"I hope I'm not intruding."

It wasn't the first time May said this, and she seemed to be repeating it more and more the closer to home they got until finally they were pushing through the front door.

May's hands were juggling her suitcase and purse while Jessica balanced a few bags of groceries in one arm and one in the other as she fumbled with her keys.

"Yes," Jessica rolled her eyes, "yes, you're twisting my arm." 

She waited for May to shuffle in before toeing the door closed, "in fact you are so skilled at forcing me to help you that I had to drive over, pack half of your stuff, and refuse to leave until you came!"

Exasperated, and more than a bit overheated in the midsummer Oklahoma heat, Jessica found she was at her wits end. 

"Honestly May, it's fine!"

She tossed down the groceries when she made it to the kitchen and gave a huff before turning to her friend who was smiling over at her.

With a frown she crossed her arms, "don't give me that look now."

"You're the same as always," May looked out the window pushing some of her honey blond hair behind her ear, blue eyes distant "always looking out for me."

She shifted uncomfortably at the sudden sentimental moment, though May did delve into her feelings more frequently than Jessica, so it didn't come as a surprise to the brunet when the bubbly girl made the statement.

Jessica took a moment to appreciate May's unconventional beauty that seemed to attract the worst of men; long blond hair that fell just past her shoulders, large hips and a slightly rounder face that held the largest smiles and large sparkling blue eyes with skin that never tanned.

May wasn't obese, Jessica wouldn't even really call her fat, but she was on the larger side -all soft curves and feminine strength-which at times lead to heartbreak with lovers who would want her to lose weight. 

Which always put Jessica's teeth on edge, knowing the struggle her friend had in high school with her body image, and how hard she worked to be as comfortable with herself today.

"It's what I am here for. You're like my little sister!"

The other giggled and wrinkled her nose, "little city girl sister you mean?"

"Yes," Jessica laughed lightly and turned to begin putting away some of the groceries; cleaners, some cereal, and a new pair of oven mitts, and  indifferently glanced back to the other as the blond girl dug in her purse pulling out her phone, "you could always help out if you feel so guilty. You know, shovel the stalls, and maybe feed the chickens."

A grin stretched her face painfully as she watched the horrified look settle upon her best friends face, knowing the girl hated manual labor especially any that could deal with fecal matter of any kind,

"Or -you could just do the favor of gracing me with your amazing cooking skills."

Mays face lit up at the idea and she quickly nodded her head, "hun- I'll make you a hardy dinner to fill you right on up tonight!"

Jessica froze midway to grabbing a glass before continuing what she was doing, hoping the other hadn't taken notice while pushing back her long brown hair that she had down for once. 

"Actually I have some business related stuff to do tonight. I won't be home until late, so don't worry. I'll probably grab something at the diner."

Pulling her eyes away from her cell May frowned cocking her head to the side, "business stuff? So late?"

Suddenly her eyes took on a mischievous glint and her smirk matched.

"This 'business' wouldn't be a man now would it?"

A small twinge went off in Jessica's chest, though she tried to ignore it, puffing out her cheeks she rolled her eyes, "oh please May! You know I have no love interests right now! I have made that quite clear."

"It's been a year since Jason, and you guys hadn't even been together that long!" exclaimed the younger of the two making her way over to the other woman," all you ever do is work work work! I have never even seen you take a break. I thought you wanted kids-I'll let you in on a secret it ain't happening' this way."

It was true and Jessica knew it.

Jason had been a short-lived relationship, his wish of her uprooting with him to move across country not agreeing with her. They had ended it, agreeing their differences were too great-though Jessica didn't pretend it hadn't hurt her.

It had been nice having some company; to be held in a protective embrace and waking up at another's gaze. 

To have someone to share a meal with and to share struggles with.

And it wasn't as if kids hadn't passed her thoughts more than once, though of course it never got anywhere close to that.

Jessica knew that there was no luck in her romantic relationships, the few she had, and bitterly knew the reason why.

It had been her first real crush, in high school, who had up and left right before her junior year. She had spent so much time wasted on him, she seethed, that now she was older and well past all of that, she was settled and comfortable with her life, yet many romantic prospects wanted someone who was ready to uproot and build a new life together, not join the one she had.

Stupid, she knew. Many claimed the one you gave yourself to first owned you the whole of your romantic life. 

A part of her feared that was horribly true. Jessica had given Bret so many of her firsts. Had gave so much and waited and wanted. And even though she was certain a part of him didn't mean to, he over the years broke something in her that she wasn't certain could be repaired. 

So far, she never had been able to piece together what exactly it was and how to solve it, nor had anyone been able to help mend it with her.

