A/N: I have no idea where this is going but I'm happy to explore wherever it takes me. It was originally supposed to be a one shot but I think I can crank out a few more chapters. This was fun. I hope you guys like it!

Sophia

Rick was a dead man walking. Even from the grave George Augustus Grimes ruled with an iron fist. His face showed the displeasure at the ridiculousness of the quandary at hand. A week later and it still sounded ludicrous. He shouldn't be in competition for something that was rightfully his. Considering he'd been the only Grimes' boy to help his mother with the running's of Sweethearts, plus oversee the general running's of his own place - Serenity since his father's passing while his brother and cousin shared duties at Silver.

"Your daddy's will is clear as the water from the stream that runs behind my mama's house," Philip Blake, friend and lawyer to George Grimes said as he continued to face three scowls that belonged to George's two sons, Rick, Shane and lone nephew, Dwight.

Rick slammed his hand on the old cedar desk in his father's office, frustration emanating from his fists. "It ain't fair!"

"Now, Rick let's not be hasty. Daddy was always a man with a plan. We gotta trust him on this one." This was coming from Shane who was more than satisfied with Silver just getting by. If it wasn't for the subsidizing from Sweethearts and the patronizing from their loyal customers there wouldn't be any Silver to talk about. The Triple S Ranch was a triad, but essentially Sweethearts, Serenity and Silver were each their own entity.

"Don't tell me what to be Shane!" Rick yelled in response, his mother's presence in his father's recliner slipping from his mind. His mother preferred to stay in the background while Phillip went over the clauses in her husband's will, again. "Sorry, mama."

Georgia Grimes was a silver haired beauty who specialized in grace and poise a lot of women young and old envied.

"It's ok, son. If I may interject, boys. Your father and uncle wanted the best for all of you. He knew if left to your own devices you two -," she said pointing to Rick and Dwight, "Would never find a girl to settle down with. And you -," she looked determinedly at Shane, "Would have too much!"

She too wanted her sons and nephew to settle down, but it had been like pulling teeth.

"So he's forcing our hands by making us marry just to get money that belong to us?" Rick had no comprehension for his father's logic.

"Aunt Georgia, it ain't fair that this thing is a competition between us," Dwight said, he was raised on the Sweethearts farm after his father Gary passed away from a riding accident. He was as much a son to Georgia as Shane and Rick were.

"Look boys. It's all here in black and white. The first one of you to marry gets a lump sum payment. The first one to bear a son within a year of their marriage will be rewarded one hundred thousand dollars. Now we've already lapsed two whole weeks so that race starts today. Georgia, you call me if you need anything okay."

Phillip closed his leather briefcase, straightened his tie, kissed Georgia and left, leaving the three grown men to ponder the severity of their situations.

"Hell! I can get Andrea to marry me by the mornin'. And what woman wouldn't want to have my baby?" Shane was the over-cocky, overconfident type. He'd been chasing Andrea for the past three years, unchallenged by her remaining the road runner to his coyote.

"Your father maybe unconventional in his methods, boys, but he means well. You don't have to do it, but the money would help each of you in some way. You all are trying to make a name for yourselves." Georgia paused, contemplating the validity of her own words. "Think about it. See if you're willing to sacrifice your singleness for a chance at a home and family."

"I'm only doing this 'cause I need the money. Not 'cause I wanna compete with y'all. Silver is barely keeping its head above water as is. Without the funds we won't be able to pay the bills soon enough." Dwight's options were limited, but he felt certain he'd find a wife.

"Sorry to tell you, Dwight, but you ain't winning this race. Neither are you, Rick. Can't tell you the last time I've seen either of you with a woman." Shane turned, facing Rick. "Jessie had her eyes on you for months now. Why dont'chya roll with that? Mama I'll see you later. Dwight and I got some deliveries to take care of." Shane and Dwight said brief farewells and left.

Georgia saw the fizzle in Rick's stance once his brother and cousin left the room. Out of all her sons, Rick worked the hardest. He started early and finished late; he was the first man out on the field and the last man in the stables, retiring for the day long after the sun went down. His dedication to their business didn't leave much time for recreation. His workaholic nature left room for concern. Rick had a goal in mind; once he put his mind to something, nothing was going to stop him from achieving it. This time money was his hindrance. Georgia conducted her own perusal of the books on Sweethearts, she knew their drawbacks. Her husband had always been a prudent man, believing in saving for a rainy day. She never thought the only way to have access to the funds George had tactically saved was through a clause in his will. She was grateful for his life insurance, but even that was dwindling.

