Serendipity Ranch

by Breanna Hayse

  Serendipity Ranch

  By

  Breanna Hayse

  ©2012 by Blushing Books® and Breanna Hayse

  Copyright © 2012 by Blushing Books® and Breanna Hayse

  All rights reserved. No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published by Blushing Books®,

  a subsidiary of

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  The trademark Blushing Books® is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.

  Hayse, Breanna

  Serendipity Ranch

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-60968-799-1

  Cover Design by Korey Mae Johnson

  Images provided by BigStock Photo

  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

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  Chapter One

  “Are you new in town?” asked the feed store owner with a friendly smile. “I don’t remember seeing you in here before.”

  “Yeah, I just moved down from Wyoming. Name’s Preston Riley,” he shook the man’s hand, admiring the strong, secure grip.

  “Drew Mitchell. Welcome to Jamul. Got any plans here, other than feeding a bunch of goats?” the man grinned, dumping bags of feed into the back of Preston’s truck.

  “Doing some rebuilding and resurrecting the old Barrett Ranch. I’m going to open a livestock practice and bring herding trials to the area. I’m a little addicted to border collies,” he gestured out to his truck where two black and white faces peered out, happily watching for him.

  “Man, that would be great for business. The closest stock vet is out in El Cajon, 40 minutes north of here. I’ve got a bunch of ranchers who have borders here. Great pups. We’ll finish loading you up and get you on your way. Where are you staying while you build?”

  “I got me a trailer on some private property,” Preston said carefully. Small towns like this were notorious for gossip and he liked having some privacy. He tipped his hat as he thanked the man, and then climbed into his black F-450 Crew Cab. Preston grimaced as two sets of pink tongues attacked his face and ears. “Will you girls settle down? Sleep!” he ordered. After a couple of protesting barks, the young border collies plopped in the back seat, heads on the cushions. Preston sighed. If only women were as easy to handle. He chuckled at the thought of how his sister would respond to that comment. Probably flay him alive! Pulling the truck onto the main road, he began the 20 minute drive towards Skyline Truck Trail, Jamul Mountain, and his new home.

  * * *

  Serena grimaced as the DMV clerk reread her name aloud. Serendipity Nicole Mitchell. Her name was a constant source of irritation for her and she was not in the mood to deal with the comments. She was hot and tired, and wanted to do anything other than sit and wait for her license to be renewed. She had scheduled an appointment, yet they still had her waiting for well over an hour! She yelped as a beer-bellied, stocky man shoved her aside as he sat next to her.

  “Am I invisible? You pushed me!” she snapped angrily.

  The man belched in her face, the odor from him turning her stomach. “Get over it, lady.”

  “I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce. It’s unbelievable that out of 10,000 sperm, you were the quickest,” Serena retorted.

  “You’re one rude little bitch.”

  “Oh, trust me, it’s no accident that I’m talking like an idiot. I have to, otherwise you wouldn't understand me.” she growled, standing to escape his offensive stench. Would these people ever move? Typical government employees. There was obviously no vaccine against stupidity.

  After two hours, Serena finally escaped the DMV, angrier than when she lost her wallet in the first place. She started driving up Skyline Truck Trail towards where she lived with her cousin. In front of her was a large, black truck loaded high with bales of hay and grain. She pressed her horn, but the truck continued up the steep mountain road. Frustrated, she zoomed around it illegally and almost collided with an ongoing vehicle. She flipped off the truck’s driver as she passed him.

  Preston frowned, watching the woman in the bright yellow T-bird haul up the mountain. Unbelievable, he thought. She almost kills herself, the other driver, and me, all because she doesn’t want to wait five seconds for me to pull safely aside. “That woman needs a good strapping,” he told the dogs. They barked in agreement.

  Preston carefully pulled into his newly poured driveway and started up the side of the mountain that was lined with “Disney trees”, aptly named by his 10-year-old niece. They were realistic looking, fire-proof cement trees that provided a barrier between the narrow road and the cliff. Upon Sara’s insistence, they were also decked with solar powered “twinkle lights” that he had yet to switch on. Preston did not like to draw attention to himself, but little Sara’s ideas were going to do just that. His unique home was already gaining a crowd of curious onlookers, and these little add-ons were not helping.

  He was a doting uncle, needless to say. His wealth allowed him to indulge the little girl’s every whim and drive his older sister crazy—both activities which delighted him immensely. Sara was a brilliant child, mathematically inclined with a strong artistic talent. She decided she wanted to be an architect when she grew up and had sketched out a “dream house” for him to build one day. It was a multi-storied home nestled in the top of a mountain. So Preston did what any good, self-respecting multi-millionaire uncle would do. He bought a mountain close to where his sister lived and started to build. Sara supervised the entire project, offering suggestions and “tweaks” to the original design that already resulted in the resignation of three construction managers. But Preston insisted that the design of the home be to the child’s recommendations, albeit safety issues, and if they didn’t like following her instructions, they were out the door.

