Ranch Life

Chapter 2

When I wake the next morning, I feel a whole lot better. My headache's gone and I'm not sore like I was the day before. I can actually function like a normal human being.

Looking around the room, I spot my bags by the door. Braxton must have brought them in. Speaking of Braxton, he was a big help yesterday. I really need to thank him.

I get up out of the bed and make my way to the door. I find my way to the living room. There I see Braxton sitting on the couch with a little girl in his lap. She must be his niece, Victoria. He glances up.

"Well good morning. How do you feel?"

"Much better. Thank you. For everything. You didn't have to do what you did."

"It wasn't a problem. I was happy to help."

We both turn out attention to the doorway when we hear someone cough. It's another man.

"Who's the pretty lady?"

I walk over and stick out my hand.

"Piper Anderson."

"Charlie. I'm Braxton's brother."

"Nice to meet you, Charlie."

"Likewise."

"Piper is here about the maid job."

"Oh. So she'll be staying here?"

"Yes. Don't be a jerk."

He throws his hands up in surrender. "I would never." Then he turns back around and walks off. I turn my attention back to Braxton.

"Sit down. Make yourself comfortable."

"Okay."

I sit in the recliner next to the couch. The little girl stares at me.

"Who's the cutie?"

"My niece. Her name is Victoria."

"She's precious."

"Thank you."

We sit in silence for a minute.

"I was just wondering what exactly this job requires me to do."

"You'll mainly be taking care of Victoria. Maybe some cooking. A little cleaning. But Victoria is your main concern. It's hard for Charlie and I to watch her and run the ranch. She's only four."

"If you don't mind my asking, what happened to her parents?"

"Since you'll be caring for her, you may as well know. Her dad died in service overseas last year. He was trying to get out. Her mom died in child birth. She was my sister."

He looks sad. I put my hand over top of his hand.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You were just curious."

"Well I'm gonna go take a shower. Where's the bathroom?"

"Last door on the right."

"Thanks."

He nods and goes back to playing with Victoria. I go to the room I was in and grab clean clothes out of my bag. Then I head to the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later I'm feeling refreshed. I head back to the living room. I spot Victoria playing in the floor. I go over and sit beside her in the floor. She looks up at me.

"Hi."

"Hi." She has just the sweetest voice.

"I'm Piper. I hear your name is Victoria. Is that right?"