He Has Your Smile

Chapter 1

Bob

I watch the steady stream of people going in and out of the local diner, E.J. Easy Eats. I know hanging around in my truck looks like some top-notch stalker behavior, but I don’t want to go inside and spend three hours sitting by myself and thinking about my predicament.

That’s why I decide to do that in my car instead.

I don’t also want to hang around the ranch or talk to Thomas about the situation. The guy talks less than me, and I know I don’t talk a lot.

Besides, this is my problem. I have to be the one to solve it.

When my dad died of cancer last year, I went through such a hard time. It wasn’t a quick death. Dad still lived with me for a good two years before finally succumbing to the sickness.

Still, when Dad actually did die, it took me by surprise. The grief was too strong that when it was time for his will to be read I didn’t bother to fully listen to it. Frankly, I couldn’t give a single fuck about it when I just put my father under the dirt.

My sister lived on the other side of the continent, being a career woman of her own. She inherited some money and Dad’s estate in Wisconsin. She stayed for a bit after Dad died but with her work, she had to fly back anyway.

Linda has never been much into the country living and preferred the bustle of the city.

My mother was long gone, dying of a heart attack ten years before. I still can’t fully wrap my head around the fact that both my parents are gone now.

With only me and my foreman, Thomas, in the ranch, we worked our asses off after Dad died.  I did work all my life in the ranch and know how everything works, but it still wasn’t the same without Dad around.

It took me a good two months to shake off the grief and pull my head out of my ass. Dad’s man of business, Sean Murphy, kept coming back then but I always sent him off.

When we finally talked, he told me I’ll be getting the ranch – but with a condition from my father. Apparently, I clearly wasn’t listening when he read the last will and testament.

I had to get married in one year to inherit the ranch. Sean holds the deed for the ranch for the meantime until I fulfill the condition of the will. However, it’s been ten months and I still haven’t found anyone.

Well, it’s not that I haven’t found anyone. I haven’t been actively looking to make anyone my wife. Frankly, with all the work in the ranch, I haven’t the time to date much less find a wife.

I obviously can’t randomly pull someone off the street and propose to them after only a few dates. Besides, the women in this town know who I am. It won’t be a surprise if someone throws themselves at me if they learn about the will.

I only have about two months to be with someone before I completely lose the ranch my father worked so hard to build.

I pull the strands of my hair in frustration. I’ve tried to not think much about it for the past months but that only backfired now because there’s no way I can’t escape that damn condition.

Growling in annoyance, I slip out of my seat and trudge along the gravel path to the entrance of the diner.

I’ve made it a habit to come here. And it’s not because of the food.

The reason for my habit greets me as soon as I sit in my booth.

“Hello, Bob, you’re early today,” Sarah says, fishing out her notepad from her apron.

“Good evening, Sarah,” I mutter, staring up at her and desperately trying not to drool. “You look beautiful tonight.”

Everyone who has ever come to E.J.’s will agree that Sarah is a beauty. She’s a small woman, barely coming up to my shoulder, with such a lovely dark complexion and equally dark hair that she’s always put in a ponytail.

I’ve had dreams of running my fingers and tangling them with the strands of her hair. But of course, I’ll never tell her that.

She gives me the barest smile. “Want your usual or do you want to try something new?” She has her pen poised on her notepad, waiting for me to say something.

“I’ll have the usual.”

She nods, pocketing her notepad and pen. “I’ll be back with your order.”

I sigh to myself when Sarah turns around and walks away. What a mess I am for swooning after this woman when I should be looking for a wife.

Some minutes later, she comes back with the tray. She slides the plate and coffee in front of me.

“You look down, Bob,” she says, hugging the tray close to her chest. “Everything alright?”

I exhale.

Sarah has always been nice to me and talks to me whenever she can. It can get rather busy in the diner, but she always makes it a point to talk to me. It makes me feel better to have someone other than Thomas to talk to.

We’ve some sort of friendship now, with me regularly coming here anyway.

“Ah, you know,” I clear my throat. “I’m rather in a predicament. I might lose the ranch.”

Sarah knits her brows, sliding to the seat opposite me. She looks concerned and alarmed with the news. “How are you losing the ranch?”

I realize she must think it’s about money. I flick my wrists. “It’s nothing like that. The ranch isn’t in trouble or anything. It’s about that damn will my dad made.”

She’s quiet for a bit. “Is the ranch not going to you?”

I shake my head, toying with the fork. “It is. But my dad had some conditions, and I don’t think I can meet them in time.”

She waits for me to continue.

“He wants me to get married in a year,” I finally say. “And it’s been ten months so I only have a little bit of time before I lose the ranch.”

Sarah doesn’t say anything but just nods, taking in the situation. I’ve no idea what she’s thinking right now, but I sure hope it’s not somewhere along the line of how pathetic I am.

Because, even to me, my situation sounds pretty pathetic.