  Janie was not pleased with the freedom he gave the little girl. She insisted the child was too young for making such decisions, but Preston happily disagreed simply because it exasperated his older sister to no end. He did not t
ry to explain that there was a method to his madness. Sara was the chief designer of the house, but she was also learning how to price materials, budget, supervise and run a company. It was never too early to learn good business skills, and the girl was a natural. He would nurture her abilities as his own father had nurtured his.

  Preston drove up the long winding road that faced east of the mountain and mused about Sara’s reasoning to have one road going up and another going down. Her idea prevented anyone from getting ‘stuck’ on the narrow road plus avoided being blinded by either the rising or setting sun. Smart kid. And super sweet and respectful. Janie had raised her well, despite the absence of a father. He pulled into the rounded driveway and parked in front of the large RV.

  “Bring me the goats, girls,” he ordered the dogs as they rushed out of the truck. With several barks, they were gone. Preston unloaded the bales of hay and filled the goat pen, reloaded the feeder and topped the trough. The sound of bleating filled his ears, and he moved aside as the collies herded the ten goats into the corral. Several snorting horses followed suite, and Preston laughed as the soft velvety lips of his gelding tugged at his ear. “Hey, boy, did you have fun running the property? Do you like your new home?”

  The tall palomino whinnied loudly, tossing his head in response. Preston scratched the bridge of the animal’s nose, then patted the flanks of the other two mares that looked hungrily at the goat feed. He then fed the animals, curried the horses, grabbed a beer, and settled in a chair to view the valley below. The sight alone made his choice to permanently leave Wyoming worthwhile.

  His cell phone rang, startling him. It was Sara.

  “Hi, Uncle Preston. Did you find a new architect?”

  “I have three coming tomorrow for interviews. Would you like to be here?”

  “Yes, sir! We need to find someone who doesn’t have an ego, you know,” the child advised him bluntly.

  “I agree, my girl. Of course, you don’t have any problems following the suggestions of experienced builders, do you?” he teased, petting the head of his lead female, Boo.

  “Of course not. Unless the suggestions are just plain stupid,” Sara giggled. “Can I spend the night? Please? School’s out and Mama is working in La Jolla.”

  “Of course. Do you want us to come pick you up?”

  “Lemme ask.”

  Preston smiled as he waited. Janie was self-employed as an interior decorator and was frequently sought by some of the most wealthy and influential private residences in San Diego County.

  “Preston? What are you up to?” his sister demanded, picking up the phone.

  “Hi, Janie. Can Sara come over and play?”

  “Very funny. I thought the last guy quit.”

  “He did, and we are interviewing tomorrow. I thought it would be good exposure for the squirt.”

  “You are spoiling her, little brother. I don’t think I like her having so much power in this project of yours.”

  “I know. You keep nagging me about it. I’m teaching her how to be a smart businesswoman, like her mother. You don’t need to be working, you know. I told you I can take care of everything you and Sara need.”

  “Preston, we’ve been through this before. Howard left us comfortable for life. The house is paid off, we have plenty of assets from Mom and Dad’s ranch, and there is a trust fund for Sara. I work because I want to, not because I have to. Please, let it go.”

  “Yeah, I know. But I want you to understand I’m here for you.”

  “I’m just glad you finally decided to come down here. You’re a good influence on Sara. She thinks you walk on water, and I’m not about to burst her bubble with the truth. She’s been so happy since she’s had you to escape to.”

  “She’s a great kid, Janie. You’ve done well with her. How about you? Are you dating yet?”

  “I haven’t found anyone I’m interested in. Howard ruined me for the average man. I miss him still.”

  “It’s been six years, Janie. You are too young to be alone in life.”

  “The time will come when it’s right. Don’t worry. You’re not one to talk, either. I need to run to the store, and I’ll bring Sara by. Do you need anything?”

  “I’m good, thanks. Can you stay for a while?”

  “No, I need to work on my designs for the presentation tomorrow. The Marriot hired me to do their new lobby and reception area,” she sounded excited. “I also have a Hilton contract pending for their master suites.”

  “I am so proud of you, Sis. Are you sure you will have time for my place? I could let Sara decorate or do it myself.”

  “Heck, no. That is MY contribution to the cause. We’ll be there in an hour or so, okay?”

