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My Savage Farmer Step-Dad Ep 2026-Isode New
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Sold my mom to the old farmer next door.
00:02My dad said that before he left for the army.
00:05The old farmer had a bad leg, but he was a savage man.
00:09People said he even killed his first wife.
00:11He was strong enough to knock out a bull with one punch.
00:15For my mom, marrying him was a death sentence.
00:18Three years later, the news came that my dad was dead.
00:21Right away, my grandma sold my mom to the monster for $2,000.
00:26The day we heard the news of dad's death, it was December, right after a blizzard.
00:31My mom was feeding the cattle barefoot.
00:34Grandmother never allowed her to wear shoes.
00:36She said a bitch like her didn't deserve them.
00:38I often went to the woods to gather branches for warmth,
00:42but my uncle would always snatch them away for his fireplace.
00:45No matter how we begged, it was useless.
00:48Grandmother would beat us and curse us for days.
00:51I felt sorry for mom and tried to help her feed the cows.
00:55Baby, go play over there.
00:57The sun is out, it's warmer there.
00:59My shoes were torn and falling apart.
01:01The sun was our only source of heat.
01:04After feeding the cows, we went back to the cabin.
01:07Grandmother was already waiting, fuming with rage.
01:09What took you so long?
01:11Were you out looking for other men again?
01:13She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
01:16The army sent word, Jason is dead.
01:19Ever since he married you, my son was cursed by your bad luck.
01:22She didn't look sad about her son's death at all.
01:25There had to be a secret behind this.
01:27Now that he's gone, get out of this house.
01:30Don't stay here and ruin the Hudson family name.
01:33She looked at us with disgust and kept grumbling.
01:36Luckily, my son sold you to Rick before he left.
01:39Otherwise, we would have lost so much money feeding you two.
01:42My mom didn't fight back.
01:44She just picked up her coat and held my hand tight.
01:47Mom, at least let me take the child with me.
01:50Grandmother looked me up and down.
01:52She had a wicked look in her eyes.
01:54That depends on if that old farmer pays more.
02:00A girl her age could fetch $2,000 at the town.
02:06She's worth much more than you.
02:07My mom gripped my hand even harder.
02:10We both knew the truth.
02:12As soon as she marries Rick, grandmother will sell me away.
02:16It was the day we were driven to Rick's ranch.
02:18The legendary monster was there, chopping wood.
02:21Each swing of his axe was terrifying.
02:24One of his legs was broken and propped on a wooden stool.
02:27He looked strange and menacing.
02:29A huge scar ran from his left eye down to his mouth.
02:32It looked like his face was split in two.
02:35I hid behind my mom, trembling.
02:37Rick looked at us coldly.
02:39You're forcing this woman on me for $500?
02:42Now you want $2,000 more?
02:44He clearly didn't want my mom.
02:46And he definitely didn't want a burden like me.
02:48My son Jason saved your life in that blizzard.
02:51Now that he's gone, you should be grateful to take her.
02:53This girl will be your daughter.
02:55It's a blessing.
02:56$2,000 is a bargain for you.
02:58$2,000 was a lot of money.
03:00It could buy so many seeds.
03:02I knew I wasn't worth that much.
03:04Rick glanced at Grandmother, but said nothing.
03:07People said he was a man of few words,
03:09but one look from him could scare anyone to death.
03:12Grandmother shoved my mom forward.
03:14My mom's thin body almost hit the ground.
03:17She pulled me along and knelt down instantly.
03:19Rick, my child eats very little.
03:21She can feed the cows and collect firewood.
03:24Please, give us a way to live.
03:27His eyes were sharp, judging me.
03:29Call him Dad.
03:31I looked at Rick and that terrifying scar.
03:35Dad.
03:36Rick froze.
03:37His scar looked even more twisted.
03:39Grandmother kicked me hard in the back.
03:41Your father just died and you're already calling him Dad!
03:45Just like your mother, a traitor to the family!
03:48She kept kicking me over and over.
03:50I lay on the ground, motionless.
03:52I didn't fight back or scream.
03:54I knew if she had her fun, she would eventually stop.
03:57Mom crawled over to save me, but Grandmother slapped her across the face.
04:02This was life in the Hudson house.
04:04Mom couldn't save me, and she couldn't save herself.
04:08Suddenly, Rick threw a roll of cash at Grandmother's feet.
04:11And enough!
04:13This girl belongs to my family now.
04:15Grandmother took the money and tried to leave, but Rick stopped her.
04:18He demanded she sign the guardianship transfer agreement.
