Only You (Love In Montana Book 6)

Veracruz Farms, Mexico,

Sawyer looked at his mom with worry, thinking about what she wanted to tell him. "Yes mom, how are you today?" He asked her. His mom smiled.

"Today, I'm feeling very good," she said with a smile and Sawyer smiled back seeing her good mood.

"That's wonderful. So what did you want to talk to me about?" He asked her.

"Sawyer, did Antonio tell you about my past? About what I had gone through?" She asked him, her face suddenly mirroring the pain that she had gone through.

"Yes mom. I don't want you to repeat it," said Sawyer, scared that she would again get her anxiety attacks trying to remember those days.

"I know. I just wanted to say that if Antonio hadn't saved me, I would have been dead by now. He has done a lot for me, Sawyer. He has sacrificed a lot for me and I feel guilty that I haven't been able to do anything for him. He's neck deep in debt and it's increasing day by day. His home will soon be taken away from him. He doesn't tell anyone but he can't sleep at night due to the stress and anxiety," said his mom. Sawyer listened intently. This was the first time that his mom was talking normally with him and he was glad to see this improvement in her.

"I want you to help him pay off his debt, Sawyer. I would have done it if I could but it's really sad that I cannot. I don't want anything else from you, son. I only want you to work with him and ease his worry. I beg of you Sawyer. Please help him pay off his debt. Consider this as a repayment for what I've done to save your life," she said softly, holding his hands and begging him.

"Yes, mom. Don't worry. I'll help him to pay off his debt. In fact I've already started working with Carlos at the dairy farm to start with. You don't need to plead, mom. I would do anything for you and Antonio, " he reassured her. His mom smiled and opened her arms out to him.

"I'm so glad that I gave birth to a son like you, Sawyer. Come and give me a hug," she said. Sawyer gave her a hug and she kissed his forehead. It was the sweetest reunion ever.

Later when Carlos and Antonio returned home, they sat down to discuss their business. With his mom asleep in her room after lunch, Sawyer and Antonio relaxed in the dining room and ate a late lunch.

"Thanks for your help, Sawyer. It's because of you that we caught José's frauds. He had been illegally selling nearly 200 liters of milk in the black markets for personal gains," said Antonio. José was their dairy farm manager and after catching him red-handed, they sacked him immediately.

"That's very good news, indeed, Antonio," said Sawyer.

"Yeah, I hadn't been able to give much attention to everything lately because of Lara's health issues. But she's doing well now and I'm glad that you're here to support me, son," said Antonio with a smile.

"I'll help you with your business before going back to Fordsville, Antonio," said Sawyer.

"Sure, thank you Sawyer. I appreciate your help," said Antonio.

"Sawyer was talking about plantation farming, Antonio. Let's discuss that," said Carlos. So they discussed ways to start plantation farming at a lowest possible cost. They also discussed ways to grow their dairy farm and increase their output. After lunch, with Juana looking after Lara, they went to Mexico City to consult the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for funds as well as get help in starting with plantation farming. Satisfied with the outcome of the meeting, they returned home in the afternoon.

Sawyer started working at the farm, dedicatedly helping with the plantation setup as well as the dairy farm. He had to fulfill the promise that he had made to his mom. He didn't call his family back at Fordsville since they wouldn't understand why he needed to stay longer in Mexico. He wanted to complete his duties at the earliest and return home to Renée forever. If he called and listened to her voice once, all his determination would crumble to pieces and he would need to rush to her.

So the next one month, he worked harder than ever before. Money started pouring in much to Antonio's satisfaction. He became more dependent on Sawyer than anyone else, showering upon him all the love of a real father. He treated him like his own son, sharing all his problems with him. They started paying off the debt and Antonio couldn't have been happier. His mom's mental as well as physical health improved after they took her to a good and renowned hospital in New Mexico. She started walking around the house and helping Juana cook too. Antonio arranged a small wedding ceremony at home and married Lara in a heart touching ceremony. The whole farm workers were treated to dinner.  He had wanted to marry her for a long time but due to her severe illness, he couldn't.

Antonio felt it was because of Sawyer's presence that she had improved. There was a lot of guilt, concern and stress building up within her for years as she couldn't get over the pain of separation from her baby. Seeing Sawyer around made her overcome that grief, coupled with Antonio's undying love for her. After six months of hard work, Sawyer had nearly completed what he had promised his mom. He had ensured that Antonio was settled to earn well to pay off his debt.

However, his mom was unwell again and had to be taken to the hospital. Antonio broke down considerably and so did Sawyer. The hope that had started growing again crumbled to dust. Sawyer's visa was renewed and he dropped his plans of going back to Fordsville. However after fifteen days, they received the biggest shock of their lives. His mom was pregnant with twins! Antonio was the happiest man on earth! Even Sawyer was happy for them. They brought his mom home and she needed a 24- hour nurse to look after her since it would be a critical pregnancy. Antonio was scared but Lara wanted to give birth to his babies and assured him that she would be able to make it through. So the next nine months were the most traumatic for Sawyer as his mom went through the difficult pregnancy. Finally his siblings were born! A baby girl whom they named, Adelina and a baby boy whom they named, Alvaro.

His mom was well and so were the babies. Antonio was on top of the world. They retained the nurse and kept a nanny for the twins to ease his mom's anxiety. The farm and the ranch was doing well and the debt was being paid off. Sawyer started looking for opportunities to tell his mom that he would now go back to Fordsville to the girl who had been eagerly waiting for him.

Everyday he sought a way to tell her without making her upset but couldn't. The whole family dependent excessively upon him and he just couldn't let them down but he couldn't stay here forever. He had to go to Renée. He had to buy his own ranch and marry Renée and start a family of his own. So this restlessness continued till one night after dinner when his siblings were asleep, he sat with his mom to tell her about his plans of going back to Fordsville.

However, before he could utter a single sentence, he heard loud shouts coming from outside. There was a strange glow in the air and a smell of something burning wafted into his nose.

A farm hand rushed in to summon him. "Sawyer, our plantation is on fire. Hurry, Antonio needs you, " he said, making Sawyer jump up.

"Mom, you rest. I'll handle this," he said, gesturing towards his mom's nurse to look after her before rushing out of the house.

A massive fire had broken out and the whole plantation was ablaze. The sky was lit with spirals of flames and smoke going up. Everyone was trying to douse the flames with water hoses but it wasn't working. A choking Antonio stood aghast unable to think of anything.

Carlos was busy instructing the men on how to douse the fire. "Did you call the fire fighters?" Sawyer asked Carlos. He shook his head.

"I had no idea that it would spread so fast. I'll just call them," he said, taking out his mobile. Seeing Antonio's condition, Sawyer was concerned. He would have a heart attack if he continued to stand and watch like this. He instructed a farm hand to take him home.

"Antonio, we're handling this. Go home please, mom's all alone. She needs you," said Sawyer. Antonio nodded but clutched at his heart before he could take a step forward.

Carlos came towards them and Sawyer shouted out to him amidst the commotion around him. "Carlos, I think Antonio is having heart problems. Why don't you take him to the hospital. I'll handle this with Miguel's help, " said Sawyer. Miguel was their plantation farm manager and he was quite a capable man. Carlos and the farm hand escorted Antonio to the hospital while Sawyer battled with Miguel to handle the fire. Soon the fire fighters arrived and the flames were doused in forty minutes.

Antonio had a mini heart attack but they didn't inform Lara. He was treated and released the next morning. Amidst all this, Sawyer's plans of returning to Fordsville crumbled to dust yet again.