Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don't own SON

Ashley's POV

"That old man has all this free time on his hands but he still insists that it's my job to take care of everything around this ranch and then go straight to work every day while he sits around the house twiddling his fingers and watching football or some other shit." I rant to myself as I throw the hefty bales of hay off the bed of my truck. Just because I live at his house doesn't mean I like doing all the hard labor around here when his ass is just as capable- maybe more so- of doing this shit himself so I can go and do my actual job.

"I swear, Rocco, one of these days I'm gonna…" I say as I throw another bale, "I don't know what but one of these days..." I trail off and look at my dog who is sitting in the cab of the truck with his head hanging out the passenger window watching me with attentive eyes. He lifts his head and looks at me with his tail wagging a hundred miles per hour. I just smile and continue with my work.

Don't get me get me wrong, I love this ranch along all the horses and cattle work but a girl can only take so much before they snap. It wouldn't be as bad if I had some help out here but alas I don't. The only thing that makes all of this toil bearable is the painkillers in my back pocket, without them I don't think I would be able to move my right shoulder after all this work. God damn gunshot wound.

I roll the said shoulder and take a seat on the tailgate. I hear Rocco jump out of the hatch in the rear window before I feel him snake his body underneath my arm to snuggle into my side.

I rub behind his ears and look down at him. "You're not much of a pup anymore are ya?" I ask the chocolate lab. He just licks my face and wags his tail in delight. We sit here in silence and watch the horses graze as I sip on my Gatorade while scratching Rocco's belly.

When the lab suddenly sits up and jumps on top of the toolbox with a bark, I look towards the road where I spot a familiar car pulling up to the house. I cock my head to the side in interest. Shrugging my shoulders I decide to climb in my truck and drive up to the house to see what our guest was up here for.

Once I had pulled up to the two story ranch style house I slammed my truck into park. Immediately as I'm throwing the door open my dad and Clay walk out onto the porch, both taking a seat on the swing.

I smile as I make my way up the steps and over to the two men. "Good mornin' Clay. What has ya way out here?" I ask while removing my work gloves to shake his hand.

He returns the smile and runs his hand over his head. "Well I came out here to tell you about the new project I have for you…if you want it that is."

I nod and grab the old dining room chair from against the wall so I could have a seat in front of the two guys. "Really now? Well what do ya got for me then?" I ask with curiosity. I just finished with his kitchen and I thought that was all he wanted me to do.

"A friend of mine called me up a few weeks ago asking me 'bout buying a house for his sister and two children." I nod my head still not sure where he is going with this.

"So what do you need me to do?" I ask, scratching the back of my neck.

"The house that they are buying is the old Vickers place up on Eagles Nest."

Ooh that explains it; that is a nice place but it does need some TLC. No one has lived up there in around seven years.

"I see. Well when do I start?" I ask with excitement. This will give me a reason to get away from the house... and I have always wanted to bring that little place back to life; it's such a nice little family home.

"As soon as you can actually. I have to go pick up the lady and her kids from the airport today so I'm sure you could start tomorrow if you like." Clay says with a hopeful look.

I smile and bob my head up and down in my agreement. "Sure thing Clay. Is there anything else I can do for ya today?" I ask with a hopeful expression.

Please, Clay, I need outa here. I silently plead.

He clears his throat and looks at me bashfully. "There is one other thing I wanted to ask you..." He trailed off,

"Which is...?" I prompt impatiently.

"I was wondering if you could lend me your truck to go get Ms. Carlin if it wasn't any trouble. My car is too small to fit all of us and their bags." He says unsurely.

"I don't know about that." Raife cuts in, speaking for the first time since I came over here, "You have work to do today." He says now looking at the side of my face.

I look over at him and force a smile on my face. "I'm done with everything actually. In fact I was about to go up to the Grill when Clay pulled up."

Raife glares at me but doesn't reply and just stands up and returns to the couch inside the house.

Ha! Take that slave owner! I cheer joyfully in my head.

"So can I barrow it then?" Clay questions me again and points over at my extended cab.

I glance at the vehicle in question and shrug my shoulders. "Sure but do you mind if I drive up to The Grill before you take off? You can drop the truck back off there to."

He nods his bald head. "Sure thing Ash. I wanted to introduce you to Ms. Carlin anyway."

I raise an eyebrow at him curiously. "Why is that?"

He looks at me with widen eyes before he swallows and looks away quickly. "Oh, no reason. I just thought you would want to know who you will be working for is all."

I give him a once over. He doesn't look like that's all. I eye him a moment before I let it go. "Alrighty then. You ready to go now?"

He lets out a short breath as he stands up and proceeds to his car. "Yeah. Let's go head to the Grill."

In Town

When we pull up to a crowded parking lot I can't fight the smile that crosses my face; Granny Rose's Bar and Grill has always been one of my favorite places to go in this small town of Oak Valley. Granny Rose is one of the coolest sixty year old women I have ever met. She is always smiling, laughing, and joking around with all her costumers. In Granny's world no one is a costumer but one of her many grandchildren.

I kill the engine and throw open my door. After letting Rocco jump out I slam the door and toss my keys over to Clay and gestured to my rig.

"It's all yours Clay." I say and pat his shoulder.

"Thank you Ash. I'll try and get it back to you soon as I can." Clay promise as he climbs in the driver's seat.

"If I see one scratch on it when you get back there is gonna be trouble." I laugh at the joke. Clay laughs with me.

We both glance down at the truck; it has rust on the rims, a dint in the door where the mule kick it in, and scraps and nicks from barbwire and Rocco jumping up on the side of it.