"Rick, look at me."

Rick turned his eyes to his mother, her oceanic blue eyes matching his identically. She held his cheek as she spoke, her gently touch softening his stance considerably. "When your father and I met all we had was love, and a dream. But love doesn't pay bills. Daydreaming about your dreams doesn't make them come true. You have to go after them. I know what's in here. But there's more to life than work. I think you should at least try. Maybe finding someone to share your dream with is exactly what you need."

Rick's savored his mother's words in earnest. She never lead him astray with her keen and timely advice… but a wife? A real wife? He wasn't sure if he wanted or needed that kind of commitment in his already hectic life.

"I'll think about it, mama." It was all he could think about for the past two weeks. Now that he understood the complexities of the codicil, there was no way around it. He had to find himself a wife. He couldn't ponder on it anymore. The time for thinking was over. Now was a time for action.

"What's bothering ya?"

Daryl noticed Rick had been distracted all morning. It took them twenty minutes to fix one hole in the fence. They never crossed ten. They had ten more holes to go, and the ball of fire in the sky was threatening to disintegrate them with the thick heat it was dishing out.

"It's nothin'. After this I need you and Eddie to check the water pump. Somethin' seems to be slowin' it down."

The pump itself needed to change, along with the fence they were mending. Everything needed a makeover. To do that he needed the chunk of money in his father's will. It was the only way he could turn the ranch around and make a profit. Right now they were running on bare minimum. The vast land they owned continued to appreciate in value, but the continued operating costs remained substantial.

Sweethearts, named after his father's nickname for his mother was a ranch specializing in raising young livestock for the purpose of selling or butchering. Rick had plans to be progressive wanting to expand their borders. To do all he planned needed money. To get the money he needed a wife. There was nothing he could do to change that.

"I need a wife."

The words stilled the casual, hot air between him and Daryl. Daryl was Rick's right hand man on the ranch, and a close friend. They weathered a storm or two together over the years fortifying a bond with the loner.

"Yeah, that's a good one." Rick was never good at making jokes, but Daryl chuckled at his random, unexpected sentence.

"I'm serious. It's in the will. The first son to marry gets a lump sum. That kinda money could change everythin' around here."

"You're serious? Then you do need to get a wife." Daryl's observation annoyed Rick immensely.

"Isn't that what I just said?" He was barking, which meant he was getting agitated. Daryl tried to soften his approach.

"Well, I ain't seen ya with none 's all I'm sayin'."

"Well, I'm gonna get one Daryl! That's the plan anyways." He just didn't know from where. He didn't mix too well with the women in Oakland.

"Jessie?" Daryl had all but grinded out her name between his pressed lips. He knew Jessie and Rick had something a few months ago, but the weird owl lady never seemed right for his buddy. When Rick ended their brief non-existent relationship Jessie didn't take it too well. She had gone from heartbroken to overbearing, dropping off cakes or pies every other day hoping to catch Rick's eye again. Rick was too nice to turn her away.

In Rick's defence for that err in judgement, his father had died suddenly. He wasn't the clearest thinker during his mourning period.

"Not Jessie."

Jessie had been a bad decision one night when lust overpowered loneliness. While his heart was mostly disengaged in their two week affair, hers was all in. She was sweet and nice, but their relationship always felt one-sided. The scale was unbalanced. She always got more out of their affair than he did. When Rick ended it Jessie was heartbroken. No, Jessie wasn't the right woman for him. She never was.

He needed someone that was different to all the other women he knew, which meant she couldn't be found in Oakland Springs.

"Maybe you should talk to Carol."

Carol was the town's Jack of all trades, finding simple solutions for difficult problems when even the professionals failed. She was a liaison for the local office, plus moonlighted as an unqualified psychiatrist on the side. She'd been a friend of the Grimes' for more than ten years. She pulled Rick out of a bind more times than he could count.

"I think I'll go see her."

"Otherwise, you can always put an ad out in the Oakland Chronicle."

