Mack Farms Homestead

Lynchburg, Tennessee; home of Jack Daniels, one traffic light, and the 3,876 acre Mack Farm.

Morgan takes in a shaky breath as Haley turns down a long dirt driveway. "Wow." He mumbles, taking in all the land. "Big farm."

"Biggest in the state." She admits, backing into a spot across from the huge white farm house. "Ready?"

"Yeah." He says nervously, unbuckling the lap seatbelt before pushing the door open. "It's beautiful."

"My daddy'll give you a tour 'round the farm later, if you're so inclined." She says with a little bit of extra twang, hopping out of her car then she heads toward the house.

"Should we-"

"We'll get them bags later!" She shouts, grabbing his hand. "C'mon!"

His heart melts at how excited she is to be back home. He's never really been on a farm before. Sure, he's from the south, a good ol southern boy, but he's never been on a farm, and never worked on a farm but he already loves it, just from how happy his girl is.

"Momma!" Haley shouts, kicking her dust covered boots off on the porch, motioning to Morgan to follow.

"Haley Mae!" An older woman's voice shouts from the heart of the house; the kitchen. He watches his girlfriend wrap a shorter woman in a tight hug, small chuckling emitting from their lips. "Baby, it's been so long since I've seen you! My, you've grown so much."

"Oh, momma, this is Morgan. Morgan, this is my momma, Louisa May."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." He says politely with that handsome smile of his, shaking her hand.

"Oh my." She blushes, sharing a look with her daughter. "Likewise, baby."

Morgan stands awkwardly in the hallway as the two women catch up after not seeing each other in years. "Where's everyone else?"

"Your daddy's out on the tractor and your brothers'll be home in a coupla hours for supper." Louisa May says, handing the guest a glass of cold sweet iced tea. "But your daddy should be done soon."

"Okay, c'mon, I'll show you 'round the house." She takes Morgan's hand and gives him a tour of the old farmhouse. "My granddaddy's daddy built this house way back when."

"Really?"

"Yep, its goin' to one of us when it's time, fingers crossed that I get it." She smiles. "But, Sam'll probably get it since he's the oldest."

"But you're the baby." Morgan says making her roll her big, pretty, blue eyes.

"I'm also my daddy's favorite." She smiles, leading him up the steps. "This was my room." She says, opening the door. "Haven't been in here for a couple years."

"It's totally not what I's expectin'." Morgan says, looking at the various posters on the wall. "That movie has the best soundtrack I've ever heard." He points at the O Brother Where Art Thou poster. "That's probably my favorite movie- has a kickass soundtrack, folk and bluegrass."

"Oh, I like Quentin Tarantino the best but the Coen Brothers are a close second." She says, smiling at an old picture of her and her brothers when they were littler.

Morgan sits himself on her bed, jumping when the floor groans under his weight. "Guess no sex for us in here, huh?"

"Morgan!" She scolds quietly. "Momma won't let us share a bed, anyways."

"Damn." He sighs, leaning back on the heels of his hands. "I was kinda hopin'-"

"I don't think I said no." His face lights up. "You're silly." She leans down and kisses him. When she leans back, he pulls her back down, his hand on the back of her neck as the other pulls her to sit on his lap, the two breaking apart to laugh as the floor creaks beneath them.

The screen door clatters open and closed in the front of the house and Haley's face splits into a huge grin. "C'mon!" She scoots off Morgan and grabs his hand, practically dragging him down the steps to the kitchen where they meet two men.

"Haley Mae!" The tallest one shouts, wrapping his beefy arms around the shorter girl, laughing happily as she's practically swallowed in his embrace. "Oh my god- look at you!"

Morgan swallows hard at the sight of two tall, buff men standing with his girlfriend; they're kind of intimidating.

"This is Morgan." Haley's voice brings him back to the conversation. "Morgan, these are my brothers, Sam and Wes."

The first one, Sam, steps forward, offering his thick hand in a polite shake which Morgan instantly takes, nodding. "Nice to meet y'all." He says, looking the man in front of him over.

Sam's definitely over six foot tall and nothing but ink covered muscle. His light blue Carhartt t-shirt, the relaxed fit one, is tight across his arms and chest as are his work pants; grease stained Wrangler jeans cover his dirty work boots, the Carhartt hat that was covering his honey blonde hair is tight in his left hand with the other tucked away in his front pocket.

As for Wes, he's shorter than his older brother, still taller than Morgan, definitely not as built as Sam but still strong. He's dressed in a pair of Wranglers too, one pant leg is tucked into a boot with the other covering the boot's shaft. His sleeved arms are crossed over his black Carhartt tee, he also has a Mossy Oak hat sat backwards on top of his head with a pinch in his lip. "Morgan." He says in a deep voice.

These brothers are intimidating as hell.

"Where's daddy?" Haley asks. "Is he done yet?"

"Almost, baby." Louisa May says, popping a casserole dish in the oven before using a small red and white kitchen timer to set it for half an hour. "He should be on his way back to the barn. Why don't y'all boys go sit out on the porch with Morgan while your sister and I get supper ready."

"You got it, momma." Sam says, his calloused hand heavy on Morgan's shoulder as he leads him outside to the wrap around porch.

