Author's Note-So the preview that I put out before this chapter is actually a preview that will be in the second chapter, if that makes any sense? I want to thank the people who took their time reviewing the preview. I know that I said the first chapter wouldn't be up until a week or two, but I couldn't wait any longer. I've had this sitting around in my computer for a while now, and I guess it's from summer inspiration, but I wanted to finally upload it. I'm kind of nervous because I've never written a story like this, but I loved the book and whenever I read Nora Roberts she always inspires me. So tell me what you think at the end...


Beginning- The point of time or space at which anything begins

It was a windy September day when the casket was lowered into the ground. It was a nice shiny brown casket filled with nothing but a hated man who knew how to gain respect from the nicest of people. This said man was named Carlos Montez. He owned Montez Ranch which was home to the finest cattle of Montana.

The leaves fell off of the trees surrounding the small cemetery which was home to the past generations of Montez. It was as if the leaves of the trees were crying for the new body transported into the ground which was more than what Gabriella Montez was shedding as her black shoe kicked a hole into the ground accidentally.

She knew her father could be harsh at times, after all, he had showed her no love while treating her like any of his other employees. But she never imagined that he would request that his two older daughters come to his funeral. After all, Kelsi and Blondie, otherwise known as Sharpay, had never even met their father.

Derby Evans was a waitress who was trying to make it big in the food service industry. When she had met Carlos he had been tipsy and had been dancing on the table to provide certain services for men. They had known each other a week before they decided to get married, and after two months Derby became pregnant with Sharpay. The moment Sharpay was out of the womb Carlos had sent the mother and daughter duo packing. He offered the smallest amount of support possible, and Derby on her behalf asked for nothing because as far as she was concerned Carlos was a bastard who deserved only himself.

Haley Nielsen was different from Derby. In fact, the town's people never understood how two years after Carlos' first divorce he could jump to the next woman who was complete opposite of Derby. Haley was self confident, an artist, and a quiet girl by nature. She had been passing through town, taking pictures for a magazine, and had stumbled upon Carlos' ranch. She became intrigued by the horses, and asked him if he minded if she took pictures.

Their marriage only lasted seven months before Carlos kicked Haley out. Kelsi Nielsen wasn't even born yet before Haley's bags were packed and ready to be shipped to Ohio.

Anna Montez was the exception of all three. It was three years after Haley that Carlos and Anna began seeing each other. She had been living in the small town for five years and at the prime age of twenty-four fell in love with Carlos. She was around to see him with Haley, but for some reason that did not stop her from loving the older man who was nearing mid-thirties.

Anna was special though as she already had a son who was two years old. And even though she had Jason Cross, Carlos Montez treated him like he was any other boy working on his ranch. It was after Gabriella was born that Anna fell ill. She passed away when Gabriella was two years old, but some counted her as being lucky considering she lasted years longer than the others. It was her two kids that got the short end of the stick as Jason and Gabriella were left under Carlos' care.

It was twenty-four years later that Gabriella was witnessing the burial of her father. As the minister spoke she felt someone place their hand on her shoulder. She didn't flinch as she knew that it was Jason. He was always checking up on her lately.

As soon as the minister started he had stopped. It took Gabriella a second to realize that it was all over. Everyone was getting ready to make the walk back to the house for Beth's cooking.

Jason watched as everyone left. He kept his eyes on Kelsi and Sharpay longer than anyone else as it was weird to see the two other sisters of Gabriella. The three girls must have all taken after their mothers' looks because there were no resemblances whatsoever except for their height of five feet and four inches.

"We should go Gabi. Your sisters will want to speak with you," he spoke calmly. He was always so mellow and thoughtful, Gabriella thought, as his hand slipped from her shoulder down to her hand.

A snort escaped Gabriella's throat and exited through her nose. "Sisters? Since when did I consider them sisters? It's not as if we grew up together like you and me."

Jason sighed while looking around with his dull brown eyes. "The quiet one, you know, Kelsi?"

"What about her?" Gabriella asked; her eyes never leaving the casket that would soon be in the ground.

