Jonestead
They stood at his grave considering he'd lived in California for nearly 25 years there weren't many people at his funeral, Mercy looked around at the handful of people wondering what life was really about. She was an only child left home when she went off to college and never really looked back, she'd spent four years getting the law degree and was lucky enough to get as internship with the firm she'd done some work experience with a while back and was steadily climbing that ladder confident she'd be making partner before she was 30 and that for her was goal reached.
So at 26 she was officially an orphan, her Mother had passed some 5 years ago after she'd fought cancer for over six years, she'd been at home when it happened they expected it maybe 4 months before it happened but it still cut to the core. Now the same demon had taken her father and that was painful, she stood thinking maybe she could have made more time for him, maybe seeing her would have given him that bit of hope he might have needed to keep fighting, there was nothing to be done now, they were gone.
She was the only beneficiary for the will, the funeral was going to be over by the end of the day and then she was going to make a trip to the solicitors to find out what happens next. It was two days before she got round to that visit and she sat asking the same question over and over again "Why has he done that?"
"I don't know" Bill Terry; the family solicitor, told her a laugh in his voice "But he insists the property not be sold without you present" he told her
"But I didn't go there when they were alive never mind now they're done, I don't see the sense"
"I'm the messenger, I really don't Know Mercy, you'll have to make the journey and see"
"I need to get this over and done with as quickly as possible I'll go out there this weekend, it will be wrapped up by Tuesday and I can get back to my life, it's Christmas on Thursday" she huffed as she got up to leave the solicitors office
Sunday
Two days later she was making her way to Lima in Ohio, she flew over to Ohio and hired a car to drive the 24 miles out to the Ranch her parents had refused to sell all her life, the winding roads sent a strange peace over her as the flat country side scenes took over her. She finally saw the sign saying Jonestead and turned left into it , smiling as she saw a large white and grey house in the distance, this really wasn't what she was expecting. She drove on the winding road for about three minutes before she actually saw the gates, she reached h house and got out the car to get a proper look at the large eight windowed house with wooden shutters, about ten steps to get to the front door , and she couldn't help notice how well kept it was.
She made to mount the stairs when she heard a dog bark, stopping her in her tracks "Okay" she smiled as she tried to get round it "Calm down" she hummed as the dog got louder, she moved slowly to the side of the house trying to get round the dog but it followed her every move
"Hello" she heard a voice come towards her saying looking up to see, a tall man with blond long hair coming towards her "Can I help you?" he asked
"I was just trying to get in the house" she smiled
"You do know this is private property?"
"I guess it is" she looked at him strangely for the questions
"Conaughey" he shouted "Quiet" and the dog stopped barking "So could you leave the premises please"
"I could but I actually came to see it" she laughed
"Hello" and older woman came from inside the house smiling at her
"Hello" Mercy smiled as she looked at the woman standing in the doorway
"Can we help you" the woman smiled
"I hope so" Mercy giggled "This is Jonestead isn't it?"
"Yes it is" she smiled
"Then I'm Mercy Jones, this was my parents property so I guess it's mine now"
"Finally, we get to meet you, I should have known, you look so much like your Mother" she hugged her saying "I'm Ann Evans and this is my son Sam, we look after the house and the land actually for Mr Jones"
"Nice to meet you" she smiled looking back at Sam as she spoke, he had an embarrassed look on his face
"You must stay for dinner" she hugged her round the waist as they walked telling her
"I really only came to have a look at the place before I …. alright" she smiled thinking it wasn't right to just throw that out there like that, these people obviously lived there
"Great" Ann said walking away from the house as Sam fell back rolling his eyes at the whole scene
"I thought we were getting to see inside?"
"This is the main house, nobody lived in there" Ann laughed "We live in the foreman's house just down there" she pointed a short distance down the road "My husband passed away about 7 years ago and Sam took over the Foreman job, he's so dedicated to the place, you'll have to forgive him for being so protective of it" she smiled "But We're sorry to hear about your Father he was a good man"
"He was" she smiled as they walked "A really good man, although I don't understand why they never brought me here"
"Maybe something to do with your Grandfather" Ann told her knocking heads with her gently "He's still alive you know?"
"No I didn't know, Dad never spoke of him"
"He's your Mother's Father, they were the ones that came from these parts" she smiled "Pillar of the community, it broke his heart when she married your Father but everyone else was happy she'd made her own choice" she smiled
They sat in the kitchen talking while Ann prepared dinner, after they ate Ann volunteered Sam to show Mercy around the ranch "I'm busy" he snapped at her for volunteering him without asking first
"Sam" she gasped as they watched him walk away
"Why are you here anyway?" he turned to ask Mercy before he opened the door
"Actually, I'm here to close a deal on this place, I didn't even know anyone was here let alone living here"
"I knew it" he slammed the door as he left, his face red with anger
"You'll have to excuse him, he's mad about that he grew up on this ranch, his Dad worked his fingers to the bone for it, died thinking about it, and he's looked after it since he left us" she smiled "You'd think it belonged to him how dedicated he is, he loves the life, horses, cattle, land everything" she rubbed Mercy's arm telling her "He'll get used to it"
"I'm sorry" Mercy told her looked back at the slammed door
"Oh I have a parcel for you" Ann got up saying leaving the kitchen and coming back with a small box wrapped in brown paper with a red bow on top sealed very clumsily with tape "It got here about a week ago" she told her giving her to box
"Thank you" she smiled looking at the mysterious gift "I better get back before dark"
"No such thing, nothing is ready up there, stay here tonight and I'll get things set up for tomorrow up there"
"Are you sure?"