04:22Grandmother refused.
04:23Rick snatched the money back instantly.
04:25No signature, no money.
04:27In the end, she gave in for the cash.
04:29Mom and I officially became part of Rick's family.
04:33Mom folded our two ragged coats by the cow shed.
04:35She started working right away.
04:37She wanted to be useful.
04:39She thought hard work would keep us from being beaten.
04:42Rick's cabin was simple.
04:44Three rooms and a living area.
04:45Only one bedroom had a bed.
04:47The other rooms were empty.
04:49Mom took me to the cow shed.
04:51It was kept very clean.
04:52Mom found some wooden boards to make me a bed.
04:55I will sleep here tonight.
04:57Don't be afraid, baby.
04:59I spread hay over the boards.
05:02I'm not scared, Mom.
05:04It was the same back at the Hudson ranch.
05:05When Dad was home, he said I was in the way.
05:08He always kicked me out to the cow shed.
05:10The Hudson shed was much filthier.
05:12There were rats and snakes everywhere, freezing in winter and boiling in summer.
05:17I survived all those years.
05:20Mom hugged me tightly.
05:23It's my fault I couldn't keep your father's heart.
05:26Dad was always hurtful to Mom.
05:28I knew there was a secret behind all this.
05:31Mom, why did Dad want you to marry Rick?
05:33Before, Dad never let her leave the ranch.
05:36He never let her look at anyone and lie.
05:38Grandmother always cursed her for flirting with outsiders.
05:41Why the sudden rush to marry her off?
05:44Mom's bitter laugh was muffled in her chest.
05:47Her voice was barely a whisper.
05:49Because only Rick had this much money.
05:52She didn't finish the sentence, but I knew.
05:55Dad sent Mom here to die.
05:57Dad decided to sell Mom for money before he even left.
06:00He wasn't coming back, and he didn't want Mom to survive.
06:03He wanted to cut off her every means of escape.
06:06Even as a child, I could see their plot.
06:08It was so obvious that all the neighbors were talking about it.
06:11A moment later, Rick came back.
06:13He ignored us.
06:14He carried a pile of wooden boards into the house.
06:17The sound of his heavy hammering echoed, hitting our hearts.
06:20Mom stood outside, hesitant.
06:22She wanted to ask where the flour and beef were so she could cook, but she didn't dare.
06:26After a while, Rick came out.
06:28He saw us standing there like statues and frowned.
06:30Is something wrong?
06:31His voice was gruff.
06:33I wanted to shrink back, but it was just me and Mom.
06:36If I backed down, she would be all alone.
06:39I stood my ground and held her hand tight.
06:41Rick noticed my move and his brow twitched.
06:44Mom asked hesitantly,
06:45I wanted to ask about dinner.
06:49Please give me the ingredients so I can cook.
06:54Rick frowned again, looking at us with confusion.
06:57He pointed toward the kitchen.
06:59In there.
07:01And the key?
07:03Rick's frown deepened.
07:04He walked over and kicked the door open.
07:06Then he looked back at us.
07:08I felt like he was asking if we were stupid.
07:10There was no lock, so why would there be a key?
07:12But things were different at the Hudson Ranch.
07:14The Hudson kitchen was always locked.
07:16Even the flour, beef, and butter were kept in locked cabinets.
07:20Mom cooked every meal, but grandmother decided every gram of food.
07:23She would put the exact amount on the counter and watch Mom cook.
07:27If a single grain of flour was dropped, she would scream for hours.
07:30She called Mom a money waster and called us starving ghosts.
07:33All you do is eat! You're useless!
07:37She was afraid we would steal food.
07:39Mom led me into the kitchen.
07:41Seeing the flour, beef, and butter sitting there made her hesitate.
07:44She looked at Rick, but he had already gone back outside.
07:47Mom didn't dare touch the food.
07:48She was afraid that if she messed up, Rick would beat her.
07:51Just like grandmother did.
07:52She was afraid of being accused of stealing.
07:54Mom made dinner with trembling hands.
07:56She put the food on the table, but we stood in the yard, not daring to move.
08:02Rick came back carrying two large wooden crates.
08:04He put them into the empty, unused room.
08:07He saw the food, and then saw us standing outside.
08:11His frown deepened.
08:12He sat down at the table and called us inside in a gravelly voice.
08:16While he ate, he grunted,
08:18Not enough. Make more tomorrow.
08:20He ate quickly, finishing half and leaving the rest for us.
08:23Then he stood there, chopping wood while watching us eat.
