I clenched the steering wheel of my old beat up Ford while I stared at the winding road in front of me. All I could see was miles and miles of a white, wooden fence, and I was getting sick and tired of it. There seemed to be no end of it, with no town in sight. I was getting antsy and tired, ready to get out of the car and try to find a job.

"Mags?" the voice of my ten-year-old brother asked, and I glanced back at him in question. His brown eyes were filled with this tortured look that I hoped I could get rid of.

Like me, our parents didn't really care about him, and I couldn't help but wonder if it was because I had gotten him interested in a sport that they detested. Or if it was because he wasn't "special" enough like my twin sister.

"Ya?" I asked, moving my eyes back on the road. I pursed my lips to see that the white fence was there, but this time there were cattle in the pastures. "What is it, Bud?" I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, the soft sound of static filling the car as my old truck tried to pick up a radio station.

"Can we stop for a bit? I think the horses and dogs need to stretch out their legs," he said. He huffed and looked out the window, and I could tell that he was getting tired of the fence, also. He had been quiet on most of the ride, and for that, I was grateful, even though I hated the silence.

I smirked when I looked at the ten-year-old, knowing that he was just as bored as me and wanted to get out. "You can't explore," I said, glancing back on the road. I flicked my eyes this way and that, making sure that nothing was in the way while I reduced my speed. I had no idea what was going to pop out, and I really did not want to hurt my truck. "Not unless we find a place to settle."

My brother, Travis, groaned, being careful not to wake up my four-year-old daughter. He slammed his head against the back of his seat, not hurting himself. "But, Maggie," he said pouting. "I love exploring."

"Which is why I have you and your parents don't," I replied. "And, because they haven't done a good job of taking care of you." I narrowed my eyes in disgust. I hated them for always comparing me to my sister, even though she wasn't all that special.

Travis shrugged. He didn't say a word about me commenting on "his" parents and not saying that they were mine. He understood what I meant, and I hated how he had to go through what I had. "Does that mean yes, we can pull over?"

"Wake up your niece but be careful of that stupid cat. I do not want you to get bitten," I said. I glanced through the rearview mirror to see the messed up looking cat looking at me. I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips in disgust. I liked dogs better, which was why I had rescued five dogs of my own.

"Mama, why did Travis wake me up?" I heard my daughter grumble. There was a small smack, and I knew that she slapped her uncle. "I want to go back to sleep."

I looked at the back to see my daughter, Maybelle, rubbing her eyes and pouting.

The cat was fuming and glaring at my poor brother, who was nursing his face.

"Well, do you want to get out? We are going to stop for a bit so the horses can get out."

Maybelle perked up and looked outside. "Can we let the doggies out?" she asked excitedly. "And Pickle?"

"Pickle is not going to get out of the truck. That cat is going to be jumping around and will not come when you call. The dogs, yes, they can come out."

"Well, maybe if you trained the cat to come when I call, then she will come," my daughter said. She placed her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow at me, a trick she had inherited from her father.

"Stop being a smartbutt," I muttered. I pursed my lips when she raised her eyebrow, hating the fact that she could do it and not I. "And, we both know that that will not work. I've tried to train her, but she mainly just listens to you."

She shrugged and frowned. "Fine, but if we find a place, then she gets to go in and out."

"We are going to have to find a place first," I replied. I pulled the truck over and placed the car in park as well as putting the hazard lights on. "If the place allows us to have the cat go in and out, then we'll let her out. If not, then she is going to stay in."

"But she has to hunt," Maybelle complained. "She has to be a cat."

"That cat will run all over the place. Now, come on, let's get the horses and dogs out. The dogs probably will need to use the restrooms." I glanced at the Yorkie that was sleeping beside me. "Tinie," I called, and the dog woke up. "Do you want to go out?"

Tinie, my dog, barked and wagged her tail. She laid down and waited for me to open the door.

"Can you get Maybelle out of her car seat, Travis?" I asked, looking at him. I smirked when he scowled. "You wanted to help," I said in a singsong voice. I was grateful that Travis said that he would help me raise Maybelle, even though I was feeling slightly guilty. He needed to be a kid and do kid things, not helping me raise a child.

Travis grumbled. "Get the cat off of your lap, Maybelle," he said. He got himself out of his seat and looked at me. "Go and let the horses and dogs out. I have her."

I nodded, grabbed my Yorkie before opening the door of my truck. "Meet me outside when you are done," I called, hopping out of the truck. I closed the door and walked to the back where the rest of my dogs were waiting. "Hey, guys," I said, and they all whined and barked a greeting. "Are you ready to get out?"

