“I’m a senior in high school, about to graduate, and I’ve never been out on a proper date. I’ve never been to a high school dance. I’ve never been to parties or had a social life. Dez is only my friend because we’ve known each other since kindergarten. This ranch has stolen my teenage years from me and took away any sort of crazy, fun childhood memories my friends have about growing up in Hicks Creek. All my memories center around this ranch in some way or another. Leaving this small town so that I can get a degree is the only way I will learn who I am as a person, outside of this town, this ranch, and this family.”
“I know you’re hurt and upset. You’re lashing out and seeing things in a negative way. Your feelings are valid. I…just wish you could see that he’s just a man trying to make sure we live a good life. He’s only ever known life on this ranch, baby. Leaving it was never an option for him, and so you wanting to leave makes him feel like he’s failed.”
I turn around with my back facing her before I roll my eyes.
I get that he’s her husband and all, but she’s living in a fantasy world. All she does is make excuses for his behavior, and it’s not okay.
“It’s whatever. I’m leaving for college. I love you, Mama, but I can’t stay here any longer. Not with that man always trying to control me and treat me like I’m nothing.”
She nods, not saying anything. She steps forward and wraps me in a warm hug.
“I love you, Sutton. I’m so proud of you. We’ll go shopping for stuff for your dorm room, okay? I’ll find out when your move-in date is, and we’ll make a big deal of it. Your father will come around.”
I don’t respond. Instead, I turn and head upstairs, clutching the acceptance letter like it’s the only thing keeping me sane right now. My father’s anger rings in my ears.
How fitting that Wade Callahan delivered the piece of paper that sent my dad into a tizzy.
“How’d it go?” Dez asks into the phone.
“About how you’d expect,” I sigh. “I think he was more upset that Wade is the one who delivered the letter.”
“Why is it again that y’all hate each other? I’ve never understood this.”
“Seventy years ago, my grandfather and his brother purchased the neighboring pieces of property. Property lines were established, but they weren’t adhered to because they were brothers. A couple of large creeks run through our property, and it was always shared with my great-uncle.
“When my great-uncle passed away, the land was left to his children, who sold the property without consulting my father or grandfather first, which is when the Callahans bought it. Everything was great at that point, and unbeknownst to my family, my cousins told the Callahans that the creeks belongedto them. My dad didn’t have a problem with that until he realized one day that during one of the droughts, all the creeks were running dry. My dad went to city hall and got documented proof of who the water belonged to. He blocked off the water supply so that it could only be accessed by our property. When Mr. Callahan tried to access it, my father imposed a water tax or whatever ridiculousness he called it. They got into a physical altercation over it more than once. The Callahans almost lost everything and had to file bankruptcy because they had to find other sources of water.”
“Oof, I could see why that would be an issue.”
“Yeah, they were best friends. Goes to show you what a jerk my father can be. Our moms were best friends and…Wade treated me like his little sister, you know? My dad is such a dick and he doesn’t care who he hurts. And then my mom just constantly enables him and makes excuses.”
I’ve always had a massive crush on Wade. When he shunned me for my father’s sins, it hurt way more than I’ve ever let on.
“In a few months, you’ll leave it all behind.”
“I need to look into starting in the summer instead of fall; the sooner I’m out of this podunk town, the better.”
I’ll leave this ranch behind, one way or another. And no one is going to stop me.
Chapter One
Sutton
“Okay, ladies, we’re doing something a little different today,” Kelsey announces as we stand in the living room of our shared apartment.
“Oh no,” Avery giggles as she shakes her head.
“Stop it, it’s going to be fun.” Kelsey grins mischievously.
“Out with it.” I roll my eyes.
“We just got into vet school, and that’s something to celebrate. We’ve all been so focused on our undergraduate degrees and doing everything right for our dreams that we haven’t let loose and had the full college experience. At twenty-two, we’re officially going to let loose tonight. We’re changing our names, getting out of our comfort zone, aaaaannnnd…finding hookups.”
“I’m not hooking up with some rando,” I sigh.
“You don’t have to. I just want us to pretend…I guess it sounds silly, but we’re always so strait-laced. Let’s live a little tonight.”
“I like the idea,” Avery interjects. “It’s a little wild, but…she’s right.”
