A/N: First of all, I would like to thank you for all the follows, favorites, and reviews. I truly appreciate it and hope you are enjoying the story so far.

This fic is being posted in tandem with Chapter Twelve as they were written to be one chapter but it was much too long.

Side Note: This chapter discusses spiritual practices by Indigenous people. This is not an endorsement for anyone to perform said spiritual practices. Additional research into understanding these is highly recommended.

Chapter Eleven

June 2013

"You are coming to help cook Saturday, right?" Mona asked.

Emilia shifted her phone to her other ear, writing notes and updating her clients' records. She was making sure she had everything prepared for when Aaron and Bradi Parson, her potential partner and his wife, decided to come inspect the clinic. She had a pretty busy week overall but for some reason this Thursday was dull. She was livid that she had so little to do. It gave her too much time to think.

"Hello? Earth to Emilia?" Mona hollered.

Emilia held the phone out from her ear, wincing. She set it on her desk and switched to speaker phone.

"Sorry! Sorry, paperwork. Yes, Kaila and I are both coming. How many calves do you have to brand?"

"Hmm about one hundred sixty...ish. I'm not completely sure. That's Danny's department. I just feed everyone." Mona chuckled.

"Speaking of Danny, he better step up for the book club meeting next week and watch Larae. I will not hesitate to castrate him if he doesn't keep his promise." Emilia kept her tone sarcastically serious.

"Um, excuse me, I need my husband in good health and intact if I ever intend to give Larae siblings. Speaking of intact men, how is your new beau?" Mona teased, which made Emilia snort, scribbling out the address she miswrote while distracted.

"Draco is not my beau. We are just really good friends."

Mona laughed loudly, much to Emilia's ire.

"Do not lie to your sister! You have been gone for weeks with nary a phone call because you are spending all your time with him. Don't think I am begrudging you that. I've heard around town how nice and likeable he is. Sounds like quite the suitor to me. You should listen to Kaila. I know she has been hounding you about letting loose and allowing whatever this is with Draco to just happen. You never know who will try to sneak in and swoop a catch like him away if you keep him dangling at arms length."

"Thank you!" Kaila's voice called in the distance.

Emilia scowled and swiveled her chair to slam her office door shut.

"Mona, stop it. If he finds someone that makes him happy then who am I to stop him?"

Emilia's voice didn't sound bitter...definitely not bitter.

"Besides, his life is in a completely different country and he will be leaving soon."

"Oh, has he said when he's leaving?" Mona asked, genuinely interested.

Emilia bit her lip. She hadn't actually asked because...

"I see," Mona said kindly, "well, perhaps you should talk with him, Emilia. Hash things out before it's too late. I told you already you two were called to each other. You could do worse than a man who has offered to travel back and forth to see you."

"Um, ow Mona." Emilia sighed loudly, throwing her pen on the desk and leaning back in her chair. "I'll be honest, he already said he doesn't expect anything from our relationship other than friendship...but he is open to whatever I want to try."

Emilia could hear Mona bristle.

"Well then, what gives? I can hear it in your voice. I bet if I were standing in front of you, right now, I could tell by the look on your face that you really like him more than a friend." Mona acted as if this were a proven fact.

Emilia's fingertips rubbed hard on her forehead. She felt a possible migraine might be coming on with all this confusing talk about her feelings for Draco.

"Honestly Mona...I like that things with Draco aren't like that. I really value the friendship we have. I'd rather have a platonic relationship than mess it up with...other...stuff."

"What, like feelings? Or is it the sex? You must be at your office, your language is tame." Mona teased.

"I am actually," Emilia affirmed in a prissy tone, "and I should be focusing on my work. I will be there to help cook Saturday...hey...could I invite Draco to eat? I don't think the whole wrangling branding gig is his thing but I bet he'd help in the kitchen."

Mona sighed.

"Fine, bring the beau. I want to get a better read on him anyway. I didn't see or talk to him long enough to decide if he can pass muster for any potential relationship with you."

"Mona!" Emilia admonished.

"I will see you Saturday, Emilia." She hung up before Emilia could say bye.

Emilia sat back in her chair and rubbed her throbbing temples.

Draco.

