Hanging Stars On Big Willow Creek: A Novel

by Sarah Hill

  Maysen made his way over to the pretty brunette standing next to Rylie and put his arm around her. “Leah, didn’t have any trouble learning,” he said, kissing her forehead.

  “Leah also has the good sense to stay away from silage pits,” Spencer said, with a laugh.

  “There’s that,” Maysen said, holding his fist out and bumping Spencer’s.

  Rylie rolled her eyes and walked over to Alex and gave him a hug from behind. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

  “Mom!” Alex whined, wiping his cheek which had turned bright pink. He looked over at the girl he’d been talking to and back at her again, grimacing.

  “Sorry,” she said, getting the hint and backing away. When she was a safe distance, she stopped and watched her son as he flirted with the girl. He was like a peacock strutting his gorgeous feathers. Folding her arms across her chest she shook her head and smiled. Spencer came up behind her, wrapping her in his arms. “Stop spying on him.”

  “Should we be worried? He’s a teenage boy with raging hormones.” She leaned back and raised an eyebrow.

  “I wouldn’t worry yet,” Maysen said, joining them, Leah’s hand in his.

  “That’s your daughter he’s flirting with,” Rylie said, frowning.

  “I know. I can’t blame him. Mackenzie’s beautiful. He can toe the line, just as long as he doesn’t cross it,” he said, with a wink.

  They looked over at the two teenagers just as Alex grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the swing Norm hung for Rylie when she was young. Mackenzie sat and giggled as he pushed her higher and higher.

  “If they have half the friendship you and I had, I’ll count myself a lucky dad,” Maysen said, leaning over and bumping Rylie’s shoulder with his.

  “I agree. Let’s hope they’re that lucky,” she said, returning his smile.

  Rylie watched Spencer and Maysen talk about Alex’s latest driving lesson. The first few times after she’d come back home for Del’s surgery were rough. Even after a year’s worth of marriage counseling, Spencer was less than courteous to Maysen when they visited. Rylie couldn’t blame him. She doubted she’d be able to either if the shoe were on the other foot.

  Rylie, Spencer and Alex moved to Boise in the spring of 2012. They spent most weekends on the ranch. Del was smoke free and getting around like a champ. Norm had taken over full responsibility of Del’s garden and enjoyed showing off his prized vegetables at the county fair. Spencer was successfully selling real estate in the Treasure Valley and Rylie had written two more best sellers. Life had allowed her to be happier than she deserved and she was doing her best to not waste a minute of it.

  Maysen met Leah on July 4th 2012 during the New Plymouth celebrations. The change in him was so evident, even Spencer couldn’t ignore the transformation. Maysen finally found the one who shared his love for the ranch and made his heart happy. Leah worked hard. She changed irrigation lines and bucked hay bales right alongside him. She had a little boy of her own. Andrew, who was thirteen and worshipped Maysen. Leah loved Mackenzie and Renee as if they were her own and was always baking or crafting with them when they were there. Maysen finally got shared custody and was able to see the girls more often.

  Rylie and Maysen went to lunch one afternoon, in late August of 2015. Rylie was taking a bite of her chicken when Maysen sat a small black box on the table. Rylie swallowed her bite and asked, “Maysen, what is that?”

  He opened the box revealing the ring he bought to propose to her in high school. “It’s your ring.”

  “Not my ring, Maysen. What are you doing?”

  “I want to ask your permission to sell it.”

  Rylie frowned. “You don’t need my permission to sell it. It was never mine,” she paused and added, “I thought you might want to give it to Leah. It’s not hard to see how much you love her.”

  “I do love her,” he said with a grin. “Which is why I’d like to sell this ring. Leah deserves a ring all her own without a history attached to it.”

  Rylie nodded. “I understand.”

  “I just wanted to make sure my best friend knows getting rid of this ring, doesn’t take away from what it meant when I bought it.”

  “I know, thank you,” she said, reaching across the table and squeezing his hand. “I am so glad you’ve found your happy, Mayse.”

  “Me too. After lunch, do you want to help me pick out a ring?” he asked.

  “Absolutely!” she exclaimed, with a smile.

  On a September evening, as they sat around the fire pit, Maysen got down on one knee and proposed to Leah. He told her he never believed the stars would shine as bright as they did when he was young and then she walked into his life. He asked her to walk the gravel roads of Banks ranch with him for the rest of their lives because there would never be another girl to light the stars for him the way she did. She said yes of course.