08:26We didn't dare to eat much, but I soon noticed something strange.
08:30When I took big bites, he focused on his work.
08:33The moment I put down my fork, he would stare at me and frown.
08:37Did he want us to eat more?
08:38We finished the meal in fear, waiting for the beatings to start.
08:43But Rick didn't yell or hit us. He just put away his axe and spoke.
08:49Wash up and go to sleep. It's been a long day.
08:52After Rick finished, Mom took me to wash up.
08:55We hadn't used hot water in three years.
08:57She kept muttering as she washed, her face full of nerves.
09:00I must get clean. Then he won't hate me.
09:04The hot water hit my back, and I felt warm instantly.
09:07I never knew a bath could feel this good.
09:10At the Hudson Ranch, this was a heaven I couldn't even imagine.
09:13After the bath, I headed to the cow shed to sleep.
09:16Mom pulled me aside.
09:17Cover your ears. No matter what you hear, don't come out.
09:21Just pretend you're asleep. Okay?
09:24I nodded hard. I understood.
09:26Back then, Dad would come home drunk and beat me in the shed.
09:30He called me a waste of money and a curse.
09:32He blamed me for his gambling losses.
09:34One time, he almost killed me.
09:36Mom had to grab an axe to fight him off just to save me.
09:39Now, looking at Rick, he was much stronger than Dad.
09:41He could probably kill me with one kick.
09:44But he wasn't drunk, and he wasn't angry.
09:46He picked me up like a little chick and carried me into the empty room.
09:49Mom was already waiting there. The room wasn't empty anymore.
09:52There was a wide wooden bed inside. It was piled with old but clean quilts and two sets of warm
09:58clothes.
09:59Rick sat me down and turned to leave. He went back to his own room and closed the door.
10:03Soon, I heard him snoring. I never thought I'd get to sleep inside a house again.
10:08That night, we slept restlessly, but it was so warm. I curled up in my quilt and whispered,
10:14Mom, it's so warm.
10:15I had never felt this warm in winter before. My stomach was full and my heart felt safe.
10:21For the first time, I felt like I was actually alive. Mom stroked my hair.
10:26Baby, you called him Dad today.
10:29Call him that tomorrow and every day after.
10:32I nodded.
10:33Okay.
10:34Rick was already much better to me than my real father.
10:37After that, Mom slowly started making more food.
10:40She was careful, adding just a little more each time.
10:43It took days for her to figure out Rick's temper and appetite.
10:47He ate a lot, as much as Mom and me combined. But he never told us we couldn't eat.
10:51In fact, if we ate too little, he would frown.
10:53He went hunting in the mountains around the ranch. He sold the big one in town.
10:57But sometimes, he brought back rabbits or pheasants for Mom to stew.
11:00He only ate half and left the rest for us. In my whole life, I had only tasted meat three
11:05times.
11:06This was the fourth. The meat tasted so good. No wonder Grandmother and my uncle loved it so much.
11:11Mom saw how happy I was and gave me extra. I ate so much that I didn't notice the pain
11:16until midnight.
11:17I was rolling on the bed in agony. Mom rubbed my stomach, but nothing worked.
11:21She gave me hot water, but I threw it up instantly. I felt like I was dying.
11:26Rick burst into the room. He wrapped me in a quilt and hoisted me onto his shoulder.
11:30He started running. Mom stumbled along behind him, too scared to say a word.
11:35He ran all the way to the town doctor's house. He put the door open. The doctor's family was terrified.
11:41They started to complain, but one look at Rick's face silenced them. The doctor checked me with a stethoscope.
11:47He asked what I had eaten. It's indigestion. She ate too much. She's been malnourished for years.
11:53Her body can't handle this much meat all at once. I'll give her something to throw it up.
11:57He poured something into my mouth. I vomited everything out. The room smelled awful. The doctor's
12:03wife grumbled in the corner. Clearly she's never had anything good in her life. She doesn't have
12:08the luck to enjoy good food. Rick looked up and gave her a death stare. She scurried back into her
12:13room, terrified. I felt so ashamed. I got sick just from eating meat. Maybe grandmother was right.
