Kashi jumped around, throwing her hands in the air along with the crowd screaming the lyrics at the top of her lungs. She laughed, spinning in a circle. A friend offered her another can of beer from a table on the side. It hissed as she popped it open, and she downed nearly half in a go.

“Go Kash!” Her friend whooped, her black curls bouncing as she bobbed with the music.

Encouraged, Kashi smirked, walking purposefully to a table nearby. She flung her jean jacket onto the floor and climbed up onto the table, cowboy boots and all. “What about now?” she shouted to her friend, as she launched into a complicated series of dance moves. People turned from the floor to watch her spin and jump. She smiled upon hearing the whoops and cheers. She finished off the can in her hand.

“You’re next Sierra!” She jumped down, motioning for her friend to jump up. Sierra didn’t hesitate, grabbing Kashi’s hand to support her as she hopped up to take a turn.

“Looking for this?”

Kashi spun around, the corner of her mouth quirking up as she beheld who was letting her jacket dangle from a finger. “If I’d known someone as cute as you were here, I’d rather you, but I’ll take the jacket too.” She flirted, grabbing for the article of clothing.

“Ah-Ah!” He chided, smiling back, pulling it out of her reach. I want to dance first. Besides, why cover up those pretty arms with a jacket?” He stepped up closer to her. Her breath caught, but he broke her gaze and tied the jacket around her waist. “Now that you have your jacket, can I have my dance?”

“If I absolutely must,” Kashi said with a shrug. As he took another step back she got a good look at him. Tall, moderately built man with a strong jaw. But most definitely a farm hand from the look of his boots.

He grabbed one of her hands, putting the other one on her lower back. “You know how to dance, right?”

“Of course I do,” Kashi said, almost offended, “Did you not see me just moments ago?”

“I mean this kind of dance.” Without warning he raised her arm and sent her twirling around, then back into his arms. He raised his eyebrows and smirked. “So you do?”

Kashi smirked back, her gaze trailing along the outline of his face, just barely avoiding eye contact. “How much more do you know? I only dance with exceptional partners.” She met his bright eyes. “Better start working.”

She knew it was going to work. The moment the words left her mouth he picked up his steps and eased into complicated footwork. Kashi followed expertly, leaning into the twirls and dips, speeding up with the tempo of the music. Their boots kept time, tapping with every step.

She let a glimmer of surprise show as he placed both hands on her hips and lifted her expertly. She leaned back, putting her arms out. The people who had backed up to watch started to cheer as he spun her two… three times before setting her down.

“Damn, you can move!” She smiled, pushing one of his shoulders with her hand. “How come I haven’t seen you around here before?”

He slid a hand to the back of his neck casually, “usually I got better things to do than party it up with a bunch of ranch kids.”

“Better than to be a ranch hand.” Kashi smiled. “Who do you work for around here anyway?”

“Thompson.”

“James or Hudson?”

“James,” he responded, “There’s two Thompsons?”

Kashi lifted a brow. “You must be real new. They’re brothers who have been feuding over land and such for quite a time now.”

“New to these parts, not new to ranches.” He shrugged, “Been working them my whole life. I just decided to try them on this side of the state.” A smirk spread over his tanned face. “This side doesn’t quite live up to the work I’ve seen before.”

“Well when the time is right you’ll see just how hard James Thompson will work his hands and harvesters. He just expanded his property. This year marks the first harvest in the new fields, but he didn’t hire many extra hands. Trust me, you have your work cut out for you.” Kashi said, walking to get a bottle of water.

“No more drinks?” He asked, following her off the dance floor, blue lights casting shadows all over.

“I have work tomorrow.” she said, the cap to her water clicking as she took it off.

“What? Daddy won’t let you use his money? Gotta’ work?” He teased.

“I manage my daddy’s money, boy. More money than you’ll ever see in your lifetime.” She took a long sip of water. “So run along to wherever you’re staying, I've got bigger things to do.” Kashi strutted out of the barn towards the rows of trucks and cars parked outside on the grass.

“Hey now don’t be like that, come on.” He said following her outside. “One more dance.”

“What’s your name?” Kashi asked, turning around, realizing she never asked.

“Carr.” He responded. “I’ll give you my last name if you give me a dance.

Kashi rolled her eyes and turned her head away, unable to conceal the smile. What a tease. “Nah, it’s two in the morning. If I get home much later my dad might catch me. He gets up around four.”

“Sneaking out, are we?” Carr asked, following her.

“Almost all of us. Besides, Whittmore’s old barn has been our party spot for over a month now. The police will probably figure it out pretty soon.” Kashi continued to walk towards her truck, tugging her cropped tee down a little.

Almost as if on cue, blue lights that weren’t coming from the barn flew up the hill.

“See? Come on!” Kashi shouted to Carr, ducking behind one of the rows of trucks. The police flew by towards the barn without noticing. She dashed to a bright red truck, looking almost brand new. “’I'll give you a lift.” She offered.

“Thanks but I got my own ride.” Carr smirked, jogging off into the dark.

Kashi shook her head, but jammed her keys into the ignition as everyone flooded out of the barn. Sierra and a few others scrambled into the bed of her truck and she peeled away from the parking lot. Sierra climbed through the back window onto the seat beside Kashi.

“Who was that boy you were with Kash?” Sierra asked, tilting her head to the side with a suggestive grin.

Kashi smacked her friend’s shoulder lightly. “Sierra, he’s a new hire for my dad!”

“Kashi Thompson.”

Kashi wrinkled her nose as her dad addressed her from the front porch. Of course he caught her. She hadn’t been very careful this time.

“I was wondering what time you’d get back this time.” he checked his watch. “Earlier than last time.” He stood up, walking towards her.

