Where She Least Expects It

Chapter 1

Becky Stone was a fairly predictable woman.  Most of her days were spent with the horses at Stone Ranch and Riding School.  She was lucky enough to teach what she loved, never in her life had she wanted to do anything else. 

A lot of people that grow up in small towns want to get out and see the world, but Becky was fine with college in Austin and coming right back home after.  The only thing she wasn't ok with were the tight reigns that her brothers kept on her.  Oh they did a nice job of keeping it subtle, but she knew what was going on.  Even at college in Austin, her brother Sean had made it known when she got there as a freshman that she was off limits. 

So Becky focused on school and graduated in three years with a general studies degree and an emphasis of teaching.  Not dating could free up a lot of time.  Her junior year when Sean was gone, she hadn't even bothered trying to date, by that time, she had set her goal and wouldn't be doing anything that didn't help her achieve it. 

Going back home after graduating had always been her plan.  Brandon, Sean, and Tripp had all done the same, choosing the town that had always been home once again.  Brock was the only one that didn't, choosing New York over Trumont.  Becky couldn't say that she really understood his choice, but she respected him for going after what he wanted.  Her parents had done the same this year.  They would see the country from their truck.  Turning over the reigns to their children had been the easiest decision they ever made. 

Becky loved her family and the town where she grew up.  Even the people there that weren't her family still seemed like they were.  The problem with that was now that she had settled in and had been out of school for a few years, she was starting to feel lonely.  While she definitely didn't need a man around, she did want one.  Brandon's fiance, Alli, had quickly become her best friend when she moved to town last fall, but she knew it wasn't the same. 

She didn't think she was meant for a solitary life, but she wasn't really sure what to do.  She did date a little in high school and college, but no guy seemed to think she was worth braving the men of her family long enough to become serious.  Now Becky was beginning to doubt that there was a man out there that would do that.

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Tom Jackson was a simple man.  He knew what he wanted out of life and, from the time he graduated high school, he worked his butt off to achieve it.  He had his small town law practice and owned rental houses on the side.  His parents had moved to Austin when he went to college there, but he still considered Trumont home. 

When he was in college, he interned with a law firm in Austin.  He hadn't disliked it, but it wasn't quite what he saw himself doing long term.  The firm liked him, and they threw clients his way now and again that needed the personal touch that only a small practice could give them.

All in all, he had everything.  Everything except a personal life.  He dated from time to time, but no one stuck.  He hadn't found the woman that fit right.  Sometimes he wondered if he ever would, but, when he started to get down, he found a project to sink his time into. 

It wasn't the perfect fix, but it would do for now.  He had friends and kept busy.  He just had to keep the faith that everything would work out in time...right?

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