Darlin'

Chapter 1

Present-day Elk Mountain, Wyoming

Late July

The warm, early fall breeze rustled in the trees as the bluebirds flew above the clear, blue sky. The meadow was home again to many creatures. Meadow Larks lay sleeping in the prairie's shelter grass and cattle grazed upon abundant acres of flatland that Wyoming comprised. The smell of rain and fresh air encased the father-son duo as they rode to the hillside crest to check on their livelihood.

Quinn had set out at five that morning to start his day and check cows before he went to work. Clair tagged along and help limit the risk involved. As they were finishing with calving season, soon they would need to wean the babies and take the steers to the feedlot. The heifer calves would go to the pasture by the barn to graze and fatten up before the next breeding season.

Their herds first comprised mostly crossbred cattle but ventured further into the Simmental beef cattle industry. Clair had worked all his life to build his livelihood to where it is now. He became the sole owner of ten square miles between what his father and grandfather had passed down after they moved out west to take on a new cattle market.

" Well, it looks like the fences were good and the cows seemed content."

Clair Lucas was a man of few words. He did what he loved and he loved what he did. His great-grandfather had ventured further west, after the depression, to start over. The plan was to build a homestead in Helena, Montana, but due to traveling concerns and the distance traveled already, the decision was made to build a homestead in the small town of Elk Mountain, Wyoming. Clair would be raised on that homestead all his life.

Clair worked at the local feed store and on the weekends, he would load up and go to local rodeos where he rode bucking bulls and broncs to help make ends meet. He thought that it was a fun hobby, but never thought of it as a career. Clair met Stephanie Winters through years of rodeoing where she ran barrels in local and state circuits. 

After Clair and Stephanie were married, Clair retired from the rodeo world and decided to settle down into a quieter lifestyle of ranching instead. He moved onto the original Lucas' homestead and built his parents a little log cabin near the house for his parents to stay in.  Stephanie would continue to rope and ride until she was pregnant with their oldest boy, Reese.

The young parents opened a sale barn on the outskirts of the county after Quinn turned two and tried to raise their boys in a humble, modest environment. 

Quinn and his dad began the trek back up to the house in comfortable silence. When they reached the homestead, they dismounted from their horses and led them to the paddock by the barn. Quinn carries his saddle and bridle with him to hang them up in the tack room. Clair watched his son work diligently and then cleared his throat. " Kennedy Taylor called and wanted to see if you could pick up Sawyer from the airport. He has a few meetings today and wondered if you would like to."

Quinn took a deep breath. After four long years of seeing her occasionally on holiday breaks, today was the day that Sawyer Taylor would be back in Elk Mountain. He secretly wished for good, but there was no telling what would happen once she got back and started getting settled in her new job. "Sure. I can get her after I get done at the arena."

Clair smiled and thinks thoughtfully. "Good. I think she is still planning on helping castrate those steers on Saturday."

Quinn shut the door to the tack room and walked outside with his father. Hank, the obedient Texas red heeler, followed close behind wiggling around waiting for his turn to receive some affection. Quinn scratched behind his ears and Hank beamed with excitement.