HUNTER CREEK, MONTANA

Jack rode Thunder across his property just as the sun was coming up over the hills. It was his favorite time of day. It was chilly enough for a coat, dew was on the grass, fog was still touching the ground. The best part was the peace that settled over everything, as if mother nature knew he needed quiet before the day started.

Harvey, his chocolate lab, trotted next to him. The dog was truly his best friend. He had been a gift from his Mom ten years before when his father had passed. Jack had taken the loss hard and Charlotte thought Harvey would help him cope.

"Come on, Harv, let's go get breakfast." Harvey let out a bark and ran ahead.

Jack rode Thunder into the barn, brushed him down and gave him a scoop of oats. "Here you go bud, enjoy."

"Hey big brother!" Tom called from the open window of his truck.

"Hey Tom. You got Elisa with you?" Jack loved his niece. She always brought a smile to his face.

"No, she's with her mom."

"Oh. Well, did you eat? I'm going to go make breakfast."

"I did. I was hoping we could talk for a moment."

"Sure. Come in while I feed Harv and make breakfast."

They climbed the expansive porch of the main house and entered the kitchen. Jack poured a small scoop of kibble into Harvey's dish and washed his hands.

"Tom, what's on your mind?"

"I have made a decision." Jack turned at his brothers tone.

"That sounds serious."

"I'm moving."

"Oh, a new place? That's great. That apartment is too small anyway."

"No, Jack. I'm moving to Copper Hills."

"Idaho? You're moving out of state? Why?"

"I bought some land. I'm starting my own ranch."

"Tom, I don't get it. What about this place? Dad left it to both of us."

"Jack, it's never been mine. It's always yours. You and Dad were so close. I need to do this for Elisa and for myself."

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN MADISON WISCONSIN AND HUNTER CREEK

Elizabeth and Julie drove down the seemingly never-ending highway. They were on their way to their own life, one that Elizabeth had been dreaming about since she was a child.

"Come on, Beth. Can't you drive faster?" Julie was impatient as usual.

"I'm already going as fast as I can."

"Is Charles mad at you for moving?"

"Not mad. He doesn't like it but he'll get over it."

Charles and Elizabeth grew up together in Madison. His father worked for the Thatcher Architecture firm that William owned, so their families were close. Charles and Elizabeth went to school together and in their senior year, decided to give dating a try. That was five years ago.

Elizabeth's phone rang. She pushed the button on the steering wheel to answer.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Beth."

"Hi, Charles." She glanced at her sister for a reaction. Julie didn't like Charles too much.

"Where are you?"

"About twenty miles south of Billings." Charles was silent for a moment. "You still there?"

"Yeah. I miss you."

"I miss you too." Julie rolled her eyes.

"I wish you hadn't moved so far away. Why couldn't you take a teaching position in Madison? Why Montana?"

"I told you. This is my dream. I need your support." Her parents were not supportive at all. William had always wanted one of his three daughters to work for the family company. They had all chosen a different path.

"I'm sorry. I just don't get it."

"I don't know what to say, Charles. It's not as if I sprung this on you. I've been planning to leave since we were kids."

"I know. I just never thought you would." What Elizabeth heard was he still didn't take her seriously. It had been a bone of contention in their relationship for years.

"I need to go now. Traffic is getting heavy. I'll call you later."

"Ok, Beth. I love you."

"Bye." She pushed the hang-up button and sighed.

"Traffic huh?" Julie teased. They hadn't seen another car for miles.

"Julie, I just need quiet right now."

ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER

The girls pulled into Hunter Creek, a town on the border of Idaho and Montana. It was a culture shock, to say the least. The Thatcher family had always lived in the heart of the city, so pulling into the small town of Hunter Creek made the girls a little nervous.

They drove through town, at first glance noticing a small grocery store, a feed store, a diner, a beauty shop, and a coffee shop. "Oh Beth, we need coffee."

She pulled into the parking lot of The Bean and they both went inside.

