Emily arrived at August's place,her heart racing with anticipation,She had been rehearsing what had happened.
"August, we need to talk,"Emily said, her voice firm but gentle.
August opened the door, a hint of surprise all over his face."What's the problem,Emily?"
Emily's face was filled with worries, finding it hard to tell August what she discovered.
"I got some clues about the ranch". She managed to speak.
"Really? That's nice. So do you mind sharing?".
"Actually, August did you know about the ranch history?". The words falling out from her mouth.
August took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.He tried to compose himself he stepped aside, shutting the door.
"I was going to tell you about it Emily. I swear."August hesitated, unsure of how to reveal.
"How much do you know about the ranch?". Emily asked, getting interested in how the game was beginning to turn out.
"I know some of it,but not all the details". August said trying ti sound neutral.
Emily's eyes gazed at him, searching for answers.
"I think you do, August. I think you know more than you're letting on." Emily's voice direct.
August was silent. His mind reeling with some much thought.
"August, do you know about the family dispute between our families?" Emily asked breaking the silence.
August hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
"Do you mean... the Wilsons and the Flynns?" he stammering, stalling for time.
"Yeah". Emily nodded.
"Emily's please this is not the right time for this, maybe some other time. I will arrange a lounge where we could talk about it."
"Do you think everything is all about your money!!. You all try to use money to work everything. But I bet you, you won't play that stunt games with me..."
Emily fired an angry snare at August.
August,tried to stay calm his eyes dropped, his shoulders squaring.
"Emily don't tell me you are trying to consider what they told you about my family".
"Why won't I do,when I could tell the handwriting on the wall, cause you are trying to bury the matter with your money." Emily's voice rising in frustration
August took a deep breath.
"Your great-grandfather... He was at fault, and he caused it letting their rivalry tear them apart."
Emily's eyes flashed with anger. "So, you're saying my great-grandfather was just as much to blame?"
"Yes, Emily. They both made mistakes. They both let their pride and greed tear them apart." He spoke out angrily.
Emily's voice rose in frustration.
"That's not fair! Your family took everything from us. They lied, cheated, and stole. My family suffered because of their cunny nature.
August's tried to calm down, knowing the issue has skyrocketed...
"Emily I'm sorry.. you just have to calm down let's sort it without conflict."
" You see? This feud has gone on long enough. We're not our ancestors. We don't have to perpetuate this hate."
Emily's eyes blazing with tears
"You don't seem to understand anything,August.Your family is the one benefiting, so I don't owe you an explanation to settle this. Look at my ranch, left in a mess because of your family's deceit. Thank you for everything," Emily said, tears streaming down her face as she turned and walked away.
Emily, wait!" he called after her, but she was already gone.
Emily's POV
Emily returned to the ranch, her eyes scanning the damage that just occurred.Minutes after she had left.
Seven cattle were laying dead, their bodies bloated and decaying. The fences were broken, the fields trampled. The ranch house windows were shattered, the doors hanging off their hinges.
"Holy shit! What in God's name is happening here.." Emily spoke amidst shock,she had remembered that she left the ranch thriving, the cattle healthy.But now,things have started to go totally wrong. Equipment automatically malfunctioning,cattle would fall sick.
"Someone is intentionally setting out to ruin the ranch.
There was a quick flashback ,as the words from her great-grandmother diary reflects.The feud between the Wilsons and the Flynns. She realized that the sabotage was just the latest chapter from the Flynns.
She stood there motionless surveying the scene.
She managed to walk out to the fields, her eyes scanning the ground as she approached. Rodriguez, who was feeding the cattle.
Hey, Rodriguez," Emily said, forcing herself to smile.
"Did you find any trails or evidence of anyone entering the ranch?"
Rodriguez shook his head in surprise,his hands continuing to toss hay to the cattle.
"No, Mrs Emily. I've been keeping an eye out, but I haven't seen anything suspicious.
"So when did you arrive?, because I was here earlier this morning.And everything was in a good shape."
"Ehmmm.. actually... Maybe someone must have gotten information that you left. Cause me,when I arrived,the incident had occurred."
Rodriguez's voice sounded defensive.
"That's strange,I think someone is trying to sabotage my ranch."
Rodriguez expressing turned sympathetic. "I know how hard it's been for you. But sometimes accidents just happen."
"No I really don't think so,if you assume it is an accident,why is August ranch not affected?".
Rodriguez was silent, looking at Emily.
"You know what? Just go back to what you were doing, I will try to fix this up."
As she turned to walk Rodriguez called out,
"Mrs Emily,!!"
"Yes," she replied,turning back.
"Ma,is everything okay with you and Mr August?"his voice low and gentle.
Emily's hands paused, her eyes flicking up to meet Rodriguez's. "What do you mean?"
