It took Mila a few weeks to find the right words to write to her brother. She wished him the best, and told him that she forgave him for everything he did to her. It was all he had known, and she couldn't blame him for their upbringing.

It was like she had officially moved on. She had said her peace, and there were no more lingering thoughts, no more of being trapped in the past.

She was Mila, the girl who was in love with Buck, the man who made her feel confident and beautiful and independent. She had finally become her own person, and she was doing everything she had ever dreamed of.

"Honey, come check this out. I think we have an overachiever," Buck called from near the chicken coop. She was in the garden. It was early as she was trying to beat the heat and get all of her cleaning and weeding done as soon as possible.

She rushed over.

Buck held out his palm, revealing a large white egg.

"Oh my gosh," she said.

"I didn't think we'd get any for another month or two. Noodles is ahead of the game."

Mila giggled, placing the egg in her basket of produce. Buck peered in the basket, taking a strawberry and popping it in his mouth.

"We have way too much food," he said. "When was the last time Audrey came and got some?"

"Last week I think," she answered. "Jackson can fill up a bag to take home before he leaves."

He nodded. "I better get out there and check the water pressure for the troughs. Jackson was checking the fence lines."

"Okay. It's going to be hot. I packed you a big thing of water and stuck it in your saddle bag."

"Thanks," he leaned down for a sweet kiss. "It's supposed to rain in the evening, but I should be back before then. Jackson is leaving early so you'll probably see him first. Don't stay in the sun too much. Wear a hat, stay hydrated. I'll see you in a bit."

She leaned up for one last kiss before going into the house.

Her strawberries were coming in fast, and she didn't want them to go to waste. She decided to make pie with them, one for her and Buck and one for Jackson and Audrey.

As the pies set, she finished some of her other chores. She groomed Sugar and exercised her. The wind was picking up and she could see dark clouds coming in.

"Hey!" Jackson greeted, riding in on his horse. He hopped down.

"Hi," Mila said. "I'm not sure if Buck told you, but you are more than welcome to grab whatever you want from the garden. I have a pie for you, too."

"Thanks," he said, hanging up his saddle. "Audrey has really enjoyed finding new things to make with all of the fresh produce. I'm just happy you showed her a few things about cooking."

Mila smiled, "It just takes practice. She has gotten a lot better."

"Storms are coming in. I'd make sure all the animals are inside. Buck isn't too far behind me."

She nodded, offering him a bag for him to fill and she went to get his dessert.

Once he left, she could hear thunder in the distance, so she went to her chickens to put them inside their coop. All of the horses were in, so she shut the back barn doors and left the front for Buck and Dusty.

She tied up what she could of her plants. The wind was really starting to blow, and some of her taller ones could definitely snap if she wasn't careful. She covered a few delicate ones with various pots and jars that wouldn't blow away.

After that, she waited impatiently for Buck to get home.

She waited on the porch for awhile, until it started to rain. The wind brought it right under the roof.

The thunder was so loud the power flickered. She really began to worry.

Buck didn't answer his phone.

It had been over an hour since Jackson left, and she was impatient. She knew she couldn't take Sugar out in this weather. She didn't have enough confidence for that kind of control.

She chose to drive the four wheeler, even though she really didn't know how to. She had seen Buck do it many times.

It took her a minute to figure out how to even get the thing on. She was frustrated and already soaked.

She felt like she couldn't hear or see a single thing. She rode along the trail out to the pastures, heart pounding violently in her chest. Where was he?