Emilia hadn't seen or heard from him since his birthday several days ago. He had said he would not be around for a while. Draco was adamant he needed to research whatever it was he was looking for in regards to her medicine. She trusted he knew what he was doing and would keep his promise to tell her everything once he had his answers.

Emilia had run into Michael yesterday at the supermarket and casually asked how Draco was. Michael, scratching his head, admitted he hadn't really seen much of Draco. He had apparently holed himself up in his room except to step out to find food. On the rare sightings Michael described Draco as 'haggard' and 'rushed to return to his room.'

When Emilia asked if he noticed anything else off about Draco Michael said no. He then proceeded to switch topics by complaining about the abnormal amount of owl droppings he had to wash off the inn's sidewalk recently. Emilia teased him that perhaps there was a late rare owl migration just to torment him. He chuckled good naturedly and concluded that a new family of owls must have moved into the neighborhood.

Even though Emilia knew Draco was not avoiding her purposefully, his distance from her was really screwing with her head. She ached for him, physically ached. That pulling sensation was starting to make her antsy, like a scab that itches from new skin. It was taking too much self control to not go to the inn and say hi. Maybe bring him food. Just see him for five minutes.

"Damn you, Mona." Emilia muttered, resting her forehead on her desk.

When, not if, Draco left...what was she going to do? Emilia realized over the past few days how much she liked being around him. She appreciated his company immensely. She looked forward to their not dates and riding lessons. Hell, she was even growing to anticipate and thought to reciprocate his flirtatious antics.

Knowing that it was only a matter of time before she wasn't able to see him at any given time...well, it made Emilia doubt her friend's only logic. She couldn't very well justify asking him to travel so far on a regular basis for a friend. Would it be worth it to just tell him how she was growing to really like him and let the cards fall where they lie?

Determined, Emilia straightened. She worked best when she had all the information in front of her. She opened her laptop and began doing some of her own research.

A half an hour later she paled as she scanned the screen.

It would cost a small fortune to fly round trip to London and back. Almost an entire twenty four hours would be spent just in the air and at airports alone. She would have to take weeks off to make a single trip worth it. What partner would be ok with her bailing on them for a month at a time, a few times a year?

Emilia's head dropped and she pressed her knuckles into her teary eyes. See, this was exactly why friendship was idealistic with Draco. Getting her hopes up caused nothing but pain. Friendship was uncomplicated and, like she kept telling herself, some things simply weren't meant to be. The pull sensation in her stomach churned anxiously and made her heartache all the more acute.

Emilia's cell phone ringtone surprised her out of her wallowing. Sighing, she cleared the bleary tears from her face to see who it was. Her chest fluttered when she saw Draco's name, almost forgetting he had given her his number when she had dropped him off. Clearing her throat, Emilia answered with a smile on her face.

"Well, hello there stranger. Are your ears burning?" Emilia greeted.

"Hello darling. What do you mean?" His deep timbre soothed her like a balm.

"It's an old wives' tale. If your ears are burning, someone is thinking about you." She explained.

Draco snickered.

"So you are saying you were thinking about me?" He tried to sound teasing but his flirting was too obvious to hide his true interest.

Emilia mentally rolled her eyes.

"Well, I haven't heard from you in days. How are you, Draco? Any luck?"

He sighed dramatically.

"Exhausted and no, no luck yet. I plan on taking a break soon, I promise. I miss seeing you Emilia."

Her stomach flipped like a trapeze artist.

"Well, since we are missing each other, " she slyly slipped in her own feelings of his absence, "we should get together soon. Are you free Saturday? Mona would like for you to join me at her place to help cook for her ranch's branding day."

Draco was quiet for a few seconds, causing her to check to see if she accidentally hung up on him. Eventually he responded.

"What are they branding?"

Emilia sat forward in her chair, closing her damnable computer screen she happened to glance at.

"Calves. You know the cows we searched for in the creek bed? They were branded as calves so if they happened to wander into another herd or get stolen they could be identified as belonging to the Bussey Ranch. It's a big job and requires a lot of help so we'll be cooking a ton of food. If you like my food as much as you say you do then you will practically salivate for Mona's. She is a genius in the kitchen."

Draco hummed in interest.

"Well...if you think she can outcook you then I would be a fool to say no." He teased.

Emilia smirked.