Rodriguez gave Emily a small smile."I got that idea,from the way you spoke about his ranch".
Emily got surprised..
"Really,but I never mentioned anything about his ranch."
"Is fine ma,if you don't want to talk about it. And besides is wrong of me to interfere in your private life." Rodriguez said his face remorseful.
Emily sighed, her shoulder sagging.
" You don't have to get sad or feel sorry,you are only trying to check out on me, this shows how caring you are not only to work but to me as well,so its fine."
She tried to catch a breath,before she continued.
"We had a fight, Rodriguez. About the ranch, about our families... everything, you know I'm telling you this because I have grown to trust you".
Rodriguez's face softened. "Ah, I'm so sorry. But you know, August seems like a good man. Maybe you should talk to him, work things out."
"I don't know, Rodriguez. It's complicated."Emily's eyes dropped her voice low.
Rodriguez's hand reached out to her,
"Life is complicated, follow whatever your heart says okay?."
"Thank you. You should just continue feeding the rest of the animals, while I run around to fix the ranch. And don't forget your eyes should be at watch".
Emily commanded, her hands moving to her eyes direction.
Rodriguez nodded,as he watched Emily leave. A little smirk playing on his lip.
Jake POV
"Hey,bro!can I have the key to the white SUV."
"Jake, what dad said is not true right?" August asked standing and moving to the direction of the his door where Jake was standing. His eyes anticipating for a positive answer.
"What are you saying man!!. I don't get it." Jake got surprised at August sudden outburst.
"The documents.... Dad said you know about it". His voice trembling.
"Wait... Don't tell me this all about this Emily of a girl." His sterned face suddenly switched to a soft smile slowly to a very crazy laughter.
"Is not a joke jake.it was a forged document right?. August spoke his face filled with lots of worries.
"Stop it!! It's no longer funny, because you have completely lost it,how could you presume a real document to be fake, all because Emily is the topic."
August ran his fingers through his hair."Don't tell me is over." He whispered to himself, before turning to face Jake, whose gaze was disdaining.
"So was our family, behind the ranch downfall?."
"Dear brother the ranch is going to go down as long as Flynn exists. He paused for a while.
"Plus, they have also played adamant to hand ranch over". He continued.
August grabbed Jake in his collar his fiest tightened.
"You..have..to..stop, whatever dirty games you and dad are playing behind my back.Emily is innocent." His voice shaking in rage. His veins becoming more visible.
"I can see you have fully been eaten up by love. But first, take your filthy hands off my shirt."
Jake spoke forcefully pulling off August grip.
August took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
Jake arranged the rumbled tip of his collar.
"And you, Mr lover boy,you should talk to Emily to hand back what's rightfully ours. Or more calamity will keep befalling her". Jake smiled mockery taking over his voice.
"Emily and I are having a fight,because she found out about the raiding you and dad are causing in her ranch".August stood transfixed, his words halting Jake who was making an attempt to leave.
"Is not that bad,at least she's clever enough to cut tiles with you. Because you are a suspect, and you are part of it. Unlike you...."
"Jake,you should speak to dad we need to retreat.the loss is getting too much"
August Interrupted.
"Stop what? Our hands are clean,I think she's just being affected by the golden rule. Oh!! My bad Seems like you have forgotten, let me help you remember.
It states: what goes around must come around".
"See you when I return."
Jakes let out a loud laugh and exited from the room.
Rodriguez pov
Rodriguez approached Emily, who was very intense with her phone, failing to notice Rodriguez.
"Seems like someone is very busy to acknowledge my presence."
Emily smiled, lifting her eyes from her phone.
"Ohh! So sorry,I didn't notice you were here,I think I was so engrossed. So I hope you have not been standing for too long."
Rodriguez hands running through his hair trying to rethink.
"Let's say not for so long." His lips displaying a small smile.
"So,are you ready to home now?" Emily asked.
"Yeah, but actually that's not the main reason why I'm here."
"Okay, I'm listening" she added.
"How do you intend to fix the ranch, because it's in shamble.
"I will try to figure things out, though it might take some time. You know I haven't gotten use to ranch personnel's here."
Rodriguez's eyes narrowed, his voice low.
"I have some... connections. People who can help us.leaving the ranch this way will affect the high rate of customers interest."
Emily's eyes locked onto his, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "What kind of connections, Rodriguez?"
Rodriguez's smile was sly. "Let's just say, I have friends who owe me favors. We can get the ranch back on its feet, and maybe even get to the bottom of who's behind the sabotage."
Emily's eyes widened, in amazement.
" You can't be serious,you're not just a worker, are you, Rodriguez?"
Rodriguez's laughter was low.
"Let's just say, I have many talents, Emily. And one of them is getting things done."
"Thank you so much,my deepest gratitude.I think I can trust you, Rodriguez."
