Chapter 4

The next day, Emily was jolted awake before the sun was even up.

"Up! Time to herd the sheep!" Martha barked, standing over Emily with a worn-out shepherd's whip.

Emily blinked groggily. She grumbled, "What time is it?"

Martha said, "The sun doesn't wait for anyone out here." She flung a ragged robe right in Emily's face and demanded, "Get dressed, hurry up."

Forced to squeeze into those rough, filthy ranch clothes, Emily was on the verge of tears.

The outfit smelled like sweat and mutton, and the fabric was so scratchy that it felt like it was rubbing her skin raw.

Breakfast was a bowl of watery oatmeal thin enough to see Emily's reflection in, plus a small, rock-hard piece of stale bread.

Emily took one bite and immediately spat it out.

"Seriously, what is this stuff? Am I supposed to choke this down?" Emily grumbled.

Martha snatched the bowl away with a scowl. She snapped, "Fine, then go hungry!"

So, with her stomach growling, Emily was kicked out of the tent and left to face a sea of bleating sheep.

Frank said, "Take these sheep up to the north slope to graze. You can't come back until the sun's at its highest at noon. Lose even one sheep, and forget about dinner."

Emily stood there, totally at a loss. She stammered, "I-I don't know how to herd sheep."

Frank shoved a shepherd's whip into her hands, clearly annoyed. He said, "Just keep them moving. They know where to go."

And just like that, Emily's first day as a shepherd girl began.

She awkwardly swung the whip, trying to herd the sheep, but they paid her no mind and scattered everywhere.

Her shoes were soon filled with sand, rubbing her feet raw.

The sun was blazing overhead, and there was barely any shade out on the grasslands.

Emily was starving and parched, her lips cracked and peeling.

She'd never realized how harsh life on the grasslands could be. In her mind, it was all wild freedom, horseback riding, and archery.

Off in the distance, a few local kids raced past on their horses, their laughter drifting on the wind.

They glanced curiously at Emily, but didn't even pause to say hello.

Emily watched them ride off, and for the first time, a wave of panic washed over her. 'Just how long am I stuck in this nightmare?' she wondered.

'When will Lucas Sterling finally show up?' she thought.

On my first morning at the Whitmore residence, I was gently woken by a soft knock at the door.

"Sophia, time for breakfast," Grace's gentle voice called from outside.

I blinked awake, needing a few seconds to remember where I was.

The bed was soft, the air was clean, and sunlight filtered in through the sheer curtains.

It was a world away from the stiff mattress and the lingering scent of sheep out on the prairie.

In the dining room, breakfast was already set out: milk, fried eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and warm, freshly baked bread.

Ryan was at the table, newspaper in hand. As soon as he saw me, his face lit up with a smile.

"Hey, did you sleep well, Sophia?" Ryan asked.

I nodded and took the seat right next to him.

Having family greet me like this felt both unfamiliar and comforting.

Ryan poured me a glass of milk and said, "Dad and I are heading to the office today, and Mom's off to an art exhibition. Is there anywhere you want to check out, or would you rather just chill at home?"

I hesitated, glancing up at him. I asked, "Would it be okay if I went to a bookstore?"

Back on the prairie, all I ever wanted was to read.

I used to scavenge for old books and magazines left behind by tourists, sneaking them away and devouring every word like I was starving.

Now that I could actually pick out my own books, my heart was practically racing with excitement.

Grace walked out of the kitchen, her smile warm as she heard my request. She said, "Of course. As soon as we finish breakfast, we'll head out."

In the bookstore, I was like a sponge, soaking up every book and scrap of knowledge I could find.

Grace looked at me, clearly surprised by the books I was grabbing.

There was everything: astronomy, geography, literature, history, music theory, and even basic biology.

"You're into all of this?" Grace asked, a bit amazed.

"I want to learn everything," I said, hugging the books tight like they might vanish if I let go. I asked, "Am I really allowed to learn all this?"

Grace's eyes welled up with tears. She crouched down and looked me right in the eyes. She said, "Sophia, in this family, you can learn anything you want. We'll always be here to support you in chasing whatever brings you joy."

In that moment, it really hit me just how much my life had changed.

I wasn't that shepherd girl on the prairie, denied the chance to learn. Now, I was someone truly cared for, loved, and supported in every way.

*****

Out on the prairie, the grass was still wet with dew when Emily was jolted awake by the snap of a whip.

Martha snapped, "Lazybones. The sun's already up, and you're still in bed." She yanked the blanket off Emily. The cold air rushed in, making Emily shiver uncontrollably.

"I'm cold," Emily whimpered, curling up even tighter, her voice thick with tears.

Martha sneered, "Cold? The sheep couldn't care less if you're cold. Move it!"

This kind of morning was just another day for Emily.

She awkwardly slipped into her herding robe, which reeked of sheep, her fingers covered in tiny cuts from all the chores lately.

In her previous life as a pampered heiress, she never had to do a single bit of housework. Now, every day, she gripped a coarse whip, braving the cold wind as she drove the flock across the prairie.

Breakfast was the same as ever: watery oatmeal and rock-hard flatbread.

Emily forced herself to swallow, fighting back the urge to gag. She knew if she didn't eat, she'd be starving until noon.

On the way to the pasture, sand kept sneaking into Emily's shoes, rubbing her feet raw and leaving blisters with every step.

Looking out at the endless stretch of prairie, for the first time, Emily truly felt hopeless.

She whispered to herself, "When will Lucas finally show up?"

In the original timeline, Sophia didn't meet Lucas until she was fifteen.

That meant Emily had to endure another five years of this life.

Emily muttered, "Five years. How am I supposed to make it through five more years?"