Stepping out of the shower I made my way around my floral covered sheets.  Today we were going to rack up a good part of the cattle for the first buyer I had acquired. And having sold seven cows that meant a good pay day for me.  My mother needed to get a few things for around the house and it would be nice to see some more money back in the bank.  

$7,500 was what it equaled out too, and having healthy cattle was more then I could ask for.  Last year I had lost quite a few due to a cold, man if only that hadn't happened.  I wouldn't have to sell so much this year.

Looking out the window the sun was just coming over the horizon, and colored the sky in different pinks and oranges.  It was a reason I enjoyed getting up so early.  Not only did it give me an hour or two before the kids woke up, but it gave me the time I needed to compose myself for the day.

Opening the window I took a long deep breath.  The chill of the season was finally moving in.  Not only meaning pumpkins and turkey, but the start of the school year for Lucas.

1st Grade.  Oh my God...my son would be in 1st Grade.  It rocked me to my core, but I knew I had to get over it.  

Making my way down I got a cup of coffee and headed out to the barn.  I ran my hand down Ivory's black tipped nose and brushed her down.  Then repeated the process with Rosa and Cowboy.  Laying them out there oats and apples for breakfast I watched as they munched away, thinking about what my day would be like.  And as soon as they were done, I lead the horses out into the pasture and let them wonder.  It wasn't good to keep them cooped up, and once you had a horses trust you knew they would stay near.

I made sure that everything was under way like I did every morning, collecting the chicken eggs, feeding all the animals, and mucking out the stables when I heard a very high pitched squeal come from the other side of the barn.

Curious, sense the sun hadn't even been out for a full hour yet, I made my way round and saw...I couldn't even believe it.  Diana.  Caleb's sister, trying to watt away Rosa's curious assault.  All in all trying and failing, while trying to keep the mud off her, what I could tell, very expensive shoes.

"Ah!  Back up you beast!"  Her face was pure fear for the animal and I laughed as I made my way over.  Tapping Rosa on her cheek she brought her nose down and I ran my hand over her.

"Well, Diana, I hadn't expected to see you here.  What do I owe the honer?"  She huffed and some of her hair went out of her face, but she kept an eye on the curious Rosa.

"Please make that thing go away."

"Thing?  You mean Rosa?"  She waved her hand.

"What ever, just make it leave me alone!"  She huffed again then looked down to her shoes.  "Oh goodness...my poor poor shoes."  I wanted to barf at the way she spoke to her shoes.  But then again I thought about the type of woman I suspected she was, and decided that they were the closest things to love she had at this moment.

"Why are you here Diana?  I didn't think you liked me all that much when we met at the hospital."

"What? Not like you?  I don't know you enough to make that judgment.  But I must say, this wild dirt and all is making you look messy."

"It's called work. Earth.  Life even?  We all start at the dirt."  She waved her hand again at me and Rosa and I sent Rosa on her way.  I watched as she trotted over to Ivory and laid her head on her back.  Poor Rosa just wanted to make a new friend. 

I looked back at Diana who was still fussing over her shoes.

"So, why are you here?"  Taking a deep breath she sucked it up and looked at me.

"First, I wanted to say sorry for automatically accusing you of trying to kill my brother.  And secondly...I wanted to see what the fuss was all about."

"Fuss?"  It had been a few days sense Caleb had been released from the hospital, but I hadn't seen him around her on the Ranch.  "What Fuss?"  She shifted and almost toppled over.  Catching her elbow I helped her stand straight.

"Can we maybe go over to your porch?"

"Yeah, sure."  Without even asking, she took my hand in hers and held on for dear life.  It surprised me yet again what other types of lives people lived.  Not being able to steady ones sense on dirt was definitely something I wasn't used too. 

We made our way up and saw that Jason was already here, his car in the lot, along with the silver Mercedes I suspected of being Diana's rental.

She let go of my hand with a silent thank you and took a seat on our porch swing.

