We sat outside Dad's house under the big oak. Greg sat next to me, and the guy is like a lost puppy. I'm starting to feel like Dad has planned out my future with this guy. Grandpa asks him tons of questions about New York, his business, and how he has enjoyed the quiet here on the ranch.

"There's a lot about this place I'm attracted to." He answers and looks at me. Of course I blush, I always blush.

Then leave it to my grandpa to bring up Braden. "Honey, I heard about the pneumonia Braden had, and I've spoken to Kathleen, are you okay?"

I can see the hurt in my aunt Blair's eyes.

"Just because they are making him a DNR, doesn't mean he's going to die and never wake up." I said.

"He's not coming back, dear. He has barely any brain function. Kathleen said he's suffering quite a bit with infections and bed sores, and the young man I know, wouldn't want to live that way."

"Dad, can you change the subject? We were having such a nice time, and this is obviously hurtful to Bella." Blair speaks up.

"Sorry honey, I just want to see you happy again." He leans over and pats my hand.

"Thanks Grandpa." Yeah, thanks for reminding me the love of my life is half dead.

"I don't think he could live with what he did anyways. Killing that family? No, I'd rather just die than live with that burden." My Uncle Jack says, and I couldn't even breathe.

"Excuse me." I got up and ran into the house.

"Really Jack? You're an asshole!" Blair yelled.

I couldn't catch my breath, and Dad came running after me. He just held me while I cried. He didn't say a word, he didn't need to, because there's no words to comfort me. Just Daddy's arms will do at the moment.

"Are you okay now?" He cupped my face and looked at me. "I wish I had magic words to fix everything baby girl, but I just don't have any. My brother is an asshole, and always has been."

"It's okay, he's right isn't he? Braden wouldn't ever be the same even if he woke up?" I looked at my dad for the answer.

"I'm afraid not, honey." He pulled me back into him, and I cried.

I heard the door slide open. "Hey, can I have a moment with my favorite niece?" I hear Blair's voice.

"Sure" Dad gives me one last squeeze and kisses my head before he walked away.

I spent the next half hour talking with my aunt, and then she brings out the boxes she brought. "These are all yours sweetie! I'll have the boys load them in your car."

"Blair! There's so many! It's not necessary."

"You're my girl, and I want to spoil you. Make me happy and wear them, okay? Plus, I think you'll need them real soon." She winks at me.

What?

"Come, your dad wants to talk to everyone. "

She takes me by the hand and leads me back out, where my dad announces he's going to run for governor.

This means trips to Frankfort, events, and everything else. Great...Not!

Everyone wished him luck, including me, but life is about to get real busy.

Everyone started leaving, and the guys carried Blair's boxes to my car. My brothers spoil me, and that's no joke.

Dad's three collies came running up. "Dad, where's Oliver?" I asked.

"Well, I don't know, he was just here a minute ago."

"Ollie!" Dad went looking while I said goodbye to my grandpa.

"Bella! Come quick, it's Ollie!" Jackson came running.

"What's wrong?"

"He's limping and has a bloody paw."

"I swear my job's never done in this ranch." I smile at Greg, and he walks with me to the other side of the barn.

I leaned down. "What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Ollie is my dad's Jack Russel he lets live inside, but has a lot of energy. He's licking at his paw.

"He's got some swelling, and I can't tell if somethings in there or what's going on. I'll have to get some pictures at the clinic." I said.

"Oh, I guess maybe Jack can take Dad..."

"No, you take Grandpa home, and I'll take Ollie." I interrupt him.

"I'll help." Greg volunteers.

"Okay, I'll grab an old blanket, and we'll put him in my car, thanks Greg."

I laid out a blanket on my backseat and Greg placed Ollie on it, then we hopped in the car.

"I swear my dad's ranch alone could keep me busy full time." I had the car in reverse.

"Did you grow up here?" Greg asked.

"No, I was born in France when dad was stationed there, then we went to Fort Bragg until I was in fifth grade. Then it was Ft. Campbell, and finally, Ft. Knox when Jackson and I were freshman. This ranch was my grandparents' until Dad bought it years ago."

