As they worked, Emily couldn't help but notice the way August's eyes dazzled at the corners when he smiled or the way his hair curled slightly on his neck. She felt a bit distracted but pushed it aside, focusing on the work at hand.
Just as they were rounding up, August's phone rang. He answered, and his expression turned serious. "What do you mean jesse ? you're in trouble?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.
Emily stopped her work and watched August listen attentively to the caller, his face confused.
"I'll take care of it,I'm coming right away," he said finally, before hanging up.
"What is the problem?" Emily asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Is Jesse, she's in trouble with some unknown personnel.I need to go take care of it," he said, his expression strong.
"Did she tell you where she's located?" Emily's face concerned.
"Yes, at the Brim Storm Saloon, and got into a fight. So she was taken to a cell at the sheriff's office."
"I'll be going right away, Mrs Jesse needs me but don't worry, I'll bail her out out." August concluded taking his car key from the counter
Emily's eyes widened with worry. "Are you sure you can handle everything, let me come with you okay?.
August hesitated before nodding."Thanks, Emily. I appreciate it."
Jesse, still in her cell was unaware of the danger lurking around the office.
A masked face man snuck into the office, making advances to kill Jesse.
In the ensuing struggle, Jesse fought back, but the masked man overpowered her.
In not less than thirty minutes, Emily and August pulled up in front of the office. Rushing their feet to get to the office in time.
Emily and August stormed into the sheriff's office, ready to bail out Jesse. But they were shocked at what their eyes could behold,they met with a scene of chaos. The sheriff lay unconscious on the floor, and Jesse was nowhere to be seen.
"Jesse!" August screamed, rushing to the cells. Where his eyes met her lying on the floor, a pool of blood around her head.
As August pulled Mrs Jesse to his lap sobbing quietly. Trying to know if they left her with little or no life.
"Watch out!" Emily screamed. As she cut in to where August was kneeling.
As he turned he saw a masked man emerge from nowhere with a gun pointing towards him.
August pulled his hands up trying to play along,but when the man got distracted August fought him,
He released a bullet, but not before he had struck Jesse's head again.
Emily rushed to Jesse's side, cradling her head in her lap.
"Ma, please don't give up!" she begged, tears streaming down her face. Emily tapped her trying to halt back her spirit from living her body.
August kept struggling with the masked man till he gave August a hard blow up his forehead and escaped through the door.
August drove Jesse to the hospital, his heart skipping in fear.
As they got to the hospital, they rushed Jesse to emergency ward. As they both waited for the doctor in the reception hall for a positive reply.
The doctor arrived after a while of waiting.
"Mr Flynn Jesse's in a coma. We don't know if he'll make it." The doctor's words were devastating.
Emily and August's faces dropped in dismay.
"Even an immediate surgery,is not an option?". August asked his voice etched with worries.
"We will have to wait for her,to respond first or at least shake. Then before considering other things."
The reception fell out with silence....
"I will be leaving you both now. My service is needed in ward seven. See you some other time." The doctors voice calm before leaving them to argue with their thoughts.
They felt defeated, they managed to drive back to the ranch their face looking pale.
"Welcome sire, Juan greeted". I just finished branding the cattle.
"Thats fine you can use one of the machines to clean up their bodies"August voice dismissive as he slump to his chair.
Just then he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in, Can I help you?" August asked, revealing a young man with a worn leather jacket and a desperate look in his eyes.
"Good day Sire,Please, I'm here for any work vacancy," the man said, his voice pleading.
"I don't have anywhere else to go. I'll do anything, just to see money to feed."
"What's your name?" August asked, his voice a bit stern.
Rodriguez," he replied, his eyes welling up with tears. "Sire I don't have parents. I've been struggling on my own since I was a kid. I just hope you will help me."
August gave him a sympathetic glance.
"Okay, Rodriguez," August said. "I can give you a chance to work with us. But you must be committed to your work."
Rodriguez nodded very eager to commence work immediately.
August returned home looking very exhausted. He left for the dinning to grab a cold water to calm his burning taste.
"Ohh,are you back already?" James rode the wheel chair to where August was standing.
"Good evening dad, I'm trying to grab some
water. The stress was too much today". August replied after gulping the last water into his mouth.
His dad stretched out his hand some brownish documents in his hand.
"Take it" James said signalling him to collect it from his hands.
August was a bit confused."Dad..."
"Just opened it." His dad's voice convincing.
August builds up some courage, curious to know what it is all about.
THE LETTER:
The Flynn and Wilson families were once partners in the ranch, but a strong dispute over a new farming technique tore them apart.
The technique, known as "crop rotation," was lead by Claire Wilson's father, Emily's great-grandfather.
Luke Flynn, August's great grandfather, liked the technique and wanted to adopt it as well,but his father, Luke's father, refused, saying it would fail and ruin the ranch.
After much consideration, they didn't want to agree with the idea. So it led to a vigorous contest.
The disagreement led to a bitter split, making the Flynns dividing the ranch.
The feud trailed for generations, with each side believing they were right.
August was shocked his hands dropping slowly till got down finally.