"We are of equal greatness, thank you very much. She just has a larger repertoire of recipes to choose from since she has had decades of practice. Well, we start early in the morning. Shall I pick you up around eight?"

"That sounds fine. I look forward to seeing you then Emilia. Don't overwork yourself." Draco chastised her, knowing she was categorically working too many hours this week.

"Right, right, I will do my best. I'm looking forward to seeing you Saturday, Draco. Mkay bye."

He said his goodbyes, she hung up...and then she giggled. Giggled. What was she, twelve? Emilia shook her head and turned to refocus on her work but paused before she started to write. She realized how easily Draco had changed her mood in a few minutes of chatting. How he made her feel...happy. Kaila called to her, needing assistance in the cold storage, and Emilia left that unexplored feeling in her office.

"Auntie Emilia!" Larae cried, racing down the steps, carrying a half strangled bunny.

Emilia grimaced but quickly rearranged her face into a smile. It was Saturday morning. She and Draco had just arrived at Mona's ranch. The summer sun was already heating the area and sweat began to bead on her brow. Thankfully, they would be in the air conditioned house all morning.

"Lookit, Bug is doing better! I told mama I could make him not sick." The tiny whirlwind held the large grey rabbit up to Emilia's face to closely inspect.

Emilia complimented Larae's doctoring skills and gave him a visual check up to appease her. He did look pretty healthy compared to what Mona said, which was that he was practically on his deathbed.

"You, my dear, are a natural healer." Emilia tapped Larae's button nose which made the little girl smile. Her tiny, espresso colored eyes slid past Emilia when she noticed they were not alone and Larae scooted closer to her side.

Emilia turned her head to see Draco joining them. He knelt next to Emilia, smiling at Larae.

"Hello, you must be Larae. My name is Draco and I am a friend of Emilia's. It's nice to meet you." He held out his hand to her.

Larae hesitated before carefully taking his hand to shake. She looked like she was searching his eyes more deeply than a little girl should be able to.

"I know who you are. You're auntie Emilia's beau."

Emilia coughed, loudly. Draco's eyebrows vanished beneath his blonde fringe.

"Oh?"

Larae nodded, stepping up close to him and bringing her voice down to a whisper.

"If I tell you something mama said, will you promise not to tell?"

Draco leaned in conspiratorially and nodded.

"I'm good at keeping secrets." His voice was a whisper as well.

Larae grinned sweetly and bent forward, whispering into Draco's ear. He had cupped his hands to keep Emilia from hearing what Larae said, much to her annoyance. She watched his smile drift into a neutral look. When Larae finished telling her secret she stepped back, looking expectantly at him. Draco looked carefully over Larae's youthful face.

"That's a big secret to hold onto."

Larae nodded.

"I promise I kept it all to myself."

Emilia frowned between the two. What was this about?

"Larae, go put that poor bunny back in the rabbit cage. We need to start cooking." Mona called from across the yard.

Larae skipped innocently away with the puff of grey in her arms, leaving a pink cheeked Emilia in an awkward situation. She turned to ask Draco about Larae's secret when he stood up, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"Beau, huh?"

Her entire body felt flush.

"Oh, shut up Draco. She's six and doesn't know what she is saying." Emilia huffed, marching away without looking at his smug face.

She could hear him chortle and it made her blush deepen. Emilia forgot her embarrassment though as soon as she walked up to greet Mona and threw her arms around her. Mona squeezed her tightly back, rocking her side to side.

"No more of these long gaps between us getting together." Mona warned in her ear.

Emilia pulled back. She nodded and sighed sadly as she tugged at Mona's beautifully pleated ebony hair that fell to her mid back.

"Every time I see you I remember how much I miss your long braid."

Mona smiled, understanding in her eyes at the subtle reference to the man she had cut her hair for in grief. She patted Emilia's cheek.

"I miss him too, especially on days like today."

Draco strolled up to stand beside the pair. Emilia grinned and moved from her friend's embrace. She gestured between the two of them.

"Well, you two haven't formally met. Mona, this is Draco. Draco, this is my best friend, Mona."

Mona smiled, holding out her hand.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Draco."

Draco reached out and grasped her hand politely.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mona. Emilia has told me wonderful things about you."

Emilia did not expect Mona's reaction. Her friend's eyebrows narrowed a few seconds after Draco's hand gripped hers. She kept holding his hand even after they stopped shaking, peering into his confused silver eyes.