It seemed the blond-haired girl staring at her thought the same as May frowned and folded her arms over her pink blouse.

"Listen Hun, Bret is a thing of the past. I know you said you would wait for him, and you did hun. You waited-what- four years before trying' to move on? And the few times he 'did' come back for you it was just to ask for help before he got bored before running off again. I'm sorry but you just got to move on girl."

May looked to Jessica as the brunet tried to seem uninterested.

"I know, "she groaned," and I know we've talked about this a billion times. I'm over him, really, I am. I just haven't found the one yet."

Jessica frowned, thinking at how many people her age she knew who already had kids and a husband.

Shaking her head, she thought of the meeting she had to attend that night and she reaffirmed with herself that she had no time to be thinking about old flames. Even if that old flame was her first love and the man she had been together the longest with.

But just as she would point out to May her need to find a healthier relationship, she herself had come to realize Bret was bad news and a taker years before.

He had nothing to give her but grief and heart ache.

"I don't have time to go out trying to find a competent man," at Mays look she rolled her eyes, "but there 'is' a lot going on right now. I really don't have time to be running around doing much at all. If Mr.Right would just come and show himself I wouldn't mind so much."

"So, what is this business stuff you have going on tonight?"

May pulled up a chair as Jessica hoisted herself up on her countertop sipping at some water and throwing her head back in an attempt to cool off, running her fingers through her long brunet hair. Despite her jean shorts and white baggy t-shirt with blue sleeveless top under it, she was still too hot.

"It's a meeting between some of the local farms," Jessica felt the twist in her stomach as the worry that she had been able to keep at bay while busying herself with May and her problems resurfaced, "There is a company trying to buy up a lot of the farm land around here. They're probably just trying to give another offer."

"Then why attend! I know you; you love this farm! You worked tooth and nail back in school to save up for this land! You work tooth and nail to this day to keep this place running!"

Jessica knew what May voiced was true, and she frowned. 

This was the first meeting she was going to, and she knew why. 

Though worrying May with the fact she had been frightened by strange men coming to her door and personally giving her an invitation wouldn't do.

"I am obligated to go to some of these meetings," she shrugged and looked out the window avoiding Mays piercing gaze, "you know I have made the farm a part of the community by selling at farmers market."

May didn't look convinced and seemed as if she was going to prod at her a bit more before pausing and seeming to decide otherwise. 

"Well as long as nothing is wrong." 

She gave Jessica a piercing gaze, imploring her to let her know what was wrong.

 But as always Jessica kept her problems to herself and shared nothing.

"Well," she said standing, "I might as well go and get some things done before getting ready to go. The meeting is at 6," she glanced at her watch seeing it was just past 3, "I hope you'll be fine." She looked to May who nodded.

"You know me, I can be comfortable anywhere," she flashed a pearly white grin then she was pulling her suitcase down the hall to the guest bedroom that she frequently stayed at. Especially after her splitting up with her most recent boyfriend, Jessica thought with a scowl.

Instead she hollered down the hall playfully," Anywhere so long there is running water, a bed, and electricity right?"

"Of course, basic life necessities," was shouted unseen from the room and she grinned, remembering the one and only camping trip they had done as preteens together. From then on, May had insisted on 'glamping' if they where "ever again needing the love of nature so close".

Back in the entry way she slid onto the personalized bench that was near the door, a gift from old friends who had more recently sold their nearby ranch under the pressure of the same men that currently pressed her to do the same. She fingered the carved nature detailing the varnished wood before pulling herself from her thoughts.

Under this bench were several pairs of shoes and work boots for her and the farm help she hired. She grabbed a pair of brown boots with dried mud that cracked off as she wiggled into them, then kicking the sandals she had been wearing further under the bench she made her way out the door.

The front of her house was about as basic as the interior though the paint was something she had picked in mind of her tastes, olive green with dark brown trim. There was a line of apple trees in the front that had just begun to bear fruit that yielded a sweeter apple than the bitter greens that made up many in her small orchard and a simple chain-link fence that surrounded half of what was supposed to make up her front yard. She had never finished putting up the other half.

Rounding off around the side to the back she patted one of her Dobermans as they intersected paths, he accepted the scratch behind his pointed ear before continuing his perimeter check.

Jessica had gotten the dogs a couple years ago when loosing almost all her chickens to wild dogs. The dogs had more than protected the chickens, they kept the whole farm safe. It was an extra bit of comfort for her since she lived alone.

Arriving in her back yard she went to the far left where her chickens could be heard, walking past her goats who cried for her attention, and grabbed a small bucket filled with kitchen scraps.