"I insist" Ann told her getting up to show her to the guest bedroom
"Thank you" she smiled as Ann showed her around the quaint bedroom, it was airy, white and fluffy, she sat on the couch on the balcony looking out at the sky thinking how beautiful this place was, reminding herself to see Mr Smyth the Real Estate Agent in the morning. She heard a noise and looked in the room to see if Ann was checking on her, but saw nothing just the box still laying on her bed unopened "Gosh" she gasped jumping up to go get it and find her seat again
She sat carefully opening the box, surprised when she found a notebook, she picked it up and looked for anything else but found nothing. Opening the book she gasped as she saw her Mother's writing "Dad must have sent this before he passed" she read the inscription on the front inner page before carrying on to read the book
I met him today, the man of my dreams, I know already I want him to be my forever
she read splashed across the first page "Mom met Dad" she closed the book smiling, thinking this was much too personal for a daughter to be reading about her parents "Why would he send me this?" she looked back a the book asking it, before she opened it again to turn another page to read
I know he's brought the Ranch, I know he sees me, he smiled today I think I'm going to talk to him tomorrow
she flicked forward some pages, embarrassed for seeing her Mother's thoughts on paper
He kissed me today and the stars burst into a thousand pieces, there was love in that kiss
smiling as she realised, her Dad had left this for a reason, he'd asked her to come here for a reason, she looked out over the land, it was surely a place where someone could find love, my parents fell in love here she thought as she watched the horses marching across the sky, before she noticed Sam, it was just a figure but she knew it was him. She watched until he came back to the stables and settled each horse in, emerging from the stables to take one at a time, she stretched before she got up to go to bed.
Sam had seen her sitting watching from afar, he was watching her but he knew she couldn't see his eyes, he was mesmerised by her smile, she had a kind heart so why was she planning on selling the ranch. If he could talk to her for just five minutes he'd change her mind and make her see sense, but every time the opportunity came he came across as angry. He'd just put the last horse in and stood taking in the land when his eyes fell on the light upstairs in the guest room again, he stood watching until it went off before he decided it was time for him to get to bed too.
Monday
The next morning she was up early she needed to go see Mr Smyth, she took the five mile drive into town and met him at the tiniest office she'd ever seen "Mr Smyth?" she smiled as she walked in to see a rather large, shine headed man sitting at the only desk in the place
"Yes" he smiled getting up "Please call me Frank, have a seat" he told her licking his dry lips
"I'm Mercy, Mercy Jones"
"I know who you are child, you're the spit of your mother"
"Thank you" she smiled, she always loved to hear that
"Let's get straight down to business, you don't need to be around here for any longer than you need to" he smiled grabbing a folder from the side of his desk "It's just a signature on that line and it's all done" he told her pointing to the line he was talking about on the paper before he handed her the pen
"Straight to business" she looked back at him suspect saying as she took the pen
"You'll be glad to get this off your hands, it's been a noose round your father's neck for a few years now" he smiled "I have a buyer lined up, hopefully he can turn things around"
"A buyer?" she asked surprised "I just buried my Dad last week"
"As I said it's fast losing money"
Think as she could right now she couldn't think of a reason why Ann wouldn't have let her know that last night "I think I'm going to take some time, see what the real worth is before I sign anything" she looked back at Frank telling him as she handed him back the pen "I'll see you in maybe a week" she got up leaving the paperwork on his desk as she left "Bye Mr Smyth" she smiled as she left him sitting open mouthed at his desk, something about that wasn't right.
As she drove back towards Jonestead she could see Sam riding in the distance, if she hadn't got to burst through several fences she might have gone cross country but she resisted and found her way back to the main house. Parking the car she went off in search of anyone she needed to discuss what Mr Smyth had just told her and find out why they hadn't told her before she went into town
"So we have new owners now, what's going to happen to us?" she heard his voice angry again as she turned round to face him with anger in mind too
"I'm the new owner, and the only question I want an answer to right now is why you didn't tell me the ranch was in financial difficulties" she shouted back before jamming her hand on her hip
"What?" he looked at her asking "That's bull crap the ranch is fine"
"Not according to Mr Smyth it isn't"
"I don't actually know what's going on down there in that town but if I was you, I wouldn't be looking to sell a place like this"
"I just spoke to Mr Smyth, did you not hear me say that?"
