Emily's pov
Emily got down from the plane,in Billings Montana,she felt a sense of relief wash over her.
"Welcome to Big Sky Country, sweetheart." The friendly airport attendant spoke with a smile.
Emily smiled feeling a spark of adventure developing within her. With a deep breath, she carried her luggage and made her way to the rental car counter.
Within a few minutes,they were on the paved road. Through the window,Emily could view the beautiful sights her eyes could behold. It was indeed a beautiful sight nobody could resist.
"You're the new owner of whispering Creek ranch?. The rental car agent raised an eyebrow impressed.
"That's quite unbelievable!!"
Emily gave a weak smile,her mind racing as he drove down the winding highway. The GPS led her to the new house at the same time as the ranch.
Emily shoes dragged against the floorboards as she walked into the old ranch house the creaking echoing through the dark room.
The room was filled with a sense of forgotten memories,recollecting her to a by-gone era. She could feel the weight of her great aunt's legacy surrounding the whole place. With a bit of courage she slowly walked in but was greeted with a yellow card laying on the counter.
Her heart skipped a bit,as she picked up the card.
Aunt Claire's letter, Emily's eyes scanned the letter her heart beating so fast.
"Dear Emily, I know you are reading this with
a mix of emotions. Surprise, curiosity, maybe
even a little fear. But I want you to know that
Whispering Creek Ranch is where you belong.
Your great-grandfather built this ranch with his
own two hands, and it's been in our family for
generations. But there's more to the story,
Emily. A secret that's been hidden for too long.
Go to the old oak tree in the south pasture
at sunset tomorrow. And come alone. With
love,
Aunt Claire".
Emily folded the paper after reading the letter.
"What secret could be hidden in the south pasture". She whispered her eyes still scanning the whole room.
She began to walk from room to room. Her eyes, searching for nothing in particular. Till she got to the last room,And then, she saw them - a bunch of cattle just chillin' on the floor, staring at her like they'd been waiting for her to show up.
One of the older cows, a gentle-looking thing with a wispy coat, got up and ambled over to her. Emily reached out a hand, and the cow nuzzled it like they were old friends.
"Hey there, girl," Emily whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's the story here?", you must have missed grandy alot. But you shouldn't bother I will make it up to you all,but for now I just arrived so I will go shower and see you tomorrow." Emily spoke her hands rubbing it's body.
Emily shut the door behind her. " I need to go in now is getting late, and also need to eat I'm starving already,but how do I get to the restaurant I don't know anywhere here". She asked nobody in particular. Her anxiety growing wider,
"Let me see what I can do". She concluded before slipping her phone to her pocket and dragging her luggage behind her as she locked the ranch,to find her way out.
The Old Oak tree The next evening.
Emily made her way to the south pasture,her heart rioting in her chest. She kept walking till she saw a tree with so many branches. The tree loomed before her.
"This must be the tree aunty Claire was talking about in the letter." She spoke to her self,her steps till moving further.
As she approached the tree a figure emerged from behind the tree. Tall, rugged,and very handsome,with piercing blue eyes that would possibly have charmed Emily at first sight.
"Hello, Emily,"he said,his voice low and husky.
"I have been waiting here for awhile now, thanks you could find your way here".
Emily approached August her anxiety starting to fizzle away, i have met those blue eyes before but where? She asked herself, trying to rack her brain. Her hands running through her hair. But everything proved abortive because she couldn't remember anything.
"You're Claire niece? I have heard so many things about you." August said exposing his white teeth.
Emily's mind reels as she tried to place August in her family's history.
"Have we met before?"she asked.
August nodded." Yes maybe,but I attended your aunt's funeral that took place two months earlier.I'm so sorry for your loss. Claire was a remarkable woman."
"So how come she never told me about you. Cause from the way you just talked seems you were not my aunt enemy."
"Exactly,you know before she died she has so many enemies fighting her. But I stood for Claire, infact she gave her all for the ranch. She was indeed a strong woman,I was very heartbroken when I was told she passed away." August spoke his tone a mixed with a bit of sadness
" Thanks for everything. I think she will keep remarking you as her best friend even in the grave." Emily spoke, trying to
control her hair strands hovering around her face, cause by the heavy air hovering around the tree.
