I head back out towards Ellie’s room. Poking my head in, I find her in the same position as when I left and I let out a quite snicker to myself.
Walking towards the note I left earlier, I cross out the original instructions and write a new note.
Heading over to Mamaw’s and Gramps.
Come for breakfast when you’re up <3
Gone to the office,
head over to Mamaw’s and Gramps when you are up.
Love you <3
Satisfied and knowing Mama checks on her regularly until she arrives at the one minute and thirty-seven second walk away, I head out the back door and walk down towards the office.
The sun’s still rising, clear sky’s shine through the fields. Today’s going to be another hot one. Hopefully, Colter and the cowboys packed enough water for the day.
My office is a slightly further walk down the path, but I enjoy the walk every day. Reminds me whyI love this little slice of heaven so much. Horses grazing in the fields, the cool breeze brushing against me.
Riggin’s Ranch fell on just over six-thousand acres of pure heaven.
The big house belongs to Mama and Daddy. Daddy remodelled the whole house once he and Mama got married almost forty years ago. From the old pictures I’ve seen over the years, it looked outdated before. Now, it looks like every southern dream with high beams and classic woodwork.
Mama’s redecorated a few times over the years. Now, it has a beautiful modern rustic feel, with greens and creams running throughout the large house.
Our family are on our fourth generation with my Daddy running the ranch.
Fifth with my brother, and I suppose sixth once it reaches my daughter, or a first-born son, but that would be down to my brother. My prospects on having another baby would be zero to none at this rate, and my brother isn’t interested in settling down anytime soon.
Well, not unless it’s with a certain someone. And he’s still unable to pull his head out of his ass with that one.
I’ve always dreamed of staying here, living my life here. I refuse to be anywhere else.
The dream of helping to run the ranch in whatever way I could is what lead me to my business degree. Knowing how to make something tick, knowing how to make something work and profit for the best. I also know when to cut my losses as well, are all things I’m more than versed in.
Professionally and personally.
Walking along the lane, my office comes into view. I say office, it’s more of a large summer house that I’m lucky enough to call my own.
When Colter and I starting helping my dad, the idea was he would go into retirement, so we built the summer house, with my own input, to exactly what I felt was most me but also professional.
I always thought it would be a more professional look than having business meetings inside my parents’ house. The walls are a light pine and look more like a cabin in the woods. I feel at peace looking at anything rustic, calm and composed.
If I kept walking further down from my office I can see the large stables in the distance; one of my favourite places to be. The smelland sounds always bring me some serenity.
Letting in a deep breath, I take the moment in around me. The sun rising, cowboys shouting in thedistance, the animals being…
Now this… is home.
Two
Mabel
Leaning the office phone in between my neck and my check, I place my pen back into my mouth.
“So, the ponies will need to be in the high street for eleven, sharp.” Mrs Hamilton says down the phone.
“No problem, Ma’am. How many do we need again?” I ask, confirming what I already know.