“Daddy, come on.” She said, trying to walk past him with no avail.

He grabbed her wrist, and gently turned her to face him. “Kashi, we’ve talked about this. And I— What are you wearing?” he looked down at the outfit she’d chosen. “Kashi, I told you not to wear those shorts anymore. They don’t even cover— Girl! Get inside this instant.”

Kashi lowered her head to hide her scowl. She was nineteen, not a baby. He’d been doing this ever since she started to grow up and fill out around sixteen. But she was an adult now. She’d bought these with money she’d earned.

She kicked off her boots on the doorstep, carrying them inside the old ranch house. She grabbed an apple from the bowl on the kitchen table and jogged up the flight of stairs to her room with growing frustration.

She called Sierra. “I got caught,” she said before Sierra could say anything. “I think it was Felix. He’ll do anything to get me in trouble. What a jerk.”

“You’re lucky you only have one younger brother. I have three.” Sierra said with an emphasis on three.

“But all three of them are nothing compared to Felix.” Kashi layed back on her mattress. “Dad was more mad about my shorts than me being out late. He treats me like I’m a kid.”

“Sorry babe.” her friend responded. “I got off scott free this time. Next time I’ll drive if it helps.”

The stairs were creaking outside of Kashi’s room. “I gotta go, my dad’s coming up.”

“Kashi, can I come in?” Her dad asked with a rap of his knuckles on the door.

She was tempted to reply, I don’t know, can you? But she decided better of it. “Sure.”

Her dad pushed open the worn white door to her room, stepping onto the carpet. “Kashi, I want you to know that I love you.”

Oh great. He was going to try to guilt trip her. Kashi suppressed an eye roll. “Yeah I know. I love you too. It’s just that I’m an adult and I—”

“I know.” he held up his hand. “Just let me speak.” He sat down on the old white chair that was slightly too low for her desk. “Kashi, I feel like you’re not taking advantage of the situation you are in. Do you know how fortunate you are? There are many people who are born with next to nothing. I could afford to send you to college like your brothers.You wouldn’t pay a cent.”

“Who would do the finances? No offense dad, but they really aren’t your thing. Ever since mom passed I’ve been handling them.” Kashi responded, hugging her knees to her chest where she sat on her bed.

“Yeah— yes I know, but I’ll hire an accountant. I want you to do something bigger with your talents, Kashi.” Sensing she was about to interrupt, he raised an eyebrow. “I know you do good work, but you work for only a few hours a day. The rest of your time is spent doing God knows what with your friends. Buying revealing clothes,” he gestured to her outfit.

“None of my friends even do a few hours of work!” Kashi protested. “I missed Sam’s pool party three weeks ago because you wouldn’t let me leave the house until I finished balancing the book!”

Her father pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Look, Kashi. I am not your friend’s parents. I am your parent. I want you to decide to go to college or get a full time job. I’m hiring someone to start managing the finances. You have to find something else to do.”

“Come on dad, that’s not fair!” Kashi protested.

“I want you to throw those shorts out. Your mama and I raised you better.” Her father said, standing from the chair.

“No, I bought these with money I earned.”

“Get a job or start applying to colleges.” Her dad gave her one last long look before shutting the door behind him.

Kashi leveled a heavy scowl at the door. With a huff she threw the pillow at the door. Hard. It was unfair. All of her friends got to do whatever they wanted. Some of them were going to the community college a town over, but Kashi had zero interest in earning a piece of paper. Being her father’s accountant had been nearly perfect, She did a little work, earned some cash, and got to go out with her friends. What part about accounting wasn’t a real job?

An idea dawned on her. She felt the smile creeping up her face. If her father wanted her to get a job, she would. He never said what kind of job.

“Stop. Where are you going?”

“Relax dad.” Kashi said, grabbing her car keys from their hook in the kitchen. “You told me to go to college or get a job. I’m going job hunting.” she snagged a pear from the bowl of fruit on the table.

“Hardly an appropriate outfit for an interview.” Her dad scoffed, evidently trying to recover from the shock that she was doing something he asked.

Kashi looked down at her old, ripped jeans and sleeveless plaid shirt. “Well, if I don’t get the job then you are free to say I told you so.” She said, spitting the words out and offering him a half smile, half grimace. “And I know you told dad last night, Felix.” She pointed.

He smirked.

Kashi slammed the front door behind her and laced up an old pair of work boots before jumping into her truck. Kashi jammed the key in the ignition and turned it roughly. She stuck the aux cord in her phone and slid her favorite pair of sunglasses with a smile. She rolled down the windows and sped down the long driveway along the length of a pasture full of cows. The dirt flew up in a cloud behind her.

The main road was so rundown it was nearly as postmarked as her driveway. A short ten minutes later she pulled up into a steep driveway up a hill to a magnificent and sprawling one story blue house. New landscaping over the front hill greeted her. It looked good.

She parked her truck at the top of the paved driveway, leaving enough space for the other vehicles to pull out should they need to. She tied on a bandana to hold the loose hairs that didn’t fit into her braids that were thrown behind her shoulders. She hopped up the three stairs to the covered porch and marched to the front door to ring the bell.

“Be right there!” A feminine voice shouted. When the door swung open, a short woman with graying hair smiled broadly. “Kashi! I wasn’t expecting you! And so early too? I didn’t know that you could get up before nine.”

Kashi laughed. “It’s good to see you Auntie C.”

“Come in, won’t you?” Her aunt said, “It’s getting very warm outside as late summer rolls in. “I was just starting to make lunch for all the hired help. And the boys of course.” She added. “Takes me a few hours to do it now. Ever since your uncle bought out Mike’s old land, we’ve had nearly double the workers.”

