It would only be a matter of time before Albert came back with official documents to sign. I started sorting my things into piles, but was discouraged to discover that I didn’t actually own very much. Everything I had fit into two neat cardboard boxes.

I sat down at the kitchen table, elbows on the surface, my head in my hands. I didn’t know what to do. I had nowhere to go. What was going to happen to Maybelle?

My phone rang, ripping me away from my worries. I checked the caller ID. This was getting ridiculous. It was borderline harassment.

“Hello?” I answered.

“That’s a much better greeting,” chimed Jack.

“Why are you calling me?”

“Because you’re my son. I’m allowed to call you.”

I sighed. “I’m not in the mood right now.”

“You’re never in the mood.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ever since you opened that damn ranch, you’ve been a prissy little ass.”

“Dad,” I spat, voice low and sharp. “Don’t.”

“Any idiot could have told you it was a bad idea.”

“Stop–-”

“The ranch was a failure from the start!”

“I said stop,” I hissed. But Jack ignored me. He liked to ignore me.

“You just can’t stop embarrassing me, can you? All of my friends think your little venture is stupid. Did you know they tease me about it? ‘Hey, Jack, how’s that fag of a son doing? Is he still sucking–’”

I ended the call and sat there in stupid, tense silence.

My hand gripped the edge of the table so hard I thought I heard the wood surface splinter and my nails crack. I was shaking, actually shaking. My breath came in rough gasps, my heart slamming into my rib cage.

If not for the fact that I was a grown-ass man –- and that I knew Jack would make fun of me for it -– I would have burst into tears. My eyes were wet, the moisture there threatening to spill over. My ears and cheeks were hot to the touch.

Jack had only confirmed what I already knew. I was an embarrassment. Because I was different, and broken, and I hated myself for it.

I wanted everything –- everyone -– to go away. I wanted to disappear into myself, fall asleep, and never wake up. My life was falling apart at the seams, and it knew exactly how to unravel me.

When my phone rang again, I snapped up the device and answered, mind too clouded over with rage to filter my words. “What the fuck do you want?” I spat.

“Whoa,” came the voice over the receiver.

I blinked and took a deep breath. It wasn’t Jack. I needed to calm down.

“Who is this?” I asked, trying to keep my voice level.

“It’s Jacob.”

“Jacob?” I repeated stupidly. Oh, right. That Jacob. “Er, how can I help you?”

“I just wanted to call to…” his voice trailed off.

“Yes?” I urged. I didn’t have the patience to deal with this today.

“I just wanted to call to let you know that you have fourteen days.”

“Fourteen days for what?”

“To move off the property,” he explained. “It’s going to take a little while for the paperwork to get sorted, so I just wanted to let you know that there’s no rush to move out. It’ll give you time to find accommodations for yourself and your horses.”

“Accommodations,” I echoed. “You sound like a real city boy, you know that?”

“Big words too fancy for you?” he quipped, his tone smug and arrogant.

“Shut up.”

“Feisty.”

“Is that all you wanted to call me about?”

“Pretty much,” said Jacob. “Although I was wondering if I could maybe stop by later today.”

“Why?” I snapped, maybe a little too harshly.

“Thomas and I really want to check out the entire property. To begin planning things. If you could show us around, we’d–-”

“No,” I said flatly.

“I mean, if you don’t want us coming up to you, we could grab a cup of coffee. Maybe catch up?”

I didn’t quite know what to make of that. He’d seemed so adamant about leaving as quickly as he could the other day. There was no way he was actually interested in catching up with me. He didn’t even remember me that well.

It was probably just an excuse to get more information about the ranch. Information I didn’t feel like divulging.

But then I thought about the shape of his lips, and wondered how they’d look sipping from the rim of a coffee cup. I had a million questions for him. Where had he disappeared to? Why hadn’t he come back? Why didn’t he stay in touch?

How had he transformed from that shy boy I once knew into this pompous, mightier-than-thou suit? One who was about to take away everything that mattered to me.

My heart turned cold. “No,” I repeated firmly.

Jacob took in a breath like he was about to keep going, but I hung up and turned my phone to silent. I didn’t want to deal with anybody else today. No more phone calls, no more unexpected guests. I just wanted to be alone with my thoughts.

But the news that Jacob had delivered was a slight relief. Fourteen days to figure out my next move was better than none at all.

Leaving the kitchen, I snatched my warm leather jacket from the coat rack next to the front entrance and slipped into my boots. I needed to go for a ride, maybe get some fresh air to clear my head.

I made my way over to the horse shed and readied Maybelle for an easy stroll along the trails that snaked around Breakaway. Her saddle pad went on first; I stroked her mane as she whinnied. Next, I put her saddle on, hooking the stirrups over the saddle horn and adjusting them before strapping everything in place.

Finally, I inserted the bit into Maybelle’s mouth, moving the crown piece and throat latch into their proper positions. When I was done, I patted Maybelle on the neck, guiding her by the reign through the stable doors. Once outside, I mounted.

The world always looked different to me when I was up high on a horse. Everything around me felt smaller, less important. On Maybelle’s sturdy legs, I felt untouchable. To me, it felt more natural to be on the back of a horse than on my own two legs.

I flicked the leather reins slightly, encouraging Maybelle to start walking. We followed the dirt path that headed into the wooded area on the edge of the ranch, strolling along at a leisurely pace. It wasn’t like I had anything to do.

Maybelle’s hooves trotted along the ground, a rhythmic pattern that dulled and soothed my senses. The air was filled with the chirping of birds and the rustling of nearby bushes as critters played in the underbrush. The air was cooler under the shade of the trees, goosebumps appearing on my forearms against the cold. It was a good thing I’d brought my jacket.

The sun peeked through light grey clouds, warm against my face. My thoughts wandered, landing on Jacob, of all people. I was still reeling from my conversation with Jack, and the follow-up with Jacob had my heart twisting.

I wanted to know how he’d gotten so fit. He used to hate sports, and he used to hate being outdoors. I’d had to beg him to come out and play with me.

But there was no denying that he’d aged well –- like a fine wine. I was none too taken by his attitude, but he wasn’t hard to look at.

The trail led us up a hill and into a clearing. I slowed Maybelle to a complete stop, taking in the view from the crest of the incline. From where we were, I could look down into the valley. The distinct, straight lines of fields were obvious against the tall, wild grass just outside their perimeters.

Off in the distance, I could see McCullough Farms, my father’s farm right beside it. The creek that ran between our two properties had long since run dry, cut off by some sort of water project north of here. It was clear to me that things were going to be very different from now on.

For better or for worse, I couldn’t say.