Julie headed to the ladies room and Elizabeth stood in line behind a couple, holding hands. The woman, a young blonde with a perfect figure looked at her phone when it chimed. "Oh, Jack, I'm sorry. They need me at work." He looked at her and nodded. She kissed his cheek and then left the shop leaving him by himself.

"Afternoon, Jack," the young woman behind the counter greeted.

"Hi, Clara. Can I get an iced Mocha, extra shot, no whip?"

"You got it." As she was making his coffee she chatted. "Where did Faith go?"

"To the clinic." His feelings were very apparent in his tone. Even Elizabeth picked up on his annoyance. Clara apparently knew enough not to ask more questions.

"Here you go, cowboy. Have a better day."

"Thanks Clara." Jack turned, almost walking directly into Elizabeth. "Pardon me, miss." She almost gasped audibly. Holy moly was he gorgeous. She nodded and smiled, her cheeks turning pink. "No problem."

His eyes smiled back at her. His very green eyes framed by long beautiful eyelashes.

"I can help you," Clara said loudly. She shook her head at herself and walked up to the counter.

"Hi, can I get a…."

Jack walked out the door before he caught himself turning to look at the woman he almost walked into. He had no business looking at her. He had Faith.

He had met Faith in high school. They flirted a bit their senior year but never dated each other until her last year of nursing school one year before. Faith was sweet and cute and he felt lucky to have her as his girl, but something was off. He found himself resenting her devotion to her job, mostly because it took her away from him. Like today, for instance. It was supposed to be their day together. They both made time to go get coffee and have dinner, but her phone went off and she left him alone. It wasn't the first time.

There was something about the woman in the coffee shop that made him think twice, though. It could have been her smile, or her blue eyes he could get lost in, or maybe her dark, soft curls that hung halfway down her back. Whatever it was, he wished he knew her better and then he wished he didn't wish that.

THE BEAN

Elizabeth and Julie sat at a table by the window, sipping their coffee and eating their croissants.

"Oh my gosh, this is heavenly," Elizabeth mumbled around her decadent bite.

"It sure is," Julie agreed, licking her fingers.

"Jules? Maybe you should work here. There's a help wanted sign in the window."

"You just want me to work here so you can get coffee and croissants."

"Actually, that would be a perk, but really I just want you to afford your half of the rent."

"You worry too much. I have savings."

"Why waste the savings if you can just get a job in the first place?" Julie Thatcher had always been careless with her money. Growing up wealthy had taught Elizabeth how much she wanted to make her own way, but Julie had just relied on their parents and never looked ahead.

Julie's cell vibrated. "It's Mom. She wants to know if we made it."

"Ok. Go ahead and tell her."

Julie's thumbs flew across her phone as she texted her mom. "Made it. We r fine. No worries."

"How awful is the apartment?" Grace asked.

"Haven't been yet. I'm sure its fine."

"Wish you hadn't gone with Beth. This hairbrained idea of hers…"

"Relax Ma. We'll be fine."

"What is she saying?" Elizabeth wondered.

"Nothing much."

"I probably don't want to know anyway." Elizabeth stood and threw away their cups and trash. "Lets go. I want to start unpacking."

The girls found their apartment with ease. It was a two bedroom, one bathroom in the upstairs of a large home just outside of town.

As they walked up the steps to their back door for the tenth time, they heard a male voice. "Need some help?"

"Yes, that would be great," Julie agreed.

"Julie! We don't know him. What if he's an axe murderer?"

"Shush. Someone that cute can't be a killer." She smiled at him. "I'm Julie and this is Elizabeth, my older sister."

"I'm Tom Thornton. I live downstairs with my six year old daughter, Elisa."

"Nice to meet you, Tom."

"You too. What can I do to help you?"

"We need to bring our furniture up. Beds, dressers, couch. It's in the U-Haul."

"Well, let me grab Peter from next door. We'll have it unloaded in no time."

Tom walked off and Elizabeth glared at her sister. "Julie…"

"Relax. We couldn't unload the thing ourselves. I still don't understand why you didn't hire movers."

"Because, I'm not made of money."

"Technically…"

"No technically. We are on our own now. Daddy isn't here to bail us out anymore. The money we have is all we have."