Kashi nodded, “Dad was mad when he heard Uncle Hudson bought more land. What is with those two always trying to outdo the other?”

Her aunt waved a hand, “They’re just stubborn old men, aren’t they?” She walked into the kitchen with Kashi in tow. “So, what brings you here?”

Kashi pulled out a stool by the island table in the middle of the kitchen. She sighed then relayed the whole story to her aunt. “...He said that I have to find my own job or go to college. College just isn’t my thing. I know Uncle Hudson is always looking for more help. So...?”

Her aunt nodded. “It is a heavy workload, but I’m sure your uncle would love to teach you what to do. He said the other day that he missed you and your brothers.”

“Dad doesn’t like us visiting. It’s like he’s afraid we’ll ‘switch sides’ on him.” Kashi laughed, using air quotations.

“Well come help me get this pork made and we’ll ask your uncle when he comes in for food.” Her aunt said with a smile. “Wash your hands dear.”

A few hours later, her uncle, and a stampede of other hungry helpers, rambled into the covered porch each grabbing a prepared plate of food.

“Get over here Hudson, your niece came to visit!” Aunt C. shouted from where she was sitting next to Kashi, eating her own meal.

Her uncle came over with a smile on his face. “Good to see you Kash! What brings you over here? Your dad didn’t send you, did he?” Kashi couldn’t tell if he was hopeful or surprised.

“No, dad told me I wasn’t working hard enough. I needed to get a job or go to college. I just had to pick one.” She exhaled before repeating the story she told Aunt C. to her uncle.

He nodded when she finished, taking an extremely large bite of the sandwich on his hands. She waited on his response, and he pensively took a few pacing steps in Aunt C’s direction. “Well, I’ve known you to be a hard worker.” He said finally. “But your dad might not be pleased with the prospect of you being here.”

“I’m an adult.” Kashi said, tugging at one of the braids in her hair. “He’ll get over it.”

“You’d have to wake up early.” Her uncle said, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow.

A smile bloomed on Kashi’s face. “You got it, Uncle.”

“Well I had a good day.” Felix said, staring at his plate.

Kashi cut him the same look her father did. “That’s quite enough Felix.” Their dad said with enough bite to shut the teen up and wipe the smug grin from his face.

Kashi was too furious with her father to be amused. Her fork screeched across her plate as she attempted to spear the asparagus.

“Must you resort to acting like a child because you are angry, Kashi?” Her dad asked her. “I thought you wanted me to treat you like an adult.”

Kashi snapped her head up from where she was staring at the table. “Seriously, dad? It was an accident. Lord, you’re insufferable!” She shoved away from the table, jostling the dishes. She grabbed her plate, glass and utensils, dumping what she didn’t eat into her dad’s stupid compost bucket and tossing everything else into the sink.

“Kashi, wash your dishes!” Her father shouted, “Then head to your room because we need to have a chat.”

She rolled her eyes, making sure her father and brother could see how upset she was. Felix just raised an eyebrow with a smirk, turning to see what their dad would do. He didn’t say anything, just gestured to the sink with his fork.

Kashi flipped on the dim light over the sink clanging the dishes together as she washed them swift enough that they were certainly not clean. After dropping the dishes into the old cupboards so hard they nearly shattered, she jogged up the stairs and shut her door, clicking the lock behind her.

She pulled her suitcases from the closet, throwing in all the clothes her uncle had recommended for the job. He had said to come as soon as she liked. It was too late tonight, but she’d leave at the crack of dawn the next morning to get out of here if she’d have to.

Kashi threw a few pairs of shoes and her makeup into the smallest of her three bags. “Hair ties, headbands… oh my sunglasses…” Kashi muttered to herself as she wandered around to clean out what she might need. She spied a small forgotten jewelry box in the back of her closet. Perfect to pack a few pairs of earrings and some necklaces… she didn’t wear many rings…

“Kashi, can I come in?” her father rapped his knuckles on the door. His voice had lost the irritated edge from their shouting match earlier. He seemed… tired.

“Yeah, gimme a sec.” Kashi said, her own temper having ceased its original vigor. She shoved the suitcases into her closet and shut the sliding barn door that hid its contents from view.

“Hey honeydew.” he said with a small smile when she opened the door. The dark circles under his eyes had grown. That nickname…

“Daddy, I’m not five,” she protested, moving aside so he could enter her room.

He sighed, running a hand through his grayed hair. “Trust me, I know.” he motioned for her to sit as he took a seat on the edge of her bed. “I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier today. I just… don’t trust my brother Kash. I know… I know it has been years since everything happened. But there are rumors in town again.”

“Come on dad, he cheated you once. When you guys were just kids, too.” Kashi protested, sitting on her carpet, running a hand through her braids to untwine the twisted strands. “Look, dad—”

“Just be careful Kash.” Her dad said. “I had my lawyer look over those employment papers and they were good, just be sure to thoroughly review your paychecks and everything, you hear?”

“My uncle isn’t going to cheat me out of a square paycheck. You must respect him enough to grant him that, dad.” Kashi sighed. Her shoulders slumped.

Her father simply raised an eyebrow. “You should review your paychecks no matter where you work.”

She put a hand on his knee from where she was seated. “Fine. I promise I’ll be careful, dad.”

“I love you very much Kashi and I don’t want you to get hurt.” Her dad said. He stood and wrapped his arms around her.

“Love you too, dad.”

Kashi wiped her face again with the bandanna in her pocket. Her Uncle wasn’t lying about the workload. It had been a week and half, and she still hadn’t returned home. Her brother and dad had placed bets on how long she’d last at the ranch. She’d heard them when she was in the other room. Felix said ten minutes. Her dad said three weeks. She rolled her eyes. Well, she wasn’t going to quit no matter what they said.

