Allison

Authors note:

This is the first story I've ever written. Feel free to comment or criticize. After all it's the fans that make it possible.  

+Chapter 1

Allison looked at her reflection in the mirror. Wrinkling her pert little nose, she guessed her hair would have to do. Not that it mattered she was just going to muck out the stalls anyway. Pulling her long jet black tresses into a tight ponytail, she left the mirror & followed the warm scent of coffee into the kitchen. She only paused momentarily to jab her older brother in the ribs on her way to the coffeepot. "Dang it Ali! You're gonna get it one of these days!" Chip said in a gruff tone. He was always irritable before his second cup of coffee.  He spoke again in a less gruff tone. " I've got to work on fixing the fence on the south line today, & I'm expecting a guest to arrive any day now, so I want you to be on your best behavior." That was an odd request, she thought. " Why would I not be civil to a guest of yours, brother?" " Just play nice Ali, that's all I ask." he quipped  & grinned mischievously as he scraped his chair back & headed out the door, without further comment. "hmff!" She mumbled over another sip of her hot steaming coffee.

Ali sat in the kitchen at the table, which seemed all to huge now that she  was alone. In fact it had seemed that way ever since they had lost their parents 10 years ago.  She had been all of 11 then, & remembered it like it was yesterday when Sheriff Perkins had showed on their door step. Chip was 18 at the time.  Their parents had only went for one of their usual trips down to the feed n seed &  a drunk driver had crossed over into their lane hitting them head on. Chip had stood up & taken the place as head of the household. He forgot about college & used the money their parents had set aside to run the ranch & finish raising Ali himself.  Ali had finished high school, graduating with honors. Chip had saved  her college fund & pushed her into college. She hadn't wanted to go, but since he didn't really give her a choice she went & educated herself on any subject to to with ranching & business so she could help him run the ranch. It was all she'd ever wanted to do anyway.  Placing her mug into the sink, she stopped to plop her worn cowboy hat on her head & headed towards the barn to start her day. 

Half way through mucking  the stalls it hit her! ''Crap!' She muttered to herself, she forgot to buy the feed 3 days ago when she was in town. Now she HAD to go back, they were over halfway into the last bag & the feed & seed closed early today. Setting the rake & pitchfork against the inside of the door jam to the barn she looked down at herself covered in mud mixed with manure half way up to her knee high mucking boots,spattered jeans, & sweaty tee.  "Dang!" She exclaimed  "well, there's no time to change now.' she muttered to no one in particular. So she fired up the old wayward flatbed pickup  & headed into town. 

Once there, she maneuvered the Truck into the parking lot towards the loading dock. O great! she thought, they would be here today! Standing on the loading dock were several local guys that always tried to hit on her. They always hung around together & their favorite place to gather was here. Today there was some new guy with them. She backed the truck up against the dock & jumped out to go place her order ignoring the cat calls & whistles.  She placed her order & now came the part she dreaded, having to endure the comments of the guys hanging out on the loading dock while her truck was being loaded.

Chapter 2

Ivan had just returned to town. He hadn't been home since the day he left to join the rodeo. The only person he'd kept up with was his childhood friend, Chip. He pulled in at the old feed & seed and saw several guys he had gone to high school with standing around the dock shooting the bull. He decided to join them & catch up on what they were all into now.