"I said I don't know what they're talking about" he grabbed her hand and led her to his office, at the side of the house he lived in "Look" he slapped his laptop on the desk telling her "I keep a record of everything that comes and goes out of this place, I have since my Dad died, and I'm telling you I know nothing about financial difficulties" he almost threw her down on the chair telling her before he left her to it
Mercy looked, she tried to find gaps she wanted something to shout at him about, he'd treated her like a child dragging her across the yard like that, she could have had him sacked "His fucking mother saved him" she spat as time elapsed
"What are you looking for?" Ann came into the office asking
"Sam said I could look through the accounts" she smiled
"He runs a tight ship that one, if it's written down it happened" she laughed "When you've finished I was thinking of taking you to the main house showing you around and seeing if you like what we've done to make it home for a while"
"Oh I'd love that" she jumped up telling Ann
"Did you get some lunch?" she asked as they walked through "I could make us up some sandwiches and eat when we get there"
"No I didn't, that would be nice thank you Ann"
"Bring the laptop" she waved as she watched Mercy walking towards her "He'll be chewing my ear for you not getting a proper look" she laughed "He doesn't think anyone can come up with a better system than him"
"Checking the books, a better system?" Mercy laughed as she grabbed it
"He is a man" Ann laughed
"I guess"she looked at Ann sideways, she couldn't actually tell his Mother her thoughts on that comment, they walked over to the main house as Ann filled silence with lots of talk about nothing and everything
"Here we are" she opened up the door for Mercy to walk in ahead of her
She expected a much bigger hall for the size of the door but the view through the main room made her gasp as she saw the largest fireplace scattered with pictures of her one for each year, parents, Grandparents Jones gone so long ago now. She gravitated to a picture of her parents on their wedding day, one she'd never seen before "They got married here?" she asked
"Yes it was one of the grander weddings as I remember" Ann smiled "Your father was a well respected man"
"I guess if they fell in love here it made sense"
"They made sense" Ann smiled as she watched Mercy reach above the fireplace on tip toes to grab the framed picture of her parents, she stroked their faces as if they could come alive in the frame
"I miss them" she smiled before a tear fell onto the glass frame
"You would it's still very raw" Ann walked up to her hugging her
"I guess I need to go see my Grandfather" she wiped her face telling her "I'll get the courage and I'll do it before the weeks out" she told Ann as she looked around the room at the expensive leather couches, hard wood furniture, thick velvet curtains and expensive tea sets "I see they liked to read" she giggled
"Nothing much else to do out here at night" Ann smiled "Sandwich?" she asked finally going back to her basket as she saw Mercy was recovering from her upset
"Please" she smiled following Ann as they got the sandwiches and sat out on the porch eating, drinking and talking, eventually Ann left for home leaving Mercy to get acquainted to the accounts and the house
"Bill" she called, when he finally picked up the phone "I 'm sitting here looking at a rather comprehensive account of the books for Jonestead and I'm really concerned they're saying something completely different to the account Mr Smyth gave me earlier today"
"Do you trust the figure you have in front of you?"
"They tally up with what I'm seeing here"
"And?"
"I tend to believe Sam and Ann if I'm honest, but I need you to run your eyes over it and grab a copy of Smyth's figures, before I have any kind of discussion about this"
"Will do give me a day two maybe Friday yeah?"
"So I'm here for Christmas?" she asked "Okay Friday" she told him closing the call
She rolled her eyes when she realised she needed to go back into town to get some groceries, she made the trip in record time and packed everything away when courage suddenly came to visit, she jumped back in her car and made the journey to her Grandfather's house
His home was small in comparison to her parents home, everything about it was small including the furniture , she smiled as she walked through the dark hallway, following this old woman who's eyes had lit up when she told her, her name "Hello" she smiled when she saw the obviously miserable old man sitting behind a desk books, papers and food thrown around the desk in no particular order
"Hello, what do you want?" he asked without looking up from the paper he was reading
"My name's Mercy Jones, I'm your Granddaughter" she announced smiling as she heard him laugh
"Another Jones to try my patience" he grumbled
"I guess you'll be trying my patience if you don't look up and acknowledge the fact that I'm standing here" she grunted back at him
"Oh" he chuckled "You may be named Jones but your a Thomas through and through" he laughed "Got your mother's fight"
"Fight?" she asked "Is it you that's expressed an interest in my parents place?"
"God no, I wanted nothing to do with them ever, that would be the last thing I'd waste my money on" he huffed
"That's my parents you're talking about" she told him not happy with his slate
"Is there anything else you needed I'm busy" his tone changed to stern as he looked up at her
"Actually I have one other thing to ask" she smiled knowing she was getting on his last nerve "Why did you treat my Mom so badly, all she did was fall in love?"
"You obviously don't know me young lady because if you did you'd know I justify myself to no one, no one do you hear me?" he banged the table telling her
"Still doesn't shy away from the fact hat she missed her father, I grew up without a whole side of my family because your too stub..."
"That's enough" he shouted so hard Mercy thought he was going to keel over "It was her choice to go and mine to let her go" he hissed
"I'm stopping because you look like your going to drop dead but this hasn't finished" she told him as she watched his lips thin before she turned on her heels and left the room shortly after the house "That old goat isn't getting the better of me" she slammed herself on the car seat telling the house, she sat for a while calming down until she felt fit to drive again and made her way back to the ranch.
She rolled her eyes when she saw Conaughey sitting at the top of the stairs again growling at her "Seriously" she looked at the dog asking "I'm tired Conaughey let me get in" she begged her eyes going to puppy mode but he wasn't having it "I know" she went back to the car and got the bone she'd forgotten she'd brought him earlier and gave it to him "Now can we be friends?" she asked as he grabbed it out of her hand and wondered down the path away from the front door "At last" she smiled walking up the stairs to push the door open
She made herself something to eat and sat looking out, there really was nothing much else to do unless you wanted to walk the 5 miles into town to actually have a drink and some company. She watched Sam and his Mom in what looked like a serious conversation "Sam" she heard one of the hands shout and she watched them walk off towards the cattle
Sam's hand had found a dead sheep in the barn, it was clear it had been killed as they stood wondering, who was in the area "It must be a stranger to the area, or a wide dog or something" the hand told him as they stood looking at the mangled sheep
"Yeah just keep an eye out and let me know as soon as anything else comes up" Sam told him walking away as he visually scanned the area
Sam wondered up to the main house "Hi" he shouts through the mesh door "It's only me come to check on the guest" he told her, he wasn't really in social mood he just needed to know what her intentions were about the sale
"Hi" she smiled when she got to the door letting him in "I was just trying to store some memories" she told him as she stepped aside for him to walk in
"This is an awfully big house for one person to be staying in"
"I'm fine" she walked towards the kitchen telling him "Drink?"
"Cold beer please" he smiled back, she noticed because that was the first time he'd actually shared any emotion with her except contempt, she grabbed the beer and opened it before passing it over to him
"I went to see my Grandfather today"
Sam laughed "Sorry it's just..."
