Swanson Farms

Chapter 1

I looked at my alarm clock, only to see it was quarter after two in the morning. I crept out of bed to check on Bailey in her crib. I was surprised to see that she was awake, so I picked her up carefully and went back to bed, laying down with her in my arms. I looked down at the clock again and realized I fed her and changed her only a half hour ago so hopefully she would make it to morning without waking up again.

The next time I woke up all I could smell was bacon. Bailey was still in my arms and I hadn't moved, and by glancing at how bright it was in my room, I was guessing it was about six thirty. I changed into a pair of pyjama pants and put on a plain white tee shirt, deciding to leave Bailey in her onesie from the night before. I glanced in the mirror on the back of my door before heading down, taking note that my bun from the night before had turned into a messy bun that was still acceptable, only a few blond strands fell out and they were practically invisible anyways.

Downstairs Mom was cooking while Dad was seated at the table reading the newspaper, Jackie and her boyfriend Zach were on the porch wrapped in each other's arms watching the sun rise.

"Good morning Charlie." Mom said, glancing over her shoulder, flipping the eggs. Her green eyes were full of laughter and happiness, her blond hair in her normal waves.

"Morning Ma," Dad looked up and smiled even though his deep brown eyes were tired and his features were exhausted from a long stressful career of being a lawyer, putting his hands out so I handed him Bailey,

"Did you want a coffee dad?" He nodded and I put the sugar on the table, making him and I both a cup, and while Mom was cooking I made her a tea.

"Thank you sweetheart." She said smiling, taking a sip. The seat across from Dad is usually where I sat so I plopped down, resting my head in my hands. Apart from sleeping from two-fifteen and onwards, the beginning of the night had been horrible. Bailey had been upset for some reason and wouldn't calm down, and Jackie and Zach (with lack of sleep) had been pretty irritable when they told me to get her to quiet down.

Jackie and Zach made their way in and said good morning, while Zach went to make them both a coffee. Jackie's bright red hair was long, the longest of any girl in our town. Today she had it tied back, and her green eyes were lively, even though it was only six thirty. She had freckles covering most of her face, which she usually gained more of when it got sunnier outside. Zach's hair was short on the sides, but was long on top, in a miniature faux hawk. However he looked to still be half asleep.

Jackie sat on the bench beside me and cooed at Bailey, and Mom smiled, putting breakfast on the table,

"Three pieces each, there's an extra one for your father." Mom sat at the table and waited while everyone helped themselves, then took some for herself.

"What are the plans for today?" Dad asked, resting Bailey in his arm while he ate. Everyone ate in silence before Jackie spoke up,

"So the new stable hand is starting today,"

"What?" I asked, raising my eyebrow, "When did we decide to get a stable hand?"

"We didn't decide anything. I did. Since expanding the barn and doubling the amount of stalls, taking care of our horses and the boarded horses, not to mention all the other work is becoming way too much for just me. Zach is going back to school in the fall and between Bailey and the bakery you're hard to get a hold of." I sighed quietly, although everything she said was true, even if I didn't spend as much time as I used to running the bakery while I was pregnant.

"Who is it?"

"Some guy named Seth Hunt. I don't think he's from around here."

Zach nodded in agreement, "He's three years older than us, haven't seen him before the interview Jackie had with him."

I just nodded, I didn't feel like interrogating them. Even though the farm was my life, I didn't take part too much in it at the moment.

Once I finished eating I made Bailey's bottle and placed a blanket over my shoulder, taking Bailey from my dad and going to the porch to feed her. A rusty old pick up caught my attention as it made its way down the drive, chugging along like it's glory days were long gone. It was hard to tear my eyes away, but once it got closer I turned my attention back to Bailey and continued to feed her. A tall, handsome, and rugged looking man got out of the car, with sandy blond hair and shockingly deep blue eyes, in a black tee-shirt and a pair of light jeans (which I admit was a great refresher compared to all the white tee-shirt/ripped jeaned boys we were used to here).

"Jackie here?" He asked, and I nodded, turning my head back and knocking on the window quietly. Jackie and Zach came out of the house and shook hands with the rugged beauty before me and I realized they were both dressed- whereas I was still in my pyjama's. Great.

Jackie lead him off to the barn and I burped Bailey, and Zach sat beside me. I remembered a time back in high school where Zach and I told each other everything. That was still true, to a certain degree. Now that he and my little sister were practically married, it was hard to share things and keep them between us. He could no longer ask for any advice with girls without making it awkward- as I always took Jackie's side. Must be a girl thing.

"How've you been?" He asked, resting his arm across my shoulders.

"Fine, and you?" He smirked and I knew what he was thinking, so I let out a quiet sigh and I shrugged,

"I... I'm tired Zach. Doing this alone... It's never what I thought I'd be doing at twenty three. I thought I'd be... In love and maybe planning a wedding... Running the bakery."

"Well.. You're running the bakery... And by the looks of it you're in love with your baby girl. So, you've got two outta three things done." I felt my eyes roll on their own accord,

"That's not what I meant, idiot."

He smirked, "I know, but do you really think your soul mate is just going to walk up to the front door and say 'Here I am!'?"

"Guys run from commitment Zach. They see Bailey and it's like an alarm goes off in their head and they turn the other way."

"At least she's not an ugly baby," He said chuckling, and I hit his arm. "Trust me, one day you'll find a man, who doesn't care that you got knocked up in the city, and will love both you and Bailey regardless. Okay? And, if he doesn't show for a while who cares. Raise your little girl and teach her she doesn't need any men beside Uncle Zach and her Papa." Smiling, I rested my head on his shoulder and watched the horses run in the corral.