“Hey, be careful with that!” Someone shouted behind her.

“I was here first, watch yourself.” Kashi shouted back, throwing another shovel full of horse refuse in his direction.

“Kash!”

She turned in the direction of her uncle’s voice. “Sorry, he was shouting at me first.” She smirked a little. “Didn’t mean no harm.”

He smiled despite himself. “Well, the man you almost hit is my old pal, Jeremy Hughes. Remember him?”

Kashi squinted at him for a sec before it hit her. “He came to my birthday party when I was little.” She turned to him. “Nice to see you again.”

He raised an eyebrow, staring at the mess before him. “I can see that.”

“Don’t mind her!” Her Uncle said, smacking his friend on the back. “Kashi’s normally a doll, but lunch is about twenty minutes away. She’s probably just hungry.” He winked at her.

Jeremy glanced down at his suede shoes, impeccably clean. “Right. Well, it was nice to see you again.” He turned to Hudson, “Can we continue on the survey of the land?”

“What a killjoy…” Kashi muttered to the horse nearby as they walked out.

“Couldn’t agree more.”

Kashi whipped around to see a tanned middle aged man sauntering in. “Who are you?” Kashi asked. Leaning on the handle of her shovel.

“I’ve worked here for a few years. I break the horses and train em’ up. I was just heading in to get some lunch, checking out he stables to make sure everyone knew the time.” He pulled off his work gloves, setting them on the top shelf above some neatly coiled roped hanging below.

“Sure thing. I’ll finish up this stall here and follow you.” Kashi said, turning her gaze away. He didn’t move. “You don’t have to wait for me.” She threw another shovel full. The man didn’t move. Slightly off-put, she continued her task, finishing in a matter of a few minutes. She turned around to find him gone without having made a sound.

She made her way to her aunt and uncle’s house to find one plate left waiting for her. “We were about to send someone after you!” her aunt chuckled as she approached. “We’re proud of you, your uncle and I. You’ve been working hard, girl.”

Kashi grabbed the plate of food and a glass of water from the table. “Thanks Auntie C. But I thought you did send someone after me?” She took a seat in a folding chair by Aunt C. “That man there.” She pointed to the man from earlier who was sitting alone, facing the fields.

“You’re funny Kashi. Markus doesn’t talk to anyone. I’ve never heard the man more than grunt before in my life. Your Uncle said he spoke three words when he was hired.” Her Aunt chuckled.

Her hand bumped her glass of lemonade. It tipped and sloshed onto the table. “Ack!” She shouted. “I’ve been clumsy all day today. I’ll be right back, honey.”

Kashi watched her aunt amble off into the house before turning back to Markus. He wasn’t paying the slightest bit of attention to the other ranch hands and hired help who were mingling and laughing with one another. Strange. Maybe he just didn’t like large groups. Or people that talked a lot. Auntie C. was known for being able to talk ears off. Kashi was about to brush it off, but something looked strangely familiar. Something she just couldn’t place.

Lunch ended and Kashi lost sight of him. He didn’t live on the property, she knew that. She’d have to wait until tomorrow, then she’d try to talk to him again.

Carr wandered across Thomson’s fields. The moon was bright enough to fully illuminate the scenery. It was so bright, in fact, that the stars were hardly visible, drowned out by the pale moonlight. He watched a few dark shapes flying across the sky. Bats. He’d spotted several bat houses around on trees across the ranch. He’d once thought it was dumb to attract bats but had then since realized that the bat houses were to keep bats out of the houses where humans lived. That, and to keep the insect population down.

He was attempting to induce his elusive sleep through a leisurely walk, but a shape crept across the field. He jumped behind a nearby tree to watch the human figure move in the direction of the house and the barns. It was difficult to make out, but the person was lean and wearing a baseball cap. Carr crept along the tree line, watching. There was something off about this person. They walked with shoulders back and seemed to avoid every pothole, pitfall, and obstacle in the field. Carr would have assumed they’d work here, but the build of this figure was very different from that of the other ranch hands. What could they need in the middle of the night?

He debated what to do for a minute when the figure disappeared into the barn. He knew where all the entrances, exits, locations of the tools, turns, and corners were. He’d have the upper hand if he chased this person in the barn. He’d also been in his fair share of tussles as a kid, and as an adult, though he hoped it didn’t come to that.

He crept into the barn and spotted the figure wandering with a flashlight. He caught sight of a long ponytail before she turned the corner. She definitely didn’t work at this ranch. She walked quietly enough, and she most likely would have gotten away with whatever she’d been about to do if he hadn’t been outside.

Carr grabbed a pitchfork off the wall. He didn’t think he’d use it, but it would definitely help with the menacing aspect. Knowing she was at a dead end he followed her and shouted, “Hey! What are you doing?” The woman spun around, shining the flashlight directly in his face. Though momentarily blinded, “I’m the one holding a pitchfork, you’re better off just telling me what you’re doing here.”

The girl threw on a light switch he hadn’t known was there. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, but when they did, he laughed. “Kashi? What the hell are you doing breaking into Mr. Thomson’s barn? There’s nothing to steal.”

She rolled her eyes. “I have more of a right to be here than you genius. Mr. Thomson is my dad.”

He raised an eyebrow. “But you look— Well, you’re—”

“I’m what? Not white?” she laughed in good humor, obviously having received this reaction before. “Have you heard of something called adoption? My mom met my dad and had Felix.”

“Felix is your brother?” Carr asked, feeling stupid as soon as he asked the question. “Well, I mean…”

“Yeah, I get what you mean.” Kashi said, clicking the flashlight off. “No, my biological mom and I moved to the United States a few months after I was born. I think dad told me she was from Egypt. Then she met your Mr. Thompson here and they had Felix. We’re half siblings. My mother was killed in an accident right after Felix’s birth.” She turned towards a large old dresser behind her, looking through a drawer.