12:20Maybe I was just a starving ghost who didn't deserve anything. Rick carried me back home. On the way,
12:25he asked in a low voice. Have you never had meat before? I thought he was judging me. This was
12:31only
12:32my fourth time. Before, I only ever had a bite. At the Hudson's, they wouldn't even give us the
12:38leftover broth. I truly had never had anything good. He gave a low grunt. You'll get used to it if
12:44you
12:44eat it more often. I was sick and could only eat rice porridge for a few days. Rick bought some
12:50supplements
12:50from town. Those were expensive things I had never seen before. I ate rice porridge with nutrient
12:56powder every meal. It was even better than what my mom ate when I was born. Rick watched me eat
13:02every
13:02day. Once my face looked healthy again, he stopped worrying. He went to fix the doctor's fence. Then he
13:08dragged the doctor back to check my heartbeat. Only after the doctor said I was fine did he let him
13:13go.
13:13He said he was going deep into the mountains to hunt. He wanted to catch something big. He would be
13:18gone for days and asked mom to pack some food. Mom mixed butter and brown sugar into the dough.
13:23The flatbread smelled delicious as she baked it. She also gave him thick insoles and a winter hat she
13:29had made. Rick took the food and looked at the gifts. He looked at her and his eyes softened.
13:36Christmas is coming soon. I'll buy you gifts once I sell the big game. Think about what you want.
13:42Mom and I stood at the ranch gate to see him off. Watching his limping figure, I couldn't help but
13:47shout. Dad, come back soon. Rick's body stiffened for a second. He didn't look back but he waved his
13:53hand. Go inside. It's cold out here. We waited for five days but he didn't come back.
14:01That night, the weather turned even colder. On the fifth day, snow began to fall from the sky.
14:07Mom looked at the darkening sky, then at me. She pointed to the food in the kitchen.
14:13She told me to take care of myself and fix something to eat if I got hungry.
14:19I'm going to find him. I'll be back soon. She put on thick clothes, strapped a dagger to herself,
14:26and took a flashlight. I was too worried to stay, so I hid a small curved knife on myself. I
14:33followed
14:34closely behind her. Where you go, I go, Mom. We're going to bring Dad home. In my heart,
14:38Rick was my father. He was a thousand times better than my real father. Mom sighed.
14:45If something really happened to him, you wouldn't survive alone. Let's go. Together.
14:49We held hands and walked deep into the mountains. Before, we only gathered firewood at the edge of
14:56the woods. People said there were wolves, wild boars, and man-eating black bears deep inside. But,
15:03as long as I was with Mom, and thinking that Dad was waiting for us, I wasn't scared at all.
15:09Heavy
15:09snow fell from the sky. It was only afternoon, but it was already completely dark. The path through the
15:17woods was extremely hard to walk. Stepped deep and shallow, sometimes falling into deep holes made of
15:23fallen leaves. Mom pulled me out and used a stick to check the path ahead. Before long,
15:29heavy footsteps came from ahead. Mom pulled out her dagger and I gripped my curved knife tightly. We
15:37stared ahead, terrified and alert. In that moment, I thought, even if I die, I want to die with Mom.
15:45The footsteps grew closer. A tall, limping figure appeared. He was dragging a huge black bear,
15:52walking with difficulty with every step. We both froze. I let go of Mom's hand and rushed over
16:00suddenly. I hugged his leg tightly and looked up at him. The black bear fell heavily to the ground.
16:06What? What are you doing here? He looked at us, completely shocked. He reached out to pick me up,
16:12but he was clearly exhausted, trying several times but failing. I held tightly to his thigh.
16:18Dad, we came to take you home. Mom rushed over as well. Rick, you've been gone for five days
16:26and it started snowing. She didn't dare say she was worried. Back then, when my biological father
16:33didn't come home for days, Mom went to look for him too. I was afraid something happened to you. But
16:39my father just slapped her across the face. Something happened? What could happen to a man like me?
16:44It's because you cursed me all day that I'm so unlucky. After that, Mom never dared to show her
16:50worry again. He wasn't a good husband, a good father, or even a good person. But Rick just looked
16:57at Mom and quirked his lips. He tried to smile, but maybe he hadn't smiled in years and forgot how.
17:04He gave us an explanation. This game was too big. That's why I'm late.
17:09He hoisted the black bear back up and told us to go home. Go back and start the fire. I'll
17:16be home
17:16soon. That bear was massive. He must have dragged it for so long that he was completely exhausted.