"They gon' break 'em outta his shell." Louisa May tells her daughter with a smile.

"He's not usually that quiet, it's actually kinda hard to get him to be quiet sometimes." She laughs, washing a head of lettuce.

Meanwhile out on the porch, Sam and Wes are actually enjoying Morgan. The three do a lot of laughing as they're drinking a couple beers.

"Where're you from, Morgan?" Sam asks, his real down-to-earth side somewhat showing.

"Sneedville." He responds, taking a drink from his beer can.

"Where?" Wes laughs, spitting his dip spit into an Mountain Dew bottle.

"It's about an hour and a half north of Knoxville, four hours from Nashville."

"What brings you out here then?" Wes asks.

"I got signed to a record label-"

"Oh jeez." Sam mutters, looking down at his dirty boots.

"What?" Morgan sees the matching looks on the brothers faces and his stomach sinks.

"What was the last one? Uh, Matt? Mark?" Wes shrugs. "Matt's a singer and we all loved him but he ended up breaking that little girls heart, asshole."

"C'mon now, Sam. She's almost twenty three. She's not a little girl no more." Wes says in a sad voice. "Anyways, Matt practically ruined her- at least from what we heard."

"What- what did y'all hear?" Morgan asks, now worried about his girlfriend.

"Just that the bastard cheated on her when he was tourin'." Sam shrugs. "You gon' be a music man?"

"Hopefully." He says, finishing off his beer. "Y'know, that girl is the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Sam smiles. "She's the best."

"Hey boys!" An older man's voice says in a cheery tone, slowly making his way up the steps to the porch.

"Here you go, Pops." Sam says, offering him his seat and a cold beer.

"Thanks, son." He says, grunting as he sits. "Who're you?"

"I'm Morgan." He says with a smile, reaching out for a handshake. "I'm here with Hales."

"Who?"

"Haley." Sam answers, leaning against the white porch railing. "They's datin'."

"Sam." Wes chuckles at the look Morgan gives him.

"My bad, man." Sam chuckles. "Ah, shit."

"Boys, supper!" Louisa May shouts. "Wash up!"

Morgan heads inside to the bathroom while the Mack guys use the spigot off the house to rinse their hands off. "The hell're you doin'?" Sam teases the guest when he sees him.

"Washin' my hands." He says in a matter-o-fact tone.

"City life's turned you soft, huh?"

"Oh, c'mon now, Sam." Louisa May says, shaking her head. "Leave the poor kid alone."

"You a city boy?" Haley's father, Clay, says from his spot at the head of the table.

"No sir." Morgan responds quickly, sitting between Haley and her mother, placing a napkin on his thigh. "East Tennessee."

"Snotville." Wes giggles.

"Wesley." Louisa May scolds, giving him a look that has him immediately apologizing.

"Sneedville." Morgan laughs, his eyes scrunching up.

"Small town boy, huh?"

"Yes ma'am." He nods. "Hardest part about moving to Nashville was leaving home."

"Not to mention, leavin' your family." Sam says sourly, glancing at his little sister.

She rolls her lips in her mouth, looking down at her plate, she still feels incredibly guilty about moving away to Nashville for a boy. Morgan reaches over and gives her knee a squeeze before moving his arm to rest on the back of her chair.

"So, Clay," Louisa May says, twisting her fork in her hand. "You gon' give this fine young man a tour of the farm?"

"I'd be happy to." Clay responds, leaning back in his chair, the wood creaking with the movement. "Tomorrow mornin', you're helpin' me out."

"Yes sir, you got it." Morgan nods, hiding a small smile on his face. There's a laugh that comes from Sam and Wes. "What time do y'all start?"

"Before sunrise." Clay answers, beaming at his family.

The family and Morgan spend hours talking and catching up with the youngest member and her boyfriend, learning lots about him and their time in the city before the girls start to clean up the kitchen while the boys sit in the living room talking with the radio playing.

***

Haley hums as she steps out of the bathroom dressed in one of her Eagles shirts, a pair of shorts, and a pair of socks. She throws her hair into a bun as she looks out the window that has a view of the back of the property- the farm that she missed being on.

There's a soft knock on the door. "Hey, baby." Morgan says softly, leaning against the frame.

"Hey, how's it goin'?" She asks, sitting on her bed, motioning him to join her. "You likin' it so far?"

"Absolutely." He smiles, sitting next to her. "What time am I gettin' up tomorrow?"

"Quarter after 4 and down on the porch by quarter til."

"The sun don't rise at 5."

"No but it starts by the time everything is ready to go." She hums, looking him over. "You're gonna love it."

"What're you doin' tomorrow while we're busy?"

"Helpin' y'all out." He looks surprised. "Wow. Just because I helped with supper-"

Morgan cuts her off with a soft kiss. "Just figured you'd want to spend your time off relaxin' not workin'."

She smiles and looks down, tracing the flower pattern on her comforter. "I'll come get you in the mornin'." He gives her a flirty smile. "Just get some sleep, babe. You're gonna need it."

Morgan leans over to give her one more kiss before he heads one room over to the spare bedroom he's staying in, glad he brought his notebook because his brain is overflowing with ideas.