The spring had finally arrived, bringing with it the dark green pastures and lush vegetation. Rolling hills were decorated with wild flowers, and with tall mountains standing behind them all together created a canvas like scenery. The Southern wind was blowing throughout the valley, making it a pleasant day. The little town sprang to life with everyone finding a reason to be outside.

Olivia was putting laundry out to dry on a stretched rope enjoying the warm breeze. Her dad just got home, she could hear him tying his horse and giving him oats. She liked when he came home early, and he was always a little early coming home on Saturday.

The stew was hot and ready, the freshly baked bread, giving a pleasant aroma to the little cottage.

She went in the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. The cottage looked more livable than the day they first arrived. Olivia cleaned every corner of her new home. She opened the window and the door to get fresh air inside. Scrubbed floors, the washed window and dust-free walls were a big improvement. Albert built a small table and a few benches out of the wood they found in the tiny shed behind the cottage. There was still enough wood to build a bed for Olivia in the corner of the kitchen.

"Liv, they are butchering chickens at the ranch and they always need extra hands for that. Mrs. Pers asked if you would like to make few extra coins. I mentioned to her earlier that I have a daughter." 

Albert loved Olivia and was proud of her. He only wished he could give her more, not that he ever heard her complain. Her enthusiasm sometimes astonished him. 

Her eyes sparkled instantly. 

"Oh yes, I would love to! I can get some fabric for curtains and chair pads," Olivia was always excited when an opportunity presented itself for her to earn something extra to help take care of the household.

She didn't know any other kind of life - she didn't know what it was like to be carefree. She had only seen from afar other girls in beautiful dresses, with their mother fussing over them. Her dad did his best, and all the motherly affection she got after her mother passed away was from a cook on the ranch where her father previously worked.

The older woman Wilma had taken her under her wing, showing her how to bake bread, cook, and sew. Which plants are edible, and which are medicinal. It was heartbreaking when they had to leave, but the fire didn't spare much, not even their little house. The ranch had no choice but to let people go, and her father was unlucky enough to be one of them.

******

Austin rode his horse back to the ranch after helping with the branding of the new calves. The outbuildings were situated a little lower than the main house. 

The corals and the horse barn were built in mind to protect them from the Northern winds. The other buildings were placed in a similar way. He could hear the laughter of women; he knew that for branding they always butcher chickens to feed the extra hands they usually hired. Under one of the outbuildings women were seated and they were plucking the feathers.

The honey coloured hair came into his view, the hair, he dreamed of at night, and tried to forget during the day. The sun was shining directly on that glorious mane giving it its golden glow. She was here on his ranch, her smooth neck visible from one side because of how her thick braid fell to the other. When she turned and their eyes met Austin almost lost his balance. "This can't be good for my sanity"," he thought. What is she doing here on the ranch!

"Austin, you're back, I hope the rest of the guys will follow. The meal should be done in a couple of hours," announced Mrs. Pers, their main housekeeper. 

His mother came out to the outbuildings carrying refreshments for the women at work. His mother didn't have to, they had hired help for that, but she was stubborn and insisted on helping, and no one would there say no to Nelly Jade.

Even with silver in her hair, she was still beautiful. Nelly was also very determined when she set her mind on something. The only way she could be, been married so many years to Roy. It's hard to imagine this little woman having Roy around her little finger, but she did, and if she demanded something of him it was done. The same applied to all her sons.

"Austin, your father is looking for you," Nelly told her son in her usual calm voice. She never had to raise her voice to any of them to get attention. 

"I'm on my way mother," he replied to his mother kindly and continued walking towards the house. 

They were not mama's boys, all of them having a mind of their own, but they respected and loved her. They were also raised to be strong willed.

The men started coming one by one, washing the dirt off their bodies with the pump. Austin went out to direct them to the empty bunkhouse where tables were set and loaves of fresh baked bread waited to be served, with a rich beef stew and plates of fried chicken.

He observed the mystery girl standing by the pole barn, almost like she was waiting for someone. His new hand Albert came around the corner, and when he saw her he went straight to her giving her a hug.

Austin wanted to go there and tear him apart! He filled with deep jealousy.

It was totally without justification to be jealous; he didn't even know her name. 

She was wearing the same gray dress as before, her smile radiated on her face when she saw Albert. Austin thought he never saw anything this beautiful.

Maybe it was time for him to visit his paramour; he was getting melodramatic over the rag girl.

The richest families in the country were hoping that one of the Jades would look at their daughters. One of those was Mr. and Mrs. Timken's family. They were friends with Roy and Nelly and frequent visitors with their daughter, Victoria. 

Austin didn't want to marry her or any other spoiled debutantes. She was an only child, her father being a mayor of Elms and wealthy investor ensured she had everything she ever wanted. 

Now her agenda was to marry Austin, she fancied herself in love with him. He wasn't sure Victoria knew what love was if it didn't include new shoes or a new dress. The only thing she was good at was whining and horseback riding. 

Every time they would visit his nerves would wear thin. They announced their visit for this weekend, maybe it would be a good idea to escape and visit Laura. Hoping his mother wouldn't interrupt his plans. 

He knew of his mother's obsession to one day have grand babies. He has three brothers; surely one of them can provide her with that