“Sorry Kashi, I didn’t realize—”

“No, don't be. I wasn’t even five years old. I don’t remember her. Honestly, I miss my stepmom much more. I do remember her.” Kashi pulled an envelope from the drawer and shoved it into her backpack.

“Can I ask what that is?” Carr asked, setting the pitchfork down as they turned to leave the barn.

“Nope.”

He blinked in surprise, but smirked. “I liked the Kashi I met at that dance better.” Maybe he could draw out that flirty personality once more.

“Well, that Kashi didn’t have as much to worry about.” She said, shooting down his hopes instantly. “This Kashi has work tomorrow in the morning and needs to get going.”

“Can I give you a lift home?” he offered.

She looked like she was ready to consider it but said, “I work for someone real close by. Besides, I like to go for long walks. It’s only a couple miles when I take a shortcut. Just do me a favor and don’t tell my dad I went by.”

“Why not?”

She stopped and turned around a look of half amusement and half indignation on her face. “What do you mean, ‘Why not?’ Because it’s not a hard request.”

“Yeah, but I feel like there’s more to this.” He goaded, trying to contain a smirk. Before she could protest, he continued. “Let’s make a deal, you give me your number, and my lips stay sealed.”

Her brow furrowed, but at the slight twitch by the corner of her lips he could tell that she was trying not to smile. “Fine. Number it is. Give me your phone.” After he obliged, she punched the number in and handed it back.

He hit the call button as soon as she returned his phone. To his pleasant surprise, her phone lit up in her pocket. He raised his eyebrow. “I thought you’d put in a number to the nearest pizza place or something.”

She laughed. “Whatever. Just don’t abuse it, alright?”

He smirked. “Sure thing, Kashi.” He watched her turn and walk back down through the field. Her number was an absolute score. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t asked for it at the dance and it was so lucky for him to finally run into her. Walking back to his quarters, he couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on his face. Maybe now he’d finally get to sleep.

Kashi chuckled to herself as she walked back to her uncle’s. She was lucky she hadn’t run into one of the other ranch hands who knew a little more about her relationship with her dad. They definitely wouldn’t have kept her secret. Though she hadn’t known him long, she was confident that Carr would keep her secret. He seemed like the decent type.

She walked up her uncle’s long driveway, going around the side before she came into view of the front door. Her uncle might not care if she came home late, but she didn’t want to take the chance. She jumped into her window on the first floor. Everything was just as she left it. She flopped backwards onto the blue and white quilt her aunt had undoubtedly sewed.

Kashi took the envelope out of her pocket but before she opened it. A text— a few, from Sierra distracted her.

Hey! the first message said. Where have you been? then, Kashi, it's been all day.

Kashi smiled. Typical. I told you I started working. I’ve been busy, she typed. Before she could close her phone, she was surprised to see a message from Carr.

Hey, Kashi. It was good to see you. If I ask what was in the envelope will you still tell me no? He ended the message with a winky face. She wanted to be annoyed but she couldn’t help but smile at his message.

No means no, she sent. Go to bed, we both have to work early in the morning. She chuckled in spite of herself and plugged her phone into the wall charger. Then she turned her attention to the envelope she’d set beside herself.

But something was peculiar about it. There was a stamp on it. Her envelope had been blank… Her stomach dropped in anticipation, and she drew out the contents hastily. These were not what she had gone there for. These were a collection of letters to her dad and from some name she didn’t recognize.

James,

In regard to our last conversation, I feel as if your concerns may be correct, and you need to talk to him. He’s too young to know what is best. We both know the serious consequences and what that may do to the two of us and to him. It’s difficult and we all mean well but plan different paths in life than one another. As ours are similar I say we continue without him. The longer this drags on the harder it is for him to come out with it, so if we keep it a secret perhaps it will persuade him to discontinue his threats.

Kashi read on, scanning the series of letters. Whatever they were referencing didn’t sound good… but it also wasn’t substantive enough to draw any conclusions. All she knew was that her dad and two other people were involved in something negative. The letters were dated from the time her older siblings were just young children. She looked at an earlier letter… even older.

She had gone to the barn for quite a different envelope, and it wasn’t the one she grabbed. She whispered under her breath, frowning, brow furrowing. “Damn, where is it?” She rifled through the papers to no avail. She only turned up more letters to her father… and a yellowed photograph. The edges were worn as if someone had toyed with it just a little too much. She could make out a very young figure as her father and, to her great surprise, her uncle too. But the two of them were in great spirits, shaking hands and smiling like the devil. A man who she didn’t recognize looking fondly on from the side. It was quite a happy photo, so different from the urgent and slightly disconcerting matters concealed within the letters. Kashi ran a thumb over the image, smiling despite herself. The brothers hadn’t always been feuding, she supposed. They had for most of her life, but they couldn’t have been on bad terms their entire lives.

She folded the letters gently back into their envelope but slid the photo onto her dresser underneath a pretty floral table runner. She didn’t have time to run back to try and find her envelope tonight, not if she wanted sleep, that was. Grimacing, she turned the envelope over in her hands before dropping it in her duffel and tossing a shirt over it to conceal it so nobody would stumble upon it. Her aunt tended to come through her room and clean up her stuff. She didn’t want her finding it so she shoved the duffel in the closet… hopefully that would be enough. She turned off the lamp and slid under the quilt, hoping her envelope, the one she had meant to grab in the first place, was safe.