"She had bruises on her neck and cheek. They were light so they must be healing, but nonetheless, they were bruises." Jason was the type of person who was always looking for someone or something to heal. That was why he worked mainly with the horses and took care of the barn cats. He also owned several dogs, but his main knowledge consisted of taking care of the few racing horses Carlos owned.

Gabriella drew in a breath between her teeth, the cold winds nipping at her skin. "If I get a chance maybe I'll ask her about them. Or better yet, maybe I'll just get Zeke to look into her file. He's bound to know something without us prying into her life."

"And that Sharpay," Jason whistled. "She sure seems like she's high maintenance. Did you see how high her heels were and how short her dress was?"

Gabriella actually chuckled at that. "Blondie would never survive a place like this. That is for sure."

Jason was glad to see her smile; however, he frowned once a frown made its way onto her face again. "Come on Gabs. The sooner we go back to the house then the sooner people will leave, and then the will can be read. I believe I saw Zeke before."

Gabriella swallowed while looking at the casket that held her father. She narrowed her eyes on it and her foot started scraping against the ground once more. "You can go ahead. I'll be up in a couple of minutes. I just need to breathe for a moment by myself."

Jason nodded his head silently knowing this was Gabriella's way of grieving for the horrible man they buried. He silently slipped off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. He gently squeezed her shoulder once more before turning to walk away.


Sharpay looked around at all the people. She didn't know what bored her more. It was either the fact that this town was so small or that there seemed to be no men her age who looked worth talking too. It was crazy how many people were at her father's burial, but yet, she had heard so many horrible things about this man in the last twenty-four hours that it utterly confused her on why people came to give condolences.

Sharpay didn't want to speak to the grocery man who lost both of his front teeth. She didn't want to even meet the ladies who looked like they were the spokeswomen for McDonalds—even though this town didn't have a McDonalds. And she certainly didn't' want to wait around for her little sister to finally come back from the gravesite. Sharpay couldn't understand why her little sister was so uptight and determined to keep working the ranch when she should be eating up all the attention focused on her and use this grieving period to her advantage on getting time off from work around the house.

When Sharpay spotted her sister who was stuck in the middle sitting by herself near the kitchen door she decided to go over to her. Kelsi looked harmless compared to Gabriella who was always busy doing something and handing orders out.

"You smoke?" Sharpay asked while digging through her purse to grab her cigarettes and lighter.

Kelsi looked up with alarm as if she wasn't expecting anyone to talk to her. "Uh…no. No I don't smoke, thank you."

Sharpay raised her plucked eye brown at this girl. She was confused on why she nearly stuttered, but then she saw the pale bruises adorning her neck and cheek. Sharpay bit her lip and quickly diverted her eyes from Kelsi's face before she was caught staring.

She sucked a breath through her mouth before letting out a sigh. "So…where you from?"

Kelsi looked up again as if she wasn't expecting Sharpay to still be standing there. "Oh, I uh…am traveling at the moment."

Sharpay chuckled; hoping that the tension was easing between them. She offered Kelsi a smile. "I meant, where did you grow up since obviously neither of us were kept here?"

"Oh," Kelsi ducked her head, rubbing her neck bashfully, "I grew up in Ohio. A small town like this actually."

Sharpay's eyes widened in disgust at how her two sisters were raised. "Oh, I see…" Obviously, Sharpay thought, she didn't have anything in common with her two sisters.

Kelsi watched as Sharpay lit her cigarette and brought the white stick up to her mouth. "Are you supposed to smoke in the house?"

Sharpay looked at Kelsi, and she instantly regretted it as Kelsi shriveled up as if she were expecting to be attacked for asking that question. Sharpay blew out smoke before sitting down next to Kelsi. "Since he was our father and this was his house I think that means we have a right to be here and do whatever we want. At least smoking gives me comfort of being here, which is more than what I can say about our other sister."

Kelsi sighed sadly. "She's just grieving Sharpay. After all, she did know him when we never really met him."