17:24Yet, he didn't demand our help. He wanted to carry the burden himself. Mom saw how tired he was and
17:31hesitated. She didn't want to disobey, but she desperately wanted to help. I ran forward and
17:38grabbed the bear's leg. Dad, we're going back with you. I didn't have much strength and the bear's fur
17:45felt terrifying. It was so huge that it looked fierce even in death. Mom found her courage and
17:52ran over too. We'll help you. It took all our strength to drag the black bear home. The snow
18:00on the ground was thick now. The ranch was pitch black and the trail was empty. We finally made it
18:06back. The giant bear lay in the snow looking even more fierce, but I wasn't afraid. I circled it a
18:14few
18:14times and ran back to Rick. I leaned against his leg and looked up. Dad, you're amazing. You actually
18:21killed a black bear. Rick was too tired to move, but he reached out. He gently patted my head.
18:29Yeah. His hand was large, rough, and heavy. But when he touched me, it was light and warm. Jason's
18:37hands were big too, but they weren't rough. He rarely did any real work. Jason wasn't even that strong.
18:44When he got into trouble in town, he would just curl up and take the hits.
18:49But when he hit me and Mom, he was very strong. His blows made my head ring every time. In
18:56this place,
18:57many men slapped their wives and children. I used to think all fathers and husbands were like that.
19:03I didn't know someone could be different. The next morning, before dawn, Rick borrowed a tractor. He woke us
19:11up to go to town and sell the bear. He knew exactly where to go. He stopped at a grand
19:17luxury house.
19:18A butler came out and greeted him warmly. They hugged and talked like old friends. I realized then that
19:25Dad could be so full of life. He could actually talk this much. Mom and I stayed back, staring at
19:32the fancy
19:33gates. We didn't dare step forward. Dad pointed at us. The butler looked us over and pulled out a
19:40small coin purse. Here, child, take this. I was too scared to take it, but he pressed it into my
19:48hand.
19:49Dad nodded, so I finally accepted it. Thank you. There was a silver coin inside. I immediately put the
19:57coin in Dad's hand. Dad, this is for you. The butler froze for a second, then burst out laughing.
20:07Rick, you have a sweet daughter. You're a lucky man. He handed me a big apple. The coin is for
20:13your dad,
20:15but this is for you. Keep it for yourself. Merry Christmas to your family. The butler bought the
20:22bear and invited Dad for a drink. Won't you come in for a drink? Rick waved him off and refused.
20:28No,
20:28thank you. We need to buy things for Christmas. The black bear sold for a lot of money. Dad took
20:36us
20:36to the streets. First, he bought a lot of candy. He put them into three red socks. I took one
20:43out and
20:44put it in my mouth, carefully. I peeled another one for Mom. Mom didn't dare to eat and looked at
20:51Dad.
20:52She wanted to save it for me, but Dad stopped her. Too much sugar makes kids sick. We don't want
20:59to
20:59see the doctor again. Mom remembered my stomach ache and didn't give me more. So, Mom finally opened
21:06her mouth and ate the candy. Dad then took us to buy meat, flour, and butter. He even bought spices
21:15for
21:15cooking. Finally, we went to a clothing store for new coats. Mom waved her hands and said no.
21:24Our old coats are still good. I said no, too. The old quilts and coats Dad gave us were already
21:31warm
21:31and clean. That was good enough for me. I had never worn such nice clothes in my life. But Dad
21:39insisted on
21:40buying new ones. I bought old ones because I was broke. Now we have money.
21:46In the end, we bought fabric and cotton instead of finished coats. I can sew quickly. They'll be ready
21:54before Christmas. She still didn't want to spend too much. She picked out a plaid fabric for Dad and
22:01held it up to him. Rick, this pattern looks good on you. It was the first time they were so
22:07close.
22:08I think I saw Dad's face turn red. Dad lifted me up and set me on his shoulders. I could
22:16see so far
22:17away. I laughed out loud. It was my first time being up this high. Mom was worried and kept checking
22:25Dad's
22:25leg. She was afraid he would get too tired. After a while, Dad bought me some toys. He also bought
22:32hair clips and brooches for me and Mom. Brother, your wife and daughter are beautiful. These brooches
22:38from the city suit them perfectly. Both Dad and Mom blushed at the same time. On the way back, we
22:45sat on
22:45the tractor. I hugged my red socks tightly. This was the happiest day of my life. As we passed the
22:52Hudson
22:52ranch, I saw Grandmother. She was feeding the cows in the yard. My uncle was lounging under the eaves
22:59in the sun. He still had no job and no wife. He just ate, drank, and wasted his life. After
23:05selling
23:06us to Rick, he had that money. Now he worked even less. He said he was preparing for a blind
23:11date.
23:12Grandmother always called us lazy, but I never dared to say that my uncle was the laziest one.
23:17I gripped my red socks and stared at them. Grandmother and my uncle noticed us.
