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Rachel
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Single Daddy Jason
I was on the road pretty late, but it was early morning when I got close to the ranch. I didn’t pay much attention to the scenery when it was dark, but now that it was daylight, I couldn’t help but look around.How long had it been since I’d been away from the chaos of the city? Out in the country, it wasn’t quite so crowded. There were large fields with the occasional house or building. I passed some small towns on the way before I got to the one closest to the ranch. It had been years since I was back, and in that time, my grandpa had been insisting I came back. He had been even more insistent about it more recently.I can't believe I’m going back, though.The last time I left, I’d been pretty sure I would be staying away for good.I slowed down the car as I came closer to the last place I wanted to be. If my place weren't so dangerous for the moment, I wouldn’t have gone to begin with. Now that I had, I couldn’t help but regret it. Like I knew something bad would happen on this tri
Single Daddy Rachel
When a car that could only be Jason’s drove up to the front of the house, Nathan and I both heard it. The engine sounded too low, and most of the cars that ever came to the ranch were big cars or trucks. The sound of Jason’s engine was so low; we heard the tires driving up first when most trucks could be heard from quite a distance away.And then, the front door was opening, and I heard his voice.Jason…How long had it been since I’d heard his voice? Longer than since I last saw him, and that had only been at a distance when he didn’t even notice I was there because I’d wanted it that way.So why the fuck am I here, waiting for him to show up? Get up and run away, Rachel! He’s too close!It was a little too late just to run away, though. I knew I wouldn’t make it, even if I went for the back door just a few feet away. Because I could hear his feet as he walked across the living room.My body turned on its own the closer he got. I was nervous and afraid, but a part of me still very mu
Single Daddy Jason
I got back home that same evening. I was so tired out from driving all over the place that the first thing I did was go to my bedroom and fall into bed. I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I had a very long, very restful sleep.When I woke up, I felt like a new man. Why couldn’t I go back to work just as usual? I had work to do. It was a business I’d strived for on my own, for years, without the help of my family. So what if my grandpa didn’t leave his ranch to me? I had enough to my name to feel good about going independent. And, either way, I still wouldn’t have taken it.I was probably not the person meant to have it, anyway.So, I went around getting ready. I hadn't woken up too late, and after an extra day of absence, I was in a hurry to get back into the swing of things. My life wouldn’t go back to normal if I just sat back and waited for it to, after all.I had some time for breakfast, and for the first time in a while, I made some. I had ingredients all over the ho
Single Daddy Rachel
I’d been at the hospital pretty much from when we took Nathan in. He’d already called for a car, thankfully, from one of the workers on the ranch. So we were able to get him there quickly for treatment.The twins were called the next day. And, the day after that, we got the news that Nathan didn’t make it.I was there with Jason to receive the news, though I wondered if he’d even seen me. Noah was out by that time, but he got the news later.Jason…took it hard. To say he was devastated would be an understatement, and I couldn’t compare it to his careless, jerky attitude from a few days ago. I’d been ready to give up on him, but I felt sorry for him at that moment.When he left the hospital alone, I couldn’t stop my feet from following him. I was wearing shoes with rubber soles and moved so my steps were near silent. I didn’t think he even noticed I was behind him, trying to muster the courage to call out to him until we got outside and he just stopped.“Rachel?”I jumped when he said
Single Daddy Jason
I was not meant to take care of a ranch.I’d always known, and it was one of the reasons I’d left to begin with. I was reminded of this when I tried to take care of the ranch after the funeral.There was a time when I’d had a try at it, so it wasn’t like I didn’t know. But, for several months, I’d changed that knowledge into what I could do for my business, not how to take care of a ranch. In a lot of ways, my business in the city had been easy, especially since I’d had some partners that helped with the bulk of the work.I had the ranch foreman to help out, but he was just another part-timer that had come in after I’d been gone, so most of the work still fell on me. I was starting to regret selling everything and coming down here so impulsively.Then, Rachel walked into the office one morning, hands fisted on her hips with a fierce, determined look on her face.“I’m going to help you, Jason, and you’re going to let me do it,” she declared, voice firm.It surprised me. Ever since our
Single Daddy Rachel
A few days passed. Jason and I were working well together, and he was starting to remember how things were done. Not that long had passed, and already he was less than a mess.But, that had always been Jason. If he put his mind to something, it would only be a matter of time before he fully grasped it. He hadn't let that many people see that side of him, though, even his family.The ranch was slowly moving back to its normal operations. It was pretty sizeable land that took a lot of work, even when all you were doing was paperwork. I also noticed that a lot of the paperwork was stuff Nathan had left alone. I could feel a pang in my chest as I thought of him being too unwell to even do his work right. The ranch had meant a lot to him, and I knew he wouldn’t have neglected it otherwise.Everything was going fine, until I received a call, just when I’d finished getting dressed so I could go over to the farm.“Hey, Mary?” I said slowly. “What is it?”My babysitter sighed on the other end
Single Daddy Jason
Things were slightly hectic without Rachel there. The order we’d been building was slightly off. I knew it, but I was too stubborn to admit it and kept trying to make things work.There was some paperwork I just had to get done before I could make my rounds in the fields, and even then, I had to have my phone on for emergencies, instead of leaving her to focus on it.I didn’t want to think about it, though, how her absence was affecting the ranch and me. Because all I kept going back to, was how Rachel had a toddler, and I’d had no idea about it. I hadn't gotten a close look at the boy. He was young, and she couldn’t have found someone so quickly after I’d left. Which meant, the child could have been conceived, while she was still with me.Dammit, Rachel…how could you do this to me?The feeling of betrayal was heavy on my chest.Besides, I was getting the hang of it, and I was pretty sure the ranch could survive without her there for a bit. For a while.“Hey, boss!”I glanced up as on
Single Daddy Rachel
There was no word from Jason for a few days. It was to be expected, after his little stop at my place, but why did it hurt me so much? Because he’d misunderstood something? And he’d walked away without letting me explain, while I let him walk away without speaking up a bit more firmly. I’d done it just fine on the ranch. But, I hadn't been vulnerable there. That had been him.It wasn’t quite that the tables had turned, but more than they were back to rights, and I hated it that way.You were going to tell him anyway, I thought to myself. At some point.That didn’t make me feel any better, though.I kept wondering if he needed help, but I didn’t have the courage to go and look for him to ask. Just like it had always been between us. Jason walked, and I was more often than not too afraid to reach for his back, and he left.I wondered if that would ever change about us.When another surprise knock came to my door, I was more prepared. Still, it was a surprise to open the door and see Jas
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