The first day of staying with the Green family has been...interesting. I had a chance to have some one-on-one time with each family member. I started my day out helping Asher with grooming and feeding the horses. He's a humble rodeo champion who doesn't talk much or is interested in settling down soon.

Then, I had an okay chat with Jackson as we mucked out the horse stalls. He spent most of his time trying and failing to flirt with me, but I could tell that he was a sweetheart under the macho facade. He also mentioned another girl, named Ashely, that he has a crush on. Hopefully, she can deal with his antics.

Luckily for me, Elizabeth seems to be the only normal sibling around here. She's loud and boisterous, a hard worker who wants to run the farm one day. Liz told me about her recent date with a veterinarian, and it sounds like it went well. I spent the rest of my day listening to her talk about growing up on the farm with her brothers, having a stubborn mother, and a strict father. No one seems to like mentioning Mr. Green, besides saying that he was a good man.

"So, here I am, covered in tick bites and Asher's used up all the bug spray. Jackson thinks a bear is trying to attack his tent, but it's just Matt messing with him. That was the last time we went camping as a family." Elizabeth says as she leans against the fence. "Anyways, what's your family like?"

I was hoping to avoid this conversation, "I have an older brother, Mark. He's super smart and always made sure to put my happiness before his. He practically raised me and taught me everything I know." I wish Mallory could have gotten to know him.

"What happened to him?"

"He's dead." I lie because the truth is even more painful, he's still alive and I'm the one who left him in the past.

"And your parents?"

"Also dead, they passed when I was a little kid. My neighbors watched over me and Mark.

"Oh? What are they like?"

I thank the lord as I hear footsteps and Amy approaches us. "There you are, I have been looking everywhere for you."

"What is it, Ma?"

"Jackson needs your help moving the hay bales. I would have asked Asher to help out but he's busy preparing for the rodeo.

"Why can't Matt do it then?"

"He's watching Mallory right now," I answer. "Again, he didn't have to."

"Nonsense he loves kids," Amy says.

"Alright, looks like we will have to finish this conversation at a later time," Elizabeth states as she leaves.

"I'm guessing that the kids have been talking your ears off."

"It's fine...I'm curious though...what was Mr. Green like?"

She let out a sigh, "One thing for sure is that he hated being called Mr. Green. His name was, Jake and he was one of the best bull riders in the state of Texas. Tons of fame and money and plenty of fans followed him around. I was one of his fangirls, we met at the rodeo and it was love at first sight. But one day he had an accident, he fell off a bull and it nearly killed him. He wasn't the same after that, he changed, and he gave up. Sure, we were head over heels in love with each other, we got married and had kids. But when Asher talked about joining rodeo, he said that it was impossible, that Asher should give up and quit."

"Hmm...he sounds tough."

"He was but, he loved each of his kids, even if he didn't show it."

"What happened to him?"

"Jake had a stroke a couple of years ago, it was so...sudden and none of us expected it."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, I've made my peace with and I like to think he's looking down at us in pride and love each day."

I looked up at the deep blue sky and saw the dark clouds starting to form above us. "Looks like it's getting late, I should go relieve Matt from his babysitting duties."

"I'll go with you," Amy said and we started walking over to the barn. "You know he seems to have taken a liking to your daughter."

"I know, he's great with her."

"And he seems to like her mother even more."

"I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Sure."

"We're just friends."

"Well, he is single...and you have my approval."

"I don't need it but thank you."

"If you ever change your mind, you know where to find him."