Finding His Sun

Chapter Three

Adam got home from work. Twelve-hours in the cattle fields drained him, but he always enjoyed being there. His dad never made him work, being the son of the owner of the biggest ranch in eastern Wyoming had its perks, but he never wanted them. He wanted not only to earn the land that would one day be his but earn the respect of the people that would one day work for him. He had been working in the fields since he was old enough to ride his own horse. He loved the men that worked for his dad, they were more like fathers to him than his own at times. James Graves, his father, was his idol, self-made rancher now more successful than any rancher he knew. His father was harsh but always looked after him with love, especially since his mom got sick. Adam’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago and was now in remission. Through all the challenges his family stuck together, and he was thankful for that. 

He showered and got into bed. All his muscles ached and then relaxed into bed and let himself fall into heaven. He was almost in complete darkness when his phone rang. He cursed and sat up. His friends Wyatt and Liam were going to another party at Ryan’s house. He always said he would go but always made an excuse to get out of it. He didn’t know why but he couldn’t bring himself to see all of his high school friends getting drunk like idiots. On top of that, Erin Cayhill lived there. He never knew why she would allow that stuff to happen in her house, but he figured Mason Mallard would handle whatever she needed. Erin was never a partier, so he didn’t understand why her house was the hotspot, it made him angry for some reason, he wasn’t sure why. 

Mason and Adam used to be friends in early high school, but guys like Mason were groomed to become lawyers just like their dads. Adam had a different plan. He would work and grow his dad’s ranch even more. He loved the feeling of the openness and owning his own property. Him and Mason were never bound to be life-long friends. That never bothered either one of them, they were from different worlds. World’s that were never meant to cross.

Adam knew why Mason would pick a girl like Erin. She was breathtaking in every way. Adam always kept an eye on her. Her father died, her mother ran off and everyone knew Ryan was not a guy with a record for stepping up when times were hard. He would hear the rumors about her dad embezzling money and killing him and his brother in that car wreck to escape charges, but he never believed it. Her dad had a reputation around town for being likable and honest in his work, it was hard to understand how his death became so construed.  Although, it hurt to know Erin must be hearing the same rumors. Having your dad steps away from a CEO position at a big construction company to losing your whole family all in one year… Adam couldn’t imagine that pain. 

Erin was so unique. She never stayed inside the crowd, she walked with grace and that enticed him. He didn’t know what pulled him towards her, but he knew he would never find out. No one leaves a guy like Mason, or his provisions. Living in the upscale and always changing world of Mason Mallard was a dream any girl could fall for.

He woke up exactly seven hours later. Right on schedule. Adam liked the feeling of a set schedule; it made the days go by faster and smoother. He loved working hard with the men who raised him, but ever since he graduated college, he had not left the ranch. He missed hanging out with his friends. Maybe he had been working too hard? Maybe he needed to let loose just once? His one moment of impulse took him where he never imagined. He replied to a text from Liam. The next night he showed up at Ryan Cayhill’s house, ready for a party.