"Er, Mona?" Emilia asked, wondering what she was doing after an awkward amount of time.

Mona blinked and let his hand go quickly. She continued to stare at him with an unreadable expression. Draco, thankfully, chose to only smile graciously and turn to Emilia.

"So, what are we-"

"You've brought it back." Mona said sourly, as if they should understand what she meant.

Draco's attention returned to Mona, his face showing his obvious bewilderment. Emilia mouthed 'what are you doing' to her friend angrily. Mona ignored her while Draco shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry Mona, I don't understand. I didn't bring anything with me unless Emilia brought something?" He glanced over at Emilia who shook her head, just as baffled as he was.

Mona looked him up and down, unimpressed.

"You have had so much darkness in your life. Too much if I'm honest. I felt this darkness once around Emilia before my father removed it. Now you appear and I see it trying to come back...if you corrupt my sister with this darkness again the consequences will be dire. She has a family now, with many aunties and uncles, who will protect her."

With that warning, Mona stepped around Draco. She hugged Emilia again and whispered loudly,

"I am coming over to cleanse you and your house this weekend."

Mona glanced over at Draco and continued to whisper,

"Has he been in your truck?"

"Yes, Mona, why are you doing this? Stop it." Emilia hissed at her patronizing friend.

"I am cleansing your truck, too." Mona replied.

With that, Mona gave Draco a curt nod and left the pair in an awkward silence to chase down her wryly daughter at the rabbit cages. Draco's gaze shifted between Mona and Emilia.

"Well, that was...interesting. Did she say she is going to clean your house and truck?"

Emilia shook her head.

"No, that's not what she meant. Cleansing, or smudging, is a spiritual practice. Mona believes that by smudging the body and places we live it clears negative energies out. She uses sacred herbs, like white sage, that she burns to dispel those negative energies. She also uses herbs like sweetgrass to attract positive energies."

Emilia grimaced.

"I have no idea what that was about. Mona is like a sister to me so sometimes she can be a bit much. I'm so sorry about that."

Draco shook his head.

"You do not have to apologize. It's obvious you mean a lot to her."

She stared over at her friend who was smothering her laughing daughter with kisses. Draco watched the scene for a few moments in comradery.

"Mona is very...perceptive." He concluded.

"Protective, you mean. She promised her father she would look after me before he passed. He was like a second father to me." Emilia smiled, reminiscing on Mona's father, Earl.

Draco looked down at her.

"How did he die?"

Emilia's lips thinned before her eyes met his.

"Heart failure. He was a medicine man for his tribe most of his life and worked very hard. At eighty he would stay at a bedside for days without sleep. I think it took a toll on him. Mona says he served his role for the greater good of his people and then was called on. She and I miss him a lot. He was an amazing man."

Draco slipped his hand into hers, his fingers squeezing gently. The pull between them seemed to press against her chest comfortingly as well. She realized her eyes were tearing up and she huffed a breath, blinking them away.

"Emilia, Draco! Come on, we have to get started!" Mona cried from the back door.

Emilia kept hold of his hand and led the way inside, thankful for the distraction from heartbreaking memories.

Kaila arrived a short while later with wine, because of course she did, and immediately took over teaching Draco how to properly shuck corn. Larae and Emilia were peeling potatoes, the latter doing most of the peeling. She would distract Larae, who bored easily, with random games of hot potato. The little girl was giggling and squealing happily for quite a while.

When hot potato lost her interest Larae coerced Draco into letting her show him how to properly peel carrots. Mona seemed content to move on after her warning to Draco and sat beside him, chatting amicably about growing up on a ranch her whole life. Emilia felt relieved. Mona's opinion meant a great deal to her and she hoped she would like Draco.

Emilia would leave the kitchen every so often to check the smoker on the patio where Mona was cooking the main course, brisket. She used a food mop to brush the brisket with a seasoned liquid, keeping it moist.

"You're very good with Larae." Draco's voice made her jump and she saw him standing behind her, watching.

Emilia shrugged.

"She is easy to love. Just a happy and carefree ball of energy."

She returned her focus to the brisket, lathering the soaked mop over the top.

"So, what was this amazing secret she told you?" Emilia asked, keeping her voice casual.