"And ad in the papers? For a wife?" Rick could see it now -

Local cowboy seeking a wife to meet the demands of his dead father's will.

"Don't think I'm that desperate. Yet." He would go to see Carol today. Hopefully she'd find him a decent girl to marry, preferably one who wouldn't mind sharing his bed, and making a baby with him as soon as they were married.

Two weeks later

The dust the stuffy taxi left in its wake had finally settled around Michonne, unlike her mind that was still in a state of unbelief at the fact she was going to marry a stranger. She assumed she was at the right house. The healthy green spread was large, expanding in every direction with almost nowhere in sight. She heard the distinct sound of cows mooing, cocks crowing and an array of birds tweeting in the background, giving her new surroundings a strong country feel. Not to mention it was the only house for a few miles. Michonne wondered if her city head could ever get accustomed to this type of desolation. Beads of sweat slipped down her cleavage, the heat was palpable, like a constant slap to her face. She was beginning to think the business suit she wore today wasn't suitable for her new home. Once she passed the interview, that is. Technically it wasn't a job interview.

Who interviewed to become someone's wife?

Desperation had brought Michonne to a new low. The bills her hardened brother had stacked up before his murder had crippled her bank account considerably. She had no money left to pay back her student loans. With a fresh business degree, but no job, qualifications, but no experience she had been relegated to dead end jobs that barely kept her lights on.

No one in the city was hiring. Things had been rough after the storm of 2016 destroyed the infrastructure and crippled the economy. People were still recovering two years later. Michonne had been collateral damage in it all. When her mother's friend Carol contacted her catch up, Michonne felt compelled to share the dire straits circumstances she found herself in with the woman she had known most of her life. Carol didn't hesitate to tell Michonne about the opening for a position at a Ranch in Oakland. She didn't tell her everything upfront,; the position was for a wife to a one of a kind Rancher named Rick Grimes who needed a wife for a year.

She didn't want to consider the offer at first, but she couldn't leave things up to chance. The sizeable compensation was desperately needed, reminding her that choice was something she no longer had if she wanted to survive. Rick's conundrum heavily persuaded Michonne to sacrifice a year of her life to get out of the outlandish amount of debt she inherited from her dead brother. Michonne called Carol after a few days of debating, telling her she would take the job. Carol had given Rick her number that same day. Rick seemed stand offish at first, she herself was a bit distant. Once she and Rick realized they both had something each other needed it was easier to talk about things in a practical sense.

The picture Rick sent via email mail made him look like an ad for old country; handsome, authoritative and unrelenting. Rick was rugged where she was soft, giving off an act now, ask questions later vibe. Still, there was a gentleness in his eyes that struck Michonne's core. She couldn't risk vulnerability, treating whatever contract she and will had like the business transaction they had was best. The last thing she needed to pile on top of her insurmountable problems was a broken heart from an ill timed affair. Carol vouched for Rick, his references all checked out and Michonne needed the money. All systems were a go.

What did she have to lose in being Rick Grime's wife for a year? From what he told her his father's will said he needed to be married for a year to get, as he put it, his rightful inheritance. Carol said it all checked out, she trusted Carol.

So what did she really have to lose, besides her self respect?

Michonne had no clue what she was going to do with a husband? What did they eat? How often was she supposed to feed them?

She hoped she was at the right place. She'd been here all of five minutes already. Despite the constant honking of the taxi that was now long gone, no one had stepped outside to welcome her. Michonne's clothes and other belongings were stashed in two large suitcases at her feet already collecting dust. Twenty seven years of her life, summed up in two suitcases and a hopeful prayer that Rick Grimes wouldn't turn her away. She needed him more than he knew.

The porch door swung open with intent. Michonne allowed her hand to shield the glare from the sun as she took in the cowboy's form sauntering towards her on two bowed legs, determination on his face. Pictures didn't do Rick Grimes justice. He was much, much more attractive in person. If Michonne could find a way to bottle him and sell him on the market she wouldn't have to work another day in her life.

Rick ate up the dusty ground between him and the women he was going to marry in quick strides. He stuck his hand towards her without ceremony.

"You're late. You said you'd be here an hour ago."

Michonne also pegged him for a brute. She was happy to see she wasn't far off. Up close Rick was too strong. Too forceful. Too damn handsome. His voice was deep and there was a distinct southern twang to it. His green plaid shirt was snug across his chest and his wranglers made her bite her lip.

