Protecting Summer

•Chapter One•

September 15th 2014

Gideon, Montana

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The double toaster popped and Summer replaced the hot toast with four fresh slices. She turned back to her large griddle and flipped six fried eggs. The little red radio on the window sill gently sang 60s beach music. Opening the fridge, Summer took a large bowl of orange slices out and set them on the preset table. Along with butter, strawberry jam, and molasses.

"Morning, baby girl." Summer's father pecked her on the cheek as he entered the kitchen.

"Good morning, Daddy." Bacon sizzled as he poured a mug of coffee and sat at the head of the table. "Daddy, I was thinking."

"What's that, honey?" He flicked open his newspaper and scanned it from top to bottom.

Summer took her spatula and stacked the finished eggs atop each other and set them all at once next to the bacon on a large serving plate. "Well, I have been thinking about it for some time and-"

She was cut off by her older brother Jack parading into the kitchen. "Wooo weee, Summer, don't ever leave us. Your cooking is devine. " He plopped into his chair and grabbed at the bowl of oranges.

"Ha, like she'd get married anyway." Evan walked into the kitchen and pulled back a chair, he sat and worked at getting his boots on.

"What?" She asked him about to defend herself.

Evan's twin, Logan, was last to join the family in the kitchen. "It's true, little sis. Pops won't let you. He's got you tied on a string and reals you right back in when some guy gets close."

Summer opened her mouth in response.

"That's right, we've all seen it happen." Jack piped in.

"Remember Wally, Summer? He never called, showed up at the mill anymore. Oohh and his name just 'disappeared' right off the costumer list." Logan's arm made a sweeping motion across the table as he sat.

Even spoke through sips of juice. "As well as Harry Marvin and Jesse Max and Derek Former."

"Boys, that's enough." Summer's father cooed from behind his paper.

Jack, Evan and Logan laughed. Summer sat the large platter of bacon and fried eggs on the table.

Summer sighed as she turned her attention to the dishes. The more she thought about it, the more she was convinced her brothers were right. Every man that got close was always pushed away by her father. To Mr Bowen nobody was worthy of her. One would be honored to have a father like that who cared so much, but Montana was not exactly the ideal match making state. There were only so many men to push away.

And now, all the men that were available were either too old, way too young, too harry, too smelly, too skinny, or just downright ignorant.

Summer's father, Eli Bowen; owner and manager of Bowen&Bowen Timber company had married the love of his life at 19. He and his darling Tabby brought up five children. Each with their very own and very different personalities.

First came, Marshal. He and his wife of two years moved to Helena last spring. His wife, Hannah is pregnant with a sweet little boy.

Second is Jack. Jack is Jack. Smart-Alec know-it-all. Pig headed, jerk face. Stubborn, butt head. But, all in all, he had the potential to be sweet. Just when he wanted to be of course.

Next in line are the twins, Evan and Logan. Both just like Jack but nice enough. They were who taught Summer to fight like a man and hit were it hurts. Jack was the brains and Evan and Logan were the muscles.

And of course, Summer.

Summer Elisabeth Bowen is the one and only girl left in the Bowen family. Not counting Hannah; Marshal's wife, but they hardly ever saw them other than Thanksgiving and Father's Day. All the other holidays they spent with her family.

At 19, Summer was still a single, bound to be old maid, according to her father that is. If she had it her way, she would go off to some fancy college and make something of herself rather than work books and cut paychecks at the mill, waiting for some Prince to show up.

But as it goes, not every girl gets what she wants. Spoiled girls do but not Summer. Having four older brothers and being the only girl, one would assume so. Though, Summer was just one of the boys all her life. Nothing but a tom boy. Until she turned 15 really, when her mother died.

She could still remember people faces when she showed up at her mothers funeral with neat curls rather than her regular stringy ones and a pretty black dress and heels. All were used to her ripped up jeans and worn Chucks.

From then on Summer decided to change. She started working with her father but not manual labor, she did book work. She homeschooled herself and finished high school early. She learned to cook well, act like a lady and train men to wipe their feet in a matter of a short time.

People starting referring to her as "that Bowen girl". Which to Summer was a compliment. She was no longer a tomboy with stringy hair and dirty toes around the clock.

Instead, she was the cook and she trained the boys and her father to keep their dirty clothes off the floor and dishes in the dishwasher. Every morning she make breakfast and her brothers would clean up so she could head to the mill and do paperwork before Mr. Bowen and his employees arrived. At 11:00 she would come home and make sandwiches to bring back for lunch. Then after work around 7:00 they would sit down to supper. It worked out well.

Summer glanced down at her watch. 6:23. "I'm gonna head out. Make sure you boys don't forget to run the dishwasher."

When Summer left the kitchen got quiet. Mr Bowen slapped the nearest boy with his newspaper.

"Ow!"

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