Twenty-four year old Rhett Samuel Wilson drove his black Dodge RAM 2500 all the way home to Wildcreek Ranch in Fordsville, Montana. Fordsville was a small town just a fifteen minutes drive away from Great Falls. His granddad, Joe Wilson's ranch was located at the far edge of Fordsville in the heart of the Rocky Mountains at the base of the Continental Divide. It was a picturesque place surrounded by mountains, fields and forests with a clear sparkling river running through it. 

"Rhett, stop, I need to buy a pair of new boots," said Rihanna, staring at her torn boots. She was two years younger than her brothers Rhett and Rex. 

"Why do you need new boots every month?" Asked a displeased Rex, who was Rhett's twin. 

"Not every month! I'm buying after six months, " said a shocked Rihanna. "You know I was helping out papaw and mamaw at the ranch. My boots came off, see?" She said, showing her torn boots to Rex. They were returning from their grandparents' house in the small town of Phillipsburg, nearby. It was their mom, Ruth Wilson's hometown and they visited their grandparents once every month. 

"Anna, I'll buy you a pair when we reach the marketplace, " said Rhett. He was a man of very few words. He worked hard at their ranch and farm after completing his graduation in Dairy Farm Management along with Rex who had completed his graduation in Ranching systems from Montana State University too. 

With their joint efforts today they were the biggest dairy producers in the vicinity. They were also into horse rearing and sales. Rex, Rhett along with their dad, Keith Wilson trained the horses thoroughly before selling. Their dad's older brother, Kevin Wilson had just retired from the manual work and preferred the accounts work instead. Their dad's younger brothers, uncle Kendrick and uncle Kennedy looked into the animal husbandry part of their business as well as into the packaging of dairy products. Uncle Kendrick's wife aunt Helen was a vet and she kept a check upon all the animals on their farm and ranch. Their sons, Ryan and Ryder who were five years younger to Rhett and Rex, helped too. While Ryder was studying finance, Ryan was into the graduate program in Animal Nutrition. Rihanna however was different from all her siblings and cousins. She wanted to be an elementary school teacher and therefore had just completed her graduation in Early Childhood Education and Child Services. She was on the lookout for a job at the nearby school. 

They reached the marketplace and Rhett drove into Fordsville Plaza. "Hold on, bro. I don't want to go shopping with you guys. I'm off to Blake's house," said Rex, getting off the truck. Blake was his best friend who lived at a walking distance from the mall. 

Rhett drove Rihanna to the mall. She shopped to her heart's content and they drove home. "Bro, wait, I forgot. I need to go to the new elementary school and check of they have a vacancy. Don't wait for me. I'll walk home," said Rihanna. Rhett nodded and dropped her off. Then he went to check upon his horses before going into the house. 

"Rhett, Featherlite has escaped again. The new ranch hand left his stall open after mucking it," said Sam, one of his main ranch hands. Rhett climbed out of his truck and ran to the stalls. He saddled his favorite stallion, Thunderbolt, and rode effortlessly towards the vast green fields at the edge of the river. After riding for a while, he couldn't find Featherlite anywhere. Rhett knew how he loved the grassy plains. There was a small ranch nearby where an old lady lived. She gave Featherlite apple or carrot slices and Featherlite her very much. Maybe he had escaped to her? Rhett rode towards her ranch but a slight movement near the waters edge caught his eye. Riding cautiously, he went to the edge of the water. He was shocked to see a young woman trying hard to climb out of the river. She might have fallen into it and was unable to get out. Maybe she didn't know swimming. 

He jumped down from his stallion and raced towards the waters edge. "Hang on, I'll get you out," he told her. He swiftly held out his strong muscular arm for her to take. She was panic stricken and pale. Rhett noticed that she wasn't more than Rihanna's age. Her long cascading brown hair was totally wet, her soft lace dress clung to her body. She grasped onto his hand and Rhett pulled her out of the water effortlessly. She shivered the moment she came out. Rhett took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. 

