Morning light shined through the sheer curtains of the girls' bedroom and Anna greeted it with a warm smile. It was the first time she'd awoke pleasantly, since arriving. "Good morning," she sang towards her sister, who was also beginning to stir.

"Someone seems chipper this morning," she said through a yawn, before her eyes widened in realization. "Oh, God, did you and Scott...?"

"No," she fired back immediately, before releasing a content sigh. "No, we just talked all night long...and kissed a lot," she couldn't fight off the giggle that escaped her lips, but she quickly brought her hands to her mouth to conceal in.

Abigail was suddenly wide awake, her lips turned upwards into a mischievously wide grin. "Anna," she gaped. "You are falling for him!"

Anna waved her off, quickly leaving the bed and looking through the drawers for some clothes, so she couldn't see how red Anna knew her face was turning. "I'm not falling for him," she said, thinking about the words as she said them. Her mind quickly recalled last night events and the way he made her laugh until her stomach hurt. "I mean, I guess I could. Eventually. Right now we're just...getting to know each other."

The girls each got dressed for the day—Anna finding out by the shirt Abigail put on that she worked at Ms. Delta's diner a few days a week. "You'll have to come see me," Abigail insisted. "Carson can bring you." Anna nodded her head in agreement. She definitely could go for another burger.

The family started gathering in the kitchen, where breakfast was ready earlier that Anna was used to. She realized when she saw her mother dressed, that they both had work to do that day.

"Guess you're stuck with me, today," Carson chuckled.

Before Anna could respond, her phone buzzed in her lap.

Had a late start this morning. Felt like I was out until three in the morning for some reason. Anyhow good morning beautiful.

Anna couldn't help but grin at the message as she typed her quick response. "Anna, no phones at the table, dear," Sarah scolded her, gently.

She nodded apologetically, tucking the device into her back packet. "So, what's on the agenda, little bro?" She shoveled a spoon full of eggs in her mouth, waiting for a response.

"Well, dad's helping your boyfriend get his cattle to market, today, so we'll be getting some chores done."

"Boyfriend," Joseph retaliated.

"Not my boyfriend," Anna objected.

"Carson, quit teasing your sister," their mother said sternly. "Scott is a handsome young man, it's no wonder Anna has a crush on him."

Anna hid her face in her hands, groaning. Abigail took the hint to change the subject, to help her sister out. "Levi took me to dinner and bought me flowers," she interjected. "He paid for the whole thing."

The attention what torn from Anna, which she was thankful for, as they shifted their interest to Abigail and Levi.

Regardless, Joseph wasn't thrilled. "Hey, I'm not crazy about all of this boy stuff," he grumbled. "I don't think there's a guy out there good enough for either of ya."

Sarah placed a hand on Joseph's forearm, chuckling. "Please, you love those Iverson boys."

Joseph grunted his disdain, but kept his eyes planted on his plate as he finished eating.

Breakfast wound down to a close and everybody began to go their own ways. Anna accepted Abigail's boots again, per Carson's instruction, and followed him down to the shed where a four-wheeler sat. Hesitantly, she climbed on the back of it behind him and held on for dear life with her eyes squeezed shut, until they came to a halt. "Geez, I think you cracked one of my ribs," Carson complained, rubbing his side.

Anna apologized, following behind him into a barn-like structure. She scrunched her face up at the smell of manure that slapped her in the face.

He disappeared into a closet for the smallest of seconds and came back out with two shovels. "Please tell me we're not..."

"Poop scoopin'?" He grinned. "Absolutely."

Anna threw her head back, groaning inwardly, as she followed him. They began working, but neither seemed much for speaking, until Anna broke the silence. "So what do you have against Scott," she asked breathlessly, leaning against the shovel for support.

"Nothin', I grew up with Scott," he stated, still working the shovel. "I just-," he stopped shoveling for a moment, thinking about what words to use. "You're not going to be here forever, Anna. I-I wish you were, we all do—I'm sure Scott is included in that. But what happens when you wake up on the morning of your flight and you realize you're leavin' half your heart here in Bozeman? A-and Scott. He's had his heart stomped on before and—," he cut himself off. "I just don't want to see either of you end up hurt."

Anna frowned at the revelation. She understood where he was coming from, and even if she tried her damndest to ignore it, it was bound to come. Regardless of that, Anna and Scott's future was still undecided and completely in their own hands. "I appreciate that concern, Carson," she said, softly. "Scott and I are both adults. We know the consequences. I appreciate you looking out for me—I really do. I don't want what I do in my down time to affect our relationship," she gestured between them.

Carson nodded, looking thoughtfully for a moment. "You're right," he agreed.

