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Asher
It’s so fucking hot outside that I have to force myself to leave my nice, air-conditioned house. Normally I don’t force myself to work on days like this- but today there’s just too much that needs to be done.
So, I venture outside and head out to one of the stables. I know the horses are dying to get out and run around with the dogs. It’s a funny thing, the relationship between my farm dogs and my horses. They’ve all been best friends ever since I introduced them many summers ago.
Of course, not all of my horses get along with them. Sunny and Alpha are the two that need to be separated from the rest when I bring the dogs out. They both get a tad too rough- and Alpha, hence his name- tends to boss them around, and the dogs arenottoo fond of that.
Once the horses are out, I head up to one of the barns to start some of the hardest jobs I have to get done today. As soon as I get there and open up the doors, I hear some hollering coming from behind me.
I turn around to see the famous Mr. Laurier, owner of the largest and most beautiful ranch in all of Southeastern Texas. He’s a force to be reckoned with, and a man that I have always had mad respect for- and even some jealousy.
You see, my ranch is unfortunately not my main job. I actually own a huge plot of land that I’ve been slowly mining oil from for the better part of my adulthood. But my true passion has always been my ranch, and I wish I could do this full time, like Mr. Laurier.
He trots up on his horse, a giant, jet-black mare who I’ve come to learn is named Blueberry. When he gets close enough, he hops down and ties his horse to a nearby post. I honestly have no idea why he’s here.
“Howdy, Alfred! What can I do for you?”
“Actually, I’m glad you asked! I came to offer you a proposition. Mind if we go inside out of this blazin heat?”
“Of course, sir- just follow me back to the stables, so we can get ol’ Blueberry here settled into a nice, shady stall before heading on in.”
As we walk Blueberry back, I try to make some small talk.
“How long is it that you’ve had this dame? I feel like she’s always been around- as long as I can remember.”
“That she has. Going on twenty-one long years now- got about seven to ten more in her.”
“Wow- all of mine are fifteen years or less. I only hope I can care for them well enough to get them as old as Blueberry.”
“Well if you say yes to this here proposition I’m about to offer you- then you’ll for sure get that wish of yours.”
We get Blueberry settled into a stall and head inside, plopping down at my kitchen table.
“Alright sir, what’s this proposition you’ve got to offer me?”
“I want you to take my daughter out. She’s twenty-four years old and a real beauty. But see, my daughter hasn’t been focused on the things I’d like her to be. I’m sure you’ve heard of her from a few of the locals who love to blab. But Samantha has real promise, I know she does. Which is why I need a nice young man like you to lock her down. And if you can manage to do that for me- I’m willing to give you not only my entire ranch- but also my prize-winning herd.”
“Wow… Alfred- I’m shocked. That’s a lot to offer me just to take your daughter out.”
“Ah but see- don’t want you to just take her out. I’m going to need you to charm her, lock her down. If that girl is going to stay here in Texas instead of going back to New York- it’s going to take a lot. So you’ll need to pull out all the stops for her.”
“Sir, if you don’t mind me asking- why is it so important to you that your daughter stay here? So important, that you’d give up your life’s work?”
“Well that’s just where you’ve got it wrong, pal. My ranch is not my life’s work- my family is. And I need my daughter to stop dilly-dallying through life and start doing what she was born to do.”
“I understand, sir. I would be honored to take your daughter out.”
“Good man. I knew you had it in you. But remember- she can’t know anything about this deal we’ve made, or she will leave the state immediately. You hear me, son?”
“Absolutely, sir.”
With that, he tips his hat at me and leaves my house. A few minutes later he’s galloping through my ranch on Blueberry, headed back home.
Well if that wasn’t the weirdest interaction I’ve ever had with anyone in this weird ass place- then I don’t know what is. I still have no idea what actually just happened, but I head back outside to start on my work anyways.
As I’m working, I think about the conversation. It seems a little odd to me that this man is trying to set his daughter up like this is the late seventeen hundreds, like some arranged marriage type shit.
Regardless of how weird it is- I plan on doing exactly as he said- because having his ranch, and his herd? Well, it would mean I could finally get my dream of becoming a full-time rancher. I’d finally have an excuse to sell my oil field and just focus on what’s really important to me.
Besides- I’ve heard of Samantha Laurier, famous lingerie model. She’s a legend around here. If she’s finally back home- then this is my only shot. And I definitely don’t want to miss that.
For the rest of the afternoon, I continue to work hard, slaving away in this horrible Texas heat. But today, there’s a light at the end of this hot and sweaty tunnel. And that light is named Samantha.