"Yeah it was a hell of an experience" she laughed with him saying
"He's always been a stubborn old so and so take no notice of him" he advised
"My intentions exactly" she smiled "I went through those accounts you gave me they look fine to me, but I've asked my solicitor to look into everything. I'm of the mind that Smyth might be up to something, he had a damn buyer can you believe that?"
"I can believe anything of the folks round here" he laughed "Nobody seems to have anybodies back if you know what I mean"
"Hey my Grandfather hasn't even got my back, I totally understand what you mean" she laughed
"When you get that information back from your solicitor let me know and I'll come with you to see Smyth, I'd like to be looking into the brown of his eyes when he tries to tell you that bull about Jonestead losing money"
"I warn you now I have a temper so if I can control it long enough to think call Sam it will happen, but I can't promise" she laughed
That has to be good enough for me I know a bit about tempers" he laughed
"Yeah I know, you look cute when you smile too" came out of her mouth before she could filter it, as she watched him laugh
"Come on Conaughey" he tapped his thigh for this dog to get going "Conaughey" he called again when he looked back to see him comfortably sitting on the porch "What have you done to my dog, he likes no one except me"
"I guess I'm a lot like you" she laughed as Sam waved his hand at the dog and left him to look after Mercy, she stood watching him walk and didn't even think about turning away when he turned and saw her looking, she giggled when he just waved his hand in acknowledgement.
Tuesday
The next day the sun woke her up, she sat on the porch looking out at the land, watching Sam move the cattle around with such grace it seemed like they understood his voice "Morning" she heard a man's voice saying
"Morning" she shade the sun from her eyes smiling back at him saying before she realised he wasn't smiling "Can I help you?"
"More like me helping you, I was looking for some work maybe, I was told to try the big house"
"You'd need to speak to the foreman, Sam" she looked across at where she'd seen him last "He'll be back in a few minutes you could wait if you wanted Mr..."
"You don't need to know my name just that I was here" his dark eyes sending chills down her spine as he spoke those words
"I'll get Conaughey to fetch him" she told him letting the barking dog out the house "Fetch Sam" she told the dog as he made for the man "You'll need to get off the porch or he'll have you" she told him as she bent down holding Conaughey around his neck
"I'll be back, when you're on your own" the man looked at her through slit eyes as he backed down the stairs and into his waiting car
It seemed like seconds later Sam was riding towards her at speed "What happened?" he jumped off the horse asking
"Some stranger turned up asking for work, he sort of freaked me out when he wouldn't leave his name, said something about coming back when I was on my own, proper scary stuff, I'm shaking" she held her hands out showing him before Sam hugged her
"I was going to take Mom shopping this morning, but I think it might be best if you go with her and I'll check the grounds"
"I need some ranch clothes anyway" she looked up at him saying "And which girl doesn't like shopping?"
"My Mom could give even the keenest of shoppers a run for their money" he laughed letting her go as he felt her grip on him loosen "Go get ready and I'll walk you down" he told her as they looked in each others eyes
"How did you know I liked to be ordered around?" she asked before tuning to enter the house before he could answer
Twenty minutes later she was ready for a day of shopping, they walked towards his house "Mom" he shouted as he opened he door "I've got to cancel our shopping trip" he laughed knowing what her response was going to be
"Sam you know it's an important week for..." she trailed off as she saw Mercy standing with him
"So I asked Mercy to go with you"
"That's even better" she laughed "I must admit I wasn't looking forward to four straight hours of grump"
"You didn't mention I was doing you a favour" Mercy laughed as Sam blushed
"Thanks" he smiled, his Mom raised an eyebrow at her son's smiling face, but said nothing
"So lets go" Ann grabbed Mercy's arm telling her "We're shopping for the Dandelion Festival tomorrow, in the afternoon the children come from the city for a night of camping, fishing and generally fresh air up at the Stanton Ranch so we always make cakes and stuff to help feed them at the festival and camping food for the evening and breakfast before they leave" she told Mercy as they drove to their destination
"This is exciting" she rubbed her hands saying
"You'll maybe meet some of your Thomas clan, definitely the Pastor"
"I have a Pastor in my family?"
"Well you know Mr Smyth is married to your Aunt Bess, then Pastor Thomas, Netty owns the store we're going to and there are children scattered all about"
"It feels strange that you know more about my family than me"
"We left for a while went to Texas for about six years and then when we adopted Sam we sort of agreed here was better for him than where he was, so we got back here about 12 years ago when he was 16, it wasn't easy for him" she looked at the road ahead telling Mercy
"How do you mean wasn't easy for him?"
"I'm afraid that's not my story to tell" Ann looked at her saying "But I do hope he trusts you enough one day to tell you about it"
"I don't know what I want to say about that" she smiled
"You do so know what you want to say about that" Ann laughed
"Shopping" Mercy giggled as they got to their destination, did the shopping, had lunch, talked and finally made it back home "I fancy riding, I haven't done it for a while do you mind?" she asked Ann
"Everything here belongs to you, you don't ask me" she laughed
"Okay so, I'm going riding" she smiled before she stepped off to go find her match and found it in Dusk a beautiful brown and white horse, she stood with such grace she had to be Mercy's equal. Mercy saddled up and jumped on within minutes they were united as they started off at a slow trot and slowly built up to a healthy gallop, she had the wind in her hair a horse between her leg and open country, she was free and smiling as she let the horse guide her round its familiar terrain.