Sharpay tapped her cigarette off over an empty cup that someone left out on the table. "When I got there she wasn't even home. She was out doing something with the fences. And then it was supper time and she didn't even have the decency to eat with everyone else. She didn't even look at us during the service today and do not say that she's grieving because from what I've heard there is nothing to grieve for. Carlos Montez is better off dead than alive."

Kelsi gasped at Sharpay's exclamation but quickly put her hand over her mouth as if trying to take back the offended sound. "We should be grateful that Gabriella is letting us stay here. After all, we do have to stay here at least one more night, and it must not be easy to share with us right now."

Sharpay folded her arms across her chest as she let Kelsi's words sink in. However right Kelsi might be, Sharpay would never admit it.


Gabriella leaned back on the bed with her arm covering her eyes. The people downstairs were giving her a headache as Gabriella knew why they all come. They didn't regret that Carlos Montez was buried that day. The only thing those people wanted downstairs was to see the inside of the house that hardly anyone from town had seen, and they also wanted to see how Gabriella was running the ranch.

Everyone knew within a hundred mile radius that Montez Ranch was the best with B and B Ranch closely tied, but the key person who made Montez Ranch so good was Carlos, and now it was up to Gabriella to maintain the expected ranch.

"Gabriella Marie Montez," Beth Darbus' voice rang out in a motherly tone. Gabriella groaned at hearing her name. "I thought I taught you better than to be rude to your guests."

Beth Darbus had been cook, maid, and a grandma type figure since Gabriella was one year old. She could be cross when needed, but she could also be nurturing when Carlos was busy with business.

"Those people downstairs are nothing but vultures who like free food and good gossip. I have work that needs to be done." Gabriella got up and off of her bed, grabbing the first pair of jeans that she could find.

Beth stood with her hands on her hips. "Those vultures downstairs are people who care for you. They just want to make sure that you're doing okay."

Gabriella turned away and squared her shoulders off. She refused to show weakness around people. From now on she had to be tough and reasonable in order for anyone to take her seriously. "Beth, they don't care. My father was a horrible person who knew how to run a ranch. That was all."

Beth couldn't argue with Gabriella since the young girl was right. Carlos was a horrible person who had no idea how to raise kids, and so that was why Gabriella and Jason were treated as if they were just employees.

"If you won't go downstairs for the town people then at least go downstairs for your sisters."

Gabriella cringed at the word sisters, but quickly shook it off. It was obvious that Sharpay didn't except her and Kelsi, and so Gabriella took that as a sign that she didn't have to get to know either one of her older sisters either.

Gabriella pulled her pants on and went searching through her closet for a plaid long sleeve shirt. If, for some reason the sun decided to show itself, then Gabriella could just roll up the sleeves.

"Do you mind unzipping me Beth?" Gabriella watched as Beth shut her eyes and counted to five to calm herself. She smirked a little as the older woman did what she asked. "Thank you Beth. I just don't see the need for me to stick around here when there is work to be done."

"You're too stubborn for your own good girl. You're too much like your—" Beth cut herself off before she could go any further.

Gabriella spun around after putting her shirt on modestly. Her eyes narrowed a little as she knew exactly who Beth was going to say. "You think I'm stubborn? I'll tell you what stubborn is. Stubborn is when you know that you're sick but you don't say anything to anyone!" Gabriella took a breath as tears pricked her eyes. No matter who she was around, it was always Beth who could bring out this side of her. "He was my dad," she whispered. "He was sick and he didn't even tell me."

Beth wasn't upset over the fact that Carlos was gone. She was upset that even after this man was put in the grave he was still able to play with Gabriella's mind. "Come here dear." Beth wrapped Gabriella up in a hug.

"He knew his heart was bad, but he didn't say one word. He didn't even trust me enough to let me know that he was dying."

"You're the strongest person I know Gabriella. Do not let others convince you otherwise," Beth whispered.


After Beth's and Gabriella's moment had ended Gabriella had decided that she still had work to do. Fences needed to be checked out cattle needed to be moved soon. Even though they were in the middle of September the air was getting crisper and crisper each day. It would only be a matter of weeks before the fall air would bring snow. Also, dehorning and castrating cattle would take place and so Gabriella wanted to get done with the weak work first to move onto the more important things.