"I must say...you d-do have a nice little home here."  She seemed so out of place sitting there with her pencil skirt and heals.

"Thank you."  I sat next to her and was about to ask again what she had meant when a scream came from inside followed with chuckles and giggles.  A load howl came from no other then Jason as he carried my little man out the front door.  The screen door smacked shut and Diana jumped.  She looked up at him in surprise.

"Harper, this little one of yours doesn't put up much of a fight.  He challenged me and I won with little effort!"  He laughed as Lucas pounded on his back laughing.

"You didn't give me a chance you Bear!"

"Bear?  Ima bear now?"  They laughed and hollered all the way down to the barn.  Rangling each other as long as I could see.  Jason was always so friendly and helpful.  Not only was he the sheriff, but a very good friend.

"Well...he's...something."  I looked over to see that Diana was flushed.  I wanted to laugh sense it was so obviously written on her face.  She thought he was attractive in every way.

"Oh I know.  He's the sheriff here in town."

"He is?"  She sounded breathless as she looked off at the barn they had disappeared into.

"Yea.  I've known him sense I was twelve at least.  He's a good three years older, but he is an awesome guy."  She just nodded then shock herself out of it, turning even redder as she caught me watching her.  I always found it so cute when someone just couldn't help but look...like I couldn't help and look at her brother.

I looked down to the wood of the patio wanting to hide my thoughts, but I knew it wasn't going to work.  The moment I had set eyes on Caleb I had been lost.

"I'll be leaving town tomorrow morning."  It was abrupt and something I hadn't expected. I looked up to see her looking over the sky.  "I never thought Id be a little upset to leave this place.  I mean, you guys don't even have good stores here...but it is very beautiful to look at."

"Thank you.  If yo-"

"Harper!"  My mothers voice cut me off and I shut up from my seat.

"Ma?  What is it?"  I went to the door and saw her holding Peyton, with some type of food all over them.  I laughed and excused myself from Diana, helping my mother clean up.

Once everything was said and down everyone had migrated into the house for breakfast.  Including Diana.

She had rejected at first, but everyone knew my mother wouldn't stand for it.  Being Caleb's sister she was already on good graces with her, and being a Dragon, being good with Lucas.  She didn't get it at first, but laughed when she did.  

Id made sure that she was sitting next to Jason, and why not?  She may be leaving tomorrow, but you gotta like the company you keep.

We were all about done when I heard a knock on the door.  Excusing myself again from the talk of a get together tonight with everyone I went to see who was there.

"Hello?"  I asked, but didn't have to much more as I saw Caleb standing on the porch.  I stepped out with a smile and brought him into a light hug, afraid to squeeze to hard.  "Two surprise guests in a day, pretty awesome."  I laughed.  This morning had turned out pretty good.

He hugged me back, then stood back and took my hand.  Pulling me over to the side, out of view, he smiled.

"Another guest ah?  I was wondering about that car?"

"It's your sisters."  His face fell.

"Oh dear God I'm sorry.  She behaving?"  I chuckled and stepped back from him.

"She's fine.  Quit nice once you get past her exterior.  Now, why may I ask, are you here today?  I hadn't been expecting you sense you have to work."  He looked around and saw the stalls the cattle would be going in and shrugged.

"You could use another set of hands."

"Not with that injury.  No."  Getting serious I took a step toward him.  "I won't let you get hurt like that again.  You have to heal."

"There is nothing more they can do for me at the moment.  It's on natures coarse now."  He challenged me as he took a step closer to me as well.

"Please don't Caleb..."  He stopped me by placing a hand on my waste and drawing me closer.  My breath hitched at knowing how intimate that was.

"And plus...I have been dying to do this for days." Placing his other hand behind my neck he rubbed little circles on the skin there, setting my skin on fire.  He squeezed my hip and looked into my eyes asking if it were okay...and having no response but the heat of my body, he took it, and kissed me.