Chapter Text
Mornings seemed to rise as somber moments of stillness. They came and went as days flashed by but there was nothing left alive to lift the spirit of the cowboy.
A hot cup of coffee rested on top of the fence post as he looked out through the fog falling on the field. He stood with his hands laced together hanging over the top rung of the metal gate. His boots kicked at the ground in front of him before he looked back over the field to assure that the cows hadn’t taken the jostle of the gate as a sign of feeding time.
It was early winter in upstate New York. The farm had entered a slumber post harvest season. The rolling acres of McVeigh Ranch had a ranch style house with a garden, a couple of barns with a separate stable, a forty acre pond, and sectioned paddocks of farmland for horses and cattle.
The estate was once a prized business place for breeding and training quarter horses. However, the finances had begun to struggle over recent years since the owners had passed and only the lonesome cowboy remained to tend to the place.
The McVeigh sisters used to swear come hell or high water they’d never leave yet they headed for the big city the day their mother died some years after their father. Kurt McVeigh, on the other hand, always had a hand in running the farm. He knew the business and the basics of the trade. He was certainly the only child born on that farm with the spirit of the cowboy.
-xxx-
Kurt sighed as the hot coffee on his breath mixed with the cold winter morning. The frigid temperature was beginning to sting on his face as he closed his eyes and felt defeat creep over him.
The barn doors were shut, the ranch hands were let go, and all that remained was a small herd of cattle and a couple of work horses.
The last step weighed heavy on him as he prepared to face selling the farm. He did what he could to save it but it was too much for him alone.
He reached for the Stetson on his head and hung it on the fence post before picking up his cellphone.
“It’s a four hundred acre ranch with several structures. I’ve still got livestock on it but willing to sell or trade.”
He hung up with the realtor, grabbed his cowboy hat, and headed towards the barn to begin a day’s work while there was still work to be done.
-xxx-
A couple days drifted by before Kurt showed the real estate agent around the property highlighting points of interest and ideas suitable for potential owners.
“It really is a beautiful property, Mr. McVeigh. This will sell in no time,” the bubbly blonde told him.
As they sat at the kitchen table discussing details, Kurt noticed his real estate agent was a bit over the top with friendliness. She was a great deal younger than him, would constantly toss her long blonde hair, and fluttered her eye lashes as she threw her head back laughing at him and placed her hand on top of his.
He didn’t think he was all that funny. He looked at her hand upon noticing her actions. He knew she was flirting with him.
“And you’re certain you want to sell it? I’d buy it myself if you’d lower the ask just a bit. I’d even let you stay here with me,” she said as she winked at him.
He was beginning to grow uncomfortable around her but didn’t mind the flirting as it had been years since he last had a romantic interest.
The agent stood from the table, placed her business card in his hand, and proceeded to place the for sale sign at the top of the driveway as she left.
Kurt looked down at the card that read: Holly Westfall of PGT Real Estate above her business contact and a handwritten cellphone number. He rolled his eyes at that detail. He was not interested in pursuing anything more than a client relationship with her but she certainly seemed to be a bit unprofessional towards him.
-xxx-
Diane
“Pull over here, please. I’ll only be a moment,” an elegant voice spoke before exiting the vehicle.
Several miles had been traveled from the city. There was no plan in her mind except to get away from everything. The last fifty miles were nothing but open fields and an offering of a vast contrast to her New York City life.
Running away was new to her but she was sure of it. An image of a quiet countryside where she could be free to spend her time writing and actually enjoying herself flashed across her mind. Her life had been built in the bustling city but her heart sought something more.
Her fiancé was as wise as an owl. It took her decades to settle down with someone. He was a therapist and promised that she could have everything and stay home to write. It seemed like a fairytale to on-lookers but he didn’t make her happy. They had similar interests in politics, literature, studies, and common ground in the big city. Yet here she was running away from everything.
Stepping out of the Uber, the tall blonde dialed the number on the sign.
“Diane Lockhart. Thank you, I look forward to meeting with you Miss Westfall and the owner as well.”