Willow Valley (Frank Adler AU) 18+

2

"So...I saw you and Keaton had a little exchange at the Country Awards?" Etta eyed her daughter, knowing that her ex-husband had somehow still managed to escape their divorce with his reputation still intact and not in tatters. 

Hassie had only been eighteen when they'd got married after a whirlwind couple of months of dating, and within a few years it had gone to shit. Shit as in she'd walked in on him screwing another girl in their bed. The divorce had been public enough, and people had even blamed Hassie which she'd found infuriating. As one of the biggest names in country music. Keaton Slade was untouchable, but yet he still always managed to seek his ex wife out at events just to keep the narrative positive that they were still friends. 

"And that's all it was". Hassie replied, drying the dishes alongside her mother. "Just a quick hello, nothing else". 

Well...she wasn't about to tell her mother that he'd asked if she'd wanted to appear as a guest on his upcoming tour. But she also didn't tell her ex to go fuck himself so that had annoyed her more. She could never say no, least of all to him. Hassie also knew that her management would want her to just grin and bear it, go onstage, sing that little song that had first brought them together, keep the press positive. If she were to say no then the media could find out and make up their own twisted shit. That was the last thing that she needed. 

"Good. How long you planning on taking time off?" Etta asked. 

"A good few months. I was hoping to come help you guys out if you'd like? I kinda just want some normality for a while". 

"Well you ain't gonna be getting it here when guests see you". 

"At least that Frank guy is the only one who probably doesn't care". Hassie replied, thinking back to the grumpy ranch foreman who was still hard at work outside while Mary sat on the fence of the corral. "Why'd you hire the world's grumpiest bastard anyway?" 

Etta chuckled. "Frank is a good guy once you get to know him. He's just very protective of the ranch, and little Mary - oh Hass, she's been a delight. She's the brightest child I've ever met, and I mean it. That baby girl is a mastermind with numbers - she's been helping your daddy with the finances". 

Hassie blinked. "She's seven". 

The only reason that she knew that was because she'd had dinner with Mary and her parents earlier, and the girl had said. She had moved there from Florida but preferred Willow Valley because there wasn't any 'stupid people' like where she'd come from. Hassie had almost choked on her food, but found Mary Adler very refreshing. 

"Go take this to Frank, I swear he never eats properly". Etta sighed and passed a casserole dish to her. 

Great. Now she had to go speak to him again. 

Taking the dish she shook her head. "Is my cabin still vacant?" 

"You know I never let it out to anyone. It's yours for when you need it Hass. Everything's still there". 

Hassie's cabin was located above the creek, and was peaceful as well as private. It was still within distance of other cabins but a little more nestled away. She'd found peace there after her divorce, had shut herself away and written enough songs to release a good few albums - and over time she had. She'd spent most of her time on the deck scribbling lyrics, working out the chords on her guitar. Everything seemed to just fall into place there. 

"Ok, cool. I'll take my stuff up there after I've given the grump his dinner". She said, and headed out to where Frank was feeding the horses and putting them away for the night with a few others.  "My mom's made you dinner, says you need to eat more". 

Frank looked to the casserole dish and then Hassie. "Ah, right - thanks". Wiping his hands on his jeans and taking it from her. 

"Can I see your cabin?" Mary now asked, "Are you gonna be near me and Frank!" 

"Mary, enough - leave the superstar alone, she's probably tired from travelling all day". 

"I just finished a world tour asshole, I'm used to travelling long distances". She smiled sweetly, "How about you come see my cabin tomorrow - if your Uncle lets you". 

Mary looked to Frank. "Please?" 

He huffed. "After school, you come home, do your homework, then you can go to Hassie's". Now instructing her as she nodded enthusiastically. "And you need to head back and get ready for bed". 

"Awesome!" Mary grinned excitedly. "Me and Frank have Hilltop cabin". 

"The clearly my parents favour you guys a lot". Hassie winked as the little girl ran off, and then looked to Frank. "Anyway, I should be getting my stuff". 

He watched her go and get her bags and guitar case, juggling them and then making for the direction of where she'd be located. He was pretty sure that she had the Bighorn cabin, as that was never let out to guests. He had keys to all the cabins, but he'd never set foot in that one in particular. He'd never needed to as it was never used. Frank had simply put it down to being used for storage or something like that. 

"You want some help?" He called with a sigh, feeling obligated to not be that 'asshole'. 

Hassie looked over. "I think I can manage a few bags Frank". 

"Ok then, just worried that you might break a nail". He shrugged. 

She glared at him. "You really think I care about that?"

"Maybe, don't all country stars?" 

Hassie continued to stare at him. "You have got a lot to learn about women". 

He looked a little smug now. "I mean, none of them complain when I'm out at the bar on Friday night, certainly not complaining the next day either". 

"And yet none of them stayed for another, or another...says a lot". Hassie went to walk away but he stopped her, now a little pissed off himself, but yeah, that was of his own doing. 

"Yeah, and for good reason. Mary. I can't have anyone just waltzing in on our lives, she's been through enough as it is". 

They stood there for a moment, almost in some kind of stand off, until Hassie took a couple of steps back and with a small 'tsk', walked away. Frank watching her head in the direction of the North Fork Creek until she disappeared from view.