This Love of Mine (Raine Series #1)

CHAPTER 2

Madison

"Son, just get the work done. I only have ya here for two more days, and I need it done."

I heard my grandfather's voice trail off, as I made my way out towards the empty field that separated my grandfather's land from the James' land. I knew I had a lot of work left to do, but I was f*cking dragging ass today. My best friend Glenn, from my hometown, was visiting his grandparents also, so he had come to visit late last night to hang, but we ended up drinking a fifth of Jack, and now I was feeling it.

When I finished dragging my sorry ass up the small hill to where the lands connected, I all but threw myself onto the ground. Who would've thought that turning eighteen would be so f*cking hard. I groaned as I searched my jean pockets for my pack of smokes and lighter. As the orange flame met with the thin paper, I sucked in the biggest drag of smoke my lungs would allow. I let it out with a loud sigh and instantly felt better. I shaded my face from the burning sun with my baseball cap before taking another long drag from the burning cigarette in my hand.

I had been coming to my grandparent's farm since I was twelve to help out. My father and I used to come up here almost every other weekend when I was younger, but since he landed himself in jail for a robbery three years ago, I had been on my own. My mother had passed away when I was four from cancer and I could barely remember her anymore. It was sad and I wished everyday that the picture of her in my mind, would stop fading, but it was almost gone. I missed her terribly, but I had been the man of the house for far too long to even think twice about needing a mom around.

I put the butt of the cigarette up to my lips one last time, sucking in the nicotine that I so craved. I put the rest out on the grass next to me, before crossing my arms and closing my eyes. I knew I had to get to feeding the horses, but I just wanted a second to myself for once. I loved coming to the farm in the summer, but man my grandfather was constantly on my ass day in and day out. It got tiring and old, real fast.

All I could think about lately was going home. Our house was only about six hours away from my grandparent's farm, but it was far enough that I didn't have to deal with any parental units, except for the old lady next door to us, who promised to keep an eye on me while my dad was gone.

When dad was put away, I was supposed to be sent to live with my grandparents, but I made sure to make a big scene about not wanting to leave school or my friends. In the end, my grandfather agreed to let me stay in our house as long as old lady Rickles checked on me everyday, and that my grandparents could pop in anytime they wanted. I was desperate and needed to stay close to everything I knew, so I stupidly agreed.

At seventy-six years old, my grandfather made it a point to drive the six hours from Abernathy, Texas to our small little town, to check on me at least once a week. I honestly never thought that he would spend so much time checking on me, but it was nice to know that someone cared enough to do it.

My dad had been a great dad, when he remembered that he had a kid. He was a bit of a gambler and a good one at that, but his luck eventually ran out and so did the money, hence the robbery. Him and his buddy left late one night after he had thought I was asleep and never came home. I woke up to the phone ringing and an officer saying that my father was in jail and wouldn't be getting out for quite sometime. That was the night I went from a teenage boy, to an adult. I had no choice.

Part of my agreement with my grandparents, was that every summer I was to put all my other obligations aside and come help out on the farm. I agreed, mainly because they deserved my help. After everything that had happened to our family, it was the least I could do and it got me away from everything for three whole months. Out here I could ignore the entire world for that time and when I finally returned, everything had basically remained the same. I reached for another cigarette when I heard a loud thundering sound, shaking the ground. I quickly shot up, scrambling for my hat, when I saw the fifteen horses from our property come barreling at me.

SHIT!!

I quickly got to my feet and clasped down on the mane of Rocket just as he came rushing past. Of course the horses didn't have saddles, so I had to tighten my grip with my thighs and hold on for dear life to his mane. I tried multiple times to slow Rocket down, but something had spooked the whole lot of them and they were running for the hills, literally. After about half a mile, they all started to slow. I reached around Rocket's neck, patting him just below his head and he eventually came to a full stop. Once Rocket stopped, the entire heard stopped and began grazing the hay bails randomly placed throughout the land we owned.

After I caught my breath, I turned to count just how many of them had made it out this far. As my count reached fifteen, I suddenly remembered what my grandfather had asked me to do. "Shit, I forgot to fix the latch on the gate. Son of a bitch!" I shouted to myself thinking no one was around.

"You're darn right you forgot." My grandfather's voice traveled through the thick humid air, and I silently wished I were anywhere but here.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I swear I was just about to go do it." I was lying and I was pretty sure he knew it.

"Don't you dare sit there and lie to me boy. Your lucky I don't hop down off this horse and give your ass a good whoopin. Now pick up your darn cigarette butts and get your ass back to that house and help out your grandma. Obviously you can't be trusted to take care of something so small as a latch. Now get!" He roared.

I tugged on Rocket's mane and clicked his backside with my heal. We took off in the direction of my mess and after gathering the one cigarette butt off of the ground, we made our way back towards the house. I knew I was in some serious trouble now. Damn it!