This is a story about finding love when you're not looking for it. I've gone for a more romantic style story and it is a little slower-paced than some of my other stories. Once again thank you for reading and enjoy.
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**Chapter 1: Going south **
The flight from LaGuardia to Little Rock only took three hours but after a rough night, it felt like an eternity. I knew I shouldn't have gone out but It was unavoidable. If I didn't keep networking I would never get that promotion. It had been six years since I had been back in Arkansas. I hadn't even been south of the Mason-Dixon line for years.
When I was ten Momma and Dad got divorced and she moved us to New York. Throughout the rest of my childhood, I only spent summers at my Dad's horse ranch.
I stopped visiting Dad when I was fourteen. Life just got too busy for Mom to send me, then when I went to college i was too busy. Now I was making my way into the cutthroat world of advertising. I'd talk on the phone to Dad occasionally, but probably not enough. I met a guy at a birthday party of a mutual friend. Samuel was the son of Teddy Carlson, a property mogul on the Upper West Side. I hadn't thought much of him at first. He was handsome but full of himself. Bella, our mutual friend, had heard stories of his Playboy lifestyle, and I wasn't interested in that game.
He was very persistent though and eventually, I gave in and went on a date. He turned out to be nice. Attentive and generous for the most part. He seemed to be obsessed with me, which was nice at first.
He did have a temper especially when drunk, but we all have our flaws. Fast forward a year, and on our anniversary he proposed. I was in shock and caught completely off guard. He did it in front of his family and friends, at their lake house. I said yes but admit I had slight reservations. Was this way too fast? We didn't even live together yet, Samuel was too precious about his personal space.
Now I was travelling home to tell Dad. I felt a bit nervous about it. He hadn't even met Samuel yet and I was worried he would think things were moving too fast. If I was honest with myself the big reason to come on this trip was to get away from Samuel's Mom. She was a bit overbearing. Already starting to plan a New York wedding, without even consulting me.
Momma had refused to come with me, not wanting to see my Dad. Samuel had some work thing he couldn't get out of so, it was just me.
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I stood outside the terminal at Little Rock and tried to book an Uber. The problem was that 'The Elder Ranch' wasn't listed. I didn't ring Dad as I wanted it to be a surprise. I found an old-school cab and started the hour's drive out of the city.
The streets and buildings soon made way for farmland and untamed wilderness. As I looked out the window memories of my childhood came flooding back. Riding with my cousins, helping my Meewma bake cookies and playing with my Dad. I thought of all the good times we had spent together and slipped into a pensive mood.
As we pulled up to the big ranch house I felt a childlike feeling of joy. I imagined my Meemaw's cooking and her soft warm bedsheets. The cab fare was ridiculous and cleaned out most of my cash.
A blue tickhound raised his head as I walked to the porch. It got up and gave me a sniff, enjoying the scratch I gave it behind the ears.
The house was lit up brightly and I heard a lot of people inside. I knocked on the door and waited feeling nervous butterflies in my belly.
"Holy shit!" my dad yelled when he opened the door.
He grabbed me off the porch and pulled me into a crushing embrace. He spun me around as I felt tears bubbling up.
"Why didn't you say you were coming baby girl? I would've picked you up from the airport," Dad said as he put me down.
I was crying now, tears rolling down my cheeks and smearing my make-up.
"Suprise," I said blubbering as he held me in his arms again.
His familiar scent and warm hug made me feel like a little girl again. As we broke apart I had a good look at him. He looked so handsome and healthy which was great to see. He had taken the divorce hard, and at times had hit the bottle. But here he was, looking amazing and glowing with happiness to see me.
"Look at you, hoo wee," he said holding my hand and spinning me.
I wasn't dressed for the outdoors. I wore a tight pencil skirt and a white blouse under a suit jacket. I guess I was still in work mode.
"You look like a right little city girl, this what all the gals in New York dress like?" Dad said as he hugged me again.
I guess, like me, he couldn't get enough of being able to hug after so many years.
"Well come in, come in," he said grabbing my bag and welcoming me into the house.
It was just like I remembered. From the rugged log walls to the hardwood floors. The fireplace with a bear rug just in front of it. Everything had a tinge of nostalgia. The house was full of people. Dad had remarried when I was twenty. I hadn't been able to go to the wedding. I knew it had upset my dad and I regretted it now.
His wife Carolineine had four kids from a previous marriage. Now they were all in their teens and causing havoc in the house. Caroline was a beautiful southern bell. The kind of woman who puts her kids and husband above everything else. I hadn't spoken to her much but she seemed friendly. She gave me a huge hug which was a little awkward and complimented my clothes.
"Is there somewhere I can change?" I said feeling self-conscious as my step-siblings eyed my outfit.
Caroline had two boys and two girls. The eldest of which lept staring at me.
"Oh, dammit the remodelling," my Dad said looking at Caroline.
"Langauge George," she commented as she walked over.
"We're remodelling upstairs so space is a bit tight," Dad said looking concerned.
"It's ok. I don't mind taking the couch," I said. Not wanting to cause a fuss.
"This is your home, and the couch is all lumpy. I guess we could move Timmy and Brad in with the girls. For a few nights," Caroline said looking at Dad.
"Only if you don't want any sleep, it's bad enough as it is," Dad said, a the two youngest kids started arguing about the TV remote.
"It's ok I can get a room in town," I said feeling like an inconvenience.
"Oh girl, you kidding? No way. This is your home. How about the barn?" Caroline said.
I vaguely recalled Dad saying they had converted the old hay loft into a living space.
"Yeah I guess that could work, let's get you settled in," Dad said picking up my suitcase.
The barn had been built by my great-grandpa. Seeing it brought back so many memories. My heels were hard to walk in on the uneven ground and Dad had to hold me up.
"George! Bob Dresden is on the phone!" shouted my stepmom from the house.
"Shit, I gotta take that. Just head inside, up the stairs and I'll be back in a sec," Dad said as he ran back to the house.
When I walked through the barn's wide doors it was like nothing had changed. Horses filled the stalls and watched me curiously. Leather tack, lined one wall whilst saddles lined the other. It still had the same blend of animal smells and hay.
A song by Alan Jackson was playing from somewhere. I saw a light on up in the converted hay loft. The music got louder as I climbed the stairs, and stopped at the thigh-high gate at the top. It was quite a big living area, with a small kitchen and double bed. There was even a bath in the corner. A radio lay on the bed and was blaring out music. Then I heard a man singing.
His southern drawl was amazing as he belted out the lyrics. I had lost some of
my accent through living in New York, but this guy was pure Arkansas. I couldn't tell where he was until I realised he was in the bath. The guy was practically fully submerged with just his face and knees out of the water.
