Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Eventually, Brock turned down a road that wasn’t paved, and it looked like not many people drove down it too often.
“Where is this going?” I asked from the passenger side of Brock’s truck. Ty Junior and Tanner were in the back seat. All three of them were quiet as we drove down the little road. As we drew closer to the mountain range, I was struck by how beautiful it was, covered in white snow. The sun seemed to cause the entire thing to shimmer, as if someone had flown over it and threw out thousands of pounds of glitter. We stopped at a small pasture area surrounded by pine trees.
“This is near the edge of our ranch. We own some of the land that goes up into the mountains,” Brock stated.
“It’s beautiful.”
The three of them all got out, so I followed suit. Tanner had let me borrow some of his snow boots, since we were the same foot size. As they started walking into the trees, I followed. It was a small hike up, but it was worth it when we came to an opening in the trees. The view was absolutely breathtaking.
I did a full circle and slowly shook my head. “I can see so much of the ranch from up here.”
“It’s a beautiful spot,” Ty Junior said quietly.
Wondering why no one had built on this spot, I turned to look at Brock. His expression seemed…lost.
I followed his gaze toward a few trees that had been cut down, the stumps still sticking out of the ground. I made my way over to the area. I looked around and was struck again by what an amazing spot this was, overlooking most of the Shaw ranch. I smiled as I spotted cattle in one of the pastures. To my left, I thought I saw Tanner’s place. Two horses ran in an open field, playing in the snow.
Suddenly, a warm sensation rushed through me, and I felt a sort of peace I’d never known. At the same time, a loss so deep that it caused me to bend forward to catch my breath.
I closed my eyes…and I swore I felt my father’s presence. The feeling was so overwhelming, I knew if I moved or said a word, I’d lose control of my emotions, so I simply stayed where I was.
It was a few minutes before I could stand and draw in a deep breath. I turned to see my three uncles waiting patiently. They clearly knew I’d figured out what this area was.
“He was going to build a house here, wasn’t he?” I asked, my voice unrecognizable to my own ears, cracking with emotion.
Brock stepped forward some. He nodded and said, “The last time he was home, he came up here and started to clear out some trees. He told me he was building a house here for him and Heather. He said he knew she was the one.”
A single tear slipped free, and I wiped it away. “You haven’t done anything with the spot?”
“It’s Beck’s place,” Tanner said. “Always has been. He loved this area of the ranch. He was big into hiking, and there’re trails he made up into the hills. When the snow melts, we’ll show you all of them.”
My jaw was aching as I clenched it tightly. I shook my head and forced myself to get my damn emotions in check. “You left this for him?” I asked.
It was Ty who walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder. “No one was going to touch it, ever. It belonged to our brother, your father.” His voice cracked and tears filled his eyes. “It’s yours now, Beck. He would want you to have it.”
My own battle to hold back my tears was lost. I let them fall as a sob slipped free. “How can I miss someone I never knew?” I asked. Ty pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly. “Why does my heart feel like it’s been ripped from my chest?” I asked, my body shaking with sobs. “Why did he leave? Why?”
I soon felt my other two uncles there, their arms around me as the four of us stood on the very spot where my father had dreamed of his future. A future with my mother.
Time felt like it stopped, and when it started to snow, Brock was the first to let go, then Tanner, and finally Ty. We all wiped at our tears and I looked up at the sky. The snowflakes were huge, and I smiled despite myself.
Throats were clearing, nose sniffles were heard all around me, and I looked at my three uncles. “Thank you for bringing me here. For showing me this.”
“I meant what I said,” Ty stated. “This is yours. Mom and Dad deeded out a hundred-and-fifty acres to Beck. It now goes to you.”