"Yeah, I'm August Flynn." August spoke extending his hands for a handshake.
"Emily Wilson by name". Emily said placing her hands on August palm for a handshake.
"No need for the introduction,I already know you before now" August's voice sounding hilarious.
As they both burst into a very loud laughter.
"You are very funny August, is very nice having a conversation with you today". Emily spoke trying to catch her breath.
"So, Emily!" August called, his voice low and gentle. What about your family?"
Emily's gaze dropped,a little smile playing on her lips.
"I don't have a family, I lived with my aunt Claire,when I was five at Red Rock, Arizona."
"Then when I was fifteen. I heard a rumor that she was not my mom. When I confronted her to tell me everything,at first she tried to deny it but too much persuasion from me made her tell me everything."
"From my great grandparents to my grandparents lived here in Big Sky Country, they were all ranchers but my mom got married to my dad, who was a rugged outdoorsman and owner of a local outfitter shop in Red Rock. So she relocated with him to Red Rock."
"They were on their way to the paternal family gathering in Sedona when the car accident occurred."
"A drunk driver ran a red light and collided with my parents' car, killing them instantly.But I was the only survivor."
"Before I was taken back to stay with my aunt and grandparents to live here. Though,I couldn't remember anything that happened,but my aunt said my grandparents taught me a lot about the ranch. Cause they lived their whole life as a rancher."
Emily paused. Looking at August who was so engaged in her story. She wore a small smile and continued. But her face was written in sadness.
"My aunt said I was really good at working at the ranch. Any day I fail to go to the ranch I will always fall sick or cry all day,I had passion and the right attitude to work in the ranch when I was a kid."
"But she never told me what caused the ranch war. But suddenly things never seem the same again, people started fighting the ranch for no tangible reason. My great grandparents fought so hard for the ranch not to be taken from them they died fighting before passing to my aunt's parents. And it got tougher because she lost her husband and her two sons. Her survivor was aunt Claire,who she told to elope with me."
"We travel at midnight,to Red Rock Arizona. At my parents place because no money was available during the crisis. We settled there when I was four and started live again. That's how the knowledge I had for ranching slowly began to fade off,till it was gone completely."
"My grandma couldn't redeem the ranch themselves because the saboteurs were higher than her. She called my aunt to return to this country and continue the fight. My aunt was scared of losing me as well, she handed me over to my uncle Hank's Wilson at age seventeen. And travelled back to continue the case."
"My uncle has no interest in the ranch. So he taught me hiking, campaigning and survival skills. He never got married.so after I finished high school I started working cause he was getting old. Then as of early this year I was in touch with my aunt. She was sending me so much text to get ready to come and take over the ranch cause she was sure she wouldn't survive for too long."
" When I got the news my aunt was dead. I was sad after bringing back her body to Red Rock Arizona for the burial. We mourner her for a month. Before my uncle fell ill,I stayed with him for an extra month. Before I got him a caretaker, while I come over here and walk."
"So that's my story". Emily said forcing a smile on her face.
"That's pathetic. Really sorry you had to suffer from childhood". August spoke his voice saddened.
"So what about your family." Emily asked.
"My family nothing much though,I stay with my dad and my younger brother. As I said before we're being into ranching same as my great grandparents till it got to my dad."
"August!!" Emily called with a soft voice.
"Yeah?"
"What about your mom"Emily asked her eyes gazing to know what August expression would be.
August shrugged, his shoulders tense. "It was a long time ago."
Emily's gentle prodding encouraged August to open up.
"My dad caught her cheating," he said, his voice low and rough. "She left soon after. Never came back."
Emily eyes widened in shock. "Oh, August sorry about that".
"Yeah,is okay I've gotten over it". August said a bit sad".
"So August tell me what did my Aunt leave me?"
August smiled." That's a story for another time, Emily. Let's just say it's a surprise"
"When I got to the ranch I noticed it was in a state of despair". Emily looking intensely at August anticipating for an answer.
"You know the ranch was once a thriving ranch, before things began to fall apart. Which included the life of your aunt to be at risk as well."
