Reunion

Emma

I had only one job and it was to keep the ranch running no matter what, and I failed. 

The price of fodder had jumped significantly over the last week. We could not afford to rely solely on our pastures for fear of overgrazing. Even the hundreds of acres were not enough to keep the cattle fed.

We had only two options, to sell the ranch or to find investors. 

I could not afford to lose the ranch. The place was special to me. It was my heaven on earth, Although sometimes it seemed like I was the only one who appreciated it. My Mom gave up on it the moment my father passed. She was never really interested. She taught In a school and was barely home during weekdays.

I had gone to the old field store a couple of times, but despite being an old customer the owner was set in his ways. Cash payments. Up front. Why did everything have to fall apart all at once? 

Maybe having the boys come back wouldn't be a bad idea. Liam seemed to always have a solution to every problem. 

I looked around the landscape as Sarah, my horse slowly rode across a vast meadow… The fields were beautiful and the views kept me distracted from what had happened earlier.

The fight earlier with my Mom, and me not being able to shake off the thoughts of having the boys back into my life, all had me in a shitty mood. 

Each time my mind flashed on the boys, my heart pounded with a mix of fear and anticipation. Fear of being consumed by my desire for them. 

It was wrong. What I felt for them was forbidden, yet in the darkest part of my soul, it felt right. 

It was awfully quiet and Sarah seemed to be affected by my mood as she didn’t neigh. She just rode on, quiet except for the clip-clop of her hooves on the hard earth.

She was not just any horse; she was a beautiful, pure-white mare that stood as a silent companion in my world of chaos. Her coat, as white as the driven snow, seemed almost otherworldly amidst the rugged backdrop of the ranch.

I got her as a birthday present from my Dad when I was nine. I was on my way from school when I first saw her brought into the ranch and we instantly connected.

Ever since, she became my confidant, my solace. She could read my emotions like an open book. When I was happy, she would frolic in the fields with me. And when sadness overcame me, she would nuzzle my cheek, as if offering her silent support, reminding me that I was never alone.

I didn’t choose the name Sarah randomly; it was something I had cherished since I was a child. Sarah was the name of my grandmother, a woman whose wisdom and kindness had left a profound mark on my heart.

We rode on and a little while later, we reached a wooden gate framing a long driveway. There was a hanging sign that read; Harvey’s ranch. That was my father’s name.

We had been out for hours, and I was hoping by the time we got home Liam and Aiden would probably be back.

How will I greet them when we come face to face? Is it with a hug or a stranger's kinda ‘Hello’? I’d probably run away.

Will they be happy to see me? Shit! I was thinking too fast. Why would they be happy to see me? I was the one who cut all communications with them because I didn’t want them. Why am I suddenly feeling this way?

They’ve probably moved on, got girlfriends now, and have forgotten that they once had something with me. A whole lot of thoughts were jumbled in my head. 

Sarah perked up her ears and walked a little quicker as I turned up the road.

“Here we are, girl. Home sweet home.” I patted her affectionately, and she nickered in response.

Sarah led me up a grand entrance lined with tall trees and a wooden three-rail fence.

On either side was green pastureland dotted with cows. To the left, is a big red barn. Ahead on the right, the ranch house.

It was a beautiful spread, although clearly past its prime. The fence needed mending, and the red paint on the barn was peeling.

I hopped down and led the horse into the barn. I had just put Sarah in her stable when I suddenly heard a car roaring up the long driveway.

“Holy shit! They are here?” My stomach was in knots, my heart skipping beats.

 It’s been like six hours of them taking up every single one of my thoughts and now that they were here, I didn’t know what to expect.

Peering from behind the barn door, I saw a sleek black Mercedes Benz at high speed. Mr. Hasting hurries out of the house followed by my Mom.

“You got to be kidding me,” I muttered.

The car door swung open and the first to step out was Liam. ‘Holy fuck!’ he looked even hotter than I remembered. With his sun-kissed hair and the confident stride of a seasoned cowboy, Liam looked even more striking. Time had carved his rugged features into something that could only be described as cowboy perfection. He was simply irresistible.

“Liam, my boy.” Mr. Hasting hugged his older son.

I rolled my eyes into my head. The old man knows how to give out hugs that nobody wants.  

 Aiden came out of the car, his eyes glued to his cell phone as he casually greeted them. He returned his father's hug like he was being forced to. 

Aiden's face was a mask of indifference and arrogance. He still hasn’t changed a bit. He looked angry. Some sick, twisted part of me liked it. My cheeks flushed and I had to tear my eyes away from him, returning my attention to the others.

Their very presence sent waves of nervousness and arousal crashing into me, nearly drowning me as I looked at them. I knew I was doomed because seeing them now, I wanted nothing more than to have them touch and kiss me again.

“Liam tell me, how’d the business trip go? Any luck with the investors?” He inquired.

“It was more of a… fact-finding mission this time around, but I’ve got a few more leads.”

Impatiently, “Well tell me all about it?”

My Mom shot him a glare, “Can you leave the business for later and at least allow the boys to settle in first. Where is Emma? Seen her anywhere?” she asked, hoisting their luggage inside with my stepfather’s help. "Where is this girl? Someone needs to make dinner."

As they walked towards the door, my heart quickened. These were no longer just my stepbrothers; they were living, breathing works of art that had me transfixed.