They both proceeded their cleaning, occasionally pretending to throw manure in each other's direction. Anna, in particular, reacted poorly at first. Once she realized it, though, she welcomed the banter with her brother.

They finished up chores just after noon, and Anna felt disgusting. "I've got to take a shower before I go anywhere," she grumbled, wiping the sweat off of her forehead, as they walked inside.

"No way," Carson countered. "You take an hour in there. Let's go grab some lunch then you can come home and primp."

"Carson," she groaned.

He waved the keys above her head. "C'mon, you'll be fine. Aren't you hungry?"

"Starving," she agreed. She adjusted the bun that she'd already placed on her head. She looked like she'd fit right in, there in Bozeman.

Without having to ask, Carson pulled right into Delta's Diner. Anna walked in, expectantly looking around for Wyatt. His attention was only brought to her when Delta called an excited greeting. "I was hoping I'd see you two, today," she beamed. Wyatt immediately jumped out of his seat and ran into Anna's arm, bypassing Carson.

"Hey, what's up with that," Carson objected, looking down at the little guy attached to Anna's hip. "Hey, Ms. Delta," he greeted back.

They walked over to the bar and sat down, ordering their drinks. Abigail appeared from the back with rosy cheeks and a wide grin. "Hey, y'all," she greeted, regaining her composure.

"Levi workin'?" Carson was speaking to Delta, but eyeing his sister.

Delta knew what he was getting at, nodding with a grin. "Those two have looked like that all morning," she chuckled. "Speaking of which..." she looked over to Anna with an knowing expression. "Scotty, who came into this world being on time, woke up late this morning, with that exact expression." She didn't bother hiding the grin on her face, as she dried her hands on a dishcloth. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" Her tone was teasing, as she very clearly already knew.

"I'm so sorry," she said, wide eyed. "Time just...got away from us."

"Sweetheart, any time that boy focuses on anything besides a durn bull, or a horse, I chalk it up to a win," she chuckled, placing her hand on Anna's. "Besides, that's a look on his face that I don't mind seeing, everyday."

Wyatt poked Anna's arm, tilting his head to the side quizzically. "Does Momma know you and Scotty kissed?"

Delta's eyes widened, just as Anna's did. "Well, I do now," she laughed, tipping the front of Wyatt's hat downward.

"And hold hands and all that yucky stuff," he scrunched his face up.

Anna wrapped her arm around Wyatt, urging him to stop talking. "You just see everything, don't you?"

The bell over the door jingled again and Anna saw Wyatt's eyes light up as he wiggled from her grasp. "Scotty!" He yelled, darting around the tables in his beeline to his brother. "Hi, Mr. Josep," he greeted, confidently mispronouncing his name.

Anna spotted him in a white fitted t-shirt and black hat, but quickly faced forward. She knew her face had to still be red splotched and sticky from the heat.

Scott scooped Wyatt up, giving him a bear hung, before walking up to the bar with Joseph and sitting next to Anna. "You look like you've been busy today, too," he chided.

"She's been doing chores," Joseph joined in, grinning down the way at his daughter with a toothpick hanging out of his mouth.

"And my brother refused to let me shower," she nudged Carson. "I know, I look gross."

"Just like always," Carson chirped, earning a slap in the arm. "That was a quick sell. Usually really good, or really bad."

Joseph nodded in agreement. "Boys a natural," he commented. "Biggest payout for a speed sell, I've ever seen."

Delta grinned at her son. "Just like his daddy," she alluded. Earning a risen glass from Joseph.

"I'd drink to that."

The bell in the window of the kitchen dinged and Levi finally came into view. "Order," he called, waving at the group at the counter.

Anna honed in on her burger, becoming aware of how hungry she was by the pain that hit her stomach. Despite that, she could only get halfway through her burger. The exhaustion from staying up late and working on the ranch was catching up with her. "I could use a nap," she sighed. "A shower first, but definitely a nap."

"I could drive you home," he offered. "I planned on helping your dad around the Ranch, since he helped me out today."

"You don't have to do that, boy," Joseph objected. "I'm just glad I'm still good enough to help," he chuckled, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I know, but I want to," Scott assured him, before looking back at Anna. "Want a milkshake for the road?"

Anna shook her head, stifling a yawn. "I'm too tired," she muttered, scooting off of the barstool. "Thank you Ms. Delta," she said with a sleepy smile. "Bye Wyatt," she rustled the hat on his head. She gave her dad and Carson a hug, then a hug to Abigail when she finished serving a table.

She leaned against Scott for support, who wrapped his arm around her. She didn't have to bother climbing into the truck, because Scott automatically boosted her up into the seat. "Thank you," she murmured.