Sam saw her riding across the fields at speed, his heart leapt as he imagined her being thrown off Dusk, she was a safe ride but for someone who didn't know her trying to guide her after giving her such freedom could be fatal. He went in pursuit of the horse jumping edges and under trees as he forced his horse to go faster, feeling the need to save Mercy "Whooo" he heard as Mercy stopped the horse short of him jumping across to try to stop it
"You had control?" he asked when they came to a halt
"Of course" she smiled
"Sorry I thought Dusk had taken control and, well I just thought..."
"I'm fine Sam, I ride horses all the time" she laughed
"So I see" he smiled "So now you're out here do you want to take a ride round the ranch?"
"Now you want to show me round?" she asked laughing "You're Funny"
"You're funny" he laughed as they rode off to look round the ranch
"This is beautiful" Mercy lay back on the grass telling him as they looked up at the sky "All of this is beautiful"
"It is beautiful" he replied as he looked at her "You see all across there" he sat up telling her as she sat up to see where he was talking about "Stories have it that the wagon trails from back then brought surplus through here, and I've been up there, and truthfully, you can still see some of the trail" he told her excitedly
"My parents thought this place was special" she looked around smiling
"What do you think?"
"That it is, thank you so much for showing me around" she smiled at him
"My pleasure" his grin reaching from ear to ear as he spoke "Come on night's coming lets get you back" he jumped up grabbing her hand to pull her up as he spoke
"You should stay at ours tonight with that creep around" he told her when they finished putting the horses to bed
"I'll be fine, Conaughey will protect me" she smiled as she walked off towards the house
"Conaughey follow Mercy" he told him, smiling when he followed instruction, he stood watching them walk away and if he had to describe the feeling he felt when she turned to see him watching her, he'd have said out loud warm "Goodnight" he shouted giggling
"Goodnight" she waved back he could see her smile from where he was standing
"Shit Sam" he told himself when he finally lost sight of her "do that shit 'Life's Too Short' as Darius Rucker would say" he smiled as he started humming then singing along to the tune in his head, adapting it to his situation
I don't like this living, I love it, sweet magnolia blue skies up above it, I don't call Lima just a place I visit, I call Lima home
I don't like drinking beer, I love it, on the back porch swinging with that honey, life's too short just to like it so you better get to loving
This living before it's gone, life's too short
Mercy sat on her balcony watching him doing whatever he was doing, she saw him jumping about like he was dancing but there was no music, so she just assumed something had gone his way today, or maybe he had the same butterflies as she had running around her tummy this evening. She'd had a heavy day, what with the stranger, thinking about her meeting with her grandfather yesterday, meeting her relatives today and riding she was bushed, she ate before watching nature until she thought it was time to find sleep
Wednesday
She was up early today they had a busy day, it was Christmas Eve, she walked out onto the veranda to find Sam asleep in the rocking chair, she went back inside and made another coffee to give to him "Sam" she knocked him whispering "You didn't sleep there all night did you?" she asked as he looked up at her a bit disorientated for a second before that heart stopping smile formed on his face
"Yeah I just needed to make sure you were safe" he told the drink off her saying "But it's not the first time that's been my bed, I'm fine" he smiled
"So you think that stranger's dangerous then?" she asked concerning
"Well we don't get many of them round here so I'm concerned" he sat up drinking his coffee telling her "Look thanks for the coffee but it's the Festival today which means all hands on deck, I've got to get washed up and stuff" he handed her the cup back
"Fine I'll see you there"
"You may as well come with us, parking can be a nightmare what with everyone in town and stuff"
"How long have I got?"
"An hour tops" he called back as he went down her front steps
Less than an hour later they were in the car on their way to the church for the start of the festival, they stood in the church singing the usual Christmas carols, when Granddad Thomas came strolling in late, making so much disruption that everyone had to acknowledge his entrance. She smiled across the congregation and guessed everyone knew who she was for the looks she was getting for his arrival, their eyes met but there was nothing there to tell her he was happy about that, as she watched his eyes attach themselves to the hymn book and she didn't see him lift them again. At the end of the short service she was stood outside when he made his exit, the crowd went quiet in waiting and he just turned left, the opposite direction to where she was standing and walked straight
"He's a silly Man" Ann hugged her saying "Pay him no mind" they walked off in the opposite direction towards the car
"So what happens now?" Mercy asked as they jumped in Sam's car
"We go taste all the delicious cake and then pack up to take the camping food to the Stanton Ranch" Ann told her "That's when Sam really comes into his own" she laughed squeezing his muscles
They sat around looking at all the stalls cakes deciding which three they were going to try, when they finally made their decision they all three went off to one of the three tables to collect three helpings each and meeting back. Mercy was the last one back, she'd been accosted by relatives coming out her ears "Someone called Joseph said he couldn't contribute space to the camp this year" she announced as she sat down to share her wares out and grab her own, they were already a cake ahead of her
"Gosh that's too bad, the children are looking forward to it too" Ann said deflated "And all the food"
"I did tell him it was alright we could maybe do it at Jonestead but I'd need to speak to you guys first"
"That's a brilliant idea" Sam jumped up at her saying "I'm excited sorry" he apologised as he watched her laughing at him "Something funny?" he asked a smile on his face
"I'd say" she laughed out loud "When the leaders more excited than the scouts, I think it's funny"
"She's got you pegged" Ann laughed "Big kid" she brushed his chin telling him "Let's go find a site to do this" she pulled him up saying
"I'll just go tell the scouts" Mercy volunteered
"She's going to make those children so happy" Sam watched her walking away as he spoke to his Mom
"You like her don't you?" Ann looked up at her son asking, he didn't reply he just smiled before he walked off
Sam and Mercy went around the ranch looking for a spot where the children could play, fish and camp, finally finding somewhere they got on their phones to get the tents delivered, the food was on it's way and there were about 50 men making ready the site for the children.