When she stepped out onto the porch, a squeak in the porch let her know that she wasn't the only one outside. She looked to her left and saw her good friend Zeke Baylor. Zeke was the only lawyer in town. He was also one of the few people who left Montana and went to Yale for college. But yet, in the end he came back to his home and protected the people he loved.

"Good afternoon Gabi." He stood up and took off his sun bleached cowboy hat. "I'm sorry I wasn't here for the funeral. I was stuck in town taking care of business concerning the will."

Gabriella nodded her head, glad that Beth had not let her leave her room without cleaning up first. No one would ever know that she had been crying. "Thank you Zeke."

"And I also just want to let you know that if you need anything, and I mean anything at all, then to just give me a call. You know where I live also, so don't hesitate to knock too." He offered her a smile before noticing that she had her work clothes on. "Going up to the fences?"

Gabriella nodded. "Yeah, unfortunately work does not stop even though time seems like it's frozen."

"Would you like some company?" He offered even though he knew the answer to it. Gabriella was independent and sometimes just needed space and time to herself.

"Thanks, but this is a one person job today. But if you want to walk me to the stables then I'd appreciate the company." Gabriella smiled when Zeke started walking by her side. There was a matter that they had to discuss. "Now I know my father had a will made up. Is there any way that we can go through his wishes sometime tonight?"

Zeke scratched the back of his head. The weak sun that was trying to show through the clouds already was affecting the back of his neck. He placed his hat back on and chewed the inside of his lip while thinking. "There should be no problem with going through it tonight, but Gabi?"

"Yeah?" She didn't like the sound of his voice as she looked at her darker skinned friend. She had known him for years now as it was going on two decades, and so it was getting easier and easier to read his expressions.

"It'll be easier to do the will reading with everyone around so that way I don't have to repeat myself."

"By everyone you mean me, Jase, Beth, and then Turk?" Turk was Carlos's right hand man on the ranch. There were four ranchers who handled the cattle, and out of those four Turk was the oldest, smartest, and wisest when it came to cattle. He was a sweet man who would agree with anyone who could be useful in the kitchen. That was why he was like Gabriella's father when Carlos was gone.

Zeke sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose. He had worked with Carlos for no longer than two hours on the will as it was straightforward and cruel to the people who grew up on the ranch.

"By everyone I mean you, Kelsi, Sharpay, Beth, Jason, and Turk. Also…" Zeke trailed off as he didn't want to continue. Being afraid of Gabriella was common when one had bad news.

"What Zeke? I'm too tired to get mad right now, but I'm not too tired to get irritated at people," she pointed out roughly.

"If Troy is back from business then he should be at the will reading also."

Gabriella stopped dead in her tracks. If there was one name that made her toes curl in disgust it was the name Troy Bolton. She couldn't' fathom why her father would have wanted Troy at the will reading. As far as Gabriella was concerned, the one thing she had in common with her father was the fact that they didn't like Troy.

Troy Bolton was Jason's best friend. He was slowly taking charge of B and B Ranch as Jack Bolton slowly backed out of the business. He was twenty-eight years old with a cocky attitude. He was a charmer and was interested in any girl who would give him the time of day, which would be a lot of girls if they weren't all taken in their small town.

It had started in elementary school when Gabriella was in Chad's class. The two of them got along great, but whenever Gabriella would go over to the Bolton Ranch Troy would always be his cocky and arrogant self. He would make comments to her and she would comment back because she wasn't raised to be a quiet girl.

But things really heated up between them when Gabriella and Chad started dating their sophomore year of high school. Chad and Gabriella were happy together. It was as if their friendship hadn't even changed except now Chad was paying for movies for two people, kisses were shared, and occasionally in between chores heavy make-out sessions would take place in the barns.

