It… It was Evelyn, the woman who’d been just as much of a mother to me as my own until I ran off without a word. I took a deep breath and got out of the car. She was going to be so fucking mad at me.
Evelyn stood frozen on the porch, her eyes widening as she recognized me. I braced myself for the anger, the disappointment, the lecture I deserved after fifteen years of silence. But instead, her hand flew to her mouth, and she rushed down the steps with surprising speed for a woman her age.
“Jesse Harris,” she breathed, stopping just short of me. Her eyes were wet, searching my face like she was memorizing it. “Look at you. All grown up.”
“Hi, Evelyn,” I managed, my voice catching. “I, uh... I’m back.”
She reached out slowly, her weathered hand touching my cheek as if to make sure I was real. Then, without warning, she pulled me into a fierce hug that knocked the wind out of me. She smelled exactly the same—like fresh bread and lavender soap.
“You stupid, stubborn boy,” she whispered against my shoulder, her voice thick with emotion. “Fifteen years without a word.”
“I know,” I said, guilt washing over me. “I’m sorry.”
She pulled back, wiping her eyes with the corner of her apron. “You’re too late to say it to your father.”
That stung, but I nodded. “I know that too.”
Her eyes narrowed suddenly, and she smacked my arm hard enough to make me wince. “That’s for making me worry all these years.” Then she took my face between her hands. “And this is for coming home.” She kissed my forehead like she used to when I was a kid.
“I’m not staying,” I blurted out. “I mean, I am, but just for the year. Because of the will.”
Her expression softened. “I figured that’s why you’re here.”
“Yeah.” I glanced toward the main house, half-expecting Cole to come storming out any second. “Where is he?”
“He’s out taking his morning walkabout,” She studied my face. “You two talked yesterday?”
“If you can call it that.” I ran a hand through my hair, suddenly aware of how out of place I must look in my city clothes. “It didn’t go well.”
Evelyn sighed, shaking her head. “That boy’s got a lot of anger built up inside him. You can’t expect it to disappear overnight.”
“I don’t expect anything,” I replied, more defensively than I intended. “I’m just here because of Dad’s will. Once the year is up, I’m gone. I don’t give a shit about Cole’s feelings.”
She gave me a look I recognized from childhood. The one that said she didn’t believe me for a second. “Come inside. You look like you haven’t slept, and I’ve got coffee brewing.”
I followed her up the porch steps, hesitating at the threshold. The last time I’d walked through this door, I was younger, angrier, and running from everything I couldn’t face. Now I was walking right back into it all, feeling like nothing had changed. After fifteen years I thought I’d grown, that I’d left all of it behind me.
But the moment I crossed that threshold, I felt like I was eighteen again, and all those feelings came rushing back. Only this time, I couldn’t run.
Chapter 5
Cole
There was a break in the fence around the eastern pasture. An old tree had come down after the rain softened up the soil. Thankfully it was mostly rotten and shattered as it hit the ground, but the fence still had a big hole in it. For the moment the tree was blocking the cattle from escaping, but that wouldn’t last long. Cows were annoyingly good at getting out of pastures. I could give them all the feed in the world and they still wanted to run for the hills and freeze to death.
Sometimes I wondered if it was worth all the hassle.
I pulled out my phone, snapping a picture and making a quick note for the team. They could get it cleaned up this afternoon and repaired before we had any escapees. I glanced at the time, nearly six. Of course, I would’ve known that by the sun peeking over the horizon. I’d been here my whole life, and I didn’t depend on a watch for anything.
But how much longer would I be allowed to stay?
I turned back in the direction of the house, following the footpath driven into the land from decades of foot traffic. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything that had happened since my father’s death. It was a mess. The whole damn thing was a mess, and I was caught right in the middle ofit. Dad had thrown me a curveball from beyond the grave, and I still hadn’t figured out how to swing.
I kicked at a clump of mud, watching it break apart against a rock. The cold morning air bit at my face, but I barely noticed it. Physical discomfort was nothing compared to the storm brewing inside me.
Fifteen years I’d given everything I had to this land. Fifteen years of sacrifices and putting the ranch before everything. Before relationships, before my own happiness, before anychanceof a decent life I chose for myself. And now I could lose it all because of Jesse. If there was one thing I was sure of, it’s that he wasn’t going to stay. He hadn’t before, so why would he now?
The worst part was that I couldn’t even hate him properly. Sure, I was furious about the will, about him suddenly entitled half of what should have been mine alone. But deep down, in a place I refused to acknowledge, there was something else… something I’d buried fifteen years ago when he drove away. Something that made me look out the window of my cabin each morninghopingto see his car in the driveway.