"If we ran into trouble he would…"

"No, Julie. This is our life, not his."

BACK AT THORNTON ACRES

Jack slammed his truck door, a bit harder than necessary.

"What's stuck in your craw?" His mom asked from the garden.

"Nothing."

"I thought you were going out with Faith tonight."

"That was the plan."

"Well, why don't you take me on a date?" she suggested.

"Sure, Ma. Let's go to dinner and a movie."

"Mmm. China Garden? I really want to see that new Richard Gere movie."

"Sure, whatever you want. Let's go get changed and we'll go."

He jumped in the shower, put on jeans and a new button down and went downstairs.

"Don't you look handsome, son."

"Thanks Ma. You look nice too." He kissed her cheek.

"Jack, if you don't want to take me out, I understand. I just thought we could have some fun."

"Let's go. I'm in the mood for Kung Pao Chicken."

"I'm in the mood for Richard Gere." Jack chuckled, ready to forget his troubles and enjoy spending time with his mom, even if they were going to a chick flick.

They hopped in Jack's old pickup that used to be his Dad's. "What happened with Faith, Jack?"

"Nothing. I really don't want to talk about it."

"I'm a good listener." He knew that was true but she also couldn't help from giving her opinion.

"Let's just go and enjoy ourselves."

As they drove away, Jack's phone vibrated on the kitchen table where he left it.

THE APARTMENT

Tom and Peter carried all their furniture up the steps to the second floor. "Beth, we should at least give them dinner to thank them."

"We have no food in the house. We could get takeout I guess."

"Hey boys," Julie called as she walked to the bedrooms where they were building the beds. "Know any good takeout places around here?"

Peter spoke up. "China Garden is great. My wife would eat it everyday if she could."

"Great. Invite her over. We're getting Chinese to thank you and Tom."

He pulled out his phone and called his wife. "Hey Clara. I'm at the upstairs apartment next door. We're getting Chinese. Grab a bottle of wine."

Tom offered to get the Chinese and Julie went with him under the guise of needing to learn where everything was in town.

Jack and Charlotte were sitting in the waiting area at the restaurant when Tom and Julie walked in.

"Hey, Ma, Jack."

"Hi, son," Charlotte greeted. "Who might this be?"

"This is Julie. Julie this is my mom, Charlotte, and my much older brother, Jack."

"Nice, Tom. I'm only five years older than you." He ruffled his hair and smirked.

"Hi, Julie. How did you and my nerd of a brother meet? By the way, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" she asked.

"Sorry for anything he might do to embarrass you or the family."

"Oh." She giggled, marveling at how incredibly handsome the brothers were.

"Um…my sister and I just moved into the apartment above him and he and the neighbor helped us move our furniture."

"Thornton, party of two?" the hostess announced.

Charlotte stood and grabbed Jack's arm. "Come on, Jack. Our table is ready and the faster we eat, the faster I get to see Richard."

"Nice meeting you, Julie. Enjoy your food."

ON THE RIDE HOME

"Is Richard your Dad?"

"Richard?"

"Yeah, your mom was in a hurry to see Richard."

"Oh, no. My Dad passed about ten years ago. I'm guessing, knowing my mother, she was going to drag Jack to see the new Richard Gere movie."

Julie laughed. "Well, can't deny a handsome face." She gazed at him as she flirted, happy when he grinned back at her.

"So, where did you move from?"

"Madison, Wisconsin."

"Why did you move way out here?"

"My sister is following her dreams and I came along for the ride."

"What dreams are those?"

"Number 5 on her bucket list. It's her dream to teach here."

"In Montana?"

"Well, yes and no. Not necessarily Montana, but somewhere completely different than where we grew up. Somewhere where she won't be living under my father's thumb."

A BIG THANK YOU TO KRISTINE FRADENBURG FOR GIVING ME THE GO AHEAD TO USE THIS BUCKET LIST IDEA. THANK YOU ALSO TO LISA ALLEN FOR BRAINSTORMING IDEAS WITH ME FOR THIS STORY AND FOR COMING UP WITH THE BUCKET LIST IDEA.