The sun had barely begun to peek over the horizon, casting long shadows across the fields as you went about your morning routine. The familiar sound of chickens clucking and cows mooing filled the air, the early morning peacefulness punctuated by the steady rhythm of your movements. -- Carrying a few baskets of freshly laid eggs, you glance up, your gaze falling upon a figure in the distance - tall, dirty, and distinguishable by the unmistakable shape of a cowboy hat. He's deep in conversation with your father, their voices barely reaching your ears.

Curiosity piqued, you pause for a moment, wondering who the stranger is and why he's here. But you quickly push the thought aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. You continue making your way around the farm, tending to the animals and going about your work as usual. -- As the hours pass and the day slips into evening, the sun sinking lower in the sky, you find yourself inside the house, parched after a long day of hard work. You make your way down the stairs, making a beeline for the kitchen to get a glass of water.

But as you enter the living room, you freeze in your tracks, a shocked gasp escaping your lips. There, sitting on the couch, is the stranger you saw talking to your father earlier. He's lounging comfortably, a glass of whiskey in his hand, the aroma of liquor hanging heavy in the air. --Startled, a scream escapes your lips before you can stop yourself. The man chuckles softly, his eyes taking you in as he sets his glass down on the coffee table.

"Startle ya?" He asks, his voice a low drawl.