The moment you want is happening if you give it time.

I bop my head to the beat of the melody flowing into my ears as I fix the final pole in place. I take a step back to admire my work. Another fence fixed! I allow myself a smile and remove the Stetson from my head to wipe the layer of sweat from my forehead. It's another day where Purgatory's late summer sun beats down mercilessly on mortals trying their best to fix broken fences.

I turn to walk back towards the house for a well-deserved glass of ice-cold lemonade, only to be stopped in my tracks by the sight of a Holstein cow watching me. She stares at me with curious eyes as she ruminates on a wad of fresh lucerne hay. From behind her I spot a tiny version of herself also staring at me.

I smile at my two onlookers as I place the Stetson back on my head and remove my earphones. "Don't worry, momma. I fixed the fence proper. Ain't no coyotes getting your baby. Not on my watch."

The Holstein just continues to look at me curiously for a moment longer. Then she shakes her head with a sneeze and turns to head in the direction of the rest of the herd, located in the far-left corner of the camp. The calf follows her swiftly, releasing a balk.

"That's the thanks I get." I huff out to no one in particular, shaking my head like a disappointed parent. My cellphone buzzes in the pocket of my jeans, drawing my attention away from the retreating pair of Holsteins.

I pull out the intruding piece of technology, surprised at the notification I find flashing across the screen.

You have been matched!

I stare at it with a mix of confusion and surprise. I have had the MatchMe app on my phone for three weeks and not once did I get a match. I had told Jeremy it was a dumb idea, that there was no way in hell that anyone my age, let alone another gay woman, would be anywhere near this cow town.

To say that I am baffled at the notification flashing across my screen would be putting it lightly. I am about to check out the profile of the seemingly unicorn that I have been matched with, when the sound of Nedley's old truck coming up the dirt road draws my attention away from my phone screen.

I watch as the old beat-up, blue Chevy enters through the gates leading into Joy Farm. I assumed Nedley had just been out to run another errand in town or to have a drink at Shorty's with his friends from the Purgatory Farmer's Union. So, seeing the passenger seat of the old truck occupied takes me by surprise.

I squint to try and see who the person is, but they are still too far way for me to make out anything other than the profile of a woman.

I run my teeth over my bottom lip as I contemplate who it might be. It wasn't Chrissy, because I saw her at lunch well after Nedley had left. Did the old man finally meet someone new after all these years? I scoff at my last thought. Nope, Randy Nedley swore that he would never love another woman after his wife passed.

That leaves only one other possibility. He was bringing home a newbie. This would be the first after a long time, the first since Jeremy.

I give up my speculation on the new arrival and make my way towards the house, my thirst trumping my curiosity.

XxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Hey, Nic. How's your day been?" Jeremy saunters into the kitchen and flops down into a chair at the table, his chin resting in his hands as he looks at me expectantly.

I continue my task of removing the lemonade from the fridge, a smile playing on my lips. "My day's been great, Jer. Finally done with the fence on the western side." I remove two glasses and pour lemonade into each, offering one to Jeremy. He accepts the refreshment gratefully. I watch in amusement as he gulps down the drink as if it is the very first liquid to pass his lips after a long stay in the desert.

"How's your day been? Is that hot online teacher treating you well?" I say, a mischievous smirk on my mouth. Jeremy gives me a very unimpressed look before dropping his head onto his arms with a dramatic sigh. "Ugh. AP mathematics sucks balls, no matter how hot my teacher is."

I laugh at my friend's antics and raise an eyebrow. "Yeah, well maybe if you focused more on what he is trying to teach you and less on how handsome he is, perhaps then you would find it easier."

Jeremy rolls his eyes at me and sticks out his tongue in defiance. He is, however, unable to hide the blush on his cheeks, affirming my accusation. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever, Haught." He sighs again before lifting his head to look at me. "Besides the fact that my teacher is so hot, I never thought finishing high school online would be this challenging."

I was about to respond when the familiar sound of Nedley's truck door slamming interrupts our conversation. When the passenger door slams too, Jeremy looks towards me in surprise. At his questioning gaze, I just shrug. At my lack of knowledge on the person tagging along with our paternal figure, Jeremy jumps up and hurriedly goes over to the window to get a good look for himself. Unable to hide my curiosity any longer, I follow suit.

We watch as a girl around the same age as Jeremy follows Nedley up the porch steps before disappearing from view. Jeremy immediately turns towards me with a mix of surprise and excitement in his eyes. "Who is that? Do you think…" He is interrupted by an even more excited Chrissy coming into the kitchen. "Dad's brought in a new one!" She exclaims while clapping her hands together enthusiastically, confirming my suspicions.

"Oooh fresh meat! Now you can officially stop calling me newbie." Jeremy says smugly with a celebratory fist bump, causing both Chrissy and I to laugh.