23:22Their eyes widened in disbelief. Then, their faces turned into a hateful scowl.
23:27You two shrewd! Grandmother was cursing at us. Dad stopped the tractor. He threw a stone and hit my
23:35uncle right on the head. My uncle jumped up in pain. Who did that?
23:40Dad threw another stone into Grandmother's water basin. They are my wife and daughter now.
23:46If you insult them again, you're dealing with me. He looked terrifying. Even with a limp,
23:53he stood like a mountain. Grandmother and my uncle were bullies who feared the strong.
23:59They were furious, but didn't dare say a word. Mom gripped my hand. Her eyes turned red.
24:05As we drove away, I looked back. I could still see their hateful glares. I suddenly felt brave.
24:13I waved my red socks and made a face at them. I had a real dad now. They could never
24:20bully us again.
24:21Back home, Mom started decorating the tree and making apple pie. Dad spent his time fixing everything in
24:28the house. He gathered wood and never stayed idle. He brought back more pheasants and rabbits.
24:35Eat more meat, then your stomach won't hurt anymore. I wanted to follow him into the mountains,
24:40but he refused. Kids stay home and play. I tried to help Mom, but she sent me away too.
24:48Your dad wants you to play. Go on, you haven't had a chance to be a kid yet. At the
24:53Hudson Ranch,
24:54I never had time to play. Now that I could, I didn't know how. I walked along the path with
25:00some
25:01candy. I saved them carefully, not wanting to eat them. But then I ran into some mean kids from a
25:08nearby farm. They swarmed me and grabbed my candy. You're a brat born from that limp farmer. Your
25:14grandmother said so. It must be true. A bitch and her brat. No wonder her husband just died and she
25:20remarried already. I fought back with all my might. That's not true. Grandmother kicked us out. My mom
25:27isn't a bitch and I'm not a brat. But I was too small. I couldn't beat them. My clothes were
25:35torn.
25:36My candy was gone. Even my new hair clip was missing. They laughed and ran off with my sweets.
25:43I sat in the mud and cried. Grandmother and my uncle stood nearby, watching with wicked smiles.
25:51You deserve this. We should have sold them to the town tavern back then. I screamed at them. I am
25:57not
25:57a brat. You are the bad people. You are evil. I was so small back then. My mom had already
26:05had a child.
26:06The tavern would never pay that much for us. They thought I was too young to understand,
26:11but I had overheard their conversation. They were the truly wicked ones. They wanted to leave us at
26:16the ranch. They wanted to watch Rick beat us to death. But they never expected this. Dad never hit us.
26:24He never tortured us even for a second. He treated us so well. They couldn't stand it. So they spread
26:32rumors behind our backs. They framed us everywhere. Clearly, they are the real monsters.
26:38I lost the hair clip and candy Dad bought me. I was too ashamed to go home. I lingered near
26:43the gate,
26:44hesitating. Dad came down from the mountain. He saw me covered in mud and blood. He dropped his pheasants
26:51in shock. I had never seen him so angry. Who did this? I trembled in fear. I'm sorry. I'm so
26:58sorry.
26:59He panicked, trying to wipe the mud off my face. Tell Dad who hit you. His hands were rough,
27:07but they calmed my racing heart. I stuttered through the whole story. The more I spoke,
27:13the darker his face became. He took me back and left me with Mom. Then he grabbed his axe to
27:19head out.
27:20Rick. Mom pulled him back and shook her head. Dad thought for a moment. He dropped the axe and grabbed
27:28a
27:28wooden club instead. That day, the parents of those bullies all got in pain. If you can't teach your
27:35kids, I won't hit them. I'll hit you instead. Those grown men were chased like rabbits
27:43by a man with a limp. Dad moved slowly but steadily. He caught up to them and struck them down.
27:51The men wailed in pain. Everyone in the ranch came out to watch. Then Dad went to the Hudson Ranch.
27:59He gave my uncle a brutal beating. My uncle screamed and begged for mercy. He promised he would never do
28:06it again. I won't do it again. I promise. Dad turned to the crowd of onlookers. If you have something
28:11to
28:11say, say it to my face. No one dared to speak. They all waved their hands and shook their heads.
28:17We all know what
28:17the Hudsons are like. Just go live your life. Look at how happy your family is now.
28:22Dad dropped the club. He patted my head and led me home.
28:29Have you lived this long without a name?
28:33I shook my head. Grandmother called me a brat. Mom only called me baby. Dad pulled me close and
28:39looked at the stars. From now on, your name is Stella. Shine like a star and have a bright future
28:47ahead.