Upon arriving at the coop, most of her girls were already out, and at the site of her began their excited coos, she reached for their treat bowl and overturned the bucket after tossing out the scrap of apple they had missed, and allowed them to see the worms that were quickly delving to the bottom of the soil. The hens wasted no time in pecking at them and fighting over the juicy treats, which amused her greatly.

"Oh hey, was wondering when you were going to be paying your babies a visit," she turned around and smiled at her farmhand, a young man of 23.

George was tall, a bit gangly with large hands and feet, but was also well toned with dark hair, brown eyes, and a slight crook in his nose due to a break as a child.

He had helped her on the farm for four summers now and was planning on starting his own someday. He reminded Jessica of herself when she was younger in that respect, he was full of passion and yearning, always trying and proved to be a diligent worker.

The young man grinned and held his hands behind his head, he was wearing light blue torn jeans and brown boots, his shirt was around his head under his cowboy hat. He obviously was trying to tan his torso to the extent his hands and arms were so that the rippling muscle would match the rest of the sun kissed body.

"I had to run and grab May," she turned back to the chickens, "I hope not too much fell behind while I was gone."

She knew her farmhands were good hard workers, and she had warned them ahead of time of her day off trusting them completely to assist her.

"Don't worry," he gave a chuckle.

Two of the hens were at opposite ends of a worm pulling desperately almost running into Jessica.

"Goats have been milked, crops watered, and the horse stalls were all cleaned and everyone has been fed. We didn't get to brushing the horses though. Anthony and Margret are thinning carrots and Alex, last I heard, was catching Lucy again."

Jessica groaned.

Lucy, her half ass, had a habit for jumping the fence. The neighbors warned that they may put a bullet hole through her if she didn't quit coming over and eating their grass.

"Great," she sighed and paused, "well thank you for doing so much overtime. Are you going home now?"

He nodded," yeah promised mom I would help with dinner. My sister is coming for a visit so she's fussing over everything."

Another toothy grin from him and Jessica felt her own lips turn up in amusement. She remembered last year his mother had called him, bellowing at the other end of his cell, that his sister was coming for a visit and he had better come home smelling like a gentleman.

Farming was not something his family saw as a career path, and apparently didn't support him as much as his college succeeding sister.

"Well go on then," she laughed, "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Bright and early," he confirmed winking as he began to jog to the house where he would change his boots and hang up his hat.

Jessica sighed after he left her line of sight and scratched the back of her neck, heading to the horses.

During the summer and fall she normally taught horse riding lessons with some of the locals, though this year had been a bit slow.

She owned seven horses and of them all Shadow, a black rocky mountain horse with silver hair, was her favorite. He was a gentle soul, and was a excellent show horse, having won several years in the state fair at first place. She had been lucky enough to buy him off his owners four years ago when they had deemed him an unhealthy runt. 

Back then he had been dirty and neglected the weaker of two twins. Now today he was majestic and strong.

Coming up to the pasture that they were fenced in, she saw Shadow trotting with Laddie, a gelding pony she had bought through a friend. He was light brown, a stark contrast when trotting alongside Shadow, and was short and strong, and a bit pushier at the feeding bowl than his dark friend.

She paused on her way to the fence when seeing, in the distance, Alex on top of another one of her horses, a painted brown and white girl.

Jessica was glad to spy Lucy following lazily alongside him.

Walking over to the gate she lifted the door up and pulled it open for him when they reached it and allowed him to trot through while she grabbed Lucy, she glared up at the stubborn half ass.

"She didn't make it past the property line this time," Alex chirped hopping of his horse and looked down to Jessica, "But Mr. Smith was watching with his shotgun in hand this time. He didn't look too happy that I got to her first."

Sighing Jessica shook her head, "I wouldn't doubt it. Thank you so much Alex you are a life saver."

The blonde man smiled and gave her a wink.

He had been her newest hire on and had proven to be a hard worker if not a bit forward at times. He wasn't bad to look at, she mentally noted, with his blonde hair and blue eyes and perfectly straight white teeth, but his playboy attitude had deterred her from the start.

Thankfully, she noted, this just seemed to be his demeanor and no true push to seek her attention other than that of a boss, and for the past few months, even a friend.

"I wouldn't be surprised," he continued, surprisingly not making any more moves at her, "if he was the one that has been breakin' into your place at night."

Jessica frowned.

Twice now her property had been trespassed, resulting in someone destroying most of her corn field the first time the season before, and just a few days prior someone opening up the barn and letting the cows out.

It would have been a pleasant enough conversation despite the dark topic-had it not been for the obvious glance he made at her backside.

It wasn't often she wore shorts, and she made a mental note not to again.