"Hold your horses, Jer. We don't even know for sure that…" I start saying as I take a seat, but my words freeze in my throat when Nedley and the newcomer enters the kitchen suddenly. My eyes fall on the girl and I feel my breath catch.

She is really pretty. Her long honey brown hair falls effortlessly along her narrow, but strong looking shoulders. Her lithe frame is highlighted by the crop top and very short shorts she wears. I visibly gulp when I meet her gaze. She has the most beautiful hazel irises. Irises currently looking at me with such coldness that I can practically feel my blood turn to ice in my veins. What the hell is her problem?

The girl's whole posture is rigid, her back straight and arms folded around herself. Her body practicality screams I would rather be anywhere else than here.

Someone clears their throat, breaking the spell I seemed to be under.

"All right you lot. Listen up. This here is Waverly Earp. She is going to be staying with us for a while. I expect you all to treat her kindly and make her feel at home. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir." The three of us say in unison. Nedley gives us a satisfied nod before turning to the new girl. "Waverly, this is Nicole, Jeremy and my daughter Chrissy. Jeremy here is also in his last year of high school, so he can show you the ropes of the online learning process."

Waverly shows no sign of acknowledgement, her mind seems to be somewhere very far away. She stares out of the window with her jaw set in a clear sign of defiance.

I wonder what her story is. What shit she had to experience to have been brought to Joy Farms? Only broken kids get sent here. Kids who had nothing, kids with a troubled family life. Kids like Jeremy and I. We each had stories, reasons as to why Randy Nedley had taken us in and had given us a home. A place to let all our past hurt seep out of our broken hearts and be replaced by the healing that comes from a stable home environment and hard work.

Nedley's gruff voice brings me from my musings. "Nicole here will teach you how to do your chores on the farm."

The brunette's eyes snap to mine and for a moment, it almost looks as if they spark with intrigue. But when I blink her eyes are cold once more. She nods stiffly at Nedley to show her acknowledgement, albeit begrudgingly.

"Nicole, why don't you show Waverly her room?" Nedley asks me.

I nod at him and move my chair back so I can get up. "The rooms are on the second story. Follow me." I say to the new girl, motioning in the direction of the stairs.

She picks up her two suitcases and actually starts moving, proving my theory that she was an ice queen statue false. I would offer to carry her luggage, but something tells me the request would not be welcomed.

We slowly make our way up the stairs and I can practically feel the annoyance radiating from the girl in front of me. I find myself distracted by the way the muscles in her legs contract and relax as she climbs the steps. I am so entranced that I don't realize we had reached the top of the stairs and practically bump right into her.

Her eyes flash with annoyance when my hands land on her hips to stop us from toppling over. I quickly release my hands, scared that they might be amputated by the sharp daggers thrown at them by the brunette's angry gaze. "Er… sorry." I mumble awkwardly.

She releases a huff and looks between me and the hallway expectantly. I realize she has no idea where to go because I'm supposed to show her. I mentally kick myself. Idiot… stop being distracted by the angry pretty girl.

I hurriedly move in front of her and guide her to the only room in the house that is still unoccupied. The one that is right next to mine, across from Chrissy's and diagonal to Jeremy's.

I stand awkwardly to the side to allow her access to her new lodgings. She goes to open the door, but then pauses and turns her head towards me briefly. "Thanks." She mutters it so softly that I almost think I imagined it. The clicking of the door brings me from my stupor. I was so surprised at her uttering a single word, let alone one of gratitude, that I didn't even notice her entering the room.

I release a breath I didn't realise I was holding and run my hand through my short red locks. Who the hell was this girl?

With a shake of my head, I head back down stairs to help Chrissy with dinner.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

After dinner I join Jeremy on our routine evening trip around the farm to check that the animals were settled and that nothing was out of place. Upon our return to the house, I glance upwards towards Waverly's room. Her light is still on and I can see her shadow moving about. I wonder what she was doing. Was she alright? Did she find her bed comfortable? Did she need anything?

She had not joined us for dinner, claiming the classic excuse of not being hungry. I think the truth is that she just wasn't ready to eat with a bunch of strangers yet.

"She'll come around. We were like that too." Jeremy says with a hand on my shoulder. I almost laugh at the truth behind those words as I remember my own first night on the farm. "Yeah, I guess you are right. I sure hope she does."

I greet Jeremy as we both retire to our respective rooms for the night.

I am finally settled and ready for sleep when my phone buzzes. To my surprise, I find another notification from MatchMe. Or rather, from my match.

Angelgirl08: Hey.

The fact that I got a match was already a miracle. Getting a reply from said match? That was just nuts! Is the universe finally on my side for once?

I release a shaky breath and decide to just yolo it. Hell, I literally had nothing to lose.

Haught(givemea)shot: Hi :)

After hitting send I hand it over to fate and let sleep overtake me.