“Declan? What would happen if I started dating Devyn?” I just out and said it, there was no point in going around in circles worrying about what Declan might or might not say. He paused mid-stride, a frown fell across his face and I wondered if I had caught him completely off guard.

"Why do you say that?" He asked as he went to close the door behind me, we were standing in his office. I had probably interrupted something important but this was more important as I did want to try things out with Devyn before giving up on the thought of a relationship completely.

Shrugging my shoulders, I tried to play it cool. On the inside my emotions were a quivering mess as I slowly sat down in the seat opposite Declan's. I could see him thinking my question over; at least he wasn't outright rejecting the idea so I figured there was hope for this yet.

"Funny you should ask that question, Devyn was in here yesterday asking the same thing." The sudden smile that burst across Declan's face made me relax a whole lot more than I thought I could, given the situation. But if Devyn had already asked Declan then that must have meant something?

Butterflies began fluttering in the pit of my stomach and I couldn't stop myself from laughing, no matter how hard I tried to keep them in they burst out and I was soon giggling like a mad woman, snorts and all.

"He was seriously in here? What did you say? Please don't tell me you put your foot down?" I begged, I didn't even have to think twice about doing it. If I could I would have gotten down on my hands and knees and begged him to take back his word, I had been so sure that Declan would stop any relationship between Devyn and I.

But he only smiled, "yeah, he was more nervous then you. I didn't say he couldn't date you but I made it very clear that if he ever hurt you then I would hurt him," before Declan was even done talking I was throwing myself at him, hugging him for not being an overbearing father, for actually thinking of me and not himself at a time like that and mostly just for being awesome.

"Thanks Declan, I really appreciate it." That would have been the perfect moment to call him dad, but I just couldn't bring myself to utter the words. Sometimes when I was alone I would practice saying dad, but it sounded so awkward and not sincere so I held of saying it to him.

Declan laughing but returned my hug, he wasn’t meant to or at least I hadn’t planned on it. When I went to pull away a full two seconds later Declan was still hugging me and after a few awkward tugs he let go, smiling sheepishly as I pulled away completely.

“That’s okay Leah, how is work going? I hope you’re not being pushed as much as you were.” Rolling my eyes I shook my head, it was near impossible to over work myself now. Every ten minutes I was being ordered inside or to put sunscreen on, to make sure my hat was on or I had a bottle of water nearby. Now I was feeling suffocated, like I couldn’t even take a swim without someone worrying over me, it was getting old really fast.

“I’m fine Declan, but can you get everyone to lessen the worrying? I feel like I’m forever being watched, now that I know my limits I will work to that and not over it.” At this point I was willing to say anything to get people to lessen their checks on me, even Valerie had begun checking in and that was when I realized they were going over the top.

“Sure, okay. Consider it done, is that all?” I shook my head before saying goodnight and making my way up to my own bedroom. A few days ago Declan and Trisha had come through on their promise of my own room, it wasn’t really a room but I wasn’t complaining as I finally had my own space!

My room was now the attic space, it was small and low but it was comfortable once I had set it out to my liking. My mom would more than likely yell at Declan if she ever found out that I had slept in the attic, but it was cosy and I felt at home more in the attic then I did in my mom’s home back in California. It was like I could let my hair down and put my feet up without being yelled at to get to school or do homework.

Over the last few days I had found things to decorate my room with, Trisha had a lot of old stuff laying around the house that she claimed she no longer needed or used. I think it was just a way for me to get things to decorate my room with because some of the things looked near to new. But, I wasn’t going to complain about it, if she no longer wanted it then I wasn’t going to turn it down.

So far I had two cushioned chairs in one corner, my bed, a small bookshelf that was still empty and Andy and Pucks bed in another corner. They were little stinkers, farting in their sleep or even when they were awake. When I had moved into the attic I had started out with them sleeping on my bed, but when that proved a problem I brought a small pile of old blankets up for them instead. No one ever tells you that sleeping with dogs in your bed is hard work...and that they’re bed hogs to boot!

Knowing that I would have another early morning I went to bed early, even though I was used to early mornings I wasn’t used to early mornings followed by long days and had learned quickly that it was better to sleep early as I could get another half hours sleep if I managed to sleep all night long.

The next few days I noticed that everyone let up on asking me how I was doing, if I had enough water to drink and if I had eaten or rested long enough. It was great, but I had also noticed Devyn's absence. I don't know what it was about the guy but he was cute and infuriating all at the same time, though I guess this time he wasn't really avoiding me so much as he was kept busy.

At least that was the impression I got, when after a week of not seeing him he suddenly sat down beside me as I enjoyed a quiet lunch out under a lone tree. His clothes were all ingrained with dirt, dust and grass stains, his face had a few smudges of dirt here and there but he otherwise looked extremely happy.

"Uhm, I'm sorry but who are you?" I teased as he unpacked his lunch out onto the grass before biting into an apple. Devyn merely laughed at that and gave me a sideways glance as if I should have known where he had been, truth be told though I hadn't the faintest idea.

"Yeah sorry, Adrian has been keeping me busy with work and he's just started teaching me how to ride one of the broncos Declan keeps around. I've been trying to come and have lunch with you for a couple days now, this place always looks nice and shady." I had to nod my head in agreement to that, the old oak tree had been here a while apparently. It had grown up and out in all the right places and provided more then enough shade for a picnic table or two.

"So he decided to take you on? Don't look so surprised! Sonia told me a lot the other day, ya know I was ready to come down the other end of the barn and kick you in the balls, right?" I had to ask it, though I was still a little annoyed at being ignored I had to laugh at the expression on Devyn's face as that idea sunk in. His cheeks went red and he suddenly couldn't look me in the eye as he scratched his head and mumbled something.