Emily felt a surge of determination. She was determined to restore the ranch to its former glory. But she knew it wouldn't be very easy.
August continued,noticing Emily's interest in his story.
"Your aunt kept rebuilding the ranch, but the saboteur kept finding their way to destroy the ranch. She kept rebuilding till she had no penny with her, At the time when we got to know each other I had to assist her with all I heard. To see the ranch stand to what it is today".
"I..can't..imagine..all..my..aunt..would..have gone through in the hands of the saboteur." Emily's voice trembling in pain.
"Emily!!" August called trying to swift her attention back to the neutral tone.
"I told you all of this for you to stay strong,and fight to gain back the freedom your aunt had always wished for."
"I will try my best possible,to stand against them. But I don't know how to make a good rancher".
"You don't need to worry about that".August voice neutral this time."my family owes a ranch and i have been managing it for some time now."
"Really?" Emily asked. Her face written with surprises.
"Yeah, so I will teach you a lot. And qualities of being a good rancher". He said rubbing his palms against each other.
"As it stands now, you just lifted so much weight slumping on my shoulder". Her voice calm and tender.
"Okay,so welcome back to your whispering Creek ranch, Emily" I anticipate this friendship I had with Claire will carry on."
" Sure,can I have get your number. Cause you know I haven't adapted that much".
August's smile faltered for a moment, before he chuckled and said, "Well, I guess I can trust you with it."
He pulled out his phone and they exchanged numbers, their fingers touching briefly as they handed each other their phones.
As the sun dipped below the Oak August finally spoke up "well I should get going".
" Yeah,me too, Emily replied.
" Thanks for today"August said,his eyes crinkling at the corner. As he gave a small smile .
"Anytime". She replied. Her heart jumped a bit as their hands brushed briefly.
"I'll see you tomorrow" . He concluded.
With one last glance,they turned and walked away from each other.
RANCH BUILDING
August and Emily arrived at the ranch at exactly 7:30am.
August wore his usual ranch attire - a faded denim shirt, worn jeans, and scuffed up cowboy boots. His hat was pulled lower to his eyes, shading his face from the sun.
Emily, on the other hand, had dressed in a simple white tank top and old jeans, her hair pulled back in a ponytail.
"This is just the beginning of a new chapter in your life Emily. With time I believe you will adapt, and if precautions aren't taken,you will begin to teach me as well." He pulled a joke.
"Stop it!!" Emily replied amidst laughter. "Just stop please I'm choking already with your riddles".
"That's fine,"August said, his hand raised in the air. Let's go inside".
August pushed the door open. Emily followed him inside, her smell greeted by the scent of cattles and dumplings.
"So the first thing, is to search for some more information about the ranch, maybe your aunt would have left some written informations.
The first thing we should do is dig up some more information about the ranch," August said, his eyes crinkling round the room as if searching for clues. "Maybe your aunt left some notes or documents that can give us a better idea of what we're dealing with."
Emily nodded, "That's a great idea. Let me start by searching the place and seeing what I can find."
"Emily!!"August called halting her at a particular spot.
"This was left for you, with instructions to read it when you arrived at the ranch.
Emily's heart raced as she opened the letter, her eyes scanning the pages for answers.
" Is this the surprise August was telling me about?". She whispered to herself.
Dear Emily,I want you to have the ranch, Emily," the letter continued. "Not just because it's your inheritance, but because it's where your heart belongs. Trust August to guide you, and trust yourself to find the truth."
After reading the letter she placed the letter on her chest trying to connect with her aunt's words.
"I will fight for the ranch freedom. I will bring the trophy for you to see, that is a promise." Emily's voice trembled as she spoke, fighting to hold back tears.
She was distracted by the noise of August boot.
"You should keep up with the research to ensure you get every detailed information concerning the ranch, and the lawyer in charge.I have fed the cattle already, I will go over now. Feel free to come over anytime or when you need my assistance,is just a stone throw from here."
Emily gave a slight nod.
"August!!!" She called out to just as he was about to turn the door knob.
"Thank you for everything." The letter still clutched in her hand.
"You are welcome." August replied
with a smile before leaving the room....