chasing demons. ***completed***

#2 emma

coming back home to Montana hadn't been the exact plan she wanted for her life. Emma went to law school and worked at a successful law firm in New York not thinking she would ever end up back here. her mother was diagnosed with cancer and she knew she needed to come back to help her father and mother. the cancer ravaged her mother and eventually they layed her to rest on the ranch her father owned. after that Emma knew she wasn't leaving her father and brothers alone. she opened a practice in the small town near her fathers ranch so she could be closer to the family. her three brothers stayed at the ranch helping out. it was a good thing she had saved most of her money from new York. she had lived very frugally there renting out a room and saving almost every dime she could. when she moved back home she was able to buy a little house in town and start a practice in agricultural law. it was a decent living. not anywhere near the fast paced life she was used to in New York but she had to admit the small lazy town life made her happy. the fresh air soothed her and that was definitely lacking in new York. living here she knew she had saved enough where she didn't necessarily need to work but she enjoyed keeping busy. her door opened to her little office and in walked Xavier her six year old and her best friend Mary. "what a nice surprise! how are you doing my handsome little guy?"

" school was out early so I thought we could have lunch together." Mary was a beautiful person inside and out. she was kind and warm and Emma and her had been best friends since grade school. Mary looked after her son ever since she came back since her husband was away for long periods of time being in the army rangers. he was currently deployed in Iraq and Mary kept herself busy with Xavier. Emma was grateful for Mary. she knew he was in the best hands with her.

" well it just so happens I am bored to death here with all this paperwork so I can take the day off and have some lunch with you two! oh and Xavier. don't forget papa is coming to get you today to take you out to the ranch."

" yay! I love papa and the ranch!" he squealed. he would spend every day there if he could. she grabbed her purse and and jacket as they headed out to the local diner. it was busy even for a Friday afternoon. many people were coming in for the local fourth of July festival next week. the entire week would be filled with different activities until the big fireworks and festival that weekend. Emma had decided to close the office for the entire week so she could spend some time out at the ranch and with Xavier doing all the activities. this weekend they would be driving the cattle home before the activities started on Monday. most of the little town would be closed for the week. the local motel and diner would remain open and there would be vendors all week selling their goods. Emma was glad to be home. this would never happen in New York. she was making a six figure income while there. she was on a fast track to making partner. she hated spending so much time away from her son but while he was away with his father she spent every waking moment working her way up. when his father decided to leave the picture and her mother was diagnosed with cancer Emma had a decision to make. stay and work herself to death or go home and be with her family. she knew with her savings her and her son would be more than ok if they left and went home. so they packed everything up and bought a nice three bedroom house near her parents ranch and a small office for Emma to start her practice. she chose her family over the fast paced life of new York.

they made their way into the tiny diner and grabbed a booth. "what do you want to eat Xavier?" he loved eating here. they always made his food fun for him. the cook would make smiley faces on everything for him and the waitresses always spoiled him.

" pancakes and juice" he was busy coloring on his paper.

" ok you can have both this time but 1 glass of juice than it's water only ok buddy?"

" ok mom. when is papa coming to get me?" his face lit up every time he was going to the ranch.

" he will swing by any time so let's get you fed." Emma and Mary waited for the waitress to come by the table. Xavier busied himself with his coloring once again. Emma didn't want to be a single mom but when Xavier was born his father decided he didn't want to be in a relationship anymore. it broke Emma. they were married for two years when Xavier had come. his father stuck around for two years after they were divorced then decided he didn't want to be tied down to a child either. Xavier was two years old when his father left. renting a room was tight with a child but he was young enough he didn't know any better. she had planned on buying a place in New York but it never felt right. Xaviers father like clock work deposited child support into a savings for him. Emma left it there for Xavier so he could use it when he got older. she never touched his child support. she made it just fine on her own. when Emma told Xavier's father she was moving back to Montana he didn't even fight. he signed over rights and agreed to continue to pay child support into his savings account. it was like a cold business transaction.

" Emma you need to try dating. I know, you know who hurt you but you need to get out there again."

" I thought Rory was a good man and look how wrong I was about that!"

" Paul seems to like you a lot. why not try a date with him?" Mary raised her brows suggestively at Emma. Paul was a nice man. he had tried dating Emma before but no matter how hard she tried she just didn't feel the same way for him as he did for her. they just didn't click romantically and Emma didn't want to lead him on.

" Mary you know I tried. there was just something missing with him. he is a good friend but that's it. plus with Xavier and my father I'm busy. mom passing has been hard on him. on all of us."

Mary knew Emma was still grieving. even after a year her mothers death was fresh for the entire community. " so my husband will be coming home soon."

" really? oh my gosh! Kevin finally gets to come home!" Emma got out of her seat and grabbed Mary into a hug. " oh I'm so happy for you!" it had been almost eighteen months since he had been gone. " how long will he be home this time?"

"well as of right now permanently. he and a buddy of his are being discharged for medical reasons. they were both shot on this last mission and get to come home. his buddy is going to come here for a while to recover. then Kevin gets to stay this time."

" I'm sorry Mary. I had no clue he had been injured. when did you find out?" Emma knew most of his operations were top secret often Mary didn't know where he was or if he would be coming home.

" I just found out today. Mr rogers is coming home." they both laughed at the name they had given him. Emma always teased him about being Mr Rogers. at first Kevin hated it but after a few deployments he warmed up to it. Emma just figured at least it gave him some normalcy. she would even write him letters while gone teasing him about being Mr rogers. it was like having a brother leave each time. Mary would often help her decide what care packages to send him. Emma figured it would give him a piece of home. Mary always loved that we were like brother and sister. she said the more people that loved her Kevin the better. it gave him purpose to make it home.

" so do you think you and Kevin will try to have a little rogers now that he will be home?" she could see the smile that crossed Mary's face.

" I hope he wants to try now but I guess we will see when he gets home. it's hard on him each time he comes home after being there for so long." Emma could hear the sadness in her voice. Emma knew all too well. every time Kevin came back he had changed and took time to adjust back to real life without bombs and having to look over his shoulder everywhere he went. she was just glad this time was for good. she knew Kevin was drifting further and further each deployment.

" Xavier look! there's papa!" Xavier rushed from the booth right into her father's arms. it was his favorite person. she watched her dad make his way to her.

" hey dad." she got up giving him a big hug. she had always been a daddy's girl. she probably always would be.

" hey honey. hey I forgot to tell you I actually got help for the round up this weekend and if it's ok since it isn't gonna be a long run I was hoping to take Xavier out this time."

" hhhmmmm an entire weekend free for me?" she smiled at her father. " I suppose it is time to let him start learning. just be careful ok dad. I worry about both of you."

Xavier started jumping in excitement. he had been begging Emma for this for a while now. " alright Xavier let's get you ready for a long weekend! give your mom a hug and kiss." with pure excitement on his face Emma watched as they left the diner.

" we should go to the bar and do some dancing tonight. I don't want to be alone and I could really use a dance partner."

" you gonna pick me up for a real date?" they both laughed. she was always grateful to have Mary. it was sometimes lonely and they always had each other. she wouldn't admit it but she didn't want to be alone. it would be a welcomed distraction.