It was when Troy first walked in on a make-out session that he started to get harsher with his words, and at times he would be flirtatious. But Gabriella could never trust him as after all, she still saw him as the twelve year old boy who pushed her in mud. And as the year progressed, and Troy was getting ready to go off to college he stopped bugging Gabriella and left her in peace. Her relationship with Chad was ending as he broke up with her for another girl in their class, and soon Taylor McKessie became Gabriella's best friend despite the fact she replaced Gabriella in Chad's life. However, her friendship with Chad never changed as they remained good friends too.

And soon Troy went off to college and Gabriella had no pestering neighbor, but instead, she had a quiet life with her two best friends.

"Why would that ass have to be at the will reading?" Gabriella demanded. She wasn't angry at Zeke, but she was frustrated now that her father would request something like that.

"That's kind of funny. When I told Troy three days ago he called you the same name."

Gabriella crossed her arms. "He called me an ass?"

"Well, no. But he did use some pretty colorful language when describing you."

Gabriella made an annoyed sound with her tongue. "I want the will read tonight, and if Troy isn't there then that's his fault. You'll just have to talk to him later."

Zeke smiled. "That's what I expected you to say. If he's not back in time I have a meeting with him tomorrow morning."

Gabriella nodded. She prayed to God that Troy wouldn't be back because she didn't think she could take the will reading with her two unknown sisters and be within the same room as that arrogant prick.

"Thank you Zeke." She looked up at him and smiled sadly. "And I don't mean just for arranging the meeting with Troy. I mean thank you for everything. You helped my father out for a while now with all of his legal things and…"

"I know," Zeke whispered. "I know what you mean." He wrapped Gabriella up in his arms, resting his chin on top of her head. "He would have been proud of you for the last couple of day you've been running the ranch."

Gabriella chuckled. "No he wouldn't have, but thanks for saying it."


"This office gives me the creeps," Sharpay's voice rang out; startling Kelsi and making her spill her water.

"I'm sorry," Kelsi apologized right away as if she just ruined Sharpay's designer shoes. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have jumped."

Sharpay located a piece of white printer paper and bent down to absorb the moisture on the hardwood floor. Kelsi was also bent down to see the damage she could have created. The blonde smiled at her little sister.

"It's no big deal. It's not as if he's going to use this office ever again. And I can keep a secret as well as the next person."

Kelsi was breathing quickly as Sharpay really did scare her. She thought that she was alone, trying to find a spot in the house where she was welcomed and wouldn't get in the way of people who always seemed to be doing something.

"I was just trying to stay out of peoples' way, and then the lawyer told me that we were going to do the will reading once Gabriella got back. I was just waiting in here." She spoke fast as if she had to get an explanation out before being swung at.

"It's okay. I was told to come in here also by the old lady."

"You mean Beth," Kelsi corrected quietly, doe like with innocence. "She cooks around here and from what I understand, she's also like a parent to Gabriella."

"A very old parent," Sharpay muttered dryly; already sick of this place. "I really don't understand how Gabriella could have stayed here. She must have wanted to leave at some point in her life. It's so plain here. I can hardly get cell phone signal."

Kelsi stood up with Sharpay following. "I admire her for it. I think Carlos was a hard person to get along with, but she's worked through it, and that's an admirable trait in a person."

Sharpay didn't want to admit that Kelsi was right because in her mind this whole ranch was a horrible idea. She only came to the funeral because the phone call she received informed her that she was to come to the service and then collect something her father left her. She just wanted her small inheritance and then a plane ticket home to California.

The door opened once more and both sisters turned to look at their little sister. Gabriella stood with her arms folded across her chest. She was still in her jeans and plaid shirt, but her hair was now pulled back with her long curls draping down her back still.

"Well," she commented dryly, "I see you've found his office okay."

Sharpay glared. "Well don't we look like a happy family."


Author's note again-I also have one last question. Would you guys like a playlist for this story? I know that authors have begun to do things like this as I first saw this brilliant idea done by Unproper Grammar and I know that runninequalslife also started to do it too. It's just a thought as music most of the time helps me write chapters. So if you want, I can do a playlist for this story. Thanks.