“Kashi, tell me everything!” Sierra demanded as the two relaxed in a booth in their favorite restaurant. “We haven’t talked in weeks. You’ve always been busy or tired or—”

Kashi cut her friend off with a laugh, laying back in the booth. “I have been tired. It’s a lot of work. And there really isn’t much to tell.” She chuckled again, grunting as she struggled to sit up on the red seat. “This weird ranch hand named Markus keeps staring at me. I don’t know what his problem is. We spoke a little the other day. I think he was talking about my dad. Every time I try to ask him a question though, he goes silent.”

Sierra twirled a strand of her curls around her finger. “He sounds pleasant.”

“Trust me, I’d take him over Felix any day.” Kashi laughed. “He’ll be in school now, so if I want to visit dad I don’t have to deal with the monster.” She smirked. At least there was one positive.

“Okay but like, tell me something exciting. All you ever talk about is the back-breaking work. There’s gotta be something.” She nagged, swirling her straw around her ice water. The condensation was making the already worn table look more weathered.

“You remember that guy from the dance, Carr? The one that works for dad? Well, He caught me trying to grab my photos and stuff from the barn. But we’ve been chatting a little the last couple of days.”

“Why don’t you lead with this?” Sierra demanded.

“That’s not even what I was going to say,” Kashi couldn’t keep a straight face at the exasperation flashing over Sierra’s features. Always one for gossip, Sierra. “I grabbed a different envelope, Sierra.” Kashi said, “I went back and my photos were still there but I have no idea where this came from Sierra.”

She explained the weird notes and letters. There were also a few pay stubs. Any writing however had been blurred and wasn’t readable. She expressed her concern about her dad and her brother. After showing Sierra the photo, her friend sighed heavily. Kashi fell silent when a waitress brought their food over.

“Well this isn’t the fun kind of detail I was expecting, but I am intrigued.” Sierra’s eyes traced the people in the photo. “You know, we can go to the library and look through the old yearbooks. Your dad would have been just older than that, so maybe we can find the other man too.”

Kashi laughed. “Okay come on let’s go pay the check!”

“Dude chill, we come here for the desserts. Can’t we stay for a slice of butter cake or something?”

“Get one to go!” Kashi said, slinging her bag over her shoulder and standing up to walk out of the homey restaurant. “Belle won’t mind packing it up for you.”

The Library was a short, but hot, walk from the restaurant on a corner of West Main street. Two blocks and Kashi was already sweating even with her baseball cap to shield her face from the sun. The cracked pavements didn’t make the walk any faster either.

“We should have driven my car,” Sierra whined from behind Kashi. “I’d take a parking ticket over this heat any day.”

The dim library offered little relief. Every fan was whirring and an air conditioner unit by the front desk seemed to try its hardest, but it barely even stirred the dry summer air hanging around the shelves of books.

The girls set their things down on a table, grabbing the stacks of yearbooks in a ten year range. Their high school was small enough that it wouldn’t prove too difficult to sort through everyone’s photos. Kashi found her dad right away. “So, I guess we should start to look for this guy in all the other yearbooks, then huh?”

Sierra seemed more inclined to finish her butter cake. “Your loss. This is good.” she shrugged when Kashi sent her friend a glance.

“We’re missing a year.” Kashi mused, standing up to go find the yearbook.

The shelves she was looking for were a short walk from their table. The book she was looking for wasn’t on the shelf it should’ve been on. She searched the general area, thumbing through thin hardbacks and spiral bound books alike.

“What are you doing here?”

Kashi spun around coming face to face with Carr.

Being in a relatively good mood, she smirked. “I could ask the same of you. Can you even read?”

His laugh was loud enough that she was sure the librarian would come running to hush him. “Ouch.” His brown eyes twinkled. “Believe it or not, I like to dust off those literary skills and pick up a book now and again.”

“What book is it this time?” She gestured to the paperback in his hand.

He thrust it behind his back fast enough that she was genuinely curious. What was he hiding? “Just some modern classics and stuff.” his ruddy complexion grew redder.

“And stuff?” she smirked. “Lemme see.”

“What are you reading?” He gestured to the stacks. “Collections of Newspapers, yearbooks and… what are those, journals?”

“It’s research.” Kashi said definitively, her eyes landing on the book she was looking for lying flat on a bottom shelf. “A personal project.” She turned to walk back to her table.

Carr followed her. “So, what are you doing with old books then?”

Kashi smirked, “nothing much—” She seized the book from his hand triumphantly. She read the title and cackled. “There is no way.”

Horror mixed with the smallest hint of amusement flashed on his features.

“His Best Friend’s Bed.” Kashi howled with laughter. She looked at the cover again. “Book three! Carr, I didn’t peg you for a smut reader.”

“You tell anyone, I’ll deny it until I’m dead.” He wasn’t hiding his laugh very well.

“Embarrassment looks good on you.” Sierra laughed, coming around the corner.

“Ah I should have known there’d be two of you.” Carr chuckled, running a hand through his hair.

“Don’t worry, we won’t ruin your reputation, tough guy.” Sierra winked. “Come on Kash, I finished my cake.”

“So what are you researching?” Carr asked, still sheepish from Kashi’s teasing.

“Oh, remember that envelope I went to get?” Kashi asked as the three of them returned to the study table. “Well, it wasn’t mine. Instead, I found this envelope full of letters, photos and paystubs about my dad, uncle and someone else. They seem really shady.” She handed a few of the letters to him.

After a moment he nodded. “Wow, this is some weird business. Mind if I help you look?”

Kashi wolfed down the last of the scrambled eggs on her plate, her fork clanking against the blue and white dishes.

“Woah there,” her aunt chuckled, “You want some more of those?”

