The House That Built Me

First Day

As I jumped out of the driver's seat of my truck I thanked God that Lee fell asleep near Sheridan cause if he didn't Daddy would definitely be down a son.

"Get your ass up and clean out my truck Lee,"

"Here already? Damn you still have a led foot" He groans

With a roll of my eyes, I slammed the door shut and headed towards the barn ignoring whatever smart ass comment Lee was mumbling. I probably should have stopped into the house to go see Dad and Jamie but there was one member of my family I couldn't stop thinking about the whole car ride here.

The closer I got to the barn the faster I went until I made it to the last stall. Standing high was the prettiest palomino quarter horse in all of Montana. "Hey there Sundance, did ya miss me, boy." I quickly saddled up Sundance and we bolted towards the pastures. After the grueling car ride, I knew I needed to get some rest but I couldn't sleep until I saw what I missed the most. The whole way up here I wondered if I did the right thing by coming home. I could have stayed in Texas and made a name for myself. Hell, I could have probably even started working for Travis. All the doubts and wonders I had immediately went away as soon as the pure Montana air was rushing in my face. How could I ever give this up?

The ride that I promised myself would only last an hour or two quickly turned into an all-day thing. By the time I got back home and put Sundance up, it was pitch black and all I wanted to do was to go to sleep. It wasn't until I reached the bottom of the porch steps that I remember that all of my clothes were in my truck. When I turned to go to my truck I was startled by my Father's rough voice "Lee brought all your stuff into your room for you already" He was sitting in his usual chair on the porch.

"Well it was the least he could do after he tortured me the whole ride up here,"

Dad let out a chuckle "Did you have a nice ride with Sundance,"

I made the rest of the way up the stairs and sat on the armrest of my father's chair. "Yeah, Daddy I did. I'm really glad I came home." I say with a smile on my face.

"I'm glad you're home too. If you're ready to be put to work tomorrow there are some calves in pasture 5 that need to be vaccinated. Take a few of the cowboys to go with you after they finish fixing the corral"

I stand up and kiss my father on his cheek. "Sounds like fun. Goodnight Daddy,"

Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

/

The next morning I awoke to my phone alarm blaring in my ear. I quickly picked it up and turned it off.

5:30 a.m.

I rolled over onto my back and stared at my ceiling. It sounds ridiculous but I felt kind of nervous about my upcoming day. I mean I have been doctoring and caring for anything on four legs since I could walk so it wasn't that I felt unqualified to do the job. Maybe it was because I have been gone for so long and I hadn't gotten back into the groove of things. I shook off my doubts and hopped into the shower. I chose a simple blue tank top with jeans and rushed downstairs to join everyone at breakfast.

Breakfast is the only meal that usually everyone is at so it's really important to me that I never miss it. Upon entering the dining room I see everyone in their usual spots. With a round of good mornings from everyone I take my seat by Lee.

After a few minutes of silence, Lee cleared his throat and spoke up. "So Clara, are you ready for your first official day?"

"I mean I guess so," I say after a gulp of coffee "It's not like it's a new thing to me, I'm just more qualified now. It's like how Jamie was always an argumentative ass but since he has a fancy Harvard degree he gets to do it for a living"

Jamie looks up at me unamused "Well I think that's my queue to head out early for my meeting with the Governor"

"Hey what happened to your sense of humor" I say with a shit eating grin. Jamie stands and starts heading for the door. I roll my eyes. "So Lee, when do you think the cowboys are gonna be done fixing the corral, I don't want to be doctoring calves all day"

"They started at 4:30 so they should be done soon why don't you head out there and hurry them along"

With one last swig of coffee I stand to leave "See ya later Daddy. Lee, if my truck is full of trash when I get done I'll kill you."

I stop by the front door to put on my boots and my brown stetson and hear Lee start to speak with dad. "I think she's already settling back into the swing of things,"

"I think you may be right son," Dad says with a chuckle.

"Dad, I think it's time to get her more involved in everything and before you say no, she's not a little girl anymore and don't you think she somewhat know what we do to keep this place afloat. I'm also gonna remind you that Doc Atkins is moving to Arkansas so unless we wanna get someone else..."

My Dad lets out a heavy sigh "Fine, but let me be the one to talk to her"

"Yes sir."

I quietly left the house. They've always kept me out of their hushed talks and closed door meetings. One man doesn't become as powerful as my father is by playing nice and the walls in this house aren't as soundproof as everyone likes to think. so I'm not entirely oblivious on the things we do to keep this place running. Even though he would downplay it and probably make it more family friendly, Lee would always let me know if something big was gonna happen. So after all these years of not letting me fully in, why would Lee push to want me involved now? And what the hell does the vet have to do with anything?

I was almost to the corral when the familiar voice of Rip Wheeler came from behind me, ripping me from my thoughts. "Was Texas too big for ya?"

I jumped around and saw him sitting atop a sorrel quarter horse. "Actually, it wasn't big enough" I joked.

He jumped down from his horse and pulled me into a big hug. "Well, I am sure glad you're back"

"Me too. So are you coming to help doctor calves?" I asked as I was released from his bear hug.

"Not this time. There's only a few of them that need it so I'm just sending Ryan and Colby with you"

We make it to the cowboys just as they were finishing the corral. "Have they learned to rope calves better?"

"Yeah but not as good as you Clarabell" Lloyd says from beside the newly finished fence.

"Actually Lloyd it's Doctor Clarabell now," Rip said with an amused expression on his face.

I cringe at their use of my old nickname."I'm 24 don't you think it's time to kill that name?"

"I think it's rather cute, don't you Colby," Ryan said while sauntering up to the fence.

"Don't play into this or I'll take someone else with me to go vax calves while y'all help fix the fence in pasture 12" I smirked.

"Yeah buddy you can dig your own grave I'm gonna go get the horses geared up," Colby said as he walked towards the barn with Lloyd and Rip following after him.

"I heard you're a reserve livestock agent now. I still remember when you were low-man" I teased

"Well that was a long time ago," He smiled

"Yeah it was wasn't it," I looked at him.

Ryan started working on the ranch my senior year. Him being low-man meant having to do all the horrible jobs that nobody wanted to do which included running the steer chute every time I would practice breakaway roping. I know it doesn't sound like a grueling task but it was. Rain or shine, I would practice from the moment I got home from school til the moment it got dark. During all those hours practicing me and Ryan would talk. We would talk about everything from what we did that day to our childhoods. When I went to college me and Ryan would talk and text every day. But eventually, every day turned into once a week, to once a month, then one day we just stopped talking. Even after we stopped talking every time I would come home for break, me and Ryan would pick up like we saw each other the day before.

I was roused from my memories by Colby walking over with the horses "So are y'all gonna keep making goo-goo eyes at each other or are we gonna head out,"