"This actually isn't far from the unmarked Graves I believe came with the property" he told her as he went walking towards the spot, they walked in silence until they got to the spot like they were walking on holy ground or something. They walked around looking at the large fallen stones, trying to make out the names and think up stories about the mystery bodies
"So what happened to you in Texas?" she spun round to ask him feeling comfortable in their conversation right now
"Who told you about Texas?" he asked shocked
"You're Mom told me she adopted you from there, but everything else was not her story to tell" she looked at him saying as she detected hurt in his voice "Sorry"
"We should get back the children will be here soon"
"That's fine" Mercy half smiled she felt she'd let herself down a bit there, she'd read the situation wrong and now she'd upset him, that was the last thing she'd expected to do
They got back to the main house and Sam went off, no conversation, comment nothing just walked off, Mercy was all for running after him to apologise for invading his privacy but got caught up with stuff Ann was doing in preparation for the children arriving, actually she got quite excited at the prospect of giving back for Christmas.
Sam had made his way down to the old barn yard a disused shell he used to just let it all out, there had been many times in his life that spot had been made use of. He sat on the bale of hay he called his couch thinking about what he'd left behind in Texas, his life was so far removed from that stuff now, his new life on the ranch with his new family, the opportunities that had brought about for him and now just when he really wasn't expecting it this girl pops up and she means to spin his world around.
"Yes you've done well for yourself" he heard a voice enter the barn saying
"Hello" he looked up, the late afternoon sunlight coming through the door forming a shadow of this person standing there "Who is that?" he asked shading his eyes
"How soon we forget" the man laughed as he walked towards him
"Miles?" he stood up asking, scared but angry, because just then he knew this was the man that had been to the big house frightening Mercy "What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here" he laughed harder "I don't fucking believe you" he stopped in front of Sam telling him "I did 12 years for you and you ask me what I'm doing here"
"You didn't do anything for me you did it for yourself" Sam spat back at him
"You owe me, I asked you to do one simple thing for me that day and you left me high and dry" he spat at him
"But I told you I wasn't going to be there, I told you I was leaving"
"You" he poked him in the chest saying "Should have been there for me I protected you when you had no one and nothing and that's how you repay me?"
"I was 15 I'd just found myself homeless and you took advantage of me, trying to get me involved in you robberies, that was never me"
"The evidence still exists, a man got killed that day because you weren't at your post and I did the time for it and I want repaying"
"Repaying?" Sam asked shocked "I don't own this place I work here"
"Yes but your cosy with the owner, I've been watching you, and she's got what I need"
"Look it's not happening" Sam told him firmly "I didn't do it back then when I had no sense, I'm damn sure now I have I'm not getting dragged into your life of crime"
"Oh he feels like he's got something to lose now?" Miles asked sarcastically "I bet no one in your new little life knows anything about the person you really are the liar, thief..."
"That was never me that was what you were trying to make me into"
"Whatever it was I want money, you have money and I'm not leaving until I get money"
"I told you..."
"I've seen those women you protect, they won't be safe until I get what's owed to me, 12 years worth of it" he got in Sam's face telling him
"Look" Sam pushed him back against the barn pole telling him "You so much as look at any of them and I'll …."
"You'll what?"
"You're getting nothing and, I suggest you leave before I make a promise I'm willing to keep" he held Miles' throat telling him "Do you hear me?" he asked as he squeezed harder, until he was struggling for breath before he let him go and watched him walk away, he was well into his thought on what to do with the man when he realised the children would be arriving soon and made his way back to the main house. He smiled as he got close and saw Conaughey laying across Mercy's lap obviously he'd found a new home
"Are you alright?" Mercy asked as he came up the steps
"Yeah I'm fine" he smiled as Conaughey's head popped up to acknowledge he was there
"I'm sorry" she added "For invading your privacy I was wrong to do that"
"No it's fine really, I just wasn't expecting it, that's all" tapping his thigh as Conaughey jumped up and went to him for patting
"They're here" Ann shouted as they both moved to get down the steps to greet the children, the doors opened and Sam turned into a big child himself "He's really going to enjoy this, he's always wanted to do this" she told Mercy as they stood waiting for the bus to unload
"Welcome" he opened his arms telling everyone as they came off the buses, he gave the coaches their itinerary and became the life and soul of the camping excursion "Hi" he said to the last boy to leave the bus looking rather shy and disengaged "I'm Sam" he told him as the boy just looked at him "Okay come on" he told him moving his head in the direction he needed the boy to go in.
They took the children on horses and in carriages across the fields to the perfect camping spot, they were minutes away from the Lake that ran through the ranch, had a large field to play games on and a camp site of about 25 tents housing 5 children each, separated into boys and girls with portable toilets and a large tent for dining
After a late lunch the children got into gaming with their coaches, while Mercy, Sam and Ann got to talking to children that would talk or wanted to know about life on the ranch. Sam spotted that young boy again and went to try and make conversation again, he brushed him off at first but he was persistent "I know how you feel" he sat next to him saying
"How do I feel?" he rolled his eyes asking him
"Like you don't belong, or that you really don't want to belong because no one seems to be bothered"
"You got that right" he looked at him half smiling
"I went around care homes, families, streets and did everything you can imagine until I was 16 and Ann over there took me away from it all" he pointed at his Mom telling the boy "My name's Sam by the way"
"Anthony but I prefer Tony" he looked at him saying "And you say this gets better"
"One day everything just clicks into place, but you have to be open to it, so don't close yourself off, you might be missing your one opportunity in not having that very important conversation with that one person that could make that difference for you"
"I might" he looked up at Sam smiling "Thanks"
"What for?"
