Chapter Three
Jason
I was on the road pretty late, but it was early morning when I got close to the ranch. I didn’t pay much attention to the scenery when it was dark, but now that it was daylight, I couldn’t help but look around.
How long had it been since I’d been away from the chaos of the city? Out in the country, it wasn’t quite so crowded. There were large fields with the occasional house or building. I passed some small towns on the way before I got to the one closest to the ranch. It had been years since I was back, and in that time, my grandpa had been insisting I came back. He had been even more insistent about it more recently.
I can't believe I’m going back, though.
The last time I left, I’d been pretty sure I would be staying away for good.
I slowed down the car as I came closer to the last place I wanted to be. If my place weren't so dangerous for the moment, I wouldn’t have gone to begin with. Now that I had, I couldn’t help but regret it. Like I knew something bad would happen on this trip.
And it did.
I arrived at the ranch around midmorning. I got out of my car, but left the small suitcase I’d packed in the trunk. I walked up the short steps to the porch, crossed the space to the door, knocked, and pulled it open.
“Hello,” I called as I walked inside.
There was no response, but I could hear sounds coming from the kitchen. The first person I laid my eyes on once I walked into the kitchen, was Rachel.
Rachel…
The last person I expected to see. We had history, and I couldn’t even say I wanted to see her. She caught sight of me as well, and it was like I caught her off guard. She was staring at me with her eyes blown wide. My eyes moved over to my grandpa, who was watching me calmly.
Then, I turned my back to walk back out.
Of all the dirty fucking tricks…
I knew where my grandpa stood on my relationship with Rachel, though I didn’t see why he got a say anyway. He’d always thought I was a bastard to her. I didn’t exactly disagree, but I’d told him plenty of times not to interfere. So what the fuck was he doing, calling me home and having her wait for me? Did he know I’d be coming the day after he made the call? There was no way he could have found out about the danger I was in already because there was nothing else that could have had me running back.
Rachel probably didn’t deserve it, but the first thing I felt when I caught sight of her, besides surprise, was annoyance.
“Don’t you dare take another step, Jason,” my grandpa barked.
Despite my better judgment, I did as he’d said. I didn’t even mean to do it; it was probably back on the ranch. I was thinking of a time when I listened to everything he said because I felt I didn’t have much of choice. I’d hated it even then.
“What is it, Grandpa Nathan,” I said without turning around. “Exactly what did you call me out here for?”
“Like I said, a discussion. You and I are going to have this talk, and don’t you dare think of leaving before then. You have a lot of responsibilities, and not just to your work. You need to start owning up if you don’t want to end up like your father.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, then walked forward. My steps were slower, though, measured. I only wanted to get to the living room; I wasn’t thinking of jumping back into my car and making the trip back to the city. I could make it back by evening.
But, we might as well have this talk, or he would probably just keep pestering me for it at some other time.
I sat down on the single seat, then watched as grandpa walked into the room and sat down on the couch. His face hadn't changed much, and his hair was almost completely gray the last time I saw him, so I couldn’t even tell if that had changed. I did, however, notice how he moved much slower, as if he wasn’t as sure of himself. But, though his steps showed that, his hard expression made it seem like he hadn't changed at all.
“I didn’t come here just so you can tell me all about my dad, did I, Grandpa Nathan?”
“Not entirely, but I feel like you need the lesson. Should I tell you all about your father so you can listen to everything else I have to say? Because I have a feeling you’re going to be stubborn about this.”
I snorted. If it had anything to do with Rachel, then yes, I probably was.
“So?” I prompted. “Tell me.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “I had nothing against your father, but I hated how he lived his life. Many times I didn’t get involved because I thought he didn’t want or need me to. Surely he could have manned up on his own and set things right without needing to be told exactly how to do that.”
I pursed my lips, but didn’t interrupt. Still, I could already see where this was going.
“Your mother put up with a lot from your father. He wasn’t faithful to her, and from pretty early on, she knew of it. She talked to me about it. Even then, I didn’t let myself get involved too much. Because she loved him, she tolerated it and stayed, even though it made her miserable in the end.”
“And, what?” I asked, cutting in. “Am acting exactly like my dad?”
“Of course you are, Jason. I did nothing then, and I watched your parents fall apart, I refuse to make the same mistake twice. The way you’re behaving isn’t so far from him, and I want you to change. You are a grown-up, and you know it. You need to start acting like a man, Jason.”
I frowned without saying anything. I didn’t have that many great memories of my dad. Still, I thought he was taking it a little too far. I was nothing like my old man. That was pretty much an insult, second only to me acting a lot like my grandpa. Two people I never looked at as role models growing up, no matter what.
“That isn’t the only problem,” he went on. “There’s no other road left for me now. This ranch… I had hopes of leaving it to you. It has been my intention for a while now…but I’m hesitating because of how you’ve been acting.”
I arched my eyebrows, then scoffed. I stood up, feeling like I’d had enough. I didn’t leave immediately yet, though.
“If all you’re looking for is an heir, why not go look for Noah, instead, huh?” I sneered. “Isn’t he your favorite grandson, anyway? Frankly, I couldn’t give a damn, and I’m sure that idiot would just jump at the chance.”
He was mad. I could tell easily with the way he set his mouth; hands tightened into fists on his thighs. I left then, ignoring when I heard him rise and follow me.
“Jason!” he yelled. “Get your ass back here, Jason! You need to learn, and you can't do that by running away all the time! Jason!”
I didn’t pay attention to what he was saying. I wasn’t running away, I never wanted to be there in the first place, he was just giving me a reason to leave early, and I couldn’t be happier. As much as I’d made the trip quickly, I hadn't been looking forward to it. I was, however, looking forward to the trip back.
On the drive down, I’d realized that I belonged to the city. So I felt nothing but calm as I walked down the porch steps, got into my car, and left the ranch.