Daisy May, Katie and Buck’s daughter, is now almost eighteen years old and is as beautiful as Katie but a tom boy through and through. Daisy blames her grandpa, Randy for it. After all, he started letting her play in the mud and plop in the hay since she was two and he hasn’t ever stopped letting her since. Although, plopping in a mud puddle and rolling in the hay, isn't something she does now a days.
“I’m in here dear,” Katie said from the back of her office. “I just ran across mine and your dad’s picture album from our wedding day.”
“Really, I wanna see it!” Daisy exclaimed as she made her way back to where Katie was sitting at her desk,
Katie opened the photo album and laid it on her desk in front of Daisy. She smiled as she turned page after page of all the photos taken that day. The cake, the flowers, and all the people, were all captured to be kept in remembrance of that wonderful day.
“Mom, you looked just like a princess, and look at how handsome daddy is!” Daisy giggled.
“Yes, he is still quite the looker, I must say.” Katie said.
“So, what are you and grandpa going to do today?” Katie asked as she took the wedding album from Daisy and slid it back in the bottom drawer of her desk.
“I think I’m going to help him with the horses and such, maybe go to Frank’s and see about a job.” Daisy groaned.
“Ahh, the working world,” Katie said as she stood and walked to look out her office window.
“Yeah, grandpa said it was good for me to earn my keep, he said it’ll keep me honest…whatever that means.”
Katie chuckled as she turned around to face Daisy. “Yes, it’ll be a great experience and you know, since Frank let his son take over, it would be nice to have a familiar face in there every day.”
“Why can’t I just work for grandpa on his farm? I know all the in’s and out’s there and I just love it!” Daisy rebutted.
“I know, honey but I think your grandpa’s right for now. Go see what they have to offer at Frank’s. You know, Violet would love to bring you on as her apprentice. I would go see her.” Katie said as she stroked Daisy’s chestnut curls.
“I reckon you’re right, I’ll do that, mom.”
Buck was downstairs making lunch when Katie went downstairs. A turkey sandwich on wheat bread with cheese and mayonnaise and a small side of macaroni salad was sitting on the counter untouched. Katie walked over to the counter and picked it up and sat at the table.
“You think you can just waltz in here and take my lunch like pretty lady?” Buck asked turning from the counter.
“Absolutely," Katie said as she took a bite giggling. "I sure do.”
“So, what is my writer up to today? A new bestseller? A new column for the paper?" Buck asked as he made himself another plate of food and sat down with Katie. “You were up there for a while. I figured you must have had fire flowing from your fingertips."
Katie wanted to stay on the farm and tend to the winery and the farm, but Randy wanted her and Buck to have their own life like he and Abigail did. Just to enjoy themselves and Daisy without the hassle of the farm. Katie took up writing after her incident with Tate. It helped her cope with things. Even though what she went through was brief, it had a lasting effect. More mental than physical. She submitted a few pieces of her writing and found out she was pretty good at it. So, she kept on. She and Buck bought a large farmhouse and Buck made sure it had a room just for her so she can write in quiet. Sleepless nights led to pages, and pages led to books. She was finally able to publish her first novel she titled, “No Strings Attached.” A romantic suspense that fit some similarities of what she went through when she was with Tate. She figured that since she had to go through it, she would use it for good. Good it was indeed. She won an award for that book and has been hired as a columnist for the local paper. Buck still works for Randy after all these years and doesn’t have any plans of leaving.
“No, actually, I found our wedding album in the bottom drawer of my desk," Katie said. “It was so nice to be able to sit in my office and look back on everything. That day was so perfect, Buck. Our whole life has been.”
“Yes, that in itself is hard to believe, I mean, we look pretty good for our age if I do say so myself.” Katie winked. “Have you thought anymore about asking dad to take over the farm and let him retire?”
Buck sighed. “Yeah, I have, I’m just afraid he is going to think that I think he can’t do it anymore. I don’t want him going downhill. That farm is his life, you know that.”
“Oh, without a doubt and he is as stubborn as they get about it, but he is nearing seventy and I just want him to take it easy for once. I want him to be able to just relax and hang out with Daisy and us without the stress and worry. The winery will carry all of us financially and I have my job too.” Katie sighed. “I just worry about him is all.”
Buck scooted his chair close to hers. “I know you do, but he is a tough man, he always has been, and I think doing what he does helps him. He is in no way feeble. He gets up every morning and meets me in the kitchen ready to start the day. When he is ready to hand over the reins, I will be there. But we can’t force his hand, it has to be his decision.”