28:49For the first time I had a real name. Stella Cooper, I have my own name now. I smiled at
28:56Mom. Dad smiled
28:57too and patted my head. I finally have a daughter of my own. That night, Mom talked to me. Stella,
29:07you're a big girl now. Starting tomorrow you sleep on your own, okay? If I sleep alone,
29:13where will Mom sleep? I thought about it and nodded hard. Okay, Mom, you and Dad have a baby brother
29:20or
29:20sister soon. I'll play with them. This time I really wanted a sibling. A sibling just like Dad would be
29:27wonderful. The next morning, Dad woke me up early. Stella, was I cool when I handled those bad guys yesterday?
29:35I nodded vigorously. So cool. If you want to protect yourself, you want to rely on more forever.
29:42You have to rely on yourself. Do you want like me strong? I nodded again. Yes. I wanted to be
29:49strong
29:49like him. I wanted to protect my parents and my future siblings. I wanted to hunt bears and earn
29:56lots of money. Dad looked proud. He made me run 50 laps around our ranch cabin. By the end, I
30:03could
30:03barely stand. He gritted his teeth and wouldn't let me stop. Mom looked pained, but she didn't say a word.
30:11She just made extra food and added two fried eggs for me. After running, there was weight training.
30:17Dad brought sandbags from the ranch warehouse. They felt like a thousand pounds on my arms.
30:24After a day of training, my hands and feet were covered in blisters. Mom washed my feet and popped
30:30the blisters for me. Stella, train hard. Your dad is doing this for your own good.
30:38I know, Mom. Most ranch families only teach girls to gather wood, wash clothes, and cook. Who would ever
30:45teach a girl how to be strong? I understood how much Dad cared for me. That night, Mom moved into
30:51Dad's room. I heard
30:52them talking for a bit before the lights went out. My body ached all over, but I slept peacefully.
30:58The next morning, Dad woke up late. I had already finished 30 laps when he came out.
31:04His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. All day long, Dad and Mom were blushing. They kept stealing
31:11glances at each other. Why hide it? Just look if you want to. Grown-ups are so strange. We had
31:18a perfect
31:18Christmas. Dad used the bear money to expand the ranch. He bought two dairy cows and a few beef
31:24cattle. When we weren't farming, we were managing the ranch. During the off-season, we went hunting.
31:30Dad started taking me into the mountains. He taught me how to track animals and read their droppings.
31:35He showed me how to avoid bears and wolves. He taught me to set traps and use a hunting rifle.
31:41He even
31:42showed me how to knock someone out with minimal force and how to spot poisonous plants in the woods.
31:47I was weak, so my progress was slow. But Dad was always patient. Our family was happy. But the rumors
31:54never truly stopped. Most of them came from the Hudsons. Rick's fault he's a cripple.
32:00That person pretends to be arrogant and married a cripple.
32:04So what if Jason was handsome? His only talents were hitting us, gambling and drinking.
32:11I started staring at Dad's leg. Dad noticed and tried to walk slower to hide his limp.
32:16Sometimes he would lean on the ranch fence for support.
32:21Your dad is so good to you, Stella. Don't be heartless. Don't look down on him like others.
32:29Mom thought I was becoming ungrateful. Her eyes turned red with anger,
32:32but she couldn't bring herself to hit me. I quickly grabbed her hand to explain.
32:37Mom, I don't look down on Dad. I feel bad for him. I want to study medicine. I want to
32:44fix his leg.
32:45I didn't care that he limped. I didn't care about the scar on his face. I just hated seeing him
32:50unable
32:50to sleep when it rained. I hated that hunting was harder for him than others. Mom understood my thoughts,
32:57but she was worried. There were no medical schools in town. Besides, I was only a six-year-old girl.
33:04Dad overheard us from outside the cabin. He stayed silent for two days. He just sat on the porch,
33:10staring at the mountains. Two days later, he took me back to the city. We found the butler who bought
33:16the black bear. Dad asked him for a favor. The man looked at me carefully. He patted Dad's shoulder
33:22and agreed happily. If she wants to learn, she can start as an assistant in the pharmacy.
33:30Stella, studying medicine is very hard. You have to memorize names, mix medicine, and care for the sick.
33:37People might yell at you or even hit you. Can you handle it? I slapped my chest and spoke loudly.
33:45I can. I'll fix my dad's leg and earn lots of money. I'll take care of my parents and my
33:52future siblings.
