****
The next day when Ryan and Cull drove to the field in the UTV, she inhaled the crisp Montana morning air, tinged with the scent of dewy grass. The vast blue sky stretched endlessly above them, unmarred by a single cloud. She was just along for the ride. Cull was heading to fix a section of fence that was down.
It had gotten to the point where she didn’t have much more to photograph, so she took photos of everything she could for herself, though she knew, in her heart, she would never forget this place or Seth.
“It always smells so good here,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as the breeze tousled it.
“It’s the fresh air and the rain from last night.” Cull nodded, his gloved hands steady on the steering wheel as they bounced along the rutted dirt path. “Nothing like it anywhere else.”
“I love California, but we do have a lot of smog.” Ryan wrinkled her nose at the memory of the hazy Los Angeles skyline.
“I’ve never been there. I’m sure it’s nice though.” Cull’s voice carried no judgment, just the matter-of-fact tone of someone who’d found his place in the world.
“Oh, it is, but once you see places like this—” she gestured to the rolling fields of golden wheat swaying in the gentle breeze “—it makes you want to never leave.”
Cull glanced at her, crow’s feet crinkling at the corners of his eyes. “So, what’s stopping you from staying?”
Ryan laughed. “I have a job in California.”
“I see.” Cull’s response was simple, but his knowing look spoke volumes.
“I will miss Montana though,” she said with a sigh, her gaze drifting to the distant mountains on the horizon.
“Montana or the man?” Cull asked, hitting a pothole that made them both bounce in their seats.
She bit her lip and shook her head, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her flannel shirt. “It would do no good to miss the man.”
“Bullshit. He’ll miss you too.” Cull’s blunt words cut through the morning air like a scythe through hay.
“Cull, we’re on different ends of the spectrum. His life is here and mine is in California. I know, without a doubt, that he would never leave Montana.” Her voice caught slightly on the last word.
“No, he won’t. He’s Montana born and bred. This will always be his home.” Cull gestured to the sprawling landscape around them. “He runs a very successful cutting horse business. Hell, he was one of the best when he rode in competitions. The feed is just a bonus he took on to help Ash with the planting.”
“Seth told me he was able to buy this spread because of competing, but how did the feed growing come about?” Ryan asked, grateful for the change in subject as she blinked away the moisture gathering in her eyes.
“Ash Beckett started out small years ago. Using his own land, when supply and demand started, he knew he’d have to lease more land. That man has saved several farmers and ranchers from losing their properties.”
“Seth wasn’t close to that, was he?” Ryan’s concern was evident in her furrowed brow.
“No. Ash asked him because of the type of soil Seth has. It grows corn and oats quickly.” Cull navigated around a large rock in the path. “Seth did it because Ash asked him to. They’ve been friends for years.” Cull shrugged, his worn denim jacket shifting across his broad shoulders. “He couldn’t turn him down.”
“It’s nice that Ash helps people.” Ryan smiled softly, watching a hawk circle lazily overhead.
“Yeah, more than a few were on the verge of losing land, until they either went to Ash or he went to them.” Cull pulled the UTV to a stop at the edge of the corn field where the morning sun gilded everything in sight. “It’s a little muddy, but you don’t need to get out. I just want to check the corn before I work on the fence. It’s over that rise,” he said, pointing to the north.
“I don’t care about the mud. I’d like to take some pictures.”
Cull nodded, stepped from the UTV, walked toward the field, then through the rows.
Ryan followed, carrying her camera. She was surprised to see the corn had seemed to grow overnight. It was almost as tall as her now.
“It’s grown so much,” she said as she snapped photos.
“Around three to five inches a day. It still has a way to go before harvest, but it’s doing very well. We’ll ride over to the oats next. I may as well check them since we’re here. If you want to get some photos here, go ahead.”
Ryan nodded and took pictures, then they got back into the UTV and drove to the fields where the oats grew.
Once Cull parked, Ryan stepped out and glanced around, then looked at Cull.