"The taxi stalled," she said in a huff. "Apparently that happens when you live behind God's back." She wasn't going to let Rick intimidate her, they both had to benefit from this arrangement.

Besides the scowl that marked Michonne's face, Rick deduced she was a mouthy little thing. It took him two heart beats to feign some casualness in his response to her quip. "You look... different in person." He finally said, observing his pretty brown eyed wife to be business like attire, trying not to take note of the richness of Michonne's smooth dark skin.

Michonne was stunning, and to be honest he wished she wasn't.

Michonne ignored Rick's subtle insult and stuck her hand out, "Nice to finally meet you, Rick Grimes." Nice was too strong a word, but she was gonna marry this jerk come hell or high water.

He took her hand in a strong grip, "Pleasure's all mine, Michonne Marshall."

Rick grabbed up both her suitcases in one swift movement, as though they weighed no more than a feather. "C'mon, let's get you outta the sun."

Michonne felt a condescension in Rick's tone, but she brushed it off when his pensive blue eyes found her again. Rick slipped out one of the sexiest one sided grin she had ever seen in her life. Not that she planed to do everything the rancher said, but she was melting in the intense heat like butter in a skillet. Michonne followed behind Rick, her eyes glued to his sexy strut. She missed a small hole in the dirt beneath her feet and stumbled, twisting her ankle in the fumble. Michonne caught her balance quickly, preventing any embarrassment from Rick seeing her kiss the ground her face day on the job.

"Great idea wearin' high heels to a ranch," Rick said, irony dripping from his pretty pink lips. He looked like he wanted to say more about her daring footwear, but he held it back.

She rolled her eyes at him, then produced a shrug of her shoulders. "Yeah, well you forgot to include suitable dress code in your emailed marriage proposal." She assumed they would have at lease paved roads. There was dirt every where her eyes rested. Every where.

Rick was ready to drop everything to help Michonne, but her spicy retort held him back. He noticed she hadn't hurt herself, finding her footing just in time.

Michonne's body was every man's dream, she was curvy in all the places that count, she smelled like coconut and vanilla. He had to try his best not to stare at her sexy form. Even the unflattering brown business suit she wore couldn't hide her allure. He had to keep his head in the game. The last thing he needed to be doing right now was lusting after his future wife. The situation was complicated enough without adding feelings to the melee.

Still, Rick couldn't deny Carol had made a good choice. He always had faith in her.

They stepped up to the wrap around porch and walked through the screen door.

Michonne gasped once her feet hit the linoleum floor giving the foyer a classy finish. She underestimated the expanse of the house upon her arrival. Inside the house was massive and unexpectedly stylish. An enormous carpeted rug took up most of the space in the living room, sheer curtains decorated unusually tall windows. What caught her eye was the bevy of family pictures on the yellow painted walls. The Grimes family was a big one.

"You live in this big house by yourself?"

Rick had walked off into the massive kitchen. Michonne had to throw her voice to get his attention. Her curiosity got the best of her, she found him in the kitchen pouring her a glass of water from a Brita. His thoughtfulness caught her off guard

"Thank you," she said, relishing the cold feel of the water against her dry lips. All she needed now was a shower, and a change of clothes.

"For the most part. It's just me, and my two dogs. But the ranch is never lonely. I've got five ranch hands and someone who comes in twice a week to clean."

They were now back in the living room. Rick took a seat on the sofa, his long legs stretching out in front of him.

"Can we get down to business? I've got some thangs I need to take get to."

"Certainly." The more she treated their arrangement like a business transaction, the more detached Michonne would feel about the whole thing. At least that's what she told herself.

The front door opened, A perky blonde walked in, a smile on her face and a freshly baked pie in her hands. Michonne noticed the blonde wore a blue plaid shirt with denim jeans, and what Michonne assumed were cowgirl boots.

Lord, was she ever going to get accustomed to all this plaid and denim?

"Hi, Rick. Baked you an apple pie. Who's this?" Blondie asked mid stride, not bothering to look Michonne in her face, despite being taken aback by her presence.

Rick yanked Michonne against his chest, the intimate contact making her breath hitch. His hands wrapped around her slim waist, gathering her close.