"I'll try my hardest but no promises." He chuckled and fired the truck up. "I'll see later Ashley."

I wave from my spot in the parking lot has he backs away. I watch him until my truck disappears behind a cluster of evergreens.

"Well Rocco, my boy," I say and look down at the dog who is staring back up at me, "Let's see what Gran has in store for us today."

The response I get in return is the pup running for the doors and pawing at them, whining at me all the while. I just chuckle and oblige the dog by swinging the door open allowing him to sprint ahead of me and to our booth.

"Good Morning Davies!" I group of older men greet me with a toast of their beers.

I slip off my Saint Louis baseball cap, sliding it in my back pocket, and with a smile I turn to the elderly men. "Hello guys. How are ya'll?"

These six guys are the only other ex-military people in town and they always like to get me into a conversation about "back in the day" even if my back in the day wasn't too long ago.

Before they could answer I feel a pair of familiar arms slide around my mid-section in a tight embrace. I turn myself around in the arms to return the hug.

"Ashley I thought you weren't coming up here today! I was about to give Joey your pancakes." Granny informed me with a bright smile.

Granny is everything you would expect of a grandma; floral perfume, flower print apron, the sweet scent of cookies, and a big friendly smile.

Slapping my hand to my chest, I gasp with mock bewilderment. "You would give that boy my beloved pancakes? For shame, Gran!" I exclaim playfully.

"We couldn't have them going to waste now could we?" She questioned has she led me to my booth where she sat me down, patting the top of my head.

"You could have given them to that stray dog outside instead of Joey." I say loud enough for Joey to hear just to tease him.

"Hey! I heard that Ashley!" A voice yelled from the back behind the bar.

"You were supposed to." I shout back.

He laughs sarcastically back at me.

Granny slaps my forearm lightly with the laugh only old ladies can do. "Be nice Ashley Davies."

I put my hands up in surrender. "Okay, Gran. No need for violence. All I'm here for is my blackberry pancakes and some coffee...and maybe a shot of whiskey." I mumble the last part to myself. But of course Granny Rose heard. I swear that woman has ears like an elephant.

"Whiskey? Isn't it too early for that?" She asks with a cross of her arms and a raise of a white eyebrow.

"It's never too early for whiskey, Rose!" Percy, one of the veterans, yells over at Gran.

"Yeah Rosie! Let the woman have a shot. It's good for ya." Jeremy agreed with his friend.

Gran snorts in disbelief but turns on her heel and walks into the kitchen. Moments later she walks back out carrying a platter with my pancakes, coffee, and my shot of whiskey (surprisingly), along with a ham bone. She places the ham bone on the floor by Rocco then sits the rest of the items in front of me.

I grab the shot and throw it back quickly. God I love my Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey.

"Now tell me what the problem is Sweet pea." Gran says and takes a seat on the booth across from me. I sigh but launch into a lengthy rant about Raife and how he has been acting these last few weeks.

"I don't get that fucking man!" I exclaim at the end of my tirade. At Gran's scolding look I grimace. "I'm sorry for my mouth, Granny, but that man kills me."

Gran gives me a sympathetic look as she little slaps my hand. "I understand Sweet pea. I don't get the man myself and I've known the boy since he was a baby."

I run my hand through my curly hair and smirk over at Rocco who is still trying to steal Percy's plate of bacon. Percy keeps moving the plate further on the table just to have it pulled back a second later by a big paw. Instead of getting mad Percy just laughs and throws Rocco a piece.

"Yeah, well at lease I have a new project to work on starting 'morrow." I tell the woman across from me.

"You're gonna work up at Eagles Nest. Right?" Rosie asks.

I look at her in surprise. "Yeah. How did ya-"

"Oh honey! This is a small town after all." Gran reminds me. I nod my head in agreement. Sometimes I think it's too small.

"That's true I guess."

About an hour later I'm playing a game of poker with the old boy vets and let me tell you, today is my lucky day.

"What? What is this?" I exclaim gleefully as I toss down yet another winning hand.

"How in the hell do you keep getting a full house?" Keego questions through his thick gray beard.

"This is just fucked up." Jeremy agrees throwing down his cards in defeat.

"I don't know boys but I'm on fire today." I brag after I take a swing of my chocolate milk. After my fourth shot Granny forced me to stop because I would have to drive home later or something like that. I say humbug to taking my whiskey but the old lady is persistent!

Just as I'm grabbing the deck of cards I hear the dinging of the doorbell as it is forced open. "Whelp boys are ya'll good for another game?" I question as I shuffle the cards, a smug smile playing across my lips.

Before they could answer a little boy's voice says in delight. "It's a puppy!" The words barely make it out of the child's mouth before I hear a thrilled bark and the sound of paws running along the hardwood floor.

I twist around in my chair to come to face with a sight that brings a diminutive smile to my face. Two small boys are hugging and patting Rocco's head as he happily licks them with his tail wagging so fast you could barely see it.

I stand up and walk over to the children with interest. I pat Rocco on the head and smile at the small children. "Well, hello there fellas." I say.

They look up at me and wave. "Hiya." The smallest boy with blonde hair says happily and reaches out a dimpled hand to grab and shake mine.

I laugh at the gesture and kneel down beside them. "Where is your Mommy?" I ask as I scan the area for a panicking mother.

"Skylar, Scotty you can't just run off like that. You scared Mommy." A soft but still scolding voice said from behind me. I turn towards the voice, about to say hello, when I completely freeze in downright marvel.

Sapphires eyes. Beautiful sapphires.

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