"Dad,why are you giving me this all of a sudden..." August asked searching for an answer.
Before August could talk again,a document was handed again to him.
He curiously flipped the document open,it was all written in blue.
The words also revealed more secrets:
The Flynns had gathered a vast fortune, hidden away from the world. A lot of Billions of dollars, waiting to be used to further their projects.
August chuckled with disbelief as a lot went through his mind as he continued reading the letter....
Many years ago, the partnership with the Flynns and Wilsons was with the Flynns contributing significantly more resources.
William Wilson, promised to repay the Flynns for their investment, but he never did. Despite several attempts, The Wilson was unable to accomplish what he promised, and the debt remained uncollected forever.
August let out a loud laugh." Is this some Cinderella story or Netflix?". August asked sarcastically, finding it hard to believe.
"So what happened in the story tale?".
"August is not a tale or make up story, can't you see it is written in an acid-free paper. And signed by your past great grandparents.
"Then the Unfulfilled promise created a legacy of strong displeasure between the families.
The Flynns felt betrayed and were ready to take revenge.while the Wilsons fought with their guilt and shame. The debt became a subject matter of discussion."
"Oh waw!! I never knew you are just a great writer. How come I never knew about this beautiful potentials". August tone filled with sarcasm.
"August,you are trying to deceive yourself. But remember you can't deceive the mind." His dad spoke in annoyance.
"Hold on! Does Jake know about this?"
"Of course, a long time ago". James replied.
" I see... That's why he was acting stupid when he met Emily. Dad I now know where all of this is heading to, Jake spoke to you about I and Emily". August shaking his head in disbelief.
James continued..
"And that's when we discovered that the Wilsons had fabricated documents, created fake receipts, and even bribed officials to cover their tracks. They had to lie about paying the debt, and our family had to retreat the claims.
August's eyes widened in disbelief. "How could they possibly do such a thing, Dad? It is unbelievable.
"August, my son, I think is to reclaim what's rightfully ours. The Wilsons have tortured and held the ranch for too long."
"You have to use any means necessary to get the land back."
August stood in front of his dad,his mind trying to understand the whole scenario. The thought of fighting Emily, Wilson's daughter,was one of the weirdest things to do.
"I have to keep this a secret from her, I can't ruin our relationship because of some ugly Feud." He thought to himself.
"Dad.. I will like to go in now. I'm just returning please. I need some rest." August spoke trying to keep his voice neutral.
"Rumor has it that there are billions they've hidden away in the ranch." The earlier the better.
But remember, I'm still alive so if you won't do it I will have to strategize and the Flynn legacy will prevail."
James voice echoed halting August in his track. August went dead as he walked out of the room.
August badged into his room pacing back and forth, trying to be convinced it's a cooked up story.
But his father's words echoed in his mind,
"Reclaim what's ours... make the Wilsons pay."
"No Emily is too good and has been through a lot to be hurt again." His hands running through his hair in frustration.
Emily P.O.V
On a sunny afternoon, Emily decided to take a walk to her aunt's house.Since there wasn't much to do at the ranch.
Emily got to the building her eyes scanning the building that was dead silent.
Emily got in and sat at her late aunt's attic, surrounded by dusty boxes and furnitures.
"I hope I find something tangible to execute this saboteur. August has been my help but I think I need to learn more." She thought to herself.
She started pulling out some things carefully to find if she could find anything.
As she opened an old box,she stumbled upon a leather-bound book. It was inscribed. Great-grandmother's diary.
Emily was very nervous and curious. This time her expression overpowers her. She began to flip.
As she flipped through the pages, she came across a story she had never known.
Her great-grandmother's words spoke about love, loss, and a bitter dispute with the Flynns.
Emily's eyes widened as she was forced to read on,
"Did my family have an unsettled dispute with the Flynns.? That can't be true,if not August won't have loved me this much." Emily's heart kept wondering,her hands flipping more pages.
As she continued her reading,she came across a page that caught her attention.And it was written directly to the heart of the quarrel.
"The Flynns may be thinking they own the land, but they will never own the truth. They may be thinking they have the power, but they will never have the justice. We the Wilsons have been wronged, and we will not keep mute."
"The ranch belongs to us,not just by an act, but by blood and sweat. We built it, we nurtured it, and we loved it with our life. And letting the Flynns take that away from us should be nothing but cowardice."
"I swear by oath, that my family, and generations will fight for what is rightfully ours. We will fight for the land, for the legacy, and for the truth. "We will not be intimidated, by love nor be silenced. We are Wilsons, and we will rise again."
Emily's jaw dropped."This can't be happening,so the Flynn are the saboteurs? Is August aware of this? Was this the reason he was trying to come close to me,in other to come close to the ranch?".
Many questions reeling in her mind, as tears streamed down her eyes. Her grip tightened the book. It was too difficult to conciliate the Flynn family's past with the generous and gentle August she had come to know and care for.
"This is not happening,it was never happening." Emily finalize releasing her grip as she raised her hands slightly.
She got her bag and Left the house to the road.
As she got a ride, her mind was still reeling from what she had just discovered. The car sped down the road in a high speed.