Kashi stood back from the island in the kitchen, the white stool screeching. “No thanks Auntie C.” Kashi said, hurrying to wipe down her dishes in the old sink. “I wanted to catch Uncle Hudson before he left to go get the new equipment.” She slid her hastily washed and dried dishes into the cupboards. “You should get a new sink to match the renovated kitchen.”

“I’ll think about it!” Aunt Cee laughed. “Now go get your uncle. He’ll be getting the trailer out now.”

Kashi skipped out the back door towards the large metal barn where they kept most of the larger equipment. Her braids bounced against her back, messy and hurried. She’d been too rushed to do anything more than swiftly twine the strands together.

She had decided she’d see what her uncle knew about those letters and its contents. The yearbooks had come up a dead end, meaning that the other man wasn’t from this small town. At least not during high school. He had, however, made it into a newspaper dating from before Kashi’s mom had even met her dad. The photo was almost identical to the other. Her dad and uncle were standing side by side, grinning from ear to ear. That other man who the newspaper dubbed, ‘Collins’ was smirking beside them. The title of the article was “New Heights Reached as Grounds Break.” Essentially, the three of them had struck up some business deal having to do with a company from New York. But Kashi remembered that the deal had never happened. Too many of the locals protested having the company in their small town. And despite the two Thompson men owning most of the land in their town, it didn’t come to fruition.

That still only gave her a little to go on. The article didn’t give a name for the company or a hint as to what it did.

“Uncle Hudson!” she shouted, jogging over to where he was finished connecting the trailer to his truck. “Need any help?”

“You always seem to ask that question when the work is finished.” he chuckled, grunting as he stood up from kneeling in the browning grass. “I was just about to head out. Wanna come with me?”

“Sure!” She jumped into the passenger seat. Plenty of time to bring up the business deal.

He was headed to a town about an hour away where he bought a used tractor. “Half the price, just as good!” he’d told Kashi when she asked him why not just buy a new one. He could certainly afford it.

“Hey Uncle Hudson,” Kashi said, staring out the windshield at the never-ending road. They’d been listening to her uncle’s favorite talk show for almost a half hour. She wasn’t sure she could take much more. “How come you and dad aren’t pals anymore like you used to be?”

He sighed reluctantly. Kashi dared a glance over to her uncle. He was frowning over the steering wheel, sunglasses and cap shielding his expression. “We were never quite pals growing up. He and Aaron used to beat up on me as the baby all the time. When Aaron was killed in that crash, your dad kinda stopped communicating with anyone. He and Aaron were better friends.” The rumbling of the truck across the cracked asphalt filled the span on time before he continued. “We did get close after we both got back from college shortly before your grandpa decided he was too old to keep running the ranch.”

Kashi had never met her grandparents. Her grandmother had divorced her grandfather and left when her dad and uncle were both at college. They hadn’t heard from her since. Her grandfather had died before she was born. “So, you said close, but not pals?” She caught his gaze. There was a small smile on his face, one of nostalgia.

“Business partners. We had planned to run the ranch together, your dad and I. But when things started to pick up speed…” He trailed off. “There were allegations of cheating. Millions of dollars were lost. Someone went missing and I just couldn’t stay a part of that in my right conscience.”

Kashi turned away. That’s what this was connected to? Her dad had always been mad at her uncle for cheating him out of something. But he never talked about it. “Uncle, why—”

“Kash, why are you so interested?” His eyes didn’t leave the road.

“I just…” her sigh was audible over the engine and the blasted AC. “I miss having you and Auntie C around.” It wasn’t a lie. She did miss them. Her dad and uncle had begun to make up when she and Felix were kids. Some of her older siblings had still been around. It was before her stepmom died too.

Then there was that argument, and the brothers went back to the cold silence and competition. It happened on Felix’s birthday. They’d had family and friends over to celebrate. Her father and her uncle disappeared into the kitchen to have a shouting match, audible through the screen door. Even if the heavy oak door had been shut, they still could’ve been heard.

Her red-faced uncle had stormed out of the house into the yard. The party was already silent. His footsteps thudded across the hardwood. “Cecile let’s go.” He grabbed his wife’s hand, nodded to Kashi’s stepmom and left without so much as a backwards glance.

Felix’s party didn’t last much longer after that.

“I miss it too.” Her uncle’s face shifted, his eyes looking at something far away.

Shadows of large birds flew over the wild grass surrounding them. The sun dipped behind a tiny puffy cloud, emerging seconds later. Kashi shifted, her legs sticking to the hot leather seats of her uncle’s truck. Maybe she’d pay her dad a visit this week.

Kashi grunted as she helped her uncle unload the last of the groceries from the pickup. “Why would you buy this much flour? Are you planning on feeding the whole town?” She lugged yet another sack of the flour up the three stairs, down the hall and into the kitchen. She was probably being dramatic, but the flour grew heavier with every step.

“Ask your Aunt C.” He shrugged, carrying three bags to her one. “Though, as far as food for the town, she is selling her famous pies at a booth at the summer fest in a couple weeks.” Her uncle sighed. “Well, get going. I don’t want to make you late for dinner with your dad. Tell him I say hey.”

“Will do!” She was already halfway out the door, snagging her keys off a new hook screwed to the wall just for her.

Her dad was more perceptive than her uncle. She’d have to be more careful with bringing the photos and newspaper up. Felix, annoying as he was, would be the key to getting her dad to talk. If he was interested in something, he didn’t know how to drop the subject. Besides, her dad was always trying to tell them about the adventures of his youth. Hopefully Kashi could get some insight into this.

She parked her truck into its old spot, hopping down to the gravel. There was another, much older, pickup there as well. Its green paint was tinged with rust. The passenger side door was massively dented.

The screen door swung open. Her dad smiled at her. “I missed you, kiddo.”