"Jessie, I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Michonne." His proud tone was convincing.

"F...fiancé?" Jessie almost dropped the pie out of pure shock. Jessie was aware of his late father's will. She always assumed she would've been his obvious choice for a bride after their brief affair a few months back. Rick was not so subtly letting her know she was sorely mistakes.

"Yes, fiancé." Michonne said, catching on quickly. "That pie smells great." Michonne didn't need any more enemies. She needed to play it safe while she was in Oakland. Even if that meant playing nice with someone who was obviously in love with Rick. Even if said someone was side eyeing the hell out of her.

Focusing on Jessie helped Michonne to avoid the way she felt flush against Rick's chest. If Rick was a lifeguard she would pretend she was drowning everyday just to be thrusted upon his firm chest.

"Well...umm...let me get outta here. I'll uh...I'll see you around Rick. Nice meeting you, Michonne." Jessie looked defeated when she left, like she found out she didn't even place in the finals in a race.

"She looked like she'd marry you in a split second. Why didn't you ask her?" Michonne sensed there was a story there, but preferred to keep her suspicions to herself. She wasn't here to learn everything single thing about Rick or dig up his past. She was here for a job, she needed to remember that.

"Maybe I like my women with a little sass." Rick's hot breath hit her face. She needed to get away from him otherwise she couldn't be held accountable for her actions. She needed to pull herself together. While she was glad they had a weird kind of chemistry there was no room for feelings or emotions for Rick Grimes. She had to treat this marriage as the business transaction it was.

She pulled away from Rick, ignoring his obvious tease. Using the distance to pull herself together. "Thank you for paying my rent. I had every intention to do it as soon as I get my advance." She took a seat on the couch again after stretching her legs. Her feet weren't trustworthy when Rick was in proximity..

"It's nothin'. I know what it's like to have debt over your head. Carol said you have a business degree? Maybe we can see how we can put it to use."

Michonne's eyes lit up. "So you're gonna marry me?" She forgot he too was desperate for her services.

"You're here aren't you?"

"And?"

"Based on everything we've discussed on the phone, and what Carol told you do you think you could live here for a year? Do you think you could marry me, live with me in this house? You'd have to share my bed. The marriage has to be consummated. We can't have an annulment. You okay with that?"

Carol had filled her in on most of the fine print, including the sleeping arrangements. In reality it would look like a real marriage, on paper it was a business arrangement.

"...Yes. Are you going to throw me over your shoulder and drop me on the bed? Or can I expect a little patience in that area?" She had never lived with a man before, much less had one in her bed. There were so many things she didn't know. It filled her with copious amounts of trepidation.

"Only if you're into that kind of thing, darlin'" Rick's laughter was cynical in nature. "You aren't hidin' any secrets are you? There ain't nothin' I need tp know about before you take my last name, is there?"

"No." At the spur of the moment, Michonne had given herself mendacious autonomy. But she was lying to herself too. The fact helped balance off her unease over her lie. Hopefully her jaded past wouldn't trace her back to Oakland.

"Well, it's all settled."

"Not so fast Mister. What about you?" She wanted to know the story with Jessie, even though it was none of her business. Her interest in how much of a threat her unexpected arrival was to the box dyed blonde was piqued.

Rick stepped closer to her. They were almost chest to chest. For a minute she forgot blinking was customary. "What...what about you? Anything I need to know?"

Rick was lost in the brownness of her eyes. They reminded him of the horses he loved so much. There was a wildness in them he desperately wanted to tame . Michonne was a beautiful woman and he was going to make her his wife, on paper of course.

He hesitated before he shook his head. His father always said lying had a way of catching up to you.

"Alright," she said resolutely. "When is this marriage taking place?" She figured she had a few days to get used to the idea she was marrying a brute, a damn sexy one at that.

"Hope you've cleared your schedule. Before sundown today you'll be Mrs. Grimes." Rick had no time to waste. He liked that he had the ability to take Michonne's breath away. Maybe having a wife wasn't going to be so bad after all. All he needed to do now was explain to her the baby clause then persuade her to have a baby with him. He preferred to do that when she was nice and settled and bore his last name.

Michonne swallowed visibly, she thought time was on her side, but it wasn't.

How was she going to tell her soon to be husband he was marrying a virgin?