Are second chances worth it? (closed-pm if interested)

[zydrate]

The divorce settlement was more than Regina Carter had wanted. Hell, she hadn't wanted anything but the judge sympathized with her. Her now ex-husband Joseph, was, after all, 'loaded'. All Regina wanted was ten thousand dollars so she could start rebuilding her life.

The judge awarded her $100 million. Small change, seeing as how Joseph was a self made billionaire.

The divorce was thankfully kept quiet and hidden from the media. All she had wanted to do anyway was leave town, move else where and not look back. Was that too much to ask? She wouldn't miss the glamour, the endless travelling around the world... She would've given that all up if it meant she could have a husband who was home more than a few days and who was also faithful.

Two months later
Regina found herself in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, working at a small coffee shop as she tried to earn an honest living. She had given most of her money away to various charities and organizations, all under an anonymous name.

She had used some of the money to buy a small farm on the outskirts of town, along with a few horses and other barnyard animals. Did she know how to take care of them? No. But, she thought she was doing a damn good job so far as they were all still alive.

Keeping mostly to herself, Regina's trust in anyone had long ago vanished...all thanks to Joseph.

As she pulled the small truck up to the farmhouse, Regina cut the engine and grabbed her two small bags of groceries. Most days after work, she ate something at the diner but today, she wanted something home cooked. Making her way in, she looked at her phone and sighed. Nothing. She had put the word out that she was looking for someone to help her part time on the farm, perhaps teach her a thing or two about the animals. It had been a few days and still nothing. She had surmised it was probably because it was only a part time thing and no one wanted to work part time anymore.

But she did come to the conclusion she needed help and with winter fast approaching, she was going to need it.

 

[silvertongue217]

“No work today”

“Come on” Marcus said trying his best not to sound pitiful as he starred at the ranch hand “I am one of the best guys in the town your telling me there isn’t any work?”

“You heard me” The foreman said shaking his head “Got no help for YOUR kind here”

“My kind” Marcus said his hands balling into fist as he glared at the man “My kind?! You saying some thing about my race amigo?”

“I don’t employee spicks” The foreman said nodding at two of his ranch hands to come up “you and your mama might have been protected by Mr. Cuttingham but he aint alive any more and no matter what you learned aint nothing going to make up for your race”

Marcus glared at him trying to fight the haze of red that was threatening to over take him. His mother’s words floated to the top of his head warning him to keep his anger under control. It would be so easy he reckoned to lay them all out one by one. He was a fighter born with that unique ability to take a punch. He would go down but get back up fighting with a tenacity that would surprise and put his opponent off guard. He could take these guys if he wanted.

He finally sighed and turned pushing his beanie back onto his head. He rubbed his hand to prevent the chill from setting in and walked back to his motorcycle. He sighed fondly at the bike patting it as memories of putting it back together with Mr. Cuttingham flashed into his mind. They breathed light back into the thing piece by piece and even though it wasn’t the prettiest thing it was his most prized possession.

He got on pulling his leather jacket close to fight off the chill and fished out his phone. He had one more chance a finding work a number of some lady from the city who was looking for part time helping work. It wasn’t ideal but it was better than trying to chase down job leads and since she was from the city she might not care about his Latino heritage.

He kick started the engine and drove into town seeking a place to make the call. He finally stopped at the diner and marched in nodding at Gale before sliding into the booth and placing the call.

He mouthed thanks to Gale as she brought in the coffee “Yes hello” He said hearing the line click on “My name is Marcus Marcus Rodriquez I am calling about your ad the one looking for part time work? I would like to set up an interview”

 

[zydrate]

"Yes mother, everything is OK with me and no, I'm not coming back anytime soon..."

Regina listened to her mother drone on and on about why her only daughter needed to come back to NYC. There was a senator she had wanted to set Regina up with. He was a nice man.

"I'm sure he is..." Regina said to herself as she hung up.

Her mother would have a heart attack if she could see where and how Regina was living...in an old house that needed repairs next to a farm that was probably far better off than the house.

It didn't matter. Regina didn't want to think about that. She had a guest coming here in an hour and she had to make sure the attached room to the house was sufficient enough should the man she was interview was going to accept the job. She felt bad about only being able to provide a full time position so she included the room and board with it all.

Half an hour later, Regina heard the roar of an engine pulling up to her place and she waited at the door before opening it and stepping out. She saw the man and walked up to him as he got settled, "Hi...Marcus?" She said and smiled when he finally removed his glasses. "I'm Regina. Thanks for coming."

 

[silvertongue217]

I made the arrangements agreeing to meet the woman the following day at her farm. I wasn’t expecting the free room and board and quickly agreed. Any thing was better than crashing on my cousin’s couch and having to deal with his small infestation of children. I adored them but was eager to find my own way in the world. I went to bed happy that night excited for the first time to begin the day a new.

I woke up early that morning putting on my most presentable outfit and shaving. I made sure I was presentable and hoped on my bike driving out to her farm. It was a modest little place just outside town with some repair work needed that I could already see. She was expecting me but I decided to peek around first I got a look of the lay of the land I visited the animals made a note on my mothers beat up old notebook and then finally walked over to the front steps.

She came out and I stopped thankful for the sunglasses hiding my eyes. The woman was beautiful so much so that I felt my heart literally clench inside of my chest. I couldn’t stop my self from looked her up and down several times before I finally seemed to regain control of my body.

Be cool be cool

“Hello it’s a pleasure to meet you Regina” I said pulling my glasses off and reaching out to shake her hand. I tried to ignore the contact and instead put on my nicest and hopefully most charming smile as we walked in.

“I took the liberty of walking around your farm” I said deciding to stick to business not trusting my self “I hope you don’t mind its nice I enjoy some ting small much more love goes into it” I said blushing a bit as I pulled out a sheet with my information.

“I dont have much in the way of references my previous employer passed away of old age one year ago I am however hard worker and would be more than happy to work on a trail basis to prove my self capable if that is what is needed”