  Acknowledgements

  First, I have to thank my wonderful editor, HEATHER CARTER. You are amazing! I am terrible at punctuation and not noticing overused words, actions, etc., as I plow through writing. Your patience is mind blowing. Having to deal with all my ‘had’s, that’s and facial expressions’ had to be mind numbing. Thank you for being the one person I know will give me an honest opinion, with no sugar added! I need that honesty and I appreciate it so much. Thank you for helping me to grow. I adore you.

  RONA and JASON HERDER, you guys reached into the black waters I was drowning in and pulled me out. I don’t think you’ll ever realize how much the brainstorming you did with me for hours, meant to me. I struggled with this book and its contents because it was something I myself had never experienced and it was gutting me. You helped me to love my book again and gave me the peace I needed, even if it was hard for you as well. I am so thankful you didn’t give up on this story.

  RANDY HILL, you are my forever. I appreciate you always talking me down from the cliffs when I get so upset and want to scrap the whole thing. You are my rock and I thank you for talking me through the difficult situations I had in this book. I love and adore you and can’t wait to read my book with you!

  JANET OLSON, thank you for being an honest sounding board, giving me your opinions on the cover, story, blurb and my constant “What do you think” questions. You are one of those amazing friends you meet by coincidence and I haven’t even had the pleasure of meeting you in person. I hope one day, I get to give you a real hug! #TeamLev

  TRACY BONNELL, I appreciate your excitement so much more than you will ever realize. Sharing my book with people is so scary, but having sweet friends like you who gush over love stories makes it easier. Thank you for being someone I can trust, even if the ending kills you. I love and adore you!

  SARA HILL, you may not believe this, but I look forward to hear what you have to say about my book. I feel like if I get the go from you, I will be okay. Thank you for allowing me to share a piece of myself with you and treating it with such care.

  MAYSEN BEALL, for allowing me to borrow your name. You are one of my favorite people on this earth and inspired Maysen’s character. The Maysen in my book was a kind, loving man full of integrity even when the cards dealt to him were unfair. I know without a doubt, you will be such a man when you get older. I am proud of the young man you are now.

  NORMAN and DELPHIA BEALL, you are the best parents a girl could ever have. I thank God every day for leading you to Idaho and giving us the life we had growing up on Big Willow. It lit my fire for imagination as I ran through fields, splashed through the creek and played with the calves. I love and respect you both with my entire heart.

  ALEX RICH, my little buddy. You are a light in a world that doesn’t seem to get enough. I love your smile, your laugh and the freckles we name on your nose. You are perfect.

  JACQUIE LAMM and JESSICA RUBY, the sweetest souls ever! Thank you so much for willing to give an unknown a chance and for your constant support. I am in awe of how willing you were to help this lost Instagra
mmer find her feet. I will be forever grateful!

  JENNIFER SARGENT, you are such a doll and I feel blessed having met you on Instagram. You are one of outstanding authors who will support fellow authors and I am honored to be included in your stack of read books. I’m excited to have a friend in that community that will cheer me on as much as I cheer her on. Thank you.

  BRANDY MCCONNELL, I am so glad you were rooting for Spencer! Thank you for being part of my nerd army. I appreciate that you are always willing to do pretty much any nerdy thing I am and that you are always one of the first in line to support me. I am also very thankful for your knowledge of time zones, wink wink! #potterheadsforever

  MADISON HERDER, I saw you as I wrote Maddie’s character, but after my last visit in Herderville, I realized you need a book all your own. Madison, the character, has been whispering in my head for a couple months now and your story is forming. Love you girlie.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  SARAH HILL, lives in Idaho with her husband, 3 dogs and cat. When she isn’t feeding, playing or doctoring one of her fur babies, you can find her watching a chick flick or favorite Hallmark movie, hanging with family and friends, reading or taking pictures (because photos are important!) Some of her favorite things include the world of Harry Potter, Mexican food, camping, playing pranks, laughing and kissing her husband.

  Sarah is also the author of Call of the Blue Heron, her debut novel, which was published in November of 2019. She continues to listen to the characters who find her and whisper their stories in her ear and plans to continue to get their stories out to the world.

  You can find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorsarahhill/ and at https://artauthorsarahannhill.art.blog

  One last thought from the author:

  Follow your dreams no matter how many people doubt you!