He was safe enough, she knew, but if he thought their budding friendship was going to grow into anything more than it was, he had a rude awaking about to come to him.

"Well if he is," she denated heading to the barn having ignored the small pass, "there isn't much we can do. Thank you again for all the help Alex. I really appreciate it." 

Perhapse slightly cold and clipped, but she didn't want him thinking she was the least bit attracted to him.

Despite his playboy attitude Alex was a life saver, Jessica reminded herself.

He worked for little pay, with the agreement he was allowed some of the produce from the farm. He was an open book, with few ties to the community having moved from the northeast wishing for warmer weather and the chance to learn how to farm. Though of his previous life, before moving to the south, she did not know. 

He didn't offer up any history, and she didn't ask of it.

Alex had nothing, and so he had been desperate when she had found him, toting a sign in a parking lot saying "will work for food".

"Anything for such a pretty lady." he winked again opening his arms for a hug and she rolled her eyes.

Shaking her head she ducked under his arm his flirting almost just a joking necessity of their currently developing friendship, "I'm gonna milk the girls and call it a night. My friend is at the house already, I forgot to tell her about you, so don't scare her off."

Pausing she turned around "and behave!"

He put his hands up in defense, grinning with his straight pearly whites," Oh I will be a perfect gentleman. But I can't say anything about her wanting me."

Jessica shook her head as he jogged a bit too happily to the house. He had been living in the shed she had out back, but most of the time he hung out in the house.

"Well this is probably the worst decision I have made in a while," she grumbled grabbing a large stainless-steel bucket from one of the clean white cupboards and went to go milk the first cow.

She lost track of time, thinking and worrying about her little farm that she had worked so hard for. She may be 28, but at the moment she felt 17 again, living in a shitty apartment working two jobs and feeling out out of control.

It was not the way she liked to live, out of control.

It was why she did so well playing boss to her few farm hands and all the CSA volunteers.

"Five years," She grumbled patting the brown cow as she munched on hay and brought the last full bucket to the milk holding area, slipping on a tight cover over the top and putting it in a large fridge so she could work with it after the next morning's milking, "I finally have the house built. The CSA is going well, and it's finally brining in money. Five years of hard work and they want to take it all away."

She sniffed and balled her fists, unwilling to cry, but the frustration and exhaustion were working well on her nerves. Closing the door to the fridge she glanced out the window at the darkening sky and gasped looking to her watch.

"Shit," she cursed, it was 5:15, "I should have finished 20 minutes ago!"

She made a mad dash toward the house and threw open the door, cutting off the laughter from the kitchen. She ignored her grumbling stomach at the aroma of home-made food.

Alex and May came around the corner looking confused as Jessica threw off her boots, popped on some sandals, and grabbed her keys, "Late. Gotta go, bye!" and she was running out the door, leaving them without a second glance.

Jumping in her beat up white pickup complete with rust spots, she turned the engine over giving a sigh of relief as it sprung to life on the first try, sputtering in protest as she turned it around and flew down the driveway.

After a few minutes she had made it off her road and the back road that lead to most of the local farms and onto the highway heading to town. Glancing at her watch again, she saw it was 5:23 and she pushed the gas down a bit more hoping there were no cops out.

A few minutes of cruising on the highway, all of the traffic was on the opposite end as everyone was returning home from work and there were few people heading into town at this time, this gave her enough time to calm herself and realize that Alex indeed had hung out with May.

"Not surprising," she grumbled, worrying slightly that her friend may fall for the fair-haired man's charm as he was defiantly her type, "This is why men treat her like crap." Though she didn't ever see Alex mistreating any woman. Despite his playful nature, and her only knowing him for such a short while, he had proven himself hard working and trustworthy with an open book nature.

After a few more minutes of speeding down the highway she spied the lights of the town coming into view. Breathing a sigh of relief, she stopped gripping the steering wheel so tight and looked down to her watch seeing that it was 15 till.

She was still about five minutes away, so she felt as if her fast pace had saved her from missing the meeting.

Though her relief was short lived, for right as she begun to lay off the gas, red and blue flashed in her mirror.

Groaning she pulled to the side of the road hearing the telltale sirens and frowning knowing the budget was growing tight with all these surprise bills, she didn't need a ticket on top.

She popped open the glove box, thankful she had just renewed the tags, and grabbed the registration and her insurance. He had just knocked on her window when she had finished pulling out her license and she took a minute to roll it down.

Jessica jumped at the rap of knuckles on her window, and blinked up at the officer who, with one glance, sent her reeling to years before, as a young girl sitting beside an older boy in high school, the same brown eyes from back then blinking down at her in shock just as she stared up at them.

There is no way, she thought looking up at him.