsible one, or the good one. I was just the one who taught them that they needed rules. They never worried until I gave them a reason to, and then they made sure that my younger sisters followed the rules.

I moved away from Sunny Brook Farms when I turned twenty-two. Growing up, I had plans to take over one day. I thought I had the perfect life. I was the farmer’s daughter you hear about in songs or stories. My daddy scared off most of the boys, all of them except one.

Hank and I met in high school. He was a farmhand for my daddy. He showed up one summer looking for work, and Daddy hired him on the spot. He spent every summer on our farm helping with the harvesting of the hay. When I was sixteen, I fell madly in love in with Hank. At least, I thought it was love. Looking back, I wonder if it was just the fact that he was two years older that made me like him so much.

I remember him meeting me behind the barn after he’d finished for the day. We’d make out and sometimes in the evenings I’d snatch a bottle of my grandpa’s homemade wine and sneak off with him.

Hank taught me a lot about myself. He showed how to let go and live in the moment. Now, here I am, back at Sunny Brook Farms, a widow with a ten-year-old son.

*****

I’ve forgotten how hot it is in The South in June. The once green grass is starting to turn a nice shade of brown. Crops are popping up, some ready for harvesting, and the hayfields blow in the breeze.

I turned down the long drive to the main house. The gravel crunched under my tires, my son sound asleep in the back seat. Coming back here was the answer, but he doesn’t understand why. His friends are back home up north.

The white house looks just as I remember it: red curtains hanging in the kitchen windows, rockers on the porch, and a giant tub on the side of the house for rinsing off before coming inside from the fields. Off to the right I can see the horse pasture in the distance. Several of the horses are galloping around, playing in the sun.

“Are we there yet?” My son rubbed eyes and sat up from where he was leaning against the window.

“We’re here.” I smiled as I looked back at him. I’ve been doing that a lot lately— smiling even though I’m not really happy. I guess I’ve been trying to put on a brave face for Jack and not let him see that Mom is breaking inside.

“Can we get out?” He stretched and pulled against the seatbelt.

I opened my door, and the heat hit me like a hot, wet blanket. I fanned myself as I slipped my sunglasses on and opened Jack’s door.

“It’s hot, Mom.” He climbed down. It was then that my mother came out on the porch.

“You’re here!” She opened her arms and Jack ran into them.

“Grandma!” he squealed as he launched himself at her. “Hey, honey.” She peered over at me.

“Hi, Mom.” I sighed as I closed the car door and went around to the back to pull our bags out. A U-Haul was supposed to be bringing the rest tomorrow.

“I’m glad you’re here.” She came over and wrapped me in a hug.

“It’s what Alex wanted,” I mumbled against her.

When my husband and I planned what would happen after he died, coming here was the one thing he insisted on. He knew my parents would give Jack life experiences that living in the city could never provide.

“I think this is the best place for both of you.” She smiled. “Your daddy could use your help with the books, too.” She smiled that smile that said Dad was being stubborn and I might have to force my way into helping him.

“I’ll take a look later.” I nodded. The whole point of me moving away was to use my finance degree in the big city. Wellspring, NC wasn’t what I’d call a sprawling metropolis. We had three traffic lights, a hardware store, and a bank. You had to go two towns over just to go grocery shopping. My father had always managed the books for Sunny Brook. There wasn’t much to really manage when I was younger. We sold hay, horses, and chickens. Since moving away, he’s added to the list, including stud fees for a few of the stallions.

“Why don’t you come inside and have a cold drink? It’s hotter than Hades out here.” She motioned to the side door. “The hands will be coming up to clean off soon and we don’t want to be in the way.”

“I was hoping to get settled tonight.” I looked around. Dad had offered to let me move into one of the guesthouses.

“I was thinking we’d do the moving tomorrow. I can get some of the guys to help unload. You know Daddy wants to have a big family supper tonight.” She looked at me with pleading eyes. She knows the last thing I want right now is a big gathering. “Just humor him. I’ll make sure your sisters behave.”

“I’m really only worried about one.” I sighed.

“Gia’s excited about you being home.” Mom gave me the look that said to give her a chance.

“Fine. Family dinner, then I’m escaping,” I warned.

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