33:53The man burst out laughing and nudged Dad's arm. Rick, your daughter is so sweet. Is the next one
34:01already on the way? Dad's face turned bright red instantly. He waved his hands quickly.
34:05It's still too early for that. I lived at the pharmacy in town, doing odd jobs. I tried my
34:12best to learn everything about medicine. I only went home to the ranch once every two weeks. I
34:18brought the sandbags Dad gave me to the pharmacy. No matter how busy I was, I found time to train.
34:24Mom hated leaving me alone in town. She held my hand and wouldn't let go when she dropped me off.
34:29With red eyes, she told me to eat well and not overwork. Come home if anyone treats you badly.
34:35She said. I waved and smiled to comfort her. Don't worry, Mom. I can take care of myself.
34:42When I learn everything, I'll fix Dad's leg. Mom laughed through her tears and wiped them away.
34:49All right, I'll be waiting. I'll make your favorite snacks for when you come home.
34:53The doctor at the pharmacy was an old friend of the butler's. He was kind to patients, but very strict
34:58with apprentices. If we forgot a drug's name, he yelled. If we missed a detail in a patient's record,
35:04he yelled. If we took blood pressure incorrectly, he yelled. Sometimes he made us copy drug names as
35:10punishment for being slow. The other students felt mistreated. Before long, they all went home crying and
35:17never came back. But I wasn't afraid. What was this little bit of hardship? Compared to grandmother's
35:23beatings or Jason's violence, this was nothing. I was already used to it. Besides, I knew the doctor
35:29wanted me to grow fast, just like Dad wanted me to be strong. The doctor was strict, but he never
35:34treated
35:35us poorly. He made plenty of food for us every day. Sometimes he even gave us nutrient powder. I might
35:41not
35:41be the smartest, but I know who was truly kind. I kept training the way Dad taught me. I ran
35:46five
35:46kilometers with weights every morning and night. I grew stronger, and my movements became faster.
35:51The doctor started teaching me massage techniques. At first, I practiced on him. Slowly, I began helping
35:57the elderly patients ease their pain. The doctor worked so hard with his patients in medicine. I massaged
36:03him to help him relax. He started smiling at me more. He even taught me about heat and cold therapy.
36:08He said these skills would really help my dad. When I went home every two weeks, the first thing I
36:14did
36:14was massage Dad's leg. I rubbed the stiff muscles from his knee to his ankle. Then I used the heat
36:20therapy the doctor taught me. At first, Dad refused. He thought it was awkward for a man to have his
36:26legs
36:26rubbed. I had to beg him for a long time before he finally agreed. After the massage, he stood up
36:32and
36:32took a few steps. His eyes lit up and turned a bit red. Stella is so smart. My leg feels
36:39much better
36:40now. Mom saw this and asked me to teach her too. When you're away, I can do it for him.
36:46He worked so hard on the
36:47ranch and in the mountains. I taught them both step by step. I laughed and said, When I'm not here,
36:54you two can massage
36:55each other. That way you'll both feel better. Both their faces turned bright red instantly. They glanced
37:00at each other and quickly looked down. Mom gave me a little pinch for talking nonsense. They are so
37:05strange. What is there to be embarrassed about? I studied in the city for five years. My medical
37:11knowledge and physical strength grew fast. I went from a skinny little girl to a strong, healthy teenager.
37:18The fear in my eyes was gone, replaced by confidence. During this time, Mom and Dad never had another
37:24child. Rumors started spreading around the ranch. Most of them came from the Hudson's. They claimed Dad
37:30couldn't have children. It must be Rick's fault. He's disabled. He probably doesn't even have the strength
37:35of father a child. Maybe that's why his first first wife fought with him before she died. I overheard some
37:40workers gossiping when I returned home. I clenched my fists, ready to fight them. But Mom grabbed my hand and
37:46stepped forward. She raised her voice so everyone could hear. It's my fault! I was abused at the Hudson's and
37:52it ruined my health! It has nothing to do with my husband, Rick! Stop your lies! Dad was healthy, but
37:58Mom was
37:58right. Years of hunger, heavy labor, and beatings had left her scarred. She had been taking medicine for five
38:05years, but nothing happened. Mom was anxious and often sat by the creek staring into space. Sometimes I caught her
38:12wiping away tears. Dad was always there to comfort her. Raising Stella is enough. She's smart and capable.
38:20She's worth more than ten sons. With her around, we have nothing to worry about.
38:32But right then, my biological father, Jason, suddenly returned.
38:36..
38:36..
38:36..
38:36..
38:37..
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