"Taking the time to have this important conversation with me"
"It was important for me too" he knocked shoulders with him saying before he smiled and got up to leave him to think about his next move
He sat watching the children playing, fishing and chatting, the women cooking supper and searching for Mercy with his eyes for a while before he finally saw her sitting at a bench with some girls in conversation, he watched as she laughed, hugged and talked like she'd known them since forever, his mind got lost in where a smile like that could take him
"Coach Palmer said that you had a breakthrough with Tony today" a voice popped into his head telling him, he smiled when he looked up to see Mercy standing over him "How did you do that?" she asked
"There's that subject I don't really like to talk about" he looked at her saying, his gaze holding her for a while
"That's fine" she smiled touching his shoulder as she sat beside him, the silence just then drawing attention to the attraction between them
"My biological Mom gave me up when I was a baby" he told her as they both looked ahead at the activities taking place around them "I suppose after rejection from.. I lost count of how many foster cares , I was angry at her, the system, the world even" he nervously chuckled to himself at the memory "I done all the usual stuff, lying, stealing reeking havoc to be fair, just running wild on the streets of Texas" he shuddered at the memory
"You don't have to..."
Mercy grabbed his hand and for the first time since they'd started talking they looked at each other "I'm fine" he smiled back at her "Then Ann and Daniel found me, they asked me if I wanted to be taken away from that life and I jumped, I mean dived at it anything was better than what I was getting into" he chuckled "Mom actually said she was taking me home and that sort of done the deal for me, finally a place to call home, and I guess it was the way Dad looked at me almost proud I'd say and they didn't even know me yet, that meant something"
"She still looks at you like that now, it was the first thing I noticed about her" she smiled, feeling good as he squeezed her hand in appreciation
"There's more" he got up telling her as he walked off towards the lake, she figured he wouldn't have told her that if he didn't want her to hear it so she got up and followed him, he looked to his side and smiled at her before looking back at the lake "I was supposed to help someone that night, they were doing a robbery and I was the look out, I didn't turn up because I was on my way here and he got caught" he smiled down at her shocked face "He was so much older than me, I was trying to make my way in life on my own I thought, and I made some wrong choices"
"We all make those" she found a smile telling him
"Yeah, well mines come back to haunt me, that man, Miles, it was him that came to your veranda that morning. I didn't know that then but he caught up with me, and well now he wants payback in the biggest way" he dragged his hair back off his face telling her before turning to face her "I've never told anyone that before"
"Well I'm glad your standing here telling me" she turned to face him saying
His eyes wondered all around her face, his mind suddenly shouting kiss her, kiss her over and over again, he felt himself moving closer to her what did I last eat? He asked himself as he went in, what the hell did I eat last? He repeated eventually deciding not to focus on his mouth but hers as his eyes watched them coming towards him.
"There you are" Ann called as she walked towards them "Supper time and Sam Tony's been asking for you" she grabbed hold of him saying "Did I interrupt something?" she asked as she watch the two of them looking at each other awkwardly
"No, not at all" Mercy smiled
"We were just talking" Sam told her a bit embarrassed
They had supper, told the usual camp side stories, said their good nights and went off to sleep
Sam didn't get much sleep he was talking himself out of this situation he was about to put himself in, she was the boss, how the hell was the Foreman looking to hook up with the damn boss. His job was important to him he loved it, and more importantly this place was their home, his Mom had been born in their house, they'd always worked alongside the Jones family, what the hell was he doing? "I have to stop this before it gets started" he told himself rolling over to hopefully find some sleep
Mercy was in the tent looking at Ann sleeping, she smiled at the thought of having her as her Mother-in-law, he was going to kiss her tonight, if you hadn't turned up when you did he'd have kissed me, she looked at Ann telling her in her thoughts. I knew he felt it, I felt it that first day, maybe not straight away, he was so rude, but I felt it and now I know he's up for it, I'm going to take the lead, she smiled as she turned and pulled the blankets up over her shoulder
Thursday
"Morning" Ann smiled when Mercy finally opened her eyes "We've got a thousand breakfasts to do in an hour"
"Bring it on" Mercy laughed sitting up to get her bearings "I want to do something special for the children today, it''s Christmas"
"Happy Christmas" Ann told her
"Happy Christmas" she got up saying following it up with a hug "This is definitely a first for me"
"It's a first on Jonestead"
"So let's make it memorable, do you think they can get breakfast done without us?"
"I guess, what do you have in mind?"
"Come on lets get washed up, we have a lot to do before lunch" Mercy let go of Ann's hand saying as they both went off to do their morning thing
"Mercy" Sam shouted as she walked towards the car ready to make her trip to make lunch count "Can I have a word?"
"Sure" she smiled "Happy Christmas" she hugged him saying
"Happy Christmas" he hugged her back saying, her smell making him think twice about what he was about to say, he closed his eyes and gently pushed her away from his chest "Look" he rubbed the back of his neck telling her "I'm really happy about all the changes you've made since you've been here and I know there's something between us, but you have to understand you're a Lawyer and I'm a Ranch Hand. You have your life in the city a good job and everything, this" he looked around the ranch as he spoke "Is it for me, I'll be holding you back, so lets just stop this before it gets out of hand"
"But I …."
