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Chapter 2

Lily's eyelids were heavy as she looked out the window. She hardly got an hour of sleep at the motel. It turns out her father was a snorer. That and the fact she just couldn't relax with a stranger laying in the bed next to her contributed to her lack of rest. Her stomach was also starting to growl. She skipped out on the "complimentary" breakfast at the motel which had really only consisted of various cereals and toast. Lily wasn't big on breakfast anyways. She liked bacon and Poptarts, that was it. Her mom always kept both well stocked. Lily's stomach made the loudest sound startling her. She wrapped her arms around herself trying to quiet the noise so her father wouldn't hear. James laughed.

"Hungry kiddo?" Lily gave a slight nod. "We're almost to New Mexico. We can swing through a fast food place at the next big town. Wanna get something fast so we can make it home for dinner. You'll love my wife's cooking. I take it your mom still doesn't cook much." He gave Lily a once over.

"No she really doesn't, but I have a high metabolism and I'm very active. Well I was." She laid her head on the window. She was really going to miss California. James frowned. He didn't want Lily to be upset with this change. He knew it would be inevitable but he had hoped this car ride would be a little bit of a "get to know each other" chance for both of them. The problem, he's never really been around children. Though Lily was not a child per say but still. James had been an only child and had never had any more children after Lily. Shortly after taking over the farm, James had an accident while riding a horse leaving him unable to bear any children. After the accident he really had wanted to reach out to Viv and keep in contact with his own flesh and blood but he couldn't bring himself to do it. His love for Vivian had been so passionate and so fast. Like those summer loves everyone talks about having or those Nicholas Sparks movies his wife makes him watch. James knew she wouldn't come to Oklahoma and he wasn't moving to California. He loved his country life. It was what he had known. His rodeo life was the only thing that kept him going. It was the main reason he couldn't stay with Vivian. After the death of his father he really only did local shows, ones that kept him close. He wanted his family farm since the day he realized it would all be his. He had only wish it hadn't been as quick as it had been or in the way it had been. James loved his dad, he had pushed him to choose the rodeo path. He wasn't happy when James met Vivian knowing his son's passion for the sport. He was afraid James would settle and leave his rodeo life. Then when he found out Lily was born, he refused to talk to James. It caused James to lose respect for the older man. His death had caused James to go in a depression of sorts. It wasn't until he met his wife, Grace, that he felt any passion again. Grace had known about Lily and Vivian, she had even encouraged him to make contact but James felt like to much time had passed and didn't want to turn the Californians world upside. When Vivian called he was shocked, the California number popped up on the caller id and he knew who it was. He had braced himself and took the call. When Vivian said she needed him, he put her on speaker so Grace could hear too. Grace wasted no time in agreeing to take Lily in. She had always wanted children and James knew she would get sad when she saw a baby but she was okay with her life with him. She was content with the farm live and definitely kept her self busy with the upkeep. James had never met a woman that was as good with her hands as Grace was. Even his mother hadn't been as great at helping with the farm. His mother, Barbara had stayed to help after the death of her husband but once Grace came into their lives she could see she wasn't needed anymore and went to live with her sister two towns over. James hadn't told Barbara about getting Lily yet, he was afraid of how the older woman would act. Grace and James had agreed not to tell anyone about Lily until the teen was settled. Living in a small town, word would spread like wildfire and they didn't want Lily to get overwhelmed. Now the problem was how they were going to get Lily to feel comfortable living with them. This was where James was suppose to be chatting the teen up but instead they had rode to Arizona in silence. James had been so tired from the ride he had passed out as soon as they got to the motel. He had felt bad about it because he could have used that time as well and didn't. Even now half of the day had gone by and he had hardly said anything.

Lily perked up as they got into a town that wasn't flat and deserted looking. She was so hungry and food was definitely life for her. Her father may have thought she was skin and bones but in truth Lily could out eat any grown man.

"So a burger place okay?" James asked Lily once he noticed she was sitting up a little straighter.

"Yeah. I'm not really a picky eater, just not big on breakfast."

"That will change once you start working on the farm. You'll need that morning strength. Plus Grace makes the best biscuits and gravy." Lily gave him a weird look. James laughed. "Just wait, I'll turn you into a country girl real quick."

James saw a sign for a Wendy's and took the exit. It was one of his favorite fast food places. He had no clue it was one of Lily's as well. He pulled through the line and asked Lily what she wanted.

"A baconator combo please."

"Wanna frosty with that or soda?" Lily's eyes widened with excitement.

"A frosty please! Mom never lets me get one when I'm with her. She says it makes her sick when I dip my fries in my frosty." James let out a boastful laugh. Lily gave him a weird look.

"The reason she says that is because I do the same thing. It always grossed her out when I did it." Lily gave a little smile. She was glad to at least find something in common with the man. So far she hadn't found a single thing. Though she didn't know much, the things she had noticed weren't like her at all. For instance she was a talker, her mom would constantly tell the girl to calm down. Her father seemed like the stoic type, and she didn't want him to think she was to much to handle.

James ordered their food and began to get back on the highway. It was still another three or four hours before they made it home.

"You know Lily I didn't even ask your mom if you even knew how to drive. You did just turn 16 right?"

"Yeah, I'm 16, but no I don't have a drivers license yet. Mom never really thought me but my friends and I go drive go karts a lot on the weekends and stuff."

"Well maybe when we get closer I'll let you drive the truck."

"Seriously?" Lily almost choked on the bite of burger in her mouth. Her mom didn't even like when she did go out to drive the go karts so there was no way she would have let her drive her car. Lily was suppose to start drivers ed in the fall when school started. She had begged her mom enough to agree to that. All her friends had started last year and were already driving. Lily was always behind her peers.

"Take it that's not something your mom woulda done." James chuckled. He knew he was turning this girls world around, he just didn't realize how much he was changing her life.

AN: Oh look I can write longer chapters haha I literally wrote this all today, that's a very good sign yall. I can't wait to keep going with this. Thanks to all the reviews so far, they make me feel better about what I'm doing. And Sweetkid45 just so you know and a bit of a spoiler I guess, Miley won't be showing up for a few more chapters. Thank yall so much for reading!