Despite herself she smiled, meeting her dad in a hug. “Missed you too, dad.” He squeezed her a little tighter than she remembered.

“How’s life as a ranch hand?” He pulled on one of her signature braids with a smirk.

Scowling and swatting his hand she recounted a few backbreaking tasks that had become her least favorite chores. “But it’s kind of, well, fulfilling.” Kashi shrugged as she walked inside with her dad.

Someone else was on the sofa. “Carr?”

“Hey Kashi.” He waved, seated next to Felix in the living room. They were playing cards.

“I invited company, hope you don’t mind.” Her dad chuckled. “Though it sounds like you two have already met each other.”

Kashi nodded. “I bumped into him in the library a week or two ago.” She left out the party and her midnight jaunt to the barn. “I was getting another one of my novels.” She looked pointedly at Carr as if daring him to contradict her.

But he didn’t say a word about it. He just offered her a sly grin. “Yeah, she and… Sierra, right?” Carr looked at Kashi who nodded. “They were in the library with some cake from a diner I just had to try.”

Her dad’s entire demeanor lit up at the mention of Belle’s diner. “Oh, that woman knows how to bake a mean butter cake. She’ll give the recipe to anyone who asks, but it never turns out as good. I think it’s some advanced marketing technique of hers. She’ll draw you back in for that one-of-a-kind dessert.”

“Dad and I went yesterday.” Felix piped up, an unusually pleasant smile on his face. “Belle gave us a whole cake to take home for free!”

Kashi whipped around to her dad who had turned red. She raised an eyebrow, a bemused smile rising on her face. “Really?” she asked, drawing out the vowels, turning to Felix, her eyebrows darting up and down. Felix choked on his water, laughing and coughing at the same time.

“Kashi that’s enough.” her dad chided half-heartedly. His face was still red.

Carr threw a card at Felix, resuming their game. “You’re awfully good at this for your age.” he frowned at his cards. “Is it too late to take back that five dollars that I bet you?”

“Hey, it’s your fault for underestimating a fourteen-year-old.” Felix said, laying down his cards smugly.

“I forgot you were coming today, Kashi. I wouldn’t have invited him over. Sorry about that,” Her dad said sheepishly when she joined him in the kitchen. He was stirring something that smelled divine on the stove.

“Nah it’s all good.” Kashi grabbed the bowls from an upper cupboard, smiling at the familiar design. “I’m just stopping by to ask how you’re doing. Believe it or not, I missed you. And don’t tell him, but I almost missed Felix too.”

As if he’d heard his name he started yelling. Kashi laughed. It appeared that he had won the five-dollar bill from Carr.

“Look, Kashi, I didn’t mean to drive you away, or be so hard on you.” Her father said, somewhat awkwardly leaning on the counter.

“No, I got that dad.” She kissed him on the cheek, setting the dishes down. “Besides, I kind of like what I’m doing. And well, no offense, Auntie C. makes way better pies.”

She chuckled, dodging the towel her dad tossed her way. “You’re the one that taught me not to lie!”

“Alright, alright.” He laughed, setting the spoon in its rest. “Let’s eat.”

They were quiet for the first few minutes during supper. Kashi was almost upset. He’d never made food this good while she still lived here. Felix, who had definitely grown since she’d seen him last, was spooning himself a third helping.

“Chill out there with the food little man, you’ll grow a second head.” Carr said, conveniently forgetting to mention that he too was on his third bowl.

“True. It would be one more head to kick your ass with.”

“Felix, watch the language!” Her dad chided. Kashi was trying to hide her grin.

“I’m just copying you dad.” He shrugged. “The other day when you were talking to Whit, I overheard you tell him that he was being a—”

“Alright! Alright I shouldn’t have. But you shouldn’t either.” Their dad chuckled. “How come you never copy any of the good stuff I do?”

“Hey dad,” Kashi said after the laughter died down. “I’m curious, why didn’t you ever do any expansion or make some deals with other companies and such to industrialize your land or get shareholders? You could make a lot of profit.” She met Carr’s eyes before taking a sip of the broth as nonchalantly as possible.

“Oh, I did. Your uncle and I tried to when we were younger, much younger. We met this guy from what, Chicago, I think? But it didn’t work out. Your uncle got spooked and didn’t pull through.” Her dad shook his head. “Why? Did your uncle tell you something?” his tone immediately revealed his suspicion.

“I mean, he mentioned something about a business deal that didn’t work out, but nothing else besides that.” Kashi shrugged.

Carr nodded, “I was reading some of the old newspapers the other day just for fun. Catching up on the town’s history. My great grandma lived here from birth to death. I came across a picture of you and your brother, sir. It looked like a deal actually did happen.”

James Thomson paused for a moment. “Well, it did happen. But there were more things going on than just that first agreement. My brother jumped ship and cost us both a lot of money. He buried the other man in debt as well.”

Felix’s brows shot up, his spoon clanking loudly. “Is that why you’re so mad at Uncle Hudson? Because he cheated you out of that deal?” Kashi nodded to herself. This was exactly what she was hoping Felix would do. “Why did he leave if you were going to be rich? What happened to make him leave? Is that why—”

“Felix! Yes, your uncle grabbed his portion then backed out and Hughes and I were left to pick up the slack, alright? Now, go put your dishes in the sink if you're done. It’s your turn to clean up after supper.” He stood abruptly, grabbing his dishes.

Kashi’s brain was flying. Hughes. Hughes. She knew that name, where did she know that name? Her eyes met Carr’s for a second. He could tell that she found something the moment she remembered.

Jeremy Hughes! She met him again with her uncle one of the first days she was working on his ranch! What were they doing together? She looked over to her dad who had seemed to relax a little. How much did he know about what was happening now?