Mikel was locked away in her office at the clinic eyeing her birthday gift. No, it wasn't her birthday but the gift she refused to open after learning of his death.Vincent gave it to her two days ago before he officially left the Drummond ranch. Apparently, it fell out of her bag where she kept it for months and he held on to it."When the time is right you will open it."Apparently, he knew what the rectangular box held. A lot has been going on at the ranch and the clinic was her personal haven. It was the middle of the day and her animal patient visit was down to either four or six. "Two more months till you're here peanut. The doctor said three but I have a feeling you're gonna be hasty and reckless as your father," she said softly to her round belly."I wonder what you will look like. Will you have his eyes or mine? Brown hair like mommy or daddy's blonde hair. All I know is you're gonna be perfect." Her attention went back to the beautifully wrapped present. The pain and sadness
The steady beating of her heart and her baby on the machine was soothing to Mikel but she was still worried. On her way to the hospital, she came in the ambulance and was given a full recap of what happened by Maggie. Her heart rate escalated when she was told about Killian's episode. Her blood pressure spiked and she began to worry immensely. Maggie and the EMT got her to calm down enough to keep the baby stable.Throughout all the examinations and consultations her mind was on Killian. When she got back to her room after the last ultrasound Kelsey and Vincent were there with equally worried expressions."What did they say? Can I go see him?" she asked after they fussed over her and got her side of the story."He's still out," Kelsey answered avoiding Mikel's eyes."Something went wrong didn't it?" she asked gravely."He woke up before they reached the hospital and had to restrain him. They actually have to keep him asleep, his sedative intake was doubled. I..I..." Kelsey couldn't co
Two months, One week later. "What part of taking it easy you don't understand angel?" Killian was seated in a chair watching his woman work on her laptop in the hospital bed. Currently, she was eight months and one week into her pregnancy. Earlier in the day she was complaining about pains and brushed it off as Braxton Hicks. He was worried and still called it in. When it was coming too frequently he got a stubborn Mikel to the hospital. It turns out Peanut was impatient and wanted out of his mommy's tummy. Killian was amazed by how easy she was taking it all for her first time. With each contraction that came, she simply laid back in the bed and clutch onto the rails till the pain passed. During a few, he will sit with her but she said that she will need him for the main event. Only his angel can surprise him in every way. Studying her in his corner he was damn proud of himself. Therapy for his PTSD was helping and he was opening up more to his family. They will accompany him to
Five Years Later “Go, Dom!!!” Nine-year-old Trevor Calisto was cheering on his cousin from the fences as the boy broke into a gentle canter on his horse. Both their fathers were in the corral coaching him along the little ride. He chose the 8month old Friesian Colt a day ago when his father Killian told him it was time to get his own horse. Vincent bred top of the line horses, and the Friesian breeds he bred strictly for family. The colt was black as night with a calm demeanor matching his new master's attitude. The two boys were excited. Now they can both ride together around the ranch. “I wanna see.” Trevor looked behind him and rolled his eyes at his baby cousin. She hated being called a baby. At three years old, Kadence Wesson was a force to be reckoned with, everyone doted on the only girl on the ranch. The princess. That’s what Dominic calls her. She was stubborn as her mama and thoughtful as her daddy. He heard the grown-ups say that’s a dangerous combination in a woman. His
My dear and only friend Kelsey, I didn't mean to sound so dramatic up there but ever since I received your pen pal letter those few months ago, I have found peace and longing by it. The way you described your family ranch was a great contrast from this mausoleum I call home. As you know today is my eighteenth birthday. Not much to celebrate when life has been planned for you since you were sixteen. I envy you Kels. I know you do go through the same pain of loss as me but at least you have somewhere to go, something to do when you feel trapped. It's been three days but it feels like forever. Around this time Daddy will be barging into my room and dragging me to the stables or sneaking us to the mall or something. He wanted me to grow up as he did back in New Jersey. I guess his childhood was fun with laughable accidents and loud friends to fill the quiet. It still surprises me that he built all of this to make his family back then happy and kept at it to make my mother and me h
Eight Years Later Present Day "Oh, my, what a sweet little boy!" Mikel sipped on her mimosa and carefully listened to her mother titter over a friend's latest picture of her grandson. The woman who was showing off the red-headed little guy practically pushed her phone in Mikel's face. "Isn't Robinson adorable, Mikel? Sally-Ann is beside herself. So happy in London with her husband. He's a Lord, you know," the woman boasted. "Oh yes. I remember. I was at the wedding and the christening. Quite delightful it was," she countered with a practiced smile on her face. She stressed the word 'delightful' to remind the woman about the debacle her daughter made on both days. Mikel couldn't give Sally-Ann all the credit; her secret boyfriend played his part well too. She felt sorry for Lord Chaswick. She was by his side while he fumed and drank himself to sleep. It pained her as it pained him because they were close friends; they met each other at Princeton in the most socially awkward way.
One month later Whispering Hills Ranch Montana Killian Drummond was two years too late in arriving home. Rubbing his messed up leg with a hand that has been broken too many times he endured the last lap of his journey back home. The road to the ranch seems familiar but the feeling of home wasn’t there. His parents weren’t there, probably new faces working the jobs he once did since he was ten, and a sister who probably resents the heck out of him. He couldn’t blame her. Just like he did with his father he did so too with her. They didn’t part on good terms. He slowed down a tad bit when he caught a few signs hanging below the ranch overhead sign. Home of Kelsey Drummond Five Time Champion Barrel Racer. Three-time Champion Show Jumper. Killian’s eyes widen at the signs, in her past letters she mentioned her competitions but he never asked her about it, he was only focused on staying alive and doing his job. He drove through the gates and parked in front of the sprawling main hous
The past five days have been great for Killian. He took that time to get reacquainted with things and learn about the new methods the ranch adopted. During that time Kelsey introduced him to everyone as their rightful boss. They were accepting after Kelsey and Mama Roarke spoke, the older ranchhands put in their few cents which helped Killian greatly. The foreman took the role of telling him who did what. He pitched in after that, breaking a good sweat and giving his body the exercise it needed. Not taking it too hard he knew when to take a break or go soak his body in some ice. The meds were helping a great deal and he knew in no time he will be back in fighting shape. On one of those days, Kelsey took him to their father’s grave. They had a plot of land at the local cemetery designated for their family only. The church has been a pillar of strength for the family for years. Weddings, christenings, funerals, an escape to talk to God. First Pentecostal was always there.Kelsey gave h