It was an almost normal day, the fighting in my house the same. But today, instead of sticking around to hear the same old yelling and screaming, I decided to leave. I snuck out of my window, shutting it tightly behind me. I began walking to, well, anywhere really, just somewhere away from home, somewhere I can be alone in the quiet noises of nature. After about twenty minutes of walking, I realized I was walking on a mountain, and for something so cold, it felt so warm and peaceful. As I walked, I felt the surface dent slightly, I just assumed the area was getting flatter, and I kept walking. I end up stumbling a bit, tripping in front of a huge gap in the ground. I stare into the hole, scared of even moving. I then think, my grip on the ground loosening. "Maybe...maybe this is the only way I can finally be free..." without thinking, I let go of the ground, falling. As I fell, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt free. After what seemed like hours, I eventually hit the ground. I surprisingly felt relaxed when I landed, feeling cozy in my place. I then realized that I had fallen on a patch of beautiful yellow flowers, but that couldn't stop me from being hurt, could it? I simply shook it off as I sat up, looking around in the large, hollow space.
When long estranged Jake returns to West Line Ranch, Liz can't help but sense that they're in for a world of trouble - though as the two become closer, Liz becomes torn between her family and the man she's starting to fall for.
*****
After the beloved owner of West Line Ranch passes away, Liz and the rest of the ranch get a wild surprise at the reading of the will - long estranged Jake is on his way back to West Line Ranch, which can only mean trouble. When he arrives to not only discover he was granted full ownership of the ranch, but that he must stay for a year, he agrees, as there's nothing holding him to his past. However, the longer he stays at the ranch, the more he begins to fall for not just the simpler way of life in the country, but for Liz as well.
This is Book 1 of the West Brothers Series.
Book 2 - Western Connection and Book 3 - Western Flame, are also available to read exclusively on Wattpad
Watty's Shortlist - 2021
[[word count: 90,000-100,000 words]]
Cover designed by Ashley Santoro