"Wear it, you're cold," he instructed. The dazed woman wore the jacket he had given her. Rhett stared at her face as if hypnotized. She was beautiful yet she wasn't aware of the effect she was having upon him.

"T thank you," she whispered softly.

"How did you fall?" He asked her.

"My bracelet fell into the water," she told him in a dazed whisper.

"You'll never find it in there, the water's deep," said Rhett. The woman's eyes filled with tears at his words.

"It was my dad's last gift to me. I can't lose it," she said as tears trickled from her eyes. Rhett's heart went out to her.

"Where did it fall?" He asked her.

She pointed at the place. I was checking out a strange fish in the water and it slipped out of my hand, " she told him.

"Let's get you home. You'll fall sick," he said, seeing her shiver from the cool breeze blowing around. "Where do you live? I haven't seen you around here?" He asked her curiously.

"I live with my grandma in that ranch, over there," she told him, pointing at the small ranch where the old woman lived.

"Oh, you're granny Emma's granddaughter?" He asked, mounting his stallion. "C'mon give me your hand," he asked her. She shyly placed her hand into his and Rhett clasped onto it firmly. "Place your leg onto the stirrup and I'll pull you up." She did as asked. Rhett's muscles rippled as he pulled her effortlessly up onto the stallion's back. She sat, flush against his chest while his arms went around her to hold onto the reins.

"Whoa Thunderbolt, easy boy," he patted his horse as he trotted at a slow pace towards granny Emma's ranch. "You didn't tell me your name," he reminded her.

"I'm Adelaide McCarthy," she told him softly.

"I'm Rhett Wilson. I live at Wildcreek Ranch," said Rhett eagerly. He felt a strange excitement in his body at her nearness. He was surprised that he spoke so much with a stranger. He usually worked quietly and was too shy to speak to women.

"Oh, do you know Rihanna? She too lives there," asked Adelaide curiously.

"Rihanna's my younger sister. How do you know her?" Asked Rhett eagerly.

"We met at the marketplace many times, " she told him. Rihanna came over thrice to meet me," she told him. Rhett looked at the back of her head with excitement. It would be so thrilling to know her more. He wanted to get to know her.

"I haven't seen you around? Have you moved in recently?" He asked her.

"Yes, I came three months back to live with my grandma," she told him.

"Where did you live before that?" Asked Rhett.

"New York. My dad died of heart attack and I couldn't stay at home any longer. My mom is living with my brother and his family, " she informed the kind stranger. She had no idea why she was blabbering so much, that too with a gorgeous cowboy with muscles like a super hero.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Adelaide, " he told her genuinely.

They rode in silence and Thunderbolt stopped right in front of granny Emma's ranch. Rhett saw Featherlite eating apple pieces from granny Emma's hands.

"Howdy, granny Emma," greeted Rhett with his easy smile, dismounting from his horse. He helped Adelaide down too and she rushed inside to change.

"Rhett, my boy, so good to see you," said granny Emma, coming forward and giving him a hug. "I see that you've met my granddaughter."

"Yes granny Emma. She had fallen into the river," said Rhett.

"Oh my, I told her not to venture out all on her own. She's not used to country living. She's born and brought up in New York, you see," said granny Emma.

"Oh, she'll adapt soon, granny. Don't worry. Let her do what she wants. It'll help her cope with her loss better," informed Rhett. Granny Emma nodded. She loved to listen to Rhett. He was so mature and helpful. She just wished Adelaide would settle down with a cowboy like him. Or maybe with him!

"Your Featherlite escaped and came to me for treats," said granny Emma with a chuckle.

"I can see that," he said with a smile. He waited for Adelaide to come out but she didn't. He received a call from his right hand at the dairy farm, Derek Smith and had to leave immediately. "C'mon Featherlite. Time to go home. See you later granny, " he said, mounting his stallion and leading Featherlite along all the way back to Wildcreek Ranch.
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