Physical labor was never part of the equation for her in New York. There was never dirt under her always freshly manicured nails. Never mind the fact that her body ached from lugging the shovel around. If Carson thought her showers were long before, he had no idea how long the shower after her nap would be.

When she walked into the house, she shed her shoes and Scott followed in suit. There was a rattling in the kitchen that made Anna look up at Scott concerned. He walked a few paces ahead of her, peering around the archway through the kitchen. "Dadgum it," her mother's voice came, making Anna relax slightly.

"Need some help?" Scott's voice made Sarah jolt.

With a hand over her chest, recovering from the fright, she begrudgingly nodded. "This old thing doesn't get used very often," she admitted. "I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect for tonight." She peered over her shoulder at her daughter. "Well, don't you just look peachy, back there," she teased.

Anna managed a small smile. "I'm going to shower and take a nap," she informed them both, placing an hand on Scott's forearm. "Make sure I don't sleep all day," she requested, looking Scott in his eyes.

"Yes ma'am," he chided, watching her as she disappeared into the bathroom. He shook his head in wonder—mostly of how he managed to catch the eye of a beautiful girl like Anna—before working to help Sarah, then Joseph.

It felt like no time had passed, before Anna was being shook awake. Her eyes flitted awake, seeing Scott squatted in front of her. "Hi," she croaked out, voice heavy with sleep.

"Hi," he responded softly, moving the hair, so that he could get a good look at her face. "Your mom said you need to get ready for dinner. She's been a little fired up since I helped her put the leaf in her table," he chuckled.

Anna nodded, lazily sitting up. She quickly smoothed down her hair that was sure to be flying all over the place. "I'll be out in five," she assured him. He nodded, standing back up and leaving the room.

She stretched her arms above her head, then rubbed her eyes in a weak attempt to wake herself up. She changed from her sweatpants and oversized t-shirt into a pair of white jeans and a regular pink top.

The sight of her unruly hair in the mirror made her frown. She decided to put it into a simple braid for the sake of time, before leaving the room. Before she could be spotted, she slipped into the bathroom to brush her teeth to rid herself of unflattering after-sleep breath.

The sound of laughter could be heard from the hallway, as Anna made her way into the kitchen where everyone was gathered.

Next to Carson was Becca, leaning into him as he held his arm around her. The blonde excitedly greeted Anna with a hug, before returning to her place next to Carson. Levi and Abigail were sitting next to each other, looking less relaxed than usual, being put into a high pressure situation such as this. All while Scott sat across from Joseph, laughing about something Anna was unsure of. His focus shifted from Joseph to Anna, as she rounded the corner. He stood to his feet and pulled out the empty chair to the left of him and held onto it until she said down. "Yeah, Opal wanted no part of it, today," he finished his conversation, scooting the chair under the table. He sat back in his seat and rested his arm on the back of the chair.

"She's always been that way," Joseph chuckled, shaking his head. "Never liked much of anyone." He scooted his chair back, before looking between them all. "Beer, anyone?"Becca, Carson and Levi all quickly accepted the offer. "Scott?"

Scott's eyes fell down to Anna's hesitantly, almost as though he was looking for permission. With a brief look of confusion, she half nodded, looking between her dad and him. Scott have a similar nod to Joseph. "I'll take one," he agreed.

"So, Scott," Sarah, who sensed oncoming tension, quickly changed the subject. "What is this, your fifth year in a row winning that old rodeo?"

His eyes brightened, welcoming the topic change. "Yes ma'am," he grinned.

"That is just...wow," she responded in awe. "Your daddy'd be so proud of you." Her nose turned a light shade of pink as tears begin to pool her eyes.

Joseph stopped behind his wife after his venture to the fridge. "You'll have to forgive her, she gets sentimental after a glass of wine," he told Scott, making Sarah playfully swat at his hand on her shoulder.

Scott laughed with him, nodding to Sarah. "You're right, though," he grinned. He turned to Carson, opening the conversation to the opposite end of the table, shifting to a lighter subject of cattle sales.

Anna watched as he spoke, glancing down at the beer he'd barely drank half of throughout the entirety of dinner. She couldn't help but wonder why he felt like he couldn't drink, or was he possibly just telling her he didn't want a drink. She chewed on the inside of her cheek, while moving a green bean around her mostly empty plate.

While the others spoke around them, most of them two to three beers in, Scott noticed the shift in Anna's demeanor. He ran his thumb against her shoulder, getting her to look up at him. "You okay?" His voice was soft, just enough for her to hear.