"Mercy you ready?" Ann shouted from the jeep "I'm driving today" Mercy looked at Sam for a while, she had so much to respond to that with, but right now wasn't the time
"Bye" she looked at him holding back the tears she wanted to fall just now, as she turned and walked away
"So what's these memories we're going to create today?" Ann asked as they jumped in the car
"Oh I want to make Christmas special for these guys, and you have the links, so I need a dinner for what 70 people pronto"
"Wow lets do this" Ann told her excitedly, too excited to notice Mercy wiping the tears off her face
They went around the town getting people involved in the Christmas day for the orphaned children, making sure there was a carol service, the turkey and all the trimmings with traditional puddings for after and a present for each child. It was close to 4pm when the children and their coaches finally loaded up the coaches to make the return journey back to their orphanages
Sam and Mercy threw looks at each other all through the day but the focus was on the children and Tony had made himself a new best friend in Sam so the opportunity didn't arise for them to have that conversation she needed to have. By the time everyone left it was way past time for Sam to help get the cattle in, he left to go do that, took the horses out as usual and sat in his barn thinking "When was the last time?" he asked himself grabbing his guitar to sing to himself
'For The First Time' by Darius Rucker
When was the last time you did something for the first time? Yeah, let yourself go, follow that feeling
Maybe something new is what you're needing, like a real life, let your hair down, feel alive
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
"When was it?" he asked himself putting his guitar down to find home
Mercy was just about to go in the bath when her phone rang "Hi it's Bill, I know I said Friday and it's holiday but I couldn't wait"
That's fine Bill what did you find out?"
"Your hunch was right Sam's figures are right, this Smyth guys up to no good, I say you mark his card, he's swindled a substantial amount of money from the company buying horses that have never materialised, machinery that have no reference, meeting in exotic locations that have never happened, we're talking a tidy sum of about 2.5 million that I can see"
"Thanks Bill, send me everything, I can deal with it from here" Mercy was so mad she couldn't wait until tomorrow she grabbed her keys and made for Frank's home "I know what you've been up to" she walked into his house saying as he watched her "You've been fiddling the books to the tune of over 2.5 million and I'm tellling you now..."
"Who told you that?"
"I'm a Lawyer Frank" she hissed at him
"Because you're family I'll give you 30 days to pay all that money back, if it's not back in the business account by then you will feel my wrath" she told him walking out again before he could say anything else, the drive back home calmed her down eventually, smiling when she saw Conaughey waiting, she knew Sam had sent him, she finally had her bath and went to bed, it had been the best but worst day "Happy Christmas" she looked at the picture of her parents saying before she snuggled in
Friday
It must have been maybe three in the morning when she heard a noise, and woke up, feeling brave enough she told Conaughey to sit and went downstairs to check the windows in the kitchen, she opened the mesh door to check the large glass door on the exterior and was dragged out of the house before she felt a hand muffle her mouth and she was lifted up and carried away. The next thing she knew she was tied up in an old disused barn, unsure where this place was, she panicked for a few minutes before she actually got her think on "Keep calm" she told herself as she breathed to calm herself
Conaughey was in full bark by the time the first ranch hand walked past the big house some two hours later, he ran down to the Foreman's house to alert him "Sam" he banged the door shouting
"What?" he stood with coffee in hand
"Conaughey is barking like mad up at the big house" he told him as he watched him go into action, dropping his cup and grabbing his hat as he threw his boot on and left for the big house.
He got a call from Miles at just that minute and knew he was somewhere watching him "I thought I told you to leave" he hissed
"And I thought I told you I needed payment, I have your boss and don't call the police because you know I will do this" he told him as Sam listened in silence "One hour" he told him clicking the phone off
He let Conaughey out and ordered him to find Mercy, he followed the dog to the stables, prepared a horse and went in search of her "Call the police" Sam told his hand "Send then to the old barn I have a feeling" he told him as he watched Conaughey run off in that direction
Less than ten minutes and Sam was jumping off his horse to enter the barn, his face breaking to anger when he saw Mercy tied to the beam "Are you alright?" he asked as he walked towards her
"She's alright, where's the money?" Miles asking him as he run a gun down Mercy's face "I told you what was going to happ..." he got out before Mercy used her head to knock the gun out of his hand and Sam dived at him. They struggled for a while before Conaughey jumped at Miles' gun hand and he was forced to drop it, Sam delivered a blow to his head and he was out cold until the police came
"Are you alright?" he went to Mercy asking as he undone the ropes
"I'm fine" she told him as they heard the police coming in the distance "Is that ..." she looked across the field asking as the feeble frame came towards her "Granddad" she gasped as he got closer
"You've been stirring up the town a whole lot since you arrived" he laughed "I had Frank come see me tonight asking me to contest the will and I figured if you had them running you are worthy of recognition" he laughed
"What did you say?"
"What did you want me to say?"
"No maybe" she laughed "Mom loved you you know, and she forgave you over time, I think it would be good if you forgave yourself some time soon"
"Mercy don't ever put things off, you're as beautiful as your Mom was" her Granddad told her brushing her hair back off her face
"Mercy that's an improvement" she giggled "So what can I call you?"
"I guess we could range from ignorant old man to Granddad"
"The last one sounds about the best to me" she smiled hugging him for the first time, it felt warm, homely, comfortable and it made her smile, she finally let him go and looked back to see Sam making his way back to the Foreman's house "Sorry Granddad I have to do this" she ran off telling him
"Sam" she shouted watching him spin round to look at her "I just wanted to say I've sorted the accounts thing out Frank was scamming, I dealt with it" she smiled "And to add that your jobs are safe" she grabbed hold of his hand as he stood watching their linked hands "I also wanted to say you were right yesterday, our lives are different, but we're here, now, something brought us together..."
"But this isn't your life Mercy"
"This, here" she looked down at their hands saying "Is my life, this is what I want and I'm not going anywhere" she reached up and took his lips, he pulled her away from him for a second, looked into her eyes and smiled before pulling her back into him, this was where he wanted to be too
The End