My papa and my mama moved to the ranch fresh out of high school, two young love birds wanting to start a big family out on some nice land. Mama says now that she wished she had gone to college before getting married. Papa doesn’t regret it one bit, he loves the ranch.

My parents got their wish for a large family, only a year after they had moved farther out west Mama got pregnant. Nine months later, out popped Emma, fit as a fiddle and enough beauty to go around. Trust me, I’ve seen pictures of her as a baby, and even then she was gorgeous. I don’t want to talk about what she looks like now.

Almost right after Emma came Kayla, also healthy and strong, but the opposite of Emma in all ways. Dark hair, pale skin, charcoal eyes and tiny features. But, nevertheless, Kayla was also beautiful. Of course.

After Kayla Mama got pregnant with me. One more time. The doctor said that Mama wasn’t going to be able to have any more babies.

Papa prayed day and night for a boy.

And instead, he got plain old me.

Alice.