The dogs barked and wagged their tails, waiting for me to let them out.

I chuckled and set Tinie down. "All right, just stay close. I don't need you five killed."

***

I watched as my five dogs, four horses, and two kids played around. A smile was on my lips, and I knew that this move was good. I wasn't worried about my ex trying to get my daughter because, with the help from the judges and his consent, I got full custody of her. I also got full custody of my brother because I did not want them to make him feel as useless as they made me.

Someone honked their horn and walked around to the back of the truck to see a male that was coming over to see me. He stopped when my Pit barked and growled, charging towards him.

"Donovan," I warned. I flicked my wrist, and the other dogs of my pack stopped advancing and laid down, all of them watching me.

Donovan growled once more in a clear warning and walked over to me. His white and black tail was wagging as if he was apologizing for barking.

"I am sorry about that," I said to the male, snapping my fingers, and the dog laid down instantly. I glanced at my dog to see that he was relaxed before, again, looking at the male. "His bark is worse than his bite."

The male waved dismissively, and I could see the color finally coming back to his tanned face. "It's fine, Miss. I was wondering if you were having problems," he said. He took off his Stetson, showing blonde hair that was in a ponytail. His blue eyes sparkled with humor, and I could feel myself relaxing a bit. "You are on my family's property."

A deep blush came over my face as I moved a strand of black hair behind my ear. "I am sorry," I apologized. "I did not know. I was letting the horses and dogs out..." I rubbed the back of my neck, sheepishly. "We'll be out of your hair in a jiffy."

The male shrugged as if he didn't care that I was there. "It's fine," he said, waving dismissively. He looked me up and down and cleared his throat. "You are new here. Is there any reason why you chose this small town?"

"Oh, we are just passing through," I replied. I shrugged my shoulders and pursed my lips. "I had some... family disputes and took my brother and daughter and left."

He nodded and looked to see my daughter and brother looking at us. "So, you don't have a destination in mind?"

"If I did, then I would already be there," I replied dryly, and he snorted. "Why do you ask?"

"My brother has been taking care of my... deceased brother's kids, and... he needs help. Our mother has been trying to help as well as find some sort of nanny. She has raised nine kids of her own, and three hyper kids are going past her limit. She, and our father, run the only feed store in town, so she is basically busy with that."

"And you have a ranch that needs to be run too?" I asked, cocking my head. I watched as both Maybelle and Travis started to lead the four horses back over here.

My daughter was trying to get my Shire horse to move faster and was forgetting to lead the Shetland Pony.

"Lead the Shettie, May," I called, and she stopped and looked at me with wide eyes. "Admiral will follow Sprite, remember?"

"Gallant's not coming," Travis called back. "Well, not fast enough." He scowled at my black Arabian horse, who was just eating grass. "Bonnie is actually doing fine."

I whistled, calling my Arabian Horse before I smiled when he whinnied in greeting and just galloped over to me.

The other horses just lifted their heads a bit higher but didn't move towards me, letting the kids lead them.

"I'm Margaret, by the way," I said, looking at the cowboy. I grunted when Gallant nudged me with his head and rubbed it. "This is my horse, Gallant."

The male grinned, and I could see what looked like relief and happiness in his eyes. "I know who you are. My niece is a big fan of yours. She wants to be like you, but her uncle will not let her ride because the horses are too big. And I am Blake." He held out his hand, which I gladly shook.

"And, he is scared to let her ride?" I asked. I nodded to my daughter. "She has ridden Admiral a couple of times, though I keep him on a lunge line. She doesn't like it."

"And, she hasn't fallen off?" Blake asked, his eyes widening in shock. Respect filled his eyes, and I could tell that he thought she would fall off of him because he was so big.

"I call him my "Gentle Giant" for a reason," I replied. "But, she and my brother ride Sprite and Bonnie. Sometimes, they will ride Gallant, but he is too..."

"Free-spirited?" Blake asked, smiling.

I nodded. "The dogs are the same way." I rubbed behind Donovan's ear, and my German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Yorkie, and Great Dane came over. "Settle, settle," I said with a laugh when they started to try and fight for my affection. I snapped my fingers, and they all groaned before they laid at my feet.

"So, will you need help loading them up, or do you have it?" he asked, watching in amusement as Gallant started to lick my Great Dane.

"We got it," I said, grabbing my Yorkie. "Thanks, though." And, with that, we started to load the zoo up with the stupid cat glaring at us.

Someone was in a pissy mood, and it sure wasn't Maybelle.