by Marilyn Kensington
Until she and her dad left the city limits, Kelli was in denial that he was actually taking to her to the Tate Ranch located a little more than two hours away from the only home she'd ever known. The ranch was a few miles outside of the small town where her father had grown up and was owned by a man who had been her dad's best friend during high school.
For a while, Kelli sat and tried to imagine what the next month was going to be like, finally breaking the silence in the car by saying, "Dad, it feels like you are sending me away to jail or something. Do I really have to go there?"
"Well, honey, if I didn't have the connections that I do, you and your friends might have spent time in a real jail for the stunt you pulled. I had to call in a few favors to keep things from turning out any worse than they did, and the wages that Roy is going to pay you will cover what I spent to make up for the damage you did."
"It still doesn't seem fair. Susan and Amy's parents aren't punishing them just because they got into a little bit of trouble."
"If that's the case, their folks mustn't care about them as much as your mom and I care about you. What you did may have seemed like it was just a little bit of mischief, but now that you're over 18, you could wind up in serious trouble if you don't start showing better judgment."
"But being away from my friends for so long is going to be terrible. I barely had a chance to see them since I've been home from college, and now you're sending me away again."
"I don't think it'll be as bad as you imagine. Roy has a daughter about your age, so you'll have someone to hang out with if you have any spare time. I also think Roy's son is living on the ranch again now that he's finished college. Working on the ranch will also give you a chance to see if you still want to pursue a career as a veterinarian."
Realizing that she wasn't going to change her dad's mind, Kelli resigned herself to her fate and stared out of the window to look at the scenery flying by as her dad's car carried her ever closer to her destination. The monotony of it all eventually lulled her into sleep that lasted until the car left the pavement and headed down a stretch of gravel road leading up to the house where the Tate family lived.
Kelli's dad pulled up between two pick-up trucks parked outside the ranch house. "Okay, honey, we're here. I'll help you get your bags inside."
The sound of the car's tires crunching over the gravel alerted everyone inside the house that their company had arrived, and the Tates met Kelli and her dad on the front porch.
Not to be reposted, reproduced or distributed, in part or whole.