Rodriguez's face softened, his eyes warm.
"You can, Emily. I promise."
"Ok you should return the animals to their warehouse,and the rest of the equipment, seriously secured, before you leave please don't forget to shut the door properly." Emily commanded.
"What of the dead ones,and damaged equipment?".
Rodriguez asked.
"Dispose the equipment, and wrap the dead ones,I have ordered a truck to come and carry them away by tomorrow. So you will have to be here in time."
He nodded before leaving. As Emily watch him leave she thought for a while.
"I think Rodriguez is a good person to help me protect the ranch and fight against August's family. Though he might have his own issues but I sense his loyal. "I'll give him a chance."
August POV
He arrived very early the next day at the ranch. He spotted a truck parked in front of whispering Creek ranch,he viewed from afar to know what's going on.
Some men in uniform were going in and out carrying weighty things wrapped in black. He noticed no one was there to guide them,he didn't hesitate to rush to the ranch.
"Good morning." One of men standing outside spoke up.
"Please without interrupting your work,can I know who invited you to this place." August asked his eyes scanning the whole environment.
"We were given an email by Mrs Emily Wilson to drop at her ranch today,to do away with some dead cow and cattle".
August gasped in shock. "What did you mean". He couldn't control his anxiety.
As they he was still asking two other men came out of the ranch with the same thing wrapped in black, their hands masked with gloves.
"Are this not cattle?" August asked when he saw a tail falling out of the wrapping sack.
"Yeah,they are about seven of them." The man that sounded like their boss replied.
"What the hell!! Is going on".. he whispered to his self.
"Did you run an autopsy?".
"Initially,we didn't want to but seeing the amount of cattle that died in not less than three seconds. We had to run some test."
"So what caused their death." He was astonished, curiosity having the better part of him.
"I think someone pierced their skin with a knife prepared with some dangerous chemical, and the shocking part of it is that the chemical used for this plot was imported".
"That is really absurd.Thanks for lending me some of your time. But where is Emily?August asked.
"I think she hasn't arrived we were received in by her brother." The man added.
"Brother?"August whispered. "Ohh her worker, there is no problem. Thank you." August said trying to force out a smile.
"You must be Mr Flynn". The man asked.
" Oh yeah., but how did you know me?".August replied, with a hint of shock in his tone.
"I once worked for your dad. In his ranch when you were out of town."
"Ohh... Cool. Nice to meet you again." August spoke pulling out his hand of a shake.
The man returned the hand shake."I think we're done. See you some other time."
The man spoke,then shortly their truck disappeared from his sight.
August let out a sigh of relief.
"Where could Rodriguez be?" He thought before strolling to find him.
"Hey!!"August said bumping into Rodriguez.
"What's wrong with you,why are you fidgeting."August asked. His expression mixed.
"Uhmm.. good morning...you arrived so early?". Rodriguez said trying to compose himself.
"Yes, and what's that thing you are holding where did you get it from?" He asked pointing at his hands.
"You mean the steriliser?. I didn't know I carried it along while coming for work." His voice low.
"Please such equipments are not needed here they are very harmful to the animals, please just put them away,okay?"
"Thank you sire,I will do that immediately."
August watched him leave, before returning to his ranch.
Emily's POV
Emily arrived and they both embarked on the journey.
Rodriguez led Emily to a small, secluded cottage on the outskirts of the ranch. Inside, a man with a rugged face and piercing eyes waited.
"Mrs Emily, this is shade," Rodriguez said. "This is the old friend who owes me a favor."
Shade nodded, his eyes locked onto Emily's.
"I've heard about the sabotage. Rodriguez told me earlier before you arrived.I'm here to help."
Emily's eyes narrowed.
"What makes you think you can help?"
Shade smiled, a hint of mischief in his voice.
"Let's just say I have the skills that could help you."
Rodriguez intervened, his voice firm.
"Shade is a professional, Mrs Emily. Trust me, he can help us."
Emily waffles, then nodded.
"Okay. Let's hear what he has to say."
Shade leaned forward, his eyes intense.
"Here's what I'll do for you. I'll scout out the ranch, find out who's behind the sabotage. Meanwhile, Emily, you'll keep an eye on August, see if he makes any moves."
Emily gave a surprised look." What do you mean?".
"I have been into this for a long time,yes, August should be your suspect. Everything seems to be fine with your own ranch why his blossom every day. His part of your problem."
"And what about his ranch hands?" Emily asked again,her suspicion growing.
Can we trust them?" Rodriguez spoke up.
I don't think they are aware of August plot,but you still have to be careful cause they are his loyal workers.already spoken to them, Emily.
Emily felt a surge of determination. "I will do it. Thank you."
The three of them clasped hands, strong bonding forming between them.