  Preston chuckled, patting his lap for the smaller of the two collies to hop onto. Gem curled into a ball, wagging her tail happily as he rubbed her tummy and reflected upon his situation.

  He was one of the luckiest people alive, and he never took it for granted. Things just happened that ended up tilting in his favor. His sister used to tease him about being a cat with nine lives, especially after the incident that had occurred shortly after the freak camping accident that claimed her husband’s life. He and Howard Stone had met while attending San Diego State University. He had majored in pre-veterinary medicine while Howard was a business major. They became instant friends, shared an apartment, and partied together until Howard graduated two years ahead of his friend. After Howard landed a job as a stock broker, the older man taught Preston how to “play” Wall Street. Right before Preston’s graduation, he contacted Howard to play on a hunch. Howard scoffed at the decision but followed through anyway, promising Preston that if it came through, he would buy a big house and marry the love of his life, Preston’s older sister Janie. The wedding took place three months later, and Sara was conceived in the big, custom ranch house that overlooked Blossom Valley in the east county hills of San Diego.

  Preston had moved up to UC Davis to complete his veterinary training, then returned to Wyoming to work with the local vet near his parent’s horse ranch. Against his father’s advice, Preston had stubbornly purchased a piece of property adjacent to the family home with the intent to use it for expansion in the future. Howard, wanting a short getaway from office life, suggested that he and his old friend make a “pilgrimage” to the high hills of northern Wyoming to explore the property. Janie protested the trip. She was raised in the area and tried to warn him about flash floods and lightning storms. He refused to be talked out of going, insisted everything would be alright, and that he would be back in a week. With a kiss goodbye to her and four-year-old Sara, he left.

  Everything happened so quickly. One minute the two were hiking up the path, and the next minute they were struck by a flash flood that sent Preston tumbling down a rocky slope, breaking his leg as he fell. Howard sped to call an emergency rescue team who arrived via life flight. The sky thundered violently as Howard stood by, watching as they pulled his best friend into the helicopter. But when he stepped out of the way, he tripped on loose rumble, banged his head on a boulder and never woke up.

  Howard had been a good guy. He had loved Jane desperately, although Preston doubted his passion equaled that of his strong-willed sister. His friend approached everything in a precise and businesslike manner, and Preston suspected his lovemaking was much of the same. Yet, Janie adored him, they were content with one another, and they had produced a beautiful, charming little girl.

  A year after Howard’s death, upon the insistence of Janie’s shrink that the woman needed closure, Preston came down from Wyoming to take his sister and niece to visit the spot where they had lost Howard. As Janie mourned quietly with her little daughter in her arms, Preston roamed down the slope where he had fallen. Then something caught his eye.

  The term “striking it rich” meant nothing to him until that day when he came upon a kimberlite pipe. Excavation revealed a large diamond deposit, including a rare 5 carat red diamond. At that moment, Preston promised himself to never
take life for granted. Following her doctor’s recommendation, he encouraged Janie to pursue her dream job of interior decorating. Unbeknownst to her, he marketed her work to several high paying resorts and set her on a path to healing and self-confidence.

  After the recent passing of both his parents, he decided to sell the ranch and move away from the cool, depressing days and frigid, isolated winters of his home state. Preston closed his eyes, feeling the warm breeze caress his forehead. He loved the desert’s heat and had jumped at the chance to join his sister and his beloved niece. Very little of Jamul reminded him of Wyoming’s high prairies, and he liked it that way. East of San Diego, the warm, early summer left the ground brown and dry with as many areas of meadow as there were steep hills and huge rocky mountains. It was the sky that was most dissimilar. Instead of dark turbulent clouds, the skies were a shocking, brilliant blue.

  It was that first evening with his family that the precocious child had informed him of her desire to design special houses and produced the beginning of a very impressive model. Preston wasted no time in finding the perfect place for her to see her dream through. He had chosen Jamul because he liked the country hospitality that usually resided in rural areas like this little hidden part of San Diego.

  His thoughts shifted to the foolhardy woman driving the bright yellow Thunderbird. He only caught site of her long, black hair whipping behind her and the single finger gesturing to him from out the window. Her vulgarity and impatience were intolerable. Good thing he’d never have to see her again, otherwise he would give her a piece of his mind.

  “No, Boo, I’m not going to get grumpy. I promise, girl.” He chuckled as the larger border collie licked his elbow before being shoved aside by Gem, a ball in her mouth. He loved these dogs. They provided the perfect companionship without the irritating habits that came with the female of his own species. Well, most of the time. Gem was unrelentingly verbal when it came to her ball and dinner time.