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PROLOGUE
Ever stared into the stoic face of her father. They were at an impasse, neither willing to budge. Hot tears stung her eyes as she tried to keep her emotions and mounting anger in check. Why was he being so unreasonable, so unyielding, so unsupportive? she thought seeing his mouth harden in a straight line.
“No, Ever. I will not support you moving that far away.” Hardin Wolton repeated as he glared into the face of his disbelieving daughter.
“This is what I want to do with my life. Can’t you understand that? I cannot be a waitress forever. I cannot spend my life here balancing your books, just waiting for some guy to come rescue me from a mundane life!” she continued. “I want more for my future and this is the only thing I have been truly good at! And others think so too! It is hard to get accepted and they want me!”
“No.” he repeated, slamming his hand down on his desk, making her acceptance letter fall to the floor. “And that is the last I want to hear about this!”
Ever glared back at her father, her face red with anger, still fighting back the tears that were threatening to escape. “Dad, you don’t know me or even try to know me. You have never supported my dreams and now I have a chance to pursue them, and you shut me down!” she shouted, rising from her seat. “Maybe you love this farm. Maybe you are content to be here the rest of your life, but I want more for my life!”
“If you go, you are completely on your own!” he replied, his face twisted with irritation and frustration. “You will not get financial support from me.”
Ever leaned over his desk, her tears now falling, and charged him with her brazen hazel eyes. Fury in their depths. “You think not giving me money is going to stop me?” she asked, unwavering.
“I hope you are prepared.” He continued, a disparaging tone in his voice. “Its not easy out there in the world and you are not exactly a city girl.”
Ever threw her hands up and started to pace her father’s office, steam rising from her as she turned to face her father, closed her eyes, and took a long deep breath, trying to calm her frustration. “Daddy, I am not a little girl anymore”, Ever whispered voice cracking with emotion.
“Ever….” he started, and she boldly held up her hand to him, halting his next comment.
“Daddy, I love you, but I’m going to do this with or without your support.”
CHAPTER 1
The late April sky danced in hues of pink and purple with a hint of orange reflecting on what was left of the sun. Ever Wolton turned down the gravel road leading to her family farm. A large wooden sign coming into view with the words Prairie Sky Acres displayed in bold black letters. Worn and desperately needing a paint job, the silhouette of a horse, llama, and sheep still visible. She smiled a sad smile, thinking of her late father. Ever turned left and slowed to a stop, putting her vehicle into park, taking in the long driveway leading to the two-story farmhouse, cute and picturesque. A classic two-story home painted a cheerful yellow and trimmed in white with an inviting covered porch wrapping around the front of the house. The house, set a distance from the road, had a lush green front yard, was surrounded by wheat fields on either side and behind the house lay the farmyard and pastures. Prairie Sky looked like she remembered. Just as it looked in her rear-view mirror ten years ago when she left, swearing never to return.
Closing her eyes, memories of her childhood flooding back into her consciousness, she wiped away a stray tear trying to escape through her long lashes. Pulling out a compact mirror from her purse, she dabbed at her face with a tissue. Her face was flushed red and eyes sore and puffy. She had cried so many tears since her father’s sudden passing two months ago. The long drive from Toronto to her Manitoba family farm gave her far too much time to think. Swallowing down hard, she drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to gain control of her emotions.
“You can do this,” she whispered as she shifted into drive, making her way down the remainder of the long driveway leading to the house. Pulling her vehicle next to the house, she parked on the gravel parking pad. Exiting her car, she scanned the farm site across the yard. A large red hip roof barn stood like a beacon at the end of a path, surrounded by several paddocks and dense pasture beyond. The soft whinnies of horses and bleats of sheep echoed softly in the breeze. Ever gathered her long mahogany wavy hair around the side, closed her hazel eyes and breathed in deeply. The air was ripe with the smell of sweet hay, livestock, and lilacs. She smiled a nostalgic smile. Smells like home.
Shaking her head, she came around her car, putting her key in the trunk's lock. Suddenly, she was startled by a shrill, yet recognizable squeal.
“Ever!” the known voice shouted. Ever turned to see the familiar face of her childhood best friend Bea Baxter leaning over the side railing of the farmhouse porch, hand in the air waving vigorously.
“Hey there Bea! I was not expecting you to be here tonight!”
Disappearing, Bea’s footfalls were heard bounding down the wooden steps, the walkway, then around the corner to Ever’s car, stopping in front of her. Her wild curly red hair and bright green eyes beaming in welcome to her childhood friend. Bea’s petite five-foot one inch frame, as always, making Ever feel large next to her pixie size friend. Despite her small stature, she made up for it with the size of her personality. Bold and sassy, she was as fiery as the hair on her head and a fiercely loyal friend. Wrapping her arms around Ever, she squeezed with surprising strength.
“I have missed you, Bea!”
“I have missed you too!” she replied, looking up at Ever, her emerald eyes twinkling with delight. “Welcome home!”
Ever and Bea released their embrace and turned to face the farmyard before them. The friends both stood there, taking a quiet moment to reflect. Bea turned her head to look up at Ever with sadness in her eyes.
“I am so sorry about your dad.”
Ever met her sympathetic gaze and swallowed down the constricting lump building in her throat. Her dad was gone and now she was here to sort out his affairs. Here to deal with all the memories, both good and bad, then decide on the fate of the family farm. Her dad was a strong-willed man she both loved so much and resented all the same. A man she missed more with the realization that he was no longer here on this earth. The weight of the situation lay like a cinder block on Ever’s chest. To avoid the tears threatening to escape again, Ever pushed down her emotions and turned back to her friend, giving her a resigned smile. “Thanks…” she replied with a deep sigh. “Never thought I would be here again.”
Bea frowned and gave her another supportive squeeze, knowing how difficult this homecoming was for her friend. “Let’s go inside and get you settled,” she suggested.
Pivoting to face the car, Ever unlocked the trunk and Bea reached for a heavy suitcase, pulling it out with ease and starting up the path to the stairs leading to the porch and front door of the farmhouse. Ever shook her head in amusement and chuckled as she grabbed the remaining two duffle bags.
Meeting on the porch, Ever retrieved the key from its usual hiding place under the large ceramic flowerpot next to the door. Dusting it off, she put it into the lock and turned the key to her childhood home. Opening the door slowly, a rush of memories overtook her, memories she was not sure she was ready to relive.
With hesitation, her eyes roamed the narrow front entrance and staircase with the banister leading to the upstairs. A long hallway to the right led to the kitchen at the back of the house. A narrow wooden entrance table against the right wall held a brightly colored ceramic bowl she had made for her father during a middle school art class. A set of keys occupied the bowl, along with some loose change. Above it, the antique mirror she used to check her hair as she ran out the door to catch the school bus or meet her friends for whatever fun activity they had planned. Next to the entrance table was the sliding door to her father’s office. Sliding the door open a foot, she peeked inside. A large, heavy oak desk was covered with stacks of papers, oak shelves filled with worn books and magazines, and a worn-out brown leather office chair. In the corner by the window, her father’s old well-loved recliner and opposite from the recliner was a tall set of filing cabinets. She slid the door closed and resigned that soon she would have to go through his things.
To the left of the front entrance was a cased opening to the living room. The rustic stone fireplace with the oak mantel against the far wall displaying photos of family and friends and a large-framed sketch of her father with his prized show horse hung above it. A large brown leather couch angled to face the corner with an older model TV on a weathered wooden cabinet.