She sat a little straighter, nodding her head quickly at him. "Still a little tired," she lied, offering him a small smile. It didn't convince him, but he wasn't going to push her for answers, at that moment. He pulled her close enough to where he could kiss the top of her head. The action made her heart twist. Such an intimate display of affection that would often send Anna running for the hills, but in that moment, it felt natural. Scott sitting there with her family—her biological family—talking, laughing, teasing one another—it all felt natural. She glanced up at him and smiled, making him grin right back.

By the time dinner wound down it was nearing nine o'clock. Sarah had cleaned up the plates and she and Joseph said their goodbyes to the kids before disappearing into their room.

Becca, who'd had more wine than any of them, was leaned over, whispering into Carson's ear. Abigail and Levi were focused on his hand, as Abigail traced the lines along his palm and was grinning, saying things Anna couldn't quite make out.

Scott stretched his arms above his head, letting out a big yawn. Anna didn't think about how tired he must've been. Scott caught her gaze, shaking off the tiredness. "I could use some air," he murmured. "Feel like walking outside?"

Anna nodded, following his lead and scooting her chair back. Her hand fell right into his. They walked out of the front door and over to the porch swing. She sat with her legs crossed, while Scott pushed the swing forward and back.

"I need to tell you something," he said lowly, his eyebrows were furrowed, as his gaze focused on his hands in his lap. "I know I acted kind of...weird, when your dad offered me a beer." Anna watched his expression carefully. "Do you remember how I told you I was engaged?" She nodded. "My dad was a drinker," he continued. "Nothing serious, by any means, but Delilah—my ex—had me convinced I was going to be an alcoholic. Claimed my dad was an alcoholic and I'd be just like him. Any time I would drink so much as a beer, we would fight, she would leave, then come back apologizing before eventually turning it around on me." He shook his head abruptly, sitting up a little straighter. "Anyhow, after she cheated on me, I drank a lot. I didn't like who I was, but that probably had more to do with her than me."

Anna grabbed his hand in hers, pulling his gaze right along with it. "You don't owe me any kind of explanation," she said softly. "You also don't have to do anything you don't want to, but if you want to, you don't have to ask."

Scott nodded his understanding, bringing the back of her hand up so that he could plant a kiss on the back of it. Another intimate action that made her heart swell instead of cower.

"Can I ask you something?" Her voice quivered, fearing she may cross a line.

"Anything," he assured her. He wore a grin, despite the uncertainty in her voice.

She bit the inside of her cheek for a moment, before his gentle nudge urged her on. "W-what happened to your dad?" His expression fell, causing her to regret the words no sooner than they left her mouth. "You don't have to answer that," she added quickly.

He corrected his expression, swallowing hard. "A freak accident, I guess you could call it, six years ago," he tried to fake a smile. "He was, uh, bull riding." Anna's eyebrows knitted together in concern. This made Scott nod his head, knowingly. "Ended up with what we—the docs included—thought was a minor injury. He ended up dying in the hospital from internal bleeding."

"That's why your mom gets so nervous."

Scott nodded again. "It helps me get past it," he admitted. "I thought it would help me fill in that gap. Meanwhile, my mom was left with a newborn and Levi to take care of, so when I'm not riding I step in, where I can."

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," she said softly leaning her head  on his shoulder.

He kissed the top of her head and hummed his agreement. He'd come to terms with it long ago. "Hey, so I ran into an old friend of mine earlier and turns out he's getting married next weekend," he started. Anna lifted her head and peaked an eyebrow curiously. "It's a small thing, but he wanted me to come out, so I asked if I could bring a plus-one."

"Ooh, wedding on a second date? Seems a little presumptuous," she grinned playfully.

"More like our fifth, or so, since this was definitely date number two," he countered with a crooked grin. "I have a couple of things in mind this week. Plus, my mom was completely floored that she didn't think to invite you over already, so we'll probably have to do that at some point."

"I would've said yes regardless, but what do you have planned," she urged.

Scott refused to spill any secrets, but that didn't stop Anna from trying. She pestered him until she really had no energy left.

Anna walked with him out to his truck. She leaned against it, looking up at him. His features were barely visible, but thanks to the moon and the small shining light from the porch, she could just make out the grin on his face. "So, I'll see you tomorrow?" Her voice just barely came out.

"Absolutely," he agreed. He cupped her cheek in his hand and pulled her in for a strong enough kiss it nearly knocked the breath out of her. She brought her hand to the back of his head, deepening it ever so slightly. The action made Scott pull away and press his forehead against Anna's. "I should go, before I don't," he breathed, his voice raspy.

"Then don't," she insisted, attempting to kiss him again.

He pulled back again, causing a frown to meet Anna's eyes. "I should," he insisted, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I'll call you tomorrow."

And so he left, leaving Anna to watch him leave down the driveway.