Draco shook his head, leaning on the porch railing next to her.

"Emilia, I was told a secret in confidence by a child. I would never be so heartless as to break that trust."

She pouted.

"Really Draco? Is it that important to keep a little girl's made up secret about something her mother said? I know Larae very well and she is quite the storyteller for as young as she is."

She peeked over at him. He had held out his hands to her. She blinked. Somehow, without her realizing it, she had set down the mop and container to slip her hands into his with ease.

"Oh, it's not made up, Emilia. Actually it was quite...insightful."

Well, that wasn't cryptic at all.

"Emilia, come over here!" A voice called from the corral across the yard.

Both Draco and Emilia turned to see Mona's husband, Danny, gesturing for her to join him at the corral. She let go of Draco to mop the seasoning liquid one last time on the brisket before setting it aside and closing the smoker again.

Emilia took Draco's hand again, insisting he join her and meet Danny. They both moved across the yard to the man in full cowboy attire, now standing with one foot on the bottom bar of the carrol frame, arms dangling casually on a rung.

Danny smiled kindly and shook Draco's hand as Emilia introduced them.

"I heard my wife gave you the talk about this one." Danny nodded toward Emilia. "I hope she wasn't too harsh."

Emilia scowled up at Danny.

"Don't you dare start shit, either."

Danny laughed and patted Emilia's shoulder.

"I couldn't follow up a Mona tear down if I tried. Speaking of tear down, Emilia, I have an ornery calf. Want to have a go?"

Emilia quirked an eyebrow.

"Here we are slaving away in the kitchen and you are playing rodeo?" She tsked before she turned to Draco who looked a bit confused by their conversation.

"He wants me to rope a calf. It's basically catching them and getting a halter on them. Except the way Danny wants me to catch the calf," Emilia glared knowingly at him, "is to tie a rope around its legs after getting it on its side, like they do in competitions."

Danny mockingly clucked her under her chin.

"Emilia, I am offended. I simply wanted to give you the chance to practice your rodeo skills. Maybe you'll enter one of these years." Danny grinned, knowing he was rubbing her the wrong way.

"I am not a rodeo girl, Danny. I like taking care of my animals, not riding them and getting bucked off them." She muttered.

"What is a rodeo?" Draco questioned, his eyes bouncing between the two's banter.

"A rodeo," Emilia began after giving Danny a warning glare to not interrupt, "is a competition of different sports for riders on horses, bulls, sheep, and such. For example, the barrel racing course I botched last month on Serendipity is a rodeo sport. My favorite is mutton busting which, all I can say is it's a competition for kids and completely adorable."

Danny snorted.

"Mutton busting is not adorable. It's hard work and requires a lot of practice."

Emilia shook her head.

"So you have said. That's why you like bull riding. Very exciting, requires a lot of talent, and it's dangerous. Probably too dangerous for an old man."

Danny made to ruffle her already unmanageable hair affectionately but she was quick to smack his hand away before he could.

"Emilia is a natural. She would do well if she ever tried anything except volunteering to help. You know, Draco, there's a big rodeo here next month that Emilia always attends."

Danny took a pace back when her murderous eyes landed on him. Mona's whole family was being meddlesome today. It was highly suspicious and irksome. Draco looked down at Emilia.

"Oh, really?"

She sighed.

"Yes, I always volunteer as a stand by veterinarian in the morning on the first day of the local rodeo. If you'd like I can take you to watch the afternoon competition. There will be a spectacular fireworks show afterwards."

Draco nodded and tugged affectionately on one of her curls.

"That sounds interesting. I would love to go with you."

Emilia's heart fluttered. Then...that meant he was planning on staying until at least next month. She felt so much excitement and relief knowing this that she couldn't help but grin brightly up at Draco.

"Sounds good. Unfortunately Danny, I don't think there is time right now to play games. Maybe next time. I meant to come over here and threaten you about watching Larae next week because I know Mona won't."

He laughed, reassuring her he intended to keep his promise, less her and his wife throttle him. Emilia and Draco said their goodbyes to Danny and walked back to the house to continue their work in the kitchen but not before Emilia turned around to mouth 'thank you' to Danny. Maybe he wasn't being meddlesome but helpful. He winked and left to round up his crew so they could get back to work.