"It must have been hard transferring as a freshman." He said.

"Not really, we spent summers here, and we were always friends with Darren, Braden, and Kelly, so we already knew people. We were used to friends moving away with transfers and all, it wasn't too bad. Mom got sick around that time, so Dad was ready to retire and concentrate on her." I said.

He rests his hand on mine that was on the gear shifter. I felt goose bumps, but for some reason didn't move my hand away.

"So many questions, Greg. Tell me about you, your girlfriend?"

He looks at me with confusion.

"I don't have a girlfriend."

"Okay, girlfriends." I correct myself.

"You googled me didn't you?" He gave me an awkward look.

I just shrugged my shoulders.

"I date, but no serious relationships, not like you and Braden."

"You had a high profile date that night in London."

He shook his head. "I had a photo opp, not a date, and there's a difference. A lot of my life is for my father's big show, so don't believe what you read."

We pulled up to the clinic, and Greg picked up little Ollie and brought him inside.

"Lay him on the table and I'll take an x-ray, put this lead apron on." I handed it to him, and he gave me a funny look. "I want you to hold him still while I push the button, you'll have to be my vet tech tonight."

I smiled at him when he slipped it on and held Ollie down.

I have digital x-ray, so I pulled them up on the screen.

"See, it's a thorn." I pointed it out on the screen.

"How? That things huge, and he's so little."

I shrugged my shoulders. "No clue, but we've got to get it out and sew him up."

I gave Ollie some anesthesia and got to work on his leg, then I pulled up the thorn. "Damn, I don't even want to guess how he managed this."

Greg looked at it. "Yeah, it's not like he could have put much weight on that leg."

I set it aside and started cleaning the wound. "Can you open that package?"

He did, and handed me the suture so I could sew him up.

By the time I was done, I had his leg wrapped up and a fresh new cone on Ollies neck.

"Why the cone?" He asked.

"It's just for a week to keep him from licking and pulling out his sutures, we don't want to risk infection."

I called Dad and updated him. "Ollie will have to stay with me tonight since he had anesthesia, but I'm sure he will just sleep."

We wait around to make sure Ollie wakes up before we leave. I put him in a crate, and Greg followed me to my office.

"Do you have many people working for you?"

I shook my head. "No, not yet. I just opened a week ago, so I don't have that income yet. The greater portion of my work is out of the office anyway, mostly large animals."

"So horses and mules?"

"And jackasses." He smirked.

"Cows and other farm animals, there's a wildlife rescue not far, and I just got a contract with them, so I get to see some big cats, wolves, and some bear even."

His eyes grew big. "You can treat all animals?"

"Sure, I did my internship at the Louisville Zoo. I treated elephants, giraffes, and lots of animals."

"You're amazing." Greg smiled. "I knew that on the flight to London, but I never expected all this, Isabella."

"Greg, what's your deal? You talk about intentions and all that, but you know about Braden. You've got girls in New York, so why all this, here with me?"

He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees. "I honestly don't know. That night, the way you felt, smell, and the way I feel when I see you. I knew that night I needed to find you. I had no idea I'd see you at the ball or that you were the Generals daughter. All I knew is how bad I needed to see you again. I don't know...honestly, it's like I can feel your presence before I even know you're in the room." He runs his hand over his face.

"I know what I want, but I don't know how it happened. My intentions are to know you, Isabella, you're intriguing." He said.

I laugh. "Me? Intriguing? I'm boring, and if you think I'm anything like that girl in the club, you're wrong."

"Since I have been here, people have called you Isabelle, Isabella, Bella, Izz and Izzy. What do you like to be called?"

"Bella, my parents always call me Bella. There's also Doc., some of the old timers call me that, so it's really up to you."

"What do you want? I know your body reacts to me." He smirks, and I shift uncomfortably in my chair.

"You don't have to answer that, I know your heart is with someone else." He sits back.

Is it? If so, why is it beating so hard against my chest right now?

Can you see how people are trying to force her to give up on Braden? Is that healthy for her mental health or should she be able to do that in her own time?