"I didn't just want to jump into anything with you, I had to make sure it was okay with Declan first. The last thing I want is to be fired because I'm dating the bosses daughter." I don't think Devyn had meant to say any of that out loud, the expression on his face was priceless as he wondered where that had come from. He wasn't good with hiding his thoughts it seemed, I could read what he was thinking clearly.

"Did you mean it though? Are we going to make it official and date all that? I have to warn you, I've never been a real girlfriend before so all of this is new to me." It probably wasn't the best thing to say outright but I wanted Devyn to know exactly what he was getting himself into. I heard relationships were hard work but were fun and surprising if you found the right person to stick it out with.

"That's okay, I've never been in a relationship before either. But yeah, if that's what you want? I'm all for being your boyfriend, afterall, it's not every day a beautiful Californian beach bum ends up in the middle of nowhere Montana. So, what do you say Leah Munroe? Want to be my girl?" The way Devyn phrased it, with what I had deemed to be a 'cowboy' accent seemed like he was out of an old Western film. But I smiled, looked up at Devyn and nodded.

Butterflies fluttered uncontrollably in my stomach as I answered, a wide smile suddenly spread across Devyn's face as he bent to seal it with a kiss. It wasn't anything romantic, just a quick peck on the lips before pulling away but it was enough to have us both blushing maddly.

"So what has Adrian been teaching you?" I asked, attepting to avoid the awkwardness that I could feel building between the two of us. The question seemed to do the trick, Devyn was soon telling me everything that Adrian had him do so far, including the attempt at breaking in a wild mare that they had found while out riding.

That explained all the dust, dirt and grass stains. But the way Devyn spoke about the horses, how animated he was about learning and doing...it made me miss surfing just that little bit and the excitement I always felt when paddling out to catch my first wave of the day.

When Devyn finished talking about horses and training he began questioning me about California, surfing and my family.

"So you live with your mom in California," there were two ways to answer that question, with an easy explanation or the long explanation. I chose to go with the long explanation as it would stop any future questions from popping up later on.

"Not really. I mean, I live in my moms home out at Newport Beach but she's rarely ever there. See, she's a business woman...I don't know what she does but she's always travelling and when she is home she's usually locked in her office. I mostly live with Melissa and Lane, Melissa is my nanny and Lane is my driver. Though I don't need a driver, I drive myself everywhere most of the time, whenever my mom is around though she always insists on Lane driving me everywhere." The more I spoke the more the expression on Devyn's face changed, it started out neutral but soon turned to one of anger and shock.

"What kind of mom lets her daughter be raised by a total stranger?" I could tell Devyn was having a hard time understanding how things worked in citires, but it wasn't unusual for where I came from. I had at least three other friends who rarely ever saw their parents too but they turned out better then me academically.

"Melissa isn't a stranger, I'd rather introduce you to her first then my mom. It's not that I love my mom less and Melissa more. It's that I know Mel more then my mom, my mom is a total stranger to me sometimes." Okay, that didn't make anything sound any better and Devyn picked up on that as he frown deepened.

"Then why do you still live with her? I'm sure Declan would have taken you in sooner if you had asked?" There was no doubt Declan would have taken me in, my mom sometimes told me that he wanted me for holidays but I was too afraid to leave California for fear that I would die in the wilderness of Montana. That was a stupid thought now that I look back, but it had been a real fear of mine as I grew up.

"I wouldn't have come out this time if I hadn't been forced, Montana never had any appeal. I  liked the life I lived, even if it didn't have family in it...I still liked it." I died off at the end of that sentence, thinking of the life I could have had if I had moved out to Montana years ago.

"And if you go back now? Would you be happy to live with Melissa while your mom goes off to work?" I already knew the answer to that question before Devyn had finished asking it, there was no way I could happily go back to the quietness that I had grown up in. Yes it had been nice and the horror of those first few days here at the ranch had quickly been forgotten as I learned what it was to laugh, work hard and be accepted for me.

"I wouldn't be happy, I think I would be downright depressed actually. I like it here, the work not so much but people ask me if I'm okay, there is always someone willing to talk and most everyone out here has interesting things to talk about. Honestly, in my circle of friends the most interesting thing we ever used to talk about was what to wear tomorrow, how pretty someones hair was and things like that. It all seems pointless now that I think back on it." And even though I was sounding less like the Leah I knew, I think I liked the Leah I was becoming. Less worried about what I dressed like, more worried about Andy and Puck, who were off in the tall grass playing.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, I'm glad you decided to finally come out. I can show my pretty girlfriend off to the guys at the rodeo now...speaking of which, do you want to go to the rodeo with me? There's a fair a few weeks after that and then like a stock sale some time after that, I can take you to all of 'em if you want, show you how country life works and what not? It'll be fun." There was doubt in the back of my mind that any of that could be fun, but I was willing to be proved wrong and agreed to go to all of them.

"You better hurry up and eat you lunch, I see Adrian over there pacing back and forth. He probably doesn't want to interrupt us but he looks like he's going a little red." Devyn sneekily glanced over towards Adrian before looking back at me and laughing, he did as I suggested though and ate his lunch down quickly. Before he left he kissed me again, though I think this time it was for the benefit of everyone who had gathered at the nearby buildings more then for his or my own benefit.

"I'll see you later, don't hurt yourself!" I yelled after him, Devyn waved back at me as he ran off towards Adrian and the waiting gang. I heard loud laughter as he reached the group, but it was aimed at Devyn and I suspected he was being teased about the kiss.